If you like zombies, this is the book for you. The main character, Laurah, is a young independent woman living in New York. After another hard day at work, she falls asleep at her desk only to wake up in the early morning hours to the streets filled with zombies.
She meets Marc in her struggle to survive and both team up to save themselves and the city of New York. They butt heads with clashing personalities, but each grow on one another to form a lasting friendship.
The Gratefully Undead demands a precise vocabulary which is appropriate for the subject. The story is a horror adventure as the reader routes for Laurah and Marc to survive. Do they? You will have to read it to find out!
My favorite part of the story is when Laurah has a dream. In these two pages I enjoyed the author’s true writing style. She uses beautiful words and descriptions as it is a delightful dream free of zombies.
The Gratefully Undead is labeled appropriately, however, if profanity was omitted, middle school students could have enjoyed the story.
Book Review by Mary Crocco
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Squirrel That Dreamt Of Madness by Craig Stone
There are two ways to view this book, one is as a crazy, fun, entertaining read. The other is as a serious, thought provoking, wake up call to the age old morals: Things aren’t always what they seem; don’t judge a book by its cover. Craig Stone skillfully intertwines both views with his readers in mind.
Against the advice of family and friends, Craig leaves his regular 9-5 day job and after work social life to become an unemployed, homeless man, living in a park in London.
Craig writes, “It can be a struggle sometimes balancing doing what you want to do with doing what everyone else wants you to do; especially when nobody really understands what you are trying to do including yourself.”
My favorite parts of the book are the serious, thought provoking parts, where Craig expresses his innermost feelings about what he is doing in the park, and I get to peek inside his brain. I enjoyed gaining insight to the man who turned his life upside down for ten days. At times I found myself thinking he was crazy, other times I felt he was brave and courageous.
This crazy, fun, read is more than entertaining as Craig’s imagination goes wild creating characters from the people he meets in the park. His writing skills are overloaded with metaphors and similes that I read over more than once, even jotting some down. One of my favorite similes: “If I am worried and thinking about my bags all day then no matter where I am I have not put them down; like a CEO going on holiday with his work blackberry.”
Share Craig’s ten days in the park by reading The Squirrel That Dreamt Of Madness. It will remind you of forgotten morals while at the same time entertain you with a very crazy, fun, story!
Book Review by Mary Crocco
Against the advice of family and friends, Craig leaves his regular 9-5 day job and after work social life to become an unemployed, homeless man, living in a park in London.
Craig writes, “It can be a struggle sometimes balancing doing what you want to do with doing what everyone else wants you to do; especially when nobody really understands what you are trying to do including yourself.”
My favorite parts of the book are the serious, thought provoking parts, where Craig expresses his innermost feelings about what he is doing in the park, and I get to peek inside his brain. I enjoyed gaining insight to the man who turned his life upside down for ten days. At times I found myself thinking he was crazy, other times I felt he was brave and courageous.
This crazy, fun, read is more than entertaining as Craig’s imagination goes wild creating characters from the people he meets in the park. His writing skills are overloaded with metaphors and similes that I read over more than once, even jotting some down. One of my favorite similes: “If I am worried and thinking about my bags all day then no matter where I am I have not put them down; like a CEO going on holiday with his work blackberry.”
Share Craig’s ten days in the park by reading The Squirrel That Dreamt Of Madness. It will remind you of forgotten morals while at the same time entertain you with a very crazy, fun, story!
Book Review by Mary Crocco
Friday, February 3, 2012
Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer
As a precocious child, Gabriella matures into a young woman who secures an early career as a supernatural specialist. Regarded as a genius, her character lacks appropriate attributes.
The story is repetitious and if condensed would better keep reader’s attention. For this reason, at times it is difficult to continue. As the main character, Gabriella has inconsistencies. Being introduced to readers as being intelligent, her dialogue and decisions don’t typify her character.
The story itself has its merits and I applaud the author’s efforts. It shows Laura Kreitzer has a creative imagination that she will expound in future books.
Readers who enjoy an angel fantasy story will enjoy Shadow of the Sun. The grammatical, sentence, spelling, and omitted words are flaws; however, one can still enjoy the story if it’s an entertaining subject.
The story is repetitious and if condensed would better keep reader’s attention. For this reason, at times it is difficult to continue. As the main character, Gabriella has inconsistencies. Being introduced to readers as being intelligent, her dialogue and decisions don’t typify her character.
The story itself has its merits and I applaud the author’s efforts. It shows Laura Kreitzer has a creative imagination that she will expound in future books.
Readers who enjoy an angel fantasy story will enjoy Shadow of the Sun. The grammatical, sentence, spelling, and omitted words are flaws; however, one can still enjoy the story if it’s an entertaining subject.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
My Take Away Vampire by Derek Haines
A spoof on the vampire craze? A hilarious comedy?
If you read My Take Away Vampire as a comedic vampire spoof, then you will absolutely love Derek Haines novella.
The vampire is Agatha and the comedy comes from Reggie, who is her botched vampire attempt. There is Mr. Fipps, a ghost in the cemetery where Agatha and others sleep for about 300 years. The other characters you simply must have the fun of discovering yourself.
I recommend reading this amusing story especially if you laugh at the zany vampire craze. It’s a quick read and Derek Haines does not disappoint his readers with his appealing writing style. He develops his characters in depth which entice his readers to yearn for more adventures. Such is the case in My Take Away Vampire, but I can’t tell you which character I hope to follow because it will spoil the story.
So check out this entertaining novella and enjoy a good laugh!
If you read My Take Away Vampire as a comedic vampire spoof, then you will absolutely love Derek Haines novella.
The vampire is Agatha and the comedy comes from Reggie, who is her botched vampire attempt. There is Mr. Fipps, a ghost in the cemetery where Agatha and others sleep for about 300 years. The other characters you simply must have the fun of discovering yourself.
I recommend reading this amusing story especially if you laugh at the zany vampire craze. It’s a quick read and Derek Haines does not disappoint his readers with his appealing writing style. He develops his characters in depth which entice his readers to yearn for more adventures. Such is the case in My Take Away Vampire, but I can’t tell you which character I hope to follow because it will spoil the story.
So check out this entertaining novella and enjoy a good laugh!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Devil’s Creek by Paul Maitrejean
If you like The Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits, you will definitely enjoy this short story. Things are not always what they seem.
A young woman, Erika, has car trouble and ends up in Devil’s Creek. Townspeople are concerned on this particular night because it marks the 70 year old legend about the Angel of Death paying the town a visit. Erika is confused trying to figure out if the legend is true.
Paul Maitrejean writes with the perfect amount of suspense for a short story. His readers are engaged and surprised at the twists and turns Erika experiences in Devil’s Creek.
You won’t be disappointed with the Twilight Zone, Outer Limits ending!
A young woman, Erika, has car trouble and ends up in Devil’s Creek. Townspeople are concerned on this particular night because it marks the 70 year old legend about the Angel of Death paying the town a visit. Erika is confused trying to figure out if the legend is true.
Paul Maitrejean writes with the perfect amount of suspense for a short story. His readers are engaged and surprised at the twists and turns Erika experiences in Devil’s Creek.
You won’t be disappointed with the Twilight Zone, Outer Limits ending!
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Chemist by Janson Mancheski
I was scrolling through my Twitter account when I saw a tweet from Janson Mancheski talking about his book, The Chemist. The tweet included a link to a short video clip. It immediately sparked my interest. I sent Janson Mancheski a direct message and he agreed to send me his book to read and review.
The Chemist is a thriller about an elusive serial killer. The actual killer is The Chemist. He is given an apropos nickname by reporters, the Nowhere Man, referring to the fact he has eluded law enforcement for years. Cale Van Waring is the lead homicide detective assigned to solving the missing and murdered women’s cases. He works with two partners in crime, Slink and Staszak, who are his close buddies.
Mancheski develops these relationships in wonderful detail. I found myself anticipating their responses as if I knew them well. Cale has a complicated relationship with his live-in girlfriend, Maggie, which we come to empathize with on many levels.
The subject matter is made sustainable by the beautifully written words of Mancheski. He has mastered language in a way that must be appreciated. His use of vocabulary and metaphors alone is amazing in a story of this nature. Even the format of four to six pages per chapter makes the reading flow at a pleasurable pace.
I’m pleased Mancheski is writing another Cale Van Waring adventure. If I can enjoy a serial killer thriller like The Chemist, I’m anxious to see what new cases Cale and his buddies are assigned. And what about Maggie?
Book Review by Mary Crocco
The Chemist is a thriller about an elusive serial killer. The actual killer is The Chemist. He is given an apropos nickname by reporters, the Nowhere Man, referring to the fact he has eluded law enforcement for years. Cale Van Waring is the lead homicide detective assigned to solving the missing and murdered women’s cases. He works with two partners in crime, Slink and Staszak, who are his close buddies.
Mancheski develops these relationships in wonderful detail. I found myself anticipating their responses as if I knew them well. Cale has a complicated relationship with his live-in girlfriend, Maggie, which we come to empathize with on many levels.
The subject matter is made sustainable by the beautifully written words of Mancheski. He has mastered language in a way that must be appreciated. His use of vocabulary and metaphors alone is amazing in a story of this nature. Even the format of four to six pages per chapter makes the reading flow at a pleasurable pace.
I’m pleased Mancheski is writing another Cale Van Waring adventure. If I can enjoy a serial killer thriller like The Chemist, I’m anxious to see what new cases Cale and his buddies are assigned. And what about Maggie?
Book Review by Mary Crocco
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Seventh Island by Gregory Stenson
If you liked the movie, Fatal Attraction, you will thoroughly enjoy reading The Seventh Island. The main characters, “Unknown Caller,” and Brad Stone, will remind you of Glenn Close and Michael Douglas.
The story is full of suspense keeping the reader on pins and needles sharing the tension of the situations. The characters range from white and blue-collar men, thugs from the city, the occult, and of course, beautiful women.
The Seventh Island is in the Caribbean. This setting provides the reader with a beautiful visual for a part of the story where we find ourselves shouting out loud from our own personal book nook.
The ending may or may not seem predictable; nevertheless, I feel it is suited for the author’s purpose, a sequel.
I’m hoping Gregory Stenson is indeed working on a sequel to The Seventh Island. Readers who enjoy this novel will be on pins and needles waiting to read it!
Book Review by Mary Crocco
The story is full of suspense keeping the reader on pins and needles sharing the tension of the situations. The characters range from white and blue-collar men, thugs from the city, the occult, and of course, beautiful women.
The Seventh Island is in the Caribbean. This setting provides the reader with a beautiful visual for a part of the story where we find ourselves shouting out loud from our own personal book nook.
The ending may or may not seem predictable; nevertheless, I feel it is suited for the author’s purpose, a sequel.
I’m hoping Gregory Stenson is indeed working on a sequel to The Seventh Island. Readers who enjoy this novel will be on pins and needles waiting to read it!
Book Review by Mary Crocco
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