Always Chasing 'Em: Short Mysteries

 

Always Chasing 'Em: Short Mysteries by Nancy Quatrano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder She Wrote Meets The Twilight Zone...

This collection of award-winning short stories by Nancy Quatrano and Daria Ludas have been published elsewhere and are now out of print, but for some of them, they make their publishing debut in this fine compilation.

Always Chasing 'Em: Short Mysteries is a fine collection of short stories. Its’ a wonderfully written and richly descriptive book with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The authors paint a series of engaging, witty and sometimes spooky moments in a very vivid and convincing way.

I enjoyed the stories, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists along the way that I didn’t see coming, and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of a particular story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written short story collection with perfect pacing.

The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Quatrano and Ludas pay as much attention to their sentences as they do their plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Their writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create the perfect mysterious atmosphere.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from these authors in the future. Recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

View all my reviews

The Navy SEALs Dogs: For Kids! (Navy SEALs Special Forces, Leadership, and Self-Esteem for Kids Book 5)

 

The Navy SEALs Dogs: For Kids! by Eric Z
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An action-packed book...

‘This book starts off with rich information about military dogs and their training, and then moves into an ACTION-PACKED STORY that your kids will love!’

Author Eric Z motivates his young readers by instilling a sense of leadership, self-esteem and self-respect. He delivers again with his new book, and the adventure continues about the Military Working Dogs (MWD) of the Navy SEALs!

There are many components to the American military and becoming a combat assault dog handler is a very noble one. With crystal clear images and meticulous research, this is an excellent book for the younger reader, but it can also be enjoyed by people of any age. It’s jam-packed with interesting information.

As usual, the author offers more than just the standard Kindle edition as this is an interactive book that comes with links to amazing videos and even a combat dog quiz. The book is also filled with stunning full color photographs. It’s a fun study that will motivate your kids and help them to read also. If they like Special Operations Forces – Navy SEALs (and what kid doesn’t?!) this is well worth taking a look at. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Casindra Lost: Paradisi Chronicles (Lost Mission Series Book 1)

 

Casindra Lost: Paradisi Chronicles by Marti Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Riveting and emotionally involving...

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

Casindra Lost: Paradisi Chronicles (Lost Mission Series Book 1) by Marti Ward is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaves a well-crafted technically detailed sci-fi about space travel, and how it may well work for humans in the future. This is an adventure that will captivate the reader’s attention and imagination from the start. It’s an exhilarating and intriguing tale that will have you turning the pages from beginning to end.

Casindra Lost unfurls in small acts, at first feeling slight to touch, then building in emotional substance. Into the spaces between the words, the author breathes a pulsating intensity that rolls like a motion picture camera. With an abundance of imagery in the writing style, it makes you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

For fans of the genre looking for an interesting, three-dimensional, and stimulating read, this would come highly recommended. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Marti Ward in the future. A well-deserved five stars from me.

View all my reviews

Blood Feud: A Legends of Ansu Novel

 

Blood Feud: A Legends of Ansu Novel by J.W. Webb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A magical fantasy adventure...

Blood Feud: A Legends of Ansu Novel by J.W. Webb is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this mythical fantasy that will guarantee the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed, this Nordic themed fantasy tale will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a relatively fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.

This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey. It’s an epic tale of magic, revenge and power.

There is something very magical about reading fantasy fiction. It speaks to the very essence of my imagination, jolting it to life and transporting it on an exhilarating journey. This book did exactly that. It’s a book that’s part of the authors new series, but it stands on its own as a great read.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from J.W. Webb in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

View all my reviews

THE VEIL TRAP: Nanna Nuts, Mr Milly, Moggins and Me

 

THE VEIL TRAP: Nanna Nuts, Mr Milly, Moggins and Me by S. J. Simpson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A magical fantasy adventure for the young and young at heart...

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

THE VEIL TRAP by S. J. Simpson is the first installment in this magical fantasy adventure series. The author weaves a well-crafted story which borders between the realms of fantasy and reality. The story begins as Peter Nuts and his trusty dog, Mr. Milly join his eccentric grandmother Nanna Nuts for a long summer break. ‘Nanna Nuts is forced to shed light on the strange incidents of Chattersley, the usually sleepy village where she lives. And when she opens the door to The Veil and shows Peter what lies beyond our earthly perceptions, his young life changes for eternity.’ So, the stage is set for an epic and fantastical battle between good and evil.

The story had every element a good story should have. A solid and captivating plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for and try to recommend in a good book.

What promises to be an excellent series, this magical fantasy will have great influence on generations of readers. Primarily written for younger readers of about 10-years-old and upwards, it is nevertheless a book that can be enjoyed not just for the young but also for the young at heart. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

View all my reviews

Ferdinand's Gold

Ferdinand's Gold by Sheldon Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted espionage thriller with perfect pacing...

Ferdinand's Gold by Sheldon Charles is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted espionage thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. Skillfully constructed and set against the backdrop of the Philippines in the 1980s undergoing the overthrow of a government rampant with greed and corruption led by Ferdinand Marcos, this book will have you on the edge of your seat!

As always with this author, I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class espionage thriller with perfect pacing.

Ferdinand's Gold had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

Salted with action and peppered with intrigue, this thriller will have you on the edge of your seat! Highly recommended reading to all fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense genre.

View all my reviews

Alez Learns About Germs

Alez Learns About Germs by Karen Howard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Learning important life lessons in a new world...

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development. This, however, is not a typical character driven children’s book. Instead, it reads more like a gentle and fun how-to guide for children explaining in simple terms about what they and their families can do to help keep themselves and others safe in this new world.

The book description gives a better clarification: ‘Young Alez has questions. What's up with everybody anyway? Why all the sudden changes in the way people are behaving - especially Mailman Mike?...Everything and everybody seems different. Her parents help Alez understand that in many ways the world has changed. Alez’s parents try to explain to their young daughter how some teeny tiny invisible germs have seemingly turned the world upside down…Alez and her parents then embark on an important though fun-filled quest to see what happened to cause the world health crisis, and what their family can do to help keep themselves and others safe in this new world.’

Author Karen Howard writes in a wonderfully simple and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely story to share with them while learning important life lessons. Special mention also to Debbie Hefke for the lovely illustrations.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

View all my reviews