Schey Place Books

Ghost of Timor

Ghost of Timor
JL Collins
Schey Place Books (2023)
ISBN: 978-0645872408
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (11/2024)
5 Stars – Erotica, espionage, and historical intrigue

“Ghost of Timor” by JL. Collins is a historical thriller that sizzles, offering a provocative blend of erotica, suspense and drama. Told from dual timelines, the story includes themes of war, passion, betrayal, and the dirty little secrets that shape our lives.

In the present timeline, Christian Holland reunites with Alison Benaud, a former lover from 25 years ago. As Christian recounts the story of his eventful and dangerous life, Alison regrets her mundane-at-best existence and yearns for what could have been. The reunion rekindles their desires, but it also stirs lingering doubts from long ago as Alison suspects Christian’s past holds more than he’s willing to reveal.

The storyline from the past takes us to the late 1990s, after the Cold War where Christian serves as a liaison officer for the Australian Defence Force in East Timor. It’s during this time of political unrest that he becomes involved with Sally, a fiery, enigmatic woman whose relationship with him teeters on the edge of forbidden passion and moral conflict. Together, they experience the challenges of war and of their own boundaries, as Christian is drawn closer to the mysterious “Ghost of Timor”—a shadowy figure tied to dangerous secrets that could jeopardize his career and his life.

As the stories come together, “Ghost of Timor” shows how two women profoundly shape Christian’s path while exposing the lasting consequences of choices made in extraordinary circumstances.

Wow! For me, it’s the bold approach that sets “Ghost of Timor” apart. The story doesn’t shy away from explicit sexual content, and it’s well written. What I enjoyed most is that the erotic elements are not gratuitous, they are entwined with the exploration of Christian’s relationships, vulnerabilities, and emotional struggles. This makes his journey more personal without detracting from the themes of war, duty, and redemption.

Christian is a relatable protagonist. You know the type. He carries himself with confidence, like he has things all figured out. Then life happens, and readers can actually feel the weight from his past hanging over him. What Collins really nails is showing us a man wrestling with his demons while trying to move forward. It’s not pretty, it’s not simple, but it feels true, authentic. Christian reminds us there isn’t some neat, straight path to follow– it’s more like stumbling through the dark, hoping you’re heading in the right direction.

The story is rich in layered themes, exploring the psychological toll of war, the lasting impact of colonialism, and the complex moral questions naturally tied to power and responsibility. But alongside these broader ideas, the story captures the deeply personal experiences of love and loss, showing us that even in global conflict, it’s often the small, human moments that leave the deepest impression.

The level of historical detail around Timor and the aftermath of the cold-war is impressive but can occasionally slow the momentum for readers who prefer action-driven scenes. It should be noted, however, that these moments of context deepen the story’s authenticity, grounding it in real events without overshadowing the personal stakes.

“Ghost of Timor” is the kind of book that stays with you. J. Collins has crafted an unforgettable journey. I highly recommend it for fans of erotica-tinged thrillers and character-driven narratives that explore the complexities of war and the human connection.

Tampa Gold

Tampa Gold
JL Collins
Schey Place Books (2024)
ISBN: 979-8215347607
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (05/2025)
5 Star Politics Hijacks a Private Mission

Tampa Gold, the third entry in JL Collins’ “Love of a Lifetime” series, picks up the thread left by Ghost of Timor—and takes it somewhere sharper, stranger, and more politically charged. Christian Holland is now back in Australia and looking for a discreet way to move 25 kilograms of gold out of Perth. He finds passage aboard the Norwegian cargo ship MV Tampa—just before it becomes the centre of the real-life 2001 “Tampa Affair.” The ship rescues hundreds of asylum seekers near Christmas Island, triggering a crisis that captures global attention and reshapes national policy. As Christian gets pulled deeper into the chaos—navigating media spin, government manoeuvring, and a magnetic, inscrutable woman named Anna—his quiet mission becomes tangled with far larger forces.

Tampa Gold isn’t easy to label. While the erotic content is front and centre, the novel reads mo like a layered political and psychological drama—satirical, ambiguous, and personal. It’s not traditional thriller, but the stakes feel high in quieter, more complex ways. The story folds layers of satire, emotional ambiguity, and real-world history into something that feels personal and larger than life.

The erotic elements carry a colder emotional tone in Tampa Gold. Anna is calculated and elusive, and her dynamic with Christian plays more like a psychological stand-off than a romance. By contrast, Alison reappears with a quieter, more reflective presence. One of the more unexpected moments—her impulsive sprint through the streets, completely naked—feels both surreal and sincere, like a flash of emotional truth breaking through the controlled facades the characters so often maintain. The relationships here are less about connection and more about power, memory, and deflection.

This novel is not an easy read. Some sections may leave readers wondering what just happened—and whether they were even meant to understand it. Tampa Gold blends political satire, internal narration, and procedural detail in ways that are intentionally disorienting. The non-linear arc and Christian’s often cryptic inner commentary make it feel like the reader is navigating from inside the fog. But that’s part of the point. The novel doesn’t chase clarity; it’s more interested in the spaces between truth and narrative, decision and consequence.

Politics shapes every turn in the story. Collins writes with clear familiarity about the machinery of government—how quickly it adapts, how publicly it deflects, and how often it turns real people into tools or symbols. This isn’t historical fiction in the traditional sense, but fiction embedded in history—part speculation, part critique, all wrapped in an insider’s tone that knows how things really work.

Tampa Gold is layered and deliberately unsettling. At just over 150 pages, it delivers a sharp mix of political tension, dark introspection, and uneasy alliances. It doesn’t hand the reader a clean takeaway—but it leaves an impression, and that’s exactly the point.