I Am the Traitor by Allen Zadoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am the Traitor. I have followed this story from the beginning of the trilogy when I was first introduced to the Unknown Assassin series. I have always been totally enamored of government assassin books and when they have a nice hook in them like the Unknown Assassin books, well, I am even more ready to jump into the story. I received an early copy of I am the Traitor, book 3, in the trilogy from NetGalley. Honestly, I would pay for this series if I had to and sin they are out on audiobook, I will likely be doing just that for my long commute days and transatlantic flights. Allen Zadoff is a gifted writer. He does a great job with perspective. For example, how a normal child should respond to a situation, versus, a child trained as a soldier. How would an adult soldier respond in combat, even against a child?

In I am the Traitor, we continue the Unknown Assassin story where I am the Mission leaves off with our intrepid child soldier, Zach, in a load of trouble, where he has dragged someone he cares about. Now he has to try to determine how he can work his way out of this situation. His only friend, Howard, is missing. He is pretty sure he knows where he is and he has to figure out how to survive and make sure Howard also survives. Zach also has some pretty serious decisions to make about his role in "The Program". He also has his on investigation to make into his and his family's past. These mysteries help make this series what it is, great! Zach, is this well-developed character that, despite the things he has done, we can't help but cheer for, and keep wishing for him to pull through. Throughout the series we keep trying to determine if "The Program" is good or bad and we never really know for sure as sometimes we see reasons why it can be thought of as both. Don't misunderstand, training children to kill is never a good thing, but giving them a home, educating them and protecting them is always a good thing. What you ask for in kind is the issue. Asking for loyalty is not a bad thing to ask for as we are all loyal to our friends and family, and we are always closer to family that we see as being on our side when things are tough.

In I am the Traitor we continue to question the role of "The Program" and its purpose. I have to admit I always had a hidden suspicion about the whereabouts of what and who Zach was searching for and I was right in my guess but the thing about this story is that even when you think you know what is going to happen there is a twist. I have to admit that I was looking forward to a seriously kick-butt fight between Mike and Zach and I feel a bit cheated at how short that fight was but the outcome was another surprise. The action scenes, as well as the chase scenes, were quite exciting. One of my favorite parts was the way the chapter titles was done. I have to admit that the ending was what I hope is a setup for something great to come and I look forward to seeing what the author does with it.

Susan T. Roos

Guest Blog

Hi, Cheryl! Let me start by thanking you for hosting me today.

There’s so many things we could talk about in my first book release, Girl Spoken for, but let’s touch on a few messages and themes throughout, not only this book, but the series.

Girl Spoken For was born from one simple idea. One simple story; a girl’s rough road when she has a child while in high school. And as the story blossomed into this other world, I intentionally wanted not only Tatum Duncan’s story told, but I wanted to sneak a few messages in along the way. Maybe they’re not so subtle to the reader which would be great.

Some parents typically make a huge mistake (NOT ALL PARENTS) in raising teens.

When a woman gives birth they’re are guilty of having a vision of how their child’s lives will be (yes, I’ve done this too). So you take that picture in your head and never see anything else.

A common picture some parents miss is reality—what’s really happening in their child’s life. Or maybe you’re lucky enough that you were spot on. But most are not.

Is that what happens to parents? From birth they wear blinders? See what they only want to see? Yes. That’s what I believe. And again, NOT all parents are like this.

But in Girl Spoken For, Tatum’s parents were, especially her mother. She ignored how Tatum wanted to broaden her horizons. It can be fun for a parent to watch their child spread their wings, but Tatum’s mom couldn’t. Throughout the book Tatum jokes about how her mother wasn’t happy unless she were dressed like Shirley Temple, the way her mother preferred. Her mother wanted the sweet, innocent young girl who did what she wanted. Again, Tatum’s mother wore the birthing life blinders.

What else does Tatum’s mother have issues with? Mutual respect.

Tatum’s mother didn’t show nor give Tatum much respect. Tatum had that with her grandmother, not her Mom. In the first chapter Tatum reads to her little sister, Toni. A small gesture, but Tatum already knew that since their grandmother was gone they were on their own emotionally. Their mother couldn’t relate to them. Tate’s mother was fearful of her girls growing up, and not being able to control them in the big bad world. So, instead she chose to make them fearful of her. Instead of conversing and relating to how tough it can be as a kid, she took the unhealthy route. Maybe that’s all she knew?

One thing I love about one of my characters is how she provides Tatum with comfort and support. Diane is a great friend to Tatum—no matter what, she’s got her back. Think how much better it is if you have (or had) a friend like that in your teen years. Someone who respects you and makes it clear they’re always on your side.  Parents can be like that for their kids, but Tatum’s mother wasn’t.  Luckily, Diane steps in to fill the void left when Tatum’s grandmother passes away.

 

As former (or current) teenagers, we have some kind of bully story or another. We’ve all had family issues. But the difference is communication and mutual respect. Respect each other’s differences. Respect each other’s growth. Respect each other’s ideas. Respect each other. Period.

Sure, life can suck at times. It’s hard. But respect and communication can make it so much better.

About Girl Spoken For:

I was “spoken for” by a Mob grandson, which was either terrifying or kind of cool – I wasn’t sure which one yet.

When the realities of life shatter her fragile innocence, Tatum Duncan’s courage and resilience are tested. She’s determined to be in control of her future. But the love of her life, Zach Bertano, and his mob family may have other plans.

Will she “speak for” Zach, like he has “spoken for” her? Or will Tatum walk away?

Purchase Link: Amazon  | Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo

Add to Goodreads

Book Trailer:

Direct Link to Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydm7pta4Hxo&feature=youtu.be

Want to get to know Suzie better? Check out her Dear Reader post on Barclay Publicity's Book Scoop Blog!

 

About Suzie T. Roos:

Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children and a number of foster pets at any given time.

She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa Monica, CA. They’re thankful they could expose their children to different American lifestyles and cultures.

Besides writing, Suzie’s hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert going with her husband and friends.

She’s always been an animal lover and animal rights advocate. She is certified by FEMA in IS-00011.a Animal in Disasters: Community Planning. She’s also an active volunteer at the Humane Society of Missouri.

Connect with Suzie:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

 *** Rafflecopter for Tour Wide Giveaway:

Prize: Grand Prize $25 Gift Card Amazon or B&N (winner’s choice).

Click the banner to enter into the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Girl Spoken For by Suzie T. Roos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Girl Spoken For is the beginning of a new YA trilogy by Suzie T. Roos that I was granted an early release copy of from Netgalley. I have to admit that I was intrigued by the title of this book. It is what drew me to it and of course the blurb on the back cemented my desire to read this book. I kept going back and looking at the cover and trying to determine what about it kept drawing my attention. Even as I read it I kept going back to it. I finally figured it out after I finished the book and went back to the cover and stared at it like I do pictures in a museum. I won't give it away in case someone else had the same thing happen to them. It is a great cover but something that made me question what it means.

Girl Spoken For is told from the point of view of a 15/16 year old teen in the 10th grade, Tatum. It chronicles her daily life and how she ends up "spoken for" by the grandson of a mob boss. It also gives an in depth portrayal of how the normal trials of being a teen affect her. But, there are also some things most of us wish were not trials for a teen that she experiences that we watch her handle. These trials would shake up most adults so experiencing them with Tatum really draws you into the story. One of the best parts of Girl Spoken For is her inner dialogues as she reflects on conversations and events. I always reflect on events and conversations in my life and wondered if others had these same inner dialogues and even used to put them on paper until they were discovered by someone I wished had not discovered them because taken out of context most of our reflections might seem negative when read by the person who they are about even when they are not meant to be negative. Sometimes Tatum's thoughts spilled out on her friends and I was surprised and delighted by her friends' responses which reflected on how much they really cared for an understood her and her situation.

Tatum is extremely complex and I have to admit that I fell in love with her little sister, 6 year old Toni, and her responses to meeting Tatum's friends. She is so vibrant and innocent and there is this contrast I saw where Tatum also started with that same innocence and light until she starts experiencing some negative events. But, in school as she is internally dealing with these events her friends still were drawn to her and missing her light. We also see how a teenage girl goes through a relationship with her mother and those of us that had a contentious relationship with our mothers as teens can see from the outside how this might have looked and it was spot on. You hope that she comes out of it knowing that a lot of this is the teen not understanding the mother's role and just the conflict because the mother is the disciplinarian and the person guiding them through what they know a teenage girl can go through even if all they are doing is worrying because of their past experiences. Teens tend to see this as dislike by the parent when it is concern and the desire to protect. We also experience Tatum's thoughts and processing of her relationship with Zach. It was at times comical and at other times we cheered it on because of how much he cared for and protected her. You also worry about it because of his family. We only get a cursory glance at the structure and politics of his family towards the end of this part of the story which means I cannot wait for the next book and have already jumped on the author's website to see what I could learn about what was coming. Happy to see the next book, Girl Divided Two is coming soon.

Revive by Tracey Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Revive...an action packed thriller about Sophia, a girl with some pretty amazing gifts like speed, agility, ability to compute things in her head that most would need a computer program to work out and some really serious fighting skills. I was able to obtain an early release copy via the wonderful NetGalley in exchange for a review. We meet Sophia as she is coming out of a stupor with a good chunk of her memory missing. She is in what appears to be some sort of mall with a food court and there are men chasing her but she does not know who they are or quite what they want. The reader is along for the ride as Sophia tries to remember her past, who she really is and what she is doing with a young man named Kyle in the mall. She is also injured and cannot recall how she has become injured.

As the story moves along we move back and forth between current day and the time just before Sophia arrives at her college. We learn who she is and why she is there along with Sophia as she starts to regain her memory. So much of this story revolves around this process that I don't want to give anything away but suffice it to say that there are some really great surprises along with some pretty good fight scenes. We are also introduced to Sophia's friends, both at home and at college. For the most part the ones at college seem pretty basic, but, the ones she grew up with help make this story such a great one. They each have their own strengths and gifts as well as quirks that make you like them. They are well developed and make the reader want to get to know them better. I am not sure how the other stories will flow in the Red Zone series, i.e., whether it will always follow Sophia's point-of-view. But, it looks like it will at least continue where Revive left off. I can say that I had a bit of trouble sometimes knowing when the book was looking into the past because in some spots we don't know she is remembering something as opposed to currently living it other than the passage seems out of time with what was previously occurring. Then the end of the passage helps the reader clue in on the fact that what was previously read was a memory and not what was currently happening. This occurred a few times in the book. The other thing is a "trope" that I am not a fan of and I will leave that for the other readers to find out because it is a large part of the development of the story.

The Morgenstern Project by David S. Khara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is difficult to express in words how much The Morgenstern Project moved my thoughts and emotions. I received a copy from Eidelwess and really took my time reading it. I tried to digest it slowly because this was Morg's story. It was told simultaneously alternating between Morg's past and Morg's current life as he fights on the current front against the Consortium's machinations and his fight to distance himself from the Bleiberg project. Morg is this larger than life Mossad agent who hunts war criminals, typically those from World War II.

In The Morgenstern Project Morg meets up again with Jackie and Jeremy whom we met in the first book, The Bleiberg Project. They developed a deep bond with Eytan Morgenstern in that story which continues though they have not seen him since the events in that book ended. Jackie and Jeremy are targeted by a faction of the U.S. government who have been made aware of Morg's longevity and they want to study him and are willing to use whatever means they can to capture him, including targeting his friends and whatever family he may have. As the story progresses Eli tells the story of how he met Morg and how their lives had intertwined throughout the many years. We also meet more of Morg's family and as they fight this new front created by The Consortium we step through Morg's childhood and learn about his history.

The Morgenstern Project is the best of the series so far. As far as I can tell the series grows in character development, story development and David Khara, the author, grows in writing, story and character development skills as well. The book is full of excitement, action and the technology and niche of this story regarding Morg's physical abilities. As I read about Morg's past and the current story I was struck with a huge sadness for what he and the people of Poland went through during World War II and for what some of the story depicted during the current day part of the story. The Morgenstern Project draws you into everyone's lives in the story. At one point I was literally moved to tears and that is not something that easily occurs for me when reading a story, but David Khara wrote a very moving story and I look forward to seeing what happens next.



Interview with David S. Khara - Author of The Consortium Thriller Series

Question 1. I have a huge fascination with books about the Mossad. Why did you write Morg as a Jewish person working for the Mossad? Given the area where part of the book takes place why not someone who was Polish or German?

Eytan works for Mossad at the beginning of the series, but he insists on the fact that he is Polish. In The Bleiberg Project, where his origins are told, it is specified that he was born in a little village in Poland. Actually, after what he went through with Bleiberg’s experiments, Eytan considers himself a shield against barbarism and fascism. Being Jewish is the reason he was sent to Warsaw’s Ghetto, but religion means little to this man, since no god showed up to save him as a child. Eytan works with those who hunt war criminals, which is why he works for Mossad. In The Shiro Project, we learn that Eytan leaves England in the 1950s to join Mossad. And in The Morgenstern Project, it becomes obvious that Eytan works with Mossad, and not for it. Who knows with which organization he has worked before, and which one he will work with in the future…

Question 2. Do you have an inspiration for how the story flows? For example, did you know from the start of the series how things would go for Morg and then fill in the story or are there things you see or read about in the news that drives how the story goes?

I knew from the very start of The Bleiberg Project what the final sentence of The Morgenstern Project would be. I had in mind the whole trilogy. Well, not exactly all of it. I have what I call checkpoints, key scenes that will tell the reader about the characters, about history and science. My story has to reach these checkpoints, but I never entirely know how to reach them. I then let the characters decide which road they’ll take.

Question 3. Morg reads as a very attractive man who obviously feels attraction to women. Has he ever had a love interest or always been single without a relationship?

That is a very interesting question indeed! In The Shiro Project, there was some tension between Eytan and Elena, but certainly no love story. Let me rephrase your question: Has Eytan ever been in love, or even shared someone’s life? I think you’ll have to wait for the next books to find out.

Question 4. Is there one thing you would have loved to write in the series that just did not fit so you had to leave it out, for example, a removed scene that you love but you left out?

Every single scene I’ve had in mind ended up in the books. There are more scenes and more things to learn about Eytan, but you’ll have to be patient…

Question 5. Do you have any sources in Israel or with the Mossad to help you with the rules and research or is it mainly research basis from written materials?

If I had sources in Israel or with the Mossad or any other secret agency, do you think I’d really tell you? J

Question 6. Do you ever envision yourself writing something that focuses on espionage based in France and the French version of Mossad?

I doubt I’ll ever write a story that takes place in France. I have issues letting my imagination go within my own country. Also, travelling with my readers is also my pleasure. Last but not least, I love the US, and I’ll keep writing stories that take place in the Land of the Free!

Question 7. What is one thing about Morg that you would like us to know that may not necessarily come across the way you would like in the books?

Believe me, nothing will be left aside about Eytan. J

Question 8. What is next for you after writing such a great series?

I’m currently working on a thriller that deals with tax evasion and nuclear material trafficking. Once I’m done with it, I’ll start working on Eytan’s return!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shiro project David KharaFrench author David Khara, a former journalist, top-level sportsman, and entrepreneur, is a full-time writer. Khara wrote his first novel—a vampire thriller—in 2010, before starting his Consortium thriller series. The first thriller in the series, The Bleiberg Project, was an instant success in France, catapulting Khara into the ranks of the country’s top thriller writers. 

Follow David Khara on Twitter
Le French Book on Twitter | Facebook
Sign up to receive their latest news and deals
Buy the book | on Amazon | on Barnes & Noble | on Indiebound

ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR Sophie Weiner is a freelance translator and book publishing assistant from Baltimore, Maryland. After earning degrees in French from Bucknell University and New York University, Sophie went on to complete a master’s in literary translation from the Sorbonne, where she focused her thesis on translating wordplay in works by Oulipo authors. She has translated and written for web-based companies dedicated to art, cinema, and fashion as well as for nonprofit organizations. Growing up with Babar, Madeline, and The Little Prince, Sophie was bitten by the Francophile bug at an early age, and is fortunate enough to have lived in Paris, Lille, and the Loire Valley.

 *** You can enter the global giveaway here or on any other book blogs participating in this tour. Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook, they are listed in the entry form below.

 Entry-Form 

Visit each blogger on the tour: tweeting about the giveaway everyday of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time! [just follow the directions on the entry-form] Global giveaway open internationally: 2 US resident winners will receive 1 print copy of The Morgenstern Project 3 winners will receive this book in digital format

 CLICK ON THE BANNER TO READ OTHER REVIEWS, EXCERPTS, INTERVIEW

The Royal We by Heather Cocks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Royal We was one of my favorite royal stories. I received a copy through Netgalley and was a little worried when I saw how long it was, but, it held my attention throughout the entire book. One of the best things about this story is the humor. Rebecca is the wilder of twin sisters from America who takes advantage of a foreign exchange program while attending Cornell that allows her to spend time at Oxford University. She meets Nick as soon as she steps on campus and little does she know she has met the future King of England. Rebecca meets some great friends and has a great time partying and working on her art, which she doesn't get a chance to spend a lot of time doing when at home working on her normal school work. She has a chance to see some wonderfully beautiful architecture while in England.

When Rebecca left Cornell she left behind her twin sister Lacy, the true royal watcher of the family. Since they were children she dreamed of being a princess and living in England but makes the decision to stay behind at Cornell because she wants to attend medical school and does not see the value in an exchange program that does not focus on her medical school aspirations. However, she does visit and becomes quite envious of Rebecca, or Bex's life at Oxford, especially her friendship with Prince Nick. We meet Bex the night before her wedding to Nick where things go back in time to tell the story of how they got to where they are when Bex is looking back at her decision to change her life and move to England to be with Nick. We see all of the prejudice she experiences because she is an American dating a royal. She has to handle the paparazzi, negative articles and the effects on her relationship with her twin sister.

I loved this story. I was so invested in it that there was one moment in the story that I was caught off guard and literally had tears in my eyes and that is not something that happens often with a book for me, especially a book that mostly is comedic in fashion with some romance. One of the most enjoyable facets of The Royal We is the relationships. Character development was pretty well done, but, for me the relationships described were the biggest win for this book. Bex had this larger than life personality and we lived this relationship with her, its ups and downs and all of the fallout from the things she experienced as well as the laughs as she had a great time. One of my favorite scenes involves a wheelbarrow and it was laugh out loud funny. I can only say I hope these two right more in this area because they have great chemistry and did an amazing job on this book.

The Girl Who Wouldn't Die by Marnie Riches
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Girl Who Wouldn't Die is a gritty, dark novel I received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It follows the life of George who is an exchange student from Oxford studying in Amsterdam. During her time in Amsterdam a bomb goes off on campus outside of one of the university's buildings while it is full of students and employees. George and her friend Ad who are complete shocked insert themselves in the investigation because George has a great desire to be a criminologist. As time goes on we see George is not the only one inserting herself in the investigation, so is the killer.

The Girl Who Wouldn't Die is the first adult crime book written by Marnie Riches and she has, to use a baseball metaphor, hit the ball out of the park. Though the book can be quite cringe worthy with darkness at times when the hooks at the end grab you it literally makes up for it. As a recent visitor of Amsterdam I kept trying to envision the locations and realized now I have to go back to see if I figure out the locations of the events. Really, that is the only reason I would go back, to try and see the locations where George frequented. Now, I did not visit the Red Light District but I would love to see everything mentioned. The Girl Who Wouldn't Die seems like it might be a great armchair travel book too. I literally got a great feel for George's love of the buildings in London when she went back to her home school to visit her mentor and advisor at Oxford. You could feel her love for her adopted city as she walked and rode her bikes through the streets of Amsterdam, even though she was in a lower income area. The only drawback I found was George's expression of her feelings towards men seemed a bit stunted and I could not tell if it was the writer's attacking of this topic or George's inability to express the feelings in words. There was one twist in the story that I LOVED and I don't want to spoil it for anyone because it needs to be experience by all who jump in to experience The Girl Who Wouldn't Die.