​I have been wanting to read a Christoph Fischer for quite some time now as I was aware of the positive buzz his books had received in Social Media. I was thrilled to have the chance to read his latest offering; Ludwika.

Based on the true life of a Polish woman struggling to survive in Nazi Germany, Ludwika is touching and at times heart-rending. Although there is little doubt that Ludwika had a much easier war than many other refugees or internees of the Nazi war machine, it was certainly not a walk in the park surviving the detention camps and the betrayals by Germans she considered to be her friends or allies. 

Luwika's motivation, it seemed, was always about what was best for her family, left behind in Poland and especially her young daughter. What kept her going was that burning desire to be reunited with them once this madness was over. During the course of her journey, it seemed Ludwika's choices would always be dogged by "bad luck". Very beautiful and headstrong, she was prone to rush in; "where Angels fear to tread".

I absolutely adore Fischer's style and was absolutely invested in the outcome of Ludwika's painful journey; always the sign of a good writer. Fischer also did an excellent job at the end of the story, relating his fictionalised tale to the true Ludwika and her family today. The bonus at the end of the book - a good, solid, extract from another of his books The Luck of the Weissentheiners, ensured that I have no doubt which Fischer book will be next on my to read list. I am already invested in this fascinating tale. 

Early in 2016, but this book is already at the top of my "awards" list consideration for December. This is a superb piece of fiction/fact. I loved it. Five stars, no question.    

Check out all of Christoph Fischers Books here: http://amzn.to/1Qn09XP 

​Rising Empire: Part 1 is the start of a whole series by C S Woolley that introduces a world the author has created and the political and royal intrigues of the mythical nine kingdoms of Celadmore. In the tradition of R R Martin and Game of Thrones, Woolley creates her world loosely based on Medieval Europe, where battle is undertaken with sword, arrow and claymore...and what a superb introduction to the series this book proves to be.  

Her characters are well drawn and beautifully portrayed by the author. It is incredibly easy for the reader to identify with and cheer on the characters in the eternal battle of good versus evil. The evl in this story is represented by the ruler of the land King Mercia and the good, by his long-suffering, battle-hardened, warrior Queen, Kasnata. This is an epic story that takes us from Mercia's home castle, where revolution is fermenting in the city's underground to the battle-field of the nine kingdoms.

One thing I particularly liked about the author's treatment of her characters was her willingness to sacrifice beloved and warm characters on the pyre of moving the story along. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and if the first job of any first book of a series is to invest the reader in the desire to read more, then all I can say to Woolley is job done! I want desperately to read the next book in this series and discover what has become of my beloved characters. 

I guess, for me, if there is a negative to be found, it is the one I always find when reading a tale where the author has created a new and exciting world to explore and that is character's names. Initially, I had some difficulty remembering who was who, with some of their odd sounding names. Although I overcame that the further I read, one thing did continue to dog me throughout the story. The female names were to me anyway, not always distinctly feminine and I would be searching for the next personal pronoun to assure myself whether this General was indeed a woman, or a man. A small point and certainly not one that detracted from my pleasure in reading this wonderful story. 

As you may have guessed, I loved it and have no hesitation in awarding the five stars it richly deserves. Now, to find the second book and enjoy that one just as much. Excellent stuff C.S. Woolley.

You can check out all C.S. Woolley's work here: http://amzn.to/1nr8Wio 

​From a gloriously troubled ensemble cast, D K Cassidy has woven a skilful tale, that brings their lives together in strange and unusual ways, all linked through their psychiatrist. I did like Cassidy's style of writing. The short, sharp sentences she uses are indeed appropriate for the mood of the book. 

I found myself constantly asking the question as to whether the experiences of the three main characters; Joy, Caleb and George, were, in fact, real or were part of their delusions. I think Cassidy did well to pose these questions in our minds as readers. 

Like some other reviewers, I hadn't read the earlier work, Spilt Milk, which introduced our three characters to the world. I don't think this affected my enjoyment of the book in any way. It was an extremely satisfying read, that I struggled to put down in places. 

That having been said, though, I will buck the five-star trend amongst reviewers by only offering Curious Reality a four-star review. My reasoning for that is fairly simple. There were a number of places within the story where the timeline seemed to veer out of sync, where characters were doing things that hadn't been yet explained and would be later on. Perhaps it was intentional by the author, but as a reader, I didn't like it and it upset my reading flow. 

If you want something to challenge your perceptions of mental illness and the opportunity to look inside the thought processes of someone with serious psychological problems, Curious Reality, is an excellent start. It's a fine piece of work and I recommend it.

Check out all of D K Cassidy's work here: http://amzn.to/1SrbJnS

​Save Our Shop S.O.S, is a funny, quirky little story about an English small village shop, that is in danger of being closed and the efforts of its supporters to keep it running. It is genuinely funny in places and actually reminded me somewhat of a Benny Hill episode with its manic pace at times. I could very well picture the late comedian playing the part of Uncle Albert in this story. 

It was an enjoyable read and a light break from some of the heavier reading I've been into lately. My only recommendation to the author would be to consider removing the introduction as it was far too explanatory of the plot. It wasn't needed as the plot unraveled very well during the telling of the story. 

If you like quirky, British humor, this would be an excellent Sunday afternoon read. I feel Michael Wilton has an interesting style and I look forward to the next work to spring from his pen. Judging from his Amazon page his work to date has been Children's Books, so it was interesting to see him handle an adult story like Save Our Shop. A simple, unpretentious, comedy of manners that earns Save Our Shop four stars.

You can check out Michael N Wilton's Books here: http://amzn.to/1Ja55zT  

​In Double Trouble, DM Wolfenden has put together a selection of three short stories; two of a reasonable length and one relatively short. Each story stands alone and each story has its own special qualities that make it stand out and grab the reader's attention. 

I did enjoy all three, but my favourite was probably the first, in which we meet a young inmate accused of murder who is being interviewed, in prison, by a journalist. All is not as it seems though and as her story unravels, we are given little snippets that allow us to draw conclusions; not always the correct ones. This was an enjoyable read. 

The second story focuses on two adult sisters who, after suffered years of abuse at the hands of their Father  when they were young. When they realise there may actually be more to their Mother walking out on them when they were just children, than they had been led to believe, all hell breaks loose. This was a well-constructed story. 

The final story was very different to the first two. It focused on a young man's internal demons. I enjoyed the change of pace. 

All in all, a nice, little collection of three tales. Some editing issues, but nothing that couldn't be fixed very quickly and they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. A good read if you like suspenseful, mystery/horror stories. A solid four-star effort from Wolfenden.  

You can check out Wolfenden's work here: http://amzn.to/1Qkrgoc  

​To Kill or Escape is a true-blue story of a shameful period in Australian history. It is a novel based on the true events that later became known as The Stolen Generation. A time when the Australian Government ruthlessly implemented a policy of assimilation with the indigenous population, the Aborigines. Children all across Australia were taken forcibly from their parents and given either to white families to raise as good, little, white  Australians or were housed in large, violent and often barbaric boarding schools, little less than prisons, where the children were taught that to survive in this modern Australia, they had to become "white". 

This is book three of a series dealing with a particular family in New South Wales; the Fifes, who were perhaps typical of many settler families of the time, a mixture of white and aboriginal mixed children. This particular book focuses on a young five-year-old boy and his two older cousins who are taken to a school to be taught to be white. Jarrah, will not accept this fate and plots and plans for the day he can escape and return to his beloved homeland on the edges of the Dreaming Billabong. Another branch of this family is living the high-life in Sydney until the father's gambling addiction and ties to the criminal underworld, force a need to escape.

Shell captures extremely well the deep ties the Aboriginal have to their land and the cruelties inflicted on them by the white government of Australia. Personally, I was horrified to realise that even as late as the 1950's Aboriginal affairs were legislated under the Flora and Fauna Act - plants and animals. They didn't even warrant the status of human beings. 

This is an exciting and fast-moving tale that draws you in and allows you to emotionally attach to the characters, especially the children. My only minor complaint would be the excessive use of the Aussie slang in the opening chapter. I was left wondering a little, just what was happening to whom. I'm aware the author provided a glossary of terms at the end of the book, but if I was a less determined reader and not a Kiwi, familiar with many of the terms, I might have been tempted to give up before I got to the real meat of the book. I'm glad I persevered, because this is a wonderful story, beautifully told. 

The author knew exactly when to stop and tease the reader with the next book in the series. I have no choice now but to read the next book and find out what happens to young Jarrah, his Uncle Iain and all the other characters. An excellent read. I enjoyed it and happily give it the five stars it deserves.  

Check out Ryn Shell's work here: http://amzn.to/1J8dAex          

​Sam's Song is clearly the first of a series of books revolving around female private detective Sam (Samantha) Smith. I guess the whole female detective in  a man's world has been done many times before, but kudos to Howe for putting her own special, touch and brand onto the story and the character. 

As an introductory novel into a new series, this story performed its task very well. We got to meet and understand some of the demons that haunt the thirty-two-year-old Sam Smith, what motivated her into this particular line of work and what drives her. I particularly liked Howe's conversational style of writing and her subtle use of humour and direct comments to the reader. It is easy to read and totally relatable. This is a pleasurable read and one I could easily recommend for a cold, wet, winter's Sunday afternoon in front of the fire. 

Howe had done a fantastic job of making her character, strong, yet vulnerable. It is easy to identify and empathize with her. Some of the other characters in the book could have been accused of being a bit stereotypical  but it is the type of genre that does tend to lend itself to heavily drawn, stereotypical, characters, so no faults there. 

I did find it to be a novel of two halves, the second half being more enjoyable, more relatable and more vivid than the first, which I did find perhaps a little too flouncy and puffed up although that perhaps had a lot to do with the characters in that part of the story. 

I did enjoy the read and especially the more gritty, tough and realistic second part of the book. I am sure this book bodes well for the rest of the series and I look with interest to read the second installment of Sam Smith's adventures. An excellent start to the series and worth 4.5 stars, but brought down to 4 by the slightly lighter beginning.

You can check out all of Hannah Howe's work here: http://amzn.to/1Zzsceg  

​Having recently read Iva Kenaz' The Goddess Within and having loved it, I decided to go backwards and read her very first novel; The Witch Within. Is it as good and was it as satisfying? 

Despite the similarities of the titles, the two stories are in no way related. They are both stand-alone tales, although both are set in the sixteenth century in central Europe. There are similarities in that many of the concepts and ideas from The Goddess were clearly developed in The Witch Within. 

So, was the Witch Within the same standard as The Goddess Within. In a word, no. The Goddess Within still stands out for me as a wonderful story that is rich in texture and language, more so than The Witch Within. What is wonderful though is to see the development of the author between the two novels. We are not born perfect writers, it is a craft that we practice relentlessly and try to improve on and hone our skills in. Kenaz has done just that with these two novels. She has honed her writing skills from one to the other. 

The Witch Within is still a wonderful story and one that I enjoyed very much. After being branded a witch by her village and most unsettling of all, by her parents, Talitha flees the small village she lives in, in Bohemia, to the cursed lands, where her Grandmother before her had also fled after a similar fate. 

Here in these cursed lands, Talitha begins to realise and understand her true destiny. In a series of exciting and fascinating adventures, including an encounter with a tribe of similarly branded witches, Talitha looks for her place in this world. This is a lovely story, well told and I enjoyed it immensely.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves stories with strong, yet vulnerable female characters and who loves this mystical, fantasy-filled time in Central Europe. I only give this four stars because it is not as amazing as her other novel The Goddess Within. It is an excellent debut novel and indicative of the fantastic things to come from this talented author.

Please check out all of Iva Kenaz' work here: http://amzn.to/1N0600l      

​As an author, you are sometimes privileged enough to read a book that shows you just how far you still have to go in your journey to achieve greatness. The Goddess Within is just such a book. Kenaz has written an absolute masterpiece of fantasy and mysticism that had me enraptured from the very first words. This is a beautifully written, no, crafted book that uses the language to its fullest extent, which is more remarkable given that I assume English was not the author's first language. 

The story itself is interesting and fascinating enough in its own right, but the way in which Kenaz weaves words and structures her narrative is absolutely mesmerizing. I can honestly say that this early in 2016, The Goddess Within, will almost certainly still be right up there contending for "Book of the Year" when I hand out my annual "Grunter Awards" in December. This is a wonderful story and I enjoyed its telling to the full. I was disappointed when it ended, but can take some solace that Kenaz has other books I can read and I most certainly will. 

The story itself focuses on Berka, a young woman, who discovers her place in the world as a daughter and as a woman. Set in a mystical, earthy world, Berka explores the realms between worlds and is forced to face up to herself and her deepest fears and disappointments - her shadow self. One thing I particularly enjoyed in this tale is how the author weaves conservation and the need to preserve our environment,  into her story. Although it is set in the sixteenth century, many of the concerns facing her world are the same concerns we face today. The author also confronts the issue of differences and relationships across those differences. It is a truly inspirational and moving tale. 

I cannot wait to read her next book on my TBR list - The Witch Within, which incidentally was written before The Goddess Within. I hope the insights and understanding I gained from The Goddess Within will make the next book, even more, exciting and enjoyable. Thank you to Iva Kenaz for such a wonderful and enthralling distraction from my daily world. If I could possibly give you more than five stars for this story, I surely would.

You can access all of Iva Kanaz' work here: http://amzn.to/1N0600l       

Oddscapes and Quirkitudes, in of itself, is an intriguing name for a book, but for this book it fits it perfectly. This is a collection of short stories that are genuinely odd and quirky. What I particularly liked about this book was that, unlike many anthologies, it didn't focus on just one genre. Panayi is known to be an excellent storyteller across many genres and this certainly comes through in her collection of short stories. There are in total twenty-one fascinating little vignettes across; fantasy, post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction, and people watching. 

Until recently I had not been a fan of short stories and dare I say it, even dismissive of them as being uncompleted works in progress. This and other anthologies I have read recently has rapidly changed my perceptions. Short stories are a wonderful way to get across a relevant point or idea and make the reader think. This is certainly the case with Oddscapes and Quirkitudes, which allows Panayi's sometimes sarcastic and insightful style to resonate with the reader and to make him/her ask themselves the relevant questions posed by the author. 

Like all anthologies there are some stories that resonate with me more than others and some that will stick in my memory long after the read. Of the three genres, the two I enjoyed the most were the Post-Apcalyptic and the People Watching. 

I loved the incredibly accurate handle Panayi seems to have on the troubles that face our modern society and how we could so easily slip into a situation that renders a dystopian world. Two stories from this section that particularly intrigued me were; Nine Voices After the Apocalypse and History of Planet Earth. Both of these stories are absolute winners in my mind. 

I adored all of the people watching stories and marvelled at Panayi's perceptions. My two favourites from this section were; Hospital Visions and The Reunion. Panayi simply has this marvelous ability to pick through the veneer of civilised lifestyle and tell it how it really is. Interestingly enough my favourite story in the book came from neither of those genres, but from the fantasy genre. The Initiation completely sucked me in and the ending was totally perfect. I loved it. 

Panayi is a very talented, eclectic author and I love reading her work. This lastest just reinforces my belief that this woman is an "Indie Author" on the rise. Five stars all the way to Oddscapes and Quirkitudes.

Check out Oddscapes and Quirkitudes here: http://amzn.to/22JYaDH

​I could best describe Sun, Sea and Secrets with one word - sumptuous. In this novel, Panayi has adopted a writing style that draws the reader in and caresses them with the warm breezes of the Greek Islands. 

This is not the first book of Panayi's that I have read and what amazes me about her writing style is her ability to contour her works to suit the genre or subject she is writing about. I have read a non-fiction book by this author as well as a paranormal story and each was as totally different in their phrasing and style as they could be, yet they were all wonderfully written stories. I have called Panayi, in the past, the Eclectic Indie Author for a reason. She is one of those rare authors who it appears can write about any topic and tailor it perfectly to their audience.

Sun, Sea, and Secrets is a perfect example of this rare talent. The story is as simple as they come. We follow Ella, a British woman seeking her roots and her possible father amongst the Greek Islands. He mother, who died when Ella was just five, had a brief stay on one island back in the early 1960's, with Ella being the result of her summer vacation. Ella, now an attractive, young, woman, returns to the island to try to discover more about her mother's stay there and possibly to find her father. 

This is a simple, uncomplicated tale, with minimal drama, no conflict and also virtually no romance and yet in Panayi's skillful hands it became a compelling story that I couldn't wait to get to the end of. Her rich, descriptive language had me yearning to visit the Greek Islands. I could smell the trees and the honeysuckle, I could taste  and smell the wonderful Greek food that she so beautifully described, in such detail.

This book truly ranks as one of my favorite reads of all time. For such a simple tale it managed to grab and excite me totally through the written words of Panayi. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rich, fulsome, descriptive language. It was a joy to read and I am hanging out for the sequel to see where Ella's adventures lead next. 

I hesitate to say anything negative about this book because I loved it so much, but if I could give one piece of advice to Panayi, it would be this. A book this good deserves a cover with the name of the book and the author's name. The cover photograph is beautiful, but it's not a book cover. I would suggest she remedy this, but that is a VERY minor note. 

This is a five star plus read. It is simply exquisite.         

Having read McGrath's earlier version of this book, Mud on Your Face, aimed at I guess the eight to twelve-year-old  market and being enthralled by the simple tale and the messages it contained for our young folk, I was keen to check out the bedtime story version of the book for the younger set. 

I was not disappointed. McGrath has trimmed the story down to a version that is more readable for that purpose and increased the illustrations dramatically. The illustrations match the story in that they are simple, but beautifully drawn, much like the characters in her story. 

This is a fun, enjoyable book for bedtime reading that imparts some very good life lessons about love, family, and teasing or bullying. I enjoyed this read as much as the original and commend McGrath on her idea to produce similar books suitable for different audiences. I can definitely picture grandparents and parents all over the world sitting at the bedside and sharing this beautiful work with their grandchildren and children. 

Another winner from McGrath. Great job and fully deserving the five stars I'm giving it.  

You can check out Muddy Face here: http://amzn.to/1P6qlmo

Betrayal: The Consequences is a little unusual in some ways in that it could just as easily have  been written as an epilogue to the first book; Betrayal. At 71 pages is it is short, but it is well worth the effort to read. To get the most from this book, I would suggest you first read that wonderful book by Brownlie, called Betrayal. This will certainly allow you to understand better what the character is describing in this follow-up. 

When Betrayal ended we saw Helen King, the serial killer carted off to prison after being found guilty of three murders. Betrayal: The Consequences focuses principally on a letter written to the head of the Police Squad who captured her and describes Helen's journey through to where she eventually ends up. 

As other reviewers have noted, there was an underlying feeling of sadness and sorrow about this young girl, who never had a chance in life. Abused, used and betrayed, from the age of five, Helen grew up trusting nobody and festering the hatred of those who had betrayed her trust and love. 

Despite the vicious and callous nature of her character's murders, Brownlie still manages to squeeze some empathy for the young girl from her readers and this is testament to her superb writing. I enjoyed this book, short though it was, very much. 

For anyone who has read Betrayal, I would say that Betrayal: The Consequences is an absolute must read. It gives us, the readers, closure on what was a superbly crafted and wonderful novel. I gave Betrayal five stars for that very reason and I give Betrayal: The Consequences five stars also, because it gave me closure on this story. Excellent job Sharon Brownlie.

You can check out Betrayal: The Consequences here: http://amzn.to/1OBG4ja  

Betrayal is the second book I have read from the pen of Sharon Brownlie. Both books I've read have been of a horrific nature in that they explored the very depths that human beings can fall to. Betrayal certainly lives up to that billing. It is a hard, gritty, serious look inside the mind of a female serial killer. 

We follow a young woman, Helen King, internally scarred by terrible sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her father and his friends beginning at the age of just five. A number of times Helen turned to people she trusted, people who were supposed to care, people who were in a position to help the young girl escape her horrors, only to be rejected, disbelieved, called a liar and ultimately sent away. From her mother to her teacher, her social worker, her father's superior in the Army; nobody would help Helen King until she found a friend called Ash in the care home she had been sent to. As Helen embarks on her one woman rampage of murder, to seek justice from those who betrayed her as a child, it is left to the local police led by DI Brennan to hunt her down and catch her. 

The story is fast-paced, very violent and very gritty, but it has a superbly crafted plot and dialogue that is both believable and allows the reader to empathize, even with this crazed serial killer. 

Personally, I think Brownlie is a real star in this genre and her books to date have been incredibly exciting, enthralling and ultimately thought provoking. She leaves you with the feeling that; "there but for the grace of God, go I". 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes hard, serious, action dramas. In the world of "Indie" authors, Brownlie is simply one of the best and I will be looking forward to reading more of her in the future. 

A MUST READ for 2016! Great job! 

Check out Betrayal here: http://amzn.to/1OYoikb

A Little Trouble?
​Hmmm, perhaps the cover should have given me some inkling as to what I was letting myself in for when I picked up T.E. Hodden's book to read. This is the second book of Hodden's that I have read, but it was nothing like the first; in fact, it probably couldn't have been any more different if it tried. 

My initial reaction to "A Little Trouble" was "A Little Perturbed". I'm not sure what the genre of this is in the new vernacular, but to an old-school reader like me, it was simply Science Fiction. When we meet the principal character in A Little Trouble, Ed Reaper, he is preparing for Christmas, with his living "toy" companions. These companions are living, furry,toys but are also co-workers in the organisation Ed works for; DREAD! 

Ed, his companions, as well as a next-door neighbour, and her nine-year-old daughter are about to be pitched into battle against one of many alien forces who wish to take over the earth for their own nefarious purposes. To complicate matters, Ed is also forced to deal with his dead father who has come back to join forces with the alien invader, known as The Madness, and create a world in his father's vision. 

The interactions between Ed and his Father were definitely one of the more interesting aspects of this book. Hodden addresses many of the issues that come up when someone seeks to force their interpretation of utopia on an unsuspecting population. I always like it when an author questions issues relative to today's society in a science fiction/fantasy setting. This was exceptionally well done and added greatly to the book's appeal. 

The whole idea of little, furry, toys being living creatures and helping Ed and his team to fight The Madness took a while to get my head around, but in many way ended up making the story much more fun and light than it could have been. The companions each have their own distinct personalities and this makes the characters and the story flow well. 

If this is your genre, you will love this story. It has everything you need in a good, rollicking, fantasy tale; heroes, quests, evil beings, battles, great courage, humour and an affirmation of the human spirit. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who wants an adventure with a bit of fun. 

Why not 5 Stars? Firstly, although I did enjoy the book and I do love reading outside of my comfort zone from time to time, A Little Trouble really is not my preferred genre and there were times when I had to force myself to accept some of the things Hodden introduced into the story. Secondly, there were a few too many editorial issues in the book, that could be tidied up. I heartily give this 4.5 stars though. It was a different and a fun read. 

I admire the author for producing two excellent books (that I've read so far) that were so completely different. Authors can often become stuck in a genre and their books become formulaic. I suspect this will not happen to Hodden. A good job and a good read! 

You can check out this book here: http://amzn.to/1NPnccQ

Average Joe and the Extraordinaires is a Young Adult novel that both surprised and delighted me in parts. I did take some consdiderable time to read this book, more than normal, but that was more to do with reading it on my laptop, rather than my phone, as opposed to any problems with the story. 

Many moons have passed since I was a Young Adult, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of this book. I loved the cover immediately and quickly fell in love with the whole concept of an ordinary teenager caught up in a web of intrigue in a small, fictional town. The idea that someone as average as Joe clearly was, could be a hero and help to foil a major criminal plot was a good one. Wright, I think, handled the character of Joe very well, never forgetting that he was a normal teenager with all the angst and self-doubts that goes with that species. 

The characters Joe came across in his quest to unravel the mystery were "heavily" drawn, by the writer almost to the point of caricature, which is not a criticism and suited the style of the book very well. We had the crusty, gruff, ex-detective, with a heart of gold underneath the grizzled exterior. We had the beautiful, somewhat magical, slightly older women heroes that tantalised the teenage Joe with their beauty, but were wise enough not to mess with Joe's relationship with his equally gorgeous, young girlfriend. The archetypal school bullies put in an appearance later in the tale and in some ways took over the story with their antics. I particularly enjoyed the pranking scenes. Finally, we had Joe's faithful and loyal sidekick Mod who became the butt of many of the bullies' pranks. 

All in all, it was  a delightful romp through high-school days, with all the appropriate moral lessons to be learned in a tale such as this. I understand this is Wright's first published novel and I think he should be congratulated on a fine job. It was a fun, easy and error-free read. 

I do however have to address the style in which the dialogue is written. The author has chosen to write the novel like a screenplay, which I found difficult to follow at times. This is the first time I've seen this technique used in a novel and although I have no problem with authors experimenting with different styles, it can be a problem for an "indie" author, as I know full well myself. I admit to at times having to re-read a section of dialogue just to confirm who had actually said what to who. That being said, as I got further through the book and got used to the style, the readbility improved for me a lot. 

This is a fun, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable book. The four stars I give it in no way detracts from my enjoyment of the story, it is merely a reflection of the unusual dialogue presentation. 

Read this book, you'll enjoy it. I look forward to more work from the pen of this talented author Belart Wright.  

You can check out Average Joe and the Extraordinaires here: http://amzn.to/1JKkBgs