Smorgasbord Book Reviews from May 2023 – #Dystopian #Scifi C.S. Boyack, #Shortstories D.L. Finn, #Memoir Darlene Foster, #Thriller Georgia Rose, #Crime Jan Newton

This year I will be sharing my reviews from 2023 in a monthly post and hope that if you have these books on your TBR already it might nudge them up the pile.. or encourage you to go across to buy them.

Delighted to share my review for C.S. Boyack... a post apocalyptic science fiction novel Once Upon a Time in the Swamp.

My review for the book 31st May 2023

This book is a riveting tale of survival, not necessarily of the fittest, but certainly the most determined. Set in a tough new world where people live in small outposts of civilisation, and nature has reclaimed most of the land and waterways.

Mari is already resilient and hardworking being born after the catastrophic events decades before. But even she is not prepared for the devastating outcome when an evil gang sweep through her isolated farm. When the little official law that exists locally refuses to help, she decides to take matters into her own hands inspite of the likelihood she will not survive her gruelling mission.

The author has created an incredible world in the aftermath of several internal and external attacks on the USA and around the world. The detail of everyday life and survival is amazing and for that reason, very realistic. There are some wonderful characters who still believe in humanity and offer help along this arduous journey Mari embarks upon, but certainly the other stars in this book are an Ox with an attitude called Dirt, and a stray hound called Worthless.

At times harsh and cruel as we can only imagine this future world might be, there is also humour and lighter moments where the reader can catch their breath before moving on to the next encounter with snakes, alligators and men with evil on their minds.

A very satisfactory ending that leaves the door open perhaps for more books set in this time, as it would be a shame to waste the brilliant world the author has created.

I can highly recommend, and I am sure like me, you will find it very difficult to put this book down.

Head over to buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Universal Link for other Amazon sites: Mybook.to

Another wonderful read this month is by D.L. Finn –  In the Tree’s Shadow: A collection of stories that exist in your dreams… and nightmares.

My review for the collection May 27th 2023

I have enjoyed stories by this author before, and this new collection is just as delightful, even though some stories have you checking under the bed before switching off the light.

We all have had nightmares and rarely do they survive the light of day, unless they are created by a master storyteller who knows just which buttons to push to make you shiver. Supernatural events and evil monsters battle for supremacy over humans and there are some wonderfully crafted characters deserving their time in the spotlight.

Alongside these stories are families who have drifted apart, parents who did not include kindness or inspiration in the upbringing of their children, and men and women seeking a new life away from their memories. There are also some dystopian reminders of why we need to take better care of our world, and how love survives loss.

Many stories touch the heart such as The Bike which showcased the kindness of strangers and The Bench which showcased the authors love of animals and their healing power.

The collection ends with a longer story, Stranded, with a retired couple seeking to recapture the sense of purpose and hope of their early relationship now that the children are grown and moved far away. They certainly get more than they bargained for and their adventure holds dangers that are out of this world as well as an amazing opportunity they would never have imagined.

I highly recommend this collection and be prepared to be drawn into the web created by D.L. Finn…

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

Another fascinating book by Darlene Foster...a memoir….You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie: Stories about growing up on the Canadian prairies

My review for the book May 20th 2023

Living history is so important to pass on to the next generations, and this delightful collection of stories set in the 1950s and 1960s, highlight not just the differences 70 years can make on our lifestyle and technology, but also the values and experiences of the day.

The author vividly recalls her childhood and teen years growing up on a farm in Alberta, subject to harsh winters and a need for constant vigilence for lifestock and family working everyday to sustain their livelihood and for the children’s future.

There are warm memories of great grand-parents, grand parents and the acknowledgement of their sacrifice and commitment to their new homeland over 120 years ago. Extended family was clearly so important and knowledge was passed from generation to generation with a warmth that softened the often harshness of the environment. Sadly there was also loss and that tragedy is still very keenly felt in the present day.

Hard to pick a favourite from the stories but I especially enjoyed A Special Teacher, Good Hands that evoked memories of my father and certainly will be trying out the authentic recipe for the Best German Kuchen.

This is a book that will be hard for you to put down and I read over a very enjoyable sunny afternoon in the garden.

Head over to read the reviews and buy your copy: Amazon US – And: Amazon CA – And: Amazon UK

Delighted to share my review for the thriller set in a village shocked by vicious murders. A Killer Strikes: (A Shade Darker Book 1) by Georgia Rose.

My review for the book May 13th 2023

As expected in a small community where everyone knows everyone’s business, it is challenging to maintain your privacy and also to keep secrets. In this village however there is an undercurrent of evil that surfaces over the Christmas and New Year that will devastate the residents and open up their pasts to public scrutiny.

The main character Laura Percival has already suffered a personal tragedy that had deeply impacted the way she views others and herself. She loves the close knit community she is part of,  with some exceptions, and is particularly concerned about one family’s whereabouts. She has been a part of their lives as their children have grown and as the events unfold she becomes more and more invested in finding out how and why they have been targeted.

She becomes central to the investigation by the police as she digs into the various rumours and secrets that are revealed from others close to her.

The author has done a masterful job in keeping the reader on the hook as the story unfolds. Characters are carefully crafted as they shapeshift between their public persona and their real identities, and she keeps the momentum going right to the end of the book. Be prepared for some surprises and twists and turns that make this a very compelling read.

I am looking forward to book two in this series.

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

Another riveting crime novel Remember No More ( D.S. Kite Mysteries) by Jan Newton

My review for the book May 6th 2023

This is a crime thriller that is hard to put down once you have started. The author has created a wonderful leading character in DS Julie Kite, and a great plot to make best use of her policing skills.

It can be very difficult moving jobs even within the same organisation such as the British police force, however in this book, DS Kite faces even more challenges by moving from  policing in a major city, to the hills of mid-Wales. Whilst the laws are the same, the approach to enforcing them requires a different approach in an area where everyone knows everybody’s business.

Expecting things to be quieter than her previous post, DS Kite instead finds herself dealing with a death on her first day, working with a new superior, dealing with some reticence at her promotion to the post, and wondering if her husband is as committed to their marriage as he says he is. The locals are also not as welcoming as she had hoped and certainly the family members embroiled in the death have secrets that are not going to be easy to uncover.

The author brings all these elements together in great style and also uses the spectacular scenery of this part of Wales and its isolation to underline the difficulties in policing such a widespread area.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and in particular its climax in the final chapter when unexpected revelations and twists in the plot reveal the secrets long buried.

I am looking forward to reading more DS Kite books in the future.

Read the reviews and buy the book in Ebook, Paperback and Audio: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

 

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