Recent Reads

Review,Thoughts 19 January 2012 | 0 Comments

 

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Buy on Amazon.

Great Read.

5 out of 5 cups of Black Coffee

 

 

 

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The Ares Decision by Kyle Mills

Buy on Amazon

One of the my favorite books in the Covert-One Series.

4 out of 5 cups of Black Coffee

 

 

 

 

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Jonathan Edwards:  Lover of God by Strachan & Sweeney

Buy on Amazon

Probably one of the briefest introductions to Edwards life that you can read.  Accessible and Informed.

3 out of 5 cups of Black Coffee

 

 

 

 

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The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larrson

Buy on Amazon

Wasn’t planning on reading any more from this series because it’s pretty rough / disturbing at times.  But Larsson’s writing is good and compelling.  This isn’t as good as the first book, but none-the-less it’s hard to put down.

3.5 out of 5 cups of black coffee

 

 

 

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5 Sentence Review – The Arctic Event – Created by Robert Ludlum – Written by James Cobb

Fiction,Review 19 December 2011 | 0 Comments

The Arctic Event is the seventh book in the Covert-One Series originally created by Robert Ludlum, and I’m willing to say it’s my favorite so far.  The Gayle Lynds novels are particularly good (and some of the best in the series), but Cobb did a fantastic job of capturing his readers’ attention in this unique addition to the Covert-One family.  The storyline features a new character – Valentina Metrace (a bond-girl type agent and future love interest to Jon Smith), and a killer setting – The Canadian Arctic.  I simply love the foreboding, adventuresome, melancholy of the arctic cold, and this novel made it come alive.  Here’s to hoping that Mr. Cobb considers writing again!

4.5 of 5 cups of black coffee!!!

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5 Sentence Review: The Moscow Vector by Robert Ludlum & Patrick Larkin

Fiction,Review 29 November 2011 | 0 Comments

The Moscow Vector by Patrick Larkin is book number six in the Covert One Series originally created by Robert Ludlum.  I found this Larkin novel quite a bit more enjoyable than his previous effort, The Lazarus Vendetta.  Larkin maintains his edgier style, but presents a more believable and well-honed story.  The Lazarus Vendetta read more like a espionage thriller and less like a science fiction work, which I for one, found to be an improvement.  Now on to book number seven, which was written by James Cobb, whom I know nothing about, but whom hopefully is up to the task!

 

3 out of 5 cups of black coffee.

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Five Sentence Review: For the City by Darrin Patrick & Matt Carter

Culture,Faith,Missional,Review 2 November 2011 | 0 Comments

Last weekend, myself, Logan, and Gibby headed off to the mountains for our first ever Basileia Church staff retreat.  We had a blast, spent much needed time in strategy planning and prayer, and discussed a book by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter entitled For the City.  The book describes what it looks like for a church to so impact a local culture that the community notices and loves the church, even if they don’t agree with everything the church stands for.  It’s a rather simple book with a lot of personal stories and some basic, but very important, principles about missional living.  If you’re wanting to figure out what “missional” is all about, this is a very basic introduction that excites and encourages as it teaches.

3.5 out of 5 cups of black coffee

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Book Review: The Lazarus Vendetta by Robert Ludlum & Patrick Larkin

Fiction,Review,Thoughts 1 November 2011 | 0 Comments

The Lazarus Vendetta is the fifth book in The Covert One Series created by Robert Ludlum and written in conjunction with other authors.  This is the first of the stories written by Patrick Larkin, and the results while acceptable, are not overtly impressive.  My main complaint is that the story itself is too far-fetched and unbelievable.  As a result, the reader remains an observer of the action rather than a participant in the action.  Good stories, I would argue, so envelope the reader that she no longer feels as if she is reading at all.  Obviously, believability in every detail is not the essential element to make a story work, but it is fairly important in the thriller/spy genre, especially if said story is set in modern times.  Despite how well the other elements of the story may be developed, ultimately the book falls flat if the reader can’t imagine the events actually happening in real life.  And The Lazarus Vendetta is just a bit too far gone to be fully enjoyed.   Longtime readers of The Covert One series will also note that Larkin’s style is a bit different than other authors.  Most notably he’s more graphic (gory), and some of the traits of main characters are portrayed differently.  For instance, Fred Klein was addicted to his pipe in the last novel, but his obsession is hardly mentioned at all in this story.  In one scene, Jon Smith suddenly develops a conscious towards a would-be attacker and nearly dies as a result.  I don’t dislike the book, but it falls a bit short when compared to the stories Gayle Lynds has written in the series.  As it goes, Gayle Lynds is the best author in the Covert One Series so far, with Patrick Larkin and Phillip Shelby a distant second and third.

2 of 5 cups of black coffee.

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