Resilience by Ica Iova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found the beginning of the story a little bit too like a documentary in the telling of Johanna’s tale of woe. It felt like a narrative about the pros and cons of divorce. But when Ica Iova began to apply her excellent writing skills to dialogue and description I began to be pulled into it more. I enjoyed being fooled by the various twists and turns as this contemporary thriller moved along at an acceptable pace. The main character is well-drawn and I was quite convinced by her self-analysis and roller coaster emotions alternating between bitter, angry regret and fearful hope for her future and that of her kids. When romance appeared on the scene I thought Ms Iova’s descriptions of Johanna’s doubts and raw emotion (even lust!) realistic and believable.

The main problems for me came later when the plot involved Johanna’s children and the final denouement. Having completely convinced me of her desperation to gain custody of her children it felt most unreal for Johanna to drive off for a break, getting away from it all, without her children at the exact time she had them all to herself! It was obviously necessary for the plot, but what followed on that trip seemed too much of a coincidence. The kids also came across as too mature and knowing for juveniles of 8 and 9 years old. Unfortunately, the end of the book felt too rushed, without a proper appreciation for the character of the killer being given to the reader. While I greatly admired the author’s writing and story-telling ability I felt this novel would be improved by a little more polishing. I was given a copy of the book in return for an honest and objective review.


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Robbie the Dysfunctional Robot by D. Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title of this book somehow gave me the impression that it was an amusing tale about a young robot who would produce such a series of misdemeanours and mistakes that I would wind up holding my aching sides from so much laughter. How wrong I was! While there are many conversations and incidents described in it that can raise a smile and even laughter, overall I found Robbie’s story to be a salutary tale of robot love, heartache, regret and misery. The amazingly naïve Robbie who, as a housebot, dreams of hoovering as a hobby, an aim in life and as a career ambition, discovers that he once had another life before his mundane present existence. His most important discovery initially is the highly pragmatic one of finding out that he is entitled to one day off every week. Omo and Dex, his new companions and future partners in many senses of the word, waste no time in telling Robbie how much he and hundreds of other robots are being exploited by humans. I was reminded at this point in the book of a phrase that I think goes, “oppressed workers of the world rise up and unite”, because so many robots are not aware of their oppression until they are told! Robbie finds many experiences “outside” his domestic and family duties that bring him new pleasures, such as weed and sex.

This is a very interesting and intriguing take on a tale about robots that are emotionally sentient, possessing not only an awareness of their existence and the meaning of life, but are capable of a form of devotional love. It is extremely poignant in parts but its main drawback for me was its length. There were several places in the book when I found myself “glazing over” with boredom and disinterest in whatever proceedings took place on the page. That could have been because I was not interested in it or sometimes because the same point was being repeated from a slightly different angle. However, Robbie The Dysfunctional Robot has a lot going for it since it is a great story, very well written and quite different to the usual sci-fi diet of shoot-em-up machines and/or technological wizardry. I was surprised to find that I actually felt sorry for him and his various android comrades, particularly after Robbie unearths his own faults and misdeeds from a previous time before his memory cells have been wiped clean!
I was given a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest and objective review.


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Mind Thief by Darrell B. Nelson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book appears to be about a student, Howie, who is losing his mind and who then proceeds to have a vivid and colourful relationship with Vivian, who has already lost hers. The repeated descriptions of their sexually explicit behaviour detracted and distracted from what could have been a quite interesting plotline. Their first encounter occurs inside the broom cupboard of their psychiatrist’s office premises while they each await their appointments. In itself it was a clever and intriguing beginning to the book and provided an entertaining hook for most readers. The problem was that it would seem to be aimed at the teenage market when almost every page had Vivian mouthing her imaginatively foul expletives and the couple’s erotic sex. Although there did seem to be a certain “meeting of minds”, amazingly and occasionally, between Howie and Vivian, with a metaphorically romantic bonding of the two lovers, I found the whole story disjointed and confusing.

The reader has to suspend their own logical thinking at times to allow various historically evil arch villains into the plot at the behest of Harriman, the man who is determined to exploit Howie and his brain for his own ruthless intentions. Vivian is the most intriguing character and I cared nothing for any of the others and this meant, essentially, I did not care enough about the tale that was being spun. It seemed to be two books confusingly woven into one. The evil-doing plot could appeal to the mature, well-informed, reader but the impressionable teen bits got in the way far too much. In the end I was still not sure whether I was reading a sci-fi or a paranormal novel with items of titillation to keep my attention. It just did not work and I find it hard to think of anyone to whom I would recommend Darrel B. Nelson’s book.
I was given a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest and objective review.


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Bad Girls by Laurel Heidtman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I began reading Bad Girls I knew that it was a crime thriller, but when Marnie appeared I feared that it was going to be another variation on a “girl with a dragon tattoo”, so my heart sank. Although this is the second book in a series it quickly became intriguing and compelling on its own merits and I forgot all about that other goth-girl and her tatts! Ms. Heidtman has written a remarkable, fast-moving, character and event driven thriller. I was completely hooked from chapter 2 and had to resist constantly reading the book when other parts of my life beckoned. It is definitely a page-turner with excellent characters, both good and evil, and a plot that became quite harrowing to read at times, while containing all of the twists and turns you hope will be unpredictable.

The author presented a wonderful balance of horrific incidents against relatively normal domesticity chapter by chapter. My heart went out to Marnie in her “situation” together with large measures of respect for her courage and ingenuity. The reader is allowed into the minds of Marnie and Cal, her devoted, long-suffering uncle and “surrogate dad”. The reader also looks into the mind of the perverted kidnapper and so experiences many of the doubts, fears and hopes that go on in all three heads at different times – skilfully done by Heidtman. Her descriptions of places and times are well written with enough detail for the settings but without too much so as to make those passages boring or tedious. I wound up loving the writing of Ms. Heidtman enough to overcome my anger and sorrow with the very real and difficult-to-read descriptions of cruel brutality suffered at the hands of the serial “sicko” in the book. I can highly recommend this excellent thriller to fans of the genre and to those wishing to try out a new example of it.
I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest and objective review.


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As Dragons from Sleep by J. Ellen Ross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leisha is a queen who can read minds and her king, Karaki, is a handsome blond warrior who is dedicated to being her protector. The pair are hopelessly and passionately in love and seem to take every opportunity to express their affection for each other, both verbally and physically. When their kingdom is invaded by an army whose intentions are to destroy all those of the mind reading race, and whose leaders enjoy torturing and raping their victims, then Leisha’s apparently idyllic world changes dramatically. The Tahaerin people are quick to rally to their queen’s aid, even those who once were her enemies, and so the scene is set for ensuing battles, treachery, with twists and turns enough to intrigue the reader until the end.

This fantasy novel is very well written with an absorbing plot and strong characters representing both sides for good and evil. The dialogue is believable in the main, though one or too expressions seemed too contemporary for the medieval setting. The book is the second in a series but can easily stand alone as an epic-long novel. For the fans of fantasy novels I would imagine J. Ellen Ross and her “As Dragons From Sleep” will be a very welcome addition to the genre. Personally, I was not encouraged to read another in the series finding this book too long and occasionally rambling with details about which I cared little.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so that I could give an honest and objective review.


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No Place Like Hell by K.S. Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so that I could give an honest and objective review and, when I realised it was by K S Ferguson, I looked forward to it, having enjoyed Calculated Risk by the same author. Then after a couple of chapters I thought, Oh no! Not only is it a paranormal thriller it’s also written from two points of view (first person and third person). Both of which I usually avoid. However, grabbing my “open-mind” I plunged on.

After a very short while I got used to the author’s method of alternating POV with chapters: one written from Nicky Demasi’s POV and the next in the third person. It did not take long because the plot and the pace of the story were excellent. Nicky, the rookie cop, is a character I rooted for from the beginning and Kasker Sleeth, the hellhound, intrigued me all the way through this brilliant thriller. There is a serial killer at large and our heroine cop is determined not to be sidelined in solving the case, particularly after tragedy befalls Dave, her mentor, friend and police sidekick. Demons, angels, runes and magic abound in this Chandler-Wheatley-ish tale of soul collecting, soul searching and even soul devouring. It is full of the twists and turns you hope to find in a thriller but they still catch you out. The language and dialogue is appropriate and believable in this pre-mobile/cellphone tale of diabolic deeds, although I would have thought the cops would have had radios in their cars rather than rely on pay-phones.

I enjoyed No Place Like Hell tremendously and feel that fans of either genre, fantasy or thriller, will be similarly captivated by Ms. Ferguson’s skilful mystery tour. It is also highly likely that previously unimpressed cynics of this kind of plotline, like me, could become more accepting of it when reading such a well written book.


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