Book review - The Protectors by Ray Hodgson

Ray Hodgson has written The Protectors as if he is Jack Walker writing his memoirs. Jack's parents are registered blind, and Jack was born partially sighted. When he is six, he is enrolled at a school for the blind. Jack is 8 when he and his dad are crossing the road with his dad's elderly dog, who is long past retirement age. The dog makes a fatal error, and he and Jack's dad die when a driver can't stop. Jack witnesses the whole thing and has trouble with nightmares and OCD from then on.

Jack's life changes forever; when age 20, he falls over and hits his head; overnight, he goes blind. At this time, he meditates hard and realizes that he can see shapes as a red glow and move things through telekinesis. Having faced much bullying throughout his life, Jack decides his mission is to help vulnerable children by putting his new powers to good use. He gathers other blind and partially sighted friends, and they become The Protectors. What happens when Jack becomes a single parent to his partially sighted son Jacob? What happens when Jack joins friends at a local strip club and asks one of the strippers if she does a Braille version? Furthermore, why does Jack get covered in blood and brains when eating with a friend? Read The Protectors by Ray Hodgson to find out.

I liked that this book made me think. I take for granted that if I meet someone, I will see them. Jack doesn't have this ability; he recognizes people by the way they smell and the sound of them walking. I also appreciated the scene when Jack is helping a person with mental health problems and depression, and the psychiatrist says that he tries not to treat people with medicine. Instead, he tries to find them a purpose in life, giving them a reason to get up in the morning. It may be having a pet or a hobby. This resonated with me as I know many people who suffered from depression during COVID when they were put on furlough; they no longer had a purpose in life. I also enjoyed Jack choosing his guide dog and the training they go through to make the dog fit to guide but also to protect.

There were many things I disliked about this book. The details of Jack's life growing up partially sighted and then his life once he is blind were interesting, but once the protection group is set up, there are lots of incidents that could have been exciting, but they were bland. The incidents started and finished with no exciting meaty middle to draw me into the book. There are also many errors. Jennifer's brother Walter is married to Sally, but Hodgson calls her Sarah in one conversation. Jack is signed to a school for the blind, but he is bullied at school by children who are not blind. In chapter twelve, Jennifer's aunt comes to visit part way through. Hodgson refers to her as Jennifer's mother, but her mother died when her brother Walter was born! Chapter sixteen mentions that Jack's son's nanny is under surveillance, but this is never mentioned again, and Jack is happy for her to continue looking after his son! These are just a few of the errors I found.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about life for blind and partially sighted people. As a memoir, it is interesting, but I would not recommend that people looking for an exciting adventure read this book as it does not live up to this description. There are sexual references and some swearing, so I would suggest an adult audience reads it.

I give The Protectors 2 out of 5. This is Ray Hodgson's first novel, and I greatly admire the first half of the book, which gives an in-depth account of the life of blind and partially sighted people. This must have needed a great deal of research, and if Hodgson had described his book as a memoir about a blind person, I would have given a higher score. However, Ray Hodgson describes The Protectors as an urban paranormal adventure. I found very little adventure! Hodgson seems to think that having everyone wielding guns is enough to be exciting, but there needs to be a great story too. There are also many things that could be improved in the book, some of which I have mentioned. 

I want to thank Ray Hodgson for a copy of The Protectors in exchange for my honest and impartial review. You can see more of my here http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg

 

Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg begins by introducing us to Raoul Martez. Raoul has just retired from a career in the army, where he had become a shooting instructor. He is now looking for a job to support him while he returns to night school to get qualifications and better career prospects. Raoul becomes a garbage collector joining Trinity Waste Management, the biggest waste management company in the town. The work is backbreaking, and often the trucks go out with a two-person crew when they are supposed to be manned by three men.

Mr. Samuels, the vice president of operations, is always angry. He thinks nothing of yelling at his staff or beating them up. Then the CEO of Trinity is found murdered,  stuffed into a large garbage bin. Enter Hank Boucher, an ex-U.S. Navy Seal for fifteen years who decided to retire at thirty-six. Having had six months of intensive training, Hank is now a Central Intelligence Agency agent, and investigating the murder is his first assignment. Why has the FBI not been assigned to the case? How are Raoul Martinez and his driver Hubert Manton involved? Moreover, is Mr. Samuels the murderer? Read Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg to find out the answers to these questions.

The only thing I liked about Murder in the Garbage was the deference and respect with which Greenberg portrays the job of garbage collection. Greenberg makes some essential points about our throw-away society; he makes one of Raoul Martinez's hobbies, upcycling. He also includes a conversation with Martinez and his partner about the different types of rubbish thrown away in rich and poor areas. This made me reassess my efforts to recycle and reuse.

I am disappointed that there was little else to like about Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg. The book has yet to be edited or proofread; there are a lot of grammar and spelling errors. I was not impressed that the author changed his mind about the name of the waste disposal company partway through the book. For example, on page eight, "Hello, Triangle Waste Management, Linda Bailey speaking, may I help you?" but by page ten, it is being called Trinity Waste Management example "What you said is true. Might I ask why you picked Trinity to apply to?". Moreover, many long-winded conversations lead nowhere, and every new character, no matter how small their part, is described in great detail, including their height and weight. This makes the book boring!

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars as it needs proofreading and editing, there needs to be clarity over the company's name, and Greenberg uses unnecessary descriptions to make the story appear a lot more interesting than it is!

I would recommend this book to adults who like gentle murder mysteries which have mild swearing but no sex. There is some stereotyping of Mexican people. Moreover, no man can walk past a woman in this book without fancying her. So if you find these attributes offensive, then Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg is probably not for you.

Review of WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Michael L Junior

 

WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Mike L Junior is a science fiction story. It tells us about Drake Nathan's cybernetic chip, which alters a human's DNA, healing various ailments, including cancer and blindness. Over time babies are born with the altered DNA without the need for a chip. This is the start of the demise of Earth as we know it. Technology comes to be so developed and sophisticated that ordinary people need to learn how to use it. This is the Technology Era which soon dies, and then the Apocalypse Era begins, and civilization as we know it dies. Ordinary couples start giving birth to babies with strange skills. These newborns are known as Abnormals. The Abnormals are segregated and hunted like animals. Kaarina and Monty are two orphaned Abnormals making their way to Xenora to enroll in the Berserkers Guild. Here they hope to find understanding and a feeling of family. Kaarina and Monty are being hunted. Will they ever get to Xenora? What are Kaarina's and Monty's special powers? What is the Berserkers Guild?

Mike L Junior has used great descriptions to give the reader a feel of the different scenarios. Much thought and careful planning have gone into the storyline, and Junior skillfully builds the layers of each character until we know them like a friend. The chemistry and interaction between the different characters are captivating. 

Despite the good points, there were a lot more things that I did not like about WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings. Every chapter finishes with xyz in lowercase, but there needs to be an explanation as to why this is. For example page one hundred and fifteen, "The group happy to finally get a chance to eat decent food began to kick it into high gear, leaving the Snowy Mountains behind. xyz". The missions are named after the alphabet, for example, A-class, C-class, and S-Class. I got confused about what they all were and what their point was. I think there needs to be more information given so that readers can understand how they differ from one another. I was disappointed that despite all the thought which has gone into this book, there are areas where there has been no thought at all, which let the book down. One sentence is beautifully descriptive but is spoilt by adding the words "bag full of stuff" for example, on page seven, "The night sky filled with flakes of snow off the hills of a brown snow boot worn by a youthful Middle-Eastern scarlet-haired female running through a forest carrying a bag full of stuff." Furthermore, the lack of editing spoilt my enjoyment of the book, there are grammar and spelling errors on most pages, and this spoils the flow of the story! 

I would be delighted to recommend WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Mike L Junior once it has been revised, but in its current state, I would not be happy to recommend it. However, if you enjoy post-apocalyptic, science-fiction, action, and adventure stories and you are not a person who is irritated by grammar and spelling errors, then you would enjoy this book. There are a lot of strong swear words and some sexual passages that are very descriptive and leave nothing to the imagination, so I recommend that only open-minded adults read it. Also, if you are religious, you may not appreciate parts of the book which question whether there is a God. 

WatchDogs Abnormal Beginnings by Mike L Junior could have been an outstanding read. The idea and planning that have gone into it are fantastic, but the execution and lack of editing badly let the book down. Unfortunately, as the book is at the moment, I can only give 2 out of 5 stars. This book needs editing and proofreading by a professional to deserve more stars! 

Review of - Of Zots and Xoodles: Theodil Creates a Universe by Zarqnon the Embarrassed

 

Of Zots and Xoodles by Zarqnon the Embarrassed explores the idea that an architect designed the universe. If that is the case, where did the architect live? And does his design have an end date? Theodil is that architect, and we meet him in his world, where he presents his ideas for the universe to a committee. Theodil shows that decisions can be made by a roll of the dice. One roll shows spots, and the committee names them Zots. When Theodil distorts a Zot to look like a noodle, the committee says it is a Xoodle. Where Xoodles collide, light is formed. A child enters the room and begins to play with the Zots and Xoodles. As they continue to clash and divide, they become Super-Zots, Mega-Zots, etc. What happens if you decimate a Zot or a Xoodle? What happens when energy collides? Will the committee accept Theodil's plan?

The creator of Of Zots and Xoodles is JW McLaughlin. He chose Zarqnon the Embarrassed as his nom de plume because it made him laugh. McLaughlin discovered he was on the autistic spectrum in his forties, which explained his eccentricities. McLaughlin says he challenges the norm because he usually doesn't understand it. I liked the way Of Zots, and Xoodles challenges everything we have been taught about the creation of the universe.

The Illustrator of Of Zots and Xoodles, Frank Louis Allen, is also on the autistic spectrum and, amazingly, is legally blind! Allen's approach to art is to let his brain roam freely. His illustrations work well with McLaughlin's storytelling, being both beautiful and chaotic!

I loved the way the members of the committee were described. From experience, only a tiny percentage of any committee pays attention at a meeting. The rest will be planning what to have for dinner. The best route to drive home. And what they are going to wear to the next party. McLaughlin gets this across in a paragraph of madness giving life to those thoughts, for example, on page ten "Has anyone seen my loofah? These chairs stink! They're the wrong color, the wrong size, the wrong shape, and padded completely incorrectly ( note: most of them brought their own chair)"

I didn't always understand this book despite reading it three times. It is very scientific in places, almost describing atoms and charged particles. I don't know if there is any scientific value in the book or if it is just the workings of an eccentric brain. I liked that the committee in the book starts to become agitated and annoyed when they don't understand what Theodil is doing. Also, I didn't particularly appreciate that the page numbers on the contents page do not match the numbers at the bottom of the pages. There are a lot of grammatical errors, and I feel the editing should have been better.

This book is weird and whacky and would appeal to anyone who enjoys the bizarre. I think it would mainly be enjoyed by Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and Monty Python fans. I appreciate a lot of work has gone into the writing and presentation of this book. There are no swearing or sexual references, but I would still recommend that adults read it, and it would probably be more enjoyable to someone with a scientific background.

Because of the errors in grammar and spelling and because I found it very difficult to follow, I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Book Review - Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book One) by Janet McNulty

 

Solaris Seethes by Janet McNulty begins by introducing us to Rynah. Rynah works as a Security Officer at the Geothermic Center based in an underground laboratory on the planet Lanyr.  Once a year, all systems are shut down for fifteen minutes to be cleared of unnecessary data. Today just as everything is shut down, Rynah is appalled to see people from the Lunyra Movement break in, led by Klanor, her fiance! Klanor steals a crystal that controls Lanyr's magnetic fields. Without the crystal, the magnetism becomes misaligned. It causes, amongst other things, volcanoes to erupt, earthquakes, and disruptions to the weather. Rynah escapes through a secret tunnel to find that her planet is dying. All around her is carnage. She remembers a hangar where her grandfather had hidden an antiquated ship. This ship is the mysterious Solaris. It is over fifty years old but in fantastic condition. Escaping the destruction of Lanyr, Rynah must put her trust in Solaris while following an archaic story that has come down through the generations of her people. Together with four humans, each from a different time in Earth's history, Rynah tries to track down Klanor before he can find the other five crystals. Why are the crystals so important? How are humans able to help Rynah? Will the antiquated Solaris be up to the job? Furthermore, what was the argument that cut her off from her grandfather? 

I liked that hidden moral lessons show the reader how to become a better person and understand their friends, seeing them for who they really are, not just the side they show the world. It was clever to make Solaris intelligent and sassy. I read about the growing friendship between Solaris and Rynah with interest. I particularly enjoyed their arguments. I love all the colorful descriptions in Solaris Seethes. For example, on page eighteen, "Rynah sat up, allowing her emerald hair to flow over her lavender-colored (a very light shade at that) skin; specks of gold accentuated her waves of dark emerald tresses, forming highlights that even the dim lighting failed to hide." Janet McNulty's descriptions, especially of Rynah, are beautiful.

Solaris Seethes is science fiction. However, I would have found it more enjoyable and interesting if it had been believable. The story is based on another planet, meaning they have different words for things, yet when Rynah is in pain, she takes aspirin. As aspirin is a word used on Earth, I think it would be unlikely that another planet would also have aspirin in its vocabulary! Also, Rynah teleports four people from Earth who have no concept of her world even existing. Solon from 751 BC, Alfric from 1163, Brie from 2014, and Tom from 2099. They are supposedly intelligent, grounded people but ask a few questions after being teleported, then go with the flow. If I had been suddenly zapped up to another ( and very different) planet, I would want to know: Why have I been chosen? What can I expect? and when will I go home?

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars due to the dislikes mentioned. The idea for the storyline is brilliant. However, the author executes her ideas poorly, from the long-winded sentences, which make the book boring, to the unbelievable and two-dimensional characters. As this is the first in a four-part series, I hope the books get more interesting as the author progresses!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced science fiction, particularly younger adults or older teenagers; there is some swearing but nothing sexual.

Thank you to Janet McNulty for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

 

Book Review - Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes

 

Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes revolves around the fictional Welsh coalmining village of Cwm Derw in a peaceful valley in Wales. The village has been here for centuries, and life has changed very little. Sons leave school and follow their ancestors into the mines.

It is the summer of nineteen sixty-seven, and Iolo, the Colliery Overman, has had a hard day at the mine. There has been a vast flood of water which has stopped production! That evening, he arrives home to find the house cold, no housework done and no dinner. Iolo has suspicions that his wife Anwen is having an affair, and he is sure he knows who Anwen's lover is. He feels that the community knows and is laughing at him behind his back. Iolo can take it no more and starts to plan his wife's and her lover's death! Will he use his shooting gun and say it is an accident? Will he hide their bodies in a dark tunnel in the mine? They live in a small community; how can he kill them without causing suspicion?

Then came the wild cat strikes, and the miners stopped working to fight for better pay and conditions. The community now has more time to talk about the disappearance of Anwen and her lover. How will Iolo cope with Ethel, the nosey neighbour's suspicions and her amorous advances? Furthermore, will Iolo get caught?

I liked Gareth J Hughes's idea for this book, and the descriptions of the wild cat strikes and the mines and their workings are brilliant, but the main storyline revolving around Anwen and her love affair is hugely confusing.

There are lots of grammar mistakes; it is a great shame that the editing and proofreading of Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes have let the book down so badly! In addition, I did not appreciate that the author masks some swear words in the book. For example, location two seven two, "Maldwyn keep an eye on the blutty horizon you're up and down and causing problems, the face looks like something from a  blutty fairground ride?" he shouted. The word bloody has already been used in the book, and I cannot believe miners would be mindful of swearing! Furthermore, I found parts of the book challenging to follow, as, in every paragraph, the characters are in different locations.

I rate Wrath of Anwen by Gareth J Hughes 2 out of 5 stars. I have knocked stars off for the grammatical errors, the confusing storyline and the fact that the story did not work for me. As Hughes is an ex-miner and knows this world inside out, I believe he would be better off writing a factual book about mining which I would love to read!

I would recommend this book to adults who want to learn more about Wales and coal mining in the nineteen sixties and nineteen seventies.

 

Thank you to Gareth J Hughes for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Soldier Spy by Tom Marcus

 

Tom Marcus was in the army and then was recruited to the army special forces before joining The Secret Service. Soldier Spy by Tom  Marcus - Soldier Spy by Tom Marcus, known to his team as TC, is about Marcus' experiences as an operator with the Security Service. His joining was unusual for these days as he was recruited directly rather than going through the application and interview stages which are more normal now. However, his colleagues had come via this route, and TC always felt different to the rest of his team. He says he feels like an outsider, and his team is somewhat wary of him. You can see why when you read the book, as he is a bit of a live wire, being headstrong and not always listening to orders from above. On one training exercise, TC dislocated the shoulder of one of the trainers. On another occasion, while following a suspect, TC risked compromise by venturing into a target's place of work to access information on where the suspect was going next! You also feel the pressure TC is under, he has a wife and young son, and he has to try and be a family man whilst carrying the burden of a demanding and intense job with long and unsociable hours. The reader sees the effect on TC's mental and physical health.

The beginning of the book was exciting, but I think TC could probably abbreviate much of it and make it much more pleasurable to read. I liked that the editing and proofreading were perfect. I did not find a single error.

I read the second book by Tom Marcus: I spy, My Life in MI5 first, and I found that book flowed much better and was easier to follow. The sections in Soldier, Spy describing an operation with the whole team engaging in surveillance go on for too long and become dull. There is only so much: He turned right into Victoria Crescent. He went straight on into Smith Road. He stopped at the traffic lights. I could stand before wanting to scream! This was no longer an autobiography of Tom Marcus' life. It was now a story as he could not remember all these conversations. Many areas of the book are mostly repeating bits from previous chapters too!

I would rate this 2 out of 5 stars, my reasons being that there are big chunks of the book which are, in my opinion, unnecessary and boring, and Marcus repeats throughout the book. I could not finish the book as if I had read the sentence, " What I did was important, I saved lives, and I was good at it" one more time, the book would have gone through my window! This was a disappointing read, but I see TC has some fiction books published, which I will try.

I would recommend this to an adult audience because of the subjects covered and lots of swearing. It would appeal to people who particularly like autobiographies about the secret service and how the covert agents of MI5 do their jobs. I would not recommend this to anyone of a nervous disposition as you will find yourself suspicious of everyone and everything around you!

Book Review - Smart Love by Vincent Fudge II

Smart Love by Vincent Fudge II is a self-help relationship manual that uses the author's experience and volatile relationship problems to help others mend broken relationships. The author uses the alias Edward for this autobiographical book. Edward is married to Ebony, and the couple has two children, Elizabeth, born before the marriage, and Elijah, born after. We learn quickly that this is a toxic relationship, but Fudge bravely tells the story warts and all so that we can learn from his experiences. In the book's first chapter, we learn that many trigger points set the couple fighting. After a particularly explosive argument, Edward pushes Ebony's head into a wall, the police are called, and Edward spends a night in prison. He realizes that the relationship has hit a watershed. It is make or break time, and this realization is what sets in motion the writing of Smart Love. It seems to be the age-old problem of a couple having a sexual bond who otherwise do not seem to like one another but stay together because they have children. Their relationship is one of emotional, physical, and verbal abuse and can be started by both Ebony and Edward. The first thing the couple works through is their communication skills, and the author gives the reader lots of practical advice to change toxic relationship patterns. It takes Ebony and Edward a year of hard work to become more like the couple they want to be.

I liked that despite the subject matter being unpleasant, the book is written in a very down-to-earth way, and there are many lessons readers can learn from the practical steps laid out by Edward. I also liked all the analogies used, and they helped to clarify what Edward was teaching, e.g., page 190 - 'Think about people as flowers: there are many different types that have different fragrances, bloom at different times of the year, and require varying amounts of sunshine and water.'

I found this book immensely frustrating as Edward and Ebony claim to love one another, but their incompatibility is the root cause of their problems. The couple is trying to avoid upset to their children by divorcing. However, children pick up on the atmosphere and hear the fights, which begs the question, wouldn't the children be happier if their parents split up?

Smart Love has a plethora of grammatical and spelling errors and does not appear to have been edited or proofread at all, e.g., page 13 - 'How you work on fulfilling the vision is by defining what needs to be done to fulfill the vision.' This sentence does not flow very well, and the spelling should be fulfil. Because of all the errors and my frustration with the relationship, I am rating this book  3 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to adults or older teenagers who want to learn new ways to work through their relationship problems. There is no sex in this book, but there is some swearing; hence it would not be an appropriate book for younger people.

Thank you to Vincent Fudge II for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

You can read more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer

Island Games is the debut novel from 12-year-old Caleb J. Boyer. The story introduces the reader to Matthew and Ryan, best friends, who wake up to find themselves washed up onto the shore of an island with a massive volcano. Neither of the boys can remember how they got there. The last thing the boys remember is playing video games. They wonder whether they have been kidnapped or maybe are in a TV reality show. They are also distraught that their families will look for them and not know where to look. Realizing that they are entirely alone, they set about looking after themselves. Ahead of them, they fight for survival, overcoming the many twists and turns the island has to offer. Ryan and Matthew must be clever and resilient and work together to overcome the many challenges. This fantasy adventure will test their friendship and show them the important things in life.

Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer is a quick and easy read but has repetitive language in places and could do with more description and some more work on the dialogue as this is the weakest part of the book. In my opinion, this would make the story even more interesting to read. I was not too fond of the ending, which would have been perfect if there was a sequel, but as it is, this book's ending is unsatisfying and leaves the reader with too many questions unanswered. Some more resolution about why the boys were on the island would have given more substance to the story.

Although I am not the target audience, I appreciated the theme of this book which focuses on friendship and staying positive. I enjoyed getting the boy's two different points of view throughout, which added depth and insight to this book, and I got to know both characters and their different feelings well. I loved reading the story through their innocent eyes as they question their lives and choices. I also liked the idea of the boys solving puzzles to get resources and the lessons learned about the importance of teamwork.

I recommend Island Games to children between 10 and 13 who enjoy fun and entertaining books about challenges, mysteries, and fantasy adventure.

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. The editing was excellent, and the score is due to the naivety of the writing, the work needed on the dialogue, and the unsatisfactory ending.

Thank you to Caleb J. Boyer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Little Boy Lost by J P Carter

 I listened to this as an Audible book and have to say I didn't like the reader's voice, the characterisation, particularly of the main character, Anna, really grated. 

As for the book it started with a good story and had great potential, it was very well written but the story never really went anywhere. I guessed from quite near the beginning who the abductor of Jacob was although I couldn't work out why, so laboured on with the story until it was revealed at the end. I also found the riots and Chloe's experience became very boring and a lot of her story made little sense. Anna's daughter was abducted by her father when she was 2 and despite Anna being in the police, she doesn't get Chloe back again until she is 12. Interesting beginning with lots of potential! 

There are riots going on but Anna is called back to work and despite the riots, only having her 12-year-old
daughter home for a month and the hell both she and Chloe have gone through, Anna leaves Chloe alone, would any mother really do that? Sadly this was a minor part of a fairly boring book!