THEY CALL ME AVENGED
         by Cyndi Lord
      This is Ms. Lord's third book in this series and puts into words and mental pictures what many animal lovers think they would like to see happen to those who mistreat, neglect, or intentionally harm defenseless animals in their care.
      Ms. Lord reveals how trauma in a young child's life can have long lasting, debilitating consequences in the person's adult life.
      Sandy, a determined and sometimes foolhardy detective, searches for two missing children. Intuition and a listening ear leads this young woman into a maze of lies and dangerous contacts.
       This is a powerful book revealing the depth of some people's cruelty to animals and children and the consequences of the mental scars people carry into adulthood.
       This book is available on Amazon  THEY CALL ME AVENGED

The Kill Switch

The Kill Switch is a well written novel as are all of James Rollins works. Tucker, the man hired to spirit one of two scientists out of Russia, is a tough, kick a _ _ , no nonsense man full of  amazing resources. Kane, his faithful four-legged partner, is an outstanding character all by himself. The enemy seems to anticipate each move Tucker and his group make as they move toward the border.  There is a leak of information somewhere, and it is a direct threat to his mission as well as his life. He is understandably suspicious of everyone he comes in contact with but has to trust someone. The cost in life as well as money is high if he makes the wrong choice.

WARNING: The prologue is gruesome, and I was sorely tempted to skip most if not all of it. No matter how stomach turning, however, it is crucial to understanding the end of the novel. This novel is not for the faint of heart but a page turner for those who enjoy detailed blood and guts adventure.

Note: I was interested to learn in the author's notes at the end of the story that Kane is modeled after real war dogs, especially one named Chaser, "a border collie who understood over a thousand words including grammatical structure."

I AM Number Four

Pittacus Lore, the author of I Am Number Four, has put together a thriller for all science fiction readers, especially daring youth ready to meet an over powering challenge. Lore has created well developed characters you might meet in any community or school, yet she makes the reader believe they are aliens from a distant planet, Lorien, hiding out in our world, hiding from those who are determined to destroy the last of their civilization and ours. Normal earthling teens are pulled into the aliens fight. It may be that the six remaining Loriens  and selected earth teens will be the ones that wake our world to the the dangers it is facing.
For science fiction fans I AM NUMBER FOUR is a must read.