Unconventional JJ Hebert

Unconventional by J.J. Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unconventional by J.J. Hebert is just that, unconventional. This is a highly inspiring book with a great message. James is an aspiring writer, who has had a rough go at life. He's a janitor, and wants nothing more than to be a published author. He has a dream though, and actively pursues it. Great character development makes the reader totally root for James, the underdog. You want him to succeed so badly. An amazing plot that pulls on the heartstrings and fills the reader with joy, consternation, and even some sadness, the author has a wonderful way of conveying complicated human emotion. Full of uplifting moments as James and his girlfriend battle family dysfunction, this is a real feeling and sounding story, with a positive message that many will benefit from. With a Christian angle, the book may not be for everyone, put putting that aside, this book certainly has broad appeal and resonates with a positive message. Highly recommend.

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Devil's Run (The Richard Carter Novels, #12) A.R. Simmons

Devil's Run by A.R. Simmons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Devil's Run (The Richard Carter Novels, #12) by A. R. Simmons works as a standalone book even though it is number 12 in the series of Richard Carter novels. The action takes place in a sleepy little town, and the writing is full of suspense and intrigue. Fireballs light up the night sky and when there are more than one, it makes deputy Richard Carter wake up and take notice. Who would want to harm anyone in their sleepy little town in Hawthorn County? With the local victims being involved in real estate, there is much more to the story. Well written with a lot of good background, this is an honest to goodness down home mystery. With no sex situations and only mild profanity, this book stands out and is a good police procedural that anyone will enjoy. A straightforward plot, a good mystery, and competent writing make this story very appealing to just about anyone. Highly recommend for a good book with a strong and convincing plot, well thought out characters, and a solid pace.

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Good Neighbors by Joanne Serling

Good Neighbors by Joanne Serling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good Neighbors by Joanne Serling could have been so much more. A good format, a rather tense storyline, and tedious neighbors could possibly have added up to a lot of oomph, but the overall premise fell flat, especially the ending. It wasn't that surprising. Some of the writing style was simply disconcerting; I have never read a book with so many exclamation points! Nicole in particular seemed to end a bunch of sentences by screaming as indicated by the exclamation points! How many does one need in a novel!! I could go on and on! It was distracting! Maybe Nicole drank a lot of coffee! Who knows, but reading this was exhausting. I really felt like this book was a veiled attempt at a distraught neighborhood drama, aka, Liane Moriarty, but it fell short.

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Putin's Praetorians: Confessions of the Top Kremlin Trolls by Phil Butler

Putin's Praetorians: Confessions of the Top Kremlin Trolls by Phil Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Putin's Praetorians: Confessions of the Top Kremlin Trolls by Phil Butler is a great collection of stories by ordinary people aimed at throwing shade on various conspiracy theories revolving around Putin, Russia, and the American presidential election. To say that mainstream media has perpetuated the ultimate hoax through the abundant use of fake news is an understatement, and is aptly described here through various incarnations and opinions. Butler has certainly done a wonderful service here, in exposing the truth about how media tries to manipulate the masses, and tries to maintain that manipulation just because they seemingly can. Who to believe and who not to believe when it comes to Russia, it's so-called influence and the mainstream media is the question that begs answering, and while not fully answering that debate, Butler does a fine job of exposing how corrupt the media is on many fronts. Not to be missed, this book is highly recommended for an eye opening read.

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Reading List for 2018- More to Come

The Beloveds-

This sounds like a great book all about the perils of sibling rivalry and intense familial relationships. A must read for next year. According to Netgalley: An exploration of domestic derangement, as sinister as Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, that plumbs the depths of sibling rivalry with wit and menace. Oh, to be a Beloved—one of those lucky people for whom nothing ever goes wrong. Everything falls into their laps without effort: happiness, beauty, good fortune, allure. How Far Would You Go to Save the One You Love? This looks like an edge of your seat thriller, Killer Choice by Tom Hunt is definitely on my list for the new year.

What would happen if you Googled yourself? That is the almost unanswerable question in what looks to be a great book. Just got this one from the library, and looking forward to starting it.

Self Publishing Disruption by Richard McCartney

Self Publishing Disruption: marketing tips that work so well it feels like cheating by Richard McCartney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Self Publishing Disruption: marketing tips that work so well it feels like cheating by Richard McCartney is a great resource for all self published authors to get their works out there and to get noticed. The book exposes the concept of disruptive marketing when it comes to promoting a book, all done in an ethical and completely legit way. With case studies, tutorials, and screenshots, McCartney makes assimilating the information easy and simple to implement. This short book contains realistic solutions in a comprehensive guide that will help not only to grow the sales of your book, but to propel it further up the Amazon list. The easy steps contained in this book will not only increase your book's visibility, but your profitability. Highly recommend for any self published author to improve sales and ranking in the competitive online world.

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