Book Review : Primal Origin, Jack Silkstone

REVIEW

Take two CIA agents, a British  aeronautical engineer/weapons technician, drop them in Abu Dhabi with a group of terrorists, each wanting the other dead and you have a pacy, action packed novella introducing  the Primal series of books. Primal Origin, is a great little novella that gives the background to how the undercover anti-all-things-bad group, PRIMAL, came into being.

Realistic dialogue, not for those who are easily offended, the CIA agents Vance and Ice are quickly introduced; a couple of cool customers who are experts in their line of work, along with their oppo Mitchell.

What I also liked about the novella was certain technical terminology, that was foreign to me, was highlighted by way of a hyperlink to the author’s website, explaining exactly what a UM45 or M4 CQBR was. An excellent website too, which I would recommend you take a look at – for a moment I could pretend I was part of a MI5/CIA briefing. With a background in Military Intelligence, Counter-Intelligence and Special Operations, the author blogs about his thoughts on the interesting things happening in the world today.

I shall definitely be reading the other PRIMAL books which, if the closing sentence is anything to go by, will be equally action packed …

‘We’re gonna make Mossad look like a bunch of cookie-selling Girl Scouts!’

DESCRIPTION

PRIMAL is a team of elite operatives, hell bent on fighting for the downtrodden and oppressed. A renegade agency waging a secret war against the untouchables; powerful criminals, greed driven corporations, and twisted politicians. With cutting-edge technology and tactics they strike across the globe with impunity, stepping in where government agencies fail.

PRIMAL Origin is the first short story in the PRIMAL series. It is a short 35 page prequel to the full-length PRIMAL Unleashed novel and reveals the origins of PRIMAL.
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Abu Dhabi is a city that dazzles with the trappings of wealth. Beneath this thin veneer lurks a sinister threat. A rich and powerful supporter of terrorism who will stop at nothing to rid the Emirates of Western influence.

Two CIA operatives are given the mission to track down an unknown terrorist group. Forced to question the morality of their government, they take matters into their own hands.

The head of counter-terrorism operations in the Emirates is a man trapped between honor and morality. Surrounded by enemies, he must look for new allies to bring justice to the untouchable.

In this world of turmoil and intrigue, a new organization is formed, a group of men willing to bring justice to a world filled with evil. Who are they?

They are PRIMAL.

AUTHOR LINKS

BLOG

Web page

Twitter : @JSilkstone

Available from Amazon

Book Review : The Gilded Fan by Christina Courtenay

REVIEW

I have always enjoyed Christina Courtenay’s books and this one was no exception. An adventure across continents, where different cultures meet, we follow Midori and Nico as they set sail from Japan to England.

Midori was a great character with mixed heritage, a Japanese father and an English mother, she could wield a sword as good as any man, if not better. She was fiercely independent and determined to deal honourably with the situation that forced her to escape from her beloved Japan and seek refuge with her English family in Plymouth.

Nico, captain of the ship that carried Midori to England, was simply delicious. A true leader, strong and well respected, fair and with a gentler side when needed. His meeting with Midori presented itself with all sorts of problems from the start and took him not only to physical places he had no intention of going, but to emotional places which he had long since buried.

Set in the 1600’s, with the English Civil War as a backdrop, there was lots of action and adventure in this book, together with a healthy dose of romance, I really enjoyed spending time with these characters.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

How do you start a new life, leaving behind all you love?

It’s 1641, and when Midori Kumashiro, the orphaned daughter of a warlord, is told she has to leave Japan or die, she has no choice but to flee to England. Midori is trained in the arts of war, but is that enough to help her survive a journey, with a lecherous crew and an attractive captain she doesn’t trust?

Having come to Nagasaki to trade, the last thing Captain Nico Noordholt wants is a female passenger, especially a beautiful one. How can he protect her from his crew when he can’t keep his own eyes off her?

During their journey, Nico and Midori form a tentative bond, but they both have secrets that can change everything. When they arrive in England, a civil war is brewing, and only by standing together can they hope to survive…

AUTHOR LINKS

www.christinacourtenay.com

Twitter : @PiaCCourtenay

Publishers : ChocLitUK

 

Behind the Book and Cover Reveal : ‘The Red Effect’ by Harvey Black

Today I’m delighted to have on my blog, author of military thrillers, Harvey Black.

Harvey is here to talk about the historical facts behind his novel ‘The Red Effect’ and to reveal the cover. Over to you Harvey …

“Today, West German imperialism is United States’ chief ally in Europe in aggravating world tension. West Germany is increasingly becoming the seat of the war danger, where revenge-seeking passions are running high… The policy pursued by the Federal Republic of Germany is being increasingly determined by the same monopolies that brought Hitler to power.

The Rhineland politicians fancy that once they get the atomic bomb, frontier posts will topple and they will be able to achieve their cherished desire of carving up the map of Europe again and taking revenge for defeat in the second world war.

One of the most ominous factors endangering peace is the bilateral military alliance that is taking shape between the ruling circles of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. This factor remains an objective of unflagging attention.” (Leonid Brezhnev, 23rd Party Congress, March 1966)

The Cold War and Nitroglycerin had one thing in common, both were stable when circumstances allowed. But, when something rocks the boat, or events are overtaken by Incidents that get out of control, the status quo is lost. The consequence is an eruption that is both violent and lethal.

The Cold War trilogy will trace the Cold War as it simmers, overheats and eventually turns East against West. The outcome? Start with ‘The Red Effect’ out in April, followed by ‘The Black Effect’ and ‘The Blue Effect’.

1983: The Cold War has been in existence since the end of World War Two. Although tensions have always been fraught between the Western nations and the members of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact, common sense prevailed.

Until, as a consequence of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, the shooting down of a Korean passenger aircraft in 1983, and the relentless build up of Soviet military strength, everything is about to change.

In a panoramic novel, readers travel from centres of power to the front lines – a war is brewing and events are happening at every angle. Is the Cold War about to turn hot? Can NATO forces endure a mass strike by thousands of Soviet tanks? Can the West survive?

Follow the series of gripping events that culminated in ‘The Red Effect’, in the first instalment of Harvey Black’s Cold War trilogy.

Harvey Black is a qualified parachutist. Harvey served with British Army Intelligence for over ten years. His experience ranged from covert surveillance in Northern Ireland to operating in Communist East Berlin during the cold war, where he feared for his life after being dragged from his car and attacked by Russian KGB soldiers. Since then he has lived a more sedate life in the private sector as a Director for an International Company, but now enjoys the pleasures of writing.

http://harveyblackauthor.org/2013/01/18/the-cold-war-years-part-10/

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Thank you Harvey and very best of luck with ‘The Red Effect‘, I shall certainly be reading it 🙂

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Book Review of Gray Justice by Alan McDermott

About the Book

Gray Justice is the fast-paced debut thriller from Alan McDermott. When a killer walks free from court, the victim’s father sees just two options: accept the judge’s decision; or take on the entire British justice system. Tom Gray chooses the latter and his crusade attracts instant worldwide media coverage. It was just what Tom was hoping for, but it brought him a lot more than he bargained for.
Gray Justice is much more than a simple tale of revenge: it’s a roller coaster ride with an ending you’ll never forget!

My Review

At first you could be forgiven for second guessing how the plot might go; an ex-SAS soldier seeking revenge for the unlawful death of his son and subsequent suicide of his wife. Cue ex-SAS guy blasting away with a semi-automatic rifle, car chases, fist fights, killing all the bad guys but ultimately coming out a hero.  Well, Gray Justice doesn’t quite go like that, it tackles the need for revenge in a rather unique way.

Gray Justice is a fast paced, action packed thriller. Yes, there was a shoot-em-up gun battle, explosions and death, but it wasn’t over-done and it was perfectly fitting of the plot.  The premise of Gray’s revenge was very thought provoking and it did make me stop and think. Without giving anything away, the method Gray uses to decide what justice to dish out is something that could prompt a healthy debate over a pint or two.

The ending wasn’t exactly what I was expecting and leaves the door open to the sequels which I shall definitely be reading.

Gray Justice is currently available FREE on Amazon.

About the author

Alan McDermott is a software developer from the south of England, married with beautiful twin daughters. When he isn’t creating critical applications for the NHS, he is writing action thrillers.

His debut novel, Gray Justice, has been very well received. The other two books in the series – Gray Resurrection and Gray Redemption – were released in 2012.

Alan is currently working on his fourth title.

You can follow Alan on Twitter through his @Jambalian account.

Alan blogs at http://jambalian.blogspot.co.uk/p/t.html

Orion’s Gift by Anneli Purchase

About Orion’s Gift

While camping in the exotic landscape of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, Kevin and Sylvia, both on the run from abusive relationships, meet and fall in love.

Two things stand in the way of their happiness. One—the secrets they keep from each other. Two—their abusers hunting them down.

Will fear drive them apart or will passion and trust surmount the violence and hostility they have endured?

My Review

Told in the first person from different points of view, I found Orion’s Gift refreshing and enjoyed getting into the head of each different character.  

It was good to really get to know the cast and their back stories, having inside information as it were added to the atmosphere and kept the tension high throughout the book.  

As I read Orion’s Gift I was struck by the setting. It was beautifully described with lots of small detail that added to creating a very vivid picture of the area.

Laced with danger, tension and emotion throughout I very much enjoyed reading this novel. At the heart of Orion’s Gift  is the love story of two people leaving behind failing marriages and finding inner-strength and happiness in their new love.

Links for Orion’s Gift:

On Amazon.com http://amzn.to/UhJE00

On Smashwords.com http://bit.ly/MFOcOX

 

Blog: http://wordsfromanneli.wordpress.com

Website: http://www.anneli-purchase.com

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Got A #Kindle? Here Are My 5 Star Reviews This Year

Not sure what to download to your e-reader? Well, here are the books that got a 5 star review from me this year, together with a few I would highly recommend (click on the book cover for link to Amazon) …

My 5 Star Reviews of 2012

Never Coming Home

Sophie’s Turn

Devils With Wings, Silk Drop

Devils With Wings, Frozen Sun

Shades of Appley Green

Highly Recommend

The Silent Touch of Shadows

Taking Charge

Night Watcher

The Wind Weeps

Passenger 13 (a novella)

How Do You Voodoo? (a novella)

Thank you all for your support of my blog this year – much appreciated

Happy new year everyone and happy reading

Vancouver Island Author, Anneli Purchase, Writes Second Book, Third to Follow

 

Readers are captivated by The Wind Weeps, set on the West Coast of Canada. It is the story of Andrea, a pretty young woman swept off her feet by a handsome commercial fisherman. Before she realizes she has made a mistake, she is out of reach of help, and finds herself in grave danger. This book highlights not only the beauty, but also the remoteness of the British Columbia coast. Andrea’s predicament adds suspense and drama. (My review of The Wind Weeps can be read HERE)

Anneli’s next book has a lighter theme without losing the page-turning tension factor.

In Orion’s Gift, a romantic suspense story, the coastal setting is farther south. Sylvia, a California girl, receives news that causes her to leave her philandering husband and her fancy home near San Diego. At the same time, Kevin, an Alberta hardware store owner divorces his bullying wife and leaves everything behind to run away to Baja. When Kevin and Sylvia meet and fall in love, two things stand in the way of their happiness. One—the secrets they keep from each other. Two—their vindictive ex-spouses hunting them down. The exotic landscape of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula provides the backdrop for this story of romance and treachery.

Anneli’s articles have been published in Canadian Stories Magazine and The Canadian Fly Fisher, now called The New Fly Fisher E-zine. She is in the process of publishing her third novel, Julia’s Violinist, which should come out early next year.

The Wind Weeps and Orion’s Gift are available in paperback or e-book format at amazon.com and smashwords.com.

Here are all the links you need to find out more about Anneli Purchase and her books.

Links for Orion’s Gift:

On Amazon.com http://amzn.to/UhJE00

On Smashwords.com http://bit.ly/MFOcOX

Links for The Wind Weeps

Amazon http://amzn.to/RclGVT

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/yPQvEP

Blog: http://wordsfromanneli.wordpress.com

Website: http://www.anneli-purchase.com

Passenger 13 by Scott Mariani

Five years before the events of The Alchemist’s Secret… 

June 2003: the world is still on fire in the aftermath of 9/11. Fresh from the bloody conflict of the Second Gulf War, SAS soldier Ben Hope returns to Britain for some R&R leave, only to find himself embroiled in an intrigue deadlier than anything he’s encountered on the battlefields of Iraq. 

When a passenger aircraft piloted by Ben’s former army comrade Nick Chapman crashed off the Cayman Islands killing everyone on board, the official line was that Chapman committed suicide. But things don’t add up, and Ben’s old friend is barely in his grave before unfolding events point to something far bigger and more sinister going on. What did Chapman witness that powerful forces would do anything to suppress? Who was the mysterious thirteenth passenger on board the doomed flight? 

Following the trail of clues from the rugged Welsh borders to the Caribbean paradise that Chapman had made his home, Ben quickly discovers that some kinds of knowledge will get you killed – fast. Knowledge that threatens to unmask a global conspiracy of shocking proportions and change the way we view the world… and its masterminds have just made Ben Hope their principal target.

My Thoughts

I’ve read a couple of Scott Mariani’s books before and very much enjoyed them. When I was searching through ebook/ Novellas on Amazon, I came across Passenger 13 and as it was a ‘Ben Hope’ book, I downloaded it without hesitation. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Ben Hope is a great hero for the book and I love the fact that he has his flaws as well.  Although Passenger 13 doesn’t have the historical references that some of the later books have, it’s a great read and gives some background to Ben Hope which was nice to find out about. Lots of action, fast paced, twists and turns in the plot as always, stuff that really keeps you on your toes.

Links for Scott Mariani

Webpage : http://www.scottmariani.com/index.html

Amazon link : Passenger 13

Vampire State of Mind – Jane Lovering

Description

Jessica Grant knows vampires only too well. She runs the York Council tracker programme making sure that Otherworlders are all where they should be, keeps the filing in order and drinks far too much coffee. 
To Jess, vampires are annoying and arrogant and far too sexy for their own good, particularly her ex-colleague Sil, who’s now in charge of Otherworld York. When a demon turns up and threatens not just Jess but the whole world order, she and Sil are forced to work together.

But then Jess turns out to be the key to saving the world, which puts a very different slant on their relationship. 

The stakes are high. They are also very, very pointy and Jess isn’t afraid to use them – even on the vampire she’s rather afraid she’s falling in love with …

My Thoughts

I must admit I don’t know a lot about vampires and Otherworlders but this being the second vampirey book I’ve read recently, I’m starting to get the hang of it all.

I really enjoyed Jane Lovering’s style of writing, it’s witty, direct and sometimes ‘smart-mouthed’. It is also fun and fast with lots going on right from the get-go.

The plot gradually unfolds with surprises along the way – I wasn’t ever sure what was going to happen next.

Sil was a great character and I loved the chemistry between him and Jess, the tension between them was portrayed really well and I looked forward to scenes with both of them in.

An exciting climax to the end of a fast paced novel laced with humour.

Vampire State of Mind is published by ChocLit who kindly sent me a review copy

Links for Jane Lovering

Blog http://www.janelovering.co.uk/

Twitter : @JaneLovering

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jane.lovering

Devils With Wings, Silk Drop – Harvey Black

This exciting fictionalised retelling of the invasion of Crete is written by an author with extensive experience in army intelligence. It’s the follow up to Devils With Wings, and continues the wartime adventures of Fallschirmjager paratrooper Paul Brand and his Feldwebel Max Grun. On a high after their successful subjugation of Fort Eben Emael, Paul Brand, now in command of his own company, and Feldwebel Max Grun, are parachuted into Greece to help capture the bridge spanning the Corinth Canal. Tough times are ahead when the German High Command decide to invade the Island of Crete. This will be the first ever airborne invasion in military history. The Fallschirmjager, supported by the famous Gebirgsjager mountain troops, are up against 40,000 allied soldiers – who will fight to the bitter end to protect Crete. Operating behind enemy lines, Paul Brand and Max Grun will face challenges that not only tests their fortitude but strains the close bond between them. Silk Drop is a thrilling sequel to Devils With Wings and is based on a factual episode.

My Thoughts

This is the second book in the the Devils With Wings series and my review of the first can be found here.  I really enjoyed the first book so was looking forward to reading Silk Drop – I’m pleased to say it lived up to and beyond my expectations.

From the beginning I felt involved with the story, it was set at a good pace and I had trouble putting it down.  I liked the feeling of being up close to the action, with some very intense scenes depicting personal battles, which had me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed learning more about the strategies involved in preparing for operations and how these translated in battle.   The setting was described extremely well and again I had a real sense of being there – I could picture  the island and villages clearly in my mind.

Silk Drop also showed the contradiction of war. One minute men are injuring and killing each other, the next when the battle is over, they are caring for the wounded and trying to save the lives of their enemies.  The novel showed the human side of war and the effects it can have on individuals which added another dimension to the story.  I felt very connected with the characters and was concerned as to what would happen to them.

An excellent read with all the things I enjoy – action, tension, great scene setting and characters I became very fond of.

Links for Harvey Black

Blog – http://harveyblackauthor.wordpress.com/

Website –  http://www.harveyblackauthor.com/ 

Twitter – @Black_Author  http://twitter.com/#!/Black_Author

Facebook – Harvey Black  http://www.facebook.com/HarveyBlackAuthor

Harvey is also a member of the Author/Reader group

http://loveahappyending.com/

and

 http://famousfiveplus.blogspot.co.uk/