The Company Files: 1. The Good Man - Gabriel Valjan

Book Title: The Company Files: 1. The Good Man by Gabriel Valjan

Category: Adult Fiction, 251 pages

Genre: Thriller, Historical Fiction, Crime Fiction, Espionage

Publisher: Winter Goose Publishing

Release date: December 2017

Tour dates: Feb 12 to March 2, 2018

Content Rating: PG + M (No bad language but there is an attempted rape scene, and some violence.)

Description: In 1948, Vienna was divided among four powers: France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Jack Marshall had served with Walker during the war, and now, working together for The Company, they are tasked to do the inconceivable. Could former Nazis really be recruited to assist the U.S. in the atomic race? As their team moves forward, they quickly discover they are not the only ones looking for these men. And the others in the search may just have the objective of murder.

In this tale of historical noir, of corruption and deceit, no one is who they say they are. Who is The Good Man in a world where an enemy may be a friend, an ally may be the enemy, and governments deny everything?  

Thoughts:

To simply put it, I found this book to be a bit of a slog.  It had nothing at all to do with the writing by the author, but mainly had to do with the content of the book.  While I do enjoy a thriller or mystery from time to time, I found it difficult to get any sort of rhythm with the book.  And while it was an intriguing book and the end of the book was easier to get through, as there was more action going on in the book, I found that I was slogging through the book and not really enjoying the book.  I felt that the author spent a little too much time in the quiet moments and that there wasn’t enough action.  Maybe because I am used to similar movies to be a little more action oriented and that maybe was why I didn’t really connect with the book.

On the plus side, it is clear that the author has worked on this book, as I didn’t find any really major errors in terms of grammar or keeping the story line going or creating well-crafted characters.  It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Bottom line: I found it to be a well-done book, but it just wasn't to my own personal liking.

Rating:  3/5 

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

 

Venetian Blood - Christine Evelyn Volker

Title: Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City
Author: Christine Evelyn Volker
Pages: 329
Published: 2017
Genre: Mystery
Edition: E-book
Source: Personal library

Description: To escape a failing marriage, Anna Lucia Lottol goes to Venice to visit an old friend-and becomes a suspect in a brutal murder echoing a gruesome homicide that happened decades ago. Fearful of foreign justice and hoping to prove her innocence, she gathers clues before the real murderer comes for her. At the climax of her journey, she discovers a secret that will change her life. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: I really enjoyed the engrossing nature of the book, but for whatever reason I just was unable to connect with the book in a way that I really wanted to.  Partly I think it was that I felt that the beginning of the book happened a little too quick for my liking and I didn't like that there wasn't a set up for the murder.  As a result, I felt lost from the get go, even though by the end of the book I was able to connect better with the story.

As I read the book, I really struggled to understand what was going on and therefore I struggled at time to get through it.
Part of the reason that I disappointed with the book and had frustrations with reading it was that I had different expectations of the story that were clearly not there. 

But I did enjoy the description of Venice itself and felt as though I was there in the city myself, even though I have never been to Venice myself.  I also liked that it wasn't just your standard mystery; there was emotional depth to the book and created empathy for Anna and how she wanted to move on with her life and have the ghosts of her past disappear.

Bottom line: It was an okay read, as there were time that the book dragged itself along, but there were also times that the book was engaging.  I felt that the ending could have been a few pages shorter.  But overall it was a decent read and something that may need a re-read in the future.  Recommended.

Rating:  3/5

2017 Thankfully Reading Weekend

I am going to do this again, since I have most of the weekend off (have bookclub on Saturday and a shift at my job on Sunday).

I am going to work a few books, but mainly Venetian Blood by Christine Evelyn Volker and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.  I will also read Outlander.  

I will read a combination of print and ebook, but mainly print.

Hope you all have a great weekend of reading.

Wanderers No More - Michelle Saftich

Title: Wanderers No More (Port of No Return Book 2)
Author: Michelle Saftich
Pages: 303
Published: 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
Edition: E-Book
Source: I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Description:  The war may be over, but the fight to belong is just beginning.

Left homeless, starving, and almost killed by the Second World War, the Saforo family are refugees fleeing Italy for a better life. The shores of Australia are calling to them and they head off, packing dreams of jobs, a home and … soccer.

But from the moment they get off the boat, adapting to the Australian way of life is harder than it seems. Their family doesn’t speak right, eat right or even look right. As they struggle to build a simple life against the backdrop of 1950s racism, they start to wonder if they will be outsiders forever.

A true family affair, Wanderers No More will make you laugh, remind you of your family, and warm your heart.

Thoughts:  When I saw that there was a book for the sequel to Port of No Return, I knew I had to return to the loving Saforo family, who we last saw leaving for Australia at the end of World War II.

This book spans about a 30 year time span and shows the children of the Saforo family grow up and make their own way in the world.  It also shows the struggles of the family as they slowly rebuild their lives after the ravages of World War II and migrating to a new country, which has a different culture and language.

I liked that it was a heartwarming story of struggle and sacrifice of a family landing in a country in which the language and culture was different from their own.  It reminded me of my own family coming from Soviet Russia to Canada in 1926, as they struggled and sacrificed to make a new life in a new country.

While the family struggles to adjust to a new life in Australia, there are also tender and touching moments that make the story that much more human, especially when Nonna takes over the kitchen at one of the migrant camps.

Bottom line: I really liked how the author brought the story full circle in concluding the story of the Saforo family.  Highly recommended.

Rating: 3.75/5

Meet the Author:

Michelle Saftich resides in Brisbane, Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Business/Communications Degree, majoring in journalism, from the Queensland University of Technology.

For the past 20 years, she has worked in communications, including print journalism, sub-editing, communications management and media relations.
Born and raised in Brisbane, she spent 10 years living in Sydney; and two years in Osaka, Japan, where she taught English.

Her historical fiction novel, Port of No Return, was inspired by a true family story. It was published by Australian independent publishing house, Odyssey Books in 2015. Its sequel, Wanderers No More was released in August 2017. Michelle is married with two children.

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

 

24 Hour Readathon Opening Meme #readathon

Good morning readathoners

Hope everyone has their coffee/tea beside them and is ready to go.

1) I am reading from Abbotsford, BC
2) I don't know which book I am looking forward to the most to reading, but probably What Happened later tonight.
3) Probably the golden arches that I will get later tonight or the homemade soup I made yesterday.
4) Spent 2 years living in Brazil as a child
5) I'll be working later this morning for a few hours and then volunteering at my church afterwards, which will hopefully give a little more jump later on this evening.

Path of Lucas - Susanne Bellefeuille

Title: Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured
Author: Susanne Bellefeuille
Pages: 350
Published: 2015
Genre: Fiction
Edition: Paperback
Source: I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Description:  
 Lucas Clarkson is a simple man, a family man, and a hard working farmer's son. From a small town in Eastern Ontario, the author, Susanne Bellefeuille, brings us on Lucas's journey through the trials and tribulations of his life. Lucas's path is not as simple as the man he's portrayed to be. From the days spent working on his dad's farm to becoming a successful mechanic, with a genuine heart and his incredible strength, Lucas faces many difficult decisions. The choices he makes may be the difference between realizing his dreams and keeping his family together. (via Goodreads)

 Thoughts: 
When I received The Path of Lucas, I didn’t know what to expect.  What I did find was a heartwarming story between Lucas and Isabelle, characters based on the author’s parents. 

Starting with Lucas and Isabelle’s courtship, the book navigates through the numerous choices that Lucas has to make between his own personal dreams versus the responsibility for his family.

While there is heartache, struggle and sadness, there is also happiness, love, and the devotion that one finds in Lucas and Isabelle’s life journey.   Life isn’t perfect, but the fact that they have each other seems to be all Lucas and Isabelle need.  By the end of the book I found myself crying a little bit.

Even though I enjoyed the book, there were a few criticisms that I had with the book.  The first one being that the author needed a better editor.  The reason for this was that the dialogue seemed to be silted, as did the transitions. The language seemed too simplistic and if there had been a decent editor, I believe that the grammar would have been much better than it was.  Another criticism I have was that there was no indication as to what time period the story was in and took me a bit to clue in. 

Bottom line:

Overall it was a good book, despite my reservations about the book. 

Rating: 2.5/5

Bout of Books 20

It's almost that time of year again. Time to get on with Bout of Books and a week of reading bliss. 

If you have forgotten what Bout of Books is, here is a little reminder:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 20 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


Here are my reading goals for the week:

• The Fellowship of the Ring
• Winter (Luner Chronicles #4)
• By Gaslight
• Outlander

I will likely expand my reading goals as the week progresses.

I hope you are able to join me.