What if

I was asked to review by the Good Housekeeping Book Room which dropped through my letter box on my day off and first day of leave.

The cover gives food for thought straight away" if you knew the date of your death , how would you live your life?" creepy but in a sense we get one bash at this and we mess up would we if we knew? that is the thousand dollar question.

I just had to read this story.

Four children at the end of the 60s knock on the door of a psychic, this person claims they can know the date of the persons death.

then begins a section of each of the four children with unique storylines each interesting thought provoking and sad at the same time. But considering we are reading about mortality there is a great deal of life in the story.

This has an impact on the four children, whether the predictions do come true (readers you will need to read this) boy does this have an impact on their lives. Mortality, grief, life, fate, do we have a choice is everything mapped out for us all thrown into the melting pot. tackles the uncomfortable.

It is beautifully written by the author who brought us Anatomy of Dreams in 2014.

Recommended and just out of the summer sunbed read.

Life changing

I was asked to review by Nudge

firstly to say some of the reviews are a bot unfair, no the book does not go into the medical effects of drinking but we all know that cirrhosis of the liver, cancers etc can result in prolonged and a high intake of alcohol. What is more worrying is that drinking is the norm and on summers days this is blatantly obvious to children too who grow up thinking it is ok to drink to excess.


Right to the book - it set out well and the yellow pages really stand out, and I agree with the authors drinking even in moderation ( I am now not really sure what moderation is) does make you tired, grumpy, your annoying colleagues just get even more annoying and lately with stress at work I drink to help me sleep, which often has the opposite effect.

it is all about looking ay yourself and looking to other motivations, looking after your body we only get one. What I really like was the reference to Steve Peters book The Chimp Paradox, I am currently watching the Tour De France and fascinated by Team Sky.


there are interesting personal stories which the reader can relate to, loved the mocktails and resources are helpful

it is all about mindset, and will I be trying this? - yes when my new job starts in August even if it help me move to a different mindset. It doesn't have to start with a "dry" January it can start anytime.

Good read

I I was asked to review by Librarything 

I was not sure what to make of this at first it is unusual and pitched really well for the child. It was a quick read and I loved the main characters love of plants and science.

A lovely story and recommended - You would not expect this to have a ghost as all the main character thinks about is plants and a quest to find a rare orchid that is until  her teacher disappears and the police suspect her uncle was involved. She need to find out just what this ghost was telling her otherwise it could be too late.

Recommended and well written.

cute read it in February

I was asked to review by Librarything.com
I have to confess I should have reviewed 4 months ago when this would have been the ideal time to read, but loved it anyway. Cute story and follow up to the novello Secret Angel- probably best to read this first.

Cute read with a church theme threaded through

Lovely

quirky and mad capped

I I was asked to review by Nudge

This is a really fun book for 9-12 years but equally entertaining for the adult (or child within the adult)

A girl called Hyacinth and her  Mother  move to London. Her Grandmother gives her a book about the sewers of London for a going away gift ( a strange gift I hear you say- this is a strange story) She finds out that they are not at all right. They move to a flat that her family owns. there are plumbing issues in the bathroom, there is a problem with the tap. Then the fun begins.

It is rather mad over the next 36 hours - there are Sewers, giant pigs, talking mosquitoes in tuxedos and all added to the mix- her mother is kidnapped and it is Hyacinths quest to get her back.
Magic water, good and bad who do you trust?

A really funny story well written with sprinkles of magic and some mad capped characters.

I do hope I will see kids on sun beds reading this book, just watch your taps. 

Well researched

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

What was it like?

I have heard of this condition but not seen many books about this condition. Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
The author has researched this subject well as she herself suffers from this disease.
It is quite easy to misdiagnose this – and people do not know they have this with a tiny percentage 10-15% who are diagnosed correctly. This is not just a “nosebleed disease”
It is slightly unfair to state that this is misdiagnosed as it is uncommon, and specialists may never have seen this. The symptoms can be attributable to other problems.
This is book to help suffers and to gain and understanding and how to manage this.

What were the highlights?

The author is writing this as she herself suffers from this. The reader will not find this book difficult to read as the author writes well and paragraphs are in sections so if the reader needs to find an aspect they need to read about they do not need to spend time needlessly going through unnecessary material.
There is a well set out glossary which is valuable in order to understand abbreviations and medical jargon.
The resource section is useful, but readers need to be aware this is written for the USA audience. Saying that it is to be noted there is a Facebook Group in Ireland which may be useful and readers worth joining to find UK members or a link to UK resources.

Strengths & weaknesses:

This is a well set out book for HHT sufferers or those who feel they may have the disorder. Although written for the USA this equally apt for the UK reader. It certainly would be that starting block to go to your clinician and say I think I know what is wrong with me.

I found no weaknesses in this excellent text book.

Who should read it?

All Physicians, Emergency Department Team, GPs and patients and their families.

Inspiring

I was asked to review for the Nursing Times Journal.

What was it like?
This covers women and heart disease, I must confess I had no idea there was a difference to men and women’s symptoms. I learnt too that this was based on the authors blog – Heart Sisters blog which has attracted approximately 11 million views – that is impressive.
The author sets out how to recognise the early signs of heart attack, why women may delay going to seek treatment or advice to treating heart disease. This is written for woman by a woman.

What were the highlights?
This is written for woman by a woman and is a welcome voice. The first stages in the book I could relate to seemingly neurotic woman knowing something is wrong (we do know our bodies) to sometimes being misdiagnosed.
The personal accounts are interesting and thought provoking.
I am aware of Radiology discrepancy meetings within Trusts- the section on “are diagnostic errors in cardiology reported?” made me wonder and ask questions in the UK if this takes place? I wonder all too often in the UK are the health care settings looking at occupancy figures and targets too much.
This give the patient a lifeline and is an effective resource.

Strengths & weaknesses:
This is written in an easy to read guide/resource. The author is a graduate of Mayos Clinic Woman Heart Science and Leadership symposium for women with heart disease. This has been researched well, with up to date research and a useful glossary (if you are writing for patients understand this. The patients need to understand the jargon and medical terms- not all text book authors writing for patients realises this is important) this book links in with the authors blog – I have now signed up for this this book has made me want to know more.
Written in the states but is equally apt for the UK patient/reader.

Who should read it?
Anyone working in a Coronary disease setting within health care, Emergency Department staff, Ward staff, Medical Teams, and student nurses and doctors.



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































I was asked to review for the Nursing Times Journal.

What was it like?
This covers women and heart disease, I must confess I had no idea there was a difference to men and women’s symptoms. I learnt too that this was based on the authors blog – Heart Sisters blog which has attracted approximately 11 million views – that is impressive.
The author sets out how to recognise the early signs of heart attack, why women may delay going to seek treatment or advice to treating heart disease. This is written for woman by a woman.

What were the highlights?
This is written for woman by a woman and is a welcome voice. The first stages in the book I could relate to seemingly neurotic woman knowing something is wrong (we do know our bodies) to sometimes being misdiagnosed.
The personal accounts are interesting and thought provoking.
I am aware of Radiology discrepancy meetings within Trusts- the section on “are diagnostic errors in cardiology reported?” made me wonder and ask questions in the UK if this takes place? I wonder all too often in the UK are the health care settings looking at occupancy figures and targets too much.
This give the patient a lifeline and is an effective resource.

Strengths & weaknesses:
This is written in an easy to read guide/resource. The author is a graduate of Mayos Clinic Woman Heart Science and Leadership symposium for women with heart disease. This has been researched well, with up to date research and a useful glossary (if you are writing for patients understand this. The patients need to understand the jargon and medical terms- not all text book authors writing for patients realises this is important) this book links in with the authors blog – I have now signed up for this this book has made me want to know more.
Written in the states but is equally apt for the UK patient/reader.

Who should read it?
Anyone working in a Coronary disease setting within health care, Emergency Department staff, Ward staff, Medical Teams, and student nurses and doctors.