Where Rainbows End (Love, Rosie) by Cecelia Ahern

 From naughty children to rebellious teenagers, Rosie and Alex have stuck by each other through thick and thin. But just as as they're discovering the joys of teenage nights on the town and dating disasters, they're separated. Alex's family move from Dublin to America - and Alex goes with them. For good.

Rosie's lost without him. But on the eve of her departure to join Alex in Boston, Rosie gets news that will change her life forever - and keep her at home in Ireland.

Their magical connection sees them through the ups and downs of each others lives, but neither of them knows whether their friendship can survive the years and miles - or new relationships. And at the back of Rosie's mind is whether they were meant to be more than just good friends all along. Misunderstandings, circumstances and sheer bad luck have kept them apart, but when presented with the ultimate opportunity, will they gamble everything for true love?
 

 

 

Published:     8th November 2004
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source: Owned

 

MY REVIEW

On a whim, I decided to start reading and re-reading Cecelia Ahern's novels.  I have read some a very long time ago but there are some that I can't remember whether I have read or not and what better way to solve that than to work through all her novels starting from the earliest to the latest.  Now, I know this is not the first novel by this author (the first being PS I Love You) but I have deliberately not picked up that one first as I want to read that just before I read Postscript later on.  I had come to realise that I had definitely not read this one!

In this story, we mainly follow Rosie with Alex as a 'nearly' main character.  They are best friends at school, grow up and lead very separate lives which could have been very different if they had just chosen to be together rather than live their lives in separate directions.  

I loved this story.  Not only was the story addicting but the format of this novel was interesting to follow.  It is not set out as a straight forward novel but set out in a series of emails, notes and instant messaging.  Its been a long while since I had read a novel in this format and I loved it.  

For me, the relationship between Rosie and Alex was very real, rather than an exaggerated and unrealistic one that is sometimes found in novels like this one.  Not everything always goes according to plan and sometimes a character will make the wrong decision and have to deal with the circumstances of that, which also means upsetting the other friend.  No, I didn't always like Rosie because some of the decisions she made were just frustrating but then again me, as a reader, could see the whole picture but maybe she couldn't and made the best choice she could with what she knew at the time.  

I am so glad that I started with this one.  A truly beautiful realistic story.

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / First Date by Sue Watson

She’s been waiting her whole life to meet a man like Alex. But he’s been waiting too. And once he has her, he’ll never let her go…

Hannah has done everything to make sure her life is safe and secure. A long way from her unstable childhood growing up in foster care, she’s content with her sweet, little, messy apartment and her satisfying job as a social worker. She quietly worries that, aged 36, she might never fall in love. But otherwise her life is where she wants it to be.

Until, encouraged by her best friend to join a dating app, she meets Alex. He’s irresistibly handsome. He loves the same music as her. The same food as well. They both dream of travelling the world but agree they’d be equally happy escaping to a cottage by the beach in Devon. Both of them would love to own a Labrador one day. It’s like he’s made for her. It’s like he’s too good to be true.

Hannah’s friends aren’t so sure about him. But Hannah thinks he’s perfect.

Which is good. Because Alex knows she’s perfect for him too. In fact, she’s exactly the girl he’s been looking for…

And nothing Hannah’s done to make her life safe will ever be enough.
 

Published:    16th October 2020
Publisher:  Bookouture
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW 

 

So, I was in the mood to read a thriller and decided to pick up a random one that I hadn't heard before that had just come out this year.  Maybe I might have found a new favourite author or a new book that I enjoy.  I have to be honest and say that it was completely the cover that drew me in.  I never even read the blurb, leaving the story to be a surprise.  

We follow Hannah in this story who joins a dating app and meets Alex.  All seems to be going well  but maybe he is could be too good to be true.  Also, it appears that Hannah is being stalked and things may be turning scary very quickly. 

This was such a fun read and although the plot was very predictable and I guessed pretty much the whole story from near the beginning, that didn't stop me enjoying going along for the ride.  I really enjoyed this author's writing and will certainly pick up more from this author. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / Ford County Stories by John Grisham

 In his first collection of short stories John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi, the setting of his first novel, A Time to Kill.

Wheelchair-bound Inez Graney and her two older sons, Leon and Butch, take a bizarre road trip through the Mississippi Delta to visit the youngest Graney brother, Raymond, who's been locked away on death row for eleven years. It could well be their last visit.

Mack Stafford, a hard-drinking and low-grossing run-of-the-mill divorce lawyer, gets a miracle phone call with a completely unexpected offer to settle some old, forgotten cases for more money than he has ever seen. Mack is suddenly bored with the law, fed up with his wife and his life, and makes drastic plans to finally escape.

Quiet, dull Sidney, a data collector for an insurance company, perfects his blackjack skills in hopes of bringing down the casino empire of Clanton's most ambitious hustler, Bobby Carl Leach, who, among other crimes, has stolen Sidney's wife.

Three good ol' boys from rural Ford County begin a journey to the big city of Memphis to give blood to a grievously injured friend. However, they are unable to drive past a beer store as the trip takes longer and longer. The journey comes to an abrupt end when they make a fateful stop at a Memphis strip club.

The Quiet Haven Retirement Home is the final stop for the elderly of Clanton. It's a sad, languid place with little controversy, until Gilbert arrives. Posing as a low-paid bedpan boy, he is in reality a brilliant stalker with an uncanny ability to sniff out the assets of those "seniors" he professes to love.

One of the hazards of litigating against people in a small town is that one day, long after the trial, you will probably come face-to-face with someone you've beaten in a lawsuit. Lawyer Stanley Wade bumps into an old adversary, a man with a long memory, and the encounter becomes a violent ordeal.

Clanton is rocked with the rumor that the gay son of a prominent family has finally come home, to die. Of AIDS. Fear permeates the town as gossip runs unabated. But in Lowtown, the colored section of Clanton, the young man finds a soul mate in his final days.

Featuring a cast of characters you'll never forget, these stories bring Ford County to vivid and colorful life. Often hilarious, frequently moving, and always entertaining, this collection makes it abundantly clear why John Grisham is our most popular storyteller.

Published:     3rd November 2008
Publisher:  Bantam
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source: Owned

MY REVIEW

I was very intrigued to read this book, as it was the first set of short stories that I had come across from John Grisham (I am not sure if he has done any more).  I do have to admit that I don't usually pick up short stories as they are not normal a format that I get stuck into or have had any luck enjoying but I did with this one.  

If I had to pick a favourite, I would have to say that would have to be the story of Clanton who is the gay son of a prominent family in town.  He has come home as he has contracted AIDs and as it seems this story is based earlier than the modern medicine that we know today there is nothing else that can be done for him to help him get better.  Most of the town are scared of him and stay away including his family, but Clanton stays with a lady who takes him in and looks after him until the very end.   This story was just heartbreaking.  

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / A Funny Thing... by Michael J Fox

Michael J. Fox abandoned high school to pursue an acting career, but went on to receive honorary degrees from several universities and garner the highest accolades for his acting, as well as for his writing. In his new book, he inspires and motivates graduates to recognize opportunities, maximize their abilities, and roll with the punches--all with his trademark optimism, warmth, and humor. In A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, Michael draws on his own life experiences to make a case that real learning happens when "life goes skidding sideways." He writes of coming to Los Angeles from Canada at age eighteen and attempting to make his way as an actor. Fox offers up a comically skewed take on how, in his own way, he fulfilled the requirements of a college syllabus. He learned Economics as a starving artist; an unexpected turn as a neophyte activist schooled him in Political Science; and his approach to Comparative Literature involved stacking books up against their movie versions. Replete with personal stories and hilarious anecdotes, Michael J. Fox's new book is the perfect gift for graduates.
 

 

Published:     13th April 2010
Publisher:  Hatchette Books
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone Non-Fiction
Source: Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

Honestly, I don't normally pick up non-fiction books.  Not that I dislike them in anyway but I often find that I just can't get into them as much as I would if it was a novel.  However, I make the exception when there is an autobiography about someone that I like or admire.  Although this book came out back in 2010, I hadn't realised it had and it was only when I was browsing books online that it came up.  

In this biography, Michael J Fox talks about his life and his career as an actor.  It also mentions his health issue as well.  I always find it fascinating to find out more about his someone became who they are today, especially if he is an actor like Michael J Fox who I have followed in movies for so long now.  

This book read more like a short story / speech given by Michael J Fox rather than a full blown biography, which I was hoping for, but nonetheless it was very fun to read. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

Shimmering with suspense and emotional intensity - takes readers on a hunt for the truth about a man and his memories, and about both the heartbreaking fragility and enormous strength of love.

Nicholas Sparks is our very best chronicler of the human heart. His stunning first novel, The Notebook, has been given by friend to friend and lover to lover all over the world as a testament to the timeless power of love. But if we thought he could never again move us so deeply, he now shows us he can-in a story that renews our faith in destiny...in the ability of true lovers to find each other no matter where, no matter when... Message In A Bottle

Thrown to the waves, and to fate, the bottle could have ended up anywhere. Instead, it is found just three weeks after it begins its journey. Theresa Osborne, divorced and the mother of a twelve-year-old son, picks it up during a seaside vacation from her job as a Boston newspaper columnist. Inside is a letter that opens with:

My Dearest Catherine, I miss you my darling, as I always do, but today is particularly hard because the ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together...

For "Garrett," the man who signs the letter, the message is the only way he knows to express his undying love for a woman he has lost. For Theresa, wary of romance since her husband shattered her trust, the message raises questions that intrigue her. Who are Garrett and Catherine? Where is he now? What is his story? 

Challenged by the mystery, and pulled to find Garrett by emotions she does not fully understand, Theresa begins a search that takes her to a sunlit coastal town and an unexpected confrontation. Brought together by chance-or something more powerful-Theresa and Garrett are people whose lives are about to touch for a purpose, in a tale that resonates with our deepest hopes for finding that special someone and everlasting love. 
 

Published:     1st April 1988
Publisher:  Warner Books
Goodreads :  Click Here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW

I can't tell you the number of times I have read this book over the years, but if you were counting fingers you would run out of them!  Message in a Bottle is one of those books that I just keep coming back to time and time again.  There's just something bittersweet about it but also romantic.  Romantic fiction, more particularly of the dramatic kind, was my first book genre love and they say you never forget your first book love!  

What I love the most in this story is the story of Garrett.  He has loved and lost in the most tragic of ways and we now see him meeting Theresa and it just might be possible that he could find love again - twice in a lifetime.  Beautiful story. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

 

Washington Black is an eleven-year-old field slave who knows no other life than the Barbados sugar plantation where he was born.

When his master's eccentric brother chooses him to be his manservant, Wash is terrified of the cruelties he is certain await him. But Christopher Wilde, or "Titch," is a naturalist, explorer, scientist, inventor, and abolitionist.

He initiates Wash into a world where a flying machine can carry a man across the sky; where two people, separated by an impossible divide, might begin to see each other as human; and where a boy born in chains can embrace a life of dignity and meaning. But when a man is killed and a bounty is placed on Wash's head, Titch abandons everything to save him.

What follows is their flight along the eastern coast of America, and, finally, to a remote outpost in the Arctic, where Wash, left on his own, must invent another new life, one which will propel him further across the globe.

From the sultry cane fields of the Caribbean to the frozen Far North, Washington Black tells a story of friendship and betrayal, love and redemption, of a world destroyed and made whole again--and asks the question, what is true freedom?

 

Published:     5th September 2017
Publisher:  Piatkus Books
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 45, In Death
Source:  Review Copy from Publisher 

MY REVIEW

I have seen this book around everywhere and whilst I don't usually tend to pick up hyped books that often, I just had to pick up this one for two reasons - the story sounded intriguing and the cover was beautiful!

This story is split into parts.  In the first part we see Washington Black who works as a field slave for a plantation in Barbados.  The 'owner' dies and two brothers are brought in to run it.  One of the brothers runs the plantation is evil and the other brother, Titch, takes a shine to Washington and asks him to be his apprentice.  In the second part, we follow Washington Black and Titchset off in Christopher's new invention, for pastures new.  After that we follow, Washington as he makes his way out in this new world to him.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish and despite the fact that the character of Washington is portrayed in the story to be a lot older than what he is said to be (11 years old), he was my favourite character.   I liked how we see him escape from a future that really wasn't very bright.  What I did find surprising, and I may have missed something here as the story did drag on in places, was how does a 11 year old former slave from a planation in Barbados, have such a large knowledge as if he had years more experience then what you would expect?  

Despite the fact that this story did drag on in places and was very predictable, it was enjoyable and I would recommend it but don't expect any surprises or twists in the story. 

 

 

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Book Review / The Associate by John Grisham

 

If you thought Mitch McDeere was in trouble in The Firm, wait
until you meet Kyle McAvoy, The Associate

Kyle McAvoy grew up in his father's small-town law office in York, Pennsylvania. He excelled in college, was elected editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal, and his future has limitless potential.

But Kyle has a secret, a dark one, an episode from college that he has tried to forget. The secret, though, falls into the hands of the wrong people, and Kyle is forced to take a job he doesn't want--even though it's a job most law students can only dream about.

Three months after leaving Yale, Kyle becomes an associate at the largest law firm in the world, where, in addition to practicing law, he is expected to lie, steal, and take part in a scheme that could send him to prison, if not get him killed.

With an unforgettable cast of characters and villains--from Baxter Tate, a drug-addled trust fund kid and possible rapist, to Dale, a pretty but seemingly quiet former math teacher who shares Kyle's "cubicle" at the law firm, to two of the most powerful and fiercely competitive defense contractors in the country--and featuring all the twists and turns that have made John Grisham the most popular storyteller in the world, The Associate is vintage Grisham.

Published:     27th January 2009
Publisher:  Century
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source: Owned

 

MY REVIEW

 

Despite this being a thriller, this was such a fun story to read.  You have Kyle who is a budding legal student ready to get out in the world and has had several offers from several different law firms.  However, he starts to get what looks to be blackmailed into making a decision over which law firm he should sign up to because of something that may have happened in his younger years that would certainly ruin his career before it even started.  It appears that he has no choice but to go along with the blackmail and follow the path they want him to go on.

This was certainly a rollercoaster ride and had me hooked from the beginning.  On the one side you have the people who are trying to blackmail Kyle and on the other hand you have Kyle who despite apparently being backed into a corner but maybe he has a plan that no one is expecting.  With the fast paced plot, I just couldn't put this down!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / A Christmas Affair by Jodi Thomas

A shy soul and an adventurous heart. As the holidays approach, can they find happiness together?

Maria Anne Davis was on her way to an exciting career as a chef in Dallas, until a terrible car accident left her blind. Ever resilient, Maria has reinvented her life on her own terms, starting a business out of her home kitchen, selling her jams and jellies to the local grocery.

Maria loves romance novels, and despite her bold spirit, she fears she’ll never have a big love affair like ones her heroines experience. That is, until she realizes how much she cares about the quiet Wes Whitman, the owner of the grocery.

Wes can’t keep Maria’s wildly popular jam on his shelves—just like he can’t keep the fierce, beautiful Maria out of his thoughts. But how could a firecracker like Maria come to love a shy, nervous man like him? Maybe all they need is a grand affair. Wes needs to convince Maria that some affairs last forever, though—just in time for Christmas.


Published:    1st October 2017
Publisher:  HQN Books
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Book 6.5, Ransom Canyon
Source:  Owned

MY REVIEW

This is a novella in the Ransom Canyon series.  Although I think most of the novels in this series can be read independently I would recommend that this one is read after reading Indigo Lake as this one follows the sister of Dakota who is a main character in the Indigo Lake.  We also see a bit of backstory of Maria in that story that will give a lot more depth to reading this novella.

What I loved and what I always enjoy with Jodi Thomas novels is the romance.  It is obvious with this story that feelings have been growing for some time before we start this story, so when we join Maria the romance that follows feels natural.

A lovely romantic story that I would recommend picking up after Indigo Lake. 

Continue reading Book Review / A Christmas Affair by Jodi Thomas

Book Review / The Starless Sea by Erin Morganstern

 

 Far beneath the surface of the earth, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories. The entryways that lead to this sanctuary are often hidden, sometimes on forest floors, sometimes in private homes, sometimes in plain sight. But those who seek will find. Their doors have been waiting for them.

Zachary Ezra Rawlins is searching for his door, though he does not know it. He follows a silent siren song, an inexplicable knowledge that he is meant for another place. When he discovers a mysterious book in the stacks of his campus library he begins to read, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, lost cities, and nameless acolytes. Suddenly a turn of the page brings Zachary to a story from his own childhood impossibly written in this book that is older than he is.

A bee, a key, and a sword emblazoned on the book lead Zachary to two people who will change the course of his life: Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired painter, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances. These strangers guide Zachary through masquerade party dances and whispered back room stories to the headquarters of a secret society where doorknobs hang from ribbons, and finally through a door conjured from paint to the place he has always yearned for. Amid twisting tunnels filled with books, gilded ballrooms, and wine-dark shores Zachary falls into an intoxicating world soaked in romance and mystery. But a battle is raging over the fate of this place and though there are those who would willingly sacrifice everything to protect it, there are just as many intent on its destruction. As Zachary, Mirabel, and Dorian venture deeper into the space and its histories and myths, searching for answers and each other, a timeless love story unspools, casting a spell of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a Starless Sea.

Published:     5th November 2019
Publisher:  Harvill Secker
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW 

After reading The Night Circus, and loving it, I was really excited to get stuck into this one and although I did purchase this when it first came out, I have only read this now because I knew that this was the type of novel that was to be indepth and a bit strange and that's the kind of novel that I really have to be in the mood to read so that I can appreciate it at its fullest. 

To be honest, it is very difficult to try and summarise this book both because of how complicated the story is and also because even to summarise part of it I believe would spoil aspects of the story that is best not known about.  For me, I didn't read the book description that much just maybe the first couple of sentences and then I just got stuck in.  I would recommend going into this story with no expectations and not a great deal of knowledge of what is happening in the story.  Just sit back, relax and see where the story takes you.  I will say that this is not a story that should be picked up if you want to read something quick.  This story needs time to unravel and it did take me a while to read, picking it up and reading probably about 60-70 pages at a time.  This story is also split into different parts and what I found helpful is to read a 'part' on one sitting if you can.

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / The Appeal by John Grisham

John Grisham is now an institution -- a writer whose bestselling status is assured, So assured, in fact, that expectations for each new book are as high as can be imagined. Does The Appeal make the grade? And will it appeal to Grisham admirers -- or disappoint them?

The stakes in the novel's plot are high: corporate crime on the largest scale. The duo of lawyers at the centre of the narrative are Mary and Wes Grace, who succeed in a multimillion dollar case against a chemical company, who have polluted a town with dumped toxic waste. A slew of agonising deaths have followed this, but lawyers for the chemical company appeal, and a variety of legal shenanigans are employed -- and it is certainly not clear which way the scales of justice will be finally balanced.

As ever with Grisham, the mechanics of plotting are key, and the characterisation is functional rather than detailed. But it is (as always) more than capable of keeping the reader totally engaged. Given John Grisham's much-publicised conversion to born-again Christianity, it's intriguing to note here the implicit criticism of the moral majority's religious values, but that is hardly central to the enterprise. What counts is the storytelling, and while the writing is as straightforward and uncomplicated as ever, few readers will put down The Appeal once they have allowed it to exert its grip on upon them. --Barry Forshaw

Published:     1st January 2008
Publisher:  Century
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

 MY REVIEW

There's nothing better than sitting down to read a new to you book from a favourite author.  The Appeal is a novel that I had not picked up yet and in my mission to read all of his novels, in publication order, this one was next.  I had not read this before so I was really excited to get started.

Basically, we follow a case where there is a town that has been abused by a chemical company, where it has been illegally dumping chemicals into the town's water supply.  The inhabitants of the town had unknowingly been consuming these chemicals and now people are getting ill and, in fact, a father and a son have died.  The case we follow was brought forward by the wife/mother.  We follow various characters in this book, including my favourites which are Mary and Wes Grace who are lawyers who used to be very successful but have had bad luck and are now close to bankruptcy.  With a light at the end of the tunnel in sight, they are fighting both for their client and for their livelihood. 

I know I have given this a five stars because yes I loved it but I also hated it a little bit too, if that makes sense.  I loved the journey the author takes me on in this story through both law and politics.  This is exactly what I wanted when I picked up this book and it is John Grisham at his best and I can't wait to follow his journey as I read more and more of his books.  When I say I hated this book a little bit, maybe that might be a bit of an exaggeration but that ending!  I wasn't expecting it and did not love it but I guess being true to the story not everything always goes to plan.  We can't always have what we want.  

 

 

 

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Book Review/ A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.

After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.

Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.

Published:     30th October 2018
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned 

Trigger Warning - Abortion

 

MY REVIEW

 

This was a very interesting read indeed.   We follow a variety of characters in this story but the main one for me was Hugh, who was the hostage negotiator from the police but who also has a sister and daughter who are in the hostage situation itself.  He has torn between having to do his job in a proper manner but also wanting to storm in and make sure his family are safe.  

I know that I have given this book a 3 stars review but that doesn't mean that it wasn't good.  It was good but, for me, I had difficulties with keeping my concentration as the story progressed and trying to follow all of the characters in this story.  I do have to be honest and say that I did almost DNF this when I was halfway through because it just wasn't gripping me.  I don't think that it was because of the story or because of the variety of characters but I think it was more to do with the format the story was in that didn't work for me.  Instead of having your story run from the beginning and going through until you get to the end of the story, you have the dramatic potential end to the hostage situation and then we follow the story, hour by hour, as we go back in time and slowly see what happened the hour previously with each chapter.  

The above said aside, this story was shocking in how women are treated for the decisions they make in terms of abortion and certainly does make arguments for and against the choices that are made in this story.   It was certainly an eye opener to follow each of the characters, with the choices they make and the opinions they have in any given situation in this story. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review / Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

Published:     22nd November 2016
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source: Owned

Trigger Warning -  Race Discrimination and White Supremacists 

 

MY REVIEW

 

How is it that I hadn't read this yet?!  I had bought this when it first came out in 2016 but as what usually happens with books that I buy by my favourite authors, they usually sit on my shelf for a really long time because I want to make sure I read it at the right moment because I want it to be special.  This year, however, has been quite an ordinary year for all of us and it is one that has made me realise that I really need to not wait for the perfect moment, but if there is a book that you want to read you really don't need to wait for the perfect moment.  The perfect moment will be whenever you sit down and start reading this book.  

We follow Ruth Jefferson who is a labor and delivery nurse working at a hospital with lots of years of experience.  In a time when race should not be a factor, Ruth comes across parents of a newborn who turn out to be white supremetists.  Ruth is African American.  The father orders that Ruth is no longer allowed to treat his family.  Unfortunate circumstances come up and with the staffing at the hospital low, Ruth ends up having to look in on this parents' child when she shouldn't, having been ordered by her boss to do so.  Disaster happens and the child dies.  Ruth is then taken to Court and apparently has been turned against from most of the people she knew.  

Where do I start?!  I just could not stop reading this.  I really felt for Ruth and what she had to go through but she is a strong character so it was really interesting to follow her as the court case progresses.  The relationship between Ruth and her lawyer, Kennedy, was particularly interesting to follow as the story progresses and you see Kennedy have her eyes opened with everything that Ruth has to go through now and what she has had to live with for most of her life.  

A very thought provoking story that I just could not put down. 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading Book Review / Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Book Review / Don't Breath a Word by Jennifer McMahon

 

 

On a soft summer night in Vermont, 12-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.

Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn't fear the dark and doesn't have bad dreams - who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam's hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed - a promise that could destroy them all. 

 

 

 

Published:     17th May 2011
Publisher:  Harper
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

I can't remember when I found this author but I have been slowly working my way through her backlist and this one was one of the last ones to read.  I can't believe I have waited this long to read all her books.  They are just so addicting!

We follow Phoebe who in the past hears about a girl who goes missing and visits the place only to see a boy in a window.  Years later she now has a boyfriend, Sam who she realises now was the boy in the window and the brother of the girl (Lisa) who had gone missing all those years ago.  Something tells Phoebe that there is more to this story than meets the eye, as is usually the case.  

I was expecting this story to have quite a few twists and turns but what I had not been expecting was how much 'supernatural' elements are in this story.  Although, for me the best part of the story was the missing girl and what really happened I certainly was intrigued with the supernatural elements and kept me wondering what on earth had gone on in the past.  

A n intriguing thriller that certainly kept me guessing until the very last page. 

Continue reading Book Review / Don't Breath a Word by Jennifer McMahon

Book Review / Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback–for the mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy.

Yes, Italians do play American football, to one degree or another, and the Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player–any former NFL player–at their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers–at least until a better offer comes along–and heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma, has never been to Europe, and doesn’t speak or understand a word of Italian. To say that Italy holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.

Published:     4th September 2007
Publisher:  Doubleday
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

 

MY REVIEW

I have to admit that I am not a football and know nothing about the game so I was a little cautious going into this novel hoping that it was not solely about the game.  Luckily, it wasn't and I really enjoyed the story.

We follow Rick as he is injured playing for the NFL.  He is not playing well.  He wants to stay playing football so takes an opportunity to go and play in Italy as that is his only choice if he wants to continue to play.   Even though he is not happy with the situation, he does anyway and soon discovers his passion for the sport again and quite possibly his passion for life again.

I really enjoyed this story and you really don't have to know a lot about football to understand most of the story.  For me, the best part was following Rick on his journey of being down on his luck to finding himself again. 

 

Continue reading Book Review / Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Book Review / The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. Fans of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train will love this modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train from the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart—which the Washington Post said “should be a contender for crime fiction’s best first novel of 2014.”

On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.

But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .

Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.

Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.

Published:     3rd February 2015
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

I just can't stop reading books by this author.  I think is the the last one to pick up... until the next new one!!  There's just something about his writing style and the plot that draws me in every time.

In this story, we follow Ted who meets a mysterious stranger named Lily and after drinking and sharing secrets while waiting for their flights they both decide to become a team.  Ted reveals that he is sure his wife is having an affair and wants her out of the way.  Lily says that she can help with that.

There are quite a few twists and turns in this story which, to be honest, I had guessed most of them but maybe I was supposed to?  What I loved the most about this story (and honestly all of this author's novels) is that even if you have guessed what is going to happen next it doesn't matter.  That doesn't spoil the fact that I enjoy the journey the author is taking me on in this story and I want to see it through to the end.  

A truly gripping thriller that kept me hooked right to the very last page.

 

Continue reading Book Review / The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Book Review / Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Number One bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns with her compulsive new novel - about the lengths we go to for those who have left us behind; about the staying power of love; and about how three broken souls might have just the right pieces to mend each other.
Jenna Metcalf was with her mother the night she disappeared in tragic and mysterious circumstances, but she remembers nothing.

Over ten years have passed, and still Jenna reads and rereads her mother's journals, hoping to find some clue hidden there, in the meticulous recording of her scientific research with elephants.

Desperate for answers, Jenna uses all her savings to recruit the aid of a private detective - and a psychic.

Jenna knows her mother loved her. She knows she would not leave her. And she will not rest until she finds out what happened that night. In her most gripping mystery since House Rules, Jodi Picoult brings us a powerful story of a young girl's determination to uncover the truth, however shocking and life-changing it might be.  

Published:     4th November 2014
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned

MY REVIEW

I am going to say right away that this book blew me away!  This is by far one of the best books I have read all year, if not all time.  I can't believe that it has taken me this long to read it.  I've had it on my shelf since it came out and I keep meaning to pick it up but I have been in a thriller kick for quite a while now I have not picked it up but I should have!

We follow the story of Jenna and her mother who disappears under tragic circumstances.  The family are living in an elephant sanctuary that they have created.   The mother in this family goes missing, one of their staff is found dead and Jenna is found all alone.  We follow as Jenna enlists the help of a psychic and private detective (who had worked on the original case back when it happened) to help try and find her mother.  

I can't tell you how much I loved this book.  I enjoyed following Jenna, the psychic and private detective find out what truly happened.  I do have to say that the twist at the end shocked me.  I was not expecting it and certainly had not guessed it.  Amazing!

Continue reading Book Review / Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

Book Review / Slow Burner by Laura Lippman

 

A woman watches her marriage implode over text message and decides that ignorance is not bliss in this bitterly satisfying short mystery by the New York Times bestselling author of Lady in the Lake.

Liz Kelsey promised herself she’d never again spy on her feckless husband, Phil. But then she discovers a string of suggestive texts on his secret burner phone. Even worse, he’s flirting with the woman who shook their unstable marriage once before. But knowledge is power. What’s more dangerous—what Liz knows or what Phil doesn’t know?

Laura Lippman’s Slow Burner is part of Hush, a collection of six stories, ranging from political mysteries to psychological thrillers, in which deception can be a matter of life and death. Each piece can be read or listened to in one truly chilling sitting.   

 

 

 

Published:     30th July 2020
Publisher:  Amazon Original Stories
Goodreads :  Click Here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Hush Collection
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

What a great story.  Again, this is a short story that really packs quite a punch.  We follow Liz as she discovers her husband is not only cheating on her but lying about his life to this new woman.

I really enjoyed this one and for a short story this one certainly kept me on my toes and wanting to keep reading until the very end.   Obviously I won't give anything away about the story but I loved the ending!

This author is new to me and I will certainly be looking into reading more.

 

Continue reading Book Review / Slow Burner by Laura Lippman

Book Review / Snow Flakes by Ruth Ware

 

When a barrier between truth and illusion grows stronger, a family’s trust crumbles in this arresting short story by the number one New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10.

Leah has spent her formative years isolated on a remote island with her family. But their quiet existence, far from the devastated mainland, is cracking. Father, sensing a coming threat, demands that a wall be built. As the stone blockade rises, Father’s paranoia escalates. So does Leah’s dread that the violence the family left behind has found its way to their sanctuary.

Ruth Ware’s Snowflakes is part of Hush, a collection of six stories, ranging from political mysteries to psychological thrillers, in which deception can be a matter of life and death. Each piece can be read or listened to in one truly chilling sitting.

 

 

 

 

Published:    30th July 2020
Publisher:  Amazon Original Stories
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Hush Collection
Source:  Owned

MY REVIEW

I will be honest and say that this book was the reason I decided to pick up the books in the Hush Collection (through Amazon).  Ruth Ware is one of my favourite authors and any oppportunity to read something new from her I will definately pick up.  This collection also has the added bonus of trying new authors as well as reading books that I enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and following Leah.  As this is such a short story there is a lot I can't talk about because I don't want to spoil the story for you but this one is definitely worth picking up, especially if you enjoy reading this author's writing.  Also, if you are a fan of thrillers give this one a go.  If you like this Ruth Ware has written many other really great books...

Continue reading Book Review / Snow Flakes by Ruth Ware

Book Review / The Gift by Alison Gaylin

 

What’s a desperate mother to do when her child suddenly disappears? Anything it takes to keep the family together in USA Today bestselling author Alison Gaylin’s short story with a sting.

It’s dreaded news for actress Lyla McCord and her husband, Nolan. Their eight-year-old daughter has vanished. To find her, Nolan reaches out to a psychic gifted with uncanny visions about the lost girl. But Lyla thinks she sees right through him. Is he a con artist or the real thing? Either way, he might be telling the truth. And that’s too frightening for Lyla to bear.

Alison Gaylin’s The Gift is part of Hush, a collection of six stories, ranging from political mysteries to psychological thrillers, in which deception can be a matter of life and death. Each piece can be read or listened to in one truly chilling sitting. 

 

 

 

Published:     30th July 2020
Publisher:  Amazon Original Stories
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Hush Collection
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

This is author who has written a book in this collection that I have not read anything of before but I certainly will be picking up more from.  Surprisingly for me, this story was fast paced which I hadn't thought would be possible in such a short story.

If I had to be picky, the ending in this story really wasn't for me but this story is worth picking up for the journey the story takes you on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading Book Review / The Gift by Alison Gaylin

Book Review / Let Her Be by Lisa Unger

 

A writer’s misguided suspicions ruined his life once before. This time he plans to prove he’s right in a New York Times bestselling author’s haunting short story of what happens when seeing is not believing.

Will, an aspiring novelist, can’t stop parsing his ex-girlfriend’s popular social media accounts for clues that her ideal new rural life with the perfect man has a dark side. After all, nobody he knows has actually seen the blissful blogger in the flesh for nearly a year. When Will draws a wary friend into his “investigation,” the real question becomes who’s truly in danger.

Lisa Unger’s Let Her Be is part of Hush, a collection of six stories, ranging from political mysteries to psychological thrillers, in which deception can be a matter of life and death. Each piece can be read or listened to in one truly chilling sitting.  

Published:     30th July 2020
Publisher:  Amazon Original Stories
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Hush Collection
Source:  Owned

MY REVIEW

I had not read anything by this author before so when I heard that Amazon Original Stories was coming out with a Hush Collection of novellas I knew that I had to give them a try.  I am not sure if this collection are supposed to be read in a certain order but this was the first one I picked up.  

What I enjoyed the most was that even in such a small story, this one packs a punch.  The main character in this story, Will, is certainly very troubled and it makes you question the people around you and even possibly yourself?

 I really enjoyed the writing style.  I will certainly be picking up more stories by this author. 

Continue reading Book Review / Let Her Be by Lisa Unger

Book Review / The Innocent Man by John Grisham

John Grisham's first work of nonfiction, an exploration of small town justice gone terribly awry, is his most extraordinary legal thriller yet.

In the major league draft of 1971, the first player chosen from the State of Oklahoma was Ron Williamson. When he signed with the Oakland A's, he said goodbye to his hometown of Ada and left to pursue his dreams of big league glory.

Six years later he was back, his dreams broken by a bad arm and bad habits—drinking, drugs, and women. He began to show signs of mental illness. Unable to keep a job, he moved in with his mother and slept twenty hours a day on her sofa.

In 1982, a 21-year-old cocktail waitress in Ada named Debra Sue Carter was raped and murdered, and for five years the police could not solve the crime. For reasons that were never clear, they suspected Ron Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz. The two were finally arrested in 1987 and charged with capital murder.

With no physical evidence, the prosecution's case was built on junk science and the testimony of jailhouse snitches and convicts. Dennis Fritz was found guilty and given a life sentence. Ron Williamson was sent to death row.

If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you.

Published:     10th October 2006
Publisher:  Doubleday
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

Now this was an eye opener, for sure!  Of course, I am intrigued about each and every novel written by John Grisham but this one I was very intrigued to read and learn more.  I have not yet watched the Netflix documentary series, but I certainly will be doing now.  I always like to read the book before watching the movie/documentary etc as in most cases the book is always better!  

In this true story, we follow Ron Williamson from his early days being drafted right through to being convicted of the rape and murder of a waitress and then later on what happens in court.  

Yes, Ron Williamson had a lot of difficulties and issues in his life but being convicted in the way that he had to experience, he should not have had to have gone through all of that.  It was obvious from the very beginning that it was not 'innocent until proven guilty', which is a basic human right.   Ron's case was prejudiced right from the very beginning and it was obvious that he was not going to be taken seriously or believed to be innocent by most people, including those involved in the court case!

This book is definately an eye opener into what goes on behind the scenes and I am shocked and how many more possible innocent people are sitting in jail right now?! 

 

 

Continue reading Book Review / The Innocent Man by John Grisham

Book Review / The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The bride ‧ The plus one ‧ The best man ‧ The wedding planner ‧ The bridesmaid ‧ The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

Published:     2nd June 2020
Publisher:  William Morrow
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned
 

 

MY REVIEW

 

This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say that I really enjoyed the writing and the way it draws you into the story.  I think she has written a few others, and I will definately be picking up more by this author.  

What I loved about this story was the many characters that featured and the way that they all intertwined with each other throughout the book.  My favourite of all the characters has to be the bride's sister (apologies, I can't remember her name now) who seems to have gone through the most in this story from what it appeared.  

Even though there are a lot of twists and turns in this story and a few surprises along the way, I have to admit that I guessed pretty much most of them apart from the very last one.  I would have loved to have been a surprised a lot more with this story.  I know that a novel can only be so long but I would have loved to have had more backstory from more of the characters that were featured.   

 

 

Continue reading Book Review / The Guest List by Lucy Foley