Featured New Release Of the Week: Space Force by Jeremy Robinson

This week we’re going to look at the most hilarious book I’ve read this year. This week, we’re going to look at the book that the author had just finished writing when I met him almost three months ago. This week, we’re going to look at Space Force by Jeremy Robinson.

The book itself is classic Robinson as far as the science fiction itself goes – alien invasion, Earth forces have to stop it. But it is the way Robinson crafts this particular tale that makes it stand out above even his own amazing books. The pop culture (and specifically geek/ gaming culture) references abound arguably more than in even Ready Player One – you seriously seemingly can’t go more than a paragraph or two without some reference. And they all work well in the story he is telling with the tone he is telling it in. Specifically, a very irreverent, literally laugh out loud comedy that happens to have a solid science fiction backing. In some ways, it is reminiscent of the 2015 Adam Sandler movie Pixels as far as the mix of science fiction, gaming, and comedy goes, but Robinson is far superior on his execution and more modern on his gaming, using some of the latest and biggest trends in gaming -battle royale games ala PUBG and Fortnite – as one of the primary plot points of the book.

Coming from a man that is written into one of Robinson’s other books (HUNGER) and literally has a tattoo featured in another Robinson book (UNITY, see over there ->) on his arm, this is arguably one of my favorite Robinson books to date because while his other books have been fun, they have always had a very serious undertone. This book is basically pure fun, even while the characters and indeed, Earth itself, are in mortal peril. Robinson shows that he is equally as gifted at creating pure light-hearted escapism as he is at crafting solid science fiction heart wrenching drama, but these days I find myself preferring the more light hearted side of things, and thus this book is very welcome.

So help me out here. I’m going to read Robinson’s books regardless, because I absolutely consider him the Modern Day Master of Science Fiction. But I would REALLY love to see more of these pure fun, light hearted books from him – but he is absolutely sales driven. So I really need this book to sell better than his others, preferably *all* of his others. That way he’ll be convinced to write more of this style of book, and we can all laugh a little more.

And really, given all that is happening in the world right now, we could all use a little more laughter.

So go buy this book!

As always, the Goodreads/ Amazon reviews:

The Master Of Science Fiction Adds Humor! Jeremy Robinson, the modern day Master of Science Fiction, has now added even more to his stories: literal laugh out loud, and very nearly literally roll on the floor laughing, level humor to a science fiction adventure that is just as breathtaking as his other books.

If you like science fiction at all, this is a must have. If you like geek humor and/ or battle royale gaming, this is a must have. If you just want to laugh amidst all the drama in the world right now, this is a MUST. HAVE.

So stop reading this review and go buy this book and start reading it instead already! President Kanye West demands it!

Featured New Release Of The Week: Saving Grace by Vi Carter

This week, we’re looking at a great romance that serves as the introduction to a new series. This week, we’re looking at Saving Grace by Vi Carter.

In the opening scene of this book, we’re introduced to several friends at a bonfire. This group of friends will all play parts in this book while also setting up future books featuring them. Meanwhile, in the next chapter, we get down to business with the actual story of this book: Grace projects having it all together, but inside she is a mess. Derek is secretly sent by Grace’s big brother to look over her… with explicit instructions that she is off limits romantically.

But when Grace finds herself in some… interesting… predicaments, Derek finds himself needing to save her. And in the process, a spark happens…

This was an excellent book about a broken girl and a guy in an impossible situation and an excellent introduction to a new series, with the usual tropes – the secondary female character is indeed the next female lead, and the other female characters will get their own books in time. Very much enjoyed this book, and very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

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Featured New Release Of The Week: Buckman by Erin Lockwood

This week, on my beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs’ off week, we’re looking at a book about college football told from the perspective of a female lead who is not a football fan. This week, we’re looking at Buckman by Erin Lockwood.

This was a visceral look at one woman’s rejection of all things relating to fame… even as she falls in love with one of the most famous athletes in college football. April Moxley is the daughter of the drummer of legendary rock stars Libra, and after spending her teens touring with her dad after her mother’s untimely death, she now structures her life to stay as far away from anything remotely relating to fame as possible.

Until she stumbles into star quarterback Tallan Buckman on the field after the last home game of the season… literally. Now, Tallan is doing everything he can to woo this woman who keeps rejecting him at every turn… and April is conflicted.

This was a truly remarkable book about football from an author who clearly loves the sport, told from the perspective of someone who clearly wants nothing to do with it. It ranks up there with books such as Bleachers by John Grisham or movies such as Friday Night Lights, Remember the Titans, or Varsity Blues. Yes, it is truly that good.

So go pick this one up today, while most of the SEC is on an off week.

As always, the Goodreads/ Amazon review:
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Featured New Release of the Week: Marked By Love by Tim Stevens

This week, we return to nonfiction and in particular Christian nonfiction. This week, we’re looking at Marked By Love by Tim Stevens.

This was a 200+ page narrative built around the idea that Christians are supposed to be “marked by love” and exploring what this might look like if it were more readily apparent in the life of the modern American Christian. Stevens pulls no punches, and at times it seems that he is trying to step on as many toes as possible in an effort to show that no matter how loving you may think you are, there are always areas to work to improve on in this regard.

And by and large, Stevens does an amazing job of showing his primary point in many different ways. He actually uses some of the same examples that Jonathan Merritt did in his book Learning to Speak God from Scratch two months ago, including the Good Samaritan and the adulterous woman of John 8. And in one of those points that might (and probably should) hit close to home for many, he says “What is going to be a stronger statement to a waitress – taking her away from her work to ask her about her soul and her relationship with Jesus, or treating her with grace and dignity, learning a bit about her story, and leaving a large tip? How many people just want something from her all day every day, including you with your Christian-ese questions, rather than trying to add value to her day and life?”

Overall this is an amazing book that everyone – not just Christians – should read and learn from. But it does have a few problems. It does indeed get a little too preachy at times as it relates to “being saved”, and it is a little too WASPy at times, effectively noting that members of the LGBT community are the “other”… even while decrying others being non-loving in noting the same. And it is for these two reasons alone that it went from a 5 star book to a 4 star book for me. Everything other than these two points was phenomenal, truly. And I very much agree that Stevens’ message is desperately needed for the American discourse in its current form. Just be prepared to roll your eyes a little and continue reading through these particular parts.

Very highly recommended!

As always, the Goodreads/ Amazon review:
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