GRANT LEISHMAN
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  • ABOUT
  • MY BOOKS
    • THE SECOND COMING
    • RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST
    • HOLY WAR
    • JUST A DROP IN THE OCEAN
    • PARANORMAL ALLEY
    • TORTURED MINDS
    • THE PHOTOGRAPH
  • ARE YOU AN AUTHOR?
  • MY BLOG
  • Be A Part of the LIMITLESS Anthology
  • BOOK REVIEWS
    • BOOK REVIEWS
  • CONTACT & LINKS
  • AFFILIATE - Rachel McGrath
  • THAT'S LIFE
    • FOOD - PINOY STYLE
    • THE GREAT BEETROOT HUNT
    • GETTING AROUND THE METRO
  • PHILIPPINES
    • PLACES TO VISIT >
      • BORACAY
      • OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
  • SPORT
    • NEW ZEALAND SPORT
    • PHILIPPINE SPORT
  • TRANSFORMATIVE POWER
    • THE SECRET
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GRANT LEISHMAN

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

17/11/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Heir of Lies by Mallory McCartney is very much an epic fantasy in the classical mould, with strange, weird and wonderful creatures along with magic, time-travel and a change in dimensions. “The Academy” was the dream of a King and Queen who were forced to marry in an alliance but grew to love and respect each other deeply. The Academy is where young men and women, those with special abilities, powers and magical skills, who were feared and mistrusted, even shunned by the general population were able to grow, mature and nurture those skills for the good of the land, as a whole. Four young, powerful and influential characters would form the basis of what would happen in the future. Emory; daughter of the rulers and heir apparent to the crown was surrounded by her three best friends, Brokk, a shapeshifter, Adair, the son of the King and Queen’s two best friends and seconds in command, and Memphis. All three boys adored and loved Emory but each, it seemed was unable to quite break out of the “best friend” zone with the young princess. What none of them realise is that the Academy was built on lies and half-truths. Much more was going on than either of the four was aware of and the future held horror, terror and pain for all four as they sought to protect the dream of the Academy in a world gone mad with lust and the quest for power.
 
This book, Heir of Lies, really does fulfill all the requirements of an epic fantasy and if you love the exploration of weird and wild worlds ruled my magic and darkness, this is an absolute must read for you. The author, Mallory McCartney has created story arcs that are complicated and varied ensuring a reader never loses excitement in the tale, however that is not done at the expense of great characterization. The four main characters are all beautifully drawn and exquisitely developed as each undergoes a transformation as they come to maturity and discover their true purposes in life, always with that overarching desire and lust for the beautiful princess Emory. By telling the story through these four different character’s perspectives, each chapter reveals something new and different about the true essence of the particular character. The morality of the story is highlighted as a simple choice between good and evil as well as the dangers that lusting for power can have over people that you thought were good, were decent and true friends. I particularly enjoyed the convoluted and conflicting feelings Emory had for Adair, Brokk and Memphis – this gave the narrative a real romantic edge. The battle scenes and individual fights are many and varied, always guaranteed to keep an action lover on the edge of his/her seat. This is an exceptionally well-written book and one I can highly recommend in this genre, or indeed the Young Adult genre.


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

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rage: Australian ya post-apocalyptic drama (seventeen series book two by suzanne lowe

23/8/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

Rage: Australian YA Post-Apocalyptic Drama (Seventeen Series Book 2) by Suzanne Lowe takes us into a dystopian environment, in part, in homage to Lord of the Flies, in Western Australia where the world is now populated by children. The mysterious KV17 virus, eighteen months ago had wiped out the entire adult population (everyone over the age of 17). Left to fend for themselves the young teenagers and children attempted to keep life operating and survive in the harsh environment that was the Western Australian outback. Lexi and Hadley, two sisters who had lived in Perth, had escaped the crime ravaged and vermin infested city to travel to Jasper’s Bay, a small rural town where they hoped they could link up with other survivors and somehow rebuild their lives. In the first book of this series there had been a violent confrontation between a bully-gang and the ordinary children that had resulted in deaths and the realisation that the now mutated KV17 virus would also infect those children when they turned 17, not killing them but altering their brain chemistry to make them emotionally unstable and dangerous. In this forbidding backdrop Lexi, Hadley and their friends have to try to eke out an existence whilst always be cognisant of the dangers of wild teenage enemies and equally, dangerous friends.
 
I found the premise fascinating and this is what drew me into this story. Could a group of children form a cogent society once all the adults had disappeared? William Golding suspected not, what would author Suzanne Lowe make of the opportunity? In Rage: Australian YA post-apocalyptic drama (Seventeen Series Book 2) she presents us with a wide variety of differing characters that generally ring true to form; from the “black sheep” of the family in the guise of the evil brother Kevin, to his brainless sycophantic girlfriend Cindy, right through to those characters determined to make the most of an impossible situation. I found the story to be well written and the flow and tempo to be totally appropriate to the setting. I particularly enjoyed the clear emotional connection between Braydon and Lexi and wanted very much to see with this would lead. The author’s target market is clearly the YA market however, this did not stop this sixty-year-old from, thoroughly enjoying the read. The author clearly knows her environment and this shows through in her work. As a New Zealander, the Aussie slang was second nature to me but even for others it just adds authenticity to the work rather than distracting from it. Lowe did an excellent job of filling in the backstory as we went along, so this can be read as a stand-alone book. The ending (although I’m not personally a fan of cliff-hangers) did nicely set up book three and I look forward to reading it.   

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You can find Rage, along with the rest of Suzanne Lowe's portfolio, here on her Amazon page: 

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The P.S. Wars: Last stand at custer high by Geoffrey Carter

30/6/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman  ​

The PS Wars: Last Stand at Custer High by Geoffrey Carter takes us inside the battle for the minds of America’s young people and the debate over private vs public education. Dave Bell is a retired teacher with over thirty-odd years spent teaching at the Public High-School, Custer High. With his wife and children estranged he sees no downside to returning to the school as a substitute teacher for another year. But Dave and his fellow teachers are about to be caught up in a battle for the privatisation of Custer High. EduNet and its corporate minions are seeking to convince the school board and the city that Public Education has failed its students and its community. They want to take over the school and replace it with a private charter school. Dave and his fellow long-serving teachers know well that in this predominantly African-American community and in a school with over 40% of its students falling into the Special Needs Education category, a private charter school will do nothing to help these students. In fact, they know they will be excluded. The students, the teachers, the parents and the community in general will rally around their beloved school but can they convince the School Board and the City not to give in, to the corporate raiders?
 
Being a non-American I found The PS Wars: Last Stand at Custer High to be a fascinating insight into the machinations of the US Education system and the argument that private enterprise can always do a better and more efficient job than a beurocracy-laden Government. Author Geoffrey Carter is clearly passionate about the topic and this flows throughout his work. The author’s style is easy, flowing and very readable. I found the characterisations of the teachers, especially, to be endearing. We can all remember those rare teachers, from our childhood, who made going to school somehow make sense. I loved the counterpoint he made between those (generally of the older generation) for whom teaching was a vocation and for whom the students were their lives, with those who just viewed teaching as a stepping stone to a more rewarding and successful career. The corporate greed honchos were perhaps a tad overdrawn and incredibly dysfunctional but no doubt made that way to highlight the differences in motivations between the two sets of characters. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of Dave Bell’s teaching style and his interactions with the students, which were realistic and never pulled any punches, showing starkly the difficulty and the rewards of working in an inner-city, impoverished, school. The point that the teachers were doing their absolute best, despite the appalling situation came through loud and clear. I found this book an excellent read and can highly recommend it.             

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You can find The P.S. Wars: Last Stand at Custer High by Geoffrey Carter, here on Amazon: 

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

27/6/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

E. C. Fisher has brought the Arthurian legend to life in a new and different way in the novel, Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition. Young Arthur is unaware he is a direct descendant of the great King Arthur of Camelot. After Arthur’s parents are killed in a car crash when he was just twelve, a miserable aunt sends Arthur off to a boarding school where he is lost and alone, his only solace the books and stories his mother used to read to him, so assiduously, of Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur and their adventures. Obsessed with everything Arthurian, Arthur wishes for nothing more than to be transported from his hell here to the days of legend, a legend he somehow feels intimately connected with. On the planet Avalon, trouble is brewing. The sleeping black dragon is awakening and about to spread its evil across all of the land that was once Camelot – unless, a young man can be summoned to save the world, a young man capable of drawing Excalibur from the stone, of reuniting all of the sacred weapons and defeating the evil that threatens to destroy Avalon. Could young Arthur be that man?
 
Re: Camelot, The Complete Edition is certainly a unique twist on the old Arthurian story. Author E. C. Fisher has created a whole new world in which Camelot once existed and although now fragmented, can be unified again by the right person. I loved the unique premise and it is not one I have found in my Arthurian readings to date. It is always difficult to take a legend such as Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which has been so written about over the years and give it a new and fresh twist. Fisher does this well and the descriptions of the planet Avalon and its environment are well done. Arthur and indeed the main characters of the story, for me, were a little superficial and their treatment and characterization not in-depth enough for my liking. That may be a feature of the author’s desire to have such a large ensemble cast but nonetheless apart from Arthur we really did not get to know the other characters in any real depth. That being said, the story is one that rollicks along at some pace, with plenty of action and fight scenes in the narrative, along with some budding romances between the characters. I suspect this is squarely aimed at the young adult audience and the speed and unique qualities of the story will doubtless appeal to them. I did particularly like the lack of gender bias the author built into the story – automatic rights of accession regardless of gender and, of course, a female Merlin all go a long way to address the need to be gender equal in today’s world. Well done to the author for that.         

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

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no fences in alaska by glen sobey

30/5/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

No Fences in Alaska, by Glen Sobey, is a classical coming-of-age novel that traces a young, wild-child from her shenanigans in San Antonio, Texas to the wild great outdoors of the Alaskan hinterland. Harper Lyons is a typical sixteen-year-old rebellious child. Feeling rejected by her God-fearing, strict parents, Harper set out, from the age of twelve to show them there was nothing they could do to stop her rebellious nature. Expelled from her Father’s strict Christian school, Harper begins a wild ride of drugs, alcohol, sex, and throwing herself at any good-looking male in the hope of finding the love she so desperately craves from her parents but seems so unable to find. When Harper discovers she is pregnant and the baby’s father wants nothing to do with her anymore, she realises an abortion is the only hope for her. Texas, however, has strict abortion laws that require parental consent but Harper is too terrified to even tell her parents she is pregnant, let alone ask for an abortion. Discovering Alaska has no parental consent rules for abortions, she decided to contact her Grandfather, Cooper, who has had no contact with the family since Harper was six to try to wheedle a way into getting sent to Alaska to be with him. Cooper, who is suffering his own difficult trials, is thrilled with the idea of seeing his family again and so begins a voyage of discovery for both Grandfather and Granddaughter.
 
This is the second Glen Sobey book I have read and No Fences in Alaska greatly fulfilled the promise I saw in this author’s first work. This story is tough, uncompromising and at times, harsh but it is told with such love and compassion, the characters were so easy to identify with. I love the author’s conversational writing style and his willingness to confront teenage issues that we so often sweep under the table, head on. Harper, was a character that you loved to get angry with. It was so easy, as a reader, to identify with her Dad, Greg’s anger and frustration at her behaviour but Sobey quickly showed us that underneath all the teenage rebellion and lashing out was a young woman whose heart was crying out for love, for comfort and just generally for a family. This story will pluck at your emotional heartstrings and on more than one occasion you will find your eyes watering as you become intimately involved in the real-life, everyday struggles these characters are dealing with. One of the best parts of being a professional editorial reviewer is the opportunity to watch writer’s grow and expand their abilities as they stretch their literary boundaries. I definitely see that in Sobey’s second book and I can only say that it is one of my favourite reads of the year and I definitely look forward to more from this incredibly talented author. This is definitely a book every teenager and every parent could benefit from reading and I can recommend it most highly.      

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You can find No Fences in Alaska, along with Glen Sobey's debut novel, The War Blog, here on his Amazon page: 

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the wolf and the crimson maiden by anastasia bolinder

27/5/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden by Anastasia Bolinder is an adaptation of an old favourite fairy-tale staple, Little Red Riding Hood but with an intriguing and fascinating twist. Rose Emila Decanter is the daughter of a wealthy, ruthless, huntsman who has the King’s favour. She is betrothed to the top Knight in the Kingdom but feels little for the man. She likens her life to of being in prison, albeit a gilded prison. Emila seeks friendship and understanding in the village, but with her crimson cape she is instantly recognisable as the huntsman’s daughter and the villagers fear and hate the man, transferring their feelings for him, onto her. Her Grandmother had always been Emila’s biggest champion and source of love, so when Grandmother died, so did Emila’s little joy in life. One day when Emila determined to visit her Grandmother’s grave to seek some momentary solace she is set upon by a band of robbers in the forest. Left for dead, her saviour and rescuer came in the form of a wolf-man, Cole. Cole had been transformed into a wolf by a witch and was unable to find a way to reverse the curse. As Cole nurses Emila back to health she discovers a warmth and a caring that has been so missing from her life for so long. The strange relationship between the wolf and the young woman only continues to grow and deepen as Emila’s father becomes more violent and vile towards her.
 
I have read quite a few fairy-tale adaptations over the years but this one was different in a number of ways. The unique idea of the wolf-man and the burgeoning love between the two was clever and lifted this story above many of the others I have read that could be classified as similar. The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden is an excellent read full of excitement and adventure but still managing to continue that fairy-tale staple of delivering a sound, moral message to the readers. Author Anastasia Bolinder has created characters that are immediately recognisable to the original yet unique enough in their own way to distinguish it totally from the original. I particularly enjoyed the emotional gamut the pair was running as they realised their growing love for each other but also the perils that loved placed each of them in. The question always at the forefront of the readers’ mind would be: “Is the greatest love of all, the willingness to sacrifice that very love to save the life of the person you love?” In some ways, I wanted the story to continue and the author has hinted there are future adventures to come, which I shall look forward to. This is a well-written book that is well worth the read and I can definitely recommend it.


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

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running out of lies: a mystery by brian beneventi

24/5/2019

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Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Running Out of Lies: A Mystery by Brian Beneventi brings us a coming-of-age story wrapped up in a five-year-old mystery. Shane’s father disappeared some five years ago, just not returning home one evening. Everyone, the police included, believed his father probably was having an affair and left the family of his own accord, never wanting to be found again. For twelve-year-old Shane, who had idolised his father the “truth” was something he couldn’t accept and he’d always believed his father was still out there, possibly kidnapped, but definitely looking for a way to make contact with his son. Shane’s academics were nothing to be overly proud of, although he scraped by High School along with his best friend Pher. When a new, mysterious, teacher Mr Thile begins at the school, he challenges Shane to be better than he was and to challenge himself by going out for the Cross-Country team. Remembering his father’s love of cross-country as a teenager, Shane hatches a plan to get into the top-ten at the State Championship and be highlighted on television. Surely his father would be watching this event and he is confident he would make every effort to contact Shane, once he saw him on TV. Battling the need to let go of his dream of reuniting with his father and moving on into adulthood, he struggles to deal with the reality of life.
 
This book struck a chord with me instantly. Shane the main character was a mixture of so many teenage males out there, full of angst, self-doubt and desperately seeking a male role-model to guide them on that incredibly difficult journey through their teenage years. Running Out of Lies: A Mystery is an incredibly relaxing and easy book to read. Author Brian Beneventi has really tapped into the teenage, male psyche and this is especially reflected in the relationships between Shane and Pher, plus between Shane and Lyla. What we often perceive as superficial, sarcastic, and smarmy frequently hides real pain and deep stress. The author brings this to the surface perfectly and the strained relationship between Shane and his mother is handled with real aplomb by the author. How often have we, as young adults (if we can remember back that far), felt our parents had blamed us for events that were totally outside of our control? This book is about growing up and becoming a man but it is much more than that; it is about the many and varied relationships that we as human beings form and the people that touch our lives, sometime just briefly but change us forever. With an easy, conversational writing style the author has brought us a book that was a joy to read and one I can highly recommend.  


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You can find, Running Out of Lies by Brian Beneventi, here on Amazon: 

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shrug by lisa braver moss

23/5/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​SHRUG by Lisa Braver Moss is one of those sleeper type books that starts out slowly and creeps up on you, before grabbing you by the throat and demanding that you pay attention to it. Martha Goldenthal is a young woman growing up in the 60’s in the centre of politically active Berkley. Caught between the awakening sexual revolution, the Vietnam War, and parents she neither understands or likes, but strangely wants approval from, she is shy, timid and lacking in any confidence whatsoever as she takes on board and internalises the constant belittling and criticism of her mother. Coupled with a father who clearly loves her but has immense anger issues and is unable to control his fists, Martha lives in constant fear of one or the other, usually both, parents. Unable to form a positive self-opinion, Martha grows up succeeding at school but unable to figure out why – after all she’s dumb, isn’t she? With her two siblings, elder sister Hildy and younger brother Drew, plus her best friend Stephanie, Martha must somehow navigate the difficult waters of adolescence and teenage years without going crazy, getting hooked on drugs and alcohol, getting pregnant, or choosing suicide as a way out.
 
As stated, this story, SHRUG, really crept up on me. Author Lisa Braver Moss has created a character, in Martha, that is vividly recognisable to anyone who has come from even a mildly dysfunctional family, of which Martha’s is far worse. She has to grow up quickly and face issues that are adult and above her understanding but she determinedly struggles for acceptance, understanding and love. I particularly enjoyed the pop culture references to the period (my own period of childhood). I, as a reader, saw a strong metaphor between the two clashing worlds Martha was caught between, represented by the old order (Classical Music and Conservatism) and the rising tide of youth anger and rebellion (Rock Music and Protest). Without the definitive guidance of a parent, Martha floundered between the two orders, never feeling she managed to fit into either. Her mother, the one woman she defended and loved, rejected her outright and her father, she felt, only begrudgingly accepted her, preferring, it seemed ot her, her older sister over her. For anyone who has felt this teenage angst of rejection I have no doubt Martha’s story rang true and close to home. For me, this was a wonderful, Young Adult, Coming of Age, novel that is as relevant now, as the period in which it was set. One felt it was semi-autobiographical and the author had an intense personal experience to draw on, to write some of the more emotional passages. I can highly recommend this read.    

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You can find SHRUG, along with the rest of Lisa Braver Moss' extrensive portfolio, here, on her Amazon page: 

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roam by erik therme

3/5/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Roam by Erik Therme is a young adult novel that explores the themes of young adult angst, social awkwardness and the ever-present threat of violence and danger. Sarah is celebrating her twenty-first birthday with her boyfriend Matt. It was supposed to be the perfect day for her, but when Matt gets horribly drunk and their car breaks down on a deserted road, Matt's lowered inhibitions bring out the latent violence inside him, which scares Sarah deeply. Deciding to walk the ten miles back to town, she is picked up by two teenagers, who seem nice but still, she is worried about her safety. In a fit of anger with her mother, Sarah decides to seek her childhood friend, Scotty, in a nearby town for solace. Things are about to get ugly for Sarah, her new, shy, socially inept friend Kevin and all those around her. Will Sarah make twenty-one years and one day and will her life be forever changed by this chance encounter?


I found Roam to be an extremely readable and comfortable story. Author Erik Therme has brought us characters we can all identify with as readers; the 'beautiful without realizing it' Sarah, the overbearing, possessive, drunken and entitled boyfriend, the lost soul who doesn't really know what he wants from life, and the shy teenage boy whose greatest desire is just to get out of this hick town and make his name as a writer. I enjoyed the story and the subtle plot twists from time to time. The author gave me many "aha" moments as I remembered my own troubled and angst-ridden young adult years from long ago. This is a character-driven story more than anything and the author has done a great job at developing them. The ending was a little predictable but that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. In summary, a good, solid exploration of young persons' psyche.

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You can find Roam, plus the rest of Erik Therme's work, here on his Amazon page: 

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

29/4/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

​Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) brings us a fast-paced, young adult, spy thriller from the pen of C. C. Bolick. Seventeen-year-old Rena Mason has one thing on her mind; graduating her senior year at high-school, getting a full scholarship so she can study aeronautical engineering and most of all, getting out of the hick Florida town she has lived in since she was six-years-old. Rena used to love their life there but all that changed three years ago when they were involved in a car accident that saw Rena’s beloved mother killed. With her father taking to the bottle, Rena was forced to grow up way too soon and assume full responsibility for looking after her little brother. Little did Rena realise the appearance of a new boy at school would change her life forever. When her father is kidnapped by terrorists, Rena needs to confront the idea that her father had a secret existence and life before they moved to their tiny trailer-home in their small town. When it seems the terrorists are actually after her, Rena starts to understand that she may be much more than she originally thought, also and that her mother might not have been just the loving housewife and mother she had always known and missed every single day since her death.
 
C. C. Bolick has produced an extremely readable and exciting action thriller that is tailor-made for the young adult audience it is undoubtedly aimed at. Fear Justice (The Fear Chronicles Book 1) is doubtless the start of what promises to be an exciting series featuring these young “secret agents”. I would probably describe best this story, as a cross between Men in Black and X-Men. The idea of a super-secret government agency tasked with dealing with aliens and those humans with enhanced powers, either genetically received or by accident is certainly one that has been done before but I found Bolick’s slant on the story to be refreshing and novel. I particularly liked the developing relationship between Rena and Travis. The idea that they are falling for each other and yet are not able to actually touch each other; skin to skin, is intriguing and opens up all sorts of possible story arcs in the next book in the series. I also found the “super power” attributed to Rena to be odd and unusual enough to lift the story above the run-of-the-mill young adult thrillers. Rena is a superb character with strength and vulnerability that shines through in every page. If you like action-packed, aliens, paranormal, and a whole helping of romance, this is definitely the book and series for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am about as far from a young adult as it’s possible to get.           


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

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karrin: warrior woman (Excalibur saga book 4) by sahara foley

24/4/2019

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Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman 

In this, the fourth book of Karrin: Warrior Woman, Excalibur Saga, by Sahara Foley, we find human Karrin, alone, abandoned on the planet Switch, with only her two-tailed, monkey-like friend Brownie for company. Karrin has been alone ever since her rescuer, hero, and true love Ispepyein leader, Lurga Pukani had seemingly abandoned her some three years earlier. When Brownie continually disappears from time to time and returns with “gifts” for Karrin, she is intrigued as to where they come from. Following Brownie on one of his sorties, Karrin discovers the massive wreck of a cargo ship. Discovering nobody aboard except the ship’s artificial intelligence along with a cargo of a powerful, radioactive silver substance, she discovers that the Calens are coming for her and intend to destroy her. Regaining her Ispepyein Warrior Child mantle and her confidence, Karrin is determined to fight to the end like a true Ispepyein Warrior. She may die but she will take as many of them with her as she can. So begins an adventure through the galaxies, the Universes and the dimensions that will see Karrin and her forebears locked in a battle for survival for not just themselves, or their species, but for the whole of their Universe.
 
I like my Science Fiction to be less technically driven and more emotionally driven. Karrin: Warrior Woman, Excalibur Saga Book 4, is just such a character driven story. Sahara Foley has written a tale of adventure, love and survival that transcends the setting of Science Fiction. The author introduces some weird and wonderful creatures into her world but always underlying everything is the deep love and affection between the characters, despite their many physical and emotional differences. I think I was particularly drawn to this story as it used the notion of panspermia (seeding of life) as one of the basic precepts of the story. I love the idea that perhaps all life in the Universe has originally come from some powerful, supreme race that has seeded the galaxies and created many diverse and fascinating life-forms – humanity included. I particularly loved the relationships developed and nurtured in this story, especially between former enemies and also between races seemingly so different yet still capable of feeling powerful and abiding love for each other. I haven’t read any of the earlier books in this series but that wasn’t necessary. The author was extremely adept at dropping gems of information into the narrative that explained what had gone before and why a character now reacted the way he/she did. This was a wonderful read and one I can highly recommend not only to all Science Fiction fans but also to a wider audience. Ultimately it is a beautiful love story that happens to be set among the glories of the Universe.     


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You can find the entire Excalibur series here, along with all of her work, on Sahara Foley's Amazon page: 

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ellie everlasting by isabel scheck

8/4/2019

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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.    

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

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

4/2/2019

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​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.    

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

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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

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​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.

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

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jarius's girl by l. r. hay

18/11/2018

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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.    


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

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

29/10/2018

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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.    


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

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aeon rises by jim cronin

15/9/2018

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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.     


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

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blitzball by barton ludwig

10/8/2018

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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.

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

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mall hair maladies by kristy jo volchko

24/7/2018

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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.     

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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. 

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rise of howlers by bob bannon

18/7/2018

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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.

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

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