Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Coming Economic Armageddon / Review

Author: Dr. David Jeremiah
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: FaithWords
(October 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446565946

Book Description:
Never before have we read such jarring headlines, distressing news analyses, or dire predictions concerning the world's financial future. The American housing market -- or, more sentimentally, the American dream -- began to collapse in 2006, taking with it large chunks of the global financial system. Millions of jobs worldwide have vanished forever. Did Bible prophecy predict this catastrophe? Are there biblical clues to how soon, if ever, a viable, long-term recovery can be sustained? Is the financial collapse just one of several signs that we are living in the final days of Earth's history In THE COMING ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON, David Jeremiah says we can know the meaning behind what we see in the daily news -- and understand and prepare for living in the New Global Economy.

My Review:
Caution: This book may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

The Coming Economic Armageddon is very sobering and even heartbreaking as we see that America is very likely on the verge of economic collapse.

Chapters include: The Fall of the American Economy; The New World Order; The New Global Economy; Satan's CEO; The Mark of the Beast; Financial Signs of the Times; God's Ultimate New World Order; and more.

This book has had very good reviews from other sources and appears to have solid facts which point to the "end times." 5 stars*****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Tick Tock / Review

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
(January 24, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0316037915

Book Description:
NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem--the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back.

The city has never been more terrified! Tick--a killer's countdown begins. A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.

Tick--Michael Bennett is on the chase. The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.

Tock--your time is up. Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan.

From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.

My Review:
As a James Patterson fan and collector, I'm always excited when another of his books comes out in print.

This one is not quite a good as some of his others, yet it is still a fun read. I enjoy, too, his style of short chapters. His writing is always mesmerizing and to the point--pager turners!

I'm giving this one 4 stars****(5 being the highest).

(Thank you to Hachett Book Group for my review copy.)

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Inner Circle / Review

Author: Brad Meltzer
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(January 11, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0446577898

Book Description:

Beecher White, a young archivist, spends his days working with the most important documents of the U.S. government. He has always been the keeper of other people's stories, never a part of the story himself...Until now.

When Clementine Kaye, Beecher's first childhood crush, shows up at the National Archives asking for his help tracking down her long-lost father, Beecher tries to impress her by showing her the secret vault where the President of the United States privately reviews classified documents. After they accidentally happen upon a priceless artifact - a 200 hundred-year-old dictionary that once belonged to George Washington, hidden underneath a desk chair, Beecher and Clementine find themselves suddenly entangled in a web of deception, conspiracy, and murder.

Soon a man is dead, and Beecher is on the run as he races to learn the truth behind this mysterious national treasure. His search will lead him to discover a coded and ingenious puzzle that conceals a disturbing secret from the founding of our nation. It is a secret, Beecher soon discovers, that some believe is worth killing for.

Gripping, fast-paced, and filled with the fascinating historical detail for which he is famous, THE INNER CIRCLE is a thrilling novel that once again proves Brad Meltzer as a brilliant author writing at the height of his craft.

About the Author:
Brad Meltzer is the author of seven New York Times bestselling thrillers: The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, The Book of Fate, and The Book of Lies. He is also the #1 bestselling author of the critically acclaimed comic books Identity Crisis and Justice League of America, and is the co-creator of the TV series Jack & Bobby. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School, he currently lives in Florida. To learn more about Brad, please visit him at http://www.bradmeltzer.com/.

My Review:
If you are looking for a thriller...this is it! Meltzer continues to write quality novels. 5 stars*****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my ARC.)

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Hell's Corner / Review

Author: David Baldacci
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(November 9, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446195529

Book Description:
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club return in #1 bestselling author David Baldacci's most stunning adventure yet.An attack on the heart of power . . .

In sight of the White House . . . At a place known as . . . HELL'S CORNER John Carr, aka Oliver Stone-once the most skilled assassin his country ever had-stands in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, perhaps for the last time. The president has personally requested that Stone serve his country again on a high-risk, covert mission. Though he's fought for decades to leave his past career behind, Stone has no choice but to say yes.Then Stone's mission changes drastically before it even begins. It's the night of a state dinner honoring the British prime minister. As he watches the prime minister's motorcade leave the White House that evening, a bomb is detonated in Lafayette Park, an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders. It's in the chaotic aftermath that Stone takes on a new, more urgent assignment: find those responsible for the bombing.British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone's partner in the search for the unknown attackers. But their opponents are elusive, capable, and increasingly lethal; worst of all, it seems that the park bombing may just have been the opening salvo in their plan.

With nowhere else to turn, Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust: the Camel Club. Yet that may be a big mistake.In the shadowy worlds of politics and intelligence, there is no one you can really trust. Nothing is really what it seems to be. And Hell's Corner truly lives up to its name. This may be Oliver Stone's and the Camel Club's last stand.

About the Author...
David Baldacci lives with his family in Virginia. He and his wife have founded the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. He invites you to visit him at www.david-baldacci.com and his foundationwww.wishyouwellfoundation.org, and to look into its program to spread books across America at www.FeedingBodyandMind.com.

My Review:
Well-written, filled with political narrative, and action, this book is sure to bring excitement to the reader who enjoys a good thriller. 4 stars****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Hollywood Hills / Review

Author: Joseph Wambaugh
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
(November 16, 2010)
ISBN-10: 031612950X

Book Description:
The legendary Hollywood Hills are home to wealth, fame, and power--passing through the neighborhood, it's hard not to get a little greedy. LAPD veteran "Hollywood Nate" Weiss could take or leave the opulence, but he wouldn't say no to onscreen fame. He may get his shot when he catches the appreciative eye of B-list director Rudy Ressler, and his troublemaking fiancée, Leona Brueger, the older-but-still-foxy widow of a processed-meat tycoon. Nate tries to elude her crafty seductions, but consents to keep an eye on their estate in the Hollywood Hills while they're away.

Also minding the mansion is Raleigh Dibble, a hapless ex-con trying to put the past behind him. Raleigh is all too happy to be set up for the job--as butler-cum-watchdog--by Nigel Wickland, Leona's impeccably dressed art dealer. What Raleigh doesn't realize is that under the natty clothes and posh accent, Nigel has a nefarious plan: two paintings hanging on the mansion's walls will guarantee them more money than they've ever seen.Everyone's dreams are just within reach--the only problem is, this is Hollywood.

A circle of teenage burglars that the media has dubbed The Bling Ring has taken to pillaging the homes of Hollywood celebutants like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, and when a pair of drug-addled young copycats stumbles upon Nigel's heist, that's just the beginning of the disaster to come. Soon Hollywood Nate, surfer cops Flotsam and Jetsam, and the rest of the team at Hollywood Station have a deadly situation on their hands.

Hollywood Hills is a raucous and dangerous roller coaster ride that showcases Joseph Wambaugh in vintage form.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)