Tainted Trail

Rating:
Summary: enjoyable, can be read in isolation
Review: "Tainted Trail" is a fantasy novel set in the current day US. The fantasy elements all surround two factions of an alien race that is living secretly among us. One faction is intent on taking over the world; the other faction (Ukiah's) is intent on preventing that. Much of this book centers upon Ukiah's search for his forgotten childhood (an interesting twist on amnesia). The plotline is a search & rescue operation for a kidnapped friend.

I've not read the book before this, about Ukiah's youth, and found the "Tainted Trail" stood on its own. This book didn't leave me thinking "Wow", but I read it quickly and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Rating:
Summary: Fast paced, fun read.
Review: I am currently reading the third book in this series, "Bitter Waters" and it is taking off quite well. I really enjoyed "Alien Taste" and "Tainted Trail", which I just finished last night. I have to admit that the reason I bought the books was because of the main character's name, Ukiah Oregon. I happen to live in Eastern Oregon & know personally where Ukiah is. I found the story line quite intriguing & thought it was well written, other than a few grammatical errors, which other reviewers also mentioned. But all in all, the story was good. In "Tainted Trail", the book is centered around Pendleton, Oregon. I live 22 miles from there & recognize the places the author obviously visited in order to get research on the novel. I really enjoyed reading a book that was located close to where I live. Believe me, that doesn't happen. Anyway, the books are fast, fun & remind me of the X-Files before that series ended. So suspend disbelief and have fun reading!

Rating:
Summary: Fast paced, fun read.
Review: I am currently reading the third book in this series, "Bitter Waters" and it is taking off quite well. I really enjoyed "Alien Taste" and "Tainted Trail", which I just finished last night. I have to admit that the reason I bought the books was because of the main character's name, Ukiah Oregon. I happen to live in Eastern Oregon & know personally where Ukiah is. I found the story line quite intriguing & thought it was well written, other than a few grammatical errors, which other reviewers also mentioned. But all in all, the story was good. In "Tainted Trail", the book is centered around Pendleton, Oregon. I live 22 miles from there & recognize the places the author obviously visited in order to get research on the novel. I really enjoyed reading a book that was located close to where I live. Believe me, that doesn't happen. Anyway, the books are fast, fun & remind me of the X-Files before that series ended. So suspend disbelief and have fun reading!

Rating:
Summary: NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS ALIEN TASTE.
Review: I became quite attached to the characters in ALIEN TASTE. For that reason, I enjoyed TAINTED TRAIL even though it did not have as much impact as the first book. I kept wondering how much longer Ukiah and Max were going to run around in the wilderness searching for a missing girl before anything happened. Does anyone feel the same way? I would still read more books about Ukiah Oregon.

Rating:
Summary: good book, lousy grammar
Review: I enjoyed the story and characters, though the plot of Alien Taste was predictable, but what really made me put this writer down and have to force myself to pick her back up is her ghastly grammar. She knows nothing of possessive gerunds (I'm tired of you doing this---is supposed to be "I'm tired of YOUR doing this" and many other repetitive errors, like using the word "conceited" when she means "conceded." Where are the copyeditors? I could ignore these stumbles if this were (note I said WERE) the way some characters spoke and not others, but the repetition of the same bad grammar has PROVEN that the writer simply speaks this way herself. These annoying habits of devolving language and sloppiness with our own native tongue will stain an otherwise good storyteller for me. Professional writers should hold themselves to higher standards and learn the skills of their trade well. "Well", not "good."

Rating:
Summary: Tainted Trail is a real page turner!
Review: I have read both Alien Taste and Tainted Trail. I found both of them to be excellent books. Of the two, Tainted Trail is more skillfully written. Wen Spencer is (deservedly so) more confident and the end result is a compelling thriller with multiple and layered mysteries. She balances character development, romance, action, and the unique storyline deftly. My only caveat is that if you do as I did and chew through this one quickly, there is a long wait for her next

Rating:
Summary: Another entertaining, enjoyable book about Ukiah Oregon
Review: In this sequel to _Alien Taste_, Ukiah Oregon, his friends and assorted "family" are involved in tracing another disappearance. This time, the missing, possibly kidnapped person is a close friend. The action takes place in Oregon, a place where as a young boy Ukiah was found by his adopted parents. The search is not only for the missing woman, but also for the missing memories of Ukiah's youth.

As in the previous book, the author creates a combination of appealing characters and involving plot. The beginning of the book is rather slow, but is effective in building anxiety for the missing woman. The adventure accelerates, and sustains a high level of suspense to the end. There are elements of humor, wonder and romance sprinkled throughout. While a little of the humor is a bit forced, many lines are so well integrated that one breaks out into laughter involuntarily.

This is science fiction, and inventive one at that. But the main attraction of the novel are the interesting characters and their interaction.

Rating:
Summary: Ukiah Oregon is Back!
Review: Tainted Trail is the sequel to Alien Taste and continues the adventures of Ukiah Oregon. When Alicia, a close friend, goes missing in Oregon, Max and Ukiah fly out to try and find her. They quickly discover that Alicia's disappearance is a kidnapping and begin a race against the clock. In their search for her, Ukiah finds out that he may be the legendary Wolf Boy that was lost in 1933. He tries to contact the Kicking Deers, who wrote the original newspaper article and offered a reward for information on Magic Boy, but they think he is another fraud and refuse to speak with him. Meanwhile, Max begins to fall in love with Sam, a private investigator whose ex-husband refuses to believe the marriage is over, and discovers that there have been many unexplained deaths in the area. Is there a link between Alicia and the other deaths? How are the Kicking Deers involved? What is Ukiah going to do with his "father" Rennie when he comes out to protect him? Another great mystery featuring Ukiah Oregon.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got very attached to Spencer's characters in Alien Taste and was excited to see them again in this book. Ukiah is a fascinating combination of innocence and deadly skills. Readers will enjoy learning more about Ukiah as he slowly discovers who and what he is. It was also great to learn more about Rennie, Ukiah's main Pack contact, and his past. Max Bennett finds a love interest this time and starts to come alive again after his first wife's death. Sam is the object of his affections and I look forward to learning more about her because she is one tough lady. I did miss Indigo and Kittaning in this book, though, as they were back in Pittsburgh.

Wen Spencer has a nice, smooth writing style that reads very quickly and easily. She has a great plot that keeps you glued to this book and many subplots that add to, rather than detract from, this book as a whole. For those of you who haven't read Alien Taste, I highly recommend that you do (because I like to read series in order), but, if you haven't, you can read this book and understand everything because Spencer gives nice synopses throughout. However, it does not detract or bore those readers who already know what she is talking about. Tainted Trail has lovely characterization, nice descriptive details, an exciting plot line - in short, this book has it all!

Rating:
Summary: Ukiah Oregon is Back!
Review: Tainted Trail is the sequel to Alien Taste and continues the adventures of Ukiah Oregon. When Alicia, a close friend, goes missing in Oregon, Max and Ukiah fly out to try and find her. They quickly discover that Alicia's disappearance is a kidnapping and begin a race against the clock. In their search for her, Ukiah finds out that he may be the legendary Wolf Boy that was lost in 1933. He tries to contact the Kicking Deers, who wrote the original newspaper article and offered a reward for information on Magic Boy, but they think he is another fraud and refuse to speak with him. Meanwhile, Max begins to fall in love with Sam, a private investigator whose ex-husband refuses to believe the marriage is over, and discovers that there have been many unexplained deaths in the area. Is there a link between Alicia and the other deaths? How are the Kicking Deers involved? What is Ukiah going to do with his "father" Rennie when he comes out to protect him? Another great mystery featuring Ukiah Oregon.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got very attached to Spencer's characters in Alien Taste and was excited to see them again in this book. Ukiah is a fascinating combination of innocence and deadly skills. Readers will enjoy learning more about Ukiah as he slowly discovers who and what he is. It was also great to learn more about Rennie, Ukiah's main Pack contact, and his past. Max Bennett finds a love interest this time and starts to come alive again after his first wife's death. Sam is the object of his affections and I look forward to learning more about her because she is one tough lady. I did miss Indigo and Kittaning in this book, though, as they were back in Pittsburgh.

Wen Spencer has a nice, smooth writing style that reads very quickly and easily. She has a great plot that keeps you glued to this book and many subplots that add to, rather than detract from, this book as a whole. For those of you who haven't read Alien Taste, I highly recommend that you do (because I like to read series in order), but, if you haven't, you can read this book and understand everything because Spencer gives nice synopses throughout. However, it does not detract or bore those readers who already know what she is talking about. Tainted Trail has lovely characterization, nice descriptive details, an exciting plot line - in short, this book has it all!

Rating:
Summary: The Wolf Boy is back, and biting!
Review: The sequel to 'Alien Taste,' this is the second "Ukiah Oregon" book.

A bit of background for this science fiction / mystery crossbreed: Ukiah Oregon was found wandering in the woods when he was a kid, a 'wolf boy' living feral. He was found by a lesbian couple who used humane traps to work with wolves, and they took him home, and began raising him as their own - after hiring a private eye to try and track down who he really was. The P.I. failed, Ukiah lived with the women as a son, and eventually, he and the P.I. started working together. In the first book, you find out a lot about Ukiah's strange origins, and start to realize just what he is up against.

'Tainted Trail' picks up where 'Alien Taste' left off, in that Ukiah and his P.I. partner are seeking out a missing person, but the ancient evil alien race Ukiah went up against in the first book may be behind what's going on in the wild woods where his childhood friend went missing.

Wen Spencer really upped the ante on this one - the hits land closer to Ukiah's core, the damage dealt is harsher, and the blood and guts got me a bit nauseated in parts. On the plus side (not that the above is necessarily a con), the supporting cast to this book is much more flushed out and interesting, and the mystery itself was complex enough to keep me reading. If you like your science fiction with a mystery twist, and like complex genetic plots, this is the series for you. I'm certainly ready for book three (though I might read something a tad less violent first).

'Nathan