Tuesday, June 28, 2016

5 Lloyd C Douglas Novels I read Long Ago


When I was a rather young girl, I was rather lonely. Being quite socially maladjusted, I drowned my woes in books and what better solace to all who despair than some Goody Two-Shoe type book? 

1. It could have been my father who first read The Robe and I not only followed suit but ended up reading a good many of Lloyd C Douglas' books.


The Robe

A deeply moving novel about a Roman soldier who wins Christ's robe when he is crucified and how he is transfigured. There was a film based on the book:




You might like to dip into the book, below - I'd be deeply touched if there's still someone in today's world who can get sentimental over such a theme.



2. I think I enjoyed The Big Fisherman, my second Lloyd C Douglas, better. Was it the romance? Was there humour that enchanted me? I forget.

The Big Fisherman

This was also made into a film and the print of the video below is in rather bad shape, I warn you.


Browse the book below and maybe you'll enjoy it as much as I did.


3. Since my father was a doctor I suppose Magnificent Obsession followed next with ease.

Magnificent Obsession

There was a film based on this one too:


Set in the medical genre, it's worth a read in you're in the profession and even if you're not, it's quite a moving book. 


4. Also a Doctor story, Green Light is quite a dramatic story.

Green Light

If you're in the mood for a slightly tattered black and white film, do enjoy the Errol Flynn version below:


And I'd be happy if you also dipped in below for I'm sure there are still those who'd be charmed by this somewhat moral tale:


5. I'm afraid I can't recall much about White Banners and I leave you to find out more about this uplifting novel by Lloyd C Douglas.

White Banners

Find below a scene from the 1938 film - from the response on Youtube, people are charmed!


And I leave you with the chance to run your eyes over this story about which a reader on Goodreads says: 
Every time I read it, I come away a better person!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Review: The Man From Beijing

The Man From Beijing

I learned of Wallander way back in 2010 when we used to watch the Killing. 


The Killing - Season 1-3 - Series Trailer

It was then that a friend told me about another TV show, also based on a Swedish television series. 




Wallander - Trailer - BBC One

And that led me to some knowledge of the Kurt Wallander series, written by Henning Mankell.

But, somehow, it was only recently that I actually saw any book of this author and that was at the local library. And there was only the last of the series, The Troubled Man. I'd read a review which claimed that this was not the best of the lot and, thus, I had a look at the few other Mankells on the shelf.


As I'm into Asian authors at the moment and as I was a bit curious about how the Chinese were perceived by a Swedish author, I picked up The Man From Beijing.


It started out quite well. What better atmosphere to read about in an exceptionally hot summer at Pune than the first chapter of the book! Scandinavian forests in deep winter. A lone wolf. Famished. Where is it headed? Why is it alone?

But, alas, we do not follow the wolf's journey farther than the outskirts of a hamlet. The wolf finds some gruesome remains and, thenceforth, it vanishes into the icy wastes as quickly as Mankell's ability to keep a tight grip on plot and structure.

After the brief wolf interlude, hope continues to linger as we discover a massacre and the body count rises. The police enter the picture.

And then the novel rapidly depreciates into a hypocritical self depreciating portrait of a near perfect European society where there appears to be zero gender discrimination, where folks seem to live on into their nineties in significant numbers, and other such "good life" index satisfiers. The only flies in this far from balmy ointment are people of colour - the blacks and, more pertinently to the book, the yellows. Apparently, as I see in another of Mankell's works - The Shadow Girls - he has the impression that we, the others of colour, go green with envy at the prosperity of the "West".

Perhaps it is his secret intention to dissuade us from what the world is convinced is our sole goal in life - to get into the lands of the White Man at any and every cost. For he portrays this El Dorado in gloomy shades. Almost everyone is ailing. No great joy is depicted.

On the other hand, although he seems to wring his hands over the cruelty of colonialism, he has surely a paranoia about people of colour. In a court, over which the protagonist presides, most of the criminals are from Muslim countries or from Vietnam or other such places.

Of course, we shall deal with China in this novel. And then it's a wild orgy of Tintin: The Blue Lotus and The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu. Velly velly amusing!

The Chinese, we learn, are vengeful. They can harbour resentment over the course of centuries. And, when they decide to take revenge, nothing simple will do. If for nothing else, I'd read the book for the concept of killing someone with powdered glass poured into their drink.

Forget the people of that nationality - the nation itself and its policies are viewed with a very jaundiced eye. I have no doubt that, since most of us are thoroughly brainwashed by the so-called global media and many of us have not outlived the aftermath of colonialism, there will be a huge number who will applaud Mankell's idea of China's evil plans for Africa, in the near future, and for world dominion as ultimate aim (shades of Fu Manchu).

My own biliousness apart, it's not a bad read - rather rambling and somewhat here and there to one who had but recently finished Keigo Higashino's The Devotion of Suspect X.

I'm wading through my second Mankell and hope to entertain you with a review on that soon but, alas, I'm no nearer a Wallander to add to my belt. And it's a troubling thought that I'll have to settle for The Troubled Man.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Hot Romance - Bad Boys After Dark



RELEASING JUNE 22ND........
Bad Boys After Dark: Mick

Indulge your inner vixen...

You asked for naughtier lovers, with the same fierce loyalty as The Bradens - Meet the Bad Boys... Four sinfully sexy, uber alpha brothers, about to fall head over heels for their leading ladies. .

Everything's naughtier after dark...
Amanda Jenner is done being a boring-man magnet and has finally taken control of her love life. As any smart paralegal would, she’s researched the hell out of how to seduce a man. She’s waxed, primped, and ready to put her newfound skills into action—and a masquerade bar crawl is the perfect venue for her solo coming-out party. 

Entertainment attorney Mick Bad lives by two hard and fast rules. He never mixes business with pleasure, and he doesn’t do relationships, which makes the anonymity of a masquerade bar crawl the perfect place for a onetime hookup.

Amanda thinks she’s hit the jackpot when she bags a tall, dark, and sinfully delicious masked man—until she discovers the man she’s made out with is her off-limits boss. Mick’s already crossed a line he can never uncross, and one taste of sweet and sexy Amanda has only whet his appetite. When Mick offers to give Amanda a lesson in seduction—no strings, no regrets, and for goodness’ sake, come Monday, no quitting—the tables turn, and Mick’s totally unprepared for the lessons this sweet temptress provides.

The Bad Boys are a series of stand-alone romances that may also be enjoyed as part of the larger Love in Bloom series.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to pre-order from ...


"If you're interested in books with super-hot alpha males, ridiculously sexy heroines and need-to-take-a-cold-shower love scenes, this is the series for you!" M. Engel, Book Mama Blog

BAD BOYS AFTER DARK 
Mick (now available)
Dylan (releasing Dec 21st pre-order here 
Carson (coming soon) 
Brett (coming soon)

More After Dark books available now...

About the author
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance (M/F, M/M, F/F), romantic suspense, thrillers, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page.  Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary CafĂ©. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. 

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa at The World Literary Cafe or her personal website.Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.
Find Melissa on the following sites....


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