Review: The Chocolate Lovers' Club

The Chocolate Lovers' Club by Carole Matthews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published: 2007
Author: Carole Matthews

This book revolves around Autumn, Nadia, Lucy and Chantal and of course chocolate. The four friends meet on a regular basis in Chocolate Heaven to try and sort out their many crises and they find out they have more in common than they thought.

I liked the way this book was written in small chapters with a different character in each one. Easy to dip in and out of if time is an issue except I read it in 2 days. I really enjoy Carole Matthews style of imaginative and believable writing.


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Review: No Apologies

No Apologies by J.A. Carter-Winward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: 4/12/013
Author: J.A. Carter - Winward

I received a copy of this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

I thought that this was a rather exciting book to read, it didn't take me long to finish it as I couldn't get enough of it. All of the poems that feature in this book are brilliant, I can't pick out a favourite poem as they each had parts that I loved. I had never heard of J.A Carter-Winward before but I will definitely be looking out for more poems now. I normally don't enjoy poems but these ones were different, they captured my attention and kept hold of it. The poems in this book are powerful, strong, smart and witty. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys poems and is wanting to read a new set of poems. A really brilliant book of poems!

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Review: These Dark Wings

These Dark Wings by John Owen Theobald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: 11/02/2016
Author: John Owen Theobald

I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

I thought that this book was incredibly well written, it captured my attention and refused to let it go, it was a very hard book to put down I just wanted to keep reading it. This book features the character Anna Cooper who is 12 years old when her mother is killed in the Blitz and her father is killed in the North Sea. Although it is aimed at a younger audience it is just as enjoyable for older readers.
The characters that feature in this novel are all very well described and add a great deal of depth too the novel. In this novel you get to see London during the Blitz through the eyes of a twelve year old girl and how she manages to cope with everything she knew being ripped away and the London she loved turning into the war zone. You really feel for Anna when she has to go live in the cold tower where her uncle lives, who is a stranger too her.
If you read The Book Thief and enjoyed it then you will love this novel! The story is very sweet, touching and doesn't let go of your attention. It is a very strong and powerful book which has an incredible ending.



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Review: A Taste for Death

A Taste for Death by Don Stevens
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Published: 31/1/2015
Author: Don Stevens

I received a copy of this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

I was really looking forward to getting stuck into this book as it sounded right up my street. A famous wine critic is found strangled by a trellis wire at a party he went too. I love reading a good mystery book that draws me into it and keeps hold of my attention the whole time...however I didn't feel like this was one of them books, there are too many bad points which distracts away from the good points of the novel.
This is my honest opinion of this book, I would say to people to give it a chance as they might enjoy it more than I did. Don Stevens is a talented author, I just don't think that this was the book for me. The pace of the novel was rather slow and kept losing hold of my attention and the characters were not particularly interesting and you didn't feel like you really knew the characters you were reading about to be able to solve the mystery.

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Review: The Case of Scotch

The Case of Scotch by Harry Demaio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: 1/11/2015
Author: Harry Demaio

I received a copy of this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

This is the third book in the Octavius Bear series, which in my opinion is a one of a kind series, I have not read a book quite like this one before. The novel is very well written and the characters that feature all add something special and unique too the storyline. It is jam packed with action and humour, with a few puns to keep you smiling while you are reading it.
The author writes the story in a tongue in cheek kind of way which is what gives this series its unique feeling, each of the characters adds more depth too the novel and keeps hold of the readers attention. This is a really great book to read if you enjoy complex mystery novels. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series from this talented author.

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Review: 12 Angels by Christmas

12 Angels by Christmas by Lisa Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published: 10/11/2015
Author: Lisa Grace

I received a free copy of this book through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

I thought that this was a really good and fun spirited Christmas time book. This is not the normal type of book that I read with it being a Christian fiction novel, however I thought that I would give it a go, I am very glad that I did. This book features the character of Mirabel who is looking for true love. She is a character that a lot of us can relate too which makes the novel great and adds a lot of depth too it. She makes a deal with God where if she finds 12 angels he will find her perfect man. This is just the type of feel good, uplifting book that you need around christmas time, it gives you a nice warm happy feeling,
I thought that this book was very well written and kept hold of my attention throughout the novel, I would definitely be looking out for more books by this author.

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Review: Preparation for the Next Life

Preparation for the Next Life by Atticus Lish
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Author: Atticus Lish
Published: 11/11/2014

I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competition.

I thought that this book was extremely well written, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. This book is featured around Zou Lei who is an orphan of the desert. This book is the kind of book where you don't need to know anything about it before you start to read it, you can go into the book completely blind and you will still enjoy the book.
As a début novel I think that it holds a lot of promises for the author in his future novels. It captures the readers attention and just about holds onto it, some parts of the book are a little bit bland in comparison to the rest of the novel, however the parts that were not bland made up for it, I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a 'unsentimental love story'. I think that the plot line could have been a little bit stronger and the book could of had more depth too it,

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Review: The Peerless Seer

The Peerless Seer by B.S. Gibbs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Emaleen Andarsan series. I thought that this book was absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and could feel myself being full submerged into the novel and the brilliant writing skill of the author.
In this book two different worlds become entwined together in a very clever way. The book features Emaleen who is just coming into her powers and is to be a Peerless Seer once she grows into her full powers. The character is described perfectly and you can really imagine her, how she moves, how she speaks and how she looks. To me this is very important as it makes the novel much deeper and makes you feel like you are part of the novel.
If you are a fan of mystical and magical novels then this is definitely the book for you! It combines them both excellently and expertly. This is an author that I will be looking out for and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series! Absolutely loved it!!!!

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Review: A Wicked Old Woman

A Wicked Old Woman by Ravinder Randhawa
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Published: 28/10/2015
Author: Ravinder Randhawa

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads FirstReads competition.

When I read the description of the novel I immediately thought it was my kind of book 'Drama. Masquerade, Mischief' sounds like it has all the elements I love in a novel.

However when I started to read the book it just didn't manage to keep hold of my attention very well. It is very well written however it just feels like it is lacking something. It is a rather hard book to get into and to be honest I did end up abandoning the book in favour for another one. Maybe I will return to this book, but for now I cannot do a complete review as I haven't finished the book.

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Review: Lamentation

Lamentation by C.J. Sansom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published 23rd October 2014
Author : C. J. Sansom

I've been a fan of C. J. Sanson's work ever since I accidentally came across his book Sovereign. I really enjoy reading and learning about the Tudors and this book certainly did not disappoint. Henry VIII was suffering ill health and married to his last wife Catherine Parr who had written a confessional book Lamentation of a Sinner. It's up to Matthew Shardlake to find out who has stolen this from a locked chest in the Queen's private chamber therefore putting the Queen in danger of her life. With his side kick Jack Barak they set off into the back streets of London to solve this royal intrigue. It's one of those books that is so well written you feel as though you are dodging through the murky streets with them. Excellent book and would definitely recommend this.

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Review: The Cabaret of Plants: Botany and the Imagination

The Cabaret of Plants: Botany and the Imagination by Richard Mabey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published 2015
Author: Richard Mabey

I received this book as a Christmas present after I'd seen an article about it in a magazine. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Cabaret of Plants which was a combination of fact and myth I loved the vegetable lamb. There were illustrations dotted around which I thought complimented the book. Being an avid gardener this book was entertaining and informative. I'd not come across Richard Mabey before but will definitely check out his other works. If you enjoy finding out about the history of plants and trees this book is for you. It's easy to dip in and out.

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Review: A Walk In The Park

A Walk In The Park by Jill Mansell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published 5th July 2012
Author: Jill Mansell

I love reading Jill Mansell's books she is one of my favourite chick lit writers. This book did not disappoint, I read it in two days as I couldn't put it down. Hurray for a few days off work to indulge. I enjoy Jill Mansell's style of writing its relaxing and entertaining at the same time. A gentle read but by no means boring. I loved the characters Lara and daughter Gigi and could empathise with her reluctance to trust Flynn. There were unexpected twists where I must admit I shouted out "no way" to some of the characters. Very descriptive and very well written it was a pleasure to be engrossed in this book. Thoroughly enjoyed Janice getting her comeuppance.

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Review: The Hairy Bikers Blood, Sweat and Tyres: The Autobiography

The Hairy Bikers Blood, Sweat and Tyres: The Autobiography by Hairy Bikers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published 5th November 2015
Authors: Dave Myers and Si King

I couldn't put this book down. I love watching the Hairy Bikers on t.v and have been fortunate to see them live on one of their tours.

It was fascinating to read about their early lives and the family traumas that both Dave and Si had encountered. It was interesting to find out how their paths had crossed in relation to their work. Reading the book I could envisage both Dave and Si reading their respective chapters out loud. It was an amusing read and an entertaining one and I will probably read this book again as it was excellent. For anyone who loves the Hairy Bikers you need this book and for anyone curious, give it a go.



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Review: The Lord of Ireland

The Lord of Ireland by E.M. Powell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published: 5th April 2016
Author E.M. Powell

The author very kindly sent me a signed copy of her new book The Lord of Ireland. Having thoroughly enjoyed The Blood of the Fifth Knight I knew that this book would also be a fantastic read and I was not disappointed.

Continuing with the story of Sir Benedict Palmer and his wife Theodosia this follows the story of John Lackland, the youngest son of Henry II on his quest to ultimately become King of Ireland. Yet again a wonderful descriptive book full of twists and turns. I would have read this in two days but unfortunately having to go to work came in between me and my reading! Once again the author transported me to the place she described in Ireland following John and his trail of destruction. In my imagination I was hiding from John and his barbaric actions,covered in mud, cold,hungry, tired and hoping to survive. This was a fast moving book with plenty of action and E.M. Powell's superb character analyzation was spot on and an absolute joy to read. A must for anyone interested in medieval history. This book deserves more than a five star rating and I hope there will be more to come from this series.



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Review: 12:07 The Sleeping

12:07 The Sleeping by L. Sydney Abel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author : L. Sydney Abel
Published : 07/07/2015

I received a kindle version of this novel by the author in return of an honest review so here it is!

The story features a very fascinating character called James, who is described in great detail by the author which adds depth to the story and makes the character a lot more realistic. The other element of the novel is 'The Sleeping', these are guardians of the underworld who feed in the souls that have been sent there.
I found that the story drew me in straight away and I found myself reading it every spare second I had. It keeps you coming back to it and wanting to read more, find out what happens and also find out more about the characters. It is very well written and flows throughout the novel, which means I didn't find a dull part to read! I would recommend this story to fans of thrillers/horrors. The author is extremely talented and destined for big things!

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Review: Stig's Flight of Encounters

Stig's Flight of Encounters by Stephan von Clinkerhoffen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: Stephan Vin Clinkerhoffen
Published: 25/11/2014

I finally got to read this book thanks to the author and I just couldn't wait to dive straight into the book. I thought that this was a really great book that was beautifully written, accompanied with brilliant artwork. The characters that feature in the novel are all very well described which means that the reader can close their eyes and picture the characters for themselves.
The characters each bring their own unique personality into the novel which gives it great depth and even though it is a fantasy novel, once you have read the book you really appreciate nature more. You get characters which are good and bad but all of them are very likeable and some are relatable. The detail of description that the author uses to describe the world that he has created really brings the book alive and draws the reader into it, getting them hooked right from the beginning!

I cannot wait to read the next book!

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Review: Body In The River

Body In The River by Stuart Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Author: Stuart Francis
Published: 27/02/2016

I got this copy for free on the Kindle Store and with it being 26 pages long, it was perfect for them short journeys. This is a short but true story about the death of a girl called Sarah, this is an interview where her mother Carol opens up for the very first time.
Even though it is only 26 pages I found myself nearly crying through sympathy for Carol, reading what she had to go through and the questions that have been left unanswered, I cannot imagine the torment that she will have experienced. I think that the author does a brilliant job of getting the readers attention and the way he has put the interview together makes it flow throughout and so it is easier to keep your attention on it. If you enjoy true life novellas then this will be great for you. I think that the author is very talented and I can't wait to read more by him!

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Review: The Silvered Heart

The Silvered Heart by Katherine Clements
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Author: Katherine Clements
Published: 7/05/2015

I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

I thought that this book was incredibly well written, and kept hold of the readers attention right from the very first sentence! This book is loosely based on the historical figure of Lady Katherine Ferrers. Katherine is an orphan who is married off, not for love but for convenience. The marriage is full of neglect and doesn't contain an ounce of love. When Katherine fails to give her husband an heir, her fortune begins to slip away and she decides to turn to a life of crime with a highway robber called Rafe Chaplin. Thing begins to turn for Katherine as the war is over and treason is rife.
If you love historical fiction novels then this is definitely the book for you! The characters are brilliantly well written and you end up feeling like you really know the characters. The book flows with a nice pace that never drops. I hope to read more books by this fantastic author!

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Review: Death Poem

Death Poem by Richard McClements
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Author: Richard McClements
Published: 20/07/2015

I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

This is Richard McClements debut novel featuring an elderly veteran of the first world war, who is revealing his secrets of a lifetime , pain and regret that he has been through. I thought that this was a brilliant novel that expands over three quarters of century. The author weaves and incredible plot throughout the novel and makes the reader want to continue reading, it is a very riveting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is a very powerful read that compels you to keep reading and not put it down even for a second. I think that Richard McClements is a really great author and I look forward to reading more novels by him!

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Review: The Chess Queen Enigma

The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Author: Colleen Gleason
Published: 06/10/2015

I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads competitions.

I thought that this was an absolutely amazing! It is the third book in the Stoker and Holmes series of crime solving novels. Even though the characters of Milna Holmes (niece of Sherlock) and Evaline Stoker are quite opposites of each other they both have the same goal, to unmask and capture The Ankh. The novel is set in 1889 London, where it starts off with a bittersweet rivalry between the two girls ends up being a partnership and a friendship.
There is plenty of banter between the two characters which adds the fun and silly element too it, aswell as being full of suspense. It blends steampunk, paranormal and history elements beautifully and there is a nice pace all the way through so their isn't a boring part to read. It compels you to read it and never want to put the book down. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes steampunk and crime novels. I hope to read more from this fantastic author!!

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