Rock and Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story by Sebastian Robertson

Synopsis

Book Cover taken from Amazon

Written as a children's book, this is the story of Robbie Robertson as told by his son, Sebastian. The story shares Robbie Robertson's experiences growing up in Canada with his Native American mom and how they helped shape him into the musician and songwriter he ultimately became. It is a story about working hard, taking risks, and being brave enough to make dreams come true. Rock and Roll Highway is beautifully illustrated and includes an interview with Robbie Robertson at the end.   

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 21, 2014)
Print Length: 40 pages
Ages: 6-9

Review
Five out of Five Stars
This review can also be found on Amazon

My most cherished memories of my dad include sitting around on Friday nights, listening to his extensive record collection. He introduced me to the "oldies" like Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, and The Band. I've been fan of Robbie Robertson ever since, so I had to have this book.

I purchased this in the Kindle format, which works very well. If I were still a classroom teacher, however, I would definitely want the hardcover and it would be in my library. The story is well told, the illustrations are beautiful (even on the Kindle), and the content is suitable—even beneficial—for children of all ages.

There are many valuable lessons that can be taken from Rock and Roll Highway. Probably the most prominent lesson is that dreams can come true with hard work and taking risks. The value of family and heritage is woven throughout the story. The interview at the end of the book is an especially nice feature. Sebastian Robertson encourages children to interview their own parents and write down their story.

My favorite line of the book comes from Robbie Robertson himself. In the interview, Sebastian asks his dad what some of his favorite books are. Robbie names his favorite authors and then goes on to say that reading helped to expand his vocabulary as well as influenced some of his songs. He finished the interview by saying, "Gotta read to write." As a reader and an author, I absolutely love this!

I recommend this book to parents, grandparents, teachers, and fans of Robbie Robertson.

About the Author (Source: Amazon.com)
Sebastian Robertson lives in Los Angeles with his family. In addition to his writing, he is a songwriter and composer whose work has been featured in numerous films and television shows. Visit Sebastian's author page on Amazon for more information.

The China Pandemic (Graham's Resolution, Book 1) by A.R. Shaw

Synopsis

What the world dreads most has happened—because of a mutated avian bird flu (H5N1) pandemic. It has ravaged the globe. Only 2% of the population has survived. A dying mother knows that her young child is among the few immune to the virus. What will she do to ensure his survival before her own coming tragic death? 

Meanwhile, Graham has buried his last remaining family member. Following his father's advice to make it to the family cabin, he meets with triumph and tragedy, learning new rules along the way. Just when he thinks he's finally got a handle on this new world, he's taken by surprise as he learns he's not alone. A hidden, yet vulnerable, community of Preppers are nearby. Will he find the strength to escape these dangers and go on living? And more importantly, will he have the ability to protect those he's come to trust? 

Publisher: Self Published

Print Length: 280 pages

Review

Five out of Five Stars

This is the first book in A.R. Shaw's Graham's Resolution series. I heard of this series months before reading The China Pandemic, but it wasn't on my "short list" of books to read. I had the honor of meeting the author at the Long Beach ComicCon in September and decided to bump it up the list. As a person, A.R. Shaw is a class-act; her intelligence, respect for her readers, and dedication to her craft shine through in her writing. 

I wasn't sure what to expect from The China Pandemic since it doesn't have zombies as part of its dystopian scenario. Once I started reading it, however, I wasn't able to put it down. I grew attached to the unforgettable main character from the start, as well as every other protagonist as they were introduced. The characters have depth, realistic emotions, and are very likable. The characters—both male and female—are strong, but not unbelievably so. 

The story itself is an interesting one, and scary in the sense that it seems plausible. Shaw created a world where survival is a day-to-day struggle. The plot is filled with action, making it seem like a quick read, in spite of its length. 

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of dsytopian fiction, those who like "shit hits the fan" scenarios, people interested in the prepper lifestyle, and anyone who likes an intriguing, well-told story.

Purchase The China Pandemic from Amazon. 

About the Author
A. R. Shaw, born in south Texas, served in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1987 through 1991 as a Communications Radio Operator, where she served at the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS Station) at Kelly AFB, Texas.

Her first novel, The China Pandemic, (2013) hit #1 in Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic genres in May of 2014. Hailed as "eerily plausible" and her characters "amazingly detailed," Shaw continues the engaging series in post-apocalyptic (SHTF) fiction.

She lives with her family in eastern Washington State, where after the deep snow of winter finally subsides to glorious rays of summer; she treks northeast to spend her days writing alongside the beautiful Skagit River.
You can contact A. R. Shaw directly at (AR@AuthorARShaw.com) or through her website at (AuthorARShaw.com)

Gateways by Brian Gottheil

Synopsis
For months, the Continent has been mired in a devastating war: artillery barrages lasting days, the death rattle of machine guns, toxic chemical gas, futile charges across no-man’s-land toward enemy trenches. Caryn Hallom, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Deugan and the first woman to have achieved such a powerful position in the fledgling democracy, is horrified that she failed to prevent the war from breaking out on her watch. 

When Caryn finds herself trapped together with Michael Ravencliffe, a member of the royal family of Deugan’s main enemy in the war, she seizes on the opportunity to try to negotiate an end to the fighting. Little does she know that a new faction is about to enter the conflict, armed with a frightening magical weapon … or that it will be led by the one person on the Continent who knows the truth about Caryn’s past. 

Gateways has been described as a fantasy novel that reads like historical fiction. Set in an alternate world that resembles Europe during the First World War, the novel combines geopolitics with plots, counterplots and magic, and ultimately asks the question: how far are we prepared to go for peace?

Publisher: Self Published
Print Length: 429

Review
I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 
I give Gateways 5 out of 5 stars 

I am going to start this review with a confession: this is not normally the type of book I would set out to read on my own. When Brian Gottheil asked me to review his novel a couple months ago, I agreed because I was searching for something different than my usual story and Gateways looked interesting.

It begins with a "excerpt" from a book or journal about the history of the Great War. Right away, the background for the story is established. I appreciate this unique and intellectual introduction to the story. I felt like I was reading a bit of history and then jumping into history-in-the-making as Gottheil took me to the action. 

The book is a fantastic blend of war strategy, political relations, mystery, and magic. There is something for everyone here. I have to point out, as well, that the story is very well-written. It flows easily and if there are any errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar, I didn't notice. 

The best part of Brian Gottheil's novel is the unpredictability of it. There are enough twists in the plot to keep the reader on his or her toes. The characters are multidimensional and full of surprises. Every time I tried to pin down the good guys or the bad ones, I found myself having to adjust my thinking.

I recommend Gateways to anyone who likes a good mystery, war story, or fantasy tale. It's one of those stories that will stay with you long after you finish reading the book.


About the Author

In his own words:
I’ve been writing as a hobby since, at the age of four, I penned an epic about my then-favourite sport, the charmingly mis-spelled “baceball.” Many years have passed, but I’m finally gearing up to self-publish my first novel, Gateways, and I’m very excited about it. It’s a fantasy novel that reads like historical fiction (or so I’ve been told). 

I live in Toronto, Canada, or as we Torontonians like to call it, “the centre of the universe.” I’m just joking about that… mostly. I’m writing a novel at the moment in which the main character hates Toronto, so that’s been a bit of a challenge. At one point she describes it as a “frenetic smogscape.” To each her own, I suppose. 

In my day job, I work as a labour and employment lawyer with Bernardi Human Resource Law. You might think that writing would be my biggest hobby outside of law, but actually, I spend most of my free time swing dancing and swing dance organizing. (I’m writing a novel based on dancing, too). Swing is an umbrella term for several different partner dances that are done to the big band jazz music of the 1930s and 40s, and it also includes some styles done to later music which evolved from earlier swing dances. I focus on the lindy hop, which was the original swing dance.

Brian's Website and blog.

Follow Brian on Facebook and Goodreads.

Tales of the Forgotten (A Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Novel, Volume Two) by W.J. Lundy

Synopsis
The world is at war with the Primal Virus. Military forces across the globe have been recalled to defend the homelands as the virus spreads and decimates populations. 

Out on patrol and assigned to a remote base in Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Brad Thompson’s unit was abandoned and left behind, alone and without contact. 

They survived and have built a refuge, but now they are forgotten. No contact with their families or commands. 

Brad makes a tough decision to leave the safety of his compound to try and make contact with the States, desperate to find rescue for his men. 

What he finds is worse than he could have ever predicted. 

This is a Zombie war story, The follow up to: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (Escaping the Dead) 

Publisher: Phalanx Press (May 29th, 2014)
Print Length: 298 pages
Edited by Monique Happy

Review
Kindle version purchased on Amazon
I give Tales of the Forgotten 5 out of 5 Stars 

This book has been on my "to read" list ever since I finished the first book in this series. For a review of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (Escaping the Dead), click here. Tales of the Forgotten is quite a bit longer than Escaping the Dead, but it didn't feel like it. It is one of those books I couldn't put down. 

I notice on Amazon that this edition is described as a "New Edited Version". I don't know what the previous version was like, but this one is flawless. I appreciate the professional "finish" of the book. If there were errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar, I didn't notice them. I don't usually give a lower rating for books with those types of errors, but when I see a book without mistakes, it tells me that the author respects his or her readers and takes pride in his/her work.

I like the pacing of the story. It's fast, but not to the point where the action becomes unbelievable. As I said above, I couldn't put the book down. I carried my Kindle with me everywhere. I read while brushing my teeth, cooking dinner, watching TV... well, you get the idea. I was invested in the four central characters and wanted to keep track of them, hoping they would survive from one scene to the next.

I noticed something about the main character, Brad, that makes him different from most main characters in this type of story: he is not the "leader" of his group of survivors. He defers to his more experienced, higher ranking counterparts, Sean and Brooks. Brad learns from them and there is absolutely no ego on his part. I point this out only because I find it refreshing to have a main character in this type of scenario who isn't also the leader with a seemingly endless supply of knowledge and extraordinary skills.

I have a long "to read" list and lots of books in my Kindle that are getting dusty (virtually). I will not wait to read book number three in this series. I need to find out what happens next!

Do yourself a favor: read this series!

 
Click the links above to purchase books 1 & 2-- You won't regret it.

About the Author

W. J. Lundy is a still serving Veteran of the U.S. Military with service in Afghanistan. He has over 12 years of combined service with the Army and Navy in Europe, the Balkans and Southwest Asia. W.J. is an avid athlete, writer, backpacker and shooting enthusiast. He currently resides with his wife and daughter in Central Michigan.

I developed the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot series from notes and ideas I had put together while deployed to Afghanistan. I had been jokingly asked how we would defend against a zombie attack.

I wanted to tell a story that portrays the military that I know, that displays our actual capabilities. These are my thoughts, I hope you enjoy them, and thank you for reading.

Follow W.J. Lundy on Facebook and Twitter.

Time of Death: Induction (A Zombie Tale) by Shana Festa

Synopsis
When no one or nowhere is safe, where do you go to escape the monsters? 

In a few short days, 37 year old Emma Rossi’s hard work will finally pay off. She will don her cap and gown and graduate with a degree in nursing, but not before she loses her first patient and is confronted with a new reality. In Cape Coral, Florida, a storm approaches. The dead are coming back to life. 

And they’re hungry. 

Infection ravages the Eastern Seaboard with alarming speed while attempts to contain the spread of infection fail. Within days, a small pocket of panicked survivors are all that remain of civilization. Fighting to survive the zombie apocalypse alongside her husband Jake and their dog Daphne, Emma comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare. 

Relying on snarky wit and sheer determination, she is forced to commit atrocious acts to protect her family and avoid joining the ranks of the undead.

Publisher: Permuted Press
Print Length: 198 pages

Review
I purchased Time of Death: Induction from Amazon (Kindle Version)
I give this book 5 out of 5 Stars (5= I love it)

Shana Festa's debut novel Time of Death: Induction is a fun, fast read. I thoroughly enjoyed every page! The story's easy flow, plot, and intensity kept me engaged from the beginning to the end. 

The characters are likable and highly believable. There are no superheroes in this story and no guarantee that the main characters will survive from one scene to the next. This makes for an exciting, emotionally rousing read. 

There are plenty of humorous moments in the book, especially having to do with the main character, who is also the narrator of the story.  The humor balances out the intensity of the story-line just enough to create a few chuckles in the midst of all the gore, death, and horror. 

The zombies in the story are true zombies. Understandably, many authors are trying to make their zombies a little different for the sake of originality. This is the first book I've read in a while that doesn't stray from the traditional idea of a zombie. It's refreshing and made the story that much more fun for me.

I recommend Time of Death: Induction to all fans of zombie books, movies, or television shows. It's a fantastic book filled with all kinds of zombie goodness!



About the Author

Shana Festa was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 17, 1976 and grew up in Northboro, Massachusetts. She currently lives in Cape Coral, Florida with her husband and two dogs, Daphne & Casey.

Shana is a registered nurse with clinical experience in mental health, geriatrics, HIV and substance abuse. In addition to her clinical background, Shana possesses over 15 years of experience with project management and data analytics.

Under her alter ego, The Bookie Monster, Shana reviews horror and paranormal books, with an emphasis on (but not limited to) zombie fiction. With a background in Psych Nursing, Shay brings her unique perspective to the literary community.

Shana loves hearing from readers. Visit her author website, www.shanafesta.com for more information on Shana and her writing. She can also be found on Twitter, @BookieMonsterSF, and Facebook, www.facebook.com/timeofdeath.book.

The Chest by Michael Robertson

Synopsis

Waking up in a hostile environment, paralyzed from the waist down, and unable to see any further than the end of his nose, James has to work out where he is and what the hell he's doing there.

Publisher: Self Published
Print length: 29 pages

Review
Format: Kindle (Kindle Unlimited)
I give The Chest 5 out of 5 Stars (I love it!)

Once again, Michael Robertson has blown me away! I read this book in one setting because once I started, I didn't want to stop. I had to find out how it ends. 

Like most readers, I made assumptions about what was going on and why the character found himself in the situation he did. All of my assumptions were wrong. I love stories that do that to me! 

The book is also very well-written. Robertson has a beautiful way with words... almost poetic, but without any pretentiousness. 

The ending is what sealed the "wow" deal for me: totally unexpected and meaningful. I recommend this book highly.

Buy The Chest on Amazon!


About the Author

Michael is a writer from the UK with several publications to his name both online and in print. He has recently won a competition with HarperCollins for his zombie short story 'In the Name of Science'. He writes because he needs to. He writes dystopian, sci-fi, and apocalyptic fiction. Crash is his first ebook release.

Follow Michael Robertson on Facebook and Twitter.
Website: Michael Robertson

Gone Feral by Ted Nulty

Synopsis
A world wide chemical attack has left society in ruins. The chemicals used not only affect humans, but all mammals. The cannibalistic rage brought on by the toxin soon destroys almost everything man has built. 

In San Diego a group of survivors struggle to survive and rebuild. 

In Bemidji, Minnesota another group fights their way through ground zero, and then begins to fight back...with the help of a 12 year old boy. 

In Atlanta the CDC has been virtually destroyed, but a female Doctor is determined to find the answers everyone is looking for.

As these groups come together to deal with the catastrophe, they have to find a way to prevent the next attack, which will mean the end of them all.

Publisher: Self Published (July 25, 2014)
Print Length: 310 pages

Review
I obtained a copy of this book via Kindle Unlimited
I give Gone Feral 4 stars (I really like it)

Ted Nulty's Gone Feral is a unique take on zombies. First of all, I've never read a book in this genre where animals are infected and respond the same way people do to whatever agent turns them into cannibalistic beasts. I use the word "zombies" for lack of a better word, but his zombies aren't zombies in the traditional sense. They are scarier in many ways. I am not going to say why. I don't like spoilers.  

The characters in Gone Feral are a lot of fun. They're the kind of people I'd like to be friends with... especially since they are so well-prepared for any sort of catastrophe. There are a lot of characters, so it's important to keep up with them, but it's worth it. 

Ted Nulty seems to have a sense of humor, based on the dialogue and descriptions in the story. This makes the book even more fun to read. The humor comes across especially well with his main character, Mark.

My favorite character comes a little later in the story. He is a preteen feral killing machine (rhyme not intended there). Barry loses his whole family and ends up on his own for a while but becomes an unlikely hero. Mr. Nulty has just published his second book in the Gone Feral series called Barry's Walk. I'm looking forward to reading more about this character. 

There is a very strong militaristic theme in Gone Feral, which I like. For me, the drawback in this case is the amount of military-style dialogue found in the book. It was difficult for me to follow certain scenes because I had no idea what the characters were talking about. For readers with a military background, I'm sure this won't be an issue at all. I do hope the dialogue is more mainstream in Barry's Walk.

I am also going to point out that there are quite a few punctuation errors and capitalization issues in the book. This doesn't affect the rating I gave the book. I point it out with the hope Mr. Nulty will fix these issues because it is a great book and it deserves to look as professionally "polished" as the story is.

Buy Gone Feral from Amazon.


About the Author

Ted Nulty graduated from Coronado high school before attending Northern Arizona University on a "Seven year, drink beer" graduation program. Having never received a grade above a 'C' in English in high school, his life was changed when his first year English professor got him into creative writing and actually gave him an 'A'. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, he began a second career in Law Enforcement and then Private security. Having an entrepreneurial streak, Ted has invented several items and started several moderately successful businesses. A lifelong horror and zombie fan, he began writing Gone Feral in 2013. Discovering that the best cure for writers block is to have another book in the works to distract him. He began and completed his second book The Locker shortly thereafter. 

Follow Ted Nulty on Facebook.

A New World: Storm

Synopsis

A vengeful darkness… 
Gathers in the night… 

One threat has been destroyed - another grows stronger. 

Even though Jack and the teams have won a major confrontation, their lives still hang by a thread. There are decisions to be made, and ones that have never been more critical. 

Leonard continues to try to keep his crew together after being hit by another soul-shattering blow. They’ve only recently become aware of this new world, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon as they silently plunge through the Pacific, looking for answers Leonard knows they may never find. 

Michael knows he can no longer stand idle and wait as he feels thousands of his kind disappear from his mind night after night. The weight of the survival of his kind weighs heavily on his shoulders and he pushes forward to end the threats to their existence. 

The new world must find its balance… 
And the scales are about to tip… 

Publisher: Self
Print Length: 264 pages

Review
I purchased this book from Amazon for my Kindle.
I gave A New World: Storm 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads

I finished reading A New World: Storm a few minutes ago. I was going to wait to write the review until I had a chance to process the story and its ending but decided not to. I want to write while my mind and emotions are still bound to the story. 

I am simultaneously "wowed" beyond words and feeling something else that I will not describe. If I try, I will fail miserably and will most likely end up creating an unintentional spoiler.

In past reviews, I think I have made it clear that John O'Brien is my favorite writer in this genre. I hope I've also made it clear that he is one of my favorite writers of all the genres I've read. Storm solidifies that conviction for me. Why? The answer is simply this: John O'Brien is a talented writer and an amazing story-teller.

The first part of the book is dedicated to tying some loose ends together and setting the stage for the rest. There is not much action during this portion, which is unusual for most of the books in the series.  Rest assured, the necessity to slow down for a bit does not mean it's boring. I mean, this is John O'Brien. Are his stories ever boring? No.

The action picks up once Jack hits the road sky in order to take care of some unfinished business. It continues through the rest of the book as he and his group encounter new threats, as well eliminate some old ones.  In addition, a couple new groups of survivors are introduced and plans to work with them are established. Meanwhile, Jack is doing his best to lead, although he is tired and not always certain he knows the direction he needs to take.

It is the last part of the book that made me clench my Kindle in a state of tightly-wound emotions and caused me to scowl at any poor soul who dared to interrupt my reading. As I write this, I am still reeling from the roller coaster ride Mr. O'Brien created. The ending packs a punch so be prepared, but do NOT read ahead. You will be kicking yourself forever.

As with all of the A New World books, I appreciate the hard work and pride O'Brien obviously poured into writing Storm. He is a first-class writer and can tell a story with the best of them.

If you have not read A New World series, you can find a chronological list of his books here.


About the Author

John O'Brien is a former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special Operations for the latter part of his career gathering his campaign ribbon for Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a firefighter/EMT with a local department. Along with becoming a firefighter, he fell into the Information Technology industry in corporate management. Currently, John is writing full-time on the series, A New World.

As a former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedaling his road bike along the many scenic roads.

A New World
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The Orphans by Mike Evans

Synopsis
Source: Amazon

Bio chemist, Frank Fox, has been single since losing his first wife to cancer eight years ago.  There is a constant struggle between himself and his son Shaun, who blames him for not being home when his mother passed.  She passed while he was working on the cure to help soldiers.  He went home a broken man to care for a young child.  He misses what happens with the cure developed in the army. 

Now, eight years later, Frank finds new love but receives news that she is losing a battle to cancer. Frank takes the cure from the army not knowing what happened eight years ago with it. His cure is anything but that; it is hell unleashed.  The Orphans is an intense ride, suspenseful and emotionally charged!

Publisher: Self Published, June 2014
Print Length: 363 pages

Review
I gave The Orphans 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon 
Purchased from Amazon in Kindle format

I have expressed this in past reviews, but I'm going to say it again-- the most important part of any story, to me, is character development. That means I get to know the characters well enough to form an emotional connection to them. Sometimes the connection is negative, sometimes it is positive.

The Orphans is a book that satisfies my desire to grow attached to the characters perfectly. The story starts out with a very brief introduction of two of the main characters in the midst of firing at a large group of zombies.  Then, Mike Evans does something somewhat unique; he spends the rest of the book telling the story of the main characters and the events leading up to the apocalypse. By the time I finished The Orphans, I knew the complete story behind the spread of the zombie outbreak, I got to know the characters thoroughly, and I grew to care about them. 

In addition to Evan's impressive ability to build up his characters, he's also a talented writer. He has a natural gift for the craft, with a style that is straight-forward.  He doesn't add unnecessary descriptions or dialogue. He seems to know his audience and delivers a story that flows with consistency, making it a fast-paced and enjoyable read.

The author is currently working on the second book in this series.  I will definitely be picking it up as soon as it is published. 

To purchase a copy of this terrific book for yourself, click on the box below!



About the Author

As a fan of suspense and all things that go bump in the night, Mike Evans believes readers should be pulled in, made to feel for the characters, and always be left wanting more. He hopes that, by reading his work, you will laugh, cry, and be terrified ... love, hate and worry for the characters and their predicaments, but, most of all, he hopes you've enjoyed what he's written and had the opportunity to laugh out loud, especially in a public place, where other fans of science fiction will want to see what you're reading.


Follow Mike Evans on Facebook and Twitter.

Outage by T.W. Piperbrook

Synopsis
When newlyweds Abby and Rob awaken, the power is out, the neighborhood is covered in snow, and the house is freezing. 

They'll soon find out that the storm is the least of their worries. 

Somewhere outside, something else is lurking. 

Waiting for the chance to strike...

Publisher: Post Script Publishing (June 16, 2014)
Print Length: 99 pages

Review
This review can also be found on The Bookie Monster. For more great book reviews, visit their site!

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on TBM and Amazon.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion or review of the book.

The beast watched her through the trees. It could smell her scent from several hundred yards away— the odor of fear and sweat, cutting through the air like the sharp edge of the knife she was holding. It didn’t care about knives. There were a lot of things it didn’t care about. It didn’t have to. It could heal from most of them. Ever since the start of the storm, the neighborhood had become the beast’s playground, its hunting quarters, and it would do whatever it pleased. The snow was little more than a prop in its game, a backdrop for the kill. It had waited for this moment for what seemed like forever, and now that it was here, the beast could barely contain itself. -- Excerpt from Outage.

T.W. Piperbrook's Outage is a quick read, and not just because it's shorter than most novels. I read it quickly because I couldn't put it down. The story oozes creepiness from the very first page and doesn't let up until the final word at the end of the book.

In many ways, the telling of this story is reminiscent of Stephen King. Like King, Piperbrook creates tension through the thoughts and feelings of his characters. When it's done right, the reader's fears rise and fall right along with the characters' fears... and T.W. Piperbrook does this very well.

I was not expecting the story to end how it did and it definitely left me wanting more. Outage is scary, intense, and a lot of fun-- sort of like a roller coaster ride for the mind.  And like any great roller coaster, once you're off, you want to get back on! Fortunately for us, Piperbrook is supposed to have Outage 2 out very soon. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

I recommend Outage to anyone who enjoys a well-written story filled with heart-pounding thrills and chills!


About the Author

T.W. Piperbrook was born and raised in Connecticut, where he can still be found today. In addition to writing, the author has also spent time as a full-time touring musician, touring across the US, Canada, and Europe.

He now lives with his wife, a son, and the spirit of his Boston Terrier.

Follow Piperbrook on Facebook

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Visit his website here!

The Edifice (Drifter Book #1) by R.K. Holliday

Synopsis

Age Level: 10-18
Grade Level: 5th-12th

In The Edifice, Connor Laurel, a normal boy, lives in a neighborhood with his mother and father and an energetic neighbor, Samantha. 

One day before his thirteenth birthday, he receives shocking news that he may have a rare medical condition. Two men from the Greater Coalition visit his happy home and schedule to take him to a hidden facility for treatment. Once Connor leaves home he finds that events unfolding aren’t what they seem. Dr. Ferdinand Finn and his stern ally, Colonel Albert, explain that he has a mysterious ability called Impetus. 

Now he will be taken to a large spacecraft named Eden, where the leader of the facility is the dark operator Malinda Marks. Connor is introduced to the facility by receiving an exciting device called an ornament. Once he arrives he is befriended by the comical Liam Hudson and the loyal Natalie Finn who each have unique powers of their own. 

Connor is given dark brown robes and soon is assigned to many challenging classes such as combative training and aviation. He soon learns that Eden is a miraculous place full of mysteries. If he is to solve the mystery of his ability and this hidden craft then he must dig deeper to find out the agenda of those around him. 

Connor must find out the truth of the Edifice. 

Publisher: Self Published, July 17, 2014
Print Length: 304 pages


Review
I gave The Edifice 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

On Amazon, the age range suggested for this book is ten through eighteen.  In my opinion, it's probably more appropriate for ages ten through fourteen. I kept the audience in mind as I was reading and deciding how I would review The Edifice. This is the first juvenile book I have reviewed and hope it's helpful to parents and teachers who are considering purchasing this for their child or students.

The Edifice is a great read. R.K. Holliday does a nice job presenting and developing the characters in the story. The main character, Connor, has qualities that make him very likable. He is respectful, thoughtful, unselfish, and loves his parents. At the same time, his emotions and concerns are realistic. The story places high value on friendship, loyalty, and trust. All of this adds up to being a nice contrast to many of the characters young viewers see on television these days.

The story itself is fun and suspenseful. I found myself engrossed in the story, even though my age is not the target audience. There are enough twists and turns to keep it moving, but not so many that the plot becomes confusing. Overall, I think most young readers would enjoy The Edifice. I mean, what kid (or adult) doesn't dream of having a super power? 

As former teacher and a current homeschooling parent of the age group this book is suitable for, I would like to make this appeal to the author: please consider investing in an editor or a proofreader. The book is filled with punctuation errors and has a few places where the incorrect words are used. The amount of errors would be the only thing holding me back from adding The Edifice to my classroom or home library.

I would like to see more from this author and hope The Edifice and its sequels find their way into the hands of many young readers.



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