Blog Posts - GRANT LEISHMAN

voyeur's regret by debbie ardisi

31/1/2019

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

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

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

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

a place to stay forever by mark l lloyd

29/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The year is 3289 and although man hasn’t quite achieved immortality, he’s a fair way down the road, with the use of the Stasis Deep Sleep System, invented and marketed by LaPorte Industries, which allows people to survive for aeons. With a new body and a new consciousness, participants in the scheme are able to travel to the perfectly rendered, fake town of Penticton, where they can live a new life until they again get bored, at which time, they can then just start all over again. In A Place to Stay Forever, author Mark L Lloyd takes us inside his vivid imagination, as he posits where mankind may be heading. La Porte Industries are notoriously secretive about their product and the experience is bound by an unbreakable set of rules, which participants breach at their peril. When Miranda Sage and the crew of the Misfit are woken from Stasis Deep Sleep (SDS) after something hits their spacecraft, they discover an anomaly in the SDS system, which Adayln a crew member is determined to explore and discover what secrets LaPorte Industries are hiding from them all. With Miranda and Emily, a reporter, they find themselves travelling back in time to the Penticton of 2005. It appears they have opened a veritable Pandora’s Box.

A Place to Stay Forever is unlike any science fiction book I have read before. The premise is intriguing and author Mark L Lloyd keeps the reader continually thinking and wondering about the science and the adventure these characters are on. The whole time-travel and time-travel paradox problem becomes an issue for the adventurers, but is well handled by the author. The characters are well drawn and although initially I found myself confused over who was who in this storyline, it soon became apparent, as the story unravelled. I appreciate the author didn’t allow gender to be an issue for the characters with all of them seemingly having been both male and female in one of their iterations of Stasis Deep Sleep. I felt the plot and the science mechanisms employed in the story made it difficult to keep the story at the level of the layman, but Lloyd was able to do so, which I was grateful for. This story was possibly a bit deep in imagination and science fiction for my usual tastes, but the emotional depth of the characters and their relationships made it very readable and enjoyable for me. I can definitely recommend this as a read for anyone who wonders what the future may potentially hold.

A Place to Stay Forever hasn't yet been released as this review is being written, however, you can check out the rest of Mark L Lloyd's work, here on his Amazon page:

The malignant presidency: volume 1 by william robinson

27/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Malignant Presidency: Donald Trump’s White House Set to Satirical First Person Poetry is a whimsical and extremely irreverent collection of poems satirising the Donald J Trump Presidency, from the pen of William Robinson. Although very short the volume is jam-packed with derogatory and critical poetry covering the lead-up to and the first two years of Trump’s presidency. Most of the poems are written from the perspective of Trump, in the first person, although there are a smattering of others from the major players; e.g. Obama, Clinton, Comey and Mueller. The collection is perhaps as up to date (at the moment) as we can possibly expect with many of the uproar and angst of 2018 recorded in verse. Unapologetically a Trump derider, there is nothing in this collection that would excite or inspire his base, but it does “poke the borax” at the situation in a way that many politicians (from both sides of the aisle) probably wish they were able to do.

As a interested bystander, someone who is not an American, but who has been caught up in the daily “soap opera” (on television and in print) that emanates from this White House, I found The Malignant Presidency: Donald Trump’s White House Set to Satirical First Person Poetry to be a brave attempt to put a satirical spin on what is possibly a “clear and present danger” to the United States and indeed, the Free World. The volume is way too short and it seemed like just as I was getting into William Robinson’s style and rhythm, when sadly, it was all over. I note this is Volume 1, so I’m sure we can expect more from this author as the presidency moves inexorably into its second half and potentially into deep, dark and uncharted waters. I can’t help but feel the author was using this medium to allow himself to vent and release some of the intense frustrations that over half the population clearly feel at the direction of this president and the country as a whole. I share the author’s concerns and await the next two years with considerable trepidation. Robinson pulls no punches in this exposition, so if you are easily offended you may want to give it a miss, but seriously, I would urge all MAGA and Trump supporters to read and reflect on it. You may pause for a moment to question the man’s real motivations in this presidency and, if you do, the author has probably succeeded in his mission.

You can find The Malignant Presidency: Volume 1 by William Robinson, here on Amazon:

country of daughters: volume 1: daughter's inn by bijou li

26/1/2019

Yily has a steady job in tourism, in the city of Chengdu, assisted by her father's high position, but she is unsatisfied and filled with romantic longings for something different. When she starts to read about and see films of country villages in the mountains, where the society is structured in a matriarchal lineage and women take lovers to produce their children, rather than tying themselves to a man, she is fascinated and determines that this is the life she has long romaticised about. She longs to move away from the bustling city and its pollution, exchanging it instead for the simple, peaceful life she imagines exists in these villages. Obtaining a position in the village's tourist office, she travels to Algae Village to live among the Mosuo people.

For Yily it doesn't take long for her romantic dreams to come crashing around her head as she is caught up in the idealistic struggle between the wealth the tourism has brought to these poverty stricken villages and the need to preserve and sanctify the way of life of the Mosuo people. Despite conflicting information all around her, though, Yily is determined to cling onto her dreams and romantic notions and to ultimately prove her point to the doubters. Staying among the Mosuo, at the Daughter's Inn, she will meet and interact with some who confirm her beliefs and some who downright repudiate them.

Firstly, I want to say about this book; what a breath of fresh air it is to read a book about another culture and to be able to explore and develop the characters in this fascinating story of a clash of culture and technology. As a westerner, it is easy to assume Chinese to be an homogeneous peoples - Chinese are Chinese, right? But, of course, that is far from the truth. Although the ethnic Han's are the predominant population and hold the majority of power in China, there are many pockets of ethnicity all over the massive landmass that is modern-day China. Of particular fascination for me, was the juxtaposition of a centuries-old Buddhist way of life, with the stripped down and austere philosophy of Mao's communism, which still runs deep in all of Chinese society.

Author Bijou Li has created a beautifully written story that uses its characters to explore the many tensions simmering under the surface, as these two very distinct and polar opposite cultures clash. The characters Yily, Xiaxia, and Dashi (a well-meaning US-born, Chinese student, studying the Mosuo people) all provide wonderful attitudinal counterpoints with each other to keep the tension high and the narrative fascinating. My only complaint would be that this is only Volume one of the story and I am now so invested in these characters that I must now read Volumes 2 & 3. I'm not sure I can pay the author a higher compliment than to say, I will undoubtedly read the rest of this story.

This is one of the best books I've read so far this year (mind you it is only January) but I suspect come the end of the year awards season, I will look back at this title and smile. It is a simple, sweet, story with a powerful message about the clash of cultures and for that reason alone, it is well worth the read. I highly recommend; Country of Daughter: Volume 1: Daughters Inn.

Country of Daughters Volume 1, here on Bijou Li's Amazon page, along with the rest of her portfolio:

known entity: An Unauthorized History by Phil Klahn

24/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Known Entity – An Unauthorized History by Phil Klahn takes us on a journey that many of us experienced as teenagers; forming a rock band at High School and the dreams and pitfalls that all that entails. Known Entity was the brainchild of “rich kid” Brody and his friend Kris. Into the mix came drummer Mert, bassist and singer, Steff along with technical whizz AP. Together they formed the band Known Entity, which they all dreamed would some-day take them to the fame and fortune they were so obviously destined for. The book follows the dramas and evolution of the band, through to its inevitable break up, detailing the ego clashes, the artistic clashes and the petty jealousies along the way. Unlike some band books, Known Entity never actually became much of a Known Entity – they were one of the multitude of bands that started full of hope and promise, only to end in recrimination and despair. Told, as an interview with surviving band members, some thirty years on, the book also traces the history of the members, since their dissolution. As a bonus, the author has included, within the story, YouTube links to the songs discussed in the novel. A clever innovation, for sure.

Perhaps it was the nostalgia kick, but I found myself intimately drawn into this fascinating story of music and group dynamics. What I particularly liked about Phil Klahn’s tale, Known Entity – An Unauthorized History, was exactly the fact that we weren’t dealing with an even moderately successful band here. The band was a miserable commercial failure, yet the author still managed to convey the dreams and aspirations of these young people who like so many other musicians faced insurmountable odds in achieving even moderate success at their chosen craft. I also liked the idea of interviewing the band members 30 years on, to compare their memories of the Known Entity time and their personal takes on what exactly happened to destroy their dreams. Summarising their lives since Known Entity, was a nice touch as well. What the author succeeded at most, in my opinion, was conveying the undying passion for music, the he clearly has, through the characters in this story. Using a “non-playing member” of the band, AP, as his primary source was a stroke of genius and gave the work a much more balanced approach than perhaps would have been the case if he had focused it around the lead singer/songwriter. If you love music, or were ever part of a band, this novel will absolutely resonate with you. This was a great read and one I can definitely recommend.

You can take a look at Known Entity, here on Phil Klahn's Amazon page:

yield by b. j. .tiernan

23/1/2019

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

You can find Yield here, on Amazon.

Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 (Silver Tears Series)by Daniel J. Strait

21/1/2019

Reviewed For Reader's Favorite by Grant Leishman

Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 by Daniel J Strait will take you on an epic fantasy journey through the author created worlds. This is the third book in a series that ultimately aims to discover and unite the five members of an ancient and mythical prophecy. In Vazdrag, three of the members of the prophecy are together; Nakiata (A Shadow of Thought – ‘SOT’ Master), Dravone (A Morphan – similar to a werewolf) and Ka’tia, their latest addition who is a Warrior Princess from Zondura. Together the trio seek the next member of the prophecy by entering “Black Doors”, which will take them to other worlds and galaxies. This particular Black Door on Zondura, however, has the trio lost and seemingly travelling in circles. Eventually, though, they emerge and will form alliances with various creatures, offering help in exchange for further information about the Prophecy.

Daniel J Strait has taken considerable time and effort in this series in creating worlds and creatures that are unique to him, as a writer and I would congratulate him for that. The read is interesting and exciting at times as the trio battle to overcome the obstacles, deceptions and warlike characters placed in their way on this journey. The latent sexual tension between the two female characters (Nakiata and Ka’tia) and the single male, Dravone was palpable and at times riveting. For me, this was one of the highlights of the writing, since, for me, character often trumps adventure. For lovers of the genre, however, there is plenty of action, along with great character development. Vazdrag: Silver Tears Book 3 is a good, solid read and any fan of epic fantasy is bound to enjoy it. I’m sure, like all good series, reading from the start is desirable, but this can be read as a standalone. I am intrigued enough to wonder how Book Four will develop as the team look for the next member of this prophecy. It’s a recommended read.

You can take a look at Vazdrag plus the rest of this series, here, on Daniel J Strait's Amazon page:

heartless (the kings #3) by alena des

12/1/2019

Heartless (The Kings #3) by Alena Des was an interesting change for me, from the usual vampire fare. This story is so much more than that, mixing several different styles of magic and fantasy. Riley is a man on a mission - to regain his heart, that Lucifer has seized from him. When Riley, who is the son of a sex Goddess and used to woman swooning at his feet, meets Oriana, he is enchanted by her and shocked at his inability to make her lust after him as most women do. Together they form a formidable team as they battle to survive in the midst of a Vampire war and the relentless hunt of Lucifer for Riley.

I was captivated by the characters in this story. I especially liked Oriana, as a female lead, who was strong, independent and successful, but still a woman, in every way. I thought author Des did a marvelous job of weaving different strands of the story together into a single narrative. I'm assuming, since this is noted as The Kings #3, that this is a series, but you certainly wouldn't be able to tell that just from reading this book. It is a standalone and thoroughly readable story in its own right. Perhaps the best tribute I can pay to this author is to say how seamlessly she melded the different strands of magic and fantasy together into a single story. I can highly recommend this read and am definitely motivated to check out other books in this series and by this author

You can find Heartless, here, on Alana Des' Amazon page:

free traffic frenzy: how to get 450,000+ website visitors by don sevcik

12/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Free Traffic Frenzy: How to get 450,000+ Website Visitors by Don Sevcik is a targeted and focused book aimed at those of us who use the internet to either sell something or draw people to our website to impart information to them. The author goes into great length and detail explaining exactly how to use SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to massively increase the amount of traffic to your site and perhaps more importantly to keep that traffic on your site and browsing until they purchase. This is not one single fix to attract traffic, rather this is a combination of small tweaks and intentional actions that many website owners overlook, to take advantage of the algorithms that drive, principally the Google search engine. The author uses his own particular website, a math problem solving site, and by discussing the issues and problems he has encountered and the solutions to these, he is able to impart knowledge that can help anyone dramatically increase the amount of traffic that is driven to their website.

What I particularly liked about Free Traffic Frenzy: How to get 450,000 Website Visitors was that although some of the technical issues discussed were well outside of my grasp, as a reader, the concepts that underline these “fixes” were perfectly explained and outlined using real world examples by author Don Sevcik, so although I personally may not understand exactly how to implement the changes, I can certainly explain them to someone who has the technical know-how. I thought the author’s ability to relay information that is sometimes complex and technical, in laymen’s terms, was the biggest selling point of this book. There are thousands of books out there that purport to tell you how to understand and optimise search engines, however, this one stands out for two reasons. Firstly, the author has clearly achieved success with this formula on his own websites and secondly, many of the fixes and suggestions are straightforward and common sense even to those of us who are less “tech savvy”. If you are looking to take your business and website to the next level, this is an excellent book to start with.

You can find Free Traffic Frenzy, here on Don Sevcik's Amazon page:

presumed dead by martin knox

6/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

dark serenade (montenegro #2) by estela vazquez perez

2/1/2019

Dark Serenade (Montenegro, #2) is a continuation of the story of Victor Montenegro, from a well-to-do and influential Californian family, who gets more than he bargained for when he travels to New Orleans to escape a broken heart. Montenegro, a devil-may-care, treasure hunter is caught up with a group of vampires in New Orleans and discovers to his horror, what vampirism and demons are all about.
You do not have to have read Book 1, to enjoy this dark and mysterious tale, but I have and this is just a continuation of the wonderful story and beautiful language of author Estela Vazquez Perez. Perez very definitely has a way with words and her books are a delight to read, as the stories just trip off the tongue and draw fantastic mind pictures for the readers. At its heart, this series is very much a story about unrequited love and the pain that goes along with living forever, as a vampire, combined with the inability of a vampire to consummate true and lasting romantic love with another person. The characters from the first book are still there, but this book focuses very much on the life of Montenegro, after he returns to California and comes to terms with the idea that he is now an abomination and will live forever, but can never find true and lasting love.
I am generally not a great reader of vampiric fantasy, but Perez not only makes her characters real and the reader empathetic to them, she weaves a beautiful story as she goes. I cannot wait for the next iteration of this series to see where Perez takes these characters that I have come to adore.
Dark Serenade is an excellent read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Dark Serenade here on Estela Vazquez Perez's Amazon page, along with the rest of her superb stories.

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

2/1/2019

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

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

vath's legacy (The rufino factor book 4) by joshua Rem

2/1/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Vath’s Legacy (The Rufino Factor: Book 4) by Joshua Rem is the continuation of a fantasy series by this author. Rufino is a Vampire who inhabits the world of Ch’ulu and is on the hunt for his missing mobile coffin, which was beneath a cart that he has now lost. It is the eve of the Winter Solstice and the humans are celebrating the arrival of the fat man in the red suit, which for Rufino means cookies left out for the jolly man, that he, Rufino, can steal to feed his sweet tooth. Despite his small size, Rufino has performed many acts of heroism over the years and he has a strong moral compass to guide him in what is right and wrong. The beautiful, mysterious, and greatly feared, druid-sorceress, Kiralyn Frostwhisper is both Rufino’s greatest nemesis and his deepest fantasy. Unsure and uncertain of his own attractiveness to Kiralyn, he takes what little affection he can from her, when it is on offer. It is Kiralyn, though, he must unite with and work with if the evil Vath Legacy is to be overcome and defeated.

This story, Vath’s Legacy (The Rufino Factor: Book 4) was a real eye-opener for me, as a reader. Used to fantasy tales full of weird and wonderful creatures who partake in epic battles, author Joshua Rem has scaled that back and focused very much on the characters and their development, especially the characteristics of their makeup that make them do what they do. Rufino is not your typical vampire at all. He cares about doing the right thing and appears not to have an amoral bone in his body. Deeply attracted to Kiralyn, he cannot believe that she could possibly find him attractive and this constant seeking of her approval plays a large part in the story. I am aware that this book is part of a series, but you don’t have to have read any of the other offerings to truly enjoy this book. What this story did make me want to do, was to read more of this series and of this author. I think that’s the greatest compliment a reviewer can pay an author of a series. Vath’s Legacy is a tale of the underdog, battling against prejudice and seeking acceptance for who he is, as an individual, rather than who he is as a race or a species. The parallels to society today are clear and noticeable. I would describe this book as Fantasy with a heart and soul. I can highly recommend it.

You can find Vath's Legacy, along with the rest of Joshua Rem's work, here on his Amazon page:

empty threat (the black pages #1) by danny bell

28/12/2018

In Empty Threat by Danny Bell the reader is taken on a journey through a universe of different worlds and multiverses. When socially awkward, admitted book-nerd, Elana Black discovers she has the power to enter the world of the books she reads, she has no idea what this power will ultimately mean for her and her closest of friends. It is only when she connects this power to a childhood friend who claimed the same powers, as a child, and was ultimately certified as insane, does she realise that she may, in fact, not be alone in the world with this power.
The author takes us on a voyage of discovery as Elana begins to understand the breadth and depth of her magical powers along with the responsibilities and dangers these powers possess. Once Elana realises that the worlds inhabited in stories may not be as fictional as she first thought, all bets are off and the dangers to Elana from those who don't want her to utilise those powers, increase a hundred-fold.
The author has done an excellent job with Elana's character development. She is portrayed as atypical of many of us who love to read and escape into fiction - socially awkward, incredibly shy and introverted, with just a few very close friends. We watch, as Elana emerges from her shell and begins to understand and adapt to the strange new worlds that have opened up for her. She may well still be full of doubts about herself, but every experience and trial she undertakes makes her stronger, more independent and surer of her place in the scheme of things.
The premise of the story is unique enough to make it stand out for that reason alone, but Elana's journey through the multiverses and of self-discovery lifts this story above your average fantasy adventure. A very good read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Empty Threat, here on Danny Bell's Amazon page, along with his latest work.

of knights and dogfights: a WWII Novel by ellie midwood

26/12/2018

I am an enormous fan of Ellie Midwood's and I await each new release with anticipation and excitement of another fantastic story from World War II. Of Knights and Dogfights is a wonderful example of what Midwood does and in my opinion, does much better than anyone else. She researches possible characters, finds real-life participants who pique her interest and then fictionalises them into magnificent stories of deering-do and romance.
This was very much the case with Of Knights and Dogfights, which is based on two real Luftwaffe aces from World War II. Although the two never met in real life, in Midwood's fictional world, they not only met, but trained and fought side by side in the skies above Europe and Africa. Her two characters, Willi and Johann, were, in many ways, the antithesis of the hatred, evil and prejudice that stalked Nazi Germany. Neither believed the racial purity lines spouted by the party and both were chivalrous and gallant toward their enemies, in a way that was always destined to bring them into conflict with the "powers that be" in 1940's Nazi Germany.
As a reader, I found myself totally invested in the lives of these two fine, upstanding, young men. I think perhaps the greatest moment of revelation was when I realised that despite being the highest and second-highest aces of WWII, both Willi and Johann were just a mere twenty-three-years of age. The horrors of war, that had required both boys to become men, way too early was reflected in their even-handed treatment of all people, regardless of their race, creed or religion. These were the Germans, who loved their beloved Fatherland and would fight to the death to protect it, but hated and despised everything the Nazi cancer had done to their home and their people.
I have yet to read a Midwood story that has left me unfulfilled as a reader and Of Knights and Dogfights will not be the first. It was a wonderful story that takes the reader soaring high amongst the clouds but doesn't shy from the realities and horrors of war that kills a nation's youth, whilst its old men plot and plan.
Another absolute winner from the doyen of WWII literature and one of my favourite authors, never mind favourite Indie Authors. Midwood stands proudly amongst the best of the legacy published authors. This book is another triumph in an already glittering portfolio.

Absolutely do go and take a look at Of Knights and Dogfights, along with the rest of her amazing portfolio, here on Ellie Midwood's Amazon page.

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

26/12/2018

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

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

nobody i know by john J. gaynard

26/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nobody I Know by John J Gaynard is a cynical, farcical look at mental health issues through the prism of extremism and the eyes of Patient XYJ, who doesn’t remember who he is, or indeed who he has been for the past eight years in a psychiatric institution, colloquially known as the “Black House”. Like all of the returning Jihadists who former CIA interrogator and psychiatrist Dr O’Neill has treated in the past with unusual success, Patient XYJ is subjected to inhumane treatment, scorn and ridicule by O’Neill who uses patients merely to progress his own ambitions and wealth rather than from any innate desire to heal or to reintegrate previous violent and disturbed patients back into society. When Pastsy Burke emerges from the toilet he has no idea who he is or where he is, beyond that he is being held in a mental institution against his will. He has no recollection of the various personas he has adopted over the past eight years of custody and he must find a way to rediscover his identity and destroy the hold the evil Dr O’Neill has over him.

Nobody I Know, I can honestly say is the most unusual, slightly disturbing, but eminently readable book I have been lucky enough to read in the past few years. Author John J Gaynard has reached into the depths of the human mind and provided a thought-provoking treatise on mental health, attitudes to mental health and, in general, the human condition. By using the absolute polar extreme of a mental institution run by a “mad doctor” along with a procession of “crazy” trustee patients, Gaynard has made readers focus on our attitudes to not just mental health, but life in general. Totally topical and up-to-date in its current-world focus, the book uses Patsy Burke to explore what can happen when essentially good people fall apart mentally. At times the narrative is harrowing and difficult to stomach, but the message is loud and clear and if nothing else, this focus on the behaviour and excesses of both characters Burke and O’Neill presents two sides of the exact same coin for readers to consider. Who is the sane one here and who is the insane one. Because of the nature of the narrative the characters are necessarily overdrawn to the point of caricature, but this is wonderfully well done by the author. I particularly liked the connections between the characters in the story and historical figures. This is a book that leaves you thinking and asking yourself questions long after you put it down and that is probably the highest praise I can give this author.

You can find Nobody I Know, plus the rest of John J Gaynard's literary portfolio, here on his Amazon page:

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

16/12/2018

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

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

death is for the living by j.c. steel

16/12/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

ketsumeidan by maRK MOREY

7/12/2018

Ketsumeidan provides us with a fascinating look inside the world of the Japanese Geisha and its rituals and ceremonies. Set in Tokyo, prior to World War II, we meet Aiko, a successful and much sought after Geisha, who, it seems, has her life well and truly sorted. She loves her role as a Geisha and the lifestyle it affords, plus she has a patron who she loves dearly. The only thing that darkens the horizon is the increasingly militaristic attitude of many in the armed forces and the parliament of Japan. It seems that Japan's slide into war is inevitable and many feel it is a war they cannot win, especially if the United States declares war on Japan.
When Aiko becomes privy (through a Geisha banquet) to information on an ultra nationalist organisation called the Ketsumeidan, she contacts the Tokyo police. Tokyo Police Inspector Yuudai Sato. The unlikely alliance join forces to try to prevent the assassination of the Japanese Prime Minister and to try to stave off the inevitable march to war. When they prove unsuccessful, both must face the horrors that war will bring to them and their loved ones.
Ketsumeidan is a solid, chunky read and gives us some real insight into the life, culture, customs and social mannerisms of pre-war Japan. The sharp contrast between the "average man or woman" and the ruthless, vicious, indoctrinated conscripts could not be more apparent. Many of those left behind cannot believe the atrocities committed by their military on behalf of the Japanese people. This juxtaposition is perhaps no more eloquently highlighted than that between the serene, world of the Geisha's and the murder and rape of thousands of innocent Chinese civilians in the Japan/Chinese conflict.
I found the story dragged ever so slightly at times, but the stark horror of those left behind to face the Allied bombing raids on Tokyo as well as the atrocities being committed in China, were always enough to keep me reading. As a social history of a long-forgotten time, Ketsumeidan served as an excellent read to someone for whom historical fiction is a "junkie's fix". I enjoyed the read and can definitely recommend it.

You can find Ketsumeidan, here, on Mark Morey's Amazon Page, along with the rest of his work.

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