This was a really quick read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Doggo is certainly the star of the show from beginning to end. He's such a quirkly little chThis was a really quick read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Doggo is certainly the star of the show from beginning to end. He's such a quirkly little character, despite being the ugliest dog in the world but don't let him hear you say that! Doggo certainly knows his own mind and doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do.
Dan was a bit of an odd character - I didn't really warm to him at first and I probably defrosted around the same time as Doggo - I think Dan was hurt and confused after coming out of a relationship and it takes a little while to let people (or dogs) back into your heart. I thought it was brilliant when Dan defended Doggo's honour during Turdgate and it was positively tear jerking when Doggo visits his former owner.
The book also touches on Alzheimer's with Dan's Grandad. It's so hard to see your loved ones fade away infront of your eyes and deal with the frustration of being unrecognised. I loved how Doggo interacted with Grandad and how he helped Dan cope when Grandad slipped up and unearthed a family secret.
As Bryan Adams once sang, "it's not how you look, it's what you feel inside" so put a little love in your heart and read this! I'll be reading it again.
I received this book from the publisher, Headline, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
How I have gone through my reading life without coming across Veronica Henry is a mystery to me. What a treat this was! From the synopsis, I thought tHow I have gone through my reading life without coming across Veronica Henry is a mystery to me. What a treat this was! From the synopsis, I thought there were going to be too many names and I wouldn't know who was who but after a few chapters I felt like one of the residents!
Despite being such a sad occasion for Kate, it was fascinating to read about her discarding her New York armour and slipping back into her Cornish life. It was really sad when Kate was clearing out the house but there were lovely memories attached to each item that she found, which reminded her of who she is. Her boss in New York was awful, hassling her to come back to work when she should have been allowed peaceful bereavement leave. I kept mentally shouting "turn the phone off" and "tell him to stick his job". I just thought it was a shame that Kate was spending time in Pennfleet without her Mum, making me think that we should make the effort to visit our loved ones and appreciate them while they are here. Perhaps a morbid thought from me, but the book is definitely about life not death.
Vanessa has a funeral for her husband on the same day as Kate's mother's funeral. It was good to see the comparison between the two - one being a celebration of life and the other being an excuse for a party and to see what's been left in the will. I didn't doubt that Vanessa loved her husband but she never really knew what it meant to be happy. Until she met Nathan... Nathan sounded absolutely yummy - rugged and thoughtful - I had to keep reminding myself he wasn't real.
I really enjoyed Sam's story too. I thought he might have been a love interest for Kate at the beginning but he didn't get much page coverage in the first half of the book, so I thought there must be other plans for him. He has a lovely little family and it is clear how much they love and help each other following their own personal heartache.
I felt really bad for enjoying this so much with two funerals going on! I loved every single one of the characters in this book; I was swept away just like Frank Cooper and similarly I hope to return to Pennfleet one day. You'll just have to read the book to find out who Frank Cooper is. Meanwhile, I'm off to the library for more of Veronica Henry's books!
I received this book from the publisher, Orion, in exchange for an honest review....more
Wow � what a rollercoaster and a stonking debut from Hugh Fraser. This was another one of those books that you can't put down. It is evident from the Wow � what a rollercoaster and a stonking debut from Hugh Fraser. This was another one of those books that you can't put down. It is evident from the start that Rina is a very strong female lead character. As we delve into her background, we find that she’s had such a hard life looking after her young siblings and alcoholic mother but surrounded by an amazing female support system. She's suffered so much that it's not surprising she has turned into a contract killer - she has nothing left to lose.
The writing was so vivid, perhaps too vivid sometimes � the scene near the end with Carmela still churns my stomach when I'm thinking about it now! There are some surprising twists as you don't know who is on which side in Mexico, and the way the deal goes down between Lee and Manuel really was inspired - all I'll say is metal joints! The flashbacks to Rina's teenage life in Notting Hill really captured the essence of the era; men in dark smoky pubs and women at home with the kids living in poverty. Rina reminds me of Sydney Bristow in Alias and I wouldn't be surprised to see Harm picked up for the small screen.
There were a few same-sex love scenes but they were written with enough subtlety so as not to disturb even the most faint-hearted reader. With her history, it's hardly surprising that Rina would avoid men at all costs.
Hugh's writing is excellent; I really hope it's not the last we hear of Rina Walker!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review....more
This is an absolutely magnificent book that successfully manages to sweep the reader away to Ceylon, a most amazing trip from which I am yet to returnThis is an absolutely magnificent book that successfully manages to sweep the reader away to Ceylon, a most amazing trip from which I am yet to return. It is Dinah Jefferies second novel and it is written so beautifully that I will be adding her first novel, The Separation, to my must read list.
From the prologue set in 1913 to the ending in 1934 the story weaved its intricate web around me and I didn't want to put the book down for a minute. It's a family saga like no other, with shocking secrets that if only they had been revealed earlier could have avoided such terrible heartbreak. I did have a tear in my eye towards the end, but don't mistake this for a weepy Mummy's book - it's quite unique and I'd struggle to slot it into just one genre. It has all the ingredients for a perfect novel - mystery, intrigue, secrets and betrayal.
Gwen's story is one of a naive young lady travelling half way across the world to be with her new husband in Ceylon. On the ship she meets dashing Savi Ravasinghe, an artist who makes several appearances in the story as all the ladies fall in love with him! When Gwen falls pregnant and later gives birth I thought that the story could have quite easily taken a predictable turn but the web that Dinah Jefferies was weaving was not yet complete. I felt so sorry for Gwen, she should have had a perfectly happy life but for deeply buried family secrets, not to mention a troublesome sister in law.
I'm not surprised to learn that this book has been chosen for Richard & Judy's autumn bookclub 2015. It's an absolutely brilliant family saga and you can't wait to turn the page to see what secrets might be revealed next.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
I expected this to be light, amusing chick lit but, due to two very strong storylines and a vivacious heroine, it was so much better than that and I rI expected this to be light, amusing chick lit but, due to two very strong storylines and a vivacious heroine, it was so much better than that and I really enjoyed it. Florence Love is more than a private investigator, she is an entrapment specialist proving or disproving the fidelity of her clients� partners. Although I didn’t rocket through this book, once I got to about half way through I was hooked. The story is twofold; that of Florence’s latest entrapment and the mysterious disappearance of her mother.
I loved the relationship that Florence has with her brother, Michael, as Florence really looks out for him and is so protective. When Florence and Michael’s mother went missing, her car was found burned out with a male corpse inside leading to an abundance of questions for the reader: Who is the mystery man? What was he to her mother? Where is her mother? As Florence starts to dig she uncovers family secrets that she wishes she’d left buried.
With a smart, feisty heroine like Florence Love this is sure to be a great series and I look forward to the next book The Last Bigamist as Florence heads to Italy in search of her mother.
I received this book from the publisher, Headline, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
I have been a fan of Lisa Gardner for some time now and although this is the third book in the Tessa Leone series it is the first one that I have readI have been a fan of Lisa Gardner for some time now and although this is the third book in the Tessa Leone series it is the first one that I have read. I don't feel like I was at a disadvantage by not having read the prior books, as that is the beauty of Lisa Gardner - it's not so much that the story carries on, it is just that the main character links the books together. Crash & Burn must have one of the best first sentences I have seen for a long time; it starts with the sentence "I died once." immediately drawing the reader in and giving me goosebumps in the process.
The story starts with Nicky waking in a hospital bed with scant recollection of what has happened to her. All she can think of is the mysterious Vero and I could feel her distress creeping out of the pages like curling tendrils of smoke as she wondered what had happened to her. As officers investigate the car accident that brought Nicky into the hospital, there is no sign of anybody else being in the car at the time of the accident. So who exactly is Vero and what has happened to her?
The way the story evolves made me question not only Nicky's sanity but her very identity. There is a lot of mystery surrounding her and her husband so my mind was working overtime as it tried to figure things out. I got some things right and other things way wrong! Although I didn't think this was one of Lisa Gardner's best books, it was a satisfying twisty story with a good amount of surprises.
Crash & Burn tied my brain in knots as I tried to work out the story but, with Lisa Gardner pulling the punches, you really can expect the unexpected.
I received this book from the publisher, Headline, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
I did really enjoy Tenacity, it has all of the ingredients for an edge of your seat thriller, but I'm not familiar with job roles on a submarine so I I did really enjoy Tenacity, it has all of the ingredients for an edge of your seat thriller, but I'm not familiar with job roles on a submarine so I found I got slightly bogged down with terms such as 'Coxswain' and 'Chief Stoker' and which character they actually related to. For this reason, and this alone, I gave Tenacity 4 stars rather than 5.
Danielle (Dan) is a woman in a man's world. She has been sent on board HMS Tenacity to investigate an apparent suicide of one of the crew. Walker has apparently committed suicide after being informed of his wife's murder and Dan is tasked with finding out if there's more to it than meets the eye. Of course there is more to it, ensuring that the pages turn faster than you can say 'up periscope'.
I felt quite claustrophobic when Dan was on Tenacity, there simultaneously seems like nowhere to hide yet sometimes feeling all alone. The crew were unsurprisingly suspicious of her and all were ready to stick a metaphorical knife in her back, leaving me wondering if there was anybody she could trust. The captain, known as the Old Man, had no intention of helping Dan with her investigation and saw her as a nuisance on his ship.
Tenacity really is a page turner and I look forward to reading more about Danielle Lewis. I struggled a little bit with matching characters' forenames to their jobs so I wasn't always sure who I was reading about when names like 'Chief Stoker' were mentioned, however, the story was fast paced enough to overlook this minor gripe. Tenacity is an amazing debut from J.S. Law with a spunky heroine from whom I'm sure we'll be hearing lots more.
I received this book from the publisher, Headline, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
I was a bit disappointed with this one. I have had Sophie Hannah on my radar for a while and this was the first book of hers that I have read. The ideI was a bit disappointed with this one. I have had Sophie Hannah on my radar for a while and this was the first book of hers that I have read. The idea was good but I didn't like any of the characters. Justine just seemed to charge about everywhere swearing her head off; her husband, Alex, travelled a lot as an opera singer and to be honest I didn't notice whether he was there or not most of the time; and her daughter, Ellen, was a bit of a silly sulky teenager.
I struggled with the chapter numbers of the story that Ellen was writing being out of sync with the chapters in the book - I'm odd like that! I did quite like the story that Ellen was writing about the family called the Ingreys - they were much more interesting than the Merrisons. Ellen's story was quite dark at times and gave a Victorian gothic type feel to the book.
The book did get more gripping towards the end as the mysterious Anne Donbavand appears and we approach the final showdown - although I was expecting someone a bit more scary than crazy.
Although I wouldn't particularly recommend this book, I will still look out for some other Sophie Hannah books.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more
I had never heard of Renishaw Hall or the Sitwell family before reading this book, but now it is on my list of places to visit. It was really fascinatI had never heard of Renishaw Hall or the Sitwell family before reading this book, but now it is on my list of places to visit. It was really fascinating to read about the family as it brought the Hall to life. They are such a colourful family and yes, they were eccentric, but also very kind and generous � offering their hospitality to so many famous visitors - from authors and artists to royalty.
Renishaw Hall meant so much to the Sitwells, despite some of them almost bringing it to wrack and ruin, and this was evident in the reporting of the ghosts of dearly departed Sitwells appearing at the front door. Perhaps the most interesting haunting being the Boy in Pink, namely Henry Sacheverell, who drowned in 1726 and is reported to awaken ladies with a kiss - there was even a complaint that one lady visitor was not woken by the ghost.
I really enjoyed reading the snippets of old letters as it gave a real insight into their personalities. I must quote my favourite excerpt from the book, in light of our 21st century recession, following Francis Sitwell's letter to his father in 1720 after the South Sea Bubble burst: "Well, since so great a Burden is fall'n upon the people, I wish it may light as much as possible on those who are best able to bear it; but more especially on the chief authors of their mischief, I mean those Knavish stock-jobbers by whose artifice people have been thus bubbled to their ruin." Desmond Seward goes on to say: "He was not alone in his opinion: one MP advised Parliament that bankers should be tied in sacks filled with snakes, and thrown into the Thames." I was fascinated to read about Lady Ida who went to prison for fraud in 1915 after falling into debt. I admired her principles when she refused a visitor to the prison as it was someone she wouldn't have received had she been at Renishaw.
I think the most colourful section of the book was the Sacheverell, Edith and Osbert literary circle - cunningly surrounding themselves with acquaintances who wouldn't criticise them and rivalling the famous Bloomsbury set. Perhaps the most famous member of their clique being Evelyn Waugh, although he and Osbert seemed to envy each other.
Desmond Seward successfully brought Renishaw Hall to life in this fascinating book. It was no surprise to learn that he had been a frequent visitor to Renishaw as a guest of the late Sir Reresby Sitwell, as his writing shows great admiration and respect for the Sitwell family.
I received this book from the publisher, Elliott & Thompson, in exchange for an honest review....more
I completely fell in love with this book! The characters are wonderful - impetuous and stronger than she thinks Ruthie, dark and brooding Marco and DaI completely fell in love with this book! The characters are wonderful - impetuous and stronger than she thinks Ruthie, dark and brooding Marco and Daphne the guard-goat, to name but a few. It was written so beautifully that I could feel the sun shining through the pages, warming my heart in the process.
I was reminded of one of my favourite films, French Kiss, when reading this. Especially the moment when Marco teaches Ruthie about olive oil and they are sampling different varieties. I could almost taste them myself and it was reminiscent of the scene in French Kiss where Kevin Kline gets Meg Ryan to smell particular soil samples and herbs before tasting the wine and identifying the flavours.
I'm not a regular viewer but strangely enough I happened to see a recent episode of Gino D'Acampo's Italian Escape where Gino actually visited Alberobello and showed us inside a trullo, which he used to think was a smurf's house when he was a child. This was before I had even heard of this book, so although Jo Thomas describes these unusual conical shaped houses so vividly, I knew exactly what they were and appreciated and applauded the description even more.
The Bellanuovo family feud was a brilliant storyline, bubbling under the surface whenever the two sides of the family came in contact with each other and expecting fireworks at Nonna's birthday celebration. It was at Nonna's birthday that I couldn't understand what had happened to my eyes when reading about Ruthie's mural being unveiled - I was crying!! I had completely absorbed myself in this book and was lost in each and every delicious page.
La dolce vita is brought to life in this book - I laughed, I cried, I loved it!
I received this book from the publisher via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
Wow! This book fell through my letterbox and didn't even hit the bookshelf - once I picked it up, it refused to be put down! It gripped me from the veWow! This book fell through my letterbox and didn't even hit the bookshelf - once I picked it up, it refused to be put down! It gripped me from the very first page when Michael revealed that he had been having an affair with his sister-in-law. He blames his actions on Louise, as she has changed after “that night�. “That night� is the hook that had me turning page after page, long after I should have been asleep and dreaming of books, beer and cheese.
Jack Jordan has very cleverly chosen a mindless act for “that night� that sets in motion a series of events with cataclysmic consequences, resulting in a shared secret between Louise and her daughter, Brooke. The tension was palpable as more details of “that night� emerge and the past doesn’t just come back to haunt them, it comes back to get even.
This is an exceptional debut novel; the writing is sublime with an abundance of magnificent metaphors that had me mentally applauding on every page. This is definitely a contender for my book of the year.
I received this book from the author (via contact from my blog) in exchange for an honest review....more
This is the third Paula Daly novel that I have read in the last few months and although I enjoyed it, it didn't command my attention from the first paThis is the third Paula Daly novel that I have read in the last few months and although I enjoyed it, it didn't command my attention from the first page like Just What Kind of Mother Are You? and Keep Your Friends Close.
Roz is quite a likeable character and her frustration was evident when dealing with her waste of space ex-husband. Roz has made some bad decisions in her life and accepting the offer that she gets from Scott Elias is the worst decision she could make. I understand why she did it, and could feel her relief as her bills started to get paid, but she didn't realise that Scott didn't just want to hire her by the hour, he wanted to own her and would go to any lengths to do so.
I liked Roz's son, George - a chip off the old block, already starting to make bad decisions for himself, thinking he could help Roz out. He's a very likeable little boy and he gets on well with the neighbours as he likes to play with their little dog, Foxy. I do like the loveable dog characters that make appearances in Paula's novels.
When Roz's boss, Wayne, goes missing it was lovely to see DS Joanne Aspinall and DS Ron Quigley make an appearance, with Ron keeping his stomach happy as always. I was hoping to see them at some point but I didn't know how they were going to be introduced, which is where Paula Daly's writing is so good - springing surprises on us. Paula is the queen of the unexpected.
Overall a good read but not as much of a page turner as I've come to expect from Paula Daly. It is, however, a really good psychological thriller, with a Fatal Attraction edge to it, as we see what Scott is prepared to do to get Roz all to himself. Paula Daly really delves into the human psyche in all of her books and this one is no exception.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
This was a really unusual book; I almost felt like I was reading Lillian's diary as we're privy to her innermost thoughts and observations.
I felt thatThis was a really unusual book; I almost felt like I was reading Lillian's diary as we're privy to her innermost thoughts and observations.
I felt that Lillian has been unlucky in love and it takes her several failed relationships to finally realise what it is that she is looking for. Her Mother couldn't hide her disappointment that Lillian was 35 and unmarried, something that wouldn't get the bat of an eyelid these days. Despite her judgemental Mother, Lillian has a loving and comfortable relationship with her Dad who she affectionately calls Poppa.
There are some wonderful lines and anecdotes in the book but I don't want to release any spoilers here! Lillian is a smart modern lady who would not be out of place as a young woman in the 21st Century. She was not afraid to travel the world at the end of the war, meeting new and interesting people along the way.
It's a book that made me laugh and also made me feel sad at times, a true observation of life with all its ups and downs. I absolutely whizzed through this book and it's a book I will pick up again and again to fully appreciate the wise words of Lillian.
I received this book from the publisher via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
Fisher meets Ivy and before they know it, Ivy is pregnant. Ivy told Fisher they didn’t need contraception so, although he is happy about the news, he Fisher meets Ivy and before they know it, Ivy is pregnant. Ivy told Fisher they didn’t need contraception so, although he is happy about the news, he does wonder whether Ivy intended to get pregnant. Ivy is in her early forties so I was also wondering if she’d heard the tick tock of her biological clock. At one point I was worried that Ivy was just using Fisher as a sperm donor. I’ll not spoil the story but suffice to say, nothing is ever as it seems.
The characters are all excellent. Fisher is a genuinely lovely guy and he’s still best friends with his mate, El, from school. Fisher and El have remained close following Fisher’s personal tragedy when the pair visited the cinema when he was a teenager. El has been diagnosed with Huntingdon’s disease and his partner, Phil, is struggling to cope so Fisher and Ivy do as much as they can to support them. Ivy’s brother, Frank, is hilarious when he comes to stay at Ivy’s flat. He’s perfectly described as a big hairy caveman! Ivy has had to live with the scars of her own personal tragedies so at times, when I found her slightly cold or aloof, I had to remind myself of what she had gone through in her past.
It’s really refreshing to read a story from a male perspective once in a while. It touches on some sensitive subjects that are told with compassion and a depth of feeling that frequently moved me to tears. I felt incredibly emotional at the end of the book and had to sit and reflect for quite some time afterwards. Usually I pick up my next book before the cover of the last book closes, but it’s a sign of such an amazing book when I paused to wipe my eyes and had a few moments alone with my own thoughts.
We received copies of this book from the publisher for our book club. One lady's first impression was that it was slightly predictable when Ivy got pregnant, but she wished she hadn't spoken so soon as it is anything but predictable.
An outstanding debut novel. I laughed and I cried - Andy Jones has found the secret recipe for a perfect book. You’ll not need a tissue when you read this; you’ll need the whole box!...more
I think it's safe to say that Elizabeth I would not have liked this book as she is not the star of the show, instead it is someone I had never heard oI think it's safe to say that Elizabeth I would not have liked this book as she is not the star of the show, instead it is someone I had never heard of: Penelope Devereaux. I had, however, heard of her famous brother: the queen's favourite, Essex. I do love to read both fiction and non-fiction set in the Tudor period and it does seem to be a popular topic with lots of authors, but what makes this stand out from the crowd is the main character, Penelope.
Penelope is the queen's goddaughter and also one of her favourite maids; she is such a strong character and is never afraid to stand up to Elizabeth, no doubt because Henry VIII's blood also flows through Penelope's veins. For Penelope's grandmother, Catherine Carey, was reputed to be the child of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII. Scandal continues to follow Penelope's ancestors as her mother is Lettice Knollys who was cast out of Elizabeth's court after she secretly married one of the queen's favourites, Robert Dudley.
Like all maids in the Tudor court, Penelope is subject to an arranged marriage. At one point she was promised to Philip Sidney, and although the marriage never came to fruition she never stopped loving him and was infact the muse for some of his poetry. Instead, Penelope marries Lord Rich but it is a loveless marriage and they strike an unconventional deal that will leave Penelope free to follow her heart, wherever it may take her.
With well known names from the Tudor Court, including Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys, Charles Blount, Essex, Sir Walter Ralegh and Francis Bacon, this is a story of scandal and intrigue with deceit and backstabbing a-plenty as people jostle for position. Like a Shakespearean play, with the bard himself making a brief appearance, there are a lot of characters so I think it could have benefited from a character list at the beginning or end. It was nothing that google couldn't fix as I wracked my brain for the history behind certain well-known names.
There's treachery afoot in the Tudor Court and with so many people under suspicion you can't keep your eye on them all, so make sure you Watch the Lady. Definitely recommended for historical fiction lovers as Elizabeth Fremantle certainly gives Philippa Gregory a run for her money.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion....more
This was brilliant. I often like to read a true story and what a true story this is! It's not only the story of Joseph Bannister, but the story of theThis was brilliant. I often like to read a true story and what a true story this is! It's not only the story of Joseph Bannister, but the story of the men who were looking for his ship, The Golden Fleece - John Chatterton and John Mattera. Giving such an insight into the background of the two Johns meant that I could empathise with them and understand their frustrations at times. In fact the early years of John Mattera was almost like reading about an episode of the Sopranos! John Chatterton on the other hand flirted with danger and showed no fear diving to places where others would not contemplate on going. I'm not sure what is more scary - the threat of the mob or the danger of the bends.
I was really interested in the process of hunting for a wreck - I had no idea that you had to have a lease to search the waters. In this case, the lease belonged to the renowned treasure hunter, Tracy Bowden, who gave the Johns instructions on where to look for the Golden Fleece. The story gets really interesting when the Johns become frustrated with their futile search in one area and try to persuade Tracy to search elsewhere. I thought it was going to come to blows on more than one occasion!
Mattera's interest in history meant that he cleverly used historical records to try to get into the mind of Joseph Bannister that ultimately led to the discovery of the Golden Fleece. This is where the events of 1686 and the 17th Century are described in such vivid details for us. Why men, and sometimes women, became pirates and what the could expect of life on the high seas. There was a heart stopping moment beforehand when somebody claims to have found the Golden Fleece and I let out an audible "Oh No!!" - this isn't a spoiler, history tells us that Chatterton and Mattera found the Golden Fleece but I was so engrossed in the story that I felt their disappointment and incredulity with them!
The book touches on the German U-boat that John Chatterton discovered off the coast of New Jersey and I'll certainly be adding Robert Kurson's Shadow Divers to my reading list.
This is a must read book for anybody wanting to learn more about the real Pirates of the Caribbean. It really does read like a fast paced thriller and I sometimes forgot I was reading a true story. A real swashbuckler of a read that has piqued my interest in underwater salvage.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
I wasn't sure I was going to like this when I started it, but I am pleased to say how wrong I was! I thought I would never remember who was who with tI wasn't sure I was going to like this when I started it, but I am pleased to say how wrong I was! I thought I would never remember who was who with the unfamiliar sounding Greek and Turkish names, but the book drew me in so much that I felt almost a part of each family.
Having looked through the wall into Famagusta on a family holiday to Cyprus in 1992, it was a sight that has stayed with me for so many years. The abandoned city described in this book was not just a glimpse through the wall but a walk down the desolate streets.
This is a story of those who left Famagusta and those who stayed behind. Both are equally disturbing and heartfelt; Aphroditi whose husband had ploughed all their money into hotels and now has nothing but her parents' apartment in Nicosia; the Georgious and the Özkans who refused to leave Famagusta so their loved ones could find them when they returned from fighting. Markos Georgiou is the character I loved to hate! He runs the nightclub in The Sunrise for Aphroditi's husband, Savvas. Aphroditi always felt suspicious of him but as they grow closer will she find out that first impressions are often right?
I was really moved by this story. The two families surviving together, looking out for each other and creating links that can never be severed, when they were in effect on opposite sides of the conflict. I loved the message that they are Cypriots first and foremost - whether Greek or Turkish is irrelevant.
I received this book from the publisher, Headline, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
I haven't read a YA title for a while and this one sounded quite intriguing.
Evie gets a bombshell dropped on her when she finds out that her Mum is noI haven't read a YA title for a while and this one sounded quite intriguing.
Evie gets a bombshell dropped on her when she finds out that her Mum is not her biological Mum. Her life spirals out of control and she is sent to Lightsea island with other troubled teens. There she meets the obligatory love interest and has the dilemma of choosing between two boys while fighting for survival.
I'm not really sure what to make of this book. The two boys fighting over Evie is reminiscent of the Hunger Games. The whole story has a Scooby Doo or Famous Five type feel to it but I didn't really warm to the characters. The story itself wasn't bad, I did guess who was ultimately behind putting Evie's life in danger but his accomplice was a surprise. I enjoyed the part about her relationship with her parents and her ultimate appreciation of them at the end did bring tears to my eyes.
For fans of YA, this is a good read and I will read Girl, Missing if I come across it in the library.
I won this title in a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads giveaway....more
All the Little Pieces begins at a million miles an hour as a girl runs through a cornfield trying to escape from her attacker. She sees a car and thinAll the Little Pieces begins at a million miles an hour as a girl runs through a cornfield trying to escape from her attacker. She sees a car and thinks she's saved, but the driver of the car has had one too many drinks and is afraid to open the door. The backseat passenger sees it all clearly, though. The only trouble is she is just a toddler.
Faith Saunders was that driver of the car; driving home from her sister's birthday party with her young daughter, Maggie. If she calls for help after seeing the girl, questions will be asked. Questions that could see the end of her already fragile marriage - what kind of mother would drive over the limit with her young daughter in the car? So Faith keeps silent, but Maggie spots the victim on TV one day and tells her dad that she saw her. Now Faith has to explain why she kept quiet and understandably face the wrath of the public and the victim's family.
I really felt for Faith; she may have made a bad decision but she was trying to protect her daughter by not opening the car door. It's a pity she hadn't been thinking of her daughter before she got in the car after a few too many drinks. As soon as I felt sorry for Faith, my rational brain reminded me of her failings. We've all made bad decisions and we all know how alcohol affects the human brain, so I really felt as if I'd got inside Faith's head through the writing of Jilliane Hoffman.
All the Little Pieces is a fast paced read that gives us a really good insight into police procedure and court proceedings. Although I wasn't hooked as such, I found it hard to put down in places especially when Faith started to crack and boy, did she crack! I thought I would never get my heartbeat back to normal after Faith's wardrobe breakdown. I'd really like to read more from Jilliane Hoffman so I'll be looking out for her previous books.
I received this book from the publisher, HarperCollins, as a prize from a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway....more
This was utterly charming and quirky. Elsa is almost eight years old and she has a very close relationship with her Grandmother. Granny is hilarious, This was utterly charming and quirky. Elsa is almost eight years old and she has a very close relationship with her Grandmother. Granny is hilarious, she does whatever she pleases - from dropping water bombs off her balcony to throwing monkey poo at policemen. I was quite sad when she died but we still get to hear of her escapades through the stories Elsa is told. There's a really funny part when Granny goes to see Elsa's headmaster as Elsa has been caught fighting with a boy. The headmaster tells Elsa to apologise even though the boy picked the fight with her and this is like lighting Granny's blue touch paper! It reminded me of my own Nanna, she would have picked up the globe and thrown it at the headmaster! She was provoked...she couldn't control herself.
I loved the way Elsa gave cars names depending on their make - Renault, Kia, Audi and even Taxi. It's almost like she felt they were a part of her family. Her family that is about to grow as her Mum and step-Dad are having a baby - a half sibling for Elsa who she refers to as Halfie.
After Granny dies, Elsa goes on a kind of treasure hunt (with a wurse and a monster, no less) which has her delivering letters to people in her block of flats. Each letter contains an apology from Granny and each recipient has a story about Granny and what she did for them. As Elsa gets to know the people in her block of flats we can match them to characters from the fairytales that Granny told her and by the end I had a real sense of community and thought the block of flats was indeed a fairytale castle.
This book is a must read for old and young alike. It shows us that it's ok to be different and if a boy tries to fight you, just kick him in the fuse box!
I received this book from the publisher via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review....more
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