Review of SPEAK NO EVIL

SPEAK NO EVIL

TANYA ANNE CROSBY

Review by Author Roy Murry

Flo, a wealthy socialite newspaper heiress, dies supposedly falling a flight of stairs. She leaves a will in which her three daughters must complete specific tasks while living together in the family mansion for one year to receive their inheritance.

The eldest daughter must manage the newspaper; the middle daughter is to renovate the house, and the youngest is to write a novel. Neither wants the jobs needed to full fill the mother's will.

However, if one fails, no one gets the money. Let the games begin. The women must work harmoniously or fail.

Interwoven into the above scenario is a love story, a serial killer, and the Charleston wetlands that have a secret to unravel.  All collide into a thrilling story, ending in a flame.

Ms. Crosby does hook the reader in because many questions are left open after an ending event that would have nullified the beginning circumstance. Well worth the read - easy flowing, good characters, and twist and turns that keep the reader engaged.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2uvozOF

Review of THE SOUL OF THE WORLD

The Soul of the World

Roger Scruton

Nothingness is on the other side - death. Therefore, should we believe in a monolithic god or just faith in one?

This and other questions of personal relationships, moral intuitions, and aesthetic judgments to light in this exceptional understanding of the world in which we live.

Sir Roger has gone into his "Nothingness," on January 12, 2020, with his passing over into another realm. He died — this book published in 2016.

In this lecture driven book, he outlines the journey us humans take in this time on earth - how we commune, how we think, and our thoughts of death and a higher power's participation in it – sacred vs. atheism. You have to be a bit of a philosophy scholar to understand his dissertation fully.

At times, his writing had me at a disadvantage, but his examination of human beings and their relationship with each god made sense.  Kant and Sartre’s philosophies drove home his points of observation at the end of this long read.

Sir Roger's explanations of the human mind, using his cognitive dualism, helped complete part of my life's journey. We will meet him in Nothingness soon enough.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2O6pWKb

Review of The Irish Cottage

THE IRISH COTTAGE

Finding Elizabeth

JULIET GAUVIN

Review by Author Roy Murry

Elizabeth, a persuasive, successful litigator's surrogate mother, dies, and Beth, as she is known, goes to Ireland to contemplate her future. She takes seven letters from that mother to read on her journey.

She meets Connor, and with the reading of those letters and fate, their involvement goes up each level after an instructive template of life. Each person has their psychological baggage to overcome the love affair.

Connor's friends are amazed at his change; Connor is overcome at Beth's transformation from the first day they met.  Both adults mend together physically and emotionally to the edge of saying, 

'I love you.'  

The ending of this journey is uplifting and will leave the reader wanting more when Beth leaves for London to full fill a quest, and Connor goes on an extended business trip.  I believe they will meet again in The London Flat, book two. I could be wrong, but...

Book one is an excellent hook into book two. You'll love it.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/30xjS2B

Review of A MATTER OF TRUST

A Matter of Trust

LONDON CALLING, Book 1

KAT FAITOUR

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

This romance novel was like foreplay from cover to end. Bennett of his namesake company Sterling International has hired Devon, a beautiful, intelligent woman to work for his company after Human Relations gave her a top approval rating.

One look, and he put his stamp of approval. The company is based in London – she is USA American; he is English.

Sparks in his brain or his loin attracts him to her and vice-a-versa. He, however, does not have relations with employees since one betrayed his trust in a past relationship.

He wants her; she wants him plays out for most of the novel.  She is confused, and he is not. He plays games with his intentions.

Emotions conflict between the two. Those go on until a family cohort of hers interjects himself into the business sexual relationship with a game that could prove Bennet's untrusting ways with women he cares.

The relationship arrives at a conclusion that may be resolved in Book 2 of the series. I may read that endeavor.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2tUAZz6

Review of IF SHE KNEW

IF SHE KNEW

BLAKE PIECE

Review by Author Roy Murry

I love a mystery, and this is a good one. Kate Wise solves the ones no one at the FBI can, but she is retired at fifty-five.

But she has antsy pants and wants to get back into the action when a friend is murdered. The family asks her to investigate, but her hands are tied because she has no official standing.

Then another event happens with her FBI supervisor giving her credentials to act as a temp-agent. With a new young partner, the action begins, but all roads lead to a dead-end.

Agent Wise does what she does well - think through all the events and never gives up even when she is taken off the case, and the police have their killer. Her efforts lead to an exciting ending that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/2F6XdA8

Check Kindle price $.00 and buy book 2 for $3.99

Review of Bound

BOUND

Book One in the

Witches of Doyle

Trilogy

KIRSTEN WEISS

Review by Author Roy Murry

Fairies were even less believable than vampires...Karin, the witch narrator of this Cozy Mystery series, mused.  I guess if you believe in fairies and vampires, you believe in witches.

There is a murder in one of the sister's coffeeshop that starts a whirl-wind of a mystery, both about three sister witches and a couple of other events. Karin, the logical witch, tries to unravel the illogical to save her sister from jail.

On the road to understanding the mystery, love, and death approaches when a vital clue comes to light. A spell is a crucial solution if it doesn't backfire on Karin. 

There are highs and lows to this exciting story of how three witches overcome generations of curses. If you believe in witches, you'll enjoy this adventure into fantasy.

It was a fun read, both genres I love to read - witches and a mystery rolled into one. Have some fun; spells are included.

Purchase Bound https://amzn.to/34LYhUk

Review of UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS

UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS

MARK R. LEVIN

Review by Roy Murry, Author

I have paraphrased Matthew Pressman on a history of reporting, Chapter 1: Workaday reporters (Should) had to stick to the four W's and one H; who, what, when, where, and how.  The 'why' question (Should be) was beyond their purview. I put in (Should) because I, like many non-party-aligned voting Americans, feel that way.

In our world today, this is not the modus operandi of our Main Stream Media, according to what I have taken from Mr. Levin's expose of the current reporting the news. Too many progressive ideas are embedded in news content these days.

He goes into detail as to how media treats President Donald J. Trump vs. recent past presidents, giving the pros and cons of those endeavors. Also presented in the pages of his book are some ways in which other presidents used and abused the press, leaving the reader with the thought that President Trump has not abused his power against the media.

Mr. Levin's intelligent read was sometimes above my comprehension, but educating me as I followed along. His explanations are one of the reasons I recommend UNFREEDOM OF THE PRESS to you, a free-thinking human, and particularly college students of journalism for the insight into that profession.

Purchase:  Unfreedom https://amzn.to/2ShS543

Review of STUPID WARS

STUPID WARS:

A Citizen's Guide to Botched Putsches, Failed Coups, Inane

Invasions, and Ridiculous Revolutions

Ed Strosser and Michael Prince

Review by Roy Murry, Author

The title tells it all. I will add that humans do not understand history, or they would not continue to make the same mistake over and over again.  However, some humans, no, many humans, are just stupid and or vicious.

Mr. Strosser and Prince give a precise historical evaluation of wars that should not have happened, and others that leaders should have thought out before going ahead. Some conflicts are diabolically stupid.

I will not explain each nutty endeavor. I will say: I laughed and cried at the explanations the authors gave for humans murdered for ego, pride, and territory - confounding to an intelligent person.

The read is clear, to the point, and enjoyable. I will reread each chapter.

You should read it once to remind yourself that we are all human.

Purchase Stupid Wars https://amzn.to/2sRR5ZB

Review of THEN

CAROL MARRS PHIPPS

     & TOM PHIPPS

Review by Roy Murry, Author

I loved WHAM, the first book in this series. See my review of that http://bit.ly/2riA6it. In WHAM, two worlds collide, the Fairy's world versus the Elite controlling one. The contrast is brought alive in the Phipps' vivid and sometimes dark prose.

In THEN, the saga - Good vs. evil continues dramatically. Tess, a fairy, with trolls, wizards, and humans are trying to take back the ruling of the world from a despotic queen. The queen's powers have increased because of witchcraft tools.

Tess and her Underground friends proceed on their quest. And the queen goes about destroying their world and trying to find them.

It is a simple story, but the antics (Tess travels back in time), multicultural characters, and the fantasy backdrop (The world above and below) gives a whole new meaning to the word WOW.

What is real and what is not, is left to the reader's imagination.

After reading 'THEN,' your imagination will expand. That is the main reason I read books 1 and 2 of this series, which I never do - read a series. I may go on the read 3.

I recommend starting the series with WHAM. However, THEN, as a fantasy, stands on its own.

Purchase @ Amazon https://amzn.to/2MlXqDD

Review of WITH ALL DUE RESPECT

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT

Defending America with

         Grit and Grace

NIKKI R. HALEY

FORMER AMBASSADOR

Review by Roy Murry, Author

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, if you don't read this novel, you will be missing a historical look into President Donald J. Trump's foreign policy by the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Her story is compelling, controversial, and believable, putting politics aside.

Ambassador Haley, an Indian woman, who was Governor of South Carolina, with no experience in world politics shines on the world stage where men have ruled for a millennium. It is her true grit and inner abilities that helped her navigate through the world political conflicts the USA has encountered for years. 

These struggles of ideas, in everyday language, she writes with contention, grace, and dignity professing America's morals to the world is the critical theme I took from this reading. This story will have you cheering and bewildered at the same time.

World views are different, but we must come to a common ground is the backbone of her philosophy. 'I agree' is the reason for placing it here. ,

You will have to read WITH ALL DUE RESPECT to understand why President Donald J. Trump picked Kikki Haley to be Ambassador. She has John Wayne's TRUE GRIT.  Youngsters and foreigners may have to Google it.

Purchase:   

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT https://amzn.to/2Qe31gn

Review of HOW TO MAKE A LIVING WITH YOUR WRITING

HOW TO MAKE A LIVING

WITH YOUR WRITING

Joanna Penn

Review by Roy Murry, Author

Ms. Penn has penned an interesting, somewhat informative book on how to make money writing books, blogging, and more.

As the writer of three novels and a poetry chapbook, I found some of Ms. Penn’s ideas worth trying, others not much so. She does not go into detail. 

In this short ‘How to’ book, she gives the novice writer hope and useful advice. If you are a first book writer, it is worth the read.

If not a beginner, save the $4.99 Kindle price to read it.

Purchase: WRITING https://amzn.to/373xzbA

Review of SECRET EMPIRES

SECRET EMPIRES

PETER SCHWEIZER

Review by Roy Murry, Author

SECRET EMPIRES are not secrets. They are highlighting the general public does not get to see on the front pages of newsprint or are mention on the mainstream media.

They are secrets insiders of Washington; D.C. has known for years. Mr. Schweizer gives the reader a snippet of generous backdoor handouts to powerful politicians’ friends and family members receive because of their connection to power. 

The influential people Mr. Schweizer names will open the reader's eyes to why there should be TERM LIMITS for members in the U.S. Congress. Closeness to the decision making of the President or a member of Congress over the years in office is the key to family members becoming multi-millionaires.

I will not name names here, but I assure you, you will know the people involved within Mr. Schweizer's investigative narratives. He doesn't play political bias games - He tells it like it is.

If you didn't know who makes money from Washington power, then read this book. This book confirmed my limited knowledge.

SECRET EMPIRES is a well-written read. 

Purchase: SECRET EMPIRES https://amzn.to/2ShNKO1

Review of LORA LEE

LORA LEE

CLIFF HOUSE SERIES, BOOK ONE

PJ WEBB

Review by Roy Murry, Author

I am not interested in ghosts per se, but this novel caught my eye and am glad I opened the book. Not believing in ghosts, the hairs on my arms spiked when reading this story about spirits haunting a house.

PJ WEBB's tale keeps the reading engaged weirdly.  I kept turning the page, waiting for the next encounter between LORA LEE and the house's mysterious ghostly inhabitants with two romance story backdrops.

The author has you believing the world of spirits are left on earth until a mission is complete or some event releases them to the other side - where ever that is? A believer of ghosts will be thrilled; a non-believer will laugh out loud. I laughed out loud.

The prose kept me wanting more of her ghostly adventures. I may just come back for more.

This novel is a good read for this Halloween season. Also, PJ WEBB's writing is enjoyable to the end hooking you into book two. If you are into ghosts, you will buy it with a click at the end of LORA LEE.

PURCHASE 

LORA LEE https://amzn.to/2ZgR7Xi