WHAT READERS SAY – “FALLEN HERO ” TESTIMONIALS

“FALLEN HERO” REACTION FROM INDEPENDENT REVIEWERS.

“I stopped doing the washing-up and didn’t walk the dog for a week when reading this book. Despite the glowing reviews from other readers, I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy this book simply because neither the title nor the front cover graphics of this novel immediately appealed to me – BUT I am so pleased that I gave it a try as reading it has been a real treat. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading from cover to cover over the course of a week. Its. one of those rare books that I didn’t want to put down, in fact I found myself putting off doing the dishes or walking the dog for a week. An accomplished story-teller, GL Cannon effortlessly weaves multiple story-lines around the lives of three families whose lives in rural Austria were disrupted by the Great War. Although essentially a tender love story about an Austrian soldier injured in the trenches who fall in love with the English nurse, it was the gruelling battlefield scenes that moved me to tears – not only because of the powerful writing but also because by this point I was completely invested in the character’s demise. But ‘Reluctant Hero’ is far from being just another war story with a love interest on the sidelines because it is completely devoid of sentimentality. And well before I had read the last page, I was already searching for other books by this talented author – so discovering there is a sequel waiting to be read will hopefully satisfy my desire to know what happens next to the Fallen Hero and his nurse….Lastly – this book would make a great mini-series, and/or a serialised story on Radio 4 – but until it is discovered by a producer, I thoroughly recommend it as a book to read and share with friends.” (Rachel S-UK ***** Amazon Review)

“Captivating. This book had me interested from the first page. It is really well researched with good characters that you want to learn more about. I look forward to reading the sequel.” (Carolyn Manning UK*****Amazon review)

“G.L. Vernon has done a brilliant job in exploring an interesting period in history.….I cannot think of anything I dislike about this novel. The story is engaging and suspenseful with thoughtfully developed characters. Therefore, I rate this book four out of four. If you enjoy romance and historical fiction novels, this is not a book you will want to miss out on. ” (Standor5865 – US A**** OLBC)

“A wonderful journey through a beautiful yet dark background Gripping, Enthralling, Evocative. Sensitivity and savagery are two opposing states but its these polarising foes that Fallen Hero manages to unite with an accomplished dexterity that demands the reader continue to turn pages. Much has been written about The Great War to the point where the genre is saturated and its to this novels credit that it rises above the noise. The vivid description of trench warfare that the protagonist, Sep Brietner endures puts you amongst the chaos of the front line and endears you to his plight and subsequent fight to win the love of life. The romance appears in the form of English nurse, Susan Jones. Sep wakes up in an English field hospital having been injured on in the final days of the war and in the spirit of reconciliation attempts to charm his carer. The love story is a slow burner that adds lightness after much darkness. The book has a wonderful sense of time and place – idyllic Austrian alpine villages, mountain streams, are described in intricate detail. The birth of womens liberation into the workforce (women won the right to vote in 1918) is also explored and lends the book a pleasing layer of depth. A must read.” (Lucy – USA *****Amazon review)

“I was so kindly given a signed copy of this book. I have only just found the time to read the novel but was so captured by the story I finished it in two days. A lovely tale, liked the way it was written , and just could not put it down. Thank you very much, looking forward to your next novel. great read from start to finish. (Elaine Davies – UK ***** Next-door review)

“Heart wrenching story Delightfully atmospheric book which transports from the horrors of WW1 battlefields to rural Austria via an enthralling romantic thread. Totally captivating.” A thoroughly enjoyable read with a great storyline. I highly recommend a read of this book. I couldn’t put it down!” ( Lynda Armsby – UK ***** Amazon review)

“A great read from start to finish. Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was easy to follow and hard to put down as I was gripped. Fabulous! (Sam Smith – UK ***** Amazon review)

“Fantastic. Couldn’t put it down “A thoroughly enjoyable read with a great storyline. I highly recommend a read of this book. I couldn’t put it down!” ( LOu85 – UK ***** Amazon review)

“Great read and eye opener. “I did not know what to expect when I started reading and realized it was linked to WW1 but very soon I found that it was unusually written from a very different and new perspective, ie an injured Austrian officer in an English run hospital in France. The story was gripping and I read it in one go. Although there were tragic moments relating to the recounting of certain events I learnt a lot about an Austrian rural community before the first world war which brought me tears and laughter as life does” (Carlton – UK ***** Amazon review)

“The book is like the sea, the further you go the better it gets. Set in battlefield it’s a beautiful story that will take you through romance, tragedy and comedy. I absolutely loved reading the book. It was packed with action. I enjoyed how the two stories intertwined into each other perfectly. Not once did it feel forced and flowed smoothly.“ (Kairavi Anjaria – India **** Goodreads review)

“Great read. Warm and uplifting. The descriptive skills of G. L. Vernon made the characters come alive on the page. I was totally transported to Dopplegau, in Austria and became very fond of Sep as a young boy and his affection for his family, particularly towards his mother. Great read, I totally recommend it.” (A Biniou – UK *****Amazon review)

“A good read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were intriguing and I enjoyed all the different story lines. A good peek into the life, injury and recovery of an Austrian soldier.” (Amazon Customer – UK ***** Amazon review)

“Highly recommended. I really enjoyed this well written book and suggest you try it. I hope Geoffrey’s next novel is in progress.” (Jenibeth – UK ***** Amazon review)

Love conquers all. I didn’t think this would be something I would usually read; ostensibly about the love story between an injured Austrian soldier and an English military hospital nurse and their budding love for each other in the aftermath of the Great War, but as I read on I was completely gripped by the background story of Sep, his family, their lives in rural Austria and the horrific effects of the war on an entire generation. Sep has to battle with his wounds, both physical and mental, and it really moved me as the story got to the heart of his pain, told in flashbacks and his current family situation. I actually felt I was in the trenches, the “combat” writing was very impactful. Some really well-drawn supporting characters added to the story, although there were a few characters I would like to hear more about and how their story was resolved. Would love to read a sequel!” M. McGoverne – UK (**** Amazon review)

“I approached “FALLEN HERO”  with some trepidation, love stories do not normally form part of my preferred reading matter. However I needn\’t have worried, the book seamlessly weaves together a number of strands which explore issues at the heart of the human condition. How are our values formed and what sacrifices are we prepared to make in pursuit of our goals? The idyllic rural setting of Sep\’s upbringing and the counterpoint of the horrors of war provide a rich tapestry into which many strands are woven with some skill. I found I became invested in the characters within a few pages and from then on was eager to follow their progress through the tribulations of that troubled period in our history. Despite some very dark passages, the story is ultimately uplifting demonstrating the triumph of the human spirit and the power of love. The quality of the writing and the description of what to most of us will be unfamiliar territory are a tribute to the writer\’s skill. It is an easy read (and i mean that as a compliment) and left me wanting more. Hopefully a sequel may follow? (J. Trotman – UK via e-mail.)

“ Fallen Hero is so well written. I could see, hear and smell the
atmosphere in the small idyllic Austrian village where Sep was brought up, in contrast to his pain and endurance of the battlefields of WW1. Loved the ending, I cried tears of joy for Sep, what a wonderful, warm person who overcame such personal tragedy. M. Bull – UK (***** Amazon review)

“Unusual War/Love Story – A great read.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, devouring it over a couple of days while laid up unwell. It completely took my mind off my own troubles as I followed our hero from his gripping predicament on the first page through to the satisfying end, learning about him, and his life in Austria, through the therapeutic writing he undertakes on the advice of his English nurse. Along they way we meet family, friends and others less well loved through diary entries and often amusing anecdotes. With plenty of believable characters to keep the reader interested the story weaves between an idyllic childhood in the alps of Austria to the shocking horrors of the front line trenches in WW1. Through it all we witness his growing fondness for his nurse… but does she reciprocate his feelings, and could there be a future for them in a very much changed post war world? Lovely read! I’d certainly look for this author again.” Jacwak – UK (***** Amazon review)

“I really enjoyed this well written book and suggest you try it. I hope Geoffrey’s next novel is in progress.” Jenibeth – UK (***** Amazon review)

“Fallen Hero is an excellent book. It was very easy to read and flowed naturally. Both storylines were interesting and enjoyble in their own right, but there was a definitely synergy when they came together. I very much enjoyed the humour and the romance, combined with the  realities of war and suffering. And I loved the characters. Well done Geoffrey and I look forward to purchasing your next book.”

A book of interest and intrigue. A well written first novel which swings back and forth in time with a wealth of interesting and very different characters. It has a love story woven through the many emotions of happiness, sensitivity, humour and horrendous suffering but is most definitely a page turner. Although I appreciate it is mainly set in Austria I found the Austrian words scattered in itallcs throughout rather distracting and offputting. Excellent all round good read. G Mazza – UK (***** Amazon Review)

Brilliant Book. “Fallen Hero” is a brilliant book , I enjoyed very much , could not put the book down. This book should be 100 percent recommended  , loved it . thank you V .G – UK  (via e-mail)

A Gripping Tale. “Fallen Hero” is a beautifully written debut novel that bounces seamlessly between the inconceivable horrors of WW1 and an idyllic childhood in the countryside. This tragic setting of violence juxtaposed with the peaceful pastures of Austria, make for an incredibly rich backdrop that will run the reader through every emotion imaginable. Sepp, a wounded soldier trying to make sense of his new life, post war, finds himself falling in love with a nurse in a British hospital, while recovering from wounds (both seen and unseen).Rich in sensory details and descriptive scenery, Fallen Hero puts you in the pastures and in the trenches. You can practically smell the fresh mountain air and hear the shelling and screams of men.  Fallen Hero is a story of immense tragedy but is also a story about the light that can come through, even  in the darkest of times. It is a tender tale of romance, war and coming of age. A must read.  A.E. – NY USA (via e-mail)

“A great book to read. Easy flowing from start to finish. Look forward to the sequel.” J – Till – UK (*****Amazon review)

“An enjoyable read from start to finish. It had an easy flow to it and I just kept on turning those pages. Look forward to the sequel.” Jo – UK (via e-mail)

“A most enjoyable book. Entertaining and interesting from first to last. A joy to read. Great characters and lovely little anecdotes about life in a rural Austrian village. Thoroughly recommend it. Bring on the sequel.” K.W. – UK (**** Amazon review)

“I have just finished reading “Fallen Hero”, what a really good read it was, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was hooked within the first page and couldn’t put it down, a great page turner. I loved the Austrian families as their characters were revealed. To my thinking this book has hit every human emotion. It shows great humour which had me laughing out loud also tragedy and love.” L.M. – UK( ***** Amazon review)

“The book was charming, there was a delightful warmth shown through the characters. The story highlighted the war, in a hopeful uplifting way. The blend of diary and story was in parity and the romance was touching and tasteful. I enjoyed the book very much indeed.” C.S. – UK

“A friend recommended this book written by a brand new author and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint. It’s a well written fictional book which expertly manages to intertwine two related stories. One is a sympathetic and interesting depiction of a family’s life in rural Austria before WW1 and the second is about the difficulties encountered by a young serviceman trying to face up to the realities of his changed life after the war and the horrors he endured. I felt the characterisations were good and I enjoyed the fact that the book included issues of human suffering, humour, romance and ambition. It made me both laugh and cry in parts and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It’s a gentle read for anyone looking to understand a little more about how things may have been in a different era. I recommend this book and would read another book by this author.” A. T. – UK (****Amazon Review)

“I loved this book. A wonderful story of an Austrian family’s ups and tragic downs before and after WW1. I really recommend this book.” D.P. – UK (*****Amazon review)

“Debut novel of outstanding warmth. “Fallen Hero” is an excellent story that lifts the spirits, where human kindness and friendship and ultimately love prevails over the horrors of war and social injustice. I look forward to reading the sequel!” S.D. – UK (*****Amazon review)

“A Great story………I would recommend this very enjoyable and interesting story to everyone. There is romance, tragedy, humour, adventure and much more contained within the two intertwining stories. concerning a young Austrian named Sep……….The story has a broad appeal, is well-written, and is very believable. The author brings the scenes to life with his perfectly crafted detail, and flowing natural dialogue. Contained within are everyday situations, and others that are more unusual, but completely imaginable, all described with a lifelike touch. G.L. Vernon’s observations of the human condition are startlingly accurate. All in all this book is a great read. G.L. Vernon has a real talent for telling a good story, which shines through.’   J. M – UK (***** Amazon review)

“A well written book that had me gripped from the moment I started reading. I hope this is the first of many.” A.R. – UK (*****Amazon Review)

“I finished “Fallen Hero” yesterday, and I must say I did enjoy reading it! It was an excellent story, that improved as it went along. There was lots going on; comedy and tragedy, romance and excitement.  Lovely closing chapters rounded everything off nicely, aah so romantic.” D.B. – UK

“Thank you for allowing me to read “Fallen Hero” at this stage in the novel’s development. I genuinely enjoyed reading the manuscript. The quality of your prose is outstanding and you write with a real sense of place and atmosphere.” A.M. – UK

“I enjoyed reading this very much and I think you have the makings of a good novel here……What I really love is that you start straight in on the action. Far too many first timers spend ages building up to the story.” J.W. – UK

“I enjoyed reading the book very much.  It flowed well and is definitely a page turner. ” V.K. – UK

“I enjoyed reading “Fallen Hero”. I did prefer the wartime story and romance to the flashbacks to rural Austria, but I can see that they were both essential to the plot structure of the book. I also found the language easy to read” R.F. – UK

“I enjoyed the story of the two families in rural Austria and thought the plot bringing present and past together good. I warmed to the Breitner family and the different episodes described.”  J. F. – UK

“Interesting characters and a strong narrative…..I recommend it.” N.T. – UK ( **** Amazon review)

“We thoroughly enjoyed reading (Fallen Hero). What a lovely story”. B&L. V. – UK

“Pleasantly surprised. A very enjoyable tale written in a pleasing style. Well worth reading.” Tarnsman – UK (*****Amazon review)

“I have just finished reading “Fallen Hero”, what a really good read it was, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was hooked within the first page and couldn’t put it down, a great page turner. I loved the Austrian families as their characters were revealed. To my thinking this book has hit every human emotion. It shows great humour which had me laughing out loud also tragedy and love. “ L.M. – UK