Review: Framed by Nancy Springer

What has this novel to offer among other 330 with the same title. One reason which worked for me as an instance: I read it within my lunch break, I didn’t feel sorry for taking the time for myself with my apple. Actually it reminded me much on past mystery pamphlets that I used to read, they came out on a monthly basis and I was always interested to get one of these short stories to read. This is much alike, just in electronic version.
Which for me works well, too. I would like to see more of such stories embedded in an mobile application presenting short mystery stories like these to the user on a regular basis, but until such an application has been invented I will remain by the traditional way of finding myself ones through booksites.

The mystery novel takes you on a trip through the working day of framer Veronica. It has no particular beginning, but the information is enough to get you to read on, once a mystery key is revealed.
Sometimes I feel that mystery books are like hidden chocolates, I like them both and it makes me crazy revealing their hidden nature.
The storyline mystery is kept well enough to let you read through the end, until you lay it aside and continue on other mystery stories by Nancy Springer next month or if you prefer like myself the next lunch break.

Overall rating 3 / 5.

Review: Divine intervention by Jeannette Scollard

I found this book on Smashwords , in February they had many books that were given out for free, and this one was one of them. Still I believe that this book is for many under the category affordable and maybe you will find it as amusing as it was to me.

The story that is described in the novel of the true relationship between Philippa and Joao is fictional, through reading the ending of the story we get to know some true facts of this pair. Yet it is a good try to imagine how it might have occurred. A divine intervention indeed, where nobody knew how the outcome will end, while another had a foresight of a new and strong alliance between 2 countries Britain and Portugal. The author was skilled to bring us her side of the story nearer, and for me it ended just fine. An arranged marriage is never easy, both partners have to work out the problems and the misunderstandings. Sometimes our first impressions are not always guiding us righteously but due to the given commitment, the involved have to do their best to make it a prosperous and when one reaches high a successful one. More or less it is always the woman who carry the greater burden but this only shows how strong they are in the end. Woman like Philippa, wife, listener, adviser, parent had and have until now a great impact on world’s history. A blessing to all woman in the world who try to make the life of their beloved ones a better one.

Overall rating 3 / 5.

Review: Shadow on the Wall – The Sandstorm Chronicles #1 by Pavarti K. Tyler

What first appeared to me as an interesting story line and title to read turned out to be a rather popular title which I didn’t know until now. Shadow on the wall served many purposes as titles of songs ( Chapman, Oldfield, Carlile) episode name of series (Game of thrones) and is shared by other authors as well. The most famous of them all might be the allegory to Platos story of the cave. Which seems to me is fitting quite well to the story. Though I am not sure if this was intended to be this way.

The story takes place in a fictional world, the center plays Turkey. Elih was the chosen town to hold a supernatural story line. The author has put up some great effort in researching the Middle Eastern culture and Islam to give a realistic picture of the characters and the theme involved in the story. With her understanding she made a remarkable input to display each character emotions and feeling of justice that we the reader can follow as an indirect background to make up our own mind.

The main character of the story is Recai Osman a kurd, he is the heir to a multi billion corporation but due to his missing in the beginning the position was left unacclaimed. Living most of his life outside the country he did not know of the wrong doing of the morality police in Elih who called themselves the ones who restore order under the Islamic law or short RTK. Soon after he is confronted with one of the most ugliest crimes of all a human can fall under. It is then he decides to undo the wrong and is in his beginning of becoming a hero for the people, the sandstorm.

The author has a unique writing style in that we get a glimpse of the story from each of the characters views which makes the story vivid.

Overall rating 3 / 5.

Review: Two Moons of Sera Vol 1 by Pavarti K. Tyler

Pavarti K. Tyler presents us with the first volume of a adventurous paranormal short story. Sera short for Serafay is a 16 year old girl, she is a genetic anomaly as she describes herself, a cross breed between erdlander ( = human character) and sualwets ( merpeople – aquatic creatures). Not very much does Sera know of the life of both these cultures, she and her mother a sualwet have been living isolated since she was born. But she knows that her mother has sacrificed alot to come this far, repelled by her own kind she cared for her daughter Sera very dearly and loved her beyond measure even though she was different. Still the lonely feeling in her heart didn’t leave her alone at times and she wished to share her time with someone else. It is very brave and courageous to stay in such a phase of life patient for so long which makes the character of hers so much more credible.
She meets Tor ( Torkek) and they become companions which I presume in later installments may lead to a more progressive stage in their relationship to each other. Another important member of the crew becomes Elgon ( sualwet language for monster). Elgon is a big wild hound Dog and even as it seems he wants to attack in this instance he won’t do it unless he feels danger or a threatening situation that might endanger his master Tor, both share a very deep bond. For long there has been war between erdlander and sualwets but only now sees Serafay the whole situation in front of her eyes while her mother has been wounded and left out to bleed to deaths in the ocean terrain. Sera and Tor try to flee but which dangers is upon ahead only time will tell…

It is an interesting story begin but as said before not much is known about both cultures erdlander and sualwets to really get a clear picture of what is the purpose of the war between them. Maybe in the next part it will be revealed. At some times it is slow paced while at others you can’t lift your eyes off the pages and read on with enthusiasm.

Overall rating 3 / 5.

Review: Crystal Shade – Angeni Vol. 1 by Istvan Szabo

I would like to thank Istvan Szabo for giving the novel up for review.
The first novel introducing us to a fantasy trilogy upon we get to learn about the crystal shade and the main heroine of the story. How do I know it’s a she? Let’s take a look. From the cover there are some hints that might give some mental notes to some connections that I keep in mind for later on.
From the title I derive one of the keywords Angeni , it is an abbreviated girl name for angel. So the figure in the center is a girl with angel wings. Also we see the number 11 showing 3 times. Not only does this number shows the publishing date it is also versed inside the beginning of the story. We might also consider some symbolism or spiritual meaning behind the number and what I found out in some resources, which tell that one understanding of the number 1 is a new beginning and purity , in case the number occurs doubled then the power of the attributes are increased, no guarantees provided.

In the first chapter there is an old man indulging in his old memories, playful children come along and want to hear a story, so he tells the story of the person most dear to his heart, the one who he met long time ago and became one of the legendary guardian of the crystal shade. Displayed to us is a small glimpse into the childhood of Grace Sessa Aredia from the outskirts of Odessiana in the valley of Seradelphia. Her ultimate dream is to become an aresian guardian with white wings. Every person has a guardian angel for a lifetime, it guides the holder in giving hint of notions to which way to follow but in the end the holder must decide for him -/herself. The story continues where Grace actually becomes chosen by a higher mother to become a guardian, at first it is very hard for her to leave her family behind at such a young age, which symbolizes her pure soul and a start to a new beginning as Angeni. She has to learn about suffering, good and evil to be able to protect the people in Sachylia, and foremost will learn something on the crystal shade. Follow Grace in her search for the truth.

I liked the idea of the storytelling as well as the graphic style in the cover image that gave hints to the story. But the story line was kept on a slow pace, too slow for me to keep up with the mystery.

Overall rating 3 / 5.

Review: Collection of Short Stories by Tony Talbot

Short Stories may express our experiences of our own life or the delight of having been told by someone else and we keep their stories and memories alive.
For me short stories give a glimpse of someone’s experience in life, I learn, get entertained and can provide my experience in return to others.

Here are some collected short stories by Tony Talbot

The Trunk

The view of some days through the eyes of a five year old Jewish boy in a concentration camp. Children go with an innocence through the world, they trust people with a kind look not knowing that behind this friendly mask hides someone with cruel intentions.

The Girl in the Snow

We are witnesses to a gloomy future outlined to us by a form of ice age. Normal life isn’t possible anymore – just the rescue of oneself without looking behind for other survivors. In some ways it shows the selfish behavior of a human towards survival.

The Last Packet

Lonesome smoker who pays anything to enjoy his smoke even after 87 years of non stop smoking, has to realize that some things come to an end and with it he himself, too.

The Chocolate Defence

Some people are to anything capable, if they have been deprived of something so much dear to their heart and couldn’t control their actions anymore. A story from the viewpoint of a chocoholic.

Polar Crossing

Two men and a woman modern times are making an exploration tour through Antarctica. When no life seems to exist in the poles other than their own, strange mindplays might take the upper hand of their mind. Strange occurrences appear and it is hard to evaluate between hallucinations and true findings, as if past and present coexist together.

Overall rating 3 / 5.

Review: Resurrection-Book 2 The Guardians of Vesturon by A.M.Hargrove

Resurrection by A.M.Hargrove

The adventures of Maddie Pearce in this young adult paranormal romance story continues. The 2nd installment has topped all of my expectations. My wishes concerning more Maddie input became true. Never leaving the story too much out of my sight, I enjoyed every bit of reading. This book was divided into four parts but I felt that each of these parts were necessary to define different developmental and emotional stages that Maddie found herself growing into. We read how Maddie and Rayns live go through ups and downs of a relationship which displays some of the true challenges that the couple have to face sometimes in life and not all can be viewed behind rosy glasses. From those tests Maddie also grows and matures into a young woman worthy of becoming the next first Lady to the great leader of Vesturon in the future. It seems afterall Mariah, her mother has been right all along – Maddie is destined for greatness. Up on Vesturon everything is so much new and while learning more about the Planet, Maddie learns more about herself. Who wouldn’t be loving a high-tech planet with the most advanced households supplies in the world which makes life so much more easier and comfortable. You can count me in for the fun, definitely. For sure I didn’t see all of that coming and there is some surprise up ahead with Maddie’s close College friend January, which I probably get the answer once the 3rd book of the series has been published. Won’t be too long and I’ll be catching up.

Overall rating 5 / 5.