Today I was priveleged to soend some time on the virtual #shelf with Rave Reviews Book Club’s very own Nonnie Jules. I’m reblogging my interview so that you can see ho much fun Nonnie brings to the party. Hopefully, you’ll check out some of the other intervies that she’s done. they’re all onderful!

As a reader, I’m guilty of selecting books primarily from my favorite genres. But since joining Rave Reviews Book Club, I’ve been introduced to several authors and books that I would otherwise have probably overlooked. I’m now much more willing to branch out with my reading material, and I encourage you to do the same, if you don’t already. Treasures can be found in the most unlikely of places, and I have found some sparklers.

The following reviews are for two books that I stepped out of my “comfort zone” to read, and I’m so very glad that I did. Two different authors, two very different books, and I highly recommend them both.

Allergic to life: My battle for courage, survival, and hope

Kathryn Chastain Treat

I rarely read non fiction because I read to be entertained, and reality is rarely entertaining. Especially when it comes to the ailments that plague most of us as we wander through life. This was not a ‘fun’ read. Rather, it was informative about things that I think normally we might accidentally overlook or just not consider to be worth noticing. Things like mold and other toxic compounds have been made mention of for years, but I don’t think most of us really pay that much attention to what we hear. This book may change that. And if it does…if the struggle chronicled in this book saves one person from a similar fate, then the author has achieved her purpose and maybe, in some small way, her ordeal will have served a purpose.

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend

Nonnie Jules

This is a book that deals with a very harsh subject – the molestation of a child. And if that’s not bad enough, the molester is her stepfather. The girl, Maiya, also suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother, who sees her daughter as competition. Maiya does have some supportive people in her life, but fear of retaliation keeps her from disclosing what goes on at her house.

The story is well told, and draws the reader into the ups and downs of Maiya’s life in all of its sordid reality. Ms Jules pulls no punches, and Maiya’s experiences are very similar to those of girls that I’ve met along my own path who came from the same background. Because of this authenticity, I found the story to be believable, and Maiya to be someone I could truly sympathize with. The only negative that I have in regards to Daydream’s Daughter is that the narrative is too casual for my personal tastes, but that’s my own thing and I won’t penalize the author for it. This book tells a 5* story, and so that’s the rating that it received from me.

   One of the things I’d like to do with this blog is profile some Indie authors and maybe introduce them to a few new readers. For that reason, I asked my friend and fellow Rave Reviews Book Club member, Robin Lindzer to tell you about her newly published YA novel, One Wish. This is Robin’s first book, and I hope you’ll check it out the next time you’re visiting Amazon.

   Robin, the floor is yours.

   “The premise of the book is that a 12 year-old boy (named Josh) is given a puzzle box that hasn’t been solved in over 600 years.  When he takes it home, he solves it, and out pops a genie–one who has been stuck in the box for those 600+ years.  She appears in front of Josh and grants him one wish.

   If you were only given one wish, what would you wish for?

   Josh wishes for something unimaginable, and the adventures begin, complete with an evil Jinn named Iblis that loves to complicate the main characters’ lives.

   I got the idea for the book when one day, daydreaming. I thought if a genie were to give me one wish, what would I wish for?  That started the whole process going, and I wrote the book. 

   I’m already working on the second book, tentatively entitled, Wish Masters.  However, I’m finding that the second book might actually be the third book; I haven’t decided yet.

   I have no writing quirks, really.  I just plop down in front of my computer every morning and write.  Sometimes what comes out is pure drivel; other items that come out are like gems found deep in a rock.  It’s the writer’s  job to chip away at that rock, in order to bring out said gem–the book.

   To get in contact with me, you can find me at Facebook under Robin Lindzer

   On Twitter, I’m on as @rlindzer”

   One Wish Amazon link:  http://t.co/uVkB39Oj1D

   Thank you for reading my Sunday post. I’m actually having fun with this blog, and I’m so grateful to all of you for following.

   Today I wanted to share the Amazon reviews that I wrote for a couple of indie books that I enjoyed reading. I met both of the authors on Twitter, and am so very glad that I did.  The first book was written by Bruce A. Borders, @BruceABorders. Bruce is also a member of Rave Reviews Book Club, which is an awesome group of people who actively support and promote indie authors. The second book is from James Weathorford, @JimWeathorford1, who was one of my very first Twitter friends. Follow them both on Twitter, find their books on Amazon, and lose yourself In the worlds created by these two talented authors.

Inside Room 913

Bruce A. Borders

   This is a great suspense novel, with one of my favorite plotlines – a mysterious person who is locked away from a world that is allowed no contact. Cynthia Holt is a young girl just starting a new job at Parkview Manor, an assisted living facility. She is told that the person in room 913 is off limits, but she is curious and pokes around anyway. Rumors are everywhere, but lead to nothing and the story takes several twists and turns as Cynthia continues to dig. The book was fun, and I enjoyed it all the way to the end, which did not disappoint. Great ending twist!

The Last Soldier; Nature of the Beast

James Weatherford

   In a time yet to come, the inhabitants of an over populated world struggle to survive the shortage of food, water, and other vital necessities. Huge numbers of people are confined in brutal prison camps where inhumanity and atrocities are daily fare, and the odds of making it out alive are practically nonexistent. It’s an ugly world, but one that could possibly be our future, and that is the true horror of this story.

Thank you for taking the time to read my Thursday post. First off, I want to thank everyone who commented on the post for Shadow’s birthday giveaway last week. It was a great response, and I’m pleased to tell you that Harmony Kent won the Amazon gift card and Beem Weeks won the signed paperback copy of Shadow of the Drill. Thank you both for participating, and for being so welcoming when I joined #RRBC.

   I thought that for today, I’d give you a peek into Winter of the Drill. Please feel free to give feedback, as there’s still some fine tuning to be done. This book picks up a few months after Shadow, and brings back the character of Hunter Grae. I hope that you enjoy it.

Winter of the Drill

Chapter One

   A slight rain misted the December afternoon and moistened the face of the young man who raced through the alley, frantically seeking refuge. A graffiti covered doorway caught his eye as he flew past and he spun on his heel, running back and rattling the doorknob in a vain attempt to gain entry. Frantic intensity strengthened his hands and he pounded on the door with both fists, even though he knew that there would be no help on the other side. For even if there was someone there to open the door, they would betray him in a heartbeat once they learned who was chasing him. Once they knew that he ran from the Drill.

   And they would find out; though Tommy had never met the man, he had heard enough to know that the Drill would tear the city apart until he flushed his prey out into the open. He was a man who took great pride in his work, and made it a point not to fail those who purchased his expensive services.  He was also a man whose vicious reputation was legend among the hookers and the hustlers who called those dark and dreary streets their home. They would never risk his anger by sheltering one such as Thomas Gaylord Jenkins III; two-bit dealer, pimp, and all around loser in spite of his pretentious name. They knew better, as surely as Tommy Jenkins had not. But he was learning fast.

   Abandoning his attempts to gain entrance to the building, Tommy sprinted for the far end of the alley. Heart pounding, he prayed desperately for enough time to reach the cross street and make his escape before his pursuer closed enough of the gap between them to see where he went. He knew that the odds were against him, for the hellhound on his tail had been hand picked by the Drill and was as much at home on the dingy streets as Tommy himself. Perhaps even more so. Every turn, every shortcut would be known to him, and the possibility of escape faded with each passing second. But knowing that his options were quickly dwindling did not destroy Tommy’s hopes completely. There was still a chance, and it was almost close enough to touch.

   The bus station! Hang a right ,then two blocks up. I can do this! The thought of watching his neighborhood shrink into the distance through the tinted windows of a Greyhound caused his heart to thump with anticipation. Just a ticket away from a brand-new life!

But that life was not to be. Tommy was only a dozen or so steps from the mouth of the alley when a lean figure stepped out of the shadows and held up a hand in greeting.

   Tommy skidded to a stop, his stomach clenching when he recognized the man who stood before him – another of the young thugs in the employ of the Drill. Tommy knew that the man could not be reasoned with, so he wasted no time with arguments or bargains. Turning quickly, he raced back the way that he had come, cursing loudly when he stumbled over a small pile of debris. His shoes pounded against the damp pavement and his breath burned in his throat as he pushed his exhausted body forward. He knew that retracing his steps gave him a miniscule chance of escape at best, but to stay where he was and face the consequences of his actions required more bravery than he had ever possessed, under any circumstances.

   And so he ran.

   There was a cab parked across from the alley entrance and he felt a sudden rush of exhilaration. Just a few more steps to the street and

then –

   A fist struck him in the diaphragm, lifting him to his toes and forcing the air from his lungs. He fell to his knees, retching, unable to prevent the flow of urine that darkened the front of his pants.

   Idiot! He screamed silently at himself, disgusted with his own stupidity. He should have known that there would be sentries stationed at both ends of the alley and he should never have gone in, should never have looked at the narrow, rat infested passage as a route to salvation. But he was tired, and the machinery that governed his rational thought was no longer operating at top efficiency. The only thing he knew for certain was that he had gotten himself into the middle of some incredibly deep shit.

   The “businessmen” that he had so gleefully cheated wanted him. Wanted him badly enough to pay the Drill and his team to hunt him down, and the Drill was not the kind to let his quarry slip through his fingers. Therefore, Tommy knew that he would most likely be dead by morning.

   Idiot, he berated himself again when a strong hand gripped his hair, pulling his head back and forcing him to look up into the face of the one who held him.

   To his surprise, the man who had chased him into the alley was not the man who stood before him. His pursuer had been young, of average height and build, with light blonde hair poking out from beneath a blue stocking cap.

   This man was older, darker, and completely unknown to Tommy Jenkins. He was also very tall, and would have towered over Tommy even if the boy had not been kneeling. But his height was not the only thing that caught Tommy’s eye. Massively built, his broad shoulders and muscular arms left no question as to the raw power that lurked beneath the surface of his skin.

   Tommy began to whimper uncontrollably when the man lifted his hand, pulling him to his feet by his hair. Standing, he dared another quick look at the stranger’s face and saw with astonishment that it bore a pleasantly amused expression instead of the scowl he had expected. And when the big man spoke, his voice was easy on the ears with a tone that was almost friendly.

   “Look at you,” he said as he released Tommy’s hair and rested a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What a mess you are. Hard to believe you’re man enough to get yourself into the kind of trouble you’re in. But…stranger things have happened.” He paused briefly, eyeing Tommy without any change of expression. “So…what do you have to say for yourself?”

   The ringing of a cell phone spared the boy from having to answer and his mind raced, trying to think of the best way to extract himself from the situation while his captor answered his phone one-handedly.

   “Hunt,” he said into the mouthpiece, laughing with genuine delight. “Damn, it’s good to hear your voice. How was the flight? Are you all settled in?”

   Tommy found himself hoping that the conversation would take a while, but it proved to be a brief exchange. “Hunt” was not a man of excess words, and only a few sentences passed between him and the giant whose fingers still gripped Tommy’s shoulder like talons of steel.

   “You’re sure you’re up for this? From what I’ve been told they’re just a bunch of kids but…well, let’s be real, bud. You’re not as young as you used to be.” There was a burst of indignant chatter from the cell and the man laughed again. “Okay, okay. Don’t blow a gasket. Grab a nap and we’ll see you tonight.”

   The stranger disconnected the call and turned his full attention back to Tommy, his ruggedly handsome face still wearing the same bemused expression.   

   His smile gave Tommy the faintest stirrings of hope that this man, unlike the others who had been chasing him, might be of a more sympathetic nature. Taking a deep breath, he met the man’s gaze and prepared to plead for his life.

   But before the first words were spoken he realized that he was mistaken, that there would be no chance of gaining his freedom. 

   The smile was still gentle, but from under a shock of raven-black hair, crystal blue eyes that glittered like shards of the purest ice bored directly into his. Devoid of both mercy and soul, they were the eyes of a jungle cat, of a bird of prey. Cold as the grave, they were the eyes of the Drill.

   Please forgive the lateness of this post. Life interrupted art a few days ago, so I am behind on pretty much everything writing related.

   Today I thought I’d share one of my favorite action movies with you. It’s a  lighthearted little romp called Smokin’ Aces, and if you like shoot ’em up flicks with a decent plot and an all star cast of people who really seem to be enjoying themselves, then this would be a great one for you.

   This 2006 film stars Jeremy Piven as Buddy “Aces” Israel, a Las Vegas magician with close personal ties to the Vegas mob. When Israel agrees to turn state’s evidence, Primo Sparazza puts a contract on his head. The FBI, seeing a chance to use the situation to bring down Sparazza, puts Israel into protective custody in a Lake Tahoe luxury hotel.

   Sparazza’s call brings out a dozen or so bounty hunters, excellently portrayed by such notables as Ben Affleck, Peter Berg, Chris Pine, and Kevin Durand. In addition, high end hit men Nestor Carbonell (Lost) and Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy) are also on Buddy’s trail. Alecia Keys is a tough as nails hitwoman who is joined by Taraji P. Henson and her Barrett M107 .50 cal.

   The FBI is well represented by Andy Garcia, Ray Liota, and Ryan Reynolds, who gives one of his very best performances.

   Two other standouts are Joel Edgerton as Hugo, and Common as Sir Ivy. I first saw Edgerton in King Arthur, where he was an exquisite Gawain. As Hugo, his appearance had changed so drastically that he was unrecognizable to me. Common brings such great depth to he role of Sir Ivy, Israel’s longsuffering right-hand man, that it’s easy to forget he’s not the star of the film.

   Aces is a high-octane ride that doesn’t take its foot off the gas once the action starts. Piven shines as the self-indulgent Israel, and the cast also contains the talents of Alex Rocco, Matthew Fox, Jason Bateman, and Vladimir Kulich. The plot might be a little far fetched in one or two places, but watching is so much fun that it doesn’t really matter. The film contains strong language, brief nudity, and enough gunfire to get your blood racing and your adrenaline flowing almost from the get-go. There is a fairly high body count, but most of the victims are the bad guys, and they kind of have it coming. (Watch for the shootout in the hall outside the elevators.) Surprisingly, Aces is quite funny. There is some subtle humor as well as some that will have you laughing so hard you’ll fall out of your chair. There’s also a plot twist that may or may not be predictable, but regardless, it’s an important fact.

   All in all, for the kind of film that it is, Smokin’ Aces is better than most. It’s easy to see why so many big names wanted a part of it, and even easier to see why it is that even those whose characters were short-lived brought with them an undercurrent of pure fun.