Category: Fantasy - GRANT LEISHMAN

jungle beauty goddess - book 3 - dirty ball by cassandra george sturges

4/12/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jungle Beauty Goddess – Book 3 – Dirty Ball is a continuation of the saga of the seven sisters, daughters of the creator of the Universe, who are tasked with creating and nurturing a blue planet in the far-flung reaches of the Universe – Earth. Author Cassandra George Sturges has created a cast of characters that seek to give a different slant on the creation of the Universe, the galaxies, the planets, and the sentient beings on them. In Dirty Ball we follow the machinations of the sister Afar, who after creating the first higher order being on earth – Mada, falls hopelessly in love with her creation, in direct contravention of the Sister’s oaths and their father’s rules. When Mada’s future mate comes into being, a woman called Sumeria, Afar’s jealousy knows no bounds. Humanity’s future is hanging by a thread and controlled by a Goddess whose sanity and good judgement must be severely questioned. What ensues is a complex tale that seeks, in some way, to explain both the human condition and the current state of our planet.

Despite having not read the first book in this series, I had read the second and although excited by the premise and carried away by some of the author’s clever imagery, I was left with the feeling that still more could be achieved in this concept. In Jungle Beauty Goddess – Book 3 – Dirty Ball, author Cassandra George Sturges does exactly that – moves the story to a new, exciting level. One of the true joys of being a professional reviewer is watching an author grow and mature over time and in this tale, I was duly rewarded. I felt the mixture of myths, fantasies and original thought achieved a new imagination high and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The tale is not finished, though and I do look for more excitement in the future. What stood out for me the most in this book was the uncanny corollaries the author was able to draw between her fantastical story and the current human and earth condition. I loved the spiritual side of the story and the deep thought that clearly went into some of the passages. The passionate, sex scenes, although few, were beautifully handled and never crossed over that line of decency, into crudity. All in all, this was an excellent read and one I can highly recommend. I now await book four, with bated breath.

You can find Jungle Beauty Goddess - Book 3 - Dirty Ball, here on Cassandra George Sturges' Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio.

jungle beauty goddess - aquatic ball - book #2 by cassandra george sturges

20/11/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grsnt Leishman

Jungle Beauty Goddesses – Aquatic Ball – Book 2 by Cassandra George Sturges is a series of short novellas that explores the possible origins of the Universe, through an eternal and immortal family of planet-makers and developers. The Goddesses, all seven of them, are the daughters of the maker of the Universe and are tasked with developing and creating life on planet earth, which they have done but there is some concern at the direction that humanity has taken with its exploitation and potential destruction of their beautiful creation. The sisters were unfortunately captured by the military and subjected to various experiments, with one of the sisters being raped and impregnated by a human and one of them being killed. In this iteration of the tale, earth is rapidly turning into a water world with the land masses being buried and swallowed by the seas. When the Goddesses attempt to find out what is happening, they run into an advanced culture of undersea mer-people who are adamant that they should be the rightful inheritors of the planet and not humanity, who are rapidly disappearing as the land submerges.

This book is one that takes you a little by surprise. It is much more than the gentle fairy tale that it initially appeared to be. Jungle Beauty Goddesses – Aquatic Ball – Book 2 takes the reader on a thoughtful journey through man’s inhumanity to man and his total disregard for the planet and the creatures that share it with him. Author Cassandra George Sturges does an excellent job of poking the borax at us, as people and our attitudes to the world we have been given stewardship over. Although short, this story can be read as a stand-alone tale, as the author does well in giving us broad hints as to the past and what has happened previously, allowing the reader to enjoy the narrative of the meeting with and exploration of the mer-people. The sisters (the Jungle Beauty Goddesses) are undoubtedly the stars of the show and it was interesting to see their characters develop over the short span of the book. I hadn’t read Book 1, but as I said that didn’t matter and if the purpose of the author was to spur me to read Book 3 (as it should be) there is enough of interest in this story to consider doing so. What I particularly liked was the (intentional?) links to “new-age” thought and the Law of Attraction. This vibrated well with me, as a believer in the Universe and universal thought. This book has much more depth than a casual glance would suggest and for that reason I can recommend it as an interesting and thought-provoking read.

You can find Jungle Beauty Goddesses - Aquatic Ball - Book 2, here on Amazon:

heir of lies (black dawn series #1) by Mallory mccartney

17/11/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Heir of Lies by Mallory McCartney is very much an epic fantasy in the classical mould, with strange, weird and wonderful creatures along with magic, time-travel and a change in dimensions. “The Academy” was the dream of a King and Queen who were forced to marry in an alliance but grew to love and respect each other deeply. The Academy is where young men and women, those with special abilities, powers and magical skills, who were feared and mistrusted, even shunned by the general population were able to grow, mature and nurture those skills for the good of the land, as a whole. Four young, powerful and influential characters would form the basis of what would happen in the future. Emory; daughter of the rulers and heir apparent to the crown was surrounded by her three best friends, Brokk, a shapeshifter, Adair, the son of the King and Queen’s two best friends and seconds in command, and Memphis. All three boys adored and loved Emory but each, it seemed was unable to quite break out of the “best friend” zone with the young princess. What none of them realise is that the Academy was built on lies and half-truths. Much more was going on than either of the four was aware of and the future held horror, terror and pain for all four as they sought to protect the dream of the Academy in a world gone mad with lust and the quest for power.

This book, Heir of Lies, really does fulfill all the requirements of an epic fantasy and if you love the exploration of weird and wild worlds ruled my magic and darkness, this is an absolute must read for you. The author, Mallory McCartney has created story arcs that are complicated and varied ensuring a reader never loses excitement in the tale, however that is not done at the expense of great characterization. The four main characters are all beautifully drawn and exquisitely developed as each undergoes a transformation as they come to maturity and discover their true purposes in life, always with that overarching desire and lust for the beautiful princess Emory. By telling the story through these four different character’s perspectives, each chapter reveals something new and different about the true essence of the particular character. The morality of the story is highlighted as a simple choice between good and evil as well as the dangers that lusting for power can have over people that you thought were good, were decent and true friends. I particularly enjoyed the convoluted and conflicting feelings Emory had for Adair, Brokk and Memphis – this gave the narrative a real romantic edge. The battle scenes and individual fights are many and varied, always guaranteed to keep an action lover on the edge of his/her seat. This is an exceptionally well-written book and one I can highly recommend in this genre, or indeed the Young Adult genre.

You can find Heir of Lies (Black Dawn Series Book #1) by Mallory McCartney, here on her Amazon page:

the devil and dayna dalton (book 9) A bulwark anthology by brit lunden

26/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Devil and Dayna Dalton (Book 9) A Bulwark Anthology is a short, novella from the pen of author Brit Lunden. Dayna Dalton is known as what we might colloquially call, “trailer trash”. She grew up in Bulwark, Georgia and like her mother had gained an unfair (in her case) reputation as the town slut. From an early age, Dayna had designs on the gorgeous Clay Finnes but all through High School, Clay seemed impervious to her charms, placing her fairly and squarely in the “friend zone” or the “sister zone”. Unable to achieve her ambitions of a life with Clay, Dayna managed to escape the incestuous small-town atmosphere of Bulwark and attend Georgetown University, on a full scholarship, where she studied journalism. Just as Dayna’s career was beginning to take off, she loyally returned to Bulwark to take care of her mother who suffered a cancer scare. Now a reporter on the local Bulwark newspaper, she is still drawn to Clay Finnes, now the town’s sheriff but also now married, with a child. Realising she can never have Clay she runs through a coterie of men, never quite finding the love and care she craves, until… strange things begin to happen in Bulwark.

As a reader, I’m not a big fan of novellas, as I like the characters to develop and grow over the length of as novel, however, for The Devil and Dayna Dalton (Book 9) A Bulwark Anthology, I’m prepared to make an exception. Author Brit Lunden has given us a complex character in Dayna Dalton who, having run the gamut of the worst in relationships is ready, willing and able to give herself utterly and totally to the man who steals her heart… and what a man he was! The paranormal feel to the novella coupled with the author’s vivid and breathtaking description of the people and the environment of Bulwark was a true bonus to this story. The story flows and yes, I was a little annoyed when it ended so quickly but rather than dwell on that, I’d just say Lunden has given me a thirst and desire to read more of her work and indeed more about this fascinating female lead she has created. I loved the way she so accurately portrayed the dynamic between the public and private persona of Dayna Dalton. Written off, virtually from the day she was born, Dayna has the spirit and the intelligence to rise above people’s perceptions of who she is and most importantly, not care what people think of her. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I can highly recommend, especially if you love strong, female, leads, as I do and the paranormal touch doesn’t hurt at all.

You can find the Devil and Dayna Dalton, here on Brit Lunden's Amazon page:

the kalis experiments: tides book one by r.a. fisher

22/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Kalis Experiments: Tides Book One by R.A. Fisher is the beginning of a fantasy adventure in a world created by the author. Syrina, is a Kalis. Kalis’ are special creatures that are trained almost since birth to be faster, deadlier and more magical than the general population of the Author’s world. Like all of the Kalis, Syrina is at the beck and call of her master, one of the fifteen high merchants who run everything in their world and have done so, with the Kalis’ help for over a thousand years. She is often used for doing her master’s “dirty work” and keeping miscreants in line. Kalis are the stuff of legends and nobody has ever seen one and lived to tell the tale. When her master sends her on a new mission, she begins to realise that something is different and that there is some secret out there relating to their history that she is about to discover. After visiting the distant city of Fom in search of answers, she discovers a secret machine from antiquity which may be capable of destroying the world, all over again, as had happened before in the “Time of Ashes”. Will Syrina be able to unravel all the mysteries before it is too late?

In The Kalis Experiments: Tides Book One, fans of epic fantasy will find new worlds, new creatures and new technologies to excite and entertain them. I did, however, find author R.A. Fisher’s world building to be a little underwhelming, especially for what is clearly the beginning of a new, epic fantasy series. It takes some time to actually come to grips with the characters and where they fit into this world that that author has created. The idea of the Kalis and her unique skills was interesting and I always like a good, strong, female lead, which Syrina certainly was. Also intriguing, was the idea that these fifteen high merchants, who generally lurk in the shadows, in their disguises, were, in fact, just ordinary people who reverted to their normal personas during the day. This, of course, led to some interesting considerations as to who Syrina’s master might actually be. There was plenty of action and lots of interesting characters. I felt there were enough interesting questions, situations and preponderances that arose during the first book to give plenty of fodder and ammunition for further books in the series. If I was to make one recommendation to the author, should he/she be considering book two in this series, it would be a map of the world created and a bit more in-depth narrative on the political and social structure of the various locales. For example, more information about the church and its power over the populace would have been useful. All in all, though, a good, solid fantasy read here.

You can find The Kalis Experiments: Tides Book One, here on R.A. Fisher's Amazon page:

el coronel: book two of the medium series by jerry gundersheimer

14/8/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

El Coronel: Book Two of the Medium Series takes us inside the old conspiracy theory that perhaps the Third Reich isn’t truly over and somewhere in South America lurks the beginnings of a new atrocity ready to be foisted upon the world in the form of the Fourth Reich. Author Jerry Gundersheimer continues the story of medium Brody Whittaker and his lovely daughter Abby. Abby has been kidnapped by a ruthless child-trafficking ring spearheaded by one of Dr Mengele’s closest allies and partners from the horrific experiences that were the death camp of Auschwitz. Nonagenarian, Irving Crossman knows all about Auschwitz – he lived it and he was one of the few survivors, along with his recently departed wife, Marie. Whether motivated by survivor guilt or not, Irv had spent his life tracking down and capturing Nazi war criminals. When it becomes apparent that it is probably the evil, Ernst Claussen (El Coronel) who has kidnapped his darling Abby, Brody and Irv’s grandson Aaron, an Israeli special forces commando set out to recover Abby, capture Claussen and destroy the burgeoning Fourth Reich but they will face strong opposition and some very unexpected assistance along the way.

El Coronel: Book Two of the Medium Series is very much like a rampaging, “boy’s own” spy novel. Author Jerry Gundersheimer takes the reader on a non-stop adventure ride that is packed with thrills and spills. At times, the narrative reads like a James Bond movie and some of the “stunts” perhaps stretch the bounds of probability but, as a satisfying adventure read, this story cannot be faulted. The two main characters, Brody and Abby are both delightfully drawn and I was especially pleased that Brody, despite the obvious advantages his “gift” of seeing spirits and communicating with them, gives him, is still a humble man, fraught with his own weaknesses and failures. I particularly enjoyed the childish naivete of the Abby character as she began to come to terms with the realization that she had inherited her father’s abilities and perhaps even more than him. Clearly this is a long-term series built around these characters and this is book number two in the series. I haven’t read book one and it is in no way necessary to do so before reading this – it stands alone as its own stunning adventure story. The greatest compliment I, as a reviewer, can pay to an author is to say that reading his work has inspired me to read the first book in the series and to look forward to the next adventure of these characters. I can highly recommend this read, especially for all the action junkies out there – this story has action, in spade.

You can find El Coronel: Book Two of the Medium Series, by Jerry Gundersheimer, here on Amazon.

demons at war: urban fantasy by p. a. minyard

8/8/2019

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Demons at War: Urban Fantasy by P.A. Minyard brings us a demon fantasy adventure with a twist. Set during the American Civil War, Daniel Parker is a Union Major, intimately involved in many of the battles taking place that defined that war. When Daniel comes face to face with a real, live, demon and is murdered at the battle of Antietam, by the demon, he finds himself in a unique situation. Rather than crossing over to the afterlife, Daniel is met by a guardian Angel, Bernard, who offers him an opportunity to return to normal life on Earth, as a member of the “Beloved” brotherhood and to do good for the Father by finding and eliminating demons on earth, who are way more prevalent than most of us would believe. Back home, Daniel’s parents, brother Jonathan and sister Beth, patiently await their dear Daniel’s return, always hoping he will survive this horrible conflict. So begins a journey that will take the two brothers through the hell of fighting demons, including the most powerful of them all, an evil, sadistic demon by the name of Benedict.

Demons at War: Urban Fantasy was something a little different, for me, from the usual demon fodder. By relocating the story back during the American Civil War, author P.A. Minyard gave the story some point of difference. I particularly enjoyed the interaction between the characters, especially Beth and her parents as they tried to come to terms, as so many families had to at that time, with the prospect of losing their son to this horrific war and eventually the possibility that they could lose both their sons. The relationships between Duffy and Beth, as well as that between Jonathan and Mattie rang true to the period and the culture of manners that existed in the 1860’s between the sexes. I also particularly enjoyed the emotions and pain felt by the Angel, Bernard over the grief he was causing to his charges and their family. That certainly softened the violent fight scenes with demons, which gave the story some real balance. One thing that I struggled with was the lack of indication when the POV (Point of View) and scene changed from one character to another. These sudden scene changes would often leave me temporarily confused. All in all, though, this is a very readable, demon fantasy story and with a few minor tweaks could be even better. I did enjoy the read and am tempted to read more in this series.

Demons at War by P.A. Minyard is not available yet on Amazon, as I write this but you can check out the rest of the author's portfolio on P A. Minyard's author page:

necessarily evil: prophecy (divine sitcom book 1) by shad nemo freud

8/7/2019

Reviewed For Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

Necessarily Evil: Prophecy (Divine Sitcom Book 1) is, “something completely different”, from the pen of Shad Nemo Freud. A self-confessed love of Monty Python, the author’s creativity and genius is clear for all to see throughout this amazing book that had this reader chuckling and grimacing all at the same time. As a reviewer, when an author tells me he is influenced by Python (especially an American author) I am wont to roll my eyes and shrug my shoulders – really? Someone from America, gets Python? Well, having read Shad Nemo Freud’s journey in Necessarily Evil: Prophecy, I can say – “well, it appears this American does get Python!” With a doff of the cap to Python and to The Hitchhiker’s Guide, Freud takes us on a surrealistic journey through the realms of demons, Gods, Devils, and all things evil but he does it in the best possible way.
Carl Beaumont, a half-Orc is an Inquisitor in the prevailing church on Earth, the Satanic Church and when he is sent on a mission by the Pope to save the world from a Prophesy that was written some two-millennium earlier, he quickly realizes this will be one of his most dangerous and difficult missions. He gathers around him a team of absolute misfits who bring a delightful diversity and comedy to the story. Their task is to gather the necessary items; a gun capable of killing a God, divine blood money to pay off a debt, as well as travelling through time to get the blessing of a dead God and they have just six months to accomplish this. Arrayed against them will be a plethora of dangerous and disgusting foes, ranging from demons of the Abyss, a Demon Prince who hates Carl with a passion, never mind the endless Nazi Zombies in the temple, all bent on the destruction of Carl and his merry men (and women).
Despite the incredible action, the magical firefights and the realm stretching magic, which is frequent and exciting, this story is not really about the “battles”, it is about the characters, the oddball team that Carl has put together to achieve this goal. Each of them has been imbued with a personality that lends itself to hating and loving them at the same time. Carl, with his arrogance, his chain-smoking, his drinking too much and his anger is beautifully counterweighted by his undying devotion to his wife and daughter, not to mention his love and loyalty to his fellow warriors. What becomes quickly apparent is that these characters, despite being as different, in as many ways as possible, is their unswerving devotion and loyalty to each other. For me, the character development was the absolute highlight of the story and was perhaps best exemplified in the reactions to the death of one of the main characters in Carl’s team.
This whole story was like a breath of fresh air to this reader. As I stated at the beginning, “something completely different” and something I’d been waiting for, for a long time. I loved the sardonic, dark, essentially British, humour and I loved the interplay between the characters which was natural and unforced despite the differences in their genetics and backgrounds. If I had one complaint about Necessarily Evil: Prophecy (Divine Sitcom: Book 1) it would be that Shad Nemo Freud (you’ve gotta love that name – right?) chose to end the story on a cliffhanger of sorts. That means I now have to read the next book in the series to find out what happens – but I can assure you that will be no stretch or punishment at all. I can rank this book as one of the best I’ve read this year.

You can find Necessarily Evil: Prophecy (Divine Sitcom: Book 1) by Shad Nemo Freud, here on Amazon:

primeval origins: rise of serpents by b a vonsik

3/7/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents is the third book in the Primeval Origins series from Author B A Vonsik, which ask the burning question; “what if all our legends and myths about man’s creation are true?” Rise of Serpents takes us from the near future, 2030’s, when man is not only experimenting with genetic enhancement but is also openly embracing the idea of cybernetics, also known as transhumanism, back to the origins of humanity when Gods and Ancients strode the world with their power and domination over all living things. Two men Rogaan, the half-Tellen, searching for his father who is held captive and Aren, the Evendiir are thrown together as allies, on a mission that perhaps neither of them fully understands nor grasps the enormity of the foes they will face. Both of them are more powerful than they realise and they will need to be as they come face to face with some of the most powerful beings and creatures of these ancient times. They must face and defeat those that seek what they possess, including the most feared of them all, the one who calls himself The Vassal. The legendary Shunned, Luntanus Alum is holding Rogaan’s father prisoner and it will take all of the pair’s Agni magic to find a way forward.

This story is definitely one for the reader’s who seek true epic fantasy. Author B A Vonsik has created, in Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents, a world in which all of our most fantastical nightmares and legends about the past and the origins of humanity have come true. Evil Gods and powerful, magical rulers hold sway over a cowering populace. Simply put, this is the eternal battle of Good vs Evil played out on an epic stage across epochs. I haven’t read the first two volumes and, in many ways, I wish I had as I felt overwhelmed and a little lost at times as the characters, familiar to readers already, no doubt, emerged and took their place in the narrative. The author has a superb and engaging style which keeps the reader riveted and turning the page. The fight scenes (and there are plenty of them) were incredibly descriptive and realistic. One could almost hear and feel the magical power in the air. I particularly enjoyed the relationship and angst between Rogaan, his “former” friend Pax, and Pax’s sister Suhd. More than the epic fantasy, for me, this was one of the main cores of the story, along with the developing friendship between Rogaan and Aren. If epic fantasy is your thing then I have little doubt this book will sustain you and give you plenty to think about, even if it left me a little bereft of understanding.

You can find Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents here on B A Vonsik's Amazon page:

Re: Camelot - The complete edition by e. c. fisher

27/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

E. C. Fisher has brought the Arthurian legend to life in a new and different way in the novel, Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition. Young Arthur is unaware he is a direct descendant of the great King Arthur of Camelot. After Arthur’s parents are killed in a car crash when he was just twelve, a miserable aunt sends Arthur off to a boarding school where he is lost and alone, his only solace the books and stories his mother used to read to him, so assiduously, of Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur and their adventures. Obsessed with everything Arthurian, Arthur wishes for nothing more than to be transported from his hell here to the days of legend, a legend he somehow feels intimately connected with. On the planet Avalon, trouble is brewing. The sleeping black dragon is awakening and about to spread its evil across all of the land that was once Camelot – unless, a young man can be summoned to save the world, a young man capable of drawing Excalibur from the stone, of reuniting all of the sacred weapons and defeating the evil that threatens to destroy Avalon. Could young Arthur be that man?

Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition is certainly a unique twist on the old Arthurian story. Author E. C. Fisher has created a whole new world in which Camelot once existed and although now fragmented, can be unified again by the right person. I loved the unique premise and it is not one I have found in my Arthurian readings to date. It is always difficult to take a legend such as Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which has been so written about over the years and give it a new and fresh twist. Fisher does this well and the descriptions of the planet Avalon and its environment are well done. Arthur and indeed the main characters of the story, for me, were a little superficial and their treatment and characterization not in-depth enough for my liking. That may be a feature of the author’s desire to have such a large ensemble cast but nonetheless apart from Arthur we really did not get to know the other characters in any real depth. That being said, the story is one that rollicks along at some pace, with plenty of action and fight scenes in the narrative, along with some budding romances between the characters. I suspect this is squarely aimed at the young adult audience and the speed and unique qualities of the story will doubtless appeal to them. I did particularly like the lack of gender bias the author built into the story – automatic rights of accession regardless of gender and, of course, a female Merlin all go a long way to address the need to be gender equal in today’s world. Well done to the author for that.

You can find Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition by E. C. Fisher, here, on Amazon:

wild hare by laura koerber

20/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Wild Hare was certainly something different in the reading genre from my perspective. Author Laura Koerber has brought us a tale of fairies and other magical creatures but they are far removed from the usual fairies and fae of fantasy novels. These fairies and half-fairies are, it seems, just normal characters trying to survive in a world gone crazy. Like the animals, the fairies have seen their world and their habitat shrink over the generations due to man’s incessant demands on his environment. Consequently, it appears they are indeed a dying breed struggling for survival. Living at a run-down resort out near Bear Lake, Bob gets by on a day-to-day basis with a bit of petty thievery, using his somewhat limited fairy skills and some odd-job work with his best mate Arne. Always wary about the militia who now run the police force, Bob and his friends lament the destruction of their environment and the loss of personal freedoms in their country. It is 2032 and the all-seeing, all-controlling Government has everyone at their mercy but Bob’s not so sure that he and his fairy friends can take much more. Perhaps it is time to strike back.

I really enjoyed Wild Hare, it was something different. I loved the idea of red-neck, southern characters coupled with the abilities of supernatural creatures such as fairies. Bob, was a fascinating character. Outwardly he cared little about the goings-on around him and sought solace in his limited slice of freedom at his cabin, in the forest and by the lake, but deep down a rebellion was stirring inside of him. To me, as a reader, Bob epitomized the concept of the individual who feels he can do nothing on his own to change the system, so why even try. It takes an epiphany of a little, old lady and his best friend’s arrest to get him riled up enough to take action. Bob was complex, yet simple and that’s what I liked the most about him. The opportunity to learn something of the Native American legends and culture was a real bonus in this story. I particularly appreciated this idea that fairies and their ilk revealed themselves to the Native Americans and lived in harmony with them, but understood that wasn’t possible with today’s modern humanity – a definite indictment on our society, of course. Beautifully written with a descriptive focus and limited dialogue the story eloquently tells of the pain and angst as the fairies watch their world being destroyed by man’s greed, seemingly unable to stem the tide. I can highly recommend this book for anyone looking for something just a little bit different.

You can find Wild Hare, along with the rest of Laura Koerber's portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

dragon noir (dragon cycles book 1) by daniel moylan

14/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Written somewhat in the vernacular of old mobster-style novels from the 40’s, Dragon Noir (Dragon Cycles) by Daniel J Moylan was a new and interesting take on the existence of magic and witches in our society. Victor Quinn is the seventh son of the seventh son of the Magician’s King of the Americas. As such and as a warlock, he is in line for the throne, eventually. What he doesn’t realise is that his opportunity to shine, as ruler, will come much sooner than he anticipates. He has, to some extent, shunned the wealth and power of the family royal name and until such time as he inherits his title, he is happy to work as a private detective using his abilities to perform the role. Despite expectations from the family to provide a future lineage, Victor has to date stayed very much unattached. That is until his mother sends a woman to him that seeks his help but also opens his heart to love and need. Victor is about to discover that there is much more to being a warlock that he, or even his father or his beloved Paps, knew and understood. He is about to embark on his own journey of self-discovery.

Dragon Noir (Dragon Cycles) is certainly not your usual run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure about magic. I liked that it was set in a real-world environment where keeping the magic secret from the rest of the dullards on earth was a prime objective. Author Daniel J Moylan has created a group of characters who are caricatures of mobsters from 40’s crime novels and has done it successfully. The plot was novel, the writing imaginative, inventive and refreshingly new, for this reader, anyway. I also liked the fact that the author kept the possibility of future stories of this vein alive, with a clear path to a possible sequel. The writer’s ability to entrap the readers senses with his prose was evident in the descriptive nature of the some of the gorier fight scenes, inherent in the story. It was possible to almost smell the rot, the decay and the sense of fear described so eloquently by Moylan. If you like real-to-life fantasy adventure then this book should absolutely satisfy your needs. I was particularly taken by the idea that the warlock was not the final state of being and without giving away the plot look forward to more exploration of that theme in future stories.

You can find Dragon Noir (Dragon Cycles Book 1) here on Amazon:

calm assurance (Orlosian Warriors Bk.1) by Dariel Raye

31/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nephilim are thought to have disappeared from the Earth at the time of the Great Flood, but in reality some of them escaped to another dimension. Unfortunately, the majority of the Nephilim women were killed in the flood and the ration of Nephilim men to women is now 500:1, meaning very few Nephilim men are able to love, to marry and to experience the joy of a family. In Calm Assurance: Orlosian Warriors Bk.1 we meet Asriel, a Nephilim warrior whose job it has been to travel to earth and render justice to those Angels who have forsaken the brotherhood to seek solace and love with a human woman. Author Dariel Raye takes us to a world where these “fallen” Nephilim warriors are stripped of their light and their immunity to earth’s diseases, which forces them to live as vampires, stuck in the darkness and requiring human blood to give them the antigens to survive on Earth. When Asriel is sent to Earth to be a “watcher” rather than a “seeker”, assigned to protect Malina, he instantly realises there is a soul-bond between them and understands that decisions will have to be made that will decide both hers and his future.

Calm Assurance: Orlosian Warriors Bk.1 is a clever attempt by author Dariel Raye to tell a vampire story from a totally different perspective and I admired it for that reason alone. The plot and the premise are fascinating and the two principal characters Asriel and Malina are complicated and intriguing. I thought the author handled the love scenes with care and consideration, making them hot, racy and exciting without crossing that line from erotic into smut. I loved the idea of a strong, independent and fiercely protective woman whose defences and walls she had built up over a lifetime totally crumbled once she was in the presence of her soul-mate. Equally, Asriel’s character who knew very early on that nothing was going to change the fact that Malina was the one destined for him and no matter what it cost him personally, he was going to protect and love her. If fantasy or paranormal romance is your thing and you fancy a different take on the vampire genre, I can highly recommend this story. It was a little too short, perhaps for my usual liking but the promise of more in this series, certainly kept me satisfied and I can only pay the author the compliment of remarking that I want to read more of this premise.

You can find Calm Assurance by Dariel Raye, along with the rest of her portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

the wolf and the crimson maiden by anastasia bolinder

27/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden by Anastasia Bolinder is an adaptation of an old favourite fairy-tale staple, Little Red Riding Hood but with an intriguing and fascinating twist. Rose Emila Decanter is the daughter of a wealthy, ruthless, huntsman who has the King’s favour. She is betrothed to the top Knight in the Kingdom but feels little for the man. She likens her life to of being in prison, albeit a gilded prison. Emila seeks friendship and understanding in the village, but with her crimson cape she is instantly recognisable as the huntsman’s daughter and the villagers fear and hate the man, transferring their feelings for him, onto her. Her Grandmother had always been Emila’s biggest champion and source of love, so when Grandmother died, so did Emila’s little joy in life. One day when Emila determined to visit her Grandmother’s grave to seek some momentary solace she is set upon by a band of robbers in the forest. Left for dead, her saviour and rescuer came in the form of a wolf-man, Cole. Cole had been transformed into a wolf by a witch and was unable to find a way to reverse the curse. As Cole nurses Emila back to health she discovers a warmth and a caring that has been so missing from her life for so long. The strange relationship between the wolf and the young woman only continues to grow and deepen as Emila’s father becomes more violent and vile towards her.

I have read quite a few fairy-tale adaptations over the years but this one was different in a number of ways. The unique idea of the wolf-man and the burgeoning love between the two was clever and lifted this story above many of the others I have read that could be classified as similar. The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden is an excellent read full of excitement and adventure but still managing to continue that fairy-tale staple of delivering a sound, moral message to the readers. Author Anastasia Bolinder has created characters that are immediately recognisable to the original yet unique enough in their own way to distinguish it totally from the original. I particularly enjoyed the emotional gamut the pair was running as they realised their growing love for each other but also the perils that loved placed each of them in. The question always at the forefront of the readers’ mind would be: “Is the greatest love of all, the willingness to sacrifice that very love to save the life of the person you love?” In some ways, I wanted the story to continue and the author has hinted there are future adventures to come, which I shall look forward to. This is a well-written book that is well worth the read and I can definitely recommend it.

You can find The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden, here on Amazon:

vampire landlord by glenn stevens

17/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When College student, Lori discovers her best friend Vickie is missing, she goes in search of her. In Vampire Landlord, author Glenn Stevens brings us a short story set to chill the bones. Vickie's old landlord has no idea where she has gone and is so incensed at her leaving without notice he presents Lori with a bill for rent arrears to give to her friend. When Lori finally does track Vickie down, she discovers her friend has literally fallen on her feet, moving into a swank apartment, rent free, with her new landlord also helping her with school expenses and providing lots of extra luxury accessories for the young woman. There has to be a catch, right? Of course there is and some unexplained bite marks on Vickie's neck, her general malaise and the odd appearance of Vickie's new landlord, Annette, tell Lori that everything is perhaps not as wonderful as Vickie makes it out to be. What have the two friends walked into, here?

Vampire Landlord by Glenn Stevens is a quick, pithy read that can be navigated in just over an hour, or so. If you are looking for a vampire story, with a difference and with some cunning twists, this may well be the perfect story for you. The brevity of the story didn't really allow time for the characters to be fully developed. The Landlord Annette was fascinating and the character showed a ton of potential. The author's style is relaxed and conversational, making the read quick and easy but I still felt there was room for more meat on the bones of the story. That having been said, in the context of a short story in this genre it was both satisfying and easily consumed. I particularly enjoyed the freezer room attached to Annette's bedroom and would have loved the author to explore that more fully. If you are looking for a quick, easy read in the vampiric genre, this book will definitely suit your needs.

You can find Vampire Landlord, along with the rest of Glenn Stevens' other works, here on his Amazon page:

devil's claim by dariel raye & muffy wilson

17/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Even as a child Katala felt a deep attraction to David Stringfellow, one she neither understood nor indeed, knew what to do about. Despite the pair hardly ever seeing each other after their childhood both still retained the memory of their deep affection and attraction. When David’s father dies and leaves his immense wealth to his only son, the will has some strange stipulations that will forever change the lives of Katala and David. In Devil’s Claim, authors Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson bring us a tale that spans the generations and cultures. They take us back to the old west, where Native American’s are being forced from their land and African-American’s, even the free ones, are consistently captured, rounded-up and forced back into slavery and subjugation. David and Katala’s forebears set in motion a chain of events that will see a curse follow the Stringfellow clan down the generations until the present day. Can David and Katala finally break this horrific curse that has held his line in its thrall for so many years?

Devil’s Claim was a veritable romp through so many different and new ideas; black magic, curses, witchcraft, Native American traditions and customs, spirits, and demons. Author’s Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson have crafted a wonderful romance that links Karma across the generations and requires the two main characters to break the Karmic cycle somehow. Although in its early chapters the story felt slightly disjointed and as a reader I struggled to come to terms with the connections and more importantly the effects of the Karmic events, through the ages, the more I read, the more entranced I became, with the story. Both Katala and David were wonderfully drawn characters who exhibited the difficulties and challenges of different cultural histories living together, in harmony, in the 21st Century. The clash of their cultures and beliefs with modern life was one of the keys to the success of the story. This certainly isn’t a book for the young and the relationship scenes between the two were exciting, frank, and hot, without crossing that invisible line into smut. The sex scenes were intrinsic to the understanding of the depth of their relationship across the generations and were beautifully handled by the authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and if a love story with an esoteric and magical background is your thing, you will love it too. I’ll give big “up’s” to these two authors.

You can find Devil's Claim along with a ghost of other good reading here on Dariel Raye's Amazon page:

deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1) by karen janowsky

21/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As they say… “…and now for something completely different.” That is exactly what Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory by Karen Janowsky, brought me. This book took me completely by surprise with both its premise and its development. Major Daniel Hecht was somewhat of an enigma. A sickly, weak, American Jew who was captured by the Nazis in 1938, Daniel was subjected to horrific experiments by the Nazi overlords who were working on a formula to make the “perfect” soldier. When Daniel was finally freed by a group of partisans, he was used and abused by the American armed services for his special abilities. Then, right in the middle of the war something odd happened and Daniel was thrust through time to 2012 where he was again recruited by an organisation who wanted to use his special talents along with some other “super heroes” to keep the forces of evil at bay. When Daniel, an awkward introvert meets Nina, a new recruit, both instantly know there is something special between them. Despite neither having memories of the event, they are sure they have always known each other, and that there is a special bond between them. Daniel, Nina and the rest of the rag-tag super heroes set about to try to stop the collection of ancient artefacts that together could create a super weapon for the forces of evil.

I absolutely loved this book. The premise was so outlandish and the story so personal and real you, as a reader, could not help being drawn into the jumbled world of Daniel and Nina. Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory is an enigma in itself. Somehow author Karen Janowsky has managed to combine an action-packed narrative of super-heroes with a sweet, beautiful love story that plays out between Daniel and Nina. Both characters are so incredibly naïve as to the ways of the world that at times you really want to shout at them… “for God’s sake, just do it.” The writing style is relaxed and comfortable. I was able to read this book in a single setting. It is one of those stories you just simply cannot put down because you are always searching for the next step, the next move in the relationship. The erotic writing in the book is a very small part, but an extremely powerful part. I felt the author handled these scenes with such tenderness and care that it was an absolute pleasure to read. If you love good Science Fiction or Fantasy with plenty of twists and turns, or if you just love a ripping good adventure yarn with plenty of romance, you will love this book. I did and I can highly recommend it.

You can take a look at Deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1), here on Karen Janowsky's Amazon page:

ellie everlasting by isabel scheck

8/4/2019

Reviewed For Reader's Favorite by Grant Leishman

Have you ever wondered if fairy tales could possibly be true? Well, Author Isabel Scheck clearly has and in her novel, Ellie Everlasting, she brings to life the story of Peter Pan and Neverland. When the teenage Ellie Parker is brutally murdered by her girlfriend Olivia’s brother, Owen, everything changes for them. Ellie’s young brother sees the murder and is deeply traumatised by it. Apparently, though, Heaven is full and Ellie (a life-long fan of the Peter Pan story) finds herself waking up, not in Heaven, but in Neverland. All the usual suspects are there; Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, the Evil Henry Hook as well as all the lost girls and boys. For Ellie, her awakening in this magical place is more than just her personal fantasy come true, clearly something is amiss in both the real world and in Neverland and Ellie will be forced into a frantic race to save both, before calamity strikes. Able to view the happenings on earth through the Earthly Observatorium, Ellie watches her loved ones as they are increasingly beset by danger and trauma. Despite Ellie’s earthly commitment to her girlfriend Olivia, she finds herself deeply drawn to and attracted to Peter Pan. Can Ellie love a boy in the same way that she so deeply loved her beloved Olivia?

Ellie Everlasting is a young adult novel that takes a different tack to most. The idea of combining a fairy tale with real-life action and adventure is a good one and author Isobel Scheck does a great job of pulling it all together. Her ability to get inside a teenager’s mind and portray their angst so well along with her use of two young lesbian girls as the principal characters of the story was innovative and what lifted this story above its competitors. I particularly liked the dimensions the author built around the character of Henry Hook, a deeply flawed individual but also one who suffered from those perennial problems of loneliness and rejection that went in some way to understanding his glaring imperfections and rage at the world in general. The writing is simple and straightforward and the story easy to read. I particularly enjoyed the complications of Ellie’s relationship with Peter Pan and Olivia’s burgeoning relationship with Evangeline. Both gave the story more focus than your average young adult novel. This was an enjoyable and satisfying read and one I can recommend.

Ellie Everlasting is not yet available on Amazon, as an ebook, however you can find the hardcover version of it here:

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 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:

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