River City Dead - A Review

River City Dead

by

Nancy G. West

A Review

Book Four in the series, but the second that I had the opportunity to read provides a fun romp through downtown Fiesta Week in San Antonio. Though taking place in 1998, the book reads like a modern cozy mystery starting with chapter one when a dead body, Monica Peters, is found in the penthouse suite of the CASA Prima Hotel.

Monica was not just a dead body, she was also the previous resident of the room that was to be Aggie Mundeen’s room for her San Antonio vacation and she was a personal friend. Despite Detective Sam Vanderhoven, Aggie’s special friend, insistence that she stay away, she couldn’t. She never did.

Monica Peter was the first victim, but not the last. Some were intentional - others consequential if the real target was to be killed. But Sam and Aggie would stumble on clue after clue toward a satisfying resolution.

The book held my attention as it moved through this river city’s version of Mardi Gras - even as the sitting moved by the wonderful riverside events to other locations throughout the metropolitan area. The descriptions would make one want to visit this historical city during Fiesta Week or at some other time of the year. The reader gets a glimpse of the culture that defines late 20th century - some of which can still be seen during Fiesta Week each year in San Antonio.

And a hint - don’t miss the origin of Nachoes in chapter seven - a little history added to a cozy mystery for the fun of it.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Story 365 Devotions - A Review

The Story
365 Devotions

A Review

A year long set of devotions firmly set on The Story Bible - each entry focuses on the lessons of a particular Bible verse, periscope, or personality.  See the attached photograph for one sample entry:

This image is from the paperback edition, other sample entries, from the Kindle edition, can be seen on Amazon’s site.  Each entry is relatively low key, but includes a simple prayer that helps the reader apply that day’s text; perfect for the table beside the bed to start and/or end each day.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Beginner's Bible (NiRV) - Review

The Beginner's Bible

New International Reader’s Version

A Review

This is a colorful Bible that will appeal to young children. The text is an easy to read version of the scriptures designed for early readers - either adult or children. Along with the scripture text are a set of 20 full-page colored images highlighting various well-known Bible stories. Along with this is a child-sized dictionary to provide some guidance to the reader and a list of “150 Famous Bible Stories” along with checkboxes allowing the reader to track his or her movement through the stories.

The Bible will make a nice gift Bible or an addition to a children’s Sunday School classroom  

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Dr. Who: The American Adventures - A Review

Dr. Who: The American Adventures

by

Justin Richards

A Review

I was looking forward to reliving some of the excitement that filled my many of my hours since I began grad school watching the great Tom Baker starring in some of the earlier Dr. Who adventures and the other actors who filled that position during the intervening years when we saw new reincarnations of this classic Sci-Fi character. Alas, this book did not renew my love of Dr. Who.

The stories were fun - but they did not resemble any of the Dr. Who adventures I have seen over the last five decades. I found myself reading a series of seven rather gentle sci-fi stories that did star The Doctor and many of his implements (i.e. the Tardis and the Sonic Screwdriver, etc.); but they failed to deliver the character or energy of the TV show. Good sci-fi, but not so much good Dr. Who. The books failed to develop the relationships that the Doctor made with the secondary characters in the show. There was no sign of a companion and none of the expected troublemakers (though the Daleks and the Cyberman (sic) were mentioned on the copyright page). The brief pictures of American history did add some value to the book; but they will provide little extra knowledge of history to the average American reader, suggesting that only a bit of research was done in preparation prior to writing each story.

I guess the bottom line is that I was a bit disappointed after making my way through this collection of stories.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Airship Genesis Kids Study Bible - A Review

Airship Genesis Kids Study Bible

Edited By

David Jeremiah

A Review

I am looking at a well-designed Bible, though probably more of a Devotional Bible, than a Study Bible.  The following screen grab from Amazon.com gives some hint of what is available - Amazon has additional page views for examination as well:

This edition is a hardbound book using the New King James Version Bible. Though directed by the capable hand of Dr. David Jeremiah; other authors contributed to the final product, including Robert J. Morgan, one of my favorite devotional writers. However, the authors of individual articles are not indicated.  The book has a Spaceship look throughout, with the comments found throughout the book labeled and typed in a science fiction type of font that might be seen on such shows as Star Trek or Star Wars display screens or during the opening and closing credits - a font that should appeal to the pre-teen or young teen.   Notes are in color - some used just for highlighting, others to illustrate the contents of the notes. The combination of fonts, colors, and illustrations should appeal to the young people this Bible is designed for.

The Bible would fit well into the church library or the middle school classroom.  It would also be a suitable gift for the middle school child beginning to read or study the Bible for his- or herself.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.