Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Weekly News – #Reviews – #YA #Fantasy A.J. Alexander, #Scifi Richard Dee, #Paranormal Roberta Eaton Cheadle, #Thriller Gwen M. Plano

Welcome to the weekly news with recent reviews for authors on the shelves of the Cafe and Bookstore.

The first author today is A.J. Alexander, with a review for her latest release Bounty Hunter, Book 4 in ‘The Council of Twelve’ series

About the book

When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.

Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.

Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…

A recent review for the book

Kindle Customer 5.0 out of 5 stars This Series Keeps Getting Better and Better…  Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021

This may be my favorite installment of this series to date. Between this one and the two previous books I’m feeling like the series is maturing as a whole. The first book “Soul Taker” did a good job of introducing us to the author’s vision of this world, while “Sundance” and “Demon Tracker” started fleshing that world and its characters out more and more. In “Bounty Hunter” we dive more deeply into this series and get a new perspective from one of the actual members of the Council of Twelve.

This time we start out seeing things from the perspective of Centriel who having seen how the world’s of his fellow Archangels have changed, and wondering if he will ever find such happiness. Then he meets Simin a Demon Hunter and soon both their worlds’ are turned upside down, and we are soon drawn deeper into the manipulations of Hell and it’s many minions.

Finally, I want to say I loved the interactions with Simin and Zei, our heroine from the last book. I also enjoy how well the author integrates characters and dangers from the previous installments series, like the fact that Sundance is still trying to deal with problems from her time as a prisoner in Hell.

In short, this latest book like it really fit nicely into the world we’ve been introduced to, while at the same time expanding it at the same time. A really great read. Can’t wait for the next volume.

Also by A.J. Alexander

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Website: Aurora Jean Alexander – Twitter: @AuroraJean_A

The next book with a recent review is Survive: The Tale of Ballantyne Alysom by Richard Dee

About the book

From the uncharted jungle to the corridors of power, it’s all about surviving.

Ballantyne Alysom is the Galaxy’s most famous explorer, a man loved by billions. Davis Jansen is the cameraman he takes to record his latest mission.

When things go wrong, they are marooned on a savage and uncharted planet.

The survivors need a leader they can rely on. Jansen watches and records it all as Alysom’s true character is revealed. He’s not the genial and fearless explorer that everyone sees.

The Far Explorer is a ship riddled with infighting and jealousy, Alysom is controlling and arrogant, nothing like the man that his reputation suggests.

Jansen’s efforts to expose the truth carry just as much risk as surviving on the planet did.

Maybe more

Find out if enough lies can ever bury the truth in Survive, the tale of Ballantyne Alysom

An extract from a recent review for the book

Mish Medhat VINE VOICE5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping survival story that transitions into a scary conspiracy thriller. Unmissable!  Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2021

Survive is a fantastic book that reaches out to the reader on many levels. Undoubtedly, given its moniker, it is a book about survival. But this survival is as much about overcoming the stark, cold, corporate power of Galactographic and their star Ballantyne Alysom (or Bal as he’s known), as it is about surmounting the flora and fauna on the strange planet the explorers are stranded on.

From the beginning, Bal is a character reflecting the traits of so many celebrities, those worshipped stars whose egos arrive in the room before they do. Wrapped up in a cocoon of fixers, agents and close protection, and encasing their entourages and workers in iron-clad contracts, forcing them to forsake any rights on intellectual property they may have. These people are well known to any reader, and this makes Bal, as the central antagonist immediately relatable. When the characters interact with Bal, you can feel it, awe at first, as they realize they’re in the presence of their idol, but once in his orbit, they’re pulled in, get too close to their star, and soon they begin to burn. Repulsion overtakes awe, and Bal sends out flares of hate in return. Incendiary and captivating, these scenes had me rivetted, unable to pull away, even when watching a film, I couldn’t stop from flicking back to my Kindle.

Mr Dee writes with a fluid capability weaving a story of intricacy, complexity and sheer drama. As the book unfolds, the reader knows from the outset, the voyage to Certus 2-12 to witness two planets merging to become one is going to be fraught with conflict and bitter personality clashes. For Davis, the cameraman and his sound editor wife Anisia, working with Bal was never going to be an easy ride…Little did they know, just how bumpy that ride was to be.

A small selection of other books by Richard Dee

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website: Richard Dee’s Scifi – Goodreads: Richard Dee at Goodreads – Twitter: @RichardDockett1

The next book with a recent release is A Ghost and His Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle .. currently in print but soon in Kindle too.

About the book

After Tom and Michelle Cleveland move into their recently built, modern townhouse, their housewarming party is disrupted when a drunken game with an Ouija board goes wrong and summonses a sinister poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904. Estelle makes her presence known in a series of terrifying events, culminating in her attacking Tom in his sleep with a knife. But, Estelle isn’t alone. Who are the shadows lurking in the background – one in an old-fashioned slouch hat and the other, a soldier, carrying a rifle?

After discovering their house has been built on the site of one of the original farms in Irene, Michelle becomes convinced that the answer to her horrifying visions lie in the past. She must unravel the stories of the three phantoms’ lives, and the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths during the Second Anglo Boer War, in order to understand how they are tied together and why they are trapped in the world of ghosts between life and death. As the reasons behind Estelle’s malevolent behaviour towards Tom unfold, Michelle’s marriage comes under severe pressure and both their lives are threatened.

An extract from a recent review for the book

Annika VINE VOICE5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling & Intense Paranormal/Historical Novel Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2021

A Ghost and His Gold combines the paranormal with intense violent battle scenes from 1899-1902; it features three ghosts not only haunting a house and its occupants in present-day South Africa but who are themselves haunted by events in their past lives; it’s a story about seeking forgiveness and ultimately finding redemption.

Furthermore, the book explores not only the horror of war, concentration camps, scorched earth policy but also date rape, rape, violence against women. Can any ever be forgiven? Can anyone carrying out these acts ever find peace within themselves and acceptance by loved ones again?

Initially, A Ghost and his Gold appears to be a normal paranormal ghost story as Michelle and Tom, both working in the finance sector although she is also a part-time writer, move into their new home. The new townhouse is situated on the site of an old Boer homestead. Michelle immediately senses and sees a presence in the house, one that makes itself known to them and their friends during a party using an Ouija board. Tom, a hard-nosed realist, is sceptical that the man named Pieter was there or even existed.

From the close-third person narrative in 2019, the novel switches to 1900 and Pieter is in his house with the family as he is woken by banging on the door with a warning that the ‘khakis’ (British soldiers) are on the way.

It is in the midst of the Second Anglo Boer War and the events focus on Pieter, his strong-willed wife, their daughter Estelle and other children. Estelle is treated with contempt by her mother, a woman who later rejects her.

As another ghost called Robert makes itself known to Michelle, she discovers his journal written whilst he was a British soldier during the war. The first-person perspective of the journal is especially powerful, personal and direct. During the siege of Mafeking, Robert befriends a young man called Richard and he takes him under his wing.

Roberta Eaton Cheadle’s research of the period is impressive. Yet she does not fall into the trap of using all her knowledge with a flood of information, rather skilfully incorporates detail where necessary; be it of the furniture or buildings of the era, the form of travel, clothes and she is particularly adept at writing battles scenes, the weapons used, their tragic consequences. I felt as if I was in the midst of the carnage, feeling the horrors experienced by Robert, Pieter and the others. 

A small selection of other books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle and as Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

Read the reviews and Buy the books :Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Follow Robbie : Goodreads – blog: Robbie’s Inspiration- Twitter: @bakeandwrite

The final author today with a recent review is Gwen M. Plano for The Culmination: a new beginning – this is the third book in The Contract thriller series.

About the book

The Culmination, a new beginning is the third book in The Contract thriller series. After an assassination attempt on an Air Force base in northern California, tensions mount. Heads of state meet to craft a denuclearization agreement. The meetings between these nuclear powers take a murderous turn. A nefarious conspiracy re-emerges and leads the characters into the heart of the Middle East, where they encounter the unexpected and find a reason for hope.

One of the recent reviews for the book

Karen Ingalls 5.0 out of 5 stars A GRIPPING THRILLER  – Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021

Politics, history, intrigue, war, and love are all wrapped up in this novel. At times I forgot that I was reading a book because the author skillfully described situations that COULD be happening today. The author added some romance in a gentle and believable manner removing some of the tension from the political chaos. Five stars for a well-written and researched book.

Read the reviews and buy the book:Amazon US – And:Amazon UK

Other books by Gwen Plano

Read the reviews and buy the books: : Amazon UK –and : Amazon US – follow Gwen : Goodreads –website:Gwen Plano – Twitter: @gmplano

 

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books…thanks Sally.