Self-Published Sunday Marti Lawrence River of Possibilites

Do you enjoy reading novels that will take you on a swift moving ride through twists and turns, a novel that doesn’t want to leave your hands, a novel that basically has the pages turn themselves? Okay, this is that novel. River of Possibilities is a very interesting and unrelenting read. Here is the synopsis:
” Elizabeth Cunningham watched her parents applaud and smile as she graduated college. Two months later she watched their caskets being lowered into the ground. She is left to wonder - why had their new car plunged into a ravine? Why had her father recently updated his will, adding a strange postscript that directed her to move to the city? The codicil includes a note saying she would, "find the truth". Liz discovers nothing she was certain of is true. Her family was not the strong, loyal unit she thought she knew. Both of her best friends have been hiding things from her. Dirty politics, the CIA, and giant corporate interests could end her dreams and put her life and the lives of her friends and family in danger. Worst of all, her parents' deaths may not have been an accident. Her beliefs will be assaulted when she has an encounter with a ghost, a mysterious Tarot reading, and discovers her father's connections to the paranormal. “
I have to admit I did not go into this with eyes wide open, I was a bit on the tired side, and this was like a jolt of java that was turbo charged. I really got into Lawrence’s narrative and heroine. The dialogue was crisp; the action and story twisted and morphed into places I didn’t anticipate, and that made it all the more enjoyable for me. River of Possibilities really made an impression on me and I am glad I had the chance to give it a go. Personally I am hoping that she takes this character and makes series out of it. I am willing to be a follower and enjoy the possible future adventures; it is that strong a story and plotline. The title is very appropriate; there is a River of Possibilities for this character and her development. Take the journey and enjoy the ride with Elizabeth Cunningham and Marti Lawrence, the possibilities are endless.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Digital short Saturday S.W. Barger Instrument Flight Rules

Happy Saturday to you and yours. You are wondering, didn’t I review some S.W. Barger work in the past? Yes I have, I posted on both of his character’s, Jack Carlyle and Zoe Scarlatti many Saturday’s ago. Please feel free to reference the archives if you missed them. Instrument Flight Rules is a Jack Carlyle digital short and the word count on this is 5150 words of fun. The reason I went back to this character is that I like him very much, he grew on me, and I wanted to read what he was doing next. There is still one more digital short in the collection that I haven’t covered, Creole Orientation. Let’s get to it shall we.
Here is S.W. Barger’s description of Instrument Flight Rules as I pulled this off of the Smashwords site:
” Al-Qaeda family values - in the new world order. People watching, for fun and profit.” A very short description to say the least. Here is the plotline, Carlyle is sent aboard an airplane flight to stop a terrorist attack on the plane. He and his partner basically have a few hours to put the plan they hatch into motion and save the plane and the passengers. S.W. Barger mixes in plenty of attitude with Carlyle and the dialogue is fast and the action furious. There is enough humor and wisecracks for a word count twice this size. I enjoy how much Barger packs into each installment of the Jack Carlyle series.
NEWS FLASH from S.W. Barger himself:” I am currently working on a proposal for an episodic television series featuring Zoe Scarlatti.
Barger's first Jack Carlyle novel, Deep Vice, should be out in the second quarter of 2011. Carlyle and partner Joe Rodriguez try to untangle a web of deception and depravity that stretches from a client’s wanton daughter, to the dangerous tentacles of South Florida’s organized crime network. But who’s really pulling the strings?”
Have you had the chance to give the digital shorts a read yet? If you haven’t what is holding you back? I have gotten messages from readers all over the globe telling me the different ways they read them and the places they enjoy reading them. To get away from my laptop sometimes, I read them on my Droid cellphone, and it gives me a nice break from my little work area that I have set up. Different readers have told me they read them on the train platforms ,the trains themselves, break areas at work, coffee shops, restaurants if they are alone, one of the kid’s soccer games at halftime… the list goes on and on. My take on it, is that the digital short is like takeout food for the mind. There are so many genres now into this phenomenon that it is almost across the board. You want something quick, you want it now, and you want to ingest it in a short period of time, boom, there you go the digital short. Available on too many platforms to mention, the list is so big. What do read your digital shorts on and where? Come on be honest.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Kait Nolan Forsaken by Shadow

I guess I am on a bit of a paranormal lilt this week, at least a little more than usual. I have been digging deep trying to find some real gems for you, some different stuff with excellent content and character. Here we go Kait Nolan’s Forsaken by Shadow. Here is a synopsis of the action, pay close attention, because things happen hard and fast throughout this novel: ”Cade Shepherd is on top of the world as this year's Ultimate Fighting Champion. He doesn't even remember his life as Gage Dempsey, a Shadow Walker with the ability to magically transport himself from shadow to shadow. In fact, he can't remember anything before waking up in a cheap motel room ten years ago with mysterious burns on his hands--not even the woman he almost died for.
Embry Hollister has picked up the pieces of her life, learned to control her ability to generate flame, and now works an enforcer for the Council of Races. But when her father is captured by the human military and the Council refuses mount a rescue mission, Embry has no choice but to go rogue. All she has to is find the man with the new name and new life who was completely wronged by her people, give him back the memories they stole, convince him to join her on what's probably a suicide mission, and hope that after ten years of living as a regular guy he still remembers what her father taught him.
And after that, she just has to leave him. Again.”
I would say that is a mouth full. The plotline is unique and moving, in many ways. Nolan introduces us to many characters, develops them well, makes us believe and care about them and crafts good dialogue to move the story quickly along. Forsaken by Shadow has all the right elements in it and more: heartache, love, commitment, romance, action and good old fun. Don’t forsake this novel, it is well worth the $1.99 price tag.
You can find Kait at any of these web addresses:
Website: http://kaitnolan.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kaitnolan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kait-Nolan...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346...
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Stephen Jay Schwartz Beat

I have to say this was a tough one for me. I am giving this 4 out 5 stars for a number of good reasons. The biggest one is that Stephen jay Schwartz knows how to write a taunt thriller. Here is the synopsis of the novel: ”LAPD robbery-homicide detective Hayden Glass has trouble controlling his urges. No longer trolling the streets looking for working girls, he has a new obsession-the internet. Infatuated with a woman he finds on a website, Hayden Glass’s sex addition drags him to San Francisco and into a web of corruption and crime.
Glass’s search for this woman leads him to a massive sex slave trade run by the Russian mafia and protected by a group of powerful and corrupt San Francisco cops. Glass gets co-opted by the FBI to aid in their investigation… but his presence is doing much more harm than good.”
Here is the issue for me with the one star; the content for me is just a little out there. I understand the character needs to have some type of fatal flaw or he would be just to perfect a character, but the nature of his addition just rubs me the wrong way a bit. The thing for me that pushes all that aside and makes the novel worth the read is Schwartz’s ability to put together a really good crime story, and make that the focus of the novel with his sexual proclivity being the undercurrent. I am not that naive to think that people don’t have their proclivities, I am happily married with eight wonderful children, people say we have proclivities. But I digress, you get the point, or at least I hope that you do as I dance around my uncomfortable feelings about Hayden Glass’s addictions.
When you boil down Beat and you remove the characters issues, you have a very good crime novel, filled with action and raw emotion that resonates throughout. For me it came down to a line from the movie Happy Gilmore, “block out the bad, in with the good.” I think if you want to ride the bull after reading this novel, do so with the knowledge that Stephen Jay Schwartz has given his character a twisted, bent, addiction and I mean this in a very nice way. Don’t pass this novel by. If you are a fan of this genre, pick it up and go for the ride.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Sharon Gillenwater Emily’s Chance

Too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing, so having said that on occasion I go off the reservation and try to diversify my reading material. Emily’s Chance is one of those breaks. This is not a tale of international intrigue or Emily saving the world from terrorists. She’s a different character for me, and I enjoyed it. A nice shifting of the gears , a breath of fresh air if you will. Okay I think you got the point, here is a synopsis of the novel; I got this from the back cover of the novel:
“Emily Rose may be in the tiny West Texas town of Callahan Crossing for the moment, but it’s just a rung on her ladder to success. Her work at the Callahan Crossing Historical Museum will look good on her ever-growing resume as she attempts to break into the prestigious world of a big city museum curator. Little does she know that cowboy and contractor Chance Callahan has decided that he can convince her to stay- both with the town and with him. As he helps Emily restore the town’s history after a devastating fire, can he help her uncover the value of love?”
Emily’s Chance is a refreshing and fulfilling novel to read. I am not a big fan of the state of Texas right now as I am a Yankees fan, but the novel put me in a good frame of mind. I like the positions the novel takes, the viewpoints, and also the messages of love, healing and redemption. The dialogue is good, the character development is right on and I got the feel I was there in Callahan Crossing. Reading about a contractor that isn’t putting the screws to a homeowner is nice, at least in fiction there is an honest contractor. I am always up for having love as a central theme, and I did fall in love with this novel. Why don’t you take the journey to Callahan Crossing and fall in love with Emily, there is a “Chance” you may really enjoy it as much as I did.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Avi Steinberg Running the Books

This novel opened my eyes a little wider. Avi Steinberg has given us a narrative from the other side of life, willingly, the tale of a librarian in a prison. He meets all types of people, both male and female, and their worlds collide. I am just going to give you a little taste of what is said on the back cover: ”Running The Books is a trenchant personal exploration of prison culture and an entertaining tale of one young man’s earnest attempt to find his place in the world while trying not to get fired in the process.”
The novel was a mix of so many different emotions: love, violence, redemption, camaraderie. Steinberg doesn’t miss much in the way of description and portrays the gritty no nonsense feel of what it is like to be behind bars, on both sides. One of the cons makes the comment late in the book: “now you know what it is like to see me behind bars.” It is a very unsettling picture, as the character was only seen from that point by our librarian in the library, being polite, helpful, to the point where he was described as not being able to injure a paperback.
Running the Books is not the average prison novel. The viewpoint and narrative are interesting and intense. The thought process used by our librarian is an added bonus as it doesn’t come from one of the convicts. He sees them and their surroundings in a different light, a different way, and that gives them that sliver of hope they were looking for but hadn’t received. The novel itself is moving, driven and difficult to put down, I was happy to have a chance to read it. Shake up your schedule a little bit; go into solitary confinement with this and come out better on the side, having been the prisoner of a good novel.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Stephen J. Cannell The Prostitutes Ball

I think most of us can envision many different things when we see a title such as this. This is a Shane Scully novel, and I am of the mind that it is one of the best, if not the best one of the series. Yes, I have read them all. Maybe my memory of past novels is a bit clouded, but the narrative on this one is so incredible that I haven’t had this much fun with an installment of the character in a long time. Cannell puts us square into his world and takes us through a ride of not just L.A. Homicide’s finest but also the world of movies where Cannel has dominated for so long. What an incredible marriage of plotlines and perhaps a glimpse into the ups, downs and foibles of an industry that Cannell was both a pioneer and mover and shaker.
He had it going right from the prologue; I knew this was going to be an amazing piece of work. From the man that knew how to entertain us, this is taken right from the prologue, “This is a story about a story. It’s also a story which, despite all my efforts to the contrary, seemed destined to become a major motion picture.
It began a few days before Christmas, but it’s not a Christmas story. It’s about lost generations and emotional desertion and about a Los Angeles family with way too much money. So I guess at its heart, it’s a story about greed, corruption, and loss.
With those themes, what better place to start than at the office Christmas party? But before we begin, just a preliminary remark.
I’m a homicide detective, and as such, I’m carefully schooled in the three concepts mentioned above. I work at an elite LAPD detective division known as Homicide Special. Our unit was reconstituted after the O.J. Simpson case, another L.A. story of greed, corruption, and loss.
After losing that high-profile media trail, it occurred to our command floor managers that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to have homicide detectives carrying blood evidence vials around a crime scene where they could later be accused of planting it.
As a result, Homicide Special was completely reorganized and staffed with our most seasoned detectives. I’m lucky to be assigned there. It’s a great gig.
My name is Shane Scully, and for this story I will be your host narrator. It’s going to be a fast ride through L.A. with a lot of reckless driving. Look out for abrupt lane changes, freeway shootings, and dangerous hairpin turns. As police officer, I’m required to advise you to fasten your seat belts.
All set? Then let’s go….Cue the opening theme music. Fade slowly up from black, and we’ll begin at:”
I think that you can tell by the length thus far of the post I don’t want this to end. I have enjoyed Cannell’s writing for quite a while and was shocked as were many by his passing. There is no way I am going to be able to describe the feelings I had for his work; they are too deep. He gave me a sense of enjoyment over so many years, on television, movies and his novels. I was sad when I heard of his passing and then pumped once I read the prologue. I was holding in my hand the possible last work of a master entertainer and the novel was the most fun I had reading one of his works. The narrative angle was perfect and it seemed fitting we as readers are getting a glimpse into the world in which he inhabited for so long. His opinions, his knowledge of the ins and outs of the industry he dominated for so long, just pure fun.
The Prostitutes’ Ball is a great Shane Scully installment, whether you are a fan or not. One doesn’t have to have been a big fan such as myself to enjoy the novel. If it is your first read of this character it is an excellent bridge to the others, cross over it and enjoy the ride. One final thought, Cannell decided to simply finish the novel this way:’ So that’s it. Cue the end music. Roll the production logos. Bring up the final card and we’re at:” These are probably the last words I will get to read that he wrote, very appropriate.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

New Novel Releases for this week October 26th

Another week, another slew of novels coming out. I have added something different this week to the list, Smashword’s Bestsellers; they appear at the bottom of the list. Enjoy!!!
• Stephanie Laurens/The Reckless Bride
• Rachel Caine/Ghost Town
• John Grisham/The Confession
• Lisa Kleypas/Christmas Eve At Friday Harbor
• Ina Garten/ Barefoot Contessa How easy is that?:Fabulous recipes and easy tips
• Keith Richards/Life
• Glenn Beck/Broke: The plan to restore our Trust, Truth& Treasure
• Nora Roberts/Happy Ever After
• Robert Jordan/Tower of Midnight
• J.D.Robb/Indulgence in Death
• Rachel Ray/Rachel Ray’s Look & Cook

Bestsellers from Smashwords---------------------

• Graveyard Greg/The Species of Rivals
• Joshua Graham/The Accidental Exorcist
• Robin R. Speziale/Lessons from the Successful Investor
• Jason McIntyre/Shed
• Jason McIntyre/On the Gathering Storm
• Jason McIntyre/The Night Walk Man
• Kait Nolan/Forsaken by Shadow

I think that you can see that Jason McIntyre is rolling right along. You can through our archives or go right to Smashwords and see our review on just about all of his work. There is a good reason why he has three in the top of the bestsellers here. We will be dropping in our review of Kait Nolan’s novel this week; look for it near week’s end.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Self-Published Sunday Mark Bouton How to Spot Lies Like The FBI

I really don’t read non –fiction too much, this though book I thought I needed to give a shot. I am really a poor poker player and at the very least I felt this could elevate my game so that I wouldn’t lose as many pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. My buddies better look out now, not to mention my youngest daughter when we play go fish. But seriously, this is a serious, fact filled book that has many excellent tips that can help anyone.
Who is Mark Bouton and why is he able to pen a book like this and be taken seriously. Check out the man’s bonifides: He obtained degrees in sociology and law, and then entered the FBI, where he worked terrorism and criminal cases for over 30 years in Alabama, New York, Chicago, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Kansas. During his career he captured killers, kidnappers, bank robbers, embezzlers, and con men. He played a key role in identifying the Oklahoma City bombers. Spotting lies was essential in his career, and he learned from research, experience, and observation of law enforcement officers of all types with whom he worked. He gives workshops and talks to groups all over the Country discussing the very techniques he reveals in the book.
I found the premise for the book interesting and the reading was more so. He has the book broken up into 8 chapters and a summary to help with the material. The tips he gives are really helpful and honestly I had not imagined the applications that this skill has. I was joking about the card game because I really stink at it and even if I know someone is bluffing, it probably isn’t going to help me, but the other parts of life, I can see these new skills being used on a daily basis. His summary at the end is good to reinforce all the good points he makes throughout the book, and he does point out in the beginning that he is going to repeat some things as a reinforcing technique. Overall, all good stuff, I feel fortunate to have had the read , and if you are in the mood to learn a new trick or two, this is something that you can actually use and apply to life on a daily basis. Check it out.
Here are some ways to get in touch with the author Mark Bouton:
www.mmbouton.com Private consultations or workshops- markbouton@msn.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Self -Published Sunday Tony Bertot The Birth of an Assassin

Hits, Hits, Hits. We are picking up a lot these on Sunday now and I wonder why. Is it that readers are looking for good novels to read? Possibly it is the snazzy title I came up with? It is catchy. I learned something new this week in the fact that one of my favorite authors, Vince Flynn, he of the Mitch Rapp series of novels , self–published himself back in the day after getting 60 rejection letters. That means that there are 60 geniuses out there I didn’t know about either. I wonder how many of them are still employed in that same position. There is plenty of quality work out there that these so called experts and geniuses haven’t found yet, and I am going to do my best to put them in front of you each week.
Here is the description of today’s novel straight from the author: “It is a book filled with suspense and intrigue as the pages unfold the life of an innocent child, who is transposed to that of a cold hearted assassin. This prequel to my first book, the Heart of An Assassin, delves into the psyche of a young child thrust into circumstances that would lead to the ultimate stolen life of his father, the savage murder of his mother and the need to avenge these events. It is the beginning of how it all started.”
I have not yet read the first novel in the trilogy; this is my first novel with Tony Bertot’s character Theo Gresco. I found the entire novel interesting and moving. The time frame this novel covers is probably the first third of a normal person’s life. He goes from childhood to Theo serving our Country, to having a wife and child. The reason why I make the distinction of a normal person’s life is that Theo Gresco is anything but a normal person. The third novel in the series that he is working on now is titled-The Legacy of the Assassin. I have no idea if he kills him off or not so I really can’t say if Theo is getting a crack at social security, if you know what I mean.
I think that having read the description of the novel you can see that there is a multitude of emotions in this installment of Gresco’s life. The novel has plenty of action, good character development, and a comprehensive accounting of the telltale events in this young man’s life. Bertot leaves very few questions unanswered as to why he is what he has become. He fully answers: How has he arrived at his choices? Why has he chosen this path? The real meat and potatoes of this character and those in his microcosm are fleshed out, snuffed out, and moved along. Here is a link for you to check out things about the author and a little more:
www.thestorytellertonybertot.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Digital Short Saturday John McFetridge East Coast

I guess I was in the mood for police dramas this week with the digital shorts. East Coast is 8720 words of police action and family drama. I am going to go right to the author’s synopsis on this one: ”EAST COAST is THE WIRE in a rural setting as RCMP Sgt. Jerry Northup works to keep his narcotics squad motivated in the seemingly unwinnable war on drugs while raising three kids with his wife, Isobel.” I have not seen the television show The Wire, you may groan now , I understand. Maybe one day on DVD or Blu-ray, who knows, so I can’t say whether it is an accurate comparison, East Coast vs. The Wire.
I enjoyed the way McFetridge humanized the officers in this digital short. I know a few officers around town. I know they are family men, and it was refreshing to read the way McFetridge had them make choices, see things maybe in a different reality then we as “normal” people do on a daily basis. The choices the officers have to make as fathers and husbands, the way they have to weigh someone’s existence, the perps, in the scheme of things were refreshing. I thought his narrative was the strong part of the digital short, without that I feel the plotline would not have worked as well. East Coast packs a lot of life’s choices into its 8700 words.
This digital short is free, no cost, so no loss, only your time if you feel I am off my game. Give him a try. I asked John if he had anything to add & he had this to say:
“If I was going to add anything it would be that after I worked as a writer on the TV show The Bridge (which only lasted two weeks on CBS) I wrote this story as the pilot script for a TV show I was pitching and then turned it into a short story. And I may write more 'episodes' as short stories.”
Here are the different links for the author and Smashwords:
http://johnmcfetridge.ca
http://johnmcfetridge.blogspot.com
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/14367
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Digital Short Saturday Matt Williams Death's Memory

This has been a power packed week @ The Scoop and the digital shorts once again helped me shift gears a few times. I really enjoy the short little burst of fun and way they change the momentum of the day. I think you get the fact I like to read; the weight of full length novels gets to be a pull and drags on occasion. I really enjoy picking through the pile and choosing a few of these to lighten the mood. I can see how someone can read these at the bus or train stop, at their desks, or even dare I say it, in class. The digital shorts are just too much fun; there are too many choices, too many worlds and genres to explore and all of it in such a small package.
Matt Williams Death’s Memory is a nice, compact 3020 words of suspense and mystery. Here is his synopsis of the story: ”Panic strikes as a man wakes to find a dead body - and no answers. Has he been framed? A knock at the door triggers a series of events threatening to expose the truth...and the identity of the murderer. “ The story just seemed to fly by. I just got to meet the main character, I was sucked into his dilemma very quickly, and then bam, Williams hits us between the eyes with his conclusion. I felt a connection with the main character (I am not using his name for a reason, I don’t like to spoil things, just bear with me), and was amazed how he was able to suck me in in such a short span of time and words.
Death’s Memory is like a quick respite from whatever you are doing. Time and space seem to stop for a few minutes as you go on this journey. I admired his ability to gain my attention and hold it so dearly for such a short period of time. I knew it was over, but I wanted more. For me, that is the sign of a good story, it ended and I was unhappy about it in a good way. I see no reason why you don’t check this digital short story out, it is free to read, no strings attached. Give this author his due and see if you think he has the goods. I think he does, and I am going to check out his sci –fi novel Jax Phoenix, that is free also. Go to Smashwords, and enter in Matt Williams.
Here are the links:
http://www.jakphoenix.com
Matt’s blog- http://mattdwilliams.wordpress.com/
Smashwords-- http://www.smashwords.com/
Death’s Memory @ Smashwords-- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/18718
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Lynette Eason Don't Look Back, Women of Justice Series #2

Don’t Look Back is my first read with this author. The novel is the second book of the Women of Justice series. Is it Chick Lit totally? I think not. Here is the synopsis from the back cover: “Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she has made a life for herself- though one that is haunted by memories of her terrifying past. She finally lets herself believe that she can have a close relationship with a man, when signs start appearing that point to one frightening fact- her attacker is back and ready to finish the job he started all those years ago. Can she escape his grasp a second time? And will she ever be able to let down her guard enough to find true love?”
This and many more questions will be answered in the pages of this novel. I just enjoyed the way Lynette Eason mixed murder, intrigue, action, romance and a bit of her passion for her religion in this novel. Did the last part and the inclusion of it not fit and turn me off. Quite the opposite, I thought it fit well and was woven into the fabric of the novel seamlessly. It was not a focus, but an element as was the rest. The tightrope she walked, balancing all the elements in the novel gave me a deep respect for her ability as a writer. The ending was a nice surprise, a bit twisted, and for me unexpected. I will gladly make time for anything she writes.
Revell Publishing has a winner here and I am sure they know it. Lynette Eason is the author of ten novels (I have some catching up to do), including Too Close to Home, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). If you are looking for a change of pace, some good action and a nice mystery with a bit of a twist, then you should give this novel a try. Put it in your Goodreads or Shelfari -to read- list at the very least. Have you had the pleasure of reading one of her novels yet? If so which one? Give me a suggestion and I will try that one first.
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Graphic Novel Friday The Philistine Michael Mongillo

There is so much in here I don’t where to start. I enjoyed the read, it has a simple message and it delivers it in such a tongue in cheek method. Let’s just say it is a bit over the top. Here is the background on Nick Bottom who is the Philistine: Nick Bottom, scrappy orphan becomes gifted Ivy Leaguer. Idealistic government agent becomes hard-nosed vigilante. City hero becomes one of America’s ten most wanted. And who’s there to catch the man who would dare to be a superhero? The love he left behind, Big Brother Agent, Vanessa Fields.
Michael Mongillo combines so many different elements into his character Nick Bottom; he seems to be equal parts Batman, The Punisher, and any hard- boiled detective you can mention. The entire graphic novel is excellent comedy and satire and makes many good social points. Nick Bottom is an engaging in your face character that both infuriates and infiltrates your mind. The artwork is complimentary to the story. The dialogue is irreverent, and it seems the entire time the writers and artists are thumbing their collective noses at mainstream graphic novel characters .What more can one for in a graphic novel?
United Comic Works, the creators and producers of The Philistine, have a few things going on. They have three more titles in the works;
Shockwave: Featuring “The Easter Pet” and other sci-fi short subjects- Coming in the winter of 2010
Blackthorne: A hero conspiracy comic from the mind and pen of Caleb M. Edmond. They were America’s Best Keep Secret…that was their First mistake. Starts summer 2011
Vagabonds: The most unlikely team in the most unlikely place. How long will their alliance last before they tear each other apart….?
Here are the links you can use to get to all this fun stuff:
www.thephilistine.com
www.unitedcomicworks.com
Email them at- UnitedComics@juno.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Fall of Gilead

The saga continues and so does my enjoyment of them. The story has serious undertones and overtones, let’s just say for a graphic novel the plotline makes you think a little more than the average good guy /bad guy thing. Roland, the youngest gunslinger, continues to be tested as he tries to navigate through Mid-World to reach the fulcrum of existence –The Dark Tower. I am going to put the rest of the post into the hands of Mr. Ralph Macchio, and give you a piece of his intro into the graphic novel. His words are to the point and hit every nail on the head :
“I think with this hardcover collection the Constant Reader should pause and reflect on the nature of the protagonist Stephen King has so brilliantly conceived. What manner of man could not be broken by all that has happened to him in the space of but a few years? Are these tests or trails some higher has doomed necessary to determine if Roland has the strength of character to pursue the Dark Tower quest to its unknown conclusion? Future volumes may tell the tale.
Roland Deschain is a fascinating character rich with potential and contradiction. His journey toward the ultimate truth of existence is one of the more compelling in popular literature. “
That was a mouth full, but well put. Have you read the novel or followed the graphic novels as I am now? Maybe you have read both. What are your thoughts on the words of Mr. Macchio? Point on or was he missing something? I only left out what I thought would be spoilers for the story.
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Robert Parker Painted Ladies

Many different emotions went through my mind even before I opened this novel up. I have read all of the novels Parker has written, and to be honest I can’t really say which of his characters I enjoy the most. The odds on favorite for most would be Spenser, but I have to say I enjoy Jesse Stone and Virgil Cole as well. I guess though, a Spenser novel is fitting for the end of the run; it is what started it all, the alpha and now the omega.
I am not a real emotional guy but I am totally bummed trying to write this. I am reading Cannell’s The Prostitutes Ball right now and it is like a double whammy. The thing that drew me to Parker in the first place and what made me devour novel after novel to catch up to the new stuff was the character interplay. The novels aren’t deeply plotted. They are what they are; fun, great dialogue, a code that remains unbroken, and a group of characters that know each other so well that sometimes words are not even needed. The man was a legend in his day, the characters are excellent and I was heartened that this last one was all Spenser. Hawk is away, Benson is poking around, but it is Susan and Spenser all through the novel. I find it to be fitting. Is it the best Spenser novel? I really didn’t care as I savored every page; I am a fan, pure and simple. This gets five stars no matter what for me. The man gave me too many good reads, made me laugh, and I actually put aside the fact that I hate the Red Sox so much (me being raised a Yankees fan).
Painted Ladies is your typical quick Parker read, except you know it is your last. The ride is way too short. The characters are doing their thing with the short, choppy dialogue, Spenser is kicking the hornets’ nest trying to see what comes out at him, Susan analyzes everything, and Pearl is Pearl. What more does one expect from a Robert Parker novel, just maybe a few more. At least I have 50 novels of his I can reread. What is your favorite Parker novel? Who is your favorite character?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Mark A. Rayner Marvellous Hairy: a novel in five fractuals

Check it out, a novel that makes one question many things in our society today and uses the vehicle of comedy and the bizarre to get us there. Laugh while we think, I enjoy that. Yes, it is time to release the monkeys. Marvellous Hairy is a sincere novel that is totally different than anything I have read in a while. It is a seriously disjointed narrative wrapped around a wonderful array of colorful characters that takes the reader on a thought provoking ride through corporate America, greed, and a host of other things. Here is the synopsis from the back cover, but trust me, the description just barely scratches the surface on this novel:
“Release your inner Monkey! So hair is sprouting in unspeakable places and you can no longer carry a tune, but if you’re a surrealistic artiste with an addition to Freudian mythology and guilt-free sex, turning into a monkey has its upsides. Nick Motbot may be evolving as a novelist, but his friends aren’t too sure about his DNA- at least not since Gargantuan Enterprises started experimenting with it. And once they figure out what’s happening to him, they decide to set things right. Marvellous Hairy is a fabulist satire about a group of friends sticking it to the man the only way they know how, with equal parts grain alcohol and applied Chaos theory.”
I think you can see that this is one seriously demented and out there plotline. Best thing about it is if you put aside a few things, this novel made me laugh, chuckle and smile. The narrative was a bit choppy, the story was a mix of many different types of novels, including sci-fi, action, thriller, mystery, and a medical story, but it all was mashed together in a way that was coherent and fun. It is what it is and that is a good character driven comedy piece with a bunch of other stuff mixed in. I don’t have anything that comes to mind to compare it to, nor would I want to. Mark Rayner has created a very unique novel with a very special flavor and vibe to it. Pick this up and when you need a good laugh, give Marvellous Hairy a read and let the laughs and smiles come on out. Here is a link to the book & some more info from Mark:
There's a free podcast and an excerpt linked off the book page, if people want to give it a try: http://marvelloushairy.ca Also, my current preoccupation is Canada Reads, check it out!!
Here is the Amazon book link:
http://www.amazon.com/Marvellous-Hairy-novel-fractals/dp/0986662704

What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

Guest Post Bob Hamer

This is no political commentary, just a semi-biased first person account of a case most of the media missed earlier this month…Operation Smoking Dragon. The good guys got it right and no one seemed to care.
Much of my twenty-six year FBI career was spent in various undercover roles. I often joke I never had a mid-life crisis I just became a different UC persona…contract killer, fence, drug dealer, pedophile, degenerate gambler, international arms merchant. It was a roller coaster ride and when I retired four years ago I learned how much I missed the adrenaline rush. Pounding a keyboard with two published books [Enemies Among Us (Fidelis, 2010) and The Last Undercover (Center Street, 2008] with a third, Targets Down, releasing next summer doesn’t provide the same thrill as going face-to-face with those playing for the other side.
The excitement returned a few weeks ago when I spent several days on the witness stand in a Los Angeles federal courtroom re-living an undercover assignment which lasted three years. Following the two week trial, Yi Qing Chen, 46, of Rosemead, CA was found guilty of five felony counts including conspiracy to import missile systems designed to destroy aircraft, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and the importation of counterfeit cigarettes. Chen’s attempt to smuggle shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles into the United States was the first guilty verdict in the nation under a 2004 anti-terrorism statute. The conviction carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison. How the FBI got there is an interesting journey.
Immediately after 9/11, the FBI began taking a hard look at how counterfeit cigarettes were being smuggled into the United States. The purpose for such an investigation was twofold: first, the proceeds from the sale of counterfeit cigarettes at the retail level was just one of the ways terrorist organizations overseas were being financed; second, the government was concerned with port security.
In the fall of 2002, while undercover I met an individual the FBI believed to be one of the largest importers of counterfeit cigarettes on the West Coast, if not the United States. A native of China with strong connections in Asia, he smuggled multiple containers of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes through the port of Long Beach every month. My cover story was convenient: I had a warehouse where I could store his cigarettes, had access to long haul truck drivers who could transport the cigarettes throughout the United States, and could occasionally assist him in getting his containers through customs at the port. All of this made me a desirable commodity.
Our initial target bought the act and soon requested assistance in moving a forty-foot container of counterfeit Marlboros to members of the Russian mob on the East Coast. Within weeks of delivering the cigarettes to Pennsylvania, the Russians were selling me BMWs stolen off the docks in New Jersey.

Back on the West Coast I began meeting our initial target’s associates. Soon I became the darling of a Chinese criminal syndicate operating in Los Angeles with its tentacles stretching throughout the world. What started as cigarettes and evolved into stolen cars blossomed into crystal methamphetamines, ecstasy, counterfeit postage stamps, clothing and pharmaceuticals. But bigger things waited down the road.
The case agents (whose names the FBI will not allow me to reveal even though they were in court) were some of the finest FBI agents I worked with during my career. We met regularly to discuss strategy, and they coordinated with the federal, state, and local agencies touched during our three-year run…CIA, DIA, RCMP, DEA, ICE, Secret Service, ATF, Postal Inspectors, local law enforcement, not to mention various FBI field offices and of course FBI HQ. The Newark office was also running a similar undercover operation dubbed Royal Charm which was equally successful. More importantly the case agents worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles and two great federal prosecutors, Mark Aveis and Bonnie Hobbs.
As I became more deeply embedded with what we identified as an ever growing Asian criminal syndicate, the scope of the operation expanded. FBI HQ tasked us with obtaining the Supernote, a near perfect counterfeit version of our $100 bill, being manufactured by North Korea. It is an act of war to counterfeit another nation’s currency so the actions of the North Korean government were of great concern to the administration. Once I put out the word to the multiple targets of the investigation, five different types of counterfeit $100 bills manufactured throughout the world surfaced. The goal however was to obtain the North Korean Supernote and eventually two different targets provided us with the much-coveted bill. I eventually purchased $2 million in Supernotes and negotiated to be their exclusive distributor in the US. Even the Supernote aspect of the case received little media scrutiny until David Rose wrote an article in 2009 for Vanity Fair, North Korea’s Dollar Store.
In addition to the Supernotes, the targets delivered multiple kilos of crystal meth and thousands of ecstasy pills taken in payment for the services I was providing. The methamphetamines were manufactured in China and the DEA lab reported it was some of the highest quality crystal meth ever analyzed. But even with all the drugs, the Supernotes, and the contraband we weren’t done.
Although unbelievable if seen on the big screen since you shouldn’t use coincidence to advance plot, the weapons case came about almost by accident. While driving on the 60 Freeway with Chao Tung Wu, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China and a major target of the investigation, I mentioned a person in Alabama seeking automatic weapons for his “PMC” (private military company). As if on cue and completely by happenstance, a semi-tractor trailer hauling an Abrams A-1 tank passed. Without hesitation Wu said he could get “…anything but nuclear weapons.” The game was on. Wu brought in his co-conspirator, Chen, and over the next year we negotiated with a Chinese general among others for the weapons. Wu said multiple containers of the QW-2 surface-to-air missiles manufactured in China were available. We could obtain such weapons with bribes placed to various foreign government officials, some in China and others in nations who would serve as “end-users” for paperwork purposes, even though those governments would never receive the weapons. The final cost was $60 million plus the millions in dollars of bribes to the various foreign officials. Although the FBI was not prepared to fork over millions and millions of dollars in the sting, we set out to do what we intended: prove that with sufficient funds we could have the missiles delivered to the United States. Both Wu and Chen admitted it, on tape and later in court.
In 2005 a Los Angeles federal grand jury returned thirty-six indictments and between the L.A. investigation and the Newark undercover operation eighty-seven people were arrested. Almost everyone pleaded guilty to the various counts charged in the indictments. Wu pleaded guilty in 2006 to the weapons, drug, and counterfeit cigarette charges. The last to go to trial was Yi Qing Chen.
Chen was arrested in August, 2005 and has been sitting in jail since that day. He pleaded guilty several years ago to the indictment, withdrew his plea (a fact the jury never knew), and fired multiple court-appointed attorneys causing lengthy delays for the trial. Following his arrest, an unindicted co-conspirator in China phoned me. When FBI headquarters learned of the contact they ordered me to quit using my undercover cell phone fearing the Chinese were was trying to “triangulate me” to kill me so the cases couldn’t go to court. I guess Chen kept hoping I would either be located by his associates or die on my own. In any event I outlived his trial and he was convicted.
The only article on Chen’s trial was an AP story consisting of a few paragraphs reiterating the press release. With so many in the media willing to criticize the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for every actual or perceived misstep, this is one I think the good guys got right. I just thought you might like to know.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com