When I started to read “The Losing Role” I immediately knew that I have something special in my hands – I couldn’t resist an espionage novel set in World War II. The author, Steve Anderson (Website | Facebook | Twitter), has been kind enough to answer a few questions about his ideas, research and social media.

Max Kaspar, afailed German-American, is fighting on the Eastern front when he is drafted by the SS to impersonate American officers and cause havoc

The premise of this book is quite interesting, that is telling the history of each carol or Christmas song. The book is well written and easy to read

The Christmas Cookie is a short novel which in turn is divided into twelve short stories. There are many characters, the narration is mainly done by Marnie

Tami Hoag is the New York Times bestselling author and at the time of this post has thirteen consecutive best sellers. Ms. Hoag was kind enough to take the time and answer a few questions, her responses are both enlightening and thought provoking.

The mystery was not as involved as the previous book, I figured out who the killer is a bit before the ¾ mark. However, I found the side stories more compelling

My father died yesterday morning. After 27 years of fighting cancer, the last two years very aggressively, he succumbed; but not without a fierce fight. It took his heart 12.5 hours to stop beating after the tubes were taken out, his blood pressure was steady the whole time and he gobbled up 4 bags of morphine (“enough for a big elephant and a small elephant” as the nurse said). He died as he wished – in a dignified manner, peacefully and unaware. He was my hero and my role model. He taught me how to work (“it’s not done until you clean up“), how to drive and how fix everything from drywall to a water heater. This was a man who while weak as a child still got on his knees to play with the grandchildren in, what would turn out to be, the last weeks of his life. I will miss his special affection for conspiracy theories; “I know the government is tapping our line” – which many have been proven true after 9-11. I will especially miss his sense of humor and sensibility. On my marriage day he told me not to worry “only the first 35 years…

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick is told in vivid narrative, it is sinful and tense, with flashes of violence, graphic sexual acts and grief

Room Emma Donoghue is a good book and a quick read. The unique voice in which the book is told is refreshing and well worth the time to read.

I wrote a guest blog for Bobbie from ‘Til We Read Again about writing bad book reviews – you can find the guest post here. Hope you enjoy it and thanks to Bobbie for publishing it. Zohar – Man of La Book