Heat Level 3 – PG-13

Class-A Threat by Dan Sugralinov

November 7, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

Class-A Threat by Dan Sugralinov

In a world of twenty billion, a third are non-citizens, barred from society’s privileges. Teens must play “Disgardium” for life skills. Alex Shepard, in-game as Scyth, disengages after a setup blunder but must return to earn for education. Misfortunate events rank him as a low-level “Threat”. But, when cursed by one game character and recognized by another, Alex gains a unique ability. Guided to a Sleeping God, he’s tasked with a monumental mission, amplifying his “Threat” level to the highest level.

The Epsilon Account by Joni Parker

October 17, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

The Epsilon Account by Joni Parker

Thousands of years ago, Eledon was created for the Elves by their Mentors when they were forced to leave Earth. At least, that’s how the legend goes. In return, the Elves must pay them a tribute in gold, known as the Golden Harvest, every four thousand years. The Elfin Council of Elders appoints Lady Alexin (Alex) Dumwalt, the Keeper of the Keys, to manage the next payment, due 244 years from now. That is, until the Mentors show up unexpectedly and demand immediate payment of the Epsilon Account. Since the Harvest has never been called that, Alex suspects foul play and uncovers a sinister plot by the Star Elves, a rival clan from the Constellations, who want to steal the gold. To make matters worse, they’re willing to do anything to succeed to include murder. Can Alex stop them and save the Elfin gold before it’s too late?

Third Wheel by Richard R. Becker

September 12, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

Third Wheel by Richard R. Becker

Third Wheel is an exhilarating coming-of-age thriller about belonging, betrayal, and breaking away. It is the story of a boy trying to find his identity without the benefit of clear role models. He takes chances on random and fragile relationships forged in the pre-boom hours of Las Vegas, 1982.

Brady Wilks is remarkable as a transformative protagonist. He must make tough decisions as his friends try to navigate a dangerous path selling cartel-supplied drugs.

Four-time award-winning author Richard R. Becker once again shares his unique insight into the human condition. Desolate and gritty, Third Wheel is a triumphant debut novel.

Rise of Dresca by Tim McKay

August 7, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

Rise of Dresca by Tim McKay

What evil intended to harm you…

… can become something far more terrible.

Enter a world of fantasy where evil parasitizes the meek and arrogant alike. Where limitless power and knowledge can be yours for a price, not of your soul, but of your mind, your will, and your resolve to be free.

In the land of Naevoroth, a new power is rising.

And it’s yours for the taking.

The Epherium Chronicles: Embrace by T.D. Wilson

June 26, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

The Epherium Chronicles: Embrace by T.D. Wilson

Book one of The Epherium Chronicles

Hope. Captain James Hood of the Earth Defense Forces remembers what it felt like. Twenty-five years ago, it surged through him as a young boy watching the colony ships launched by mega-corporation Epherium rocket away. He, like so many others, dreamed of following in the colonists’ footsteps. He wanted to help settle a new world—to be something greater.

Then came the war…

Hope. During years of vicious conflict with an insectoid alien race, it was nearly lost. Though Earth has slowly rebuilt in the six years since the war, overcrowding and an unstable sun have made life increasingly inhospitable. When mysterious signals from the nearly forgotten colony ships are received, Hood is ordered to embark on a dangerous reconnaissance mission. Could humanity’s future sit among the stars?

Hope. Hood needs it now more than ever. As secrets about the original colonists are revealed and the Epherium Corporation’s dark agenda is exposed, new adversaries threaten the mission, proving more dangerous to Earth than their already formidable foes…

Smuggler’s Valor by T.D. Wilson

June 26, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

Smuggler’s Valor by T.D. Wilson

Smuggling precious cargo to a remote colony was supposed to be easy. I was dead wrong.

Awarded Silver Honorable Mention in the recent first quarter Volume 40 of L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest.

Smuggling is a dangerous business and Reese Daniels has the score of a lifetime within his grasp; however, getting shot down on one of Uranus’ moons wasn’t in his plan. Stranded and on the run in the middle of an alien invasion, Reese must work with a group of Marine cadets to escape a grisly fate.

Abroad: A Novel of Cross-Cultural Encounters by Greyson Bryan

June 25, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

Abroad: A Novel of Cross-Cultural Encounters by Greyson Bryan

Come along for the ride with this “supremely readable” coming-of-age story about clashing cultures and complicated relationships. ABROAD follows Skip, Maddie, and Rex as they travel overseas and navigate romantic loves and friendships during the cultural upheaval and sexual revolution of the 1960s and 70s.

Booklife praises ABROAD saying, “In this literary novel centered on travel and the lessons we can learn from crossing borders with an open heart, Bryan, author of the Big thriller series, weaves an ambitious, globe-crossing narrative of interconnected lives and loves.”

Travel to Mexico and Paris, take a steamship to Europe, crisscross Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia all in one story. Read ABROAD and bring adventure with you wherever you go.

The Price of Rebellion by Michael C Bland

June 21, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

The Price of Rebellion by Michael C Bland

It’s 2047. Secrets have been revealed. And Washington wants revenge.

Dray Quintero learned an ugly truth: the leaders in D.C. are fake. They’ve stolen the identities of those duly elected to Congress and are determined to stay in power, using his own technology against him and the rest of the population.

After revealing the dangers of their government-mandated implants to his fellow citizens, and calling on everyone to rise up, Dray joins the already-underway rebellion. But his joining is as much to free the United States as it is to avenge his daughter’s death. Before he can strike, The Agency attacks with devastating consequences. Dray and the other survivors are forced to run. Agents hunt them, cutting off resources and hope.

Then Dray makes a discovery that could change their fate–and the future of the nation.

As he and the rebels prepare a bold offensive, his wife Mina broadcasts a preposterous claim. He must choose between the fight and a desperate hope. Between family and country.

What he does will change everything.

The Price of Rebellion is the action-packed second installment of The Price Of series from multiple-award-winning author Michael C Bland.

The Ring by Florence Osmund

June 9, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

The Ring by Florence Osmund

Paige West is a well-educated, financially stable business owner who mourns the death of her father and misses the closeness she had with him throughout her life. Jessivel Salter is a high school dropout who had a child out of wedlock at sixteen and is now a single mother on the brink of becoming homeless. She also misses her now-deceased father, but for very different reasons. When fate unites them, Paige is drawn to Jessivel from the start and wants to help her. But Jessivel doesn’t trust Paige or her intentions and rejects her many “helping hand” offers.

The two women eventually connect and when certain disturbing truths are unveiled, they discover they have something in common that is inconceivable and shocking. Their relationship soon becomes contentious and forces each woman to decide whether she wants to take the easy way out and part ways forevermore or face up to the adversity that fate has thrown at them.

And it all started with “the ring.”

They Called Me Margaret by Florence Osmund

April 21, 2023 By Book Review Matchmaker Leave a Comment

They Called Me Margaret by Florence Osmund

Margaret Manning has spent the better part of her life conforming to the expectations of other people—first her father, then her husband. Breaking away from this ruinous tradition, she becomes a cozy mystery writer and decides to open her own bookstore—The Indie Book Nook. But when her husband mimics the behaviors of some of the more unscrupulous characters in her books, she fears that she is losing him, or even worse that she is losing her mind.

While abandonment is nothing new to Margaret—she hasn’t seen or heard from her mother since she was six years old—the fear of losing her husband is devastating. She struggles to find the strength to mend her shattered marriage while also coping with obscure health issues, her daughter’s precarious behavior, a disingenuous neighbor, and an unpredictable mother-in-law.

Who in Margaret’s life is friend and who is foe is not always apparent, and it’s up to her to figure it all out.