Book Review - The Legacy of Job's Wife by Cynthia Koelker

 

In the Book of Job, Job is the main character, and there is not very much said about his wife, Ix'ises. The Legacy of Job's Wife is Cynthia Koelker's version of the other side of the story from Ix'ises point of view. It begins when Ix'ses is nearing the end of her life, and she wants to leave a record of the events for her ancestors. Job was five when his neighbour went into labour, and his mother was called to help with the birth. When Ix'ises was born, Job looked at her little face and fell in love. It is Job who names the new baby. Ix'ises had an idyllic childhood, her father was often away working, but she got lots of attention each time he came home. 

The family was not deeply religious, and Ix'ises questioned whether there was a God when her pet lamb drowned in a well when Ix'ises was a child. However, Job's family is highly religious, and they sacrifice animals to thank God for all he has done for them. What is wrong with Ix'ises brother B'nahram? Do Job and Ix'ises marry when they are old enough? Moreover, what tragic events will befall them in the future? To learn more about Job and Ix'ises's lives, read The Legacy of Job's Wife by Cynthia Koelker.

Job's family and Ix'ses get together for a meal to celebrate Ix'ses birthday. When her children are born, Ix'ses mother makes up a song for them. She sings these lullabies to soothe her babies and get them off to sleep. When the children are no longer babies, it becomes a tradition for their mother to sing their unique songs on their birthdays. The families are together celebrating Ix'ses birthday, but on this occasion, Ix'ses has asked her mother to sing all of the children's songs. I love the way Koelker beautifully describes the scene, and I could picture the families sitting around the fire listening to the beautiful singing while the sun sets and the summer moon rises.  

The Legacy of Job's Wife is written in a beautifully lyrical way. Example from page forty-three, 'God was talking to me in the secret melody of my wind chimes, a language forgotten as quickly as the sun dried the morning dew.' Cynthia Koelker found that when reading about Job in the Bible, very little was told of his wife, Ix'ses. This book tells a fictional version of Ix'ses life. Koelker is very knowledgeable about the era's history, making this book fascinating. She also writes in such a way that you can feel the raw emotions of the characters and empathize with their joys and suffering.

I disliked nothing about The Legacy of Job's Wife by Cynthia Koelker. It was well-written and researched. This book is, above all else, a love story, the love between Job and Ix'ses and the love for their families. I recommend this to readers who enjoy books about romance and those interested in learning more about the life and times of the Biblical story, the 'Book of Job.' I do not believe in God and the Bible, but I found this story fascinating. It would be best to read The Legacy of Job's Wife with an open mind. 

I rate The Legacy of Job's wife by Cynthia Koelker 4 out of 5 stars. I have reduced my score by one star because of many grammar errors. Although this is a fictional story, it is well-researched and provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of the people of the era in which the 'Book of Job' is set. It is an enjoyable story that educates the reader in a beautifully lyrical way.

I want to thank Cynthia Koelker for a copy of The Legacy of Job's Wife in exchange for my honest and impartial review. You can see more of my reviews here http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book review of Hemiphos by stefanie Jacob

Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacob begins at Edar Laxon's mansion in the Vosper Peninsular. It is a ruined castle perched on top of a hill. The elderly aristocrat who once lived there had vanished one night years before. None of the residents dare to go near it since the disappearance of John Hopper. They believe supernatural beings haunt the castle! Visitors to the town have often been curious enough to want to check out the castle themselves, but most of them never returned, and those that did had been driven insane! 

Three teenagers, Jason, Roxanne, and Pyrrhus, swim in a lake near the castle. Jason says that he has been inside the castle many times. The three have spent nearly all their time together since they were children, and Pyrrhus and Roxanne do not believe his boasts. They take up Jason's dare to enter the castle with him that evening. Do the teenagers make it out of the castle alive? What secrets do they uncover? Roxanne was told her father is dead, but she knows he is alive; what is the mystery surrounding him? Read Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacob to discover the answers to these and other questions.

There is absolutely nothing I disliked about Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacob. This book reminded me of being a child and devouring the stories written by the brothers, Grimm. It is a story that blends mystery, ghosts, and the supernatural seamlessly. There is a slow build-up, but Stefanie Jacob has written a powerful dark fairy tale that takes the reader on a magical journey introducing ghosts, spirits, and wolves with unique powers. Every chapter has some new element which kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. 

I recommend Hemiphos by Stefanie Jacobs to older teenagers and adults who enjoy fantasy fiction involving ghosts, mystery, and a sprinkling of romance; this enchanting book has many secrets to uncover. "For Christ's sake" and "Bollocks" are used, which makes the book inappropriate for a younger audience.

I want to give Hemiphos 4 out of 5 stars. The book has been translated into English perfectly, and I found no grammar or spelling errors. The cover art is beautiful and gave me a feel for the story before I even began to read it. The last chapter is excellent and left me wanting more. I am pleased that this is the first book in a trilogy.

 

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 - The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings

 

 

The sport of fly fishing is not necessarily the first hobby you would think of women doing, but The Reel Sisters, the debut novel by Michelle Cummings, is about five women who become firm friends through their shared love of fly fishing. Sophie has always fished in the pond at her childhood home but became fascinated with fly fishing after watching the film 'A River Runs Through It.' While shopping for fly fishing equipment, Sophie meets Rose, and they become firm friends, often taking breaks at the cabin Rose and her husband built beside the Arkansas river. Sophie meets Veronica on an airplane trip. The two sit together and start a conversation about fly fishing when Veronica sees Sophie put her fly rod in the overhead luggage storage. Sophie has a greenhouse and nursery business and meets Amanda when she takes her children to pick pumpkins and apples. Sophie tells Amanda about the children's gardening club. Amanda is a teacher of fifth-grade children and arranges a trip to Sophie's for the class. Along the way, Sophie mentions fly fishing and invites Amanda to join the friends at the cabin next time she goes.

The group meets at the cabin for a few days one spring. They happily fish and catch up when a naked girl screams for help. She has fallen into the rapids and is being dragged along. At this point, we are introduced to Melody, who becomes the group's final member. Why is she in the freezing water naked? Furthermore, how will this new, much younger member affect the dynamics of the group? The five women's careers, families, and other friendships are interwoven with their fly fishing group. Lots happen along the way, illness, death, and new relationships, but whatever happens, the women still keep in touch and meet up when they can. The Reel Sisters is beautifully written, and I am sure all readers will empathize with the girlfriends!

There is so much to love about this book, I was initially put off reading it as I had no clue about fly fishing and no interest in learning, but I was intrigued by the storyline of women finding long-term friendships through the sport. I loved reading about how the friends met and their blossoming friendships. I also found fly fishing much more interesting than I had thought, and I laughed at flies' ridiculous names. Michelle Cummings is a very talented writer, and I love her descriptions which are almost poetic at times, e.g. page ten, "Each spring, caddis flies by the thousands fill the air, as prevalent as dandelion tufts on a windy day." The last chapter has book club discussion questions which is a welcome addition. I loved that the book's last pages have helpful information for women interested in learning more about fly fishing. Including blogs run specifically for women wanting to learn more about the sport of fly fishing and addresses and websites of outfitters specializing in fly fishing gear for women. The author Michelle Cummings has thought of everything to help readers pursue the sport. Why don't more books have these finishing details?

I am sorry that I did not enjoy reading about all the creatures Sophie and her family hunted, especially as Sophie joined in from the age of nine.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. There are minor grammar errors but not enough to remove a star from this wonderfully uplifting book.

I recommend The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings to readers who enjoy friendship, loyalty, and self-discovery stories. The book has lots of humour and banter, so it is enjoyable. I think it would be of particular interest to anyone wanting to learn about a new sport. Although fly fishing is an integral part of the story, it is explained in a fun and user-friendly way. There is some swearing, so I do not think this book is appropriate for younger audiences.

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

Book Review - Predator/Nomad by Daniel Micko

Predator / Nomad by Daniel Micko revolves around two main characters; Princess Saleh, the twin sister of Prince Faruq, and a geneticist Dr. Jordan Roberts. The book starts with the inauguration ceremony for the Emir Prince Faruq bint Bandar al Saudi, who has now become the city's newly elected governor. At the reception, Dr. Roberts converses with someone she believes to be the Prince's bodyguard. Later that evening, she discovers that the bodyguard is Princess Saleh, the Prince's twin sister. Saleh and Jordan instantly feel a connection and begin a relationship. 

With Saleh's help, Dr. Roberts, a geneticist, attends a meeting with Prince Faruq, and she explains her new project involving genetic splicing, cell regeneration, and organ 3D printing. Dr. Roberts hopes to get funding for her new project and convinces the Prince to sponsor her research. In return, she promises to cure his subjects of all the diseases they are suffering from. Princess Saleh becomes suspicious when she discovers that one of Dr. Roberts's investors is a known terrorist. She contacts Interpol to try and find out who else is backing the Dr.'s work; when Princess Saleh discovers that Dr. Roberts is cloning people in a secret and highly guarded camp in the mountains in Afghanistan, she finds out that this is just the beginning!

I like Micko's excellent plot involving human cloning. He has done a great job of mixing the genres of science fiction and thriller, and I liked reading this book. I also enjoyed the subplots woven into the story. For example, Prince Faruq is a notorious playboy, but he needs to find a wife of which his family and country will approve, and when Princess Saleh is not spying on Dr. Roberts, she is trying to make her brother toe the line.

However, there are spelling and grammar mistakes. I was particularly aghast that the title on the title page was misspelled! It is a great shame that the editing and proofreading have let Predator/Nomad by Daniel Micko down so badly! I also did not like the overuse of the word 'giggle,' which is used forty-four times in the book; I feel there are other words that could have been used. I did not particularly appreciate how Dr. Roberts and Princess Saleh had a sexual relationship so quickly; it felt like the author needed to somehow put a lesbian angle in. However, once it happened, that relationship was almost forgotten. It felt to me as if Micko might as well not have bothered with the relationship, as this added very little to the story. I also felt some conversations were unnecessarily wordy and detracted from the story.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. Predator/Nomad has an exciting storyline, but it is badly let down by the editing, and the misspelling of the title is unforgivable! Also it is not a book I would choose to read again.

Some of the topics in this book are very scientific and weighty, but Micko has written them in simple language, which makes the story easy to understand. There is no need for the reader to have a scientific background. The book contains swearing, so I recommend it to older teenagers and adults who enjoy the genres of crime, thrillers, science fiction, and anything with a science-related plot.

 

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

Book Review - Three loves and other stories by Lata Gullapalli

 

 

A few years ago, Lata Gullapalli was asked by a friend to write some stories for a book he was publishing. Her stories got such great reviews that she was inspired to write Three loves and other stories. This book contains 'nine' intimate and compelling novellas exploring the pressures Indian women have regarding marriage and family life. Although the stories revolve around Indian culture, these are stories that all cultures can relate to in some way. Each story has a different theme ranging from love to bullying, parenting to long-distance relationships. Each theme is sensitively and compellingly written. The story I liked best was called "Growing Up", about the struggles the older children in a family have when their parents expect them to be more adult than their siblings.

I love the lyrical way that Lata Gullpalli expresses herself. She uses similes to significant effect. For example, on page twenty-two, when Sia explains what it is like to be in an abusive relationship, "It felt like the woodcutters axe heaving blows on the strong trunk again and again, with force and the chips were flying, weakening the tree all the time." Gullpalli uses vivid descriptions of the people and places, and they instantly become real, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I think these are stories that the reader will remember for a long time after they are read.

 

I like that the novellas in Three loves and other stories by Lata Gullpalli are written in such a way that they stay true to their Indian roots, but there are so many errors in grammar and spelling, often several on a page. It shows that this is a self-published book, and the lack of proofreading and editing is so apparent that it impedes the flow of the stories and lets the book down! It was also strange that all the stories had titles except the sixth one. I presume this is an error! 

I want to give this book 3 out of 5 stars as there were grammatical errors on most pages. I was disappointed not to be able to give the top rating as I thoroughly enjoyed the novellas and hope that Lata Gullapalli publishes more books that I could enjoy.

I would recommend Three loves and other stories to anyone who likes short stories, particularly readers who want to know a little more about Indian culture. There is no swearing, but sex is touched upon, so I would suggest it is aimed at an adult audience.

 

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

Book Review - Zona: The Forbidden Land by Fred G Baker

 

Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is written in three parts. The first part introduces Grant Taylor, a 32-year-old single man who works part-time at the University of Chicago and conducts paleogeography research. It is 2015, and Grant has just arrived in Russia. His scientist Uncle, an explorer, whom Grant was close to, disappeared a year ago while on an expedition to an area usually off-limits and has been pronounced dead.

Grant has inherited his Uncle Randall's house, wealth, and belongings.      While sorting these out, Grant finds secret hiding places containing an envelope full of money, several unique keys, a loaded gun, and ammunition. Furthermore, a letter in a bank safe deposit box is only marked for Grant's eyes, highlighting Randall's enormous concerns about the trip. Why did Randall have a loaded gun? Moreover, what do the keys open? The book's second part describes Grant taking part in a further expedition to Zona, and the third part takes us to the heart of the Camp at Zona itself. Along the way, Grant meets many intriguing characters. Grant puts himself in danger to discover what happened to his beloved Uncle Randall. Is Randall dead, or is he very much alive?

There is so much that I love about this book. Fred G. Baker is a very talented author who thinks of
everything to give readers the best possible experience from his book. I found it very useful that at the front of the book are maps of traveling to Zona and a map of Zona itself together with a diagram of the campsite. These are handy additions and helped me to follow the story better. I enjoyed Baker's similes in this book. For example, on page fifty-four, "I felt like a peanut in a vise, and the squeezing was just going to get worse." I enjoyed learning about all the characters who come to life on the page, in particular Boris Ustinov, Randall's Lawyer, who had much more than a passing interest in Randall's expedition to Zona. Trina Ustinov, a niece of Boris, is a beautiful legal aid trained in science and law. Grant starts a relationship with her but still does not feel she is to be trusted, and Captain Oleg Godunov, a fellow scientist, warns Grant that there is more to his Uncle's disappearance than is being told!

I did not find a single part of the book which I did not enjoy. Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker is a fantastic story that is well edited, I did not find a single mistake in spelling or grammar.

I want to rate Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker 5 out of 5 stars. It is a fantastic and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books involving science fiction, mystery, romance, adventure, and intrigue, as Zona: the Forbidden Land by Fred G. Baker has all of these in spades. There is a reasonable amount of strong swear words, so I would suggest it is aimed at an adult audience.

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

Book Review - Killer, Killer, Killer and The Drug Exchange Dealer by Charles A. Jackson

 

Killer, Killer, Killer and the Drug Exchange Dealer by Charles A. Jackson tells the story of Anthony, a black man in his forties living in North Carolina. Anthony's life revolves around drugs. When he was young, he felt life was dull and saw the drug life as exciting. In the beginning, it was almost a game to him. He believes most people either take drugs or sell them. Anthony even sees his father as a legal drug dealer; for example, on page one, "The daddy also sold drugs but the difference was he had license to sell alcoholic drugs." Then one day, Anthony is watching the television when the newsreader reports that an African American male in his forties identified by his friends as Fungi has been murdered in a motel. 

Fungi and Anthony worked in the drug dealing world together. Anthony is still a young man, but he is also a drug user and a drug dealer. He is caught up in a vicious circle that he has to break to save his and his family's lives!

The only thing I liked about this book was the cover picture, which sadly does not seem to have anything to do with the story! The idea of a man deeply embroiled in drug addiction and selling but desperately wanting to break these chains could have been a great story. However, Killer, Killer, Killer, and the Drug Exchange Dealer is dreadful and reads as if a schoolboy has written it; for example page nine, "Jerome decided to have an age seventeen birthday party. During them days, the drinking age in the State of North Carolina was sixteen years of age." I did not particularly appreciate all the mindless conversation, which made this book dreadfully dull. There is a chapter where Anthony cleans himself up and joins the army, but we learn nothing about his army life, just that he spends most of his spare time in his room with different women drinking and taking drugs. Every paragraph of this chapter is virtually the same, with just a different woman's name in it. Writing in this way is unbelievably lazy.

When writing a story about drugs, it must be believable and exciting. I do not believe that a few days after Fungi is murdered, Anthony not only goes to a football match but also takes along his young daughter Keke. Fungi has been murdered, and there is a good chance that someone will be out to get Anthony, too, so going to a football match with his child makes no sense!
Nearly every page has spelling and grammar errors, and this book needs to be edited and proofread properly. Due to the mistakes, the lack of structure, and the difficulty I had reading this book because of how it is written, I would like to give Killer, Killer, Killer and the Drug Exchange Dealer 0 out of 5 stars

I do not recommend this book because the conversations lack structure, and the characters are never fully developed. The writing style of Killer, Killer, Killer, and the Drug Exchange Dealer is very chaotic, and much of the conversation does not make sense. I presume the author is trying to get the reader to understand how people talk in North Carolina, but it just comes across as childish! 

Thank you to Charles A. Jackson 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 - Blanket Immunity by Adam Van Susteren

 

 

Blanket Immunity by Adam Van Susteren begins by introducing us to Joanna 'Jo' Channing, who, after several years as a Deputy District Attorney, has run for Judge with financial help from her parents. When she is not appointed, she quits her job and sets up on her own as a Criminal Defense Lawyer. Today is her first day, and she wonders how to attract clients when there is a knock on her office door, and Brad Gecina becomes her first client. Brad, a policeman, has been suspended because a woman claims he stalked and raped her. When Jo looks into all the evidence, it seems that the rape victim is lying. Brad pushes for blanket immunity, which will protect him from future prosecution for crimes related to his testimony. When Jo achieves this by pulling strings, she thinks that is the end of the case.

Jo gains her second client when she visits Tai Nguyen for a lawyer friend. Tai is a small-time drug dealer arrested for possession with intent to distribute. Tai needs Jo's help to pass a message to Marcos Omar; he is worried that he will be killed if Omar does not get the message. When Jo gets in touch with Omar, he becomes Jo's third client. Along the way, Jo meets Dzuy Gong, a character who seems too good to be true. Within minutes of the meeting, Dzuy has offered to go with Jo to a family dinner to diffuse the tension between Jo and her younger sister Jami. Dzuy is pulled into a desperate situation with Jo, Omar, and Brad. Someone has been lying! Who? How far will Jo go to make amends?

Van Susteren's characters in Blanket Immunity are so well described that you can picture them while reading the book. I enjoyed how Van Susteren showed so many sides to the characters. Jo is a strong, independent woman but shows her soft side when interacting with her family and Dzuy. I loved how Jo struggles between helping her cash-strapped parents out, e.g., on page twenty-three, "She dreamed about helping her parents and paying off her campaign debt." and keeping her professional and moral integrity even when offered more money than she can imagine. I enjoyed how the characters jelled with one another, and their interactions felt right. I felt throughout Blanket Immunity that Adam Van Susteren had either been in the law profession at one time or had thoroughly researched the subject. It could have been a very heavy-going book, but the author writes in such a way that I felt the subject was well explained without any unnecessary detail.

I was not impressed when I came to page one hundred and seventeen, which had a whole conversation in Spanish, I had no idea what the conversation was about, and this spoilt the flow of the story. I also found many grammar errors, e.g., on page one hundred and twenty-one, "Aaron starting writing on his pad." I did not feel that this was professionally proofread or edited.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I have taken one star off for the grammatical errors and the Spanish conversation, which I felt was unnecessary to the story as it was neither translated nor explained. Hence, it meant nothing to the reader. I was disappointed I had to reduce a star as this book is fast-paced and enjoyable. It is a book you can lose yourself in, an actual page-turner!

I would recommend Blanket Immunity to anyone who enjoys a gripping legal thriller with several stories running alongside one another. I would only recommend this to an adult audience as it has rape, murder, and drug-taking scenes.

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

Book Review - We are Voulhire : A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz is an exciting fantasy story. The author starts by setting the scene and tells us that the King of Voulhire has four sons. As the boys grow older, the King realises they are competing with one another in anticipation of the future and claiming the throne for themselves. To diffuse the situation, the King bestows a gift of an island to each son and all the money they will ever need. Unfortunately, this plan does not work, and a controversial civil war leads to a precarious truce.

Matthew Tysz does a brilliant job of creating different characters who are very well described so I could picture them in the story. Nearly all of the characters have magical power; e.g. page seventy, "Some schools of magic teach their students to dance to become in tune with their abilities, and they go on dancing in all practices of magic."

The main character in this story is Galen Bray, a young man who has grown up on one of the war-torn islands. His Uncle, a Master Blacksmith on Voulhire, fell out with his family years before. When he realises he does not have long to live, he tracks down Galen and sends money for him to travel to Voulhire and begin a new life. The story is mainly told through the eyes of Galen and his new friend Rowan who is the executor of his Uncle's will. We see Galen's disappointment when he arrives in Voulhire to find his Uncle has died. We see how Galen's character grows in confidence as he becomes immersed in his attempts to bring prosperity to the town, pursuing his aspirations to learn the blacksmith's trade and take over his Uncle's blacksmith in Voulhire. Always lurking in the background is Meldorath, a powerful and greatly feared wizard. Matthew Tysz cleverly uses the characters to help you visualise the geography, context, and politics of Voulhire.

I was fascinated by the adventures in this book. It is a well-written and well-thought-out entrance into the new and mystical land of Voulhire. Many characters have fantastic and magical powers, which intrigue the character development and storylines. It is a complex but exciting tale which draws you in and ends on a cliffhanger, hungry for more.

I was not too fond of how the book jumped between different characters and storylines. This made the story very disjointed and confusing in places. The reader needs to stick with the book to discover how everything marries towards the end and the links between the different characters and plots. I felt this should have happened far earlier in the novel, as not every reader is prepared to wait that long.

My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars. This is a fantastic book but confused and disjointed in areas. 

Anyone interested in Fantasy and Magic would enjoy this book. There is a lot of swearing in the book and sexual references, so I suggest older teenagers and adult readers.

 

Thank you toMatthew Tysz for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

 

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.

Audible Review - Looking Glass Friends by E L Neve

 

This review is of the Audible book version of Looking Glass Friends by E.L. Neve, a slow-burning romance between two married people, Neil and Ellie. Who bond over a book when they meet at a bakery. They have an online relationship by writing to each other through emails. Eventually, the relationship moves on to talking on the telephone. The book is multi-dimensional, and we get the growing relationship between Neil and Ellie but also see the effect of their relationship on their families. Ellie has a husband called Jake and a son, Johnny, and Neil has a wife, Fay. Both marriages have relationship problems that leave an emptiness in Ellie and Neil's lives, allowing their love for each other to grow and blossom.

I would not usually listen to romances, but the way the characters interact is very different from books I have read. I found the way the book is written challenging to get into to begin with, but I ended up loving this audible book. There is plodding progress where Ellie and Neil grow from being strangers, then friends to falling in love. At the same time,  I liked how I could see this effect on their failing relationships with Fay and Jake. All the characters in this book have lovely, uncomplicated personalities. Although this was a love story, I liked that it did not revolve totally around Ellie and Neil. Their families were equally important. This novel gives all sides of every relationship in the story and builds an excellent picture for the listener. I felt I experienced all of the characters' emotions even when I disagreed with what they were doing.

The build-up to the romance between Neil and Ellie is a slow burn, and I did find myself wishing the relationship would progress more quickly as there are times when the book can feel very slow. The story explains how Jake treats Ellie and how she feels about her marriage, her husband, and her relationship with her son. It equally told me about Fay and Neil's home life, and I could see how their marriage was going and where it was failing. I liked how the narrator, B. J. Harrison, read the book. His voice was very listenable.

I rate Looking Glass Friends by E.L. Neve 4 out of 5 stars. It is a compelling story, and I enjoyed listening to it. I marked it down because of the areas where the story plods.

I recommend Looking Glass Friends to adults who enjoy romantic books, especially ones which build up slowly.

Thank you to E L Neve 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.