Monthly Archives: September 2016

Sky Bleaux, along with The Moon Dude, another MUFON member, pick up Rachael from the vigilante border station and head for Shaman Kirk’s new agey retreat to question the victim of an alien abduction. They almost collide with Bear, a Native American, who tells them his friend has been abducted by aliens. While at the retreat, Agent Storm Cauldwell shows up so Rachael is able to give him the can of poison and Stone’s gun. On a middle of the night hike, Rachael and Bear discover the truth about the aliens along with some typical Rachael trouble.

Picking up immediately after the previous book ended, Sunchoke is the ninth Rachael O’Brien book. The storyline is interesting and has a lot of action. It does need an additional edit to get rid of some remaining typing and editing errors. The problem I had with the book is it really should have been the second half of the eighth book. By dividing the single story in two, it really feels like the author is just trying to generate more money from book sales. I do recommend reading it to those who enjoy the Rachael O’Brien Chronicles, however, because the story is good. It’s just annoying that what should have been one book was split into two.

3 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2016: 95
Pages Read in 2016: 24,436
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

Rachael O’Brien is wanted for a murder she didn’t commit and so, against her better judgment, goes road tripping with Sheila. After meeting up with Rilda and getting drugged, Rachael wakes up in El Paso Texas where Stone is waiting for her. She accidentally ends up in Mexico with Stone and gets mixed up in one of Stone’s assignments. She learns more about Stone, but many questions linger on.

The 8th book of the Rachael O’Brien Chronicles, Hot Tamale, has a great, exciting storyline. The problem with it is that it is in bad need of an additional editing run-through. At least once I noticed the wrong character’s name is used and many times a random word would appear in a sentence when it shouldn’t have. One time I couldn’t figure out what the sentence was supposed to say. Without those editing issues, it would have been a 5 star book.

4 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2016: 92
Pages Read in 2016: 23,939
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)

James is very depressed, but not sure why. He loves Walt Whitman. His parents are horrible. And he really wants to know why his sister Jorie was expelled from school leading to her being kicked out of their house. He learns that Jorie was cutting, talks to people about the day she was expelled, and visits a real therapist (in addition to the giant pigeon Dr. Bird in his head) to help himself feel better, and then finally talks to Jorie herself.

The book reads fast and was mostly stream of consciousness. Occasionally things happened, but mostly it was just James worrying and trying to figure things out. The speed at which he got better at the end didn’t ring true, however. It seemed rushed like the author ran out of things to say or had to finish up to meet a deadline or just felt the need to have a happy ending. Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets is worth reading, but doesn’t need to be at the top of a to read pile.

3 (out of 5) Stars

Books Read in 2016: 90
Pages Read in 2016: 23,672
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks (more book reviews!)