Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: trust

  • Trust

    Trust

    Trust, the latest riveting thriller from Chris Hammer takes the issue of trust expanding it out to create a storyline that is all too real, based in Sydney; a Sydney that is there, hovering on the fringes of society, full of crime, corruption and murder at the highest of levels.

    Life is looking pretty good for Martin Scarsden; Liam is down on the beach enjoying the water as only a little boy can do, Martin watching his stepson with pure enjoyment and love. His phone some distance from the water’s edge rings and falls silent. It rings again only to be ignored once again. The third call is eventually answered, only to strike fear into Martins heart as he checks the previous two calls, discovering they are from Mandy which is unusual; she normally texts.

    Scarsden has once again to reassess his life and his relationship with Mandy, Mandalay Blonde his partner, as her past has returned in a particularly challenging way; a past that sees her kidnapped and drugged, the death of his mentor and long-time friend and journalist Max, which in turn finds him once again on the trail of a hot, hot story, dealing with the privileged of Sydney society in a way he never thought possible.

    As he commenced his career in Sydney, he returns to a place, a life he believed he had left far behind, the echoes of what he once thought was everything life could hold, to reflect on just how much better and happier his life had become.

    Mandalay Blonde is further explored as it is her past, a past filled with diversity that has bought them to Sydney; to death, sadness and destruction and is also something Martin is struggling to accept, as he thought Mandy had shared her all her secrets with him over the past year or so; looks like he was wrong, so very wrong.

    Set in the world of undercover police work, money market manipulation and global crime Hammer draws on his past life as a journalist covering World Affairs, to create a scenario where real life fits comfortably together with fiction evolving into a fast paced, riveting story, that appears to form a trilogy, which has allowed Martin Scarsdale and Mandalay Blonde to become firm friends in readers hearts and minds. Trust can also be read as a stand-a-lone story.

    Chris Hammer burst onto the Crime Mystery genre in 2018 with the birth of Scrublands, followed by Silver almost a year later. Trust simply underscores the accolades already received as a writer of substance and stature.

    Trust; when you get your copy, turn off the phone, get settled comfortably and step into the latest fast paced thriller from internationally acclaimed writer, Chris Hammer.

  • The Good Teacher

    The Good Teacher

    The Good Teacher, the second book from acclaimed story teller Petronella McGovern sets the stage for another cliff hanger of a mystery as she takes the vulnerability and kindness of humans and their sense of community to weave an addictive read, which is taught, tight and terrific.

    Allison’s marriage of more than twenty four  years is over; her husband moving in with a much younger woman leaving Allison grieving, facing challenges she never ever thought she would have to and struggling to rebuild her life. Her teenage son Felix is living between the two homes which causes her considerable distress.

    It is not until Luke, a widower and his young daughter arrive in town, with Gracie being enrolled in Allison’s class at the beginning of the new term, life appears to be settling into a more normal routine.  Gracie has cancer and when she is offered a chance to go to America the community, led by Allison and Maz, a friend of Luke’s made through the local gym, begins a fundraising venture to send Gracie to America.

    But all is not as it seems as Allison is accused of continually stalking her former husband and when the Police keep on calling on her about this she begins to wonder what is happening. Perhaps she is still doing this which just adds to the confusion her life has suddenly become.

    Gracie and Luke eventually leave for America but all too soon it becomes apparent that something is not right, but what. It is not until Allison takes a trip to America to be supportive she begins to realise something is definitely not right and so the plot, set by McGovern, very slowly comes to the first sharp and completely unexpected turning point.

    As in her previous novel Six Minutes, McGovern takes the reader to the pinnacle before dropping them into free-fall as what they thought was going to happen next, simply does not and the next page must be turned.

    In a nutshell, The Good Teacher is a riveting read, a great book and terrific story based on kindness, community and the redefinition of what truly makes up family!

  • Bottlebrush Creek

    Bottlebrush Creek

    When an irresistible fixer-upper captures the heart of Angie McIntyre she believes that this is the way forward to build a lasting relationship, a real family, with her fly-in fly-out partner Rob Jones and their gorgeous three year old daughter Claudia.

    Maya Linnell’s latest sparkling country romance, Bottlebrush Creek set in the splendid coastal region of south western Victoria captures the real challenges of family, life, love and learning to cope with the unexpected; especially when moving into a new town, a new lifestyle with family right next door!

    Rob has been a fly-in, fly-out worker since well before he and Angie met, fell head over heels in love and had their baby daughter. He is now facing retrenchment and wants to re-establish himself as a tradesman. Angie is finding life in the fast lane as the owner of a beauty salon, mother of Claudia and all-time sucker for a helping hand in the community, exhausting, let alone trying to live in the run-down house they are renting.

    She is cautious when Rob takes her to see this amazing cottage, at an all to affordable price, not too far from a small beach and a sizable town, but wonders why the real estate agent seems very familiar with Rob, and why the price was so good it was not even discussed! She soon discovers this charming cottage with 200 acres of good land, just happens to be right next door to his parent’s dairy property.

    Angie and Rob’s mum have already set up some serious history and it is not long before she discovers there is far more history to the Jones family than Rob had ever mentioned, but despite all of this she agrees to go ahead with purchasing the property.

    As the story unfolds, Maya Linnell captures the emotions of a young mother settling into a new community, a young man moving back into a community he has always known and the tragedy that can be created when relationships begin to breakdown and trust is lost.

    Heart-warming, funny and poignant Bottlebrush Creek will capture your heart and imagination as Angie faces up to the surprise present of a crate of chickens, her feminist standpoint with a rather ‘old school’ tiler, confrontation when she discovers her ‘friend’ was not her friend at all and learning that sometimes you simply need to take a step back to hold on to and treasure, the things you love the most.

    An absolutely delightful and enjoyable read.

  • Fool Me Once

    Fool Me Once

    Fool Me Once from much loved Australian author Karley Lane is guaranteed to be the perfect light read for the somewhat unusual times, we all find ourselves learning to manage.

    Spare a thought for Georgie Henderson, a young woman who, ever since she was a very small girl, dreamed of nothing else other than to become a farmer, Family circumstances were such that even though her dream of working family acreage was no longer an option, she had carved out a niche for herself as the manager of a cattle property at Stoney Creek, for crusty old bachelor Harry, who had reluctantly gone to Melbourne due to age and health reasons.

    Reluctantly agreeing to go with long time friend Shannon, to the local  B&S Ball (Bachelors and Spinsters), she is standing watching the dance floor, wishing to be anywhere but there, when she looks up and makes eye contact with a rather good looking, slightly older man, appearing to be the same as her, wondering why he was there!

    Michael Delacourt has a back history, as does Georgie Henderson, which at the beginning of what proves to be undeniable attraction, would not seem to be a problem, as surely this burning, almost addictive desire for each other, would fade into wonderful memories. Surely!

    As the days and then weeks pass, their attraction simply gets stronger and stronger. Michael, once he realises his family business interests are behind Georgie’s passionate commitment to buy back her family farm, faces serious conflict as to how much to let Georgie know about his stepfather’s business, and why he, Michael, is no longer is a part of the family business concerns. He also has to face up to the fact he should have told her right at the beginning of their relationship.

    Once things come to a devastating head, both Georgie and Michael find themselves estranged, damaged and deeply distressed about their lives, relationship and trying to rebuild if at all possible, a future together.

    Karley Lane began this story-line some years ago, leaving it to one side to embark upon another project. Rediscovered and now complete, she has woven a delicious tale of lust, love, betrayal, consequences and chasing dreams, which as time passes often need to be reconsidered.

    Georgie and Michael finally decide is what is important in their lives, but it is how they come to this conclusion, that will keep the pages turning until the final word.

  • Havenfall

    Havenfall

    Havenfall, the latest release from Teen fantasy fiction author Sara Holland, is a somewhat interesting crossover between fantasy and romantic fiction, set between two worlds, that of the everyday world and the ‘otherworld’, a world sealed off and only accessible once a year.

    Maddie grows up realising that there is something a little different about Havenfall, a beautiful Inn owned and run by her Uncle. It is not until she comes of age, she is allowed to access the secret world that lies beneath the Inn; a safe haven for those traveling between both worlds.

    There is a yearly meeting held between two of the three ancient worlds, Byrn and Fiordenkill, that make up the ‘otherworld’: the third is Solaria, long since banned from attending the meetings. A fragile peace is kept between the three worlds, until a brutal murder occurs, with the body left in the grounds of Havenfall. The body just happens to be that of a Solarian.

    Events conspire so that Maddie has to take up her responsibilities early; well before she is really ready, ensuring that she must accept her destiny as the ‘Innkeeper’ and must now undertake to care for those she loves the most. When it is discovered her friend Brekken, someone she has known most of her life, is considered as the murderer, Maddie realises she also has work out who she can trust, as both worlds have become dangerous places with which to be associated.

    So begins a what could almost be considered as a prequal for the books to follow, in that the characters are introduced with a strong focus on Maddie, the heroine, a love ‘triangle’ is established and the ancient realms well portrayed. Teen readers will enjoy the messages hidden within the storyline which relate to the very fundamental realities of everyday life.

    Woven between two separate realities, Sara Holland has created a very readable and enjoyable novel which is both entertaining and enjoyable without the massive depth of involvement that sometimes seems to plague similar books of this genre.