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  • ABOUT
  • MY BOOKS
    • THE SECOND COMING
    • RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST
    • HOLY WAR
    • JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN
    • PARANORMAL ALLEY
    • TORTURED MINDS
    • THE PHOTOGRAPH
  • ARE YOU AN AUTHOR?
  • MY BLOG
  • Be A Part of the LIMITLESS Anthology
  • BOOK REVIEWS
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • CONTACT & LINKS
  • AFFILIATE - Rachel McGrath
  • THAT'S LIFE
    • FOOD - PINOY STYLE
    • THE GREAT BEETROOT HUNT
    • GETTING AROUND THE METRO
  • PHILIPPINES
    • PLACES TO VISIT >
      • BORACAY
      • OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
  • SPORT
    • NEW ZEALAND SPORT
    • PHILIPPINE SPORT
  • TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
    • THE SECRET
  • GALLERY
GRANT LEISHMAN

nina, the fallen ballerina; fallen ballerina meets swingers (foxy and larry swinger series book 16) by larry archer

28/11/2017

2 Comments

 
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​Nina, The Fallen Ballerina – By Larry Archer
An Editorial Review
Reviewed for the Author Resource Centre, by Grant Leishman
 
All her life Nina wanted nothing more than to be a dancer, or more precisely, a ballerina. When she grew too tall and statuesque for a serious career in ballet, she’d swallowed hard, studied business and achieved her MBA degree. Still, the business world let her cold. She knew in her heart dancing was where her bliss was. In “Nina, The Fallen Ballerina”, by Larry Archer, the opportunity to dance and maybe even slough off her “good girl” image presents itself, when she answers an advert for dancers at a local Las Vega strip club.
 
The Fox’s Den was something unlike anything Nina had experienced before as she slowly came to the realisation this was what she was born to do – to dance and to show off her incredible body to the adoring public. The opportunity to reveal her “bad” side and participate in the free and easy swinging lifestyle that inhabited The Fox’s Den certainly didn’t go amiss either. Nina quickly discovers she has a latent desire for other women, whilst still retaining her love of men and their equipment. When she meets Linda, the club’s manager, the die is cast and there is little doubt Nina is bound for fun, excitement and loads of steamy, hot, consensual sex.
 
Erotica is, in many ways, a unique genre. Looked down upon by some writers, it fulfils a niche market and in my experience good erotica, is every bit as compelling as good action/adventure or romance. Good writing is good writing, whatever the genre and there is no doubt that Larry Archer is capable of delivering good writing – in spades. Nina, The Fallen Ballerina is a fast-paced and exciting story about one woman’s discovery and exploration of her secret desires and latent tendencies. There is no coercion, no force and all the action is totally consensual, which makes this story, not only readable, but also extremely enjoyable.
 
For those readers who love erotica simply for the thrill, excitement and the turn-on it gives them, they won’t be disappointed with Nina, The Fallen Ballerina. Archer brings the many characters; Nina, Linda, Foxy, Cherry, Larry and many more, alive and places you right in the story, in the midst of their self-indulgent love fest. The erotic writing is compelling and non-repetitive. Unlike many erotic stories, you won’t find yourself yawning and turning the page looking for something new and exciting. Archer manages to keep the intensity right up to the very end. A bonus, in the Kindle version of this book, is a summary of many of Archer’s other works, with brief blurbs. He is clearly a prolific erotic writer and one well worth reading, if this is your genre.
 
With the caveat, that within its genre, Nina, The Fallen Ballerina, is an exciting, hot, and steamy winner. This isn’t compelling, great literature, but then, it was never intended to be that. Larry Archer clearly knows his audience well and caters to them admirably. I applaud him for that and unreservedly give this book the five-full stars, within its genre. Well worth the read if erotica rocks your boat.        

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You can pop on over to Amazon and check out the full prolific portfolio of erotic author Larry Archer: 

2 Comments

the greatest gift by manuel viamonte jr. m.d.

27/11/2017

6 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​The story of life is attempted by Manuel Viamonte Jr. M.D. in his book The Greatest Gift. Beginning from the very origins of the Universe, the author takes us through a journey from the formation of stars and our planet, right through to the ultimate creation(?), humanity. He leads us up to the present day and ask some deep and compelling questions: Does God Exist? What is our Purpose? Do we have a soul? How can we make our lives fulfilling and worthwhile? Viamonte puts forward his own prescription for a happy and healthy life, one that appears to lean heavily, but not exclusively, on modern, “new age”, thought, especially as it is applicable to “The Law of Attraction”. He offers us a vision on how to live each day to achieve our full potential as human beings.
 
Although the early parts of the story do rely heavily on some understanding of basic physics and the origins of the universe, for this non-scientific layman, it was written in such a way as to be (almost) totally understandable. The very nature of the breadth of this subject meant, given the relative size of the book, many of the topics could only be given a superficial brush-over and mention in passing. That having been said, the focus on day-to-day living and what is truly important to us to live full and contributing lives was well put together and extremely persuasive. Manuel Viamonte Jr. M.D. has clearly done his research and the references were extensive and exhaustive. What do we take from The Greatest Gift? Well, the greatest gift, is simply, life itself and it is up to us, as individuals, to use that life wisely, well, and with consideration for all others of our society; all other humans, animals, plants, and the environment in general. Harmony is the key to making The Greatest Gift work for us all.       


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You can see The Greatest Gift by Manuel Viamonte Jr. M.D. here on Amazon: 

6 Comments

fort sarpy (riverboat trilogy #1) by dave lloyd

24/11/2017

1 Comment

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​When Caleb Shaw’s parents died and left him the farm, the last thing the young man wanted was to be a farmer. He was a boy with an itch in his feet and he wanted to explore this great country he lived in – The United States of America in the mid 1800’s. In Fort Sarpy, by Dave Lloyd, we follow the adventures of Caleb and his comrades as they head up into the great wilderness that was the upper reaches of the Missouri River. Selling the farm to his neighbour, Caleb stops off in St Louis, where he meets some wonderful friends and learns some valuable lessons that will serve him well when he reaches Fort Sarpy and deals with the rough and ready men who made up the frontier with the Indians, that was serviced by the American Fur Company. At Fort Sarpy Caleb will become a man, a true mountain man and one who will face danger and excitement from the Crow, the Blackfeet, the Sioux, and even his fellow adventurers.
 
Fort Sarpy is an excellently researched novel and Dave Lloyd has clearly done his homework on this period of American history. At its heart, Fort Sarpy is a coming of age novel and I found the character of Caleb Shaw both compelling and believable. Some of the best characters in this book were the supporting cast, especially the stuffy Englishman Palmer and the flamboyant French chef and violin player. This was a taut, well written adventure with action coming thick and fast. The sign of a good historical novel is that it actually transports the reader to that time and place and allows the reader to feel the pain and privations suffered by the characters. Dave Lloyd has done this exceptionally well. I look forward to reading more of this period and in this saga from the author.  

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Pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Fort Sarpy and the full Dave Lloyd portfolio: 

1 Comment

The day i saw the hummingbird by paulette mahurin

22/11/2017

2 Comments

 
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​Anyone who has read my reviews over the years will know I am a big fan of Historical Fiction. I have a few indie authors whose works I treasure and who I absolutely love reading. One of these authors is Paulette Mahurin. She has the ability to move you to tears, whilst still managing to make you chuckle at some odd coincidence of her character's . When I realised she had a new book out, well, I absolutely knew I had to read it. The Day I Saw the Hummingbird is something totally different from what I had read of Mahurin's before and yet it still had that indefinable quality of her writing that captures the imagination and draws the reader into her world.

The Day I Saw the Hummingbird follows the adventures and life of Oscar, a young, black, slave in the heartlands of Louisiana around the time of the Civil War. Oscar and his mother dream of freedom and a life of dignity and learning, but when Oscar's mother is brutally beaten at the hands of a drunken and violent overseer, it is time for the then nine-year-old Oscar to leave and seek the famous "underground railway" to the North and to freedom. Mahurin captures beautifully the times and the attitudes of the South in those days. Her descriptions of the trials and tribulations faced by the young man and the angst and pain he suffers, internally, at the treatment of his people, just because their skin is a different colour, is both moving and heartfelt. One couldn't help but be drawn into Oscar's world and feel the horrors faced by just a little boy and the courage required to survive on that long and arduous journey. 

The book is written from the perspective of an elderly Oscar, in 1910, looking back at those times and reflecting, sadly, that in many ways, certainly in the South, little had changed since he'd made the long journey. One could even extrapolate and say in 2017, some things still haven't changed in the South of the United States. I know there has been some controversy in recent times about only "African Americans" can tell the "African American Story". Whilst I can respect some of the sentiment behind those thoughts, I am glad that Mahurin and others do not subscribe to this theory. As writers we must push the boundaries of our cultural and socio-economic experiences and embrace the pain and suffering of all humanity and point out injustice where we see it. It is what we do! And Mahurin does it superbly. Pain, suffering, injustice, love, friendship and all of the other myriad of human emotions do not belong to and are not confined or identifiable to a particular culture, but are shared across all of humanity and are what binds us together and makes us one race - the Human Race.

I applaud Mahurin for having the courage to write this wonderful story and as always I finish one of her books satisfied and full of thought and follow-up questions. A writer who can do this for a reader is to be celebrated and I place Paulette Mahurin right up there among the very best indie authors (or indeed any authors) out there. There was never any question of my rating for this book - 5+ superb stars all the way.       

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Please do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Paulette Mahurin's complete portfolio of superb work: 

2 Comments

hot agua (the salt tales book 1) by zoe delambre

21/11/2017

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Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Texas and Mexico – so close geographically and so linked in history, culture and a shared love of the land and its environment. This is the world that Zoe Delambre takes us to in her novel Hot Agua. Sarita Salt, a recently divorced and wealthy gem trader is searching for her true place in the world and someone true to share it with. Torn between New York and her ranch just outside of San Antonio, Texas, she slowly comes to realise that the Texas hill country is in her blood and is where she feels most at home. When her childhood friend sets her up on a date with a Mexican man of mystery, Sarita and her friends are thrown into a world of turmoil and intrigue. The bond between this Texan blueblood and her aristocratic Spanish boyfriend Vincente highlights the shared pasts of Mexico and Texas whilst still showing the profound differences.
 
Hot Agua is, at its heart, a cozy romance between two rich and powerful people, but it has plenty of deception, intrigue and action to keep most thriller fans riveted and turning the page. I found the story to be easily read and the characters, although clearly living in a world only the rest of us could dream of, to be identifiable and easy to empathise with. The basic premise that love can and should conquer all differences, cultural and otherwise, runs through the book like a seam of gold runs through a cliff. Although some of the action seemed a little far-fetched at times, it was always compelling and certainly kept me reading when I should have been doing other things. As the first in what promises to be a series of Salt Team books, I think Zoe Delambre has made a great start with Hot Agua and I look forward to seeing the next book in this series.   

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You can find Hot Agua by Zoe Delambre, here on Amazon: 

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love notes in christmas falls (return to christmas falls book 6) by beth labonte

20/11/2017

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Love Notes in Christmas Falls by Beth Labonte is a continuation of a series built around the small Tennessee town of Christmas Falls. When Caitlin Cook graduated High School and headed off to Harvard, with a full scholarship, her future seemed to be lain out in front of her. Only one thing tinged her excitement at leaving town for the big city of Boston. On her last night, Shane Mitchell, the enigma of her teenage years had professed his love for her. After College, Caitlin worked for a textbook company for four years, but laid off from her job and recently broken up with her boyfriend, she feels she has achieved nothing after eight years away from Christmas Falls. Called back to visit by the illness of her teenage Music teacher, Caitlin herself must face the music and address the relationship between herself and Shane Mitchell, who has now returned to Christmas Falls and is now the music teacher at the school.
 
Although Love Notes in Christmas Falls is part of a series, it is a full story in its own right and one that you don’t have to have read any others to full enjoy. This is a simple, unpretentious, romance, that will do nothing to offend and fulfills its purposes well. Author Labonte posed many of the same questions, for the two main characters, that her readers will no doubt face in their own lives; how does one judge life’s success? Is love more important than anything else? What is it that draws two people together with such a strong connection? And What is our goal in life – happiness or success – or are they the same thing? I really enjoyed the characters and the story. Although not an avid reader of cozy romance, I am still able to gauge Labonte’s success at reaching her target audience. The story is well written, the characters well developed and within its genre a total success. I did enjoy the easy read.    

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Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out Beth Labonte's full portfolio of works. 

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Borderline, the Illusion of Insanity: True stories about three generations of women affected by BPD by Florence St. John

19/11/2017

2 Comments

 
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Reviewed For readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Three generations of women, all suffering from the same malady – Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This is the scenario presented to us by Florence St. John, in her memoir Borderline. As parents, we’ve all made that promise that we won’t treat our children in the same “awful” way our parents treated us. No, we will do things differently. Although Florence made all those same promises to herself about her own daughter, she soon came to realise that, in many ways, her daughter was a representation of herself growing up, with all the same anxieties and doubts that she had experienced. Florence takes us on a journey of her life, with an alcoholic father and a mother who raised her children in competition with each other, for her affection and love. Later in life, Florence will seek an understanding of her condition through research and group therapy. It will only be then that she will come to understand the true nature of Borderline Personality Disorder and its effects on her family.
 
I found Florence St. John’s story honest and objective. There was no attempt to shy away from her difficulties or to blame others. Yes, her Mother’s attitude toward her children did leave Florence floundering, but ultimately, she needed to discover that the power to healing and control lay within herself. I was impressed with the author’s ability to step away from herself and look at the difficult situation facing her own daughter, with objectivity. You could feel the love of her family flowing through every word and yet, equally you could also sense the immense frustration this woman was feeling at her inability to break the cycle of BPD and find answers. Borderline is not an easy book to read. I have no doubt, many other readers will feel the uncomfortableness I personally felt when reading aspects of Florence and her family’s life, that could be just as easily applied to my own. This isn’t a psychological treatise, it is a frank, honest, and open discussion about one woman’s fight for “normality” and self-discovery in her somewhat dysfunctional family. A tough, but rewarding read.  

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You can check out Borderline and other offerings from Florence St. John here on Amazon: 

2 Comments

Diamond Rain: Adventure Science Fiction Techno Thriller (The Spy Stories and Tales of Intrigue Series Book 2) by michael james gallagher

16/11/2017

5 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

The takeover of the world, by the Chinese, has begun, but not with destructive weapons, as such, but by simple weight of numbers. All over the world, Chinese men have been mobilized to march into foreign countries, by their millions, taking over the financial resources of the countries and transferring that wealth to China. Protected from attack, by new nano-technology suits, it appears not even atomic weapons can stop the relentless surge of Chinese domination. In Diamond Rain, Michael Gallagher presents the world with just one hope of resisting this invasion. Deep within the Israeli Mossad is technology vastly superior to the carbon-based nano-suits used by the Chinese – a diamond based nano-suit. When Al-Jazeerah cameraman Thomas is surprisingly handed this technology as he films the Chinese invasion from high atop a ridge, he is set on a path of technology and subterfuge that will see him and the Mossad agents try to defeat the evil Chinese warlord intent on world domination.  
 
Diamond Rain is a fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages rapidly to discover where it all leads next. Author Gallagher has projected technology slightly into the future, but given today’s advancements in quantum physics, it is easy to understand and believe the possibility of the action described. Although some of the concepts were a little advanced for my dim-witted brain to understand it didn’t detract at all from the excitement of the story. Michael Gallagher’s characters could be described as a little stereotypical, but nonetheless they were easy enough to identify and empathise with. The romance he wove into the story certainly helped to soften the edges of what is essentially an out and out spy thriller. There were enough twists and turns, although most were fairly predictable throughout the story. I note that this book is book two in a series. I was intrigued enough by the character of Kefira to want to read more of the story. A good, solid, thriller and one to recommend.     

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Pop on over to Amazon and check out Michael Gallagher's Diamond Rain and the rest of his portfolio: 

5 Comments

surrender of trust (surrender #1) by mariel grey

16/11/2017

4 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

The year is 1803 and London is just coming into “season”, that time of year when marriageable young ladies, of a certain class, gather to try to meet the eligible young bachelors of the town, perhaps even to move up in class by marriage to an Earl or a Viscount. Lucy and Lucien Goodwin were not born into this society, but their expertise in breeding and racing thoroughbred horses in the “Sport of Kings” has given them an entrée to this rarefied high-society world. When Lucien is badly injured in a carriage accident and there are doubts he will even survive, Lucy is forced to make some tough decisions about the future of their business – decisions, which in Seventeenth Century London would be thought of as nothing short of scandalous. In this Regency Novel, Surrender of Trust, by Mariel Grey, Lucy must take on the “Hoi Polloi” to safeguard the interests of her family. With just her friend Monique and the uncertain attentions of Lord Chalifour, Lucy strives to hold her emotions and her rashness in check.
 
Surrender of Trust is a wonderful read. I love looking back into history and Mariel Grey seems to be an author well versed and well researched in the period. Perhaps no period of history is more fascinating than Regency Britain, where woman who are often treated as mere chattels by their male counterparts are slowly yet certainly beginning their struggle toward recognition that will culminate well over a century later with the suffragette movement. In this highly structured society, Grey has created a feisty, willful character in Lucy who would no doubt have made a fantastic suffragette. I found Lucy’s determination to do whatever was necessary to safeguard hers and her brother’s interests totally refreshing. This is a wonderful read, with the usual dollop of romance and intrigue one would expect from a Regency Romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I am sure I am far from Mariel Gray’s typical reader demographic. I want to read more of this author.  

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Do pop on over to Amazon where you can view Surrender of Trust plus another work from Mariel Grey 

4 Comments

dead lemons by finn bell

12/11/2017

2 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Dead Lemons by Finn Bell takes a look at a young paraplegic, stuck in a wheelchair because of his own bad, drunken decisions and trying to come to terms with the mess he has made of his life. His drinking has cost him his marriage and now, in desperation, he sells his house in Wellington, New Zealand and moves down to the deep south, to Riverton, to try to begin a new life away from the mess he was before. What he doesn’t gamble on is becoming caught up in the mystery of an old kidnapping and murder of a young local girl some thirty years earlier. Finn finds friendships in Riverton like he has never discovered before but his own personal journey of recovery will be sorely tested by the trials and dangers of messing with some truly evil people who have managed to keep their evil hidden for so many years.
 
This is the second Finn Bell book I’ve read in recent times and Dead Lemons is every bit as good as the first one. Bell has a laid-back, almost conversational style of writing that really appeals to me, as a reader. I find his works easy to read and almost impossible to put down. His characters and their cultural traits are, as a fellow New Zealander, easy for me to identify with and laugh at, but Bell has a rare ability to transcend cultural and national boundaries in his writing. Even if you have never heard of New Zealand and Rugby, you will love Dead Lemons. At its heart this is a murder mystery, but it is much more than that, it is also a journey of self-discovery for the main character, Finn and I found also for the reader. I found so much in this book that was easy to identify with. As a murder mystery, it is great and as contemporary literature, it is also excellent. I highly recommend this book.   

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You can check out Dead Lemons and Finn Bell's full portfolio, here on Amazon: 

2 Comments

don quixote goes to yale by eytan halaban

12/11/2017

2 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

A truth hidden within a fiction, within a fiction is what we are presented with by Eytan Halaban’s, Don Quixote Goes to Yale. Michael is an undergraduate at Yale, just about to graduate, who becomes fixated, nay obsessed, with the story of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Prompted by his Professor’s words, Michael goes in search of the hidden truth within Cervantes’ work of fiction – the treasure of Ricote. Michael’s girlfriend, Liz, a no-nonsense economics student thinks he is insane and threatens to disown him if he continues with this obsession, but she is in love with him. When Michael heads to Spain during Spring Break, to seek the treasure, Liz reluctantly follows behind him, still seeking to change his mind and encourage him to enjoy an all-expenses paid vacation with her. A collection of ne’er-do-well’s, also looking for the clue that will reveal the hidden treasure, are lurking in the background ready to pounce. Michael is not alone, though. Fortunately, he has his imaginary friend Boomie, a reflection of himself, to help him, plus of course, Cervantes and his book, Don Quixote.
 
I loved the premise of this story and must congratulate Eytan Halaban for his cleverness in constructing this idea. The story itself was a wonderful immersion into the times of Cervantes and Don Quixote. What I particularly liked about this tale was the way the author was able to weave the original Don Quixote text into his story. The fifteenth century text and the fades in and out into that time, by Michael, just added to the uniqueness and cleverness of this tale. Don Quixote Goes to Yale is a triumph, in my opinion. The author has woven together a modern story wrapped around the famous and classic tale of Don Quixote and his tilting at windmills. It was certainly easy to equate the modern-day Michael to the bumbling and perhaps slightly mad Don Quixote of Cervantes’ imagination. Michael’s journey to Spain was, it seems, a veritable tilting at windmills… or was it? An excellent book and one I’m sure all aficionados of classical literature will enjoy and lap up.   


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You can check out Don Quixote Goes to Yale and Eytan Halaban here on Amazon

2 Comments

pancake money (the far south series book 2) by finn bell

11/11/2017

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Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Bobby Ress is a young detective who works homicide in the small city of Dunedin at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. He has a firm conviction of who he is and what his role is in this crazy world of good guys vs bad guys. In Pancake Money, by Finn Bell, with his more experienced partner Pollo beside him to guide him, Bobby firmly believes that what he does, makes a difference. When elderly priests, who appear, on the surface, to be almost saintly start turning up dead, alarm bells start ringing in Dunedin. These priests have not only been murdered, but were also tortured and died in abject misery, their bodies arranged in some sort of ritualistic representation of Catholic history. It seems, somehow, the local gang, The Manga Tahu, must be involved, but why and why kill these priests so horrifically? Bobby and Pollo must solve this horrific crime before more people wind up dead.
 
When I started reading and discovered this story took place in my old hometown of Dunedin, it definitely did bring it more alive for me. The places and references made total sense to me. Pancake Money is an out and out thriller, cop mystery and does extremely well on that level alone. The tension is tight, the main characters are well-defined and the story rollicks along from one killing, one mystery, to another. It’s a hard book to put down. What I appreciated even more, from Finn Bell, was his attempt to examine some of the more interesting aspects of human behavior through the narrative. The author doesn’t shy away from asking and attempting to answer the big questions of good vs evil and what makes moral man turn to violence and even progress to insanity. I was super impressed with this book and it has opened my eyes up to another new author worth following. I particularly liked the section at the end of the book, where the author makes some attempt to share his own philosophy on some of these issues. It definitely made me smile. A great job by this author.   

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Take a look at Finn Bell's full portfolio of work, here on Amazon: 

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there is always a tomorrow (the graham saga book 9) by anna belfrage

9/11/2017

4 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Alex Graham may have ended up in 17th Century Maryland by a quirk of time, but she has made her home there with her husband Matthew, their ten children and innumerable grandchildren. There is Always a Tomorrow by Anna Belfrage is the ninth book in the Graham Saga, which follows Alex after her journey back through time and her life in the 1600’s. The Graham’s farm an area in Maryland, which was once a Catholic stronghold, but has now been taken over by the puritanical Presbyterians who are rabidly anti Papist. Against this backdrop we also travel to England, where two of the Graham children are living and being looked after by Matthew’s brother. Also we follow Samuel, another Graham child who has been adopted by the local Indian tribe. The Graham’s close friend, a Catholic Priest, Carlos Munoz has been betrayed to the authorities by one of their own sons and the hunt is on to catch and deal with the one-legged priest.
 
Although There is Always a Tomorrow is the ninth book in this series, there is no need to have read the earlier books to enjoy this one. It stands alone as a self-contained story. I found Anna Belfrage’s characters to be well created and to each have a respective place within the story. My only problem was the sheer number of characters, with the children, grandchildren and sundry relatives often making me pause and say, “now who is that?”. Without being an expert on the period under writing, I felt the setting was authentic and the research done by the author comprehensive in understanding the locale, the feeling of the population and the general ambience of 17th Century Colonial America. I haven’t read any of Belfrage’s work before, but this was easy to read and exciting enough to keep me fully engaged throughout. I have little doubt I will read more of this author in the future.    

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Do pop on over to Amazon and check out the full portfolio of this prolific author - Anna Belfrage: 

4 Comments

escape (chimera club stories) by cybill cain

8/11/2017

0 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Escape by Cybill Cain is a novella that is a cross between a steamy romance and erotica. When Max Alexander, silver screen superstar, finishes his latest movie he needs a break and his old friend offers him exactly that, with a month at an isolated beach B&B on the North Carolina coast, all to himself. An opportunity to be pampered is not one Max was going to turn his nose up at, but little did he suspect this vacation would mark a turning point in his life. Annie Clemons, the woman who runs Escape is a self-contained, artist who has spent virtually all her life at the boarding house that has been in the family for generations. She also has an undying movie crush on the gorgeous Max Alexander. When Max first arrives, sparks fly between the pair and so develops an adventure.
 
It is obvious that Escape is part of a larger series of books grouped together as Chimera Club stories. Although only a novella, I found the story packed full of intrigue and adventure, not to mention the sex, which was hot, steamy and well written by the author. I do enjoy a good, old-fashioned romance from time to time and this is exactly what Escape is – an escape into fantasy and desire. We all dream of the perfect relationship with the perfect man/woman and Cybill Cain brings us that in Escape. Perhaps Max is too perfect physically, but then again, he is an actor so what can you expect. As pure escapism, it is as good as anything I’ve read lately. If you like your romances with some sexual bite then I’m sure this will prove a winner for you. A good, solid, five-stars for this effort. 

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You can check out Escape and Cybill Cain's full portfolio here on Amazon: 

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the sun in a tear by luca favaro

7/11/2017

2 Comments

 
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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Luca Favaro is a nurse and in The Sun in a Tear, Favaro attempts to bring to life the real patients he has met and cared for his entire life. Much of his nursing has revolved around patients that many would consider difficult or depressing to care for; such as the elderly, the terminally ill and the mentally or physically challenged. Favaro brings a humanity and a love to these beautiful stories about beautiful people, many of whom will soon die. Some of these patients will give the author the help he needs emotionally and spiritually in what is often the darkest of times for the patient, rather than the other way around. Luca Favaro comes to realise that friendship and love are the two most important things in life and in the universe.
 
The author’s heartrending account of people’s resilience and triumph over the greatest of odds at a time when they often had every reason to feel hard done by, is inspirational. I particularly enjoyed his stories of his time with the mentally challenged patients. As a person who has worked with these individuals in the past, I recognized and empathized with some of Luca Favaro’s emotions of the time. I also wondered if they were laughing at us, the so called “normal” ones, with all our worries and stresses, while they relaxed, happy in their own little world. This is an exceptionally moving book and one that will bring a tear to the eye of even the most cynical of readers. It was a joy to read and a reminder of what is truly important in life. The Sun in a Tear should be recommended reading for anyone who feels life has been a little bit unfair to them. Kudos to the author. 

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At the moment The Sun in a Tear by Luca Favaro is only available on paperback, but I'm sure an ebook will shortly follow. You can check it out here on Amazon: 

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house divided by jami deise

6/11/2017

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Erin Murphy is your typical Washington Mum, trying to balance her job with her husband’s needs and her children’s requirements. Erin is a life-long Democrat and work in PR for an environmental lobby group. When the Democrats get trounced at the mid-term elections, Erin’s job disappears and she is left with the dilemma and guilt of not having been there for her children and the difficulty of finding another job in what is largely a Republican Washington now. To complicate matters, in House Divided, by Jami Deise, Erin’s husband Jack is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and when he lands a plum job with the ultra-right-wing television network TRC (The Right Choice), family loyalties will be pushed to the brink. Can Erin settle happily as a stay-at-home Mum while Jack makes a fortune as a television commentator. Her conflicting emotions and the political conflict provide for an exciting and fascinating journey.
 
House Divided was, I felt, a timely reminder of how political loyalties can divide even the most tight-knit of families. Jami Deise has provided a fascinating insight into the life of those on the fringe of Washington politics and how it can consume their very existence. This is a serious look at an issue that affects not only those in Washington, but all working mothers. There is an overwhelming guilt that many mothers experience over not being there for their children while they are growing up. Erin, like many mothers must face this balancing act of money vs time. Although the topic is serious enough, Deise’s writing is light and fun. She manages to find the quirkiest moments from serious situations and this made the book incredibly easy to read. I enjoyed being able to relate to a system I actually know very little about and I loved the little in-joke at the end about the current administration. This is a timely book and one I know many people will enjoy reading. Well-written and easy to read. What more can a reader ask for?      

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Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Jami's full portfolio: 

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the oakland hills vodou murders (the detective lincoln mystery series book 1) by glen c. carrington

4/11/2017

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Detective Bill Lincoln is a retired Oakland Police Detective, who now works freelance and is often called in to assist the police when they reach an impasse on a serious crime. In The Oakland Hills Vodou Murders, by debutant novelist Glen C Carrington, Hillary Dillard, the youngest daughter of a prominent Oakland family is found raped and murdered on the campus of the University she attends. There are clear signs that Vodou beliefs and religion may be at play in the murder. With no leads, and mounting pressure from the media, the Mayor and Hillary’s prominent family, the police turn to Bill Lincoln for help. What he uncovers sets us off on a journey like no other, with few clues, but an amazing collection of “coincidences” that need to be investigated.
 
The Oakland Hill Vodou Murders is strong on police procedure and fans of solid police crime mysteries will surely enjoy this. As a long-time fan of an older generation police author, Ed McBain, I found Glen C Carrington’s focus on the lines of enquiry and channels of investigation to be along the same lines as McBain. This was a very enjoyable, if longish read and there were plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep any mystery reader enthralled. I was pleased to read at the end of the book, that Carrington has plans for another “Lincoln” mystery as his next published work. One of the perks of this job is discovering new, talented, indie authors and I can honestly say, Carrington fits this mold. An excellent debut novel and I await the next with interest.       

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You can check out the Oakland Hills Vodou Murders by Glen C. Carrington here on Amazon: 

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from the shadows (blaze Series Book 1) by david carter

3/11/2017

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

From The Shadows, by David Carter introduces us to thirty-one-year-old, Bobby Blaise (or Blaze as he prefers to be known). Blaze was the black sheep of his family and left the small, rural, New Zealand town of Glendale, where is mother was the principal of the Catholic Boarding school in the town, some fifteen years earlier. Blaze is on a mission – a mission to pay his mother back for the perceived mistreatment of him as a child and to lure into the open a man who had stolen Bobby’s innocence all those years before, a man known as The Watcher. Blaze stands and watches as his old school burns to the ground and waits patiently for his arrest, sure in the knowledge that The Watcher will now be well aware Blaze is back in town and will be unable to resist coming out of hiding to finish what he started all those years earlier. For Blaze, it is payback time.


I was initially drawn to this book by its setting of rural New Zealand. As an expatriate New Zealander I fancied reading something set in my home land. What I got from David Carter was an incredibly fast-paced and exciting story. There are some books that truly you cannot put down and From The Shadows was very much one of those books. Carter has a style that is exciting and perfectly suited to this type of taut thriller genre. Beware, though, this book is not for the faint of heart. The author’s descriptions of the violence are both fulsome and graphic. If you are in the slightest squeamish, this book may not be for you. The biggest compliment I can pay any author of a full-length novel is to say he/she left me wanting more. The good news is From The Shadows is slated as the first in the “Blaze” series, so that is indeed good news. An excellent, what appears to be a debut novel. I will be following this author closely.       

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Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Beyond The Shadows by David Carter 

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history lessons (newland road series book 1) by linda leigh hargrove

1/11/2017

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

History Lessons by Linda Leigh Hargrove is a relatively short novella, that leaves the reader wanting more (and it seems there is more to come with these characters in future books). Paula Raye Lawrence is a poor girl from a dirt-poor African-American family in rural North Carolina, in 1973. Her greatest wish has always been to escape the poverty and drudgery of working the fields as has always been the legacy of her slave forebears. Although she had escaped to the safety of a University in the big city, the death of her parents had brought her back to the tiny town of Cherry, in the heartlands of North Carolina. When a stranger arrives in town, a smartly-dressed and handsome University history professor from the City, to study the area’s history, Maxine is naturally drawn to him, despite her determination that no man (neither her drunken, womanising father, nor her violent ex-boyfriend) will ever have the opportunity to interfere with her life and her plans for the future.
 
Linda Leigh Hargrove has given the reader an insightful glimpse into the life of simple, plain, rural townsfolk in the heartland of America. In History Lessons we are given a look into just how little had changed for the descendants of slavery, by the mid-seventies. Most African-Americans in rural America still found it impossible to escape from the grinding poverty and minimal wages they were paid to tend the fields of the invariably, white, wealthy landowners. Hargrove’s characterisations were wonderful and I was very drawn to many of the cast. History Lessons very much does what the title says and provides us with a history lesson of that time. I really enjoyed this read, although I did want more and found myself wishing it was a full-length novel. That having been said, I would highly recommend this read to anyone who likes a look at the past, especially if it is a cultural paradigm you are not familiar with. I look forward to reading more of this author in the future.        

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Do take a look at History Lessons by Linda Leigh Hargrove here on Amazon: 

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the armoire by ione joy

1/11/2017

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​The Armoire by Ione Joy tells us the tale of Maxine, a psychology major in Wisconsin who returns home for her Grandmother’s funeral. Maxine and her Grandmother had always been extremely close and she had told Maxine on many occasions that she was destined for something special. The only thing left to Maxine was her Grandmother’s enormous, antique wooden Armoire. As a child, she had often wondered what Grammy had kept in that special, locked cabinet, but she would only say it was something that would help Maxine in the future. When she finally found the key and managed to unlock the Armoire, she was surprised to find it empty, save for one lone feather on the top shelf. No ordinary feather, when Maxine touched it, an Angel appeared for her and so begins a fascinating journey through one woman’s faith and beliefs.
 
This book was stunningly written. The concept and the language were so appropriate to the story. Yes, it is true that The Armoire is written from a Christian perspective, but that should make it none the less appealing to Christians and non-Christians alike. Ione Joy has presented us a lesson on life in this wonderful tale and we would all do well to heed the story. If you have ever read any of “The Left Behind” series and enjoyed it, then The Armoire will be right up your alley. As someone who doesn’t view Christianity as the only route to “salvation” in this world, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and the message behind it. Be prepared to be caught up in the author’s vision of the future and our part in it. It may or may not be accurate, but that is irrelevant. This is a wonderful read and I can highly recommend it.       

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Do check out The Armoire by Ione Joy, here on Amazon 

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