Tom Vaughan's book is a well-written novel with characters that ...
596919
Tom Vaughan's book is a well-written novel with characters that have real-life struggles and successes that we can identify with. We were confronted with religious beliefs and ethical situations that made us think and reflect on our own lives. One cannot help but be a more tolerant person after reading about Brenda and her role in society. I am hoping there is a sequel.
4220919
Love is a Wounded Soldier is a coming of age novel set in the first half of the twentieth century. It is written in diary form, composed as a gift from grandfather to grandson.  The narrator of the story is Robert Mattox; his character is revealed as he deals with his father's alcoholism, his mother's death, his first love and subsequent marriage, and his stint in Europe as a WWII soldier.  These events set the stage for a surprise ending that includes  betrayal, forgiveness, and a fresh start in life.

The plot is tight.  The conflicts are not sugar-coated, nor are they trivialized with a "clean" story-book ending.  They  are resolved as Mattox is forced to examine the true meaning of honor.

I especially enjoyed the excellent writing, the imagery and descriptive writing that is so often missing in current Kindle offerings.  Reimer's metaphorical description of a woman is an example of the imagery:

A woman is a terrifying thing.  A woman is a velvet hammer that softly pounds your will from around your heart, leaving it bare, vulnerable, defenseless.  When a woman gives you her heart, she gives with it the feeling that you are the sole monarch of an infinitely precious domain.  A woman is drink, a tonic to one, poison to another.  A two edged sword that can mince the strongest heart, or surgically repair the fainting one. (Ch. 3)

While his imagery is par-excellence, his descriptions of WWII action read like primary source narrative.  They balance one another out, making this a first-rate novel.
1730831
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've read three other books by Tim Baker and am becoming quite a fan.

There's no single main protagonist although much of the book follows Joe Moretti, a very successful businessman. Moretti finds himself in a bit of a jam, and the main plot involves him getting out of that while also expanding his business onto the wrong side of the law.

This main story is deftly interwoven with the stories of numerous other characters. Many chapters end with one character interacting with a new character whose story is introduced in the next chapter. This reminded me of Michael Faber's literary novel, "The Crimson Petal and the White," an excellent novel, which introduced its main characters this way.

Full Circle is very enjoyable and I can highly recommend it.
466612
Georgette Heyer's novel is the historical novel of John Anthony St. Ervine Delaney "Jack" Carstares, the disgraced son of the Earl of Wyncham. He becomes a highwayman after his father turns his back on him, robbing the wealthy to give to the poor. He takes the name of Sir Anthony Ferndale, leaving his brother, Richard, to inherit the estate from his father. But Richard refuses to take his brother's money, while Jack lives by his wits.  There is kidnapping and swordplay in the novel, and eventually the family becomes reconciled.  Jack rarely loses his joie de vivre despite his circumstances, and the tale is a wonderfully written page-turner.
3333605
Will Thomas puts together a winner in "To Kingdom Come", a mystery/detective novel set in the late 1800's in Victorian England.  The narrator of the story, Thomas Llewelyn, is a young Welshman apprenticed to Cyrus Barker, a "private enquiry agent" (a private detective) in London.  In broad outline, the story focuses on the efforts of Barker and Llewelyn to stop a group of Irish terrorists from blowing up half of London in order to win independence for their homeland.  Barker and Llewelyn, posing as experts in creating "infernal devices", infiltrate the group and the fun starts from there.  I'm not going to go into too much more detail, because I don't want to ruin the story.

Instead, I'll tell you why you should buy this book.  First, some authors just "get it", and Thomas is one of those people.  This is a tightly written story, with very little wasted effort.  Thomas doles out details only in measured amounts, which keeps the reader interested and wanting more.  For example, Llewelyn knows general facts about his employer Barker, but only learns specific details as the reader does, by seeing Barker in action.  Thus, Thomas adroitly has the reader guessing as to what will happen next or, more appropriately, "how in the heck are they going to get out of THIS jam?"  Although Llewelyn wants to trust his mentor, he has the uneasy feeling (as do we) that Barker would sacrifice the young man if it meant reaching the objective.  This creates great tension in the story.

Second, the background detail provided by Thomas sets a convincing scene and mood.  Some authors think that they can create a period piece by simply setting modern-day characters with modern-day sensibilities in a different era.  That doesn't work.  As Thomas shows, period pieces work by having the characters act, talk and think as characters would at the time.  For example, Victorian England was a very class-oriented era.  Although we don't know that Barker was a "gentleman born", he acts like a gentleman in the story, even to the point of refusing to eat with someone who Barker finds unsavory.  Further, Baker will not tolerate Llewelyn acting in any less a manner.  Although not as complete, Thomas's vision on London reminded me of Caleb Carr's 1800's New York in "The Alienist".

Finally, "To Kingdom Come" is just a good read.  A great opening scene, lots of action, interesting characters, seductive beauties and literally a bang-up ending.  While some might wish to compare Barker and Llewelyn to Sherlock Holmes (and Barker's name would seem to be a tip of the hat to Holmes' 221B Baker Street address), there is more mystery and fallability to Baker than there was to Holmes, Holmes' morphine addiction notwithstanding.  Baker is a dangerous man with a mysterious past and even more mysterious present habits, such as the locked rooms in his office and the identity of the woman he disappears to see from time to time.  But he is much more expressive in emotion than Holmes, and, thus, more "complete" a character, at least to this point.  But by not shotgunning everything out about Barker in this or in his first book with these characters ("Some Danger Involved"), Thomas has left himself wide open for many more adventures with Baker and Llewelyn.  Enjoy!
1191427
Sorrow, by John Lawson, is the third novel in a series set in this imaginary world.  The story is a standalone novel and although reading the earlier books would help familiarize the reader with this society it is not necessary to enjoy the book.

The novel alternates in perspective between different characters.  Phindol is a sorcerer from another land trying to return home with a dangerous weapon.  Faina is a young girl who is living at the Viscount's palace as a guest (or possibly hostage) of the Viscount and his wife.  An archbishop is murdered at the palace and the investigator sent to find the murderer is the dangerous Lord Ash.

What I found wonderful about this novel was all the characters.  The main characters were all interesting and fully realized.  But all the supporting characters were just as colourful and well rounded.  The culture and people of the land Lawson has created were presented well.  He cleverly let the reader see the society through the eyes of archbishop early in the novel.  The different levels of society and how they interacted added to the novel.

I would have liked Faina's character to have been a bit stronger.  She came across as very naive and almost simple.  The novel ended with somethings still unresolved which makes me hope for a future novel to check in on these characters, a sure sign of successful storytelling.
3414238
I was really impressed by Mary Lawson's novel ROAD ENDS.  Set in a small town in remote Northern Ontario and London in the late 1960's it is an incredibly well portrayed novel of a family that is falling apart through depression and lack of structure.  The major characters are:

EDWARD - A bank manager and the father of nine children. He is unhappily the husband of a woman who seems to want to do nothing but bear and dote on babies.  Scarred by his World War II experiences and the abuses of his drunken father when he was a child  Edward, when not at work, retreats to his study and reading  books about faraway places and times.

MEG - Is the only daughter in the family and the second oldest.  Because of her mother's detachment from all responsibilities but caring for babies she has had great responsibility forced on her from an early age.  When she turns twenty-one she leaves Canada for London, England where her energy and organization skills help her forge a successful career but alas she also falls in love with the wrong man.

TOM - Once a promising aeronautical engineering student the tragic death of his best friend has emotionally paralyzed him as he returns to live at his parent's home, driving a snow plow and seemingly so crippled by depression and guilt he is unable to do anything about the neglect of his several younger brothers.

ROBERT - His tragic death forms the prologue of the book and its aftereffects reverberate throughout the storyline.

The characters and circumstances of the novel are portrayed in a genuine manner that make the reader feel they really know these fictional people.  Apparently a previous novel by Mary Lawson CROW LAKE has some of the same physical settings and personalities but I have not as yet read that novel and had no difficulty at all in following ROAD ENDS.  Time and place changes are labeled with location and date at the beginning of each chapter so the book is readable and easy to access.  I really enjoyed ROAD ENDS that despite sad circumstances is not without hope and will add the two previous novels Mary Lawson has published to my to be read list as well as looking forward eagerly to what she publishes in the future.
2401990
This is an excellent, well-written debut novel. It is about two stories that eventually intertwine and come together as one. One story is that of a young seventeenth century Cornish woman, while the other is that of a present day young woman, a craft shop owner. The thing that binds them together is their love of beautiful embroidery.

When Julia Lovat is given a kiss off gift by her married lover, Michael, a man with whom she has had a seven year love affair and just happens to be her best friend's husband, her life will never be the same. The book is an early seventeenth century book of embroidery patterns, but scribbled along the margins of this book is a story that grips her imagination. Written by Cat Ann Treganna in 1625, it is the story of her life and of her capture by Barbary pirates, who take her to Morocco to be sold into slavery. Enthralled by Cat's story, Julia Lovat decides to discover what eventually happened to Cat, a decision that will change her life.

The stronger part of the book is Cat's story, as she is a more likable character and her story is the more intriguing one. Unfortunately, Julia Lovat is a thoroughly unlikable character, as is her married lover, Michael, and it detracts from the story.  I am not sure why the author chose to make Julia so morally reprehensible, since it is Julia that anchors the story in the present. Still, the book is an entertaining one and well-researched. The details about seventeenth century life ring true, and Cat's story certainly will capture the reader's imagination.
2133014
A very well written novel with excellent characters. The narrator is well developed and each chapter reveals more about this fascinating yet flawed individual. I enjoyed the read even when the narrators actions made me wince. You won't regret purchasing this read.
3976856
JK Rowling's A Casual Vacancy is a compelling novel that deals with the tension between the smug inhabitants of a postcard-perfect little English town, and the marginalised, welfare-dependent and often criminal people who live in the neighbouring public housing estate.

The book begins with the town councillor who crossed  this economic and social divide in part because he went to the town's school.  He has maintained an uneasy peace in the municipal border wars, which shatters into deviousness and skullduggery as people take sides in an election to fill the "casual vacancy" caused by his death.  (Hardly a spoiler: he dies on page 4.)

A Casual Vacancy is more specifically located in English society than the Harry Potter stories, which may confuse North American readers who are not familiar with British notions of social and economic class.  However, people who read British mystery and crime novels, or who watch the occasional British TV show will have little difficulty.  This is a socially conscious novel that makes us uncomfortable, whether we are British or not, because the characters, their motivation and the situations in which they interact are familiar.

The plot is character driven; Rowling's understanding of people and her skill in presenting them will have readers empathising with her characters, even -- perhaps especially -- when they are not people who you would want as neighbours.

The adult townsfolk are flawed human beings motivated by their desire to maintain (and possibly improve) their places within their exclusive little world.  Their machinations are counterpointed against the lives of teenagers from both the town and the tract housing close by who rebel against their parents, whose sexual and social transgressions make them easy targets for juvenile revenge.  Both the adults and teenagers derive pleasure from the misfortune of others, creating a dangerous mix of interlinked feuding that is reminiscent of some  British murder mysteries.

It will come as no surprise to Rowling fans that the teenagers are especially convincing.  Unlike the characters of the Harry Potter novels, they have no magic, no idealised school with fascinating teachers who care for them, and no heroic destiny to save the world from an evil genius.  This is not the wondrous alternative world Rowling shaped out of medieval myths and magic.  Here is no Hogwarts with its profligate riot of marvellous beasts, larger than life characters and cheerful flaunting of natural law.  Instead, the characters in A Casual Vacancy have to cope with the everyday, gritty life in which Rowling herself lived until her imagination lifted her into well-deserved fame and fortune.

People the world over love to revisit Harry's world where courage, hope and loyalty are bound to prevail.  Harry Potter has an indomitable spirit in the face of adversity, in part because of his parents' love. He is luckier than the characters in A Casual Vacancy.  The novel captures the way young people strive to overcome the consequences of their parents' stupidity, cupidity and selfishness in the deeply flawed society in which we all live.  Like Harry, they are bloodied but unbowed.
3037823
Another excellent book by John Irving. It still doesn't top my favorite "A Prayer For Owen Meany," but this is an extremely well-written novel with well-rounded, realistic, endearing characters. It is a saga, and its characters, like in most Irving novels, are plagued with problems and obstacles and they're not perfect but you can't help but feeling attached to them anyway. A really good read - a novel to make you feel something, to make you think, and to make you laugh. Highly recommended, and I still have yet to see the movie.
4947681
This is a well thought out novel with well developed characters that starts in 1911 and the events that take place in that time, carry themselves out to 2011.  A body of the English soldier (from World War I) is found in Belgium.  He has no tags on him, but next to his body there is a sealed container with letters that may be a clue to his identity.  It is difficult to make out what are these letters - they are no exactly love letter but familiarity of its correspondents is not carring deep affection between them either.

In 1911 a vicar and his wife live quiet and happy life in the rural english town.  They have a young maid Cat join their household.  Cat is suffregette and she has just been released from the prison (in London) for protesting for women's rights.  There is a touching background story about Cat's friendship with another maid Tess and their mistreatment in prison that involves beatings and forced feedings.  Before long, a vicar Alert and his wife Hester receive in their household a house guest named Robert Durant who is theosophist - a man who believes in existance of fairies.  Robert is young and handsome and has charismatic smile that disarms any person that may have objection towards him.  Robert comes from prosperous family, but unlike his brothers who find their careeers in medicine and military, Robert is determined to live life on his own terms even if it means scheming other people.  These four characters get entangled and their actions affect all of them in a ways least exepcted.

It is Leah, 21st century writer who gets involved in research about these people, once she discovers identity of some of the protagonists of this story.  Leah's ex- boyfriend gives her the lead on the story.  They broke up almost a year ago and it appears that Leah has a difficult time of letting go of that relationship.  As we follow the parallel lives of characters from 100 years ago we also follow the lives of the characters from the present.  Emotions, attachments and subtle subplots of these stories mysteriously merge past and present together.  This is great storytelling, both compelling and believable.  Author Katherine Webb did a fabulous job.
2156531
I began reading "Latitudes A Story of Coming Home" by Anthony Caplan on Friday. Because it was a novel I knew that I would have to begin the book uninterrupted, at least until the plot was developed. I restarted reading the book on Saturday, for me this is not good.  As I got into the book I realized that it really was not `my kinda' book'.  BUT before you decide not to read it you must understand why.
"Latitudes" is a plot rich book requiring a lot of foundational information once the reader understands the various `whats' within the main characters family, then the story will flow smoothly. In its' simplest form I would say this is a book about the growth and development of Will, the main character. Early in the book the reader will realize that Wills' life is not simple as he travels between Venezuela and the United States. It is almost necessary for the reader to become a therapist as the various problems within the family unfold.
As with most reviewers my personality influences my opinion of books, which is why I caution my readers to not go by one reviewer's opinion.  Latitudes is well written and well developed in terms of plot line, the book cover is excellent and for the most part the end is not disappointing. The reason why I had difficulty reading the book was because it is not the type of book I would generally read for myself.  I would recommend this book to my friends and do recommend this book to my readers.
3895605
Ouray's Peak, by Leigh Podgorski, is a well written gripping novel taking the reader on a journey of adventure, injustices and nostalgia; a journey into the phenomenological world of a girl called Kristin, and her ancestral North American Indian tribe. This journey begins with a young strong-minded girl. As she progresses into adulthood the past, present and future merge, and with the pieces of the puzzle all falling into place her life now takes on a new meaning.

Leigh Podgorski's attention to detail and characterisation is impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as well as learning about the beauty of the mountains of Colorado, and the injustices forcing Indian tribes from their hunting grounds --areas of great spiritual meaning and attachment. Perhaps one day the white buffalo will return and the Earth will once again live in harmony and all injustices will be resolved. This is certainly a book I can recommend and is most worthy of a five star rating.
Brian Wilson (NZ)
3047015
I am happy that the positive comments about this novel by Tom Perrotta, a writer that I like, encouraged me in a bid to win a copy from Goodreads and I am happy to say that he did not let me down. Most of us have had an imaginary conversation with a celebrity that we admire at one time or another. Our protagonist Charlie is a character willing to go much farther in his effort than a fanciful reverie making this an interesting (and well written) journey.
3127248
This author did a tremendous job of developing characters whose lives did not fit into the customs and way of life of a well-developed setting. Part of the power of this setting is the time in which this story takes place. Many of these characters worked hard to hide their character and personalities. In some ways the current time is somewhat more open to people who live out of society's box. It also brings to life how evil and demeaning people can be to others, and the power that some people can obtain based on who they and others think they are. This book has several connections to the book "The Help." This is great novel which paints a realistic portrait of real life that isn't kind. It shows the power of groups.
4787166
"Flat on the brown, pine-needled floor of the forest, his chin on his folded arms, and high overhead the wind blew in the tops of the pine trees." This is very typical Ernest Hemmingway diction in his book, For Whom The Bell Tolls. He always manages to use very descriptive imagery in his writing. In this book, Hemmingway tells a story of group conflict and romance.

 In this novel, Hemmingway tells the story of a man named Robert Jordan and his life as a guerilla soldier in the mountains of Spain in the year of 1937. In his journeys, Robert Jordan is allied with another soldier, Pablo, his lady, Pilar, and a girl named Maria. Robert Jordan is sent to these mountains on a mission to blow up a bridge. In his time with his these people, Jordan deals with conflict within the group and his growing interest with Maria.
 Ernest Hemmingway is very effective in telling the struggles of Robert Jordan when he is trying to blow up the bridge, and the romance he has with Maria. Hemmingway's descriptions of the bridge and the mountains of Spain creates a crystal clear image of the setting Robert Jordan is in. "The mountainside sloped gently where he lay; but below it was steep and he could see the dark of the oiled road winding through the pass."
 Hemmingway's character description in this novel is terrific. Each character is described with vivid details of their personality and physical characteristics. When talking about Robert Jordan, Hemmingway says, "The young man, who was tall and thin, with sun-streaked fair hair, and a wind- and sun-burned face, who wore the sun-faded flannel shirt, a pair of peasant's trousers and rope-soled shoes.." Hemmingway provides each character with their own individual description and background in this book.
 The plot of this novel is one of courage, loyalty, and romance. Hemmingway tells about an American man in an International Brigade who shows bravery in his mission to blow up a bridge. Hemmingway also describes his loyalty to his comrades in his time in the mountains. Most of all, Hemmingway tells of Jordan's growing love of the girl Maria. "Her teeth were white in her brown face and her skin and her eyes were the same golden tawny brown. She had high cheekbones, merry eyes, and a straight mouth with full lips. Her hair was the golden brown of a grain field.."
 Ernest Hemmingway uses wonderful diction throughout the entire novel. Hemmingway uses Spanish words and phrases often in this book such as, "Hola", "Salud", and "Dentro de la gravedad". All of these examples give more detail to the characters, and the Spanish culture as well. Hemmingway also uses imagery very well in this novel, always trying to give you the best mental picture possible of the situation. "..and the four knelt, looking very awkward with their heads against the wall and their hands by their sides, and Pablo passed behind them and shot each in turn in the back of the head with the pistol, going from one to another and putting the barrel of the pistol against the back of their heads, each man slipping down as he fired."
 For Whom The Bell Tolls is a fairly easy-reading book and tells a very good story. This is a perfect example of Ernest Hemmingway at his best. He delivers a great account of one man's adventures in the civil war of Spain, while tying in romance and the brutality of war along with it.