Summons from a Stranger by Debra Diaz

Blurb: Lindsey Sims is staying with her older sister's best friend, Rachel, while her parents are away on a trip to the Bahamas. Rachel Evans has received a mysterious letter from a man she's never met, but who is - in a way - part of her family. Lindsey accompanies Rachel as she reluctantly answers the summons, and is caught in a grown-up world of greed, jealousy, and attempted murder. It's more than she bargained for, but Lindsey is up to the challenge...and to discovering who is responsible for all the mischief. 




Reviewed by Dale


I'm back from a nasty cold and with some time to enjoy and share another great book. 


This time I wanted something very different. So delving through the shelves of freebies on offer I found this little gem. Summons from a Stranger by Debra Diaz.  A mystery in a classic Agatha Christie style setting. 


A large manor house, a butler (he didn't do it, but I did suspect him) the maid, and the vulgar rich. All bundled together in a claustrophobic house with a dying, bitter, patriarch.  A washed out bridge, electric storms and a pea soup fog all combine to build tension in the scene.


The writing is good, very evidently written by a women and not a man as the attention to details in some of the narrative parts are clearly more a women's taste than a mans. I know I need to know someone sat on a sofa, not how deep the stitching was or the upholstery clashed with someones french polish. None of this detracts from the book of course and if anything I would compare Ms Diaz's style to some of the Sidney Sheldon novels I have read. Much of this narrative does a great job in making you feel as though you were some silent observer standing in the shadows, watching, and listening to the events as they unfold.


The plot is well crafted, it takes a while to boil up but once the 'scream' starts of the adventure the pace is dramatic enough. Lots of red herrings and false clues make it difficult to piece together the best suspect. Always a sign of a well thought out structure. Again I take my hat of to mystery writers, its a challenging genre.


I kept thinking as I read that this story would sit equally well outside the Young Adult section if the main character were eighteen instead of fifteen perhaps. There is certainly no pandering to a younger reader here. So for all you boys and girls reading above your age go download a copy. For the eight to twelves of you out there, it might be a challenge managing all those characters and motives in your head. I found it difficult keeping them all straight in mine. So dont delay, its FREE so go add it to your library today!


Format: eBook
Available from Smashwords
Link to Download: Here
Price: FREE (at time of review)
Wordcount: 38,000 (appx)
Author: Debra Diaz

Bees in my Butt by Rebecca Shelley

Blurb: In Bees in My Butt, the first book of the Smartboys Club series, the members of the Smartboys Club use their skills to defeat a group of crazed Ninjas that take over the school. And it happens on a day when one of the Smartboys has the worst case of flatulence imaginable. 






Reviewed by Dale


Well how could you possibly pass on the courageously titled bees in my butt? Why this title alone would conjure up all kinds of insane ideas in the mind of any self respecting ten year old. So with this notion in mind I cracked the old ebook reader open and started to find out what where bees doing up some poor kid's butt.

Young Johnny Lovebird is your typically 5th grader who sits next to you in class all year long. You barely give him much thought until one day he is cutting the smelliest cheese you could ever imagine. yes that's right, in an omametaphic display of alliteration bees are are the metaphore of nasal doom. Bees are farts. Not just annoying nose curdling wafts of poorly digested proteins, these thunderous cacophonies bring an abrupt holt to a school assembly as the odious vapors escape the clutches of Johnny's tightly clenched butt cheeks. Parrrrrrrrp parp parp parp.

How does our hero ever survive the most embarrassing moment of his school life? Well disgracing of course. Fortunately for him a band of ninjas attack the school faculty and assume control of the school and it's curriculum. So how does our hero and his misfit band of sidekicks manage to free the school from the coughed of the evil high kicking hooded ninja? Well you're just going to have to read the book yourself to find out, me I'm off to find another book to read.

This is a very well written story, lots of good fun and humour abound. The writing is tight and neatly focused at the age group it's written for. Still plenty in there for adults if they are reading it to their kids too.  It's not a long book, and there were a lot of blank pages in my copy, maybe a bug in the ePub conversion?

So lots of fun and laughs if you are looking for some comic relief.


Age 10+
Format: eBook
Available from Smashwords
Link to Download: Here
Price: US$.99c
Wordcount: 12,500 (appx)
Author: Rebecca Shelley

Brooks Berry In The Case of The Haunted Cabin by Michael James

Blurb: Boy detective Brooks Berry is at it again in this second installment in the series. This time he travels with his sister, Ally, to visit his Grandparents in Arizona. While on their visit, their Grandfather takes them to stay at a friend's cabin with the ulterior motive of having Brooks solve the mystery of who is haunting it. 




Reviewed by Dale


I have read the first Brooks mystery (Reviewed here), so when the opportunity came along to try the second one I couldn't resist another look at this amiable character.

The same great compact style by author Michael James remains as he lays down red herring after false clue and then leads you about the cold snow covered hillsides of Arizona chasing ghosts.

The sidekick has changed to Brooks' sister Alley though she doesn't play a large role in this story. It's a shame really as I think a great sidekick always helps to add depth to any story. It can also help add dialogue to an otherwise narrative driven scene. Sidekicks can also be used as barometers of the main characters feelings and thoughts.

The pace is reasonable, a couple of times I hurriedly turned the page to find out what was in store for our hero as he put together the pieces of the story. The underground tunnel when Brooks discovers he is not alone was well written and deliciously suspenseful. 

Sadly the characterizations still seem a little bland. I was hoping to see more of Brooks' personality as this is the second story following this character. I should have a well developed sense of who he is but there still seems to be little follow through here. After his sister was locked in his room by an intruder I might have expected some kind of emotional outburst. Maybe Brooks is stone cold? A Gollum of clay that's Holmes-like detached from his surroundings in pursuit of the answers? Not much reflection or reaction by the protagonist as he meets the challenges and struggles to overcome them.

The plot is great, a well constructed mystery, with plenty of suspense and probably enough clues fro the average smart reader to solve, I'm not saying if I did...I always wonder how authors go about constructing mysteries, leaving the bread crumbs for their readers and sleuths to follow. Do they write backwards perhaps from resolution to revelation? 

So I still don't have any reservations in recommending this series as a good read. It would be great if Brooks' true self was fleshed out more in the next book maybe. All the great detectives I can remember had some weird trait, Holmes had a violin, Kojak had a lolipop, Colombo had his rain coat and 'just one last question', even Scooby had scrappy snacks.


Dont wait go read it for yourself today!

Format: eBook
Available from Smashwords
Link to Download: Here
Price: US$1.99c
Wordcount: 27,000 (appx)
Author: Michael James

Boone Barnaby by Joe Cottonwood

Blurb: An award-winning novel loved by adults and children alike about the adventures of three boys (and a flaky dog) chasing an arsonist while testing the limits of life, soccer, and garbage in their scrappy little town among the redwood trees of California.






Reviewed by Dale


It was the blurb that attracted me to this story. Who could resist the premise? The chance to relive your childhood through the madcap adventures of three young boys and a trusty canine companion. Through in some fires, fights and soccer and you should have a winning combination.


This is no short novella, weighing in at more than 50,000 words it represents exceptional value for the tiny asking price; about .99cents as of writing. The prose itself is fine, and of a high standard both in elocution and editing. Although maybe the author strains the odd metaphor here and there, certainly no reason to put you off.


I must say it took me three or four days to read this book too. Generally a book this size I would read in a day. I also noticed that it took a considerable amount of time for something to actually happen. Maybe I'm too used to the kind of story commonly peddled today, a product of the gotta have it now! generation. Maybe the author is subtly conveying the idea of a sleepy, lazy, summery haze with his adagio style. Im not saying good, or bad. Merely that thats how it is. Maybe its enjoyable to have a fresh approach. Like a fine wine you dont want to quaff it all at once, you savior the story over a couple of days. 


So if you liked Steinbeck's 'Of mice and Men' or Twain's 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyers' give this a try.


Format: eBook
Available from Smashwords
Link to Download: Here
Price: US$0.99c
Wordcount: 50,000 (appx)
Author: Joe Cottonwood

Leah by J. M. Reep

Blurb:
Introverted and shy, 14-year-old Leah Nells has lived her life alone, with only books to keep her company. As she starts 9th grade, she finds herself lost within the complicated social universe of high school — especially when she falls in love with a boy from her class. Under pressure from her parents, her classmates, and the whole noisy world, can she become the girl she wants to be?


Reviewed by Dale


With the earthquake in Christchurch it has been some time since I have had an opportunity to read let alone review a book for my blog but with the kick-off of 'Read an eBook Week' I felt compelled to find something good to read and forget about the horrors of the past few weeks. 


So it was that I found myself digging through the teen catalogues of Smashwords and discovered this little gem tucked away. A simple title, a catchy cover and an intriguing sounding blurb. 


I think it was the loner aspect of the character that made me pick the book. For once a novel written about shy teenagers that doesn't include vampires, misfits or freaks. Instead what we have here from Mr. Reep is a very well written, carefully crafted almost journal like story that could be insanely boring. How do you write about a shy teen's life which is fundamentally boring with any kind of skill that doesn't leave the reader starved of any excitement or compulsion to turn the next page? A challenge to any author. Reep has pulled it off and I found myself drawn easily into the character's life. Leah's idiosyncrasies and awkwardness add flesh while the authors own almost claustrophobic style of writing compound the sense timidity. Referring to Leah's parents as simply Mr Nells or Mrs Nells or the constant and repeated use of the personal pronoun 'she' all help reinforce this feeling of inside outside; of Leah's world and what is not Leah's world. 


As the Authors blurb states we join Leah on her first day at a new high school. Overwhelmed by new sights and sounds, unfamiliar routines and new faces, it's a challenge for any new student but for Leah it's an even more dramatic day. I changed schools a lot as a kid and remember all too well how anxious the first day at a new school was. Maybe being a little shy as a teen myself helped this story to resonate with me. I could certainly empathize to a small degree. 


What strikes me is that this is no short novel it weighs in at about 229 pages and yet it has pace, and fluidity. I never tired of reading page after page. I must admit I'm more comfortable reading fantasy and adventure and know what to expect in such terms but with these fly on the wall or slice of life type stories it's more challenging I  believe, to achieve these things. Steinbeck had it, Miller had it, seems Reep has it too.


If you enjoy a well written story with a bit of depth and a thoroughly interesting perspective then let me recommend this story to you. It is simply delightful and insightful.


Go grab it!  

Format: eBook, Print
Price: Reader Decides (but I urge you to make a payment as it will encourage this great writer to write more!)
83,000 words

Download Link: Leah
Author J. M. Reep
Web: Author Site

BROOKS BERRY IN The Case of The Stolen Season by Michael James

Blurb:


Brooks Berry is your normal 12 year old boy. Obsessed with sports, best friends with his dog Ripken and a very curious mind. He also is one of Wauwatosa's leading detectives. Join this boy sleuth and his friends on his mystery solving adventures packed with unexpected twists and turns. Written in the spirit of the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew mysteries. First edition of a new series. 

Reviewed by Dale

I enjoy a good mystery as much as any one does and I was quite eager to start this story. Te setting is an American high school and the action or mystery unfolds around american football games. I don't follow grid iron and it's not played in my country so I couldn't really understand the in depth narratation of the plays. I guess it would be the same for Americans reading rugby or cricket plays.

The story has a few through away laughs, the Trojan computer company, where I'm sure the author is laying on a Trojan virus the word is also the brand name for a popular brand of condon in my country so it constantly made me snicker. Hehe

Also the references to cigarette buts and the hero's intimate knowledge of them is a no brainer homage to the great Sherlock Holmes no doubt that anyone who has read a Conan Doyle story could miss that.

Although I found the story and the writing up to a good standard. Was dissapointed that the author used narrative to drive the story forward. In fact probably 70% of this story is authors voice. A great scene, and sadly a great example of this was when Brooks, the young sleuth was black boarding his suspects and motives. Now Conan Doyle would have done this with Holmes plucking away all melancolie on his violin, half doped with opium and dr Watson buried in the Sunday cross word. It would have been dialogue driven with Watson struggling to keep up with Holme's wild posturing and great leaps of intuition. Instead we had the author explaining what Brad was thinking.


The ending was good, though. The author managed to twist the tale around and around to keep you guessing as to who the culprit was. Lots of red herrings and excitement.


Three and a half out of Five for me.


Format: eBook
Price: Free
27,000 words
Download link Here
Author Michael James

Reasons on her Wrist by Racaneya

Editorial Blurb:

Cassie, a suicidal teen, learns many reasons about her purpose in life after dealing with death, a love triangle, saving another life, and going through a life changing event.


Reviewed by Dale

This story follows a 17 year old high school student who struggles to find a sense of purpose in her young life. People have disappointed her and left her and now she finds the only source of any real feeling in her life is in self mutilation.

As she trudged wearily through her days at school people try to push their way through her dark walls and get to know her. Resistant at first she pushes them away but gradually Cassie lowers her guard and let's them close. But are they the right people to be part of her life?  Will there screwed up lives be more weight than Cassie can bear?

This is a very well crafted novel. The dialogue driven story is well constructed with likeable and believable characters.
The topical nature of the story was also handled well. Sending a message about self mutilation and suicidal thoughts but in a constructive and non preaching way. I was in awe of some of the monologues and wonder how the author has come to have such a deep connection with her characters.

Part two didn't feel as strong as part one, but it completed the story. The ending has been the subject of debate in other reviews but I haven't seen the alternative ending. This ending worked fine for me, although a little sad perhaps.


As for the young author herself I'm glad to hear she is working on another novel, she has a great voice and a mastery of dialogue.


Author: Racaneya
Author blog: Blog
Format: eBook
Word count: 30,000
Price: free
Link: Download