Hidden Talents

by Edward J. Branley

New Orleans is hot, humid, spiritual...and magical! Anita Delatorre is a junior executive for a publishing company specializing in Christian books and homeschooling materials. Anita's assignment is to be her company's liaison with a New Orleans-based radio preacher, whose books the company publishes. A group seeking to discredit their client is all too successful, and Anita must take steps to stop them, using any means at her disposal. And Anita's means are formidable: She is a sorceress, whose psychic Talents extend well beyond those of most mortals. Renard Alciatore is a thirty-four-year old photographer who enjoys using his computer skills to mock Anita's client, the Reverend Jay Hadley. As Ren begins to receive information of financial and sexual improprieties from inside Jay Hadley Ministries, his life is threatened, and, in the process his own Talents are revealed. He is placed under the Protection of a shadowy organization known as The Assembly as he learns to use his Talents, to improve his photography, help others when he can, and defend his own life, when Challenged. What were once Hidden Talents emerge in the hot New Orleans summer. Only one will walk away when the duel is joined!

362 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2016

About the author

A former high school History teacher who now does computer consulting and training, Edward Branley is the author of five books in Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series, one YA novel, and one Urban Fantasy novel. He has also written numerous articles for computer publications/websites, and also co-authored a book on Windows NT that had a shelf life of less than six months.

Edward blogs at www.ebranley.com and www.NOLAhistoryguy.com

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Talents Book 1

This is certainly not the type of book I normally read but once I started I couldn't put it down it had me from the very first paragraph. What a wonderful story. I can't wait to see what is going to happen next. I love Ren and JJ and I would love to see them end up together. I'm dying to know more about Father Mike. And I especially love that this story is set in the city of New Orleans. I'm already impatient for the next book in this series.

[♛ Garima ♛ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate it when this happens - I wrote a review and GR just ate it without posting it. Talk about irritating. Let me try to recreate my review-

I started with this one thinking this is paranormal but it felt like reading House of Cards. I like HoC series but reading the same, I don't know. I never actually got to supernatural part yet as it turned out DNF 6%.

It was too descriptive, sorry, I guess it's not for me.

[Richard Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's like the author read the Dresden Files and said to himself, 'Y'know, these books are good, but what they REALLY need is shallow character development, hardcore sex scenes, and more Jesus.'

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renard Alciatore doesn't know he has Talents until one day his is targeted for assassination by the very people he's trying to discredit on his blog. Jay Hadler is a shyster televangelist that is taking hard-earned money from people who truly believe, and Ren wants him to be exposed. Thankfully, the assassination was stopped because of Arcane rules Ren had no idea existed. In between trying to bring down Hadley, learning how to use his Talents, and trying to stay alive, Ren is trying to live his life as a photographer...Anita Delatorre is part of the book publishing company trying to make Jay not only a televangelist, but a leader in home-schooling materials. Too bad her assassination of Ren went so wrong. Who knew he was a talent, same as her and her assassin Will? But she will stop at nothing to succeed in both endeavors, even if she has to put her own life on the line.

I really wasn't sure what to expect out of this book because of its description. I read other reviews and thought I would give it a chance. It was well-worth a read! The plot on Talents was original, the world behind the Talents is interesting, and slowly learning about them was great. And the history behind a lot of New Orleans' landmarks, and the descriptions, made the book come alive. The book was well-written and the overall plot was entertaining. The problems I had with the book are minor and mostly stem from needing a little more editing. I found the swift changes in points of view a little distracting as there was nothing most times to tell me the viewpoint has switched. This took me out of the story trying to figure out who was talking. There were also chunks of prose that could have been moved around and shortened to make the book a little more concise. And, one other thing that disturbed me was Ren's relationship with his married female friend JJ. If they have been attracted to each other for such a long time, why hasn't this been resolved? It seems like this issue came to the forefront really quickly. However, these things could be taken care of easily, and I see a really good book behind it all. It really is worth buying and reading. Looking forward to reading more in this interesting universe!

Thanks to NetGalley and Elysian Fields Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This exact review will also be posted on Amazon.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Talents (Book 1 of the Bayou Talent Series) by Edward Branley is an exciting adult fantasy novel that had me hooked right away. What would you do if someone tried to kill you with magic as you were about to enter your home after work? But suddenly you had a gold glow around you, then a stranger with magic shows up and runs off the assassin. This stranger then agrees to teach you your hidden Talent you have, the same magic that the assassin has and that the rescuer has. I think it would be awesome, well so is this book. There is nothing but excitement on almost every page. Learning the Talent, avoiding getting killed, who is after him, and so much more! Great plot, wonderful developed characters, and lots of fun, magic, and fantasy.