Monday 19 December 2016

Enablers Anonymous by Nico Laeser

Finally a chance to get back to the writer of one of my favorite Indie books of the last year; Skincage. I didn't think this was on a par, but it was still very good and deserved 5 stars.
Enablers Anonymous by Nico Laeser on Amazon.com

Ever since reading Skincage by Nico Laeser I’ve been keen to sample some more of his work. Enablers Anonymous is a dark comedy. It has its finger firmly on the pulse of the modern world. We meet Jimmy King a self-confessed loser but also a cynic who exploits what can be exploited. He stumbles into the world of therapy and self-help groups. What starts with a scheme to make some extra cash, gradually grows into a fast money making network of groups and seminars. As Jimmy struggles with keeping his web of lies from unravelling, his conscience is already pulling at the various threads.
The character of Jimmy is very well written, as he confesses to us the reader, we sense from his anecdotes that all is not as he sees it, and we develop a lot of sympathy for him as he blunders from one scheme to another. We get first hand a journey of self-discovery and growth. Enablers Anonymous is a clever story with a lot of heart. Recommended.

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Eve of Tomorrow (Dawn of Rebellion Series Book 3) by Michelle Lynn

This has been a great YA series and I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books. Maybe the second and third lacked some of the humour of the first, but that was offset by a fast and exciting plot. I gave it 5 stars.
Eve of Tomorrow (Dawn of Rebellion series Book") by Michelle Lynn on Amazon.com

Eve of Tomorrow is the third and last book in the Dawn of Rebellion series. And what a cracking end to the series it is. Quite a number of surprises and I dare you not to shed a tear. What I liked most about the series is seeing the two girls; Dawn and Gabby grow from London street urgings into not to be messed with strong woman, without losing their core characters. Gabby remains mouthy and defiant, while Dawn keeps her softer caring side.
Book 2 was rather dark and serious, and while things are grim in the colonies we see a more hopeful tone and also some romance. One character that comes to the fore in this book is Lee and I really felt for the tall silent American as he had the misfortune to fall in love.
The plot is exciting and fast moving as the girls race against time to stop a dangerous weapon that could spell the end of the colonies, being deployed.
I’m sad that the series has ended but it has been a great read and even though I would have liked a different ending, I can understand why the writer has reached this conclusion. Great stuff and look forwards to reading more from this writer in the future.

Saturday 19 November 2016

The Friendship Triangle by Joey Paul

It's not often that I read what before would have been called a children's book, but these days the early teens fall under YA. I think I would have enjoyed this book when I was about that age especially if I had some issues to deal with. The message about bullying was very good; don't suffer in silence, tell someone. I gave it five stars as I really enjoyed reading it, even as a much, much older adult.
The Friendship Triangle by Joey Paul on Amazon.com

This is rather a charming book for the younger young adult (early teens.) It deals with a number of difficult issues, such as bereavement, divorce, alcoholism and bullying. It is far from a depressing book because it has a very strong positive message; friendship is important and you can’t do it alone. The writer has made the three girls typical eleven and twelve year olds who don’t always make the best decisions, but with a bit of mystical intervention they reach the right conclusion. Written at a good pace and in simple language a younger reader will enjoy. Recommended.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Darrienia: Book 1: The Forgotten Legacies Series (Volume 1) by K J Simmill

Fantasy is not my preferred genre. Truth be told; I was bored to tears by the Hobbit. (Both the book and the film!) I know there is a huge fan base for this genre and I don't shy away from reviewing it. Even though this book was not quite my cup of tea, I know it will appeal to the readers who like to sit down with a thick book and immerse themselves in a fantasy world full of magic. I gave this 4 stars.
Darrienia: Book 1: The Forgotten Legacies Series (Volume 1) by K J Simmill on Amazon.com


When Zoella turns up in Daniels village she can’t remember the last 10 years of her life. Despite this Daniel realises she is special and introduces her to his family. Daniel’s mother, Angela, notices her talent for healing; an almost magical talent. Zo and Daniel become firm friends. Zo’s healing talents are called upon when another mysterious woman is found more dead than alive. Acha is healed and becomes part of the group of friends, despite many questions being left un-answered. Zo happiness is disturbed when a friend from the past shows up and tells them they are all in danger. Her forgotten past hides a terrible secret. Darrienia is the first book in a complex adventure series, which takes the reader to a magical world where nothing is quite like it seems.
The character of Zo/Marise is fascinating; an assassin that has been put under a spell to forget her sadistic Alter ego. The struggle between the blood thirty Marise and gentle healer Zo brings a lot of tension and dread to the story.
Elly is equally intriguing as we are never sure of her intentions and motivations.
I struggled a little with the complexity of the story and I think it will suit an older young adult best. (Also because some scenes are terrifying!) It will be a real treat for the reader who loves fantasy like the Lord of the Rings and other fleshed out magical adventure stories full of wondrous creatures and finely woven plot. The writer might consider using italics for the flashbacks as it left me a little confused as to what time line we were in.
Good writing, intriguing characters and a thrilling story.
 


Friday 28 October 2016

Origins by S.E.Meyer

I really enjoyed this book, but I will have to contact the editor about some of the editing issues. If you are not put off by the odd typo and comma in the wrong place, dive straight in. Self-publishing is all well and good but sometimes we have just too many hats on. Writer, editor, designer, publisist; it is impossible to do them all well. My motto is to hire or bribe the best people you know for the job. The result can be a bad referrence because of poor editing or even worse, no one buys your book because the cover is shockingly bad. Anyway back to the book; I gave it five stars.
Origins by S.E.Meyer

Origins will appeal to the reader that is intrigued by some of the things created by the ancients; like the Nazca lines and the pyramids. The reader that doesn’t dismiss the idea that there might have been some alien influence. But even if you’re a sceptic like me you will still enjoy this book; it is a good action adventure. This is a good story due to two factors; Mr Meyer knows how to write and keep his reader on the edge of his/her seat. Secondly he knows his stuff; you can tell that he has done a lot of research into ancient cultures such as the Sumerians and this lets him blend fiction with fact in a believable way. (there is some very interesting further reading at the end of the book about the Sumerians)
The main character John, is a scientist who has an ordinary but happy life with the woman he loves. Events take over and we see John thrown into a world he had no knowledge off. As he grows into his new role we still recognise the man we had at the start. The love of his family drives him. He is a guy we like and feel comfortable with. This is quite an epic work, but one that keeps the reader engaged until the very end but to find out how things finish you’ll have to read the second part. In my case that won’t be a chore. Reading through some of the other reviews, I’m happy to report that the author has corrected the UK issues.