Spiral Aloe: Deceit in Lesotho

Spiral Aloe: Deceit in Lesotho, Africa's Mountain Kingdom
by L.A.Forbes

E-book published by L.A.Forbes






The village of Malikeng lies in a valley at the foot of the Drakensburg mountains, which reach a height of 10,000 feet in places.  This spectacular backdrop to our story serves to accentuate the tensions and undercurrents that are rampant in this small village.

Into the midst of the warm and friendly residents of Malikeng comes Sarah, an American Peace Corps Volunteer, who is on a mission to assist with the health and dietary problems associated with the HIV/AIDS problem which is rampant throughout Southern Africa.  She has previously been working in New Mexico and Arizona on the Indian reservations, mostly dealing with diabetics, and was in need of a change of scene. 

Sarah arrives at Malikeng after an extremely long and arduous journey to begin her new assignment.  She will be living in a rondavel, a small round house with a conical roof,  which is situated within the chief's compound.  She unpacks and stores her belongings as best she can in the limited space available, and begins to familiarize herself with the people and their language.  She is based at the local school and befriends Lucy, one of the teachers, and gets to know her family and is generally welcomed by the residents, with the occasional exception.

Life in Malikeng is very different from the life Sarah is accustomed to in Albuquerque, life's essentials do not come 'on tap' as she has been used to, and she takes some time to adjust.  She integrates as best she can and feels she is making headway with her project, and is enjoying her time in Lesotho.

Trouble is brewing with one particular resident, who has upset some dangerous people, resulting in a dramatic finale to the narrative.

Entertaining story, giving an insight into a country most people will not be familiar with, and I would thoroughly recommend this book.

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Mystical Circles

Mystical Circles by S. C. Skillman

Published by Blue Lily Press

ISBN:  978-1-62141-758-3





Our heroine, Juliet, an aspiring radio journalist, has begun an assignment to investigate the 'Wheel of Love'.  Her younger sister Zoe has become enamoured with Craig, the leader of this group, and Juliet feels obliged to check out both him and his followers as her filial duty to her sister. 

She travels from London to the farmhouse in Gloucestershire where the members are living, with the intention of interviewing Craig and his followers, who turn out to be a rather motley crew!  From various parts of the country, and beyond, these willing souls have been drawn to Craig's retreat for spiritual and mental healing or enlightenment.  Most are pleasant individuals but there are some with a darker, hidden side to their character.  The problems some of these people have are explored and revealed during Juliet's interviews and observations.  Juliet participates in the various activities that the group undertake, whilst conducting her interviews with each person individually.  She attempts to remain a neutral observer during this process, but all the time she is forming her own opinions about the whole experience.

With the appearance of a guest speaker, Theo, the dynamic of the group changes.  This is not his first visit to the farmhouse, and it is obvious to Juliet that Zoe is smitten with him, which causes confusion in Juliet's mind.  Didn't Zoe love Craig?  During the week that Juliet is staying with the group, various incidents and accidents ensure that there is never a dull moment, nor any lack of action and interaction between the residents.  Craig's father, Don, is the steadying influence in the house, but eventually even he succumbs to the tensions.  Harsh words are exchanged between father and son, with an explosive conclusion.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it wholeheartedly.

Kiana Davenport, Author

Kiana Davenport is a prize-winning author whose recent works include the Pacific Stories series and The Spy Lover, all published by Thomas and Mercer.

Kiana has previously won O. Henry Awards, Pushcart Prizes, and the Best American Short Story Award of 2000 for her novels.

Pacific Stories is a three-part work comprising House of Skin (2010), Pacific Nights (2011) and Opium Dreams (2012).  Each volume contains a series of short stories, which take place on various Pacific Islands from Hawaii to Australia.  They are at times tales of love, but many come from a darker place, with some shockingly evocative content.

Not for the faint-hearted!

Check out Kiana's blog for a great giveaway! 

Kiana Davenport Dialogues