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​book reviews

The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn

2/19/2022

54 Comments

 
Amazon debut author, Rob Samborn introduces us to his first book, “The Prisoner of Paradise”:
A 400-year-old murder. A disembodied whisper: "Amore mio." My love.

Nick and Julia O'Connor's dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto's Paradise, the world's largest oil painting. 

Though Julia worries her husband suffers from a delusion, Nick is adamant the voice belongs to a woman from the 16th century—his soul mate from a previous life. He discovers a religious order that has developed a method of extracting people's souls, which they imprison in Paradise. Over the centuries, they've judged thousands of souls and sentenced them to eternal purgatory.

As infatuation with the past clouds his commitment to a present-day wife, Nick must right an age-old wrong—destroy the painting and liberate his soul mate. But freeing her would allow all the souls to be reborn. 

The order will never let that happen. 
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Such an amazing and intense story! I have read a lot of time travel stories. This is not that. It is a past-life story. Is that a spoiler? I hope not, I try not to let spoilers leak out in my reviews.
When Nick and Julia land in Venice, on a dream vacation, they have no idea that they are on a collision course with the past! This fast-paced adventure begins to pick up steam when they visit a renowned art museum in Venice. Nick thinks he is losing his mind when he hears a voice calling to him from a famous painting that is several hundred years old. His wife, Julia, doesn't know what to think. Things go from bad to worse as a centuries-old conspiracy is slowly revealed and the married couple does not know who they can trust. The Order seems to be everywhere all the time.
A rollicking ride that veers from the present into the past over and over. You are going to love this book! It is so hard to put down!
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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Paradise-Book-ebook 
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-prisoner-of-paradise 
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-prisoner-of-paradise-1 

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/RobSamborn 
https://robsamborn.com 
https://www.facebook.com/RobSambornAuthor 
https://www.instagram.com/robsamborn 

Here is the link to the review of the second book and the interview continues there also: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/painter-of-the-damned 
 
Copyright ©2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
54 Comments

The Caduca by Elaine Graham-Leigh

2/5/2022

76 Comments

 
Multi-volume, fiction and non-fiction author, Elaine Graham-Leigh introduces us to her latest science fiction novel “The Caduca”:
The planet of Benan Ty is just another poor and violent ex-Terran colony. Now the Chi!me, the major power in the galaxy, are coming to broker a peace deal between guerrilla group ViaVera and the government.
For Quila, a rising figure in the Chi!me diplomatic service, the posting to Benan Ty could be the making of her career. Meanwhile Terise, one of ViaVera's inner circle, is just trying to get her lover out with his life. But in a conflict where no side's motivations are pure, they are both about to discover how much they have to lose.
Set in a future where humanity has gone to the stars, but taken exploitation and oppression with them, this is a story of imperialism, resistance, friendship and ultimately, liberation.

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This story was a true pleasure to read. While there was quite a bit of narration each chapter was devoted to one or two main characters so the point of view kept changing and that increased my interest factor. Each person thought they were the hero in the story they were telling.
The story explored contrasting concepts such as loyalty and betrayal, love and loss, greed and benevolence. So many broad experiences are well represented in this story.
With many actors, this story is full of the human condition and is an excellent read!
I award 4.6 stars to "The Caduca".

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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Caduca-Elaine-Graham-Leigh-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-the-caduca
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-caduca-elaine-graham-leigh
 
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/egrahamleigh
https://redpuffin.net
 
Copyright © 2022 Mark Schultz except for the author’s introduction

76 Comments

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