Tuesday 28 March 2017

Top Ten Tuesday - Authors I'm Dying To Meet/ Authors I Can't Believe I've Met 

I've met 3 authors but unfortunately I didn't get photo's with 2 out of the 2 but here are the 3 I've met so far. All 3 of these women are beautiful, amazing, empowering and bloody awesome.


Holly Smale


Image result for holly bourne

Holly Bourne
Image result for c.j. daugherty

C.J. Daugherty


The last 7 of this list will be authors I want to meet, its going to be 7 I can pick off the top of my head even though there are many many more than 7.


About Mark

Mark Hill


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Jane Harper


Image result for stephanie garber

Stephanie Garber


Image result for peter monn

Peter Monn


Image result for john green

John Green


Image result for eugene lambert author

Eugene Lambert
Image result for patrick ness

Patrick Ness




Top Ten Tuesday is hosted weekly by The Broke and the Bookish


Saturday 25 March 2017

The Good Dictator - Gonçalo J. Nunes Dias

33014831



Synopsis:

An unidentified object parked on the moon - and no one seems to know where it came from. Gustavo, a middle-aged computer programmer with a comfortable and grey life, decides to make a list of what he would need to survive a hypothetical attack. He becomes obsessed with the list, spends a fortune, robs a drugstore: his own family thinks he is going insane. However, after the attack, it’s the insane who are well prepared for a new era in society. First book of a trilogy

Review:

So Gonçalo contacted me and I automatically became intrigued with what the book was about that I just couldn't say no. I begun the book a while ago but had to put it on pause whilst I read other books but once I got back to this book I simply could not put it down.

Straight away we are swept up into the world and ways of our main character Gustavo, its done in such a way that we can identify with him. I connected with him instantly, in no specific way for a while but somehow I just felt like Gustavo was my neighbour a man who I knew a lot about and felt emotions towards. This so called average man in fact is nowhere near average after all, he hates his in laws and has fallen out of love with his wife and he treats his job like its more of a nuisance than something paying the bills. But as you read in the Synopsis, the world goes to hell and back, an object parks on the moon and no one knows where it came from, when Gustavo makes  list in preparation for the hypothetical attack he nearly blows the bank and becomes obsessed with the list. He's thought to be crazy but he's not so crazy in the end when the attack happens and everyone is left looking to Gustavo for leadership in a time only he and his 2 friends were prepared for.

I loved Gustavo as a character, he seemed to have all the thought processes I would have in any situation he was in, well or so I believe. I pretty much can only speak of him because that's where my focus is but in relation to his wife, she got on my nerves and I was quite happy with her storyline. Gustavo's friends were great, his closest 2 who were prepared with him were great just for the fact they stood with him on this, they never thought he was crazy or anything, they were on the same wavelength and that alone is hard to find. Gustavo was greatly portrayed, I knew enough about him to feel emotions towards him and support him,  I felt like we were too on the same wavelengths half of the time at least. I'm definitely one person to believe that one day some sort of extinction event will occur in whichever form it may be and that I want to be prepared for it just like Gustavo did but maybe not to so many certain extents ey?

To fully understand what I'm about to say, you might have to go and read this book, but it is so full of home truths and definitely leaves you with food for thought, 85% of the world population dies just in order for the world to heal and start over, the remaining 15% of the population then have to adapt to it, use things to their advantage. It leaves you with a lot to think about in the way we treat the planet, a thing that had given us life and aided us in growth  and how we pretty much throw it back in its face. All I can think of is ideologies and philosophies. What does get me a little is how the women in the book are just there to provide meals and sex and do the most basic of things but I suppose that in a plot like this where the world is simmered down and humans must build up the world once more that that is really all a woman can do for the most part until they make their stand and become equal to the men of the world and break the 'women are just for sex and basic things' thing.

There really isn't anything else I can say about this book, I have no bad thing to say about it except for the portrayal of women at points. its an easy and quick read if you can get into it right away, definitely a book I would recommend to anyone really, just to spread the food for thought. Definitely a 4.8 out of 5, a thoroughly enjoyable book and I can not wait to see what is in store in the next 2 instalments.

Tuesday 21 March 2017

Top Ten Tuesday - Books That Will Make You Read The Whole Day Away



The Dry - Jane Harper

Come Sit By Me - Thomas Hoobler

Hell's Horizon - Darren Shan

Everything Everything - Nicola Yoon

Gravedigger - Michael - Israel Jarvis

Geek Girl Head Over Heels - Holly Smale

The Art Of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson

Nameless Chronicle #2 Ascent - M.T.Miller

The Food Of Love - Amanda Prowse

Sweetpea - C.J Skuse



Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish


Saturday 18 March 2017

Sweetpea - C.J Skuse

33229410


Synopsis:

The last person who called me ‘Sweetpea’ ended up dead…

I haven’t killed anyone for three years and I thought that when it happened again I’d feel bad. Like an alcholic taking a sip of whisky. But no. Nothing. I had a blissful night’s sleep. Didn’t wake up at all. And for once, no bad dream either. This morning I feel balanced. Almost sane, for once.

Rhiannon is your average girl next door, settled with her boyfriend and little dog…but she’s got a killer secret.
Although her childhood was haunted by a famous crime, Rhinannon’s life is normal now that her celebrity has dwindled. By day her job as an editorial assistant is demeaning and unsatisfying. By evening she dutifully listens to her friend’s plans for marriage and babies whilst secretly making a list.

A kill list.
From the man on the Lidl checkout who always mishandles her apples, to the driver who cuts her off on her way to work, to the people who have got it coming, Rhiannon’s ready to get her revenge.

Because the girl everyone overlooks might be able to get away with murder…


Review:

I have to say all opinions within this review are mine and I thank Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a Ebook copy in return I am to write a 100% truthful review..

I hadn't actually heard much about this book before I got a copy via Netgalley, so I can pretty much say I was looking forward to see what it was all about after such a promising synopsis. Its written pretty much like a diary, but unlike most diary style written books it isn't day by day every day for like 4 weeks, its broken up so it could be written for 3 days in a row and then miss 2 days, its broken up nicely that way and gives you a sense of Rhiannon having what is pretty much a normal life, one where the days are sometimes the same, nothing new and completely uninteresting.

Rhiannon is our main character and hell do I absolutely adore her, there was an instantaneous sort of attraction I guess? towards her, it was instant love I guess. Her friends are unescapable and beyond annoying to me just like I guess they're supposed to be written? I had so many moments throughout the book where I just had to pause and go 'I feel you Rhiannon' like we were on the same wavelength the majority of the time. she's sarcastic, truthful, an actress beyond Oscar worthy, a sociopath without boundaries and ideas and utterly a great character. Shout out to Craig who is Rhiannon' boyfriend, I'm so happy there isn't anyone in my life like him because id probably end up 100% like Rhiannon. He's not exactly likable because he's written in that light but it doesn't even matter because under any other light he's still an unlikable character. Also shout out to AJ who's I fell for instantly, I don't know how but it happened and I don't regret it either. Each supporting character was great besides the fact they were not. They were part fuel for the fire as well as a few people who quite frankly deserve what they got in the

Being an editorial assistant isn't exactly thrilling for our MP but she's very willing to tell you that. Things do liven up when AJ comes into the office to work with his auntie for a short while before he's set to go off travelling again and you cant help but feel the sort of fracture in the boring workplace feeling that Rhiannon has endured until AJ waltzes in with a perfect butt. Things are far from perfect for our MP too, she cant help but dwell on her urges of murdering people, its no secret that she well, loves it. She has a troubled childhood and upbringing really, I think that part of her behaviour and her looks towards certain people and things are a result of her past but the other part of me is sure that besides that, she really does enjoy what she does, she prides herself on it and it helps her stay feeling good. Fair enough she acts out in gruesome ways, to a degree I may have given a small chuckle here and there (shout out canal man) and at several points in my life so far have I encountered people like those upon Rhiannon's kill list that she usually updates each diary entry, they're sometimes funny but completely justified, to an extent of course.

I love how easily the plot unravels, there are points where you can see something coming and you're right but for the most part it was quite nice just to sit back and run with it. If you cant handle gore or any graphic content to any degree this book isn't for you, if you cant deal with sex scenes to any degree this isn't for you, explicit language not your thing? yup this book isn't either. I was completely fine with all of it well to a degree I didn't go off like thrilled by the gore or fantasizing about it or anything I mean in the sense of it didn't make me uncomfortable or freaked out. It was all tolerable.

This book really took turns I didn't really see coming and I'm not going to put any spoilers up in here so all I have to say is if you can handle the violence and the language and can easily agree with people in your everyday life that do the smallest thing that pisses you right off you definitely need to read this book. It hope that in the future we do get to see more of Rhiannon and the rest of the crew. I did declare just minute after finishing this book that I was off to slam my head in the fridge door because I needed more from C.J Skuse, she was pleased with that and that's utterly fantastic. its an easy 5/5 from me an di hope you can enjoy it too if you ever get around to reading it.

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Eric Olafson, Space Pirate - Vanessa Ravencroft

Eric Olafson, Space Pirate

Synopsis:
It's the year 5021 and the Milky Way Galaxy is teeming with life and exotic species. The majority of the known civilisations have formed a multi-cultural mega organization called the United Stars of Galaxies. This Union is protected by the brave men and women of the United Stars Space fleet against external threats.

Eric Olafson, born and raised under harsh conditions of the traditional and inward looking society of Nilfeheim, left his planet to fulfil his dreams of becoming a Starship captain.

When Eric gets kidnaped by an unknown organization and brought to Sin4, he slowly starts to discover his central role in an ancient conflict of cosmic proportions.

Review:

First of all I have to say that I was contacted and given a copy of the book in return I was to give an honest review. All the opinions in this review are mine and I am going to try and avoid any sort of spoilers that I can and still try to give a good quality review.

Today is in fact Eric Olafson Space Pirate' publication day! HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY ❤


Admittedly jumping in to this book was kind of like being thrown right into the deep end of a pool and barely being able to swim because this book is part of a larger series, and I mean a large series. Without reading any of the other books I was pretty much drowning right away, all the characters flooded me and I was tying to keep them separate and it was beyond a struggle. I hadn't read any of the other instalments so everything was overwhelming and hard to process as I was reading and trying to establish a clear image.

I struggled and continue to struggle with identifying and analysing how I feel towards all of the characters involved in the plot. I mean Eric is our main character and he wants nothing more than to fulfil his dream of becoming a starship captain. He end sup kidnapped and then basically from there on out I'm pretty much rolling down a hill it was that hard to keep track of everything that was happening. As much as I really wanted to connect with Eric and the other characters, I feel as though that my lack of knowledge on them due to not reading any of the other books really effected that and the only link between me and them was the fact they were in the story, I was nowhere near feeling any emotion or connection between myself and them. I will hopefully be able to put time aside in the future to read the series from the start in hopes of gripping the larger picture and establishing some sort of understanding and connection with the book and characters.

For what I understood and managed to keep a hold on, I loved. The action really pleased me and the level of detail was really awesome. At points the amount of detail was annoying but for the most part its use really helped to get me immersed. At points the level of detail did end up actually pushing me from the book and I found myself unable to read the book for a few hours just because the detail felt overpowering, like the author had tried so hard to immerse the readers and create a believable setting that it just ended up being too much and became overwhelming, almost so detailed and needing to be gripping that you could tell it was a work of fiction, I'm trying to say that at points the level of detail it had stopped it being immersive, so detailed it was obviously nowhere near real.

I must keep it clear that this book is great for those who love Sci.fi action and have time to read all of the other books or have a great ability to follow stories that are really sort of in the middle of a series without reading the others. I can 100% see why people who have read the book and series love it and love Vanessa, I can 100% see why Inkitt published this book. I just really wished I had caught wind of the series a long time ago so I could have followed it all the way and gotten a real addiction to it. However it wasn't meant to be and I was drowning the moment I begun reading but I loved what I read for the most part and I wish Vanessa continued luck with the series. Its a 3.5 out of 5 and I hope that my opinion and view does in no way deter you from embarking on the journey through the series.


Grab your copy from Amazon here!

Read more about this instalment on Goodreads

Read Pre- release reviews here

To read about all of Vanessa's work, go here


Tuesday 14 March 2017

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books On My Spring TBR

The Puppet Master
The Puppet Master - Abigail Osborne


Random Acts of Unkindness
Random Acts Of Unkindness - Jacqueline Ward

Playlist for a Paper Angel
Playlist For A Paper Angel - Jacqueline Ward


The Good Dictator
The Good Dictator - Gonçalo J. Nunes Dias

Sweetpea
Sweetpea - C.J. Skuse

The Pharaoh's Cat
The Pharaoh's Cat - Maria Luisa Lang

The Eye of Nefertiti: A Pharaoh's Cat Novel
They Eye of Nefertiti - Maria Luisa Lang

The Fourth Monkey
The Fourth Monkey - J.D Barker

Esper Files: The Sky Cult (Esper Files #2)
Esper Files: The Sky Cult - Egan Brass

City of Buried Ghosts  (Elisenda Domènech Investigations, #2)
City of Buried Ghosts -


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish

Saturday 11 March 2017

Summary Justice by John Fairfax


33877736

Synopsis:

The last time Tess de Vere saw William Benson she was a law student on work experience. He was a twenty-one
year old, led from the dock of the Old Bailey to begin a life sentence for murder. He’d said he was innocent. She’d believed him.
Sixteen years later Tess overhears a couple of hacks mocking a newcomer to the London Bar, a no-hoper with a murder conviction, running his own show from an old fishmonger’s in Spitalfields. That night she walks back into Benson’s life. The price of his rehabilitation – and access to the Bar – is an admission of guilt to the killing of Paul Harbeton, whose family have vowed revenge.
He’s an outcast. The government wants to shut him down and no solicitor will instruct him. But he’s subsidised by a mystery benefactor and a desperate woman has turned to him for help: Sarah Collingstone, mother of a child with special needs, accused of slaying her wealthy lover.
It’s a hopeless case and the murder trial, Benson’s first, starts in four days. The evidence is overwhelming but like Benson long ago, she swears she’s innocent. Tess joins the defence team, determined to help Benson survive. But as Benson follows the twists and turns in the courtroom, Tess embarks upon a secret investigation of her own, determined to uncover the truth behind the death of Paul Harbeton on a lonely night in Soho.
True to life, fast-paced and absolutely compelling, Summary Justice introduces a new series of courtroom dramas featuring two maverick lawyers driven to fight injustice at any cost.


Review:

I really love Law and wished I had gone to study it at A Level and taken it further. I love to explore crimes and pick up every detail I can and then try to figure out what truly happened. So it was great to read about Law being practiced where lives and families depend on the outcome. 11 years of prison Benson is released on probation after being sentenced to life after being convicted of murder, but all the way he's claimed innocence and challenged the law by practicing it, going on to set up his own chambers as no one wants a convicted murderer enforcing law under their name.

Back when William Benson was being sentenced he has Tess De Vere by his side, she believed him when he claimed his innocence so when she finally hears he stuck to his promise they made in the holding cell before he received his sentence, Tess can not help herself and ends up drawn back into Williams life once again, joining his defence team on his first major case. The evidence alone already convicts Will's client but with so many angles to examine and play can he and his team figure anything out that can turn it in the other direction?

It was brilliant how easily I was able to fall into the world of John Fairfax's creation. I would easily be reading massive amounts of the pages before realising what time its been and having to call it a night because I've ben absorbed so well. The narration throughout the book is simple but powerful which was one point that really helped me return to the book. I've recently been reading quite a few crime/thrillers and this of for sure is different, very unique but yet just as great.

The characters helped make the more even more addictive besides the plot. Each character John created was fascinating, each of them has a full background which brings just that little bit more to the world. William Benson is one of those characters, he is clearly driven, passionate and strong but he is also the flipside, weak and secretive. All the things that keep you reading as you try to find out more about him and what has actually happened to him. Then there's Tess who is a vibrant character and also very strong-willed, every part of me just wants to know the ins and outs of their pasts.

The main reason that Benson and Tess have re-familiarized themselves with each other is the case, it's a difficult one, not so clean cut and there are some many angles in play. John really keeps all of his characters and his readers guessing as it all unfolds. It's hard to try and figure it out alone, you end up wondering that with so many angle to play if it will all be resolved in this book or not. And for that answer alone, you'll have to read to find out.

Its easily a 5/5 from me, the book just exceeded my expectations of brilliance, I cant wait to see more of Benson and De Vere, they were a great working partnership. Anyone who loves crime books and law defiantly need to read this, its 100% different to anything you've read so far.


Thursday 9 March 2017

Blog Tour: Summary Justice by John Fairfax



So today is my stop on the book tour for Summary Justice by John Fairfax. Ill be giving information and then doing a mini review for all of you which will then be a full review on Saturday.

So lets get to it, here's all you need to know about Summary Justice.



33877736

The last time Tess de Vere saw William Benson she was a law student on work experience. He was a twenty-one
year old, led from the dock of the Old Bailey to begin a life sentence for murder. He’d said he was innocent. She’d believed him.


Sixteen years later Tess overhears a couple of hacks mocking a newcomer to the London Bar, a no-hoper with a murder conviction, running his own show from an old fishmonger’s in Spitalfields. That night she walks back into Benson’s life. The price of his rehabilitation – and access to the Bar – is an admission of guilt to the killing of Paul Harbeton, whose family have vowed revenge.

He’s an outcast. The government wants to shut him down and no solicitor will instruct him. But he’s subsidised by a mystery benefactor and a desperate woman has turned to him for help: Sarah Collingstone, mother of a child with special needs, accused of slaying her wealthy lover.

It’s a hopeless case and the murder trial, Benson’s first, starts in four days. The evidence is overwhelming but like Benson long ago, she swears she’s innocent. Tess joins the defence team, determined to help Benson survive. But as Benson follows the twists and turns in the courtroom, Tess embarks upon a secret investigation of her own, determined to uncover the truth behind the death of Paul Harbeton on a lonely night in Soho.

True to life, fast-paced and absolutely compelling, Summary Justice introduces a new series of courtroom dramas featuring two maverick lawyers driven to fight injustice at any cost.


My Thoughts:

First of all I want to say that it was brilliant how easily I was able to fall into the world of John Fairfax's creation. I would easily be reading massive amounts of the pages before realising what time its been and having to call it a night because I've ben absorbed so well. The narration throughout the book is simple but powerful which was one point that really helped me return to the book. I've recently been reading quite a few crime/thrillers and this of for sure is different, very unique but yet just as great.

The characters helped make the more even more addictive besides the plot. Each character John created was fascinating, each of them has a full background which brings just that little bit more to the world. William Benson is one of those characters, he is clearly driven, passionate and strong but he is also the flipside, weak and secretive. All the things that keep you reading as you try to find out more about him and what has actually happened to him. Then there's Tess who is a vibrant character and also very strong-willed, every part of me just wants to know the ins and outs of their pasts.

The main reason that Benson and Tess have re-familiarized themselves with each other is the case, it's a difficult one, not so clean cut and there are some many angles in play. John really keeps all of his characters and his readers guessing as it all unfolds. It's hard to try and figure it out alone, you end up wondering that with so many angle to play if it will all be resolved in this book or not. And for that answer alone, you'll have to read to find out.


About the Author:

John Fairfax is the pen name of William Brodrick who practised as a barrister before becoming a full-time novelist. Under his own name he is a previous winner of the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award and his first novel was a Richard and Judy Selection.


                              Don't forget to check out everyone else's stop on the blog tour.








Saturday 4 March 2017

Kiss Of Death - Robert Skuce

34030447



Synopsis:


Homicide detective, Bruno Norcross, is called to investigate the brutal murder of a college call girl. This isn't just any other crime scene. Bruno has seen this scene before, only the last time, the killer got away leaving Bruno feeling as though his career is incomplete. Nobody escapes Bruno's grasp twice and when his nemesis arises again, it’s time to bring him in. A serial killer, only known as the Kiss of Death, is back, only this time he made a mistake. A witness, like no other, was left behind and this witness knows the victim better than anyone.

Rosie's stalker, Ashley Truelove knows everything about her, from what she wears to who she sees. The question isn't can Ashley help Bruno catch the killer, but will he? With meager and confusing clues, two known victims and time running out, Bruno realizes that the cost of bringing the murderer to justice will be paid in blood. With the police Sergeant on his back to catch this killer and provide justice for the death of his daughter, Bruno is racing against time. Kiss of Death only hunts occasionally and time is running out before he vanishes again. Can Bruno find the evidence to stop him or will he escape his clutches once again?


Review:
This book had me hooked by the first page, you're instantly dropped into the situation with now messing around which I love. The book is told through 3 points of view, Bruno, Ashely/Lee and the mysterious Brown. I did think I would get confused with this way of writing and I wasn't too far off, sometimes I was losing track of who's POV I was reading from, which brings me to my next point. The internal voices of the characters do sound alike which felt slightly off, and did confuse me for a few moments but it did make for a great read. Information is slowly fed to you, leaving you unsure of the overall picture. When you are reading from one of the character’s POV's you start to believe in one thing but when you change POV's you end up questioning what you’ve only just come to believe.

I didn't really connect to the characters as much as I would in another genre maybe dystopian or young adult, but I connected enough to care for them to a point where I was rooting for them to be safe but not enough to connect on an emotional or mental wavelength if that makes any sense at all?

The majority of the story was actually great, I was into the story very much craving to know who the murderer of Rosie was, I was frustrated at how I couldn't find a single clue or make a single, solid, strong assumption. I felt as though the whole book had been at a great pace up until the ending it all seemed to speed up way too fast and not that it was an atrocious ending I just felt like it had more potential that what it actually did even though it wasn't anything near what I expected or could have guessed at. There were points that I thought details could have been added to just to give a little more realism but what was there was good.

I liked it for the most part, loved how by the book Bruno was and how matter of fact Lee was, but I wasn't so much of a fan of the repeated beatings a character had by another character who didn't get any sort of karma for it. It got less interesting and very much a point of me sighing and saying 'here we go again.'

Its hard to really give a great review of this book without giving spoilers that would ruin the story in parts or altogether. I have to praise Robert from gripping me for around 94% of the time, it was a great read but I just felt like it hadn't reached its full potential, it was a unique ending and I actually liked it there just left like there was even more potential. Its an 3.8/5 from me. Great read for the most part as I've previously stated. A great read for anyone who liked fast paced reads and twists and loves the unknown.

I was contacted and given a free copy for an honest review.