Category: Young Adult - GRANT LEISHMAN

ellie everlasting by isabel scheck

8/4/2019

Reviewed For Reader's Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

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

4/2/2019

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

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

Setting the Record Straight: The True Story of How I Stopped a Murderous Tyrant and Saved the World From Nuclear War by V.W. Shurtliff

2/1/2019

Setting the Record Straight by V.W. Shurtliff is a young/adult dystopian story that follows the adventures of fourteen-year-old Thomas, his best friend, thirteen-year-old Veronica and Thomas' big, red dog, Elmo as they battle the evil scientist Gibion and his Gibionite followers who plan to destroy the United States and democracy, believing that dictatorship is the only way forward for society, with, of course, the evil Gibion as the dictator.
When Thomas wakes up one morning, little does he realise his life will change forever. With his parents missing and a dying man lying in his living room, who tells him to flee for his life, Thomas barely escapes their family home before it is blown to smithereens. After he links up with Veronica, the pair, plus the dog begin a frantic adventure to destroy the Gibion control centres before he has the opportunity to take over the Government and forever destroy the American way of life.
Setting the Record Straight is a tale right out of my childhood, "Boys' Own Annuals". It is fast, furious and always exciting. The teenage pair and their dog are thrown into situations few adults could cope with and yet they handle them with courage, aplomb and certainty. There is no shortage of action in this story and young adults who love action adventure will doubtless lap it all up. I did enjoy the ancillary character of Dr David who brought some sanity and commonsense into every situation.
This is a fun read and exactly what it purports to be, an action adventure for young people. I can definitely recommend this read to its target audience.

You can find Setting the Record Straight, here on V.W,. Shurtliff's Amazon page:

jarius's girl by l. r. hay

18/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jairus’s Girl by L R Hay is a biblically-based book aimed at probably middle-schooler’s and high school aged children that tells the story of Jesus, his teachings, his crucifixion and his resurrection through the eyes of a simple, young girl in the town of Capernaum in 33AD. Tammie is your typical pre-teen, full of energy and excitement as she enters her teenage years. Her father is the Rabbi of Capernaum, commanding much respect and honour for the family. When an itinerant preacher comes to town and turns everyone’s lives upside down, Tammie is as excited about this Jesus as everyone else in the small town. When Jesus begins preaching and performing miracles amongst her family and friends, both Tammie and her father are convinced that Jesus is indeed the real thing and may even be the Messiah that the Jewish people have been awaiting so long for, as prophesised. Not everyone is convinced, however, and to some Jewish people he is seen as nothing short of a blasphemer and a heretic.

Author L R Hay mentions that her target audience is young people, but that some adults have also read and enjoyed the adventures of Tammie and her family. I can count myself as one of those adults enamoured and moved by this simple tale, Jarius’s Girl. Hay has crafted a sweet, funny and strangely moving tale that I have no doubt many young people will identify with. To put is simply, this book is a delight to read. The author uses the tool of “reader asides” to engage her readers and I found this a clever technique that subtly reminded us that although these things may have happened two thousand years ago, they are just as relevant today and the morals and lessons inherent in the story are equally applicable in modern times. I say to any doubters, forget it is about Christianity and just read and enjoy the adventures of a young girl in early Palestine. I’m certainly not overtly religious and I loved the story and the message it brought. It is a story well worth reading and definitely well worth the five stars I have given it.

You can find Jairus's Girl here on L.R. Hay's Amazon Page:

the vagabond king: a coming of age story by james campion conway

29/10/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Vagabond King: A Coming of Age Story by James Campion Conway is far removed from your typical coming-of-age novel. Sixteen-year-old Chris is faced with a crisis of confidence – confidence in who he is and what he wants from life. When his beloved mother dies of cancer, Chris is faced with a pushy father, who he now understands is not even his “real” father at all. Faced with a senior year at High School and College in his future, Chris cannot face the path that is mapped out for him. He cruises through his classes, dreaming of something better. Finally, after another tumultuous argument with his father, Chris decides it is time to leave and seek something different – it is time to find himself. The only place he can think to go, that cold winter’s evening, was his waitress friend, Magda, a woman old enough to be his mother, but with all the beauty and latent allure that only a mature woman can have over an impressionable, young, testosterone driven teenage boy. What he finds, at Magda’s is hope and a new way of thinking.

This book definitely ranks near the top of coming-of-age novels I have read. Author James Campion Conway has a wonderful command of the language and draws us into Chris’ tortured and questioning mind. Easy to read and incredibly easy to identify with, the reader is drawn along on Chris’ voyage of self-discovery, both cheering and jeering the young man at times for his ignorance and his preconceptions. The character of Magda’s Hungarian father was beautifully drawn and his home-spun philosophy and pragmatic approach to life a refreshing change in this era of entitlement. The Vagabond King: A Coming of Age Story asks the questions that all of us asked at one time or another; what is the meaning of life? Who or what controls our fates and destinies? What is the right direction for me to take? A smooth and seamless read that just flowed by, I especially appreciated the poetry of the character, Atman O’Dey, another young man tortured by uncertainty over identity and fitting in. This is a powerful story, beautifully told and well worth the highest rating I can give it.

You can find The Vagabond King, here on James Campion Conway's Amazon page:

aeon rises by jim cronin

15/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Skutarans were a warlike group of aliens at the best of times, but when one of their most eminent scientists, Keldon Ankara is publicly humiliated and disgraced by the ruling council, for the direction of his research, he determines to escape and use that research to build an invincible army to return and vanquish the Emperor and rule, himself. Relocated on Earth, Ankara has a plan to infiltrate the brainwaves of millions of earthlings and raise an army to return and claim his homeland. In Aeon Rises by Jim Cronin, Justin Madrid, is a normal earth teenager (or so he thinks), in all respects; a typical geek who longs for acceptance amongst his peers, but cannot, for some reason, participate in the video and internet games so popular with those his age. His blinding headaches and nausea, when he looks at a computer screen are a big cause of concern for him. Justin must soon understand that he is not who he always thought he was, as he, his best friend Kevin, and a beautiful, young, Zarminan alien Myah will be pitched into a battle to save millions of earthlings from the evil machinations of Keldon Ankara.

This is not the first Jim Cronin book I have read and Aeon Rises continues a fine series of excellent science fiction stories from this author. What I particularly like about this author is that his science fiction is never way too outlandish or technologically complex for mere mortals such as myself to understand. Cronin instead focuses on the characters, their relationships and their trial and tribulations. In Aeon Rise, he has created a wonderful trio of three young characters who many will find the ability to identify with. Our hero Justin is a typical geek and along with his best friend Kevin they can quote almost any line from a series of genre films e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings etc. etc. When you throw in the idea of Justin having to deal with discovering his true identity and also the beautiful, romantic possibilities of the young Zarminan, Myah, you have all the elements of a wonderful young adult, science fiction tale. The idea of the triad bonding opened up all sorts of possibilities, for the future, for the author and I, for one, hope he chooses to explore these in his next books. This is a highly recommended read, from me, for basic science fiction buffs and young adults, alike. I loved this story.

You can grab a look at Aeon Rises (and I recommend you do) by Jim Cronin, here, on Amazon.

blitzball by barton ludwig

10/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Richfield High may be a mythical place in Barton Ludwig’s, Blitzball, but to the predominately white, Aryan residents of the town of Upper Richfield, the school and more importantly its soccer team is the focus of their pride, their hopes, and their dreams. Unfortunately, Upper Richfield’s Soccer team spearheaded by Addie and his motley collection of oddball team-mates is on a real losing streak. Their nemesis is the Lower Richfield, North Prep School, which is predominately populated by immigrants, a collection of Mexican, Brazilian and Filipino students. When Richfield High is beaten again, by North Prep and to add insult to injury, their team is led by a girl, Shaylee, Addie determines to discover what black magic this girl is using to always beat up on their beloved team. What Addie discovers when he delves into Lower Richfield will surprise and shock him, challenging all his preconceived notions of Aryan Supremacy and the purpose of his life.

Blitzball, I suspect, is intended as a comedic parody and in that it does perform extremely well. Author, Barton Ludwig, by ludicrously stretching our imaginations and challenging our prejudices, gives us a possible insight into our world today. Many of the situations and ingrained prejudices highlighted in this story have direct parallels with the rise of populism and nationalism that appears to be currently sweeping the Western world. I’m not 100% sure if that was the authors intent, but in many ways this story does smack us in the face and remind us that the veneer of western civilisation is indeed very thin and we don’t have to look far to see what evil can occur when “good men do nothing”. I found Ludwig’s writing style very suited to the nature of the material. It is potentially aimed at the Young Adult market and at its core it is a “coming of age” story that will resonate within the hearts of many of its readers who have also suffered the taunts, bullying, and unreasonable prejudices of their peers. I enjoyed the read, which did at times make me chuckle and can definitely recommend it as something outside the mainstream of young adult literature.

You can find Blitzball by Barton Ludwig, here on Amazon:

mall hair maladies by kristy jo volchko

24/7/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The 1980’s – a time of big hair, shoulder pads, leotards, jazzercise and get fit videos, well, that’s certainly how I remember it, but for two young thirteen-year-old girls in Pittsburgh, it was their time of coming of age, of discovering who they were and what really mattered to them. Randi and Tanya were absolute BFF’s (best friends forever) and the one thing that bound them to each other, more than anything else was their love of music, but more importantly their complete and utter devotion to their number one cultural icon – Madonna. When Tanya realises that Madonna will be performing live at their local Pittsburgh arena, attending her concert becomes the be all and end all of these two young ladies’ lives. In Mall Hair Maladies, Kristy Jo Volchko brings us a story of friendship, love and perhaps most importantly hair, that one feature that 80’s girls used to define their generation.

As far away from a teenage girl as it is humanly possible to be, I found Mall Hair Maladies to be an absolute breath of fresh air in among the usual murder, destruction and despair that frequents most of the books I read these days. Author Kristy Jo Volchko has set out to capture the spirit, the determination and the maturity of young people and she has done it beautifully. It would be easy to dismiss the characters as frivolous teenagers with little or no responsibility, but Volchko beautifully crafted into the story some meaningful and deeper reflections on life, on karma and most especially on friendship and what it means to be a true friend. I absolutely rode this fun tale all the way and although not a child of the eighties myself, I could see in their crazy adventures and their determination to do what they wanted to do, a lot of my own teenage years. This is a wonderful book for young people, especially, but also for those of us young at heart and tired of the continuing negativity that surrounds us in media, in film and in literature. Like Madonna, this book sings to its own song sheet and for that alone I can highly recommend it.

Definitely do pop on over to Amazon and check out Mall Hair Maladies and all of Kristy Jo Volchko's selection of amazing stories on her Amazon page.

rise of howlers by bob bannon

18/7/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rise of Howlers by Bob Bannon is a dystopian young adult novel, set on the high seas. Around ten years previously a massive meteor shower struck the earth and along with almost wiping out civilisation, much of the earth’s land mass was forever altered and inundated with seawater. Seven-year-old Nick Moran was one of the lucky ones who survived the initial meteor shower and the subsequent virulent infection, by sheltering in a purpose-built bunker with his family and their friends. Now seventeen, Nick has lost his family to the infected humans, colloquially called “Howlers” (similar to Zombies in many ways) and now lives with other survivors, aboard a cruise ship that sails up and down the American West Coast, calling into towns and villages, from time to time, to refuel and stock up on whatever they can scavenge, always on the lookout though, for the vicious and deadly howlers. When Nick meets and saves young Harper Chin from an attack by howlers, the attraction between the youngsters is immediate and a friendship, with the beginnings of a romance begins to flourish aboard the Swan of the Seas.

Although Rise of the Howlers is targeted as a Young Adult novel, I found it readable and enjoyable as very much not a young adult. The universal themes, of friendship, love, family, self-discipline, and cooperation are applicable to readers of all ages. Author Bob Bannon’s writing style is relaxed and simple, making the book extremely readable, effectively read in just a single sitting, by me. The pace, given that much of the action revolves around battling Zombie-like creatures is naturally fast, but what I particularly enjoyed was that Bannon took the time to develop the inter-personal relationships of some of the characters on board the ship. The highlight of the story, for me anyway, was the sweet, developing relationship between Nick and Harper. Both of them had suffered great losses and serious pain in their short seventeen years, but they had finally found each other and were slowly opening up and sharing their innermost thoughts, which was excellent. I think Bannon did a wonderful job of balancing the action, with the softer, sweeter moments of the story. Although a standalone novel, the author did leave the door open to a sequel, which I sincerely hope is in the works. This is an excellent story for all lovers of the horror/dystopian genre, with a hint of romance thrown in, for good measure.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Bob Bannon's Rise of Howlers.

life happens on the stairs by amy j markstahler

16/7/2018

This award-winning, debut novel, Life Happens on the Stairs by Amy J Markstahler is a wonderfully fresh and realistic look at life and love and the contrasts between the "haves" and the "have nots"; the "elite" and the rest of us ordinary folk. Markstahler has definitely touched a spot in her readers hearts with this beautiful and touching portrayal of young love.

Elsie Richardson, a seventeen-year-old budding artist should be preparing for college, but when a brain tumour strikes down her father and he is incapacitated in hospital, Elsie realises she needs to make some sacrifices, for the sake of her hard-working mother, who is struggling to make ends meet, with no income from Elsie's father. Elsie agrees to take on some of her mother's house-cleaning jobs to give her the time to spend with her husband, before the seemingly inevitable happens. It is whilst cleaning a Southern Society's grand lady's house, that Elsie first meets the handsome, young wealthy grandson, Tyler Vaughn. The attraction between the two is instantaneous, but being aware of her mother's admonition not to do anything that could affect her cleaning job, Elsie is forced to keep her attraction and growing love for Tyler, from her mother. The idea of Tyler ever dating anyone from "the other side of the tracks" is absolutely abhorrent to Tyler's domineering, arrogant and incredibly rude Grandmother, so Tyler also must keep the relationship quiet, on his side, also.

I loved the simple, sweet style of the prose Markstahler writes in. It makes the story very readable and her detailed descriptions of the surroundings gives the reader a wonderful insight into the grandeur of an old, southern, plantation mansion. The interaction and sizzling electricity between Elsie and Tyler is definitely the highlight of the story for me. For readers who love good old-fashioned values, true romance, yet without glossing over our character's flaws and mistakes, then Life Happens on the Stairs will be a rewarding and satisfying read for you.

I enjoyed this story immensely and again, I am pleased and excited to find another, superb, indie author arriving on the literary scene. I expect bigger and even better things from Markstahler in the future. She has definitely hit the mark on this coming-of-age romance. It's a superb debut novel, in my opinion and well worthy of the five stars I'm giving it.

You can find Life Happens on the Stairs, by Amy Markstahler, here on Markstahler's Amazon page.

arcadia falls by ken stark

15/7/2018

This is the first Ken Stark book I've read and I'm certain it won't be the last. Although the genre; young adult. supernatural is hardly my demographic, I found myself completely caught up in the character of this fast-moving, thriller that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go until it spits you out at the very end.

Arcadia Falls is your typical, small-town America, but there is something going on in Arcadia Falls that defies description. For centuries, people have been mysteriously disappearing from Arcadia Falls, but even worse, it seems nobody even remembers who they were after they'd gone. When High School senior, Tyler John begins his final year of school, little does he know what is in store for him and his friends, as they are thrown headlong into a battle for survival against the evil that inhabits "the old town" of Arcadia Falls. Meeting Amanda, a new girl in town, is definitely a highlight of his last year and Tyler begins to imagine this year may be better than the past. Dream on, Tyler!

Tyler, Amanda and their increasing circle of friends, along with a crusty, curmudgeonly History teacher quickly find themselves fighting the battle of their lives against creatures that appear to have come from the very gates of hell itself. This is a battle for friendship, for love and for Arcadia Falls.

Ken Stark has a writing style that carries the reader along in a breathless, non-stop ride of adventure and horror, but yet he doesn't leave behind the character development and makes sure to inject his subtle and sometimes not so subtle humour into the situation. I found this a compelling mixture to read. His characterisations in this particular story were indeed caricatures of every high-school story we've ever read; there is the nerds, the gearheads, the beauties, the jocks, the braniacs and in Mr McTistis, the curmudgeonly, old History teacher, who it turns out is not such a bad "stick" after all. This, I'm sure was intentional, on the author's part to highlight his characters and it worked extremely well, especially as we saw them cast aside their prejudices and embrace each other as common partners in this race to save the town from something inherently evil.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in awarding it a full five stars and I will definitely be looking for other Ken Stark books to read in the future. Highly recommended!

You can take a look at Arcadia Falls, plus the rest of Ken Stark's portfolio, here on his Amazon page:

freaking fast by david pereda

13/6/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Freaking Fast by David Pereda is a young adult novel that thrusts us into the future, reminiscing about today. Alexandra Martin is a successful mathematician living in Asheville, North Carolina, in the year 2066. As she drives her flash, robot car to shoot the man who she describes as the love of her life, she begins to reminisce about her middle-school years, her friends and the day she met the boy who would have such an influence over her life, Ukranian Vitali Borzov. Back in middle-school Alex was your typical nerd; incredibly smart and bright, but equally, totally uncoordinated, shy and doubtful about her looks and her personality. Eager to obtain a scholarship to an elite high-school, Alex is dismayed when she is told she needs to be a more “well-rounded” teenager if she is to guarantee the scholarship – her high grades will not be enough. She knows she’s a faster runner than her schoolmates, so in desperation she decides to give track and field a crack, sprinting in particular. Alex remembers her friends and her time as a rising sprint star along with her new friends and the impact they had on her life, as she heads over to kill the man who she loves more than anything in this world.

David Pereda has produced a fascinating, little story, in Freaking Fast that gives us a peek into what the future might hold, but also spends much time reflecting on the angst and self-doubts that are part of any teenager’s makeup. The characters he creates are typical young teenagers, anxious to prove themselves to their peers, but equally terrified of not being accepted, or of being ridiculed. The author’s style is simple and flowing as should be the case for a target market of young adults. As anything but a young adult, I still found the story compelling and especially enjoyed the deep and meaningful analysis of how Alex faced her sprinting races and dealt with both success and failure. The author made subtle references to how to deal with perceived “failure”, which I appreciated. I also found the little asides, relating to current events of today, both relevant and clever on the author’s part. This was an extremely easy book to read and I can definitely recommend it for not just young adults, but for all those young at heart and especially anyone who tried to follow their dreams, as a young teenager. Freaking Fast is an excellent read.

You can find Freaking Fast as well as David Pereda's other works, here on Amazon:

cascading petals by jane c. brady

31/5/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Bullying is never okay! That is what they always say in schools all over the world, but is it just a platitude that those in authority spout, without truly adhering to? In Cascading Petals, by Jane C Brady we face bullying head-on, in not an abstract manner, but in a deeply personal and realistic way. Jewel Hart has spent most of her school days as the subject of intense bullying; bullying that has lowered her self-esteem and led her to question her place in the world, whether she even belongs here. In this her final year, a senior now, she hopes and prays that things will be different and the year will fly by until she is released, to be an adult, to go to college and to escape the remorseless taunting and pain. When Jewel meets Kaiden Carter she believes she has finally found a kindred spirit, someone she can believe in and trust. Maybe, this final year will be a good one, after all, she consoles herself. For Jewel and her new friends, the final year of high-school will bring the subjects of bullying and teen suicide to a dramatic head, teaching them all something important about themselves and the world.

Cascading Petals is very much a teen romance story and one that is beautifully told, by author Jane C Brady, but it is very much more than that. The author uses the story to explore dark and often hitherto hidden places where teenage minds and angst can reside, especially when faced with the hurtful taunts and lies of not only their peers, but even some of their teachers. The ulterior motive of this book was clearly to shine a light into areas that we, as adults, are often afraid to go and to show just how incredibly debilitating systematic and concerted bullying can be to, not just those being bullied, but often to the perpetrators themselves. Brady tells the story, with no holds-barred and yet maintains a sensitivity and a compassion that we wish was present inside of those who choose to relieve their own inner pain at the expense of others. The characters are real and perhaps not even your typical target of bullies, but I’m sure that was the intent of the author also; to show that it is not only the overweight, or the acne ridden, or the socially awkward teenagers who can be the butt of these young people’s anger and hurt. This is one of the best books on the subject I’ve read and Brady is to be congratulated for telling this difficult story without resorting to clichés and over-emotional responses. A great job.

You can take a look at Cascading Petals by Jane C. Brady, here on her Amazon page:

a girl named cricket by peter j. manos

16/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Cricket and her family, escape their dying planet, to travel across the cosmos, seeking a new place to live. Eventually they crash land in the Mojave Desert of California and near the tiny desert community of Prickly Pear. During the many millennia of their epic journey through interstellar space they have been in suspended animation and their bodies have been transformed from their Lizard-like originals to human form. Cricket, is a typical teenage girl – angry and rebellious about the subterfuge her parents used to trick her into leaving their home, she is determined not to fit into the small community of Prickly Pear. In A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos we see the Sminth family slowly warm their way into the hearts and minds of the Prickly Pear residents, despite the almost unanimous opinion that these newcomers are probably Russian spies come to spy on nearby Andrews Air Force Base. Throw in a renegade bikie gang terrorizing the small town and we have the makings of an exciting Young Adult adventure.

Approaching A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos, from the perspective of his intended audience, i.e. young adults, this story is a lot of fun and told with considerable humour, irony and a touch of pathos. I particularly enjoyed the characters, who were typical of the inhabitants of any small town, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Both Tom and Cricket came across as troubled characters who were just seeking their identity in a world neither felt comfortable with, although for very different reasons. This is a fun story that also manages to poke the borax at some of the current day happenings, which it does with gentle humour. The constant reference to “aliens” as referred specifically to undocumented Mexican workers was a clever construct by the author. I think this book really does hit the mark for its young adult audience. It has romance, action, and that innate fear of authority that often can drive rebelliousness in teenagers. It is an excellent read that I highly recommend.

You can find A Girl Named Cricket by Peter J. Manos, here on Amazon:

the remains in the pond by ann swann

5/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The night Gabrielle Kelly attended her High-School Prom would change her life forever. Gabi went to prom with her (closet gay) friend, Asa, but it was the encounter with her adorable crush, Matt Brennan that would alter the course of many lives in the small town of Live Oak, Texas. In The Remains in the Pond, Ann Swann brings us a coming-of-age, mystery/thriller that takes us on a journey from Texas, to California, to Berne, Switzerland and back again. The chemistry between Gabi and Matt, on Prom night was undeniable and they appeared to be set for an interesting and torrid two weeks of romance, before Matt was due to head off to college. All that would change, however, when a horrific motor vehicle accident and a mysterious phone call from Matt’s cousin, Rose sends Gabi and her friend Asa into a tailspin.

In The Remains in the Pond, author Ann Swann brings us a story reminiscent of “We Know What You Did Last Summer”. The characters in this story are typical teenagers, trying to find their way in a world they’re not sure they fully understand yet. The character of Asa, a gay boy growing up in a small, rural, West Texas town and the angst he felt about revealing his sexuality, was particularly poignant. I liked that Gabi, no matter how hard she tries, cannot walk away from and forget what happened that Prom night. The author reminds us, through this story that all our actions have consequences and it is the “adult way”, to take responsibility for those actions. As a coming of age novel, with a few twists and turns, I found this story a very satisfactory read.

Definitely pop on over to Amazon and take a look at The Remains in the Pond plus all of Ann Swann's extensive works.

path to old talbot by jordan elizabeth

5/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

For thirteen-year-old Charity, her life, it seems, is defined by her father’s illness, a man who suffers from clinical depression. Charity’s mother, Isadora and Charity, both love her father deeply, but they also understand they cannot make the changes in his life that he needs to make. In desperation, the pair move out from the family home and into an old mansion, that has seen better days. In Path to Old Talbot, by Jordan Elizabeth we find a coming-of-age story with hidden depths. Charity and Isadora discover, to their excitement and fear, within an old cupboard in the house, a portal to the past. The door opens up to their town of Talbot, but in the late 1800’s. Fascinated by their discovery and finding it an escape from the problems of her father, Charity embraces the old Talbot and quickly makes herself at home in the era, making a number of friends. When she realises that she may have the potential to alter the past and save her friends from a terrible fate, the problems begin.

Written from the perspective of thirteen-year-old Charity, Path to Old Talbot is a sweet, heart-warming tale, with serious undertones. Author Jordan Elizabeth has used the character of Charity’s father to demonstrate the debilitating effects of clinical depression, not just on the sufferer, but also on his or her family. The relationships within this story are what lifts it above your average coming-of-age novel. Charity has a natural impetuosity and a desire to help those she meets in the past, but she is also wise beyond her years, when it comes to the issue of mental illness and particularly depression. Written in a young teenager’s vernacular, the tale is easy to read and full of little twists and turns, that I enjoyed, especially when the author attempted to address that age-old issue of the time-travel paradox. If Charity made changes in the past, how would that affect the future? This was a most enjoyable read and a young adult book I can highly recommend.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Path to Old Talbot, as well as the very extensive portfolio of Author Jordan Elizabeth

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling (Orville Wellington Mouse #5) by tom hoffman

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Tom Hoffman takes the reader into his wonderful fantasy world of Orville Mouse in his series of Orville Wellington Mouse Adventures, the latest of which is Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling. Orville Mouse, his best friend (and maybe girlfriend?) Sophia Mouse embark on another adventure through space and time, on this occasion, with his faithful companion Proto and the assistance of a rather unusual tree, we come to know as the Sagacious Sapling. There is trouble afoot in Muridaan Falls, when Orville and Sophie begin to experience some time flips, which they soon discover are the precursor to a massive time shift about to hit them resulting from an enormous explosion some hundreds of thousands of years ago. Somehow, the intrepid band of metaphysical adventurers must travel back in time to the prehistoric, jungle world of Ferus and prevent the explosion from ever occurring and releasing the Great Thaumatarian Time Wave, before it reaches their world and plunges them back into the past, some five thousand years.

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling is my first foray into the work of Tom Hoffman and indeed his fantasy world of Orville Mouse. This book is the fifth adventure involving these characters and although it is not necessary to have read the previous books, it is always an advantage, I feel, to read a series in order. As a reader, once you get your head around the idea that this story is a fantasy adventure and indeed the two main characters are actually mice, the characters, their foibles and traits very definitely do grow on you. Orville and Sophia are truly sweet and adorable characters, but much of the humour and enjoyment I derived from the story came from the two offbeat characters, Proto (a robot of sorts) and of course, Leaf, the sagacious sapling. I loved the way they analysed Orville’s jokes and tried to replicate the humour themselves. The idea of logical thinking, programmed, machines beginning to adapt and understand humour while not novel was definitely intriguing. Hoffman has probably targeted the Orville Wellington Mouse sagas at the Young Adult market, but to be perfectly honest, I would suggest there is nothing in this book that would preclude it from being read at a younger age and also by older readers. It is a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling adventure tale, whose two protagonists just happen to be a couple of mice. It was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check this very good book out, plus take a look at Tom Hoffman's full collection:

love buries a spring bird by charles forgrave

15/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Love Buries a Spring Bird, by Charles Forgrave takes us back to our youth, when romance and our burgeoning sexuality was something we contemplated endlessly. Set in the gorgeous upper reaches of Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior, Cortney, who lives in the ex-fishing village and lumber town, meets up with Jackie, from the nearby city of Soo, who is staying at the lake for two weeks with her family and her best friend Ellie. Cortney and Jackie hit it off immediately and spend the rest of the holiday in each other’s company, exploring and hiking the many trails around the village as well as visiting Cortney’s special place on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. When it becomes time for Jackie and her family to return home, reality bites for the love struck pair and so begins a regular commute for Cortney as he tries to keep the relationship alive once the summer excitement has worn off.

There is much to like about this story. We’ve probably all experienced that summer romance, when we were absolutely certain of our feelings and certain of our love for our new partner, only to discover when summer ends and the day-to-day grind of live intrudes, it is much harder to keep the relationship alive. Charles Forgrave’s descriptions in, Love Buries a Spring Bird, of the beauty of the area that is known as the Upper Peninsular of Michigan, does much to endear the story to the reader. The writing style is different to any I have experienced before and may be too simplistic and repetitive for some readers, but there is a certain syncopation to the author’s lines that lifts it above prose, almost into the realm of poetry. Although the author did give his character of Cortney, the opportunity to think and ponder on bigger questions than just making love to Jackie, the character of Jackie, I felt was a little wooden and mono-syllabic. I found the few sexual scenes in the book to be almost “teenage boy jokey” and if that was what the author was aiming for (his potential Y/A audience), then he definitely hit his mark. This was a pleasant enough coming of age/teenage romance and worth a look.

flying upright by susan jean ricci

18/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Flying Upright is a short novella from Susan Jean Ricci that brings us the story of two young children, Monique and Dom who are captivated by the idea of representing their country one day at the Winter Olympics in the sport of pairs figure skating. When Monique, meets the three-year’s older Dom at the age of eight she falls in love with ice-skating and the dream of achieving it all. Years of dedication and hard work see the young prodigy’s progress to the point where they really are serious contenders for Olympic selection. When tragedy strikes and Dom is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, the pair must reassess their lives, their single-minded commitment to achieving their dreams and indeed the relationship that has grown between the pair over the years. Can Monique and Dom, as individuals, survive this disaster and how will it affect their burgeoning romance?

Although a short, little novella, Flying Upright was sweet and somewhat captivating. With the Winter Olympics currently on television, the timing of the read couldn’t have been more perfect and watching the pairs skaters on television made me think of Monique and Dom and the incredible amount of practice and commitment they had to put in, just to raise their performance to the level where they could be considered for selection. Susan Jean Ricci has a clear, concise writing style that is realistic and believable. The character of Monique, as the precocious and sometimes rebellious teenager was well drawn. I found the story to be somewhat predictable, but that never lessened the pleasure of the read. We all need to read some feel-good stories from time to time and Flying Upright is definitely one of those. If the author’s intent with her novella’s is to entice the reader into accessing more of her work, then she can consider it a job well done, for this reader. It was a pleasant and rewarding journey with Monique and Dom.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Flying Upright, plus Susan Jean Ricci's entire and substantial portfolio.

there be demons by m. k. theodoratus

5/2/2018

There Be Demons By M. K. Theodoratus
Editorial Review for the Author Resource Centre
Prepared by Grant Leishman

There are demons among us and we aren’t even aware of it. In the city of Trebridge, Andor, demons seek to take over the world, to inhabit humans and to wreak havoc and destruction everywhere. All that keeps these foul-smelling, evil creatures at bay are a squad of Gargoyles, attached to a Church in Trebridge and four young teenagers, led by the feisty, but shy, fourteen-year-old Britt, who will become the Gargoyle gang, as they find themselves pitted against some of the most evil creatures the Universe has ever spawned. In “There Be Demons” by M. K. Theodoratus, we are introduced to this unlikely band of demon hunters.
All four live in the “Towers” project, a high-rise that is inner-city slum territory. Britt lives, in a two bedroomed apartment, with her Mum, two younger brothers, her half-sister Pietra and Pietra’s two young babies. Crowded, poor, and often hungry, after being abandoned by their philandering father, Britt has everything stacked against her, getting ahead in life. A scholarship to St Cecilia’s High School ensures she will receive the education she needs to find a way out of the projects. Life in Trebridge is tough and uncompromising, with violence everywhere, but it is only as Britt and her friends come to learn from the Gargoyles, that most of the pain and suffering the people are under, comes directly from the influence of the demons, that they truly understand the importance of the task they have been chosen to undertake. Overseeing this mess is the elusive and recalcitrant Angeli, who must be obeyed, but seem unwilling to help the young people, or the Gargoyles, in any practical sense
“There Be Demons”, is an exceptionally readable and exciting, young-adult fantasy. M. K. Theodoratus, an author I have not come across before has done a superb job at creating some very realistic young protagonists/heroes that the reader is immediately able to identify and empathise with. The real standout, for me, was the character of Britt. The author managed to convey the lead protagonist, as a strong, able, and incredibly feisty young woman, who still retained all the shyness, angst and fears of any young fourteen-year-old girl, who equally, longs to be normal, accepted and loved. Britt and her friend/boyfriend Cahal were definitely the star turns in this story. The developing romance and awakening between the pair certainly helped to temper the more violent and vicious parts of the story.
A real highlight was Theodoratus’ descriptive writing when characterising the demons. As one read, one really felt they were there, with Britt, facing down these slimy, disgusting, evil and vile creatures. Her detailed physical descriptions of the many different types of demons; definitely brought them to life, for me. Equally, the fight scenes were realistic and believable. Not once did I find myself scoffing about how a victory was achieved, as is often the case when reading books of this ilk.
“There Be Demons” was a pleasure to read and if fantasy is your thing, you will definitely enjoy this offering. I found intriguing the concept that this battle against demons was something happening all over the Universe and I have little doubt that gives the author plenty of ideas for future projects and stories. All in all, a very satisfying read and something a little bit different in this genre. “There Be Demons”, is definitely a must read for fans of the genre.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out There Be Demons, as well as the rest of M. K. Theodoratus' offerings.

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