GRANT LEISHMAN - BOOK REVIEWS

New Horizons: (Host Saga #4) by Michael J. Farlow

21/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 by Michael J. Farlow continues the space adventures of the Galactic Force headed up by Commander Van Childs. The Galactic Force is a collection of like-minded humans and Zarminian’s who are committed to building and equipping a battle fleet capable of defending Earth and Zarminia from a planned attack by the bellicose and dangerous Arkon, who have designs on universal domination. The Earth Federation, the Zarminian’s and the Galactic Force have combined to face the threat that is posed. New Horizons is a space ship left to the Galactic Force by the mysterious Host people, who wanted to give them the opportunity to have the necessary technology to defend themselves against the Arkon. With the production of new battle cruisers and other armaments being hampered by both internal sabotage and piracy of supplies, the Galactic Force is engaged in a furious race to discover and catch the culprits. When it becomes apparent the Arkon timeline for invasion is much shorter than the Galactic Force had anticipated, there is a frantic rush to complete and man new ships of war plus to find any other assistance that may be available, out there, in their defence of their freedom.

This is a classic, low-tech science fiction novel, which makes for an easy read without the necessity to try and understand fanciful technical issues beyond our imaginations. I like my science fiction to be action/adventure with a minimum of science, so New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 fits that bill admirably. Author Michael J. Farlow has created an interesting set of characters that no doubt run through the full set of Host Saga Books. Although I have yet to read any of the others, it’s worth noting that is definitely not a necessity to enjoyment of this particular episode. It is stand-alone and the author has done an excellent job of sprinkling the narrative with hints and clues as to what may have happened before. Without giving any of the plot away, I particularly liked the exposition by Van Childs and the other defenders, to the Host Ambassador and Admiral, as to what it was that made humanity and indeed the Zarminians willing to die rather than sacrifice their freedom or control over their lives. I thought the battle scenes in this novel were extensive, well-described, and exciting. It was easy to place oneself at the controls of one of these space fighters and feel the power of the weapons and the fear they induced. All in all, this is an excellent sc-fi read and I can highly recommend it.

You can find New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 by Michael J. Farlow, here on Amazon:

Spirit of Prophecy: Paranormal and Sci-Fi Crime by j.j. hughes

19/9/2018

Spirit of Prophecy, a debut novel by J.J. Hughes was a stunningly unexpected surprise for me, as a reader. What I initially thought was a serial-killer hunt turned into so much more than that.
When Olympic Three Day Event Gold Medalist Juliet Jermaine's prize horse Gothic is killed, along with its young stable-hand rider, in an apparent road rage incident, the search is on to find the killer. Was Juliet the target of the attack or was it indeed just a simple case of someone losing their rag over horses riding on the roadway?
Enter psychic detective, Rosetta Barrett, who although working for the British police is actually, also a member of a top-secret research foundation that studies all sorts of paranormal, extraterrestrial and psychic phenomenon, world-wide. Rosetta is convinced that their is a long-past karmic link to this murder and believes she can unravel the mystery that happened so long ago to an Apache Indian, whose ripple effect is still acting on our world in 2021.
What follows is a classic "whodunit" mystery that delves into all things wiccan, psychic, paranormal and extraterrestrial, all wrapped around the exclusive and wealthy world of three-day eventing, along with the rogues that inhabit the world of horse breeding.
J.J. Hughes has produced an incredibly fast-paced and exciting debut novel that not only offers mystery and mayhem, but also give the reader pause to think about values, about relationships and about the impact of karma on our individual lives. What I particularly liked about this book is that it didn't allow the writer's obvious passion for these esoteric topics to impact too greatly, on the process of telling a good story. There is plenty of romance and no small degree of twists and turns to keep the most ardent romantic mystery reader engaged, but the addition of the psychic detective Barrett and her fascinating organisation, EPIS, lifts the story to another level and engages not only our imaginations, but our thinking brains as well. I doubt one can give a higher accolade to the writer than to say she has scored a bulls-eye on both aspects of this story.
For me, the number one criteria in rating a story that is clearly intended to be part of a series, is - will I read the sequel? With Spirit of Prophecy the answer is a resounding yes. In fact I'm on tenterhooks waiting for the sequel to come out. The characters she has created are fascinating and there are so many questions about Barrett's alter-ego, as a psychic investigator that beg to be answered.
Hughes has written a winner for her first novel and has ridden a faultless, clear round, in my opinion. This is clearly a new author to follow, with interest.

You can take a look at this superb book Spirit of Prophecy on J. J. Hughes' Amazon page:

Born For Adversity (The CASA Chronicles Book 2) by keith julius

17/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Born to Adversity, by Keith Julius, takes us into the scary and worrying world of childhood mental illness. Laura Reed is a solo mum, struggling to bring up twin nine-year-old boys, Aaron and Evan, while living with her grandparents and her live-in boyfriend, Ted. When Aaron has an accident at a playground and he is rushed to hospital with a broken leg, the Doctor on duty finds something more than just a simple break of his fibula. There is clear evidence on Aaron’s body of abuse and Laura Reed’s world turns upside down. Who could have possibly hurt her little boy? As is required by State Law, Child Services are called in to investigate and the children are initially removed from the family home until a hearing can be scheduled. A CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteer is appointed to advocate and act on behalf of the two boys and the family is caught up in the middle of investigation that could alter their lives forever.

I found this trip into a hitherto unknown world, to me, to be enlightening and a little frightening. Author Keith Julius has used a fictional story to highlight the tough and often thankless job done by Child Services and especially CASA volunteers all over the country, plus looking at the problem of childhood mental illness. Born to Adversity is a compelling and gripping read that had me unable to put the book down. The author’s style is easy to read, conversational almost and he grasped both the dialogue and thought processes of a nine-year-old, to a tee. There is always something extra about a story that entertains as well as informs about some aspect of our everyday lives and this book does that extremely well. Laura Reed described what was happening to her as, “every parent’s nightmare” and I’m sure, all parents, like me, will empathise and understand those feelings. The author captures the heartache and loneliness of a solo parent exceptionally well. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story that makes you think.

You can find Born for Adversity plus all of Keith Julius' offerings here on his Amazon page:

aeon rises by jim cronin

15/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Skutarans were a warlike group of aliens at the best of times, but when one of their most eminent scientists, Keldon Ankara is publicly humiliated and disgraced by the ruling council, for the direction of his research, he determines to escape and use that research to build an invincible army to return and vanquish the Emperor and rule, himself. Relocated on Earth, Ankara has a plan to infiltrate the brainwaves of millions of earthlings and raise an army to return and claim his homeland. In Aeon Rises by Jim Cronin, Justin Madrid, is a normal earth teenager (or so he thinks), in all respects; a typical geek who longs for acceptance amongst his peers, but cannot, for some reason, participate in the video and internet games so popular with those his age. His blinding headaches and nausea, when he looks at a computer screen are a big cause of concern for him. Justin must soon understand that he is not who he always thought he was, as he, his best friend Kevin, and a beautiful, young, Zarminan alien Myah will be pitched into a battle to save millions of earthlings from the evil machinations of Keldon Ankara.

This is not the first Jim Cronin book I have read and Aeon Rises continues a fine series of excellent science fiction stories from this author. What I particularly like about this author is that his science fiction is never way too outlandish or technologically complex for mere mortals such as myself to understand. Cronin instead focuses on the characters, their relationships and their trial and tribulations. In Aeon Rise, he has created a wonderful trio of three young characters who many will find the ability to identify with. Our hero Justin is a typical geek and along with his best friend Kevin they can quote almost any line from a series of genre films e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings etc. etc. When you throw in the idea of Justin having to deal with discovering his true identity and also the beautiful, romantic possibilities of the young Zarminan, Myah, you have all the elements of a wonderful young adult, science fiction tale. The idea of the triad bonding opened up all sorts of possibilities, for the future, for the author and I, for one, hope he chooses to explore these in his next books. This is a highly recommended read, from me, for basic science fiction buffs and young adults, alike. I loved this story.

You can grab a look at Aeon Rises (and I recommend you do) by Jim Cronin, here, on Amazon.

where summer strives by thomas thornburg

13/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author Thomas Thornburg takes us on a journey to a working class neighbourhood of a Midwestern city, towards the end of the Second World War, where social and racial divides are very much still the norm, in his novel Where Summer Strives. When a wealthy, educated, but disillusioned young man, Harvey Sloan, decides to lose himself in alcohol, he winds up falling from a freight car he had jumped, right into the working class neighbourhood and decides to stay a while. The bulk of the story is told through the eyes of eleven-year-old Tobe Jackson, who witnesses the profound changes taking place all around him, with the guileless eyes that only the young can possess. When a black family moves into the exclusively white neighbourhood, Tobe is drawn to the young black boy Samuel and they become fast friends. With Harvey’s educated ways and Samuel’s family’s racial heritage the scene is set for confrontation and a challenging of old ideas and prejudices.

Thomas Thornburg has shown considerable bravery, as an author, to tell this story through the eyes of a child, but he has done an excellent job. He captures extraordinarily well, the spirit of 1940’s America, rife as it was with its racial and social prejudices. Where Summer Strives shows that the key to understanding those who are different to us is communication and friendship. Samuel, as a character, was the perfect foil to Tobe. Before Samuel’s arrival, Tobe was the smart one at school, he was the learned one of their group, but despite that Tobe and Samuel could find common ground and make their differences work for them, rather than against them. The dialogue, although at times difficult to read because of the local and time-period colloquialisms, certainly seemed to ring true of the period and the seeming nothingness that can capture immediately the interest of young boys and hold them rapt for a length of time was portrayed perfectly. As a social commentary of the time period and the location this book does a fine job and I enjoyed the read. I can definitely recommend this story for those readers who like to think a little as they read, not to suggest there isn’t plenty of action in this book, because there is.

You can find Where Summer Strives here on Amazon:

the victoria lie: when is a lie, a lifeline? (the butterfly effect book 2) by sarah marie gray

12/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

“O what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” (Walter Scott). This is very much the quote that came to mind as I read Sarah Marie Graye’s novel about relationships, friendship and social connections; The Victoria Lie (When is a Lie a Lifeline?: The Butterfly Effect Book 2). Graye introduces us to Zoe, who has decided to end her life, but doesn’t want the messiness and angst of her best friend and flat-mate, Allison, having to find her dead body. She comes up with a plan that will effectively end her life, but will take upward of a week to finally effect its poison on her body. This will give her the chance, as she lies dying in her hospital bed, to square things away with both Allison and her boyfriend, James. Graye takes us on a journey of social connection and the tenuous, yet strangely, incredibly strong bonds that link us as human beings. She explores the wide-ranging effects, well beyond the two protagonists, of lies and half-truths and the long-term and long-lasting effects these can have on even the sturdiest of relationships, such as family. As Zoe lies “dying” the people in her life are already manoeuvring around her, building new relationships and she realises they are actually replacing her, in their lives, right in front of her eyes.

The Victoria Lie (When is a Lie a Lifeline?: The Butterfly Effect Book 2) is in effect, what may have been called, in Victorian times, a novel of manners or even a comedy of manners. There are certainly plenty of parts of the story where Sarah Marie Graye displays an accurate and piercing acerbic wit that had me chuckling along at the protagonist. What I particularly liked about this story was the author’s ability to convey both the fragility and the strength of relationships and friendships, in a mere paragraph. This juxtaposition of opposite ideas was fascinating to me and is best portrayed in the relationship between Allison and her childhood friend, Ruby. The interplay between Zoe and her hospital visitors, some of whom she barely knew was cleverly done and a reminder to me, as a reader, just how difficult it is to be honest and straightforward when visiting a friend who you know is dying. The long, drawn-out pauses and meaningless chatter will resonate with many readers. The writer’s style is free, easy and conversational, which made the book a joy to read and a quick read, at that. If you like expository novels that examine real life and social conventions, I am sure you will enjoy this story. Its honesty was a breath of fresh air for this reader.

You can take a look at The Victoria Lie, here on Sarah Marie Graye's Amazon page:

noemie's journey by victoria saccenti

9/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When Richard Winters points his Harley away from New York and heads south, looking for peace and a release from the memories of a devastating love affair, he wants nothing more than solitude and an opportunity to find himself again. The small town of Summitville in North Carolina where nobody knows him seems a great place to start again, but what he doesn’t count on, though, is meeting the beautiful and desirable young Creole woman by the name of Noémie whose desirability he must fight if he truly is to fulfil his promise to himself of no romantic entanglements. Set in the mid-sixties, against the background of the Civil Right’s Movement, Noémie’s Journey by Victoria Saccenti explores the reality of life for a beautiful coloured woman in the South. Laws may have changed, but attitudes will take generations to change. Richard, a Yankee, from up north, has no perception of what an interracial relationship will entail in North Carolina in the sixties, but Noémie knows well the ingrained racism of her fellow residents that she deals with every single day of her life.

Noémie’s Journey serves to remind us just how far we have come in the forty years in race relations, but equally it also makes us examine our feelings toward people who are different to us, today – a touchstone for American society, as much now, as it ever has been. Author Victoria Saccenti does a superb job of highlighting the institutional and deep racism that was just below the surface of civil society, especially in the South, in those turbulent years of the mid to late sixties. At its heart this book is a love story and a beautiful one at that. I particularly loved the author’s ability to convey the depth of love and the power of their passion, in her words, without ever having to resort to crudity or erotica. As a reader, I felt the build-up of sexual tension and revelled in the “when will they”, just as much as the participants. This is a real fillip to the author and it is what makes this book so very readable and one of the best of its genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it to all readers who like a true romance, but also enjoy a bit of action and thoughtful social comment.

You can check out Noemie's Journey, here on Victoria Saccenti's Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio

a different kind of Angel by paulette mahurin

6/9/2018

As a professional book reviewer, I read and review around two hundred books per year and every year there are ten to fifteen books that do more than just provide a good read; they make the reader think, they inflame our emotions, and perhaps most importantly they highlight the very best and the very worst of the human condition. Every year, it seems, one of these such books that I read is written by the inimitable Paulette Mahurin. Whether it be her gut-wrenching Seven Year Dress, her inspirational The Day I Saw the Hummingbird, or this year's offering; A Different Kind of Angel, Mahurin manages to touch our souls, with her fictional portrayals of real people and the ages in which they lived. Now, I love Historical Fiction, but what Mahurin brings to the table is a little bit more than your average historical story. She takes real situations, real people and then tells their story in a fictionalised way - an incredibly difficult skill that requires great care in research and a deep commitment and sympathy to the characters involved. Mahurin has all that in spades.

A Different Kind of Angel relates the story of Klara Gelfman, a Jewish refugee from the Russian pogroms of 1881. After Klara's entire family was butchered in the violence in Kiev, just her and her father escaped to freedom in America, but sadly Klara's father died of illness on the voyage to New York. Alone and lost in a new world, Klara struggles to survive, with virtually no English. When she is mugged and left bewildered and stunned in a New York alleyway, the police, believing her to be a drunk, vagrant, prostitute arrest her and before she knows what is happening to her she is committed to the infamous Blackwell's Island Lunatic Asylum in the middle of the East River, where, for five long years, she will encounter both the worst and the best of the human condition. It will take the intervention of a brave, young investigative journalist, Elizabeth Cochran (better known as Nelly Bly), to expose to the world the horrific activities of the staff of that institution and the dreadful conditions under which many woman (a lot of whom were no more insane than you or I) were kept, usually for the rest of their lives.

This, like so many of Mahurin's books, is a hard book to read, not because it is not well-written, which it is, but because the sheer mindless violence and inhumane treatment of the patients at Blackwell's Island is so horrific. As always Mahurin manages to make the book readable and palatable by showing us the indomitable nature of the women's spirits and the idea that no matter how bad things are, it is always possible to find something to be grateful for. I cringed at some of the things that were done to these women, but equally I marvelled and cheered at the way they were able to rise above the pain, the suffering and the hopelessness of their situation and find something in each other, to sustain them.

Paulette Mahurin has perfectly captured this human thirst for love, for life, and for freedom in this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough as a great read and a great inspiration. I have no doubt this book will feature highly in my awards at the end of this year, as her books always do. Don't miss this one, it is a benchmark for this type of fiction.

You can find A Different Kind of Angel, plus the rest of Paulette Mahurin's amazing portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

Beyond a Veiled Reflection: Anachronistic Dimensions Book Two by Christine Church

6/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Beyond A Veiled Reflection (Anachronistic Dimensions Book 2) by Christine Church takes us on a journey into a different dimension. Famous rock-star Dane and his beautiful wife Meirah are from two totally different worlds and yet their love has transcended time, incarnations and differing dimensions. After Dane and Meirah were first finally united in the dimension of Mikaire, life as husband and wife, on earth, has been wonderful. But, danger lurks in the form of someone they thought was long gone and destroyed. Meirah’s former betrothed, Kaeplan, is still alive and still planning to have Meirah as his Queen and bride, in his newly created dimension of Almareyah. It is the drinking of Dane’s blood that can give Kaeplan unlimited wizard powers to change time, to change dimensions and to ensure Meirah’s obedience and subservience to him. Dane and Meirah are in a race against time to defeat Kaeplan before he succeeds in his evil intents.

Although Beyond a Veiled Reflection (Anachronistic Dimensions Book 2) is the second book in this series, it stands alone and you definitely do not have to have read the first story to enjoy the second. Author Christine Church does a superb job of dropping in relevant information to allow you to understand how the characters ended up where they are. A cross between Science Fiction and Fantasy, this story captured my imagination from the very beginning. The idea of an eternal love that crosses time, lives, and dimensions, I found immensely appealing and in this author’s skilled hands, was an excellent and satisfying story. The three main characters were all sharply drawn almost to the point of caricature; the self-indulgent, slightly destructive, rock-star; the evil and lacking any humanity, wizard; and, of course, the beautiful woman who would not let go of a love that had spanned generations and dimensions. Yet, the author still managed to skilfully weave a wonderful story full of excitement, action, and heart-felt romance. The litmus test for any story in a series is; “would I read the next instalment?” In the case of this book, the answer is a resounding YES! This is a great read and one I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

You can checkout this superb story; Beyond a Veiled Reflection by Christine Church, here on Amazon:

factory of lies by nick c. hutchinson

4/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Factory of Lies by Nick C Hutchinson takes us inside the bottom rungs of the Great American Furniture Company of Wisconsin, where the hardest battle for the lowly-paid hourly workers is to survive and keep their jobs. The senior levels of management and the middle rungs of supervisors within the Wisconsin factory are held by “The Good Ole Boys Network” who are more concerned about feathering their own nests and protecting the multitude of perks they have garnered for themselves to be terribly interested in such things as worker safety, efficiency, and labour relations. In fact, efficiency is inimical to the supervisors, who know inefficiency is what drives the need for overtime and more money for them to line their back pockets with. Into this environment comes Nick Knight, a navy veteran who is looking for a stable and secure job to keep his head above water in difficult economic times. When he attempts to address the problems he sees in the workplace, he quickly learns it is better to keep your head down and your mouth shut if you want to keep your job and your income.

Nick C Hutchinson has used the fictional environment of the Great American Furniture Company of Wisconsin to highlight what is doubtless a problem that faces many of the working class in America. They see the corporate big-wigs paid their massive salaries and bonuses, while they have to survive in dangerous, unhealthy and sub-standard conditions, for a mere pittance. Factory of Lies does this exposition extremely well. In Nick Knight we have a well-educated, well-travelled, and erudite man who is concerned not only for his own long-term health, but those of his compatriots. Factory of Lies is a story that was begging to be told and it is easy, as a reader, from any strata of the working community to identify with the poor, put-upon grunts on the factory floor, whose every day’s work is a struggle. I particularly liked the way the author identified that clique group that exists in every work place who somehow seem to be above the rules and the regulations and just cruise along while the grunts do all the work. This is a scathing representation of factory life in America and sadly, it is probably very indicative of reality. This is a good read.

You can take a look at Factory of Lies, here on Nick C. Hutchinson's Amazon page:

game of twins by mo robinson

3/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Suzanne Delacroix is one of Atlanta’s top homicide cops, but she is a troubled soul; still disturbed by an attempted rape of her, back in College and the mysterious death of her father, also an Atlanta cop. When she and her partner are called to investigate a brutal, ritualistic murder of two twin teenage girls, something snaps inside of Suzanne and she immediately hands in her resignation from the Atlanta PD. She hasn’t given up on solving what now appears to be a series of murders, involving twins that stretch back over a Century. Still also determined to investigate her father’s mysterious death, she teams up with her Atlanta PD partner to try to get to the bottom of the horrific killings. In Game of Twins, by Mo Robinson, what they uncover is a sordid world of cult-like and ritualistic killing that defies belief. It takes a seemingly unrelated, minor event to finally blast open the entire web of deceit, murder and sexual perversion.

Game of Twins by Mo Robinson, can, at times, be a difficult read, simply because of the depths of depravity and perversion some of the characters in the story sink to, but I felt the author handled these arcs with enough sensitivity to allow most readers to cope with and accept what was happening. As a mystery/thriller, this story does a great job of twisting and turning, as we, the readers try to follow the many connections and coincidences that occur during the story. The main character, Suzanne Delacroix is well-drawn and totally believable as a strong-willed, determined woman who will stop at nothing to discover the truth and rid the world of the evil perversion she finds. The writer’s style is comfortable, easy to read and it is one of those books that you come to the end of and wonder where it all went to. I did appreciate that the author allowed a faint whiff, at the end, for a possible sequel, which is always a smart thing to do. All in all, this is a good murder/mystery, with some particularly nasty and evil content. I am sure many would enjoy it.

You can take a look at Game of Twins, here on Mo Robinson's Amazon page:

as the pizza burns by nick powers

1/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As the Pizza Burns by Nick Powers is a sharply, acerbic and satirical look at the lives of those low-paid and overworked fast food workers that most of us take for granted. Through the eyes of Tony, a shift supervisor at The Pizza Corp, we are reminded that service workers at fast food restaurants are not mindless robots, but that they have lives, problems and difficulties just like the rest of us. Faced with unreasonable and angry customers who expect everything right there and right now, the fast-food workers are required to be polite, understanding and conciliatory even when every fibre of their being is screaming out to punch the arrogant, demanding customer between the eyes. Tony, like all his co-workers understands that “nobody works for Pizza Corp out of choice”. For Tony, with a pregnant wife, who also is suffering from cancer, life is one long battle just to keep the demanding creditors, especially the medical bills at bay. He has no choice, he cannot afford to lose his job and he desperately needs to get promoted to a salaried position. To do so, Tony knows he has to tow the corporate line and play by the corporate rules, as ridiculous and as unyielding as they may seem at times.

As someone who has fortunately never found the need to work for a fast-food restaurant, As the Pizza Burns is a real eye-opener and a reminder to me to never take these hard-working, usually young people for granted. Nick Powers introduces us to a wide range of diverse characters who all add something to the mix that makes up the Pizza Corp team. The author’s style is simple, straightforward and very easy to read. I read this entire book in one sitting simply because it flowed so effortlessly. Tony is a character that is easy to identify with. He looks to the future, when things will work out for the good for him and his family, but realises for now, he must do everything within his power to ensure his success at Pizza Corp and guarantee the stability of his family, but at what cost. The author clearly drew on his own experiences in writing this fictionalised version of life in a fast-food restaurant and perhaps that was what made the narrative so real and so starkly sad and equally funny in places. An author has achieved something special when he or she is able to open the reader’s eyes to something different to that which we take for granted and Powers has done this in this funnily sad story. I take my hat off to him and highly recommend this read to all.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out As the Pizza Burns by Nick Powers, here on his Amazon page:

Laurel's choices by exie wilde henson

30/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Laurel was a young woman from a middle-class family who followed her beloved father into teaching. When she meets and marries Justin Worth, a professional photographer, her life will change forever. Justin has a sense of adventure and realising photography, alone, cannot sustain a family, he moves Laurel and his young children to a ramshackle hut in the middle of the Pisgah Forest in the mountains of Western North Carolina, to set up a logging team. Set in the early 1920’s and flowing through to the War years, Laurel’s Choices by Exie Wilde Henson takes us on a remarkable journey, with this incredible family, as they endure the hardships and dangers of live in a primitive logging camp, the privations of losses of The Great Depression, and the heartbreak of World War II. All through this Laurel and Justin attempt to bring their family up with love and respect for each other and the utmost love and respect for, their neighbours, the wonderful, proud, but hard-living mountain people of Western North Carolina. They face all their trials and tribulations with humour, dignity and a profound sense of faith in a power greater than them. Anything the Worth’s can do to help their fellow man or woman, they will gladly do.

I read a lot and few books have moved me as much as this simple story of familial love and devotion presented to us by Exie Wilde Henson, in Laurel’s Choices. I am sure the story, although fictionalised, was a recounting of the author’s own experiences growing up and as such it provides a truly wonderful social commentary on that particular region and that particular period of history. The two main characters, Laurel and Justin were selfless, dedicated and showed compassion and love beyond what anyone could expect, given the difficult circumstances they faced. This was truly one of those books I didn’t want to end and deliberately slowed down as I came toward the finale. The writer’s style is so natural, flowing and so easy to read. Her knowledge of the area and the social history was extensive and leant an absolute realism to the story. I love historical novels, but most importantly I love historical novels with a purpose and a message for us in today’s world. This book truly does that, with its simple, yet profound comments on what constitutes a “life well lived”. I can’t recommend this story enough – it’s an absolute winner.

Go take a look at Laurel's Choices, here on Exie Wilde Henson's Amazon page:

blood ties (noble of blood #2) by a.l. Wright

27/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nikkola is a Noble Princess, but she understands little of that, she only knows what her father Dartein has told her of her heritage and the life she was born into when her father fled the palace nineteen years earlier to escape the terrible grief of her mother’s death giving birth to her. Nikkola understands she is special and has magical powers but is loath to share this knowledge with her father or her protector, her father’s best friend Victor. Blood Ties: Noble of Blood Book 2 by Alicia Lynn Wright presents us with a fantasy world where the immortal nobles are charged with protecting and saving the humans from the predation of marauding goblins. Thousands of years ago, three warlocks led by Nikkola’s grandfather, The Patriarch, believed they had destroyed the goblins and their evil leader for good, but it appears the goblins are now re-gathering to strike again and Dartein must reconcile with his father, join forces with him and the other two warlocks to defeat the goblins again. Nikkola must learn and understand the powers she has been born with in order to fulfil the prophecy that she is the one who will save the world.

I found Blood Ties: Noble of Blood Book 2 to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. As a fantasy, it is short and as part of a series, does leave the reader hanging and thirsting for more knowledge and information, but nonetheless, the story holds together extremely well. Author Alicia Lynn Wright has created characters that are believable and easy to identify with. Even the immortal nobles are not immune to many of the flaws of humanity. The human girl, Friesa who becomes best friends with Nikkola adds a normality to the magical, immortal story, which I found refreshing. What I did particularly like, about this story, were the use of common and easily readable names, rather than the difficult to pronounce and to differentiate names, so many fantasy authors seem wont to use these days. The writer’s style is simple, straightforward and easy to read, which makes it so much more enjoyable and easy to follow. As a second book in a series and despite not having read the first book, I could quickly grasp and follow the story and its history with excellent references to the past scattered throughout the tale, by Wright. I would happily read book three now, to see where the battle against the evil Deep Dweller heads, for these characters.

You can find Blood Ties: Noble of Blood #2, here on A.L. Wrights Amazon page:

stolen: a kieran yeats mystery by linda j wright

25/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Stolen: A Kieran Yeats Mystery by Linda J Wright takes us to Vancouver Island, off the coast of Canada, where former crown prosecutor and poet aficionado, Kieran Yeats now lives with her two cats, Trey and Vlad. A passionate animal lover and disillusioned with the law, especially as it relates to animal cruelty matters, Kieran quit her job in Toronto and moved to Vancouver Island where she now operates a private detective agency specialising in animal crime and animal cruelty issues. When her distraught, thirteen-year-old god-daughter, Jen comes to her and begs her to help find some stolen, very expensive, Bengal cats, she was babysitting at a cattery, Kieran has to pull herself out from her annual funk and try to help her. What she discovers is that not only have the Bengal cats been stolen, but a whole raft of neighbourhood pets have also gone missing. Clearly it is the work of evil “bunchers” who steal animals, to order, for research at Universities, Government laboratories and private labs. Kieran is determined to bring these “bunchers” to heel, but she is also weighed down by her own personal issues and the expectations of so many lonely, lost neighbours, who are mourning the loss of their beloved family members; their pets.

This story, for me, was unique in that it focuses on an area I have read little about in the past. That in itself was interesting – who knew there were PI’s specialising in animal cases? Linda J Wright is as clearly as passionate and as concerned about animal rights and welfare issues as her fictional heroine, Kieran Yeats and that passion shows through in her writing. Stolen: A Kieran Yeats Mystery was a wonderfully easy read and one I quickly got caught up in. The characters were all sharply defined and it was easy to identify, to empathise, and to root, for all of them, especially the young child known only as “Trouble”. The author used the story to raise awareness of the need for more protection for animals, under law, in Canada and I am always impressed, as a reader, when social issues are able to be promoted in fiction, without drawing away from the enjoyment of the story and this author does it extremely well. I’m unsure if this was a debut novel by this author, but I am certain she has found a niche market for her books and especially her heroine, the flawed, but good-hearted, Kieran Yeats. I look forward to more adventures from her. This is a highly-readable and fascinating story that I recommend to all.

You can find Stolen: A Kieran Yeats Mystery, by Linda J Wright, here on Amazon:

brandenburg: a story of berlin by james cloud

20/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Brandenburg: A Story of Berlin by James Cloud takes us on a journey through the Germany of the early twentieth Century, through the eyes of some ordinary and not so ordinary Berliners. Beginning with the declaration of WWI by Kaiser Wilhelm, we travel through the false bravado and patriotism of a nation at war to explore the horrors and senselessness of the killing fields of Ypres, The Somme and Passchendaele. With the war and the deprivations it brought, almost over, the people of Germany must then face, along with the rest of the world, the ravages of the Spanish Flu. What follows, is the constraints of the Treaty of Versailles, the incredible hyper-inflation of the early twenties, five years of relative prosperity to be followed by the share-market crash of 1929 and the perfect storm that would see the rise, in Germany, of two competing ideologies, Communism and its vicious and violent enemy, Nazism and Adolf Hitler. Through the eyes of a young Prussian aristocrat and his beautiful Jewish wife, along with their best friends, a working-class girl and her farming-stock husband, the author examines the class structures and the political pressures that were exerted on Germany during this period that would lead to one of the darkest times in world history.

I particularly enjoyed this simple, story of love and family; Brandenburg: A Story of Berlin by James Cloud is set against the momentous event of the first third of the twentieth Century. The author clearly is well versed in the city of Berlin and its history. I really appreciated his main characters that represented all stratum of German society. In Herbert, we could see the young, liberal, Prussian aristocrat who wanted to go his own way and saw nothing unusual or wrong in falling in love and marrying a rich, young Jewess. That their best friends should be from a working-class and a rural background provided a wonderful counterpoint to the political turmoil that was happening all around them. That their families were able to generally reconcile and accept the breaking down of class, religious and political barriers within German society, was well expressed by the author. This book did a wonderful job, for me, in laying the groundwork for what was soon to plunge Germany and the world into further chaos, as Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933. That this story ended there gives me hope that there is a sequel coming, as I for one am excited to find out what happens to this diverse range of characters as Nazism takes over and dominates Germany for the next ten plus years. I highly recommended this read to all historical fiction buffs and readers in general.

You can find Brandenburg: A Story of Berlin, here on James Cloud's Amazon page:

death at crooked creek (jessie o'bourne art mysteries book 2) by mary ann cherry

16/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When Jessie O’Bourne is asked to stand in, at the last minute for an indisposed friend, as guest artist at the annual Crooked Creek Art Expo in Montana, she is thrilled to do so. Travelling in her beloved RV, she’s nicknamed Hawk, along with her ‘ornery, ginger tom cat, the King Jack Dempsey, she is excited about the opportunity to present her work, run some workshops, and possibly sell some of her paintings at the Expo. Although she lives and paints in Santa Fe, these days, Jessie is a born and bred Montanan, coming from just up the road from Crooked Creek, in Sage Bluff. She knows she will run into many old friends at the expo, both from Montana, as well as among the group of fellow artists who tour the Art Expos of the Mid-west, as part of their business. What she doesn’t expect is that she will be caught up in a murder-mystery that just gets deeper and odder, the further she delves into it. This is the scenario Mary Ann Cherry presents us, the readers, with, in her murder mystery, Death at Crooked Creek. Currently sworn off men, after a messy encounter with FBI Agent, Grant Kennedy and a difficult breakup with her childhood sweetheart, Russell Bonham, now sheriff of Sage Bluff, Jessie certainly does not expects the romance that comes her way in this story, either.

I’ve read a few murder mysteries in my time, but few of them have been as cleverly crafted, with as many red-herrings thrown in, as this story, Death at Crooked Creek, by Mary Ann Cherry. This is superbly written, with as plot that takes you on twists and turns you don’t expect and leaves you guessing, or even better makes you think you know, “whodunit” before the actual reveal. I loved the artistic setting of the story and the fact that the author, an artist of note herself, was able to inject her knowledge into the story naturally and without artifice. As someone who struggles to draw a stick-figure, I could really appreciate the skill and artistry of the characters, described in the story. The book is so easy to read that I just kept going, effectively finishing the story in one long sitting. I’ve never read any of this author’s work before, but this book has definitely awakened my interest in her writing and I will be checking out what else she has published. I cannot pay this author any higher compliment than to say, I want to read more about Jessie O’Bourne’s crime-solving adventures. I note there are currently two Jessie O’Bourne books in the marketplace and I can only hope there are more on the way. A highly-recommended read.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Death at Crooked Creek on Mary Ann Cherry's Amazon page:

into the hearth: poems volume 14 by wendy e. slater

13/8/2018

How often do we hear people say, "oh, well, I'm not really a poetry person". I know I've said that myself on occasions, but one thing I do like to do, as a reader and as a reviewer is dip my toes into genres and areas that I would not normally choose. To me, this is one of the greatest joys of reading; to move outside your comfort zone and read something that is unusual, challenging and different to you.

As an author, I've always had a quiet respect for poets and their ability to play with word and evoke feelings and reactions with minimal word usage. I often refer to poets as wordsmiths, simply because they are able to create such intense emotions by manipulating words in such a way as to touch us deeply. Certainly Wendy Slater has that ability. This collection of what are generally short and pithy poems, take us on a journey, a journey of self-discovery and a journey of questioning what it true and what is important in our lives. I will attest that some of her poems went over my head, somewhat, but I suspect what is required here is a thorough re-reading of the material to garner what is there, for me personally.

As with any collection of poems, there are some that stood out and gripped me instantly. Unlike most poetry collections, Slater's works are unnamed, just delineated by numbers, and often one poem or the essence of the idea would flow into the next. Three poems that really stood out for me, among many, were: 1/ Number 1419, a gentle reminder that we are all one, all the same under heaven and earth, regardless of who we are and that we can all reside in peace. 2/ Number 1426, a poem that took me on a journey through life and that described for me perfectly the pitfalls and pleasures to be discovered along the way, as we finally come to the realisation of life's purpose. 3/ Also, number 1465, which although short spoke of the family and the importance of being together.

This is a selection of poetry that flows, with an unending rhythm that will speak something different to each person that reads it and even something different each time you read it, again. I suspect this is a book that is worth going back time and time again to browse as you will get something new and meaningful from it, each time.

You can check out Into the Hearth along with the rest of Wendy E. Slater's works here on her Amazon page:

a rubber face with a stripper's name by katja berg

13/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Katja Berg is your average, every-day, solo-mum who has gone through the trials and tribulations of falling in love with the wrong person and being left saddled with two children and a mountain of debts by her wastrel partner. A Rubber Face with a Stripper’s Name is her poignant story of her struggle to cope with the pressures of everyday life that being left in that situation can put on you. Born and raised in Denmark, Katja emigrated to Britain when she was eighteen and followed her love of flowers into opening up her own floral shop in Richmond, London. The birth of her twins Pepper and Magnus and the realisation that her partner and “soul-mate” Casper was a cheat, a liar, and a thief from their own savings and business, meant she had to face the dilemma of debt collectors, bailiffs and family court, while still trying to bring a sense of normalcy to her children’s lives and somehow find her own inner peace. We follow Katja as she attempts to navigate the judgements of other parents, family and friends whilst still trying to find her own happiness again, in the world of being a single mother.

It is true what they say that the best memoirs are often those of ordinary people, just like ourselves. We can all find something to identify with, in Katja Berg’s emotional and at times heart-wrenching story of love, loss and friendship. As a solo-father myself (for a period) I could readily identify with the struggles she went through. Berg said she wrote A Rubber Face with a Strippers Name to reach out to all solo-mums and tell them one simple thing; “you are not alone”. I think there is something in this simple story for any reader to extract. The essence that came across the most, to me, from Berg’s story was simply; friendship is something that must be treasured and it is not our right to judge anyone for their choices in life. We have no comprehension of the road they are walking and all we need do for our friends is be supportive, be there and listen – but don’t judge. The writing is clear, simple and to the point, with no restraint on language. There is no attempt to varnish the truth or hide from her own shortcomings. Berg understands that both parties in a relationship are responsible for the growth and development of their partnership. I thoroughly enjoyed this simple read and took much from the author’s perspective on life.

You can find A Rubber Face with a Stripper's Name, here, on Katja Berg's Amazon page:

the lazarus continuum (resurrection chronicles #2) by ken fry

13/8/2018

As regular readers of my reviews will know, I am a big fan of Ken Fry's novels, especially those with a religious conspiracy twist and The Lazarus Continuum is a continuation of that fine tradition of his. A sequel to Fry's acclaimed The Lazarus Succession, this book finds its target with unerring accuracy. The important thing for me, as a reader, is that a sequel must build on the original, develop the story and move on, into different areas of exploration. The Lazarus Continuum does exactly that, whilst still keeping many of the characters that we met and fell in love with, in The Lazarus Succession.

You don't have to have read the first book, to enjoy this, as it is a standalone story and the author does an exceptional job at dropping little gems into the story to explain the backstory from the first book. That having been said, I would still recommend reading the Lazarus Succession first, if for no other reason than it is a superb story, by the incomparable Ken Fry. When it comes to religious icons and fantastical religious conspiracy theories, I have found none better in the genre than Fry. What makes this author stand out more than most is his innate ability to make the reader believe the unbelievable and the mystical. By the end of the book, nothing surprises you, as a reader, and you just accept the fantastic, as being merely normal and expected. This is the mark of a superb author and Ken Fry is one of those.

In this story, our heroes from the first book, Brodie and Ulla are still present, but the mantle is picked up by their daughter, Martha. The healing Lazarus painting has resided for many years now in a Monastery in Spain, guarded by Abbot Louis and Brodie himself, as Brother Baez. The legend of the powers of the painting has resurfaced though and this time, two unscrupulous rogues are determined to get their hands on it. One, Silas Shepherd, a typical American Super Church pastor has dreams of immense power and immense wealth when he has this miraculous religious icon in his hands and he controls the greatest church in the world, that he will found, The Church of the Lazacrucians. The other, a ruthless, casino owner, billionaire, John D Bower, who dreams of the immense wealth the painting can bring him. They will join forces to hunt down the Lazarus painting and it will be all hands on deck for those that must protect it from the usurpers.

As always, in Fry's novels, the action is fast-paced and exciting. I read the book, essentially in one sitting and cliched as it may be, I found it impossible to put it down. The Lazarus Continuum just adds to the already magnificent body of work in the area of religious conspiracy theories by this author. I, for one, wait with bated breath to see what his next contribution will be. Fry is an author par excellence and right at the top of the "Indie Author Tree" in my opinion. This is not to be missed - a "must read".

Absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and check out The Lazarus Continuum, along with all of Ken Fry's amazing works, on his author page. I can guarantee you there is not a dud among them and I've read them all.

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