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Fracture Point (A Point Thriller – 1) by Jeff Altabef

An untrained spy and a rebel faction.
A mysterious scarlet-haired jazz singer.
Dangerous secrets guarded by a devious killer.

What could possibly go wrong?

Only everything.

Tom’s brilliant. A whiz about just about everything, he just aced his Assessment Test, but when it comes to people smarts, he’s clueless. When his older brother, Jack, disappears, he opens the door to adventure and terror—and a beautiful red-haired spy.

She spins a story so unbelievable it just might be true. What if his brother Jack’s not just a carefree, assistant tennis instructor, but an operative spy for a covert group known as the Fourteenth Colony, who may have uncovered a secret that could start a bloody revolutionary war? Can Tom really trust the red-haired vixen?

Tom will do whatever it takes to get his brother back, even if he is completely unprepared for what happens next. Armed with the only clue Jack left for him, Tom plunges headfirst into a world filled with dangers at every turn. With only the Fourteenth Colony and the sultry spy as his guides, Tom must accept that the truth is not as simple as it once appeared.

Tom must summon all the courage he can muster. He’ll need the help of would-be friends and foes, and a whole lot of luck, to outwit the psychopathic killer holding his brother hostage. Maybe, just maybe, he can keep America from reaching the fracture point, too.
Tom must break every rule he’s lived by, and go head-to-head with a psychopath if he’s to have any chance of saving his brother—and just maybe, keep America from reaching the fracture point.

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About the Author

Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, is his debut novel. Jeff has a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories. You can find his blog, The Accidental Writers Workshop, on The Patch. Jeff also rights a column for The Examiner under the byline – The Accidental Writer.

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My Review

5 Stars

This story is based in 2041 in an America that has gone downhill. The 1% take everything they want where the 99% has to struggle daily for things like water. They have given up their rights in the name of terrorism and to feel same. But all that has done is made them poorer and closer to a breaking point.

Jack is a spy for the Fourteenth Colony. He works at the local country club as a tennis instructor while keeping his ears open with tidbits of information. But then he disappears. It is up to Tom, who has no idea what his brother was really involved in, to find Jack and to keep the country from breaking into Civil War.

This story could easily be taken from a future headline in the news. Things have gotten so bad that people are about to fight the 1% just to continue living. Tom jumps into the middle of the action when his brother disappears. But can it be true that Jack was a spy and what about the information that he needs to gather. Will it really help the country or just cause even more problems.

This is a great, action packed read. It’s a little scary with the possibilities with today’s world. I loved the story and think it’s a great start to a series. I hope to read more about Tom and what trouble he gets into next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Ari at Candid Book Reviews for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Ghost Owl: Sacred Path into Darkness

By Nancy Schoellkopf

Genre: Magic Realism, Visionary Fiction

Twenty-year-old college student Mariah Easter is missing.  Her mother and half-brother are frantically searching for her.  Her best friend Rafa is poring through her private journals, seeking clues to her whereabouts.  But Mariah is unaware of their concern.  Blind to any danger, she has slipped into a world where darkness is as bright as noon—but for her eyes only.  Embarking on a deep spiritual journey into shadows, she begins peering into the unlit spaces normally hidden from view, leading her to confront the sinister nature of power, the vulnerability of the ill, and the secret life of a homeless man:  a winding path that will bring healing to herself and the man she loves.

Ghost Owl is a spiritual story of discovery that follows a young woman as she explores  the limits of her potential and confronts her own shadow.

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About the Author

Nancy Schoellkopf is a California poet and novelist who writes stories with spiritual themes.  She is the author of the Avian Series of Novels–Yellow-Billed Magpie, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Ghost Owl—as well as the short story collection, Rover.  In her books she has created a universe where each soul–orphaned, homeless, autistic, wounded, ill, young, old, rich, poor, unremarkable, ageless–is discovered as a luminous gift.  She invites the reader to ponder the extraordinary treasures hidden in the ordinary events of daily life.

Based in Sacramento, Nancy spent over 30 years teaching amazing children in Special Education classes in urban school districts.  A full-time writer now, she enjoys lavishing attention on her cats, her garden, and her intriguing circle of family and friends.

You may reach her at her website, Wild Imaginings:  a Spiritual Journey  at here.

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My Review

4 Stars

Mariah Easter has a strange new ability. It starts as vivid dreams until she realizes that she is on spiritual journeys. She starts journaling them until one day when she disappears. Her best friend Rafa and brother Dale follow her journal to try to find her. At the same time Mariah doesn’t realize that she is missing but is following on her path to learn more about her abilities and what is around her.

This was an interesting read. I admit that I didn’t realize that it is the third book in a series. It can be read as a standalone book but I think you might get more by having a background with the characters. Having said that I will admit that I was a little lost in the beginning because I really didn’t know what was going on.

Once I got into the book a little more it made more sense. This was a journey for both Mariah and me as she learned about herself and those around her. This is an interesting concept with the dimensions and spirituality. You really need to pay attention as you read or you will miss something small and you will have to retrace your steps to figure out what is going on.

This was an interesting read and nothing like what I was expecting. It’s one book I would say try but I would start with the first two books in the series to have a better understanding of what is going on.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Sage Adderley Knox for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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