Review of The Green House by Dan Lawton

The Green House
by 

Dan Lawton (Goodreads Author)

Robert Ullrich's review

Feb 04, 2020  ·  edit

it was amazing

bookshelves: 2020-challenge

The Green House is a moving story of love, life, death and the struggle of one man to forgive himself. The narrative is excellent, evoking emotional responses and literally painting in the readers mind. It did for me. It is a story I can relate to on a deeply personal level. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Green House to almost anyone.

Link to Green House on Amazon: The Green House

Book Review: From Dusk to Dawn: A Collection of Short Stories by Joe Chilson

          https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q5D3ZVJ/ 

From Dusk to Dawn: A Collection of Short Stories by Joe Chilson (Goodreads Author)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19008907.Joe_Chilson

Robert Ullrich's review, July 31, 2020  · 

Interesting and Captivating

        I've been a fan of short stories and anthologies for many a year -  too many some days. Joe Chilson has assembled a personal anthology of his own short stories.

        From the opening story you may, actually, you should notice you are a very much a part of the stories. Chilson weaves portions of some around you, drawing you in. In some, as in the opening piece, you soon realize it is up to you to fill in the blanks with your own interpretations and imagination. Others seem to be complete, but are they?
        I enjoyed m every story, some more than others, of course.  Particularly those leaving me wondering what would become of a character or storyline.
    Purchase "From Dusk to Dawn" with the assurance you will be entertained and challenged at the same time.

Book Review:T he Sapphire Eruption (The Sword's Choice Book 1) by I.M. Redwright (Goodreads Author)

 

A Truly Epic Adventure

They are occasions when the word epic is used to promote a book, movie, etc. This isn't one of those times. Redwright has created a fantasy world of four kingdoms, each worshiping a god of one of the elements, fire, water, etc. The journey of a young man, rightful heir to the Kingdom Furio is at the center of the epic adventure, as is a young woman chose to be the next Queen of the Kingdom of water and it's god of the Seas. It isn't a quick tale. You are given details to bring the story to life, an adventure far from over.

Book Review: Neon Prey (Lucas Davenport, #29) by John Sandford

 

Having read every book in the Prey series, up to Neon Prey, I am quite familiar with Mr. Sanford's style. Besides, who am I to disagree with Stephen King. Great summer reading, year round for that matter.

Neon Prey, to me, is one of his best. An exceptionally nasty set of bad guys, a good interacting assemblage of good guys, except for the Feebs, of course. No cop likes Feebs, but they will damn sure use them as much as possible when to their advantage.

I don't do spoilers. If you want to know what happened, read Neon Prey. You can thank me later.

Book Review: Dagger Path: Gaiadon Lore. Book One by M.T. Ceres

Only the Beginning

Gaiadon Lore is but the first leg of a fantastical journey in a new world. The author goes to great lengths to paint mental pictures of the characters, mystical creatures and a world unlike any other, and does a very good job. I won't mention the main character's name, it's unique is all I have to say about it.

One recommendation to all who embark upon the Dagger's Path; Do NOT bypass the prologue! It is very much an integral part of the story. And, one tip. There is a glossary at the end of the novel which was very useful to me.

Book Review: "Find Me", by Author Anne Frasier

Find Me (Inland Empire #1) 

by

Anne Frasier   (Goodreads Author)

Rating  

My review

Jun 18, 2020  ·  edit

Read June 18, 2020 to June 23, 2020.

Psychological thriller - well worth the read.

I don't often give out five star reviews. It takes something unique or it must engage me emotionally. Find Me did both.Now, No spoilers from me.

Anne Frasier has done an excellent job of analyzing the psychopathy of what drives some to heinous crimes against humanity and the impact on survivors and the offspring of those who perpetrate these crimes. The characters are very interesting and the thread woven through the story, provides almost as many questions as it does answers. As for the story - don't take anything for granted or at face value, there are more twists and turns then Ranch Road 2222 north of Austin, Texas. (It is considered one of the most dangerous stretches of roadways in Texas.) Google it.

I selected this book on a whim, looking for authors I've yet to read. I did quite well. Definitely recommended reading for the summer. Get it at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082HS7291/

You can thank me later.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1996211.Robert_Ullrich

Review of "Scavenger Hunt" by Michaelbrent Collings

This is not your typical scavenger hunt – my understatement of the year. A group of seemingly unconnected strangers a forced into a life and death struggle by an unknown individual. It’s extremely difficult for me to describe the novel sans spoilers, however – here goes. There is an underlying connection between all the parties involved; parties who much keep together and work together or face the consequences from the one controlling the “game”. All this happens against the backdrop of an FBI case referenced from time to time. Mr. Collings had me fooled right up to the end, despite having woven a tapestry of clues, albeit slim in some cases, they are there. I was not only surprised by the ending, it provided food for thought. What sort of thought? That, my fellow readers is not something I will share here. 😉

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZR8HBC3/

Book Review: This Darkness Light, by Michaelbrent Collins

This Darkness Light by Michaelbrent Collings

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It is sometimes nigh impossible to review a novel like "This Darkness Light" without sounding like you're getting paid to review it, which I was not. This was the first and latest novel by Mb Collings I've read. June of 2018 was the first, just finished the second. Yes - it's that good.

Several have gone into detail concerning the plot and characters, so I won't repeat those insights. I read This Darkness Light the second time because the first left me mentally shell-shocked. I was new to Mr. Collings as a reader. My intro to him was via Fivver and a search for a cover for my first novel. Mb won the competition, so I decided by way of gratitude I would give a couple of his books a read.

Damn good call on my part. The prose in this particular novel is a well-woven as the plot. The characters well-defined in a manner rarely matched. Good vs. evil. Unsung heroes and heroines. Unlikely alliances and unexpected turns.

The first novel I read twice was The Lord of the Rings at the age of 15. I can count on one hand the books I love enough to read time and again. I have now added This Darkness Light and Mr. Collings along side of works by Tolkien, Stephen King, Anne Rice, James Clavell, Alexander Dumas and T. H. H. White which I will never tire of re-reading.

If you've read other works by MC, you'll want to add this one. If you've never read anything by this author - this is the perfect place to start.



View all my reviews

Review of "Suicide by Everest", a novel by Scott J. Thurman

"Suicide by Everest" 

This is my first read of a work by Author Scott Thurman, a talented writer with a knack for historical fiction.

"Suicide by Everest"; a title that catches you eye and curiosity - it did mine. I am somewhat familiar with the Prestige which comes from scaling her, and the exceptional risks.

"Suicide" is the story of Brigham Young VIII, son of Brigham Young VII and what I perceive as the struggle to wear such a famous name. The pressure, the expectations, the life of privilege tempered by the expectations of such a legacy in the Mormon community.

It also deals quite well with the loss of a parent - the different effects on siblings and others left behind.

I am not a "spoiler" reviewer. I read it - you should, too. It may help you understand the reality of growing up with a "famous" name draped over you like a mantle.

Good character development - meaningful dialogue - unique story-line.

"Suicide by Everest" is out of my preferred genres in reading - but was well worth the side-trip.

Get Your Copy on Amazon

Put it on your want-to-read shelf today.

Robert Ullrich, Phantom Scorpio Productions

Book Review - Holy Ghost (Virgil Flowers #11) - John Sanford

SBN 9780735217324
Rating	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars[ 4 of 5 stars ]5 of 5 stars
Review	No spoilers from me. It's not, in my opinion, necessary in a book review. Holy Ghost is the latest and strangest of the Virgil Flowers series. I am a major fan of John Sanford, particularly the Prey Series, with Virgil a close second. How can you NOT like "that effing Flowers." Even a couple civilians use his infamous nickname. Holy Ghost, like all the Flowers novels is set in Minnesota. The strange part I referred to is the backdrop. An appearance at a local Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary - caught on camera and cell phones. I really had to take that in stride and let it play out because it is the backdrop to multiple shootings, seemingly random - yet somehow connected. This one drives Virgil to the brink of frustration as he tries to piece it together, only to find suspects and lose them just as quickly. This one one had me as confused as Virgil for quite awhile. The plot is well-woven into the fabric to the point of obscurity - but the hints and red herrings are there if you look closely. Bottom line. A very good read which kept me engaged. Sanford, as usual paints a bevy of characters that come to life as you read. The twists and turns move quickly, sometimes to where your head will be spinning. John Sanford never disappoints, and Holy Ghost is no exception. Classic Effing Flowers with just the right touch of Shrake and Jenkins.