by: Nancy Fulda
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.
Synopsis:
Eugene Gutierez lost his wife, his pride, and part of his sanity during an undercover anti-terrorist operation in South America. Now, he's about to be recruited by operatives from the future; and they're not going to let him say no. Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, this novelette was listed in Tangent Online's 2010 recommended reading list. About 11,000 words.
This is a super fast sci-fi thriller, containing only 31 pages. I read it in a few hours...it would take less without kids. lol
Eugene gets pulled into a black op from the future, forcing him to be a very quick study - he wasn't even supposed to be aware but the constant flashbacks he suffers from prevents the science from working properly.
Add to this finding out his daughter is part of a terrorist group, his world is thrown upside down in a matter of minutes. And he must recover from all this and do the job he volunteered for...well his future self volunteered.
As I said, very fast read. Great descriptions. I got lost in the tech-heavy description of the time-travel, very physics based. But even though I couldn't understand that part, it doesn't really take away from the story. She does try to explain it deeper, but it was still Greek to me.
If you like action packed sci-fi, you'll love this short story. I enjoyed the story, but I think it was too short and too scientific for my tastes. Alas, I can only give this 3 stars. And yes, I would chance other works by this author. She is a very good writer.
by: Rachel Schurig
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords
Synopsis:
Ginny McKensie's life is spiraling out of control.
Finished with college, she should have been planning her wedding. After all, Ginny and Josh were made for each other—everyone said so. Except the love of her life didn't agree.
Now Ginny is back in her hometown, unwillingly single, and stuck in a dead-end job. When she discovers she's pregnant, Ginny is convinced her life is ending. Instead of planning a future with Josh, she's learning the truth about morning sickness, juggling bills, and seeing just how far designer jeans can stretch.
Her life-plan never included dating again (not even with her too-hot new boss), or being a single mother at 23. Now, with the help of her best friends, Annie and Jen, Ginny must try to re-imagine—and rebuild—a life she never wanted.
The cover is so colorful and well drawn that it looks like it will be a fun story. In fact the cover is the reason I couldn't wait to read this one.
The author lives in the metro-Detroit area, and the story takes place there. It was great to see all the references to Royal Oak and Ferndale. Places I've at least heard of and been to before.
The descriptions and dialogue were all top notch. The characters are so well developed, you just love the three girls, Ginny is the central character here. She rooms with her best friends Jen and Annie. Jen is very organized and a great cook. Annie is more wild and an actress. Ginny is unsure of the direction of her life, working as a Nanny when she discovers she is pregnant. Having broken up with Josh, the boyfriend, she is terrified.
The way the author goes into Ginny's feelings really puts you there. Your stomach clenches with the humiliation at what she had done. With the fear of losing her job, the joy at finding her dream job. Ginny really grows in the year of this story. Through her pregnancy, which at times seemed unreal, and after giving birth to Danny and learning to be a mom. And she's a great mom.
I was tensed up when the doctors asked if she wanted a circumcision for Danny and I heaved a heavy sigh of relief when she consulted her friends and finally refused it. I'm just personally against it, and refused it for both the boys.
It's a great story and I can't wait to read the next installment Three Girls and a Wedding, which is told from Jen's perspective. And that makes me think there will be one from Annie's as well. YEAH! I hope Rachel Schurig will let me review them as well.
By: Karen Cantwell
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Synopsis:
If you think PTA meetings are boring, then you haven't attended one in Barbara Marr's neighborhood, where MURDER is on the agenda. Join soccer mom and movie lover, Barbara Marr, in this second laugh-out-loud, chaotic mystery, where high-profile crime and suburban living collide in a most unexpected fashion.
The cover, just like her previous novel, is colorful and quirky. If I saw this as a paperback it would catch my attention. Looks like it is just an e-book right now. But on the bright side it's only $2.99 and worth every penny!
Can you read this if you haven't read Take the Monkeys and Run? Yes! There isn't really much that happened in the first one that she doesn't cover in this one. Like her husband isn't living at home and she explains that with finding out he's an FBI agent their whole lifetime together was thrown under the microscope so she told him that they should start over with dating.
Problem is she misses him dearly and even she thinks she was an idiot for suggesting it. Especially when she sees him dining with a hot blonde. And that's all I can say about this plot line. lol
A character from the previous book, Frank, a mobster who hated killing is back. He is free in exchange for helping the FBI and is turning over a new leaf. He is a chef at the yummy Italian restaurant and brings Barb baked Ziti along with an apology. Oh I hope he's here to stay, he's a hoot!
There are a few times in the book that make me laugh so hard (harder than other places) when Karen makes fun of it being a murder mystery. Like Barbara finding her friend missing and a note written in blood, she calls 9-1-1 and laments "why does this keep happening to me!?" And another friend in the story saying "We've become characters in a silly mystery book." Of course Peggy thinks that's great! Those scenes made me giggle.
Well the mystery is that Bunny and Michelle have a fight after a PTA meeting, the only one Barbara has ever attended. And later that night she gets a strange phone call from Bunny begging her to come over. Barb grabs Roz and they make their way over, when suddenly Barb hears a thump. They hit Michelle. Poor Barb thinks she killed her - but that's where the mystery starts. Police are holding Michelle's husband but Barb is certain Bunny did it. So - who done it? Read the book! You won't regret it.
And before I drop the 5 stars on this one I want to say BEST ENDING EVER!!! It made me all fuzzy and warm inside.
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. What's for breakfast? Chris snagged some extra food from the deli tray after the concert. I had a ham and cheese sandwich but made with rich people ingredients! 12 points of heaven!
2. Do you read a newspaper daily? Good God no! There isn't ever anything I really need to know. Mostly it seems to stress me out, so I avoid it.
3. What do you do when you can't sleep? In the winter I like a hot bubble bath, in the summer I watch TV.
4. Say a word that sums up your mood. eh...
5. Do you remember your dreams? Yes, had a doozy of one last night involving the lady I always see at the Aunt Millie's Outlet Bread Store.
6. Name something from your dream last night. Ok so I mentioned the lady, and I was at our 2nd trailer doing laundry (and no we don't have 2 trailers) and her little girl came over. And when I told her not to touch the clothes she started screaming. And the lady came over and started yelling at me for hurting her little girl who she had just rescued from a terrible situation. I finally got through to her I didn't do anything, but I felt awful for both of them.
7. Name a food that describes you. I never know how to answer this, but this morning I was thinking my current favorite food is the Chicken tikka from the Indian Restaurant in Midland, served over their rice with their toasted naan. It's the BEST!
8. Today you are wearing: A black summer dress I picked up cheap at Kohl's. I'm going to put on a black sweater and my sandals.
9. What's in your pockets? I don't have any pockets, I'm wearing a dress. :P
10. Did you sing in the shower today? No, but I read in the tub. At least until the kids woke up, my b-day present to myself. lol
11. What's the last song you heard? The spiderman theme song from the 1967 version.
12. Looking forward to the holidays? Not really, holidays are just stressful if you are poor.
13. Where do you want to be this instant? Back in bed with a huge glass of Iced Mocha Mocha from Biggby. I'm so sad I already used my freebie coupon.
14. What's for lunch? Who knows, going to my moms.
15. What's something you would like to do soon? get paid to proofread...or just get paid.
16. Reading anything now? What is it? The Kitchen Daughter. My friend over at A Cozy Reader's Corner was reading it and she loved it, so I asked the publisher if I could review it. Yup, it's awesome! Look for the review coming soon.
17. What's for dinner? Lunch, dinner...it's all the same. I really want coffee!!!
18. A favorite part of the day is: When the boys go to sleep and I get to hang out with Chris. It's been nice since getting the boys in their own beds. We watch funny shows, or cheesey movies and talk and laugh. Sure we don't get a date night often, but this makes up for it.
19. Are you happy? I think that I should be, but my emotions don't always cooperate.
20. Guess how many people will do Sunday Stealing this weekend? 65 - do I win a prize if I'm right?
