You are here: Home / Archives for Reviews

My Thoughts About … ‘The Baggage Handler’ by Colin Browne

February 13, 2012 By 17 Comments

-.-

SYNOPSIS

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

-.-

A LITTLE 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 only recently brought him recognition, with the publication of this, his debut novel ‘The Baggage Handler’

-.-

WORDS FROM THE BOOK WHICH I THOUGHT WERE SIGNIFICANT

‘But he still struggled to lose the mindset he had when he founded it as an ironic blog and twitter feed. It was supposed to be a statement against shallowness; a veiled lashing out at the people who believe that superficiality and substance are the same things. He guessed those people didn’t care about reading good books anything like as much as they did about being seen reading the hottest book of the moment.’

-.-

“So I met this writer and I thought she was great and since I never meet the writers, I thought I’d also read her book. Well, sort of read it anyway. She told me what it was about and I flipped through it. So I wrote the review on that.”

-.-

Are these words spoken by Martin the character, or through him a cynical message from the author ?

-.-

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

After those two passages from the book, I am almost scared to write down my thoughts about ‘The Baggage Handler’, for fear of being thought too shallow, or worse still, not even reading the book !

So, I had better begin by stating that I read every single word, on every single page, of every book I write about.

It didn’t take long to recognise that to read this book I would have to be quite broad-minded, as being written by a man, conversing predominantly with other men, it was suitably replete with what I would describe as mens ‘locker-room’ humour, innuendo and language. In the overall context of the story though, I didn’t find this overtly offensive or overused.

This was certainly a character based novel rather than plot based, as the story itself was an easy uncomplicated one, which left Colin with plenty of scope to enhance the content with some excellent characterisations which grew in depth during the course of the book, with even the background characters taking on some important and relevant roles of their own.

This, coupled with some excellent dialogue, (much of it making me cringe with embarassment at its ineptitude on Martin’s part), together with some tastefully executed humorous exchanges, particularly between Martin and Kasia, made ‘The Baggage Handler’ fun to read. I found myself alternating between frustration and sorrow at the depths of Martin’s inability to communicate other than on a totally superficial level, with wanting to shout and lash out at him for his utterly wimpish and at times downright callous behaviour.

First of all I had to get used to the idea that there was a complete role reversal in this story, which meant that Martin’s reactions came across as almost feminine and submissive, whereas Kasia was definitely in charge of the situation throughout, until she decided that enough was enough and Martin needed to step up to the mark if he was in any way serious about a relationship with her.

In Martin we superficially see a shallow, lonely and excessively defensive character, who is only best able to communicate with those outside contacts over whom he feels he is able to exert some modicum of control. Surprisingly this ‘shallowness’ has brought him some success in his career, albeit a career which many would find quiet distasteful.  This success has also had some quite surprising side effects, as he is now treated as an inhouse ‘agony aunt’ by his colleagues, although whether they are laughing with him or at him, is a debatable point. I got the impression that whilst Martin is outwardly laughing with people, inwardly he is crying out for help and becoming increasingly isolationist and withdrawn.

As the story progresses it is easy to see why Martin may be quite as bad as he is at communicating. Whilst he comes from a family with an excellent career pedigree, communication skills as a family unit are almost non-existent. It would seem that he has never had a true father/son relationship with his father, to whom winning is the ‘be all and end all’ of everything, whilst he has a love/hate relationship with his overbearing, overpowering and domineering mother. Basically, Martin has never been able to meet, yet alone exceed, their expectations of him, leaving him underconfident and acting like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He is unable to cope with rejection and after having been unceremoniously ‘dumped’ by his one true love, has decided that the only way not to get hurt again, is not to get close enough to anyone to allow that situation to arise. This strategy only serves to make him appear a cold and distant character who seems to have no feelings, therefore leaving him even more open to being hurt, however unintentionally, by friends and colleagues who do not understand this strange behaviour.

To a perplexed Kasia, it appears that Martin is completely uninterested and unconcerned that she may have problems of her own and despite her giving him all the chances in the world to be completely open and honest with each other, she decides that she is not going to be able to make the breakthrough necessary, to move the relationship off of first base.

Several people try to offer Martin advice on how to turn things around with Kasia, although it is eventually the combined efforts of three relative strangers, unknown to each other, who bring him to his senses, helped in an odd way by his mostly absent mother, who does actually seem genuine in her concern for her son’s happiness, yet unable to articulate it to him.

Martin learns some invaluable lessons from his mentors; you can separate your work from your personal life; this whole concept of love and ‘happy ever after’ is a two way street; and that he just needs to ‘grow a pair’ and accept that if things don’t always go according to plan, then you have to take it on the chin and stop keep blaming the world and everyone else in it, for your woes …. and the outcome? …. well you’ll just need to read the book and find out for yourself!

-.-

The characters have been well developed through various defined stages and I could see them transitioning from chapter to chapter.

The plot, although simple and basic, is well developed and runs its full course, with a distinct beginning, middle and end, leaving no loose ends or hurried conclusions.

There was just the right amount of humour injected, so that situations remained controlled and focused, yet still left me smiling as I read.

I do not rate books on my own blog, however, as the review is to be posted on various sites which do require a star rating system, I will be awarding ‘The Baggage Handler’ 4 stars.

-.-

As this was an author invitation to read and review, a copy of The Baggage Handler was sent to me free of charge, by its author, Colin Browne.

This will in no way influence 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.

-.-

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘Hoodie’ by Brendon Lancaster

January 26, 2012 By 7 Comments

-.-

SYNOPSIS

Available From Amazon

From the moment Ben Chapman ( ‘Hoodie’ to the other Shady Boys) crashes out of school, determined never to return and, incidentally, seeking his revenge on the school’s drug dealer by stealing and concealing his stash in his trousers on the way out, you know that this is a boy to whom caution and reticence are alien concepts. Outwardly, he maintains that all he wants is a job, his own money and to follow his heart towards the girl of his dreams, Isabelle. But, underneath that concealing hoodie, Ben has a rich inner life, fed by dope, wine and the belief that he is someone special. During his ‘summer of love’, we follow his attempts to engage with the real world with frustration and compassion. His adventures cause him to question today’s competitive, consumer-based values, eventually challenging his perception of reality and prompting him to reflect upon who and what his purpose in life is before finding himself faced with the definitive test of resolve and bravery. Hoodie’s blend of up-to-date realism, dream-like escapism, fast-paced, hard-hitting action, wistful musings, humour and tragedy, all while the story navigates its way on a magical mystery tour of Ben’s mind, ensures an enjoyable read. It provides the perfect antidote to alarmist Daily Mail reporting of youth issues, exploring the problems facing modern day Britain from the perspective of a disempowered, disaffected teenager.

On a deeper level, there is a moral/spiritual sub-text, fed by Ben’s belief that he has a secret weapon; the simian lines (fused head and heart lines) on the palms of his hands. These are extremely rare and noted as being a genetic abnormality shared by drug addicts, mass murderers, scientific researchers and religious fanatics (and, by sheer coincidence, Tony Blair). Could these lines hold the key to his future?

-.-

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brendon Lancaster, grew up and still lives in London and has worked for some 25 years in civil service employment.

Deciding that he then wanted to take time to explore and pursue his creative potential, he discovered that writing gave him the ideal opportunity to daydream, although ‘Hoodie’ is his first published work, with a second novel already on the drawing board.

Brendon has stamped his individuality into the storyline, by giving his principal character Ben, one of his own distinguishing features, having simian lines on the palms of both hands.

-.-

WORDS FROM THE BOOK, WHICH I WANTED TO SHARE

To be honest, there were so many sentences, phrases and even complete paragraphs which fitted into this section, that I eventually settled on this small selection, to illustrate the depth and feeling of Brendon’s narrative.

‘”Learn to read life’s signs. boy. They’re all over the place and full of hidden messages. Your head and heart will sniff them out and lead you to your destiny. Follow your instincts and you’ll be sure to find success over failure, distinguish right from wrong, tell truth from reality. You’re gifted boy.”‘.

-.-

‘”But speak from the heart”, he said profoundly, “for it is only from there that we can see the truth. What’s essential to life is invisible to the eye!”‘

-.-

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

I am really struggling to know where to start the discussion about this book, as it stirred so many strong emotions that my allegiances and sympathies constantly shifted back and forth, until I found myself completely ‘sitting on the fence’.

At times I just wanted to put my arms around Ben, let him pour out all his worries and troubles, then help to set him on a hopefully more fulfilling and worthwhile path. Then he would do something so crass and thoughtless, that I just wanted to slap him and tell him that I wanted nothing more to do with him.

Such is the maturity and intensity of Brendon’s superb narrative, with totally believeable and genuine characterisations, relationships and situations.

The book is brutal in its vivid descriptions of the progression through the spectrum of anti-establishment activities, which the gang participates in, and with which they appear to be sending out a challenge, both to authority and to each other, as they increase in intensity and violence … gang membership and violence, teenage sex, underage smoking, alcohol abuse, banned substance abuse, knife culture, illegal possession of firearms, underage driving and murder…

The writing is also perceptive, sensitive, well considered and balanced, when we manage to get Ben on his own and see his true personality begin to develop and expand … Loneliness, aloneness, unhappiness, dysfunctional families who do not communicate, the need to succeed, the feelings that he should start to try and find someone with whom he can share his life. These are all emotions and observations which Ben is more than adaquately able to express , when he puts his mind to it and he is not being led and influenced by others in the gang, or is acting the big shot in front of them, with always something to prove.  He is actually quite astute and observational when he takes the time to ‘people watch’, concluding that most of them are inherently unhappy and spend most of their time ‘chasing their tails’, in an effort to appear trendy and part of the ‘in crowd’.

At what point, Ben wonders, was his innocence lost, when did everyone become so judgemental of him that he felt the need to close himself off from the outside world into a place of safety and security by hiding behind his hoodie. Why is it that the only person he feels really wants to talk and (more importantly) listen to him, understands him and is sensitive to his vulnerability is Joe, a disreputable tramp?

Joe is perhaps one of the best supporting characters in the book, although he makes the least appearances. Despite his own obvious fall from the mainstream of life, Joe comes across as an educated man, who is quietly aware and sensitive to Ben’s inner turmoil and is genuinely eager for Ben to get on with his life and make something of himself. Things are going well between them, until Joe badly mis-reads the situation and his relationship with Ben, and makes what is to Ben, a devastating revelation, his reaction to which sends them both into a downwards spiral, with disastrous consequences for both and leading to their combined ultimate sacrifice.

I am not sure whether Brendon deliberately wrote the book in such a way, that the reader is almost forced into this position as a neutral observer, however, after much contemplation, I came up with these clear thoughts about the book    …. It is, in almost equal measure ….

  • Sickeningly Realistic
  • Profoundly Touching
  • Emotionally Draining
  • Uncomfortable, yet unputdownable

-.-

Would I give this book to a Young Adult to read? … possibly.

For many, it would certainly be all the deterrent needed to avoid this path to certain, total and ultimate self destruction. However, I would worry that for the certain, albeit small minority group, it might only serve as a catalyst to magnify, glorify and promote to exalted status, the power which ‘Hoodie’ and ‘The Shady Boys’, think they command.

On the other hand, I think that ‘Hoodie’ should be compulsory reading for all guardians of young adults, about to enter the ‘Secondary’, or ‘Middle School’ phase of their education. ‘Hoodie’ is an inspirational work of fiction, which speaks to everyone, regardless of age or social class, so if you don’t think this scenario is ever one that you will face with your own young adult, then be sure to track the character of Isabelle, very closely.

–.-

The poignant, emotional and personal poem, with which Brendon chooses to close the story on ‘The Shady Boys’, is a fitting tribute and brings a closure and finality to the book, unlike anything else he may have written in its place.

-.-

On a final, lighter note, I loved the cover graphics for ‘Hoodie’, the design for which became apparent as I followed Ben on his travels to the skatepark, and was brought full circle by its obvious link to the book’s title. So many book covers have no cohesion to the storyline in any way, that ‘Hoodie’ provided a refreshing change and set the scene before I even started to read.

-.-

As this was an author invitation to read and review, a copy of ‘Hoodie’ was sent to me, as a ‘smashwords’ gift,  free of charge by its author, Brendon Lancaster.

This will in no way influence 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.

-.-

Update

You can read what the author says about this review and join in the discussion, by clicking here

-.-

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘The Safety Expert’ by Doug Richardson

January 18, 2012 By 10 Comments

-.-

SYNOPSIS

Available From Amazon

“Ben Keller lives life by one simple rule. Safety first. Ben is keenly aware of life’s hidden dangers. Ben never smokes. Ben always uses the crosswalk. Ben always drives within the speed limit. He has to be because safety is his business. From his home in Simi Valley, California, one of the safest cities in the United States, Ben works hard at living a perfectly normal, perfectly uneventful, perfectly safe life.

And life is good until the past reaches into the present. In the dark of the night, a man crosses a lonely intersection and is struck by a car, setting events in motion that will unravel the finely stitched strands of Ben’s cocoon, from a recently retired porn actress who is desperate to be a mother to the butch cop determined to shield her young son from the whisperings of the queen bee moms at his private school to the addict who is clawing to hold onto the sobriety which cages the violence within him.

A long dismissed demon has resurfaced, presenting Ben with a most unsafe dilemma: preserve the haven he has carefully built for himself or confront the evildoer who decimated his carefree young life all those years ago.

Ben is in danger. Ben’s world is unsafe. Ben’s life will be changed forever. Again.”

-.-

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doug Richardson was born, raised and still lives in the State of California USA, attending ‘the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema’ to complete his education towards his chosen profession of movie director, although he wisely revised this course of action, turning instead to screenplay writing and since then he has never looked back.

His resume reads like a list from ‘who’s who’, with his feature films including * ‘Die Harder’ *, ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Hostage’, together with his two hugely successful previous novels ‘Dark Horse’ and ‘True Believers‘,  which have both received nothing but 5 star reviews.

*I left hubbie watching yet another re-run of this film as I speak, he never seems to tire of this all action hero style movie*

-.-

PASSAGES FROM THE TEXT WHICH I FOUND THOUGHT PROVOKING

“Her boss had a deep wound inside. From that wound he had transformed himself into a human miracle, she thought. A man who had taken the horror from his life and built it into a safe little niche.”

-.-

“It was plain. Both husband and wife were certain they knew the other’s secret. Yet neither knew anything at all.”

-.-

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK

When ‘Pratt’, a dying convict suddenly decides to have a pang of conscience, his well-meaning actions have a devastating effect on the future of so many, setting off an unstoppable chain reaction of events, which take so many lives into a downward spiral of self-destruction and misery.

Ben, is a model citizen; loving husband, and devoted step-father, existing in his ‘safe’ life, where every action is made only after the considered risk has been analysed and accepted. It isn’t until we discover the horrific demons which haunt Ben’s past life, that we begin to realise just how fragile is the cocoon he has built up around himself and how easily it can shatter into a million pieces, leaving Ben vulnerable once again to his raw feelings and emotions of hatred, revenge and retribution.

When we are first introduced to Stew, it quickly becomes obvious that he has a whole different set of demons all his own, which he battles on a regular daily basis. His naturally violent tendencies and addictions, are only barely controlled, still bubbling away gently, just below the surface veneer of domesticity and respectability he has built up around himself. Repressed memories of his past horrific crimes, are re-played in his mind as always being the ‘other persons’ fault, with himself having been provoked beyond all reason, to carry out the terrible acts of retribution and violence that he has inflicted on so many.

Detective Lydia (Gonzo) Gonzalez, is yet another in a long line of fiction detectives who is trying to juggle the pressures of family life, with the stress and demands of the job and probably achieving neither to their full potential. She makes the fundamental mistake of allowing her heart to rule her head and looses her cool on more than one occasion, only then does she realise that her actions have probably made an already bad situation, much, much worse. In trying to make reparation for her mistakes, her life as well as her career are on the line. Loosing one and narrowly saving the other, forces her to re-evaluate her life and what it really means to her.

The two main supporting players, as this terrible scenario unfolds, are Alex and Pam, Ben and Stew’s respective wives. Although they outwardly appear to be at opposite ends of the social spectrum and are destined never to meet, they are not so different as you might think. Both are determined characters, who will defend their homes and loved ones with their own lives if necessary. Neither however, are strong enough to withstand the combined force of the hatred between their husbands and are powerless to influence the outcome and the effect it will inevitably have on all their futures.

All of the remaining supporting characters are well developed and defined, in a way which is both sympathetic to the overall storyline, yet which is also designed to highlight both their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Ben and Stew, complex and at times almost frightening characters, two men both fighting to keep buried dark memories from the past, controlling demons which, when the layers of the story are peeled back, find them both pushed beyond their limits, hunter and hunted both.

The fast paced storyline flows naturally from one phase to the next, on this horrific roller coaster ride, of high tension and exposed, raw emotions. The storyline is a carefully measured piece of writing, which is equally plot and character driven, creating a finely balanced narrative, which keeps its pace and action right until the very last page. The ending however, did come as something of a surprise and wasn’t quite what I had expected, just one last twist in the tail of this venomous, deadly snake named ‘revenge’.

Given Doug’s hitherto successful screenplay writing career, I think that ‘The Safety Expert’  would definitely,  easily lend itself to being adapted as a screenplay script for a film and even the title sounds fantastic as it is.

‘The Safety Expert’ had me in its grip and on the edge of my seat, from the very first page, to the very last word and even then I didn’t want it to end!

-.-

Doug has provided me with a copy of ‘The Safety Expert’, in exchange for me reading and sharing my thoughts. 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.

-.-

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About …. ‘A Dangerous Harbor’ by R.P. Dahlke

January 5, 2012 By 6 Comments

-.-

SYNOPSIS

Available From Amazon

‘Bleary-eyed and sleep deprived after a long overnighter into Mexico, solo sailor and SFPD police detective, Katrina Hunter, thinks the mermaid twenty yards behind her thirty-two foot Westsail is nothing more than a sailor’s hallucination But everything she knows about floaters convinces her to turn her boat around for another look

Now, alone and isolated in the Mexican port’s police station for six hours she’s convinced that reporting the body of a floater to authorities was a mistake. Even the arrival of a handsome, if somewhat dour, Mexican/Italian investigator does nothing to dispel her growing anxiety that she’s about to be charged with the murder.

Chief Inspector, Raul Vignaroli, is as surprised by the attractive solo-sailor as he is to find that she’s a respected member of the San Francisco police force, and after some well-placed phone calls he’s sure that he’s found the perfect partner to help him solve a murder, if not the cure for his broken heart.

Released, she’s free to go. But leaving the police station hits a snag when two policemen march in, dragging a listless prisoner between them. But before Katy can dodge them for the exit, the prisoner raises his head and a startling pair of aquamarine eyes meet hers.

He straightens his back, wincing at the angle of his cuffed wrists. “What the… Whisper?”

Suddenly, the sound of the ceiling fan is terribly loud. Blood pounds in her ears, her mouth goes dry, her palms are damp and her feet are nailed to the floor. In a knee jerk reaction, she hisses, “Don’t call me that!”’

-.-

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Dahlke is already a well established and respected author in the romantic mystery/suspense genre, with two previous titles already on the shelves and some great reviews to boot.

Rebecca was raised on the family crop dusting ranch in California USA, although these days, she lives with her husband in Arizona USA.

She started writing way back in 1994, although a family tragedy curtailed her writing for many years after the publication of  ‘A Dead Red Cadillac’, until she felt able to pick up her pen again in 2010, when ‘A Dangerous Harbor’ was conceptualised and ‘A Dead Red Heart’ was finally completed.

Rebecca set up a chapter of  SINC (‘Sisters In Crime Inc’) in her home town, adding to the some 48 chapters which exist all over the world. SINC is an organisation of about 3600 members in 48 chapters world-wide and founded in 1986, offering networking, advice and support to mystery authors. It comprises authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians bound by their affection for the mystery genre and their support of women who write mysteries. The aims of the organisation are to promote the professional development and advancement of women crime writers to achieve equality in the industry.

Rebecca is also an accomplished artist and is the President of the Board of Directors for the Huachuca Art Association in Sierra Vista, AZ. Clicking on the link above will take you directly to Rebecca’s page on the association’s site, where you can view some of her great paintings.

-.-

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘A DANGEROUS HARBOR’

Having checked out the synopsis and read several existing reviews, prior to accepting ”A Dangerous Harbor’ for review, I wasn’t really expecting that it would turn out to be a serious piece of police procedural work, or for that matter too gruesome a thriller story. A ‘cozy’ romantic/suspense novel was what I was expecting and that was exactly what I got.

Whilst the storyline did touch on the many very real and sadly all too prevalent issues of abduction, murder, forced prostitution, rampant police corruption and the ever present power of the drug cartels; which still exist in modern day Mexico; it was dealt with by the author on a very superficial level, which left me wanting to delve more deeply into this troubled society. I wish that there had been a little more indepth knowledge and research, just to flesh out the bare bones a bit more and offer more substance and authority to the narrative, however, it did whet my appetite to find out more.

Despite the fact that ‘A Dangerous Harbor’ did not offer a very sophisticated plotline, the story was very fast paced, complex and action packed, with many twists and turns, which kept me guessing right until the end … and my assumption as to the identity of the murderer, certainly wasn’t the right one.

Our heroin, Katrina Hunter, is a strong character when she wants to be, yet is very vulnerable in her hitherto disastrous private life and is delusional in her belief and hope that she can simply sail away into foreign waters and hope to escape the mistakes she has made in her recent past, which have put her continued career in the SFPD on the line.

Chief Inspector Raul Vignaroli seems convinced that Katrina is the ideal partner to help him solve a local murder, albeit in a location which is predominantly populated by US citizens, any one of which may well be the killer. However I found myself questioning Katrina’s committment to her police service career, as she revives past mistakes, begins to let her heart rule her head for a second time and places more importance on her personal life than on her career.

The sizzling sexual tension between Raul and Katrina continually threatens to overpower the murder investigation, with Katrina also waging her own private battle with past relationships and jealousies, and Raul desperately trying to overcome personal grief and tragedy in order to free his heart so that he can move on with his life and love again.

The murder suspects pile up thick and fast and even manage to inject a modicum of humour into the whole story, with their vast array of dysfunctional personalities and hidden agendas. We are introduced to undercover FBI agents, IRS investigators, as well as the murderer themselves, all forming part of a steady stream of  slightly larger than life characters, who move from the wings to centre stage, act out their individual scenes, then depart again.

None of these individual characterisations holds up too well under scrutiny and all are a little one dimensional, without a great deal of depth, however with the real murderer being able to remain hidden amongst this melee of self-centred individuals, I certainly didn’t spot them until they were eventually unmasked by Katrina.

In conclusion, ‘A Dangerous Harbor’ is a fast paced, sexy sizzler, with a little mystery and intrigue added to the mix, not to be taken too seriously and great as a book to cozy up with on a cold winters evening, or as a summer beach read.

-.-

This romantic mystery/suspense book, was gifted as an author request for me to read and leave my comments about and as such was free of charge.

This will in no way influence any comments I may express about the book, in any blog article I may post. Any thoughts or comments will be my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article.

-..-

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

My Thoughts About …. ‘The Moon Coin’ by Richard Due

December 21, 2011 By 7 Comments

-.-

SYNOPSIS

Available From Amazon

“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?”

-.-

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Due, 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’

-.-

MY FAVOURITE WORDS FROM THE BOOK

‘…Well, as you grow older, you’ll discover a curious thing about the truth – it plays by its own rules. It cares not one whit about your or anyone else’s beliefs. The truth just is. There is no stopping or changing it. Further, I would counsel you to prepare yourselves, as the truth can be quite far removed from one’s — expectations.’

-.-

MY THOUGHTS ABOUT ‘THE MOON COIN’

‘Nine Moons’ make a ‘Moon Realm’ and the ‘Moon Coin’ can transport you to any of them, if only you have the power to believe…..

At the heart of these worlds and known by all, is uncle Ebb (AKA Lord Ebbram) Autumn. Uncle to Lily and Jasper and an uncle like no other, with his head full of stories and his pockets full of presents, who wants nothing more than to see a united Moon Realm, with all its rich and colourful characters living in harmony together, whilst respecting their obvious differences and beliefs.

Which child would not want to have such  a great, eccentric and colourful character at the heart of their lives? Someone who lives in a home where the walls are literally a living testimony to the owners’ visits to faraway lands, with corridors and rooms full of excitement and intrigue, just waiting to be explored.

Which child, when confronted with access to the hitherto closely guarded secret of the Moon Coin, would not have their curiosity sufficiently piqued to be tempted to tamper with it, in the hope of discovering its closest secrets, those which even uncle Ebb will not divulge? … especially given that he is never usually without the Moon Coin around his neck.

Now uncle Ebb has disappeared for longer than usual and his family are becoming concerned as to his whereabouts and against all the rules, Lily and Jasper are searching the house, in the hope of finding some clue about his travel plans.

Lily and her brother Jasper are both inquisitive and intelligent children, who have been spoon-fed on these rich and colourful tales for years, although it is Lily who is prove herself the most astute and questioning of the siblings, showing herself to be very sensible and mature for her years …. Sensible that is, until she finds herself to be almost dangerously observant and meddlesome, when she alone, attempts to discover the secrets of the Moon Coin and finds herself transported to the Moon of Barreth, without knowing how, therefore not having the knowledge to make the return journey home …..

So begins the start of a beautifully descriptive, cleverly written, intricate story, full of adventure and captivating characters, who draw you into their very lives and worlds.

Lily is treated by some, as something of a celebrity as she is escorted across the moons of Barreth and Dain, especially when her connection with Lord Ebbram is discovered. Despite the problems which their own worlds are facing, many are eager to try and help Lily find her way home, before she gets caught up in the conflicts which are threatening, although none seem to know where uncle Ebb might be and all could wish for his help.

Ownership of the Moon Coin appears to enable Lily to understand and interact with the inhabitants of these other moons, and they with her, in a way which would suggest that the creatures of these distant worlds are not too different from our own, in that there are good and bad fgures, with some more willing to help than others, although all can recognise Lily for the child she is and treat her with the kindness she needs, whilst realising that her intellect is far superior to her years and affording her the respect she is due.

Lily also begins to suspect that her mother may know more about uncle Ebb’s strange and exotic tales and travels, than she has ever let on. In fact she has at times, actively tried to dissuade uncle Ebb from telling the children his tales. This thought is only just the seed of an idea, which Lily has had planted in her mind and she hasn’t worked things out fully yet, as she also tries to assimilate her own part in the larger picture, so watch out as the next installment unfolds …

I get the sneaking suspicion that Lily herself may find out later that she, together with her mother and uncle Ebb, also possesses some of these special powers, and from how she has behaved so far, I think that she will be able to cope with them admirably and with a great level of maturity, her character development should be very interesting to follow.

As a sceptic, I found myself in fantasy overload, as I was transported right to the heart of the action, on the amazing faraway moons of Barreth and Dain, there to meet magical characters with such wonderful names .. Rinn, Dragondain, Wyflings, Wirtles, Wornot and Scaramann and of course, Lumanancers …. and I loved every minute of it.

The descriptions of creatures and places of almost mythical proportions, were vivid and mature, whilst still managing to retain the necessary balance in the narration to satisfy both the target YA audience and the wider adult reading population, who like myself, will no doubt be entranced by the skill of the author, Richard Due. I just cannot believe that this maturity and skill with the written word, comes from a debut author.

The tales of fantastic lore-filled puzzles are deeply layered and have been expertly crafted to produce an epic work which flows at a tremendous pace, with more twists and turns than enough, full of shocks and surprises around every corner.

The book works okay as a stand-alone story, up to a point, although the ending is such that you really need to be reading the next installment, which is already in post-production and ready for publication in 2012. When a book actually says ‘to be continued …’ it generally rather annoys me, however I felt that ‘The Moon Coin’ had produced so much more than I had expected, that I did not feel cheated by this final twist in the tale and I am waiting to see just how well the books are linked together and hoping that the second book can also be read independently.

 No review about ‘The Moon Coin’ would be complete without mention of the fantastic illustrations, which are to be found on the cover and throughout the book. The illustrations capture the essence of the story in picture form, with their strength and animation, combined with such rich and vivid colours, which draw you right into the story with their warmth. They are the work of talented illustrator, Carolyn Arcabascio. 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.

-.-

A FANTASMAGORICAL TALE – FOR THE YOUNG, THE NOT SO YOUNG, OR SIMPLY THE YOUNG AT HEART —– JUST SO LONG AS YOU BELIEVE …

-.-

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.

-.-

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , ,

My Thoughts About …. ‘South Of Hell’ by P.J. Parrish

December 6, 2011 By 8 Comments

-.-

Synopsis is taken from the book:

—

This Title Is Available From Amazon

Years after the mysterious disappearance of his wife Jean, Owen Brandt is released from prison, having served time for a string of violent crimes against women. Although there was never proof to suggest that Brandt had any part in his wife going missing, PI Louis Kincaid agrees to take another look at the case, with the help of Miami detective Joe Frye.

When Louis and Joe go to the now-derelict Brandt farmhouse, located just south of a town called Hell, they find a teenage girl hiding there. Though frightened and confused, she tells them that her name is Amy, and that she is the daughter of Jean and Owen Brandt. But the Brandts never had a child, or so people in the town seem to think.

As Amy starts to remember details from the past, signs begin to suggest that Owen Brandt killed his wife. But how do Louis and Joe know if they can trust Amy? What secrets from Louis’ own past could distract him from the investigation? And can they uncover the truth before it’s too late?

—

About The Author:

P.J. Parrish is another example of an author (or, in this case, two authors), being required by an agent to adopt a pen name, to avoid the reading audience knowing who (or what) they are!

The writing team  actually comprises a ‘double-act’, of two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols, who try to dispel the reader myth, that P.J. Parrish is actually a black male author, whilst also trying to break down the bias that still exists against female crime/thriller writers, because of their gutsy, gritty writing style.

Ironically though, both women, who have since early childhood been avid story writers, tried their hand at writing romance, with little success, before summoning their character of Louis Kincaid into print.

Their differing styles and individual unique qualities of writing complement each other, more so as time has passed and each has become a stonger writer; until now, the collaboration has produced an almost seamless manuscript that blends effectively, the more amazing when you consider that the ladies live states apart and only exchange ideas via the telephone and internet.

—

My Thoughts About The Book:

This is my first brush with the character PI Louis Kincaid and by now he his into his ninth adventure, with the tenth case seemingly to be his last, as the author is launching a new character later in the year.

In this instance though, I have no real urge to go back and read all Louis’s earlier cases and history, not because it isn’t a fantastic series, which it is, but because this book works great as a stand alone novel, and by now the character has been ‘fleshed out’ and given his full personality, which is so complex and sensitive, that to read earlier books would probably be a retrograde step.

Not only is this book a great thriller that kept me guessing right until the end, never really knowing what the final outcome would be, until the very last page, but it is also written with the keen attention to detail that made the characters believeable, well developed and real to me, drawing an immediate empathy from me, as I was so easily able to relate to them.

This book is written, and almost comes across as two separate stories, covering two disparate worlds and periods of time; the hard hitting angle of a great piece of modern day crime fiction writing and an invaluable insight into the many social problems of society, both modern and historical.

Louis Kincaid, born half black, into a small town, where prejudice is, even today, very much the norm. His mother passed away when he was young, his father abandoned him to a succession of foster homes, some good, some not so good. A law degree abandoned mid-way, for a career in the police, from where he is subsequently dismissed. He is now a PI, living on the edge of society, hated by the police, still an outcast in his home town and now living a very much anonymous life in the city, but unconsciously desperately trying to bring closure to his past and move on with his life.

His long distance relationship, with a serving female police officer, who has moved far away, seeking promotion in her career, is strained to say the least and that loyalty and love is to be tested even further, when she is drawn into this complex and emotional case, initially against her will, but then with an increasing sense of need and fulfillment, that will either draw them closer together once again, or separate them  forever.

Louis is forced back to his roots, as if by an invisible cord, when a voice from his past asks for his help in solving a case and finds himself thrown headlong into prejudices he had hoped to try and leave behind, whilst being forced to face up to the resposibilities of a long ago action, which evokes feelings in him that he could never have imagined.

The crime is one against a string of unfortunate women, perpetrated by a single man, so cruel and viciously violent, as to be vile to everyone who comes into contact with him. Could some of this madman’s actions stem from stories of long abandoned ‘Underground Railroads to Canada’, used by the slaves and found to be hidden on his land, or from the fact that, it transpires that there is a history of ‘black blood’ in his family, which in an area where blacks are still only just tolerated, has sent his mind into a downward spiral, from which he is unable to escape?

Seemingly, only one young girl, long ago abandoned to her fate, has the key to the answer. Amy is portrayed as a vulnerable, timid person, obviously frightened of Owen Brandt, yet having an inner depth and courage to face up to him, in order to solve the mystery of her mothers disappearance, one crime for which he has never been charged.

Amy’s transition into an emerging confident young woman, gathers pace as Owen Brandts capture comes closer, although she is prepared to place herself in terrible danger, to ensure that he is forced to pay for the crime and thus atone for the wrongs inflicted on her mother and all those unfortunate souls, from long ago.

-.-

This book was taken from my existing TBR pile and left me wondering why I had never read it sooner, it was a totally engrossing read.

-.-


Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

My Thoughts About …. ‘Eulogy’s Secret’ by Grace Elliot

November 13, 2011 By 8 Comments

Synopsis

Available From Amazon

Greed, prejudice and a stolen identity…

In the four weeks since her guardian’s death, Eulogy Foster has lost everything. She travels to London seeking the help of Lord Lucien Devlin, the estranged brother who doesn’t know she exists. But Lord Devlin turns her away and alone on the streets, Eulogy is attacked, robbed and thrown onto the mercy of a passing stranger.

Jack Huntley – bitter, cynical and betrayed in love -believes women are devious, scheming creatures and not to be trusted. So when one night he saves a naive young woman from rape, little does he suspect how life is about to change. Despite his growing attraction to Miss Foster, Jack has a problem: Eulogy Foster has a secret and he can’t trust her.

As Eulogy learns the haunting story of her mother’s past, she knows she will only marry for true love. Deeply drawn to Jack Huntley, she needs him to confess his love before she shares the secret of her birth. Caught in a deadlock, with neither able to confess their true feelings, events take a sinister turn as it becomes clear someone wants Eulogy Foster dead and will stop at nothing to achieve it.

-.-

About The Author

HISTORY, ROMANCE AND…CATS! Grace Elliot leads something of a double life, as a vet by day … she is obsessed by all things feline, and author of intelligent historical fiction by night.

She is an avid reader and turned to writing as a way to de-stress from an emotionally demanding job.

She firmly believes that smart people read romance – as an antidote to the modern world!

Grace only discovered the wonders of social history many years after leaving education and, after working her way through the Tudors and medieval history, finally decided that her passion lay firmly with the Georgian and Regency periods.

Her inspiration to delve into the world of the historical fiction novel came initially from Margaret George who encouraged her pick up and read her first social history book, and Stephanie Laurens who showed Grace that to fully escape to her new-found world, she needed to write about it, which she has, most successfully.

-.-

My Thoughts About .. ‘Eulogy’s Secret’

EULOGY

1. A laudatory speech or written tribute, especially one praising someone who has died.
2. High praise or commendation.
We discover some way into the story, that Eulogy was so named as a tribute to her mothers’ nobility and self sacrifce.
.-.
This accolade is in the most part deserved, as Eulogy has had some real and valid core values and standards instilled in her by her adoptive parents. She has promised herself that she will only marry for love and in return expects that the person she marries will live by and uphold those same principles in return. She has a firm belief in the morals and integrity of her fellow man to do the right thing, give her a fair hearing and treat her with respect and dignity.
-.-
Eulogy is determined in her quest to lay claim to the family which she mistakenly anticipates will welcome her with open arms. She is far too trusting and naive in her dealings with Lucien Devlin, a bitter and twisted individual, who with his hurtful and manipulative lies, will stop at nothing to destroy both Eulogy and Jack in order to protect the false and caring public image he has built up around himself, in a desperate attempt to escape the dire and destructive course he has allowed his life to take.
-.-
Grace has given Eulogy’s character a sublime sense of compassionate innocence and unquestioning loyalty, which is both touching, yet will ultimately be the cause of her near downfall. At the same time she has endowed her character with the same stubborn and intransigent streak, which will inevitably set her on a collision course with Jack, especially as she steadfastly refuses to reveal what she falsely, yet sincerely believes is an honour-bound secret she has promised and is determind to keep. One cannot help but admire Eulogy’s misplaced sense of loyalty, as she constantly allows her innocence and compassion to get the better of her in any decision making process.

.-.

Jack is the youngest son of a titled family, which means that he must pay his own way in life, as the family title has by right, passed to his eldest brother. This does not however, mean that he is to sully himself too much in his chosen occupation as he is still expected to carve out for himself a place in the upper echelons of London Georgian society, uphold the good name and reputation of the family and marry within his social class, a woman of good breeding and character.
-.-
Grace has imbued the character of Jack with the same sense of stubbornness as Eulogy, although his underlying character is probably the weaker of the two, as he does rather want to ‘have his  cake and eat it’. He doesn’t reveal to Eulogy that he has already had his heart broken and been betrayed, by a lady such as she, who is considered outside of and below his social standing in society. He now thinks he has hardened his heart and considers himself bound by propriety to maintain his standing and influence within the ton, although the reality of the situation is that he cannot help but feel the need to protect Eulogy, whilst shrouding himself in a cloak of offhandedness and coolness, to hide his latent vulnerability and infatuation for her. He fights hard to deny his growing natural love for Eulogy, yet is always there when she needs him, unable to leave her feeling alone and vulnerable.
-.-

Here we then have our two protagonists and so the scene is set for a rollicking story of passion versus position and power, where they find themselves embroiled in a plot with multiple twists and turns, a real ‘blending’ of the various storylines, culminating in a resolution to their quandry which is both dangerous and fabulous. Grace also builds the sexual tension at just the right pace to keep the reader guessing exactly when they are going to succumb to the inevitable, although this in no way overshadows the underlying storyline and plot, only serving to compliment the overall enjoyment of the story.

-.-

The story is both plot and character driven in equal measure, so that I wanted to both laugh and cry with them, yet at the same time bang their heads together, for not being able to see that, the thing which they both covet the most, is right in front of them, if only they would open their hearts and minds to the possibilities. I don’t believe that this complete joining of both body and spirit is truly achieved until the final, last touching scene, as Grace continues to pour on the uncertainty and suspense, culminating in a touching and emotional finale.
.-.
If you like your historical romance laced with a touch of danger and daring, then this has to be a must for your reading list.
.-.
Another great book, even more captivating and sensual than the first, written by an author who is so obviously passionate about her subject

PASSION VIES WITH POSITION AND POWER, CAN LOVE CONQUER ALL?

-.-

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

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

-.-

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘A Dedicated Man’ by Peter Robinson

November 3, 2011 By 8 Comments

 

Synopsis words taken from the book:

This Title Is Available From Amazon

“Near the village of Helmthorpe, Swainsdale, the body of a well-liked local historian is found half-buried under a drystone wall.

Harry Steadman has been brutally murdered. But who would want to kill such a thoughtful, dedicated man?

Chief Inspector Alan Banks is called in to investigate and soon discovers that disturbing secrets lie behind the apparently bucolic facade.

It is clear that young Sally Lumb, locked in her lover’s arms on the night of the murder, knows more than she is letting on. And her knowledge could lead to danger …”

—

About The Author:

Peter Robinson is a native of Yorkshire, England, where he earned his BA Honours Degree in English Literature, from the University of Leeds.

He then moved to Canada where he earned an MA in English and Creative Writing, going on to further success with a PhD in English.

Peter is best known for introducing us to his character, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, who has now successfully unravelled some 19 cases, during his 24 year career. He has also had success with a couple of stand alone novels and collections.

He has been nominated for and won, numerous awards for his contribution to the genre of crime thriller writing and now divides his time between his Canadian home in Toronto and Richmond in his native Yorkshire.

—

My favourite lines from the book…

“Murder is the one crime that can’t be put right. It upsets the balance. The dead can’t be restored like stolen property; death doesn’t heal like physical or emotional scars left by assault or rape. It’s final. The end…”

—

My thoughts about the book…

I have read books from later in the ‘Alan Banks’ series, so I already know what happens to the character in his personal life, although this does not detract in any way from my enjoyment in back-tracking a little, in this, the second book in the series.

Peter Robinson is still establishing the character and his family, fleshing them out, to give them a life of their own. They are becoming totally believable, not too exuberant or larger than life, as they strive to fit into their new home and community in the Yorkshire dales, after the hustle and bustle of life in London.

Banks is coming to like his new found peace and quiet, mentally leaving the investigation for short periods, to share his random thoughts and to wax lyrical in his very vivid and real descriptions, of his adopted Yorkshire Dales.

Much of the investigation seems to take place in or around various public houses and involves quite a large intake of both alcohol and tobacco, with much of the time in between spent driving between remote locations in the Dales, to the accompaniment of his latest interest, folk music. I found this flawed side to his character quite endearing and in keeping with the whols ethos of  this intimate community, although I did have more than a passing thought that the similarity of the character with that of Colin Dexter’s character of ‘Morse’, was quite uncanny in many instances, although of course Morse had his musical tastes firmly rooted in the Classical genre.

In fact, all of the characters in the story are well developed and believable, in their individual roles, within this tightknit community. Banks is still treated as something of an outsider, with the locals  reluctant to talk to, or confide in him, despite the fact that everyone knows everyone else and everyone has an opinion to share. As is so often the case in smaller communities however, they are so busy minding everyone else’s business, that they have been caught unawares and are blissfully ignorant about the identity of the murderer in their midst.

The plot isn’t hurried along, which is a little unfortunate for Banks, who subsequently and very  emotionally for him personally, has two crimes on his hands. We now get to go beyond that bluff exterior and see the softer side to his personality, as he strives to come to terms with his own shortcomings  in the investigation, in this often reflective study of human nature.

Banks is a man of great tenacity in his ability to solve a crime, despite the many false leads and intricate sub-plots, that stand in his way and following his thought processes and powers of deduction was quite interesting,  changing my mind about the identity of the person he was seeking out several times and keeping me guessing right until the end.

This book was nothing less than the quality of writing and levels of suspense, that I have come to expect from Peter Robinson and personally, I would highly recommend it, if you are in the market for a great crime fiction read.

 

 


Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘Double Crossing’ by Meg Mims

October 17, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

Synopsis

Available From Amazon

   A murder arranged as a suicide … a missing deed … and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered.

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed — both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey.

As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust—the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price. Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?

..

About The Author

Meg Mims is an author, artist (Meg works in watercolour, acrylic and pen/ink media) and amateur photographer.

Born and raised in southeast Michigan, she lives with her husband, a “Make My Day” Malti-poo and a drooling black cat.

She is a staff writer for RE/MAX Platinum in Michigan – writing articles about the real estate market, community events and Realtors – and for Lake Effect Living, a West Coast of Michigan tourist on-line magazine.

Meg earned an M.A. degree through Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program, joined Romance Writers of America , where she learned much more about the business of writing romance, then entered the SHU programme for a second time, to tackle the ‘mysteries’ of writing in the mystery genre.

She now writes historical mysteries and romantic suspense, although she first became published in the  children’s market in 1997 with puzzles, a rebus, poems, short stories and illustrations.

..

My Thoughts About The Book

A Western historical fiction and romance, mixed with plenty of suspense, murder and adventure, which had me hooked from the first page to the last.

Lily is a girl ahead of  her time. Unlike many of her contemporaries she is educated in the ways of the world, intelligent, strong willed and self-sufficient. Qualities which have been instilled in her by a father she loves and whose good name she is determined to see restored after his sudden and violent death. Traits which defy the traditions of the period, for a young lady with class and breeding should be obedient, ornamental, educated only in the finer arts and subservient to men in all things.

Lily’s character is vivid in detail and well defined, even to the point where she is forced to admit that she is not quite as ‘au fait’ in the ways of the world as she has assumed herself to be and that she needs to seek help and advice when it is required. She quickly learns that she needs to be discerning about who she can and cannot trust, but that trust and help needs to be given on her own terms. Her judgement about Ace, her chosen and well paid protector, is called into question on more than one occasion, however her intuitive decision that she can depend on him no matter what, turns out to be well founded and stands her in good stead against both family and friends, who would betray her. Our independent heroine is certainly living outside of her time and must use all her wiles and skills to determine her ever-growing feelings for her new protector and just how to deal with them.

All of the characters, including those who only appear briefly, have been developed and portrayed in this same detailed way, affording them all the ability to draw the reader into the story, each with their own self-centred and selfish motives, meaness of spirit and family values, greed and duplicity.

Perhaps the surprise amongst the protagonists is Ace Diamond, the one person who would be assumed to be along for the ride, only for what gains he can amass for himself at Lily’s expense. Instead we see a man, yes a little rough around the edges, maybe short on temper, a little too quick with his fists and who definitely doesn’t suffer fools gladly. We also get more than a glimpse of his inner control, sense of fairness, perceptiveness in his character analysis of those who would hurt or betray Lily, and his genuine growing affection for Lily, which appears to be a surprise even to himself and tests his control to its utmost limits.

The plotline, whilst to some degree predictable, is well crafted, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. There is a good balance struck between romance and suspense, with the underlying romantic and sexual  feelings which are growing between Lily and Ace, forming an integral, yet not overwhelming part of the story. The emphasis manages to remain firmly centred around Lily’s quest to find the one person she thinks may be able to help her track down the people who meted out such a cruel retribution on her father.

The vastness, primeval beauty, changing scenery and vistas of a new and fledgling country are brought to life in clear and vivid detail, as we journey across the breadth of the country by train, from Lily’s home in the more prosperous and sophisticated Chicago of the Eastern Seabord; to the wild, untamed territory of the Western Californian lands.

“The prairie possessed a luminous glory all its own, mesmerizing and free, unashamed of its naked grassland.”

Whilst this episode of Lily’s quest reaches a natural, if slightly unexpected conclusion, with the storyline drawing to an unhurried climax, we are still left to wonder what is to become of Lily’s personal and romantic future and thus Meg has gently paved the way for a sequel, no doubt rich with the promise of what is to come with Lily’s impending maturity, and which, I understand, is well underway as I write this post.

..

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

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

..

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

My Thoughts About … ‘The Perfect Rose’ by Felicia Rogers

September 29, 2011 By 8 Comments

 

Synopsis

This Title Is Available From Amazon

Abandoned by his wife and left to raise a child alone, Caleb Reed falls short of the ideal work-from-home dad. He needs a woman to help him, in every sense of the word. At the suggestion of a friend, Caleb agrees to hire Ariel Lauren on a trial basis.

..
As an orphan, Ariel has more issues than just how to make it on her on. Yes, she needs the money that Caleb offers her, but more than anything she finds she desires his love. One calamity after another befalls her and jeopardizes her new job and her chance at having a family. But through it all, Caleb is by her side, his gruff exterior threatening to melt in the face of their shared attraction. Will they decide to continue life alone or will the magic of Valentine’s Day bring them together?

 

..

About The Author

Felicia Rogers is a relatively new author on the scene and although she has already had two novels published, both in the YA genre, ‘The Pefect Rose’ is her first foray into the adult contemporary romantic fiction genre, although her next book, an historical romance, is well on its way.

She modestly describes herself as “just your average, ordinary woman, with a side interest– writing.”  Born and raised in Southern US, she committed many years of her life to being a good Christian wife and mother. After reading book after book, she then decided that with a little more time to herself, the opportunity to try writing a book of her own, was now…

Her first thought was towards writing an historical romance, however as the ideas began to develop, a paranormal story with a twist suitable for the YA market drew the most inspiration and so The Key was discovered, closely followed by its natural sequel Mara’s Secret.

‘The Perfect Rose’ was conceived as a ‘Novella’ and took Felicia into the world of adult romantic fiction, with her upcoming new book ‘There Your Heart Will Be Also’ finally fulfilling that original dream of penning an historical fiction novel.

..

My Thoughts About The Book

This is my first foray into the world of the ‘Novella’ and although I didn’t start to read with any preconceived ideas, I did wonder how  a ‘beginning, middle and end’ to the story, was going to be realised in such a few short pages. Felicia however, was well up to the challenge and managed all three elements with great aplomb and without managing to lose her way.

Starting off with three emotionally damaged characters and in just a few chapters turning them into a well balanced, stable family unit, was a feat in itself, without all the extraneous events which occurred to threaten the very tenuous fabric of their growing affections.

Some of these events appeared to have been added rather randomly and therefore slightly stilted the free-flowing nature of the central story, however they did build beautifully on the whole atmosphere of tension, which lurked beneath the surface, ready to rip assunder any relationship which was forming between Caleb and Ariel.

The introduction of Kelly, Caleb’s ex-wife and Joshua’s mother was the pivotal point in this new and fragile relationship and although, given the circumstances under which Caleb and Kelly had parted, I could see what Felicia was hoping to achieve by bringing her back into the equation; by either offering them a chance to regroup as a family and try to move on, or to finally bring and end and closure to the marriage, I wasn’t sure that allowing Kelly to run roughshod over everyone and just move back into the family home was quite plausible, although in such a short story perhaps it was the only way to bring about a swift conclusion to the episode.

Tender moments which Ariel shared with Caleb’s son, Joshua, strengthened and re-inforced the concept of the secure and loving family unit, which Ariel herself had longed for yet never known, whilst also highlighting the inbuilt resilience of the young to be able to adapt to and accept a new situation, if  they are given time to assess for themselves its true value and worth.

I was with Joshua all the way, as he battles in his own mind, whether he should accept the return of  a birth mother he has never known, only that she went away and left him; or whether he should move on and allow Ariel to be included in the life he has built around himself and his father and to adjust to having a third person in that tight-knit and strongly bonded relationship, which offered both father and son the security blanket they had so needed in those early days of being alone.

Central to the whole storyline is the character of Mabel, who has been looking out for Caleb and Joshua all the way down the line and, although she may at first appear to be the slightly nosey neighbour, is actually quite perceptive in her assessment of the pair’s domestic and emotional needs. She realises that living a solitary existence is not the way to protect yourself against life and the ability to be hurt again, especially for Joshua who is ever-increasingly dependent on Caleb emotionally and is becoming unreceptive to outside intervention in his life. She is able to tread where other family members fear to go, as she recognizes that Caleb will be too polite to refuse her ‘meddlesome’ ways outright, giving her the opportunity to intervene in her own unique style.

The most obvious thought I am left with, after reading ‘The Perfect Rose’, is that inherently, we all of us like to think that we fit in and belong, and we all like to feel valued and loved. Would that we could all have a ‘Mabel’ in our lives!

..

I am not sure that ‘Novella’ is the way to go for me, as I prefer a slightly longer novel, where the characters can be given clear definition and allowed to grow more into their roles, as part of a more complex plot, however, as a study in the genre, ‘The Perfect Rose’ worked well and provided a relaxing and enjoyable break from more lengthy and studious novels.

I am certainly looking forward to reading Felicia’s new full length novel ‘There Will Your Heart Be Also’, which is due to be published in the Autumn of 2011.

..

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

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

..

UPDATE 29/09/2011 …. I have received feedback from the author Felicia Rogers about the content on this post and I would like to include this very pertinent comment that she made and was hitherto unknown to me:

“I would like to add that this story was originally written for a contest and therefore had a word length restriction. Everything I’ve written since that time has been a full length novel. Because as you said, the time is needed to help the characters develop and grow.”

..

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts