Reviews
No Passengers
The novella, No Passengers by Elainie La Force, took me on a thrilling, fast-paced ride through the Russian woods after “the line goes dead. Anna sits in the cooling water, naked and shivering, staring at the black screen in dizzy discombobulation.
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The bathroom is silent except for the drip of the faucet.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of screeching tires jolts her from her trance. Anna launches herself out of the tub.”
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This story is about a naïve, young woman, eagerly trying to prove herself to her employer, a Russian bank. In the process, she ignores the wolf in sheep’s clothing who coaxes her into breaking the law. After unwittingly laundering a million USD, Anna goes on the run. But will she make it to her destination? Read this page-turner to find out.
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La Force craftily spins a story that has you rooting for the main character, while clutching your shirt and scooting to the edge of your seat to see what happens next when you turn the page. Although La Force missed an opportunity to steep us in setting in the earliest chapters, she more than makes up for it later. This novella is well-written.
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Sabrina Tells Maddie The Truth About Her Past
Sabrina Tells Maddie the Truth About the Past by George Bachman is supposed to be a horror story. Are you into blood and gore? Are you into bone-chilling fear? If so, this story will deliver neither. Instead, I’d classify it as fantasy or paranormal. Bachman’s writing sparkles with snappy dialogue. However, interjections with Maddie’s tablet sometimes serve as a distraction rather than a plot device.
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The story is about the mysterious disappearance of film star Madeline Ionescu and her seventeen-year-old friend, Sabrina Bogdan, a college freshman. Police have questioned both women about a previous murder. So, their disappearance appears timed to escaping further questioning. However, strange things occur while the two women are holed up in a burnt-out home while performing witchcraft. While Sabrina recovers long-buried memories, dangerous questions arise about Maddie.
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Because Bachman wrote the bulk of the book in transcribed text, an effective melding of plot, character, and pacing couldn’t be realized without the book seeming disjointed at times. I would love to have gotten into at least one of the characters’ heads. I also would have loved a description of each character as well as a better description of their movements. Overall, I think this is a fantasy or paranormal book.
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Readers of horror fiction will find this book disappointing. However, readers of fantasy or paranormal fiction might take a liking to this book. I rate this book a 3-star read because it is more suitable for the audience I mentioned, and it reads like a screenplay instead of a book.
Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria
Lovers of history as well as Jewish fiction will enjoy this book because I have. After experiencing a range of emotions including admiration then outrage, I finally settled on relief and praise for Ellis Shuman’s Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria. These stories promise to entertain you as well as provoke thoughts on humanity. Sometimes, the tears are worth it.
Ellis Shuman painted a beautiful picture of Sofia, Bulgaria. This setting became a character because it encompassed all the stories in this book. By providing sensory details about Sofia, Shuman dropped me into Sofia, Bulgaria.
52 Weeks A Party Of One
52 Weeks A Party Of One plunges readers into the life of Aisha Jones, a young thirty-something-year-old coming to terms with the betrayal of her live-in boyfriend and her best friend. So, she moves from Denver to Dallas to process her relationships, including the ones shared with her mother, brother and deceased father. While working on herself, Aisha discovers her true identity, and it angers and confuses her while she navigates new relationships she forms in Dallas. At times I wanted to shake Aisha, and at times I wanted to hug her.
The characters come alive on the page; they speak to the reader. Bianca Pensy Aba’s characterization, dialogue and settings ring true, and all of it serves to move the plot along fabulously. Aisha Jones’s evolution over the 52 weeks shows why this novel is a must read.
All Money Ain't Good Money
INTRODUCTION TO INVESTING
Although this book does not replace a financial advisor, it tells you what to expect from one. By demonstrating how he invests in the stock market, Vladyslav Grabarskyy walks readers through the investing process. He provides information on the different types of stocks while advising readers to diversify. Written with a structure the reader can understand, the book is professionally edited to reflect and match the author’s professionalism. I highly recommend this book. It’s a five-star read.
The Misery House
A hair-raising novel, The Misery House by David Kummer, rivets readers to its pages and compels them to turn the pages with lightning speed. With themes of class consciousness and racial overtones woven into this psychological thriller, readers root for the novel’s protagonist, Kaia Woods. Smart, sassy and strong-minded, Kaia Woods proved to be my favorite character because of her mental and emotional strength, and her strong dose of courage shines through when she stands up for justice and her best friend.
But the scariest part in this novel is the setting. Because the setting is alive, it represents a character in the novel. Kummer braids character, plot and setting with such ease that the reader bonds with all three. This is a fast and easy read.
As a reviewer, I obtain free books in exchange for an honest review. In this case, I purchased this psychological thriller because I want readers to know the first in this trilogy is well worth the money. I look forward to reading the two sequels. The Misery House is captivating from start to finish.
LOVE SPELLS CRAFTING HAVOC
A blend of romance and fantasy for the young adult genre, Love Spells by Gino Cox, was entertaining. Juveniles witches Dizzy, Tilly and Drew will have you in stitches trying to play match maker for their parents resulting in comedic consequences. The characters speaking in rhymes was a nice touch. However, far too many characters with their own point of view populated the novel. The short chapters were jarring. Other drawbacks to this novel is the lack of development of setting as well as the feeling of a rushed ending. The loose ends could’ve been tied off better while achieving the same result. Overall, this was a good book, and I rate it 3 stars.
HEAVY TALK BY STACK McINTYRE
Heavy Talk by Stack McInTyre chastises the misguided and uplifts black women, representing a deviation from the Hip-Hop genre. McInTyre’s poetry is based on the author’s life and experiences, and one can understand as well as empathize with the author’s plight. Instead of placing blame, the author takes responsibility for his life’s choices, and he implores others to do the same. His poetry is insightful and thoughtful, casting a rhythm that could be used in a movie soundtrack. I highly recommend Heavy Talk! It's a Five Star Read.
- Tracey Lampley
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THE PHAGE
GEORGE BACHMAN
This book begins with a character looking for a party, but something goes horrifically wrong in the first chapter. Due to murderous circumstances, Alicia and Chelsea are thrown together. What if the world’s survival depended on these young adults? Totally dependent on each other, the duo navigate treachery and evil while dodging overgrown insects and prehistoric animals brought back to life.
The goose-bump-inducing novel, The Phage by George Bachman, will have readers grasping and sometimes clawing at their seats and slamming their eyes shut while turning the pages. The Phage draws readers into its vortex of terrifying action, fully developed characters—including a seemingly unbeatable villain—against a backdrop of a frightening setting. George Bachman brilliantly has the main characters displaying courage under fire while the characters ooze enthusiasm and sarcasm to defeat their enemy. From start to finish, The Phage is an exciting read!
- Tracey Lampley
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UNDEPRESSED -
WALEED MAHMUD
Waleed Mahmud’s Undepressed serves as a companion piece to people suffering from depression and the traumas associated with it. By concentrating on trauma and its root cause or causes, Mahmud answers a question often asked: what causes depression? As a result, Mahmud is both thoughtful and thorough when describing the disease and when providing remedies for it.
I see this book as a gift for people suffering from depression and a gift for people trying to understand the disease that’s afflicting their loved ones. Surviving or living with depression is not easy. This book champions the depressed while helping them activate much needed coping skills. This is a must read.
- Tracey Lampley
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THE VESSEL GAMES
E.J. EDEN
Loved it, loved it.
A wonderful story with real heart and passion. Highly recommended
Tracey Lampley