Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

cascading petals by jane c. brady

31/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Bullying is never okay! That is what they always say in schools all over the world, but is it just a platitude that those in authority spout, without truly adhering to? In Cascading Petals, by Jane C Brady we face bullying head-on, in not an abstract manner, but in a deeply personal and realistic way. Jewel Hart has spent most of her school days as the subject of intense bullying; bullying that has lowered her self-esteem and led her to question her place in the world, whether she even belongs here. In this her final year, a senior now, she hopes and prays that things will be different and the year will fly by until she is released, to be an adult, to go to college and to escape the remorseless taunting and pain. When Jewel meets Kaiden Carter she believes she has finally found a kindred spirit, someone she can believe in and trust. Maybe, this final year will be a good one, after all, she consoles herself. For Jewel and her new friends, the final year of high-school will bring the subjects of bullying and teen suicide to a dramatic head, teaching them all something important about themselves and the world.

Cascading Petals is very much a teen romance story and one that is beautifully told, by author Jane C Brady, but it is very much more than that. The author uses the story to explore dark and often hitherto hidden places where teenage minds and angst can reside, especially when faced with the hurtful taunts and lies of not only their peers, but even some of their teachers. The ulterior motive of this book was clearly to shine a light into areas that we, as adults, are often afraid to go and to show just how incredibly debilitating systematic and concerted bullying can be to, not just those being bullied, but often to the perpetrators themselves. Brady tells the story, with no holds-barred and yet maintains a sensitivity and a compassion that we wish was present inside of those who choose to relieve their own inner pain at the expense of others. The characters are real and perhaps not even your typical target of bullies, but I’m sure that was the intent of the author also; to show that it is not only the overweight, or the acne ridden, or the socially awkward teenagers who can be the butt of these young people’s anger and hurt. This is one of the best books on the subject I’ve read and Brady is to be congratulated for telling this difficult story without resorting to clichés and over-emotional responses. A great job.

You can take a look at Cascading Petals by Jane C. Brady, here on her Amazon page:

two hearts find christmas (two hearts wounded warrior romance #5) by tamara ferguson

28/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

There is a legend in Crystal Rock, Wisconsin that a kiss shared in the Crystal Rock Cave is a kiss for all eternity. When Josh kissed Nina, as frightened teenagers, little did either of them realise that many years later their lives would again be thrown together and the possibility of the legend coming true would be manifest. Josh returns to his home town, just before Christmas, a wounded hero from Iraq, a wounded warrior, no less. When he enters the Crystal Rock Wounded Warrior’s Rehabilitation Centre, he is reunited with, the now nurse, Nina. Can either of them rise above their troubled childhoods and find true love, despite the past that keeps returning to haunt them. This is the premise of this novella; Two Hearts Find Christmas (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 5), by Tamara Ferguson. This is the fifth book in this series based around Crystal Rock, former FBI Special Agent Jake Loughlin, and his family and friends.

This is not the first Tamara Ferguson novella I’ve read and indeed not the first Wounded Warrior novella, either. Different characters, within the group that make up the Jake Loughlin circle of family and friends are explored in each of these stories. Josh and Nina, as characters were easy to identify with and to root for. Both had had difficult, traumatic, childhoods and Ferguson dealt with some potentially horrific subject matter with sensitivity and grace. Some might argue the romance plot is fairly formulaic, but Ferguson gives much more depth to the stories, with her complicated backstory and continuity of history through the years. Definitely Two Hearts Find Christmas (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 5) is a chilling reminder of the evil that does exist out there among us, but also a sweet reminder of the sanctity and power of true love, plus the indomitability of the human spirit to triumph over adversity and to work for good. Although I’m not American, it was perhaps appropriate that I read this tale over Memorial Day weekend, as Americans honour the many fallen as well as the multitude of wounded warriors.

Tamara Ferguson is a prolific, highly-acclaimed author whose novella; Two Hearts Find Christmas, plus the rest of her extensive portfolio, can be found here, on her Amazon page:

far endeavor: A windflower saga novella (the windflower saga book 9) by aleksandra layland

25/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Far Endeavor: A Windflower Saga Novella by Aleksandra Layland takes us on a journey through time and adventure as we follow the travels of three siblings; Lord Branimir Rongo, plus his sister and brother, as they set sail to find antiquities worth studying, for the University where they all either teach or study. This hazardous journey will open up new horizons for all three siblings and will change their lives forever. Especially for Branimir, whose original quest for manuscripts will change to a search for his history and that of his family and clan. Born of the Kimbrii, the indigenous people, Branimir and his siblings are typical of his people, a mixture of the white and the dark. Their skin may be dark, but their eyes give away their heritage. Layland has created herself an entire uncharted world here, where dangerous voyages on small boats are required to find and explore ancient cultures.

This is a novella and as such relatively short, but I found it fascinating and it drew me into this culture and world that Aleksandra Layland has created covering a broad span of stories. The writing is simple, yet endearing and draws you into the story beautifully as she explores the heritage and birth-right of these three siblings, as they set out on what was supposed to be just a simple voyage of archaeological interest, but would instead turn into a life-changing journey for all three of them. At its heart; Far Endeavor; A Windflower Saga Novella is a romance, and a very acceptable one at that, but scratch the surface and you find much more. The author’s dry and sometimes wicked sense of humour comes through in her characters, as does the subtle, but very real, commentary on racism, sexism, war, and social mores that are equally as relevant in our world as they were in Lord Branimir’s. I have not previously read any of Layland’s work, but if nothing else, this book opened up a world of possibilities, for me, as a reader. I was impressed by this work and would encourage readers to take a look at her entire Windflower series, as I will indeed be. This is an excellent read.

Absolutely do pop on over to Amazon and check out Far Endeavor, along with the entire Aleksandra Layland collection:

the beginning - alliance by sal ardisi, karen nordahl and rob calouri

22/5/2018

If it is realistic Sicilian Mafia drama set in New York City that you're seeking, you couldn't go far wrong with picking up Sal Ardisi, Karen Nordahl & Rob Colouri's new novel, The Beginning - Alliance, a book that traces the history and descendants of one famous mob boss, "Sally Balls".
When Salvatore DePriate leaves his Sicilian homeland to seek his fortune, a mistake sees him board a ship for the United States, instead of the planned Rome. Unfazed, Salvatore quickly settles into his life in the new world and became a leading figure in the underworld of New York. Desperate for an heir to his empire, Sally Balls was disappointed with his son's disinterest in his business. Sally's hope for someone to work with him transferred to his two grandsons, Tommy and Frankie.
Tommy, Frankie and their best friend Anthony were inseparable growing up, although their lives would take a different direction as they grew older. Tommy would drift into his Grandfather's crime business, while Frankie and Anthony would both choose the opposite side of the fence, opting to join the Police Force.
This story is well-written, easy to read and feels very true-to-life. Three authors is unusual, to say the least, but in this case it seems to work well. The authors did extremely well to create and nourish the obvious conflict that arose between the boys' duty to Law and Order and Tommy's clear flouting of all the laws and his expectations that he could get away with it, just as his Grandfather had been successfully doing for so long. Of the three main characters, I perhaps felt the most affinity for Frankie, whose search for stability and happiness had left behind a broken marriage, a lot of empty bottles and ultimately true tragedy.
The Beginning - Alliance, it appears, is the first in a planned series of books and as such, it sets up the next episode extremely well. Everything is not always as it seems, would appear to be the most likeliest motto I could take from this book. I enjoyed the characters, the action and the lifestyle depictions and look forward to the next offering from this author team. This book is an excellent start to what promises to be an exciting series.

You can find The Beginning - Alliance by Sal Ardisi, Karen Nordahl and Rob Calouri, here on Amazon:

currents of sin by arleen alleman

21/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Currents of Sin by Arleen Alleman is the sixth and she says final iteration of her investigative, crime-fighting, freelance journalist Darcy Farthing. This time, Darcy takes a short vacation back in Florida to try and get her head around the difficulties she is having in her marriage to her current husband Mick, when old friend Tom drops a potential story into her lap. Any plans she had to investigate the missing Pumas story are quickly thrust into the background by an urgent call from another friend, Don, whose foster daughter is missing and he believes in serious trouble in Las Vegas. Quickly flying to Las Vegas to help, Darcy, her previous husband Brooke and her best friend Sid are quickly drawn into a web of criminality that defies belief. Asian gangs, drugs, teenage prostitution and sex slavery, not to mention international people trafficking confront Darcy head on, as she begins the search for seventeen-year-old Pammie, who is just maybe, somewhere in Sin City. So begins this tale of crime, intrigue, and violence.

Having not read anything before from Arleen Alleman, I was surprised and thrilled at the stand-alone nature of the story. Backstory to Currents of Sin is generously provided by the author, sprinkled through the story and not only adds to this current journey, but gives the reader every encouragement to delve further into the author’s previous works and discover more about these fascinating characters. The characters Alleman has fashioned in this tale have doubtless grown and matured over the course of the six stories and perhaps that’s why they feel so real and warm to the reader. The author clearly has a real grasp on her character’s true natures and their foibles as well as their endearing traits. Although this is primarily a mystery crime story, it also is a treatise on the human condition and the base elements of good and evil. As a reader I found the balance between action/adventure and character development/life philosophy to be well achieved. If this is indeed the last in this series, based on the final book, I can commend Alleman on a well-researched, well written, easy to read and enjoyable adventure. I can highly recommend this book to readers of all genres.

By all means, do pop on over to Arleen Alleman's Amazon page, where you can find Currents of Sin, plus all of Alleman's work.

the m strain by bradley michael

18/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A rogue scientist has manufactured his own deadly virus to sell to the highest bidder and when terrorists get a hold of it, we know the world will soon be in serious trouble. This is the premise behind Bradley Michael’s dystopian novel, The M Strain. When a thief steals the virus and becomes infected within its deadly grasp, in his death throes he crashes his car into a tree in the front of the unsuspecting Taylor residence. Before they know what has happened, Homeland Security have whisked them off to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) in an attempt to control the spread of what may be the most deadly virus in mankind’s history. Agent Johns from Homeland Security with his crack team will seek to find and recover the missing vials of virus before they can be unleashed on an unsuspecting world.

The M Strain was a relatively short, yet still satisfying read of the potential that exists for something, be it pandemic or deliberately released disease to decimate the world’s population and leave civilisation teetering on the brink of collapse. Bradley Michael has a simple, straightforward writing style that is easy to read and certainly the story is action-packed and moves at an excellent pace. There is no indication yet whether this is a continuing story, but there is definitely room for a sequel, given the ultimate ending of the story. Although I found the over use of real names as opposed to pronouns a little distracting at times, it wasn’t enough to limit my enjoyment of a good story that has the potential for an excellent dystopian sequel, which I hope the author is considering. A good, solid read is how I would describe The M Strain.

You can find The M Strain, here on Amazon:

monsterland reanimated: monsterland series book 2 by michael okon

17/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Monsterland Reanimated, Book Two of the Monsterland Series by Michael Okon picks up from the first book, after Monsterland has been destroyed (or has it?). The world’s leadership is gone, the world economy has collapsed and in Copper Mountain, the site of the US Monsterland, Wyatt, his step-father Carter and his mother and brother must try and figure out what to do next. The town is isolated and all services have ceased, but Carter, a policeman, is determined to rally those who are left and try to organise some sort of civil society. Lawlessness is rampant though and worse than that, there is still something happening at Monsterland. It seems that Monsterland creator, Vincent Konrad is not quite as dead as everyone supposes. He and his faithful sidekick Igor have plans to take over and rule the world, with his army of living mummies. So starts a frantic race against time to stop the evil Vincent from succeeding.

I had not read the first Monsterland novel, but really it is not necessary to have done so, before reading Monsterland Reanimated. Author Michael Okon gives us the backstory very well as events unfold in the new story. I would never have believed a novel about zombies, shape-shifters, and monsters in general, would captivate me quite the way this one did and that is a real credit to the author. I found his writing style and dark humour, with some subtle and not so subtle pop culture references to be immensely enjoyable to read. Despite the fact that this is a book that delves into the darkest, most evil places in our hearts and is full of blood, splatter and gore, it is also a story that highlights and celebrates the most redeeming features of humanity. I particularly enjoyed the interplay and the developing relationship between Wyatt and his step-father. For anyone who has been part of a blended family, the emotions and feelings will be evident. This is a fun, enjoyable read and not just for fans of the genre. I was pleased to see a third book is in the works and I know fans of Michael Okon’s work will be pleased about that.

Do pop on over to Michael Okon's Amazon page, where you can see both the Monsterland books, for yourself.

the patmos enigma by ken fry

14/5/2018

When it comes to Biblical Conspiracies (one of my favourite reads actually), there is no better author on this planet, in my humble opinion, than the erstwhile Ken Fry. Therefore, when I come across a Ken Fry book, I have yet to read, I grab it with both hands.
The Patmos Enigma is an enthralling tale of mysticism, deception, murder and greed that will grab you from the very first page and will not be satisfied until you finish the book with a groan of satisfaction and some sadness at having to leave the characters the author has you totally invested in.
Two thousand years ago, as Jesus was making his weary journey to Calvary, he was cursed at and spat on by a shop keeper. That man, who became known as the Wandering Jew, was cursed to walk the earth, as an immortal, for all times, until the Second Coming of Christ, suffering all the pain and ravages of humanity but unable to receive the soothing balm of death.
Two secret organisations, the Keepers and the Guardians are vying for control of the legendary seven seals of John of Patmos, as revealed in the Book of Revelations. Caught in the middle of this millennial struggle for power are a group of Jewish archaeologists who have found six of the seven seals and now search for the seventh, which the Wandering Jew believes will signal the end of time, the return of Jesus Christ and, of course, his release from this hell on earth.
Fry's book whips us, at breakneck pace, from Jerusalem, to Tel Aviv and to Rome as the eternal struggle for the minds and souls of the faithful battle around the participants. Fry has a unique talent to take the reader there, to believe the unbelievable and to invest heavily in the characters he creates and portrays.
If you love conspiracy theories, if you're a Dan Brown fan (Fry is better) or if you simply love a rollicking, racing, mystery story, The Patmos Enigma is a winner for you. This is a superb story, beautifully told by an uber-talented storyteller. I can not recommend this book highly enough and have no hesitation in awarding it five stars plus from this reviewer.

Go take a look at The Patmos Enigma by Ken Fry, as well as all his other superb work, here on his Amazon page:

journey of a thousand steps: Book 3 (A whisper of mystery trilogy #3) by M.A. appleby

14/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Journey of a Thousand Steps: Book 3 (A Whisper of Mystery Trilogy) by M.A. Appleby continues the story of Ellen’s struggle with forces outside of her control who want to destroy her and her family. Along with her CIA husband Adrian and the rest of her family, they have established a new life on Ashwood Station, where they train and race standard-bred trotters and pacers. Ellen is trying, with the help of her psychiatrist Dr Laurel to put the past behind her, but there is one thing she cannot forget. Her son, Jason, who was heir to the Saudi Royal crown disappeared four years previously. Whilst everyone assures Ellen it is time to let go and move on, Ellen cannot. In her heart of hearts she knows Jason is still alive and she will not rest until she finds him. A coincidental documentary of a super typhoon in the far away South Pacific will set Ellen off on a journey of mystery, intrigue and no small amount of danger, in her never-ending search for her lost son.

This is the third and final book in the series and although it can be read stand-alone, I would strongly recommend anyone consider reading the full series from the beginning, to get an easier grasp of the characters and their backstories. Journey of a Thousand Steps: Book 3 (A Whisper of Mystery Trilogy) is a good, solid, mystery adventure, with an insight into the well-to-do world of Ellen and her family. I found the horse racing side of the story to be most fascinating, as an avid follower of the pacing/trotting world, from the other side of the world. The story is told from Ellen’s first person perspective and as such gives us a personal and touching insight into the mind of a distraught mother who refuses to listen to reason, simply because she knows her son is not dead. As a reader, I noted the story arcs, when they changed, were not always clearly delineated and that was a trifle jarring to read. That having been said, M A Appleby has given us a well written, well researched and very readable mystery, that I enjoyed and can recommend.

You can take a look at Journey of a Thousand Steps, plus the rest of M.A. Appleby's extensive portfolio, here on Amazon.

winds of skilak: volume 2 by bonnie rose ward

9/5/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Winds of Skilak Volume 2 is the continuation of the memoir of Bonnie Rose Ward and her husband Sam’s adventure on Caribou Island in the middle of Skilak lake, deep in the wilds of Alaska. These two modern-day pioneers literally carved a living out of nothing on Caribou Island. At times, especially winter, Bonnie and Sam would be the only occupants, of this lonely, snow-swept and freezing part of the Alaskan wilderness. Like true pioneers Sam and Bonnie would build their own cabins, hunt and track all sorts of wildlife for food, plant and harvest their own vegetables and live the true life of adventurers on the very frontiers of civilisation. Although they occasionally would have company to break the loneliness and the daily grind of living “off the grid” for the most part it was the indomitable belief this couple had in each other and an unshakeable faith that would sustain them through many trials and tribulations.

As a reader, I find all memoirs quite fascinating – it’s like being invited in to share the most intimate parts of a stranger’s life and thoughts. When the memoir details experiences as rich, diverse and for us simple city dwellers, so outside of our comfort zones, as Winds of Skilak Volume 2 does, the pleasure is doubled or even tripled. I haven’t read Volume 1, but that certainly wasn’t important. Right from the first page of this story, you are drawn into a world far from anything few of us will ever experience. I marvelled at the sheer grit and determination of both Sam and Bonnie Rose Ward. For Bonnie, living out in that wilderness, with little or at times no other female company on the island, was tough, but she took it all in her stride, with humour, faith and a positive attitude. Her writing is fresh, clear and even she admits to not having the words to describe many of the beauties of the Alaskan wilderness. As someone who can only ever dream of an adventure like this, I love the fact that Bonnie and Sam, through this book allowed me to share theirs, vicariously. If you love true life adventure tales, this book is an absolute “must read” for you.

You can take a look at both Volumes 1 & 2 of the Winds of Skilak, here on Bonnie Rose Ward's Amazon page:

convulsive - part 1 by marcus martin

9/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When first the International Space Station’s crew die and then all the earth’s satellites are wiped out, the powers that be realise something disastrous is about to strike Earth. With communications and power gone, the thin veneer of a civilised society rapidly begins to crumble, as the citizenry begin to do whatever it takes to survive. Add in a pandemic that is rapidly culling the earth’s population and you have the premise for Marcus Martin’s dystopian novel, Convulsive Part 1. Lucy and her partner Dan are better placed than most to survive. Dan’s father, who is high up in the Government had already warned him something was about to happen and Dan had wisely stockpiled food and supplies to ensure their survival. As the civil authorities in San Francisco struggle to cope with the overwhelming problems, Lucy and Dan must survive at all costs until Dan’s father can organise a way out for them and others.

Convulsive Part 1 is the first part of a serialised set of novels, so as a standalone book fails to answer any questions, but sets up, very well the continuation of the story, for the next installment. Although I’m not personally a great fan of this style of serialisation, author Marcus Martin does an excellent job of building the action to a crescendo and leaving the reader wanting more, which at the end of the day is the whole point of this type of story. I liked Martin’s writing style, which was simple, straightforward and rapidly moved the action along. The characters, could well have been more deeply explored, especially the two principals Dan and Lucy, as well as their relationship, but at the heart of the story is the dystopian battle for survival and on that level, the author did a very good job of carrying the reader along at a steady clip. This is a good beginning to a series and I see Convulsive Book 2 is already available, so readers who enjoy this first part, will not have to wait to see what happens next, which is always a bonus.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out Convulsive Part 1, plus all of Marcus Martin's work, here on his Amazon page:

that unexpected kiss (kissed by fate #2) by tamara Ferguson

6/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

More than just a romance, That Unexpected Kiss (Kissed by Fate Book 2) from Tamara Ferguson is an intriguing mixture of romance, human trafficking, murder and abduction. Dylan Nash is an FBI agent under cover at Crystal Rock. He and his mother have been searching for his father’s murderer for over twenty years and they are finally closing in on the suspects. Dylan is also looking into a human trafficking ring that had been operating out of Crystal Rock in the past, seeking the local connections. When Dylan first met Julie Thompson, several years earlier, both had felt an inexplicable connection that generated electricity and chemistry. Julie moved away, though and the connection was never explored, instead Dylan hooked up with Julie’s best friend Kate. Now Julie has come home to Crystal Rock and sparks are about to fly. Julie’s past, is also mired in tragedy, with the disappearance of her mother when she was just five. It is all about to come together in this novel.

Tamara Ferguson is a well-known and celebrated romance author, whose work I had yet to read. If The Unexpected Kiss (Kissed by Fate Book 2) is an example of the quality of her work, I’m sure it will not be the last Ferguson book I read. The pace was frantic, whether it was the adventure or the passionate romance between Dylan and Julie. Ferguson’s writing is simple, elegant and incredibly easy to read. I found myself disappointed when the book ended as I wanted to explore more of these characters and the wonderful location. This book, with its darker undertones is definitely much more than just another pulp romance. The mystery and the intrigue grabs the readers right from the very beginning and carries us along full-throttle, fully investing in the believable characters. I can highly recommend this reading, for romance and thriller/mystery readers alike. It is definitely as good as anything in that genre market out there. Thank you to Ferguson for such an enjoyable read.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at That Unexpected Kiss, plus the rest of Tamara Ferguson's very extensive portfolio of novels, on her Amazon page:

the river (A jack slack shoe box dialogue book 3) by george benda

2/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The River (A Jack Slack Shoebox Dialogue) by George Benda brings us the tale of a young, public policy scientist Jack Slack who is brought in to manage a difficult situation in the 1970’s when the citizens of Illinois and the farmers of Indiana were at loggerheads on how best to manage the Kankakee River Basin which flowed through both states and periodically caused significant flooding issues for Indiana and especially for its farmers. Jack has to navigate a wild confluence of political, moral and scientific intrigue to discover a solution that satisfies all parties and ensures the beauty of the Kankakee River will remain for generations to come. In the process Jack, his girlfriend, his friends and even his employer will become the target of unscrupulous politicians with their own agendas to feed and the willingness to indulge in violence and corruption. Set in the post-Watergate era, this story is one of local political intrigue and the search for “truth”, especially scientific “truth”.

George Benda has produced an interesting story here in The River (A Jack Slack Shoebox Dialogue), in which he attempts to combine philosophical discussion, scientific argument and practices, a rigorous moral questioning, with all the expected elements of a top thriller. Does he achieve this? To a limited extent, yes. The philosophical discussions I found particularly enjoyable and the idea of seeking not so much “the truth” of an argument, but going even deeper and searching for what is “truth” itself, was quite fascinating. The writer uses a very clipped style, with short sentences and very short scenes. As a reader, I did find the constant chopping and changing between scenes, at times distracting, but overall, the story flows well as Jack recounts, via the items stored in a shoebox, those tumultuous days of over 50 years ago, when he was just starting his career as a scientist and a public servant. The real animosity and rancour that had developed over the Kankakee River Basin, between its inhabitants for over a century, was well documented by the author and I found the read pleasurable and quick. This is a good thriller, with quite a lot more deep thinking involved than perhaps your average thriller. Kudos to the author, for that.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The River, plus all of George Benda's works, on his Amazon Author Page:

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