"Shattered Dreams", by Cheryl Bradshaw

Vegas Dreams #2

This short and sweet novella revolves around infidelity and abusive relationship. “Vegas Dreams” series is of four women looking for love. The second book tells Sasha’s story.

Sasha spent her married life with a cheating husband till the day she finally gets the courage to file for divorce. Damon is obsessed with her and will not let go. Sasha then turns to Gideon O’Shea, a dashing Irish attorney for help.

Reading this suspense was a welcome break from the historical fiction I found myself hooked on. Ms. Bradshaw words pull you in right from the start. I was immediately engaged by what was happening. The sensitive subjects are handled with such finesse and convey such strong message some will even relate to Sasha’s dilemma. The novel also mentions how important friendship can be when you are facing terrible events in your life.

This is a wonderful little story played out by well-define characters. My only beef is this book is by far too short and leaves you wanting more.

"A World Without Color", by Bernard Jan

A True Story of the Last Three Days With My Cat

What a wonderful but terribly sad story and homage to a beloved pet.

When Bernard Jan lost Marcel, he shares the three days emotional turmoil he and his family encountered throughout the process before they had to say goodbye. What a tearjerker. M. Jan captures all the emotions and imagery pet owners in this situation experiences. Losing a pet whether it is a cat, a dog, a bird even a reptile is extremely hard. Trying to rationalize the decisions and convincing ourselves that it is the right thing to do and all will be ok is easier said than done.

In this 100 pages or so Marcel’s movement and struggles are showcased along the pain Jan and his family went through. It is an extremely hard book to read, I had so many tears I had to put it down several times. I kept remembering losing my long-time companion of 18 years, mon petit “Minou” d’amour and all the good times we had together. I miss her still....

Mr. Jan also share with us their 15 years of treasured life Marcel and he had together from the moment he adopted him till his last breath. I felt the intensity in the writing, the description and moments. This is so masterfully done.

This is an emotional and moving book, extremely well written and powerful.

"Her Last Betrayal", by Pam Lecky

The story in a few words:

London 1941

After an air attack that killed her family, Sarah Gillespie leaves Ireland to join the British Secret Service to bring them justice. Partnered with Lieutenant Tony Anderson, Sarah embarks on a dangerous mission that brings them to the black mountains of Wales. The mission is to try and find her father, an avid member of the IRA and his sidekick Jenny McGrath before more havoc is unleashed. But there is a mole lurking among the MI5 agents working for the Nazi....Who is he and who can be trusted?

My thoughts:

Even if this is a sequel to “Her Secret War”, it stands well by itself and continues with another mission for our heroine.

Although a fiction it has a bit of everything and is a captivating read full with suspense, betrayal, secrets, danger, espionage and a tad of romance all neatly wrap up in intrigue. We also learn about the IRA workings with the Nazi from a deferent angle: the Irish vantage point.

Vividly said we follow these two characters through panoply of close calls, dodging bullets, even being taking hostage. For most part, the author has left behind the mundane day to day life we had in her first book and replaced this with intrigue and suspense. Sarah has grown nicely and is well define. I love the cocky personality given to the Lieutenant and how Sarah handled him...oh... maybe the Lieutenant has won Sarah’s heart?...

What an exciting read that kept my attention throughout, a page-turner no doubt. Well-said, well-done.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: these are my thoughts.

Hip Set", by Michael Fertik

A murder mystery

In a few words:

This fiction is of Oscar Orleans a Congolese refugee in Israel. His knowledge of Hebrew makes him the perfect liaison to the African refugee community living in the worst Tel Aviv’s ghetto.

The drama:

When the body of a young South Sudanese has been found murdered, his old friend Inspector Kobi Sambinsky of the Asylum Units calls on him for help. What is known is that the 18 years old shared the unusual name, Kinga, with a controversial most dangerous warring faction from eight years earlier. Oscar and Sambrinsky set out to find out what happened to the poor man.

Venturing into the heart of Tel Aviv’s Sudanese underground populated with violent mob will prove to be a challenge for Kobi and Oscar.

My thoughts:

Because my lack in knowledge of Israel languages and cultures I struggled with terms and orientation and find reading this novel to be somewhat a challenge...at least at first.

The narrative incorporates current issues such as immigration and Russian mafia into a fast- paced police detective work. “Hip-Set” is discipline and doesn’t deal with stereotypes characters rather they project genuineness of people who live in the secular world with all their aspirations: good and bad.

The main players are Oscar Orleans, Detective Kobi Sambinsky, Officer Angelika Cone, Pastor Michael Alou Kuur Kuur and Ruben Dumanovsky, the alleged Russian immigrant.

From the start we are introduced to Oscar and later on to the alleged Russian mobster and getting to know them is an in-depth examination into religion, immigration, myth and murder. Near the end, the narration smoothly brings us into the world of ancient times giving us an insight on the myth of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon hidden treasure and the prized gold chain. But where did this sidebar lead to?

In the last scene it all comes to fruition and I will let you read the book to find out.

Happy reading.

I received a free copy of this book and I leave a voluntary review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"The Resistance Girl" by Mandy Robotham

Bergen, Norway 1942

Rumi Oristad and her fellow resistance fighters smuggle British agents, fugitives and supplies across the North Sea into Nazi-occupied territory. It is an unforgettable journey of young people risking it all for a movement against Hitler’s regime. The story in this WW11 fiction could possibly have happened and marvels in its descriptions. The bravery of sailors risking their lives on the Shetland bus to help those escaping the Nazis is incredible so are the heartbreaking accounts told by Norwegians.

In alternate chapters, the narration moves between Rumi and Jens, a young British man she rescued from a drop. The two tell their story in vivid details along the way we are drawn into an intriguing and informative read that includes the disturbing Lebensborn maternity program Himmler’s had created. Rumi and Jens helped two young women in their late semester escape via the Shetland bus. The panic and anxiety is palpable. It is easy to get invested in their survival.

It is evident the author loves her subject and know how to penned and exciting story. Her characters are nicely defined so much so that we want their mission to succeed whether is sending a coded message or freeing someone from a difficult situation or even having a quiet moment in the cold snowy mountains....The are many characters POV’s in his wonderful story to captivate us (Peder,Marjit, Selig, Anya,Rubi, Karl, Fru Nesse) to name a few contribute to make this novel a captivating read.

“The Resistance Girl” is an absorbing read, once started hard to put down. The everyday survival, the fear, the suspicions are well captured so is love, family and friendship. Well-said.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via Netgalleys for my thoughts: this is the way I see it

"Postcards From Beyond Reality", by Bernard Jan

The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels

This is a cocktail of melancholy, sorrow and desire written by the author in character with his hero from his novel “Cruel Summer”, which tells a gripping story of Michaels Daniels an abused teenager and poet in Manhattan. Taken from Michael’s book of poetry, selected poems are shared with us.

These literary postcards dive into the mind of a teenage writing about his dreams, longings and passions. They are very sad, touching and nostalgic, even suicidal. I was much moved by his thoughts. The rhymes reflect failed relationships and sad memories and his words smoothly pull us into a very sad world.

At the end of the book we have a wonderful explanation where the inspiration for this book came from. I would suggest reading “Cruel Summer” first. You would enjoy the poetry book much more.

Poetry is not my favourite genre and by far but when Mr. Jan offered his latest to read I simply couldn’t refuse knowing how I enjoyed his other books. Taking a chance he did and good for him. Not that I love poetry more but reading “Postcards from Beyond Reality” was a very good experience and a great introduction. Thank you Bernard you opened my eyes to something deferent.