Scottish Author ~ Book Review ~ Shadows in the Stone by Diane Lyn Mc Gyver

An adult fantasy of dwarfs, elves, half castes and hauflins. A tale of love between adopted daughter and father Corporal Darrow, but also his unexpected unrequited passion for Alaura, a half breed enchantress who aids Darrow in bringing up Isla in Aruam Castle. All is not harmony at the castle as the balance in society between peoples is undermined by evil forces.

The pivotal moment is when Isla is kidnapped by her natural father, a vagabond and thief. Taking leave of his post at the castle, Darrow sets off on the long and tumultuous journey in search of Isla, who he feels is his own.

This was quite a different novel to my recent reads but none the less enjoyable; gripping at times. There is a lesson about a successful society here, of folks of various backgrounds getting on with life, being so quickly destabilized.

Most enjoyable and I look forward to Diane Lyn Mc Gyver’s sequel.

Celebrating Scottish Authors Month ~ Buddhada by Anne Donovan

Buddhada on Amazon

This is a gem or a novel lent to me by a neighbour. Anne Donovan is an author from Glasgow and so her descriptions and characters are spot on, charming you with their down to earth sense of humour ~ well except Jimmy of course, the main character, who is going through a bit of a mid life crisis.

Jimmy, a Glaswegian painter and decorator,has a pretty ordinary but happy life with his wife and daughter, that is until he becomes interested in meditation through a local Buddhist Centre. In short he leaves his wife of thirteen years, the love of his life, in search of something. Enlightenment? The meaning of life? Peace? The lamas are in the background watching his journey in a quiet, non judgmental way and he lives at the Centre for a while.

You read the story from Jimmy’s point of view, but also from his wife, Liz, a very down to earth lady whose whole life revolves around family and friends. Also from Anne Marie’s perspective; their twelve year old daughter.

I loved the local dialect and have been living in Fife long enough, just about, to hear the voices. Some might find this aspect difficult to read but please try not to be put off. I’m sure most readers will be able to slip into a truly Glaswegian experience ~ with a difference.

I do believe that, if Buddhada were on my own bookshelf, that I’d keep it to read it again, and I can’t give higher praise than that 🙂

 

Celebrating Scottish Authors ~ Mark Douglas Home ~ ‘The Woman who Walked into the Sea’

Available on Amazon

The first Scottish author I’ve chosen to review this December, Mark Douglas Home, had me spellbound with this novel ‘The Woman who Walked into the Sea‘, which I bought in Waterstones as a paperback.

Here’s my review:

“Violet Well’s travels to a small community near Ullapool in the Highlands of Scotland in search of her mother, or information about why she was abandoned as a baby. She finds a strange community in the imaginary town of Poltown some on the surface who are warm and welcoming, a man who is kindly but appears to have learning difficulties and others who appear to be downright sinister. Nothing is as it first appears.

Not wanting to find any romantic involvement she stumbles upon Duncan Mc Call, an expert in tides and currents who often finds himself working to investigate missing bodies thought to have drowned. He becomes a rock to protect her but although ever watchful, he keeps a respectful distance from Violet in accordance to her wishes.

The plot is complex but extremely well written leading the reader ever deeper. Was it an accident? Was it suicide? Was it murder?

It is quite an emotional journey for this lass from Glasgow and the story kept me guessing to the end. I can recommend this novel for anyone who like a good mystery with a difference.”

Mark Douglas Home has certainly gone on to my list of authors to watch out for in the future.

Having moved to Fife, Scotland, two years ago this December I thought I would celebrate with a Scottish author month of blog book reviews.