Coins for the Ferryman by Leone Sperling

Review by Skye Hancock

When I first started reading this book I was immediately sucked in by the main character, her life and her way of thinking.

I did not want to stop reading because I wanted to know what she was going to do next. I almost found her analysis’s and reactions throughout the book, hypnotising. 

Leone’s writing style is detailed, quick and to the point. It is written as though she is re-calling facts, leaving me constantly guessing as to whether they were actual events. She is so clever that I was so drawn into this book that it wasn’t until the end that I realised there were no names mentioned, not once.

What interested me about this story in the beginning was the fact that this recently divorced 40 year old woman, mother of four, was travelling to a foreign continent on her own for six weeks. A realistic, relatable story in today’s society.

As she begins her voyage she starts to also reflect on her past. She thinks about her marriage, children, relationship with her mother, relationships with men and other numerous past events to which all have helped mould the person she is and led her to this point in her life. With time and distance between herself and her family, she slowly begins to see her life from a different perspective and there begins her journey of self-discovery and self-love, finally finding her way to freedom.

There were times in the book where I did feel as though I was getting a little bored of her re-call of past events because I was desperate to find out more about her Europe trip. I also found the main character’s selfish ways and rebellious behaviour completely irritating at times. I know in the end, this helped concrete the purpose of the book and kept me interested in waiting for her to reach her maturity. Having said that, it was the stories of her past, her struggles within and battles along the way that intrigued me the most, forcing me to reflect on my own life, leaving me in tears.

The climax to the end of the book was fantastic. I loved the last four pages the most and the characters analysis and new found perspective on life were eye-opening.

In the end I think the book came together really well. I would recommend this book to anyone currently on their own soul-searching journey, or in need of a little woman empowerment inspiration!

ISBN: 978-0-9925601-6-4

Published by: www.cilentopublishing.com

Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon. 

Blurline by TW Lawless

Blurline is the third book in the Peter Clancy series by TW Lawless. Set in London Peter Clancy digs up the dirt on Olivia Michaels, a drug-and-alcohol induced celebrity. He soon finds himself deep in mud as he exposes the ugly secrets that stretch across the entertainment world.

Blurline is TW Lawless at his best. Can Peter Clancy continue to survive in the world of scandalous journalism? Can he succeed in his mission to blow the lid off Britain’s darkest secrets? 

Within Blurline TW Lawless touches on a topic that is raw within our media and the celebrity world. Although topical he shows awareness of the fact that this may be a little close to home for some, addressing a scandalous issue with softness and compassion whilst maintaining a read that entertains and relates. The topic of pedophilia has never been as reachable as it is in Blurline. At no time whilst reading Blurline did I feel it was a fictional book of controversy, instead I was caught up in the pages eager to find out what Peter Clancy uncovered next.

TW Lawless does not miss a beat from one book to the other. Blurline carries the characters from Homecountry and Thornydevils nicely, introducing new characters that only compliment. Peter Clancy takes a piece of Australia to London as he maintains his lovable larrikin ways, fitting nicely into the UK setting. 

It is hard to do Blurline justice as TW Lawless yet again leaves me on a high note wanting more. He shows that he only grows in strength from book to book. Prior to reading Blurline I was asked to read and review Gun Control by Peter Corris, who is labeled as “The godfather of Australian Crime Fiction.’ Unfortunately, after reading TW Lawless, Peter Corris was a flat read. He lacked the strength in his characters and the thrill and chase that TW Lawless provides. Peter Corris tells a crime story, TW Lawless takes you on the journey. Cliff Hardy tells you what is happening, Peter Clancy takes you with him and shows you one hell of a good time. From a woman’s perspective Peter Corris lacked the love and romance that TW Lawless provides, leaving a more manly read. TW Lawless provides his female readers with Peter Clancy, a male character that easily gets the hormones racing and cupid’s arrow flying. He is a womaniser with a cunningness that you cannot help falling in love with, leading you feeling you could be that one woman who hooks him in and holds him forever. 

Blurline has it all - crime, scandal, conflict, drugs, alcohol, love, sex and humour. Just the right mixture of the lot to make this a number one seller. It provides a light hearted read full of adventure, strength and character. As a fictional character Peter Clancy uses his wit and charisma to twirl you around and spit you out, leaving you wanting more. You can’t help but love him whilst wondering how one man can continue to get caught up in the underworld, putting himself at risk. Come on Peter, surely you have learnt your lesson by now? But then men like Peter Clancy never learn. The thrill of a chase, the dirt of others and a salacious life is what drives them forward.

I wait with anticipation and craving for the next book in the Peter Clancy series by TW Lawless.

ISBN: 978-0-9942651-0-4

Available in paperback and ebook www.twlawless.com 

Review: Jennifer Douglas

www.jenniferdouglasliterarypublicist.com 

Purchase a paperback copy of Blurline from www.twlawless.com to become an exclusive member of the Peter Clancy Club.

Other titles in the Peter Clancy series:

Gun Control by Peter Corris

Peter Corris has been around for a long time writing his first Cliff Hardy novel in 1980. Gun Control is the latest Cliff Hardy book, seeing Cliff hired by entrepreneur and one-time pistol-shooting champion Timothy Greenhall to investigate the violent death of his troubled son.

This was my second Peter Corris read, having read The Empty Beach, and seen the movie, many years ago. I will admit that The Empty Beach as a read never did it for me, the movie, on the other hand I enjoyed. This was a bit of a role reversal for myself as I am a reader not a movie lover. Over the years I have looked at other work by Peter Corris and for one reason or another never read them. I picked up Gun Control with an open mind hoping I was about to find a new crime fiction author to follow, be it later than most.  After all he is labelled as ‘the godfather of Australian crime fiction.’

Within the first few chapters my disappointment was evident. I was left scratching my head as to why he was ‘the godfather of Australian crime fiction’ when there are many Australian crime writers who offer way more strength in characters and plot. T.W Lawless is one that comes instantly to mind with his Peter Clancy series.

For myself Peter Corris did not give me enough connection with the characters. They lacked strength and the bonding process was slow, if at all. I do not feel I engaged and got to know the characters personally. There was no falling in love with a particular character or fondness. The lack of connection lead to just a read for myself instead of a journey. Peter Corris can write but for a man who has been labelled with a strong title and one who has been writing Cliff Hardy novels for over 20 years I was expecting more of a developed character with a plot that took me there, instead of just told me. 

The back blurb of Gun Control speaks of way more strength than the inside. There is a death to be investigated, followed by two murders. There is mention of a hook up with a policewoman and of an alliance with a bikie chief. It speaks of Hardy untangling the conspiracy behind the murders and of confrontations. Yes they happen, but they just happen. For me I was not ‘involved’ in them. I was not left gasping or sitting on the edge of my seat hoping Cliff made it through and caught the bad guy. When Cliff was thrown in the car and taken for a drive I was not left wondering if this was the end of him or how he would get himself out of this situation. 

The wonderful thing about books is that they are diverse and enable readers to take from them different thoughts and feelings. Some we connect with, others we don’t. Some love one book, others don’t. I appreciate that Peter Corris has a following but as a crime fiction reader I will continue to question why he has been given a title that befits so many other crime fiction writers. Is it the quantity of Cliff Hardy books he has published? Is it the length of time he has been writing? Is it just purely a spin off of the column he writes and good marketing? He has experience. He has history as an author. He even has awards. Peter Corris writes with professionalism that includes the occasional one liner to keep you interested but maybe, just maybe, he is being given attention that is leading to the neglect of the strength of other crime fiction writers in Australia.

Overall Gun Control by Peter Corris is a worthy weekend read if you are looking for something to fill in the hours. It has left me wanting to know more about Peter Corris himself and wondering if maybe I should read another Cliff Hardy novel in order to form a deeper opinion of the series as a whole. I can see the writing style of Peter Corris fitting nicely into that of autobiographies and will be delving into that side of Peter Corris the author. 

ISBN: 978-1-76011-206-6

Published by Allen and Unwin

Review: Jennifer Douglas

www.jenniferdouglasliterarypublicist.com 

Road To Nowhere by Evan Shapiro

Road to Nowhere by Evan Shapiro leaves you deep in thought about the past, present and future of the human species. It takes you to places you hope you never need to go, presenting global issues that although fiction seem so real. 

Presented as a science fiction novel Road to Nowhere is so much more. Evan Shapiro has entwined a variety of genre’s within one book. Based around the main characters of Patrick and Kirby, Evan Shapiro has your mind twirling around relationships, love and the need for ones own identity, whilst pondering how far you would go with another in order to protect yourself and the one you love. There is crime, a murder, left to be solved by Anthenian Detective Costas Paradisos, that uncovers more than he ever imagined and leads to relationships not only of sex and lust but of deep connection. Throw in Angel, a gifted teenager who is able to ‘complete advanced mathematical calculations in her head within a fraction of a second’ and an old man known as Ancient and you have an array of characters who hold a connection stronger than they realise.

Road to Nowhere takes you there. With Costas you travel the globe, with Patrick, Ancient and Angel you travel Australia whilst Kirby has you floating around in space talking DNA and atomic organic structure. Evan Shapiro is a writer not to be messed with. He shows immense strength in his structure and plot creating individual lives that have you enveloped in their adventure yet entwined in the complete journey.

Road to Nowhere by Evan Shapiro is one of those books that is hard to describe. I definitely do not feel I can do it justice in the form of a written review. This is a book that you must read to appreciate and to feel the full weight of what possibly may not be as fictional as it is presented. 

I urge you to put down what you are currently reading and grab a copy of Road To Nowhere. You will soon be seeing the world around you from a different thought perspective. 

I leave you with the three following extracts from various pages of Road To Nowhere by Evan Shapiro.

‘What was survival if its cost left you spiritually bankrupt? As a species should we not only strive to survive but also strive to evolve?’

‘There are only three things you need to worry about. What you were, what you are and what you’ll be.’

“What if all other living creatures apart from humanity are born with an understanding of universal truths. Seems to me they tend to live their lives in sync with nature rather than in opposition to it. They don’t destroy to the capacity and scale that people do. Perhaps humanity is wasting its time trying to find answers to questions that every other living being already knows instinctively?” The old man smiled. 

ISBN: 978-0-9925601-8-8

Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Evan-Shapiro/e/B00MUP0D78

Join Evan Shapiro on Facebook: www.facebook.com/evanshapiro.author

review: Jennifer Douglas

www.jenniferdouglasliterarypublicist.com

Ralf by Anne Crawford

Ralf by Anne Crawford is a book that touches your heart and has you riding an emotional rollercoaster.

Ralf is a Giant Schnauzer with a heart of gold. Facing an uncertain future Caroline Lovick  and her family take Ralf into their home in Melbourne. Ralf soon becomes an important part of not only Caroline’s family but that of those he greets at the school gate each day. Children stop to pat him, turning him into a celebrity in his own right. Caroline soon feels there is more to Ralf than anyone realises. After attending the Royal Melbourne Show, where Ralf competed, Caroline see’s his potential as a therapy dog. Ralf soon spends many years of his life touching hearts at not only Trinity Manor nursing home but largely at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Ralf is a gentle read that you just don’t want to put down. For myself this book came into my life at a time when I was in the process of getting an assistance dog for my daughter who has Autism so I surely related to the wonders of animals as therapy. I easily connected to Ralf and his ways, bonding with a lovable dog with a huge heart. 

Ralf is more than a story about one dog, it is a story of compassion, understanding, love and dedication. It is a celebration of the endless time volunteers give just to place smiles on faces and share love with others. Caroline is an amazing woman who dedicates many of her hours to those who are sick, alleviating stress from families. Caroline’s compassion, understanding and tireless work should be commended. Ralf by Anne Crawford celebrates a dog and human team who work miracles. 

I went through all the emotions when reading Ralf, emotions created not only by the patients of the hospital but by Ralf and Caroline and their relationship together. Anne Crawford has written a book that allows you to easily connect to the content, traveling the journey with the team. 

The share of royalties from this book that would normally go to Ralf’s family are being donated to The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and Lort Smith Animal Hospital, who looked after Ralf throughout the journey. Another show of how Caroline, and her family, put others needs before their own.

If you are after a easy read that will touch your heart, educate and envelope you in love and warmth then Ralf by Anne Crawford is what you are after. 

ISBN: 978-1-76011-122-9

Published 2015 by Allen & Unwin

www.allenandunwin.com

review: Jennifer Douglas

www.jenniferdouglasliterarypublicist.com 

The Lornesleigh Legacy by Kay Bell

The Lornesleigh Legacy is the first book by Kay Bell, an Australian author who resides in Victoria. Set in Australia during the time of convict settlement, the  gold rush, the boom years and the depression of the 1930’s, The Lornesleigh Legacy takes the reader on a journey of love, loss and life as it use to be.

The Lornesleigh Legacy is focused around Will, a young boy living on a cattle station in North Queensland and John Clark, Will’s grandfather. Poppy John, as he is known to his family, is a well respected man and the patriarch of the family empire.  With the family falling apart and Will suffering an injury, Poppy John takes Will away to recuperate. It is here that the reader begins their journey of time travel as Poppy John shares his secret box of treasures from the past with Will.

The Lornesleigh Legacy surprised me. I found way more than I thought I would. I soon became attached to the 90 year old man and this boy who deserved more love and respect than his parents seemed to offer. Kay Bell writes with eloquence and grace as she captures the time and place in history that we can only imagine and read in books. Through her writing she is able to give the readers a clear visual of each scene, allowing them to imagine the sights, smells and emotions of the characters. 

I loved everything about this book. Although fiction I was enveloped in history and the love between Poppy John and Will. I angered at the treatment of Will by his mother and the weak role his father seemed to play.  I rode the tidal wave of the family bickering and division. As Poppy John aged through the years of his life I felt his love and his loss. I gasped in places and I shouted no. I turned each page awaiting the next part of the journey as the years in Poppy John’s life diminished, not wanting this man to leave yet knowing his time was limited. I lived in hope that the end of the book did not see the end of this old man, feeling Will’s heartbreak before I knew the outcome. 

I read The Lornesleigh Legacy in ebook format which I purchased from Amazon.com. This has left me a little disappointed as it is one of those books I would love to have displayed in paperback on my shelf having the opportunity to  discuss and share it with others. I can only imagine what it would feel like to hold a little bit of Poppy John’s life in my hands. I imagine it would feel soft, gentle, alive and full of the love of an old man who lived his life. 

The Lornesleigh Legacy has left me hoping we will see more from author Kay Bell. I await to see if we are given the opportunity to follow the continued journey of Will’s life in a sequel. 

Visit Kay Bell’s website www.kaybell.com.au

Purchase the Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/The-Lornesleigh-Legacy-Kay-Bell-ebook/dp/B005USDI3I

Review: Jennifer Douglas

www.jenniferdouglasliterarypublicist.com 

Cassie's Marvelous Music Lessons by Sheri Poe-Pape

Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons is the first book by Sheri Poe-Pape. When not writing Sheri is the director of Pape Conservatory of Music where she has spent the last thirty three years teaching piano. Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons is based on fourteen years of sharing her teaching with her beloved canine companion.

Within Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons Sheri Poe-Pape introduces us to a sweet little dog Cassie and her owner Mrs Applebaum. The  personification of Cassie ‘the marvelous music mutt’, whilst still maintaining her dog qualities, had me wondering if it was going to work but Sheri has pulled it off nicely, producing a character that delighted my 7 year old daughter. 

Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons speaks of love and warmth. Cassie is an instant hit with the children who attend the piano lesson of Mrs Applebaum, providing an atmosphere that promotes learning and understanding. For Mrs Applebaum having Cassie in her life opens her heart and helps her tune into her skills of listening and understanding. Cassie has something to say to Mrs Applebaum but she does not seem to understand. With a lot of perseverance from Cassie and a little bit of patience from Mrs Applebaum the message is soon loud and clear and Cassie is rewarded.

As far as illustrated children’s books go Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons is a little more wordy than the norm. This makes it more suitable for the older reader or as a read to me book for the younger child. I feel the illustrations within Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons are very basic, not quiet giving me what I would have liked.  With the length and depth of the book I would have liked to have seen illustrations that are more inviting and have a more 3D effect, matching the personification and bouncy flamboyant feel of Cassie. In this instance the match of author to illustrator was done by the publishers Mayhaven Publishing, being a reflection on their choice not that of the author. This reflection should not take part in the consideration of purchase as Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons has a great story to tell. 

Overall Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons is a fun loving read with positive messages. Speaking of the universal language of music and the companionship provided by a canine friend, Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lesson has the ingredients of a book that will be loved by children. It is presented as a hardcover high quality book that sits nicely on a child’s book shelf, lasting for years. I look forward to following the growth of Sheri Poe-Pape as an author.  I wonder if we will see further adventures by Cassie the marvelous music mutt. 

ISBN: 9781932278361

Authors website: www.sheripoe-pape.com

Join Sheri Poe-Pape on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheri-Poe-Pape/475877122479605

Purchase a copy of Cassie’s Marvelous Music Lessons from the author’s site, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 

review: Jennifer Douglas

www.jenniferdouglasliterarypublicist.com