Available to Buy on DVD and Blu-ray!

Late last night, I watched the low-budget action flick, Primal (R; 97 minutes), starring Nicolas Cage, which was released earlier this month to Blu-ray (plus Digital) and DVD  by LionsGate Home Entertainment. The only special feature is The Making of Primal.

Directed by Nicholas Powell and written by Richard Ledger, Primal centers around Frank Walsh (played by Cage), an exotic animal hunter and collector who captures a rare white jaguar for a zoo. Due to the fact he doesn't have legal permits to take animals out of the Brazil, he uses a cargo ship to sail all his animals to the United States. Aboard the ship is a group of U.S. soldiers who are extraditing a political assassin, Richard Loffler (played by Kevin Durand), back to the U.S. Typically, they would have flown a criminal back to the states but Loffler has a medical condition that prevents him from going into high altitudes, which is why they're on a boat. And it's the reason why Dr. Ellen Taylor (played by Famke Janssen) is with them so she can monitor Loffler's condition.

Excerpt from Chapter 1

His mind’s peaceful state allowed a clear perspective, and he scanned the thugs, making an instant assessment for the impending engagement. Two of the bikers left their jackets open with firearms concealed under their vests. The other two grasped their bike handlebars with one hand and held blades exposed against their legs with the other.

Marron jogged toward the bikers, forcing two of the rough young men to kick the starter pedals on their bikes. The armed thugs fumbled and pulled at the weapons held tightly against their chests by their vests. Marron’s SIG Sauer spat out two muffled shots, and he moved with the speed and agility of an elite athlete. The sound resonating around the concrete walls resembled the retort of a child’s cap gun. Bloody red mist filled the air, and the two bikers’ bodies slammed to the asphalt with their weapons remaining forever concealed and useless.

The young thugs armed only with blades started maneuvering their bikes one-handed to escape. Marron sighted on the first and fired then moved his aim to the second to deliver another fatal round. The hollow-point bullets penetrated their chests and erupted, finishing the skirmish in less than fifteen seconds. Brass shell casings fell to the ground and bounced on the road. Their metallic ring reminded Marron to scoop them up to drop in his pants’ pockets.

Review

I believe the old action-junkie within me started giggling as soon as laid eyes on the outstanding cover to The Courier by Gordon J. Campbell. I mean, what's not to like about it? It features a Punisher-like character who resembles Gerald Butler shooting at what I'm assuming is the exploding gasoline tanker truck. To make a long story short, I wanted to read this book simply based on it's cover alone!

The Courier is a fast-paced thriller that centers around a medical supply rep, Greg Westwood, taking a one-time job as a "courier" for the US government. What he thought would be a fun and easy job turns out to a disaster when he learns a pair of assassins are after him. Toss in an international drug ring, you basically have an old-school '80s action flick plot.

I don't read very many Indie authors nowadays as the ones I have read in the past have disappointed me with bad editing. However, I'm glad to say I didn't have any issues with The Courier, which is one of the better written Indie novels I have read in recent memory. First-time author Gordon J. Campbell has created an intriguing protagonist, lively dialogue, and entertaining action scenes.

Overall, The Courier is well-written, action-packed thrill ride!

About the Author

Gordon Campbell is a Winnipeg born Canadian who’s spent most of his life in Japan. He's worked as an English teacher, a market entry consultant with a focus on the medical and sporting goods industries, and as a sales director for a corporation with multiple product lines.

He’s presently working on the second novel of a series initiated with The Courier, and its protagonist, Gregg Westwood. Gordon leans on his experiences built around decades working and traveling in Asia. He’s trained at several karate dojos, run full marathons, and skied black diamond hills in the Japanese Alps.

He played American football at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and started in the Canadian championship game known as the Vanier Cup. Gordon is a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity, Sinim Masonic Lodge, and the Tokyo Valley of the AASR.  When he’s not writing, working, attending one of his daughter’s vocal concerts, pumping iron, or at a lodge meeting, you’ll find him dining with his wife Mako at their favorite local bistro.

Learn more about Gordon on his website. Follow him Facebook and Twitter.

Everyone needs to be forgive me for taking 20 days to post my first Monday Morning Madness of the year. It's already been a busy year for me so far, which has included snow/ice storms, the flu bug, a blog redesign (more on that later in this post), unwanted weight gain, a broken dryer. On the plus side, the KC Chiefs won the AFC Championship yesterday!

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @  Caffeinated Book Reviewer!

Good Evening, Everyone!

I have two good reasons why I'm a little late with today's post.

• 1. I've caught the flu/cold bug that's been going around my neck of the woods so I slept in a little bit this morning. 
• 2. I watched the NFL AFC Championship game. I'm not a very big football fan but I am from Missouri and the KC Chiefs are in the playoffs. I guess I should say - were in the playoffs as the Chiefs won the AFC Championship and will be going to the Super Bowl on Feb. 2nd. 

You might have noticed this blog looks a little different than what it was last week. While I loved the previous design, it wasn't mobile friendly and I kept getting complaints from readers so I had to make a major change to the layout. The layout isn't my design. I got the theme, Sora Ribbon, from Sora Templates. There's a free version and a premium version for $9.95. I go the premium version so I could make a few changes to it.

  

My Thoughts

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop! 

What To Do

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

Do you think that readers make better employees, as opposed to non-readers? Why or why not?