Category: Mystery/Mayhem - GRANT LEISHMAN

two hearts under fire (two hearts wounded warrior romance book 8) by tamara ferguson

5/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author Tamara Ferguson regularly brings us new iterations of her wounded warrior series and Two Hearts Under Fire (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 8) is the latest story in that franchise. Airman Russ Quinlan and his team are targeted and their transport destroyed en-route in Iraq. When Russ returns to the States he realises that someone has been trying to frame him and the subsequent inquiry may well lead to his own court-martial and a lengthy prison sentence. Whilst looking for help, he contacts his old friend, AFOSI Agent Brand Reardon but instead finds the beautiful Claire Ellis at Brand’s apartment, a friend of Brand’s fiancé, Sarah. When a gunman attacks the pair, for no obvious reason they aren’t sure quite who the target was Russ or Claire. Clair it seems is on the run and hiding from a violent and deranged ex-husband who wants to kill her. The pair takes to their heels in a mad dash across country in upstate New York and the Great Lakes area, to try to escape whoever is after either one of them. The attraction between the pair was electric from the first moment they met and can only get deeper and more intense the more they are thrown together in this race for their lives and safety with their friends Brand and Sarah in Crystal Rock, Wisconsin.

This is not the first Tamara Ferguson book I’ve read. I can honestly say Two Hearts Under Fire (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance book 8) is up there with the best of the stories I’ve read, from her, to date. Two things I particularly love about this book and about all of this author’s work is the immense amount of action, excitement, plot twists and romance, she can jam-pack into what is essentially a smallish novel. I’ve read some books with this much excitement that are double the size of this and yet Ferguson loses nothing in the paring down of her work. There are no wasted words or padding in her books, which make them simple and easy to read in one sitting. In fact, it is always hard to put a Ferguson novel down and this one is no exception. The second thing I love about her writing is the sensitive and caring natures she manages to build into to these giant, hulking men, many of whom are ex-special forces operatives, who she shows are capable of feeling and expressing deep emotion, without shame. I also appreciate that much of the action takes place against the backdrop of The Wounded Warrior Hospital and the school for children with disabilities, both in Crystal Rock. These are obviously twin passions of the author and they fit perfectly with her stories. This is a great read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Two Hearts Under Fire, along with all of Tamara Ferguson's fine portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

The flavorist by kevin urban

3/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Flavorist by Kevin Urban, Allen Hale is a man in a billion. His incredible olfactory abilities and his talent of discerning every chemical and compound that goes into the making of a food product has made him renowned and envied world-wide. He is a flavorist, working in the candy industry. When he is surprisingly, to him, invited to the launch of a special new chocolate, in Belgium, by the famous and wealthy chocolatier, Adolf Van De Groot he absolutely destroys his welcome at the function and his host’s temper by tasting the new chocolate and immediately declaring it to be “rather good” for an imitation chocolate. At the function that he is rudely tossed out from, he meets Richard Harden, a CIA operative who is investigating Van De Groot for a suspected biological weapon that he is supposedly developing. When Harden recruits Hale for his scientific expertise all hell will break loose, as Van De Groot and his loyal henchman, Victor look to derail the investigation before it even begins and let loose their weapon on the world.

The Flavorist is a thriller in the grand style and is action-packed from start to end. Author Kevin Urban has created some archetypal characters that play their roles according to the standard rules. The arch-nemesis Van De Groot is a man bordering on insanity and well-written, especially with the suggested but subtle relationship that clearly exists between him and his No.1 henchman, Victor that leads to some interesting scenes and encounters later in the story. The tale takes us from Belgium to the South Pacific, the Amazonian jungle and the broad savannahs of southern Africa. The character of Harden especially and his relationship with the transitioning Maxi was something different in a thriller and added some needed levity and humanity to the non-stop action. For me, the many coincidences and synchronicities in the tale were a little overdone, but in general this was a satisfying and exciting read, with a touch of humour along the way. If you like thrillers that are not massive reads then The Flavorist will definitely appeal to you.

You can find The Flavorist by Kevin Urban, here on his Amazon page:

memory lane: journey to retribution by P.D. Platt

1/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Memory Lane: Journey to Retribution by P.D. Platt is a novella that brings us the premise that revenge is a dish best served cold. Elena and her Dad lived simply, but happily in a little cul-de-sac just off the main expressway. When Elena’s Mum had died, her Dad poured everything into looking after his little girl. That was, until Gayle turned up and offered Elena’s father a different option. Unbeknownst to Elena, her father, Gayle and Gayle’s two half-brother were about to turn Elena’s life upside down forever. It is fifteen years since the horrific events that took place in that childhood home of hers and Elena is seeking closure and the ability to move on from her awful childhood memories. For the first time in fifteen years Elena visits her old caregiver, Ms Flynn, their old neighbour who Elena remembers as a sweet, old, grandmotherly lady who saved her from the carnage of that night so long ago. Visiting Ms Flynn is the first step on the road to putting those memories behind her and finally moving on.

Memory Lane: Journey to Retribution, was a wonderfully, detailed and exciting story, albeit somewhat short for my liking. I loved the premise the author P.D. Platt began with – a journey to seek closure to a traumatic event but as the story unfolded, so much more became apparent and I read furiously to find out what would happen. The characters were everyday, ordinary folk who we could all recognise and identify with. Even Elena’s Dad and his dalliance with the dark side was totally understandable and acceptable. I loved the authors writing style and highly descriptive paragraphs describing both emotions and events. I would definitely have preferred a longer book but that’s just me and if you like a good, sharp, mystery with a twist or two in the tail then this is absolutely a winner. I am moved to read more of this author and that is probably the greatest compliment I can pay him or her. A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read.

You can find Memory Lane: Journey to Retribution here on P.D. Platt's Amazon page, along with numerous other titles. :

the healer's daughter by jay amberg

29/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Healer’s Daughters is a modern-day thriller set in Turkey, among the many major archaeological sites but it has its roots in the early days of the Current Era, when the area was a major health spa, overseen by the renowned healer, Galen. Author Jay Amberg introduces us to an archaeologist by the name of Özlem Boroğlu who considers herself the guardian of Galen’s ruins, around Bergama. After being unceremoniously dumped by the Government when her previous excavation was flooded to provide water for agriculture, Özlem is understandably bitter and guards Galen’s secrets closely. Her daughter Elif is a sculptor who still worships the Goddesses of antiquity and Özlem’s son is a tourist guide, caught up in the lucrative trading and black-market for antiquities, including many looted by the ISIL Caliphate and sold to unscrupulous collectors the world over. When terrorism strikes close to home, for Özlem and her family, it is unclear who the perpetrators really are; DAESH and their violent, inhumane campaign for power and notoriety, or is it actually closer to home – a wealthy illegal antiquities trading family wanting to make a very big point to Özlem.

The Healer’s Daughter had all the elements that go into making a compelling thriller – international terrorism; a greedy, powerful and ruthless criminal family; a group of inept, corrupt and “bought” government officials; a secret, elite, and clean anti-terror department of the said, corrupt government; and a principled, high-minded, academic who will stop at nothing to ensure her country’s past and powerful heritage is preserved for the ages. Author Jay Amberg’s style was straight-forward and easy to read. The flashbacks to Galen’s time were, perhaps, not as frequent as I might have wished, but ultimately this was a modern-day thriller, with a basis in the past, so that was fine. The link to the past was critical, though and, as a reader, I did appreciate the context. I also enjoyed the aspect of Elif’s Goddess worship and would have appreciated more exploration of that side of the story. In summary, though, this was a thoroughly readable and topical thriller that I can easily recommend to anyone who loves modern thrillers with historical twists, as I do.

The Healer's Daughter by Jay Amberg is not currently available on Amazon but you can peruse the rest of Jay Amberg's portfolio here:

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:

fear justice (the fear chronicles book 1) by C.C. Bolick

29/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) brings us a fast-paced, young adult, spy thriller from the pen of C. C. Bolick. Seventeen-year-old Rena Mason has one thing on her mind; graduating her senior year at high-school, getting a full scholarship so she can study aeronautical engineering and most of all, getting out of the hick Florida town she has lived in since she was six-years-old. Rena used to love their life there but all that changed three years ago when they were involved in a car accident that saw Rena’s beloved mother killed. With her father taking to the bottle, Rena was forced to grow up way too soon and assume full responsibility for looking after her little brother. Little did Rena realise the appearance of a new boy at school would change her life forever. When her father is kidnapped by terrorists, Rena needs to confront the idea that her father had a secret existence and life before they moved to their tiny trailer-home in their small town. When it seems the terrorists are actually after her, Rena starts to understand that she may be much more than she originally thought, also and that her mother might not have been just the loving housewife and mother she had always known and missed every single day since her death.

C. C. Bolick has produced an extremely readable and exciting action thriller that is tailor-made for the young adult audience it is undoubtedly aimed at. Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) is doubtless the start of what promises to be an exciting series featuring these young “secret agents”. I would probably describe best this story, as a cross between Men in Black and X-Men. The idea of a super-secret government agency tasked with dealing with aliens and those humans with enhanced powers, either genetically received or by accident is certainly one that has been done before but I found Bolick’s slant on the story to be refreshing and novel. I particularly liked the developing relationship between Rena and Travis. The idea that they are falling for each other and yet are not able to actually touch each other; skin to skin, is intriguing and opens up all sorts of possible story arcs in the next book in the series. I also found the “super power” attributed to Rena to be odd and unusual enough to lift the story above the run-of-the-mill young adult thrillers. Rena is a superb character with strength and vulnerability that shines through in every page. If you like action-packed, aliens, paranormal, and a whole helping of romance, this is definitely the book and series for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am about as far from a young adult as it’s possible to get.

You can find Fear Justice here on C. C. Bolick's Amazon page, along with the rest of her extensive portfolio:

changing angels by julie elizabeth powell

24/4/2019

Changing Angels from Julie Elizabeth Powell was a warm, romantic, change of pace for me. I found the story of two star-crossed lovers who somehow just missed each other quite touching.
Jake came from an abusive home where he was treated like garbage by both his parents and even his older siblings. He left home to escape from the pain as soon as he was able and although he flirted around the edges of the law, he always had a strong moral compass that kept him roughly on the straight and narrow and at least out of serious trouble. A chance encounter with a young girl on a bus would leave Jake and the girl, Faith, with the belief there was something destined for them both, together.
Faith's life was thrown into disarray when her beloved father died and her mother remarried a wealthy businessman, which gave them the security they needed but it also gave faith a step-brother she could well do without. Faith knew Lawrence was evil and had designs on much more than brotherly love, so was relieved when her mother sent her away to boarding school.
Jake and Faith briefly reconnect while she is at boarding school but when Faith mysteriously disappears one day, they are again torn apart. Despite the years that pass, Jake always believes he will find Faith again but will it all be too late for the lovers?
This was an enjoyable and satisfying read. I've been a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell for some time and this was the first non-fantasy book of hers I'd read. In some ways it reminded me of the emotions and angst in one of my own books and I certainly identified with that.
If you like a good, solid, story-line with real, strong characters both male and female, I'm sure you'll love this and if you're a hopeless romantic, like me, I know you will. An excellent read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find all of Julie Elizabeth Powell's wonderful books, including Changing Angels, here on her Amazon page:

until the ice cracks (the eldisvik novels book 1) by jan turk petrie

31/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Until The Ice Cracks brings us something a little different, in a police-style murder, mystery set in the Icelandic town of Eldisvik. Author Jan Turk Petrie takes us forward in time to 2068, where civil society has somewhat broken down and major cities like Eldisvik are sectioned off into different zones, depending on their safety for citizens. The orange, red and double-red zones are definitely not the place to be for sensible, law-abiding citizens. The red zones are patrolled by a mysterious group of special police, known as decoys. These decoys have had their DNA altered somewhat and are in command of special Fox Vixens who regard their human as their alpha. Little is known of the decoys but when one appears to go rogue, Inspector Nero Cavallo and his team must track down and destroy the rogue decoy before panic strikes the Free Zone. Cavallo is secretly a telepath, which gives him a distinct advantage in his detective work. Bruno Mastriano is also a telepath but he has been kidnapped by a ruthless gang determined to utilise his special powers to their advantage. With the Governor under immense pressure to achieve results, Cavallo must move quickly but it seems to Cavallo there is more going on here than just one rogue decoy.

Certainly, Until The Ice Cracks was a change of pace for me, as a reader. The exotic location of Iceland, with its short days and long, cold nights, if nothing else, made the story more interesting than your average futuristic police drama. Author Jan Turk Petrie clearly knows her Nordic setting well and the story is both realistic and believable. The various arcs weaved their way through the story well and the author did a good job of keeping them understandable and relatable. Despite being set forty-odd years into the future, the technology and science of the period was not greatly different from that of today, although definitely more advanced of where we are placed at present. In many ways the formal zones within Eldisvik are reminiscent of that which already exists within some of our inner cities. Clearly there are parts of the city that no law officer wants to patrol and when they are required to enter these zones, they do so fully equipped to handle anything. I found the story satisfying but the ending, which is a cliff-hanger and no doubts leads into the next book, less so. This is a personal choice thing. I know some readers like a cliff-hanger to excite them into their next purchase but personally I do prefer a conclusion, at the very least, to the arcs I have been following and invested in throughout the book. That being said, this is still a good, solid read and yes, I would like to read the next book so I can find out what happened.

You can find, Until The Ice Cracks, here on Jan Turk Petrie's Amazon page:

by force of circumstance (the chosen man trilogy book 3) by j. g. harlond

27/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Author J G Harlond takes us back in time to 17th Century Europe, in her political thriller By Force of Circumstance (The Chosen Man Trilogy Book 3). Ludo Da Portavenere has certainly led an adventurous life. High-born, but illegitimate, Ludo has been a corsair, a merchant of spices and silks from the East, a Secret Agent and a Sea Captain, but one thing he has never been is anyone’s puppet. When a former nemesis, the Priest, Father Rogelio, forces him, under extreme duress, to participate in a scheme to get a hold of the English Crown Jewels, which the exiled Queen requires to sell, to help fund her husband’s civil-war against Cromwell and the Roundheads, excitement and danger is sure to follow. Trying to manoeuvre safely through the political machinations of 17th Century Europe was always fraught with danger and this particular exercise will test all of Ludo’s remarkable skills of evasion and chicanery. Reuniting with his former lover, Alina, the now widowed Baroness Metherall and his old partner Marco Alonso Almendro will ensure Ludo does not have to face the evil Rogelio alone but their presence also places additional burdens on him, burdens he would possibly rather not have.

By Force of Circumstance (The Chosen Man Trilogy Book 3) brings 17th Century Europe alive for the reader. I love it when an historical novel manages to teach, through its setting and characters something of the flavour of the time and events that we may have been unaware of. Author J G Harlond has certainly managed to achieve that in this exciting and intriguing tale. As a reader I was totally transported to the time, the sense of privilege felt by the aristocracy of the 1600’s, the courage of the men who sailed those tall ships halfway around the world in search of the elusive silks and spices, and the sheer level of chicanery, blatant arrogance, and self-service that epitomised the ruling classes and of course, the Vatican, at that time. The author’s research has, I’m sure, been extensive and as a history buff I am pleased by that. Although this is clearly the third book in this series, having not read either of the first two in no way diminishes the enjoyment of this story. The author made excellent moves to drop hints as to what had happened previously and why certain characters acted the way they did, based on the two earlier stories. I can highly recommend this read and can pay the author no greater compliment than to say I am motivated to go back and read books one and two of this trilogy.

You can find By Force of Circumstance here on J. G. Harlond's Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio:

conflict on the yangtze by greg kater

18/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

five-toed tigress by t.w. dittmer

8/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

tissue of lies by carole parkes

26/2/2019

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

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

surviving dreamland: escape from terror by william Penoyar

15/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

voyeur's regret by debbie ardisi

31/1/2019

Voyeur's Regret, a debut novel from Debbie Ardisi takes the reader inside a small town and its secrets. Fifteen years ago an apparent murder/suicide of a newly-wed couple had many confused but to the consternation of a then Detective, the case was quickly wrapped up and consigned to the shelves of history. One person, however, knew exactly what happened all those years ago. Town recluse, Louis Doyle has kept quiet about what really happened but when a new couple move in next door things will change.

Ardisi brings us some endearing characters that immediately warm our hearts and, as readers, have us rooting for them. The sweet, endearing, yet fragile relationship between Louis and his new next-door neighbour is one of the highlights of this story. The author takes us on a journey of clues, discoveries and red-herrings as the truth is sought. This suspenseful thriller will keep you turning pages long into the night and asking yourself the question - "will the real miscreant ever face justice?"

An excellent first foray into literature for Ardisi and I look forward to reading more from this talented newcomer. I can highly recommend this read if mystery, crime thrillers are your genre. This is a good one.

Voyeur's Regret by Debbie Ardisi is available here on Amazon:

presumed dead by martin knox

6/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Presumed Dead by Martin Knox is a crime mystery that almost has a feel of the “Perry Mason’s” about it. Jane Kenwood is a maverick local council politician who has been expelled from her party, which currently governs the city of Alexandra. She continues to frustrate and annoy her ex-colleagues on the Council by staying in politics and winning re-election as an Independent. When a Casino Proposal, requiring the demolishing of a heritage building, is presented to the City and supported by the ruling Council, Jane goes into attack mode to try and stop it and to propose an alternative use for the heritage listed building – a multicultural centre for the use of all the diverse ethnic needs of Alexandra’s citizens. When her colleagues, Dr Phillip Keane and her old friend Cutter, both cross the party floor to oppose the Casino, it suddenly seems like Jane may have mustered the support to defeat this proposal. But, then Jane goes missing and the hunt is on to find her abductors and/or murderers. Dr Keane, a former police forensic scientist takes the lead in the investigation of finding Jane. His incentive is Jane and he are lovers and he is desperate to recover her and destroy the perpetrators.

Presumed Dead is a classic “whodunit” and author Martin Knox does a very credible job of describing, in detail the investigative techniques of crime scene analysis that the character had developed in his years as a police forensic scientist. The story is well-constructed, with possible “red-herrings” thrown in at appropriate points. The two principal characters of Jane and Phillip are well drawn and easy to relate to and empathise with. It is interesting, that as in real life, Knox has sought to bring two people together in a romantic relationship that have polar opposite personalities. Jane, the firebrand extrovert with a passion for politics and Phillip the quiet, methodical, introvert who struggles to relate to people on a personal level. I particularly enjoyed the political undertones of the story and the ideals of what truly constitutes democracy. The idea of scrapping political parties and independent politicians voting on their conscience every time has been floated often and I think even trialled occasionally. It brings a real modern-day relevance to the story – one only needs to look at the political turmoil in the US at present to see the dangers of partisanship and party politics. All in all, a very satisfying read and one I can recommend.

You can find Presumed Dead by Martin Knox, here on Amazon:

death is for the living by j.c. steel

16/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Death is for the Living by J C Steel is an epic vampire fantasy that takes the reader on a journey from the Caribbean, all over the world, as Cristina Batista and her partner Jean are caught up in vampire machinations that reach to the very peak of vampire society. Cristina and Jean are part of a team of vampire hunters who roam the Caribbean, on the yacht Artemis, looking for and destroying vampires as they go. Both of them, though, have pasts that are perhaps not compatible with the idea of Vampire hunters. Christina was almost changed several years earlier, but somehow was able to stay human and Jean indeed, was a Vampire, changed several Centuries ago, until a witch gave him the power to become human again. Both, for different reasons have great motivation to kill the most powerful vampire in the New World, but their journey will be fraught with danger, fear, and an extreme sense that this may be the end of both of them.

In Death is for the Living, we find a different type of vampire tale that helps to lift this book above the ordinary vampire-hunting stories. Author J C Steel’s style is relaxed and readable, dropping little nuggets of information about the backstories of both Cristina and Jean as the reader progresses through the book. The conflict and suspicions between the characters, especially those of the hunters, who although on a common mission, with a common purpose, but who don’t know each other that well, is one of the highlights of this story. Steel does a good job at defining the two main characters and their relationship, which is both somewhat co-dependent but also extremely loving and beautiful at times. The character of the renegade vampire de Vallejo and the witch Mama Gale could have been fleshed out more full, in my opinion, as a reader. I was certainly left wondering more about these two. Still, this is a solid, readable Vampire fantasy, with the promise of more to come in future iterations of this story.

You can find Death is for the Living, along with all of J.C. Steel's work, here, on his Amazon page:

tears of fire (a lambeth group thriller) by gordon bickerstaff

22/11/2018

As a big Bickerstaff fan, I was excited to see his latest iteration of the Lambeth Group adventures was available. Tears of Fire continues the tradition of this series, with action-packed excitement from go to woah.
This book features the two main characters that fans of the series have come to know and love; Biochemist Professor Gavin Shawlens and Special Forces Soldier Zoe Tamsin. These two characters have become an endearing feature of this series and as each book passes, we grow fonder and fonder of them and their "odd-ball" relationship.
In Tears of Fire, Zoe has been sentenced to death by her Government for the murder of three members of the aristocratic Silsden family, who she had stopped in their nefarious plot to change the world forever. Faced with execution, Zoe knows she must go "dark" and seeks help from her CIA colleagues from across the pond. When Gavin becomes involved in an investigation linked to Insurance Fraud, Zoe realises the dangers he is in and is torn between her care and love for Gavin and her need to stay hidden from potential assassins.
as always this book is non-stop action, with plenty of plot twists and clever mechanisms to introduce new under-plots to the original story. Bickerstaff writes out and out thrillers and does it to an incredibly high level. Amongst the Indie Thriller authors I have read, Gordon Bickerstaff stands near the top of the tree.
Tears of Fire is a riveting read and one I cannot recommend highly enough.

Do pop on over to Amazon, where you can take a look at Tears of Fire, plus all of Bickerstaff's superb portfolio, on his Amazon page:

innocent bystander (the innocent mystery series book 3) by c.a. asbrey

21/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Abigail MacKay is a rarity, a detective for the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency at the end of the nineteenth century. In Innocent Bystander (The Innocent Mystery Series Book 3), by C.A. Asbrey, Abigail is drawn west, from her home in New York in search of her missing sister, Madeleine who it appears has run off with a man who is suspected of leaving a trail of dead, rich, wives behind him. The problem is nobody appears to know how he is killing his wives and although suspected of murder, no charges have ever been brought against him. When Nat Quinn, notorious bandit and leader of the Innocent gang, and his erstwhile Uncle Jake rob a train in Wyoming, they discover among the passengers, the beautiful and seductive Madeleine, who instantly reminds him of Abigail, with whom he has had previous romantic and unresolved issues. When Abigail realises Nat and Jake are her best chance to find Madeleine and save her from her killer husband, she heads into outlaw territory and persuades the pair to accompany her to San Francisco where they will try to discover the mysterious method by which the killer disposes of his wives without medical professionals being any the wiser.

Innocent Bystanders (The Innocent Mystery Series Book 3) is a powerful and exciting adventure that captivated me, as a reader, from the first page. I had not read the previous two iterations of this adventure, but author C.A. Asbrey did a superb job in filling in the gaps of what occurred in books 1 & 2. The characters of Abigail, Nat and Jake could almost have been taken from a “western adventure annual”. They are overdrawn, but purposely, I’m sure, by the author, to emphasise their characters. Nat and Jake were far from your average outlaws, with both having a strong moral compass buried beneath their outward bluster and toughness. Similarly, Abigail was your archetypal heroine; strong, independent, free thinking and wilful, everything you’d expect from a Pinkerton female detective. The author marvellously managed to imbue her with a softer, feminine and uncertain side to her character that just rounded her out perfectly. The plot was cleverly constructed and keeps the reader fascinated. Although this story could probably be classified as a “western” genre, it is far more than that and will appeal to aficionados of western, romance, murder/mystery and adventure. All in all, this is an excellent read and highly recommended.

Do pop on over to Amazon where you can find Innocent Bystander, plus the previous two books in the series, here on C.A. Asbrey's Amazon page:

Ready or not by ab plum

4/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Thirty-Seven-year-old Karen Sullivan is a woman with a childhood secret. Raped by a teenage neighbour, when she was just twelve, Karen never speaks to anyone about her experiences. Self-employed, she skirts the law, working as a corporate hacker who can find out anything about anyone, just by their digital footprint. In Ready or Not, by AB Plum, Karen and her only true friend, RJ, are volunteers for the Kansas City Rape Crisis Hotline. In the middle of one of the biggest snowstorms to strike Kansas City in years, Karen is left alone in the Hotline building, when she receives calls from a “perv” called Seth, along with photographs from long ago, showing her, her teenage rapist and her parents happily smiling for the camera. When RJ is brutally raped and murdered, it seems the past has come back to haunt Karen, but how can that be? Karen’s father had told her, many years ago, that her rapist, Eddie died not long after her rape… but did he? What follows is a hunt for RJ’s attacker, in tandem with a grizzled and careworn Lieutenant from the Kansas City Police Department, who wants to catch this attacker, just as much as Karen does.

Ready or Not, is a fast-moving and taut suspense thriller that keeps the readers guessing and on the edge of their seats right from the get-go. Author AB Plum’s style is harsh and frantic, drawing the reader along at breakneck speed. The two principal characters Karen and Wiley are both drawn as extreme caricatures of the roles they perform and as such, they work together and mesh perfectly. The abrasiveness and walls of defence Karen has built around herself, over the years, are slowly whittled away by the Lieutenant’s persistence and equal amount of grizliness. In many ways, this story works because of the author’s ability to mesh these two characters whom in many ways are extremely similar. The twists and turns of the narrative are clever and artfully done, with the bad guys and their extreme narcissism, misogyny and evil, splendidly filling out the story. This was an excellent read and one I would highly recommend to fans of the genre. It’s probably not for the squeamish, but if you like suspenseful murder/mysteries, this one will be right up your alley.

You can take a look at Ready or Not, plus the rest of AB Plum's portfolio, here on her amazon page:

A Heritage of Death (Reverend Cici Gurule Mysteries #2) by Alexa Padgett

4/10/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A Heritage of Death (A Reverend Cici Gurule Mystery Book 2) by Alexa Padgett is an adventure into child abuse and murder in the Pueblos of New Mexico. The Reverend Cici Gurule has one special talent that makes her invaluable in solving crimes. Her twin sister was murdered and since then Cici has been receiving visitations and dreams from her late sister that give her clues that assist her to unravel complicated and even unsolved crimes. With her best friend Detective Sam Chastain, they are able to get the jump on other law enforcement people. When an abducted baby mysteriously turns up on Cici’s doorstep one stormy evening, she and Sam begin to investigate the abduction of one of Cici’s own parishioners. Their search for the missing woman takes them from Santa Fe to the Pueblo of Taos and a slew of cold cases involving missing and murdered indigenous women. Underlying the story is the on-going romantic tension between Cici and Sam. Cici always believed Sam was in love with her late twin sister, but recent events have led her to question Sam’s motives and feelings for Cici. Her search for some clarity on his feelings and her visions will lead them both into dangerous and uncharted waters.

This is the second book in the Reverend Cici Gurule Mysteries, but having not read the first in no way impinges on the reader’s enjoyment of this story. It stands alone, as a murder mystery. Author Alexa Padgett does a good job of seeding little nuggets of information, on what went before, into the story to keep the reader informed and understand the scenario that is developing. At its core this is a classic “whodunit” story but with the added spice of the psychic bond between Cici and her dead twin, plus the simmering sexual tension between the Reverend and Sam, it lifts itself out of the ordinary. The writer’s style is relaxed and easy to read, with some excellent descriptive passages that bring the reader right into the action in the searing heat of a New Mexico environment. There is plenty of action for the fans of that genre, but for me, the real action was the simmering relationship between Cici and Sam. If anything was to make me look for the next book in this series, it would be to see what develops between the pair. Clearly well researched, this novel is a good read within its genre and one I can definitely recommend to fans of murder mysteries.

You can find A Heritage of Death, plus the rest of Alexa Padgett's work, here on her Amazon page:

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