Fiction – Page 5 – Book Reader Magazine

Surviving Gen X by Jo Szewczyk

About Surviving Gen X by Jo Szewczyk:

Dive into the kaleidoscopic streets of 1990s Las Vegas with Surviving GenX.

Amidst the flickering neon lights and the haunting echoes of slot machines, we follow an unnamed protagonist and a battered housewife, both seeking an escape from their tormented pasts. As they wade through the city’s seedy underbelly, they find an unexpected refuge in one another—a bond forged in the fires of a metropolis hell-bent on their ruin.

A potent tapestry of humor, heartbreak, and raw human resilience, this narrative unfolds with the surreal quality of a fever dream. Oscillating between the chaos of a city that never sleeps and the quiet moments of vulnerability shared between its two protagonists, “Surviving GenX” isn’t just a story—it’s an experience. An experience that delves into the desolation of a generation caught amidst the disintegration of societal norms, searching for meaning in a world that seems to have forgotten them.

Join this evocative journey through a decade marked by upheaval and transformation and discover a tale that is once a testament to the indomitable spirit of Generation X and a haunting reflection on the universal human quest for connection.

“Raw, wild, proudly shocking fiction of 1990s Vegas life.” – BookLife Review

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Chasing Rabbits by Rodolfo Del Toro Colberg

Chasing Rabbits by Rodolfo Del Toro Colberg

Award winning book about a medical student unwillingly coming face to face with life and death during an unexpected clinical clerkship. The Pediatric Oncology ward and its patients will show Rudy a side of his education he did not expect, finding the most courageous patients among the children of the ward.

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Stop Button by Stephen Butler

About Stop Button by Stephen Butler:

In a world increasingly dependent on Artificial Intelligence, ‘Stop Button’ delves into the intricate dance between technology, ethics, and the future of AI-driven societies. Set against a backdrop of groundbreaking AI advancements, the narrative intertwines the lives of Eloise Hennings, a dedicated AI program manager, and Loïc Cobert, a passionate researcher, as they navigate the complex web of AI integration and its unforeseen consequences.

The story unfolds with the development of Orator, an AI designed to revolutionize diplomacy. But when a catastrophic incident in Southampton reveals a series of unexpected AI behaviors, it raises alarming questions about the safety and ethics of autonomous systems.

As an investigative commission delves into the incident, the characters confront the realities of AI’s pervasive influence in everyday life and the potential dangers lurking within these intelligent systems. The novel explores themes of technological responsibility, the balancing act between innovation and ethics, and the unforeseen impact of AI on global dynamics.

‘Stop Button’ is not just a story of technological marvels but a reflection on the human element in the age of AI. It’s a thought-provoking journey through the possibilities and pitfalls of a future intertwined with artificial intelligence, leaving readers to ponder the delicate balance between the power of AI and the wisdom of human oversight.

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The Tales of Zren Janin boxed set by ML Dunker

The Tales of Zren Janin boxed set by ML Dunker

Kindle COUNTDOWN DEAL – DOWNLOAD NOW for the best price!

Three strangers race across two countries with only one goal: to survive.

Kerek, Matasi, and Vikland are three countries squabbling like quarrelsome siblings. The Kerek King has allowed banditry against anyone with a different language or skin color, and the Vikland Empress has had enough of her travelers injured and killed outside of her borders. Matasi has also suffered from Kerek’s brutality but has the money and power – or so the Triune Council believes – to break Kerek without bloodshed.
In a war of words and weapons, who will win? For when blood is shed, it is always the young and the poor who pay the greatest price.
The Tales of Zren Janin are stories of adventure, political intrigue, soldiers, spies, and bravery where no one is safe, promises are casually broken, and justice demands a price.
For readers who like great worldbuilding in a South Pacific setting, heart-pounding escapes, stories about spies, saboteurs, and survivors when the odds are never in their favor.

“A deliberately paced work, but one with an expansive and ultimately engrossing setting.” – Kirkus review
“…new readers will fall for Zren, who often doubts himself and his abilities but tries his hardest to be whatever his friends need him to be. Although this fantasy tale is written for young adults, it’s sure to appeal to adult readers as well.” – Kirkus review of War and Wrens
“…engaging adventure-series” – Kirkus review

The boxed set of The Tales of Zren Janin contains all five of the previously published books and a sixth book, What Zren Didn’t Know, comprised of bonus stories of what happened to the Wrens before Zren’s stories begin, events in the books told from others’ point of view, and what happened to the survivors.

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My Irish Dog

About My Irish Dog:

Spencer embarks on a journey to Ireland, desperate that the short vacation will somehow provide the answers to his inner turmoil. Little does he know that a chance encounter with a lost dog named Shandy will set in motion a series of extraordinary events. Spencer is soon propelled into a world where reality becomes distorted, finding himself entangled in a web of enigmatic situations.

My Irish Dog is a suspenseful and mystical tale that explores the depths of the human psyche and the transformative power of unexpected connections. Journey alongside Spencer as he grapples with his internal struggles, navigates an otherworldly Irish landscape, and unlocks the secrets held within the elusive Shandy. This mesmerizing novel is a tale of destiny, redemption, and the remarkable bond between a lost soul and a four-legged guardian.

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My Canvas Bag

About My Canvas Bag:

Mark is a young man born into a bad situation. He works hard to hide the harsh reality of his home life. Mark does this to avoid feeling shame from the judgments of others. He knows he’s been taught bad habits and beliefs. Mark is confused and frustrated because he knows he has nothing to deserve what is happening to him.

He often escapes the chaos of his life by spending time in nearby woods. Carefully hidden outside his home, Mark keeps a canvas bag. It contains blankets, a flashlight, cans of food, a transistor radio, things to read, and more. The canvas bag has everything necessary for him to stay away from his home during bad times. The solitude of the woods brings Mark peace.

As he gets older, Mark’s anger and resentment toward his life increases. He makes bad decisions and gets into trouble. There comes a time when he must choose a path for his life. He can remain a criminal or try to become a person others respect. It is a struggle to separate himself from the beliefs and attitudes he was taught. He refuses to give up.

Mark is given an opportunity to write for a publication. He discovers he has a talent for it, and then Mark discovers himself. He chooses to remove himself from the bad things in his life.

Mark comes to understand the life he has led made him strong. He eventually makes peace with his family and his past. Mark begins to feel good about himself. When he graduates from high school, Mark is ready to move into the world as a person who has learned to respect himself.

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War and Wrens by M.L. Dunker

War and Wrens by M.L. Dunker

Free Book – January 20th through January 24th, 2024!
“An expansive and engrossing setting.” – Kirkus Review

War has come to Kerek. Ngahuru brings her Wrens – tailors, thieves, shopgirls, mimics, pickpockets, and beggars. All between the ages of 12-20. All are ready to overthrow a corrupt King. Because for Ngahuru – Revenge is a dish best served cold.

If you like books with spies, and survivors, political intrigue and daring escapes all set in a South Pacific setting, then dive into this series of adventures that asks: What price are you willing to pay to find a place and a family of your own?

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Hackett at Large: Tales From a Reporter’s Life in Paris 1961-1968 by Jack Fitzgerald

About Hackett at Large: Tales From a Reporter’s Life in Paris 1961-1968 by Jack Fitzgerald:

“Hackett at Large” is a collection of short stories which take the reader on a colorful and humorous romp through Paris in the 1960s with the tough, yet tender-hearted fictional American journalist, Benjamin J. Hackett. During his many Walter Mitty-like adventures, he encounters some of the most memorable authentic celebrities from that exciting and remarkable decade: Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, President John F. Kennedy, Jack Kerouac, The Beatles, and supermodel “Twiggy.” “Readers Favorite Book Review” gave it a 5 star review calling it a “delightful book.” “Independent Book Review” called it a “lovely book one can easily enjoy in an afternoon and described the author’s writing style as being “reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse.”

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MEN ARE USELESS

About MEN ARE USELESS:

New Book, ‘MEN ARE USELESS,’ Delivers An Unapologetically Honest Exploration of Male-Female Relationships

Ellie Russo, the author of the debut book MEN ARE USELESS: A Slightly Embellished Account of Women’s Relationships with Men, takes her readers on an entertaining journey documenting her comical interactions and frustrating struggles while navigating relationships with men.

MEN ARE USELESS dives deep into the complexities of male-female relationships, through a series of personal anecdotes and reflections. The author, drawing from her own experiences and those of numerous women she interviewed, presents a candid narrative that oscillates between humorous observations and poignant truths about men’s behaviour in various aspects of life.

MEN ARE USELESS is more than a male versus female critique – it’s a journey into understanding the male psyche. The narrative is not only about pointing out flaws, but it’s also a call for women to embrace their strengths and resilience.

Balancing wit with wisdom, MEN ARE USELESS is more than a lamentation; it’s a celebration of womanhood and a guide to navigating the complexities of relationships with the opposite sex. It’s a book for every woman who has loved, laughed, and learned from the men in her life, and for every man curious enough to understand what women truly think about them.
Russo says, ”Each story is as unique as the woman who shares it. Collectively, these essays serve as relatable anecdotes and cautionary tales for future generations of women.”

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Surf’s Up in the City of Angels by James Scott LaFon

About Featured Book: Surf’s Up in the City of Angels by James Scott LaFon

Doctor Richard Schmidt forms a “Generic Therapy Group”. All the good Doctor hopes to do is tip the scales of hate and chaos toward the side of love, mercy and forgiveness. When these characters meet, angels and devils are difficult to tell apart. With each comes a collection of friends, family and plots that confirm California is indeed the fated “Land of Fruits and Nuts”.

This Fiction book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print

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Joshua and the Chosen People

About Joshua and the Chosen People:

Joshua has inherited leadership of the Israelites and the divine imperative to provide them a homeland entirely their own. Before him, Jericho and the nations of Canaan glimmer with arms, wealth and impure blood. Can the soft-hearted Joshua clean away the pagans? Can his virtue persevere in the face of Israel’s fearsome destiny? Can the Chosen People remain good so long as they remain chosen? Joshua and the Chosen People is a fictional retelling of the conquest of the Holy Land. Firmly committed to portraying the humanity of both conquerors and conquered, Joshua and the Chosen People will make you question the value of “proud heritage” and the nature of goodness.

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Tales From Beyond by John Hummer Jr

About Featured Book: Tales From Beyond by John Hummer Jr

$11.95 Amazon – $9.49 Kindle
"Tales From Beyond" is an enthralling collection of six short stories that transport readers into the mystical and unknown. Each narrative, distinct in its own right, takes you on a journey into the realm of the eerie and uncanny.

Experience an unsettling walk through a cemetery, where the whispers of the past echo among the tombstones. Be captivated by the final performance of a seasoned magician, where every trick might hold more than meets the eye.

These tales delve into the heart of the supernatural, revealing glimpses of otherworldly beings and occurrences that challenge the mundane. From suspenseful narratives to chilling revelations, "Tales From Beyond" promises an unforgettable journey into the mysterious and the extraordinary. Perfect for fans of the uncanny and the supernatural, this collection of short stories is sure to keep you gripped till the very last page.

This Fiction book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print

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Picasso’s Motorcycle by Marc Sercomb

About Featured Book: Picasso’s Motorcycle by Marc Sercomb

On Discount for $.99 from December 15th to December 21st!
France, 1940. An unexpected gift of an old motorcycle with a tragically romantic past hurls a young orphan into the thick of things as war breaks out and his life changes forever. Half-French/half-German Daniel must find a way to survive in a world that mercy seems to have abandoned.

This book transports the reader to Nazi-occupied France, where Daniel unwittingly and unexpectedly finds himself working for the Resistance, and ultimately to the Russian Front in a twist of fate so startling that no one can see it coming. In turn quirky, heartwarming, beguiling and uncompromising, author Marc Sercomb weaves together many moods and colors to tell young Daniel’s story. Beyond engaging, Picasso’s Motorcycle has been hailed as a genuine “page-turner” by those who have so far encountered it.
If you like “The Book Thief” and “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” you’ll love this book!

This Fiction book is available in these Formats: eBook

This book is in Kindle Unlimited!

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Back to Slavery by Award-Winning Author Rod Ballard

About Back to Slavery by Award-Winning Author Rod Ballard:

Newly Released by Rod Ballard, a Reader’s Favorite Finalist Award Winner.

Royal is an outstanding high school basketball player from Atlanta, Georgia, with a bright future ahead of him. Even though things are going great for him, he doesn’t understand how far his people (African ancestors) have come for him to be able to be in his position.
Royal didn’t care much about what his ancestors had to go through in the past. He thought slavery was pretty simple. “Just sit back, do your work in the fields, and listen to the white man. How bad could that be?”

Not caring about how brutal slavery was for his ancestors, one night after he falls asleep, Royal awakens in an unfamiliar place. He isn’t in Atlanta, Georgia, anymore. He wakes up in slavery times on a plantation, where he witnesses hangings, beatings, sufferings, and hard labor in the fields, but he goes to sleep every night wishing to wake up in his bed back in Atlanta only to wake back up in slavery every time.

Royal is horrified as he tries to survive slavery and everything that comes with it.
Will Royal ever make it back home? Or will he forever be stuck back in slavery?
(Kindle on sale for $2.99 on Amazon through Dec. 31st, 2023)

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Bluebird of Happiness by Mary Elizabeth Fricke

Bluebird of Happiness by Mary Elizabeth Fricke

She was his best friend’s daughter, nearly ten years his junior. Was he too old for her? Would she accept, or understand his carefree, bad-boy ways? Would details of his wayward past really matter? Did she have a past? Certainly nothing such as his rough and tangled scars, visible edges of his demeanor. She was pure and innocent…wasn’t she? Or, was that sweet persona just a cover for harsh reality no one else knew she experienced?

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Shit That We Should Never Pass Along And All That We Cannot Leave Behind by M.J. Boin De

Shit That We Should Never Pass Along And All That We Cannot Leave Behind by M.J. Boin De

There are stories meant to transport us out of reality and somewhere better, giving us a small reprieve from the harsh truths of our world. And then there are stories that reflect those harsh truths and amplify the messiness of reality. M.J. Boin De’s debut novel, Shit That We Should Never Pass Along, and All That We Cannot Leave Behind, is an exemplary model of the latter.
The story follows 15-year-old Mara along with her wildly dysfunctional family, often swapping perspectives between Mara and her mother, Gina. This wild mother-daughter duo seem to constantly be at odds with each other, partially because of Gina’s absence due to her working three jobs and Mara being left to care for her younger sisters.
And yet, despite their screaming, fighting and snarky comments — and monthly noise complaints — this is a family that deeply loves each other. While Mara and her mother’s relationship may be taut with many issues, they grow to slowly understand each other by the end of the story.
Long & Difficult Road to Healing From Trauma
In the late 1980s, Mara and her family move to rural Kansas to escape her stepfather — the biological father of her two younger sisters, and the man who abused Mara both physically and sexually for most of her life. Mara’s accusations cause a small rift in her family due to her mother’s denial. Unable to confide in her family, Mara is left to heal on her own.
Mara continues to withdraw further into herself, refusing to really let others in. This often leads her into troublesome situations — with her sisters, her boyfriend and her community at large. Feeling guilty for her perceived failings as a mother, Gina often lets Mara off the hook easy, and Mara only continues her downward spiral.
With the help of her younger sisters, a mischievous cousin, and her boyfriend, Mara mostly lives to taunt the three old women who live nearby and spill their family business to everyone at church. But when one particular prank goes wrong, Mara is left with an unpleasant feeling of guilt in her stomach. When she goes to make amends, she ends up making a connection with the most unlikely of people.
Complicated Characters, Messy Life, Touching Story
Part of what makes this story so engaging is the nitty-gritty details of the family, revealing their darkest moments — and making them feel that much more real in the process. Mara and Gina (as well as Mara’s youngest sister, Teeney) are, to be blunt, complete assholes, both to each other and to most others. Their language and attitudes are foul.
But there are so many complicated layers to dig through to really see the people underneath. Mara is an avid advocate for social justice, and Gina is an independent woman ahead of her time who just wants to hold her family together. These characters are far from perfect — and that’s what makes them perfect characters.
Life is complicated and dirty and messy, and often things aren’t simply black and white — and Shit That We Should Never Pass Along perfectly encapsulates that. This book is touching and heartwarming in the most unexpected of ways, and readers might find themselves dabbing away a tear or two.

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Harmony Behind Bars by Sylva Kanderal

Harmony Behind Bars by Sylva Kanderal

How does it feel to sit in prison at eighteen? In solitary confinement? When at the same time the peers play football, computer games, go dancing, and for the first time fall in love?
Ramon is a young, impulsive, often aggressive man who is constantly in conflict with people around him and justice, too. Joye O’Reilly, a psychiatrist, keeps her helping hand over him. He has no education, no money, no job, and no home. He possesses nothing except extraordinary musical talent and an exceptional voice.
As he visits Joye, he finds her injured and unconscious, lying on the floor. He organizes help, and with the paramedic comes the police, too. They arrest him immediately. His criminal past speaks against him.
What happens to Joye? Will she die or wake up from the coma? Find the police the real culprit? Will Ramon live innocently behind the bars? Or will he sing on the open-air stage and earn applause and money?

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The Ryzhkov Vendetta

About The Ryzhkov Vendetta:

Alexander Leonidovich Ryzhkov, a Russian oligarch and former general in the Russian Military Intelligence Directorate (GRU), runs a covert operation in the Middle East on behalf of his best friend, the prime minister of Russia. Ryzhkov supplies Saudi terrorists with four Russian-made nuclear suitcase bombs and a list of two US cities to target. A CIA operation thwarts the planned attack and kills many Russian operatives, including his brother Sergei Ryzhkov. The oligarch is out for revenge.
Ryzhkov approaches a former CIA station chief and offers him money in exchange for the CIA operatives’ names. Armed with this intelligence, he launched his vendetta, targeting the former CIA operatives Mark Ericksen, now CEO of EyeD4 Systems, his fiancé Kate McDonald, a banking consultant, and Lars Wahlberg, COO of EyeD4 Systems.
Can Ericksen and his former operatives avoid the assassins’ poisoning efforts and turn around the deadly game of hunter and prey?

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The Deseret Reckoning

About The Deseret Reckoning:

“This irresistible novel manages the curious trick of making the reader want to stand up and cheer… A transformative tale of personal reinvention from a masterful storyteller.” – Kirkus Reviews (Kirkus Star)

“a thoughtful but well-paced adventure, … raising the stakes, right till the end. This novel is as much a journey of self discovery and newfound determination as it is a quest for retracing a historical trail.” – BookLife

In 1982, join museum acquisitions assistant Susan Kingsley on a journey through the American West. As she searches for letters from an 1870 wagon train traveling from Santa Fe, New Mexico through Colorado to the Deseret Territory, Mormon lands before statehood. Glimpses into the past, the wild frontier, introduce us to William Mitchell, a frontier businessman, separated from his wife by thousands of miles, but connected through regular correspondence tinged with a longing and true love. Tasked with recovering the letters, Susan follows clues in the letters to find Tom Sullivan, the new owner of the letters and a distant relative of William Mitchell. Along with two friends, Tom sets off to discover his family past, and a vague description of a hidden mine. Susan’s ex-husband, FBI special agent Andrew Harrison, an embittered and at times dangerous cop with a grudge, tails Susan’s every step. What has been hidden in the mine since 1870? Will Susan succeed? Or will Andrew commit the ultimate crime? Find out in this slow-burn debut from Matthew L Huffman. Part mystery, part museum-detective sleuthing, part cowboy western, Susan’s transformation is unforgettable.

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The Little Cottage in the Pines

About The Little Cottage in the Pines:

In a delightful holiday story that stretches through eras, generations and families, the author cleverly connects historically based stories into one continuing tale built around a snow globe that comes to be passed along. Through it, the reader discovers a window into the lives and souls of those who once owned the precious item…and eventually propelled it forward from the 18th century until the present time. Filled with humor and warm sentiment as well as stirring situations with which we all connect, Jamison delivers a moving storyline that has been said is “impossible to set down for even a moment.”

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