jbronderbookreviews

Across the Valley (Ping – 2) by Susan Lowry

In this second book in the post-apocalyptic Ping series, the few survivors of a horrible plague attempt to put their lives back together, while learning to use their newly found telepathy appropriately. Hoping to reproduce the human species, the complexities of their limited numbers puts a strain on their romantic relationships and further problems develop with the arrival of a suspicious stranger. Caught up in their struggles to preserve what they can of civilization, the stressed colony is unaware that eight-year-old Travis has some surprising tricks up his sleeve — and a plan that will ultimately change their world in ways they could never have imagined.

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Author’s Bio

Composing poetry and short stories was one of my first interests in grade school. Painting and art were also among my passions as I grew up on the outskirts of Toronto.

Later I moved to Mississauga with my husband, a computer programmer, to raise our son and daughter, who were read to almost every night before bed.

I have a love and fascination for all animals. They are innocent, amazing creatures and their intelligence always surprises me. I think they are evolving and understand more than we give them credit.

My first novel Ping was published in June of 2011. After finishing the sequel Ping Two – Across the Valley I went back and practically rewrote the entire first book. The 2013 edition is now published as Ping – From the Apocalypse.

If you have the old version Ping, please ask Amazon to send you a free update. They will push it through to your device manually. If you bought it elsewhere please contact me and I will help you get it to your device.

The new edition has several added chapters that fill in some gaps. A few of my readers found them too abrupt. The editing is also more professional. I so appreciate the reviews and feedback that I’ve received! It is an amazing experience to have total strangers read your words. I listen to everything they have to say about my work and try to be objective about it so I can learn and hopefully grow as a writer.

Now living in Central Ontario with my husband, I spend most of my time writing my next novel. But I try to walk on the beach, swim, take photographs, go to movies, and drive around beautiful rural Ontario as often as possible.

I also have a vegan recipe website and cookbook.

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My Review

4 stars

A plague has taken the lives of most people in the world. Those that survived it has come to learn that they have a special ability to hear each other over distances. The main person, Travis, is the most powerful and is the glue that is keeping everyone going. With a new, strange ping and new people things are going to get more confusing. There is also the possibility of a version of the plague coming back to take out the remaining survivors.

I read the first book years ago and couldn’t wait to get my hands on Across the Valley. Sadly this one has been pushed to the side for far too long. This is a great post-apocalyptic story with a new twist with the ability to ping. I love how this brings everyone together and protects them at the same time.

If you are looking for a good post-apocalyptic story, look so further. The Ping series is well written with lots of possibility. Just make sure to read From the Apocalypse before Across the Valley or you will be lost.

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Shades of Truth by Charlie Hudson

Mix together a leggy Police Detective with an attitude, a messy murder case, and add a dash of small town humor for a delicious treat.

“He didn’t drop the gun,” Noonan said calmly, as if killing a man was as routine as remembering to set the alarm before you left the house. Finding a corrupt, manipulative politician beneath a charming exterior is nothing unusual. Unraveling the connection to a twenty year old suicide and linking him to a string of present day bodies is another matter. Police Detective Bev Henderson of Verde Key, Florida doesn’t care that rising star State Senator Warren Randall belongs to a wealthy and powerful family. What she does care about is a missing woman, a dead accountant and people who think they can paint the truth in shades other than black and white.

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Author’s Bio

Charlotte “Charlie” Kimball Hudson, born in Pine Bluff, Ark., and raised in Louisiana, is a 22-year career military veteran and wife, freelance writer and author.

After graduating from Northwestern State University in 1974, she entered the Army through a special program of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) – two years before the first women were commissioned through a test program in selected college Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs.

Hudson experienced a number of “firsts” during her career. She was the first female officer assigned in the history of the 19th Maintenance Battalion in Giessen, Germany; the first female selected to command a maintenance company at Ft. Campbell, Ky.; the first female ROTC instructor at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas; the first female to be designated as the executive officer to the commanding general at the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. and the first female to command the Leghorn Depot in Livorno, Italy.

During her extensive military career Hudson was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. She retired from the Army in 1995 as a lieutenant colonel. She and her husband, Hugh Hudson, recently moved to South Florida where they can enjoy their love of scuba diving.

Hudson has a masters of science in organizational development from East Texas State University, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pa. She is a charter member of both the National Women’s Museum of Art and the Women in the Military Service of America Foundation. Hudson is also a member of the Washington Independent Writers and the VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association.

Hudson’s first novel, Orchids in the Snow, was written after she retired from active duty. Her second novel, Shades of Murder, invites readers to the fictional town of Verde Key, Florida for an intriguing story and a great cast of characters. Her first book-length non-fiction, The Parent’s Guide to Business Travel: Practical Advice and Wisdom for When You Have To Be Away, is an easy reading book for any parent who has ever faced work-related family separations.

Website

My Review

4 stars

While out scuba diving, Bev and her instructor Chris Green hear that state senator Warren Randall had been assaulted by Jonas Shepard over his sister’s suicide 20 years earlier. When police investigate Jonas house they discover that Cindy Green, Chris’ sister, was having an affair with Jonah. The problem is it looks like Cindy found out about the assault plan and Jonah made her disappear. This sounds too convenient for Bev especially when she thinks about how Warren and his head of security, Mike Noonan answer her questions. Bev is determined to find out what really happened and being a higher up politician is not going to stop her.

This story is set in a wonderful, small town in Florida. Everything seems cut and dry about this assault, death, and disappearance except to Bev. She is bound and determined to find out the truth, especially when it seems there is more to Mike Noonan than meets the eye.

This is my first story from author Charlie Hudson and part of a series, which I didn’t realize. I had no problem figuring out what was happening and I want to read the other books to see what I have missed.

If you like mysteries this is one that I recommend people check out.

I received Shades of Truth a long time ago free of charge.

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