REVIEW: A Second Daniel by Neal Roberts

A Second Daniel 
by Neal Roberts

Publisher: BookTrope
Page Count: 445
Release Date: September 28, 2015
Format: E-Book

How got: gotten from author representative free

First attention getter: description

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

London 1558. An orphan from a far-off land is renamed “Noah Ames,” and given every advantage the English Crown can bestow.

London 1592. Now an experienced barrister, Noah witnesses what appears to be a botched robbery outside the Rose Theater, a crime he soon suspects to be part of a plot against Queen Elizabeth herself. Steadfast in his loyalty to the Queen, Noah must use every bit of his knowledge and skill to lure her most disloyal subject onto the only battlefield where Noah has the advantage ... a court of law – though in doing so he risks public exposure of his darkest secret, a secret so shocking that its revelation could cost him everything: the love of the only woman who can offer him happiness, his livelihood ... even his life.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 4

Starting out as your regular Elizabethan murder/mystery, this novel quickly diverged into an examination of Elizabethan intrigues and Jewish identity in the Tudor period. It developed into something so much more than I was expecting, to my infinite pleasure. While I had some issues throughout the work with other aspects, the overall storytelling and themes explored I enjoyed to my fingertips.

I was not expecting the depth of politics Roberts incorporates. The push and pull of ambition with the Earl of Essex and his cronies against the remnants of Walshingham’s spy ring with ambassadors, spies, lawyers, and ordinary folk caught in the middle made for gripping suspense. I loved the intricacies and power plays used to push the different agendas around. Even with all of those details, I never felt lost in whom was loyal to who. The author has a real gift for this aspect of storytelling.

I also didn’t expect how Judaism was examined in an era when to be such was dangerous. While not as bad as being Jewish it Inquisition Spain, it still didn’t pay to be it in Elizabethan England. From small details like lighting a candle in remembrance of those lost to overt displays of anti-Semitism such as actual attacks in the street, Roberts examines what it meant to be Jewish in such dangerous times.

I’ve also got to give props for the author’s depth of research and usage of historical details. He uses real people and events to give his story weight. He’s also got a firm grasp on the atmosphere of Elizabethan England with all its court pageantry, both royal and law, and the details of everyday life for a lawyer or minor nobleman.

He’s got an extensive author’s note which I always appreciate in my historical fiction. At first after going through this, my enjoyment of the historical details wained a bit. It almost felt like some of the historical integrity was compromised needlessly in the pursuit of characterization. Yet, after reflecting, I feel that the license used by the author to build his characters through the court procedures of the day and other details were justified. They accomplish the goal so at the end of the day, it all worked out.

Noah’s character, as a result of the historical detail licenses and the author’s skill, was very well-rounded. I love how we got to explore his intelligence and courage in the face of scary, political odds. Even at the end when his big climactic ending occurred and all the weight of English law could be brought to bear on it, he never faltered in his pursuit of justice for his client or his loyalty to Queen Elizabeth. There were times where he could read is too perfect, but they were few in number.

The only part of this book I had a hard time getting behind was the Noah/Marie relationship. It felt very forced with no chemistry between the partners. It read as love at first sight with no development nor build up to show how the relationship got so deep. Every time they had a scene together I got bored fast. Thankfully, the rest of the book was great so it was a trade-off.

Ultimately, this is a great start off to a series following Noah and his adventures in Elizabethan law and intrigue. The author has a firm grasp on the times and Noah’s character, developing both to a fantastic degree. Even though I couldn’t get behind Noah/Marie thing, I still found this a great start. Sometime in the future when life gets a bit less crazy, I’ll definitely be checking out other books from the series.

Note: Book received for free from author/representative in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: A Gentleman's Surrender by Mariel Grey

A Gentleman's Surrender
by Mariel Grey

Publisher: self-published
Page Count: 245
Release Date: January 1, 2016
Format: Kindle

How got: free copy from author

First attention getter: author's email

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Call her a romantic—or a fool, Lady Monique Cathdon is determined to marry for love. After watching her parents tolerate an arranged betrothal, life seems too short to be wasted on keeping up appearances.

After all, what's the point of having a heart if one refuses to follow it?

With a smile the devil himself might be proud of, James Stanton is not what her mother would call a matrimonial prospect. Still, there's something about the young man that sends Lady Monique's heart thumping around her chest, and silences her voice of reason.

Unfortunately for Lady Monique, the stakes are high, and young ladies of the ton make for very poor gamblers. Especially when James Stanton is on the hunt for revenge, and won't let an innocent woman—or his own passionate desires—get in the way of righting past wrongs.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 3

Ultimately, this book was about average for the historical romance, Regency subgenre. It had a lot of the cliché’s from the genre: social gatherings, posturing for position on the marriage market, rigorous protocols for propriety, and a Regency plotline I’ve seen done before. Yet for all that, I found this tale enjoyable if not totally immersed by it.

I did like the leads, Monique and James. I felt they had a sufficient chemistry and sweet romance between them to make a successful romantic story. There are enough heated glances and steamy thoughts to make up for the fact that this is a clean romance. I actually find it refreshing to find such in a sea of smutty, smexy heavy Regency novels.

The actual romantic storyline (the whole revenge thing), I’ve seen done before. I felt that the author held onto that whole scenario for too long, all the way to the end of the story. She kept having her hero go back to that motivation again and again. The whole thing with Monique shooting for a peer, also, was held onto for too long. I got tired of their constant usage of those excuses as reasons for actions and for why their relationship took so long to develop.

I also got tired of the constant ballet of social interaction: operas, balls, soiree’s, house visits, and meetings at the park. Again, the book fell victim to the flaw of many Regency’s in that they spend too much time on social exchanges to build their story rather than mixing it up with intimate exchanges or action sequences.

This book had a few of the one-on-one intimate scenes between Monique and James, the kiss being a star of this aspect for the book. However, I felt they were far too few in number for a historical romance. Way too much time was spent on the aforementioned social aspects that it seemed to drown out the romance and relationship between Monique and James at times. Maybe I just got too tired the of the constant attempts to run parallel to Jane Austen and her world.

At the heart of the book though, I did enjoy Monique and James. I liked how human they were and approachable. I could feel both of their dedication to family and familial expectations. Their struggle to break free of those and create a relationship of love between each made the book enjoyable to me. If you read this book for anything, read it for their building relationship. And really, isn’t that why we read historical romances in the first place?

Your average historical romance, the main leads and their budding relationship is the reason to look this title up. Unfortunately, it’s the only reason. Actual plot, scene setting, and even some relationship aspects are your normal romance tropes and clichés. I got bored more than once while following this tale. Still, not a bad historical romance all told.

Note: Book received for free from author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Bells of Avalon by Libbet Bradstreet

Bells of Avalon
by Libbet Bradstreet

Publisher: self
Page Count: 250
Release Date: July 26, 2015
Format: Kindle

How got: personal library; via Amazon

First attention getter: synopsis; read @ author's request

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

Hollywood--Where they'll pay a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul...

Thrust into a limelight she never chose, Katie's been paired with Danny for as long as she can remember. Films, roadshow tours, and drugstore appearances...post-war Hollywood can't seem to get enough of the sweetheart team. They'll even fall in love one day. But young love seldom survives the fog wake of Los Angeles--a place of dreams and nightmares.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 2

This book was ultimately disappointing to me. I looked forward to the time period and setting; I’ve read limited works from both. However, the story got very muddled very quickly and I couldn’t connect with the characters at all.

The author does put forth an effort to bring her world to life, with some success. It was interesting to see the lives of the child stars in different stages of their lives, both professionally and personally. The struggle to keep the personal as such and still put forth that “star” image that was so important in the ‘40s and ‘50s was an interesting dilemma to explore. The author does a good job in exploring this area.

However, I quickly lost all rapport I had with Katie, Daniel, or anyone. I think this is connected with how I got lost and bored in the story overall. There is a plethora of sentence fragment, run-on/complex sentences, and time jumping that left me shaking my head more than once. This is an artistic way of writing that works sometimes, but sadly in this work it didn’t work.

There are also occasions where the author will jump into and out of a character’s mind with no transition from a descriptive or action scene. Suddenly we’re exploring how the character sees something, an event or emotion, where before we were reading something completely different. Commonly, this’ll happen in mid-paragraph! Personally, I found this trait very jarring.

Ultimately, this book was a mixed bag. Effort was made to bring the book to life in setting and world-building. Yet, characters I couldn’t connect with and a jarring writing style made this book not for me. Someone else may like it better. I can’t give more than two stars personally.

Note: Book reviewed at request of author.

REVIEW: Spirit Legacy by E E Holmes

Spirit Legacy
by E. E. Holmes

Publisher: Smashwords
Page Count: 297
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Format: Kindle

How got: free copy from author for review

First attention getter: that author's email and that gorgeous cover

Synopsis:

From GoodReads:

“The Gateway is open...”

These cryptic words wake college student Jess Ballard from a terrifying dream into an even more terrifying reality.

Jess' life has never been what anyone would call easy; doing damage control in the wake of your nomadic, alcoholic mother doesn't exactly make for a storybook childhood. But now her world has fallen apart just when it should be coming together: her mother gone—dead under mysterious circumstances; her life uprooted to stay with estranged relatives she’s never met; and there’s something odd about some of the people she’s been meeting at school:

They’re dead.

Aided by Tia, her neurotic roommate, and Dr. David Pierce, a ghost-hunting professor, Jess must unravel the mystery behind her hauntings. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger shadows her every move. An ancient secret, long-buried, is about to claw its way to the surface, and nothing can prepare Jess for one terrifying truth …

… her encounters with the world of the dead are only just beginning.

Spirit Legacy is the first of three thrilling novels in The Gateway Trilogy by E.E. Holmes.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 5

This book pleasantly surprised me. I got a great story with characters I like, not something that happens all the time with indie works. I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with them so it’s always a joy to find an excellent work among them. I enjoyed it so much, I already have book 2 on my Kindle ready to go.

First off, the main character is just a peach! She’s practical and no frills, handling life as it throws the many obstacles and danger at her. I liked how she approached these events with calm and rational thought, not letting the danger or excitement get to her. Her occasional vulnerable streak just added depth to her overall emotional state. I loved Jess and can’t wait to explore more of her and her world.

Her immediate supporting staffs are also great. I loved Tia! The obsessive-compulsive, research-obsessed roommate was a nice foil for Jess as she deals with all the supernatural crap coming her way. She seems to connect with Jess on a deep level and makes for a fantastic ally. I also found enjoyment in David, Evan, and others. I did find some fell into stereotypical college roles, like Gabby and her blonde, slutty, popular girl type. But those were only occasional and not glaring.

I adored the story and how the author pulled in the supernatural elements. The story unfolds in a very organic and flowing way, not being weighted down with too busy action sequences or over-wordy supposition portions. She has a great mix of coming of age, mystery, eerie ghost sightings, with a side of college life for levity. I loved her blend and how she was able to balance everything.

And then there are the supernatural elements, the cream of the book in my opinion. They’re unique and engaging, aspects not always present in a supernatural thriller. I loved the idea of Jess’ role with her family member and how that played into all that was happening with Jess and her mother’s death. It sets some great groundwork for future works in the series that I look forward to seeing. The ghosts are spine-tingling and yet sad at the same time. Your emotions are pulled into their fates and their release, or not as the case may be, with great strength.

A great balance of storytelling, supernatural, and characters, this is a great start to a promising series. I think this author has a great future and I look forward to following her in future.

Note: Book received for free from author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Miriam's Way

Miriam's Way
by Cissy Lacks
Beanie Books
149 Pages
Read in Kindle format

How got book: Kindle Unlimited

Why read: author request and WWII related survival story, heck yeah!!

Synopsis:

In September of 1941, German armies marched through eastern Poland into Russia, and Miriam, a thirteen-year-old Polish Jew, entered the dark forests of White Russia to hide from the invaders.

Miriam's Way is based upon true-life experiences of Miriam Kenisberg from 1941 through 1946 as told by author Cissy Lacks.

My Thoughts:

Star Rating - 3 Stars

A fascinating story of survival against impossible odds, this story got better and better as the book went along. Miriam was so lucky to get the education she did from her father; without those words of wisdom on how to survive in the forest, she would have died unknown and been lost to history. As she encountered the various people on her journey and after the war, Miriam developed into a deeper and stronger individual that I was glad got her happy ending.

The author’s historical research shows for the most part throughout the book. Her careful attention to details in the plight of war torn WWII Europe and the situation of the displace persons trying to build a new life after the war rang true. There were a few items throughout the narrative that were questionable to me, but they were very minor.

There are times, however, where I wasn’t quite sure of the target audience for this book. The first half of the book reads very much as a YA novel with very brief descriptions and flat characterization. Yet, in the latter half of the book, there is some material that I would be shocked to find in a YA novel for the younger end of the YA spectrum. The world building was also more radiant in the latter half. So I was thrown by this discrepancy.

 And some of these secondary characters…. Holy carp!! Wlodek is the main culprit here. The way he talks and acts towards Miriam could be believable, I suppose, in the context that strange people I this timeframe and location could be suspected hiding Jews. Yet, his family takes Miriam in as a lost girl who needs help, NOT as a hiding Jewess. So what he does to her and right in front of his mother?! Really?! And not one peep out of Ma. I’d hate to be this guy’s future girlfriend; what a creep….

Engaging story and good research make this an enjoyable read. There are issues with secondary characterization and a vague target audience, but these problems in no way impede me in recommending this book. I’d definitely say a great book to give to an older YA, maybe 17-18, who’s interested in the Holocaust and the time period. Also a great book for adult readers overall.

 Note: Book read and reviewed at request of author.