Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

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

31/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

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

27/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

last flocks of the geese by philip dodd

24/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

handwritten tales: what is taboo by jim d buchanan

21/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

conflict on the yangtze by greg kater

18/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

nomycha by raven corinn carluk

15/3/2019

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

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

the letter (hidden beauty #11 by mary crawford

15/3/2019

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

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

the scream behind her smile by athena daniels

15/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels is a love story that brings a lot more to the party than your traditional romance novel. Claire is a successful designer to the stars and the elite in Western Australia but her clothing design has served a greater purpose than just fame. It was what saved her from the morass of grief over the death from brain cancer of her little baby girl. After three years of hell, during which time she struggled to even get out of bed, following the death of her beloved Katie, the designing has given her some sense of worth again. To the casual outsider it appears her husband Derek has been the ultimate rock and support for her during these trying times, but appearances can be deceiving. When Derek suddenly turns up with an “old school friend” Jasmine (Jazzy) and offers her the chance to stay with them until she sorts herself out, Claire feels something is wrong but seems unable to act on her suspicions. It’s only when Claire meets the enigmatic, yet successful artist Zach that the reality staring her in the face seems to take hold. The chemistry between Claire and Zach is obvious and intense, yet Claire still needs to deal with her troubled past before she can move on.

Author Athena Daniels has brought an extremely readable and relatable tale in The Scream Behind Her Smile. As a lead character Claire was real, believable and someone the reader clearly wanted to root for while at the same time feeling this intense desire to shake her out of her complacency and her naivety. What I particularly liked about this story was the author’s obvious desire to not minimise the incredible loss losing a child has on the parents. No amount of advice, “to move on” or “to let it go” is ever going to make any difference. No parent dreams of this ultimate tragedy and when it happens it is totally devastating to the parents. This whole premise was beautifully and sensitively portrayed by the author. Until you forgive yourself for what happened, you can never make peace with the present or the future. The relationship between Zach and Claire was moving, powerful and incredibly sexy. I did love that Zach not only had a past but that he was actively dealing with reconciling with that past. Both Claire and Zach felt they had huge impediments in their lives to them ever being happy again but Daniels skilfully showed us that there is a way to let go without forgetting. I can highly recommend this book, especially if you love romance with some real meat on its bones. This is what this book has.

You can find The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels here on her Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio:

the power of will (hidden beauty #12) by mary crawford

8/3/2019

As a regular reader of Mary Crawford's wonderful novels about love, I am always excited to receive a new story from her. The Power of Will (Hidden Beauty #12) definitely did not disappoint me.
As with all Crawford's stories, they revolve around a close group of family and friends whose lives are interlinked and occasionally blessed with romance. Also, like most of her stories, the characters are either physically disabled or have issues with mental health. This has always been one of the things that has drawn me to her writing and to her characters. They are invariably good, honest human beings but flawed, yet Crawford allows us to see past the exterior and catch a glimpse of the magic of romance and love.
This was definitely the case in The Power of Will. William Kordes, by all conventional wisdom, had it all. He was rich, successful and had made his money from his own creativity and inventions. From the outside, his life was perfect, but inside it was a totally different story. Inside, Will was the still the shy, introverted young nerd who was bullied at school and considered unteachable by many of his instructors. His lack of confidence in himself he managed to shad in the facade of success but it was never far below the surface waiting to pounce and drag him down. Mariam Fischer was fighting an internal battle herself, but this one was with a degenerating body. Suffering from the incredibly painful and barely understood affliction of Fibromyalgia, Mariam was in pain constantly and although she projected as a beautiful, strong, self-assured woman, her disability was invisible to others and few could understand the pain and stress of simple everyday life for her.
When Will and Mariam meet, the attraction was instant but the signs were not good. Mariam was not taken in by his good looks, his charm, or his success. She basically told him to "take a hike" but thankfully it takes more than that to stop Will from "trying to fix things".
This was a wonderfully sweet and bittersweet romance that reminds us we all have to be grateful for everything we have. There is always someone worse off than us. Crawford's style is unpretentious, uncluttered, simple and most of all "clean". If you love romance, if you love "real" characters with problems, you'll love this story.
It's another absolute winner from Crawford's prolific portfolio and one I highly recommend.

You can find The Power of Will, along with the full, extensive Mary Crawford portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

five-toed tigress by t.w. dittmer

8/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Five-Toed Tigress is a living legend in Cambodia and where they once roamed free and proud on the Tiger’s Dance Floor in the Cambodian forest, much of their habitat is now been stolen by man and war. Yet, deep in the forest, secreted in the ruins of ancient temples, the dens of these proud animals can still be found and they still stalk the jungle night. Author, T. W. Dittmer brings us a tale that combines the mysticism of South East Asia with the harsh realities of the life of an FBI Agent in post 9/11 America. Preston Hawke is an ex-special services soldier who has left the army under a minor cloud of insubordination. When he is recruited as a possible FBI Agent, he jumps at the chance of a new career. Having finished his rigorous training at Quantico, Probationary Special Agent Hawke is sent to a small regional FBI office in the mid-west, where he will continue his assimilation into the service, under the mentorship of two women; Special Agent Deanna Tulene and Special Agent Britta Gundrum. Despite them being complete opposites in all ways, Hawke is deeply attracted to both of them. More important things await however as the team is caught up in a potential terrorist attack on a planned inter-faith rally, that will test the new team member to his limits. Never far away, though, is the memories of Cambodia and the five-toed tigress – all, it seems, is not as it appears.

I absolutely loved Five Toed Tigress. Author, T. W. Dittmer has managed to skilfully combine two disparate arcs, across two continents into a thrilling and action packed adventure that twists and turns in unexpected ways. The characters were the star of the story, especially Britta Gundrum, who despite her Amazonian appearance and manner shows a tender, loving side that was capable of melting Hawke’s heart. The story seamlessly flowed from the Cambodian jungles to the stark realities of FBI gun battles with terrorists and the political machinations of the various Intelligence Agencies in the United States. The author’s knowledge of his subject was apparent and his writing style flowed with such ease that a good, solid novel was easily read in a short time. The action scenes were graphic, without beinbg gratuitous, as were the minor sexual scenes. I don’t know if the author was setting this book up as the beginning of a series, featuring these characters but I do hope so as there is now so much more to look forward to as the team move on into their new assignment. The little twists and turns the plot took were surprising and yet gratifying. It takes a lot to trick this reader, but Dittmer managed to do that in a couple of places. I can highly recommend this read to all lovers of action thrillers and military/police dramas. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

You can find Five-Toed Tigress along with T.W. Dittmer's other novel, here, on his Amazon page:

near death experience: out of the darkness into the light by bernard j. fleury

6/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Are you afraid of death? I guess the answer for most people would be – yes! And for some, an emphatic, yes. In the short treatise, Near-Death Experience: Out of the Darkness Into the Light, author Bernard J Fleury examines the evidence that has been compiled regarding near-death experiences and adds some of his own, to assess whether we should be concerned about death or not. His extensive research has led him to believe that there is a commonality between near-death experiences that relates to a number of stages of near-death. The most common of these, especially among children who have experienced near-death (almost 100%) is that of children, who are untainted by societal norms and religious connotations, is that of the experience of light. That aside there are also many other fascinating research studies, some independent of knowledge of other studies, which find a remarkable commonality between the experiences e.g. light, a tunnel, the speeding up of travel through the tunnel and a light being that radiates warmth, love and peace.

Although relatively short, I did find Bernard J Fleury’s work, Near Death Experience: Out of the Darkness Into the Light, a fascinating read. For me, the author’s ability to grasp the commonality between the differing studies, many of which were large and significant and tie them together into a work which suggests that, no, there is no intrinsic need to fear death, to be satisfying and relieving at the same time. His conclusion, that we are spiritual beings, merely existing in a mechanical machine (our bodies) was very much in line with my own thinking on the subject and I was rewarded to have many of my own perceptions of this area validated by the author’s work. This is a quick read and one that is highly rewarding. If there’s one thing we all think about, as we get older (as I now am) it is – “is this it? Will there be nothingness after life?” What is rewarding from the author’s work is the idea that although we do not know what after death will hold, we can be certain it is not nothingness and in fact is a continuation, of some sort, of our spiritual being. I enjoyed this read and as part of a series, I would hope there would be more anecdotal evidence in other books in the series. I can recommend this read, highly.

You can find Near Death Experience: Out of the Darkness Into the Light, here on Amazon:

the last defender: a novel by travis pearson

2/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Last Defender, A Novel, author Travis Pearson takes us to an almost dystopian world where a political ideology has taken over the country for the pursuit of their own individual goals of power and wealth. The Socialist, using the country’s deteriorating situation and high unemployment, lies and tricks the electorate to elect him and his party to power. Once in power they ruthlessly set about their plans to rule the country solely for the purpose of their own self-aggrandisement. Businesses are nationalised and management replaced by those who are part of the regime. Brent Stevens, one such manager, once a proud researcher for the good of humanity is replaced and demoted to a worker on the factory floor. Continuing his research at his home laboratory, Brent discovers a power, utilising electricity that will give him a decided edge when it comes to protecting those he loves. As he watches helplessly the systematic destruction of civilisation he looks for the little opportunities to strike back when he can. When Brent’s beloved Lori is threatened by the new regime, Brent knows he must act and act now, before it is too late.

The Last Defender, A Novel, is an interesting take on a society that has become complacent in its democratic institutions and allows itself to be manipulated by a power-crazy megalomaniac to surrender virtually all, of its freedoms (sound strikingly familiar?) Author Travis Pearson gives us a protagonist who turns from the mild-mannered, scientist/researcher into the avenging angel of all of society’s ills. I balked a little at the chief antagonist, the mysterious and enigmatic Socialist. Although it could be argued the tactics employed to subvert democracy were socialistic in tendency, there was little doubt the Socialist’s actions were those of a megalomaniac Fascist in the mould of Hitler, especially the experiments in re-education. That aside, this is a simply written, fast-paced read that does keep you interested and turning the pages. The stereotypical use of Mexican names for the members of the resistance Cartel was a little gratuitous but nonetheless, since these guys were fighting for the average, oppressed citizen, this can be forgiven. If you like novels that draw parallels from both history and the current times we face, you’ll certainly enjoy this one, which kept me interested till the very end.

You can find, The Last Defender: A Novel, here on Travis Pearson's Amazon page:

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