Category: Young Adult - GRANT LEISHMAN

Visions (almana book 2) by julayn Adams

30/1/2018

Visions (Almana Book 2) by Julayn Adams is the second of a planned trilogy following the adventures of Almana an Angel who is sent to a dystopian earth to try and help humanity recover from its ails. Heaven has almost given up on humanity, but Almana (Ali) still believes there is enough good in humanity for them to overcome the evil. She fell in love with a human, Cam and their souls were entwined, but when Cam was killed, Ali had to face the bleakness of a life without her soulmate.

Ali and her friends live in the forest, hiding from the evil ruler of Los Angeles, Equis, who they fear will one day send his Armageddon army against them. Ali and her friend Alexa dream of taking back Los Angeles from the evil that has befallen it and restoring humanity to a loving, caring community. For now, though, survival is the key and Ali, with help from her brother Patrick will do their best to ensure their community survives and flourishes.

It is some time since I read the first book in this series, but I remember it well as it made a significant impact on me at the time, as Julayn Adams' debut novel. I know I tend to repeat myself a little, but watching an indie author grow and develop throughout a series, is one of the most rewarding things about being a reviewer. Almana was a good debut novel, but Visions, its follow-up is simply superb. Adams' writing has tightened and credit to her editor, the editing is faultless in this book. The characters that I grew to love and identify with in Almana are all back in Visions and we have a whole new cast joining the band of survivors which adds diversity, interest and significant conflict. I love watching Indie authors get even better and Adams definitely has, with visions.

There are some neat little twists and turns in this story, that I particularly enjoyed and the book sets the scene perfectly for the final installment in the trilogy, Insurgence, which I am waiting for, with bated breath. Having written a trilogy myself, I know how hard it is for the author to sustain the tempo right to the end, but thus far Adams is showing every ability of being able to do just that. Julayn Adams has rocketed toward the top of my favourite indie authors with Visions and I have every confidence she will bring the series home, with a bang, with Insurgence. Great stuff!

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Visions by Julayn Adams. I would strongly recommend you read Almana first, as Visions flows on perfectly from Almana. It's well worth taking a look.

william wilde and the necrosed (the chronicles of william wilde) by davis ashura

24/1/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When seventeen-year-old William Wilde’s mother, father and brother are killed in a car accident, with William as the sole survivor, his life changes forever, but in ways he could never possibly have foreseen. The accident was, in fact, no accident; it was orchestrated by an evil zombie-like creature, known as a Necrosed. In William Wilde and the Necrosed, by Davis Ashura, William must not only cope with the death of his family, but as time goes on he becomes aware that this evil Necrosed, Kohl Obsidian, is actually after him, for something he wasn’t even aware he possessed. William, along with his friends from High School are all, your typical, quintessential nerds and along with the beautiful and mysterious Serena, who is also much more than she seems, embark on an expedition to kill the Necrosed and to introduce William to his true identity and his true heritage.

William Wilde and the Necrosed is a fantastic coming-of-age novel, with a massive dollop of fantasy and fun thrown in. With Davis Ashura setting the novel in the mid-1980’s and having the main characters as nerds, it was inevitable that many of the iconic movies, songs and heroes of the period would find their way into this story. If anything, that served to give the story more character and depth than would have otherwise been the case. The main character of William Wilde was beautifully drawn, as the sensitive, caring, yet geeky High School senior who slowly but surely discovers his true self, his strength, and his true destiny. The close and caring friendships and inter-friend banter was certainly a highlight of the story for me. Don’t lose sight of the fact, though, that this is also a fantasy, adventure story that absolutely rollicks along at a fantastic and, at times, dizzying speed. The fight scenes in the book were carefully orchestrated and choreographed. Ashura’s knowledge and clever writing certainly made these scenes a highlight of the book. An excellent read and I look forward to the second book in this series.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out William Wilde and the Necrosed, along with Davis Ashura's full, impressive body of work.

shiva xiv: Shiva xiv #1 by lyra shanti

19/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

From the moment of Ayn’s Royal birth his future was predestined. Ayn was the reincarnation of the great Adin and would save his world from turmoil, disease and war. In Shiva XIV: (The Shiva XIV Series Book 1), by Lyra Shanti, we meet the young boy who will grow up to be King. Not everything is as it should be though and Ayn is torn by doubt and uncertainty as to whether he is indeed a God. Born with an unusual sexual orientation, the boy is constantly torn between his devotion to his teachers and mentors, his duty to his country and his desire to be simply a boy. On Ayn’s fourteenth birthday he is due to be crowned and recognised, by his people, as a King and a God, but on that day, all hell breaks loose at the castle and Ayn, along with his new friend Zin make an escape from the certain death that was awaiting him, to begin an adventure through the galaxy.

This is the first in a series of books focusing on Shiva XIV by Lyra Shanti and she gives us ample opportunity to meet, understand and invest ourselves in the young characters, especially Ayn and Zin. As Science Fiction, this story appealed because it made no pretentions of being overtly technical, it just happened that the coming-of-age story was set on another planet among different species. This made it extremely readable for those of us who like Sci Fi, but sometimes get lost in the author’s overactive imagination. There are a couple of aspects that I particularly liked about the story. The backstory of Ayn’s sexuality was only briefly touched on in passing in this book, but I am sure future stories will focus more on whether indeed, he is male or female, or both. This aspect of the story is particularly relevant in today’s confusing sexual world, for young people. The second thing I loved about Shanti’s writing in Shiva XIV was the deep emotions she evoked in her characters. They were not afraid to show their emotions and “wore them on their sleeve”, so to speak. The character of Pei is fascinating and I’m sure will be explored even more in future episodes. As the start of a series, I would have to say this looks fantastic and well worth getting into.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out the entire Shiva XIV series as well as Lyra Shanti's full portfolio.

ravenhill court by david r. beshears

15/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Ravenhill Court by David R Beshears is the second short story/screenplay adaptation, I’ve read of his in the last couple of weeks and certainly this author is growing on me. In this story, a middle-aged Ben Foster returns to the world of his childhood, Ravenhill Court, a middle-class, suburban, Californian cul-de-sac. All the houses in the street are abandoned, the weeds grow wild and doors hang open or are long gone. Ben opens his friend’s Peter’s journal from 1964 and his mind travels back to when it all began; when four young teenagers discovered that their world was not what it seemed to be and they themselves were not what they thought they were. Ben, his sister Julie, best friend Peter and Louis, are caught in some sort of dimensional shift that they don’t understand and don’t know what to do about. The Professor, who lives down the street will provide them with a clue as to where to start looking and so, their incredible adventure begins.

As I read Ravenhill Court by David R Beshears, I couldn’t help but think of that wonderful movie, The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey. There was certainly an element of The Truman Show shining through this work – not everything is as it seems. One thing that struck me about this book was the dialogue between the young friends, which was witty, cleverly written and totally appropriate for the age and the period. I almost found myself back in 1964 and thinking about how I was way back then. I could certainly identify with Ben, Julie, Peter and Louis. I particularly enjoyed the Professor. Perhaps it was one of those days when I couldn’t help but see this story as a screenplay, but I also kept thinking of the brilliant Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future franchise. The plot was cleverly woven and the young adults certainly had some questioning to do about who they were, what they were doing, and what their place in this Universe was. This is an excellent science fiction/fantasy story, particularly suitable for the young adult market, but equally applicable to all ages. Clever, witty, and sometimes, dark humour, will always have a place on our bookshelves.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Ravenhill Court plus David R. Beshears full and extensive portfolio.

the war blog by glen sobey

12/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Crystal Rose and her brother JD’s names pretty much sum up their parent’s attention to them. Crystal Rose Rock, named after a drug and JD, named after a popular brand of whiskey. Both children suffered from foetal alcohol syndrome, with Crystal being very underdeveloped and JD afflicted with learning and behavioural disabilities. Their mother was an addict and an alcoholic, while their father was a convicted felon. Fortunately the two children had been abandoned by their mother with their maternal grandparents and had been brought up in a small, Alaskan town, surrounded by love, but also some measure of deceit and lies about the past. Seventeen-year-old Crystal is appalled by the behaviour of her fellow male high-school pupils toward girls in general. They are just there to provide eye candy and easy sex for the boys. The girls, sadly, also seem to play along to the only game in town and Crystal becomes determined to make a difference and change the attitudes toward girls and women. A talented musician and singer, Crystal starts a blog and writes songs about sexism, chauvinism and abuse of women. The boys of the town and even some of the girls hate what she is doing, but she is a fighter. So begins the adventure in The War Blog by Glen Sobey.

As a reviewer, every so often a book crosses my Kindle, especially from a debut author, that makes me sit up and take notice. The War Blog by Glen Sobey is definitely one of those books. Sobey has taken an incredibly powerful and (in today’s environment) a very topical subject and forcefully made us, as readers, address the issues faced by Crystal and all young women today. The author tackles the hard questions head on, through the eyes of this young warrior, Crystal Rose. Although the book covers such angst ridden topics as sexual abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction and the objectification of woman, by viewing these topics through the eyes of a beautiful spirit, such as Crystal, the ugliness of them is softened by the love and warmth of the characters as well as the beautiful poetry of the songs written. I have no idea whether the author is male or female, but either way, I felt Sobey could not have done a better job of highlighting the often meaningless feelings of the younger generation at this time and more importantly, the idea of being trapped by the cultural norms and being judged by how they look and whether or not they “put out”, felt by young women everywhere. This is a powerful novel that all Adult (Young and otherwise) should read. I will be looking for more from this very talented author, in the future.

Unfortunately, The War Blog, by Glen Sobey is not yet available, but definitely keep an eye out for this book and this very talented author.

the other side of freedom by cynthia t. toney

10/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Other Side if Freedom by Cynthia T Toney takes us back to 1925, pre-depression Louisiana and the small town of Freedom. Salvatore is just thirteen, but this son of Italian immigrants is a hard-working farm boy, whose parents and Uncle have struggled to make a good life for themselves in this rural area. Prohibition is in full swing in America and when Italian mobsters come to town and demand Sal’s father’s help in their plans to rob the Freedom bank, or they will hurt his family, Sal’s family finds themselves in a moral quandary. When the bank robbery goes awry, Sal is left with a secret that could destroy their entire lives and set their family on the run. This young man must weigh up the rights and wrongs of the situation and make a decision that he and the rest of his family can live with. Sal is just discovering his feelings and attraction to his best friend, Antonina and whatever decisions he and the family make are almost certain to affect the relationship. This is indeed a dilemma of morals.

I found The Other Side of Freedom to be a truly compelling coming-of-age story. The setting was beautifully described by Cynthia T Toney and one felt oneself being drawn back to the era of gangsters, the G-Men, and bootlegging across the south. The feel of the story was authentic and action fast and furious. I particularly found it interesting to compare the experience faced by the Italian and Sicilian immigrants of the 19th and early 20th Centuries to those of the immigrants of today. They faced discrimination and generalisation – they are Sicilians, therefore they must be gangsters and criminals where today we see, they are Arabs, therefore they must be terrorists. I also found interesting that Sal found some sympathy and empathy with his black friend Hiram in that the prejudices they both faced were somewhat similar. I particularly liked the fact that Toney offered some questions at the end of the book for younger readers to consider and reflect on the story. This is an excellent children’s story that poses some interesting moral dilemmas for the young readers to ponder.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Other Side of Freedom, plus all of Cynthia T. Toney's offerings.

eyes of the hunter by rosa marchisella

7/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Eyes of the Hunter by Rosa Marchisella is a fantastic young adult adventure tale about a young Prince who may not be all that he seems. After years of giving birth to girls and no heir to the throne of Simanthea, finally the Queen produces a boy to claim the throne. Prince Erin is special, not only because he is a boy and able to rule when his Father, the King dies, but also in ways that will surprise. An overprotective Queen chooses a young lad, Caley, to be Prince Erin's friend, companion, and bodyguard to ensure the Prince's safety. As Erin grows he quickly realises something is wrong and ultimately he must run to escape the clutches of the King, as well as his now furious friend Caley, who feels angry and betrayed by the lies and deceit of the Queen and Prince Erin. What follows is a chase across many lands, by Caley - who is now known as The Hunter to seek Prince Erin and destroy the boy who ruined his life.

This is a wonderful story with a fascinating premise that had me hooked from the very beginning. Eyes of the Hunter is a very suitable story for young adults as it explores the aspects of relationshps and hpw they can be affected by lies and deceit. Rose Marchisella did a tremendous job with the two main characters, Prince Erin and Caley in developing the relationship between the pair and showing how love and hate can be two sides of the same coin. The action is fast and frenetic with plenty of little twists thrown into the story to keep the reader guessing. I found the writing to be tight and compelling, drawing the reader into the story and ensuring he/she just wanted to keep reading. This story could well be the basis for a series of books one feels and I for one would love to read more of the story of these two characters. The author definitely set the scene for a possible sequel, which is great. An excellent read that is as equally suitable for adults as it is for young adults. A great job Ms Marchisella.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Eyes of the Hunter by Rosa Marchisella as well as this authors full portfolio of books on offer.

16 and pregnant with twins by elizabeth van der wilt

5/1/2018

16 and Pregnant with Twins by Elisabeth van der Wilt tells us the story of sixteen-year-old, Catholic home-schooled Lora who is totally innocent in the ways of the world. When she meets up with her fellow home-schooled friend, Tommy, the inevitable happens and some innocent exploration of feelings quickly turns to much more, as the two innocents experiment with sex. When Lora realises she is pregnant, she reluctantly tells her parents who respond by throwing her out of the house and banning her from their family. Fortunately Tommy and Tommy's parents are much more supportive and pledge to help her and the young couple, especially when their first sonogram shows they are expecting twins.

Elisabeth van der Wilt admits at the end of 16 and Pregnant with Twins that she wrote this story when she was twelve years old and for that she should be commended. However and consequently it does indeed read like a middle-grader's essay on the subject. The dialogue is unbelievable and poorly constructed and the story meanders from one event to the next, with no clear destination in mind. Don't get me wrong, there is a story in here and a good story, but what it needs is two things: A good content editor to tidy up the grammar and the structure of the story and a good proofread to remove and correct all the incorrect words, missing words, and typos. I would commend van der Wilt for this effort, but suggest it is not ready to be on sale and she should seriously consider making the corrections before re-offering it on Amazon. As I said, she is to be commended for being able to produce work of this quality at a young age and I hope she continues to write and continues to improve over time.

You can take a look at 16 and Pregnant with Twins by Elisabeth van der Wilt here on Amazon:

becoming animals by olga and christopher werby

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Becoming Animals by Olga and Christopher Werby explores an idea that probably few of us have ever thought about. What would it be like to inhabit and share an animal's brain? Would the humanity overtake the animal, would the animal display dominance or would it be possible to co-exist and to share their experiences, understanding and view of the world. When eight-year-old Toby Crowe is left alone in her father Will's lab to play with the lab rat, it soon becomes obvious to all those involved in the BRATS project that Toby has an affinity with not only the animals, but the idea of joining minds and "riding" the animals. Dr Will Crowe heads up the BRATS programme, which is funded by the Army. The plan, initially, was to use rats or other animals to assist the Army in searching for survivors in the rubble of buildings as part of their disaster relief programmes. Other member of the Armed Forces, though, have ulterior motives for trying to meld human minds with animal minds. For Toby, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and whose mother is terminally ill with the illness, the idea of becoming part of another animal seems one way of leaving something of herself behind, when her illness eventually claims her young life.

As a concept for a novel I found the idea of melding with an animal's mind, in Becoming Animals, to be utterly fascinating and was excited to see how this would develop for young Toby. I became very invested in the characters created by Olga and Christopher Werby and consequently enjoyed this children's/young adult book even more than I thought I would have. The amount of honest research that had clearly gone on before penning this novel lent real authenticity to the tale. Much of what was discussed, I had heard in broad details in various places, but had perhaps not realised the possible implications - this was especially true of the idea of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reset and remake neural connections, at will, or as required. The book was an incredibly easy read and although the science might be above the understanding of some of the authors' intended audience, it in no way detracted from the understanding of the story. This story was unique, in my opinion, a rare quality in today's book market. I commend the two authors for their ingenuity and creativity and can highly recommend this read. A great job!

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out this amazing story plus the full selection of books available from Olga and Christopher Werby.

gold shadow (bronze rebellion #1) by l. c. perry

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Two young women, from opposite ends of the polar spectrum are set to collide in L. C. Perry's Dystopian Fiction Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1). Eighteen year old Ebony, born a slave, has only ever known the horrors and struggle for survival underground as a slave in the root city, yearns for one thing only - to end it all and to take some of the accursed overseers with her. Princess Irene, surrounded by luxury and treated with deference by everyone, whose only focus in life is her Coming-Of-Age celebrations and to meet the man of her dreams and marry him, so he can rule and she can live the pampered life she is so used to, as Queen. Princess Irene has no clue of the way in which her country is structured; that it is slaves who allow the wealthy to live the life of luxury they do. She blithely believes her Mother and Father rule with a gentle and loving fist. This is a dystopian America, some time in the future and two very different young women will determine its future direction.

L. C. Perry, in Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1) has given us a fascinating vision of what a dystopian America could look like if democracy was swept away by a form of monarchial feudalism. The authors ability to contrast the two vastly different lifestyles and makeups of these two women gives the reader a hint of how clever and skilled a writer she is. On the one hand, we have Ebony whose entire life has been dedicated to following orders, to never answering back, to never making connections with others and most of all, to hiding her beauty from the cruel and merciless masters. Contrast that with Irene, who is the archetypal spoilt, little, princess whose every though is self-centred and vapid. Perry does a marvellous job of serving up both sides of this coin. The book is easy to read and will definitely appeal to a young adult audience, but is equally suitable for all adults. I think the biggest compliment I can pay any author writing the first book in a series is that I want to read Book two and find out what happens to these characters I have invested in. I can say this about Gold Shadow. As the beginning of a series, this book has hit the mark - bullseye. Great job L. C. Perry.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out Gold Shadow, plus the full selection of L. C. Perry books:

the font of jasmeen: elk riders volume III by ted neill

13/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Prince Haille has always been made to feel responsible for the death of his beloved mother and Queen, since she died giving birth to him. Coupled with the stigma of his mother’s death is he is considered a cripple, an invalid, a freak even, because of his “shaking sickness” (I’m assuming this is probably epilepsy). When Haille discovers his father, the King, plans to send him away to an orphanage for afflicted children, he determines to seek out and find the legendary Font of Jasmeen, where it is said the enchanted statue can cure and heal any afflicted child. Along with his classmate, Katlyn, the two fourteen-year-old’s head out into a land beset by the threat of war and ruled by duplicitous and self-serving Lords, only loyal to Haille’s father when it suits their purposes. So begins Ted Neill’s young adult adventure, The Font of Jasmeen.

I’m certainly not a young adult, The Font of Jasmeen’s target market, but I’m happy to say this book is suitable for all ages. This is the first book of Ted Neill’s that I’ve read, but I hazard a guess it won’t be the last. I loved the rollicking style of this adventure, as Haille and Katlyn lurched from one crisis to another, never sure who their allies and friends really were. The two principal characters were easily identifiable with, both mercilessly bullied at school for varying reasons. One thing I particularly liked about the story was that Neill allowed his “hero” (Haille) to be exactly what he was, a fourteen-year-old boy, full of angst, self-doubt and often making the wrong decisions, for what seemed the right reasons to his teenage mind. This book was a fantastic read and will have appeal to anyone who likes Epic Fantasy and certainly not just to its intended target market of Young Adults. I am excited that The Font of Jasmeen is part of a series and a quick glance at its companion volumes, on Amazon, tells me the other stories in the series focus on some of the bit-players in this book. Excellent – on my TBR list now.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out The Font of Jasmeen, plus Ted Neill's excellent portfolio of novels, on his Amazon page:

harmless by katherine dell

12/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Rachel Barnes’ life seemed to change forever after her elder brother Eric was killed in a car crash, when she was just fourteen; her parents divorced and she and her Mum set about moving house, time after time, trying to find a place to settle down again. In Harmless, by Katherine Dell, they’ve now left Vancouver and settled in her Mother’s small home town, with Rachel’s grandmother – a full-blooded native of the area. Despite being there for five months already, Rachel has yet to even unpack her boxes of stuff that she brought with them. When Rachel and her friends open a spirit box given to her by her Grandmother, strange things begin to occur. The spirits released; the white deer, crow and bear offer wishes to the young people, but also released is the evil “soul reaper”, the mythical black Wendigo. Rachel just wants to find her place in the world – can the spirits help her in that?

Aimed fairly and squarely at the young adult market, Harmless finds its mark. The characters of Rachel and her friends are clearly archetypical high-school seniors, unsure of where there lives will head after school and nervous about the prospects of leaving their home town and their friends to venture out into the world. Dell has done a good job of building the characters. Rachel especially was easy to identify and empathise with. Her angst over her brother’s loss is the centre of this story and Rachel’s friends merely bit players who aid her in her quest for freedom from the pain of her loss. I particularly enjoyed the supernatural portion of the story and the exploration of the Native myths and legends that created the spirit box and its contents. From a target audience perspective, this is a very readable book, with the usual teenage angst and love interests. I did enjoy the tenseness and conflict of Rachel’s relationships with the two male characters in her life; Mason and Nate. I think Katherine Dell has related an interesting and easily read tale here in Harmless and as the first book in a planned series, it’s a good start.

You can discover Harmless for yourself, here on Katherine Dell's Amazon page:

the black river chronicles: the ursvaal exchange (black river academy book 2) by david tallerman

1/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Durren Flintrand and his three questing team members, Tia, Arein, and Hule have just been promoted to Level Two in their studies at the Black River Academy. In The Black River Chronicles, by David Tallerman, their reward has come for unmasking and defeating a creature thought wiped out centuries ago – a shapeshifter. Rather than basking in the glory of their achievement, the team find themselves unceremoniously transferred to a sister school, the Shadow Mountain Academy, on a student exchange, where they quickly discover things are run very differently at this Academy. Why were they transferred and what secrets is Tia holding out on her friends with? Durren realizes the mysterious and unpredictable Tia is acting even stranger than usual, but he’s loathe to broach the subject knowing her quick temper and sometime violent nature. What is the secret of Ursvaal and what can the quartet do to solve the problems facing the region?

Described as a Young Adult adventure, The Black River Chronicles is a fast-paced story that never lets the reader take a breath, as the characters move from one exciting encounter to the next. I think this book may also be described as an RPG (Role Playing Game) story and although I’ve never been a great gamer, even I could recognize the standard RPG characters; Durren (The Hunter/Scout), Arein (The Mage/Wizard/Healer), Hule (The Fighter/Brute) and Tia (The clever rogue or scoundrel, who nobody really knows what she is capable of), as well, of course, that of the Big Boss, who must be defeated at the end of the game. I think this book would appeal greatly to those interested in fantasy adventures. The characters are well defined and the action fast and furious. Certainly, I found the story impossible to put down and it kept me turning pages well into the night. An excellent novel and one that is clearly the basis for a series involving these young students. Highly recommended!

Do pop on over to David Tallerman's Amazon page where you can check out the full portfolio of this prolific author.

Diamond Rain: Adventure Science Fiction Techno Thriller (The Spy Stories and Tales of Intrigue Series Book 2) by michael james gallagher

16/11/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The takeover of the world, by the Chinese, has begun, but not with destructive weapons, as such, but by simple weight of numbers. All over the world, Chinese men have been mobilized to march into foreign countries, by their millions, taking over the financial resources of the countries and transferring that wealth to China. Protected from attack, by new nano-technology suits, it appears not even atomic weapons can stop the relentless surge of Chinese domination. In Diamond Rain, Michael Gallagher presents the world with just one hope of resisting this invasion. Deep within the Israeli Mossad is technology vastly superior to the carbon-based nano-suits used by the Chinese – a diamond based nano-suit. When Al-Jazeerah cameraman Thomas is surprisingly handed this technology as he films the Chinese invasion from high atop a ridge, he is set on a path of technology and subterfuge that will see him and the Mossad agents try to defeat the evil Chinese warlord intent on world domination.

Diamond Rain is a fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages rapidly to discover where it all leads next. Author Gallagher has projected technology slightly into the future, but given today’s advancements in quantum physics, it is easy to understand and believe the possibility of the action described. Although some of the concepts were a little advanced for my dim-witted brain to understand it didn’t detract at all from the excitement of the story. Michael Gallagher’s characters could be described as a little stereotypical, but nonetheless they were easy enough to identify and empathise with. The romance he wove into the story certainly helped to soften the edges of what is essentially an out and out spy thriller. There were enough twists and turns, although most were fairly predictable throughout the story. I note that this book is book two in a series. I was intrigued enough by the character of Kefira to want to read more of the story. A good, solid, thriller and one to recommend.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out Michael Gallagher's Diamond Rain and the rest of his portfolio:

an angel with secrets by marti eicholz

13/8/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Born in prison, Angel’s first 18 months of life are spent with her mother Mary, but after that she is passed onto her drug-addled father Luke and his hairdresser girlfriend, Sofia. Thus begins the story of a special, young girl, An Angel With Secrets by Marti Eicholz. By the time Angel is six years old, she decides it would be better off for her to be on her own, so she runs away from Sofia’s hairdressing salon and heads out on a journey of discovery where she meets true caring and true love at the hands of “strangers”. We watch this incredibly gifted and talented young girl grow into a young woman with a depth of understanding and compassion rare in one so young.

An Angel With Secrets is a coming of age story that defies the usual scenarios. Angel is incredibly mature for her young age and teaches everyone who comes into contact with her the true meaning of love and family. What I particularly liked about Eicholz’s story is the way in which she seamlessly wove a depth of different characters into the story, demonstrating the coincidences and synchronicities of the Universe that are a part of our everyday life, but which we often fail to see. Everywhere Angel went she touched those who came into contact with her and somehow every character seemed inextricably linked to each other and to Angel. If you enjoy evocative and meaningful prose wrapped up in a sweet story, then An Angel With Secrets will definitely appeal to you.

maisie by julie elizabeth powell

3/8/2017

Like all of Julie Elizabeth Powell's books that I've read to date, Maisie is something straight from the author's fertile mind and imagination. It is a delightful fantasy adventure about a young, blind, seven-year-old, orphan by the name of Maisie.
Maisie always wondered about her past, as she tries to cope with the difficulties of living in a foster home and attending sch0ol where she is mercilessly tormented and bullied by her peers. It is only at night, in her dreams, where Maisie feels free, where she is able to see and where she discovers that there may be more to her world than she first thought.
Finally, thrown into one of her dreams, she discovers herself in the magical world of Mageia, where it seems she is vitally important to the future of the world. Required to grow up and take responsibility very early, Maisie discovers she is so much more than she thought she was.
Powell's descriptive abilities are well displayed here as she gives the reader an incredibly vivid word picture of this new world, Maisie has found herself on. The collection of characters Maisie runs into and befriends are as weird as they are wonderful. Powell's imagination can never be faulted in the books of hers I've read thus far.
Maisie is a delightful coming of age story in a world of magic, where nothing is quite what it seems. This book has the ability to appeal to children, young adults, and adults alike. If you love magic and a cast of amazing characters, I know you'll enjoy Maisie.

You can check out the full Julie Elizabeth Powell portfolio here on Amazon:

the back road to success: all roads are not paved by robert l. weaver

26/6/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite By Grant Leishman

The Back Road to Success by Robert L Weaver is a short novella that reminds us that the direct route is not always the only way to get where you need to go, in this world. Star Wainright is perhaps typical of many youngsters today. He seems to be no great shakes academically and struggles on the sports field. Negotiating High-School, in a small country town, and its trials and tribulations are success enough for him. When he graduates, he has no real plans except perhaps to laze around home for a while and an amorphous idea that he might join the military. When Star’s mother insists that no child of hers is going to laze around the house all day and if he had no plans to go to college, then he better get out there and find a job. In desperation, to get away from his mother’s nagging, Star agrees to attend a pre-College work-experience, two weeks, for kids who have not yet decided on a future direction. Much to his surprise Star likes College life.
Although this is a short story it does speak to the many young people out there who graduate from High-School without any real idea of where they want to go or what they want to do next. I felt there was more room for exploring various aspects of College life and Star’s personality that the author was unable to explore because the story was so short. There is potential in this story for a full novel and Weaver may want to consider that in the future. I suspect there is another installment coming on Star Wainright’s College days. The author did well to show that there are options when a person or a family cannot afford to send their child to College. Ironically, it was signing up for the National Guard and becoming a “Weekend Warrior”, that allowed Star to continue his education. This was a short, but adequate story.

Check out The Back Road to Success, here on Amazon

charge of an angel: Book #1 of love and redemption series by linda diane wattley

11/6/2017

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Charge of an Angel, by Linda Diane Wattley is a story that needs to be told. Leona Tillard is a young, African-American girl, growing up in a dysfunctional family in Akron, Ohio. Living in a house torn apart by domestic violence, Leona first loses her mother and elder brother when neither returned from hospital treatments. Leona’s Dad assures Leona that she is loved and wanted, but she feels lost, alone, and unsure of her place in the world. As she approached puberty, Leona’s life is thrown into turmoil again, when her father marries Priscilla and three more children are added to their blended family. Leona’s biggest wish in life is to see her mother and brother again and to try to understand what love is. She feels she is special, but she is unsure of what God wants for her in this life.

Domestic violence, incest, paedophilia, and child abuse are all topics we don’t want to think about, let alone talk about, so any author who addresses these issues is taking a risk. Nevertheless, these are topics that must be aired and discussed. Linda Diane Wattley handles this difficult topic with love, care and a deep understanding of the victim’s feelings. Her characterisation of Leona allows us, as readers, inside the mind and the strangely twisted beliefs of a victim. We understand the pain, anguish and simple lack of understanding that Leona feels. Writing the story in first-person certainly allows the reader to connect deeply with Leona. This is a beautifully and simply told story of family love and where that can sometimes go horribly wrong. Charge of an Angel is the first in a trilogy and I’m sure most readers will be aching to read the next two books and see where it takes Leona.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out the entire Linda Diane Wattley portfolio.

the du lac devil: book 2 of the du lac chronicles by mary anne yarde

11/5/2017

I read the first Du Lac Chronicle some time ago and loved it, so was eager to renew my acquaintance with the Du Lac brothers Alden, Budic and Merton. The action in book two takes place several years since book one. We find Alden attending the funeral of his sister-in-law, at Budic's castle in Brittany. Merton, who these days is a mercenary, is passing through Brittany trying to escape the wrath of several Kings he has upset over the years when he learns also of Budic's wife's death. The three brothers are together again and anything can happen. Filial relationships are still strained, but there is worse to worry about, with a plot to overthrow Budic, in the works. I won't give away any more of the plot, but needless to say, as in book one, the action, the romance, the scheming and the violence are all ratcheted up a level.
I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first. I liked that the primary focus in this one was on Merton, the younger, wayward son and not so much on Alden. Merton, as a character, was complex and yet simple. Despite all that was said and rumoured about him, his heart was always in the right place and his heart was always for his brother Alden.
There is no doubt Yarde has this genre down to a tee and I did appreciate her explaining, at the end of the book, the research that went into the books. Arthur, of course, is mere legend, and much has been written celebrating that legend, but it is great to read something in the post-Arthurian period that explores a little-known time in British history. The "Dark Ages" as we term them are an integral part of what made Britain and Yarde's fiction, incorporating that period gives us a wonderful feel for the savagery and brutality, but also the humanity of the period.
For me, The Du Lac Devil stands very high in the list of books I have read in recent years and within its genre, it stands right at the top. I suspect the target market for this book was Y/A, however it is a fantastic read for adults of any age. If you love history, if you want to feel the recreation of a crucial time in British history, then you could do much worse than Yarde's fictionalised account of the Du Lac's.
My final comment, without giving anything away is that I always knew, what happened at the end of book two, was always going to happen, but what possibilities that makes for book three, which I am now hanging out for. I hope it is not too long in the coming.
Five plus stars for this superb Historical Novel. Kudo to the author, Mary Anne Yarde.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Mary Anne Yarde's series. They are well worth reading.

children of the future by jane suen

9/5/2017

Children of the Future by Jane Suen is a pleasant, little read that is most suitable for readers at senior elementary level or middle-school.
The story follows a school bus driver, Telly and his young friend Billy, who discover that all the children and teachers of their small elementary school have disappeared. When Billy heard the commotion, he hid in a cupboard and was saved from the fate of the others.
Who took the children? Where did they go? and What will happen to them? Telly and Billy set out to find out, as the entire town turns out to search for the missing children.
Ther book is well written, the wording and sentence structure appropriate for the age group and there is plenty of mystery and action to keep a young mind engaged.
A little twist at the end will reveal the true nature of the story and I found that to be interesting and thought-provoking.
All in all, Children of the Future is a good, solid, young person's book that would appeal to a wide age range. Four, solid stars from this reviewer.

You can check out Jane Suen's work here on Amazon:

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