Blog Archives - GRANT LEISHMAN

ayesha: to take control (part three) by valentine renehan

29/12/2017

Ayesha To Take Control is part three of a trilogy focusing on the world of high fashion and two of its participants in particular, Ayesha and her husband Ger. I've read all three books, so when it came to the final book of the series there were certain things I was looking for. Did the story wrap itself up in a suitable and appropriate ending? Ayesha Three delivered. Was there a constant improvement in the writing between all three books? I have been impressed right from the beginning with the writing of Valentine Renehan and Ayesha Three was yet another step up for thus author. Was it possible to read Ayesha Three without having read the first two books - was it a standalone novel? Again, Ayesha Three delivered. Renehan went to significant trouble to notify the reader of why certain things had happened the way they did and how they related to the past.

In Ayesha: To Take Control, the same evil characters from the first two books are still lurking in the background, especially Brett Sanderson, the man who supposedly died in a prison cell, but in reality is still out to destroy Ayesha and her empire, for ruining his life and his evil plans. Brett is now joined in his quest to destroy Ayesha by a son he doesn't even know he has, who is now the husband of Ayesha and Ger's daughter and along with her now controls the clothing Empire.

The story is fast-paced, full of action and the usual, expected twists and turns from Renehan. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in the Ayesha series and would highly recommend this final book, along with the whole series, to anyone who loves a good, romantic, action/adventure story. There is plenty in this series to keep you happy and occupied. Valentine Renehan has matured as a writer over the trilogy and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she has up her writing sleeve next. An excellent series and kudos to Renehan.

You should pop on over to Amazon and take a look at the full Ayesha Trilogy, including Ayesha: To Take Control by Valentine Renehan, here:

power to the people by colin griffiths

29/12/2017

Power To The People by Colin Griffiths was a little bit of a disappointment for me. I had read much of Griffiths' fictional work, which I had enjoyed very much. His story-telling was well known for its twists and turns and clever characterisations. Books such as; Mother, Dolls House and A Life For A Life were all very enjoyable reads. Here Griffiths has given us a partial memoir of his working life in the Steel Worker's Union. It is written in Griffiths' usual no-hold's barred, take-no-prisoners manner, but for me it could have been so, so much more than it was. It read like a summary of a working lifetime, with the main points highlighted.

The story of one of the most powerful unions, at its height, in all of Britain, told by a senior Union official could have been fascinating, even scandalous, but instead I was left not really understanding the intricacies of the operations, the people involved or indeed Griffiths' own involvement in the organisation. He assumed the reader had way too much understanding of how unions worked and were structured and so gave little if no guidance on bringing the reader to this knowledge. Much of the memoir was Griffiths' own unchallenged and often unsupported opinion of particulars players within the Union, their motivations, their weaknesses and their failings. There's nothing wrong with an opinion, but I did find it a little wearisome as I read. There were times it all seemed so rushed, that I couldn't help but wonder if it had been angrily pounded out in one late-night sitting with a bottle of Famous Grouse by his side.

I enjoyed the read (and it's not a long one), but I would hope the author would consider rewriting the story, with more structure, more emphasis on events and the people that made those events happen and less emphasis on personal vitriol and/or personal glorification. As I said, this memoir could be so much more than it is.

You can pop on over to Amazon to check out Power To The People by Colin Griffiths:

breaking the barrier (sandy Plains Book 1) by h. b. butler

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Breaking The Barrier by H. B. Butler, is a moving tale set in Outback Australia. When Elise McKinnon finally breaks free, with her young son Harley, of the abusive and violent behaviour of her husband, a member of an infamous motorcycle gang, the Death's Disciples, she finds herself drifting from town to town across Australia, seeking only to put distance and time between her and her ex-husband, who she is convinced will stop at nothing to make her pay for her slight of leaving him and taking away her son. Severely traumatised, by years of abuse, Elise is closed and private to everyone around her. When she arrives in one small country town, though, she has no idea of the support and love she will receive from the residents there. Local Jamie Jennings will offer her more than friendship - to him Elise is the woman he's been waiting all his life for. It will take time to break down Elise's fear and reserve, but the residents, Maisie, Earl and the rest, are determined to make that happen and make Elise and Harley, welcomed and loved residents of Sandy Plains.

Breaking The Barrier is a wonderful, chick-lit romance that H. B. Butler uses to expose the hidden side of domestic violence and the long-term effects it has on those who are subject to this pernicious treatment. I'm certainly not Butler's prime demographic for this story, but I am a sucker for romance and I absolutely loved this story. The slow and simmering development of the relationship that neither Elise nor Jamie could deny, took some time to come to fruition, but the climax was spectacular and the mildly erotic scenes Butler gave us were well written and exciting. I thought the idea of regularly switching perspectives between chapters from Elise back to Jamie and vice-versa was one that suited the story and was managed well by the author. In some ways this lifted the story out of the pure chick-lit genre by giving voice to the strong, moral and, of course, extremely gorgeous Jamie. This book is all about good, old-fashioned family values and Butler gave us those in spades. Jamie's family showed us what strong, loyal family can achieve. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and looking for more from this talented debut author.

You can take a look at Breaking The Barrier on debut author H.B. Butler's Amazon page, here:

restless earth (karma's children #1) by Jim dolan

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Restless Earth by John Dolan brings together four men who it seems have little or nothing in common, but somehow they are all inextricably linked. An embittered, old, sick man, Jedediah Reichenbach is just looking for revenge against his nemesis, the amoral and evil businessman, James Fosse whom Reichenbach, a former Police Officer, knows to be a murderer. Reichenbach hires out-of-work, ex Iraqi veteran, Private First-Class Samuel Trask to travel to Thailand and discover what Fosse is up to. Reichenbach is only sure of one thing - whatever Fosse is up to is just a front for the man's evil machinations. Trask was invalided from Iraq with a severe leg injury. Although the physical wounds have healed, he is haunted by what he witnessed in Iraq and the murder of a young Iraqi girl. He seeks redemption. Fosse, is a master manipulator who loves nothing better than to cause mayhem and havoc in people's lives, to no apparent end, apart from his own twisted, personal satisfaction. Throw in the mix an English Private Detective based in Thailand, who is still trying to find his real purpose in life and you have a rollicking tale of murder, mystery and mayhem, with inexplicable linkages everywhere.

Here we find four disparate characters, all seeking different things who are brought together in this wonderful story, Restless Earth, by author John Dolan. I loved the exotic location of Thailand and enjoyed the authors attempt to show us a side of Thai life and culture outside some of the popular Western misconceptions, not to say those were ignored either. All four characters were well drawn by Dolan and of special interest was the pleasure-seeking, narcissist, Jim Fosse. Nothing, it seemed, was too devious or too outlandish, in his mind, to try, to create a mess in other people's lives. There didn't need to be a purpose to his actions other than the twisted, sadistic, pleasure he would gain from inflicting suffering on someone else. A really strong character that drew me in, as a reader. Sam Trask was also a complex and needy individual that had you feeling deep sympathy for the man, at times and equally feeling like screaming at the character to; "not be such an idiot". The quintessential English detective who had left good, old England, after the death of his young wife, to find himself, was perfect in many of its characterisations, in my opinion. The relevance and importance of Karma in our lives was shown brilliantly through the events of this tale. This is a wonderful, adventure book that will keep readers on the edge-of-their-seats and quickly turning pages to see what comes next. Great story Mr. Dolan.

You can check out Restless Earth and John Dolan's full, extensive portfolio, here on Amazon:

saving shadow (the beckett files #1) by laura beers

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Spying in the time of the Regency period was all important to the British Crown. It was often the aristocracy who became involved in spying - especially the second son of a Lord or Duke, who by British Law would inherit nothing from his father and must therefore find some other way to serve King, Country and Empire. Spying, though, was a man's game - definitely not for the likes of delicate women, who apart from anything else, lacked the constitution and thought processes required for espionage. Enter Lady Elizabeth Beckett (AKA The Shadow), a remarkable young woman with a photographic memory and fighting skills to match any man. In Saving Shadow by Laura Beers we follow the adventures of Eliza as she spies for the Crown, along with her brother Johnathon and the enigmatic, but very attractive Lord Sinclair. They must not only break up a slavery ring that is kidnapping young girls for sale, they must rescue them and fight treachery and treason at the highest levels.

Laura Beers, with Shaving Shadow, has brought us a spine-tingling tale with all the adventure of a modern spy thriller, but set in the Regency period. Her character Eliza is a strong, capable, woman who defied all the expectations of the period, for females. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Eliza, her brother and Lord Sinclair. Despite, as a reader, always knowing deep down that Eliza and Lord Benedict Sinclair would consummate their clear lust for each other, the sexual tension was beautifully maintained by Beers. I loved the way Lord Sinclair was forced to change his opinions of women, as he came to realise just how strong, capable and willful Lady Eliza truly was. This was an exciting, page-turning story that I just couldn't put down and effectively read in one sitting. The action scenes were realistically written, and interspersed with some truly wonderful love scenes. I have not read Laura Beers before, but I have no doubt I will be doing so again in the future. I can highly recommend this book to lovers of history, the Regency period and just readers who like to get their teeth into a good, old-fashioned, spy tale, come romance. Great stuff!

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Saving Shadow plus Laura Beers' full portfolio.

the children of when (florisia #1) by Jennifer Redmile

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Children of When by Jennifer Redmile is a delightful children's coming-of-age story that takes us into the fantasy world of Florisia. When three disparate children, all growing up in different versions of the village of Naissence, turn fourteen, it is time for them to cross-over. On their fourteenth birthday they must leave their village and go to "The Circle" where they are transported to a new world that will shape their future. Three children, Leah, Raff and Belle all have different backgrounds and mixed emotions about the upcoming journey. Their friendship and camaraderie will develop and mature as they discover they are part of a thousand-year prophecy that will pit them against all manner of evil and dangerous creatures.

The Children of When is a spell-binding tale that even someone well past their childhood can enjoy and relate to. Described by one as a cross between Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Adventures of Narnia, I could certainly see elements of that in Redmile's story. The three characters are from such differing backgrounds and their mindsets about the journey they have undertaken make for a fascinating and interesting clash of motivations. The author does well to meld them together into a cohesive team. I especially liked some of the interplay between the three main characters. Although not a terribly long book, it is certainly one that is impossible to put down and can be easily read in one sitting. It is suitable for children of pre-teen age, although some of the situations described by Redmile could be seen as frightening, there is always the feeling that Belle, Leah and Raff will succeed. As a non-child, I enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it to stimulate young, enquiring minds.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Children of When, plus Jennifer Redmile's other works, here on Amazon:

people of dirt (Dirt, Series 2, Book #3) by C. C. Hogan

29/12/2017

Regular readers of my reviews will know that I am a long-time fan of C.C. Hogan's magnificent fantasy series set in the land of Dirt. My latest read from Hogan, People of Dirt is book three in series two of the story of this amazing fantasy world. As such, it appears to be the last in this particular story, which does sadden me somewhat. I have come to love and enjoy the principal characters from Dirt, especially the three women; Silvi, Ferrett and Mistry. These strong, young (although one of them is actually over 500-years-old) are a wonderful portrayal of leadership. They all have their weaknesses and their faults, but deep down they are driven by the search for peace and justice. I love all the characters in Dirt, but, of course, especially the dragons. I mean, who doesn't love dragons? The dragons of Dirt are drawn, by Hogan, with the characteristics, mannerisms and morality of humans, but even more so. They are more moral and upright, it seems, than us.

In this final iteration of Dirt, things are coming to a head. As Dragon Leader, Sylvi, tries to unite the bulk of Preland against the invaders from the north, led by the fanatical priests, the True Path, who have corrupted the legends of Pree for their own benefit, you can tell the final battles will not only be climatic, but bloody and action-packed. People of Dirt is a substantial book, but at no time did I notice the length of the story. Hogan's ability to keep a reader entranced with both action and great dialogue is well known to me.

I am in awe of the incredible depth and detail of the world created by C. C. Hogan. This author has made real a world of fantasy and dragons that few authors are capable of achieving. Without giving away the plot, at all, I would just say this: "Any author who can make a reader physically cry over the death of an imaginary dragon character is an author worthy of respect and following." C. C. Hogan IS such an author. I can highly recommend People of Dirt and the entire, wonderful, Dirt series. I will miss it. Kudos to Hogan.

Do shoot on over to Amazon and take a look at People of Dirt and all of C. C. Hogan's magnificent selection. You don't have to read the Dirt books in order, to enjoy them, but I would definitely recommend it if you want to get the most from this amazing series.

the wanderer and the new west by adam bender

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender is a dystopian view of an America that many may well see as a path the country is already headed down. Federal rule has virtually ceased and all power lies with the States - no longer is it the United States of America. Even the individual states have virtually given up trying to rule and law is implemented at the behest of corporations, one of the greatest of these being the Breck Ammunition Company. Into this lawless environment strides the impressive Wanderer. Nobody knows who he is or where he came from, but his mission, it seems is to protect the innocent and to fight injustice. With his trusty sidekick, Kid Hunter, the Wanderer joins forces with wannabe journalist Rosa Veras as they attempt to "clean up" the New West.

I came to this book expecting to be reading a Western, but was more than pleasantly surprised to discover this is so much more. Set some time in the future, in a world not too dissimilar to where we currently find ourselves, the values and importance of the free press and of morality shone through this story. The characters themselves, especially Kid Hunter and The Wanderer are necessarily caricatures of the old west's most famous gunslingers and fighters of injustice. I found myself incredibly caught up in Rosa and her group's fight to expose the evil and corruption inherent within the corporation and to bring some justice to the State of Arizona. The story was reminiscent of the old westerns I'd read as a child, without becoming overly soppy. The humour was genuine and some of the banter between the Kid and the Wanderer, truly inspired. I couldn't put this book down and read it quickly and easily. An excellent story - The Wanderer and the New West by Adam Bender; I recommend it highly.

You can check out The Wanderer and the New West, plus the rest of Adam Bender's portfolio here on Amazon:

no kill station: murder at rehoboth beach by diane meier

19/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Matt had retired from the Baltimore Police, to move to Rehoboth, a small vacation town, with his son Henry, where he was serving on the local Rehoboth Police Force. When the Director of the Rehoboth SPCA is murdered, it is clear there are a lot of animal lovers in Delaware who are not happy with the SPCA's performance in getting stray cats and dogs adopted. It appears Rehoboth's SPCA is more concerned with killing as many animals as possible. The "No-Kill" people are the obvious suspects in the murder of Director Gary. In No Kill Station, by Diane Meier, there is much more to this tale than meets the eye and Matt finds himself thrown into a maelstrom of conflict that includes dog-fighting, mobsters, bribery, corruption and a romance with the woman who will become the prime suspect in the murder of the SPCA director. Throw in some supernatural happenings and you have all the makings of a cozy mystery/romance.

No Kill Station is a mystery that grows on you. I particularly liked author Diane Meier's drawing of the principal characters Matt, Clara and Sharon. Matt was an upstanding citizen trying to rebuild his life after a messy divorce and was always willing to put his principles first, especially when it came to protecting animals. His relationship with Clara and the unusual supernatural themes, just added to the excitement of the murder mystery. This is an incredibly relaxed and easy book to read and for lovers of clean, cozy mystery/romances, it would be perfect. The author uses the novel to impart important information about the way in which we, as a society, deal with stray animals. She uses the tale to push her own beliefs on the importance of the humane treatment of animals, as a reflection of a society's health. I particularly liked that aspect of the story. A very good first-up effort from Meier.

You can check out No-Kill Station by Diane Meier, here on Amazon:

roanoke by kathryn sommerlot

18/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When sixteen-year-old Audry's father dies, he leaves her in a difficult situation, as she comes under the protection of her elder sister Alis and her husband, John. In Roanoke, by Kathryn Sommerlot, John and Alis have determined to make a new beginning and in 1587 they and around a hundred other colonists set sail for Chesapeake, in the Americas, taking young Audry with them. Audry's dreams of appearing in Queen Elizabeth !'s court along with her Father are forever dashed and she must adapt herself to a brave, new harsh environment that she'd never wanted in the first place. Instead of being taken to Chesapeake, where the colonists were promised their own land, they are instead left alone on the island of Roanoke, just off the South Carolina coast. Audry and her fellow colonists must cope with the wild environs, the ever present dangers and the not so friendly native Americans. So began the first real English colony in the Americas - a colony later to become known as the "Lost Colony".

I love reading Historical Fiction and Roanoke is very special in that regard, as it chronicles a pivotal point in the colonisation of the New World. It was in Roanoke that the first English child to be born in the Americas, was delivered. The story of Audry Tappan may be fictionalised, but Kathryn Sommerlot has stuck very much to the historical basis that was the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke. One of the greatest tributes I can give an historical fiction author is that his or work prompted me to research the topic and Roanoke certainly did that. I wanted to know what happened to this first real colony. The author's descriptions of the hardships prompted on these early colonists allowed the reader to truly feel they were there with Audry, suffering along with her. The romantic interactions between Audry and Marke, as well as the evil machinations of the Pastor, gave some warmth and humanity to what could have been a dry, historical tale. A very good read and full of interesting insights.

You can check out Roanoke here on Kathryn Sommerlot's Amazon page:

empyrean (The Brin Chronicles book 3) by jim cronin

15/12/2017

Reviewed for the Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

In Empyrean, Jim Cronin brings down the curtain on the wonderful and fascinating Brin Chronicles. Having been privileged enough to have read all three books, I can honestly say the author has done a tremendous job of tying everything up nicely and leaving this reader, anyway, extremely satisfied. I couldn't help but give myself a wry smile as I realised Cronin had indeed left a tiny hole for the possibility of a fourth book, but that having been said, if the Brin Chronicles ended with Empyrean, that would be just fine.

In this latest iteration, suspicion has been raised about the Skae's true motives toward the Brin. They had always been seen as the saviours of the Brin race and as such had been revered, with some factions of the population even embracing the Skae as Gods. When Maliche Rocker, head of the Brin Council, suspects there may be more to the story of their salvation than the Skae have told them, he embarks on a risky adventure to try to uncover the truth about what really happened all those years ago. Along with his son, Jontar Rocker and some other exceptionally gifted Kolbri (the result of mating between the Brin and the Kolandri), they risk everything in a search for the truth.

The Kolibri have unique talents that allow them to interact with technology in ways never seen before and to utilise the space strings to travel through both time and space, returning thousands of years to the rebirth of the Brin race and to try to pinpoint the true causes of the long-lasting and violent war against the Gorvin, which seems to have been going on forever.

What I particularly enjoyed about Empyrean is the totally new cast of characters, as time has moved on. Yes, they are still Rocker's, but they have their own unique perspectives on life and especially on the Skae. Maliche is married to a Kolandri, in Ryma and this alone gives rise to thought and discussion about things such as inter-marriage between races and/or species. Their goal is to live in peace, as one people, but there are many who see that as not only undesirable, but positively evil. Cronin brings us plenty of political corruption and lobbying, but all set in a fantastic world that he has created from his own imagination.

This is a very easy book to read, despite the technological innovations and theories straight from the author's imagination. Science Fiction can so easy descend into mind-boggling technological descriptions that can distract the reader. Equally able to distract some readers is the concept of time travel and the paradoxes associated with it. We all love a good piece of time travel and Jim Cronin definitely has an understanding on writing in this genre, with some clever and at times witty comments and asides.

I have compared Cronin, in the past, to my favourite Science Fiction author, Robert A Heinlein and nothing in Empyrean would change my opinion from that comparison. It is an incredibly readable, fast-paced and enjoyable adventure, that just happens to be set in space and in a world very different from our own. The entire Brin Archives series is a triumph for this author, in my opinion and I would recommend all three books; Hegira, Recusant and Empyrean not only to all Science Fiction aficianados, but also to just readers who love a rollicking adventure story.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Jim Cronin's entire portfolio, including the Brin Archive's Trilogy:

the ruby blade (eleanor morgan #3) by amy cissell

15/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Ruby Blade by Amy Cissell is the continuation of the fantasy tale of Eleanor Morgan and her quest to reopen the gates and allow magic back into the world. Eleanor, a Fae Princess and her sidekicks, Florence, a Mage, and Raj, a thousand-year-old Vampire are joined in this episode by Emma, a werewolf, the former girlfriend of Eleanor's werewolf mate Isaac, who is currently being held by the Dark Queen and being horribly tortured. In The Ruby Blade Eleanor will open two more of the gates, travelling across the eastern seaboard of the United States to do so, a country that has lost most of its technology due to the power of the magic she has released back into the world, thus far. Raj will continue his ongoing efforts to try to woo Eleanor away from her mate bond with Isaac, as the sexual tension ramps up in this iteration. Arriving late, to assist is Raj's daughter Petrina, herself a powerful vampire and mage.

I thoroughly enjoyed the previous episode of this series and was keenly anticipating the next two gates being opened. Amy Cissell does not disappoint with The Ruby Blade. The characters continue to develop and I particularly love the simmering relationship between Raj and Eleanor as she tries to deal with the many twists and turns this story takes. Emma is a welcome addition, as a character and some of the best dialogue in this book is the snarky, and sarcastic, to and fro, between Isaac's ex-girlfriend and his current mate. This is an epic fantasy and fans of magic and mayhem will lap this up, but the by-play and the strong, positive characters, especially the women is so refreshing to read. This is one of those books that is impossible to put down as one exciting scene just literally drags you into the next, but for readers with a thirst for witty, sassy, dialogue, that's all here too. I cannot wait for the next edition of this tale, where Eleanor will attempt to open the next gates - what trials and tribulations will befall these characters that I've grown to love and hate. Excellent stuff from Cissell.

You can pop on over to Amazon and check out The Ruby Blade, as well as the full Eleanor Morgan series to date:

the font of jasmeen: elk riders volume III by ted neill

13/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Prince Haille has always been made to feel responsible for the death of his beloved mother and Queen, since she died giving birth to him. Coupled with the stigma of his mother’s death is he is considered a cripple, an invalid, a freak even, because of his “shaking sickness” (I’m assuming this is probably epilepsy). When Haille discovers his father, the King, plans to send him away to an orphanage for afflicted children, he determines to seek out and find the legendary Font of Jasmeen, where it is said the enchanted statue can cure and heal any afflicted child. Along with his classmate, Katlyn, the two fourteen-year-old’s head out into a land beset by the threat of war and ruled by duplicitous and self-serving Lords, only loyal to Haille’s father when it suits their purposes. So begins Ted Neill’s young adult adventure, The Font of Jasmeen.

I’m certainly not a young adult, The Font of Jasmeen’s target market, but I’m happy to say this book is suitable for all ages. This is the first book of Ted Neill’s that I’ve read, but I hazard a guess it won’t be the last. I loved the rollicking style of this adventure, as Haille and Katlyn lurched from one crisis to another, never sure who their allies and friends really were. The two principal characters were easily identifiable with, both mercilessly bullied at school for varying reasons. One thing I particularly liked about the story was that Neill allowed his “hero” (Haille) to be exactly what he was, a fourteen-year-old boy, full of angst, self-doubt and often making the wrong decisions, for what seemed the right reasons to his teenage mind. This book was a fantastic read and will have appeal to anyone who likes Epic Fantasy and certainly not just to its intended target market of Young Adults. I am excited that The Font of Jasmeen is part of a series and a quick glance at its companion volumes, on Amazon, tells me the other stories in the series focus on some of the bit-players in this book. Excellent – on my TBR list now.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out The Font of Jasmeen, plus Ted Neill's excellent portfolio of novels, on his Amazon page:

utopia by unathi ngada

12/12/2017

Utopia by Unathi Ndlelantle Ngada is not an easy read. It is dark and at times hateful, but it is one that everyone male and female should read. This book opens up the world of child sexual abuse from the perspective of the one being abused and lays out the complicated and competing mixed emotions that inhabit the mind of someone so abused.
Kai was first sexually abused by her Uncle when she was just ten years old. As time went on, Kai managed to forgive her Uncle Bryan for his abuse and her Aunt Numa, who Kai was certain knew exactly what was going on. After all, Bryan and Numa had cared for Kai ever since the death of her mother, so surely she owed them some loyalty, didn't she?
When the abuse restarts years later, as a young woman, Kai determines that Uncle Bryan and Aunt Numa can not be allowed to get away with their treatment of her. Kai has fallen in love with an artist she first met when she was just fourteen and it is time for her to escape her dark thoughts and to strike out in her own way, free from the nightmares of her past.
Utopia, although very intense is short and sharp. Its story grabs the reader by the scruff of the neck, shakes the complacency out of you and makes you pay attention to the world of hell that Kai finds herself inhabiting, due to no fault of her own, just the malicious, uncaring abuse of her body by the man who is supposed to protect her, her uncle.
Ngada's writing is as intense as the story and drags the reader in. As I said at the beginning, this is not an easy book to read emotionally, but one well worth making the effort for. We all need to understand better the hell that victims of sexual abuse and trauma go through. I can only hope that Ngada's next literary effort is a little lighter and more fun. An important read!

You can take a look at Utopia by Unathi Ngada, here on Amazon:

harmless by katherine dell

12/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rachel Barnes’ life seemed to change forever after her elder brother Eric was killed in a car crash, when she was just fourteen; her parents divorced and she and her Mum set about moving house, time after time, trying to find a place to settle down again. In Harmless, by Katherine Dell, they’ve now left Vancouver and settled in her Mother’s small home town, with Rachel’s grandmother – a full-blooded native of the area. Despite being there for five months already, Rachel has yet to even unpack her boxes of stuff that she brought with them. When Rachel and her friends open a spirit box given to her by her Grandmother, strange things begin to occur. The spirits released; the white deer, crow and bear offer wishes to the young people, but also released is the evil “soul reaper”, the mythical black Wendigo. Rachel just wants to find her place in the world – can the spirits help her in that?

Aimed fairly and squarely at the young adult market, Harmless finds its mark. The characters of Rachel and her friends are clearly archetypical high-school seniors, unsure of where there lives will head after school and nervous about the prospects of leaving their home town and their friends to venture out into the world. Dell has done a good job of building the characters. Rachel especially was easy to identify and empathise with. Her angst over her brother’s loss is the centre of this story and Rachel’s friends merely bit players who aid her in her quest for freedom from the pain of her loss. I particularly enjoyed the supernatural portion of the story and the exploration of the Native myths and legends that created the spirit box and its contents. From a target audience perspective, this is a very readable book, with the usual teenage angst and love interests. I did enjoy the tenseness and conflict of Rachel’s relationships with the two male characters in her life; Mason and Nate. I think Katherine Dell has related an interesting and easily read tale here in Harmless and as the first book in a planned series, it’s a good start.

You can discover Harmless for yourself, here on Katherine Dell's Amazon page:

lie to me: an expose on sex for money by lynda filler

9/12/2017

One of the best parts of my job as a professional book reviewer is discovering new indie talent, but even more importantly watching that writing talent grow and mature over the years and the books. This is very much the case with this author, Lynda Filler. I had read some of her earlier books and although I enjoyed them and I had a feeling there was something special about her writing and her stories, it is only now, with her latest book, Lie To Me, that I can see that talent literally explode onto the page and excite me, as a reader.

Lie to Me, is a hard-hitting, powerful story about male prostitution in Mexico, as told through the eyes of Layla, an American writer who lives in Puerto Vallarta and writes, freelance for a magazine in the US, and also through the individual male prostitute's perspectives. Layla is fascinated by both the older men and women who come to Mexico looking for sex and the young, Mexican men who provide it for them, for a fee. What motivates them and how do they cope with the emotional attachments that so often invariably form? Layla also has her own personal demons and is convinced that love, especially with a young Mexican man, is not only silly, but counterproductive to her work. she loves the sex, but shuns the attachments, or at least tries desperately hard to do so.

Lie to Me is incredibly well written, tight, taut, descriptive, and everything I'd expect from a long-time, well-established, professional author. It thrills me to see the depth of the writing and the emotions Filler is now able to extract from her work. This is a wonderful story of an alternative lifestyle that may well be eye-opening for some, but fascinating nonetheless. For me, it gave me an insight into a world I knew existed, but like Filler, I guess I wondered how it all worked for the participants. I wonder no more and that is totally due to Filler's excellent work.

I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who has secretly yearned to escape the rat-race, if even for a short time and indulge in the pleasures and the exotic mystery of another race and culture. With Lies to Me, you can do that, without any attendant risk. A fantastic read and all credit to the author, Lynda Filler. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Why not pop on over to Amazon, where you can check out not only, Lie To Me, but Lynda Filler's entire portfolio.

the still sad music by shawn merritt

9/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Still Sad Music, by Shawn Merritt is a sometime melancholic, but always interesting journey through the coming of age of a troubled, young man. Jeffrey is an awkward adolescent, just coming to terms with his feelings and emotions, when both his parents are killed in a car crash. With only his big brother left to guide him in the ways of the world and his best friend, Jimmy, Jeffrey embarks on a self-destructive journey of drugs, alcohol and sex as he tries to cope with life and with his place in this world. Along with his addictions, Jeffrey must face and deal with his own mental illness and understand what it is that makes him tick. Lurching from one crisis to another, he manages to stay a part of the world, without actually being able to figure out his own place in it.

The Still Sad Music, is a hauntingly, poignant reminder, that; “there, but for the grace of God, go I”. Shawn Merritt drags the reader into Jeffrey’s twisted and misunderstood world and ask some of the very big questions: Who am I? What am I doing here? and, what’s the point of it all? Despite the subject matter, which is, at times, depressing and sad, Merritt manages to infuse enough subtle humour and genuinely funny observations about people, to stop the reader from clutching his/her head in their hands in despair. The story is tight, well-written and exceptionally moving at times. It is impossible to read this book and not feel a deep compassion and sorrow for the young character, whilst at the same time having this intense desire to kick his ass and tell him to pull himself together. All-in-all, an excellent read and a real credit to this author. This is a coming-of-age novel with none of the nasty bits shaved off or dampened down.

You can find The Still Sad Music, by Shawn Merritt, here, on Amazon:

the book of ralph by christopher steinsvold

6/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Book of Ralph by Christopher Steinsvold is a comedy with a message. When a sign “Drink Diet Coke” suddenly, mysteriously appears on the moon, everyone on earth just assumes somehow Coca-Cola had managed to do this. The backlash against Coke is massive, but what no-one understands is the sign was a message from Ralph. Ralph is an alien come to warn earth of an impending invasion by one of the most feared races in the Universe, the Kardashians, from the planet Kardash. Markus, a disgraced “rocket scientist” formerly with NASA is asked by the White House to investigate the mysterious advertisement and report back whether Coke was indeed the miscreant. Confusion reigns, though, when a giant Chicken Soup Can, containing the alien Ralph, lands outside the White House. So begins the adventures of Ralph.

What I particularly liked about The Book of Ralph was the subtle, yet clever humour that Steinsvold used to introduce the reader to much deeper and interesting thoughts. Although, I would have to say that Ralph’s explanations as to the “purpose of being” and the Universe, in general, didn’t actually come as a surprise to me, it made them none the less interesting and thought provoking. The idea that we, as a species, could possibly be alone in this massive universe, is an arrogant and presumptuous notion. I also liked the idea that we were far too primitive and young in evolutionary terms to understand much of what Ralph and his like could tell us. I found Ralph to be totally appealing and, as a potential “alien”, one you would not mind making contact with. Chris Steinsvold has brought us a funny, thoughtful book with some real insight and I can definitely recommend this not only to readers with a SciFi or Philisophical bent, but also to those who just like a good yarn, well told.

You can pop on over to Amazon and check out The Book of Ralph on Christopher Steinsvold's Amazon page.

searching for the shire: memoir of a co-dependent housewife by florence st. john

4/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Searching For The Shire by Florence St. John takes us on a journey of self-discovery through one woman’s life. Florence had always felt tolerated, rather than unconditionally loved, as a child and she spent her adult years seeking acceptance and yes, love, through a series of relationships and/or marriages that, it seemed were almost convenient, rather than for all the right reasons. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, at a time when women were stretching their arms and seeking more from the world, Florence decided to take the route of least resistance, that of marriage and motherhood. This would lead her eventually to the realisation that she was co-dependant and always needed other’s approval for her own happiness. In time, she will discover that it is okay to say “No” and it is okay to worry about your own personal mental health, than to always focus on “fixing up” others.

As someone who has lived a co-dependent relationship, in the past, I found Searching For The Shire to be a clarion call to my psyche. Reading Florence St. John’s words and deeds, I experienced many “Aha” moments as I was able to relate to her “need to be needed”. I suspect this issue is felt more intensely by women, but as a man, who has experienced these issues, I was very easily able to relate to her thought processes and decision making. At the end of the day, this book can give real hope and a path out of co-dependency for anyone suffering from this. The book is simply a summation of St. John’s life that led her to the point of needing to find an answer to her continual problems. My biggest takes from this story were 1/ It’s okay to be alone and 2/ How can you expect anyone else to love you unconditionally, when you don’t even love yourself? I think this book would prove very useful for those suffering from co-dependency or feelings of inadequacy.

Do pop on over to Florence St. John's Amazon page and check out her full portfolio of books:

the boat house by jana d. barrett

1/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett takes us inside the world of the very wealthy, the very powerful, and the sometimes mentally unstable. Genevieve Vandermere – Anderson is eighteen, but for the last six years she has lived with the horrible guilt that it was her drunken, pre-teen, behaviour that killed her mother and another totally unknown family, when she was steering the boat that caused the horrific accident. Adopted by her step-father Anderson, Genevieve’s life has been ruthlessly controlled and directed by the man she now has come to view with distrust, disdain and disgust in equal measures. There is something evil about Anderson and she is determined to unravel the mystery that seems to surround her family. With the help of a hunky Private Investigator, Easton and her two new friends, Livi and Stellan, Genevieve determines to expose her lying, cheating, manipulative and possibly murderous step-father and escape to the freedom she feels she deserves.

This story, The Boat House, is an intriguing murder/mystery that Jana Barrett takes in many directions. Her characters are believable and well-drawn. It does jump from one (first person) perspective to another, between chapters, which some readers will love, but others may find disconcerting. That having been said, it is a very readable story and some of the descriptive passages, especially those covering the location, of the South Carolina coastal areas, are both beautiful and evocative. As a mystery, the plot was intricate, with all the loose ends neatly tied together by the end of the book, which is always preferable, from a reader’s perspective. The fascinating thing from my viewpoint was how Barrett managed to weave all the characters together, as involved in the mystery, in such a way that they all had a stake in the outcome of exposing Anderson for the evil man he clearly was. This was a good, solid, enjoyable read and one I can definitely recommend to others, especially those who like solving mysteries, with a little romance thrown in for good measure.

You can check out The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett here on Amazon:

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