Category: Romance/Adventure - GRANT LEISHMAN

tied lives by jonathan finch

11/6/2019

I've read a number of author Jonathan Finch's books over the years, both poetry and prose. I've always been impressed with his grasp of the language and his ability to write poetry that transcends the norm. He is truly a craftsman of words. It is fair to say that sometimes I have criticised his prose for being too verbose, too obscure and often too pretentious. Instead of focusing on the characters and their development it sometimes seemed that the descriptiveness of the writing was more important. One of the things about being a reviewer is it allows you to watch an author grow, develop and change. Finch's latest work Tied Lives is living proof of this adaptability and for that reason is an absolute winner.
Finch brings us a story that is both simple and complex, one that allows the most unlikely of characters to connect, to develop and to expose their vulnerabilities.
Reginald Washington is the archetypal British senior civil servant - stiff upper lip and all. Extremely successful, well respected and an authority on gender equality in society, Reggie, has achieved it all. Close to sixty, Reggie is unmarried and still lives at home, with his parents and adult sisters, though. When a chance encounter at the local pub introduces him to the beautiful, exotic, and alluringly sexy, thirty-year-old, Thai domestic helper, Siri-Srai, Reggie's whole world turns upside down. He is smitten and no amount of "common sense" from his family is going to change that. Reggie is in love and embarks on a journey of discovery that will take him away from his "safe place" the halls of parliament, halfway across the world to the "Land of Smiles" where he will discover exactly how the "other half" lives and what it is like to be a "foreigner" (farang) in a strange land.
This is a beautiful love story, a poignant and touching portrayal of devotion and betrayal that will pull at any reader's heartstrings. The story resonated so deeply with me because of the personal connection to the experience, yet Finch invites us all inside that very different world of cross-cultural relationships and bathes the reader in understanding, empathy and a deep connection to the characters. I can honestly say I loved this story and I particularly loved the telling of it in a straight-forward narrative. Jonathan Finch is to be commended for his exceptional work on this book and I think, from my perspective, he has truly arrived as a novelist. Congratulations on a job well done. Oh, and the little pun in the title of the book was just the icing on the cake for me.

You can discover Tied Lives and indeed all of Jonathan Finch's work, here on his Amazon page:

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 master of ships: charles's story (novella #2) by naomi finley

27/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Master of Ships by Naomi Finley is a short historical novella that follows the lives of Charles Hendricks, a wealthy American, slave-owner and merchant, in the 1840’s and the woman he fell in love with, in England, the half-black, former slave, Isabella. This novella is obviously a continuation of a story begun earlier, but it is not necessary to have read the previous book to obtain enjoyment from this one. Charles, despite being cheated on by his wife and his brother, a union that produced a child, was madly and deeply in love with his wife and was happy to raise the child as his own. When his wife is murdered by fellow whites for being a “nigger lover” (apparently she was active in the Underground Railway helping fleeing slaves in the American South), he is devastated and distraught, taking to sea and to drink to try to numb the pain of his loss. When he finds Isabella, beaten and unconscious in a London alleyway, in his inebriated condition, he determines to help her. What starts out as friendship rapidly turns to love, but Charles cannot let his wife’s memory go and more importantly perhaps, as a slave-owner himself, loving a black woman would ruin his business, his reputation and endanger the lives of Isabella, his daughter Willow and himself.

The Master of Ships is a novella and as such is a little short for me to be a totally satisfying read, however, what there was I found intriguing, exciting and fulfilling. Author Naomi Finley has created some archetypal characters from the era. Charles, especially, conflicted as he was by the love of his late wife and the need for him to ensure his daughter (niece, in reality) received the upbringing she deserved, along with his deep and abiding love for Isabella made him a fascinating study in morals and beliefs, at a time when people were routinely subject to ownership and subjugation. Charles was caught neatly between two worlds, unsure what the right move was but knowing he did not want to, indeed, could not lose Isabella from his life. As perhaps I’d intimated earlier, my only regret with this exceptional story was that it wasn’t a full-length novel. What I particularly enjoyed about the story was the moral debate over the appropriateness of slavery and the idea that somehow slaves or black people are in some way lesser than white or even sub-human. This was a debate that rattled through Charles’ mind the entire time. I note the author is planning the next chapter in this saga soon and the greatest compliment I can perhaps pay her is to say, I will be waiting for the next instalment, to find out what happens in this love story and where the main characters move on from here.

You can find The Master of Ships, along with the rest of Naomi Finley's porfolio, here on her 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:

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:

out of thin air (hidden Hearts #11) by Mary crawford

21/4/2019

Opening a new Mary Crawford book, whether it be from the Hidden Beauty or Hidden Hearts series is, for me, like coming home to my family and friends. The many and varied characters that Crawford has brought into my reading life over the years are a part of me now. It is true that not all the characters pop up in every book, but enough of them do to provide that continuity and comfort that is so much a part of Crawford's work, for me, as a reader.
Out of Thin Air, her latest Hidden Hearts book is no exception. This story of Dylan and Lauren's love affair and story is a little darker than some of her earlier works but, as always, Crawford's ability to show the deep humanity and also the angst of her characters shines through. Dylan is a Florida police detective who is young and successful at his job. He is committed to his role in society of putting away the "bad guys", often to the detriment of his personal life. Dylan's success leads to his appointment as the leader of a task-force to investigate cold cases where children went missing and to try to discover what happened to them and if, perhaps, they are still alive somewhere.
Lauren was only six when her nine-year-old sister disappeared, some twenty-odd years ago. Lauren and April were just playing outside and one moment April was there, the next she was gone. For the next twenty years Lauren's mother played the role of the victim to perfection often blaming Lauren for her sister's disappearance and even suspecting the little six-year-old of somehow being involved. When Lauren's beloved father committed suicide just three years after April's disappearance, Lauren was left alone to suffer her mother's hateful and spiteful invective. Now twenty-nine, Lauren still lives with her mother and although she is a relatively successful businesswoman she is beset by doubts, insecurities and is subject to panic attacks.
When April's disappearance becomes Dylan's first cold-case to investigate, the emotions and the attraction between him and Lauren is obvious but how can Dylan separate his emotions from his job that may eventually lead to the knowledge that Lauren's beloved sister is actually dead.
Like all Crawford's works, I loved this story and appreciated the fact that the author was delving a little deeper into her character's psyches. This was a wonderful story that I was instantly caught up in and invested in. Crawford has a writing style that is simple, unpretentious and extremely readable.
I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves good, honest romance with characters that are both very human and flawed. Another absolute winner from my "go to" author when I need some reassurance that there is something special about humanity. Thank you Mary for reminding us that flawed as we may be, we are all capable of great warmth, great love and great compassion.

You can take a look at Out of Thin Air plus all of Mary Crawford's extensive portfolio, here on her Amazon page.

the letter (hidden beauty #11 by mary crawford

15/3/2019

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

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

the scream behind her smile by athena daniels

15/3/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

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

8/3/2019

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

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

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

8/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

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

4/2/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

yield by b. j. .tiernan

23/1/2019

I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed B.J. Tiernan's novel of love, loss and relationships, based in 1960's small-town middle America. Perhaps it was the nostalgia effect on a child of that period, but I found myself totally transported into the main character's lives and their angst, especially as they faced the most pressing situation of the time - the Vietnam War, head on. This is a story that examines the questions of what is love and how to cope with abuse and loss. I was delighted with the characters Tiernan created for this story. Marley, the young woman who had been sexually abused as a child and carried that weight deep inside her for all her childhood.
Marley, following a botched abortion, as a teenager, decides she is not loveable. With cold, undemonstrative parents, Marley concludes she is not worthy, so when the good-looking, wealthy and successful Peter comes into her life, she "settles" for a relationship that whilst not being "in love" is at least, safe and comforting. When, on her wedding day, she meets Peter's best friend, Warren, she realises, to her horror, that this man is actually the man of her dreams. The electricity between the pair is palpable.
All this is played out against the background of the horror, the loss and the music that was the dominating factor of the 60's and early 70's - the Vietnam War and the country's opinion of that war. As a child of the 60's and 70's I enjoyed the nostalgia trip, but more importantly, I enjoyed the story of these characters, as they tried to come to terms with who they were and what to make of the situations life had thrown at them.
This is not deep, sophisticated literature; this is a simply told, beautifully written tale of a woman attempting to find her place in a world she's not sure she belongs in. The friendship between Marley and her best friend since childhood was one of the highlights of the book. I have to be honest, there's not a lot I can read that makes me emotional, yet this book has that ability. I wondered how the author would conclude the story given the first person POV and I was both satisfied and moved by her writing.
If you love romance, relationships and the dynamics between them, you really will love Yield. It's a winner in my book and worth every one of the five stars I've given it.

You can find Yield here, on Amazon.

two face the world: marry in haste... (richard and maria book 2) by Sarah Stuart

26/12/2018

Two Face the World is a continuation of the story by author Sarah Stuart in her critically acclaimed, Three Against the World, where we were first introduced to Richard and his supposed daughter Maria, who was dropped on his doorstep at age fourteen, along with the stray dog, Ben. Now grown up, Maria has admitted to herself that her feelings for Richard are much deeper and much more inappropriate than those between a daughter and her father. Richard has always felt the same way and when a DNA test confirms that Maria is not his daughter, they are finally free to express their feelings for each other without any sense of shame or judgement.
Richard has high hope for Maria, once she finished school and goes to University to study design, but Maria is less enthused on the prospect. Once they are in a committed relationship, marriage seems the next obvious step and despite the age difference it is a step both want, both believe in, and both are committed to. Marriage, however proves not the panacea first thought as the pair embark on a series of adventures and calamities that threaten to imperil and derail their entire relationship.
Stuart has always had the ability, in her work, to take what is often seen as unacceptable social relationships and somehow make them not only acceptable, but also desirable. This is a real fillip both to her and her writing ability. Despite the age-gap and the years spent in a father-daughter relationship, the author manages to convince us, as readers, that we should not only accept their relationship, but actively root for its success. This is a rare talent in an author and Stuart always had that, in spades.
Two Face the World is a wonderful, easy-to-read, story that is impossible to put down. As with Stuart's earlier work, the characters are relatable and likeable, but more especially as each book is produced, the strength and depth of Stuart's prose is noticeable. All authors develop and grow as they progress and one of the best parts of being a professional reviewer is being able to see that happen before your very eyes.
You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy the second, because the author drops subtle hints throughout to bring the reader up to speed. However, personally, I think you should read them in order, simply because they are so damn good.
I highly recommend this read - another winner from Sarah Stuart.

You can find Two Face the World, here on Sarah Stuart's Amazon page, along with the rest of her exceptional portfolio.

Lost Love: A Story of Love, insecurities and friendship. (Friends, Family and Love Book 4) by Joni Martin

16/12/2018

In this, the latest iteration of Joni Martins' story of a group of friends and siblings, who find themselves falling in love, within their group, we focus on Theo and Krista's relationship. Just as their friendship was beginning to bloom into love, Theo's sister, Josie and one of his best friend's Ronald put the kybosh on their developing love affair by convincing Theo, a mechanic, that he was not good enough for the beautiful, talented and smart, Krista. Wracked by self-doubt Theo has broken off the relationship and begins to sink into as morass of pain, angst and depression. Similarly Krista is devastated to lose the man she believed was going to be the "love of her life" and she begins also to spiral downward.
All of the couple's friends, as well as Josie and Ronald, now realise their horrific error, but is it too late to convince Theo and Krista that they were wrong to interfere and that the two clearly love each other so much, as evidenced by their depression at being apart, that they were clearly meant to be together. Can Theo and Kristie find each other again and perhaps more importantly can Theo find his self-esteem and his confidence again, after Josie's cavalier treatment of his feelings?
Reminiscent in many ways of an episode of "Friends", I first became attracted to these characters in Martins' book "Captive Love" and Lost Love follows the same, emotional, twenty-something's as they try to settle into the real adult world and make their way in their chosen careers as well as forming relationships.
Martins' writing is straightforward and easy to read. The characters are likeable and easy to identify with, although, at times, I did feel like grabbing Theo and giving him a good, stern, talking to about not worrying about what others thought about him - only his opinion mattered. What I did like was the love scenes in the story, that were hot, passionate and exciting without crossing that fine line into crudity. Martins did an excellent job on that account.
All in all, another good addition to this series and I am keen to see where the next character relationship heads - presumably Josie and Ronald. A good read.

You can find Lost Love, plus the rest of Joni Martins' portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

a bend in time (never without her book 1) by anne C. maxwell

1/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

A Bend in Time (Never Without Her, Book 1) by Anne C Maxwell takes the reader on a journey through time as the two main character Omar and Elena discover much about themselves and about each other. Omar and Elena are both well-educated, from high-ranking families in Saudi Arabia. Although she grew up in Saudi, with Omar as a close friend and confidant, Elena is of European extraction and very different to him. They have, however, both always had a secret attraction for each other. When Elena, now an operative for British Secret Intelligence MI6, is delegated the task of infiltrating Omar’s London Bank and discovering whether the bank is secretly laundering money and funnelling it to terrorist organisations, Elena knows she will have trouble keeping her professional and personal lives separate. For Omar’s part, a possessive, dominating man, he quickly discovers Elena is not like other woman, whom he can snap his fingers at and have, at a moment’s notice. The story takes us on twists and turns, from London, to New York, to Riyadh and to France, through both time and location, as the pair face imminent death from several quarters. Will Omar and Elena manage to combine their love with their differing perspectives on life?

What lifts A Bend in Time (Never Without Her, Book 1) above the average, run-of-the mill, spy thriller is the additional plot twist of the time quirks. With both Elena and Omar being thrown back into differing histories, each has to find their own place in their respective, new societies. Both encounter relationships similar to the one they have with each other in the 21st Century. Using this technique Author Anne C Maxwell has elevated the story above that of a thriller. I found both main characters to be very sharply drawn almost to the point of caricature. Omar was the rich, successful, powerful, domineering, yet incredibly handsome Saudi businessman, with Elena being the absolute expression of the modern woman; beautiful, free, powerful, independent and very much in charge of herself and her life. This culture clash and the tension that created in this love affair made for interesting and absorbing reading. The pair’s adventures in their respective time bends also made for an interesting interlude to the story. As a first book in a planned trilogy involving these characters, the author has set the scene well for subsequent stories.

You can find A Bend in Time, along with the rest of Anne C. Maxwell's work, here on her 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:

sea cliff: a love story by mary deal

10/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rachael Connor, outwardly successful and a budding author, to the outsider seemed to have it all. An inheritance from her father had assured her financial stability and she was able to choose when she worked for wages and when she indulged in her one true passion, writing. In Sea Cliff: A Love Story by Mary Deal, we find that Rachael has a dark secret that rules her life, even now, as an adult and long after her father has died. Rachael and her brother Brandon were brought up by a tyrant and abusive father who ruled their lives with both physical and mental abuse that Rachael still carries to this day. She is unable to form lasting relationships with men as she simply doesn’t know how and consequently has resigned herself to a life of solitude, with writing and meditation as her solaces. Enter, Matthew Knight, a successful, ridiculously handsome and well-adjusted young man, who sets his cap at winning Rachael’s heart. True love, though, rarely runs smoothly and both Matthew and Rachael have to overcome the many barriers that life and their pasts put in their way, before they can truly find each other.

Sea Cliff: A Love Story is a simple, carefully crafted romance, but what lifts it above others in the genre is its willingness to address societal issues that might otherwise be glossed over. Author Mary Deal has imbued her character of Rachael with all the angst and fear a sufferer of an abusive childhood would feel. As, a reader, we want to take Rachael and shake her, telling her to “get with the programme.” She has a man who clearly adores her and yet she looks for and finds myriad ways to push him away. Although both of the main characters are too perfectly beautiful/handsome for my liking, there was no stopping me from enjoying the twists and turns their convoluted relationship took. The concept of combining the feelings and actions of the characters in this story with the characters in the story Rachael was writing had the potential to be trite and clichéd and yet Deal made it work well. The writing style is simple and unpretentious, which I did enjoy and I found myself flying through the read. I can definitely recommend this read to lovers of romance.

You can take a look at Sea Cliff, plus the rest of Mary Deal's portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

touching the wire by rebecca bryn

22/10/2018

Touching The Wire by Rebecca Bryn is an amalgam of two stories, vastly different and yet inextricably linked. We travel back to the horrors and evil of the holocaust concentration camps and perhaps the worst of them all, in Auscwhitz. The author shows us firsthand and in graphic detail the pain, the suffering and the abomination that was the death camps. Juxtaposed on top of this heart-rending story is the lives of two twins, Charlotte and Lucy, who have always believed their Grandfather held a secret that dated back to World War II. Grandfather would never talk about the war, but they knew of his nightmares and the frequent looks of deep sorrow that would cross his face from time to time.
When the twins' Grandfather dies, they discover a carving he had made, which leads them on a mystery hunt, similar to those he had organised for them as children, however, this time the prize will not be a bar of chocolate but perhaps the truth about what really happened in that murderous death camp and who was ultimately responsible.
At times, the horror of life in the camps is almost impossible to read, but that serves only too highlight the incredible and utter inhumanity of that period and is necessary to remind us that; "he who keeps silent, consents". The author has captured the brutality of the camps, but also she has beautifully captured the indomitable spirit of so many of those who lost their lives, to Nazi madness and the humanity of characters, such as Miriam, shines through the narrative to blunt the evil.
As I said, this is really two stories in one; we have the life and love of Charlotte, as she seeks to find her way in the world, after an abusive and failing marriage, plus we have the mystery of why Grandfather made these sculptures, what they tell, and where they all are, now.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and yes, although the conditions described in the camps are hard to bear, there is enough good in this story to counterbalance the evil. If you are a WWII story devotee and you like a good mystery, then Touching The Wire is an absolute "must read", for you. Author Rebecca Bryn has performed a superb balancing act with this tale.

You can find, Touching The Wire, along with the author's full portfolio, here on Rebecca Bryn's Amazon page:

Captive Love: A story of love, obsession and possession (Friends, Family and Love Book 1) by joni martins

26/9/2018

Captive Love by Joni Martins is a relatively short primer that introduces the reader to some of the characters who make up her Friends, Family and Love Series. Captive Love gives us an insight into the mind and actions of a mentally unbalanced stalker.
Lydia is a 24-year-old medical receptionist who has dreams of one day becoming a nurse. She has left the family farm and now shares a house with her best friend's elder brother. Their friendship is strong, but platonic. One evening when Lydia doesn't come home and does not turn up for work the next day, her housemate Rob becomes concerned about her whereabouts. This is not like Lydia at all - she is usually so considerate of her friends and always reliable.
Sam is a loner. He grew up the subject of abusive parents and even at the age of five was already having to fend for himself. He has long worshiped Lydia from afar and has always dreamed of their perfect life together - the perfect family that he was so cruelly denied. After years of stalking her Sam decides it is time they were together and it is time to act and help nature take its course in their relationship. Although Lydia remembers Sam from school, she'd never had much to do with him and was never aware of his burning obsession for her.
As a primer for the series, Captive Love does a nice job of introducing the characters that will play a role in future books. The character of Sam is both simple and complex. Clearly he has serious mental issues that have caused him to act this way, but even Lydia can find some sympathy for him, given his awful upbringing. I liked that Lydia's abduction has made the older Rob question his own feelings for her. Wonderful platonic friends now for a couple of years, he must now confront and address the feelings that rise up inside of him when he realises Lydia may actually be with someone else.
This is a good, entertaining and enjoyable read, with the writer's style straightforward and conversationalist. If you are looking for a series that will track you through with a familiar cast of characters then Captive Love is definitely the place to start.

You can find Captive Love, plus the rest of this series, here on Joni Martins' Amazon page:

noemie's journey by victoria saccenti

9/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When Richard Winters points his Harley away from New York and heads south, looking for peace and a release from the memories of a devastating love affair, he wants nothing more than solitude and an opportunity to find himself again. The small town of Summitville in North Carolina where nobody knows him seems a great place to start again, but what he doesn’t count on, though, is meeting the beautiful and desirable young Creole woman by the name of Noémie whose desirability he must fight if he truly is to fulfil his promise to himself of no romantic entanglements. Set in the mid-sixties, against the background of the Civil Right’s Movement, Noémie’s Journey by Victoria Saccenti explores the reality of life for a beautiful coloured woman in the South. Laws may have changed, but attitudes will take generations to change. Richard, a Yankee, from up north, has no perception of what an interracial relationship will entail in North Carolina in the sixties, but Noémie knows well the ingrained racism of her fellow residents that she deals with every single day of her life.

Noémie’s Journey serves to remind us just how far we have come in the forty years in race relations, but equally it also makes us examine our feelings toward people who are different to us, today – a touchstone for American society, as much now, as it ever has been. Author Victoria Saccenti does a superb job of highlighting the institutional and deep racism that was just below the surface of civil society, especially in the South, in those turbulent years of the mid to late sixties. At its heart this book is a love story and a beautiful one at that. I particularly loved the author’s ability to convey the depth of love and the power of their passion, in her words, without ever having to resort to crudity or erotica. As a reader, I felt the build-up of sexual tension and revelled in the “when will they”, just as much as the participants. This is a real fillip to the author and it is what makes this book so very readable and one of the best of its genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it to all readers who like a true romance, but also enjoy a bit of action and thoughtful social comment.

You can check out Noemie's Journey, here on Victoria Saccenti's Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio

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