Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

brother daniel's good news revival by bruce joel brittain

26/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

It is 1933, in the dustbowl that was to become the American Midwest, a young man leaves his family farm in search of a future. Finding a job as a truck driver come stagehand for a touring religious revival crusade, Michael Boone becomes drawn into a world of hypocrisy and privation that will cause him to grow up much quicker than he could have imagined. In Bruce Joel Brittain’s, Brother Daniel’s Good News Revival we meet an unlikely cast of characters, all with their own tales to tell and all who will have a profound impact on the young boy from Kentucky, as he grows into a man. From the lecherous, borderline paedophile, Brother Daniel, to his partner, the voluptuous Mother Daniel, and the children, Michael will become very worldly, very quickly. With his fellow driver, the enigma that is the highly educated Bert, this motley crew will travel the small towns of the Midwest, bringing their brand of salvation to a population mired in the Great Depression.

As a fan of historical novels, I found Bruce Joel Brittain’s, Brother Daniel’s Good News Revival, a satisfying and revealing read. The characters were so perfectly drawn; one could almost picture the lecherous Brother Daniel and his long-suffering woman, Mother Daniel. Michael, was exactly as you would expect, the wide-eyed boy from rural Kentucky who was suddenly exposed to the hypocrisy of a world he had trouble understanding at first. The star, for me, was Bert, whose worldly knowledge, questioning nature and well-read character was exactly what Michael needed to open his eyes to reality. The writer’s style, straightforward and flowing, was easy to read and drew, perfectly, the picture, for the reader, of a people suffering the great privations of the Depression, who would turn to God and the travelling revival show as a hope for a way out of their poverty and hopelessness. I think the author captured the mood of the country, at that time, so well. This was a great read and one I can highly recommend.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Brother Daniel's Good News Revival on Bruce Joel Brittain's Amazon page:

the art of the steal by cynthia zaitz phd.

24/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Art of the Steal, author Cynthia Zaitz PhD. brings us a comedic parody of the motivation and thought processes of perhaps, the most divisive and discussed politician in the history of humanity – one Donald J Trump, President of the United States. Through her imaginary character, Aimon Niddy Ott, who she describes as Trump’s Id, she takes us on a journey to unravel what she believes is ultimately behind all his decision making processes and what really goes on inside the mind of a megalomaniac, kleptocrat. Zaitz takes us through a typical day in the life of Mr Ott, as he juggles the many tasks of the “most important man in the Universe”. The title of the book itself, clearly a parody on Trump’s ‘own’ work, The Art of the Deal, gives us a hint as to what motivates this enigma of a President, in the author’s mind. The Presidency, it appears, is just the finest opportunity businessman Trump has had to date, to steal from everyone.

There is considerable humour to be gained from parody and sarcasm, two tools author Cynthia Zaitz PhD. uses to extremes in The Art of the Steal and sections of it are genuinely funny, especially if you are against Trump and his policies. Zaitz makes no secret at all of her total and utter disdain for Donald Trump and the fact that she lives for the day this “terrible period” in United States history is over and done with. With that in mind and knowing there will be no counterbalancing, it is easier to enjoy and appreciate the wit and comedic flair in some parts of this narrative. My only concern, in the reading of this book, is the continual repetition of the one-liner’s that drip from Trump’s mouth like saliva and are recorded here, ad nauseam. The author would probably argue that they drip from Trump’s mouth ad nauseam also and that would indeed be hard to argue with. If you are anti-Trump or somewhere in between you will find this book fun, engaging and quite enjoyable. If you are one of the President’s base, I have little doubt this book will offend you deeply. Perhaps that, in itself, best summarises the polarisation of US politics, since the rise and rise of Trumpism – that being said, this is a fun read.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out The Art of the Steal by Cynthia Zaitz PhD.

whistleblowers (kate Adams series: book 2) by Holly Bell

21/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In Whistleblowers (Kate Adams Series: Book 2) by Holly Bell, we are drawn into the world of political intrigue and the intelligence organs of the U.S., Britain, and Russia, as Kate Adams, an independent contractor for American Intelligence abandons her comfortable University Professorship at an Alaskan University to throw herself back into the world of espionage and political assassinations. Kate, an expert in IT and coding, is still recovering from her last sojourn into the fray, when she was kidnapped and tortured. Suffering from flashbacks and nightmares, Kate has to put that all aside as she travels to the U.K. and Russia seeking a rogue programmer; The Executive, who is doing a “Julian Assange” and leaking vital intelligence secrets, as well as falsehoods, to the dark web, for all to see. Caught up in a maelstrom of politics and traitors, Kate must navigate this morass to solve the important issues: Who is leaking and how are they doing it?

This is the first Kate Bell book I have read and Whistleblowers (Kate Adams Series: Book 2) is an excellent and taut political thriller that presents us with a complicated and slightly damaged heroine who must battle her demons and memories to successfully complete her mission. Kate, as a character is wonderful and easy to identify and empathise with. She is an intelligent, savvy and attractive woman who, although damaged by her past experiences, is well capable of fulfilling her mission. The author is clearly well informed and well researched about current events, recent history and the intelligence mechanisms of the major players. I was impressed with the flow of the story and was able to read the entire book in one sitting. The author’s style is very readable and the action builds to several crescendos that present the reader with often surprising outcomes. If intrigue and political machinations are your forte, as a reader, Whistleblowers is definitely a book for you. This is a leading book in its genre and as a credit to the author, I am tempted to go back and read Kate Adams Book 1 in the series, just to find out more about this character’s motivations.

Please do pop on over to Amazon and check out Whistleblowers by Holly Bell.

the rainmaker (saga of the chosen book 2) by Petra landon

20/4/2018

Editorial Review for the Author Resource Centre
Prepared by Grant Leishman

The Rainmaker is the second book in the Saga of the Chosen, of a planned four book series that delves into the world of the Chosen, the hidden group amongst us who possess the ancient powers of magic. This is the third Petra Landon book I’ve been fortunate enough to read and every one improves on the last. This truly is the best part of being a reviewer; watching indie authors find their niche, whilst growing and developing, as writers, within it.

Rainmaker, first and foremost, is a continuation of the story unveiled in the first book; The Prophecy. Unbeknownst to us mere mortals, magic beings live amongst us, their one guiding dictate is to never do anything that may reveal their existence to humanity. All Chosen are not created equal, though, with there being four distinct and separate groups who avoid each other like the plague. The Shifters (or as we probably think of them – the werewolves) comprise a group that live rigidly dictated lives, where fealty to the Clan Leader and loyalty to their pack is paramount above all else. The Wizards are a disparate group, split by politics, personal ambition, and greed. The Originals, who see themselves as above all, have very little interest in, or concern for, the other Chosen. Finally, we have the lowest and most scorned of the Chosen – the Vampires, who are generally reviled by all.

A prophecy made by a powerful wizard/mage some twenty-five years ago is beginning to come to fruition, with the re-emergence of a woman, long thought dead; Lady Bethesda. Her desire to unite her three daughters, from three different fathers, to claim power over the Chosen world, has thrown the most unlikely of allies together in a desperate attempt to stop the prophecy from coming true. Were-Alpha Protector, Raoul Merceau, gathers around him a collection of Wizards, Originals, Shifters, and even the odd Vampire, to try to expose Lady Bethesda’s evil plan for what it is and to stop her. The key to the whole drama, however, may lie with an unassuming, young Level 2 Wizard, Tasia Armstrong who holds some deep and powerful secrets very close to her chest.

To say that Petra Landon has created an amazing array of multi-faceted and fascinating characters is an understatement. Despite the characters all being “otherworldly” to some extent, they are incredibly believable and identifiable. The character development is superb. The stars of this story are undoubtedly Tasia Armstrong, Were-Alpha Protector Raoul Merceau, and, for me, typically English Were-Alpha, Duncan Hawthorne. However, the supporting characters; Hawk, Sienna, Jason, Franciszka, et al, are equally well developed and interesting. The sexual tension between Raoul and Tasia is electric and although hinted at in The Prophecy, it now becomes a full-blown reality in The Rainmaker. Will they… won’t they, is a question I couldn’t stop wondering throughout the length of this book. This story is so much more than a fantasy adventure; it is a beautifully put together story about life, choices, morality, loyalty, and decisions, set in a fantasy world.

The Rainmaker perfectly fulfils the bill as an Epic Fantasy. It is long, for sure, at 657 pages, but those pages just fly by as you are transported into a world that is familiar, yet so very different to the world we know. Set principally in San Francisco, The Rainmaker will draw you in and not let you go. This book is definitely one of my reading highlights for this year and an early contender for the Annual Grunter Awards.

I can give no greater accolade to Landon than to say I was devastated when the story ended and I wait with baited breath for the third instalment of this amazing series; The Siren. Get writing Ms Landon… please! What a winner The Rainmaker is.

Absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Rainmaker along with Petra Landon's other two superb books. They are all fantastic - I know, I've read them all.

a girl named cricket by peter j. manos

16/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Cricket and her family, escape their dying planet, to travel across the cosmos, seeking a new place to live. Eventually they crash land in the Mojave Desert of California and near the tiny desert community of Prickly Pear. During the many millennia of their epic journey through interstellar space they have been in suspended animation and their bodies have been transformed from their Lizard-like originals to human form. Cricket, is a typical teenage girl – angry and rebellious about the subterfuge her parents used to trick her into leaving their home, she is determined not to fit into the small community of Prickly Pear. In A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos we see the Sminth family slowly warm their way into the hearts and minds of the Prickly Pear residents, despite the almost unanimous opinion that these newcomers are probably Russian spies come to spy on nearby Andrews Air Force Base. Throw in a renegade bikie gang terrorizing the small town and we have the makings of an exciting Young Adult adventure.

Approaching A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos, from the perspective of his intended audience, i.e. young adults, this story is a lot of fun and told with considerable humour, irony and a touch of pathos. I particularly enjoyed the characters, who were typical of the inhabitants of any small town, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Both Tom and Cricket came across as troubled characters who were just seeking their identity in a world neither felt comfortable with, although for very different reasons. This is a fun story that also manages to poke the borax at some of the current day happenings, which it does with gentle humour. The constant reference to “aliens” as referred specifically to undocumented Mexican workers was a clever construct by the author. I think this book really does hit the mark for its young adult audience. It has romance, action, and that innate fear of authority that often can drive rebelliousness in teenagers. It is an excellent read that I highly recommend.

You can find A Girl Named Cricket by Peter J. Manos, here on Amazon:

pivot point: true time book #1 by tess manchester

11/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Just imagine, for a second, how useful it would be if we were able to get “mulligans” in real life. What if something went horribly wrong and we were able to pop back in time to have another go at getting it right this time? How useful would that be? This is exactly the premise that forms the basis of Tess Manchester’s debut novel, Pivot Point: True Time Book 1. U.S. Marshall Blake Parsons is noted for two things – her fiery temper and her uncanny ability to capture the bad guy and bring him in. Her temper has got her into more than her share of trouble with her bosses in the past, but with a record like hers, laxity was always going to be the byword. She was driven and successful, but when chasing a fugitive leads her to a small rural community in Tennessee and she meets the lovely Doctor Naomi, her outlook and her priorities change. The attraction is instant, but it must all wait for Blake Parsons to capture the man on the run, who she chases relentlessly.

For a debut novel, I found Pivot Point: True Time Book 1 to be a more than respectable effort. Tess Manchester’s two main characters are strong, independent women, in Blake and Naomi, who the author manages to show they are more than just bluster and anger, on Blake’s part and brains and beauty on Naomi’s part. She does well to show the vulnerability that lurks underneath Blake’s bluster and anger. I did enjoy the idea of going back and getting a “do-over” when things didn’t quite go as planned. The story flowed seamlessly and the action was fast and furious, with little held back in the way of realism. The possibility that this story is just the beginning of a series featuring this premise and/or these characters is intriguing and I look forward to what Manchester has to offer us next. As a thriller, with a time-twist, this debut was successful and I am certain the author will grow into her skin, as a writer, the more she gives us. This is a successful start to her literary career.

Pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Pivot Point by Tess Manchester:

follow your bliss: how to start living the life of your dreams by angela cecilia

8/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Follow Your Bliss: How to Start Living the Life of Your Dreams by Angela Cecilia is a self-help book that, follows the precepts of the Law of Attraction as espoused in The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and the plethora of books that have emerged since Byrne first took the world by storm back in 2006. The title itself was alluded to by Joseph Campbell when he stated (paraphrased): “If you follow your bliss, doors will open.” Cecilia has covered, in this book, many of the limiting factors that preclude us, as human beings from achieving happiness. Some of the areas she specifically looks at include: Learning to Love Yourself, Blame, Gratitude, Dreams, Forgiveness, Leadership, plus many more. As the title indicates, Cecilia shows, through reference to her own personal struggles, how following your bliss is the most certain way to achieving the life you were meant for and intended for. She lays out a clear path that readers can follow to emulate the success that took her thirty something years to achieve.

When I first picked up Follow Your Bliss: How to Start Living the Life of Your Dreams, my immediate reaction was; “here we go again, another Law of Attraction ride on Rhonda Byrne’s coat-tails”. I am pleased to say I was pleasantly surprised by the no-nonsense, practical approach to discovering your true potential, presented by author Angela Cecilia. By using her own life, fraught as it was with loathing and self-hate, as an example of what to do and what to change, she made the learning process highly personal and deeply resonant with me. To answer one of the fears she had raised when writing the book. “Yes, this material has all been covered by others hundreds of times, but yes, you did find something new, something real and something touching to me, personally and I’m sure other readers will find exactly the same thing.” Two quotes the author used in the book struck right to my heart. 1/ If you strive for conformity, everyone else will love you, except yourself. And 2/ We are spiritual beings undertaking a human experience, not the other way around. This book is full of insightful and practical advice and I can definitely recommend it to someone seeking solutions to their own unhappiness.

You can pop on over to Amazon, if you wish, and take a look at Follow Your Bliss: How to Start Living the Life of your Dreams by Angela Cecilia

the whispered tales of graves grove by a selection of authors

8/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is an anthology of dark and scary short –stories with a difference. When the creators of this anthology called for submissions, they stipulated that all stories must revolve around the mythical town of Graves Grove, a small town in the wilds of British Columbia, Canada. The town was unique in many ways, in that it appeared to be a nexus or a meeting place for all sorts of paranormal activity, be it vampires, fairies, shape-shifters, ghosts and demons. The town itself has a collection of odd-ball and off-beat characters, but nothing defines Graves Grove as much as 1/ The bronze statue of the town’s founder (which somehow seems to changes its clothes on a daily basis. 2/ A giant sycamore tree that dominates the town park and is the centre of many of the rumours and stories about Graves Grove and 3/ A history of missing children, on a regular basis spanning over a hundred years. All this makes for an intriguing set of stories from a number of authors, including: J.S. Bailey, E.D.E. Bell, Mark Andersen, Matthew Howe, Travis Perry and Dakota Caldwell, plus many more.

The concept of writing a series of short-stories, across time, centred on one small town is an interesting one and one that did work. With many of the principal, weird characters and situations already set in place by the editors, it allowed the authors free license to stretch their imaginations and indeed that is exactly what they did. The Sycamore Tree, which dominated the premise was a central theme in almost all the stories, with the authors coming up with many and varied ideas as to what the tree was capable of, what it harboured beneath its roots and what weird and wonderful creatures actually lived or inhabited the tree. I found the variety of the writing to be especially refreshing and, in actual fact many similar themes appeared in different stories from different authors. As with any anthology, some stories stuck in my mind and resonated more with me, than others. Three particular favourites of mine were: Where’s Matheson Lam by S.R. Betler, Fairy Troubled by Catherine Bonham and Magick by D. M. Kilgore. If you want something different in a short story anthology, then The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove may well be right up your alley.

You can pop on over to Amazon and check out The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove, here:

the remains in the pond by ann swann

5/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The night Gabrielle Kelly attended her High-School Prom would change her life forever. Gabi went to prom with her (closet gay) friend, Asa, but it was the encounter with her adorable crush, Matt Brennan that would alter the course of many lives in the small town of Live Oak, Texas. In The Remains in the Pond, Ann Swann brings us a coming-of-age, mystery/thriller that takes us on a journey from Texas, to California, to Berne, Switzerland and back again. The chemistry between Gabi and Matt, on Prom night was undeniable and they appeared to be set for an interesting and torrid two weeks of romance, before Matt was due to head off to college. All that would change, however, when a horrific motor vehicle accident and a mysterious phone call from Matt’s cousin, Rose sends Gabi and her friend Asa into a tailspin.

In The Remains in the Pond, author Ann Swann brings us a story reminiscent of “We Know What You Did Last Summer”. The characters in this story are typical teenagers, trying to find their way in a world they’re not sure they fully understand yet. The character of Asa, a gay boy growing up in a small, rural, West Texas town and the angst he felt about revealing his sexuality, was particularly poignant. I liked that Gabi, no matter how hard she tries, cannot walk away from and forget what happened that Prom night. The author reminds us, through this story that all our actions have consequences and it is the “adult way”, to take responsibility for those actions. As a coming of age novel, with a few twists and turns, I found this story a very satisfactory read.

Definitely pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Remains in the Pond plus all of Ann Swann's extensive works.

path to old talbot by jordan elizabeth

5/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

For thirteen-year-old Charity, her life, it seems, is defined by her father’s illness, a man who suffers from clinical depression. Charity’s mother, Isadora and Charity, both love her father deeply, but they also understand they cannot make the changes in his life that he needs to make. In desperation, the pair move out from the family home and into an old mansion, that has seen better days. In Path to Old Talbot, by Jordan Elizabeth we find a coming-of-age story with hidden depths. Charity and Isadora discover, to their excitement and fear, within an old cupboard in the house, a portal to the past. The door opens up to their town of Talbot, but in the late 1800’s. Fascinated by their discovery and finding it an escape from the problems of her father, Charity embraces the old Talbot and quickly makes herself at home in the era, making a number of friends. When she realises that she may have the potential to alter the past and save her friends from a terrible fate, the problems begin.

Written from the perspective of thirteen-year-old Charity, Path to Old Talbot is a sweet, heart-warming tale, with serious undertones. Author Jordan Elizabeth has used the character of Charity’s father to demonstrate the debilitating effects of clinical depression, not just on the sufferer, but also on his or her family. The relationships within this story are what lifts it above your average coming-of-age novel. Charity has a natural impetuosity and a desire to help those she meets in the past, but she is also wise beyond her years, when it comes to the issue of mental illness and particularly depression. Written in a young teenager’s vernacular, the tale is easy to read and full of little twists and turns, that I enjoyed, especially when the author attempted to address that age-old issue of the time-travel paradox. If Charity made changes in the past, how would that affect the future? This was a most enjoyable read and a young adult book I can highly recommend.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Path to Old Talbot, as well as the very extensive portfolio of Author Jordan Elizabeth

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling (Orville Wellington Mouse #5) by tom hoffman

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Tom Hoffman takes the reader into his wonderful fantasy world of Orville Mouse in his series of Orville Wellington Mouse Adventures, the latest of which is Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling. Orville Mouse, his best friend (and maybe girlfriend?) Sophia Mouse embark on another adventure through space and time, on this occasion, with his faithful companion Proto and the assistance of a rather unusual tree, we come to know as the Sagacious Sapling. There is trouble afoot in Muridaan Falls, when Orville and Sophie begin to experience some time flips, which they soon discover are the precursor to a massive time shift about to hit them resulting from an enormous explosion some hundreds of thousands of years ago. Somehow, the intrepid band of metaphysical adventurers must travel back in time to the prehistoric, jungle world of Ferus and prevent the explosion from ever occurring and releasing the Great Thaumatarian Time Wave, before it reaches their world and plunges them back into the past, some five thousand years.

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling is my first foray into the work of Tom Hoffman and indeed his fantasy world of Orville Mouse. This book is the fifth adventure involving these characters and although it is not necessary to have read the previous books, it is always an advantage, I feel, to read a series in order. As a reader, once you get your head around the idea that this story is a fantasy adventure and indeed the two main characters are actually mice, the characters, their foibles and traits very definitely do grow on you. Orville and Sophia are truly sweet and adorable characters, but much of the humour and enjoyment I derived from the story came from the two offbeat characters, Proto (a robot of sorts) and of course, Leaf, the sagacious sapling. I loved the way they analysed Orville’s jokes and tried to replicate the humour themselves. The idea of logical thinking, programmed, machines beginning to adapt and understand humour while not novel was definitely intriguing. Hoffman has probably targeted the Orville Wellington Mouse sagas at the Young Adult market, but to be perfectly honest, I would suggest there is nothing in this book that would preclude it from being read at a younger age and also by older readers. It is a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling adventure tale, whose two protagonists just happen to be a couple of mice. It was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check this very good book out, plus take a look at Tom Hoffman's full collection:

the king slayer's sacrifice by robert k. hatch

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The King Slayer’s Sacrifice by Robert K. Hatch is a deep dive into the mind and motivation of a serial killer, but not just any serial killer – no, this is a serial killer who will haunt the FBI and law enforcement, for a long time, as he seeks to rid the world of those he considers responsible for mass suffering and death amongst the general population; politicians, successful and ruthless businessmen and bankers who prey on the vulnerable in society. Ryuu Kimura, it seemed, was a young man who had it all; musically gifted, with loving and nurturing parents, and a girlfriend he loved and adored who loved him back, just as much. Ryuu was set to make a name for himself, in this world, but perhaps not quite in the way everyone expected. Ryuu’s world comes crashing down around him, when first his parents and then his friends are caught by the financial crisis of 2008 and he witnesses first-hand the uncaring and callous treatment of ordinary people by the bankers, the politicians and the landlords. It is, however, when his best friend, Daniel, a computer whizz-kid becomes involved in hacking into sensitive sites and suddenly finds himself, his family and anyone associated with him, disappearing or murdered, that Ryuu gets caught up in the most dangerous game of all – trying to survive. Ryuu’s response to the death and misery that surrounds him is to disappear, reinvent himself, and come back as an avenging angel to wreak havoc on the lives of people he considers to have been the evil ones and to have brought so much misery to the world.

This book is a glimpse into the motivation of a serial killer, from the personal perspective of the man himself. I found the premise and the motivation that set Ryuu off on his path of destruction to be somewhat stretching the bounds of belief, but the book did raise and ask some very pertinent questions about life, death and the morality of violence versus non-violence as a form of protest against social conditions and who has the right to play God. I particularly liked the single-minded determination of Ryuu to carry out his plan regardless of the difficulties and problems placed in his way. He was prepared to sacrifice everything and everyone he loved in order to seek “justice” for all of those he had lost. This whole idea of some sort of “avenging angel” to stand up for the weak and the powerless is somewhat analogous to the idea of “super-heroes” fighting for truth, justice and the American Way. The King Slayer’s Sacrifice shows us that incredibly fine line that exists between good and evil and how easy it can be to flip the unflippable from hard-working, law abiding citizen into an avenger for justice who takes the law into his own hands. Robert K. Hatch, with this hero (anti-hero) poses and to some extent answers the question, what is the greater good? And does the end justify the means? Probably the most substantive part of the story and the message comes from the one meeting between Ryuu and a young, social crusader priest, Father Jacob as they discuss their different methods of seeking social justice. A good thought-provoking read.

Pop on over to Amazon and take a look at the King Slayer's Sacrifice by Robert K. Hatch

wonders will never cease by judi moore

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Dr Fergus Girvan is your archetypal British university professor; learned, scholarly, loves the young girls and his many bottles of good plonk. In Wonders Will Never Cease by Judi Moore we meet Fergus, who is suffering a bit of a mid to late life crisis as he realizes his chances of finally gaining a “chair” at Ariel University, may be fading. The young women he surrounds himself with, have suddenly become less interesting and decidedly duller, although still wonderful for his ego and libido. His new found relationship with his high-school aged daughter is tested when he discovers that Andy has fallen in love with a middle-aged lothario who bears no small resemblance, in both morals and motivation, to Fergus himself. Suddenly Fergus finds himself having to ally with Mary, his daughter’s mother and a woman he tries to avoid like the plague, to try to save their beloved daughter from the letch’s grasp. Throw in a supporting cast of characters that could have come out of any British sitcom and you have the makings of a funny, quirky and typically British story. Fergus bumbles his way through the situations that present themselves, as he begins to realize what is actually important in his life and what he should be focusing on.

I’ve always been a big fan of good British humour, the darker the better and Judi Moore has brought us a story, in Wonders Will Never Cease that absolutely fits that mould. When I was reading the book, and especially the wonderful, bumbling, but earnest portrayal of Fergus, I couldn’t help but think of those many wonderful sitcoms produced by the British (Black Books comes to mind here), with their self-deprecating humour and the stuffy, class-ridden characters that inhabit them. I felt Moore perfectly portrayed the sometime senseless and rarefied, ivory-tower atmosphere that is academia, the world over, but more especially so in the British system. I particularly enjoyed the age-old debate of the importance of the classics and humanities, in the University system, as opposed to Science and Business, something that was such a hot topic in the Thatcher Britain that this book is set. Comedy and humour is hard to write and good comedy, when discovered should be cherished and held up for all to see. Moore clearly has her finger on the pulse of what is comedy and this book certainly encourages me, as a reader, to seek out more of this author’s work.

You can take a look at Wonders Will Never Cease, plus the rest of Judi Moore's work, here on Amazon:

chaco by peggy a. wheeler

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Our planet is constantly at risk of bombardment from outer space. In Chaco by Peggy A. Wheeler that scenario horrifyingly comes to life when a massive solar flare sends out electro-magnetic pulses that render all technology on earth useless. Anything that relies on computer technology is essentially gone and people must now learn to survive in the harshest of ways. In the wealthy suburb of Green Lake, Southern California, Chaco Rodriquez worked as a gardener, cum handyman for the rich Walker family. Chaco was, however, much more than he seemed on the surface. An illegal immigrant to the United States, Chaco was a PHD graduate in physics from El Salvador, who had fought for the revolutionaries in the Salvadoran civil war and then fled to the US when he became the most wanted man in El Salvador. When the solar storm strikes earth, all hell quickly breaks loose as civilization and the civil society quickly deteriorate and it becomes every man and woman for themselves – a real battle for survival. Chaco will attempt to lead the Walkers, their son Jude, his wife and their two children, along with the Walker’s next-door neighbors, the Pennymoons, eight hundred miles through the most difficult terrain to a self-sufficient community where the Walker’s daughter Fiona lives. It will be a journey of horror and hardship, like no other, as the loose band of friends seek to survive the harsh Northern California winter and the violence of their fellow man.

The premise of Chaco by Peggy A. Wheeler, that of a massive solar storm rendering earth’s technology effectively useless is one that is a genuine and real threat to our civilization. This made this dystopian story even more poignant and pressing than may otherwise have been the case. I did feel some of the characters were overdrawn a little, almost to the point of becoming caricatures. That was certainly the case with the Pennymoons, with the husband Rocky and his red-necked, racist attitudes towards Chaco and his wife Margo, with her down-on-the-farm, Texas drawl and dirt-poor self-sufficiency skills. That having been said, it was hard not to like Rocky, the man who would shoot his mouth off at a moment’s notice, but truly had a heart of gold. I particularly liked the character of Jude (the Walker’s son), who allowed the author to have a frank and knowledgeable discussion about the problems of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among US veterans. The character was deeply troubled and symptomatic of so many returning veterans in society who struggle to deal with the horrors they have witnessed. This is not a read for the faint of heart. There is significant, graphic violence as well as death and heartbreak, but equally there is a real triumph of the indomitable human spirit and the will to survive. This is a good, solid dystopian read.

You can take a look at Chaco, as well as Peggy A. Wheeler's considerable portfolio of work, here on Amazon:

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