Tami Brady

• Rated 5 stars

“Tom Navo is about to end it all. He’s just killed his boss. Feeling that committing suicide is his only option, he jumps.
As he falls, Tom starts to regret his decision. As luck would have it, Tom lands on a balcony, broken and bruised but still alive. As fate would have it, Tom would die soon after- an innocent bystander at a convenience store robbery gone wrong.

Tom awakes in a waiting room of sorts. He’s dead and he is about to decide his eternal fate. But instead of choosing his version of Heaven like everyone else, something strange happens. Tom is sucked into another world. It’s a desolate land with unfamiliar creatures. A world where illusion becomes reality and memories can be implanted with mere words. A whole world filled with displaced individuals who do the bidding of others without even realizing that it isn’t their fight.

The Cry of Havoc has the feeling of an epic novel mixed with agility of a video game. Actually, I can see the story being an excellent video game. I’d play it. Interesting characters and lots of action built upon a really intriguing premise.
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Tami Brady wrote this review Friday, December 16, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Tyler and Brandon are the best of friends who win a contest to spend time with their hero Professor Atlas. These seventh graders find out that they will be traveling to Britain to help Professor Atlas with his latest adventure. Upon meeting Professor Atlas, the boys learn that they will be helping the Professor find the lost Summoning Dagger of Mercastus. It is said that the dagger had been lost after Hallswich Castle had been destroyed. A prophecy handed down from generation to generation stated that the dagger waited to find its rightful owner.

In true adventurer form, Professor Atlas, Tyler, and Brandon immediately find themselves in hot water. Evidentially, they aren’t the only ones looking for the dagger. Professor Atlas` old rival Blackjack hijacks them demanding to know the location of Hallswich Castle. Although they manage to escape, it won’t be their last run in with Blackjack.

Professor Atlas and the Summoning Dagger is quite the adventure. Not only do the boys find their lives in danger several times but they also travel to the past to actually meet Mercastus. Loved this story completely and can’t wait for more adventures from this trio.
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Tami Brady wrote this review Monday, October 24, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“We commonly assume that the best leaders are the go-to people. Give them a problem and they will solve it. However, once these individuals are promoted they often find themselves overwhelmed. After all, they are the go-to person so everyone naturally comes to them with issues and problems.

Something Need to Change Around Here tells us that what got us the promotion isn’t necessarily going to help us in leadership. In fact, micromanaging is probably going to hinder. There’s simply not enough time in the day to do your work and everyone else’s as well.

The solution is training people to do their job and letting them do it. Create the systems, then allow leaders at each level to grow in their own leadership ability. Recognizing leadership and managerial skills and making sure that leaders are being trained up through the system.

Perhaps what is most unique about this approach is that at each level we are creating leadership for a sustainable business. We are always looking for certain qualities, teaching, and moving on to the next stage of leadership. In essence, finding our own replacement (and the one following that) so that business runs smoothly even if a current leader should be promoted, retire, or just move on.
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Tami Brady wrote this review Friday, October 14, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“The guys in blue are supposed to be the good guys. What if they aren’t? What one cop went rogue and took matters into his own hands? What if this vigilante justice, corruption, and racism ran much deeper than just one man?

A cameraman shooting one of those reality cop shows tags along on what seemed like a pretty routine night. At first, he’s focused on getting the best angles for the greatest effect. Then, suddenly he is told to turn off the camera. Point blank, one of the cops shoots an old man. Not a criminal, just some old man who didn’t understand English.

The thing is, the camera wasn’t actually turned off. The cameraman got the whole thing on tape. Once that becomes common knowledge, the cover up begins. More lives will be lost before any of this goes to trial. Will justice be served?

Of course, we all know that racism is alive and well. Moreover, on the news, we’ve all seen cases of corruption in the very systems that are supposed to protect us. I think Enemy in Blue just looks at the depths of those possibilities and how quickly things can get pretty complex. Frankly, it’s pretty scary.
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Tami Brady wrote this review Wednesday, September 21, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“A group of students board a ship called The Palimpsest. Their parents have enrolled these young men and women into a special university of sorts. The truth is that these students have little understanding about what they will be studying or even how long they will be gone. The only one who seems to know anything is the captain, a mysterious man with an otherworldly air to him.

At first, everything seems pretty normal and the students look to get to know each other better. Then, everything turns upside down. In the outside world, a pandemic threatens virtually every corner of the globe. On the ship, even weirder things are happening as students are murdered and the captain starts asserting his authority.

The Prophet at the Bridge is an intelligent religious thriller. The concept is well thought out with the plot densely woven with solid background in a number of different belief systems. Moreover, like the characters themselves, the reader often finds him or herself wondering what is really happening. What is the truth? What is reality? Are there such things?
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Tami Brady wrote this review Friday, August 26, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

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Shattered Destiny

June 17, 2011 | Reviewer: Tami Brady | Posted in Science Fiction | Edit




Shattered Destiny
Shay Fabbro
RicaShay Publishing
ISBN: B005CQB42A

Shattered Destiny is the second book in the Portals of Destiny series. In the first book, we were introduced to four sets of Chosen ones. Each set of individuals came from a different world bringing very unique talents into the mix. Those from Astra had the use of magic. The Earth Chosen were warriors and protectors used to the elements. The Volgon Chosen had technological advanced weapons. The clones from Kromin connected to everyone using telepathy. A prophecy tied these very different beings together as the only hope not only for their own planets but for others as well.

Now, in the second book, the Chosen begin their battle against Mekans. The first planet attacked is Astra. With little technology or weaponry, this planet truly doesn’t have a chance against the attack. The Chosen must now come together as a group, using all of their combined skills and resources. Will it be enough though? After all, these are four groups of very different beings stepping onto an alien planet with no clue how to take down these indestructible machines.

In Shattered Destiny, the four sets of Chosen attempt to become one cohesive group. It’s not an easy task, getting to know each other and respecting the different points of view. Then, at each step along the way, these individuals have to cope with new bodies and a whole new set of rules. Unfortunately, time isn’t their ally and even the tiniest delay might mean the end of a civilization.

I very much enjoyed the first book in this series. I really wondered what the author would do with this huge cast of very different characters with so very much at stake. Shattered Destiny was even better than I hoped it might be. Very fast paced and filled with action yet woven seamlessly within were these meaningful complexities that happen when very different people are thrown together in do or die situations.
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Tami Brady wrote this review Tuesday, July 19, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Dead men don’t tell tales. Or do they? Perhaps all they need is a little technology and the Bryant family.

A simple fishing trip turns deadly for two men. In the dead of night, with no witnesses, it seems highly unlikely that the murderers will ever be found. With no clues to go on the case seems doomed form the start.

Fortunately, a local man has been working on a surveillance prototype in the area. With a little work and some extra resources, the puzzle starts to take shape. Is this a matter of modern day pirates or is something much more organized in the works?

The Bryant Family Chronicles is a smart action-filled thriller that showcases how modern technology can be used in unique ways. Be that a modern homicide or as part of an archaeological excavation. Very intriguing possibilities.
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Tami Brady wrote this review Tuesday, July 5, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“The Mekans were built to mine and collect resources. Somewhere along the way though, something went terribly wrong. Now these giant machines travel from world to world leaching the resources until there isn’t much left.

The entire galaxy is in danger but a Gentran prophecy may hold the key. It would seem that The Chosen have the ability to bring down the Mekans and save the universe. A decision is made to help the prophecy along a little. Four specially trained Guardians are sent to four different planets. Their job: to collect, train, and protect The Chosen. Then, when the time comes bring these young beings back to Gentra where they will prepare to do the impossible.
As one would expect, The Chosen has a huge cast of characters. After all, each Guardian is responsible for a handful or more chosen. At first, I was a bit concerned that I would get a bit lost in the who’s who of the story. In this the author did a spectacular job. I was surprised at how easy it was to remember each character (or set of characters with regards to the clones) once the groups met in Gentra.

Moreover, having such a diverse group allows for some very interesting interactions and personal conflicts as well as realistically accounting for the skills and talents that are necessary to undertake this enormous task. As this is the first book in the trilogy, we are just starting to understand what is expected of this group. However, already we have a good number of wrinkles and some hints that it’s not going to be easy.

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Tami Brady wrote this review Tuesday, March 8, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“33 days and the adventure of a lifetime. Truly one of those periods of time where dreams became reality, if only for the blink of an eye. In 1987, Divine Weeks (Bill, Raj, George, Dave, and their road manager Ian) stuffed themselves into a back of a beat up old van and went on their first tour (Don’t Hassle It Tour ’87). No roadies, no soundman, playing dives, sleeping on someone’s floor, eating PB&J sandwiches. Music at its purest.

The tour itself is one of those now or never experiences. Either the guys really take a shot at making the band work or they leave it all behind and go their separate ways. Family demons, responsibilities, college, career, and relationships yelling are louder and louder demanding an answer, a direction, a commitment. Still, somewhere deep inside, each of the guys knows they had to do this or they’d regret not taking the chance. In the process, each guy has some unforgettable experiences while gaining some clarity about who they want to be and what’s really important.

I think every one of us has that moment where we decide to either live our dreams or just give up. 33 Days touches that part of us. I read this story in one go-stayed up until 3:30 am to do so. I simply couldn’t put it down. It was like I was a tagalong for the ride. My dreams may have been different at 22 years old but for a fleeting moment I remembered.

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Tami Brady wrote this review Friday, February 25, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“There are books that are very hard to review because the realizations and reverberations that they bring are so extremely profound and personal. Spiritual Stepping Stones is one of those books for me.

I started reading this book expecting the usually love yourself, look within concepts that I’ve read so many times before. The kind that usually has one or two personally relevant pieces of information and the rest are just words strung together. As if sensing my half-hearted expectation, the book spoke to me. Essentially it said: You spend so very much time and energy on your work, your dreams, your day to day but how much time and energy do you spend on your spirituality. Not your religion, beliefs, or any sort of rituals but on knowing yourself and being that true self.

In that moment, I had two choices. I could brush off the question with half-truths about how deeply I’ve dug. Or I could take a deep breath and ready myself for some real work. The willingness to make a commitment to myself about not stopping until I truly see myself. Then, consistently taking steps and wading into that darkness without any guarantees.

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Tami Brady wrote this review Friday, February 25, 2011. ( reply | permalink )