Tag Archives: Adventure

Knight of Sword and Shadow by Ava Speirs-review tour

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Knight of Sword and Shadow (Order of the Ravens 1) by Ava Speirs-review tour

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In a world of shadow, can one hero shine

When scandal and disgrace fall upon the Order of the Conclave, Bastian and his Order are forced to hide who they are proud to be. Cast out, shunned and scorned by those who were once honoured to use their services, Bastian and his men are left with no choice but to become mercenaries. Moving across the Five Kingdoms, they restore peace for coin, shedding blood for others’ gain.

Tasked with the job of escorting a noblewoman and her handmaiden across the Sand Seas, Bastian soon realises not all is as it should be. Something evil poisons the lands, as whispers of revolt and rebellion are once again murmured among the courts.

In the halls of his Order, Bastian is entrusted with a mission. He knows this shouldn’t be his fight, but the duty to his Order, his comrades, and his mysterious travelling companions weighs heavily on him.

The mission is so dangerous and deadly only a fool would take it…and only a coward would refuse it.

•••••••••

REVIEW: KNIGHT OF SWORD AND SHADOW is the first instalment in Ava Speirs (aka Eve L Mitchell) adult ORDER OF THE RAVENS high fantasy, adventure series.

Told from third person perspective KNIGHT OF SWORD AND SHADOW follows Bastian and his Order of Ravens as they encounter three strangers-a noblewoman, a handmaiden and their guardian-who task the Knights of the Ravens with a journey to the Golden City but the strangers are keeping secrets, just as Bastian and his men are keeping close to themselves, and in this, Bastian suspects danger at every turn. From magic and mayhem, to creatures of the dark, the group trek across dry, arid plains and forsaken forests only to lose one of their own but it is their arrival in the Golden City that will reveal some of the secrets, secrets that force Bastian to make a decision that will affect his men, going forward.

KNIGHT OF SWORD AND SHADOW is a fantasy story; an adventure of good vs evil, old gods and new gods, magic and power, secrets and lies. The slow building premise is complex, detailed and intriguing; the characters are charismatic, secretive, powerful and dynamic. KNIGHT OF SWORD AND SHADOW ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Ava Speirs is the alter ego of USA Today bestselling author Eve L. Mitchell.

Ava is a huge fantasy fan and grew up reading stories that captured her imagination and took her on journeys of action and adventure. Her favourite stories to write are ones where the possibilities are endless and reality is what she creates. Ava favours the grumpy, sometimes reluctant hero and the fearless, usually sarcastic heroine.

 

Ava lives in the North East of Scotland with her significant other, Mr M. When not writing, Ava adores all things ean Winchester, quaffs coffee like a champion, and still has no idea what a dangling modifier is. She is quite fond of a cliffhanger though…

Connect with Ava Speirs:

Linktree: https://bit.ly/3VPmnti

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Where the Light Dies (Blood of Eith 4) by Gillian Grant-review

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Where the Light Dies (Blood of Eith 4) by Gillian Grant-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 4, 2022

Will he find redemption or fall into eternal darkness?

Elven warrior Abraxas Kain thought he died in the battle. Instead, he’s stranded in time, a hundred years in the past and enslaved to his enemy, the blood mage and necromancer, Nerezza. Re-fighting old battles, Abraxas is forced to confront the atrocities he’s committed. He’d once been the Champion of Haphion, the God of Light. But had the battles he’d fought really been for the moral side? He no longer believes in redemption. There is only salvation, and salvation requires sacrifice.

As a lost daughter of Serevadia, Nerezza believes it’s her duty to bring her people out of the shadows where they’ve been living underground and into the light on the surface. And whether he’s willing or not, Nerezza is determined Abraxas will help her.

In the present time, Evren and the Wandering Sols grieve for Abraxas. Then they find themselves in a race against time as the Serevadian threat beneath their feet begins a war for the surface. Nerezza was once a friend, but destiny and her lust for power has turned her against the Wandering Sols as she hunts for the artifacts that will give her the divinity to return her people to their rightful place. Abraxas fights his own internal battle. Will he remain trapped in the darkness of the past or find his way back to the light? What will be sacrificed as old allies and enemies return to face the coming threat of an entire world at war?

•••••••

REVIEW: WHERE THE LIGHT DIES is the fourth instalment in Gillian Grant’s adult THE BLOOD OF EITH high fantasy series focusing on twenty-three year old, half-elf, hunter Evren Hanali of Orenlion, and her ragtag team of misfit warriors who call themselves the Wandering Sols. WHERE THE LIGHT DIES can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as several plot lines converge in each instalment.

Told from third person perspective WHERE THE LIGHTS DIES follows two paths: Elven warrior Abraxas Kain and newly turned necromancer/ blood mage Nerezza descend through time arriving one-hundred years before the current timeline. Believed to have been killed in the last battle, Abraxa finds himself a slave to a woman who was once a friend but a slave who will amass more power than anyone could have ever imagined.

Meanwhile, the current timeline finds Evren and the Wandering Sols searching for their friends, friends believed to have died but may still be alive. As both timelines focus on a war for control and influence, Abraxa and Nerezza go in search of an artifact that will give one or both god-like powers, while Evren pushes herself to the edge of reason, in an effort to protect the people she loves.

Once again, most of the previous story line characters return including Sorin Trinity, goblin Arke, dwarf warrior Solri Amet, and Keres, a spirit that is able to enter the bodies of the recently deceased but a spirit searching for a permanent home.

WHERE THE LIGHT DIES is a detailed, complex, action packed adventure of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, life and death, time travel and resurrection, all reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings™ franchise; the varying facets of Dungeons and Dragons™, and A Game of Thrones™ fantasy saga. From elves to dwarves, mages and dragon, WHERE THE LIGHT DIES takes the read into a fantastical journey where not everyone will survive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Where The Shadow Beckons
Where the Night Consumes
Where The Heart Festers

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / Facebook /

Gillian Grant was born in Texas and grew up enthralled with fantasy stories of all kinds. As she got older, she often traveled with her family and imagined wild adventures while exploring the mountains of Colorado and the glens of Scotland. Back home in Texas, she took her love of fantasy to the next level and sat a group of friends down to play Dungeons and Dragons. From there, they built the world her first novel, Where The Shadows Beckon was set in. When she’s not writing, Gillian is normally juggling too many D&D campaigns, grooming dogs, and imagining her next adventure. She still lives in Texas with her two cats.

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Where The Night Consumes (Blood of Eith)by Gillian Grant-a review

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Where The Night Consumes (Blood of Eith 2)by Gillian Grant-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 5, 2022

When the lands they travel are as deadly as the enemies they face.

Bound together by friendship and the need to survive, the Wandering Sols loyalties are tested as their journey leads into the lands of eternal night. Evren Hanali, Gyda, Abraxas Kain, Arke, Solri Amet, and Sorin Trinity have no idea what’s coming for them.

Lured back to the Reino Terminan by the horrible news of her clan’s fate, Gyda finds herself under the thrall of the same unknown necromancer who now controls her undead kin. Her only hope is her new friends, but there are so many things she never told them.

Rescuing Gyda from a fate worse than death forces the ragtag team of adventurers to the very brink. But not only do the Wandering Sols have to save their friend, they’re going to have to confront a past that’s been haunting her and the secrets she kept. Their journey through the icy tundra is almost as dangerous as the enemies who are lurking in the shadows.

In the war against darkness itself, the biggest risk is exposing your secrets to the light of day.

•••••

REVIEW:WHERE THE NIGHT CONSUMES is the second instalment in Gillian Grant’s adult BLOOD OF EITH dark, high fantasy, adventure series focusing on twenty-three year old, half-elf, hunter Evren Hanali of Orenlion, and her ragtag team of misfit warriors who call themselves the Wandering Sols. WHERE THE NIGHT CONSUMES can be read as a stand alone but for back story and history I recommend reading the series in order.

Told from third person perspective (Evren) WHERE THE NIGHT CONSUMES follows Evren Hanali and the Wandering Sols, in the wake of their latest contract, a job in which they came face to face with the walking dead. A suspected necromancer in the far north is reanimating the dead, and another group known as The Ashen Bond has been tasked with uncovering the truth. Refusing to sit by idly, half-giant Gyda of the Wandering Sols, who had previously lost her entire clan to The Long Night, offers her services to The Ashen Bond but in doing so sets into motion a journey where not everyone will return. Hoping to bring Gyda back into the fold, Evren and the Wandering Sols go in search of Gyda, only to discover they are ill-prepared for what comes their way.

Most of the previous story line characters return including Sorin Trinity, goblin Arke, dwarf warrior Solri Amet, elf Abraxas Kain, Professor Elend and half giant Gyda. We are introduced to The Ashen Bond: Drystan, Sahar Al-Fasil, Nerezza Quill, and Vox, as well as Keres, and a young but powerful Vasa named Gail.

WHERE THE NIGHT CONSUMES is a detailed, complex and fascinating tale of adventure reminiscent of Lord of the Rings™ franchise; the varying facets of Dungeons and Dragons™, but most especially this instalment of the Game of Thrones™ fantasy saga wherein the story line delves deeply into a ‘whitewalker’ esque style of army and power. Evren, the Wandering Sols, and The Ashen Bond must face down an army of the ‘walking dead’, an ice-cold, frozen army of soulless men and women, who are of one mind, an army trapped in the ice and snow, protected by a monster of unspeakable terror.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one WHERE THE SHADOWS BECKON

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / Facebook /

Gillian Grant was born in Texas and grew up enthralled with fantasy stories of all kinds. As she got older, she often traveled with her family and imagined wild adventures while exploring the mountains of Colorado and the glens of Scotland. Back home in Texas, she took her love of fantasy to the next level and sat a group of friends down to play Dungeons and Dragons. From there, they built the world her first novel, Where The Shadows Beckon was set in. When she’s not writing, Gillian is normally juggling too many D&D campaigns, grooming dogs, and imagining her next adventure. She still lives in Texas with her two cats.

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The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure by Carolyn Arnold-Review

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The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure by Carolyn Arnold-a Review

 

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Description:
For centuries, the existence of Spanish pirate José Gaspar has been relegated to legend, but archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his friends may have just found reason to believe the buccaneer truly existed.
 
Rumored to have sailed and plundered the Gulf of Mexico and the Spanish Main during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Gaspar would have amassed a vast fortune. But can Matthew and the gang prove myth as fact and find Gaspar’s priceless treasure? It will take courage and tenacity as the path to gold proves deadly—and even murderous once they discover the true identity and fate of the man nicknamed Gasparilla.

 

 

Review:

The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure by Carolyn Arnold is the 3rd book in her Matthew Connor Adventure series.  Matthew Connor, our hero, is a famed Archaeologist, and the lead in this series.  Matthew comes across as a modern-day Indiana Jones, and his two friends, Robyn & Cal, are always part of their escapades. This is an exciting & fun series, as Arnold takes us on an adventure to Spain, to find the lost treasure of a famous pirate, José Gaspar. 

Matthew is approached by a professor, who claims to have a diary of the famed pirate, that will lead them to where the treasure is.  At first, he and his friends decide they do not want to get involved, as they know nothing about this man.  But when they are attacked, Matthew, Robyn, Cal and the professor, Mel are on the run from someone trying to kill them. 

What follows is an exciting, action filled, intense, edge of your seat adventure that constantly has us in suspense.  Upon arriving in Spain, they with the help of an ally, manage to retrieve more information and a map from a museum, where a helper is killed.  They manage to survive, and head to where the map details the possibility of the buried treasure.  For every step they take, danger and death threaten from all sides. As in each of the books, there is the same villain, who once again steps in to take over the possible findings, and during a battle, they lose someone helping them.  There were so many dangerous situations they had me holding my breath. To tell too much more would be major spoilers, which would ruin it for you. You really need to read this book.

Carolyn Arnold has written an amazing story, describing everything in detail, giving us wonderful visions  of Spain, with the wreckage of the ship and a buried coffin.  I loved Matthew, Robyn and Cal, as they made a great team.  This was a fun and exciting book, which once again I thoroughly I enjoyed very much.  I look forward to more from the Matthew Connor Adventure series. Carolyn Arnold has created another winner.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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The Girl in Red by Christina Henry – Review & Giveaway

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The Girl in Red by Christina Henry – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
It’s not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn’t look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there’s something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.

Red doesn’t like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn’t about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods…

 

 

Review:

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry is a Sci-Fi/Horror story that is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in a Dystopian world.  Henry has written a number of novels of dark retellings of various fairy tales

Three months ago life was normal for Cordelia (Red), and her family, until a terrible Plague has decimated the world’s population.  When her mother starts getting sick, Red’s parents tell her to take her brother Adam and leave for a long trek to her grandmother’s house.  The storyline is in two POV’s; Before and After.  Red has a prosthetic leg (she lost her leg at 8 years old when hit by a car), which makes the walking slow; but she is tough and a survivor, not to mention she carries an ax with her.  She also has to put up with her brother’s constant nagging that they should not be walking so far, instead to go to the quarantine camps, which Red refuses, since more than likely they would die there.

 What follows in a dark and intense story, where we follow Red during her adventure to reach her grandmother’s cabin.  Along the way there are many evils that might represent wolves, but in this world even darker; such as the cough which is the start of the plague and death; the evil men who look for woman and children; and the unknown horror (creature?) that is out there threatening the lives of others.  For Red its all about survival, and she has no qualms to use her ax or whatever to save herself.

The Before covers the beginning before she left, with her mother, father, as well as her trek with Adam.   The After is when she no longer has Adam, and takes upon the responsibility to help two very young children to come with her to her grandmother’s cabin. The daily gruesome trek is filled with horrible dangers, besides the normal dangers of the woods, such as snakes, coyotes, wolves, etc.

Christina Henry wrote an interesting and dark story that was intense, but well written.  I did not really like the open ended way the story left off.  Is there a 2nd book, I do not know, but I suspect there will not be, therefore leaving us a bit open.  If you like Dystopian Sci-Fi Horror retellings of fairy tales, you should be reading The Girl In Red.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Christina Henry’s publisher is offering a paper copy  THE GIRL IN RED to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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The Final Six by Alexandra Monir – Review & Giveway

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The Final Six by Alexandra Monir – Review & Giveway

 

 

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Description:
When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, a science genius from California, are two of the twenty-four teens drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the contestants must endure in this competition.

For Leo, the prospect of traveling to Europa—Jupiter’s moon—to help resettle humankind is just the sense of purpose he’s been yearning for since losing his entire family in the flooding of Rome. Naomi, after learning of a similar space mission that mysteriously failed, suspects the ISTC isn’t being up front with them about what’s at risk.

As the race to the final six advances, the tests get more challenging—even deadly. With pressure mounting, Naomi finds an unexpected friend in Leo, and the two grow closer with each mind-boggling experience they encounter. But it’s only when the finalists become fewer and their destinies grow nearer that the two can fathom the full weight of everything at stake: the world, the stars, and their lives.

 

 

Review:

The Final Six by Alexandra Monir, which is the first book in an unnamed YA SciFi/Dystopian series/trilogy. Having read Monir before, she writes YA very well, and I looked forward the reading this new one.  I am happy to say I loved The Final Six, and will wait impatiently for the next book.

In The Final Six, Earth is going through terrible climate change with the sea rising (tsunami’s) to dangerous and death defying heights.  The world as we know it is slowly dying, with cities throughout the world going under water,  and with little hope of survival.  The International Space Committee has devised a desperation plan to send the most talented 16-18 years old young adults to Europa (Jupiter planet) to find a new habitual planet to send survivors to live before Earth is totally destroyed.  The plan is to quickly send 24 of the chosen ones to America’s Space center to quickly train them, and then pick the final six to go to Europa.

Right from the start, we meet Leo (a champion swimmer), who lives in Rome, and watched his whole family drown in the devastation that flooded his city.  Leo is despondent, and just about ready to kill himself, when he sees the announcement of the 24 chosen ones is about to be revealed.  He decides to go watch, hoping someone he knows will become part of this.  To his shock, his name is called and he is thrilled to be one of those to help find a solution to the world’s troubles.

Naomi Ardalan, is an American Science genius, who is also one of the chosen 24.  Naomi is the opposite of Leo, she is very unhappy to have been chosen, as she does not want to leave her family, especially her younger brother, whom she helps take care of.  

Naomi and Leo will become friends, and eventually find themselves falling for each other.  This is not really a romance at this point, but it has started and they become even closer nearer to the end.  They both will work together, as Naomi suspects that something is not right, and she uses her hacking ability and other skills to delve into the truth.  Leo wants to protect and help Naomi, but he is also determined to be one of the final six.  There are a number of twists and turns, especially as we get closer to the end.

What follows is an in-depth look at the overall competition, as all participants have to go through so many mind boggling situations to train them on space travel and surviving on a foreign planet.  I loved everything about the complex completion, even if I am not really a Sci Fi buff.  Leo and Naomi were great heroes, and I did like a number of the other secondary characters. Of course, there are a couple of villains that we know to watch out for.  Will Leo and Naomi be part of the final six?  Will Naomi be able to find out the truth behind this mission?

The Final Six was a wonderful story line that kept our attention throughout.  I am amazed at the writing by Monir, especially with all the sci fi details.  I will not give spoilers, as you need to read this to enjoy everything.  But I will say there are some amazing surprises at the end, and of course, the dreaded cliffhanger.  I hate cliffhangers, but I will be there when Monir gives us the next book. If you enjoy YA dystopian, Sci Fi, competition,  great characters, mystery, and at little romance, I suggest to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by publicist

 


Alexandra Monir is the Iranian-American author of the upcoming YA sci-fi novel The Final Six, the best-selling time-travel romance Timeless, and three other young adult novels. She is also a professional recording artist and composer. Alexandra lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband and newborn son, where she is at work on her next novel. To learn more about Alexandra, visit her online at www.alexandramonir.com.

LINKS: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

 

 

 

Alexandra is graciously is graciously offering a paper copy of THE FINAL SIX to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

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Hold On!-Tomorrow by Peter Darley-a review

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HOLD ON! – TOMORROW (Hold On #4) by Peter Darley-a review

Hold On Tomorrow

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2016

Hold On! returns for one, stand-alone, epic event.

The year is 2042. Twenty-six-years after the events in the Hold On! Trilogy, devastating earthquakes and tsunamis are striking in the most unlikely locations. Scientists have no explanation for the phenomenon.

Brandon Drake, Jr., (B.J.) a rookie government agent, courageously ‘borrows’ the INT-Nine, an advanced prototype suit of armor in order to rescue his childhood sweetheart, Heather Addison. Their lives change forever as B.J. becomes the new Interceptor. However, tragedy strikes when the armor fails during a rescue.

While the world adores him, B.J is forced to become a fugitive when Congress orders Project: Interceptor closed down. His life is complicated further by his mother’s belief that he isn’t just his father’s son – but his father reborn.

With The Interceptor on the run, new bonds are made and new heroes arise. To save the world from annihilation, they must join forces to discover the meaning of the mysterious abbreviation – C.O.T.

•••••••••

REVIEW: HOLD ON! – TOMORROW is the fourth installment in Peter Darley’s adult, HOLD ON sci-fi / dystopian series. This is twenty six year old government agent Brandon Drake Jr. (aka BJ), and Heather Addison’s story line. HOLD ON! TOMORROW fast forwards Peter Darley’s HOLD ON series approximately twenty six years after the events of book three wherein Brandon Drake senior ‘sacrifices’ himself to save the world from the man known as ‘The Scorpion’. You do not have to have read the original trilogy to understand the concept of the current story line. Any important information is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person points of view using varying time lines HOLD ON! TOMORROW focuses on a series of unexplained disasters that are currently befalling the United States of America. Brandon Drake Jr aka BJ, in an attempt to rescue his childhood sweetheart Heather Addison from the latest incoming wave of earthquakes and tsunamis, ‘borrows’ the government’s new experimental INT-Nine suit of armor and flies off to save the day. What ensues are Brandon’s attempts to use the new ‘Interceptor’ program to help those who are unable to help themselves and the struggle to get past the government bureaucracy demanding the program be shut down.

HOLD ON! TOMORROW is a sci-fi story line that reads like a comic book adventure – Ironman meets Superman – a hero with a weaponized suit of armor who flies in and saves the day but in doing so finds himself public enemy number one as a number of government bureaucrats deem his heroics a dangerous stunt without permission from the highest levels. BJ becomes the target of a zealous Senator whose actions are questionable at every turn; and threats of another nature from a group known only as C.O.T. are linked to the ‘natural disasters’ that may or may not be natural at all.

The writing style and presentation of the story line are simple; the conversations between the characters, especially BJ and those he ‘saves’ is almost child-like and innocent in nature.

If you are a fan of comic-book style heroes, HOLD ON!-Tomorrow may be just what the Saturday afternoon, sci-fi lover ordered.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Hold On !
Go! Hold On Season 2
Run ! Hold On Season 3
Hold On! Tomorrow

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

About the Author

Follow Peter: Blog / Twitter / Facebook /

peter-darley1Peter Darley (P.D. to his friends) is a British novelist, whose professional history is in showbusiness. He is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Speech and Dramatic Art, and he studied television drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA.) His television credits include guest-starring roles is UK productions such as BBC’s Crime Ltd, Stanley’s Dragon for ITV, The Bill, and Sky One’s Dream Team, and numerous TV commercials. He has also worked as a model, presenter, and voice-over artiste for ten years, and has acted as an agent for several variety acts.

His lifelong admiration of heroes, and love of roller-coaster-style thrills have been a huge influence on his writings.

He is also a professional close-up magician, a keen athlete and body builder, and lives with his wife in rural England.

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City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

City of GoldAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Finding the Inca’s lost City of Gold would be the discovery of a lifetime. But failing could mean her death…

Archaeologist Matthew Connor and his friends Cal and Robyn are finally home after a dangerous retrieval expedition in Cambodia. While they succeeded in obtaining the priceless Pandu artifact they sought, it almost cost them their lives. Still, Matthew is ready for the next adventure. Yet when new intel surfaces indicating the possible location of the legendary City of Gold, Matthew is hesitant to embark on the quest.

Not only is the evidence questionable but it means looking for the lost city of Paititi far away from where other explorers have concentrated their efforts. As appealing as making the discovery would be, it’s just too risky. But when Cal’s girlfriend, Sophie, is abducted by Matthew’s old nemesis who is dead-set on acquiring the Pandu statue, Matthew may be forced into action. Saving Sophie’s life means either breaking into the Royal Ontario Museum to steal the relic or offering up something no one in his or her right mind can refuse—the City of Gold.

Now Matthew and his two closest friends have to find a city and a treasure that have been lost for centuries. And they only have seven days to do it. As they race against the clock, they quickly discover that the streets they seek aren’t actually paved with gold, but with blood.

 

 

Review:

City of Gold by Carolyn Arnold is the 1st book in her new Matthew Connor Adventure series. I have read two of Carolyn’s other series, which are Police/FBI themed stories. It was a surprise that she was going a different direction with this new series, which is more like an Indiana Jones mystery archaeology theme; especially since Arnold is one of the best at police stories, with her wonderful knowledge of police procedurals. I am happy to say, even to my own surprise, that I really enjoyed City of Gold.

Matthew Connor is our hero, and a well known Archaeologist. From the start, the story begins with Matthew and his friends Cal and Robyn having just found a priceless artifact, running for their lives, literally over the cliff. Now safely back home at a Gala celebrating the finding, Cal tells Matthew about his girlfriend’s worry that someone is following them. A short time later, they learn information that could possibly lead to finding the legendary myth, City of Gold. All three are interested, though doubtful that it was real, since many people have searched for this for centuries. They are also very tired and need time, maybe months to consider if this adventure is worth undertaking.

As best laid plans do not always work out, someone is watching them, and wants the Pandu artifact that is now securely locked in a museum; and they have kidnapped Sophie, Cal’s friend. Matthew knows he cannot get the artifact anymore, and uses the temptation of finding the City of Gold to bargain with the kidnapper to save Sophie.

What follows is an exciting action packed adventure that will take Matthew, Robyn and Cal, as well as two people from the kidnapper’s side to Bolivia to join two guides who will help them try to find the City of Gold. For every step they take, danger and death threaten from all sides. The adventure was pulsating, and Arnold does a fantastic job of taking us through the jungle, caves, underground with many traps along the way.

Is the City of Gold real? Will Matthew and his team find it? Will they survive, and save Sophie? You need to read this book to find all the answers. This was a fun and exciting book, which I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed so much. I look forward to more from the Matthew Connor Adventure series. Carolyn Arnold has another winner.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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