Saturday 31 December 2011

Thank you dear blog followers!

I just want to say a big "Thank you" to all my blog followers to sticking with me. This blogging lark is new to me this year and I have met some nice virtual friends through it. I have also managed to follow some great blogs myself. Have a look at my blog links on the right hand side. I have also read some great books that I would have missed out on if I hadn't been a blogger too.

I wanted to do some travel blogging before the year was out, but since I've been back from my holidays, time has run away with me, and Christmas was a bit of a rush. Therefore the travel blogging will start in the New Year.

I'm off now to a New Years Eve party at a dear friends house. So whatever you are doing and wherever you may be, I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve, and hope you have a healthy and prosperous 2012.

With love x

Book Review -- War Horse by Michael Morpurgo


Title:- War Horse

Author:- Michael Morpurgo

Format:- Kindle edition.

LAST REVIEW OF 2011
This book is told through the "voice" of the horse, Joey. Joey is bought by Albert's father, who didn't really want him, but wanted to outbid an acquaintance. His father had no time for him but Albert loved Joey and treasured him spending as much time with him as he could.

Without giving away any spoilers, as it's only a short book (185 pages), Joey is sold to the army and sent to war, becoming a "war horse". A lot happens whilst at war, but Albert never gives up hope he will see Joey again.

This book is written for young adults, but due to the film coming out and the stage show, I thought I would read it.

I absolutely loved it. I am a horse lover anyway, but I don't think it would have made any difference if I wasn't. This was a story of friendship, bravery and determination. The way the story was written through the eyes of the horse was very clever. It is a very descriptive book, and when the author was describing the war scenes, you could picture yourself there, as the horse. It really is very well written. I loved taking the journey with Joey, through the ups and downs.

It's hard to put too much more without spoiling it, but it is a delightful read, and makes me want to see the film and stage show even more now.


Click here for War Horse at the New London Theatre


                            WAR HORSE MOVIE TRAILER

Friday 30 December 2011

My Top Ten Reads of 2011

I've given this list a lot of thought as I set myself a challenge with Goodreads to read 52 books in 2011. I made it 53 plus 2 e-books that I can't find on Goodreads or Amazon, so I couldn't review them.

This is my list. I'd be interested to know what you think and if you've read any of them too.

Number 1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

I loved this for a number of reasons. I had been to Guernsey so I could picture all of the places the authors were talking about. Plus I loved the story line. My favourite of the year.







Number 2. Want to know a Secret - Sue Moorcroft

This was the first book I'd read from this author, and now I'm hooked. I loved the imaginative story line and just really loved the characters in the book.







Number 3. Star Gazing by Linda Gillard

I loved the way the author described this book through the eyes of a blind woman. It made the story come to life, and having had a Grandmother who was blind, I understood a lot of the pitfalls the character went through.






Number 4. The Wedding Gift - Kathleen McKenna

This was a surprise addition to the list. It was a free book for the Kindle, purchased from Amazon.
I loved the fact that this book had a bit of everything; chic-lit, humour;murder and the paranormal. All in one book!





Number 5. Cruelty to Innocents - CK Webb & DJ Weaver

This was another good value book as it was free at the time I bought it for my Kindle, and now back to it's regular price.
This was a tale of child abductions, and was a real page turner with a twist at the end.
It just goes to show you don't have to go for all the top name authors to get a good book.




Number 6. Viper Trail - Simon Gould.

This is the second book in the series, the first one being Playing the Game. Simon Gould is a relatively new author, and although I loved the first book, I gave it 4* as there were some tweaks that needed to be made. All the tweaks were made and Viper Trail came along. Good story telling in the style of James Patterson.





Number 7. Chill Run - Russell Brooks

Another fairly new author, but with a good plot line, well written characters and a good twist at the end. I look forward to more from this author.






Number 8 - The Secrets between us - Louise Douglas

Several people had recommended this author to me, but this is the first of her books I had read. It was a good story line, with likeable characters. Another author I shall be reading more of.






Number 9 - The Ladies Temperance Clubs Farewell Tour - Jeff Lee

This was such a fun book to read. A thriller, with lots of laughs along the way. Lovable fun characters. Another great value Kindle read.






Number 10 - The Stakeout - Elizabeth A Hale

This book introduces us to Audrey Roscoe, Detective. This was a well written book and I look forward to the next investigation by Audrey Roscoe.


This concludes my list. There are many more that came close and it was a difficult decision. So for any authors that read this, that didn't make it, no offence intended.

HERE'S TO SOME GOOD READS FOR 2012






Book Review -- Cruelty to Innocents (911 abductions) -- CK Webb & DJ Weaver

Title:- Cruelty to Innocents

Authors:- CK Webb & DJ Weaver

Format:- Kindle edition

Someone is abducting children from their cars whilst their parents are helping out at the scenes of emergencies. Their parents backs are turned just for a moment, but in that moment their child has gone.
Sloane comes back from New York to Aberdeen Maryland , where she has a good job at an interior designers. She comes to help support her friend Chloe and help find her Goddaughter Danni. Sloan enlists the help of her Godfather "Uncle Patty" who used to be a partner with her Dad in the NYPD. She also meets up with an old schoolfriend who is now a firefighter. Together they all begin the search for Danni.

This book is a thrilling read, and oSomeone is abducting children from their cars whilst their parents are helping out at the scenes of emergencies. Their parents backs are turned just for a moment, but in that moment their child has gone.
Sloane comes back from New York to Aberdeen Maryland , where she has a good job at an interior designers. She comes to help support her friend Chloe and help find her Goddaughter Danni. Sloan enlists the help of her Godfather "Uncle Patty" who used to be a partner with her Dad in the NYPD. She also meets up with an old schoolfriend who is now a firefighter. Together they all begin the search for Danni.
This book is a thrilling read, and one that once I started I had a job to put down. It is a real page turner, and a quite believable plot line. One in which you could really see it happening.
It keeps you guessing throughout and I had so many suspects on my list. I love it when a book keeps you guessing.
It has some shocking twists to it, and you just have to read it! Currently at the time of writing, only 86p for the kindle.
ne that once I started I had a job to put down. It is a real page turner, and a quite believable plot line. One in which you could really see it happening.
It keeps you guessing throughout and I had so many suspects on my list. I love it when a book keeps you guessing.
It has some shocking twists to it, and you just have to read it! Currently at the time of writing, only 86p for the kindle.

My rating 5/5 - Twists and turns galore.

Book Review - One Summer in Malta -- Sue Moorcroft

Title:- One Summer in Malta

Author:- Sue Moorcroft

Version:- Kindle read

This is a lovely light hearted and fairly quick read. I have grown to love books by Sue Moorcroft and find them great books to sit and chill with.
This book is the story of Tina, who has become guardian to her 3yr old nephew Jack after her Sister and husband die. Tina takes herself and Jack off to stay with her friend Roslyn in Malta, who along with her family run a series of craft workshops. Tina takes up teaching day classes to students in one of the craft shops.
Whilst there, Roslyns brother also travels over from England after having a break from running his hotel in Oxford. Also Tina's other sister Claire arrives. Claire is paranoid about Jack being brought up by Tina and has her own thoughts on how he should be brought up which causes some conflict.
This is a nice chic-lit book, with the author describing her obvious knowledge of the beauty of Malta and it's people. The romantic tension between Tina and Roslyns brother and the tensions between Claire and Tina, are very well written. It is the perfect book to sit back and relax with. It's not a long book and I read it in a day, and it was a nice break from the normal thrillers I read.

My rating - 5/5 - Just for the fact it's a great book to chill out with

Book Review -- The Wedding Gift -- Kathleen McKenna

Title :- The Wedding Gift

Author:- Kathleen McKenna

Format:- Kindle book

The book is centred around Dalton, Oklahoma. A town dominated by the Willets family who seem to have laid claim to the town. There stands the beautiful Willet House with it's wonderful verandah and beautiful gardens. Gardens that are still tended by the Willets gardener, despite it's last occupants having been murdered in the most gruesome manner.
Leanne comes from a working class family. A family who have suffered the loss of their Son Charlie, Leannes Brother, when curiousity got the better of him and his friend, whilst creeping around at the so-called haunted Willets House.
Years later, George Willets Jnr, falls for the charms of Leanne, who is the most beautiful girl in Dalton. Their life begins and Willets house eventually becomes theirs. Is all as it seems though? What is going on at Willets house? Is it really haunted?
I bought this book initially as it was on special offer with Amazon, and I was intrigued by the synopsis. I have to say this is one of the best books I have read on my kindle in a while.
As another reader has mentioned, this book has it all, humour, sadness, chic-lit tendencies with the relationship of Leanne and her best friend Jessie and the paranormal. This book really does have it all.
I feel in love with Jessie's character and wanted her as my best friend! The way the author has written this relationship between the two characters, is very heart warming.
The book is quite gruesome in parts and I wouldn't recommend it to the younger reader, purely for some of the graphic details. However I would thoroughly recommend it for others who want something a bit different. I look forward to reading other books like this from this author.

My rating 5/5 - Good all rounder that has it all.

Book Review -- My Dearest Rose -- Jessie McClain

Title:- My Dearest Rose

Author:- Jessie McClain

Format:- Large Paperback

Iris has lost her dear Boyfriend Charlie, and is living with her alcoholic Mother and weak Father. She is also the main carer for her little Brother Danny, and is more like a Mother to him than their own Mother.

Iris is singing part time in a bar, where she meets a wonderful stranger after their eyes meet across the room...... and there, life changes forever.

The story line to this book is quite good, although I felt some parts were dragged out too much and other parts needed more time spending on them. I would have liked there to be more background story to some of the characters, to add more depth.

In a couple of places in the book, the author is talking about three characters then seems to forget she has mentioned one of them and the character just disappears from the dialogue.

The worst part of this book was the appalling spelling and grammar. I did e-mail the author to find out if it was a proof copy I had been given to read, but was told it wasn't and that it was the final published copy. I found the errors really off putting and it took me a lot longer to read than it normally would. If the story line hadn't held my interest then I would have given up on it, purely for this reason, and this is the main reason I dropped the star rating. For example, a multitude of words like "hasn't" where the apostrophe replaces the missing "o" in the two words, were written like "has'nt"; Could'nt; would'nt. This was a continuing theme throughout the book. The book seriously needed spell checking and a good proof reader, as it was as if it was written by someone much younger. If this book is written with the younger reader in mind, then it's not really setting them a good example.

Having said all of this, the story line was enough to keep me going in the end, and I did grow fond of the main characters. I think if the next print of the book could just have the grammars and spelling altered, then this book would be worthy of 4 stars.

This book was provided to me by the author, free of charge, to review. However the words of the review are all my own and have not been influenced in any way by the author.


My rating 3/5 - Good story line, but appalling spelling and grammar.

Friday 23 December 2011

Book Review -- Rooms: A novel by James L.Rubart

Title: -- Rooms

Author:-- James L.Rubart

Edition:- Kindle Edition

Micah Taylor is a successful businessman, living and working in Seattle. He is quite settled....... or he was until he received a letter from a Great Uncle that he never knew. The letter tells him that he has been left a newly built home on Cannon Beach. He's not sure whether to believe it, and his Dad tells him to ignore anything that comes from the man. It's obvious there's no love lost between his Dad and his Great Uncle.
He thinks it may be a prank and out of curiosity heads to the coast to find out for himself. Sure enough the house is there and he is drawn to the magnificence and size of this house, which appears to have been built just for him, and has taken all his desires into account. This is strange in itself as his Great Uncle never knew him.
He meets and befriends a guy called Rick who lives and works in Cannon Beach. Rick seems to know more about the house than he is letting on. Bizarre things happen whilst in the house, and Micah is drawn to the house more and more, and spends less time at work in Seattle and more time at the house. The house with many mysterious rooms. Rooms full of memories. He also meets Sarah who works in the local ice cream shop, and is just drawn to her, leaving his relationship in Seattle behind.
I could say so much more about this book, but it would end up containing spoilers and I don't want to do this.
It is a mystery novel unlike no other. The bizarre story line just seems to work, despite it being so far fetched. I wouldn't normally read this type of book, but I was drawn to it and had to just keep reading as I wanted to know what happened next. It is intriguing and sometimes you just want to get hold of Micah and shake him and tell him to sort himself out. All the way along, I kept thinking I know what Rick is up to, but none of the book unfolded how I expected it to, which was a nice surprise. There seems to be a moral to the book. I don't know if that was intentional or not. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.
I haven't read any books by this author before, but if he writes other books in this genre I would certainly give them a try.

My Rating 4/5

Book Review -- Chill Run by Russell Brooks


Title: - Chill Run

Author:- Russell Brooks

Edition:- Kindle edition

This is the story of Eddie, a struggling author who lives in Montreal. A struggling author who is desperate for his work to become known. His father doesn't support him in his venture and thinks he should get a proper job, so this causes a lot of conflict within his family. Things go from bad to worse when his girlfriend leaves him and he loses his job. Life cannot get any worse ........ or can it?

He lives with his friend Corey, who's lifestyle is what you might call chaotic, and Eddie is always chasing him for his rent money. Along with Corey's girlfriend Jordyn, who works in a bar, Corey comes up with an idea that could potentially get Eddies name well known and help with his book sales, by trying to persuade him to get involved in something scandalous. Sounds like a good plan, until someone gets murdered and Eddie ends up on the run, helped by Corey and Jordyn. He is running from both law enforcement and the people actually involved in the murder.  

The threesome try to prove Eddies innocence whilst also trying to avoid the killer.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I think it is one of the best Kindle books I have read from a less well known author. I loved the fast pace of the book, and the way it kept you guessing. I didn't want to put it down. It is very well written, albeit with some typos, with well described characters and a great story line. The way the author wrote the relationship between the main characters was well done too, and quite humourous in places.
It was a great ending and without giving spoilers, quite unexpected.

Yes there were problems with some of the editing, and it needs a good proof reader on it. There may also have been some errors in the French interpretations in places as , but most English speaking readers would not really notice. I certainly wouldn't lessen my rating because of it.

If Mr Brooks continues to write books like this, then I for one, would definately be buying them.

The author provided me with this book to review. I confirm that the rating and the review itself are entirely my own opinion and not in anyway influenced by the author himself.

At the time of writing this, the kindle version is only 86p on Amazon.co.uk, and it would be well worth the purchase.

My Rating 5/5

Book Review - The Boy Scout - James Brockett


Title -- The Boy Scout

Author -- James Brockett

Edition -- Kindle edition


This is the story of 13yr old Jimmy and his friend Kirk. Both boys are in the Boy Scouts and embark on a camping adventure with the scouts. They are laden down with all their warm clothes, snow shoes and ski poles. Everything you're likely to need for a camping adventure. This adventure turns into more than your regular Boy Scout camp, when they are whisked off by winged creatures and carried to a parallel world, where they are met with both good and evil.

It's a tale of two hormonal teenagers, mystical creatures with wings and carnivorous ravens. A real fantasy world.

It is not my normal genre of book, although I have read some of the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson. I would say the book is of the same ilk as these books, although Patterson is obviously a master story teller.

The author stated that he had initially aimed the book at adults, however after reading it I feel it should be aimed at the teen market.

It is a well written book, and the author obviously has a very vivid imagination as the fantasy scenes are very descriptive, and the characters well written in that you can picture them. I did feel that some of the scenes were a bit laboured and went on some, but this did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

This proof book was provided to me by the author without charge, however the review and opinion is entirely my own.

My rating 3/5

Please don't be put off my 3* rating of this book. The usual interpretation of 3* is "I like it". I think those who really enjoy this genre of book would rate it a lot higher.

Thursday 15 December 2011

Book Review -- The UnTied Kingdom - Kate Johnson

Title - The UnTied Kingdom

Author - Kate Johnson

Publisher - Choc Lit Publishing

Format - Paperback

This is the first paranormal romance book I have read and I was dubious at the start, but persevered and I'm glad I did.


Eve paraglided off course and landed in the River Thames in London. She was rescued by a man called Harker. It was only after a short while she realised that the London she had crash landed it, was nothing like the London that she left. Things don't ring true and she can't quite work out how she has fallen into a parallel world. One that is under a military rule. Parts of history that she knew happened, never happened in this world. Things like mobile phones don't exist. They think she is a spy and she is sent to Tower Bridge. Lots of events unfold and it makes it a really intriguing read.


It is really well written and the characters are very descriptive and very likeable (on the whole). I do get frustrated towards the end wondering how and if she will ever get back to her own world and the book seems to drag on. Does she get back? You'll have to read it and see for yourself.


A great debut.


My rating - 4/5

Wednesday 14 December 2011

I'm back and lots of reviews to do!

Well people, I am finally back after a great months holiday with most of it spent in Texas, USA. I had a great time meeting friends old and new.



With all that time away I read about 5 or 6 books, and visited many different places, so I have lots to review. Just, where do I start?  Many different genres of books have been ready, and lots of time has been spent in many wonderful places. Just have to sit and put pen to paper initially and then dive in with my reviews.

I look forward to catching up on my fellow bloggers new posts and see what they have all been up to. I hope I haven't lost my followers and that they will be back to read my reviews.

See you all later!