Reviews of Mature Literature: Cheryl R Cowtan, Sian Ceinwen, Krista Walsh, Jayce Jarvis & Lori Hope

 

The Precious Quest by Cheryl R Cowtan

A couple of nice touches – the disclaimer is not the standard one, but adds to the atmosphere of the story. The tone seems medieval, with a few speech archaisms. I hope this is not a spoiler, but the heroine being a “mantie” or some sort of alien / otherworld creature adds interest to the tale. There is a nice sense of destiny and fate, which matches the genre.

The introduction of new characters and added backstory for old characters begins to twist the plot and add interest. The choice of mate is always interesting, especially when there are complications & race fertility issues to increase the stakes. 

I thought the page count a bit short – the end is a cliff-hanger, designed to make one buy the next book in the series. The next book sounds good, but I am not a fan of the strategy. 

I read an advance review copy.

The wedding by Sian Ceinwen

Good title (not original, but grabs the attention every time). Nice cover. Well written. It’s a drama about being rich and famous; if that is your fantasy. The villain position appears to be occupied by the media, which reminds me of the princess Diana story.

The subtitle says the book is steamy, so on downloading one knows there will be explicit sex scenes. The connection between the main characters seems primarily physical, and it is vulnerable to manipulation. They need to develop more of a heart and soul relationship. I was worried for a while there would not be a happy ending. 

I read a review copy from Book Sirens. 

Shadows in the Garden Hotel by Krista Walsh

First of all, I loved the cover. Secondly, the book was well written. Thirdly, from the first line, it was clear this was no cuddly, try not to actually hurt anyone, soap opera demoness. The protagonist was badass. But then the story became confusing, because she was in danger from something worse.

I liked the concept, and thought it was very clever, but the story could have used more atmosphere to transform it from regular thriller into true paranormal fantasy. The Dragur could also have been more developed as frightening monsters and given more motivation. 

In the notes near the end, I read this comes from a series, and the author has had a go at giving one of her more challenging characters a tale. It might be worth checking her other books out. 

My copy was an advance review.

Secret Courtship by Jaycee Jarvis

The story began well, with a little culture building. Then there was an explicit representation of pretty much meaningless sex. I know sex is supposed to sell – but to the majority of female readers – it is actually the dream of love that sells. 

The book became much more interesting once the protagonists began to communicate. Even if they were fighting, or refusing to cooperate with the prophecy. Miscommunication can be entertaining, building up the tension. The author drew this out as long as they could. 

Now the characters appear to be having difficult progressing from the physical into the emotional. If you like a lot of icky description – you will be happy. Luckily, for those who also like plot, there is a disease spreading around the city, and animals to be cured. The story really comes into its prime as these threads are explored. 

I was attracted by the cover image and read a review copy. 

The Fall of Arcades By Lori Hope 

I liked the way the main female character, Rayelynn, was set up, and looked forward to reading about her negotiating a life for herself amongst all the abuse of her situation. However, she very soon met the fallen angel, Farrow, and the story took a very different direction.

 At this point, I am enjoying the story, except for one thing. Two first person POVs don’t do it for me. I always think first person narrative smacks of laziness, and has to be done very well to work. But instead of building two definitive characters, it seems like the writer has used the same voice, TWICE.

 The twin themes of love (actually lust in this context) and violence polarised the story. A crazy paranormal ride with plenty of melodrama, and a few twists. Writing needs subtlety to provide enduring appeal, but this achieves its aims of entertaining on first reading. 

Book Sirens provided me with a review copy. 

Amazon Reviews for Mysteries: Fiona Gartland, Melinda Woodhall & Diane Byington

 

Orchids and Lies by Fiona Gartland

I was nervous as to whether a newly published story would fulfil expectations grown from a solid fare of hardback library books. The main character wasn’t quite as unflappable as the intrepid Miss Marple - who simply knits at the bad guys, but once I got used to the nervous narrative voice, I began to enjoy the story.

A few clues were evident, and the protagonist annoyingly wouldn’t pick up on them. However, the pursuit of the distractors was highly engaging, and the investigation process an absorbing ride. I didn’t flick ahead, or skip any pages. 

In conclusion, a generally well written who-dun-it. Being a fan of the genre, I was happy to receive a complimentary copy to review. 

Her Final Fall by Melinda Woodhall

The plot sounded interesting, and it was well written technically, but at first I thought the characterisation was somewhat truncated. I developed sympathy for the character I met, but unfortunately, she was the primary victim. Another character became mildly interesting – only too soon to become a victim as well. 

The remaining characters, clearly meant to be the mains, were flatter and less sympathetic. They were all employed in either news or law enforcement and showed little emotion. My interest increased as the schoolteacher mother was introduced and the plot thickened.

The killer was someone who wanted revenge on these main characters and his thoughts intruded into the narrative at points. The main mystery was how these all fitted together, especially with a partial DNA connection to previous cases. 

So, it took a while to get going, but by page 200, the characters had developed and I was reading intently. I understand it’s a sequel, perhaps it would be best to start at book one. 

My copy was an advanced review provided by Book Sirens.

If She Had Stayed  by Diane Byington

This is a beautifully woven story incorporating the enigmatic legacy of Nicola Tesla. The time travel fantasy sounded like it would be a romance, but turned into something of a mystery thriller. I enjoyed its originality.

I enjoyed the chick-lit arc more than the historical arc, but suspect the journal story would be of major interest to Tesla fans. I am actively curious to read through a second time and see how all the clues fit together. 

Yes, the heroine was a little naive in thinking she could reconnect with an old love - but who hasn't gone down that track briefly? Yes, Scott was acting suspiciously – but that was needed to create a plot. I thought it was a good use of dramatic irony, where the reader notices things the heroine misses. 

My copy was provided for review by Book Sirens.

RS: Reviews of Romance and Chick Literature: Jenny Knipfer, Jeanine Lauren

 

Blue Moon

By the Light of the Moon Series: Book 2 

by Jenny Knipfer

This purported to be Christian fiction, so I was intrigued. It is a challenge, to be creative and also spiritual. There are Bible quotes, which was good. The tale started with an unwed girl forced to give her baby to her sister – would it explore what the Bible might say about forced adoption? The first thing represented was a lie: the passing of the child off as belonging to her sister. And all for the sake of the family patriarch’s political career. Exodus 20:16 forbids false witness. The story then explores the consequences, which are difficult to undo.

The tale jumps around a lot, and I know that works in big blockbusters, but it is a challenge to pull off. A straightforward narrative can be more compelling. At some point, this becomes a straight historical novel. Perhaps my expectation of the label ‘Christian fiction’ was unrealistic, but I think it would be better marketed as ‘historical’. As it is set in an era when Christian beliefs were more common, the few references would fit in quite well. 

The authors’ bio shows that she writes from personal experience of Multiple Sclerosis, so she should know well what she is representing. However, I find the confidence with which she uses the term MS incongruous for the Nineteenth Century. The character suffers confusion and distress, which I think would have been magnified by the uncertainty of identification at the time.

MS was first described and distinguished from ‘trembling disease’ (Parkinson’s) in 1868, using the French term ‘la sclérose en plaques’. It was also called ‘disseminated sclerosis’ by military doctors. A famous neurologist is said to have asked a patient about their sex life, implying the symptoms were sometimes confused with Syphilis. Early treatments included ‘arsenic and strychnine’ – one a poison and the other a primitive blood thinner. (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2005 Jun; 98(6): 289) 

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Come Home to Love by Jeanine Lauren

A clean, ‘second chance’ romance that was a delight to read! Husband and wife have grown to take each other for granted and stopped having fun together. A series of omissions, white lies and misunderstandings leads to a rift which reminds me somewhat of Oscar Wilde’s pithy social comedy – I can’t pinpoint quite why, but it does. 

It could all lead to a parting of ways, or renewing of vows. I finished the story – but I’m having fun with you and not telling… Honestly, with mature likeable characters, either outcome would be acceptable. 

It is also refreshing to find middle aged heroes and heroines that are appealing. They are not young, beautiful and on the flush of first love (so easy to like); but plagued by doubt, financial uncertainty and mistakes from the past. Sounds blah – but in this writer’s hands – pretty cool. 

My review copy was supplied by Book Sirens and I am an avid reader.

RS: All Age Mysteries and Thrillers: Diane Byington, Blake Pierce, Mollie Cox Bryan, Jane Marion

Who She Is by Diane Byington 

The teenage voice has been captured well for the narrator, and a solid streak of feminism is woven through the plotline. I honestly didn’t expect the typical teenage paranoia and family cringe to have a real basis – but it did. (I am being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers.) 

The book was probably designed for the Young Adult reader, but I enjoyed it and suspect that you would too, whatever your age! I expected a fantasy, possibly with time travel, but found it was more of a mystery, and beautifully constructed at that.

The book incorporates some historical research, and closes with reflections from the adult heroine, many years from the original plot. To me, this made the book more mature than the typical Young Adult offering, more like Literary Fiction or Chick Lit. With the sporting interest incorporated, I don't see why a male could not enjoy the book too, but that would be a matter of taste.

I read an advance copy provided by Book Sirens.  

Almost Dead by Blake Pierce

I enjoyed the book. It was a fast moving, domestic drama. A taste of danger, a little bit of suspense, and a play on perception. I wasn’t quite so thrilled to find at the end, that while the story can stand alone, it is designed to build up to a crescendo along with the rest of the series. 

The incident is complete, but there is a hint that the heroine is trouble prone, or that more consequences might be coming. There was also very little progress on the over-riding arc of searching for her sister. 

So what to say? It was a genuinely good read – just that the marketing strategy of connecting to the rest of the series is really showing. 

I relished my advanced review copy from Book Sirens. 

Killer Spring Fling by Mollie Cox Bryan

I would class this as a Cozy Mystery, because aside from the discovery of a body, there is little violence. The setting, a tourist town concentrating on Victoriana is well delineated. The combination of gaming interests and Victoriana is unique and stimulating.

My only complaint was that the book seemed to finish too quickly. In a classic who-dun-it, one clue decoded leads to another and there may be several incidents. This seemed to wrap up the threads quite neatly around one incident. I think it was slightly shorter than some, but with the new epub format, it is hard to tell. 

Book Sirens supplied an advance review copy, and this is my truthful reaction.

MISSING by Jane Marion

This book was interesting because it was set in Tasmania. I admired the effort to create a uniquely Australian thriller. The heroine was a mother, who struggled to care for her child, despite rigorous adventures. This was another plus, and I think created a brave role model. 

It had sufficient mystery and drama, and was well constructed. It was the second in the series, and I hadn’t read the first, but I found the story easy to pick up. 

I read a review copy supplied by Book Sirens.

RS: Cozy Mysteries and Chick Literature: Ashley King, Nicola Sanders & Andrea Lochen

 

The Imperfect Psychic by Ashley King

A Cosy Mystery with a number of twists. This story is capable of holding the attention and creating a few shivers. I liked the main character, and found her easy to identify with and sympathise. 

This book was complete in itself, and didn’t end as a cliffhanger, but if it is part of a series, I will definitely be reading the rest. I would like to know more about the heroine, her life and loves. The town full of quaint characters is also a fictional somewhere I would like to be spending more time.   

My copy was a review copy supplied by Book Sirens.

All The Lies by Nicola Sanders

It was easy to feel sympathetic towards the primary character, a lady evading an injurious spouse. This made the ploy and lie that she utilized to guarantee her physical security acceptable. Without good reason, the dishonesty would have seemed dodgy, but in a dire situation, it was justifiable.

I think the book truly functioned as a spine-chiller. I am keeping the analysis short and spoiler free, with the goal that you can appreciate the book as well, which I truly suggest. And the revelation near the end – whoa!

I was glad to get a review copy through Book Sirens and was captivated by the tale.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Lies-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B08GZ3SQBW/

Versions of Her by Andrea Lochen

Thoroughly enjoyable chick-lit time travel story. I like the cover, but I nearly missed this one because the blurb implied it would be too extreme, asking whether they “knew their mother at all”. But of course they did. Not as an individual, but in the selfish, possessive way offspring do. 

The journey back to view their mother as a person, not a mother, was thought provoking. 

I didn’t go for Kelsey’s choice, (although I won’t describe it as a spoiler). I felt that the experience should have freed her up to “let go”. Generally, sentiment is great, and I expect 90% of readers will love it. I’m just hmm… that’s been done a lot… and material things do weigh one down in life.

Now you may be asking why I gave a five, if I didn’t agree with everything? Well – the writing was honestly worth it. I slowed down to enjoy every word. Unusual for me, I’m a speedy reader. So, yes, it held my attention. 

My copy was provided free of charge by Book Sirens. 

https://www.amazon.com/Versions-Her-Andrea-Lochen-ebook/dp/B07TF4YBBH/

RS: Young Adult and Fantasy: Melissa Koberlein, Elizabeth J. Rekab & Alexandra Sharp

 

Ashwater by Melissa Koberlein

The Young Adult voice is done well. Cyborgs are the new minority, a symbol of intelligence, power and strength, which is also hunted. Learning to be more human provides a metaphor for socialisation. 

There was enough romance to appeal, and yet allow space for action and adventure. A couple twists and turns, with characters not being what they seem – for good or bad. A reasonably satisfying ending that could lead to more, either as a series, or in the reader’s imagination.

A well created setting and unique little town. I read a copy advanced by Book Sirens.

https://www.amazon.com/Ashwater-Melissa-Koberlein-ebook/dp/B07VYKZTRJ/

Everhaven by Elizabeth J. Rekab

The cover is plain, but the story is great! 

Featuring a teenager with a specific calling, who is harassed at school, it is ideal for the Young Adult audience. The characterisation is complex enough to appeal to the troubled teen that lurks inside me too, although I’m supposed to be more mature!

Some mystery surrounds the town and its situation. The limited social circle is well constructed, and the implications seem to be thought through. Although simple, and supposedly situated somewhere in the real world, the township constitutes a good piece of world building. 

Now I must finish the story and see whether the culmination delivers all the thrills. Troubles are gathering and the plot is getting darker… much darker.  The quest does involve a few surprises and some more world building. 

The book was better than the average zombie or ‘I see the dead’ genre fare, involving some originality. I read a copy supplied by Book Sirens, especially for review. 

https://www.amazon.com/Everhaven-Book-One-Reaper-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B08C69JWDN/

Witches of Wherewithal by Alexandra Sharp

I was looking for a good paranormal romance, but I appear to have found a political fantasy with a touch of mystery thriller. I liked the setting, a mystery island, where the witches retreated when they saw a vision of the mainland in distress. I also liked the fact that the main characters got together without a lot of miscommunication and infighting. Moreover most of the main characters seemed good at heart, which dissipated a lot of potential problems. 

However, some of the other plot threads remained untied. Where had her mother disappeared to, and why? Was the one spell we learned about meant to provide the answer? Where did the husband go after all that – and was he really dead? Was it my eyes, or did a paragraph repeat somewhere, and the misprint place the wedding before the heroine was declared a widow? 

So a bit of this and a bit of that, leaves the reader wondering. I had a review copy through Book Sirens.  

Did Breaking Dawn Part 2 disappoint expectations?

Now that filming the Twilight series is complete, and Breaking Dawn Part 2 has been shown in the cinema it is available to buy on DVD. I assume it is no longer a spoiler to discuss elements of the film and plot. 

As I watched the movie in the cinema I developed the strong urge to compare it to the book. The feel was different to me. In the book series, I felt that the stand off between the Volturi and the Cullens hinged around the strength of Bella's ability as a "shield". That is her ability to block psychic attacks of all types.

In the movie the drama appeared to revolve around a vision shared between Alice Cullen and Aro. The audience was taken through a battle where Aro killed Carlyle and eventually lost his own life. When the point came where Alice pulled back and revealed that the entire battle we had just watched had not been real, members of the audience gasped. There may have been a general feeling that a good percentage of the picture was a ruse - a deception - a waste of emotional time. 

The change was described by reviewer John Boone as a "big twist" designed to make the story more cinematic, as everyone got to watch Alice's projection rather than mere frustration as Jane battered against Bella's guard.

(See http://au.eonline.com/news/364003/breaking-dawn-part-2-s-big-twist-everything-you-need-to-know).

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Harry Potter versus Twilight - are comparisons appropriate?

The Harry Potter series and Twilight book series were both very popular. They had different target audiences, as Harry Potter was targeted at middle school children and younger children whose parents/teachers would read the books to them. Twilight, on the other hand was tailored very much for the young adult market. 

I had not read the Twilight series at the time, but I was browsing a site that used to be popular called Xanga. On that site, I noticed something of a fan debate regarding their favourites. I was provoked into borrowing the Twilight series from the library, which gave me some hours of enjoyable reading. I was surprised after reading comments on Xanga that read such as "Stephanie Meyer can not write" to be reading full sentences with competently constructed dialogue.

(Image from IMDB.com)

Some aspects of Bella's relationship with Edward are maudlin and I would prefer to see "healthy love" promoted, but by the end of the series, Meyer does managed to have a fully developed plot sequence and pulled the story off. 

The first Twilight film emphasises teen anxiety and fashions that will date quite quickly, but the second film New Moon which I have just seen in the cinema, brings out the dramatic elements of the tale more effectively, and adds a richness to the vampire culture that was missing in the first film. 

I feel that a good imagination could add this richness through out the process of reading the first book, but not the film which was more visually prescriptive. I am looking forward to the third and fourth films, which unless they lack a budget, should only get better due to the action and werewolf characters. 

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(Image from: http://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/20160210_nerdistnews_harrypottercursedchild_1x1.jpg)

The Harry Potter series on the other hand, I first encountered by overhearing a segment being read aloud to children. The chosen passage, an account of the ghosts of Hogwarts, especially 'Nearly Headless Nick', from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone featured a sort of dry humour and overly verbose style that put me off reading. It is a personal choice, I would never discourage another person from reading and if they encourage children to read that is good. 

 The movies, however, were excellent. I became a huge fan of the film versions as soon as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released in the cinemas. The plots clearly always had been excellent, and the humour worked on film, even where it had been tedious in written form. 

Half way through the series I expressed some frustration that the villain of every plot turned out to be "you know who", as that eliminated the mystery element for me. My interest was rekindled later in following threads of the lives of the good guys. For example, I longed to hear more about Neville Longbottom's parents. Of course we may never know their full story.... 

 I did soften and read the final book, Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows because I could not wait the year or so gap between the two movies. It had some good elements of plot, but I felt a lot of passages contained "filler words" such as authors are tempted to add if they are being paid by the word. I kept nodding off during the reading, which is very unusual for me. Indeed I sometimes can't sleep until an exciting book is finished, even if that makes me toss and turn at night, turn on the light and read some more.

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Sample Goodreads Reviews

The Fish Dress by Carol Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is well written and a good example of Magical Realism, which I don't expect to be as fantastical as fantasy. I suspect the main character would have been a comical figure wearing this second hand dress around - and a few characters did react... however, beyond that, one had to accept the premise that the dress had some sort of subtle aura that was affecting her life.

I think a mature character is more challenging than an innocent young one, and the author has taken this challenge on with energy.

I had an advance review copy, which is why I am able to review the book early.

View all my reviews

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always love a Dan Brown thriller.






The Invaders Plan by L. Ron Hubbard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started at the beginning and became hooked on this whole politically incorrect series. I don't think an author could get away with some of the things he wrote nowadays... and this series did take the anti-hero to the extreme. We are actually following the villain. 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very very nice twist at the end. One follows Ender's journey closely throughout, and then gets a shock.






The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A new fairy tale and classic fantasy that pretty much spawned a genre. I read it after LOTR, but still loved it.





View all my reviews

Zombie Love in Warm Bodies

Not a "Twilight"clone. Delightful black humour, R and Julie, a balcony scene, two incompatible clans, the living and the infected humans, ring any bells? (hint, hint Romeo and Juliet)

At least the whole cast doesn't die at the end - like in Shakespeare, but I shouldn't say more as it could be a spoiler.

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