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Featuring … Newly Published Author Colin Browne, With His Debut Novel ‘The Baggage Handler’

January 23, 2012 By 6 Comments

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I was first introduced to author Colin Browne, after he contacted me to enquire whether I would be prepared to read and give my thoughts about his new, debut novel, The Baggage Handler

He had apparently come across Fiction Books, when reading reviews that had been posted here, about his fellow author Nadine Rose Larter’s debut novel,  ‘Coffee At Little Angels’.

Colin sold the concept of the book to me, as that of a ‘romantic comedy’ with a twist, it had been written from a man’s perspective … That idea intrigued me no end, and as I am certainly not averse to a light and easy to read interlude, here we are ….

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First lets find out a bit more about the book itself …

Available From Amazon

Martin White, editor of The Shallow Review of Books, likes his life as he likes his work: shallow. Living in purposeful near-isolation in the middle of a crowded city, he keeps his relationships superficial and his life uncomplicated. His deliberate avoidance of social potholes prompts his colleagues to turn to him for assistance handling their own life and relationship baggage, which only strengthens his resolve never to allow any of it into his life. He’s pretty happy, albeit hollow and empty.

But then Kasia turns up. Young, Polish, focused on minding her own business, she neither invites, nor encourages Martin’s flailing attempts at romance, but he can’t help himself. For reasons that defy logic for an isolationist such as he, he falls for her, hard. Years of handling baggage have done nothing to equip him to handle his own however as he realizes with excruciating displays of ineptitude, again and again. He’s way out of his depth …

Faced with a challenge by Rich, his more socially adept colleague, to ask Kasia out within a week or Rich will, Martin has no option but to open the doors to all the complexity of modern life and relationships as he re-emerges from the shadows.

A twisted romantic comedy, written from the male perspective, The Baggage Handler is an acknowledgement that if you’re going to be serious about it, this love stuff is hard.

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… And now, something about the author

Colin Browne, has lived and worked in several countries, including Belgium, Dubai and South Africa, however he has returned to his birthplace of England, where these days, he calls London his home.

Colin’s early career was in business-to-business magazines, writing articles which  took  him on his worldwide travels.

Latterly, he has become involved in the conception and and start-up of a successful sales resource company, ‘SALESGURU’, in South Africa, which he has now left in the safe hands of his two partners and which continues to flourish and develop.

Today, Colin is still very much in the thrall of corporate culture and it is this energy which drives him to speak on the subject at almost every given opportunity, where he enjoys sharing the hard fought lessons he has learned over the years, with his audience.

He is now making time to indulge in his love of writing, which has been a big part of his life for many years, although this has yet to bring him recognition as a published author.

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I suspect that is all about to change, with the long awaited publication of his first novel ‘The Baggage Handler’. Colin bills this as a romantic comedy with the twist that it has been written from the male perspective.

In itself, this is surprisingly not a rare phenomenon, as there are more male authors out there, writing in the romance genre, than anyone would have guessed at. The difference lies in the fact that the majority of male writers in this genre, are writing under female pseudonyms, whereas Colin has had the courage of his convictions and published under his own name.

I am sure that many male authors, writing under a female alias, would have much preferred to be recognised and received credit for their work, as themselves, and in many cases that I am aware of, it was purely a publishers directive, which brought about the ensuing subterfuge. However, with access to todays increasingly easy to use, self publishing sites, many, if not all of those decisions are very much down to the individual authors discretion.

Colin is very down to earth and circumspect about his writing career and has written a brilliant post on his blog, about ‘Putting The Emphasis Back On Creating, Where It Belongs ..’

I haven’t yet started to read ‘The Baggage Handler’, however the PDF is sat there just looking at me, so I am sure it won’t be long before I am part of this somewhat quirky synopsis.

I wonder what the male equivalent of ‘chick-lit’ is?

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Filed Under: New Authors, New Titles Tagged With: , ,

Spotlight On YA / Fantasy Author, Richard Due

December 8, 2011 By 10 Comments
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Here at Fiction Books, we would like to introduce you to Richard Due, a brand new voice in the world of the Young Adult Fantasy Adventure genre.
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Richard brings to us in his debut novel ‘The Moon Coin’, the start of a great new series of adventures, (nine in total -  “Nine Moons Make A Realm”), which will collectively be known as,  ‘The Moon Realm’. This epic tale of fantasy is sure to delight and engage children and young adults of middle grade years, and with three more episodes of the series already well underway, you won’t have to wait too long for the adventure to continue …
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‘THE MOON COIN’
synopsis taken from Amazon.co.uk
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“For Lily and Jasper Winter, the Moon Realm began with a single secret bedtime tale. As the children grew older, Uncle Ebb enthralled them with thrilling tales of the Dragondain riding horse-sized, catlike Rinn; mysterious tales of peerin-wielding lunamancers manipulating the magic that lies just beneath the surface of reality; exciting tales of flying dragons, swimming merfolk, stomping giants, and troublesome faeries. But as the magic of their childhood faded, so too did the tales. Eventually, they were just . . . good stories.

Or were they?

Now, nine years after it all began, Uncle Ebb is missing.

Lily and Jasper search for clues, but their uncle’s mansion is full of distractions. A Tesla generator thrums in the basement. Prismatic electrimals flit around walls resembling underwater reefs. Then a most unexpected friend comes to their aid, leading them to a hidden room where they find a mysterious coin—the moon coin. Before the night is out, Lily is transported to the real Moon Realm. But the moons are in trouble. The Rinn of Barreth are under siege, and the lunamancers of Dain are beset by the very dragons they once loved. Most horrifying of all, the moon Darwyth has fallen to a villain named Wrengfoul, whose creeping evil now threatens to overshadow all the Realm.

Are Lily and Jasper too late to save the Moon Realm, or will they have enough time to write an ending of their own?”

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ABOUT RICHARD DUE

Richard knew from an early age that he enjoyed story-telling, although ‘The Moon Coin’ did not come easily and with some major reworking of the storyline necessary before Richard was happy with the adventure and its outcome, some six years had past from inception to publication.

Following some difficult encounters with various publishers and editors, Richard took the brave step of setting up his own small press and self publishing ‘The Moon Coin’ as an ebook. He now has the distinction of being the founder of ‘Gibbering Gnome Press’, a division of Ingenius Inventions Run Amok, Ink. (I love the name ‘Gibbering Gnome’, I must remember to ask Richard how he thought that one up!).

Richard currently hails from Southern Maryland, a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, where he is also the co-owner of  ‘Second Looks Books’.

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I feel that there also needs to be some mention of the fantastic cover art and the twenty or so illustrations which adorn the pages of the book. The images on my kindle are small and in black and white, but even so, they scream quality and have been executed by an artist with a fantastic eye for mood and innovation. These are the concept of  illustrator Carolyn Arcabascio, who hails from Massachusetts. Carolyn’s portfolio is quite extensive and impressive and covers a wide range of applications, from children’s illustrations, through to the more formal illustrations of the commercial and academic world.

To get ‘close up and personal’ with just a small selection of the fantastic illustrations in ‘The Moon Coin’ and to find out more about the working relationship between illustrator and author, click here.

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Richard has gifted me a copy of ‘The Moon Coin’ for my kindle, in exchange for me reading and sharing my thoughts about this magical adventure and which, I am sure for Richard, has now become something of a ‘labour of love’.

The fact that my copy was gifted, has not influenced, nor in any way will influence in the future, any comments I may  express about the book, in any blog article I may post. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article.

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I know that I am still in the midst of reading the first installment of this epic adventure … but no-one is too old for this fantastic journey, in my opinion.

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Filed Under: New Authors, New Titles Tagged With: , , ,

Spotlight On …. Leigh Fallon

October 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The new writing talent, that is Leigh Fallon, came to my attention following a blog hop visit to JoAnne, over at ‘The Fairytale Nerd’, where she featured Leigh and her book ‘Carrier Of The Mark’, as part of her regular meme ‘Teaser Tuesday‘.

I have to admit, that as ‘Carrier Of The Mark’ has been allocated to the genre of Paranormal Romance, it was not at first glance a book that I would want to rush out and read, as this is a genre which I have read only sparingly and know little about.

The cover art, on the other hand, fascinated and beguiled me with its strength and beauty, hence it was featured as my contribution for the meme ‘Cover Art Weekend Blog Hop’.

Leigh describes her cover as: “The blue dress wearing, red haired vixen.”

Whilst adding a brief synopsis to give the post added interest, I found myself wanting to know more about both book and author, hence Leigh Fallon finds herself featured by Fiction Books, as an author on the ascent and ‘The Carrier Of The Mark’ is heading onto my reading list.

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Synopsis

Available From Amazon

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place.

She makes close friends with the girls in her class, her relationship with her dad is better than ever, and she finds herself inexplicably drawn to gorgeous, mysterious Adam DeRis.

Adam is cold and aloof at first, but when Megan finally breaks down the icy barrier between them, she is amazed by the intensity of their connection.

Then Adam reveals a secret about the magical destiny that will shape both of their lives but also threatens to tear them apart…

 

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Spotlight On Leigh Fallon

Leigh Fallon, although born in Durban, South Africa, was raised from an early age, in Dublin, Ireland.

Growing up in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, acquiring an Irish Brogue and attending a convent school, was however not nearly romantic enough for Leigh, who often fantasized about what life in South Africa could have been like, exotic accent included.

When she married, her sailor husband whisked her off to Cork, in the South of Ireland.

From there she had plenty of travel experience, although only around Europe, as she carried out her various working duties in the finance sector.

She was able to focus on her new found passion for writing, when she gave up work to raise her family, only to be whisked away again, only this time somewhere much more exotic…

The couple and their four children now live in Massachusetts USA, where, what is now her career change to aspiring author, is gathering pace.

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Leigh is currently working on the next chapter in the ‘Carrier’ series and has a great blog where she regales all the tribulations and triumphs of getting ‘The Carrier Of The Mark’ to market. So why not stop by and meet her, and maybe leave her a word or two of encouragement.

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Filed Under: New Authors Tagged With: , ,

My Thoughts About …. ‘Coffee At Little Angels’ by Nadine Rose Larter

August 9, 2011 By 4 Comments

 

Synopsis From The Author Site

Phillip, Sarah, Kaitlyn, Caleb, Maxine, Grant, Melanie and Josh grew up  in a small town where they spent their high school years together as an inseparable clique. But high school has ended, and they are all living their own “grown up” lives, each under the impression that their group has basically come to an end. When Phillip dies in a hit and run accident, Kaitlyn summons the others to all come back home, forcing a reunion that no one is particularly interested in partaking in.

Coffee at Little Angels follows how each character deals with the death of a childhood friend while at the same time dealing with their own ignored demons after years of separation. Events unfold as the group tries to rekindle the friendship they once shared to honour the memory of a friend they will never see again.

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About The Author

Nadine grew up in the tiny town of Molteno which is nestled between a couple of mountains in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, but she currently lives in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth with her son, her fiance and two step children.

While she knows she should technically get a “real” job, she can’t imagine being happy doing anything but playing with new characters and creating lives for them.

Her favorite things include friendship, reading, blogging, photography, ballroom dancing, long debates on all kinds of subjects, cupcakes, cookie dough and open fires.

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“Nadine Says“

“I always find it unnervingly odd to write about myself. Simply saying “Erm….i’m just…me…”  seems a bit of a cop out so I am going to actually attempt to do myself a bit of justice here.

First of all I come from the best country in the world! South Africa. We have mostly sunny skies, gorgeous beaches, biltong, boerewors, Ouma Rusks, craploads of culture everywhere and Casper De Vries. These are things I cannot live without. My mom’s an American but as much as I love being a bit of a half-breed, South Africa will always be my home and I will love and defend her forever.

All my life I have wanted to be a writer. I’ve always had a bit of a love-affair with words and the obsession has grown drastically over the years. This blog is pretty much a testament to that fact.  I used to write poems and stories all the time as a kid and I plan to continue for a  long time. It’s only recently that I’ve become brazen enough to actually call myself a writer. I’ve always been pretty shy about it. I guess with age comes the bravery we need to actually be true to the things that we love.”

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Nadine On ‘Coffee At Little Angels’

I always find it kind of hard to answer when people ask me what Coffee at Little Angels is about. Quite simply it’s about death, but of course it’s a little more complicated than that.

This book is by no means an intricate novel. It is very basic and straightforward in every way. I sat down to write and this is what came out, with no particular forethought or storyline in mind. I think if I have to take a guess at what it is about it probably has a lot to do with how our childhoods shape our lives indefinitely, and how the experiences and relationships we cultivate as children leave an un-erasable footprint on our cores.

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My Thoughts About The Book

If there was a prize for enthusiasm, then Nadine would win hands down. She actively participates in email exchanges, twitter and blog conversations, together with regular updates on her own blog.

‘Coffee At Little Angels’ has obviously been a labour of love for her, which came across from the instant I started reading. It quickly became apparent, that it all comes straight from the heart!

The book is divided, not into chapters, but into short thought passages and conversational interludes, always told in the first person. At first, this was a little disconcerting, as characters were coming, passing on their transient thoughts, then disappearing, to be replaced by someone else. It didn’t take long to get used to the style though and I found that it always kept the content fresh and up to date and I always knew what any individual character was thinking or doing.

The characters are all rich in detail and the entire book has such an easy conversational quality, with real issues being mentioned and talked about without constraint, that you could be eavesdropping on a group at a party, in a bar, or indeed, in a coffee shop.

The first chapter captured me in an emotional stranglehold and I could have listened to Phillip speak for much longer. He is such a shrewd and complex character, who makes some fantastic observational and interesting comments about small town life and mid-life crises, in relation to life and death, about which he is very pragmatic, until it happens to him!!!!

Phillip’s death forces upon the remaining members of the group, a reunion that most of them do not relish and a return to their hometown, that they are not looking forward to.

They do say that weddings and funerals bring out the best and worst in people, and nowhere is this better illustrated, than in the tales that Nadine weaves around this group of disparate people, desperately fighting to leave their small-town images behind them and to prove to their peers that they have succeeded in doing so.

The consequences of the group struggling to find their voices in a much wider society, have meant some startling revelations, when true feelings are eventually revealed.

Some have been able to reveal their ‘true selves’ and are living a full life, that would have remained locked inside them, had they stayed in this narrow minded community full of racial and sexual bigotry. Those individuals however, are reluctant to confide in the rest of the group, almost afraid of the retribution they fear may follow such disclosures

Others have seen the road to success, as needing to acquire possessions and not just the material kind!

Those who have chosen to remain within the confining environs of their small-town upbringing, are perhaps the most troubled and seem to have the most to prove, both to themselves and the others. Letting go of something they have already lost, is not an option and accepting death as the ultimate leveller and a time to confront their demons, is the most difficult of choices.

Theses varying characteristics are so well defined by Nadine, that you can almost read their thoughts and know their next move.

I don’t know where I have heard this saying, but it came to mind and seemed so apt:

“You can take the people out of the small town, but you can’t take the small town out of the people”

The atmosphere at their first meeting, is as expected, awkward and constrained, as each of the former friends have come to the gathering with their own secrets, desires, memories, jealousies and prejudices.

It is like the meeting of strangers, newly introduced at a party, weighing each other up emotionally, but in reality only papering over the cracks from long ago friendships and relationships, which have foundered and broken apart over the intervening years.

Nadine managed to take me right into the psyche of the characters, as the forced reunion brings them to the very brink, before differences are aired, they can collectively admit their failings as individuals and move forwards into a situation which may, or may not, see them reunited in a new more understanding and tolerant bond of friendship.

Overall, this is a very poignant and touching read, which somehow spoke directly to me, and then left me slightly emotionally drained, but glad to have been able to ‘listen in’ on the conversation.

The last page did have me wondering however …. Did she, or didn’t she? …. Accident, or not?

Intrigued? You will have to read it for yourself then, won’t you?

A well deserved 4 out of 5 for this debut novel

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This book was a review copy, sent to me by the author, Nadine Rose Larter and as such, was free of charge.

This in no way influenced any comments I may have expressed about the book, in any review I may have compiled. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this review.

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‘Coffee At Little Angels’, is a self-published book, which can be purchased by clicking here.

Nadine On Self-Publishing

“I chose to self publish simply because it feels like taking my future into my own hands and running with it. There are no excuses when it is just you. The self-accountability can be thrilling sometimes. Being ready and then actually being able to move forward instead of waiting to hear from publishers has been a special kind of blessing. I am not closed to the idea of having a publisher, I am just ready to go on without one for now.”

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Filed Under: New Authors, Reviews Tagged With: , ,

New Children’s Writer Miranda Newboult

July 17, 2011 By 9 Comments

 

I first discovered this author through her publishing company Tannbourne Ltd., who are themselves a small fledgling company, who have Miranda Newboult as their first published author.

Miranda is an author of childrens books and her first novel is ‘Emma’s Stormy Summer’.

I have been invited to read and review this book, by Tannbourne Ltd. and although well past childhood myself, I am really looking forward to seeing how writing for our youngsters has moved on over the years.

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Synopsis

This Title Is Available From Amazon

“Dad thinks I’m a nuisance” It may be sunny but Emma’s perfect world seems to be unravelling in front of her.

First her friend Becca started being horrible to EVERYONE and now Daddy is ignoring her and acting weird.

Emma can’t help but worry that it is all her fault and as the storm clouds gather over her Dad she feels more and more guilty and responsible.

If only she could get everything back to normal. This summer she realises that growing up can be a rollercoaster and maybe, just maybe, she should relax and enjoy the ride.

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About Miranda Newboult

This Photo From The Author Page Amazon.co.uk

Miranda Newboult grew up in East Sussex and now lives five miles from where she was born. She spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book but did manage to find time to go to school at Roedean and then do a degree in English and Related Literature at York University. She now works for Canterbury Christ Church University as a Consultant in Leadership and Management Development and spends the rest of her time looking after her young family and an ever-increasing number of animals. Emma’s Stormy Summer is Miranda’s first novel.

Miranda says:

“When I was growing up I read books all the time but never dreamed I would write one myself. Books were my escape rather than my reality. I was a child who enjoyed school and my most inspirational teachers were those that taught English and shared my passion for people who existed both on paper and in the imagination.

I am not a fussy reader, many different genres catch my attention, and when I start a book, I always finish it, totally immersed in the story. When I started to write, I experienced something similar. I was nagged and harassed by the story, only finding peace once I had committed the words to paper – I was being pestered to tell the tale. I hope I continue to be for a long time.”

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

I wish Miranda every success with her writing career, as I passionately believe in anything or anyone, who can capture our childrens attention and encourage them to read.

Filed Under: New Authors Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘The Hambledown Dream’ by Dean Mayes

May 15, 2011 By 9 Comments

Synopsis, taken from the author’s website:

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This Title Is Available From Amazon

Australian, Denny Banister had the world at his feet; a successful career, a passion for the guitar and he is in love with Sonya – his best friend and soul mate.
Tragically, Denny is struck down with inoperable cancer & he is destined to die.
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Meanwhile, Andy DeVries has almost nothing; he is alienated from his family, he moves through a dangerous Chicago underworld dealing in drugs, battling addiction & now he’s gone and overdosed – jeopardizing the only thing that matters to him; a place at a prestigious Conservatory for classical guitar.
Having been snatched from the abyss Andy recovers, but he is plagued by dreams – memories of a love he has never felt, and a life he’s never lived. Driven by the need for redemption and by the love for a woman he’s never met, Andy begins a quest to find her, knowing her only by the memories of a stranger and the dreams of a place called Hambledown…
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About The Author:

Dean Mayes, hails from Victoria, Australia, although these days he lives in Adelaide, with his partner and family.
From an early age, Dean was fascinated by the creativity of the written word and can trace his interest, in the main, to the influence of George Lucas and his Star Wars movies.
His future career took him in a completely different direction, as a Paediatric ICU Nurse, but his ambition and dream, to write and have published a novel, has never been far below the surface.
Ideas of a great political/thriller blockbuster had been in the forefront of his  mind for several years, but by 2009, a completely new idea for a storyline stated to take shape … and so was born the concept of a paranormal romance, that was later to become ‘The Hambledown Dream’.

“My five stages of man – maturing from youth, the quest for identity, identity challenged relationships and the dignity of relevance – provide for me a contextual basis from which I can understand myself and how I fit. Though I find myself in the third stage of this journey, I feel a sense if peace in knowing that I can face my own continuing journey with a direction inspired by continuing self reflection…”

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My Thoughts About The Book:

Before I set down my thoughts about this fantastic book, let me just say that I love the way that Dean introduces the idea of a story and it’s characters to an audience, through the medium of his blog.

He basically seems to set down his thoughts and ideas, in a short story form of installments, building on it weekly, until the novel has taken shape. The comments and words of encouragement he receives almost appear to help mould the finished storyline, even down to the final book title.

Dean is at present, potentially working on his second novel, with a work-in-progress title of  ‘Gifts Of the Peramangk’. Why not visit his site sometime and maybe leave a comment of encouragement, together with your thoughts on his progress!

As for ‘The Hambledown Dream’ …. I loved it from the first page to the last!

When Dean first contacted me, requesting that I read and review ‘The Hambledown Dream’, I was at first flattered and pleased, then, after checking out the synopsis, a little sceptical and dubious, as for me, the notion of reading a paranormal romance, took me right out of my comfort zone, into an unknown genre.

I need not have worried … This debut novel of the genre for me, was a great initiation and something to be enjoyed. The only caveat that I would highlight, would be the explicit sex scenes and violence at the start of the book, which although totally in context wth the story, may offend some readers.

The book is described as a contemporary paranormal romance, but for me it was so much more. There was a hint of the supernatural, both physical and emotional transformation, and the obvious question of the notion of reincarnation.

Reincarnation, (derived from the Latin, literally meaning, “entering the flesh again”), is not something that I have a great belief in, but this book does pose the question to me, of how a body is selected to be the recipient of a departed soul or spirit.

In the ‘Hambledown Dream’, could it be simply that Andy had died on the ER table and the transformation took place purely randomly at the time of his resuscitation, was it a similarity in the ages of the two young men, because of their shared talents and love of music, the rescue and redemption of Andy’s tortured soul and body, or to guide Andy back to Sonya simply for Denny’s own gratification??

I’m sure that there will be  a whole raft of differing opinion about the subject, so let’s just accept ‘The Hambledown Dream’ for what it is … A story of sex, sleeze, drugs and a life on the path to self-destruction; transforming itself into a story of love, passion, new beginnings, two lost souls reaching out for each other and a love so strong that even death cannot stop it.

The characters all have great definition, depth and presence, to the point where you can almost see them and feel their emotions throughout the entire story. The spiritual powers of emotion and music lay the senses bare and the mind a blank page, ready to write a whole new chapter.

The first part of the story, is fast paced and action packed, with emotions running so high in the sleezy underworld of Chicago, that the tension is palpable to the reader. You almost think that sooner or later, you will be left to pick up the pieces of a shattered life and are looking sneakily forwards to the next page, just to see if there is any more danger that one person can attract.

The underlying reasons for this life of self-mutilation and debauchery, start to become apparent, as the story of Andy’s childhood and early years begins to unravel little by little, leaving the reader with a sense of sadness at a life wasted for the want of a small show of affection and encouragement, from those he held in the greatest of esteem.

Andy’s subsequent transformation and the remainder of the story, takes on a whole new meaning, as he comes to terms with how his life might have been, if he had lived in someone else’s shoes and how that change may still be brought about, if he is only willing to open his mind to the possibilities of a life without hate and self loathing; to embrace his talents for the gift they are and to realise that the help and affection offered by people is just that, unconditional and freely given.

The description and evolution of Andy’s musical talent and experiences, only draws the reader further under the spell of this captivating story. His ability to express himself through his guitar playing and the link between this and his eventual reconciliation with his estranged father, is poignant and at the heart of the story.

His need to reach out for his still grieving soul mate is inexorable, once he full comes to terms with, understands what has happened to him and accepts the siuation as it is. A love so strong experienced by two people, is dealt with sympathetically by the author, who draws them together as if by fate, with soft, flowing and emotional lines of prose, that are only enhanced by the paranormal and supernatural overtones.

 

In Dean’s words from the book “This is not over”

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There is a great link on Dean’s website, to an interview conducted by Joanna, at ‘The Creative Penn’, where he talks about what it takes to be a man in the romance market. It makes for some interesting reading!!

A fantastic debut novel, can’t wait for the next book, Dean.

A well-deserved 5 out of 5

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I was asked to read and review this book by the author, Dean Mayes. As such, this copy was supplied to me free of charge by said author.

This in no way influenced any comments I may have expressed about the book, in any review I may have compiled. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this review.

 


Filed Under: New Authors, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘The Summoner’ by Layton Green

March 29, 2011 By 12 Comments

 

This book was sent to me, for review, by talented new author Layton Green, to introduce his  character ‘Dominic Grey’, in this, his first of a planned series of globe-trotting adventures, investigating the world’s most bizarre and dangerous cults.

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Synopsis From Amazon:

This Title Available From Amazon---

A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.

What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.

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About The Author:

Layton Green is a prolific traveller, having visited more than fifty countries and lived in several of them, although at the present time, he is living with his family in Miami, Florida, USA.

During his travels, Layton has held down a number of diverse and varying jobs, although he is a qualified and once practicing attorney, having attended law school in New Orleans.

With his love of all things spiritual and supernatural, his deep interest of religion and cults, together with his passion for Japanese Jujitsu, it is quite easy to see where Layton found his inspiration for his character ‘Diminic Grey’ and the genre in which Dominic’s adventures will be set.

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My Thoughts About The Book

It really is difficult to believe that this is Layton Green’s first foray into the world of thriller writing. In Layton, we have an amazing new talent, together with a strong and instantly established new character, in Dominic Grey.

I should say straight away, that this is not a book for the faint-hearted, or those of you with a weak stomach.

I suspect there has been great thought about Dominic and his path for future adventures, before Layton has taken pen to paper, with the result being a character that has great depth and strength of character, right from the opening page.

We get to know about Dominic’s own troubled past almost immediately, which straightaway forms a bond between him and the reader. From his violent and abusive childhood; his struggle to strengthen himself in mind and body, so that ‘The Sins Of The Father Shall Not Be Visited Upon The Son’; and his continuous, ongoing battle to maintain that equilibrium and balance in his life. His ethos and beliefs are that he can control his demons and use their power to help people, he operates only on facts and keeps a clear set of morals.

All these emotions and reactions are layed bare by Layton, so that the reader can almost get inside Dominic’s mind, as he plots his next move.

Layton seems to have built a central core of two other characters, during the course of this story, who I think Dominic will ultimately take with him, on his future adventures:

Nya is the perfect foil for Dominic’s fragile volatility. Calm and dispassionate in her work, whilst all too aware of the plight of many of her fellow Zimbabweans. She is trying desperately to hold on to her strong Christian faith, instilled in her by her father, but is constantly being tested as to it’s validity and worth.

Victor is still, even at the end of the book, quite a strong, complex character who hasn’t yet been fully exposed as a recognisable force in his own right, although as Dominic’s new employer, his personality should begin to unfold with time.

Layton has managed to strike a good balance between being informative about a country, with it’s obvious inherent political and social problems, without bombarding the reader with a ‘Party Political Broadcast’ about the situation.

Through his fantastic use of the English Language, he eloquently portrays vivid images of the beauty of this troubled country; its sights, sounds and smells coming alive in their descriptions. You can almost ‘feel the landscape’.

The macabre, graphic and often troubling plot, evoked some very disturbing thoughts and managed to convey the palpable and obvious fear, suspicion, hatred and superstition, which is all too evident in modern Zimbabwean society.

The way that a people, in such obvious turmoil and looking for something tangible to cling on to, can be whipped up into a frenzy of ‘religious’ fervour, is expertly crafted into the plot by Layton, making the book a true experience of human vulnerability.

The plot had many twists and turns along the way and several times I felt that I had cracked the secret of N’anga, only to be thwarted as the next chapter unfolded. In the end, the secret identity was a complete surprise and was a well thought out storyline, that few would have guessed at.

Some reviews have pronounced this book to be too ‘wordy’ and have slated Layton for using words whose meanings have to be looked up. Whilst the latter comment may have been the case for me a couple of times, it only made me think about the writing more and concentrate on the content more intently. It is good to see the English Language being used to its full potential, without the slang and text speak, which has invaded our communication chain recently!! It was great to have actually needed to READ a book.

Layton Green is definitely a new force to be reckoned with in the genre of thriller writing, an author of the highest calibre.

The fact that this book was read and reviewed by myself, at the request of the author, did not influence my rating or comments in any way. In case you haven’t worked it out yet … I Love This Book !!!!

Bring on more Dominic Grey as soon as possible please !!

Has to be 5 out of 5 for this one

 

 

Filed Under: New Authors, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2011

March 13, 2011 By 2 Comments

Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize, is an annual award, now in it’s seventh year and celebrates new talent in children’s writing.

The award winner is voted for by booksellers across the country and all authors are eligible, who write for children in the 7 – 13 age group and have written no more than 2 fiction titles.

The award carries a £5,000 cash prize for the winner and in 2011 was presented by the current Children’s Laureate, Anthony Browne.

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The winner of the award, in February 2011, is Sita Brahmachari, for her book ‘Artichoke Hearts’

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Synopsis

This Title Is Available From Amazon

Twelve-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic and outspoken family where it’s not always easy to be heard.

As her beloved Nana Josie’s health declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her, and also starts to keep some of her own.

She is drawn to mysterious Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past and has grown hardened layers – like those of an artichoke – around his heart.

As Mira is experiencing grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around her.

An incredibly insightful, honest novel exploring the delicate balance, and often injustice, of life and death – but at its heart is a celebration of friendship, culture – and life.

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About The Author:

Sita Brahmachari, was born in Derby, England, of an Indian father who is a doctor and an English mother, a nurse.

‘Artichoke Hearts’ is her debut novel, however, with a BA in English Literature and a MA in Arts Education, her numerous projects and writing commissions have been produced widely in venues both in the UK and US.

‘Artichoke Hearts’ is a story based on the real-life experience of her mother-in-laws death from cancer. It deals with death and grief in a way that children can understand and offers a positive portrayal of the relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents.

Sita, lives with husband and family in North London.

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I don’t generally read children’s or YA books, but ‘Artichoke Hearts’ has had such rave reviews, from readers of all age groups, that this will definitely be another addition to my TBR mountain. I’m sure it will be quite an emotional read, although tempered with more than a little humour, as is any book which addresses areas of a child’s emotional development.

Filed Under: Awards, New Authors Tagged With: , , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘Love Letters’ by Geraldine Solon

March 8, 2011 By 4 Comments

Synopsis:

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This Title Is Available From Amazon

Bridal shop manager Chloe Rogers will soon marry Richard Foster—so she thinks—until suddenly, she bumps into her childhood sweetheart, Josh Goldman, whom she hasn’t seen in thirteen years.

The sparks between Chloe and Josh fly, but Richard provides safety, financial security. Should she follow her heart or her head?

The answer comes in a surprise twist. While cleaning her attic, she stumbles upon love letters written to her estranged mother forty years ago from a man she loved. When Chloe secretly brings them together again and sees how much time they’ve lost, she is challenged not to make the same mistake her mother made. Will Chloe opt for security or will she risk her heart and marry her true love?

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About The Author

Inspired from an early age, by the books Of Enid Blyton, the author of ‘Love Letters’, Geraldine Solon, always knew that it would only ever be through her writing that she would find true solace and a release for her wild imagination and love of story-telling.

She has already written and self published three books for children; together with, ‘Odes, Insights And Stories For All Seasons’, a mix of poetry, articles and stories, that leads the reader on an emotional and spiritual journey through Geraldine’s own life experiences.

‘Love Letters’ is her debut novel in the adult contemporary, romantic fiction genre.

Geraldine has moved from her birthplace in the Philippines and now lives in the San Francisco Bay area USA, with her husband and family. [Read more...]

Filed Under: New Authors, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mailbox Monday With A Difference … February 7th 2011

February 6, 2011 By 28 Comments

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A Great Opportunity To Review A New Writing Talent…

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After my recent oppotunity to read and express my thoughts about ‘A Dead Man’s Debt’, a historical romantic fiction book, from talented new British author,  Grace Elliot, a second great offer has come my way this week.

Geraldine Solon, is a contemporary, romantic fiction author from the San Francisco Bay area, of the USA. She has already written and had published three books for children, now ‘Love Letters’ is her debut novel in the contemporary, romantic fiction genre.

Geraldine read the article that I posted about Grace’s book and contacted me to inquire whether I would consider reading and reviewing ‘Love Letters’.

I am only too happy to agree to Geraldine’s request, as I think it is great to be able to help new authors gain a foothold in a very competitive marketplace and romantic fiction is a genre that I do read regularly, if not frequently.

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This Title Is Available From Amazon

Synopsis:

Bridal shop manager Chloe Rogers will soon marry Richard Foster—so she thinks—until suddenly, she bumps into her childhood sweetheart, Josh Goldman, whom she hasn’t seen in thirteen years. The sparks between Chloe and Josh fly, but Richard provides safety, financial security. Should she follow her heart or her head? The answer comes in a surprise twist. While cleaning her attic, she stumbles upon love letters written to her estranged mother forty years ago from a man she loved. When Chloe secretly brings them together again and sees how much time they’ve lost, she is challenged not to make the same mistake her mother made. Will Chloe opt for security or will she risk her heart and marry her true love?

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It is also very reassuring to know that my blog is achieving some positive traction, after such a relatively short period of time and my thanks goes to both Grace and Geraldine for trusting me with their debut novels.

I have already received the PDF file and will be looking forward to reading the book, just as soon as my current novel Remembrance Day, is finished.

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‘Mailbox Monday’ is now on tour, with guest hosts each month. For January, your hosts are Laura and Sandra at ‘Library Of Clean Reads’, so head on over, leave the link to your ‘Mailbox’ page and a comment, and see what everyone else is reading, there are usually some great recommendations

Filed Under: My Latest News And Musings, New Authors Tagged With: , , , , ,
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