Shadow Brokers: A Nick Borman Novel (A Nick Borman Thriller Book 5) by Robert Lalonde

Mr Lalonde has the honour of being the featured review on my 300th blog post. Wow that is a lot. I'm not sure if we ever get to 400 as I'm concentrating on a lot of other things. A new pasion has crept into my life; Painting. Back to the review. This is the second of Robert Lalonde's books I read and he does have an easy engaging style. I gave this 5 stars.
Click on the picture to take you to Amazon.

It’s been a while since I read the Borman factor; the first book in this series of contemporary thrillers, but I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything. This book stands fine on its own. We are given a quick tour of Nick Borman’s background and the readers mind is concentrated on the plot at hand.

Nick Borman goes above and beyond the call of duty (and law) to keep a senator safe from harm. A senator who made some powerful enemies. It’s a riveting and nail biting ride as we find out who the powerful men that pull the strings are.

The plot was believable and rather up to date; we live in a world were corners are often cut to make money. I missed the humour of the first book, but I suppose our Nick has gotten older, wiser and more skilful, but certainly not too old to kick some biker’s butt.

This book is the fifth in the series, but as they stand alone I can now go back to 2,3 and 4.

The Land of Good Dreams by T. S. Thompson

This is a real feel good Young Adult story. I think it will mostly appeal to teenagers that like their books a little more serious and challenging on an emotional level. The sort of book worm I was when a teenager. I gave this 5 stars.

Samantha is the shy teenager trying to find her place in a foster family after the tragic death of her parents. She is a character you immediately empathise with as anyone could understand why the thirteen year old is traumatised. She suffers from nightmares at night and feels awkward during the day as she feels the other kids just see her as ‘the girl that lost her parents.’   

Richard and Emma the foster parents are equally easy to empathise with. How do you deal with a girl that is so fragile and broken? But this is not a depressing book; it is about people rebuilding their lives, forming a new loving family and finding joy again.

I liked this book a lot and found the idea of there being a good place where you go in your dreams novel and fun. It’s a place where I think all children would like to be when they sleep; a place full of wonder, beauty and adventure.

Written with warmth, and a deep understanding of human emotions. A wholesome young adult read.

Rib Bone Jack: Smuggler's Pride by John Williamson

A little late, but a happy new year to all my readers. I hope your year will be a happy and healthy one full of adventure and discovery. If adventure is lacking in real life then you could do worse than picking up this book. However I would start with the first book in the series unfortunately the author does not number his books, but its called the poachers path. I reviewed Legacy of the Rhino by this author last year which was also a very good read.
I gave this 5 stars:

Set during the Napoleonic wars this book will take you back to a time when smugglers and invading forces made the British shores a very dangerous place. Our hero Jack is sent to Wales to look into some illegal activities taking place around Tenby.

Even though this book stands alone as a good adventure with a clear start and finish, I felt I had missed out on the relationships between some of the main characters. This is book 4 and it is clear that a lot of water has passed under the bridge. I wished I had been there at the start of Jack and Camilla’s romance and I might go back to the first book and start the series properly.

The historical details are well researched and used well as a backdrop to an exciting adventure. The book is full of some larger than life characters like the priest Mr Baker with a rather unusual approach to rescue sinners and the almost republican lord Cravith.

Recommended for lovers of historical adventures.

Camp Lenape: It’s supposed to be a fun summer... (A Kahale and Claude Mystery Series Book 1) by Timothy R. Baldwin

Just on the cusp of 2019 another review bringing the total of books reviewed to a measly 13. Lets see if I can do better in 2020. As always I blame work as I tend to be answering emails rather than reading in my breaks. Anyway a teen adventure that I gave 4 stars. I think I'm a bit old and jaded to be truly gripped by this book, but a younger reader probably will be.

I think this book will appeal to all teenagers (young adults) that like an adventure story. For both boys and girls there is a likeable hero in the form of Alissa and Marcus. Alissa is an independent, tomboy who isn’t afraid to fight off a bad guy and my favourite character. I think this will mostly appeal to the early teens and it is a good clean read.

PLOWED OVER: ON THE WING by ELLEN ANN CALLAHAN

I'm having a few days holiday so I'm trying to get a few books read. This was rather a breezy crime novel which I enjoyed reading. The plot wasn't overly complicated and our heroine Happy, likeable enough. A good holiday read which I gave 4 stars. Click on the picture to take you to Amazon.

Of all the names a woman can pick when she goes into witness protection, our heroine picks “Happy Holiday” Once we lower our raised eyebrows we can get to enjoy our murder mystery.

There is much to like about this book; a good pace, action and a plucky but stubborn heroine. She is a woman with a dark past, which threatens to catch up with her at any point. She struggles with her new secret identity but enjoys her new life as a snowplough driver, well until she ploughs up a body.

The romantic story line made perfect sense to me; Jimmy the state trooper is one of the few people she can be herself with as he knows her background. But if everything in life was straight forwards we wouldn’t have much of a story.

Even though this book deals with murder, gang violence and addiction, I wouldn’t say this is a heavy read. There are some good comedic moments, mainly in the shape of Christine; the ditsy waitress Happy befriends.

This is the second book in the series, but much is explained about “Happy’s” past and I didn’t feel lost at any time. It reads well as a stand-alone. Recommended for crime lovers who don’t want anything too gritty or violent.