Wednesday 29 June 2011

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY


Well I am back from my wonderful cruise and back to work this evening:(
I thought that before I went off to work, I would host my 3rd Wanderlust Wednesday. My theme this week came to me when I was wandering around the streets of Rome and seeing the building from which Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons" was set.

"Which country, island or city, from a book of fiction would you like to holiday in?"

I think mine would be Cephallonia (Kefalonia), the Greek Island where Captain Corelli's Mandolin was based. It always sounds so picturesque and relaxing. I could see me curled up with my Kindle there, on some deserted beach.

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Book Review -- The House of Silence -- Linda Gillard

Gwen is a girl who has been orphaned when her Mother, Aunt and Uncle all died from curses ranging from drink, drugs and living an immoral life!

She works as a wardrobe mistress on film sets and this brings her into contact with the mysterious Alfie, who invites her, reluctantly, to spend Christmas with is disfunctional family at Creake Hall. Normally she would spend Christmas alone, so thinks it will be nice this time to spend it with a family.

This family Christmas does not turn out quite as she expected, and Alfie is behaving quite strangely. All is not as it seems. His mother is a childrens author and spends all her time in her room, refusing to mix with the rest of the household, even at Christmas. She lives in her own little world which is a mixture of the present and the past. She talks in riddles and when Gwen gets to meet her, she feels something with this family is not quite as it seems, especially when she see's family photos which don't quite ring true, and bits of torn up letters which seem to hide some secrets. Everyone tries to hide things from her. The only person she seems to have any faith, comes in the delightful guise of the handsome older gardener.

When she puts it all together it is quite a shock, and many secrets unfold.

This is a great book with some really interesting characters. I immediately warmed to Gwen and really felt for her. This book is well written and keeps you wanting to read on. Try as I might though I could not piece any of the clues together and was kept guessing right until the end. A really great read.

Thursday 16 June 2011

Why I love book blogs and bloggers

Why I love, is a weekly meme, hosted by Alexis of Reflections of a Bookaholic. She host's a different theme each week in her Why I love series. Why not pop in and have a look. Link above. This is her Wednesday one, and although I am a day late, I'm sure it's still Wednesday somewhere in the world!
This weeks theme is Why I love book blogging or blogs.

1. Why I love book blogging.
I have met so many lovely people to start with, Alexis being one of them. I have been able to share my love of books and book reviews with people. I have also started listening to audiobooks which is something I'd never done before. I have also been introduced to books in different genre's that before I would have passed by on a bookshelf.

2. Why I love blogs.
Again apart from the lovely people I have come across, I have picked up some good tips. I follow a couple of blogs from people who are travelling around the world. One blog from Vicki on travellers point is a blog of her on her round the world travels and she takes the most amazing photographs. She makes me very envious. Also I follow The baking bookworm and have picked up some good recipe ideas and some money saving tips too. I have so many blogs that I love, that there are too many to mention.

3. The freebies.
There are also many goodies that are given away in the bookworld and I have entered a few competitions and won some lovely books and been in touch with some lovely authors too.

Why don't you pop in and have a look at the blogs I've mentioned. You wont be disappointed.

Wednesday 15 June 2011

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY

Welcome to my 2nd Wanderlust Wednesday.

The question this week is:-

"Which is your favourite city in the world and why?"

No Wanderlust Wednesday next week as I will be on my cruise around the Mediterranean!

My favourite City has to be Sydney, Australia. It is a beautiful and scenic City obviously with the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, but it is also an interesting city. It's easy to get around and has a great ferry service from Circular Quay to a number of interesting places, like Manley Beach and beyond. It is also an unhurried City. It's not like London where people are rushing everywhere and don't want you invading their space. Sydney is laid back, like it's people. The people are friendly and welcoming. I just love it. I've been there twice now and never been disappointed.

Click here for the top ten novels set in Sydney.
Also read In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Look forward to hearing yours, along with any novels that may be set in that city.

Saturday 11 June 2011

Book Review -- The stolen Child by Brian McGilloway

Title - The Stolen Child
Author - Brian McGilloway

Currently Free on www.amazon.co.uk

The short story of a husband and wife and their beloved "baby". Plus suspicious goings on at a neighbours house. Unfortunately can't say more as only a short story and it would have to contain spoilers.

This was only a short story but nonetheless it was a good one. You didn't really get enough time to "bond" with all the characters, but the story line was really good and had quite a twist at the end. Nice little read for a filler between books.

4/5

Friday 10 June 2011

Book Review -- The Stakeout by Elizabeth Hale

Title - The Stakeout (Audrey Roscoe Series)

Author - Elizabeth A Hale

Publisher - Createspace

Published - 22nd April 2011

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Benjamin Moore, that's Detective Moore, found his estranged wife Becca murdered in his home. He had been helping her move some of her things out of his home and when he got back home from her apartment he found her dead.

He instantly becomes a suspect, as is usually the case, but could he have done it? Could it have been the spurned lover? Or could it be one of Moore's colleagues? There are many suspects and you constantly change your mind over who you think it could be.

Bring in Detective Audrey Roscoe, Moore's work partner. Can she solve the murder before she becomes one of the murderer's victims herself? She's under review at work and is partnered by Detective Trudeau. Who is trying to sabotage the investigation?

For anyone who loves a good detective novel, then this is it. Sometimes I found the author was a bit too descriptive in some of her research, as if she had written it directly from a forensic text book, but this was only on the odd occasion and didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of this otherwise well written book. I look forward to other books in the series.

5/5

The author sent me this book to read and review but it did not in anyway influence my review, nor was I paid for my review.

Wednesday 8 June 2011

WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY

    Ok so as promised, welcome to my first Wanderlust Wednesday. The weekly theme for us to discuss books and travel. My two favourite subjects. So my question this week is:-

 Where is your favourite beach to lay on and read a good book?

Mine would have to be Taba in Egypt. I have visited many different beaches all over the world, but this one I found the most relaxing and quiet.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Wanderlust Wednesdays - - Coming soon!

Coming soon - Wanderlust Wednesdays.
Following on from the title of my blog, which is obviously related to books and travel, I thought I would hold a Wanderlust Wednesday day, for the Wednesdays when I'm not travelling (or at that place called work!).

I thought I might include various subjects e.g. What is your favourite beach to relax on to read your book? What is your favourite holiday destination? What books do you like to read on holiday? What books are you taking with you on holiday this year? Your favourite holiday photo. And much much more...... I will host the occasional giveaway too (a book though, not a holiday!).

If you can think of any other suggestions/questions that we could cover on a Wednesday, then please let me know. I have an idea for one tomorrow so watch this space.

Sunday 5 June 2011

Book Review -- The Hanging Wood by Martin Edwards

I was lucky enough to be allowed to read this book from the publishers prior to it's publication via www.netgalley.com. It is due out in Hardback on 25th July 2011. Pre-orders being taken on Amazon.

 It's a story about teenager Callum Hinds who went missing and his Uncle was suspected of having killed him. This caused the Uncle to kill himself. Twenty years later his Sister Orla comes back to the Lake District to find out what happened to her brother as she doesn't believe that her Uncle would have harmed her brother. She speaks to Hannah at the Cold Case team asking for her brother's case to be reoppened. Then Orla dies in strange circumstances.

 Hannah and her team take on the case and many other mysteries appear. You don't find out what happened until very near the end of the book.

My book rating - 4/5




 I found the book hard to get into to start with as I like a book that sucks you in within the first chapter and this didn't.  This is the only reason I gave it 4/5 and not a 5. However I persevered and I'm glad I did as there were many secrets and scandals in the book and I was immersed into their scandalous lives. Worth reading and I would be encouraged to read other books by Martin Edwards

Thursday 2 June 2011

Britains Got Talent - Classic fun act

I think the Queen would like this old guy. Hilarious and very clever. I know it's not book related or travel related but I wanted to share it.
Let me know what you think.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Book Review -- The Darkness beyond the veil --

Title -- The Darkness beyond the Veil
Author -- Darren R Scothern
Format -- E book (for Kindle)

I really enjoyed this book of short stories. They all have a supernatural undertone to them. Considering they were short stories they were full of content and you were able to get to know the characters.

There are 9 short stories altogether. Three of them are linked by characters, and are quite cleverly split throughout the book so they are not read one after the other and I think this works quite well.

As they are short stories it is hard to give a brief synopsis without spoilers. The three stories that are linked are about two school boys named Paul and Tom. It is nice to see how their relationship is formed, torn apart and then re-formed again, and also the detail of their turbulent family backgrounds and how they are intertwined. I liked these characters.

There is also a short story called "The Veil" which I think was my favourite. It is about a teenager called Paul who forms a "friendship" albeit a very brief one, with a young girl called Sarah. Their lives are intertwined when he saves her 2 year old brother from being run over by a car, the driver of which was never traced. For such a short story this was packed with content, and very enjoyable. When you read it, you will sense that you or someone you know has either been in, or heard about this situation before. Well written.

All in all, if you want a book where you can dip in and out of it, or read it alongside another book, then I thoroughly recommend this.