The Diary of Nicholas Oldman by M G Atkinson

November 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DIARY
The Diary of Nicholas Oldman by M G Atkinson
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (226 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“When the sun had almost reached the western horizon, I turned around and looked back, my footprint’s snaked off into the distance and were lost from sight. The first footprints of man.”

In April 2014, Nicholas Oldman goes to bed after his fortieth birthday party and mysteriously disappears. His diary is discovered in 1974.
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The first book of pages from The Diary of Nicholas Oldman tells the tale of his first months as the only human being on the planet. In a place so vastly different from the world he has come from, Nicholas must overcome far more than a hostile Earth.

The only thing more difficult than surviving in the distant past is finding a reason to do so.

This was one of the most engrossing science fiction books I’ve read in a long time. The shocking way in which the author decided to introduce the audience to this very strange thing that’s happened to Nicholas made it difficult for me to stop reading. What piqued my interest even more was how the pacing remained strong and consistent as the protagonist adjusts to his bizarre new surroundings. Harrowing is a good word to describe certain chapters, yet the periods of (relative) calm between calamities only made me wonder what could possibly happen next.

There was a point early on in his adventures when I was confused by Nicholas’ narration. He describes himself as an ordinary, middle-aged man who appeared to be somewhat physically active in his previous life. It was odd, then, to hear him discuss going extremely long periods of time without any food or water in a hot and humid environment. It was never quite clear to me if his memories of this time period were accurate or if his physiology had somehow been altered during his journey to the past. I’m happy to occasionally suspend my disbelief with stuff like this if the plot calls for it, but it would have been really helpful to have a few more hints about what was really going on.

Nicholas’ character development was well done. When I first requested this story I was fascinated by the idea of one person shouldering an entire novel. It’s not something that I typically see happening in this genre, but I’m always interested in checking out the less common approaches or tropes. There’s definitely something to be said for trying something new, and focusing on Nicholas so intensely was a very good decision!

The Diary of Nicholas Oldman is a great choice for anyone who loves survival tales.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

His Favorite Cowgirl by Leigh Duncan

November 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment

COWGIRL
His Favorite Cowgirl by Leigh Duncan
Publisher: Harlequin American Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (219 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

You Can Go Home Again

A stint as ranch manager on the Circle P may be the perfect way for Hank Judd to reconnect with his ten-year-old daughter. And selling his former girlfriend’s family ranch will provide the cash he needs to restart his failed real-estate business. He just has to resist falling for the girl next door all over again.
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Kelly Tompkins needs to sell her grandfather’s ranch quickly to pay for his medical expenses and get back to Texas before she loses her chance at a promotion. Hank is the last person she wants to see, but she can’t deny she needs his help. But spending time with the boy who let her down twelve years ago may unearth a heartache that has never truly healed….

The Judd’s and the Thompkin’s had a family feud that had lasted for centuries, but even that was not enough to keep Hank and Kelly apart. As teens they found themselves in one another’s arms, and as adults they tried to resist letting history repeat itself.

It was clear that Hank is a good guy even if he has not always made the best decisions. I have always said sometimes the biggest mistakes are made with the best of intentions and that is certainly true in this case. He has made many mistakes in both is relationship with Kelly as well as his relationship with is daughter Noelle. Good thing he is man enough to recognize these mistakes and try to make them right before it is too late. It made me like is character that much more, as I get to see his flaws as well as his strengths. No man is perfect and it make Hank a bit more real and relatable.

Kelly is a sweet and determined woman who history has not been kind too. She has suffered a lot throughout her life when it comes to relationships. With Hank as well as her family it makes her less than excited to return to the home that almost broke her spirit. Lucky she did return cause she got to have a whole different experience. I think Kelly is a amazing character as she is selfless and continues to do what needs to be done despite her own needs and wants in life. It made me want to see her get a happily ever after whether it be in the city with her high paying job, or on her grandfathers ranch enjoying the hard work and fresh air.

Noelle is a very important part of this story as well. Her character also shows a lot of growth throughout the story. She begins as a spoiled privileged child who prefers her phone to people. Only, you quickly learn this is a defense she has created since the adults in her life have not always looked out for all her needs. Yes she might have the most high tech gadgets and designer clothes but she is missing one essential thing: loving parents. I really thought her character needed special mentioning as many things in the story would not be possible without her, and she really added depth and joy to the story.

This story is not steamy and erotic but has a soft, growing love that you know is meant to be and will last forever. It made me cherish the relationship more and made the plot more warm and fuzzy. Anyone can revisit a physical connection but the emotional and mental bridges crossed in this story will last forever. I would certainly say if you want a nice, warm and touching romance you would want to check out this story and learn all about Circle P and its host of wonderful characters.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Time Travelling Dinos: The Pilot by Chris Sykes

November 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DINOS
Time Travelling Dinos: The Pilot by Chris Sykes
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (269 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What if time travel has already been invented, but the technology for travelling through time is lost somewhere in the past – way, way back in the past? What then? What would a dinosaur really need with a time machine, anyway?

When studied under radiography taken ed on many cats brought to the veterinary for various medical reasons (but in most case because the cats were limping or because of articular pains) Here is what they discovered: In one study both men and women who were suffering from Erectile Dysfunction than men without infecundity. cheap viagra india Immunity is viagra online from canada designed to protect us from the sudden hear stroke, instant heart failure or some other fatal health diseases that can be a threaten for our life. The treatment is applied through the gradual exposure canadian pharmacy levitra of the feared stimulus, reducing the anxiety it cause the child. Despite the fact that this medicine can be fairly sure that your ED is related to mental factors and should be given psychological counseling. generic viagra australia visit content In ancient times, dinosaurs ruled the world. But they disappeared, leaving only bones to tell their stories. Bones will say a lot about how their former owners lived – they can be quite gossipy under the right circumstances – but there are some things that they will never let slip. Some secrets, like how one slightly overweight dinosaur might cause the end of the world, are not for bones to tell. That job is mine. So, settle down and read on. But be warned: time travel is the most dangerous way to travel. Not only can you be ripped apart by the flowing motion of time itself but you can destroy the whole universe if you do not know what you are doing. And no one really does. Strange things can happen.

They say curiosity killed the cat. What would it do to a friendly dinosaur?

One of the things I enjoy the most about Mr. Sykes writing style is his playful sense of humor. I was excited to read his newest work due to how much I’ve enjoyed his stuff in the past. This story was tailored specifically for elementary students, but there is also plenty of material here that adults can get a chuckle out of as well. I was thoroughly amused by all of the funny stuff that happened as Larry and Tim adjusted to what happened to them.

There were a few minor pacing issues. Normally I’d expect something written for this age group to be shorter and have a plot that moves a little faster than what this author has written. The pacing problems weren’t serious enough to keep me from enjoying Larry and Tim’s adventures, but had they not occurred I would have given this book a higher rating.

The dialogue was really well done. Both of the main characters had an incredibly distinctive voice that I was able to pick out almost immediately. What made this even more impressive is that there wasn’t a great deal of it to begin with. Most of what I learned about the setting and other characters happened in the descriptions, so it was really interesting to see how much material was packed into the dialogue that was included.

I’d recommend Time Travelling Dinos: The Pilot to anyone who enjoys time travel tales.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette

November 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LAW
Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (215 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Lawyer Christina Crawford has a successful career and stable financial future, but is it enough? Her world is disrupted when a routine divorce case means working with a man she never expected—or wanted—to see again. During their first meeting, she can’t deny a connection still exists. Her head warns her to run, but her heart yearns to stay.

Steven Mitchell is ruthless in the courtroom, but outside those doors, his easy charm, good looks, and unlimited stream of female companions gives him an unscrupulous reputation. Six years ago, Christina saw beyond his façade, but the emotions she evoked scared him and he pushed her away. Now he wants a second chance and he is determined to get her back…even if he has to play dirty.

Jealousy is a devastating force for almost too long in Law of Attraction.

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Driven to prove herself, Christina excels as a lawyer. But stress from an overload of cases that she works on relentlessly to win and usually does, has taken its toll. When a long overdue vacation finally comes at the same time as her sister’s wedding, Christina looks forward to a rest and fun.

However, a pressing, supposedly straight forward, divorce case stalls her departure. The opposing lawyer is none other than the high-powered criminal lawyer Steven Mitchell. Why is he handling a divorce case? Emotional upheaval plus new, damning evidence against her client, have Christina multitasking as she works to find a solution for her client’s problems, takes part in her sister’s pre-wedding events, and copes with feelings for Steven Mitchell that refuse to die.

Darlene Fredette keeps tension at a fever pitch, engaging the reader’s full attention.

Steven Mitchell’s plan to win Christina back and his continued jealous antics work against each other again and again, but he preservers. His connection with Christina’s sister’s in-laws creates a new level of emotional conflict that neither he nor Christina handles very well. The couple in the divorce and how they settle their difference become the catalyst for change in Christina’s and Steven’s relationship.

Ms. Fredette’s vivid descriptions give the reader a strong of place. Her ability to use secondary characters to up the anxiety and stress is remarkable and keeps the tension high throughout the story. However, the hero’s jealousy, ruling his actions for so long, made this reader wonder: Can a leopard change its spots?

How Ms. Fredette works out the hurts relieves some of the doubt, but best of all, Christina and Steven’s love that forgives all things finally creates a hard-won happy-ever-after.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Absence of Reason: A Hilary Adams Mystery by Linda Y. Atkins

November 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

REASON
Absence of Reason: A Hilary Adams Mystery by Linda Y. Atkins
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (231 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

When a friend is accused of murder, a feisty attorney will have to outsmart a serial killer if she wants to prove her client’s innocence—and stay alive.
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Criminal defense attorney, Hilary Adams, is about to tackle the case of her career—defending an accused serial killer. In each murder, the evidence gathered against her childhood friend, Professor Tom Blackstone, was overwhelming; the motive obvious, at least to the police and the local prosecuting attorney. But to Hilary, nothing in this case has been right from the beginning. It has all the earmarks of someone systematically setting up her client. But who would want to and why? Coeds, sexually assaulted and murdered, are turning up everywhere. Time is short and the list of suspects even shorter. Hilary has to act fast to save her client and in the end to save herself.

Hilary Adams is a very strong main character, who seems very real. She is whip smart, knows the law inside and out, and is determined to defend a childhood friend, Professor Blackstone, from charges of murder.  Combined with sexual assault, the charges could result in the death penalty if proven. Hilary seems to be the only one who doesn’t believe in the overwhelming evidence against her client. And her client isn’t helping her, as he slides into self-pity and depression. But Hilary can save him if indeed anyone can.

The supporting characters are also very well defined. There is Sam Monroe, ex-FBI and now a PI, who has a long friendship with Hilary. He does his job, even though he thinks that Hilary is blinded by her friendship with her client. Lieutenant Peter Elliott is certain that he has arrested the right man, but as things heat up and he is pressured to move faster than he feels is prudent, he begins to wonder about the case. He is in love with Hilary, although she isn’t ready for a steady relationship, but he also really respects her abilities as a lawyer. He agrees with her that the important thing is to catch the right murderer. Even the minor characters have depth, such as Hilary’s secretary Annie.

This is the first in a series, and I’ve already read the second, third, and fourth. Since this is the first, I was prepared that it might not be quite as strong as the others. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is a very strong story which has been effectively crafted for maximum suspense. One technique that I found especially helpful in involving the reader and building suspense is the way the murderer’s point of view is used, not often, but most dramatically. I knew even before Hilary did that Blackstone was innocent. But I didn’t have a clue as to the identity of the real murderer until nearly the end. This meant that I was all but pushing Hilary, Sam, and Peter, in the directions they should go. As the suspense built, I found that the book was impossible to put down.

Mystery lovers are sure to enjoy Absence of Reason. In fact, I highly recommend the entire series of now four novels, a series which I hope continues to grow as I’m definitely a fan of Hilary Adams.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Wrong Cowboy by Lauri Robinson

November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

COWBOY
The Wrong Cowboy by Lauri Robinson
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length(281 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

All the rigorous training in the world could not have prepared nursemaid Marie Hall for trailing the wilds of Dakota with six orphans. Especially when her ingenious plan—to pose as the mail-order bride of the children’s next of kin—leads Marie to the wrong cowboy!

Proud and stubborn, Stafford Burleson is everything Marie’s been taught to avoid. But with her fate and that of the children in his capable hands, Marie soon feels there’s something incredibly right about this rugged rancher and his brooding charm….

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Marie Hall may not have been blessed with a family or name, but she’s blessed with determination and intelligence aplenty. She needs all her innate abilities and her training to be sure the six orphaned Meeker children are not separated nor are they ever hungry or feel unsafe.

When things do not turn out as planned, she figures them out as she goes along. She soon finds her training to be a nursemaid had not covered a LOT of things she needs to know in order to cope with her and the children’s situation and with the rather overpowering Stafford Burleson. In her figuring out how to solve her lack-of-knowledge problem, she brings Gertrude Baker into their lives, who educates, nurtures, and adds to their quality of life.

Stafford Burleson, a hardworking rancher/business man, thinks he has his life set up just the way he wants it. A modern quote from Steve Jobs: “people don’t know what they want until you show it to them” fits Stafford so well. Stafford has authorization to handle his partner Mick Wagner’s business while Mick is on a cattle buying trip. Stafford never dreamed he’d have to cope with a “haughty” nursemaid and six children. My goodness, how his world does change! Problems, humor and emotional upheaval abound.

Lauri Robinson develops the characters so well. The personality of each of the six children shines. Each is distinctly his or her own person. Moreover, even the minor characters seem to come to life. Of course, the antagonist is really memorable.

The energy, determination, and bustle of building a solid community in the late nineteenth century in a settled but still raw frontier, the excitement of the railroad bringing prosperity, and the dedication of people, all come alive in The Wrong Cowboy right along with a beautiful love story that makes the heart happy. GOOD READING!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dragon Rising by Susan Brassfield Cogan

November 24, 2014 By 1 Comment

DRAGON
Dragon Rising by Susan Brassfield Cogan
#3 Black Jade Dragon Series
Publisher: CoganBooks
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (198 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Go to Hell.

It’s such a delicious phrase. Angie Tanaka never thought she’d want to go there herself.
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Usually people spend their entire lives avoiding a trip to Hell. Not Angie. Long-ju is down there and it was all her fault. He is the Silver Dragon, magnificent, legendary, a work of art. He had sacrificed himself for her and she is only … Angie. She needed to put that right. She had to get him out of there. Nobody was going to help her with that, certainly not the other dragons.

All of that led to one question: How do you spring a dragon out of Hell?

Angie Tanaka is in over her head once again. Long-ju, the Silver Dragon, sacrificed himself for her and now she is trying to find a way into Hell so she can bring him back. As she says, “Welcome to my life. It often doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense.” She’s a thief, and has been since the fourth grade. But she does care about the dragons, and she knows what needs to happen, at least according to her. So she fights demons and monsters, getting in a lot of trouble, all to save her friend. Before she knows it, she’s being framed for a bombing and the police are hunting her, saying that she’s a terrorist. But she keeps right on going.

I like Angie. She has strong ideals, even if she is a thief. The action never stops and she is caught in one disaster after another. The dragons help her and these dragons are really wonderful. It’s not hard to believe in dragons like these who can take any shape they want, usually appearing as humans. But they are always dragons, without a doubt. “Dragons can undo their molecules and assume any shape they want. That’s all fine as far as it goes. The bad part is they can do it to you. Daiyu disintegrated me. I really hate that. Really. No really. I woke up on a dirt floor. I could only hope she’d put all my molecules back where they belonged.”

The descriptions of Hell are very terrifying, as are the demons Angie has to fight. She gets help from some pretty unexpected places, which adds a lot of suspense to the story. She makes mistakes which she then has to try to fix. But she never gives up.

Fantasy lovers are sure to enjoy Dragon Rising. It is the third in the series, and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. However, I’m glad that I’ve read them in order so I can watch Angie develop as a character. Either way, this is a most exciting and enjoyable read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

The Jester Prince by Voss Foster

November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

JESTER
The Jester Prince by Voss Foster
The King Jester Trilogy Book 2
Publisher: Torquere Press Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (172 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

With the destruction of Zirkua Fantastic, King Jester, the spirit of discord, has been unleashed once more upon the Earth. Only Toby, a fresh, untrained immortal, and the other former members of Zirkua Fantastic dare to stand against his chaos. But their hold is tenuous, and they are only truly safe from his power within the bounds of their camp. King Jester grows more powerful and more dangerous with each passing day. But he’s made one mistake which might prove to be his undoing. He’s stolen Toby’s soul mate, Marley. When he discovers Marley’s location, Toby knows what he has to do. He will rescue Marley, even if it means he has to face King Jester alone.

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Toby must find his Other (soulmate) or be forever alone. This is bad as Toby is immortal, although his Other, Marley, is not.

Marley is the half breed son of King Jester and has been kidnapped by the King. To stop the Jester from taking over the immortals and everything else Toby and the other immortals at the circus must recover Marley.

I found this book slightly confusing at first. It’s the second in the series but seemed to start in the middle of the story with no real explanation of what had happened to Marley and it’s only after the first few chapters I began to understand the reasons behind Toby’s magic training and the relationship between humans and immortals.

I did enjoy the story as I got deeper into it, but parts of it were still confusing. The last few chapters are full of tension and adventure which increased my enjoyment. On the whole it is a good book, but one that I never actually got lost in. Getting lost in a story is my rule of thumb for an excellent.  I think if I’d read book one first, this might have been a different matter.

However, I have to say I’m glad I persevered as it was worth reading once I got into it.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

End of Normal by S.C. Arscott

November 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

End Of Normal
End of Normal by S.C. Arscott
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (216 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Richards’ last day of normal is just that, normal. She worries about impressing Sawyer Rising, the hottest guy in school, and argues with her mother. Everything seems fine except for that strange, glowing plant in the yard and her dad lying to her and deaf twin brother Charlie, which is the weirdest thing of all because their parents do not lie to them. Ever.

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The twins join forces with Olivia’s boyfriend Axel, her best friend Clara, and heartthrob Sawyer. Together they go in search of answers only to find conspiracy, death, and an awful truth about their families.

Sometimes parents keep secrets from their kids, but most of them aren’t as dangerous as the one Olivia’s father has been keeping from her.

One of the things I appreciated the most about Olivia is how calm she stays in a crisis. She thinks through her options carefully before making a decision even when she’s in danger. This isn’t something that typically happens in this sort of tale, so it was a real treat to realize that the protagonist is such an intelligent and level-headed girl.

The pacing of this novel was disjointed. While the flashbacks to Olivia’s previous life were interesting, describing what her last few days of normalcy were like took up a disproportionate amount of space in the plot. These scenes would have made a good prequel, but they didn’t blend in very well with the fast-paced material that appears later on.

There are times when a book needs to be vivid and gross in order to get its point across. This isn’t normally the sort of thing I seek out in this genre, but it worked really well for this particular story. It’s hard to discuss it in detail without giving away spoilers, of course, but I was pleased to see how neatly the author tied everything together. Certain scenes would have been much less effective without these elements. I also thought I should mention it in my review because it’s something I would have preferred to know about ahead of time.

I’d recommend End of Normal to anyone in the mood for action-heavy science fiction.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Sword by Susan Brassfield Cogan

November 21, 2014 By 1 Comment

DRAGO
Dragon Sword by Susan Brassfield Cogan
Black Jade Dragon Series #2
Publisher: CoganBooks
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (244 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Here we go again! Angie Tanaka can’t seem to stay out of trouble. She finds herself haunted by a cute little hungry ghost and a not-so-cute demon who has a special hell kept warm just for dragons.

Angie Tanaka is, as she herself admits, “the one woman crime wave.” She has a need to steal and needless to say, that gets her into trouble. She lives on Shaolong, the Land of Nine Dragons, and now the island is in real trouble. The Chinese ambassador is visiting and soon the Chinese will be taking over. This would mean the end of the dragons as well as the current culture on Shaolong. Angie’s particular skills are needed.
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I like Angie. True, she is a thief, but she is a very interesting one and when the dragons are threatened her loyalties are all in the right place. The action is fast paced and there are lots of exciting scenes with dragons and some very scary demons. The suspense grows throughout the novel, coming to a very exciting conclusion.

I really liked the way the dragons are portrayed. They are always dragons, but they can, and most frequently do, assume human form. To me this makes them even more believable and who’s to say that we don’t still have dragons in this world. The descriptions of the transformations from human form to dragon form and back are very realistic and when Angie is carried with a dragon, she fully experiences some of that transformative power.

The dragons themselves are as they should be and each of them has a very different personality. Humans can’t lie to a dragon which makes for a number of complications for Angie, but the ability to detect lies would certainly be a wonderful talent to have.

Dragon Sword is the second book in the series, following immediately after Black Jade Dragon. While it can stand alone, I highly recommend reading the books in order. After all, why miss a single minute of Angie’s adventures. In fact, I have the third novel in my reading queue and plan to start it shortly.

Dragon lovers are in for a real treat with this novel. It is unique, both in its use of dragons and in the nature of its main character, and as a result it is a delight. Don’t miss the excitement!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,
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