en-US Mon, 05 May 2025 07:24:31 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7544827670 Mon, 05 May 2025 07:24:31 -0700 /review/show/7544827670 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to One Good Thing (Hardcover) by Georgia Hunter
Being a huge fan of World War II novels, this looked right up my street. And let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint.

I must admit though, I haven't read a great deal on war time Italy and the Holocaust, so this was quite the eye opener for me and although a novel, parts are fact based.

We follow Lili, and her friend, Esti's newborn son Theo, fleeing occupied Italy to escape the Nazis and the racial laws being harshly enforced.

Lili sets out with Theo after Esti becomes injured and they venture from Northern Italy, southward, venturing through war torn land and villages wridden with Nazis. But will they make it? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, an incredibly well written tale of the horrific suffering of war and the harsh realities that come with that. But it's also a tale of hope, of loyalty and of resilience.

It's heart-wrenching, yet beautiful. It's emotional and emotive, yet full of love and tenderness.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7536478943 Fri, 02 May 2025 05:18:56 -0700 /review/show/7536478943 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to Cyberside: Level Zero (Kindle Edition) by Aleksey Savchenko
I used to be heavily into game playing, from the late 80's up until about 10 years ago or so ( when our first Daughter came along I had less time to play, so now I play here and there, when I can ), so for me, this was a great, interesting insight into the gaming industry. It's also a read that will appeal to those who create and develop games, or just if you are into real, proper sci-fi.

The author has extensive experience of the gaming industry, having spent over 20 years in various roles within game development, and that experience really shows in the great detail and descriptions of that world.

All in all, a real masterclass in speculative thriller fiction writing, with a great dystopian feel to it and a story that explores the dangers of corporate power and politics, with some great insights into the world of artificial intelligence.

Dark secrets unfold before your very eyes, and there's treachery at every turn in this high-stakes tale set in the sometimes treacherous technology business, where control is the name of the game ( puns intended, ha ha ), and on the surface, nothing is as it seems.

Follow our main character, James Reynolds, an engineer at tech company, Fall Water Lake, who has some serious ambitions, and who's ambitions become a reality as he rises through the company. On his rise, he realises the game he's helping to build, is no ordinary game, it's something bigger.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.

4 stars from me. ]]> Review7534073666 Thu, 01 May 2025 08:51:22 -0700 /review/show/7534073666 Fatguyreading gave 5 stars to The Coffee Shop Masquerade (Kindle Edition) by T.A. Morton
The Coffee Shop Masquerade was such a quirky, fun read. Based in, you guessed it, a Coffee Shop ( in Hong Kong ). But it's a Coffee Shop with a difference. Here a mask observes from it's point in the shop, where all entertaining or leaving will see it. But this is no ordinary mask, it's more like a sentinent object than your everyday mask. Customers will swear they think it watches them, and things go missing only to appear somewhere else in the shop.

Customers drink up, and share snapshots of their lives, while the mask quietly observes.

But that's enough of the story so if you'd like to know more, you must pick your copy up.

So all in all, this was a great character-driven read. The author weaves wonderful backstories to her characters, and I really felt drawn to them through this deeper understanding.

If you love an unconventional, idiosyncratic story with a little mystery, laughs and some tears, you'll love this.

5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7533958324 Thu, 01 May 2025 08:09:44 -0700 /review/show/7533958324 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to Godwin's Revenge (The Race Is On Book 4) by O.C. Heaton
Godwin’s Revenge is book four in The Race is on Series, and having read the previous three books, I had high hopes for this, and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint.

Following the invention of LEAP from the beginning has been an absolute blast, and I couldn't wait to get stuck into this.

As we're used to from this series, Godwin’s Revenge was full to the brim with great twists and turns and again, I loved the futuristic theme, and reconnecting with Uma again, and getting to know her better. For me, she's still unlikeable in a likeable way, if that makes sense, ha ha, and again, we have a brilliant, action packed, gripping thriller.

I'd say all four books can be read as standalones, but I'd certainly recommend you read them in order.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7531869642 Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:01:15 -0700 /review/show/7531869642 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to THE BLEED : A FAST PACED BRITISH CRIME THRILLER , that takes NO PRISONERS: A Marc Madison Crime Thriller (Kindle Edition) by Paul Barrell
The Bleed is a fast paced crime thriller set in South London, and based on a true story.

We follow Marc Madison , undercover for the Met Police and tasked to Infiltrate and bring down a drugs gang.

But will a massive heart attack scupper his chances?

Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, a gripping read with a great twist.

It's gritty and no punches are pulled whatsoever. The pace is relentless, and the storyline is intense, emotional and harsh in parts.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7528879644 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:53:37 -0700 /review/show/7528879644 Fatguyreading gave 5 stars to Made for You (Paperback) by Jenna Satterthwaite
Made for You was such a crazy mix of romance, suspense and thriller.

We follow Julia, a synthetic woman, or "synthe", created to compete on a television show called The Proposal in which she must win the heart of
I found the concept of Josh, a competition she wins.

15 months later, Julia and Josh are living happily. That is until Josh goes missing, and all eyes are on Julia as the prime suspect in his murder.

Julia's life is in tatters and she doesn't know who she can trust, so begins to investigate the case herself.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, a wonderfully original thrill ride, with twist after twist and turn after turn.

It's intelligently written, clever, and quite unlike anything I've read previously, in a good way.

It's evocative, thought-provoking, and will keep you guessing to the very end.

It's imaginative, quite intense, and somewhat dark in parts and overall, just a really fun read.

5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7528683078 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:24:56 -0700 /review/show/7528683078 Fatguyreading gave 5 stars to The River (Paperback) by Craig A Smith
The River is a beautifully written coming of age tale with a message that life is somewhat of a metaphor for a river. As we meander our way through life, we take twists and turns, might come to a dead end or two, but we'll get there in the end.

We follow Lachlan in this quite profound and powerful homage to his childhood, his life ( spanning some 75 years ), and to his love of Scotland.

I won't give too much away about the story, but will say that death plays a large part in this story, as Lachlan navigates his way through 7 notable deaths. Some of the deaths are personal to him, others culturally significant, but all effect him in different ways, and shape him into the person he becomes.

So all in all, I throughly enjoyed this read. It's compelling, thought-provoking and heartfelt, but also sad in parts.

It's a wonderfully evocative read, with great descriptive writing and I really felt connected to Lachlan on a deep level.

5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7522897848 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 08:04:26 -0700 /review/show/7522897848 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to The Others (The Council Trilogy, #1) by Evette Davis
The Others is an immersive supernatural fantasy thriller set in and around San Francisco in which we follow Olivia Shepherd, political consultant and empath. But she's ignored her empathy skills for quite some time. However, when Elsa, a time-walker, is one morning found in her kitchen, Olivia's world is turned upside down when she's drawn into the shadowy world of "The Others", an organisation of other worldly beings, who are able to summon the fog in order to hide their activities from the humans.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, this was an atmospheric, mythical adventure, with a dash or two of romance, more than a handful of adventure and a great dystopian feel.

I will say, it was a little slow to start, but soon got going, and bobbed along nicely from then on.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7518550345 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:10:43 -0700 /review/show/7518550345 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to The Vipers (Kindle Edition) by Katy Hays
The Vipers is a gloriously twisty thriller set against the magnificent backdrop of the island of Capri. The island is one of clear blue seas, golden sands, and obsene oppulants.

The story is mainly centered around Helen Lingate, other members of the dysfunctional Lingate famiky, and Lorna, Helen's friend.

All are returning to the island under the stark shadow of the death of Helen's mother on the island years before, and Helen finally discovers the truth.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, although not my typical type of read, I did enjoy this, and as we head into warmer days, this would be the ideal summer read, in your garden, a park, at the beach, just perfect.

If you love twists that pack a real punch, maladjudted families, greed and jealousy, this Is the read for you.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]> Review7518012106 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:59:10 -0700 /review/show/7518012106 Fatguyreading gave 4 stars to ABOUT WAR: Making Sense of War (Paperback) by Christopher K. Pike
About War by Christopher K Pike is an interesting, informative examination of the folly and phenomenon of war.

It's a concise, comprehensive, approachable read, by an author who quite clearly is an expert on his subject.

The author takes a look at the historical and sociological aspects of war, from what war is, political aspects, to the nuclear and human to the ramifications of war, among others.

If you're interested in history and or war, you must pick this up.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me. ]]>