Review of Shine On

Shine On

Allison Jewell

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

During the USA prohibition of alcohol, strange bedfellows came together to give the drinking public what they wanted - a stiff drink at the end of the day's work or just anytime. It also pitted law-abiding people and casual homegrown moonshiners against the law and criminals.

It sounds complicated, and it was the reason those laws didn't work. It's also why Ms. Jewell's protagonist Emmie, a young Southern innocent lady, ended up in a calamity of events she otherwise wouldn't have.

She was in the midst of a gang warfare without knowing it after her step-father was found dead; she finds a still on their property, and moonshine in a closet. Being a trusting and naive person, Emmie confides in her friends, one of which becomes her lover and, unknown to her, a purveyor of illegally distilled drinks at local joints.

The wooing process of Em and Silas turns into who trust who in the deadly game of supply and demand of liqueur in her hometown. Em's best friend, Ava from the wealthy side of town plays an integral part in both Emmie's and Silas actions until he takes charge of the game.

Allison Jewell has put together a plausible situation with historical background juxtaposed into the prose. The story keeps the reader interest in the characters whom I presume will continue in Jewell's next novel, Book #2 in the Shine On Series, another must read.

Purchase:     http://amzn.to/2zlo21N

Review of The KA

The KA

Mary Deal

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Pyramid, Pharaohs, and Paranormal, the three Ps of this novel set in mysterious Egypt. Moreover, the writings are on the wall.

Chione has a gut feeling and dreams that lead her and a California archeologist team to the land of the Pharaohs to what is called a "Find," the business of digging up the graves of the ancient wealth. Each step of the way into "The Dig," she receives extrasensory perceptions and cryptids that lead to events that most may not believe.

Her friend/lover is also on the dig and shows up in what Chione perceives of two ancients' union. The ending of those relationships leaves the reader with the thought of what will come next.

During the dig, strange events happen which unravel. People die, go missing, and fall in love. What is learned from digging up graves? Nothing but much, the mystery behind a world that hasn't changed in centuries was nice to dabble into through Ms. Deals prose.

The detail in Ms. Deals writing is worth the read if you care about Egypt and Paranormal events. I found the read a pleasant diversion from my usual readings.

Purchase at http://amzn.to/2in5WCs

Review of the negotiator

the negotiator

AVERY FLYNN

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

A wealthy CEO of his family's company, Sawyer, and Clover, a beautiful looking traveler of the world who doesn't make commitments meet in an unusual set up which leads to a negotiation immediately. Every meeting of the two after becomes minuets - individual dances to know each other even though their newly written contract says otherwise.

As an employee, Clover has a peculiar position where her talents endear her to Sawyer. Although Clover is waiting for the completion of the contract to be free from her responsibility, her relationship with Sawyer gets complicated in a way neither of them expected.

So, they negotiate that sexual endeavor that moves from fun to a hot, complicated emotional joining of their minds and bodies. And, this becomes another negotiating point of no return.

Although she is not happy with the union from the beginning, Sawyer's mother is pushing him to do the right thing by marrying a woman of his pedigree who will get Sawyer out of his business shell. Meeting with Clover, she is amazed at how the young lady changed her son - to her pleasure.

Of course, this leads to another negotiation in this fun twisting novel Ms. Flynn has written. Sometimes sexually hot, this fast-paced story was enjoyable to read.

Purchase:   http://amzn.to/2yznN3j

Review of THE WILL

THE WILL

Benjamin Laskin

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Where there's a WILL, there's a way, is an appropriate lead-in for this review. Also, "Old School" vs. "Snowflakes" can be applied.

Jose, a young man, who has been living off his father's wealth all his life, comes to a turning point when his father dies. At the reading of the WILL, Jose put in a position he never thought he would be - he must overcome his laziness to receive the benefits of his father's hard work in two years.

Life's lessons, Jose miss-understood when growing up, he must learn to enjoy the fruits of the WILL. At first, he complains until put into a near-death position himself.

Making the turn towards reality, Jose confronts the tasks he must complete to live the life he wants. He muddles through with the help from unlikely sources (A Mexican chief, a man in a cast, a young girl with a medical problem, a Japanese fighter, a nurse, and others) that leads him to a new reality of why we are here on earth.

This novel conveys lessons we should all learn. One I like is "Readers are Leaders."

The prose is easy to follow with some exciting twists in events that lead the reader to believe in something higher than ourselves. The story is well interwoven with faith and reality.

Purchase:  http://amzn.to/2zaBwdx

Review of THE LAWYER

THE LAWYER

John Ellsworth

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The twist and turns in this legal thriller will have your head spinning. Michael Gresham, the series protagonist lawyer, defends a low life in a murder case with one judge on the bench and another, the victim's husband in the courtroom.

To top this off his brother, a well-known lawyer, is a missing person with an international problem which has involved Michael in a deadly incident. And the reader, to the conclusion of the novel, is trying to figure out who is attempting to kill who.

Attorney Gresham's brother appears with a show-stopping evidence to put Mexican corporate people away, costing them money and time.  This confrontation leads to murder, kidnapping, and an uphill battle that conflates with Michael's original case.

This novel is a well-written introduction to a series. The characters are well defined, the story-line leaves the readers with items they might care to follow, and the courtroom drama is compelling and should continue.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/2yjdSPd

Review of FEMME FATALE

FEMME FATALE

DOMINIC PIPER

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Classy good-looking bastard would be one way a woman would describe Piper's protagonist London's, PI Daniel Beckett. He is a charmer, using his wit to get the point across.

Beckett is out on a date and hears a sound that sends him into action. The result is a non-stop whirlwind of investigative intrigue. His physical abilities and exceptional aptitude get him in and out of trouble.

A burlesque irresistibly attractive woman is the center of his investigation into a missing person case, and a Chinese Femme Fatale is the liaison between Beckett and his Soho client. Throughout the novel, there are many erotic women, but only one has him baffled to the end.

Mr. Piper has written a novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. At the end of each chapter, you'll be wondering what will come next to the point of thinking - WTF.

What you think will come next, will not. The story and the prose keep you attentive, written at a good pace. I read it in two sittings and will look forward to reading another shortly.

Purchased: https://amzn.to/36eFhzz

Review of THE SMEAR

The SMEAR

How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News

CONTROL What You See, What You Think and

                     HOW YOU VOTE.

Sharyl Attkisson

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Long Nose Pete is what we called him as a kid because he told our group of friends a fib. That name still sticks today. That is a smear. He no longer lies. At least we do not think he does.

In Ms. Attkisson's THE SMEAR, name-calling and nitpicking is blown-out of proportion for political and monetary gain. It does not matter which party is doing it; the process is eating away at the USA's Republic and upsetting the world order as to what is truthful information given to the public.

Ms. Attkisson proves her points by explaining the ins and outs of what happened in the psychological warfare of the 2016 Presidential election in the USA - the generating of falsehoods (Smears) and how operatives format them confusing the public with near truths and lies. Using the present-day conventual media, responding to these conjectures, they made small items into front-page bullshit that looks like the real thing.

Take these presumptions to add into the mix applied confusion on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Blogs, the parties promoting a falsehood can be a disaster for the object of THE SMEAR. Countermeasures put in place but in most instances too late to offset THE SMEAR which continues to live.

Ms. Attkisson's, with twenty-one years of work for CBS news in numerous journalistic positions, gives us uninformed an education that may change our minds as to what is the truth behind the platitudes we read or hear on a daily basis - BEWARE.

The writing was excellent and easy to follow for any novice of THE SMEAR.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/392seST