Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon

Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon – Award Winning Author

Bay of Devils: A mystery letter from a doomed ship sparks an expedition to Alaska (Bay Mysteries) by Grahame Shannon

Sean Gray, sailor and amateur detective, teams up with clever waitress Cindy Lu to solve a fifty-year-old mystery of strange events and buried treasure in Thomas Bay Alaska, aka the Bay of Devils. In 1918 the SS Princess Sophia sank in Alaska with 350 souls aboard. All perished when the ship, stranded on Vanderbilt reef, slid off into deep water. Going through her father’s effects in 1968, Cindy finds an old flask. The message inside is from the doomed ship. She delivers it to the original address, which is nearby. Elizabeth Hadley, now in her seventies, reads the letter from her former suitor with excitement. She hires Sean to lead an expedition and unravel the mystery. He tracks down Cindy, and the chemistry between them is immediate. Lizzy introduces the crew of her 110-foot classic yacht Lady L, including Ajax, an acid-tongued parrot. With Cindy as cook, and Levi, a mysterious Israeli ex-soldier, providing security, Sean prepares for the voyage to Alaska. However, they aren’t alone. There are others after the booty, and they are willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. So, with pirates hot on their trail, will they find the treasure and unlock the secret behind the half-century-old mystery? Find out in Bay of Devils, from award-winning author Grahame Shannon. 

Book review:

With a great story and an excellent plot, Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon is a rip-roaring nautical venture you won’t want to miss!  Epic adventure wrapped around a treasure hunt and a missing letter.

With a tantalizing forward, where Grahame Shannon announces that some aspects of the story are in fact true, we are left to determine which parts are fact and which are fiction.  Already, an air of mystery and excitement is created!  From the off-set I was hooked.  Shannon’s first-rate way of telling a story grabbed my interest.  With a humorous touch throughout this was simply a great read.  There were many laugh-out-loud moments but my belly-laugh came with the vows of an impromptu wedding at sea.  I won’t spoil it for you by telling it here, but the vows are simply a stroke of genius that had my shoulders shaking for several minutes.  I appreciated all the photos that added a certain authenticity to the story.

We are introduced to Sean Gray in 1968, aboard his yacht ‘Tangled Moon’ in Coal Harbor.  He is instantly likeable to the reader, but also to all the females he smiles upon!  A rascal maybe?  Well a goodhearted one anyway.  By not affording to take down the old sign from the premises he rents, which states ‘Anson Investigators’, he is somehow hired to find a missing chest that is mentioned in a letter that took fifty years to be delivered, to a woman called Elizabeth Hadley.  Up for an adventure, and definitely for some pay, Sean accepts the job.  The crew that go with him are all great characters, but stealing the lime-light for sure is Ajax the cocky parrot!  When petty thief Fingers Finnegan turns up dead on Sean’s boat the seriousness of the situation hits home.  The forth-coming enterprise would be a far cry from a walk-in-the-park… but then again, there would be romance, adventure and lots of good food!

Grahame Shannon tongue-in-cheek manner of storytelling delivers us a first-rate maritime escapade, one that I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the last page.  With excellent pace, remarkable descriptive narration and really great characters Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews.

                                           Buy Bay of Devils by Grahame Shannon today!

 

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Up Here by Jim Shomos – Book Review

 Up Here by Jim Shomos

Up Here by Jim Shomos

When you’ve had two dream marriages, choosing your eternal soulmate in heaven is one hell of a dilemma.

Can you have more than one soulmate at the same time?

After two blissful marriages are cut short by tragic circumstances, Peter’s own early entry to heaven fills him with skepticism. Peter soon faces an impossible choice: with both wives Up Here, which woman is his eternal soulmate?

Christina and Jane have their own issues to resolve, especially considering they were best friends. From two marriages made in heaven, all three now have one hell of a dilemma.

And with Peter’s mother Up Here, too … well, she’s got her opinion!

The debut novel from Australian film & TV pioneer Jim Shomos. Up Here is a unique love-triangle featuring two dynamic women and one roman-tic; it’s a feel-good exploration of a modern romantic dilemma that asks the age-old question: what if?

The most original romantic-comedy this century. Artisan Book Reviews.

A beautiful romantic-comedy about love, hope and courage. Alli Sinclair, Goodreads, 5-stars.

I love this quirky story. This will have you giggling. Blaise Van, Goodreads, 5-stars.

ABR’s review:

An eternal love-triangle, Up Here by Jim Shomos delves deep into what real love is with humorous results. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt and captivating romantic comedy.

Meet Peter, Jane and Christina, oh and mom of course!  I loved this book.  On one hand it’s airy and amusing; on the other it’s reflective and profound.  It’s definitely movie worthy, and I kept imagining what it would look like on the big screen.  The story starts when forty year old, jam-donut lover Peter, teeters on the verge of a new relationship with Jane.  It’s true romance as the two acknowledge they’re in love.  The trouble is, Christina has only been dead for five years and Peter is still mourning.  Taking the decision that Christina would want them to be happy they take the plunge and get married.  With guitars and a red convertible Mustang left to gather dust, Peter embarks on a new marriage full of love.  They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but sometimes it does, and Jane is taken by brain tumors.  Peter is floored.  He’s been lucky to have the love of two wonderful women, and unlucky enough to have lost them both.  The crux of this tale hinges on my favorite line from the book: Who are you?  Until you know this, you can’t connect with a soul mate.  Heaven is meant to be wonderful, but when told he can only have one soul mate, who will Peter choose, Christina or Jane?  There is another line very poignant to the story: Closure is the most elusive ghost, you can sometimes see it, but never grasp it.  Life, death and love are all explored with skill and wit in this unique, imaginative romantic comedy.

Jim Shomos must have written this with a twinkle in his eyes.  With wonderful characters, a splendid storyline and a fabulous light touch, Up Here is as moving, as it is funny.  Up Here by Jim Shomos is a tender, thought-provoking, romantic comedy which comes highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. Book reviewed by T N Traynor for Artisan Book Reviews.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind read!! Purchase Up Here by Jim Shomos today!

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Up Here by Jim Shomos
Published by Busybird Publishing on August 14, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Heartfelt Fiction, Humor & Satire, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 274
Format: Kindle, Paperback
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The Women of the South (The Voyage) by Hila Har Cohen

The Women of the South (The Voyage) by Hila Har Cohen

Taken by a rival tribe at a time of war, all Ni-Han wants is her freedom. Discovering her hidden abilities, she needs to decide between love and fate.

Ni-Han is an exceptional, young woman with special powers. When war breaks out between rivaling tribes on the southern continent, she witnesses her parents’ brutal murder and is taken captive.

There, she meets four other captive women. Their shared destiny is an immediate bond, an enduring friendship that survives tremendous upheavals, the hardships of war, and their romantic liaisons.

In time, Ni-Han discovers her hidden abilities, is exposed to family secrets from the past, and falls in love with the handsome Leo.

Will she trust him enough to devote herself to their relationship, or will she follow the path of fate?

Book review:

I have to say I really enjoyed The Women of the South by Hila Har Cohen. It is superbly written and kept me captivated to the very end. It is a romantic fantasy story where the main protagonists are not warrior men, but women. Brought together by terrible hardships, our main character uses the gentler powers of healing and her intelligence to discover her hidden strengths and conquer evil.

Ni-Han is our hero. She has special powers and a cleft lip. Her story begins as her and her loving family set forth on an arduous journey through their battle-torn country. Things don’t go well, and Ni-Han witnesses the brutal murder of her parents, she is taken captive and only stays alive because of her quick thinking and herbal skills.

In captivity, she meets up with other women and they soon bond together. They learn if they work as one, they can, not only survive but, outsmart their captors and escape. However, freedom brings its own hardships and Ni-Han takes on the role of crusader fighting for justice and what is right.

I really like the fact that the hero of this book is seen as abnormal and disfigured by the culture she lives in. So many heroes, men and women, are perfect – too perfect to be true in fact. It was refreshing to read about a strong, intelligent woman who despite the so-called physical issues she faces, was able to become recognized for her brilliance and courage.

Also, Ni-Han makes a much more believable hero than an armor-clad warrior. She is not perfect, but still manages to change her world for the better. I found this aspect of the book really appealing. It gives all of us hope that regardless of who we are we can still make a significant difference to the world if we choose. Reading her story filled me with hope.

The Women of the South by Hila Har Cohen is action-packed and a real page turner. I found myself being drawn into this fantasy world by the wonderful writing techniques of the author. Her use of prose was the one of the best features of this book. This book will certainly please avid fantasy and romance readers, and also appeal to a much wider audience because it is well written and so entertaining. Book reviewed by Susan Day for Chick Lit Café.

Order your copy now and enjoy a story of courage, friendship, loss, love, and the will to survive.

 Purchase The Women of the South by Hila Har Cohen today!

somewhere between shadow and light by Mariesa Faer

Purchase “somewhere between shadow and light by Mariesa Faer” Today!

somewhere between shadow and light by Mariesa Faer

somewhere between shadow and light

is a romantic satire of interwoven stories about family

intimate relationships

menstruation

anxiety and depression

societal patterns

cultural norms

fear and death

love

inner peace

and the quest for one’s inner truth

a spectrum of one human’s shifting perspective

through a growth cycle

recorded in voice

this book is a physical residue of

and tribute to

the awakening of clarity

the poems grow and expand at variant

rates from shadow to light

we each find ourselves in a variance of clarity

at differing moments in time

with differing degrees of light

through which our perceptions serve us

here lies

the etched

entrenched relief

of my journey

somewhere between shadow and light

Review:

What a joy it was to read somewhere between shadow and light by Mariesa Faer.  This book of poems expresses the author’s feelings and thought process with intensity. It completely captivates and moves the reader to pause and reflect on their own lives.

As a reviewer I always write notes as I’m reading, never have I written so many things as I have done whilst reading this wonderful composition of contemplative revelations flowing from the enlightened thought-flow of Mariesa Fael.

These pieces express the author’s experiences in life.  Tiny moments caught in a capsule, committed to ink and paper and recorded for all of time.  So many snippets from this book jumped off the page at me, such things like… who I am has never inspired me so much as who I could be. These poems reflect on a woman’s life, and all the things that define that life.  Encapsulating the turmoil of a female mind that spews out thousands of thoughts a day, this collection captures, compresses, processes, dispatches and then refines to essence, the core of who the writer is.  Touching on issues that all women can relate to, this is a work in three parts that takes the reader from the shadow to the light.

I also have to say that I love the book cover and also the layout of the poems, especially the end, where it gives emphasis to the purpose of these carefully arranged words, these tiny clusters of meaning, which is learning.

With strong, intense and interesting words Mariesa Faer allows you to feel her emotions.  This is one of those rare poetry books that I know I shall read again and again.  Thought-provoking and inspiring, somewhere between shadow and light by Mariesa Faer comes highly recommended by Chick Lit Café. ~Book review by TN Traynor for Chick Lit Café Book Reviews.

Purchase somewhere between shadow and light by Mariesa Faer today!

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Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Synopsis:

In this 1935 historical suspense thriller, praised as “riveting and gripping” (Robert Dugoni, NY Times Best Seller of My Sister’s Grave), Ed Bowman, small town reporter for the Casey Clarion in Virginia, is unjustly convicted for the murder of his wife, committed by an escaped prisoner whose murder trial he just covered with an exclusive article that virtually guaranteed a guilty verdict.

Sentenced to life in the State Penitentiary, and losing faith in God to right his situation, he determines to redeem his shattered life and makes a daring escape to track down the killer in a high-risk chase across six states to the salt flats of Wendover, Utah. But an unexpected betrayal by a befriended Mormon leader brings his plans to a sudden stop, leaving him with no hope short of a miracle.

Review:

Unfinished Justice is a novel set in 1935 and based on the true story of Ed Bowman, a reporter for a small town newspaper in Virginia. When Ed covers the murder trial of Gunther Buford, he writes an exclusive article after overhearing a confidential conversation between Buford’s defense attorneys that virtually guarantees a guilty verdict. The man is convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair.

Buford breaks out of prison, intent on seeking revenge by killing the reporter who wrote the story. But in the ensuing violence, Ed’s wife is killed instead and Buford flees. In an ironic twist Ed is convicted of his wife’s murder and sentenced to life on a chain gang. For years Ed labors while being viciously abused. Finally, after four long years of planning his escape, Ed manages to gain his freedom.

Determined to locate Gunther Buford and bring him to justice, Ed tracks Buford to the small town of Wendover, Utah where the man has a new identity and occupation, and has also changed his appearance. Ed now has to determine who Buford really is, find evidence to prove he killed his wife, then clear his own name by bringing him to justice.

Unfinished Justice is a fast paced, riveting story filled with injustice, danger and even some romance. Extensive research by Janis Hutchinson went into this hard core novel that depicts life on chain gangs back in the 30’s. The descriptions are vivid and shocking to read, yet very engaging and enthralling.

The characters are well developed and fleshed out. Ed evolves throughout the story and comes to realize that God was with him the whole time. He is a strong, likeable character who is relatable. The author did a great job with all the characters and descriptions, and I felt like I knew them and was there with them.

Unfinished Justice is a fascinating read which features a time in the past that rarely gets portrayed in historical fiction novels. It reminds me of the fugitive, but slightly different. The harshness of chain gang life is depicted accurately and brilliantly.

This is one of the best suspense, thriller and fugitive type stories I have ever read. It is a gripping page-turner. I couldn’t put it down and kept reading faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next. Janis Hutchinson is an excellent writer and has done a beautiful job with Unfinished Justice. The storyline is full and exciting. The ending is intense and satisfying. I would read this one again―it’s that good.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson.

Purchase Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson Today!

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