ROXANA NASTASE - Reviews

REVIEW - TREMORS BY GARY BECK

8/11/2017

REVIEW
TREMORS BY GARY BECK

REMINISCENCE

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Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director, and as an art dealer when he couldn’t make a living in theater. He has 11 published chapbooks and 2 more accepted for publication. His poetry collections include: Days of Destruction (Skive Press), Expectations (Rogue Scholars Press). Dawn in Cities, Assault on Nature, Songs of a Clerk, Civilized Ways, Displays, Perceptions, Fault Lines & Tremors (Winter Goose Publishing). Perturbations, Rude Awakenings and The Remission of Order will be published by Winter Goose Publishing. Conditioned Response (Nazar Look). Resonance (Dreaming Big Publications). Virtual Living (Thurston Howl Publications). His novels include: Extreme Change (Cogwheel Press), Flawed Connections (Black Rose Writing), Call to Valor (Gnome on Pigs Productions) and Sudden Conflicts (Lillicat Publishers). State of Rage will be published by Rainy Day Reads Publishing. His short story collection, A Glimpse of Youth (Sweatshoppe Publications). Now I Accuse and other stories will be published by Winter Goose Publishing. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off Broadway. His poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines. He currently lives in New York City.

I had the pleasure of reading Gary Beck’s poetry before. I always enjoyed his verse turns and the profound thoughts he shared with his readers. Yet, I wasn’t prepared to be so move by this volume of poems.
All his poems hit close to home. Every single one of them brought memories back to mind and things I’ve thought forgotten.
Gary Beck has a real knack for sensitive and yet cynical and truthful poetry. His imagery is poignant and original. The most mundane things become poetry under his pen.
I can’t rate this volume of poems with less than five stars. I kept going back and re-reading. I am sure I will re-read these poems again. I wonder if there’s such a thing as addiction to certain poems. We’ll see.
I do recommend this book. Lots to learn, lots to remember, lots to think about.

REVIEW - MIDNIGHT OBSESSION BY MELINDA LEIGH

2/6/2017

Midnight Obsession (The Midnight Series)
by Melinda Leigh
4 stars out of 5

I can say that Midnight Obsession is a good mystery although here and there, it failed to keep my attention and that is why I decided to mark it with 4 stars only. The pace of the novel is at times fast and other times slow. That being said, the characters are very well developed and interesting.
Conner and Louisa, the protagonists, find themselves entangled with a man who dreams of getting entry into Valhalla and thinks that his murders would buy his entry ticket. They also have to deal with a street gang and only in the end all the paths come together. Ms. Leigh proved a real writing talent in building the plot.
The two protagonists have a strong evolution along the story and I liked the fact that the author thought of developing their personal life aside from the mystery at hand because that helped creating three-dimensional characters.
In my opinion, this book has exactly what it needs: mystery and intrigue, romance and action.
It represents a good read indeed.

REVIEW - DEATH ON A DIRTY AFTERNOON BY COLIN GARROW

2/2/2017

Death on a Dirty Afternoon by Colin Garrow.
4 stars out of 5

I chose to read this novel because of the title – a very good choice of the writer, I’d say.
The story develops in a seaside town somewhere on the Geordie Shore and the beginning is intriguing as it presents the first victim laid on his own dining table in broad daylight. This is what makes Terry Bell – the protagonist - get involved in a dangerous adventure, trying to find out what has actually happened.
In the tradition of such novels, the story also involves interesting women and, of course, cars. There’s also humor, sometimes dry or bitter but catchy. I understand that the writer tried to keep everything as authentic as possible and that is why he used the language specific to the area. I am afraid though that not everyone would find it easy to follow.
Terry Bell – the protagonist – is not a very smart or strong guy. He is just a regular guy, a little adrift in life, not sure of what he wants or what he should do. However, he tries to do the right thing most of the time. The evolution of the character is subtle but in the end he is well developed and quite likable. The female protagonist makes a shy appearance and her presence in the story is quite marginal in the beginning. The character is rounded enough in the end.
So, good plot, with twists, which keep the reader involved; interesting characters; good humor. So why 4 stars and not 5? Because here and there I had the feeling that the plot lacked cohesion here and there. It’s not a biggie but detracted from the story, though.
Nevertheless, a good read – I will recommend it.

REVIEW - WHITE IS THE COLDEST COLOUR: AA GRIPPING DARK PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE THRILLER BY JOHN NICHOLL

2/1/2017

White is the Coldest Colour: A gripping dark psychological suspense thriller (Re-edited edition) (Dr David Galbraith Book 1)
by John Nicholl
4 stars out of 5

When I decided to read and review this book, I didn’t check the blurb or other reviews and therefore I wasn’t really prepared and didn’t know what to expect. Therefore, the first chapter was quite shocking. The author simply dived in one of the darkest experiences of a human being, at the same time, presenting the protagonist – a deranged, egocentric psychopath. David Galbraith – is presented as a pedophile initially but along the action, the reader can see that he is much more. A pedophile’s vile actions are normally limited at children of a certain age while Galbraith enjoys tormenting physically and mentally adults as well.
In my reviews, I always try to reveal as little as possible about the action. It wouldn’t be fair for the next readers to spoil the outcome for them. That’s what I am going to do now as well. However, I can say that the action is fast-paced enough and there are some twists although some of the events are predictable enough. I have to admit that the author’s experience leads in creating realistic though gruesome instances.
The characters are developed enough, although the antagonist is more fleshed-out than the inspector. The inspector is an interesting character but, in my opinion, there’s not much difference between him and other similar characters. He seems to be the same kind of detective, with the same reasoning as many other detectives. He doesn’t stand out.
Nevertheless, the author succeeded in creating a very good story and an outstanding villain. Considering his previous experience, I’d say this book is an eye opener. It is not for everyone but I recommend it to anyone can read it.

REVIEW - THE JACQ OF SPADES BY PATRICIA LOOFBOURROW

1/31/2017

The Jacq of Spades: Part 1 of the Red Dog Conspiracy by Patricia Loofbourrow
5 stars out of 5

I have to admit that I have never read anything like this novel. I heard about this genre – steam punk – but it didn’t seem to attract me. So this novel it is my first foray in this genre and I was pleasantly surprised and probably that is due to the writer’s style: it is quite catchy. She creates an interesting world with accents from the Victorian era and with a concerns emanating from the 21st century. The bleakness of the Victorian period is present as well as elements related to the contemporary period: the fight against gangs, women rights, inequity and so on. Ms. Loofbourrow builds an interesting world, the Bridge, which is an isolated domed city divided in four quadrants controlled each by a crime family. These families determine the economic system for their quadrant and most of the population starves.
The narrative is fluid and suspenseful. The author succeeds in creating an air of mystery over everything and that makes the reader want to read more and find out more. I liked the protagonists – not completely white or black, although some of the secondary characters lean towards the black side of human nature. The female protagonist – Jacqueline Spadros - is strong but not stern. She is clever and she has emotional baggage which makes her more human than most of the people she encounters. She has a sense of justice even though it is somewhat skewed.
The mystery evolves in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries and that adds more value to the narrative. However, what I didn’t like was the fact that the story seems to continue in other books and I am not too patient in finding out the outcome.
I applauded the author’s initiative in presenting the secondary characters at the end of the book. It helps by bringing more order to the plot.

REVIEW - CONTROL BY RM GAUTHIER

1/31/2017

Control (The Mystery of Landon Miller Book 1)
by R.M. Gauthier
4 stars out of 5

I read several novels dealing with BDSM in the past however, this novel focus on that style of life only as a means to bring forward an intricate psychology of the characters. The trope of the bored wife looking for something more in her life has been used before as well and it will probably be used in the future again but Ms. Gauthier starts from there and builds an interesting female protagonist and the narration is in her voice.
Alexandria Shaw is offered a choice by her best friend Haley and the choice she makes opens a world full of dark and control and aches, both physical and psychological. Her choice also leads her to meeting Landon Miller and she will develop very strong feelings for him and he will reciprocate. Their love is not meant to be, though, and the twists in the plot prove it.
Both main characters are strong people but both show weaknesses as well and their weaknesses spring from their mutual feelings and their own self-doubts. The action is fast-paced and helps the author to create a good psychological drama which culminates with the final twist in the plot. I must say it was a huge surprise. I suppose that there will be a second book because the ending of this one doesn’t seem quite being an end.
Any review is subjective and so is mine. It shows my own opinions and feelings. I am sure other readers will feel differently. At times, I felt cheated and especially in the end. That’s the reason I couldn’t give 5 stars to this novel.

HORNS OF THE DEVIL BY MARC RAINER

1/30/2017

Horns of the Devil by Marc Rainer
5 stars out of 5

Horns of the Devil by Marc Rainer
5 stars out of 5

Horns of the Devil is the second novel I’ve read by Marc Rainer and I haven’t been disappointed. This novel convinced me that Marc Rainer is not one-novel type of writer.
The narrative is well built with twists and layers. The action builds up steadily and I, for one, cannot see any kind of holes in it. The author gives a lot of information but it seems necessary to understand the plot. There’s nothing too much or too little, just enough.
Mr. Rainer seems to have good knowledge of human mind. He knows what makes people tick and what may lie behind their actions. As result, all his characters are believable and well-developed. I like the fact that his main characters are not just white or black. There’s a complexity in each of them that leads to real human beings.
I will refrain from writing a synopsis of the novel because I don’t want to cheat the readers. They should have the pleasure to discover the action themselves. However, I can say that this is a novel I would recommend. This is a well-paced narrative with enough balance between information and action, as well as between seriousness and humor that makes it an interesting read. I have to confess that I was annoyed when I had to put the book down for half an hour. I couldn’t wait to get back to it. It makes for an addictive novel. I am sure I will read Mr. Rainer’s other novels as well.

REVIEW - DAVENPORT HOUSE BY MARIE SILK

1/25/2017

Davenport House by Marie Silk

Davenport House by Marie Silk

4 stars out of 5

The action of this novel is set in Pennsylvania in the countryside and is centered on a young woman who is part of the rich class. The narrative is fast-paced at times and very slow at others and reminds of the bleak Dickensian narrative at times.
The language is appropriate for younger readers and seems to be a little sketchy at times. Nevertheless, the plot is strong and presents enough twists to make it interesting and hold attention.
The main character, Mary, is well defined and her evolution throughout the novel is constant. She grows with the story and, in general, is a likable character. The secondary characters are well described and each of them adds value to the story.
I consider that this is an interesting read especially if someone is addicted to dark mysteries.

REVIEW: EXPIRED LISTINGS - REVENGE BEGINS AT HOME BY D.M. BARR

1/24/2017

Expired Listings: Revenge Begins at Home by D.M. Barr

5 stars out of 5

Mr. Barr’s novel surpassed my expectations. He succeeded not only in creating a thrilling story and compelling characters but he built a credible plot and quite realistic people.
The story is full of suspense and twists and digs into the ugly world of the realtors in Rock Canyon, world marred by unethical professional behavior and associated to the environment of piranhas or worse in the book. The author stretches the borders of credibility here and there but that adds a little more spice to the story. He seems to have a good understanding of human psychology and that helps him in setting the action and following up on the characters’ actions.
Mr. Barr builds up an interesting and convoluted story that has Dana Black at heart. Dana Black is a realtor in Rock Canyon and her personality is revealed with each layer of her past and each auction of the present. Thus, the author creates a very well rounded character and shows the action from this character’s point of view most of the time. There are only a few instances when the point of view switches to the killer and I am pretty sure that Mr. Barr uses that method to create tension and suspense.
I oscillated between 4.5 stars and 5 but, in the end, I realized it was only my subjectivity that made me subtract half a star. Indeed, the secondary characters are not very well developed but actually they are developed enough to help the story going on and to bring more and more mystery into the play. I also thought that the writer used too many details in describing the kinky sex scenes. I understand that the respective scenes were necessary in creating a believable character however I still think that the reader didn’t need to know so much about the BDSM scene in order to understand Dana’s personality but of course that’s just my opinion.
Nevertheless, I consider that this is a very good, fast-paced and well-written novel. It held my interest up to the end and it didn’t disappoint at all. I recommend it to the readers that enjoy a good and compelling thriller.

F.D.A. Approved Poetry by Michael Marrotti Paperback

10/12/2016

A good picture of today's reality

REVIEW

I was given an advanced reader copy some time ago and I was pretty sure it would be forgotten on a shelf. However, knowing the poet (I read several of his poems), I decided it to open it and read it and it was a fine surprise. I have read enough of Marrotti's poems (and stories) to have an idea about how his mind works but this book showed a clearer image of the poet and his recurrent themes.
As always, his poetry is dominated by the free verse and he is not afraid to throw punches here and there, which I find it extremely honest in this era. Most of people hide behind words while he uses words to reveal brutal truths.
This collection of poems is a metaphor and a satire of the times, at the same time. People are taking pills for everything and a lot of people live in a continuous euphoric state. Life has color only if people are riding the cloud of chemicals.
The main themes of the poems are time (which is seen in relation with the hunt for more helping chemical drugs that would erase the troubles of the real life), reality in opposition with the clouds induced by drugs, freedom and slavery in relation with the increased consumption of medication, which most of the time is prescribed with multiple refills.
I noted down only three interesting groups of verses (I don't want to spoil the reading): "living a life of fees/crawling out/of an orange bottle" - interesting metaphor as life is seen through the money paid for drugs; I liked also that "orange bottle" reference, which appears in some of the poems and which seems to become a symbol of the nowadays life when drugs are prescribed left and right for absolutely everything; "This straw/is my sword/This bottle/my shield" - ironic metaphor (note straw versus sword and bottle versus shield). However, I considered that the following verses would sum the entire collection and would portray the present world succinctly: "one white cloud/away from/rectifying this/imbalance".
I am sure the readers will find appealing several contradictions. There is one, though, which I cannot forget: "This dependency/is slavery/but it's the only/ form I know /that offers/ emancipation".
I would recommend this book, especially to young generations. It is brutally honest and shows one of the most terrifying aspects of today's reality.
I gave it only four stars because there were a few instances when I felt that the poet tried to push too hard in order to drive his point home. That being said, I think this is a very good collection of poems and one should take the time and read it.