​In The Soup is the second book of Wilton's that I've read in this series. The first of these, Save Our Shop, first introduced me to Wilton's rather quirky and very British sense of humour. For me it was very reminiscent of the humour I grew up with; the Frankie Howard's and Benny Hill's of this world. I found it fun, enjoyable and a real break from the more weighty subjects that I was generally reading. 
While I remember belly-laughing at some of the antics in the first book, I found this less so, in the second. That doesn't mean to say I didn't enjoy In The Soup, I very much did, but some of the slapstick and caricatures seemed a little more over-the-top than in the first book. 
The second book continues the efforts of our hero, William to have his first book published and to find a satisfactory end to his unrequited love for Sally. No matter what William tries to do, he always seems to create a situation that Sally can misread and accuse him of philandering. 
This is a great book to while away a rainy afternoon and release some of the tensions of our everyday life. I would definitely recommend In The Soup if you need some light-hearted reading and, if you are a fan of that typically self-deprecating British humour, I know you will love it. 
An enjoyable read and a solid four stars, from me, for In The Soup 

I note on Amazon that Wilton is also a children's author. You can check out his work here:  

​For me, memoirs either hit the spot and tickle my funny-bone, or tug on my heart-strings, or they don't. Truth, Lies, Propaganda: In Africa by Lucinda E. Clarke almost makes it in that respect.
There are numerous funny anecdotes in this book that will make you giggle, a few that will make you squirm and one or two where you'll say; "rather her than me." 
As the story of a woman obsessed with the dream to write and the path she took to achieve that dream, it is an interesting story and for those of us with a limited knowledge of Africa and particularly what it was like to be white and living in apartheid South Africa in the 1980's and early 90's, it was quite a revelation.
Clarke takes us on a journey from her earliest dabbling in writing and broadcasting, as a continuity announcer at a Libyan radio station during the repressive regime of Muammar Qaddafi through to her work as a teacher in a South African private school, where she was able to indulge her need to write, though stories, radio plays and television programmes for the state owned broadcasting unit, the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation). Most of this particular book focuses on her days with the SABC and she is at pains to assure her readers that working on radio and television was far from the glamorous occupation it is often portrayed to be. There were many genuinely funny anecdotes from her work to produce "educational" programmes to try and improve the lives of the majority, poor, black population. As an expatriate Brit and as white as they come, some of the best stories came from her forays into the black townships to film, where she often faced real fear of violence or hatred. 
My only complaint, and it is a minor one, was that at times I found the tone of the story to be just a little patronising and insulting to the intelligence of her readers. Some of the explanations of various broadcasting terms, were I felt anyway, so obvious as to be totally unnecessary and a little disruptive to the flow of my reading. 
What comes through over and over again in this memoir is the author's innate desire and need to write, something I could readily identify with. Clarke is frank in an assessment of her own abilities, but like all writers, she tends toward self-deprecation perhaps more than is necessary. I've read a number of her books now and she is a talented writer and an excellent author of both fiction and non-fiction, alike. This is a good read and interesting and instructional as an insight into what it was like to be just another, ordinary white person working in apartheid South Africa and interacting daily with the black majority. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading her follow up book on the same subject; More Truth, Lies and Propaganda.         
I am happy to give Truth, Lies, Propaganda: in Africa, four solid stars. If you like reading memoirs of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this book immensely, as I did. 

You can check out Lucinda E Clarke's exceptional body of available work here:  

​I have read several of Gascoigne's books now and I will hold my hand up and admit I am a real fan of hers. There are just a few authors whose books I would seek out the moment they come onto the market and Gascoigne is now in that illustrious company in my list. 
There is nothing startling about her stories or her style. She writes simple, romances about real people that grab and pull at your consciousness. There is a quirkiness and a cadence to her writing that, for me anyway, simply draws me in and makes me totally identify with her characters. Her heroes and heroines are not always the most beautiful, the most hunky or the most sexy characters (although in this book they do appear to be) but what they are is; real, identifiable and invariably a little flawed or weighed down with baggage from previous relationships.   
The Seasons of our Love is so typical of the quality work that Gascoigne turns out in every book she writes. At 158 pages on Kindle, it is not a long read, but it is an extremely satisfying one. We meet Rosie, who to escape an abusive relationship just jumps on a bus to "anywhere" but where she is - which turns out to be Shrove, where she meets and falls in love with Danny, the proprietor of the pub cum restaurant. Danny's aged and dementia suffering aunt Maggie is also an integral part of this relationship and Rosie finds herself quickly drawn into this family. The problems they face, as a couple, are exactly the problems many of us face in our own relationships and this is why it is so easy to identify and empathise with her characters. 
It is clear from reading her past work that Gascoigne has a fascination with ghosts and spirits, so it was hardly surprising to see just a little of the supernatural creep into this story also. It added to and expanded the plot, which was all okay for me.  
I really enjoyed this story and was so invested in the characters that I was thrilled to see Gascoigne plans more adventures with Danny and Rosie - Roll on the Sequel, I say. 
A wonderful story and one I would highly recommend to any reader who likes a good, sweet, romance with real people and real problems. Gascoigne has a real niche here and I hope she continues to fill it, for the benefit of her readers and fans, of which I am proudly one. Fantastic job and worth every one of the five stars I'm awarding it.      

You can check out all of Angela Gascoigne's incredible selection here: 

​Blossom and Kitsune is a wonderful, little children's book that delves into Japanese folklore to try to explain the natural phenomenon of earthquakes, which of course plague Japan as they do most countries surrounding the Pacific Rim of Fire. 
I always enjoy dipping into another culture's folklore as it is always instructive and educational. There is so much to be learnt about culture, life and respect by examining the legends handed down through the generations through their folklore. The Japanese, especially have a wonderful history and tradition that still flows through into their society today and helps to explain their cultural makeup and their societal structures. Morgana does a marvellous job of conveying the sense of history and the beautiful settings in which the action takes place. 
I found the writing to be incredibly compelling; the descriptions were vivid and alive allowing me, as a reader, to transplant myself right into the middle of the fable. It's a great story and my only gripe is it was way too short. To make up for that, the author has included an additional bonus; a sneak-peek into her new work Wind and Magic. That did allow me to enjoy more of this writer's work and I liked what I saw. 
I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to explore other cultures, through their fables and legends. A very good read and well worth the four stars I'm giving it.    

Check out more work from the talented author, Kira Morgana, here:  

​For me, Angela Lockwood has epitomised why it is important and refreshing to read Indie Authors.
She has taken a genre that has been grossly overworked and become rather formulaic and put a whole new, fresh, take on it. Language in the Blood is one of those books that reminds us that it is the Indie Authors, these days, who have the fresh, interesting ideas in literature. Kudos to Lockwood. 
Vampires and fantasy, in general, are not my favourite genre, but Language in the Blood was definitely a book I struggled to put down. I wanted to find our what happened next to our anti-hero Cameron. 
Cameron, a young Scottish boy, like so many others at the time, saw the First World War as an opportunity for a bit of excitement and travel. He discovered very quickly that War was brutal and worst of all, rather than dying in no-mans land, where he lay dying, he was revived by a bite from a Vampire. 
What followed was essentially an autobiography of a Vampire as he traversed the twentieth century and beyond. Cameron, was at times, nasty, vicious, arrogant, self-centred, and hedonistic in his approach to his life as a Vampire, however the author was able to instil something in him that pleaded for the reader's understanding and empathy. He was a character that you desperately wanted to hate, but somehow you couldn't and that is a direct compliment to the author. There were some wonderfully comedic moments in the story and memorable lines delivered by Cameron and in a book that brings us some of the basest pleasures, this was a delight and again a tribute to the author's skills.   
I liked the style the story was written, using flashbacks between the past and current times. We followed Cameron from WWI, through the Roaring 20's, the Great Depression, WWII and on until the time of Facebook and Internet Chat Rooms.
This was a very engaging story and I did enjoy it a lot. If you love Vampires, but are tired of the same old stories, then Language in the Blood: Book 1 will be an incredibly enjoyable read for you, I'm sure. There is room for a sequel and I see on Amazon that Language in the Blood: Book 2 is also available. I will be checking it out for sure Within its genre I think Language in the Blood: Book 1 is a standout and for that reason justifies the full 5-Stars I am awarding it. Good job - excellent book.           

You can check out all of Angela Lockwood's work here: 

Elephant in the Room was the perfect title for this novel by Diana J Febry. The unspeakable, that nobody wants to remember and nobody wants to mention haunts the characters in this story. There was indeed an enormous elephant in this room.
This book is a mystery/thriller that takes us deep inside the minds of the members of a dysfunctional family. We meet Penny, who has spent the last year recovering from a breakdown, following the collapse of her marriage. She has spent eighteen months in a recovery centre learning to deal with her own problems and learning to let go of her innate desire to get involved in other people's lives. In the centre she met Robert, a man who has six month's to live, who has asked er to help him locate his estranged step-daughter Sophie, before he dies, so he can apologise to her. Penny is madly in love with Robert and readily agrees to help him out in his quest. From there the twisted, messy tale begins to unfold and lives unravel. 
It took me a little time to actually get into this story. I had trouble initially grasping just who was who and what their place in the story was. Once I got my head around the characters though, I was off and running and following the story, which rollicked along at a frantic pace.
This is not the first Febry book I have read and I am already a fan of her style and her particularly British way of writing. It is something I enjoy and Elephant in the Room was exactly that - a very British action/thriller. Through the characters, the author does an exceptionally good job of raising issues that face us all in life and discussing how they should be dealt with. We see love, loss, disappointment, betrayal, fear, friendship and others all put out there and considered and dealt with. A good story will always make you identify with the characters and empathise with them. I was particularly drawn to the main character, Penny, in this tale. She had gone through personal "hell" herself and yet was still willing and determined enough to get involved with what would prove to ultimately be an extremely dysfunctional family. Penny had a way of getting under your skin and not letting you go. She described herself at one point as being like a terrier with a bone and that's a pretty apt description.
This is a well-written and very enjoyable story that is worth a look, especially if you are a fan, like me, of British action/thrillers Well done to the author for a good job and a solid four stars from me. 

​You can check out all of Diana J. Febry's work here on Amazon  ​

I have been waiting with bated breath to read this book, the sequel to Clarke's incredible book Amie, which I had read last year. In fact Amie was the winner of my 2015 Book of the Year Awards (The Gruinters), so it obviously had a lot to live up to, if it was to reach the heights of the first book.
Was it as good as Amie? To be perfectly honest, I didn't quite think it reached the heights of that book, in my mind, but it was still a fantastic read. I'm not quite sure whether you would term this series a romance, it is much more of an action adventure, than a romance. The second book picked up right off where the first book ended, with Amie, her husband Jonathon and a few friends hiding out on the land that formerly housed a wildlife lodge. The country had undergone a civil war and a new government was in place, a government that was quite possibly hostile to the British expatriates, Amie and Jonathon.
This story focuses principally on Amie's exploits as she attempts to rescue her husband, who has been kidnapped by a vicious band of ISIS fighters camped somewhere in the African wilderness. Like the first book, Amie's resources, courage and love for her husband will be severely tested in this exciting sequel.
I can say that Clarke has done another tremendous job at taking us from one action-packed sequence to the next. I enjoyed the story, but wondered how this shy, timid, ex-housewife from England was able to cope with the fear, deprivation and intrigue heaped upon her Cope though she does.
I was excited to see that there is the possibility of a third story from Amie and I would look forward to that greatly. Again, Clarke has done a tremendous job with this novel and is to be congratulated. Even if it wasn't quite the blockbuster, in my mind, that Amie was, it was a wonderful read and sill worth the full five stars.   

You can check out all of Lucinda E Clarke's exceptional work here: 

This is the second iteration of the Ayesha story, of the fashion designing husband and wife team. Whilst I enjoyed Ayesha, I absolutely loved the sequel Ayesha: To Break A Promise. 
One of the nicest things to note in part two was the author's growth as a writer. Renehan has injected Ayesha part two with a burst of action, suspense and some great twists that I didn't see coming. I also felt this particular book flowed better and tied the disparate scenes and arcs together better than the first. One of the issues I had with the original Ayesha was some of the stilted dialogue. This still isn't perfect in part two, but it is vastly improved. What was exceptional was the way Renehan was able to link all the disparate characters she introduced into the story and mesh them together, surprising me on more than one occasion. This is still a romance at heart and the love between the two principal characters Ayesha and Ger is what carries the heart and soul of this book, but there is plenty of action, mystery and suspense to keep the most die-hard of fans interested.
I was thrilled when it was clear by the end of the book that there would be a part three. The book, does however stand well on its own feet as a stand-alone story and again Renehan has to be congratulated on her development as an author.
This is one of the true joys of reading indie authors - watching their growth from book to book.
If you are a romantic soul, but you also like action and thrills, then I have to highly recommend you to read Ayesha: To Break a Promise Part 2. I loved it and happily give it the full five stars. So looking forward to the final book in this series. 

You can check out the two Ayesha books here on Amazon:  ​

​If I'm totally honest, I was a little skeptical about reading Moving On by Trisha Grace, initially. It was sent to me as a review book and promoted as "Christian Fiction". I would say, right off the bat, that although it is clear there is an underlying element of faith, within two of the characters in the book, it is not a book that pumps the "Christian" message down your throat. It is plain and simply a romance/adventure and a very good one at that. 

The premise was interesting. An old man lies dying and regretting some of the decisions he made in his life, especially with respect to how he treated his young grandson, following the death of the boy's parents. The grandson, now a grown-up and successful businessman has always resented his grandfather deserting him, just when he needed him the most.

Enter the beautiful and successful Kate who develops a friendship with the old man in his last years and listens to the regrets and sadness of the grandfather's life. It is the very odd terms of the will that set this story in motion and make for some fascinating arcs and encounters.

I enjoyed Trisha Grace's writing style and her character development. All the characters, being as young as they were and all successful and it seems fairly wealthy, did require a tiny bit of suspension of belief, although perhaps that's just the way things happen in moneyed circles. I did enjoy the contrast between the two sisters, Kate and Lydia as well as the marked contrast between the two best friends and "soul sisters" Kate and Evelyn. If ever there was confirmation of the premise that opposites attract, we saw that in Kate and Evelyn. 

The story was interesting, exciting at points, and of course, marvelously romantic. I can honestly say I really enjoyed Moving On and can highly recommend it to any lovers of romance with a twist or romance with a mission. I note with interest that Trisha Grace has continued the series with the focus on other characters in this first book. I think the second book about Evelyn and Dan (presumably) will be fascinating. There are many untold secrets that arise in Book One that I'm confident Trisha Grace will uncover for us in Book Two. 

An excellent story and well done to the author. A very solid four star review from this reader. Bring on Book Two please. I'm ready to read it.  

You can check out all of Trisha Grace's work here​   

Dark Waters by J.B. Turner is an out and out thriller. It's a long time since I've read a true thriller in the vein of Clancy, so I was particularly keen to read this one. 

Set around Miami in Florida it follows the exploits of journalist Deborah Jones and her colleagues at the Miami Herald as they attempt to unravel conspiracy theories within conspiracy theories all linked to the infamous 28 missing pages from the 9/11 Investigation. 

Deborah and her boss Sam are up against the big boys; the CIA, the NSA, you name it and in this fast-moving, almost frenetic, at times plot we are led on a merry chase to piece together the truth about what really was on those missing pages.

I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and the characters in this story. It was funny actually because it never registered to me that Deborah was African-American until very late in the story. This is a thriller that keeps you rooted and turning the pages. It is a very hard book to put down.  

If you are into conspiracy theories or just like a good fast-paced thriller/mystery, then you ould do much worse than to grab Dark Waters and give it a crack. I notice that this is the second book in the Deborah Jones series, the first being Mami Requiem. I will certainly be having a look at that next time I 'm in the mood for a thriller. Great job Mr Turner and well worth the five stars I am giving it.    

You can view all of J B Turner's work here 

​Love Claimed by Mary Crawford is the sixth in her Hidden Beauty Novel Series. I had already read the first of this series, Until the Stars Fall from the Sky and was captivated by her style and her characters. I was certainly not disappointed with Love Claimed. It was every bit as good, if not better than the first one I'd read. 
It took me some time into the book before I realised why some of the lesser characters in Love Claimed seemed so familiar to me. I hadn't actually realised that this entire series of books focuses on the same extended family, yet each book uses two of the members as its principal characters. I was then able to happily revisit some of the characters I enjoyed in Until the Stars Fall from the Sky, which was neat.
Rather than just two, there were three principal characters to this story; Dondra, Jaxson and Gabriel. Dondra, an almost forty, single mum with a teenage son Gabriel, meets Jaxson, a struggling doctor who is just starting his career, later than most. The inevitable happens and they fall in love, but the path of true love rarely runs smoothly.
One of the things I really like about Crawford's writing is that her characters are usually very clever, successful and intelligent, but invariably deeply flawed or shaped by their difficult pasts. Love claimed is no exception in this way. Both Dondra and Jaxson have had difficult pasts that they have tried to put behind them, but only partly successfully. Dondra especially has a history of molestation and incest, eating disorders and substance abuse. Despite that, she has made an excellent job of bringing up her talented, young, sixteen-year-old son, Gabriel. 
Crawford is never slow to confront evil, such as child abuse, bullying and incest head on in her stories. She doesn't shy away from the subjects, but neither does she exploit them to shock or offend. She is open and honest about the impact of these things on her characters in later life. 
When I find an author's characters who espouse many of the philosophies of life, I hold dear to, I do get a kick out of that. It is clear that Crawford must be an adherent of many of the philosophies of the Law of Attraction as they flow quite naturally into her character's actions and dialogue. I really enjoy that. 
To sum up, Love Claimed is an outstanding love story that would appeal to many outside of her supposed target market. I suspect I'm as far away from her expected readership demographic as you can get and I loved it. If you love romance, tension, and conflict or if you are just a sucker for a squishy romance, as I am, you'll love this book. 
I did and I happily give it the five stars it deserves.
You can check out all of Mary Crawford's fine work here: http://amzn.to/1KSQBmu        

Crooked Man by Tony Dunbar is a fairly old book. I think it was first released in 1994 and was the first novel by this author. 
To be honest, I didn't particularly like the writing style. Perhaps because I'm not American or even more so, American South, I found some of the dialogue a little folksy and stereotypical. 
That having been said, the basic premise of the story was a simple one that has been repeated often. A bag of cash inadvertently falls into someone's hands and the dilemma then becomes what to do with it. When that someone is a lawyer, the ethical and moral questions perhaps have more of an edge. I certainly wasn't bored by the book and some of the characters had depth and interest. 
The principle character Tubby Dubonnet came across, initially as a world-weary, cynical lawyer who used the system to achieve the results he needed. I did like the way his character developed until you started to feel some real empathy and identification with him. I wonder how many other readers, after a separation and divorce have sat back, like Tubby did, and asked the question; where did it go wrong? I thought we were happy? Like Tubby, perhaps we're too wrapped up in our day to day struggles to look at the big picture of our marriages and families. Anyway, by the end of the book, I was feeling much more appreciative of Tubby's more altruistic side and his unique cast on life. 
This is less a murder/mystery than just an interesting treatise on life in the big city, with a bit of mystery and mayhem thrown in for good measure. I did enjoy it in the end and would recommend it to anyone who likes gritty human drama and mystery. 
I would give Crooked Man three stars.

you can check out Tony Dunbar's other offerings here: http://amzn.to/1r80Snz