TerrO.R – a medical liability novel is written by Joseph J. Neuschatz and is available through amazon.com
Joseph Neuschatz born in Romania now lives in New York. An Israeli defence Sergeant and an Anaesthesiologist in New York after taking medical school in Paris, France. Joesph is retired and has appeared in many publications such as New York Times and Newsday. He is also an ex-regular columnist for Long Island's The North Shoreian Magazine.
The "TerrOR" novel was inspired by an old, never explained operating room incident.
Phil Newman M.D. is an anaesthesiologist looking forward to an afternoon of tennis but first he has a few surgeries to deal with. When a simple tattoo removal goes bad Phil Newman MD begins to wonder if it was merely a case of the unknown or if perhaps there is something more sinister going on. But when he learns legal proceedings have began and earlier than normally expected, alarms start ringing. Even more alarms begin ringing when another doctor from another hospital calls having experienced exactly the same situation several months earlier and worse yet these aren’t the only cases. Starting their own investigation Phil is about to discover that sometimes things aren’t as simple as they may at first seem and that there can often be a bigger picture globally rather than locally. Is someone looking to gain funds by medical aided suicide? And if so who? And why? Is this just a case of revenge? Or something a lot bigger? Possibly involving terrorism?
TerrO.R really is terrifying. Being a doctor with so much responsibility must make one feel like Atlas holding up the world, and with so many things that can go wrong if questions aren’t asked / answered must be very stressful if and or when things do go south. This book really does make you want to let every detail out should you have to go to hospital, but sadly no-one will ever know every little detail about their bodies tolerances and intolerances since they can change over time.
Whilst the story itself is riveting, I do personally feel that the first three quarters of the story is full of so much medical information it is possible to get a little confused although in most cases Joseph has explained in detail what is going on or what the condition is, perhaps too much information however Joseph himself being a Doctor perhaps makes explaining to the average person a difficult task in itself and you do have to commend him for his efforts. There was also at least one incident within the story that I was not quite happy with, that I feel the story had not quite been rounded off to my liking ie I thought something was about to happen but sadly not.
Joseph Neuschatz is a good writer, do not get me wrong, there are just times I feel that the Doctor took over when really the writer should have. However, the story is very straight lined and clean, therefore I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys novels based in the Operating Room and a tie to real life possibilities but, if you’re looking for something a little steamy then this book is not for you. I give TerrO.R – a medical liability novel 4 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
14 Jul 2012
5 Jul 2012
Tenth Legion
Tenth Legion is written by Mike Arsuaga and is published with MuseItHot publishing. The novel is the forth book in the Subspecies series and is 81,000 words in length and approximately 224 pages.
Mike Arsuaga is the author of Subspecies, Subspecies Inc, Children of Subspecies, Tenth Legion and Lagrange Point. Living in Orlando Florida with his wife/editor Cynthia, daughter, granddaughter and partner in crime Thumper a Yorkshire Terrier. With several books under his belt Mike’s aim is to learn to write screen plays and see at least one of his books become a movie.
After Cynthia’s death from the 2026 flu epidemic there came a rise in a group known only as The Tenth Legion, human mortals who deemed themselves ones capable of ridding the world of the Subspecies. Once again life took a leap backwards when the world changed.
Now it’s the 22nd century and the Subspecies have spread out throughout the world maintaining their link to Subspecies Inc but with an ever presence making them available in tight situations.
Lorna Winters is a lycan and an Orlando Florida Police Officer new to the department few actually know of her abilities so when a con gets free of his cuffs everyone is surprised when she morphs.
With murders, butchering, and a missing boy to deal with and a second family attached within a month there are possibilities of ferals on the loose, so Lorna decides it is time to call in Subspecies Inc to see if they can help. Being a lycan on the outside of the corporation for a number of years has made communication difficult, luckily for Lorna that her friend with benefits is one of their lawyers.
Later a bank robbery leaves important Subspecies documentation vulnerable and only Lorna is trusted to watch over them until the trial completes and the documents are returned to the White family.
On Valentines day Lorna is drugged and kidnapped.
When Lorna meets Mr White and family, she learns that she has a unique ability to visualise past events through scent, more specially she meets one woman named Cithara who warns of future events one being the end of the world.With a new virus sweeping the world all Subspecies are at risk, but Cithara warns of a worse threat, the threat of blood turning against blood. With many Subspecies gathered in one place exactly how at risk are they? And who is the betrayer? With both hybrids and Subspecies at risk as well as the impending doom that is the end of the world, the White family having started on colonising Mars must step up their plans if they are to protect the Subspecies from the likes of the Tenth Legion who continue to blame them for all the wrongs in the world and even their soon to be demise.
Tenth Legion is an amazing piece that can easily stand alone from the first three books of the Subspecies series. Stepping away from the characters of Sam and Jim who will be dearly missed, we jump roughly 50 years into the future where the White family has grown not only in numbers but in their knowledge and expanse around the planet to even colonising off world on Mars. This was a good time to introduce new characters since many years have passed and the story is beginning to traversing into the stars.
This book is not written from the point of view of one of the characters like the previous books however you don’t actually notice because Mike is such a great writer who simply picks the reader up and takes them on a journey they won’t forget.
While we thought Sam and Jim had a lot to deal with in the first three books apparently it was nothing compared to what lay ahead.
As always love, trust, loyalty, family and betrayal play big roles within the story however while the enemy is busy dethroning the White family and Subspecies Inc it becomes more apparent the threat is closer to home than Ed White would like to believe. Can Ed separate business and family? Should he? Perhaps they are one in the same...whatever he chooses will ultimately impact upon not only the White family but all Subspecies. With the world falling apart around him the last thing he needs is for his family to fall to pieces too.
As good as if not better than the previous books and with the universe knocking on the door to be explored you know there just has to be more to come. I would not hesitate in recommending Tenth Legion to anyone aged 18 years and over. I give Tenth Legion 5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Mike Arsuaga is the author of Subspecies, Subspecies Inc, Children of Subspecies, Tenth Legion and Lagrange Point. Living in Orlando Florida with his wife/editor Cynthia, daughter, granddaughter and partner in crime Thumper a Yorkshire Terrier. With several books under his belt Mike’s aim is to learn to write screen plays and see at least one of his books become a movie.
After Cynthia’s death from the 2026 flu epidemic there came a rise in a group known only as The Tenth Legion, human mortals who deemed themselves ones capable of ridding the world of the Subspecies. Once again life took a leap backwards when the world changed.
Now it’s the 22nd century and the Subspecies have spread out throughout the world maintaining their link to Subspecies Inc but with an ever presence making them available in tight situations.
Lorna Winters is a lycan and an Orlando Florida Police Officer new to the department few actually know of her abilities so when a con gets free of his cuffs everyone is surprised when she morphs.
With murders, butchering, and a missing boy to deal with and a second family attached within a month there are possibilities of ferals on the loose, so Lorna decides it is time to call in Subspecies Inc to see if they can help. Being a lycan on the outside of the corporation for a number of years has made communication difficult, luckily for Lorna that her friend with benefits is one of their lawyers.
Later a bank robbery leaves important Subspecies documentation vulnerable and only Lorna is trusted to watch over them until the trial completes and the documents are returned to the White family.
On Valentines day Lorna is drugged and kidnapped.
When Lorna meets Mr White and family, she learns that she has a unique ability to visualise past events through scent, more specially she meets one woman named Cithara who warns of future events one being the end of the world.With a new virus sweeping the world all Subspecies are at risk, but Cithara warns of a worse threat, the threat of blood turning against blood. With many Subspecies gathered in one place exactly how at risk are they? And who is the betrayer? With both hybrids and Subspecies at risk as well as the impending doom that is the end of the world, the White family having started on colonising Mars must step up their plans if they are to protect the Subspecies from the likes of the Tenth Legion who continue to blame them for all the wrongs in the world and even their soon to be demise.
Tenth Legion is an amazing piece that can easily stand alone from the first three books of the Subspecies series. Stepping away from the characters of Sam and Jim who will be dearly missed, we jump roughly 50 years into the future where the White family has grown not only in numbers but in their knowledge and expanse around the planet to even colonising off world on Mars. This was a good time to introduce new characters since many years have passed and the story is beginning to traversing into the stars.
This book is not written from the point of view of one of the characters like the previous books however you don’t actually notice because Mike is such a great writer who simply picks the reader up and takes them on a journey they won’t forget.
While we thought Sam and Jim had a lot to deal with in the first three books apparently it was nothing compared to what lay ahead.
As always love, trust, loyalty, family and betrayal play big roles within the story however while the enemy is busy dethroning the White family and Subspecies Inc it becomes more apparent the threat is closer to home than Ed White would like to believe. Can Ed separate business and family? Should he? Perhaps they are one in the same...whatever he chooses will ultimately impact upon not only the White family but all Subspecies. With the world falling apart around him the last thing he needs is for his family to fall to pieces too.
As good as if not better than the previous books and with the universe knocking on the door to be explored you know there just has to be more to come. I would not hesitate in recommending Tenth Legion to anyone aged 18 years and over. I give Tenth Legion 5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
23 Jun 2012
Children of Subspecies
Children of Subspecies is written by Mike Arsuaga and published by MuseItHot Publishing. The novel is 82,714 words and 22 chapters and 223 pages in length.
Mike Arsuaga is the author of Subspecies, Subspecies Inc and Children of Subspecies, there are at least another two books in the series titled Tenth Legion and Lagrange Point. Mike is also working on an anthology of short stories to fill the back stories of important characters.
It is 2021, approximately 5 years have passed since Jim returned from being missing for 15 months in the Pyrenees and the triplets are now twelve years old. Sam is CEO of Subspecies Inc, the coporation she and Jim started. Many subspecies have adapted to the new way of life while few ferals still remain in the wilds of the world at least until Subspecies Inc located them offering rehabilitation or death. Jim must use his knowledge of ferals gained from his months away from Sam to track down a group. Subspecies have always been known to lag behind humanity in learning to walk and talk as babes but concern has been growing as the hybrid children develop at the same time as human children. Cynthia arrives still child-less and with the hope that a dream has revealed that Eddie will be the one to give her children but Eddie himself is still just a child making this revelation a little tough for Jim to digest even if the age gap between Cynthia and Eddie is the same as Jim and Sam. In 2026 a flu outbreak leaves cause for concern as to whether the children are at risk or whether the subspecies could be at risk but there is still wonder as to whether any of the children will be subspecies at all. Cynthia’s adopted son Mikey, the boy whose mother died in book 2, is taken by Cynthia’s brother believed to be a member of a group known only as Tenth Legion who despise the Subspecies. Is her brother brain washing him?
Book3 of the Subspecies saga is fast paced covering a number of years taking the triplets from almost teenagers into adulthood. Mike Arsuaga has plotted key events that will determine who these children are and who they are to become. We can expect the usual sex and blood going hand in hand but as well as love between two characters we have the love a family possesses, one that cannot be broken. With the children comes growth, the how and why they develop into the adults they become through love, loss and betrayal. Death itself is a big key to this story and tells that even perfection can be undone however there is always hope, a hope that could take the subspecies into the stars.
Children of Subspecies much like its predecessors drags you in straight from the first page however unlike its predecessors this one is written slightly differently, written from the perspective of vampire Jim White this book plots and links all key events throughout the years that will lead to the subspecies having to move yet again, call upon old friends and face old enemies. Are the triplets or even the twins subspecies? Can they continue the subspecie lineage? Who are the Tenth Legion? Did they instigate the 2026 flu outbreak that claimed so many lives? And will the world ever be the same again? Again as with the previous books I would recommend Children of Subspecies to anyone aged 18 years and over. Personally I hope there are many, many more books to come. I give Children of Subspecies 5 out of 5 stars
By R.N. Hadley
Mike Arsuaga is the author of Subspecies, Subspecies Inc and Children of Subspecies, there are at least another two books in the series titled Tenth Legion and Lagrange Point. Mike is also working on an anthology of short stories to fill the back stories of important characters.
It is 2021, approximately 5 years have passed since Jim returned from being missing for 15 months in the Pyrenees and the triplets are now twelve years old. Sam is CEO of Subspecies Inc, the coporation she and Jim started. Many subspecies have adapted to the new way of life while few ferals still remain in the wilds of the world at least until Subspecies Inc located them offering rehabilitation or death. Jim must use his knowledge of ferals gained from his months away from Sam to track down a group. Subspecies have always been known to lag behind humanity in learning to walk and talk as babes but concern has been growing as the hybrid children develop at the same time as human children. Cynthia arrives still child-less and with the hope that a dream has revealed that Eddie will be the one to give her children but Eddie himself is still just a child making this revelation a little tough for Jim to digest even if the age gap between Cynthia and Eddie is the same as Jim and Sam. In 2026 a flu outbreak leaves cause for concern as to whether the children are at risk or whether the subspecies could be at risk but there is still wonder as to whether any of the children will be subspecies at all. Cynthia’s adopted son Mikey, the boy whose mother died in book 2, is taken by Cynthia’s brother believed to be a member of a group known only as Tenth Legion who despise the Subspecies. Is her brother brain washing him?
Book3 of the Subspecies saga is fast paced covering a number of years taking the triplets from almost teenagers into adulthood. Mike Arsuaga has plotted key events that will determine who these children are and who they are to become. We can expect the usual sex and blood going hand in hand but as well as love between two characters we have the love a family possesses, one that cannot be broken. With the children comes growth, the how and why they develop into the adults they become through love, loss and betrayal. Death itself is a big key to this story and tells that even perfection can be undone however there is always hope, a hope that could take the subspecies into the stars.
Children of Subspecies much like its predecessors drags you in straight from the first page however unlike its predecessors this one is written slightly differently, written from the perspective of vampire Jim White this book plots and links all key events throughout the years that will lead to the subspecies having to move yet again, call upon old friends and face old enemies. Are the triplets or even the twins subspecies? Can they continue the subspecie lineage? Who are the Tenth Legion? Did they instigate the 2026 flu outbreak that claimed so many lives? And will the world ever be the same again? Again as with the previous books I would recommend Children of Subspecies to anyone aged 18 years and over. Personally I hope there are many, many more books to come. I give Children of Subspecies 5 out of 5 stars
By R.N. Hadley
8 Jun 2012
Boneyard 11
Boneyard 11 is written by Linton Robinson and published by Adoro Books. The novel is approximately fifty two chapters and 123 pages in length including contents, author bio and bonus chapters.
Linton Robinson was born in Japan but has lived in Latin America for over twenty years of which he has worked as an English and Spanish journalist. Linton has also written Sweet Spot, Imaginary Lines, and Mayan Calendar Girls amongst other titles, he is also a screenwriter and has a TV series currently in development.
Rudely awoken at a ridiculous hour call girl Nan is about to be handed her next job. A job that asks something big of her. Accustomed to the life and world of whoring Nan is adept at knowing what men want, how to treat them as well as how their minds work. Not only that but she is knowledgeable of the drugs and arms world. Always treating clients the same Nan never expected that when she met Gasper in prison she would actually like him and she certainly wasn’t expecting the job to be to marry Gasper and meet with him on a regular basis in prison for their intimate encounter in Boneyard 11. However, if Nan is to prove her loyalty to her husband and if she is to gain the trust and respect of her husbands men then she is going to have to play the part of dutiful wife to the Godfather. A Kickass, no shit, kinda gal Nan is going to face a number of obstacles including a cop who fancies the hell out her and pushes every one of her buttons, not to mention betrayal in the ranks, and the gun totting Syco with a rather short fuse. When Gasper is attacked in prison and Nan’s own life is put in jeopardy she decides to up the game, alter the contract and take charge of her husband’s estate. Does she love him? Can she handle the world she has walked into? Or will she leave it all and go back to work? With a territorial fight brewing with Gasper behind bars ‘out of the way’ will Nan adapt to her situation and run with it or fall at the first hurdle?
Boneyard 11 is described as a cross between the movies Pretty Woman and The Godfather, and to some degree I would have to agree. The action never stops and the characters and locations are all colourful and aid in the progression of the story. However what I did find quite daunting was the fact that the story was fifty two chapters in length and there were no margins which meant the text was stretched to the limits of the page, this made the story feel much longer than its 123 pages even though some of the chapters are only a paragraphs length. Although the pace of the story is quite fast moving, between scenes I would say slow it down when reading in order to get your inner voice around some of the language used especially for the likes of the character named Syco. Being someone who knows little of the language and culture of Latin-America I would have to say unless you are comfortable and capable to adapt to this type of writing where culture is a huge influence if you still choose to read-on then take in every word whether you understand or not because the story itself is not just about the culture for there is an underlying current of hope to find that which was thought unattainable as well as loyalty and trust.
Although I did not understand some of the language used you do get an idea as to what is being said by what is being described. I did enjoy reading Boneyard 11 and would recommend both it and Linton Robinson to any reader over 18 years of age.
I give Boneyard 11, 4.5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Linton Robinson was born in Japan but has lived in Latin America for over twenty years of which he has worked as an English and Spanish journalist. Linton has also written Sweet Spot, Imaginary Lines, and Mayan Calendar Girls amongst other titles, he is also a screenwriter and has a TV series currently in development.
Rudely awoken at a ridiculous hour call girl Nan is about to be handed her next job. A job that asks something big of her. Accustomed to the life and world of whoring Nan is adept at knowing what men want, how to treat them as well as how their minds work. Not only that but she is knowledgeable of the drugs and arms world. Always treating clients the same Nan never expected that when she met Gasper in prison she would actually like him and she certainly wasn’t expecting the job to be to marry Gasper and meet with him on a regular basis in prison for their intimate encounter in Boneyard 11. However, if Nan is to prove her loyalty to her husband and if she is to gain the trust and respect of her husbands men then she is going to have to play the part of dutiful wife to the Godfather. A Kickass, no shit, kinda gal Nan is going to face a number of obstacles including a cop who fancies the hell out her and pushes every one of her buttons, not to mention betrayal in the ranks, and the gun totting Syco with a rather short fuse. When Gasper is attacked in prison and Nan’s own life is put in jeopardy she decides to up the game, alter the contract and take charge of her husband’s estate. Does she love him? Can she handle the world she has walked into? Or will she leave it all and go back to work? With a territorial fight brewing with Gasper behind bars ‘out of the way’ will Nan adapt to her situation and run with it or fall at the first hurdle?
Boneyard 11 is described as a cross between the movies Pretty Woman and The Godfather, and to some degree I would have to agree. The action never stops and the characters and locations are all colourful and aid in the progression of the story. However what I did find quite daunting was the fact that the story was fifty two chapters in length and there were no margins which meant the text was stretched to the limits of the page, this made the story feel much longer than its 123 pages even though some of the chapters are only a paragraphs length. Although the pace of the story is quite fast moving, between scenes I would say slow it down when reading in order to get your inner voice around some of the language used especially for the likes of the character named Syco. Being someone who knows little of the language and culture of Latin-America I would have to say unless you are comfortable and capable to adapt to this type of writing where culture is a huge influence if you still choose to read-on then take in every word whether you understand or not because the story itself is not just about the culture for there is an underlying current of hope to find that which was thought unattainable as well as loyalty and trust.
Although I did not understand some of the language used you do get an idea as to what is being said by what is being described. I did enjoy reading Boneyard 11 and would recommend both it and Linton Robinson to any reader over 18 years of age.
I give Boneyard 11, 4.5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
18 Apr 2012
The Watchtower
The Watchtower is written by Darke Conteur and is published through Smashwords and Amazon. This is a six chapter, 27,732 word paranormal novella.
Darke Conteur is a stay at home mum who is at the mercy of her muse writing anything from the paranormal to science fiction. Darke lives with her husband, son, two cats, one kitten and a ghost dog. She runs her own blog where she aids other writers to be heard posting interviews and news from the writing world, as well as updates on her own work and hobbies. Darke’s passion for writing began in her mid-teens. At 16 she completed her first novel but the manuscript was lost, she hopes to one day re-write the story with a “more scifi feel”.
Martin Cunningham is at a loss, with no job he fears for starvation and the loss of his home. Sending out job applications is a regular thing next to receiving no replies. Deciding to follow up on an application several weeks old, Martin finds himself asked to attend the creepy office of a mysterious lady by the name of Jezryall. However what is more creepy, the gothic surroundings reminiscent of Dracula’s castle or the mysterious package he was asked to deliver by a scaredy cat courier? And why is everyone so frightened by a harmless object?
Sometimes things happen for a reason and events have a tendency to occur when they are supposed to. Danger can lurk around any corner and even the most innocent of looking packages can be deceiving and in this case they really are. When Martin’s would be employer receives a mysterious package the race is on to find out exactly what it is and where it came from but was Martin supposed to be there? A job application he has not heard from, he decides instinctively to contact and is asked for an interview. Was it fate?
With Jezryall not used to receiving packages of any kind, Martin’s interview is about to get very hands on and unbelievable. Will Martin survive the interview? Who are the Gemini? Who or what is Jezryall? Who is trying to kill her? and why?
With their lives in danger and Martin completely out of his comfort zone, does Martin get the job? And if so after everything, will he still want it?
The Watchtower is a novella at less than thirty thousand words therefore the story moves quite quickly. For me I feel this story should have been a little longer to fully appreciate all the story has to offer as it comes together in a whole. There are a number of interesting aspects, magical spells and abilities present within the story, so many in fact I do not feel that each quite get enough reader time to understand them, as well as characters.
I enjoyed this story very much but it did read very quickly which can be frustrating for people who like to flesh out their characters and stories. At times I feel there were moments when the pace should have changed to aid in visualisation. I would recommend The Watchtower to anyone with an interest in the supernatural. If this story is anything to go by then Darke Conteur is someone to watch out for, I would definitely like to see something longer by this author. I give The Watchtower by Darke Conteur 4 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Darke Conteur is a stay at home mum who is at the mercy of her muse writing anything from the paranormal to science fiction. Darke lives with her husband, son, two cats, one kitten and a ghost dog. She runs her own blog where she aids other writers to be heard posting interviews and news from the writing world, as well as updates on her own work and hobbies. Darke’s passion for writing began in her mid-teens. At 16 she completed her first novel but the manuscript was lost, she hopes to one day re-write the story with a “more scifi feel”.
Martin Cunningham is at a loss, with no job he fears for starvation and the loss of his home. Sending out job applications is a regular thing next to receiving no replies. Deciding to follow up on an application several weeks old, Martin finds himself asked to attend the creepy office of a mysterious lady by the name of Jezryall. However what is more creepy, the gothic surroundings reminiscent of Dracula’s castle or the mysterious package he was asked to deliver by a scaredy cat courier? And why is everyone so frightened by a harmless object?
Sometimes things happen for a reason and events have a tendency to occur when they are supposed to. Danger can lurk around any corner and even the most innocent of looking packages can be deceiving and in this case they really are. When Martin’s would be employer receives a mysterious package the race is on to find out exactly what it is and where it came from but was Martin supposed to be there? A job application he has not heard from, he decides instinctively to contact and is asked for an interview. Was it fate?
With Jezryall not used to receiving packages of any kind, Martin’s interview is about to get very hands on and unbelievable. Will Martin survive the interview? Who are the Gemini? Who or what is Jezryall? Who is trying to kill her? and why?
With their lives in danger and Martin completely out of his comfort zone, does Martin get the job? And if so after everything, will he still want it?
The Watchtower is a novella at less than thirty thousand words therefore the story moves quite quickly. For me I feel this story should have been a little longer to fully appreciate all the story has to offer as it comes together in a whole. There are a number of interesting aspects, magical spells and abilities present within the story, so many in fact I do not feel that each quite get enough reader time to understand them, as well as characters.
I enjoyed this story very much but it did read very quickly which can be frustrating for people who like to flesh out their characters and stories. At times I feel there were moments when the pace should have changed to aid in visualisation. I would recommend The Watchtower to anyone with an interest in the supernatural. If this story is anything to go by then Darke Conteur is someone to watch out for, I would definitely like to see something longer by this author. I give The Watchtower by Darke Conteur 4 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
19 Mar 2012
An Eternity Of Shadow : Book 2 Dante's Diary
An Eternity of Shadow : A Collection of Vampire Diaries is written by Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc and is published by Helm Publishing, Florida. A full length novel at 220 pages, this is book two of the Dante’s Dairy Vampire series. This book is split into two collections The Lost Memories of Ivanna Morriander and, The Estate of Barren Hill – Pennings.
Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc resides in Florida with her husband and cats. A multi award winner and best seller Andrea has the knack for taking her readers into the dark and twisted areas of our mind sometimes to places we wish we had never gone or could never leave. Andrea is the owner of Twisted Dreams magazine and the store The Celtic Belle. Wherever possible Andrea visits conventions and book signings, she loves to meet with her fans both online and off.
When Percival Parkins is called to an old gothic building due for demolition it becomes apparent that this is not your average meet. Summoned by Salvatore Compregna, Grandson of Dante Compregna , Percival is asked to look at something Sal found in a wall of the house, a journal which belonged to the mysterious Ivanna Morriander and another belonging to his Grandfather Ivanna’s friend. With Ivanna claiming to be a vampire Percival is beside himself to learn all he can from these books no matter how long it takes to fully understand them and the stories and lives they share.
The Lost Memories of Ivanna Morriander
The first diary speaks of the unlife of Ivanna Morriander, vampire, from the moment of her turning through her journeys, her loves and friends and emotional turmoil’s shared through her love of poetry. Ivanna shares her sorrow of the loss of her life of having it torn from her without her wish or say so. Then the long, slow, changes that occur in a being that create acceptance and a need to embrace what is. It is not just about revenge it is about life, death, feeling and acceptance. The journey we have in life makes us who we are, both good and bad. Being a vampire you’ve so much time on your hands that the feelings change with the centuries.
The Estate of Barren Hill – Pennings
The second diary tells the events and the account of Mr Carmichael’s visit to the house and recording the history of the coven of vampires and stories related to the estate. The stories themselves show the torment, suffering and sometimes love that each member of the coven endured in their lifetime with whom Ivanna spoke. These are the most memorable but they each in their own way speak the same tale of how even vampire relations are the same as humans, and no matter how hard you think you have things you can always find someone worse off than you.
An Eternity of Shadow is the second book of the Dante’s Diary Series and straight from page one you are pulled in with the promise of secrets to be shared. Pain, loss, love, anger and suffering are key elements of these diaries and you soon learn that no matter someone’s age no-one is truly innocent and everyone has a story to tell.
At first we meet Percival whose own story reads somewhat like a ghost story opening up. When we enter the world of the journals we meet Ivanna Morriander, vampire.
Ivanna clearly chronologically sculpts her pain from the anger of being turned to the pain of loss, to love and again more pain and misery that follows as time goes by and one becomes accustomed to a life where people come and go.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it hooked me from the very beginning to the very end. I have to commend Andrea for her detail and the amount of work she has clearly put into this book, she really is The Mistress of Macabre. My only one big issue is I want more about Ivanna’s life. I have to admit I did not care too much about the life stories of the other members of the coven but I would love to see a book of Ivanna’s life detailing everything, every thought and journey she made. I would even like to read more about Percival Parkins who seems like a fascinating character himself yet barely had a chance to reveal himself to us.
I could rate this book but I believe a rating of 5 is nowhere near high enough to do credit!
By R.N. Hadley
Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc resides in Florida with her husband and cats. A multi award winner and best seller Andrea has the knack for taking her readers into the dark and twisted areas of our mind sometimes to places we wish we had never gone or could never leave. Andrea is the owner of Twisted Dreams magazine and the store The Celtic Belle. Wherever possible Andrea visits conventions and book signings, she loves to meet with her fans both online and off.
When Percival Parkins is called to an old gothic building due for demolition it becomes apparent that this is not your average meet. Summoned by Salvatore Compregna, Grandson of Dante Compregna , Percival is asked to look at something Sal found in a wall of the house, a journal which belonged to the mysterious Ivanna Morriander and another belonging to his Grandfather Ivanna’s friend. With Ivanna claiming to be a vampire Percival is beside himself to learn all he can from these books no matter how long it takes to fully understand them and the stories and lives they share.
The Lost Memories of Ivanna Morriander
The first diary speaks of the unlife of Ivanna Morriander, vampire, from the moment of her turning through her journeys, her loves and friends and emotional turmoil’s shared through her love of poetry. Ivanna shares her sorrow of the loss of her life of having it torn from her without her wish or say so. Then the long, slow, changes that occur in a being that create acceptance and a need to embrace what is. It is not just about revenge it is about life, death, feeling and acceptance. The journey we have in life makes us who we are, both good and bad. Being a vampire you’ve so much time on your hands that the feelings change with the centuries.
The Estate of Barren Hill – Pennings
The second diary tells the events and the account of Mr Carmichael’s visit to the house and recording the history of the coven of vampires and stories related to the estate. The stories themselves show the torment, suffering and sometimes love that each member of the coven endured in their lifetime with whom Ivanna spoke. These are the most memorable but they each in their own way speak the same tale of how even vampire relations are the same as humans, and no matter how hard you think you have things you can always find someone worse off than you.
An Eternity of Shadow is the second book of the Dante’s Diary Series and straight from page one you are pulled in with the promise of secrets to be shared. Pain, loss, love, anger and suffering are key elements of these diaries and you soon learn that no matter someone’s age no-one is truly innocent and everyone has a story to tell.
At first we meet Percival whose own story reads somewhat like a ghost story opening up. When we enter the world of the journals we meet Ivanna Morriander, vampire.
Ivanna clearly chronologically sculpts her pain from the anger of being turned to the pain of loss, to love and again more pain and misery that follows as time goes by and one becomes accustomed to a life where people come and go.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it hooked me from the very beginning to the very end. I have to commend Andrea for her detail and the amount of work she has clearly put into this book, she really is The Mistress of Macabre. My only one big issue is I want more about Ivanna’s life. I have to admit I did not care too much about the life stories of the other members of the coven but I would love to see a book of Ivanna’s life detailing everything, every thought and journey she made. I would even like to read more about Percival Parkins who seems like a fascinating character himself yet barely had a chance to reveal himself to us.
I could rate this book but I believe a rating of 5 is nowhere near high enough to do credit!
By R.N. Hadley
14 Mar 2012
Hazardous Choices
Hazardous Choices is written by Joseph Rinaldo and published by Smashwords. The novel is approximately 88,000 words and 30 chapters in length.
Joseph Rinaldo has two published novels the third he is currently editing. Joseph has a daughter who has down syndrome and he hopes his voice can be a guide to parents in a similar situation by creating a character within his first two published novels whom have down syndrome.
Coach Rotteli is keen to get his football team, the Western Kentucky state University Bobcats, back on top form after several losses but it is going to take a lot of work for everyone, so he needs his home life to run smoothly and between a son who has down syndrome and a daughter who is little interested in her studies he has his work cut out at least until another teacher steps in to help with the families communication barriers when it comes to son Eric.
When Darnell, a football player and member of the Knights of Neptune wants out of the gang, he hides who he really is. On return home and to the gang Darnell’s life takes a turn for the worst when he kills someone to please the gang and to enable his return to school and football. Ashamed of his life outside of school Darnell keeps it secret. But just how long can he keep living two separate lives and prevent them from crossing paths without casualties on either end? How many decisions is he going to have to make and will they be the right ones? How many lives are going to be effected by his actions? Not wanting to appear siss-e-fied by either side, if he wants to follow his dreams and leave the tower block back home, what is a guy to do?
Life is full of hazardous choices and that appears to be the point in this story however as much as I know football is important to this story, for me there is just too much description about the game because of this I would have to say that this book is aimed more at a male audience rather than a female one.
However, the story of Eric is far more interesting and I would have liked to have seen more of his story open up and perhaps have his character a little more involved especially at the end.
Gang life appears portrayed very well and the story itself is well written but I have this nagging feeling that some of the football descriptions were word fillers to amp up the word count and this has thrown off the balance of the story. I actually like the idea of the story and would have liked to have seen more about the similarities between gangs and teams rather than read about a football game.
Hazardous Choices is very much a story about brotherhood and loyalty to the end, it also depicts slight similarities between gang life and that of a team of footballers. There is also a story of connections between people and the bonds they have which is especially portrayed by Nicole and Eric.
From a males point of view this book would probably have a higher rate however being a female who prefers books to sport I could only recommend this book to males above 18 years of age or football fans.
I give Hazardous Choices by Joseph Rinaldo 3.5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Joseph Rinaldo has two published novels the third he is currently editing. Joseph has a daughter who has down syndrome and he hopes his voice can be a guide to parents in a similar situation by creating a character within his first two published novels whom have down syndrome.
Coach Rotteli is keen to get his football team, the Western Kentucky state University Bobcats, back on top form after several losses but it is going to take a lot of work for everyone, so he needs his home life to run smoothly and between a son who has down syndrome and a daughter who is little interested in her studies he has his work cut out at least until another teacher steps in to help with the families communication barriers when it comes to son Eric.
When Darnell, a football player and member of the Knights of Neptune wants out of the gang, he hides who he really is. On return home and to the gang Darnell’s life takes a turn for the worst when he kills someone to please the gang and to enable his return to school and football. Ashamed of his life outside of school Darnell keeps it secret. But just how long can he keep living two separate lives and prevent them from crossing paths without casualties on either end? How many decisions is he going to have to make and will they be the right ones? How many lives are going to be effected by his actions? Not wanting to appear siss-e-fied by either side, if he wants to follow his dreams and leave the tower block back home, what is a guy to do?
Life is full of hazardous choices and that appears to be the point in this story however as much as I know football is important to this story, for me there is just too much description about the game because of this I would have to say that this book is aimed more at a male audience rather than a female one.
However, the story of Eric is far more interesting and I would have liked to have seen more of his story open up and perhaps have his character a little more involved especially at the end.
Gang life appears portrayed very well and the story itself is well written but I have this nagging feeling that some of the football descriptions were word fillers to amp up the word count and this has thrown off the balance of the story. I actually like the idea of the story and would have liked to have seen more about the similarities between gangs and teams rather than read about a football game.
Hazardous Choices is very much a story about brotherhood and loyalty to the end, it also depicts slight similarities between gang life and that of a team of footballers. There is also a story of connections between people and the bonds they have which is especially portrayed by Nicole and Eric.
From a males point of view this book would probably have a higher rate however being a female who prefers books to sport I could only recommend this book to males above 18 years of age or football fans.
I give Hazardous Choices by Joseph Rinaldo 3.5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
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