Category: Book Reviews

Paris Jungle by Adria J. Cimino

Paris Jungle by Adria J. Ciminothree-half-stars
Paris Jungle: A Novel of Sexism in the Finance World by Adria J. Cimino
Series: From Paris to Provence #3
Genres: Fiction, Feminist Fiction
Published by Velvet Morning Press on 2018 May 30
Format: eBook
Pages: 256

Wanda Julienne is a successful investment broker at Whilt Investment Services. Everything is going smoothly until she takes time off for maternity leave. When she returns she learns how hostile to woman her work environment is. Suddenly she finds herself struggling to find balance between her career and her responsibilities to her baby while fending off the sexual harassment of her boss and the sexism at Whilt. Continue reading →

three-half-stars
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The Creepshow by Adria J. Cimino

three-half-stars
Paris Jungle by Adria J. Cimino
Series: From Paris to Provence #3
Published by Velvet Morning Press on 2016

Wanda Julienne is a successful investment broker at Whilt Investment Services. Everything is going smoothly until she takes time off for maternity leave. When she returns she learns how hostile to woman her work environment is. Suddenly she finds herself struggling to find balance between her career and her responsibilities to her baby while fending off the sexual harassment of her boss and the sexism at Whilt. Continue reading →

three-half-stars
Posted on by Iain Davis 0

Europa Journal by Jack Castle

Europa Journal by Jack Castlethree-stars
Europa Journal by Jack Castle
Genres: Science Fantasy Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
Published by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing on 2016 May 15
Format: eBook
Pages: 240

Europa Journal by Jack Castle is a science fantasy adventure story set in our future. The story centers around “Mac” O’Bryant and her crew as they struggle to survive on an alien world after crashing their intrastellar spacecraft. The first chapter is excellent and did well at hooking me into the story to find out more. How the characters got into this mess. How they’re going to get out of it. The first chapter makes a big promise of an action packed science fiction adventure. However that promise sets the reader up for a feeling of disappointment when the story goes outside their expectations. Continue reading →

three-stars
Posted on by Iain Davis 0

Jackdaws by Ken Follett

Jackdaws by Ken Follettfour-stars
Jackdaws by Ken Follett
Genres: Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction
Published by Dutton Adult on 2001 December 3
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 451

I only occasionally read historical fiction1. However, a new friend spoke well of Ken Follet so I grabbed a sampling of his books from our public library to try. I started with Jackdaws which is set in 1944, primarily in Nazi-occupied France. It turned out to be an excellent read, and the only thing preventing me from reading it in one sitting yesterday was that I had other things I had to get done2.

Continue reading →

four-stars
  1. If anything, I lean more toward “what if” historical fiction which goes hand in hand with time travel and alternate universe fiction. 🙂 ↩
  2. For example, making peanut butter cookies. I still haven’t made them yet… ↩
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Tritcheon Hash by Sue Lange

Tritcheon Hash by Sue Langethree-stars
Tritcheon Hash by Sue Lange
Genres: Comedic Science Fiction, Science Fiction
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on 2017 June 27
Format: eBook
Pages: 340

Tritcheon Hash isn’t actually my kind of book. I’m certain this is a case where what I think is cool and what the author, Sue Lange, thinks is cool, doesn’t match up. We have different tastes in humor or I don’t actually know the right cultural references to get some of the humor. There is a well-executed and subtle pun I particularly enjoyed. Be careful–it is liable to sneak past you!
Continue reading →

three-stars
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The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov

four-stars
Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov
Translated by: John French
Genres: Science Fiction, Space Race Fiction
Published by Indiana University Press on 1983 October 1
Format: Hardcover

I like sampling fiction, particularly science fiction or fantasy, from other cultures than my own. However, I rarely have any idea how to identify or select works that would interest me. So when a Hungarian acquaintance recommended the Russian author, Chingiz Aitmatov, and his book The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years, I wasted no time tracking down a copy I could read. My thanks to the Inter-Library Loan system and Pickler Memorial Library for loan of the book. An enjoyable read but not at all what I expected. Continue reading →

four-stars
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Questionable Content, Volume 1 by Jeph Jacques

Questionable Content, Volume 1 by Jeph Jacquesfive-stars
Questionable Content, Vol. 1 by Jeph Jacques
Series: Questionable Content #1
Genres: Comedic Science Fiction, Science Fiction
Published by TopatoCo on 2010 November
Pages: 160

There are many webcomics available on the web and while I’ve tried many of them, there are only four that I’ve liked, and only two of those that I read regularly. Questionable Content (QC) is one of those two. I love reading this comic. I love enough that I was eager to purchase both of the printed collections. Continue reading →

five-stars
Posted on by Iain Davis 0

Questionable Content, Volume 1

There are many webcomics available on the web and while I’ve tried many of them, there are only four that I’ve liked, and only two of those that I read regularly. Questionable Content (QC) is one of those two. I love reading this comic. I love enough that I was eager to purchase both of the printed collections. Continue reading →

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The Demon’s Apprentice by Ben Reeder

four-stars
The Demon's Apprentice by Ben Reeder
Series: Demon's Apprentice #1
Genres: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on 2014 December 29
Format: eBook
Pages: 290

Many teenagers’ worries involve grades, sweethearts, and their successes or failures in extra-curricular activities. Not so for Chance Fortunato, unless peddling under-the-table black magick counts as an extra-curricular activity. “Apprenticed” (sold to) to a demon at a young age, he’s more worried about incurring his master’s wrath and the state of his soul than whether he’ll “make the team”. Continue reading →

four-stars
Posted on by Iain Davis 0

West of Eden by Harry Harrison

West of Eden by Harry HarrisonWest of Eden by Harry Harrison
Series: Eden Trilogy #1
Genres: Science Fiction, Alternate History Fiction
Published by Bantam on 1985 July 1
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
Pages: 508

Playing “what if” with the fate of the “dinosaurs” is certainly not new, Harry Harrison is in good company with the likes of Verne, Burroughs, Doyle, and many others. Each have done their own spin on “What if the fate of the dinosaurs was different?” Harry Harrison’s answer to the question, West of Eden, is excellent. Continue reading →

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