Flipping Boxcars

Flipping Boxcars by Cedric “The Entertainer” Kyles with Alan Eisenstock 336 pages

 

I admit it; I only picked this book up to see how bad it was.  I’m a fan of Cedric television shows but wasn’t sure he had the chops to pull off a mystery novel, especially a historical fiction one.  However, I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed every bit of this thriller. I love the double entendre of the title, even if it did take me half the book to figure it out.

 

The main character is Floyd Bates Sr., better known as Babe. Babe, an Army Veteran, is a gambler. The story is set in Caruthersville, Missouri, in 1948. The first chapter/introduction sets the mood for the novel. It’s foreshadowing at its best.

 

Babe is first and foremost a family man. He deeply loves and respects his wife, Rosie, and adores their four children. He will do anything to keep them safe and secure. Anything. Everyone in town loves the Boyce family.

 

Babe has two special gifts. He can talk his way out of, or into, any situation. The second is that he never loses. Never. He runs a back-alley gambling casino outside of town that reaps huge rewards for Babe.

 

The Fourth of July is a big event in Caruthersville. As the calendar days are peeled off, Babe finds himself needing something that only a gangster can get for him: more liquor. Unfortunately, the foreshadowing that is the first chapter/introduction comes true, and Babe must use all his connections and resources to get himself out of this mess.

 

I so enjoyed this novel.  Babe and all the other characters are wonderful, and I hope that Cedric writes another novel with them.  I admit that I expected much, much more profanity in the novel than there was (thank you, Cedric), it was fast paced thriller that is also sweet.

 

Flipping Boxcars gets 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Real Wifeys Hustle Hard

Real Wifeys Hustle Hard: an Urban Tale by Meesha Mink      Audio Book:9hrs, 15 mins,    Paperback Book:  320 pages             

Book Three in an explosive series by Meesha Mink, this book is so hot it smolders!  For sure and ADULT title with lots of adult activiities happening through out.     Sophie "Suga" Alvarez is madly in love Dane who happens to be a loanshark - but - a devoted boyfriend and friend.  Sophie's father is a known drunk but there is a heap of stuff that is not known about him - whoa!   Lots of great characters, multi-diverse in character ethnicity and persuasions.   You won't be able to put this one down till you finish it because you will want to know what everyone is up to that much.   If you love the t.v. show, "Power," you will love this book.  A little gansta, a little hustle, money, diamonds, and a few folks getting their freak on in both good and bad ways.    Just when you think someone is safe THEY ARE NOT!  Killing, revenge, betrayal, Meesha Mink covers it all in this book.   And reader, keep a fan nearby - this book is HOT.    Anyone who enjoys urban novels gritty,. get down and say it like it is and call it what it is style will love this one.   Sophie brings GIRL POWER to a new level.    So much goes on so many lives are touched in so many ways just like life on pushed up a notch for most.   Good story.   Not for the prudish, lots of sex, lots of violence and some extreme descriptions of the underbelly of society.    Like coming off of a roller coaster times 10.   This one might make your heart palputate and your breath quicken.  Whew!  I do recommend this book to lovers of urban fiction.

 - Shirley J

Traffick

Traffick by Ellen Hopkins, 505 pages

“Five teens victimized by sex trafficking try to find their way to a new life in this riveting companion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Tricks from Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank.  In her bestselling novel, Tricks , Ellen Hopkins introduced us to five memorable characters tackling enormous questions: Eden, the preacher's daughter who turns tricks in Las Vegas and is helped into a child prostitution rescue; Seth, the gay farm boy disowned by his father; Whitney, the privileged kid coaxed into the life by a pimp; Ginger, who runs away from home with her girlfriend and is arrested for soliciting an undercover cop; and Cody, whose gambling habit forces him into the life.  And now, in Traffick , these five are faced with the toughest question of all: Is there a way out? How these five teenagers face the aftermath of their decisions and experiences is the soul of this story that exposes the dark, ferocious underbelly of the child trafficking trade. Heart wrenching and hopeful, Traffick takes us on five separate but intertwined journeys through the painful challenges of recovery, rehabilitation, and renewal to forgiveness and love.” This is gritty subject matter, as always with Hopkins’s books, but handled almost gently.  While some of the stories may shock some teens, this is a subject that should be addressed, as many teens have the potential to become victims or to know someone who is or has been a victim.  I would recommend this for teens who like realistic fiction, especially in poetry form.

Six of Crows

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, 465 pages

Six dangerous (to varying degrees) teenage criminals team up and hatch a plot to infiltrate an impenetrable fortress and rescue (or kidnap? or murder?) a high-value prisoner, for glory and huge amounts of cash.

This ranks up there with The Raven Cycle as one of the best, most interesting YA series I've read - certainly the best ones still in progress. That's not to say that it's perfect, but most of my criticisms are minor and spoiler-heavy.

The characters are diverse and well-defined, the action is over-the-top and exciting, the world itself is creative and complex. It tackles themes of prejudice and unhealthy (to varying degrees) relationships with a deft touch. While it occasionally succumbs to a "Summer blockbuster" mentality, there's so much to like that even with my minor complaints, it's still a huge success. Highly recommended - I'm already anxiously awaiting the sequel.

The Way You Die Tonight

 

The Way You Die Tonight (A Rat Pack Mystery) by Robert J. Randisi    196 pages

Number 9 in the series.

As always, I look forward to the publication of a new “Rat Pack” mystery. They are fun and easy-going

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In this episode, Edward G. Robinson needs to learn more about playing poker and try out his character for an upcoming movie, The Cincinnati Kid, with Steve McQueen. 

The Sands Casino owner, Jack Entratter, turns EGR over to Eddie Gianelli, pit boss, friend to the Rat Pack, and fixer of whatever needs to be fixed.  And here, Eddie needs to get EGR into some high stakes poker games, a feat not as easy as it might seem. And of course, this is also a personal favor to Rat Pack Chairman Frank Sinatra.

In the meantime, billionaire Howard Hughes is in Vegas and wants to see Eddie. This makes Eddie a little nervous. What could Hughes want from him?

As Eddie starts to juggle those two balls, Entratter’s secretary has disappeared, only to be found strung up in the Ladies Room down the hall. Eddie calls in his pals, private dick Danny and bruise Jerry from Brooklyn. And with the gang all there, bullets and fists start to fly, plus the guys’ investigations takes them to the seedier side of Vegas.

Another easy read mystery from Randisi. I read The Way You Die Tonight on a 7-hour road trip and loved every minute of it.  I give it five out of five stars.