Hot For Love is a stand alone contemporary romance, but it is also part of the The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls series. [i4.5 stars
Hot For Love is a stand alone contemporary romance, but it is also part of the The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls series. [image]
This is the story of Trixie Jerico, a girl with a dream to start a business with miniature ponies.
Nick Braden is the stunt cowboy that Trixie has had a crush on for years, but it is only recently that he’s allowed himself to think of her as anything more than the sister of his friends. Nick has promised to help Trixie start her business, but when they get to spend a whole month together the passion that they have for horses and animals spills into their love life too. [image]
If you love horses, cowboys and romance then this story is sure to tick all the boxes for you. Although horses aren’t my passion, I couldn’t ignore the charming mini ponies and how clever they were....more
A Shopkeeper For The Earl Of Westram is an historical romance. When Red (the Earl of Westram) is accused of allowing a fake antique to be sold to his A Shopkeeper For The Earl Of Westram is an historical romance. When Red (the Earl of Westram) is accused of allowing a fake antique to be sold to his future father-in-law, he immediately seeks recompense from the owner of the shop that it was bought from.
Harriet Godrey runs an emporium of curiosities, but it is a poor relation to the antique shop that her father once ran. After his death Harriet and her mother survive on the meagre takings from the shop. There is no way that she could ever reimburse the Earl for an item sold by her father. So instead she suggests that they seek out the merchant who sold the fake item originally.
Harriet and a Red go to Bristol and then Bath in search of the evasive merchant, but it takes several days to track him down. As Harriet poses as a widow and a cousin to Red, their business relationship turns to friendship as they take in the pleasures that Bath has to offer.
My favourite parts to this story were set in Bath, while the reimbursement theme wasn’t as interesting. Not a bad story, it just didn’t hit the right notes for me. ...more
This is a quick easy read, hot romance. It ticks all the boxes of a good chick lit/ Rom com and if I'm not mistaken has plenty more stories to follow This is a quick easy read, hot romance. It ticks all the boxes of a good chick lit/ Rom com and if I'm not mistaken has plenty more stories to follow it.
The book is set in South Africa, we meet Caitlin Sutherland a physio who doesn't trust men, especially those who shave their legs and who are cyclists. But when she's bowled over by her emotions to a man she's only just met, she's left dazed and confused.
Don Cavallo is one of four handsome brothers who love cycling as a serious hobby and escape from the high profile lives they lead as hotel tycoons. He meets Caitlin during the Wines to Whales cycle race where she is working as a physio for the cyclists. A man who has yet to find a woman who can hold his attention, Don's attention is grabbed from just one touch of Caitlin's magical hands.
Plenty of hot sexual tension will Caitlin must learn to trust a man? And will Don ever want more than just a fling?...more
The Scandal Of The Season is an historical romance. Cassandra currently lives with her two aunts after her family sent her packing over a youthful misThe Scandal Of The Season is an historical romance. Cassandra currently lives with her two aunts after her family sent her packing over a youthful misjudgement. But her fortunes change when her godmother sweeps in and offers to give Cassandra a London society season, in return for a little help.
Cassandra must help the rich daughter of a trade family find a titled husband. However, Cassandra is soon faced with Colonel Fairfax, a man she once thought of as her hero, who now appears to believe that she is a ruthless siren who will do everything to get her clutches on her next wealthy beau. He vows to stop her from ruining another young man.
With a mix of gossip, lies, secrets and romance this story is an pleasant way to spend an afternoon of escapism. Ideal for those who enjoy this genre. ...more
While Paris Slept is World War Two historical fiction, and is the story of two Parisian couples. [image]
David and Sarah were loaded onto one of the laWhile Paris Slept is World War Two historical fiction, and is the story of two Parisian couples. [image]
David and Sarah were loaded onto one of the last trains to Auschwitz; in desperation Sarah gave her newly born baby to a railway worker before she was forced onto the train.
Jean-Luc repaired the Paris railway lines used to transport Jews to the work camp; he hated working for the Germans and wanted to do something to stop them. When a French women desperately forced her baby into his arms before she was herded onto one of the trains, he vowed to look after it. On that day he shot a guard. Fearing the Germans, he left Paris with his girlfriend Charlotte; they went south, escaping to Spain and then America with baby Samuel.
Years later David and Sarah searched for Samuel; they wanted him back, but taking a nine-year-old away from all that he knew was handled badly and didn’t work out the way that they hoped.
The story moves back and forth between several characters in two timelines: 1944 and 1953. The ending tugged on my emotional strings, but I’m afraid that it was the only part of the book which I empathised with.
I’m a fan of books set in this era, but this book didn’t work for me; too many convenient events and situations made this feel like I was hearing about someone else’s story, rather than believing the one being played by these characters. Where was the grit, tension and real fear of arrest from the Germans? Where were the emotions and despair which surrounded the horrors of Auschwitz?
This is a long book, told from multiple points of view; I found myself frustrated by parts which added very little to the story, while other areas glossed over important facts. For instance, the escape through France and across The Pyrenees would have been fraught with terror and hardships, while I doubt very much that you could have walked into the house of a resistance member with ease. Once they got to Spain, it would have been extremely dangerous in the foothills, yet our heroes were welcomed into the first farmhouse that they came to.
A good story potentially exists within the covers of this book; I just wanted it to have deeper character development and a bit more work on making the plot plausible for my liking. I’m sure that there will be readers who will find this story lovely, but I found it disappointing. ...more
Baby Yours is book two of the Roommate Duet series of contemporary new adult romances. [image]
The story of Lennon and Hunter continues. After an accideBaby Yours is book two of the Roommate Duet series of contemporary new adult romances. [image]
The story of Lennon and Hunter continues. After an accident which leaves Lennon alone, Hunter steps up to be there for her and they share the grieving for Brandon together.
Then Lennon finds out that she’s pregnant and Hunter stays strong for her. He’s loved her from afar for so long; now he has to be her best friend.
There are lots of highs and lows in this story and I did get a little annoyed with how Lennon treated Hunter, however, it all worked out in the end. Ideal for some light romance reading, but a bit cliched in places. ...more
Baby Mine is a contemporary new adult romance and book one of a series. [image]
Hunter is a barman when he first meets Lennon; it is instalove, or so HuBaby Mine is a contemporary new adult romance and book one of a series. [image]
Hunter is a barman when he first meets Lennon; it is instalove, or so Hunter thinks. He’s disappointed when he doesn’t see her later and heads home. He shares his flat with his best friend; Hunter can hear that he’s brought his date home from the bedroom noises. He’s later shocked to find it’s Lennon.
Lennon and Brandon are quick to become an item and when Lennon moves in, Hunter is in trouble. To cover his jealousy he acts up and is horrible to Lennon, but when an accident happens Hunter promises to put the past behind him and he becomes a changed man.
I chose to read this because I was looking for a light romance and it was free. The instalove is a little hard to believe when Hunter doesn’t have time to find out anything about Lennon. However, if you’re looking for a romantic distraction, then this book is fine. I enjoyed it enough to download book two. ...more
The Music Of Bees is contemporary fiction set in the small American town of Hood River, Oregon. [image]
Jake is angry and depressed after a stu4.5 stars
The Music Of Bees is contemporary fiction set in the small American town of Hood River, Oregon. [image]
Jake is angry and depressed after a stupid prank left him with a broken spine. Now instead of riding his skateboard, he spends his days alone in a wheelchair.
Harry is drifting through life, full of worry and indecision. He lives in a condemned trailer with his great uncle, but he really needs a job, so he applies for a handyman advert with a local beekeeper.
Alice is a widow; she keeps bees and works in the county planning office. Since her husband’s unexpected death, Alice has panic attacks, but the bees help to soothe her pain. Alice meets Jake on the roadside after an ‘almost accident’; they bond over the bees. Jake’s natural musical ear picks up the bee’s humming and he can tune into their temperament.
Suddenly Jake has a purpose in life; the bees fascinate him and he becomes a quick student. When Harry’s uncle dies and he is evicted from the trailer, he awkwardly finds himself on Alice’s doorstep too. [image]
This is a lovely story in a small town setting with a wonderful bee theme. My father keeps bees, so I was nodding along to much of the bee detail. Each chapter began with a quotation from an old beekeeping book; they were prudent words which worked really well with the story. The author keeps bees herself and this shone through in the narrative. I also enjoyed the coming-of-age style tales of Jake and Harry and Alice’s own personal growth. I thought that the ending was a little rushed, but that was only a minor point, and it didn’t deter from my overall enjoyment of the book....more
The Rose Code is a World War Two historical fiction tale based around the codebreakers of Bletchley Park. [image]
There are two timelines: 19404.5 stars
The Rose Code is a World War Two historical fiction tale based around the codebreakers of Bletchley Park. [image]
There are two timelines: 1940 when three women from different backgrounds join the secret codebreakers, and 1947 during the preparations for Princess Elizabeth’s wedding.
The story opens in 1947 with a coded message sent to two women who were once good friends but are now estranged, their common factor being the one who sent the message; Beth discovered a spy at Bletchley but she can do nothing about it on her own.
Back in 1940, Mab, a working class girl who was top of her class at secretarial school, is on a train with Osla, a young debutante who is determined to do her bit for the war. They have both been recruited to work at Bletchley Park, but they have no idea why. The two girls are billeted with a local family and they befriend the daughter, Beth, a young women with a mind that can see patterns, but who is stifled by her overbearing mother. Osla is quick to spot Beth’s sharp brain and gets Beth enlisted to Bletchley where she soon proves how capable she is.
Back in 1947 time is running out. It is only days before the royal wedding; for all three women it means very different things and not everyone is about to celebrate the royal nuptial. [image]
I thought that the storyline was fantastic, I lost myself for several hours reading all about life as a codebreaker; the highs and lows, the frustration and jubilation. I liked how the author portrayed the characters, showing how they were brought together from diverse lifestyles. The second timeline added lots of tension for its own reasons which I won’t spoil by explaining here.
Told from the perspectives of Osla, Mab and Beth, this tale is primarily about friendship and secrets and how these two themes were tested to the extremes. I’m a fan of historical fiction from this era and the spy theme especially worked for me. Bletchley park holds a fascination for me and I hope to visit one day. I would happily recommend this to readers who enjoy well written World War fiction....more
Bipolar Comedian is the memoir of Harriet Dyer. Written in short, easy to read chapters, Dyer talks about her upbringing in a very frank and 3.5 stars
Bipolar Comedian is the memoir of Harriet Dyer. Written in short, easy to read chapters, Dyer talks about her upbringing in a very frank and honest overview.
With a homelife mixed with good memories and shocking events, Dyer’s undiagnosed mental health was further affected by broken friendships, sexual abuse, drinking and drugs. It’s a wonder that Dyer found the strength and perseverance to carry on; in fact more than once she considered ending it all. Comedy was the one theme which gave Dyer hope; I see-sawed between wanting to cry for her or laugh with her as I read this.
While I was humbled by Dyer’s experiences, I think that with the help of a good editor and a thorough proofread this book could be lifted to the level it deserves. At the moment it reflects the memories as they tumble from Dyer’s mind, but the delivery style could be tidied up so that this important book could reach a wider critical audience.
However, there is a lot to commend about this book. Now a multi-award winning comedian, Dyer uses her mental health experiences to support others who are going through their own challenges. She focuses much of her stage work on mental health, and hopes to be an inspiration to others with her candid approach. Good Job! ...more
Keep Walking And Your Heart Will Catch Up: A Camino de Santiago journey is a memoir and travelogue. Author Cathay O. Reta writes about her experience Keep Walking And Your Heart Will Catch Up: A Camino de Santiago journey is a memoir and travelogue. Author Cathay O. Reta writes about her experience of walking the 483-mile trail across northern Spain. [image]
This centuries-old pilgrim route is famous for the spiritual experiences that many of its walkers have while travelling. Cathay, a widow in her sixties, set out on a solo journey. She wanted to find a new purpose in life. Single for 30 years, married for 30 years, she now wanted to find some direction for the next 30 years.
I was interested to read the snippets of history about this route and of other roads which are similar to the Camino. Cathay interspersed observations from her daily walks with enough detail about the people she met and the places of interest along the way, to keep the book flowing effortlessly. [image]
Although Cathay had physically prepared for the walk, it still tested her, but she learnt to listen to her body and adapt when needed. I admired her determination to carry on when she could so easily have given up. Cathay’s journey also had a spiritual purpose; it was time to end her mourning for her husband with a final goodbye. [image]
The scenery and the journey both physical and spiritual were very appealing. I’m glad that Cathay shared her experience in this book and I’m glad that she found the answers she was looking for. I like walking and the thought of miles of open space with beautiful views and the camaraderie from fellow walkers on the trail sounds wonderful. ...more
An Unlikely Grave is book four in the Moonlight and Murder romantic suspense series. [image]
Josh Loughlin has plans to create a refuge for fellow militAn Unlikely Grave is book four in the Moonlight and Murder romantic suspense series. [image]
Josh Loughlin has plans to create a refuge for fellow military veterans. This was once a shared dream with Mike, his fellow friend and soldier, but after a roadside bombing, Josh has returned home alone.
Local rumours that the Ferndel place is haunted didn’t deter Josh from buying the plot; however, within days of his purchase, a murder victim is found. With military evidence at the site, Josh becomes the first suspect and his situation becomes worse when another body turns up.
Detective Brooke Bengert grew up in the area and knew Josh from school; he once saved her from bullies. Now she is determined to defend him, with the help of her police dog and friends within the force.
Although this is a gruesome murder mystery, it is well-balanced with some light romance. There are several canine characters which are a delight, and the friendship between them and their owners works well. Josh’s sister Darby, who we met in book three, connects him with her friends who provide much needed back-up; they show him just how loyal friendship can be.
Overall, another good story in this series. They can be read as stand-alone tales, but I believe readers would get much more from reading the books in order....more
A Match For The Rebellious Earl is book two of the Return Of The Rogues series of historical romances. It can easily be read as a stand-alone story.
KiA Match For The Rebellious Earl is book two of the Return Of The Rogues series of historical romances. It can easily be read as a stand-alone story.
Kit Carrington reluctantly returns from his time at sea to complete his duties as the new Lord Westford. Although he returned to England specifically to attend the wedding of his step-sister, he knows that he must face the challenges of his inheritance.
Genevieve (Genny) Maitland is on a mission to help her widowed sister find a new husband so that she can get away from harridan Lady Westford, Kit’s grandmother. Lady Westford’s one purpose is to make sure that one of her grandsons produces an heir; so far she has been disappointed.
An ambitious plan to fix all of their problems is agreed between Genny and Kit, but its execution means plenty of twists and bumps in the road—will they be successful?
This story opens with the introduction of quite a few characters and it took me a couple of chapters to get them all straight in my head. After a while they became more three dimensional, and I began to enjoy the story. I was intrigued by Kit’s life as a sailor and the many treasures that he had collected. I was also interested in Genny’s younger years when she lived with her Grandfather in Spain. Genny is a strong leader and her organisational skills and negotiation aptitudes were superb.
Overall, a good story and I enjoyed it once the story and characters became fixed in my mind. ...more
The Dictionary Of Lost Words is historical fiction based around the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Beginning in the late 1800s, t4.5 stars
The Dictionary Of Lost Words is historical fiction based around the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Beginning in the late 1800s, this is the author’s imagined story from a woman’s point of view. [image]
Esme is raised by her father, a gifted lexicographer. While he works each day on words for the new dictionary, young Esme often sits under the table at the scriptorium. It’s just a garden shed in Oxford, but to Esme and the wordsmiths it is a place of learned reverence.
Each word begins on a slip of paper with its definition. Most words had several definitions, which needed to be verified, then edited, before a final decision made about inclusion or exclusion from the new dictionary.
‘Words are like stories. They change as they are passed from mouth to mouth; their meanings stretch or truncate to fit what needs to be said.’
Author Pip Williams has considered the methods of censorship around the words which made it to the final publication and those which did not, as well as considering how new words enter our vocabulary during our lives. Set against the background of the suffragette movement and World War One, Esme’s fascination with words drove the story forward. As she grew up she collected words that were used in everyday life, particularly those used by or about women, along with regional and slang words. Many of these words never made it into the dictionary, so Esme made her own collection of them so that they weren’t forgotten.
I liked this story, particularly the detailed days in the scriptorium. The slips of paper for each word conjured lovely pictures in my mind of beautiful old papers tied with string and slotted into the pigeon holes which kept them safe. I can only imagine the disaster if there had been a fire. I recommend this to anyone who has an interest in words and their origin or an interest in the creation of The Oxford English Dictionary. ...more
The Milk Wagon is a coming-of-age mystery set in Gulfport Mississippi during 1986.
High school friends Matt, Mark and Hop befriend new boy Nate Mayes,The Milk Wagon is a coming-of-age mystery set in Gulfport Mississippi during 1986.
High school friends Matt, Mark and Hop befriend new boy Nate Mayes, who recently arrived in this small town. I liked how much of the story was written around Matt’s 1980 Suburban car which they nicknamed the Milk Wagon; it became as much of a character in the book as the boys themselves. Alongside the story of the boys’ friendship is an FBI investigation in the area about a money laundering case being run by doctors and pharmacists.
Short easy to read chapters dot back and forth between the two parts and it isn’t too long before the narratives become linked and the tension of the story increases, reaching a grand finale with a good twist.
As soon as the author introduced us to the school friends the story drew me in, as their mannerisms, actions and dialogue all felt real; teenage talk about cars, girls and sport flew naturally from the pages. I was less convinced with the money laundering events; the characters involved were harder to comprehend and were less convincing than the teenagers. However, this may be because when the second storyline was introduced, at chapter four, I was already hooked by the teenagers and was mildly grumpy about the pause in their story and the introduction to lots more characters.
The money laundering tale did grow on me and by the end I was invested in tying up the mystery and solving the case. But my favourites will always be Matt, Mark, Hop and Natt; their final school reunion looked set to be a particular high point which I would have been happy to attend.
Overall, a story about high school friendships and how good friends will always try to be there for each other. ...more
The Dead Box Archives Volume One is a collection of seven dark stories. I would describe the genre as mild horror.
Call Drops - a retired mobile phoneThe Dead Box Archives Volume One is a collection of seven dark stories. I would describe the genre as mild horror.
Call Drops - a retired mobile phone enthusiast buys an unusual phone at a car boot sale, which is more a toy or collector’s piece than a second hand phone. But then it rings, and the voice at the other end has a chilling message.
Doggem – about a soft toy used as a teaching tool to encourage children to write a diary of events. But this fluffy friend is no ordinary mute toy, and the things that he witnesses are quite macabre.
A Plague Of Pages – this is the story of a deadly pen, which in the hands of one author creates some grisly events.
Night Service – a gruesome tale about one trip on the last bus out of town.
Burntbridge Boys – is set in an old football ground and involves a washed-up manager who is offered one last team to coach.
Linger – was a chilling tale about the inheritance of a house, one filled with very strange artwork.
The Screaming Mike Hawkins – is the tale of a musician. Leonard uses lyrics from some of Mike’s work as introductions to several of the stories mentioned above, so it felt right to have it included here.
I don’t generally read horror, as I need to sleep at night, but something mildly morbid, like these tales, is just fine. I would describe them as creepy more than gory. Leonard writes with a succinct style which is full of vivid description. I liked this collection, and am happy to recommend it. ...more
Malevolent is a thriller and book one of the Shaye Archer series. This story is set in New Orleans and opens with a women hiding from an intruder.
EmmaMalevolent is a thriller and book one of the Shaye Archer series. This story is set in New Orleans and opens with a women hiding from an intruder.
Emma Frederick killed her husband in self defence after he turned violent, but her nightmares continue when a stalker steps into his shoes. After the police refuse to take her seriously Emma employs new private investigator Shaye Archer.
Shaye has her own past demons to slay which is why she trained to be a PI; it is Shaye’s diligence that finds a much needed lead to the stalker.
I thought that the tension and mystery behind the stalker was the best part of this story, it certainly was unsettling to read at times. Other aspects were a little too ‘twee’ for the genre, but they may settle as the series continues. ...more
The Mysterious Miss Fairchild is an historical romance.
The story opens with a meeting between Lord Tristan Dalmorren and his nephew. Young Freddie ErwThe Mysterious Miss Fairchild is an historical romance.
The story opens with a meeting between Lord Tristan Dalmorren and his nephew. Young Freddie Erwin has fallen in love and plans to marry a young lady that he has only just met. Before giving his support to the marriage Tristan insists of finding out more about Freddie’s love.
Natalya Fairchild is currently living in Bath with her uncle and aunt. She has been brought up to be highly educated in a wide range of knowledge, yet there is a mystery to her parentage. She is shocked to hear of Freddie’s intention to ask for her hand in marriage; she explains to Tristan that she sees Freddie as just a friend, but he’s not sure that he believes her.
There were a few hints along the way which helped me to guess some of the ending, however, I wasn’t disappointed. Hopefully readers of this genre will enjoy this book as much as I did. ...more
The Rags To Riches Governess is book one of Lady Tregowan’s Will series of historical romances.
The story opens with Leah Thame learning that she is toThe Rags To Riches Governess is book one of Lady Tregowan’s Will series of historical romances.
The story opens with Leah Thame learning that she is to inherit a small fortune, which will allow her to leave her role as a governess and become a lady in society. However, the will has a few conditions that must be adhered to before Leah can claim her inheritance.
Currently Leah is governess to the three young children of Lord Dolphinstone. After their mother died and their father left for an extended trip to Europe, Leah is all that the children have and strong bonds have been created between them.
I enjoyed the direction of this storyline, and Leah’s character added extra elements that I thought worked well. Her boldness to speak her mind and her ability to soothe a situation made her an ideal person to begin this new series. This story introduces us to the main characters of the next two books which I shall look forward to reading. ...more
Living On the Edge Of Empire: The Objects And People Of Hadrian’s Wall is a non-fiction collection of artefacts discovered along Hadrian’s Wall often Living On the Edge Of Empire: The Objects And People Of Hadrian’s Wall is a non-fiction collection of artefacts discovered along Hadrian’s Wall often from archaeological finds. Rob Collins and the curators of Hadrian’s Wall have attempted to draw a picture of what life was like during the 300 years of Roman occupation. [image]
The book is filled with beautiful pictures of many of the items found and these are used to illustrate the nine chapters. These sections include life in the frontier, clothing, business and leisure, religion and one of my favourites ‘unknowns’; items which truly baffle the experts.
I’ve always enjoyed the idea of digging up treasures left from bygone years and I was a fan of television’s Time Team for years, so this book held my interest. I’ve yet to visit Hadrian’s Wall, but it is on my wish list....more
Rumors That Ruined A Lady is historical romance and book #4 of The Armstrong Sisters series. Lady Caroline Armstrong (Caro) has left her abusive husbaRumors That Ruined A Lady is historical romance and book #4 of The Armstrong Sisters series. Lady Caroline Armstrong (Caro) has left her abusive husband, but with few options for her future, she tries to seek oblivion via opium. [image]
Sebastian Conway, the new Marquis of Ardhallow, found Caro passed out at a party. Recognising her as the daughter of his neighbour, he rescues her from the brink of death. Now she is his house guest and while they are reminded of their past attraction for each other, news of their scandalous set up reaches her disapproving father.
At a time when the law favoured men and married women had few rights, divorce was rare. The author has spun an interesting tale around the theme of marriage separation in an era when polite society quickly shunned those who didn’t behave as expected.
Although this is part of a series this book is easily readable as a stand alone story. A passionate romance with a real will-they, won’t-they question about the relationship between Caro and Sebastian written around the English laws of marriage during the 1830s....more
Garkain is an urban fantasy set mainly in Australia. Raised through the foster care system in America, Amelia has recently been reacquainted 3.5 stars
Garkain is an urban fantasy set mainly in Australia. Raised through the foster care system in America, Amelia has recently been reacquainted with her real family, but she discovers that they are a family of Garkain, a branch of vampires. Amelia is told that she is a special child because her parents were a Garkain and a Larougo, similar to a werewolf, but from a forbidden union. Members of The Colony invite Amelia to visit their home to take part in an unbinding ceremony to unlock her paranormal powers. Just what those powers will be can only be speculated upon.
I liked the idea of the Australian setting, which was refreshing in this genre, but I thought that the story needed to put more emphasis on the Australian context, particularly with the dialogue and historical background. The storyline worked well, but occasionally it was rushed and left me wanting more details or explanations to make it all believable. The last third of the story was the weakest and I thought it needed a bit of reworking especially with the odd epilogue; it introduced new details which I felt would have worked better in the main narrative. This is the first story in this series and there were hints of what is to come, but I wouldn’t say that the ending hooked me enough to want to continue.
I read an ARC of this story, so some of my concerns may be resolved with the final publication. ...more
Book Of The Elder Wisdom: An Eldritch Mystery is a mix of occult, science fiction and horror. If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the word ‘3.5 stars
Book Of The Elder Wisdom: An Eldritch Mystery is a mix of occult, science fiction and horror. If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the word ‘Eldritch’, the meaning which most suits it in this instance is ‘otherworldly’.
The story is set in 1984 and opens with a tale about a trip to ancient pueblo-style dwellings in New Mexico and the discovery of a mysterious tower with a sinister atmosphere. The unnamed narrator finds a modern backpack in the tower, which he finds suspicious.
The narrator asks his friend, a private detective, to help him find the backpack owner. The narrator is also troubled by repeated dreams of unearthly horrors.
As the story develops our storyteller is drawn to the Church Of The Elder Wisdom, a recently developed modern cult. They, in turn, are very interested in our chronicler, especially as they believe that he can contact otherworldly beings.
The pace increases with the involvement of the FBI who ask him to assist in investigating the cult and its agenda. The story gets quite complicated when the narrator visits a numbers of different dimensions whilst in a sleep state, where he is shown the true beings behind the visions.
When I read the first pages of this story I thought that the main story theme would involve native American legends. However, the story soon veered towards a Scientology style of religion. That is not to say that the native American ancestors didn’t appear again; they did have another chapter or two. There was quite a bit of time spent in trances and dreams, which added to the story detail, but I found them less enjoyable than parts set in real time.
Readers might spot the 1984 setting and wonder if the author deliberately chose this with its famous association to Orwell’s book. I thought that there were enough nods to Orwell’s dystopian world to make it significant. The ending needs a mention; it felt at odds with the rest of the story and I’m afraid that it left me rather disappointed. ...more
Lonely Castle In The Mirror is a young adult cultural fantasy. I read a version translated from the original Japanese. The story opens with o3.5 stars
Lonely Castle In The Mirror is a young adult cultural fantasy. I read a version translated from the original Japanese. The story opens with our introduction to high school student Kokoro who has been bullied at school and now refuses to attend. She spends her days at home alone while her parents work. One day her mirror glows and she is transported to a magical castle. There are other children there, and they are given a task to carry out over several months by a mysterious wolf-girl.
With fairytale themes as well as more serious ones like abuse and mental health issues, the children work together to solve the layered mysteries of this story. I thought that the final reveal was very well thought out.
I liked the opening chapters and was quite intrigued with how the story might evolve, but I did struggle to keep reading through the middle sections. I found the narrative style hard to engage with and would say that this probably reflected the cultural differences between Japanese fiction and Western styles. This is a long book; while the ages of the characters suits young adult fiction, the length of the book is more suited to adult or older teenage readers. I’m a little stuck as to whom I can recommend this too. Perhaps the appeal of the book is that it may be enjoyed by a good cross-section of readers. ...more
Hi Momma, It’s Me, is a spiritual book which shows how souls can stay connected after a person has died. It is also a book about the important role ofHi Momma, It’s Me, is a spiritual book which shows how souls can stay connected after a person has died. It is also a book about the important role of love in our lives.
Author Sandy Cowen was a reluctant medium or messenger. However, after her son died and he called out to her for help, she was encouraged by more than one person to write a book about her experience, and how she went on to help others from both sides of the veil.
Part of Sandy’s journey involves the conversations she has with her son, about how he wants to share his belief that we can connect with our departed loved ones more easily than we think. He believes that we were never meant to be cut off from a soul once it has shed its human form.
This book also looks at some of our human emotions. 2020 has been a year of challenges for most of us and I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has experienced fear, despair, grief and uncertainty at some point during the year; the timing of this book which talks about love-based emotions and their healing ability was perfect. I’m keen for happiness, wonder, empathy, belonging and peace of mind to be part of my life once more.
Sandy has attempted to bring her messages to the reader in a simple and easy-to-read format. It gave me lots to think about and I will be re-reading parts that particularly interested me. This book has some lovely thoughts about healing which, at the moment, I’m more than ready to listen to. ...more
Her Best Friend, the Duke is a Regency style historical romance set in England.
This is a story about marrying a best friend [image]
Platonic friendshipHer Best Friend, the Duke is a Regency style historical romance set in England.
This is a story about marrying a best friend [image]
Platonic friendships between men and women in this era were unusual, but Caroline and James had been friends for five years. Caroline had not planned to marry, but then she changed her mind, no longer wishing to remain a spinster. Her announcement forced James to see her in a new way. When you read a romance like this one, you know there will be a happy ending, however, it is the journey which matters. I quite enjoyed some of the unconventional aspects of this couple’s courtship. There were definitely broken rules of society along the way, but it made for a feel-good story which is what I needed when I picked up this book. I shall look out for more books by the author in the future. ...more
Heart Of A Runaway Girl is the first story in the Mabel Davison cosy mystery series. This story is set in a small mining town in Washington S3.5 stars
Heart Of A Runaway Girl is the first story in the Mabel Davison cosy mystery series. This story is set in a small mining town in Washington State during the 1980s, and revolves around the murder of a runaway girl followed by the wrongful arrest of her boyfriend.
Mabel Davison owns the town diner and motel. She works regular shifts in the diner, and believes that she knows just what customers are looking for when they enter her restaurant. She says that she can ‘read people’, which is why she is sure that the town sheriff has arrested the wrong man. Thus, Mabel dons her amateur sleuthing hat and sets out to find the real murderer.
Mabel is a determined character who puts herself at risk multiple times in pursuit of justice. She leads a full and busy life as a single parent of two boys, and she is also raising her niece. The pace of the story skips along; I enjoyed the first two thirds particularly. The last third dragged a little and the end of the mystery was a little disappointing as much of it happened ‘off screen’. I thought that Mabel deserved more involvement with the final arrest after all her hard work.
Overall, a decent start to a cosy mystery series. ...more
Blood Of Trees is book three of the spin-off series of Atlantic Island: Guardian Books which is an expansion of Fred Shernoff's Atlantic Island trilogBlood Of Trees is book three of the spin-off series of Atlantic Island: Guardian Books which is an expansion of Fred Shernoff's Atlantic Island trilogy. Written for the young adult market, they feature time travel and a Mayan myth mystery.
This book was my favourite of the three book series, because the conclusive format brought together the threads from the other stories. I felt that I understood more about the Mayan history and myths too. The second story thread about saving the universe was less clear to me and I don’t think I ever really grasped that aspect of the storyline. However, that may have been because I haven’t read the original Atlantic Island stories.
Although this is the end of the trilogy from this author, the main protagonist’s tale will be continued by Fred Shernoff in an Atlantic Island II story. ...more
The Dilapidated Detectives contains three mystery stories, each one solved by semi-amateur sleuthing duo Claude and Marjorie. [image]
The first3.5 stars
The Dilapidated Detectives contains three mystery stories, each one solved by semi-amateur sleuthing duo Claude and Marjorie. [image]
The first story is set in a retirement home and involves the suspicious death of one of the residents, while the second story concerns sex trafficking and the third involves a suspected serial killer. There is some humour as well as some good detective work from this pair of octogenarian investigators.
The actual investigations were the best part of this book, even if some of the action and events were rather convenient at times. However, I didn’t feel that choice of narrative style supported the solid mystery base. There tended to be a lot of ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’ of the story from an all seeing omnipotent narrator which led to some confusing head hopping in places, while the quantity of cliches used took away the opportunity for the author to impress the reader with his own writing skills.
I liked the idea of this book, but I really think it could benefit from the help of a good editor to lift the way the story was told to the higher standard of the detective work....more
Blood and Silver is a young adult historical fiction story set in the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1880.
This is the story of twelve-yearBlood and Silver is a young adult historical fiction story set in the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1880.
This is the story of twelve-year-old Clarissa, the daughter of a prostitute who is shown kindness by the town doctor, the sheriff and in particular the notorious China Mary, a lady who has eyes and ears everywhere.
Clarissa is desperate to get her mother away from the brothel and its dangerous owner. With help from China Mary, Clarissa gets a job in a new hotel where she can earn her own money. But danger is never far away and Clarissa must be brave and work hard to make a better future for herself and her mother.
I was intrigued by the setting and the storyline. The author provided a good mix of real life and fictional characters. The writing style tended towards ‘telling rather than showing’ which was a shame and in some areas the plot felt rather rushed and over simplified. However, I am aware that I’m not the target audience for this. Overall a good story, but the style of delivery needed a bit more tweaking for this to stand out for me....more
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