Highly recommended. Buckle up!
934290
"The Wrong Stuff" is a fresh, rollicking sci fi adventure, with lovable characters of just about every description. It was written as a collection of responses to random word cues (beginning with "stuff,")  the awareness of which adds a conspiratorial dimension to the reading experience. The plot is a verbal puzzle, crafted piece by piece, and the pieces dovetail nicely! The result is a seamlessly approachable, darkly funny style.
Heroine Hannah Meredith, keenly instinctive bargain hunter, buys an odd box from an auction. Immediately afterward, her life becomes far more complicated as she discovers the story behind her purchase, and behind the other parties interested in it. Chased by corporate criminals seeking world domination, she teams up with a surprisingly effective crew of loyal misfits to preempt an economic coup that would prove devastating to the global economy. The job gets trickier and trickier, as scientific marvels derail simple solutions. Hannah and her new allies pull off some elegant footwork as they try to outscheme, outpace, and give a lesson in humanity to the greedy Powers that Be.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author's vivid, relatable storytelling inspires genuine affection for the characters. I was so invested in them that I turned page after page just to make sure justice was being served. "The Wrong Stuff" is impossible to put down!
2791191
Fantastic book. I read in the brief interlude between classes and just before bed, but I couldn't put Nethereal down because I wanted to see what happened next. The action is well-paced, the suspense is metered out in appropriate doses at the appropriate times, and the characterization is present without being expositional.

This probably seems like a simple thing, but I have to comment on it. I've read so much recently where authors have taken something important to their characters away to create dramatic tension only to turn around and restore it in some form or another later on to usher in warm fuzzies. They think readers want to have their cake and eat it, too, but those empty calories are some of the least satisfying things to consume in all of fiction. Brian Niemeier throws out widespread bait-and-switch tactics and gives the loss in Nethereal permanency. The answers to the introspective "How would I feel if...?" questions I ask myself as I read become so much more interesting when I don't need to default to "totally fine with it by the end of the book." That was never my reply while reading Nethereal, for the record. God forbid.

Without giving too much away, bad stuff goes down to the characters in Nethereal almost constantly. Each... incident, for lack of a better term, is sufficiently varied from the last so that repetition doesn't desensitize readers to what will come next. Predictability doesn't exist in the author's vision of hell; another pitfall that some books march directly into, Brian Niemeier sidesteps with poise and flair. I'm glad I spend my days on a little green rock called Earth, where the living nightmares I will likely never face to begin with are relatively mundane by comparison.

The author has a background in theology and his experience is reflected in his writing. Behind the impressive facade of the book's surface action, I thought I felt echoes of ideas C. S. Lewis penned in works like The Great Divorce. These bite-sized moral lessons aren't the clich or unsubtle messages sprinkled throughout other popular media- Disney films, with their black-and-white happily ever afters, spring to mind. Rather, they're the sort of thing that readers need to search for and then step back and digest to fully appreciate. I found something a girl named Ydahl observed about the nature of hell, with regards to compassion, to be especially insightful.

On one hand, I'm not a very widely-read fan of science fiction, so I have little from the genre to compare Nethereal to. On the other hand, I now have a rubric to measure the rest of science fiction against. I am buying the sequels as soon as my budget permits.
1671478
Super read!  Lots of unexpected twists!  Highly recommend.
3686264
Romulus Buckle is back, and I can say that I think this book is even better than the first one. In it, we find Romulus finding proof of who attacked the stronghold, gaining a Princess, and starting a war. Oh, and gaining what he hopes is some credible information regarding his sister. All in a days work for the high-and-mighty Romulus Buckle!

This book started moving in the beginning and never really let up. I had a hard time putting it down, and the revelations (no spoilers) have only increased my excitement for the third book in this fantastic series. My curiosity knows no bounds as I think of the possibilities.

I look forward to reading the next book, and will be keeping this book on my shelf. Highly recommended for a fast-paced, swashbuckling good time.
4279805
Like all other books in this series, Michael Hicks has written a tightly woven tale that is near impossible to put down. The writing quality is superb and the story itself is so vivid and real you want it to be true. The frustration I speak of is that, like the preceding novel, the tale ends on, not a cliff-hanger exactly, but a kind of tipping point that leaves you desperately wanting to go on. This feeling was so strong I subscribed to the author's website to keep tabs on the next installment; something I never do. My advice? Start this series immediately and keep re-reading so you don't suffer withdrawal!
4408231
Emotionally. Wrung. Out.

That's how I feel. The high's and low's are extreme and adrenaline inducing. While my head is spinning from all the action and pounding from the tears, I'm telling myself this isn't real. It didn't happen. Really? It seemed real. Gut-wrenchingly so.

I thought nothing could outdo Wolfsbane in this series. I was wrong.

Firethorn, while not heavy on romance, brought together two people who seem so opposite but who have so many hidden similarities. Griffin is one tough dude. Kazi is one tough chick. Normally I would say it was a pleasure to watch their relationship unfold but pleasure is too tame a word. It was explosive. Literally :)

The imagery is stunning! In between blistering dialog, the author uses short, bullet-like phrases spattered across the pages that kept me in an elevated state of expectation. Every step of the way I thought I was right there, witnessing the events as they unfolded. At just the right moment there would be a flash of humor to help release the tension before plunging me back into breathlessness.

There are twists and turns that I couldn't have dreamed of. Just who is the bad guy? Let me tell you, there's more than one. In the words of MI: "Your mission, should you choose to accept it," is to stay focused, don't let anyone interrupt your reading time, have some tissue nearby, maybe an MRE (just in case you can't put the book down) and enjoy this final thrill ride into the lives and loves of our Discarded Heroes!

An astounding conclusion to a series that will live on forever in my memory.

I was provided an advanced galley review copy through NetGalley months ago but had trouble reading it on my computer. No fault of NetGalley. They're great! When I saw that the author was having a contest on her website I entered to win a print copy and won. So, a big thank you to Ronie Kendig for my paperback copy. I was not required to write a positive review, just my opinion of the book. No other compensation was received.
3720630
10 stars .  Read it, try what is recommended, and then kick yourself for not starting sooner !
  Maybe Twice!
834299
Great read.  Very surprising ending.
Highly recommended.
2990144
Do not pass "Go," don't go to jail, don't even think about playing "Monopoly." In fact, don't do anything else until you order this book.

In a word, FANTASTIC! Well-written so that the information presented is accessible and easily digested. I don't always agree with Mr. Barker (there were several spots where I took away a different interpretation of the data he presents), but even when I don't the stuff he's written on is a blast to read and ponder. (Btw, the title of my review comes from a discussion early on in the book (Chapter 2).... So hopefully I've caught both your attention and interest!)

If you follow Eric's blog (emails come out pretty much every Sunday) and like it, you'll love this book. And if you're not sure about the book you will shortly probably be able to take advantage of Amazon's "Look Inside" feature. In the mean time, however, head to his blog (bakadesuyo dot com) or his Twitter account (same) and take a look (you'll get a kick - I think - from the story about his web site's name).

There's an introduction, 6 chapters of excellent material that parallels/brings together his blog posts, and a conclusion. I really hope this is only the first of many books to come.

Not sure what else I can write except that I would have given it 6-7 stars had I been able. It's that good in material, presentation, and explanation.

5 stars. And no, you won't be barking up the wrong tree if you decide to buy (but maybe if you don't!).
114079
These things are awesome. Really good quality, price is steep but it's worth it. I almost lost these on a ride yesterday and about shed a tear. Luckily they weren't but a couple miles from me, found them as I backtracked. Note to self make sure you clip them to your belt if you decide you want to feel the wind on your hands
3668152
Excellent Read!  Highly recommended.  Exceptional author!
508811
Great belt.  Love the buckle.  Outstanding  invention.
4387413
What other book gets this many five star reviews? It's deserved. Buy it -- buy it now! Lauren Smith Brody commiserates with us parents as we return to work. She has done a tremendous amount of research and has skillfully distilled the data into immediately usable nuggets. She will help you save time and feel more human as you return to work. I just got it for myself to return to work (and actually brought it with me my first day -- my blankie) and I just gifted it to a friend. You can totally return to work and feel sane. Lauren Smith Brody shows us the way.
3471324
Love the Roadie brand of harnesses - I have the non-shearling (non-padded) version and it works great! Well made, smart design. My version has a 1 foot trailing web belt attached to the back so (red strap in picture - with a d ring at the end). You just feed your car seatbelt through the web belt and clip it down. You can also just clip your leash to the d-ring and leave the harness on the dog when you arrive at your destination. Quick on, quick off, and easily secures pet in vehicle. Highly recommended.

As an option, add the PetBuckle Kwik-Connect Tether and you have the perfect harness system. The Kwik-Connect Tether allows me to (even more quickly) attach the roadie to either the seat belt strap and or Kwik-Clip it to one of the "LATCH" connectors they use where the back and base of the seat meet (required for child safety seats - in most newer cars). The advantages of using the "latch" connnection with the Kwik-Connect/Roadie combination are threefold: 1) It is faster/easier 2) It gives you more flexible tethering options should you switch cars 3) Depending upon the seat belt design, chances are, without using the Kwik-Connect, your car seat belt buckle will stick up right into the dogs ribcage if they lie down on the seat while riding. The use of the Latch and Kwik-Connect system eliminates the need to use the Car Seat Belt altogether and is just a better setup.

You will never have to buy another harness if you buy the Roadie (and Kwik-Connect).
3682607
Works great!  Best design I found and highly recommended!
2863898
Stunningly prophetic dose of realism and warning to anyone who can think to get our heads out of the sand.  The writing is similar to some of S.M. Sterling's best, such as his Draka series and every bit as good.  Super high recommendation.  Buy it,learn from it,enjoy it.
379921
Worth every cent I paid. Very satisfied. Highly Recommended!