jbronderbookreviews

An Honest Day’s Work by Brent Jones

Why is the right thing to do seldom the easy thing?

And are we, as people, as compassionate as we’d like to believe?

Jim Cooke, a baker, lends a helping hand to a homeless Vietnam veteran passing through the small town of Wakefield. But he soon discovers his good deed will test both his faith and compassion.

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Author’s Bio

From bad checks to bathroom graffiti, Brent Jones has always been drawn to writing. He won a national creative writing competition at the age of fourteen, although he can’t recall what the story was about. Seventeen years later, he gave up his freelance career as a social media manager to pursue creative writing full-time. Fender and The Fifteenth of June are his first two novels.

Jones writes from his home in Fort Erie, Canada. He’s happily married, a bearded cyclist, a mediocre guitarist, (sometimes) vegetarian, and the proud owner of two dogs with a God complex.

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My Review

5 stars

Jim Cooke is a baker that has his own business for 30 years in a little town. One day a homeless man comes in and asks to use the bathroom. While this is going on, a regular customer of Jim, Todd, throws a fit about Jim’s behavior. Jim then offers the homeless man, Bob some food. Bob wants to work off the food and Jim gives him some flyers to hand out. The next day Todd throws a huge fit when he learns about this and demands that he wants free food for handing out flyers too.

Jim has a good heart and wants to help out Bob but of course Todd thinks he knows more than Jim. Todd’s horrible attitude towards Bob leads to a problem arising and Jim having to make a tough decision.

This is a great short story. It’s quick and to the point about not judging a book by its cover and how everyone is a person and deserves to be treated that way. It was a great yet sad ending too. This short story has a strong message that a lot of people should read.

I received An Honest Day’s Work from Amazon and the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Strange Lands (Heroes of Distant Planets – 1) by Anderson Atlas

Ripped from his wheelchair by a massive flash flood, Allan drags himself through dense forest only to find himself surrounded by strange and ruthless creatures who are not from Earth. Allan can’t run away and has no means to defend himself. Instinct overcomes his terror and his cleverness blossoms, which is all he needs to survive the dark jungles, poisonous plants, Shadic hunters and the vile slave trader Killian Crow.

Follow Allan’s path of self-discovery, and watch him take back what he’s lost. Surviving the Improbable Quest is a spine tingling adventure, with exciting twists & turns. A perfect and inspiring read for 10 and up.

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Author’s Bio

I live in the hot Sonoran Desert among scaled survivors, steely eye hawks and majestic saguaros.

I’m inspired by crowded malls, streams that barely trickle, patches of moss, charred forests, and distant mountain ranges. The clacking of keys can be heard throughout my home late at night and I’m always drawing, inking or painting.

To date, I’ve written 4 books and illustrated a handful more, and I’ve only begun to speak.

Website

My Review

5 stars

Allan Westerfield’s day goes from bad to worse when the principal tells him that his math score disqualifies him from competing in the state swim meet but if Allan wins he will not say anything. Then Allan wins the swim meet yet his math teacher explains how he can’t compete and Allan is disqualified. On the way home, Allan’s parents are clearly upset with him. They are arguing when they are in a car accident. Allan wakes up to learn that his parents died in the accident and he is now a paraplegic.

Allan is resentful of the situation and refuses to talk to anyone, even his uncle Rubic his caregiver. Rubic is trying his best but it’s clear that both need a break so he sets up a fishing trip for Allan and himself. But a sudden flood has the trip taking a dangerous turn and it is up to Allan to get help for his trapped uncle. But on the way Allan notices strange creatures and finds himself about to be a slave and completing a quest.

I really enjoyed this story. Allan just wants to have an adventure and is not ready to apply himself to school. Then when he loses his parents you can completely understand how he is resentful about the whole situation. He really needed the retreat and the subsequent adventure to kick him in gear. I loved watching him grow stronger as the story went on. Although Allan was difficult at the start I can to care for him at the end.

This is a great story and the first in a series. I can’t wait to see what Anderson Atlas come up with next.

I received Strange Lands from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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