Tag: Authors

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My review of “The Magic of Grandfather Time” by Rose English

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I’ve read this book twice now and my heart stopped in the same place both times. This author has such a fantastic way with words. This little book contains two interlocking short stories from different eras and both are very emotive. The first story follows the story of Cole and his heartbreak. But there is magic in the air or should I say in the Grandfather clock and the second story goes back in time to William, family man, creator of clocks and in particular the grandfather clock that looks over future generations. This author uses beautiful words and strings them together with skill.  I’m looking forward to reading the next book by her and luckily enough I have that in my library.
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My Review of Brief Encounters of the Third Kind by Janet Gogerty

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Brief

http://amzn.to/2buwn9f

I would have liked to have been able to give this book 4 stars and had it been half the size it certainly would have got that. The storyline was really clever mixing the science fiction with an everyday, normal family existence. The characters were likeable and believable and I loved the baby Adam, the author wrote his part extremely well. I got the sense that I knew most of them quite well during this story. However, the pacing for my liking was too slow, i think we were taken too much through the mundane part of a family’s life and for me it felt that it dragged and slowed the story down so that I struggled. I think the story would be much tighter if some of the repetition were removed. At times I nearly gave up reading it but I wanted to find out what happened which is a credit to the author’s ability and I am glad I finished it.

There was an event (won’t say what for fear of spoiling it for other reader’s|) that I felt should have had more emotion attached to it and it felt as though it slipped in alongside the everyday events too much.
Having said all of that I did enjoy it and will pick up more by this author in the future.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review of CXVI by Angie Smith

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http://amzn.to/2bSOPc2

 

CXVI

This is another book that sat on my kindle for a while but the moment I opened the pages I was hooked. Ms. Smith writes a believable mystery thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat and explodes in more drama at the end.  DS Maria Barnes is not a cliche character, she very much holds her own with insights into a more complex character. Superintendent Greg Woods sees something in Barnes that her other colleagues don’t. He looks beyond her prickly, almost autistic nature and sees her potential. The relationship ( work/friendship) between them is lovely and natural, building throughout the story.
A series of deaths which first appear unrelated start to show the traits of a series of killing with one obvious link – the Roman Numerals. The more that  Woods and Barnes dig they find that the connection leads them to a rich and beautiful widow.
There are many threads woven into this tapestry of a book and not one of them was loose. 
This book is cleaver and exciting and well written.
The ending was not one I saw coming. I will be picking up books 2 & 3 in this trilogy.

 

Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My review of “The Food Critic.” by R. E. Hargrave

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The Food Critic.jpg
This novelette was a delight to the senses. It was well written, the pacing was spot on and the characters likeable.
Serena gets more than she bargained for when she goes to a small diner to review the food there.
I read this in a couple of sittings, couldn’t wait to pick it up to read to the end. I will be reading more by this author.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

The Vintage Coat by Chris Turnbull

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The Vintage Coat
I bought the paperback copy of this book as the cover attracted me and having had this author recommended to me by a friend thought I would give it a go.
This is a time slip story about a man named Joe who is in a bit of a rut in the present day and on discovering an old coat in the charity shop where he works he gets whipped back in time to 1943.  In 1943 he develops a lovely friendship and falls in love.  The characters are well written and likeable. I felt a strong sense that I was actually reading about the 40’s which had clearly been well-researched.
The authors writing style is simple and not overly showy, a pleasure to read at all times. I kept the book as my bedtime reading and each night I couldn’t wait to slip back into Joe’s world both past and present.
The end has a lovely twist that I didn’t see coming.
Can’t wait to read more by this author who has a new fan.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Rising Tide: Dark Innocence by Claudette Melanson

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Rising Tide
From the first words I was drawn into Maura’s world, watching her blossom from a lonely young girl to someone who knows her place in the affections of others but still doesn’t know her own secret.  I knew early on what she was but that didn’t matter and the ending where her secret is revealed was unexpected.
The pacing was good throughout.
The characters (despite the genre) were credible and likeable. If I had one minor criticism it would be that I’m not sure that Ron would have taken all her little oddities in his stride – but then maybe book two will reveal more about that.
This author is extremely talented and I can’t wait to dip into book two. Despite my incredibly long TBR list I think this will have to be on my holiday read list.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

150 Word Short Story

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The clock chimed the hour with a loud, bombastic boom before the hands stopped and the pendulum ground to a halt. Silence descended on the room. Everyone turned to look at the old clock that dominated the tiny, cluttered room before flickering to the gnarled figure wrapped in a plaid, scratchy wool blanket. A bony leg encased in shabby trousers pushed out from the cover followed by the rest of the old man’s body. The rubber from his slippers slapped against the wooden floorboards as he trudged to the clock.
The collective intake of breath suspended in the frigid air as they waited for this irascible pensioner to explode.
Fingers gnarled from arthritis opened the front of the clock and fiddled, but to no avail. A rare, beatific smile lit up the wizened face as he turned to face them.
“I thought the bleeding thing would never shut up!”

by Maria Gibbs

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review: The Burden of Truth by Peter Best

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Burden
This is the kind of book that you either learn something new about the meaning of life or you get reminded of something you already knew and as a believer in the Law of Attraction I think you read it when you need it in your life.
There is a great storyline, believable characters and lots of threads interwoven into this book with great skill. I felt as though the author knew the places he wrote about well and gave me a glimpse of places I have never visited.
My only complaints would be that it could do with a bit of a polish and places need tightening up and that the conclusion to the drama was a little bit too handy for my liking. Loved the ending though.
Aside from that though it was a thoroughly great read and I will be looking out for more work from this very talented author.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review: Souls of The Never by C.J Rutherford

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Souls
Following on from Tales of the Neverwar.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the friendship between Katheryne and Perri although not sure that Perri would accept so easily the dreams as being real. Both feisty girls but in different ways. The relationship with Derren didn’t strike me in the same way, it was nice but I believed more in Katheryne and Perri.
There was a lot of repetition in places which slowed the story down and there were so many threads that at times I struggled to work out who was who. Having said that though it cleverly weaved together in the end and the author’s bold use of so many strands paid off.
A well-written thoroughly enjoyable book and I look forward to the next book in the series which just happens to already be on my kindle.
Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review: The One That Got Away by MB Feeney

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The One

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00TT3CZ8E?ref_=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0

Heidi and Shane met as teenagers, they dated and they parted but they never forgot the other. They meet up again at a school reunion, after communicating and flirting on social media. This is a story of lost love and of new beginnings. This was a lovely read, light and entertaining. This author created believable, real characters with ease. A truly great story with a side order of raunchy. I knew where this story was going all the way along but it didn’t spoil it for me and the end did have an unexpected twist.
It scares me that I will have to add some more of this author’s books to my every growing TBR list.