Ghostly Menage, by Alysha Ellis (Adults Only)

My guest reviewer today is Trent Kinsey, who has reviewed Alysha Ellis's Ghostly Menage, published by Eternal Press. Before you proceed, you should know this book and hence the review, is for adults only.

Trent says:

For those who don’t know me, I am a fan of horror and its likes, my favorite being the psychological horrors. The ones that dig deep in your head and nest for a while, always leaving you questioning your own sanity. With that said, for someone like me to pick up a book such as Ghostly Ménage by Alysha Ellis, you would probably think it’s because the word “ghost” appears in the title. You would be partially right. I will say I picked the book up without any preconceived ideas of what story I would be reading and there is no doubt in my mind I am truly happy that I read Alysha’s tale. First let me dispense with the background of the story so I can get to what really turned the gears in my head as I read page after page after page. Quick and dirty: Kelsie, under those circumstances we find ourselves in from time to time, is required to stay with her aunt for a couple of days. Maud, Kelsie’s aunt, believes the house she resides in is plagued with a poltergeist and contracts the services of an exorcist to rid the entity from her home. Her aunt will not stay in a house by herself with a man present and thus Kelsie arrives to hang around until after the exorcism for her aunt’s benefit. Staying with her aunt, Kelsie learns ghosts are real and…real fun to have around. When I said I read page after page, I spoke lightly. I devoured Alysha’s tale and am extremely excited to read her next book, “Giving Up the Ghosts,” which awaits me on my phone for when I take my breaks at work. Alysha’s use of dialogue brought the characters from the page and turned them into living, breathing people. I’ve known people like Kelsie’s aunt Maud and could feel Kelsie’s irritation at her aunt’s opinion of her. The imagery and sensations Alysha inspires in her prose made me feel as if I was in the room as the events unfolded. To say the least, I could not put it down because I had to know what would happen next. Is it a malevolent poltergeist or a playful ghost? Could Kelsie be in danger or was it all in good fun? Alysha kept me reading so I could find the answers and satisfy my own distorted curiosity. All in all, I can’t wait to partake in Kelsie’s next adventure and am looking forward to more works by Alysha. Kudos to you Alysha and may the words continue to flow on the page for your future works.

Guest Reviewer - Von Gobstopper's Arcade

Today's guest reviewer is Brenton Cullen. You can read more from Brenton at http://bjcullen.blogspot.com . Also, catch his recent blog tour, beginning at http://tips4youngwriters.wordpress.com/

VON GOBSTOPPER’S ARCADE by Alexandra Adornetto (HarperCollins, 2009, RRP: $19.99)
Reviewed by Brenton Cullen

17 year old whiz author, Alexandra Adornetto, makes a wonderful and enchanting impression with her latest novel, the third and last book in her highly-acclaimed series, The Strangest Adventures. Yet again we meet our main protagonists, Milli and Ernest, who are very excited, along with the rest of the children of Drabville, after a toy arcade is opened by acclaimed toy maker, Gustav Von Gobstopper, in their very honor. Milli and Ernest and the rest of their class at their new school St Erudite visit there on an excursion and soon find themselves becoming allies with several amazing talking toys.

There, they learn of a macabre plot to destroy Christmas for the town, led by the, yet again, Lord Aldor, now transformed and going by the title of Dr Illustrious. Will the two children finally defeat Lord Aldor, or, will this be their final showdown …. ?

Adornetto’s book is amusing, enchanting, and quite original. The plotlines and characters are very quirky, which is a good thing. However, some of the too-big language used in the door and narrative rambling leads the reader out of the story.

Nonetheless, highly recommended!
5 stars

Thanks, Brenton! And remember, readers, guest reviewers are welcome at Read and Reviewed.

Connie and the Pigeons, by Mabel Jean Kaplan

Connie and the Pigeons, by Mabel Jean Kaplan, illustrated by Kelli Hainke (Stories for the Telling).

"Connie and the Pigeons" is a small, handy-sized picturebook illustrated in soft tones of blue-grey, sepia, and muted browns. It has accents of bright colour here and there which "lift" the drawings. I am reminded of a long-ago favourite picturebook of my son's, with similarly soft drawings. The illustrations repay examination, as children will love looking for the peripatetic lizard character that appears from time to time.

"Connie" is considerably longer than most picturebook texts. In many ways, it is more like a short, chapterless children's novel. This length and style of story was popular when I was young, and I have always liked it. The extra word count gives a more relaxed feeling to the telling.

The Connie of the story is the first Qantas plane to take Australian passengers to the UK. Connie loves her work, and is unhappy when she is retired and sent to an aeroplane graveyard for possible recycling. Her lonely days improve when some pigeons set up housekeeping in her interior. The friendly pigeons are indirectly responsible for Connie's second chance at life.

Connie is a sweet character, and her story is told in a friendly and readable manner. Connie is a "person", but remains a plane in capabilities. She cannot move unless assisted by a human pilot. The text is simply written, but, like the illustrations, is brightened with touches of verbal and adjectival colour. I can heartily recommend Connie's story for children (and adults) with a love of planes, aviation history, museums, and stories of renewal and triumph.

To read how Mabel account of how she came to write "Connie and the Pigeons", visit her guest-blogger appearance at http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com .
Connie and the Pigeons is available through Westbooks in Victoria Park WA (08) 9361 4211

Email: orders@westbooks.com.au; online through http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/book/mabel-kaplan/ or direct from the publisher Stories for the Telling 54 Hudson Avenue Girrawheen WA 6064 Tel. (08) 9342 7150 Email: mabelka@hotmail.com
For those on the Eastern coast it is also available from
HARS Souvenirs
cnr Airport and Boomerang Roads
Albion Park Rails, New South Wales 2527
and
Qantas Founder Outback Museum
PO Box 737
Longreach Qld 4730

The Writers: A Collection of Australian Writers' Biographies by Brenton Cullen

The Writers is a lively account of the lives and times of six contemporary Australian writers. The authors covered include Dianne Bates, Duncan Ball, Libby Hathorn, Hazel Edwards, Jackie French and Bill Condon. Rounding up such a selection of august names would be a feather in any biographer's cap, but author Brenton Cullen seems to have a knack for inspiring confidence in those he approached.

Dianne Bates' biography begins with her rollicking childhood, showcasing some of the hair-raising escapades that suggest she had a vivid imagination even in primary school. The story continues through her teenaged years and her long and successful writing career, right up to 2007. The next subject, Jackie French, is followed in similar fashion. It is again clear that writing talent and potential career must have been inborn. After Jackie's biographical notes comes an interview. Libby Hathorn's biography follows, and then comes an interview with Dianne Bates. The other biographies continue in similar patterns, intercut with interviews, "how authors write" details, and pointers for further reading.

At the end of the book, author Brenton Cullen steps to the fore to thank and acknowledge the writers and other people who have helped with the production. The specific way in which he names and thanks each one lends another personal touch to an enjoyable and entertaining collection.

Writers (and especially well known ones) often find themselves answering the same questions repeatedly, but being invited to revisit key parts of their lives, to go back in time to when and how it began, and to examine
why it began, must be more of a treat than a retread. Better yet, the questions came from a young writer whose own tastes and talents may have been partly shaped by the very people showcased in his book.

I can recommend "The Writers" to anyone interested in children's literature, in the making of a writer, and in youthful enterprise. "The Writers" is available in several formats from www.lulu.com . The accompanying photograph comes from Brenton Cullen's own blog.

Portable Ghosts

Portable Ghosts is an engaging new story by Margaret Mahy who, once again, shows how to make a primary school novel individual, stylish and always readable. Ditta is twelve. Her nine-year-old geek sister keeps hogging Dad's computer, and there's a ghost in the library. Not only that, but Ditta's friend, Max, is slinking when he ought to be bouncing, and Old Man Baldy never, but never, stops talking. Then there's the moaning, seething floor and a mysterious book. This tasty plot concoction may draw young readers, but I hope they, as well as their elders, will relish the stylish telling of the tale.

The Last Chinese Chef. Guest Reviewer, Anna Jacobs

My guest reviewer this time is novelist Anna Jacobs, who has chosen to review The Last Chinese Chef, by Nicole Mones.

Anna Jacobs is the author of 42 novels with more in the pipeline. She writes historical sagas for one UK publisher and modern family relationships novels for another. Her latest saga is ‘Tomorrow’s Promises’ about what happened to women who’d done men’s jobs during World War I after the war ended. Her latest modern novel is ‘Family Connections’ a story of families in Australia and England, who didn’t know about their relatives overseas. The first chapters can be read on her web site. www.annajacobs.com

REVIEW

The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones

Maggie is a food writer. She hasn’t really moved on after her husband’s death - except literally, to live on a house boat. Then suddenly she learns of a paternity claim against her late husband from a Chinese woman and goes to investigate. She doesn’t believe it. They were happily married. Yes, he went to China regularly, but he wouldn’t be unfaithful.

Her editor asks her to fit in an assignment at the same time, to write about the rising Chinese chef, Sam Liang. Maggie doesn’t usually write about exotic cuisines overseas, but in the end she accepts the assignment.

Investigating the claim takes longer than she’d expected and she also works on the story. She gets on well with Sam, who is half American, but who is immersed in classical Chinese cuisine. The experience gradually transforms Maggie and she develops a deep love for the food Sam cooks. There is far more to real Chinese food than she’d realized, and it’s nothing like the Chinese food served in America.

If you like Chinese food, learning about other cultures and gentle love stories, you’ll enjoy this book. I regularly read three novels a week and this is one of the 5 standout books I’ve read in the last twelve months. My husband read it and felt the same. It was a wonderful tale and I was so sad when it ended. But the ending was just right.

What more can an author offer the reader?

Guest Review of O'Connor's Last Stand

Today's guest reviewer is author Ginger Simpson, who has chosen to send in a pre-publication review of O'Connor's Last Stand. This is my own paranormal romance thriller, set in the Australian Outback and to be published by Eternal Press. I was somewhat surprised to receive a review of one of my own books but here it is! Thanks, Ms Simpson!

O'Connor's Last Stand, By Sally Odgers.

An upcoming release from www.eternalpress.com.au

Anna Bell takes a job from an old acquaintance, Asia Franklin, to escape someone in her past. Anna's history is secret and her name is an alias, but she seriously tries to fit in with the men at Ballahoo Station. Her real dilemma begins when she takes Pepper Tess, Asia's temperamental old mare, and rides out to check the fence lines of the Australian ranch... and to hide something important. She's warned to avoid O'Connor's Leap.

Flynn O'Connor dwells in a cave in the middle of nowhere. His memory is sketchy at best, but all that matters is he's waiting for his true love, Eliza, to meet him so they can steal away and spend their lives together. He recalls that she has a husband, but in his mind, his Eliza belongs with him and she's promised to come. He'll wait forever it that's what it takes.

While Anna camps, a noise spooks her horse and she's left stranded. In her attempt to find shelter from an oncoming sandstorm, she takes a tumble and ends up being nursed by Flynn. During their confinement, they share information, but something doesn't seem right to Anna. Flynn's recollections are archaic. She also discovers he's the one who spooked Pepper Tess. Why then isn't he burned from the branch she thrust at him? His Irish brogue captures her attention, but his warmth and caring captures her heart.

Without giving away too much of the story, I simply have to rave about Sally Odgers', O'Connor's Last Stand. I had the opportunity to read it before its release, and I must say somewhere there has to be a television producer looking for great material for a movie. This is it. I found myself gasping at the ending chapter hooks, and holding my breath during a sandstorm so real that I feared I might inhale the dust. Mix some paranormal with mystery and romance, and you have a magical concoction. Sally Odgers is an amazing story teller.

Reviewed by,
Ginger Simpson, Author
http://www.gingersimpson.com