Book Review - Stolid by Aaron D Key

 

Stolid by Aaron D Key begins with a man thumbing a lift in the torrential rain, a young man pulls over, and the rain-drenched Stolid gets in the car, believing he has a lift to London. Stolid is lulled to sleep by the warmth. When he wakes up, the car is parked in a layby on a quiet lane. The young driver tells Stolid that he knows him and only went out that evening to find him. Stolid's story is then told through flashbacks of his life.

Stolid had two relationships with older men. He was sleeping rough when Joseph offered him a place to stay. Stolid realises he has romantic feelings for Joseph; sadly, the relationship does not last Joseph and Stolid have too many insecurities about their sexuality. Stolid meets Jonathan things are looking up for Stolid. He has passed his exams and has been offered the two jobs he has interviewed for. So what has led to him being out in the pouring rain and accepting a lift from a strange young man? Moreover, does Stolid learn who the young man is?

Aaron D Key is a very talented writer. I love his descriptions which are almost poetic at times, e.g. page seventy-three, " I walked between the houses to the sewered stream where a fatted moon's reflection split into a moving picture of stained glass punched with light". I particularly liked that sex in the relationships was hinted at, and the reader is left to imagine what happened. I thought the ending was fantastic; it had a real twist which I had not expected. I am delighted that this book is part of a series, and I look forward to reading the next one.

The only thing I disliked was that although the flashbacks worked well, I got slightly lost in places because the sentences were so wordy.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There are a couple of editing mistakes, but Stolid by Aaron D Key is beautifully written, and the plot is well thought out.

I recommend this book to adult readers, especially lovers of romance, particularly gay men trying to come to terms with their feelings. It would also be an excellent read for people who enjoy a good mystery with a difference. Because this is about men having relationships with men, I do not think it would appeal to readers with particular religious convictions.

Thank you to Aaron D Key for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

 

Kalayla, the debut novel by Jeannie Nicholas, is a brilliant story about three people, a mother, a daughter and a neighbour, who bond as they struggle through life's difficulties. Kalayla is a cheeky eleven-year-old mixed-race girl, and she befriends septuagenarian Lena, who lives in the same apartment block. Kalayla is fascinated by Lena, who always dresses head to toe in black. Kalayla's mother, Maureen, is nearly thirty and is a single parent. Maureen works several jobs to keep a roof over her and Kalayla's heads, and when she is not at school, Kalayla is left to her own devices.

All three have secrets. Lena had four sons. She works part-time with one of them at the family business, her twin sons are dead, and there is one she is alienated from. Maureen is a widowed white girl who married a black man, and her family now will not have anything to do with her and has never seen Kalayla. Maureen has told Kalayla that they all died in an explosion at a family wedding! Furthermore, Kalayla tells her Mum that she spends most of her time at the library, but she is never there! 

Gradually as the story progresses, the secrets come out. Kalayla is an excellent book highlighting many issues, including domestic abuse, racism, prejudice, homophobia and family abandonment. Jeannie Nicholas's sensitive and thoughtful story tells how community and friendship improve lives as the relationship between these three very different people grows.

I loved everything about Kalayla, from the building friendship between Lena, Maureen and Kalayla to the gradual understanding of the lies they all tell and why. The book covers some dark subjects, but it is not without humour, e.g. page fifty-seven, "Now I was in the middle of an alphabet soup that was boiling over with letters I couldn't turn into words." This book is a real page-turner, and I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend when I turned the last page.

There was nothing I disliked about Kalayla; it is a well-written and thoroughly enjoyable read, storytelling at its very best.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is well-edited, I did not find any spelling or grammatical errors, and I loved reading this wonderful book!

Due to the relatively heavy topics covered, I would recommend this to an adult audience. I would recommend it to women because it is a story of friendship between 3 female characters, and it covers issues which mainly affect women.

Thank you to Jeannie Nicholas for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - My life uncensored by Cristina Caymares

My life uncensored by Cristina Caymares is a short memoir of her childhood, growing up without a father, and the various abusive men who came in and out of her life during her mother's relationships. Cristina's father had a heart attack and died when she was two years old, and her mother was left to bring up two small children on her own. Although Cristina lives with her mother in Los Angeles, she spends most of her school holidays with her grandmother in Florida so that her mother can work.

The idea for My life uncensored was promising, touching on child neglect, Cristina losing her father at an early age, and the consequences these have growing up. However, the book is poorly written. There is much repetition, e.g. Page 16 -  The big huge mirror we had in that town house was too big for that house. There are complete sentences that make no sense, e.g. page 29, Her earrings looked brighter, and her teeth got springier. The author seems to have written her thoughts down as they came into her head, making the book unpolished, disorganized, chaotic, and very frustrating to read. 

I struggled to find anything I liked about this book. I admire the author for laying bare her early life. However, it is Cristina's mother with whom I have the greatest sympathy. Her mother died giving birth to her, her father had a lengthy prison sentence and died in prison, and her husband died aged 26, leaving her with two small children. 

There were many things I was not too fond of about My life uncensored by Cristina Caymares. The book would be much more interesting if the author rewrote it as a longer book and expanded her thoughts and explanations. Rewriting would help Cristina see the errors and where more explanation is needed for the book to make sense to the reader. 

I do not recommend this book because the narrative lacks structure, many interesting subjects were left unexplored, the characters are not developed, and the topics call for more insight. My life uncensored reads like a teenager's diary!

I rate this book 0 out of 5 stars. My reasons for this are: the text did not appear to have been edited, as I found errors on practically every page! The writing style is chaotic and challenging, and I did not enjoy reading it! 

Thank you to Cristina Caynares for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Smart Love by Vincent Fudge II

Smart Love by Vincent Fudge II is a self-help relationship manual that uses the author's experience and volatile relationship problems to help others mend broken relationships. The author uses the alias Edward for this autobiographical book. Edward is married to Ebony, and the couple has two children, Elizabeth, born before the marriage, and Elijah, born after. We learn quickly that this is a toxic relationship, but Fudge bravely tells the story warts and all so that we can learn from his experiences. In the book's first chapter, we learn that many trigger points set the couple fighting. After a particularly explosive argument, Edward pushes Ebony's head into a wall, the police are called, and Edward spends a night in prison. He realizes that the relationship has hit a watershed. It is make or break time, and this realization is what sets in motion the writing of Smart Love. It seems to be the age-old problem of a couple having a sexual bond who otherwise do not seem to like one another but stay together because they have children. Their relationship is one of emotional, physical, and verbal abuse and can be started by both Ebony and Edward. The first thing the couple works through is their communication skills, and the author gives the reader lots of practical advice to change toxic relationship patterns. It takes Ebony and Edward a year of hard work to become more like the couple they want to be.

I liked that despite the subject matter being unpleasant, the book is written in a very down-to-earth way, and there are many lessons readers can learn from the practical steps laid out by Edward. I also liked all the analogies used, and they helped to clarify what Edward was teaching, e.g., page 190 - 'Think about people as flowers: there are many different types that have different fragrances, bloom at different times of the year, and require varying amounts of sunshine and water.'

I found this book immensely frustrating as Edward and Ebony claim to love one another, but their incompatibility is the root cause of their problems. The couple is trying to avoid upset to their children by divorcing. However, children pick up on the atmosphere and hear the fights, which begs the question, wouldn't the children be happier if their parents split up?

Smart Love has a plethora of grammatical and spelling errors and does not appear to have been edited or proofread at all, e.g., page 13 - 'How you work on fulfilling the vision is by defining what needs to be done to fulfill the vision.' This sentence does not flow very well, and the spelling should be fulfil. Because of all the errors and my frustration with the relationship, I am rating this book  3 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to adults or older teenagers who want to learn new ways to work through their relationship problems. There is no sex in this book, but there is some swearing; hence it would not be an appropriate book for younger people.

Thank you to Vincent Fudge II for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

You can read more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer

 

Cynthia Patterson is employed as Senator Mike McBride's bodyguard and is a private investigator helping her brother wage war against cyber terrorism in her spare time. Cynthia is the main character in the book Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer. Cynthia is on her way to work one morning when the traffic is at a standstill. She gets out of her car and starts walking, trying to find out what is happening. She bumps into a handsome and mysterious stranger who introduces himself as Sky Eastman. He propels her into a cafe for lunch, and Cynthia finds herself swept away by this charismatic man. The two have a one-night stand, and Sky's behaviour the next day makes Cynthia suspicious of him. She is also worried about her ex-boyfriend Dan's intentions when he becomes increasingly protective of her. In the meantime, Cynthia's brother Glenn is waging war against cyber terrorism.

I liked that Dorothy May Mercer has put a lot of effort and time into researching areas of the Cynthia and Dan story, mainly how cyber war is fought.

Unfortunately, I dislike more things about this book than I like. Cynthia is supposed to be an independent and confident woman who is the head of security for a Senator and contributes to fighting cyber terrorism. Despite this, she has moments of extreme naivety and excessive emotional responses that don't make sense to the character she is supposed to be. It's very annoying that the characters constantly call each other my dear this makes the story twee. There is no way Cynthia would have had anything more than slight stomach cramps and bleeding at the stage of her pregnancy. The most she would have needed to get through it would have been painkillers and a hot water bottle, not several days in the hospital. I also doubt that her staff would have gone charging into Senator Mike McBride to say she was ill with bleeding from the vagina! I believe that had Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer been adequately proofread and edited, the above dislikes would have been picked up on and corrected.

There were too many things that detracted from this book for me to enjoy, and I rate it 1 out of 5 stars. I am disappointed that I have had to give such a low mark as the concept of fighting the cyber war had the potential to be a fantastic read. I feel that this book could be excellent with a bit more editing.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, but it might appeal to older adults on a beach holiday!

Thank you to Dorothy May Mercer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Audible Review - E M P Honeymoon by Dorothy May Mercer, Narrated by Scott Ellis

 

The audiobook E M P Honeymoon by Dorothy May Mercer tells the story of Tom and Kelly, who are on their honeymoon on a Caribbean Island. While Tom is on a diving boat checking out the coral reefs. Kelly goes off on the Excursion bus. Whilst out, she discovers an exciting shop where she hopes to buy souvenirs for the family back home. Kelly spends a while choosing gifts, and when she is ready to pay, she realizes there is no one else in the shop, not even a shop assistant! Peeking around a door at the back of the shop, she is shocked to see a strange hi-tech lab. A burly man sees her, grabs her and tries to drag her away. She fights back and gets in a taxi back to her holiday villa. The first thing she does is shut the windows, pull the curtains and then call her brother Senator Mike McBride. Kelly is so scared that she does not make much sense and hangs up before Mike finds out what is wrong. He is worried and calls Tom, who gets in touch straight away. Kelly does not want to spoil Tom's day, so she dumbs down what has happened. Their honeymoon is not the romantic and relaxing holiday Kelly and Tom had hoped for as they find themselves caught up in international intrigue and a plot to blow up North America using an electromagnetic pulse.

There was not much I liked about this audible book, and I only managed to read 50 pages. The idea for the story was good but poorly executed, even though Dorothy May Mercer has obviously put time into researching areas of the book. I did like that there were no swearing or sex scenes.

The narrator Scott Ellis has a dreadful voice, so staccato. It is also extremely annoying that this has the title, chapter, reader's name and author's name at the beginning of every chapter. This really interrupts the flow of the story. It was also very odd that Kelly's brother. Senator Mike McBride does not recognize his sister's voice when she calls him at work. Su -Jin, the young commander of a top-secret mission for the People's Army, does not make sense. Who has undergone meticulous training, including how to throw a frisbee and facial reconstruction. She gives herself away when she is unsure how to wear Western clothing. 

The story changes direction all the time to the point that I had no clue what was happening in some areas and had to rewind this audible book to relisten.

I would suggest this is aimed at older adults looking for a book to read on the beach.

I would rate this book 0 out of 5 stars as I did not enjoy it and would not recommend it to anyone. I feel that if this book had been adequately proofread and edited, the things mentioned above I did not like would have been picked up on. Dorothy May Mercer has proudly written 5 novels in 7 months; sadly, it shows in this audible book!

Thank you to Dorothy May Sayer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Wild World by Peter S Rush

 

Wild World by Peter S. Rush begins in May 1970. It is a time when thousands of students across America are holding rallies to protest against the Vietnam War. Steve Logan, a law student and his girlfriend, Roxy Fisher, a medical student, want to make the world a better place to live in. The story begins a few weeks before Steve is due to have his graduation from Brown University. Sitting with his roommates and Roxy in front of the television, they cannot believe what they see. National Guard troops have been called out to a protest by students at Kent State University. The guards are armed and end up killing four students. After meeting a reform-minded police officer, Steve is convinced that getting involved is the only way to change things. He postpones law school and joins the city's police department. Steve is different to other rookie police. He has a good degree, and he is inherently honest. These make him an outsider, and a target for corrupt police, the reality of fighting the establishment soon overwhelms him. His college friends think he is a traitor to the cause, and even Roxy, the woman he loves, has begun to pull away. Devising a plan to shake up the system radically, Steve begins to collect evidence to bring the corrupt police down. Steve's life will never be the same again! 

I loved the fact that Peter S. Rush appears to have named his book after the Cat Stevens song Wild World which was released in 1970, an example from page 62, He turned on a transistor radio, and Cat Stevens sang, "Baby, baby it's a wild world...." I also enjoyed the parts of the book where Steve experiences inner turmoil between his work life and home life when he cannot always go with his instincts but has to play by specific rules to survive, even when they seem wrong. e.g. 'The man had stopped moving, and Steve realized he could be dead. It was under control - he had it under control. Was he responsible for the man's death? Was this police work?' This was very well written, and I could feel Steve's inner turmoil.

This is a great story, written with passion for the subject, but I was disappointed in the number of mistakes. It was as if the book had not been edited or proofread.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is a great story, but there are way too many errors to rate it the full 4 stars.

I would recommend this book to older teenagers and adults interested in novels telling American history during the 1970s. The continuous swearing in this book fits with the characterisation but would not be suitable for anyone who dislikes this type of language. 

Thank you to Peter S Rush for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

 

Book Review - Unlight by Chandra Shekhar

 

A massive cloud of dust has blanketed the Earth, causing the temperatures to drop to minus 127 degrees centigrade. Unlight by Chandra Shekhar is the story of Larry Brandon's forward-thinking vision to build a shelter he calls the Shell, which will keep his family safe while the Earth repairs itself. The story is told, in part, through diaries kept by the family, and we see different ways the situation is affecting them. From Elizabeth, the gentle, calm grandmother in her 70's. Her daughter Nicole  a top surgeon in her 40s. Teenage daughters Anna and Jessica; Anna who is thoughtful and kind, and Jessica, who is prone to criticising just for the sake of being critical. To Larry, Nicole's fiancee, a self-made billionaire and well-known engineer who has masterminded the Shell. We not only hear of their life now but get background stories telling us about their life before. While most of the world had ignored the threat until it was too late, with humans unable to survive such inclement weather conditions, the world's inhabitants froze to death. Believing they are the last people left on Earth, the family must work together to keep their shelter working for them because their lives depend on them working as a team.

It was refreshing to read a book with no swearing, and although sex is touched upon, it is all left to the reader's imagination. I liked how Chandra Shekhar works the characters so that they all influence their new life. There is not one person in charge dictating to the others. I liked that Unlight is a gentle but thought-provoking book; it is science fiction but has no strange life forms or made-up words. The people in it could be you or me, just in a new life in a changing world.

I feel that Unlight would have been more realistic if there was some confrontation between the characters, in particular Jessica, who begins by being a stroppy, very opinionated teenager, but within a few chapters, her character completely changes, and she is considerate, helpful and wants to please. People do not change that quickly in real life. I also did not think it was believable that Larry had a large team of people helping him to build the shelter and they were all happy to walk away once the shelter is finished knowing they would die? I feel there would have been at least some of the people who would have been able to create their own Shell or would have fought to access Larry's. 

 This book is very readable but needs some conflict to balance the harmony, there is no excitement, and this makes the book bland at times. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

As this book has very mild sexual content and no swearing, I would recommend this book to adults and teenagers. I think it would be enjoyed by readers who like science fiction stories which make you think -  this could happen!

Thank you to Chandra Shekhar for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

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

Island Games is the debut novel from 12-year-old Caleb J. Boyer. The story introduces the reader to Matthew and Ryan, best friends, who wake up to find themselves washed up onto the shore of an island with a massive volcano. Neither of the boys can remember how they got there. The last thing the boys remember is playing video games. They wonder whether they have been kidnapped or maybe are in a TV reality show. They are also distraught that their families will look for them and not know where to look. Realizing that they are entirely alone, they set about looking after themselves. Ahead of them, they fight for survival, overcoming the many twists and turns the island has to offer. Ryan and Matthew must be clever and resilient and work together to overcome the many challenges. This fantasy adventure will test their friendship and show them the important things in life.

Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer is a quick and easy read but has repetitive language in places and could do with more description and some more work on the dialogue as this is the weakest part of the book. In my opinion, this would make the story even more interesting to read. I was not too fond of the ending, which would have been perfect if there was a sequel, but as it is, this book's ending is unsatisfying and leaves the reader with too many questions unanswered. Some more resolution about why the boys were on the island would have given more substance to the story.

Although I am not the target audience, I appreciated the theme of this book which focuses on friendship and staying positive. I enjoyed getting the boy's two different points of view throughout, which added depth and insight to this book, and I got to know both characters and their different feelings well. I loved reading the story through their innocent eyes as they question their lives and choices. I also liked the idea of the boys solving puzzles to get resources and the lessons learned about the importance of teamwork.

I recommend Island Games to children between 10 and 13 who enjoy fun and entertaining books about challenges, mysteries, and fantasy adventure.

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. The editing was excellent, and the score is due to the naivety of the writing, the work needed on the dialogue, and the unsatisfactory ending.

Thank you to Caleb J. Boyer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Tales From The Gray Area by Curtis Stephen Burdick

 

After watching The Twilight Zone, Curtis Stephen Burdick was inspired to write Tales From The Gray Area. This book contains seven intriguing novellas which take the reader on a journey of discovery. Every story has a different theme which means the reader is constantly on the edge of their seat, turning the pages to find out what happens next. Curtis Stephen Burdick is an author who has researched the subject matter of the tales he tells, and each novella is unique and spellbinding. Each story investigates an aspect of universal life that remains unqualified, hidden in the depths of what Curtis Stephen Burdick terms 'the gray area' despite being questioned and theorized throughout human existence. His tales stem from the science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian genres. Each has its fulfilling ending yet leaves questions for further inquiry. In my opinion, the stories Vacation From Hell, Alien Addiction, and Sorceress could easily be made into full-length books as the endings are real cliffhangers.

In Tales from the Gray Area, Curtis Stephen Burdick writes excellent descriptions of the people and places, and they instantly become real, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are constant twists in the tales, which kept me wanting more up to the end of the story and beyond. These are the stories the reader will remember for a long time after they've been read. The story I liked best was a tale called "Vacation from Hell." This novella revolves around fallen angels who agree with the Devil to go on vacations on Earth. They inhabit the bodies of those who have sold their souls to Satan. A fallen angel named Dwayne begins to love the family of the man whose body he uses as his vessel, and the story is all about his struggles. I like this tale for its fascinating plot and fantastic ending.

The only thing I disliked about this fantastic book was that I was left wanting more at the end of every story! I rate Tales From The Gray Area by Curtis Stephen Burdick a well earned 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this to anyone who likes short stories, particularly sci-fi and horror fans. I suggest it is marketed at adults as there is a lot of swearing in some of the stories. This is the first book I have read by Curtis Stephen Burdick. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to Curtis Stephen Burdick for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Audible original Novella review - Kill Your Brother by Jack Heath - Narrated by Hannah Monson

 

Kill Your Brother by Jack Heath is an Audible Novella set in Australia. It is a tense and compelling story with a damaged young woman at its heart. Elise is a disgraced elite athlete – the backstory to the cause of her disgrace is gradually revealed through the novella. She is searching for her older brother Callum who seemingly has disappeared. Demonstrating considerable strength and resourcefulness, Elise soon realizes that more choices are available to her than the two she has been presented with. As in all good psychological thrillers, the story unfolds with sufficient twists and turns to ensure the reader is kept enthralled to the last page.

Readers of the crime genre do not always look for depth in character development. Their requirements are more for a fast-paced plot-driven story with twists, turns, and perhaps some clarity at its conclusion as to who did what. There are, of course, some crime writers whose characters are fully-fledged and who inhabit their stories with depth and breadth of personality. This novella is essentially plot-driven. Its characters are drawn only to the extent that serves the plot. Elise's parents – for example – are lightly sketched out. Just enough to tell the listener how inadequate they were in their responses to the issues confronting Elise and Callum as children and teenagers.

Callum's personality features strongly throughout the novella, even when he is not physically present. His whereabouts and the reasons behind his disappearance drive the narrative. The third protagonist Stephanie, however, is the one who is the puppet master. Through the story's exposition, the reader slowly learns what led to her actions, even if there may be some difficulty in accepting them.

Telling the backstories of Elise, Callum, and Stephanie while at the same time ensuring that the momentum of the present time narrative is maintained is no mean feat. But it is one that the author manages exceptionally well. The tension increases as the novella moves closer to its conclusion. Kill Your Brother is a well-crafted psychological thriller that will satisfy the listener. 

 

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to an adult audience who enjoy psychological crime thrillers.

Book review - Yesterday by Samyann

Yesterday is a book about romance and reincarnation by Samyann. The book begins with a train derailment where the main characters, Amanda and Mark, meet for the first time in present-day Chicago. They help each other get to safety from the flying debris. Mark is knocked out for a while, but Amanda has a broken arm and other injuries and is kept in the hospital overnight. They both feel strongly that they have met before. Leaving Amanda in hospital, Mark, a policeman, heads back to the station to check records and see if he can find anything about her. Having found nothing, he visits Amanda in hospital. He writes his cell phone number on her cast, desperate to see her again. Mark is persistent, but having had many traumas in life, losing her elder brother, her parents, and her fiancee Amanda does not want to get hurt again. Amanda buys a grandfather clock in an antique store because this is another thing she feels in some way has a connection to her past. Mark and Amanda search for answers about their past and the clock. In the end, they turn to Amanda's godmother Mary who is a successful psychologist. 

I found myself disliking Mark. He came across as arrogant and pushy, especially when they went out for their first meal together, and he told Amanda that he would choose for both of them. His behavior bordered on harassment as he would not take "No" for an answer and constantly pushed himself on Amanda. Also, I did not particularly appreciate how Mark kept dropping Irish Gaelic into conversations. It would start a new discussion between him and Amanda that seemed totally pointless to the storyline. Additionally, I found the way Mark took the samples from the grandfather clock and said he would get them analyzed at the police station unbelievable. Why would the forensic team give up police time to analyze Mark's private samples on a whim?

I loved how the author kept you wondering what all the connections were between Mark, Amanda, and the grandfather clock. It was incredible how the present started to mingle and intertwine with the past. I also thought the characters developed well. I particularly liked Amanda, who, despite losing most of her close family in tragic accidents, is still stoic and striving to move along with her life. 

I particularly liked when Amanda underwent regression therapy and returned to South Carolina in 1862. The author has a great way of using speech so the reader can feel the style of talking. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will be looking out for more books by this author. I will undoubtedly be cooking the Idiots Delight recipe, which is included in the book and was fed to Confederate soldiers; this was an excellent addition.

Lastly, I give Yesterday by Samyann 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, it is a well-written and well-edited book; I only found minor errors. I am dropping a point because of the excessive use of Irish Gaelic. It was an enjoyable and fast read that I highly recommend to older teenagers and adults who enjoy romance and reincarnation.

Thank you to Samyann for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Just Die by E. Alan Fleischauer

 

In his book, Just Die, E Alan Fleischauer introduces the reader to his main character Jake Silver when he finds himself in the hospital recovering from a stroke. Jake is far from impressed that he is sharing a room with another stroke victim who spends all his time moaning loudly. As a teenager, Jake was taught to drive by his Mum, who advised him never to show his anger to other car drivers as this could get him into trouble. Instead, she says he should point his finger at his protagonist and say, "Just Die." By midnight Jake is still being kept awake by his roommate; he is so frustrated that he points his finger at him and says, "Just Die." Before he can think, nurses rush into the room, and the man dies. Many people imagine what it would be like to have a superpower for Jake Silver; that day has come, and there is no going back. Just Die by E. Alan Fleischauer is a supernatural thriller that takes the reader on a fast-paced journey into real life with super-human abilities.

The writing is clear and concise; it is descriptive enough to paint a decent picture and allows the reader to visualize the story and the characters portrayed in it. The plot is unusual, and Fleischauer builds the story while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what will happen next. I also found that the book was exceptionally well-edited.

I love the suspense that builds up, but I feel there are areas of the book that waffle along, especially in the dialogues between characters. For me, Just Die was a good story, but I feel it did not reach its potential of being great. In my opinion, Fleischauer could have used more detailed descriptions to draw us into Jake's life and his relationships with the other character's in the book, particularly his fiancee. The sub-stories were very loose, and Fleischauer let himself down here as I feel the narrative could have been more substantial and detailed.

 

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

I would recommend this book to an adult audience as there is a lot of swearing and drug use. Due to the way Jake can kill people after his stroke, I think Just Die by E Alan Fleischauer would particularly appeal to readers who are fans of superheroes or the supernatural.

 

Thank you to Alan Fleischauer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith

 

M Rebecca Wildsmith introduces the reader to Hattie Vavaseur when she is at a funeral. Hattie is perturbed that she doesn't know why she is at the funeral and has no idea who has died! After the funeral, Hattie is whisked off by John Bertram, who seems to think that at one time he was employed by Hattie as a chauffeur, to a mansion with a taciturn owner. In the beginning, I wondered if Hattie had dementia, it's not until chapter 4 that we find out the truth of Hattie's situation. Until then, all we know is that Hattie can only remember being a child brought up by a strict aunt and uncle who disliked her and that Hattie hates the color pink. Every character brings their own story, which means the reader is constantly on the edge of their seat, turning the pages to find out what happens next. We travel with Hattie while she learns about her past and future. Wildsmith is a writing genius. Her book contains humor, mystery, suspense, ghosts, the supernatural, and romance.

M Rebecca Wildsmith gave excellent descriptions of the people and places, and they became real instantly, which I really enjoyed. I also liked that the reader is slowly given information about Hattie's situation. There are constant twists in the tale which keep the reader on their toes. I also thoroughly enjoyed the humor throughout the book.

This book should have been a quick and easy read, but Wildsmith continually uses outdated words interrupting the flow of the story while the reader checks their meaning. For instance (on page 20), 'Hattie descended the grand staircase in the main hall, smartly dressed in her befurbelowed blue suit.' It is almost as if the author has looked up all the most complicated and outdated wording in the dictionary and tried to use all of it in this book; it may not be such a significant issue to other readers, but I found this both annoying and frustrating.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good old-fashioned murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and some romance thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to M. Rebecca Wildsmith for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book review : First Lessons by Lina J Potter

 

First Lessons by Lina J Potter begins as Aliya, a high achieving medical student, is heading home, she has presents for her family and is so excited to share that she has all A grades. Her parents meet her at the end of her train journey. In the car they are busy catching up on all the news when a large truck comes over the hill straddling the lanes, it crashes into their car flipping it several times before it crashes into a tree. When Aliya comes round she is in a lot of pain, she doesn’t recognize the room she is in, the person who is sitting by the bed or the extremely overweight body she now has. Aliya has taken over the body of Countess Lilian! With the help of Lilian’s nanny Aliya realises that she has time-travelled to Medieval times. The resourceful Aliya has to quickly learn how to behave but she doesn’t want to be like Lilian who spends her time lazing around eating, stitching and waiting for the occasional visits from her husband who needs an heir. These are scary times there are robbers, pirates, slave traders, murderers and spies who are only too happy to bring about Aliya’s downfall. Aliya remains strong and adjusts to this unknown world, starting with a major upheaval of the staff she employs and then by repairing and building up her crumbling and unkempt estate. As she has always done she rolls up her sleeves and with sheer hard work and determination she works to get the best she can for her kingdom!
 

I appreciate the extensive research Lina J Potter has done in order to give us an insight into the life and times of the era, in particular the use of herbs as medicines. The author has also followed closely the fact that Aliya is a medical student in the present day and brings this knowledge to the fore when Lily is hunting out the skills of the crafts people of the day. The author cleverly shows the reader how important these skills were, for survival, in Medieval times. 

I was frustrated with the way Aliya got on with life and fell into the role of medieval Countess. Aliya is never going to return to the present day but doesn’t seem to be particularly bothered, I appreciate that she doesn’t want to draw attention to herself but surely in private moments she would have shown some fear and upset about the life she has left behind. I also felt that the change in character that Aliya brings to Lily would have been questioned particularly by the nanny who is always by her side. First Lessons starts off really well and I was excited to see how it developed but for me it never did. Lina J Potter is a clever researcher and writes a good narrative but there is nothing to get the reader excited. Lina J Potter hints at friction, murderous intent and slavery but these fizzle out really quickly and left me thinking ‘that could have been great, if only….!’ 

There were a few minor errors but in the main this book was well edited. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars, it was an interesting read but it just didn’t have enough substance for my liking and there was a great beginning but the middle and ending all merged into one and was very much the same. 

I think this book would appeal to teenagers who like historical fiction. I think they would find it entertaining but they would also learn a lot through the history and science without realising as it is so well woven into the structure of the book.

Thank you to Lina J. Potter for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Little Boy Lost by J P Carter

 I listened to this as an Audible book and have to say I didn't like the reader's voice, the characterisation, particularly of the main character, Anna, really grated. 

As for the book it started with a good story and had great potential, it was very well written but the story never really went anywhere. I guessed from quite near the beginning who the abductor of Jacob was although I couldn't work out why, so laboured on with the story until it was revealed at the end. I also found the riots and Chloe's experience became very boring and a lot of her story made little sense. Anna's daughter was abducted by her father when she was 2 and despite Anna being in the police, she doesn't get Chloe back again until she is 12. Interesting beginning with lots of potential! 

There are riots going on but Anna is called back to work and despite the riots, only having her 12-year-old
daughter home for a month and the hell both she and Chloe have gone through, Anna leaves Chloe alone, would any mother really do that? Sadly this was a minor part of a fairly boring book! 

Book review : Sister B by David Charles Hart

 

 Sister B by David Charles Hart is a beautifully written and well-researched historical novel about the life of the author's mother ( Willie-Mae / Sister B ) from the late 1930s in Mississippi to her death on 24th June 2017 at the age of 99!

Sister B is the true story of a truly amazing African/American mother who hates the discrimination faced by black people in Mississippi. After another young black man is lynched by white people she leaves her young son in the care of her mother and travels to California to seek a better life for her family. Sister B has to deal with prejudice and racism from all sides but she has an unstoppable strength that keeps her fighting for the things she believes in, standing up against injustice, and fighting for equality for all. 

A lot of the novel revolves around USA and Japan during WW2 mainly looking at Sister B's life but also bringing in other characters she has met along the way, comparing the different ways war affects people in USA and Japan. This is an impactful read about an awe-inspiring lady who succeeded in capturing the hearts of many and in the process managed to change many people's futures for the better. 

I found this book really enjoyable to read despite the fact that it covers some very meaty subjects: WW2, Hiroshima, murder, racism, apartheid, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. All events and dates are historically accurate but this isn't a dry history lesson it is a thought-provoking story written by a loving son to celebrate the remarkable life of his inspirational mother. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historically accurate fiction, particularly those featuring strong black women. I grew to know Sister B so well through the novel that I am sad to have finished it and feel I am now saying goodbye to a friend.

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to David Charles Hart for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.