Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Book Review - Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi

 


Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi is about a former US Army sniper who uncovers a nuclear threat.  Special Agent Alexandra Martel is no longer in the battlefield where she had a reputation as one of the most decorated Army snipers in the service. She is now an FBI special agent on loan to Interpol. When on assignment with Interpol, she learns that an old friend, Krysten, had died under mysterious circumstances.

Krysten was an MI5 officer that Alex had met years ago but fell out of touch with. Alex is unsure whether or not to get involved because she lost contact with Krysten and feels that if there was foul play involved, MI5 would get to the bottom of it. However, Krysten’s roommate isn’t letting Alex off the hook and has been persistent that Krysten’s death is sketchy and that someone needs to look into it.

Alex decides to take a look into Krysten’s death after receiving a mysterious email from her. As Alex tries to piece together the clues, she realizes that Krysten might have been warning Alex of something. While Alex is trying to figure out the clues, an American nuclear warhead goes missing on her base. Alex is trying to figure out if Krysten’s death and the missing warhead are related before it’s too late.

I thought that the novel was an okay read. It was a fast paced read that was filled with action. I didn’t like that it included a lot of military terms and acronyms I am not familiar with. I wish that they included a dictionary or glossary.  The novel had a bit too much detail that it was overwhelming to read and parse out what was pertinent to the storyline.  There were times that the story seemed a bit unrealistic and there were too many coincidences happening.

I liked that Alex was a confident character that was able to get things done. However, there were times I would question her skill level and found her annoying. She kept using a device that she knew was compromised to share sensitive information or she would share mission details with people she just met. It was confusing because sometimes she would be on guard right off the bat and then other times she seems so trusting of others. I would have liked if the author had included more of her backstory because it was hard to connect with and understand her sometimes. That said, I am interested in reading more of Alex’s adventures and learning more about her.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Book Review - Miracle Man by William R. Leibowitz + Giveaway

Buy the book at Amazon


Robert James Austin was a victim of an unspeakable crime at a very young age. However, the tiny intelligent infant grows up to become a modern day superhero. Robert spends his life researching cures for various diseases.  While helping millions of people, Robert effects the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies.  Robert has to avoid greedy corporate executives along with an overzealous government official while he continues to work towards his life goals.

The novel had an interesting premise. I enjoyed the idea of a person overcoming personal obstacles to become a better person. However, the novel I felt was mundane and was too long for no reason. The book was very dull and boring. Even though the ending had a surprise twist, I honestly don't think it was worth reading this book until the end. This novel is listed as a thriller and suspense novel but, it's literally one dimensional with all the villains exposed with no mystery to be solved.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**


Book Details:

Book Title: The Miracle Man by William R. Leibowitz
Series: The Miracle Man Series Book 1
Category: Adult Fiction, 446 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Manifesto Media Group
Release date: February 2014

Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Some profane language, some use of the word 'g*ddamit', mature subjects including pandemic disease, terrorism, sex abuse, suicide)

Book Description:

REVERED REVILED REMARKABLE

The victim of an unspeakable crime, an infant rises to become a new type of superhero. Unlike any that have come before him, he is not a fanciful creation of animators, he is real.

So begins the saga of Robert James Austin, the greatest genius in human history. But where did his extraordinary intelligence come from?

As agents of corporate greed vie with rabid anti-Western radicals to destroy him, an obsessive government leader launches a bizarre covert mission to exploit his intellect. Yet Austin’s greatest fear is not of this world.

Aided by two exceptional women, one of whom will become his unlikely lover, Austin struggles against abandonment and betrayal. But the forces that oppose him are more powerful than even he can understand.

Miracle Man is the winner of a Best Thriller national award, and was named by Amazon as ONE OF THE TOP 100 NOVELS OF 2015, a TOP 10 BEST SELLING THRILLER and a TOP 10 NEW YORK TIMES/AMAZON BEST SELLER


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Meet the Author:



William R. Leibowitz practices law internationally and prefers not spending too much time in any one place. He is a graduate of New York University and Columbia University Law School.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook


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Ends 22, 2018


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Friday, June 8, 2018

Book Review - Curse of the Ancients by Hawk MacKinney + Giveaway



Craige Ingram and Grayson MacGerald are a part of special elite SpecOps SEAL team. The duo is used to the sight and smells of a dead body. However, when Grayson and Craige are called into a police investigation with a victim found dead, something doesn't quite smell right. When Mihály Keaulescu invites Craige to once in a life search for ancient artifact, things might end up deadly. Will Craige be able to escape?

The book had an interesting premise but I found it very hard to get into. I felt like it had too much military lingo to be enjoyable. I also felt like I didn't understand how some of the scenes changed. The book is about an interesting topic but the writing style made it hard for me.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**


Book Details:

Book Title: Curse of the Ancients by Hawk MacKinney
Series: The Moccasin Hollow Series Book 3
Category: Adult Fiction, 278 pages
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Sage Words Publishing
Release date: April 2018

Content Rating: R (This book is rated R for explicit murder scenes.)

Book Description:

As Craige Ingram climbed the stairs of the derelict building, that peculiar stench of a dead body hit him. It was the same smell no matter where—SpecOps SEAL encounter gone sour, or in a vacant, roach-infested apartment. Inside, his SEAL buddy-turned head of Buckingham Parish Homicide’s Investigative Support Division, Grayson MacGerald, was huddled with the coroner next to a swollen decaying corpse that was days old and hardly more than oozing dead meat.

The PI inside Craige had a gut feeling that there was more to this than a dead body, and Craige’s Grannie always told him, “Trust your feelin’s.” But that was before Mihály Keaulescu set down two of his Black Falcon choppers on Craige’s Moccasin Hollow private airstrip in an uninvited stopover. It got worse. From his airstrip to Israel, to Turkey and a nightmare-dream of one-of-a-kind ancient artifacts that not only threatened the serene life Craige knew and loved at Moccasin Hollow, it would destroy the world.


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Meet the Author:



With postgraduate degrees and faculty positions at several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to his work in classrooms and laboratories, he has written numerous professional articles on chordate neuroembryology and authored several novels that reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for both the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his protagonist in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Hidden Vault of Secrets and Westobou Gold, Books 1 and 2 in the series, have received national and international attention. Hawk is also writing a science fiction series, The Cairns of Sainctuarie.

Connect with the author: Website

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Ends on June 23, 2018


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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Book Review - Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

Photo Credit - Amazon
James is the perfect husband; he's a loving father, caring husband, and has a successful career in the government. However, when he is accused of a heinous crime, Sophie is determined that James is innocent and she will protect her family at any cost. Kate is the lawyer prosecuting the case and she is determined that James is guilty and will stop at nothing to bring him down. Is James innocent or is something larger at play?

When I first came across this book, it reminded me of the TV show, "How to Get Away with Murder". The book was interesting for the first few chapters when we were being introduced to the characters and their backstory. However, the plot seem was a bit predictable and was filled with filler. An interesting story, but I wish more was done with it, but I would be opened to reading more novels by the author.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Book Review - Rule of Law by Randy Singer

Photo Credit - Amazon
For a rare mission ordered by the President and monitored in real time by top government officials, the members of the SEAL Team Six takes on a historic mission. An American journalist and a young Saudi prince were captured by Houthi rebels and the SEAL team was sent in to free the two prisoners when the prisoners are scheduled to be executed on Easter Sunday. However, the mission ends with failure causing everyone to point fingers. The SEAL families are all looking for answers and if the President knew the mission was going to be a failure going before the mission began. Paige Chambers was hired by the widow of one of the SEAL members, but she has also lost someone to the cause as well. Did the President know the truth about the mission? Who is behind the mission failure?

The book had an interesting and unique story line. Unlike, most of the other legal thrillers I have read, this book was the only one who didn't have a romantic interest where it was competing with the story. However, I still couldn't get into the book and felt like the story had a lot of unnecessary details that never went anywhere for example, the drone pilot. He called Paige and gave her information, but I don't recall them ever using his testimonial or even his name after they went to such great lengths to find the identity of the drone pilot. An interesting story line, but I felt the story was longer than it needed to be.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Monday, June 5, 2017

Book Review - Driver Confessional by David Winters

Photo Credit - Amazon
Antonio is a law student who is trying to provide for his young family. He becomes a part time driver for a ride share program in DC. Antonio is known for good lucks and his gentle and warming manners. When a mysterious woman enters his world, he is thrown into the world of secrets and violence. Antonio will have to rely on his police officer brother, Rocco and his friends to help solve a murder. Who is this mysterious woman? What does she have that is so important? 

The novel was a quick read with an interesting premise. However, it failed to deliver. The characters fell flat and the dialogue felt fake. I felt at times that the author was being a bit preachy  and the novel had racial undertones.  The beginning the book was interesting but towards the end but the book just fizzles out. 

Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**