Currently Browsing: Reviews Feb 7, 2012 Posted by Indie Books List on Feb 7, 2012 in February 2012, Finalists, Reviews It is now time to announce February’s “Book of the Month” finalists.
This month, I am keeping my word, by picking some excerpts that were submitted a fair while before we announced book reviews.
Without any further fanfare, the Finalists are, in no particular order:
Pete Morin: Diary of a Small Fish
Genre: Thriller and Suspense
Description:
When Paul Forte is indicted by a federal grand jury, everyone suspects prosecutor Bernard Kilroy has more on his mind than justice. The FBI agent in charge of Paul’s case gives him a clue to the mystery: Kilroy is bent on settling an old family score, and he’s not above breaking the law to do it.
Paul is already dealing with the death of his parents and divorce from a woman he still loves. Now, with the support of an alluring grand juror, Paul must expose the vindictive prosecutor’s own corruption before the jury renders a verdict on his Osso Buco.
Read an excerpt from Diary of a Small Fish
Paul Wornham: The Philanthropist’s Danse
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Mystery
Description:
Twelve people. Five days. One fortune.
Johnston Thurwell, one of the world’s richest men, dies unexpectedly. His family expects to inherit his wealth, but instead discover the dying philanthropist has spent his last days planning something called The Danse. The twelve most important people in his life are brought together to decide the most important question at the end of it. Who will inherit his fortune?
The family is sequestered in the philanthropists’ remote country mansion with a group that includes his best friend, his most loyal servants, and his greatest rival. They must agree who among them will share the fortune, but they must do it against the clock. Every twenty-four hours, the fortune is reduced. In just five days, it will all be gone.
The thin veneer of civility among the twelve is ripped away by naked greed as their lust for money drives them into betrayal, blackmail and violence.
The desperate family will do anything to save their inheritance. Except share it.
Read an excerpt from The Philanthropist’s Danse
Susan Kaye Quinn: Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy)
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Description:
When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.
Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where being forced to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Read an excerpt from Open Minds
I hope you will take the time to read the excerpts for these books (and buy them) in advance of the reviews. Look for the reviews to appear throughout the month of February. My current hope is to have these out during a Fri-Sun. window for those of you who don’t have much time to read otherwise.
~Jack
Feb 3, 2012 Posted by Indie Books List on Feb 3, 2012 in Book of the Month, Finalists, January 2012, Reviews 
Well, I’m back again with yet another review, this time for Jonathan Grant’s “Chang Gang Elementary.” We have plenty of ground to cover, so let’s get to it.
Potential Bias:
Not aware of any bias, unless a traditional Southern upbringing has anything to do with my prejudices, or lack thereof.
The Hook:
A tale of war between parents and principals, with casualties. It’s funny. It’s not so funny.
After a murder at Bonaire Elementary, Richard and Anna Lee Gray seek a good school for their son Nick in a safe neighborhood. Their search leads them to Malliford, a ”school of excellence.” When redistricting sends scores of minority students to Malliford, iron-willed Principal Estelle Rutherford declares war on kids to raise test scores and save her reputation. Dissident parents revolt, electing Richard to head the Parent-Teacher Organization, and tensions explode.
Welcome to Chain Gang Elementary, home to vast right-wing conspiracies, 3rd-grade gangsters, and bake sale embezzlers–where toxic childhood secrets boil over, reformers go stark raving mad, and culture wars escalate into armed conflict.
My Review:
What can I say about Richard Gray? He’s a flawed, kind, well-meaning man who calls meetings to order with the “rap-tap-tap” of a Duncan yo-yo. As the protagonist in Jonathan Grant’s “Chain Gang Elementary”, he’s pitch perfect. Gray possesses a conflicted social conscience, a sharp tongue, and has the cojones to be an unapologetic, stay at home father. He’s a Southern male that isn’t a simpleton, a redneck, or a dandy…I mean…Charlestonian.
When Richard is drafted to be head of the Parent Teacher Organization at Malliford Elementary, he is aware that his presidency will face obstacles. The aging Miz Rutherford is at once Principal, non-benevolent dictator, and Nurse Ratched to the children and parents who inhabit Malliford. She’s not fond of Gray’s impudent questions, or the changes he would make in student life.
Rutherford is intent on making her school a “five-star school of excellence”. The only people standing in the way are Richard Gray, agent provocateur Rita Malloy, and the academic pariahs that inhabit the Chantilly Arms apartment complex. Of course, the school isn’t racist for wanting to reassign them to another school. It’s strictly an issue of test scores and property values.
This is where the war begins. This war will be won not through frontal assaults, but from good old-fashioned skulduggery and passive-aggressive behavior. This book is the show “Desperate Housewives” wishes it could be, and has the scathing social satire “Suburgatory” pretends to provide.
Gray’s personal life is hopelessly endangered by his success as PTO President, with his son Nicholas providing an unbiased look at the effects of his professional achievements. Richard’s frosty wife, Anna Lee is alternately unimpressed with, and angry about Richard’s “accomplishments”.
Her emotional indifference creates a situation ripe for extramarital excursions. These aren’t too difficult to initiate when you are a powerful, stay-at-home dad, surrounded by bored housewives. The question Gray finds himself asking is “Will it be worth it?”
The answer is “Yes.”, but only in response to the question “Should I read this book?” Chain Gang Elementary has a massive cast of characters that are all fully developed, with sub-plots that weave in and out of the main storyline gracefully. It’s rare to look at a book and say “This was crafted.” This book combines loving attention to detail, page-turning tension, with a wry humor that stops short of meanness.
This is a long read. A lesser story would make the length of ”Chain Gang” unbearable. As things stand, it’s a satisfying experience, worth far more than the price of admission.
Buy it already.
Rating:
Chain Gang Elementary receives my highest rating of 5 stars, and is Indie Books List’s “Book of the Month” for January, 2012.
Read an excerpt.
About the Reviewer:
Jack Martin loves the three R’s: Reading, monkeys, and non-sequiturs.
When he isn’t updating this blog, he also serves as the co-owner of Gossamer Publishing.
Buy Chain Gang Elementary:
Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Related books you may find intriguing:
Teacher Man, by Frank McCourt
Music you should listen to while reading this book:
Black River Killer, by Blitzen Trapper
Feb 1, 2012 Posted by Indie Books List on Feb 1, 2012 in Finalists, January 2012, Reviews 
Time for another book review. I’m running a little behind, but don’t worry. The book of the month will be anounced shortly. Today, we’ll be looking at Vik Rubenfield’s “Conquest”, a rock and roll romance.
Potential Bias:
One of the things that drew me to this book was the author’s bio: Vik was a co-creator of CBS show “Early Edition“. You know, the one with the newspaper that helps a bar owner predict the future, and the mysterious cat that shows up every morning. It was one of my favorite shows of the ’90s.
I’m also a musician (currently a non-practicing member of The Church of Cacophony). There are more than a few bad and good stories from the time I spent in a band. I won’t spend my time regaling you with tales of my glory days in impromptu recording studios, filled with stacks of pepperoni pizza…always pepperoni, never sausage…or stories about our one “groupie”, who wasn’t really a groupie, per se.
She really liked our music, came to every show, but didn’t want to be romantically involved with any of us. In fact, I’m pretty sure she had a boyfriend who didn’t like our stuff…at all.
See, you’ve heard enough already.
The Hook:
Want to know what it feels like to be a rock star?
Reid Taylor started out with nothing and became part of one of the biggest bands in the world. Now he wants to tell you about the hard struggle every step of the way, fame, the craziness of being on the road, the groupies, and how he found real love that meant more to him than all the groupies in the world. And he wants to tell you about the conflict he had with one of the members of his own band, that threatened everything the band ever hoped to achieve.
My Review:
Rock and romance go together. That’s undeniable. For the starstruck high school student who idolized every move Mick Jagger made, there was the heady “He’s going to call me up on stage, take me home in a limousine, and we’ll live in a mansion forever” brand of romance.
For guys, the romance is often with an inanimate object: It’s OK to joke that the lead guitarist’s girlfriend has a dubious sexual history, but don’t lay your greasy fingers on the fretboard of his first Les Paul. Yes, guys want power, groupies, and money…but to be honest, what we really want is better, shinier gear at absolutely no cost to us.
In “Conquest”, Vik Rubenfeld attempts to merge both of these perspectives, using the narrative of Reid Taylor, bass player for “Conquest”.
Reid tells us the tales of how the band started, as if we were fans already. In first person perspective, he walks us through practices, girlfriends, groupies, treachery, drugs, fame, fortune, and love.
“Conquest” is an easy read from the first person perspective, with an eye towards capturing us with the romance of the rock star lifestyle.
The tension is uneven at points, but Conquest is well worth a look.
On those grounds, I give “Conquest” *** 1/2 stars.
Read an excerpt of Conquest
Music you should listen to while reading this book:
More Than A Feeling, by Boston
Related books you might find intriguing:
Rock Star’s Girl, by J.F. Kristin
Blood and Guitars, by Heather Jensen
Jan 14, 2012 Posted by Indie Books List on Jan 14, 2012 in Finalists, January 2012, Reviews 
Hello everyone.
Welcome to January, a time of optimism, and new beginnings. The first book I’m reviewing is Scott Nicholson’s “Creative Spirit”.
As usual, I’ll reveal my many biases up front, so that all readers may shelve my prejudices, and enjoy any book they darn well please.
Potential Bias:
I am biased toward authors who write about North Carolina. That goes double for people who set their books in the mountains of this state. Scott Nicholson knows the area intimately, and it shows in his writing.
That being said, horror is not a genre I consume on a regular basis. I don’t watch horror movies, simply because I have no fondness for blood or the jarring sound of dysfunctional fluorescent lighting (I’m looking at you, Cabin Fever and Gothika).
I was raised on classic Gothic fiction. This means I am a clichéd lover of Edgar Allen Poe. You may give me a fright, so long as there is sufficient mystery to pique my interest. Other than that, I’m a blank slate when it comes to this genre.
The Hook:
After parapsychologist Anna Galloway is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she has a recurring dream in which she sees her own ghost at Korban Manor. She’s compelled to visit the historic estate to face her destiny and the fate of her soul.
Sculptor Mason Jackson has come to the manor to make a final, all-or-nothing attempt at success before giving up his dreams. When he becomes obsessed with carving Ephram Korban’s form out of wood, he is swept into a destructive frenzy that even Anna can’t pull him from.
The manor itself has secrets, with fires that blaze constantly in the hearths, portraits of Korban in every room, and deceptive mirrors on the walls. With an October blue moon looming, both the living and the dead learn the true power of their dreams.
My Review:
We’ve all seen the set up before: A small group of strangers are invited to an opulent mansion beyond the reaches of civilization. They get to know each other, somebody dies, strange events ensue, then the waiter comes around with dessert.
“Creative Spirit” is anything but bad dinner theatre.
The book opens with an introduction to the frantic Sylva. She’s going to the home of Ephram Korban: land baron and occult figure. We get a brief glimpse of the enigmatic Korban as his strange powers emerge and fade into flame.
We are then thrown into the modern day mountains of NC, where artists both legitimate and delusional meet for a retreat. Some are present because of charity, others because of the enormous wealth they possess. At the end of the day it will not matter. The mansion has a life all its own. It possesses others with its spirit, which tends to make the artists far better than they are, and deceive them into thinking that they are the source of their genius.
At its heart, “Creative Spirit” is a morality play that rails against the twin sins of Vanity and Pride. One can only imagine the author returning from yet another party full of stuffed shirts and pretension to a beckoning keyboard. It is there he displays the horror of these vices for all to see: A pompous writer on the verge of obsolescence returns to the mansion to regain his standing as a literary genius. A humble sculptor is transformed from a charity case into a dreamer driven to obsessive madness by the promise of fame. The spirit of the mysterious Korban occupies this atmosphere, seemingly guiding these artists to heights previously unknown. To what end?
Amidst all this, Anna stumbles through the twilight of her dreams and treads on ground that is both unstable and eerily familiar. Why does she feel so connected to the mansion? Is there a reason it feels like home? Unlike the others, she seeks neither fame nor fortune. Rather, she searches for the answers to her questions, so that she can enjoy the short time she has remaining and die in peace.
The remaining cast of characters is fantastic, which is one of the factors that separates a book that is simply “ok” from a book I recommend. Even the most minor characters are well used, and make their appearance at the right time to push the story forward. Boy, does this story move, through reality, imagination, and things that stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the border between the two.
If could use one word to describe this book, it would be “balanced”. Mystery gives equal time to humor. Horror gives way to humanity. The dialogue blends effortlessly with description. This book is pure fun. The plot twists are unexpected. Nicholson will make you the victim of your own reason. I mentally flogged myself for falling victim to this misdirection many times.
Overall, “Creative Spirit” deserves the 5 stars I am giving it. It is creepy in the best way possible: It avoids cheap thrills through the use of character development, and builds a feeling of true suspense and dread.
This was my first Scott Nicholson book, and I can give you good odds that it won’t be my last.
About the Reviewer:
Jack Martin loves the three R’s: Reading, monkeys, and non-sequiturs.
When he isn’t updating this blog, he also serves as the co-owner of Gossamer Publishing.
Click here to read an excerpt from “Creative Spirit”.
Music you should listen to while reading this book:
Wuthering Heights, by Kate Bush
Related books you might find intriguing:
You know what, I’m just going to skip the usual, and post a link directly to Scott Nicholson’s Amazon Profile.
If you like “Creative Spirit”, then I have a good feeling you’ll enjoy the rest of his catalog.
Dec 10, 2011 Posted by Indie Books List on Dec 10, 2011 in Jack Martin, Reviews 
Demon: A Memoir, by Tosca Lee
Demon: A Memoir, by Tosca Lee
Length: ~350 pp.
Available at Amazon
Note: I have prepared this review in advance of January’s notices. Currently, I have two indie titles scheduled for review. Hopefully, this will give you an idea of how selected books will be treated.
Yes, I am aware that this is not an “Indie” release. In fact, it is not even a current release. This book is merely new to me. From time-to-time, I will review books by traditionally published authors, especially if they submitted an excerpt here.
Cursory Information:
I’ve read many reviews over the years. My issue is that most reviewers fail to disclose bias and personal information that could influence the review up front. With that in mind, be aware of the following:
“Demon” has three things that distinguish it from the other books I’ve read this year:
1.) It is the only book I’ve paid $9.99 for.
2.) Tosca is one of the few authors in my Kindle that is not an indie author.
3.) “Demon” is the first book of Christian (or Religious) fiction that I’ve even bothered reading within the past few years.
Potential Bias:
While the first two factors may be a sticking point for you, the third one is mine. Growing up, I was forced to read books in the Christian Fiction subcategory. As a result, I am a fairly jaded critic of the genre.
It has always been my opinion that if you want to categorize a book as “Inspirational”, it should be inspired. Just because you call it a Christian book, doesn’t mean that I can’t give it two stars. As far as I know, you didn’t claim that God wrote your book, and I am not under any obligation to grade it as if He did.
Unfortunately, many cynical editors and tastemakers within the publishing establishment remain in the “Hey, Romance sells, so we should add transparent, allegorical references to the Bible, and call it ‘Christian Romance’.” mindset.
Products of that thought process are often labeled by more discerning readers as ” Jesus Junk”, due to their lack of literary–or any other sort of–value.
Books I review will not receive a preferential treatment based on their genre.
How I discovered the book:
I found “Demon” while searching for another series which an independent publisher has yet to make available on the Kindle platform. It was suggested in the comments as a better choice. So, I downloaded the sample, and took a dive. Twenty minutes later, the book was purchased with little reservation other than the price.
Why must publishers insist on $10 for a digital copy?
The Hook.
From the publisher:
Recently divorced and mired in a meaningless existence, Clay drifts from his drab apartment to his equally lusterless job as an editor for a small Boston press—until the night Lucian finds him and everything changes with the simple words, “I’m going to tell you my story, and you’re going to write it down and publish it.”
What begins as a mystery soon spirals into chaotic obsession as Clay struggles to piece together Lucian’s dark tale of love, ambition, and grace—only to discover that the demon’s story has become his own.
And then only one thing matters: learning how the story ends.
My Review:
Religious fiction has a long history of showing us the mentality and motivations of the opposing team: Dante showed us Hell, von Goethe revealed the folly of a deal with the devil in “Faust”, and Lewis gave us the private correspondence of a demon schoolmaster and his pupil in “The Screwtape Letters.”
Tosca Lee has a slightly different take on the business of dealing with devils, preferring to deal with them in terms of their status as fallen angels. Her protagonist is a fellow by the name of Clay, who also happens to be an editor at a small publisher.
Clay is simply going through the motions of his post-divorce life, when confronted in a diner by a complete stranger. In the course of the conversation, the stranger lets him know that he is ancient. In fact, he is a fallen angel by the name of Lucian, with a bit of business on his mind. He wants Clay to take dictation, and publish his memoirs.
Unlike Faust, Clay doesn’t receive an option of whether or not to sign on the dotted line: He must publish the memoir. He has no say in the matter.
Lucian makes future appointments by magically inserting appointments in Clay’s Outlook calendar. However, Lucian never appears in the same form. One time, he may be a young Asian woman. The next time, he could appear as an elderly white male.
The frequent costume changes provide a great deal of dramatic tension, and serves Lee’s case: Evil transcends gender, age and race. Clay begins to both dread these meetings, and look forward to them with a sort of morbid curiosity.
The tension is only relieved when Lucian takes the time to relay his stories, along with his own personal theology.
The accounts of life before the fall, Lucifer’s rise to power, and the subsequent destruction and recreation of Earth are told in beautiful language. The tone is one of wistfulness and regret that only those who have known true loss can convey with any authenticity.
Lucian has an agenda, of that, Clay is sure. The quest to find out could drive him into madness. The twisted angel constantly keeps Clay guessing and confused. This, combined with the angel’s unlikely appearance creates a sense of paranoia and frustration that is palpable.
Many authors have a difficult time balancing tension and rest. Ms. Lee is thankfully not a member of that set. The pacing of this book is magnificent. There is ample time for contemplation, should you wish to linger. As thought-provoking as the dialogue is, the need to discover a motive behind Lucian’s machinations will force you to turn the page.
[xrr rating=5/5]
As I said earlier, I am a jaded critic of this genre. That being said, I found this book an incredible work of fiction, irrespective of genre. I would have no problem recommending the book to anyone on its merits as a novel.
Those who look to at as a thriller/suspense story will be more than satisfied. Readers whose bent runs toward the paranormal will not be disappointed. Christian readers will find that the book is well researched theologically, even though the nature of the book forces Ms. Lee to take some poetic license with the source text.
Taking these factors into account, I award “Demon: A Memoir” my highest rating of 5 stars.
Parting Thoughts:
It took Tosca Lee seven long years to sell this manuscript. Seven years to convince a publisher that the book was worth taking a chance on. She’s a classically trained pianist, former Miss Nebraska, and model who received an Oxford education. With credentials like that, you would assume that several publishers would fight over the manuscript.
This story is why I am sold on the independent model. What if she had been able to publish digitally, without jumping through all the hoops. What if she spent those seven years building an audience? How many more books might she have written?
Of course, that is all conjecture. You just have to wonder…
Related Books you may find Intriguing:
Forbidden: Book 1 of “The Books of Mortals” series, by Tosca Lee and Ted Dekker (385 pp.)
The Circle Trilogy, by Ted Dekker (1000+ pp.)
The Visitation, by Frank Peretti (532 pp.)
Demon: A Memoir, by Tosca Lee
Length: ~350 pp.
Available at Amazon
