Blog Tour: A Single Journey - Frankie McGowan

Book Synopsis:

Harriet has begun to despair of her life.

With a failed relationship behind her, a business on the rocks and a flat that’s falling apart around her ears, she could really use some luck.

Elena Banbury, née Guseva, an elderly but imposing Russian woman who is Harriet’s neighbour and landlady, frequently entertains the punters at Harriet’s jewellery stall with tales of the palaces of St. Petersburg and the treasures of Fabergé. But Harriet sometimes feels, guiltily, that she could do without the endless errands that seem to fall to her as Elena’s friend.

Then, unexpectedly, when Elena dies, she leaves all her worldly goods to a grateful Harriet. In time, however, it becomes clear that others are shocked by Harriet’s good luck, too. Shocked… and very, very unhappy.

Challenged in court by Elena’s family who live in Berlin, Harriet is forced to give up her inheritance and long-dreamed-of plans for a new business, and start her life again. But with her reputation in tatters and the memory of Elena tainted, Harriet knows a great injustice has been done.

Against the advice of her friends, family and lawyers, Harriet sets off on her own, very singular journey to Berlin.

In the weeks that follow she meets rich and poor, the glamorous and the criminal, the honest and the secretive, and begins to see that perhaps she has something to learn from them all. Something to learn about herself, and something to learn about her priorities.

She knows she has to fight for justice. But, when she meets the scholarly, perceptive Neil, who generously tries to help Harriet in her mission, but who is struggling with a complicated marriage, she must also decide if she’ll fight for love, too. 

Review:

So I'm absolutely honoured to be a part of the blog tour for A Single Journey, I begun reading my copy of the book a little while ago but thanks to some unknown glitch I encountered, I was unable to fully read the book. Thankfully Hannah came to my rescue and provided me with another copy n a different format that allowed me to continue my reading. I must let you all know that due to the glitch and date limit on this post, I feel as though I may have missed things here and there because I had to speed read but hopefully, with all things crossed, that this all still makes sense.

I don't really want to be giving away too much of the plot away so I wont explain it in all of the detail I know, but as the story goes, Harriet rents a flat from aging Elena Banbury who spends her time entertaining customers that visit Harriet's failing stall and the others around her with tales of her childhood in Russia. It is only when Elena passes away that Harriet find out how she was really seen by her. 

As far as our main character Harriet goes, she feels extremely real to me, beyond likable in my eyes and with her own flaws, it adds to the realistic feel of her. As the story progresses I begun to feel more attached to her, rooting for her at every moment she needed me to, wanting her to be successful when a challenge came to her, she was just so real for me.

The amazing thing about A Single Journey is that as our main character dives deeper into Elena's life we get to see how the tale passes by generation by generation, crossing numerous countries. It's a greatly pulled off intricate plot that must have been thought through superbly well and because of that as a reader, I was hooked throughout and I have no doubt other readers would be/have been too. The plot is jam packed but easy to follow throughout and as each chapter closes and the next begins, you are drawn more and more into the book being unable to stop yourself from at points beginning to take guesses at what is coming next (but as always I'm so far off) 

As I've seen on The Writing Greyhounds blog tour post, Lorna talks of things that are in the book that are maybe morals and important messages within the book which I wanted to share with you too.

"there are also several important points, or perhaps even morales, that are addressed in the book. A Single Journey reminds us about the importance of following our dreams and staying true to ourselves; all too often, we can find ourselves bogged down in the mundanities of day-to-day life and realise that we are living without really living. Harriet's journey to come to terms with the events of the story perfectly encapsulate this and represent the fact that sometimes, we must listen to our hearts rather than our heads.

Another important message to take away from the book is the way that older people are treated in our society. With the UK's over-worked care system, it's all too easy for vulnerable elderly people to fall through the cracks and end up with their struggles going unnoticed, as portrayed by Elena's situation at the beginning of the book. In real life, there may not always be a Harriet around to help, and A Single Journey helps to highlight the very real issue of the UK's elderly care crisis."

I think what she says makes perfect sense, they are also things I also picked up on, I also like the idea that the message about the UK's elderly care crisis is really a great message to me sharing and showing through such a book in the way it is. 

A Single Journey was a great read for me even though I may have missed things via speed reading but maybe I'll revisit the book and update this review sometime soon. From what I got from it, as Lorna says, It's a moving, heartfelt story about love, loss and staying true to yourself.

I cant give the book anything less than a 4 out of 5, I simply loved Harriet just that much and loved how the tale within spanned so far. Please don't forget to visit the other blogs taking part in this tour and it's also the time to mention that for the duration of the blog tour, A Single Journey is at the discounted price of only 0.99.

Purchase A Single Journey Here

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The Red Thread (The Straits Quartet #1) by Dawn Farnham Blog Tour Review

Information about the Book

Title: The Red Thread (The Straits Quartet #1)

Author: Dawn Farnham

Genre: Asian Historical Fiction

Publisher: Monsoon Books

Format: Paperback

Published: 7^th April 2015

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21149887-the-red-thread

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Thread-Chinese-Singapore-Straits-ebook/dp/B005DIAOSM

Summary:

Set against the backdrop of 1830s Singapore where piracy, crime, triads, and tigers are commonplace, this historical romance follows the struggle of two lovers Zhen, a Chinese coolie and triad member, and Charlotte, an 18-year-old Scots woman and sister of Singapores Head of Police. Two cultures bound together by the invisible threads of fate yet separated by cultural diversity.

Review:

I love learning about new cultures and countries so when I was asked if I wanted to read The Red Thread and write an honest review for the upcoming blog tour I simply couldn't resist. The Synopsis excited me as I wanted to know how everything would play out but firstly how everything would come to be. As a genre that I don't read, I'm actually pretty sure this is my first Asian Historical Fiction book I've ever read and it was an enjoyable first experience.

Set in the Singapore of the 1830's, the story follows Charlotte and Zhen in their different, yet intertwined paths, the Red Thread of the title binding them together. Charlotte is young and now in a foreign land which is not like the Singapore we know of today and Zhen  who's portrayed as super sexy, both of them I cared for and sympathised with them but part of me didn't feel all that invested in them in the end. They were both great characters in a great story I just didn't fully connect with them but I loved them all I could. Alongside our two main characters Dawn mixes a number of real-life characters from 1830s Singapore into the pages,  George Coleman and his partner Takouhi most notably, Coleman was an Irish architect who was responsible for the infrastructure of Singapore 

As a whole I thought the story was very well written, with some good prose and some suggestive passages, so I did enjoy the book, its a great mix of love and culture which in the set period of time and place are conflicting things. There has clearly been a large amount of research into each aspect of the cultural and historic moments within the story. Dawn has done a great job and I can understand why she has gone on to write another 3 books under The Straits Quartet series title.

I love the whole belief in the red thread.'The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of place, time, or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break. This myth is similar to the Western concept of soulmate or a destined flame.'

Despite not fully connecting with the characters but loving the plot and the history of the book I can easily give this book a 4 out of 5. Although I have read a few reviews which pointed out many negatives I didn't feel as though they were negatives to me in the situations regarding the plot and the time frame. One day I hope I'll be able to pick up more of Dawns books and enjoy them as I did this one. I recommend this book to anybody who loves history and/or romance. 

About The Author

Dawn Farnham is the author of The Straits Quartet (The Red Thread, The Shallow Seas, The Hills of Singapore and The English Concubine), as well as numerous short stories, plays and children’s books. A former long-term resident of Singapore, Dawn now calls Perth, Australia, home. Her new book, Finding Maria is published in October 2017. Learn more about Dawn at www.dawnfarnham.com.

Website: www.dawnfarnham.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/farnhamauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawnfarnhamauthor/

*PLEASE NOTE* The Red Thread is going to be FREE on Amazon from 17th - 25th September

Monday 18^th September

Little Hux Tales

Book Lover Worm Blog

Tuesday 19^th September

Fiction Fascination

Our First Year Here

Wednesday 20^th September

Bibliobeth

The Bookish Fairy Blog

Thursday 21^st September

The Writing Greyhound

A Books Eternal Glory

Friday 22^nd September

Big Book Little Book

Two Book Thieves

Saturday 23^rd September

Tales of Yesterday

Rambling Mads

Sunday 24^th September

Rachel Bustin

Kraftireader

Champions: At Fires End (Champions #1) - Charlotte Jain

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old best friends, April and Kyle, are thrown into the final battle of the Titan and Olympian war. Locked into an endless struggle, the Immortals have finally reached a solution - bestow mortal Champions with control over the elements to wage their final campaign.

Bestowed with control over fire and water, April and Kyle were raised by Immortals with a single purpose - win the war. After finally uncovering the remaining Champions' identities, April and Kyle must launch themselves into their final battle for survival. Winner takes all. But the Immortals are growing restless, and time is running out. 

Review:

Thanks to Charlotte whom provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows April and Kyle, two 17-year olds who've been chosen as two of the four Champions to wage the war for the Olympians against the Titans on earth. Both teenagers were raised and trained by Immortals, and both hold powers given to them at birth which allows them to control fire and and water along with several other abilities which are a little sprinkle pf surprise when they make an appearance. April and Kyle are on a mission to find the remaining two Champions as they come in pairs, but they’re supposed to train and then go on to destroy them. As both of them come to struggle to control their abilities that are slowly but surely wearing them down the inevitable war moves closer and closer and that's all they think about.

First of all, I went in to this book without any expectations, that's mostly down to me not knowing what to truly expect from the book. I really liked how Charlotte's story played out in the end, I loved the vivid descriptions which allowed me to, without much effort imagine each and every setting. Both the main characters and the side characters were well developed and portrayed, I wasn't too fond of Kim for some reason but I was inevitably drawn to Noah whom had this dark presence about him but that's a whole new can of worms that we definitely wont be opening here.

I used to love Greek Mythology as a kid so the mention of it within this book kind of re-awoke the child in me and loved it just as much as I did. I loved each part of the story and definitely wasn't expecting the ending. I got completely lost in the book, fully immersed and in love with what I was reading. April felt like a best friend for me I really hooked onto her or her to me and I was simply unable to not get any sort of emotional or on edge when she was involved in something. I did remain neutral on Kyle though, at first I loved him and all he was and brought to the story but by the time it ended, after all that had happened throughout the book I didn't hate nor love him. But all the characters were greatly written and portrayed and id happily give this book a 4/5 and ill definitely be wanting to see how the rest of this series goes.

If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology like my inner child and Percy Jackson, you may want give this series a go.

Wrecking Balls - J. Giambrone

Synopsis:

Charleston and Gary are on the verge of comic greatness: broke, wasted, and floundering through life. As Charleston turns 30 he faces an existential crisis. His comedy career in the gutter, he considers leaving the life. That is until Gary pilfers one of his joke ideas. Then it's comedy Jihad to the death, and there can be only one.


Review:

This book was a book of which I had alot of expectations for, mostly down to hoping the jokes within were going to have an affect on me.

So Gary and Charleston have shared the same dream since they were kids growing up together, to become top notch comedians with fans and the spotlight on them. They tumble through life doing gigs here and there as many as they can, finding nothing much like the success that they want. Out of the blue Gary steals one of Charlestons jokes from his line up so naturally they both having a fall out which consists of jokes gone awry and vengeful videos online, each of them trying to outdo the other and let me say its crazy.

The stand up parts of this book were actually funny, so much so I had a good hearty laugh even though they push the limits of being acceptable. Through the stand up parts of the book Giambrone highlights how sensitive America is, and not essentially just America but almost every other place on the earth. With each stand up moment there is also a great insight of how the whole thing actually works which makes it even more enjoyable to read. 

I have to be honest when I'm writing these reviews, I don't like to write of negative things but this one isn't negative as such, it was more of a complication I faced. When I first begun reading the book it took me a couple of chapters to really get into the book as I found it hard to gain some sort of understanding of what was going on but I was able to catch on not too late into the book. I really loved Gary and Charleston, I think they would look great on stage in a small run down bar.

I love how Giambrone was able to write 3 different comedians in this book and managed to give each of them all their own different audience and view on the world and the issues going on. They all stood out as individuals on the stage, and I feel like  making that happen is hard to do. I was really impressed by Giambrone' ability to do so much with 3 completely different characters within a story. Some of the jokes throughout the book had me laughing hard, it was quite nice to be able to laugh at certain of the jokes. I'm giving it a 4/ 5 , that's really not the books fault really because I didn't laugh at all of the jokes and I felt if I did I'd have given it a 5/5 but I wasn't laughing all the way through even though I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story and some of the jokes. If you're into comedy then this is definitely a book for you.

Tobacco Sun - Lorna Hollifield

Synopsis:

The year is 1947. The war is over, Jackie Robinson has just integrated baseball, and Frank Sinatra breezes in over the fuzzy airwaves. A sense of relief is finally sweeping the nation...everywhere except Tobaccoville, North Carolina.

Beyond the rural fields that are pregnant with decades of secrets, a mysterious Hollywood pin-up is jailed for murder while her facially birth marked half-sister may hold the answers as to why.

The two girls, estranged for years, share a haunting past, a shell-shocked love interest, and maybe even a cruel destiny. Through mountains of lies, the truth that inevitably comes pouring out of the tobacco leaves will come to light. Will this light reveal the path to the siblings’ foreordained destruction, or their long-awaited deliverance? Will they realize they each hold the power to set the other free before it’s too late?

A story of heritage, hurt, and somehow, hope; Tobacco Sun keeps you on the edge of your seat while you find yourself rooting for redemption.

Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book going in, for me it was a slow beginning where I struggled to get into the book and get excited for what was to come. After what felt like an eternity, I got completely sucked into the world of which the character live.

We follow 4 characters throughout the book, each of them with their own point of view and with their own something to bring to the table so to speak. We follow Jimmi-Lyn, whom I did feel sorry for when things were explained. Shes the older half sister to Sydra, although Jimmi-Lyn has a birthmark on her face and is sort of seen as flawed because of it, I felt so sorry for her and when it came to the treamtment of her from people who were supposed to love her just broke my heart. Sydra is the younger 'more beautiful' and talented half sister, she's an actress/model and behind bars, there were times I felt connected to her in the way I could feel her emotions and understand them but I never felt fully connected to any of the characters. There were times when I hated Sydra. just because of how narcissistic she was and I feel like she felt as though she was above everybody else because of her talent and looks which annoyed me. We also see Vanse, he's been to war but has been Jimmi - Lyn's friend since way before and you can feel their chemistry when you read about them spending time together. He's flawed and yet wonderful, he's supportive and strong but in touch with his emotions an its just beautiful. The final character we come into contact with is Dr Peter Garris who is evaluation Sydra, you can tell he is kind-hearted, I felt as though he really felt for Sydra and was always willing to stand up for what he believed in even when people above him with more power begun making threats.

The plot itself is great, very slow paced which I feel is done so that you have time to absorb all that is happening and is being explored. There are thing I never saw coming, I definitely loved how secret the twists were, maybe its down to the fact I cant join dots that I didn't catch on earlier but it was definitely a good shock when all unravelled. The depth in which the plot goes is perfect, its an equal mix of past and present which helps you as a reader full understand it all.

I enjoyed the book and it was a great plot and great characters, its mostly down to the pacing alone that it's a 4/5 for me, I tend to like gripping fast paced books but this book is great and gripping and truly something to read and enjoy.

Something (Wisteria 1) - Shelby Lamb

Synopsis:

“I will find true love and everything will be okay. I will find true love and everything will be okay…” she chanted.

They say be careful what you read. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. It can happen to anyone. This is just four teenagers’ story. Aubrey Golding hates her face, her body, and is devastated after Nathan Silva leaves her. Alone, suicidal, and desperate for love, she discovers a book called Something and unknowingly links others to a dark and terrifying curse that is beginning to consume her. Nathan is glad to be moving on with someone new and can hardly believe what is happening now. Wild child and amateur porn star, Bella Broadhurst, loves bullying that “emo whore” Aubrey with the other girls, but mostly she loves partying, hookups, and plain ol’ drama when terror arises. And Kendra Coke is just a new teen mother working on a delicate relationship when things start becoming utterly bizarre. Chilling sleep disturbances and figures hiding in the corners of their rooms are just warnings of what is to come. Be careful what you read, they say. Tread carefully.

Review:

It's going to be a hard review to write, I have to begin by saying that just so it's clear. Shelby contacted me about this book in August of this year and I eventually got around to reading it, the synopsis really pulled me in an di really couldn't wait to get into the book.

First off I loved the diversity of the characters, they're all different from one another, its lovely to see as not only does it create a lot more interest in each character but it also stops you from getting bored over the same old same old sort of character. The whole scenario of 'something' is really something to admire, the pure creepy feeling I got reading about it as I read it really impressed me.

"The nail-biting idea of a curse being spread by reading a book will make readers feel a part of the story, and more connected to the diverse and interesting characters. - Kathlean Thomas" is a quote I cannot agree more with, a curse for starters isn't exactly something I've read a lot of books about so I really enjoyed the freshness of the spreading of evil and darkness, including the title of the book as being the title of the book which pretty much starts the whole thing off really does drag the reader in and they do get to experience the paranoia of if 'something' really is watching and always will be.

The book really is great, a great amount of everything from character background and their portrayal, a perfect mix of horror and twists but I must go to what I found not bad but just simply something I begun to cringe about after reading the same sort of thing 3 times. Sex. I get it I really do, Audrey is suicidal and desperate for love and Bella is delving into the adult entertainment industry as an amateur porn star but I found the sex scenes after like 3 times really something that was making me cringe because I felt like although its part of who the characters are and things, it just felt like it was a way of just passing the time with the characters, giving them something to do whilst horror unfolds.

It really is a book worth reading, its gripping and terrifying and I must admit, a book I couldn't put down, I may have accidently run over my lunch break at work not once but 3 times because of this book. I can't wait for what is next, the ending was really something that dangled me over the edge of  'what now?' The book gets a 4 out of 5 from me, I really should take time to thank Shelby for giving me the opportunity to bring Something into my life. 

The Girl Of Ink and Stars - Kiran Millwood Hargrave



Synopsis

Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella Riosse dreams of the faraway lands her father once mapped.

When her closest friend disappears into the island’s Forgotten Territories, she volunteers to guide the search. As a cartographer’s daughter, she’s equipped with elaborate ink maps and knowledge of the stars, and is eager to navigate the island’s forgotten heart.

But the world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland – and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a legendary fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

Review:

The story takes place on the Isle of Joya, an island with a mythical past as a floating island. There is a mythical tale that everyone living on Joya knows, one that involves a girl-warrior named Arinta and a fire demon Yote.

In the present day, we come to know that the island is now divided following the arrival of a rather threatening Governor named Adori who is for the most part, for some unknown reason now the ruler of the island. You're either on the Governor' side of the island or the other side where Forgotten Territories are. Our protagonist, Isabella, lives on Adori's side. She is, unsurprisingly, best friends with Adori's daughter Lupe.

I have to admit that I adored the cover and the pages throughout the book, they were so adorable I loved them just slightly less than I did the book itself. I grew slightly attached to Lupe and Isabella as well as Pablo but somehow the connection didn't feel complete, like I was missing more information about them but I admired their strength and determination and bravery.

The relationships between characters were expressed well and as the reader you do get a real sense of the emotional links between each of them. The unconditional friendship between Isabella and Lupe was what really helped pull the story together;despite the differences in their background and upbringing, their bond goes beyond that and the two formed a strong and sweet relationship. I adored the relationship Isabella had with her Da, as I myself have a very close relationship with my dad it was very warming to find part of myself within a 13 year old character. Not only that but I loved how her love for cartography gave both of them the chance to grow closer in times of heartbreak which only strengthened their bond.

The journey that Isa goes on to find Lupe is very interesting, as it gives more of an insight into the history of the island and that's great because I wanted more of it. I think in this case as the book is aimed at a younger audience the story is contained and quicker paced which explains my reason for not having a strong connection with the characters, but l enjoyed the world so much that I wanted to explore each and every part of it.

At it's heart, this book is very much about friendship and family, it's a 4/5 from me, I just really wished the book had been written for an older audience so that it was more in depth but for what it's worth I think Kiran did a great job for the audience she aimed at with a message of loyalty, bravery and friendship as well at it being her debut.

Once Taken (Riley Paige Mystery #2) - Black Pierce

Synopsis:

ONCE TAKEN is book #2 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with ONCE GONE (Book #1)--a free download with over 100 five star reviews!

Women are being murdered in upstate New York, their bodies found mysteriously hanging in chains. With the FBI called in, given the bizarre nature of the murders—and the lack of any clues—there is only one agent they can turn to: Special Agent Riley Paige.

Riley, reeling from her last case, is reluctant to take on a new one, since she is still convinced a former serial killer is out there, stalking her. She knows, though, that her ability to enter a serial killer’s mind and her obsessive nature is what will be needed to crack this case, and she just can’t refuse—even if it will push her over the edge.

Riley’s search takes her deep into a killer’s deluded mind as it leads her to orphanages, mental hospitals, prisons, all in an effort to understand the depth of his psychosis. Realizing she is up against a true psychopath, she knows time is short before he strikes again. But with her own job on the line and her own family a target, and with her fragile psyche collapsing, it may all be too much for her—and too late.

A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE TAKEN is book #2 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

Review:  MAY INCLUDE SPOILERS!! (you have been warned)

After reading Once Gone (Book #1) which is a free download, I was left wanting more from the best-selling series. Like the first, Once Taken (Book #2) was a page turner right from the beginning. I hadn't originally planned on buying the second in the series but when the first book ended on a huge cliffhanger, I just couldn't resist. 


Following on immediately after Once Gone, the prologue begins with a different character who we haven't actually met yet. His name is Jimmy Cole, and he is a tour guide on the Hudson River. They tell ghost stories until one of the passengers notices something off in the distance. Cole knows that they're drunk so he doesn't think anything of it, but when curiosity gets the better of him, he decides to investigate; only to come across a victim of the newest serial killer in this book. It also gives us an idea as to where the rest of the book is going to be set. 

Chapter one begins where Once Gone had left off; Special Agent Riley Paige finding pebbles inside her bed. We know from the first in the series that the pebbles played an important part in the book, affecting the mental state of both Riley and her friend Marie Sayles, who was also a survivor of the murderer (Peterson) who tortured both Riley and Marie. 

Firstly, Riley was spooked by a tapping on the door, only to go outside to find pebbles laid out in front of the door. It becomes suspicious when Marie had encountered the same thing, so fearing that their would-be-killer was still alive, it put them on a constant edge. When Riley finds the pebbles in her bed, she searches the whole house in case Peterson is in fact still alive. She believes that he is but everybody else thinks she was still paranoid. After phoning the FBI for a possible intrusion, they come to the conclusion that everything was safe but Riley insists that her daughter April stays with her father, Riley's ex-husband Ryan, so that she will be safe.

When the current situation is resolved, Riley takes her daughter on a trip to New York where they bond and you begin to see how special a mother/daughter relationship can actually be. After the previous dramas of Peterson, Riley is put back on involuntary leave but when her part Agent Lucy Vargas asks for her help, she cant help herself; showing us how determined Riley is in her job. It also shows how much April has begun to understand her mothers job because she doesn't mind when Riley takes the case again.

The beginning instantly grabs your attention, the action beginning as soon as the chapter starts which is one of the main factors in what kept me going throughout the rest of the book. 

It isn't as attention grabbing as the first but still extremely close. Once Riley goes back to work, most of the reactions are positive but others start to think she's losing her mind; obviously because she believes somebody is alive who everybody else is sure they killed. 
It makes you feel really sympathetic towards the main character, as the majority of the book is set from Riley's point of view, you really get an idea of what she has been through and also, what she thinks about the situation at hand. It's quite difficult to believe that she's paranoid which leaves you wanting the rest of the characters to believe her; for her own sake. 

Throughout the book, the point of view changes, sometimes being April; Riley's Daughter, other times being Peterson, Eugene (The newest Killer), Special Agent Bill Jeffreys (Her partner and also somebody she realises she's actually becoming attracted to.) but mainly the attention is on Riley. April is also given a lot of attention in this book because she is used as a way to get revenge on Riley. Fearing that her daughter is going to be killed, she begins to search for Peterson again, but this time she has the FBI on her side after convincing them that he is still alive. Bill refuses to let her look for Peterson on her own and knows that his marriage will be in even more jeopardy than it already is, but he knows that his best friend needs him. 

Throughout the search, the book remains even more attention grabbing, always switching from Riley, to April and then Riley again. It really starts to show how Riley is beginning to gain the love of her daughter again after being isolated from her for so many weeks. Also, like the first book, we are given flashbacks about how Riley was treated at the hands of Peterson, giving us an idea of what April may be going through but also showing how messed up Riley still is by the whole situation.

This book focuses on how Riley is trying to fix her personal life while battling with the ongoing cases that just never seem to end. It's a constant page turner, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5.

Let There Be Linda - Rich Leder

Synopsis

Leder's black comic caper tells the tall tale of estranged brothers Mike and Dan Miller—accountant and con-man talent agent respectively—up to their necks in the virtual quicksand of LA's San Fernando Valley during the hottest summer in Southern California history.

The root cause of their problems could be the missing seventy-five thousand dollars, or the sadistic, loan shark dwarf and his vicious giant, or the psycho comedian cop on the case, or the coke-snorting dentist, or the deranged zombie real estate developer. Or perhaps it’s the poodle—the poodle is suspect, no doubt. Or maybe it's the grocery store checker who breathes life into death. Oh yes, it could be her too.

And so to repair the head-on collision the Millers have made of their personal and professional lives, the brothers summon their mother back from the dead to clean up the wreckage. But what the Miller men discover is that screwing with the laws of nature is forever and always a violent, bloody, hysterical, and hilarious idea.

Review:

I don't think I've ever gone through so many emotions in one book. I read this whilst on holiday and I had been feeling quite sick and so I went to bed and got to reading. It was nearly 12pm but I got into it anyway. You do not understand how much more sick I felt when I read the part about to god damned poodle. My stomach ended somewhere in my feet next to my brain.

Good looking talent agent Danny Miller owes a hefty amount of cash to the sadistic Harvey Mineral and his muscle Omar, but Danny gets an idea from Jenny Stone who is looking for representation for her (very literal) unbelievable ability to bring dead things back to life.
Danny has seen Jenny’s power work and knows that some people will pay top money to have loved ones returned. Like Danny’s dentist, Donald Greenburg, who lost his poodle, Chachi, to Harvey’s cruelty.

Danny brings his brother Mike who is an accountant into the picture after he was recently let go due to accusations of embezzlement. Donald unfortunately pays the $75,000 resurrection bill by borrowing from Harvey, so the loan shark and Omar keep a close eye on the cash. But it all doesn't end there, even more people are interested in the money, a cop who is also a stand-up comic named Gary Shuler and a very crazy real estate developer called Judd Martin, who blames Mike for bankrupting him.

The book is a tale that tosses logic far out the window and it makes it so much better that way, I have tried over and over to portray my thoughts about this book but none of them seem to actually hit the spot. its a lovely mix of humour, gore and family values. You really have to read it to understand how hard it is to fathom words to describe it. I do recommend it to anyone who wants laughter and gore mixed into one. Although you may think you wont like the book, you have to be persistent and I promise you'll get hooked eventually.

I'm not sure what else I can say, its a funny read but somehow it didn't hit the spot completely and therefore I'm going to give it a 4 out of 5.

The Gemini Effect - Chuck Grossart

Synopsis:

A single raindrop opens a Pandora’s box when the spawn of perverse genetic research performed during World War II is unleashed on an unsuspecting modern world. By dawn, only a dead city remains, eerily quiet and still, except for mutant beasts that hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of night to continue their relentless advance.

Ordered to investigate the unfolding crisis, bio warfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour barely escapes the creatures’ nocturnal onslaught, saved in the nick of time by Colonel Garrett Hoffman, who lost hundreds of his troops to a swarm that neither bombs nor bullets can stop.
As Carolyn and Garrett race to stop the plague, a battered and broken government prepares to release the fury of America’s nuclear arsenal on its own soil and its own citizens.


Review:

I have to admit that I was sceptical, I thought it was going to be the typical infection outbreak story.    I WAS WRONG.

The story follows several people/ groups across America. I loved each character as they played their parts so well. The synopsis got me hooked after I was convinced of it being the typical story. As a debut novel, Chuck knocked the ball right out of the park.

The mix of science, war, military, politics and gore, I fell in love. I found the novel truly gripping and jam packed with action and near misses. I adored the beginning of the novel, and how the biochemical weapon was introduced to the story. You get the full back story to that day where everything then goes down hill after it was accidently left in a junk yard, mistakenly not incinerated like it was supposed to have been. It was a very interesting part of the book, it had be hooked even though I could sense it wasn't going to be a good thing that it was mistakenly left there. The epilogue was okay for me, I would preferred to it to have happened some other way, I guess I just wasn't expecting it to happen that way after the whole of the book.

Some people disliked the book, some liked it a little but I liked it a lot and I can find a reason to have disliked it no matter how hard I think about it. I liked the character development and the sudden surprises in the plot. It kept me gripped and had me asking what next? Which was great. I found myself rooting for some characters, despising others once their characters were in the spotlight, and terrified of the horde that was sweeping the nation. 

I loved how the scientists within the story were smart and stayed away from the notion of  "Let me poke it in the name of science." because in this book that would be very much an insane thing to do. I loved how Carolyn was very informed about Gemini and could inform everyone else on it and come up with ideas worth trying. Thankfully the military personnel were not the average meat heads that some people would expect them to be. They were very aware of their situation and were portrayed with the emotions and intelligence, it was a relief for them to be portrayed this way instead of being the usual transparent robots they are portrayed as in other books.

I was glad it was the same old story, being unique helped my interest peak. I give it a 4/5. I hope there end up being a second book just because I think it would be nice to see how it would all have continued if there were more pages.

I got this book for free on my Amazon Kindle 7 day free trial

P.L.E.A.S.E - Adam Que

Synopsis:

P.L.E.A.S.E is a great introduction to the author and what emotionally inspires him to write. Thus the author landscapes the universal language of poetry; and how the power of words, the power of expression, and the power of artistry can connect us all. As well as making us simply feel. Asking that age old question, 'Is poetry and art dying?' Or does a piece of it always live in each and every one of us? 

Review:

When Adam first contacted me about P.L.E.A.S.E I was truly interested about reading it as it would be the first of this type and genre that would feature properly on my blog. I must admit I was happy with how long the book was, it wasn't too much to struggle reading and it wasn't too short to be disappointed with not getting to know more.

As the synopsis says, the book let's us look into the things that emotionally inspires him and also get introduced to him properly.  I really enjoyed getting to know more about Adam and where his inspiration from his work comes from. Not only did I enjoy it but it was very interesting.

There are several works in this book and a selection of them were really able to make me think about myself and reflect on not only current, but also possible future, and past situations that I have experienced. I can say with an ounce of certainty that no matter who you are, a piece or several pieces of Adams work inside of this book will resonate with you.

This made reading the book easy and enjoyable as not only did I feel like I knew something about Adam but I also got to realise through his work that we had things in common or have had experienced similar things.

I given the book a strong 4 out of 5 just for the fact it's not really my genre of work but was still really enjoyable to read and was worth every minute I spent reading it.

Both Of Me - Jonathan Friesen

Synopsis:

From award winning author, Jonathan Friesen, a contemporary story dealing with mental illness and an unexpected friendship.

Elias Phinn copes with his painful reality by slipping into the imaginary realm of Warilia, a world that colors his every waking moment and feels more real than the actual one around him. When his carry-on luggage is switched with that of the beautiful and mysterious Clara, Elias becomes convinced that she is a Warilian diplomat’s daughter. But as the two become friends and their carefully constructed worlds begin to crack, Elias must save them both before everything falls apart.

Poignant, heartrending, and powerfully real, Both of Me is the latest young adult novel from award-winning author Jonathon Friesen. As it explores themes of friendship, mental illness, and self-discovery, this gripping novel will catch—and keep—the attention of teen readers.



Review:

I have to admit that when I asked for a copy to review and BookLog Bloggers said yes and provided me with a copy, I wasn't completely sure on what to expect from it, but at least the synopsis was promising. I went in with an open mind and I can say that it satisfied some of me but it never reached higher than that.

It was supposed to be just a simple plane journey, yet another escape to a foreign place where she could forget about her past and her attachments. Well that is until Clara finds herself seated next to a mysterious boy named Elias Phinn, a boy who seems to know some of her secrets that she has barely managed to admit to herself.

When her hand luggage is accidently switched with Elias' identical one, Clara uses the luggage tag to track down her things, but once at the address on the luggage tag she discovers there isn't just one Elias, but two: the odd, paranoid, artistic and often angry Elias that she met on the plane who lives in an imaginary world of his own called Salem; and the kind, sweet and soon irresistible Elias who greets her at the door that day, and who has no recollection of ever meeting Clara on the plane.

After she learns of his Dissociative Identity Disorder, and finds herself entangled in both of Elias's lives, Clara makes a single decision that could change all of them forever. She is going to find out what the Salem Elias knows about her and her past and even if it means having to play along with his otherworldly quest. Along the way she decides that she is going to find a way to keep the gentle Salem free Elias whom she is beginning to love, from ever disappearing and leaving her again.

I have to admit I never saw anything coming, every page turn held a mystery for me and I have to admit I was hooked by the first page. I laughed, wondered and cried. It gets a 4 out of 5 from me, it hit all the right spots but there was just something that didn't give me a reason to give it a 5/5. It was still a great read and I would truly recommend it to anyone who wants to read an entirely different kind of mystery and come to understand a little about
DID. 

Blackspoon - Daniel Eagleton

Title: Blackspoon
Author: Daniel Eagleton
Publication Date: December 4th 2015
Publisher: Daniel Eagleton
Available Editions: EBook



Synopsis:

If you were at the centre of a real-life conspiracy, would you even know it?

Charlie has just smuggled five kilos of uncut heroin back from the war in Afghanistan. This much he knows for sure. He also knows that, after he made it through customs, another solider was caught doing the same as him. And that the military policemen who provided safe passage; one of them has been found dead in an apparent suicide, while the other one has gone AWOL. Is it really possible there’s some kind of cover-up going on? Because even if there is –even if Charlie knew that for sure- who’d believe him? After all, he’s a criminal now. Veteran of a war no one quite understands. Praying, hoping. Waiting for whatever’s coming next.

Review

Daniel emailed me earlier this month asking for an honest review of Blackspoon. I was instantly interested in doing so and so on enough I found myself reading it, finishing it in two days. I don't want to spoil any part of the story for anyone if you're going to give it a read so I do apologise if the review is very short.

Blackspoon is a pulp crime thriller about a young RAF officer who is coerced into smuggling heroin back from the war in Afghanistan. I must say I was really caught up in the book when it kicked in, thoroughly enjoyed the fact that as soon as you read the first page, the story has kicked in and there is no hesitation in getting the story set up and started.

I cant really say what I was expecting from this book, I just don't know what I was expecting but with that said I can say I wasn't disappointed with it.

The main character Charlie smuggles un cut heroin back from Afghanistan after the deal was set up by military police who gained him safe passage. Once the deal is done and the story begins to unravel he becomes understandably paranoid.

I have to say I wasn't expecting several things that happened in the book, I guess I was kind of expecting the story to go smoothly and well I was clearly extremely stupid to think that would happen. The story is very face paced but as the reader you'll always be able to understand what's going on even if you do get momentarily confused like I did on maybe 2 occasions (that was mostly because I was so into finding out everything will happen that I was reading it very quickly.)

I must say that I would recommend it to anyone who likes very fast paced books and is able to keep up with that sort of thing. also a 4/5 overall and a really great read even though its not in the genre i would usually read. The cover of the book I've seen is quite clever and I actually love it.