Friends with Partial Benefits

Friends with Partial Benefits by Luke Young

Rob and Brian are college roommates and best friends.  With spring break approaching, Rob plans on spending time with his girlfriend, but Brian is hurting over a girl he just met.  Rob brings Brian to his home that he grew up in.  Rob’s mother, Jillian, is a romance author and has done well for herself, nice house, pool and tennis court, but she is divorced and hurting in that area.

While Rob goes to meet his girlfriend, Jillian plays hostess to Brian.  Jillian’s friend and neighbor, Victoria, comes over in her itsy, bitsy, nothing left to the imagination, extremely tiny white bikini.  Brian happens to see out the window and gets a rather excited.  When Brian is sleeping, Jillian goes to check in on him, and she gets rather excited.  

Jillian and Brian sit and talk about tennis for what seems like forever to them.  They find they can talk easily to each other, but each other wants more than to talk.  The story goes on about what they want to do with each other, and Victoria with her fearless enthusiasm prompts Jillian to go after what she wants, no matter the age difference.  You’ll have to read for yourself to see what they decide their “partial benefits” is.

Quick, easy read with just enough attention to detail without going overboard to keep the reader entertained.  Small cast of characters also make it easy to follow.  While you may feel bad for Brian and his broken heart, he seems to know how to rebound.  A bit of humor mixed in with the heat of passion.  This goes a bit farther than the student/teacher crush scenario.

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Blind School

Blind School by John Matthews

Tracy seemed like your average teenager, loved to listen to loud music alone in her room, etc. until one day she took her father’s rifle and killed him, then proceeded to go to a local coffee shop and started shooting more people.  The odd thing was the someone was able to see an apparition surrounding her.

When Ellis Kendell from the FBI talked to some of the people in the coffee shop, only Ryan told him about the apparition.  Ryan’s friends all thought he was crazy, but Ellis knew better.

Ryan is not the only teenager who can see these special images, these fallen angels, and Ellis knows it.  Ellis takes Ryan and other teens to a special place, called “Blind School” where they are told they now need to wear special sunglasses all the time, and can never tell anyone about their special gift, not even their family.

These fallen angels are no longer good, and there are so many of them out there.  They shoot, they destroy, they kidnap, they kill.  Only these special teens can help to stop them.

Definitely a worthwhile read if you like mystery, suspense, thrills and the good vs. evil plot.  Although it is a Young Adult book, anyone can read it.

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The Nose Knows

The Nose Knows by Holly L. Lewitas

The story of Dr. Hannah Richards, a psychotherapist, as seen through the eyes of her dog, Spunky.  Spunky and the cats of the house take care of Hannah, a widow whose husband died unexpectedly, or at least unexpectedly for a human, or as Spunky put it, passed over the “Rainbow Bridge”.  Spunky and the cats, however, have great senses, especially smell.  They knew her husband was dying.  Unfortunately, Hannah did not.

Hannah had a traumatic event while she was in a counseling session, and it caused her a great amount of fear.  Years of shutting out the world took quite a bit of work for Jacob and his dog, Quincy.  The friendship and support became a strength for Hannah, until another session caused trouble for not only her, but her patients as well.

Anyone who has dogs and/or cats can relate with how Spunky tells the story.  You can imagine the conversations between animals, their plotting, their love, their guardianship, their moves and their actions.  You’ll also learn how each of the animals came to a part of the household, Hannah’s kindness, love and concern for others.

Humor with a bit of sympathy for Hannah for her emotions of the death of her husband and her fear of going back to work in an office with her patients.  You’ll laugh with the animals and feel for Hannah and her patients.  You’ll turn the pages helping solve who is this mysterious man and why is he bothering Hannah and her patients.  Your inner voice will arise.

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Tyrker's Tale

Tyrker's Tale by Robin Ingle

Leif and Tosti are the sons of Eirik.  Tyrker is a slave of Eirik, and it is job to take care of the boys, in addition to his other slave duties.  He teaches them swordsmanship and tells them tales to keep them amused.  In addition, they usually visit Runa, the cooks assistant, who gives them small treats.  In a time and place of slaves, it is usually best not to anger your master.

Very short quick read, almost like an essay.  This could actually be an opening chapter for more to come, rather than it’s own story.  While the characters blend well, it needs to be expanded more, with a bit more of a plot.  Overall very good, but you leave wanting more.

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The Rx Factor

The Rx Factor by J. Thomas Shaw

Ryan Matthews was a brilliant man, trying to develop a cure for ovarian cancer, which his wife had.  Jordan Carver also wanted to help others with their diseases, but was tired of the red tape and bureaucracy of the FDA and others.

When you have a loved one, how much are you willing to spend to lengthen their life?  Would you be willing to spend millions of dollars, or go to clinics outside of the United States?  For those that have the money, yes, yes, they would spend whatever it and do whatever it takes.

If you are a major drug company, how far are you willing to go to see others fail?

This story is chilling to see what lengths people will go to be rich and powerful, for whatever their reasons, or for “the greater good of mankind”.  So many characters in such different levels of society, all interacting in some way or another.  Murder, mystery, suspense, cover-ups and a great who-done-it (or actually who is in charge and making the decisions).  Page after page of non-stop reading that you just can’t put down.  Definitely a must read.  Even if it is a fictional writing, you can’t help but wonder how much could be true.

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Grim

Grim by Joseph Spencer

Heath Grim was by all means a beast.  A war veteran with scars on his face, he was rarely seen by any without his mask.  His best friend, Craig, had been dead two years, but they continued to have conversations in Heath’s head.

Detective Adam White, the White Knight, was the savior come to town, arresting those criminals and making the city streets safer for all.  Unfortunately, Cyrus Black was not a fan of the detective, most of the city was on his payroll or under his rule in some form or another, including Mayor Terry Sandburg.

When murders began happening again, similar to those from years ago, the White Knight kept on fighting crime, especially when his wife was killed by what was called an ape mask.  Heath Grim also fought for justice, but in his own way.  And Cyrus Black repeated said “What Cyrus wants, Cyrus gets”, no matter how or who gets in the way.

Heath has his own past that the reader gets to know, a not at all pleasant past.  Vengeance has a price, but who is willing to pay that price, and what price for your soul?

Good mix of characters, each with their own secrets and past.  Keeps the reader turning the pages to see how it is all connected.  Although not too graphic or gory, it is a story of the deepest and darkest of souls.

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Scutchamer Knob

Scutchamer Knob by Keith David Cooley

Set in England in the sixties when a different sort of music was happening, and so were the drugs.  Three friends who like to play music meet George and Cyn, and a new group if formed.  During their trials, practices and rehearsals, the story moves with how they get along, and don’t get along, but with a mysterious murder of a young girl at the Knob.  A strange individual comments along the way with obeying his “Master”, never quite knowing how he fits into the story, or who he is.

So many characters of all sorts, the rich George who likes everything his way, the individuals like Trevor, Terry and Roy who just wanted to play music together, the hippies, the drug dealers, etc.  The story works well with them learning with each other, seeing things evolving with the music changes that were happening in the 60’s.

Not until the end do you learn who the mysterious individual who serves his Master is revealed.  Very detailed about the feel of the music and the feel of the drugs, and how they sometimes play a role with each other.

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