The Slender Reed ~ John W. Cassell

Disclosure: I received a copy through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway programme.

While this tale of one man fighting political and judicial corruption within his own purview is set in the ‘80s it is easy to see how by simply changing a few names it could be the lead story from any media outlet thirty years later. Le plus ça change le plus ça reste le même.

Initially, I thought the setting of this novel to be Small Town U.S.A., but the more I read, the more I felt that perhaps it was more of a rural subdivision or borough of some larger city. There were other perplexing moments in this novel, which I ultimately chalked up to a lack of knowledge of the American political and judicial system. There were such a mix of levels of political offices and varying departments with their hands in the pot that it was a bit difficult keeping them sorted. Eventually I concluded that this was a deliberate way for the author John W. Cassell to give the non-official a sense of just how convoluted politics and the law can get. While we assume they are supposed to be making decisions to keep us functioning and adapting laws to ensure order, they are often at loggerheads when the ultimate goal is the economy. This is where we realise that economy and individuals are not viewed as compatible and one must decide with which they will side.

Cassell’s protagonist Cranford has all of this to deal with as the man with the dubious role of State’s Attorney, a role I determined sits at the apex of both points of view. As the fulcrum between money and humanity, it is a place where sometimes one must skirt the lines to take back control of what is right, by not allowing cynicism and complacency to run roughshod.

I appreciated the appendices explaining radio codes and ‘insider terms’, but felt that an brief explanation or chart explaining the different political positions and what level of government they are meant to serve would be quite useful for a non-American market. I searched the internet for information and found that it impeded the story’s flow. Otherwise, I quite liked the message and the spark of hope that perhaps in time, with the right people, that politics and the law can share a stage.

Publisher: Inkwater Press
Publication Date: 2 February 2012
Format: Paperback

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

Fire & Ice ~ Patty Jansen

Disclosure: I won a copy from LibraryThing's author giveaway programme.

I do not read many fantasy novels, but I have been extremely fortunate over the years that friends have recommended some brilliant ones.. This time I stepped out on a limb without ‘professional’ guidance and put my name for an author’s copy of Fire & Ice from LibraryThing and was honoured to win a copy. As in my few other fantasy novel experiences, I was not disappointed. In fact, I am looking forward to reading the next instalment.

The concept of this series, whether intended, is an allegorical tale of our times - discrimination, segregation, moral superiority and polar bears. Well, yes, polar bears are not precisely an everyday sight for most of us, however, their use in this novel tells of our own uses of animal for sport and the repercussions of attempting to tame the wild.

The centre of power is the City of Glass, the population ruled by a Regent intent on claiming the crown with help from his Eagle Knights, while the son of the former King, living outwith the city’s borders amasses a force of ‘deformed’ individuals who are able to tap into the world’s largest power source. While these two fight for control, the inhabitants are stuck in the middle, unsure, confused and understandably afraid. Patty Jensen wonderfully crafts this tale adding unpredictable scenarios and expertly paces the tension. Moments of the everyday are fused between chess-like moves by the elite, such as a difficult child delivery and light-hearted moments between young soldiers. The main characters are all connected through complicated webs of blood and association, which also serves as a means to add moral dilemma to the mix - all the things we expect in a world where greed and survival meet in the battlefield.

I have yet to read the other two books of the trilogy, but intend to as this first instalment has gripped me and I am invested in the characters and have made my own predictions, which I expect will be wildly off the mark due to Jansen’s ability to throw curves on the straightest of all roads.

Publisher: Capricornica Publications
Publication Date: 6 October 2011
Format: e-book

Review previously appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

The Steel Deal ~ James Blakley

Disclosure: I received a copy directly from the author.

Sunny Busco is a 55 year old private detective in L.A., prone to self-deprecation who prefers the conveniences of the 70’s over the technological progress of the .com age. Thus there is an innate irony when he is hired to deliver the most advanced self-forming steel to New Mexico.

I was very pleased to read an new hard-boiled detective story, and while the set-up suggests it will not be a series, it harkens back to the no-nonsense P.I.s who prefer to withhold their suspicions until there is enough weighty evidence before making a declaration and who have the good sense to refrain from revealing details to everyone involved in the case. Busco is embroiled in a case that pits him against higher authorities whose sole purposes is to complicate everyone’s lives and to prevent anyone from discovering the truth. Undaunted, the protagonist, an unwilling dupe, collects the puzzle pieces and is handsomely rewarded for his discretion and ability to dissect the elaborate scheme. The author, James Blakley, uses this opportunity to remind us all that life is more than just a little satisfactory when we appreciate the things we have, even if it’s only a beat up car, good mates and a modest roof over our heads.

I don’t want to come off as sounding like all this story has to offer is a slightly cranky P.I., there are brilliant moments of hilarity, coincidence and some terrific banter between all these strong characters. Plus, he does encounter resistance, complications and some characters that would drive a Dali Lama to lose patience. So, if you desire a quirky detective, colourful characters and a plot that might just explain why the world still needs spies, this could just be the book for you.

Publisher: Inkwater Press
Publication Date: 3 September 2010
Format: Paperback

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

The Weeping Empress ~ Sadie S. Forsythe

Disclosure: I received a copy directly from the author.

What happens when someone’s life is dropped into a foreign place with all they know is beyond their grasp? Chiyo Alglaeca is such a person. With an inner strength she was unaware she possessed, she fights her way back home in the only ways she knows how. Teaming up with two rebels, they elude the emperor’s forces as a mysterious cult threatens to envelop Chiyo in their schemes against the oppressive ruler. Fed by fear, then anger, finally an unshaken resolve and against all odds she finds a way return to her family.

I found myself completely disoriented at the beginning, then slightly defeated, only to realise that the author, Sadie S. Forsythe, has this wonderful ability in ensuring that the reader shares an emotional relationship with the protagonist. Few would feel differently if torn from all they know and dumped in a strange place, speaking a different language and where emerge peculiar customs. The author has done a wonderful job of mashing up different cultures to create a colourful landscape and vivid characters in a pre-modern technological age. I was only ever unsure about time. There a places where an indication of how much time has passed is mentioned, but I still did not understand whether I was meant to think that time was part of the urgency, or whether the story developed over the span of years. Perhaps this was intentional in order to ensure the reader’s continued sense of shared bewilderment with Chiyo.

Other than the issue of time, I quite enjoyed this novel. It is a story about a shift in time and space, but it definitely does not fall within the realm of romance. This is a book about survival and the human spirit. It also explores how a person can be at once caring and loving while cleaving their enemy in order to get back at those who were taken from us. This is absolutely a story about a woman’s strength - not the type of strength generally placed in her sexuality, rather it’s about that power we all possess deep in our humanity.

Publisher: Lulu.com
Publication Date: 14 December 2011
Format: Paperback

Review appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

Dreams Of Gold ~ Jonathan Chamberlain

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis: Circumstances collide to set Rowan Jones (a Welsh poet) as the spokesperson for a previously unconnected group of athletes choosing to compete in the London 2012 Olympics. A little political, a little sporty and a lot funny, Dreams of Gold pits together a cast of characters who, individually posses varying degrees of sanity, but together make a formidable team of athlete-cum-detective-cum spies to save the Olympics from themselves and an enigmatic dictator.

One must read this book as though they are watching a sporting event with an extremely knowledgeable, yet unidentified presenter/broadcaster. Considering this is a book about the Olympics (sort of), I think it really helped to set the tone. I did wonder if perhaps this broadcaster-cum narrator would turn into a Hercule Poirot as it became more of a detective story, but alas no Belgian accent popped up.

For the most part, Chamberlain sticks to the Martin Millar approach of writing chapters in fewer than 5 pages, with a Jasper Fforde-ish quirkiness of prose. Add to this a dash of information about Olympic regulations and a host city's neurotic need to produce the best event...evaaaah, Chamberlain successfully navigates the planet and the diverse reasons athletes have for wanting to compete on the world stage.

We are given just enough detail about each character to understand what each has at stake and why their individuality improves the whole of the group. We also learn how pinning one's hopes on a singular decision can derail an entire concept while simultaneously exposing everyone to relatively esoteric ideas. Not to mention a dose of unique poetry from time to time.

I don't know that this writing style would appeal to all, but I do believe it is a story that everyone should read. The work is riddled with lessons in tolerance, reading the fine lines, doing research, having faith in one another and that differences between people make for a very spherical world. Plus, it's just simply a fun read.

Publisher: Long Island Press
Publication Date: 2 January 2012
Format: Paperback

Review first appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

A Man Of Value ~ Anna Markland

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis: This is the second instalment of the historical romance series The Montbryce Legacy, set in the Borderlands of England and Scotland during the 11th Century. Caedmon Woolgar, a warrior caught up in the struggles between the Normans to the South and the Scots in the North must decide where he loyalties lie and when he meets Agneta Kirkthwaite. As his feelings for her grow, he discovers that his knowledge of historical events aren't based on fact which serves to put both their futures in jeopardy.

I really wanted to like this book; it's set in a part of the world with which I am not only familiar but for which I have an affinity. It's a period that is little represented and a location that is rarely used in historical romances; therefore, is ripe for picking. The premise of the story intrigued me and appealed to my knowledge of the politics of the time, but it unfortunately fell short. Less so the story than the way it was told.

I often find that historical romances could be a little shorter, but in this case, I found myself wanting more. More conversation between the protagonist and his lover, his mother and his mates. I wanted more description, more tension, more humour, more, more, more...of just about everything. I found the conversations between the characters stilted and they tended to repeat precisely what was forewarned in the narrative. Then when I got to the scene where Caedmon goes 'fishing' I asked myself, "Why couldn't the rest of the book be like this one"? It had detail, flowing conversation, tension and feeling. It was the flow found in this scene that was lacking in the others. I also found that the best insight into the protagonist's mind was found is in his diary writing when fighting in the Crusades.

Knowing that the author is able to write this way made me wonder if the whole thing wasn't just a bit rushed. I really feel that more of what is found in those two elements would have taken the story to a completely different level.Clearly, the bones are there. The structure is pretty much there too, but the execution was a bit lacking for me. I think it could be a fairly brilliant novel if it was twice as long. More development of the characters and less stilted conversations with a better sense of location and the fundamental push and pull of relationships would do wonders for this story.

While I found Caedmon, his mother, Agneta and some of the characters believable even though we don't get a full picture, I could not say the same of Ram and his immediate family. I just don't see how they all basically accepted Earth-shattering news as if it were asking for the peas to be sent across the table. At one point one of the sons mentions that the situation had him upset, but again, we never ever saw it.

As noted above, I was intrigued by the premise of the larger story of the series, but I get the impression by reading the blurbs about the other books that what occurs in this novel will have little impact on future instalments.

Publisher: Anna Markland
Publication Date: 6 January 2012
Format: Paperback

Review previously appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

An American Spy ~ Olen Steinhauer

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis: In this third installment of Steinhauer's The Tourist the CIA's Department of Tourism has been eradicated and the survivors are coping with the changes in varying ways, while the Chinese spymaster tries to figure out how exactly they intend to exact revenge, if at all.

I had not realised that this was the third installment in The Tourist series. This speaks volumes about Steinhauer's ability to provide enough back story so that new readers never feel like they need to read the previous books to understand what is happening in the one they are holding.

The sense that this is a stand-alone book is primarily due to the use of multiple P.O.V.s. With German Erika Schwartz questioning world events, the Chinese spymaster Xin Zhu outlining the root of his intentions, and ex-CIA agent Milo Weaver's bafflement of his friend's behaviour, one gets a real sense of how espionage and counter espionage is riddled with deceit, distrust, abuse of position and the blatant use of the unsuspecting. However, what the novel's strongest message is simply, that there is only one way out once you've entered this life of secrecy.

Set just prior to the 2008 Olympics, the author deftly interweaves of each character's story within the political climate set by a distrustful America and a taciturn China. As one might expect from a spy novel, each of the characters is intent on protecting their beliefs, their loved ones and their respective backsides. I admit that I know nothing about the author, but did wonder at whether any of the tricks he used would actually work. Then I thought that I'd have to either be an actual spy or extremely paranoid to want to delve into this travel arsenal.

Once I get through the mountain of books I have waiting, I will likely get my hands on the first two books, and if luck is with us, a follow-up to this one.

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: 13 March 2012
Format: Hardcover

Review previously appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

A Thousand Bayonets ~ Joel Mark Harris

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis: John Webster, an ex-war correspondent is caught up in a mob power shift that takes everyone by surprise. As a witness to the execution of one mob boss, the main character struggles against his demons, competition from other journalists, and lies coming from every direction. His only goals are to protect his source and get to the bottom of what he witnessed.

While the characters are coping with threats of death, evading court summonses, personal relationships and emotional meltdowns, the author weaves in the realities of how journalists are perceived by their readers, how fame - even if brief - has a way of altering one's plans significantly and the journalist's own views of how they react during certain events.

Webster and the rest of the cast of characters are all very believable. They're all intent on protecting what they believe in, not to mention their backsides. As is true of most thrillers, the raw emotion, tension and anxiety are palpable and I found myself cheering on the protagonist. I did expect a less tidy ending, but then again I hope it's not the end of John Webster, or Harris.

Publisher: iUniverse Inc.
Publication Date: 12 August 2011
Format: Paperback

Review previously appeared on now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

Stray Bullets ~ Robert Rotenberg

Disclosure: I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

Synopsis:A child is shot in a Toronto Tim Horton's car park during the first snow fall of the year. Most witness accounts and CCTV each reveal only parts of the events, and the one who may have seen it all is on the run.

Rotenberg's novel takes the reader on a journey that uncovers how the police, the Crown and defense attorneys map out and piece together events, broker deals and cope with the media to solve the murder of a four year old boy experiencing snow for the first time.

In short but very detailed chapters, the author is able to provide key player POVs while keeping the story moving at a quick pace without exposing too much too soon or decrease the level of suspense. Like the senior detective, I was confused by the chronology of part of the events and must admit that the twist was unexpected. It is minor is aspect, but significant in how the evidence is interpreted.

I quite like having books that have short chapters. They are perfect for those days those hectic days with the occasional brief pauses. When done right, as it is in Stray Bullets, means that unnecessary information is excluded and it keeps the reader focused on the mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and relish reading the author's two prior works that I believe include many of the characters found in this one.

Publisher: Touchtone Books
Publication Date: 1 May 2012
Format: ARC of Hardcover

Review previously appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

What Casanova Told Me ~ Susan Swan

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

From the back cover:A dazzlingly imagined novel that embraces two centuries, two women, a long-lost journal and the mystery behind the legendary Casanova's last great love, What Casanova Told Me celebrates the unexpected in life and love, and the transforming lessons of travel.

I don't know what I expected from this book, but what that was is not what I got. I immediately noticed that the book was originally published in 2005 and this worried me a little. Then I noticed that several Canadian newspapers rated it rather highly, so I curled up on the sofa with cup of tea at hand and read...and read.

I was fortunate that it was a week end as I did not want to put the book down. I wouldn't call it an edge-of-your-seat-page-turner, but my interest in the protagonist - Luce and her ancestor - Asked For (yes, that is her name) parallel lives in Venice and Greece never waned. Armed with her ancestor's journal Luce reluctantly navigates through the Mediterranean with her late mother's partner. Asked For's writings serve Luce as both a therapeutic tool to cope with her mother's death, and and a means of encouragement in finding a partner worthy of her love.

Swan elegantly intertwines Luce's and Asked For's stories in ways that render even the blustering Lee Pronski likable. For his part, Casanova is quite simply a conduit for all of these women to realise their potential and who they really are. As it turns out, I am quite pleased to have a read a 7 year old book that I had never heard of.

Publisher: Random House of Canada
Publication Date: 6 June 2005
Format: Paperback

Review previously appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

Falling Immortality ~ Robert Downs

Disclosure: I received a copy of this directly from the author.

This detective & mystery selection is about a retired police officer's continued devotion to solving crimes as a private investigator. Casey Holden is a narcissistic P.I. who weaves sex into just about every part of his life. Which is unfortunate, because he'd probably get the case solved a lot faster and with fewer mishaps and missed clues if chasing tail wasn't such a high priority.

I found the constant inclusion of innuendos, the protagonist's extreme sense of entitlement and the treatment of his friends to get old fast. It distracted from what I had initially thought would be a really great mystery. While the banter is quite witty and at times funny, the need to include some form of sex into every scene was a bit of a turn off. I also began to wonder how this sort of thing could be sustained in future installments. The ending was a bit of a letdown, I had hoped for a really interesting twist, but it turned out to be a bit more predictable than I'd hoped.

Having said all of this, I would give the next book a try in the hopes of more character development, actual investigative work and fewer rolls in the hay.

Publisher:Rainbow Books
Publication Date: August 2011
Format: e-book version of the Paperback

Review previously appeared on now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

One Moment, One Morning ~ Sarah Rayner

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

A portion from the back cover: A masterfully written novel about the healing power of friendship, this is the story of three women whose lives become inextricably linked after a life-changing event during their morning commute to London.

When this book was listed on Goodreads First Reads giveways I dismissed it. While I don't mind reading chick-lit and contemporary literature, I tend to only select them for long distance travel or when highly recommended by someone who knows my tastes. However, after a long day of packing books, I decided to really read the descriptions of the books on offer, and One Moment, One Morning sounded nothing like what I expected it to be. In fact, I found the concept so intriguing that it was the first book that I found myself hoping that I would be one the chosen winners. Fortunately, I was one of the selected to give it a go.

Ms. Rayner crafted such a beautifully written story of women struggling with identity, self-worth, guilt and perceived failures who are able to find comfort with friends and camaraderie among strangers. The death of one man serves to force three women into finding strength and inner-peace, while continuing to cope with the everyday. I make this sound a pleasant ride; it is not. The are moments of great discomfort as the reader is caught in the emotions portrayed. Not many books make me cry, but this one did, and not just the once. These are not super-human women who carry on as though nothing happens.

Forever intertwined, these three women must continue to cope with their families and friends despite how they feel. Hung-over, depressed or suffering the deepest of grief, they tackle the days as best they can regardless of the obstacle course of tears, hysteria or frustrations.

If you're looking for a book that feels personal, with people who have mortal and friends who go about their day in a relatively structured, yet eventful way, this could very be one for you. If you're looking for high-speed chases, sexy immortal beings or a guilty butler, you won't find it in this book, but I still suggest you hold in your hands before completely dismissing it. The characters may not be super-human, but the book is quite powerful.

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: 20 December 2011
Format: Paperback

Review first appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

Nordic Fairies ~ Saga Berg

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novella from the author.

The well written short work sets the tone and pace for a series about a "young" fairy couple (Svala and Viggo) who must endure a seemingly endless separation to ensure that good prevails over evil in our modern world. The story sets a firm foundation for the series. I really enjoyed the relationships between Svala and the other characters, and the author's acute ability to trace a teen's (and some adults') means of coping with tension by grabbing all the courage they can muster to build a facade of over-confidence only to end up horrified, embarrassed and humiliated by an unforeseeable catastrophe. We've all been there.

I really have no complaints or negative criticisms about the content, story, characters etc., considering it is a novella; but wonder why not give the story its head and let it become a full length novel? I was left wanting more; some of that I'm sure will be answered in future installments - as it should, but I was really left wondering about 'the training' - training for what? how are they meant to use it? Perhaps, giving away one simple example would tamp the frustration. Also, a little more about Svala and Viggo's lives, including the forbidden relationship prior to meeting their mentors. Also, I was given the impression that 'honesty' would factor strongly in the story, but nothing seems to have tested that...so far.

Okay, maybe that is a bit of a criticism, but it's basically meant to prevail on the author's sense of liberation - I'm not satisfied with just a bowl of ice-cream, I want the whole tub.

Publisher:Author
Publication Date: 2012
Format: ebook

Review first appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

The Kings' Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin ~ Elizabeth C. Goldsmith

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

I was not familiar with the story of Cardinal Mazarin's nieces, therefore I came at this with the little knowledge that I knew of the times, which was more or less related to the Musketeers. Not precisely filled with loads of talk about women.

Goldsmith begins by providing a detailed view of the political landscape, particularly in France as well as establishing the links between the Court and the girls/women in their early lives. Once Marie and Hortense become separated through arranged marriages, I found the time lines a bit confusing. The approach is much as Tolkien in the Two Towers and beyond, each sister's story told in alternating chapters. As a result, there is a bit of repetition not to mention, multiple uses of some quotes. I felt that this constant need to catch up was a bit distracting.

However, I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in women and the ways in which they were expected to comport themselves, which is quite different than the men of the period; the madness of men when their wives fail to conform, or 17th century media.

Be prepared to, as I expect is the author's intent, to desire throttling the men AND women of the period. With men in want of controlling their wives, of women whose opinion of the sisters' escapades did nothing to but fuel the rumours of impropriety, I found it quite amazing that Marie and Hortense could plot such extravagant escapes without distraction.

This book would be a welcome addition to 17th Century France, women's rights bookshelves.

Publisher: PublicAffairs
Publication Date: 3 April 2012
Format: ARC of Hardcover

Review first appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog

Sunburnt ~ M.D. Keating

Disclosure: I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads program.

I was a bit surprised to see the story written in screenplay format, which I expect might be tricky for someone to read if they are unfamiliar with the style. On the other hand, for those used to reading screenplays, I think the size and book format might be easier to read when first pitched.

As a book reader; I find the format a bit distracting because one side of my brain is trying to process the project as a book, while the other half is attempting to visualize it. Having said that, I think many key elements for a really great story exist in the text, but it seems to lack some development, which as a script might be taken care of through visual keys. M

Much as others have noted, the end sort of gets away from the story. I'm still not sure why the media cared about the protagonist once the scandal was over and the rest of it just blazed through. I felt that a reminder of Murphy's career mid-way might have strengthened the story, as well if there had been more dialogue about the issues concerning his best friend.

Despite all that there are some notable strong points: most of the mob scenes are what one would expect, the relationship between the Murphy boys and their mother I thought was well worked, and I rather enjoyed the humour.

All in all, I think it needs a bit more development/filling out but does have the bones. Also, perhaps a change of format or a caveat that it is not a standard book.

Publisher: Author
Publication Date: January 2012
Format: Paperback

Review first appeared on the now defunct Bookworm's Buffet Blog