Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

dawn of affinity by v. j. deanes

28/2/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The year is 2029 and although it is still illegal to clone humans, this didn’t stop a dedicated band of scientists from doing so some years ago and continuing to create and protect several growing communities of clones. Scientists at Wyndall Life Sciences Centre are at the cutting edge of gene technology and are world renowned for their contribution to human advancement and the fight against disease, but this has always been a front for their real purpose; creating a population of clones to eventually integrate with humans – the next evolutionary step. This is the scenario presented to us by V J Deanes in Dawn of Affinity. There are small rural communities across the country that have become the cradles for these clones, Hadley Crossing is one such community. Kalan Mars discovers not only does he have an exact double somewhere in the country, but that he, himself, may be a clone. When the Society for the Elimination of Artificial People (SEAP) seek out Kalan to eliminate him, he finds himself on the run for his very life.

This is the second book I’ve read recently that looks at the merging of humanity with Artificial Intelligence and asks the big moral question; is this playing God? Is it right? Dawn of Affinity by V J Deanes is an interesting glimpse at what the future might hold. Despite many forms of gene manipulation being considered to be unethical and illegal, are we being naïve in assuming it is not happening? I found the story of Kalan, and the dilemma he faced; was he a clone or was he human? to be very compelling. Deanes also made the reader look at the possible consequences of the public knowledge of this cloning and what it might mean to the general population, which I felt was very useful. The idea that clones could one day fully integrate into society and in fact they were the next evolutionary step to creating smarter, more advanced and more adaptable humans was also clever. As a thriller, the story did its job also as the characters sought to uncover the truth about the work at the Wyndall Life Sciences Centre. Dawn of Affinity is a good read and well worth the effort.

Do pop on over to Amazon to check out Dawn of Affinity on V. J. Deanes' Amazon page:

afterlife code by j. M. erickson

28/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Afterlife Code by Joseph M Erickson is a short Science Fiction novella that explores what may well be the next technological breakthrough for mankind; implanting code within the human brain to control and eliminate undesirable elements that can affect normal brain function. Dr Melanie Sage is a brilliant, young mind who has an electronic implant to assist her to overcome and cope with her autism. She develops a code that can be activated by her smartphone to enhance her implant. Problems occur when she activates this code in the presence of her therapist, Robert Cobb, who also has a brain implant to help him to cope with his Traumatic Stress. Cobb’s implant is an older implant without shielding and when Melanie touches her therapist it completes a circuit that throws them into a series of parallel universes and different versions of their lives. What they learn on this journey will ensure what they will make of their future.

What I particularly liked about Afterlife Code was its relevance to current science. I felt like I was reading a novel that touched on the cutting edge of scientific research today. This type of AI / Human interface is already being researched and experimented upon. What Joseph M Erickson asks is; what are the possible results of this experimentation? Will we open up a Pandora’s Box by linking ourselves to artificial intelligence? The whole idea of multiverses and alternate states of reality is very much a hot topic among quantum physicists and this whole area gives the novelist much scope for imagination. I found the book easy to read, if a little short for my liking. I especially enjoyed the conclusions that Cobb and Sage drew as it conforms to my general thinking about the purpose of life and the eternity of our existence. I would love to have seen more development of the characters, but this was a novella with the main focus being the concept and I felt that was developed very well. I would read more of this author’s work.

You can check out Afterlife Code and all of J M Erickson's other books here on his Amazon page:

Leader of the Pack: How a Single Dad of Five Led His Kids, His Business and Himself From Disaster to Success BY MATT SWEETWOOD

23/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

To all single parents out there (not just Dads) Leader of the Pack by Matt Sweetwood, should be required reading before you embark on your own journey of trying to raise children without a loving and caring spouse beside you. Matt, found himself in an abusive and destructive relationship when he married the beautiful and beguiling Charlotte. A man tortured by his own low self-esteem who manages to rationalise his own awful behaviour and neglect of his children’s needs by assuring himself that he is lucky to have gotten Charlotte to even look at him, let alone marry him (Phew! Haven’t we all been there!) It takes Matt, his family and his finances to reach the lowest nadir before he finally wakes up and takes action to deal with this abusive wife and mother. He learns a lot about himself during this long journey into the depths of “hell”, but does he learn enough to stop himself from making the same mistake all over again, the second time around?

Leader of the Pack is the most powerful personal memoir I’ve read in a very long time. Perhaps it was because the circumstances Matt describes hit so close to home for me, but nevertheless, one can but admire the author’s courage in bringing this, much too common problem, out into the light and exposing the insanity of his thought processes that led him down the road he travelled. I found the narrative of this harrowing tale so compelling I literally could not stop reading it. Readers will groan in disbelief at places and shout at the main character (Matt himself!) asking; “what were you thinking?” but all through it, the man’s simple desire to just be happy and to raise his five children the best way he can, comes shining through. Although this is specifically about Male solo dads and that is part of Matt’s advocacy, many of the circumstances faced by Matt are equally applicable to both sexes in a violent, abusive, co-dependent relationship. If I could give this book more than five stars, I surely would. Congratulations on such a frank and honest memoir, Matt Sweetwood.

You can pop on over to Amazon and check out Leader of the Pack on Matt Sweetwood's Amazon page here:

encore by margaret lynette sharp

21/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Encore from Australian author Margaret Lynette Sharp is a collection of twenty-four short stories built around the themes of love, betrayal, loss and redemption. From sixteen year old Annie, in Annie’s Story that details her attraction to and obsession with her fantasy about Keiran, to middle-aged Caroline writing to her sister in Letters to Nanette to explain she has finally found love and is prepared to take a risk to explore the possibilities, Sharp covers the full gamut of relationships both familial and romantic. One of the commonest themes running through these short stories is that of betrayal and how we all handle such things differently. Do we still pine for our lost love and how hard is it to commit to someone when that flame lurks in the background? In A Date to Remember Gary is talked into to taking the wallflower sister of his mate, out on a date. Violet proves to be more than just a wallflower as she opens up and blooms on the date, way beyond Gary’s expectations.

The volume of stories makes this book easy to read as each story can be read in one quick sitting. The topics are issues that we all face and have to deal with on a regular basis. I found Encore a gentle, satisfying read and I’m impressed with Margaret Lynette Sharp’s approach to the conclusion of each tale. There are no unexpected twists or turns, just a subtle, telling thought or message for the reader to take on board. With this many stories, I’m sure each reader will find a few favourites. For me, there were two stories that stood out and impressed me the most. A Date to Remember makes us realise that the popular, pretty, social butterflies are not always the best choices for our long-term relationships. We should look deeper, beyond the surface superficiality and take the time to explore the less adept at socialising and watch them develop and bloom into the beautiful people they always were. The Brave Do Conquer reminds us to not settle for mediocrity, but to follow our bliss and chase our dreams. All in all, a satisfying, little collection of short stories.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Encore and the rest of Margaret Lynette Sharp's extensive collection of works.

six tales of christmas by jenny twist

21/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Six Tales of Christmas by Jenny Twist is a collection of short stories, as the title suggests themed around Christmas. Uncle Albert’s Christmas explores the dilemma faced by many elderly people who can feel manipulated by their relatives, especially after their spouse has passed, when in reality all they want to do is be left alone with their memories, or pursue their own adventures. In, An Extraordinary Coincidence, Twist introduces us to a modern-day Joseph and Mary who are jokingly contemplating the wisdom of calling their soon to be born son; Jesus. Home for Christmas examines the plight of the elderly who are often forced into retirement homes against their will by relatives who just want them out of sight and out of mind, but, of course, assure them it is for their “own good”. Jamey and the Alien goes to the other end of the spectrum and looks at a “Christmas Miracle” through the eyes of a little boy whose father is terminally ill. Two more stories and a bonus ghost story, at the end, round out this lovely collection.

As with any collection or anthology, as a reader, we have our favourites, but I can honestly say, with perhaps the exception of An Extraordinary Coincidence, I found all of the stories, in their own way to be beautiful, moving and on message. Each story carried a strong homily about love and about family and Jenny Twist certainly got her points across in these Six Tales of Christmas. If I had to pick a couple of favourites, I would probably plump for Marion and Jamey and the Alien. The later story, with its “Christmas Miracle” was heart-warming and from a child’s perspective, very realistic. I will admit to not figuring out until right at the end that the “chewmer” eating Jamie’s father’s brain was of course a tumour. Marion was just beautiful. It was so easy to identify with the old man, who felt the loss of his beloved Marion more on occasions such as Christmas. It was just a sweet, wonderful, little tale. As I said, all these stories were fantastic and I can highly recommend this collection as a must read at Christmas (to put you in the right spirit) and any other time of the year that you need uplifting. Wonderful, Jenny Twist.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Six Tales of Christmas, plus the rest of Jenny Twist's extensive and impressive portfolio.

the railroad adventures of chen sing by george chiang

20/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang is a delightful children’s book that tells the adventures of Chiang’s grandfather when he first came to America in the 1880’s to work on the transcontinental railways on the West Coast. From a small farming village in Southern China’s Guangdong Province to the bustling metropolis of Guangzhou, where Sing and his companion Bo are kidnapped and shipped to Hong Kong, the pair eventually find themselves on the ship to North America, where their adventures begin. In the raw, untamed Canadian Pacific Rockies, the team of Chinese workmen face daily danger and death as they blast their way through the mountains to build the iron road on Gold Mountain. Despite the hardships and privations in the railroad camp Sing falls in love with this rugged country and decides ultimately to make his home there, among the indigenous population.

George Chiang has presented a beautiful children’s tale here in The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing. The book, with its simple, yet delightful illustrations, digitally drawn by Jessica Warner, would, I am sure, quickly become a favourite read for young people from about eight to twelve. It is just the type of book I could imagine reading to my grandchildren as they go to sleep. It is not too long to become boring and yet not too short to be rushed through in one sitting with a child. The personal connection that Chiang has with the principal character gives the whole story even more poignancy. The writing is perfectly suited to the target market age-group and the issues covered of immigration, race relations and the virtues of hard work are as topical and relevant today, as they were in the 1880’s. I can highly recommend this read for children of the age group. An excellent effort by George Chiang.

You can check out The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing here on George Chiang's Amazon page:

chinawoman's chance: volume 1 (portia of the pacific historical mysteries) by james musgrave

20/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Chinawoman’s Chance (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries) by Jim Musgrave takes us back to the bustling and somewhat lawless society of 1884 San Francisco. The Californian Gold Rush and the Railways have made San Francisco a place of wealth and power, but for certain sections of society, nothing has really changed. For women and for the Chinese immigrants brought to America by the Railway bosses to help build the railways, life is hard. Neither have any real rights in this America of the 1880’s. Championing the cause for women and the oppressed is the larger than life self-trained barrister, Clara Shortridge Foltz Esq. When a young ex-prostitute is murdered, flayed and eviscerated in the Chinatown district of the City, suspicion immediately falls on the Chinese Tongs that make up the ghetto that is Chinatown. Captain Isaiah Lees and his Sergeant must determine who is responsible and cut off any possibility of retaliatory action against the Chinese immigrants. Competing against the rival and corrupt Sheriff’s Department plus the City’s Mayor, Lees has his job cut out for him.

As a big fan of historical novels in general and historical mystery stories in particular, I found Jim Musgrave’s Chinawoman’s Chance (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries) to be absolutely superb. As the first of a series of books based around the wonderful character of Clara Shortridge Foltz Esq. the author has set up a marketable and believable set of characters on which to build his series. Clara was clearly the star of the story, with her forthrightness and her willingness to take the patriarchal society on, at their own game. In the age of the suffragettes, Musgrave’s character was the perfect portrayal of the women who led the campaign for women’s rights all around the world. Her freedom and her owning of her own sexuality was rare among woman of the time. It was fascinating to look at the reaction of the politicians to the perceived growing threat of the “yellow menace”, as they termed it, with their heathen religions and beliefs, comparing that to today’s response with respect to Hispanic and Muslim immigration. The “Exclusion Act” and the “Muslim Ban” – not all that different, perhaps? This book appealed to me on many levels, but most importantly of all, it was a damn good read and an excellent mystery.

You can find Chinawoman's Chance by James Musgrave here on Amazon:

flying upright by susan jean ricci

18/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Flying Upright is a short novella from Susan Jean Ricci that brings us the story of two young children, Monique and Dom who are captivated by the idea of representing their country one day at the Winter Olympics in the sport of pairs figure skating. When Monique, meets the three-year’s older Dom at the age of eight she falls in love with ice-skating and the dream of achieving it all. Years of dedication and hard work see the young prodigy’s progress to the point where they really are serious contenders for Olympic selection. When tragedy strikes and Dom is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, the pair must reassess their lives, their single-minded commitment to achieving their dreams and indeed the relationship that has grown between the pair over the years. Can Monique and Dom, as individuals, survive this disaster and how will it affect their burgeoning romance?

Although a short, little novella, Flying Upright was sweet and somewhat captivating. With the Winter Olympics currently on television, the timing of the read couldn’t have been more perfect and watching the pairs skaters on television made me think of Monique and Dom and the incredible amount of practice and commitment they had to put in, just to raise their performance to the level where they could be considered for selection. Susan Jean Ricci has a clear, concise writing style that is realistic and believable. The character of Monique, as the precocious and sometimes rebellious teenager was well drawn. I found the story to be somewhat predictable, but that never lessened the pleasure of the read. We all need to read some feel-good stories from time to time and Flying Upright is definitely one of those. If the author’s intent with her novella’s is to entice the reader into accessing more of her work, then she can consider it a job well done, for this reader. It was a pleasant and rewarding journey with Monique and Dom.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Flying Upright, plus Susan Jean Ricci's entire and substantial portfolio.

miguel traveler #1: the man from texas by daniel mcfatter

17/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands, is his new mother. Once, violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.

I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Miguel Traveler #1 by Daniel McFatter - you won't regret it!

hearts set free (hidden heart #8) by mary crawford

15/2/2018

Whenever I pick up a Mary Crawford book it is like coming home and taking a satisfying rest - I have become so attached to the wonderful sets of intertwined characters she has created for both her Hidden Heart series and her Hidden Beauty series. There is something almost nurturing about coming back to these characters, whose lives are so intricately entwined. Each book focuses on a different couple in the group of friends and relatives, but each story brings something new to the table and the supporting characters also reveal more about themselves than they did in the story that was dedicated to them.

Regular readers of my reviews will know I sort of fell into Mary Crawford's world by accident, but I couldn't be happier about it now. Hearts Set Free is yet another, sweet and romantic adventure with two lonely individuals, each tormented by a violent event in their past that robbed them of their happiness and they believe their futures. Crawford skillfully brings these two long-time friends together and helps them to realise that there is hope for the future and for love - that hope, perhaps, residing in each other. Darya, a Police Detective, with an eight and a half year old daughter and Stuart, a veterinarian couldn't be more different in many ways, but the shared experience of having violently lost a loved one is what draws them together and will hold them there, as long as they can both let go of the past.

The whole two series of Crawford's are simply superb. They are not pretentious or exceptionally clever, with intricate plot twists, but what they are is an examination of the human condition and the need we all have to love and to be loved, despite out many flaws and/or disabilities. It is the simplicity of the stories and their endearing characters that continues to bring me back to Crawford's work. She is a master storyteller in this genre and I look forward to each and every one of her new works, wondering perhaps, like she does, who is the next pair in this cast to have their lives exposed on Crawford's pages.

Keep up the great work Mary - this reader loves your stories

Please, absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and check out Hearts Set Free, plus the full selection of Mary Crawfor'd's "Hidden Hearts" and "Hidden Beauty" series. They are all wonderful.

generations intertwine: the rest of the story by joyce K. Walters

15/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Generations Intertwine (The Rest of the Story) by Joyce K. Walters is a hard-hitting and emotional story of how one man’s indifference and casual callousness toward his relationship can affect not just those in immediate vicinity, but can in fact create generational angst and pain. William Henry, a military veteran, discovered early on in his career, that deployment on missions often opened up the opportunity for romantic dalliances that could be kept secret from his wife and family. After his army career ended, William found an out-of-state job gave him the perfect opportunity to live a double-life, with effectively two families – one in Las Vegas and one in Colorado. What William had no way of understanding was how these two separate lives would one day intersect and the pain it would cause all those who professed to know and love William Henry.

Joyce K. Walters pulls no punches in Generations Intertwine (The Rest of the Story). She is scathing and probably rightly so, of William’s aberrant behaviour. Because this story is told almost exclusively from the perspective of the women in William’s family, it is totally understandable that this should be so. As a male reader, the story more than once, gave me pause to stop and think, “how is it, that so many men are able to rationalise away their cheating and conniving and live seemingly happy and fulfilled lives, while the women in their lives are left to carry the burden and suffering?” Although this book is presented as fiction, it’s hard not to believe that it is rooted in some part of the Author’s life experience. They say truth is stranger than fiction and going by the coincidental generational intertwining in this story, it’s hard to argue with that. I believe any novel that makes the reader think and ask questions about themselves and their morality or code of ethics has done a worthy job. This book certainly does that, so kudos to Walters. A very good read.

It appears that Joyce K. Walters books are written under the pan-name of Joyce Gatschenberger, so why not pop on over to Amazon and check them out.

twice melvin by james pumpelly

11/2/2018

When Melvin Morrison dies, things don’t go quite the way he expects. He finds himself in an in-between land, still able to see his wife and friends, but unable to interact with them or influence their actions significantly. In Twice Melvin, by James Pumpelly, Melvin is guided in the afterlife, by his long deceased Aunt Martha, who explains to him the whys and wherefores of being dead. Much of what Martha discloses to Melvin will come as a great shock to him and he begins to realise he has a decision to make, one that will impact on everyone in his life and their futures, including future generations. Melvin’s ex-law partner George and both of their past philandering will play a significant part in Melvin’s future both in the afterlife and also back in earth’s reality. George has secret designs on Melvin’s wife and Melvin is none too sure how he feels about that. Add in to the mix an incompetent sperm bank and the scene is set for a true comedy of errors.

Twice Melvin is a comedic, slightly off-the-wall view of relationships, friendship and human interaction. James Pumpelly’s characters are uniquely drawn so as to emphasise their quirkiness, their eccentricities and, of course, their biases and prejudices. It was a really pleasant surprise for me, as a reader, to depart from the common language of genre fiction and return again to the eloquent, more refined use of the English language, as one might expect from a nineteenth-century novel. This book is contemporary literature and Pumpelly displays both his artistic ability as a wordsmith and a poet. The story is at times, very humourous, but very much in that shy, British style of self-deprecating humour. That it was set in and around New England amongst the stuffy, ‘old money’ society just gave the story a richness and depth that I haven’t read for some considerable time. The premise and the exploration of morality, choices and self-awareness were intricate and well-handled by the author. This is the type of work that demands a reader explore more of this author’s portfolio. It was a pleasant change to my usual reading fare and one to be recommended, from time to time.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Twice Melvin by James Pumpelly. It'll be well worth your while.

the lesser evil by the black rose

9/2/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Lesser Evil by The Black Rose is a continuation of the Killing Game series, being book five in that series. Ives Andrich, Director of Operations for the FBI is independently wealthy and considered by many to be a genius in criminal investigation. When Ives’ wife, is supposedly murdered Ives refuses to believe she is dead and investigations show she has been kidnapped by a shadowy, Neo-Nazi group intent on creating a nation built along the lines of racial purity and common purpose (sound familiar?) The purpose for kidnapping Ives’ wife becomes clear. This New World Order need Ives’ assistance to help them realise their dream and are holding his wife as a bargaining chip. They draw Ives to a large, private estate in Bavaria, where Ives is certain his wife is being held. Things, though, are not quite what they appeared to be originally and to secure her release Ives finds he must help these powerful men in their twisted schemes.

This is not the first of this series from The Black Rose (what a wonderful nom-de-plume) that I have read and I was excited to see where this tale was leading. I was not disappointed with this fast-paced and thought provoking narrative. What I really liked was that it wasn’t necessary to have read the previous four books in the series, to enjoy The Lesser Evil. While I would recommend reading them in order, the author did a fantastic job of explaining motivations and actions that related to previous books, with small asides in the commentary – excellent. A highlight, for me, in this book was the incredibly detailed and descriptive scene setting by the author. I really felt and recognised the grandeur of the Estate Ives was staying on. Similarly, the characters were well drawn and easily identifiable. This particular book dwelt much more on the two main characters, Ives and Herr Schultz and I enjoyed getting to know them more intimately. This was a wonderful read and I can highly recommend it to anyone who loves spy type, mystery, thrillers. I cannot wait to read the next instalment in these characters’ adventures.

The Lesser Evil by The Black Rose is not yet available on Amazon, but do pop on over to The Black Rose's Amazon page and you can check out the rest of the Ives Andrich series.

there be demons by m. k. theodoratus

5/2/2018

There Be Demons By M. K. Theodoratus
Editorial Review for the Author Resource Centre
Prepared by Grant Leishman

There are demons among us and we aren’t even aware of it. In the city of Trebridge, Andor, demons seek to take over the world, to inhabit humans and to wreak havoc and destruction everywhere. All that keeps these foul-smelling, evil creatures at bay are a squad of Gargoyles, attached to a Church in Trebridge and four young teenagers, led by the feisty, but shy, fourteen-year-old Britt, who will become the Gargoyle gang, as they find themselves pitted against some of the most evil creatures the Universe has ever spawned. In “There Be Demons” by M. K. Theodoratus, we are introduced to this unlikely band of demon hunters.
All four live in the “Towers” project, a high-rise that is inner-city slum territory. Britt lives, in a two bedroomed apartment, with her Mum, two younger brothers, her half-sister Pietra and Pietra’s two young babies. Crowded, poor, and often hungry, after being abandoned by their philandering father, Britt has everything stacked against her, getting ahead in life. A scholarship to St Cecilia’s High School ensures she will receive the education she needs to find a way out of the projects. Life in Trebridge is tough and uncompromising, with violence everywhere, but it is only as Britt and her friends come to learn from the Gargoyles, that most of the pain and suffering the people are under, comes directly from the influence of the demons, that they truly understand the importance of the task they have been chosen to undertake. Overseeing this mess is the elusive and recalcitrant Angeli, who must be obeyed, but seem unwilling to help the young people, or the Gargoyles, in any practical sense
“There Be Demons”, is an exceptionally readable and exciting, young-adult fantasy. M. K. Theodoratus, an author I have not come across before has done a superb job at creating some very realistic young protagonists/heroes that the reader is immediately able to identify and empathise with. The real standout, for me, was the character of Britt. The author managed to convey the lead protagonist, as a strong, able, and incredibly feisty young woman, who still retained all the shyness, angst and fears of any young fourteen-year-old girl, who equally, longs to be normal, accepted and loved. Britt and her friend/boyfriend Cahal were definitely the star turns in this story. The developing romance and awakening between the pair certainly helped to temper the more violent and vicious parts of the story.
A real highlight was Theodoratus’ descriptive writing when characterising the demons. As one read, one really felt they were there, with Britt, facing down these slimy, disgusting, evil and vile creatures. Her detailed physical descriptions of the many different types of demons; definitely brought them to life, for me. Equally, the fight scenes were realistic and believable. Not once did I find myself scoffing about how a victory was achieved, as is often the case when reading books of this ilk.
“There Be Demons” was a pleasure to read and if fantasy is your thing, you will definitely enjoy this offering. I found intriguing the concept that this battle against demons was something happening all over the Universe and I have little doubt that gives the author plenty of ideas for future projects and stories. All in all, a very satisfying read and something a little bit different in this genre. “There Be Demons”, is definitely a must read for fans of the genre.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out There Be Demons, as well as the rest of M. K. Theodoratus' offerings.

survival of the sparrows by pete conrad

3/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Imagine, for a moment, an America that has turned inward, disrespected and disregarded the wishes and feelings of the rest of the world (not too hard to do in these times really). This is the premise of Pete Conrad’s novel Survival of the Sparrows. A coalition of forces from Russia, North Korea and the Middle East has invaded the American homeland and is pushing on with its plan to rule the USA. In rural Johnsonville, Georgia, May and Winston Sparrow a middle-aged African-American couple are worried the invading forces will pass through their small town on their way to take Atlanta. Winston has constructed a false wall in his barn where he and May will hide out until they invading army has passed through. Things don’t go quite to plan for the couple, though and they are caught, trapped in their wall space as the Generals make their small holding, their Southern headquarters.

Survival of the Sparrows was a chillingly frightening reminder of just how fragile our world order and peace truly is. Given the current situation in America and the rest of the world, the scenario painted by Pete Conrad is not too far-fetched at all. This book was a fantastic read, with Winston and May lurching from one crisis to another. Fast-paced, with just the right amount of stereotyping and violence, tempered by the true spirit of human kindness and understanding, this is a very enjoyable book. The two main characters May and Winston and their travails, trapped inside their tiny wall space, were incredibly easy to identify with and I particularly enjoyed the good ole Southern accent and slang in the dialogue. Intentionally, or not, Conrad has hit upon a realistic scenario that was both believable and riveting to read. I truly couldn’t put the book down, even when I knew I should be doing other things. That is probably the best tribute I can give to author Conrad. A real bottler of a read!

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Survival of the Sparrows plus Pete Conrad's other offerings.

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