I was asked to review this book by the Nursing Times Journal.

Description: 

The author explores both conventional medicine versus the non conventional- which can seem to some as brave- but why not- this is about choice. The author explores studies that have been conducted over many years and some of the treatments are suggestive of positive links but not conclusive. The author is well qualified in this field – she knows cancer well - she is a twelve year cancer survivor and Oncology specialist - that in itself is remarkable and inspiring.

Highlights: 

As someone who observed her mother in law go through what appeared to be thoughtlessness by bombarding her with a high dose of chemotherapy at the beginning despite co morbidities and then suffer neutropenic sepsis and not be monitored properly. I was keen to see whether this book may have offered help. I believe this book would have helped. The book is extremely user friendly and the fact the author is a specialist but has gone through this too was a huge bonus- this book had credibility. Whatever the patient is going through, this will be apt fro the cancer patient. This is a book someone can pick up and work through the realistic goals along the way.

The author explores both conventional medicine versus the non conventional- which can seem to some as brave- but why not- this is about choice. The author explores studies that have been conducted over many years and some of the treatments are suggestive of positive links but not conclusive- the author empowers the patient but at the same time is realistic.

You are what you eat and I am a great believer that if you eat properly and less processed your diet is then you will be able to fight more toxins. There is a really interesting chapter on diet, counteracting fatigue and the value of exercise.

I do feel if my mother in law had survived I would have been able to share this book with her and help her through the aftermath. It just has everything in this book and the author is meticulous to detail.

Chapter 13 was really powerful as it explores love and the possibility cancer sufferers who have good family connections and loved ones could influence our ability to survive cancer.

Strengths and weaknesses:

Again the main strength is that the author was a patient and specialist so could draw from both experiences. Although written for a US market this book is extremely valuable for the UK healthcare setting too. The book is well referenced at the end of each chapter.

Potential Readers: All nursing and medical staff who will at some point look after a cancer patient in varying stages of their disease.

What was it like?

The author bases this book on a Spanish Fork, Utah accident- which made world wide headlines. Rescuers were thought to hear a woman’s voice asking for help. This voice was from a lady who had died after her vehicle had crashed into the icy river. What was remarkable was that the rescuers found a baby girl alive belonging to the dead lady. the child had survived beyond odd for some fourteen hours. The officer Beddoes was convinced the voice he heard was that of an angel- it could not be the dead woman or the baby.

The authors describe “messengers” as angels- the author believes that day he was given a message.

The authors base the book on this story. They also intertwine this with other relevant thought provoking stories.

What were the highlights? 

In this age of technology and communication this for the reader is comforting and the fact the rescue was recent – in 2015. Was this a miracle and do we need to open our minds up to accept this? In dealing with patients at the end of life, I have experienced patients telling me they saw dead relatives who were in their words saying they were waiting on them. Whether people believe or not this book certainly gave food for thought.

Strengths & weaknesses:

I found this book really powerful; sadly we have no real proof of angels but suffice to say we are not alone.

it is a really interesting read, you wonder how the little girl will grow up and if she will have any sense of what occurred.

Potential Readers:

This would be a relevant book for a student nurse or trained nurse researching care within the end of life care pathway. It is a beautifully written book; but it can be painful at times. 

I was asked to review this by Love Reading.

What a delight I loved this book and know this will be a best seller in 2016.

Life is predictable – or is it? Do you really know the person you live with?

A wife who has just died, the inevitable clearance of clothes and then a great fine – a gold charm bracelet in which Arthur has never seen before.  One charm holds a telephone number and thus begins an adventure and back to his late wife’s past.

This is beautifully written such a moving and funny story at the same time. I just could not put this down till I had read to the very end.

Champagne, wine yes I have to admit to being a lush.

I was then  pleased to be asked to review this for Netgallery.

I loved the character Laure who is born into wine and is french to then leave college and go to the states to run her uncles wine business. Most of us would stick to safe and not leave boyfriends at home but she does. Good insight into the wine world and to get into the spirit with a large glass of red well it was there.

I love Laure's story too.

Due for publication April 2012.

The French Lesson (The Confessions of Henrietta Lightfoot #2)

by Hallie Rubenhold

This was a romp of a read. I was asked to review this by Lovereading.co.uk.

This is the second book in a trilogy. This is about the character Henrietta Lightfoot. Set in Paris and the french revolution where no ones head in society was safe but there is a good deal of love and lust.

Who do you trust the city is in turmoil- Henritta could have left but chose to remain in this city. She had already fled from London. Her love of her life has disappeared. Nothing is as it appears ( this keeps the reader hungry for more) and Henrietta has to fight for her life.

Recommended absorbing novel.

Due for publication around 21st April 2016.

 

As a regular book reviewer with Nursing Journals I was quite keen to review this from Netgallery.

Paul Kalanithi died far too soon in March 2015. This man was a brilliant doctor and I expected this book to be about dying, but instead it was about life itself and how to live it.

This is about the surgeon and his career and it takes a great deal of time and skill to get there and although some reviews touch on the fact it was all about him - he was the man who was dying. He had it all great promising career, a loving wife family and his potential in his career to go to fantastic heights.

He is at the same time, not so good with his own disease - but would we in the same position?

Such a beautifully written book and for those with a medical or nursing background it is all the more richer to read. We do not make good patients -we were trained to look after people.

What I found sad and it can happen all too often in palliative care he appeared to want to die at home yet he was care for in ITU sadly all too often we still want to keep the patient alive when sometimes enough is enough.

This story and the man will remain in my thoughts fro a very long time.

I was asked to review this by Netgallery.

This is an author I have to confess never reading before but this is the beauty of book review who knows where this will take you.This is the author's first YA book.

I enjoyed this author's style of writing. The story is around a girl named Celestine who lives where everything has to be perfect, perfect family, perfect boyfriend, perfect life and the reader will guess changes are afoot.

We live in a society where we get disappointed if our vegetables heaven forbid are imperfect but hey that is nature. We tend not to expect the worst that can happen. In this world things are strange that the people are accountable and if found guilty they are"flawed" it was an interesting concept and I have to admit to looking forward to book 2. 

I will look out for the author's adult books.

I was asked to review this by Netgallery

Francis is the studious head girl – you want to meet this girl. – She is going places and university will only be the beginning. But the big but is she has a weakness - a Youtube podcast.

Whilst out with friends she discovers who is behind the podcast- a local boy .He then shows her there is life beyond academia.

This is a book about friendships and that there is a whole world out there beyond studies.

Such a lovely fun read. The author writes well and there is room on the book shelf for more of her novels.

I was asked to review this book by Inspired by Kathy


I was intrigued by the cover very mystical. I absolutely loved this book, her vision of the future was really different and I was transported. This is a dystopian novel and I have read some of this type in the past but was absolutely hooked on this one. I have to say my emotions were all over the place - this I was not expecting.

Since living in Gloucestershire and the floods of 2007, it was fascinating to read just how people change with climate change and we are in the midst of this already.


YA book and obviously more to come as so many unanswered questions.  I will certainly be looking out for this author and her next book - can't wait.

I was asked to review this book by the Nursing Time journal

Description: 

This text book is such a user friendly and easy guide for a nursing student to construct their portfolio. This works in conjunction with the NMC to ensure that students evidence their competencies.

Highlights: 

I have been lucky to have not only been taught by the author, but also was part of an independent hospital professional development group and gained so much knowledge from the author that it is a pleasure to be reviewing one of her publications.

The book acts as a tool and is easy to use because the author has spent a great deal of tome working with students and her style of writing is good. For the nursing student there are good examples from other student portfolios so the student can gauge what is a good example.

The fact this is linked to the NMC makes this ideal and for the student there is no confusion working with differing tools.

 Strengths and weaknesses:

The strengths are that this is well written and sets out the journey well for the student throughout the seven chapters. It is up to date covers the 6Cs, evidence based practice, the use of reflection and critical thinking. The further reading at the end of each chapter is relevant and up to date and that the Francis report is mentioned in this text book as there is still lessons to be learnt. I also found the useful websites a stage further to reading this book and again extremely relevant. As expected there were no weaknesses.

Potential Readers:

This book and the series has to be a must have item on the nursing students book list. I would urge universities to ensure all nursing student read and apply this book.

I was asked to review this by the Nursing Times Journal

What was it like?

This is an excellent reference book for paediatric and young persons enabling the nurse/practitioner to have evidenced based guide to hand. This is an easy to read concise handbook. The chapters are well set out and at the end of each topic there is a section for further reading. Every time I went to look for a relevant subject it was there and covered well. The attention to detail shows just how much work has gone into the first and second editions. Indexed and referenced well.

Highlights: 

Includes significant changes in safeguarding to ensure the reader is up to date with current legislation. The chapter in relation to neonatal care has now been expanded to include information on care and breastfeeding of the pre-term infant, as well as developmental and kangaroo care.  The separate section on paediatric emergencies will be in valuable to the reader. Nurses have to be aware of the legal aspects of care and this is covered well in this handbook.

Strengths & weaknesses:

This handbook is designed to be picked up by the nurse/practitioner to find the information easily and quickly. This provides up to date well researched material in this small handy textbook. One of the greatest strengths is the fact that this is written by nurses for nurses specifically. This second edition acknowledges that children’s and young peoples nursing is continually developing and that this second edition has been updated by expert clinical nurses.

Potential Readers:

This is a must for both the registered and student nurse. These needs to be kept on a shelf for all practitioners to use as guide at all times when caring for the child or young person.

I was asked to review this by the author herself.

I picked a good day to read this in March – wet cold and immersed myself in Christmas.

Beautifully written by the author- sweet and cheerful and such lovely romances. 

Ideally the reader should be reading these during the holidays to get them in the mood for Christmas you can smell the Christmas spices imagine the snow falling.

Each story brings a chrismassy romance that the reader will love and enjoy the escapism.

Recommended at Christmas but also at a time when the reader just needs something nice.

I love Sharon Kleve books and always keen to see what comes out next.

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

The author returns after the fantastic Little Mercies which I so enjoyed.

This book Missing Pieces will not disappoint – multifaceted mystery you cannot put down and one which the reader tries so many time to work out just whodunit. It is a puzzle with intrigue.

It is the story of a husband whose mother was found many years ago in a cellar of his home, and it is shrouded in mystery.  Thus begins unanswered questions, the past and just what is revealed as the mystery unfolds.

The author has written this mystery well and the reader becomes tangled up in a web of mystery.

Due for publication 10^th March 2016, this will undoubtedly go straight into the top ten.