13 Bullets A Vampire Tale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 Bullets

A Vampire Tale

by David Wellington

Fiction  323 pages

Three Rivers Press an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group,

A division of Random House, Inc.,
New York

www.crownpublishing.com

ISBN:  978-0-307-38143-9  $13.95

www.davidwellington.net

Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

 

Do you really believe in vampires?  Would you be willing to seek out their lair knowing that you were a sensitive?  Such questions had never entered Laura Claxton’s mind.  Until she met US Marshall Jameson Arkeley, that would devastate her life as she knows it, her thinking and beliefs are all about to change.

 

The story begins in 1983; Special Deputy Jameson Arkeley and his partner Webster are on a stake out outside a diner where Piter Byron Lares is inside talking with the waitress.  What happens next is rich with moments of terror and the horrifying events that follow will leave you breathless.  Lares takes everyone in the diner out in a matter of seconds, Arkeley is in for a terrifying ride of his life.  Lares takes Arkeley after killing most of the SWAT team, when Arkeley comes to he finds he is in a ships hold and focuses in on five coffins, only one is empty.  The other four coffins contain decaying remains, Arkeley fight for his life, and removes Lares heart and as the sun comes up he burns the boat, believing he had killed them all.

 

But one single survivor remained, Justinia Malvern, who now has been kept alive at a sanitarium in Pennsylvania.  Arkeley believed all the terror was over, he was dead wrong.

 

Now 20 years later, Arkeley travels to Pennsylvania as a US Marshall and meets with State Trooper Laura Caxton.  Arkeley partners up with Caxton to exterminate all the vampires once believed to be extinct.  Malvern is being kept alive by minimal life support, the sanitarium has installed special blue lights as she is sensitive to regular lighting, she is being fed fresh blood by her caretaker who has inserted a shunt into his arm to feed her.  Why has Malvern been kept alive all these years?  There are bizarre laws preventing her extermination, and she seems to be of no threat, until now.

 

Arkeley and Caxton are on a mission to find the vampires lair and exterminate them before they can get the blood Malverne needs.  Then Arkeley is kidnapped in order to use his blood to replenish Malvern’s powers, Caxton must now forge ahead and destroy them before they can unleash unspeakable horrors upon everyone.

 

David Wellington is the author of the Monster Island trilogy, and is no stranger to this genre.

 

13 Bullets is the first book in the trilogy by David Wellington, and is a tantalizing wild high octane ride.  Wellington weaves his plot line together and has developed some very intriguing characters.  This vampire tale is relentless, gripping, powerful and a genuine page-turner, that is horrifying and rich with moments of terror.

 

The reader is thrust into a state of uncertainty filled with nervous anticipation as the conclusion nears to find that we must wait for the next edition to this trilogy to tie up the loose ends.

 

13 Bullets is a blood curdling tale to sink your teeth into.  I look forward to reading his novels for years to come.  Reviewing this title was a frightening pleasure.  I highly recommend it to the horror fans everywhere.

For A Few Demons More

For A Few Demons More

by Kim Harrison

www.kimharrison.net

Harper Collins Publishers

www.harpercollins.com

Fiction   456 pages

ISBN:  978-0-06-078838-4  $21.95

Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

 

For A Few Demons More is the fifth installment in the Hollows series by Kim Harrison.

 

Rachel Morgan is a witch and freelance bounty hunter that is woken from her sleep to find a powerful demon wrecking her home and claiming she posses something of hers.  Rachel resides in a sanctified church and in disbelief and being scarred that the demon can enter the church.

 

Rachel is an interspecies consultant for the police force which is run by humans; she is called down to the morgue to look at the bodies of murdered werewolves.  Rachel starts piecing it all together and realizes the reason the women werewolves can not be traced is because they are not registered in the were registry.  What does this mean, the conclusion must be they were not born as werewolves; they must have been humans that had been changed into weres.

 

Rachel recognizes that the Focus, which is a demon artifact she has been hiding, has been turning humans into weres spontaneously.  If the artifact were to fall into the wrong hands it would start a new interspecies war between the vampires and the weres which would be disastrous for the entire world.

 

For A Few Demons More is an action packed fantasy delivering a mix of action, horror and imagination.  And some of her characters from the series are back in this edition.  Kim Harrison has introduced us to some intriguing and interesting new characters that hopefully will make appearances in future Hallows series.  I will have to give praise to the author for taking risks with her characters, and with the killing of one of her main characters. 

Harrison has intriguing plot twists and incorporates taking her characters in such amazing directions to leave you with much anticipation of the next in the series.

 

Readers will not be disappointed.  I look forward to reading all her novels for years to come.  Reviewing this title was a delightful pleasure.  I recommend it without hesitation and give it two thumbs way up.  A definite 5 stars!  I do highly recommend if you have not read the others in the Hallows series that you pick those up and start with the first in the series.

 

The Blue Zone

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blue Zone
by Andrew Gross
Fiction 352 pages
William Morrow an Imprint of Harper Collins
www.harpercollins.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-114340-3 $25.95
www.andrewgrossbooks.com
Reviewed by: Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Would you want to know your family secrets, and what skeletons lie hidden in the closet? Would you really want to know the truth if it would destroy everything you believed? What would you do if you learned your life had been a lie?

Kate Raab receives a devastating phone call from her mom, now the questions of family secrets and skeletons in the closet, and the truth enter her mind like a whirlwind. The words she heard “your father has been arrested, come quickly” made no sense to her at all. There must be some mistake, her father had no connections to the Mercado family and he didn’t know anyone from Columbia, or did he? What lies ahead for Kate when the family secrets begin to unravel?

Kate soon discovers that her life has been a lie. Her family is placed into protective custody, but Kate refuses, and her contact with her family is limited as a result. Kate marries a year later and is working on regaining some normalcy to her life. She feels as if she is being watched, and is consumed by paranoia after her best friend is shot while they are leaving work. After all Kate is certain that she was the intended target, not her best friend. Kate’s world is beginning to come apart.

Kate learns that her father has disappeared from the Witness Protection Program. Agents begin questioning her about her father, now she begins to think and is determined to find her family and learn the truth once and for all. Kate is surrounded by agents and wonders if they can even be trusted. Can she trust anyone? Her mind is consumed with possibilities that no one including her father and even her husband can be trusted. She decides to find out the truth and finds herself entangled in a deadly web, and is confronted with a truth that is more painful than she could ever imagined possible.

The Blue Zone is the term that the agents use when people in the Witness Protection Program come up missing. Kate has her own definition of the Blue Zone and believes that we all live within our own Blue Zone. Andrew Gross is the co-author of five bestselling thrillers with James Patterson. The Blue Zone is Gross’s solo debut. I look forward to reading all his novels to come in the future.

Andrew Gross delivers an ingenious and intricately layered plot, while still creating convincing personal journeys for his characters. The Blue Zone delivers a tantalizing and intriguing story packed with shocking twists that will keep you guessing and begging for more.

The Blue Zone is a definite 5 stars and is highly recommended!

The New and Improved Vivien Leigh Reid: Diva in Control

The New and Improved Vivien Leigh Reid: Diva in Control
by Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout
Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Another wonderful read from one of our myspace authors.  Reviewing this title was a delightful pleasure!

Vivien, once again seems to be getting herself tangled up in some of the most bizarre situations.  She is back on TV, now wearing a costume, but she is eager to prove that she can avoid the diva syndrome this time.  In an attempt to reform her reputation, she is thrown into a challenging role that was not quite what she expected.  In her new role she is required to perform her own stunts in costume which is complicated to say the least.  To further add to her problems are her complicated relationships; her male co-stars don’t want to work with her, her future step sisters are determined to make her miserable, and on top of all of this her mother is in the midst of planning her wedding.  Now she is falling for one of her co-stars, will her life ever not be so complicated?

Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout have  a strong imaginative plot from start to finish, and have developed memorable characters.  This story is laugh out loud funny, down right hilarious, and is very entertaining.  I highly recommend this one without any hesitation!

While reading the story my daughter wanted to know what I was reading and I began telling her about it and since she has taken the book home and has informed me she wants all of the deuts books to read.  I am so thankful she has a new found love of reading.  Thank you, maybe she will spend more time reading than watching TV.  I must also admit that I quite enjoyed the book and will buy the prior books and read before passing along to my daughter.

Toni

 

Toni
by Helen Leung
Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Here is another one of our myspace authors and with one that you will not want to miss.  I read this in 1 day, I could not put it down.  The story as the title entails is about a young girl, Toni, whose parents had wanted a boy but got a girl instead.  Toni’s parents were disappointed, and Toni felt they hated her.

Toni is dropped off a her uncle Steve’s house by her parents and they tell her that they will be back a few weeks to get her.  Well now here it is four years later, and a police officer finds Toni unconscious and bleeding in a closet at her uncles home.  Toni has lived the past four years of her life trying to avoid upsetting her uncle and his terrible temper.  The policeman, Matt McKay takes Toni and supports her and we then begin to see her grow.  Toni grows into a independent young woman despite her past abuse, stuggles and conflicts.

The story delivers the message of teens struggling with various feelings from fear, hate, and guilt as well as numerous other feelings.  I highly recommend this one, especially recommend that all teen girls read as it is sure to help them with the feelings that they too struggle with.

A definite 5 star read. 

Exposed

 

Exposed

by Helen Leung

Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Here is another great book from one of our myspace authors.

Exposed is a story that will tug at your heart strings.  This is a nice hard back book that is a quick read. 

The story is that of the author’s, Helen Leung, and her disease known as Dermatomyositis,  and Dermatomyositis is one of a group of acquired muscle diseases called inflammatory myopathies. The disease, which has a somewhat severe onset, affects both children and adults. Females are more often affected than males, Dermatomyositis is characterized by a rash accompanying, or more often, preceding muscle weakness.  Eventually, people have difficulty rising from a sitting position, climbing stairs, lifting objects, or reaching overhead. In some cases, muscles further away from the trunk of the body may be affected later in the course of the disease. Problems with swallowing (dysphagia) may occur. Occasionally, the muscles ache and are tender to the touch. Affected individuals may also feel fatigue and discomfort and experience weight loss or a low-grade fever.  (Being a nurse had to explain a little of the facts of the disease so you can come to an understanding of this disease and its effects). 

The story begins while Helen is at a young age, she discusses her somewhat abusive family life, her illness, and her diagnosis and the hardship and struggles and the attempts to cure her.  She visited many physicians both in New York and China.  As the years pass Helen begins to accept her illness.  She is very courageous and overcomes her disease, even though she spends the high school years confined to a wheelchair.  She is strong and her will to overcome all that she faces is amazing, she talks of other students starring and whispering, but determined to be strong she uses all their stares and whispers to full fill her dreams and desires to succeed against it all.

 I highly recommend this compelling read, and commend such a strong lady, both her and her book get 5 stars, and her story is an inspiration to us all. 

Vrolok

Vrolok
by Nolene-Patricia Dougan
Author House 1163 Liberty Dr., Ste. 200, Bloomington, IN 47403 9/28/06
http://www.authorhouse.com
ISBN: 1-4208-8163-9
Reviewed by: Terry South for Bookpleasures (03/07)

Do you love a good vampire story? Do you find yourself sucked into the tale? Love adventure of the dark side?

The setting takes place in historic Eastern Europe Transylvania.

The story begins as Vlad Dracula having fought a battle with his enemies, and a young girl’s curiosity ignites her. A historic vampire tale, occurring over a time span of five hundred years. The story follows the protagonist, Isabella, as a young vampire. Isabella is rebelling as her father rejects her; he is unable to overcome the loss of his wife while giving birth to their daughter Isabella. Isabella travels to the castle of Vlad Dracula, where Vlad develops strong feelings, and falls in love with her. What else would a vampire who is in love do? Vlad turns Isabella into a vampire, his mate for life. Do not be fooled this is not a loving match, it is the opposite, they have a long love-hate relationship, spending more time apart than together. Over time Isabella can no longer deny her love for Vlad and upon his demise she vows revenge and to bring his killers down with the help of Nicolae. Isabella and Nicolae leave America and travel back to England to bring down the English Vampire hunters and avenge Vlad’s death.

Isabella struggles with her guilt and makes a vow to only kill those who deserve to die. She never allows anyone to hinder her revenge against those who have wronged her throughout time. Over the centuries of her existence she meets many famous historical figures. She encounters such historical figures as Napoleon, Bram Stroker, to the western figures of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, as well as many other figures throughout the selected eras. She travels throughout Europe and America. Nolene-Patricia Dougan has performed vast research and the historical figures mentioned in her book are remarkable.

Vrolok is a compelling and gripping tale of a young beautiful vampire’s dark journey through the centuries. Vrolok has a strong plot throughout, and the characters are so well developed and intensely interesting. This is no traditional vampire story; you may think well the story involves Vlad Dracula, it is like all the other stories, it is so very different, do not be fooled. This is a superior spine tingling dark fantasy written be a very imaginative author, her work embraces hundreds of years of history and maintains vivid descriptions of various people, places and events.

This book will hold your attention to the very end, and you will find it is very difficult to put down, a definite page turner well until the late night. I could find no fault in this tale. I highly recommend this story, it is unlike any other vampire story I have ever read. So if you are looking for a different twist from the norm, are seeking a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read, look no further. All vampire enthusiasts as well as all Anne Rice fans will not want to miss this one, you will get lost in this adventure, and you will not be disappointed. I am looking forward to Dougan’s new release with anticipation. A definite 5 star read!

Murder Off the Books

Murder Off the Books
by Evelyn David
Echelon Press Publishing
ISBN 13: 978-1-59080-522-0 $12.99
Reviewed by: Terry South for Quality Book Reviews (03/07)

A definite 5 star whodunit

Do you enjoy a mystery with suspense and a touch of humor? What about a loveable hound? And how do you like your murder mysteries? With a Whiskey Chaser? If so “Murder Off the Books” is for you, it has it all. This is the first in the Sullivan Investigation Mysteries, and with this writing duet, hopefully many more to follow.

Mac Sullivan is a private eye, and a former DC cop who frequently visits his friend’s funeral home in order to pick up whatever vehicle is available at the time so he can conduct his stake outs with his loveable Irish wolfhound Whiskey. Mac has used vehicles ranging from a hearse to a pest control van which seems to be used frequently by him. Rachel Brenner is 42 and is recently divorced, she meets Mac Sullivan while he is staking out her house and following her to her new position at a funeral home. Mac and his sidekick Whiskey are looking for Rachel’s brother, Dan who is a suspect in the embezzlement of money and the murder of his boss. Rachel joins forces with the attractive Mac Sullivan and his loveable assistant to help prove her brothers innocence. Of course to add a little fun Mac’s wolfhound Whiskey hates cats and as luck would have it Rachel has a cat who also hates dogs.

Rachel finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation when her brother comes up missing and is a primary suspect in his bosses’ murder. Rachel finds herself being able to manage and cope in ways in which she never expected, but before the end of the investigation, Rachel is finding herself in conflict with not only the killers but also with Mac Sullivan. Will Mac Sullivan find the half million that is missing? Will Rachel’s brother Dan be cleared? Or did Dan take the money and kill his boss?

Murder Off the Books has fast paced action, a strong plot throughout; it provides witty believable and memorable characters. And it contains a loveable Irish wolfhound named Whiskey that has a taste for fast-food. This is such an exciting and fun book and the first in the series, I’ll be sure to pick up each one to follow in this series.

This read combines suspense, mystery, and humor and is packed with twist & turns, as well as plenty of surprises along the way. It is a real page turner and demands to be completed. I highly recommend this for everyone, a must read, I honestly can’t wait for the next one. So if you want a whodunit that contains non-stop action and humor look no further.

Bicycle Shop Murder

Bicycle Shop Murder
By Robert Burton Robinson
ISBN: 978-1-84685-611-2
Reviewed by: Terry South for Quality Book Reviews (03/07)

Are you looking for adventure, romance and murder? “Bicycle Shop Murder” has all of that. This is the first in the Greg Tenorly mystery series.

The book begins with the death of Sam Spokane, the bicycle shop owner, later in the book it is revealed that he only has a few months to live due to a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer, so why would someone want him dead now?

The setting is Coreyville, Texas, a small town where everyone knows everybody. Greg Tenorly is a divorced music teacher, leads the choir at church, and is a marriage counselor, it all starts when a beautiful red head by the name of Cynthia Blockerman, vice president at First State Bank comes to see Greg. Cynthia is in her late 20’s and is married to Troy Blockerman, she has come to see Greg as her marriage is in trouble, her husband drinks a lot, is abusive and she finds herself in a loveless marriage. Troy’s normal routine is coming home from work, drinking beer and watching TV until he passes out in the living room. Cynthia usually sleeps in the marital bed alone, which is completely fine with her as she is afraid of Troy especially when he has been drinking.

As the story continues, Greg Tenorly finds himself being called up for jury selection and is then picked and called upon to be a juror in the murder trial of Sam Spokane. Little does Greg know what troubles lay ahead for him? The troubles all begin when one Buford Bellowin a high powered attorney in Dallas wants the black man accused of murdering Sam Spokane found innocent. Greg and Cynthia are thrown together and both their lives are in danger, there have already been several other murders relating to the murder trial, a witness for the prosecution has had a terrible accident and died, one of the jurors is murdered, and the wife of the bicycle shop is murdered. Who is committing these murders and why? Who will be the next target?

Greg and Cynthia are starting to piece together the murders and who is committing them, they think maybe a hit man or maybe 2 different hit men, after driving to Dallas to see Buford. On the way back to Coreyville, they discover they are wanted for murder, and they have a killer after them, things are going from bad to worse. Will they be murder victims or will they be found guilty of murder? You will want to find out the answer to all these questions.

Although the book has a few errors and typos, it is very well written. The characters are believable and common people that you fell as if you know them. “Bicycle Shop Murder” has enough action and intrigue to keep you turning the pages. Robert Burton Robinson has done a wonderful job of bringing murder, mayhem and romance all into one book. I am anxiously awaiting the next one in the series.

Heart Shaped Box

Heart Shaped Box
By Joe Hill
ISBN: 9780061147937 $24.95
William Morrow, February 13, 2007
Reviewed by: Terry South (Quality Book Reviews) 3/07

http://www.joehillfiction.com/

Do you believe in ghosts? Hold on for the spine tingling adventure you will discover in the Heart Shaped Box. There should be a warning label attached stating “Once started, demands to be finished.”

I am not going to give away spoilers in this review, as you will want to read this highly recommended thriller. This is a fascinating psychological ghost story which is packed with thrills and chills. Joe Hill has produced a work that is so vivid and comes to life, an extremely visual novel.

Judas Coyne is an aging rock star; he collects bizarre and macabre artifacts which include a used hangman’s noose, rare books on witchcraft, a snuff film, and artwork by a serial killer. When his assistant approaches him with the discovery of a ghost being auctioned off of the internet, Judas decides to place the highest bid in order to acquire this for his collection. The suit arrives a few days later via UPS in a heart shaped box. Unknowingly, the suit used to belong to an old preacher, Craddock McDermott. This haunting is it for meddling with the spirits? Or just by chance, or is it more sinister like a curse?

Heart Shaped Box is Joe Hill’s debut novel, and proves he is an excellent addition to the horror genre with his own style and voice. Hill is also the son of Stephen King, which should come as no surprise. His plot is strong throughout; he has executed excellent believable character development. This is a masterpiece thriller; I literally read this from cover to cover in one day, I just could not put it down. This story is packed, it is spine tingling, intriguing, enticing, and is fascinating. This book, in my opinion had no faults. I think the concept and the writing as a whole can have no blemish thrown its way.

This is a MUST READ! I cannot wait for the next one.