212 E Main St
Locust, NC 28097-9724
ph: 704-888-2244
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Book Reviews
Breakthrough
Author: Stephen Tremp
Publisher : iUniverse Inc.
Pub. Date: Dec 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-595-71070-6
California Author Stephen Tremp delivers a fast paced trill ride with Breakthrough. This novel is a great edge of your seat adventure blending science fiction, action, and thriller genres and exploring the dangers of technology gone to far.
The first in a trilogy of novels, Breakthrough introduces us to Chase Manhattan (no, not the bank), a professor at the University of California who freelances as a sort of reverse Indiana Jones. Manhattan excels at discovering breakthrough technologies just ahead of everyone else and uses this ability to make sure the information stays in the right hands. During his escapades he discovers that a group of MIT grad students have stolen technology that will allow them to teleport anywhere in the world using wormholes. The students begin assassinating anyone they feel would use the wormhole machine to profit counter to the benefit of mankind. Now Chase must race against time to not only save lives, but himself, as he becomes the killers next target.
Tremp expertly details complex theoretical science in a relatable way, while still keeping up a fast-paced story. Breakthrough will leave you guessing till the very end and clamoring for the next installment in this exciting series.
Breakthrough is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust.
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
January 2, 2010
www.uwharriebooks.com
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A Case of Imagination ___________________________________________________________________ Ghastly Glass Ghastly Glass is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust. ___________________________________________________________________ The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella: A Modern Mother’s Tale Do you have kids? Do you remember how they could do the craziest things? Things like climbing out of their crib, taking all their clothes off, and running around the house. If so, this may be the book for you. Despite what you might think from the name, The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella is a comical and surprisingly poignant look at the lighter side of parenthood. D.E. Montgomery is a North Carolina resident, and her first novel chronicles the harrowing adventures of parenting her two small daughters (the aforementioned Curlylocks and Stripperella). Montgomery shares anecdotes to show how being a parent can often leave you frazzled, frustrated, and exhausted; but ultimately fulfilled – a feeling any mom or dad can relate to. You will delight in the hilarious happenings of the Montgomery house as she gives her accounts of the exasperating daily goings-on. Her humorous stories tell of Stripperella, a toddler whose only desire is to be naked and has the uncanny ability to escape from almost anything and Curlylocks, an outspoken kindergartner full of questions who so often seems to say the most embarrassing things at just the wrong moment. I loved Montgomery ’s comfortable and conversational writing style that really takes you into her world and sets you at ease for your journey. No parent will be able to escape this book without laughing, cringing in sympathetic horror, and reliving the adventures of their very own Curlylocks and Stripperellas. The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella: A Modern Mother’s Tale is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust. Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books ___________________________________________________________________ The Long Night Moon After the death of their socially prominent parents in a car accident, Ian Edglon is left to care for his spoiled and willful sister Darcie. When Darcie’s escapades threaten to ruin the family name, Ian relocates her to the Nantahala Mountains, where she becomes infatuated with a Cherokee man named Wa’si. Torn between the world she left behind and one she does not understand, Darcie must throw aside her childish ways and fight for the love she so desperately wants – and one she doesn’t even realize she needs. I found that the cast of rich characters and Towles’ poetic narrative made The Long Night Moon a pleasure to read. Darcie’s story is as fascinating as the world of the Cherokee around her. It’s a tale full of tragedy and hope that captivated me. Once you crack the cover, you’ll be in for your own long night as you get lost in this timeless novel. The Long Night Moon is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust. Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books ___________________________________________________________________ I don’t know about you, but I love a good thriller. I love being glued to the edge of my seat half the night while I’m reading, almost too scared to look up. Add some paranormal elements, and that makes it a favorite for me. Take North Carolina author Alexandra Sokoloff’s third novel, The Unseen. It’s a terrifying thrill ride that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. The story is set in Durham and based partially in reality, which makes it even creepier. The novel explores the realms of ESP, ghosts, and the paranormal. After experiencing strange dreams that start to come true, Laurel MacDonald flees from her life in Los Angels to take a job as a psychology professor at Duke University. While she’s there, she uncovers information about the (very real) Rhine Parapsychology Experiments begun at the school in the 1930’s with the hope of proving the existence of ESP. Laurel is desperate to provide a rational explanation for her own experiences and she teams with fellow professor Brendan Cody to recreate one of Rhine ’s experiments. The two professors and two gifted students move into a local mansion investigated in 1965 and rumored to be filled with poltergeists. What Laurel and her friends don’t know is that all the investigators in 1965 either died or were driven insane by what they found in the house. A terrible evil has awoken again and is waiting for Laurel to join it. Sounds bad, doesn’t it? I really enjoyed the intense and fast-paced narrative that sucked me into the novel. The story was terrifying and unnerving, and I loved every minute of it! The Unseen will leave you gasping for breath but still wanting more because some things really are better left Unseen. The Unseen is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust, NC. Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
Author: Jane Tesh
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Pub. Date: January 2007
ISBN: 1-59058-360-4
A Case of Imagination is the first in the new Madeline Maclin Investigations series and the wonderful debut novel by author Jane Tesh, who lives in Mt. Airy, North Carolina’s real-life-Mayberry, I just couldn’t put down this charming cozy mystery: this book has it all – humor, intrigue, and beautiful pageant contestants involved in all kinds of shenanigans. What’s not to like?
All Madeline Maclin (Mac to her friends) wants is to be taken seriously as a private investigator. Unfortunately as a former beauty queen for the little town of Parkland, NC, respect is hard to come by. Jerry Fairweather is Mac’s best friend and part of one of the wealthiest families in the area. But Jerry has denounced his family’s money and opened up his own business as a psychic reader to the Parkland residents. With no clients for Mac’s business, she decides to accompany Jerry to the neighboring town of Celosia to check out a house left to him by his recently deceased uncle. What they find is a perfect place for Jerry to set up a new psychic shop, a beauty pageant in trouble, and murder.
I found A Case of Imagination to be funny, full of heart, and a pleasure to read from start to finish. Told in first person, Tesh fills Mac with charm and surrounds her with hilarious characters and tons of tomfoolery. The only bad part of this novel is that after you finish, you’ll want to run right out to buy the next one.
A Case of Imagination is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust.
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
September 30, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
Author: Joyce and Jim Lavene
Publisher : Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: September 1, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780425230305
Ghastly Glass is the second in the Renaissance Faire Mystery series (the first book was Wicked Weaves) by bestselling authors Joyce and Jim Lavene (Peggy Lee garden, Pet Psychic mysteries). The idea is simple: if you love Renaissance faires and festivals, you'll love mysteries set in that atmosphere.
If you've never been to one of these events, you might not appreciate it as much. It's a zany, carnival-like setting where almost anything can, and does, happen.
The protagonist in this series is associate history professor Jessie Morton who teaches at USC-C. She spends her free time at Ren Faires and with the interesting Chase Manhattan, Bailiff of the Village in Myrtle Beach.
She apprentices with a different craft master in each book. In Ghastly Glass, it's a glass figure maker whose shop becomes a backdrop for a murder during the Halloween version of the Village. The real-life man playing the Grim Reaper, complete with scythe, is found dead on the Village Green, and there are plenty of suspects.
The Lavenes excel at unusual situations and multiple characters. They make the mystery and its solution seem effortless while taking the reader on a wild ride of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts who haunt Renaissance Village in this second tale of murder and mayhem.
You won't see the killer coming until he, or she, is almost on top of you, so be sure to leave the light on when you read Ghastly Glass!
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
September 23, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
Author: D.E. Montgomery
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-978-1448636655
September 16, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
Author: Elizabeth Towles
Publisher : Fireside Publications
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-978-1-935517-00-9
September 9, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
Author: Alexandra Sokoloff
Publisher : St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: May 26, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38470-8
September 2, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
___________________________________________________________________
Ghastly Glass
Author: Joyce and Jim Lavene
Publisher : Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: September 1, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780425230305
Ghastly Glass is the second in the Renaissance Faire Mystery series (the first book was Wicked Weaves) by bestselling authors Joyce and Jim Lavene (Peggy Lee garden, Pet Psychic mysteries). The idea is simple: if you love Renaissance faires and festivals, you'll love mysteries set in that atmosphere.
If you've never been to one of these events, you might not appreciate it as much. It's a zany, carnival-like setting where almost anything can, and does, happen.
The protagonist in this series is associate history professor Jessie Morton who teaches at USC-C. She spends her free time at Ren Faires and with the interesting Chase Manhattan, Bailiff of the Village in Myrtle Beach.
She apprentices with a different craft master in each book. In Ghastly Glass, it's a glass figure maker whose shop becomes a backdrop for a murder during the Halloween version of the Village. The real-life man playing the Grim Reaper, complete with scythe, is found dead on the Village Green, and there are plenty of suspects.
The Lavenes excel at unusual situations and multiple characters. They make the mystery and its solution seem effortless while taking the reader on a wild ride of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts who haunt Renaissance Village in this second tale of murder and mayhem.
You won't see the killer coming until he, or she, is almost on top of you, so be sure to leave the light on when you read Ghastly Glass!
Ghastly Glass is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust.
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
September 23, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
___________________________________________________________________
The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella: A Modern Mother’s Tale
Author: D.E. Montgomery
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-978-1448636655
Do you have kids? Do you remember how they could do the craziest things? Things like climbing out of their crib, taking all their clothes off, and running around the house. If so, this may be the book for you.
Despite what you might think from the name, The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella is a comical and surprisingly poignant look at the lighter side of parenthood. D.E. Montgomery is a North Carolina resident, and her first novel chronicles the harrowing adventures of parenting her two small daughters (the aforementioned Curlylocks and Stripperella).
Montgomery shares anecdotes to show how being a parent can often leave you frazzled, frustrated, and exhausted; but ultimately fulfilled – a feeling any mom or dad can relate to. You will delight in the hilarious happenings of the Montgomery house as she gives her accounts of the exasperating daily goings-on. Her humorous stories tell of Stripperella, a toddler whose only desire is to be naked and has the uncanny ability to escape from almost anything and Curlylocks, an outspoken kindergartner full of questions who so often seems to say the most embarrassing things at just the wrong moment.
I loved Montgomery ’s comfortable and conversational writing style that really takes you into her world and sets you at ease for your journey. No parent will be able to escape this book without laughing, cringing in sympathetic horror, and reliving the adventures of their very own Curlylocks and Stripperellas.
The Adventures of Curlylocks and Stripperella: A Modern Mother’s Tale is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust.
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
September 16, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
___________________________________________________________________
The Long Night Moon
Author: Elizabeth Towles
Publisher : Fireside Publications
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-978-1-935517-00-9
After the death of their socially prominent parents in a car accident, Ian Edglon is left to care for his spoiled and willful sister Darcie. When Darcie’s escapades threaten to ruin the family name, Ian relocates her to the Nantahala Mountains, where she becomes infatuated with a Cherokee man named Wa’si. Torn between the world she left behind and one she does not understand, Darcie must throw aside her childish ways and fight for the love she so desperately wants – and one she doesn’t even realize she needs.
I found that the cast of rich characters and Towles’ poetic narrative made The Long Night Moon a pleasure to read. Darcie’s story is as fascinating as the world of the Cherokee around her. It’s a tale full of tragedy and hope that captivated me. Once you crack the cover, you’ll be in for your own long night as you get lost in this timeless novel.
The Long Night Moon is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust.
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
September 9, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
___________________________________________________________________
The UnseenAuthor: Alexandra Sokoloff
Publisher : St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: May 26, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-38470-8
I don’t know about you, but I love a good thriller. I love being glued to the edge of my seat half the night while I’m reading, almost too scared to look up. Add some paranormal elements, and that makes it a favorite for me.
Take North Carolina author Alexandra Sokoloff’s third novel, The Unseen. It’s a terrifying thrill ride that kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. The story is set in Durham and based partially in reality, which makes it even creepier. The novel explores the realms of ESP, ghosts, and the paranormal.
After experiencing strange dreams that start to come true, Laurel MacDonald flees from her life in Los Angels to take a job as a psychology professor at Duke University. While she’s there, she uncovers information about the (very real) Rhine Parapsychology Experiments begun at the school in the 1930’s with the hope of proving the existence of ESP.
Laurel is desperate to provide a rational explanation for her own experiences and she teams with fellow professor Brendan Cody to recreate one of Rhine ’s experiments. The two professors and two gifted students move into a local mansion investigated in 1965 and rumored to be filled with poltergeists.
What Laurel and her friends don’t know is that all the investigators in 1965 either died or were driven insane by what they found in the house. A terrible evil has awoken again and is waiting for Laurel to join it.
Sounds bad, doesn’t it?
I really enjoyed the intense and fast-paced narrative that sucked me into the novel. The story was terrifying and unnerving, and I loved every minute of it! The Unseen will leave you gasping for breath but still wanting more because some things really are better left Unseen.
The Unseen is available at Uwharrie Books in Locust, NC.
Shawn Chappelle, owner Uwharrie Books
September 2, 2009
www.uwharriebooks.com
For more information about having Uwharrie Books review your book, please visit the Authors page.
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Locust, NC 28097-9724
ph: 704-888-2244
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