Rock Hopper

by

Kenneth Ocklund

An exciting space thriller featuring space pirates and a daring operation to transport an asteroid to Earth’s orbit.

Rock Hopper is a new and exciting space thriller from author Kenneth Ocklund featuring pirates and a daring and desperate operation to capture a resource-rich asteroid and transport it to a U.S. Navy spaceport orbiting Earth to mine it for its valuable metals. When access to a super-advanced spacecraft practically falls in his lap, the aimless son of a war hero killed in action after the Satellite Wars between the U.S. and Russia hatches a plan to provide such an asteroid to the Navy for a multi-trillion-dollar payday. However, his recent friendship with Becka, the captain of a space privateering operation, puts a target on his back by her traitorous former second-in-command, Blitz. 

Toru is the son of a renowned war hero (and secret developer of an advanced triple-threat space fighter - atmosphere, near, and deep space – for the Russians), Tomas Tanner. Access to the Manta Ray’s capabilities was limited to its creator and pilot by a DNA match, so the fighter has been hangared and basically forgotten in a remote Earthside spaceport in Sweden’s far Lapland region: an unusable doorstop. However, with one touch from Toru, the ship responds. Toru, raised by his uncle, had made his quiet, lackluster way through life as a cheap guide into Lapland for budget-minded foreign tourists, drifting and aimless since his father’s death when he was still a teenager. The connection to the Manta Ray is also a connection with the father he still grieves, and the opportunity to make something of this life using the spaceship to accomplish something no one else has been able to do galvanizes him. I enjoyed that despite this teenage trauma, for most of the book, Toru is upbeat, rarely succumbing to despair even when things look hopeless and the situation gets dire. 

Heading up intersecting storylines are Becka, the captain of the Ching Shih and her pirate crew, and Vanja, Turo’s childhood friend, now the commander of the American-leased naval spaceport in Sweden. When Blitz, Becka’s second-in-command, leaves her for dead during an incursion, she and her remaining loyal crew members shift sides to become privateers with letters of marque, looking for revenge against the traitorous Blitz. Vanja enables her old friend and former sweetheart in his venture by granting him access to the Manta Ray and setting him up with the commander of the orbiting spaceport where he first encounters Becka. Toru is an engaging innocent in many ways, and while Becka is wily and experienced, she’s still someone you hope will come out on top. There is an immediate attraction between the two that is fun; however, Vanja is still carrying a torch for her former sweetheart. 

The story progresses swiftly, with the multiple storylines impacting each other in surprising and dangerous ways. Toru’s asteroid mission is fraught with peril, and he endures many tense situations. His partnership with the ship’s AI “Ray” to creatively solve problems was compelling reading, and the assistance of the mining robot, Baxter, another figure from Toru’s childhood, proves fortuitous yet bittersweet. Although the story comes to a close, there are still some loose ends left hanging, such as the romantic triangle and the whereabouts of Captain Becka’s nemesis, Blitz. While there’s no mention of a sequel, I certainly hope for more adventures featuring these characters. 

I recommend ROCK HOPPER to readers of science fiction and space adventures. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

The Measure of Life

by

Judith Works

A riveting tale of a marriage, a life, and the complexities of both.

The Measure of Life by Judith Works was an emotional and compelling story of one woman's life, marriage, complex family relationships, and living as an expat in Rome before returning to the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Nicole Carlisle is relatable; she makes mistakes, has unfulfilled dreams, disappointments, and is completely human in her hopes and desires. Her story is mesmerizing and one I won't soon forget. 

Nicole married Martin Carlisle, a handsome widower 18 years her senior, just after completing her first year in college, abandoning her still unformed plans and undecided future. She fell in love, perhaps, with the idea of love and a ready-made life as a wife and mother. He may have been looking for a housekeeper/babysitter and someone young and inexperienced enough to blithely accept his complete control and guidance. A baby soon followed, and there was an opportunity for him to advance in his career with a defense contractor by being promoted to a job in their Rome office. Ignored and left to her own devices, caring for the home and children, Nicole falls into an affair and has a child with her Italian language tutor. She and Martin stay together, her for the children and support, and he for the convenience and the status quo until those children grow up and leave home, and she decides it's time for her to build a new life of her own.

 The author's writing is wonderful, and the story is compelling to read. I was quickly and completely wrapped up in Nicole's life. There is romance, heartbreak, mystery, and the complicated emotions that come when life encounters tough situations and hard choices. She is very relatable as she deals with real-life issues such as her loveless marriage, aging parents, and complex relationships with her now-adult children. I did not want to put the book down! 

I recommend THE MEASURE OF LIFE to readers of women's fiction and family dramas. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

The Whisper Legacy

Pappa Legacy, #1

by

Tj O’Connor

Political intrigue, plot twists galore, and a PI who could certainly use a break.

The Whisper Legacy is the first book in author Tj O’Connor’s new political thriller Pappa Legacy series and features the aging but still canny and cunning private investigator and security consultant Marlowe S. Curran. With its non-stop action and intricate plot full of surprising twists and turns, I was compelled to keep reading page after page without stopping to find out what would happen next! No regrets! 

While resolving a computer hacking case using less than legal methods for his most lucrative client, Marlowe Curran’s landlady’s philandering husband and his current paramour are murdered during a tryst on the estate. Without a less criminal alibi to offer, Lowe becomes a suspect in their murders and must undertake clearing his own name. However, someone seems to be working against him every step of the way. 

Marlowe Curran, Lowe to his friends, is a complex character with a tough backstory, a humorous inner voice, and a soft spot for dogs. A smart, deadly operator, Lowe is best by a seemingly never-ending run of bad luck as he tries to fulfill his responsibilities to his confidential and well-heeled clients, including his landlady, Janey-Lynn Cantrell, whose cheating husband and his latest clandestine amour have just been found murdered in their love nest. 

Multiple storylines unfold through Lowe’s viewpoint and that of a political mover and shaker as the President of the United States narrows down his search for a replacement VP. While they appear unrelated, as the story fights its way to its exciting conclusion, the disparate storylines cleverly converge into one riveting whole. 

I recommend THE WHISPER LEGACY to readers of political thrillers and mysteries featuring private eyes. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold

Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mystery, #1

by

Denise Jaden

Fun, fish-out-of-water murder mystery.

Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold is the first book in author Denise Jaden’s cozy Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries. It features a new crewmate and junior photographer, Olivia Ocean, as she embarks on her first contract cruise aboard the Moonlight Majesty. An engaging protagonist, a toxic job environment, and an intriguing plot combine to make this a great debut for this new series. 

Olivia has been caring for her grandparents since she was young, from before her grandfather passed to the recent death of her beloved grandmother. Since her grandmother had spoken so fondly of her time working on cruise ships when she was young, when Olivia spies a job opening for a photographer on the Moonlight Majesty, she jumps at the opportunity to apply. Her first day on the ship is chaotic; it’s embarkation day for a 7-day cruise, and everyone is so busy with their tasks to get underway that no instruction or onboarding is given to Olivia, except for the safety briefing. She’s literally handed a camera and sent to find her own way to take pictures of passengers as they board without any guidance. She does her best but is a complete fish out of water. A late-night errand to a cargo hold for photo paper, though, nets her a tiny stowaway kitten, which leads to her discovery of a dead man. As the one to find the murder victim, the hunky head of security, Miles Blackwell, initially treats Olivia with suspicion, so she feels it’s in her best interests to stay as close as possible to the ensuing investigation and the handsome investigator. 

While cruise ship jobs sound glamorous, the reality is anything but, and Olivia finds herself working impossibly long hours without a break with some fairly toxic coworkers. Thankfully, her new roommate, Becky, turns out to be welcoming and friendly and helps Olivia to find her sea legs. In the days that follow, Olivia and Miles work together, comparing notes, sharing information about the investigation, and coming to rely on one another. I enjoyed their slow-burn attraction to one another, but because I’m suspicious of everyone in the story except Olivia, I continually hoped that Miles was on the up and up. 

The plot moves quickly, with the murder occurring on the first evening of the cruise. As Olivia works to settle into her job, she tries to impress her obnoxious supervisor with her skills and willingness to do whatever tasks he needs doing without complaint while secretly collecting clues from the dead man’s coworkers. I enjoyed the presence of the little kitten, Pickle, and his extraordinary ability to point our sleuths in the right direction when needed. The scenes set throughout the different areas of the ship were interesting and fun, and I could relate to Olivia’s confusion over the layout; these ships are huge. While I had an inkling of the who-dun-it, it wasn’t until the resolution that I found out the surprising why. I look forward to more adventures for Olivia and, hopefully, Miles aboard the Moonlight Majesty.

 I recommend MURDER IN THE HIDDEN CARGO HOLD to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy cruise life.

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Murder at Meadows Lake Clubhouse

Soup the Supernatural Kitten Mysteries, #1

by

Debbie De Louise

A fun start to this new cozy mystery series with an unusual premise and engaging main characters.

Murder at Meadows Lake Clubhouse is the first book in the new paranormal cozy Soup the Supernatural Kitten Mysteries by veteran (and one of my all-time favorites) author Debbie De Louise. The plot features a recent widow who relocates to an over-55 community in South Carolina and the unusually gifted kitten she discovers in her brand-new home. Convinced to sell the home she shared for more than 30 years with her husband Harvey, Rose Fairchild decides to make a fresh start in a new setting and moves to Meadows Lake, South Carolina. But on her first full day in her new home, she is greeted by the news that there has been a murder in the community’s clubhouse: the victim being the head cook at the restaurant there. She is equally surprised when her new acquaintance, the local sheriff, asks her to accompany him on his rounds to question potential suspects. However, neither of those surprises tops the moment when she discovers her new kitten, Soup, has supernatural abilities and is able to talk! 

Rose Fairchild is a sweet woman in her sixties, and while still deeply grieving her recently departed spouse, she is otherwise quite unflappable in the face of numerous shocking revelations. She is a kind and thoughtful person and quickly attracts the attention of two of Meadows Lake’s most eligible bachelors, real estate agent Grant Davis and Sheriff Blake Conor. Both are gentlemanly but have pleasant plans to spend time getting to know Rose. It’s going to be a tough choice for her in the future. 

I liked the paranormal aspects of the story, as well as Soup’s fun personality, focus on meals, her ability to talk to Rose as well as animals, and her telepathic ability. Not only do they find comfort with one another, but they also make a pretty good team when it comes to getting answers. 

The plot hits the ground running, with the murder occurring early in the story. Because the victim was universally disliked, there are several good suspects to cross off the investigative list. I enjoyed the story but thought the premise of the sheriff inviting Rose and Grant into the crime scene to view the body of the victim and for her to join the investigation shockingly implausible. But with one of the main characters being a resurrected, talking cat, how can one even start to draw a line for what’s plausible or not? Readers should be prepared to suspend their belief in reality, trust the process, and have fun. 

I recommend MURDER AT MEADOWS LAKE CLUBHOUSE to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy more mature main characters, amateur sleuths, and cat-centered stories.

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