Category: Books

We’re back in the creepy little town of Pinehurst, U.S.A. Hmm, I don’t know if it was a play on words, but Pinehurst, hearse, people dying…you be the judge.

The story picks up with our, undiagnosed, but totally insane cast of characters, Evelyn and Daniel. Yup, they are still working at the radio station, quietly nestled in an eerie, fog ravaged forest. Their job is to play music and occasional ads for the local shops, and oh yeah, warn the village of their impending doom if they are not safely indoors when the fog rolls in.

It’s not the fog that’s the danger, it’s the obscured critters where human body parts (too late, spoiler – not if you read book one. Your fault if you didn’t. Go back to the store and get it. Do not pass go, and you must Venmo Kel $200 and buy the book) the fog is protecting. Did you get lost from the last sentence? Now you must buy a sticker from us too. Shameful plug complete. Wait, this isn’t LitRPG. No, it’s freaky horror.

I hadn’t read much horror before joining the Club. The few books since left me wanting. Not slasher type reads – don’t like those movies. Gore for the sake of gore it is pointless. Go ahead, bring on the reason why you enjoy slasher crap.

Anyway, I do like creepy stories. Ones that give me shivers and make me think twice about reading them at night. Light sleeper here – you creeper – odd noises wake me up even with a sound machine going. Makes having cats in the house so much fun. But I divulge too much.

This was definitely a comfy chair, bourbon sipping read. They say alcohol gives courage and when a scene is about to get unnerving, the right bourbon brings the nerves back down under control. No, this is not a plug for my go-to bourbon of choice: Elijah Craig. 😋 But sitting down with an old soul like Elijah helps take the edge off the sinister plot Kel Byron weaves for this edition. Once again, I am left trying to remember the phone numbers for these characters who I feel are my long-lost friends, so I can call them and tell them to get the hell out of there!

She amps up the action, the relatability of the characters, and the storyline like a seasoned pro. When I say that, I am comparing her to authors that have decades of books under their belt. Granted, they started out well and some have faded through the years (you know who you are!). No pressure, Ms. Byron. You’re on a roll and I like it. Keep it coming. If you get stuck, I’d be happy to help – and I come pro-bono.

A Lonely Broadcast – Book Two gets another five stars from me.

Did I mention the wasps? Freaking hell no! Stingers straight from the fiery depths. No. No. No!

I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’ve lived for half a century, have read a lot of books, and have seen a ton of movies, but this book was a huge disappointment. Much like the uninspired info I provided above, this book left me feeling like a deflated balloon, flat and lifeless. Damn, that sounds harsh, but I read the whole thing and that’s how I felt at the end.

You know the premise, so this isn’t a spoiler. Just picture your most boring male friend and imagine he was put on an “alien” planet and then tells you the story – in the most boring way possible. Do you really need or want to know what the bathrooms habits were like? The bathroom habits of astronauts is interesting and amusing – this was not.

Spoiler – He’s not on an “alien” planet, he’s just on a different human planet. In all practicality, it is a twin to Earth, and society is comparable to our colonial, pre-electricity times. BORING. This ain’t Planet of the Apes! Now that was an interesting and compelling story. This book tried to be that TV show but missed by a thousand boring country miles.

All the main character mentions – in passing – is that it is similar to Earth, but not Earth. Ok, great, then tell me how it is different. Show me something interesting about this planet!

If I went to a different planet and nothing was different than home, I would be so disappointed to have gotten stuck in the same crappy political and militarily driven society as I left. Just shoot me now.

I’ve taken history class – this book couldn’t even make history interesting. There are a crapload of Sci-Fi books that make science fun and interesting and downright cool. Girls love smart guys (especially if they read). You’re welcome for the PSA.

Sure, as other reviewers have said, people fantasize about going back in time and bringing whatever knowledge you have and using that advantage to create a better life. Blah, blah, blah. That’s great if you actually do something cool and not just do the same thing over again. Have I made my repetitive point? Ok, I’ll stop now.

Not once did the main character even try to find out why this planet had humans on it.

The cover is a total fake out and fails the first rule of writing – make a promise to the reader and keep it! The cover looks exciting, stuff is happening, there is some sort of battle going on and planes are crashing. Wow, great. Let’s go. Then splat. A big old nothing. Nothing interesting happens after the 2^nd chapter.

If you’re young and didn’t pay attention in school, or like repetitive history lessons, give it a read. You might like it. You’re allowed.

Like the plane the main character is on at the beginning of this book, this story was a crash and burn.

See, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for BCB Club reads. And I don’t care if the rest of the series is better (I read the reviews). If you don’t grab us from book one, we’re done. We don’t have to be hooked like a trout on opening day, but we have to be curious enough to want to see if it gets better. Cast Under and Alien Sun failed that test. We just didn’t care enough to read more.

So why two stars and not one or zero? If you like this sort of story, you may enjoy it. That’s not my goal here. This review is how I felt about the book. The writing is fine, I just found it boring and I didn’t really care about any of the characters. In my opinion, it needs work and the editor let this author down by releasing it as-is. It could have been a lot better.

A Lonely Broadcast takes place in the secluded village of Pinehurst. Nestled in a forest at the base of a mountain, Pinehurst residents appear to be oblivious to the dark forces surrounding them. But that’s their secret to keep, and their job is to keep those forces from escaping. Throughout this book, I couldn’t help but ask why these people stay in the village putting up with the disappearances, strange creatures, and of course, the ghastly killings. It seems like there is more in the air than evil spirits. Something is causing them to go beyond the call of duty. Morbid curiosity? I’m not sure I could do the same. I am certainly arrogant enough to think I could deal with something that can’t hurt me – until it does! Then I’m out. I’m no Sam or Dean Winchester. I’m more like a powerless Castiel wishing I had my mojo back. Remind me to start a review series on Supernatural.

Kel Byron spins a tale like a pro, and this being her first book – and a self-published one – is a triumph and proof talented writers are out there. Sadly, they’re drowning in the flood waters of fast and loose publishing. Well written and relatable characters draw you into the story and make you forget you’re reading. Instead, you’re picturing the world and situation your friends are dealing with. Ok, maybe you don’t want to be friends with Evelyn and Daniel, or at least not in this village. Real friends would have dragged them away by their ankles. Evelyn and Daniel are of a different breed than the rest of us. They were hired to be radio hosts, in a broken down watch tower, and if all else fails they are to press the magic button. Oh yeah, and when the fog starts to roll in, let everyone know so they can get inside and stay away from the “beasts of Pinehaven forests.” All the while, a crazy bird (my favorite character) with human looking eyes is taunting you outside the window.

All that is just the start of the crazy roller coaster of a ride. The story is funny, creepy, and has nail-biting suspense. Parts of it I didn’t want to read late at night. The last thing I wanted was to be dreaming about this forest. But after finishing it, all I could do was hope Kel would write another one. Wish granted. Book 2 is now available. Yes, this review is late. So much to read, so little time to write. It’s not like it’s my job.

Anyway, Kel Byron has me hooked. I heard she was dealing with some health issues which slowed her down a bit. Hopefully, she has recovered and is back to writing and taking care of rescued animals. Can’t wait to read Book 2.

It gets five stars from me.

Caarrrl!!!! Sorry, can’t help but say that when I see the name. It’s from Walking Dead. Carl was one of my favorite character. And so is this Carl. Maybe that’s a trend, hmm. Guys named Carl need to watch out ‘cause bad things are going to happen to them.

I know, I know, Squid Game, The Matrix, and now The Walking Dead. It’s a lot, but that’s still not close enough to what the dungeon has instore for our heroes: Carl and his cat (technically, it’s his ex-girlfriend’s cat – long story, her loss).

Psycho aliens take over Earth. Captured, Carl is presented with a choice: Try to survive the dungeon with your fluffy Persian companion, Princess Donut (full name being withheld) all for our amusement or just die with the rest of your insignificant flock. Carl won’t be in this totally alone with his kitty, other humans have been given similar choices, minus their own furry companions.

This is one of the few books where we agreed with the positive reviews. The hijinks never let up and barely slow down enough to allow the characters to catch their breath. Which is what you would expect in real life, right?

The amount of planning and thought that went into creating the world of the dungeon, and beyond (this is an interstellar epic) …I can only imagine how much time it took to get everything right. It’s impressive. The story bible Dinniman must keep has to be well worn and massive.

What lots of stories fail to do is tie everything together. You must create great characters that people end up caring about and put them in situations (crazy or not) that push their limits. At the same time, each obstacle they run into has to have a reason for being there. A story is a chain of events that interact and have purpose. Dinniman does an excellent job of weaving the story around obstacles and goals so well that things make sense. And not just in the end, as the story progresses.

I did have a minor issue that Carl seemed to be too knowledgeable for his background. But that resolved itself and as new characters were introduced Carl was given a lot to learn. And Princess Donut is priceless. Animal companions are always a good thing to make characters feel real. Donut is a whole other level. She’s not just a pretty face or comic relief – she would take offense to the later. Nope, I’m not telling you any more about her.

Another great thing that Dinniman pulled off is the use of LitRPG. The point system is not annoying or overbearing like in some other series (they shall not be named – until I write about them!).

The story grabbed hold of us far more tightly than Carl’s heart decorated boxers. It’s a wild ride that continues for 7 books – and we ripped through the first six in a month. That set a new club reading record. We’re eagerly awaiting book 8 – and a tv series! Let’s go Hollywood, get on it.

Wait, I got it. You’re inside the acid driven mental breakdown of a Matrix version of Willy Wonka’s factory playing Squid Game against zombies and other monsters, but there’s no red pill to get out. It’s real. Bam, that’s it.

A parting thought for Mr. Dinniman (we’re not on friendly terms – yet 🙏), Why the change in the covers. The original covers were amazing and part of what drew me into the series. I read the eBooks and I’m so jealous of other club members that have the first edition physical books to decorate their shelves.