The Greatest Game by Frank Berry

Frank Berry's novel Greatest Game is a compelling read. The question is which is the Greatest Game? Is it the world games put on by World Wide Games or is it the race to control the oil reserves in China?

Berry has woven a great story of espionage, love and revenge. Frank Thro is the ultimate hero in this story. He suffers the death of his father and of his teammates. And if that is not enough for one’s plate, betrayal by a life long friend. Luckily, he gains the love of a CIA operative, who together solve the greatest mystery of the true question at hand “which is the greatest game?”

Frank Berry has done an excellent job with Greatest Game. The story is well written and easy to follow. Franks ability to bring his story alive is extraordinary. You the reader will find yourself entranced, I would really be surprised to find your book with dog eared pages. You will not want to put this down once you start; so don't start it on a night when you want to get some sleep! 5 stars

Proud Souls by Bobby Ozuna

Bobby Ozuna's novel the Proud Souls is a remarkable read. Seymour is a small town in Texas and it has developed quite a history in the last six years. Justin Olerude Bower, the Rev. Hillard Ray Polk, Ralph Winslow Parison and the so called “ town whore” Tessa Jameson have been living the last six years in their own self induced personal prison.

Justin has lost his wife and son in an accident. He has spent the last six years in a bottle, just waiting to die. Ralph Parison is in the truck that crashes into Justin and his family, for which he just can't forgive himself. The Rev. Polk, lives in his prison, feeling as though he has lost Justin's soul. Tessa's prison is one of torn feelings toward Justin, she’s fallen in love with a man who doesn't want to live.

Each character in this novel will come alive and you will feel their desperation, their sadness and loneliness. You will come to wonder, what if my life was to come to these types of problems. How would I handle such a difficult time? Who would I turn too? Who would really be able to help me? Who would make me make the right decisions in life? And the most important question of all. Would I choose life or death or choose to live with the pain of losing the people you loved the most.

Bobby Ozuna has done a spectacular job in writing this novel. His writing style is one that will bring his characters to life. He has the ability to take your feelings on a roller coaster and leave you needing to turn the pages. This is a must read. You, the reader, will not regret reading this book, even though it will mean you will be sacrificing a few nights sleep just because you can’t put it down. 4.5 stars

Crows on the Cross by Kristy Tallman

Warning - Not for the faint of heart - true horror fans only!

Crows on the Cross is Kristy Tallman's second novel. The story starts with two lovers who are in a car crash together. When they wake up they are each alone. Rainey is in Virginia and Drew is in Florida. The states represent where Rainey and Drew's personal hell began in the days of their youth.

When Rainey wakes up in her pristine 1969 Cadillac, she can't remember how it is she got home, let alone where she has been, or why the car and her clothes smell of smoke. All she does know for certain is that her and her lover Drew had a fight - but over what? Not even she knows why, but unable to find him Rainey's drawn by the disparate need to head south. Without knowing where he is she heads to the only place she knows he might be - in Florida.

Drew is first introduced waking up in Miami, Florida in Rainey's beloved 69 Cadillac staring hard into his childhood church. Why? Only able to remember the horrible accident that took Rainey away from him he's left to wonder how he ended up back in Florida and how he's driving around in a car that wrapped around a tree. Nothing makes sense - who's the shadowy man at the church and how is he going to endure his life after losing Rainey? The stranger at the church sends Drew reeling back in time - the nightmare of his childhood comes slamming back into his memory after all these years of keeping it hidden. Filled with anger and a broken heart he decides he's got to get the hell out of Florida. He's on a mission to Virginia to return the caddie back to Rainey's mother or so he tells himself.

Both Rainey and Drew suffer flash backs into their childhood, where each of them has had to endure the worst kind of evil that can be inflicted upon a helpless child. This novel will send you on a roller coaster ride of emotional trauma, you'll scream in anger one moment then feel like crying the next as you ride with the characters Tallman has created in a car that isn't just any car. The demons she creates in this book are too real, so real it will change the way you look at the common passerby every time you walk out your front door.

Kristy Tallman has done it again! Her ability to turn the pages of a novel into a real to life psychological hell for the reader by showing you that the genuine horror in this world is our very own human race has again been accomplished with an encore for more. Tallman has definitely surpassed the expectations I held after reading "The All-Souls Faire". She managed to shock me to the core and horrify me like no other author has in a long time! Excellent! 5-Stars

Open your minds and go on a journey with the Kamishi. You won't regret it.

Gaddy Bergmann's Migration of the Kamishi is the first book of three in The Feral World series. Though this book is set in the fifty-first century, readers will be transported back to a time when mankind lived off the land and didn't have the modern day conveniences we have come to know and take for granted in our everyday lives. The people of this time have made a conscious choice to live this way so as not to become what the inhabitants of this era consider 'managers'. The managers are the populace of the twenty first century.

During this age of transition the people who live on the Earth after just barely surviving a hit by an asteroid have formed together in tribes. Bergmann first introduces us to the Kamishi tribe who live in modern day's North America. The Kamishi tribe is only two hundred strong as are most of the tribes of this time. They are a friendly and peaceful people who occupy one of the most sought after grounds for food and living conditions. Good for the Kamishi it would seem until their neighbors the Ravashi determine to take control of their lands.

The Ravashi are a warring tribe and attack early in the book without a hint of warning. They annihilate everyone in the Kamishi tribe except for Blake, the son of their chief and Manosh, Blake's closest friend. The only material item saved is their 'Bebel' given to them by their tribe's elder who dies in their arms. The 'Bebel' is sacred and compares to our modern day's Bible. Left alone after the massacre of their people Blake determines they should make the journey to the Warmlands, but not until they rescue Blake's dogs from a handful of Ravashi warriors.

After killing the Ravashi warriors Blake and Manosh set out on their journey to the Warmlands where they find themselves crossing over into other occupied territories until they reach what is known as a 'rubbletown'. A 'rubbletown' is a twenty-first century city that has crumbled away to nothing. While they are there they find themselves rescuing a young lady, Lana, from some dangerous men. Becoming the third member of the group they move on and continue to migrate towards the Warmlands together facing peril and tribulations along the way.

This was a pleasant read. Gaddy Bergmann has woven a leisurely tale that leaves you wondering the impossible. It's intermingled with action and adventures, quietude and contemplation while filling you with a sense of wonder. Could this happen to our Earth? What if this really did happen, could the world of today survive and would they choose to survive as they had before? A book I highly recommend for readers of all genres as Bergmann's book stands out on a sea of many bookshelves. Open your minds and go on a journey with the Kamishi. You won't regret it. - 4.5 STARS

Tony Ruggiero's - Team of Darkness

A peacekeeping operation in Kosovo has a new commander and a new mission. Navy Commander John Reese was selected to command this elite unit because of his interest in myths and legends. He is sent to Kosovo because a man has shown up at the base claiming that his children were killed by beasts. An investigation of the area proves to be fatal and the enemy unstoppable. Now Commander Resse has to put together a plan to capture these creatures, once they are captured, under the cover of darkness they are secreted onto a base in the United States. Once they have been studied and tested in military procedures. Commander Reese has a new group of men to command. The men are over a hundred years old and look to be only in their 20's. A special collar is placed on their necks to control them. They are the Team of Darkness.

There is bone chilling horror in Tony Ruggiero's " Team of Darkness". The reader will be entranced by the way the characters come to life on the pages of this book. Ruggiero style of writing will keep you on the edge of your seat, it will make you jump at noises in the night and make you sleep with you light on at night. - 4 Stars

Welcome To Authors On The Rise Book Reviews

Welcome to Authors on the Rise Book Reviews!

Authors on the rise is a Richmond VA based company set up to help authors and small press publishers rise to the top with their books and their clients. We offer an array of services which include but are not limited to; Author Publicists, Book Signing Tours, Book Reviews, Internet Presence, Assistance Building Websites, MySpace Page and other online venues geared toward broadening your fan base.

Book Reviews are a must - all authors know this and seek these for resources to use in selling their books and gaining notoriety. We have on-staff one very avid reader with an insatiable appetite for more. He reviews all genres excluding non-fiction and would be happy to read your work. We offer several resources to help you with your reviews at very reasonable pricing.

This as you can tell is our book review blog where our professional book reviewer Michael Timlin posts his reviews of your books. Michael has read over 2000 books in the past 5 years and continues to add to his library of books read. He reviews all books of all genres excluding non fiction works.

If you would like Michael to review your work please feel free to contact him or visit our website for further details on how to get your books reviewed. Below is a brief explanation of the services Authors on the Rise offers for book reviews.

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Mark Kearney's Twisted Obsession

Twisted Obsession, is about a police officer who while on a domestic call has to shoot a man. The affects of this shooting send Officer Jay Mundie on a roller coaster ride of emotions. He has been cleared by the state police and found that the shoot was justifiable. But the shooting of Moe Jackson, awakens an evil in Jay that the town of Cutler, VA is not ready for. The lead investigator in the recent rash of murders in and around Cutler is beginning to suspect that it could possibly be a police officer that is doing the killings. Are his hunches correct? Can he find out who it is before more murders occur? You will have to read the book to find out.

Twisted Obsession is Mark Kearney's debut novel. He is an up and coming crime thriller author who, if he continues to write this way, may find himself being compared to Patricia Cornwell. - 4 Stars

William Queen's "Under and Alone"

Have you ever known how it feels to be totally alone and afraid for you life? Read Under and Alone, and you will know. William Queen, has done an incredible job of bringing his time as an under cover agent for the ATF to life on these pages.

He gave up three years of being with his family to do the unheard of, becoming a patched in member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club. Then to rise within the club to become an officer. Yet everyday was filled with the fear of being found out and murdered. His bravery and commitment towards the investigation is profound, yet you get the feeling that even though he did his job. He developed a personal relationship with some of the most dangerous people this country has every seen.

This is a must read book if you have ever been in or around the motorcycle life style, whether you are a weekend warrior or a true blue motorcyclist. - 5 Stars

Kristy Tallman's "The All-Soul's Faire Book Review

Do you want some more? You will when you read the All Souls Faire, by Kristy Tallman.

Kristy Tallman, is going to take you on a road trip to the small town of Covington, Va. Where she is going to bring to life the characters in this small country town. You will feel the fear of Detective Cole Bryant as he is confronted with the mysteries of North mountain. You will fall in love Ms. Ryder, who knows all the stories of the area and of the evil that exists on North Mountain. Then you will feel the hopelessness of Cecil as he tries to full fill his pact with the devil.

Kristy Tallman is an up and coming Psychological Thriller and Horror author. Her work will keep you spellbound and turning the pages. After reading the novel you will want some more. If Ms. Tallman continues to bring us more of this type of work, she is well on her way to becoming a best selling author. So look out Steven King & Dean Koontz. There is a new author to the horror genre and her name is Kristy Tallman - 5 Stars

Kristy Tallman's Website

Simon Wood's - Accidents Waitig To Happen Review

Simon Wood, has done an fabulous job in writing Accidents waiting to happen. This was a very good read with a great story line.

Josh Michaels has a pretty good life. He has a beautiful wife and loving daughter. A good job and great friends. So why is it that someone wants him dead. On his way home from work a driver forces him off the road and into a river, where he is left to die. The man who forces him off the road looks on in mild amusement as Josh, is stuck in his sinking car. Looking to the man for the help, he is given the THUMBS DOWN signal.

After getting out of the hospital Josh has a few more near misses and wonders what is going on? So will you! You will want to keep turning the page to find out what is going to happen next. And will Josh and his best friend be able to stop these near miss death experience from occurring anymore and will they be able to find out who is behind them. You will have to read “ Accidents waiting to happen” to find out. You will enjoy the book and it's outcome. - 4 Stars

Brian Keene's Ghoul

This was an easy book to read. It is your classic horror story with a little twist. It revolves around three boys. One has an abusive father, one an incestuous mother, the other; the perfect family life. These three boys enjoy the summer months playing in the local cemetery. Where they have made an underground fort. But then the town starts missing women one of whom is the daughter of the local priest.

This is the only difference I found in this story from any other horror story out there. Once you get past the three boys screwed up lives, it's the same old story. The evil character gets killed and the girl is rescued. So if you're seeking a book based on blood, guts and sex, Ghoul is one you may wish to read; however if you are looking for something new and surprising I wouldn't suggest it. ~ 2 Star Rating

Gary Frank's Forever Will You Suffer

What a good read and great book. I truly enjoyed reading this book, it give a breath of fresh air to the horror genre. Gary, has done an excellent job of telling the story of a centuries old promise of “Forever you will suffer.”

The book starts out with Rich Summers going to the cemetery to visit his mothers and sisters graves. When he returns to the cab that has been waiting for him. He notices an awful smell. The cab starts driving away and there is thump under the car. Rich looks out the back window to notice the original driver dead in the road.
He is dropped off at a old girlfriends house only to find out she is in hiding because of stalker. This is where the roller coaster ride starts and you will not want to put this book down. Who is who and what is what. This is how you will go through in the book. It keeps you wanting to turn the pages to find out what is next. You will never know how this book is going to end until you turn the last page.
This kind of writing is what will make Gary Frank a best selling author. - 4 Star Rating!