End Game - A Review

End Game

 

by

Rachel Dylan

Short Summary: 
He saved her life;
she saved his life;
they had fallen in love.

The story was more involved than that simple summary. This faith-based romantic thriller was an alphabet soup of police agencies working to solve multiple murders in the Washington DC area: NCIS, JAG, Army CID, Seal Team 8, FBI, CIA, the Arlington Police Department, and the Arlington DA’s Office. Each had a role in bringing a group of criminals to justice - and they wanted to do it before any other innocent person was killed.

As expected, Rachel Dylan has created an exciting and complex story worthy of the genre. The author has indicated that there will be future stories in this series; this reader hopes that the series brings back many of the same characters from the various federal agencies in future volumes, they worked well together as a team and some friendships were just beginning.   

The book would be a welcome addition to a church or public library. It would be enjoyed by those familiar with the author or genre.  

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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.

Seconds To Live - A Review

Seconds To Live 

by

Susan Sleeman

Deputy U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, assigned to the WITSEC detail in Portland, OR, must work with FBI Agent Sean Nichols, assigned to the RED (“Rapid Emergency Deployment”) team from Seattle, WA, to identify and apprehend a hacker using the alias of Phantom. Phantom’s crime - hacking the WITSEC database containing the names of thousands of individuals being offered protection by the U.S. Marshals Service. Phantom’s first target appeared to be Dustee and Dianne, twin sisters. Dustee had a nasty habit of not following the WITSEC rules designed to protect their charges, and now the twin’s lives were in danger.

Solving the clues would take the technical IT and forensic skills of both the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI’s RED team. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep most readers of faith-based romantic thrillers happy and engaged. The romantic component was a bit more than what this reader usually likes, but the book still is easily a 5-star read.

This book could easily find a home in many reader’s personal libraries, a local public library, or the church library.

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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.

Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Christo - A Review

Manga Classics:

The Count of Monte Christo

by

Alexander Dumas

At some point in the past I chose to read the huge book that is The Count of Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas. Manga Classics has designed an adaption of the original book - and, at 400+ pages, this manga book is also large. 

Manga is unique - it is intended to be read starting from what we westerners would call the “back” of the book. Reading then proceeds toward the “front”. At first, this may seem a bit discomforting, but it quickly becomes second nature and the story moves along. The artwork (except for the covers, all artwork in my review copy is black and white) makes the story understandable and enjoyable to one who has long ago forgotten the plot and themes developed in Dumas’ original. I tried to discover whether the paperback version of the book included color images, but could not locate a copy to answer this question. 

The story is one of revenge - as Edmond Dantes and his family are driven to ruin by those who would seem to be friends. It would take decades for Edmond to be in a position where he could exact the revenge, and occasionally offer the forgiveness, which his betrayers required. As the editor of this version notes in his postlude, the story in its original is complex. He and his team of artists have worked hard to translate the story into this modern format for the 21st-century reader. The editor makes it clear that the story has been carefully “trimmed” to combine the main flow of the story. He includes a brief essay outlining the “Rules of Trimming” used by the team as they made their decisions on what to include and what to exclude from the original story. In the same essay, he explains how the artwork was developed - both for the characters and for the settings. This included travel to the sites used in the book so the art might better represent the actual scenes rather than merely an artist’s imagination. I particularly liked the two-page “Character Relationship Guide” that is used to assist the reader in piecing together the many individuals that play a part in Edmond Dantes’ story. I expect this guide would also help a reader as he or she makes their way through Dumas’ original work.

For those looking for a new and enjoyable way to enjoy classic stories, Manga may provide one means to do so. You do lose the author’s original insight and nuances - but … this reader enjoyed the new journey through the old material, perhaps others will as well.
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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 Camera Never Lies - A Review

The Camera Never Lies

by

David Rawlings

David Rawlings writes fiction that is as revealing as it is fictional. On the surface, the book is about a man, one David Whiteley, whose family, whose job, and whose reputation, stand on a precipice - one that will crumble beneath his feet if something does not change. Beginning with the death of his grandfather and the unexpected camera left to him at his grandfather’s death, life begins to unravel.

But this camera is special. The resulting pictures have exceptional clarity, and they often reveal more truth than the photographer is planning for. Ultimately the question becomes, what will the photographer respond to that truth. And that is the question that David faces as he retrieves his prints from Simon, the owner of the camera shop around the corner from his work as a mental health counselor. 

The author has the very nice ability to ask both David Whiteley and the reader to answer the same two questions: Are we willing to have the truth revealed; and how will we respond to the truth. The answers do not come easily and the cost of difficult truths is often less than the cost of hiding that truth.

David Whiteley finds The Camera Never Lies. Are we willing to look at our lives with the same clarity?
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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.

Online Search - A Review

Online Search 

byEmma Huddleston

The title, Online Search, is a bit of a misnomer. Searching is only one of the topics covered in this 50-page book. A better title might be “A Child’s Introduction to Computers”. The book, whose reading level is for the upper elementary or middle school student, includes such topics as computer history, computer technology, and the role of programming in the development of computer technology (it does not teach programming, per se). The topics covered are similar to those seen in a college freshman computer science course from the late 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. The book includes a great many pictures and photographs illustrating the topics discussed.

The book would make an excellent Christmas or birthday gift for the inquisitive child. It would be a welcome addition to the elementary school or public library. I expect even some parents would find the content of interest.
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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.

Introducing Practical Theology - A Review

Introducing
Practical Theology

by

Pete Ward

Though originally published in 2017, Baker Academic has more recently made Introducing Practical Theology available for more general review. 

The author begins with the very real premise that “... all theology can be practical” (p. 9). Earlier, in the introduction, he points out that

Modern theology has a basic fault line running through it between liberal theology, which prioritizes experience over doctrine, and conservative theology, which prioritizes doctrine over experience. Both the rejection of applied forms of theology and the uncritical acceptance of practical theology as distinct because it starts with practice are problematic because these views situate the discipline solely within the liberal tradition. This is a problem not because I would advocate an uncritical conservative approach. Rather, I argue for a collapse of these two distinctions—the liberal and the conservative—into one another. The distinction is therefore artificial.

Hence, theology, the author argues, is not merely theoretical, but also must influence the life of the church. How this is to be done is not always an easy task; but it is a task that the theology practitioner, the theology student, and all believers will want to undertake. 

The first two chapters seek to define Practical Theology, The author then begins connects Practical Theology to the Gospel and to the lives of believing individuals and communities.

The book then moves onto the “how” of practical theology - chapter 5. “At its heart,” the author states, “[Practical Theology] is a conversation,” a “complex and multilayered” conversation. He examines several of the individual scholars and writers that have contributed to the field. The next three chapters address how practical theology interacts with other branches of theology:

        6. Theological Reflection
        7. Theological Disciplines
        8. Culture

The final two chapters examine the role empirical research plays within the field and how the practitioner will produce Practical Theology - whether it be through living one’s life, writing, preaching, etc. The final chapter is by far the most practical chapter but follows nicely from the preceding chapters.

The book is well-researched - with copious footnotes and a formal bibliography of all quoted resources. As a piece of writing, it is an academic work. Though not stated officially, it could easily have been offered as a Ph.D. dissertation. Though not designed for general reading, the book is not difficult reading. This reader, a semi-retired pastor, found the book interesting.
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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.

Dogs Don't Lie - A Review

Dogs Don’t Lie 

by

Lisa Shay

Kallie Collins is a veterinarian - one trained with a special talent. She has the ability to understand thoughts percolating within the minds of animals around her. And when Stanley finds a bone, the vet is called in to consult with the local sheriff’s department. Then Ariel, another canine, sees a possible murder, Kallie becomes deeply vested in tracking the criminals at fault.

But, like any good amateur sleuth, Kallie cannot work alone. From the sheriff’s department, she forms a friendship with Detective Ben Jacobson. In addition, Kallie pulls in Gracie and Sam, her closest friends, as part of her team of amateur detectives. Together the four will put together a crime involving murder, drugs, and real estate.

As Lisa Shay’s first novel, she has created a cozy mystery that hits many of the right buttons - murder, mystery, romance, and friendships. The author hints at more to come - more that I am looking forward to reading.
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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.

Promised Land - A Review

Promised Land 

by

Robert Whitlow

Robert Whitlow has been one of my favorite writers for a number of years - Promised Land did not disappoint. Daud and Hana Hasan are both involved in international careers - Daud working as a security consultant for organizations seeking to expand their presence into the Middle East and Hana working as a lawyer for a law firm serving international clients. Both speak multiple languages and have a cross-cultural background that serves them well.

Daud also occasionally contracts with the CIA using his unique talents. His most recent contact with the CIA has put both his and Hana’s life in danger, both during a business trip to Israel and back home in Atlanta. Things become significantly complicated when Hana discovers that she is pregnant with her first child.

The characters are well-developed, having appeared in Whitlow’s earlier novel, Chosen People. Their spiritual lives will be challenged and grow during the year which is covered in this current book. The dangers represented by those seeking to kill Hana and Daud, the concern they have for their new family, and the irritation seen as the couple seek a new home for their growing family, all add to the realism found in Promised Land.

Fans of Whitlow, Grisham, or Turow will not be disappointed. Promised Land is a legal thriller worth the time spent reading - providing a good story and a bit of insight into the issues which are lived out daily by those living in the Middle East, whether in Israel or the surrounding Muslim communities. It easily earns a five-star review. I can only hope that there are more stories involving these characters in their new home.
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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.

Murder, She Encountered - A Review

Murder, She Encountered 

by

Peg Cochran

Peg Cochran has written the perfect cozy mystery:

• A good mystery
• Likable (most of them, anyhow; at least one is a murderer) and believable characters
• Dysfunctional families
• Historical setting 
• A light touch of romance

Elizabeth “Biz” Adams is the crime photographer for the New York Daily Trumpet. Ralph Kaminsky is the reporter to which she is assigned. Together, with Detective Sal Marino (Biz’s “boyfriend?”), they will need to identify and find the murderer of the unidentified young man pulled from one of the lakes at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Along with a fun jaunt through the fairgrounds and the subway system transporting visitors to and from the fair, we also get a glimpse of the historical events and settings of the era. This reviewer was particularly fascinated with the mention, albeit brief, of the SS. (sic) St. Louis’ arrival from Europe. Though the details are not discussed in the current book, a quick search of Google showed how similar the attitude of Americans in 1939 parallel those of many Americans in the 21st century, with similar results.

For the reader looking for a historical novel or just a good cozy mystery, Murder, She Encountered might just hit the spot.

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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.

Synapse - A Review

Synapse 

by

Steven James

It was in 1999 that I first was faced with the issue of robotics and humanity as I watched Robin Williams’ humanity develop over 200 years. In the final scene, Robin’s robot character is worn out - he lays down and “dies”. His current owner, the great-granddaughter of the original owner, has had so many body parts replaced with computer upgrades that the only way she can die is to ask the nurse (another robot) to turn her off.

Synapse addresses many of the same issues - only it does not occur 200 years into the future but 30 years into the future.

Kestrel has just lost a baby during childbirth; her brother, Trevor, buys her “an artificial”, Jordan. Jordan is special in that he has a history and he begins to question his own relationship to God. It takes three explosions, a corrupt technology company, and groups of normals, plussers (those augmented with technology - be it arms, eyes, hearts, etc.), and artificials, to find a resolution to the crisis facing that future world.

The book read like a light cozy mystery, but it is science fiction that addresses difficult issues - grief, evil, love, forgiveness, etc. Written with a strong Christian message as it addresses these issues, the book is a well-written novel offering hope. I do not know if the author is considering additional books based on these characters, this reviewer hopes so.
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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.

Special Access - A Review

Special Access

v

by

Mark A Hewitt

Originally published in 2013, this book is partly political thriller and partly historical fiction. Yet it reads as if it were aimed at a contemporary 2019 American public.

The plot is intriguing and draws the reader into the story which takes place over a twelve-year period from 1999 to 2011. The reader is walked through the trauma of September 11, 2001, and the taking of Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011. The story assumes that bin Laden was not disposed of in the Indian Ocean as was announced publically, but instead was taken alive and interrogated by a team of independent ex-Seals and other special ops personnel before dying. The author’s background is ideal for imagining a story wrapped in the world of espionage and the special ops military troops which are the highlight of the story. The author’s knowledge of aircraft history and the use of quiet aircraft during the Vietnam War added an additional sense of realism to the story.

Though having a unique and intensive plot, the book does have its flaws. The timeline is not linear and dates each chapter. Other times it arises as the author introduces the characters’ recall of their own backstories. This non-linear flow of events makes the story difficult to follow at times. The book is very political - Democrats are consistently equated to communists. The Democratic President toward the end of the book is not named, but is described as having “large ears”. At times the story seemed to drag - as if the reader were required to carry a heavy load as he or she moved through the book. It should be noted that a movie based upon the book would be rated “R” as there seemed to be an abundance of unnecessary violence and sexuality. Personally, if I had known the extremes these elements pervaded the story, I would have avoided the book and chosen to spend my time reviewing another book.

It is this combination of a good story and the book’s limitations which force me into writing a 2½ star review.
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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.

Deadly Deceit - A Review

Deadly Deceit 

by

Natalie Walters

The Watcher is there - watching. Though discovered in small-town Walton, GA, he had a reach across the country as he tried to destroy people’s lives. It would take the coordinated work of Vivian DeMarco, writer for Walton’s local newspaper, and Deputy Ryan Frost, recently returned from a training course offered by the FBI, to gather the clues and piece together the evidence that would point to the man or woman responsible for the blackmail and murder which was becoming all too regular for this Georgian village.

Vivian had to learn forgiveness, a lesson she missed during her youth after discovering her father deserted his family and was a fraud as well. Her friend Lane would remind her

The right kind of love isn’t earned, Vivian. I can’t tell you how many years I’ve spent being someone else’s idea of perfect, trying to earn their love and affection only to be reminded—painfully—how imperfect I am. That’s the beauty of godly love. The kind that is forgiving, unwarranted, undeserving, and unconditional. (3314/5101)

It would not be a lesson easily learned, but one she would need to grapple with if she were to discover real peace.

Written for those who enjoy Christian or romantic suspense, there are lessons that most believers need to hear repeatedly. The book will find a welcome spot in the public or church library. It might also find a welcoming spot under someone’s Christmas tree. The plot might make a great story for a Lifetime movie, though it would be a bit dark for a Hallmark feature.
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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.

Systematic Theology - A Review

Systematic Theology 

by

Robert Letham

A new comprehensive (1000+ pages) theology from an evangelical Presbyterian author should be well-received by the church at large.

At 1000 pages, the book is too large to read in its entirety before completing a review - it took three semesters in seminary to read through Augustus Strong’s Systematic Theology which is of similar length. What this review will attempt to do is examine three or four issues that may be of interest to a Wesleyan evangelical reader. The author of the review does not claim to be a theological scholar; but, rather, a pastor with an interest in theology.

The book begins, as a well-written theology must, with a discussion on the existence and nature of God. This includes an examination of the arguments often given for the existence of God. Letham points out these arguments are not likely to provide proof for the unbeliever, but they are “presented to believers to disclose the rationality of what they hold already by faith.” (p. 43). Letham looks at three of the most common arguments:

1. Anselm’s Proof for the Existence of God
                    (where he spends the most time)
2. The Cosmological Argument
3. The Teleological Argument
4. The Moral Argument

The author takes time to explore the strengths and weaknesses of such arguments as a whole. The discussion, as is the entire book, is well-documented with references to a variety of sources: Biblical, ancient, and modern.

After providing a detailed discussion of the Trinity, the author provides a full discussion on the attributes of God. From there the author moves into a discussion of the Word of God, quickly taking the reader to a discussion of inerrancy, starting with these comments: 

_________________

Inerrancy has been embraced throughout the ages. The claim that the Bible is without error on all it pronounces emerged prominently in the nineteenth century. Yet, as Warfield demonstrated, the church down through the centuries held this position, whether explicitly or implicitly. (p. 190)

_________________

The author, thus, has a high view of scripture - appreciated by this reviewer.

As can be expected from a Presbyterian author, this theology has a strong statement on the sovereignty of God’s grace and its “corollary”, the perseverance of the saints. However, only a single paragraph is spent discussing the issues Arminius and Wesley had with perseverance as viewed from a reformed perspective, though he later addresses the warning passages found in Hebrews 6 and 10 under the subtopic of the “the promises of God”. It should be noted that each chapter, including this one, ends with a few suggestions for further reading and a few study questions to guide the reader in a deeper study of the topics discussed.

The other issue that would be of interest to Wesleyan readers would be that of sanctification. “Justification and sanctification are inseparable, yet distinct. … Justification affects our legal status, while sanctification affects our moral condition.” (p. 736) Though the author spends a great deal of time discussing the meaning, timing, and means (“The same means that bring us into the covenant keep us there. There are no extraordinary sanctifying devices. (p. 738), he at no time addresses directly the Wesleyan distinctive of entire sanctification. He hints at this issue as he addresses the “erroneous” view of the Keswick doctrine of sanctification and challenges the modern church’s distinction between “between having Christ as one’s Savior and having him as Lord.” (p. 742). But that is as close as he gets to discussing entire sanctification.

The book ends with nearly 100 pages of reference material: 

1. A limited glossary - which is missing many key terms one might expect in a “Christian” theology text and does not include references to where the material is discussed in the text.
2. A bibliography - with no easy way to verify its completeness without reading the entire text or going through each individual footnote.
3. A Name Index
4. A Subject Index
5. A Scripture Index

These last three indexes were not included in my review copy, leaving this reviewer with no way to evaluate their completeness or helpfulness.

The book is readable - by scholars, members of the clergy, or laymen. I expect that given the quantity of material available in this book, a digital copy of the book might be more helpful than a paper copy - sadly there is no sign of a digital copy (Kindle, LOGOS, ePub, etc.) being available in the foreseeable future. Though written primarily for a Reformed audience, the completeness of the material covered will make it of value to those coming from a variety of theological backgrounds. 
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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 Lost Pulse - A Review

The Lost Pulse 

by

J. K. Kelly

It is not often that I request a book that I feel less than satisfied reading.  This book, however, does fall into that category. Let me suggest three reasons that I find this book less than satisfying.  

First, though written as a political drama, it also is a work of science fiction. I do occasionally enjoy a science fiction title, but not often. This title fell short of catching my interests. When I discovered this, I was tempted to put the book down - though I continued to read.

Second, the author is a strong conservative and supporter of gun rights. Though I write my reviews as a conservative-evangelical Christian, I have a difficult time supporting the positions normally held by the NRA as this author appears to do. When I discovered this, I was tempted to put the book down - though I continued to read.

Finally, I found the book served more like a brick than as an inviting story. Though this issue would not prevent me from reading more, when combined with the two previous issues, it was at this point (one-third of the way through the book) that I decided to set the book aside and move onto other reading material.

I recognize that all three of these reasons for finding this book less enjoying than I hoped are very personal. The book does have a hint of Christian theology, though it is not intentionally written from that perspective. The characters do seem real and face real-life problems on a daily basis. There will be readers that would find the book satisfying. I have friends who will find this book more to their liking than this reader. They enjoy science fiction, they support (some strongly) the NRA, and they enjoy a deep story as much as I do.

This book may be for others, it was not for me.

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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.

Ghosts of Painting Past - A Review

Ghosts of Painting Past

by

Sybil Johnson

Ricky Zeppelin had finally come home. Ricky had left home twenty years earlier to surf the world’s great beaches. He had identified most of them in those final months before the end of high school, locating decals that he had plastered on his surfboard so others would know his planned destinations as he traveled the world. 

And now he had returned home. At least his bones did.

Home for Ricky and the other characters in Sybil Johnson’s newest book is a seaside town in Los Angeles County, California. The discovery of Ricky’s bones raised questions - when did he die, where did he die, how did he die? And did any of the current residents know more than they were saying? Aurora (Rory) Anderson lived across the street from where the bones were discovered. She, her family, her friends, and her neighbors, would soon find themselves in the midst of the decades-old mystery that could and did have deadly consequences.

The story did not stall - moving from one piece of evidence to another. Rory is an independent IT consultant, working from her home, though the events in this book would seem to leave her little time to work at her computer. I expect most contractors would be disappointed in the amount of effort she gives to her primary career. Of course, if Rory spent more time at her keyboard, the events of that Christmas season would not have been nearly as exciting. Though not crucial or distracting from the story, readers should be aware that the story is LBGT friendly.

A well-written cozy mystery that reflects much of 21st-century culture for those living in Southern California. For those looking for a Christmas themed cozy mystery centered on the warm shores of the Pacific Ocean, Ghosts of Painting Past is worth reading this holiday season.

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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.

A Crafter Quilts A Crime - A Review

A Crafter Quilts A Crime 

by

Holly Quinn

My first reaction was that this book was more “cozy” than “mystery”. I was wrong.

All small towns in Wisconsin are alike - for example, they each have their annual festivals. Oh, they may come at different seasons of the year, but they do occur. Heartford, Wisconsin’s “Fire and Ice” event took place in winter in the first weeks of January. It was scheduled to end with the bonfire late in the evening where the town would burn its collection of well-used Christmas Trees from the previous year’s advent celebration. Scheduled, but for some “Fire and Ice” would end hours earlier with the unexpected death of Wanda.

And with Wanda’s passing, the S.H.E.s (a group of two sisters and a cousin, Sammy, Heide, and Ellie) began gathering evidence; evidence which would eventually lead to a kidnapping. Much of the action centers around Sammy’s craft shop located across the street from Liquid Joy, the local coffee shop. But we also spend time on the rural farms and in the homes of local citizens impacted by Wanda’s demise.

Having spent six years living in a small town in southern Wisconsin, this reader felt right at home - though murder was not part of my personal experience, car theft was. For the reader looking for a book focusing on the Winter months with an interesting cast of characters, Holly Quinn’s latest work may be a worthwhile choice. Bundle up and open the book and find your newest vacation spot - including the quilt trail maps that define most of the region. After reading, you may want to schedule a spring or summer visit.
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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.

Always Look Twice - A Review

Always Look Twice 

by

Elizabeth Goddard

Harper Reynolds was a forensic photographer - but too much exposure to the horrific scenes she had snapped over the years required that she take a break. As her break was coming to an end she found herself in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, south of Yellowstone National Park. As she was photographing the grizzly bear on the banks of the Grayback River something caught her eye. It was a hunter. But he was not hunting deer or bear, he was hunting that woman. And Harper watched as she was murdered in the moments that followed. Thus begins Elizabeth Goddard’s latest book. 

In a story that takes the reader from Missouri to Wyoming to Texas, we are presented with a life and death drama that involves first responders from the national government and from multiple states and agencies. It is a gripping tale that holds the reader’s attention from the first chapter to the last - this reader’s heart could not stop pounding. The author does a wonderful job of describing the wildness that is found in the National Forest - whether seen on horseback or on foot. She is less successful in describing the downtown Dallas theater where the story finds its resolution, this reader’s only disappointment in reading the book.

A faith-based novel, Elizabeth Goddard book will find a willing home in the church library. But given its exciting and riveting story, it also belongs on the public library shelf. For the reader looking for a good fall story from a colorful writer, Always Look Twice may just fill the bill. 

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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.