APHRODITE'S TEAR by ROBERT ORSELINO

About the Book:

Russell Stevenson wants nothing to do with leadership, but the mysterious legacy of his father, and a beautiful woman, soon drag him into a battle he can't afford to lose. Caught between the brutal power of the Unity Council, government of Earth and her colonies, and a ragtag uprising with almost no hope of surviving, Russell must find out the truth about his father, and decide if freedom is worth living for.
APHRODITE'S TEAR by Robert Orselino was a good story. It takes place way in the future, when the Earth is under 1 government and a meteor has changed the atmosphere of Venus so it supports human life. Russell (RJ) spends his time working with his sister, who is a computer designed by his father, perfecting things his father invented. He masquerades as a playboy to throw Unity Council members off. When a mysterious man calls claiming to be a friend of his late Father's and and leader of the Venus Liberation Movement RJ wants nothing to do with them. After meeting with the mystery man, Rj, his sister Kira and Samantha, a government defector find the Unity Council after them, and they have to escape to Venus, where they get sucked into the fight for the freedom of the human race.
This is a 1st book for Robert and it is well edited, but it does have some weak areas. Although we have some back story on the characters, it isn't well developed and it made it hard for me to connect with them. The New Code that is mentioned occasionally needs to be explained more. There are hints of what it is, but I think a quick paragraph with one of the New Coders explaining it would not have detracted from the story. There was a lack of tension. During the government invasion of the VLM stronghold, the words were right, but it didn't make me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.
Overall I would recommend  APHRODITE'S TEAR if you are into Science Fiction, with a hint of romance.
APHRODIRTE'S TEAR by Robert Orselino is available for Kindle from www.amazon.com or in paperback from www.createspace.com.

THE ALIAS by MANDI TUCKER SLACK

About the book:
After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey thinks the worst is over. Little does she know she'll soon be forced to go undercover to protect her family, and in the process, she'll risk losing her identity, her future, and her heart. With a lightning pace, a good dose of humor, and a plot that's full of suspense, this thrilling novel is an edge-of-your-seat read.
I loved The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack. It was full of suspense, danger, drama, humor and even a little romance. The plot is very fast moving and easy to follow.  Once I sat down to read it I didn't want to have to put it down, I wanted to see what happened next.
The subject of domestic violence and the mob were handled well.
The setting in Rural Utah was perfect, and Melissa's Aunt and Uncle welcomed Jacey and Blaze with open arms, never suspecting they weren't really family. Jacey felt guilty lying and forcing her son to lie to her "family", and planned to leave. She learned the meaning of family and forgiveness when her "Aunt & Uncle" come to her rescue after her ex husband gets too close.
I would recommend this to everyone.
The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack is available from www.deseretbook.com and www.amazon.com in paperback and Kindle format.
To learn more about Mandi Tucker Slack CLICK HERE