Category: Anthologies - GRANT LEISHMAN

ode to poet by annika andersson

5/8/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Ode to Poet by Annika Andersson is a small collection of some eighteen poems that explores, among other things, the differing styles of poetry through history. From the Romantic Era (Late 18th-Mid 19th Century) she brings us “Springtime”, through Imagism of the 1920’s, with Brownies, Objectivists of the 1930’s with “Tuesday Morning” all the way through to the Language poets of the sixties and seventies, with “Lying” and finally New Formalism of the eighties and nineties with State of the Union. She also covers a number of other topics in her remaining ten poems, such as; “Breakfast, Thursday, Communication and Old Friends.”

The style of poet Annika Andersson in Ode to Poet is as varied as the words she places together. I found the contrasts between the differing periods of poetic history interesting, especially as a non-poet. I also enjoyed some of the prose-like poetry of some of the early works, such as; Breakfast, Thursday and Savannah. As with any compilation of work there are some that caught my eye and my heart more than others. Two poems, in particular really resonated with me; The first of these was “Old Friends” a tribute to Rudyard Kipling and Walt Whitman. The second poem that spoke to me was; “To The Daughters” which was presented in the style of the nineteen forties and fifties beat poetry, which explored the awakening of a woman’s style and conformity to fashion trends. I enjoyed this little book very much and wanted to read more of this poet – sadly, for me, this offering was way, way short of a full collection and left me feeling like I’d just settled into the rhythm and cadence of the lines when… suddenly it was all over. A little disappointing from that perspective and I would hope to read more in any future offerings from this talented poet.

You can find Ode to Poet by Annika Andersson, here on Amazon:

escaping midnight (what goes on in the walls at night #3) by andrew schrader

11/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Escaping Midnight: What Goes on in the Walls at Night #3 by Andrew Schrader is a collection of short stories based around a collection of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Some of the stories are short and sweet, whereas others allow the characters to develop and mature. The tales are as told to the narrator by a faceless, nameless beast he comes across “between the walls”. One story focuses on a woman who decides the best way to punish her uncaring and thoughtless, wealthy husband is to extract his consciousness before he dies and keep it in a hard drive where he can see and feel everything that is going on around him but can do nothing to change it or communicate. In another, reminiscent of “big brother” watching, a scientist has developed a scanning machine which can detect future criminal tendencies in advance of them appearing in the subject. Society can then, it seems, take proactive action to protect its citizens by locking them up before the crimes occur. All children will be scanned at age sixteen and those who fail will be dealt with accordingly. All goes well until the powers that be determine that the best way to get the public onside with this measure will be to perform the scan on the scientist’s own son in front of a world-wide television audience.

This collection of short stories offers a glimpse into a world that some would describe as madness. Escaping Midnight: What Goes on in the Walls at Night #3 is a chilling journey into what might be, especially with the continued advent of technology and AI. Author Andrew Schrader has plumbed the depths of his imagination to bring these stories to life. Not normally a fan of the short-story format, preferring the character development that full novels permit, I was nonetheless dragged into his weird and wonderful world. As always, with any collection of work, there are some that stir the consciousness and resonate with me, more than others. A couple of the stories I found particularly compelling in this collection were: The Cosmos of Meaning and See You in Theaters. The Cosmos of meaning particularly struck me, as a reader, because much of the philosophy on life, espoused by the character aligned with my own thoughts on the subject. See You in Theaters was great for another reason – simply because it was so weird. It was also long enough to allow some character development and I appreciated that. This is a wonderful, easily read, collection of the weird and wonderful. I can definitely recommend it and am inspired to check out Volumes 1 & 2 of the series. That’s a compliment, for sure, to this author.

You can find Escaping Midnight (What Goes on in the Walls at Night by Andrew Schrader, here on his Amazon author page:

honey & pearls by L. A. Jones

23/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Honey & Pearls: A Unique Collection of 100 Word Poems, is sort of what the author L.A. Jones, says they are – a collection of 100, roughly 100 words, long, poems. At 100 poems, roughly the same length, this is a substantial volume in comparison to many poetry books I have read and the author certainly deserves credit for that. They cover a wide gamut of topics and styles, so although they are short and sweet, they certainly are not homogeneous. The poems are all formatted differently and draw the reader through the different styles, seamlessly. There are a number of genres covered, with no clear, collective theme, except that the bulk of the poems are uplifting and positive. As well as poems reflecting on traditional topics such as the seasons, love, romance, growing old, childhood memories, there are also some which are quite fun and quirky.

L.A. Jones has brought us an enjoyable collection of verse in this volume, Honey & Pearls: A Unique Collection of 100 Word Poems. I enjoyed many of the efforts and did appreciate the author’s note at the end where Jones explained the selection policy for this volume and including the author’s son, Jamie, in the process. As with any collection, there are always some that stood out and resonated with me, more than others. These included – one poem which I could totally identify with; “Growing Old Disgracefully”, “Grandchildren”, which is a magical description of the joys of being a Grandparent and one I’m sure all Grandparents (like me) can identify with. “A Squirrel’s Song” was a whimsical look at a squirrel who has lost his nuts and the effect is has on him – this was one of Jamie’s selections and I did enjoy it (as he apparently did, also). “Stand and Deliver” tells the tale of a Highwayman and his appeal, even though he is a criminal. Finally, “Have You Ever” which literally asks the question, have you ever… done a wide variety of things like, seen a Ghost, loved and lost, cried and cried? There are many other poems worthy of mention but suffice it to say, I enjoyed this collection and can recommend it to poetry fans.

You can find Honey & Pearls here, along with the author's other works, on the Amazon Author Page:

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:

The malignant presidency: volume 1 by william robinson

27/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Malignant Presidency: Donald Trump’s White House Set to Satirical First Person Poetry is a whimsical and extremely irreverent collection of poems satirising the Donald J Trump Presidency, from the pen of William Robinson. Although very short the volume is jam-packed with derogatory and critical poetry covering the lead-up to and the first two years of Trump’s presidency. Most of the poems are written from the perspective of Trump, in the first person, although there are a smattering of others from the major players; e.g. Obama, Clinton, Comey and Mueller. The collection is perhaps as up to date (at the moment) as we can possibly expect with many of the uproar and angst of 2018 recorded in verse. Unapologetically a Trump derider, there is nothing in this collection that would excite or inspire his base, but it does “poke the borax” at the situation in a way that many politicians (from both sides of the aisle) probably wish they were able to do.

As a interested bystander, someone who is not an American, but who has been caught up in the daily “soap opera” (on television and in print) that emanates from this White House, I found The Malignant Presidency: Donald Trump’s White House Set to Satirical First Person Poetry to be a brave attempt to put a satirical spin on what is possibly a “clear and present danger” to the United States and indeed, the Free World. The volume is way too short and it seemed like just as I was getting into William Robinson’s style and rhythm, when sadly, it was all over. I note this is Volume 1, so I’m sure we can expect more from this author as the presidency moves inexorably into its second half and potentially into deep, dark and uncharted waters. I can’t help but feel the author was using this medium to allow himself to vent and release some of the intense frustrations that over half the population clearly feel at the direction of this president and the country as a whole. I share the author’s concerns and await the next two years with considerable trepidation. Robinson pulls no punches in this exposition, so if you are easily offended you may want to give it a miss, but seriously, I would urge all MAGA and Trump supporters to read and reflect on it. You may pause for a moment to question the man’s real motivations in this presidency and, if you do, the author has probably succeeded in his mission.

You can find The Malignant Presidency: Volume 1 by William Robinson, here on Amazon:

when daisies and thunderstorms collide by isabel scheck

21/10/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When Daisies and Thunderstorms Collide, is a short collection of free-poetry, from the pen of Isabel Scheck. It takes a look at unrequited love, through the eyes of the most underrated of flowers – the daisy. The poems, short and sharp, bring the poignancy and heartache of a young woman, longing for someone, who fails to even notice her. Using her metaphors of the thunderstorm and the daisy, you, as the reader, will run the full gamut of hope, love, rejection, hope again, pain, and finally rage, as the love that flows from the daisy, is not reciprocated by the thunderstorm. What the poet tries to evoke here is the idea that we can be both sides of the equation, both the delicate daisy and the roaring thunderstorm.

This is a quick read and will appeal to readers who like visual imagery and the linking of emotions to physical reactions. As with all collections, especially of poetry, a few favourites will always stand out and this was certainly the case, for me, with When Daisies and Thunderstorms Collide. Author Isobel Scheck managed to touch me with a number of verses. In “I Do Not Appreciate Your Frostiness”, I chuckled as the daisy berates the thunderstorm for ignoring her. I can almost feel the self-righteousness of the daisy. “How dare you ignore me?” Equally, “It’s Okay ‘Cause I’ll Learn To Love Myself”, the daisy comes to the realisation that the Thunderstorm not only was not going to notice her and fall for her, he never had and never would. Her only option was to love herself. I enjoyed the positive affirmation of this poem. Finally, “The Daisy Is Dead. Now I’m The Thunderstorm” is a wonderful exclamation of turning a negative into a positive. The thunderstorm’s ignoring of the daisy, will make the daisy turn into her very own thunderstorm. This is a good, gentle read for anyone who has experienced unrequited love or has been hurt by indifference and dismissal.

You can find, When Daisies and Thunderstorms Collide, by Isabel Scheck, here on Amazon:

into the hearth: poems volume 14 by wendy e. slater

13/8/2018

How often do we hear people say, "oh, well, I'm not really a poetry person". I know I've said that myself on occasions, but one thing I do like to do, as a reader and as a reviewer is dip my toes into genres and areas that I would not normally choose. To me, this is one of the greatest joys of reading; to move outside your comfort zone and read something that is unusual, challenging and different to you.

As an author, I've always had a quiet respect for poets and their ability to play with word and evoke feelings and reactions with minimal word usage. I often refer to poets as wordsmiths, simply because they are able to create such intense emotions by manipulating words in such a way as to touch us deeply. Certainly Wendy Slater has that ability. This collection of what are generally short and pithy poems, take us on a journey, a journey of self-discovery and a journey of questioning what it true and what is important in our lives. I will attest that some of her poems went over my head, somewhat, but I suspect what is required here is a thorough re-reading of the material to garner what is there, for me personally.

As with any collection of poems, there are some that stood out and gripped me instantly. Unlike most poetry collections, Slater's works are unnamed, just delineated by numbers, and often one poem or the essence of the idea would flow into the next. Three poems that really stood out for me, among many, were: 1/ Number 1419, a gentle reminder that we are all one, all the same under heaven and earth, regardless of who we are and that we can all reside in peace. 2/ Number 1426, a poem that took me on a journey through life and that described for me perfectly the pitfalls and pleasures to be discovered along the way, as we finally come to the realisation of life's purpose. 3/ Also, number 1465, which although short spoke of the family and the importance of being together.

This is a selection of poetry that flows, with an unending rhythm that will speak something different to each person that reads it and even something different each time you read it, again. I suspect this is a book that is worth going back time and time again to browse as you will get something new and meaningful from it, each time.

You can check out Into the Hearth along with the rest of Wendy E. Slater's works here on her Amazon page:

the whispered tales of graves grove by a selection of authors

8/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove is an anthology of dark and scary short –stories with a difference. When the creators of this anthology called for submissions, they stipulated that all stories must revolve around the mythical town of Graves Grove, a small town in the wilds of British Columbia, Canada. The town was unique in many ways, in that it appeared to be a nexus or a meeting place for all sorts of paranormal activity, be it vampires, fairies, shape-shifters, ghosts and demons. The town itself has a collection of odd-ball and off-beat characters, but nothing defines Graves Grove as much as 1/ The bronze statue of the town’s founder (which somehow seems to changes its clothes on a daily basis. 2/ A giant sycamore tree that dominates the town park and is the centre of many of the rumours and stories about Graves Grove and 3/ A history of missing children, on a regular basis spanning over a hundred years. All this makes for an intriguing set of stories from a number of authors, including: J.S. Bailey, E.D.E. Bell, Mark Andersen, Matthew Howe, Travis Perry and Dakota Caldwell, plus many more.

The concept of writing a series of short-stories, across time, centred on one small town is an interesting one and one that did work. With many of the principal, weird characters and situations already set in place by the editors, it allowed the authors free license to stretch their imaginations and indeed that is exactly what they did. The Sycamore Tree, which dominated the premise was a central theme in almost all the stories, with the authors coming up with many and varied ideas as to what the tree was capable of, what it harboured beneath its roots and what weird and wonderful creatures actually lived or inhabited the tree. I found the variety of the writing to be especially refreshing and, in actual fact many similar themes appeared in different stories from different authors. As with any anthology, some stories stuck in my mind and resonated more with me, than others. Three particular favourites of mine were: Where’s Matheson Lam by S.R. Betler, Fairy Troubled by Catherine Bonham and Magick by D. M. Kilgore. If you want something different in a short story anthology, then The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove may well be right up your alley.

You can pop on over to Amazon and check out The Whispered Tales of Graves Grove, here:

the flowers of penruddock: a romance collection by ronnda eileen henry

3/3/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Flowers of Penruddock: A Romance Collection from Ronnda Eileen Henry is a collection of seven substantial novellas that all focus on the mythical land of Penruddock, which Henry has created and expanded on over time. The novellas all take place over different periods of Penruddock’s history; a history, it seems that is measured by before and after the rule of Good King Adelard. King Adelard was the last King to rule over a unified and united Penruddock. Upon his death, the island nation was divided up into six kingdoms, each to be ruled by one of his six sons. The story of Good King Adelard and what led to his decision to split his kingdom is told in the fourth novella: Hyacinth – Love Royal and True and is in itself fascinating. Each of the seven novellas is named after the lead female character in the story, also being the name of a flower. So, we have Poppy, Rose, Violet, Hyacinth and more. As a bonus, at the end is a story written by the author titled: Cousins One and All, a Jane Austen fan fiction story.

I loved this wonderful collection of simple love stories. There is nothing pretentious about Ronnda Eileen Henry’s writing and in The Flowers of Penruddock: A Romance Collection, she gives us simple, sweet and uplifting love stories about real characters. I particularly liked that age, occupation and social status had no bearing in the character’s choices of who they fell in love with. Many of the stories are centred around nobility and royalty, where “love matches” are often the last consideration when arranging a marriage. More important are improving one’s status or adding a title to one’s family name. Henry’s characters rise above these material issues and true love is found, pursued and defended stoutly. Because all the stories revolve around the Island of Penruddock, albeit at different times in history, I always felt an affinity with the location of each new story. This is a long collection of stories, but one that can be delved into and read at one’s leisure. Each story stands alone and I can highly recommend this to anyone who loves, good, clean, but exciting romantic adventure. My favourite stories? – Marigold: Love in Two Acts, closely followed by Peony: Forged in Love, but truth be told, I enjoyed them all immensely.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Ronnda Eileen Henry's The Flowers of Penruddock as well as the rest of her extensive portfolio:

encore by margaret lynette sharp

21/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Encore from Australian author Margaret Lynette Sharp is a collection of twenty-four short stories built around the themes of love, betrayal, loss and redemption. From sixteen year old Annie, in Annie’s Story that details her attraction to and obsession with her fantasy about Keiran, to middle-aged Caroline writing to her sister in Letters to Nanette to explain she has finally found love and is prepared to take a risk to explore the possibilities, Sharp covers the full gamut of relationships both familial and romantic. One of the commonest themes running through these short stories is that of betrayal and how we all handle such things differently. Do we still pine for our lost love and how hard is it to commit to someone when that flame lurks in the background? In A Date to Remember Gary is talked into to taking the wallflower sister of his mate, out on a date. Violet proves to be more than just a wallflower as she opens up and blooms on the date, way beyond Gary’s expectations.

The volume of stories makes this book easy to read as each story can be read in one quick sitting. The topics are issues that we all face and have to deal with on a regular basis. I found Encore a gentle, satisfying read and I’m impressed with Margaret Lynette Sharp’s approach to the conclusion of each tale. There are no unexpected twists or turns, just a subtle, telling thought or message for the reader to take on board. With this many stories, I’m sure each reader will find a few favourites. For me, there were two stories that stood out and impressed me the most. A Date to Remember makes us realise that the popular, pretty, social butterflies are not always the best choices for our long-term relationships. We should look deeper, beyond the surface superficiality and take the time to explore the less adept at socialising and watch them develop and bloom into the beautiful people they always were. The Brave Do Conquer reminds us to not settle for mediocrity, but to follow our bliss and chase our dreams. All in all, a satisfying, little collection of short stories.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Encore and the rest of Margaret Lynette Sharp's extensive collection of works.

six tales of christmas by jenny twist

21/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Six Tales of Christmas by Jenny Twist is a collection of short stories, as the title suggests themed around Christmas. Uncle Albert’s Christmas explores the dilemma faced by many elderly people who can feel manipulated by their relatives, especially after their spouse has passed, when in reality all they want to do is be left alone with their memories, or pursue their own adventures. In, An Extraordinary Coincidence, Twist introduces us to a modern-day Joseph and Mary who are jokingly contemplating the wisdom of calling their soon to be born son; Jesus. Home for Christmas examines the plight of the elderly who are often forced into retirement homes against their will by relatives who just want them out of sight and out of mind, but, of course, assure them it is for their “own good”. Jamey and the Alien goes to the other end of the spectrum and looks at a “Christmas Miracle” through the eyes of a little boy whose father is terminally ill. Two more stories and a bonus ghost story, at the end, round out this lovely collection.

As with any collection or anthology, as a reader, we have our favourites, but I can honestly say, with perhaps the exception of An Extraordinary Coincidence, I found all of the stories, in their own way to be beautiful, moving and on message. Each story carried a strong homily about love and about family and Jenny Twist certainly got her points across in these Six Tales of Christmas. If I had to pick a couple of favourites, I would probably plump for Marion and Jamey and the Alien. The later story, with its “Christmas Miracle” was heart-warming and from a child’s perspective, very realistic. I will admit to not figuring out until right at the end that the “chewmer” eating Jamie’s father’s brain was of course a tumour. Marion was just beautiful. It was so easy to identify with the old man, who felt the loss of his beloved Marion more on occasions such as Christmas. It was just a sweet, wonderful, little tale. As I said, all these stories were fantastic and I can highly recommend this collection as a must read at Christmas (to put you in the right spirit) and any other time of the year that you need uplifting. Wonderful, Jenny Twist.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Six Tales of Christmas, plus the rest of Jenny Twist's extensive and impressive portfolio.

secrets of my heart by imania margria

28/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Secrets of My Heart by Imania Margria is a collection of poems and short prose that deals with the innermost thoughts and feelings of our hearts. As such, it is a deeply personal and insightful view into the heart of the author. The prose and poems that makes up this book are short and sharp, but all of it is extremely heartfelt and touching. As well as the works in English, there are also a significant number of works in other languages, including Italian and perhaps Spanish. The author has thoughtfully given the reader the full translation of the work following the non-English version. As the title suggests the works focus on secrets that we keep deep inside ourselves and rarely, if ever, let anyone see. The author’s pretext is to inspire others to share their own secrets of their own hearts.

I think, as we progress as readers we tend to focus almost exclusively on long prose and novels, perhaps feeling there is more meat in those longer novels. What Secrets of My Heart reminds me is that it does us no harm to revisit the short, sharp, poems and prose that was often where we, as writers especially, began. Poets, in general have suffered over the years from the perception that their work was not fulfilling for readers. I think Imania Margrina, for me, refutes that belief. The words here are so powerful and the emotions so compelling that it is hard not to get caught up in the pain and angst the author clearly had suffered and was expressing – her deepest held desires and fears were boldly displayed for the reader to feel also. I expect this book was quite cathartic for the author and that is why she is challenging all of us to consider exploring and expressing our own deepest desires, fears and secrets of our heart. A bonus in this work was a significant glimpse of part of Margrina’s upcoming romance novel, Eyes, which looks appealing. This work is not pretentious in any way, just raw, untamed emotion on paper. Well worth a break from the long novels to read and savour.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Secrets of My Heart by Imania Margria

the golden helm: more tales from the edge of sleep by victoria randall

10/1/2018

Short Stories are often the inspiration for novels and in The Golden Helm: More Tales From the Edge of Sleep, Victoria Randall has brought us an eclectic collection of tales built around sleep and dreaming. This is the theme that links the stories together, but the stories themselves are as wide and as varied as the imagination. Randall brings us tales as diverse as a journey back to the time of Christ in a time machine to offer Mary, Mother of Jesus, a parenting choice, in "Parenthood by Choice Inc. Invests in a Time Machine, through to a story of Aliens visiting the local library looking for information on Earth's defence systems, in Incident in the Library. In total the author has brought us twelve tales from The Realms on the Edge of Sleep, some long, some short, but all of them satisfying.

I think, as a reader, it is too easy to get caught up in the idea of reading full-length novels and it is wonderful, from time to time, to take a break and read some short stories, especially ones as well written as these in The Golden Helm: More Tales From the Edge of Sleep. As in any collection or anthology, there are some stories that spoke to me and warmed my heart more than others, but I can say each of them in this wonderful collection have something interesting and worthy of being said. My personal favourites are a little difficult to choose, but I was definitely taken by The Unicorn in the Garden, which I found to be extremely descriptively evocative and beautiful in its simplicity. Equally, the title story, The Golden Helm was sweet and rewarding. This whole collection is well worth the read and as I haven't read Victoria Randall before, I am sure I will be in the future. I must investigate her earlier Tales From the Edge of Sleep. An excellent collection of stories to be kept by the bedside for reading and rereading.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out The Golden Helm and indeed Victoria Randall's full portfolio of offerings.

soul searching by shaheen darr

24/3/2017

You know, there are occasions in life when your preconceptions and prejudices are put to the test and you are forced to concede defeat and accept you were wrong.
Although I dabbled a bit in poetry when I was young (didn't all angst-ridden, young men?) over the years I've come to regard poetry with a bit of disdain and dare I say it, even considered poets to be nothing more than writers who couldn't write decent prose. The poetry I have read, either voluntarily, or forced to have read through study, has usually reinforced my judgment of this form of writing.
And, then along comes Shaheen Darr, with her collection of poems entitled Soul Searching and all my previous slants against poetry and poets are blasted out of the water.
This poet's ability to seek the fundamental aspects of many of life's great questions, through her words is frankly awe-inspiring.
When I first sat down to read this book, I gritted myself for a turgid stroll through nonsensical combinations of words that were somehow supposed to show the author's superior intellect and grasp of a situation. I couldn't have been further from the truth.
Darr's understanding and ability to express our deepest feelings and our deepest fears, in beautiful, rhythmical, poetic phrasing is second to none that I've read before.
I literally flew through the book, not because I was skimming or not enjoying the poems, but because each poem led me merrily on to the next and I just didn't want to stop the pleasure of the read.
Darr is a wordsmith extraordinaire, but more than that, she has a fundamental grasp of life, its problems and its complexities.
I never thought I would be saying this, but Soul Searching is one of the best books I have read this year, or perhaps, even the last few years.
I doff my hat to the author and humbly declare I am a poetry convert. Well, a convert to Shaheen Darr's poetry anyway.
No question, this time, five massive stars for this wonderful work.

You really should pop on over to Amazon and check out what this incredible poet has to offer. You certainly won't regret it.

erotic shivers by m.s. tarot

23/9/2016

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

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

unraveled by c jai ferry

23/8/2016

Okay, right from the get go I should explain that a book of flash fiction and very short stories are as far out of my reading comfort zone as this reviewer ever gets. In the normal course of events, this isn't something I would have picked up off the shelf and considered reading. It does just go to show how narrow-focused, we readers can sometimes become. When I was offered Unraveled by C Jai Ferry to read, I thought; "hey what have I got to lose? I'll read anything."
Having finished the book, I was able to sit back and nod my head sagely. Yep, I get flash fiction now. I understand what can be achieved in just a few hundred words. There is a multitude of tiny stories in this book and each of them, without fail, will raise at least one thought, one idea or one conclusion. Some of the stories are very dark and very sinister, or equally, that could be just my interpretation of them, my read. This is why I feel the author deserves so much credit for this book. Her flash fiction makes her readers think and put their own interpretations on what she has written. I can now absolutely see how flash fiction can be used by authors to flesh out an idea for a longer novella or novel. There were a number of stories, where I thought; "aha, I could make a great novel out of that premise.
In any collection of stories, there will always be favorites, but I can honestly say I did get something out of them all, even the shortest ones. My favorite story, however, was one of the longer ones; Story 19, called Control. The unspoken evil in that story gripped me intensely. There were others that equally amused or pulled at me, including stories 5 & 6, but as I said there is definitely something to be gained from every story in this amazing, little book.
If you've never tried reading flash fiction before you won't find a better book than Unraveled to dip your toes into the art. Maybe it's because it's the first of the type that I've read, or maybe just because it's so damn good, this reviewer has no qualms at all about giving Unraveled the full five stars. Good Job C Jai Ferry.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out what else C Jai Ferry has on offer. I know I will be.

mother's day magic: with love by 12 different authors

13/3/2016

Mother's Day Magic: with Love rather caught me by surprise. I wasn't sure I would enjoy this anthology of relationships and love, all centered around the magical day that is Mother's Day - How surprised was I? This is a superb collection of stories by a number of talented authors. Of extra pleasure to me was the revelation that part of the profits from this collection would be donated to MS research.

Mother's Day Magic: With Love is a collection of twelve individual short stories and/or novellas, by twelve separate writers, of whom, eleven I think, are female. Every single one of the stories had something special about them and I wouldn't be overstating things to say that I enjoyed each and every one of them.

As always though there were some stories that touched me more than others. The first of these was An English Rose by Allyson R Abbott. I absolutely adored this story of a quintessential 85-year-old English woman who realizes before it is too late that maybe there is life left in the old girl yet. Maybe it's my colonial background, but the language and situations in this story absolutely resonated with me. I adored it.

Another story that captured my attention and my admiration for its clever writing was The Day Before Eclosion by Adrienne Ruvalcaba. I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, but I found the metaphor the writer used was not only perfectly appropriate to the situation, it was moving in the extreme. This was a wonderful story.

The final story I want to mention that truly captured me was Vision of the Heart by Mary Crawford. This story was touching and moving as we followed the struggle of a once proud nurse who has had to give up her career due to the onset of blindness through macular degeneration. The story is redolent with emotion and understanding as we watch her journey of coming to terms with her blindness and the relationship with her children and husband. I absolutely loved this story, especially the Nursing College Reunion section; that revealed so much of the human condition.

I really could go on and on about these stories. Twelve wonderful stories and not a single dud among them. It is rare that you read a compilation where every story connects and excites you - Mother's Day Magic is such a compilation. I would highly recommend this to all readers; it is five stars plus all the way. Excellent!

You can find this superb book at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1P6sKNq

fisher and the bears: the collected adventures by T.E. Hodden

16/2/2016

I have heard it said that Hodden's Fisher and the Bear stories are an acquired taste and I think I have to agree with that sentiment. They are a taste I have acquired, though, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read three of the stories in this Collected Adventures anthology.

For those of you not in the know, Fisher is Fisher King a young man who lives in a seaside town called Eternity. Long ago, one of Fisher's forebears was cursed and the curse has carried down to Fisher. His job, on earth, is to keep supernatural forces at bay, be they demons, ghosts, witches, trolls, or whatever. He uses magic to send these creatures back where they invariably belong; The Other Side.

Fisher is not alone in his role, however, he is helped by o coterie of "teddy bears", who to all intents and purposes are just little people. They are, without a doubt, the stars of these stories and each has a unique and often hilarious personality. There is Tiger, Edison and my personal favorite, Ginger. Ginger's specialty is anything to do with fire. He just loves using a blowtorch or whatever else is handy to deal with those pesky demons. There is even a love interest of sorts, for Fisher, but in line with the tone of these tales, it is no normal love affair.

These are three full-length adventures and will give you a full almost 600 pages of reading. The tales do follow on one from the next, so it is best to read them in chronological order, but having said that, not absolutely necessary.

I had read one Hodden bear story prior to this and I have to say I am now smitten with the cute, furry, little fellow. I know you will enjoy this book if you like a quirky, black humour with a bit of old-fashioned adventure and fun. An excellent read. Well worth the four stars I gave it. With an editing tidy up it would be worth five.

You can check out all of Tom Hodden's work here: http://amzn.to/211SROk

tales of falling: two tales of dangerous love by t.e. hodden

9/2/2016

The author Hodden states in his introduction that the two stories in this book were written as a challenge to him, to write something outside of his normal genre - to write of those falling in love. I think he has done exceptionally well to capture the passion and the pain of love.

I did find it interesting, though, certainly in the second story that he still managed to weave the presence of the supernatural into the story, his true genre.

Both stories were very interesting concepts and I enjoyed them equally. In the first story we are faced with a girl, who for whatever reasons has sought her love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Now wanted, by numerous bad people, as a pawn in their schemes, to use as blackmail or bait, she finds herself being protected by some nameless Government organization. I don't want to give the plot away, but some of the best interaction occurs between her and one of the agents whose job it is to protect her.

The second story concerns a simple policeman who falls in love with a young girl and then has to try and unravel and assist her to escape from the troubles of her past.

I would not try to pick my favorite from the two tales. Both were interesting and captivating in their own right. A good effort for Hodden, in a genre he says he is not familiar with. Four stars!

You can check out all of Hodden's work here: http://amzn.to/20OGpRT

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