To Some of You - I Call This A Must-Read! You Decide!

The Armageddon Chord


By Jeremy Wagner
"I Write And I Rock"


Note: A contest to accompany publishing of this novel took place...I don't know if results have been announced but I listened to some of the available tapes. I selected the one shown above as the most representative (of the ones I viewed) of the book contents...and, no, I'm not into heavy metal, but this one "told" me more about the story...hope you enjoy it as an addition to this review...

I selected to read The Armageddon Chord based upon my interest in adventure tales of archaeological digs/hunts into ancient history and in end-time themed novels. But I must admit that when I read the description, and then started to read, adding music reminded me of the Charlie Daniels hit, "Devil Went Down to Georgia." In fact, the theme in the song is the basic underlying theme of the novel...but there comparison to the story line ends...

This book...rocks...is cool...or, whatever the latest slang is for a really great book! I thoroughly enjoyed it, although caution that you should expect some of the "routine language" that may be heard from some of our young these days... In the novel's context, it was appropriate, not overdone and should not be a deterrent to those of us who preferr not to listen/read... 

Money and power drove the two men who were the major team for the dig at the Egyptian pyramid honoring Aknaseth. Helmut Hartkopff was the lead archaeologist; his past which had left him disfigured, knew the history of Aknaseth and wanted the power that was supposed to be buried there in the sands...

For Festus Baustone the Third, it had started purely to obtain more of the artifacts he acquired to prove that he was the wealthiest man alive, but, now, his goal was different, he was dying. And he was trying anything and everything to save himself. Baustone was seeking...immortality!

Mask of Tutankhamun's mummy featuring
 a uraeus from theeighteenth dynasty

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/uraeus

When Hartkopff opened the tomb, he discovered there that the legends were true--that Sethis, the devil, had come to Aknaseth in his dreams and promised to make him a dark prince, bringing Sethis back to the world. He gave specific instructions regarding sacrifice and the use of a special uraeus and musical tablets. 

The sarcophagus contained a mummy, one who had a large build, was eight feet long, with a scaly, red, and leathery embalmed head twice as big as a normal human cranium. The mouth was agape, twisted into a silent scream... An ancient book, bound in solid gold rested on the mummy's chest...Helmut realized what the hieroglyphics on the papyrus pages were.

Before leaving the pyramid that day, Helmut had murdered those who had been there when the tomb was opened...

Reporting everything to Baustone immediately brought action in America--a talented guitarist must be found...

for the music that had been written by Sethis was to be played on an instrument to be built, designed long before the guitar had ever existed, and created for just one reason...

Kirk Vaisto was a genius on the guitar, the "ultimate madman" and had even become known as the "God of Guitar..." But he recently had started to have dreams that he knew were dark and apocalyptic, leaving stains on his soul...he knew one thing--"something malevolent" was coming because of who he was...

And before long, without even discussing it with Kirk, his manager had signed a binding contract with Festus Baustone... And by the time he had, first, translated the song, and then played it for the first time, the music had possessed him and his home studio, all electronics, his guitar--everything had been blown--destroyed...

This horror novel is not the norm...  Jeremy Wagner has used his musical expertise to mold an adventure tale of lost treasure, together with graphic depictions of supernatural power unleashed, and created a fantastic memorable key to how Armageddon could come...If you are the "least bit intrigued" by what I've provided here, I'll close with a must-read designation for YOU...

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Reading? Take A Tea Break!

Image by joshstaiger via FlickrPrimula Double Wall
Glass Mug





If you are a reader like me, you might start your day out reading from your latest novel...while you sip your cup of tea (or coffee...)

I'm one of those individuals who chooses a mug for drinking tea, and rarely switch to another, just washing out the one I have been using. So when I saw a Glass Mug "with the Tea Bag Buddy" available on Amazon, I just had to try it...and am sooooo glad I did! It immediately became my chosen tea mug! Here's a quick formal description directly from the box:

Advanced double-wall borosilicate glass retains heat and freshness longer while keeping the mug free of condensation. Enjoy an elegant, rich and satisfying brew. 

Here's my four top reasons for accepting the mug for my daily tea:

• It is indeed "elegant" and, somehow, that brightens the beginning of my day!
• It holds 16 oz, which was the exact size of my earlier choice. Since I only drink one cup a day, this works for me!
• It is very light, easy to pick up and hold for my fingers which are sometimes stiff in the morning (most important)
• The cup lip, as is the cup itself, is thin and feels "right" on those first few hot sips!

Now the Tea Bag Buddy did indeed work just as described and, if you like to steep your tea, will be an added benefit. This was not as important although I did verify its effectiveness and that the top did NOT stain after holding the tea bag...

The cup does keep the tea hotter, even without using the cover, since I sip...read...sip...read continuously...LOL

All in all, I was quite impressed and thankful to be able to look forward to my first sip of tea each morning from my new, quite elegant lovely cup!

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Russell Brooks Hosting Contest with Latest Novel Coming Tomorrow!

Author contest! 

Details as follows:

1. Every person that leaves a comment with their email address (Important) is automatically entered in the draw. 

2. To be sure that the contest is fair and impartial, Clinton (my cat) will select the 10 winners for a free eBook copy of CHILL RUN.

The contest will run from Sunday November 27, 2011 to December 1, 2011 at 9PM. The winners will be announced via my blog and my page on YouTube the same evening. http://russellparkway.blogspot.com/2011/11/win-free-ebook-copy-of-chill-run.html 

For those of you who read Pandora's Succession and, like me, would be prepared for a similar, new thriller...
You're in for a real surprise...and a treat...once you adjust to the story line. I admit that at first, as I started to read about "sexual doms" I didn't know what was coming, but soon I started to smile, laugh, and imagine just how an idea like this could be born--our world thrives on such things after all!
For Eddie Barrow wanted to become a published author. His first novel had been sent out and rejected so far, but he was still optimistic, even though his family had never supported his chosen profession, other than one aunt, and had never even asked to read any part of his manuscript. Eddie had left home because of the constant turmoil and lived with his best friend. However, Corey was going through a major depression because he had tried out for a Canadian idol contest and had been judged and publicized across the world as the world's "worst"... (You can see how readers are quickly smiling and feeling sympathy for the characters!)
Behind on the rent, Eddie first loses his girl and his job. And Corey hasn't been able to pay for his share of rent for months. After having dinner at home and getting even more negative feedback, he had left swearing he'd never returned. Perhaps if none of Eddie's financial troubles had happened, Corey's girlfriend, Jordyn, wouldn't have introduced an idea to him. In doing so, she identified herself as a fem dom, while quickly explaining that there was no sex involved in the activities. She suggested that Eddie act as a dom and, perhaps with a little whipping and smacking around, his client would be pleased and he would be paid big bucks.
Eddie was extremely hesitant, but finally agreed to meet with a woman who was supposedly a CEO of a major corporation. But, their plan was to have the press be notified, break it up--and, of course, Eddie would gain lots of notoriety as a "sex scandal" broke! Reluctantly, Eddie agreed.
I had to share all of this because the circumstances was just too good, not to pull me in. By this point, I was hooked and hoping Eddie could get through this without too much pressure.
But before he left that hotel room, his "client" had been murdered...
Eddie and Corey quickly decided they had to turn themselves into the police and explain what had happened. That is, until Eddie saw them all already on the news...
Eddie, Corey and Jordyn wind up on the run...Though the chase is hot and heavy, Eddie knows that if they don't try to solve the case, and gain sufficient evidence, they will never be free...but the twists and turns seem to be ending, only to start over!
Russell Brooks has given us another great ride--thrills galore, but this time, with a very sympathetic wannabe novelist as the main character, together with two close friends who support him throughout. Loved the characters, the concept, and the thrills of this Chill Run! Highly recommended!


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Latest in Darryl Billups Mystery Series Becomes Favorite!

Image by aepoc via Flickr

"Hudson reminds me of that joke about the man
whose wife catches him buck naked in their bedroom
with another woman. After swearing up and down
that nothing is going on, the man asks his wife, "Who
you gonna believe--me or your lying eyes?"

Don't Believe Your
  Lying Eyes:


A Darryl Billups Mystery


By Blair S. Walker






I was pleased to have the opportunity to read the latest novel written by Walker and hope that the series continues in the near future. Darryl Billups is a good man, an investigative journalist who, because of his skills, got promoted, but then decided to return to the streets to continue using his very real talents in helping to solve crimes--I appreciate when a character is drawn so that his moral integrity is visible and used to move the story along. 

Like the realty shows now playing on television, a local collector has purchased the material in a storage area which had been sold for nonpayment of rent--a big mistake made through a clerical error that resulted in the uncovering of a mummified woman's body, dead for many years. And the injured and dead body count increases quickly immediately after the body is found; i.e., before the body itself is stolen from the office of the medical examiner! It was later determined that not only had the lady been somewhat of a local celebrity, she had also been engaged to a man who was now a powerful leader in local politics.

The whodunit is not so much a surprise, but the later twists and unexpected ending does provide a quite satisfying solution to the mystery and, of course, Darryl is right there finding out what is needed and working to solve the case, alone if necessary.

But this time he is joined by a new female cop, Thelma Holmes, who is now partnering with Scott Donatelli. I loved Thelma and do hope to see her becoming closer to Darryl in the future--even closer than they get in this novel...and, that, readers was all "on the job...!"

Quite a bit of personal fluff starts the novel and provides a different humorous side to Walker's writing. Darryl and Yolanda are having dinner at her parents' place to announce their engagement. Yolanda unfortunately invited Darryl's sister, who doesn't think Yolanda is good enough for her brother, and when she starts sniping during dinner, it not only turns funny (for readers), but finally leads to blows being exchanged... And...almost immediately, Darryl decides that this was the last draw and declares the engagement over. Both throw out anger and hurtful claims but there is a gentler ending later so that readers feel everything worked out...


And, of course, the breakup allowed Darryl to consider the charms of Ms. Thelma Holmes when, in joining forces (actually, Darryl had used business as an excuse to ask her out), they are kidnapped and held hostage!


While this crime investigation was not so thrilling, I enjoyed the overall lighter story, looking into the personal lives of all the characters. Walker effectively shares the total picture of each of those he has created so that we feel a connection--we're invited into dinner conversation that probably should never be heard by anybody outside of those who are fighting...and later we suffer with and see the strength of character of Thelma and Darryl as they work together to free themselves, only to be unsuccessful...


Of the three, this was my favorite from Blair Walker--but I hope it is not my last! I'm already looking forward to what Thelma and Darryl might get into on their next case, or on a more personal level... Loved this one!

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• Walker Takes Series Up A Notch With Great Second Novel! (gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com)
• Darryl Billups Mystery, Written by Former Journalist, Begins New Series! (gabixlerreviews-bookreadersheaven.blogspot.com)

Humor Reigns in Autopsy Coroner Exchange With Dead "Client"!

Image via Wikipedia

Martin nodded. "Occipital blunt force trauma resulting in
cardiopulmonary collapse due to massive brainstem injury,
presumably the result of falling from the bridge onto the back
of the head..."
"Hi, Matin," I said, and from the terrified expression on his
face I could see that he'd heard me again, or at least somehow
sensed me, because when I write here that I "say" something,
this of course has nothing to do with the production of sound
waves, since for that one obviously needs vocal cords. Mine,
however, were cut up into little pieces inside the dissected
throat of the mincemeat corpse in Morgue Drawer 4.

Morgue Drawer Four


By Jutta Profijt
Translated by Erik J. Macki






I'm not a fan of a lot of "humor" thrown out these days, however, I was totally "into" Jutta Profijt's brand in her novel Morgue Drawer Four. Imagine a great stand-up comic spouting totally relevant one-liners...seemingly for the entire time it takes you to read a book. Of course, the comic was a ghost--a recently deceased car thief and he was not happy to wind up living in a morgue drawer...

Would you?

And the straight man for the comedy? None other than a coroner--the coroner who had his "client" speak to him just at the point when he was about to be relieved of a very important part of his body... "Dude, get your monkey beaters off my...!" had been roared with the greatest urgency! Martin would never be the same!

And, of course, neither was "Pascha, the guy in Morgue Draw Four."

You may have guessed by now that Pascha's death was not accidental, although the autopsy findings would lead to that conclusion. But Pascha had been pushed and quickly concluded that he was there to stay until the mystery of his murder was solved...

It had all started when he had been contracted to steal a certain type of car. As always, he was busily searching the car for anything he could take and later sell. But opening the trunk, he had discovered a woman, a naked, dead body... Deciding to ignore the potential future surprise for the customer, Pascha had gone on to deliver the car.

Now he was dead... And he needed Martin to help him find the killer.

At this point on, readers will be pulled into the usual investigation for finding a criminal--usual, that is, if a medical examiner and a ghost are usually involved in such investigations... In fact, Martin was not happy with anything that was happening, but was intelligent enough to realize that helping might be the only way to ultimately have Pascha leave!

Let me just say that Pascha had Martin traveling into many dangerous parts of the city and there was not much Pascha could do to help when Martin got into tough, dangerous situations. I don't know how it all continued to have a humorous twist to it, but it did! Martin might be the typical scientific genius that is excellent at his job; however, tracking down car thieves and potential murderers is something he would never undertake on his own. Still, he proved to be committed and almost brave in his actions.

An interesting little sideline activity was that Pascha started "learning" from Martin about not only forensics but even basic grammar and language skills, so much so that something like a partnership, though weird, did form between the two! Martin even was willing to turn on the television at the morgue and leave it so that Pascha had something to do during the long night...

I'm hoping that even though his own murder has since been solved that Pascha stays around and Martin gets involved in future adventures! This wise-cracking ghost and forensics phenomenon make a dynamic due unlike any other and I, for one, would love to meet them again in the future! Highly recommended!

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Tyra Banks Whirls Fashion and Fantasy Into Fun Fairy Tale!

Image via WikipediaModelland


By Tyra Banks




Take a touch of Willie Wonka, add a bit of Cinderella, and add lots of fashion and accessory savvy and you will be reading Modelland! Fairy Tales seems to be taking a new forefront these days with Grimm and Once Upon a Time taking rave reviews for the latest TV programs... So Banks' choice of presentation for her story is coming at a perfect time for everybody who enjoys lots of fantasy along with a few scary spots and a fable-like moral. I was impressed with the underlying story and support it for our youth...

Two sisters live with their parents in Metopia--Myrracle is a beautiful, graceful young teen who was early on spoiled and pampered, being primed to be chosen to enter Modelland. Tookie De La Creme, her sister, "with her untamable hair, large forehead, and gawky body", has silently been ignored by anybody and everybody for as long as she remembers. Her latest attempt to be somehow recognized, even if she has to be hurt in doing so, is to lie down in the middle of the hallway at school, hoping at least to be acknowledged. But everybody somehow not only does not step on her, they still succeed in not even realizing she is...there! She was a true "Forgetta-Girl..."

Consider, if you will, a world where beauty is paramount and becoming a model is the highest, loftiest goal to which any young girl, and some boys, can strive for. Whereas Cinderella was the only girl that was not going to the ball, in Metopia and across this world all activities evolve around the world of fashion. And, there in Metopia, the fashion capital of the world, anybody who was not destined for becoming a model was forced to work in the many fashion and beauty product factories that supported those few who were beautiful. There were also some questionable activities and experiments that took place on some young girls, although nobody really acknowledged them...

And so the grand annual "call" was to take place. A few were sent special invitations; but people would flock from all over the world to Metopia to symbolically walk the red carpet up the mountain. For you see, Modelland was located above Metopia! It was a secured magical place where, once chosen, the girls would be taught how to find their magical abilities, hoping for as many as possible to gain recognition and stature. Seven would become "Intoxibellas" each year...but many would stay there in Modelland to serve the chosen...

It was rare that anybody left Modelland...although many would have if permitted...

But something happened this year--a rouge Intoxibella! Not only had she gone nuts, she was being hunted by many far and wide. But she was there as a scout that day and, instead of Myrracle, she took Tookie! And once she had Tookie, she went blissfully through the town selecting three more young women who were definitely not the typical model type! In fact, when they all reached Modelland, they were considered as new seamstresses or anything other than new members of the classes that would soon start!

One thing we know about the U.S. is that successful people have the ability to influence--for good or bad. The intent of this novel is important and I think Tyra Banks has done an excellent job of helping young women realize that looks are not what makes beautiful people. She's written what she knows and done it in a way that is fun as well as refreshing in its honesty, albeit in the very fairy-tale world of Modelland! You might find taking advantage of the story will be more important than anything you might say yourself to the young people in your life.

I plan on sharing this with my great-niece to whom I've already told a little. She's watching the two new TV shows mentioned above and enjoying them...in fact, if you are watching these programs, then I highly recommend you consider the first book by Tyra Banks.

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• Tyra Banks Talks Modelland (shoppingblog.com)
• Tyra Banks Hits NY Streets Dressed As Character From Her Book (thegloss.com)