Review: Burning Rose by Shirley Kennett

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The climax takes readers onsite in South America!

Burning Rose


Shirley Kennett












Wow! Shirley Kennett's (Dakota Banks) Burning Rose, an exciting suspense thriller, presented two  more kickass women, one you just love to hate! Burning Rose has acted on her own for many years, but has recently been selected to become a member of a group known as The Six. In philosophy, it appears that this group works to ensure that consideration of the planet if more important than profit by large corporations, although each of the individuals had personal concerns, such as saving large jungle animals in danger of extinction.

Burning Rose, no matter what she might say, was interested in only one thing--killing her father over and over. Her latest had been a government official who she had seduced and then killed...with a rose...

Her first assignment for The Six was to take out the head of a CEO, Robert Gunner. At the same time, Casey Washington, a freelance journalist, has gained, through a little subterfuge, an interview with him regarding his plans to build a controversial project in the Amazon rainforest.

The problem for Casey was that everything that she had read and researched showed that Gunner was a bottom-line type of exec and cared little about the environment. Casey had agreed to do the interview for those that supported his planned project; however, when she actually got to the interview, she was conflicted with her own feelings--and it didn't help that she was attracted to him!

But her ideals won out--and she lost the interview! So she tried to salvage the job for which she had already received a $10,000 advancement, but planning a different approach. Needless to say, it was not well received by her employer and was forced to return the money. Not willing to give up, however, she digs into a stash of her own and travels to South America as well.

Readers enjoy meeting each of The Six members and also watch as Robert Gunner plays many high-finance moves to bring about a plan to merge several large corporations under his bailiwick.

Burning Rose has done what she excels at doing; she has seduced Robert Gunner and is now living with him, as they plan to marry. Interestingly, Gunner has been doing some major changes in his business, keeping most of it secret, but some information has leaked out...and has reached The Six who feel that they must now postpone their assignment, pending what happens regarding the rain-forest project.

But Burning Rose doesn't agree...

Enter Casey Washington...

By now readers of Shirley Kennett/Dakota Banks know that they can plan on meeting strong, intelligent women as lead characters--a main reason for her having moved onto my favorite author list! Check out my review on Time of Death soon! Her novels are tightly woven, intricately complex and fascinating to follow the various plots that she has successfully created. The finish of this book is dramatic and wonderfully satisfying. This is an older novel, but is still available. If you enjoy thrillers, Burning Rose as the back cover says, showcases "Shirley Kennett at the top of her game." Unforgettable!

Review: Main Theme Disappointing; Author's Writing and Small-Town Life Great!

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Indivisible


Kristen Heitzmann




There is much to enjoy reading Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann. Fortunately the overall story is a gem that provides readers with a satisfying, wonderful read. The suspense offered, not so much. The book opens with the finding of two raccoons that have torn each other apart in a frenzy. Upon further examination, however, it is discovered that the coons have been purposely sewn together, while drugged, so that when they awaken, they literally tore each other to death, trying to gain freedom.

Similar animal finds keeps the case open; however it is not hard to figure out what is happening and why, even if final details are somewhat different. This theme was sadly inappropriate within the framework of Christian fiction,  in my opinion, certainly providing no salvation in its ending.

This is a small part of the book, however, and I thoroughly enjoyed the primary characters and their relationships.

Jonah Westfall is the town sheriff, having taken over the reins that were formerly held by his father, who we find was not a good nor honorable man. Jonah is left with the scars of life with him as well as his death and his mother's rejection and blame of Jonah for her husband's suicide.

He has been in love with Tia since they were kids; however, along the way because of his own issues, he hurt Tia and her family terribly. Tia is the only one still living in town, running a small candle shop owned by her mother, even though she has obtained a degree and does some basic counseling on Hopeline which is run through her church. It is fun to watch the Jonah-Tia relationship develop once again...

Tia has recently opened her home to Piper who came to town alone, leaving her family who were professional thieves. Piper and Tia slowly build a warm sister-like relationship while they are both living together, and, later working side by side. Piper talked an elderly man, Sarge, into her helping in his bakery. Sarge is gruff and set in his ways, but Piper is soon joking and sharing so that they are becoming closer. That is, until he collapses on the floor at work and Piper calls for help and is then blamed by Sarge for having him hospitalized.

In addition to the animal abuse case, the police chief is also aware that drugs have come into their small town and, more importantly, into the his office when one of his officers has her child removed from their home and her husband is tested and found to be using. But Jonah, in having to try to learn where the drugs were coming from, creates a new tense work situation that later leads to death...

One individual who becomes a suspect, simply because of his OCD, is right in the center of many situations and brings a wealth of compassionate feelings from many individuals, and even a little more from Piper.

Small town life is what pulls readers into the book... We see and know everything and we get to know the individuals living, and hurting, and those who are willing to reach out to help, and hold to, others. Certainly romance lovers will find much to enjoy.

Book Received
From Publisher


GABixlerReviews

Dakota interviews her character, Maliha Crayne

I had a fun time writing an interview with Maliha Crayne, the kick-ass star of the Mortal Path series. She made me a little nervous because I'd heard about her violent reputation, but I came out of it with all parts intact. 

Note from BRH: I noticed this blog entry "after" I wrote my review of Sacrifice, which appeared yesterday. I thought it was interesting that Dakota and I both called Maliha "Kick-ass..." Guess I read her as she really is! LOL

I'd finally gotten Maliha Crayne sitting across from me in a corner booth at Kelly's Pub in Chicago. It's mid-afternoon and we're the only customers. Over a beer, she relaxes completely and I'm the one who's nervous. I wonder how many weapons are hidden in her worn black jeans and under the baggy T-shirt that says Bite Me. Her thick hair is woven into a braid down the back of her neck, and her alert green eyes show warmth and attention, but she's not missing a thing that goes on in the rest of the pub. I set out my voice recorder and she frowns at it momentarily, as if I'd tossed a grenade between us.

Dakota Banks: Welcome, Maliha. You're a tough woman to track down, and it's good to finally meet you. Would you like a burger or something?

Maliha Crayne: No thanks. This week I'm not eating.

DB: Uh...

MC: That was a joke. Your name's Dakota, right? I like that.

DB: Thanks. I'm glad you agreed to this grilling--

MC: Could we avoid the word grilling? I have this thing about fire.

DB: Sure. Tell me a little about yourself.

MC: The first thing is that I'm over three hundred years old. I was burned as a witch during the Salem witch trials. Another woman wanted my husband, and.... Let's not get into that. A demon left over from the Sumerian period grabbed me and gave me a choice: go back and finish roasting or become his immortal assassin. At the time, immortality sounded good. I was also granted superhuman speed and healing abilities, and I could read auras, although I don't think that was a gift from the demon. All I had to do to stay young and enjoy life was kill people whenever the demon gave me assignments. Sometimes the target was an individual, sometimes it was starting a war.

DB: So you've killed a lot of people? I'm okay sitting here, right? And I don't suppose you can tell me any details about who got axed?

MC: Just don't ask the secret question that drives me crazy. Relax! You're okay. Lucky guess on the axe. That was when I was the Black Ghost. Then I just couldn't kill anymore. It's complicated, but the demon gave me an assignment I couldn't carry out.

DB: You just turned your back on the demon and that was it?

MC: It doesn't work that way. I have to save as many lives as I took when I was the Black Ghost. I have this carving of scales I have to balance. Wanna see?

DB: Uh... Note: Maliha yanks up T-shirt. She's not wearing anything underneath.
MC: If I just stroke here for a minute ... There! Do you see it?

DB: Readers, for the record, this wasn't my idea.

MC: See it?

DB: Just barely. It's like the scales of justice, with two pans that are out of balance.

MC: That was carved on me by the demon's claw. Bet you've never seen anything like that before.

DB: Is this one of those situations where now that you've told me, you have to kill me?

MC: Are you always this murder-minded?

DB: No. Something about talking to you just brings it out of me. Now you're doing good things instead of bad?

MC: Kind of a simplistic way of putting it, but if I want my soul back, that about covers it.

DB: Do you have a significant other?


MC: You first. 

DB: Me? I'm married and very much in love.

MC: Things aren't that straightforward for me. It's hard to find a soulmate when a demon owns your soul. But I'm working on it.

DB: Tell me something no one else knows about you.

MC: I like bowling.

DB: That sounds a little tame for you.

MC: Depends on what the winner gets, doesn't it?

DB: I can't stand it anymore. Show me one of your weapons.

MC: How about this one?

DB: Note: A short black knife appears from nowhere and Maliha stabs it into the table between the fingers of my hand.That'll do. Just checking, in case all that talk was hype. You can put that knife away now.

MC: No hype. It could just as easily have gone into your throat. Ask me about my last interview.

DB: Wrapping up, readers. Thank you, Maliha, for this glimpse into your life. I'll be leaving now.

HarperVoyager Books

http://outofthiseos.typepad.com/blog/2010/09/special-guest-blog-from-author-dakota-banks.html


Used by Permission

Review: 2nd in Series Grabs Heather Graham's Attention - Mine Too!

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Maliha Gains a Roman Centurion Immortal Partner!

Sacrifice:


Mortal Path Book Two


By Dakota Banks




A favorite author of mine, Heather Graham, uses "chilling" as one of her descriptors for Sacrifice. Indeed! Maliha Crayne has "seen the light" you might say as, in Book One, she chooses to save a child rather than allow it to die along with the mother that her demon had ordered her to murder. She had been an assassin for Rabishu, a demon who controlled her for hundreds of years, but had played the one card that could allow her redemption--and she took it. Now she had lost her immortality, her complete ability to heal and many of her powers.

But she was still fighting and killing--only now it was against evil!

And fighting to balance the scale from all of  her former misdeeds is, surely, hell to pay! To clarify, the god Anu, who is allowing her the opportunity to redeem herself, sits in judgment as to what counts in the balancing act. Carved into her chest is a set of scales, with tiny figures on each, now seriously one-sided after the thousands of deaths she has caused. But, whenever she saves one or more lives, the figures actually move from one side to the other...each carving the way, to the agony and torment of Maliha, as an emphasis, I suppose, to the importance of what she is now doing to atone for her sins...

Sometimes saving the individual gets personal, as her friend Hound begs for her assistance to save his lover after she was kidnapped while delivering medical supplies for the World Health Organization. They got Glass out, but it took outside help to save Maliha--a Roman Centurion! A very handsome one...

Strangely enough, though, he was only there to save her life, so that she could continue to do part of her assignment from Anu--the part where she would acquire certain items that an unknown demon wanted--who just happened to own the Roman Centurion. Just to add a little spice to that, though, both Maliha and the Centurion discover a little more personal reason for the Centurion to be around her!

I found the most intriguing part of this book to be when she sets off alone to deal with a group of men who were out to rule the world through the use of nanites, something so small that they cannot be seen, but so deadly that they can not only kill but destroy the bodies of those affected--was that Maliha did not want to have her new friends see her as she used the skills and power gained while she was an assassin. While admitting she welcomed the power she used to help take care of the evil she fought, she also wanted to shield those closest from that former self that she had been. Surely the god Anu looked upon her feelings with a measure of wonder...

Banks has set a delicate balance for Maliha to follow--she assassinated thousands during hundreds of years, with honed skills and an aggressiveness that surely came from her being immortal and ultimately forced into a life of control and power. Yet, now, with loss of immortality and with fewer skills, she has agreed to "balance the scales for good--using exactly those same skills needed as an assassin. Who among us could easily walk her new road?

I love this series! It's jammed with action and adventure that moves quickly from one harrowing event to another. Maliha is a strong kick-ass woman who survived not only a demon's control, but earlier the fires of burning after a false accusation of being a witch. Now she's a woman who, perhaps, is in full payback mode, while attempting to appease a god watching and judging her every move. And yet, there are people who love and help her and parts of herself that pause and listen so that she knows what and how to do things...for instance, would you be able to have the faith to step into a lake of boiling water? I can't wait to read the next Mortal Path novel!

Highly recommended for fantasy lovers as well as action and adventure fans...and more!

Book Received Via
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Dakota Banks Shares Trials of Creating a Book Trailer!

Excuse Me, I'm Telling a Story Here...

The Sad Saga of the Sacrifice Trailer

Book trailers seem to be the thing these days. I enjoy looking at them, but after a while I noticed a sameness to them. Ones without narration looked like stylish Powerpoint presentations, and ones with narration sounded too much like the noise made by heaving bosoms. I'll leave that up to the individual to interpret.

I had a fun trailer for my first book, Dark Time, made with live action martial arts shots. That was a special situation done by a friend of mine who is an independent filmmaker. When book two came around, I thought I'd do something different from the others, with pages of the story coming to life in an animated book. I got as far as getting excited about it and getting a quote, at which point my excitement dimmed. I loved the concept, but I couldn't afford it.  

Plan B turned out to be making a trailer myself. I had already done the Powerpoint type (Click here to see it), so I wanted something different. I had a video camera that had sabre tooth tiger claw marks on it, it was so old, so much to my husband's delight, I sent him shopping for a new one. I wrote what I thought was a funny, clever script and waited for the video clips to make a movie. And waited. It seemed like everything but my clips got filmed, including the interior of a tunnel going through a mountain somewhere in Pennsylvania. This accounts for my trailer not being ready a couple of months in advance of the release date of Sacrifice.


Having gotten off to a late start, we then discovered that we didn't have proper professional lighting to make interior shots look good. After stewing about that for awhile, I made an executive decision to go ahead with filming anyway. Nobody would notice, I figured, and lighting equipment was big bucks. Clips were shot and assembled with some stills in Windows Movie Maker, a not-too-wonderful product to use with one big advantage: it's free. Then I spent hours trying to record the narration called for in my script and get the timing correct, matching it to what was going on in the movie. Let's just say that radical changes were made in the script. The secret, of course, would have been to read the narration aloud in advance and time each section so we'd know how long to make the video clip. Instead, we had an assembled movie with no thought given to whether I could speak the words fast enough to keep up with the action.

Script version 2 was drastically cut. Then I spent hours trying to read and record the whole thing, keeping in time with the movie. I am notcut out for this. There were numerous takes that didn't get more than ten seconds in before I mispronounced something or giggled. I finally ended up with what I thought was a usable version, and when I went to play it back, the sound was so low I could only hear it with the volume on 100% and my face smashed up against the computer's speaker. Hoping that somehow things would be different on YouTube, I uploaded it. Nope. Same problem. Yes, it is true. I spent hours recording without doing a simple sound test first.

After switching to a different microphone, changing some settings, and doing numerous "testing, testing," recordings, I found I had to hold the microphone not up to my mouth as one would think, but parallel to my cheek, which somehow eliminated most of the breathy noises. It's been an adventure, folks.

Then of course there's the shock of hearing your own recorded voice. I swear I do not sound like that.

Thr finished product (cough, cough) finally made it to YouTube and to my website's trailer page. Here it is now, for your enjoyment--and I dare you to diss this trailer to my face. You can have a good laugh, though 

Check Out Trailer for Dark Time By Dakota Banks