GRANT LEISHMAN - BOOK REVIEWS

Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 (Silver Tears Series)by Daniel J. Strait

21/1/2019

Reviewed For Reader's Favorite by Grant Leishman

Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 by Daniel J Strait will take you on an epic fantasy journey through the author created worlds. This is the third book in a series that ultimately aims to discover and unite the five members of an ancient and mythical prophecy. In Vazdrag, three of the members of the prophecy are together; Nakiata (A Shadow of Thought – ‘SOT’ Master), Dravone (A Morphan – similar to a werewolf) and Ka’tia, their latest addition who is a Warrior Princess from Zondura. Together the trio seek the next member of the prophecy by entering “Black Doors”, which will take them to other worlds and galaxies. This particular Black Door on Zondura, however, has the trio lost and seemingly travelling in circles. Eventually, though, they emerge and will form alliances with various creatures, offering help in exchange for further information about the Prophecy.

Daniel J Strait has taken considerable time and effort in this series in creating worlds and creatures that are unique to him, as a writer and I would congratulate him for that. The read is interesting and exciting at times as the trio battle to overcome the obstacles, deceptions and warlike characters placed in their way on this journey. The latent sexual tension between the two female characters (Nakiata and Ka’tia) and the single male, Dravone was palpable and at times riveting. For me, this was one of the highlights of the writing, since, for me, character often trumps adventure. For lovers of the genre, however, there is plenty of action, along with great character development. Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 is a good, solid read and any fan of epic fantasy is bound to enjoy it. I’m sure, like all good series, reading from the start is desirable, but this can be read as a standalone. I am intrigued enough to wonder how Book Four will develop as the team look for the next member of this prophecy. It’s a recommended read.

You can take a look at Vazdrag plus the rest of this series, here, on Daniel J Strait's Amazon page:

heartless (the kings #3) by alena des

12/1/2019

Heartless (The Kings #3) by Alena Des was an interesting change for me, from the usual vampire fare. This story is so much more than that, mixing several different styles of magic and fantasy. Riley is a man on a mission - to regain his heart, that Lucifer has seized from him. When Riley, who is the son of a sex Goddess and used to woman swooning at his feet, meets Oriana, he is enchanted by her and shocked at his inability to make her lust after him as most women do. Together they form a formidable team as they battle to survive in the midst of a Vampire war and the relentless hunt of Lucifer for Riley.

I was captivated by the characters in this story. I especially liked Oriana, as a female lead, who was strong, independent and successful, but still a woman, in every way. I thought author Des did a marvelous job of weaving different strands of the story together into a single narrative. I'm assuming, since this is noted as The Kings #3, that this is a series, but you certainly wouldn't be able to tell that just from reading this book. It is a standalone and thoroughly readable story in its own right. Perhaps the best tribute I can pay to this author is to say how seamlessly she melded the different strands of magic and fantasy together into a single story. I can highly recommend this read and am definitely motivated to check out other books in this series and by this author

You can find Heartless, here, on Alana Des' Amazon page:

free traffic frenzy: how to get 450,000+ website visitors by don sevcik

12/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Free Traffic Frenzy: How to get 450,000+ Website Visitors by Don Sevcik is a targeted and focused book aimed at those of us who use the internet to either sell something or draw people to our website to impart information to them. The author goes into great length and detail explaining exactly how to use SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to massively increase the amount of traffic to your site and perhaps more importantly to keep that traffic on your site and browsing until they purchase. This is not one single fix to attract traffic, rather this is a combination of small tweaks and intentional actions that many website owners overlook, to take advantage of the algorithms that drive, principally the Google search engine. The author uses his own particular website, a math problem solving site, and by discussing the issues and problems he has encountered and the solutions to these, he is able to impart knowledge that can help anyone dramatically increase the amount of traffic that is driven to their website.

What I particularly liked about Free Traffic Frenzy: How to get 450,000 Website Visitors was that although some of the technical issues discussed were well outside of my grasp, as a reader, the concepts that underline these “fixes” were perfectly explained and outlined using real world examples by author Don Sevcik, so although I personally may not understand exactly how to implement the changes, I can certainly explain them to someone who has the technical know-how. I thought the author’s ability to relay information that is sometimes complex and technical, in laymen’s terms, was the biggest selling point of this book. There are thousands of books out there that purport to tell you how to understand and optimise search engines, however, this one stands out for two reasons. Firstly, the author has clearly achieved success with this formula on his own websites and secondly, many of the fixes and suggestions are straightforward and common sense even to those of us who are less “tech savvy”. If you are looking to take your business and website to the next level, this is an excellent book to start with.

You can find Free Traffic Frenzy, here on Don Sevcik's Amazon page:

presumed dead by martin knox

6/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Presumed Dead by Martin Knox is a crime mystery that almost has a feel of the “Perry Mason’s” about it. Jane Kenwood is a maverick local council politician who has been expelled from her party, which currently governs the city of Alexandra. She continues to frustrate and annoy her ex-colleagues on the Council by staying in politics and winning re-election as an Independent. When a Casino Proposal, requiring the demolishing of a heritage building, is presented to the City and supported by the ruling Council, Jane goes into attack mode to try and stop it and to propose an alternative use for the heritage listed building – a multicultural centre for the use of all the diverse ethnic needs of Alexandra’s citizens. When her colleagues, Dr Phillip Keane and her old friend Cutter, both cross the party floor to oppose the Casino, it suddenly seems like Jane may have mustered the support to defeat this proposal. But, then Jane goes missing and the hunt is on to find her abductors and/or murderers. Dr Keane, a former police forensic scientist takes the lead in the investigation of finding Jane. His incentive is Jane and he are lovers and he is desperate to recover her and destroy the perpetrators.

Presumed Dead is a classic “whodunit” and author Martin Knox does a very credible job of describing, in detail the investigative techniques of crime scene analysis that the character had developed in his years as a police forensic scientist. The story is well-constructed, with possible “red-herrings” thrown in at appropriate points. The two principal characters of Jane and Phillip are well drawn and easy to relate to and empathise with. It is interesting, that as in real life, Knox has sought to bring two people together in a romantic relationship that have polar opposite personalities. Jane, the firebrand extrovert with a passion for politics and Phillip the quiet, methodical, introvert who struggles to relate to people on a personal level. I particularly enjoyed the political undertones of the story and the ideals of what truly constitutes democracy. The idea of scrapping political parties and independent politicians voting on their conscience every time has been floated often and I think even trialled occasionally. It brings a real modern-day relevance to the story – one only needs to look at the political turmoil in the US at present to see the dangers of partisanship and party politics. All in all, a very satisfying read and one I can recommend.

You can find Presumed Dead by Martin Knox, here on Amazon:

dark serenade (montenegro #2) by estela vazquez perez

2/1/2019

Dark Serenade (Montenegro, #2) is a continuation of the story of Victor Montenegro, from a well-to-do and influential Californian family, who gets more than he bargained for when he travels to New Orleans to escape a broken heart. Montenegro, a devil-may-care, treasure hunter is caught up with a group of vampires in New Orleans and discovers to his horror, what vampirism and demons are all about.
You do not have to have read Book 1, to enjoy this dark and mysterious tale, but I have and this is just a continuation of the wonderful story and beautiful language of author Estela Vazquez Perez. Perez very definitely has a way with words and her books are a delight to read, as the stories just trip off the tongue and draw fantastic mind pictures for the readers. At its heart, this series is very much a story about unrequited love and the pain that goes along with living forever, as a vampire, combined with the inability of a vampire to consummate true and lasting romantic love with another person. The characters from the first book are still there, but this book focuses very much on the life of Montenegro, after he returns to California and comes to terms with the idea that he is now an abomination and will live forever, but can never find true and lasting love.
I am generally not a great reader of vampiric fantasy, but Perez not only makes her characters real and the reader empathetic to them, she weaves a beautiful story as she goes. I cannot wait for the next iteration of this series to see where Perez takes these characters that I have come to adore.
Dark Serenade is an excellent read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Dark Serenade here on Estela Vazquez Perez's Amazon page, along with the rest of her superb stories.

Setting the Record Straight: The True Story of How I Stopped a Murderous Tyrant and Saved the World From Nuclear War by V.W. Shurtliff

2/1/2019

Setting the Record Straight by V.W. Shurtliff is a young/adult dystopian story that follows the adventures of fourteen-year-old Thomas, his best friend, thirteen-year-old Veronica and Thomas' big, red dog, Elmo as they battle the evil scientist Gibion and his Gibionite followers who plan to destroy the United States and democracy, believing that dictatorship is the only way forward for society, with, of course, the evil Gibion as the dictator.
When Thomas wakes up one morning, little does he realise his life will change forever. With his parents missing and a dying man lying in his living room, who tells him to flee for his life, Thomas barely escapes their family home before it is blown to smithereens. After he links up with Veronica, the pair, plus the dog begin a frantic adventure to destroy the Gibion control centres before he has the opportunity to take over the Government and forever destroy the American way of life.
Setting the Record Straight is a tale right out of my childhood, "Boys' Own Annuals". It is fast, furious and always exciting. The teenage pair and their dog are thrown into situations few adults could cope with and yet they handle them with courage, aplomb and certainty. There is no shortage of action in this story and young adults who love action adventure will doubtless lap it all up. I did enjoy the ancillary character of Dr David who brought some sanity and commonsense into every situation.
This is a fun read and exactly what it purports to be, an action adventure for young people. I can definitely recommend this read to its target audience.

You can find Setting the Record Straight, here on V.W,. Shurtliff's Amazon page:

vath's legacy (The rufino factor book 4) by joshua Rem

2/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Vath’s Legacy (The Rufino Factor: Book 4) by Joshua Rem is the continuation of a fantasy series by this author. Rufino is a Vampire who inhabits the world of Ch’ulu and is on the hunt for his missing mobile coffin, which was beneath a cart that he has now lost. It is the eve of the Winter Solstice and the humans are celebrating the arrival of the fat man in the red suit, which for Rufino means cookies left out for the jolly man, that he, Rufino, can steal to feed his sweet tooth. Despite his small size, Rufino has performed many acts of heroism over the years and he has a strong moral compass to guide him in what is right and wrong. The beautiful, mysterious, and greatly feared, druid-sorceress, Kiralyn Frostwhisper is both Rufino’s greatest nemesis and his deepest fantasy. Unsure and uncertain of his own attractiveness to Kiralyn, he takes what little affection he can from her, when it is on offer. It is Kiralyn, though, he must unite with and work with if the evil Vath Legacy is to be overcome and defeated.

This story, Vath’s Legacy (The Rufino Factor: Book 4) was a real eye-opener for me, as a reader. Used to fantasy tales full of weird and wonderful creatures who partake in epic battles, author Joshua Rem has scaled that back and focused very much on the characters and their development, especially the characteristics of their makeup that make them do what they do. Rufino is not your typical vampire at all. He cares about doing the right thing and appears not to have an amoral bone in his body. Deeply attracted to Kiralyn, he cannot believe that she could possibly find him attractive and this constant seeking of her approval plays a large part in the story. I am aware that this book is part of a series, but you don’t have to have read any of the other offerings to truly enjoy this book. What this story did make me want to do, was to read more of this series and of this author. I think that’s the greatest compliment a reviewer can pay an author of a series. Vath’s Legacy is a tale of the underdog, battling against prejudice and seeking acceptance for who he is, as an individual, rather than who he is as a race or a species. The parallels to society today are clear and noticeable. I would describe this book as Fantasy with a heart and soul. I can highly recommend it.

You can find Vath's Legacy, along with the rest of Joshua Rem's work, here on his Amazon page:

empty threat (the black pages #1) by danny bell

28/12/2018

In Empty Threat by Danny Bell the reader is taken on a journey through a universe of different worlds and multiverses. When socially awkward, admitted book-nerd, Elana Black discovers she has the power to enter the world of the books she reads, she has no idea what this power will ultimately mean for her and her closest of friends. It is only when she connects this power to a childhood friend who claimed the same powers, as a child, and was ultimately certified as insane, does she realise that she may, in fact, not be alone in the world with this power.
The author takes us on a voyage of discovery as Elana begins to understand the breadth and depth of her magical powers along with the responsibilities and dangers these powers possess. Once Elana realises that the worlds inhabited in stories may not be as fictional as she first thought, all bets are off and the dangers to Elana from those who don't want her to utilise those powers, increase a hundred-fold.
The author has done an excellent job with Elana's character development. She is portrayed as atypical of many of us who love to read and escape into fiction - socially awkward, incredibly shy and introverted, with just a few very close friends. We watch, as Elana emerges from her shell and begins to understand and adapt to the strange new worlds that have opened up for her. She may well still be full of doubts about herself, but every experience and trial she undertakes makes her stronger, more independent and surer of her place in the scheme of things.
The premise of the story is unique enough to make it stand out for that reason alone, but Elana's journey through the multiverses and of self-discovery lifts this story above your average fantasy adventure. A very good read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Empty Threat, here on Danny Bell's Amazon page, along with his latest work.

of knights and dogfights: a WWII Novel by ellie midwood

26/12/2018

I am an enormous fan of Ellie Midwood's and I await each new release with anticipation and excitement of another fantastic story from World War II. Of Knights and Dogfights is a wonderful example of what Midwood does and in my opinion, does much better than anyone else. She researches possible characters, finds real-life participants who pique her interest and then fictionalises them into magnificent stories of deering-do and romance.
This was very much the case with Of Knights and Dogfights, which is based on two real Luftwaffe aces from World War II. Although the two never met in real life, in Midwood's fictional world, they not only met, but trained and fought side by side in the skies above Europe and Africa. Her two characters, Willi and Johann, were, in many ways, the antithesis of the hatred, evil and prejudice that stalked Nazi Germany. Neither believed the racial purity lines spouted by the party and both were chivalrous and gallant toward their enemies, in a way that was always destined to bring them into conflict with the "powers that be" in 1940's Nazi Germany.
As a reader, I found myself totally invested in the lives of these two fine, upstanding, young men. I think perhaps the greatest moment of revelation was when I realised that despite being the highest and second-highest aces of WWII, both Willi and Johann were just a mere twenty-three-years of age. The horrors of war, that had required both boys to become men, way too early was reflected in their even-handed treatment of all people, regardless of their race, creed or religion. These were the Germans, who loved their beloved Fatherland and would fight to the death to protect it, but hated and despised everything the Nazi cancer had done to their home and their people.
I have yet to read a Midwood story that has left me unfulfilled as a reader and Of Knights and Dogfights will not be the first. It was a wonderful story that takes the reader soaring high amongst the clouds but doesn't shy from the realities and horrors of war that kills a nation's youth, whilst its old men plot and plan.
Another absolute winner from the doyen of WWII literature and one of my favourite authors, never mind favourite Indie Authors. Midwood stands proudly amongst the best of the legacy published authors. This book is another triumph in an already glittering portfolio.

Absolutely do go and take a look at Of Knights and Dogfights, along with the rest of her amazing portfolio, here on Ellie Midwood's Amazon page.

two face the world: marry in haste... (richard and maria book 2) by Sarah Stuart

26/12/2018

Two Face the World is a continuation of the story by author Sarah Stuart in her critically acclaimed, Three Against the World, where we were first introduced to Richard and his supposed daughter Maria, who was dropped on his doorstep at age fourteen, along with the stray dog, Ben. Now grown up, Maria has admitted to herself that her feelings for Richard are much deeper and much more inappropriate than those between a daughter and her father. Richard has always felt the same way and when a DNA test confirms that Maria is not his daughter, they are finally free to express their feelings for each other without any sense of shame or judgement.
Richard has high hope for Maria, once she finished school and goes to University to study design, but Maria is less enthused on the prospect. Once they are in a committed relationship, marriage seems the next obvious step and despite the age difference it is a step both want, both believe in, and both are committed to. Marriage, however proves not the panacea first thought as the pair embark on a series of adventures and calamities that threaten to imperil and derail their entire relationship.
Stuart has always had the ability, in her work, to take what is often seen as unacceptable social relationships and somehow make them not only acceptable, but also desirable. This is a real fillip both to her and her writing ability. Despite the age-gap and the years spent in a father-daughter relationship, the author manages to convince us, as readers, that we should not only accept their relationship, but actively root for its success. This is a rare talent in an author and Stuart always had that, in spades.
Two Face the World is a wonderful, easy-to-read, story that is impossible to put down. As with Stuart's earlier work, the characters are relatable and likeable, but more especially as each book is produced, the strength and depth of Stuart's prose is noticeable. All authors develop and grow as they progress and one of the best parts of being a professional reviewer is being able to see that happen before your very eyes.
You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy the second, because the author drops subtle hints throughout to bring the reader up to speed. However, personally, I think you should read them in order, simply because they are so damn good.
I highly recommend this read - another winner from Sarah Stuart.

You can find Two Face the World, here on Sarah Stuart's Amazon page, along with the rest of her exceptional portfolio.

nobody i know by john J. gaynard

26/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nobody I Know by John J Gaynard is a cynical, farcical look at mental health issues through the prism of extremism and the eyes of Patient XYJ, who doesn’t remember who he is, or indeed who he has been for the past eight years in a psychiatric institution, colloquially known as the “Black House”. Like all of the returning Jihadists who former CIA interrogator and psychiatrist Dr O’Neill has treated in the past with unusual success, Patient XYJ is subjected to inhumane treatment, scorn and ridicule by O’Neill who uses patients merely to progress his own ambitions and wealth rather than from any innate desire to heal or to reintegrate previous violent and disturbed patients back into society. When Pastsy Burke emerges from the toilet he has no idea who he is or where he is, beyond that he is being held in a mental institution against his will. He has no recollection of the various personas he has adopted over the past eight years of custody and he must find a way to rediscover his identity and destroy the hold the evil Dr O’Neill has over him.

Nobody I Know, I can honestly say is the most unusual, slightly disturbing, but eminently readable book I have been lucky enough to read in the past few years. Author John J Gaynard has reached into the depths of the human mind and provided a thought-provoking treatise on mental health, attitudes to mental health and, in general, the human condition. By using the absolute polar extreme of a mental institution run by a “mad doctor” along with a procession of “crazy” trustee patients, Gaynard has made readers focus on our attitudes to not just mental health, but life in general. Totally topical and up-to-date in its current-world focus, the book uses Patsy Burke to explore what can happen when essentially good people fall apart mentally. At times the narrative is harrowing and difficult to stomach, but the message is loud and clear and if nothing else, this focus on the behaviour and excesses of both characters Burke and O’Neill presents two sides of the exact same coin for readers to consider. Who is the sane one here and who is the insane one. Because of the nature of the narrative the characters are necessarily overdrawn to the point of caricature, but this is wonderfully well done by the author. I particularly liked the connections between the characters in the story and historical figures. This is a book that leaves you thinking and asking yourself questions long after you put it down and that is probably the highest praise I can give this author.

You can find Nobody I Know, plus the rest of John J Gaynard's literary portfolio, here on his Amazon page:

Lost Love: A Story of Love, insecurities and friendship. (Friends, Family and Love Book 4) by Joni Martin

16/12/2018

In this, the latest iteration of Joni Martins' story of a group of friends and siblings, who find themselves falling in love, within their group, we focus on Theo and Krista's relationship. Just as their friendship was beginning to bloom into love, Theo's sister, Josie and one of his best friend's Ronald put the kybosh on their developing love affair by convincing Theo, a mechanic, that he was not good enough for the beautiful, talented and smart, Krista. Wracked by self-doubt Theo has broken off the relationship and begins to sink into as morass of pain, angst and depression. Similarly Krista is devastated to lose the man she believed was going to be the "love of her life" and she begins also to spiral downward.
All of the couple's friends, as well as Josie and Ronald, now realise their horrific error, but is it too late to convince Theo and Krista that they were wrong to interfere and that the two clearly love each other so much, as evidenced by their depression at being apart, that they were clearly meant to be together. Can Theo and Kristie find each other again and perhaps more importantly can Theo find his self-esteem and his confidence again, after Josie's cavalier treatment of his feelings?
Reminiscent in many ways of an episode of "Friends", I first became attracted to these characters in Martins' book "Captive Love" and Lost Love follows the same, emotional, twenty-something's as they try to settle into the real adult world and make their way in their chosen careers as well as forming relationships.
Martins' writing is straightforward and easy to read. The characters are likeable and easy to identify with, although, at times, I did feel like grabbing Theo and giving him a good, stern, talking to about not worrying about what others thought about him - only his opinion mattered. What I did like was the love scenes in the story, that were hot, passionate and exciting without crossing that fine line into crudity. Martins did an excellent job on that account.
All in all, another good addition to this series and I am keen to see where the next character relationship heads - presumably Josie and Ronald. A good read.

You can find Lost Love, plus the rest of Joni Martins' portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

death is for the living by j.c. steel

16/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Death is for the Living by J C Steel is an epic vampire fantasy that takes the reader on a journey from the Caribbean, all over the world, as Cristina Batista and her partner Jean are caught up in vampire machinations that reach to the very peak of vampire society. Cristina and Jean are part of a team of vampire hunters who roam the Caribbean, on the yacht Artemis, looking for and destroying vampires as they go. Both of them, though, have pasts that are perhaps not compatible with the idea of Vampire hunters. Christina was almost changed several years earlier, but somehow was able to stay human and Jean indeed, was a Vampire, changed several Centuries ago, until a witch gave him the power to become human again. Both, for different reasons have great motivation to kill the most powerful vampire in the New World, but their journey will be fraught with danger, fear, and an extreme sense that this may be the end of both of them.

In Death is for the Living, we find a different type of vampire tale that helps to lift this book above the ordinary vampire-hunting stories. Author J C Steel’s style is relaxed and readable, dropping little nuggets of information about the backstories of both Cristina and Jean as the reader progresses through the book. The conflict and suspicions between the characters, especially those of the hunters, who although on a common mission, with a common purpose, but who don’t know each other that well, is one of the highlights of this story. Steel does a good job at defining the two main characters and their relationship, which is both somewhat co-dependent but also extremely loving and beautiful at times. The character of the renegade vampire de Vallejo and the witch Mama Gale could have been fleshed out more full, in my opinion, as a reader. I was certainly left wondering more about these two. Still, this is a solid, readable Vampire fantasy, with the promise of more to come in future iterations of this story.

You can find Death is for the Living, along with all of J.C. Steel's work, here, on his Amazon page:

ketsumeidan by maRK MOREY

7/12/2018

Ketsumeidan provides us with a fascinating look inside the world of the Japanese Geisha and its rituals and ceremonies. Set in Tokyo, prior to World War II, we meet Aiko, a successful and much sought after Geisha, who, it seems, has her life well and truly sorted. She loves her role as a Geisha and the lifestyle it affords, plus she has a patron who she loves dearly. The only thing that darkens the horizon is the increasingly militaristic attitude of many in the armed forces and the parliament of Japan. It seems that Japan's slide into war is inevitable and many feel it is a war they cannot win, especially if the United States declares war on Japan.
When Aiko becomes privy (through a Geisha banquet) to information on an ultra nationalist organisation called the Ketsumeidan, she contacts the Tokyo police. Tokyo Police Inspector Yuudai Sato. The unlikely alliance join forces to try to prevent the assassination of the Japanese Prime Minister and to try to stave off the inevitable march to war. When they prove unsuccessful, both must face the horrors that war will bring to them and their loved ones.
Ketsumeidan is a solid, chunky read and gives us some real insight into the life, culture, customs and social mannerisms of pre-war Japan. The sharp contrast between the "average man or woman" and the ruthless, vicious, indoctrinated conscripts could not be more apparent. Many of those left behind cannot believe the atrocities committed by their military on behalf of the Japanese people. This juxtaposition is perhaps no more eloquently highlighted than that between the serene, world of the Geisha's and the murder and rape of thousands of innocent Chinese civilians in the Japan/Chinese conflict.
I found the story dragged ever so slightly at times, but the stark horror of those left behind to face the Allied bombing raids on Tokyo as well as the atrocities being committed in China, were always enough to keep me reading. As a social history of a long-forgotten time, Ketsumeidan served as an excellent read to someone for whom historical fiction is a "junkie's fix". I enjoyed the read and can definitely recommend it.

You can find Ketsumeidan, here, on Mark Morey's Amazon Page, along with the rest of his work.

reconstructing the shield of achilles by kathleen vail

4/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Reconstructing the Shield of Achilles by Kathleen Vail is a scholarly attempt to put some meat and vision to the legendary shield of the warrior Achilles from Greek fable and mythology, especially as described by Homer in his numerous epic poems, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. The author takes us on a trip through legendary Greek history, describing in detail the circumstance and the background to the most famous of all Greek battles; the Battle for Troy and then its aftermath. We are shown various other scholars’ depictions of their view of what they believed Achilles’ shield would have looked like, before the author creates her own version of the fantastic amour that was the Shield of Achilles. Using Homer’s direct translated text, she follows the journey of the shield subsequent to the death of Achilles, as Odysseus takes control of the legendary armour. She finds considerable justification for accepting the words of Homer as being, in some part, real and truthful, rather than just fanciful meanderings.

As a big fan of both Homer and the fables of Greek mythology, as a layman, I still found this book, Reconstructing the Shield of Achilles to be a fascinating insight into the Greek traditions, heroes and fables of the time. Author, Kathleen Vail has produced a book here that is as useful to a Greek Scholar as it is to someone with a love of heroic adventure and the time of mythical Greek lore. I don’t usually quote from books I review, but one passage in this book is so telling and reminds us all why the study of history and especially of archaeology, is critical to us, as a human race. “Human history is rendered tangible in the physical form of archaeological artifacts. In our search for archaeological treasures, we find meaning and significance in our collective human life on Earth. With each discovery, we gain extraordinarily perceptive records. From this unique perspective, we gain both a telescopic view into the lost and distant past and a microscopic view of iconic moments in the human experience.” For me, this perfectly sums up the field of study and the importance of this book. Perhaps the most ironic observation in the book is that Achilles, the greatest warrior in history, actually hates war. As a final note, the photographs and renderings of Greek history and mythology give the book an impressive perspective that even the layman can truly enjoy. This is a fantastic book and receives my wholehearted endorsement.

You can take a look at Reconstructing the Shield of Achilles, here on Kathleen Vail's Amazon page:

a bend in time (never without her book 1) by anne C. maxwell

1/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A Bend in Time (Never Without Her, Book 1) by Anne C Maxwell takes the reader on a journey through time as the two main character Omar and Elena discover much about themselves and about each other. Omar and Elena are both well-educated, from high-ranking families in Saudi Arabia. Although she grew up in Saudi, with Omar as a close friend and confidant, Elena is of European extraction and very different to him. They have, however, both always had a secret attraction for each other. When Elena, now an operative for British Secret Intelligence MI6, is delegated the task of infiltrating Omar’s London Bank and discovering whether the bank is secretly laundering money and funnelling it to terrorist organisations, Elena knows she will have trouble keeping her professional and personal lives separate. For Omar’s part, a possessive, dominating man, he quickly discovers Elena is not like other woman, whom he can snap his fingers at and have, at a moment’s notice. The story takes us on twists and turns, from London, to New York, to Riyadh and to France, through both time and location, as the pair face imminent death from several quarters. Will Omar and Elena manage to combine their love with their differing perspectives on life?

What lifts A Bend in Time (Never Without Her, Book 1) above the average, run-of-the mill, spy thriller is the additional plot twist of the time quirks. With both Elena and Omar being thrown back into differing histories, each has to find their own place in their respective, new societies. Both encounter relationships similar to the one they have with each other in the 21st Century. Using this technique Author Anne C Maxwell has elevated the story above that of a thriller. I found both main characters to be very sharply drawn almost to the point of caricature. Omar was the rich, successful, powerful, domineering, yet incredibly handsome Saudi businessman, with Elena being the absolute expression of the modern woman; beautiful, free, powerful, independent and very much in charge of herself and her life. This culture clash and the tension that created in this love affair made for interesting and absorbing reading. The pair’s adventures in their respective time bends also made for an interesting interlude to the story. As a first book in a planned trilogy involving these characters, the author has set the scene well for subsequent stories.

You can find A Bend in Time, along with the rest of Anne C. Maxwell's work, here on her Amazon page.

challenges of the gods by c. hofsetz

28/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Challenges of the Gods by C Hofsetz is a fantasy/science fiction adventure that takes us into the author created world of Pangea, Pangea exists in the minds of its inhabitants and can only be visited when asleep. Here, in this quasi-heaven exist the Gods and their messengers. When Mike discovers himself in Pangea, he is confronted with the realisation that his beloved Earth planet is under threat and he has been chosen by the Messengers to be the one to ensure that his planet and civilisation endure. Unfortunately, in order to achieve that, Mike must destroy another Earth planet and its population that exists in this multiverse and is the equivalent planet to his own. Somehow Mike must battle his moral qualms and act decisively to save civilisation, but what he doesn’t bank on is his inherent morality and the relationships he develops on this new world, to interfere with his decision making.

The basic construct of Challenges of the Gods was uniquely exciting to me, as a reader. The initial little twist that was revealed over Mike’s origins was enough to suck me into the story completely. Author C Hofsetz has created a twin reality, that at times threatened to spill over into confusion. The idea of one mind, with two different bodies, depending on where Mike was, had the potential to be confusing to the reader, but I thought the author did an excellent job of keeping the narrative on track and the reader informed. The character of Mike was well written and his relationships and interactions with his friends Ravi, Jane and the others was the key to a good story and a thought-provoking read. Many of the issues faced by Mike were not dissimilar to those being faced today, with blind obedience to a cult-like personality figure being uppermost of those. I thoroughly enjoyed this fresh and exciting read and can highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy and science fiction.

You can find Challenges of The Gods by C. Hofsetz here, on Amazon. It appears to be his debut novel, which makes it all the more impressive.

Jai the Albino Cow: Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru by Gloria D. Gonsalves

24/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jai the Albino Cow: Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru by Gloria D. Gonsalve is a short and sweet children’s story designed to pass on the morals of kindness, love, understanding and tolerance for those different to ourselves. Told in dual languages, English and Swahili, it is told through the eyes of Jai, an albino cow who is different to the other cows. When the rest of the herd witnesses the dance of the Cattle Kings, Jai is persuaded to dance also. She is reluctant to do so because she is different, she is not a male and she is shy because of her differences. With the assurances of her siblings and her parents that she is indeed special and has the “blood of the Gods” within her, Jai reluctasntly agrees to participate in this special undertaking.

With a serious nod to the story of “The Ugly Duckling”, Jai the Albino Cow: Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru, by Gloria D. Gonsalve is a lovely message for children to receive, that we should revel and celebrate our differences rather than shun and hide them. How appropriate this message is in today’s world of divide and hate. I read this book on Kindle, as I do with all my books. It is not designed for Kindle and the pictures and page backgrounds were unable to be displayed. By looking at the PDF file of the book I was able to see the sweet and delightful drawings that accompanied the text. This is definitely a book you need to get in paperback for the full enjoyment to be had by the children and/or the adults reading to them. The messages inherent in the author’s word are valuable lessons for our younger ones and the bilingual nature of the book just added to its appeal. This is an excellent book for imparting some strong morals on our youngsters.

You can find Jai: The Albino Cow here on Gloria D Gonsalves' Amazon page along with the rest of her extensive portfolio.

the persecution of mildred dunlap by paulette mahurin

23/11/2018

Regular readers of my reviews will know I am a big fan of Paulette Mahurin's historical fiction. When I realised there was one of her books I had yet to read, I quickly set about to remedy that oversight.
The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap did not disappoint in any way. Set in 1895 in a small Nevadan town, Mildred and her cousin Edra had long ago realised their attraction to each other and as time had passed they had developed a deep and loving relationship, always cognisant of the effect such a relationship would have in their small town, should it ever become known.
Like all small towns Red River Pass was a hotbed of gossip, much of it generated from the telegrams from the outside world that would bring news and were posted on the public noticeboard outside the General Store. When news came of Oscar Wilde's conviction and imprisonment for homosexuality in England, tongues and minds turned to the evils and sins of same-sex relationships. For Mildred and Edra, they walked a very taut tightrope that threatened to drop them at any point. The pair had always shunned the local gossips, but when things get tight, it is often surprising where true friends and allies can emerge from.
What I've always loved about Mahurin's writings is her ability to weave true life events from the past into a fictional tale which conveys relevance to the happenings of the time. She has excelled at this in the past and does so again, here. Her messages of love, tolerance and understanding shine through her works and are as equally applicable (perhaps even more so) today as they were in 1895.
I don't know how I ever missed reading this before, but I am truly glad to have done so now. As a fellow author, I doff my cap to Mahurin, who shows me regularly what I could also be capable of. Having excellence to aim for is always a challenge and Mahurin always provide excellence in reading. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, plus the rest of Paulette Mahurin's superb portfolio, here, on her Amazon page.

tears of fire (a lambeth group thriller) by gordon bickerstaff

22/11/2018

As a big Bickerstaff fan, I was excited to see his latest iteration of the Lambeth Group adventures was available. Tears of Fire continues the tradition of this series, with action-packed excitement from go to woah.
This book features the two main characters that fans of the series have come to know and love; Biochemist Professor Gavin Shawlens and Special Forces Soldier Zoe Tamsin. These two characters have become an endearing feature of this series and as each book passes, we grow fonder and fonder of them and their "odd-ball" relationship.
In Tears of Fire, Zoe has been sentenced to death by her Government for the murder of three members of the aristocratic Silsden family, who she had stopped in their nefarious plot to change the world forever. Faced with execution, Zoe knows she must go "dark" and seeks help from her CIA colleagues from across the pond. When Gavin becomes involved in an investigation linked to Insurance Fraud, Zoe realises the dangers he is in and is torn between her care and love for Gavin and her need to stay hidden from potential assassins.
as always this book is non-stop action, with plenty of plot twists and clever mechanisms to introduce new under-plots to the original story. Bickerstaff writes out and out thrillers and does it to an incredibly high level. Amongst the Indie Thriller authors I have read, Gordon Bickerstaff stands near the top of the tree.
Tears of Fire is a riveting read and one I cannot recommend highly enough.

Do pop on over to Amazon, where you can take a look at Tears of Fire, plus all of Bickerstaff's superb portfolio, on his Amazon page:

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