Review: The Undertaker by William F. Brown

The Undertaker by William F. Brown
ASIN:B004NIFSVG
Published:  January 2011

   If a large man with a gun asked you to explain your obituary, I am sure you would comply..  When you realize, your deceased wife is dragged in to the mess, you might decide to investigate the matter.  Peter Talbott has no idea for the dangerous journey ahead of him in his quest to clear his wife's name. A couple days of poking his nose into the matter ends with Peter on the running from the law and the mob.  Searching for evidence to shore up his theory, Peter meets Sandy Kazmarcik.  Having dragged her into the mess, he feels obligated to keep her safe.  Her judo skills, street smarts, and good looks don't hurt either.  Stumbling onto evidence of the mob's financial affairs and a conspiracy in the Witness Protection program does nothing to ease Peter's fears.  Realizing he cannot trust anyone, Peter figures out a way to expose the conspiracy without ending up dead.

    Peter Talbott was a well developed character with a quirky (California style according to other characters in the book) sense of humor.  Sandy Kazmarcik was a great foil to Peter and their relationship didn't feel forced to carry a story arc. Some of the baddies were textbook villian -- hick sherriff, wily lawyer, etc.  The concept of the novel was well thought out and well played throughout the book. There were some minor editing issues and spelling errors that put me off a bit but overall The Undertaker was a fast paced read. If you like stories about government conspiracies with a dash of romance, this book is a quick and intriguing read. 

Review: The Keepers of the Rose

 

Title: The Keepers of the Rose by D. J. Dalasta
ASIN: B004U2VCII
Available via Amazon Kindle Store


    Hidden for three centuries on Oak Island off the Canadian coast, Captain Kidd's bounty has taunted treasure evaded treasure seekers.  Captain Kidd failed to hide the treasure prior to his capture for piracy.  He was able to pass the mission on to his son Captain Robert Ryder.  Ryder assembled a crew of architects and workmen to build a enclosure to ensure the treasure remained hidden from humans until the year 2012.  Why  2012?  Part of the treasure is vital to humanity's fate.  Several organization -- the CIA, Delega Corporation, and the Keepers of the Rose -- would love to be people with the knowledge and thus the most powerful on earth.  A path of bloodshed, betrayals, and clues that span centuries lead to the point where we begin to understand the secrets of the rose.
    I'm sure you've heard of the ancient Mayan predictions regarding the year 2012.  Rock and his crew realize that the bounty has clues to what the Mayans really meant with their 2012 predictions.  The immense power of the knowledge is further reinforced by the lengths the three groups go to secure the knowledge for themselves.  Who should possess the information that decides the future of humanity?
     If you like suspense and mystery with a touch of  Mayan prophesy lore, this is the book for you.  The book delves into Mayan prophesy and origins and gives an interesting idea of what could be if we were able to understand and harness the Mayan prophesy.  Makes you think.
  
*This book was provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.  *

Kindles, nooks, and My Right to be Nosy

So, I live in NYC, don't have a car and use public transportation or walking to get everywhere.  Lately, on the trains, more than the buses, so many people have e-readers.  I used to look at people's book covers for adds to be to my "to be read" list or just to see who was reading what.  It's always interesting to see people's reading material.  You see the students studying or scribbling assignments to be turned in; people reading the NY Times (in rush hour), or their religious texts, or romance novels (very popular amongst every race and age group of women), or bestsellers.  If I saw more than five people reading a book, I would generally try to borrow it from the library or buy it.  Most of the times the books were actually good books.  Some were demonstrations of the power of a good publicity department.

Now, lots of people have e-readers.  There is really no way to politely find out what someone is reading and many people don't like talking to strangers on the train, hence the nook or the Kindle.  Subway book spotting was an easy way to get an idea of what was hot and what wasn't in the book world.  I'm too shy/cautious to ask someone what they are reading.  I have had people tell me they were reading the same book in their e-reader.

Would you ask a random stranger with an e-reader what they were reading?

Nook or Kindle

• I've been trying to decide for months now whether to get a Kindle or a Nook.  Now, Barnes & Nobles is selling refurbished Nooks on ebay for $79.   I actually like the Nook better for features and look but I'm not sure I should take the leap.  It is getting kind of claustrophobic reading on my cell or laptop.
• For the month of May, I'll be blogging Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project 
• I'm starting a garden; hopefully, I manage to survive the growing season. I have to do some research.
• I'm watching the HBO/BBC miniseries Five Days -- powerful stuff. 
• I love Scandinavian fiction. First Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist -- a vampire novel I could stomach to Mankell's Man from Beijing.
• I want a shellac manicure.  My hands look so raggedy.  I was so good until last week.