The Goodbye Gift

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

Wow gripped and super glued from page one - essentially this book is about three best friends-Helen, Phoebe and Julia and intertwined with  the story is  Lucy who is in her early twenties and in desperation  for a heart transplant. 

There is tragedy brings the friends together -the writing is so powerful and compelling with feelings that stretch out to you, these are so real.  

The book comes tumbling down at the end with an twist I was not expecting.

I cannot believe this is the author's sixth book and I am just reading her first. Due for publication in August which will make this a great summer read.

A must read this year

A simply beautiful story of a father and autistic son who manage to unite through the modern world of computer gaming. The father’s marriage has broken down the strains of having a challenging child who is in a world he cannot understand or reach properly. it is both happy and sad at the same time – you will shed a tear but you will also be heard laughing out loud too.

The reader is on a journey too so this really becomes part of the reader too. Beautifully written and with expertise - the author was inspired to write this following his own experiences. Rather than have written a true life account of his experience I felt this was even more powerful as it will reach a larger reader audience.

During this journey can the family pull together and be a complete family despite the problems and past issues which are explored.?

Sadly readers this is not due for publication till September, I only wish this was published now as it would be a great holiday read. This will go straight into the top ten. Cannot recommend enough.

Thank you Sphere publishers for allowing me the privilege of reading this.

Patients will gain a greater understanding of Fibromyalgia

Description: 

This book is written by a doctor in the states for patients and carers understand a difficult and complex condition fibromyalgia. The book is easy to read and tells the reader at the preface what fibromyalgia actually is so the lay person understands straight way and then can read through the book gaining understanding of the history through to treatments and coping strategies.

Highlights: 

Although this is written for the patient and carer this book is relevant to all clinical staff looking after the patient and carers. The author makes no apologies for using medical terms in this book so for the patient there is an excellent glossary which is easy to read. For the clinical teams it is relevant in the terminology and excellent up to date referencing at the back with useful further reading for all readers.

The astounding fact that 10 million Americans suffer from the condition (no indication of UK or worldwide – if the data is available) highlights the need for a user friendly well research guide for patients and carers.  

Strengths and weaknesses:

Quite often in text book medications are related to only pharmaceutical giving the patient no choice but the author explores both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments which the patient and clinical teams will find useful in relation to treatment pathways.

The book explores pain management in which pain specialists will also fond useful in treating their patients.

The author takes a very complex condition (as he has done in previous of his books) and makes sense and give the patient expert guidance and understanding. The author has a great gift in being able to impart his knowledge in a way lay persons can gain greater understanding.

Potential Readers:

All staff involved in treating patients with this condition including pain management nurses and doctors. For staff who have little understanding of this subject, they will gain clear understanding without finding the writing heavy or too jargonistic.

Hope for the sufferer

I was asked to review this for the Nursing Times Journal 

Description: 

This book aids the patient and clinician to give overview of pelvic pain symptoms, causes and treatment options.  For some patients this problem can really be misunderstood and medical knowledge can be lacking from the medical teams. This book gives good clear processes for patients and clinicians to follow.

Highlights: 

The book is easy to read, written by experts and educators. The first sentence in the forward gives the patient confidence and reassurance” if you suffer with pelvic pain, you need to read this book” the hand of reassurance is there for the sufferer and partner. It also reassures the reader they are not alone (which sometimes feels like the case)

There are interesting patient stories and their journeys which are interesting and can aid the sufferer. This gives a personal feel to the book without it being too weighty on the medical aspects.

For nursing students who have no experience of this there is good chapters regarding anatomy and contributing factors for great understanding.

This is a well written book on a complex condition.

Strengths and weaknesses:

This book is for the patient so there is not a great deal of references or study aid at the end of each chapter for the practitioner or clinician. Nevertheless there is a good bibliography at the end of the book. The overarching strength for the sufferer is that there is so much hope in this book. Although this is written in the States this book is just as apt for the sufferer and medical teams in the UK. The title extends the arm of help and advice to all involved with this condition, as it is titled “what everyone needs to know”

The authors have helped numerous people with this problem so the reader knows this is based on experience and practice.

Overall I found no weaknesses in this book.

Potential Readers:

The patient, medical and nursing (what ever stage in their career) and medical teams (particularly useful when looking at individual cases)

Another great Omar Zagouri thriller

I have been lucky to have been asked to review Lost King and Beneath in the past so was excited when asked by Inspired by Kathy to review this novel – Slave Queen.

The author writes so well and the reader is taken into the book and the story.

This is another Omar Zagouri thriller involving Israeli agents Omar and characters Mia, Naim and Leyla, and the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and slave-turned-queen from the Ottoman Empire from around 1549. 

The author gives historical background but with her own take – which makes the story interesting.

Great plot taking the reader through past and present and at the same time keeping the reader engaged.

Recommended and due for publication next month in August 2016.     

There Once Were Stars

I was asked to review this book by Inspired by Kathy 

This is a young adult dystopian novel which takes place in a time after a virus outbreak around the world. Those  those who survive are living in  dome structures that are apparently indestructible and can live in this infection free bomb proof bubble world.

The character Natalia Greyes's who lives in Dome 1618  and life has been going along more or less ok when she sees two people outside of the dome with no protective clothing or masks- why can they survive ? what is going on?

There is romance thrown into the mix too.

A  really interesting read.

The Complete Revenant Wyrd Saga

I was asked to review this by the author

Wow what an adventure the author writes well and his characters are unique and interesting.

This is so interesting and has a Tolkein feel to this too. This was magical and I just got lost and immersed in this fantasy.

Another great book from this great author