Lynn Hallbrooks

This book was rec'd to me by a Goodreads member aware of my penchant for choosing a curve ball every now and then; a book from a genre I would not normally read.
Well, I don't know about that as it has no specific genre. It's a collection of short stories the author has submitted for various competitions. As a result, there is a little something for everyone here. There are tales of frogs, leprechauns, kittens....
They are typically under a thousand words and comply with strict rules set by organisers and stated in print before you read. It's a nice touch showing the competition guidelines. If you write, you will know how hard it is to produce a compelling read in such circumstances, where your pen is restricted and told where to wander.
And yet, I really enjoyed this. The variation and necessary brevity, combined to produce a light, fast-paced mixture of different adventures and thought-provoking text which made me snigger, lament and contemplate in equal measure. It's a strange feeling to empathise with talking creatures from someone's imagination but that is why we read.
I particularly enjoyed, 'My Muse is missing' which induced sympathy and understanding in equal measure as a fellow writer. We have all been there. In those moments when the creative juices just refuse to flow.
If you are looking for a solid selection of decent short stories, this one is possibly for you.… (més)

An interesting military-based story. A group of ex-military personnel working for the CIA are sent to the Middle East on a mission and are left high a dry as the government back home changes. On their eventual return to the US they create a private security company that keeps running into the government officials that left them to their own devices in the Middle East. The book is well written but in some cases there is repetition of thoughts from the characters in verbal exchanges in the very next paragraph. Interesting and thought provoking.… (més)

I'm re-posting this review that my husband wrote for this book. He rarely posts reviews but he enjoyed this book so much that he decided to write one. However, nothing could move him to create a Library Thing account. :-D
A group of ex-military CIA agents are called upon for an undercover sensitive mission in Iraq. Betrayed by their country due to a corrupt government they find themselves on the run. This book is a great mixture of action and details. It is more geared toward the military minded but it was a great read.… (més)