The Ultimate Test

Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Thrill Ride
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed my reading of The Ultimate Test. It was exciting, fast past and action packed. It took me on many usual twists and turns. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. But, because of times restraints if you are forced to put it down the relationship that is developed by the author between you and characters causes a longing in you to get back and find out what happens next. Along with the excellent storyline, I feel the strength of the book is the author's ability to develop this relationship between the reader and the characters. They have become a part of me and will probably remain there as long as I can remember. Hopefully, the author will continue possibly in a squeal to reacquaint the reader again with their newfound friends.

Rating:
Summary: Author's Choice Book Reviews
Review: In order to extract revenge, a mob boss kidnaps the unsuspecting children of protected witnesses who testified against his father. He plans to use them in a series of survival games.

Only he hasn't factored in their tenacity, their growing faith in God and each other, or in the two outsiders who are on his trail.

This story is based on Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," a story many of us read in school about a man, trapped on an island, hunted for sport. Schuett gives the story an interesting, modern day twist.

Rating:
Summary: Sparks!
Review: Scribes World Reviewer Vicki Ashtin has this to say about The Ultimate Test:

"4 ? Stars!"

The Ultimate Test begins with an interrogation of a mobster who works for a prevailing organized crime boss himself Antonio Cartillone, Jr. Who from the beginning, you can tell is the top underworld leader of all. As the interrogation continues, we are introduced to three other people who it seems have nothing what so ever to do with this mobster's lifestyle. As the characters unravel, the reader is still in the dark as to why and how these
three characters come together. But one thing is for certain, you can't wait for all three to get to the island and see what Mr. Cartillone Jr. has planned for their ultimate test and who has joined them in the final countdown to the finale.

We thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a great mystery to discover what if anything the three characters had in common and how they would all come together. Ms. Schuett has written a very strong character driven story, with riveting suspense just when you think you have it figured out. Even the ending was satisfying and not rushed to finish. Can't wait for her next novel.

Reviewed by Vicki Ashtin
[...]

Rating:
Summary: A Great Mystery to Discover with Riveting Suspense!
Review: Scribes World Reviewer, Vicki Ashtin--

The Ultimate Test begins with an interrogation of a mobster who works for a prevailing organized crime boss himself Antonio Cartillone, Jr. Who from the beginning, you can tell is the top underworld leader of all. As the interrogation continues, we are introduced to three other people who it seems have nothing what so ever to do with this mobster's lifestyle. As the characters unravel, the reader is still in the dark as to why and how these
three characters come together. But one thing is for certain, you can't wait for all three to get to the island and see what Mr. Cartillone Jr. has planned for their ultimate test and who has joined them in the final countdown to the finale.

We thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a great mystery to discover what if anything the three characters had in common and how they would all come together. Ms. Schuett has written a very strong character driven story, with riveting suspense just when you think you have it figured out. Even the ending was satisfying and not rushed to finish. Can't wait for her next novel...

Rating:
Summary: An exciting saga of intrigue
Review: The Ultimate Test is Catherine Schuett's gripping novel of action and suspense, about Kyle Irons' quest to rescue three innocent people, caught up in the deadly machinations of crime boss Antonio Cartillone Jr. Kyle's rescue mission takes him to Cartillone's private tropical island, where he must face the challenge of deadly games for Cartillone's evil pleasure; he and the captives must work together to withstand "the ultimate test" or die. The Ultimate Test is an exciting saga of intrigue and staying just one jump ahead of danger.

Rating:
Summary: Heartland Book Review
Review: The Ultimate Test is the story of four seemingly unconnected people, three of whom are kidnapped from different parts of the United States and their tenuous relationship with Antonio Cartillone Jr, head of the Cartillone crime family. It also explores the relationship that is formed between Kyle, Matthew Peters, Deborah Miller, and Maria Martinez in their fight against Cartillone and their fight against nature at its worst.

The five main characters in The Ultimate Test are extremely interesting. The two main supporting characters Daelynn and Hawk do their bit to add to the story. When Hawk decides to leave the Cartillone family and escapes from his henchman, and flies to Washington D.C., I knew she was going to be coming back into the story somewhere. I was surprised to find out what the ultimate test was. I thought they were going to be hunted as human prey, but I was wrong. I was pleased with the surprise, but found it hard to swallow the premise that man could have so much control over the weather. Throughout the story there were words in sentences that made no sense. It was obvious that spell check was run, but in some spots there was not a sanity check. We rated this book three hearts.

Rating:
Summary: Sparks!
Review: You'll find yourself recommending The Ultimate Test to your friends. Catherine Schuett wastes no time in lighting the fuse and hooking her reader. Her hero, although not perfect, is a true hero and her villain is bad to the bone--her cast of characters shine.

Fueled by guilt, Kyle Irons' quest is to rescue three seemingly unconnected people kidnapped by underworld boss, Antonio Cartillone, Jr. and brought to his private tropical island. The captives, including Irons, face a series of deadly games for Cartillone's ghoulish pleasure--games in which they must work through their personal differences in order to survive "the ultimate test" or perish.

Ms. Schuett's storytelling gifts are in top form with The Ultimate Test, a complex, thoughtful and very exciting book-a rousing ride to the end.

Reviewer: Donna E. Bedrick....