Crater's Edge by Lucy Andrews

Crater’s Edge by Lucy Andrews is a sci-fi thriller that takes place in a futuristic world where the ever increasing birth rate has been managed in a very interesting way.

Earth is colonising other planets, and cities are being built that have a unique twist. Cities like the domed city Central where the population is divided into the Early Zone and the Unity Zone. The people in the zones share work areas and public places but sleep and eat on their own side. This means that work on the colony can continue around the clock as each team works in shifts. Every member of society thus has a Duplicate that they never meet. Work on a new area of Three-Craters is causing concern as machines are breaking down or turning on for no reason, miners are getting ill at an alarming rate, accidents are occurring regularly and construction is being delayed. Kalen Trinneer is a Senior Engineer in the Colonisation Division of the Ea-Zone and is sent to investigate the strange happenings. Kalen’s investigations start turning up some bizarre revelations, and he is reluctant to recommend that mining recommences until the incidents are resolved. Kalen’s recommendations, however, seem to be ignored as his superior back in Early (who is also his girlfriend), is urging him to drop his suspicions and sign off on the safety of construction. He starts to doubt his worries as he is afraid that his ideas have been influenced by the painkiller Narquum he has been addicted to since the cave in at Area 9 that he believed he caused.

Kalen needs to take the investigation deeper, and with the help of Sera, Jorge (the mining captain) and a number of other trusted miners he leads the investigation to levels in the construction site that very few have seen. Soon he realises that his life is on the line and that he needs to contact his Duplicate in Unity to see how much information is being falsified. Staying alive is more important than silly rules about Duplicates right? What Kalen stumbles across will make him question every decision he has ever made and every assumption he has had about his life. Is his realisation that he may have been a pawn in a bigger game too late?

The concept behind the book was an interesting one, and the idea that in the future this might have to happen to control the population’s space was thought-provoking. A lot of vivid imagery takes place which helps the reader imagine the world extremely well, especially in the encounter in the garden and the feeling of claustrophobia so deep underground. Kalen’s struggle with his decisions definitely came through, and the introduction of the God-force and its ramifications put a new spin on things. The author has sprinkled in a good dose of heroes and villains, and you can feel your blood pressure rising when a villain gets away with something. The book has a deeper meaning than at first glance, and if you read into it, you can see parallels with influences in the world right now.

The book was well edited with only a few mistakes creeping through. The writing style was pretty consistent, but lost its pace in some areas like this where repetition occurred throughout dialogue:

“When will you be able to give an opinion?” he asked, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. “After I’ve done a full analysis.” Perhaps she would have a view once she had done her analysis.

This cropped up a couple of times and the repetition of words or ideas was unnecessary. I also felt a little irritated when Kalen arrived at the area he was to investigate and before he met the geologist Sera, kept commenting on how he thought she would be big, or ugly or unsociable. He said this a number of times and it seemed a needless thing to keep thinking about. The biggest bugbear, for me, was the ending. There was a lot of action and events leading to it and as the build-up gets going, the words THE END pop up. Unless this is the start of a series, that is an extremely abrupt ending. The author would have done well to just let the reader know more is coming as I can see this being a reviewer’s negative comment.

The book will make you thankful for some of the freedoms we take for granted right now, and have you wondering what would happen if the world went that way in the future.

Celebrity Chef Zombie Apocalypse by Jack D McLean

Celebrity Chef Zombie Apocalypse is the first in a zombie series and starts us off on the tale of how zombies (both humans and animals alike) plan on taking over the world.

Robert Turner is in real danger of being fired if he can’t figure out how to get FRTV headed in the right direction again. He needs something big, and quick. Someone who has been on TV and been a celebrity. His inventive uncle claims to have created a machine that brings the dead back to life, and after witnessing the neighbour’s cat Henderson being brought back (don’t ask how he died), he is keen to try it out on Floyd Rampant, a celebrity chef who died 15 years previously. Surprise surprise – it worked! Only Floyd and Henderson are now sex-crazed, starving zombies. Floyd decides to “recruit” other celebrity chefs to the cause and soon there is a wave of zombies ready to take over the world. Dave, a former employee of one of the turned, is trying to warn the world, but no one will listen. Eventually, as the murders become more obvious and public, it falls to the Prime Minister to invoke drastic measure to save the day. But seeing as this is the first book in the series...

I actually read the second book Zomcats first, and now I see how Henderson was changed and the world infected by zombies. Makes more sense when you know more of the back story. This is a good giggle, full of dark humour, body parts and political satire. It’s a snarky twist on a good old-fashioned zombie gore fest. A quick, crazy read with only a few editing mistakes that won’t really put you off the flow of reading.    

Hair in all the Wrong places #3 by Andrew Buckley

Hair in all the Wrong Places #3 (The ‘Things that go Bump in the Night’ Squad) is the third in a series aimed at middle school children about how Colin Strauss became a werewolf and the crazy adventures he has been through since then in order to keep the town of Elkswood and its interesting inhabitants safe. It can be read as a standalone novel.

Colin and the Night Watch are after a hellcat. A nasty critter that seems to have no fear since it’s really hard to destroy. During this hunt, they come across members of the Order of Kane and rescue a girl who was kidnapped by them. All pretty routine, right? But Colin’s recurring nightmares of fire and death and Charles the Demon’s warning that “she will betray you” has him on edge. Add to this his newfound ability to speak to wolves, their latest English teacher who seems a little off, three kidnappings, and a problem with his girlfriend Becca, and you have all the elements of something crazy about to happen. Luckily Colin has backup in the form of the Night Watch team or will he have to go even deeper and use evil to fight evil?

Another brilliant book in the series! Even though the novels are aimed at middle school children, they have a maturity and cleverness about them that even adults would enjoy. The writing is seamless and comfortable to read and the layout of the parts of the story fit well together. I like the way that the characters are used between books and that you are not bombarded with new ones each time. As more and more back stories come through, you can start to see the pieces of the bigger picture come together. The author does a great job of letting you feel Colin’s emotions without being bogged down with too many feelings. There isn’t a cliffhanger as such at the end of the book, but a clever lead into the next one. Mr Buckley does tease you a bit at the end when he ALMOST tells you what Jeremy is (harrumph we have been waiting for three books now, hint hint) and then doesn’t let us in on the secret. Guess I’ll have to wait for the next book!

A very well-written book with a story that keeps you involved from start to finish. I highly recommend this.

Stone and Spark #1 in the Raleigh Harmon prequel by Sibella Giorello

Stone and Spark tells the first part of Raleigh’s story and gives you an insight as to what she experienced as a youngster which influenced her career decisions later on. The prequel series is YA based, leading to a more adult series as she joins the FBI.

Raleigh’s best friend Drew is missing. Yes, she has run away once before but this is different. For one thing, her bike is still at the school, and the lock holding it in place has been looped incorrectly and not reset to zero. Anyone who knows Drew knows this is not right. Drew is smart; super-smart, and is a stickler for statistics and things in their right places. When Drew doesn’t pitch up for her lunch meeting with Raleigh at Titus’s burger place, Raleigh knows something is wrong. But the more she tries to convince the adults around her, the more they don’t believe her. Her dad has enough on his plate, being a judge by day and her mother’s keeper the rest of the time. Drew’s mom lives in a bottle and Drew’s dad doesn’t care. Raleigh decides to play detective and is helped by her Geology teacher to look for clues beyond the obvious. To find signs where there should be none. So with just a rock hammer, a decent knowledge of the law, and a can-do attitude, Raleigh is determined to find Drew. The odds are against her – but when has that ever stopped her?

Having downloaded this as a free book and never read any of the Raleigh Harmon series, I was pleasantly surprised. While not featured a lot in the book, I loved Drew’s smarty pants character and the fact that no matter what others thought of her, that she was true to herself. Raleigh was a very interesting character. The number of times she snuck out of the house or did something she was told not to do was astounding. It served her well later, but I’m sure her dad was pushed to the limit. Her mother’s mental health issues and the effects that her medication had on her must have been very scary for Raleigh. To be constantly accused of not being her daughter, to not knowing which side of her mom was out must really have taken a toll. I liked the way that baseball played an integral part in the story, and how it weaved the burger place (with its side story) to the quarry to the character of DeMott. I would like to have known a lot more about DeMott but I guess that is brought up in other stories. Bar the Geology teacher; the staff in her school were awful – so disrespectful and condescending. About halfway through you start to figure out where the story is going, only to find out you were completely wrong. I really liked the twists and turns.

A very well-written and easy to read book with interesting characters and an exciting story. The bonus was that I learnt a heck of a lot about geology too! Definitely recommended. 

Last Breath (Sam Archer#8) by Tom Barber

Last Breath is the 8^th book in the Sam Archer series but can be read as a standalone novel. It is a fast-paced thriller that combines deceitful security agencies, riots, friendships and the desire for profit that overrides morality.

Sam Archer is an NYPD cop and has taken some time off to see his niece for her birthday. Why else would he be in a cop station having been brought in after a skirmish with a football player on a train far away from home? That is the least of the problems in the city though, three people have been killed; by a cop. And the neighbourhood gangs are having a field day by joining the protests and causing mayhem. Then Sam learns the identity of the cop. It’s someone he knows, someone he is close to. Something seems off. As Sam makes a promise not to get involved in any more action and to just enjoy the time with his family, he knows he is lying. He needs to find out exactly what is going on. As he gets deeper and deeper into the network of lies and finds layers of conspiracies, he also finds out something he never wanted to know. That purple is the last colour you see before you die...

This is definitely a fast ride with a lot going on. Yes, maybe the weaponry is not actually able to do what is claimed in the book, or some characters survive more shootings and stabbings than most, but hey – it’s fiction and it’s there as a break from reality. The plot may have stretched belief a little, but I enjoyed the way it was linked together and even when you are convinced you know who is involved a twist comes along. The writing style was easy to read, and I found myself saying just one more chapter, one more chapter. I liked that some backstory was explained without going into too much detail so that more about Sam’s character was revealed but that you weren’t left in the dark if you hadn’t read the previous books.

An action-packed thriller that gets you caught up in the mayhem and exhausted when it’s all over. Definitely recommended.    

The Game you Played by Anni Taylor

The Game you Played is a standalone psychological thriller and will keep you guessing until the end.

A two-year-old child is missing. Any parent’s nightmare. Especially if it’s your own. Phoebe took her eyes off Tommy for two seconds in the park and when she looked up he was gone. Six months down the line and the police still have no leads. Phoebe is a shadow of her former self, and her husband Luke has thrown himself into his real estate business and no longer feels connected to her. In fact, he has found himself a much more sympathetic ear. A note arrives in their mailbox that makes reference to Tommy. Is it a sick joke or does someone actually have some knowledge about Tommy? As Phoebe’s mental state spirals, she starts relying more and more on the sleeping tablets she has been prescribed. However, now she is waking up in strange places and has no idea how she got there. Plus, the bizarre dreams she is having seem to be trying to tell her something. Luckily she has the support of her close group of friends who have been with her since she was young. As her desperation brings her closer to the edge, the author of the notes is uncovered. Let the chaos commence...

I really enjoyed this thriller. It is a little confusing to try to tie in the dreams but once you see where they are headed it becomes a race to finish the book to find out what, when, where, and how. The author portrays the turmoil Phoebe is going through very powerfully and the raw emotions are sometimes hard to handle. There is a fine line between drawing the reader in just enough and overburdening them with emotion and sometimes I felt as though the author could have reined it in just a little as too much repetition tends to lose its effectiveness. But that was a small gripe. What was not said between the couple was an indication of many relationships today – each person crying out for the other but not communicating effectively enough for the other to understand. There were definitely clues sprinkled throughout the story to point you in the wrong and right direction, and while I thought the ending may have been a little OTT it was still a fantastic read.

I definitely recommend this for a good, solid thriller with some clever writing.

Blood and Fire by Willow Rose

Blood and Fire is the second in the Vampires of Shadow Hills fantasy series and is not explicitly advertised as a YA novel, but is more suited to tweens.

Robyn is concerned. Sure she knows that her vampire parents have turned her brother and that she is next. Why else would she suddenly be home-schooled and kept away from her friends? Especially Jayden, who she still has a major crush on. Ok so it’s dangerous to be around Robyn’s family, which is why Jayden is with Jazmyn, but still. Oh, and there is the matter of Melanie, another friend, who was attacked and seems to be changing into something. Just an average, ordinary teenage life...

I picked this up as a free book as I have read a number of good books by the author and the cover looked like a fun YA novel. I read it in 45 minutes and was disappointed that it finished at 78% on the Kindle. This really felt like a gateway novel to me. Something to introduce a new character and add a bit of info to the previous book, but nothing of substance. The clues about what certain characters are changing into/becoming are in your face, yet the kids are shocked when it happens. The bit that felt the most intriguing, for me, is the house with the spell on it.

With the number of fantasy novels out there involving vampires, werewolves and witches, you have to really have a new concept to sell. Sad to say but this fell short of the author’s other books. Nothing inherently wrong with it, but nothing that would make me buy the rest of the series.

Monsters in the Hallway by Capt Jim Kosmo

Monsters in the Hallway is a standalone novel and is based on true events that the author experienced while growing up in the years when mental health was not understood and sexual attacks on children not spoken about.

Jason knows his father can be a little strange. Sure he talks to people that aren’t there and yes he did try to kill the family by setting fire to the house. But when the monsters in white coats come to take him away, Jason has torn feelings about it. Now the burden falls on his mom to take care of the family; no mean feat in the 50s. As crazy experiments are done on his father in the hospital, Jason grows up a responsible and polite young man and works hard within his Eagle Scout Troop. On the night Jason is honoured for rescuing his sister from the fire that his father set, his best friend Roy who is also a pack member, is raped and murdered. Jason’s father escaped from the hospital that night to see him receive the award and is now the prime suspect in the case. Detective Stroud and Jason are the only two people that believe in his father’s innocence. The detective because of clues popping up in other similar cases, and Jason because he knows there is someone out there who is hurting young children. He does, after all, have firsthand experience. So begins an extraordinary story of people working together to prove a man’s innocence amidst kidnapping, sexual abuse, murder and the stigma placed on misunderstood mental health.

This book really pulled me in and I didn’t realise it was based on a true story until the very end. So many people are victims in this story; whether directly affected or a family member or friend. The nurture versus nature debate had a strong thread throughout the story and made a huge impact on the choices a lot of the characters made. The fact that the author was courageous enough to come forward as a young man and then relive the memories while writing the book is truly impressive. So much bias against those suffering from mental health in this day and age is inexcusable, and it’s sad that opinions are formed based not on facts, but on mass fear. The book was exceptionally well-written and definitely made a strong impression on me.

I highly recommend this book.

Death in Paris by Emilia Bernhard

Death in Paris is a standalone novel and is the story of two American friends in
Paris, who find themselves swept up in a murder and are keen to put their amateur sleuthing skills to the test.

Rachel Lewis is shocked to hear that an old boyfriend of hers has died. Drowned in a bowl of vichyssoise of all things. While not common, it is by no means suspicious, until Rachel learns that a bottle of rosé was on the table when he was found. Not possible! Edgar couldn’t stand rosé! She immediately enlists the help of her friend Magda Stevens and they come up with all manner of theories. When Rachel is called in for the reading of the will, she learns that she has been tasked with cleaning out the library and choosing a book of her liking. What she is shocked about, however, is exactly what has been left to his ex-wife, son, current girlfriend, Girl Friday and butler. Her mind goes into overdrive as more and more suspects become apparent only to have them start dropping like flies. The police don’t believe her and she can’t find definite proof. Is she seeing something that is not there? Maybe her eagerness has blinded her to that fact that it was an accident? Or has it...

This is a fun and easy to read story that flows through scenes comfortably. Rachel is a wonderfully rounded character who is easy to relate to, and you find yourself rooting for her even when she indulges in madcap schemes. I loved the journey of the clues and how she followed them only to go crashing into walls and have to start all over again. I must admit I did have the killer pegged (or was there no killer?), but not for the eventual reasons. I can see these two friends on a crazy journey together in future books righting wrongs in their own way.

There was not much not to like about the book, but a few things stood out for me. There were a couple of editing mistakes like missing quotation marks and scene breaks not being denoted but they didn’t interrupt the reading. I found the use of French terms with no translation a little off-putting as I wasn’t sure what was being referred to and actually had to look some up while I was reading. I only found the glossary at the end of the book once I had finished reading which didn’t help. Some English terms like truculent, allusive and improvident also seemed a little out of place. While the book is in English, there are conversations between characters in French and English and sometimes things like apartment and appartement being used in the same paragraph became confusing and halted the reading flow.

Overall I found it a charming book (if a dead body can be counted as charming), and a pleasurable afternoon read. I do hope the characters return with more crazy encounters.

Many thanks to Thistle Publishing for the opportunity to review the book. 

The Tower by Nicole Campbell

The Tower is a standalone YA novel and deals with love, friendship and loss.

Rowyn, Reed and Rosalyn have been best friends since they were young. Having grown up in a community of witches, life has not always been easy for them at school. They have been shunned and cursed at and basically treated as though they are lesser people. Rosalyn is a vibrant young lady, one who loves to bake and is fiercely loyal. She loves life and sees and spreads positivity. When she and Jared, who is not in the community, get together, she believes that she has found the partner of her dreams. Reed and Rowyn have always had an eye for each other so getting together would be the obvious thing, right? Then fate steps in and deals a blow so cruel that it feels like life can never be repaired. Who will rise and who will sink?

I downloaded this as a free book and when I got around to reading it I hadn’t read the blurb so was in for a surprise; which turned out to be a very good one. The story starts off in a light-hearted way and I was just smoothly reading along when WHAM you get hit with info and you argue with your brain as to whether or not you actually read that. Didn’t see that coming. What follows is a book with so much emotion that I actually had to put it down a couple of times. I like fiction to take me out of reality and the emotions that came across gave me a massive dose of reality. I kept going back and forth saying it’s a good story and then being overwhelmed by the emotions and then going back again. I don’t think I’ve ever read a YA book that dealt with emotions in such depth before – very powerful stuff.

I understand how the author wanted to portray Rowyn, but I felt that her reactions were sometimes over the top, especially when it came to her dad. But I guess as adults we sometimes forget the intense emotions we experienced as teenagers and how feelings were so much more passionate then. Reed was a very interesting character, especially to see how he treated others and the influence being best friends with two girls had on him. His struggle to face reality later on in the book was very honest, and I’m sure a lot of teens can relate to the angst he was experiencing. His connection to Reiki and how it works was illuminating. Rosalyn made me smile each time she was on a page, with her sunny personality and her steady as a rock morality.

The POVs jumped from chapter to chapter which helped you get into the character’s places in the story a lot more. There were only a few editing mistakes which didn’t interrupt the flow of the book at all. I learnt quite a few things about holidays and rituals in the community which was something new. I just wish more was explained about the tarot cards and the tower in particular as I’d actually forgotten about it when it fitted in later in the book.

A well-written novel that is definitely recommended. 

Zomcats by Jack D McLean

Zomcats is the second in a quirky zombie series but can be read as a standalone novel.

Henderson the cat is hungry. And not in a normal way. Henderson was previously dead and has a circular saw where his abdomen should be due to being put back together by a mad scientist type. Oh and Henderson is a zombie who can infect other cats and humans. Sounds legit, right? Mix this in with heads of state from around the world competing to gain the upper hand in popularity as well as rid themselves of the zombie problem and you have the beginnings of chaos. Is there anyone who can help them?

I started reading this book with no expectations as I had downloaded it because of the title and had not read the blurb. I was pleasantly surprised! Goofy, funny, snarky and downright mad is the order of the day in this book. Be prepared for swearing and violence but with lots of clever use of innuendo and puns. The dig at politicians and their egos was so true and I can well imagine the truth in some of the scenarios. There are a few things thrown in from the first book and hints about where the book is going next so I did find a few scenes confusing when they didn’t lead anywhere.

Overall a silly book in the best of ways. Gladly there were minimal editing mistakes. Take it with a pinch of salt and read it for the giggle.

The Beauty of Bucharest by SJ Varengo

The Beauty of Bucharest is the first in the Clean Up Crew series and is an action/thriller/spy novel. It can be read as a standalone book.

Dan and Nicole are very much in love. Dan is recently retired from being a game designer and Nicole works for a company that cleans up crime scenes. During a quick stop at Home Depot, Dan is horrified to find a body in the boot of his car. It seems there is more to Nicole than meets the eye. As a trafficking ring in Bucharest takes a turn when a high profile model is abducted, Dan finds himself drawn into a nest of lies and intrigue and will find himself in situations he could only have imagined in his games. Will real life prove too much for him?

The story started with the promise of deception and action. While it delivered on the basics, I felt it very generic. I was never on the edge of my seat as I would expect from an action story. There are the usual twists and turns that can be expected, but the story seemed to end far too predictably.

There were very few editing mistakes which made the flow of the book comfortable to read. Perhaps because this is the first in the series it was used to create context and introduce characters, but as a spy thriller, I found it rather average. Nothing wrong with the book, but nothing that stood out for me. 

Thirty-three going on Girlfriend by Becky Monson

Thirty-three going on Girlfriend is the second book in the Spinster series but can be read as a standalone novel.

Julia could not be more irritated. Her sister Anna is getting married to the annoying Jonathon and Anna is driving her nuts about every wedding detail. Each “wedding disaster” text is turning out to be a false alarm and Julia has other things on her mind. For one she is due to appear on “Cupcake Battles” after an audition tape was sent in sharing a very different side of her. Another is that her gorgeous boyfriend Jared is acting very strangely and Julia is starting to feel that wedding bells will never be in her future. Everything just seems to be happening at the same time – how will she cope?

The novel is a light-hearted and fun read that could be consumed comfortably in one sitting. At times I really felt for Julia and at times I wanted to smack some sense into her. The author has injected some wonderfully humorous situations into the book and anyone who has prepared for a wedding or been in a wedding party can definitely empathise. There were a few editing mistakes but nothing to detract from the story.

I’d recommend the book for those who enjoy a bit of romance along with a fun and engaging story and commend the author on her comfortable to read writing style.

Raising Hell: A Hellcat World novel by Sharon Hannaford

Raising Hell is an offshoot of the Hellcat series and lets us into werewolf Trish’s world.

Trish is seriously worried and losing sleeping with all the nightmares she is having. Considering she has a gorgeous Alpha Kyle, a foster daughter who is one of the twins of the prophecy and a lovable bundle of energy, as well as a caring young lady about to develop her Vodun priestess powers that she considers family, it seems strange. But something just doesn’t add up. There is danger lurking out there. The pack has been successful so far in maintaining peace, but the Decuria have not yet been vanquished. When a spy is caught at Haven with earth-shattering news Trish has some exceptionally hard decisions to make. Add to this the stress of Flora’s new love interest and an abandoned pup that has brought out some strange behaviour in Breanna as well as ghouls that have begun attacking in ways ghouls have never done before. So besides the day to day security of keeping the Veil intact and protecting friends and family from enemies that could be lurking anywhere, nothing crazy can happen, right? Wrong! This is Hellcat World after all; prepare yourself for a ride...

Another brilliant book by Ms Hannaford! It gave the series a new insight to be able to see events from a different point of view. We got to focus on Gabi and the vampires previously and to see the dynamics within the wolves makes for interesting reading. The pacing is comfortable with enough info to keep you engaged without there being an info dump which makes it difficult to keep up. At one stage one of the main characters goes through a life-changing ordeal, and all I can say is Ms Hannaford – why do you do that to my nerves?

I highly recommend this book in the Hellcat series that weaves in so well with the others and connects some of the remaining mysteries that still lie open.

PS – Don’t you ever do anything to Fergus! 

Flow like Water by Mark Burley

Flow like Water is the second in an adventure series that is aimed at YA and up.

Eric Bakker is still searching for his parents who disappeared after leaving him with a puzzling voicemail. They were working on a project with a team, whose members are now missing or turning up dead. Working with John, one of the People Under the Mountain, the twins, Tess and his brother Michael, he is about to meet Angel, the daughter of another team member. Together they will follow clues to go on journeys through many different parts of the world while being chased by the Vidi, the immortal Hunters. Time is running out and they will need to adapt in more ways than one. Flow just like water.

I loved the way the book started with a glimpse into Ada’s life under the Mountain, as it gave you a sense of how they lived and the rituals they followed. The moving around from country to country was very interesting, and a lot of work has gone into research about artefacts and architecture which is described in great detail. This has its good and bad moments in that while new information was appreciated, sometimes the sheer overwhelming amount was just too much and you wanted more of the story instead of another description of what they could see. I found myself skimming over parts when that happened. The book also has a focus on Eric’s growth as a person and how he handled relationships with others which contributed well to the interactions with other characters and the decisions he made.

The action felt a little different in this book – more cerebral and less physical. I did enjoy the story, however, and am looking forward to the conclusion and seeing how it will all tie together.

Thanks to Blue Moon Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book. 

Voices of the French Foreign Legion by Adrian Gilbert

This is a non-fiction book and details with first-hand experiences by those who have joined the legion. It is a reprint of an earlier edition.

The French Foreign Legion has always had a reputation based in movies of a slightly romantic quality. “I’m running away to join the Legion,” can be heard in many scripts. The reality is far from this, however. The Legion is in fact known for its acceptance of any volunteer, regardless of background, as long as they are able to survive the training – both physical and emotional akin to torture.

The author takes the excerpts and divides them into a logical sequence as well as adding his own information and opinion on events. The book begins with how the Legionnaire is made: from the decision to join, the volunteering and the hell that is basic training. The book is no holds barred, and some experiences described, should have turned half of the recruits crazy. The recruit’s experiences tell of life in the Legion and the camaraderie experienced by some and the hatred by others. This intense reliance on others, often in life-threatening situations, led to desertion, and some very scary scenarios come out explaining what led to deserters and how they were dealt with. A large section of the book also deals with the conflicts that the Legion was involved in; from Africa to Vietnam.  I found their ‘Never give up unless we die’ attitude absolutely amazing and the fact that a recruit would fight against their birth country as they are now in the French Legion and be happy about it was quite a revelation.

The last 14% of the book is dedicated to endnotes and a bibliography which was quite strange as the book seemed to end very suddenly if you had been keeping an eye on the percentage of pages left. A few editing mistakes crept in, but nothing to really put you off the flow of the book.

Since I had never read a book on the Foreign Legion before, all of this information was new to me so I enjoyed learning a great deal of new info. Apparently, the excerpts are from other published books, so if other readers have read these books a lot of the info might not be new.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. The author has taken facts and stories and presented them in such a way that it is like reading a work of fiction and you just have to keep on reading to see what will happen next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for the opportunity to review the book.  

Serial K Returns by Brian Gallagher

Serial K returns is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone novel.

Craig Breedlove is back and this time he has his sights set on those who have been abused by priests, as he was during his childhood. His Ripper days are behind him, but he still has the urge to end lives as he sees fit.  Agents O’ Callaghan and Lucci are back together again but are meant to be taking it easy in a semi-retirement. Lucci has the unfortunate luck of landing in a situation with the Mexican cartel and her actions launch a retaliation vendetta. Fortunately, her neighbours pack a lot of heat and are quite willing to help out. Breedlove’s plans collide with theirs when he forms a group of people willing to take matters into their own hands and deal out their own brand of justice to the priests. As the pair comes closer to finding Breedlove, he finds a way to change his plan and now has his sights set on Lucci. With both parties willing to go all the way, who will be the victor?

The story brings up an interesting moral dilemma where the reader feels empathy for the abused, and as the killings start are almost rooting for them to get away with it due to the fact that the priests feel no remorse. With the killings there is quite a bit of violence and descriptions of gore etc, but nothing too over the top. With the focus on the story of a serial killer and law enforcement that are out to get him, I found it quite strange that the author concentrated so much on what the characters ate and drank. The extra info on the arms and ammo as well as the boats was still in the understandable range, but the amounts of bottles of wine and their labels as what was eaten in restaurants were unnecessary. There were some editing mistakes, but nothing that detracted from the story.

I enjoyed the pace and writing of the story and found it very interesting being in the conflicted mind of this serial killer. The ending is quite interesting as a couple of things can be read into it and it’s up to the reader (or book 3) to decide how they believe it ended.

A quick but “enjoyable” read. 

Stir of Shadows by Jaime Lee Mann

This is the sixth book in the fantasy Legend of Rhyme series and is aimed at middle grade so has no scenes of foul language or sexual connotations.

Marigold is far too big to be a pixie, yet that’s what her family tell her she is. Frederick is far too small to be a giant, yet that’s what his family tells him he is. Pyra the phoenix has awakened, which means disaster has struck. Starla’s sister Blue is desperate to speak to her, but she could inadvertently hurt Teagan by her actions when Teagan goes exploring in places far away from safety. Elizabeth is still stuck in the grimoire and is desperate to get out. Grimblerod is still dealing with the nightmares of abduction. These and other stories are about to mesh with dire consequences.

I liked the introduction of Pyra and the effect she has on the continuation of Coraira. It was also fair that Asher got to claim a power which made him feel more like the hero he is meant to be. You can feel that the culmination of the series is coming as the families get to find out that they are related and how they need to work together.

I think to be this far into the series, and having to keep up with the myriad of characters (both still around or gone), it becomes a little confusing. While the poems at the beginning of each section help to remind the reader of what has happened with the characters previously and where they are now, it’s still a little difficult orienting yourself to what land or story you are in. I found that because of the story having to be spread in so many directions, that not enough substance was spent on the parts of the stories now and certain storylines were only just touched on. Some of the chapters were a little too punchy, and a situation would be brought in and immediately solved. I felt the action was missing a bit.

The Kindle edition had the first 6% taken up by hyperlinks which made it a bit irritating to keep flipping until you reached the story. I liked the catch up of characters at the end even if the author did feel like it was a bit of a spoiler alert, it did help to reorient the reader as to where they were with the characters. As usual, the story questions at the end were a great addition as a discussion point for a class. The story ends with a great cliffhanger and the bonus excerpt from the next book really gets the reader guessing. It’s not the best one in the series, but necessary as a gateway. I would still recommend the series for a magical fantasy read filled with mystery and all manner of beings. 

Storm: It’s a Curse to Remember by Gurpreet Kaur Sidhu

Storm: It’s a Curse to Remember is Book One in a series but can be read as a standalone novel and is a thriller which deals with past lives.

Evan Storm wakes up with terrible nightmares every morning about a past life where he is an abusive husband. He and his sister are orphans, and his psychic grandmother raised them from when they were small. Evan has just met his new neighbour Shadow Hex, and is shocked to find that she is the reincarnation of his abused wife from his previous life. Evan feels a bond with her and knows immediately that he must protect her at all costs. What Evan doesn’t know is that there is a secret agency out there that deals with problems for wealthy clients and that one of their agents, Marvin, used to be engaged to Shadow. Marvin wants her back and will use everything in his arsenal, which could include getting rid of Evan or anyone in his life. Can you fight against one who actually doesn’t exist? Evan’s sister Denise has her own problems, as her husband was in an accident and has lost 7 years of memories, including the knowledge that he has a son. Is there a happy ending in anyone’s future?

The story had a good idea behind it, but a lot of things let it down. Firstly the formatting was completely out. Letters of words were divided up between lines and many words had no spaces between them. Some pages had lines between paragraphs and other pages had paragraphs which just ran into each other.  Sometimes the word order was incorrect and other times there were prepositions missing which changed the meaning of the sentence. The paragraphs were filled with head hopping and you could get multiple POV’s in a paragraph (including in some instances the POV of a cat). The only tie-in I could see with Denise’s story was the parallel between memories lost in her family, while Evan is struggling with more memories than most in his. Otherwise, the two parts don’t fit together at all and indeed have no impact on each other. Without giving away too much, the ending was very strange for me. Many past life memories are brought in which have no bearing on any of the current characters and actually make the ending more confusing. The intense fear of the agency and the build-up to a confrontation fizzles out and I hope that some of the character’s paths are expanded on more in the next book.

A story with past lives interfering with present ones as well as secret agencies with evil agendas does sound intriguing, but the story needs work to make it more coherent. I had to remove stars for the editing and formatting as well as for the storyline which left me hanging. I wish the author well and hope that she continues and grows in her writing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.   

The Bathwater Conspiracy by Janet Kellough

The Bathwater Conspiracy is a standalone novel, set in a post-apocalyptic world of sorts where men have been eradicated after the Testosterone Wars and women are the only sex that remain.

                                                                                 

A young lady has been murdered and the body mutilated in ways that have not been seen for years. Detective Carson MacHenry jumps straight onto the case and is determined to find out what happened, but has been warned off by the Darmes, a branch of law enforcement that is way above Carson’s pay grade. This in itself is peculiar as why would they not want a horrific murder like this solved? Carson gets lumped with the newbie Nguyen as a partner and sends her on all sorts of wild goose chases so that she can concentrate on what she thinks is best. As she moves deeper and deeper into her own investigation, she stumbles across a sinister genetic experiment that may prove to undo years of advancement. Add to this political intervention and a genuine fear for her own life and you have a fast-paced and thought-provoking look at a dystopian future.

This book was a lot more insightful than it seemed at first. Even though it is explained that the male genes were eradicated I somehow thought for the first half of the book that the principal character was male. It goes to show how clever the writing is and how your brain interprets it. Some books with similar themes have ideas so out there that the reader can just shake their heads and put it aside as a book. This theme, while very controversial, is not impossible with the current changes in gene experimentation. The book shows how emotional manipulation can lead to different outcomes and what happens when one woman will not back down. A very interesting concept and well-written book.

Mentoring Darkness by David Ring III

Mentoring Darkness is a psychological thriller novella and a quick read at 104 pages.

Leo receives a worried text from his friend Anita about a troubled youngster Nick, that Leo has taken under his wing. Leo, who has survived an abusive childhood, thinks Anita is blowing up the issue but knows he will see her later and they can chat about her fears. When he arrives at her place, she is nowhere to be seen. It soon comes out that Anita is gone and Leo is being blamed for it. In light of the text Anita sent to him about Nick, he is torn between reporting it or doing some investigating himself. The more he looks into it, the more he realises that things are most definitely not what they seem.

The blurb of the book sounded so promising that I thought I’d start it quickly one night before I went to sleep but landed up reading the whole thing. Unfortunately, it was a huge hit and miss for me. It had all the elements of a disappearance, a person being accused unjustly, snippets of info that could lead to a number of people being the killer and other storylines of romance and abuse being involved. All of a sudden, BAM, the story is over. I turned the page to see if who the killer is claimed to be is definitely the one and there is no more story. It felt like the book just ended in the middle of a chapter. There are too many unanswered questions for the story to end satisfactorily, and as the reader, I wasn’t sure if I believed the ending or not. The characters are engaging and the author does a great job of connecting the reader with their inner struggles, but too many paths are left open at the end. While I have no problem with cliffhangers, this was more of not knowing how to finish character’s stories off. It would be interesting to see more of this author’s work to see if that writing is in the same vein.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.

Last Seen: A Dr Pepper Hunt Mystery by JL Doucette

This is a standalone novel and is about a disappearance and the lives connected to it. It falls under the cop/thriller genre and one of the main characters: Dr Pepper, will be featured in future books.

Kimi, a crime reporter, has gone missing and the fear is that she has been taken by the serial rapist. Her husband oscillates back and forth between showing emotion that she is gone and indifference to her possible demise. Dr Hunt, Kimi’s psychologist, has been treating Kimi who has been experiencing some dissociative disorder and is brought in as a consultant to the case which is being led by Sheriff Scruggs and Kimi’s cousin Detective Antelope. Throw in a creepy colleague, her brother Diego who is a convicted sex offender, and Cass, Antelope’s previous love interest and Kimi’s best friend. If this is the serial rapist, why has Kimi not been returned like everyone else who has been attacked? As time runs out and more clues are revealed, it seems as though not everyone has been as upfront as they should have been. People have secrets, but some are a doozy.

The primary characters are well described, and you feel for them as they go through their ups and downs and face demons that surface throughout the case. I really enjoyed this book. It’s a typical detective thriller where clues are fed to you throughout and even though just before the end you figure out who it is, it takes no oomph away from the ending.

It Ends with Her by Brianna Labuskes

It Ends with Her is a standalone thriller featuring a psychopathic serial killer and the FBI team that has been on his trail for years.

His name is Simon Cross. Agent Clarke Sinclair is technically one up as she knows his name. So surely she should be able to find him? As the years of baiting each other continue, Simon keeps taunting her with photographs and clues but Clarke is no closer to bringing him in. His MO is to target girls with red hair, so why has he now taken a blonde? Has he made a mistake or is there something else underlying his actions? Clarke gets pulled in deeper to find that everything was geared to her, so to finish it, it ends with her.

The story is told mainly from 3 POV’s and timelines: you have Clarke who is a supposed FBI star but is an alcoholic with self-harm issues, Adelaide, an orphan who spent time with Simon in a foster home and Bess, the latest of Simon’s victims who was in an abusive relationship. Clarke’s character is difficult to like as she is self-centred and able to push the blame for most of her actions on others. I did find a lot of her whining annoying, but I think the author did a great job of making us try to understand an unlikeable character. The clues and games lead to a great ending, which you think you have guessed but are not quite sure. There were a few questions left unanswered in the book, but as a new author, I think the story and writing were captivating. I just think the relationships between some of the characters could have been explored a little more.

Overall a great read and would definitely recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review it.

Corkscrew by Peter Stafford-Bow

Corkscrew is a standalone novel and one filled with comedy and farce about the wine tasting and buying industry.

Felix Hart is a rogue and a scoundrel and it comes as no surprise that he is being questioned for dubious practices. But as with all stories, the tale must be told from the start. So begins a tale about how Felix was kicked out of school for ‘spreading his wild oats too liberally’ and being introduced to the world of wine. Felix soon learns how to manipulate the people and the system and works his way up to being a buyer for a large chain of stores. As he becomes set to offer the biggest Asti Spumante deal in history, he finds himself embroiled in some crazy schemes taking him to many places all over the world. Added to that we have his test to become a Wine Minstrel and the secret powder he had mixed in South Africa. By all accounts, Felix shouldn’t be alive with what he has put his body through. Yet here he is at the start of a new adventure.

You have to suspend all belief when you take this story on. Just put aside preconceived notions about what alcohol does to the body, what animals in the bush do and do not do and about the sucking effects of sunken toilets. If you can look past that you will literally laugh out loud as you enjoy this book. Sometimes you need something in life like this that will take you away from reality and just have a good laugh. Since I’m from South Africa and can understand the Afrikaans use in the book, I was often in tears at some of the things said. As much as Felix was actually a terrible person, I enjoyed his character so much I wanted him to get away with everything he got himself involved in! He seemed to genuinely believe that nothing he ever did was wrong or really his fault.

I highly recommend this book as a light-hearted read filled with fun, craziness and lots and lots of alcohol.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book. 

Feeder by Eliza Green

Feeder is a YA sci-fi novel and the first in a series.

Anya and her brother Jason have been left orphaned after their parents were killed by the rebels, right in front of them. With the radiation levels rising, they are moved to Essention where Jason is too old for the adult skills plan in Arcis, but Anya is placed on floor one. Here she meets a host of other characters that she doesn’t realise could literally be the death of her as she tries to rise up through the floors. Jason is put to work and finds himself sucked into a secret plan that could just as easily get him killed. Someone in charge of all of this seems to be playing a game with them, and it’s a game that seems rather biased. The siblings will need to form alliances if they are to stay alive, but who can they trust?

The book started off a little slow for me, but I soon got sucked into the secrets and alliances. It was interesting to see how the different puzzles on the floors were justified. Some of the decisions that had to be made really tested their characters and the author did a great job of letting us into their lives to try to understand their actions. Anya was a character that you couldn’t quite put your finger on. She was so strong and steadfast in many decisions but as soon as a romantic interest came in she turned into a bit of a girly girl and kept second guessing herself. The book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger as such but definitely leads into the next book. I had quite a few unanswered questions with this book which I hope will get answered within the series.

I enjoyed the blend of machinery and living tissue, the uncertainty of where the floors were heading and who could be trusted to go on the ride, and the revelation that the story was not actually the main story, but a point in a greater tale. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.

34 Days by Anita Waller

34 Days is a standalone thriller and is a story of revenge, lies and secrets.

Anna and Ray have been married for 35 years. It’s been a marriage filled with abuse and unhappiness, but this anniversary proves to be different as Anna finally gets up the courage to leave. What Anna hasn’t realised, is that her actions have sparked off a chain of events that will threaten to expose long-buried secrets and tear apart families forever.

When I read the blurb, I was intrigued to find out more as not much is given away with the specifics of the book. As you read it you realise why the spoiler alert cannot be let out of the bag and are eager to read more.

Once I finished the book I felt rather ambivalent about it. The story in its entirety has a good idea as its base, but it gets very drawn out until just before the end when all of a sudden you move at breakneck speed and then it’s over. In a way, you can see it coming, as well as the snippet that might lead into another book, but the pacing just seemed odd especially in light of the revelations. I felt the characters could have used a bit more fleshing out and Anna’s ability to just up and change her life seemed a bit easy considering her abuse. I also found it strange that in order to accomplish what drastic actions Anna’s daughter-in-law wanted, she was willing to use so many innocent people. Perhaps the author set it up this way to show something about a hidden side.

Overall I enjoyed the story as a concept, but can only mark it as average as things seemed to fall into place just too quickly and tie up too neatly.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.

Do a Little Wrong by Dan Dahler

Do a Little Wrong is a standalone novel in the thriller genre and has elements of detective work, spies, kidnapping and corporate espionage.

The story begins with a young boy who is being held in Brazil due to financial influence and red tape. Cue Kyle and an organisation known as the Foundation. This secret organisation exists, but as a ghost. There is no paper trail, no official registration and certainly no payment. The organisation exists solely to help those who are desperate and have no other means of recourse. As more cases come to the Foundation, so does the threat to their anonymity grow bigger. The newest missing persons case may just prove to be the cherry on the top, as the more Kyle and his colleagues get sucked in, the more they uncover just how deeply this cover-up goes. With the so-called good guys now hot on his trail, and the bad guys from a previous case still out to get him, will this be the end for Kyle and the Foundation? After all, if the highest powers in the land want you gone – where can you run to?

“With all due respect. That’s not the right knife.” This opening line grabbed my attention and I immediately wanted to know more. Finding out that it’s a knife Kyle is being threatened with, and he is telling them they are using the wrong one, sets the tone for a fast-paced thriller. I loved the idea of his secret organisation (a la Batman style, complete with cave) and the lengths they were willing to go to help someone. The members of the Foundation were all great characters and worked well together within the context of the story. Even though it sounded stereotypical with the tough guy, tech geek, legal adviser and financial backer they all played their parts exactly the way the story needed them to. Kyle was an absolute rogue and impossible to dislike. I loved the descriptions of the locations they landed in, the crazy stunts they pulled to get out of situations, and the way they manipulated scenarios to get what they needed. The violence was not over the top and it was easy to read past the few editing mistakes that crept through.

This was a book that kept me hooked, with a fast pace, the right ratio of comedy to action and a good underlying story. Highly recommended, and we need more Kyles in this world.

Murder in Memory by Mike Thorne

Murder in Memory is a standalone novel and deals with murder and a possible hypnotic link to them.

Two young girls are murdered horribly on campus and Grady Noland is doing his best to solve the case. As with many small town murders, secret details are leaked and shared. Snippets of info lead Grady to suspect Jon Evans, a college professor whose wife may or may not be having an affair. Jon seeks psychological counselling and hypnosis from Henry Andrews on a regular basis, and Henry seems eager to share some info about Jon to the police. So begins a tale of real and implanted memories and the effects it has on the justice system.

I must say that I enjoyed this book a lot. Apart from some silly editing and punctuation mistakes, it was an interesting idea. Even though the murderer is revealed relatively early on, it does keep you guessing until then. The idea that something like this could happen is quite scary and makes you think about how little we know of the brain’s workings. The happenings to the members of the county and how they tie in together are typical of smaller communities and many conversations between spouses made me smile. The ending was clever as even though you suspect it would happen, you sort of hoped it wouldn’t. A very enjoyable, well-written detective novel.

Graced 1943 (The Grace Family Chronicles) by Courtney Williamson Milford

Graced 1943 can be read as a standalone novel, but will lead into a further story. It tells the tale of family and friendship with a large paranormal theme running through it.

Set against the backdrop of WW2, the Grace family uses their powers to keep the family safe and maintain their fortune. A child who has one of the most rare powers is kidnapped, and many secrets about the family’s history are about to be uncovered in the bid to rescue him. The story chronicles the love (whether old or new), the arguments, the ideas, and the schemes the family endures. There is an element of time-travel, shape-shifting, healing, and a multitude of gifts that seem centred around an exclusive group of people.

I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. Apart from the many editing errors and a plethora of characters, the story was very convoluted and unrealistic. Whilst no stranger to fantasy or paranormal elements, it felt as though the author had taken all her ideas for the series and crammed them into one book. Gifts of knowing and seeing etc are fine, but when a character has several gifts and should in essence be in charge of the Justice League, I draw the line. With some of the talents floating around they should have been invincible. While I know that the book portrayed people in the 1940s, the women came across as simpletons and it was implausible that so many of them fell pregnant at the same time, and that so many characters were having affairs was beyond me. I found myself skipping over parts that had too much of an info dump and being confused when other scenes were not explained well enough. There was also an issue of child abandonment which didn’t sit well with me.

I finished the book but wouldn’t really recommend it.

Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer

Island Games is a standalone novel and written by a young man who was so inspired at a young age by reading, that he wanted to write a book to share his ideas with the world. Island Games is the product of these ideas and was published when he was 12 years old.

Matthew and Ryan, who are best friends, wake up one day to find themselves stranded on a beach in the middle of nowhere, with no recollection as to how they got there. As they search for food, water and any means of survival they find themselves being moved between different environments and having to battle strange creatures and overcoming their own fears. As they complete tasks that they believe will get them off the island, they realise that their friendship and working together to a common goal is the key to getting out of there.

The book has a bit of a Hunger Games/ Mazerunner feel to it. You can tell that the tale it written by a younger author, but the concept and indeed the message the author learns about life, friendship and working to where you want to go is very important. A light afternoon read recommended for YA readers.

An Obstinate Vanity by Keddie Hughes

An Obstinate Vanity is the debut novel by Keddie Hughes and is a tale of love, friendship and betrayal.

Beth has worked hard to get where she is in a male-dominated industry and is no stranger to public controversy. One day she wakes up with Bells Palsy and one side of her face is paralysed. This, she fears, will become a serious issue in her “quick to judge” job at The Agency.

Beth is set to judge the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Competition and the winner, Benjy McKinnon, had no idea what he will be thrust into. McKinnon is not an uncommon name in those parts of the world, but the name sticks with Beth. Little does she know that Benjy’s father Dougie, is the man she was once engaged to.

As Beth, Benjy and Dougie have to work with and around the media on this project, they encounter a number of people that will have a significant impact on their lives. Some may be positive and some may be life-changing, but all will be remembered. Sometimes life is filled with questions that just don’t have the right answers for them.

For a debut novel it is a well-written book with a rather sweet story. It shows us how unrequited love can hurt, how betrayal can damage and how love sees no faults. I can relate to Beth and her frustration with Bells Palsy as I had it when I was 18, but was lucky enough to catch it in time and get electro therapy quickly enough that within a month there were no lasting effects. I enjoyed the simple yet complex characters, the beautiful settings and the stark look at business behind the scenes and not always in a good way. A good, satisfying read that leaves you with a smile on your face.

Ruby’s Choice – The Ditch Lane Diaries by D.F. Jones

This is the first in a series that features friendship and love with some supernatural elements.

Ruby and her friends Anna and Sandy had an interesting encounter when they were younger, which unlocked powers within them which came to fruition later in life. These powers: prophetic dreamer, divine healer and soul reader, will work together for a great cause. Fast forward and Ruby is in college. Not usually one for dating, Ruby is pursued aggressively all of a sudden by Reed and Brent. When she finds out that it is all a game to see if they can get her to fall in love with one of them, she tries to turn it around only to find herself deeply in love. And so the trouble begins…

The story is a sweet look at the intricacies of romance. Sometimes you fall in love when you least expect it and sometimes when it is offered you turn it away. Not too much was focussed on the supernatural elements, but what was there set it up nicely for the next book. I liked that the POV’s changed and it helped to see different perspectives. I did find Ruby a bit of a whiny person at times, but I guess young love can knock a person in different ways. The story progressed quite quickly from love to the next steps at an early age, which I wasn’t really expecting, but a good read for a first novel!

The One (The Only One #1) by Belle Ami

The One is the first in an erotic thriller series and is suitable for adults only due to the erotic content.

                         

Adelia’s world is shattered when both of her parents are killed in a car crash. As she deals with her grief she meets Miles, an eco investment banker, and Karolin, his twin sister, who go about trying to help Adelia get her life back on track. Miles is very intense and has told Adelia in no uncertain terms that she is his for life. Even though Adelia found this a little quick, she soon warms up to him and realises she is madly in love with him. Adelia is drawn into his world of sex and money, completely unaware that she is being played. Will she get her heart broken or be able to turn the story around to her favour? And what is it about her parents’ death that just doesn’t seem right?

As I read the book I completely forgot that it was the first of a series and was very annoyed that it got to the end only to find out it didn’t finish. That goes to show how much you want to see what happens next. The erotic parts of the book are very steamy so definitely be cautious when deciding whether to read it or not. As you read further and further, you get so frustrated with Miles and so angry with Karolin you just want to yell and tell them what is really happening. I felt so sorry for Adelia being played like she was. I’m glad she found some measure of happiness but that fact that she couldn’t accept it was harsh. Not being a lover of horseriding, I found the equestrian descriptions too much and tended to gloss over them. A great start to a series with good character descriptions, back story and action.

The Tattered Box by Paul Schumacher

The Tattered Box is a standalone novel about memories and family, and falls into the general fiction category.

John is a typical teenager in that he has heard all of his grandfather Bill’s stories before, and gets irritated when he brings them up time and time again. One day Bill brings out a box of old objects, treasures to him but a bore to John. A little later John goes to play in a baseball game and gets clocked in the head by a ball. When he wakes up he is in 1941 and has assumed the body of a youngster named John who is friends with Bill. As the war approaches, John and Bill share many events and John learns why the objects have become treasures.

So many people are guilty of brushing aside the older generation’s tales with excuses of “it’s not relevant in modern life” or “we’ve heard it all before” without realising that this was actually part of a person’s life and that one day we will do the same. John learned what it was like to have a father, to be faced with an uncertain future and to deal with death, as well as enjoy the simpler things in life. I did find it strange that he was only a little worried about going back in time and just assumed it would be ok to take over this person’s life for an indeterminate amount of time. The writing was a little too “articulate” for the time period too considering John was only 18. His dialogue or emotions attributed to him were often too mature like “She barely acknowledged me, yet her posture did not portray rudeness” or “Yet she bore a noticeably fraught anxiety on her face.”

Overall I enjoyed how John was able to see his grandfather as a person and participate in some of the experiences that made him who he was. We have a lot to learn from others and while we are prone to try and bring in our own experiences, sometimes we must just quieten down and absorb. 

And then I met Margaret by Rob White

And then I met Margaret is a collection of short stories where the author details how ordinary gurus changed his life.

The author takes you on a journey via his short stories of life lessons he has learned. He begins the book by citing the self-help gurus he has met and the valuable information they shared with him. The rest of the stories begin with a myth he once believed about life, and end with what he deems the actual truth about it. The stories range from his early years and follow his career path and family life.

I decided to read this as it was onlinebookclub’s book of the month and was up for discussion and I must say that it caused a heated debate. The first issue was that of a misleading title. Most of us believed it was a romance novel due to the title, font and background colours, and were then confused as Margaret had a tiny part to play in one story which certainly did not seem pivotal. I found that for every “good” lesson the author learned, someone had to be put in a bad light, and the author seemed to focus a lot on material gains. One of the stories had a scenario which has been used as a “life lesson” before and it got me wondering as to whether it had actually happened to the author or whether it was borrowed for emphasis. There were also a number of unnecessary grammatical errors.

Overall I didn’t really enjoy the book and found so many of the “lightbulb” moments just common sense. I also questioned as to why these people who had such an impact on him were named “ordinary gurus”. Firstly the use of ordinary was condescending and secondly because surely anyone who imparts any wisdom could then be called a guru? I don’t mind self-help books, but this was not my cup of tea.

A Home from Home

A Home from Home is a standalone novel, and in a very subtle and comical way, deals with the mistreatment of care centres for the elderly, and their guests.

Edith grew up in the beautiful house of Stoneycrest, so has vivid memories of her time there. Unfortunately with age her memories seem to be fading and some meld with others. One thing she is sure of however, is that the owners and managers (Marion and Spiro) of the care centre that Stoneycrest has become, are mistreating the guests and filtering money for their own use. With the help of her friend Len, Edith devises a plan to get the police to come to Stoneycrest so that she can alert them to the problems, but as with most well-thought out (or so you think) plans, things never turn out the way you want them to!

The story is a very sweet look at Edith’s past and present and her perseverance in getting the truth out there. Spiro and his mistress Marion are only interested in the money they can claim from the guests, and while there is no overt mistreatment, there is no genuine care either.  Tass (Spiro’s money-hungry niece), joins the story and after a life changing event learns the true meaning of living life and caring for others. There are some crazy moments where one of the guests goes missing in the village and the search party sent to retrieve her is like watching a 3 Stooges movie. The story is very well told but there are a number of grammatical errors especially with missing prepositions which ruin the flow of reading.

Otherwise a good fun afternoon read. 

Hell's Bells by Vincent Bivona and Trevor Firetog

Hell’s Bells is a short horror story; apparently loosely based on actual events.

James and Andres are off to meet their favourite author, Richard Gordon, at a book signing. On the way they meet an old hag on the subway; her hair lank and her face covered with pus-filled spots (read here volcanoes). Unfortunately she is Richard Gordon’s biggest fan and is also on the way to see him. The more they try to stay away from her at the book signing, the more she tries to befriend them. Grossed out by her appearance and behaviour they decide to play a prank on her. Big mistake…

This is a well-written, fun (?) story with classic horror inserts. It’s quick to read, yet with a moral that should be heeded. The characters could have been fleshed out a little more, but I guess you can only fit so much into a short story. I liked the snippets of other work by the authors also included in the book. I’ll definitely be looking for these writers in the future.  

Out of the Storm by Jillian Elizabeth

Out of the Storm is the debut novel by Jillian Elizabeth and is a cop/thriller/romance with adult content interspersed (the author does warn about this at the beginning).

Carter has always loved Andrea. Even though they had a period apart where hot-headedness kept them separate, their hearts only belonged to each other. Now back together they are stronger and more in love than ever. Their idyllic life is about to be horribly interrupted when a string of murders points to a nefarious underground circuit which Carter throws his whole being into solving. Andrea is also feeling a little uneasy about something or someone, but can’t quite put her finger on it. Could their pasts be about to collide in a very bad way with their present? If so will their love be strong enough to endure it all?

The story was good for a debut novel. It is confusing in the beginning as so much of their past is alluded to and is only explained in the middle of the book onwards. The writing is easy to read with only a few grammatical errors, but sometimes speech from the same person was broken up into different paragraphs which interrupted the flow of reading. The story is told from different POV which helps with the emotions and understanding of the characters, especially in certain heartbreaking scenes. The story itself is nothing new and is tied up a little too neatly for everyone, but is told with the passion and enthusiasm of a new writer.

I enjoyed it as a quick afternoon read and would be interested to see what happens to the couple. 

The Other Side of Him by Alice Rene

The Other Side of Him is part thriller and part general fiction and is a standalone novel.

Claire comes from a family that doesn’t shirk from working hard to get where you need to go. Her mom wants her to find a “ladies” job and a good husband to settle down with. Claire wants to go to college and become a social worker to help others. Her brother Tim introduces her to a doctor named Greg who seems absolutely idyllic. Perhaps a little too idyllic. As Claire goes forward in her relationship with him and finds things are not as they seemed, can she change its course, or is she bound by the constraints of an era that certainly didn’t afford its women enough protection?

I was ambivalent about this novel as the thriller part is gripping, but all of a sudden it becomes a general life story. With all the twists and turns that recent books have, I found the direction that the book took to be flat! I kept hoping for something exciting to happen and then all of a sudden it was over.

The editing and style of writing is good, but I don’t think the story will still be with me tomorrow. If you feel like an afternoon read where you can just go with the flow of a book then this one’s for you.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Behind Closed Doors is a standalone thriller that delves into psychological games/traps.

Jack and Grace have the perfect marriage. He is the attentive, handsome and thoughtful husband every wife longs for, while she is the ideal example of a rounded homemaker. It is strange though that Grace never follows up on promises to join friends for lunch, or constantly has a tummy bug, rendering her unable to see her sister every weekend. How does Grace manage to be a master of it all and still keep a gorgeous man so in love with her? Is there such a thing as perfection? Surely there must be more than meets the eye? (I can’t say more than that without revealing spoilers!)

This book was recommended on an fb group and I love psychological thrillers so I thought I’d give it a bash. While it was definitely a thriller, I thought that the psychological aspects of it were less subtle than implied as they were actually laid out for you. You can pretty much tell that there will be a twist just by the blurb and it’s obvious early on what it is. Knowing certainly does not detract from the feelings of revulsion and incredulousness you experience as the mind games continue. Grace does come across as a little soft, but I understand the frustration and reasons behind her decisions. Jack, well, Jack is certainly a piece of work. I did enjoy the way the book went from present to past and you get to see exactly how the story got to its point. What led to the ending felt a bit rushed, but it wrapped up well and you support the decisions taken that led to the finale. Some disturbing scenes will be upsetting, but you can see them coming so skip those parts!

I enjoyed this book, as the way it was written made me feel as though I was experiencing the emotions first-hand. The psychological aspects are quite draining and while the story does draw aspects from other books, I recommend this one for a gripping read.