Saturday 30 April 2011

I really must stop!

Well we are at the end of April now and go into May tomorrow. I really must refrain in May from buying anymore books until after my holiday in June! Will I be able to? Who knows.

This month I have lost count of how many e-books, paperbacks and hardbacks I have acquired. The thing is I have loads to read on my TBR (to be read) list, that I really don't need to be buying anymore.

Today through the post I had my purchases from The Book People, which were having a postage free day. So through my letterbox today were Sing you home - Jodi Picoult, which my Mum will read too, and The Man who broke into Auschwitz - Denis Avey.

I'm pleased to have been able to get this one for the good price of £4.99 for a brand new hardback. I'll be able to share this one with my Dad too. I have a deep interest of anything to do with the holocaust and have read numerous non-fiction books relating to the subject.

I have also had some free books delivered from New Books Mag. I've done some book swaps through Read it Swap it, when I was supposed to be giving books away for postage only, I still couldn't resist some swaps. I've downloaded some free books & paid for books from Smashwords, along with having some free books from Net Galley to review. That's not counting the ones I bought from Amazon. So you can see I've had a busy month! Considering I only read about 1 book a week, this really is too many books. Does anyone sympathise with me? Is anyone just the same as me? Is there a group called bookaholics anonymous? If so I need urgent membership.  Ah well, I could have worse addictions, don't you agree?

Last chance - Easter Giveaway

This is the last chance this weekend to enter my Easter Giveaway, to win the Book "Brixton Beach" by Roma Tearne.

Just add a comment to the original thread to go into the draw. International giveaway and no rules.

Click here to read more.

Book Review -- Long Gone by Alafair Burke

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.


This was the story of the daughter of a famous Hollywood film director. She is framed for the murder of a man who is not who he said he was; a man who had carved a false identity for her too, unbeknown to her. The question is who has tried to frame her? Is it her father, who is well known for his many indiscretions? And if so why?

There are many characters in this book, but they are easy to follow. It was interesting to see where they all fit in to the story line, and how their paths crossed. To start with the pace of the book was quite slow but it soon had me wanting to read more. 

Part of the story line dragged out in relation to a missing girl, and was a bit of a let down when that part of the story came to it's conclusion. All in all though it was a good read.

Please note that I have not been paid to read or review this book and the opinion is entirely my own.
 

Thursday 28 April 2011

Read it Swap It - Book Giveaway

Are any of you familiar with Read It Swap It? It's a great site, where you list your pre-loved (used) books. Or you can list ones that are new that you don't want to read. The site then has a library, which people can look at and request to swap a book with you. You look at their list of books and if there's one you like then you agree to a swap. It just cost's you the postage and packing.


There is a forum where you can chat about books and other stuff. There are book reviews and Free Books!

It is the "Free Book" part that I want to draw your attention to. I have a lot of books listed in my library which I am constantly adding to. For two weeks I am giving any of them away, all you have to do is send me the stamps to cover postage or pay the postage via paypal. I can weigh the book and tell you how much the postage will be. I will supply the packaging.


Therefore grab a book for the cost of postage only! Look at Read it Swap it from this link, and join as a member (Free), then go to the Free Book section on the community forum and look for my thread, under my user name Lisa1301.

My bookshelves are bulging and need clearing out. I now have a kindle and hundreds of books on there too! I have just given away 3 bags of books to a lady via Freecycle and ReUse it which are recycling sites. I have also given 2 large boxes of books to a lady who is having a table top sale to raise money for Breast Cancer. Large doses of "paying it forward!"

So hop over to Readitswapit, via the link above and take a look.


New Books magazine

One of my fellow bloggers and Read It Swap It member, got me intrigued about a website called New Books  Mag, so I headed on over there. They do book giveaways for post and packing only and have some good up to date books. I also ordered their magazine, and got a trial copy for £1.00.
It's a great magazine packed full (82 pages) of interesting things for booklovers.
There are extracts from books, with this edition showing "Trespass" by Rose Tremain; "Must you Go" by Antonia Fraser; "The Warsaw Anagrams" by Richard Zimler.
There are regular features like, "What we're reading" and "Book Buzz". Also interviews with authors, and so much more. It was well worth a £1 and I may consider subscribing. Subscription is £10 for 3 issues and you get to choose a free book too! More things to read.

Why don't you have a look? They have a facebook site too. 

Pay It Forward

Today I received a book titled "Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson.

I have no idea where this book came from! I am totally puzzled, but it was definitely addressed, by hand, to me. So I am very intrigued. I did enter a sweepstake on BookCrossing so I am not sure if it has come from there. It looks really interesting though.

" The death of a fisherman on a Pacific Island turns into a murder trial for a Japanese-American and a test of passions brewed since Pearl Harbour between two heritages claustrophobically locked on one dot of land. Love and Morality are beautifully choreographed into an exceptional debut novel."

I am really looking forward to reading it. I have never heard of nor seen this book so I am intrigued.

People in the book world are just so kind. I have therefore decided to pay it forward and picked someone at random on BookCrossing and sent them a book. That has made me feel good.

HAVE YOU PAID IT FORWARD RECENTLY?




Tuesday 26 April 2011

The Book People - Bargains!

If you haven't been over to The Book People website for a while, have a look. They have some great bargains! If you are in the UK, until midnight tomorrow, they have free postage if you enter the code "corgidel".

They have some great box sets in their collection. Set of 10 books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, author of "Love in the Time of Cholera", for only £9.99.

I noticed that they have an Anita Shreve box set of 10 books for only £9.99. She is a great author and there is a good choice of books in the set.
  • The Weight of Water
  • The Pilot's Wife
  • Strange Fits of Passion
  • Sea Glass
  • Where or When
  • All He Ever Wanted
  • Eden Close
  • Resistance
  • Light on Show
  • A Wedding in December

Have a look at see what bargains you can find!

BOOKALICIOUS TRAVEL ADDICT: Easter Weekend Giveaway.

BOOKALICIOUS TRAVEL ADDICT: Easter Weekend Giveaway.: Dont forget this giveaway. Ends this week.

Full postbox today!


You know how it is when you are waiting for something to come through the letterbox and it doesn't come, well today was different! We have had a couple of bank holidays so no post, but today everything came together and it was like Christmas!

First thing opened was a new magazine I subscribed to, which combines several of my loves; Food, Travel and of course reading. It's the Food and Travel magazine that I subscribed to at the Cruise show in London.
It shows you food from around the World and some recipes, plus some City Breaks, recommending where to go, what to do and where to eat and drink. I am a really fussy eater, so often the recipes are too fancy for me, but I like to look at what is traditional in the different places. It gives you ideas for when you have friends for dinner. There are lots of ideas for the gourmet traveller. This magazine gets passed around a lot to friends and family, so get my moneys worth out of it.

The next thing I opened was a jiffy bag containing two "Free" books that I got from New Books Mag, where I just had to pay towards postage. They have some great free books on offer, so have a look.

The two I had were "City of Veils" by Zoe Ferraris and "The Surrendered" by Chang-Rae Lee. Despite having my kindle I still can't resist a good paperback too.


Just awaiting the New Books Magazine Trial Copy, to see if it's something that I will get any use out of. Trial copy was just £1.00

I also had this weeks Graze box through, but it had nuts in it, and I thought I had cancelled all nut products so hubbie will have to eat them. Not that I'm allergic to them but I just don't like them. 

Never mind, back to the scrummy (and healthy) flapjacks and raisins next week.

Now just waiting for my Lonely Planet magazine and Wanderlust magazine to make my week complete!

Monday 25 April 2011

Free books for the kindle.

There are so many websites about nowadays relating to e-books and the Kindle and I think I have probably subscribed to them all. In fact so many that it's hard to keep up. However I have found one which lists all the free books for the Kindle. You can change it between UK and USA depending on where you live. I found it a bit easier than searching through on Amazon.

Today it shows 189 free books for the Kindle in the UK. It also shows books which have been reduced in price, and is updated hourly.

It's called E Reader IQ. So click the link and it will take you straight to it.


Sunday 24 April 2011

Travel competitions | Wanderlust

Travel competitions | Wanderlust

Wanderlust Easter Egg hunt

Closing date: 26th April

They've got something special for you this weekend: a travel themed Easter Egg hunt.

Follow the clues around the Wanderlust website, next to each new clue will be an egg and a letter.

Simply collect all ten letters and rearrange them to make the name of a country. Enter the country as your answer for your chance to win a Wanderlust Easter-themed goodie bag.

BookCrossing - The site for booklovers who love to share!

Someone asked me to explain what BookCrossing is. Well where do I start.........

To me BookCrossing is a great site for book lovers who love to share, with persons known and unknown.
Their definition from the BookCrossing site is as follows:-

"Label. Share. Follow. Breath new life into books instead of letting your old favourites collect dust - pass them along to another reader. Our on-line archival and tracking system allows members to connect with other readers, journal and review literature and trade and follow their books as lives are changed through “reading and releasing”. Users are able to tag and track their individual books by marking them with BCIDs (BookCrossing Identity Numbers). Each BCID is unique to each book – once it’s registered on our site, the book can then be followed and journalled forever. BookCrossing is free to join and free to play. So don't be 'shelf'ish with your books - read and release!"


The aim of the site is to connect people through books.


For example, you can leave a pre-loved book on a park bench, or at a bus stop, or at a store, or anywhere else that takes your fancy. You leave a pre-printed note on it (from the website) telling the finder that this is not a lost book, but now theirs if they want it, to read and pass on..... They are encouraged to go to the site, where the book is registered (id number) and put they have found it. This then means that the book can be tracked around the world. This is known as a "Wild release". You can do the same by giving the book to someone you know, and again encourage them to log it on the site. This is a "controlled release".






It really is a great site. You can do a BookRing, where you send a book to one person, they send it to another and so on, until the book comes back to you. There are competitions, chat rooms and all sorts, so why don't you take a look. The site is popular all over the world. I have released a lot of books into the wild and it is so exciting to see where they end up. 


Click here to find out more.



When you sell a man a book, you don't sell him 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life.


Saturday 23 April 2011

New Book to try from an Indie author - Belfast Girls

Bought a book from an Indie Author for my Kindle. Thought you might like to take a look at it.
It's called Belfast Girls, and on Amazon.co.uk it is currently £1.39. It has really good reviews too.

Synopsis from Amazon
"Belfast Girls' is the story of three girls - Sheila, Phil and Mary - growing up into the new emerging post-conflict Belfast of money, drugs, high fashion and crime; and of their lives and loves.


Sheila, a supermodel, is kidnapped. Phil is sent to prison. Mary, surviving a drug overdose, has a spiritual awakening.

It is also the story of the men who matter to them -

John Branagh, former candidate for the priesthood, a modern Darcy, someone to love or hate. Will he and Sheila ever get together? Davy Hagan, drug dealer, 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'. Is Phil also mad to have anything to do with him?

Although from different religious backgrounds, starting off as childhood friends, the girls manage to hold onto that friendship in spite of everything.

A book about contemporary Ireland and modern life. A book which both men and women can enjoy - thriller, romance, comedy, drama - and much more ....
I thought it looked like a good read. Why not give it a try?





Through the post today - A nice book to read

I'm a keen member of BookCrossing and if you haven't been to the site, and you're a book lover then you should! They have what they call "BookRays" where a person sends their book to another person and they then send it on to someone else and so on. The person at the end gets to keep it. Or you can participate in a BookRing, where the same happens but the book ends up back with it's former owner.  Well today I received a book as part of a book ray called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.


The synopsis from the back of the book:-

January 1946: Writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society. And so beings a remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

Can't wait to read and review this one. Watch this space.

Friday 22 April 2011

Easter Weekend Giveaway.

Following on from the fine example of one of my fellow bloggers, I thought that I would give away one of my pre-loved books to a fellow book lover. This will be the first of many pre-loved give-aways.

The book I have chosen from my collection is one that I really enjoyed -- Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne.

Synopsis from back cover
When family tragedy strikes, Alice Fonseka, a dreamy, artistic child with a Singhalese mother and Tamil father, leaves the beautiful island of Sri Lanka. Unable to bear the injustice of what has happened, her family heads for England.
There, in the cold, urban landscape of London, Alice grows up, creating a life for herself, with all that this means: struggles, a home in London - and a blossoming of the art through which she expresses herself. but there is much she cannot find. Understanding. Peace. Lasting Love. she has nearly given up when, unbidden, it blooms brightly. 
Then on the clear summer morning of July 7, 2005, violence crosses her path again.


This is really a great book and very well written.

The book, as I said, is pre-loved but in good condition from a smoke-free home.

Please reply to this post if you are interested. I will put all the names in a hat on 30th April 2011 and pick a winner.

I don't have any rules that you need to follow. No questions to answer. You don't have to follow me, but it would be nice if you do, as I may do other give-aways that are for followers only.

Idea, courtesy of So many books, so little time

Volunteering - Can you spare some time?

I have always been one of those sorts of people, who enjoy helping others. It started from when I was young, aged approx 13-14yrs and worked at my local Co-op. I used to like helping people carry their shopping home. When I realised how appreciative they were it spurred me on to decide that when I got older I would volunteer where I could.

My first stint on volunteering, was when I lived in Worcester, UK. I used to work for Thomas Cook the travel agents, and met up with a guy who worked with young disabled children for an organisation called PHAB. This organisation helps persons with physical handicaps work together with able bodied people. He encouraged me to help them out so I gave it a try. We had such fun, organising sports events, holidays or days out. I only stopped doing this when I moved back to my home county.

Years later I worked in another travel agency which was targetted by armed robbers. I spoke to Victim Support who help support victims of crime with help and advice. I was so impressed by the service that they give that I joined them as a counsellor. This role I had to stop when I joined the police as the two roles overlapped and I could not really counsel people that I take calls from to report the crime. It was a bit unethical. Great charity though and needs more support.

Feeling at a bit of a loose end, I was looking for other volunteering opportunities. My paternal grandmother was blind, so I joined an organisation called Deaf Blind UK. I assisted an old lady with her shopping, writing christmas cards and just doing odd jobs that she needed. It was quite demanding and tiring and I had to stop this role because she would ring me up at home and work and it got quite awkward. I felt this particular organisation was not for me.

Now I volunteer for the Youth Offending Team as a court panel member, working with young offenders and trying to get them back on the straight and narrow. I've done this for a year now and I absolutely love it! I've met some great people, some great kids and some really desperate ones who you just want to give a big hug to but can't. It is a very rewarding role.

So everyone reading, can you spare just even an hour a week? If so think about volunteering. It makes you feel good, feel you are doing something worthwile and is very rewarding. Check out Do-it.org for some ideas.

Click on any of the links mentioning the organisations for further information.

Thursday 21 April 2011

The Rattle of the Letterbox

Does anyone else get that butterfly feeling, everytime the letterbox (mailbox) rattles with deliveries, just in case it's books that you're waiting for?


I am expecting some books that I've won in a competition, and some that I got for free.

I love my Kindle and I love that 1-click button on Amazon where I know my book is going to be delivered to my Kindle, but it's not the same excitement that you get when you know that some books are due through your letterbox.

No books received today but I did get my keenly awaited for "Graze Box". It has stopped me reaching for the chocolates so it has done me some good.

Don't forget if you want one of these boxes from "Graze" then click this link and when you order enter the code 5TGBH15 to get your free one. Not sure how long this offer is on for.

As my books didn't turn up I thought that maybe they'll come tomorrow and then realised it's a bank holiday and that there may not be any post!! So that's a delay of another day. Sometimes I really dislike Bank Holidays. Oh but then this one, we do get chocolate eggs, so maybe it has some benefits.

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Book Review -- Playing the Game, by Simon Gould

Simon Gould was a new author to me, and one of the first books I bought for my Kindle. It was at the bargain price of 99p and still is.



The main character is Detective Michael Patten. He is contacted by a killer, nicknamed "The Chemist" by the local press. He was called The Chemist as he had previously kidnapped two girls, injected them with a drug and sent the detectives the antidote to the drug for when and if they found the girls. That was the game. "Playing the Game" involved trying to find the girls in order to give them the antidote. Detective Patten had no idea why "The Chemist" chose him to "Play the Game".

There are lots of twists and turns in the book, it was fast paced and it had me gripped from start to finish. Admittedly there are some editing errors but if you overlook these it is fine. It did not detract from my enjoyment of the book at all.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes James Patterson's earlier books. I say earlier books as I'm not sure that Patterson's later books are all his own work due to the amount he brings out in one year.

I am looking forward to Simon Gould's sequel to this book called "Viper Trail" hopefully due out in June.



Book Review -- Cambridge Blue by Alison Bruce

Cambridge Blue - This was one of those "cheap" books that I bought for my kindle as it sounded quite interesting and thought it would be okay for a quick read. Well it was more than ok and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The main character is Detective Gary Goodhew who is the youngest detective in Cambridge. He is quite new to the Department and I felt he was quite likeable, although some of his colleagues are not quite sure of him. He immediately clashes with his new partner, DC Kincaide. He starts to investigate the murder of a local woman, but also clashes with his boss when he goes off on his own to do his investigating rather than working as a team and is threatened with suspension for not keeping his boss in the loop. However he is rather good at his job and uncovers a lot of secrets.

I found the plot line really good and it kept me gripped, however I did get a bit lost with the amount of characters and kept forgetting who was who on occasions and had to go back a few pages some times to remind myself who the character was. Also although it kept you guessing on who was actually responsible for the murders, (no spoilers) and sometimes gave you hints that just ended in the middle of nowhere, when you found out who it was it didn't really seem very plausible. I therefore think the ending let it down a bit.

With all that said, I did still enjoy it and I think the lead character could become a serial character but I think a little more thought may need to go into making the ending less rushed.



What a glorious day!

What can be better than sitting in the garden on a glorious sunny day, with your laptop on your lap and a kindle in your hand. I do enjoy multi tasking in the sun.

I've been going through my holiday pictures and reminiscing. The sunshine makes me want another holiday. I have some time off work now and will be starting to plan my Royal Wedding Garden party for my friends. So any ideas, gratefully received. I am going to try and do a typical English afternoon tea party.

I am a big royalist and love all things royal and feel even more proud to be British when we have an event like this. And I am sorry to sound boastful but I think these sort of events are what the British do best! We are great at pomp and ceremony.

Me and two "Beefeaters" at the Tower of London
I love all things royal

I'm a Northamptonshire girl, home of Althorp House, which is home to Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother. It was her childhood home. She was well loved in England and especially in Northamptonshire, and was nicknamed Northamptonshires Rose. Sad she wont be there on her son's big day. 

Anyone else in the UK doing anything for the Royal Wedding? I heard some places are having street parties. Wish ours was!

Well off now to do some more reading in the sunshine. Bye for now.

Free Book! Bed Green

I have found out that there is a free book on offer with Smashwords,  called Bed Green. When you go to the check-out, use the code RU43P and the book will then be free.

Bed Green is written by Caedem Marquez.

Click here

Synopsis from Smashwords

 "Never have tendrils of dust been described as beautifully as in Caedem Marquez's haunting story about a boy whose home is nothing more than a tiny mud-baked box in the middle of a desert. Though his family is full of drunks, his strength is found in the calloused hands of his grandmother who shows him what a woman will do to protect all that she loves, even when the enemies are her own family."


Tuesday 19 April 2011

Note to self -- Must, must, must stop buying books everyday!

Well I found a good blog by an author  Dee Dee Scott about "indie" authors. She had some books on there from other Independent authors, so obviously I just had to have a look! I know, I'm weak!

I chose a couple which looked interesting to me.

One is a thriller type book, called "Burn Out" by Traci Hohenstein and also

 "Shiny Green Shoes" by Dana Taylor


Synopsis from Amazon.co.uk
A holiday short story for the whole family. 1935 was a hard year for America, especially on old Route 66 in Luther, Oklahoma. The unlikely friendship between a young black girl and an aged white woman bring hope to a town down on its luck.


I am loving these books from "Indie" Authors and feel happy that I have extended not only my reading genre but also my choice of authors, rather than being stuck reading the same authors all the time.

More reviews to do, so better go now and get reading!

Do you have a 1-click addiction?

For those of you that have a kindle you will know just what I am on about.

I have just found out from someone on the goodreads site, that Amazon had a spring sale on, with 75% off kindle books. OH NO! I could feel the urge, so I had to head straight there.

Once there that was it! The 1-click purchase on Amazon for kindle books is so simple it's addictive!

I have just purchased Burnt Shadows, Kamila Shamsie; The Crimson Petal and the White, Michel Faber; Before the Storm, Diane Chamberlain; In a strange room, Damon Galmut.

I could have gone wild as there were so many to chose from. I have a couple of these already on paperback, but wanted to read them on my kindle. The Crimson Petal and the White looked really interesting and a friend also recommended it to me.

Why oh why do Amazon make it so easy to purchase these books. I limited myself to 4 as I already have had about 6 books this week. With my reading rate at 1 a week, this should take me up to my next holiday in June! They I'll need to buy some more, or should I read the other 300+ I have on my kindle.

Oh dear, what an addiction. What a good addiction to have though, wouldn't you agree?

Add caption
The morning of August 9, 1945 breaks dreary and unspectacular in the city of Nagasaki. Nonetheless, twenty-one year-old Hiroko Tanaka is elated: she is in love. Her emerging romance with the displaced German Konrad Weiss offers release from the greyness of wartime deprivation. In this time of heightened xenophobia, their affair must be kept secret, particularly as Hiroko’s father has recently been outcast for questioning the patriotism of sending children on kamikaze missions. As Hiroko and Konrad furtively plan for a future after the war, there is no way they can comprehend the unspeakable devastation bearing down upon them. 
 
"Review from Amazon.Com
Although it's billed as "the first great 19th-century novel of the 21st century," The Crimson Petal and the White is anything but Victorian. It's the story of a well-read London prostitute named Sugar, who spends her free hours composing a violent, pornographic screed against men. Michel Faber's dazzling second novel dares to go where George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss and the works of Charles Dickens could not. We learn about the positions and orifices that Sugar and her clients favour, about her lingering skin condition, and about the suspect ingredients of her prophylactic douches. Still, Sugar believes she can make a better life for herself.

When she is taken up by a wealthy man, the perfumer William Rackham, her wings are clipped and she must balance financial security against the obvious servitude of her position. The physical risks and hardships of Sugar's life (and the even harder "honest" life she would have led as a factory worker) contrast--yet not entirely--with the medical mistreatment of her benefactor's wife, Agnes, and beautifully underscore Faber's emphasis on class and sexual politics.
In theme and treatment, this is a novel that Virginia Woolf might have written, had she been born 70 years later. The language, however, is Faber's own--brisk and elastic--and, after an awkward opening, the plethora of detail he offers (costume, food, manners, cheap stage performances, the London streets) slides effortlessly into his forward-moving sentences. When Agnes goes mad, for instance, "she sings on and on, while the house is discreetly dusted all around her and, in the concealed and subterranean kitchen, a naked duck, limp and faintly steaming, spreads its pimpled legs on a draining board." Despite its 800-plus pages, The Crimson Petal and the White turns out to be a quick read, since it is truly impossible to put down. --Regina Marler, Amazon.com

A

In this newest novel from South African writer Damon Galgut, a young loner travels across eastern Africa, Europe, and India. Unsure what he's after, and reluctant to return home, he follows the paths of travelers he meets along the way. Treated as a lover, a follower, a guardian, each new encounter-with an enigmatic stranger, a group of careless backpackers, a woman on the verge-leads him closer to confronting his own identity. Traversing the quiet of wilderness and the frenzy of border crossings, every new direction is tinged with surmounting mourning, as he is propelled toward a tragic conclusion.

Monday 18 April 2011

Overdose of e-mails

Got home from work today and checked my e-mails. My husband just laughed!

They were e-mails from Kindle UK reading group on facebook, free books for kindle on facebook, goodreads, netgalley, blogger, easymag, bookcrossing, freecycle (someone offering me books).

All in all just over 30 e-mails and all book related! I did tell him I could have worse hobbies and bad habits. He had to agree.


NetGalley

I don't know if any of you have ever looked at NetGalley but it's a great site with lots of different publishers, offering books from the lesser known authors and the occasional well known one too.

I applied for two books to read and review this week. One is South of Salem by Janni Nell and another one by the more well known Michael Robotham The Wreckage.

NetGalley is worth a look if you don't know anything about it. You don't automatically get every book you ask for, but they have some great books to choose from. They all appreciate you giving a review of the book on the site once you've read it and any other site you use.

I'll update with my reviews once I've read them.


Click here to visit the site.

Saturday 16 April 2011

Free Books!

I've finally decided to make some use of all the book sites that I belong to, and add to my ever increasing bookshelves.  I took a look at all the books that I had to read and realised that the majority of them are amongst the crime/thriller genre. I then looked at my favourite books and realised that they are not in that genre at all. My favourites are A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, Snow Petal and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and The white Queen by Phillipa Gregory. So as you can see, no crime/thriller ones there!

I went to NewBooks to see what free books were on offer there that I could review, and came up with two perfect books.

City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris
The Surrendered by Chang Rae Lee


These two books just looked the perfect choice for me and fitted in with the genre of my favourite books. I just love to read books about different cultures, be they fiction or non-fiction. I think that is because of my love of travelling and immersing myself into other cultures.

I got both of them free and just had to pay postage. Bargain! Why don't you have a look at the site and register for your chance to get free books to review. Click here.

Graze Box - Try one for free!

From a friends blog, she recommended these wonderful Graze Boxes full of healthy goodies from a company called graze. You can choose what sorts of things you want and don't want in it. This is great, especially if like me you're not a fan of olives or nuts.

They are really good value and are normally only £3.49 including free first class delivery. You can have them delivered twice a week, weekly, fortnightly or just for the occasional treat for yourself.

For my followers if you'd like to try a box for free, use my special code 5TGBH15A and they will send you a free box!

Follow the link to claim your free box. Click here

Friday 15 April 2011

BOOKALICIOUS TRAVEL ADDICT: Giveaways

BOOKALICIOUS TRAVEL ADDICT: Giveaways: "GIVEAWAY 1. I have a copy of the World Book Night Edition of 'Fingersmith' by Sarah Waters, to giveaway. It has never been read, and has a ..."

Thursday 14 April 2011

Book Review -- I Wish I would've by Aynoit Ashor

I bought this book from Smashwords, for my kindle, for just 99p. From the start of the book I was gripped and could tell it would be 99p well spent.

It is the story of a young girls relationship with her G-Pa; her close relationship with her mother and a life of family secrets. She loved her G-Pa but hated her grandmother who was evil, yet her mother calls her G-Pa the devil, which she can't understand.

This is a harrowing book and contains graphic scenes of abuse, so only read it if you are okay with reading about these issues.

The book was well written and delicately handled the subject of family secrets. I will certainly be hunting out more books of this author.

http://www.smashwords.com/

Book Review -- Johnny Digweed by Stephen Garside

This is a great little read for anyone who likes fantasy type fiction. At first I thought it was going to be a young persons book, but the language used told me otherwise.

It's the story of a 7year old school boy. He appears a lovely polite schoolboy at first but then when he starts to sing, strange things happen. Some even dangerous and people start to die.

The book is very fast fetched and quite weird in places, but strangely enough I actually enjoyed it, even though it isn't normally a book that I would choose to read. It's a very fast read and I read it in a day.

I'd recommend it to fantasy fiction buffs as a gap filler.

Book Review -- One Day, David Nicholls

Well I must say that I was glad to finish this book! I never give up on a book usually, but I was quite close on this one.

It is about two people called Emma and Dexter who meet each other on their graduation night. They then go their separate ways in life, but still remain friends. They both want different things from life and follow separate paths.

I hated the way that the book kept going backwards and forwards and with the way it was written I was getting very confused with the characters. I also found myself getting frustrated with the characters and wanted to reach into the book and just shake them!

It was good to see how their lives came together but the book just wasn't gripping enough for me. A lot of people have said it's hilarious and a great chic-lit book, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree. Not for me I'm afraid and possibly one of the worst books I've read in a while.

I'm home and lots of books to review!

Well I'm home now and back down to earth with a bump! At least I don't have to work until Sunday and I'm not looking forward to that as lots of changes have taken place whilst I've been away.

Finally finished reading "One Day" and also 3 other books, so have some book reviews to do, but unfortunately have the washing to do first! My kindle battery held up really well and isn't even 1/2 used! Very impressed.

Made some good friends whilst in Crete and learnt some Greek whilst I was at it.

Will be posting my reviews as soon as I've got some time spare.

Monday 4 April 2011

New Giveaway

See my "Giveaway" tab for details of my first giveaway challenge.

Kindle loaded & bags packed!

Well I am off on a long needed holiday tomorrow, to Fodele in Crete.

Photo courtesy of www.myholidayhomeincrete.co.uk

I have loaded my kindle and have more books on it than I can read in a week, and have added a mixture of genres. Looking forward to sitting on the roof terrace of our apartment and reading. Or sitting on the beach if the weather is nice enough.


I'll also be meeting up with an old schoolfriend that I haven't seen in nearly 30 yrs. She has been living in Crete for over 20 years and is married to a Cretan and has children who speak both Greek and English.

Will be studying my guide books closely.

photo couresty of www.freedigitalphotos.net

When double checking with my husband that he had both parts of his driving licence, his answer was " I don't need mine as you're down as the only driver!" Great! Especially when I read that they drive on the right, but sometimes the left. They don't indicate and they just pull up at the side of the road to chat to their friends. Mmmm not sure that I'm going to like this.

Photo courtesy of www.fotosearch.com

Anyway, if I've read loads of books whilst I'm away I will have lots of reviews to do on my return.

I will start running competitions when I get back, for a book giveaway, for those who can get me the most new followers. All you will have to do is to get your friend, or write yourself on who you have recommended as a follower and I will then give a book away.   Title to be decided upon my return, so watch this space!

Happy reading dear friends and I'll be back in a week or so's time.

photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net

Saturday 2 April 2011

What I'm reading now.

Still ploughing my way through One Day by David Nicholls. I'm not normally such a slow reader, but I am still struggling with this. Will see it through though.

Also, in anticipation of my holiday on Wednesday next week, I am reading the Berlitz pocket guide to Crete.
Also having to read the Lonely Planet Guide to Crete too, just in case I miss anything important.

I have an addiction to travel books and buy one for everywhere I travel to.



Does anyone else always buy a travel guide, or do you rely on your instincts and tips from visitors when you arrive?

Will give my thoughts on Crete when I come back. Looking forward to a week away from the stresses and strains of work.

Friday 1 April 2011

Win a copy of Oranges and Sunshine!

Send an e-mail to competition@transworld-publishers.co.uk, and put in the subject line "Oranges and Sunshine" and then send your name and postal address to win a copy of the book that inspired the movie. You also get a movie poster too.

See the link for the official movie site page.

Synopsis, taken from Amazon.co.uk
In 1986 Margaret Humphreys, a Nottingham social worker, investigated a woman’s claim that, aged four, she had been put on a boat to Australia by the British government. At first incredulous, Margaret discovered that this was just the tip of an enormous iceberg. Up to 150,000 children, some as young as three years old, had been deported from children’s homes in Britain and shipped off to a ‘new life’ in distant parts of the Empire, right up until as recently as 1970.


Many were told that their parents were dead, and parents often believed that their children had been adopted in Britain. In fact, for many children it was to be a life of horrendous physical and sexual abuse far away from everything they knew. Margaret reveals how she unravelled this shocking secret and how it became her mission to reunite these innocent and unwilling exiles with their families in Britain before it was too late.oranges and sunshine