Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
The Sound Of Murder by Cindy Brown. Review
This is book 2 in the Ivy Meadows Mystery Series featuring the main character Olive Ziegwart or Ivy Meadows which is her stage name. Ivy works for her uncle Bob in Duda's detective agency where she is learning the trade when she is not setting things on fire like her apartment or car! Ivy is currently part of " The Sound Of Murder " a play she is currently practising for and there is quite a few drama queens playing alongside her! When an accident happens and she has to move out of her apartment she helps out her friend Marge's neighbour by house sitting while she is away for a few months , she has no idea what she has let herself in for , starting from the moment she arrives!
I really enjoyed this story , Ivy is a very likeable character, she is smart , funny , and handy with a fire extinguisher , her love life may be a little wanting but hunky fireman Jeremy may be the perfect man for this fire starting PI in training!
I received this book through Netgalley.
This book is being published October 2015 by Henery Press.
Below please find all the relevant links.
Cindy's webpage
Cindy's Facebook page
Henery Press
Monday, July 27, 2015
Everything , Everything by Nicola Yoon . Review
This is a story about a girl called Madeline who has a severe immune disease that leaves her unable to leave her house as she would die. Maddie lives with her mum who is a doctor . Her father and brother died in tragic circumstances a long time ago and Maddie does not really remember them. Maddie's house is her prison and safety net , she has a daily nurse who monitors her throughout the day but her days start to be less boring when a new family move in next door and one member of the family , the son Olly , catches her eye.
They find ways to communicate without coming into contact and gradually open up to one another finding comfort in each other .
Maddie's life soon begins to feel constrictive and she begins to want more which is where her problems begin.
This was one of those stories that captures you, you lose track of time reading this and you care about the characters , Olly and Madeline are both are struggling in life and reading this you could see the comfort they got knowing they had each other even in the smallest of ways. What surprised me the most was the ending , I was stunned , then tried to see if I could have seen it coming but no. It was written so well ! The story really captured my heart and made me appreciate life even more as Maddie was such a gutsy female who aimed to live her best life! A very uplifting book!
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk. This book is being published September 2015 and will be available from Lovereading4kids.co.uk and all other good bookstores then.
Please find a link to this book beliw.
In My Mailbox
Everything , Everything by Nicola Yoon This is about a young girl who has never left her house in 17 years because she is allergic to the world. How intriguing is that!!!!! I can't wait to read this!
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Night Owls by Jenn Bennett . Review
This is about two teenagers Beatrice and Jack who meet on the night bus while on their way home. These two have more in common then they first realise as Beatrice loves art and has her eye on an unconventional piecework work on for an exhibition , the charming Jack is a very gifted graffiti artist who spends his time painting walls and making sure no one finds out its him. Beatrice lives at home with her mum and brother Heath while Jack is the son of the Mayor but he neglects to mention this ! Both have their own family problems but they seem to be coping better with them since they found each other as they slowly open up to each other . This was a sweet ,tender story about family , young love, mental illness and having good people around you. An uplifting read guaranteed to make you smile!
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk.
This book will be published August 2015 and will be available from Lovereading4kids.co.uk and all other good booksellers then.
Below please find a link to this book on the website.
Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe. Review
Concentr8 is set in London in modern day. The story begins with us being introduced to a motley crew of teenagers who have very recently had their medications stopped. They are a gang of friends who no longer kept relaxed by medication are about to get themselves into plenty of trouble led by gang leader Blaze. When they kidnap a lowly worker who happens to work at the mayor's office he provides the perfect bargaining tool to draw attention to all this medication these kids had been on being suddenly taken away from them causing riots and general unease. A journalist hungry for this story is happy to meet Blaze to discuss this sensational story but he has some requests first!
This was a very interesting look into ADHD and the medications of those who were diagnosed with it , although a fictional story it was interesting to see the history of how the medication came about and how it was decided who was a suitable candidate to take it.
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at lovereading4kids.co.uk.
This book is being published August 2015 and will be available from lovereading4kids and all other good bookstores then.
Below please find a link to this book on the website.
Nelly Dean by Alison Case . Review
This story is based around the famous Wuthering Heights book but told through Nelly Dean , a maid , and jack of all trades for the Earnshaw family . Nelly's own father is a violent man so Nelly limits the amount of time she spends at home and her loving mother is grateful to have her out of harms way up at the" Heights" .
Nelly is very attached to the family but she is especially fond of Hindley Earnshaw , the oldest child. Fondness turns to love between them both and with that brings more heartache then she could imagine. Life in this wilderness gets a lot worse when Hindley goes away for a long time and she is left pining after him only for his return to be one of her most traumatic experiences .
This story about one family and their faithful servant is one of the best books I have read this year for its imagination, it's character building with Nelly over the span of her life . A truly beautiful story that dare I say I actually prefer to Wuthering Heights. Nelly is a character that will stay with you for a long time because she is so relatable and down to earth . This is going on my favourite books list!
I received this book from the awesome people over at Lovereading.co.uk.
This book is being published August 2015 and will be available from Lovereading.co.uk and all other good bookstores then.
Below please find a link to this awesome book!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Second To Nun by Alice Loveecey . Review
This is book two in the Giuila Driscoll mystery series featuring ex nun and private investigator Giuila. Office life is busy when you are trying to catch cheating husbands and other dishonest people , so when Giuila gets an unusual work offer to come stay at a scenic bed and breakfast at a lighthouse she jumps at the chance especially when she can bring along her lovely husband Frank. Something spooky is happening at the bed and breakfast and its owner believes there is a ghost trying to cause great harm that could be potentially fatal , it's up to Giuila and Frank to find out what exactly is going on before someone is found dead! This was the first time I read a book in this series and I truly loved it's setting and characters. Giuila makes a great main character and if the last page is anything to go by we are in for an exciting book 3 in this series !
I received my copy from the lovely people over at Netgalley. This book is being published September 2015 by Henery Press and will be available from all good booksellers then.
In My Mailbox
I love the cover of this review book. It really catches the eye! 
Concentr8 by William Sutcliff. Published by Bloomsbury.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
The Lady Kiss Goodbye by Tasmina Perry. Review
What a beautiful story this was set in the 1960's and modern day England. In the 1960's the main character is Dominic Blake who works for a magazine and is connected to all the right people. In modern day England we meet Abby, an archivist and part time newspaper journalist . Abby is helping to launch an exhibit about exploration expeditions, but she has no idea what journey through history and war this is going to take her on while going through a separation from her husband at the same time.
The story takes us from country to country and at the centre of it all is a story about love , a never ending love that endures no matter what happens .
I received this book from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk.
This book is being published in September 2015 and will be available from Lovereading.co.uk and all other good bookstores then.
Brow please find a link to this book on the Lovereading website.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Kitchens Of The Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal. Review
The story begins with a young couple meeting, falling in love, marrying , having a baby. Then the story takes two very unexpected twists and we are on a new adventure . The story is based around a girl called Eva who has an unusual palate and enjoys the whole process of cooking and different kinds of food , through this love of good food she meets many people and she becomes famous in food circles for hosting spectacular dinners that have huge waiting lists years in advance. Now that her name is famous in food circles her name reaches ears of those most keen to meet her and see what this chef is really like.
This was a surprising story about love, family , and at the centre food! Delicious recipes are included in the book and there is many mouthwatering descriptions throughout the story that will have you craving something delicious while reading this!
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk
This book is being published in August 215 and will be available to buy from Lovereading and all other hood bookstores then.
Below please find a link to this book On Lovereading.co.uk
A Game For All The Family by Sophie Hannah . Review
I have previously read a book by Sophie Hannah so I was familiar with how good a writer she is and this just confirmed that for me. From the beginning the story was very eerie and it quickly became quite disturbing. When a family moves to a new house they start to receive threatening phone calls and the majority of the hate is directed at the mother Justine. These menacing calls continue and the police are no help so Justine starts her own investigations . Then a mysterious boy that her daughter is going to school with is expelled for stealing her daughter Ellen's coat but the school deny he ever existed, he was also wrongly accused. There is so much mystery in this story and it is all linked making the situation more complex and dangerous .
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at lovereading.co.uk.
This book is being published August 2015 and will be available from lovereading and all other good bookstores then.
Below please find a link to this on the Lovereading website.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Book Haul , New And Old.
New books!
Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
Pre-loved books
Friday, July 17, 2015
The Next Together by Lauren James . Review
This is the story about two people , Katherine and Matthew who keep meeting each other in different ways from the 1700's , 1800's etc up to 2039.
Each Katherine and Matthew have their own unique story , but they are linked together through time in a beautifully told way, finding each other and falling in love over and over again like they are destined to be together. The story is a mixture of history and science told in many ways , through letters , social media etc and depending on the time we meet the couple it is a good insight into each particular time in history . I love this modern day story of time travel and the awesome characters at the centre of it all. A must read for all time travel fans.
I received this book for review from the lovely folks over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk.
This book is being published September 2015 and will be available from Lovereading4kids and all other good book stores then.
Below please find a link to this book on the website.
Lying Out Loud by Kody Keplinger . Review
Sonny Ardmore is a smart and loyal friend who just happens to lie a lot! Sonny goes to Hamilton School with her friend Amy and rich boy Ryder who she despises .
Amy has a lovely family and these two girls have grown up together , so when Sonny is having problems at home Amy takes her into her house to stay without her parents knowing. While all this is going on Ryder takes an interest in Amy much to Sonny's disgust, but when a prank goes wrong it leads Sonny on a whole different path that she or Amy could never have expected . This was a funny and touching story , Sonny is very witty but she uses humour to hide the pain that is really going on in her life. The friendship that Amy and Sonny have is a beautiful one and I thought the story was touching and heartwarming without making light of the more serious aspects to the plot . A definite must read ! I loved this!
I received my copy through Netgalley.
This book is published this month by Hachette Children's Books ,July 2015 , and is available where all good books are sold.
Goodreads
Amazon
Lying Out Loud: A Companion to the Duff
Kody's Website
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Killer Run by Lynn Cahoon . Review
I love Jill's relationships with her aunt and Greg ,their scenes together are sweet,plus the constant mention of delicious foods too makes this irristable !
I love the small town feel to this series where you never know who can do unthinkable things when pushed , add plenty of red herrings to that and it makes a great fun mystery!
I received this book through Netgalley.
This book is due to be published August 2015.
The publisher is Kensington Books.
Amazon.co.uk
Killer Run (A Tourist Trap Mystery Book 5) by Lynn Cahoon
Goodreads
Lynn's website
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
In My Mailbox
It was a day of beautiful books arriving ! First up is this gorgeous hard back edition .
Kitchens Of The Great Midwest by J . Ryan Stradal
This looks so good !!!!!
Night Owls by Jenn Bennett . Another beautiful cover!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Mrs Hudson And The Spirits Curse by Martin Davies . Review
I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson so when I heard about this book I was very excited . Sherlock Holmes is setting up home in Bakers Street in London and is needing someone to take care of the day to day running of his household so he employs the very able Mrs Hudson. Mrs Hudson brings her own help in the form of a young girl called Flottie who has had some recent trouble by the hands of a member of a household she previously worked for , she is helped by a street urchin called Scraggs who often helps Mrs Hudson with little jobs. Mrs Hudson is not just an excellent woman at managing a household , she also has a keen eye on what is happening around her and misses little! The majority of the story takes part in a thickly fogged London but there are more exotic countries weaved into the basis of the story as someone has recently come back from far away shores with a curse on his head that seems to follow him wherever he goes , his aim is to get Holmes's help before it is too late or it could prove fatal. I loved this story ! The entire household is filled with interesting characters , each one valuable in their own way to solving mysteries and crimes in a city filled with all forms of criminals. This is a must read for all Sherlock Holmes fans !
I received my copy of this book through Netgalley.
This book is published July 13th 2015 by Canelo.
Goodreads
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Fatal Reservations by Lucy Burdette . Review
I am a huge fan of this series based in Key West , this is book 6 in the series and in this book Hayley's friend Lorenzo has got himself into some deep water when he is accused of murder. Everything is pointing against him so it's going to be up to Hayley and her housemate Goria to get him out of trouble if only they could find him first as he has run away!
Working on Key Zest magazine has got Hayley trying lots more food which I adore! Some mouth watering discriptions leave it impossible to read this book without lots of snacks present. Quite a bit of the story takes part in the cemetery and I loved that setting ! Reading the description of the setting makes it really feel like you are there seeing what Hayley is seeing . Hayley's love life takes a bit of a battering this time round but with her work and finding a real killer she has a lot on her plate !
At the very end of the book there is sweet and savoury recipes sure to make your mouth water and I for one can't wait to try them out. This was another great book in this series!
Below please find a link to Lucy's website where you can find out about all the books in the series and the lovely author herself.
The Gilded Life Of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkoff . Review
The story begins when journalist Thomas Cleary is sent to get some quotes or interesting information for an obituary on a very famous / notorious film producer. Thomas talks to this film producers daughter Lily who invites him to a dinner where he can meet those who knew him best where he will be able to get the low down on this wealthy well known man.
He is welcomed into this rich indulgent world where the rich hang out with the rich and price tags are practically irrelevant . The information they give really helps him out but it won't be the last he hears from them all. Through a misunderstanding on one of the nights he was to meet some of them he turns up at the wrong house and meets Matilda.
Matilda is one of the most fascinating women he has ever met but it becomes quickly apparent that she is protected from life by those surrounding her , he just does not understand why? Being a journalist and in love with a mysterious woman becomes a dangerous combination when your job and lifestyle can be taken away from you by those who are helping you up the career ladder.
I love a story with mystery , and having a journalist on a mission to uncover secrets made this impossible to set down as I had to know the secrets behind this woman's life. It was worth the wait !
I received my copy for review through Netgalley .
This book is due to be published in September 2015 and will be available from all good booksellers then.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Monster by C J Skuse . Review
Monster is a story about a girls boarding school called Bathory. It is coming up to the Christmas holidays and Nash is hoping to become head girl , she has been working really hard to get this title but there is a girl determined to beat her to the title! When Nash gets news that her brother has gone missing in a foreign country it looks like she will have to spend Christmas at school with some of the staff and teens left behind. As the weather worsens the stories of the Beast of Bathory are revealed making each resident just that little bit extra jumpy , made worse when things start to happen . It becomes hard to know who or what to trust in this big old place during a snow storm with a strong feeling of dread approaching!
If you like ghost stories that happen in big old houses then you will likely really enjoy this! I definitely did!
I received this book for review from the lovely folks over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk. This book is due to be published September 2015 and will be available from Lovereading4kids and all other good book shops then .
Below please find a link to this book on the website .
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Reading This Week
I have been reading some awesome books!
Fatal Reservations by Lucy Burdette. Truly great book and series based in Key West. I have read every book in this series .
Monster by C J Skuse
The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbott. I love this series!!! If you enjoy books about books then try this one!
Sophie Someone by Hayley Long . Review
The main character of the story is called Sophie. Sophie has just moved away with her mum to a different place and they are eagerly waiting for her dad. Nothing about this seems too unusual to Sophie until she starts a new school and they need her birth certificate , here lies a problem , this is when all the secrets start to leak out. Her parents are not exactly who she thought they were and with the help from a friend she aims to find out what has been going on and to that she has to go to the only person who will tell her the truth!
I really enjoyed this book , the unique language Sophie uses to speak takes a bit of getting used to but it is enjoyable once you get the hang of it.
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk.
This book is being published September 2015 and will be available from Lovereading4kids and all other good bookstores then.
Below please find a link to this book on the website.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier . Review
This story is based in Tinker's Cove Maine and the main character of the story is Lucy Stone who works as a journalist for the local Pennysaver Newspaper. It's coming near to Halloween in this small town and Lucy is busy looking after her own kids and husband as well as her grandson Patrick who is staying with them while his parents are away working until Christmas . Having her job and daycare to juggle too shows just how awesome Lucy is! Bill , Lucy's husband has been working alongside his friend Ev building a catapult for the First Giant Pumpkin Festival where all the community is taking part . Vandalism and a darker side to the community seems to be surrounding the competition as the date gets nearer and there are crimes being committed and some of them are a lot more serious then others!
When someone is found murdered and all eyes are turned to the wrong people the past suddenly rears its ugly head and things start to become a whole lot clearer.
This was an awesome book , a perfect Autumn read with a great setting and plot! Loved it!
I received this book through Netgalley .
This book is being published in August 2015 by Kensington Books.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney . Review
This is the first book in the Dewberry Farm mystery series featuring the main character
Lucy Resnick . Lucy has just moved back to her grandparents town of Buttercup and she has bought the house they used to live in . Having been made redundant she uses her money to buy this farmhouse and start a whole new life for herself as a homesteader making jams and candles etc to sell , while growing veg too and avoiding getting kicked by her cow the wandering Blossom.
Lucy is not long in Buttercup when she realises that the woman who sold her the house is not as nice as she first seems and is in fact quite the battleaxe who seems to rub everyone up the wrong way . When the Founders Day celebrations in the town brings the community together , one member of it decides to kill someone leaving Lucy to take the fall. Lucy has to find out who killed this person before she gets sent to jail for the murder and she needs to do all the inquiries herself as the police are no help! Along with her friends they try and figure out who the killer is while finding out some of the history of the people in the area , battling ex's , and possibly falling in love .
This was a terrific start to a new series and I adored the setting, the idyllic town of Buttercup. I can't wait for the next book in the series !!
I received my copy through Netgalley.
Karen's website
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Goodreads
Another Day by David Levithan . Review
This is the story about a girl called Rihannon who is a typical teenage girl who happens to be going out with a bit of a jerk. Her boyfriend Justin is a troubled young man full of angst and anger and I wished from the beginning that this smart young woman would ditch him and see the light of day but she really tried to make him happy and change him for the better so when one day he acts completely different to his normal sulky self she has such a great time with him and for once she relaxes. Next day he is back to his old ways again and Rihannon is left baffled by him. Then into the story comes A , A takes many forms , male female , black , white. Each day A is different and takes the body of someone new and lives there for a day before moving to the next person. Rihannon meets A when he is a male teenager and after finding him out on a lie agrees to meet him to find out what his story is .
I was not expecting a story like this , it seems far fetched if you explain it to someone but when you read it it is really gripping and fascinating , I loved these characters . A and Rihannon together made a great team and I loved their scenes together . This is a must read for David Levithan fans .
I received this book for review from the lovely folks over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk . This book is due to be published July 2015 and will be available to buy from Lovereading4kids and all other good bookstores then .
Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading4kids website.
The Dress by Kate Kerrigan . Review
The story begins in the 1950's in Ireland with a boy called Francis. Francis has a bad home life , and after one two many incidents he is helped by his teacher, but instead of staying he decides to leave and run far away.
Fast forward to present day and we meet Lily , a fashion blogger who takes an interest in a specific dress from the past not realising it is going to lead her on an adventure into the glamour of New York and those who were part of it .
The story goes back and forth in time with these characters and from Ireland to New York. Francis changed his name to Frank and made a very comfortable life for himself with Joy , a very glamorous woman from a wealthy family. They have the perfect marriage until Joy's drinking and spending gets out of control and cracks begin to appear. While trying to fix their marriage Joy decides to have a dress made that will wow Frank and remind him how much he really loves her not realising that the very thing she is going to do could be the downfall of their marriage in the form of Honor , a dressmaker with a connection to Frank's home town .
It is a beautiful story full of glamour and real heartache that is perfect for those of you who like a book that will make you want to read it all in one sitting!
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk. This book is due to be published in September 2015 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good book stores then.
Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading website.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Book Loving Bloggers Q&A
Hi guys , today I want to introduce you to the lovely Lesley . Lesley is a blogger , Youtuber and all round awesome lady and we had a little chat today about the bookish loves in Lesley's life. 
Q1- WHAT STARTED YOUR LOVE OF READING.
Lesley- Being read to as a child was my favourite thing to do but I hated having to wait for someone to have time to do it so I begged my mum to teach me when I was either 3 or 4 and never really looked back.
Q-2 WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD BOOK OR BOOKS.
Lesley- From about 6 - 10 I couldn't get enough of the Baby Sitters Club and the Baby Sitter Little Sister books by Ann M Martin. I loved that there was always a new one to read!
Q-3 WHICH BOOK DO YOU WISH YOU HAD READ AS A CHILD/TEEN ?
Lesley- I didn't start reading The Harry Potter series until I was 14 or 15, but I know I would have enjoyed them just as much if I started younger. I definitely wish The Series of Unfortunate Events had of been around when I was in primary school though. My twisted little self would have been all over those.
Q-4 LIBRARY , BOOKSHOP , SHOP ONLINE ? WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO SHOP?
Lesley- Learning about online shops like The Book Depository changed my reading life. I love being able to order the particular edition of a book I want. It's like magic to me, although I do love browsing around physical bookstores and finding titles I didn't realise I needed. I still miss the huge Borders Books that use to be close by me.
Q5- DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A BLOGGER / REVIEWER ?
Lesley-Not at all. It didn't occur to me to start something like my Booktube channel for the longest time but now I can't imagine life without it.
Q6- ARE THERE TIMES YOU CAN'T READ ? IF SO , WHAT DO YOU DO?
Lesley- There are times when I'm not as motivated to read as others but I find rereading an old favourite can help or buying a new title that sounds exciting to me.
Q7- WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A BOOK REVIEWER ?
Lesley- The feedback is definitely the highlight for me. Talking about a book I love and having other people respond with how much they enjoy it too, especially if someone picks something up on my recommendation and thanks me for introducing them to a book they ended up loving. It just makes my day.
Q8- WHAT BOOK RELATED PLACE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT?
Lesley- Oscar Wilde's grave outside of Paris! I was in Paris years ago but ran out of time to visit. I know it will be something I regret forever if I don't make sure to get back there and see it for myself.
Q9- HAVE YOU EVER SAT DOWN AND READ A BOOK IN ONE SITTING
Lesley - Definitely. Quite a few times in fact but the one that stands out the most is The Great Gatsby. Nothing could have made me put that down the first time I read it. It was just one of those times when the book you pick up fits your mood exactly and I just had to keep reading.
Q-10 FAVOURITE GENRE
Lesley- I don't know if you would definitively count this as a genre but Modern Classics are just something that I can never seem to get enough of. Books written in the first half of the 20th century just seem to speak to me in a way other books can't manage most of the time. I adore them.
Thank you so much for stopping by and giving such great answers. Those of you who might not already know Lesley can find her through the links below where she regularly uploads amazing content that is sure to have any book lover clicking that subscribe button.
Wordsofareader Blog
Wordsofareader YouTube
Wordsofareader Twitter
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