tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69127941406113932772023-11-16T18:39:00.808-08:00Fiction AdventuresA blog capturing the highs and lows of the self-publishing world with my novels "System Error: In Your Favour" and "Tweet of Faith" and my book reviews. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-37463383956412899172018-03-19T15:55:00.002-07:002018-03-19T15:55:42.748-07:00Days of Wonder: Keith Stuart review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Jqv6VC6iL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Jqv6VC6iL.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Days of Wonder</h2>
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By: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/keithstuart">Keith Stuart</a></div>
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Rating: 5 Star</div>
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I really enjoyed Keith Stuart's previous story about a Dad connecting with his son via the power of Minecraft in "<a href="http://publishing-adventures.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-boy-made-of-blocks-keith-stuart-review.html">A Boy Made of Blocks</a>" and was eagerly looking forward to reading his next novel 'Days of Wonder'.</div>
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Relationships again form a core part of this book, particularly between a Father and Daughter and those of family and friends.</div>
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Tom is a single parent father to Hannah, who has a rare, life-threatening heart condition. They manage as best they can day to day and interact with a wide variety of characters who are mostly all members of the local drama society.</div>
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Tom manages the local theatre in their hometown, and together with the aid of his local drama group, they manage to make each birthday of Hannah's special via a specially produced play. To say more would give the plot away too much, but this is a lovely story of community, family, and the power of storytelling.</div>
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The relationship between Tom and Hannah is wonderfully detailed and told alternatively from Tom and Hannah's point of view throughout the plot. We see Tom worrying constantly about Hannah and her condition, and in return, Hannah worrying about her father's loneliness and whether he would be able to cope in future on her own.</div>
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The story mixed together a great blend of emotion, comedy, and amateur drama. A great read and a rarely given 5 star.</div>
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Click <a href="http://publishing-adventures.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-boy-made-of-blocks-keith-stuart-review.html">here</a> to go to my previous review of '<a href="http://publishing-adventures.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-boy-made-of-blocks-keith-stuart-review.html">A Boy Made of Blocks</a>'.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Many thanks to</span></span> Clara from Little Brown Book Group Limited<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> for</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> providing this book for review in exchange for an honest review.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.203021 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-73381295871777808332017-11-26T10:26:00.001-08:002017-11-26T10:26:09.871-08:00Cold Christmas: Alastair Gunn review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0719K1GX1/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51gYFFPVBbL.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_286799847"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_286799848"></span>Cold Christmas (Antonia Hawkins #4) </h2>
By: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Alastair+Gunn&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Alastair+Gunn&sort=relevancerank">Alastair Gunn</a><br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
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DCI Antonia Hawkins is investigating a series of murders where there is no sign of any external trauma on the bodies. On top of that, things are not going well in her relationship with fellow officer DI Mike Maguire.<br />
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How is the murderer killing their victims and what connects the victims?<br />
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Hawkins is a well-rounded dedicated police central character and determinedly tracks through the complicated case. The case takes some interesting twists and turns into spirituality and devil worship but Gunn keeps it penned to realistically sounding police procedures.<br />
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There is some backstory to an attack on Antonia in a previous novel so I'd recommend reading these books in order if possible if you want to get a full understanding of the lead character's full profile.<br />
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It was an enjoyable read, with a suitable amount of twists and turns but a large % of the plot is focused on the personal relationship between Antonia and Mike which does distract from the action repeatedly. I would happily read another one of Gunn's novels though.<br />
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Many thanks to <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/" style="color: #888888;">Netgalley</a> for providing this book for review in exchange for an honest review.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-68993831842491010202017-11-26T10:01:00.002-08:002017-11-26T10:10:24.432-08:00One of Us is Lying: Karen M McManus review<h2>
One of Us is Lying</h2>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MXTCX3O/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41K4YyiZQ7L._SY346_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
By: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15127507.Karen_M_McManus">Karen M McManus</a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
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An unusual whodunnit set amongst a high school setting, One of Us is Lying focuses on the unexpected death of a student in detention, and the investigation to find out who killed him.<br />
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McManus does a great job of putting the reader right into the heart of the investigation by switching from each student's experience of both the death and the follow-on investigation. There are lots of twists in the turns in the plot and it was a really quick read.<br />
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Social media plays a large part in the storyline and that gave this plot a different feel to other stories I've read in the past.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-62376485365359090902017-09-30T17:29:00.003-07:002017-09-30T17:29:48.452-07:00The Last Dog on Earth: Adrian Walker review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Dog-Earth-Adrian-Walker-ebook/dp/B01M2173EG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51IifkRqL-L.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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The Last Dog on Earth</h2>
By: <a href="http://www.adrianjwalker.com/">Adrian Walker</a><br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
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Adrian Walker's debut novel '<a href="http://publishing-adventures.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-end-of-world-running-club-adrian-j.html">The End of the World Running Club</a>' was one of my favourite books of 2016 so I was delighted to get an early copy of his new title '<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Dog-Earth-Adrian-Walker-ebook/dp/B01M2173EG#customerReviews">The Last Dog on Earth</a>' for review via <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a>.<br />
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The Last Dog on Earth is set in London in the not too distant future.<br />
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Its main characters are Lineker, the faithful and world-weary dog and former electrician Reginald. They live together in a nearly deserted London.<br />
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Throughout the book, there are various references to the events that led to London being attacked and then largely abandoned. However, the reader is deliberately kept guessing about the full picture.<br />
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With the wider story so mysterious, we're left to focus on the relationship between Lineker and Reginald. Reginald is another perfect 'anti-hero role', similar to Edgar from The End of the World Running Club, in that he has many flaws and several of his actions in the novel may actually cement your dislike of him entirely.<br />
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Lineker shares his thoughts and feelings with us directly throughout the book, and the plot jumps between sections told from the human's point of view and other's from the irascible Lineker.<br />
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The combination of Reginald and Lineker felt very original, and the universe that Walker creates in the book is both tragic and very believable.<br />
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Walker, via Lineker, has a lot to say (with much swearing) about humans and conflict and whilst the points were well made it did slow down the plot and overall enjoyability of the novel for me leaving to me rate it high 3.<br />
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Many thanks to <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">Netgalley</a> for providing this book for review in exchange for an honest review.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-61002856408330391582017-06-19T05:40:00.000-07:002017-06-19T06:13:22.286-07:00Sycamore Row: John Grisham review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sycamore-Row-John-Grisham-ebook/dp/B00D8CSVLW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="226" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kY-u444YL._SY346_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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Sycamore Row</h2>
By: John Grisham<br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
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Sycamore Row is set in the fictional Ford County, Mississippi and is the same setting for the earlier novel by Grisham <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003IDMUWC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">A Time To Kill</a>.<br />
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Sycamore Row focuses on a legal battle over a Will made by a local businessman Seth Hubbard shortly before he kills himself.<br />
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Was he in his right mind when he leaves his entire fortune to his housekeeper Lettie Lang?<br />
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Jake Brigance is a small town lawyer who is suddenly thrust into the limelight when he receives a handwritten copy of Seth's Will and Testament along with a note asking Jake to defend his Will at all costs.<br />
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With $24 Million at stake, suddenly a lot of lawyers descend on the town, hoping that the Will will be declared void so that the fortune can be reallocated across Seth's other relatives.<br />
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Sycamore Row is a classic Grisham tale. A lot of the action takes place in the courtroom, and the plot is full of legal fact and discussion that are so common in Grisham's work. I like the fact that Grisham revisited the fictional setting of his previous work so that we get to see the characters a number of years after the Carl Lee Hailey trial.<br />
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However, this novel didn't engage as much as other Grisham works have.<br />
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Perhaps the subject matter of the Will contest didn't engage me as much as the other dramas that have focused on murder or conspiracy. Perhaps, the overall length was a little long but if you like Grisham's other works, I'd say this one was worth a read as well.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-38059828845312854612017-06-12T02:15:00.000-07:002017-06-12T02:17:39.174-07:00The Light Between Oceans - ML Steadman Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qDuPNSf9L._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="224" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qDuPNSf9L._SY346_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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The Light Between Oceans</h2>
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By: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-L-Stedman/e/B006UXYGTW/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1">M.L Stedman</a></div>
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Rating: 4 Stars</div>
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The Light Between Oceans tells the story about an Australian lighthouse keeper and his wife who have their world turned upside one day when a boat containing a body and a baby wash up on their island.</div>
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Tom and Izzy are newlyweds, setting up their life on a remote island called Janis, off the coast of Australia in the 1920s.<br />
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Life is tough but fulfilling. The island only has 2 trees, a handful of animals and a small vegetable garden but it is home for them, and M.L Steadman does an excellent job of portraying the island and the conditions that Tom and Izzy are living in.<br />
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The book's central theme really stems from the decisions that are made when that strange boat washes up on the island one day. What would you do in that situation?<br />
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The impact those decisions have on Tom and Izzy are powerfully explored by Stedman and the story is very emotive throughout.<br />
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Stedman spends a lot of time explaining each character's motivation so by the mid section of the book I kept changing my mind on who was 'right' and which character was in the wrong. These murky lines between right and wrong made the book seem very realistic.<br />
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The central storyline of this book was very powerful and gripping, I really enjoyed it.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-35697032532599732832017-05-09T04:30:00.001-07:002017-05-09T04:30:50.648-07:00The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0747594805" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51wXIxEhA3L._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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The Graveyard Book</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neil-Gaiman/e/B000AQ01G2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Neil Gaiman</a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
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I have read several Neil Gaiman books over the years and have so far always enjoyed them.<br />
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This is a story about Nobody Owens, a boy who grows up in a graveyard with only ghosts for company after a mysterious stranger murders his entire family.<br />
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The Graveyard setting gives Gaiman a chance to run wild with his imagination, and there is a great variety of ghouls, ghosts, spectres and vampires, along with other characters who we meet whilst Bod grows up.<br />
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Silas, Bod's guardian provides a wonderful sounding board for all of Bod's questions during his time growing up.<br />
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Aside from the unusual setting though, the primary focus of the book is on Bod's struggles whilst he grows up. The book tracks him all of the way from childhood through to adolescence and by the end of the story we know him really well.<br />
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The Graveyard Book has been recommended by many other readers and has won several awards. I'd happily recommend it to anyone as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-56041416064245694142017-04-29T13:50:00.004-07:002017-04-29T13:50:32.806-07:00The Phoenix Project: D.M. Cain review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phoenix-Project-D-M-Cain/dp/1533642370" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Hrciyn-yL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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The Phoenix Project</h2>
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By: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/D.-M.-Cain/e/B00LTTX3PA/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">D.M. Cain</a></div>
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Rating: 4 Star</div>
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The Phoenix Project is set in a future where the government has come up with an innovative solution to keep prison populations down. </div>
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A new type of prison is currently on trial in Salverford where prisoners fight to the death, on television, as public entertainment.</div>
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We explore most of this world through the eyes of the book's main character Raven. </div>
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D.M. Cain conjures up a really detailed dystopian future vision of what prisons could be like in the near future and the book is a really interesting exploration of that. </div>
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The fight scenes themselves are well described and quite graphic in nature but the violence isn't the main aspect of the plot. This story focuses much more on Raven, his self-loathing for the crime he committed and the other inmates he befriends. </div>
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Raven is an interesting, multi-dimensional character. It is also quite unusual to have a self-confessed criminal become the main 'hero' of the story.</div>
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My mind did keep making comparisons with '<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Man-Stephen-King/dp/0451197968">The Running Man'</a> whilst reading this story but that only enhanced the visuals that I conjured up whilst reading it.</div>
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Well worth a read.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-53011547363865368472017-03-31T05:49:00.000-07:002017-03-31T05:51:54.819-07:00Wool: Hugh Howey review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wool-Trilogy-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00873GRU4/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61LcBudYelL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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Wool</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hugh-Howey/e/B002RX4S5Q/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Hugh Howey</a><br />
Rating: 5 Star<br />
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Wool and its follow on novels, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BFUB9MW/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">Shift</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CZC6CNK/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">Dust</a> enjoy a huge following. Wool is the first of the series.<br />
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Set in an unspecified future, Wool follows the story of a group of people forced to live permanently inside a gigantic Silo.<br />
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The outside air is toxic, the confines of their silo the only safe habitat. Wool shows people doing everything that they can to survive in a difficult environment. It's a great survivor's tale. All of their water has to be dug for, oil has to be drilled for, and all food has to be grown within the gigantic structure. </div>
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Over time, the occupants of the silo divide themselves by function and skill-set. This include groups such as mechanics, information technology, medical, etc., and over time those functions have developed their own class structures, and distinct psyches within the silo. </div>
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Howey explores how those various functions interact and clash with each other throughout the story. Is everyone really in it together or is one faction keeping information from the other? The tensions between the departments really reminded me of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Flies-William-Golding/dp/0571191479">Lord of the Flies</a> and it's gripping stuff.</div>
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The legal system inside the Silo is brutal. Anyone who breaks the rules or desires a wish to 'go outside' is sent outside the silo to the toxic wasteland to die.</div>
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The Silo world created by Howey is amazingly detailed and you really get immersed into the world as you read through it. </div>
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I've already started on Shift, Wool is definitely highly recommended!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.203021 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-8081029218573493832017-03-09T07:39:00.000-08:002017-03-16T13:17:39.820-07:00See You in the Cosmos: Jack Cheng review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Cosmos-Jack-Cheng/dp/0399186379" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51UrxB6EKDL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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See You in the Cosmos</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7010806.Jack_Cheng">Jack Cheng</a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
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Alex Petroski is a space-obsessed eleven year old who narrates his story via a series of recordings on his iPod.<br />
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He plans to launch this into space on a rocket so that aliens can one day learn what life is like on Earth.<br />
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His faithful companion is his dog <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan">Carl Sagan </a>(named after the famous astronomer) and they are about to embark on the adventure of their lives, covering Colorado, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Los Angeles.<br />
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See you in the Cosmos follows Alex on twisting and turning journey that involves launching Rockets, eating Burgers at Johnny Rockets, meeting new friends, and trying to find his Dad (who he hasn't seen since he was really small).<br />
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Cheng does a really nice job of writing the book from Alex's perspective. The story is full of charming moments where Alex's unique viewpoint on any given situation can really make you smile.<br />
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This writing style also made particular scenes really quite moving when events unfold that Alex doesn't fully understand but does his best to explain to the ipod.<br />
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Some may not like the log entry format of the book but I'd encourage anyone who is put off at first to give it a few chapters; after a while I no longer noticed it at all.<br />
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I enjoyed this book just as much as '<a href="http://publishing-adventures.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-boy-made-of-blocks-keith-stuart-review.html">A Boy Made of Blocks</a>' so it gets a matching big thumbs up and 4 stars from me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-25389191502342113992017-03-05T01:39:00.001-08:002017-03-05T01:39:07.784-08:00Spoils: Brian Van Reet review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qmjvJR0iL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qmjvJR0iL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<h2>
Spoils</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brian-Van-Reet/e/B00803YXFC/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Brian Van Reet</a><br />
Rating: 5 Star<br />
<br />
Spoils is the debut novel from author Brian Van Reet.<br />
<br />
The story is set in the early stages of the Gulf War in 2003. The plot centres around US Specialist Soldier Cassandra Wigheard and her deployment in Iraq. During her deployment, Cassandra is captured by mujahideen fighters and held hostage.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
The plot of Spoils explores Cassandra's capture from multiple viewpoints including Cassandra's, her captors including long-term jihadist Abu al-Hool, and the colleagues she left behind who are searching for her.<br />
<br />
The main plot timeline focuses on the capture, but Van Reet jumps the narrative around to give the reader more context on life in the military, Cassandra and al-Hool's background before moving forward in time.<br />
<br />
Many other reviewers have commented on Van Reet's minimalist, powerful prose. I agree.<br />
<br />
The sentences are really sharply crafted; with no spare words, adjectives or fluff, and the plot moves along at a fast pace. Given Van Reet's military service, it is not surprising that the military aspects of the story, (in particular the battle scenes), are vividly described and very powerful.<br />
<br />
Given its subject matter, Spoils is by no means a light read and there are scenes in the novel that some may find disturbing but I thought it was a very powerful read. Highly recommended.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">I received an advanced copy of this book from </span><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">Netgalley</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> in exchange for an honest review.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-10740845945567530952017-03-01T00:56:00.001-08:002017-03-01T00:56:36.474-08:00Written in Bones: James Oswald review <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MG1AOWK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qTmYjgXkL.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<h2>
Written in Bones</h2>
By: <a href="http://jamesoswald.co.uk/">James Oswald</a><br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
<br />
Written in Bones opens dramatically with the gruesome murder of Bill Chalmers, an ex-policeman turned drug kingpin who is found dead high up in a tree in the Meadows, Edinburgh.<br />
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Detective Inspector McLean is called in to investigate the murder and the more immediate question of how the body ended up being dropped from the sky.<br />
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This is the 7th book in the McLean series and after I enjoyed <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A8U3BRG/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">Natural Causes</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A8TUOZY/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">The Book of Souls</a> so much I was really looking forward to the latest instalment.<br />
<br />
I somehow missed a few of the series though and if you have missed any books before Written in Bones then I'd really recommend catching up with them first because the book is full of flashback references and characters referring obliquely back to 'that incident' or 'the fire' (which I knew nothing about).<br />
<br />
Regardless, I carried on with the story and largely enjoyed it, although the final section with the reveal of the main plot (and the bond-esque super villain) did stretch the grounds of plausibility a little too far for me.<br />
<br />
The character of McLean also seemed to be lapsing into your typical grizzled detective persona in this story, whereas my recollection of the earlier books was that he was quite a refreshing change from the norm.<br />
<br />
After seven outings it is now easy to play detective character trait bingo with McLean and/or compare him with other famous fictional detectives:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Often goes against management orders when investigating crimes</li>
<li>Drives unusual/noteworthy car</li>
<li>Carries lots of emotional baggage</li>
<li>Finds it difficult to sleep, constantly thinking of case</li>
<li>Lots of musing with Whisky/other alcoholic drink in darkened rooms</li>
</ol>
<div>
This was an enjoyable crime thriller with a satisfying end. I will be sure to read the McLean novels in order going forward.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">I received an advanced copy of this book from </span><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">Netgalley</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> in exchange for an honest review.</span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-48791018035925249722017-02-17T03:25:00.003-08:002017-02-17T03:26:20.874-08:00Theodore Boone: The Fugitive: Theodore Boone: John Grisham review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PW5V60G/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51-oqQohLUL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<h2>
Theodore Boone: The Fugitive: Theodore Boone </h2>
By: John Grisham<br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
<br />
I didn't initially realise until recently that John Grisham had a new series of books aimed at a young adult audience.<br />
<br />
When I first started reading The Fugitive though, I could immediately tell that it had been written for a totally different audience than '<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003IDMUWC/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">A Time to Kill</a>'.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Theodore Boone is a normal teenage boy, except he's a lawyer and also has a useful habit of solving crimes.<br />
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During a school trip to Washington he spots a wanted fugitive called Pete Duffy on the subway and aids in his recapture by the FBI.<br />
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Back in his hometown of Strattenberg, Theo is caught up in the drama of the Pete Duffy trial which the whole town is watching closely.<br />
<br />
Throughout the story, Grisham employs a technique where Theo's friends will ask him aspects about the trial so that Theo can explain US law to them. This is a similar approach to Grisham's style of info-tainment used in his other books to bring legal arguments to life.<br />
<br />
In this book it feels a little forced though; it was hard to imagine your typical teenagers sitting and debating aspects of bail bonds etc.<br />
<br />
The Fugitive is a quick, light read. The plot moves along in a pretty straight curve and at a good pace. My rating as an adult reading it was 3 out of 5 star.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.203021 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-30652586155620725672017-02-12T10:27:00.000-08:002017-02-12T10:30:56.856-08:00Earworm: A Novel about the Music Industry: Sean McManus review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0172812L8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41nES7nIU8L.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<h2>
Earworm: A Novel about the Music Industry</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/507414.Sean_McManus">Sean McManus </a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
<br />
Simon and Fred are working hard to make it big with their band -they just need a way to get recognised by the music industry and make their name known.<br />
<br />
However, music buying patterns have changed, and the small record labels have all been bought up by Bigg records. This means that the chances of Simon and Fred 'making it' are getting slimmer all of the time.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Earworm, (previously released as University of Death) is the debut novel from Sean McManus.<br />
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The book is really funny and quite surreal in its comedy throughout. However, that comedic layer only lightly papers over the serious points that McManus is trying to make about the current state of music production.<br />
<br />
The book is rich in technological throw backs to the 1990's (computer games, Commodores et cetera) and the characters all serve their functions well, even if some of the characters are only 2 dimensional such as the classic villain Mr Bigg, owner of the record label.<br />
<br />
This is an enjoyable and light-hearted read with some serious points.<br />
<br />
Highly recommended.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.203021 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-77911527329973689402017-02-08T00:21:00.000-08:002017-02-08T00:21:09.582-08:00Missing, Presumed (A DS Manon Thriller): Susie Steiner review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013XULIBI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61y1Q5Wrb5L.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<h2>
Missing, Presumed (A DS Manon Thriller)</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5412415.Susie_Steiner">Susie Steiner</a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">This novel starts with the apparent disappearance of Cambridge student Edith Hinds. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Her front door has been left open, there is blood on the floor and her wallet, phone, and passport have all been left behind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">The plot of Missing, Presumed then unfolds through the viewpoints of Edith’s friends, family, and the police officers tasked with finding her.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">There is Detective Sergeant Manon who is desperately looking for love (when not working all hours for the police force), perpetually cheerful Police Detective Dave Walker, Edith’s boyfriend Will Carter, and her parents Sir Ian Hind and Lady Miriam Hind.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">This novel follows the classic patten of who-dunnit-ness with the search for Edith racing along keeping the reader totally in the dark about who was involved. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">There's a great build up of suspense along the way and I really liked the way that the characters change as the pressure of the case affects them, it made it seem very realistic. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">I really enjoyed this book. Missing, Presumed is #1 of the DS Manon series and I'm looking forward to reading more of them in future.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">I received an advanced copy of this book from </span><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">Netgalley</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> in exchange for an honest review.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.203021 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-29640619598476736392017-02-07T01:12:00.002-08:002017-02-07T01:12:31.377-08:00Stealing Snow: review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51g0ozYKrcL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51g0ozYKrcL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<h2>
Stealing Snow</h2>
<div>
By: Danielle Paige</div>
<div>
Rating: 2 Star</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
17-year-old snow has been incarcerated in the Whittaker Secure Mental institute for most of her life. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The regime there is bleak, routine, and full of anguish for Snow as she is kept away from her one true sole mate Bale (who is also a patient there).</div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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Just when it seems that there is not really much hope, Snow starts to encounter a vision in her dreams who tells her that there is another land waiting for her ‘just beyond the tree’.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The story then really speeds up as Snow has to decide whether the visions are:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>part of her condition </li>
<li>or, a result of the drugs that the institute is making her take, </li>
<li>or, whether there could really be the land of Algid out there waiting for her</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Once the story moves from one world to another, Snow becomes a classic adventure genre story. It also turns out that there's a prophecy to fulfil and an evil king to thwart.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The land of Algid is nicely described and has a good range of fantasy characters to keep the plot moving along. I particularly liked the coven of robbers with their ability to store magic for future use and the fact that they were tremendously loyal (despite claiming that they all stood for themselves). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Snow spends a lot of time in this novel deciding which person she really loves in a classic triangle situation which resulted in slightly too much monologue for me at several points and it slows down the story.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, there are also lots of similar/borrowed elements from other fantasy novels which you'll either like or will really annoy you - you've been warned :)</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Many thanks to <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/">Netgalley</a> for providing this book for review.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-6170114252221705902017-02-01T08:27:00.001-08:002017-02-01T08:27:22.351-08:00The Smoke Hunter: Jacquelyn Benson review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Hunter-Jacquelyn-Benson/dp/1455569062" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61L3kXVYd7L._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<h2>
The Smoke Hunter</h2>
<br />
By: Jacquelyn Benson<br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
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Set in London 1898, The Smoke Hunter follows the story of Eleanora Mallory who finds a mysterious necklace and secret map to a lost South American civilization one day at work (as you do).<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Excited by the prospect of discovering a new unmapped city in South America, Eleanora sets off armed with her map and a few supplies gathered at short notice with the help of a good friend.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, others have learnt of the map and are in hot pursuit including the<br />
<br />
There are treasures in the lost city that people will kill for and The Smoke Hunter gears up for a fast race between Eleanora and her pursuers.<br />
<br />
Early on in the book Eleanora teams up with maverick archaeologist Adam Bates and the book then follows the classic friction romance type relationship as they first argue constantly and then... (well, that would be a spoiler).<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed the Smoke Hunter. The plot moves along at a good pace and there are enough twists and turns to keep it really interesting.<br />
<br />
The romance subplot adds an extra layer of interest but in sections, it felt like that author slowed down the action too much to focus on the character's romantic monologues. However, these were only temporary and we soon resumed the pace.<br />
<br />
A really good adventure romance novel.<br />
<br />
I loved this quote from Stephen Leather about the book and just had to include it again here.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
'The illegitimate love-child of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones... Fast-paced and action-packed' Stephen Leather</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597299999999-17.374282500000007 -168.670348 90 161.798402tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-34957407810297888942016-12-25T01:11:00.001-08:002016-12-25T01:11:10.721-08:00Holding: Graham Norton review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01D3LG2RW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41bSfQmVs2L.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<h2>
Holding</h2>
<br />
By: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Norton">Graham Norton</a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
<br />
Holding is Graham Norton's first fiction novel. It is a classic murder mystery set in a sleepy Irish village called Duneen.<br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
I started off reading the novel expecting it to have elements of comedy or other elements that I would recognize from Graham Norton the presenter.<br />
<br />
That simply isn't the case though. This is a tender, well-paced novel that centers on the inhabitants of Duneen and it's lead protagonist Sergeant PJ Collins who finds himself thrown into the spotlight when a body is found on a building site.<br />
<br />
Despite Duneen being a sleepy village, there is sufficient mystery and suspense in this novel to keep you guessing through to the end who is telling the truth and who is lying.<br />
<br />
An excellent writing debut, 4 Star.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-57554895801852017312016-12-05T02:51:00.002-08:002016-12-05T02:55:22.708-08:00The Easy Way Out: Steven Amsterdam review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51r0F%2BdpxoL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51r0F%2BdpxoL._SY346_.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<h2>
The Easy Way Out</h2>
<br />
By: <a href="http://www.stevenamsterdam.com/">Steven Amsterdam </a><br />
Rating: 3.5 Star<br />
<br />
Evan is a palliative care nurse and a registered, legal, suicide assistant. For patients that want to end their lives, Evan and team provide a service to assist.<br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<div>
Steven Amsterdam is obviously not afraid to tackle deep, complicated, and hotly debated issues in his novels. Easy Way Out centres on one of the biggest debates there is.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By placing Evan as the central character in this story, Amsterdam gets to explore the theme of assisted suicide from a number of perspectives and viewpoints.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Evan's character in the story believes in the right of patients to choose to end their own lives but he doesn't tell any of his friends what his day job entails. As the story progresses, we see a lot of conflict between Evan and the hospital authorities who regulate the circumstances around assisted suicide. Evan's also has to deal with his own mother's deteriorating health and her own potential wishes in the near future. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Taking a step away from the powerful plotline, the characters in this story are all well-rounded and you will either love or hate Evan's mother Viv. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
didn't really warm to Evan's character in this story which reduced my overall enjoyment of the text a little but I'd still recommend this book.<br />
<br />
I received a free copy of this book via <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for an honest review.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-88604009107482267202016-11-30T06:49:00.002-08:002016-11-30T06:49:38.511-08:00Strange History: Bathroom Readers' Institute review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Strange-History-Bathroom-Readers-Institute/dp/1626865833?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&newts=1&ref_=smi_ge_rl_rd_gw&ref_=smi_www_ucol_go_smi_g2257926382" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51VwzdfmRKL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="213" /></a><span id="goog_1747371915"></span><span id="goog_1747371916"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<h2>
Strange History</h2>
By <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Bathroom-Readers-Institute/e/B006LQF912/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1">Bathroom Readers' Institute</a><br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
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The Bathroom Reader's institute aims to educate the world while they... ummm... freshen up.<br />
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This is their latest publication.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The book itself is full of random facts from across the world spanning many hundreds of years. You get historical figures, origins of words, and random facts that may or may not stick in your memory. <div>
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The book is organised by theme but you could open the book at random and pick up something new on each bathroom visit.<br />
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The facts have been carefully curated to be as memorable as possible and this makes the book a really quick and easy read.<br />
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This books scores highly in the novelty factor but wasn't particularly gripping or challenging (not that it was supposed to be).<br />
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An entertaining 3 out of 5 from me.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-7630918013748788002016-11-30T04:51:00.003-08:002016-12-05T02:53:33.733-08:00The Descent of Man: Grayson Perry review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FVDGQZ8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/419tGgSu9-L.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<h2>
The Descent of Man</h2>
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By <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayson_Perry">Grayson Perry</a></div>
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Rating: 4 Star</div>
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The Descent of Man is quite different from the number of Crime, Thriller, and Fantasy novels I have been mainly reading lately.<br />
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In this book, Perry explores the current state of masculinity and how various factors affect it. </div>
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I didn't really know what to expect when I first picked up the book. From the short description on the cover, I was initially worried that this was going to be a negative-toned analysis/dissection of 'modern man'.<br />
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I needn't have worried.<br />
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Within the first few pages, it became clear that this would be an entertaining, witty, and extremely honest perspective from the writer on his own experiences and his everyday observations of the people around him.<br />
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The book explores several stereotypes of typical 'masculinity' (Perry cites always being right, being afraid to show emotion etc) and throughout Perry suggests alternatives and asks whether the world would be a better place without some of these particular traits.<br />
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This was a really enjoyable book and I'd recommend it to others.<br />
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I received a free copy of this book via <a href="https://www.netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a> in exchange for a honest review.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-88695491576613570492016-10-22T13:55:00.004-07:002016-10-22T13:55:45.519-07:00Under a Pole Star: Stef Penney review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C652QLW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51k-NiaEiXL.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<h2>
Under a Pole Star</h2>
By: <a href="http://www.stefpenney.co.uk/about-the-author.html">Stef Penney</a><br />
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Rating: 3 Stars<br />
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Under a Pole Star is set in the time of the first Artic adventurers and their quest to explore and chart unexplored territories.<br />
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It is also a love story between two of those explorers, Flora Mackie and Jakob de Beyn.<br />
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This story richly describes the time of golden exploration of the Artic Circle in the late 19th Century, and the challenges and dangers explorers of their time faced (think Frostbite, running out of food/oil, slipping into the ice etc).<br />
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In addition to this, Flora Mackie, (the book's main protagonist) also has to deal with the misogynistic attitude of her male colleagues on their voyage, especially when she is leading her expedition team.<br />
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Flora is stuck in a marriage of convenience when she strikes up a relationship with Jakob de Beyn, an American Artic explorer she meets in the vast wilderness. Despite the fact that they have an instant connection, and eventually fall in love, the rules of English and American society at the time throw a lot of obstacles in their way.<br />
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Under a Pole Star is an ambitious novel that paints a wonderfully detailed picture of the Artic Circle. You can really imagine the hardships the explorers went through during their expeditions. The story of Flora and Jakob's love is really well described and over the (quite long) text you really route for them.<br />
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I loved the detailed descriptions of the Artic in this book. Stef Penney is a hugely talented writer and really details the Artic exploration sections of the story well.<br />
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However, I struggled at times to maintain interest in the sections that focused on the relationship between Flora and Jakob along with the myriad of societal rules that they have to live by. Bigger fans of the romance genre might not experience this but I really wanted the plot to move at a quicker pace in several sections of the story.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;">I received a copy of this work from </span><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">NetGalley</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> in exchange for an honest review.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;">I rated this novel as 3 out of 5 stars.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-47764016641243786272016-09-24T04:17:00.003-07:002016-09-24T04:17:51.737-07:00Personal: Lee Child review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IK1J9QM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51wOknM0JyL.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<h2>
Personal</h2>
By: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5091.Lee_Child">Lee Child</a><br />
Rating: 3 Star<br />
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The Jack Reacher <a href="http://www.bookseriesinorder.com/jack-reacher/">series</a> from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5091.Lee_Child">Lee Child</a> has a huge following. 'Personal' is number 19.<br />
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For those of you new to Jack Reacher, he is your classic loner action hero character.<br />
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An Ex-Army Major, Reacher now roams the United States with nothing but the clothes on his back (and presumably some money). Personal starts with Reacher on a bus travelling between States.<br />
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Soon, Reacher's bus odyssey is rudely interrupted when a highly trained sniper tries to assassinate the president of France. Now, the world needs Reacher to track down the sniper before he or she strikes again.<br />
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Things really speed up once Reacher begins his investigation and the location largely shifts over to London.<br />
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It's really enjoyable seeing Reacher work through the various problems he faces along the way and he's certainly not afraid to use force where required - as one other reviewer put it "he kicks ass".<br />
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I enjoyed Personal as an action genre book. It was quick to read and enjoyable. Some of the villains were a bit too cliche for me, especially Joey, but I didn't feel this novel had as much depth or complexity as others I have read in the series.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Winchester, UK51.059771 -1.310142000000041750.9799395 -1.4715035000000416 51.139602499999995 -1.1487805000000417tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-7112265444654367742016-09-16T05:31:00.002-07:002016-09-16T05:31:19.721-07:00The Last Kingdom: Bernard Cornwell review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002RI9QSK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mb7amtdHL.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<h2>
The Last Kingdom</h2>
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By: <a href="http://www.bernardcornwell.net/">Bernard Cornwell</a><br />
Rating: 4 Star<br />
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Bernard Cornwell is the author behind the popular series of <a href="http://www.bernardcornwell.net/series/the-sharpe-books/">Sharpe books</a> and in 'The Last Kingdom' he turns his attention to the 9th Century United Kingdom in the midst of the Viking invasion.<br />
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This book is Part 1 of a new series that is set in the age when the Vikings were battling the Saxons for control over what would eventually become the United Kingdom.<br />
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The story is centred around Uhtred, a young boy who grows up during this period of upheaval and experiences his life events from both the Saxons and Danes perspectives.<br />
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If you have ever read a Cornwell novel before you'll expect a huge amount of research to have gone into this tale and this book certainly delivered on that. There are maps to guide you through the plot, a reference list of old English place names, and at the back of the book a list of reference texts that he used to create the story.<br />
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In summary, the tale of Uhtred is the main fictional element of the book, set against a series of real documented historical events.<br />
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I really enjoyed this book. Cornwell creates a fantastically realistic world that you explore with Uhtred. The locations, buildings, and characters are all richly described and the dramatic events of the time ensure that the plot moves forward at a fast pace.<br />
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I'm really looking forward to the next book of this series.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6912794140611393277.post-17825656388371303842016-09-11T10:03:00.001-07:002016-09-11T10:28:52.626-07:00The Girl in the Box Series (The Girl in the Box #1-3): Robert J. Crane review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Box-Books-1-3-Untouched-ebook/dp/B00IJYII4E" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FdyW1fhmL.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
<h2>
The Girl in the Box Series (The Girl in the Box #1-3)</h2>
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By <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5042322.Robert_J_Crane">Robert J. Crane</a></div>
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Rating: 3 Star</div>
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The 3 books included in this trilogy are:</div>
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1. Alone</div>
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2. Untouched</div>
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3. Soulless</div>
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The Girl in the Box series is currently <b>Free</b> on <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Box-Books-1-3-Untouched-ebook/dp/B00IJYII4E">Amazon</a> and has gathered a huge number of 4 and 5-star reviews on there (2,394 in September 2016).</div>
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The series focuses on Sienna Nealon, a 17-year-old girl who has been brought up by a mother who never lets her out of the house or let her see anyone from the outside world.</div>
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If that horrific upbringing weren't enough to deal with, Sienna also discovers she is a 'meta-human' with a number of powers that she has to learn how to control.</div>
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Things look pretty bleak for Sienna at the start of this series. She is trapped in the house all day, every day, and only ever has her mum for company. The description of her upbringing is very powerfully told by Crane and you soon understand why Sienna would have some serious issues to deal with. </div>
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Everything changes one day when Sienna's mother disappears. Soon, Sienna is thrust into an outside world of shadowy organisations, psychopathic meta humans and the ongoing search for her mum. At that point, the plot really shifts up a gear.</div>
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The Girl in the Box series hangs together really well and the 3 books are enough to get the reader engaged into Sienna's world. I commend Robert for making the first 185,000 words of his series Free to readers and am sure that many will continue to follow Sienna.</div>
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There are some really interesting ideas in this book and Sienna is a great character. My rating would have been 1 star higher but sections of the trilogy made too many connections to the X-Men franchise in my mind. Sienna joins a meta human directorate, she goes to classes to learn how to control her powers et cetera and this dampened the experience down for me a bit. </div>
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There were also several themes running throughout which started to get quite repetitive by the end of the 3rd installment (mainly Sienna's romance dilemmas). Aside from Sienna, who is really well described and developed as a character, several of the others in the story feel like background helpers rather than characters in their own right.</div>
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This was a good action read with some interesting ideas on human superpowers. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0