• Books,  REVIEWS

    [REVIEW] #ad Vendetta – Jack McSparron

    Image result for jack mcsporran vendetta

    GIFTED*

    Mafia, Murder and drugs; all in one book?

    This book caught my eye when it came up on my bulk emails (linked to up and coming authors & review ebook copies) as an advertisement. So I grabbed it before it disappeared. This book is a quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It took me just under 24 hours to completely finish this as it was so entertaining.

    The man character is a kick-ass woman called Maggie Black, who is incredible. Her partner in this book and part-time lover is Leon. I feel both have an interesting backstory which propelled the story on well.

    The story takes place mainly in Venice, Italy and I loved the casual references to places within the city. The story powers on easily and quickly as we are introduced to various characters, each with their own agenda.

    This book basically is about a spy who is trying to stop a meeting and two groups becoming partners across Europe. The mafia is involved via the character Carlo Rossi and his family vs the other Italian family and mafia enemy the Martinis.

    The killer in the murders through the story is revealed just as I figured out who it could be. The suspense was high and clever to read. I enjoyed hearing the ending of this book.

    I would recommend this book, as it is an enjoyable quick read. I will go on to read more about the main character in new books, as this was the first in the series which I highly recommend reading.

  • Books,  REVIEWS

    [REVIEW] Harry Potter 1 (atPS) – J.K. Rowling

    A boy a cupboard …who becomes a wizard.

    Harry Potter is a book close to my heart. I remember reading this book while still in Primary school for the reading hour. It is still as exciting as it was all those years ago.

    We start at the beginning with a young boy being ignored and basically feeling unwanted by his adopted parents after his real ones perish.

    we are given a brief idea about how important this boy is to the world he was not able to be brought up in.

    It follows average peoples lives via his aunt and uncle with their son Dudley. The drama doesn’t really pick up until we get t the part where a parcel is delivered to Harry (Potter) and his aunt and uncle will not allow him to read it. This uncle and Aunt decide to run away from their house to a remote area and hide from these parcels.

    Hagrid turns up and he is a welcome surprise that makes everyone feel much better and happier. This is because he has rescued Harry Potter from the wretched family who didn’t really want him or care about him.

    The action picks after Harry was introduced to the wizarding world. As this is a re-read for me and since watching the film I had a good idea what was going to happen throughout the book.  I would say to all new readers to this book to stick by the mundane storyline until you get to Hogwarts (the magical school) and enjoy it.

    As many people before have said before I think that Peeves really should have been added to the film adaption. For all that don’t know he is a cheeky ghost that haunt Hogwarts castle.

    Towards the end, it becomes apparent that Harry and his house/class mates who he has befriended are intent on a journey and solving the mystery of what is on the third floor of Hogwarts that came from Gringotts – the wizarding bank.

    Personally, it was very interesting plot over all and I would say read this book – if not the whole series. I would recommend not watching the films before reading as it does ruin the story. Although the films  miss a lot, they have enough in for you to know what’s going on and you don’t want to know the storyline before reading the book.

    Harry Potter is a book for kids that adults can read and should. Enjoy!

  • Books,  REVIEWS

    [REVIEW] #ad The Betrayed – Casey Kelleher

    GIFTED*

    A modern tale of family & loyalty.

    Part 1 – 1982

    The first 100 pages are fast-paced drama which kicks you right in the teeth with impact. Jimmy in the first chapters is what I would describe as borderline inhuman and quite evil, toward his own father.

    After the first two chapters, it settles down to a novel with romance for the first half of the book.

    Edel is the cliche mother figure; loveable because she comes across as a real human rather than a character just added to the plot.

    After Jimmy and Colleen meet, you see a different more likeable side to Jimmy. Although it comes across as overboard. The romance between them is quick paced and before you know it, it is cliche romance. Some people would call it “Insta-love” whatever that means?

    The ending chapters drama were okay but nothing special or unique about it until the end of it – it hits you with a punch, especially after a few chapters of just mundane life.

    Part 2 – 1985

    The shift between mundane life and marriage themes are broken when dramatic impact as you see how completely different the characters are compared to the beginning. Personally? I did not like the change at all and wanted to put the book down without finishing. Anyway, I powered on through eventually. A word of warning, there is a lot of depressing scenes and TRIGGER suicide is mentioned throughout.

    Part 3 – 2003

    The way this book changes again for part 3 is quite strange in my opinion. It jumps to a completely different family and this generation that has little to do with the original characters that I had to endure. Personally, I did not care for a change in characters and thought it was an easy way out rather than finishing the main story. The only part which made sense was when Jimmy and Colleen’s family were mentioned.

    Would I recommend this book? Honestly… although I didn’t enjoy it, I think others might. Why not borrow it from the library and if you do enjoy it – buy! I wouldn’t have chosen to read it if I had known more about it, but I do like most crime genres and was intrigued.

    DISCLAIMER: I got this ebook from the author and publisher for an honest review.

  • Books

    About unpaid books online,

    Well, this topic has recently come to light. How do you free about sent copies of books online? Are they worth it? How do you get them? I have found out the hard way, via Facebook, how controversial this subject actually can actually get.

    I asked an innocent question “how do you get free books and how long does it take you read them. I had over 130 comments ranging from”good luck with your blog, it takes time” to “I think you’re blogging for the wrong reasons” type thing.

    I then went out there anyway and just asked for one – YES, it is worth trying.

    I have recently joined up on NetGalley and got 9 online e-books in the last month. The idea is that I go on to give full feedback & publish a review about how the book was. This has made me feel honoured as a new blog reviewer that they would allow me the opportunity to do a good service and be trusted to follow out on my review.

    On top of that, I saw by chance a new up-and-coming author on Twitter showing her new book and read an excerpt. I was hooked. I found out by browsing her tweets that she was giving away a load of ARCs from USA so I messaged her my address to send me the book (bear in mind I live in the UK) and she said Yes.

    I have never felt more humbled that she said yes to me out of anyone, but then again I think it was “first come, first serve” kinda thing. I am so excited to receive this book, read it and then review – it’s crazy. The thing is I still don’t know if I’m going to receive it. I guess I just need to be patient and wait it out.

    ISN’T READING, WHAT BOOK BLOGGING IS ALL ABOUT?

    My main query is: are “sent” books really acceptable? is it rude to ask? & should you just stick to book sales or the libraries?

    What are your opinions? Let me know!

    • Would you ask online for a copy?
    • how long did it take you to your 1st?
    • Have you regretted ask/reading?
    • Do you find ask/receiving ARCs offensive?

    ALSO – Are e-book better than paper copies?

    EDIT: I now have a review policy for authors who wish to send me a copy of their book to read and review. This is at their discretion – I reply with either yes or no – also depending on whether it hit my criteria for a book I would read normally.

  • Books,  REVIEWS

    [REVIEW] The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne.

    Image result for john boyne the boy in the striped pyjamas

     Set in World War 2 from a 9-year-old boy’s point of view.

    The beginning is just run-of-the-mill descriptions of family, life and friends, set in the early 1940’s. Nothing really happens except moving to new house in first 100 pages.  The part where it starts to get interesting is when the boy Bruno moves with his family to what he calls “Out-with” because of his father’s connections to the “Fury” which we know it as Auschwitz and the Fuhrer – IE. Adolf Hitler.

    It starts to get eerie & unsettling as an adult reader because we understand a lot more than Bruno. You can tell this book was aimed at children because most of the descriptions are kept to a minimum to stop any upset reading.

    The second half sets the scene for the last 100 pages of drama. Although this is a slow read, it picks you up halfway through and you get absorbed into reading the next chapter to see what happens.

    You feel like screaming in horror at what his father’s job is although you never quite get told what it is you know it is something dangerous and upsetting to all. Calling him “Fury” doesn’t show how terrible Hitler was in real life and the very brief encounter in the book portrays him in a horrible light.

    Throughout the book, you can feel Bruno’s loneliness through the pages and how he longs for a friend like he did before they left his old home at the beginning. One of the meetings between Bruno and Shmuel is very emotional. I don’t want to give it away but there are parallel stories that show the differences between those on one side of “the fence” compared to the other.

    The ending was beyond creepy n leaves it up to you to fill the blanks. Anyone with previous knowledge of the subject (Concertation Camps and Nazis) can work it out. I didn’t like the ending because it was too abrupt and you left feeling like there could’ve been more to it.

    I would not recommend this book for an adult reader. It was too short & full of emotion but a child would really enjoy the length and the storyline. Luckily this book is actually aimed at children anyway.

  • Books,  REVIEWS

    [REVIEW] #ad The Wrong Suspect – Leigh Russell

    Image result for the wrong suspect

    GIFTED*

    The third in the series of an investigative reporter.

    The characters are interesting to read but it takes the reader a while to feel comfortable hearing about them. Amelia is very odd to read about but you still want to know more. Lucy is both clever and holds your attention but towards the middle, you start to wonder what is the point of your investigation?

    Her colleague, Benoit, seems to be the voice of reason throughout & although he is mentioned a lot he is not a main part of the storyline. There are numerous other characters that pop into the book to say hello but not really worth going into, filler descriptions I guess.

    Around the 60% mark something very dramatic happens and after the event disappears it seems to go away and the character doesn’t seem to react the same. It’s as if the drama element was increased to keep the reader’s attention, which it does but you are left feeling confused.

    There is once again a dramatic twist which I don’t want to spoil but it is extremely unrealistic but builds up the tension, it also gives away the main character’s story and enemies before the end so I didn’t know what was left to find out.

    The character that you think is rational and the voice of reason lose their mind in the last few chapters, to the point that you wonder whether she has ever been sane or it was just an act. This heightens the drama and suspense of the last few chapters.

    The story is summed up and finished in a good way and you don’t feel like you have missed anything or that it needs more to it. This is the 3rd Lucy Hall book in the series. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to people who like cheap thrills.

    I wouldn’t read another in this series and suggest to others may be reading the 1st book to get an insight into the main character. It is a thrilling read but came across quite quick to read, which I am not sure if the author was intending on doing.

     

    DISCLAIMER:I got this ebook from the author and publisher for an honest review.