Blackout ~ ~ Spotlight Tour, Book Trailer, & Giveaway!

Book Title: Blackout by Lawrence Johnson Sr.

Category: Adult Fiction; 126 pages

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective

Publisher: Self-published

Release date: March 2011

Content Rating: PG

Book Description:

Alexander Steele is a private detective turned night club owner in the city of Philadelphia. Steele and his longtime girlfriend Shakia's plans for him to retire are derailed when his cousin brings him an encrypted travel drive. The drive is opened by Steele's hacker friend Stan. A few days earlier every transformer in Canada had been shut down by the terrorist. The drive in Steele's possession gave details as to how the event would happen. What made it even more frightening was that the documents on the drive were created three months before the actual event; Steele finds himself drawn into the well-crafted mind games of a madman known as Chameleon, an American terrorist.

The Chameleon's goal is to shut down the country by collapsing the economy of the United States. From the snow covered streets of Montreal to the tropical beaches of Nassau, Steele follows a trail of clues and dead bodies. As he gathers more puzzle pieces, Steele inches closer hoping to reveal and thwart the plot to bring down the U S government. He finds himself narrowly surviving constant attempts on his life. The dramatic face-off between Steele and Chameleon takes place in downtown Philadelphia. How will it end? Find out in Blackout, now on Audible.

Also Available on Audiobook:
Release Date: 07-13-17
Publisher: Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Written by: Lawrence Johnson Sr.
Narrated by: Alistair Dryburgh
Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
Series: Alexander Steele Mysteries, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Smashwords

Audible

Add to Goodreads

Watch the Trailer:

Meet the Author:

Born and raised in the city of Brotherly Love, I have been writing for nearly 10 years. I am the author of the 2012 scifi novel Escape 2 Earth. In early 2009, I completed the second installment in the the Escape 2 Earth trilogy called Return 2 Earth also several short stories including a fantasy story titled Dimensions in Time and a scifi story titled Planet of Doom.

In 2011, I completed my first detective novel called Blackout. Before writing Escape 2 Earth, I began putting together a collection of inspirational and motivational quotes titled Observations from the Edge of Society. I am currently working on the final book in the Escape 2 Earth series called Earth 2, Redemption, which will be completed in 2017.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook  ~ Instagram 

Enter the Giveaway!

Win one of four audiobook copies of Blackout! 

(open to USA and Canada)

Ends Sept 30, 2017

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK SPOTLIGHT SCHEDULE:

Sept 11 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 11 - Christy's Cozy Corners - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 12 - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 12 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 13 - The Book Drealms - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 13 - The Irresponsible Reader - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 14 - JBronder Book Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 15 - Bound 2 Escape - book spotlight
Sept 15 - 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - spotlight / giveaway
Sept 18 - Elsie's Audiobook Digest - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 18 - Literary Flits - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 19 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 19 - Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 20 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 21 - 411 on Books, Authors and Publishing News - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 21 - Hall Ways Blog - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 22 - Adventures Thru Wonderland - book spotlight / giveaway

Hall Ways disclaimer: This book is featured on Hall Ways Blog because the premise sounds interesting, and I love sharing interesting books. It has not been read or reviewed, so I cannot vouch for the quality of the content.

Bruiser

Shusterman, N. (2011). Bruiser. NY: Harper Teen.

Young Adult / Fiction / Supernatural / Audiobook

I gave this audiobook 5 out of 5 stars

Jacket Copy Blurb:

Tennyson:
Don't get me started on the Bruiser. He was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty" by the entire school. He's the kid no one knows, no one talks to, and everyone hears disturbing rumors about. So why is my sister, Brontë, dating him? One of these days she's going to take in the wrong stray dog, and it's not going to end well.

Brontë:
My brother has no right to talk about Brewster that way—no right to threaten him. There's a reason why Brewster can't have friends—why he can't care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can't be explained. I know, because they're happening to me.

Award-winning author Neal Shusterman has crafted a chilling and unforgettable novel about the power of unconditional friendship, the complex gear workings of a family, and the sacrifices we endure for the people we love.

****************************************************

I am a huge fan of Neal Shusterman's Unwind series, and so when an offer popped-up to get a free download of Bruiser, I took it. As a bonus, for $1.99 I was able to add narration. The title sat in my To-Be-Read pile for four months, and then I had a road trip with my son. Unwind is one of the very few books my son has read and enjoyed, so I figured this would be a good listening choice for our trip.  My son's a teenager, and we were driving before noon, so naturally, he slept through most of the book, but for me, Bruiser made six plus hours absolutely fly by. 

The narrators do an outstanding job of voicing the four main characters, and Shusterman has each presenting from a unique point of view: Tennyson is in first person present; Brontë, is first person, past tense; Cody is stream of consciousness; and Brewster is in free verse*. I have never before read a book that did this, but it works very well, and especially with the four distinct voices narrating the audiobook, these characters really come alive. 

And the story. . . Shusterman is truly a master storyteller and as is customary in his books, Bruiser will have readers/listeners thinking deeply about life, relationships, pain (emotional and physical), and sacrifice. And what-ifs: what if you could take on someone else's pain -- would you? What if someone else could take on your pain -- would you let him? What if you could live pain free -- is that even living?

At times, the story is painful to hear/read.  Readers' hearts will ache for Brewster as the people around him are either oblivious to the damage they are doing to Brewster or worse, they know. Shusterman does an excellent job of helping readers to really feel the emotions and turmoil of the characters as the full reach of Brewster's abilities is revealed. 

I was relieved and mostly satisfied with the ending. An epilogue would have solidified things since the ending wasn't absolutely clear-cut and could be open to interpretation for those with an active imagination. The book has no sex or sexual references (a few chaste kisses only) and only a few swear words. There are adult situations with mention of parents divorcing and having affairs and adult consumption of alcohol.  There is child abuse violence, but it's not described in a graphic manner. The book is probably fine for more mature middle grade kids and older. 

About the audiobook...
This story was outstandingly narrated by a group of talented actors: Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Luke Daniels and Laura Hamilton. Their performances  really defined each character.  My only complaint is that Brewster’s dialogue was kind of hard to hear. His voice is very low and soft, which is perfect for Brewster but hard to hear with road noise.
 

*NOTE – I listened to the whole book, but then I looked back at the eBook to re-visit and clarify what happened with the ending. It was only at that point that I realized Brewster’s parts were written in free verse. Happily, I also discovered the first fourteen chapters of Challenger Deep, Shusterman's latest novel!  **moves higher on TBR list** And speaking of Challenger Deep and Shusterman -- here's a pic I snapped of Neal and his son, Brendan, signing copies of the book at the TLA Conference this past April. Greatness!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Bruiser, which was a Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) choice, a YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults pick, and on twelve state lists; The Schwa Was Here; and the Unwind dystology, among many other books. He lives in California with his four children.

Website: http://www.storyman.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nealshusterman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NealShusterman

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Riggs, Ransom. (2011). Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children.  Quirk Publishing.

Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

Imaginative, fantastic, inventive! I really liked this book and pretty much read it straight through in one sitting. What seemed to be a turn-off for some(that the cover was creepy but the story wasn't quite creepy enough) was fine with me. The creepiness was not found in the peculiar children (though the child who can reanimate the dead is CREEPY) so much as in the creatures hunting the peculiar children -- but make no mistake, there was a creepy element. 

And as for the pictures: I loved them! They harkened back to carnival side shows of old and the fascination with the freakish, and in later years, of being drawn to something that had been defined as politically incorrect and inappropriate, but - like the proverbial train wreck - you can't stop looking. Whew!

I found myself quite impressed with how Riggs found these pictures and then incorporated them into the story. True, some pictures were simply mentions, but not one seemed like it didn't belong. He weaves a great story, with plenty of plot twists and turns, and richly described characters. Some of the characters seemed familiar (hello Charles Wallace from A WRINKLE IN TIME?), but overall, this book was unique and entertaining, and as soon as I finished it, I ordered the sequel.

The book is appropriate and entertaining for anyone over the age of twelve (adults included), I'd think, though younger readers may find the monsters and their attacks a little too intense.  There is some fairly bloody violence and disturbing situations, war, and death. Adults drink alcohol readily, and heavily. Also, there is reference to adultery, a budding romance and some kissing, but the language is clean.

Why not a 5? Can't go into that without revealing spoilers, but let's say that I found our main character's relationship with his parents and decisions and situations in relation to them a bit unrealistic.

Brooklyn Burning

Brezenoff, S. (2011). Brooklyn Burning. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Lab.

YA Realistic Fiction / Contemporary Fiction / Urban

QuickNEasy, 195 pages, ages 14+

I gave this 4 out of  5 stars on Goodreads.

I started reading this book for two reasons: 1) I am on a trek to find books appealing to kids who don't think they like to read, and 2) this book was under 200 pages and available at the library!

Going into a book cold-turkey is always interesting.  I hadn't read the book jacket or any reviews of Brooklyn Burning and assumed by the cover that the book was about a pyromaniac. (By the way, I like the cover and am so glad that it's not a back view of a teenaged girl wearing a formal gown and her hair blowing ever so subtly in the wind.  Thank you Steve Brezenoff. Never mind that the girl cover wouldn't fit in any way, shape, or form with the contents of the book.) So, not knowing what I was in for, I was initially frustrated because I couldn't tell if the main character, Kid, was male or female.  Enter character Scout, who also is not identified as male or female, and I started to get it. Ding! The author was being INTENTIONALLY VAGUE in stamping a gender label on these characters. Brilliant! People are just people with talents and skills and beliefs and feelings.

The book's main character is Kid, who writes some chapters directly to Scout, so that the readers almost feel like they are getting a peek into a journal or love letter.  Other chapters are written as general narratives, mostly filling in what the readers don't know about Kid's year prior to meeting Scout. Those back chapters made my heart ache for all the injustices poor Kid experienced, and they made me angry. Had Kid's parents been accepting and loving and acted like parents, Kid's life wouldn't have been so hard.  On the other hand, as a result of being rejected by Kid's father, Kid found love not once but twice and acceptance in places and ways that never would have been possible if Kid's parents had just loved Kid.  

The characters that showed love and acceptance towards Kid were really what made this story push forward.  With the presence of Fish, Jonny, and Konny, the readers didn't have to waste energy worrying about things that didn't matter -- Kid was going to be okay.  Imperfect as they are, these characters feel so real and familiar -- like you'd find them in any inner city neighborhood, looking out for their own. 

There are questions that aren't answered (namely, the genders of two major characters), but it's okay to be left wondering about some things.  And again, that intentional vagueness reminds us that sometimes there aren't clear answers for the questions in life. 

On the Clean-O-Meter rating. . . this is tough. There's an Fbomb fairly early on, but then I don't recall there being so much as a damn after that. There is significant underage drinking (mostly without any consequences, effects beyond the characters being identified as drunk), and drug references of shooting-up and junkies.  There is also a character who is a bisexual prostitute, but we are spared any details, and another character who is a minor and very sexually active with multiple partners, though we are also spared details.  Several of the characters are lesbian or gay or bisexual or questioning or not caring. Again, no details other than putting two and two together that character A - who is either male or female - is attracted to both males and females. There are several homeless teenagers, but they all seem to have food, money, shelter, safety.  There isn't any violence and nothing in the story is graphic.  I'm going to say a 7 out of 10.

Circle Nine

Heltzel, A. (2011). Circle nine. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
YA Mystery / Contemporary /Psychological Thriller

QuickNEasy*, 260 pages, ages15+

I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

It is hard for me to say this is a good story, as it's really pretty disturbing what the mind will allow when it is traumatized.  The brain will allow and accept alternate truths and delusions so that it doesn't have to deal with reality and repress anything disturbing. 

But it is a good story, intelligently written with good characterization where it was important. I pretty much read it straight through because the pieces of the puzzle were enticing me to want to see the whole, completed picture.  There were enough hints that I knew the complete picture was going to be ugly, but I had to know.  I desperately needed an explanation.

Our main character, seventeen-year-old Abby, lives in utter bliss.  She doesn't remember anything except Sam, and Sam is everything to her and she everything to him.  Their life seems like a fairy tale, but there is blurring at the edges to signal something's terribly off.  Abby's reality is richly descriptive, and like Abby, the reader wants to believe in the decadent life Abby is living.

Abby's complete and utter dependence on Sam is frustrating, and Sam's complete and utter control over Abby even more so; but there is so much below the surface and neither is truly completely in control or completely controlled. Again, running beneath the surface was this NEED for me to find out why Abby was so passive and easily manipulated. . . I kept on reading.

Recently, the books I've been reading haven't had satisfactory resolutions at the end, but that is not the case for Circle Nine.  Though we don't have all the answers, and we don't know exactly what happens around the bend, the direction the story leads makes sense.  There is some hope for Abby, even after the dire and depressing life she's lived.

I could definitely see this being made into a movie. . . 

So, the Clean-O-Meter is tough on this one.  There is abuse -- serious, ongoing psychological and sexual abuse.  The sex isn't graphic or detailed, but it's there and the context makes it sickening.  There is some mild vulgar language -- though a day later, I can't remember specifically which ones, indicating they were apropos for the situations.  There are references to underage drinking and drug use, and drug addiction is a major component of the story though not blatantly so.  So, maybe a 6.5 because it's done so well.

*I initially read this because due to the length, I thought it might appeal to reader who has little patience for lengthy stories; however, this isn't written at a low-level. The vocabulary is better than I'd expected, and there are plenty of literary references that the average reader may not know. Having said that, I don't think the vocab or references are show-stoppers to those who don't understand them, and they definitely enrich the story.

Burnout

Vrettos, A.M. (2011.) Burnout. NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
YA / Mystery

QuickNEasy, 193 pages, ages 12-17

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Told in alternating viewpoints "Today" and "Remembering," we get the picture of our main character, Nan, who's been through rehab and sworn off drinking, only to find herself in a place she doesn't remember, in clothes she doesn't remember wearing, having blackouts and nausea as the realization that she's fallen off the wagon washes over her.

Nan is a very well-written, realistic character. She struggles with her body image and yearns for friendship and acceptance.  In steps Seemy, who initially is the answer to Nan's prayers but eventually becomes a negative influence through her self-centered and destructive behavior.  Nan is smart enough to be able to recognize the emptiness of the friendship, but she has nothing else.

I was not satisfied with the lack of information about Seemy -- there were a lot of unanswered questions by the end, and how things played out seemed a little unrealistic.  Nan's actions didn't make sense given the circumstances, but I did like that Nan found her inner strength -- that needed to happen.

The writer did a very good job of conveying blackouts, which was a pretty powerful reminder that whatever Nan had done was still in her system and could cause permanent damage. It made it scarier that even though she seemed to be distanced from the danger, it was really right inside her still.

On the Clean-O-Meter rating, it's probably an 8 out of 10.  The subject matter of alcohol, drug use, and addiction is handled without a lot of details.  There is some minor swearing, and though it's clear Seemy is sexually active, there aren't details. Really, that sums up everything that could be controversial -- it's in there, but it's just mentioned and not spelled-out in any way, making this pretty safe reading.

12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn

Proimos, J. (2011). 12 things to do before you crash and burn. NY: Roaring Brook Press.
YA / Realistic Fiction / Humor / Contemporary

QuickNEasy, 128 pages, ages 15-18

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, but really, for some readers I'd say it's a 5 and others a 1!

This is an extremely quick read -- I think if you removed all the white space and condensed the text, it might make 30 pages. . .maybe.

That said, for so few words, it really had quite a story.  The main character, Hercules, is a sixteen-year-old witty slacker, and we quickly figure out his feelings about his recently deceased father.  What happens over the course of the story, though, is that Hercules develops a self-awareness, thanks to his uncle, and grows enough to put his life in perspective.  And he does all this via some pretty humorous situations.  A little unbelievable at times, but I was willing to go with it because it was fun.  I liked this kid.

Boys and girls alike will recognize Hercules because he has so many comfortable, familiar ways.  You want to hang out with him and know that he'd be a crack-up.  And even a reluctant reader will read this straight through because it is a page-turner.

As far as the Clean-O-Meter rating, I'd have to give this one a 5.5.  There's a fight, but it's funny. There is quite a bit of vulgar language (ranging from s**t to F-bombers and more), but it fits and really helps give a portrait of the character, so it's not completely gratuitous.  There is also a teenage sexual situation that isn't detailed, but it is basically a one-night-stand and there is no indication that it was safe-sex. And finally, there is one scene of underage drinking, but again, it helps define the characters in the scene.

Blood Wounds

Pfeffer, S.B. (2011). Blood Wounds. NY: Harcourt Children's Books
YA / Realistic Fiction / Contemporary

QuickNEasy, 256 pages, ages 14+

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

I really wanted to like this more, but it became too scattered with just too many heavy, heavy issues to cover in less than 300 pages. I have to give it snaps for some unexpected twists, though; however, some of those twists were because I thought this book was about one thing when it's actually about another.

With the jacket blurb about the murderous father on the run, it seems like it's going to be a thriller! And you keep waiting and waiting, and guess what -- it's not.  And if you're looking to dissect the father and his motives and intentions, you can't. Oh! But you can if. . . . you want to believe the main character, Willa, who hasn't had any contact with her father in ten years, can zone-out and "connect" to what her father was going through because his blood courses through her.  Rrrright.

Willa has serious psychological problems that are not really given much consideration, which is a concern. Her blended family is highly dysfunctional, though not on the surface.  The characters aren't well-constructed and truly, I couldn't feel too much towards any of them -- there just wasn't enough time given all the other drama.  That was unfortunate, as their were some indications that several of the characters were worth getting to know.

On the Clean-O-Meter, the book is pretty violent with fairly graphic descriptions of blood splatters and vicious wounds.  I don't recall any vulgarity (should have written right when I was done, so if there are some words I missed, apologies), and there certainly weren't any sexual references or situations - I can't imagine if that had been thrown into the mix as well.  So, for violence and disturbing subject matter, it rates a 6 out of 10.

Now, I must say. . . 
******SPOILER ALERT******* ******SPOILER ALERT******* ******SPOILER ALERT******* 
Did anyone else do the math on the insurance policy pay-out and think, "no way!" Willa gets $750k, and divides it 3 ways.   With her $250,000, she pays the mortgage, has money to pay for college, and will take voice lessons, etc. ?  If the step-sisters' mom was as well-to-do as she sounded, that money won't cover the mortgage, much less anything else.  These numbers just don't work and it really bothered me. Whew. Glad I got that off my chest.
****END SPOILER ALERT*****  ****END SPOILER ALERT***** ****END SPOILER ALERT*****

As I Wake

Scott, E. (2011). As I wake. NY: Dutton Books.
YA Lit / Dystopian /Sci-Fi / Mystery

288 pages; ages 14+

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

The cover is awesome.  Quite possibly, this is the best YA cover from 2011. (hooray for not having a view from the back of a girl in a formal gown.)  And it's a very quick read, even with having to re-read so many paragraphs for clarity. And the whole parallel universes/existences premise is great!  Unfortunately, these are about all of the positives I can say about this story.

The book starts off intentionally confusing, but even as the reader begins to understand the main character's confusion, the repetition and pounding of the same messages gets old.  We get it already!  We were paying attention the first (and second, and third) time you told us that Ava (main character) can't remember diddly squat, doesn't recognize anyone, doesn't beloooooong here.  Her memories of her "other" life are painful and she faints a lot.

A pet peeve of mine is when a published book has typographical errors, and there were more than a few in this book, which brought things to a screeching halt for me.  Also, there were a few unanswered questions that were fairly important to the plot, and leaps of faith the reader was expected to take that weren't worth the jump.

There was so much potential in the premise -- that everyone exists in multiple lives in multiple planes and that sometimes they can move between these places.  That true love remains throughout existence. That deep-down, people are basically the same regardless of the environment.  Unfortunately, the message was delivered in a rather clunky and confusing way.  Truly, I have no idea how the book ended. I re-read it three times and just don't have a clue.

On the Clean-O-Meter rating, I have to give this one a 6, but it easily could have been a perfect 10. The parts that dropped it down were completely unnecessary and even awkward.  There's really no violence other than a fist-fight.  There was one F-Bomb dropped about 3/4 of the way through the book, and it was really out of place and sudden. The character who said it hadn't even uttered a "damn" before that. And the weirdest thing was the odd inclusion of someone overhearing masturbation and in turn masturbating and then later recalling the whole thing. No details of the actions, but odd inclusion of it and completely out of place with a story that doesn't have pining, yearning, or fondling. Just a few kisses that were nondescript.