Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

the scattered flock (the flock trilogy book two) by jana petken

31/10/2016

What can I say about Jana Petken that I haven't said already in previous reviews? Quite simply, in my opinion, she is the premier indie author in the marketplace today. She is the one author I will automatically seek out when I know she has a new book out.
Her latest book, Scattered Flock, continuing the story of the Spanish Inquisition of the 15th Century, is simply superb. The first book in the series, The Errant Flock was a fantastic read, but this one is even better.
We are reacquainted with David Sanz, the simple militiaman from Book 1 who was forced to go into hiding after committing a heinous crime on the orders of the Duke of Sagrat.
The Duke is now dead, but we meet a new cast of characters who all, in their own way add something special to this story. The evil inquisitor De Amo is a character we can love to hate.
The story is clearly wonderfully researched, the setting is redolent of a period in history that nobody can be proud of. The author brings this period alive for us so wonderfully and places the reader fairly and squarely in the middle of all this pain and suffering. This book is not for the squeamish as the author pulls no punches in describing the filth, the stench and the senseless violence of 15th Century Spain.
I can honestly say I have enjoyed few books as much as I enjoyed reading The Scattered Flock by Jana Petken. It is a triumph and an inspiration for Indie Authors everywhere.
The best news I received was that the third installment is well on the way to completion. I so want to see what develops between David and Halina. I shall wait with bated breath.
This book deserves much more than the five stars I am allowed to give it. Well done Ms Petken.

You really should consider checking out all of Jana Petken's absolutely superb historical novels here on Amazon:

target in the sun by lynda filler

29/10/2016

Target in the Sun by Lynda Filler is a particularly relevant book to be reading at this time, given the current political situation in the US and the on-going battle against drugs coming into the United States, from south of the border in Mexico.

At its heart, Target in the Sun is a romantic adventure, spiced up with action and killing. The author has chosen to tell the story of Carlos, a young Mexican man, caught up in the "Family Business", from the perspective of three participants in the drama. She also chosen to flick back and forward in time, from when Carlos was a young boy, up to the present day, when he is in his early twenties.

The chapters alternated between the three characters; Carlos, his American (and much older) lover, Mia and Lucia Lopez, an FBI agent of Mexican heritage. I like this flicking perspective, to some degree, as it gives variety and keeps the reader's interest throughout the book. With this book, however, the chapters were so short, that at times it was hard to keep up with the changing perspectives. At the start of each chapter I needed to remind myself; Who was relating this chapter and what time frame it covered? For a book with well in excess of one hundred chapters this required some constant realignment in this reader's mind. By about halfway, I did weary of the constant back and forth.

That having been said, this was a very enjoyable read and one that gave a lot of thought to some of the bigger questions in life; family loyalty vs the greater good and what constitutes love? It was very easy to feel drawn to Carlos, the little boy, who spent his entire life searching for that one thing that was missing from his life; familial love. Despite his rather narcissistic tendencies from time to time, Carlos was a character who wanted to give himself wholeheartedly to someone, to be loved. This desire manifested itself most in his abiding concern for the little children of Mexico, the forgotten children that nobody wanted to care for. I can still hear his plea; who will look after the children?

This was a thought-provoking tale and one I enjoyed very much. I am happy to award it the four-stars it deserves. It has much to offer the reader, as I'm sure does the author Lynda Filler. I will be checking out her other offerings, in the future.

Do check out what other offerings Lynda Filler has on Amazon, here:

history's prisoners: invasion book one by james garmisch

29/10/2016

I don't read a lot of dystopian, post-apocalyptic fiction, but when I do, I invariably ask myself why I don't read more of this stuff. There is a creativity about dystopian novels that allows the author to head off in all sorts of directions and create marvelous and wonderful creatures and inventions. As an author, I am in awe of writers in this genre. I admire their creativity and imaginations.
In History's Prisoners James Garmisch has created such a dystopian world and in my opinion, has done an excellent job of doing so. His story introduces some fascinating technology, characters, and creatures that make up this brave, new world.
His principal characters, Doon, Ava, Huan, Reyanna and Greene all are appealing in different ways and evoke some sympathy and/or understanding from the reader. The world Garmisch has created, within The Alliance has an aspect of utopia, but that utopia is achieved through mind-control and brainwashing. The author manages to weave some interesting questions and philosophical conundrums through his character's actions. At the heart of the story is the overarching question of utopia and slavery versus anarchy and free-will.
An underlying theme to the whole book is that of a forbidden romance between two sworn enemies; an Elite Ranger Soldier of the Alliance, Doon and his sworn enemies, the Global Resistance, Reyanna. The Alliance is crumbling and war is inevitable, but I will have to wait for Book 2 of this series to see what that will mean for these characters.
If you like dystopian novels, I have no doubt you will enjoy this one. It is well-written and creative and sets the scene for what no doubt will be a very enjoyable series. I would strongly urge you to give it a try. A good, solid read for this reviewer and a well-earned four stars.

You can check out James Garmisch and his work here on Amazon:

sharing her heart: the prequel to mrs. maitland's sad valentine by patient lee

25/10/2016

Now, it is important to note here that I rarely, if ever, give five stars to a short-story. Although I like reading short stories from time to time, I always find they leave me wanting more, but then again this is the whole point of this wonderful short story by Patient Lee - it is supposed to leave me wanting more. It is the prequel to another book by this author, titled; Mrs. Maitland's SAD Valentine, which is a novella, as opposed to a short story.
Anyone that has read some of my comments in the past, will know that I am innately suspicious of perma-free books. However, this book, which is free, is one of the few times that I believe offering a "freebie" is not only acceptable, it is good marketing practice. The author wants me to purchase her second book in the series. So, the question is; did it work? Will I purchase and read her follow-up book? The answer to that question is an unequivocal YES!
I'm a grumpy, old man; anyone will tell you that, so it takes a great author to pierce my shell of cynicism and make me feel real emotions for a character, in the way I did for Patient Lee's characters; Judy and Robert.
Sharing Her Heart starts off slowly and normally enough in a High School biology class when nerd Judy Carlisle and the unpopular Robert Maitland are forced to become lab partners by a nasty, overbearing teacher. I won't divulge any more of the plot as I would hate to spoil it for anyone. There is a touch of erotica, as well, in this story, which gives it a nice balance between teenage angst and hot, steamy, sex.
I've read some of Patient Lee's stories before and I've always enjoyed them, although most were certainly much more erotic than this little beauty. If you would like to dip your toe in the world of Patient Lee, I would highly recommend choosing Sharing Her Heart, as a kicking off point - REMEMBER, it's free!
This author is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, within this genre and although I do understand, reading the author information in the book, time to commit to writing is always a premium, I would love to see a full-length novel from her. Her writing style is relaxed and easy on the eyes and her characters are real people, with everyday problems and flaws, usually looking for that ultimate goal; happiness and love, but often in some unusual places. If you haven't checked out Patient Lee yet, consider giving her a go. Her work is easy on the mind and the eyes and very enjoyable.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out the many offerings there by Patient Lee. You won't be disappointed.

contrast by ian saul whitcomb

24/10/2016

If erotica offends you, or you don't think it's "real" writing, then perhaps you shouldn't read on, but as an author, I make it my mission to read as widely and as deeply as I possibly can, so amongst my pile of hundreds of books read every year, there is always a selection of erotica.
Anyone who's read my posts will know I don't read a lot of erotica, but when I do, I want considerably more than just a description of the physical act itself. I mean, let's be serious here; there are only so many many ways any author, no matter how talented, can describe a "screaming orgasm", so there has to be more to an erotic story, to catch my attention than just a jumble of "ohhhhhhhh! oh my God, I'm coming, et al.
Contrast, a novella by the talented indie author Ian Saul Whitcomb fulfills that need for me. I guess it has two features that push it above the ordinary. The first of these is the interracial context of the two participants; one is white and the other African-American. I almost hesitated to consider this, because interracial relationship are so much more accepted than perhaps a few decades ago, but still, there is a novelty to them I guess that may interest some readers.
The real crux of Contrast, though, is the idea of "anonymous" sex. Back in the 70's (when I was of that age), this was called "zipless sex"; the idea that two people could meet, bonk each other's brains out, without having any sort of emotional connection at all and without even knowing their partner's name.
Whitcomb takes this to a new level and asks the question, whether this "anonymity" can be sustained to the point where the couple clearly has a long-term relationship, albeit a sexual one only and how this would affect the thoughts of the two participants as each, separately realised they wanted more from this relationship than just anonymous sex. I really enjoyed this novella. At 112 pages on a Kindle, it's still a good solid read, without allowing you time to get bored with the erotic aspect of it. If erotica is your thing, then this story is smoking hot and I'm sure you'll love it. If romance is your thing, and you like your books steamy, then definitely give this one a try, but do be warned - the author doesn't pull punches in his dramatic descriptions.
Within its genre, this is one of the best erotica stories I've read this year and I have no hesitation in awarding it the full five stars.

You can check put what other gems Mr Whitcomb has to offer readers, here on Amazon.

a cunning plan by astrid arditi

24/10/2016

Astrid Aditi's, A Cunning Plan really was a book of two halves, for me. There were times in the reading of it, especially in the first half, when I felt bogged down and unwilling to continue. The plot seemed almost comical and unlikely requiring significant suspension of belief.
As with almost every book I read, I determined to persevere until the end. If there's one thing I hate, it is giving up on a read. I can count on the fingers of one hand the total number of books I've failed to finish over the years. In the case of A Cunning Plan, persevering was well worth the effort. As the plot unfolded and the little twists began to play out, I got caught up in this tale following the adventures of neurotic housewife Sloane Harper.
Sloane, cheated on and divorced by her husband, has been on an all-out mission to win her ex-husband back from his lover, for the sanctity of her family and her two little girls. Children need their father and I need my husband is her mantra. A chance encounter with a supposed IRS Agent takes Sloan on a trip into the criminal underworld and trans-national crime in London. Her adventures, from that point on rocket along at a great pace.
I do particularly like Arditi's writing style. It is light, breezy and perfectly suited to this type of frothy romantic comedy. One thing I particularly enjoyed about her main character was the voyage of self-discovery she was on in this story. We watched her development from a neurotic, self-deprecating, doormat into a confident, determined and successful woman, who finally knew what she wanted from life.
As a "rom-com", this book succeeds very well. The humour Aditi injects into her words is, at times, genuinely funny. The female characters in this story; her Mother Bizzy and her housekeeper Claudia are larger than life and very funny at times.
If you like romantic-comedy, I know you will like this book. As I said, it was a little bit of a struggle for me initially, but one I was very glad I pushed through. This is a fun read and it left me wondering; what next for Sloane? and What about Ethan? Any author who can make a reader search for a possible sequel has done his or her job well. In the end, I enjoyed A Cunning Plan and happily award it the four stars I felt it deserved. Check this one out, you won't be sorry you did.

Do check out this book. You can find Astrid Arditi here and details of A Cunning Plan:

trafficking (powell book 1) by bill ward

14/10/2016

Trafficking is the first Bill Ward book I've read, but it certainly will not be the last. When I pick up thrillers by these indie authors like Ward or Ken Fry, my immediate thought is, do they measure up to the blockbuster thrillers by the likes of Ludlum, Davin or Clancy? So far, I can only answer a resounding YES, to that question. There are so many incredibly talented indie authors out there and I'll put Bill Ward up there with the best of them, now.
Trafficking is not a pretty story. It is hard, gritty and at times, painful to read. Not because it is not well-written, but because Ward manages to bring the suffering and pain of the modern-day sex slave business, right up into our faces. This book is not for the faint of heart. The violence is graphic and the sex, equally so, but it portrays the real to life situation, so many young girls, especially from Eastern Europe, face on a daily basis - lured to England with the promise of jobs only to be used and abused; sold as chattels. It is a horrific industry and Ward captures its evilness and hopelessness, superbly.
In this story, Afina, from Romania travels to England expecting to be working in a bar, only to find herself a forced prostitute and available for whatever degrading and humiliating treatment the customers or her "owners" require of her. Afina is determined to escape and with the help of a retired ex-MI5 operative, Powell, schemes to bring this evil empire down.
Trafficking is one of those books that is hard to put down and before you know it, you've reached the end and are left wondering; what next? Fortunately, Ward has written four "Powell" books to date, so I have no doubt, I'll be diving into book number two, very soon.
An absolute winner and highly recommended by this reviewer. 5 Stars without a doubt. Great work, Mr Ward.

You can check pout more of Bill Ward's superb books, here on Amazon.

bad case of lovin' you: brooke and zack - the adlers book 2 by anita louise

13/10/2016

Well, who'd have thunk it eh?
That I would enjoy a pure, romance novel as much as I enjoyed Bad Case of Lovin' You by Anita Louise. I do enjoy romance, but I generally need a bit of action and adventure thrown in for good measure. There wasn't much of that in this book, but it was still an enjoyable and satisfying read.
The story, in fact, the entire series appears to revolve around the children of the Adler family (there are nine of them) and their various romances and lives. This iteration was about Brooke Adler and her burgeoning relationship with hunky doctor Zack. Without sounding all Mills and Boonish on everyone, let me say, I loved the romance in this book. In trying to analyse why I enjoyed this so much, I've come to the conclusion that it has to do with the Author's style and her philosophy on life, which she so perfectly managed to infuse into her characters. As an adherent to many of the principles (which clearly had a basis in The Law of Attraction) myself, I constantly found myself nodding my head sagely with some of the character's comments.
The steamy parts (and there are a few) were beautifully written, very exciting and descriptive, without being smutty, in my opinion. That's a pretty hard line to tread and Louise did it well.
The book was well-written and well edited, which makes reading all the more enjoyable. I think from time to time, it is nice to lose oneself in a simple, romantic, positive story, especially given the daily horrors and negativity we are bombarded with every day. When I'd finished this book, I sat back with a smile on my lips and a contented sigh. I can't ask more from an author than that.
A great job by Anita Louise. With nine Adler children to choose from, I have no doubt this will be a long-running series of books by the Author and I would hope a successful one.
No hesitation in giving Bad Case of Lovin' You the full five stars.

Do go to Amazon and check out the rest of the Adler stories from Anita Louise. She's just getting well stuck in to this series.

Deadly secrets (gavin Shawlens Thriller #1) by gordon bickerstaff

11/10/2016

This is the second of Bickerstaff's Gavin Shawlens Thrillers that I've read. The first one was number three in the series, but it certainly did not make any difference to the reading, to have read them out of order. Like the first book I read, this one was an exciting, fast-paced, out and out thriller and I enjoyed it immensely.
Gavin Shawlens is a fairly mild-mannered professor in biochemistry, who has been recruited by the British Secret Service to assist them whenever his particular scientific expertise is required in an investigation. He is anything but a secret agent and when he becomes involved with a new enzyme that will revolutionize the British fishing industry he is unaware just how far over his head he really is as he becomes entangled in a network of industrial espionage, murder, and international spying.
This is fast-paced, well written and the plot has plenty of twists and turns guaranteed to keep your attention and keep you interested. One thing I particularly liked about Gavin, as a character, is his fallibility. When he doesn't know what to do, he reverts to type and acts like any normal citizen would. He is as far removed from the image of "James Bond" as you can get and that is what makes him so engaging and interesting.
Bickerstaff left us wondering what comes next. Having read Book three and knowing where Gavin is placed by that stage, I am now fascinated by what must clearly happen in book two to reach that. I will definitely be reading the second book in this great series, very soon. An excellent read, highly recommended and well worth the five stars I am giving it. Good job Mr Bickerstaff.

Do check out the books Mr Bickerstaff has on offer on Amazon, here:

to kill for a ghost (the stolen years book 1) by ryn shell

10/10/2016

To Kill for a Ghost is a compilation of, I think, three of Ryn Shell's novellas focusing on the Fife family of Australia. I am an enormous fan of Shell's writing, so I was thrilled when she put together this novel-length book, to satisfy my demand for more about the Fife's.
There is an element of flicking back and forth between the early 1800's and the 1940's, which takes a little getting used to, but it makes little difference to the enjoyment of the book.
Of all the characters Shell has introduced during this series, the ones I am most drawn to are Jane Mutta and Douglas Fife, the original founders of the Fife dynasty.
I loved reading how Jane and Douglas got together. There was a real element of whimsy and humour that I hadn't always seen in Shell's work to date. I absolutely want to read more about this couple after the shipwreck of the Admella. There are still some unanswered questions.
The style of Shell is so relaxed and conversational, it is impossible not to get drawn into the worlds she creates with words. I love her descriptions of the Australian outback and knowing there is an element of herself in all of these characters, especially Emily, just makes this book even more special.
I cannot read enough from this talented woman and I look forward to her next effort of combining three novellas into a full-length novel. Excellent work and long may it continue.

Do visit Amazon and discover all the offerings Ryn Shell has there. You will not be disappointed by her work. I never am!

emerge: the awakening (book 1) by melissa a craven

10/10/2016

The Awakening (Emerge #1) is a Young Adult, Coming of Age Story and as such, is probably not my usual reading fare. I was drawn to this book by the premise that there were immortals living among us, impossible to distinguish from us common folk. I liked the premise and overall I liked the story.
I felt, in some ways, the book was in two parts. The first part was very analytical, with significant backstory thrown in and a lot of characters to come to grips with, to identify and to follow. There were times when I found myself wondering, "now who is that and who are they related to?" That having been said, I really got into the second part of the book and by the time I was finished, I was asking myself, "okay, fantastic, so, what's next?" I have to say that Craven has hooked me now and I want to read more.
There were a ton of positives in this story, which I enjoyed very much. I loved the opportunity to travel back in time, through the minds of these ancient immortals and see the various experiences they all went through to end up where they were now. I really appreciated that although these characters were immortal, they were full of the same emotions as us common folk. They suffered from the same self-doubts, the same jealousies, and the same pride, that we often encounter ourselves. The teenagers in the story, despite their difference and their special talents, were no different from your everyday teenager, full of angst, but also feeling ten foot tall and bulletproof.
Overall this was a really good read and introduced me to a new series, which I am now sure to follow, given my desire to read more about Allie and Aiden and the rest of this gang of immortals.
I would say this book is a good, solid start to what promises to be an intriguing and exciting series. A solid four stars from this reviewer and the hope of even better in the next story.

Be sure to check out everything Melissa A Craven has to offer on Amazon. You can do so here:

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