Coming Soon: The Uninvited (Krewe of Hunters series) by Heather Graham

This is Book 8 in the Krewe of Hunters series. I only read book 4 (The Evil Inside) in August last year, also as an advance review copy, so I had to go and double check I was right that this was the 8th. And it is, Heather Graham is a machine!

This book is set in a Philadelphia mansion that is a feature of the city's tourist trail. There are plenty of ghost stories attached to the house, and a number of curious deaths in recent decades, but head guide and academic Allison is sceptical. When she finds a colleague dead, having apparently impaled himself on his replica bayonet, she certainly doesn't believe ghosts were involved. When there is another mysterious death and a former visitor falls into a coma rumours are flying that ghost of Butcher Bedford is the culprit but Krewe member Tyler Montague is convinced otherwise. Both Allison and Tyler believe there is an earthly explanation, and the time they spend together begins to change Allison's view of the world of the paranormal, and her initial distaste for the Krewe's involvement evolves into an overwhelming attraction for Tyler. Allison and the team have to work together to get to the bottom of the strange events and prevent more untimely deaths.

Having read two of the books in the series it appears that the members of the Krewe who mainly feature change with each book, so not having read previous stories is no handicap. This book is narrated largely from Allison's point of view and this allows the reader to discover how the Krewe work through her eyes. The writing is fluid and makes for an easy read.

I liked the overarching story in this book and was wondering which of two prime suspects would turn out to be the real villain. The book serves up a good helping of the paranormal combined with a little bit of romance and that's obviously a successful formula for this author. However I definitely preferred The Evil Inside. While I learnt a little history that I didn't already know and enjoyed the descriptions of the mansion it wasn't as thrilling as I'd like and I never really felt any sense of peril threatening the lead protagonists.

This was a good read, and I can imagine reading further books in the series but they won't be heading my To Be Read list.

Format: Kindle, ARC, anticipated release 28th August 2012
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
My Rating: 3*

Book Review - Wings of Freedom by Ratan Kaul

Wings of Freedom is at heart a historical romance. That is slightly outside the genres I usually read but the blurb promised an Indian setting with a backdrop of British Colonialism, a revolution and World War I which made it very appealing. 

1911, Delhi. George V is due to visit for a Coronation celebration. When there is a suspected arson attack on the Royal camp prior to his arrival British police clamp down, afraid of sabotage or even worse an assassination attempt by revolutionaries. Having been working in the area Raju is concerned that he may be unfairly implicated. He is a college student at something of a crossroads in his life. His friends are firmly behind the revolutionary cause and want to plan action of their own to strike against the British. His father however runs a business relying on imports from Britain and has different view of the political situation in India. 

Raju's thoughts are further clouded when he meets Catharine, a British Doctor who has moved to India to try and improve health care and in particular maternity care in the area, and British officer's daughter Eileen. She has been born and raised in India, and contrary to her father's wishes is keen to experience as much of India as possible. Raju and Eileen both feel an almost instant attraction, but with racial and social divisions conspiring against them they are both concerned about whether a future together is possible. 


I wasn't entirely sure whether the balance between romance and historical fiction would be to my liking but I discovered a book I really enjoyed. The story touches on a range of issues facing people at the time and I found reading about India's fight for freedom interesting and really appreciated a new perspective on WWI. It was quite an educational read but set within a plot that flowed nicely to make it an easy read. I did spot a few typos but they were minor and didn't distract me from the story. The story opens with the end of the story, an urgent telegram to Raju from Eileen, then starts from the beginning. This had me on tenterhooks throughout, wondering what had happened to get to that point. The story really stepped up a gear towards the end and moved to a dramatic climax.


Raju and Eileen were quite likeable characters, both trying to follow their hearts while being respectful of their parents and finding their way in a time fraught with difficulties. Raju grows from a boy to a man during the book and Eileen isn't the spoilt, flighty rich girl I had been half expecting. 


I really liked this book and appreciated the notes at the end, with a glossary of the Indian terms used as well as some notes on the historical facts as they relate to the events in the book. Those notes could have been slightly better presented on the kindle but that is a very minor criticism.


Format: Kindle, review copy
My Rating: 4*  

Book Review - Illusion by Frank Peretti

Book description (from Netgalley.com) "Dane and Mandy, a popular magic act for forty years, are tragically separated by a car wreck that claims Mandy's life-or so everyone thinks. Even as Dane mourns and tries to rebuild his life without her, Mandy, supposedly dead, awakes in the present as the nineteen-year-old she was in 1970. Distraught and disoriented in what to her is the future, she is confined to a mental ward until she discovers a magical ability to pass invisibly through time and space to escape. Alone in a strange world, she uses her mysterious powers to eke out a living, performing magic on the streets and in a quaint coffee shop.

Hoping to discover an exciting new talent, Dane ventures into the coffee shop and is transfixed by the magic he sees, illusions that even he, a seasoned professional, cannot explain. But more than anything, he is emotionally devastated by this teenager who has never met him, doesn't know him, is certainly not in love with him, but is in every respect identical to the young beauty he first met and married some forty years earlier.

They begin a furtive relationship as mentor and protégée, but even as Dane tries to sort out who she really is and she tries to understand why she is drawn to him, they are watched by secretive interests who not only possess the answers to Mandy's powers and misplacement in time but also the roguish ability to decide what will become of her."

The description above had me intrigued and not having read any of the author's other books I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of this novel. What I got was part romance and part time travel come alternative dimension sci-fi from a Christian fiction author. I was a bit concerned when I realised Frank Peretti is primarily known for Christian fiction but in fact religion merits little more than a passing mention in the book, with occasional reference to God and faith. The author note at the end was the only strong hint of the author's specialty.

I found Mandy endearing and felt for her, struggling to understand a very different world to the one she remembered. Dane, as the grieving widower who starts questioning his sanity as she reminds him so much of his late wife, is also highly likable, and I found their enduring love touching. The author manages to explain how the rift in time has happened and how Many makes her magic work relatively well, and I had more of a problem getting my head around the characters who only really came to prominence towards the end more of an issue than trying to figure out the physics. 

This was an enjoyable read, and the prose flows smoothly. The magic provided a fun, very visual element and the final scenes in particular held me glued to my kindle. 

Format: Kindle, review copy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

My Rating: 4*

Book Review: Renouncing the Future by Stephen Kata

Sarah is a single mum living in rural Minnesota, her life is her son and her job. She has seen strange stories appearing in the local papers about people blacking out and coming to without their clothes, but she doesn't realise she's going to get caught up in the story. James Noland is a space pilot from the 22nd century, and he's the one preventing bad deeds being perpetrated and erasing memories. After a plot to kill him goes wrong he travels through time and lands in Sarah's town, with a talking dog for a sidekick. His acts are a way of biding time until someone finds his ship, with its cargo of lethal nerve gas, so he can neutralise it and eliminate the possibility of wiping out a lot of people. As he gets to know Sarah he is finds someone to share his secrets with and romance starts to blossom.

This book is a real blend. There's an obvious sci-fi element, but while it sets up the story it has a minor role to play otherwise. The main ingredients are action and romance with a bit of humour along the way. I found this a quick and easy read, and once I started I found it hard to put down. It was one of those books where I kept lying to myself that I'd just read another couple of pages. The plot is uncomplicated and easy to follow and there's no baffling in-depth science to try and understand, explaining what has happened. Saying it wasn't a challenging read may sound like a strange compliment but it was a good thing, as I was able to sit back and enjoy rather than trying to figure out the whys and wherefores.

Noland and dog Newton make an unlikely pairing but the banter between them and their experiences made them endearing to me, and to Sarah. She has to overcome her initial scepticism about Noland, who after all has some pretty strange tales to tell. Sarah's new friend also attracts the attention of a local reporter in search of a scoop, threatening to undermine his efforts. This adds to the tension and provides a good counterpoint to the developing romance. Noland has a hint of a modern knight in shining armour, rescuing the damsel but without being too saccharine about it.

I found the book well-formatted and don't remember spotting any typos. The writing flows nicely and, although sci fi and romance aren't my usual thing, I really enjoyed this book.

Format: Kindle, review copy
My Rating: 4*

Book Review: Last Stop Freedom by Ann Nolder Heinz

Set in 1850s America this book tell the story of two women, one black and one white, who are both desperate to escape the ties that bind them. Julia is a Northern woman, raised by and assistant to her parson father. She is totally unused to the complexities of life in South Carolina. As the new wife of a plantation owner she is expected to conform to her role and keep her opinions about the slave trade to herself. Julia becomes attached to young maid Fanny who illustrates the reality of a slave's life and gives her the strength to cope with her new set of circumstances. Essentially the two have the same dream, to be free to determine their own lives.

I have read quite a lot of historical fiction in the past, particularly that set in places other than the UK, but I don't ever recall reading about the place and time this book is set. I have some awareness of the slave trade but this book was something of an eye-opener. In addition to the commentary on the prevalent attitudes to race it also embraces the role of women at the time. As well as providing a fascinating glimpse into how life might have been and the tensions between the North and the South it is also a tale of friendship and romance. I enjoyed the balance between the various elements and the tension in the latter part of the book as the two women make a bid for freedom.

Julia is a slightly naive young woman who has expected to spend her life a spinster, devoted to serving her father and God. When Nathaniel Hamilton proposes marriage she envisions a wonderful new life in the bosom of a new family. Watching her dreams shatter was sad but I was pleased she retained a spark of optimism and found the strength to try and overcome her situation. Her life is a complete contrast to Fanny's, and although her problems seem trivial in comparison to that of a slave's she is just as much Nathaniel's property and equally at the mercy of his whims.

I found this a very enjoyable read, warming to several of the characters and appreciating the descriptive powers of the author. I was drawn through a range of emotions as the story progressed, particularly once we were introduced to the Underground Railroad and the work to try and liberate slaves. As a slight negative there were a couple of small typos in the form of spelling errors, and the book could have been formatted a little better to make it easier for the reader to identify where the point of view changed in the course of a chapter. However these were minor issues. I came away from this book very pleased to reflect on how far the world has moved on since then, even if things still aren't perfect.

Format: Kindle, review copy
My Rating: 4*

Book Review: Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled by Bert Murray

Colin Preston is 19, at university in upstate New York and doing all the things students are meant to do. When he meets free-spirited Jasmine he is besotted. This is a story of his first real love, betrayal and friendship.

Colin's other love is music, mostly from the 60s and 70s, and song titles and lyrics run throughout the story. For someone who knows their music better it would probably mean more to them, but a lot of it passed over my head. However the book is set in the mid 80s and contains plenty of nods to the fashion and culture of the time. Although I wasn't that old then a lot of the references took me back and made me smile.

The book is narrated by Colin, and while I had a lot of sympathy for him at times there were also points where he came over as needy, and he did seem guilty of using friend Liz. That made it hard for me to completely connect with the character. While the first person POV gives you a good insight into Colin I would love to have known more about Jasmine's background to have better understood her.

In addition to the love story Colin strikes up friendships with two very interesting people, Spanish lecturer Mrs Vesquez and reclusive student Chester. They work both as sounding boards for Colin and as a demonstration that while love can hurt and narrow your focus other people may have bigger things going on in their lives.

This is a good, light and easy summer read, and it is probably because I don't read a lot of romance and when I do like them with a comedy spin that I'm giving this 3* but if it's your thing you'll probably rate it more highly.

Format: Kindle, review copy
My Rating: 3*

Book Review: Appalachian Justice by Melinda Clayton

Billy May Platt is the daughter of an Irish father and a Cherokee mother, and with that background living in a small town in West Virginia in the 1940s already presents difficulties. When she's 14 a group of boys launch a terrible attack on her, having witnessed a scene that drew her sexuality into question, and orphan Billy May retreats into the wilderness shunning her former friends. Thirty years later Billy May discovers the daughter of one of her attackers hiding out in the mountains where she has effectively done the same, and suspects he hasn't changed. She doesn't want to forgo her seclusion but feels for the girl. Events unravel bringing the story to a dramatic conclusion and affecting a number of the town's families.

This book skips between the 40's, 1975 and 2010, where Billy May who is now in her 80s is in hospital. She recounts her story and we gradually find out what actually happened to change many lives as a result of one incident. We also find out whether Billy May gets any justice for what has happened to her.

I'm not usually the sort of person who cries reading books (I think I can count the ones that have affected me in that way on one hand) but this one had me in tears. I was so moved by everything that had happened to Billy May, and the way in which the story reaches it peak in the 70s. To start with I wasn't sure about the author's use of lots of apostrophes to recreate the Billy May's manner of speech, but once I got into it I felt it actually helped me better imagine her and get closer to the character.

The story is very sad, one of prejudice, abuse and ignorance yet with all the threads tied up and knowing how everything turned out, seeing the good in people as well as the bad, it was strangely uplifting. In places Billy May is reading a book about a seagull and the excerpts reflect a story very similar to hers. I thought it was a very clever device to readdress the issues in a more simple way and emphasise them.

I love this book and really didn't want to put it down. In fact I'm kind of sad to have finished it. I think this will be a book that stays with me and one I'll probably re-read in the future. If it sounds even vaguely interesting to you get a copy!

Format: Kindle, review copy
My Rating: 5*

Book Review: The Heart Specialist by Claire Holden Rothman

Agnes White's father was a renowned physician in 1870s Montreal, but when he is embroiled in a scandal he leaves her, and her pregnant mother, and disappears. When her mother dies Agnes is left to be raised by her Grandmother who had very strict ideas about appropriate behaviour for a young lady. Agnes though was fasinated by her father's work and, having salvaged some of his equipment, furtively sets up a laboratory that would horrify her grandmother and sister.

When a new governess with an interest in natural history arrives Agnes' horizons are broadened significantly. Although there are limited opportunities for a woman at the time Agnes pursues her desire to become a Doctor. The book tells the story of her battles to achieve that title, and of the continued influence of her father and his protege on her life. The afterword tells the reader that inspiration for the book was taken from the life of one of Montreal's first female doctors, and this was the aspect that most interested me. To think how far opportunities for women have grown in 100 years or so is wonderful.

In additional to this the story encompasses the very gradual romance between Agnes and her assistant, the impact on her circle of acquaintances of World War I and the mystery behind her father's disappearance. The various elements of the story worked well together & I liked Agnes and appreciated her tenacity. We can also see her flaws, making her very real. This is book was a good combination of history, romance and mystery and well worth a look if they are genres that appeal to you.

Format: E-book, review copy (I received an ARC but a paperback version with a different cover already appears to be available in the UK)
My Rating: 3*

Book Review: Fallen Star by Ian Barker

Karl Weston left school to join band The Fallen Boys at the age of 16. Since then he has had fame and adulation, women throwing themselves at him and the lifestyle that apparently goes with being a young pop star. It all comes to an abrupt end when the lead singer dies of a drug overdose.

All but dropped by the band's management company Karl is forced to make a quick re-assessment of his life, and has to lower himself to considering roles in panto and the like to keep himself afloat. His disapproving dad seems quick to get the digs in so when he meets the lovely Lizzie in a cafe she's a welcome distraction. Considering her father was an IRA member who blew himself up arming a bomb and his dad lost both legs serving as a soldier in Northern Ireland the chances for the two of them long term don't look great though. Their relationship is tested when he appears on a reality TV show and has to decide what is really important.

This book is a really good read, it was sweet and funny (very funny in places) and is an interesting portrait of fame and celebrity. It was an easy read that I whipped through, helped by the quality of the writing and editing. The romance between Karl and Lizzie is one of the main threads, but I thought the development of the relationship between Karl and his dad was just as compelling. I did find the ending a little bit abrupt but may be that's because I warmed to the characters and wanted to see what would happen in the longer term. Karl never comes across as the big I am despite his stardom and Lizzie is worried about whether an ordinary girl, let alone one with her family history, will ever be enough for him. It was easy to like them both and want to see them get their happy ending.

I suppose if chick lit is about a female character and her challenges in life, be they romantic or job related, then this must be bloke lit (or lad lit) With that sort of label I probably would have passed on it as I generally don't read chick lit or romance, but lately between this book and Scratch in particular I think I'm going to have to revise my list of preferred genres again!

Format: E-book, review copy
My rating: 4*

Book Review: Coming Home (Dicky's Story) by Sarah Yoffa

When I was offered this book for review what first struck me was the description of genre as Jewish Inspiration Fiction/Romantic Comedy set in a post-apocalyptic world. It sounded like a really novel mix and I wanted to see how it would work.

Dicky is a Thief living in a post-apocalyptic underground colony. He has barely been above ground, only when the gamma levels are low enough to assist his thieving. He's most definitely a ladies man and surrounded by laid back family and friends. He's been brought up with a dislike of the Black Coats, similar to Chassidic Jews, who preach to the unconverted. However on his 32nd birthday he meets 6 year old Itzick and his family friend and companion Leah, Black Coats. Itzick seems to have a special connection with Dicky and when they are forced to spend some time together Dicky finds his pre-conceptions challenged and his lust needing to be controlled.

This book is an amazing mixture. The author uses, and where necessary translates, Hebrew and Leah and Itzick expose Dicky to a lot of their religious practices. A lot of the Hebrew is not translated but this serves to let the reader get a sense of Dicky's exclusion from their conversations. Inevitably I feel that I have learnt something from the book, but without be preached at in the way Dicky and his friends have been.

The romance is very sweet and tender, although there is a lot of sexual tension and some sex scenes. It was definitely steamier than I was expecting for Jewish Inspirational Fiction. I loved Dicky who in the past has been a bit of a lothario but now find himself faced with straight-laced Leah. He grows so much during the book, discovering a completely different way of life.

The setting, after a Great War, with a massive underground colony only able to venture out in optimal conditions and very limited communications and trade is really interesting. It adds another dimension, especially towards the end of the book where it comes into sharper focus and of greater importance.

This is quite a long book but I had a hard time putting it down and it didn't feel lengthy. I thought the characters were great, Dicky is charming, Leah warm and sweet and Itzick precocious but cute. It was such a great read and so different, I'm so pleased Sarah asked me to review it otherwise it is the sort of gem I might have missed out on.

Format: E-book, review copy
My rating: 5*

Book Review: Replica by Lexi Revellian

After reading and loving Lexi's first book Remix as soon as her second book was released it went straight onto my Kindle.

Beth Chandler works in a Government research institute, and is too passive, letting people like boyfriend Rob and boss The Prof talk her into saying yes when she really wants to say no. This is how she finds herself accidentally duplicated by The Prof in an experiment designed to create clones for military use. However instead of Beth being in control of her clone Beth 2 is an exact replica and a sentient being. When Beth 2 overhears a discussion demanding they test then destroy her she goes on the run. This book is written partly in the first person, detailing her life on the cold streets of London. Meanwhile Beth is unaware of the existence of her clone and is fed a story about needing protection from terrorists to explain the presence of Spec Ops personnel. She finds herself falling for her protector Nick, unaware that he is trying to find and liquidate her double. We see their side of the story written in the third person.

The idea of a Government lab somewhere creating clones is slightly disturbing but with advances in science presumably not completely beyond the realms of possibility, so the basic premise is really interesting even if it may require a small leap of faith on the part of the reader. It certainly threw up some good questions for the characters the rights of sentient beings even if they are clones created in a lab and effectively non-people.

Once again Lexi has written some great characters, and although the two Beths are the same person they show different personalities, driven largely by the circumstances they found themselves in. To start with Nick was the MI5 spec ops guy, determined to hunt down Beth 2 for termination, but I felt a bit sorry for him as he tries to deal with the conflict he faces in hunting down Beth's double once he has fallen for the original Beth. I did feel that Beth got involved with Nick too quickly though, it didn't feel in character for her.
I enjoyed the descriptions of London and the places Beth 2 visits while trying to survive on the streets, I got a real sense of how hard it must be.

This seems to be an average length book, judging by the number of kindle locations, but it took me no time to finish as the pace and tension kept me reading. It has been well proofed and formatted and was a really enjoyable read, another action with a bit of romance on the side.

Format: Kindle, bought by me
Star rating: 4*

Book Review: Richard Wilde by Mary Fitzgerald

This book is based on an old diary found by the author and the story partly fictionalised. This book came highly recommended by readers on a web forum and although it only had a couple of reviews on Amazon's UK site they were both glowing.

Richard Wilde is 95 and told he doesn't have long to live, he decides in what little time he has left he wants to commit his family's story to paper so the secrets he has been hiding for decades will finally come out. The majority of the book is told from Richard's point of view and moves between the present and the past, as he deals with the business of dying while recounting his history. The book covers a period spanning two world wars and massive change. Richard is a no-nonsense farmer's son who joins the Army and sees action in India. As a young man Richard falls for Elizabeth who has come to live on his parents' farm, but he is betrayed when she marries his brother Billy. Their relationship is a major theme, as is the notion of family honour and duty.

The narrative covers major events and the minutiae of daily life equally well, and with this straighforward older man telling the story, while it is beautifully detailed, it never becomes overly sentimental. That said this book has the distinction of being one of very few to make me cry. The biggest secret is one that I had suspected relatively early on but when all was finally revealed at the end the impact was not lessened for that.

This is a wonderful book that particularly appeals to the side of me that enjoys tracing my family tree to discover more about social history. As well as being a fantastic although tragic story it is also a brilliant slice of history and a book I would have no hesitation recommending.

Book Review: Remix by Lexi Revellian

This is a book I had seen while browsing the kindle store and had bypassed as the synopsis didn't really grab me. However I started seeing some great comments in the Amazon forums so I thought I'd give it a try. And I'm so glad I did. This is a wonderful book!

Caz runs a business making and restoring rocking horses and lives above her work space. She discovers scruffy Joe and his dog sleeping on her roof terrace,  once she's got over the shock and despite doubting herself lends him money and helps him out. Caz is one of those people who asks a lot of questions and when Joe reveals he isn't what he seems Caz finds herself investigating the murder of a rock star for him.

I really warmed to Caz. At the start she is slightly blinded by charming Joe, but she is smart enough to recognise what's going on. She's funny and sassy, a business owner but also a woman who allows herself to fall in love. The book is written in the first person from her perspective which I really enjoyed. The other characters are largely well-rounded too, particularly the charming star and the adoring best friend.

The book is largely a whodunnit, with a romance and some action too. I enjoyed the way all of these elements were brought together and found it an easy read that I flew through. If I'm in trouble with the boss for an extended lunch break today it is this book's fault! More soon please Lexi.