Jaguar Sun by Martha Bourke

Jaguar Sun by Martha Bourke is a paranormal romance for young adults. Maya Delaney is an apparently normal teenager at a New Mexico high school who discovers that she has strange powers and that she is destined to fulfill an ancient Mayan prophecy. I absolutely love the cover and I'm sure it will encourage readers to look inside.  The novel is well written and well researched. The information about the Mayan culture is fed into the narrative without coming across as a lecture. The story moves quickly which is essential for a young adult book and mercifully, there are no vampires. Above all, it is a romantic, coming of age novel about love and freindship which will appeal to its intended audience. It appealed to this considerably older adult and I am happy to recommend it.

Blackmore's Treasure by Derek G. Rogers

I am very happy to recommend Blackmore's Treasure, a historical novel for children and young adults by Derek G. Rogers. Set during the English Civil War this is a time travel story about a thirteen year old boy Tobias Allinson who suffers a serious injury and dreams that he is his own ancestor who fights in the Battle of Naseby. The narrative is clear and easy to read and the period setting very well drawn. The transition from present day to the past and back were cleverly managed and entirely believable. I also enjoyed the historical content and felt that I had learned something. If I have one tiny nitpick it is that when characters speak in dialect this is done phonetically which does have the effect of halting the narrative flow. Having said that, I enjoyed it immensely and I do hope there is more in the pipeline from Derek Rogers. If we are to get children interested in reading and in history, this is the way to do it. Highly recommended.

Peggy Pinch Policeman's Wife by Malcolm Noble

My latest Indie recommendation is Peggy Pinch Policeman's Wife by Malcolm Noble.The novel is set in an English village in 1926 on the eve of the General Strike. Peggy Pinch must solve a murder in order to save her husband's job. It is a murder mystery but more than that, it is a snapshot of village life in the twenties complete with gossip, petty arguments, complex relationships and secrets. This is a very well written book with a light touch and just the right amount of description to set the scene without slowing down the story. I was initially put off by the cover which I do not think represents the contents at all but I am glad I did not judge this particular book by its cover and I am happy to recommend it.

The Serpent in the Glass by D. M. Andrews

My latest recommendation is The Serpent in the Glass by D.M. Andrews. This is a fantasy novel for readers of all ages. Thomas Farrell has been living as an unpaid servant in the home of his adopted parents until on his eleventh birthday, he receives an invitation to attend the mysterious Darkledun Manor, a school for gifted children. So far, so Harry Potter, but although there are several similarities, this is a very different story. The novel is peopled by interesting and believable characters both child and adult, and there are humourous moments which made me chuckle. Although the story starts slowly, the ending is fast paced and satisying and although most of Thomas's questions are answered, there are enough remaining to ensure that a sequel must be on the way.

Gray Justice by Alan McDermott

My latest recommendation is Gray Justice by Alan McDermott. This is a thriller which moves along quickly and  has a few twists and turns along the way. Tom Gray has suffered a double tragedy and finds an original way to bring those responsible to justice. In fact the word original has been used to describe the story and I would agree with that. It is not your run of the mill thriller. The narrative style is easy to read and carries you forward effortlessly.

The ending was not what I expected which always pleases me.  Also the reader is left with unanswered questions which of course will encourage you to buy the second book Gray Resurrection. Both books are available for Kindle on Amazon.

A Real Piece of Work by Chris Orcutt

It just goes to prove what I have always said, there really are good Indie novels out there. A Real Piece of Work was recommended to me and I am so glad it was. Available from the Amazon Kindle store, this is the first in the series about private investigator Dakota Stevens. It is written in the first person in the style of Raymond Chandler and indeed the narrator alludes to the detectives of old but there is nothing old-fashioned or derivative. The story is very much a twenty first century take on the genre. Dakota Stevens and his beautiful Russian associate Svetlana Krush are asked to investigate the disappearance of a painting. The case takes them into the murky business of stolen art and of course into dangers they had not expected. Dakota is impetuous and passionate, whilst Svetlana has a brilliant analytical mind and is entirely logical. It makes for great chemistry between them and plenty of humourous moments. The story moves along beautifully and the ending is unexpected and satisfying. I loved the narrator's witty asides as the plot's twists and turns. Highly recommended.

Only the Innocent - by Rachel Abbott

My second recommendation for Indie novels is this murder mystery by Rachel Abbott. What I particularly liked about this was the fact that it is out of the ordinary. It is not purely a police procedural, although the policeman in charge of the investigation (As with all the characters)  is well drawn and believable. Hopefully, the author is planning to use him again in another novel. I would like to read more about him. The story unfolds layer by layer and  I did not guess who had committed the murder until the end. Even then, there was a final twist as the reason for the murder is revealed.

The novel hooked me from the beginning and kept me hooked throughout. A real page turner. I am very happy to recommend it. Another thumbs up for indie authors.