Jigsaw Soul by Scott Middlemist.

Arthur Logan is a soldier with the US Air Force and Jigsaw Soul is his first person narrative. Arthur has fought two wars in the Middle East, Desert Storm in 1990 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. This novel was written in 2012 and is available as a 1034 KB Amazon Kindle eBook.

Jigsaw Soul is a very powerful book, it is not a glamourous boys' hero book where the good guys win. Jigsaw Soul is all about the horrors of war and men behaving badly. This novel starts off in Iraq where Arthur claims to be enjoying his deployment. He details attacks and abuses of Iraqis whilst revelling in the destruction of lives and property. The fighting and torture of Iraqis is gruesome, making this a gory read. By the time Arthur leaves Iraq, I felt quite shocked and battered from reading about all the violence.

Arthur returns to America and gets a regular civilian job. I thought the novel would then become more civil away from all the violence of Iraq. But Arthur's father had warned him that "When a bone snaps, you hear it and call for help, but if your mind breaks... the silence leaves you speechless." Arthur is involved in an incident at work and it becomes clear that he is suffering from PTSD. Arthur is taken to court and sent to a secure hospital for his actions. Whilst receiving treatment Arthur has many disturbing dreams that he has to deal with in order for him to be released to continue his life.

Jigsaw Soul is a novel which highlights how PTSD can happen and how severe it can be. We all have memories that can show up in our dreams, so PTSD could happen to anyone. The research behind Jigsaw Soul is very good and makes this a very realistic tale. It is a very violent book and can come as quite a shock when you are reading safely at home in your favourite chair. But the real world is like that, some men do evil things and have to fight their own demons running wild in their head.

Jigsaw Soul tackles a difficult topic that will make a lot of people feel uncomfortable. But this is real life and you can read about the suffering of others from the comfort of home, thankful that you are not a victim of PTSD. This is a gruesome book and being told from the heart puts you right in the middle of the turmoil. Hard hitting but so very revealing, this book has left a very big impression on me, so I will vote it the top score of 5 stars.

It get's under your skin by Paul A. Taylor.

This short horror story was written in 2010 and is available as a 64KB Amazon Kindle eBook. Darrin moves into a new room in a shared house rental. He gets to know his new housemates but there is a little problem. Things are not quite right and Darrin is concerned about bugs. Nobody likes talking about bugs but quickly things get under Darrin's skin.

This is a quirky little tale that is very well told. You quickly get to know just how Darrin feels. The tension is there as Darrin deals with the problems of his new home. This short story is an okay read. Paul has used it to showcase his storytelling skills and it succeeds as a coffee break read. This is a creepy tale that gives you a shiver. It is not a challenge to read and I found it a bright, refreshing read that I will vote 3 stars. Paul shows promise and could move on to writing full length novels if he comes up with a big story idea. I wish him well and hope his publishing dreams one day become true.

Hudud and Escape by A. P. Barratt.

Yasmin escapes Pakistan only to become a sex slave in Edinburgh. Adam is mugged for his smartphone and the special app he was developing. Hudud and Escape is a regular crime thriller where the oldest profession and new technology meet.

This 797 KB long eBook was written in 2013 and has an up to date feel. It is a story of today and features the shadier side of life in Edinburgh. This book is easy reading and follows both the struggles of Yasmin and Adam. The story of people trafficking is well known, so Yasmin's situation is not unique. The technology involved is so well explained that even a Windows user could understand.

The plot rolls along nicely and I enjoyed the drama as it unfolded. It had a nice British feel and the hope was always there that things would turn out well in the end. People work together and the right result comes with time. Because of this team work, the ending is not a surprise at all.

Hudud and Escape was an enjoyable read. It is a good book which I will vote 4 stars and ticks all the boxes. The brothel owner does have one very dark fantasy that I have not thought of before. This detail and the technology explained is a credit to the author as it gives his novel such depth.

The Genesis of Jazrael by Jeannie Ingraham.

Danielle, an American teenager, is on a plane which crashes in a desert. She is the only survivor and after a while Danielle struggles out of the wreckage. She walks through the desert to the city of Irem. Here she changes her name to Jazrael, meets many different people and falls in love with her new home.

This novel is not a plane crash survivor tale but a fantasy adventure featuring lots of magic. Join Jazrael in this fantasy world where everything you know about life on earth is rewritten. Things are different in Irem, where the laws of nature and physics do not apply.

This story set in the unreal city of Irem, is refreshing because it is new to Jazrael and to you. It is an entertaining adventure as Jazrael starts her new life in this make believe world where magic happens everyday. For all it's silliness, this book is a joy to read. You can escape your everyday life and enjoy this story for what it is, a magical escapism.

Jazrael meets a good range of characters who she spends a lot of time with, the atmosphere is rather cosy. There is a nice contemporary humour where Jazrael compares things from today's American life we are all familiar with, to her new life in Irem.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it a refreshing change to my regular favourite genres of crime, mystery and thriller. I think this is a good book and I vote it 4 stars.

The Genesis of Jazreal was written in 2013 and is available as an 339 KB Amazon Kindle eBook.

Everlasting Love (Love, lies and loyalty) by Shemeka Mitchell.

This is a first person narrative love story set in Texas. Follow Tessie Richards as she breaks up with one boyfriend and falls heavily love with Chris, an old friend from childhood. Chris becomes Tessie's soul mate and this novel follows the ups and downs of their relationship.

Everlasting Love is available as a 253 KB Amazon Kindle eBook that was written in 2013. This novel rolls along at a steady pace and the reader meets many of Tessie's and Chris's friends. This book is not claustrophobic and just about Tessie and Chris. But this book is a drag, I did not develop an empathy for Tessie. Most of her problems were her own fault. She is not the easiest of girls to have a relationship with!

Everlasting Love was not a joy to read, it is rather dull for a love story. Chris walked away from Tessie and I think most men would do the same. You have to like the lead character in a first person narrative and I did not warm to Tessie. I did not enjoy reading Everlasting Love and I was glad when I got to the unresolved end. I think it is a POOR read and shall only be voting it 2 stars. This is a novel I suggest you give a miss.

Canals by Everett Powers.

Canals starts off as a typical crime thriller as Detective Daniel Lawless comes to the scene of a dismembered body by a canal in California. Everett Powers then develops a wonderful story written in the style of a good police drama. Every character the reader meets is given a full introduction, it is not a case of "this is John, a 20 year old man" - you get to know each character as a real person. This character development is true for everyone, whether they continue to the end of this novel or meet a violent death.

Detective Daniel Lawless is a different type of policeman and has a quirky character. He likes opera and has a collection of 82 pairs of shoes giving him the nickname of shoe boy when he was at school. Before he can solve this death by the canal, another death occurs along a nearby canal. Something is going on around the canal network but can Danny solve the case before more people are killed?

Slowly the reader finds that this is not your typical crime thriller. Little bits of information are drip fed into the story to make you think that something nasty may be lurking in the canals. Bit by bit this story becomes a science fiction novel.

Everett Powers develops a wonderful plot that bit by bit becomes a race for Daniel Lawless to save the day. The reader along with Daniel begins to understand just what is going on along the canals and we begin to get the bigger picture.

Canals is a very entertaining read. I like the way it moved from a crime thriller to a thought provoking science fiction story. The message at the end is very moving and forces you to consider real life global issues.

I can find nothing wrong with Canals. It is a great story that was told with precision and detail. The writing is top quality and it was a joy to read. I enjoy walking my dog along canals and now I will always wonder what may be in the water. I vote this book the top score of 5 stars. Canals is available as a 609 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2011.

Bishop's Isle Vol. 1 by Luke Shephard.

This is a short story of just 162 KB, part of a series written in 2013. The setting is a small island off the north west coast of Scotland. A pretty little island with 2 lighthouses and a harbour that would prove popular with tourists. Only thing is that the latest visitors are a little different!

Bishop's Isle is a flesh eating zombie tale where the residents of the island struggle for their lives. It is easy reading and the dark humour will raise a smile. The story is told in the style of the popular television programme called Heartbeat. Bishop's Isle is nothing special and ends when the two central characters, the lighthouse keepers, meet up.

Bishop's Isle did not inspire me, so I will not be buying the sequel Volume 2. This short story is an okay read and I vote it 3 stars.

Forbidden by Cege Smith.

Forbidden is a short ghost story of just 157 KB, that was written in 2013. Grace Fox is a junior at Winston Monroe College. Walker Hall has a reputation for being haunted and Grace goes on an adventure to see if she can connect with a ghost.

Cege tries very hard to set the scene and to create a spooky atmosphere. But there is nothing special about this tale. Forbidden is a disappointing coffee break read of no greater merit than a throw away magazine article. I got to the end and thought "yeah, well, okay". Forbidden is a POOR read and I vote it only 2 stars as there are far more entertaining short stories out there.

All In My Head by Troy Sheppard.

All In My Head is a semi-autobiographical novella of 226 KB that was written in 2012. Meet Josh, a 23 year old drug addict living in America. This is his tale of slipping into drug addiction and losing everything. Follow the tale as Josh goes to rock bottom.

This novella is one very powerful story which grips at the heart of drug dependancy. Troy, from his own experience, explains to the reader what the life of a junky is like. This is not a glamourous tale but a gritty reality of a tragic life.

Josh explains to the reader why he took drugs and how he became addicted. His first person narrative is very compelling and I learned so much from this short novel. I have never taken drugs and found this story amazing. Josh tells you what goes on inside the head of a junky, the intense feeeling of a hit and the overwhelming desire to score another hit. There is nothing more important to the junky than obtaining the next hit.

Troy, within those 226 KB of text has managed to give me, a non-drug user, the full experience from the safety of my armchair, of the highs and lows of a junky. He talks in language that non-drug users can understand. This other world is explained because we all get feelings of hunger and know what it is like in that search for the next meal. We understand how powerful our everyday hunger pangs are to our mood, motivation and stomach. We also know the instant good buzz feeling when we drink a beer and how much we will love another one.

It is an experience to read All In My Head because the narrative is so powerful and the learning curve so steep. It is a roller coaster ride as you start to understand the mental turmoil inside the head of a junky. I am truly glad that I have downloaded this Amazon Kindle eBook because it is such an eye opener and I have learned so much about desire. I can find nothing wrong with this novella and I vote it the top score of 5 stars.

The Dr. Birch Files by Mike Valasek.

This is a short story that was written in 2013 and published for the Amazon.. Kindle. This eBook is just 126 KB and is a coffee time read. But your coffee will not go cold as this book is rubbish. Yes, the title draws you in, Dr. Birch could have been a whipping fantasy. What you get is a childish tale of twin sisters, an exorcism and a sexual tease. This short story fails big time and you will find a bus timetable a more interesting read. Do not waste your time on this short story as there is more enjoyment to be had from reading a mail order catalogue. I vote this awful tale the minimum score of 1 star.

Time After A Time by Khaled Elshmaa.

This novella of 206 KB was written in 2013 and published for the Amazon Kindle. It is a first person narrative of a son grieving the death of his mother. The son left his mother's home in Cairo 20 years ago to start a new life in Oslo. He has never been back since and has only returned for the funeral.

Time After A Time is a tale of childhood memories, how people move apart and how they cope with the death of loved ones. The son stays with his only brother in Cairo and together they attend the wake and the funeral. Afterwards they clear out and prepare his mother's old home for sale.

This is not a happy book to read, it is all about loss and the reader feels like a spare at a wedding. I thought it was a way for the author to grieve the loss of his own mother until I got to the twist in the story. Maybe it is a bit of both, with the twist inserted to spice up this novella. If so, I am sorry for his loss and I am sure he realizes that life moves on, like the birth of his son in Olso.

Time After A Time is a sad tale with nothing special to recommend about it. I found it a poor read, so I can only vote it 2 stars.

Sabaka by E. C. Belikov.

Sabaka is a post apocalyptic short story of 220 KB available on the Amazon Kindle and was written in 2011. Tamara has been sent on a mission to fix some electrics in Outworld, the remains of our destroyed planet. All her life she has lived below ground in Inworld. There are legends about the dangers and monsters that inhabit Outworld, now Tamara will find out if any of the legends are true.

Sabaka is a very well told horror story. E. C. Belikov paints a very accurate picture of a possible workaday life in the near future. He describes this new world so well that Tamara appears just like the girl next door. I was surprised at how real this near future story felt.

I like the way this story is told. It is rather clever how Belikov has packed so much character, detail and action into such a short story. The quality of writing is good and Belikov clearly has the skill of telling a good tale. I can find nothing wrong with this eBook, so I will vote it the maximum of 5 stars.

The ending is good and when you go to sleep tonight you will wonder if there is a Sabaka creeping into your back garden.

Without You by E. L. Black.

Without You is a novel written in the first person. Join Emily Larson who has an abusive husband called Jerry. I found the abuse that Jerry gave Emily rather funny because it put the woman in her place. Without You is written from a woman's perspective but it is a challenge for male readers to have empathy for Emily as she is not pulling her weight. Married men will have sympathy for Jerry because women can be quite lazy but love to spend big time in the shops.

As so often happens in real life, victims of abusive relationships leave their partners only to become involved in yet another abusive relationship. So Emily leaves Jerry and hooks up with Vinny and the cycle of abuse continues. So does Emily's habit of little work but lots of shopping!

Without You is set in America and Emily is living a luxurious lifestyle, with little work and lots of eating out plus shopping malls. But this is not just a love story because Emily and the reader suspect that Vinny is up to something dodgy as her tale unfolds.

Without You is available as a 393 KB Amazon Kindle eBook that was written in 2013. It is easy reading and made me chuckle in places. I did warm to Emily as she started to get her act together and turn her life around. E. L. Black's writing is easy to follow and the story is full of content and social observations. This is a good book and should appeal to both genders. I enjoyed reading this book which has a creepy end and I vote it 4 stars. This is a good story that would also make a good film, a romantic comedy with a creepy twist.

Rain by Constance Cummings.

Celeste is sheltering from the rain in the doorway of a coffee shop. Marc barges into the same doorway hiding from the rain and nudges Celeste in his hurry. He apologises and invities her to share a coffee with him. They hit it off and Marc takes Celeste home with consensual sex on both their minds.

Rain is a short 168 KB adult erotic story available on the Amazon Kindle. It was written in 2013 and like the scenario can be described as a coffee break read. But like coffee, you get some good blends and some poor ones.

Rain is a very regular and tame erotic adult tale. For a sexy story it is very dull. There is nothing special about Rain. The dialogue is very unimaginative and the setting unrealistic. The sex is rather boring and conventional. The sex does not turn the reader on, as it is about as erotic as watching two dogs in the park. There is nothing unusual as Marc and Celeste roll around on the bed.

Rain is a bad read and I vote it the minimum of 1 star. This adult short story is one to AVOID.

An Unlikely Bond by Linda Wang.

Natalie Saunders is sitting in her boyfriend David's car when she becomes a victim of a car jacking. Natalie forms an unlikely bond with her kidnapper Jack in this thriller set in America.

Much has been written about the Stockholm syndrome, when a hostage develops a strong bond and empathy with their kidnapper. An Unlikely Bond is that type of story but the bond works both ways. Not only does Natalie warm to Jack but he changes his opinion of Natalie and the lifestyle and status she holds. The relationship develops as this thriller unfolds.

An Unlikely Bond is available as a 219 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2009. I enjoyed reading this novel and it rolls along at a good pace. There is nothing remarkable about this book but it is a good read and I vote it 4 stars. It explores the dynamics of relationships, how people fall in love and live together in a partnership. It shows what is important in marriage and how people can be lucky in meeting the right person at the right time. I developed an empathy for Natalie and this story has a happy ending. This is an unlikely love story but there is no sex to offend young readers or grandmothers.

On My Stomach by Constance Slight.

This is a short 138 KB story available for the Amazon Kindle. It is an adult fantasy that was written in 2013. This is an erotic story that includes scenes of bondage, gagging, whipping, anal and oral penetration. As erotic literature goes, On My Stomach is rather run of the mill. There are no surprises and it is a regular adult fantasy of gang rape. Yes, this short story will make you smile but it is not one of the best. It is an okay read and suitable for when your time is tight, eg. coffee breaks. As this story simply amuses, I will vote it middle of the road, at 3 stars.

Panguya by L. Arouet.

Cathy Grey walks across a road in London and BUMP! She had not seen the car and got knocked over. When Cathy recovered from her accident, she found herself sat on a hillside overlooking a city. Cathy did not know where she was, so walked down to find out why she was no longer in London.

The start to this novel really makes you feel lost and uncomfortable, just like Cathy. She finds the city is called Panguya, everybody speaks English but nobody has heard of London. Cathy needs to find out what has happened and how to get back to London. Is Cathy actually dead and Panguya a kind of afterlife?

Well, you will need a lot of time to find out as this is a long, rambling tale. Panguya is available as a 692 KB Amazon Kindle eBook that was written in 2013. Panguya is a long novel and takes a long time to read.

Unfortuneately Panguya is not an enjoyable read. The author rambles on at great length about the weather, light and shadows, architecture and people's faces. This book is a drag and I developed no empathy for Cathy. All Cathy did was potter about and talk to a few people. It was like a holiday for her as she did no work, yet people gave her money and places to stay. I would start another chapter and Cathy was still pottering about as the author droned on about the weather. I wondered if Cathy was on a life support machine in hospital and was dreaming of a make believe world called Panguya. If that was the case, I hoped someone would switch off her life support so that I could move onto a better novel. When the Crief would this story end?

I thought Panguya was a bad book and it is a novel to AVOID. I shall vote it the minimum of 1 star as it was a real bore to read. Cathy continued to potter about Panguya right to the very end. The ending was in character with the rest of this novel, very disappointing. This author failed to entertain me and I think Panguya is a waste of time.

Masturbation: Why YOU Should Be Masturbating! by Sophia Payton.

This tiny 99 KB Amazon Kindle eBook was written in 2012. It is not pornography or anything smutty. This tiny book is a self help guide, it does not teach you how to masturbate. Sophia's little book is about the biology of masturbation and all the healthy hormones released from the activity. It explains how the chemicals released lead to a better life and a reduction in stress levels. This is a jolly little book and hopefully it will reduce the stigma surrounding masturbation.

This book is an easy read and I vote it 3 stars. It is okay as a brief self help guide and should not make the reader feel uncomfortable. After you have finished reading it you should feel assured that masturbation is natural and is good for your health. You should never feel guilty about masturbating as it is a superb way to release those wonderful hormones our bodies need.

naate (connections) by Sheela Word.

Carl dies of a heart attack and his daughter Cindy has to find a home for his 9 year old Pug called Coquette. Cindy pleads with his neighbour Lisa, to take on Coquette as she does not want a vet to put the Pug down. Hari, Lisa's 10 year old son thinks having a dog is great, so Lisa, Hari and his 4 year old sister Bonnie welcome Coquette the Pug into their home.

This Amazon Kindle eBook is about how people make connections, hence the title. There are many connections that we all make in our lives. Some connections are really close, like mother and son. Some connections are really long distance, like memories of other countries on the other side of the world. But there are connections between everything and when those connections grow, a love develops.

Sheela wrote this 284 KB eBook in 2012 and it is intended for children. The lead character is Hari and the story is really about growing up and all the connections that bind us together. This is a sweet little tale about a boy and the new family pet. When you first take on a Pug, they can be a big challenge as Hari soon realises. The connections Sheela writes about are basic parenting soft skills. The parts about living with a Pug are brilliant. Pugs are great little dogs with a behaviour and character of their own. Sheela's observations of Pug traits are spot on as I have a Pug myself.

This book is easy reading and will appeal to all ages. I would feel very comfortable reading it to our grandchildren. How much it will appeal to children is open to debate. There is only so much you can write about a boy who gets a dog and walks her around the block. Although Sheela paints a pretty picture about family life and growing up, that is very different to telling a story that captivates the readers imagination. naate (connections) is a good storyboard to invite discussion with children but as a stand alone story it is weak. There is a happy ending to this tale which leaves a lovely, warm feeling. This book is an okay read and I vote it 3 stars.

Living with Bipolar Disorder and Mental Illness by Michael Summer.

Michael is a 23 year old paramedic and he has Bipolar Disorder. He has written this small 184 KB Amazon Kindle eBook in 2012 to help raise awareness of Bipolar Disorder and Mental Illness. This book is not a clinical text but a personal account of Michael's own disease, experiences and treatment.

You do not get a detailed medical explanation of Bipolar Disorder but you gain a wonderful insight into what it means to actually live with this disease. Because you are getting the story from the horse's mouth, you get to understand how it feels from the patient's experience.

Michael explains that being Bipolar is different for each patient. How the disease manifests is different with each patient. Bipolar people have differing symptons and triggers. Their mood swings can be fast or slow and their changes happen at random. The medication they are perscribed is very hit or miss. Michael encourages Bipolar people to play around with their medication dosage until they become stable in mood. It is all about getting the balance right.

Michael tells what it is like living with Bipolar Disorder, day in, day out. He is very critical of doctors who do not understand his disease, the way hospitals are run and people's reliance on religion. He explains what effect legal drugs have on Bipolar people and why so many smoke tobacco.

Michael's writing style is bad. The structure of this book is awful. Michael rambles on at great length and he looses focus. He is very verbose and this book reads like a work in progress. There was no proof reading done before publication and he uses the wrong words in many places making the text a guessing game. The number of typos is embarrassing.

I am glad that Michael wrote this book as it raises the public's awareness of a hidden disability. This book is an okay read and I vote it 3 stars.

Kimo's War by James J. Frey.

This novel is the story of Lieutenant Kimo Kitazono, a Junior Officer in the US Navy. It is not a conventional military or war novel. It is all about Kimo's personal experiences and the feelings he got.

The format to this book is similar to a blog that anyone can read or write on the internet. James has wriiten his book in a blogging style, even including the notes after some sections which are like blog links and labels. Just like workplace blogs on the internet, the likes of which employers try to prohibit, Kimo's War reports the bad side of the US Navy. The public face of the US Navy is one of world leading excellence but Kimo's experience is one of bad management, disinformation and a budget restricted failing service. Kimo highlights all the problems with the US Navy in America, Kuwait and Iraq, where top brass claim to be 100% ready for action but are clearly lacking in resources.

Although Kimo's War is about the US Navy, most of the conflicts Kimo encounters are in all large companies and organisations around the world. Staff are keen and are doing their level best only to be stopped by incompetent management.

This story is littered with many typos and bad grammar but I will NOT mark this book down for that because it reflects the many spelling and grammar mistakes on company notice boards around the world. This sloppiness in spelling and grammar makes this book realistic because it is how people speak and write their personal blogs. Kimo's War is not a polished military, the good guys win - novel but a Junior Officer's personal notebook of how he got on. It is about the mental conflict within the head of each serviceman rather than action on the battlefield.

As a coping strategy for all the workplace stress Kimo has to endure, he has an imaginary friend inside his body by the name of Lapu. This is quite a common tactic used by all people in high stress jobs. A lot of Kimo's War is about stress management yet Kimo later becomes a victim of PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Kimo's War is not just about everything that is wrong within the US Navy but with how people cope mentally with their jobs.  Kimo tells the whole mindset within the Navy and how things could be better. He details all the frustations within military life but also adapting to the very different challenges of civilian life.

I really enjoyed reading Kimo's War, it was quite an eye opener for me. James wrote this novel in 2013 and it is available as a 449 KB Amazon Kindle eBook. When I finished reading it all, I was left with a great feeling of empathy for Kimo. He was a man who tried so hard but realised that in the end he was only a tiny cog in a huge machine who could be forgotten and replaced. Kimo's job and experiences are the same the world over in many different jobs. The only person who really cared for Kimo at the sharp end was his imaginary friend, Lapu.

Kimo's War is a good book and I vote it 4 stars.

Jump by David Stokes.

Jump is a 206 KB screenplay that was first performed at the Hop Poles in Hammersmith, London in April 2008. This play features 4 characters in 4 scenes. In scenes 1 and 4 there are 2 girls, Bibi and Tilly. In scenes 2 and 3 there are 2 men, Carl and Ted. One man is standing by an open window on the 9th floor, intending to jump to his suicide.

This is a strange book to read as it is not a novel or a short story. Being a screenplay it is just a listing of each characters words. It is not easy on the brain or eye because each paragraph will start with the actors name, eg Bibi: or Carl: - so that mentally you may think that Bibi: Hello - means Tilly says "Bibi, Hello".

Your reading experience is like listening to 2 seperate pairs of people having a long conversation. You feel like an eavesdropper. It is also like listening to a play on the radio.

As a play, I thought Jump was disappointing. As a book I thought Jump failed big time. The dialogue between the characters is nothing special. The humour is rather weak. The thoughts on suicide are quite shallow and I would be happy for all the characters to jump. This screenplay does not work as a book. Jump is simply a POOR read and I shall vote it only 2 stars. There are lots of good books going for free on the Amazon Kindle, so I suggest you give Jump the MISS.

In the Beginning by Abby L. Vandiver.

In the Beginning is a tale of two mysteries. One involves a conspiracy surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls and the other grabs the reader to uncover the hidden agenda behind this book. Abby has an interesting writing style. She uses that very feminine tactic of planting an idea in the readers mind with a hint, then bringing it up again later with a nag and finally repeating what has happened before.

This novel starts with a bold prologue declaring a prophetic vision. Chapter 1 begins in Israel during 1949 with the discovery and translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls. In Chapter 2 we jump to America in 1997 and meet our heroine Dr. Justin Dickerson, a biblical archaeologist. Her parts of this novel are written in the first person.

In the Beginning then swaps time zones quite frequently as Abby hints and nags at what is going on until Chapter 20 when it settles down to 1997.  Justin is set on her quest to discover the truth behind the Dead Sea Scrolls. Woven into the story are many issues for the reader to think about and form their own opinions.

I really enjoyed reading this novel which Abby finished writing in 2012. It is available as a 487 KB Amazon Kindle eBook. It is an unusual read because you are always wondering about any hidden agendas. You wonder if this story is one big metaphor and Justin is a spokesperson for certain global issues. All the hints are there but you are uncertain how this story will end.

A big part of this novel is the family life that Justin shares with the reader. Family life has it's joys and excitements, which shows easily as when Justin gets heated Abby enters many typos into the script that were never edited out! Do not let this lack of proof reading put you off as this book is a very good read. It puts many of life's little wonders into perspective as you roll along with this conspiracy tale about the Dead Sea Scrolls. Abby has written a lovely book that is a refreshing change from big name author conspiracy novels. She certainly has that female way of telling a story. After 22 years of being happily married to my wife Gail, it was like her telling the story on our sofa. I fell in love with this book and Justin's character comes across so strong, it feels like she is an old friend. Because this book has been written with such great feminine passion, I will vote it the top score of 5 stars.

When you get to the Epilogue at the end, which is set in America during 2000, it all slowly starts to make sense in your mind. What Abby has done is rather clever and very subtle. After a couple of hours after you have finished this book you realize the back story and the hidden agendas.

Inside Out by Truman Pedersen.

Chris Gunning is an undercover Police Officer working for Wiltshire Constabulary. He is highly trained and works on many potentially dangerous missions. His latest case is to help take down a paedophile ring.

Inside Out is not just a regular crime thriller. This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions and suspicions. The language that Truman Pedersen uses is spot on and he clearly knows the nature of the beast. Readers who do not know much about paedophilia will learn a lot from this book as Truman's research is intelligent and he truly understands how peoples' minds work. For readers who already know about paedophiles, they will spot the warning signs straight away! You read the text with it's colourful language outlining desire and it shouts out "PAEDO" to you. As you meet new characters you think, "I have my doubts about them". Then you start to doubt the Wiltshire Constabulary and wonder just how big this paedophile ring actually is.

Inside Out is a 418 KB eBook that was written in 2013. It has a lovely up-to-date social commentary on many of the lifestyle issues running in Britain today. Guardian readers would love this book for it's social observations alone!

I really enjoyed reading Inside Out because Truman's writing is simply top quality. The development of all his characters is terrific as he captures the person's soul. Inside Out is an exciting book and although it covers paedophilia, I do not think any of the content would offend an adult reader.

There are no slow or dull parts in this novel and the ending makes you wonder who you can trust and just how much people will give up for their impulse. I finished this book and thought there was only one way I could vote - the top score of 5 stars. Inside Out is Truman's first novel and he is an author to watch.

House of Teeth by Craig Caudill.

House of Teeth is a short story of just 286 KB and it was written in 2012. This eBook is a creepy tale of 2 characters who meet over the internet. It has a lovely dark humour that lets the reader form their own opinion of the characters. Slowly you understand that Phil might not be all he claims and the alarm bells start ringing.

I enjoyed reading this short story as it was real quirky. This tale was focused towards an end where you thought you knew what was coming but there is a twist. Okay, this story could do with some proof reading to tidy the text but it is still a good read and I vote it 4 stars.

Craig has taken some risks with the subject matter as some readers may find the plot a little uncomfortable. The shock value is eased with the excellent humour and at the end you can see the funny side of this tale. There is also a good social message and perspective for you to take away before you move on to your next book.

The Girl in the Window by Blind Cupid.

This is a very short story of just 95 KB that has been written in 2013. It is a first person erotic tale of a woman living alone. She welcomes the reader into her world.

I really enjoyed this tiny eBook as it was so refreshing. The writing is intelligent and adult. It explores peoples' relationship with voyeurism and the two way traffic sought by exhibitionists. She illustrates the casual wonder we all have when we glance at strangers near an open window. There is a voyeur in each of us and she tells us exactly why. The Girl in the Window is a story of hope. A hope that both the exhibitionist and the voyeur will meet, that they both understand that there is a chance of being there for each other.

The Girl in the Window is a fantasy that is expertly told. It is not a lads' mag cheap and vulgar story. It is a thinking man's dream, a dream of wonder that I get when I take my dog out into our garden at night and glance towards my neighbour's window. Blind Cupid understands the psychology behind peoples' innocent fantasies and has woven that into this sexy little tale.

The Girl in the Window is a great showcase to present the talent of this author in writing a bright and refreshing erotic story in a clear and intelligent adult style. I can find nothing wrong with this short story and I vote it the top score of 5 stars.

False gods: the ecstasy by Cy Black.

23 year old Natasha Flynn is a new graduate recruit to a London bank. Thrust into a new job and knowing nobody, Natasha meets Sebastian Butler and they fall in love.

This 688 KB eBook was written in 2013 and it is a love story. There is romance in the air as Natasha clearly enjoys herself at work and at play. Natasha only has eyes for Sebastian but she does get involved with 3 other men. Natasha is not a likeable character as she is a free loader. Natasha spends a lot of time with men eating and drinking but NOT ONCE does she put her hand in her purse and pay for anything!

The author tries hard with this novel. The characters are well developed and the vocabulary is extensive. The plot has lots of detail and a very clear picture is painted of what is going on. However the writing is tiresome as it describes at great length peoples' eyes and hair. Setting the scene is one thing but these long winded descriptions are a real drag. This author shows promise by using a rich vocabulary but is gravely let down by a total lack of storytelling ability. A good storyteller hooks the reader into the tale that grips their imagination. False Gods is a very easy novel to put down as it is about as interesting as listening to pleasantries from a supermarket check out girl - okay in passing but not the subject of a whole book.

There is some sex and drug use in this novel but nothing to get excited or offended about. Basically it is a long tale about flirting, courting and eating out, where Natasha never pays a penny but has a good time.

I did not enjoy reading False Gods, I thought it was a drag. False Gods fails to entertain and becomes a bore. There is no thrill or surprise when you plough through this story.This book can be a warning to men about women being a prick tease while all they want is a paid-for night out. The author always refers to Natasha as the heroine but I can think of a better name to describe her more honestly!

Natasha plays the field and at the end Sebastian goes on holiday without her, promising to let her know which way their relationship will go on his return. So this novel has an inconclusive and bad ending that invites the reader to buy the follow-on book.

I will not be following on with the free loading adventures of Natasha and hope that she has a lonely life in her Notting Hill bedsit with it's shared bathroom. I vote False Gods only 2 stars and suggest readers give it a MISS.

Entangled (A Vice Game novel) by Alice Cooper.

Phoebe Walters is walking home in the rain when she spots a teenage girl ready to jump off a bridge to kill herself. Phoebe saves Anna from committing suicide and meets her handsome brother Tristan. But the story does not end there because Phoebe becomes entangled in Anna and Tristan's strange family.

Entangled is a fine story that is written in the first person. Phoebe is a kind hearted 23 year old woman and this book is about love. It explores the very different kinds of love that people can share with one another. It is also about hope and the old adage of love will find a way.

Alice Cooper develops her characters well in this novel. I quickly found a warmth for Phoebe, Anna and Tristan. All families have histories and secrets, this family is no different. Entangled shows how a family can struggle when things change and members push their own agendas.

I enjoyed reading this book because of it's tremendous warmth. The storyline progresses at a good pace and there is plenty going on. I got to the end and I thought "Ah! That's nice".

Proof-reading was missing from this novel which is available as a 293 KB eBook. These word errors took some of my enjoyment away from this book as my brain made sense of the puzzled words. Alice Cooper even designed the cover herself and misspelled the title as Entagled. This novel was written in 2013 and although there are some sex scenes, they are rather tame and should not offend your grandmother.

Entangled is an okay read and I vote it 3 stars. It is a pleasing read that rolls along and is great for a beach holiday, where love for you, may be in the air.

Dark Beach by Lauren Ash.

Jenny goes on holiday with her husband Ron, their daughter Kip and their dog Charlie to stay in a beach house at Rocky Shores.

With a title of "Dark Beach" and a moody start to this novel, you hope for an exciting mystery. WRONG. This is a moody tale of a pregnant woman on holiday. Sometimes you go on holiday and you wonder why other tourists actually bother to go away. Well with Jenny and Ron droning on about the beach house, you just want them to pack up and go home so that you can read an entertaining novel instead.

Dark Beach is a poor read. It does not entertain but just drones on with it's hints of forgotten mystery surrounding the beach house. Dark Beach is all promise and very little action. I developed no empathy for any of the characters. This book was a drag to read and I hoped it would improve towards the end but it just droned on. The ending was disappointing in the extreme.

I took nothing away from this book except that I am glad I am not married to a boring woman like Jenny. Dark Beach is available as a 291 KB Amazon Kindle eBook that was written in 2012. Thankfully I obtained a free download and did not pay for this very poor attempt at a novel. Lauren Ash does not have the skill for storytelling and I vote her book only 2 stars.

CCTV Blue(s) by Brian Martin.

Mark Watson works behind the scenes viewing live CCTV screens in a control room. His job is to help with UK airport security and if he sees anything dodgey, he has to alert a supervisor. Then those CCTV images are saved, filed and appropriate action is taken. CCTV Blue(s) is Mark's story as this book reveals what goes on behind the scenes and the effect it has on the CCTV operators.

Mark is on the watch for three activities. Drugs, money and sex. As the story unfolds the reader learns about how security systems work in our airports and the targets the operators are looking for. Much of their work is monitoring the mundane movement of ordinary, innocent travellers. Occassionally the operators chance upon something of interest and they alert their supervisor.

CCTV Blue(s) asks the questions about why Britain has become the most monitored nation on our planet. It attempts to show what hidden agendas may be at play by both our government and the commercial companies running these security operations. This book shows the culture where everyone is a suspect and are closely monitored with access-all-areas cameras. Everybody is viewed with suspicion, the general public and staff alike.

Mark has a life outside of work and part of this book is about how his work affects his spare time, family and friends. The plot rolls on and relationships develop. This book is not soley about how CCTV is used but that people have a life beyond those 2 dimensional images.

Many travellers are caught on the CCTV cameras by Mark. These incidents are amusing and demonstrate the wonderful diversity we share within our society. None of these incidents are shocking or offensive and the title of CCTV Blue(s) is a little bit of a tease. The sex scenes are very tame and this is NOT an erotic novel.

This book draws to an end that enables the reader to form their own opinion of CCTV surveilence in our country and how those images are saved or used. I think it is good that Brian Martin has written this book as the general public can be blissfully unaware of how
much power is being developed under the guise of protection. All companies and governments claim that CCTV is for our protection but many people know that there is a hidden agenda. CCTV Blue(s) is a cautionary tale as Britain sleepwalks into a Big Brother society.

I really enjoyed reading this book that is available as a 399 KB Amazon Kindle eBook. It is bang up to date with it's focus as it was written in 2013 and mentions the American Prism program. CCTV Blue(s) is a good book and I vote it 4 stars.

Beautiful Force by Ella Quinn.

Allison is a sex psychotherapist and tries to help her patients while pleasing her own desires. This is the story about control and how sometimes men have the upper hand but at others it is women who hold all the cards.

This novel starts off with such promise, maybe exploring the work of a sex psychotherapist and the many problems the patients present. Peoples' sexual lives differ greatly and we can all be voyeurs as we wonder what goes on behind closed doors. Maybe this book will reveal some of those secrets and present answers to problems within sexual relationships.

WRONG. Beautiful Force is one of the worse books that I have read. There are just two main characters, Allison the sex psychotherapist and Channing a patient. It does cover Allison's relationship with her father and other patients plus their spouses.

Ella's writing is dreary and all her characters ramble on in long boring conversations. The sessions of psychotherapy drone on and on. There is very little action, it is unrealistic and simply a tease that Allison may be some wonderful sex guru who takes her patients litterally in her own hands to cure their problems. Will her patients who have lost their libido turn on her with animalistic desire or will the reader fall asleep in an armchair? If you think this novel could be a sexual turn on, think again because it is like counting sheep.

Beautiful Force could not even class as erotic. What sex there is appears pedestrian and vanilla. There is no plot as such although the ending is no great surprise as Ella has drip thread the possibilities from the very start when she dedicated her book to having a second chance. I do not suggest you give Beautiful Force one chance but give it a MISS. I took nothing away from this book and will not be reading another of Ella Quinn's novels.

Beautiful Force is 298 KB of waffle that is an absolute bore that was written in 2012. It is like listening to one side of a conversation on a mobile telephone as a passenger on a coach drones on and on for the whole goddamn journey.

Aiden's Sphere by Jonathan Brizendine.

This book gets off to a good start with twin plot lines about a strange forcefield and a mysterious virus, divided into short chapters. Aiden's Sphere was written in 2013 and is available as a 408 KB ebook. It is lightweight reading that is enjoyable and fun.

Aiden Walker is a 17 year old living in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is a bright kid with a "can do" attitude who can get things done. This novel has a good storyline that maintains a mystery of how the forcefield and the virus will turn out. Aiden is lucky at how things are easily available for him to use and how he can go straight to the top among government agencies.

Aiden's Sphere is not a challenging read or a literary masterpiece. It is second rate science fiction where you wonder whether the forcefield or the mystery virus will kill them first. This novel is not true to life but a fun make believe story. There is no realism but plenty of escapism in a kids story way.

This is a good book that I will vote 4 stars. The ending is rather predictable in a sugary sweet way. It is a funny, sweet American story where the good guys win in the end.

Walk a Mile In My Shoes (I'm a Survivor NOT a Victim) by Kristie Romero

This book is a short memoir of just 161 KB that was written in 2013. Kristie just wanted to be a normal kid growing up with her single mum. Kristie had a bad start in life. Sadly her childhood was not normal and Kristie fell victim to abuse, harassment, imprisonment, neglect, rape, self harm and violence.
Kristie was a victim of her circumstances, over which she had no control. No sooner had Kristie escaped one abusive encounter, had she stumbled into another abusive situation. You then realize how unlucky some people can be when family lets them down. You discover how easy it is for victims of all types of abuse to be targeted by other abusers and the cycle of abuse continues.
Kristie stood strong through all that life could throw at her and after all the trauma, this memoir has a happy ending. Walk a Mile In My Shoes is a very good book and I vote it 5 stars. There are quite a few typos within the text but do not let them spoil this amazing story. I am pleased that Kristie has put her story into the public domain, as I feel it will help other victims of abuse recover from their ordeal. Her memoir is a true inspiration to victims of all types of abuse. This is an exciting story for readers of a regular childhood and adult life, I really enjoyed reading it.

Underneath by Kealan Patrick Burke.

Dean is being bullied at school and his bully has set him the challenge of having a date with the school freak. Stephanie has a badly scared face and other pupils poke fun at her. Dean asks her out in the hope that the bullying will stop if Stephanie agrees to a date. Stephanie gives Dean a keen and wanting look as she is normally ignored by all the other boys.
Underneath is a short story of just 205 KB and was written in 2010. It is a quirky read all the way to the end and it is rather refreshing. Dean is apprehensive about going on his first date but is spurred on by the look in Stephanie's eyes. I developed a lot of empathy for both characters and wondered where this novella was going.
There is a lot of intrigue in this story which addresses a lot of social issues. Underneath is not just about the menace of bullying but also about how people judge others only by what is on the surface rather than what is underneath. People's surface can hide both sadness and joy.
Underneath is a good read and I vote it 4 stars. There is a twist at the end and this novella has a strong social message to take away with you.

Looking Good Dead by Peter James.

Tom Bryce finds a CD on a train and inserts it into his laptop. Then the trouble starts and Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is on the trail to solve a murder and more. This novel is set around Brighton and has a good plot with a plausible background. This entertaining story gives a nice insight into the work of the Police High Tech Crime Unit and how criminals may use computers.

Looking Good Dead is another crime thriller in the DS Roy Grace series. Although the main character in this series is DS Roy Grace, it is all about networking and working as a team. Lots of favours are asked between various people, who respond and together save the day. There is a nice dry gallows humour between the Police Officers...

A good choice of location for a safe house, Grace thought, except for one minor detail that appeared to have been overlooked. Who in their right bloody mind would put a paedophile in a house a few hundred yards away from a school playing field? He shook his head. Didn't anybody ever think?
'Is Mr D'Eath expecting us?' Nicholl asked.
'With morning coffee and a box of Under Eights I expect.' Norman Potting said, following this with a throaty chuckle.

...This book is a brilliant illustration of the wonders of team work. Without the flagging and passing on of tiny bits of information between many Police Officers, these crimes would not have been solved. Peter James is very good on police procedures in this book of 519 pages which was published in 2006.

Looking Good Dead is a good story and I vote it 4 stars. This is a stand-alone novel, although reading it straight after Dead Simple, it is a seamless follow-on. I am a little disappointed at how much appeared to be brought over from Dead Simple, which is quite lazy as this was not new content. There is another dramatic ending in the style of an action hero movie.

Looking Good Dead shows how ordinary acting and looking people could be involved in the darker side of society, without anyone suspecting.

Dead Simple by Peter James.

Michael Harrison is on his stag night and 4 of his mates are playing a prank on him. This prank goes wrong and Detective Superintendent Roy Grace leads the hunt to find Michael who is now missing.

But there is more to this tale than a missing person and a stag night prank. Dead Simple is a thriller about when things go wrong and efforts to fix things backfire. There are many twists and turns in this story with plenty of important details woven into the plot. It is set around Brighton and is an enjoyable tale where you do not know how it will pan out. It keeps the reader guessing. There is a good plot and motives are developed from actual true cases in the past when criminals have been brought to justice. It deals with jealousy and the hold women can have on men.

Dead Simple is one in a series of Roy Grace novels. These books can be read as standalone novels because there is plenty of back story to make them work. They give a clear illustration of police culture, although it does seem that Peter James attended an open day at Sussex Police HQ taking loads of notes to use in his novels. He is very good at describing police procedures. There is some lovely dry humour between the characters. A good example is on page 47 when Roy Grace is being cross-examined in court...

'So you regularly turn to the dark arts in your work as a senior police officer, do you, Detective Superintendent Grace?'
An audible snigger rippled around the courtroom.
'I wouldn't call it the dark arts,' Grace said. 'I would call it an alternative resource. The police have a duty to use everything at their disposal in trying to solve crimes.'
'So would it be fair to say you are a man of the occult? A believer of the supernatural?' the silk asked.
Grace looked at Judge Driscoll, who was staring at him as if it was he himself who was now on trial in this court. Desperately trying to think of an appropriate response, he shot a glance at the jury, then the public gallery, before he faced the silk again. And suddenly it came to him.
Grace's voice notched up a gear, more strident, more confident, suddenly. 'What is the first thing this court required me to do when I entered the witness stand?' he asked.
Before the silk could respond, Grace answered for him. 'To swear on the Holy Bible.' He paused for it to sink in. 'God is a supernatural being - the supreme supernatural being. In a court that accepts witnesses taking an oath to a supernatural being, it would be strange if I and everyone else in this room did not believe in the supernatural.'

...Dead Simple was written in 2005 and has 457 pages. This is a good book which entertains and is awfully British. I vote it 4 stars. The ending is rather far fetched but Peter James is a big fan of the paranormal.

divine justice by David Baldacci.

Follow Oliver Stone in another adventure. This time he is being hunted for the two murders he committed. divine justice is another Camel Club novel, this time set in Divine, a small mining town in Virginia. This book continues the brand but it can be read as a standalone novel as there is loads of back story about Oliver.

You start reading divine justice and you wonder, why has Oliver stumbled across this or that? It is because that detail will be used later in this story. There are a small cast of suspects involved in the darker side of Divine. This novel is light reading and you know that our hero, Oliver, will turn out okay. There is a steady progression with the plot of this book and it is a simple tale of circumstances. The ending is okay and is just what you would expect.

There is nothing radical about this book, it is just like a made-for-tv movie. It is a run of the mill novel, not quite a thriller. It is rather drab. David Baldacci is a best selling author but his writing has become lazy. This tale is sloppy and at one point Reuben has a puncture on his Indian motorcycle. Not having a spare wheel with his sidecar, he wheels his outfit into Caleb's van. Later on Reuben takes his motorcyle out of the van and rides happily away. No puncture repair or tyre change had been done!

divine justice has 534 pages and was written in 2008. I took nothing away from this novel. It was a disappointment. This book is a poor read and I vote it only 2 stars. I suggest you give it a MISS as divine justice is not one of David's best. This was the last of David's paperbacks that I purchased a while ago and I will not be buying another. David Baldacci seems to ride on his best selling status and does not bring anything new to the game.

Big Brother can be rather dumb.

Traffilog is a vehicle data recording system used by National Express on all their coaches. This technology has many functions like GPS tracking and interior coach temperature recording. It is also used to record driver performance and monitors braking, acceleration, cornering and engine idling. Each driver has a Traffilog score depending on how well he has driven the coach. Every passenger comfort event is given a point, the more points against a driver lowers his grading. No or just a few points would give a Gold grading. A small amount of points would give a Green rating. A fair amount of points would give an Amber rating and a lot of points a Red grading.

This colour coded Traffilog grading system is then used by managers to discipline drivers. The goal is to ensure all drivers give their passengers a comfortable ride. However, Traffilog is a dumb system that does not work in the real world.

Driver - Brakes - Acceleration - Turns - Idling - Grade

A               3                   0                  5          1         Gold

B               1                   1                  2          1         Green

Surely driver A with more sharp braking and turns should have a higher score and a Green grading plus driver B with less sharp braking and turns should have a Gold grading. That would be a fair assessment of the data. Traffilog rates highly events of high acceleration. But high acceleration is simply not possible in a coach with a 9 litre engine pulling an unladen weight of 13,570 kgs. Therefore these acceleration events are FALSE. What happens is the automatic gearbox changes as the coach is going uphill and Traffilog records this as a surge. Traffilog penalizes drivers who drive comfortably and have done nothing wrong. Traffilog does not grade drivers fairly.

I think National Express have been sold a pup with this Traffilog motion sensor technology as the above grading example clearly shows.

Trainland: A Novel by Richard Denoncourt.

Jack Devins is an advertising copy writer who is facing changes at work. This novel starts off really good. Jack rides as a passenger on the New York subway trains. One day Jack goes onto the platform and enters another world, a world I can't relate to. From here this novel descends into a fantasy nonsense.

Trainland, an area and time within the New York subway system is another world full of horrors, a living hell. There are living dead people, zombies etc living in purgatory. They are all trapped in a world of madness they want to escape. Jack tries to get out of Trainland and must battle with many demons. He also has to deal with the grief of losing his daughter Kelly in an earlier accident and to stop blaming himself.

I gave up on this ridiculous plot and did not know where it would end. Thankfully there is a big twist approaching the end and you can finally make sense of this nonsense. Trainland questions our perceptions of reality. Details revealed earlier in this story now make sense and then you start to understand Jack's problems. I did not like this story format, the mix of reality and imagination that treats the reader as a child. Rather than entertain the reader, this book annoys because of it's distortion of reality.

Trainland is available as a 490 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2012. I think it is a disappointing read, a poor book that I shall vote only 2 stars and suggest you give it a MISS.

Shadow Stations: Unseen by Ann Grant.

Amy Wung is walking her German shepherd dog Nikki when she meets a man who asks her for directions. This man is different as he has 6 fingers on each hand. She walks away and glances back to notice that he dropped his mobile phone. She turns and picks up the phone but this is a model of smartphone she has not seen before.

Shadow Stations: Unseen is a nice tale for dog lovers because of how people live with dogs. This novella is set in America and is a short story written in the style of a B movie. It is a fantasy adventure, a piece of science fiction that is not to be taken seriously. This daft silliness is easy reading due to it's clear writing style.

Amy has an attitude which is refreshing, although other reviewers disagree. This story however is lacking. Lots of things are simply convenient to make this story work. It is neither deep or gripping. There is nothing special about this book. It also lacks realism.

There is one funny paragraph that I can quote but this is the funniest in the whole book...


... Antoine stared at the palm trees beyond the beach. "Get up, man, get up. There's a house. I don't care if Granny Psycho lives there. I'm going to ring the fucking doorbell and get myself a cell phone and a rum and Coke."

... Shadow Stations: Unseen is a small 233 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2012. I think it is a poor book and I will vote it only 2 stars. I suggest you give it a MISS. This is a 2nd class read. The ending is silly and tells me not to bother with the sequel called Shadow Stations: Black Friday.

The Islamist by Ed Husain.

Ed is a young Muslim living in London. Ed tries different flavours of Islam, becomes a radical Islamist and later changes his mind. This book is Ed's memoir and it's 288 pages were written in 2007.

This book is easy to understand as it is clear and well written. Although it is a memoir, your reading experience and enjoyment is the same as from reading a regular novel. This is a story of growing up, rebelling against your parents and society, plus finding your place in the world.

Ed does not preach at the reader, he just tells his story and let's you form your own opinion of Islam. I am an Atheist and I thoroughly enjoyed his book. You do not need to be a religious scholar of any religion to understand and enjoy this book. Apart from being a wonderful story, it enlightens the reader about the HUGE differences between Muslims. This book made me laugh when Ed details the infighting between different mosques and Muslim groups.

There is a good timescale to this memoir as Ed grows up and lives through the Twin Towers terrorist attacks of 2001 and the London bombings of 2005. He has to reconcile his faith each time after both terrorist attacks committed by fellow Muslims.

This book gives a much needed transparency to a very closed world lived by Muslims among us in Britain today. This story really enlightens the reader by showing the huge breadth in the interpretation and worship within Islam.

I have found nothing wrong with this lovely book, it is very good and I vote it the top score of 5 stars.

Elf and Safety gone mad.

Here are 3 images taken at the National Express coach station in Birmingham. When passengers are getting off their coach, they are greeted by this sign...

"High visibility clothing must be worn in this area".

This is the waiting area for passengers in the flagship coach station. Where is the danger? Passengers can not walk infront of or behind coaches. There are no conflicting paths. There is a place for high visibility clothing to be worn, in places where people are vulnerable in the path of moving vehicles. But here there are no moving coaches within the boarding and waiting areas.

One guy is sat in the waiting area wearing his high visibility vest and this just looks silly.

There is no chance of an accident in this very controlled area. The passenger entrance doors from the waiting area into the boarding area can only be opened by a controller when no coaches are moving. This sign therefore just gives an example of Health & Safety gone mad.

sara's game by Ernie Lindsey.

Sara Winthrop is an ex-programmer now working as the head of marketing for LightPulse Productions, a video game company in Portland, Oregon. Her husband Brian disappeared 2 years ago without warning and now her 3 children have been kidnapped from 2 separate schools at the same time, just like an Al-Qaeda operation.

So, sit back and enjoy the ride! This thriller is told from 2 points of view, Sara Winthrop the mother and Detective Jonathan Johnson the policeman on the case. It is really good that you get these 2 separate views of the same story, the victim and the police. I enjoyed reading these 2 paths on the same time line.

Sara makes a decision to play the game along with the kidnapper at the start of this story. I was very surprised at her decision as it seemed an impossible task to play a game against the kidnapper and save her children. Most mothers would realize that entering a game against a kidnapper is foolish and they would leave the search for their children to the police. But Sara is a "badass chick" and uses her gaming experience to challenge the kidnapper before her children are put in further danger. There are some nice tasks given to Sara, especially in the first game level! This makes you wonder which direction this story will take. There is great suspense as Sara plays the kidnappers game which builds a nice, nagging tension. The story line leads the reader along a path thinking about the kidnappers, who they are and what is their motive.

In addition to the basic story there is a lovely banter between Detective Jonathan Johnson and his superior, Inspector Barker, This dialogue gives a good insight into police work and the games they play.

The ending of sara's game is okay but the thrill of this novel is the search for her children and the games the kidnappers play on Sara. I downloaded this 379 KB eBook from Amazon, which was written in 2012. I think it is a good book and I vote it 4 stars.

Just One Look by Harlan Coben.

The rear cover of this book reads...

Grace Lawson is living a happy, straightforward life in the suburbs with her husband, Jack, and two young children. But then Grace picks up a set of holiday snaps, amongst which is a faded shot she doesn't recognise of her husband as she never knew him. Within twelve hours, Jack has disappeared and a brutal hitman is stalking his family.

...This is a stand alone novel although it does have links to the Myron Bolitar series. The writing style is the same. Just One Look has 386 pages and was published in 2004. This novel is a thriller that is entertaining and has a good pace and structure. Harlan is great at creating suspicion about all the characters and has you guessing who is the real villain here? You can try and work things out from the clues or simply enjoy the ride as Grace finds the truth behind the photo. This book has a great plot and it is a great story that is a pleasure to read. Harlan is very good with the detail and those little details are important because everything has consequences. At the end of this book you think "WOW!".

Just One Look is very good and I can find nothing wrong with it, so I will be voting it the maximum of 5 stars on Goodreads. If you ever wanted to know how to stop a woman from talking on a car journey, then turn to page 316...

She kept peppering him with questions - where is my husband, what do you want with us - but he continued to ignore her. When they reached a stoplight, the man did something that she did not expect.
He rested his hand on her knee.
'Your leg was damaged,' he said.
Grace was not sure how to respond to this. His touch was light, almost feathery. And then without warning his fingers dug down with steel talons. They actually burrowed beneath the kneecap. Grace buckled. The tips of the man's fingers disappeared into the hollow where the knee meets the shinbone. The pain was so sudden, so enormous, that Grace could not even scream. She reached out and grabbed his fingers, tried to pry them out of her knee, but there was absolutely no give. His hand felt like a concrete block.
His voice was barely a whisper. 'If I dig in a little more and then pull...'
Her head was swimming. She was close to losing consciousness.
'...I could tear your kneecap right off.'
When the light turned green, he let go. Grace nearly collapsed in relief. The whole incident had probably taken less than five seconds. The man looked at her. There was the smallest hint of a smile on his face.
'I'd like you to stop talking now, okay?'
Grace nodded.
He faced forward. 'Keep driving.'

Sisters of the Veil by Bryan M. Powell.

Shi'a Muslims flee from Lebanon and Iran to America. Jared Russell, a happy clappy Christian is building a mosque in Stanford, near Michigan. This is a multicultural novel which explores it's characters relationship with their god. It also illustrates how different religions can mix and co-exist.

Sisters of the Veil shows great promise and you wonder if there is romance in the air for Jared. But there is little drama and this story does not really go anywhere. Nothing much happens, there is just potential and a lot of posturing.

Jared is not a likable person. He is a gun obsessed god botherer, who bible bashes away with his beliefs. You can however laugh at Jared's church and faith.

Sisters of the Veil fails as a novel and disappoints the reader. This book fails to entertain. The ending is bad as it simply paves the way to the sequel. It is part of the Jared Russell series and is a 2nd class read with the feel of a happy clappy young person's bible weekend encounter group. This Amazon Kindle eBook is 253 KB long and was written in 2012. I will vote it 2 stars as it is such a poor read and I suggest you give it a MISS.

The Rose Hotel by Rahimeh Andalibian.

This story starts at the Rose Hotel in Mashhad, Iran in 1978 before the Islamic revolution. Rahimeh is 4 years old and the reader gets the picture of her understanding of life in Iran during the turmoil of the Islamic revolution of 1979. This is a family tale told in the same style as A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. The Rose Hotel is a colourful story of growing up in a Shi'a Muslim family. You see through Rahimeh's eyes as her family moves from Mashhad to Tehran. They later move to London and finally America. 

This is a very warm and loving book. The pace is nice and steady. The family has many ups and downs. The time frame of this book spans over 30 years. It explores the differences of culture between East and West. You gain a good insight into Shi'a Muslim life and it's values plus how Muslims adapt to living in the West. 

The Rose Hotel is a good family drama which is easy to relate to. This book is about family dynamics, how they get along and fall out plus how they deal with trauma and hold secrets. It is a book of hope and it's Kindle eBook format of 790 KB was written in 2012. This is a true life novel which I enjoyed very much and I shall vote it 4 stars on Goodreads as it is such a good book.

Breath Testing for Prosecutors by Jeanne Swartz

 

Breath Testing for Prosecutors is a 351 KB document written by Jeanne Swartz in 2004 for the American Prosecutors Research Institute. This document tells you how alcohol breath testers actually work. It explains the history and the problems of false fail readings. There is a difference between mouth alcohol and deep lung alcohol. Alcohol in your mouth evaporates quickly but various foods and drinks taken 15 minutes before a breath test can make a difference.

This document explodes many of the myths about these breath test devices. It is well researched and is easy for the driver to understand. It explains why 0.08 mg/ltr is used as a goal post by National Express rather than the legal limit of 0.35 mg/ltr. This is a good and informative read for all drivers who use vehicles fitted with alcohol breath test devices .

Robin Nixon's PHP Crash Course: Learn PHP in 14 easy lessons by Robin Nixon.

PHP is a computer programming scripting language that is embedded within the HTML which makes up web pages. Robin's book is quite like a cook book in it's style and is a gentle guide into PHP. It is very easy to follow as Robin is a technical author, not a novelist. He does lecture a bit but this book does the job just like a manual although it does not sparkle and is not highly entertaining. It does not have the passion that is always found in a good novel.

This crash course develops well and the reading pleasure you get is from gaining knowledge, not from escaping into another world. You learn how forms on webpages work and how user input is processed. You discover how your internet browser works behind the scenes, how cookies work and what those extra bits of code are in your browser address bar. This book nicely progresses to the end when you deal with the differences between get and post Ajax requests.

Robin Nixon's PHP Crash Course is a 2088 KB eBook and was written in 2012. PHP is well explained to novices and it is great to understand it's magic. This book is okay and I give it a score of 3 stars.

Welcome to Setcopia: A Dystopian Thriller by James M. Ashton.

Do you hate how large companies bully their employees? Do you hate how large companies pervert our language? Do you wonder where things will stop, then look into the near future. Welcome to Setcopia is set in Britain in the year 2036. This novel is written in the first person of Cirrus Shires and is an awfully British tale. This eBook has 623KB and was written in 2013.
It is very good satire and is very believable but it is not a fantasy. This story really hits home.

Welcome to Setcopia explains how big business moulds our thoughts and we are lost in the company mantra. James M. Ashton really has the company language spot on. He uses all the correct phrases that companies use and irritate us with every day. James highlights the pitch of company speak with it's irritating consistency. This novel shows how our society today is moving and how people loose who they are, as big companies take over the country and our lives.

This story has a good pace with well developed scenarioes and it draws to a realistic ending. Your suspicions of big business are confirmed in this well written cautionary tale. This dystopia is very possible when you understand how large companies actually work. I really enjoyed this book, it is very good indeed and it deserves my top score of 5 stars. There is some poor proof reading with plenty of typing mistakes especially when the author gets excited as the emotion heightens. Do not let this put you off though!

The Final Detail by Harlan Coben.

Clu Haid is dead and Esperanza Diaz, Myron's business partner is arrested. Did she kill him? Myron Bolitar makes it his business to find out. This novel follows on from One False Move and is the 6th book in the Myron Bolitar series. This book has the usual quality of writing from Harlan Coben and this is more than a basic crime thriller. The Final Detail is focused on people's lives rather than the crime, it's scene and the following investigations. This adds so much colour and depth to this story. It is amazing just how powerful Harlan's writing is that you believe that you know the characters and have spent time with them!

There is a nice lively banter between the characters and this novel has a good and very involved plot. It keeps you guessing about the killer and peoples motives. It is thought provoking about the morality of peoples lives and addresses many social issues. Harlan explores physical attractions between people and how their sexuality may affect their judgement. He also includes some nice comments and dialogue about how America has changed with local character and small businesses being replaced by national chains, so that everywhere looks the same.

The Final Detail was written in 1998 and has 344 pages. It has a great contemporary feel, with anecdotes and references to popular culture and landmark events. There is a lovely humour going on...

He risked another step. If only he had something to placate her with. Like a half gallon of Haagen-Dazs. Or a sacrificial goat.

Why, Myron wondered, do servants of the rich and famous act snootier than their masters? Was it simple resentment? Was it because they were locked down upon all day and thus needed on occasion to be the one doing the looking down? Or - more simply - were people attracted to such jobs insecure asswipes?

Both men wore turtlenecks so high and loose they looked like something awaiting circumcision.

...The Final Detail has a good ending with no loose ends. It is a good book and I will vote it 4 stars on Goodreads.

Drinking Water To Lose Weight by Lexi Burke Alexander.

Drinking Water To Lose Weight is a very small 90 KB ebook published in 2012.  It has a very simple message, swap other drinks for water. By switching to plain water, your reduced daily calorie intake results in a weight loss. It is surprising how other drinks mount up the calories throughout the day. This book also explains how some foods contain a fair amount of water which lead to a fuller stomach but without the high calorie value. Lexi mentions also the importance of hydration to good health.

Lexi's writing style is rather happy clappy diet club and she does drone on about exercise. Her book is okay and I vote it 3 stars. Lexi gives some good advice and it could make a difference because that tasty latte is 200 calories and as she shows, the maths are easy!

Back Spin by Harlan Coben.

16 year old Chad Coldren goes missing and a telephone call claims that he has been kidnapped. Has Chad simply ran away and this is a cruel hoax? Myron Bolitar has a job to solve this mystery.

Back Spin has a very good plot with many possibilities of perpetrator, giving lots of avenues for Myron Bolitar to explore. There are plenty of suspects and this story has lots of twists that raise many doubts and suspicions. Harlan is very good at developing characters and each one has bags of personality. There is no drivel about someone wearing a blue coat but Harlan explains exactly what makes each character tick. Every character is described in depth. This is a people story with a diverse cast. As this story progresses, you do not know how it will end.

Back Spin has 343 pages and was written in 1997 but re-issued in 2007. This book is an enjoyable read that is enhanced by some lovely dry humour. Harlan Coben is a great storyteller. Back Spin refers to a move that golfers make but it does not matter to this mystery. The ending of this tale is okay and I shall be voting this novel 4 stars on Goodreads as it is a good book.

Stop Prediabetes: Eat S.A.F.E. and Don't Be a Sea Squirt by Robert Creighton.

Pre-diabetes metabolic syndrome affects 1 in 3 American adults, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Look at your friends and workmates, even people walking down the street, because many of them have developed diabetes. You can see and hear about the problem of increasing diabetes within the adult population, so why not get the knowledge so that you can miss out on becoming a victim of diabetes?

Stop Prediabetes is a small 315 KB ebook that was published in 2013. This book is nicely put together, it is uplifting and provides a solution that is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel. I understand how petrol and diesel engines work but human biology is very different. The action needed to stop pre-diabetes is simple and the results are well proven. Making minor lifestyle changes is all you need to stop diabetes. This book explains the complicated biology involved and how metabolism actually works. The food you eat and the movement you make work hand in hand with each other. Get the balance right and you will not develop pre-diabetes. Human ancestry is very important and modern processed foods do not work well with our bodies. The best advice is to avoid all food that has a label. Robert explains very well how our metabolism works and he makes the complicated biology easy to understand. He explains why you should avoid processed foods.

The small lifestyle changes Robert describes are not strict or hard to follow. He is not recommending exercise, joining a gym or talking part in sports. He is supporting simple movement, where you muscles are contracting, simple everyday activity like walking or gardening - moving around! Although modern processed foods are bad for you, Robert's 80/20 rule means that you can enjoy the odd biscuit etc - provided it and other processed foods do not exceed 20% of your intake. This is not a strict diet, just intelligent eating when you know what modern processed foods are made of and how your body deals with them.

Robert also explains why after a good walk you feel good. Walking in the woods is a pleasure, not a chore. This is because of the way your body chemistry and metabolism works as you walk. Your food and movement work together, these small changes in lifestyle make your risk of prediabetes go away. Nobody is force feeding you and you are empowered to make intelligent food choices.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it is well written and his style is polite. Robert does not bully the reader and he is not a happy, clappy evangelist! I will vote this book the maximum score of 5 stars on Amazon as it is such a brilliant self help book. I urge you to take Robert's advice so that you don't become a victim of diabetes but grow old without the worry.

bare bones by Kathy Reichs.

bare bones continues the tale of Dr Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist. There are 3 parts to this story, the bones of a newborn baby, a plane crash and a cache of bones discovered in the woods. This novel is about Dr Brennan's life in and out of work. It is written in the first person and she is a likeable, hard working character. You will read some interesting forensic detail as Temperance goes about her job. Slowly the clues mount up and the investigation of suspects unfold.

bare bones is a rather run of the mill Crime, Scene, Investigation novel. There is nothing unusual or particularly gripping. This is an easy book to put down. I last read a Kathy Reichs novel in 2009 and although bare bones is easy reading, it is not her best novel. It is quite shallow and rather dull, I lost empathy for the characters. The last 13 pages explain how everything fits together but by then my heart was not really into this book. Kathy Reichs is a top selling author but bare bones is pedestrian. Was bare bones at 420 pages and written in 2003 just published to fulfil Kathy's contractual quota? I think it is a poor read as it disappoints and I know Kathy Reichs can do much better. I will be voting bare bones 2 stars on Goodreads and suggest you give this one the MISS.

Dark Passage by Griffin Hayes

5 year old Tyson Barrett was told to never enter the locked room at the end of the hallway in his home. One day he did... what he saw the reader does not know as the story jumps to when Tyson is 38 years old. Tyson now has really bad nightmares and finds sleep very difficult. You assume Tyson is suffering from PTSD at whatever he witnessed was behind the locked door when he was 5 years old. Tyson joins a drug trial to see if the medication will help him sleep. The dreams continue and you wonder if something sinister is going on or whether Tyson is slowly losing his mind. Dark Passage got off to a good start but then tragedy strikes Dr Stevens and the story rolls downhill from there. It becomes a paranormal fantasy novel and is a little daft. Things do not add up and the characters motives are unbelievable. This book was written in 2011 and I downloaded the 434 KB Amazon Kindle version. Dark Passage fails to live up to it's promise and simply becomes an okay read which I will vote as 3 stars on Goodreads. It is a disappointing read that could have been a gripping thriller that dealt with mental health issues.

A better reward for your feedback.

When you give feedback to a company, the results vary quite a lot. In a previous post I sent my feedback to National Express and because my text had a key safety word in it, I received within minutes a call back from a manager at Service Support. The issue was dealt with in the manner National Express thought was appropriate. I was not rewarded for my stress.

Brewers Fayre have a better idea when they receive feedback from their diners. Keep your till receipt and do the online survey. Yes, there is a lot of questions and a lot of box ticking but at the end they send your a voucher for a free pudding when you buy a main meal on your next visit. This rewards the diner for spending their time to give feedback to Brewers Fayre in a manner which they find very useful in running their business. Brewers Fayre are paying for this feedback rather than getting snitchers for free like National Express encourage.

If you want people to put the time and effort into giving your business genuine feedback, then take a leaf out of the Brewers Fayre menu and offer a small reward. The puddings on the menu sell for under £4 and the cost price is considerably less. Brewers Fayre get to sell another main meal to the diner and get the volume of genuine feedback they desire for a very small cost. Brewers Fayre are happy to pay a token sum for the feedback while National Express view passenger feedback as a freebie.

The Curious Case of Daniel Walter by Rose Carter.

This story starts with Daniel killing his father. Ryan Cook is the detective assigned to the case. Witnesses point to Daniel being the killer. Can Ryan prove the killer was Daniel and not his identical twin brother Peter?

This book has a bad format, as from the start you know that Daniel is the killer. This novel is written in sections from the viewpoint of Daniel and Ryan. It is a teenage drama set in America and is not much of a crime thriller. Daniel's quest is to create doubt in a courtroom, so he has to be somewhat creative.

This novel does ramble on quite a bit. At one stage I even wondered if Daniel actually had a twin brother or if he was a schizophrenic with 2 personalities. I developed no empathy for any of the characters in this story. Proof is generally found by good Police work but the ending was no great shakes.

I bought the 278 KB Amazon Kindle version of this book which was written in 2011. I thought it was a disappointing read and I will vote it only 2 stars on Goodreads. This is a book to MISS and I consider it a FAIL.

Circus of the Dead by Seth Blackburn.

Gabriel is a teenager living in an unnamed Christian town in the American desert. All the inhabitants are survivors or their offspring of the Scourge, when flesh eating zombies took over the land. One day a circus comes to town and Reverend Joe warns the people to stay away. But Gabriel and his brother want to see what all the fuss is about.

Circus of the Dead is a novela of 136 KB and was written in 2011. It is a zombie horror story that is fun to read. It is a book of escapism and was an enjoyable read. It was entertaining and written in the first person. The writing quality and style are good. The pace is right and the editing is spot on. This is a bright story that is a joy to read. When you get to the ending you discover that Circus of the Dead is not just a zombie horror story. There is a message about society, religion and how small an individual's place is on earth. I consider Circus of the Dead a good book and I will be voting it 4 stars on Goodreads.

Text feedback

As your text had a key safety word in it, we've sent it to our 24hr service support team for potential action. If you wish, you can call them on 08455 436 681. Sender: +447786200496

11:59 by David Williams

Marc Niven is a radio DJ doing his late night broadcast which featured listeners phone-ins. At 11:59 a listener called Hassan asks for a Valentine's Day dedication. The pace of the programme is fast and Marc did not pick up on excactly what Hassan said. Another listener was alarmed at the words Hassan used and alerted Marc. Did Hassan simply have a slip of the tongue? Marc decides to find out the truth and embarks on an investigation.

This thriller is set in the north east of England and was written in 2010. I purchased the 558 KB Amazon Kindle version. It is easy reading that also gives a nice insight into the production of radio programmes. How there are lots of listeners trying to get onto the show and a researcher manages the incoming calls to select only the best to present to the broadcaster.

Marc explores the region and a sequence of events shape the story to an ending which is no surprise but is a logical conclusion when the reader examines the relevant parts. The reader meets a fair range of characters as the plot develops. Suspicions are raised and some are false. This is a regular thriller with nothing outstanding but it filled my daily read requirement. This book is okay and I will vote it 3 stars on Goodreads.