Wednesday 28 June 2017

The Salvation Project by Stewart Ross Blog Tour









Information about the Book

Title: The Salvation Project (The Soterion Mission #3)
Author: Stewart Ross
Release Date: 20th June 2017
Genre: Dystopian YA
Publisher: Blean Books
Format: Paperback






Synopsis:

Humanity’s hope of salvation lies within a single laptop…

A mutation in human DNA means no one lives beyond nineteen. Scientists working to reverse this pandemic died before their Salvation Project was complete, leaving behind the results of their research in a sealed vault – the Soterion.

122 years have passed. The civilisation of the ‘Long Dead’ is almost forgotten, the Soterion has been burned to ashes, and communities of Constants are tormented by brutal tribes of Zeds. Cyrus, Miouda and Sammy flee their burning city with a laptop rescued from the inferno. They believe it contains the key to the Salvation Project. But its batteries are dead, there is no electricity to power it, and murderous Zeds will stop at nothing to get it back…


Review:

This book review is actually of the first book in The Salvation Project called The Soterion Mission, I wanted to do this so that my reviews were in order so I didn't review The Salvation Project which is book number 3 and then go back and review book 1 and 2 but I'll definitely be reviewing the following 2 books so please keep your eyes out them.
I wasn't so sure what to expect from this book ore series in general, once I received the books I sat and read 25 pages from the first book and could instantly feel the pull of not wanting to put it down. The following day I sat down and managed to finish the book in 1 sitting, it was literally a book I could not put down.

The whole series is based over a hundred years or so in the future, thanks to a worldwide epidemic no one lives past the age of 19, once they reach their 19th year they age rapidly in a mater of weeks. Only living until they are 19  means there is no longer any knowledge of the life from 2019 and beyond, it has all disappeared and life has now turned back to what it would have been like in the early years of human civilisation.

The characters were so well constructed and beautiful, Roxanne is the character that kind of throws everything up in the air at the beginning of the book, she's vulnerable and beautiful, she's clever and can read and write unlike the other characters but she's so real and I felt linked to her and the others in a way I cant even describe. She has knowledge of a place of knowledge, a place called the Soterion which holds the very last intel on human life before the epidemic, it's a place full of centuries of lost knowledge. On the quest to uncover the Soterion she is joined by Cyrus, a handsome and funny man, he knows what he must do the moment he meets Roxanne, he's drawn to her beauty and knowledge and can't help but love her. His life time friend Navid joins him, he didn't even need to be asked, he's a great friend, supportive and trusting, there isn't a good story without a dog, and his name is Corby, failthful and loyal. There are so many good characters when together make a diverse group, I find that characters clash at points and that that's meant to happen, I wasn't a fan of Taja mostly because eof her reaction to the whole thing, she seemed full of hatred towards Roxanne but that was her character but in the end I didn't hate her, her development over the span of the book really helped.

The point of view allows us to explore the words of the Constants who are the tribes who follow the values of the people before them- and the Zeds who are brutal tribes which revel in other people’s pain and suffering. Thanks to the ability to see both sets of people it made the story flow much easier, it gives you as a reader the knowledge from each side.
There were a lot of humorous parts in The Soterion Mission, I found it quite heart-warming and funny when Roxanne begins to talk of the only 2 books she has read so far and one happens to be the IKEA catalogue, which in all fairness helps a little. Where there is humour there are sober moments and to have both sort of intertwined in the story was a lovely contrast.

After meeting the characters early on in the book I instantly clicked with them, they are just teenagers living in a world that can barely work, and their faith in finding the cure to live on was so heart-warming. The connection with the characters doesn't falter, I got emotional too many times and I may have had a one sided argument with the book over a few decisions made within the book but all together the book was a great one for the start of a series, alone the first chapter grips you and let me tell you, the whole book alone makes you want to see where the rest of the series is going.

Its an easy 5/5 from me, its beyond words for me to tell you how I fully feel about this book, I hope a lot of teenagers pick this book up and absorb it as well as the rest of the series because throughout there are lessons everyone should learn.

Thank you to Faye for providing me with the book to which I have given my honest opinion.


Goodreads Link:

About the Author





Stewart was born in Buckinghamshire and educated in Oxford, Berkhamsted, Exeter, Bristol, and Orlando, Florida. He taught at a variety of institutions in Sri Lanka, the Middle East, the USA, and Britain before becoming a full-time writer in 1989.

With over 300 published titles to his credit, he is now one of Britain’s most popular and versatile authors. His output includes prize-winning books for younger readers, novels, plays, three librettos, a musical, and many widely acclaimed works on history and sport. Several of his books are illustrated with his own photographs.

Stewart also lectures in France and the UK, gives talks, runs workshops, and visits schools. He is an occasional journalist and broadcaster. His brother, Charlie Ross, is the celebrated auctioneer.
n his spare time Stewart enjoys travel, restaurants, sport, theatre, photography, art and music. He lives near Canterbury with his wife Lucy, and - occasionally - his four children and two grandchildren. Each morning he commutes 10 metres to work in a large hut in the garden.








Tour Schedule

Tuesday 27 June 2017

The Fourth Monkey Killer - J.D Barker


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Synopsis:


The most anticipated thriller of the year - Optioned for both film and television

Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs in this dark and twisting novel from the author Jeffery Deaver called, “A talented writer with a delightfully devious mind.”

For over five years, the Four Monkey Killer has terrorized the residents of Chicago. When his body is found, the police quickly realize he was on his way to deliver one final message, one which proves he has taken another victim who may still be alive.

As the lead investigator on the 4MK task force, Detective Sam Porter knows even in death, the killer is far from finished. When he discovers a personal diary in the jacket pocket of the body, Porter finds himself caught up in the mind of a psychopath, unraveling a twisted history in hopes of finding one last girl, all while struggling with personal demons of his own.

With only a handful of clues, the elusive killer’s identity remains a mystery. Time is running out and the Four Monkey Killer taunts from beyond the grave in this masterfully written fast-paced thriller.



Synopsis:

This book made its way to me after a very lovely email that was in my inbox, it intrigued me from the very start of the email and I really couldn't say no, it was well, right up my street. Once it got here though, I planned to read it closer to the date of when I planned to review it. It actually took a trip with me to Southampton on the 1st of June and I read maybe 10 pages on the coach on my way back home on the 2nd of June, I was hooked but because of the coach I wasn't comfortable enough to want to carry on so I simply read the 400 pages in 1 sitting the following day with zero shame.

Gripped from the get go I probably spent the majority of my time open mouthed because things caught me of guard. I'm going to try and not give away too much so that may mean that this review is short compared to the others but I'm going to push it as far as I can.

Unusually the beginning of the book well, tells of the death of The Fourth Monkey Killer, he happened to me on his way to post a clue to his final victim which the police know all about but this discovery quickly puts the team in action to find the victim before it's too late. The book takes on 3 points of view, one is that of Detective Sam Porter, the second point of view is a Diary of The Fourth Monkey Killer which Sam reads and the the final point of view of the final victim of the Killer.

The Fourth Monkey Killer is a killer that has terrorised Chicago over the last 5 years. When we think of it we are all familiar with the three monkeys; hear no evil (monkey covering ears), see no evil (monkey covering eyes), speak no evil (monkey covering mouth). For a small amount of time to my knowledge it we have no idea why he is called The Fourth Monkey and what it represents but son enough we do and it represents 'do no evil' which when you think about it, coming from a person who has killed numerous people, it's a contradiction of sorts.

Throughout the book we follow each point of view, each more thrilling and gripping and just making you need to carry on reading, It's gruesome, to some it's probably distressing and at points unbearable. An utterly gripping storyline, exceptionally graphic, and definitely not for the squeamish or weak stomached if I should say. It played with my emotions for sure and was really impossible to put down.

I don't think I can shout my praise any louder for this book, so many twists and unexpected points, I probably swore in surprise several times throughout, there's no way this book cant get lower than a 5/5 from me, I can definitely see it being a big crime/thriller of this year, I really hope some fans of those genres pick it up and read it because you definitely wont regret it.



Saturday 24 June 2017

Chasing Eveline - Leslie Hauser




26631470


Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Ivy Higgins is the only student at Carmel Heights High School who listens to cassettes. And her binder is the only one decorated with album artwork by 80s band Chasing Eveline. Despite being broken-up since 1989, this rock band out of Ireland means everything to Ivy. They’re a reminder of her mom, who abandoned Ivy and her dad two years ago. Now the music of her mom’s favorite band is the only connection she has left.

Even though Ivy wavers between anger and a yearning to reconnect, she’s one-hundred percent certain she’s not ready to lose her mom forever. But the only surefire way to locate her would be at a Chasing Eveline concert. So with help from her lone friend Matt—an equally abandoned soul and indie music enthusiast—Ivy hatches a plan to reunite the band.

The road to Ireland won’t be easy, though. And not just because there is no road. Along the way they’ll have to win over their Lady Gaga-loving peers, tangle with some frisky meerkats, and oh yeah, somehow find and persuade the four members to play a reunion gig. It’s a near-impossible task, but Ivy has to try. If she can’t let go of the past, she’ll never be able to find joy in the present.


Review:

Chasing Eveline is the story of a 16 year old girl named Ivy, one day her mother got up and just left her, leaving her to be raised by her father even though he himself is dealing with the loss and abandonment.

Ivy has only 1 connection  with her mom and that is through her mom's favourite band from the 80s called Chasing Eveline. All of the songs take her to a place with her mother where the memories are fresh and they are happy.
Together with her friend Matt who himself is struggling with a break up, try to get Chasing Eveline back together and they try to get the band new love from teenagers in creative ways and it made my heart melt how determined they both are in these activities because it was just that important to them. In the end they meet a boy named Sean who they quickly become friends with due to his love for the band too. Up to this point as a reader you really don't know which way this book is going and let me tell you there's plot twists in there.

The best part of this entire book to me was that it was a realistic story told about a teen girl dealing with pain and grief. She was strong in her broken heartedness. She was strong and determined and so real. The ending of the book was perfect, I mean they struggle hard throughout so any sort of reward at the end was going to be worth it but the end was such a great reward for them. Its a story of friendship and love, family and acknowledgment and acceptance. Just pure brilliance.

I feel as though this is YA novel that anyone can read no matter their age. Its heart warming and heart breaking, food for the soul, sewn together with love and written so perfectly. I cried and laughed, I experienced emotions with these characters and their lives, a great book does this and Leslie has done an amazing job here.

For all of this alone it is a 5/5 from me and a recommendation to anyone, I believe there is so much more for me to say but I can't quite put it into perfect enough words to express it. I really hope that I can read more of Leslies work in the future because Chasing Eveline with stay with me.

Thursday 22 June 2017

Perfect Score - Susan Roebuck Blog Tour




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About the Book

Title: Perfect Score
Author: Susan Roebuck
Release Date: 3rd May 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Ebook










Synopsis:

Feckless, exasperating Alex Finch is a rich, handsome and talented singer/songwriter who longs for two things: a career as a professional rock singer, and to have his love for Sam Barrowdale reciprocated. But drifter Sam's two aims are simply to earn enough money to pay his sister's medical bills and to hide from the world his reading/writing and speech disability. At this time the word "dyslexia" is generally unknown so to most people he's just a "retard". From the severe knocks life's dealt him, Sam's developed a tough outer coating and he has no time for a spoilt, selfish guitar player.

Despite his defects, Alex's love for Sam never wavers and when Sam unexpectedly disappears, Alex begins a somewhat bungling quest to find him, only to discover that Sam has a fearful enemy: Alex's powerful and influential yet sociopathic uncle.

As Alex spirals downwards towards alcoholism, many questions need answering. Just why did Alex's evil uncle adopt him at age eleven yet deny him any affection? And what's the mystery behind Alex's father's death?
Both seem to face unbeatable odds. Are they doomed to follow separate paths forever?



Review:

I loved the thought of 2 people from the opposite ends of society coming together, it just seemed such a beautiful thought. Both characters took my heart along with them all the way through the book, they were so well constructed and portrayed I really wish I could open my door and they'd be on my doorstep.

Sam struggles with reading and writing and its evident he also had trouble speaking but I can easily understand what he's saying or trying to say, he works hard and is actually quite smart to the point my mind was blown, he knows things people believe he doesn't have the brain to know and he gets a lot of abuse for his 'disability'. He seems like such a frail character but to me he's quite intimidating. He's a drifter and works hard at any job he gets just so he can pay his sisters medical bills, which is the sweetest thing ever because he seemed to not care what it took or what he had to put himself through to do it. He just simply adored his sister and let me tell you, she's a hilarious character who is so real.

Alex is talented and handsome, also rich but all he wants is Sam to love him back and throughout the story you can see the signals being thrown out and you just cross your fingers that they'll be received and sent back. Alex understands Sam just as much as Sam's sister Amy does. You can tell throughout how much he really cares for him, and how much he wishes and wants to do something to help him out. I fell in love with both characters and found it hard to stop thinking of them once I finished the book.

For the other characters in the book, I felt a mix of feelings for, everyone that ever gave any of the main characters and trouble or said or did something I didn't like I was internally hissing. There were very few characters who I loved like Alex and Sam, I think the other characters were written in a way for the reader to make their mind up about? I did make my mind up in the end. With a few characters there's many conflicting emotions but I have to let it be because some of them I cant just hate or just love.

The plot is extraordinary, I mean the mental and physical things the characters have to go through blew me away, the situations they were caught in took my breath away and I was just crossing everything for everyone to make it out okay and everything be fine. There were a few plot twists I didn't see coming, after the majority of the book I just prayed everything would go smoothly and it to go to plan but obviously it never does. Susan created a world with clear knowledge of treatment of those deemed ill or disabled in this time period (1960's), she also created a story in which the powers of love are tested and the ways of which family ties can be strained. The whole corruption part of it really stuck with me, I think its down to me feeling that there is a lot of it in the current world but we are less aware of it or are and just willing to ignore it and pray it to go away.

Its a beautiful tale of love between 2 seemingly very different boys and the pressures of family and supporting those we love. The ending was something I never imagined, it bought around the concept of acceptance of people who are 'different'. Id recommend this to anyone who's in need of a LGBTQ+ read an anyone else. Its an easy 5/5 from me and I cant wait to see more of Susan in the future and will definitely be looking to read her second novel called Hewhay Hall.




Goodreads link for the Perfect Score by Susan Roebuck
Amazon link for the Perfect Score by Susan Roebuck




Author Information



My first love is, of course, my husband, my second writing, and my third painting. And now I have time to be able to indulge in all three.

My debut novel, "Perfect Score" was published by Awe-Struck Publishing on Sept 21, 2010 and the paperback was launched on May 11 2011. In May 2017 Mundania Press re-released the ebook.

Perfect Score was an EPIC (Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition) finalist in the 2012 EPIC e-Book Awards in the Mainstream Category.

"Perfect Score" is set in mid West USA in the 1960s and is a story about family relationships, corruption, growing up, integrity, responsibility, and being a man of worth in a society of the worthless.

"Hewhay Hall" is my second novel, published by Etopia Press on April 20, 2012. It has won the EPIC (Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition) 2013 e-Book Award in the Horror Category (an EPPIE)








Tour Schedule


Monday 19th June

Tuesday 20th June

Wednesday 21st June

Thursday 22nd June

Friday 23rd June

Saturday 24th June

Monday 26th June

Tuesday 27th June

Wednesday 28th June

Friday 30th June

Saturday 1st July







Wednesday 21 June 2017

The Devils Poetry - Louise Cole Blog Tour










Book Information


Title: The Devil’s Poetry

Author: Louise Cole

Release Date: 13th June 2017

Genre: YA Thriller

Publisher: Kindle Press

Format: Ebook











Summary:
Questions are dangerous but answers can be deadly.
Callie’s world will be lost to war – unless she can unlock the magic of an ancient manuscript. She and her friends will be sent to the front line. Many of them won’t come back. When a secret order tells her she can bring peace by reading from a book, it seems an easy solution - too easy. Callie soon finds herself hunted, trapped between desperate allies and diabolical enemies. The Order is every bit as ruthless as the paranormal Cadaveri.

Callie can only trust two people – her best friend and her ex-marine bodyguard. And they are on different sides. She must decide: how far will she go to stop a war?

Dare she read this book? What’s the price - and who pays it?

Commended In the Yeovil Prize 2016, this is an action-packed blend of adventure, fantasy and love story.


Review:

When asked if I wanted to read this book, by the sounds of the synopsis alone I just couldn't refuse and I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. The book follows Callie she's 17 and the world she knows will be lost to war soon so when her and her friends go out to party to celebrate their last piece of freedom before being shipped off to war, she didn't know she could change all of that, with 1 book.

Soon enough she's in possession of a book that draws her in, a book forced upon her by a stranger who will become known as Jace, in a situation where she simply didn't have the time to refuse. She doesn't know it but she holds the power to save her friends from the oncoming war. This part of the story alone just made me want to read on and never stop.

At school the following day a new teaching assistant by the name of Mr Portman rings bells to Callie, she remembers him handing her the book and telling her to keep it safe, not to read it but just keep it safe but familiar face or not Callie feels vulnerable around him. Later that day Gavin and Amber who are Callies closest friends are walk home across the fields, Gavin leaves going his way home leaving the other 2 girls to carry on aross the Marchbanks' farm and that's when things truly kick off. Figures with white eyes come closer, backing Callie into the barn after Callie had made Amber run away because it was her they wanted, and all they want is the book that Callie doesn't have on her.

Everything pretty much kicks off at higher gears after that, I don't want to give away too much but Callie soon becomes involved with a group whom are the people who help stop the world going to hell (to be honest) There's a lot of nail biting moments and times where I've had to call out and do whale cries just because it was so great. It was a gripping book and I was simply unable to put it down. I have to admit I fell in love with Callie and Jace, it was an undeniable love between me and both of the characters, I didn't feel so attached to other characters but I felt emotions when they were involved.

Its hard to truly express how much I loved this book and I really cant wait to read more from Louise Cole, she has drawn me in and I simply cant back out. its an easy 5/5 from me, the book feels like a great book for anyone to read, its a perfect mix of suspence, action and love and friendship. I hope you'll check out the book and if you don't I hope you'll check out the other posts from the Blog Tour as the names of the blogs are below.






About the Author - Louise Cole


Louise Cole has spent her life reading and writing. And very occasionally gardening. Sometimes she reads as she gardens. She can be seen walking her dogs around North Yorkshire - she's the one with a couple of cocker spaniels and a Kindle. She read English at Oxford - read being the operative word - and hasn't stopped reading since.

In her day-job she is an award-winning journalist, a former business magazine editor and director of a media agency. She writes about business but mainly the business of moving things around: transport, logistics, trucks, ships, and people.

Her fiction includes short stories, young adult thrillers, and other stuff which is still cooking.

Her YA and kids’ fiction is represented by Greenhouse Literary Agency and she is also published on Amazon as one of the Marisa Hayworth triumvirate.

Saturday 17 June 2017

Déjà Moo: A Lawnmowers, Inc. Novel - PJ Benney

34657826


Synopsis:
Lawnmowers, Inc. is London’s biggest (read: only) cattle-powered garden maintenance corporation. But after his Holstein mascot, Lily, goes missing, celebrity CEO Daniel teams up with reclusive witch Cynthia to uncover a conspiracy that threatens to destroy their futures and rewrite their pasts. With a detective hunting a werewolf in Camden Market, a coven of magi controlling London's biggest news channel, and a reporter desperate to expose a public scandal, it's only a matter of time before the city discovers both the fate of the bovine superstar, and the existence of magic itself...

Review:

Daniel Wesley never had his sights set on fame or riches but they had found him, he's now a CEO who has made an empire out of showing the world that the cows offer more than their milk and meat - that they're great lawnmowers. At The Grazing Day Fair in Hyde Park all is going good and well until Daniels speech comes along, he passes out on stage in front of everyone including reporters and awakes to find his mascot named Lily is missing.

There are a lot of great things to say about this book. First of all, the writing is hilarious. Good job I didn't count how many time I actually laughed or scoffed because that would be large number if I'm honest. I found the entire book to be well-written, both grammar and plot wise, everything was so meticulously planned out to be what it became its blew my mind. The story kept moving, the pace was spot on, and I was undoubtedly hooked from the start until the finish.

There are so many characters in this book that I just love, and you get to follow a good number of them throughout the story, we have a witch called Cynthia Pannettiére, her missing wizard boyfriend called Errol, a werewolf hunting ex detective Vincent Burgess, a wicked witch, an elderly couple of wise mages, a secret order of magical monks - and a fair few more fascinating characters. One I actually loved a lot is History. Yes History is a character, who comes across as just a sort of living being whom makes many appearances throughout the book and watches down on all things as they happen, happened, or will happen... you know because... time is relative...right?

I love how this book makes you really have to think!  And just when you think you’ve got things figured out, here comes a twist and you’ve got to keep reading to find out what happens next. I mean I think a lot of people would think this book hard to follow because of how its written but its really just an ordinary book that is as simple and easy to follow you just have to take everything in.

The end of the book, whilst it ties up the biggest issue at hand, it still leaves some things open to smoothly transition into a second book. I really cant say much as to what I expected going into this book but I can say is that it is extraordinary. I did have no expectations because I don't tend to read much of this genre so of course I didn't know what to expect but to have a character who is a cow, quite damn literally is one of the best things ever. The characters are so realistic and some quite quirky it just made them more relatable.

P.J Benney will surely go far with this book and all those that may come, his humour and writing are just something that when mixed together are so unique and quite beautiful if I may say so. Its an easy 5/5 from me, I cant say a single bad thing about the book except for the fact it had to come to an end, even though not a genre I read lot of, Déjá Moo has definitely opened that door for me and given me a little kick through it.

Déjá Moo is just the first, there is also Encore Moo a Novella and Bovine Intervention will be coming out in 2018.



Links
Click here to see Déjá Moo: A Lawnmowers, Inc. Novel on Amazon
Click here to see Déjá Moo: A Lawnmowers, Inc. Novel on Goodreads

Click here to see Encore Moo: A Lawnmowers Inc. Novella on Amazon
Click here to see Encore Moo: A Lawnmowers Inc. Novella on Goodreads

Click here to see P.J Benney's Twitter
Click here to visit P.J Benney's Website

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Playlist For A Paper Angel - Jacqueline Ward

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Synopsis:

One child found, one child missing – what's the connection?

DS Jan Pearce is still searching for her missing son. When she finds a little girl, Elise, alone in a pram in a busy town centre, she must unravel a mystery that takes her to the edge of her emotions. Then another child, Dara Price, goes missing.

Lisa Connelly, Elise's mother, has been forced into a life of prostitution and has been leaving her little girl alone. Her gangland boss is holding her prisoner but she wants her little girl back.

Jan finds herself balancing her search for her son with finding Dara. Her right hand man, Mike Waring, is on another case so she and her temporary partner, profiler Damien Booth, must solve the puzzle and find Lisa before time runs out for Dara.

Playlist for a Paper Angel is the second in the DS Jan Pearce series of novels and is the sequel to Random Acts of Unkindness.



Review:

So this book is the second in the series and from where the first book ended I was really excited to see the characters once again. You are thrown into the action nearly straight away and the pace picks up throughout my heart was racing as DS Jan and her team raced against the clock to find the missing little girl, completely weary of what would come to be.

The story is told from two perspectives, one who is Elise's mum whom we meet very early on and or lovely DS Jan Pearce. Both perspectives show the balance between what is true and what is going on and how the police are conducting their investigation and how they see the situation. It is written beautifully. There is also a new character introduced and I think I automatically fell in love with him. His name is Dr Damien Booth and he is a profiler who was bought in to help Jan out, he ends up becoming her new partner in the investigation whilst her best friend and partner Mike is put into another case. The differences of all 3 characters to one another makes the story great, they're opposites of each other, each having their own issues or troubles with their past and its perfect.

The use of the paper angels blew my mind I was actually pretty mind blown abut how it was used and the rest of the issues within the book blew my mind it was all so unexpected and yet great as part of the story. One of the things I love about Jacqueline Ward is that she doesn't sugar coat things, the crimes that are in this book are horrific and she has no issue with telling it like it is. Although the crimes within the book are horrendous and I wouldn't wish anyone in that position, they were well written, the characters reacted with emotions you would expect and it made it so real.

Lets not forget Jan's son is still missing after the end of the first book and she's still being secretly pulled and tempted to take action on her knowledge. The more I read about her the more I just convince myself she is someone living right next door to me who I'm involved with, she just seems so real. All of the plot twists that come were completely unseen by me, I had to put my phone down and take several deep breaths just so I could process it all.  I loved the pace of the book but the build up to the end was completely and utterly worth it and you can really feel the excitement and mystery kick up a notch and you just feel yourself pushed to keep on reading.

Much like the first book its a 5/5 read and definitely worth reading if you're into any level of mystery/crime/thriller books.

Thank you to Faye Rogers who provided me with the copy in exchange for an honest review

Random Acts Of Unkindness - Jacqueline Ward

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Synopsis:

How far would you go to find your child?
DS Jan Pearce has a big problem. Her fifteen year old son, Aiden, is missing. Jan draws together the threads of missing person cases spanning fifty years and finds tragic connections and unsolved questions.

Bessy Swain, an elderly woman that Jan finds dead on her search for Aiden, and whose own son, Thomas, was also missing, may have the answers.
Jan uses Bessy's information and her own skills and instinct to track down the missing boys. But is it too late for Aiden?

Set in the North West of England, with the notorious Saddleworth Moor as a backdrop, Random Acts of Unkindness is a story about motherhood, love and loss and how families of missing people suffer the consequences of major crimes involving their loved ones.
Random Acts of Unkindness is the first in the DS Jan Pearce series of novels.

Review:

So I received this book quite a while ago to review honestly, but because I had such a long list of books to read by a certain date that were so soon, I had to put this book on the bottom of the list and plan to read it later on. I cant really explain what I was thinking or expecting going into this book. It turned out to be something I couldn't even think of happening even if I could expect something.

The book comes from 2 perspectives, that of our main character DJ Jan Pearce who's son has been listed as missing. Whilst on her hunt for her son Aiden she comes across a dead body, the body of our second perspective,  Bessy Swain who's son Thomas went missing in 1060's as the horrific crimes of the moors murders were going on.. We are introduced to Jan in a very gruesome way as she enters a house to find Bessy' dead body after reports of a certain smell, she automatically rules the death to be in suspicious circumstances. It then comes to light that Jan actually has an ulterior motive for being in the house, she's following up a lead she has between her missing son and the house owner, criminal mastermind Mr Connelly.

Against police rules Jan goes around the house looking for more clues but she only finds a notebook written in by Bessy which is a journal and inside it contains all the vital information of her life from the moment her son went missing which also provides so many links to Jan's current situation. but ir provides her with more determination and comfort that makes her even more desperate to find out what happened to both boys. As a police officer there are rules that must be followed but Jan defies advice from her superior officer, her best friend and fellow co worker and also her ex husband. Jan just knows that she can solve the mysteries of the missing boys that has plagued the  county for decades. she risks her job, her credibility, her friendships and indeed her life just to uncover the truth at any cost.

I went it completely unaware of all of the twists and turns that were going to come in the story. I loved the pace of the book but the build up was completely and utterly worth it and you can really feel the excitement and mystery kick up a notch when everything gets going and this just pushes you even more to keep on reading. I love how we were able to hear both voices who have struggled with their sons going missing, it was lovely to see them actually sort of bonding and connecting over it.

As this book is the first of a series by the name of DC Jan Pearce series, I will definitely be looking out for what is to come after this 5/5 read. Definitely worth reading if you're into any level of mystery/crime/thriller books.

Thank you to Faye Rogers who provided me with the copy in exchange for an honest review

Saturday 3 June 2017

The Eye of Nefertiti: A Pharaoh's Cat Novel - Maria Luisa Lang

33192292

Synopsis:

The Eye of Nefertiti is both a stand-alone novel and a sequel to The Pharaoh’s Cat. The time-traveling ancient Egyptian feline with human powers returns together with his beloved Pharaoh and his close friends, the High Priest of Amun-Ra and Elena, an Egyptologist’s daughter.

The cat is quick-witted, wise-cracking narrator as well as free-spirited, ever-curious protagonist, and the story he tells is an exotic, imaginative, spell-binding tragicomedy. The cat travels from present-day New York City to England, both ancient and modern, then to ancient Egypt, where he confronts a horrible demon and experiences a sublime emotion. Once back in England, he descends into a psychological abyss so deep only the Pharaoh can save him.

The Eye of Nefertiti interweaves feline and human, past and present, natural and supernatural. It contains numerous surprises, twists and turns, intriguing characters, both human and animal, fascinating revelations about ancient Egyptian history and culture, and an ingenious application of the Tarot and an Italian opera.


Review

I must first of all thank Maria for supplying me with a free copy of the book in return I am to truthfully review it.

The Eye of Nefertiti is a stand alone novel but is also a follow on from the first book A Pharaoh's Cat. Having read the first book I felt it easy to transition into this book but I know that having read this book that even if you haven't read the first book, everything is pretty much in here for you to catch up on anyway so it isn't really too necessary to read the first unless you want the detail.

After the ending of the last book, we are in New York and its been a few months and there is now a new addition who is very much an adorable little fella. As it was with the first book, its a quick read and easily completed in a sitting or 2 depending on the time you have, and it still isn't a simple book about a cat, it looks at the deep meanings of connections, mixing emotions with historical fiction and magic. We see more than just ancient Egypt and modern day New York this time, we also get to see both modern and ancient England which made me smile because I love it when books are based in my country for some reason. Throughout the book there is a mystery that must be solved and we’re left very curious as to how things will play out. Although it is easy to work out a couple of bits and bobs as I say, as a whole the way things play out was just a big surprise for me.

We once again have a number of amusing moments to play audience to; we once again get to explore ancient Egypt and have a mystery to solve as well as having interesting characters and have scenes that pull at a variety of emotions. It gives us all we could expect from the story.

I simply just loved this book, having already fell in love with and attached myself emotionally and mentally to all of the characters in the last book I just simply moved into this book and with each page turn I was finding more and more reason to stay connected and laugh and cry or a mix of the both. The plot was very interesting and unique and I just couldn't put it down. With all of the new messages and lessons I finished the book with a sense of something, I'm not even sure what but I was kind of refreshed and seeing the world ever so slightly different. It opened my eyes in some way and I'm pretty sure I cried for a little while but no one needs to know that.

Leaving this the very same way I left the first book, its an easy 5/5 and if any of you check this out, come back tell me how you felt about it all and lets see how different or same our experiences were.