Sanderson of Metro

Two masters of the superhero pulp fiction world, Frank Dirscherl and Bobby Nash, have come together to tell this tale, the NEVER before told origin of the first Wraith/Paul Sanderson, as only they could. Witness to the original Sanderson's early childhood, the emptiness in his soul, his yearning for meaning in his life, his finding it in the wilds of Africa and coming face-to-face with the man who would one day become his greatest nemesis. And finally, how he was endowed with the awesome powers of the Eyes of Judgment, becoming the very first Wraith Dread Avenger of the Underworld. This action packed, atmospheric thrill ride could only be told now and could only be told by master storytellers like Dirscherl and Nash. An epic, never to be repeated and not to be missed.

Sanderson of Metro (Superhero Pulp Fiction)

By Frank Dirscherl & Bobby Nash

Trinity Comics

ISBN #978-0646979236

Trinity Comics

Price $13.58 (Paperback)

232 Pages

Rating 4-Stars

From the comic book series the authors bring the origin of The Wraith to prose fiction.  Paul Sanderson, of Metro, is a spoiled rich kid reaching for attention from his mother and father and can’t find it. As an adult he sets out to travel the world looking for his place in it. Almost dying in the African desert, he is saved by a native who tells him there is an ancient prophesy about a white man coming who will save the world, and Paul is the fulfillment of that prophesy. He is taken to a mountaintop where an old man trains him for his coming place in history as the Dread Avenger of the Underworld. But it goes deeper than this. If Paul dies, he is to pass on the power to someone else.

In fact, it is the second man telling the story, as Paul has already died and been replaced by Michael Reeve, a Metro policeman. The story is well written, and the Paul Sanderson’s character flushed out fairly well, but for an origin story we don’t get a whole lot of action. There’s just enough to move the story along. And by the time he starts to fight crime in Metro City, it’s time for him to die and be replaced by the super hero who will carry the legend on after Paul’s death. This is Book #1 in the prose series, and I suspect there is more action in future stories, or at least I would hope so. For those following the Wraith’s stories in comic books, this prose entry will clear up a lot of mystery behind the character, and is a must read for that reason alone. I highly recommend this well written entry for all comic book fans.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE MAN IN THE BLACK FEDORA

The Midnight Guardian

WHO PROTECTS YOUR CITY IN THE HOUR OF DARKNESS? In the days of Prohibition, mobster and racketeer Nicholas Diamond—aka Nicky Dynamite—held Union City in an iron grip of fear. But in a heroic moment on a summer night in 1922, one good cop stood his ground and sacrificed his life to stop Diamond’s relentless advance and protect his city. More than a decade later, Diamond is back and determined to reestablish power by building an organization even more widespread and nefarious than his alcohol empire of old. Leaving an explosive calling card wherever he strikes, his exact whereabouts remain a mystery to the police. Enter Jack Hunter, Union City’s up-and-coming assistant district attorney. He’s fiercely committed to taking Diamond down by any means necessary, even if he has to bend the rules to do it. When Hunter acquires advanced technology that pushes his natural abilities to a level that’s more than human, he dives headlong into the gray area between law and justice and becomes a defender of a different kind. Will Hunter be strong enough and fast enough to stop a madman so obsessed with controlling the city that he’s willing to destroy it? The answer lies somewhere in the Hour of Darkness. Join author John C. Bruening for New Pulp thrills and adventure in his debut novel, a work Jim Beard (SGT. JANUS, CAPTAIN ACTION) calls “pulp world-building at is high-octane finest!”

The Midnight Guardian: Hour of Darkness (New Pulp)

By John C. Bruening

Flinch Books

ISBN #978-0997790306

Price $16.99 (Paperback)

416 Pages

Rating 4-Stars

It’s 1936, and after more than a decade, Nicky Diamond is out of prison and back in Union City. He had tried to take over the town during Prohibition, but a police officer had stopped his men before they killed him. Now that police officer’s son, Jack Hunter, is the Assistant D.A., and he wants to put a stop to the crime lord for good. The police have proven ineffective against the mob boss, and the D.A.’s office needs proof to put Diamond back behind bars. Jack and his cousin, Buzz Hunter have always been good at making things and working with equipment, and Buzz has invented a battery operated mask with goggles that gives the wearer heightened abilities, such as seeing in the dark, able to anticipate movements, and the ability to move faster than normal, and react with lightning reflexes. Jack tries them on one night and is impressed. Now maybe he can do something the police can’t do, like get evidence.

This well written novel is plot driven, and the characters seem secondary, but they are interesting. The first 150 pages give us a close look at Nicky Diamond and his psychotic behavior. He is hooked on Benzedrine, better known to truck drivers and entertainers today as Bennies. His actions are a mixed bag, even among his own men. Even after the first 150 pages we still follow Diamond more than the hero. It is the villain running the show. We do see the hero in action, but the author uses descriptive narrative extensively, and the action is slowed down while rooms and areas are described during the action. Don’t get me wrong, I love good descriptive narrative, but in this instance, the pace of the action bogs down, and the story fails to flow, making this 400-page thriller hard to read.  The reader is tempted to put the book down and do something else, which is not what an author wants to happen. There are more than a few editing errors, but they don’t harm the story line. They could have used a few proofreaders to eliminate the problem, however.

I enjoy seeing a good villain in these new pulp hero novels, but I would like to see more of the hero. We see everything that this villain does, and are privy to most of his plans, so there is little mystery for the reader. Our hero pulls a real boner that no good hero should ever do. He is captured and unmasked by the enemy. However, no one recognizes him, so he reveals his identity to them! Heroes don’t reveal their identity if they want to fight crime behind a mask. Regardless, this is an excellent story, the author is a master of words, and I highly recommend it to new pulp readers.

Tom Johnson

Author of THE MAN IN THE BLACK FEDORA

A Williamsburg Christmas

Christmas 1955 - Trent jilted Holly. Should she give him a second chance? Has too much time elapsed and is too much fire quenched for this romance to rekindle? Holly falls in love with the sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg during her first months living there. She’s a widowed mother raising 8-year-old twin boys by working as a waitress in a famous Colonial Williamsburg Inn. Trent disappeared from Holly’s life ten years ago. Now he’s back and wants to marry her. Santa’s matchmakers complicate Holly’s decisions by bringing new men into her life. Will the competition prove too much for Trent?

A Williamsburg Christmas (Historical Christian Romance)

By Anne Greene

Winged Publications

ISBN #978-1720099833

114 Pages

Price $5.97 (Paperback)

Price $2.99 (Kindle)

Rating 5-Stars

Holly is raising her twin boys after her husband dies in a plane crash. She works at Ye Old Queen’s Inn in Williamsburg as a waitress to make ends meet. During Christmas of 1955, the workers dress up in Colonial costume. Her co-worker has set Holly up with a date, and there are men interested in Holly, but she isn’t really interested in dating. Then, to her surprise, an old boyfriend shows up in the band playing at the Inn. Trent was her high school sweetheart, and she thought they were meant for each other, but they lost touch when he left for college, and Holly doesn’t know if he will disappear again. Will Holly find love again?

This is a wonderful romantic story by a Christian author, and her characters look to God for answers to their prayers. Her books are short, quick reads, and always end in a fulfilling commitment to God and marriage. This holiday season read A Williamsburg Christmas and it will touch your heart. Highly recommended.

Ginger Johnson

Author of COWBOY FROM TEXAS

Two Face The World

Richard and Maria's wedding is dreamily romantic, but both of them are still haunted by past rejections. Sinister letters and unwanted gifts arrive, and the more each tries to protect the other by keeping them secret, the heavier the burden of guilt and anxiety. However, when vicious attacks on lives and property begin, Richard and Maria are determined to uncover the identity of their enemy, but they have no idea who might have a motive. Will their love hold fast or the old saying “marry in haste, repent at leisure” prove true?

Two Face The World (Romance)

By Sarah Stuart

Independent Publishing Platform

ASIN # B07KV1J62S

299 Pages

Price $2.99 (Kindle)

Rating 5-Stars

“A Romantic Romp”

In this sequel to Three Against The World, our main characters are back, Richard and Maria are newly weds facing the problems every young married couple usually have, but with a few more problems added. Shakespeare would have a field day with this couple.

Two Face The World is the perfect title for this romantic romp, and the author is in good form as she spins their yarn once more to the delight of her many fans. The twist and turns keep the readers turning the pages to see what happens next. Will their love conquer all obstacles, or will they fall into defeat as many marriages do? To find out you have to read this wonderful new entry in the series by this wonderful author. Highly recommended.

Ginger Johnson

Author of COWBOY FROM TEXAS

Recipe For A Husband

Maine 1940 - Nessie McDonald, daughter of a recently deceased lighthouse keeper seeks a husband by Thanksgiving to share the work and responsibility of warning sailors off the rugged Maine coast. She advertises in the Bar Harbor News for a husband and cooks gourmet dinners for each would-be husband’s interview. 

Kyle Cameron, the injured seaman she rescues from the sea, doesn’t qualify because he must return to his home in Australia to run his enormous sheep station. Yet Kyle, lying on a cot in the kitchen with a broken leg, points out each of Nessie’s aspiring husband’s unsuitability by reading spiritual advice aloud from Lady Jane’s New England Cookbook, Nessie’s mysteriously discovered heirloom. Kyle pokes fun at each applicant suitor with hilarious Aussie advice.

When Kyle must return home, he cooks up a recipe of his own.

Recipe For A Husband (Historical Christian Romance)

By Anne Greene

Winged Publications

ISBN #978-1724131164

Price $6.47 (Paperback)

Price $2.99 (Kindle)

91 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“A Tender Love Story Packed With Humor”

The story is set in Bar Harbor, Maine in 1940. Nessie McDonald wants a husband by Thanksgiving, and when she rescues Kyle Cameron who washes up from the sea, she thinks maybe God heard her prayer. Nessie helps her blind mother operate the lighthouse after her father dies. In the meantime Nessie advertises in the paper for a husband, and cooks special meals for each perspective male that answers the ad. Kyle may not count, as he plans on returning to his sheep farm in Australia.

I love this author’s writing. Her tender love stories are packed with humor at times, and never vulgar. The characters always give credit to God for His Blessings, and the stories pack a sweet romance that entertains and not shock. They are clean and full of love. Highly recommended.

Ginger Johnson

Author of COWBOY FROM TEXAS