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Surface Tensions
Mermaids sighted near a Scottish island. A town exploding in anger and distrust. And Donald’s got to get the sexiest fish in town, back in the water. “Surface Tensions” is the first story in a series of Island adventures from the pen of G R Jordan. If you love comic moments, cosy adventures and light fantasy action, then you'll love these tales with a twist. Get the book that amazon readers said, “perfectly captures life in the Scottish Hebrides” and that explores “human nature at its best and worst”. Something's stirring the water!
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2017
11 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 7, 2023
You can read my full review on my WordPress blog, Flora's Musings...
So, what did I like about it?
G R Jordan is a new-to-me author but I was impressed with his writing style and the prose he used; I found this story intelligent, the characters compelling (even those I didn’t like) and liked the way he reflected all of human nature within these pages.
Primarily, I think that this story is a lovely gentle British comedy drama and I really enjoyed reading how the tail unfolded (pun definitely intended), how each character had their own chapters so that we could get to know them and the way that, throughout the story, we were given insights to help understand what it means to live on an island as part of an insular community. We are introduced to quite a few of the main protagonists of this story, the islanders and liked that some resonated with my own personality while others rubbed me up the wrong way; all were complex creations who felt very real and believable.
Surface Tensions wasn’t what I was expecting – it’s NOT a paranormal romance between a human and mermaid – it's a story about the human condition, about how different people react to the unknown, what’s different or new, and it also highlights the comparisons between island life to that on the mainland. I didn’t know what to expect, where Mr Jordan would take us; I had no idea how the story would climax and who would come out on top.
Surface Tensions has made me chuckle out loud, made me rage with indignant frustration, put a soppy smile on my face as well as had me holding my breath, on the edge of my seat.
So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
So, now I have to be honest and say why Surface Tensions had me dithering between a 3 or 4 star rating from me.
I am probably being rather mean to Mr Jordan and doing his book a dis-service but I need to explain, the dystopian type themed books are not my cup of tea. I don’t like reading stories where everything is as bad as it possibly can be because of the inevitable brutality of our species. Mob mentality really frightens me, when a group of people assemble because they're emotional and angry about something, it only takes one act of violence to whip the crowd into a fury and I know that this viciousness, this sense of righteousness is just there barely below the surface - that's the horror story right there! I find it very hard to read stories that contain scenes of this nature, and at times, Surface Tensions did make my heart and soul weep; it’s why it took me so long to read, I had to keeping putting it down, breathe and step away from the story. I need my fiction to take me away from the horrors of the human condition, perhaps I should be praising Mr Jordan for getting me so emotionally connected rather than penalising him…
So, basically what I’m saying is...
I did really enjoy this book. It’s got everything that I look for in a good story; adventure, great characters, action, humour and a sprinkling of romance.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal mysteries and dramas and I can confirm that the content (e.g. language, violence, sex, etc) is not horrific due to the lack of graphic blood or explicit sex scenes, although I would suggest that the target audience is older owing to the tension and thriller aspects of the story.
I want you to know that I was given a digital version of this book for free from the publisher (BooksGoSocial) after making a request via Netgally.com in exchange for an honest review.
The publication date was 6th May 2017.
So, what did I like about it?
G R Jordan is a new-to-me author but I was impressed with his writing style and the prose he used; I found this story intelligent, the characters compelling (even those I didn’t like) and liked the way he reflected all of human nature within these pages.
Primarily, I think that this story is a lovely gentle British comedy drama and I really enjoyed reading how the tail unfolded (pun definitely intended), how each character had their own chapters so that we could get to know them and the way that, throughout the story, we were given insights to help understand what it means to live on an island as part of an insular community. We are introduced to quite a few of the main protagonists of this story, the islanders and liked that some resonated with my own personality while others rubbed me up the wrong way; all were complex creations who felt very real and believable.
Surface Tensions wasn’t what I was expecting – it’s NOT a paranormal romance between a human and mermaid – it's a story about the human condition, about how different people react to the unknown, what’s different or new, and it also highlights the comparisons between island life to that on the mainland. I didn’t know what to expect, where Mr Jordan would take us; I had no idea how the story would climax and who would come out on top.
Surface Tensions has made me chuckle out loud, made me rage with indignant frustration, put a soppy smile on my face as well as had me holding my breath, on the edge of my seat.
So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
So, now I have to be honest and say why Surface Tensions had me dithering between a 3 or 4 star rating from me.
I am probably being rather mean to Mr Jordan and doing his book a dis-service but I need to explain, the dystopian type themed books are not my cup of tea. I don’t like reading stories where everything is as bad as it possibly can be because of the inevitable brutality of our species. Mob mentality really frightens me, when a group of people assemble because they're emotional and angry about something, it only takes one act of violence to whip the crowd into a fury and I know that this viciousness, this sense of righteousness is just there barely below the surface - that's the horror story right there! I find it very hard to read stories that contain scenes of this nature, and at times, Surface Tensions did make my heart and soul weep; it’s why it took me so long to read, I had to keeping putting it down, breathe and step away from the story. I need my fiction to take me away from the horrors of the human condition, perhaps I should be praising Mr Jordan for getting me so emotionally connected rather than penalising him…
So, basically what I’m saying is...
I did really enjoy this book. It’s got everything that I look for in a good story; adventure, great characters, action, humour and a sprinkling of romance.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal mysteries and dramas and I can confirm that the content (e.g. language, violence, sex, etc) is not horrific due to the lack of graphic blood or explicit sex scenes, although I would suggest that the target audience is older owing to the tension and thriller aspects of the story.
I want you to know that I was given a digital version of this book for free from the publisher (BooksGoSocial) after making a request via Netgally.com in exchange for an honest review.
The publication date was 6th May 2017.
August 24, 2018
Donald delivers one big, wet surprise to the girl he wants and the adventure of a lifetime ensues!🌊
August 23, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍. This story has everything going for it --💞 romance, humor, Scottish island life, tension and riotous confluct, topped off with a mysterious appearance of mermaids! The four main couples include a young photographer and her ferryworker beau, a buxom local vet and her community center custodian, a visiting page six girl and her besotted local ferry cook, and the local Nonconformist clergyman and his feisty wife. Loved them all as they battle against local intolerance and prejudice. There's some violence and ugly behavior. As to the romance, the passion is behind closed doors or vaguely discussed, something that makes this a story for teen to mature readers.
The writing was excellent, the plot exciting and the conclusion really satisfying. I wholeheartedly recommend.B-)
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
August 23, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍👍. This story has everything going for it --💞 romance, humor, Scottish island life, tension and riotous confluct, topped off with a mysterious appearance of mermaids! The four main couples include a young photographer and her ferryworker beau, a buxom local vet and her community center custodian, a visiting page six girl and her besotted local ferry cook, and the local Nonconformist clergyman and his feisty wife. Loved them all as they battle against local intolerance and prejudice. There's some violence and ugly behavior. As to the romance, the passion is behind closed doors or vaguely discussed, something that makes this a story for teen to mature readers.
The writing was excellent, the plot exciting and the conclusion really satisfying. I wholeheartedly recommend.B-)
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews