jbronderbookreviews

The Promised Ones (Cherokee Mists – 1) by Win and Meredith Blevins

(Excerpt from Goodreads) The magnificent reimagining of a Cherokee legend, this grand mythic tale portrays the dangerous journey one young hero makes to heal his tribe’s relationship with their gods

A timeless coming-of-age story enriched by Meredith and Win Blevins’s deep knowledge of ancient Native American myths and folklore, The Promised One is a fantasy novel unlike any other.

My Review

5 stars

Sunoya was born with the both a blessing and a curse. She is either going to find the one to help the Galayi people in their time of darkness or she was going to be the one to bring that darkness. But she has be mentored by the medicine man and hidden her curse. But when she learns of Dahzi, her nephew, she knows that he could save the Galayi. Sunoya takes Dahzi from his grandfather and uncle’s that are trying to kill him and proceeds to raise him has her own son. Dahzi has many trails to face on his path to find eagle feathers to fix the Cape of Eagle Feathers and stop his grandfather.

That is can be considered a history of the Galayi people based on the Cheyenne. There are so many myths and stories that revolve around Dahzi. Along with Sunoya he does get help with his trials from a god. But his grandfather is ever present and insistent on his failure and his death.

This is an amazing story. I loved the Native American stories and couldn’t read fast enough to see if Dahzi was going to save his people. If you like stories of Native American myths or even if you need a great story of a boys journey to manhood you need to get this book.

To purchase The Promised Ones make sure to check out Amazon and Goodreads.

I received The Promised One for free from Netgalley and  Open Road Media in exchange for an honest review.

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A Fine Line (Guido Guerrieri – 5) by Gianrico Carofiglio

(Excerpt from Goodreads) When Judge Larocca is accused of corruption, Guerrieri goes against his better instincts and takes the case. Helped by Annapaola Doria, a motorbike-riding bisexual private detective who keeps a baseball bat on hand for sticky situations, he discovers that the judge has links to the mafia. Larocca is blind to the immorality of his actions but Annapaola makes sure that justice is done, perhaps not in the most orthodox way. Of course Guerrieri cannot stop himself from falling for Annapaola’s exotic charms.

My Review

4 stars

Guerrieri is a lawyer in Bari, Italy. He is asked to defend Judge Larocca, a president-elect of the court of Bari, on corruption charges. With the help of his girl-friend, private investigator Annapaola Doria, Guerrieri goes on the search through Larocca’s life and mafia connections.

This sounds like a simple story, but there is so much happening. Guerrieri is a quiet man in court but has a continuous stream of dialog that shows that there is much more to this man. He is very opinionated on the legal system. Annapaola was an interesting character. She is a strong, kick-ass woman that knows how to get things done.

I have not read the other books in this series but I didn’t have a problem figuring out what was going on. I think this is a really good story about how a lawyer sees the legal system. The writing is amazing although I do think it is a little heavy with legal terms.

Over all this is a good book and I think most people will like it.

To purchase A Fine Line make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and Giaranrico Carofiglio’s website.

I received A Fine Line for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Tesserae: A Memoir of Two Summers by Mathias Freese

“Tesserae: A Memoir of Two Summers stands above much of the crowd in its commitment to ask, ‘What is it to remember?’ Mathias B. Freese, tenderly plaiting a web that spreads from Woodstock, Las Vegas, Long Island, and North Carolina, locates friends and family, lovers long since gone, desire and passion sometimes quenched sometimes unrequited, and the harrowing agony that comes from that most soul-crushing word of all, regret. But Tesserae is not a work of sadness and grief. Rather, it is an effort from a trained psychotherapist adept at understanding the feelings that we all have. The quiescence found has a staying effect upon the mind; this memoir lingers in the reader’s memory for some time.” — Steven Berndt, Professor of American Literature, College of Southern Nevada

My Review

5 stars

Tesserae follows the author from his birth in 1940 to 2015 and around two pivotal years in Woodstock (the town not the party). Matt recounts different events in his life but circles round to how Woodstock made him feel and drew him back from time to time.

I like how this story is put together. It feels just like you are talking to someone as they recount their life. Matt has several stories that circle through different parts of his life. Matt doesn’t feel that he has accomplish much in his life as he tells his story. I think we all feel like Matt if we looked back on our life like he does.

But the real gems are the different events he lived through, the adversary that he faced, and trying to pass that knowledge on. That is what really makes this book great. Life is not easy but that is how it shapes us. And just hearing another person’s stories helps unite us as we all struggle with our own lives.

This is a great story and one that I strongly recommend everyone read.

To purchase Tesserae make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads.

I have been lucky enough to receive Tesserae for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Miracle Man

By William R. Leibowitz

Genre:  Thriller (medical/conspiracy/psychological)

Page Count:  432

REVERED   REVILED    REMARKABLE

The victim of an unspeakable crime, an infant rises to become a new type of superhero.  Unlike any that have come before him, he is not a fanciful creation of animators, he is real.

So begins the saga of Robert James Austin, the greatest genius in human history.  But where did his extraordinary intelligence come from?

As agents of corporate greed vie with rabid anti-Western radicals to destroy him, an obsessive government leader launches a bizarre covert mission to exploit his intellect.  Yet Austin’s greatest fear is not of this world.

Aided by two exceptional women, one of whom will become his unlikely lover, Austin struggles against abandonment and betrayal.  But the forces that oppose him are more powerful than even he can understand.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

Author Bio

William R. Leibowitz has been practicing entertainment/media law in New York City for a number of years.  He has represented numerous renowned entertainers and many entertainment and media notable companies.  William has a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and a law degree from Columbia University.

William wrote Miracle Man because of its humanistic and spiritual messages and because he feels that in our current times–when meritless celebrity has eclipsed accomplishment and the only heroes are those based on comic books, the world needs a real hero–and that, of course, is Robert James Austin, the protagonist in Miracle Man.

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My Review

4 stars

Robert James Austin, Bobby, was an infant found abandoned in a dumpster. Then at age 4 it is discovered that he is extremely intelligent and gets enrolled in a special government program with access to the best education. Unfortunately his intelligence is also wrought with nightmares and trances. He also has some mental issues that he constantly battles. As he grows, Bobby decides to cure illnesses instead of work in the military. The problem is the more cures he creates the more big pharmaceutical leaders don’t want his cure and plan on stopping him.

This was an interesting story. It makes you wonder what it would be like to be so intelligent. Of course it would come with a price and that broke my heart watching Bobby struggle through relationships and with his own mental problems. I did really like how the pharmaceutical leaders wanted to stop his cures. It makes you wonder how much of that happens in today’s world.

I admit that I had a little bit of a challenge to get into this story. There were some parts that felt a little rough but overall this was a good story. I will definitely be looking into other books by William Leibowitz.

I received Miracle Man for free from Sage’s Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

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The Book of Phoenix (Who Fears Death – 0.1) by Nnedi Okorafor

(Excerpt from Goodreads) A fiery spirit dances from the pages of the Great Book. She brings the aroma of scorched sand and ozone. She has a story to tell….

But Phoenix’s escape, and her destruction of Tower 7, is just the beginning of her story. Before her story ends, Phoenix will travel from the United States to Africa and back, changing the entire course of humanity’s future.

My Review

4 stars

Phoenix is one of many genetic experiments from Tower 7. Although she looks like a 40 year old woman she is really only two years old. She spends most of her day reading ebooks or exercising not really knowing much beyond that. But when Saeed, her lover is killed in an off limits section of Tower, Phoenix cannot get any straight answers about what happened. Now she realizes there is so much more happening and that she really lives in a prison. Phoenix escapes and realizes the real world is far different from the one she thought she learned about.

I have not read Who Fears Death so I go into this story with a clean slate. I thought it was well written. Phoenix is a great character, naïve in the beginning due to the scientists around her yet she has a lot of power when she learns the truth of what is happening. Although I find it strange that she seems to have more knowledge of what is happening than most people. One of the best ways to enslave people is to keep them in the dark.

I did like the mix of science fiction with mythology. Watching Phoenix explore her origins was great. After reading The Book of Phoenix I am definitely interested in reading Who Fears Death?

To purchase The Book of Phoenix make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads and Nnedi Okorafor’s website.

I received The Book of Phoenix for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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