Lethal People by John Locke

This is an iUniverse book sent to me by the author. It's his first novel and is about Donovan Creed, a former CIA assassin. As might be expected, this story is fast paced and "hard boiled" even if that term isn't really in vogue anymore.

Donovan is tough, mean and afraid of no one.

He meets a woman he admires (even though he didn't want to) and when she asks him to come and meet the children she works with before they date, he accepts. And meets a little girl who has been very, very badly burned. He's OK with that, but he's not OK with the fact that she's the only survivor of her family and that the fire that killed the other family members appears to be suspicious.

He pokes around a bit and ends up stirring up a hornet's nest. The guy who ordered the hit is coming after him and wants him and anyone he cares about dead. However, Donovan has own little circle of weird friends with strange talents, and instead of retreating, he goes on the offensive.

It's fast paced, not so far fetched it's not believable, and you don't know for sure how it's all going to turn out - but you know not everyone is going to be alive at the end.

If you'd like my copy of this book, leave a comment here on my blog and email me at info NO SPAM @bookfaerie.com telling me why you'd like to read it and giving me your name and address for shipping. I'll pick a winner in about a week.

Saving Rachel by John Locke

The author sent me this book for review, and while I expected it to be interesting, I didn't expect that I would get so caught up in it that I didn't quit reading until the last page had been consumed...

Sam is very interesting character. He's so into his geeky computer programming money scam that his personal life, while staid and reliable, is falling apart - but he doesn't know that. And once the story takes off, you can't tell who has more secrets than the other, who's screwing who, or who's going to win at the end. So you keep reading...

It all begins with Sam developing a girlfriend, almost by accident. Then he finds his home has been invaded, and his wife is missing. He's taken captive - almost reminiscent of some situation James Bond has been in, and then he's forced to make a choice between his wife or his girlfriend - only one will live.

But nothing is what it seems, and even the ending doesn't leave you feeling that who won and who lost has really been determined yet.

If you like mind twisters and creating alternate endings to books, this would be a great read for you. Just suspend your disbelief and go for it!

If you would like my copy of this book, leave a comment here on the blog and email me at info NOSPAM @bookfaerie.com (take out spaces and NOSPAM) with your name and address and tell me why. I'll be giving it away in about a week. Good luck!