Sunday, January 7, 2018

Review of Barrie Hill Reunion

BARRIE HILL REUNION
LISETTE BRODEY

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Brodey's instigating protagonist, Leah, captures most of the reunion's conversations with fellow literary students after being apart for twenty years. For some reason, she is at odds with Clare, the organizer.

Six of them meet in a well-known hotel near the campus and where they gathered weekly while attending school. Each had gone on to newsworthy endeavors when they parted: an author, an actor, an editor, a publisher, a playwriter, and Leah.

Where Leah anger comes from, no one knows, except possibly her husband, Colin. She is smart, manipulative, cunning, and at one-time wrote a play with him.

The three-day reunion will keep you, the reader wondering what is going on. Leah is playing everyone trying to reach her goal of undermining Clare’s status. She does not know that she might be the one being played.

Each of the characters has their hidden problems brought up over the course of the weekend and are somewhat resolved by the end. However, the climatic ending will have the reader cheering.

What goes around comes around. Need I say more - NOT HERE.

This is the second book I have read of Lisette's. I am back for more as you should be too, because she writes exciting topics, with intriguing characters.



Friday, December 29, 2017

Review of The Establishment is Dead

THE ESTABLISHMENT IS DEAD
The Rise and Election of Donald Trump

BEN SHAPIRO

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Not being a political fanatic or hack, I am still interested in what politically knowledgeable people think. Leaving Mainstream Media, a long time ago, I now watch YouTube for the news of what is happening in the world.

There is where I found Ben Shapiro. After listening to him a few times, I read his biography on Wikipedia and then bought this book.

Although I do not agree with some of his discourse in The Establishment is Dead, I did enjoy Shapiro's commentary about Hillary R. Clinton and Donald J. Trump's run for President in 2016. His insights were sharp, not pulling any punches, and comical at times.

I don't think The Establishment is Dead yet, and I don't believe Ben thinks so. But it is a good title for a conservative's book that was well written.

It seems that Mr. Shapiro was writing the book as 2016 transpired diary style and added in his commentary and hyperbole to spice up the events (Pro and Con) leading to Trump's victory. I enjoyed his philosophical endings of each chapter but not all his conclusions - I am not that conservative.

All in all, I learned something from a younger man than I and will listen to more of his YouTube commentary.



Review of COME FLY with ME

COME FLY with ME

Judith Whitmore

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Come Fly with Me is a delightful story about the love of flying and a man and woman. Both have to work at it to stay in the right direction.

Whitmore's characters are strong personalities. Each is moving in the direction he or she wants his or her lives except Kate Randolph, who is married to a wealthy man much older. She is having problems being alone with her husband out making money.

Kate does have endeavors. She can fly small airplanes and managers a non-profit. The incompleteness of her marriage and the purchase of a Learjet by her husband send her in another direction - she wants to qualify to fly the jet, and her husband's pilot is recruited to teach her.

Here is where emotional directions change again for Kate, her husband, and the pilot. However, it is an event in her husband's other personal life that intensifies the situation for better or worst depending on what family member you are.

The story has some twists that will surprise the reader. However, all in all, the novel is a well-written love story.

Purchase at  http://amzn.to/2lhU9Ya


Sunday, December 24, 2017

Review of Flaw Abiding Citizen

     FLAW ABIDING          
          CITIZEN
   
The Worst Detective Ever
             Mystery Series

CHRISTY BARRITT

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

A relative disappears, and your life cannot function. This is where Joey, a TV detective, is at and consumed into finding.

In her quest to find her father, clues popup, she has conflicts with a loved one, and people die. The mystery is why all these things are happening around her interfering that quest.

The rollercoaster ride comes to a rail missing on the track, and loved ones reach their limits. The ending passages will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ms. Barritt's characters were developed in earlier books in the series, but are easily defined in this book six. Emotions, humor, and color are embedded in their real-life morality.  Joey sometimes draws off her TV personality, a detective series.

This novel is a fast-paced page changer I read in two sittings. I read book one a while ago and jumped in here to see a change. There was none. Ms. Barritt style is entertaining and easy to read.


Saturday, December 23, 2017

Review of CRIMSON

Crimson

C. G. Blade

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Conspiracies have been abounding since JFK's murder. They have multiplied over the years into all realms of conjecture. When a real one exists, will we recognize it?

It is 2076, Blade's heroine of book one of his trinity series, Petra, a Cobalt semi- A.I., comes out of a four-month state of rehabilitation to find herself confronted with a Conspiracy against the USA. Who or what is behind it?

The North American Continent is being attacked by numerous disasters that scientifically is not explainable. Petra is given the task to get to the root of the problem.

With her new programming including a humor side, she and Ter, her computer counterpart, confront the evil attacking the American way of life. In that confrontation, Crimson, another semi- A.I. and a company of characters have become an enemy that is formidable.

The battle is on an international scale and me, the reader, marveled at the ingenuity of the weaponry. The exciting result appeases me for a moment until learning that it was not what it seemed to be.

The caveat is set to entice the reader to want more of the action, characters, historical notes, the humor, and the battle against a Conspiracy.

A great transition for this Trinity to keep the reader interested. Cobalt set the stage for this Sci-Fi Thriller.  My review: http://bit.ly/2t37BVC




Sunday, December 17, 2017

FUDGERY






FUDGERY

Vonda Norwood


Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author



If you are an author or a would-be writer or even an avid reader, FUDGERY will tickle your funny bone. What we writers go through to become semi-famous, famous, or just to have people read our books is overwhelming.

In FUDGERY, Ms. Norwood protagonist Irma is exalted to the position of Publicist of a small publishing company because of her so-called internet popularity. She sold six books. It is what she knows is essential, according to the publisher.

Irma's first job is to take a few authors to a book convention. Here is where the funny storm begins. It begins with a not so luxury bus she drives to pick up the authors and ends at the climax of a comedy parody that, if not for its length, could be a skit on Saturday Night Live.

The authors on the journey are unique to their genre and play their roles. Irma is the conductor spouting the publisher's axioms, alone will give the reader many chuckles.

The story is fast-paced, funny, and one sitting read. I read it twice for enjoyment. I am a published author, after all.

Purchase at   https://amzn.to/2vLjeTu


Sunday, December 10, 2017

Review of the American Spirit

DAVID McCULLOUGH's

The AMERICAN SPIRIT

Who We Are and What We Stand For

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The American Spirit is the second book of McCullough that I have read. The first was John Adams.

History books for many of us are not what we pick up at the bookstore initially. We buy fictional novels mostly as Americans.

However, people tell stories, and that is history. I read because I like stories. Therefore, I purchase a history book or based on history novel every once in a while. You should do that too if I were so bold in noting.

Here, McCullough tells stories in the form of speeches to people including graduates at various universities in the United States. His accounts of the men who help develop what we now call our Republic will inspire the reader to care more about our country.

David chronicles history, some of which I knew being from Massachusetts and others that I was unaware of their existence. Many reading this enjoyable book  will learn history without drudgery interesting, usable facts.

I will be reading another of David McCullough's books. You should try one, starting with The American Spirit.