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last flocks of the geese by philip dodd

24/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Last Flocks of the Geese by Philip Dodd is a collection of verse that could possibly be described as both deeply diverse and eclectic. Dodd does not limit himself in his topics and ranges across various time-periods and historical characters seemingly randomly and yet it works well and runs together beautifully. Unlike many poetry collections which are brief and sometimes leave the reader feeling short-changed, Last flocks of the Geese is a substantial work with over as hundred and seventy individual pieces that vary from short and pithy to relatively long and thought-provoking. The author swings seamlessly from biblical characters such as David and Goliath or Noah, to explorers like Matthew Flinders, right through to Kafka, T.S. Elliot and Shakespeare. The overarching theme, it seemed to me was to both celebrate man’s ingenuity and achievement but also to shine a light on man’s folly and arrogance.
I think author Philip Dodd managed to tie together a disparate set of thoughts and verse extremely well in his collection Last flocks of the Geese. As with any collection of poems or stories, there are some that resonate more with me, as reader, than others. A couple of the poems that spoke to me the most were, the very first poem, which, perhaps especially today had a real meaning for me. The Healing of the Rift speaks of man’s eternal obsession with improving his lot in life by migration. It speaks of the dangers for the migrants as well as the fear migration raises in those whose lands are being infiltrated. The idea of one side building a bridge while on the other side they raised their weapons was so relevant in today’s world. I also particularly enjoyed on of the longer poems in the collection; The Life and Burial of Lizzie Siddal was an homage to an artist’s muse. I found this extremely poignant and moving. There were many others that caught my attention such as; Lament for the White Rhinoceros and Records in Your Room, which brought back memories of the sixties, for me. This is a satisfying read and if clear verse is your want, I know you will enjoy this collection.

You can find Last Flocks of the Geese here on Philip Dodd's Amazon page, along with the rest of his work:

handwritten tales: what is taboo by jim d buchanan

21/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Handwritten Tales: What is Taboo by Jim D Buchanan is a collection of some short and some not so short tales that seeks to explore the areas of life that we tend to ignore and pretend don’t exist – that we’d rather not talk about. The author wants us to consider the darker side of human nature, the evil that often exists in full view of us all, yet that many of us choose to ignore. He presents a litany of sometimes disgusting and sometimes sad tales that make us examine the motivation of humans and society. From the two boys who grew up surrounded by depravity and yet somehow survived a father that killed his entire family but would forever be haunted by survivor guilt and the belief that he could have done more to save his sister through to a young man who travels halfway around the world to search for his father in South East Asia and become caught up in the struggles of a foreign people against their ethnic and religious overlords, to a story of corporate greed, corruption and the deception of capitalism as a good for society, this book of short stories really does touch on the core essence of what it is to be human and what makes us tick.

I’m not usually a fan of short-story anthologies, as I often feel too much meat and character development is missed in the brief telling of a story, however, in Handwritten Tales: What is Taboo, author Jim D Buchanan really does break through the periphery to deeply dissect the human condition and expose it bare for us all to see. As with any anthology there are always stories that touch me more deeply than others or that I could call my favourites. This was no exception and two tales stood out in particular for me, as accurately portraying the sense of frustration and evil that exists in the world and our inability to do anything about it. Oklahoma Bypass allows the author to reflect on the contribution to the country of immigration and the positive effect immigrants have on the communities they are assimilated into. Given the current state of play in the US at present and the anti-immigrant rhetoric around the world, I found one simple passage to be very telling and moving: The main character is discussing his Oklahoma relatives and describes them as professional and practiced takers. He then compares that to your average immigrant who left owners and controllers behind to come here. The whole story was very telling to me. I also was moved by The Funeral, in which the main character recounts what it is like to attend a funeral where you are not wanted nor welcomed by the rest of the family – he does this in reference to his own Mother’s funeral. I found this whole story profound and moving. There are many more fascinating tales here that pithily sum up the human condition and both its best and its worst. I can highly recommend this read.

Handwritten Tales by Jim D. Buchanan is not yet available on Amazon, however, you can check out the author's full porfolio here, on his Amazon page:

conflict on the yangtze by greg kater

18/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author Greg Kator brings us an Asian action adventure with his latest novel, Conflict on the Yangtze. Featuring many of the characters already introduced in his previous works, the author takes us on a journey up the famous Yangtze River in post-war China to attempt to destroy an opium smuggling ring that is flooding Australia and the U.S. with illicit drugs, transported via The Philippines. Jamie Munro and half-aborigine Jack “Jacko” O’Brien, from the Australian Commonwealth Investigation Services will team up with Colonel John Cook from Britain’s MI6 and Harry Williams from the U.S. Office of Strategic Services to try to destroy the smuggling ring. Entering a China wracked with virtual Civil War, as Mao ZeDong’s Communists battle with Chiang Kai Shek’s Kuomintang Government was always going to be fraught with danger for the pair, especially with various Warlords also struggling for control of a country left in a vacuum with the defeat of the Japanese invaders. Fortunately for Munro and O’Brien they have a secret weapon – the diminutive but incredibly brave and resourceful half-sister of Jacko’s, the Aborigine girl Sarah. Together they will tackle the drug cartel from production to transport, to distribution.

Conflict on the Zangtze reads very much like a “boys own” adventure story from my childhood, with action and excitement on almost every page. Author Greg Kator has a direct and engaging style of writing that draws the reader into the familial group of characters and imbues them with a sense that they belong to the reader. As a New Zealander, I appreciated the sometime not so subtle “Aussie” speak and references but I imagine for many readers an “Aussie” glossary would be a useful tool for this book. Undoubtedly the star of the show was none of the big brave Intelligence officers but rather the tiny Aboriginal girl, Sarah. Her resourcefulness and her charming humility were beautifully portrayed by the author and one was totally endeared to her by the end of the story. This is a continuation of characters previously introduced by Kator but one does not have to have read his earlier books to be enthralled by this one – it stands alone, as a wonderful story. If you are a lover of action/adventure with a very ethnic twist or a lover of Historical Fiction (as I am) this book will be right up your alley. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and can highly recommend it.

You can find Conflict on the Yangtze by Greg Kater, here on Amazon:

nomycha by raven corinn carluk

15/3/2019

Princess Cyryna has spent her entire life preparing for her future role - to lead her people in their battle against the Darklings. Cyryna is of the light, engaged in an eternal struggle against the forces of darkness, as led by the Dark Queen, Queen Valdis and her Valhamian subjects. Not more than once has pondered why the kingdoms cannot just live in peace but when duty calls and the Queen requests her return to the Kingdom, she knows she must do her duty. An encounter with a Valhamian Prince, Maksim, who surprisingly does not attempt to kill her in battle leaves her wondering even more why the two sides are fighting. The attraction between the magical Princess Cyryna and Maksim is so powerful and so telling for her that inevitably the pair must become lovers.
Together with her unlikely allies, Maksim and a giant Spirit Hound who is sent to protect her, Cyryna (Nomycha) enters into the ultimate battle, that to destroy her aunt, the evil, Dark Queen Valdis.
Full of magic and fantasy, Nonycha is a very readable and enjoyable fantasy novel. I particularly liked the way author Raven Corinn Carluk used the relationship between the two unlikely heroes, Cyryna and Maksim to raise the eternal issues of prejudice and bigotry. The hatred of people different from us is something either taught to us by those more senior in society or a learning experience hard-won on the battlefield. Yet, what we see in Nomycha is the belief that inherently we are all the same, seeking the same truths and the same happiness. As individuals it is possible to arise above societal bigotry and prejudice. This is definitely a message crying out to be heard in today's world.
I enjoyed this read and if you love magic, spells and fantasy, you undoubtedly will also. Nomycha is a solid, fantasy read well worth getting into.

You can check out Nomycha, along with the rest of Raven Corinn Carluk's extensive portfolio, here on Amazon:

the letter (hidden beauty #11 by mary crawford

15/3/2019

The Letter by Mary Crawford is yet another in her fantastic Hidden Beauty series. Crawford's ability to take people and situations full of angst, pain, loss and suffering and then allow the light of love to shine through, is legendary, in my opinion. Her understanding of her characters innermost fears and insecurities is what makes her a master in this genre. The Letter is no exception.
Although the initial premise of the story - how Rocco and Mallory came together did seem to stretch the limits of believability just a tad, it didn't detract from the story at all. When Rocco, a paramedic, receives a letter from the hospital to tell him that his non-existent wife may have breast cancer, rather than bin it as a silly mistake, Rocco is determined to find Mallory and ensure she gets the follow-up treatment she clearly needs.
Mallory, an investigative journalist is at the height of her professional powers, well-respected in the industry and determined to make a difference. The possibility of cancer at her young age is a body blow for her, but fortunately the circumstances that bring Rocco and her together will also be her greatest support for the future.
What I love about Crawford's novels are she never shies away from the raw emotion, pain and suffering of her characters, but instead infuses the tale with love, concern, caring and responsibility that softens the hard edges of whatever disability(ies) the characters may have.
The Letter is another triumph for Crawford and I can not only recommend this book, but her entire series of Hidden Beauty, as well as her other series Hidden Hearts. The characters are frighteningly real and serve to remind us always that our health or lack thereof is just a fleeting moment from changing but that it is not the determinant factor in finding love and happiness. I am a Crawford fan, for sure.

Be sure to pop on over to Mary Crawford's Amazon page where you can find The Letter along with all her other magnificent novels.

the scream behind her smile by athena daniels

15/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels is a love story that brings a lot more to the party than your traditional romance novel. Claire is a successful designer to the stars and the elite in Western Australia but her clothing design has served a greater purpose than just fame. It was what saved her from the morass of grief over the death from brain cancer of her little baby girl. After three years of hell, during which time she struggled to even get out of bed, following the death of her beloved Katie, the designing has given her some sense of worth again. To the casual outsider it appears her husband Derek has been the ultimate rock and support for her during these trying times, but appearances can be deceiving. When Derek suddenly turns up with an “old school friend” Jasmine (Jazzy) and offers her the chance to stay with them until she sorts herself out, Claire feels something is wrong but seems unable to act on her suspicions. It’s only when Claire meets the enigmatic, yet successful artist Zach that the reality staring her in the face seems to take hold. The chemistry between Claire and Zach is obvious and intense, yet Claire still needs to deal with her troubled past before she can move on.

Author Athena Daniels has brought an extremely readable and relatable tale in The Scream Behind Her Smile. As a lead character Claire was real, believable and someone the reader clearly wanted to root for while at the same time feeling this intense desire to shake her out of her complacency and her naivety. What I particularly liked about this story was the author’s obvious desire to not minimise the incredible loss losing a child has on the parents. No amount of advice, “to move on” or “to let it go” is ever going to make any difference. No parent dreams of this ultimate tragedy and when it happens it is totally devastating to the parents. This whole premise was beautifully and sensitively portrayed by the author. Until you forgive yourself for what happened, you can never make peace with the present or the future. The relationship between Zach and Claire was moving, powerful and incredibly sexy. I did love that Zach not only had a past but that he was actively dealing with reconciling with that past. Both Claire and Zach felt they had huge impediments in their lives to them ever being happy again but Daniels skilfully showed us that there is a way to let go without forgetting. I can highly recommend this book, especially if you love romance with some real meat on its bones. This is what this book has.

You can find The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels here on her Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio:

the power of will (hidden beauty #12) by mary crawford

8/3/2019

As a regular reader of Mary Crawford's wonderful novels about love, I am always excited to receive a new story from her. The Power of Will (Hidden Beauty #12) definitely did not disappoint me.
As with all Crawford's stories, they revolve around a close group of family and friends whose lives are interlinked and occasionally blessed with romance. Also, like most of her stories, the characters are either physically disabled or have issues with mental health. This has always been one of the things that has drawn me to her writing and to her characters. They are invariably good, honest human beings but flawed, yet Crawford allows us to see past the exterior and catch a glimpse of the magic of romance and love.
This was definitely the case in The Power of Will. William Kordes, by all conventional wisdom, had it all. He was rich, successful and had made his money from his own creativity and inventions. From the outside, his life was perfect, but inside it was a totally different story. Inside, Will was the still the shy, introverted young nerd who was bullied at school and considered unteachable by many of his instructors. His lack of confidence in himself he managed to shad in the facade of success but it was never far below the surface waiting to pounce and drag him down. Mariam Fischer was fighting an internal battle herself, but this one was with a degenerating body. Suffering from the incredibly painful and barely understood affliction of Fibromyalgia, Mariam was in pain constantly and although she projected as a beautiful, strong, self-assured woman, her disability was invisible to others and few could understand the pain and stress of simple everyday life for her.
When Will and Mariam meet, the attraction was instant but the signs were not good. Mariam was not taken in by his good looks, his charm, or his success. She basically told him to "take a hike" but thankfully it takes more than that to stop Will from "trying to fix things".
This was a wonderfully sweet and bittersweet romance that reminds us we all have to be grateful for everything we have. There is always someone worse off than us. Crawford's style is unpretentious, uncluttered, simple and most of all "clean". If you love romance, if you love "real" characters with problems, you'll love this story.
It's another absolute winner from Crawford's prolific portfolio and one I highly recommend.

You can find The Power of Will, along with the full, extensive Mary Crawford portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

five-toed tigress by t.w. dittmer

8/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Five-Toed Tigress is a living legend in Cambodia and where they once roamed free and proud on the Tiger’s Dance Floor in the Cambodian forest, much of their habitat is now been stolen by man and war. Yet, deep in the forest, secreted in the ruins of ancient temples, the dens of these proud animals can still be found and they still stalk the jungle night. Author, T. W. Dittmer brings us a tale that combines the mysticism of South East Asia with the harsh realities of the life of an FBI Agent in post 9/11 America. Preston Hawke is an ex-special services soldier who has left the army under a minor cloud of insubordination. When he is recruited as a possible FBI Agent, he jumps at the chance of a new career. Having finished his rigorous training at Quantico, Probationary Special Agent Hawke is sent to a small regional FBI office in the mid-west, where he will continue his assimilation into the service, under the mentorship of two women; Special Agent Deanna Tulene and Special Agent Britta Gundrum. Despite them being complete opposites in all ways, Hawke is deeply attracted to both of them. More important things await however as the team is caught up in a potential terrorist attack on a planned inter-faith rally, that will test the new team member to his limits. Never far away, though, is the memories of Cambodia and the five-toed tigress – all, it seems, is not as it appears.

I absolutely loved Five Toed Tigress. Author, T. W. Dittmer has managed to skilfully combine two disparate arcs, across two continents into a thrilling and action packed adventure that twists and turns in unexpected ways. The characters were the star of the story, especially Britta Gundrum, who despite her Amazonian appearance and manner shows a tender, loving side that was capable of melting Hawke’s heart. The story seamlessly flowed from the Cambodian jungles to the stark realities of FBI gun battles with terrorists and the political machinations of the various Intelligence Agencies in the United States. The author’s knowledge of his subject was apparent and his writing style flowed with such ease that a good, solid novel was easily read in a short time. The action scenes were graphic, without beinbg gratuitous, as were the minor sexual scenes. I don’t know if the author was setting this book up as the beginning of a series, featuring these characters but I do hope so as there is now so much more to look forward to as the team move on into their new assignment. The little twists and turns the plot took were surprising and yet gratifying. It takes a lot to trick this reader, but Dittmer managed to do that in a couple of places. I can highly recommend this read to all lovers of action thrillers and military/police dramas. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

You can find Five-Toed Tigress along with T.W. Dittmer's other novel, here, on his Amazon page:

near death experience: out of the darkness into the light by bernard j. fleury

6/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Are you afraid of death? I guess the answer for most people would be – yes! And for some, an emphatic, yes. In the short treatise, Near-Death Experience: Out of the Darkness Into the Light, author Bernard J Fleury examines the evidence that has been compiled regarding near-death experiences and adds some of his own, to assess whether we should be concerned about death or not. His extensive research has led him to believe that there is a commonality between near-death experiences that relates to a number of stages of near-death. The most common of these, especially among children who have experienced near-death (almost 100%) is that of children, who are untainted by societal norms and religious connotations, is that of the experience of light. That aside there are also many other fascinating research studies, some independent of knowledge of other studies, which find a remarkable commonality between the experiences e.g. light, a tunnel, the speeding up of travel through the tunnel and a light being that radiates warmth, love and peace.

Although relatively short, I did find Bernard J Fleury’s work, Near Death Experience: Out of the Darkness Into the Light, a fascinating read. For me, the author’s ability to grasp the commonality between the differing studies, many of which were large and significant and tie them together into a work which suggests that, no, there is no intrinsic need to fear death, to be satisfying and relieving at the same time. His conclusion, that we are spiritual beings, merely existing in a mechanical machine (our bodies) was very much in line with my own thinking on the subject and I was rewarded to have many of my own perceptions of this area validated by the author’s work. This is a quick read and one that is highly rewarding. If there’s one thing we all think about, as we get older (as I now am) it is – “is this it? Will there be nothingness after life?” What is rewarding from the author’s work is the idea that although we do not know what after death will hold, we can be certain it is not nothingness and in fact is a continuation, of some sort, of our spiritual being. I enjoyed this read and as part of a series, I would hope there would be more anecdotal evidence in other books in the series. I can recommend this read, highly.

You can find Near Death Experience: Out of the Darkness Into the Light, here on Amazon:

the last defender: a novel by travis pearson

2/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Last Defender, A Novel, author Travis Pearson takes us to an almost dystopian world where a political ideology has taken over the country for the pursuit of their own individual goals of power and wealth. The Socialist, using the country’s deteriorating situation and high unemployment, lies and tricks the electorate to elect him and his party to power. Once in power they ruthlessly set about their plans to rule the country solely for the purpose of their own self-aggrandisement. Businesses are nationalised and management replaced by those who are part of the regime. Brent Stevens, one such manager, once a proud researcher for the good of humanity is replaced and demoted to a worker on the factory floor. Continuing his research at his home laboratory, Brent discovers a power, utilising electricity that will give him a decided edge when it comes to protecting those he loves. As he watches helplessly the systematic destruction of civilisation he looks for the little opportunities to strike back when he can. When Brent’s beloved Lori is threatened by the new regime, Brent knows he must act and act now, before it is too late.

The Last Defender, A Novel, is an interesting take on a society that has become complacent in its democratic institutions and allows itself to be manipulated by a power-crazy megalomaniac to surrender virtually all, of its freedoms (sound strikingly familiar?) Author Travis Pearson gives us a protagonist who turns from the mild-mannered, scientist/researcher into the avenging angel of all of society’s ills. I balked a little at the chief antagonist, the mysterious and enigmatic Socialist. Although it could be argued the tactics employed to subvert democracy were socialistic in tendency, there was little doubt the Socialist’s actions were those of a megalomaniac Fascist in the mould of Hitler, especially the experiments in re-education. That aside, this is a simply written, fast-paced read that does keep you interested and turning the pages. The stereotypical use of Mexican names for the members of the resistance Cartel was a little gratuitous but nonetheless, since these guys were fighting for the average, oppressed citizen, this can be forgiven. If you like novels that draw parallels from both history and the current times we face, you’ll certainly enjoy this one, which kept me interested till the very end.

You can find, The Last Defender: A Novel, here on Travis Pearson's Amazon page:

tissue of lies by carole parkes

26/2/2019

I'd previously read Carole Parkes' biography of her mother and enjoyed it, so I was especially keen to read one of her two novels. This one Tissue of Lies, I believe was her maiden work and I have to say, for a new author, this is a well-presented, professional example of what can be achieved by the Indie author, with hard work and preparation.
Tissue of Lies bring us into the world of Julie Simpson, your average upper-middle-class housewife and mom in England. All through her childhood Julie had the feeling something didn't quite gel with her and her parents. Oh, she loved them to bits and they had been fantastic parents but deep down Julie wondered if perhaps she had been adopted. A chance reading of a magazine article leads her down the path to finding someone she believes may be her real, birth-mother. When she realises she was stolen as a baby, her fear of the repercussions her adoptive parents might face, leads her to construct a "Tissue of Lies" to hide her adoptive parents from her newly discovered birth-mother, as well as her birth-mother from her children. Considering it all for the "better good" of everyone concerned, Julie builds a fantasy life around herself that keeps the two parties separate. Little does she realise the can of worms she has opened and the lasting ramifications on the people she loves, from this newly discovered relationship.
I chose to read this book based solely on the premise. The idea of discovering, in later life, that you were stolen as a baby and that your birth-parents had spent decades searching for you, intrigued me a lot. One could follow, if not always agree with Julie's convoluted thought processes and self-justifications for the tissue of lies she constructed.
I loved the gentle, conversational style of Parkes as she wound one mystery around another, with plenty of twists and turns. Although the development of the story followed the lines I anticipated, while reading, the author still managed to surprise me a couple of times with where the story led. As with all good novels, there is plenty of moral succour for the reader to grasp onto.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, with plenty of twists, I'm sure you will enjoy Tissue of Lies. I can highly recommend this read for someone wanting a straightforward and enjoyable mystery read.

You can check on Tissue of Lies by Carole Parkes, here on her Amazon page:

The Stockton Insane Asylum Murder (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries Book 3) by James Musgrave

26/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Stockton Insane Asylum Murder (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries) by James Musgrove takes us inside a typical Californian Asylum at the end of the nineteenth century. At this time, committal of a patient in the asylum was common for both women and children in the patriarchal paradigm of that era. It seemed, when women became too strident or too annoying to their husbands, or they could see a financial benefit in jettisoning her, it was an, all too easy, thing to do. Clara Foltz is a private detective and a loud champion of women’s rights. When she is approached by an aunt of a young girl committed to the asylum after witnessing a murder committed on her wealthy parents’ estate, she joins forces with a former asylum inmate, the redoubtable Mrs Elizabeth Packard also a crusading activist to investigate what may be a miscarriage of justice. What Clara and her team find is much more than just a wrongly committed patient, but a systematic and endemic attitude of corruption, misogyny and racism at the highest levels of the asylum and the government. The crusading team are determined to unravel the mystery of the committed child but also to bring down the corrupt and evil experimenters who are trying to prove the superiority of the white elites of America.

What I did enjoy about The Stockton Insane Asylum Murder (Portia of the Pacific Historical Mysteries) was the mirror it held up to us today. Despite well over a century having passed by, many of the deep set beliefs and ideals portrayed by author James Musgrove in this story of “white superiority” are still alive and kicking and sadly finding more traction than ever before in the United States at present. I found it fascinating that these strong, crusading women even back then, knew the answers to society’s ills and yet today, we are still crying out for powerful female leadership, with the compassion and common sense evident in this story. Clearly the patriarchal paradigm is still a long way from being fractured and done away with. The secondary characters in the story were, in some ways, the stars of the tale. I was particularly taken with the two sets of triplets, two sets of whom were conjoined twins. They added an almost Barnum and Bailey character to the story and brought to mind the sorts of experiments that would be practised some sixty-odd years later in another evil attempt to prove Aryan elite superiority. The story flows well, with the author’s style being readable and succinct. I did, initially have some difficulty isolating, in my mind, who was who and doing what to whom, but that aside, this was a satisfying read. If you love historical fiction rooted in reality and you look for strong, independent and fierce female lead characters, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy this book immensely.

You can find The Stockton Insane Asylum Murders by James Musgrave, here on Amazon:

genesis z by everist j miller

19/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Genesis-Z by Everist J Miller takes us to a dystopian world where the Zombie Apocalypse has already happened and humanity has won, at a terrible cost, though, to society. Following the Zombie War, all talk of Zombies, even the use of their name is forbidden. Now, the authorities have come up with a scheme to use Zombies to benefit society. Called “volunteers” the Zombies are fitted with skin tight uniforms and masks to hold their rotting flesh together and a headset that allows the humans to control them and instruct them in laboriously repetitive and boring tasks. The volunteers will do the manual work of rebuilding that humans just simply don’t want to be bothered with. On one particular building site, “volunteer” Ray is trialling a new prototype headset that will increase the volunteer’s abilities to actually think somewhat and not have to be under the constant direction of a supervising human. But, have the developers opened a Pandora’s Box from which there is no turning back? When psychopath Doug decides to take advantage of this new technology to reignite the Zombie War that he misses so much, all hell is set to break loose.

What I did like about Genesis-Z was its slightly different approach to the Zombie Apocalypse arc. The idea that volunteers could be used as cheaper, more reliable replacement workers than humans, despite the fact that there was not enough work to go around, as it was and many were living in absolute poverty and desperation, I found to resonate. I’m not sure if author Everist J Miller was trying to draw the comparison, but I couldn’t help but note the similarity in the opinions towards the volunteers as we see today, towards undocumented or illegal immigrants. “They’re stealing our jobs!” versus, “but you don’t want to do those jobs anyway.” I did find the dialogue a little contrived and repetitive at times, especially the stock-standard phrase of the psychopath, “my friend” which definitely did begin to grate by the end of the story. However, if you want an action-packed, Zombie-style adventure, with a bit of a twist from the usual, then this is just for you. I do warn you though; this story is not for the faint-at-heart. The author pulls no punches when it comes to direct and, at times, disgusting descriptions of the volunteers and their habits and conditions. If you love that sort of thing, you’ll lap this up.

You can find Genesis Z, here on Everist J Miller's Amazon page:

surviving dreamland: escape from terror by william Penoyar

15/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Surviving Dreamland: Escape From Terror by William F. Penoyar takes us deep inside Iraq, before and during the invasion that was Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lara Al-Mohammed was just a baby when her parents fled Iraq and settled in Ann-Arbor, Michigan. When Lara graduated High School and before starting University studies, to potentially become a doctor, like her father, she was encouraged to visit her relatives in Mosul, Iraq, to get in touch with the Iraqi side of her heritage. Taking the opportunity with both hands, Lara decides to stay on in Iraq for one year and attend University in Baghdad. Little does she know the country is about to be entangled in an invasion by coalition forces, led by the US, to uncover the mythical weapons of mass destruction. When she, her cousin and three of her university room-mates are kidnapped by Saddam Hussein’s son, Uday for his depraved use, Lara begins a journey of fear and horror. Major Joe Keith is commander of Task Force 20 Delta, one of a number of Special Op teams injected into Iraq prior to the invasion to search for the weapons of mass destruction. Lana and Joe’s paths are destined to cross as they both become entangled in the search to find and destroy Uday Hussein.

Surviving Dreamland: Escape From Terror is a combat thriller that incorporates all the elements of an exciting action novel yet subtly blends in elements of ordinary Iraqi lives. What I liked about this story was author William F. Penoyar’s determination to not show this as a “gung-ho” glory show for the Americans. He was careful to show us the impact of Hussein and his murderous regime on everyday Iraqi’s but not gloss over the fear, trepidation and often outright rejection of the coalition’s invasion of their country. The characters he developed showed he had an intimate understanding of the realities of war and especially of special force’s operations. Equally the author seemed well versed in Iraqi culture and life, as well as being conversant with the region. I particularly enjoyed the moments of introspection that the soldiers underwent went they realised that the “weapons of mass destruction” may be over-exaggerated, yet they understood their duty to their commanders. Also Major Joe’s dilemma over whether to surrender his life as a special force’s leader to ensure the survival of his marriage and to be around for his children’s formative years gave a real human touch to the big, brave, special-forces’ commander. It is surely a dilemma many armed force’s personnel must face on a regular basis. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read and one I highly recommend.

You can find Surviving Dreamland: Escape From Terror by William Penoyar, here on Amazon:

NOTHING IS MORE: a High Black Comedy in Verse with Music for Six Actors by Dolly Gray Landon

11/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nothing is More: A High Black Comedy in Verse with Music for Six Actors is a farcical attempt by Author Dolly Gray Landon to lampoon and ridicule the elitism and pretension of both the art world and academia. Set in the fictional world of Pimpleton State Luniversity it is a musical and poetic play that introduces us to the minimalist artist, the outrageous Phangbang Bonation whose art-style known as “Nadaism” has taken the art world by storm. Essentially Bonation does nothing, “nada” and calls it art. The Luniversity has introduced a degree higher than a Doctorate, called a Stool and there are five budding academics striving for the degree and the lucrative “Moddiger Prize”. Friends, Pelvin Penisovich and Purvel Schlignatz are abhorred by what they consider the fraud that Bonation is perpetrating upon the art-world and the scholarly world and are determined to see him taught a lesson and drummed out of their world shamed and ridiculed for the charlatan he is. Hatching a plan, the pair set about to impugn and destroy Bonation’s ascendant star in the artistic heavens. Throw in a couple of impressionable and malleable, young women students, a chorus and a musical score and you have the makings of Landon’s six-act play.

My initial reaction to Nothing is More: A High Black Comedy in Verse with Music for Six Actors was almost the same a Pelvin and Purvel’s response to Phangbang’s non-existent pieces of art – “the emperor is wearing no clothes”. I was ready to dismiss author Dolly Gray Landon’s work as; “having a laugh at the reader’s (or theatre-goer’s) expense but I continued reading in order to give the work a chance. Whilst it may transfer differently to the stage, as a read, it was difficult, with a surfeit of nonsensical words and passages that needed to be visualised in the reader’s mind before they made much sense, there nonetheless was an element of depth to the writing and understanding slowly dawned on me as to some of the clever techniques used by the author to gain my attention and understanding. Some of the longer sections of dialogue had much philosophical meat on them and some fascinating insights into the way we view and cherish the opinions of “artists” and “experts” often at the expense of our own common sense or “gut feelings”. Phangbang Bonation was the star of the show and as a character bounced from one extreme to the other. In many ways I was reminded of a much more extreme “FlashHeart from Blackadder, morphing to the extreme pragmatism and cynicism of Blackadder himself. No, it wasn’t an easy ride, but it was one worth persevering with. I won’t comment on the musical scores inherent in the play, as a musician I ain’t. Overall… “and now for something completely different!”

You can find Nothing is More here on Dolly Gray Landon's Amazon page:

a bend in time: Never without her book 1 by anne c. maxwell

8/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A Bend in Time: Never Without Her Book 1 by Anne C. Maxwell was a love story with a science fiction/time travel twist. Elena Villiers is a beautiful, determined young woman who is an Agent working for MI6 in counter-terrorism. Very successful at what she does, she is shocked when she is sent to infiltrate a Saudi Bank in London that is suspected of laundering money and funnelling it to terrorists. The CEO of MGB just happens to be her childhood companion and major crush, growing up in Riyadh, Omar McGovern. Struggling to keep her priorities straight Elena finds herself deeply drawn to the now grown-up Omar and the feeling is clearly mutual. How can she carry out her spying activities when she is falling in love with the man she is spying on? Whatever happens, neither Elena nor Omar are prepared for the weird and wonderful time trick that is about is to be played on them as they are both thrown into alternate time universes, one into seventeenth Century France to the court of King Louis XIII and one to a rural Baron’s house in nineteenth Century England. How will they return to their own time and their real lives?

I was impressed with the premise on which A Bend in Time: Never Without Her is based and was keen to see how the author would handle three different stories essentially with the same characters. Author Anne C. Maxwell did an excellent job of keeping the reader on-track throughout the narrative. The characters, Elena and Omar are both overachievers and extremely successful at what they do and it could be assumed readers may have some difficulty with identifying and empathising with them. This was certainly not the case and Maxwell gave both characters enough flaws to make them vulnerable and recognisable as ordinary people. I particularly enjoyed the passionate love scenes in the story, of which there were a number. Her poetic word choices and deeply descriptive passages gave the scenes a sense of beauty and magic, rather than any tawdriness or crudity. What Maxwell has done here, in what I am assuming is a debut novel has beautifully set up her series with these characters. I cannot wait to find out where the “Bend in Time” might take this pair next. For me, I can pay no greater tribute than that to this author.

You can find A Bend in Time: Never Without Her, here on Anne C. Maxwell's Amazon page.

journey to the west valley wall by mark l. lloyd

8/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In Journey to the West Valley Wall, author Mark L Lloyd has cleverly combined two stories into one novel. Jack Van Horne is a successful Science Fiction writer. Both his first two books based around the character of Sage Sauer’s space adventures have been best-sellers with both novels being made into blockbuster feature films. Despite his success, Jack is wracked with self-doubt and the crippling effects of agoraphobia and fandom pressures. He rarely leaves his apartment these days and is unable to write the much anticipated final book in the Sage Sauer series. Crippled by fear and uncertainty, Jack finally experiences an epiphany when he is forced, by circumstances, to run for his life, along with his twelve-year-old niece as they try to escape a raging forest fire. We follow the trials and angst of Jack, in his crawl back to something resembling normality, as well as those of his space hero Sage Sauer, as the third book begins to come together.

I thought the premise of two stories into one, in Journey to the West Wall, was a clever technique employed by author Mark L Lloyd and he made it work extremely well. The character of Jack Van Horne was eerily identifiable by fellow authors who have all gone through those mental demons, although not as badly as Jack, usually. He was a character that evoked extreme emotion in the reader, ranging from deep sympathy and sorrow, right through to intense anger at the man’s stupidity and inability to cope, at times and yet always tempered by a feeling of sadness that despite his clear brilliance he must suffer so much. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Jack and his niece. The parallel story of Sage Sauer was equally compelling, especially for Science Fiction fans. The journal of his adventures left the reader wanting to know more about the character and the processes by which humans had survived or modified in the world of Sauer. It left questions in the readers’ minds and that’s a great thing to achieve. This is an excellent story and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Journey to the West Valley Wall, along with the rest of Mark L. Lloyd's portfolio, here on his Amazon page:

triumphant ride: by permit only by herman cajigas jr.

5/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Herman Cajigas was just a normal, teenage boy growing up in New York City in the 1970’s. From a hard-working immigrant family from Puerto Rico, Herman and his classmates were enjoying their final year as High School Seniors before heading off to various colleges. A school field trip to Wildwood, New Jersey would irrevocably change Herman’s life forever. An accident at the beach sees Herman robbed of his mobility and trying to adjust to life in a wheelchair, as a quadriplegic. Triumphant Ride: By Permit Only brings us author Herman Cajigas Jr.’s inspiring story as he comes to terms with the cards fate has dealt him and determines how he will succeed in this life, confined to a wheelchair. Rising from his impoverished but happy childhood, Herman’s grit and determination carry him from hospital, to University and on to be an inspirational entrepreneur in the booming tech industry – along the way finding his soul-mate and the love of his life.

Triumphant Ride: By Permit Only is a simple, straightforward summation of author Herman Cajigas Jr.’s inspirational life. The messages he brings in this journey are ones of humility, acceptance and raw courage to go on, no matter what the circumstances life throws your way. If anything struck me most, as a reader, it was Herman’s humility and his determination not to see himself as handicapped by his injury, but instead to look for ways in which he could still do all the things he desired to do. I liked that he was also prepared to examine his own character, recognise his own flaws and work on improving them. Running through the narrative is a simple expression of faith, but not the type engendered perhaps by organised religion. Herman lived his life according to the dictates of what we now know as The Law of Attraction. His faith in family, in his beloved wife and in a higher power, as recognised by the Universe shone through every page of this book. I found the story more compelling perhaps because of the no-nonsense and straightforward style of the writing. There was little hyperbole or attempt to claim greatness at overcoming his limitations, just a sweet and delightful joy at being alive, being in love with life and still able to do the things he wanted to do. This is an inspiring piece of work and one I can highly recommend. “There, but for the grace of God, go I!”

Triumphant Ride is, unfortunately, not yet available for purchase, but when it is, it will be well worth looking out for.

the amethyst: the gemstone chronicles #2 by william l stuart

4/2/2019

The Amethyst (The Gemstone Chronicles #2) by William L. Stuart is a delightful epic fantasy that takes us, the readers, into the mythical land of Celahir, home of elves, giants and magic. Youngsters Aidan and Maggie along with their grandparents Nana and Beebop have visited this magical land before, when they helped the light elves search for the stolen four gemstones that make up the Elven Bow. This Bow allows balance and peace on Celahir, as well as creating a barrier between Earth and Celahir's realm, which ensures Earth is safe from the evil dark elves.
Episode one of this story saw the humans assist the good elves to discover the whereabouts of the first stone of the Elven Bow, the Carnelian. Now, though, the Dark Elf in the form of Naesse is causing havoc in Celahir and the barrier between there and Earth is breaking down. The team is summoned to help the elves again to find the next gemstone, the Amethyst. This time, the children's mother, Laura is roped into the adventure, as the humans set out for Celahir to find the stone and defeat the giant who is guarding it.
I found The Amethyst by William L Stewart to be an unpretentious and thoroughly enjoyable romp through fantasy world of the author's imagination. This novel is completely stand alone and there is no loss of enjoyment through not having read the first in the series (I haven't). I suspect Stuart's prime target audience is young adults and I have no doubt they will enjoy this tale immensely, with its youthful, brave and typically shy, young lead characters in Aidan and Maggie. I wouldn't dismiss it for adult readers though as it is a rollicking good jaunt through adventure and mystery. I think Stuart has hit the target spot-on with this tale and I look forward to seeing where the story leads now as they begin the search for the third stone of the Elven Bow. An excellent read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find The Amethyst, along with the rest of William L Stewart's Gemstone Chronicles saga, here on his Amazon page:

like a girl out of water: the miller's creek trilogy by halle b atherton

4/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

David Blackledge and Josh Walker had been friends forever, since first-grade in fact. Growing up, next to a river in rural Virginia, the pair were inseparable and although a rambunctious team who at times got into minor trouble, the general consensus in the region was that these two were “good boys”. In, Like A Girl Out Of Water: The Miller Creek Trilogy by Halle B Atherton, a chance encounter on the river when the boys are thirteen will come back to haunt them many years later. When David met Allie Wainwright the attraction between the pair was instantaneous and both had felt they had met their soul-mate. But, as so often happens, as teens grow into adults and drift apart physically, attending different colleges, petty jealousy and doubts arise and what seemed perfect just a month ago, no longer seems so. David, Allie and Josh will all go on to be incredibly successful in their chosen fields, but even as the years go by, neither can forget that first, perfect love and keeping them tied together is both of their deep friendships with Josh, now a Navy SEAL serving in Afghanistan. David is a major league baseball player and Allie, an Olympic champion swimmer, but it will take a tragedy to bring these two back together.

Like A Girl Out Of Water: The Miller Creek Trilogy is a wonderful exposition of young love and the accompanying angst that we’ve all felt at some point. Author Halle B Atherton has produced three gross over-achiever characters here that somehow seem to work and despite their phenomenal success are readily identifiable and draw empathy from the reader. I loved how, despite all their successes, all three remained grounded to their morals and their rural Virginian roots and family. Yes, at various times they all made poor decisions and yet, with grit, determination and sheer-bloody mindedness they still made their circumstances work for them. The narrative was well-written and flowed seamlessly from one POV to the next. I felt the passionate love scenes were exciting and sensual without crossing that line into crudity. This was a fantastic read and definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Yes, it is a romance, but it is much more than that; it is a life-affirming tale of simple, honest folk achieving great success over sometimes seemingly insurmountable odds. I can highly recommend this read and look forward to the remainder of this trilogy. I am invested in these characters now and want to see where the author’s story-line will take them next.

You can find Halle B. Atherton's Like A Girl Out Of Water: The Miller's Creek Trilogy, here, on Amazon.

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