I was asked to review Beneath by this author a short story and was really glad I did. This was last year.

I was completely bowled over, great story, great writing from this author. I got the impression then that this was merely an introduction to the character Omar Zagouri. So when asked by Inspired by Kathy I was really pleased to now review The Lost King.

This is the second book in the Omar Zagouri series. I was not disappointed.  This is suspense mystery thriller which is about terrorism; politics and espionage thrown into the mix which I read in one go I was hooked.

The author combines history with a bit of poetic license as this is a suspense thriller story.

The protagonist – Hatshepsut- a pharaoh, but the author has created this character as a woman which I found interesting.

There is romance, intrigue and some sexual tension too.

All in all, this author is proving to be a great author and I am now looking for other books she has written.

I am a book giver for the fourth year 

Paul Leibovitz was once an ambitious advisor, dedicated father, and loving husband. But after living for nearly thirty years in Hong Kong, personal tragedy strikes and Paul's marriage unravels in the fallout.

When he makes a fleeting connection with Elizabeth, a distressed American woman on the verge of collapse, his life is thrown into turmoil. Less than twenty-four hours later, Elizabeth's son is found dead in Shenzhen, and Paul, invigorated by a newfound purpose, sets out to investigate the murder on his own.

As Paul, Elizabeth, and a detective friend descend deeper into the Shenzhen underworld they discover dark secrets hidden beneath China's booming new wealth. In a country where rich businessmen with expensive degrees can corrupt the judicial system, the potential for evil abounds.

 I was really pleased to be asked by Real Readers to review J Paul Henderson’s new novel. 

I was introduced to this author at the end of 2013 when I was asked to review Last Bus to Coffeeville which I loved funny with the courage to write about a difficult and sensitive subject.

So this time:-

1. I was excited to read another book by this interesting author
2. The author with such an interesting background – here was an ex foundry worker from the mill area of West Yorkshire writing about characters in America.

This book starts with the character Greg Bowman who has to return to England when his father dies, attend his funeral and then the task of trying to sort out the house. Sound depressing – but it is anything but.

The three main characters are quirky- Greg, Billy and his Uncle Frank.

The main character then gets a little more than expected when his father’s ghost appears and asks he try to solve some family mysteries – not creepy but extremely tongue in cheek and far fetched.

Bizarrely this is a book the reader will find really difficult to put down as I read on eagerly to the end.

Another unique and great story from an author I cannot wait to see what he writes next.

February 2016

I am currently doing the 2016 reading challenge for good reads I have set the target low at 50 and to date I have read 11 books.  I am well ahead of my target.

The Trouble with Family - Heather Hobbs

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

I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed this book which is the first in the series. The author has written this young fiction book based on a real life story and concerns a fourteen year old girl trying to survive the long summer holidays. Molly is the main character and narrator at the same time.

Molly instead of doing the usual things a teenager would do on that endless period of time is to try to help solve the problems of her new step siblings since her mother had died in a road accident a year ago. Just how much more can Molly take?

The story is kind of mad with these strange step kids, a horrid step mother and a father who takes up with this woman so soon after the mother’s death.

All this madness is told in the eyes of a fourteen year old and this is her story. Change as we all know can be really traumatic and Molly appears to be dealing with one thing after another and the message is you can move forward and gain from change.

Well written and I will be looking out for the second book by this new author.

Mourner C.F Bentley

This is the third book in the series and after book two kept me wondering, I really enjoyed this novel. Aliens and humans altogether bizarre but works well.

This is a melting pot of science fiction, amazingly a bit of romance and masses of fantasy to take you off to another world – well it is cold here in February.

So if you are seeking this and a little adventure seek this author out today.

I was asked to review this book by Real Readers.

This is the authors debut novel and what an interesting slant to a detective series – a story that is set around bird watching and in an interesting setting Norfolk.

This has a feeling of the books by Ann Cleeves (Vera Stanhope) in Northumberland.

The protagonist Inspector Domenic Jejeune is unusual as he is a good inspector but would rather be bird watching than doing his day job (there are a lot of us out there that would rather concentrate on hobbies than the grind of work)

Crime and twitching bump into each other with a gruesome murder and Jejeune needs to solve a mystery.

Although this is a debut novel the author gives the back ground as though this is not the first – and whets the reader’s appetite to want to know more about this Canadian detective and just why he is in Norfolk.

The reader will be transported to Saltmarsh and learn about bird watching from this very experienced author.

I will be looking out for this author in the future – lot of potential to be up there with the established crime writers.

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

Today has been so cold and I needed cheering up in February and to get me in the mood for Valentines Day too.

I snuggled up with a coffee and immersed myself in this book. I have to say I have not read any books before by the author and although this is not the first book in the series – do not be put off readers I read as a stand alone.

This is not predictable at – the marriage of convenience is something different and I found the story was original and thought Morgan and Josh had such a great chemistry together.

What I enjoyed again was the unpredictability of the plot and the obstacles the characters faced. The author writes really well and throws in some sweet comedy in also.

A lovely read and I will certainly be taking this author on holiday who will make some great summer reads.

I was asked to review this book by Lovereading.co.uk. As I had previously read Our Vinnie by the same author and lived in West Yorkshire I was keen to read this.

 This book is due for publication on the 11^th February so not long to wait.

For me the title was a bit scary “family is not always a place of safety” and was a little unsure of the cover.

Shaw does not let you down- writing as she does her gritty way about the Hudson family in Bradford in the 60s. You have to remember this was a long time ago and things were so different, not always a nostalgic time.

The characters are well written some you warm to some you are so glad you will never know or like. At the same time you cannot put the book down.

I thoroughly recommend you read the novels by Julie Shaw.

Chickens Eat Pasta - Clare Pendrick

I was asked to review this book with such an unusual title by the author. Fans of Carol Drinkwater’s Olive series will really enjoy this novel set in Umbria.

How many times do people just look at life and feel so bored and wish you could set up life somewhere else and this was exactly what the author did – 26 years old, her relationship of seven years falls apart, watches a video of chicken eating pasta and then flies to Italy where she buys a run down house and buys it – wow brave and at the same time my thoughts were life is too short so why not.

This could easily have failed but thus begin a journey to this fascinating place, the renovation of her new house and most of all the wonderful characters in this book.

The author has written a really beautiful book, a wonderful summer read on holiday.

I do hope that the author will embark on another and make this a series certainly up there with Carol Drinkwater.


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