Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

ashes of old lovers: series box set episodes 1-3 by brigitta moon

29/9/2016

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. One of the best things about only reading Indie Authors is that you keep finding new, fresh, innovative styles that totally blow away the boring, regimented styles of the legacy published authors. Such an author is Brigitta Moon and such a book is her, Ashes of Old Lovers.
Now, this is published as a box set, although it seemed to me it was just one continuous story and not separate episodes at all, although I do understand many authors are doing this sort of thing these days. I'm not sure I like that, but it is was it is and all authors have to try innovative methods to sell their product. Nonetheless, this is an outstanding product Moon is selling.
I loved the fresh, very different style she brought to her work. Written from the first person perspective of our "hero" Megan, this was an introspective analysis of love, relationships, family, and violence.
There were plenty of twists in the tale to ensure that the reader's attention never flagged. At no time did I think we were reaching an expected conclusion. There was always a new tweak thrown in. Despite her MANY faults, Megan was a character it was hard not to like, identify and empathize with. She'd done some pretty horrific things and she had very much a "devil may care" attitude to other people, but Moon somehow made us feel for her. A good job by the author.
Megan wanted the whole shooting works: the marriage, the house, the kids, the happy ever after, but when she finds her lover of five years has been lying to her all this time, she takes the sort of action that all us males will automatically cringe at and draw our knees up into our stomachs.
On the run, Megan continues to use and abuse people and yet, I still felt immensely drawn to this character.
This was a fantastic story and although not terribly long, it was a satisfying and enjoyable read. A very solid five stars to Ashes of Old Lovers, by Brigitta Moon, from this reviewer.

Check out this and what else Brigitta Moon has to offer here on Amazon:

chasing hornbills: up to my neck in africa by simon fenton

26/9/2016

I first came across Simon Fenton when I read the first episode of his Senegalese adventure: Squirting Milk at Chameleons. It was the title that grabbed me that time and I was so glad it did. What followed was a fascinating tale of an Ex-pat Brit, trying to make his new life in the harsh, unforgiving environment of Senegal, in West Africa. I really enjoyed the story and knowing he was writing a follow-up to that book, I was really looking forward to it.
I was given Chasing Hornbills as an advanced reader's copy, so I was thrilled to be one of the first in the world to get stuck into it. I was not disappointed. Chasing Hornbills is more of the quirky, funny Fenton, mixed in with some deep, thoughtful and insightful comments about Africa and also about the West and its obsession with consumerism. I felt this story was definitely more introspective as Fenton questioned his life in Senegal and whether or not it would be better to write the years off as a great experience and head back to the comfort of western civilization. I'm not sure if he's reached a conclusion on that one yet, but if I can read between the lines somewhat, I suspect he is not willing to give up the benefits of that lifestyle, for the frantic, hedonistic ways of the West just yet. In a selfish way, I hope he doesn't because I , for one, would love to see a volume three in this incredible series.
In many ways, I identified with Simon, partly because I'd done a similar thing when I left New Zealand and traded that lifestyle for the world of Manila and The Philippines. I wouldn't suggest, for a second, that I had to port up with the sort of privations Fenton has had to put up with, but I could certainly identify with and empathize with many of the cultural issues he raised in this book. Having a cross-cultural relationship is never easy and I nodded sagely at many points in this story when the author was exasperated by the cultural differences between him, his partner and his partner's family. I found all of this fascinating reading and I really enjoyed the increased introspection in this edition.
If you love travel books about far-away, exotic places, you'll love Chasing Hornbills. If you just want to perhaps remind yourself, just how much you are missing out on by sitting back on the couch watching television, then this is the book for you. Fenton's love of Senegal, its people, and West Africa shines through in every paragraph, despite his regular frustrations with officials and family. I can get him and I understand that the love and respect for his partner and his children is what carries him through the tough times.
Truly, this book deserves a wide audience. In my mind it's an absolute winner and a gem. Worth every one of the five stars I'm giving it. Roll on Book No,.3 Mr Fenton.

You can check out both of Simon Fenton's efforts here on Amazon:

the self-publishing tools of trade every author must know by lama jabr

25/9/2016

This is definitely one of the better how-to books for authors I've come across in recent times.
It is clear, concise and packed full of useful links and ideas for self-publishing authors at every step of the journey. I was amazed at the many sites and products available for free that were available to assist the author as he/she struggles their way down this road.
It may not be the definitive guide to self-publishing, but what it does do, extremely well is point would-be authors in the right direction for help and assistance.
If I was just getting into the game now, I would definitely have this book beside me as my reference bible. Even established authors will be sur[rised, I'm sure at the wealth of assistance they probably didn't even know was available and much of it at no cost.
A worthwhile addition to the self-help publishing market. Good job!

Do check out all the other useful books by this author, here on Amazon:

A wintered heart (threadbare hearts book 2) by t. e. hodden

25/9/2016

I've read quite a few T.E. Hodden books over the years; some weird, some wonderful, some quite odd and some distinctly magical. I would definitely place A Wintered Heart in the magical category.
This story of a poor man, jilted by the woman he thought he would spend the rest of his life with, is short, simple, sweet and has that special quality that lifts it above the ordinary.
When Blake is devastated by his girlfriend not returning from a "Hen Party" overseas, he is lost and completely bewildered. An accidental bad reaction to a party drug leaves him in the hospital, near death. His brain, it seems has begun to misfire. He is constantly confused and struggles to cope with the day-to-day activities of life, constantly surrounded by cartoon characters he believes come from the misfiring neurons in his head.
The characters in this story are very real, very relatable and very easy to empathize with. My only complaint is this story was not long enough. I wanted more of these magical people and more of this writing. Yet, in this short novella (75 pages on Kindle) Hodden has managed to tell a wonderful story.
In my opinion, this is his very best work and right up there with his other acclaimed story; What Once Went Wrong. Hodden tells us he is writing romance because he was challenged to do it. I would say he is writing romance because he is damn good at it. If you love romance with a touch of quirk, then you will adore A Wintered Heart. I sure did.

Please do check out all of Hodden's amazing offerings on Amazon, here:

erotic shivers by m.s. tarot

23/9/2016

This collection of short-stories by M.S. Tarot, Erotic Shivers is a new experience for me. I've read erotica and I've read horror/paranormal, but a combination of the two; not so much. I can say that that combination of the two was fascinating, exciting, sexy and scary. This was a wonderful collection of short, sharp and interesting stories.
In total, there are six stories in this collection and at around 135 pages on Kindle, it is a good, solid read. The stories are incredibly varied and each of them had something special to offer. As always, when you read a collection of short-stories, there are bound to be your favorites. For me, the two stories I enjoyed the most were The Bag Snatchers and The Lord of the Devil's Night.
The concept of sex with aliens seems pretty horrific and I can assure you in Tarot's skilled hands, The Bag Snatchers has you wanting to retch in horror, but keep reading out of sheer fascination. A great, little tale. I loved the ending as well.
The Lord of the Devil's Night was my other favorite as we examine the mind and motivation of a serial arsonist. Tarot's writing brings the pain and suffering of the antagonist in this story, right into your mind. Just superb.
All the stories have an erotic thread and there is some explicit content, but combined with the horror effect, you almost forget these stories are erotica. I have been impressed with what I've read of M.S. Tarot to date and will be seeking his stories out in future.

You can check out all of M.S. Tarot's work on Amazon here:

branded by angela gascoigne

21/9/2016

I am an enormous fan of Angela Gascoigne's writing style and I have read a number of novels from her pen. The precursor to Branded, was called Seasons of Our Love, which I read and enjoyed earlier this year. That book introduced us to the characters Danny and Rosie, who continue their lives together in Shrove, in Branded.
Rosie and Danny have opened the tattoo studio, "Branded for Life" and things seem settled and ready for the arrival of their new baby. But things are never that easy, as Danny, Rosie and their friends and family try to make the best of some difficult circumstances.
What I've always loved about Gascoigne's stories are they are always about real people, in real situations facing real problems. Her characters are always beautifully drawn and well defined and beg us, as readers to empathise and root for them. There is always a touch of sarcastic humour and quirkiness about Gascoigne's words and I really enjoy that. There is something about her style that flows into the eyes effortlessly and it is always a surprise just how far you get through a book in a single reading. Her work is simply so readable.
I am a fan and champion of indie authors and I have been exposed to so many wonderful authors over he past two years. Angela Gascoigne is right near the top of those authors and at the top when it comes to gritty, real-to-life romances. It beggars belief, to me, that her work is not more highly acclaimed and read than it is. In this reviewer's mind, she is one of the indie stars and I have no problem giving Branded the full five stars it deserves. I will miss Rosie, Danny, Maxine, Sam and the rest of the crew. Hoping Gascoigne can conjure up another story for them. A fantastic story, so well told.

Please do check out more of Angela Gascoigne's exceptional stories here on Amazon. You won't regret reading quality.

the austrian: a war criminal's story book 1 by ellie midwood

21/9/2016

Having read the entire The Girl From Berlin series, and having loved it, I was excited to get my hands on Midwood's book The Austrian. I was fascinated to go back and look at the life of one of the "unlikeliest" heroes of The Girl From Berlin, Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner.
So, here we have the former Nazi leader sitting in his cell at Nuremburg awaiting trial for war crimes. The book takes up back on a journey to Ernst's youth and we follow how he got involved with the SS and ultimately the Nazi power brokers. The story is told in the first person, which makes it all the more relatable, especially given that the character we saw in The Girl From Berlin, was very much an enigma. You want to hate the man responsible for sending so many people to Gas Chambers, but deep down you know you can't. There was always a hidden depth to Kaltenbrunner and this book begins to explore those depths and bring them out.
The author's technique of flashing from 1946 at Nuremburg backward and forward to Keltenbrunner's youth was, at times, a little dizzying, but I did like her method of linking the two periods together in the reader's minds. The last thought of one time period often became the first thought of the different time period. Very clever and very well done.
So, the question arises; was the Austrian as good as The Girl From Berlin series? The simple answer is it couldn't be because Annelise was never really a part of this first book on Kaltenbrunner's life and Annelise was, in my mind, the star of the series. I have no doubt she will play a greater role in Book two of the Austrian and I look forward to that.
One of the things I've admired and continue to admire about Midwood's books is her ability to give a human face and human emotions to a group of characters that history consigned to the wastebasket of humanity as butchers, murderers, and soul-less creatures. She shows Kaltenbrunner in his frailties, his weaknesses, but also in his dignity and his humanity - a victim of circumstances that ruled Europe at that time. As an anti-hero, he still comes across as a man with scruples and morals - a very hard act for any author to ascribe to a convicted war criminal.
As with all of Midwood's books, this is a winner and I can only highly recommend it. I was glad I'd read The Girl From Berlin first, though, as it gave much more sense and placement of the story. Roll on Book No.2 of The Austrian. I'm looking forward to reading it soon. Five stars, as always to Midwood's fine stories.

Please do go and check out everything Midwood has to offer at Amazon. Her books are simply superb and she is an independent author of real talent and skill.

toxic minds (gavin shawlens thriller #4) by gordon bickerstaff

17/9/2016

Toxic Minds by Gordon Bickerstaff is the first book of this author that I've read. The book is advertised as being the fourth Gavin Shawlens' Thriller. Did that mean I had to have read the first three books to get this book? No, it would appear each of these thrillers is a stand-alone story, which is great. I think possibly the only negative, for me, in having not read the previous books, was a certain lack of understanding where Gavin fitted into the whole scheme of things, especially as regards his "clandestine" work. Never mind, that just gives me more incentive to read the first three, doesn't it?
There are some books advertised as "page-turners", a claim I would take with a grain of salt, but, in this case, it proved to be very true. I couldn't put it down and I kept wanting to know what happened next, so would find myself reading it at times when I shouldn't be. Always a sign of a good book.
The story, at times, had many threads, yet Bickerstaff manages to keep them all in the air and links them together very nicely as the book progresses. I also felt it was nice, in an out and out thriller, to have some moral dilemmas to be faced by the main characters. Alexa, the principal in this story has to look at the demise of her family and ask herself serious questions about her role in the family's falling apart. I think this whole family tension added to the excitement of the novel and made it even more enjoyable from my perspective.
I admit, there when times when I felt a little "suspension of belief", but then I had to remind myself that in 2016, anything is truly possible when it comes to international terrorism.
This is a rollicking read - fast-paced, well written and thoroughly enjoyable. If you like a good home-grown terrorist plot, then this is the book for you.
No question on this one, the full five-stars from this reviewer. Good job Mr Bickerstaff.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out all the other books Gordon Bickerstaff has to offer.

rhuna: keeper of wisdom by barbara underwood

15/9/2016

Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom by Barbara Underwood is one of those books that sneaks up on you and makes you think about things not explicitly covered in the story. My initial reaction to this book was that it was just a simple fantasy tale, following the adventures of a young girl, plucked from her primitive tribe and brought into a world of enlightenment and wonder.
As that simple story and coupled with the romance, Rhuna had plenty of appeal to me as a reader. The story essentially revolved around Rhuna (a young village girl who is different from her peers, by nature of her skin colour and appearance). Her paleness speaks to her long, lost father who was from a different culture, the Atlans.
When Rhuna meets a Master from the Atlan culture, Tozar, he takes her back to his homeland where she is educated and schooled in the ways of her father's culture. She proves to be very successful and quickly becomes a valued member of Atlan society. All is not well, though, in Atlan. A Master who defected to the dark side many years ago and who has long been considered dead is actually creating a cult following for himself among other primitive tribes.
This is a very gentle story, that rolls along quite nicely and I enjoyed it for that. It was only later in the book that questions began to be raised and considered about utopian societies, of which Atlan clearly was one. The age-old question of "who watches the watchers?" reared its ugly head.
As I said, this is a nice, easy read on a purely fictional, superficial level, but the extra depth these questions about utopian societies give this book is what makes it stand out in its genre.
What it did do, was give me a desire to read on about Rhuna and see what happens next with her, Tozar and of course, The Dark Master.
A very satisfying read and well worth the five-stars I am giving it. Good job Barbara Underwood.

Please do visit Amazon and check out all of Barbara Underwood's work, specifically the next two books of the Rhuna series, or you can buy all three as a package deal. Well worth it, if the first book is anything to go by.

leading without authority by aditi chopra

12/9/2016

I don't often get to read much non-fiction, these days, so when the opportunity arises I like to break the cycle of fantasy and imagination, with some good common sense.
Although my days in the corporate world are long behind me, when I was gifted this little, management book by Aditi Chopra, about Leading Without Authority, I was fascinated and very keen to read it.
As a corporate Accountant for much of my professional career, I was almost always in the position of trying to lead various line managers to successful conclusions, without have any real authority over them. For this reason, I found Chopra's clear and concise thoughts on how to achieve this best, very enlightening.
This is no heavy, management tome but what it is, is a collection of thoughts and ideas how best to ensure that people will follow your leadership regardless of the authority you may or may not have over them.
I can imagine many a young executive finding him or herself in this very position and I could see some of Chopra's idea as being a godsend for that person. I loved the easy was this book was set out and I can only recommend it highly to any manager or management aspirant. A useful tool for anyone to have in their management arsenal. Good job!

You may wish to visit Aditi Chopra's Amazon page and check out what other gems, she has to offer.

baubles and beads (copper river romances book 5) BY CHERIME macfarlane

10/9/2016

Cherime MacFarlane is a new indie author to me and I am always excited to read someone new, about an area or a subject on which I know very little. MacFarlane in her novel Baubles and Beads introduced me to Alaska and more specifically the Athabascan natives of backwoods Alaska. I found this interesting and fascinating, in its own right, never mind the story that went along with it.
Like so many native peoples all over the world, The Athabascans have never really recovered from the intrusion into their society of the "civilizers". Many of the natives have suffered from the problems of alcohol and drug abuse and yet, as a counterpoint to this there is still a very strong, traditional hierarchy of elders within the society who hold immense power and sway over the local natives.
Baubles and Beads is a book focused mainly on the new generations coming through and how they deal with the issues of unemployment, alcohol abuse, discrimination and their relationship to the expectations of the tribal elders.
We meet Della and Munk, two young people at differing ends of the same spectrum, but drawn together by a bond of love. Della is a typical "good girl" who has always allowed others to make her decisions for her and now feels she is being "left on the shelf". Munk, is the child of an alcoholic mother and a father who doesn't even know he exists. He has struggled to survive all his life and resorted to criminal activity to do so when he has to. Now in his twenties, Munk wants one thing; to marry Della, settle down and have a family, but there are always things standing in the way of this young couple.
The story revolves around a luxury lodge, where Della has gone to work for the summer and becomes involved in a tangled mess of secrets relating to a lost USB drive.
I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but suffice it to say, there is plenty of action, plenty of love and lust, to keep any romance addict hooked, plus a lot to learn about the backwoods of Alaska and modern-day Athabascan society.
An excellent read and one I enjoyed a lot. A very solid Four-Stars from this reviewer. I will certainly be seeking out more of the Copper River Romances in the future.

Do check out the many offerings Cherime MacFarlane has on her Amazon page. It's well worth a look.

an incomplete gentleman (threadbare hearts book 1) by t.e. hodden

10/9/2016

I have read a number of books from Hodden over the years, varying from the bizarre to the sublime. Although I've yet to read a book of his I haven't enjoyed, I'll say his love stories are definitely my favourites.
An Incomplete Gentleman is a sweet, simple romance about ordinary people, trying to do their best to survive and love in a difficult world. I enjoyed this book very much. If I had a complaint it would be that it wasn't long enough and there was ample opportunity missed for developing these relationships further and deeper.
Told in the first person, through the eyes of Ben, our protagonist, this allows the reader to get inside Ben's mind and feel the sadness and sorrow he feels about his seeming inability to form lasting relationships with the women he's loved. Ben is the perfect gentleman, the archetypal, "Nice Guy", who it seems always finishes last and gets shat on by everyone. Yes, he's the perfect gentleman, but he's lacking one thing - the perfect lady.
Hodden has identified those cliches we all sometimes feel apply to us; "girls prefer bad boys" and "nice guys finish last". There is something all of us males can identify with in Ben and that's why this story resonates so well with me.
I know these Threadbare Hearts books are meant as novellas and that's fine, but I would love to have gotten in deeper with these characters, who were all so interesting. Still, a wonderful read and one I can highly recommend. Good job and looking to read the next in the Threadbare Heart series soon.

Absolutely do check out all of Hodden's many and varied offerings here on Amazon:

no pit so deep: the cody musket story book 1 by james nathaniel miller II

3/9/2016

Okay so before I start on No Pit So Deep: The Cody Musket Story, let's deal with the elephant in the room. Is this a "Christian" book? My answer to that would be no, it is not. Yes, there is an underlying theme of faith that runs through the book and that faith does happen to be Christianity, but in reality, it could be any faith and indeed could have been just a faith in humanity. This story is not about religion, God or church, it is a tale of human nature, the very worst of it and the very best of it. It is, first and foremost a love story and a story about pain, suffering, hope and joy. It is about all the things we, as readers, read for.
Cody Musket is a superstar. He is a decorated veteran who returned from horrific injuries received at the hand of the Taliban in Afghanistan, to become a professional ball player with the Houston Astros. A chance meeting with Brandi, in a movie theater one night will change the direction of Cody's life once and for all. Cody carries the horrors of war and what happened to him in Afghanistan, deep inside his head. Over a period of one week, Brandi comes to know, to understand and to love Cody more than anyone ever has.
No Pit So Deep is a hard-hitting, action romance that pulls no punches. The author describes the action in, at times, graphic detail, so for lovers of tender romances, this may not be the book for you. But if you like your romance punchy and full of excitement, then, No Pit So Deep, is a fantastic read for you. Ignore the fact there is an underlying Christian sentiment to the story and enjoy it for what it is; an expose of good versus evil and the indomitable spirit of man.
I enjoyed this read, maybe more than I thought I would. The author has a style that appeals and the story is laced with good, old-fashioned, hometown humor and the brotherhood and camaraderie of servicemen.
I can really recommend this story as a good, honest read and an enjoyable adventure. Quite looking forward to the sequel, so I can find out what happens to Cody and his new family. A very solid four stars from this reviewer.

You can check out No Pit So Deep, here on Amazon

love is more than skin deep (a hidden hearts novel book 4) by mary crawford

2/9/2016

I think I've lost track these days of how many Mary Crawford Hidden Hearts or Hidden Beauty Novels, I've read. If you'd asked me a year ago if I would become a groupie of a romance writer who's books are simple, sweet romances with a twist, I would have laughed at you. I am hardly Crawford's prime demographic, yet I have fallen in love with her characters and her stories. I seem to have become one of her default ARC readers and frankly that suits me just fine. I am thrilled to know that I will be one of the first around to read her latest offering.
All of Crawford's books in these series revolve around the same loose sets of characters and that really is one of the things I enjoy about it. Each story has a different couple, but they are all linked together in some way and characters from the other stories invariably pop in and out of the current story. Although Love is More than Skin Deep focuses on two new characters Mark and Shelby, many of the familiar faces make an appearance. I am always pleased to see Rogue, Ivy, Isaac and even the German Shepherd Hope pop up in one place or another. It fits in beautifully with what the theme of these stories is; love, family, and hope.
This book, as they all do, centers on two people with issues, murky family pasts, and current problems. Shelby is about to have a large tattoo placed on her back when the tattooist notices some problems in her skin and recommends she seeks a medical opinion. Shelby has melanoma, skin cancer. A chance meeting in the tattoo studio that day with solo parent Mark who is raising his autistic daughter on his own leads to a new, exciting and scary relationship.
The book, like all of Crawford's, is full of hope, tension, and lessons for life for everyone. This is probably one of the reasons I enjoy them so much, that plus the soppy romantic buried deep inside me.
There is a genre known as "cozy mysteries", well, I've decided that what Mary Crawford writes is a genre called, "cozy romances" and it is a genre I've grown to love.
I can't recommend Crawford's books highly enough for a satisfying, relaxing read, that will also make you think and remind you just how lucky you really are. Another five-star winner from the Crawford pen. Well done that woman!

Do be sure to pop on over to Amazon and pre-order Love is More than Skin Deep and while you are there check out all her other wonderful stories, here:

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