Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past by S.M. Rush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very impressive debut novel...

S M Rush was born and raised in Lincolnshire, England. She began her career as a journalist in 1997, and she is most known for her witty pieces for women's magazines, as well as her profiles on athletes and celebrities from the stage, screen, and television. Her first action-packed military fiction novel, Blast from the Past, is her debut.

To summarize the synopsis: In the cold wastelands of Afghanistan, Kieran O'Neill, a young British soldier, faces the terror of blood and guts, where killing is a way of life. The men were frequently outmanned and outgunned, and they were subjected to incessant attacks and scorching temperatures. Surviving became the most difficult task of all and that was only the beginning. Meanwhile, Sophie had worked hard to leave her tumultuous past behind her, but fleeing her old life meant leaving everything and everyone she cared about behind. Despite everything, she is living the life she had fought so hard for. She's terrified that her past will be revealed when the military locates her with a life-threatening request. Kieran had spent ten years trying to find her, and he'd tried everything he could to put the past behind him, but she was impossible to forget. Can two people with a history save each other?

Based on true events as recounted by several of those who served in Afghanistan, Blast from the Past by S M Rush is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel. The author paints for the reader a dramatic and captivating tale about ‘obsession, loss, survival and self-preservation’ in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.

Blast from the Past 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 like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

Captivating and commendable this work had me immersed from the beginning. Inspired by real events, it’s a well-crafted fiction interwoven with true-life drama. 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 compelling and mesmerizing journey. With scenes of violence, and language that may not be suitable for the linguistically sensitive, nonetheless, the themes and outcome are just as affecting in the arresting contemporary landscape. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Broken Promise of a Promised Land

The Broken Promise of a Promised Land by William Hanna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An uncompromising read, that for some, will be a bitter pill to swallow...

It was William Cowper, the English poet, who wrote that those most eager to find ´truth’ are often those most likely to deny it, when confronted by its obvious presence.

Both truth-seekers and historians alike will enjoy this book. The Broken Promise of a Promised Land by William Hanna takes the reader on a journey through history, society, politics, and religion. It covers everything from the origins of the Cosmos and man to how Zionism hijacked Judaism, among other topics.

Award-winning London-based freelance writer on democracy and human rights, William Hanna, does not waste his time by glazing over his opinions. This book was written to raise awareness in the hopes of a progressive future free of primordial racism and religious domination.

The author skillfully recounts history using scientific and archaeological data, and mercilessly exposes many faiths' ever-evolving myths and propaganda. A book that will generate both contempt and respect in equal measure, it is my hope that the latter will prevail in the end. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five star from me.


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ARCADIA'S CHILDREN 5: SAMANTHA'S WAR

Arcadia's Children 5: Samantha's War by Andrew R Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A creative and imaginative continuing saga...

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.

ARCADIA'S CHILDREN 5: SAMANTHA'S WAR by Andrew Williams is an excellent sci-fi that had me engaged from the opening chapter. The threads of storytelling are so expertly woven it guarantees the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed, this creative and imaginative continuing saga had me turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s also 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 in a good book.

If you are a sci-fi fan looking for a well-written Y/A sci-fi fantasy with amazing characters and a solid plot then ARCADIA'S CHILDREN 5 will not leave you disappointed. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Return of the NY Villains for Justice

The Return of the NY Villains for Justice by Marta Nater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thrilling action with thought-provoking themes...

Marta Nater's novel The Return of the NY Villains for Justice is the second in the series. It tells the story of each villain and their various social justice fights. Nina Dansk and Cora Rollins along with the beast Shadow Claw fight for harsher punishments for pedophiles and rapists, and Jerico Raven and Danny Rojas fight for order in their precinct, while Amadou fights for black lives and prejudice within the law enforcement system in the Bronx and across the country. The villains are zealous for justice and will go to any length to obtain it, no matter the cost.

The authors writing style is honest, real, and emotional, reflecting how passionate she is about the topics. Her enthusiasm is captivating, and she has the ability to elicit an emotional response from the reader. The tales contain surprising twists and plots that will keep readers guessing.

As the author states, many people may take offense to this book, but that was not her aim. The book is merely a fictional novel about virtuous individuals who, when justice fails, take the law into their own hands. In this sequel, the villains carry on with their earlier deeds in order to be heard by those with the legal authority and power to create changes for our children's safety when it comes to child abusers, pedophiles, and rapists, as well as better changes regarding racism concerns.

Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. A well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel

2036 The Proof: A Thrilling Science Fiction Novel by Zvi Speiser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An amazing Sci-Fi roller coaster ride!

Whatever flaws we might identify or frustrations we might feel are trivial in comparison to a reader's pure joy in losing himself/herself in a narrative. When all the elements come together: an intriguing plot, thoughtful, profound themes, complex, troubling, characters, and language that make us shudder for its honesty, clarity, and confidence; we gratefully set all analysis aside and give ourselves up to the sheer magic of a great book. And for me, 2036 The Proof is such a book.

The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting 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 really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I look for in a good book.

What do a gigantic space rock rushing into earth, human DNA going ‘insane’ in a lab, detonating stars and an ancient sect have in common? Author Zvi Speiser has astutely woven together all of this in an arresting sci-fi thriller. Chicago police Detective Rick Heller and investigative journalist Will Thorne attempt to make sense of why researchers linked with these revelations are nearly killed and a security guard is murdered.

Detective Thorne discovers a mysterious link between the asteroid, the human DNA, the exploding stars and the ancient sect. Meanwhile, US President Emily White attempts to utilize this top-secret tinder box, revealing the unearthing of the most profound secret of the human race, seeded millions of years ago, for a peaceful message to humanity. However, her initiative has consequences that result in hostile and violent religious turbulence with the purpose of threatening all of humanity.

“Can an ancient, secret sect be the key to human salvation? In 586 BCE, soldiers of the Sect of the Guardians gave their lives to secure the hiding place of the Ark of the Covenant, which they had removed from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. What is the ancient secret, more than 3,300 years old, that the Guardians are ordered to hide at any cost?” Well, since I’m not one for giving spoilers, you’ll have to turn the pages for yourself to find out!

This captivating and commendable work had me engaged from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a fascinating and intriguing journey!

It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile 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 certainly be looking forward to reading more from Zvi Speiser in the future. I would definitely recommend this book. Five stars from me.

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Butterfly Fairy: Coloring Book For Teens & Adults

Butterfly Fairy: Coloring Book For Teens & Adults by Píaras Ó Cíonnaoíth




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Bamboo-Scented Love: A year in China

Bamboo-Scented Love: A year in China by Vered Kaminsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love is the power of life...

Bamboo-Scented Love: A year in China by Vered Kaminsky is a narrative about women ‘who make sacrifices for their partners' careers, people who live on the other side of the world, crises, longing, and happiness.’ At its core, it’s a story about unattainable love. Skillfully constructed and set against the backdrop of the city of Qingdao, China in the late 90s, this wonderfully written story 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: ‘The story takes place in 1998 in China, which recently opened to the West. It interweaves markets, rituals, cultures, superstitions, and historic sites, before reaching its inevitable dramatic ending. When Mira’s husband is sent to work in China for two years, Mira relocates there, with him and her two young children. For Mira, this is meant to be a two-year timeout from her work and studies, a time she has been anticipating eagerly yet apprehensively. As the plot becomes increasingly more complicated, Mira finds herself at odds with her own self, with those around her and with her love for a stranger…’

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.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommended it. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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