Indie Book Reviews

Reviews of any indie titles

#Review – Miracle Man by William R Leibowitz – Fascinating, thrilling and realistic!

Review of Miracle Man – William R Leibowitz

Synopsis:

REVERED REVILED REMARKABLE The victim of an unspeakable crime, an infant rises to become a new type of superhero. Unlike any that have come before him, he is not a fanciful creation of animators. He is real. So begins the saga of Robert James Austin, the greatest genius in human history. But where did his extraordinary intelligence come from? As agents of corporate greed vie with rabid anti-Western radicals to destroy him, an obsessive government leader launches a bizarre covert mission to exploit his intellect. Yet Austin’s greatest fear is not of this world. Aided by two exceptional women, one of whom will become his unlikely lover, Austin struggles against abandonment and betrayal. But the forces that oppose him are more powerful than even he can understand.

Amazon | Smashwords| Goodreads

Review:

** Review done in conjunction with SayWhatSavannahMae, check out her site for more info**

** I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own**

This book sure has an opening, I’ll definitely say that. The prologue is mysterious, interesting, and really makes you want more right away. The author has the hook down pat. I don’t want to spoil it, I see a bunch of reviews telling you what the beginning is, but its better that you just read and find out, because I didn’t expect what it was from the opening! It kept me reading, and I think it’ll keep you reading as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s got a great storyline, a bit of an Ender’s Game feeling to it, with the special program and the hidden agendas, but overall, very good and unique enough to stand on its own. I thought the author really took the time to flesh Bobby out, and really give us a driving force for him. He’s a great character, and with great people, there’s always someone trying to manipulate them. That’s exactly the story here. It’s perfect. The writing is solid, the story is pretty refreshing and it’s got strong main character. Technically speaking, the author has written a great novel, it flows, it draws you in, and it finishes strong.

As for plot, you’ve got a genius character, who we follow through his life, and the great thing is that this book isn’t over anyone’s head. It’s a read for the everyperson who likes thrillers and science. We’ve got Bobby who has lived his extraordinary life, and only wants to do well, after the bad life has handed him, but we’ve also got outside influences trying to push Bobby in a different direction, using his life and doubt to push him where he doesn’t want to go. It’s a thriller, not just in the hidden agendas and motives but also on a personal level, because you really start to care about Bobby, and want to see Bobby happy and succeeding in what he chooses. There’s a lot of undertones in morals and what’s rights and even slightly ethical in this novel. It really pulls you in, you just start to feel it.

I would suggest this book. It read easily, and quite quickly, it’s got a good storyline, strong character to lead us, and some interesting questions it raises. If you enjoy thrillers, or even a bit of sci-fi, then I think you wouldn’t regret picking up this book, and giving it a read. I think you’ll enjoy it.

About The Author:

William R. Leibowitz practices law in New York City and lives in the village of Quogue with his wife, Alexandria, and his dog, Georgy.

#Review – Stan by Richard Wold – A deep journey into good & evil!

Stan by Richard Wold

Ever since he survived a suicide attempt, New York artist Stan Foster has not been himself. Plagued by amnesia and a head full of visions of death and destruction that fuel his ever-more disturbing work, he claws his way through a life he doesn’t recognize in search of his true identity. What he finds leads him to believe he is Satan, spit out from the bowels of hell to live among the mortal inhabitants of earth. Is he delusional, or is there truth behind this troubling revelation? One woman can help him find out. Enter Abigail: lapsed Catholic, lonely city dweller, and psychiatrist with a heart of gold. Meeting Stan makes her question everything she’s believed about faith and humanity for so long, but she must overcome her own troubled background to offer him the redemption he needs—and ultimately wants.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Smashwords

Review:

4 Stars – B+

This was an interesting concept novel. I’ve always said I look for books which strive to break from the normal, and this book definitely did that. We meet Stan, when he decides to end it all, and throw himself off the Washington Bridge. I mean talk about grabbing a reader. This book makes you commit right from the beginning and keep reading. I like how the author approached the topic of Satan, he doesn’t automatically assume you believe in him, because like the character most people are unlikely to jump to that answer first, but assume mental illness or shock. I do like how human nature plays a role in this book, really character driven, and we get some insight into what drives them. Wold really makes the reader question things throughout this whole book. You may come into this book knowing what good and evil are but by the end, I bet you’ll be questioning a little bit. You get influences in Stan life, both what we’d consider good and evil, but there’s something laying under the surface of both of them, so who can he really trust? I do wish they would’ve let us get to him being Satan on our own, leaving hints and clues instead of basically spelling it out for the reader, I didn’t enjoy that. I like a little more mystery and a little more work on the readers part. There’s a little bit of romance in this book as well, but it doesn’t play a primary theme at all, mostly this book has elements of a mystery and a thriller, with a long inner running conflict on what really is good and evil. I enjoyed it, I thought it was refreshing, though some choices the author made didn’t resound with me, but overall a good read and something new.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

Richard Wold is a business owner and consultant. He currently lives in Gurnee, Illinois. Stan is his first novel.

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Undeniable – Tawdra Kandle – #review and much more! :) Hosted by Promotional Book Tours!

At last. . .the sizzling spin-off from The King Series

UNDENIABLE: The Serendipity Duet Book One

For Rafe Brooks, running from a broken heart means losing himself in alcohol and women. Lots of women, none of whom will remember him, since he has the ability to manipulate their minds and make them forget.

Numbing the pain works until he meets an irresistible redhead with secrets of her own. She offers him the opportunity to join forces with an organization that will use his powers for good rather than his own amusement.

Jocelyn rocks his world with her unapologetic passion and makes him believe for the first time he just might survive heartbreak.

When a mission takes the two of them undercover to infiltrate a commune with suspicious activity, they discover it’s just the tip of a plot to cause world-wide anarchy. Hiding their extraordinary powers and real identities is crucial to staying alive.

For Rafe and Jocelyn, when life is uncertain, love is undeniable.

Buy on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Review:

Grade B (4 Stars)

After Rafe graduates from high school, he leaves town and goes on a drinking binge trying to get over his broken heart. He winds up in New Orleans where he meets the headstrong Jocelyn. She is there to recruit him for a job working at the consulting firm she is employed by. This job allows them to help people with special powers to use them for good and not evil. Together they get in more trouble they you can imagine.

They have been working together for a while when they finally get a mission that may not end well for them. They accept and give it their all. You are taken for a wonderful action packed ride. During all of this they realize they may have a love that is deep and will last more than a. Lifetime together.

This book has mystery, action and heartwarming affections. It has funny moments, emotional draining moments and takes you on an action packed thrill ride.

*I was given this book in return for an honest review.

About the Author

Tawdra Thompson Kandle lives in central Florida with her husband, children, cats and dog. She loves homeschooling, cooking, traveling and reading, not necessarily in that order. And yes, she has purple hair.

You can follow Tawdra here…
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Hand of Chaos by J Hamlet (@JayHamlet) – #Blog Tour – #Review & #Giveaway – Hosted by @SayWhatSavannahMae

Hand of Chaos – Blog Tour!

Synopsis: Exhausted, cynical, and confused, Anna is always there to report for duty. She’s part of a clandestine government team that defends the nation against supernatural terrorism—a job that understandably leaves her life in shambles and drives her to drink a little more than she should. Toss in a fear of intimacy with a desire to have friends and lovers like a normal person and, well, Anna is a troubled soul wrapped in a special agent with arcane, magical powers. Waking up hungover at five-thirty in the morning with a zombie-infested apartment building in the heart of DC to deal with, she’s knows she’s got the makings of the worst morning possible.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Review:

Grade: B+ (four stars)

This was a great book. I love zombies, which should be no surprise to anyone, so seeing them mentioned in the blurb grabbed me. But I got more then just a zombie novel here. We’ve got a great MIB like story. I really enjoy stories that pull me in and avoid most of the stereotypical motives we all know today. I loved how the author weaved history around and made it fit her story. Defending the public from supernatural forces. Very Hellboy or RIPD. Interesting twist and it’s pulled off well be a very strong storyteller. That’s the key. New stories need to be created but unless you really have the skill to follow through then there’s nothing that will be gained from it but it seems Hamlet has those skills. I was really interested in the story from blurb to ending. Anna was a good character and though we don’t get a feeling for too many of the other characters like we do with Anna, I still enjoyed it. I thought the flow was smooth, face paced and exciting. I am excited it see more from this author. Happy to have original people out there writing quality work!

J. Hamlet: Everyone needs a hobby. I chose writing. Not one of the easier ones. I chose it at the tender age of 14, churning out terrible science fiction novels that heaped on the cliches and barely hidden tropes of all space operas. Thankfully, those creations reside in the prison of an old Commodore 64 hard drive and several 3.5″ disks (kids, ask your parents) in a landfill somewhere. And, let me be clear, the world is better for it. Along the way, I kept writing. Through college. Through grad school. Through the beginning of my career, such as it is. I like to believe I picked up skills. I write genre novels that have characters brimming with personal problems, professional problems, and sexuality. Sure, novels that do this exist. I’m not trying to say they don’t, I just think too few of them are out there and I intend to do my personal best to increase their numbers.

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#Undeniable – #Book Tour – #Review and #Giveaway! Check it out! Hosted by Promotional Book Tours

At last. . .the sizzling spin-off from The King Series

UNDENIABLE: The Serendipity Duet Book One

Jocelyn rocks his world with her unapologetic passion and makes him believe for the first time he just might survive heartbreak.

For Rafe and Jocelyn, when life is uncertain, love is undeniable.

Buy on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Review:

Reviewed by Catherine for Sunshine & Mountains

Grade: B (Four Stars)

This book has mystery, action and heartwarming affections. It has funny moments, emotional draining moments and takes you on an action packed thrill ride.

**I was given this book in return for an honest review.

About the Author

You can follow Tawdra here…
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The Risen Courage! The Best Risen Book Yet! This one will make you cry! @MarieFCrow

The Risen Courage : This Zombie Novel Brings Tears!

Amazon Paperback | Amazon eBook

Add it on Goodreads!

Synopsis:

When everything shatters into madness, how do you pick up the pieces that are left? When your friends lie bleeding around you, which ones do you fight to save? To find these answers, Helena Hawthorn will have to face the ghosts that now walk the halls around her.

In the wake of J.D.’s madness, Helena and G.R.I.T. will have to find the courage to fight for their home and for each other as a new evil takes hold of their lives. The biggest threat to the high school and its survivors is no longer the Risen, and G.R.I.T. will have to fight to survive.

Review:

Grade: A++ (Five Stars and Beyond)

I love this book. I don’t think I can express that in words honestly the roller coaster ride this book took me on. It’s tough because basically this book has got all the feels in it, plus a little bit of laughter, and a whole heaping helping of CRAZY! But, it starts out after the chaos we dealt with in Dawning. We’re throwing right back into the waiting arms of G.R.I.T and it’s a pretty sad place to be. Crow doesn’t hold back, you don’t expect an author to throw you in with a bunch of dying or severely wounded people, but she does… and I loved it!

I think the approach Crow takes to zombies is perfect. You don’t hold back, and you don’t ease into things. This is a really screwed up world. You don’t get time for a nice calm intro before the chaos, you get brought right into it, and you’ve gotta sink or swim. That’s what her writing does to the reader. You’re either in or out, but there’s no in between here. By this point, people who have read all the books are fiercely loyal to someone, or to a bunch, but you’ve got your emotional strings all kinds of tied up in this story, and Crow starts pulling at them, one by one. It’s going to hurt, I expected this going in… Crow’s FB status’s were a pretty clear giveaway, but I still loved it!

Personally, I liked the twist. If you read The Risen Remnants, there’s a part in there with bodies in a tree, not a majorly significant part, but Crow takes this and works it into Courage as well, and I did not see it coming. I was hit over the head a couple times throughout the book, like, “Come on, wake up, look at this major twist!” and it was great! The pacing of this novel was outstanding, it kept you at a constant high pace, and then it got higher. I couldn’t say there was one moment where I was bored or disinterested. Crow knows the right way to weave the horror with the humor, and really give us some great moments. I personally laughed at “What is it, kick the blond day?”, priceless moments, where humor just breaks through. Not good-hearted humor, but snarky, sarcastic, realistic humor.

Overall, Crow’s characters really grow in this novel. I’ve always loved Helena, I think that giving us a female character, who can hold her own, was such a great decision. It’s so frustrating when all we see is the cowering females, but not Helena, she’s strong, smart and has got a whole lot of heart which makes her do a lot of dumb things, but honestly, put yourself there, and all your friends and family are in serious danger, and you might be able to help by doing something stupid.. would you do it? It’s a good question to ask, and a lot of us would probably say one thing and do another if the zombie Apocalypse does happen, but I think Crow got Helena right on the money. She’s flawed but she’s the backbone. G.R.I.T really finds some new footing in this book, without giving spoilers away, and I like how the dynamic works. Crow does a great job getting into the characters of this biker gang and really bringing out their individual personalities in the series. We don’t’ get one personality for G.R.I.T, we get all the ones that make it what it is.

So, wonderfully well written book, twists and turns galore, great characterization, and honestly, the ending is going to make you pick your jaw up from the floor. We are in for SO MUCH more in the next book… so jump in, read this series, and join in the Crow club! You won’t regret it!

*I was given a copy of this book for review. All opinions are 100% honest and not influenced.

About The Author:

Marie F Crow is the author of the post-apocalyptic series, The Risen. She weaves her stories around the human element of the horror verses the “monsters” themselves. She believes that the real horror of life does not come from the expected, but from the unexpected responses of the human nature and what depths of trauma a person has to survive in certain situations. She began writing The Risen series when feeling that the popular genre was slipping too deep into the realm of pure “slasher” and forgetting what the horror of zombies can mean for a story.

Now with her children’s series launched, Marie hopes to use her favorite “monster” as a teaching tool to inspire children to understand that not everything that looks scary, is scary. With Abigail and Her Pet Zombie series, Marie hopes to further spread her love for all things “that go bump in the night” with small children showing them that it’s okay to be different and to embrace those same differences in those around them.

Marie F. Crow

Stalk Her!

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#Cover #Reveal! @MarieFCrow ‘s The Risen Courage! This cover will blow you away!

So today, I’m extremely excited to show you the new cover for the soon to be released, The Risen Courage by Marie F Crow. This book is supposed to be emotional, or so the lovely author has been teasing us with facebook quotes such as:

“There are so many deaths in this book, I feel like I should be in a confessional asking for forgiveness.”

“Courage stands at around 102’000 words right now. Editing has a way of adding a few 1’000 more as I fill in the words my fingers ignored or round out scenes with more dialogue. I hope it will be as good for you as it has been for me. Yes, I’m fully prepared for the anger it may inspire. It just means readers are as invested in these characters as I am. Truth be told, I’m a little angry at myself for this one.”

“I’m at a very interesting part of ‘Courage’. I’m not sure which way the story will go. I guess the real dilemma is, how many more funerals do I want Chapel to have to hold?”

I mean honestly, how do you handle this!? Well, by looking at this amazing cover!

How badass is this? I am beyond excited for this book, despite the authors depressing teasers, because I know Marie F Crow has got a plan and a point, and because real life doesn’t end happy, why should books? I hope you are all as excited as I am, and stay tuned to the blog for my review coming very soon, and more information on the release day for this amazing novel!

Also, just another reminder, while you are waiting for Courage, The Risen Remnants is currently FREE until end of the day today on Amazon, so swing over and pick up a copy, and encourage your friends to do so too! 🙂

Marie F Crow’s Abigail and Her Pet Zombie : Zoo Day! Release Day & Review! Plus Sale!

Today is the day! Both the paperback edition and the kindle edition of Abigail and Her Pet Zombie: Zoo Day have been released! This is the second Abigail book that Marie F Crow has done, and it doesn’t disappoint!

Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle

Check it out on Goodreads!

Synopsis:

Abigail and her pet Zombie have been waiting
all week for their special trip to the Zoo.
When not everyone finds her pet Zombie lovable,
what is the pet Zombie to do ?

Abigail and friends, with help from her Uncle,
must teach the pet Zombie that the most
important thing is to just be you and to not worry
about what others might think.

This is the second book of the Abigail and her pet Zombie Series from author Marie F Crow. It is a humorous story of a little girl and her comical pet. This is an illustrated, lighthearted, fun short story for ages 3 to 8.

Review:

Grade: A+ (Five Stars!)

This was wonderful! I was obsessed with Abigail from the first book. This sweet child who has a zombie as a pet. It was wonderful way to help children work on acceptance with such a fun twist that’s so relevant to our society today. Zoo Day is even better. In this next story, Abigail is going to the zoo, but once she gets there her poor zombie has to deal with the people who don’t accept him. He just wanted to play with the children and smilie at the babies. In this story, Abigail’s uncle has to help people come to understand just because the zombie looks different and a bit scary, that he’s not harmful and he’s actually very friendly. I loved this story. I loved when the zombie swam with penguins and the monkeys stole his arm! This is just precious! Plus, The Risen fans will get a special easter egg of an appearance of one of the members of G.R.I.T! How great is that?! Overall, fantastic book with a great lesson and humor for the whole family! Check this out as a wonderful addition to your family library this holiday season!

*I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Plus, in other news, The Risen: Remnants kindle edition is free this weekend! Dec 13-15th! Go grab a copy! 🙂

About The Author:

Marie F. Crow

Cover Reveal! @MarieFCrow has released the cover of Abigail and Her Pet Zombie : Zoo Day! Cutest #kids #book yet!

Abigail and Her Pet Zombie : Zoo Day

by Marie F Crow

Marie F Crow Publishing

Coming Soon!

Synopsis:

Abigail and her pet zombie have been waiting all week for their special trip to the zoo. When not everyone finds her pet zombie lovable, what is the pet zombie to do? Abigail and friends, with the help from her uncle, must teach the pet zombie that the most important thing is to just be you and to not worry about what others might think.

How cute is this? If you loved the first, Abigail and Her Pet zombie, you’ll love this amazing journey to the zoo! 🙂

Keep you eyes peeled on this blog, and Marie F Crow’s website for news of the release! Coming soon!

While you wait, check out the first book…

Abigail and Her Pet Zombie

Synopsis:

Abigail isn’t a normal five-year-old girl. She doesn’t have normal five-year-old pets. Abigail has a Pet Zombie. This is their story…

This is the first book of the Abigail and Her Pet Zombie series from author Marie F Crow. It is a humorous story of a little girl and her comical pet. This is a 21 page, illustrated, lighthearted, fun short story for ages 3 to 8.

Check it out on Amazon and Goodreads!

And don’t forget to visit Marie F Crow on Facebook for the latest news!

Plus, this weekend, The Risen: Remnants, Marie F Crow’s adult zombie series is currently FREE! 🙂 Go pick up a copy on Amazon.

Review: Abigail and Her Pet Zombie by Marie F Crow! Children’s Lit for the modern parents! A good message and great illustrations! :) @MarieFCrow

Amazon eBook | Amazon Paperback

Synopsis:

Abigail isn’t a normal five-year-old girl. She doesn’t have normal five-year-old pets. Abigail has a pet Zombie. This is their story…

This is the first book of the Abigail and Her Pet Zombie series from author Marie F Crow. It is a humorous story of a little girl and her comical pet.

This book contains 21 illustrated pages.

“Here is a little known fact about our little Abigail and her pet, when you purchase a copy, paperback or e-book, a portion of it goes to the children’s charities that Marie F Crow Publishing currently supports. Making the world a better place one zombie at a time, that’s our motto.” – Marie F Crow Publishing

Review:

Grade: A+ (5 Freaking adorable stars and beyond)

Alright, I’m a failure.. let’s just start there. I read this book, really really early on, and somehow I didn’t write a review about it on the blog.. The review was written in a word doc, hanging out in my folders, but whatever, let’s get to the point which is:

Marie F Crow is brilliant. This lady cannot be stuck in a corner. She wrote amazing horror, and now she brings us a light-hearted, adorable children’s book with such a positive message! You cannot stop Marie F Crow.

I am beyond excited that I got to read this book. Yes, I know I’m not the target audience and it took me a total of like 10 minutes to really read and look at the pictures, but gosh almighty, it’s just too cute. I love the zombie, I want a pet zombie for myself. I want to give them as Christmas gifts to everyone I know (and include a copy of this book with it!). If you have young children in your life, consider grabbing this book. The illustrations are precious, and no, this book is not introducing children to horror. It’s a story about not judging people by their appearance, a valuable lesson for any child growing up. Marie F Crow weaves this tale for small readers (and big readers) with the amazing talent she uses in other books, but brings it to the perfect level for a beginner reader. This book will allow you to sit down with your kids, grandkids, godchild, ect and enjoy a funny, adorable story, and really look at the message behind it.

I don’t know what more I can say, except that you need to give this book a chance. It’s just one of the best picture books I’ve seen for kids lately, and I think for the modern generation of parents, this zombie with a heart of gold is something just out there enough to be fun, and allow you to break the mold of the same old, same old kid’s books, and add a new book to your family’s collection. You can tell Marie F Crow put her heart into this book. It’s touching, beautiful, and such a great little book! 🙂

*I was given a ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

About The Author:

Sugar and Spice and Everything Dies Twice,

Marie F. Crow