Book Review: Rough Diamond - Rough Justice by Avien Gray @aviengrayauthor @maryanneyarde

Rough Diamond - Rough Justice 

By Avien Gray

Publisher: Avien Gray. Page Length: 466. Genre: Political Thrillers & Suspense / Historical Fiction

After a first kill, MI5 Agent and erstwhile photographer Cain becomes an undercover, extra-judicial killer for a secret Bureau.

Recovering from injuries sustained protecting the Royal Family, Cain embracesa new life and romance in sun-drenched Australia, leaving his past life behind.

But when tragedy strikes, he is on the move again. This time to a new career in the world of diamond dealings in Florida.

Curiosity takes Cain to the diamond world in South Africa, where his past finally catches up with him, the criminal world allies against him and he becomes a killer again.

In Cain's action-packed escapades, a spectacular betrayal takes him into the rigours of a Chinese prison where the truth about his past begins to unravel.

Aided by a loyal band of friends from the shadowy world of intelligence, he delivers his own particular brand of rough justice.

However, with enemies closing in on all sides, will Cain prevail?

Trigger warnings: violence, murder

Praise

“Rough Diamond, Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is a riveting spy thriller that seamlessly blends electrifying elements of espionage, adrenaline-charged action, and daring escapades.

Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion

“A gripping high-stakes thriller, “Rough Diamond - Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is driven by the urgent question of whether one can ever truly escape a dark and violent past.”

The Coffee Pot Book Club

“Aiven Gray’s Rough Diamond, Rough Justice is a gritty and cinematic thriller that follows Cain, a former professional photographer turned MI5 surveillance agent, as he navigates a world of espionage, betrayal, and violence.”

Literary Titan

Book Rating:

📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million

📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

📚📚📚📚 = A really great read.

📚📚📚 = It was enjoyable.

📚📚 = It was okay.

📚 = Um...! 😕

My Review

Rough Diamond - Rough Justice

📚📚📚📚📚

This book is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the collar from the opening chapter and refuses to loosen its grip. Avien Gray drops you straight into a world of covert operations, moral compromise, and emotional scars, following Cain — a former MI5 operative who can’t seem to outrun the life he thought he’d left behind.

Cain is a brilliant protagonist: capable, stubborn, and deeply human. He’s not a cardboard action hero; he’s a man shaped by trauma, loyalty, regret, and the constant tug-of-war between justice and survival. What makes the story compelling is how Gray balances explosive action with quieter, more reflective moments. You never forget Cain is dangerous — but you also never forget he’s wounded.

The novel moves confidently across continents, and each location feels atmospheric rather than decorative. The sense of place is strong, whether the story is steeped in heat, danger, or emotional tension. The stakes always feel personal, even when the plot spirals into wider conspiracies and darker corners of the diamond world.

This isn’t just a thriller filled with shootouts and betrayals; it’s about resilience, consequence, and the cost of living a life built on secrets. At times the story throws a lot at you, but the relentless pace suits the life Cain leads — chaotic, unpredictable, and never really safe.

By the time you reach the final pages, you feel like you’ve lived every hit, heartbreak and hard decision right alongside Cain. Rough Diamond – Rough Justice isn’t just exciting — it has heart, grit, and a raw honesty that sticks with you after you put it down. If you like thrillers that make you feel something as well as keep you on edge, this one’s definitely worth reading.

You can pick up your copy of this book on Amazon.

Avien Gray

Avien Gray, the English author behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, brings a wealth of experience to his gripping debut novel. Born in the UK, Gray has led a dynamic, bachelor’s life marked by an impressive array of skills and global adventures. He has a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. His physical discipline extends to martial arts, where he earned a karate black belt, complemented by a lifelong passion for photography that captures the world through his discerning lens.

Gray’s rumoured travels paint the picture of a man unbound by borders. He is said to have spent many months in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Europe and China. This rich tapestry of experiences infuses his writing with authenticity, lending a vivid, worldly edge to the thrilling narrative of his complex protagonist: a man called Cain.

Avien and his best friend shared a flat and went out with various female friends together. They had a great time. As it says in the book when Cain is talking with his best friend: a Royal Protection Officer.

 ‘We will have to write that book when we retire,’ Cain said.

 They looked at each other with knowing smiles – for a long few seconds.

 ‘All those secrets,’ said Jerry. ‘Perhaps we will.’

 And time moved on.

But in real life, his best friend tragically died – leaving Avien to write their book alone.

Social Media Links:
Twitter / X 
Goodreads

Tour Schedule

Read my book review of The Irish Midwife by Seána Tinley

 

The Irish Midwife

By Seána Tinley

Can she finally put herself first, in order to find love?

Peggy Cassidy is a milly, working in the Belfast linen mills to just about get by. But Peggy also has another job - a secret one. She works as a handywoman - an illegal midwife, tending to the women of her community in their time of need.

When Peggy is offered the chance to leave Belfast to receive formal midwifery training in Dublin, it sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever.

But amongst her middle-class colleagues, Peggy must keep the truth about her past secret at all times. If the realities of her life in Belfast are revealed, she could lose everything she has worked for.

And when she meets a well-to-do doctor down in Dublin, she must make a decision: should she protect her family and her history? Or can she let herself fall in love?

Book Rating:

📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million

📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

📚📚📚📚 = A really great read.

📚📚📚 = It was enjoyable.

📚📚 = It was okay.

📚 = Um...! 😕

My Review

The Irish Midwife

📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million

The Irish Midwife by Seána Tinley had been sitting patiently on my reading list for a little while, quietly waiting its turn while I caught up with other books and reviews. But it was always there, calling to me. I had a feeling that once I started it, I would be completely drawn in – and I was absolutely right.

What can I say but WOW! This is one of those novels that doesn’t just pull you in, it claims you. From the very first pages, I found myself utterly immersed in the story, the setting, and the lives of the characters. Compelling doesn’t quite cover it – this book is completely addictive. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and sneaking in “just one more chapter” whenever I could.

Tinley’s ability to bring the past vividly to life is remarkable. The sense of time and place is so authentic that I felt as though I had stepped straight into the heart of the story. The characters are richly drawn, deeply human, and impossible not to care about. At the centre of it all is a protagonist whose quiet strength, compassion, and resilience shine through every page. Her journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and I was emotionally invested from beginning to end.

What I particularly loved was the way Tinley highlights the often-overlooked role of women and the immense emotional labour they carried. There is no melodrama here – just beautifully observed moments, honest emotion, and a deep respect for the lives being portrayed. The writing is lyrical yet accessible, and every detail feels purposeful.

This novel is a real gem. For anyone who enjoys well-researched historical fiction with strong female characters and an emotionally resonant story, The Irish Midwife is an absolute must-read. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

You can pick up your copy on Amazon.

Seána Tinley

Seána Tinley is an Irish author of saga historical romance. She also writes regency romance as Catherine Tinley.

After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, being President of a charity, and managing a maternity service, she now works as NI Country Director for a leading UK charity.

Seána was appointed as chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association in August 2024.

She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, and dog. 

Social Media Links:

Website

Book Review: The Alpine Fortress by Rowena Kinread @RowenaKinread @maryanneyarde

 

The Alpine Fortress 
By Rowena Kinread

Publication Date: 12th September 2025

Publisher: Goldcrest Books

Page Length: 311

Genre: Thriller

In the shadow of the Bavarian Alps, a forgotten map leads to an unsolved mystery buried for decades. When Ivanna discovers the sketch among her late grandfather’s belongings, she stumbles upon a secret that connects her family’s harrowing past to the Nazi regime's stolen treasures.

What begins as a curious family discovery quickly escalates into a perilous adventure, drawing the attention of law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and dangerous criminals.

The Alpine Fortress is a thrilling tale of survival, betrayal, and redemption. From the chilling depths of Nazi conspiracies to the breathtaking heights of the Alps, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat as the past and present collide in an unforgettable race against time.

Will Ivanna uncover the truth—or will the secrets of the fortress remain buried forever?

Book Rating:

📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million

📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

📚📚📚📚 = A really great read.

📚📚📚 = It was enjoyable.

📚📚 = It was okay.

📚 = Um...! 😕

My Review

The Alpine Fortress 

📚📚📚📚 

The story kicks off when Ivanna, sorting through her late grandparents’ attic, finds an old map hinting at hidden Nazi treasure somewhere in the mountains. Naturally, chaos follows. At the same time, a dangerous Argentinian drug lord known as “the Lizard” is hunting for the same treasure, and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on it.

When a group of detectives heads into the Alps for a training mission, it becomes clear that not everyone on the mountain is who they claim to be.

What really works in the novel is the atmosphere. The mountains feel harsh, beautiful, and unforgiving, and they shape the story’s mood from start to finish. The historical element adds another layer, giving the treasure hunt an emotional weight through Ivanna’s family history. The characters, especially the main trio — Ivanna, Matteo, and the Lizard — are distinct enough to keep the narrative engaging, even when the plot becomes crowded with detectives and side players.

The book isn’t perfect. At times, there are simply too many characters to track comfortably, and a few of them feel like they exist mainly to serve the plot rather than leave a strong impression. The “Nazi treasure” premise has been used before, but the Alpine setting and the combination of personal and historical stakes keep it from feeling stale.

Overall, The Alpine Fortress is a gripping and atmospheric read that balances action, mystery, and emotional depth. It delivers strong tension, memorable scenes in the snowbound mountains, and just enough twists to stay exciting without becoming confusing. I’d call it a solid, enjoyable thriller — especially if you like stories where danger, history, and landscape all collide.

You can pick up your copy of this book on Amazon. If you subscribe to #KindleUnlimited you can read this novel for free.

Rowena Kinread grew up in Ripon, Yorkshire with her large family and a horde of pets. Keen on travelling, her first job was with Lufthansa in Germany.

She began writing in the nineties. Her special area of interest is history, after researching her ancestry and finding family roots in Ireland with the Dalriada clan, particularly this era. Her debut fiction novel titled “The Missionary” is a historical novel about the dramatic life of St. Patrick. It was published by Pegasus Publishers on April 29th, 2021 and has been highly appraised by The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the Irish Times.

Her second novel “The Scots of Dalriada” centres around Fergus Mór, the founder father of Scotland and takes place in 5th century Ireland and Scotland, and is published by Pegasus Publishers.

The author lives with her husband in Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Lake Constance, Germany. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Social Media Links:

Website, Instagram, X, Facebook, BookBub, Goodreads

Tour Schedule

Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! Paoletta: An Eye for an Eye by J.R. Powell

Paoletta: An Eye for an Eye

By J.R. Powell

Publication Date: November 28th, 2024

Publisher: independently published

Pages: 421

Genre: Historical Thriller

Exiled to a Caribbean island, Paoletta Cadoville and her family cling to the hope of one day returning to their Parisian home. But in a single, devastating moment, that dream is shattered. Alone and horrifically scarred, Paoletta embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind her family’s tragic fate, only to become entangled in a web of political intrigue, secret societies, and dangerous alliances.

In a Paris overshadowed by the guillotine, Paoletta must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of vengeance. Will she achieve justice for her family or lose herself to the darkness that threatens to consume her?

Paoletta – An Eye for an Eye is a gripping historical thriller set during the French Revolution and a stark reminder that in times of upheaval, innocence is the first to fall, and revenge demands a price paid in blood.

Praise for Paoletta – an Eye for an Eye:

"A haunting tale of vengeance, survival and revolution - Powell's heroine grips you by the throat and never lets go"

~ Chris Riches, Daily Express

"Vivid, visceral, unforgettable. Powell's masterful storytelling plunges us into the heart of revolutionary Paris"

~ Will Barker, The Sun

Pick up your copy at your favourite online bookstore Universal Buy Link

J.R. Powell

Originally from the UK, J.R. Powell lives in Germany, where he works as a translator and editor. His debut novel was published in 2024, marking the first instalment of a new historical thriller series.

Paoletta – an Eye for an Eye follows Paoletta Cadoville, a young woman driven by vengeance after the murder of her family during the French Revolution. Drawing inspiration from his time living in Paris, Powell immersed himself in the city’s rich and brutal history to craft a story that brings a lesser-explored period to life with the momentum and intensity of a gritty, modern thriller.

Social Media Links:

LinkTree • Threads • Bluesky • BookBub • Instagram

Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! A Prodigy in Auschwitz: Simon (A Holocaust Story, Book #1) by Fred Raymond Goldman

A Prodigy in Auschwitz: Simon 

(A Holocaust Story, Book #1)

by Fred Raymond Goldman

Publication Date: April 29th, 2025
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 368

Genre: Historical Fiction / World War II Fiction

When Nazi Germany troops enter Krakow, Poland on September 2, 1939, fourteen-year-old Simon Baron learns two truths that have been hidden from him.

One, the people who have raised him are not his biological parents. Two, his birth mother was Jewish. In the eyes of the Germans, although he has been raised Catholic, this makes Simon Jewish. Simon's dreams of becoming a concert violinist and composer are dashed when his school is forced to expel him, and he is no longer eligible to represent it at its annual Poland Independence Day Concert. There, he had hoped to draw the attention of representatives of a prestigious contest who might have helped him fulfill his dreams.

Simon vows to never forgive his birth father for abandoning him, an act resulting in unspeakable tragedies for his family and in his being forced to live the indignities of the ghetto and the horrors of Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.

Throughout his ordeals, Simon wavers between his intense anger toward his birth father and his dreams of being reunited with him. Through his relationships with Rabbi Rosenschtein and the rabbi's daughter, Rachel, Simon comes to appreciate his Jewish heritage and find purpose in his life. Driven by devotion to family and friends and his passion for music, Simon holds on to hope. But can he survive the atrocities of the Nazi regime?

How do you reconcile a decision you made in the past when the world erupts in war, threatening the life of someone you love and believe you were protecting?

Excerpt

The winter of 1943 to 1944 passed slowly for Simon. During the colder months the orchestra didn’t play on Sundays as frequently for the entertainment of the SS officers, but he continued to visit Rachel regularly. He brought her slices of bread and sausages he’d been able to sneak from the kitchen for her to share with some of her friends who didn’t have as much access to extra food.

Although the musicians received larger portions of food than other prisoners, they were affected by the rationing. As members of the orchestra succumbed to the diseases and malnutrition that ran rampant through the camp, the influx of new prisoners made up for the labor needs. The commander saw to it the orchestra remained complete.

Simon became aware of prisoners from a camp in Terezin, Czechoslovakia who had arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in several transports. Large numbers of them, he learned, were exterminated upon arrival. The survivors lived in a separated area of Auschwitz-Birkenau called Terezin. They were unseen by other prisoners and received special privileges, he was led to believe, including not having their hair shaved and being allowed to wear their own clothes. Nevertheless, they were treated as prisoners.

Simon heard rumors that the International Red Cross had requested a visit with these prisoners at their former camp after hearing about their bad treatment there. Under pressure, the Germans conceded and allowed for such an appearance, but not before beautifying the camp by cleaning up the housing and grounds and providing nice clothing and healthy meals for the prisoners to make it look as though they were being treated well. As a result, the International Red Cross unintentionally but falsely projected to the public that the camp residents were receiving humane treatment

On a Sunday visit with Rachel, Simon told her about the rumor he’d heard. The following week, while they were walking hand in hand, Rachel said she had told Dr. Fridman about the rumor.

Simon stopped, let go of her hand, and faced Rachel. “What did he say?”

“He said he thought the only reason the Germans would have let the Red Cross come was to convince them there was no German plan to murder Jews.”

Simon frowned. “If that is true, the Germans’ strategy likely worked.” 

Pick up your copy at your favourite online bookstore: Universal Buy Link

Fred Raymond Goldman

Fred Raymond Goldman graduated from Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD (now named McDaniel College) in June 1962 with a BA in psychology. Two years later, in 1964, he earned an MSW degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

Most of Fred's career was spent in Jewish Communal Service. He served as the administrator of Northwest Drug Alert, a methadone maintenance program at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. In this role, he also acted as a community resource, guiding individuals struggling with addiction toward Jewish services that supported abstinence, counseling, and job placement. Following that, Fred was hired as the Assistant to the Director of Jewish Family Services in Baltimore.

His final professional role was with Har Sinai Congregation, a Jewish Reform Synagogue in Baltimore, where he served as Executive Director for 23 years, retiring in October 2005.

In retirement, Fred pursued his love of hiking with The Maryland Hiking Club and spent time volunteering at The Irvine Nature Center. There, he led schoolchildren on nature hikes and assisted in the center’s nature store.

Writing had always been a passion for Fred, dating back to childhood, but it wasn't until retirement that he began to take it seriously. He started writing children's books and became a member of the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Association.

Among the titles he wrote are: Vera and the Blue Bear Go to the Zoo, Never Bite an Elephant (And Other Bits of Wisdom), The Day the School Bus Drivers Went on Strike, If You Count, and The Day the School Devices Went on Strike.

Though none of these books has been published, Fred remains hopeful that if the CONCERTO books gain recognition, opportunities for the earlier works may follow.

Fred’s journey of writing the CONCERTO companion books began when he saw a note on a local library bulletin board about a new writer's group led by a local author. He joined and, along with nine other participants, learned the fundamentals of writing: staying in the protagonist’s point of view, building narrative tension, developing distinctive and flawed characters, and the process of writing and rewriting.

Over the course of more than four years, Fred dedicated time to writing, researching, rewriting, and submitting the manuscript. What began as a single book titled The Auschwitz Concerto was eventually split into two volumes and self-published. For a time, the manuscript was also titled The Box.

The encouragement from the group’s teacher and fellow members played a key role in shaping the novels, and Fred hopes his feedback was equally helpful to others in the group.

In the 'Author’s Notes' of the CONCERTO books, Fred outlines the goals behind sharing these stories. Prior to writing them, he had only a general understanding of the Holocaust—knowing that nine million lives were lost and that it was a horrific chapter in history. Through the writing process, he gained deeper insights into both historical events and human suffering, fostering a greater sensitivity to contemporary issues. He firmly believes that what affects one group can quickly impact everyone, and that such awareness is critical today.

Author Links:

Author's Page on Publisher's Website •

Amazon Author Page