Review of The Four Winds by Kirsten Hannah

 

Texas, 1934. Millions of people are out of work and with a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their lands and livelihoods as all of the crops are failing, herds are dying, water is drying up and the dust is threatening to bury them all. One of the darkest periods in American History of the Great Depression, during the dust bowl era and it has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli, like all of her neighbor's, must make the agonizing choice: to fight for the land that she loves or to go west to California in search of a better life. This novel is a indelible portrait of America and the quintessential American Dream as seen through the eyes of the powerful women whose courage and sacrifice which will come to define the generation.

I didn't know what to expect going into this novel but I did know that was going to enjoy it as I love Kristin Hannah and her writing style. I love the way that she builds the characters and their environments in a dynamic fashion which helps and enhances the story being told.  There were times in this were i found myself laughing out loud and others i could not read the pages due to the tears which were streaming from my eyes. This was one of those stories which is endearing and crushing at the same time and Kirsten Hannah is one of the few authors who is able to make me feel every possible emotion from angers to love. 

I love the way that Elsa and her families story is told which shows the determination and sacrifice which people during this time period had to endure. Kirsten Hannah makes this sound at times like a fairy tale and in others an epic journey which are both at opposite sides of the scale when writing. How does she do it? This is not an easy story to read and at times i thought that i would have to put it down, however i would highly recommend this to any one who loves historical fiction.

Review of To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

 

Princess Lira is a Siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in the her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a cruel twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter,  the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one things that they loathe the most - a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian's heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even through he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby and he calls it his calling and something he was born to do in live. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she is more than what she appears to be at first. She promises him that she will be able to find a key to destroy all of sirenkind for goods - however can he really trust her? Just how many deals will the prince have to barter to be able to eliminate mankind's greatest enemy?

I have found that this was a very Dark fantasy for the young adult genre and it has the way to tell its compelling and vicious story without using the standard troupes linked to the genre. We find that the leading characters are the most unlikely companions who are linked with a hatred of the Sea Queen. However by the end of the story their stories as entwined in each other however as you can guess there is always going to be a twist when fate comes between them. This is the romance story that i love which is very slow burning and I love the way that this builds to the point that Lira is willing to give up everything that she believes in to be wut the man that she loves. I also love that this is a very imaginable retelling f the Little Mermaid and lets us see the reason the Sea Queen became as twisted as she has done. I would recommend this to any reader who loves a retelling of the classic Disney tales.

Review of When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins

 

She had lived a lie for the last thirteen years, and this has been the outcome for the perfect life as she has known is about to change forever.

Everyone remembered Sara and Shannon Carter, the little blond haired sisters. Their Dad was the local GP and they lived in a very beautiful house on the hill, and their best friend Brinley Booth lived next door. They would do anything for each other but everything shifted on that fateful day when Dr Richard Carter and his wife Pamela were both stabbed 14 times with a pair of scissors in what the most talked about double murder of the modern age. 

The girls were aged ten and twelve at the time that this murder happened. One of them quickly becomes known as the Angel of Death and spends 8 years in the children's secure unit accused of the brutal murders. The other one lived in foster care out of the limelight and all of the prying questions. Now the anniversary of the trial, a team of investigators have made a documentary and has tracked down one of the sisters and persuaded her to speak of the events that happened on the fateful night for the first time in 13 years. The explosive interview sparks a light in the national headlines and Brinley Booth, now a journalist herself, is tasked with covering the story which starts to bring fresh evidence and triggers a course of events which will have devastating consequences for all of the people involved.

Well, unless you know Fiona Cummins writing then you do not know what you are in for and boy did i not know what i was in for. I found myself drawn in and my heart thumped for the full length of the book and not knowing where the story was going to go. I read this book in 36 hours and i am glad that i read this in 2 sittings helping me to maintain the pace of the writing style. I did not think that Fiona Cummins held back and used hard hitting language to bring the story home. I also felt that I was a fly on the wall and was in the room when the events were happening. I definitely could not see the twist and turns that this novel was going to go however when reading she gave little snippets and clues on the outcome of this story. This is definitely a book for the lovers of thrillers.

Review of Everything is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray

 

Sometimes it's impossible to part with the things which remind us of the loves that we have felt the most...

When Amy Ashton's world came crashing down eleven years ago, she started collecting. To start with it was just a little collecting of the keepsakes of happier times - sometimes some honeysuckle to remind herself of the boy she loved, a chipped china bird, old terracotta pots. However things that others might consider throwing away, Amy feels the need to keep them as they to her represent a life that she would have had. 

Now the house is overflowing from all of the collecting that she has done and it is getting to the point that her obsession could mean that the house runs out of space ... even for herself. When a new family moves in next door, a chance discovery unearths something which has been long buried and Amy's carefully constructed life starts to fall apart. If she is able to find the courage to face the painful things from her past, might the future she though she had lost all of those years ago be for her to grasp in both hands ?

I absolutely loved this story and all of the descriptive chapters helped to bring the story to live for me. On several occasions i found myself shutting my eyes and i could see Amy in her cluttered house and feel the items start to push in on you making you feel claustrophobic. I loved that i didn't really know until the last couple of chapters that Amy was going to find love, but i was hoping in all my heart that she would find a loving man. I can not wait to see what comes from this author in her next book.

Review of Cats Don't Chase Dogs by Kara Kings

 

In today's world of online dating, social media, texting and ghosting - navigating through the treacherous world of dating and relationships has become more confusing that it has ever been. Kara King's controversial dating advice book discusses how women can use the wisdom of the feline to live an amazing life as a women, while also simultaneously being the type of women who captivates men. And all of the while maneuvering through dating and relationships with ease. In this book you will discover some of the following:

• How to stop being a doormat
  
• How to start thinking like a goddess
  
• How to present yourself in a way men beg for commitment
  
• How feminine influence helps change the world for better
  

Learning all of these lessons and more by embracing the wisdom of the feline and applying this wisdom to your life as a women. Kara King's dating advice will empower women around the world by dramatically empowering their lives and relationships by changing the way they think.

I love the way that Kara King puts this subject matter into a realistic way that everyone can visualise however it did take me a bit to get my head around the terminology that she used. I tell you if i had had this book 20+ years ago when i started dating then i think i would have had a different relationship with my ex-husband - however it is because of the mens behaviours in this that i am no longer with him. I think this is something that all women .... and some men ... need to read at some point in their lifes as the advise is sound. I would recommend this to everyone as this is a self-help book for all.

Review of Sorry It's A Girl by A. A. Khan

 

Lahore, 2018. In a city which is teaming with gossip and rumors, where the spoken word is as sharp as a the whip. Five individual women led extraordinary lives.

Born into wealth and opulence, Maya and Arzoo are the best of friends, achieving everything that is expected of them. From achieving top grades to entrance to the exclusive Ivy League schools. This allows them to glide through Lahore's glittering scenes with effortless and being entitled to the opulent life. Meanwhile the charming Laila is married to a business tycoon and is living in the life of luxury which others can only dream of. But is life rarely this perfect....

In this world where image is absolutely everything and traditions will always prevail, these women will struggle to negotiate through friendships, family and society's expectation. Beneath all of the designer clothes lie the hidden scars and secrets which none of them can tell. And through all of this love with bloom and triumph.

I was pulled into this story from page one and transported to a location that i knew nothing about and witness the issues which face women there. I love how this explored all five of the women and managed to entwin their stories together and show how everyone is link to another. I loved the overall writing style however i did find some of the descriptive aspects of the story very lengthy which meant that I found that my attention started to waive from the story. I think due to this what i was thinking when i went into the book was lost and was left a bit underwhelmed by the end especially as i had some high hopes for it.

Review of The One (Selection #3) by Keira Kass

 

The time has finally come to crown the winner and the new royal princess.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America had no idea that she would have any chance of winning the hand of the handsome and dashing Prince Maxon. As the end of the competition comes closer she realizes how much she has fallen for the Prince and how the threats from outside the palace walls grow even more vicious. America find out how much she wants to win and how much she stands to lose if she does not fight for the outcome that she wants. 

I actually preferred this one to the Elite, This had the angst love triangle aspects which was what I wanted from The One. At times i was so frustrated with America and her to and froing between the prince and the guard that i wished i could call her and give her a verbal shake. I did enjoy the overall build up to her finally telling Maxon that she loved him and that she finally stopped playing games with his heart. Even he was due to give up and pick someone else to be his bride. The first 50 pages did what the previous book did in 325 pages and thank goodness, thank god she made her decision and stuck to it in this book.

Review of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

 

This is an atmospheric, gritty and compelling novel involving star-crossed lovers set in the circus world in 1932.

When Jacob Jankowski, who has recently been orphaned and is suddenly adrift, jumped onto a passing train little did he know that he had entered the world of freaks, drifters and misfits. The circus that he has stumbled into is a second-rate circus which is struggling to survive during the Great Depression, who is reduced to making one night stands in town after endless town. Jacob was a veterinary student who had almost earned his degree, being put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is while doing this job he meets Marlena, the young and beautiful star of the equestrian act, who is married to August the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also has the fortune to meet Rosie, an elephant who seems to be un trainable until he finds a way to reach her and change the animal make-up. 

This beautifully written, the novel is illuminated in the interesting way in which this has been written making use of the wonderful sense of time and place. It is the story of a love which sparks between two people who overcome the incredible odds which is hard to find in a world were love is a luxury that few can afford.

This novel is told by the same person at two different times in his life, at the age of 23 and at the age of 93. This is something that when done well is something that i love and Sara Gruen has managed this effortlessly. This story was at most points very homely however this was interjected with explicit content which should have a trigger warning as this may be things which the reader may find hard to digest. If you are affected by abuse, against both humans and animals then maybe this is not the book for you. I however was able to over look these distressing scenes as I was enjoying the rest of the novel and the method of story telling.  I love the way that the author has effortlessly flipped between the two timelines and how these were blurred together so that the reader can truly feel as if the 93 year old is telling his story and not just having someone tell you his life story on his behalf. This novel buys into the environment of the circus and she uses small little tricks to seamlessly change the direction of the narrative to hold the readers attention.

To get your copy, click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Water-Elephants

Review of The Elite (Selection Book #2) by Keira Kass

 

The Selection began with thirty-five girls, however the competition has been narrowed down to the six Elite. The competition has suddenly become more fierce than ever and the girls are starting to become more and more cut-throat with their tactics. And all though this America is still struggling to decide where her heart lives - does it lie with Maxon the dashing price or Aspen the guard who has been assigned to look after. she has a tough decision to make, does she go with Maxon who can make her fairy tale come true or does she go with the one thing which helped her during her childhood.

As the competition moves on the other girls know exactly what they want and all America wants is some more time to be able to make this decision. Time that she does not have the luxury of having.

This was the ideal sequel to the first book, it up the anti and developed the main characters from the first book. It also allowed you to find out more about the royal family and the dynamics which have led to all of the traditional which have been put in place. I find that this was the book which focused on the love triangle between the contestant, the prince and the guard and this is one of the troupes that i love and it had me from the beginning.

To get you hands on the sequel to The Selection, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elite-Selection-#2

Review of The Selection (Book #1) by Keira Kass

 

For thirty- five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. It is the opportunity to escape the constricts of the class that they have been born into and the life which has been written for them since the day since they were born. This is their chance to be swept up into the world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels and to live in the palace and compete to win the heart of the Prince Maxon and become the next royal princess.

However for America Singer, being selected is the nightmare that she has been dreading. he will have to turn her back on her secret love with Aspen, who has been born into a caste below her and their love would be frowned upon. She has to face the fact that she will have to leave her home to enter a fierce competition for the crown and prize that she has no interest in winning. Living in the palace feels like a jail cell to her and she is living in a place which is under constant threat of being attacked by the violent rebel forces from both the north and south.

However, things start to change when America meets the dashing Prince Maxon and gradually she starts to question all of the plans which she had made for herself. She soon realizes that the life that she has always dreamed of for herself may not compare to the future that she started to imagine for herself.

This is the novel which is the result of the marriage between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor and have a family. I found this book a different type of book than I normally read, however I found myself engaged in the story from page one. This was one of the few books which I have read in one sitting and this was due to it having a pace which constantly had you guessing what was going to happen next. I can not wait to read the next books in the series to see what life has in store for America and Maxon. I found this utterly surprising as this is not the genre that I would normally pick up but found myself pleasantly surprised and fell in love with the whole cast of characters. I found that this was exactly the book I was looking for when Burial Rites left me with a book hangover. I would highly recommend this to everyone who is wanting to find an engaging story to use as a palette cleanser after a differcult read.

For your copy, click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Selection

Review of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

 

This is the brilliant literary debut which has been inspired by a true story - the story of the final days of a young women accused of murder in Iceland in 1829.

This novel is set in Iceland's stark and beautiful landscape, Hannah Kent brings to life the vivid story of Agnes who has been charged with the brutal murder of her former master and is sent to an isolated farm to await her execution. Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family try at first to avoid Agnes. Only the priest Agnes has chosen, Toti has the access to the women who have chosen him to be her spiritual guardian seeks to try to understand the women and her story. As Agnes's execution date looms and edges closer, the farmers ' wife and the families ' daughters learn that there is another side to the sensational story and the gossip which they have heard.

This story is reverting and rich with the lyricism which is associated with Iceland, Burial Rites evokes the dramatic existence in the location and time that most of us can only imagine. It also tries to answer the burning questions of how can a woman hope to endure her life when it all depends on the stories which have been told by others.

OMG, I could not put this down, I have always loved historical fictions which is embedded in true stories of the past. This was a heart-rendering story which shows how gossip and story telling can twist a person's history until it has been distorted so far from the truth that you hardly know what the truth is any more. Let me say that this is not a FUN story to read and it left me in a book hangover which didn't leave me in a state where i could face another book for a couple of days until i had digested the book and all the feelings that it had left me with. I found the first 40% of the book hard to get into and once i had got past this point i had to read the rest of it in one sitting and i think this was due to (partly) to the immersive writing style and the building nature of the story. It was not hard to give this book a high 4 stars and this was something that i normally wouldn't read as i am a fantasy lover, however saying that i was glad that i took the jump and immersed myself into the story. I have not found a debut novel from an author which i have loved as much as this one. I would 100% recommend this to lovers of historical fiction based of true life stories.

To get your copy of this stunning novel, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Burial-Rites

Review of Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

 

Our heros are back ... kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in this epic series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxies best hope for survival.

Lets start with the bad news: an ancient evil - you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal and it is about to be unleased. Now onto the goods news - Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They have just got to take care of a few small distractions first. Oh like a clan of gremps who'd like to rearrange their favorite faces. And also the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be and will stop at nothing to get their hands of Auri.

Then of course, Kal's long lost sister, who's not exactly happy to see her baby brother and she has the Syldrathi army at her back. Basically with half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted. when they learn that Hadfield has been found, it's time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship all but vanished and it left Auri as it's sole survivor. Now the black box might be what saves them however time is short and if Auri can't learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all of their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV. This installment of the sory has shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gift, inappropriate tight bodysuits and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion's most unforgettable heroes.

This one had me guessing from page one and the twist in the tales made me sit up and question everything which i had read in the previous installment. It is amazing how a plot twist can turn the whole story up side down and makes me question if there is going to be another installment in this epic sci-fi fantasy. I can not wait to see what the author come up with next and will always recommend this to other readers.

For your copy, please click the following link:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aurora-Burning

Review of Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

 

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Acadmey are being assigned their first missions. Srat pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, however his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs who nobody else in the Acadmey wants.

He has the following in his team:

      A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm

      A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her banknotes

      A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy's biggest chip on his shoulder

      An alien warrior with anger management issues

      A tomboy pilot who's totally not into him, in case you were wondering

And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem - that's be Auror Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for over two centuries, Auri is a girl who has been thrust out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, Tyler's squad fo losers, discipline-cases and misfits might be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

I love this pairing of authors, and i knew that this was going to be an instant hit for me. I always try to go into a book with a clear mind however this was a different story. I was grabbed from page one and i knew that i was not going to be able to put this down and i read it in 2 sittings. I found that this was the right amount of balance between sci-fi and adventure which kept me guessing what was going to happen next. It also helped that we have a buddy relationship which also pulls the story along, I can not wait to see what the next one does for the storyline.

Please click the following link to get your copy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aurora-Rising

Review of Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

 

Chain of Gold, a new Shadowhunters novel, is the first novel in the brand-new trilogy where evil is hiding in plain sight and love cuts deeper than any forged blade.

Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior who is trained since her childhood to battle demons. However when her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother will travel to London in the hopes of preventing their families ruin. Cordelia's mother wants to marry her off, but Cordelia is determined to be a hero rather than a bride who would be stuck in her house under her husband's thumb. Soon Cordelia will encounter her childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn to the glittery world full of ballrooms, assignations, supernatural salons where vampires and warlocks mingle with mermaids and magicians. In all the time tat she is experiencing this she must hide the love which is building for James and this is made all the more important as he is sworn to marry someone else. 

But Cordelia's new life is about to be blown apart when a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London and the whole of the UK. These monsters are nothing like those that the Shadowhunters have fought before and these demons can walk in daylight, strike down the unwary with incurable poison, and seem impossible to kill. London is immediately placed in a state of quarantine. This means that Cordelia and her friends are trapped in the city, and they discover their own connection to the dark legacy has gifted them with some incredible powers ... they are then forced with a brutal choice which will reveal the true and cruel price of being a hero.

This is one of the most engaging books which i have read in 2020, I love the characters and the new story arc which has been built for them. As always Clare is able to balance the struggles of the time with the angst of the love troupe in a way only she can. I am a sucker for the Victorian London and the comraderies which is always evident.

For your Copy please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chain-Gold

Review of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

 

Henry "Monty" Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman however he was never one to be tamed by the expectations of society. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven't been able to curb any of his roguish passions. Couldn't curb his likes for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

However as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family's estate when he returns, however Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and travelling companion, Percy. It is not in Monty's nature to give up easily and even with his sister, Felicity, in tow he vows to make this yearlong escapade his best adventure ever and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. However when one of Monty's decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt which spans across Europe and it calls everything he knows into question including his relationship with the boy he adores.

This book made my heart swell to 3 times it normal size and i thought that i was going to die from laughing. This was one of the best books which i have read this year and it is one of those love stories which shows that love is not constricted by the boundaries of gender. The characters are very well rounded and develop through the author's descriptive way of telling the story. I love the way that she has discussed and tackles some of the issues which we are tackling in every day society, i have recommended this to some of my friends and family and they have all loved this as well.

For your copy, click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gentlemans-Guide-Vice-Virtue

Review of Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare

 

What if damnation is the price of true love?

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred and famous stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of out and out civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to the institute in Los Angeles, seeking to hopefully discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma start taking a desperate measure to try to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. When they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never imagined. They then find themselves caught in a race against time, they must save the world before the deadly power of the Parabatai curse destroys them and everyone that they love.

Everything I have read in the Shadowhunter universe has led up to this moment and i have not been disappointed with how this has turned out. I now have a new set of friends whom i have become invested in and can not wait to go one more adventure. This has been an adventure this year and I can not wait until we get the next installments of the world. This book follows immediately after the events which happened in Los Angeles, the fascists are still trying to control the Clave and intent on dictate how the Downworlders should be treated. With the warlocks hurting and disruption in the Faerie, many of our beloved characters are missing, however so many individuals are grieving the loss of loved ones. This book in my opinion that this book is a love letter turned in to a letter of grief and Clare does this is a way no other author can do it.

For your copy, click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Air-Darkness

Review of The Single Dad's Handbook by Lynsey James

 

Welcome to The Single Dad's Handbook, your comprehensive guide to life without me when I pop my Clogs!

'I laughed, I cried and I swooned a bit too (over both Evan and the Edinburgh setting). It has been two years since cancer stole Evan Harpers wife, Claire, from his and his daughters lives. Even though Evan's doing everything he can to be the Super Dad for his five-year old, Violet, he can't seem to get anything right. So Evan turns to the only person who can give him the best advice - Claire herself. Before she passed away, she wrote him a book of letters to show him the ups and downs of raising their daughter and her words will soon help him to see that there is life after loss - and maybe a second shot at love - when he will find the courage to start living again ....

It is time for Evan to start living again, his new forever starts tight here and you can do this, love Claire. This is an emotional and uplifting story of life, loss and love perfect for all fans of this genre.

First thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review. When i requested this book because the synopsis sounded like my cup of tea. This poor man loses his wife to cancer and is left alone to raise his young daughter. The wife, has the fore thinking when she finds out that she is going to die of this vile disease that she will write her husband a book of letters which will help her family no matter the situation. Two years after the loss of his wife, Evan believes that he is finally ready to start reading them when Violet his daughter starts school. During this time everyone in his life thinks that he should be moving on however he has come to the conclusion that he is not ready, but when his best frend comes back from travelling abroad he lets her back into his families life and she helps them with the things that Evan can  not do. As Violet get older she needs her father's best friend to help her through all of the struggles of growing up and managing the things which she would need her mother for.

This book made me fall in love with the family and how they all have new beginnings after the loss of a beloved family member. The storyline and characters all pulled at my heartstrings and i have to admit that i had tears in my eyes for 80% of it. This one is one of my highly recommended books of 2020.

To get your copy of this wonderful novel, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Single-Dads-Handbook

Review of Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artificies #2) by Cassandra Clare

 

A Shadowhunter's life is bound by duty, constrained by honour. It is a Shadowhunters word is a solemn pledge and no other vow in the world is more sacred than the vow which binds Parabatai. Parabatai are warrior partners who are sworn to fight together, die together and never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love that she shares with her own Parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn't just forbidden but it could also destroy them both She knows that she should run away from Julian however how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides of the battle. Their only real hope is to get the Black Volume of the Dead - a spell book of terrible power. And what makes it worse is that everyone wants it. However only the Blackthorns are the ones which can find it. Being spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend Cristina and Mark and Julian Backthorn are thrust into a journey into the Courts of Faerie. In this land the glittering outlook revels a hidden bloody danger and shows that no promise can be trusted when dealing with the fae, Back in the normal world, the tension between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders has reached fever pitch and produced the Cohort, and extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and any unsuitable Nephilim. This band of extremist will do anything in their power to expose Julian's secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for themselves and start to take over the leadership.

When the Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows - the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors who aim to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As the danger closes in, Julian starts to devise a risky scheme which depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. However his success may come with a price he and Emma cannot imagine, one which will bring with it a time of reckoning of blood which could have severe repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear. 

Every single book I read of Clare's the more in love I find myself with all of the characters and how the different families are all entwined. This was the sequel which i have been waiting for. It has the same amount of high-intensity and beautifully constructed content which we have all come to expect from The Shadowhunter Chronicles. With this installment we go further and deeper into the world than we have seen before. Following on from the repercussions from the cold peace, there is significant tensions between all races in the shadowhunter universe. This is accompanied with the fact that there are bombs set to detonate the relationships, every page builds on the tensions which are anticipated from the character arcs. This has given me everything which i wanted to happen in the story and more which i didn't know i wanted. 

I love the multi prospective from the wide range of characters, which i feel that every character in this series gets their moment in the sun and it is a pleasure to see that we get to know more about this new collection of characters. I can not wait to see where these characters go from now one and how Clare takes this to the next level.

For your copy of this novel, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Shadows

Review of The Shock of The Fall by Nathan Filer

 

What begins as the story of a lost boy slowly turns into a story of an individual who yearns to understand what happened on that fateful night and also to himself as well.

While he is on vacation with his family, he along with his brother snuck out in the middle of the night. On this fateful night only Matthew came home safely. Ten years later, Matthew opens up and tells us that he has found a way to bring his brother back ...

What begins as the story of a lost boy son turns into a story of a brave man yearning to understand what happened on that night, in the years since then and also to his own sense of self. Unafraid to look at the shadows of our hearts, Nathan Filer's rare and brilliant debut novel shows us the strength which is apparent in the characters resilience and love which he has for his family.

This was one of those books which broke me with it's honest and unbiased description of mental illness. It shows how no one is truly alone in suffering and how long individuals can hold on to a secret which can eat at them alive. I found that this story was not told in chronological order and I find that the way that this story is told is one of the reasons I love it s much. It is also very unusual to find this type of hard hitting story based in the UK, it also opened my eyes to some of the more stigmatized aspects of schizophrenia which sometimes get brushed over. I have recommended this book to some of my friends who have worked with mental health patients and i have had a mixture of feedback from them. I will always hold this in my high regards and will continue to promote this book to many of my friends. 

To get your copy of this book, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shock-Fall

Review of Obsidio (Illuminae File #3)by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

 

Kady, Ezra, Hanna and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attack on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with over 2000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and the resources are now scarce, the only option they have is to return to Kerenza .... but who know what they will find after seven months since the invasion?

Meanwhile, Kady's cousin Asha has survived the initial BeiTech assualt and has joined the ragtag resistance based on Kerenza. When Rhys, an old flame from Asha's past, reappears on Kerenza, they find themselves on opposites side of the conflict. However with time running out and the final battle looming and this time it will be raging on land and space - the hero's will fall and hearts will be broken.

This is the finally installment in the Illuminae files and it is the perfect ending to the story. It is so satisfying to see this story to come full circle and we see how the underdogs survive and and triumph against all of the odds and show that smallest can achieve. I have enjoyed this story and can see how the dynamic duo of Kaufman and Kristoff have become a a firm favorite of fantasy lovers. I can not wait to read some other work which the two of them co-author in the near future. I have experienced loads and loads of emotions with this series and this final installment had me going through the wringer from page one and it has left a void in my life which i dont think i will be able to find a new trilogy for a while. I spent far to many late nights reading this and it has helped me get my hunger for books back. Thank You.

For your copy of the final installment of the trilogy, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Obsidio

Review of A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley

 

It has been a year since Lottie’s fiance walked out on her and leaving her heartbroken one week after they got engaged. However things start to look up when she lands her dream job at a a beautiful Lake District estate and the eligible and handsome groundskeeper who also happens to be her neighbour.

However when Lottie is asked to organise a last minute wedding at Firholme and she can not wait to sink her teeth into this. This is until she meets the couple who she discovers that Conner the man that broke her heart almost a year ago is the groom for this wedding. While the snows falls on the hills, can Lottie put aside her feelings and organise the perfect winter wedding? Once this has been done, will she find any festive magic left for Lottie to have the perfect Christmas that she deserves?

I am a sucker for a good friends to lovers story, and this is how Lottie and the groundskeeper find their relationship develops. This is the first of Philipa Ashley’s novels and I have found it captivating from her descriptions of the beautiful locations and also the well rounded developed character …. And the furry and loyal dog who accompanies the male lead character. You learn of the traumatic life which Lottie has had in the past twelve months from her fiance walking out to her to the family changing storyline of Lotties sister undergoes cancer treatment. I have to say that even though the timeline for this story is no more than 6 months Phillipa Ashely is able to pack a lot of story in the 400 pages which is this novel. I have to recommend this to anyone who loves a christmas romance story.

To get your copy of this charming christmas read, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surprise-Christmas-Wedding

Review of Lady Midnight (Dark Artifices #1) by Casandra Clare

 

The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles start in the first novel in the newest trilogy written by Cassandra Clare The Dark Artifices, the sequel to the Mortal Instruments Series.

It has been 5 years since the events which happened at the end of City of Heavenly Fire which brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of their existence and oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer the child in mourning that she once was however she is now a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and then avenging their deaths.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and heart while she is investigating this and when the demonic plot stretches across Los Angeles. This demonic plot stretches across the area from Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea which pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart would stop leading her in the wrong direction to the arms of her parabatai …. A bond which can not be broken and they can not fall in love with each other.

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark, who has spent the last 5 years with the Wild Hunt under the Queen of the Sealie Court, has been allowed to return to the shadowhunters world as a bargaining chip. He has become the bargaining chip for the faeries who are also desperate to find out who is murdering their own kind during this demonic murder plot which is sweeping Los Angeles. However time moves differently in the world of the faeries, so even though Mark has barely aged and he doesn’t recognize his family can he truly return them and be part of their world. Will the faeries allow him to leave them?

I would really like to know how Clare does this to me every time she releases a new instalment to the Shadowhunter world and introduces us to another of the institute. I fell in love with the characters and I don't know if it is because Emma has a bond with Clary. I think that this was one of the facts and was really surprised to find how much the younger members of the world have developed in the five years after the last time book of the mortal instruments series. I have already found myself invested in the storyline and can not wait to find out where their investigation and how things go.

For your copy of this fantastic novel, please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lady-Midnight

Review of The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

 

This was a perfect addition to my Shadowhunters Collection.

This gorgeous illustrated paperback helps bring to life the enigma that is Magnus Bane, it comprises of 11 interesting stories from the life of this immortal wizard. Magnus Bane has become a fan favourite for all fans of the shadowhunter world who sit and read the main books and wonder how he becomes the character that he is. He is a consistent character and plot point to all of the story lines. While everyone knows that we will never fully understand and truly there is never a way for us to learn everything about him … would everyone believe the stories he would tell us. These stories help shed a light on his often elusive character and they are also the stories which he would not have wanted to tell us.

I loved this edition of stories and Magnus is one of my favorite characters in the Shadowhunter universe. I loved diving deeper into his life and it helped me understand, if only a little, what makes him tick and understand how he became the person he has. His enigmatic character drew me in when I was introduced to us in The Mortal Instruments and this was the book i was looking for. I have already recommended this to some of my fellow book lovers and they have got caught by his personality and flair for life. I would love to have another installment of this book and have a second edition.

For your copy of this book please click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bane-Chronicles

Review of Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom

 

Athena Vosh lives just like any other teenager from the year 2099. She watches reality shows with her friends, east well and occasionally wonders to herself what like would be like if men were still alive?

It has been almost 50 years, since an experimental virus accidentally killed all of the men on earth. However a controversial project is currently underway to bring men back. There's just one catch. The project has been sabotaged and stolen.

So begins Athen's Choise. When the police of 2099 are tasked with finding the saboteur, they recieve a mysterious command to investigate the otherwise innocuous Athena Vosh. After it becomes clear that the young girl might know more than she lets on., Athena is brought into partcipate in the official investigation. Simultaneously, the girl begins to experience a series of cryptic and confusing dreams which feature solely around a ruined library and an old book containing all the clues which reveal the saboteurs identity. As the police close in on the prize, Atthena find herself on a journey of her own. Her clue fillled dreams and the incorruptable spirit bring her face-to-face with a pair of forgotten truths about happiness and gender. The world in this book waits to see if men will return as Athena fights a seperate battle, culminating in the choice that will define her and others lives.

I found this young adult novel very compelling and this has something to do with Athena's narration and also her age as she is telling her story in her own words. I found this story a very captivating and i usually dont like science fiction however i love this story and it very unique story telling format. I like the elements in this book and it held me in the story and i wished that we has several more chapters to show what decision Athena makes in the end of the story.

Review of Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

 

In the magical underworld of the Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. However that saffety proves to be fleeting when a rogue force in the Clave plots to see that her protector Charlotte is forceable removed from her position. If Charlotte losses her position, it will mean that Tessa will be put out onto the street and this will make her easy prey for the Magister - who is still intent on capturing her and using her powers for his own dark and evil plans.

with the help of the handsome and destructive Will and the fiercely prtective Jem - Tessa discovers that the Magisters war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy which shattered his world and as he claims detroyed his life. It is up to this trio to unravel the secrets of the past and journey to the yorkshire towns to the manor house which holds untold horrors to the slums of London. This will lead them Tessa to a enchanted ballroom where she discovers that the truth of her own parentage is more sinister than she had ever imagined. When the trio encounter a Clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the magister himself knows their every move - and one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa find that her heart is more and more drawn to Jem, but she still has a deep longing for Will - even with his dark moods, and this is one of the things which continue to unsettle her. In Wills case things are starting to change and this means that the walls which he has built up around himself are starting to crumble down around him. Could finding the Magister free Will from his demons and give Tessa the answers about herself and what her purpose is and why she has the powers that she does. 

During the dangerous search for the Magister, the trio will uncover truths which will in turn lead their friends to peril. Tessa learns that when love  and lies are mixed together, the result can corruppt even those with the purest of heart.

Well, Cassandra Clare has done it again. She has sucked me into the Shadowhunters story line and has me guessing the outcome of the love triangle on every turn of the page. I didnt even give myself a break between the books as i found that i needed to get onto the next book to find out what happens to all of the characters which we love in this trilogy. This was my favourite book in the Shadowhunter realm and when i say that i read all 501 pages in a three day period this shows how much i loved it.

Review of Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters by Emily Carpenter

 

From the bestselling author of 'Burying the Honeysuckle Girls' returns in the novel which sees the return to uncover a faith healer's elusive and haunted past.

Dove Jarrod was a renowned evangelist and a faith healer. Only when it comes to her gradndaughter, Eve Candler who knows that her grandmother is a con artist. In the eight years since Dove's death, Eve has been the one to maintain Dove's charitable foundation ... as well as her lies. However just as a documentary team is about to wrap up the shoot which focuses on the miracle worker, Eve is assulted by a vengeful stranger who is intent on exposing what could be the darkest and most explosive skeleton in Dove's closet.

Tuscaloosa, in 1934, a wily young orphan makes an escape from one of the countries psychiatric hospital where she has been born and raised. When she joins the itinerant inspirational duo of the Hawthorn Sisters, the road ahead is one of the mosr stirring possibilities. All this is while an obsessive predator on her tail, one of the untold dangers of her life. For this young girl to surviv, she needs to make some desperate choices which are vital to her survival.

Now, to protect her family, Eve will join forces with the investigative filmmaker, and one of Dove's friends. She is willling to risk eveything to help unravelthe truth behind the accusations against her grandmother. However will the truth set her and her family free or wwill it set her world on fire.

If you like a captivating thriller this is the book for you, I did find this a very slow burner however once i got into the story then it captured me and couldn't put it down. I love the atmopheric gotic vibes which this book has and the way that emily Carpenter tells the story in such a way which just builds the suspense, and developes the dark and very forboading characters in a way that makes yu want to be their friends and their enemies at the same time. I love the way that this book has a way of twisting 2 different story lines which come together and buids the story to a natual twist in the story.

Review of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

 

Magic is indeed very dangerous but love is more dangerous still. Discover the 'complusively readable' and the first installment in the Infernal Devices Trilogy. This is the prequel to the bestselling Mortal Instruments Series.

When Tessa Gray crosses the atlanic ocean to find her brother who she has lost contact with to her new destination of England, this novel is set during the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifyling is waiting for he in Downworld London - where Vampires, Warlocks and all the other supernatural folk who stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons and keep order admist the choas. Tessa is kidnapped by a secret organisation called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa begins to learn that she herself is a Downworlder with a very rare ability - the power for her to turn into another person. what is more, the Magister an illusive and shadowy figuree who runs the club and will not stop untill he has claimed Tessa as his own. Friendless and being hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the shadowhunters of the London Insitute, who swear that they will help her brother if she will help them by using her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by two best friends, James - whose fagile beauty hides a dangerous secret and Will - who caustic with and volitile mmoods keep everyone away from him.... everyone apart from Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of the arcane plot that threatens to destoy the Shadowhunters. Tessa then realises that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world .... and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I love the first installment in this trilogy and loved the way that she helped build the backstory for some of the families we meet in the original series. To find out when and where the traits of the most famous families such as the Herondales and Lightwoods. I can not help but love the way that Cassandra Clare writes and how she has a way a developing all of the plot lines and expands on the world that she has already created. I am so in awe of her and i have now purchase every book that she has written and can not wait to dive into the new installments that await me. 

Review of Peril at Thornywilde by Jonni Rich

 

This historical fiction book follows Lady Mariana Belmont and her arrival at the family's town house in Dublin. On arrival she is greeted unceremoniously by her fathers art protege, Thomas O'geary. Realizing that she has been mistaken for one of the models for his art. Mariana retaliates by playing along with the case of mistaken identity.

To her surprise she encounter with Thomas is just the first of many surprises in the whirlwind of events that will culminate into a take of murder, romance and mystery. When Mariana learns more about her father and about the rumour field origins of the dark estate of Thornywilde.

I listen to this as an audiobook on my commutes to work and found that this helped me enjoy the story even more. I would have not been able to enjoy all of the twist and turns which this story has. Saying that i did get lost in the story and found myself cheering all of the characters on and hoping for a happy ending. This is a book for people who love Gothic romance and mystery story which sadly is not the genre that i like to read however this book did grab my attention and would read other books by this author

For your copy, click the following link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peril-at-Thornywilde

Review of The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses #2) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

 

This is the explosive sequel from Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu, and this is a new thrilling adventure for High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alex Lightwood. This is a death-defying mission into the heart of evil, however this is not just a job this is supposed to he a romantic getaway for the two of them.

Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They are finally living together in a fabulous New York Loft apartment, with their Warlock son Max. Max is learning to walk and the streets of New York are peaceful .... as peaceful as they can be with everything that hustle and bustle.

Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus's apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec are thrust into a new mission and drop everything to get it back. They need to follow the breadcrumbs which the thieves to bustling Shanghai, it is at this point that they will need to call for some backup to accompanying them and find a capable babysitter for Max.

Also, someone has stabbed Magnus with a strange and magical weapon and with this wound glowing and this is impeding his recovery .... and this is an extra worry for the couple.

Fortunately, their friend arrive to back them up and this includes the newly minted shadow hunter Simon - as well as Jace, Clary and Isabelle. On their journey they learn that there is some much darker threats which effect the whole planet. Magnus's magic is growing very unstable and if they can not stop the demons who are flooding into the city, they might have to follow them into the realm of the dead. Can they stop this threat to the world? Will the couple make it back before they Max wears his grandmother out.

This was delightful and was the exact thing i wanted after reading the first novella, it gave me the magical story that i was expecting and built on the relationship of my favourite couple in the shadow hunters world. I love Magnus and Alec relationship and hope that Cassandra Clare gives us another instalment of this couples life. I am obsessed with the Shadow hunter world and absolutely love how this has focus on one of the couples. I love that Clare had the idea to give us this and made me love the characters even more. I love how this built on the world that she had already created and expanded it to other locations. I will never stop reading books from this world.

For you copy of this click: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Book-White

Review of The City of Tears by Kate Mosse

 The follow up novel from The Burning Chambers, The City of Tears is the second thrilling historical epic instalment in The Burning Chambers series.

This is set in August 1572, Minou Joubert and her family are in picturesque Paris for the Royal wedding. There is an alliance between the catholic crown and the Huguenot King of Navarre which is intended to bring peace to the country after a decade of religious wars. The oldest enemy, Vidal, still in pursuit of a priceless relic which will change the course of history. However within days of the marriage, thousands of people will lie dead in the streets and this will include Minou's beloved family will be scattered by the four winds.

This is a gripping and breath-taking novel of revenge, persecution and loss with boundless action which sweeps from Paris and Chartres to the City of tears itself in Amsterdam.

I am a sucker for a historical fiction novel and this one gripped me totally from page one until i turned the pages till the last. This is a story of perseverance and how the characters are able to forge a path from them to survive. This is them coupled with their fear for the families with missing members. This could also be a standalone however as part of the story of several books which helps with the development of the storyline and the world which the story is taken place in. I have to take my hat of to Kate Mosses and how she has developed the characters and left this as a cliff hanger ready for the next book.

For your copy, please click: https://www.amazon.co.uk/City-Tears

Review of Untouched (The Girl in the Box #2) by Robert J. Crane

 

Sienna is still being haunted by her last encounter with Wolfe - a sadistic and unrelenting shadow on her life. However she must put aside her personal struggles when a brand-new threat to her emerges ... a man by the name of Aleksandr Gavrikov. He is a meta human who is so powerful to the point that he can destroy entire cities. He has the sole focus on destroying the Directorate and bringing it to their knees.

I did not enjoy this one as much as the previous book. I found that i enjoyed the pace of action scenes however the sections between this were a bit flat. The story line on this book was full of trigger points relating to rape and sexual abuse which i found very uncomfortable, however maybe this is a way to make this book being talk about was what makes this book appealing to some readers. This was the book that has turned me off the series i am sorry to stay.

Review of The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses #1) by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

This book is from the #1 bestseller author Cassandra Clare and award winner author Wesley Chu with a new book to the series that follows the High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as they take a tour after the Mortal War. The Red Scrolls of Magic is a new type of shadowhunter novel centred on the dynamic and fascinating character.

All Magnus Bane wanted after all of the trials of war was a vacation, a lavish and amazing trip to Europe with the love of his life Alec Lightwood, the shadowhunter who against all odds is finally his boyfriend. As soon as the pair start to settle in Paris for the first leg of the vacation, an old friend of Magnus's arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent of causing unimaginable chaos across the world. This is a cult that has apparently been founded by Magnus himself ... years and years ago, as a joke.

Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage to the mundane world. If it was not bad enough that their romantic getaway has been side-tracked, demons are now dogging their every step, and it is becoming harder to tell who is a friend and who is an enemy. As the quest for answers becomes increasingly dire and Magnus and Alec will have had to trust each other more than ever ... even if it means revealing the secrets that they have both been keeping.

I loved this novella and how we get an insight into the dynamics of this wonderful couple. I have fallen in love with this couple and enjoyed the way that they have developed as a couple and the interactions that they have. I have loved to watch Alec fight for his right to be with the person that his loves. I want more of this story and can not wait to see where this love affair goes after this and when and if they ever get married.

To get your copy, please click: https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Red-Scrolls