Blog Posts - GRANT LEISHMAN

georgette alden starts over by annie hoff

26/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

For around thirty years, Georgette Alden’s life had revolved around her career as the incredibly sexy and devious Electra Holmes, on the day-time soap, Our Time Tomorrow. In Georgette Alden Starts Over, by Annie Hoff, we meet Georgette just as she is contemplating life as Georgette rather than her alter ego, Electra Holmes. Her character has been unexpectedly killed off by the producers who want “young and sexy” for their audience now. Confronted with the prospect of unemployment for the first time in her career, Georgette is persuaded to participate in a Public Announcement spot for a local charity, Helping Hands, which provides for the many homeless of New York City. When Electra first meets the charity’s director, the wheelchair bound, but still incredibly handsome Tony Rodriguez there is an instant and palpable connection that neither of them want to deny but is Tony ready for a full-on relationship, especially with a woman he once fantasised over, on television, as a College student? Georgette has to come to terms with whether she is really Electra Holmes or the hitherto hidden and less obvious, Georgette Alden, whilst Tony must decide if he is ready to put it all out there on the line and risk the possibility of rejection from a woman he still thinks is probably way out of his league.

If there’s one thing I do love it is a good, quirky, romance and author Annie Hoff has certainly brought me one of those with Georgette Alden Starts Over. There is nothing terribly complicated or deep about these characters and their interactions and yet the author manages to weave a tale of faltering, yet determined love between two unlikely partners that not only works but creates great empathy in the reader for both of the main characters. I particularly enjoyed the “aha” moment when Georgette finally realized she was truly Georgette Alden, a mature woman who was simply lonely and what she wanted more than anything in the world was to be loved for herself, not for some sexy character that she was immortalized as on the square screen – what she really wanted was Tony Rodriguez. I also enjoyed the battle Tony was going through as he panicked about his ability to satisfy such a glamorous woman, especially given his condition. The writing is simple, sweet and draws you into the two characters’ psyche as we ride along with them down those first tentative relationship steps. If you like a good, modern romance with quirky characters, especially so with the fringe players, then this would be a fantastic read for you. I certainly enjoyed it very much.

You can find Georgette Alden Starts Over, here on Annie Hoff's Amazon page:

vengeance in the wind (wind Series Book 6) by judy bruce

25/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Megan Docket is a young, small-town, rural lawyer, who inherited the family law firm from her late father and who seems to attract trouble and mystery wherever she goes, in author Judy Bruce’s Wind Series of books. In this latest offering (Wind Series Book 6) Vengeance in the Wind, the readers find Megan visiting the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. By the time she leaves to return home she has been the subject of an attempted attack and has semi-adopted a young, native American man, who she plans to help find his way in life and suitable employment, back in her home town. Before too long, Nate, is joined by another man from the reservation, Rex, who was actually the one who was going to attack Megan. Whilst helping the neighbours set up a “haunted house” run, for the locals, as part of Halloween celebrations, two murders occur and Megan and her husband, State Trooper, Jay finds themselves in the middle of a mystery and a dangerous vendetta that will put them, their family and their friends at risk. With Megan’s special intuition about evil and danger, can she solve the mystery killings before she or her loved ones are caught up in the mayhem?

Vengeance in the Wind (Wind Series Book 6) is an action-packed, mystery adventure with a strong female lead, in Megan Docket. Author Judy Bruce has done a fine job of painting a picture of this diminutive, yet feisty and determined young lawyer who takes no bull from anyone and is certain of one thing – when her and her friends are threatened, she will back down to no one. I particularly liked that Megan’s “super power” – her sense of evil and impending danger was played so subtly. I thought the author got the balance perfectly right in ascribing this unknown “gift” to young Megan. I do appreciate an author who drops in subtle hints as to the backstory that may exist in previous iterations of this series allowing the reader to understand why certain decisions were taken or certain situations developed, although I did feel it was slightly overdone on this occasion, harking back to events that a reader coming in at Book 6 would probably have no interest or understanding of. That being said, if you like fast-paced mysteries with an ensemble cast of characters and a “kick-ass” female lead this series could well be for you.

You can find Vengeance in the Wind plus the rest of Judy Bruce's portfolio, here on her Amazon page:

social work by thomas duffy

21/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Marc was a troubled young man who had not been able to find his way in life, successfully, since he’d dropped out of College a few years earlier. After a failed suicide attempt, he is introduced to his new social worker/therapist, Lauren at the hospital he was taken to. In Social Work by Thomas Duffy, Marc tries to come to terms, with Lauren’s assistance, with what is good for him and his ongoing mental health if he is to become a happy, functioning member of society again. For Lauren, who is looking to the future, herself and looking for a man to make her life with, Marc represents what should be one of her “success stories”. She sees much potential in Marc and wants the very best for him, even to the point of having feelings for her patient that she knows are ethically wrong and would be frowned on by her superiors. Together, they both must plot the best course in life for both of them knowing always there are many pitfalls along the way.

I liked the basic premise of Social Work and felt author Thomas Duffy did a very good job of opening up to the reader the plethora of problems, questions and priorities that life throws up to all of us from time to time. I particularly enjoyed the development of Marc, as a character and the fact that despite the knockbacks and self-doubts he was still prepared to push forward and discover his destiny. At times the dialogue felt stilted and unrealistic and many of the scenes were under-developed in my opinion. This was a good story that had so much more potential and could have run for a couple more hundred pages very easily. That being said, it was still a satisfying read and covered many of the issues of mental health and the lack of acceptance of those with mental health issues that need to be aired and talked about more often. This was a pleasant enough read but I felt it lacked the scope the topic could well have been given with a bit more space and depth.

You can find Social Work, here on Thomas Duffy's Amazon page:

ten tales of a dark tomorrow by kevin a. kuhn

21/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow by Kevin A. Kuhn is a collection of short stories, which the author describes as inspired by the original Twilight Zone series. The majority of the stories are either science fiction or unusual happenings in normal life. The author brings us variety from My Little Girl, which explores the concept of parallel worlds and how a mother would deal with her daughter being sucked into one and replaced with an “almost” perfect copy through to a humorous story of a young girl, chosen at random, to be Sally-Ann Queen of the Galaxy – will this pre-teenage earthling be as easy to manipulate as the powers-that-be believe? In between we have a collection of sci-fi and paranormal including: Let’s Ride Bikes, where time appears to slow down dramatically for two young friends, whenever they go bike-riding; Nana’s Memory Box that allows a young woman to experience the memories of her grandmother and her mother through the magic of some ancient Shaman beads; Teach A Man To Fish, which explores the moral dilemma of killing alien beings, for food, that may in fact be sentient, just like us; and a number of others.

As a reader, it is nice, sometimes, to put down the long, epic novels and pick up a book of clever, well-written, pithy short stories, often with a message. Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow certainly fulfills that desire. Author Kevin A. Kuhn has done an excellent job of putting together a collection that has enough variety to sustain the reader’s interest and also stays true to his concept of following the Twilight Zone paradigm. Each story was unique, interesting and enjoyable – unlike many collections of this nature, I didn’t feel there was a dud in amongst the ten. When you are reading a collection like this, though, certain stories do jump out and resonate more with you than others. Such was the case with me and my two favourite tales in this collection were: For the Hive, in which I felt the author perfectly summed up the dangers to humanity on relying too heavily on AI. Here we had AI whose core programming was to protect humanity at all costs – what this essentially meant was reducing all risks and the result of that, not surprisingly was boredom, lassitude, and a lack of creativity within the population. I thought this was a telling tale, well worth the read; my second favourite story in the collection was The Case Against Humanity which raised some fascinating insights into how humanity could be viewed by superior beings in the Universe and how we would fare in comparison to other alien societies. All in all, an excellent collection to read and one this author should be very proud of.

You can find Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow, here on Kevin A. Kuhn's Amazon page:

elocution lessons by j. william patrick

19/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Elocution Lessons by J. William Patrick is a tale of intrigue and action that takes the reader all across the world, from Japan, to the U.S, to Turkey, to Pakistan and back to the U.S. as a rogue FBI agent seeks singlehandedly to take down and destroy a major weapons-smuggling and money-laundering cartel that is both violent and ruthless. The author introduces us to a wide range of characters in an extensive ensemble cast. The principal characters, though, are Tina Wood and Bryce St. John. Tina is a navy brat and spent her childhood travelling around the world where she displayed a remarkable ability with linguistics. She and Bryce first meet at an International School dance in Ankara, Turkey. Although deeply attracted they both decide to put their careers first before a relationship. Tina will go on to become a linguistics professor, with a maximum-security clearance, who does translation work for the U.S. Government, while Bryce will make a fortune as a trader for a privately held foreign bank in New York. Whilst keeping their friendship alive, long-distance, neither of them realizes that their professional paths are leading them both toward danger, mystery and intrigue in the criminal underworld.

As a reader, I found Elocution Lessons to be an exciting, fast-paced novel that fulfilled all the elements I would expect in a “spy” type thriller. Author J William Patrick did an excellent job of building the cast of characters and throwing in plenty of “red herrings” along the way, as any good thriller writer would. The skill, for me, in this author was his ability to bring all the disparate characters together at the end to make a logical conclusion to the novel. As a reader, the only jarring point for me was the constant back and forth between time periods and places. Although the author did a good job of telegraphing the POV and location changes, from a reader’s perspective, it felt choppy and disjointed in places. That being said, it was an excellent and satisfying read that kept me engaged the whole time. For those who enjoy a little steam in their romantic liaisons there was plenty of that to keep you interested. If, as I suspect, this is a debut novel from this author, it is a worthy beginning and one worth building on. I will be watching out for more from this author in the future.

You can find Elocution Lessons by J. William Patrick, here on Amazon:

cats, chaos, and condo board wars by nikki leclair

14/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In Cats, Chaos and Condo Board Wars, Hilary Brandt is an up and coming event planner who has made her mark in the industry by sheer hard work and dedication to her clients. Author Nikki LeClair brings us this tale of a successful, thirty-something woman who struggles with the eternal life balance between career and potential romance. Living in one of the city’s top condominium buildings, courtesy of her late grandfather’s bequest to her, with roommate and BFF Luna, Hilary and the rest of the tenants are dogged by an autocratic, Condo Board Chairwoman in the face of Mrs Glover, who it seems has been the tenant’s nemesis for almost forever. Incredibly unfair and favoring certain tenants over others, Mrs Glover has long been the bane of many of the condo’s residents. A group of them decide it is time to overthrow the ogre and Hilary, with her well-known organizational and people skills is the obvious person to do it. When Mrs Glover forbids Hilary from eating “very smelly” Indian Takeout in her apartment and makes her sit outside in the pouring rain to eat, that is the straw that breaks the camel’s back for Hilary and she throws herself headlong into the nasty, backbiting struggle to win the tenant’s support in the upcoming elections.

Cats, Chaos and Condo Boards is an unpretentious chick-lit romance that stands out primarily for the depth of characters that author Nikki LeClair manages to infuse into her story. I am probably as far removed from LeClair’s target audience as you can get and yet I found myself entranced by the political backbiting and general nastiness of this minor election. The author does a great job of instilling humour into the tale to give it an excellent balance between the drama and the fun. The relationship issues that Hilary has with both her friends and her potential love matches are genuinely funny and well-written. If you are looking for a break from the horrors, drama and angst of much of today’s offerings in both reality and the book world then this book will give you that. It is well-written and flows seamlessly from one dilemma to the next. As a character, I wanted to slap Hilary for being “too nice” and slap Eli for being “too camp” and that, in my opinion is the mark of an excellent author; one who can raise emotions within the reader. This is no literary masterpiece but what it is, is a fun, enjoyable romp away from reality that leaves the reader grinning to him/herself at the end and that is what we all look for in a romantic comedy. Kudos to Nikki LeClair and I am tempted to read more from this author.

You can find Cats, Chaos and Condo Board Wars, along with the rest of Nikki LeClair's portfolio, here on Amazon:

the american terrorist (american terrorist series book 1) by jeffrey sabins

14/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The American Terrorist (American Terrorist Series Book 1) by Jeffrey Sabins takes us deep inside the Iraqi conflict, with Marine Gunnery Sergeant Jared Tremble. Jared joined the army straight out of high-school and is now a veteran of numerous campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and even the Horn of Africa. He is well respected and extremely good at his role as part of a marine corps unit. Jared, however, has had enough. He feels the government and the army top brass have been lying consistently to the troops and that they should not even be there, fighting in some foreign land against an enemy that is simply trying to live its purpose and faith. The crunch time has come for Jared and he has decided on an audacious plan to try to gain some meaning in his life. Jared will walk out of camp one night and join the Army of Islam, to fight against his former brothers-in-arms – Jared will become a traitor. Bereft and lost he sees this as the only way to spark some meaning back into his existence. He is tired of fighting for cowards and liars who use the troops on the ground as their proxies to gain power and influence over the region. Gunnery Sergeant Jared Tremble is about to go rogue!

This book, The American Terrorist (American Terrorist Series Book 1) is the first in a planned trilogy of books involving the characters introduced in this novel. Author Jeffrey Sabins, as a marine himself, clearly has a deep understanding and empathy for the characters in the story. His development of his main character Jared Tremble and the attempt to understand his state of mind at the time of his desertion is well written. I did find the narrative a little choppy and truncated at times – perhaps that is the way of the marines (short, sharp, and to the point). The author raises valid questions about the purpose of the war in the Middle-East and the general response of the “grunts” on the ground that are required to prosecute it. The action scenes (of which there are plenty) are clearly written from the perspective of one who has seen action himself and this lends a realism and veracity to the carnage that is war, especially war waged close up against a determined and driven foe. As a debut novel and as one that sets the scene for future iterations, I felt the author had achieved his objective of the reader investing in his main character and wanting to follow more of his adventures in future. I look forward to seeing the style and scope of this author’s work, develop, in future books in the series. A good, solid effort for a debut novel in this reviewer’s opinion.

You can find The American Terrorist, here on Jeffrey Sabins' Amazon page:

sarah by j.k. gunne

9/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Sarah by J. K. Gunne takes us to Brussels, where Irishman Denny lives with his son, his daughter-in-law and their three children. Denny, for years, had been caught up in the sectarian violence of Northern Ireland that had seen his own brother murdered by the Provisional IRA. After Denny’s wife had died and his house had burnt to the ground, he gladly accepted the kind offer to live with his son and his family. He found comfort and peace in the family, being especially close to his grandchildren who affectionately called him Bompa. With the two eldest children almost grown and out on their own, it was five-year-old Sarah that Denny was drawn to and captivated most by. He loved to go to the outdoor market next to their house with the young girl who would enchant and delight all she came into contact with. When Denny takes his eyes off his granddaughter for just a few minutes, the child suddenly disappears and Denny and his family are caught up in the unspeakable world of child sex-trafficking. Desperate to find her, Denny and Sarah’s elder brother Romain will go to any lengths to try to track her down.

Sarah is definitely one of those books that creeps up on you somewhat before gripping you in its spell and racing through to a conclusion, with you, the reader, hanging on for dear life. In Denny, author J. K. Gunne has created a character that is rich in both depth and empathy. As a reader it was easy to understand the old man’s sometime confusion and sometime certainty about what he had seen and what it meant. I particularly liked that the novel embraced some subject matter that is so often swept under the carpet or discussed covertly, especially the fact that many involved in the child-exploitation industry are not only extremely wealthy, but also often very powerful and “pillars” of whatever community they are a part of. The story’s assertion that even in the upper levels of the justice system, these vile creatures were prevalent and interfering in investigations, certainly resonated with me. I thought the story, especially at the beginning, was a trifle vague and seemed to meander along meaninglessly at times, however, once Sarah disappeared the true nature of the narrative emerged and it was an engaging and thrilling read. As, what I suspect is a debut novel there is room for improvement but equally hints of an excellent storytelling ability as well.

You can find Sarah by J.K. Gunne, here on Amazon:

the fortune follies by catori sarmiento

7/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Fortune Follies by Catori Sarmiento takes us back in time to a very different version of life after the Second World War. The author has created a totally different backstory to the defeat of the Japanese. Instead of dropping two nuclear bombs on Japan, the Japanese army was defeated by a mechanical army of soldiers created essentially by one man, Robert Sinclair and his company Sinclair Industries. Sarah Igarashi, of Japanese extraction, along with her entire family were interred during the war, as a precaution but now she has decided to leave her poverty-stricken native Alaska and head to Seattle, where her cousin Penny, she assumes, is living a life of luxury on an inheritance that Sarah believes her family is entitled to some of also. When she arrives in Seattle, she quickly realizes the streets are not paved with gold and her cousin has no intention of sharing their inheritance with her. As a non-citizen of Seattle, Sarah has few rights and is forced to work long, hard hours at Sinclair Industries, for minimal wages, just to survive. Against a background of gangs, the Japanese underworld and a massive earthquake that strikes Seattle, Sarah must somehow find her place and her way in this alien environment.

I felt the premise for The Fortune Follies was unique and interesting. The idea that America post-war would become a repressive, almost fascist society was interesting. The struggles of the non-citizens in Seattle, as opposed to those who had citizenship resonated with me as being not too different from the problems faced by undocumented immigrants in the US of the twenty-first century. Author Catori Sarmiento takes us inside a dark, Japanese underworld and a city ruled by gang violence and the ever present, overarching spectre of Sinclair Industries. The writing style, was at times, beautifully descriptive, however the scene changes were often abrupt and unsignalled, which as a reader had me struggling at times. The POV’s change constantly between Sarah and her cousin Penny, which was fine and gave variety to the story. The two principal characters were well-drawn as almost opposites, despite them being cousins. I particularly enjoyed the tension and interactions between Sarah, Penny & George (family) in contrast to the warmth and friendship between Sarah, Ruth and some of the other rebels (comrades). All in all, an interesting idea and one worth delving into.

You can find The Fortune Follies by Catori Sarmiento, here on Amazon:

Circle in the sand (oceanic dreams book 3) by tracy krimmer

4/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Circle in the Sand: Oceanic Dreams Book 3 is a novel in a romantic comedy series by Tracy Krimmer based around romance on cruise ships. Isla Hunter is a librarian, about to turn 30, who allows her two best friends, the vivacious and adventurous Charlotte and the gorgeous “player” Asher to convince her to celebrate the event by going on a cruise. Charlotte hopes the cruise will allow Isla to forget her old boyfriend, who left her a year ago, after eight years together and that she might “hook up” with someone and just have some fun for a change. But when Charlotte unexpectedly has to cancel her participation in the trip, it is just Isla and Asher, alone on a big cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean. When Asher appears to immediately hook up with an old childhood friend Isla begins to feel pangs of jealousy. Although she tries to rationalize it as just annoyance that Asher is not celebrating her birthday exclusively with her, she also begins to question whether, perhaps, she might have feelings for someone she had always thought of as being in the “friend zone”, albeit, the best-friend zone. This cruise maybe will allow them both to discover and explore anything that may be between them.

I love a good romance and especially a romance with a twist of comedic writing, which, as an author, I know is not an easy thing to do. In Circles in the Sand, author Tracy Krimmer is able to develop a character in Isla that appealed to my sensibilities and my sense of humour. Her self-deprecating manner and her habit of studying people (people watching) definitely resonated with me. She was, at her core, a fairly old-fashioned girl and not about to throw herself at the first man that gave her a cheesy pickup line and yet, a little part of her longed to be free, easy and sexually loose like her best friend Charlotte but she wasn’t actually sure she was capable of that. The author did a great job of developing Isla through the story and Asher was well drawn also, as the archetypal “player” who perhaps was not a player at all and had some extraordinary hidden depths. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between the two old friends who perhaps were not just old friends. The read is seamless, well edited and not at all pretentious; it is a straightforward romantic comedy that makes no bones about being anything else. I can definitely recommend this book if you love romance but require a slightly edgier and tougher format than perhaps your typical Mills and Boon. I’m impressed with this author’s style and will keep an eye out in future for work by her.

You can find Circle in the Sand: Oceanic Dreams Book 3) here, on Tracy Krimmer's Amazon page:

bird kid by carl owens

4/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Bird Kid by Carl Owens is a graphic novel that explores the issues of bullying against young kids at school. Phil, “Pill” Anderson has just moved to a new town from Albuquerque and is faced with the daunting prospect of a new school, new friends, new (scary) girls and, of course, new bullies. Pill’s father is obviously no longer around, presumably deceased and it is up to his mother to provide all the guidance and security he needs but she has a job and Pill is often left alone to make the daunting walks to and from school where he is accosted, beaten-up and robbed by a couple of older bullies from the school. When he finds respite in a local junk-yard he discovers it is a shortcut to and from home but the junk-yard manager is alternately helpful and then sometimes not so much when it comes to allowing Pill to take the shortcut home and avoid the bullies. Bird Kid is an ongoing graphic novel that will continue in future issues, so there is no clear and definable conclusion to the story – we will have to wait for the next episode.

I’m glad I didn’t realise Bird Kid was a graphic novel when I chose to read it because had I known that, I would probably not have downloaded it (graphic novels are not my thing) and I would have missed out on a well-illustrated, well-told, story about bullying that was an enjoyable read. Author Carl Owens has produced a professional story here and one that draws the reader in. The illustrations are, at times, spectacular but in some areas of the novel appear to be just a tad rushed and underprepared. That being said, though, if the graphic novel’s intent was to draw the reader in and interest him/her in reading more of this series, I think the book has achieved its objective. I for one, am interested in learning more about the eccentric junk-yard manager and what exactly he is up to with his creations there in the yard. This is an excellent start to what could be a well-crafted graphic novel/comic-book series. Well worth the read, especially for those in the young or pre-teen group (middle school perhaps). It has a message that will resound with many young readers.

You can find Bird Kid by Carl Owens, here on Amazon:

the mars one incident by kelly curtis

4/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

In The Mars One Incident, author Kelly Curtis takes us to an earth in the distant future, 2635. Humanity had made the decision some time ago that it was technology that was creating the angst and conflict in the war and it was decided to ditch all technology and cap the earth’s population at 13 Billion people. Most people on earth, in their blissful state, have no idea what those charged with protecting them are sometimes required to do. One of earth’s Guilds, that which is responsible for keeping earth safe from aliens and ensuring that rebels determined to reintroduce technology into humanity do not succeed, is paradoxically allowed to use and embrace technology, albeit sometimes scavenged technology from other planets and systems. Captain Alma Johnson is the youngest person to ever be appointed to a Starfleet command and is determined to prove her worth to all those who doubt her capabilities at the young age of 26. She is sent out on a mission to track down one of the rebel ships believed to be trying to bring technology to earth but she is not totally aware of all the backroom politics that may be taking place on this utopia non-technological earth.

The Mars One Incident is a fairly straightforward science fiction story that predicates an interesting proposition – that the use of technology is responsible for all of humanity’s woes and that by eliminating it we could reach a utopian state. Author Kelly Curtis has realized that to eliminate all technology would potentially be disastrous should there be internal dissension or indeed, external threat. The paradox of using technology to ensure there was no technology was not lost on me. I was impressed with the character the author has created in Alma Johnson. She is strong-willed, intelligent, and driven but it soon becomes very apparent that she also has a conscience and indeed an empathy for those who wish to bring technology back. I particularly enjoyed the way the author highlighted her frustration at being almost an “outcast” in a society that she was risking her life to protect. It makes you wonder if perhaps even today’s policemen have similar feelings. I noted that this is a debut novel for Curtis and also the beginning of a series featuring Alma Johnson and her crew. She has laid the groundwork with her interesting premise and first novel so I look for her to build on this work in upcoming sequels, perhaps a romance with her first officer might be on the cards.

You can find The Mars One Incident, here on Kelly Curtis' Amazon page:

echo island: be prepared by gary travis

1/10/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Echo Island: Be Prepared by Gary Travis is an action/adventure, dystopian novel that focuses on a group of survivalists who are preparing for the worst. Dillon Prescott, an ex-Navy Seal, is in class at College in California when a massive earthquake strikes the Palo Alto region. Rushing home, fearing the worst, Dillon discovers his parent’s house has been totally destroyed, burying his mother and father. Thankfully his young brother is still at school but when Dillon finally manages to dig his father out of the rubble, he discovers his mother is dead and his father needs urgent medical assistance and an amputation of one of his legs. He texts his Seal buddies who swiftly arrive to assist him. After the younger brother Jack sells an invention to GE, the Prescott’s find themselves immensely wealthy. Determined not to be caught out by natural disasters again, the Prescott’s go full-on survival mode and purchase an island in Maine where they will set up an invincible fortress and a self-contained community for themselves and their friends. They will first have to deal with a corrupt and over-zealous local sheriff who wants the island for himself and is determined to send these interlopers packing. Once they become aware that evil forces somewhere are actually triggering these natural disasters, for their own financial benefit, Dillon and his team understand just how important their sanctuary will become in what looks like being a near-extinction event.

Echo Island: Be Prepared is an exciting, action-packed, roller-coaster of a ride for any reader. The survivalists, who have special forces soldiers at their core are experienced and well capable of building an impregnable fortress there on Echo Island. Author Gary Travis has unpacked a set of characters who although stereotypical of special forces personnel are indeed endearing and likeable. They don’t take any crap but that being said, they have hearts of gold. I have to admit though, I did get a little tired of their endless “hooyahs” eventually but it didn’t detract from the story too much. For lovers of a little romance there’s plenty of that here and the relationship between Dillon and Lauren was well written. The writing style is fast and frenetic as befits a thriller as well as being incredibly easy to read. I was thrilled as I get to the end of the story and realise that it wasn’t necessarily, actually, all over and that the door was left wide open for a sequel. I am particularly excited about the prospect of Dillon and his team attempting to take down the forces that caused this mass-extinction event. This appears to be a debut novel from Travis and I would have to say he’s done an exceptional job first up. I look forward to more from this author and can definitely recommend this tale for those who like their action, fast and frenetic with plenty of human values thrown in for good measure.

You can find Echo Island: Be Prepared on Gary Travis' Amazon page:

the eyes of love by j.e. smythe

29/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Ruth is closing in on forty, still single and basically can’t figure out why. She’s always had the picture of the perfect man for her, in her head but where exactly is he? A few times in her relationships to date she’d thought she was with “the one” but then something happened and they drifted apart and eventually broke up. All she wants is to find that one special man who wants and needs her as much as she wants and needs him. Her only consolation in her constant introspection is the beautiful saxophone playing that seems to call to her on her back porch, from the mysterious new neighbor who recently moved in across the road. The Eyes of Love by J.E. Smythe sees Ruth, with a push or two from her two best friends, embark on a journey of discovery as she contacts all her previous boyfriends, many of whom she hasn’t seen for years, to try and ascertain from them, what exactly went wrong with their relationship and why she wasn’t “the one” for him? It is a journey sure to be ripe with self-discovery but also a fair share of pain and hurt at the revelations she discovers. Ruth is on a journey to find the one who was meant for her but what she discovers is she’s not everything she thought herself to be.

The Eyes of Love by J.E. Smythe has an interesting premise that will resonate with many readers – what do our ex-partners truly think about us and why did they break up with us? It was always going to be a journey fraught with pain and an element of self-doubt and angst but I felt the author did an excellent job of presenting Ruth, the main character, as anything but the neurotic woman she could have so easily become, without a firm author’s hand. I particularly liked her two friends, who couldn’t be more polar opposites; one happily married with two children and the other still a party girl thoroughly enjoying the single life. Their interplay with Ruth and with each other was definitely a highlight of the story for me. Although the ultimate outcome of the journey was probably way too obvious to an outside reader, that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the journey and the recognition that many of the feelings and confusion over past relationships that Ruth felt, have been felt by all of us at one time or another. If you love romance and if you like your female leads with intelligence but also with a simplistic naivete of life, then this book will be right up your alley. I’m not the author’s target market audience by any stretch of the imagination but I can still say this story was an enjoyable read.

You can find The Eyes of Love, along with the rest of j.E. Smythe's portfolio, here on her Amazon page.

hubris falls by matthew s. hiley

28/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

It’s the end of College and five friends have graduated, albeit only just but before they head out into the “real world” and their futures, there is time for one last “hurrah!”, one last road trip. They pack their gear and head for a five-day rafting trip down the Rio Grande, on the Mexican Border. In Hubris Falls by Matthew S. Hiley, we tag along with this unlikely bunch of friends who are linked mainly by one thing – their love of alcohol and weed. What was supposed to be a final salute to their youth quickly turns into a deep introspection of their lives, their beliefs and their prejudices. Brian and Jimmy have been close friends since High School. The two friends, unlikely as they are; Jimmy is black, a Democrat, and fervently believes in the redemptive power of faith despite the tragedy that has already struck his young life but he still holds strong beliefs on white dominance and suppression. Brian (Legs), on the other hand, is a child of white privilege, a Republican and simply cannot believe that any loving God would allow such tragedy as exists in the world today. Throw a redneck bigot into the conversation, in Williams’ and you have a ready-made mixture of dark humour, satire and ultimately tragedy. This will be one final hurrah that none of the participants will ever forget.

Hubris Falls is first and foremost a tragic comedy. The pathos and beauty that are exposed by author Matthew S. Hiley within the same narrative and often within the same sentence is a testament to this writer’s ability and talent, to be able to dig deep and mine into the heart of a reader’s emotions. I was entranced by the story and by the amazing relationships between the characters, especially Jimmy and Brian. Their friendship had been built over a number of years based on trust and understanding of each other’s situations and yet, there were still always questions over how much Brian truly understand of Jimmy’s life and difficulties and vice versa. No matter how hard it has been to deal with the tragedies in his life, Jimmy has kept his faith and his positive outlook on life and people, in general. The author uses the trip to confront many of the untold truths and fears of these five men (and many of us) as they embark on life after college. The humour, given the seriousness of the topics and events on the raft, is a wonderful panacea to the grim reality of their discussions. Good humour in fiction is very hard to produce and Hiley has done a superb job in lightening the topic with his sarcastic and farcical humour. I found myself laughing out loud as I read, a rare occurrence for me. For that alone, this book lifts itself out of the mire of “coming of age” stories. The characterisations of the fearless five were true to live and I’m sure will resound with many people. An excellent book, a fantastic read and one I can highly recommend.

You can find Hubris Falls by Matthew S. Hiley, here on his Amazon page:

seventh flag: a novel by sid balman Jr.

26/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Seventh Flag: A Novel by Sid Balman Jr. tells us of the intertwining stories of two very different families on the prairies of West Texas. The author traces the journeys of three generations of a Syrian and American family to the small town of Dell City in West Texas. In the aftermath of 9/11 and the “war on terrorism” we see how the radicalization of both Muslims and Christians has led to a rupturing of American society and the splintering of long-term relationships and friendships, all across the country. The history of Zarkan family can be traced right back to the 1850’s when Ali Zarkan’s grandfather first arrived in America as part of a doomed experiment to introduce camels to the United States cavalry. When Jack Laws, an Irish/American immigrant decided he needed to stake a place for himself after World War II, he chose the remote area of West Texas, to farm. The Zarkan and Laws’ family bond was cemented following a bloody knife fight in a Mexican bar just across the border from Dell City. What follows is a tale of love, friendship, brotherhood and betrayal as these two immigrant families try to withstand the bigotry, religious intolerance and hatred that sweeps across America at the start of the new millennium. Their mutual love for football, their country, their Lone-Star State, and ultimately each other, will have to survive some extreme tests.

Seventh Flag: A Novel carries a deep message of tolerance and love in a world that is severely wounded by its very antithesis. However, Author Sid Balman Jr. pulls no punches in describing the turmoil that exists in both of the two families as they try to balance their love for each other against the rising tide of hatred against Muslims and indeed, immigrants of any colour. This story is a reminder that ultimately all Americans are either immigrants themselves or descended from immigrants. Despite the powerful, overarching moral concepts of the novel, the author has managed to deliver an exciting, action-packed story of courage, selflessness and duty, that impresses. The writing style is extremely readable and this is one of those books that I had trouble putting down, always wanting to know what would happen next. The core of the book, revolves around the relationships of the children and grandchildren of Ali Zarkan and Jack Laws. The characters were strong and believable, especially with the pressures being put on them from all quarters. I particularly appreciated that the author chose to show the dangers of both sides of extremism, within both families. To me, what made this book stand out was core belief that “we are all Americans”, together in this battle against extremism, racial bigotry and hate, in whatever form it may take. I put this book down, at the end, with a feeling of satisfaction and completion and that’s possibly the highest compliment I can pay the author. I highly recommend this read.

You can find, Seventh Flag: A Novel, by Sid Balman Jr. here, on his Amazon page:

the devil and dayna dalton (book 9) A bulwark anthology by brit lunden

26/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Devil and Dayna Dalton (Book 9) A Bulwark Anthology is a short, novella from the pen of author Brit Lunden. Dayna Dalton is known as what we might colloquially call, “trailer trash”. She grew up in Bulwark, Georgia and like her mother had gained an unfair (in her case) reputation as the town slut. From an early age, Dayna had designs on the gorgeous Clay Finnes but all through High School, Clay seemed impervious to her charms, placing her fairly and squarely in the “friend zone” or the “sister zone”. Unable to achieve her ambitions of a life with Clay, Dayna managed to escape the incestuous small-town atmosphere of Bulwark and attend Georgetown University, on a full scholarship, where she studied journalism. Just as Dayna’s career was beginning to take off, she loyally returned to Bulwark to take care of her mother who suffered a cancer scare. Now a reporter on the local Bulwark newspaper, she is still drawn to Clay Finnes, now the town’s sheriff but also now married, with a child. Realising she can never have Clay she runs through a coterie of men, never quite finding the love and care she craves, until… strange things begin to happen in Bulwark.

As a reader, I’m not a big fan of novellas, as I like the characters to develop and grow over the length of as novel, however, for The Devil and Dayna Dalton (Book 9) A Bulwark Anthology, I’m prepared to make an exception. Author Brit Lunden has given us a complex character in Dayna Dalton who, having run the gamut of the worst in relationships is ready, willing and able to give herself utterly and totally to the man who steals her heart… and what a man he was! The paranormal feel to the novella coupled with the author’s vivid and breathtaking description of the people and the environment of Bulwark was a true bonus to this story. The story flows and yes, I was a little annoyed when it ended so quickly but rather than dwell on that, I’d just say Lunden has given me a thirst and desire to read more of her work and indeed more about this fascinating female lead she has created. I loved the way she so accurately portrayed the dynamic between the public and private persona of Dayna Dalton. Written off, virtually from the day she was born, Dayna has the spirit and the intelligence to rise above people’s perceptions of who she is and most importantly, not care what people think of her. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I can highly recommend, especially if you love strong, female, leads, as I do and the paranormal touch doesn’t hurt at all.

You can find the Devil and Dayna Dalton, here on Brit Lunden's Amazon page:

your last breath by doug lafuze and carole parkes

23/9/2019

Your Last Breath co-authored by Carole Parkes and Doug Lafuze takes the reader on a wild ride through the warped mind of a serial killer. American Raymond Lang was a "wannabe" author writing his first novel about a serial killer. Raymond's big problem was although he could picture the serial killer's acts and plot motivations he was struggling to get them down on paper. What he discovered was that performing the acts themselves was what was needed to break the writer's block he was experiencing. With police on his tail in America and an FBI agent with a personal stake in one of his murders, Raymond decides the time has come to leave the States. With a suitcase full of money, courtesy of his Grandfather's inheritance, Raymond relocates to London where he plans to finish the book and become a successful author. The same problem he faced in America resurfaces in London, as he finds the only way he can write is to keep killing and keep creating his plot in reality.
When Raymond's latest victim turns out to be a lovely woman who is also related to a private detective, things begin to close in on the ever elusive Raymond. Throw in a cheating and vicious British politician who gets caught up in the action and you have all the makings of a fascinating criminal chase story and suspenseful drama.
As an author of co-written books myself, I fully understand the difficulties inherent in such an enterprise. The two authors here have combined magnificently to create a suspenseful story but also a sweet tale of family and romantic love. The juxtaposition of the murderous viciousness of Raymond Lang and the loving, morally sound, and determined private detective Alex, probably shouldn't work but it absolutely does and it is Alex's side of the story that softens the absolute horror and harshness of Raymond Lang's heinous crimes and actually makes the story readable. The idea of using two different voices for the main characters was also an inspired choice. Initially I thought it wouldn't work well but I was wrong. Having the villain Raymond Lang write in the first person drew the reader into believing they were participating alongside Lang in his violent killing spree, whereas having the other characters written in third person allowed us to take a breather from being inside that evil man's head.
I loved the fact that the authors deliberately chose to leave a wide opening for a sequel to the story and I, for one, really hope they follow up with that. Your Last Breath, as a read, was indeed a "breath" of fresh air for this jaded reader and one I can highly recommend to all and sundry. This is a cleverly written book, well edited and one that rollicks along, at times, like a train out of control. Kudos to the two authors.

You can find Your Last Breath, here on Carole Parkes' Amazon page:

the kalis experiments: tides book one by r.a. fisher

22/9/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Kalis Experiments: Tides Book One by R.A. Fisher is the beginning of a fantasy adventure in a world created by the author. Syrina, is a Kalis. Kalis’ are special creatures that are trained almost since birth to be faster, deadlier and more magical than the general population of the Author’s world. Like all of the Kalis, Syrina is at the beck and call of her master, one of the fifteen high merchants who run everything in their world and have done so, with the Kalis’ help for over a thousand years. She is often used for doing her master’s “dirty work” and keeping miscreants in line. Kalis are the stuff of legends and nobody has ever seen one and lived to tell the tale. When her master sends her on a new mission, she begins to realise that something is different and that there is some secret out there relating to their history that she is about to discover. After visiting the distant city of Fom in search of answers, she discovers a secret machine from antiquity which may be capable of destroying the world, all over again, as had happened before in the “Time of Ashes”. Will Syrina be able to unravel all the mysteries before it is too late?

In The Kalis Experiments: Tides Book One, fans of epic fantasy will find new worlds, new creatures and new technologies to excite and entertain them. I did, however, find author R.A. Fisher’s world building to be a little underwhelming, especially for what is clearly the beginning of a new, epic fantasy series. It takes some time to actually come to grips with the characters and where they fit into this world that that author has created. The idea of the Kalis and her unique skills was interesting and I always like a good, strong, female lead, which Syrina certainly was. Also intriguing, was the idea that these fifteen high merchants, who generally lurk in the shadows, in their disguises, were, in fact, just ordinary people who reverted to their normal personas during the day. This, of course, led to some interesting considerations as to who Syrina’s master might actually be. There was plenty of action and lots of interesting characters. I felt there were enough interesting questions, situations and preponderances that arose during the first book to give plenty of fodder and ammunition for further books in the series. If I was to make one recommendation to the author, should he/she be considering book two in this series, it would be a map of the world created and a bit more in-depth narrative on the political and social structure of the various locales. For example, more information about the church and its power over the populace would have been useful. All in all, though, a good, solid fantasy read here.

You can find The Kalis Experiments: Tides Book One, here on R.A. Fisher's Amazon page:

auschwitz syndrome: A holocaust novel based on a true story (women and the holocaust book 3) by ellie midwood

20/9/2019

As a long-time fan of the genre (WWII - Historical Fiction) and a real fanboy of author Ellie Midwood, I'm always excited to hear when she has a new book in the marketplace, being first in line to grab it. Her latest story revolves around a survivor of the terrible Auschwitz-Birkenhau death camp in Poland.
Helena, a Jew, was transported to Auschwitz, from her home in Czechoslovakia after voluntarily surrendering to the German occupation forces, believing she was being sent to work in a factory to assist the German war effort. On arrival at Auschwitz, she was immediately to be sent to the gas chamber and murdered, along with her entire transport. A chance encounter with Rottenfuhrer Wolff, would see her, instead, chosen to sing a birthday song to one of the guards in Auschwitz - Franz Dahler.
So taken by her singing and her beauty was Franz, he immediately ordered she be removed from the liquidation list and instead assigned to work in his section - the famous "Kanada" where the dead people's belongings (clothes, jewellery, money etc) were sorted and re-purposed for use by the German Reich.
The story switches back and forth between the Denazification Trial of Franz Dahler, in 1947, where he is accompanied by his "wife", the former inmate, Helena, from Auschwitz - to Helena's and Franz's actual time spent in Auschwitz and later Birkenhau. Overseeing the trial, from the sidelines is an American Psychiatrist, Dr Hoffman who is fascinated by the whole tale of the Dahlers' love affair and romance. How is it possible for an inmate of such a horrific place as a concentration camp to fall in love with the SS Guard appointed to oversee them? To Hoffman, it simply doesn't make any sense and he is sure there is something at play here, as yet undiscovered by modern psychiatry.
As with all of Midwood's novels, this story (based entirely on true events), despite it being set against such a hateful and depressing backdrop is all about love, survival and the indomitable human spirit. I felt Midwood captured perfectly what must have been the mindset of so many young, idealistic SS Nazis. Raised to believe that their superiors could NEVER be wrong, many of them must have looked at what they were doing to, principally the Jews, and wondered... even known, that it was wrong... and yet, it was their orders and orders were never wrong, even if they didn't understand them.
As always, Midwood's research is impeccable and her descriptive prose takes us right inside the horror and the evil that was Auschwitz-Birkenhau. While it is true that the "Kanada" was, as they put it, "a right kosher detail" and the girls there were well treated in comparison to the regular inmates, Midwood doesn't pull any punches in her descriptions of the conditions faced by Helena and even the regular inmates. Her descriptions of the systematic murder of an entire race are compelling, absolutely realistic and incredibly hard to read. But, like all her work there is an overwhelming sense of the dignity of humanity and the power of love, even among such unspeakable tragedy.
In my mind, Midwood is a superstar of this genre and Auschwitz Syndrome is just indicative of her immense talent at parading in front of our unsuspecting noses - "that which we must NEVER forget". I can't recommend this read highly enough. It is thought-provoking and mind-blowing and not something I'll forget in a short time.

To find Auschwitz Syndrome, or indeed any of this author's incredible novels, visit Ellie Midwood's Amazon page:

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