Blog Posts - GRANT LEISHMAN

memory lane: journey to retribution by P.D. Platt

1/6/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Memory Lane: Journey to Retribution by P.D. Platt is a novella that brings us the premise that revenge is a dish best served cold. Elena and her Dad lived simply, but happily in a little cul-de-sac just off the main expressway. When Elena’s Mum had died, her Dad poured everything into looking after his little girl. That was, until Gayle turned up and offered Elena’s father a different option. Unbeknownst to Elena, her father, Gayle and Gayle’s two half-brother were about to turn Elena’s life upside down forever. It is fifteen years since the horrific events that took place in that childhood home of hers and Elena is seeking closure and the ability to move on from her awful childhood memories. For the first time in fifteen years Elena visits her old caregiver, Ms Flynn, their old neighbour who Elena remembers as a sweet, old, grandmotherly lady who saved her from the carnage of that night so long ago. Visiting Ms Flynn is the first step on the road to putting those memories behind her and finally moving on.

Memory Lane: Journey to Retribution, was a wonderfully, detailed and exciting story, albeit somewhat short for my liking. I loved the premise the author P.D. Platt began with – a journey to seek closure to a traumatic event but as the story unfolded, so much more became apparent and I read furiously to find out what would happen. The characters were everyday, ordinary folk who we could all recognise and identify with. Even Elena’s Dad and his dalliance with the dark side was totally understandable and acceptable. I loved the authors writing style and highly descriptive paragraphs describing both emotions and events. I would definitely have preferred a longer book but that’s just me and if you like a good, sharp, mystery with a twist or two in the tail then this is absolutely a winner. I am moved to read more of this author and that is probably the greatest compliment I can pay him or her. A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read.

You can find Memory Lane: Journey to Retribution here on P.D. Platt's Amazon page, along with numerous other titles. :

calm assurance (Orlosian Warriors Bk.1) by Dariel Raye

31/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Nephilim are thought to have disappeared from the Earth at the time of the Great Flood, but in reality some of them escaped to another dimension. Unfortunately, the majority of the Nephilim women were killed in the flood and the ration of Nephilim men to women is now 500:1, meaning very few Nephilim men are able to love, to marry and to experience the joy of a family. In Calm Assurance: Orlosian Warriors Bk.1 we meet Asriel, a Nephilim warrior whose job it has been to travel to earth and render justice to those Angels who have forsaken the brotherhood to seek solace and love with a human woman. Author Dariel Raye takes us to a world where these “fallen” Nephilim warriors are stripped of their light and their immunity to earth’s diseases, which forces them to live as vampires, stuck in the darkness and requiring human blood to give them the antigens to survive on Earth. When Asriel is sent to Earth to be a “watcher” rather than a “seeker”, assigned to protect Malina, he instantly realises there is a soul-bond between them and understands that decisions will have to be made that will decide both hers and his future.

Calm Assurance: Orlosian Warriors Bk.1 is a clever attempt by author Dariel Raye to tell a vampire story from a totally different perspective and I admired it for that reason alone. The plot and the premise are fascinating and the two principal characters Asriel and Malina are complicated and intriguing. I thought the author handled the love scenes with care and consideration, making them hot, racy and exciting without crossing that line from erotic into smut. I loved the idea of a strong, independent and fiercely protective woman whose defences and walls she had built up over a lifetime totally crumbled once she was in the presence of her soul-mate. Equally, Asriel’s character who knew very early on that nothing was going to change the fact that Malina was the one destined for him and no matter what it cost him personally, he was going to protect and love her. If fantasy or paranormal romance is your thing and you fancy a different take on the vampire genre, I can highly recommend this story. It was a little too short, perhaps for my usual liking but the promise of more in this series, certainly kept me satisfied and I can only pay the author the compliment of remarking that I want to read more of this premise.

You can find Calm Assurance by Dariel Raye, along with the rest of her portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

no fences in alaska by glen sobey

30/5/2019

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.

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

the healer's daughter by jay amberg

29/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Healer’s Daughters is a modern-day thriller set in Turkey, among the many major archaeological sites but it has its roots in the early days of the Current Era, when the area was a major health spa, overseen by the renowned healer, Galen. Author Jay Amberg introduces us to an archaeologist by the name of Özlem Boroğlu who considers herself the guardian of Galen’s ruins, around Bergama. After being unceremoniously dumped by the Government when her previous excavation was flooded to provide water for agriculture, Özlem is understandably bitter and guards Galen’s secrets closely. Her daughter Elif is a sculptor who still worships the Goddesses of antiquity and Özlem’s son is a tourist guide, caught up in the lucrative trading and black-market for antiquities, including many looted by the ISIL Caliphate and sold to unscrupulous collectors the world over. When terrorism strikes close to home, for Özlem and her family, it is unclear who the perpetrators really are; DAESH and their violent, inhumane campaign for power and notoriety, or is it actually closer to home – a wealthy illegal antiquities trading family wanting to make a very big point to Özlem.

The Healer’s Daughter had all the elements that go into making a compelling thriller – international terrorism; a greedy, powerful and ruthless criminal family; a group of inept, corrupt and “bought” government officials; a secret, elite, and clean anti-terror department of the said, corrupt government; and a principled, high-minded, academic who will stop at nothing to ensure her country’s past and powerful heritage is preserved for the ages. Author Jay Amberg’s style was straight-forward and easy to read. The flashbacks to Galen’s time were, perhaps, not as frequent as I might have wished, but ultimately this was a modern-day thriller, with a basis in the past, so that was fine. The link to the past was critical, though and, as a reader, I did appreciate the context. I also enjoyed the aspect of Elif’s Goddess worship and would have appreciated more exploration of that side of the story. In summary, though, this was a thoroughly readable and topical thriller that I can easily recommend to anyone who loves modern thrillers with historical twists, as I do.

The Healer's Daughter by Jay Amberg is not currently available on Amazon but you can peruse the rest of Jay Amberg's portfolio here:

sahbaar's secret: the fight for acceptance by paul g. wilson

29/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

With a nod to The Jungle Book and The Lion King, Paul G. Wilson brings us his children’s book, Sahbaar’s Secret. Sahbaar is a young tiger cub with a secret – he’s not like the other tigers, yellow with black stripes. Sahbaar is a white tiger and for his family they know that this difference this is a danger to him and to them. The King of the Jungle, the lion, Rashar and the Jungle Council are extremely hard on any animal that is different from their breed and Sabhaar’s parents know if Rashar were to find out about his colouring, something terrible will happen, perhaps even banishment from the jungle. Cleverly they devise a plan whereby Sahbaar will roll in a bed of crushed orange berries every morning to turn his fur orange like the rest of his family. His biggest fear is water – water that could wash the colouring out and of course rain. Sahbaar has to come to terms with his difference and deal with the consequences of it but fortunately he has some wonderfully loyal and loving friends, including Rashar’s own son, Nero, who will look out for him and watch his back. Trouble is coming to the jungle, though, in the form of the animal – man with his shooting sticks and Sabhaar and his friends will have to dig deep and find all the courage they have, to deal with this threat to the jungle way of life.

Sahbaar’s Secret is a truly delightful children’s book, probably best suited for middle-school children. Author Paul G. Wilson, uses the story as a perfect vehicle to explain and reinforce what is important in life; loyalty, friendship, love, courage, and doing the right thing even in the face of intransigence and opposition. What I particularly liked about this story was the variety of animals that Sabhaar had as friends. All of them, even the most slow and lumbering, such as the crocodile had skills that would prove useful in the coming battle against both man and the elders of the jungle. The writing style was perfectly suited to the intended audience of the story, without appearing to be “dumbed down” in any way. As an adult, reading this story, I was still able to identify with the animal characters and their particular natures and quirks, which is always the sign of a well-written children’s book, in my opinion. Although I loved the story and the dramatic climax, especially, I couldn’t help but wish there were some beautiful illustrations to go along with the prose. That would have lifted the book over and above its competition but nonetheless as a children’s book with a strong moral and valuable lessons for life, this story truly hit the mark perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can highly recommend it.

You can find Sahbaar's Secret, by Paul G. Wilson, here on Amazon:

irma's endgame by paulette mahurin

28/5/2019

As any regular reader of my reviews will know, I have long been a fan of Author Paulette Mahurin's work, so when a new release came on the market, I was one of the first in line to buy and enjoy. Mahurin's usual gamut is historical fiction, where she builds a fictional story around real historical people and events. To my pleasant surprise, Irma's Endgame, is a departure from her usual fare and represents an author's effort to grow and expand her repertoire, something I admire greatly.
Irma is a hard-working, somewhat cynical and hard-bitten but focused legal mediator. She has seen the best and the worst of human nature in her role, over the years but she has a reputation for fairness and achieving just settlements in disputes. When she sees a newspaper headline screaming at her that her first, one-true love, heart replacement surgeon, Peter Dayton has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide after one of his transplant patients had died due to a mistake in medication, Irma knows she has to help the man she once loved (maybe even still does) with every fibre of her being.
Peter has all the trappings of success, wealth, status, and power but over the years his arrogant and overbearing manner has seen him disliked, as a person, within the halls of medicine. His incredible skill and success has leavened that cold nature in the eyes of hospital administrators and he is recognised as a hero, especially among those he has given a new life, with transplant surgery. His biggest regret in life remains his kowtowing to his parents back in College to end his relationship with Irma, as she was clearly an unsuitable match for this silver-spooned future surgeon. Despite all the trappings of success, Peter is sad, lonely and desperate for affection.
Faced with an open and shut case against Peter, Irma finds herself clinging to any sort of hope and this leads her to investigate a heart-transplant patient who appears to have dramatically changed personality since receiving a woman's heart. Can it possibly be that this seeming personality transfer has something to do with Peter's demise?
As I said, Irma's Endgame was a departure for Mahurin but, for me, a successful departure. The two main characters Irma and Peter, their separate lives and trials that have brought them back full-circle to find each other again are the classic unrequited love story. I particularly enjoyed the exploration Mahurin did of the idea of personality transference in organ transplants. The idea that some small part of a donor's personality somehow lives on in the recipient of the organ was fascinating. The relationship between the husband of the donor and the recipient was beautifully written and one could feel the instant connection between the two and marvel at it.
This is a fantastic story that I read with absolute zeal and like all books of Mahurin's I was disappointed to have reached the end. I can highly recommend this read, as Mahurin tests the boundaries and depth of friendship, loyalty, psychosis, betrayal and most importantly, of love. It is a triumphal departure from her usual genre for this incredibly talented author.

You can find Irma's Endgame, along with the remainder of Paulette Mahurin's exceptional repertoire, here on her Amazon page:

the wolf and the crimson maiden by anastasia bolinder

27/5/2019

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.

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

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

27/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

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

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

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

running out of lies: a mystery by brian beneventi

24/5/2019

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.

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

shrug by lisa braver moss

23/5/2019

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.

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

honey & pearls by L. A. Jones

23/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Honey & Pearls: A Unique Collection of 100 Word Poems, is sort of what the author L.A. Jones, says they are – a collection of 100, roughly 100 words, long, poems. At 100 poems, roughly the same length, this is a substantial volume in comparison to many poetry books I have read and the author certainly deserves credit for that. They cover a wide gamut of topics and styles, so although they are short and sweet, they certainly are not homogeneous. The poems are all formatted differently and draw the reader through the different styles, seamlessly. There are a number of genres covered, with no clear, collective theme, except that the bulk of the poems are uplifting and positive. As well as poems reflecting on traditional topics such as the seasons, love, romance, growing old, childhood memories, there are also some which are quite fun and quirky.

L.A. Jones has brought us an enjoyable collection of verse in this volume, Honey & Pearls: A Unique Collection of 100 Word Poems. I enjoyed many of the efforts and did appreciate the author’s note at the end where Jones explained the selection policy for this volume and including the author’s son, Jamie, in the process. As with any collection, there are always some that stood out and resonated with me, more than others. These included – one poem which I could totally identify with; “Growing Old Disgracefully”, “Grandchildren”, which is a magical description of the joys of being a Grandparent and one I’m sure all Grandparents (like me) can identify with. “A Squirrel’s Song” was a whimsical look at a squirrel who has lost his nuts and the effect is has on him – this was one of Jamie’s selections and I did enjoy it (as he apparently did, also). “Stand and Deliver” tells the tale of a Highwayman and his appeal, even though he is a criminal. Finally, “Have You Ever” which literally asks the question, have you ever… done a wide variety of things like, seen a Ghost, loved and lost, cried and cried? There are many other poems worthy of mention but suffice it to say, I enjoyed this collection and can recommend it to poetry fans.

You can find Honey & Pearls here, along with the author's other works, on the Amazon Author Page:

vampire landlord by glenn stevens

17/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When College student, Lori discovers her best friend Vickie is missing, she goes in search of her. In Vampire Landlord, author Glenn Stevens brings us a short story set to chill the bones. Vickie's old landlord has no idea where she has gone and is so incensed at her leaving without notice he presents Lori with a bill for rent arrears to give to her friend. When Lori finally does track Vickie down, she discovers her friend has literally fallen on her feet, moving into a swank apartment, rent free, with her new landlord also helping her with school expenses and providing lots of extra luxury accessories for the young woman. There has to be a catch, right? Of course there is and some unexplained bite marks on Vickie's neck, her general malaise and the odd appearance of Vickie's new landlord, Annette, tell Lori that everything is perhaps not as wonderful as Vickie makes it out to be. What have the two friends walked into, here?

Vampire Landlord by Glenn Stevens is a quick, pithy read that can be navigated in just over an hour, or so. If you are looking for a vampire story, with a difference and with some cunning twists, this may well be the perfect story for you. The brevity of the story didn't really allow time for the characters to be fully developed. The Landlord Annette was fascinating and the character showed a ton of potential. The author's style is relaxed and conversational, making the read quick and easy but I still felt there was room for more meat on the bones of the story. That having been said, in the context of a short story in this genre it was both satisfying and easily consumed. I particularly enjoyed the freezer room attached to Annette's bedroom and would have loved the author to explore that more fully. If you are looking for a quick, easy read in the vampiric genre, this book will definitely suit your needs.

You can find Vampire Landlord, along with the rest of Glenn Stevens' other works, here on his Amazon page:

devil's claim by dariel raye & muffy wilson

17/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Even as a child Katala felt a deep attraction to David Stringfellow, one she neither understood nor indeed, knew what to do about. Despite the pair hardly ever seeing each other after their childhood both still retained the memory of their deep affection and attraction. When David’s father dies and leaves his immense wealth to his only son, the will has some strange stipulations that will forever change the lives of Katala and David. In Devil’s Claim, authors Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson bring us a tale that spans the generations and cultures. They take us back to the old west, where Native American’s are being forced from their land and African-American’s, even the free ones, are consistently captured, rounded-up and forced back into slavery and subjugation. David and Katala’s forebears set in motion a chain of events that will see a curse follow the Stringfellow clan down the generations until the present day. Can David and Katala finally break this horrific curse that has held his line in its thrall for so many years?

Devil’s Claim was a veritable romp through so many different and new ideas; black magic, curses, witchcraft, Native American traditions and customs, spirits, and demons. Author’s Dariel Raye and Muffy Wilson have crafted a wonderful romance that links Karma across the generations and requires the two main characters to break the Karmic cycle somehow. Although in its early chapters the story felt slightly disjointed and as a reader I struggled to come to terms with the connections and more importantly the effects of the Karmic events, through the ages, the more I read, the more entranced I became, with the story. Both Katala and David were wonderfully drawn characters who exhibited the difficulties and challenges of different cultural histories living together, in harmony, in the 21st Century. The clash of their cultures and beliefs with modern life was one of the keys to the success of the story. This certainly isn’t a book for the young and the relationship scenes between the two were exciting, frank, and hot, without crossing that invisible line into smut. The sex scenes were intrinsic to the understanding of the depth of their relationship across the generations and were beautifully handled by the authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and if a love story with an esoteric and magical background is your thing, you will love it too. I’ll give big “up’s” to these two authors.

You can find Devil's Claim along with a ghost of other good reading here on Dariel Raye's Amazon page:

silent spring: deadly autumn of the vietnam war by patrick hogan

5/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War by Patrick Hogan is a highly personal and technical examination of the dangers faced by “boots on the ground” veterans in Vietnam, not from the enemy, the North Vietnamese, but rather from their own Government who systematically and regularly sprayed them with a deadly cocktail of herbicides and insecticides that would have devastating effects on the veterans’ own health over the next fifty-odd years but perhaps even more importantly on the health of their children, their grandchildren and perhaps generations yet unborn. Hogan details, in a ordered and scientific manner the many chemicals and chemical cocktails he and his fellow veterans were exposed to on a regular basis. Although Agent Orange is probably “the face” of the Vietnam veterans’ exposure to herbicides, the author details the many different and varied deadly chemicals they were subjected to. He also reviews the duplicity and intransigence of the Federal Government in dealing with their responsibilities to the veterans for this mistreatment. Equally he highlights the almost criminal manner in which the multi-national chemical companies were and still are allowed to produce such lethal concoctions for both military and civilian uses.

This book was something of an eye-opener for me. As a non-American reader I was aware of the use of Agent Orange that both affected US soldiers as well as others from the international forces stationed in Vietnam, however the sheer volume and persistence with which these cocktails of chemicals were systematically delivered to the Vietnamese and the soldiers was frankly horrifying. The intransigence of the Government to accept responsibility for their actions was and is reprehensible. The adage of “delay and obfuscate until they have all died,” does indeed seem to be the guiding principle of successive DVA (Department of Veteran Affairs) administrations. I found the book compelling and readable despite its, at times, highly scientific language. Even the layman can understand the intense toxicity of some of these chemical given Patrick Hogan’s analogies. Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War is a chilling reminder of just how easy it is for Government to lose sight of protection of their own troops when waging “all-out” war on their enemy. I realise this was written solely from a US Veteran’s perspective and naturally focused on their health problems and difficulties getting resolution, but as a non-American reader two things that were only briefly mentioned, struck me forcefully. Were the US guilty of war-crimes by spraying such a toxic mix of chemicals on what was essentially a civilian population? Sarin gas may kill quicker, as used by Saddam Hussein on his own people, but one can’t help but wonder what long-term effects this program has had on the health and future genetic stability of the Vietnamese population. This is a thought-provoking and at times anger-provoking read. Thank you to the author for putting such a complicated issue into terms we can all understand.

You can find, Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War, here on Patrick Hogan's Amazon page:

roam by erik therme

3/5/2019

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.

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

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

29/4/2019

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.

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

changing angels by julie elizabeth powell

24/4/2019

Changing Angels from Julie Elizabeth Powell was a warm, romantic, change of pace for me. I found the story of two star-crossed lovers who somehow just missed each other quite touching.
Jake came from an abusive home where he was treated like garbage by both his parents and even his older siblings. He left home to escape from the pain as soon as he was able and although he flirted around the edges of the law, he always had a strong moral compass that kept him roughly on the straight and narrow and at least out of serious trouble. A chance encounter with a young girl on a bus would leave Jake and the girl, Faith, with the belief there was something destined for them both, together.
Faith's life was thrown into disarray when her beloved father died and her mother remarried a wealthy businessman, which gave them the security they needed but it also gave faith a step-brother she could well do without. Faith knew Lawrence was evil and had designs on much more than brotherly love, so was relieved when her mother sent her away to boarding school.
Jake and Faith briefly reconnect while she is at boarding school but when Faith mysteriously disappears one day, they are again torn apart. Despite the years that pass, Jake always believes he will find Faith again but will it all be too late for the lovers?
This was an enjoyable and satisfying read. I've been a fan of Julie Elizabeth Powell for some time and this was the first non-fantasy book of hers I'd read. In some ways it reminded me of the emotions and angst in one of my own books and I certainly identified with that.
If you like a good, solid, story-line with real, strong characters both male and female, I'm sure you'll love this and if you're a hopeless romantic, like me, I know you will. An excellent read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find all of Julie Elizabeth Powell's wonderful books, including Changing Angels, here on her Amazon page:

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

24/4/2019

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.

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

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

21/4/2019

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

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

deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1) by karen janowsky

21/4/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As they say… “…and now for something completely different.” That is exactly what Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory by Karen Janowsky, brought me. This book took me completely by surprise with both its premise and its development. Major Daniel Hecht was somewhat of an enigma. A sickly, weak, American Jew who was captured by the Nazis in 1938, Daniel was subjected to horrific experiments by the Nazi overlords who were working on a formula to make the “perfect” soldier. When Daniel was finally freed by a group of partisans, he was used and abused by the American armed services for his special abilities. Then, right in the middle of the war something odd happened and Daniel was thrust through time to 2012 where he was again recruited by an organisation who wanted to use his special talents along with some other “super heroes” to keep the forces of evil at bay. When Daniel, an awkward introvert meets Nina, a new recruit, both instantly know there is something special between them. Despite neither having memories of the event, they are sure they have always known each other, and that there is a special bond between them. Daniel, Nina and the rest of the rag-tag super heroes set about to try to stop the collection of ancient artefacts that together could create a super weapon for the forces of evil.

I absolutely loved this book. The premise was so outlandish and the story so personal and real you, as a reader, could not help being drawn into the jumbled world of Daniel and Nina. Déjà vu: The Persistence of Memory is an enigma in itself. Somehow author Karen Janowsky has managed to combine an action-packed narrative of super-heroes with a sweet, beautiful love story that plays out between Daniel and Nina. Both characters are so incredibly naïve as to the ways of the world that at times you really want to shout at them… “for God’s sake, just do it.” The writing style is relaxed and comfortable. I was able to read this book in a single setting. It is one of those stories you just simply cannot put down because you are always searching for the next step, the next move in the relationship. The erotic writing in the book is a very small part, but an extremely powerful part. I felt the author handled these scenes with such tenderness and care that it was an absolute pleasure to read. If you love good Science Fiction or Fantasy with plenty of twists and turns, or if you just love a ripping good adventure yarn with plenty of romance, you will love this book. I did and I can highly recommend it.

You can take a look at Deja vu (The Persistence of Memory Book #1), here on Karen Janowsky's Amazon page:

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