fiction – Page 5 – The Spine View

The Bowes Inheritance by Pam Lecky

Guest Review by J.A. Miller:

The Bowes Inheritance, by Pam Lecky, has all the elements of a great book: compelling characters, a riveting plot, subplots that twist and turn, romance, intrigue, heartache and surprises. Set in Dublin and England in the late 1800’s, the story revolves around two impoverished sisters who inherit an estate in England – and all the unexpected drama that comes with it – from an uncle they never knew existed. I loved the book and so will you.

Book Blurb:

Dublin 1882: When determined but impoverished Louisa Campbell inherits a large estate in the north of England, from an uncle she didn’t even know existed, it appears to be the answer to her prayers. Her younger sister, Eleanor, is gravely ill, and believing that the country air will benefit her, they decide to take up residence at Bowes Farm, situated on the Cumberland coast.

However, they soon realise that all they have inherited is trouble. Their uncle had managed to alienate almost everyone in the area and worst of all, was suspected of being a Fenian activist. His reputation leaves Louisa and Eleanor battling to gain acceptance in polite society, especially with Nicholas Maxwell, their handsome neighbour and local magistrate. His father was cheated out of the farm during a card game fifteen years before and he is determined to get the property back.

Louisa unearths secrets from their family’s past that threaten their future while the spectre of their mysterious benefactor overshadows everything. When a Fenian bombing campaign comes close to home, Louisa finds herself a chief suspect and must fight to clear her name. She must dig deep to find the courage to solve the mysteries that Bowes Farm holds before their lives are destroyed. And most importantly of all, will she be able to finally trust and love the man who is surely her sworn enemy?

John Anthony Miller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a father of English ancestry and a second-generation Italian mother. Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, he normally sets his novels in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the external influences spawned by tumultuous times. He’s the author of the historical thrillers, To Parts Unknown, In Satan’s Shadow, When Darkness Comes, and All the King’s Soldiers, as well as the historical mystery, Honour the Dead. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

You know it is going to be good if Philippa Gregory wrote it and she did not disappoint me with her latest book Tidelands, the first book in the Fairmile series. She always brings a well appreciated level of intimacy to her characters that I adore.

The main character, Alinor, is a young mother of two living on the southern coast of England in a place that is remote and backwards. Her abusive husband has been missing for a year now. This is fine by her except in those days a women without a husband was looked upon with suspension. Couple this with her ability as a midwife and herbalist and she runs the risks of being called a witch.

It seems that an encounter with a young Catholic priest, who is a Royalist, whom she hides and assists in reaching the local Lord’s estate, has changed her outlook for the better. The Lord, in his gratitude for her assistance and for her silence, has given her son a position as companion to his son. He will receive a stipend and be educated along with the Lord’s son. The money will allow Alinor to purchase a boat she desperately needs and be the beginnings of a dowry for her daughter.

Alinor can’t keep thinking about this young priest and him about her. As you can expect, this leads to dangerous things and this is not the time to be someone like Alinor and doing dangerous things. There are those who are jealous of her good fortune and her natural beauty; therefore, it is not long before this good fortune turns against her.

My favorite thing about this book, well any book by Ms. Gregory, are the characters. Not only does she present the reader with a character(s) that we can connect and empathize with, she makes them appropriate to the place and time period. This brings an extra layer of depth that few authors achieve and Alinor is no exception to this. She is strong and resourceful, yet there is something fragile about her. She has been ground down by the burdens upon her and you fear it will not take much to push her beyond recovery.

I kept reminding myself that during this time it was the fate of women to be dependent upon men for almost everything. I find this a peculiar position for Alinor to be in, given that women, in lots of cases, had to be stronger than the men they were dependent upon. Alinor, and ultimately, her daughter too reflect this.

I liked the plot. I can’t say it was the strongest Ms. Gregory has ever written, but it was solid. I did find the middle section a little slow. Ultimately I had a feeling something was going to happen so I continued on and was rewarded with an intriguing twist at the end I was not expecting. In addition, there is a fairly large cliffhanger at the end. It made me wish for more closure before we move on to the next chapter in Alinor’s life.

As a whole I found this an enjoyable story and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction. Especially those you love strong female characters and are fans of the author’s other books.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Malamander by Thomas Taylor

Malamander by Thomas Taylor is a magical middle grade fantasy story that will sweep you up. The author has created an imaginative world with interesting and endearing characters that is sure to please any age reader. Hands down the best middle grade book I read this year.

Herbert Lemon, aka Herbie, is the Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel that is part of the small community of Eerie-on-the-Sea. When an item is left or lost at the hotel it comes to Herbie and it is his job to reunite the lost item with the owner. He sees all kinds of lost items including one Violet Parma who one winter’s day slips in through the hotel’s cellar window. Violet may just be the most unusual thing in Herbie’s collection of unusual things.

Violet has come in search of her parents that went missing when she was a baby, while guests at the hotel. She tells Herbie that she has come hundreds of miles to enlist his help finding her parents. When Herbie insists, he is a finder of lost things not lost people, she rebuffs him saying he is a “detective” and the only one she knows who can help her.

Of course, with Violet comes a lot of things not the least of which is the mystery of her parents’ disappearance. There is the man with the hook that is after her for unknown reasons and the monster, called Malamander, that appears on the beach at night in winter. These are just two more of the mysteries surrounding her. Herbie will have to be a very good detective to figure out this puzzle.

Love this story! It has an interesting plot with enough twists to hold any readers’ attention. The magical elements that abound in the book are many and include a mermonkey who tells you what book to read at the local book store and there is Lady Kraken’s, the hotel owner, cameraluna that she uses to see what is happening in town and a host of interesting people to round out the plot.

The characters were very well done, especially so for the intended audience. Herbie and Violet are just the type of characters that will have you cheering for them. The supporting ones, such as Mrs. Hanniver owner of the Eerie Book Dispensary, lend the story more mystery and allure and enhance the plot to perfection.

This is the perfect story for middle graders and adults alike. So entertaining and the magical astrosphere in the book along with the characters make for an outstanding book. It is age appropriate for all readers and I highly recommend to all lovers of magical adventure tales.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Traitor of Treasure Island Blog Tour

BLURB

Buried for over 300 years and now brought triumphantly to light by Dr Livesay, this is, at last, the true story of what happened on the fateful Treasure Island…

The truth about Captain Flint and his fabled death.

The truth about Long John Silver and his coveted wife.

And the truth about Jim Hawkins, that double-dealing turncoat of the first order: The traitor of Treasure Island.

AUTHOR BIO

John Drake trained as a biochemist to post-doctorate research level before realizing he was no good at science. His working career was in the television department of ICI until 1999 when he became a full-time writer. John’s hobby is muzzle-loading shooting, and his interests are British history and British politics (as a spectator), plus newspapers, TV news, and current affairs. He is married with a son and two grandchildren.

The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake

If you are looking for an adventure story involving pirates and treasure, The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake, is that and more. A grand retelling of Stevenson’s Treasure Island that includes a fair portion of the original cast of characters. I found it to be a swash buckling good read!

At the opening of the story the reader is told of a seaman’s chest, that was purchased by the author. It contained the journals of Dr. Livesey, the ship’s physician aboard Hispaniola, the ship from the Treasure Island expedition. The journals reveal the “true” story of what happened. Therefore, it is no surprise that much of the story is told from the POV of Dr. Livesey.

Dr. Livesey gets involved with the expedition by being at the wrong place at the right time. He has been frequenting the Admiral Benbow inn because he is smitten by the wife of the owner. One evening a blind man comes to the inn to find Billy Bones, a regular patron of the inn, and bring him a dire warning. If seems that the infamous Captain Flint is not dead, as what was previously thought, and is coming for Billy and the treasure map he is hiding.

Dr. Livesey takes charge and sends for Squire Trelawney who arrives at the inn, with a group of armed men, just as a fire fight with Flint’s men is ending. Though Flint manages to slip away unharmed, the cat is now out of the bag about the treasure and the Squire sets about purchasing a ship and finding a crew to man her in order to recover the treasure. The Doctor tries to discourage the expedition. However, the Squire insists on it saying he is doing “for the thrill of it”. So ensues the adventure!

This is truly an action and adventure novel. It is totally plot driven, and for those that read my reviews regularly know that I prefer books that are character driven. Not surprising, the plot moves very quickly and the character development is somewhat lacking. I am actually a little surprised how much I enjoyed this book even without the character development I crave. Just goes to show a well written story can overcome other short comings.

As I mentioned above, the character development is lacking. The only character that got the attention deserved was Dr. Livesey. I understood him and his motives well. I saw his devotion to Charlotte and his distaste for her son Jim. I can’t say that for the rest of the characters. It is important to me to understand why a character does something in a story. I hate to be left scratching my head wondering why the heck did he/she do that?

While this was not my favorite style of writing, the story is really good. Don’t let my comments on character development deter you from reading this one. If you love action and adventure stories this is a must read for you. In addition, the quality of the story and the obvious research that went into getting the historical and nautical history correct will also appeal to readers of historical novels. I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Tiger Catcher by Paullina Simons

A truly heart-breaking and enthralling story is the only way to describe The Tiger Catcher by Paullina Simons. It is a gratifying romance story and it explores the lengths to which a person will go to be with the one they love.

Julian is living a happy and successful life in Los Angeles. He is surround by family and friends that love him and has a long-standing girlfriend that everyone expects him to marry. Then a chance encounter, at a New York City theatre, with a young girl named Josephine changes everything.

When Julian returns to L. A. he can’t stop thinking about Josephine. Then one day she waltzes right into his life and his heart. As far as Julian is concerned the world has not only stopped but melted away. He is so absorbed with Josephine that he forgets to go to work or write his daily Mr. Know-It-All newsletter. Yet, the fates have other plans and when Josephine is lost to Julian, he falls into a stupor and nothing is able to bring him back to reality.

Julian dreams frequently of Josephine. In his dreams, he is always at a café and she sees him and is walking towards him but is never able to reach him. He believes that the café is in London. Therefore, he moves to London in search of her. After a year and a half, and many miles of walking London’s streets for the café in his dream, he is no closer to answers than he was in L. A. That is until he meets a shaman who gives Julian the means to find Josephine. There is a catch, the trip is dangerous and he will have to give up everything and everyone he knows and loves.

I loved the characters in this book. Julian was especially well done. I liked how the author showed us the depth of his love and then the pain and sorrow of his loss. It was raw and very real to me. In addition, the story had just enough fantasy and realism to suit my tastes.

The only negative I found was the plot. It dragged a little in the middle. Ms. Simons’s writing is always a little on the verbose side; however, here it was a bit heavy handed. Despite this, I was already so invested in the story that I had to know what happened. Therefore, I rushed to get to the end and then I had to noodle on the book for a bit before I picked up another one. It is always a good sign when a book makes me ponder for a bit after I finish it.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I also feel it is not in the same league as The Bronze Horseman, which is one of my all-time favorites. Tough I still found the story compelling and entertaining. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series and I hope the wait is not too long.

The Tiger Catcher is the perfect book for fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife, Paullina Simons and/or romance with a touch of magic.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Nobody People by Bob Proehl

The Nobody People by Bob Proehl is an X-Men like story about people who have special abilities that have been in hiding for decades or more. The story highlights how people are scared of anyone or anything that is different and they do not understand; and how this leads to prejudices then quickly turns to persecution.

The first portion of the story is told from the POV of Avi, a reporter, who is asked by a friend to look into a strange occurrence. What he stumbles onto is a new race of humans, they call themselves Resonants, who have special abilities. These abilities manifest around early adolescence. At about the same time, he learns his daughter has a special ability.

Avi is introduced to the group of people who run a school in New York City for Resonants and he is the one tasked with telling their story and introducing them to the world. Of course, this “coming out” does not go entirely as planned. Imagine that!

The story switches gears here and the author, for the most part, leaves Avi behind and tells the story through the eyes of the Resonants as Homeland Security starts rounding them up and putting them in camps. The Resonants must decide if they will continue to hide, submit, or fight.

This is an imaginative take on super heroes. I loved how the author betrayed what would happen when the Resonants came out, so to speak. It was spot on. Control anything you can’t understand and because they are different you can disregard the fact they are human. I also liked where the story went. If something like this were to happen, I can easily see the events occurring.

I liked the characters a lot. However, there was so much going on I did not get as much character development as I would have liked, with the exception of Avi. The pace of the plot was excellent and there were enough twists to keep me reading well past my bedtime.

One last comment I wish to make. I struggled with the rating because while it is not a five for me, it is better than a 4. I will make it as 4 but in reality I feel it is closer to 4.5.

This is a fresh look at super heroes and I enjoyed reading it. There is a lot left hanging so I am lookly forward to the next installment. I just hope I don’t have to wait too long. I recommend this book to anyone that likes science fiction stories. Especially those readers who are into super heroes. I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Coming Back by K. L. Denman

Coming Back by K. L. Denman is a novella about a young woman, Julie, who has been in a horrific car accident. She has no memory of the accident and has been in therapy for over a year. Julie has been diagnosed with PTSD. Her therapist suggests that she get an emotional support animal to help her.

Her therapist was thinking a dog or cat would be the ideal animal; but Julie decides she wants a horse. She had ridden some when she was a young girl and loved the connection she felt with a horse. She is hoping that she will have that again. Also, a horse will force her to leave her home and interact with people.

Julie lays out her plan to her therapist and after some consideration she agrees. She does her research and purchases a lovely young mare she names Scarlett. Julie finds a dressage show barn that she is able to board Scarlett at. She can even take lessons there. Unfortunately, it turns out a show barn is not the right fit for her. She looks for another barn and finds one that does “natural horsemanship”. Yet it turns out to be not as advertised and she soon realizes she has moved from the frying pan to fire.

This book had everything going for it. I especially love stories centered around horses since I have ridden my entire life. The plot was good and the horse related stuff was correct. I know the pace was good because I flew through this book in under a day. Yet, there was something missing for me.

I am struggling to put my feelings into words here. That in itself says something. I think it is because the story did not match the prose. Let me explain further. I felt the writing was too simplistic for an adult or young adult reader. The writing style was best suited for a middle grade reader yet the story, which billed as young adult, had a decided adult theme to it. Therefore, it left me wanting more.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer’s program, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Heart of Barkness by Spencer Quinn

Heart of Barkness by Spencer Quinn is the continuing story of the Little Detective Agency and is book nine in the series (Chet and Bernie mystery). In this quirky and sometimes humorous mystery which is narrated by Chet (who is the canine part of this crime solving duo), Bernie and his loveable assistant Chet attempt to solve the murder of the manager of an aging country singer. It appears to be cut and dry; but as cases go, it turns out to be much more.

The story opens when Bernie and Chet are invited to hear Lotty Pilgrim sing at a dive bar on the outskirts of town. Bernie and Chet, both being fans of country music, decide to leave a generous tip in Lotty’s jar. Lotty never sees the tip because it is quickly stolen right out of the jar under everyone’s nose. Chet quickly runs down the “perp” and Bernie returns it to Lotty only to see it being taken away by her manager.

Bernie senses something is not right here. He decides to make an impromptu visit to Lotty. Before he and Chet know it, they are drawn into the murder case and find that it is rooted deeply in Lotty’s past. Someone is trying to keep her past buried and another murder is not too high a price to silence anyone who digs too deep.

Because I have a no spoiler policy, I am going to remain vague. Instead I would like to talk a little about Chet, my favorite character. Chet gives a running dialogue of observations and information that the reader needs to understand what is going on. So it is not necessary to have read any of the other books in the series. Not only is Chet my favorite, he is spot on in his observation of humans. The author did a great job here.

The plot was a little slow at the beginning and I was wondering just where the story was going. Then bam, the murder happens and Bernie and Chet start working to put the pieces together. The plot picks up and runs along nicely after that. In addition, there were a few things I was not totally sure about until near the end and I enjoyed the suspension. Then Chet wraps it all up nicely for us at the end and he even gets a song written just for him. Awww….

I would definitely categorize this as a cozy mystery and I recommend this to anyone who enjoys them. I also think any dog or animal lover would appreciate the wit and wisdom of Chet. I am looking forward to reading more about this crime solving duo.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Warehouse by Rob Hart

If you take the worst of mega companies like, Amazon and China’s Alibaba and give them ultimate power you will get The Warehouse. The author, Rob Hart, explores the idea of a dystopian world where one company rules supreme. This story hits so close to home it will make you shudder in horror and give you nightmares.

In the near future, the world is ravaged by global warming, food shortages, lack of clean water and jobs. Amongst this chaos one company rules supreme, Cloud. They tout themselves as nothing short of God. But they have a seedy underbelly that few ever see.

Zinnia has been hired by a wealthy individual, whose identity she does not know, to infiltrate Cloud so they can be exposed. This will be her most difficult job ever and the most lucrative, if she can complete it. Once she gets hired, she immediate starts looking for ways to break through their security. Cloud tracks all its employees, ALL the time, through a watch. The watch must be worn at all times and can only be taken off to recharge. She must figure out a way to take the watch off and not get caught.

The solution lies with Paxton who is already drawn to her. He is in security and knows things that will help her and he can go places she can’t. How can she dupe him? If he knows what is truly going on at Cloud, will he be willing to help her?

The author is obviously drawing parallels between Cloud and Amazon just as The Circle did with Facebook. As the CEO of Cloud says repeatedly throughout the book, the market decided. We as consumers want the cheapest product delivered right to our door yesterday. The company that can do that will be the winner in the end, not the consumer! The scariest thing about this book is, the world Hart imagines I can already see beginning to take shape.

The world building was not extensive because it did not need to be. Yet, what the author described was spot on. It was easy to imagine how bad things could get when control rests with one person. The pace of the story was excellent and it never dragged for one minute. Each reveal was thoughtfully executed so you wanted to reader faster as the story progressed.

The characters were especially well done. Zinnia and Paxton charters were easy to relate to. Though I must say, I did not like the character of Paxton because he was too much of a push over. Yet, I think this is what the author intended. Paxton represents the attitude I see a lot of in America today, that as long as I am doing OK ignore what is happening elsewhere. Don’t rock the boat and stand up for what is right.

I remember, in school, reading The Handmaid’s Tale, 1984 and Animal Farm. The Warehouse falls right into the same niche as those. If you liked them, you need to read this one. In addition, I think this book should be a must read for everyone. Highly, highly recommend!

I received a free copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.