The Emporer's Tomb

Steve Berry

Hearing that his old friend Cassiopeia Vitt is in trouble, Malone follows the few clues he has and realizes that they are in the middle of something huge, involving Russian and US oil interests and a centuries-old secret. After stumbling across two dead bodies and into the cross hairs of his former boss, Malone finds himself in a race to unravel the mystery of an emperor's tomb, a sinister society, and a deadly battle between two ruthless men for supremacy in China -- and the world.

My Take:

Growing up, I was always trying to be just like my dad and copied everything he did.  Most of the things I picked up on as I tried to emulate him have stuck with me in adulthood, not the least of which is my love of reading.  Specifically adventure novels in the vein of Clive Cussler and slightly more political, Tom Clancy.  I remember reading them in elementary school not really understanding them, but determined to muddle through so that I could discuss them with my dad.  As I grew up, I understood them more and my love for them remains.  When I was contacted to review this book, I did a bit of research on Steve Berry, and when many people compared him to Clive Cussler, I knew before I read the book that I'd found a new favorite author.  After reading the book, I wasn't disappointed!  The story (if implausible at times) was exciting and the pacing for the most part was steady and entertaining.  As this was my first read in the series, I wasn't sure if I'd be lost regarding the main character's back stories.  I had no problems whatsoever, I didn't feel lost once.  I really loved the abundance of historical info on Chinese culture, which I find absolutely fascinating.  Berry really captures the intriguing history and uses it as a rich backdrop for a modern political thriller.  The Emperor's Tomb is exciting, informative and extremely entertaining.  Overall I thought the book was great, but could have been just a tad shorter, and the pacing felt sluggish a time or two.  2, Borders with a Coupon.  I can't wait to read more from this author, I can't wait to sink my teeth into some of his Russia centric novels.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Emperor's Tomb was a movie, it would be rated PG-13

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

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The Confirmation

Ralph Reed

Newly elected U.S. president Bob Long is weighing reports of nuclear weapons in Iran when he learns Justice Peter Corbin Franklin, 86-year-old liberal conscience of the Supreme Court, has suffered a massive stroke.  With pressing same-sex marriage and abortion laws as well as a huge antitrust case on the court's docket, the door is open for Long to appoint a conservative replacement, paying back the 21 million evangelicals who voted for him.  But it won't be that easy. Long faces a series of political missteps while his court nominee, Marco Diaz, suffers vicious character accusations in the media for his religious beliefs and rumors of a tragic past.

Meanwhile, terrorists in Iran have hijacked more nuclear materials and are threatening to bomb a major city if the U.S. or Israel attacks.  Chaos reigns in the nation's capitol...

My Take:

Scandal, backroom deals, corruption...its politics, so what's new?  Well, what's refreshing is the authenticity with which the author wrote, the thrilling storyline, and somehow managing to leave me with a bit of hope for the future.  There were a lot of view points being thrown around in this book and I felt that the author definitely had his own point of view, but he was not disrespectful to the opposition, and presented both sides quite well.  I also really enjoyed the detail, and as I mentioned before, the authenticity.  There is nothing worse than an author pretending to know what he or she is talking about when it is entirely obvious that he or she hasn't had any experience in the particular field, or has not done any research  If you are a political junkie, this is definitely a book you would enjoy, especially if you are interested in the specific field of the judicial system.  Overall I very much enjoyed this book and give it a good solid 2, Borders with a Coupon

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie, it would likely be rated a light PG-13

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are considering purchasing The Confirmation, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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