Review - Gold by Chris Cleave

My Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a digital copy to read and review.

Gold

by

Chris Cleave

Published 3rd July 2012 by Simon and Schuster

Synopsis from Goodreads

Gold is the story of Zoe and Kate, world-class athletes who have been friends and rivals since their first day of Elite training. They’ve loved, fought, betrayed, forgiven, consoled, gloried, and grown up together. Now on the eve of London 2012, their last Olympics, both women will be tested to their physical and emotional limits. They must confront each other and their own mortality to decide, when lives are at stake: What would you sacrifice for the people you love, if it meant giving up the thing that was most important to you in the world?

My 5***** Review

In this year of the London 2012 Olympics, it is refreshing to read a story about athletes that focuses not only on their drive and ambition, but also concentrates on the human cost of this determination on families, as the athletes pursue their dream of glory.

In Gold, Chris Cleave has with his usual skill, and dexterity with words, managed to capture the strong competitive bond that exists between athletes, and has developed this into a believable and emotional story of single minded ambition, juxtaposed against the fragility of their personal life. With interesting insight, the story moves between time frames, and gradually piece by piece we begin to understand the bond that binds the three athletes, Zoe, Kate and Jack. The sections that highlight their competitive streak is fascinating, and heart stopping, and yet it their personal moments that stay with you, and this fine attention to detail will have you wanting to read on to the story’s final conclusion.

With no particular interest in sport other than as an armchair spectator, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. The book is very easy to read, however, it not an easy book to forget, and even now after finishing the story I find myself returning to the characters, and almost wish I could watch them compete in the velodrome, in the impending London 2012 Olympic games.



Chris Cleave is the talented author of Incendiary and Little Bee

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Review - Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain

  

Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

jaffa's rating - he loved Sylvie

Emergency room physician, Olivia Simon puts her reputation on the line when she attempts to save the life of gunshot victim,  Annie O'Neill - little does she know that this very action to save a life may well cause her own downfall.

Diane Chamberlain has created story of love , lies and deceit, which threaten the very fabric of lives and which will tear away all hope of redemption - leaving behind shattered lives, broken dreams and broken promises.

Beautifully, and emotionally written from the very start , the story pulls you in, and doesn't let go until you have finished. It's been a good few books since my eyes ached with weariness from wanting to read on - A Keeper of the Light, is one those books that stays with you long after the last page is turned.

I'm delighted that this book has been reissued along with books two and three in the trilogy -  I just can't wait to read them!

Book #2 Kiss River Out now

Book#3 Her Mother's Shadow 2012

Author like for like Jodie Picoult, Ann Tyler, Anita Shreve

Friday Recommends..

Friday again, and it's time for my choice of book for Friday recommends...

This is an exciting book blog hop that book bloggers can take part in once a week to share with their followers, the books that they most recommend reading!

The rules for Friday Recommends are:

Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.

Pick a book that you've read, and have enjoyed enough to recommend to other readers. It can be a book you've read recently, or a book you read years ago - it's up to you - but make sure you tell us why you love the book (like a mini review). You make the post as long or as short as you like.

Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Friday Recommended read is the soon to be published 

Shadow of Night

by 

Deborah Harkness

Published July 10 2012 Penguin Viking US

My thanks to Penguin Group Viking for an advance reading e-copy

Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"

At the start of Shadow of Night, Matthew de  Clairmont and Diana Bishop, time-slip back to sixteenth century England in order to discover more about the mysterious manuscript Ashmole 782, which featured so predominantly in A Discovery of Witches.

Fraught with danger, and malicious intrigue, their search is never going to be uncomplicated, as 1500 year old vampire Matthew, already familiar with Elizabethan England, must stand back and watch Diana take her first tentative steps in learning her skill in witchcraft. In an age where superstition and malevolent conspiracy was rife, Matthew and Diana must learn to negotiate through a social and political minefield. It is interesting to observe how this formidable combination of witch and vampire coalesce into a stunning portrayal of an unconventional relationship. 

With this long awaited second volume in the All Soul’s Trilogy, Deborah Harkness has used her undoubted skill as a historian to successfully recreate the world of Elizabethan England. She has combined the fascinating and troubled history of the sixteenth century, with a believable and often mesmerising view of the parallel world of vampires, daemons, and witches. Interspersing the story with real historical figures is inspired, and gives a real insight into the period, and makes the story all the more believable.

There is always the possibility that book two in a series will be less powerful than the first novel, rest easy, there is no such problem with Shadow of Night. If anything, this book is even better than the first, and whilst there is a tendency to want to read all 592 pages in one sitting, this is definitely one of those books which is better savoured, and enjoyed slowly.

Just be prepared to do nothing until you have finished it.

Wishlist Thursday..

I am delighted to be part of wishlist Wednesday which is hosted by Dani at pen to paper

The idea is to post about one book each week that has been on your wishlist for some time, or maybe just added.

So what do you need to do to join in?

Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.

Pick a book from your wishlist that you are dying to get to put on your shelves.

Do a post telling your readers about the book and why it's on your wishlist.

Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of her post.

Put a link back to pen to paper (http://vogue-pentopaper.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post.

This Week's Wishlist Book 

is

In her Shadow 

by 

Louise Douglas

Published Bantam Press 5 July 2012

From Goodreads

Hannah Brown has spent her whole adult life trying to pretend that Ellen Brecht almost never existed. That Ellen Brecht didn't die in a terrible accident. And, most importantly, that Hannah isn't to blame.

When the Brecht family arrive in the sleepy Cornish village of Trethene, eight year old Hannah Brown is delighted. The Brechts are glamorous, exotic and exciting - especially the charismatic Mr Brecht, and his invalid wife. Hannah quickly strikes up an intense friendship with their young daughter, Ellen, who is wild and daring. For a while, life is perfect. Hannah is accepted into the enchanted world of the Brecht family, and is never happier than when she, her adopted brother Jago and Ellen escape to explore the glorious coastline of Cornwall.

But, one hot sultry summer when the girls are eighteen, their idyllic world is shattered by obsession, betrayal - and death..

Louise Douglas is a major talent. Her books are well worth reading.

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Jaffa and I send best wishes for a successful publication day!!

Review - Where the Bodies are Buried by Chris Brookmyre

Where the Bodies are Buried by Chris Brookmyre

Published by Grove Atlantic - June 3 2012

My Review 4****

This introduction to a new Scottish crime series gets off to a good start with an interesting array of characters, and fine attention to detail. The mean and moody streets of Glasgow are portrayed with the confidence of someone who knows the city well, and even though there is an apparent fondness for the place, there is also a realisation that an underworld of criminal activity skulks beneath the surface. There are some clever twists and turns in the plot, which together with a few red herrings combine to make a well controlled crime investigation. Brookmyre has a very individual style, which can take a while to get used to, but his ability to raise the tension never fails to engage, and his acerbic wit adds a quality dimension, to what is essentially an interesting crime story.

As with all first books in a new series, there is an element of getting to know all the characters, some are obviously in it for the long haul, whilst some peripheral characters may disappear without any further trace. Overall, I thought that this first book was a promising start to a series which will develop over time. The potential for success is certainly apparent, and Brookmyres army of fans will not be disappointed in this new direction.

My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an e-copy in advance of publication.

Happy Independence Day.....

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Happy Celebrations 

for

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Review - By Royal Command by Laura Navarre

My thanks to NetGalley and Carina press for an advance e-copy to read and review.

Published 2 July Carina Press

My 4**** Review

This historical romance is set in England during the reign of King Ethelred, and tells the story of a beautiful widow, Katrin of Courtney, who when summoned to the English court to be used as a political pawn in marriage, finds herself falling in lust with Eomond, the man sent to escort her to her uncle, the king. But Eomond is beneath her in rank, and despite their passionate encounter, he is no match for this beautiful young woman. Fulfilling her obligations to her king, Katrin is sent in marriage to Rafael le Senay, the Baron of Belmaine. What then follows is a lively, and interesting account of Katrin’s passionate relationships with the men in her life, and the dilemma she must face in allowing her heart to rule her head.

Set against the backdrop of Anglo-Saxon England, when knights were bold, and ladies were content to do as they were bidden, the passionate romance between Katrin and her two very different suitors makes for interesting reading. Laura Navarre has captured the very essence of the period, and has with her skilful touch of words created a heroine who is as flawed, as she is beautiful.

In many ways the historical background is only a small fragment to what is essentially a story about a love triangle, and the difficult choices which needed to be made, in order for Katrin to find love, happiness and fulfilment.

If you enjoy passionate historical romances by Blair Bancroft, Miriam Minger, Elaine Coffman, Anne O'Brien, I am sure you would enjoy this well written historical romp.


I enjoyed it and will read the author's other books.


Laura Navarre is the author of several historical romances.

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