Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

rock candy mountain: a memoir by earl davis

26/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rock Candy Mountain, by Earl Davis is a quite different type of memoir in that it focuses on just a short period of the author’s life, up until the age of fourteen, with most of the story revolving around a two-year period when he was thirteen. Born in the backblocks of Kentucky, Earl Davis just wanted to experience the world and at the age of thirteen, in the early 1900’s, he headed off from his shanty home, leaving behind an alcoholic, but hardworking, father and a loving mother to see what was beyond the mountains of his Kentucky home. Using the time-honoured method of the day, jumping freight trains and blinding passenger trains, Earl managed to crisscross the United States, and even briefly made it into Canada, finally ending up in Texas, lured by dreams of being a cowboy. Along the way, Earl grew up very quickly and realised the harshness of life, as well as the incredible kindness and heart of many people.

This book gives us a fascinating insight into life at the turn of the last century, in a dirt-poor State, like Kentucky. The authors descriptions of the beauty of his home state and especially his home town, with its freezing winters and its stifling summers, was a simple joy to read. Seeing all of this, through the eyes of a young boy and watching him develop, grow and learn many of life’s hard lessons, is what lifts Rock Candy Mountain above most memoirs I have read. Earl Davis invites us into his own private world and we are privy to the thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams of a often scared and lonely, but always game, young man. I found the style of this telling refreshingly simple and a joy to read. The highlight, for me, was the realisation that even in the depths of poverty; many ordinary people would go out of their way to help this young waif. Earl learnt many important lessons on life in this two year sojourn that would undoubtedly set him up for his future life. I can highly recommend this read. It is a deeply personal and touching insight into a time and ways, long forgotten.

Pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Rock Candy Mountain. It is well worth a perusal.

the beekeeper's secret (Max Ford Thriller) by sally fernandez

23/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When a U.S. Senator is found dead in his hotel room in Brazil, Max Ford, a former CIA operative, turned private detective takes notice, not the least because Senator Jeffrey Lance was her friend, but his wife, Allison, was also Maxine’s best friend. Before long Max finds herself up to her neck in deaths, conspiracies and even the “deep state”. With her many connections, within the Government, Maxine Ford has access that most private detectives would die for, but she also knows from past experience that when she starts rocking the boat at this level, people get agitated and that is not good for her health. Sally Fernandez, in the Beekeeper’s Secret (Max Ford Thrillers), brings us a chillingly realistic tale of natural medicine and honey bees versus Big Pharma and the trillions of dollars that are at stake in the battle to “discover” a cure for that most pernicious of diseases – cancer.

If you love conspiracy theories, especially ones that involve the very highest echelons of the US Government, you’ll adore Sally Fernandez’s, The Beekeepers Secret (Max Ford Thrillers). This story is only one of the Max Ford thrillers this author has penned and although the story stands alone as a readable thriller, there is a connection to earlier tales and having read those would be a definite advantage. Fernandez writes with clarity and with clearly well-done research, as she fleshes out a story that has scientific undertones. Her ability to clearly elucidate scientific research to her readers is definitely a winning hallmark of this author’s style. The plot twists and turns, with surprising regularity as the story races to its final conclusion, yet still leaving the door open for the next book in the Max Ford story. I enjoyed the read and would definitely put this author high on my list of excellent thriller writers.

You can take a look at The Beekeeper's Secret, plus all of Sally Fernandez's extensive profile, here on her Amazon page:

survivaL ON mystery mesa (eagle mountain adventures book 1) by george goldthwaite

21/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When thirteen-year-old friends, Alex and Josh are stranded on a desolate mountain mesa, with Josh’s eight-year-old brother Mickey and Alex’s seriously injured pilot father, following a plane crash, the young people’s survival skills and maturity is severely put to the test. Where they have crashed, in the middle of winter, just one day prior to Christmas, is a lonely, desolate, freezing cold and dangerous place. Not only do the young ones have to figure out how to find food and water, they also have to build a fire to keep warm and to care for Alex’s veterinarian father, who is slipping in and out of consciousness. To add to their travails, throw in a hungry puma and a mysterious, ghost-like remnant of the past inhabitants of this corner of New Mexico, the long disappeared, indigenous Anasazi tribe, and you have the makings of an excellent adventure, full of danger and excitement. This is what author George Goldthwaite has presented his readers with, in Survival on Mystery Mesa: Eagle Mountain Adventures (Book 1).

The number one thing I loved about this story was that although it was written with the target audience of middle-school children, the writing and the story are just as enjoyable for a reader, like me, who is about as far away from middle-school age as one can get. The three youngsters who are the heroes of this story are compelling, believable and totally normal kids that one would meet every day. They possess nothing particularly special, but George Goldthwaite shows through them, that when placed under extreme pressure, even the most average of us is able to rise to the occasion and perform above and beyond what we may have expected of ourselves. As I said, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and the perils the young people faced and attempted to overcome. Especially poignant for me was the way they handled the aftermath of their adventure, when faced somewhat with scepticism and condescension. Survival on Mystery Mesa: Eagle Mountain Adventures (Book 1) is a wonderful story for middle-school children to read, but applicable to all ages and readers who enjoy a good, clean adventure. As the first book in a series, I say, bring on the next one.

You can take a look at Survival on Mystery Mesa, here on Amazon:

a motherland's daughter, a fatherland's son by ellie midwood

20/3/2018

If you read my reviews, you will know what an enormous fan I am of Ellie Midwood's novels set during the second world war. Her latest release; A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son has done absolutely nothing to dampen my love and enthusiasm for this immensely talented author. In my humble opinion this is Midwood's finest work to date and she just gets better and better with every story she pens.

Set, initially, at the start of World War II, when Germany and the USSR were allies, we meet Kira, a Russian military interpreter and Werner, a young, German soldier who meet in Poland, whilst their superiors are discussing the things allies discuss at the time of war. Kira and Werner fall completely and hopelessly in love, with the ultimate plan being for Kira to defect to Germany and the pair to marry. Herr Hitler, however, has other ideas and when Germany reneges on it's mutual non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union and invades their territory, the two lovers find themselves facing each other on the battlefield. How can their love possibly survive the horrors both will experience, as atrocities are committed by both sides, on their enemies? Is there a way out for these two lovers, or was their future doomed when the first Panzer division rolled into Soviet territory?

In many ways, this story reads like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet; the two lovers destined to never be together. As each chapter alternates between Kira and Werner, the reader is drawn into deep sympathy for these characters, as they try to make sense of the horror that their daily lives have devolved into. As a reader, I can honestly say, by the end of the book I alternated between hope and despair for this angst-ridden pair, as they both tried desperately to keep the warmth of their love alive despite the horror.

This is a tough book to read, partly because Midwood is so accurate in her depictions of the true horrors of this war. She does not hide from the raw senselessness and violence that saw one quarter of the population of the Soviet Union wiped from the face of the earth, in the bloodiest conflict in human history. She doesn't gloss over it - and neither should she. This was a horrific war that, at times, portrayed the very worst of the human condition, but... and it's a big BUT, this war was also capable of showing great human kindness, understanding and love and Midwood displays this beautifully and with great tenderness. I think the author summed it up perfectly when she talked about how individual soldiers from both sides, quickly found common ground when they were forced into a position of cohabitation, as they were in the Russian medical centre. German and Russian wounded rapidly realised they had much more in common, that drew them together, than that which pulled them apart. It is this insightful writing by Midwood, that lifts this book FAR above your average war story.

As I said earlier, I believe this book is Ellie Midwood's most powerful and most enjoyable book to date. I can only wait, with bated breath, for the next missive from this ultra-talented author's pen. A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son is an absolute triumph and a must read for all fans of the genre and all readers everywhere. Bravo, Ellie Midwood!

Absolutely do pop on over to Ellie Midwood's Amazon page, where you can take a look at; A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son, or indeed any of Midwood's incredible portfolio of books. I guarantee if you chose any book from her selection, you would not be disappointed.

honor kills: an angelina bonaparte mystery by nanci rathbun

18/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Angelina Bonaparte (pronounced Bon-ar-par-tay) is a female private detective working out of Milwaukee. Six years ago Marcy Wagner hired her to find out what happened to her school teacher husband, who just disappeared from her life and that of their three children, cleaning out the bank accounts and vanishing. In Honor Kills, by Nancy Rathbun, we find Angie stumbling across a clue that leads her back onto the trail of this long cold case, which Angie’s professional sensibilities have never allowed her to let go. Hank Wagner was the one missing person case she had never solved and she was determined to get to the bottom of this, even if it meant involvement with the Mafia and her father’s acknowledged, but never discussed, ties to the mob. Angie, her new intern Bobbie and friends embark on a dangerous journey to hunt down the elusive Mr Wagner.

This story, Honor Kills, by Nancy Rathbun is a continuation of a series centred on the cases of Angie Bonaparte. Although I have not read the previous stories, it is clear each case is a stand-alone read and I have to say, I found Honor Kills an extremely satisfying read. It ticks all the boxes of a good detective mystery and the lead character Angie is extremely easy to empathise with. It’s not often to you come across a middle-aged, PI hero, who is also female. The plot was intricate and full of twists and turns as befits such a mystery story. I particularly enjoyed the supporting cast; her gay intern Bobbie and her tech genius Spider. The author had clearly done her research and the storyline was both credible and enjoyable. The relationship betaween Angie and her Father, the retired Mafia capo, was fascinating and confirmed the stereotype of two different Mafia bosses, one at home and one at work. Having read Honor Kills, I am motivated to read the other books in Rathbun’s series, which is probably as high a praise as a reviewer can give an author.

Honor Kills has yet to be released, however, you should pop on over to Amazon and check out Nanci Rathbun's portfolio of work, including earlier Angelina Bonaparte mysteries.

love buries a spring bird by charles forgrave

15/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Love Buries a Spring Bird, by Charles Forgrave takes us back to our youth, when romance and our burgeoning sexuality was something we contemplated endlessly. Set in the gorgeous upper reaches of Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior, Cortney, who lives in the ex-fishing village and lumber town, meets up with Jackie, from the nearby city of Soo, who is staying at the lake for two weeks with her family and her best friend Ellie. Cortney and Jackie hit it off immediately and spend the rest of the holiday in each other’s company, exploring and hiking the many trails around the village as well as visiting Cortney’s special place on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. When it becomes time for Jackie and her family to return home, reality bites for the love struck pair and so begins a regular commute for Cortney as he tries to keep the relationship alive once the summer excitement has worn off.

There is much to like about this story. We’ve probably all experienced that summer romance, when we were absolutely certain of our feelings and certain of our love for our new partner, only to discover when summer ends and the day-to-day grind of live intrudes, it is much harder to keep the relationship alive. Charles Forgrave’s descriptions in, Love Buries a Spring Bird, of the beauty of the area that is known as the Upper Peninsular of Michigan, does much to endear the story to the reader. The writing style is different to any I have experienced before and may be too simplistic and repetitive for some readers, but there is a certain syncopation to the author’s lines that lifts it above prose, almost into the realm of poetry. Although the author did give his character of Cortney, the opportunity to think and ponder on bigger questions than just making love to Jackie, the character of Jackie, I felt was a little wooden and mono-syllabic. I found the few sexual scenes in the book to be almost “teenage boy jokey” and if that was what the author was aiming for (his potential Y/A audience), then he definitely hit his mark. This was a pleasant enough coming of age/teenage romance and worth a look.

the mercenary (the war chronicles #1) by petra Landon

14/3/2018

Reviewed for Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

The Mercenary, by Petra Landon is the first book in a planned series based around the characters we find in this story and their adventures through space, as they fight for the freedom of their people and the Alliance. As a standalone novel it is a success and as an introduction to a different world, with many weird and wonderful races, it is equally a huge success.

Saakshi, the main character in this story is a former Budeyan rebel, who had been imprisoned by the occupying, Ketaari Imperial Forces. When her prison contract is sold to Pik, a trader on a distant space station, she finds herself waiting tables at his bar and as always, scrabbling to survive and keep her dignity intact. The Budeyan people, although now subjugated by the Ketaari, were once a proud, technologically advanced, race, who were deeply respected throughout the Universe. When a handsome, Hadari’Kor Mercenary starts frequenting Saakshi’s bar and showing an obvious interest in her, Saakshi’s life will change forever.

Zoran, the Hadar’Kor Mercenary and Saakshi’s saviour from Ketaari harassment on the Space Station will forever change her life and so begins a complicated and at times, fraught relationship between two separate races across the Universe. It is this relationship and Zoran’s intense feelings for Saakshi, plus the enmity between the Ketaari Empire and much of the rest of the galaxy that provides the excitement, conflict, drama and passion of this story.

Landon has done a superb job of drawing her two main characters. Saakshi is a fierce and strong young woman who through circumstances is forced to seek help from a stronger, more powerful male, in Zoran. She doesn’t quite know how to handle Zoran’s intensity and his total commitment to the people he loves. She dares to dream of a different future, but is always saddled by the pain and angst she had already suffered at the hands of the Ketaari. Although the two characters are extremes in many ways, Landon gives their story a realism and induces the reader to openly root for the pair.

The book is an incredibly easy read and the writing flows beautifully. I am not generally a science fiction buff, but for me, this was more than science fiction – it was true romance that just happened to be set in space. I was impressed with Landon’s ability to write the steamy, sex scenes that, although infrequent, were definitely a highlight of the read. The idea of two separate beings, from different worlds, mating and experiencing the joys of sex was part of the attraction. But the emotional, romantic, connection, as well as the potential for misunderstanding and confusion, between the two parties, I felt was fully portrayed by the author. The scenes themselves were hot, exciting and very realistic, giving the author full poetic license to depart, albeit briefly, from the standard, space battle scenes of many science fiction stories.

This isn’t the first book of Petra Landon’s that I’ve read and I can guarantee it will not be the last. As a reader I like Science Fiction that is not too heavy on technological wizardry, but more focused on character building and relationships. The Mercenary fulfils this brief perfectly for me and as the set-up for a series of books it couldn’t be a better start. Five big stars from this reviewer.

Do pop on over to Petra Landon's Amazon page and check out The Mercenary, as well as her other works. It is well worth your while to check this author out.

the wizard and the owl: of truth and wisdom by daniel socha

14/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Answer all the big questions of life in just a forty page book on Kindle – Yeah right! Well, that is exactly what Daniel Socha sets out to do in his book, The Wizard and the Owl: Of Truth and Wisdom. Socha attacks the big issues with a simple Socratic dialogue between an Owl and a Wizard. The Owl is seeking enlightenment and understanding from the wise Wizard, but the Wizard wants the Owl to come to his own understanding, so asks him questions that will make him think and ponder, to come up with the solutions to the questions himself. The author covers most of the big questions in life, including, but certainly not limited to: Death, Religion, Discipline, Forgiveness, Reincarnation, Anger, Love and a whole host of other issues we all ponder from time to time. He certainly doesn’t pretend to have the answer to everything, but what he does is makes you question your beliefs and consider other options.

I loved this neat little book, The Wizard and the Owl: Of Truth and Wisdom by Daniel Socha, if only because the author is not trying to ram a particular philosophy of life down the reader’s throats, but is merely asking questions that makes the Owl and by extension, the reader think long and hard about their own beliefs and where they were formed. Certainly, the book relies heavily on Buddhist philosophy, but at the end of the day, as much of that ties in with my own particular beliefs, it certainly did resonate with me. What I particularly liked was that Socha did not suggest he was the font of all knowledge. On more than one occasion the Wizard was forced to concede to the Owl; “well, we just don’t know, do we? We’ll have to wait and find out”. What was my best take from this pocket philosophy treatise? For me, it was the idea that we have to live in the present and the thoughts and actions of today will determine our happiness and life tomorrow. This is well worth a read and I highly recommend it, if you want to do some serious thinking and introspection.

the good fight: book one of the last enemy series by dan e. hendrickson

11/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson is the first novel of a planned trilogy titled the Last Enemy Series, centred around the exploits of the Edwards family. Commander Jacob Edwards, although a Coast Guard hero, was forced to retire after he killed a notorious pirate off the Mexican/US Coast. Commander Edwards had planned all along to leave the Coast Guard and help out in the family business, run by his father Jim, one of the largest vehicle wholesale auction firms in America. After Jacob, his wife and his mother are all tragically killed in a plane crash his daughter Danielle seeks solace and comfort from her maternal grandparents in Texas. What none of the family realises is that nothing in their lives is coincidence. Jim Edwards and his family have been targeted from the beginning by an evil, criminal who seeks to become the biggest money launderer in the US. So begins this fast-paced thriller as Danielle seeks to put the past behind her and start again.

As a debut novel, I found The Good Fight to be an action-packed, explosive adventure, which bodes well for the full series. Like all new authors Dan E. Hendrickson still has things to learn regarding sentence structure, tense and dialogue, but that doesn’t detract from an interesting premise, a twisting plot and some excellent action sequences. Although I figured out the final twist fairly early on, the read was still enjoyable and the authors writing style encouraged a fast read. The characters were a little overdrawn perhaps, especially Jacob Edwards who came across somewhere between Captain America and Superman. That having been said, Danielle, as a lead female character was strong, independent and very tough, but still retained her femininity, which is a credit to the author. I suspect the second and third instalments of this tale will be just as interesting and exciting. It will be fascinating to watch the development of Hendrickson as a writer through the next two sequels. A good start to what promises to be an exciting series.

You can take a look at the Good Fight here, on Dan E. Hendrickson's Amazon page:

the infinity mantle (lore of arcana #1) by elaina j davidson

9/3/2018

Some authors write fantasy, Elaina J Davidson writes epic fantasy and she does it with the care and aplomb of a true master of the craft. Her books are usually wide, sweeping tales of fantastic worlds, amazing creatures and terrifying magic and sorcery. The Infinity Mantle, the first book in the Lore of Arcana series, is just such a book. It brings us the worlds of Valaris and Ardosia, both threatened by the evil Darak Or Margus. To battle this universal evil, Davidson brings together an ensemble cast of humans, guardians (Immortals) and even the greatest ruler of them all, the original being that ruled both Valaris and Ardosia from the very beginnings of sentience.

This story is massive in its scope and one thing I appreciated from the author, especially given that this is the first book in a series, was the time she spent to introduce and understand the principal characters in this strange new world. Too often fantasy authors leave us, the reader, to flounder along wondering who is this character and why is he/she reacting this way. Davidson takes the time to build her world, to set the scene and to explore her characters. I applaud her for this.

Once the adventure starts, the action is fascinating and beautifully written. We are able to follow the various arcs of the story and relate one to the other, which is the sign of a superb writer, which Davidson certainly is. I particularly liked the emotional nature of the interactions between both the humans and the humans to the immortals. There was always a deep feeling of mistrust and fascination between the two groups, which was wonderfully played by Davidson. The principal character (if there can even be one in such an ensemble cast) Rayne of the Mantle was perfectly complex and riddled with issues, especially identity issues. I look forward to exploring more of these fascinating characters in the next few books in this series.

Davidson is both prolific and talented as an author and I would certainly place her high up in the list of indie authors I have read and as a fantasy author, she is up there with the very best. An author to follow for sure. I highly recommend The Infinity Mantle, if fantasy is your genre - and even if it's not, I suggest you give this one a crack.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Infinity Mantle, plus all of this prolific author's portfolio.

metzra: a hybrid world (world of Metzra Book 1) by magnus phoenix

8/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Metzra by M.U. Phoenix is a debut novella that introduces us to the fantasy world of Metzra. Following the murder of his mother and his father remarrying, Raivy decides he needs time out to sort out his emotions and to deal with the violent death of his mother. He retreats to a hut in the forest where he tries to come to terms with what has happened and to attempt to find out who killed the most wonderful woman in the world. In his quest for answers he is lead to an old sage who lives alone in the wilderness. What the sage tells him will lead him on a journey that will not only, to his shock and horror, expose his mother’s murderers, but will also make him question his very existence. He will discover a hitherto unknown, to him, dimension, Metzra and will come to understand that he is so much more than he thought he was. Metzra and Raivy will be permanently intertwined as this saga continues.

Although a fantasy and although very short, Metzra reminded me in many ways almost of a new sub-genre that is gaining popularity – RPG Adventures. As a debut novella, M.U. Phoenix was clearly attempting to introduce a new world to his potential readers and pique their interest in reading the future books of this series and the further adventures of Raivy. From that perspective, Phoenix clearly achieved his/her objective. The world of Metzra is different and fascinating. The three types of beings, hybrids are it seems to me unique, especially the hybrid types i.e. horsnake (combination of a horse and a snake). I felt it was clever and bodes well for future interesting episodes. I know this is becoming a common technique amongst some authors – to serialise their novels as novellas, however, as a reader, I’m not overly certain I’m comfortable with it. That being said, Metzra is a good, if a somewhat unsatisfying length of read. I look forward to more from Phoenix.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out the debut novella by Magnus Phoenix - Metzra:

starvation mountain by robert gilberg

5/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jim Schmidt is a high-powered computer whiz who decides to take early retirement from the stress of the rat-race and build his dream house at an avocado ranch on Starvation Mountain, near San Diego. Never married, but came close once, Jim is well off and content with his passion and love for owning and riding motorcycles. The mountains around his new house will provide wonderful trails for him to ride. When Jim meets a significantly younger, forty-something, Penny Lane, the connection is instant and enjoyable. Penny is tied up with an old high-school buddy who seems to be on the wrong side of the law. Caught up in a vicious drug gang web, neither had any intention of getting involved with, Jim and Penny find themselves on a bike ride for their lives, following the old trails of Route 66 as expressed in their favourite movie, Easy Rider. Robert Gilberg brings us Starvation Mountain, a thriller that combines 70’s pop culture with a love of motorcycles and especially Harley’s.

Perhaps it’s because I’m of that particular generation, but I certainly found the pop culture references; James Morrison, Easy Rider, Steppenwolf, James Dean etc, comforting and adding to the storyline. As a thriller, Starvation Mountain is pretty standard fare, but the journey is pleasant enough. Robert Gilberg’s two main characters Jim and Penny are believable enough and well developed by the author. The dialogue was a little contrived at times and often seemed too formal for a couple, but equally there were humorous and clever moments also in the dialogue. There are no great twists and turns, but I still enjoyed the read, particularly given the subject matter covered. I am sure there are plenty of readers who can also reminisce over the pop culture aspects and will find this, as I did, a satisfying story.

Starvation Mountain by Robert Gilberg isn't yet available on Amazon, but by all means pop on over to Amazon and check out his full portfolio of listings:

the flowers of penruddock: a romance collection by ronnda eileen henry

3/3/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Flowers of Penruddock: A Romance Collection from Ronnda Eileen Henry is a collection of seven substantial novellas that all focus on the mythical land of Penruddock, which Henry has created and expanded on over time. The novellas all take place over different periods of Penruddock’s history; a history, it seems that is measured by before and after the rule of Good King Adelard. King Adelard was the last King to rule over a unified and united Penruddock. Upon his death, the island nation was divided up into six kingdoms, each to be ruled by one of his six sons. The story of Good King Adelard and what led to his decision to split his kingdom is told in the fourth novella: Hyacinth – Love Royal and True and is in itself fascinating. Each of the seven novellas is named after the lead female character in the story, also being the name of a flower. So, we have Poppy, Rose, Violet, Hyacinth and more. As a bonus, at the end is a story written by the author titled: Cousins One and All, a Jane Austen fan fiction story.

I loved this wonderful collection of simple love stories. There is nothing pretentious about Ronnda Eileen Henry’s writing and in The Flowers of Penruddock: A Romance Collection, she gives us simple, sweet and uplifting love stories about real characters. I particularly liked that age, occupation and social status had no bearing in the character’s choices of who they fell in love with. Many of the stories are centred around nobility and royalty, where “love matches” are often the last consideration when arranging a marriage. More important are improving one’s status or adding a title to one’s family name. Henry’s characters rise above these material issues and true love is found, pursued and defended stoutly. Because all the stories revolve around the Island of Penruddock, albeit at different times in history, I always felt an affinity with the location of each new story. This is a long collection of stories, but one that can be delved into and read at one’s leisure. Each story stands alone and I can highly recommend this to anyone who loves, good, clean, but exciting romantic adventure. My favourite stories? – Marigold: Love in Two Acts, closely followed by Peony: Forged in Love, but truth be told, I enjoyed them all immensely.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Ronnda Eileen Henry's The Flowers of Penruddock as well as the rest of her extensive portfolio:

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