Welcome to the new Smorgasbord Bookshelf 2022 where I will be sharing my own book reviews, author features and special events during the year such as book fairs.
It is my intention to still provide a platform for authors to share their books, but in 2022 the focus will be on my own reviews, features about authors on the bookshelf and regular events such the Christmas and Summer Book Fairs and the recent author guest post series, If I Knew Then What I Know Now!
For the last seven years I have shared three posts a week with recent reviews, but this year I will just be promoting new releases in one off promotions.
You will notice that the new bookshelf has just my own personal recommendations for the authors and I will update with new reviews I write as we go through the year. Some authors are on my TBR and I will update with my reviews as I read them.
Book Reviews
I hope to review more books in 2022 which is part of the reason for cutting back on my blogging. Reading is my first love and I am not doing enough of it. In addition I hope that by posting my review here on the blog and Goodreads, Bookbub etc, it will help support authors in a more constructive way.
Currently like most of you I have a TBR as long as both arms, and I try to read in the chronological order that I buy the books. Which is the key here, as I prefer to buy the books that I review, so that there is no pressure to read and review, and I can enjoy at my leisure.
There is an exception to this, and it is when an author I have previously read and reviewed asks if I might accept their book for an advance review. If I feel I can do so in a timely fashion then I am happy to do so.
New books
It would be very helpful if you have a new book release coming up in the next couple of months if you could let me know when it is either on pre-order or available. I tend to work a couple of weeks ahead and advance notice is appreciated.
There is a set format to the new book promotion and because of scheduling ahead, I am sorry that I don’t participate in book launch tours.. but happy to post a new book promotion either side of a tour.
New Authors to Smorgasbord
With the Christmas book fair and other features between now and the New Year I won’t be accepting any new authors until 2023. But you can email me @sally.cronin@moyhill.com and we can chat about what information I will need from you..
Following a new book promotion I do ask authors to individually respond to comments from readers and share on their social media.
Meet the authors on the bookshelf that I can personally recommend.
*+(19) Annette Rochelle Aben, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Annette: Goodreads – Blog: Annette Rochelle Aben WordPress – Twitter:@YouAreTheExpert
My review for Tell Me a Story May 26th 2022
Whether it is verse or prose, Annette Rochelle Aben creates stories that touch the heart. It takes skill to write a story in only 99 words and each of the 75 stories reflect that artistry beautifully.
The stories are a celebration of life, love and simple everyday events that remain in our memories through childhood and beyond. There are one or two that hint at the darker side of life, such as Bedfellows but most are heartwarming and thought provoking.
I enjoyed all the stories, but I would like to give a special mention to just some of the gems. Chocoholics, Daybreak, Determination, Giddy Up Go, Gnome More, Last Request and Somewhere Out There.
Some lines in the stories have also stayed in my thoughts about the collection.
‘Legs with the strength of over-cooked spaghetti’
‘Into the darkness of the cave of fear breaks the light of a new day’
This is a lovely read to in one sitting or enjoy dipping into, written by a wonderful storyteller with an eye for detail.. Highly recommended.
*(3)Dan Antion buy the books: Amazon US – And:Amazon CA – And:Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – Blog: Dan Antion – Facebook: D. Antion – Twitter: @DAntion – Instagram: Dan Antion – Bookbub: Dan Antion – LinkedIn: Dan Antion – Youtube: Dan Antion
My review for Warning Signs February 2020.
This is definitely a novel about obsession. The serial killer with finding the source of his need to murder, the detective who has his own demons and is determined to track down the killer, and the vulnerable Angie who lost her childhood to the need to care for her addicted mother.
Clearly Carol Balawyder had researched the background for her characters in depth, and instead of presenting us with gory details, she slowly peels back the layers that both killer and victims have built up around childhood trauma and surviving in the ‘system’. We are all flawed but when does that become a full-blown obession with murder? Why these particular victims that are already vulnerable?
Eugene is aware of what he is, but researches other killers to find out why he has this need and how he might be stopped. Angie might just offer a way back from this madness, but is he expecting too much from her by putting the responsibility for his redemption on her fragile shoulders?
Detective Darren Van Ray has a gut feeling about Eugene but he has been wrong before and he now must get up close and personal to prove his case.
Carol Balawyder does an excellent job of keeping the pace and tension tight throughout the story, and there are some surprises along the way as the three individuals test their own strength against each other and what life throws at them.
If you would like to get into the mind of a serial killer and enjoy a subtle and carefully crafted thriller you will enjoy Warning Signs.
*+(24) Judith Barrow, buy: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – Follow Judith: Goodreads – blog: Judith Barrow
One of my reviews for the books by Judith Barrow – The Heart Stone February 2021
I have read nearly all of Judith Barrow’s previous novels and was delighted when a new book was announced.
As always the author has created a cast of characters that embody all aspects of human nature and are guaranteed to elicit an emotional response. Combined with the harsh reality of life during this dreadful period in history, Judith Barrow has written a compelling saga .
The book covers seven years in the lives of two young people who face moments of joy but also untold dangers, loss, and at times despair. Arthur at only 16 is thrown into the maelstrom of the first year of the war leaving behind Jessie, his first and only love, to face her own devastating life events on the home front.
Times were very hard and despite the progress made by the suffragette movement, for women it was even tougher. Despite some enlightened men, particularly in this small village, the pressure was applied forcing women into marriages doomed from the start.
I am not going to share any spoilers but I do recommend The Heart Stone as a wonderful story with well drawn characters which will certainly bring you to tears from time to time. The author deals with the heartbreak and trauma with great sensitivity but does not shy away from writing honestly. This includes a thread of hope running through the novel which leads to a fitting conclusion to the story.
As with all the books of Judith Barrow, I highly recommend The Heart Stone. It is a story that will linger in your mind for a long time to come.
*+(18) Ritu Bhathal, Buy: Amazon UK – and : Amazon US- Blog: Ritu Bhathal WordPress – Follow Ritu: Goodreads – Twitter: @RituBhathal
My review for Marriage Unarranged from March 12th 2020
What a lovely story and one I enjoyed very much.
This is a romance and an exploration of life in families where parents are striving to maintain cultural traditions, as the younger generation adapt and engage in the environment they were born into. For Aashi’s parents and those of her fiancee Ravi, the drama that unfolds is unthinkable, but love and a realisation that losing face in the community is not the end of the world, opens the door to a new beginning.
With the support of her brothers Sunny and Bali, her friend Kiran and a fellow traveller Arjun, Aashi finds the strength to move on.
The central part of the story is set in India where the five friends set out to discover their roots without the guiding hand of parents on previous visits, and for Arjun for the first time. Simple pleasures such as watching a Bollywood movie in an authentic Indian cinema with all the trimmings and exploring the colourful markets. Then taking the train to Amritsar to celebrate the harvest festival of Vaisakha along with thousands of pilgrims, and on a more emotive visit to pay their respects at Jallianwala Bagh garden the site of the infamous Amritsar massacre.
A the end of the two week trip which has been a mixture of business and pleasure, and with a deeper sense of family and tradition, love is also in the air. As the group leave India and return to Britain, it is clear that life will be different for them all.
The author has created characters that are engaging and memorable. The story is told from each of their perspectives and this enables the reader an opportunity to get to know them better and to witness their growing awareness of their strengths and how their futures will unfold.
The novel is well written and flows with a wonderful sense of humour. Bhathal also offers the reader an opportunity to participate in the multi-cultural world we live in, a privilege and a reminder of how our lives are the richer for it. Highly recommended.
*+(5)Sue Bavey Buy:: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – Website: Sue Bavey WordPress – Facebook: Sue Bavey – Twitter: @SueBavey
My review for Daydreams & Narcoleptic Nightmares 24th September 2022
This is a brilliant collection of stories and poems by John Cornelius Rogers, compiled and edited by his daughter Sue Bavey.
I felt I was sitting beside John as he shared stories from his childhood growing up in Sussex and then Lincoln in the 1920s. His memories are vivid and I laughed out loud at so many wry observations and would loved to have been around at the time, including when the family’s first car arrived.
The war brought enlistment in the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve where John was introduced to navigation, armaments, engineering and morse code before proceeding to flight training school. After war there was a posting to one of the worst hit cities Hamburg for a year which made for sombre reading, and left him with a feeling of sickening sadness at the devastation and loss of life.
John then went on to train as a teacher and taught in a school where classes had 49 non-reading 8 year olds undisciplined after the war years and determined not to be educated. A traumatic experience for all concerned.
In contrast, having been billeted in Scarborough during training, it was followed up by an eventful holiday in Scarborough with his wife and young daughter which came with some colourful nightlife! This story and many others were filled with such wonderful humour and it is hard to pick one out to highlight, but “Alfred – Not So Great” is brilliant.
We are also introduced to the two conditions that resulted in challenges in everyday life Narcolepsy and Cataplexy and it is inspiring that despite those challenges John still maintained his wonderful sense of humour and love of life.
Poetry is included between the stories but part two of the collection is dedicated to this form with observations on life and more humour including “An Unusual Talent”
If you mix with the poor, or the privileged elite
whether you travel the world or stay in your street,
The most unlikely attribute you ever will meet
is the gift of Les Blain and his musical feet.
I highly recommend this wonderful collection of poignant and entertaining reflections on a life well lived and on the social history of the 20th century.
*+(22) Mark Bierman buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Mark: Goodreads – Blog: Mark Bierman WordPress
My review for the book November 2020
This book is a challenging read, not because of how it is written, but the subject matter. We tend to picture islands in the Caribbean as having sun swept sandy beaches, luxury accommodation and smiling faces of the inhabitants, happy to see tourists pouring into their paradise. However Haiti has had centuries of political, economic and social unrest and suffered devastating natural disasters. Following one such event, the earthquake in 2010, thousands of men, women and children were killed and many more thousands were left homeless. The population is left reliant on assistance from the outside world, including volunteers to help them rebuild. However, as well as the suffering caused by this natural disaster, there is an underlying evil that thrives on misery, and manipulates parents in dire straits, to offer up their children under the pretense of a better life.
Two Americans Tyler and his father-in-law John Webster arrive on the island following a tragedy of their own, with the loss of Joy, Tyler’s wife and John’s daughter from cancer. Hopeful that the physical labour of helping to construct an orphanage, will bring them both a measure of peace, they find themselves caught up in the violent world of the human traffickers preying on children in particular. From mines to plantations the trade in cheap slave labour is thriving, and it is manned by thugs with money the motivator.
In a desperate search across the mountainous interior of the country, and forced to form alliances with those they cannot trust, and in some cases with those wishing them violence, the two men seek one child among thousands. Their story runs in parallel with heartrending accounts of others who have been caught up in the trafficking, who seek to escape, often at the expense of their lives.
The author has created strong characters across the spectrum of good vs. evil, and the story maintains its pace throughout the book. The mission Tyler and John have undertaken hurtles towards a violent climax, and consequences that will need to be faced. A thought provoking thriller that serves as a reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a kinder world.
*+(31) Jacquie Biggar, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Jacquie : Goodreads – website: Jacquie Biggar – Please visit Jacquie’s Amazon page of website to view all her books.
My review for Love Me January 22nd 2022
Having read other books by the author I fully expected that this story would be heartwarming and in keeping with the spirit of Christmas. The characters are always relateable and being a romance they also tend to have attractive personalities which makes them likeable too.
The interactions between those falling for each other are subtle, and much is left to your imagination, which is something I prefer when reading about love. In this particular case you are left with the wonderful feeling that love is alive and well despite the global troubles impacting us all at this time.
At the heart of this story is also the issue of childhood leukemia which the author adds details of at the end of the book. A difficult subject to cover, particularly in a feel good romance novel, but Jacquie Biggar handles it very sensitively.
A book to curl up in front of a roaring fire, with a large mug of hot chocolate and a couple of hours free for some lovely escapism. Recommended for lovers of romance and those who enjoy a heartwarming reminder that there are good things in the world.
+(17) Mike Biles, Buy: Amazon UK – And : Amazon US – Follow Mike on : Goodreads – Website: A Bit About Britain – Twitter – @bitaboutbritain
One of my reviews for Mike Bile’s books – A Bit About Britain’s High Days and Holidays January 2021
This book is not only an entertaining and informative guide to the history of the high days and holidays we celebrate in Britain, but also an excellent reference book for authors and visitors to the country.
Mike Biles has a unique style of delivery that encourages absorption of the facts and myths surrounding days that we often celebrate without much thought behind their origins. Even our Patron Saints of the countries in Britain, have stories that are complicated by legends and embellishments by the ancient storytellers who brought their exploits to our shores.
Visitors from other parts of the world I am sure, find some of our traditions and celebrations bemusing, which is why I recommend this book as a guide to the oddities they might encounter. Also, with a calendar of events throughout the year with descriptions of the proceedings to hand, it makes it much easier to plan a tour to get in touch with the real British traditions.
Authors will find it a great resource when including references to religious, cultural or fixed holidays celebrated throughout the year in their writings. This includes Christmas which has a whole section dedicated to its traditions and foods in a comprehensive A-Z.
I found history pretty heavy going at school, as it always seemed to be date obsessed, with little time spent on the characters involved. In this book, and in A Bit About Britain’s History, It is a completely different story, and I have probably learnt more in a few hours than I did in seven years.
I highly recommend this book to add to your shelves. You will find yourself dipping in and out of the various sections for a long time to come whenever you have a question about Britain’s history and high days and holidays.
*+(36) C. S. Boyack, Buy: Amazon US – and :Amazon UK – Follow Craig: Goodreads – blog:Cold Hand Boyack – Visit Amazon to view all the books.
My review for Good Liniment (The Hat Book 5) June 14th 2022
Another colourful and creative fantasy adventure with Lizzie and The Hat working together to seek out monsters and help others within the supernatural world to remain secret and safe.
The band is back together after a brief hiatus as Lizzie comes to terms with previous events that have shaken her confidence in the path chosen for her. Into that path come new characters to add to the fantastical ensemble always present in these stories.
We neet the rather world weary witch Cyrus and his apprentice Dash, the wonderfully playful Noodles and ethereal but feisty Destiny. The local coven is full of visually disturbing but colourful members who the author describes in quite nightmarish detail in some cases…Humour however is never far away and even the most outlandish become endearing.
We are treated to the art of trog hunting, not for the faint hearted, an introduction to the precious elements needed to create the spells and magical potions to enhance and heal, and a glimpse into the secrets of witchcraft.
The coven and Lizzie have lost a dear friend who it appears is victim of a killing spree with witches the target. This monster is the first human that Lizzie and The Hat have hunted and it brings an additional element of danger that could be fatal.
As always the author has created a fantasy that flows and engages with wonderful characters, plot and humour that I can highly recommend.
+(17) Linda Bradley, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Linda :Goodreads – website: Linda Bradley Author
My review for Maggie’s Way February 24th 2022
(11) Sarah Brentyn, Buy: Amazon US – And on: Amazon UK – Follow Sarah: Goodreads – Sarah via her: Blog
My review for the Shadows we Breathe October 2021
Wonderful storytellers take on the task of creating stories that haunt, bring hope and satisfy in stories, 100 word flash fiction and just 10 words.
That is a challenge all the writers excelled at and I found myself turning the pages eager to read the next gem.
I am familiar with the writing of some of the contributors but was intrigued to see that they embraced the dark side of human nature in some unexpected ways.
Difficult to single out any particular short story for special mention as they were all excellent but in the first section “What You Wish For” by Georgia Bell, “The Perfect Face” by D.Wallace Peach and “A Good Night Sleep” by Mary Smith. “Moment of Truth” by Maria Carvalho gave me goosebumps.
In the 100 word flash fiction…”Certainty” by Reena Dobson, “Fair Exchange” Ali Isaac and “A Woman Walking” by Sarah Brentyn were exceptional, as was Allie Potts 10 word interpretation of ‘Fold’
This will be much enjoyed by those who love short stories in all their forms and appreciate the skill it takes to create them in only a few words
*+(16) Lisette Brodey, Buy: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Follow Lisette:Goodreads – Website/blog: Lisette Brodey – Twitter: @LisetteBrodey
My Review for The Sum of our Sorrows January 2021
This is a well written family saga, packed with complex but relatable relationships that we may well recognise from our own experiences. Father and daughters, sisters and between lovers. Friendships that fizzle out as circumstances change, or grow through surprising connections.
The author sets the scene early in the story as we learn of a family tragedy that changes the dynamic of the relationship between father and daughter and the three sisters. The spread of ages of the girls, places them all in a different stage in their lives and each is vulnerable in their own way.
As the novel progresses we are introduced to other characters who impose their own agendas on the sisters and their father, sometimes with traumatic effect. Others bring clarity and hope to the family as a whole and individually There are moments of drama and also evil, as the family try to come to terms with a mother’s death and three young women face uncertain futures.
The author does an excellent job of getting to the heart of her characters and portrays them well. The reader is left feeling that they are part of the family and involved in a very personal way as they face demons, secrets that are revealed and the future. I can recommend the book to lovers of family drama with elements of thriller, mystery and romance.
*+(12) Jane Buckley read the reviews and buy: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Follow Jane:Goodreads – Website: Jane Buckley Writes – Facebook:Jane Buckley Writes – Twitter:@janebuckley_sc
My review for Stones Corner – Turmoil December 2021
The author gives a warning in the blurb about what a reader can expect in her debut novel set in Derry, Northern Ireland during one of the darkest years in the province’s history. The book delivers the reasons for that warning with chilling effect, bringing home the reality that this was a part of the United Kingdom, experiencing civil war within the last 50 years. The ripples of this violent outcome to the separation of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and its issues of belief and inequality, spread devastatingly outwards from the province; at times devastatingly.
When extremism on both sides of the divide are intent on winning, those innocents caught up in the turmoil are at the greatest risk, and when an outside force such as the British army are brought in, it adds fuel to the fire. The author creates that atmosphere of everyday fear and loss with great skill.
At the heart of this turmoil are young men and women who are vulnerable to manipulation by the fanatics, and imprisoned by age old segregation between religions and class.
Inhumane treatment of individuals, bombings resulting in mass casualties of innocents, illicit love affairs, revenge, espionage and poverty all combine to break the spirit of those who can see no end to the deprivation and conflict.
The author has created characters that will haunt you and some who inspire. Despite the environment, good people try to find comfort in their lives, falling in love across the divide and working to bring peace and stability. As the story moves forward they all come together centred on an event which will impact all of them and the future of the city.
This intiguing thriller delivers a great deal in terms of the writing, characters, storyline and expectations and I highly recommend the book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series soon.
My review for Breathless January 2022
As a lover of fairy tales from childhood, I appreciate that there is often a sinister element to the stories, even if they do eventually end with everyone living ‘happily ever after’.
This story by Yvette Calleiro takes that disquieting element to a new level by focusing on the cursing abilities bestowed on certain beings living amongst us. The trouble with special powers is that they are not so easily controlled, especially when emotions are high and expectations are not met.
It would take a saintly kind of person not to occasionally wish to visit misfortune upon certain people we come across, however, as is often the case revenge takes its toll on both parties.
The author has created an interesting storyline with great characters who come together for one brief moment, impacting the rest of their lives and those around them.
An intriguing short story and an excellent introduction to the author’s full length books which Iook forward to reading soon.
*+(32) Robbie and Michael Cheadle, Buy :Amazon US– And:Amazon UK – Robbie on :Goodreads – blog:Robbie’s Inspiration – Twitter: @bakeandwrite
One of my reviews for Robbie Cheadle’s books – A Ghost and his Gold June 2021
This was certainly an ambitious project from a number of perspectives. The fusion of paranormal and history with two stories running in parallel is a challenge, but the author has succeeded in writing a flowing saga spanning 130 years. All the characters are excellently crafted and are memorable..
Usually it is left to the victors to write the history of wars, but that means you get the abridged truth and their own atrocities and failures tend to be skirted over. In this account of the Second Boer War between 1899 and 1902, both sides of the conflict are represented by two soldiers, enemies, but united in death by a need for resolution and forgiveness. They share the unabridged truth from their individual perspectives of the military and civilian devastation that occurs during this period, and it makes for sombre reading.
Their accounts of the conflict have been meticulously researched and provide a compelling behind the scenes background, not just to the military victories and defeats, but the appalling impact on whole families, the Boer way of life and Africa’s future. Those who worked the land with their native farm workers saw treasure in the earth and in the animals that grazed the grasslands, and fought for the right to retain their rights. The British Army was sent into battle to secure what lay beneath the ground for politicians who wanted gold and to remove the right to autonomy.
Men on the front line from both sides suffered from ineffective leadership and devastating losses but the conflict spread uncontained across the veld due to the scorched earth policy which destroyed farms and livestock, leaving nothing for the Boers to return to. Families were incarcerated in concentration camps lacking the basic human needs leading to the deaths of thousands of women and children from starvation and disease..
Running parallel to this personal account of two men caught up in this vortex, is the story of a modern day couple living on the land once a thriving Boer farm. The earth holds secrets and the house, now built over the rubble of its troubled past, also contains an unresolved mystery. One that has attracted the attention of another ghost who is not seeking forgiveness but revenge.
The author manages the various threads of the story with skill, weaving them back and forth across the loom of time. She brings them together for a dramatic climax which will shake the foundations of the future, as the dead and living claim their right to be heard.
*+(20) Colleen Chesebro, Buy: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Goodreads: Colleen at Goodreads – Website:Colleen Chesebro
One of my reviews for Colleen’s books – Word Craft Prose and Poetry May 2021
I have enjoyed poetry from childhood and would write stories in verse from an early age. I was introduced to Japanese syllabic poetry when I began participating in Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Tanka Challenge three years ago. At first hesitantly, but then as my confidence grew under her tutelage, I became more adventurous.
Word Craft: Prose and Poetry shares an expanded guide to the various forms of syllabic verse shared on the author’s website, and includes the history and provenance of the traditional and more modern versions. It is fascinating and also humbling that we are in this day and age, creating poetry with such a lineage.
This guide reminded me of how much I still have to learn about the intent of each form and their accepted applications. Nature and the self are prominent, but in some there is a freedom to express emotion, irony and humour. Most forms tell a story and the challenge is to do so with sometimes as few as seventeen syllables and within the framework of the format.
I was very honoured to have some of my challenge pieces included with the talented poets who have participated, and whose poetry brings such pleasure to those who read it in the challenge recap… and that includes the author who always explains the intricacies of a particular form then shows with examples for even beginners to follow.
I recommend this guide and collection for all lovers of poetry who will enjoy the poems shared throughout the book, beginners who are looking for a way to express themselves with brevity, and more experienced poets who are looking for a new challenge. For me as a writer of short stories and novels, writing syllabic poetry has been a great way to learn how to make a few words convey more.
My review for Things Old and Forgotten December 2021
Wow this is a story collection across the genres that will amaze and delight the reader.
We travel roads from the past and into the future meeting interesting characters along the way, some drawn from the worlds of fantasy and others from the edge of darkness. There are also light-hearted moments with encounters with intoxicating small yellow birds and escapees from the confines of ancient bottles.
Mae Clair writes with clarity and with a focus on the reader’s engagement, creating memorable characters and bringing favourite legendary elements into a new environment.
The stories are all excellent and tough to highlight any for special merit but my heart was warmed by Father’s Day, I was totally drawn in by Robin of Sherwood and Miss Lily Makes a Wish had me laughing.
I can highly recommend this well written and entertaining collection of stories that crosses the genres with ease and expertise.
+(25) Lucinda E. Clarke, Buy : Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Blog:WordPress Lucinda E. Clarke — Follow Lucinda:Goodreads – Please visit Amazon to view all books.
My review for A Year in the Life of Leah Brand July 2020
A tense thriller that hurtles towards a cliff…..
I don’t think that I could have lived through the year that Leah Brandt did in this psychological thriller by Lucinda Clarke. Even when attempting to deal with the events and doubts that are causing such mayhem, in a rational way, Leah is drawn deeper and deeper into madness.
Surely this woman has already faced enough tragedy in her life? To lose your family and become disabled, would by daunting enough. However, it would seem that the fates have not finished with her just yet.
We are carried along on a roller coaster ride over the year, as each of the main characters, her dismissive new husband Mason, his stroppy teenage daughter Belinda and the seemingly warm and supportive next door neighbour Andrea Coe, all adding levels of manipulation, rejection and secrecy. There is little respite, even in her mother’s home where she might have assumed to be free of the disturbing goings on in her own house. Layer upon layer of self-doubt results in a crisis of identity, and it is painful but compelling to watch the spiralling descent into despair.
The characters were all well drawn and it was easy to have very clear opinions about their personalities. At times you almost you could reach into the pages and make your presence felt with a few choice words….. it is not easy to stand by and see someone being victimised and to remember this is a story!
Who is behind this personal vendetta and why? Will Leah be saved from this train wreck of her life? Who can you trust? I recommend that you read the book for yourself….
*+(21)Sue Coletta buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – follow Sue : Goodreads – website/blog: Sue Coletta – Twitter: @SueColetta1
My review for Wings of Mayhem 27th April 2022
This first book in the Mayhem collection certainly gets the series off to a fast paced and thrilling start.
Shawnee Daniels is a complex character with a difficult past and an interesting present with a foot in both camps each side of the crimimal world. Trust does not come easily apart from her best friend, but slowly her heart opens to love and a relationship that complicates her life even further.
She is definitely independent and stubborn even in the face of a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a serial killer. As she becomes more entangled with his killing spree and protecting her own secret life, she not only endangers herself but those around her. The violence escalates and it is a race against time to catch the killer before Shawnee loses more of those she loves, her career, her freedom and very likely her life.
The main characters are excellently portrayed and the plot moves at a rapid pace towards a showdown that has you on the edge of your seat. Clearly well researched both in police procedures and the mindset of a serial killer, it will be enjoyed by readers of crime thrillers and action packed novels.
*+(19) Sandra Cox buy : Amazon UK – And: Amazon US- follow Sandra Cox: Goodreads – Blog: Sandra Cox Blogspot –Twitter: @Sandra_Cox
My review for Montana Shootists July 23rd 2022
I have never been disappointed with any book I have read by this author and this novel was no exception. Action packed and written with such authenticity you could almost be there in person.
There is supernatural thread throughout the story as Abby finds herself caught with her body in 1882 and her heart still in the present day. Guilt and loss have a firm hold and even the devastating charm of Jake Barrow seems to be completely wasted despite his best efforts.
Abby has a strong sense of honour and duty, and whilst she may be pulled back to the future, she is also aware that there are those needing her help in this new dimension. I882 is smack in the middle of the range wars where cattle and sheep don’t mix according to those on the warpath and wanting to take over the lands of anyone who stands in their way. In a lawless town, there is strength in numbers and few can win against them.
Abby finds herself torn as she finds new friends in unexpected places who need her help despite her need to find a way back to the future to save another. Destiny however seems determined to made itself very clear about which way the cards should fall.
The characters are marvellous and colourful and those with evil intent are painted very vividly. It is easy to get swept along with the action and as always Sandra Cox brings everything together in a surprising and very satisfactory manner. I can highly recommend to anyone who love action filled romances that leaving you wanting more.
*+(20) Alex Craigie, Buy: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Follow Alex: Goodreads – Alex Craigie via: Facebook
My review for Someone Close to Home February 15th 2022
This fast paced thriller plays into the fears of most of us. Those where we end up incapacitated, unable to communicate in the hands of strangers, some of whom may not have our best interests at heart. It is a page turner as the reader becomes engaged in a race against time and the danger that awaits.
The story is set in the present and the daily anquish of Megan who suffered a stroke and has been placed in an understaffed and cheap care home, where support for recovery is not on the menu. As she lies in a bed, dependent on a variety of carers, some dedicated and some sadistic, Megan also has all the time in the world to reflect on her life from a childhood marred by tragedy and manipulation, through a successful classical musical career, a love that brought light into her life and the disastrous outcome of a doomed marriage to a narcistic and violent bully.
These two timelines have converged to bring Megan to a place where past wrongs by others result in her torment and intended death at the hands of an avenging psychopath
The author has created memorable and relateable characters. Your heart goes out to Megan as she is swept through life on the whims and cruel intentions of others, willing her to find the strength to escape the chains that are used to keep her under control. The evil in both men and women who hold the keys to those chains is chilling and malignant, and the entitlement and disdain shown to her by those who should love and nurture her is heartrending.
Alex Craigie is the master of suspense and maintains a pace that is breathless with the reader turning the pages anxious to find a glimmer of hope for the doomed Megan.
Horror and fantasy novels that portray monsters and evil are easier to read as they can be dismissed as imaginary… This thriller is however definitely close to home in many respects and it makes it all the more compelling a read. I can highly recommend.
One of my reviews for the books by James J. Cudney – Frozen Stiff Drink: A Kellan Ayrwick Cozy Mystery (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 6
It is hard to believe that Kellan Ayrwick has only been back at the Braxton Campus for a year in this series of mysteries. In that time he has solved several murders and other criminal activities and either charmed or alienated family and residents. Just when the poor guy thought he could relax with his daughter and nephew away in Florida with his parents, and his developing romance with the town sheriff April on track, a storm front races in.
It is not just the snow that Kellan is up to his eyes in, with his fiesty grandmother going missing, corruption allegations rocking the judicial office, accusations piling up against all his family members and bodies being discovered on an alarmingly regular basis.
As always the author keeps us on our toes with fast paced action and a growing list of suspects; all well drawn with their own quirks and characteristics. Some are familiar from other books and others new to the town.. including the irritatingly arrogant Fox Terrell who seems to turn up when he is least wanted or expected.
James Cudney writes a very good murder mystery and leaves the reader guessing to the last minute as to who could be the killer. He also unravels the other mysteries very satisfactorily in the final chapters, although we are left with a cliffhanger guaranteed to encourage you to buy the next book in the series, which of course we will.
Recommended for murder mystery readers who enjoy second guessing the author right to the last page.
(2)Peter Davidson buy Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Peter: Goodreads – LinkedIn: Peter Davidson – Twitter: @PeterDa91822406 – Email contact; peterdavidson129@gmail.com
My review for Making Your Mark – Leaving a Legacy August 27th 2022
An interesting and entertaining exploration of our expiry date which is inevitable but not necessarily predictable. Whether you have forewarning of the event, or it comes out of the blue, Peter Davidson proposes some pre-event planning to make sure your name not only lives on in the hearts and minds of friends and loved ones, but they get a kick out of the proceedings.
In the first part of this manual on Making Your Mark, the author has clearly given great thought to the inventive ways we can make sure we are remembered. This might range from having cards delivered for years to come on meaningful dates to creating a scholarship awarding a few hundred dollars to a deserving student in your name. Perhaps a golf tournament with a quirky price or even writing a book. Certainly being on a social media platform offers infinite possibilities as unless someone makes the effort, your account will live on forever.
There are some suggestions that illustrate that there is more than a little prankster at play here especially in the weeks following your demise, with enigmatic messages alluding to some buried treasure ‘somewhere’ in the garden, or possibly in the safe which is protected with a code that relies on an intimate knowledge of the author’s life.
Peter Davidson has more than enough suggestions, strategies and ingenious ploys to make sure they will never forget your name.
The second part of the book is a blow by blow account of how Tim transforms his prognosis into an opportunity to ensure both his legacy and his name will be cause for celebration. Whilst much loved by family and friends and sorely missed, after the spectacular wake, funeral and after party the tears were not just for sorrow but from laughter.
What a way to go. I have bookmarked some pages and whilst hopefully some time before I need to implement some of the suggestions, there is no time like the present for making a name for yourself.
A thoughtful and entertaining read that comes highly recommended.
* (6) John L. DeBoer, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow John: Goodreads – Twitter: @Johnldeboer
My advance review for The Girl from Belgrade November 12th 2022
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.
*+(24) Richard Dee, buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website: Richard Dee’s Scifi – Goodreads: Richard Dee at Goodreads – Twitter:@RichardDockett1 – Facebook:Richard Dee Author –
My advance review for We Are Saul March 5th 2022
Having read other books by Richard Dee I was delighted to be offered an advance copy of his latest release.
There have been elements of what might be termed science fiction in stories going back hundreds of years. However it is only in the 20th century that reality caught up with the fantasy with space exploration, and humans not only landing on the moon, but orbiting the earth on a permanent manned station.
We are now faced with incredible possibilities both for the future of space travel, and in the advancements this brings to humans in the form of their capabilities.
The concept for this novel is very clever as it builds on the achievements in a number of areas including robotics and human enhancement, taking them to a whole new level.
Humans do have free will, but when you have lost everything that you have including your control over your own body, how desperate would you be to accept a radical and experimental lifeline?
Saul is about to find out. Whilst he may be paralysed, his mind and his heart still yearn for love and connection, the question is, will all of that still be possible in his future?
This is science fiction, but the author writes with such clarity that you find yourself believing that this too, like so many of the futeristic imaginings of the past, might well be feasible at some point in the coming centuries, if not decades.
Richard Dee has created wonderful complex characters including the enigmatic and secretive Dr Tendral, the nurses who assist Saul in his recovery and progress in the experiment, and others on the sidelines who will influence the success or failure of the project. He is known for his world building both in science fiction and fantasy novels and that is evident in this book too.
As a thriller prepare for some unexpected twists, dangerous revelations and some thought provoking questions about the morality of interfering with human mortality.
I can highly recommend this intriguing and fast paced science fiction thriller which is likely to leave you wondering how soon it will become fact.
+(18) Dawn Doig, Buy Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Dawn: Goodreads – Website:Dawn Doig – Twitter: @Shoebears
My review for Lulubelle Loves to Bake September 4th 2021
This is a great sized book for children A4 with big print and beautifully illustrated by the author.
Lulubelle definitely has a sweet tooth and all the recipes are favourite deserts and cookies that children will be immediately drawn to and offer an opportunity for some fun baking sessions in the kitchen with mum or dad.
Some of my personal favourites are Perfect Pumpkin Pie and Zucchini Muffins…although I wouldn’t say no to Kitchen Sink Cookies either.
Each recipe is accompanied by Lulubelle and her friends, suitably attired to complement the particular recipe, and a rhyme for a child to read and learn, featuring the letter of the alphabet featured.
A great idea for a cookbook and perhaps Lulubelle might follow it up with an A-Z of easy savoury dishes that will introduce them to other foods as well as the format is terrific.
Bright, colourful and full of rhymes and recipes adults and children alike will enjoy reading as they prepare and eat the treats. A recommended read.
*+(19) Audrey Driscoll, Buy:Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – follow Audrey: Goodreads – Website:Audrey Driscoll –
My review for She who comes forth 7th May 2022
I have found the stories of ancient Egypt and the discoveries made over the last two centuries fascinating and I was looking forward to this action adventure set in the land of the Pharoahs in the 1960s.
France Leighton is an innocent abroad. Her upbringing has been unconventional, with an ancestral link to the excavation of the tombs and undecided about her future, she applies to and is accepted to a dig in progress in Luxor. With mundane tasks and friction amongst the members of the dig team, France retreats into her comfort zone which is playing her much loved cello.
The cello and an exquiste emerald ring are links to the past, and as she shares her experiences and thoughts about the present with us, strange and disturbing elements begin to filter in, making her question who and what is attempting to manipulate the future. France is the narrator of her story, but not in control of her own destiny, as others have their own agendas, pulling her into their distorted plans for the future.
The author has done an amazing job in recreating both the 1960s setting for the plot and the world of the ancient Egyptian pharoahs and deities. The characters are distinctive and easy to like or dislike with some multi-faceted, only revealing their true selves as the story reaches its climax.
We are treated to a wondrous tour of the inside of tombs both excavated and open to the public and as the mystery deepens to hidden and sacred sites deep within the earth. Clearly the author conducted a great deal of research to create such an authentic and detailed journey into the past.
You will find the book difficult to put down, and there is plenty of action to maintain the pace of the plot, and intriguing supernatural elements that become more dynamic as the story unfolds. The book definitely has a style of writing that both Agatha Christie and H. Rider Haggard fans will appreciate and I can highly recommend this first in the series and look forward to the next.
*+(24) D.L. Finn, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow D.L. Finn: Goodreads – Website:D.L. Finn Author – Facebook:D.L. Finn Author – Twitter:@dlfinnauthor
My review for the A Voice in the Silence 8th October 2022
This is a brilliantly crafted mystery thriller with intriguing paranormal and other unworldly elements that will delight and keep you on the edge of your seat.
It was great to be introduced to more mature lead actors in this fast paced story as Drea comes to terms with her loss and struggles with the detachment from both family and old friends. Isolated and unsure of the future she welcomes three stray animals in from the cold. Their origins are cloaked in mystery, and as she discovers more about their previous lives, she becomes emotionally and physically drawn into their battle for survival.
The author has created wonderful characters, both human and otherwise, as well as chilling and atmospheric scenes, as the drama plays out in the snow covered landscape. There is danger as a serial killer targets women in the area and other unseen forces seek to harm her fur family. There are heart-stopping moments as the threats move ever closer despite the best efforts of an old and trusted friend of the family and a ghostly presence who brings chilling warnings.
I really admired Brea for her determination not to buckle under the threat and to make a stand against those who wish her and those she loves harm. It was also wonderful to share in her growing and intriguing relationship with the dog, cat and rat who have sought sanctuary with her, and how even when it seems all love is lost, a romantic spark brings hope for the future.
The story races towards a live or die climax as all the elements from this world and beyond come together in the battle for survival.
Emotionally engaging and exciting this was a wonderful cross genre read that I can highly recommend.
*+(23) Darlene Foster, Buy:Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website/Blog:Darlene Foster WordPress – Follow Darlene: Goodreads – Twitter:@supermegawoman –
*+(20) John Howell, Buy: Amazon US – and on: Amazon UK – Goodreads:John Howell Goodreads – Blog: John W. Howell. com – Twitter – @HowellWave
One of my reviews for the books of John Howell – Eternal Road
I am a fan of John Howell’s books and as always was looking forward to his latest. The story of this road trip undertaken by the delightful characters James and Sam does not disappoint, as it crosses timelines and genres with ease and entertaining as well as thought provoking results.
It is an accepted truth that at some point we will die, but the question has always been about our destination after that defining moment. Religions have for millennium offered their own versions of heaven and hell, with various incentives for one and warnings about the other.
John Howell creates a middle world between death and your final destination that offers infinite possibilities, and tantalizes with the thought that perhaps some of our worldly emotional and physical pleasures might be still be enjoyed. And, perhaps an opportunity, particularly following an unexpected departure, to tidy up some loose ends.
The devil of course is in the detail, and in this case the charismatic Lucifer is recruiting likely prospects for one of his key employment openings, and will stop at nothing to get his way. Thankfully Sam who is guiding James through this confusing limbo he finds himself in, has a few tricks up her sleeve and a back up team.
During this interim period, the two travellers get to visit times in man’s recent history that could use some fine tuning, provided it does not compromise the time continuum. However, sometimes it might just be devilish meddling. There is adventure, mystery, humour, romance and some just desserts served up across the last 200 years, and it makes for a lively read with plenty of action.
As an alternative to what is currently on offer from the established authorities on the matter, I would happily take advantage of John Howell’s interim world. To have extra time to get used to the idea of passing on and to revisit events and people in my life to tidy up some loose ends. Temptingly, whilst you are not allowed to influence the events that have taken place already in history, the author hints that there might be a way to prevent a catastrophe in the far distant future.
I recommend that you suspend accepted belief for a few hours and try this world on for size.
*+(14) Allan Hudson buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Allan: Goodreads – Website: South Branch Scribbler – Twitter: @hudson_allan
My review for Father January 29th 2022
At the heart of this story is family and its complex relationships. To set the scene the author shares the arrival and progress of the Hill brothers from new immigrants to an established clan of descendents settled into a variety of occupations in the early 1940s Canada.
Times are tough for many and making a little extra cash, even if it is on the illegal side, makes all the difference to a growing family. Many are in the know… but it only takes one disgruntled customer to cause a life changing showdown.
With war waging in Europe, and for more reasons than just patriotism, Tanner and his brothers enlist and find themselves caught up in the campaigns to take strategic targets such as Sicily and the rest of Italy. Tanner’s story is shared in detail as he spends three years moving across Europe as part of the invasion force, facing danger and losses of those close to him. The detail included by the author creates an authentic and compelling coverage of the events during those campaigns, bringing home the effect on the men and women physically and mentally.
Contact with home is rare and a return at the end of the conflict comes with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety about what has changed in the years apart. Tanner has some truths to face that will force him to look at his own actions to enable him to move forward with acceptance and for the future of his family.
A recommended read.
*+(22) Miriam Hurdle, Buy also in Spanish and Portuguese: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – – Goodreads: Miriam Hurdle –Blog: The Showers of Blessings – Twitter: @mhurdle112
My review for The Winding Road 20th August 2022
This is a brutally honest journal that takes the author from her initial and unexpected diagnosis of a rare cancer, through the gruelling treatment plan and her survival against the odds.
Despite the difficult subject matter, there are many elements in this story that shine through, such as the strength of faith, support of not just extended family but from kind friends within the local church fellowship, and the extraordinary courage it required to keep going despite the trauma.
Not all challenges were medical by nature, as there were hoops to jump through with regards to work, finance and obtaining the necessary approvals from health insurers. This can only have added a layer of stress totally unwelcome on top of the need to be positive about the prognosis.
Family and so many people came together to support, provide transport, meals and after treatment comfort in the form of emails and online messaging. This was a community at its best, and as important as the chemotherapy and surgery were in achieving the final outcome.
Family is key, and the love of her husband and her daughter with her growing family, are clearly a wonderful incentive for Miriam Hurdle to overcome not just the diagnosis and treatment, but the subsequent after effects that still have to be managed.
At the end of the book there are some wonderful photographs of the author and her family travelling around the world, celebrating life to its fullest. Perhaps with a new awareness of just how precious life is and should be celebrated every day.
At times this book lies heavy on the heart, but it is also an uplifting reminder of the human spirit. It is recommended reading for those who may be facing the challenges of cancer treatment to illustrate that there is hope, but also everyone who respects courage in the face of devastating adversity.
+(19) Andrew Joyce, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – follow Andrew : Goodreads – blog: Andrew Joyce on WordPress
My review for Yellow Hair
As a child of the 1960s, and with a father who was a huge Western fan, it was easy to get carried away with the dramatic and sweeping misinformation that was paraded before us. John Wayne led the charge across the plains and the common theme running through these Hollywood epics was ‘the only good injun, is a dead injun!’
Then in my late teens I read ‘Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee’ by Dee Brown and my love affair with many of the western films was at an end.
I had read the reviews of Yellow Hair and I was interested to read this fictionalised version of actual events. I was not disappointed and as I was introduced to the back stories of the white settlers, and their often very pragmatic and desperate reasons for heading into the West, I began to see how it was not usually a malicious intrusion and greedy land grab but two cultures being misled and manipulated by the US Government and those with commercial interests.
You reach a point early on in the book; having been introduced to the settlers in this wagon train, when you are shocked into the recognition of how very dangerous their undertaking was and how unprepared the majority of them were.
Then begins the saga that becomes the story of a white man living as part of this besieged indigenous people, struggling to maintain their traditions and to survive the destruction of their way of life and the land that sustains them.
The list of injustices is very long, and the brutality of the clashes between the cultures, graphic and very disturbing. Peace was brokered time after time and promises were made that were only as good for as long as it took the ink to dry. You will be shocked at your sense of outrage as the behaviour of those in power and also saddened that these once proud and flourishing tribes should be so decimated in just 85 years.
Andrew Joyce does not pull any punches, but he presents the facts well and fairly. The thread that binds the story together, and humanises it, is the story of a young man with a foot in both cultures. Seeing the events and catastrophic impact on both settler and Indian through his eyes, will make you question much of the history written by the victors and then dramatised for our entertainment.
I recommend that you read the book for yourselves and you can find it here:
*+(23) D. G. Kaye – Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK– Blog: D.G. Writes – Goodreads:D.G. Kaye on Goodreads – Twitter: @pokercubster – Linkedin: D.G. Kaye – Facebook: D.G. Kaye
*+(25)Harmony Kent, Buy: Amazon UK –And : Amazon US – Follow Harmony:Goodreads – Website:Harmony Kent
My review for Life & Soul July 7th 2022
This collection takes us on a journey exploring the many aspects of life, love, loss and renewal.
The soul that is our unique inner being, can be fragile at times, but also incredibly strong to withstand the storms that sweep through our lives.
The author is very open about her life and the traumatic events that she encountered and overcame and her strength is very evident in the poems she shares in this collection.
There are many that I can relate to, with poems that reflect the heartache of love that has not just faded, but developed a darker side, and being an outsider in a society that has strict rules for acceptance. It is also a celebration of finding love unexpectedly, and discovering true friendships that come with total acceptance.
Clearly love is all encompassing and there is a wonderful section devoted to the romance, growing connection and everyday joys to be found with your soul mate. One line in particular stuck with me.
Love in the simple things
Such as your glasses case left on the kitchen island…
I found the last section of the collection The Life of a Soul fascinating as the author takes us from birth to rebirth with such grace and poignancy. Certainly there are tears for the young child and woman trying to find her way, but also smiles at the determination to overcome a devastating accident and to adapt to the world on her own terms.
There were many poems that struck a chord with me including This Isn’t Love, The Group, True Friendships, Plastic Surgeon and This is Home.
Wild and Free is a lovely example of the authors way with words.
I’m not the prettiest flower in the field
But neither am I a weed
Take the time to watch me bloom
Don’t cut my stem and moan when I fade too soon
Far better that you leave me be
Dancing in the breeze, wild and free
I recommend this collection to those who would like to absorb the wise and poignant words of one soul to another.
*(5)Joy Neal Kidney buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – Website: Joy Neal Kidney – Facebook: Joy Neal Kidney Author – Twitter: @JoyNealKidney – Instagram: Joy Neal Kidney
My review for Leora’s Letters August 6th 2022
This book is an intimate inclusion in one family’s life and loss during the Second World War. Clabe and Leora work tirelessly on the farm they manage to raise their children and put something by for their dream of owning their own farm. In this rural environment it is natural for young men and women to perhap have their own dreams and even before Pearl Harbour one son has signed up with the Navy. Over the course of the war five sons would enlist to serve their country.
Through the letters written by Leora to her sons, and their often censored letters in return we share life on the home front and also their challenges as they go through training and then deployment. Their only link to home is these letters and others between each other and their sisters, and it is clear that this is a close knit and loving family doing their best through a very difficult time.
One can only imagine the constant worry any parent would have with a child serving on the front line, particularly with incomplete news reports in the media, long after major battles at sea and in the air. But to have five sons in the line of fire in the Pacific and in Europe must have been unbearable.
The letters are beautiful in their simplicity and informality as they would have been between a loving family. There is also some wry humour as the boys encounter the world outside their rural upbringing and undergo their training, as well as a deep love of their parents as they send money home toward their dream of owning their own land.
From the first page we are drawn into this family and feel the hope, love and loss they suffer over the course of the war. Whilst there is sadness, there is also admiration for a brave mother and her sons who believed in doing their duty, and respect for the sacrifice this family made. War should never be glorified, but those who lay their lives on the line for their country should be, especially when young with their whole lives ahead of them.
This period for all of us is now moving from living history as the last of those who can share their stories pass away. It is so important that major events such as major conflicts are fought by ordinary men and women and their stories deserve to be told and remembered.
The author has done a wonderful job in collating these letters that recreate so vividly this time in world histry. By doing so she honours the members of her family, including her own parents who lived, loved and lost so much.
*(5)Jacqueline Lambert buy the books: author.to/JLambert – Follow Jacqueline: Goodreads – Blog: Worldwide Walkies – Facebook: Jacqueline Lambert Author – Twitter: @JLambertAuthor
My review for Book One Adenture Caravanning in France 9th July 2022
This book is a very entertaining and informative guide to caravanning with four dogs as companions through France.
Never having been on a caravan holiday, I was ignorant of all the technical requirements needed to not just tow this home on wheels, but manoeuvre it on and off pitches, keep it level, attach all the necessary services and avoid damaging critical pieces of the undercarriage.
The author shares her adventures for the preparation of both caravan and drivers before embarking on an ambitious debut extended tour of France. Daunting enough for the novice caravanner but with four dogs in the mix, quite a logistical challenge.
Whilst excellent information on the technical aspects are included, it is accompanied by an easy going and very humourous narration with some very witty double entendres thrown in for good measure.
For those who are planning a touring holiday of France in a caravan the book has a wealth of information on the best campsites for both scenery and facilities, especially when dogs are not always welcome. Certainly a pack is not usually considered to be acceptable despite the four in question being not only adorable but extremely well behaved. Whilst usually the case, apparently fox poop is the exception and then all bets are off. This can be a problem when you find yourself without a water connection and therefore no showers!
I know France reasonably well, but clearly you get to see a great deal more of the coast and inland areas than visits to the usual touristy hotspots. The book left me yearning for the open road and the freedom to stop in more out of the way places where campsites are the only option to stay for the night. A home on wheels definitely has its advantages, and again with four dogs who love to swim and run the beaches, the only sensible option if you take them with you, as hotels would be out of the question.
This is just the first book in the series and I am very much looking forward to reading the others. I finished this one with a smile on my face and a renewed desire for more travel adventures. I can highly recommend this honest, well written and amusing real life adventure.
*+(20) Paulette Mahurin, buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – follow Paulette on : Goodreads – Blog: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap on WordPress–
Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters.
My review for Where Irises Never Grow March 2021
What begins as a search for a first edition of Aesop’s Fables and the discovery of a scrap of paper with two names, turns into a story that is both haunting and unforgettable.
This novel is one that brings to life a time, still within living memory, that demonstrated how thin the veneer of civilisation really is. All it takes is a cadre of evil men, led by a man without humanity, to perpetrate one of the worst atrocities in modern history.This carefully and well researched story, based on actual reports by survivors and historians of the time, spotlights the best and the worst traits of mankind.
Set in Vichy France where pro-Nazi leaders began to systematically remove their own citizens from the population at the behest of the occupiers, a resistance movement grows as defiant men and women took a stand against the tyranny. Putting their own lives at risk and those of their close family and friends to save those among them who follow a religion that is being demonised. .
The author captures and brings the horrifying events of those few years in the early 1940s into stark reality. Isolated and hunted by packs of men and dogs, Jewish families and captured resistance fighters faced the horror of the basement in a previously luxury hotel at the hands of a monster. Those who did not fall into the hands of the Gestapo lived in fear of being discovered, wondering what the next bang on the door would bring.
The characters are vividly portrayed and the reader becomes engaged and emotionally invested in their plight and fight for survival. The author keeps up the pace of this desperate race against time, and despite the dreadful consequences of a careless whisper or action, there are still moments of humanity and the power of love in sustaining the human spirit.
I give the book five stars unreservedly, but I do understand that it might not be a book that everyone feels they can read. This is about the past, and today enemies have become allies. And even in that time of desperation, there were elements within the occupying army who were sympathetic and compelled to pass along information to the resistance that saved lives. There are few left alive who perpetrated this particular atrocity, but even today there are still millions who live in fear and seek to escape persecution in other parts of the world.
The truth is hard to face, and there are certainly more than a handful of people who voice their disbelief that the holocaust took place. This book based on actual accounts of the time, leaves the reader in no doubt about its truth. And part of that truth is that very few of our own countries can take the moral high ground with regard to religious persecution over the centuries and even today. This book reinforces the need for responsible nations to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves.
At its heart, this novel is also about remembrance, and a tribute to the millions who lost their lives along with the thousands of men and women who saved as many as they could, at the expense of their own survival. They should always be remembered. Recommended.
*+(33) M.J.Mallon, Buy: Amazon US – And Amazon UK – Website: M.J. Mallon – Goodreads: Goodreads
My review for Do What You Love November 2022
This is a delightful poetic and reflective collection of poetry, photography and flash fiction. In the company of three sisters of fate, the Morai: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, the author travels back in time to showcase meaningful moments of love, family, adventure and places close to her heart.
The three mythical sisters allow for interaction and exploration behind the meaning of events, meetings and connections to nature. This makes the collection very intimate and also heart-warming as the reader is reminded of their own special moments in life.
As with other collections by Marjorie Mallon nature is a key element to the narrative with flowers and trees in particular receiving their moment in the spotlight.
Family is also given the prominence it deserves, with parents and childhood memories celebrated. The love and pride for the achievements of daughters are touched by the sorrow of an inevitable parting of ways, despite the knowledge that both have inherited strength and talent that will enable them to thrive.
This is a gentle recollection of exotic places, nature, family, memories and excitement for new adventures in the sun of Portugal. The reader is left with a sense of hope and a reminder of their own lives and moments they treasure. Recommended.
One of my reviews for Sharon Marchisello’s books – Going Home September 2021
This is a well written and thought provoking story that combines a care crisis that many of us face with elderly parents who have developed dementia, and the unravelling of the mystery surrounding a murder in a family home.
It is clear the author has experience of the challenge of communicating with someone who has short term memory loss, and brings in a cleverly crafted murder plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
There are flashbacks to the past and events which have a bearing on the present, and the reader is witness to the fallout that revelations result in as the search begins for a viable suspect amongst the outsiders who have access to the family home. It would seem that the authorities have only one suspect in mind, and without the ability to communicate coherently, an elderly woman must rely on her extended family to prove her innocence.
The author does a great job in keeping all the various strands of the plot running smoothly in parallel and brings the story to a satisfactory climax.
I recommend to those who enjoy well written murder mysteries and family sagas.
*+(17) Jaye Marie, Buy:Amazon US –and: Amazon UK – Follow Jaye Marie :Goodreads – Jaye Marie: WordPress Blog – Twitter: @jaydawes2
My review for Apple Blossom February 2021
Receiving the diagnosis of cancer is everyone’s fear. Jaye Marie shares her journey through this frightening experience from the first examination and her treatments at Queen Alexander hospital in Portsmouth with honesty and courage. A journal such as this is so important, not just as a way to document the experiences of those living through this devastating illness, but for those who might be at the start of that journey. Half the battle is the fear associated with the diagnosis, and at times the lack of information available as the medical professionals are understandably reluctant to commit themselves to a definitive prognosis. Whilst it is frightening, being informed is a key factor in getting through the treatment and remaining positive about the future. Jaye Marie does an excellent job and whilst the book is a short read it is filled with heartfelt inspiration.
+(14) JP Mclean, Buy:Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow JP Mclean on : Goodreads – Website:J.P. Mclean Author – Twitter: @jpmcleanauthor – Facebook: JP Mclean –
My review for Blood Mark October 2021
This is an excellent psychological, paranormal thriller that will keep you turning the pages to discover more of the story as it unravels.
The present day and the past are entwined in the intricate pattern that has wound itself around the body of a girl who believes that she was abandoned and been cursed all her life.
Her interactions with even her closest friend is impacted by her reticence to allow anyone to see her markings as she tries to make sense of dreams that vividly involve her night after night. The reader becomes totally engaged with the daily struggle to maintain some form of normality within a world that is judgemental of those who are different.
It is fast paced wth little padding to distract from the story which maintains the tension right to the last page.
The characters are very well portrayed and easy to take an instant dislike or liking too. As the mystery of the markings is unravelled, the pace of the story heats up bringing all the strands of the past and present together in a final heartstopping finale.
The author has done a great job in creating both the concept for this thriller and its execution and I can highly recommend.
*+(29) Marcia Meara, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Marcia Meara on: Goodreads – Blog:Marcia Meara Writes
One of my reviews for the books by Marcia Meara – The Light January 2021
A delightful addition to the Wake-Robin Ridge series and as always the star of the story is a little boy called Rabbit. An old soul who sees far beyond human comprehension, he still retains his gentle and loving nature. He also sees far more than a boy of eleven should, and yet his determination to help those in limbo and their living loved ones, is too powerful to deny.
In this chapter in the series, Rabbit’s family extends to new friends and those who have lost their way. Collaborations and combining ‘The Sight’ with modern technology takes this current investigation into the depths of the stunning Appalachian mountains building the suspense as the story behind the light runs parallel.
As always the author engages us with her scenic descriptions and charming characters, weaving an intriguing mystery which unfolds with some surprise revelations. Heartwarming and thought provoking this series is a must read. I do recommend that you begin with Wake-Robin Ridge, followed by A Boy Named Rabbit and Harbinger.
+(11)Elizabeth Merry, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Elizabeth: Goodreads – Blog:Embookstuff WordPress – Twitter: @ElizabethMerry1
My review for Felix Finds Out July 2021
I stepped back in time to my childhood and my enjoyment of the adventures of The Famous Five and The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton.
Felix Finds Out is a full length novel for slightly older children and adults who wish to revisit the enjoyment of reading a well written adventure containing all the classic elements needed such as realistic plot, wonderful characters, heroes and villains, and a wicked witch….of sorts.
I loved the individual natures of the co-conspirators, on a mission to discover what the school caretaker has been up to, which might have a disastrous knock on effect on Felix’s future. The group grows from the solitary Felix anxious to hide his family situation, to include Samantha the worldly planner, shy Hubert who is the technical support and Joanne, slight but feisty.
This intrepid band of crime fighters are putting themselves at risk but at the same time forming a friendship that will strengthen them all for the potentially dangerous climax to the story.
The author writes with flow and clearly knows the minds of children and young teens caught between being a child and a young adult with all the angst that goes with it. Elizabeth Merry evolves the characters over the story giving them plenty of opportunity to grow and shine.
A very enjoyable read I have no hesitation in recommending the book.
*+(13)Joyce Murphy buy children and poetry books: Amazon UK – And:Amazon US – follow Joyce: Goodreads – Blog: Joycie Reilly Poetry – Twitter: @JoycieReilly
My review for Inner Rumblings
Poetry should stir the emotions and convey imagery with flow and rhythm and Joyce Murphy achieves that in her debut collection of verse.
It is a collection that reflects many shades of human emotion through the various phases of the poet’s life from 15 years old after what was an idyllic childhood. Teenage years are not the easiest for many of us and it is clear that the poet experienced anguish and self doubt as she moved into young adulthood including the turmoil of first love. We travel with her to Germany where she worked as an au pair, experiencing feelings of being an outcast in this very different environment to Ireland… and the dilemma caused by a romantic attraction.
There is also lightness from touches of humour and the renewal that comes with finding a soul mate in ‘Love’s Vision’, but it is countered by the enormity of great loss.
The poetry is a roller coaster that takes you along for the ride. I am sure that there will be life’s experiences that many will relate to throughout the phases of the collection.
*+(30) Jacqui Murray, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Jacqui: goodreads – Blog: Worddreams
My review for Natural Selection October 22nd 2022
Although this is the final book in the trilogy, the author introduces both previous events and the characters smoothly, bringing both previous and new readers up to date before beginning a new adventure. There is also a very helpful introduction section answering FAQs and explaining how the communication between evolving species of humans and other creatures might have been established.
The quest of Lucy, and those who now form a strong and united group, is to rescue previous members of her tribe, and to do that differences have to be put aside. If they are to be successful they need to learn from each other, particularly those who have evolved along a different path. This at times requires them to adapt their physicality to acquire new skills, and to accept that friendship and loyalty is possible between species, even those who have been mortal enemies.
This is an unforgiving environment and these new skills and alliances are essential if the group is to find food and shelter and to survive all they will encounter on this almost impossible expedition.
There is little time for the group, or the reader, to relax and enjoy the ever changing scenery from barren plains, lush valleys and harsh volcanic mountainsides to life giving rivers. There is danger at every turn for the unwary, and there are some heart-stopping moments as the group encounter physical and emotional challenges that threaten their lives.
The characters are suberb and diverse, both those from the previous two books and the newcomers. It is fascinating to see how they evolve as part of this eclectic group gaining new perspectives and discovering an awareness and understanding about their own lives and those they now consider family. This is also the case for the animal members of the group who have bonded with Lucy and the other humans bringing their strength and loyalty to form a formidable unit.
This is an adventure of epic proportions. As always when I read a book by this author, my respect for our early ancestors and their resilience in the face of continuous danger from both the environment, hostile tribes and dangerous creatures grows stronger.
I am sorry to say goodbye to Lucy and her extended family but I am certainly very glad that I met them and travelled this exciting and fascinating journey beside them. I can highly recommend the previous two books in the series as well.
+(18) Jessica Norrie, Buy: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Website:Jessica Norrie on WordPress – Goodreads:Jessica Norrie
My review for The Magic Carpet –September 2019
The Magic Carpet is set in outer London in early September 2016, and its cast is a group of young schoolchildren aged seven and eight, tasked with developing the classic fairy tales into performances on Friday October 14th.
The children head home with their assigned stories with the wide remit of telling the fairy tale in any way they wish, involving whoever they wish, including family members.
The author invites us into the children’s homes to meet parents, brothers and sisters and grandparents, and for them to have the chance to share their stories of how they arrived in this part of London.
Beautifully written from both the children’s and adult’s perspective, we get to understand the complexities of integration within a multi-cultural society. It is not just about religion, colour or traditions, as within a single family there can be three generations struggling to understand the new culture, language and accepted practices of a society they were not born into.
Such as the loving grandmother struggling to communicate with her English speaking grandson as he shares the wonders of the story he has been given. A single father who is concerned about the proprieties of bringing his son’s friends into the home, and a young girl who sees a side to her parent’s marriage that will challenge her perspective on the happy ever after of fairy stories.
We also come to appreciate the role of teachers at primary schools, who patiently prepare the children from these diverse backgrounds, and with varying language skills, for their future as part of society.
The story culminates with the performances and the interpretations the children have brought to the classic fairy tales. We also discover the impact of this simple exercise has had on the dynamics of the families involved and the changes in perception it has achieved. Demonstrating it is the children, who have the power to bring the generations and different cultures together.
Highly recommended.
*+(19) Marina Osipova, Buy:Amazon US – And on: Amazon UK – follow Marina : Goodreads – website:Marina Osipova
My review for The Cruel Romance
A well written novel with central characters and events that will stay with you long after the book is finished.
The story is told with stark realism of life in a small village near Moscow and of the conflict on the Eastern Front, at a time when Russia and Germany were back and forth across each other’s border with devastating consequences. For all the horror, suffering and death of the men fighting on the front line, it was the women and children who ended up being brutalised, starved and reviled by their own.
There is already poverty in the village where Serafima lives with her single mother in a small house that catches the eye of the commander of the invading German forces as his billet.
Despite the forced labour and the harsh Russian winter, Serafima keeps her dreams alive by thinking of Vitya who she loves and is now on the front. Then one day there is a devastating event that would not only change her life for ever, but that of a young German soldier whose gentleness has been twisted by the military code of domination.
Threaded through the inhumanity of war, is the beauty of music, kindness from unexpected sources, compassion, rekindling of maternal love and forgiveness.
All the characters are strongly drawn and evolve through the story as events bring about fundamental changes to their personalities and behaviour. Some become dehumanised whilst others seek redemption. We follow their lives during the conflict and in the uneasy peace that follows, discovering their inner thoughts in letters written to family and loved ones.
With the war ended, the race to grab power in the resulting vacuum is lethal in its unbending drive to annihilate any resistance. Even from those who have fought for their country or worked as slaves in the factories to support the war effort. For a population already starved of food, freedom and rights during war, there is little difference in peace time.
This book is not a Mills and Boon romance, it is stark, realistic and emotive with a surprising ending that does at least bring all the threads together with a feeling of closure. Whilst a little more justice was deserved by one or two, in the real world that does not always happen, especially when the people concerned are shielded by the uniform that they wear.
It is a reminder that whilst there is bravery on an individual basis in war, there is also inhumanity, cruelty and dishonour, tragically aimed at those least able to defend themselves. Recommended.
*+(14)Jemima Pett, Buy: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Blog:Jemima Pett – Goodreads:Jemima Pett – Twitter:@jemima_pett –
My review for White Water Landings February 9th 2022
As we hop on and off planes with destinations around the globe, we rarely think further than checking the timings and paying with our credit card. Most long distance flights are non-stop and it is now something we very much take for granted.
Imagine you need to make the trip from the UK to Capetown by air in 1936. It would have required several short hops by flying boat down across Europe to the top of Africa and then to several refuelling stops set up on the coast or rivers over the 3,500 miles to the tip of the continent.
This biography of the young Geoffrey Pett is fascinating, both from a historical perspective and also because of his passion and perserverance in setting up these isolated and sometimes dangerous stations along the route.
Geoffrey was clearly adaptable and resourceful, making connections both with local residents and those from other companies and the military that passed through his care. Whilst his mandate was to establish the stations for Imperial Airways, he understood the benefits of working well with others. It was complex with very basic communications to maintain contact with aircraft to ensure safety and a rigid schedule that had to be met to ensure continuity of flights across the length and breadth of Africa.
As you read the story, it is easy to imagine you are sitting across from a natural storyteller listening to his adventures. And there are plenty of those including following hippo tracks to access suitable river landing sites, hauling barges and launches hundreds of miles across country and upriver that were virtually unnavigable. Dealing with some quirky passengers unaccustomed to rudimentary overnight facilities, dealing with snake-bites, and those who have enjoyed the hospitality a little too vigorously.
It is also a love story, and how the ingenuity and tenacity that Geoffry applied to his job, was put to good use as he masterminds a trip to reach the girl he loves in Uganda, marry her, take a honeymoon and be back by an almost impossible return to work date.
The author has done a great job in transcribing the recordings made by her father, keeping the authenticity of his narration and adding in helpful links between stories. Jemima Pett also shares her parent’s life after the war including Geoffrey’s contintued career in aviation.
Recommended for history lovers, aviation buffs, and those who enjoy finding out about ordinary people leading an extraordinary life.
*+(18) Toni Pike, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Toni:Goodreads – Website: Toni Pike
*+(20)Gwen Plano, Buy: Amazon UK –and : Amazon US –follow Gwen :Goodreads –website:Gwen Plano – Twitter: @gmplano
+(26) Frank Prem, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website: Frank Prem – Goodreads: Goodreads
My review for The Garden Black 26th March 2022
Frank Prem’s poetry always has the power to move those who read it. Never lacking in emotional content, he creates verse that illuminates our world, its experiences and history.
In this collection we are introduced to speculative fantasy, still bringing relateable experiences and events in our lives into focus, but also exploring the outer edges of our consciousness and our universe.
Nature is not far from the centre of the verse with storms at sea, forests and skies blue and vast. Such as in the poem “storm and the sea (bubbles of foam)”
He invites us to wander with him through a garden where the blooms are black, to imagine orbiting the earth in space and offers a reminder of how our minds might lose touch with reality and the present in “Something” which begins we these words….
excuse me
I have lost something
I can’t tell
where
I put it
This is a collection to read at your leisure without haste and with an open mind. The poet provides plenty of opportunity to use your imagination and enjoy the experience.
+(14) Cynthia Reyes, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Cynthia : Goodreads – Website:Cynthia Reyes – Twitter: @CynthiaSReyes
My review for Myrtle the PurpleTurtle
Beautifully illustrated children’s book with a lesson for us all.
This is a beautifully written and illustrated children’s book, that gently encourages the young to accept that being different should be celebrated. Whether it is the colour of a person’s skin, accent, cultural background, religion or disability, they should never feel excluded and forced to change to fit in. Adapting is a different thing altogether and that comes when two people or groups respect each other’s differences, learn from them and adopt some elements in common. Cynthia Reyes expresses that effectively with the words in this book, complimented perfectly with wonderful illustrations of Myrtle and those she meets along the way by Jo Robinson. I also believe that parents or any adults reading this to a child, will also take on board how important it is for young children to grasp this concept as they enter this multi-cultural world we live in.
*+(21)Jane Risdon, Buy:Amazon UK – And: Amazon US– Blog:Jane Risdon WordPress – Goodreads:Jane Risdon Goodreads
My review for Undercover Crime Shorts March 2021
This is an interesting mix of short stories all with a criminal theme…We open with a story of intrique and double dealing that follows a charasmatic redhead with her sights on the big prize and willing to use anyone she can to achieve it. The other stories reveal the darker side of people’s nature, including a writer caught up in her neighbour’s terrifying drama, a woman who leaves a will to heirs who have to complete certain tasks to inherit her money, a stalker who gets more than he bargained for and a woman with justice on her mind.
The author has created some complex characters and a number of inventive schemes and deadly plots to keep you entertained and wondering just who will get away with murder. A short read packed with intrigue and surprises.
*+(17)Hugh Roberts, Buy: Amazon UK – And on: Amazon US – Follow :Hugh Roberts Goodreads – Blog – Hugh’s Views and News –
My review of More Glimpses 29th March 2019
Reading More Glimpses is like dipping into your favourite box of chocolates. We all have different tastes and some like the dark chocolate and others the milk. Some of us prefer toffee and others soft centres but you can guarantee that the box ends up empty.
There is a mix of genres to suit all tastes in More Glimpses with Science Fiction, Drama, Horror, Rom-Com, Fantasy and Comedy. All have a twist at the end that leaves you with something extra to think about, especially in relation to human behaviour. Some of the stories challenge our stereotyping of those we have not met, and others offer an opportunity to understand the actions of others a little better. The horror stories do a good job in scaring you into looking at everyday items and technology in a new light, not always favourable.
If I was to highlight some of the stories that I connected to more than the others it would be the first story The Whistle set in the trenches of World War I, where young men not only faced the terrors or war but the isolation of emotional conflict. The Door will have me looking at letter boxes in a new way.. at a distance! And Tap left me with a satisfied sense of retribution.
I am sure whatever your preference of genre you will enjoy all the stories and dip in and out and find your own favourites.
+(3)Louise Ross buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Louise: Goodreads – Website: Louise Ross – Podcast: Women Who Walk
My review for Women Who Walk February 12th 2022
I have always considered myself to be nomadic, and have trouble at times identifying exactly what nationality I can claim. Hence stories of these women and that of the author are fascinating in many respects, and I immediately related to each and every one of them.
The accounts begin in childhood and as their lives unfold, it is evident that the reasons to leave family and culture behind are sometimes complex. We join them on their journeys as they absorb life, learn new skills, find love, have families of their own and finally lay down roots far from home.
What struck me was the bravery that was required, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s for these young women, to head into the unknown. Although some did have travel companions, it still required an enormous leap of faith. The stories also highlighted the resilience and ingenuity required when arriving in a foreign country, usually without an adequate grasp of the language, to find employment and the means to remain for an extended period.
Some of those featured spent many years travelling around the world, visiting remote regions to work within charity organisations, global companies or other organisations such as the United Nations before arriving in Portugal. Whilst these postings were by nature temporary, what comes across is that few of these destinations provided all the elements needed to call home. Be it environment, culture, people and in some cases weather, Portugal has provided many of those elements in abundance.
Apart from the individual accounts, it is also a very useful guide to living and working in Portugal. The acceptance into the tight-knit Portuguese community, bureaucratic complexities and life within the expat groups offering a wide variety of cultural and creative programmes to assist in the integration.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about courageous and adaptable people who travel the world in search of a place to call home… and anyone thinking of living in Portugal.
*(2)Lauren Scott buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website/Blog: Baydreamer – Facebook: Lauren Scott Author
My review for the collection More Than Coffee September 10th 2022
This is a delightful collection of prose and poetry reflecting on a life tinged with sadness but also a great deal of love and humour. The author celebrates moments from her early life and marriage of over thirty years with stories that will entertain and also bring the reader’s own experiences to mind.
Sometimes it is the simplest things that evoke the warmest memories, such as a silver cutlery set, a toy frog called Sam, a yellowed kitchen chopper and the first time baking a traditional family birthday cake.
We are invited to concerts as a teenager overcomes self-doubt to solo in front of an audience of 2000 and fulfil a dream inspired by her idol Barbra Streisand. There are moments with spiders that might have you looking around your immediate surroundings, but you will also find yourself in some wonderful wilderness areas offering moments of reflection and a dip in a mountain pool.
Love is a central theme beginning with her mother and father’s love story that endured for nearly 70 years having begun in WWII with all its uncertainty and lengthy periods apart, and the author’s own fateful meeting with her husband, involving a kitchen appliance!
The loss of parents, even after a long and wonderful life, leaves a hole in our hearts. Their stories and poetry dedicated to them in this collection are heart-warming and reinforce the extent of their loving influence on the generations that followed.
The final part of the collection reflects on the changes that come when children leave the nest, and whilst this is obviously a time of sadness, there is also pride and delight as new lives are forged with future adventures to look forward to.
I enjoyed all the stories and poems in the collection and I am hard pushed to pick just one favourite but this one touched my heart.
Simple Existence
I stare at this page, milk white as the
blanketed ground in winter’s staging
where are the syllables?
I fear they have flown to faraway places,
across desert dunes and boundless oceans
and might not return so that I may tell him
(again) how irreplaceable he is.
Instead, I’ll touch his lips with mine
and steady myself in the arms of a man
who is satisfied with my simple existence.
©Lauren Scott
I can highly recommend this collection to read in one sitting or to dip into when you are in need of gentle and uplifting moments.
*+(35) Jan Sikes Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Website: Jan Sikes – Goodreads: Jan on Goodreads
Here is my review for Saddled Hearts 15th October 2022
Having enjoyed the other books in this series I was delighted to be asked to review an advance copy of Saddled Hearts. I knew I could expect to be swept away in to a well crafted and exciting adventure.
Central to this series is a powerful rune that is passed from the lead characters to someone else who is in need of some kind of resolution and healing of past events in their lives.
In Saddled Hearts, that resolution is much needed for Colt Layne whose mission in life to protect the legacy of his grandfather who brought him up. His life is filled with his rescue horses and music but finding the love of his life was not in his plans and he assumed it never would be. Despite his amazing upbringing by his grandfather, there is tragedy and rejection that he has never fully come to terms with until a series of events threaten all that he has in the present.
He didn’t count on meeting the force that is Sage Coventry whose gifts enable him to delve into the past and confront both the events and emotional turmoil they left in their wake. Their slowly building passion for each other, despite Sage’s reservations and the dire circumstances that brought them together, give him the strength to face both the past and the present.
With help from those who have passed away, the mystery of who is behind the violence and destruction to those around Colt begins to unravel with some surprising and shocking revelations. With a race against time, the action races towards a dangerous climax as the final pieces of the puzzle come together.
As always the author brings together wonderfully crafted and diverse characters, in an action packed, passionate love story with elements of the supernatural, that will keep you turning the pages to the end and one I can highly recommend.
*+(13)Ailish Sinclair: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Other reviews :Goodreads – Website:Ailish Sinclair – Twitter: @AilishSinclair – Facebook: Ailish Sinclair Author – LinkedIn: Ailish Sinclair
My review for Fireflies and Chocolate June 2021
As the author explains in her notes, this story is based on actual events that took place in Scotland in the 1740s, when six hundred children and young people were kidnapped from Aberdeen and sold into indentured servitude in the American colonies. Although there are accounts of this devastating event, they are mainly from the male perspective and the author created her central character Elizabeth to redress the balance.
Sinclair has done an excellent job of merging fact and fiction with wonderful characters, some based on real people of the day. Those who survived the crowded and dangerous crossing, were sold to the highest bidder to use as they saw fit for the years of their indenture. At that time slavery was still embedded in the culture, and the indentured servants worked side by side, often in appalling and cruel conditions.
Elizabeth comes from a privileged background but it is a time of conflict with the English and like many Scottish noble families times are hard. However, nothing could prepare her for voyage that broke the spirits of many, and the horror of being sold into an uncertain future.
We follow her adventures as she meets those who are on the run from the harsh treatment on the plantations, and those with a more enlightened attitude to the slavery and the use of indentured servants. Her bravery in the face of the treatment to those she now works side by side with, wins hearts and also endangers her life and those she loves.
This book is well researched, bringing history to life and the writing flows smoothly like hot chocolate as it warms on a cold day. It is a coming of age and love story which will have you holding your breath on occasion as Elizabeth comes to terms with her future.
I can highly recommend the book to those who enjoy well researched and compelling historical novels.
*+(26) Balroop Singh, Buy: Amazon US – and : Amazon UK –Follow Balroop on: Goodreads – blog:Balroop Singh on WordPress
My review for Hues of Hope June 25th 2022
Balroop Singh writes poetry not just from her heart but verse that touches the hearts of those who read it.
There are so many elements in her verse we can all relate to. The love of nature with its emotional and physical impact on us with its raw beauty and power, the variations on the theme of love and relationships, and the chains that bind us created by expectations of our own or others. The author shares her thoughts on finding our own identity, conquering pain, finding forgiveness and the sanctity of family. Each tells a story and all highlight the author’s ability to appreciate and understand human nature.
The collecton is divided into these areas of nature and the human condition and that provides a flow that moves you seamlessly from one poem to the next. Some of my favourites include Tread Softly Here, Magic, A Concert, When Love Whispered, and Don’t Dwell On It! Really?
One poem in particular struck me with its emotional elements. The Golden Cage
Trapped in the golden cage
The cage of unfulfilled desires
The cage of love and expectations
The cage with vast vistas
Each door so welcoming
Yet so deceptive
This is a lovely collection of poems and I can highly recommend.
*+(25) Janice Spina, buy:Amazon US – and :Amazon UK – Follow Janice: Goodreads – blog:Jem’s Books
My review for Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 6: Dragana Helps a Fairy October 2021
This book is a lovely example how giving those from a different background, even if they come with a fearsome reputation, a chance to become friends is a good thing. Dragons are not normally cast in such a friendly light, but these colourful creations by Janice Spina and her illustrator husband will delight small children with their vibrant colours and easy to read rhyming stories.
In this last book in the series Dragana in all her burgandy and cream glory, comes to the aid of a fairy queen in trouble who has dared to enter the realm of the dragons in desperate need of help. Despite her misgivings she puts her trust in Dragana and together they find a solution.
As this is the last book in the series, the author brings all the other dragons together at the end of the story with a recap of their own adventures which is a lovely link to the other books in the series.
I can recommend these stories for young children to ignite their imaginations and show them how kindness to others is so important.
You will be happy you read it and will re-read it over and over.
*+(20) Pete Springer, Buy: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Follow Pete Springer: Goodreads – Website:Pete Springer WordPress
My review for the book February 2021
This memoir of a teacher with over thirty years experience, is an interesting snapshot of the American education system, particularly the elementary school years for 5 to 10 or 11 years old. This is a key period in a child’s life and so important that the skills for learning and development are absorbed during these years.
Pete Springer provides a step by step guide to creating the best environment within a classroom, for learning and as a place of safety and respect. Clearly a dedicated teacher, but also an observer of human nature, Springer provides a manual for new teachers, including how to achieve a rapport with both students and their parents. Importantly of course, creating lesson plans that stimulate and educate, and how to use effective and empathetic methods when dealing with behavioural and discipline issues.
The book it is not just about teaching a curriculum set out by a state education board, but also developing relationships in and out of the classroom with key people in a child’s and a teacher’s life. As the author points out, children come from a multitude of backgrounds with varying family circumstances and one size does not fit all when it comes to treating them as individuals or those in their lives.
With anecdotes of life in the classroom with young minds trying to be one step ahead of you, overeager parents, and absent ones, and differing teaching methods being supported by successive administrators, it is not a 9-5 job. Especially when you are a dedicated educator intent on sending well taught and well-adapted children on to secondary school.
There is much to enjoy by the casual reader looking for an informative and entertaining read, with memories of their own early years rising to the surface, not all as positive as in the classes of Pete Springer.
I do think it is an excellent guide to those who are considering teaching as a career or have just begun their training. Also new teachers trying to find their own style, and a way to connect with their students effectively and the others involved in their lives.
Parents, and to a degree grandparents, would certainly benefit from understanding the complexities of the work of a teacher. Whilst this is written from the perspective of the American education system, children of this age around the world require the same level of dedication and commitment to their well-being.
The author includes some wonderful stories of students (with their names changed) their parents and incidents that will entertain. It is heartwarming to learn about past students who keep in touch, even when they too have become parents with children passing through Springer’s classroom. All of which underline what a caring person and teacher these children were lucky to have in their lives.
My review for Amazing Matilda January 1st 2022
As an adult reading a children’s book, I look for and enjoy how an author shares life lessons embedded within the story. Bette A. Stevens does this very well using animals that a child would be familiar with, as the bearer of these inspiring but simple encouragements to be kind, to be patient and to perservere with life and tasks we are faced with.
Matilda goes through the complex phases in the life of a butterfly and the author shares these not just in the words of the story, but lovely illustrations which would catch a child’s attention and prompt a discussion between child and the storyteller An opportunity to emphasise elements of the tale and explore in more detail the creatures met during Matilda’s transformation.
Bette Stevens has created a lovely book that any child would treasure and also would engage older members of the family too. Highly recommended.
+(4)Jack Talbot: Amazon UK – And:Amazon US – Website: Jack Talbot – Facebook: Jack Talbot – Facebook Author Page:The Hurler – Follow Jack: Goodreads – LinkedIn: Jack Talbot
My review for the book January 15th 2022
*+(22) Stevie Turner, Buy : Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Stevie : Goodreads blog: Stevie Turner on WordPress –
