Book Reviews

Quick Spotlight: Real Monsters by Liam Brown


 

Real Monsters  is due to be released by Legend Press on 1st March 2015.

‘Real Monsters is the story of two young lovers with a war wedged between them; a surreal and ferociously recognisable allegory for our war-torn times,’ says the author, Liam Brown.

It is the debut novel from Liam who is also the lead singer and guitarist for the band, Freelance Mourners.

It will be available in paperback and eBook formats. Click here to view the book on Amazon UK.

 

About Real Monsters:

We are surrounded by monsters. The lines are now so blurred, no one knows who the real enemy is anymore.

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Author Interview: Kate Riordan

Kate-imageThe Girl in the Photograph was released by Penguin on 15h January 2015. Inspired by the beautiful Owlpen Manor in Gloucestershire, it’s the latest novel from author, Kate Riordan.

About the book:

When Alice Eveleigh arrives at Fiercombe Manor during the long, languid summer of 1933, she finds a house steeped in mystery and brimming with secrets. Sadness permeates its empty rooms and the isolated valley seems crowded with ghosts, none more alluring than Elizabeth Stanton whose only traces remain in a few tantalisingly blurred photographs. Why will no one speak of her? What happened a generation ago to make her vanish?As the sun beats down relentlessly, Alice becomes ever more determined to unearth the truth about the girl in the photograph – and stop her own life from becoming an eerie echo of Elizabeth’s . . .

 

In the video below, Kate talks about her inspiration for the book, her characters, what she wants the reader to take away from the novel and the themes of her novel. Click here to see a book trailer for The Girl in the Photograph. 

 

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Review: The Wedding Proposal by Sue Moorcroft

wedding proposalElle Jamieson is a private person, in relationships as well as at work – and for good reason. But then she’s made redundant and with no ties to hold her, Elle heads off to sunny Malta.

Lucas Rose hates secrets – he prides himself on his ability to lay his cards on the table and he expects nothing less in return. He’s furious when his summer working as a divemaster is interrupted by the arrival of Elle, his ex, all thanks to his Uncle Simon’s misguided attempts at matchmaking.

Forced to live in close proximity, it’s hard to ignore what they had shared before Lucas’s wedding proposal scared Elle away. But then a phone call from England allows Lucas a rare glimpse of the true Elle. Can he deal with Elle’s closely guarded past when it finally comes to light?

Let’s get things straight from the start. There is only one thing wrong with this book – it has an ending!

Sue weaves her charms on this charming love story set mainly in Malta. Taking me back to my honeymoon in style, we follow Elle and Lucas as life and misunderstandings and sometimes misplaced pride try their best to keep the two of them apart. Continue reading →

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Review: That Part Was True by Deborah McKinlay

That-Part-Was-True-paperbackThat Part Was True is the latest novel from author, Deborah McKinlay.

Eve Petworth writes to author, Jackson Cooper to praise him for a scene in one of his books. So impressed by her letter, Jackson replies and soon they discover their shared love of cookery and food and start regularly writing to one another. A friendship develops and soon there is even a suggestion of romance despite Jackson already having quite a complicated love life. Eve also has a tense relationship with her daughter who is not far off getting married. Jackson and Eve soon realise that, beyond all the drama, they may actually have a chance together. All they have to do is actually meet.

I had very few expectations going into this novel when I picked it up. I will say though that it has one of the most beautiful book covers. I love it.

This book has been described as a cross between One Day and 84 Charing Cross Road. However, not having any knowledge of the latter, I didn’t have much to make the comparison. This is also the first of Deborah’s books I have read.

The novel is told from both Jackson and Eve’s point of view with their letters woven in within the chapters. It does jump around between the two of them but I liked this. Continue reading →

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Review: As Good As It Gets by Fiona Gibson

AGAIGAs Good As It Gets is the latest novel from author, Fiona Gibson.

I enjoyed Take Mum Out so I was looking forward to reading Fiona’s new novel. The book is told from the point of view of Charlotte Bristow. She is the wife of Will (who has been unemployed for a while and who is not her daughter’s biological father,) and mother to two teenagers, Rosie (who has just been spotted by a modelling agency) and Ollie. She was abandoned by Rosie’s father before she was born and hasn’t heard from him since. Charlotte and Will are in a little bit of a slump at the beginning of the novel.

At Rosie’s first photo shoot, Charlotte is talked into having some photos taken with her daughter for a feature a magazine is running and Charlotte ends up telling a couple of fibs. Before she knows it, her parents have received an e-mail from Frazer – Charlotte’s first love and Rosie’s father . He is wanting to make contact.

First of all, I wanted to say how much I love the cover of this book. So pretty.

I liked the main family. They seemed real and relatable. Charlotte was an interesting character. I found Will a little sulky at the beginning (understandable though considering his job situation,) but he changed gradually throughout the book. There were a few supporting characters but you don’t really get a chance to see them that much as the main focus is on Charlotte, Will and Frazer.

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