Just as Kinks, a Crip drug kingpin, exits a local convenience store, he is apprehended by LAPD homicide detectives Rick Dover and Falcon. Suddenly, a drive-by staged by a rival gang, the Bloods, leaves one dead and several wounded. Dover's life is saved by one of the carpenters who took three bullets in the back.
Before the detectives can figure out who the carpenter is, he walks out of the hospital and disappears. As Kinks lies near death, Dover and Falcon continue their search for those responsible for the shootings.
When their key witness, Kinks, is boldly assassinated in his hospital room before they can interview him, the detectives are stunned.
Eventually they locate the missing witness and he agrees to help them out and the pieces start to fall in place. However, before they can put the case to rest everything goes awry during a climatic shoot-out. The witness again mysteriously disappears leaving behind two surprised detectives.
Author Mark Bouton is a former FBI agent whose years of experience bring much to the story. The Second Savior is a true page-turner that stays on pace throughout. The well-developed rapport between Dover and Falcon shows Bouton’s love towards his characters.
He allows the reader to understand the motives of those on both sides of the law, no matter how vile the characters may be. It is obvious the author took the time to get to know his characters and understand their motives. Even the bad guys have a depth not usually seen in this type of novel.
Because the story is set in LA, Bouton takes the opportunity to insert a touch of humor by allowing the detectives to drop the names of the rich and famous with abandon throughout the book.
The Second Savior is a worthy follow-up to Cracks in the Rainbow. Here’s hoping for more stories starring the homicide detective duo, Dover and Falcon.
You can purchase The Second Savior at Amazon.com.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Blogging Money - Full Time Passive Income Is Easier Than You Think
Earning blogging money is a lot easier than you think. Your first, and most important, step is to create a solid plan of action if you truly desire to make a good income from your blogs.
Many people think it's enough to just place a blog on the internet and the money will start flowing into their bank account! Not so.
So, how do you go about finding a plan of action so that you, too, can earn as much money as possible?
The fact is, one of the best sources I've found is called "The Niche Blogger!" This is a unique and complete program that was created to help people new to blogging to get their start.
This easy to follow course will cut down on your learning time and help make sure you don't make mistakes that will prevent you from making money.
When you join The Niche Blogger, you will need to dedicate your time and energy to complete the course, but when you do, the results are well worth it!
One of the problems people have when trying to earn money by blogging is that there are so many different methods available. Do yourself a favor and don't fall for the get rich quick schemes.
If you choose a good blogging model right up front, you will save yourself hours of frustrating and fruitless time and energy. It will be easy to dedicate yourself to the model because you know you will be able to succeed.
You should also realize that even though you can start earning money very quickly, you won't become rich overnight.
Blogging money will no doubt start trickling in and then will build upon itself over time. Before you know it, you will be earning a great part or full-time income from your blogs.
The great thing about blogging is that once you get your blog set up, it is a realitively pass income stream.
Every once in a while you may need to tweak your blog site and add posts along the way, but for the most part, your blogs will be your 24 hours a day, seven days a week "salespeople."
Earning money from blogs can literally change your life for the better. In fact, you might find you can quit your day job and become a full-time blogger.
All you need to do is to make sure you follow The Niche Blogger instructions, and that you dedicate yourself to it until you are successful. You will be glad you took the first step.
Here is a link so that you can get started today. You really will be glad you gave it a try.
The Niche Blogger - Make Money Blogging
Many people think it's enough to just place a blog on the internet and the money will start flowing into their bank account! Not so.
So, how do you go about finding a plan of action so that you, too, can earn as much money as possible?
The fact is, one of the best sources I've found is called "The Niche Blogger!" This is a unique and complete program that was created to help people new to blogging to get their start.
This easy to follow course will cut down on your learning time and help make sure you don't make mistakes that will prevent you from making money.
When you join The Niche Blogger, you will need to dedicate your time and energy to complete the course, but when you do, the results are well worth it!
One of the problems people have when trying to earn money by blogging is that there are so many different methods available. Do yourself a favor and don't fall for the get rich quick schemes.
If you choose a good blogging model right up front, you will save yourself hours of frustrating and fruitless time and energy. It will be easy to dedicate yourself to the model because you know you will be able to succeed.
You should also realize that even though you can start earning money very quickly, you won't become rich overnight.
Blogging money will no doubt start trickling in and then will build upon itself over time. Before you know it, you will be earning a great part or full-time income from your blogs.
The great thing about blogging is that once you get your blog set up, it is a realitively pass income stream.
Every once in a while you may need to tweak your blog site and add posts along the way, but for the most part, your blogs will be your 24 hours a day, seven days a week "salespeople."
Earning money from blogs can literally change your life for the better. In fact, you might find you can quit your day job and become a full-time blogger.
All you need to do is to make sure you follow The Niche Blogger instructions, and that you dedicate yourself to it until you are successful. You will be glad you took the first step.
Here is a link so that you can get started today. You really will be glad you gave it a try.
The Niche Blogger - Make Money Blogging
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Paper Butterfly Review
Paper Butterfly is the second novel in the Mei Wang series written by Diane Wei Liang. Liang was born in Beijing of parents who were consigned to a remote labor camp during part of her childhood. In 1989, she was involved in the protest in Tiananmen Square. Those two experiences provided her with insider knowledge put to good use in Paper Butterfly.
The story begins with Lin, sentenced to eight years in a work camp in Gansu Province at the age of twenty due to betrayal by a childhood friend. His time at the camp cost him his youth, his sweetheart, and almost cost him his life. He served his time and was released with very little: the clothes on his back, a brand new Mao jacket, and a small amount of money. The reader follows his trail as he slowly makes his way back, physically and emotionally, to civilization.
When Mei Wang suddenly resigned from the Ministry for Public Security, she decided to open a detective agency. Although private detectives were banned in China, her title “information consultant” brought her great success with a nice apartment and new car. At thirty-one, she was still not married, a situation she heard much about due to the oft- vocal disappointment of her mother and highly successful, and very married, sister, a TV talk show host.
The president of a record company hired Mei to find a rising pop star who has gone missing. Kaili had disappeared for several days when Mei agreed to a discreet search into the troubled singer’s life. Although the police think her disappearance was related to robbery, Mei began to search into Kaili’s past. As she searched Kaili’s apartment, she found a stack of love letters tucked away years ago signed only by “L” and a homemade paper butterfly. She had no idea they might hold the key to the case.
After Kaili was found dead, Mei was dismissed from the case. Unable to let go of Kaili’s life, Mei decided to continue on her own. She soon found herself receiving threats and her life at risk. As Mei traveled throughout the city, the reader was drawn into her world, a world of promise and of danger.
Paper Butterfly was written by Diane Wei Liang, a woman who has strong insider knowledge of Beijing, its history and politics. A woman who brings her past and present into the story by deftly weaving personal experience into the narrative providing a heartbreaking tale of love lost due to the political strife of the times. The author shows how once one’s course is set, it is almost impossible to return to the old way of life.
Liang writes with poignancy, drawing on the sights, sounds, and smell of a city teeming with life. She has created a modern day female detective struggling with a mix of the new ways and the old traditions of her family. This unique mixture together with Liang’s life experiences combine genuine mystery and mystique into one thoroughly enjoyable story.
You can buy Paper Butterfly at Amazon.com.
The story begins with Lin, sentenced to eight years in a work camp in Gansu Province at the age of twenty due to betrayal by a childhood friend. His time at the camp cost him his youth, his sweetheart, and almost cost him his life. He served his time and was released with very little: the clothes on his back, a brand new Mao jacket, and a small amount of money. The reader follows his trail as he slowly makes his way back, physically and emotionally, to civilization.
When Mei Wang suddenly resigned from the Ministry for Public Security, she decided to open a detective agency. Although private detectives were banned in China, her title “information consultant” brought her great success with a nice apartment and new car. At thirty-one, she was still not married, a situation she heard much about due to the oft- vocal disappointment of her mother and highly successful, and very married, sister, a TV talk show host.
The president of a record company hired Mei to find a rising pop star who has gone missing. Kaili had disappeared for several days when Mei agreed to a discreet search into the troubled singer’s life. Although the police think her disappearance was related to robbery, Mei began to search into Kaili’s past. As she searched Kaili’s apartment, she found a stack of love letters tucked away years ago signed only by “L” and a homemade paper butterfly. She had no idea they might hold the key to the case.
After Kaili was found dead, Mei was dismissed from the case. Unable to let go of Kaili’s life, Mei decided to continue on her own. She soon found herself receiving threats and her life at risk. As Mei traveled throughout the city, the reader was drawn into her world, a world of promise and of danger.
Paper Butterfly was written by Diane Wei Liang, a woman who has strong insider knowledge of Beijing, its history and politics. A woman who brings her past and present into the story by deftly weaving personal experience into the narrative providing a heartbreaking tale of love lost due to the political strife of the times. The author shows how once one’s course is set, it is almost impossible to return to the old way of life.
Liang writes with poignancy, drawing on the sights, sounds, and smell of a city teeming with life. She has created a modern day female detective struggling with a mix of the new ways and the old traditions of her family. This unique mixture together with Liang’s life experiences combine genuine mystery and mystique into one thoroughly enjoyable story.
You can buy Paper Butterfly at Amazon.com.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wife of the Gods Review
When the body of a popular young woman was found in the forest near Ketanu in the Volta Region of Ghana, local police quickly realized the sensitivity of the situation and called for regional help. Little did they know their request would be kicked up to Headquarters in the capital city of Accra. Maverick Detective Inspector Darko Dawson was assigned the case because he could speak the local Ewe language.
Treated as an accidental death by the locals, when Dawson realized the beautiful young volunteer for the Ghana Health Service AIDS outreach program was murdered, local authorities quickly arrested a young man for her murder. Although Samuel adamantly denied having anything to do with her death, he was jailed and repeatedly beaten until he was willing to confess.
The assignment brought Dawson in contact with family members who still lived in the area where his mother had disappeared twenty-five years before. Her body was never found. Dawson often found himself struggling with dreams that she was trying to reach him.
Dealing with anger issues, and the mishandling of the case by local authorities, Dawson doggedly probed into the murder. Frequently clashing with the locals and their superstitious ways, the local fetish priest, and the outdated religious customs of the region, Dawson found support in surprising places as he struggled with unexpected challenges.
Dawson is admittedly a flawed man who has a penchant for marijuana. He also has a strong wife and a sickly son who love and support him no matter what the circumstances.
Wife of the Gods probes the horrifying practice of families offering their young daughters to fetish priests as trokosi, or Wives of the Gods, essentially becoming slaves to the priests for the rest of their lives.
Wife of the Gods author Kwei Quartey takes an intriguing look at the life of a man who lives in a large urban area, and who struggles with the belief systems and centuries-old rituals found in the rural Ghana. It quickly becomes apparent to the reader that Quartey has firsthand knowledge of the area.
Using the scenic beauty of Ghana as a backdrop, Quartey brings his characters to life. The plot sizzles and the pace never slows providing a surprising finish. Hopefully, we will see more of the intriguing and likeable Detective Inspector Darko Dawson.
You can order Wife of the Gods from Amazon.com.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Last Passage to Santiago
Last Passage to Santiago opens with a daring kidnapping, and continues with a tantalizing tale through the historic streets of Buenos Aires and beyond.
Stephanie Ably-Ranier and her husband Ben are on a three week vacation. After spending a week at a beautiful hotel in Argentina, they are booked for a two-week luxury cruise heading around South America visiting Uruguay, the Falklands, and ending up in Santiago.
Stephie is excited to walk the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires, visiting the many historic sites, feasting on the local restaurant fare, and immersing herself in the enticing beat of the tango-loving city. Ben, however, has other ideas. Unbeknownst to his wife, he has brought his mistress along, daringly ensconcing her in the same hotel and later on the cruise ship so that he can visit her anytime he wishes.
As Stephie finds that she is increasingly alone, she begins to realize someone is following her on her daily walks. She senses the movements of a dwarf who seems to appear where ever she goes. Due to her position with the ultra-secret National Security Agency, she begins to wonder if the apparent stalker is job-related.
During their visit in the South American city, they run into an eclectic group of fellow passengers headed for the same cruise. As they prepare to board the ocean liner for the next portion of their trip, Ben realizes his passions now rest elsewhere as Stephie senses the breakdown of their marriage.
On the cruise ship, Stephie attends a talk given by the ship’s naturalist, Mike Lambert, and finds herself increasingly drawn to the region’s penguin rookeries. While unexpectedly stranded in the Falkland Islands while her husband and the rest of the passengers continue their journey, she finds herself spending time getting to know the handsome Lambert. It does not take her long to realize what is missing from her life.
Last Passage to Santiago is a riveting story of love and betrayal, trust and deceit. Stephanie and Ben never expected their three-week vacation would threaten their very existence and change their lives forever.
John F. Rooney has created vivid characters and beautiful scenic locales bringing the story to life with ever increasing speed. Last Passage to Santiago simmers with passion and lust, and proves difficult to put down as it heads toward an ending the reader suspects, but is still surprised by the unexpected.
This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys passionate love stories intertwined with international intrigue, seductive secrets, and gripping hot, tropical romance.
You can buy Last Passage to Santiago at Amazon.com.
Friday, April 17, 2009
A Breed Apart Review
Every once in a while a book comes along that is so much fun to read that I have to share it here. A Breed Apart is an emotional romp that I did not want to end. I would love to see what happens to Holt, Kira and Zoe further on in their lives. Here is the review I wrote for Night Owl Romance:
When Kira McGovern graduated from veterinarian school, she knew her life was about to change forever. Due to the recent death of her sister and brother-in-law, Kira became sole provider for her infant niece. Unfortunately, if she did not find a permanent job and a place to live within three months, her niece would go into foster care.
Arriving at the ranch where she was to work, she was quickly fired by the son of the man who hired her. Desperate, she stood her ground and kept the job.
Holt Crockett took one look at the tall blond and tried to brush her off, thinking she was there to visit his womanizing brother, Treat. When he found out his father had hired Kira as ranch veterinarian to solve the puzzle of the sick cattle, Holt was furious.
As ranch manager, he was in charge of hiring and firing. Instead, his father had not only gone behind his back, but also hired a woman no less. He was particularly upset with the incentives his father had promised her if she found a cure, including a percentage of his ranch, and Holt did everything he could to drive her away.
Tension mounted as Kira raced to find a cure, and Holt had to destroy a growing number of his diseased herd. Time was of the essence or Holt would soon lose all his cattle and the ranch.
A Breed Apart begins with high emotion and never lets the reader down throughout this fast-paced and captivating story. Two people are struggling with unexpected life situations, unable to trust their feelings and unable to trust one another, yet both needing to work together for the greater good of both. Emotions are raw and tension is high. Several unexpected events fail to diminish the growing emotional powder keg between the two antagonists.
Charlotte Raby has written a powerful novel with strong characters that are facing life-changing situations. A strong supporting cast adds depth to a story whereby the only disappointment is that it comes to its inevitable conclusion. The reader will certainly hope more stories are forthcoming from this insightful writer.
What book have you read lately that has made a strong impression on you?
When Kira McGovern graduated from veterinarian school, she knew her life was about to change forever. Due to the recent death of her sister and brother-in-law, Kira became sole provider for her infant niece. Unfortunately, if she did not find a permanent job and a place to live within three months, her niece would go into foster care.
Arriving at the ranch where she was to work, she was quickly fired by the son of the man who hired her. Desperate, she stood her ground and kept the job.
Holt Crockett took one look at the tall blond and tried to brush her off, thinking she was there to visit his womanizing brother, Treat. When he found out his father had hired Kira as ranch veterinarian to solve the puzzle of the sick cattle, Holt was furious.
As ranch manager, he was in charge of hiring and firing. Instead, his father had not only gone behind his back, but also hired a woman no less. He was particularly upset with the incentives his father had promised her if she found a cure, including a percentage of his ranch, and Holt did everything he could to drive her away.
Tension mounted as Kira raced to find a cure, and Holt had to destroy a growing number of his diseased herd. Time was of the essence or Holt would soon lose all his cattle and the ranch.
A Breed Apart begins with high emotion and never lets the reader down throughout this fast-paced and captivating story. Two people are struggling with unexpected life situations, unable to trust their feelings and unable to trust one another, yet both needing to work together for the greater good of both. Emotions are raw and tension is high. Several unexpected events fail to diminish the growing emotional powder keg between the two antagonists.
Charlotte Raby has written a powerful novel with strong characters that are facing life-changing situations. A strong supporting cast adds depth to a story whereby the only disappointment is that it comes to its inevitable conclusion. The reader will certainly hope more stories are forthcoming from this insightful writer.
What book have you read lately that has made a strong impression on you?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Winter in Madrid Review
C. J. Sansom’s Winter in Madrid is a period novel set in the later years of 1930s to 1947 in Franco’s Spain. Three men, who had attended prestigious Rookwood School in Great Britain and had become childhood friends, proceeded along divergent roads as adults.
Bernie Piper became a Communist and fought in the Spanish Civil War that broke out in 1936. During the war, he was reported missing and presumed dead. At the request of his parents, his friend Harry Brett traveled to Spain seeking information. The Russians, then in control, thought he was a spy and gave Harry 24 hours to leave the country. The Civil War ended in 1939.
Shortly thereafter, Harry, with great reluctance, was recruited by the Secret Service and sent to the British Embassy in Spain as a translator to spy on a third Rookwood alumni Sandy Forsyth. Forsyth had become a Madrid businessman who was under intense scrutiny by the British for his shady practices and association with Franco.
Add to the mix Sandy’s girlfriend, Barbara Clare. She had fallen in love with Bernie when she was a Red Cross nurse during the civil war, but now lived with Sandy. She was intent on finding out whether or not Bernie was still alive and if so, where he was held.
After an intriguing prologue, Winter in Madrid seemed to lag until about mid-way through the novel when the story picks back up again. The novel finishes with a stunning and unexpected ending.
The story is told from varying points of view that at times can be a little distracting. However, the main characters have the necessary depth to support their motivations and carry the story forward. All characters are provided ample opportunities to play their respective role in history.
The author ably paints a vivid portrait of post-civil war Spain; the grit, the devastation, the muddled politics.
Mr. Sansom seems well prepared in the necessary historical detail of the time in order to write such a strong, sweeping, political thriller. History buffs are sure to appreciate his intensive research. Part historical novel, part romance, part thriller, Winter in Madrid provides a thought-provoking look at a troubled time in Spain’s history.
You can buy Winter in Madrid at Amazon.com.
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