GRANT LEISHMAN - BOOK REVIEWS

vampire landlord by glenn stevens

17/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When College student, Lori discovers her best friend Vickie is missing, she goes in search of her. In Vampire Landlord, author Glenn Stevens brings us a short story set to chill the bones. Vickie's old landlord has no idea where she has gone and is so incensed at her leaving without notice he presents Lori with a bill for rent arrears to give to her friend. When Lori finally does track Vickie down, she discovers her friend has literally fallen on her feet, moving into a swank apartment, rent free, with her new landlord also helping her with school expenses and providing lots of extra luxury accessories for the young woman. There has to be a catch, right? Of course there is and some unexplained bite marks on Vickie's neck, her general malaise and the odd appearance of Vickie's new landlord, Annette, tell Lori that everything is perhaps not as wonderful as Vickie makes it out to be. What have the two friends walked into, here?

Vampire Landlord by Glenn Stevens is a quick, pithy read that can be navigated in just over an hour, or so. If you are looking for a vampire story, with a difference and with some cunning twists, this may well be the perfect story for you. The brevity of the story didn't really allow time for the characters to be fully developed. The Landlord Annette was fascinating and the character showed a ton of potential. The author's style is relaxed and conversational, making the read quick and easy but I still felt there was room for more meat on the bones of the story. That having been said, in the context of a short story in this genre it was both satisfying and easily consumed. I particularly enjoyed the freezer room attached to Annette's bedroom and would have loved the author to explore that more fully. If you are looking for a quick, easy read in the vampiric genre, this book will definitely suit your needs.

You can find Vampire Landlord, along with the rest of Glenn Stevens' other works, here on his Amazon page:

devil's claim by dariel raye & muffy wilson

17/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Even as a child Katala felt a deep attraction to David Stringfellow, one she neither understood nor indeed, knew what to do about. Despite the pair hardly ever seeing each other after their childhood both still retained the memory of their deep affection and attraction. When David’s father dies and leaves his immense wealth to his only son, the will has some strange stipulations that will forever change the lives of Katala and David. In Devil’s Claim, authors Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson bring us a tale that spans the generations and cultures. They take us back to the old west, where Native American’s are being forced from their land and African-American’s, even the free ones, are consistently captured, rounded-up and forced back into slavery and subjugation. David and Katala’s forebears set in motion a chain of events that will see a curse follow the Stringfellow clan down the generations until the present day. Can David and Katala finally break this horrific curse that has held his line in its thrall for so many years?

Devil’s Claim was a veritable romp through so many different and new ideas; black magic, curses, witchcraft, Native American traditions and customs, spirits, and demons. Author’s Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson have crafted a wonderful romance that links Karma across the generations and requires the two main characters to break the Karmic cycle somehow. Although in its early chapters the story felt slightly disjointed and as a reader I struggled to come to terms with the connections and more importantly the effects of the Karmic events, through the ages, the more I read, the more entranced I became, with the story. Both Katala and David were wonderfully drawn characters who exhibited the difficulties and challenges of different cultural histories living together, in harmony, in the 21st Century. The clash of their cultures and beliefs with modern life was one of the keys to the success of the story. This certainly isn’t a book for the young and the relationship scenes between the two were exciting, frank, and hot, without crossing that invisible line into smut. The sex scenes were intrinsic to the understanding of the depth of their relationship across the generations and were beautifully handled by the authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and if a love story with an esoteric and magical background is your thing, you will love it too. I’ll give big “up’s” to these two authors.

You can find Devil's Claim along with a ghost of other good reading here on Dariel Raye's Amazon page:

silent spring: deadly autumn of the vietnam war by patrick hogan

5/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War by Patrick Hogan is a highly personal and technical examination of the dangers faced by “boots on the ground” veterans in Vietnam, not from the enemy, the North Vietnamese, but rather from their own Government who systematically and regularly sprayed them with a deadly cocktail of herbicides and insecticides that would have devastating effects on the veterans’ own health over the next fifty-odd years but perhaps even more importantly on the health of their children, their grandchildren and perhaps generations yet unborn. Hogan details, in a ordered and scientific manner the many chemicals and chemical cocktails he and his fellow veterans were exposed to on a regular basis. Although Agent Orange is probably “the face” of the Vietnam veterans’ exposure to herbicides, the author details the many different and varied deadly chemicals they were subjected to. He also reviews the duplicity and intransigence of the Federal Government in dealing with their responsibilities to the veterans for this mistreatment. Equally he highlights the almost criminal manner in which the multi-national chemical companies were and still are allowed to produce such lethal concoctions for both military and civilian uses.

This book was something of an eye-opener for me. As a non-American reader I was aware of the use of Agent Orange that both affected US soldiers as well as others from the international forces stationed in Vietnam, however the sheer volume and persistence with which these cocktails of chemicals were systematically delivered to the Vietnamese and the soldiers was frankly horrifying. The intransigence of the Government to accept responsibility for their actions was and is reprehensible. The adage of “delay and obfuscate until they have all died,” does indeed seem to be the guiding principle of successive DVA (Department of Veteran Affairs) administrations. I found the book compelling and readable despite its, at times, highly scientific language. Even the layman can understand the intense toxicity of some of these chemical given Patrick Hogan’s analogies. Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War is a chilling reminder of just how easy it is for Government to lose sight of protection of their own troops when waging “all-out” war on their enemy. I realise this was written solely from a US Veteran’s perspective and naturally focused on their health problems and difficulties getting resolution, but as a non-American reader two things that were only briefly mentioned, struck me forcefully. Were the US guilty of war-crimes by spraying such a toxic mix of chemicals on what was essentially a civilian population? Sarin gas may kill quicker, as used by Saddam Hussein on his own people, but one can’t help but wonder what long-term effects this program has had on the health and future genetic stability of the Vietnamese population. This is a thought-provoking and at times anger-provoking read. Thank you to the author for putting such a complicated issue into terms we can all understand.

You can find, Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War, here on Patrick Hogan's Amazon page:

roam by erik therme

3/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Roam by Erik Therme is a young adult novel that explores the themes of young adult angst, social awkwardness and the ever-present threat of violence and danger. Sarah is celebrating her twenty-first birthday with her boyfriend Matt. It was supposed to be the perfect day for her, but when Matt gets horribly drunk and their car breaks down on a deserted road, Matt's lowered inhibitions bring out the latent violence inside him, which scares Sarah deeply. Deciding to walk the ten miles back to town, she is picked up by two teenagers, who seem nice but still, she is worried about her safety. In a fit of anger with her mother, Sarah decides to seek her childhood friend, Scotty, in a nearby town for solace. Things are about to get ugly for Sarah, her new, shy, socially inept friend Kevin and all those around her. Will Sarah make twenty-one years and one day and will her life be forever changed by this chance encounter?

I found Roam to be an extremely readable and comfortable story. Author Erik Therme has brought us characters we can all identify with as readers; the 'beautiful without realizing it' Sarah, the overbearing, possessive, drunken and entitled boyfriend, the lost soul who doesn't really know what he wants from life, and the shy teenage boy whose greatest desire is just to get out of this hick town and make his name as a writer. I enjoyed the story and the subtle plot twists from time to time. The author gave me many "aha" moments as I remembered my own troubled and angst-ridden young adult years from long ago. This is a character-driven story more than anything and the author has done a great job at developing them. The ending was a little predictable but that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. In summary, a good, solid exploration of young persons' psyche.

You can find Roam, plus the rest of Erik Therme's work, here on his Amazon page:

fear justice (the fear chronicles book 1) by C.C. Bolick

29/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) brings us a fast-paced, young adult, spy thriller from the pen of C. C. Bolick. Seventeen-year-old Rena Mason has one thing on her mind; graduating her senior year at high-school, getting a full scholarship so she can study aeronautical engineering and most of all, getting out of the hick Florida town she has lived in since she was six-years-old. Rena used to love their life there but all that changed three years ago when they were involved in a car accident that saw Rena’s beloved mother killed. With her father taking to the bottle, Rena was forced to grow up way too soon and assume full responsibility for looking after her little brother. Little did Rena realise the appearance of a new boy at school would change her life forever. When her father is kidnapped by terrorists, Rena needs to confront the idea that her father had a secret existence and life before they moved to their tiny trailer-home in their small town. When it seems the terrorists are actually after her, Rena starts to understand that she may be much more than she originally thought, also and that her mother might not have been just the loving housewife and mother she had always known and missed every single day since her death.

C. C. Bolick has produced an extremely readable and exciting action thriller that is tailor-made for the young adult audience it is undoubtedly aimed at. Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) is doubtless the start of what promises to be an exciting series featuring these young “secret agents”. I would probably describe best this story, as a cross between Men in Black and X-Men. The idea of a super-secret government agency tasked with dealing with aliens and those humans with enhanced powers, either genetically received or by accident is certainly one that has been done before but I found Bolick’s slant on the story to be refreshing and novel. I particularly liked the developing relationship between Rena and Travis. The idea that they are falling for each other and yet are not able to actually touch each other; skin to skin, is intriguing and opens up all sorts of possible story arcs in the next book in the series. I also found the “super power” attributed to Rena to be odd and unusual enough to lift the story above the run-of-the-mill young adult thrillers. Rena is a superb character with strength and vulnerability that shines through in every page. If you like action-packed, aliens, paranormal, and a whole helping of romance, this is definitely the book and series for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am about as far from a young adult as it’s possible to get.

You can find Fear Justice here on C. C. Bolick's Amazon page, along with the rest of her extensive portfolio:

changing angels by julie elizabeth powell

24/4/2019

Changing Angels from Julie Elizabeth Powell was a warm, romantic, change of pace for me. I found the story of two star-crossed lovers who somehow just missed each other quite touching.
Jake came from an abusive home where he was treated like garbage by both his parents and even his older siblings. He left home to escape from the pain as soon as he was able and although he flirted around the edges of the law, he always had a strong moral compass that kept him roughly on the straight and narrow and at least out of serious trouble. A chance encounter with a young girl on a bus would leave Jake and the girl, Faith, with the belief there was something destined for them both, together.
Faith's life was thrown into disarray when her beloved father died and her mother remarried a wealthy businessman, which gave them the security they needed but it also gave faith a step-brother she could well do without. Faith knew Lawrence was evil and had designs on much more than brotherly love, so was relieved when her mother sent her away to boarding school.
Jake and Faith briefly reconnect while she is at boarding school but when Faith mysteriously disappears one day, they are again torn apart. Despite the years that pass, Jake always believes he will find Faith again but will it all be too late for the lovers?
This was an enjoyable and satisfying read. I've been a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell for some time and this was the first non-fantasy book of hers I'd read. In some ways it reminded me of the emotions and angst in one of my own books and I certainly identified with that.
If you like a good, solid, story-line with real, strong characters both male and female, I'm sure you'll love this and if you're a hopeless romantic, like me, I know you will. An excellent read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find all of Julie Elizabeth Powell's wonderful books, including Changing Angels, here on her Amazon page:

karrin: warrior woman (Excalibur saga book 4) by sahara foley

24/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In this, the fourth book of Karrin: Warrior Woman, Excalibur Saga, by Sahara Foley, we find human Karrin, alone, abandoned on the planet Switch, with only her two-tailed, monkey-like friend Brownie for company. Karrin has been alone ever since her rescuer, hero, and true love Ispepyein leader, Lurga Pukani had seemingly abandoned her some three years earlier. When Brownie continually disappears from time to time and returns with “gifts” for Karrin, she is intrigued as to where they come from. Following Brownie on one of his sorties, Karrin discovers the massive wreck of a cargo ship. Discovering nobody aboard except the ship’s artificial intelligence along with a cargo of a powerful, radioactive silver substance, she discovers that the Calens are coming for her and intend to destroy her. Regaining her Ispepyein Warrior Child mantle and her confidence, Karrin is determined to fight to the end like a true Ispepyein Warrior. She may die but she will take as many of them with her as she can. So begins an adventure through the galaxies, the Universes and the dimensions that will see Karrin and her forebears locked in a battle for survival for not just themselves, or their species, but for the whole of their Universe.

I like my Science Fiction to be less technically driven and more emotionally driven. Karrin: Warrior Woman, Excalibur Saga Book 4, is just such a character driven story. Sahara Foley has written a tale of adventure, love and survival that transcends the setting of Science Fiction. The author introduces some weird and wonderful creatures into her world but always underlying everything is the deep love and affection between the characters, despite their many physical and emotional differences. I think I was particularly drawn to this story as it used the notion of panspermia (seeding of life) as one of the basic precepts of the story. I love the idea that perhaps all life in the Universe has originally come from some powerful, supreme race that has seeded the galaxies and created many diverse and fascinating life-forms – humanity included. I particularly loved the relationships developed and nurtured in this story, especially between former enemies and also between races seemingly so different yet still capable of feeling powerful and abiding love for each other. I haven’t read any of the earlier books in this series but that wasn’t necessary. The author was extremely adept at dropping gems of information into the narrative that explained what had gone before and why a character now reacted the way he/she did. This was a wonderful read and one I can highly recommend not only to all Science Fiction fans but also to a wider audience. Ultimately it is a beautiful love story that happens to be set among the glories of the Universe.

You can find the entire Excalibur series here, along with all of her work, on Sahara Foley's Amazon page:

out of thin air (hidden Hearts #11) by Mary crawford

21/4/2019

Opening a new Mary Crawford book, whether it be from the Hidden Beauty or Hidden Hearts series is, for me, like coming home to my family and friends. The many and varied characters that Crawford has brought into my reading life over the years are a part of me now. It is true that not all the characters pop up in every book, but enough of them do to provide that continuity and comfort that is so much a part of Crawford's work, for me, as a reader.
Out of Thin Air, her latest Hidden Hearts book is no exception. This story of Dylan and Lauren's love affair and story is a little darker than some of her earlier works but, as always, Crawford's ability to show the deep humanity and also the angst of her characters shines through. Dylan is a Florida police detective who is young and successful at his job. He is committed to his role in society of putting away the "bad guys", often to the detriment of his personal life. Dylan's success leads to his appointment as the leader of a task-force to investigate cold cases where children went missing and to try to discover what happened to them and if, perhaps, they are still alive somewhere.
Lauren was only six when her nine-year-old sister disappeared, some twenty-odd years ago. Lauren and April were just playing outside and one moment April was there, the next she was gone. For the next twenty years Lauren's mother played the role of the victim to perfection often blaming Lauren for her sister's disappearance and even suspecting the little six-year-old of somehow being involved. When Lauren's beloved father committed suicide just three years after April's disappearance, Lauren was left alone to suffer her mother's hateful and spiteful invective. Now twenty-nine, Lauren still lives with her mother and although she is a relatively successful businesswoman she is beset by doubts, insecurities and is subject to panic attacks.
When April's disappearance becomes Dylan's first cold-case to investigate, the emotions and the attraction between him and Lauren is obvious but how can Dylan separate his emotions from his job that may eventually lead to the knowledge that Lauren's beloved sister is actually dead.
Like all Crawford's works, I loved this story and appreciated the fact that the author was delving a little deeper into her character's psyches. This was a wonderful story that I was instantly caught up in and invested in. Crawford has a writing style that is simple, unpretentious and extremely readable.
I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves good, honest romance with characters that are both very human and flawed. Another absolute winner from my "go to" author when I need some reassurance that there is something special about humanity. Thank you Mary for reminding us that flawed as we may be, we are all capable of great warmth, great love and great compassion.

You can take a look at Out of Thin Air plus all of Mary Crawford's extensive portfolio, here on her Amazon page.

deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1) by karen janowsky

21/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As they say… “…and now for something completely different.” That is exactly what Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory by Karen Janowsky, brought me. This book took me completely by surprise with both its premise and its development. Major Daniel Hecht was somewhat of an enigma. A sickly, weak, American Jew who was captured by the Nazis in 1938, Daniel was subjected to horrific experiments by the Nazi overlords who were working on a formula to make the “perfect” soldier. When Daniel was finally freed by a group of partisans, he was used and abused by the American armed services for his special abilities. Then, right in the middle of the war something odd happened and Daniel was thrust through time to 2012 where he was again recruited by an organisation who wanted to use his special talents along with some other “super heroes” to keep the forces of evil at bay. When Daniel, an awkward introvert meets Nina, a new recruit, both instantly know there is something special between them. Despite neither having memories of the event, they are sure they have always known each other, and that there is a special bond between them. Daniel, Nina and the rest of the rag-tag super heroes set about to try to stop the collection of ancient artefacts that together could create a super weapon for the forces of evil.

I absolutely loved this book. The premise was so outlandish and the story so personal and real you, as a reader, could not help being drawn into the jumbled world of Daniel and Nina. Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory is an enigma in itself. Somehow author Karen Janowsky has managed to combine an action-packed narrative of super-heroes with a sweet, beautiful love story that plays out between Daniel and Nina. Both characters are so incredibly naïve as to the ways of the world that at times you really want to shout at them… “for God’s sake, just do it.” The writing style is relaxed and comfortable. I was able to read this book in a single setting. It is one of those stories you just simply cannot put down because you are always searching for the next step, the next move in the relationship. The erotic writing in the book is a very small part, but an extremely powerful part. I felt the author handled these scenes with such tenderness and care that it was an absolute pleasure to read. If you love good Science Fiction or Fantasy with plenty of twists and turns, or if you just love a ripping good adventure yarn with plenty of romance, you will love this book. I did and I can highly recommend it.

You can take a look at Deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1), here on Karen Janowsky's Amazon page:

Rational Religion (The Mystery of Freemasonry and the Quest to find the Jesus of History) by Tony Sunderland

18/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rational Religion: The Mystery of Freemasonry and the Quest to Find the Jesus of History takes us on a journey through time, back even past the birth of Jesus to the time when man first began to gather together in communities and to question their place in the Universe. Author Tony Sunderland has approached the subject from the beginning precepts of Freemasonry and his knowledge and understanding of the craft. He takes us through the basic concept of pantheism that predicates Freemasonry and the idea that this is an organisation of secrecy and development designed for the individual to discover enlightenment personally through following levels of study and to awaken the spark of the divine that is believed, by the Freemasons, to be a part of us all. We then travel back to the dawn of civilisation to examine the ideas and philosophies that governed ancient groupings of humanity, including the two most influential of them all; the Egyptians and the Greeks. The author then examines the greatest religion of the past two millennium, that of Christianity. He looks to the bible and to other historical sources to try to understand who Jesus was and what his place was in contemporary Jewish society of the time. Unlike many works, the author focuses on the human, Jewish, Jesus as opposed to the divine, Messianic, Jesus.

I love books that challenge established precepts and that investigate what often seems to be the impossible and Rational Religion: The Mystery of Freemasonry and the Quest to Find the Jesus of History does exactly that. Firstly Author Tony Sunderland’s exposition on the origins and purposes of Freemasonry was fascinating. As a former member of a Druidic Order, I had often wondered about the mysterious nature of Freemasonry and of course had always heard of the “conspiracy theories” regarding the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the Catholic Church, so I did find his simple explanations fascinating, even if he was still unwilling to divulge too many of the secrets of the Order. Secondly the honest attempt to discover the real, human, Jewish, Jesus was enlightening on its own. I was enthralled with his attempts to draw a possible relationship between the Jewish Jesus and the isolationist Jewish sect of Qumran, from where we received the Dead Sea Scrolls. This was, for me, riveting reading. His comparison between the mind-set of the Jewish people in 70CE, before the destruction of the second Temple and that of people today was simply chilling, frighteningly realistic and perhaps even prophetic. The only thing missing from this exposition, I felt, was some nod to the concepts of “New-Age thought”, as expressed by the likes of Prentice Mulford and Joseph Campbell. The idea of divinity being inside of every human is central to this movement. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating and very readable book that I highly recommend anyone who has ever asked the question, “why”, reads.

You can find Rational Religion, along with the rest of Tony Sunderland's portfolio, here on his Amazon page:

don't expect me to cry: refusing to let childhood sexual abuse steal my life by janet bentley

11/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nobody who has not experienced child sexual abuse could possibly understand the immense pain and self-loathing that such a person experiences in later life. This is perfectly illustrated to us in Janet Bentley’s heart-rending and powerful memoir, Don’t Expect Me To Cry: Refusing to let Childhood Sexual Abuse Steal My Life. Bentley takes us expertly through the trauma that first occurred when she was just four-years-old and the one man who was supposed to be her protector and guide in life became instead an evil monster when he forced her into sexual acts of which she had no understanding and would scar her for the rest of her life. Janet faced multiple abusers apart from her own father, over the years but always, despite the pain, the depression, the addictions to alcohol and prescription medicine, the teenage abortions and not to mention a physically bereft marriage, she somehow managed to rise above it all and take control of her life – a control she had so cruelly been denied as a child. Although her childhood sexual abuse was an integral part of everything she suffered through later in life she was equally determined that it would not be the defining feature of her existence. She always sought the professional help she needed and even when that wasn’t to her advantage, she never gave up.

Few books have touched me, as a father and a grandfather, as Don’t Expect me to Cry: Refusing to let Childhood Sexual Abuse Steal My Life, by Janet Bentley’s did. As a man it is sometimes easy to gloss over the horrific effects of child abuse on the young person. “It was ages ago – just let it go and move on,” is often our response to such things. What the author shows us, so powerfully and so heart-breakingly is that it is just not that simple. What happens to a child, at that tender age, when they are so ruthlessly exploited and used by adults who they implicitly trust and believe in is that it develops incredibly forceful defence mechanisms in their brains that set the tone for their lives. As Bentley so beautifully explained, it takes years of therapy and understanding just to bring these memories back to the surface and to address them. What particularly struck me about the author’s story was her willingness and acceptance that what happened to her as a child had shaped everything she was today and could never be totally dismissed or dealt with – it would always be there but her bravery in facing this trauma head-on and her overwhelming determination to not let it define every moment of her adult life, shone through the narrative. I was deeply moved by this story and can only encourage everyone to read it and to realise that not only is this type of abuse more prevalent than we would care to admit, it is not something that can just be swept under the rug and ignored. Dirty, filthy, disgusting behaviour can only be eradicated when the light of love and forgiveness is shone upon it and it is shown to be the depraved act that it really is. A superb book and an incredibly brave woman – I salute you, Janet Bentley.

You can find this incredible book: Don't Expect Me To Cry by Janet Bentley, here on Amazon:

ellie everlasting by isabel scheck

8/4/2019

Reviewed For Reader's Favorite by Grant Leishman

Have you ever wondered if fairy tales could possibly be true? Well, Author Isabel Scheck clearly has and in her novel, Ellie Everlasting, she brings to life the story of Peter Pan and Neverland. When the teenage Ellie Parker is brutally murdered by her girlfriend Olivia’s brother, Owen, everything changes for them. Ellie’s young brother sees the murder and is deeply traumatised by it. Apparently, though, Heaven is full and Ellie (a life-long fan of the Peter Pan story) finds herself waking up, not in Heaven, but in Neverland. All the usual suspects are there; Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, the Evil Henry Hook as well as all the lost girls and boys. For Ellie, her awakening in this magical place is more than just her personal fantasy come true, clearly something is amiss in both the real world and in Neverland and Ellie will be forced into a frantic race to save both, before calamity strikes. Able to view the happenings on earth through the Earthly Observatorium, Ellie watches her loved ones as they are increasingly beset by danger and trauma. Despite Ellie’s earthly commitment to her girlfriend Olivia, she finds herself deeply drawn to and attracted to Peter Pan. Can Ellie love a boy in the same way that she so deeply loved her beloved Olivia?

Ellie Everlasting is a young adult novel that takes a different tack to most. The idea of combining a fairy tale with real-life action and adventure is a good one and author Isobel Scheck does a great job of pulling it all together. Her ability to get inside a teenager’s mind and portray their angst so well along with her use of two young lesbian girls as the principal characters of the story was innovative and what lifted this story above its competitors. I particularly liked the dimensions the author built around the character of Henry Hook, a deeply flawed individual but also one who suffered from those perennial problems of loneliness and rejection that went in some way to understanding his glaring imperfections and rage at the world in general. The writing is simple and straightforward and the story easy to read. I particularly enjoyed the complications of Ellie’s relationship with Peter Pan and Olivia’s burgeoning relationship with Evangeline. Both gave the story more focus than your average young adult novel. This was an enjoyable and satisfying read and one I can recommend.

Ellie Everlasting is not yet available on Amazon, as an ebook, however you can find the hardcover version of it here:

the black widow connection (blue star book 1) by tk rising

3/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As a book reviewer, it’s not often I’m lost for words (in a good way, I hasten to add), but The Black Widow Connection (Blue Star Book 1) by TK Rising has had that distinct effect on me. What I thought was a simple story of an abused and beaten down, by society, woman, suddenly morphed into something totally different that threw me for six and had me thinking deeply about philosophical insights into our purpose of being. Tracy Kirin had a tough life. She was abused as a child, by her father and neglected by a mother who knew about the abuse and did nothing. She drifted through her life, forming only partially meaningful relationships, drifting from job to job, never really putting her roots down anywhere, always tormented by unexpected tragedies and weird dreams. She is determined not to repeat the sins of her parents but is unable to ever feel “at home” or “comfortable” anywhere – and then she dies. I’m not even going to hint at what happens to Tracy after she dies as I’d hate to spoil the surprise for future readers but suffice it to say, it surprised, shocked and stunned me.

The Black Widow Connection (Blue Star Book 1) is right up there among the oddest and yet strangely most satisfying books I’ve ever read. Author TK Rising’s imagination and interesting theories (if that’s what they are) make for fascinating reading in the second half of the book. The whole premise of the book turns upside down in part two of the story and it is that premise that makes this story such compelling reading. Having written off the character, Tracy, as a hopeless and incapable woman, suddenly the reader is introduced to a new woman, one who has the ability to make a massive difference in the future of humanity and life on earth. This juxtaposition between live Tracy and dead Tracy is what lifts this story out of its sad and listless beginnings. A very readable story suddenly becomes a totally compelling tale after 50% of the book is read. I salute the author’s bravery and note that this is merely the first of a series of Blue Star Books. I can only say, I am compelled to read on and see what happens next.

You can find The Black Widow Connection along with the rest of TK Rising's portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

until the ice cracks (the eldisvik novels book 1) by jan turk petrie

31/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Until The Ice Cracks brings us something a little different, in a police-style murder, mystery set in the Icelandic town of Eldisvik. Author Jan Turk Petrie takes us forward in time to 2068, where civil society has somewhat broken down and major cities like Eldisvik are sectioned off into different zones, depending on their safety for citizens. The orange, red and double-red zones are definitely not the place to be for sensible, law-abiding citizens. The red zones are patrolled by a mysterious group of special police, known as decoys. These decoys have had their DNA altered somewhat and are in command of special Fox Vixens who regard their human as their alpha. Little is known of the decoys but when one appears to go rogue, Inspector Nero Cavallo and his team must track down and destroy the rogue decoy before panic strikes the Free Zone. Cavallo is secretly a telepath, which gives him a distinct advantage in his detective work. Bruno Mastriano is also a telepath but he has been kidnapped by a ruthless gang determined to utilise his special powers to their advantage. With the Governor under immense pressure to achieve results, Cavallo must move quickly but it seems to Cavallo there is more going on here than just one rogue decoy.

Certainly, Until The Ice Cracks was a change of pace for me, as a reader. The exotic location of Iceland, with its short days and long, cold nights, if nothing else, made the story more interesting than your average futuristic police drama. Author Jan Turk Petrie clearly knows her Nordic setting well and the story is both realistic and believable. The various arcs weaved their way through the story well and the author did a good job of keeping them understandable and relatable. Despite being set forty-odd years into the future, the technology and science of the period was not greatly different from that of today, although definitely more advanced of where we are placed at present. In many ways the formal zones within Eldisvik are reminiscent of that which already exists within some of our inner cities. Clearly there are parts of the city that no law officer wants to patrol and when they are required to enter these zones, they do so fully equipped to handle anything. I found the story satisfying but the ending, which is a cliff-hanger and no doubts leads into the next book, less so. This is a personal choice thing. I know some readers like a cliff-hanger to excite them into their next purchase but personally I do prefer a conclusion, at the very least, to the arcs I have been following and invested in throughout the book. That being said, this is still a good, solid read and yes, I would like to read the next book so I can find out what happened.

You can find, Until The Ice Cracks, here on Jan Turk Petrie's Amazon page:

by force of circumstance (the chosen man trilogy book 3) by j. g. harlond

27/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author J G Harlond takes us back in time to 17th Century Europe, in her political thriller By Force of Circumstance (The Chosen Man Trilogy Book 3). Ludo Da Portavenere has certainly led an adventurous life. High-born, but illegitimate, Ludo has been a corsair, a merchant of spices and silks from the East, a Secret Agent and a Sea Captain, but one thing he has never been is anyone’s puppet. When a former nemesis, the Priest, Father Rogelio, forces him, under extreme duress, to participate in a scheme to get a hold of the English Crown Jewels, which the exiled Queen requires to sell, to help fund her husband’s civil-war against Cromwell and the Roundheads, excitement and danger is sure to follow. Trying to manoeuvre safely through the political machinations of 17th Century Europe was always fraught with danger and this particular exercise will test all of Ludo’s remarkable skills of evasion and chicanery. Reuniting with his former lover, Alina, the now widowed Baroness Metherall and his old partner Marco Alonso Almendro will ensure Ludo does not have to face the evil Rogelio alone but their presence also places additional burdens on him, burdens he would possibly rather not have.

By Force of Circumstance (The Chosen Man Trilogy Book 3) brings 17th Century Europe alive for the reader. I love it when an historical novel manages to teach, through its setting and characters something of the flavour of the time and events that we may have been unaware of. Author J G Harlond has certainly managed to achieve that in this exciting and intriguing tale. As a reader I was totally transported to the time, the sense of privilege felt by the aristocracy of the 1600’s, the courage of the men who sailed those tall ships halfway around the world in search of the elusive silks and spices, and the sheer level of chicanery, blatant arrogance, and self-service that epitomised the ruling classes and of course, the Vatican, at that time. The author’s research has, I’m sure, been extensive and as a history buff I am pleased by that. Although this is clearly the third book in this series, having not read either of the first two in no way diminishes the enjoyment of this story. The author made excellent moves to drop hints as to what had happened previously and why certain characters acted the way they did, based on the two earlier stories. I can highly recommend this read and can pay the author no greater compliment than to say I am motivated to go back and read books one and two of this trilogy.

You can find By Force of Circumstance here on J. G. Harlond's Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio:

last flocks of the geese by philip dodd

24/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Last Flocks of the Geese by Philip Dodd is a collection of verse that could possibly be described as both deeply diverse and eclectic. Dodd does not limit himself in his topics and ranges across various time-periods and historical characters seemingly randomly and yet it works well and runs together beautifully. Unlike many poetry collections which are brief and sometimes leave the reader feeling short-changed, Last flocks of the Geese is a substantial work with over as hundred and seventy individual pieces that vary from short and pithy to relatively long and thought-provoking. The author swings seamlessly from biblical characters such as David and Goliath or Noah, to explorers like Matthew Flinders, right through to Kafka, T.S. Elliot and Shakespeare. The overarching theme, it seemed to me was to both celebrate man’s ingenuity and achievement but also to shine a light on man’s folly and arrogance.
I think author Philip Dodd managed to tie together a disparate set of thoughts and verse extremely well in his collection Last flocks of the Geese. As with any collection of poems or stories, there are some that resonate more with me, as reader, than others. A couple of the poems that spoke to me the most were, the very first poem, which, perhaps especially today had a real meaning for me. The Healing of the Rift speaks of man’s eternal obsession with improving his lot in life by migration. It speaks of the dangers for the migrants as well as the fear migration raises in those whose lands are being infiltrated. The idea of one side building a bridge while on the other side they raised their weapons was so relevant in today’s world. I also particularly enjoyed on of the longer poems in the collection; The Life and Burial of Lizzie Siddal was an homage to an artist’s muse. I found this extremely poignant and moving. There were many others that caught my attention such as; Lament for the White Rhinoceros and Records in Your Room, which brought back memories of the sixties, for me. This is a satisfying read and if clear verse is your want, I know you will enjoy this collection.

You can find Last Flocks of the Geese here on Philip Dodd's Amazon page, along with the rest of his work:

handwritten tales: what is taboo by jim d buchanan

21/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Handwritten Tales: What is Taboo by Jim D Buchanan is a collection of some short and some not so short tales that seeks to explore the areas of life that we tend to ignore and pretend don’t exist – that we’d rather not talk about. The author wants us to consider the darker side of human nature, the evil that often exists in full view of us all, yet that many of us choose to ignore. He presents a litany of sometimes disgusting and sometimes sad tales that make us examine the motivation of humans and society. From the two boys who grew up surrounded by depravity and yet somehow survived a father that killed his entire family but would forever be haunted by survivor guilt and the belief that he could have done more to save his sister through to a young man who travels halfway around the world to search for his father in South East Asia and become caught up in the struggles of a foreign people against their ethnic and religious overlords, to a story of corporate greed, corruption and the deception of capitalism as a good for society, this book of short stories really does touch on the core essence of what it is to be human and what makes us tick.

I’m not usually a fan of short-story anthologies, as I often feel too much meat and character development is missed in the brief telling of a story, however, in Handwritten Tales: What is Taboo, author Jim D Buchanan really does break through the periphery to deeply dissect the human condition and expose it bare for us all to see. As with any anthology there are always stories that touch me more deeply than others or that I could call my favourites. This was no exception and two tales stood out in particular for me, as accurately portraying the sense of frustration and evil that exists in the world and our inability to do anything about it. Oklahoma Bypass allows the author to reflect on the contribution to the country of immigration and the positive effect immigrants have on the communities they are assimilated into. Given the current state of play in the US at present and the anti-immigrant rhetoric around the world, I found one simple passage to be very telling and moving: The main character is discussing his Oklahoma relatives and describes them as professional and practiced takers. He then compares that to your average immigrant who left owners and controllers behind to come here. The whole story was very telling to me. I also was moved by The Funeral, in which the main character recounts what it is like to attend a funeral where you are not wanted nor welcomed by the rest of the family – he does this in reference to his own Mother’s funeral. I found this whole story profound and moving. There are many more fascinating tales here that pithily sum up the human condition and both its best and its worst. I can highly recommend this read.

Handwritten Tales by Jim D. Buchanan is not yet available on Amazon, however, you can check out the author's full porfolio here, on his Amazon page:

conflict on the yangtze by greg kater

18/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author Greg Kator brings us an Asian action adventure with his latest novel, Conflict on the Yangtze. Featuring many of the characters already introduced in his previous works, the author takes us on a journey up the famous Yangtze River in post-war China to attempt to destroy an opium smuggling ring that is flooding Australia and the U.S. with illicit drugs, transported via The Philippines. Jamie Munro and half-aborigine Jack “Jacko” O’Brien, from the Australian Commonwealth Investigation Services will team up with Colonel John Cook from Britain’s MI6 and Harry Williams from the U.S. Office of Strategic Services to try to destroy the smuggling ring. Entering a China wracked with virtual Civil War, as Mao ZeDong’s Communists battle with Chiang Kai Shek’s Kuomintang Government was always going to be fraught with danger for the pair, especially with various Warlords also struggling for control of a country left in a vacuum with the defeat of the Japanese invaders. Fortunately for Munro and O’Brien they have a secret weapon – the diminutive but incredibly brave and resourceful half-sister of Jacko’s, the Aborigine girl Sarah. Together they will tackle the drug cartel from production to transport, to distribution.

Conflict on the Zangtze reads very much like a “boys own” adventure story from my childhood, with action and excitement on almost every page. Author Greg Kator has a direct and engaging style of writing that draws the reader into the familial group of characters and imbues them with a sense that they belong to the reader. As a New Zealander, I appreciated the sometime not so subtle “Aussie” speak and references but I imagine for many readers an “Aussie” glossary would be a useful tool for this book. Undoubtedly the star of the show was none of the big brave Intelligence officers but rather the tiny Aboriginal girl, Sarah. Her resourcefulness and her charming humility were beautifully portrayed by the author and one was totally endeared to her by the end of the story. This is a continuation of characters previously introduced by Kator but one does not have to have read his earlier books to be enthralled by this one – it stands alone, as a wonderful story. If you are a lover of action/adventure with a very ethnic twist or a lover of Historical Fiction (as I am) this book will be right up your alley. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and can highly recommend it.

You can find Conflict on the Yangtze by Greg Kater, here on Amazon:

nomycha by raven corinn carluk

15/3/2019

Princess Cyryna has spent her entire life preparing for her future role - to lead her people in their battle against the Darklings. Cyryna is of the light, engaged in an eternal struggle against the forces of darkness, as led by the Dark Queen, Queen Valdis and her Valhamian subjects. Not more than once has pondered why the kingdoms cannot just live in peace but when duty calls and the Queen requests her return to the Kingdom, she knows she must do her duty. An encounter with a Valhamian Prince, Maksim, who surprisingly does not attempt to kill her in battle leaves her wondering even more why the two sides are fighting. The attraction between the magical Princess Cyryna and Maksim is so powerful and so telling for her that inevitably the pair must become lovers.
Together with her unlikely allies, Maksim and a giant Spirit Hound who is sent to protect her, Cyryna (Nomycha) enters into the ultimate battle, that to destroy her aunt, the evil, Dark Queen Valdis.
Full of magic and fantasy, Nonycha is a very readable and enjoyable fantasy novel. I particularly liked the way author Raven Corinn Carluk used the relationship between the two unlikely heroes, Cyryna and Maksim to raise the eternal issues of prejudice and bigotry. The hatred of people different from us is something either taught to us by those more senior in society or a learning experience hard-won on the battlefield. Yet, what we see in Nomycha is the belief that inherently we are all the same, seeking the same truths and the same happiness. As individuals it is possible to arise above societal bigotry and prejudice. This is definitely a message crying out to be heard in today's world.
I enjoyed this read and if you love magic, spells and fantasy, you undoubtedly will also. Nomycha is a solid, fantasy read well worth getting into.

You can check out Nomycha, along with the rest of Raven Corinn Carluk's extensive portfolio, here on Amazon:

the letter (hidden beauty #11 by mary crawford

15/3/2019

The Letter by Mary Crawford is yet another in her fantastic Hidden Beauty series. Crawford's ability to take people and situations full of angst, pain, loss and suffering and then allow the light of love to shine through, is legendary, in my opinion. Her understanding of her characters innermost fears and insecurities is what makes her a master in this genre. The Letter is no exception.
Although the initial premise of the story - how Rocco and Mallory came together did seem to stretch the limits of believability just a tad, it didn't detract from the story at all. When Rocco, a paramedic, receives a letter from the hospital to tell him that his non-existent wife may have breast cancer, rather than bin it as a silly mistake, Rocco is determined to find Mallory and ensure she gets the follow-up treatment she clearly needs.
Mallory, an investigative journalist is at the height of her professional powers, well-respected in the industry and determined to make a difference. The possibility of cancer at her young age is a body blow for her, but fortunately the circumstances that bring Rocco and her together will also be her greatest support for the future.
What I love about Crawford's novels are she never shies away from the raw emotion, pain and suffering of her characters, but instead infuses the tale with love, concern, caring and responsibility that softens the hard edges of whatever disability(ies) the characters may have.
The Letter is another triumph for Crawford and I can not only recommend this book, but her entire series of Hidden Beauty, as well as her other series Hidden Hearts. The characters are frighteningly real and serve to remind us always that our health or lack thereof is just a fleeting moment from changing but that it is not the determinant factor in finding love and happiness. I am a Crawford fan, for sure.

Be sure to pop on over to Mary Crawford's Amazon page where you can find The Letter along with all her other magnificent novels.

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