Wednesday 25 May 2016

The Boy Most Likely To

The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Everyone has been eagerly awaiting this novel. This is the follow up to My Life Next Door- which was fab.

Tim and Alice are really interesting characters- Tim is vulnerable and Alice is a bit controlling and has a heck of a lot happening with her family whist Tim moves in to a flat above his friends family garage – he is trying to figure things out but at the same time is just so funny.


It is about people and families warts and all - a great read.

The Girls

The Girls

I was asked to review this by Net Gallery.

This is the story of a teenager Evie who comes from a dysfunctional family and is about a group of girls she befriends at the beginning of her summer holidays. The girls belong to a cult. Reading this appears to be slightly based on the Manson Murders during the 1960s.

The interesting part of this is the focus on the relationships within the girls. It is also interesting to read about the cults of a time more than 50 years ago.

The author cleverly took me to this time (dare I say history) and to a subject I knew so little about.  She has a great style of writing and it is her debut novel too.

A great promising author and expect this to be a well read book here in the UK and on various sunbeds this summer.


Cannot wait to see what Emma Cline writes next.

The Loneliness of Distant Beings

The Loneliness of Distant Beings

I was asked to review by Net Gallery

Great book for both young adults, teenagers and adults also. I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed

The reader goes on a journey with the main character Sern and quite a journey it was too. she is on a several hundred year long mission through space with a vast amount on this spaceship- could be a space Tardis  and as one of the generations she has never seen earth or see where they are bound for – strange concept but hey it works.

Such an interesting storyline with interesting characters a real sci fi story.


Recommended read

The Pier Falls Mark Haddon



I was asked to review this from Facebook Good housekeeping Reading Room that I am a member of. 

This is a varied collection of short stories and to be enjoyed a bit at a time. I devoured these in the garden one very hot Sunday with a jug of Pimms. I enjoyed each different short story with a different genre which ranged from sci fi, suspense and a whole lot more.

To go from successful novel writing to short stories is a feat in itself. There is a great deal of predictable stories out there and this for me was a joy and will encourage me to read more short stories in the future.

The title of the book – the pier falls for me was a very powerful story it leaves nothing to the imagination and the author has captured the event so well – I will not spoil this for readers out there.

The author writes his characters well with real life situations- he packs quite a punch with these stories.


A well recommended collection. 

Friday 13 May 2016

The problem with Forever

The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I was asked to review this by Net Gallery 

I found the sad parts of the book really quite difficult to read, but the author writes so well and I wanted to persevere. Maybe a tad too personal for me. Needless to say the main character did not have a happy childhood and undoubtedly this does have a knock on effect in life. One of the aspects I took was to surround yourself with people you love and care for.

She is saved by a foster family but cannot brush off her thoughts and memories. A blast from the past – her protector and friend – they try to help each other face those demons.

A well written book, with thought and the author has taken a terrible subject and run with it. A great book 

Readers if you are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder – you can get help.

The Outliers



I was asked to review this by Net Gallery

YA book beginning with an urgent Text for help. – The author has written a fast paced thriller with twists and turns. Quite crazy at times the main character is grieving for the loss of her mother and her friend has gone missing so she goes on the run to find her.
Modern with cryptic texts which add to the mystery.
As this is the first you do have to wait for the next. With books as well as TV series I prefer to devour at once and not wait. 

A bit of a cliff hanger at the end. 

An author with lots of talents.


I did read this in one sitting. An enjoyable read and has now been published.

Dragon Born: Chronicles of Dragon Aerie (Plague Born Book 1)

Dragon Born by Travis Simmons

This is another great fantasy read by Travis Simmons this time dragons and boy what a read. I was pleased when the author asked me to review this.

In this first book:-

Dragons have returned to the lowlands of the Dar Desert, and plague spreads. Most of the population has perished those who survive changed to be of two spirits – one human and one dragon.

 

The character Wylan Atwaterobsessed with dragons and kinda has a slight appearance too goes on an adventure but this comes at a price.

 

The author is renounced for his fantasy books and his interesting stories if you like dragon quest series -Dragonlance. The reader will undoubtedly enjoy this book 1 of a great series

Kitchens of The Great Midwest



I was asked to review this book by Real Readers. The cover intrigued me and the statement “it only takes an instant to let someone go but a lifetime to find them again” I thought there is going to be journey here. Also was not entirely sure if this was a type of cookbook – I am sure other readers may be thinking that also. I also read the Daily mail review whist having breakfast and thinking I am reading and reviewing this book too.

This is essentially the story of Eva and her growing up and eventually becoming a chef. The story is cleverly told by various characters. There is just one chapter told by Eva herself.

The theme is food and how we relate to it, food is an integral part of all our lives we watch food programme we think we are foodies and we are so knowledgeable today. The author’s attention to detail here is good. There is the world of the cut throat kitchen and chefs and the contrast with amateurs.

It is quirky and at times you laugh out loud and then there is a sense of sadness. The characters are written well. As the ending approached the reader feels things are going to be tied up and the ending will be predictable – but the author cleverly takes the reader on a different slant altogether.


An author I will be looking out for in the future – a really enjoyable read.

Friday 6 May 2016

Modern Lovers

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

Another great author I was missing out on, I was asked to review this for Net Gallery.

This is a great beach read which I read on a sun terrace this week. 

A great story with good characters – set in the summer in New York and essentially about love and relationships and a lovely ending. For me it was a good feel good story and it made worrying about coming back to work a blur.

The author has captured her characters well and writes so well you have to immerse yourself in this book.

The Courage of Others




I was asked to review this book by Librarything.com.

I was hooked from page one and the book was glued to my hand. The story centres around a sixteen-year-old Davy Stoneman who goes to the railway station in 1919 to meet his Uncle who has been invalided home to Texas, from the Western Front.

The reader experiences racism and life in America just after the First World War. The characters are real and the story is told well.


A good piece of writing.

Final Table

Final Table

I was asked to review this by Librarything.com

A good book for Halloween and the cold dark nights except I read this on a sun terrace this week.

Creepy story - beginning with five murdered poker players from differing times who are brought back from the dead for one last tournament. To win life.

It starts with the character Wild Bill Hickok being literally plucked from his grave, and the will to go to Atlantic city and you the reader will follow him on his journey. The reader then follows the other four - it is quite strange as they are from differing times and experiencing the same thing. 

They then play for their lives in a game of poker only one can live.

A really remarkable ghost story on a very unique slant.

Well written and intriguing throughout.

Gladly Beyond

Gladly Beyond

I was asked to review this by Inspired by Kathy 

Wow what a story a mix of suspense, supernatural, time travel, intrigue twists an turns. The author weaves the past and present together so well.

Set in beautiful Florence with a great plot. It is romantic and funny all rolled into this great book. How the author has done this I do not know but all I know is it worked so well.

An author I am now seeking out. Well recommended. 

The Museum of You

The Museum of You

 I was asked to review this book by Lovereading.co.uk 

The cover intrigued me to begin with and an author I had not come across before.

This was a book I read on a sun terrace last week; this will make a good beach read this summer. 

This story is told through the 12 year old girl called Clover. She lives with her father. Her mother Becky died when she was only a few weeks old. Her father tries his best to bring her up and hopes she is happy. Her father doesn’t talk about her mother. They never get round to tidying up the house and her mother belongings remain in an untidy bedroom. 

One long summer Clover decides to dedicate a museum to her mother using her belongings- as she wants answers to questions her father is unable to answer.

There are some interesting characters woven throughout the story – Mrs. Mackerel the neighbour with her “Dinner ladies” mixed up sayings. The uncle who is so damaged and is in and out of mental health care and her unlikely friend who no one else likes.

This is a story of relationships, a father who is set on his daughter being happy and finding answers.

A well recommended summer read – due for publication June 2016.

The Wedding Day

The Wedding Day

I was asked to review this by the author- I have read several of her lovely romances before so this was a treat.

This book is a part of the Four Weddings and a Fiasco series on Kindle worlds. Short beautifully written cute and such a fun book to read.

The main character is a wedding planner, and surprisingly does not want to get married as she is getting over being broken hearted, but then she meets Kane. He is brother in law to her boss. He is a bit of a bad boy but the question is can she resists his charms- readers read on and find out.

Another charming novella from a great author. Thank you for letting me read this.

The Captive


I was asked to review this book by Inspired by Kathy.

This was a book I probably would not have picked up unless I was reviewing- this is the beginning of a series so was glad to start at the beginning.

The author writes with a good knowledge base and takes current affairs and weaves them into a story.

It was fast paced, good story line, suspense and romance thrown into the pot. There was good twists an turns and the authors great ability to use current issues to make a great read.

An author I will now be looking out for. 
The Captive (Griffin Force, #1)