Lesa's Latest Contest-- St. Martin's Press Giveaway

As posted elsewhere....

This week, I'm giving away two books from St. Martin's Press - Martine Bailey's historical novel, including some mystery & recipes - An Appetite for Violets, and Lisa Scottoline's Betrayed. Details on my blog at http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only, please.

Lesa Holstine
lesa.holstine@gmail.com

Senior News Column---March 2012

For some time now I have been writing a monthly book review column for the Senior News newspaper. The Senior News is aimed to the 50 and over crowd with news relevant to seniors regarding various issues, humor pieces, and my review column among other things. The newspaper is a giveaway at doctor offices, stores, etc. and can be received by via a paid subscription. There are multiple editions across the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in content in each area.

My column every month focuses on books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore books selected for the column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership. At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.

Below is/was my March 2012 column with the addition here of the relevant book covers……

The Last Call: A Bill Travis Mystery

Gorge Wier

Flagstone Books

2011

Kindle E-Book

$0.99

Bill Travis first saw the beautiful woman while he was driving in heavy traffic on the loop near downtown Austin. They flirted in the stop and go traffic before she vanished into the distance leaving the nearly 40 year old Bill Travis with only one option---head to work as if nothing had happened at all. That is until a short time later, as his first client of the day, she walks into his office. 

Julie Simmons may be beautiful but she isn’t smart. She crossed Archie Carpin, a North Texan Liquor Baron and legendary figure with a violent family lineage dating back to the 20’s in Texas.  Julie was desperate and took two million dollars and ran. Of course, Archie Carpin very much wants his money back and will kill to get it.

Bill Travis, a man that helps well off people with their money problems can’t help falling for her in every way possible.  On the run and trying to stay alive on a trail that takes them from Austin to North Texas and back again, Texas author George Wier crafts an intriguing tale full of twists and turns. Populated with complex main and secondary characters, plenty of clues, and plenty of action this recently released novel first in a planned series is a very good one. Even seasoned mystery readers will be surprised by some of the twists the complex case takes while imparting some legendary Texas history.

Chicks With Guns

Lindsey McCrum

The Vendome Press

ISBN: 978-0-86565-275-0

Hardback--Coffee Table Sized

168 Pages

$45.00

Brilliantly photographed the book contains 78 color and black and white portraits of female gun owners in Texas as well as from across the country. Among the many variations are portraits with women posed in Old West style period costumes with antiques, others are in hunting garb, and still others are in law enforcement. Every picture makes it clear that these usually unsmiling women are clearly ready and able defend themselves against whatever man or beast walks the mean streets or crosses their land. These women are serious and depict the plain fact that approximately twenty million women from every race, creed, and walk in life and all ages own guns and know how to use them.

A visual treat that not only entertains the reader with the skill involved to take these powerful portraits, Chicks With Guns by Lindsay McCrum also provides a history lesson about firearms and their role in families and this country. This is a splendidly done book and well worthy of your consideration.  

Kevin R. Tipple © 2012

Review: "The Last Call: A Bill Travis Mystery" by George Wier

Bill Travis first saw the beautiful woman while he was driving in heavy traffic on the loop near downtown Austin. The beautiful reddish blonde in the red roadster didn’t seem to mind that Bill Travis was staring at her. For a few minutes they played a cat and mouse game passing each other in the heavy morning traffic. After a smile his way and a couple of quick moves on her part in the stop and go traffic, she was gone down the interstate and out of his life. That left the nearly 40 year old Bill Travis with only one option---head to work as if nothing had happened at all.

That is until a short time later, as his first client of the day, she walks into his office.

 

Julie Simmons may have flirted and then cut him off in traffic, but she has bigger issues then being a sexy and rude flirt. She has crossed Archie Carpin, a North Texan Liquor Baron and legendary figure with a violent family lineage dating back to the 20’s in Texas. This is one family that you leave very well alone if you have any brains at all. Julie was desperate and took two million dollars and ran. Of course, Archie Carpin very much wants his money back.

Bill Travis, a man that helps well off people with their money problems can’t help falling for her in every way possible.  Even if there is far more to her story and he knows it from the very start.  The beautiful woman wasn’t kidding when she said her name was trouble. He just didn’t care. He should have as she was not lying about that much at least.

On the run and trying to stay alive on a trail that takes them from Austin to North Texas and back again, Texas author George Wier crafts an intriguing tale full of twists and turns. Populated with complex main and secondary characters, plenty of clues, and plenty of action this recently released novel first in a planned series is a good one. Even seasoned mystery readers will be surprised by some of the twists the complex case takes while imparting some legendary Texas history.

The Last Call: A Bill Travis Mystery

Gorge Wier

http://www.georgewier.com/

Flagstone Books

2011

Kindle E-Book

$0.00 (as of today)

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2011