Review: The Devil Colony by James Rollins

The Devil's Colony by James Rollins is a great read. The novel is a high octane action packed search for secret treasure buried thousands of years in America's past. The story is based on a mixture of facts, myths, and outright fiction to create a story that thrills as well as enlightens. The focus of the novel is a secret government organization known simply as Sigma. Sigma is a highly trained organization made up of former military special forces soldiers and officers retrained to work as scientist in critical and dangerous situations. The headquarters for Sigma are located under the National History Museum in Washington D.C.

The  Devil's Colony begins in the times of our founding fathers as an early archaeological dig and discovery is attacked by an unknown force. From there the novel jumps to the present and takes the reader on a wild ride all over the North American continent as Sigma forces races to stop an ancient technology that is so powerful it could destroy all life on Earth.

Much of the story is based on what is now popular culture, masonic images, the Knights Templar, and other esoteric symbols shielding a nefarious organization from our gaze. Unlike many novels about secret societies this novel is focused on a secret history of America, and the first Jewish settlers the Americas'. From there the novel connects, tribes of Israel, Native Americans, and the Book of Mormon to create a twisting story that left me chomping at the bit to read onward.

The idea of ancient technology or lost information that is more powerful than that we currently have has almost become passe, but Rollins does an excellent job of using this theme to give the story an edge. His use of actual American history and fiction creates an excellent platform for him to advocate the importance of Native Americans in the forming of the original thirteen colonies. Rollins doesn't beat the reader over the head with these facts but makes them imperative parts of the plot and story making the impact of each realization important to the story, and the reader as well.

Before The Devil's Colony, I had stopped reading these sort of adventure/ science fiction big explosion stories, but I have been so impressed by this book that I plan to read the rest of Mr. Rollins body of work, and if you read this book I am sure you will want to do the same.

Reviewed by Andrew Swanson

Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: 3/27/2012
Pages: 672

Review: Now You See Her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Summary
Nina Bloom finally had everything that would make her life complete. She finally felt like her life had everything that she could've asked for. She got married to her handsome husband whom she felt on top of the world. Everything changed when she discovered a terrible secret that made her so scared that she ran for her life. Fearing for what would become, she changed her identity and left without looking back.

With time passed and confident that her past was buried deep beyond, she finally got her life to where she felt safe and comfortable. She became a mother and worked her way to become a successful lawyer until one day a case that was all to familiar to her not only turned her life upside down but made her confront those secrets that could shatter everything she had tried so hide and make her confront the past she tried to hard to get away from.

Review
In this page turning, can't put the book down suspended thriller, James Patterson takes you through one of his most suspended filled stories to date. It is one of those books that grab you from the beginning. Not only is it filled with different plot twists and turns that not only keep you interested but it also keeps you wanting more. You just don't want the book to end.

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Book Information
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Release Date: 6/11/11
Pages: 400

Review: Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey

When you think of Steve Harvey, chances are you will probably automatically think of him as just a comedian or entertainer. Who knew from his book, "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man" that he could offer more than just a funny laugh. This book is definitely for the ladies. It is an inside look at what men are thinking about everything from love, commitments, relationships, and more. If you are a single gal that just can't get it right or you want to grab some tips on how to make it right, this book is definitely worth the insight.

He gives women a sneak into the minds of what many men don't want you to know. It is sort of like a fly on the wall in the locker room. At times funny and surprisingly insightful at others he puts you in the drivers seat to drive through the minds of what many men are thinking. For so many women out there who are making the same mistakes, he really makes you see things from a different perspective. If you are lucky, maybe even find the right person that you have been trying to find.

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 1/27/09
Pages: 240

Review: Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

Summary
Matthew Bannon, a struggling art student, finds himself in a unbelievable situation. After a chaotic violet attack in Grand Central station, while encountering the victim, he notices a bag but before he could do anything an officer arrives on the scene. Not trying to draw suspicion to himself, he uses the bag to get out of the situation but doesn't know that it potentially will cost him more than his freedom. What seems like his lucky day turns out to be his worst nightmare.  

Little did he know that the man whom he took the bag from, Walter Zelvas, is connected to the Russian Mob. When the mob found out he was stealing some of the diamonds, they hired an assassin to kill him and get them. The problem is that those diamonds are in the bag.  The owner of the diamonds wants them back and sends two rival assassins to get the job done. 

Review
In this action packed, on the edge of your seat thriller, you get to see this plot play in so many twists and turns where you don't want to put the book down. It leaves you hanging onto every move wanting to know who and what is going to happen next. Even though, I am not a fan of the shoot em up type action, I really appreciate a great written story when I read it. 

Despite my enthusiastic response to this book, there are a couple of parts that may make some readers uncomfortable because of the details of the situation which could've been left out. Other than that, this is definitely a captivating read where your interest is never lost and your anticipation continually builds where the suspense just doesn't let you put the book down.  There are many unexpected events that make this an anticipated page turner. So, if you love action, than this will be a good book for you!

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Book Information
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Release Date: 8/29/11
Pages: 384

Review: Life After Death by Damien Echols

If ever a cliche to be true, "If you think your life is bad, there is someone out there who has it worse," doesn't even describe the ordeal recounted in the book "Life After Death" by Damien Echols. If you haven't read this book yet, trust me when I tell you that this is one of those books that you will not be able to put down. It is one of those books that leave you asking the question, how can something like this happen? In a country that's core is strengthened by a constitution that is supposed to protect us and a judicial system that is supposed to honor due process and provide justice for all failed to protect its young, especially the innocent.

In 1993, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., best known as the West Memphis Three, were falsely accused of a horrific murder involving three young boys. The investigation led by local law enforcement was an aggressively pursued vigilant manhunt which led to their unjust imprisonment in which Echols was sentenced to death while Baldwin and Misskelley received life sentences. Their trial included false allegations, altered evidence, and the complete denial of anything which would’ve proven their innocence which could’ve led to their exoneration. After two decades of being imprisoned, their case drew public support including a series of events which led to their long awaited release.

When you think of someone in jail, your first thought might be who cares. They deserve to be there right? Chances are their crimes are justified but what happens when they are innocent? That journey of proving one’s innocence was so eloquently written for a moment shatters our perception from the perspective of someone who is incarcerated. 

Through his journals and writings that were salvaged, we are taken on an incredible journey in which we share his heart breaking experience of his challenged upbringing through his unfathomable experience as an innocent person experiencing the death of their life in the worst form of human punishment. A life taken away, stripped of its’ identity and replaced as a numeral statistic that cannot be given back. This story defines strength, perseverance, and the testament of the human spirit of the depths of its core.

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Book Information
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Release Date: 5/7/2013
Pages: 416

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Professing his innocence, mounting evidence leads to a trail of lies and deceit, some of which makes him seem like the number one suspect. Along with his sister, Go, he sets out to prove his innocence but if he didn't do it than where is Amy and what happened to her? 

If you haven't read this book yet, it is one of those books that giving too much away will ruin it, so I want to let those who haven't read it enjoy it. I will let you know to prepare because it is about 415 pages but once you start reading the story, the plot takes you in so many places that you just keep flipping the pages. I thought it took a little bit but once you get a few chapters in, thats when the book really takes off.  Gillian's ability to write such as amazing well written narrative keeps you interested but unlike other thrillers in which the plot seem predictable, this wasn't. 

All the twists and turns make you feel so many different emotions that you just don't want to put the book down. I love the way she writes from the point of view of each character. It really gives you the opportunity to not only get the story from their perspective but she become engrossed in their lives and feel part of the story. The only thing that disappointed me was the end. I wish where the story was heading justice would've came in another form. You might feel differently. I still think it's definutely worth taking a chance.

Reviewed by Michelle Bowles

Book Information
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Release Date: 6/5/12
Pages:432