Book Title: Gordon's Way: Entertaining Strangers

Author: Stephen J. Granger

Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781448644964

Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers. ~ Victor Hugo

Gordon Boswood, a methodical man, that hold tight to his strictly regimented plans; almost like a kind of mantra he lives by. If it didn't fit in this plan, it did not belong in his life. Not included in his plans of all plans is the time for church masses or anything to do with religion for that matter. That, of course, changes when a mysterious ring appears on the beach near his and his wife's newly purchased house. Even has Gordon places it on his finger he becomes a altered man with no hope of ever going back to the way things were before. He begins a journey to find the true purpose of the ring and on his trip, several strangers help him on the way.

Although this book does contain religious overtones, it is by no meanings a religiously themed book. It is another classic story of good versus evil, where the good doesn't know he is good until he believes it himself. And evil is down right evil and wants to be all powerful. The beginning is slow at first, but if the reader continues to read they will be rewarded with an exciting fast paced battles. A great main character with a likable personality and an humbling attitude. Other supporting character are most intriguing and somewhat unbelievable, in a good way. Would be entertaining to all age groups and religious back grounds. It is just book one in the series too. I bet is just keeps getting better.

Azure Dying

Author: C. W. Gordon
Publisher: Strategic Book Group
ISBN: 9781609766931

As far as thinking about death and murder and various ways of killing people and how people die... I probably have the most twisted mind in Slayer. ~Tom Araya

Amy, a junior in High School in Austin, Texas, is rushing home from school to hopefully get a call from her boyfriend before her mom answers the phone. Being grounded prevents her from having her cell phone, which make talking to him so much easier, but rules are rules. As she reached he street, she notices a big black H2 Hummer parked by the curb. Amy decides to take a closer look since it not a vehicle seen on her street often. As she gets to the back hatch of the truck, she sees a small note which reads "think of you mother" and then all goes black for Amy.

Glen Young, a journalist for an Austin paper, receives a envelope with no return address. Fan mail? Hate mail? Nothing new to a writer with a reputation of getting under people's skin to get a story. Little does he know that what the envelop contains will begin the worst of all nightmares.

As I was reading this book I could literally feel my skin crawl, however it was not possible to stop reading it. It was like taking a tour through a haunted house, you know its going to be scarey, but you can't help but to go through it. This book is scarey good. The villain is as twisted and perverse as one can be. The reader gets a horrific view of the inside of a killer's and how he ticks. With all the facets of the worst childhood one person can have, the murder is a product of such events.

Also the reader is give a glimpse into the police and the detectives as they work to solve this mystery so they can get this psychopath as soon as they can. One particular ex-cop joins in the chase, someone who is down on his luck, but chooses to do the right thing. I found myself cheering these brave souls throughout the book, hoping that they would be able to reach the madman before it was too late.

The End is Near

Author: Harry Ramble

Publisher: Ebb Press, LLC

ISBN: 9780981650227

Hope is a necessity for normal life and the major weapon against the suicide impulse. ~ Karl A. Menninger

Nathan Huffnagle, a man in his forties, is just a plain unhappy person. He has never married, has no kids, and has the most boring of jobs. Nathan becomes sick and tired of this so-called life he has made for himself. After his mother dies he returns home to take care of business. Not just the depressing business of settling his mom's affairs, but finishing his, literally. Nathan has decided to end it all, because of the crappy hand life has dealt him, but after a time in the neighborhood tavern, he decides to take someone with him on his little death trip. Really what is driving his man to go to such a final solution to his problems? Could something in his past that seems to haunt him all his life be the reason? Is it really found in the journal he wants to leave behind for all to read?

Instead of this book being a “who done it” I would call it a “how come” novel. How come this man has made the decisions he has made?

Written in the first person this book, I found, to be full of emotion and feeling. This is especially felt in describing the shocking and sickening details of the many events of bullying that the main character had to endure. The author uses directness and boldness to get across the seriousness of how being belittled through someones life can affect a person, as they become damaged adults. The bullied sometimes become at odds with the ghosts of their past, as Nathan did in this story. Mr. Ramble is ingenious in allowing the reader get inside Nathan's head—to feel his pain and sadness; he took a complex situation and made it simpler to understand by expounding the details. I can not say enough on how truly great and eye opening this book was for me—highly recommended!

Element Keepers--Whispers of the Wind

Author: E. P. Marcellin

Publisher: Tate Publishing

ISBN: 9781616636586

A wisp of gossamer, about the size and substance of a spider's web.
~Monica Baldwin

In D'Shee, a fishing town in a world like our own, Rhet and Peteal make their living by cleaning the catches of the day on the docks. Everyday the same as the last, but it suits them both fine. As a strange ship sails into the dock, baring a flag with a web of a spider and, carrying mysterious women of remarkable beauty, the world as Rhet and Peteal know it changes forever. The women are searching for the prophesied man told about in their holy book and hope to find him in D'Shee. Much to Rhet's dismay, he maybe the man that they are looking for.

The author takes the reader to a world of magic and wonder. Each region visited has their own individual look and style. Truly, there is a web being spun as this tale is told. The reader becomes entrapped in wanting to follow the characters as they travel and try to find where their fate may take them. Places and locals are beautifully described in just enough detail to give a great view of things, without being overly wordily. The way the book ended had me wanting more to read; I was shocked that it stopped how it did, actually made my jaw drop! What a way to have the reader look forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommend it to everyone, young and old.

Shadow of a Distant Morning

Author: William Topek

Kindle Edition

ASIN: B004CFB7NS

Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.~John Buchan

Set in 1934, during the midst of a Ten Year Plan of Economic Depression, this book takes the reader on a journey back in time. A time where detective work was done with a dial telephone and people you know that were in the know. Devlin Caine is this type of detective. He has survived so far by doing the best job he can for his clients. All is pretty normal until Mr. Caine is visited by Thomas Lundquist, a secretary for Ronald Graham who is the wealthiest industrialist in the city. Devin is offered a job to look in the business dealings of a possible business partner that Mr. Graham is considering. He takes the job not knowing that the regular investigator of Mr. Graham is on a permanent vacation, sort of speak.

The plot of this read will keep all readers in suspect till the very end. It is written in an old fashion style that is appropriate for the year is it taking place in. Devlin Caine is humorous, witty and likeable, which gives the character substance and believability. It has an unexpected story line that keeps the reader on their toes as the plot thickens. Recommended for the avid old time detective murder mystery readers and others who are just looking for an author with talent and a good idea for a new book series.

Against Her Fading Hour

Author: Isaac Sweeney

Kindle Edition

ASIN: B004IPPKZS

Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

Learning is any change in a system that produces a more or less permanent change in its capacity for adapting to its environment.
~ Herbert Simon

Inside this book are three short stories about three different woman who are experiencing a possible life changing moment. One woman has to learn to find her place in the world after the death of her husband instead of her trying to find it in other men. Another has to live with a husband who thinks he can fix things just by saying that everything will be okay and giving her a big hug. Still another woman must learn to understand her husband's obsession in building a shed after the death of his father.

Even though it is written by a gentleman, the voice of the book seems to has a feminine vibe to it. Given its sensitivity to the emotions and feels, women readers will be able relate to the characters and their situations. I think is would be a great book club read with its possible discussions of each person interpretation of the stories.

13 Horror Stories

Author: John McDonnell

Kindle Edition

ASIN: b004JF4MDI

Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review

Horror is beyond the reach of psychology.~ Theodor Adorno

The stories in this fun read are short but are not, of course, sweet for they are horror stories after all. Although most of the tales are not what you would call overly “horrorly” horror stories, they do have a scarey element to them. Each having a different story line with a surprise at the end. Some leave the reader wondering what the “monster” looks like, where some others show the monster as an human.

The book reminded me of episodes that could be shown on either The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits. Both being great entertaining television and which were not over the top with the blood and gore aspects of some horror. These tales could easily be told around the camp fire or during a power outage to pass the time. Great book to have on hand for Halloween parties as well.

I would recommend book to all the enjoy a little scariest in there reading. Also would be an interesting book to discuss during a book club perhaps near the Halloween season.