The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Sara, a young woman from Sweden, engages in a pen pal writing campaign with a woman from Iowa. They correspond and eventually the Swedish girl visits her pen pal in Iowa. One of the primary things the two woman have in common is their love of books. What happens after Sara arrives in the small town of Broken Wheel is the gist of the story.

This is a first-time novelist. The author, like her protaganist, is from Sweden. If you love books, you will be enthralled by the numerous books and authors that are infused into this story. In addition, there are several pointed comments about some of the authors. If you take this story apart, some segments read like a book blog. There are book discussion questions and author comments at the end of the book.

The story is essentially about how books can transform us and connect us.

Ladybookbug!

Patriot by Ted Bell

Ordinarily a story that comprises 527 pages might be a little daunting to me but not so with this latest adventure by Ted Bell, featuring Alex Hawke. Having read several of this author's previous works, I was familiar with the character of Hawke. That being the case, the story was still exciting and adventurous. It is apparent to me that the author's research must be time-consuming. It is my opinion that it is well worth the time. The plot of this story, the characters and the settings are realistic. To say that the scenario is believable would be an understatement.

The story opens with two former CIA officers dying in tragic accidents. The problem I had with these two scenes in particular is that those officers would place themselves in such vulnerable positions, especially since their careers involved subterfuge in its' most intricate form. A reader would have to assume that neither officer recognized the possibility that their careers never really ended and that they would always be vulnerable to the enemy. This was hard to swallow.

In any event, the story is filled with action and plotting and involves interesting characters and crosses many different settings including Bermuda, Maine, Cuba, Key West, England and Siberia. The characters are not too numerous to follow and help to move the story along. Although the powers that be feel that they have captured the culprits early on, avid readers know that is not the case because there are many more pages to read. It is not unlike watching an hour long episode of Law & Order or Leverage knowing full well that the real perpetrator is not necessarily discovered in the first 15 minutes of the show.

Although not a "quick" read, it is indeed a story to take slowly and observe all the intricacies of the plot that help to make reading this book a good way to spend some time.

Ladybookbug!

The Forgotten Soldier by Brad Taylor

This is another book in the Pike Logan series. Like the other books in this series this new book is equally exciting and fast paced. A Taskforce member goes rogue shortly after his brother is killed in Afghanistan. Pike Logan has been given the assignment to follow the rogue soldier and stop him before the entire web of Taskforce activities can be undermined. Greece, Qatar and Key West are just some of the geographic localities in this story.

Attention to detail in the scenes which involve altercation are well-done and keep the reader focused on what is transpiring. The rogue soldier can easily be compared to the character in the Charles Bronson movies. Pike Logan has a difficult task to accomplish. He is torn between avenging the death of a fellow team member and protecting the country.

Brad Taylor offers readers a glimpse into an arena that few of us are ever exposed to and he does it well. If you are new to this author, I suggest you read some of his other titles. You will not be disappointed.

Ladybookbug!