Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair 2022 – #Thriller #Mystery John L. DeBoer, #Malaya #1950s Apple Gidley, #Romance Stevie Turner

Welcome to the Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair with a selection of books from personally recommended authors on my bookshelf I believe will make wonderful gifts for friends, family and for you.

The first book today is the latest release from John L. DeBoer... a fast paced thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and reviewed as an ARC copy recently. It was released on December 13th. The Girl from Belgrade.

About the book

A young girl’s life is torn apart when her parents are killed in the NATO bombing of Belgrade, Serbia, during the 1999 Kosovo War. An embittered Katarina Petrovic grows up with a hatred for Americans and becomes a willing candidate for special training by Russian agents.

Alex Baker commanded an Air Force Office of Special Investigations unit until an incident forced him to resign his military commission. Still in his thirties, he finds a new career as the owner of a Manhattan-based travel agency specializing in tour packages. When his father is assassinated, Alex is promised to be kept in the loop regarding the investigation. The OSI, FBI, and CIA begin a global hunt for a female assassin who appears to be targeting American pilots involved in the Belgrade bombing.

Alex is suddenly thrust into the middle of the investigation when events suggest he could also be on the assassin’s kill list. Is the woman making threatening phone calls the one who murdered his father? Or is she the alluring Dee Norton he meets supposedly by chance? Piece by piece, the mystery is unraveled, culminating in a thrilling conclusion on the island of Key West.

My review for the book

Tragedy strikes for a little girl in Belgrade, Serbia in 1999 that will have repercussions on the lives of men and women twenty years later. The unscupulous take advantage of the vulnerable, and in this case, fan the hatred that has taken hold of a child to create a merciless assassin. Keen to do her master’s bidding to further their agenda, she also has her own hit list and revenge is her reason for living.

Time has passed for those who were serving in the armed forces participating in the war in Serbia. They have gone on with their lives, working, having families unaware that they have a target on their back. Until Alex’s father is assassinated and connections are made as to the reason for his death.

The story picks up speed as more characters come in to play that blur the lines of the investigation.Alex finds himself trying to figure out who and why, three women are playing fast and loose with his life and those around him.

The main characters are excellent and their roles in the plot carefully choreographed. There is suspense and action as the mystery unfolds, with reveals cleverly inserted to keep the reader on their toes. The fast paced story line is lightened with touches of humour and a developing romance between Alex and the mysterious agent whose background makes her the perfect hunter for the assassin.

I enjoyed the book very much and can recommend to readers who enjoy an action packed storyline with a great lead up to the exciting climax.

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of books other by John L. DeBoer

Head over to discover more about John DeBoer and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow John: Goodreads – Twitter: @Johnldeboer

The next novel today is set in Malaya post WWII which is both an adventure and a love story that I reviewed earlier in the year and can recommend. Have You Eaten Rice Today by Apple Gidley

About the book

The Emergency rumbles through the jungle, the kampongs, and towns as the communist uprising in 1950’s Malaya adds poignancy to the salutation, ‘have you eaten rice today?’ when hunger drives some terrorists to surrender.

Simon Frampton returns to Malaya as a rubber planter after failing to settle into civilian life in England after the War. His knowledge of the jungle is again put to use when a war-time covert force is reformed and renamed, Ferret Force, made up of Malays, Chinese and Europeans.

Dee Cunningham, an Australian nurse longing to escape the confines of Townsville, Queensland, joins the British Red Cross to help set up and run rural clinics in Malaya.

The violence of guerrilla warfare becomes the backdrop to their love story, but miscommunication leads to sadness. It is not until sixty years later, when Simon’s grandson Max comes to stay at his Dorset farm, when he finds a box filled with envelopes with Australian stamps, and the truth comes to light.

Have You Eaten Rice Today? is a poignant exploration of Malaya’s violent history, merdeka, and how love is found in unexpected places.

One of the reviews for the book

Martha Engber Reads Such an interesting story!

I love books that transport me to somewhere I’ve never been, and this book did just that! From page one I felt wrapped in the heat, conflict and politics of 1950s Malaya, what the British called its collection of colonies on the Malay Peninsula.

The story revolves around restless Englishman Simon Frampton, a World War II vet who returns to Malay as a rubber planter. Due to his wartime experience, he winds up participating in a clandestine force of Malays, Chinese and Europeans trying to win against Communist forces that rule the jungle and terrorize the locals in an effort to take control. Simon’s difficult life starkly improves with the arrival of Dee Cunningham, an Australian Red Cross nurse.

The author does such a great job of depicting the characters, descriptions and history of a region I knew so little about. I felt the humidity of the jungle, the desperation of villagers stuck in the middle of conflict and the immediate attraction between Simon and the spirited Dee.

This is a fantastic story for those who love to learn about the world while reading about love that grows under the most difficult of circumstances.

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

Also by Apple Gidley

Head over to find out more about Apple Gidley and buy the books : Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – follow Apple: Goodreads – Blog:Apple Gidley WordPress – Twitter: @ExpatApple

The final book today is the latest release by Stevie Turner – a contemporary romance on my TBR for my holiday reading – Falling.

About the book

Death seems preferable to wasting what remains of his youth in prison.

James Hynde, fortified by several tots of whiskey, climbs up onto the roof of Parker Mews’ multi-storey car park and peers over the parapet. The game is up. The police will soon seize his millions, the Maserati, the London townhouse, and the Caribbean mansion on Windjammer Island.

Should he jump feet first or hold out his arms and topple over and over like a somersaulting gymnast? He closes his eyes, feels the breeze on his face, and pitches forward into the unknown.

Sixty feet below, Olivia Benet, a budding ballerina, rushes along Parker Mews towards the entrance to the multi-storey. Her interview for the Royal Ballet had taken much longer than expected, and she has but a few short minutes left before her parking ticket expires.

James has no idea of the consequences his action will have on his and Olivia’s lives.

‘Falling’ made the finals of the 2022 Page Turner Writing Award.

One of the reviews for the book

Carol Balawyder A Fun and Unusual Love Affair

Falling has a unique premise: James Hynde, at the end of his rope, decides to commit suicide by jumping off a building. He lands on Olivia who is coming from an interview with the Royal Ballet Company and her dreams of becoming a ballerina are literally crushed while James has failed his suicide attempt.

Wheelchair bound, Olivia is intent on getting her revenge to the man who ruined her life.
Falling is a novel with two very well rounded characters filled with greed, money, revenge and yes, even romance as a relationship between Olivia and James ensues. Not an ordinary love story though, where, James’ motivation is guilt for having ruined Olivia’s dream while Olivia’s is one of bitter revenge. Two people marrying each other for the wrong reason.

About a quarter of the way through the novel Olivia’s revenge is blocked by several obstacles involving a mother-in-law, tainted money and the appearance of an ex-wife.
Life keeps knocking Olivia down while James, on the otherhand, is out to prove that he is not a deadbeat loser.

When Olivia discovers that her dream of opening up a ballet school is squashed by James’ dark secret, their marriage turns for the worse. Olivia wants a divorce which James refuses to give her and they end up being business partners.

In lockdown, will their business partnership survive?

I enjoyed this novel. It is a fun, light read with twists and turns that make it unpredictable.

The moral of the story, in my opinion, is spoken by Olivia’s mother:

“Don’t let what’s happened to you make you bitter. It’ll destroy the rest of your life.”

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A selection of other books by Stevie Turner