CHRISTINE I. SPEAKMMAN - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS

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	Christine Speakman is addicted to books. She's returned to the writing and reviewing arena after a four year hiatus. Christine will be specializing in E-book reviews for FMAM.

JUR: A STORY OF PRE-DAWN EARTH
Thomas E. Johnson & James M. Reasoner
Chippewa Publishing
eBook, $5.00
ISBN 1-933400-23-4 (PDF)

Do you like adventure? How about "Journey to the Center of the Earth" or "Lost World" or "The Land That Time Forgot." You'll love JUR.

You're a frustrated writer, sitting in a Paris bar, when an older stranger joins your table. Talk turns to storytelling and you find yourself listening to an unbelievable tale of adventure. Surely this stranger didn't just make it up, but then it's just too fantastical to be real. Right?

The time: the Great Depression. The place: Central Africa. Our hero and heroine: French archeologist Odette-Aimee St. Claire, and American playboy turn adventurer Aaron Colden Jameson.

Separately they stumbled through a portal (she looking for a lost city; he looking to rescue her) and land in what looks like prehistoric Earth. However, things just aren't right. It's as if someone has plucked animals and beings from different evolutional times and left them here. It's only by searching for the makers of the time portal that Odette and Aaron learned the truth. They also end up fighting giant tigers, cannibalistic beast-men, massive snakes, and thwarting a mad ruler.

This story had me doing what I want all my reads to do...wanting more and furious because it ended. Okay, so I'm also furious at how it ended. How could the authors do that to me! No! Dang, but I love it! More!

Yippee, there's going to be more! (The sequel, SAVAGE LAND OF JUR, is due to be released later this summer.)

Christine I. Speakman

Available Formats:
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) ISBN 1-933400-23-4, Palm Doc (PDB), Rocket/REB1100 (RB), Pocket PC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB), hiebook (KML), iSilo (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), OEBFF Format (IMP), Microsoft Reader (LIT)

RELEASE ME
Melissa Swaim
Chippewa Publishing
eBook, $3.00
ISBN 1-933400-07-2 (Adobe PDF)

Strangely interesting. RELEASE ME is an 89-page e-book, not very long, but I've been sitting here close to an hour trying to figure out what to write. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

RELEASE ME is a one-character-driven tale. Vieve (short for Genevieve) Grayson narrates her life story as she...I believe...tries to understand/forget about the Men in Black and The Grays while weaving her way through the occult.

I'm not sure if Vieve is fully human whom aliens visit, or alien herself. But I think we've all met someone like her at some point in our life.

I have to admit, I don't think I understood the full story. However, there is something compelling about RELEASE ME. At times the story reads more like an epic prose than a novella. At others, a quick glimpse into someone's thoughts.

If you like the "X-Files" where you're never quite sure what's real and who's sane, then you may find RELEASE ME intriguing.

Again, strangely interesting, just can't put my finger on it.

Christine I. Speakman

Also available in Palm Doc (PDB), Rocket/REB1100 (RB), Microsoft Reader (LIT), PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB), hiebook (KML), iSilo (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), OEBFF Format (IMP)

TAKEN BY THE WIND
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Electronic book Publication: May 2006, $5.95
ISBN 1-4199-0438-8
www.cerridwenpress.com

From the publisher's website "Note: This is an expanded and revised novel previously published elsewhere."

This is my first time reading any version of TAKEN BY THE WIND. I've actually reviewed a couple of Ms. Boyett-Compo's e-books before, and it's a pleasure to do so again. Her writing has evolved into a much tighter fast-paced read. Her storytelling, always strong, is now better than ever.

Brenna Collins is working late when someone from her office is violently killed outside her office. The Gemini Killer, the twin killer has struck again. And for some unknown reason he's let the only witness to his crimes go...but who's going to believe that a decorated Detective is The Gemini Killer. Now he stalks Brenna from city to city as she tries to hide.

There are a couple of erotically graphic scenes, which I admit to skimming over...just not my cup of reading tea. The ending was stronger without the epilogue.

TAKEN BY THE WIND is an intense run from start to finish.

Christine I. Speakman

DARK HEART
S. K. Sebastian
Chippewa Publishing
eBook, $5.00
ISBN 1-933400-32-3 (PDF)

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you S.K. Sebastian has passed away. DARK HEART was my introduction to Ms. Sebastian, and I’m sorry I won’t be able to let her know how much I enjoyed her story. I’m sadden her words have been silenced. My condolences to her family and friends. I have been informed that all royalties from DARK HEART are being donated to cancer research.

Here’s to you S.K. Sebastian – THANK YOU.

DARK HEART is not--I repeat--is not your typical mass murderer hunted by haunted/reluctant heroine who’s secretly loved by and in love with hero cop. If you’ve read DARK HEART you know what I mean. If you choose to read DARK HEART, hang on--you’re in for a twister of a ride.

Is it possible to weave a story that contains the following characters?

1. Frank Baum, creator of “The Wizard of Oz”
2. Dorrie Gale (aka Dorothy Annette Gale, who visits Oz in this story as did Frank Baum’s Dorothy)
3. Lucifer Morningstar…aka the Devil
4. Michael…as in the Angel
5. Cain…yes, as in Cain and Abel
6. Andras, a demon created by Lucifer
7. Pendant of Ziroth, created by Lucifer to destroy Andras
8. Jack the Ripper, who was actually Andras
9. A Master Vampire who is also in Her Majesty’s Secret Service (MI-6)
10. Detective Michael Leeds…plain ole cop in Manhattan

Answer: YES.

Next question--Does the story make any sense? Actually, it does.

A good story? That would be another YES.

I would have left out the visit to Oz, but that aspect of the story is major to the whole reasoning behind Dorrie, our heroine. Maybe the Master Vampire was a bit too much…like a tad too much sugar in the icing…but I love vampires and this vampire sounds so good.

Dark fantasy or paranormal murder mystery? Not really sure, but if you like any of the above characters you may just find DARK HEART appealing.

Christine I. Speakman

Other available formats: Palm Doc (PDB), Rocket/REB1100 (RB), Pocket PC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB), hiebook (KML), iSilo (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), OEBFF Format (IMP), Microsoft Reader (LIT)

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