Book Review: Casting About by Terri DuLong

Casting About by Terri DuLong

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: October 26, 2010

Paperback, 352 pages
Fiction, Women's Fiction, Southern Fiction, Cedar Key series #2

My Review:
Why I read this: I read Spinning Forward last year and loved it so I jumped at the chance to review Casting About this year.

How is the novel driven:  Character - it's what I refer to as "small-town fiction", similar to Jodi Thomas' Harmony, Texas series.  The town even has a life of it's own and the people in the town are great to see and get to know.  You feel like you are part of Cedar Key when you read these books.  The plot moves it along well, but I would say the focus is on the characters.

My thoughts:Well Ms. DuLong has done it again.  She has managed to suck me into life on Cedar Key so thoroughly that I didn't want to leave, in fact I want to go visit the real Cedar Key.  Casting About picks up with Monica, who is Sydney's daughter from Spinning Forward.  She is now running her mom's knitting shop and enjoying her 5-month-old marriage.  Of course something has to happen or there wouldn't be a book.  That something is her new husband Adam's 8-year-old daughter, Clarissa.  She is dropped into their life leaving Monica wondering if she has the nurturing inside her to be a mother or if she is just like her grandmother who gave her mother up for adoption.

Such a different angle for a book.  Imagine being a newlywed and not even sure you want to have kids.  Monica is use to Clarissa visiting but nothing prepares her for life with a younger girl.  As Monica begins to question her mothering ability, things begin to change slowly.  I really like how things happen in this book.  There is no poof and within the first few days and Monica is an excellent mother.  It's a learning process.  What Monica doesn't realize is it is a learning process for all mothers whether you are a natural mother to your children or a step-mother or adoptive mother.  And where she's extremely lucky is she's not alone, she has her friends and family in Cedar Key to help her every step of the way.

I loved watching Monica, Adam and Clarissa grow and change through this novel.  I loved seeing how the townspeople and family were again.  I loved the other undercurrents running through the book and most of all I loved the knitting.  I don't know how to knit but every I read one of these books I want to learn.  I actually bought stuff last year when I had surgery, but never quite got it.  Somehow I think it's time to get the knitting supplies back out and learn.

Casting About is a beautiful story of love, hardship and triumph.  It feels close enough to real life and I honestly felt like I was right there with Monica enduring the fears, trials, and happiness through the book.  Life is never easy but those moments when things go right really shine through and Ms. DuLong does a beautiful job showcasing the good and the bad and the wonderful small-town life of Cedar Key.  I can't wait to visit again and see what the inhabitants of Cedar Key are up to next.


My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:

In this beautifully crafted and uplifting novel, the author of the acclaimed Spinning Forward welcomes readers back to the lush Florida island of Cedar Key, where the vibrant shades of hibiscus and azaleas are the perfect backdrop to a colorful, quirky community. . .

In the four years since Monica Brooks moved to Cedar Key, she's found a home, a husband, and now a business to love. Taking over her mother's bustling knitting shop is a welcome challenge, but Monica's exciting plans are waylaid by unexpected news. Her husband's ex-wife has been deemed an unfit mother, and custody of their eight-year-old daughter, Clarissa, is to be transferred to Adam.

Going straight from honeymoon to motherhood--especially when she's unsure she wants children--leaves the normally even-keeled Monica doubting herself at every turn. Yet in a place like Cedar Key, nobody goes it alone. With help from friends and relatives, Monica, Clarissa, and Adam begin to forge a close-knit family of their own--one that will need to be strong enough to withstand all the surprises set to unravel. . .

About the Author:

You can read about Terri on her website here.

Website

FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  All opinions expressed are my own and they are my honest opinions, I am not compensated anything beyond receiving the book for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop - October 25-31

Welcome to the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop - I love participating in these - I always find new blogs and usually get new readers. I'm going to keep this simple. Fill out the Form, choose the books you would like to win and you are entered, no extra entries this time, but if you get a chance do tweet or let others know about all the great giveaways.  Check the linky at the bottom and visit other wonderful blogs and enter to win great books, swag and more!

First, these are open to US/Canada only, I'm low on funds at the moment.  Sorry international - next hop I'll try and do international.  Giveaway is open 12:01am 10/25 - 11:59pm 10/31.  So what am I giving away?

First a deliciously spooky book that is perfect for a cold night alone and though it is YA, don't let that put you off - this will thrill adults as well.

Solitary by Travis Thrasher

ARC of Matched by Ally Condie (doesn't have this cool cover, sorry, but it's not out until the end of November so it's your chance to read this awesome book early)

Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason

Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven

Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn (ARC)

What Alice Knew by Paula Marantz Cohen (ARC)

Hot House Flower by Margo Berwin

That's it - a selection of 7 books.

If you are having trouble viewing the form, a link to it is here. 

What are you Reading Monday - October 25

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and join in!

Books Completed Last Week 

• Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas
• Shedrow by Dean DeLuke 
• Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven
• Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason

Reading Now:

• To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (audiobook in car)
• Casting About by Terri DuLong (review)
• Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton (audiobook - listen while walking)

Next:

• Heart with Joy by Steve Cushman
• The God Hater by Bill Myers
• The Mullah's Storm by Thomas W. Young
• The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
• Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
• Ascendent by Diana Peterfreund
• Love Means Zero by Daisy Jordan

Reviews completed this week (books read before this week):

• Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
• I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
  
•  

Other books still need to review:

• Wings by Aprilynne Pike (library) 
• The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (mine)  
• The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
• Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook)
• Matched by Ally Condie (review)
• Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs (audiobook) 
• Evermore by Alyson Noel (library)  
• Spells by Aprylynne Pike (library) 
• Candor by Pam Bachorz
• The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan 
• Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
• Definitely Dead (audiobook)
• Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich (audiobook)
• Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
• Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway (library)
• Burned by P.C. and Kristin Cast (audiobook)

Summary -

Good week - I got through my required review books for the week, I still have some to make up and a a full schedule coming up.  Look for lots of great interviews, guest posts and reviews as well as giveaways coming.

Best of the week:  Somewhere Along the Way by Jodi Thomas was my favorite, and Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason comes a close second.

Book Review: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason

Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason

Publisher: Revell

Publish Date: October 1, 2010

Paperback, 327 pages
Romantic Suspense, Women of Justice Series, #2

My Review:
Why I read this:  I read Too Close to Home a several months ago (review here) and loved it so I jumped at the chance to read the second book in the series.

How is the novel driven:  Plot, the characters are important, but the suspense drives this.

My thoughts:  Wow, this was a suspenseful ride right from the start.  Jamie, the main character of Don't Look Back was introduced as Samantha's sister in the first book, Too Close to Home.  It is not necessary to read Too Close to Home before Don't Look Back, the backstory is handled well enough in Don't Look back.  If you haven't read Too Close to Home, I encourage you to read it though because it's a good book.

Don't look back is Jamie and Dakota's story, but a lot of the focus is on Jamie and the ordeal she went through and the one she is currently going through.  Dakota's past is hinted at through the book and both he and Jamie have well-developed characters.  I loved watching Jamie, grow, strengthen and learn to love through this book.  And Dakota is definitely swoon-worthy, he's strong and loving with a hint of a mysterious past.  Dakota is the local FBI guy that helps out the police force when they need him in Spartanburg.

The suspense is great.  I will confess I figured out pretty early on who the evil guy was, but it did not take anything away from the book.  I still wanted to know how the characters would figure it out and what the bad guy's motivations were.  That said, I was still dealt a surprise at the end, so Ms. Eason does a masterful job with the suspense element.

This is a Christian romantic suspense and Jamie is a strong Christian.   She often quotes scripture, but it's to get her through things not to make her seem high and mighty.  One is a scripture she quotes when she is thinking about revenge, so Jamie is not a goody-goody by far, she's just trying to improve herself.  She's very realistic and life-like and I really enjoyed her character.  The Christianity is not in your face, it's there and it's an element of the story, but it blends and makes the story even richer.

If you are looking for top-notch suspense with some romance blended in, then Don't Look Back is the book for you - it is a major thrill ride from start to finish.  Add in characters who feel like your friends and this book is just amazing.

My Rating: 4.75/5.0

About the Book:

One man lives to see her dead--the other is fighting to keep her alive. Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she has made a life for herself--though one that is haunted by memories of her terrifying past. She finally lets herself believe that she can have a close relationship with a man, when signs start appearing that point to one frightening fact--her attacker is back and ready to finish the job he started all those years ago.

Can she escape his grasp a second time? And will she ever be able to let down her guard enough to find true love?

Filled with heart-stopping suspense, gritty realism, and a touch of romance, Don't Look Back pulls you into its twists and turns to hold you there until the very last page.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home and three other romantic suspense novels. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.

Her website
Her Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Book Review: Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven

Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven

Publisher: Harlequin

Publish Date: October 1, 2010

Paperback, 288 pages
Paranormal Romance (Mythology), Mythica series

My Review:
Why I read this: I was invited to be a part of the Poisoned Kisses blog tour and thought the book sounded very interesting.

How is the novel driven:  It's a romance at heart so the characters are very important, but there is action and intrigue in this one as well.  I would say it is very well-rounded with character development and plot development.

My thoughts: I had a slightly hard time getting into this book.  To be honest I did not get Kyra.  But then all of a sudden the book became one I couldn't put down.  The hard part was about the first 35 pages.  Then things started happening and I got a better glimpse of Kyra and very steamy hot Marco.  Kyra changed and her motives became more evident.  I learned more about Marco and why he does what he does as well.

After the first bit of set-up, the book really comes into it's own.  Weaving the mythology of Kyra's world into the real world of war was fascinating.  I loved getting the glimpse at different mythological entities.  It's a fascinating world and I haven't visited many like this in books.

The romance is steamy in this one.  The sparks fly between Kyra and Marco, but neither one can figure out what they are feeling or if the other one feels the same. This drives the book along with the plot line.  I liked watching their relationship develop and each character develop as well.  They were fascinating characters, both flawed, both hurting and both trying to find a purpose in life.

The plot is also exciting, war gods battling for Marco, Kyra battling for Marco and Marco battling himself.  As the plot neared it's climax I was on the edge of my seat.  Very exciting and different.

Two things - this one isn't for the faint of heart - violence and steamy sex abound, but if you don't mind those things then this book is a winner.  My only complaint, the ending was slightly rushed but I hope to see more of these characters in future books.

My Rating: 4.0/5.0

About the Book:

Daughter of the war god Ares, Kyra had been born into darkness—a darkness she'd vowed to annihilate. Just as she'd destroy the notorious Greek arms dealer Marco Kaisiris for feeding the bloodlust she despised. She'd use her nymph's carnal powers to seduce him, then slay him. But Kyra wasn't prepared for Marco's secret weapon.

For millennia Kyra had avoided mortal men, but she couldn't resist Marco's magnetism, his raw sexuality. Time and again his sculpted body took her to heights to which only the gods soared. That he was a shape-shifting hydra she could forgive, but not his one fatal flaw—his poisoned blood could kill her. Kyra had fallen for the only being who could destroy her…. Yet how could she spend eternity without him?

About the Author:

Stephanie Draven is currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies. She lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures-three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.

Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

FTC Information: I received this book for a blog tour and review.  All opinions expressed are my own and they are my honest opinions, I am not compensated anything beyond receiving the book for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Blog Tour and Interview: Stephanie Draven's Poisoned Kisses

Please join me today in welcoming author Stephanie Draven to My Reading Room.  I have her interview here now and I will have a review up of Poisoned Kisses later today.  Thank you so much Stephanie for agreeing to the interview.

How did you celebrate when you found out Poison Kisses would be published?

Actually, I was suffering from the stomach bug, so I actually toasted with shots of Pepto Bismol!

How would you describe Poison Kisses to others?

Neil Gaiman’s American Gods meets Love Story! Haha. More seriously, it’s about an ancient nymph who is struggling to find her way in the modern world, and falls in love with a war-forged hydra of a thousand faces. It’s a story about identity, and loss of it. About disguises. About war. And about rebelling against your father!

Where did the idea for Poison Kisses come from?

I liked the idea of a shapeshifting hero and heroine, two people who could wear disguises, but who must be themselves in order to find love. We all wear so many masks that it was a theme that resonated with me, so translating it into Greek mythology came naturally to me!

Did you plan this book out or do you just write and see where it took you?

This book was very carefully planned. I use a combination of the snowflake method and Karen Wisner’s First Draft in 30 Days. Admittedly, the final story almost never looks exactly like the outline because there are always problems that crop up that I hadn’t anticipated, but I knew where I was going when I wrote the story!

Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?

These days I only have time to read when I’m on my elliptical trainer, and since I’m incapable of holding a book still, I use my electronic reader. I love my Nook because it allows me to blow up the text really large and keeps me occupied while working out. Of course, a lot of great books go unread by me because they are slower, more contemplative books that can’t quite cut through the pain of exercise. But if it’s a book that can pass that test, it’s great! I have very ecclectic tastes, but I love historical fiction, and right now I’m reading Susan Fraser King’s LADY MACBETH which is just about the most fabulous thing ever written.

What is your favorite room in your house?

I’m actually quite fond of my kitchen, both because it’s where I’ve made many delicious things, but also because it adjoins to a lovely sun room that overlooks the woods. We painted it a butter yellow, and I like to sit there sometimes and watch the deer and bunnies that sometimes visit the backyard.

What is your favorite spot to read in?

Bed, actually. But since I don’t sleep much lately...

What is your favorite snack food?

Oh, my. Delicious food of all kinds is a vice for me, but I’m going to go with ice cream because it’s got it all. And I love it filled with chocolate and nuts and every kind of thing you can imagine.

What is your favorite season?

I love every season except winter. I loathe winter. The holidays are all that get me through winter. This may be because I grew up in New York, went to college in Massachusetts, and law school in Chicago. I’ve seen more than my fair share of snow. In fact, if I never saw snow again, it would be too soon!

Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?

For the past nine months I’ve been writing about 10-14 days a week, every day of the week, with only rare divergences from that schedule. This is so that I could meet a deadline for the sequel to my big historical, LILY OF THE NILE: A Novel of Cleopatra’s Daughter. This isn’t really a healthy or sustainable schedule, so I’m not sure what a normal schedule for me would be like!

Completely random question for you:  Since you live in Baltimore, have  you ever watched any of the TV series Homicide?  Just curious - it’s one of my favorite all-time tv shows and I loved it’s setting and the sites around Baltimore (and I want to visit one day).

I’m afraid I never saw Homicide, but one of my law school friends was an extra in that series. I’m a huge fan of the HBO series, The Wire. Baltimore is called Charm City, though, because even though it has its scary parts, it’s really very...well...charming. So don’t let the television scare you away!

Do you have a new book in the works?

Always! I have three books and two novellas coming out in 2011, so things are a whirlwind. Some time in February, SIREN SONG, another installment in the Mythica series, will be available. At the end of the year, I’ll have a paranormal romance about a modern day minotaur and the sphinx he falls in love with. As my alter-ego, I’ll be promoting LILY OF THE NILE and its sequel as well. After that, there is likely to be a third book in the Nile trilogy and I’m playing with two new paranormal ideas as well, including one based on Arthurian legend, and another one based on witchcraft, but time will tell. I never have enough time to write all the ideas I come up with.

Anything else you would like to say?

Yes, I’d like to thank you for having me, and also recommend that aspiring young writers check out a literary award that I’m sponsoring and spread the word because it’s a great opportunity!

About the Book
Daughter of the war god Ares, Kyra had been born into darkness—a darkness she'd vowed to annihilate. Just as she'd destroy the notorious Greek arms dealer Marco Kaisiris for feeding the bloodlust she despised. She'd use her nymph's carnal powers to seduce him, then slay him. But Kyra wasn't prepared for Marco's secret weapon.

For millennia Kyra had avoided mortal men, but she couldn't resist Marco's magnetism, his raw sexuality. Time and again his sculpted body took her to heights to which only the gods soared. That he was a shape-shifting hydra she could forgive, but not his one fatal flaw—his poisoned blood could kill her. Kyra had fallen for the only being who could destroy her…. Yet how could she spend eternity without him?



About The Author:

Stephanie Draven is currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies. She lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.

Stephanie has always been a storyteller. In elementary school, she channeled Scheherazade, weaving a series of stories to charm children into sitting with her each day at the lunch table. When she was a little older, Stephanie scared all the girls at her sleepovers with ghost stories.

She should have known she was born to hold an audience in her thrall, but Stephanie resisted her writerly urges and graduated from college with a B.A. in Government. Then she went to Law School, where she learned how to convincingly tell the tallest tales of all!

A longtime lover of ancient lore, Stephanie enjoys re-imagining myths for the modern age. She doesn’t believe that true love is ever simple or without struggle so her work tends to explore the sacred within the profane, the light under the loss and the virtue hidden in vice. She counts it amongst her greatest pleasures when, from her books, her readers learn something new about the world or about themselves. Stephanie also writes historical fiction as Stephanie Dray and has a series of forthcoming novels from Berkley Books featuring Cleopatra’s daughter.

Website: http://www.stephaniedraven.com

Blog Tour Link: http://stephaniedraven.com/poisoned-kisses-blog-tour/

    9/9/2010 - http://www.cafeofdreamsbookreviews.com - Cafe of Dreams
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    9/11/2010 - http://longlivechicklit.wordpress.com - Long Live the Lit
    9/12/2010 - http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com - Thoughts in Progress
    9/14/2010 - http://ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net - A Journey of Books
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    9/16/2010 - http://cheekyreads.blogspot.com - Cheeky Reads
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Book Tour and Review: Shedrow by Dean DeLuke

Join Dean DeLuke, author of the thriller novel, Shedrow (Grey Swan Press), as he virtually tours the blogosphere September 7 – October 29 ‘10 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

My Review

Why I read this book: It sounded interesting and I don't know much about horse racing or the business of raising horses so I thought that would make it more interesting.



How is the novel driven?: It's a suspense novel - there is good character development, but the action and plot drive this one.


My thoughts:  Dean DeLuke took writing what you know to heart when he wrote Shedrow.  Read his bio on his website and then read the book.  Dr. Anthony Gianni is a lot like Dean DeLuke sounds in his bio, with differences obviously, but knowing the character well helped Dean DeLuke to write a winner of a novel with Shedrow.


First up the suspense.  The suspense and plot of Shedrow is tightly written and the twist in the plot, I did not see coming.  I was left guessing right up until all was revealed.  I did feel a little lost at times, like a little too much was chopped out of the book, but then everything would make sense and I would understand and continue to enjoy the book.  The choppiness in a few parts only took a little away from my reading pleasure of this book.


Next the characters.  There are definitely an interesting array of characters in the book.  First Dr. Anthony Gianni, who is a plastic surgeon, volunteers his skills in third world countries, and owns stakes in various horses which he takes very seriously.  I liked Dr. Gianni - he comes off accessible, not a high and mighty rich doctor.  There are also various characters in the horse racing world, my favorite being Dr. Gianni's friend and the horse vet.  He's a great character as well.  Then add in Dr. Gianni's wife, three strange characters at a dump, a hermit, and mobsters to round it all out.  There are all types of characters in this book and sometimes it's hard to figure out who the real bad guys are - that is what makes it fun.

The horse-racing aspect.  Really interesting, I found myself enthralled with this world, how they work with the horses and decide which ones to race and how to race them and the thrill of being a part of a winning horse and the pain of the injuries that occur.  Dr. Gianni was deeply immersed in the horse-racing world and what was great about him was he really cared about the horses.  They weren't just money-makers to him, they were more and I liked that.  I would definitely read more books set in the horse-racing world books now that I have gotten a taste.


Overall I found Shedrow to be a quick thrilling read.  I read it easily over two nights and could have read it all in one night if I hadn't gotten really sleepy (Lunesta, not the book).  It's a great thriller and I hope Dean DeLuke has more in store for Dr. Gianni in the future.

My Rating: 4.25/5

About Dean DeLuke

Dr. Dean DeLuke is a graduate of St. Michael’s College, Columbia University (DMD) and Union Graduate College (MBA). He completed residency training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and also participated in a fellowship in maxillofacial surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, England.
He currently divides his time between the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery and a variety of business consulting activities with Millennium Business Communications, LLC, a boutique marketing, communications and business consulting firm. An active volunteer, he has served on the Boards of the St. Clare’s Hospital Foundation, the Kidney Foundation of Northeast New York, and the Albany Academy for Girls. He has also performed medical missionary work with Health Volunteers Overseas.
He has a long history of involvement with thoroughbred horses—from farm hand on the Assunta Louis Farm in the 1970s to partner with Dogwood Stable at present.
His latest book is Shedrow, a medical thriller with a unique twist.
You can visit his website at www.shedrow1.com or connect with him at Facebook at www.facebook.com/deandeluke.

About Shedrow

From rolling pastures in Lexington, KY to darkened alleyways in Newark, NJ, from Manhattan’s posh ‘21’ Club to a peculiar and mysterious landfill in Eastern Kentucky, and from Saratoga Springs, NY to the tiny island of St. Lucia, Shedrow portrays a collision of characters from many divergent worlds. High society and the racing elite, medical and veterinary specialists, mob figures, and Kentucky hill folk become entangled in this unique twist on the medical thriller.
Dr. Anthony Gianni, a prominent Manhattan surgeon, becomes involved in a racing partnership as a diversion from a thriving surgical practice and an ailing marriage. The excitement builds when the partnership acquires Chiefly Endeavor, a two-year-old colt with the breeding, the spirit, and enough early racing success to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
When a new partner with an unsavory background appears and a breeder’s nightmare becomes real, Dr. Gianni and a dedicated veterinarian must confront organized crime and solve a complex mystery that threatens to destroy both of their careers, and possibly a great deal more.

Read the Excerpt!

Gianni was seated at a metal table, his hands bound behind his back. At one end of the table stood Sal Catroni. Unlike the other man, he wore no disguise. His longish hair was slicked back neatly, white at the sides, darker on top. His brow was furrowed in a scowl, amplifying the deep frown lines between his black-looking eyes. Catroni spoke first. “You know who I am?” he said.
Gianni shook his head.
“I’m Sal Catroni, of the Catroni family, and this here is Hector. Hector was a medic in the marines. He’s here to help you with some medical treatment.”
Hector stood at least six-two, all of it solid muscle. He wore a tight white dress shirt, its silk sleeves rolled neatly to the middle of his massive forearms. A ski mask, open at the forehead, concealed his face, and his closely cropped black hair stood mostly on end. It reminded Gianni of a 1960s style flat-top cut, only not as stiff.
“Hector has some tools for you, Doc,” Catroni said.
Hector opened a clean white linen cloth, the texture of a dishrag but with a starched white appearance. Inside were surgical instruments. Dr. Gianni instantly recognized them—there was a blade handle and several large #10 blades, the kind a surgeon would use to make a long incision. It was not a delicate blade, but one meant to cut hard and fast through a lot of tissue with a single swipe. Next to the blades was a bone cutting forceps, which Gianni knew to be a Rongeurs forceps. Then there was a large pile of neatly folded gauze pads.
“Recognize those tools?” Catroni asked.
Gianni nodded
.“Well, Hector here is prepared to do a little surgery today.”

Watch the Book Trailer!

Shedrow Tour Schedule

Tuesday, September 7
Book reviewed at Gelati’s Scoop
Wednesday, September 8
Book spotlighted at Virginia Beach Publishing Examiner
Thursday, September 9
Interviewed at The Writer’s Life
Friday, September 10
Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book
Interviewed at Let’s Talk Virtual Book Tours
Monday, September 13
Interviewed on A Book and a Chat Radio Show
Tuesday, September 14
Guest blogging at The Book Boost
Wednesday, September 15
Guest blogging at Gelati’s Scoop
Thursday, September 16
Interviewed at Working Writers
Friday, September 17
Interviewed at Beyond the Books
Monday, September 20
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Tuesday, September 21
Interviewed at Blogcritics
Thursday, September 23
Book trailer spotlighted at Down Under Views
Monday, September 27
Guest blogging at The Writer’s Life
Tuesday, September 28
Book reviewed at Pump Up Your Book
Wednesday, September 29
Book reviewed at Bags, Books & Bon Jovi
Thursday, September 30
Book reviewed at Marta’s Meanderings
Monday, October 4
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Tuesday, October 5
Interviewed at Examiner
Wednesday, October 6
Interviewed at As the Pages Turn
Thursday, October 7
Guest blogging at As the Pages Turn
Friday, October 8
Book reviewed at Arms of a Sister
Monday, October 11
Interviewed at The Hot Author Report
Tuesday, October 12
Guest blogging at Thoughts in Progress
Wednesday, October 13
Book reviewed at Thoughts in Progress
Thursday, October 14
Book reviewed at Reading at the Beach
Friday, October 15
Book reviewed at Books R Us
Monday, October 18
Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Tuesday, October 19
Book reviewed at Books and Movies Reviews
Wednesday, October 20
Guest blogging at The Book Connection
Thursday, October 21
Interviewed at My Reading Room
Friday, October 22
Book reviewed at My Reading Room
Monday, October 25
Interviewed at A Moment With Mystee
Tuesday, October 26
Book reviewed at A Moment With Mystee
Wednesday, October 27
Interviewed at Broowaha
Thursday, October 28
Book reviewed at Sherri’s Jubilee
Friday, October 29
Interviewed at Review From Here