I have to admit my ignorance and say that prior to reading Dungeons of Kuba, I had not come across Graham Diamond's books before. I understand this book that I read was initially published back in the 1980's and has now been re-released as an ebook. 

In Dungeons of Kuba, Diamond has created a fantasy world, that is ruled over by two powerful women, Stacy (The Ruler of the Empire)  and Sigried (the ruler of Kuba). These two women are sworn enemies and it was always going to be the way that they would eventually have to face off against each other. Stacy has worked tirelessly to create peace across the Empire and is now determined to hold it together regardless of whatever evil plans Sigried may have to provoke a war and take the Empire for herself. The kidnapping of the Imperial Princess Mara forces Stacy into action to confront Sigried in a battle that will decide the fate of the Empire. 

This is a fast-paced, action, fantasy novel that I found incredibly easy to read. Diamond's style and his character development really resonated with me and I found myself invested in the characters and wanting to see the right results come out for them. I particularly liked the giant Alryc and the leader of the Imperial Guard, Melinda, plus, of course, the wolf character. I think this is the sign of an excellent writer who, even in a wild, fantasy, adventure, is prepared to allow time to develop his/her characters to the extent that readers can really identify with them. It doesn't have to be all about fighting and weird, fantasy creatures. 

I think this is a book and a series that will really appeal to devotees of the fantasy genre, who still retain the desire to get to know the hearts and souls of their characters. In my mind, Diamond writes stories the way I like to write them and I guess this is partly why I enjoyed it. A good job and a very solid four stars from me.

You can check out more of Diamond's work here: http://amzn.to/1Tm8PPG  

    

​I was fortunate enough to be offered this book by Lucinda Clarke for Beta Reading, prior to final editing and production. Having read Clarke's work in the past and realising this was a totally new genre for her, I was keen and excited to do so. 

This dip into the world of Grown Up Fairy Tales is one that I enjoyed greatly. What I find, especially with legacy published authors is that they get caught up in a genre, or a character series, that quickly becomes their sole focus. What was successful before, must be successful again and they spend their time churning out turgid, formulaic and often, frankly, boring books, year after year. That is why the vibrant Indie Author community is so important. These authors have nothing to lose, so they are prepared to push the boundaries and try different things - things that interest them and excite them. The benefits are apparent for the readers as the variety on offer is so great and so extensive. This is exactly what Lucinda Clarke has done. The author of two exceptional adventure, fiction novels set in Africa, she has also written several memoirs detailing humorous and fascinating parts of her career to date. Now, she has switched genre and focus completely, bringing us; Unhappily Ever After, and we, as readers, are richer for that.    

Unhappily Ever After is exactly what it says; a fairy tale for grown-ups. Clarke uses humor and  sarcasm, combined with a weird and wonderful cast of characters to expose base human traits, political correctness and stereotypes for what they really are; a joke! I love reading stories that use characters from my childhood and you will find many of these characters in Unhappily Ever After. We are presented with a variety of princesses that we first met as youngsters, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and others, but their characters now are barely recognizable. These are lazy, indolent and arrogant people who look down their noses at us mere common folk and dismiss the riff-raff as just being grateful for whatever crumbs they are lucky enough to receive from their tables. I found myself often thinking of the similarity of these characters to those of the Shrek movie franchise, so if you liked Shrek, you'll probably enjoy Unhappily Ever After. 

Unhappily Ever After may not set you "belly-laughing", but the humor is subtle and clever and a credit to the author's wonderful imagination. If you want a break from the everyday fare available out there, I would recommend you escape into the fantasy world of Lucinda Clarke's mind. This is a book for grown-ups though as it pulls no punches in its political incorrectness. It is fun and harmless entertainment, at its very best. This is a clear five-star book in my mind. 

Check out all that Lucinda Clarke has to offer here: http://amzn.to/26iblh1

​Lusting After Michiko by Frank Noir makes no pretensions about what it is and is not. It is, as the author puts it, a pornographic novella. At only 43 pages, it is short, even for a novella, but the author still manages to pack those 43 pages with an interesting concept and one Noir explores well and fully. 

I'll be honest and say pornographic stories are not my favorite read, but I'm open minded enough to read them and get a modicum of pleasure from them. As far as this genre is concerned, Lusting After Michiko is a good one. 

The basic concept of voyeuristic and exhibitionist behaviour is one that appeals to many readers and I guess we've all felt the desire to act out those fantasies from time to time. Luckily probably, most of us have resisted that desire. In the eighties, which is a generation I'm more familiar with, we would have called what was happening in this plot (zipless sex).  

The story itself focuses on an Asian woman who is "stalked" by her next door neighbour and indulges in a variety of exhibitionist behaviours and games with him. I found the writing to be excellent and I do realise how difficult it is to add variety and spice into a story that focuses principally on just one aspect of human behaviour - sex. I think the writer did fairly well, although I did find some of the sex scenes a little repetitive. 

All that having been said, I think if you want a quick, exciting, titillation, Lusting After Michiko would be a very good book to keep by your bed, to indulge yourself in your own fantasies. I did enjoy this quick dip into the fantasy realm - it made a change from horror/romance, which is my normal reading fare. For that reason, I would give Lusting After Michiko 3.5 stars, rounded up to a healthy and enjoyable 4 Stars.

You can check out more of Frank Noir's work here: http://amzn.to/1rpWpNW   

​One of the wonderful things about being an editorial reviewer in the "Indie" publishing world, is the incredible variety of books you get offered to read. One day you're reading a fantasy adventure complete with werewolves and other weird creatures, the next, a historical romance and the next day, a children's book. The variety and talent in the "indie" world really has to be seen to be believed. I know reading all these fine authors has improved my own writing a hundred fold. For a change, today, I found myself reading a wonderful romance, by Mary Crawford. 

Until the Stars Fall From the Sky makes no pretensions as to what it is; it is a soppy, beautiful, and at times heart-rending romance. I had read an earlier book by Mary Crawford and had enjoyed it so much, I jumped at the opportunity to read this one. What I particularly like about Crawford's style is they way in which she develops her characters and how we are drawn into her character's lives. 

Until the Stars Fall From the Sky is romance with a slight twist. We meet the two main characters; Jeff and Kiera, who both bring to this relationship issues that need to be dealt with. Jeff, an African American with childhood insecurities and Kiera, a paraplegic, redhead, are destined to meet and fall in love, facing all the difficulties inherent in a relationship that crosses cultural and physical boundaries. 

Crawford deals with the central issue of Kiera's disability exceptionally well. What I particularly like about this book is it's not about conflict, it's not about race and it's not even about disability; what it is, is a celebration of love, romance, and friendship. I don't think I can be accused of being a "soppy bugger", but I think every so often, it's really nice to read a sweet story, with a happy ending and the promise of more to come. Mary Crawford's book fills that role admirably. I love her style and I'm also thrilled to see she has a whole plethora of books, each one focusing on a different set of characters from this story. I am certainly tempted to read more in this series. 

An excellent read and one that makes you sigh and say: "ahhhh, yes," and I think we all need to do that from time to time. I wouldn't hesitate in awarding Until the Stars Fall from the Sky, the full five stars it so richly deserves. Thank you Mary Crawford, for a truly enjoyable read.      

You can check out all of Mary Crawford's offerings here: http://amzn.to/1KSQBmu  

  

​Badgers and Jam - An interesting title to an interesting and at times intriguing book. It's a little hard to be sure what Badgers and Jam was really intended to be. Is it a comedy, a whodunnit, or indeed an opportunity for the author to introduce us to the special nature and mind of someone afflicted with Down's Syndrome? I rather suspect the latter and as such it achieved the purpose. 

We are introduced to Marty Rockman, a moderately successful British comedian, who dies on stage, apparently of a heart attack. Death is not the end, however - on his journey to the hereafter, he is advised that in fact he has been murdered and he has twenty-four hours to find and extract some satisfaction from the murderer. 

Marty is not able to manifest himself back on earth, but he is allowed one earth guide to assist him in his quest to discover the murderer. Marty chooses his twelve-year-old son, with his former wife, Dom, who has Down's Syndrome. What follows is a funny, at times almost farcical, but also, often touching experience as Marty and his talented son seek to discover the true murderer. Along the way they collect a number of people, some of whom are a help, but a few who prove to be a hindrance. 

This was a very easy book to read and although at times the story required some considerable suspension of belief, I really enjoyed the look inside a Down's Syndrome person's mind. As someone who has worked with "intellectually disabled" people in the past, I, like I suspect, the author, had often felt there was much more going on inside those minds than we would give them credit for 

This was a sweet story from Nicci Rae and I did enjoy the read. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book for anyone who enjoys something a little different, with a touch of humour and no small degree of sarcasm. I solid four stars from me, for Badgers and Jam.

You can check out all of Nicci Rae's work here: http://amzn.to/23tNQTk      

Return to Aegos, by May Panayi is the second in a planned trilogy, following the adventures of Ella, an English girl who went in search of her Greek father, who she discovered lived somewhere in the Greek Islands. 

You don't need to necessarily have read the first book in the series; Sun, Sea and Secrets to enjoy Return to Aegos, but as a committed fan of this series, I can only suggest that the experience is all the more rewarding if you have read both. Like Sun, Sea and Secrets, Return to Aegos is rich, evocative and full of gorgeous passages that make the Greek Islands come alive. Panayi here has penned two books that could almost serve as travelogues for the Greek Tourist Board. I was trying to think of a word that describes her writing style in these two books. The best word I could come up with was sumptuous. 

With every page, you can feel the power of ancient Greek history jumping off the page at you. Her vivid descriptions of Greek cuisine are mouthwateringly vivid and enticing. Through her descriptions of Ell'as escapades, you can literally smell the honeysuckle and thyme floating off the pages. The language is warm and wonderful. If you're looking for a book with drama, action, and conflict, then Return to Aegos is not for you. It is a heart-warming and compelling story of a young woman, finally finding her place in the world and discovering the joys of family, friends and love.      

 In Return to Aegos, Ella has sold up her house in England, quit her job and returned to live with her newly discovered Father on Aegos. The story follows her integration into traditional Greek society. 

As you may have guessed by now, I am an enormous fan of this series and indeed of the author Panayi. I am looking forward to the third installment of this tale, when it arrives at some point. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a laid-back, family oriented, adventure. 

It's a winner in my book and scores an emphatic FIVE STARS with me.   

Check out all of May J Panayi's work here: http://amzn.to/1RMh6gK

The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a good, solid, read. At 320 pages on Kindle it is a pleasure to read a full-length novel again, after so many truncated stories that purport to call themselves novels. What Leist does in this book is show us that you can write the first book in a series, without chopping it off at some convenient point. This is a full story, complete with a suitable ending and the opportunity for the sequel. I was impressed by this.

The Dead Game takes place in a mythical (I assume) Floridan tourist village called Oasis. All is not well in Oasis, however, with any number of demons and otherworldly beings threatening the peace of the residents. It is left to Linda, Todd, and their friends to try to deal with the host of supernatural threats to the quiet tourist haven. 

Her writing is descriptive and colorful and I found the horror and paranormal scenes, of which there are many, incredibly compelling. The author has a vivid imagination and translates this to paper very well. More than once, I was reminded of the great story; "Jumanji". I'm sure the author mentioned it at one stage, so perhaps she drew inspiration from it. The paranormal scenes were very reminiscent of Jumanji; fast-paced, with all sort of perils, to be faced, almost like running an obstacle course. I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of this novel and would recommend it to anyone who likes fast-paced action paranormal/horror. 

For a first novel, which I am assuming this is, given it is the only book on Leist's Amazon page, it was a very successful and enjoyable debut. 

The one drawback and something I'm sure that will come with experience and practice was some of the dialogue. I did find the dialogue somewhat stilted at times and a little bit forced. Good dialogue is a learning process and I'm sure Leist will improve this over time. It didn't detract from the excitement of the story, which was related at a breath-taking pace. 

An excellent debut and the promise of much more in the future. A solid four stars for The Dead Game.

Check out The Dead Game, here on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RNsXHX

​Sheltered Hearts (A Hidden Hearts Novel #2) by Mary Crawford is exactly what it sets out to be; a romance between two people, who are thrown together through a bizarre set of coincidences. There is nothing pretentious about Crawford's writing; it is simple, straightforward and very easy to read. 

Both of the main characters Jessica and Mitch are attractive and relatively successful young people, who are flawed or tortured by what has happened in the past and this, it appears shapes their inability to form long-lasting, successful relationships. 

When Jessica finds and rescues a young German Shepherd pup, who she names Hope, it is Mitch who is the recipient of the dog, at the local dog shelter and so the relationship between these two very different characters begins and evolves. 

There is much I enjoyed in this story. I particularly liked the idea that, in many ways, Jessica and Mitch are diametrically opposed to each other in outlook and views; yet the attraction is undeniable and unstoppable. I also particularly liked the sets of coincidences that occurred frequently within the story and tied many of the supporting characters in this tale together. As one who believes completely in the power of the Universe, I had no difficulty accepting these and nodding my head sagely, when one happened. 

Although Sheltered Hearts is advertised as part of the "A Hidden Hearts" series, it is very much a stand-alone novel and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It was one of those books that you grab at every opportunity, (even when you should be doing something else) if only to read a few pages and find out where the story was going next. 

I am a sucker for a sweet romance and this is certainly one of those. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys "happy ever after", but wants some conflict and adventure within  that genre. This is an excellent book and has opened me up to the writings of Crawford. I have no doubt this will not be the last of her books I read. A good job Mary Crawford! 

I vacillated a little over the rating for this book, partly because it was so uncomplicated in some ways, but in the end, my enjoyment at reading it was enough to push my initial four-star rating, up to four and a half, which I will happily round up to five stars. Give this book a go. You won't be disappointed.

You can check out all of Mary Crawford's offerings here: http://amzn.to/1VSud1D         

​Legion Lost by K.C. Finn is supposedly the first in a series of stories based on the mythical Legion, although on checking I do note the second book in the series, Legion Found has yet to be released. 

I always have some trouble with defining genres and Legion Lost is no exception. Clearly it is a dystopian world, set in the future, sometime around 2160, if I remember rightly, but it could also be classified as a young adult or even new adult novel. Regardless of the genre, the book fulfills well the role it set out to. 

We follow the journey of a fifteen-year-old girl, whose entire life has been as part of a family living underground, hiding from the dreaded System, who now rule the surface of the country, if not the planet. When their peaceful, if relatively boring existence is destroyed by infiltrators from the surface, it is she that is sent to run and escape. Alone and lost on the surface for the very first time, and pursued by soldiers from the System, she adopts the persona of a young boy and names herself Raja. 

It quickly becomes apparent to Raja the only place to seek any sort of security, until she can figure out how to rescue her family is within the forbidding walls of the Legion. The Legion is, not unlike the Foreign Legion, a place where people can leave their pasts behind and start a new life, except this Legion is exclusively for children. The System promises that youngsters prepared to subjugate themselves to the Legion will be granted full citizen status within the System on attaining the age of 20.

Much of the book focuses on Raja's friendships and burgeoning love with her fellow rejects in the Legion's South Tower. If I'm totally honest, though, I did find some of the characterisations just a little overdrawn to the point where they became caricatures rather than characters. Some suspension of belief was required at certain points also, but that having been said it was an enjoyable and easy read.

It becomes apparent that this dystopian world the story is set in is, in fact, the British Isles. The main rebel group, being Highlanders and led by some warriors with particularly Scottish names. There is some excellent writing of the conflict scenes and Finn builds tension well, especially toward the end of the book. I would admit that by the time I finished the story, I was ready to start Book 2, although it would appear Book 2, is not ready for me yet.   

I note from her Amazon page K.C. Finn is particularly prolific and I have no doubt I will try something else of hers in the future. If you like strong, young, very vivid characters, fighting and dying in an adult Dystopian war, then I'm sure you will enjoy Legion Lost. 

I'm comfortable with giving Legion Lost three and half stars, but as always happy to round that up to four. A pleasant, if not outstanding read.

Check out more of Finn's books here: http://amzn.to/1MuESMd