Tag: adventure fiction

Book review: The Outlander by Gil Adamson (9780061491344)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ Leave a comment

0061491349.01._SX140_SY224_SCLZZZZZZZ_This book is not to be confused with Diane Gabaldon’s Outlander.  In fact Adamson’s The Outlander is an amazing and interesting adventure into the Canadian wilderness by newly widowed Mary Boulton who is running from her brothers-in-law because she killed her cruel and unfaithful husband.  The finely written prose about Mary’s quest for peace is very addicting.  So much so I read this book from cover to cover in two days.  The characters are fascinating, mysterious and so real.

I had heard about the many book awards and great reviews this first novel had received and couldn’t wait to read it.  It did not disappoint.  A very unique look at Canada at the turn of the century!

Book review – Drinkwater: A Sobering Tale About A Medieval Knight by Otto Scamfer (9781438234915)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ Leave a comment

“It (Alcohol) brings out the devil in some men and takes their soul away,” Emery answered staunchly.  “I’ve seen many a good man ravaged by the drink.”

Winston is a disgraceful alcoholic (or drinkwater) and presumed murderer of his father, Lord Tabor.  Cyrus Everett is Lord Tabor’s bailiff who falsely accuses Winston of murdering his father and almost murders Winston as well.  However, Winston is taken in by an old man, Emery, who nurses him back to health and teaches him how to defend himself with a sword.

The story is predictable showing how Winston learns to stay away from the drink, becomes a knight and plans his revenge against Cyrus who is wreaking havoc on Winston’s family and village.

I normally enjoy medieval tales, but I just did not like the main character and it spoiled the whole story for me.  I found Winston to be a fool, even when he became a knight and I didn’t think he deserved the lordship or the girl he professed to love because I felt that the men who helped him did most of the work for him.

All in all I found the story and the characters to be quite boring.

Book review: The Protector by David Morrell (0446614033)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ Leave a comment

Ex-Delta Force officer, Cavanagh is assigned to protect a seriously overweight and extremely nervous biochemist named Daniel Prescott who has invented a dangerous drug to induce fear in everyone including those trained to feel no fear.  Unfortunately, appearances can be deceptive.  Cavanagh finds himself alone and fighting for his life and trying to track down Prescott, the man he was supposed to protect, but who turned out to be more dangerous than the people who wanted Prescott dead.

If you like action and adventure, this book is for you.  I found this book to be a very good suspense thriller and it definitely kept me on pins and needles wondering if Cavanagh was going to blow off his promise to protect Prescott and just kill the bastard.

David Morrell is a Canadian novelist from Kitchener, Ontario, who has been living in the United States for a number of years. He is best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become a successful film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone. More recently, he has been writing the Captain America comic books limited-series The Chosen.  For more information go to the author’s page at http://www.davidmorrell.net/.

Book review: Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4 series) by Diana Gabaldon (9780553714524 – Book on CD)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ Leave a comment

This is the fourth book in the Outlander series and Claire and Jamie’s new adventures are in the Americas.  They travel with Ian Murray (Jamie’s nephew) to North Carolina where they meet Jamie’s Aunt Jocasta at River Run.  Even though Aunt Jocasta wants to leave Jamie her estate, he prefers to settle at Fraser’s Ridge which it is more secluded and something he can call his own .  Of course, Claire and Jamie  run into Indians and bears on the way and meet interesting characters as well.

In addition to Claire and Jamie’s story, Brianna (Claire and Jamie’s daughter) and Roger Wakefield MacKenzie (distant ancestor of Dougal MacKenzie and Gilles Duncan) join the adventures by doing some time travel themselves.  Brianna goes back on her own from the 1970’s to the 1770’s to warn Claire and Jamie about a historical fact that she finds out and Roger discovers where Brianna has gone and and follows her.

Of course I love this series, but I thought the whole Jamie/Roger misunderstanding and the search for him took too long.  However, that won’t stop me from continuing on to the next in the series, The Fiery Cross.  As always, Davina Porter is a fantastic narrator and I recommend trying out the books on CD.  They are excellent!

Book review: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (9780553714548 – Book on CD)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ 1 Comment

At Jamie’s insistence Claire fled  for her and her baby’s life back to the 20th century to escape the bloody fight at Colloden.  Twenty years late in the 1960’s Claire discovers that against all odds Jamie survived Colloden and she must go back without her daughter.  The reunion between Claire and Jamie is unforgettable and her initiation back into the 18th century brings surprises.

The third book in the Outlander series is  my favorite so far. The story has much more action and adventure than the first two with fewer love scenes for you non-romance connoisseurs. This trip takes us from Scotland to the Caribbean with a few familiar characters popping up here and there. Some will surprise you.

Diana Gabaldon is a master story teller. Her wonderful descriptions of scenery, characters and historical events are fascinating and with the help of narrator, Davina Porter, the book on CD will transport you back in time.

I can’t wait to listen to Drums of Autumn!

Book review: Outlander by Diane Gabaldon (9781419359705-book on CD)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ Leave a comment

Hold on for a terrific ride!

I have read this book two times…so far. The first was when it came out 20 years. Was it that long ago? And second when I recently listened to the audiobook on my ride to and from work every day. Even after all of these years, the story is still what I remembered. Brilliant! It has something for everyone. Time travel, romance, history, adventure and evil villains to name a few.

Claire Randall is happily married to Frank Randall and they are on holiday in the highlands of Scotland in the 1940s when Claire is magically cast back in time to the 1740’s and thrown into an era that changes her life completely. She meets a young Scot named Jamie Frasier with whom she marries for her safety and then the excitement begins. The heroes are breathtaking and the villains are pure evil.

After first reading this story 20 years ago, it stayed with me due to the wonderful writing and superb characterization. I also want to note that the narrator for the audiobook, Davina Porter, is fantastic! Her mastery of the Scottish, English and French accents is amazing and makes you feel like you are in the thick of it all.

I plan to continue the series, which I did not do 20 years ago and look forward to the continuing saga of Claire and Jamie.

Book review: Lion’s Pride by Debbie Jordan (1432703307)

~ Sharon Clayton ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a long time since I have read a great Western and Lion’s Pride fills the void.

Sheriff Paco Alaniz is investigating the murder of Don Santiago Castillo de Leon who is a wealthy and cruel land owner in Arizona with lots of enemies.  The Don’s wife Dona Margarita is now free of his abuse which Father Ramon (who is in love with Dona Margarita ) has kept secret for many years.  Will Father Ramon’s guilt tear him apart?

Some of the renegade Mormon polygamists, headed by Prosper Hanson,are rebelling and Prosper’s enemy, Jacob Strong, has returned the same day of the Don’s murder to take something that belongs to Prosper.  Will Jacob find out the secrets that his wife and former love have hidden from him for years?  Will Prosper follow through with his threats?

Will Sheriff Alaniz find the murderer before the rogue mountain lion does it for him?

This story captures you from the start with the well-developed characters and the great Western theme.

Thank you to Ms. Jordan and PR by the Book for giving me the opportunity to review this book.