Review: Romantic Road by Blair McDowel

An Interesting Plot
Rating: 5 Stars
Available at: Amazon, Reading Alley

A good mix of heart-pumping action, exciting chase scenes balanced off by slow, romantic moments, Romantic Road is a nice and intriguing weekend read.

Still reeling from the death of her husband Igor, Lacy was shocked when she was accosted and demanded to hand over some manuscripts that she has no knowledge of. Thus start a journey of realization that her husband is actually more than who she is led to believe, a journey that leads her to a “romantic road” to her husband’s mysterious past, and a journey that leads her to Max, someone who makes her feel trusted, cared for and loved once again. And just whet the appetites of readers, the story leads to a surprising revelation towards the end. I enjoy the mixture of fast-paced action with slow-paced moments that Ms. McDowell interspersed throughout the story. This has given Lacy and Max more time to relax and get to know each other before they are pursued once again. The story provides a good characterization of Lacy, being a normal and simple woman caught up in her late husband’s web of intricacies, and this shows in the wrong decisions she made. Yet for all that, she does her best to keep up and think fast on her feet in emergency situations. I remember when she dumps the beer over her assailant's face so she could get away. That was quick thinking! Part of the reason why I enjoy this book is also the great chemistry between Max and Lacy. Beyond that, the constant drop of small hints throughout the story will keep your mind thinking — could there be something more about Max than just someone who is interested in Lacy? Could he be more than who he portrays himself to be? Set predominantly along different parts of beautiful Europe, Ms. McDowell’s fine writing will give you a vivid picture of where Max and Lacy went throughout their adventure. In retrospect, perhaps the one thing I felt might be good to have is a further extension to the story, an epilogue of sorts, to cover some unanswered points. I am also intrigued to find out more about the mysterious manuscript of Igor. Nevertheless, I was totally entertained and find this an enjoyable read.

A good mix of heart-pumping action, exciting chase scenes balanced off by slow, romantic moments, Romantic Road is a nice and intriguing weekend read. Still reeling from the death of her husband Igor, Lacy was shocked when she was accosted and demanded to hand over some manuscripts that she has no knowledge of. Thus start a journey of realization that her husband is actually more than who she is led to believe, a journey that leads her to a “romantic road” to her husband’s mysterious past, and a journey that leads her to Max, someone who makes her feel trusted, cared for and loved once again. And just whet the appetites of readers, the story leads to a surprising revelation towards the end. I enjoy the mixture of fast-paced action with slow-paced moments that Ms. McDowell interspersed throughout the story. This has given Lacy and Max more time to relax and get to know each other before they are pursued once again. The story provides a good characterization of Lacy, being a normal and simple woman caught up in her late husband’s web of intricacies, and this shows in the wrong decisions she made. Yet for all that, she does her best to keep up and think fast on her feet in emergency situations. I remember when she dumps the beer over her assailant's face so she could get away. That was quick thinking! Part of the reason why I enjoy this book is also the great chemistry between Max and Lacy. Beyond that, the constant drop of small hints throughout the story will keep your mind thinking — could there be something more about Max than just someone who is interested in Lacy? Could he be more than who he portrays himself to be? Set predominantly along different parts of beautiful Europe, Ms. McDowell’s fine writing will give you a vivid picture of where Max and Lacy went throughout their adventure. In retrospect, perhaps the one thing I felt might be good to have is a further extension to the story, an epilogue of sorts, to cover some unanswered points. I am also intrigued to find out more about the mysterious manuscript of Igor. Nevertheless, I was totally entertained and find this an enjoyable read.

Review Copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Sword of Osman by Tim Symonds

A Treat for all Sherlock Holmes Fans!!
Rating: 5 Stars
Available at: Amazon, Reading Alley

I got fascinated with Sherlock Holmes after having been introduced to his adventures in the recent BBC series. The TV series came off as funny, witty and engaging for me, and I was eager to read what a book on Sherlock has in store. It has made me a greater fan of Sherlock more than ever! I enjoyed the story and the plot very much. It definitely has a lot of depth, and gives an insightful glimpse into the teamwork and camaraderie of Sherlock and Watson in solving mysteries. Sherlock and Watson are off to a case to uncover a plot to steal the Sword of Osman and prevent the destabilization of the Ottoman Empire. It is set in 1906, at a time where tensions in Europe are mounting, and any destabilization can cause far wider implications. The element of mystery is intriguing, worthy of any Sherlock Holmes mystery. Mr. Symonds has done a fine job fitting and weaving the plot inside a historical setting, slowly revealing bits and pieces of the puzzle, with plot twists and turns nicely injected as the story moves along. Furthermore, the narration is done from Watson’s point of view. This has given me an in-depth appreciation of Watson’s character and his thought process. But in my opinion, the beauty of this is that told from his point of view, it has magnified the mysterious vibe surrounding Sherlock’s character, in that even from a close comrades’ point of view, how Sherlock’s mind works is still surprising, astounding and downright admirable. The effect is that it leaves you in awe of his brilliance, oftentimes wondering how he managed to deduce a piece of the puzzle.
The research that Mr. Symonds has done is very extensive and detailed. The historical timeline, background, the characters, the people’s way of life, nothing has been left out of context. It has led to a very realistic feel and a feeling of being transported to that period in time. Frankly, it is not one of the easier books for me to read as oftentimes I would come across terminologies used that are unfamiliar, and upon further research were because they existed only during those times. This has simply added to the authenticity of the story. Overall, it has added to the immense quality of story writing Mr. Symonds has devoted on this book. There is a reason why Sherlock Homes is a character that stands the test of time in the literary world. I would highly recommend this to all Sherlock fans, old and new. For those who have been introduced to Sherlock from the TV series, as I have been, this is certainly a very interesting read and gives you a different yet perhaps more authentic look into a Sherlock Holmes classic. I am interested to read how old time fans of Sherlock would receive this story. In any case, I look forward to other Sherlock books by Mr. Symonds.

I got fascinated with Sherlock Holmes after having been introduced to his adventures in the recent BBC series. The TV series came off as funny, witty and engaging for me, and I was eager to read what a book on Sherlock has in store. It has made me a greater fan of Sherlock more than ever! I enjoyed the story and the plot very much. It definitely has a lot of depth, and gives an insightful glimpse into the teamwork and camaraderie of Sherlock and Watson in solving mysteries. Sherlock and Watson are off to a case to uncover a plot to steal the Sword of Osman and prevent the destabilization of the Ottoman Empire. It is set in 1906, at a time where tensions in Europe are mounting, and any destabilization can cause far wider implications. The element of mystery is intriguing, worthy of any Sherlock Holmes mystery. Mr. Symonds has done a fine job fitting and weaving the plot inside a historical setting, slowly revealing bits and pieces of the puzzle, with plot twists and turns nicely injected as the story moves along. Furthermore, the narration is done from Watson’s point of view. This has given me an in-depth appreciation of Watson’s character and his thought process. But in my opinion, the beauty of this is that told from his point of view, it has magnified the mysterious vibe surrounding Sherlock’s character, in that even from a close comrades’ point of view, how Sherlock’s mind works is still surprising, astounding and downright admirable. The effect is that it leaves you in awe of his brilliance, oftentimes wondering how he managed to deduce a piece of the puzzle. The research that Mr. Symonds has done is very extensive and detailed. The historical timeline, background, the characters, the people’s way of life, nothing has been left out of context. It has led to a very realistic feel and a feeling of being transported to that period in time. Frankly, it is not one of the easier books for me to read as oftentimes I would come across terminologies used that are unfamiliar, and upon further research were because they existed only during those times. This has simply added to the authenticity of the story. Overall, it has added to the immense quality of story writing Mr. Symonds has devoted on this book. There is a reason why Sherlock Homes is a character that stands the test of time in the literary world. I would highly recommend this to all Sherlock fans, old and new. For those who have been introduced to Sherlock from the TV series, as I have been, this is certainly a very interesting read and gives you a different yet perhaps more authentic look into a Sherlock Holmes classic. I am interested to read how old time fans of Sherlock would receive this story. In any case, I look forward to other Sherlock books by Mr. Symonds. Review Copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.