The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

3 stars.  Thanks to Revell books, a division of Baker Publishing Company, for sending me this book to review.  

Ben Calix has been a "Company Man" (American spy) for awhile.  He has been dependable and team player.  His luck soon changes when this book begins.  First mission starts in Rom and I'm not giving much away, but it is a mission "gone bad".  NO only are people dying but there is a mysterious virus that kills.  (No it isn't Corona Virus, however, the author dose reference "when Corona virus" happened a few years ago.  Ben leaves Rome and hits more badness in Paris.  Ben soon finds himself severed from "The Company" and he is on a hunt to figure out why he's been accused of being a traitor and oh yeah stopping a bioterrorism plot. 

I found this book too predictable and too far fetched. I did enjoy Ben Calix's character: grit, perseverance, physicality and brains.  I also enjoyed his pseudo conversation either in his head or out loud with former Captain Hale, who trained him for "The Company".  I liked hearing about his previous training that brought him to his current day spy status.  

Mere Extinction

Mere Extinction by Evie Christie

3 stars. 

Thanks to ECW Press for sending me this book of poetry to read and review. 

Sometimes poetry is too literary for me... aka I don’t get the lines of words, don’t comprehend,  or can’t follow the poem. I struggled with this book of poetry. I think it’s the reader,me, not the author. These poems are full of emotion ( hurt, sadness, grief, disappointment).  There are a lot of layers to these poems. I always wonder when reading poetry how much does the author draw from her/his own life. I wondered that through the reading of this book.  Though a short book it was a challenging read.