Eden (Sandra Mahoney Mystery)

Eden is the third of a series of four stories about Sandra Mahoney; each taking place during a different season in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Eden is set during a hot summer.

Mahoney and her partner, Ivan, operate a security consultancy. Ivan on an overseas trip when a politician rings asking for a report on anti-censorship Ivan had completed just before his departure.

Intrigue in the politician’s enquiry and the impulse to quickly solve a mystery on her own drives Sandra to get involved in the seedy world of porn and prostitutes; mixed with politics making it muddier. She uses skilful questioning to draw information from the suspects with her police detective friend, Brooke, providing information she would be unable to access on her own.

I had previously read “The Fourth Season” so was going backwards with Sandra’s story but I had enjoyed it immensely and looked forward to reading Eden. Unfortunately I was very much disappointed with Eden. It didn’t have the depth of storyline I had come to expect and in some places I had trouble following it.

Having said that, the story line is not boring and is heightened by Johnston’s wonderful expressive prose with vivid descriptions of picturesque settings one minute and frightening, tense and heart beating moments the next. She has an ability to reach the senses with sights, sounds and smells of each moment.

Johnston obviously knows Canberra extremely well; its climate, varying neighbourhoods and the road confusion to visitors. She uses this knowledge to paint clear pictures of her scenes.

My rating 3*

For the Love of a Dingo by Berenice Walters and Pamela King

This is my own book published in September 2015 and I am pleased, and proud, to share two reviews received so far.

The book is the second stage of a major project that will lead to the writing the full biography of Berenice Walters, the Dingo Lady. The past three years I have spent my spare time sorting, filing, cataloguing and digitising her records as well as corresponding with dingo advocates and reading to update information. Proceeds from the sale of this book go directly to research costs for the full biography.

For further information about the “Dingo Lady Project”: Website: www.dingolady.com.au, Dingo Lady Facebook, Dingo Lady Blog. For the Love of a Dingo is available in Australia though the website and internationally through Amazon

Reviewed by Kane Guy, Author and Dingo Advocate

‘For the Love of a Dingo’ is a book straight from the heart. Eloquently woven through the lives of both Berenice Walters and Pamela King the book is a window into the world of living with dingoes. At a time when keeping dingoes was not only shunned, it was illegal, Berenice had a connection and a respect with the animal that defied any of those considerations.

Through the beautifully penned interactions of Berenice, her family and her friends with her dingoes, the book presents the many facets of dingo behaviour, as well as the incredible bonds formed between this animal and its chosen family group.

Pamela shares her love of the animal through stories of her connection with Berenice and her experiences with her and the dingoes at Bargo Dingo Sanctuary. It reveals the mutual respect these ladies shared. A respect that would eventually lead Pamela to delve into the archives of Berenice’s work after her passing. Realising the importance of Berenice’s work, Pamela set about sharing the life of this amazing women through the pages of this book. A book that would have otherwise never seen the light of day.

For the Love of a Dingo is educational, it is entertaining and well worth the read. It is a truly unique view into the world of the original and only Dingo Lady.  

Reviewed by April Gilly for Readers' Favorite

For the Love of a Dingo by Berenice Walters and Pamela Jean King is the tale of Berenice Walters and three of the dingoes that she either bred or welcomed into her home. Berenice always had a fascination with dingoes and when she was presented with a pup, she couldn't turn it away. Dora became her first dingo and through trial and error and applying knowledge she'd gained by breeding cattle dogs, Berenice was able to train Dora to be a respectable and friendly house guest. Napoleon, or Nap, was one of Dora's pups and quickly became the love of Berenice's life. Nap had just as many accomplishments as Dora and had his own personality quirks and ways of doing things. Snowgoose, or Snowy, is the third dingo tale told in For the Love of a Dingo. Snowy's story is told by Pamela Jean King and is simply about Snowy's accomplishments and how she came to be the mother to one lone pup.

For the Love of a Dingo by Berenice Walters and Pamela Jean King is very educational and goes to show that pit bulls aren't the only misunderstood breed in the world. The dingo is Australia's most misunderstood and wrongly persecuted breed because few people took the time to get to know the breed, how to work with them and "domesticate" them. With rich imagery and sweet stories that show why Nap was so beloved by Berenice, For the Love of a Dingo is heart-warming and heart breaking at points. With well-placed pictures to help show what is being described, I felt like I was right there with Berenice and Nap as he asked for his tea or when he reclaimed his chair!

Dingo Tails: Kane Guy

I have never read a book on any subject that contained such a wealth of knowledge in a series of short stories by so many different writers.

Dingoes Tails was the concept of Kane Guy a teacher, writer, husband, father of three, and absolute dingo admirer.

With the publication of Dingo Tails Kane hopes to paint a new picture of the dingo in the eyes of everyday Australians; that by the end of the book the reader will be able to see through the indoctrination of media sensationalism and appreciate the true beauty of the dingo through its many endearing and truly unique qualities.

The stories often tell of an immense reciprocated love; of Dreamtime legends, of people breaking the law, battling differences in legislation between states and challenges of having a dingo in the home.

They will make you laugh at dingo antics and ingenuity.  They will make you cry with stories about the dingoes sensitivity and loyalty and through the verbal images of the cruelty the dingo has endured for over 200 years.

Mostly they tell how beautiful and spiritual the dingo is and how it is different to a domestic dog.

It contains beautiful and emotional descriptions of the love between dingoes and humans; at least those humans who take the time to understand and love an animal who could be described as the most misunderstood and maligned.

The stories are not just written by people who live with dingoes or care for them in the wild and in sanctuaries. They are also written by environmentalists, scientists, overseas visitors and even a farmer who welcomes dingoes onto his property. They are all written by people who love dingoes. To take one quote from the book that summarises the emotion of living with a dingo: “To say we love dingoes cannot encapsulate our feelings for them.” Stories from Koru by Tanya Hancock.

I know many people skip the Preface of a book and it is rare that I would make special mention of it in a review but, in this case it is essential reading. It introduces the Dingo as an Australian Native, its history since white settlement and the gradual war between graziers and the dingo. It discusses the still unsolved question of where dingoes originated from, their life and social structure, role as an apex predator, its important role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem and the need for a change in legislation to protect the Dingo. It is written in a fresh, easy to read style without rehashing the same old words and phrases. It is essential reading to start having an understanding of the Dingo.

The most beautifully written piece in the book is in the story ‘At the Centre of All Things’ by Joshua Said:

…… their warm eyes stare into your soul, communicating messages that can’t be spoken. It’s something incorruptible, something indelible, something ancient that has preceded us, yet something that we know full well. It’s a bond of partnership, a promise to always love and protect; to provide and share. A unique and enduring companionship that is as old as the hills in this land, as old as its first people.

Legend since the Dreaming, the Dingo’s place has not changed in the wild hearts of the men and women who love them. Respected and admired, loved and appreciated, the bond and the spiritual exchange of unexplainable values are lifelong in its entirety, and moment by moment in its expression.

Love is, with the Dingo, at the centre of all things. Love of freedom, love of life, love of family and love of duty and commitment. Loyal and faithful to their kin, to the death they prove their love. Ephemeral only is their beating heart, that one day will return to the earth from which it was made. But their love, their love is an icon in this rugged and tough land that proves to endure through all places, in all things, no matter the persecution or the ultimate cost.

Through drought and fire, flood and rain, snow and ice they can be found. And wherever they are in this Land Down Under, the story is the same – to love them is to know them, and to know them is to love them.

I sincerely hope this book gets into print. It deserves to be displayed in every book shop and every library. Maybe then Australia will wake up and accept the Dingo as a vital native animal of this vast country.

Where to buy the eBook:

For iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Mac https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/dingo-tails/id1052594870?mt=13

For the ePub version https://payhip.com/b/TQgP

My rating 5/5* but it deserves more

Christmas Confessions and Cocktails by Vicki Lesage

Another great read from my American girlfriend living in France. I don’t know Ms Lesage personally but that is how all her books make you feel.

Vicki herself best describes her latest book. As she says in her introduction she has taken two things she loves – Christmas and cocktails – thrown them in a martini shaker, and mixed up a fun, seasonal collection. Each story has its own cocktail recipe themed to the story.

Vicki’s previous books mostly covered her life in France but this collection is reflective of Christmas’s past in both France and USA. They are a balanced collection of funny, happy and sad stories; all told in her honest, open way.

This is a more mature Vicki than we met in her earlier books, motherhood can do that to a party girl, but she is still able to tell a good yarn and laugh at herself.

Reading Christmas Confessions and Cocktails got me reflecting on my own Christmas’ and the funny, happy and sad, past and present family members I shared them with.

While I read the Kindle edition I am very pleased the book is also available in print. A Kindle book as a Christmas present just isn’t the same as the real thing.

If you haven’t already read Vicki Lesage’s earlier ‘confession’ books it won’t spoil the fun in this edition (but you have missed some great light reading)

A few of the stories are repeats from previous books but hey! It’s Christmas. Time to put your feet up and enjoy some fun, light reading – with cocktail in hand of course! I avoided the temptation to try each cocktail as I finished each chapter which is probably just as well because I do most of my reading early in the morning.

My only disappointment was that living in Australia I was not familiar with some of the ingredients. That means I can only try about 20 of the recipes this Christmas instead of all 25.

Living in a climate with a hot Christmas I’ve bookmarked Badajoz Sangria to serve my family this Christmas and even with our warm climate it won’t stop me trying the ‘white’ Christmas ones. Oh and for those like me that live in a ‘metric measurement’ country – get out your metric converter so you don’t spoil the final product.

Cheers Vicki! And Merry Christmas.  

This book was provided to me for free for an honest and unbiased review.

My rating 5* as a good read and 5* as a Christmas gift