Review ~ The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Sphere
An imprint of Little, Brown Book Group
April 2013

First off, I have to say that I probably wouldn't have got round to reading this book just yet, if  not for the fact that the news recently broke that J K Rowling was the author. I'm a big fan of the Harry Potter books, but not so much a fan of The Casual Vacancy, so it was with an open mind that I started to read this sophisticated crime story.

Set in contemporary London sometime in the last decade, the mysterious death of model Lula Landry causes something of a media storm, all the clues point towards Lula’s suicide, and yet, there are some who believe that her death was rather more complicated. Cormoran Strike is an ex-military veteran, eking out his civilian survival by working as a private detective. His chaotic life is completely shambolic, and from the necessity of survival, Cormoran grabs the lifeline to his failing business when he is hired by Lula’s brother to investigate the surroundings of Lula's death.

What then follows is a tightly controlled and well thought out crime novel. There is impeccable writing and fine attention to detail, and without ever having to resort to blood and brutality, the twists and turns, red herrings and loop holes are completely absorbing. The plot literally grabs your imagination from the beginning, there’s humour, pathos and incredulity, and very quickly into the novel you begin to love Cormoran, who is superbly flawed but bright as a button and brimming with character. The added inclusion of a sharp and sassy temporary secretary in the form of Robin Ellacott is inspired, as the rapport which builds between these two very different characters is joy to observe.

It would be easy to write this book off as media hype, and yet, that would be to do this accomplished author a great disservice. Robert Galbraith is a very fine crime writer and this series of Cormoran and Robin deserves to run and run.

Review ~ Whistling Past the GraveYard by Susan Crandall

Published by Gallery Books
July 2013

In the summer of 1963, Starla Claudelle is just your average nine year old, but being separated from her teenage mother and brought up by her strict grandmother, Mamie, means that Starla is always hankering after ‘what might have been’.  When Starla misbehaves and sneaks out to watch a Fourth of July parade, Mamie, terrified that Starla will go the way of her mother, threatens her with reform school. But Starla isn’t prepared to take chances and runs away from home where she meets Eula, a black woman travelling on the road with a white baby.

What then follows is an interesting coming of age story which encapsulates the sullen heat of the Mississippi and the overriding turbulence of a country in the grip of racial and civil unrest. The instability of the Civil Rights movement and the growing dissatisfaction seen through the eyes of nine year old Starla makes for fascinating reading. In many respects the book is very easy to read, Starla is a feisty and gutsy heroine, and yet, it is her smart and out spoken sassiness, which so reminded me of Scout in To kill a Mocking Bird, where the heart and soul of the story lies. Nicely written, poignant and thought provoking with occasional flashes of humour, the simplicity of friendship is expertly explored and long remembered.

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my digital review copy.

Review ~ The G I Bride by Iris Jones Simantel

Penguin
Michael Jones
May 2013

In October 1954, Iris Jones makes an early marriage to US soldier Bob Irvine. Although only sixteen, she feels that she has met the man of her dreams and is prepared to leave behind her family in England. She crosses the Atlantic on the USS General  R E Callan, to start a new and exciting life in America, but the America of the 1950s is very different from the home she has known, and at first Iris struggles to cope with her marriage, and a baby. What then follows is the detail of Iris’s life as she copes with the loneliness of being trapped in a country where she is considered a stranger. Forthright and brutally honest, Iris doesn't shirk from telling it like it is – from the cramped living conditions she shares with her husband’s parents, through to infidelity, despair and overwhelming homesickness.

This is a follow up to Iris’s first memoir – Far from the East End and is a worthy continuation of this feisty woman’s chronicle of her life in all its glorious detail.

The G I Bride

Far From The East End

About the author

Iris Jones Simantel grew up in Dagenham and South Oxhey, before moving to the US with her GI husband Bob at the tender age of 16. She now resides in Devon where she enjoys wring as a pastime. her first memoir about her childhood, far from the East End beat several thousand other entries to win the Saga Life Stories Competition

Review ~ The Reunion by Amy Silver

Arrow
12 September 2013

Five friends from university meet for a get-together in an idyllic farmhouse in the French Alps. Caught up in a snowstorm and reunited for the first time in nearly twenty years, the dynamics of the group are about to be tested to their absolute limit of endurance. It is obvious that their friendship has survived heartbreak and tragedy; however, there are still unresolved issues from the past which must be faced before any of them can find resolution. Older, and maybe a little wiser, the group of friends realise that they all have unanswered questions about what really happened during a catastrophic event over two decades ago.

The book is divided into three parts, which covers the reunion, the events of the past and the promise of the future.  The story flows really well, there is fine attention to detail and such good imagery, I began to imagine I was in the old farmhouse with the snow swirling around outside the window. In many ways this is an emotional story but the revelations of the past and the unburdening of deep feelings makes for fascinating reading. It would appear that this is a change of direction for the author, and I feel that she has done a commendable job in creating an interesting examination of the minutiae of friendship, and uncovers, not just the way close relationships change and evolve over time, but also the effect that the past can have on future happiness.

I really enjoyed this and think it would appeal to fans of Jojo Moyes,Lisa Jewell and Hannah Richell.

Thanks to Newbooks for my advance copy for review.

Book Beginnings on Fridays...

Hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader

Book Beginnings on Fridays as stated by the host was started:

 "to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires."

You can share on Google + and social media , please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings

and there's also a Mr Linky on the host's blog.

Book Beginning : The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Spring 1453

The light of the open sky is brilliant after the darkness of the inner rooms.I blink and hear the roar of many voices. But this is not my army calling for me, this whisper growing to a rumble is not their roar of attack,the drumming of their swords on shields.   The rippling noise of linen in the wind is not my embroidered angels and lilies against the sky, but cursed English standards in the triumphant May breeze. This is a different sort of roar from our bellowed hymns, this is a howl of people hungry for death: my death.

**

.....We don't know who this narrator is but there is a sense of desolation, of doom and impending danger. I am intrigued to see what is going to happen to this as yet invisible person, and want to read on to find out what is happening and where the roar of many voices is coming from, and why are they hungry for this person's death.....

**

A bit of book blurb

The second book in Philippa Gregory's stunning series,  The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.

If you like authentic historical fiction then I am sure you will be interested in the books in this series:

The White Queen

The Red Queen
The Lady of the Rivers

The Kingmaker's Daughter

The White Princess

The Women of the the Cousin's War (NF)

Let me know what you think of this Book Beginning....

More about the author Philippa Gregory

In light of the popularity of the TV series currently on BBC - the books have now been reissued with fabulous tie -in covers.

Carol E Wyer ~ Just Add Spice Blog Tour Blitz

Today Carol E Wyer is touring

with her latest novel

Just Add Spice 

to celebrate her book

Safkhet Publishing
25 July 2013


A Bit of Blurb

Escape from reality comes in patent-leather Prada kneeboots

Dawn Ellis needs to escape from her painfully dull existence. Her unemployed husband spends all day complaining about life, moping around, or fixing lawnmowers on her kitchen table. The local writing class proves to be an adequate distraction with its eccentric collection of wannabe authors and, of course, the enigmatic Jason, who soon shows a romantic interest in her.

Dawn pours her inner frustrations into her first novel about the extraordinary exploits of Cinnamon Knight, an avenging angel -- a woman who doesn't believe in following the rules. Cinnamon is ruthless and wanton, inflicting suffering on any man who warrants it. Little does Dawn realise that soon the line between reality and fiction will blur. Her own life will be transformed, and those close to her will pay the price.


Tour Stops with extracts and interviews can be found here


Melanie at http://mebookshelfandi.co.uk/


Josie at http://jaffareadstoo.blogspot.co.uk/


Kate at http://www.bookswithbunny.blogspot.co.uk/


Shaz at http://shazsbookboudoir.blogspot.co.uk/


Heidi at http://cosmochicklitan.wordpress.com/


Lisa at http://bookalicious-traveladdict.blogspot.co.uk/


Donna at http://donnasroomforreading.blogspot.co.uk/


Kim at http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.co.uk/


Sharon at http://jerasjamboree.com/


JB at http://brookcottagebooks.blogspot.co.uk/


Sheryl at http://sheryls-ramblings.blogspot.co.uk/


Chris at http://chrisjamesauthor.com/category/blog/


Carol at http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/


Rick at http://rickrainbow001.wordpress.com/


***

Carol shares with us her thoughts on the cover design for Just Add Spice

Writing the novel has always been the easy part for me. Titles are harder to come up with and covers are almost impossible for me to envisage. When I completed Just Add Spice, I was stuck for ideas for a cover. Since all my books have a silhouette on them of a woman I wanted to continue that theme so I eventually proposed the idea of a frumpy woman staring into a mirror in which she can see a fabulous wild and sexy silhouette of herself. If you read the book, you’ll know why I wanted to do that.

Safkhet Publishing were brilliant and set about drawing silhouettes for me to approve. They rustled up a spiffing version of what I had asked for. They liked it. I liked it. I was so excited that I made the mistake of showing Hubby it.

“Why is that woman in the picture waving a snake at the fat one?”

“It isn’t a picture. It’s a mirror. And...that isn’t a snake. It’s a whip. She’s a devilish woman, the opposite of the one looking at her. The one looking into the mirror wants to be more like her,” I patiently explained.

Hubby harrumphed. “Don’t like it,” he said sounding like a character from TV series Little Britain. “It doesn’t tell me anything about the book. Lose the snake,” he huffed and marched off.

I thought about it. Well, if he didn’t like it, maybe other men wouldn’t like it and wouldn’t buy it for their wives, so I emailed Safkhet Publishing. They were patient. They redid the cover. They got rid of the whip. They sent it off to a focus group who agreed it was obvious that the picture was a mirror, but to make sure people thought it was a mirror it was angled.

The final cover returned. It was a fabulous purple with black writing and a second one purple with white writing. Safkhet wanted to know which version I preferred. I was looking at them when Hubby loomed up behind me. “Don’t like those,” he said flatly. “Definitely don’t like those.” He glowered at the options, scrutinising each and scowling. “They aren’t very good.”

My hackles rose. How dare he make comment! What did he know about it, anyway? He hadn’t even read the book. The atmosphere became very hot as steam poured out of my ears. I stared at him. He glared back. “Well, I’m sure you can’t do any better!” I snapped.

I was wrong. He could do better. He did it almost immediately. This is his vision of what he believed the cover should look like. I have to admit, but don’t tell him I told you so...I love it.

Safkhet Publishing were extremely gracious and supportive. They didn’t get cross with me even though we changed the cover at the eleventh hour. They listened to Hubby’s suggestions and produced this. They couldn’t have been better. I owe them my sincerest thanks.

Next time, I’m going to ask Hubby to design the cover and leave him to it while I type. He really does add spice to my life (sometimes akin to hot chilli). Do you need some in yours?

***

There are some fabulous prizes on offer to celebrate Just Add Spice....
Here is the Competition entry form

Rafflecopter Entry

Just add Spice by Carol E Wyer

Published by Safkhet Publishing (25th July2103)

Smashwords : https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/340188

US: http://www.amazon.com/Just-Add-Spice-ebook/dp/B00E4L8U7Q/

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Add-Spice-ebook/dp/B00E4L8U7Q/

DE: http://www.amazon.de/Just-Add-Spice-ebook/dp/B00E4L8U7Q/

**

My 5***** Review

In Just add Spice, the author has written an entirely believable story. You can very easily imagine that Dawn Ellis is someone you know - she could be that woman you see at the bus stop, or the one who queues in the sandwich shop just ahead of you at lunchtime, but what the story reiterates is that we are never quite sure about what goes on in the lives of those around us. With an uninteresting marriage and the prospect of dull reality, Dawn could have sunk so easily into the humdrum of middle age, but her interest in creative writing and the spicy life of her alter ego, Cinnamon allows Dawn to give full reign to her imagination.

I really enjoyed this warm and witty story, the author has captured both the reality of an uninspiring life and the way in which any life can be transformed by just adding a little bit of spice.

This is a fabulous summer read - just perfect for a long lazy day in the garden

**

Review ~ Wars of the Roses : Stormbird by Conn Iggulden

Michael Joseph
10 October 2013

Stormbird is the first in a new series of books by author Conn Iggulden, who has used his expertise to bring together the story of the Wars of the Roses. In the early part of the 15th Century, England is inexpertly ruled by King Henry VI, who is a weak and docile king. It is left to the machinations of the political elite who linger in shadows, and who plot and scheme in dark corners of foreign palaces, who must endeavour to keep England strong and secure.

Initially, the story gets off to a promising start, the prologue which begins on the death bed of Edward III promises much in the way of plot and malice, and as the story continues there are moments of sheer brilliance, especially in the depiction of the King’s marriage to Margaret of Anjou, and the political skulduggery which surrounds Richard of York’s quest for power. The writing is as ever impeccable; the author has the ability to recreate the very bones of history and his flawless interpretation of events makes for an thrilling and occasionally graphic depiction of an exciting and often volatile time in English history.

Overall, this is a promising start to a new series. I am sure that Iggulden’s legions of fans will find much to enjoy, and with the recent interest in the Wars of the Roses, I am sure that this series will go from strength to strength.

My thanks to Michael Joseph and Real Readers for my review copies of this book 

About the author

Conn Iggulden is one of the most successful authors of historical fiction writing today. Stormbird is the first book in his brilliant series set during the Wars of the Roses, an extraordinary period of British history.His previous two series, on Julius Caesar and the Mongol Khans of central Asia, describe the founding of the greatest empires of their day and were number one bestsellers. coon Iggulden lives in Hertfordhsire with his wife and children.

For more information please go to the authors website