ReviewsByJenniferFisch-Ferguson

Sam Harper's life collapsed around him the night his partner was shot. They were only supposed to be meeting with the guy who would give them the break they needed on their case. To make matters even worse Sam was transferred into a new department, to appease PR, and got a new partner - one from a precinct known to be full of crooked cops.

Things start with a bang in homicide when the bones of an infant are found in wall of an apartment being ripped down. Everything Sam thought he knew is thrown into a blender and tossed back out in a dizzying array of corruption, bribes and death for hire. Not to mention it all seems to involve his friends, family, enemies and their pasts. All these together combine to turn this case into so much more than a cold case and the twisting end is more than Sam ever thought possible.

Marta Stephens has done a masterful job of intricately telling an easy to read story that keeps the reader guessing from character to character. This quick and easy read will keep your attention with a wide range of well written sub-plots and the easy flow of words. Sam, as the lead, is wholly believable and drags you right into his world from the beginning. The book is full of surprises, thrills and unseen corners that it keeps the reader up way past bed time to squeeze in the last few pages! There is a bit of confusion with the heavy cast of characters, and sometimes things are revealed prematurely. The book got off to a great start, but seemed to lose some of its speed mid-way through, but this again is because of the mass amount of characters, that never really allow you to care for them much more than Sam.Over all Marta Stephens brings you fully into her world through her novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you eagerly turn the pages of this excellent mystery.

©Reviewer: Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
Review Date: May 14, 2007

Lucinda Franks never knew her father. She grew up with a man who possessed unquestioned charm and gentleman hospitality and with a man who scorned her mother and had little to do with her sister or herself. Yet after her mother's death and the world of dementia descended upon her father, the secrets he was charged with not telling came tumbling out in a torrent of torment.

Franks' goal was to find out who her father truly was. She used hard honed skills as a reporter and a relentless pursuit of the truth to uncover just what exactly her father had participated in during World War II. Far from the unimportant civilian, Franks learned that Tom Franks was a honest to goodness spy with some remarkable ties to very important people and missions. It was during these missions that the hard and embittered man, the one she knew as her father, was created. The horrors and brutality of the Holocaust burdened his soul and he withdrew from his family. During his finals years together Franks cajoles, bullies and sweet talks him into reviving his memories and giving her clues to follow as she puts together the puzzle of his life.

This is an incredibly well written memoir, not for the subject matter but for the way in which Franks reminds us that being family sometimes isn't enough to forgive all the past hurts. Her disappointment, loathing and guilt come through clearly as she seeks to rebuild a relationship with her father. Urged on by her desire to know the secret and then to understand the pain of what her father went through compelled Franks to delve deep into one of the most horrendous wars that the United States has been involved with. Franks comes across not only as a polished reporter and writer, but also as the hurt and jaded daughter seeking to understand why the love of her parent's was so elusive that it tore a family apart in mistrust and fading affection. She does witness affection between her parents, after they died in the form of wartime letters from her father. She had a glimpse of the loving couple and the slow decline due to time apart, distance and enforced secrecy.

Franks pays tribute to her father and his many fellow officers who returned from the war changed men, who couldn't even impart their tales to loving families, who soon grew cold and distant as the strain and stress of war forced them into addictions and self destructive behavior to cope with the atrocities they had to witness and perform. It is clear through out the book that the ramifications of the war were not only on the battlefield but often in homes of the soldier's and their families as they tried to cope.

This was many stories rolled into one, but a reminder that time with those we love is finite and sometimes what we don't understand can be the lynch pin that destroys family foundations. She attains some resolution, in her acceptance of her self, her family, her spirituality and finally in understanding her father. My Father's Secret War is a story of forgiveness: of self, of failing of fear and realizing that after all is said and done that no matter how high the pedestal's we place them on- our parents are only human. This book easily gets 4 out of 5 stars.

Reviewer: Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
Review Date: 06/05/07

First Lieutenant and Infantry Platoon Leader Paul Rieckhoff was one of the first deployed to Iraq. He followed in the military path laid down by his grandfather and father before him, and much like the brave men in his family returned to a nation that barely knew was going on let alone honored his year long sacrifice to ensure their safety.

When he returned home and learned of apathy born from ignorance he made a point to tell his story, in his style, so people might catch a glimpse of what happened when he was there.

This book was gripping immediately and compelled reader's stay up way too late to finish the story. Many times my mouth was open in disbelief not only of conditions but the attitudes that war can arouse in people. It was an interesting contrast to what has been portrayed by the media of the USA and I'm sure by combining the two people can get a little closer to the truth of this horrible war.

Sadly history repeats itself with the boorish treatment of returning soldiers. In the 1960's the soldiers were spit and cursed, in 2000's they are ignored. Life carries on for everyone but those who defend it.

Solidly written, with a witty humor that carries over even through the grittiest details, this book will make anyone who reads it think twice about what they think they know and how they feel. I give it a strong 4 stars and my thanks for those in the military who allow us our freedom of speech.

Reviewer: Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
Review Date: June 25, 2007

Jason Bourne loses his wife and then the one man he can call friend, Martin Lindros, is suddenly missing. Lindros is the head of an agency in CI called Typhon, which is responsible for fighting the terrorist group called Dujja. The one time Lindros decides to lead a mission himself he is captured. Jason embarks on an experimental treatment as he tries to cope with his wife’s death and Swiss cheese memory which leads him into have violent recall and strange behavior even for him.

Too late he finds out that his every move and plan has been coached and altered by an Arabic terrorist named Fadi, who has a very personal agenda against Bourne and the USA. As Jason races against the clock to save his friend and his country, he encounters Fadi at every turn and springs each trap the man has neatly set for him. With the surprising help from a valuable ally from the CI section named Soraya, who seems to be more than she claims, they begin a global effort to stop Dujja from detonating the nuclear device.

This book moved intrigue with a lot of twists and turns that make up the Jason Bourne world. He keeps running, willing himself to win against the bad guys no matter how injured or impossible the situation. While the book was a great read, it felt like it was specifically designed to be turned into a movie with scenes laid out specifically for visual wow-power instead of the written word. The story alternating from Bourne to Fadi’s view point was welcomed, keeping the reader paced with the two master-mind’s as they moved with chess like strategy against each other. There did seem to be some dead end elements- such as the memory manipulation that should be played a larger part for all they were highlighted. Over all this was a good read with a satisfying end. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Reviewer: Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
Review Date: June 25, 2007

Joe Cashin returns back to the quiet life in costal Australia following an injury from a bust gone wrong. He plans to relax and recover in peace with his dogs are blown away when an elderly millionaire is beaten to death and his watch found- being peddled by aboriginal youth. While trying to bring the youths in for questioning a cop kills two, under suspicious circumstances forcing Joe to take a close look at the truth and all those it implicates. His snooping makes his higher up's nervous and when he finds a child pornography ring that connects some of the most well respected community names with this atrocity.

This book was well written but definitely a sequel. There were a lot of places where previous stories were referenced without bringing essential pieces out, leaving me wondering what had happened, but didn't entice enough to actually have me go and find the other book. The story was wonderfully laid out, the pacing making it edgy and the scenic landscape and vivid character portrayals kept me turning the pages. I was rather disappointed at the pacing of the ending, the build up was climatic and kept you on the edge but the end fizzled and wasn't quite satisfying.

I give the book 3 out of 5 stars for beautifully taking me into the world of South Australia and the conflicts that make for a great story.

©Reviewer: Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
Review Date: 07/13/07

Silkie Trevor has just been forced into an assignment that none of her male counterparts at the PI firm can take- finding an anchor shaped birthmark on a very private part of a male attendant at an exclusive resort island. Begrudgingly she goes to the island only to find that delightful pleasures await her.

Julian St. John can't take his eyes off of Silkie from the moment she steps on to his island. He quickly finds out the real reason that she is there and decides to engage her in a game that leads to both of them winning in delightful passion.

Passion's Mistral winds an intriguing tale of seduction, betrayal and resolution. However too much is trying to be packed into a rather short novel. The author introduces ideas in the beginning that are never realized, puts in scenes that really have nothing to do with the plot and wraps the ending up in a too pretty package of resolution. There are too many twists, turns and surprises that often take on a rushed tone to fit it all into the story which leaves the characters rather flat. I did like the underlying story- I thought it had a great premise, but because of all the flotsam that was around it, it made for a distracting read. I could have easily seen this as a two part book, which would have allowed for more character development and smoother pacing.

I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.

©Reviewer: Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson
Review Date: 03-14-07