Between The Lines

Author: Jill Bisker

Published: June 2014 by Melange Books

Category: Paranormal, Contemporary

Finding the Way Back is the story of Laney, a recently divorced woman who agrees to help her mother fix up her dead grandfather’s house. From the first night when she hears ghostly music to later physical attacks that seem targeted only at her, she soon discovers that a spirit in the house may have plans of its own. For her own well-being, she needs to find answers as the danger escalates and she learns to trust herself and others. With the help of her cousin Connie, an attractive ghosthunter named Emmett, and several other eccentric characters, Laney uncovers the dark secret of the house and a new path for her future.

Laney MacKenzie is ‘finding her way back’ from years spent with her cheating and controlling, now ex, husband, Simon. Her self-worth is almost non existent after being subjected to Simon’s undermining attitude and cavalier treatment. Laney’s mother has given her the option, with a little push, of refurbishing her late grandfather’s house, affording her a place to live and something to restore her confidence and self-respect. Her cousin and erstwhile best friend, Connie, moves in to lend a hand and she and Laney rekindle their old and close friendship.

The house is crammed full of boxes and the accumulations of a lifetime and Laney feels daunted by the task, especially so when strange and unexplainable incidents begin to occur. As she and Connie start to gradually uncover the secrets of the house and their family, Laney gets much more than she could ever imagine. As the ghostly occurrences escalate and become extremely threatening, Connie has an idea.

I stopped, petrified, a sudden memory coming back to me. I hadn’t thought of it in years, but suddenly it seemed like yesterday. Connie and I had been in the basement poking around the junk while our parents argued with our grandfather upstairs. I had been teasing Connie and hiding behind things when I felt a hand come down on my shoulder. Thinking I’d been caught terrorising my cousin by an adult, I’d jumped up and turned round. Only there was no-one there. I never told anyone because I knew they would never believe me.

I like the inclusion of the ghost hunters, they add an extra layer of interest to the story although I would have liked to learn more about Emmet’s backstory.

This is a very enjoyable, humorous and well crafted story of re-learning the values of trust and love and letting go of the past. There are likeable, realistic and some eccentric characters, several scary scenes and a satisfactory conclusion, despite me not quite understanding why the two ghosts would elect to stay in the house rather than move on together.

About the author

Jill Bisker lives in Stillwater, MN with her husband and a calico cat named Senora. She believes in empowering women to be strong enough to protect themselves, while still soft enough to be loving and compassionate. Her work includes paranormal mystery and traditional high fantasy, as well as contemporary and humorous fantasy and an everyday living blog. Her novella Within Reach is her first publication with Melange. Once a dedicated stay at home Mom, Jill now writes full-time. 

Visit her at www.jillbisker.com 

and http://unaccompaniedjaunt.blogspot.com/

Author: LJ Sellers

Performed by Patrick Lawlor

Published by Brilliance Audio and released via Audible August 2014

Category: Crime, Thriller, Suspense

When a young mother is found murdered in a derelict Eugene neighborhood – and her terrified young son is discovered hiding beneath the floorboards – Detective Jackson reluctantly takes the case. His own life is already in chaos, with his runaway teenage daughter, Katie, still gone and his girlfriend, Kera, facing her own family crisis. Matters get more complicated when the orphaned boy bonds with Jackson, triggering unexpected emotions and compromising his ability to investigate. Meanwhile, Detective Evans, one of Jackson’s most valuable colleagues, is pulled off the case to look into the death of a University of Oregon football star – leaving the homicide task force shorthanded. As Jackson works to solve the murder and find a home for little Benjie, he soon faces devastating choices that threaten everything he holds dear.

Wade Jackson’s life is still in turmoil after the death of his ex-wife and the breach in his relationship with his daughter, Katie. Katie initially blamed Jackson for her mother’s death and the detrimental effect is still being felt, although Katie does now communicate with her father via text.

Jackson is one of my favourite types of protagonist and I love the way his character has developed over the series. He’s essentially a good guy with a social conscience, realistic and not perfect. He is struggling to come to terms with Katie having run away from home and missing her terribly. Jackson believes he’s failed his daughter and worries about her. He also has guilt issues about his girlfriend, Kera, who is dealing with her own family troubles. Jackson never seems to be able to fully support her due to his demanding job, now even more so because of budget cuts to the department.

Lammers’ voice boomed even with the cell at a distance. “Jackson, are you there?”

He stood. “Yes, hold on.” The waiting room had filled in the last hour, and there wasn’t anywhere private. Jackson looked back at Kera, mouthed I’m sorry, and headed outside. “What’s going on?” 

“Possible homicide. A young female in a house in the Bethel area. Probably dead since yesterday.” 

Damn. Why had he answered. Dead young women triggered emotions he’d rather not feel. “I’m a the hospital with Kera…..Can someone else take the lead? I’ll join the task force when I can.”

An exasperated sigh. “I can’t spare you. Schak is in court, and Evans is still too green for this kind of case.”

As Jackson and his Violent Crimes Unit team investigate the possible homicide of a young woman in a less than salubrious area, Jackson finds the victim’s three year old son.  His feelings towards the boy show Jackson in a completely different and interesting light although I’m not sure how true to life it is for Jackson to take custody of Benjie the way he does. The team are swamped by questions relating to the case but have no viable answers.

Detective Lara Evans has caught her own case and is pulled off Jackson’s team, leaving the Violent Crimes Unit even more short-handed. The more Evans’ investigation progresses the more sure she becomes that her case and Jackson’s are tied together. The credible plot line and the combining action between the two well crafted and interwoven cases develops effectively and moves the story along perfectly. An unexpected resolution to the linked cases and a bombshell for Jackson conclude a really good addition to this series. Deadly Bonds could be read as a stand alone but, if as I do, you like to get the full story about the characters in a series, I would choose to start at the beginning. 

I like the ‘voice’ Patrick Lawlor gives Jackson, it conveys his personality very well, and he does a great job with the other characterisations too. Looking forward to Wrongful Death – coming in March!

Author: Terry Tyler

Kindle Edition

Imagine being able to find out what would happen if you’d chosen the other path…Would you make the same decision? And, if you could, would you go back and change all the mistakes you’ve ever made in the name of love?

‘The Other Side’ tells of four lives, all very different. 

Four very different stories – but they are all connected.

I received a copy from the author. This does not affect my thoughts or the content of my review.

If you’re looking for something completely different and intriguing, with a unique and quite complex structure, and shot through with humour this could be the book for you. The story is very cleverly told from the present, going backwards over time, from four very diverse perspectives, showing how decisions taken and choices made can affect the outcome and shape the course of the future. And how different that future could be with one single change of direction.

Katya is a very successful business woman with a very large ego and no permanent man in her life. Years ago she and her friend, Maggie, had discussed ‘The Plan’ they devised for their lives. Katya’s didn’t include anyone less successful, less motivated or less monied than herself. 

Daniel was a van driver, for goodness sake! He was cute, she had to give Maggie that – okay, he was divine; twenty years ago she’d have put her best cleavage forward and demanded he be washed and brought to her tent. Unfortunately for Daniel, though, she’d reached the stage in her life when knife edge cheekbones and an endearing smile simply weren’t going to cut it, not without the rest of the package to back them up.

Cathy is trapped in a dull and boring marriage, with a controlling husband and his very intrusive family. Then she meets someone from her past.

She would be wrong whatever she did; she was used to that now. Would they have been equally snotty to any woman who’d taken Andy away from them? Probably!

If she’d realised what marrying into the Froud family actually meant, she would have headed for the hills while she still had a chance.

Alexa is living the dream, running a cafe in the picturesque Fort Angus in Scotland. Until Janey arrived.

She was trying to take away her man, and her best friend, and now even her position in her own business, the Loch View Café, that she and Charlie had built up, sweated and slaved over, for the past twelve years.

Sandie has a serious problem with alcohol. Filled with the hopelessness of her life and situation, in a relationship she doesn’t really want, she feels completely lost and superfluous. Then it was crunch time. It was time to stop trying to please everyone else and get her life back.

If ever a throwaway remark acted as a swift kick up the backside, it was that one. Sandie knew that Mirabel hadn’t meant it nastily, but she never wanted to be with any man who put up with her only because he thought he couldn’t do any better. Maybe he can’t, Sandie thought, but I can.

Three weeks later, she had not only a new haircut, but also a full time job in a pub, The Gallery, and a new flat.

The portrayal of the women, the completely contrasting experiences and the realistic lifestyle issues are compellingly written.

Entirely unpredictable, this story is a fascinating journey of supposition. How would a life unfold if particular choices were made differently and how would it impact on other people? Would that life be better? Or worse? And how would that person ever know how things might have turned out if they had grabbed an opportunity when it was offered, or not made that inopportune decision at that precise time. I could never have guessed the very satisfactory conclusion. An extremely entertaining story and one that makes you think. 

• Author: Francis Guenette
• Published: February 2013 by FriesenPress
• Category: Contemporary Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Lisa-Marie has been packed off to spend the summer with her aunt on the isolated shores of Crater Lake. She is drawn to Izzy Montgomery, a gifted trauma counsellor who is struggling through personal and professional challenges. Lisa-Marie also befriends Liam Collins, a man who goes quietly about his life trying to deal with his own secrets and guilt. The arrival of a summer renter for Izzy’s guest cabin is the catalyst for change amongst Crater Lake’s tight knit community. People are forced to grapple with the realities of grief and desire to discover that there are no easy choices – only shades of grey.

Lisa-Marie is spending the summer on the beautiful shores of Crater Lake, Vancouver Island, with her Aunt Bethany and her aunt’s partner, Beulah. They live by Camp Micah, a refuge for troubled teenagers who have spent years in care, and among a small diverse community who all have their own conflicting personalities, emotions and issues.

Crater Lake is remote and peaceful, a place to which people gravitate in the hope of leaving behind their troubled pasts. But, as the cast of very authentic and well drawn characters find, problems have a tendency to follow on regardless, as if attached by an invisible cord. And no matter how much or how long they are ignored, one day they will demand to be resolved.

On her first evening at the A-Frame, Lisa-Marie grabbed a novel from the coffee table and flopped onto the sofa. She didn’t mind spending her time with a good book but she usually got to pick reading over other options – no TV, no internet and no phone. It was like being captive on an episode of Survivor….

Beulah strolled casually by the sofa flipping a brochure onto Lisa-Marie’s lap. ‘Micah Camp…why not check it out? Maybe they need a cook’s helper or something. Maybe you could get a job….better than lying around on your ass for the next two months.’ Lisa-Marie had to give Beulah credit. That remark slid in like a well aimed shiv in the prison exercise yard. And the timing was superb; her Auntie Beth had walked out of the room just moments before.

Izzy Montgomery is a psychological trauma counsellor, a widow grieving for her husband, Caleb, who was the grounding force in her life for so many years. Caleb’s influence is still felt strongly and his absence affects the residents of Crater Lake. They can do nothing else but accept and control their reactions as best they can. The different perspectives give a lot of insight into each wounded and complex personality, and as a result there are strong feelings running through the narrative along with the underlying effects of guilt, bullying, grief and abuse. These challenging social issues are handled with sensitivity and illustrate how they can have a devastating effect on the people suffering the consequences of such emotional ordeals.

Each chapter explores a specific character and includes past events which eventually brought them to Crater Lake and this point in their lives. It’s really fascinating and clever the way Francis Guenette has woven together these individual stories with insight and awareness for human nature and frailties.

This summer at Crater Lake, with transient folk added to the mix, precipitates a change in everyone’s life with the emotional strains and tensions, which have built up over time, challenging them all to focus on soul-searching and whether there is the ability to leave troubles in the past where they belong, leaving the way open to adjust and move forward.

The setting is extremely appealing and very visual, the detailed descriptions of the area are evocative and expressive. The story encompasses a lot, some experiences no-one should have to experience, unrequited love, dealing with loss and grief and eventually coming round to letting go of blame and so being able to embrace the not always easy process of healing.

About the author

Francis Guenette has spent most of her life on the west coast of British Columbia. She lives with her husband and dog and finds inspiration for writing in the beauty and drama of their lakeshore cabin and garden on the Northern end of Vancouver Island. She lives in an off-the-grid home that employs a combination of micro-hydro and solar power. 

Between May and September, Billy Bob the Bear drops over to graze and eat huckleberries and salal. Now and then cougar tracks are spotted meandering across the property. Life is good in the hinterlands, but Francis warns – you have to keep your eyes open and know where you are.

Francis has a daughter and a son – both happily married and pursuing interesting careers. She also has two beautiful and wildly funny granddaughters who provide her with inspiration for writing and living. 

For most of her working life, Francis has been an educator. She has worked with special needs children and youth and taught at the undergrad level at the University of Victoria. She has a graduate degree in counselling psychology and very nearly completed her PhD. There was that pesky matter of the doctoral dissertation, but enough said on that score! She has worked as a trauma counsellor, a researcher, and a graduate student supervisor. 

During her academic life Francis published (on her own and with others) several articles that were accepted to peer-reviewed journals as well as contributing to chapters in two published books. Disappearing in Plain Sight is her first novel. She is already hard at work on the sequel. 

Visit her WordPress blog http://disappearinginplainsight.com to learn all you would ever want to know about Francis and her writing life. There you can like her on Facebook. You are also invited to follow Francis on Twitter @FrancisGuenette 

Audiobook Review

Author: Pamela Samuels Young

Performed by RC Bray

Published: Goldman House Publishing, released On Audible December 2013

Category: Crime, Suspense, Thriller

Based on the real-life horrors faced by thousands of girls, award-winning author Pamela Samuels Young takes readers deep inside the disturbing world of child sex trafficking in a fast-paced thriller that educates as much as it entertains.

Thirteen-year-old Brianna Walker is ecstatic. She’s about to sneak off to meet her first real boyfriend—a boyfriend she met on Facebook. But Brianna is in for a horrifying surprise because her boyfriend doesn’t exist. Instead, Brianna unwittingly becomes the captive of a ring of drug dealers – turned-human traffickers who prey on lonely girls from dysfunctional homes. But they’ve made a big mistake in targeting Brianna because she doesn’t meet either of those criteria. 

 

After finding out that Dre Thomas is an ex drug dealer who spent time in prison in Buying Time, Angela Evans broke off their relationship. Dre’s feeling for Angela are still strong and now he has a second chance he’s determined to make it work. Angela, who was an Assistant US Attorney, now represents children and teens, who have been sexually exploited, in juvenile court.

Dre’s niece, Brianna, is targeted by a sex trafficking ring, masterminded by the Shepherd, and abducted on her way to meet a fictitious boyfriend she met on Facebook. Charting Brianna’s appallingly horrific experiences, this story explores in detail the shocking way the human traffickers abuse and manipulate vulnerable young girls.

It still bothered Brianna – but only a little – that Jaden had refused to hook up with her on Skype or FaceTime, or even talk to her on the phone. Jaden had explained that he wanted to hear her voice and see her face for the first time in person. When she thought about it, that was kind of romantic.

Dre has given Brianna an iPhone for her birthday which enabled her to secretly open the Facebook account her mother had forbidden. Now Dre is suffering agonies for, as he sees it, putting Brianna in harm’s way. We follow his desperate search for Brianna as, unable to rely on the police, Dre calls in any favours he can and recruits people from his own criminal past. He will do whatever it takes to get Brianna back safely and bring those responsible to justice.

This is a very challenging story to listen to, on an emotional level. The horror, brutality and degradation young girls are subjected to is tragic and beyond callous. Compelling and thought-provoking, it’s impossible not to be moved and disturbed by the fact this kind of exploitation can and does happen, more than is realised.

The narration adds an extra punch with the characterisations of the predators, which are chilling in the extreme, and the ‘voices’ of the young, frightened and confused girls, quite distressingly realistic. RC Bray does an excellent job with what must have a been very tough read.

Pamela Samuels Young tackles an intensely difficult subject with a no holds barred and very well written story, showing the whole, true horror of child sex trafficking.

Author: Randy Mixter

Published: June 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Category: Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy

 

Doug Munroe and Rebecca Carlyle are young and in love. He met her when he saved her life, but now he may need to save her again. Someone, or something, wants her and there is no place to hide, and no safe haven from the memories of her troubled past. Before the summer ends, the past and present will meet. Will Doug be able to save the woman he loves one last time? Or will an evil from long ago take her from him forever?
Strange things are happening in Port Grace, Florida.

Doug has come to Port Grace for the summer in order to write a novel, something he’s always wanted to do but it took a chat with a mysterious stranger to push him into making a decision. Annie appeared at a party, struck up a conversation with Doug and then was gone. He never saw her again.

Annie became a part of my life for less than an hour on a cool spring night, but she left me with just enough words to spark my imagination. She gave me the framework for my first book, and with the blueprint came these instructions. “Start slowly. Teach your words how to walk before you teach them how to fly.”

It was Annie’s words that sent me to the Gulf of Mexico when I should have been pounding the pavement in search of employment.

 

During a trip into Port Grace one evening Doug witnesses a terrible car accident. He manages to pull the car’s only occupant, who he later learns is Rebecca, through the smashed window before an explosion turns the car into a fireball. 

Beckie and Doug feel an immediate connection, as if they’ve always known each other. Doug takes on the not always easy task of looking after Beckie when she’s released from the hospital and their relationship blossoms.

Meanwhile, in another time, Rachel is rescued by Morgan and nursed back to health. Their story parallels Doug and Beckie’s in many ways. Two romances, both women wear a mystical necklace and have cats. Add to that mysterious paintings and an unseen evil stalking both couples and you have the recipe for a great story.

Summer’s Passing is two love stories with an underlying paranormal/fantasy thread, woven together with a surprise twist at the end. Randy Mixter has an imaginative and sensitive approach to relationships and creates realistic and likeable characters that bring out the emotional force and intrigue of his stories. Stories which more often than not have an element of the unexpected and extraordinary, allowing imagination to run free with unlimiting possibilities. Well written and engaging with vivid imagery. An easy, feel good and very enjoyable read.

Author: Iain Reading
Published: April 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Category: Young Adult, Adventure

Following in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart, Kitty Hawk sets off on an epic flight around the world and arrives in Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik where she finds herself immersed in a beautiful alien world of volcanoes, Vikings, elves and trolls. Before she knows it Kitty is plunged head first into an amazing adventure that sweeps her across a rugged landscape where humans and nature exist in side-by-side in an uneasy truce and magical realms seem to lie just out of sight beneath the surface.

I received a free copy from Book Publicity Services in return for an honest review.

Kitty’s third stop on her round the world flight takes her to Iceland via short stopovers in a little town called Kitty Hawk (yes, really!) in North Carolina and Halifax, Nova Scotia with its very sad link to the Titanic. 

This girl is an adventure magnet and, being avidly curious and a keen amateur sleuth, finds herself caught up in an escalating and dangerous situation involving sabotaging environmentalists, corrupt officials and Russian criminals. Not to mention an erupting volcano and escaping a raging torrent.

As I passed over the Eastern coastline of Greenland, I was dazzled by the millions of white-blue icebergs littering the inlets and waters below me. In the bright sun, they sparkled like tiny diamonds and sapphires floating on the water. It was such an astonishingly beautiful sight that I couldn’t resist taking my trusty De Havilland Beaver down to a lower altitude for a closer look.

 

As with all of Kitty’s travels the description and sense of place is incredibly evocative. Iceland is an intriguing destination with it’s amazing surroundings and atmosphere. What I like so much about this series is that the actual places figure as much in the story as the characters. Especially with the wealth of knowledge that’s incorporated into the story, in a good way, as part of the whole. Who knew Iceland had a naming committee? Or that said (very long) names, and pronunciations in general, were so complicated and unlike anything you could imagine. Iceland is full of legend too, about elves, trolls and hidden people. Fascinating! I wasn’t so crazy about the Puffin hunting and the local delicacy of rotted shark meat though…ew.

Incorporating the Icelandic culture, environmental issues and history and weaving it into the story is extremely absorbing and entertaining. It’s a fun way to interest younger (and older) readers in the history of places in an anecdotal and less formal way. 

Author: Alison Williams

Published: October 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Category: Historical Fiction, Suspense, Horror

'‘Look upon this wretch, all of you! Look upon her and thank God for his love and his mercy. Thank God that he has sent me to rid the world of such filth as this.’ 1647 and England is in the grip of civil war. In the ensuing chaos, fear and suspicion are rife and anyone on the fringes of society can find themselves under suspicion. Matthew Hopkins, self-styled Witchfinder General, scours the countryside, seeking out those he believes to be in league with the Devil. In the small village of Coggeshall, 17–year-old Alice Pendle finds herself at the centre of gossip and speculation. Will she survive when the Witchfinder himself is summoned? A tale of persecution, superstition, hate and love, ‘The Black Hours’ mixes fact with fiction in a gripping fast-paced drama that follows the story of Alice as she is thrown into a world of fear and confusion, and of Matthew, a man driven by his beliefs to commit dreadful acts in the name of religion.'

Having been born and brought up in Lancashire, the home of the Witches of Pendle, this book was of particular interest. Never thinking much of it as children, apart from trips to Pendle Hill and as something with which to scare each other, it was only as an adult the atrocities, the true horror and suffering were realised.

There has obviously been an enormous amount of research gone into this story and to have the narrative from the Witchfinder’s point of view as well as Alice Pendle’s makes for an even bigger impact. Added to that the fact that Matthew Hopkins is not a fictional character but was indeed a Witchfinder General, although this seems to have been self bestowed title, and believed to be responsible for the deaths of around three hundred women during the span of two years.

Alice pulled her cloak tightly around her as she pushed her way through the crowds. The gruesome shadow of the gallows loomed ahead, five rope nooses creaking in the bitter wind that whipped through Halstead’s bustling square. She wanted only to escape these people who knocked against her, surrounding her with their noise and smells. It had been a hard two days walk from Coggeshall in the biting cold and she was looking forward to the warmth and refreshment she would no doubt receive in Hannah’s home.

Hopkins, believing himself to be doing God’s work and regardless of how he acquires ‘confessions’ from terrified, tortured, persecuted and often elderly women, is arrogant and condescending of those he considers beneath him. Reading from his point of view was quite unsettling because he is clearly deluded and totally self-absorbed, slyly influencing the superstitious, sometimes spiteful and misguided village people who need someone to blame for all that is lacking in their lives. He arouses only feelings of horror and incredulity at his actions and egotism. It’s a very powerful reminder of the prejudice and tyranny prevalent through the ages.

The mood and feelings of the time are captured perfectly. The small village of Coggeshall, where seventeen year old Alice Pendle lives with her grandmother Maggie, and it’s residents are described in fascinating detail, giving a comprehensive picture of life in the year 1647. A time when having skills in natural healing with herbs and plants could be misconstrued and used as justification for the charge of being in league with the devil.

Alice, in complete contrast to Hopkins, evokes total sympathy, compassion and warmth. Her story is a living nightmare, chilling in the extreme, given these events occurred with regularity. Women can be, and are, accused of witchcraft for all sorts of preposterous reasons. If the unfortunate person has animals, a scar, a birthmark or forages for plants and herbs, as Alice and her grandmother do. Despite helping their neighbours when in need, they are denounced at the first opportunity. The methods used to ‘prove’ such claims are barbaric and illogical and quite often manipulated.

Despite the terrible ordeal and anguish she suffers, Alice still manages to grow in strength of character and regain her self-respect.

This is an extremely well written, very thought-provoking and authentic story of people involved in an appalling and menacing situation. I’m very much looking forward to Alison Williams’ next book.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author for review purposes

Author: Terry Tyler

Kindle Edition

Category: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

'A tale of three sisters… 

Karen Kavanagh has spent her life feeling like the runt of the family. 

Her two elder sisters, domestic goddess Ava and salon owner Saskia, are mini versions of their mother, a gorgeous Danish beauty. Karen has inherited her father’s droopy, dull brown hair and long nose – pitted against two Scandinavian sauna babes, she feels like Cinderella in reverse. 

Danny Alvarez doesn’t see her like that. He thinks she’s wonderful. 
Lots of women want Danny, but Danny just wants Karen. 
He pursues her with the devotion of a stalker – but she pushes him away. Then she realises what she’s done…'

Karen’s insecurity and self-doubt takes hold with a throw away comment by her mother when Karen was seven years old. It sticks with her and intensifies over the years, causing jealousy and resentment of her more glamorous sisters. Compared to them Karen feels less than. Not good enough. Unloveable. The sisters’ relationship can get very strained at times. Karen’s emotional baggage is deep-rooted and she has a tendency to be obsessive. She doesn’t really know what, or who, she wants. There’s an event (funny, sad but serious) in her youth that adds to her feelings of being unworthy.

'We always knew we were going to have trouble with my sister Karen. She was difficult even as a child.

Used to her sulks and tantrums we might have been, but we were still shocked by what she did to Gemma Franklin.'

This is a character driven story of real people in real relationships and circumstances, it could be any family in any street. Terry Tyler’s writing is very descriptive and detailed, it pulled me in from the start. The characters engender all the emotions, empathy, frustration, sadness, one would experience in such involved interactions. The portrayal of intricate and complex relationships are intriguing and very true to life. I couldn’t help but feel for Karen, and later Ava…..even though things aren’t exactly as they seem.

The story is skilfully told and works really well with the narrative initially in the first person from Ava’s point of view, then also from the perspective of several of the key characters which gives a different aspect on each personal approach to events. This in turn is an opportunity to get to know each well-defined individual more thoroughly.

The dynamics of the relationship between the sisters, their immediate circle of friends and co workers and the love and loss aspect gives the story more depth and makes it much more than a romantic novel. There are also dark undercurrents and some deviousness running through from an unexpected quarter that comes as a surprise. How far would someone go to have the person of their dreams? 

I loved the very satisfying ending. Wonderful descriptions of Norfolk too, a place I haven’t visited…yet. This made me want to go.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author.

Author: Honor A Dawson

Published: June 2014 by Stoats & Swan

Category: Supernatural, Mystery

'Michaela and Sam are renovating a Victorian house. Primrose Cottage has a tragic history which somehow influences Michaela’s emotional stability. Local residents provoke a strong reaction from Michaela, their nasty accusations of abuse and child murders refer to Catherine who once lived in Michaela’s new home. Unconvinced, effected by personal conflicts, Michaela sets out to investigate Catherine’s family life, a mystery with angry undercurrents'.

Set in an old house in Cornwall the story parallels the lives of two women. Michaela in the present day and Catherine, who lived there in the early 1900s and is one of Michaela’s ancestors. Michaela has inherited the house from an uncle she never met. She and her husband, Sam, are renovating the property for themselves. The house has a less than favourable history and Michaela and Sam are warned against settling there.

After having several visions about Catherine and the distressing events in her life, Michaela confides in Sam and decides she wants to prove Catherine innocent of the accusations levelled against her. Michaela is convinced the rumours surrounding Catherine are unfounded. 

Catherine’s story is very sad and I appreciate the difficulties she faced as a woman without rights of any sort in the days of terrible inequality. The cultural and environmental factors of the time were not focused on the welfare or support of women. I could feel Catherine’s frustration and feelings of injustice at her helplessness.

The premise of the story is interesting and makes you wonder if evil and tragedy can live on and affect future generations. 

'‘You think this is about Bloomer?’

Silence.

‘Are you completely stupid?’

He perched on the bed and reached out his hand. She knocked it away. ‘Just go, I want to be alone. And don’t bother me again.’'

Red Moon

Author: Randy Mixter

Kindle Edition

'Jake Stanton, FBI Agent and former member of the U.S. Army’s elite Omega force, is dispatched to Virginia to find the murderer known only as the Red Moon Killer. Together with Silvanus Merlin, a man with extraordinary talents, they track the elusive killer who attacks only on nights of the full moon. They must hurry, for soon the moon will be full once more, and the killer will strike again.'

‘The moon is rising, and a killer prowls the night.’

After reading the wonderful Swan Loch I wanted to follow Jake Stanton’s story. Before Sorcerer comes a short story, Red Moon, in which we’re introduced to Silvanus Merlin and his daughter, Keira. Jake and Merlin solve a series of gruesome murders which only occur during nights of the full moon. Merlin has an uncanny capability and is able to solve seemingly impossible cases. He is sometimes brought in by the FBI and he and Jake are assigned to the Red Moon case. They are in a race against time to find the murderer before the effects of the next full moon have more horrific consequences. A really good lead in to Sorcerer.

Sorcerer

Author: Randy Mixter

Published: April 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Category: Mystery, Suspense, Adventure, Fantasy

FBI agent Jake Stanton is a wanted man. He is wanted by the same individuals who search for Keira’s father, Silvanus Merlin, his partner in a previous case, and the man who once saved his life. Together, Stanton and Keira will journey to a place dark and dangerous, a place where an amazing discovery awaits and a secret that may change the world as we know it.

Keira hasn’t seen her father since the Red Moon case but they communicate regularly through dreams. Merlin is in danger and wants Keira to find Jake and ask for his help. 

The danger involves an artefact Keira uncovered at a dig in Egypt. An artefact that could, and probably would, catastrophically change the world if it fell into the wrong hands. Even as Keira and Jake race to find Merlin, men with evil on their minds are on Merlin’s trail and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.

From a cave deep in the forests of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina to the heat and dust of Egypt, a trip undertaken by extraordinarily unconventional means, a very descriptive tale of adventure, action and mystery, with a sci-fi twist, pulled me along on a tide of suspense. Whatever thought I had of what was about to happen was turned on it’s head as something completely different transpired.

Great character development, and especially interesting is getting a little more of Merlin’s backstory and a slight insight into his amazing powers. 

'He leaned on the railing and closed his eyes. He set his mind free to see what it would find. When he oped his eyes an hour had passed and he had found things hidden in the dark, things born in fire, with sharp teeth and claws, crouched and ready to spring. He had been wrong, but there was still time to make the necessary changes. At least he hoped so.'

I love how Randy Mixter stretches the bounds of possibility, in different ways in each novel, and compels the reader to consider unimagined concepts. The quote in the front of the book is very apt.

‘The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious’ ~ Albert Einstein

The epilogue is bittersweet. Will Jake and Emma meet again? I hope so.

Author: Russell Blake

Performed by RC Bray

Published: Janda Management, Released on Audible July 2014

Category: Hardboiled, Noir Fiction

'When Artemus Black is hired to investigate a series of suspicious accidents at LA’s most prestigious modeling agency, he quickly discovers that brooding pouts and mascara can be as dangerous as guns or bombs. From LA to Mexico to Tahoe to NY, the story pokes fun at the world of high fashion.'

Models from a top class agency are dying at an unprecedented rate and Black is called in to investigate, requiring him to attend photo shoots in exotic locations. The first of which is in Cabo San Lucas. It doesn’t go well and Black manages to get into his girlfriend, Sylvia’s bad books. It seems the modelling world is rife with corruption and deceitful competitors. As events escalate Black has his work cut out to get to the bottom of the accidents…or are they murders?

All the old favourites are back, including Mugsy, the fat and flatulent feline. Black’s exchanges with Roxie, who is planning a move to Germany with her boyfriend (Black will have to see about that!) and Stan, his police buddy, are as funny and entertaining as ever.

'“Stan. It’s Black. You called?”

“Yeah. It was a lousy connection.”

“What’s up?”

“My blood pressure and cholesterol. Thanks for asking.”

“Appreciate the update. But I was thinking more about why you called.”'

 

Black’s parents, Spring and Chakra, also feature and Black and Sylvia brave a visit with them en route to a photo shoot in Las Vegas. If Black isn’t being ragged on by Roxie, his mother is shooting her little barbs.

I’m enjoying this series so much, I love Black more with each book. Really great characterisation in the writing and narration. Black continues to develop into a genuinely good guy with a tough side and I think Roxie might even be slightly less abrasive. A surprising twist at the end, I didn’t see that one coming at all. The murder/mystery story lines are authentic and well thought out with a profusion of suspects to choose from.

Russell Blake’s characters are colourful, well drawn and very memorable, the writing clever and witty. Coupled with RC Bray’s masterful narration these audiobooks are a must have.

'“Gunther will be out in a moment to show you back. Pellegrino?”

Black was stumped. “I don’t know who designed my suit.”

She didn’t blink. “Would you like some water? Juice?”

“Oh. No. I’m good.”'

I couldn’t help it. I laughed out loud. Several times. The snappy dialogue is such fun, especially when delivered so well. 

Disclaimer: I was gifted a copy of the audiobook which does not affect the content of my review in any way.

Author: Iain Reading

Published: December 2012 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Category: Young Adult/Adventure

'After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty’s adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada’s Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska’s inside passage and Canada’s Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.'

I received a copy of the book in return for an honest review

This is the first instalment in the Kitty Hawk young adult series and centres around Kitty, a very independent and exceptional teenage pilot with her own seaplane, a De Havilland Beaver. She definitely has ‘a nose for mystery and intrigue and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.’
The prologue seems to be introducing the subsequent books as the story doesn’t refer back to the fact that Kitty is in serious trouble.

'“Mayday, mayday, mayday,” I said, keying my radio transmitter as I leveled my flight path out again. “This is aircraft Charlie Foxtrot Kilo Tango Yankee, calling any ground station or vessel hearing this message, over.”
I keyed the mic off and listened intently for a reply. Any reply. Please? But there was nothing. There was barely even static. My radio was definitely fried.
It was hard to believe that it would all come down to this. After the months of preparation and training. After all the adventures that I’d had, the friends I’d made, the beauty I’d experienced, the differences and similarities I’d discovered from one culture to the next and from one human being to the next. All of this in the course of my epic flight around the entire world.'

So this story chronicles Kitty’s adventures leading up to her taking the decision to fly round the world. And what adventures she has! From her experiences and research studying Humpback whales (which was fascinating) to being kidnapped and hunting down stolen gold.

Kitty’s first stop on her whale journey is her best friend Skeena’s house in Juneau. Skeena is a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation tribe and her grandfather, Joseph, is a tribe elder. I liked his philosophy a lot…

'“Sky, water, land,” he said, holding his palm flat out, high, low, middle as he spoke.” Wherever we are in this world we are not alone. We are not the only creatures who find life in the sky and water and land. We are not the only creatures who need it.And we cannot just take and take and take. We have to give. And we have to respect.”'

I enjoyed very much reading about the detailed history of the Klondike, the Yukon and the gold rush era. The narrative is entertaining and descriptive, giving a good mental image of places and scenery. Jack London’s White Fang is a favourite of mine so it was interesting to learn more of his life too.

The illustrations were a nice touch and gave a sense of where Kitty actually was.

The passages relating to the hike up the mountain, the Chilkoot Trail and the ruins of the old settlement were very expressive and revealed such a lot about the hardships of the day.

I wasn’t too sure about the capture/bonding thing going on at first but it smoothed out as the story progressed. The only little niggle I have is the ‘conversations’ Kitty has with herself. Personally, I’d prefer just thoughts.

That said the mixture of action, adventure, information and history is a really good combination and make for a very pleasing story. I will definitely follow Kitty’s adventures.

Author: Richard Phillips

Performed by MacLeod Andrews

Released: August 2014 by Brilliance Audio on Audible

Category: Crime/Thriller/Suspense, Supernatural

'Jack Gregory, the CIA’s top assassin, went rogue after a mission gone wrong. When a confrontation leaves him bleeding out on death’s doorstep, he is faced with an offer from a dark figure named Anchanchu. If Jack is willing to act as a human host for Anchanchu, the entity will revive him and give him another shot at life. Jack takes the deal…but he must now face the consequences of having the same dark creature in his head as some of history’s greatest villains. Struggling with desires and memories that are not his own, Jack is not the man he once was.

One year later, he is known internationally as The Ripper, assassin for hire, and is faced with having to wrest control of his dark compulsions while preventing a nuclear attack on the United States.'

All through The Rho Agenda I was intrigued by the characters of Jack Gregory and Janet Price. What was their story? Why did Jack’s eyes sometimes seem to have a red glint? In this first of three prequels we get to learn much more about Jack and Janet and what makes them who they are.

Jack, a CIA agent on the trail of his brother’s killer, finds himself facing Carlton ‘Priest’ Williams and a gang of knife wielding thugs in a Calcutta alley. After a bloody fight Jack, well outnumbered and badly wounded, is found by a nun. Taken to a basic clinic and unable to be saved, Jack is pronounced dead. Until, that is, he’s visited by the demon, Anchanchu. Jack has an unimaginable decision to make.

'Doctor Misra had filled out and signed the death certificate for one Jack Gregory, the name on the identification card in the man’s wallet. Sister Mary Judith watched as he took one last look at the chiseled face of the dead man on the table, shook his weary head, and departed……As the sheet settled over the dead man’s face, she saw something that sent a shiver up her spine, a shallow billowing in the sheet where it covered his mouth.'

Jack has been freelance since his revival and it’s his latest client who inadvertently involves him and Janet in a plot, masterminded by an accomplished scientist, the Russian mafia and corrupt members of the CIA, which threatens the safety and security of the United States. Once again the integrity of intelligence agencies and governments, and the way they operate at the highest levels, is called into question.

I love the supernatural twist in the story and how it relates to Jack and his deadly skills. Richard Phillips has created a fascinating and compelling protagonist, fulfilling the promise which began in the Rho Agenda. The narrative pulled me into the story totally and, as always, MacLeod Andrews gives a superbly delivered performance whilst actually raising the bar. As each chapter comes from a different point of view so the narration reflects that person’s characterisation. It works really well. Significant character development and an extremely fast-moving plot kept me hooked until the end. This was well worth the wait.

Author: Iain Reading

Published: September 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Category: Young Adult/Adventure/Mystery

'Kitty Hawk and the Hunt for Hemingway’s Ghost is the exciting second installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This second book in the series continues the adventures of Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot who has decided to follow in the footsteps of her hero Amelia Earhart and make an epic flight around the entire world. After flying across North America Kitty’s journey takes her down south to Florida where she plans to get a bit of rest and relaxation before continuing on with the rest of her long and grueling flight. As Kitty explores the strange and magical water world of the Florida Keys her knack for getting herself into precarious situations sweeps her headlong into the adventure of a lifetime involving mysterious lights, ancient shipwrecks, razor-toothed barracudas and even a sighting of the great Ernest Hemingway himself. This exhilarating story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept across the landscape and history of the Florida Keys all the way from Key West to the strange and remarkable world of Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas.'

I received a copy from Book Publicity Services in return for an honest review.

Kitty Hawk is flying south to the Florida Keys for a little R&R before continuing her epic round the world flight. The story is a wonderful mixture of adventure, travel and historical information, told in such a way as to make it fun as well as extremely interesting. I loved reading about Hemingway and visiting his house, courtesy of Kitty’s tour. The anecdotes about the six toed cats and Hemingway’s last penny are very entertaining and add to the feel and sense of place, which actually is there throughout.

Mr Reading’s impressive visual descriptions of the Dry Tortugas, Fort Jefferson and the Florida Keys are superb and just makes me want to visit and see it for myself. Crystal clear waters, lying on the beach, star-gazing, sounds perfect!

'The sunset was amazing, but the stars that came out afterward were even more beautiful, and I must have spent half the night lying out on the sand watching them sparkle and shine through the inky black canopy of the night sky.'

 

The wonderfully intriguing Chapter Eighteen header ‘The Tuna Witch Wahoo Wacker’ had me speculating wildly…and I would definitely never have guessed what it was. Kitty’s new friends, Jack and Jodi, explain all. 

Trouble seems to find our young heroine wherever she goes and the Dry Tortugas is no exception. Kitty’s curiosity gets her into more challenging situations and among other things she learns about Spanish ships, the transporting of their cargoes and how they came to grief on the reefs. Which in turn involves treasure hunts and a daring sea rescue. The fact that Kitty’s adventures are built around actual historical occurrences adds immensely to the mood of the story.

Kitty, and her escapades, are truly engaging for a reader of any age and I look forward to seeing what she gets up to next! And I hope at some point Kitty gets to meet again at least some of the friends she makes during her travels. 

The 'Some Further Reading' section at the end of the book was a very interesting addition. Nice touch!