Jenny : The Road to Redemption by Jane Jago is an action packed fictional tale, full of suspense but also tenderness, love and healing.
Jenny, terriblJenny : The Road to Redemption by Jane Jago is an action packed fictional tale, full of suspense but also tenderness, love and healing.
Jenny, terribly abused both mentally and physically by her ex-husband, must face this emotional angst again as her ex plans to have her tale televised with his twisted version of events. As hurtful and destructive as this is it soon becomes clear something more sinister is also a foot and Jenny is once again in a fight for her live. She is supported by her family, her new partner and some surprising newly made-friends. No longer prepared to play the victim, she and her allies set out to turn the tables on the abuser.
In Contact by Ian C. Bristow, a group of top scientists are recruited to a to secret mission to a newly discovered and probed habitable planet that maIn Contact by Ian C. Bristow, a group of top scientists are recruited to a to secret mission to a newly discovered and probed habitable planet that may provide hope for the ravaged earth's own future. However, all is not as it seems and doubts about the mission begin to emerge with cultural anthropologist, Madelyn Lawrence becomes a target of assassination attempts. The troubling questions increase from a whisper to a roar after the mission lands on the planet and the situation is both far more dangerous and more problematic than they were lead to believe.
Contact has an interesting cast of characters, a believable alien world and a suspenseful and challenging situation which, no doubt, sets up for the rest of the series. ...more
As this anthology includes a story of my own - The Shadow Queen - I will refrain from rating (or extolling the virtues of my own story, for while I loAs this anthology includes a story of my own - The Shadow Queen - I will refrain from rating (or extolling the virtues of my own story, for while I loved writing it, I can only be biased in my opinions of it). Suffice to say, I love the cover and Starlit Realms has a wonderful mix of stories interwoven with Elizabeth Klein's Story teller tale. It has whimsy, and action, and dragons, and impossible choices, twists and turns, libraries and shapeshifters to entertain, delight and leave one pondering. ...more
It took me almost 100 pages to get into The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. There is no doubt the world building is unique - with shards and stormlIt took me almost 100 pages to get into The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. There is no doubt the world building is unique - with shards and stormlight - and complex - with multiple people groups, customs and millennia of history. But setting that all up at the beginning weighed down on the story and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters - the one sympathetic character dying early before jumping several months ahead to the young captain he idolised.
However, once the narrative settled in, it began to grab me - in particular the brown-eyed Kaladin's plight as he struggles with injustice and against overwhelming odds, and his strange companion - the windspren, Syl, but also the would-be-thief - Shallan - in her effects to save her family, and Prince Dalinar as he strives to protect his slain brother's legacy and support his feckless nephew's tenuous hold as King of the Alethi. The story builds to a nail-biting crescendo and then more or less peeters out- it feels truncated, though I guess it is Part 1 or Book 1. It also has a faint Game of Thrones flavour (with the multiple Pov, the disposal of some pov characters, the politics and the battles and maybe in the Dalinar storyline - a good man defeated by the greedy, power-hungry and the actions of those who support him because he does the right thing - maybe, I guess Part 2 will tell). Even so, The Way of Kings (Part 1) is both creative and unique and intriguing. ...more
An Untilled Field by Dennis Carey is a historical fiction loosely based on real life events in late 19th Ireland. It follows the adventures of sixteenAn Untilled Field by Dennis Carey is a historical fiction loosely based on real life events in late 19th Ireland. It follows the adventures of sixteen-year-old Liam Walshe and his sick, four-year-old brother, Aiden in their quest to find their parents after the family was brutally evicted from the home and farm. Their story is interwoven between the antics of the land agent, Billie Cuffe, and his boss, notorious landowner, Harriet Gardiner who are responsible for the Walshe's eviction, and also with Bernie Kellie (O'Malley) and Irish pugilistic who returns to Ireland after decades away in search of his lost brother.
Carey does a good job of bringing the characters, their motivates and circumstances, and the places and times to life on the page. In particular, the plight of tenant farmers whose homes and farms are destroyed on flimsy pretexts and exorbitant rents due to the landowners wish to turn their lands into the more lucrative cattle grazing and the unrest and opposition that incited. Billie Cuffe, Harriet Gardiner and her companion Susanna Pringle, Huddy and even James Walshe (the boys’ father) are all historical people, with the evictions and Gardiner's antics accurately portrayed. Even the raid on Farmhill estate is based in a historical event though with a heavy layer of fictional embellishment - with different outcomes for Cuffe, Huddy and Gardiner in real life. However, I found the constant jumping back and forward of the narrative in time and place without a discernible pattern was at times disconcerting, particularly in the earlier parts of the book.
The historical Harriet Gardiner faced tragedy early in life - her mother died when she was a toddler, and she was then side-lined by her stepmother and half-siblings, to the point where she was largely brought up by her bachelor uncle. Her desired marriage to a painter was scuttled by her father and she remained a spinster, though acquiring her father's estates and then eventually inheriting her uncle’s.
Harriet eschewed the mores of the time, pursuing with relish masculine sports and even dressing in corduroy trousers, drinking and swearing in public. Hers could be seen as a Cinderella tale (except she was denied marriage with the man she loved) and one of a strong woman bucking the restrictive expectations forced upon women of the time. But real life is seldom black and white, and as an abusive and exploitative landlord, savagely driving many families out of their homes and into the workhouse, immigration, destitution or an early grave - Harriet makes a worthy villain. (See Harriet Gardiner (b.1821 - d.1892) in Our Irish Heritage, https://www.ouririshheritage.org/cont...)
Despite some rough transitions, I enjoyed reading Carey's retelling of the land wars through the fictional eyes of Liam Walshe and Bernie Kelly and their friends. I’d recommended An Untilled Field to anyone wanting to get a better feel of evictions and political movements of late 19th Ireland century. ...more
First, it is a big book and took me a month to read it. Second, it starts slow and at times seems to mark time, but for all that I could not stop readFirst, it is a big book and took me a month to read it. Second, it starts slow and at times seems to mark time, but for all that I could not stop reading it - the premise, the world, the characters keep me pulling me forward and asking questions. Third, it gives a realistic impression of how big space is. Four, there is no doubt that this is an epic tale with many twists and turns and unexpected directions that makes one ponder.
Overall, I wondered if would have been better to divide it into three books, though that brings its own challenges. But I'm certainly glad I read Kira's adventures with the Soft Blade or the Seed (the alien bio-suit) and the crew of the Wallfish - and it's great to be reading something from Christopher Paolini again :) ...more
Murder in Galway by Carlene O'Connor is a light-hearted murder mystery set in and around enchanting Galway and the Aran Islands on the west coast of IMurder in Galway by Carlene O'Connor is a light-hearted murder mystery set in and around enchanting Galway and the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland.
Tara Meehan is returning her mother's ashes to her homeland along with a message to her estranged brother, Tara's uncle, Johnny Meehan. Things don't go to plan from almost the moment Tara takes her first step in Galway and take a drastic turn when she finds a dead body in her uncle's doorway. At first, she thinks it's her uncle, then when it turns out to be one of his best and richest customers, Danny himself becomes the chief suspect and has disappeared. Tara is determined to find the uncle she has never met, to find the true killer and to keep her uncle's business, Irish Revivals, afloat in the meantime. This means working closely with Danny O'Donnell but she can't be sure if she can trust him or any of the locals, who seem determined she should just go back to the States.
Tara is feisty, passionate, persistent and is dealing with more than the recent loss of a much-loved mother. She can be a bit pushy and single-minded at times with a talent for getting into sticky situations. The story keep me interested and there were many twists and turns along the way to a dramatic clifftop reveal. I loved the vibe, the larger-than-life characters, the feel of the town and its people. Great for a light read. ...more
Loved this debut YA novel by Susan J Bruce from the eye-catching cover all the way through to the satisfying conclusion.
Melinda has moved to the city Loved this debut YA novel by Susan J Bruce from the eye-catching cover all the way through to the satisfying conclusion.
Melinda has moved to the city after her family lost their farm. With further tragedy, her mother isn't doing so well and her father is tense and angry. Her vegan-loving but perceptive aunt and her cool next-door neighbour, Rory, help to keep Melinda grounded. But her dad doesn't want her seeing Rory ever since his brother went on the run from the police. Starting at a new school just adds another layer of complexity and challenges. Melinda is not sure who to trust and needs to conquer real threats and her own fears.
The story is fast-paced, with heart-wrenching drama as the Melinda and Rory's lives seem to spin further and further into danger. Many of the issues would be a common experience for teens - families struggling with financial concerns, mental health and displacement, dealing with bullying, peer pressure, trying to fit in.
I liked the witty dialogue, the reference to art and animals and I especially loved the characters. Melinda is passionate, caring and prone to mistakes and slipups. She has to wrestle with doing the right thing even when it's tough and overcoming her fears. Rory is cool, artistic, strong, loyal and sweet. I particularly liked that fact that being wheel-chair bound is a part of his normal life. Sure it causes some hassles, but is not something that holds him back. Melinda's aunt and Tahlia, Mel's school friend, provide great foils for Melinda and Rory while the back story to the 'villains' and to Rory's brother Luke add depth and a great twist at the end.
There are a lot of layers in this short book. An excellent, gripping, fast-paced read with touching sweet romance, heart-stopping action and a great narrative arc. I'll be looking to more books from this author....more
Alan Garner's The Owl Service was not what I expected from the title - which refers to a set of plates with a flower pattern - or an owl pattern depenAlan Garner's The Owl Service was not what I expected from the title - which refers to a set of plates with a flower pattern - or an owl pattern depending on how you look at it.
Even so, it has an interesting premise - a generational loop engendered through an ancient Welsh myth or legend, tragically re-enacted in each generation. There is mystery, intrigue and a rising tension culminating in a gripping finish. I appreciated the depiction of a Welsh valley, including the undercurrents and the feeling of disenfranchisement and resentment of the arrogant English by the Valley's people.
Despite this, I struggled to enjoy the book. At first, because few if any of the characters were likable, each mostly self-absorbed in their own problems and mostly oblivious to the situation of others, even those they claimed to love.
By the middle of the book, I warmed to the Welsh lad, Gwyn, and to a lesser extent Alison and the situation they found themselves in. Both are misunderstood and both are the most caught up in the scenario largely against their will. A good ending would have redeemed my earlier dislike, but that was not to be (at least for me) - the ending felt trite with perhaps the least likable and self-aware character, the one has the least to lose and who has been the most spiteful without reason, is somehow the one who saves the day on a single thought, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. For this reason, the story felt plot-driven, rather than character led.
On top of this, the nascent sympathy for the Welsh people, reduced in their own valley to ignorant servants in English eyes, feels almost stillborn in this book, though in that it is probably a book of its time....more
Kin Seeker by N.R. Eccles-Smith, is the first book in the five-book middle-grade to young adult fantasy series. A young dragon wakes up in the forest Kin Seeker by N.R. Eccles-Smith, is the first book in the five-book middle-grade to young adult fantasy series. A young dragon wakes up in the forest of no memory of his name or even of who he or what he is or what he should be doing. Two mysterious beings direct him on his way and he soon discovers that all the Dragons - who protect the realm from a great evil in the north - have disappeared and it is his task to find his Dragon-kin to prevent disaster from engulfing his world. As he travels, he encounters great danger but also finds companions on the way that can help him, including Ubi, the goldling unicorn (who bestows on the young dragon the name Laeka'Draeon), a satyr, a bird and other strange and wonderful creatures.
Laeka'Draeon is a big-hearted and brave young hero. Many of the other characters we met in passing though Ubi, high-spirited, determined and friendly, soon becomes a constant companion. The pace, sense of urgency and dark danger increases as the story progresses and it ends on an ominous note. It is clear Laeka's mission is of the utmost importance. I guess I'll have to read the rest of the books to find out if he can fulfil it. I love the illustrations and imaginative world-building created by this talented author and look forward to reading more of Laeka's adventures. ...more
Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz is a gripping murder mystery with an intriguing premise and unique narrator. The story is narrated by AlBefore You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz is a gripping murder mystery with an intriguing premise and unique narrator. The story is narrated by Alice Lee - the unknown murder victim discovered by a jogger from Australia on the banks of the Hudson River in the early hours of a dark stormy morning.
For much of the story Alice is known by others as 'Jane Doe' and later as 'Riverside Jane'. No one knows who she is, even the people close to her, who should have known, don't come forward to claim her. Alice tells her story, how she came from Wisconsin to New York, what she was fleeing from, and how she came to be in harm's way, in parallel to her finder, Ruby's story - how she came from Melbourne to New York, what she was fleeing from, how she too finds herself in danger.
But this is more than a story of victims, it's also about Alice, now psychically linked to her finder, comes to terms with what has happened and how Ruby too, influenced by Alice and the new friends she makes, searches to find out who Riverside Jane is and in finding 'Jane' seeks to find who she is the possibility of a different path to the future.
This is a book explores violence and abuse done to women, it's about giving women and name and a voice. Almost from the first page, the book drew me in and keep me reading, often with my heart in my mouth, to a satisfying conclusion. Brilliant. ...more
Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith is a RPGLit with a cute romantic subplot and some hard-hitting, heart-stopping moments. Divya leads the AngstAmaDon't Read the Comments by Eric Smith is a RPGLit with a cute romantic subplot and some hard-hitting, heart-stopping moments. Divya leads the AngstAmada and streams her adventures in the online game Reclaim the Sun, but it's not all for fun. Her following ensures she has a income stream that allows Divya and her mother to survive. Aaron Jericho writes games and dreams of making this his career, but his mother is concerned that he'll get ripped off and pressures him to follow her chosen career of medicine. Divya and Aaron meet online. But then a group of online trolls, Vox Populi, begin hazing Divya, and their violence and hatred spill over into real life. When Divya decides to fight back, Aaron does his best to support her, but will they both lose the people and dreams they value in the process.
I wasn't sure what to expect with Don't Read the Comments, but soon got wrapped up in Diya and Aaron's challenges and problems. Aaron is sweet and thoughtful. Divya passionate and determined. There is some fun game play, a burgeoning romance, plenty of action and a strong look at a serious problem in the gaming world which doesn't trivialise the consequences or possible solutions. I enjoyed the read. ...more
Moments From A Lifetime is a collection of poems, short stories and reflections, drawn from the author, Margena Adams Holmes's, own life and experiencMoments From A Lifetime is a collection of poems, short stories and reflections, drawn from the author, Margena Adams Holmes's, own life and experiences. They reflect family life, tragedies, challenges and joys of living - they are raw and real and honest. I found some of the stories and poems, like Golden Memories or Kindness of A Stranger, particularly moving....more
Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope in part of The Austen Project - a contemporary retelling of a Jane Austen novel. Sometimes, it's hard to translSense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope in part of The Austen Project - a contemporary retelling of a Jane Austen novel. Sometimes, it's hard to translate the mores and motivations of the early 19th century into the 21st century context. The Lizzie Bennett Diaries manage it brilliantly, and I do believe that Joanne Trollope has done are great job here, making the actions and motivations of the various characters believable (though Edward is a more of a drip than in Austen's version). The book kept me glued to the story, despite the omniscient narrator, floating point of view approach and at times, the same verbal tics shared across the characters. But apart from such minor hiccoughs, the story-line, the pacing, the characters and the interactions all kept me mesmerised and well satisfied with the ending. A worthy nod to a brilliant author, Jane Austen. ...more
In The Paris Librarian by Mark Pryor, Hugo Marston suspects foul play in the death of his friend Paul, Librarian of the American Library in Paris. If In The Paris Librarian by Mark Pryor, Hugo Marston suspects foul play in the death of his friend Paul, Librarian of the American Library in Paris. If so, it is the classic locked room mystery for Paul is working in a locked room, which shows by CTV footage that no-one else entered. More suspicious deaths or illnesses begin to accumulate, all connected to the Severin papers donated to the library by a famous but now elderly actress and, Hugo himself almost becomes the next victim.
The Paris Librarian was a decent mystery, though perhaps a bit slow and cerebral for my tastes. I didn't warm to the characters, including Hugo, and I figured out pretty much all the aspects of the case (at least the how and the who and even in part the why and also the red herring) well before our clever sleuth did. ...more
Loading...
