Monday, February 13, 2012

Review: Oath of Office by Michael Palmer

Oath of Office by Michael Palmer

*I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Product Description:

February 14, 2012
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Heartbeat Away and The Last Surgeon comes a shocking new novel at the crossroads of politics and medicine. 
What if a well respected doctor inexplicably goes on a murderous rampage?
When Dr. John Meacham goes on a shooting spree the office, his business partner, staff, and two patients are killed in the bloodbath.  Then Meacham turns the gun on himself.
The blame falls on Dr. Lou Welcome.  Welcome worked with Meacham years before as a counselor after John's medical license had been revoked for drug addiction.  Lou knew that John was an excellent doctor and deserved to be practicing medicine and fought hard for his license to be restored.  After hearing the news of the violent outburst, Lou is in shock like everyone else, but mostly he's incredulous.  And when he begins to look into it further, the terrifying evidence he finds takes him down a path to an unspeakable conspiracy that seems to lead directly to the White House and those in the highest positions of power. 

My thoughts:
     This is an incredible story!  The beginning is stunning, gripping, and terrifying.  Once I read the prologue I was hooked.  This is a masterfully crafted story of corruption and greed as well as compassion and the driving belief in doing the right thing.
     The characters are wonderfully constructed, each with a complex life and belief system that makes them come alive from the pages.  Lou is fabulous.  His profound sense of right and wrong as well as his willingness to see life from all angles makes him stand out, even among the many well-built characters in this book.  I was impressed with his ability to co-parent with such a supportive and positive attitude after what had to be a heart breaking divorce and a long, hard road to recovery.  He and Cap are both role models that every 12-step program dreams of.  
     The complex story line and multifaceted plot keep the reader turning the pages, always looking forward to learning one more tidbit in the mystery.  The writing is vivid and imaginative, so much so that you literally "see" the story unfold in your mind in full color.  Joey's "pets" are the stuff of true nightmares; the descriptions alone left me cringing and shaky.  
     Great characters make a story for me, but this book has it all - great characters (both the "good guys" and the "bad guys", an intriguing mystery, conflict on a number of levels, and a little bit of a romance.  An all around great read.  

Blog Tour: Desperate Betrayal by Hildie McQueen

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Hildie McQueen 
and Desperate Betrayal.
About the Author:
 Hildie McQueen is a whirlwind who refuses to wear anything but jeans and heels.
 She grew up on the San Diego/Mexico border, joined the military at seventeen and never returned.  After living in Germany, Texas and Hawaii, she finally settled in the beautiful southern town of Augusta, Georgia.
Biracial, half Mexican and half African-American, Hildie’s native language is Spanish, but English is her favorite way of communicating now. 
Her mission in life is to make as many people as possible to feel normal.  It’s an easy thing to do, for others to feel normal around her, because she’s anything but.


Blog: http://www.hildiemcqueen.com/

(picture complements of the author)
Guest post by Hildie McQueen:
There is nothing we romance writers and readers love more than, well romance.
When reading historical romances, I dreamed of one day traveling to Scotland and seeing firsthand the magical places where the wonderful stories took place.  I wanted to walk where they walked, stand where battles were fought and receive the gaze of a lover when standing and beholding the wonder of the Highlands. Maybe even catch a glimpse of a Highlander in a Kilt! Me and thousands of others right?
When planning my trip to Scotland, I also planned to fall madly and deeply in love with the country.  Never did I suspect that I’d fall totally head over heels in love with the people, the soul of Scotland.  My eyes mist just at remembering the many warm moments, while my girlfriends and I spent ten days discovering the wonderful city of Edinburgh, traveling from the lowlands to the highlands wishing each moment would stretch indefinitely.  
As days passed, each of us crossed an item off our bucket list. Yet I can bet that we would have a terrible time choosing our favorite moment. Was it when stepping up to the anvil where young lovers married in Gretna Green?  Or was it strolling through the beautiful lands of St. Andrews Cathedral or standing in the small chapel at Falkland castle where Mary Queen of Scots worshipped?  Or perhaps it can be measured by our gasps of awe at catching our first glimpses of Eilean Donan Castle, as it stood proud with the misty highland mountains as backdrop. 
Oh yes, the Scottish. The Scots are an amazing warm, caring people. Our driver Kenny McLeod, sang to us, “Over the Bridge to Skye,” as he took us to the Isle of Skye. His tenor voice was as engaging as the scenery outside. The young man who carried one of our heavy bags at the train station, without expecting to be thanked was a charmer. We met twenty-one year old Gavin, who sat with us at a pub and entertained us with stories of his exploits.  In the Highland village of Plockton, a small pub band played an American tune for us when we entered the room, the entire room clapping in time with the beat.  Our B&B hosts took us on a private ride on his boat, that included an upclose took at Duncraig castle. The way his wife and he made us feel like family for the duration of our stay is beyond words.
 And the piece de’ resistance, the same host taking his boat out on the loch and waving a huge red banner so that when our departing train went by we’d know he wished us farewell.
So dear readers, regain romance, go to Scotland, and come back so in love, that like me your face will lighten when asked.  “How did you like Scotland?” 
Of course my answer is.
“I can’t wait to return!”

Desperate Betrayal
By Hildie McQueen
Cynden Frasier (Cyn) is a member of a group of immortal warriors, the Protectors, assigned to protect humans in Atlanta, Georgia, the epicenter of a major uprising in demon activity. When Cyn is approached by a beautiful woman in a dirty alley, he is intrigued by the fact that she can see him for what he is, a terrifying demon slayer, and still dares to approach him.
Emma Blake, a half-demon, has to convince Cyn to help rescue her sister from powerful demons. Terrified that the Protector will kill her if he realizes what she is, she still goes against every instinct and approaches Cyn for help. Despite knowing that she is leading them both into territory so wrought with treachery, neither of them may survive.
Can Cyn and Emma overcome betrayal, the ancient rules that prevent Protectors from taking a wife, unless she is his one true mate? And if they do, will it even matter?


Available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble