Jacqueline's review of Battlefront: Twilight Company (Star Wars) by Alexander Freed

Reviewed by -- Jacqueline Driggers

Book Review of --

Battlefront: Twilight Company (Star Wars) by Alexander Freed

Overall star rating --- 3.5

About the book:

Among the stars and across the vast expanses of space, the Galactic Civil War

rages. On the battlefields of multiple worlds in the Mid Rim, legions of ruthless stormtroopers—bent on crushing resistance to the Empire wherever it arises—are waging close and brutal combat against an armada of freedom fighters. In the streets and alleys of ravaged cities, the front-line forces of the Rebel Alliance are taking the fight to the enemy, pushing deeper into Imperial territory and grappling with the savage flesh-and-blood realities of war on the ground.

Leading the charge are the soldiers—men and women, human and nonhuman—of the Sixty-First Mobile Infantry, better known as Twilight Company. Hard-bitten, war-weary, and ferociously loyal to one another, the members of this renegade outfit doggedly survive where others perish, and defiance is their most powerful weapon against the deadliest odds. When orders come down for the rebels to fall back in the face of superior opposition numbers and firepower, Twilight reluctantly complies. Then an unlikely ally radically changes the strategic equation—and gives the Alliance’s hardest-fighting warriors a crucial chance to turn retreat into resurgence.

Orders or not, alone and outgunned but unbowed, Twilight Company locks, loads, and prepares to make its boldest maneuver—trading down-and-dirty battle in the trenches for a game-changing strike at the ultimate target: the very heart of the Empire’s military machine. 

Book creation ratings -- Max. total of 30 possible --

Overall total, out of 30 --  26

-- Story & characters -- 8

-- Cover & title -- 8

-- Editing & formatting -- 10

* based on a 1-10 scale with:  1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*

The review --

The events of this book take place after the first Star Wars movie, no. 4, and right at the beginning of the 5th Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes back.  If you're a Star Wars fan, then you should enjoy this book; it's a well written book. But, if you're not a Star Wars fan, or familiar with the first 3 movies, you might not enjoy the book. Also, if you don't like violence or battles in a book, then this book would definitely not be for you. Having said that, . . .

This is an excellently written book with engaging characters to follow, and a storyline that fits into just before and at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back. It starts out with a battle, and continues with battles throughout the book. Yes, Vader does make a brief appearance; too up close and personal for some of the characters. There is one character in the book that I think is Han Solo, and Princess Leia is mentioned. Does not have a happily ever after ending, but then hey, this is Star Wars, and we aren't to that point yet.

Reader Recommendations

Genre -- science fiction, Star Wars

Age recommendations -- 18 plus

Sex content rating -- none

Violence rating -- extreme, is a book about a galactic war

Links for the book:

Buy it on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Battlefront-Twilight-Company-Star-Wars-ebook/dp/B00R04OX20/ 

Author's Amazon page

http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Freed/e/B003R7OV1C/ 

Author's website

http://www.alexanderfreed.

Author's Twitter

https://twitter.com/AlexanderMFreed

Jacqueline's review of Taken With A Grain Of Salt by Aaron Galvin

Reviewed by -- Jacqueline Driggers

Book Review of -- Taken With A Grain Of Salt (Salt Series Book 2) by Aaron Galvin 

Overall star rating --- 5

About the book:

Anyone can be taken - a simple truth for Salt folk, a stark reality for innocent teens Garrett Weaver and Kellen Winstel. Kidnapped by Selkie slave catchers and dragged into the realm beneath the waves, both teens must adapt to their new surroundings if they hope to see the shore again. 

Yet even if they escape their captors, both will need to embrace their fears. For darker things than Selkies lurk in the Salted depths and not all of them have pure intentions for the innocent ones brought down into their watery world.  

Book creation ratings:

Overall total -- 30 out of a possible 30

-- Story & characters -- 10

-- Cover & title -- 10

-- Editing & formatting -- 10

* based on a 1-10 scale with:  1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*

The review --

This book is the sequel to Aaron's first book in this series, Salted; which I reviewed. 

The first book introduces you to the salted world, and the characters. The second book continues their stories, and you'll love it. So you'll want to read the first book in the series before you read this one. But I highly recommend both. This isn't just a 5 star book, it's a 5 star series.

The first book was very good, but this one is even better. It's an awesome series and the author is an awesome writer. This book has a different take on undersea angle, but it has a fast pace that you'll love. I know I did. It's one of those books that you won't want to put down. Both books are simply awesome. I look forward to more in this fantastic series.

Reader Recommendations

Genre -- fantasy, science fiction

Age recommendations -- 18 plus

Sex content rating -- mild

Violence rating -- intense

Links for the book:

Buy it on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Taken-With-Grain-Of-Salt-ebook/dp/B00P9ZWPT0

Author's Amazon page

http://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Galvin/e/B00JSW88DM/

Author's website 

http://www.aarongalvin.com/book-2-taken-with-a-grain-of-salt.html 

Author's facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Aaron-Galvin-657051757702487/?ref=bookmarks 

Jacqueline's review of Allegories of the Tarot

Reviewed by -- Jacqueline Driggers

Book Review of -- Allegories of the tarot by various authors

My overall star rating, from 1-5 --- 5

About the book:

An anthology of short stories of the Major Arcana of the Tarot by talented new and established award-winning writers, edited by Annetta Ribken.

Book creation ratings:

Overall total -- 30 out of a possible 30

-- Story & characters -- 10

-- Cover & title -- 10

-- Editing -- 10

* based on a 1-10 scale with:  1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*

My review:

You don't have to be familiar with tarot cards to enjoy this book.  The cards are the inspiration for some really fascinating stories, and you get to meet a great variety of excellent writers in this book.

I loved all the stories.  Some I enjoyed more than others, but I liked them all. Fascinating angle for an anthology, neat idea for a theme.

Reader Recommendations

Genre -- fantasy, science fiction

Age recommendations -- 15 and up

Sex content rating -- not applicable

Violence rating -- not applicable

Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Allegories-Tarot-Annetta-Ribken-ebook/dp/B00G6S9EYI/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/363468

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18109513-allegories-of-the-tarot

http://www.allegoriesofthetarot.com/

Jacqueline reviews Phantom Bigfoot Strikes Again by Simon Oneill

Reviewed by -- Jacqueline Driggers

Book Review of -- Phantom Bigfoot Strikes Again (Phantom Bigfoot Series Book #1) by Simon Oneill

Overall star rating, from 1-5 --- 5

About the book:

Late Teen Duane Dexter thinks he has it all, money, the hearts of Big Beaver’s women, hero-worshiped by every kid in Big Beaver and The Elders have chosen him to be Guardian of the Forest.

The Elders are tall, Swedish-looking blond aliens from the planet Abba with a penchant for loving their pets and have chosen young Duane to continue in his father's Bigfootsteps to look after the tribe of Bigfoot deep in the forest. They have genetically altered Duane to have access to his sixth sense.

With this sense, Duane can pick out thoughts and feelings of those close to him and not so close. He can also heal wounded animals with a touch of his hand. But becoming The Phantom Bigfoot has its perks for this notorious prankster, scallywag, and local celebrity.

A side-effect is masquerading as The Phantom Bigfoot and leaving a trail of ludicrous crimes for Sheriff Louise Harper to solve. This he does to keep her mind off her long lost love, Virgil Tuckerwood. But Lou's misery infects the whole town, so Duane must get creative. His creativity leads to all sorts of insane problems for the whole town of Big Beaver, least of which is the abduction of Beau, another notorious prankster.

Now Duane must keep the sheriff and FBI from finding out his big secret in the woods as they search for Beau. But can he keep the Tribe of Bigfoot a secret and protect the forest as the authorities search for the missing teenager? Or will the alien Elders come to regret their choice of Protector and banish Duane from the forest forever?

Book creation ratings:

Overall total -- 26 out of a possible 30

-- Story & characters -- 10

-- Cover & title -- 8

-- Editing & formatting -- 8

* based on a 1-10 scale with:  1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*

My review:

Who knew that bigfoot (or would that be bigfeet, if you're talking about more than one) could be so much fun?  Well, this book is a world of fun to read.  If you need a book to sit down with and take a load off your mind, this one is it.  I so very thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Simon Okill's descriptive writing style is wonderful.  You can almost smell and feel the big forests he describes.  And his imagination is genius.  Great book for most any age. 

Reader Recommendations

Genre -- fantasy

Age recommendations -- 12 and up

Sex content rating -- next to none

Violence rating -- none

Links for the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Simon-Oneill/e/B00SN9TNAI/

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/tassyoneill

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/500521

https://twitter.com/simoneillauthor

https://www.facebook.com/simononeillauthor

Jacqueline's review of Undercover Kitty by Edie Hart

Reviewed by -- Jacqueline Driggers

Book Review of -- Undercover Kitty by Edie Hart

My overall star rating -- from 1-5

Get it on Amazon

About the book:

Cory West is determined to find out who killed her sister, even if that means dressing as a sexy kitty and working at a strip club. Will the sexy bartender distract her from finding the killer before it’s too late?


Book creation ratings:
Overall total -- 15 out of a possible 30
-- Story & characters -- 5
-- Cover & title -- 5
-- Editing & formatting -- 5
* based on a 1-10 scale with:  1-4, poor; 5-7, good; 8-10, very good.*

My 5 point review:
-1- The author uses the word 'excitement' to describe a man's arousal in one part.  Such a scene killer.

-2- I found the book to be dry, dull, and predictable.  Certainly not memorable at all.

-3- The killer was no surprise at all.  It was so obvious.  Too obvious.

-4- It's not a bad book, but it's not a great book either.

-5- The characters seem to lack depth and detail.

Reader Recommendations
Genre -- romance
Age recommendations -- 17 plus
Sex content rating -- moderate
Violence rating -- moderate