Action

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Guest Review:Deception Creek – Fleur McDonald

Deception Creek

Fleur McDonald

Allen & Unwin

ISBN 9781760878825

Description:
A returned criminal, a cult-like family and cybercrime all clash against the backdrop of the Flinders Ranges in this thrilling new rural suspense novel from the best-selling Voice of the Outback.

Emma Cameron, a recently divorced farmer and a local in Barker, runs Deception Creek, the farm that three generations of her family have owned before her. Every day Emma pushes herself hard on the land, hoping to make ten-year-old memories of a terrible car accident disappear. And now there are more recent nightmares of an ex-husband who refuses to understand how much the farm means to Emma.

When criminal Joel Hammond is released from jail and heads home to Barker, Detective Dave Burrows and his officer Senior Sergeant Jack Higgins are on high alert. Joel has a long and sorry history with many of the townsfolk and they are not keen to see him home to stay.

Not all of the Barker locals want to see Joel run out of town though. Some even harbour doubts about Joel’s conviction. The town finds itself split down the middle, families pitted against each other with devastating outcomes.

Brenda’s View:
When Joel Hammond returned to Barker, to his hometown and the home his parents had left him when they died, he’d known it wouldn’t be easy. But he hadn’t expected the anger and hate directed at him by a prominent family in town. Joel had been convicted of fraud at his job in Adelaide and went to jail for five years, before adding another four years for assault while inside. He was a changed man, but he just wanted the past behind him.

Emma Cameron owned and ran Deception Creek, the property which had been in her family for generations, and she loved her work. She had farm hand Matt working for her and he’d been reliable and a great support with all his farming knowledge over the six years he’d been working on Deception Creek. Emma had been first on scene to a fatal accident nine years prior and still had nightmares from the memories; now with her recent divorce, she wanted to bury herself in her work on the farm and try to forget her worries.

Detective Dave Burrows and Senior Sergeant Jack Higgins both felt there was something dangerous hovering over their town. With Joel back, unhappy residents, strangers in town, Jack and Dave were both on high alert. What would be the outcome of the uneasy atmosphere in Barker? Would Dave and Jack be able to keep the peace?

Deception Creek is another outstanding, tense suspense novel from Aussie author Fleur McDonald which I absolutely loved. The author is up there on my favourites list – I always look forward to her next book! Well crafted characters, and of course my favourites – Dave Burrows and Jack Higgins – lead the way in this phenomenal read which I highly recommend.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Rough Diamond (Erica Jewell #1) – Kathryn Ledson

Rough Diamond

Erica Jewell #1

Kathryn Ledson

Pilyara Press

ASIN: B07L3Y6XHV

 

Description:

Funny, romantic and action-packed, Rough Diamond introduces Australia’s unforgettable Erica Jewell.

 

The shock ending to Erica Jewell’s marriage has left a huge hole in her bank balance and a bigger one in her heart. So now this office worker’s goals make a very short list: no surprises, no debt and, definitely, no men. That is, until she finds one bleeding to death in her Melbourne garden one stormy night.

Jack Jones is a man whose emotional wounds are more life-threatening than the bullet in his shoulder. When he recruits Erica to his secret team of vigilantes, Erica suspects her safe, predictable world is about to be inverted.

And she’s absolutely right.

 

My View:

Fun, exciting, mysterious and oh so Australian – I love this read!

Kathryn Ledson has created a wonderful female protagonist, Erica Jewell and in this, the first book in the series, we are introduced to a set of main characters that face adversity head on. This is a thrilling, fast paced mystery that is tempered with humour and a hint of romance.

This series would make fantastic TV! The world is ready to meet Erica Jewell.

 

 

 

 

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Post Script: Safe From Harm – R J Bailey

Safe From Harm

Safe From Harm

R J Bailey

Simon & Schuster Australia

ISBN: 9781471157172

Description:

London: a city where the super-rich flock – and where their enemies follow. And in this city of eight million people, where any stranger could be a threat, a close protection operative is the must-have accessory for anyone who is anyone.

But not just any close protection officer. A female close protection officer. One who can blend into the crowd, but who is tough enough to counter any threat.

Safe From Harm is the explosive opening to an exciting new series by a thrilling new talent.

 

 

My View:

This is an action packed, adrenaline fuelled thriller! It took me a little time to absorb the acronyms and the back story – the story of PPO’s (Personal Protection Officers) I know this needed to be done but I felt this bogged down the narrative…for a short while, then when we were all up to speed – I could not put this book down!

 

A great opening hook – a job description – sounding more glamorous than dangerous – but don’t be fooled – this is a narrative where what you think you see/read is not what you get! Be prepared to be manipulated, to be conned, to be played…then watch what happens to the protagonist!

 

Told from alternating time frames – twenty months earlier, mostly safe and secure and then this very minute – where there is “a man coming to hurt us. Probably more than one man. Two or three perhaps. Not four. They won’t need four to deal with us. After all we are trapped down here…” p. 3 this really is a heart pounding read! I do not say this lightly – I could feel the tension in my body rising as I delved into this narrative, once engaged with the story I could not put this book down.  I had to read until the end, I had to know the outcome…and I was not surprise for the two mega twists here!

 

If you like your protagonist to be strong, sensible, assertive, combat ready and female and your villains to be dastardly, bold, calculating, incredibly smart and savvy who will fool you at least once, maybe twice in this read…than this is the book for you.   Be warned you will be staying up until you finish reading this book. You will not believe the gut wrenching outcomes…but rest assured there is at least one more book in this series, and if you are a fan or Rachel Amphlett, Ian Andrew, Ben Sanders or Lee Child, you will love this thriller.

 

 

 

 

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Let Me Introduce You to James Phelan… and A Giveaway of His New Release Dark Heart

“James Phelan is the bestselling and award-winning author of 28 novels and one work of non-fiction. From his teens he wanted to be a novelist but first tried his hand at a real job, studying and working in architecture before turning to English literature, spending five years at a newspaper and obtaining an MA and PhD in literature. For Hachette Australia, James has written five titles in the Lachlan Fox thriller series, and the Alone trilogy of young adult post-apocalyptic novels. The ex-CIA character of Jed Walker was first introduced in The Spy, which was followed by The Hunted, Kill Switch and Dark Heart. James has also written a 14 book adventure series for Scholastic, titled The Last Thirteen. He has been a full-time novelist since the age of 25, and spends his time writing thrilling stories and travelling the world to talk about them.” Hachette Australia Press release.
To find out more about James and his books, visit:
http://www.jamesphelan.com
Follow and interact with James:
http://www.facebook.com/realjamesphelan
http://www.twitter.com/realjamesphelan
http://www.instagram.com/realjamesphelan
http://www.whosay.com/jamesphelan

This the cover of James’s latest release. If action packed thrillers are your go to reads then this book is for you.  Simply name the other James Phelan thriller series published by Hachette Australia in the comments section of this blog. ****Giveaway open to Australian residents only. Giveaway ends midnight 28 January 2017.

dark-heart

 

*Thanks to Hachette Australia for supporting my blog and this giveaway.

 

 

 

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Post Script: Face Value – A Wright & Tran Novel – Ian Andrew

face-valueFace Value

A Wright & Tran Novel

Ian Andrew

ISBN: 9780992464127

 

Description:

Kara Wright and Tien Tran, former members of an elite intelligence gathering team active in Afghanistan, Iraq, and places still classified, now make their living through Wright & Tran, a PI service that tracks errant spouses, identifies dishonest employees and, just occasionally, takes on more significant cases that allow them to use all their skills.

 

When siblings Zoe and Michael Sterling insist that their middle-aged parents have gone missing, Kara and Tien are at first sceptical and then quickly intrigued; the father, ex-intelligence analyst Chris Sterling, appears to be involved with an enigmatic Russian thug.

 

Using less than orthodox methods and the services of ex-colleagues with highly specialised talents, Wright & Tran take on the case. But the truth they uncover is far from simple and will shake Zoe and Michael as much as it will challenge Tien and anger Kara – anger she can ill afford for she is being hunted by others for the killing of a street predator who chose the wrong prey.

 

The only constant in this darkening world is that nothing and no one can be taken at face value.

 

My View:

Australian authors are awesome!

 

What a fantastic discovery!  This book easily scores a place in my “Top Reads of 2016”! Fast paced, action packed, explosive, compulsive writing and with not one but two particularly interesting and empathetic female protagonists!

 

The introduction provides a very tasty and appetising bait – you won’t feel that hook until it is too late and it is after midnight and you are reading “just one more page”… until you have finished! You can catch up on sleep another night.

 

“It wasn’t the prettiest place to die. But then again, where is? She was taking a short cut through unfamiliar territory. He was running an illegal errand on ground he called his own. Neither would have wanted the street with its vandalised lights and graffiti-covered hoardings, to be their final view of life. But we don’t often get what we want.”   (p.1)

 

Bad things are going to happen, you can feel it, sense it, taste it. But you might just get a surprise or two here. And then there is the rest of the narrative! I was thoroughly hooked, engaged, enthralled.

 

I cannot wait to read the second in this series “Flight Path.” Thanks Ian Andrew for a consuming read!

 

 

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Doesn’t Time Fly?

Here it is December 2016 already.  I cant believe it – this year has flown by, life has been busy; a grandson was born and he is now 8 months old.  Recipes have been tried and tested and many books have been read and reviewed – around the one hundred seventy mark thus far.

I am enjoying sharing the joy of reading with my grandson (with  appropriate titles) – it is never too early to encourage a love of reading.

Recently I invited a couple of ardent readers to share some of their favoruite reads on my site – to broaden the type of book reviews available here.  I hope you find some new favourite books and authors.  Thank you Bec and Brenda.

 

The reading year has not yet wound up – there is a blog tour ahead; the launch of Rachel Amphlett’s new police procedural series, Scared to Death. There is a   Q & A with debut Perth writer Anthea Hodgson, a Christmas menu to compile and share and a series of “best of 2016 reads” for you to comment on and…more reviews.

scared-to-death-blog-tour4-19-23-dec

 

Seasons greetings to you.

Christmas pavlova

 

 

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Post Script: Who’s Afraid? – Maria Lewis

Who's Afraid?

Who’s Afraid?

Maria Lewis

Hachette Australia

ISBN: 9780349411149

 

Description:

Incredibly exciting new voice in paranormal fiction.

This is the story of Tommi, a young Scottish woman living an ordinary life, who stumbles violently into her birthright as the world’s most powerful werewolf. The sudden appearance of a dark, mysterious (and very attractive) guardian further confuses her as her powers begin to develop and she begins to understand that her life can never be the same again. The reader will be swept up in Tommi’s journey as she’s thrown into the middle of a centuries-old battle and a world peopled with expert warriors and vicious enemies – this is the start of a series – and a world – you will fall in love with.

 

My View:

For those who like their drama with a huge dollop of supernatural, full moon transformations, blood thirsty revenge scenes mingled with romance, this very adult paranormal is for you!

 

Maria Lewis has created a very confident, independent and as of the last full moon, very were wolf, female super hero called Tommi; blue haired, tattooed, artistic, creative, intelligent…I can see this protagonist winning lots of fans (and her “Guardian” – will inspire more than a few crushes I do think!) An exciting narrative with well-developed characters, this book yells out video game or 2D animation to me.

 

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Post Script: American Blood – Ben Sanders

Considering I don’t really like this style of action/shootem up/smashem up/ pump action, dipped in blood type thriller, this was a pretty impressive read.

American Blood

American Blood

Ben Sanders

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760291570

 

Description:

After a botched undercover operation, ex-NYPD officer Marshall Grade is living in witness protection in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Marshall’s instructions are to keep a low profile: the mob wants him dead, and a contract killer known as the Dallas Man has been hired to track him down. Racked with guilt over wrongs committed during his undercover work, and seeking atonement, Marshall investigates the disappearance of a local woman named Alyce Ray.

 

Members of a drug ring seem to hold clues to Ray’s whereabouts, but hunting traffickers is no quiet task. Word of Marshall’s efforts spreads, and soon the worst elements of his former life, including the Dallas Man, are coming for him.

 

Written by a rising New Zealand star who has been described as ‘first rate’, this American debut drops a Jack Reacher-like hero into the landscape of No Country for Old Men. With film rights sold to Warner Bros, and Bradley Cooper attached to play tortured hero Marshall Grade, American Blood is sure to follow in their award-winning, blockbuster success.

 

‘This novel has it all – great characters that are all too-real, switch-blade sharp writing, dialogue that would bring a smile to Elmore Leonard’s face and a plot that grabs the reader by the collar, squeezes hard and never lets go. American Blood is a first-rate, first-class, top-tier thriller and Ben Sanders hits it far and deep. This is one book that flat-out demands to be read. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. If you love a good thriller, then look no further than American Blood.’- Lorenzo Carcaterra, New York Times-bestselling author of Sleepers and The Wolf.

 

‘American Blood is a lean, mean, power-packed novel. A hardboiled bolt of lightning to the crime genre. Ben Sanders has set the new standard for gritty, action packed thrillers.’ – Victor Gischler, Edgar Award- nominated author of Gun Monkeys.

 

 

My View:

After you have read the description (above) of American Blood by New Zealander Ben Sanders you might find yourself questioning why I read this book – I know I had doubts when I first picked it up.

 

This book is all the things I loathe is a thriller, it is

Violent

Bloody

A “Hollywood” style shootem up – never have I read a narrative with some many shoot outs, such carnage, and such violence. (But it is not voyeuristic).

 

 

And yet I loved this book! I can’t believe I even said that, felt that – this should be a book I detested! (It did take me a few chapters to engage with the characters and to learn how to follow the style of the writing – the back and forwards of events in time) However:

 

 

This book is all the things I love in a narrative:

Fast paced

Twisty plot

Some great characters – the protagonist is a real HERO – putting himself at risk to save others. He is droll with a fine sense of black humour. Or maybe he just tells it as he sees it?

Engaging and absorbing reading.

A sense of urgency and anticipation that had me reading till the early hours of the morning till the book was finished.

 

All in all, once I started this book and had a few chapters read I found this so engaging I could not put it down. It defies all logic but I loved this book!

 

 

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Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015

completed challenge

 

Congrats! You have read 200 books of a goal of 200!

Now that wasn’t so hard was it? It is the reviewing 200 books that is the hard work.

 

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In The Mail 12th September 2015 Part One

In the mail 12/9/015

A great mix  of genres here – I have already read Sweet Wattle Creek  (review scheduled for next week) and found some amazing  references to some very current issues here, coincidence or not? And last night I couldn’t resist trying one of the recipes from Adam Liaws “Asian Cookery School” (I made Beef Chow Fun) – yum!  Next week I am  especially looking forward to  reading Bitter Fruits. The Marriage of Opposites and Tennison (and whatever else I can fit into what is shaping up to be a busy week) and trying out a few more recipes.

Beef Chow Fun - Adam Liaw's Asian Cookery School

Beef Chow Fun- Adam Liaw’s Asian Cookery School