Category: Reviews

BOOK REVIEW - WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD

5/3/2017

Colin Dodd is the author of Another Broken Wizard, WINDFALL and The Last Bad Job, which Norman Mailer touted as showing “something that very few writers have; a species of inner talent that owes very little to other people.” His writing has appeared in more than two hundred publications, and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Best of the Net Anthology. Poet and songwriter David Berman (Silver Jews, Actual Air) said of Dodds’ work: “These are very good poems. For moments I could even feel the old feelings when I read them.” Colin’s book-length poem That Happy Captive was a finalist for the Trio House Press Louise Bogan Award as well as the 42 Miles Press Poetry Award in 2015. And his screenplay, Refreshment, was named a semi-finalist in the 2010 American Zoetrope Contest. Colin lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and daughter. See more of his work at thecolindodds.com.

WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD
5 STARS
*****

BLURB::

“(O)ne of the most interesting books you’ll read this year,” (IndieReader Reviews - 4.7 of 5 Stars) WATERSHED is a dystopian thriller about a troubled, pregnant woman, and the two men—a snake dealer with a sideline in secret messages and a billionaire living under a false name—who vie for her. Their struggle leads them through a near-future America of anti-technology neighborhoods and illegal hospitals, where stockbrokers moonlight as assassins, nurses procure obscure pleasures, and the powers that be blow up the new World Trade Center to goose tourism. As the mystery deepens, one thing becomes clear – the future's about to be born… but who will change the diapers?

A book recommended for readers who love intricate plots

I was given an ARC and it proved to be quite a page turner. I read this book in one day.
The plot is convoluted and it is a good thing that the writing style is so good that it keeps the reader’s attention focused on the evolution of the story. Otherwise, I’m afraid, one could get lost in the ramifications of the plot. At first, I was thinking that the book might rate only four stars and a half because of that but I changed my mind. It seemed too unfair considering that the novel is indeed a good one.
The narrative flows without any hiccups. I enjoyed the style and the associations the writer made right from the beginning. Colin Dodd seemed to be well versed in playing with words and use them to create arresting images in the reader’s mind. The language is striking and clearly not for the faint-hearted. There’s verbal and physical violence and people who dislike such things should stir away from the book.
Colin Dodd develops an interesting world, marred with the most poignant negative human traits. The story evolves in the States and in a way, there’s a lot of the real America in this book.
His characters are far from being positive in any way, and yet, most of them are likable and one can relate to them. Both Norwood and Raquel are believable and pleasant, although both show weaknesses and are the antithesis of real heroes.
Most of Dodd’s characters are well rounded but the most fleshed-out are Norwood and Raquel as well as their Nemesis, Hurley and his opponent Seth. The background stories sound real and are far from being far-fetched.
I found that this book is a good read, full of imagination and surprises. I would recommend it to anyone who likes this type of books.

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REVIEW - THE SLEEPING SERPENT

3/17/2017

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Review - The Sleeping Serpent: A woman's struggle to break an obsessive bond with her yoga master
by Luna Saint Claire, Virginia Bowen
5 stars out of 5

This novel was more than I expected when I heard the description. I appreciated the authors’ style and the flow of the narrative, although there have been a lot of details provided here and there at times. The change in POV helped to see the action from more than one perspective and, in my opinion, that’s one of the best characteristics of this novel.
The story might seem shocking, however it is highly believable and an eye-opener. Unfortunately, the action of the book is repeated over and over again in real life with probably very few deviations.
The story develops around a yoga instructor, Nico, and follows his many relationships with different women, who, of course, are the subject of his manipulation and narcissism. Nico seems to have the charisma and magnetism to enslave these women who would do anything for his attention and would accept his verbal and physical abuse most of the time, just to be around him. The only character that evolves somewhat during this story is Luna, although she’s far for becoming whole again. That being said, I do think that Nico and the women he seduced are very well portrayed. All these characters are rounded.
I cannot say that I liked any of the characters. There was very little to like about them and they made me feel mostly pity or outrage towards them. I definitely disliked the main character. The writers created the perfect narcissist and, along the narrative, they showed a good understanding of the human nature. I am pretty sure they have strong connections with the psychological profession but I didn’t verify their accreditations.
If you’re looking for an easy read just to kill a few hours and relax, then don’t read this book. It’s not for you. The narrative and characters are too complex and will make you think for days after you finish reading the novel.

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January 23rd, 2017

1/23/2017

1 Comment

REVIEW: Avalanche (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 3) by Kristina Stanley
5.0 out of 5 stars - An excellent read, full of suspense

Avalanche (A Stone Mountain Mystery Book 3) by Kristina Stanley
5.0 out of 5 stars - An excellent read, full of suspense

I am an avid reader which means that I read a lot of books. However, I have to say it's been a while since I've been drawn into a story as this one. I couldn't go to bed before I finished it. I recommend it. It is an excellent read. The plot is full of surprises and the twists of the story keep you guessing. I was hooked from the first page. Kristina Stanley is above average as a writer. Her style is catchy, clear and concise. Her characters are very well developed. Kalin, the heroine, but also the other characters are three dimensional and in continuous evolution.

1 Comment

ROXANA NASTASE'S BLOG

BOOK REVIEW - WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD

WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD
5 STARS
*****

REVIEW - THE SLEEPING SERPENT

January 23rd, 2017

ROXANA NASTASE

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ROXANA NASTASE'S BLOG

BOOK REVIEW - WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD

WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD5 STARS​*****

REVIEW - THE SLEEPING SERPENT

January 23rd, 2017

ROXANA NASTASE

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WATERSHED BY COLIN DODD
5 STARS
*****