A Hungarian Portrait: A WW2 Historical Novel, Based on a True Story of a Jewish Holocaust Survivor

A Hungarian Portrait: A WW2 Historical Novel, Based on a True Story of a Jewish Holocaust Survivor by Orly Krauss-Winer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What would you risk to save a loved one?

A Hungarian Portrait is one of twelve bestselling books from Israeli author Orly Krauss-Wiener. This WW2 historical novel is based on a true story of a Jewish Holocaust survivor. I’ve read this author before, and she delivers again with this wonderfully written and richly descriptive narrative. With brilliantly drawn characters motivated by family and loyalty, the author weaves a well-crafted and all-encompassing human dramatization that spans from mid-1940s Hungary to present-day Israel.

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 emotional highs and lows in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey.

There’s an ample supply of mystery, romance and suspense that will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. Skillfully constructed, the story touches on thought-provoking themes as well as being a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Bullseye: A Jesse Quinn Mystery (Jesse Quinn Mysteries Book 1)

 

Bullseye: A Jesse Quinn Mystery by Skye Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A first-class murder mystery with perfect pacing...

Award winning author, Skye Taylor weaves a first-class murder mystery with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a compelling and fast-paced whodunit in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a mystery that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Dan Hoffman’s wife is dead. His fingerprints are on the glass prism she was bludgeoned with, and powerful people want him in cuffs. But Detective Jesse Quinn has a history with Dan, and she believes he’s innocent. A man on the run claims the murder is tied to a long-ago cover-up over an incident in Afghanistan. Four people are dead, and two attempts have been made. A rival in the Sheriff’s office wants to take over the investigation and time is running out. Will Jesse be able to put all the pieces together before she is sidelined, and Dan arrested for his wife’s murder?’

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 whodunit with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it.

Bullseye: A Jesse Quinn Mystery 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 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!

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Skye Taylor in the future. I would highly recommend this book to all fans of mystery, thriller and suspense. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Grand Masquerade: A Supernatural Suspense Novel

Grand Masquerade: A Supernatural Suspense Novel by Stephen C. Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read supernatural suspense thriller...

Grand Masquerade by Stephen Perkins is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this supernatural suspense thriller that guarantees the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed and set against the backdrop of shady political dealings and the dark foreboding forests of Vermont, this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘On an ancient ley line, deep within Vermont's dark forests, lives a mysterious and frightening secret... A forbidden door to a world beyond human perception… And three hunters are about to become the hunted… A high-tech executive and a US presidential candidate, who in public appear to be at odds, are covertly working together to flood a small Vermont town. The plan is to evacuate the townspeople to a federal camp where they will be implanted with a newly developed surveillance/mind control device called Minerva… What they didn't know, is that the town sits on an ancient ley line guarded by spiritual beings called the Others. There's something going on in the Green Mountains of Vermont and it's more than anyone could imagine… Their visit to the small town, in the guise of a hunting expedition, quickly turns sour. They come face to face with their worst nightmares - coming back not just to haunt them, but coming alive to take revenge… The executive's playboy son and the town sheriff catches on to their fiendish plan and tries to stop them --- and discover forces beyond comprehension.’

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 well-written supernatural suspense thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense will want it.

Grand Masquerade 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. 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!

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended to all fans of paranormal suspense and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Farm: On Practical Wisdom (Jack Slack Shoe-box Dialogue Book 4)

The Farm: On Practical Wisdom by George Benda
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well written, philosophical and thought-provoking thriller!

The Farm: On Practical Wisdom by George Benda is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this Conspiracy Thriller that will guarantee the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed and set against the backdrop of the second global energy crisis of the 70s, this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘…set in the second global energy crisis, juxtaposes Jack's high-flying energy career with his pursuit of an idyllic life with his new bride, Anna.  Russian spies, US counter-terrorism teams, moles, and turncoats put Jack and everyone he knows at risk in an international game of deception and assassination. Together with Jack's old philosophical friend, Ben, and Ben's wife, Rebecca, the Jack and Anna explore a path to practical wisdom in the nuclear age. Jack and Ben, learning from their jobs and their marriages, distill out from the noise and tumult seven essential criteria in achieving happiness and a good life, the measure of practical wisdom in all ages and cultures.’

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 well-written thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of the Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense will want it.

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 gripping journey. The story 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.

The Farm: On Practical Wisdom 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. 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!

Although fourth in the series, the book reads well as a standalone. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Tabernacle by Marc Cavella

Tabernacle by Marc Cavella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A first-class neo-Western noir with perfect pacing...

Tabernacle by Marc Cavella is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted suspenseful mystery with a generous sprinkling of dark humor. The story had every element a good story should have. A solid 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 you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

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 Neo-Western style novel with perfect pacing.

The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Cavella pays as much attention to his sentences as he does to his plots, shifting or merging meaning with the use of a single word. His writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create a humorous atmosphere that will leave you laughing out loud.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Guardians of Erum and the Calamitous Child of Socotra

The Guardians of Erum and the Calamitous Child of Socotra by A. Ali Hasan Ali
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An epic historical fantasy inspired by the folklore and ancient history of Arabia...

The Guardians of Erum and the Calamitous Child of Socotra by A. Ali Hasan Ali is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The author weaves an enchanting and suspenseful tale that will captivate the reader’s attention from the start. Skillfully constructed, this epic historical fantasy, inspired by the folklore and ancient history of Arabia, will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

This was a captivating read that had me mesmerized from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. What makes this story even more extraordinary is that A. Ali Hasan Ali began writing as a hobby during his youth to help him learn English. This is his debut novel.

There were plenty of intriguing moments 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 one of those stories that come along occasionally 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. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Write the Future: How to Share Your Vision and Build Your Brand by Writing a Book in Under 30 Days

Write the Future: How to Share Your Vision and Build Your Brand by Writing a Book in Under 30 Days by Jason Schenker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘The Future is for Futurists.’

Write the Future: How to Share Your Vision and Build Your Brand by Writing a Book in Under 30 Days by Jason Schenker explains that writing your own book is not as hard as it seems. If you really want to write your own book it is simply a matter of getting organized - and working at it. This book shows you exactly how to do that in a clear and concise way. Learn how to write your own book by studying this well-written and organized one first! If you are serious about writing this is a must.


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