Category: thriller

Jurassic Park book review 08-17-2023

“A couple of months ago, I finished reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton which was released November 20th, 1990. I have watched the movie Jurassic Park multiple times. I decided to read the novel. It was a fascinating read! I enjoyed the story because the plot was action-packed and suspenseful. The characters were engaging, the thought-provoking theme was examining life and choices.”

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A couple of months ago, I finished reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton which was released November 20th, 1990. I have watched the movie Jurassic Park multiple times. I decided to read the novel. It was a fascinating read! I enjoyed the story because the plot was action-packed and suspenseful. The characters were engaging, the thought-provoking theme was examining life and choices.

If you are a fan of the movie Jurassic Park, I highly recommend reading the novel. It is a fabulously written story full of action and wonderfully developed characters. I pondered about life and nature and our role as the human race on this planet.

I remembered the novel was an immense success when it was first released in the early 90s; it seemed like everybody was talking about Jurassic Park. It was so unique and ahead of its time to discuss DNA.

Society’s initial understanding of DNA and the possibilities that science could figure out the potential of DNA. By unlocking DNA’s secrets, not only for humanity but for all Earth’s creatures.

The novel and movie showed the dangers of misusing DNA, society could create something dangerous with unintended effects on the world.

The movie was released in 93, people who read the novel despised the movie. Absolutely hated it with passion. I didn’t understand why, and now after reading the novel, I do.

The novel had two themes. How much power we give to the scientific community and corporations to create things we know nothing about, the possible impact of these creations on the earth and our society?

The second theme discussed was life will always survive on the planet. Even long after, humanity is extinct.

These themes made the storytelling much more interesting, gripping and made me ponder the story after I finished reading it.

Jurassic Park’s plot was about surviving dinosaurs, but it was also a novel about choices about what should and shouldn’t create and the affects of our choices on society and the planet.

What is our role on this planet as individuals and as humanity?

Jurassic Park is about choices, responsibility, decisions, and most importantly living with our seen and unseen consequences.

Tier One Review

Here is the link below if you prefer to listen:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Tier-One-Review-e15scp0

I read Tier One by Cindy Gunderson, and I found the dystopian romance novel entertaining and thought-provoking. I can’t stop thinking about the main character, Kate.

About Story:

Kate works as a health care worker and is a mother of two boys named Tal and Bentley. She paired with Eric, who is a researcher in genetics and the father of her children. Paired means married in the novel. Kate and her family live in the Tier One System, which means they get the best of everything because of their genes and behavior by following the rules.

In the novel, the society is structured in three zones: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. In Tier Two, people get fewer supplies and have fewer freedoms because of their behavior and genetic structure. Tier Three for the undesirable people that have no future within the society. And the others don’t obey the laws. The inhabitants of Tier Three only received necessary supplies.

People only live in their forties because of cancer. And if a person rarely reaches fifty because the cancer rate is so high.

A little backstory, a virus that swept through the world, causing governments to meltdown as society fell apart. A man named Berg rose, taking control and eventually creating the Tier system that Kate lives in.

Kate was born in Tier One and conditioned to obey, and sacrifice so society can improve. (By sacrificing denies what is best for the individual to improve society.)

About the Plot:

While at work, Kate meets a young man named Nick, and she has an immediate attraction for him, but she loves Eric and committed to him. Until Eric makes a breakthrough discovery in his research on genetics, how to eradicate cancer that changes Kate’s life forever.

My Thoughts:

One day, I was on Facebook, and I saw this ad for Tier One. What intrigued me about this novel that the book was advertised as a clean romance, meaning no sex scenes. I brought the novel because I found the story about a woman who was a mother, health worker, and wife intriguing. Kate was no teenager trying to save her world from a powerful government. She was just a mom wanting what was best for her family, her marriage, and herself.

The novel is told from Kate’s point of view that pulled me into the story. I would like to have more detailed descriptions of places. For the descriptions were short and vague. The dialogue was excellent, and I loved the narration too. I keep thinking about Kate and her struggles and what will happen to Kate and her family in the next book called Tier Two. Yes, I am planning on reading the next book.

My rating:

I give Tier One four stars because the descriptions were lacking, for I had a tough time seeing Kate’s world in my mind. The author did an excellent job on dialogue and kept the pace going throughout the novel and how she foreshadowed certain events. Gunderson carefully took her time about revealing the backstory of Kate’s world and her personal history, too.

This novel is available on Amazon and now available on Unlimited Kindled.

Have you read Tier One? Or are you planning on reading Tier One? Let me know in the comments.

My review for The Persian Gamble

The Persian Gamble is the second novel of the Marcus Ryker series written by Joel Rosenberg, and it is the continuation of the saga.

Each of the three novels in the Ryker series is broken down into acts, The Kremlin Conspiracy was the first act, the Persian Gamble is the second act, and the Jerusalem Assassin is the third act, which I am in the process of reading now. The fourth novel, the Beirut Protocol in the series, was just recently released.

The Persian Gamble had a confusing second chapter that threw me, after reading about Ryker in the first chapter, but I stayed with the story, and it turned out the chapters second thru six were crucial.

Then in chapter eleven began Ryker’s storyline, and so did the action. The Russian and American governments are hunting Ryker and his friends after the assassination of Russian leaders. Ryker is figuring out how to convince the American President and other government officials to rescue him and his friends by offering information from preventing a world war.

Once I read chapter seven, the story started to fall into place, reeling me in; I was hooked. The story was a thrilling ride filled with drama, action, and adventure.

Throughout the novel, I kept wondering what was going to happen to Ryker and his friends. The last few chapters were spectacular, I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind, and the ending was superb.

I enjoyed reading the Persian Gamble was exciting and entertaining. If you are looking for an excellent Christian political-thriller, I recommend the Kremlin Conspiracy and the Persian Gamble.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/My-review-for-The-Persian-Gamble-eshn70

My reading list for March

I have 100 pages in, and at times the story can be a little slow, but so far good story.

I am enjoying the story, and so far, it’s been an exciting ride.

I was in the mood for something different, so I chose to start reading this mystery novel about a K-9 Unit. I was pulled in by the powerful opening chapters. I’m looking forward to reading more about this K-9 unit.

Spooky Lane

The scorching Hades’ vapors rose throughout the concrete jungle of countless miles of shabby homes, and boarded-up buildings. At the corner, filled with vulgar men and teenagers displaying their herd mentality: sexual gestures, hooting, and hollering to the streetwalkers. The prostitutes moved on, taking their cue; I did too.

Droplets of sweat dripped on my back as I strolled. My mother’s voice nagged at me, wearing Daisy Dukes, a short tight top, and my dirty white tennis shoes. For I was proud of my slender physique and my plump breasts.

But I couldn’t change my clothes. My boyfriend and I had a violent argument when his unstoppable wrath erupted. That’s when I scrammed from our apartment. On my way out, I snatched my purse.

I spotted trouble. Piercing eyes generated a frigid chill, seizing my spine. A shadowy figure emerged a half block away. Creepiness rushed into my skin forming goosebumps. I wished I hadn’t sold my pistol. My boyfriend had persuaded me; I regretted that decision.

Check out the rest of the story by clicking on the link below:

https://alexandramars.com/spooky-lane-series/

Copyrighted 2019 Alexandra Mars

Spooky Lane (a short story)

The scorching Hades’ vapors rose throughout the concrete jungle of countless miles of shabby homes, and boarded-up buildings. At the corner, filled with vulgar men and teenagers displaying their herd mentality: sexual gestures, hooting, and hollering to the streetwalkers. The prostitutes moved on, taking their cue; I did too.

Droplets of sweat dripped on my back as I strolled. My mother’s voice nagged at me, wearing Daisy Dukes, a short tight top, and my dirty white tennis shoes. For I was proud of my slender physique and my plump breasts.

But I couldn’t change my clothes. My boyfriend and I had a violent argument when his unstoppable wrath erupted. That’s when I scrammed from our apartment. On my way out, I snatched my purse.

I spotted trouble. Piercing eyes generated a frigid chill, seizing my spine. A shadowy figure emerged a half block away. Creepiness rushed into my skin forming goosebumps. I wished I hadn’t sold my pistol. My boyfriend had persuaded me; I regretted that decision.

The silhouette approached.

Panic engulfed me; I searched for refuge. Paradise Diner across the street with faded ocean waves painted on the windows. I dashed. A brand-new 1990s Cadillac whizzed by me. My heart pounded.

Air whooshed. “Hey, Dumbo!” I shouted.

I entered. The realistic paintings of palm trees on the walls, multi-colored lights of seashells hung from the ceiling, and beach decor. The relaxing atmosphere calmed me. On a business trip with my dad in Charleston, we ate at a local seaside restaurant, and this cafe reminded me of the place.

I stopped, before crashing into the waitress in a bright-white, tidy, uniform with her brunette hair in a tight bun, and wore nurses’ shoes.

“Sorry.”

The woman zoomed by me.

“Am I invisible?”

At a corner table in the back, a tall, stocky man in a gray T-shirt and tan Khaki shorts stood. “Miss, are you okay?”

She rammed into me and I collided with the floor.

“So sorry! I didn’t see you.” She offered her hand. “The hot weather is making me crazy.”

I took her hand. “I’m fine. The heat is from Hades.”

The man appeared. “My father told me demons come out to play causing chaos to us.”

“I can believe it.” My legs shook, and everything spun.

A softness touched my arms. I missed that. My boyfriend’s rough hands carried such harshness just like his words.

“Please, my dear, come sit at my table. Alice, bring a glass of water?”

He tucked his arm under mine. I was safe from the evil lurking in the shadows outside. A few seconds later, I sat, sipping on the water.

“I’m Sam.”

“Jane.”

“Are you feeling better?”

My body slowly relaxed, and I was protected in the cafe. “I walked for hours in this part of the city. I must have gotten lost somehow.”

He smiled. “It happens on a hot day like this, but you’re safe here.”

“My mind must play tricks on me. A shadow that looked like a man coming towards me.”

The waitress placed another glass of water on the table and stared at Sam.

A wave of dizziness hit me and everything spun as I placed my hand on my head. My fingers were wet. Blood was on my hand. It was my blood!

“What is going on?” I asked as panic filled me with dread.

Sam touched my arm. “Our time is short.”

“I don’t understand…”

“What do you remember?”

“Thomas, my boyfriend, and I had a nasty brawl. I refused to have sex with him. He tried to rape… A pain in my head.” I sobbed.

“He took his trophy, struck your head several times out of his rage.”

“I’m not dead!”

He patted my hand. “Not yet.” He sighed. “The hospital staff has worked hard to save your life to ensure your choice.”

“Are you death?” I studied him.

“Your Guardian Angel.” He paused. “You need to decide.”

A powerful desire to be a wife and mother filled me. Revenge pulsed through my veins for Thomas needed to pay for his crimes too.

In a bright room, shrieking alarms surrounded me, my body ached, and an exhausted man with a receding hairline wearing a pair of dirty scrubs examined me.

“I’m Dr. Morris, your physician at the ER.” He squeezed my fingers.

“Hospital?” I mumbled.

He nodded. “You’re recovering from a serious head injury. Relax, to allow the medicine to work.” He smiled. “You’re a lucky young lady that you survived the head trauma and the severe beating, but in time, I believe you will make a full recovery.”

“Where’s my mom?”

In the doorway, stood my mother in her sloppy clothes with dark bags under her eyes. She bolted to my bedside and held my bruised hand.

In the bed, I vowed to make a full recovery and hunt for Thomas to give him my revenge!