Dominated by the President

From the Publisher: Love/sex story between Jake, the first Black president of the United States and Sara, a cowgirl.

Sara moves to Washington D.C. after her family's farm has been repossessed. Jake, the first black and one of the few single presidents in US history, is under extreme pressure to find a first lady.

The relationship gets increasingly intense with both parties pushing boundaries and coming up with new ideas.

My Review: At the start, we meet Sara. She is dealing with getting her family farm ready to sell since she has no funds to keep it up. Both of her parents have passed away, with her Dad having passed just recently. She is in a pretty bad place. When she returns to the house to pick something up, she sees a group of men there. She approaches them and that's when she learns the truth as to why no one would help her save her farm. They wanted her property to build a bigger farm corporation!
She decides to move from the small town in Virginia to the big city, Washington, D.C.! There she meets and moves in with a couple, Rachel and Colin. They are nice to Sara and teach her all about living in a big city. At first, they understand Sara is "podunk" as Rachel likes to say, but eventually they get Sara out of her shell. Sara comes to realize that she has suppressed her sexual nature her whole life and then one night it is awakened. I won't give away how, you'll have to get the book :)

Meanwhile, Jake, the first black President is newly divorced and looking for a companion. He knows the type of woman he wants but his Advisor, Al has in mind is something totally different. He suggests bringing in women for one night stands...nobody that will be permanent. Jake, on the other hand wouldn't mind finding someone who he not only has an intellectual connection with but also physical.

All of it comes to a head when Sara protests outside the White House how the small town farmers are being mistreated. When Al sees her, he and some secret service agents rush out to stop her! They bring her in but not before Jake sees all of the commotion out of his window. At first, he is upset because he doesn't want her causing any problems for him but after seeing her, he has another problem. Any guesses as to what that is?? ;)

We are left wondering how, and if they will get together. And if they do, will it be something that lasts or will it be a fling? This is just Part 1 but you definitely need to read it to get all the juicy details! I can't wait for Part 2 and see how the story plays out.

Click here to purchase this novella on Amazon!

**** 4 Stars

*Please note that this book contains explicit sexual content and is NOT intended for young 
readers.

Burnout

From the Publisher: Goosey Larsen isn't your average detective, and it's doubtful that he'll ever reach that level of performance. His annual personnel review described him as someone who "lacks motivation" and "needs to improve his interpersonal skills."

Goosey can usually be found coming in late or sneaking out early, but when dead bodies start turning up in downtown Charleston, Goosey is forced to do the one thing he hates most: policework.

My Review: This book has three of my favorite things (in no particular order):

1. Mystery.
2. Humor
3. Charleston, SC

If you give me a book with just one of those, I'm happy. If you give me one with two, I'm giddy. If all three are there, I'm ecstatic! Author James Vachowski gives us a book that is full of humor and takes us into the mind of a police officer that is just doing enough work to not get fired. Detective Mike Larsen (a.k.a. Goosey) of the Charleston Police Department has been on the force for years. He is in charge of missing person cases. He tries to keep a low profile so the higher up's won't give him any more work to do but when his pager goes off at 6:30 a.m. one morning, little does Mike know that that is the start of a whirlwind week for him!

He's called to a crime scene at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) where a body has been found floating in a pool. Of course, Larsen is wanting it to be an accidental death. That way, he won't have so much paperwork to do but when the ID of the body comes back a missing person, he's got a full blown case on his hands. Just what he didn't want.

That is just the start of it. More bodies keep turning up and they all are classified as "missing persons" and they all have one thing in common. A mysterious chemical in their blood that cannot be identified. Why do the bodies have this same chemical in them and why are they all classified as "missing"? Who could be behind it all and will Mike be able to figure it all out before someone else dies and he has one more case to add to his workload?? You've just got to buy the book to find out! :)

I really did enjoy this book and recommend it if you like humorous mysteries. The characters in it are hilarious, and very well thought out. The nicknames Vachowski gives them are hilarious as well! The only thing I wish was explained that wasn't, was how Mike got his nickname, Goosey. I guess we can only speculate :) And the only thing I really didn't like about the book was that it seemed to end abruptly. I would have liked to have had an epilogue so I could have seen what happened after the crime was solved. If you read the book, maybe you'll see what I'm saying :) I don't want to give any of it away! But other than that, it was really good!

Click here to purchase Burnout on Amazon!

*Please note: Burnout does have some language in it but not too bad. And there were a few typos but not bad enough to make me want to stop reading. Example, the name of a doctor in the book is one thing but a couple of lines later, it is something else. I had to re-read to make sure he was talking about the same person. That was the biggest one. The others were little, like a misspelled word. 

                                                  ****4 Stars! I really liked this book!!

THUMP

From the Publisher: T.M. Jefferson, a handsome African American man, joined a venerable investment firm in Baltimore five years ago as a junior analyst. Henrietta Kingman, a white partner in her fifties, took him on as her lover and protege, rewarding him with promotions and bonuses. But when Jefferson falls in love with a young nurse and attempts to end the relationship with Kingman, she fights back with unbridled viciousness. Faced with losing everything he holds dear, he files a lawsuit claiming sexual harassment. The dramatic trial cracks the facade of wealth and privilege, exposing the ugly truth - and then some.

My Review: Before I even started this book, I really wasn't too keen on reading it. I don't know why. Maybe it was the name or maybe I just wasn't feeling it. Have you ever had that feeling about a book? This isn't the first time and I know it won't be the last. However, when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Literally. I honestly read the whole book in one day! Well, I did put it down for a couple of hours (I had to eat!) but picked it right back up and read till the end.  It was that engaging.

As the story starts, we are introduced to T.M., aka Thump, and his beautiful girlfriend, Tiffany. They seem like a very happy, young couple in love. She is a nurse and he works at the investment firm, KKG...working his way to the top.

Thump (his nickname comes from a certain body part. I won't go any further ;)) seems like a pretty nice guy! On his way to work every morning, he stops by McDonald's and gets a egg sandwich and two coffee's. He gives one coffee and the sandwich to a homeless man he passes every morning on his way to work.

This particular morning, when Thump is pulling in the parking garage, he is met by one of the senior partners, Henrietta Kingman. At first you think it's all very casual and it's just a business relationship but as the story progresses, we see that is a very different story. We see Thump, even though dating Tiffany, he meets with potential female clients that just happen to be Ms. Kingman's friends. At those "meetings" the women agree to give their business to KKG. Thump is a good looking guy and Kingman uses that to her, and the company's, advantage.

One day, Thump is made Vice President. He's been there 5 years and is so excited that he takes Tiffany out to dinner that night and proposes! Of course she accepts, but only after asking Thump to be true only to her. No more women. He agrees. Little does he know that Kingman will not make this easy for him.

Try as he might to stay true to his word, Kingman uses her power in the company and over him to manipulate him into still engaging in sexual matters with her and/or her clients. Will Thump give in or stay true to Tiffany??

There is so much more to this book than what I am telling now. I just don't want to give any thing else away!!! Author Avraham Azrieli goes more in depth into matters that are relevant to today's society and what might or might not be going on in our corporations. It deals with sexual harassment, racism, love, trust, and what one will or won't do to get to the top. Thump is very well written. In fact, it is one of the most well written books I've read in a while. Normally, while I read I also do editing in my head. I catch a misspelled word, or if a sentence or event is out of place. With Thump, I don't recall any of that. Well, maybe one word was misspelled but that was it! I was really impressed. It's a book that when you're done with it, you actually feel like you've read something worth while. I really like books like that.

My only complaint about the book is that it was 69 chapters. That is very long. However, the chapters were short (3 swipes on the iPad) in most cases. I would have liked it better if Azrieli would have had chapters of normal length and not so many short ones. In my experience, the book seems to flow better that way. Other than that, it was wonderful.

 Click here to get the book on Amazon!

**Please note that his book has a subject matter that is for mature adults. It contains scenes and situations that are not suitable for young readers.**

                                                       ****4 Stars! I really, really liked this book! 

Exodus Lost

From the Publisher: Exodus Lost reopens cold cases from antiquity and applies cutting-edge science, classical scholarship, and tenacity to solve them. The adventure begins with Aztec and Mayan chronicles of an epic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. By mapping the details within these texts, the author tracks down their lost homeland and corroborates the local traditions of an ocean-crossing long before Columbus. This discovery leads to new insights into the origins of Mexican and Western civilizations, the Bible (including new archaeological evidence for two major biblical events), the alphabet, and much more. Enter a world of exploration and discovery, mystery and revelation. Whether your passion is archaeology or religion, history or simply a great adventure, Exodus Lost delivers.

Beautifully illustrated with 126 photos, maps, and engravings.

My Review: Although this is typically not my genre of book to review, I found it fascinating! The history that is put forth, that I had no idea of, really held my attention and taught me new things. I guess the saying is true, you never stop learning.

Not only does this book talk about the history before Columbus (honestly, I've never thought about it! :)), it talks about The Mayan's and others and it also talks about Jesus and the way he used the alphabet in some of his parables and sermons. I found that to be very interesting!

I am a homeschool mom and this is a book that I will be getting out in a couple of years to help teach them these parts of history. I highly recommend this book! It is a fascinating look into parts of history that most of us don't even know about. Compton has done a great job in researching and putting all of it together.

Click here to get it on Amazon!

                                                                *****5 Stars!!!

Black Caviar, Book 1: I'm Living But I'm Not Alive

From the Publisher: Move over Al Capone, there's a new gangster in Chi Town, and his name is Daman. He's vicious, calculative and a genius in his own right. "I'm Living But I'm Not Alive" was the scary contradiction he uttered every night since the murder of his brother.

28 years later, the well renowned chess player sharpens the blades of capitalism with the American dream wet stone, and finds himself at the top table in the city's underworld. Rubbing shoulders with the Chicago Mayor, gives him amenities beyond the normal gangster's scope. He lives life as if it's the only thing he has.

On one hand, the devilishly good looking charmer is a family man, but on the other, he's the head of Chicago's most infamous D Organization. His hard and unforgiving exterior secretes a weakness that is exposed in the form of Jane, the series black widow. Please don't be fooled by her passion for high heels and sexy undergarments. She assumes the lingerie she displays is more than 'Agent Provocateur.' As she remembers from her days at law school, the words are a French legal term for "entrapment."

Tonight, the two meet at a luxurious boat party, which sparks a fear-provoking journey into the unknown. Can Daman avoid her mind-bending games, which threaten to loosen his grip on the Windy City's windpipe, or will Jane get caught up in her own sticky web of deceit and pay the ultimate price?

One thing's sure; Daman will understand what the great Abraham Lincoln once said: Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

My Review: Daman is the biggest drug dealer in Chicago. He wants to keep it that way.

The story starts out with Daman and his little brother Dean, aka "String Bean." They are young and living in a friends apartment while their mom gets back on her feet. You can tell then that Daman is into selling to help the family out. It all seems so innocent, in a sense. Until one day, after being kicked out of the apartment, the boys are at a gas station and while Dean is inside, he witnesses his older brother get shot. Does he survive?

Fast forward 20+ years and we see Daman again. Only, is it Daman or someone else? Now, he is head of the D Organization. The largest in the city of Chicago. He has foot soldiers do his work on the streets. Politicians, Police officers, and the like on his payroll. He has built an empire that he does not want to share or see taken down. He has built a life. He has a wife and two beautiful daughters. But in the drug world, everybody wants to be top dog.

As we follow Daman on his quest to stay at the top, we are taken on a ride with so many twists that your head will spin. There are so many components to this story that you will want to keep turning the page to see what in the world is going to happen next. There are a ton of characters, all of which at one point of another will leave you asking, who is good? Who is the enemy? And the ultimate question, which is will Daman stay on top or will a mysterious stranger who is threatening to take him down, win?

You need to get the ebook and find out!! Click here to get the book on Amazon!

*Please note that this story does contain adult content. With its use of drugs and sex, it is not suitable for young readers...not that you would make this a bedtime story by any means. Just wanted to give you, the reader, a heads up so you wouldn't leave it lying around for little eyes :)

Also, the book has a lot of chapters. So when you start it, be sure you allow yourself ample time to finish. As a reviewer, I would have liked it to be a little shorter (no more than 35 chapters, and that's at the most!) and maybe even edited to take out some of the very descriptive parts...the parts that just seemed to not have much significance. But, I'm not trying to take away from the story. Overall, it was very good. So, it's a give and take, I guess. There were a few grammatical errors as well and some sequences of events didn't flow very well. But it wasn't enough of a put off to not continue reading.

                                           ****4 stars! I really liked this book

                              

The Seeker

Publisher Review: Who am I really? It's a question that has been haunting me since I first discovered I was a Tracer, a Royal. A secret race of humans that are in the midst of a civil war, a war that I'm now involved in too.

The Morters killed my adopted parents without hesitation. They came after me too and my friends. But I survived, as well as I could anyway.

An entire Royal family that preceded generations of Tracers, all wiped out in a matter of hours. Almost all anyway. How? Why?
All these questions are pushing me deeper into the depths of the dead. But the secrets they left behind, the secrets of my people, those are what keep me up at night and alert everywhere else.
I've discovered my abilities. Fought great evil and won. Or so I thought. There's something coming. Something dark and powerful. I know it's coming for me but I don't know if I'll survive it this time round.

My name is Jerry Daniels. I'm 21 years old. Yesterday, I saved my friends. Today, I learn more about my people. Tomorrow, I prepare for war.

My Review: I need to start out by saying that this book took me off guard a little. In the beginning, I honestly didn't know what to think of it. Was it another sci-fi wanna be thriller? Well, I have to say it wasn't! And I'm glad about that :) This isn't a genre that I'm too keen on but this was a pretty good book, if I do say so. It was different, funny and had some twists that I didn't see coming.

I believe that this was the second book in the series because of some things that were brought up that had no mention prior in the book. I would have liked to have read the first one so I could have been caught up. However, it didn't keep me from reading.

We follow the "hero" Jerry on his quest to find out who killed his parents, who is brother is and what, if at all, is the story behind the grim reapers...that's an interesting twist that you have to read. Jerry is a tracer and a part of a Royal elite that are the good guys. After his parents were murdered, he is on a quest to find out who did it. Along the way, he and his friend, Quincy, who is a regular human with no special abilities at all, find an orb. The orb helps the Royals, the tracers with their special abilities. This orb starts the journey!

The story is fast paced with Jerry dodging the Morters (the bad guys...or are they??) and trying to find out the mystery of where his friend Rachel has gone and who the Reapers are. Can he find all of it out in time to save mankind? You have to get the book and find out! :)

Jerome Gilden does a good job bringing a fresh new way of writing. He tells a lot of it in first person and is very witty with the humor and feeling like you are right there in his mind.

I do need to say that there were a few parts of the story that had grammatical errors and also parts that said one thing, then a few sentences later, stated something different. But it wasn't something that made me put the book down. I just wanted to let you, the reader, know about it :)

To purchase The Seeker on Amazon, click here!

                             4 = COFFEE TALK! Good book. I believe most others will like it.

Voodoo Ridge

From the Publisher:It's 1956. A plane bearing a mysterious cargo takes off from a small airport outside Los Angeles and disappears into a raging storm. Nearly 60 years later, while flying over California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, retired military assassin-turned-civilian flight instructor and would-be Buddhist Cordell Logan catches a glint of sunlight on metal and spots what appears to be an aircraft wreckage. His life will never be the same.

Voodoo Ridge is a fast-paced adrenaline-fueled thrill ride filled with the kind of unexpected twists, full-throttle action and wry humor that won Freed's Flat Spin, Fangs Out, the first two installments in the Cordell Logan mystery series, rave reviews and a legion of loyal fans.

My Review: Voodoo Ridge is the third installment in the Cordell Logan series by David Freed. I wish I would have known about it sooner because I thoroughly enjoyed this one!! I just hate I came in without knowing the characters and the past experiences that had taken place. Although, Freed is good about highlighting things that happened in the past books. 

So the book starts out in 1956. We are taken to a small airport on a dark and rainy night. I love the first line "It rained that night as if Noah and his Ark were making a comeback." On this night, a man armed with a gun gets the airport security guard to load a heavy container onto an airplane. It's very mysterious and we don't know what's in the container or what it's going to be used for.

Fast forward to the present. Cordell Logan and his ex-wife Savannah are heading to the doctor. She's pregnant! (This is where I wish I would have read the previous books) Apparently, Savannah left Logan for his former fellow covert operator, Arlo Echevarria, 6 years prior. After Arlo's death, they reconciled and are now expecting! With all the good feelings of having a baby together, and the fact that Logan never really did get over Savannah, he asks her to marry him...again. She of course says YES! So off to Lake Tahoe they go.

Logan is a pilot. He was once a National Security assassin, now turned flight instructor. He owns his own plane. Even if it's an old 1973 Cessna, it works and they load it up and head to Tahoe with high hopes and dreams of starting a new chapter in their lives together. Just the three of them. This is where the story get's really interesting.

When they are not far from Lake Tahoe, flying over the mountains, Logan spots a shimmer of light from below. Being a pilot, it's his duty to report it in case it's a downed plane. He does. So what started out as a romantic getaway to remarry, turns into something that will change their lives forever! The story is so good that if I say anything else, I'll give it away! And I don't want to rob anyone of it, so you need to get the book and read the full story :) Just know that there is murder, kidnapping and the mystery that's 60 years old that relates to all of it. Can Logan figure it all out in time?

David Freed has written a great cast of characters. All of which you can just see and really feel like they exist. He writes in such a way that you feel isn't fiction at all but something that is happening while he's telling you about it. Not only is it serious in parts, but it also has great humor in it too.

I really, really enjoyed this book! I have to say, it took me a few chapters to really get into it but after that, I was fully engrossed. I read the first 5 chapters one day and the rest of the book the next. I could not put it down! I had to keep turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. And it did not disappoint! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery. Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Please note that Voodoo Ridge does not release until May 2014! So bookmark this page so it'll be easy to purchase :)

                                                      *****5 Stars Bravo! A must read!