For Nothing

For Nothing (An Upstate New York Mafia Tale #1)
Author: Nicholas Denmon
Kindle edition; 272 pages
Published May 2011

Undercover cop Alex Vaughn goes deeper than ever into the organized crime family of Buffalo, NY. Motivated by justice and revenge, he seeks out the assassin that laid his friend Jack low. Professional killer Rafael Rontego traverses the deadly politics of Buffalo’s mafia underbelly. In a city whose winter can be just as deadly as those wielding power, Rontego tries to stay ahead of the game. Their two worlds collide in this epic thriller that takes the reader on a search for self, justice, and truth.

I have read a lot of crime stories and undercover tales, but I think it's safe to say that this is my first Mafia Crime Thriller book. A long time ago, I would have steered clear of this type of book, although I did watch a couple of The Sopranos episodes before. Upon reading, however, my perception of mafia related genre has changed. I am now actually a fan of this Mafia tale!

The story kicked off with Jack Benton getting shot at by a hired assassin. His friend, Alex Vaughn saw his sprawled body a minute too late. He vowed that he would avenge his friend's death and soon he went on an undercover mission. But he didn't know that he would be facing up and dealing with two of the most ruthless organized family crime syndicates in upstate New York.

I have never read a crime novel beautifully written with its gory details and gritty characters, with every scene craftily described and depicted. The characters, Alex Vaughn and Rafael Rontego were equally interesting and dynamic in their own rights. I actually found myself liking the villain, Rafael and even wanted him to be spared from the crime. I don't know, but there's something about him that made me root for him,  the kind of character that you like to win after all those emotional baggage. In the end, though, I still gave props to Alex Vaughn for having a believable personality.

The twist at the end of the story was something I wasn't expecting at all. The twist blew me away! Truth is, I have been captivated by Nicholas Denmon's writing prowess. He knows how to tickle his readers' imagination from the first chapter up to the last. He kept me reading until the end. Now, he makes me want to read the sequel. Of course, I will read the next book on the series. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie would have been so proud had they had the chance to read this stellar masterpiece.

This one is a well written, well done crime thriller. There were some creepy scenes that made my eyes go wide with anticipation. Every scene was nerve wracking.. Overall, let me just reiterate that I really liked this book and will continue to follow the series.
The author Nicholas Denmon and the main character Alex Vaughn deserve my 5 star rating!

One of my favorite lines from the book:
That was all life really was, anyway. A series of moments that drifted on too fast; so fast that one could scarce enjoy them before they searched for the next.

More info about the author:

Nicholas Denmon studied English at the University of Florida. He started story telling from the moment he could talk and has spent a lifetime perfecting the art.

His life has been varied, giving him no shortage of material. Some of his unique experiences include growing up with an eccentric mother, having six brothers and sisters (of which he is the middle-younger child), a perfectionist father, an evil step-mother, a college life to rival Tucker Max, and working for politicians on the Presidential as well as local stage. He has been, at times, a devout Catholic, a closet atheist, and an honorary member of the Jewish tribe.


Nick's joy of art knows little in the way of limitations, as he loves unique paintings, music, acting, film, and of course writing.

Check him out on Amazon and Goodreads.

The Maze - The Lost Labyrinth

Title: The Maze - The Lost Labyrinth
A Christian Fantasy Novel (Angels & Demons & Lost Souls)
Author: Jason Brannon
Kindle Edition; 186 pages
Published June 3rd 2013

A near death experience transports Jamie Burroughs into The Maze, a realm every bit as peculiar as Lewis Caroll's Wonderland, yet engineered with the moral intent of C.S. Lewis' Narnia. Built by angels and demons and filled with traps and riddles, The Maze gives whoever enters a face-to-face encounter with their sins.
For Jamie, The Maze becomes a terrifying journey through a world of darkness where his soul and the lives of those he loves hangs in the balance. With his family in danger and his soul in peril, Jamie is forced to reevaluate the kind of man he truly is as he struggles to escape The Maze before it’s too late.

This book had been touted as a counterpart for CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia as well as Pan's Labyrinth. I digress. The Maze ( A Christian Fantasy Novel) is way better than the above mentioned books.

Jamie Burroughs was living a life full of secrets, white lies and deceptions. He was happily married with Amy and had a son named Peter and lived contentedly. Or so her wife thought. It was not long before Jamie admitted to himself that he had been keeping a lot of things from his wife like his smoking & drinking vices, accessing illicit websites or going to the casino. Soon another temptation came into his life, in the form of an ex-girlfriend named Karen.

Something happened that led Jamie to a close encounter with death. Soon he found himself facing a Minotaur in a labyrinth, The Maze, a Christian themed domain constructed by angels and demons, loaded with questions and traps that only Jamie would be able to answer and escape from.

This book literally sent chills to my spine, while I read Jamie's struggles and missteps and determination on how to get out of the labyrinth. The author, Jason Brannon is a very effective writer, his words and the allegory behind the story makes me take a hard approach at my own life. He makes me wonder and question the things I have done. That is how he had delved into my heart and soul. There was not a single chapter that I did not cry and pondered on the deepest, darkest places of my own existence. The other characters, Asterion, The Piper, Barrabas, Darrel Gene - these are just a few of the people that I may encounter in my/our daily lives, wearing different masks, testing our faith, loyalty and trust.

I have learned a lot from this book. I am actually a Christian but not a devout one. The notes I wrote while reading the Maze were intended to be the steps and guide I have to apply in my everyday life. Believe me when I say that this book will change your perception in life. I did.

About the author:

Jason Brannon is the author of numerous horror and dark fantasy novels and short stories. His current titles include The Maze, The Misunderstood and Other Misfit Horrors, The Cage, and The Order of the Bull.

He currently lives in Amory, MS and maintains a website at www.jasonbrannon.us

Winter Solstice Winter by EJ Squires

Title: WINTER SOLSTICE WINTER
(A Viking Blood Saga - Book I)
Author: E. J. Squires
Kindle Edition; 464 pages
Published September 2013

In the land where ruthless Vikings and ominous shape-shifters roam free Eiess usurps the Northlandic Throne and suspends the seasons on Winter Solstice. Lucia, heir to the Northlandic Throne, is taken prisoner and wastes away in one of the castle’s towers.
Ailia, a peasant girl, goes missing, and wakes up in a glacier cave months later with no memory of how she ended up there. Soren, one of the Sentinors sent to defeat Eiess, has failed in saving Lucia and in defeating Eiess.
As Eiess continues to amass her forces, preparing for the battle to end all battles, Ailia, Lucia and Soren are about to discover that their lives are intertwined behind a veil of family lies. Determined to take back the throne, they begin to form an alliance, but their mission to overthrow Eiess is stalled when the family lies surface.
And when a forbidden love flourishes between two, jealousy, anger and duplicity arises, causing one of them to betray the others – a betrayal which puts their lives and the lives of humanity in grave danger.

Welcome to Midgard! Allfather Odin is pleased to meet you. Now, let Odin take you a thousand years before… during the times when the Vikings roamed the world and where wolves and shape-shifters wreck havoc in the Northlandic Kingdom!

The story begins with Ailia having a mare dream. In her sleep, an evil empress was chasing after her. Ailia had no idea what the empress wanted from her but she was terrified. When she awoke from her dream, she told her aunt about it and was concerned. Truth is, Ailia was mocked and condemned by her own friends when she told them about her mare dreams. Soon, she no longer felt welcomed in her beloved town because they thought she was cursed.

In the Northlandic Kingdom, Lucia, sole heir to the throne was grieving the death of her Queen Mother. In accordance to Midgard’s tradition, upon her Majesty’s death, two maidens were offered as sacrifices, to help the queen cross to the other realm. I actually found this scene quite intriguing, I don't know if this had been a Nordic tradition, but the mere thought of sacrificing oneself was beyond me.

Anyway, the kingdom was under siege by the evil Eiess, and Lucia was taken prisoner, thanks to a traitor aunt. It took her a long time before she was able to escape and learn about her twin sister. Ailia, on the other hand, woke up in a cave with no previous memory and soon she met Soren, who rescued her from shape-shifters. Soon thereafter, the three characters crossed paths and became entangled in a web of lies, deceptions, treason and secrets.

The main characters, Ailia, Lucia and Soren played vital roles in this magnificent tale. The scenes and the secondary characters were likewise rich. I can’t believe this was EJ Squires' maiden writing venture. I adored Squires' writing style; rich, dreamy and action-packed. She unmistakably researched the setting, and definite delineations of Viking life. While I was reading the book, I felt like I was also a part of the story, I even imagined myself as one of Lucia's handmaidens!

Overall, let me just say that I had a very delightful experience reading Winter Solstice Winter (Viking Blood Saga). The story was a little long but I was so immersed with the characters that I was surprised I have already reached the last page. I loved the idea behind this engrossing book set in Midgard, during the time of the Vikings of the Norse Mythology. I'd like to call Winter Solstice Winter as one of the best Viking saga ever written, a cross between Lord Of the Rings and Legend of the Seeker. This book had me running through a handful of emotions. I highly recommend this romantically historical tale to everyone who yearns to go back in time. An instant 5***** to author EJ Squires.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Evelyn J. Squires was born in the land of the Midnight Sun. When she  moved to the USA with her family in 1992, she completed High School and studied Comparative Literature at Brigham Young University. She married in 2003, and now resides in Florida with her husband and three children.

Get to know more about her book at: www.norsevikingsaga.com

Facebook author page:- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evelyn-Squires/433410863398865

Twitter:- https://twitter.com/EvelynSquires / @EvelynSquires

Cruxim: You Are Never Alone

Title: Cruxim: You Are Never Alone
Author: Karin Cox
Paperback, 226 pages
Published April 5th 2013

Amedeo is Cruxim, a mysterious, immortal fallen angel. Destined to seek redemption as a vampire hunter, he quenches his insatiable hunger on vampire blood. But when the object of his passion, the novice nun Joslyn, is turned into a vampire and enters a vampire coven, Amedeo's worlds collide. Shattered by the loss of his beloved, he vows to rid the world of vampires once and for all, even if it means destroying Josyln in the process. 

A Paranormal Game of Cat and Mouse
Joining Amedeo on his quest to rid the world of the undead is Sabine. Half-woman, half-lioness, she is a Sphinx, a Guardian who has protected humans from vampires since the dawn of time. Yet Sabine comes to this fight pursued by her own enemies. An evil scientist, Dr. Claus Gandler, knows the secret of Sabine's mythological past, vowing to torment her for eternity or destroy her forever. 

Immortal Ever After
Captured by the evil doctor, Amedeo and Sabine are paraded as sideshow freaks in the Circus of Curiosities. Only vampire Joslyn has the power to intercede. Will she prove Amedeo's redemption, or his destruction? 

Of all the Angel-themed books I have read this past week, I believe this is one of the best and most beautifully written stories ever made. I really enjoyed reading this book.

The characters were interesting, most especially the Sphinx, a half-human, half-lion creature. I've read about this ancient Egypt creatures during junior high school and I had actually adopted the name Sphinx as my call sign in our radio org. Totally cool.

5 stars for Cruxim and Karin Cox!


About the Author:

Karin Cox edits and writes in her "spare time" while being a fulltime mum to a toddler and to a black cat with the improbable name of "Ping Pong."

She is the author of more than 30 trade-published natural history books, biographies, Australian social history books, children's picture storybooks, and travel guides, several of which have won awards. Karin has had poems and short stories published in anthologies worldwide and her ebooks CRUXIM, GROWTH, CAGE LIFE, HEY LITTLE SISTER and PANCAKES ON SUNDAY are available on Amazon.

Thankfully, the busier she gets, the more creative she is (and the more likely to afford to hire a housekeeper). Karin and her partner live in sunny Queensland, Australia, where she writes from her back deck overlooking the pool, her study (overlooking her messy desk) or her couch (overlooking Dr Phil, who gives her a lot of inspiration). You can follow her on twitter @Authorandeditor or visit her fanpage on Facebook www.facebook.com/KarinCox.Author. Also, feel free to email her on cruxim@hotmail.com or check out her other website at: www.indiereviewtracker.com