Swift
  • Home
  • BOOK REVIEWS
    • A-Z
    • FAVOURITE READS
  • AUTHORS
    • AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
    • GUEST POSTS
  • BOOKISH RECIPES
  • GIVEAWAYS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT ME
    • REVIEW POLICY
10:30

Title: Silent Scream (D.I. Kim Stone #1)
Author: Angela Marsons
Published: February 20th 2015 by Bookouture
Amazon | Amazon UK


Blurb: Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…
Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult-sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood…

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?

*First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Silent Scream was published a week ago and has been a number one Amazon bestseller since then. And now that I have read it I totally understand it. It had been a while since a crime novel had captured me so much, reading for hours without even realising, devouring every page with my heart on my mouth. All I can say is congratulationss Angela, you've created a work of art. 

D.I. Kim Stone is a force to be reckoned with. Her tireless search for the truth was admirable and made me feel as invested as her in the case. Her team, especially Bryant, added the perfect spark to this dark story. Their loyalty to Kim, who was not a bit fan of rules and liked to make things her own way, was admirable and they all worked together as a Swiss watch to unmask the murderer.

Through the story, the corpses keept appearing and I could not help trying to guess what kind of heartless bastard was behind all this. But in truth, the story totally took me by surprise. My suspicious were completely wrong and I was blown away by the ending.

I found it very clever that some of the chapters were told from the murderer's point of view. Being inside their mind actually gave me shivers and it demonstrates Angela's talent with words, how she can achieve so many emotions in so little pages. I am already looking forward to her new book, who will be all about Kim Stone and her team again. I cannot tell you how excited I am about this fact.

I highly recommend Silent Scream to all crime lovers but also to non-lovers as I am sure that this story will capture you all. It will certainly be one of my top reads of the year. 

Rating:

          

09:28

Welcome to Bookish Recipes, a feature on the blog where I cook or bake a recipe from a book I have loved and share the result with you. This week's recipe is inspired by the book As Good As It Gets? by Fiona Gibson. In this family tale that will make you laugh out loud more than once, our heroine, Charlotte, works in a (posh) potato chip factory. She can take home all the damaged-packages of chips she wants and her family has started to be a bit fed up with so many chips. So she comes up with the idea of baking some cookies with potato chips and her recipe is a real success.

Since reading this book, I have been wanting to try potato chip cookies. So after browsing the Internet for a good recipe, I finally decided to trust our beloved Martha Steward and adapt her recipe to create my own: 


1) Gather all the ingredients. With these measurements, you'll get around 20 cookies depending on the size. If you don't want so many, you can just divide the measurements in half. Also the original recipe called for pecan nuts. I didn't have any so I went with pistachios and the result was fantastic.


2) Preheat oven to 190º. Beat together the softened butter and the sugar. When it's mixed add the eggs and vanilla essence and beat until combined.

3) Add flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat on low speed until combined. Stir in half of the crushed potato chips and the nuts.

4) Make little balls with the dough and put them on a baking sheet. Remember to leave enough space between them or they'll stick together in the oven. Add the rest of the crushed chip on top of the balls.

5) Bake for 18 minutes. After that, they should be golden but a bit soft. Take them out and let them cool. 

Once they are cool they should be crunchy. They certainly have a unique taste which we loved. If you like sweet and salty contrasts, go for it.


About the book:


Title: As Good As It Gets?
Author: Fiona Gibson
Published: January 29th 2015 by Avon
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: A warm, funny read for fans of Outnumbered and the novels of Fern Britton, Fiona writes about life as it really is.

“Midlife crisis? WHAT midlife crisis?!”

Charlotte Bristow is worried about her husband Will. With her 16-year-old daughter Rosie newly signed to a top modelling agency, and Will recently out of a job, things are changing in their household.

As Will dusts down his old leather trousers and starts partying with their new, fun neighbours, Charlotte begins to wonder what on earth is going on.

So when Fraser, Charlotte’s ex – and father of Rosie – suddenly arrives back on the scene, she starts to imagine what might have been…

09:29

Title: Once and Always
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt writing as Julia Harper
Published: February 24th 2015 by Piatkus
Amazon | Amazon UK


Blurb: IS THERE A PROBLEM, OFFICER?
Small town cop Sam West certainly doesn't mind a routine traffic stop: speeding ticket, stern warning, and sayonara. With a whopper of a blizzard closing in, that's all he has time for. But the lawbreaker he pulls over is anything but typical. From her mile-long legs to her razor-sharp wit, Maisa Bradley is like nothing Coot Lake, Minnesota, has ever seen . . . and she's about to take Sam on the ride of his life. 

BEING BAD HAS ITS BENEFITS
Whoever said blood is thicker than water probably wasn't related to a former Russian mobster. But an innocent mix-up and rumors of stolen diamonds soon have the Russian mob taking an unusual interest in the sleepy little town-and Maisa facing heated scrutiny from a certain tall, dark, and handsome deputy. Sam's dazzling blue eyes beg her to reveal all her secrets, but how much should she tell? Getting snowed in with the sexiest lawman in the frozen north may not be the worst way to decide...


*First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Once and Always certainly is not your usual romance book, basically because stolen diamonds and the Russian Mafiya play a key role in this crazy story. Maisa's uncle, used to be a Russian Mobster but lives now a quiet life in a little town where no one knows his secrets. Maisa visits him often and every time she's in town, officer Sam West manages to catch her attention. The chemistry between these two is undeniable from page one. When the Russian Mafiya makes an appearance in town with automatic weapons and a desire for revenge, Maisa and Sam's lives and their beloved ones' are at stake and they must decide if they are ready to trust each other. 

This story is certainly packed with action. It remained me of a Holywood action movie, where everything is destroyed, cars go flying, houses explode and bad guys fall like flies. I've read some reviews saying that this makes the story unbelievable but I actually enjoyed it, a lot. I had my heart in my mouth while I was reading, cheering for Sam, Maisa and their friends. 

Once and Always is a crazy fun tale that guarantees lots of action but also a good pinch of romance. Sam West certainly plays the hero role perfectly and not only Maisa will fall for him. Plus some of the secondary characters are real fun to read, especially the native Americans with their dogs. 

Rating: 

09:45

Title: Playing with Fire
Author: Kat Black
Published: February 26th 2015 by HarperCollins Mischief 
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: The steamy story of Annabel Frost and Aidan Flynn continues … Can you handle the heat?

Before Aidan Flynn had swept into her life with the destructive force of a wildfire, Annabel Frost had thought she'd had all she needed from her life. A successful career, financial independence, emotional restraint. Things that were safe, secure, steady. Everything her childhood hadn't been.

Aidan represented none of that. Reckless and risky he'd been the red hot flame that melted the icy layers of her long-frozen heart. Having run from him once, Annabel should have learnt to leave trouble well enough alone.

But now Aidan is back, turning up the heat. And regardless of the danger of getting herself badly burned, Annabel can't seem to resist the temptation to play with this particular fire.

*First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Playing with Fire is the sequel of Melting Ms Frost where we met Annabel, an ice queen who ruled her restaurant with iron hand and had no interest in personal relationships. Until Aidan. This gambler Irishman loves challenges and Annabel sure is one. But then Annabel and her mum's past came back to almost destroy them. This story begins six weeks after they ended in hospital and Annabel run away from Aidan because she realised she cared too much for him. But Aidan is back and determined to give them another chance. 

In this story we get to know Aidan and Annabel so much more. They start dating and we see new sides of them. Annabel is almost ready to give herself to Aidan (not completely but close) and we start loving and understanding her a bit more, the ice queen has slowly melted. Aidan is the perfect gentleman, always anticipating Annabel's needs and giving her space when she needs it. You can tell how much he cares about her. And in the bedroom he forgets his gentleness and gives us some really sexy scenes. 

It was also lovely to get to know Aidan's family in Ireland, a setting beautifully described by Kat Black. I just wanted to jump on a plane and visit the Emerald Isle (let me know if Aidan is available for guided tours). All in all Playing with fire is a beautiful tale that Aidan and Annabel's old fans (and I'm sure new ones too) will love. Full of drama and with some unexpected twists, I am sure it will keep you hooked for hours until you know everything about this explosive couple. 

Rating: 

09:46

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week's topic is my top ten heroines from books. I think it's going to be difficult to choose only 10 because I have read about so many inspiring and fantastic women! But I am going to try, here we go: 

1) Hermione Granger - Harry Potter Series. I could not start this list without my favourite heroine of all time. Let's face it, without her, Harry would have died on the first book. She has taught the millions of readers the importance of friendship, honesty and effort. 

2) Angela Clark - I Heart Series. This is on of my favourite series ever and they wouldn't be so great without our Angie. It's difficult not to love this strong, determined British who left it all to start her dream life in New York. 

3) Scarlett O'Brien - Actually Series. Also a favourite series, I have always related to Scarlett. A movie lover who earns to live her own movie and she certainly does.
4) Mathilda. A firm favourite since I was a child. This bright girl let me get lost in her world during hours. 

5) Lou Clark - Me Before You. When I first read this book last year, it instantly became one of my favourites. Lou certainly is a character I will never forget. I am now very looking forward to the film adaptation. 


6) Sally - The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me. This was my favourite book of 2014. Sally was a joy to read about, the girl who sang in a wardrobe, and it was amazing to see her blossom during the story. 

7)  Juliet Ashton - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This book has stayed with me over the years. A beautiful tale about a girl who protected the library books during war and ended up in Guernsey thanks to letters.

8) Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) - Shopaholic Series. During the years, Becky has become one of my best friends. She has made me laugh non-stop for hours. 

9) Hazel - The Fault in Our Stars. She and Augustus taught us all why life is worth living. A true heroine for me.

10) Aibileen - The Help. I was about to include Skeeter as the heroine, but then, I thought Aibileen is the real heroine of this story that will leave no one indifferent. 

I could actually go on for a while here because there are so many women in literature that deserve to be acknowledged as heroines. But these are my top ones. Who is your favourite heroine? 

09:26

Today I am very happy to welcome Sophie Childs to my blog. Sophie is going to publish her debut novel, Behind the Scenes, with So Vain Books this Thursday. Today she is going to answer some bookish questions for us.

Hi Sophie and welcome! Tell us a bit about yourself: 
I’m a home educating mother of five children aged from 11 down to 4. My younger three were born in New Zealand, where I lived for five years, but I’m now based in South Wales and I absolutely love it here. The scenery is stunning and the people amazing – what more could you want? Most of my time is taken up with the children, but I also enjoy belly dancing and recently performed a solo with two swords, which was on my bucket list, so I’m proud of myself for achieving that. 


You spent 5 years working in an office before quitting to follow a more creative path, what made you decide to take the risk?
I was miserable. I was going through a divorce, was in massive amounts of debt and had no idea where I was going to be living when the dust had settled. Clearly that was the best time to launch a world conquering music career! I guess I just made the decision that I wanted to be happy, which meant getting rid of everything that wasn’t right for me. As it turned out, that was pretty much all of my life, but although it was scary throwing myself into the arms of the universe and hoping it all turned out OK, it really did. Although I’m now a writer instead of a musician, so it obviously didn’t all go quite to plan, within 18 months of quitting that job, I was living in a little house I adored, I’d met the man of my dreams and I was well on my way to supporting myself solely through a creative career. 


Did your family and friends support your decision?
It was interesting because the most supportive people were my former colleagues! I had so many people tell me that they wished that they had the courage to leave office life and they were all very supportive of my decision to follow my dream. At the time, I wasn’t in touch with my family. My mother died a few years before, so I was effectively on my own, which made it even more frightening to put myself out there without a safety net, but it all worked out.


Tell us a bit about your debut novel Behind the Scenes:
It tells the story of Bethan Brooks, who works in an office for a demanding boss while she’s supporting her boyfriend’s rock star aspirations. She loves going to the movies, so when she meets her favourite actor on the Tube, she’s over the moon. Little does she know that that chance encounter would set in motion a chain of events that turns her world upside down. 


Where did you find the inspiration to write this novel? Have you ever encountered a famous actor on the Tube yourself?
I’d recently read a story about how Keanu Reeves regularly travels on the subway in New York, so that was the initial inspiration. I have met a lot of famous people from my time living in London. I used to work in a shop in Covent Garden, where I was also a licensed busker, and we had all sorts of people from Zoe Ball to Jill Dando come in to buy things, but the other main inspiration was from my time organising and hosting an open mic night at the 12 Bar in London. I booked an act who I didn’t realise was one of the leads in Guys and Dolls (Doug Hodge, a really lovely guy) and he managed to bring along the entire cast and crew, which included people like Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski. However, I was most excited when I spotted Darren Boyd in the audience. I’d loved him as Hugo in a Channel 4 series Hippies, so I got talking to him. He was just the sweetest person and I still treasure my photo of me with him – I’m beaming my head off! I still get a thrill when I see him in films and TV series. He won’t remember our chat, but in my head, he’s still my friend. A lot of the initial conversation between Bethan and Vincent is based on that encounter. 


Which 3 words would you choose to describe your book?
Funny, intriguing and quirky. 


Are you working on a new book? What can we expect?
I am! I just signed a second contract with So Vain Books. My next novel is about Erin, who signs up to an internet dating site after her fiancé jilts her and ends up dating a famous photographer. However, things are complicated by her interfering mother and the challenges of dating someone high profile add extra stress. As far as the plot is concerned, it’s very different to Behind the Scenes, but I’m planning on including a lot of humour to give it the same light hearted feel and I’m very excited about how it’s shaping up. 


You are a home-educating mother of five, where do you find the time to write? Do you have your own writing space or you write whenever and wherever you can?
I have a desk in the front room so the children can come and talk to me whenever they need and I’m right in the heart of things to keep an eye on them. I write fast, which really helps because sometimes I can’t start writing until quite late in the day. I pretty much grab whatever time I can. I’m a freelance writer on top of my own projects, so I usually have deadlines for clients to meet, but I’ve become adept at knowing just how much I can get done in a day and somehow it all works out. Sunday tends to be my most productive day. My husband’s around, so I can shut myself away in my bedroom and work on my laptop without being disturbed. Well, without being disturbed too much! 


Any tips for aspiring authors?
Write, write and then write some more! It really is that simple. It’s one of the things I love about being a freelance writer. I get to do my favourite thing, hone my craft and get paid for it at the same time. 
I would also say that you need to learn how to distance yourself from your work. Writing is such a personal thing and you invest so much of yourself in every piece that it can be really hard when not everyone loves it as much as you do. You have to accept that not everyone will like what you do and that’s OK. It’s nothing personal; you just didn’t write what they were looking for. 
As a freelance writer, rejection is an everyday occurrence. I don’t get every job that I apply for and that doesn’t mean that I’m a bad writer, just not the right writer for their project. It also means that when I work with an editor, I can listen to their critique and take it for what it is – a way of improving my work, not an attack on me as a person. Every writer can be better if they have a good editor behind them and I’ve been really privileged to have worked with some fantastic editors in my time, especially Sophia at So Vain Books. 


And finally, what is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
I was offered an indecent proposal once. When I left my office job, I was massively in debt and I was on an internet dating site, where I met some really interesting people (although no one that I was interested in actually dating). There was one guy who I thought was just a friend when out of the blue he turned around and offered to pay off my debt, which was some £30,000, in return for a night of passion. He said that for him it would be making love and hoped that I’d feel the same way. 
Needless to say, I turned down his kind offer and never heard from him again.

Thanks Sophie for stopping by and answering all my bookish questions. 

Behind the Scenes, Sophie's debut, is out this Thursday and sounds fabulous: 


Things are never quite as they appear.

Bethan Brooks works in London for the ultimate boss from Hell, trying to support her wannabe rockstar boyfriend. But are The Vampire Squirrels really ever going to make it big or is she doomed to be a secretary forever? Luckily, Bethan finds the perfect escape when going to the cinema. There she loses herself in another world and forgets all about the dreaded filing and monotonous office work. Imagine her surprise when one day she encounters her favourite actor on the Tube. Suddenly, she finds herself part of the glamorous movie world she only ever dreamed about. With more at stake than she could ever realise, does she really want to know what goes on behind the scenes?

10:01

Title: Tied Up With Love
Author: Amelia Thorne
Published: February 14th 2015 by Carina UK
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb:‘We’re from KMW. Do exactly as you’re told and you won’t get hurt...'

Being grabbed off the street, blind folded, tied up and thrown into a van was not what Izzy expected to happen when she stepped out the door that morning. But when an accidental kidnapping at the hands of the sexy Ethan Chase and his 'Kidnap My Wife' sexual fantasy business leads to just that, Izzy seizes the chance to turn her misfortune into a brilliant new job opportunity…

Since then, life has been one big tangle of new client meetings, fake kidnapping pick-ups, and handling the temperamental, but drop dead gorgeous 'bad boy' Mr Chase. But, as liberating as being tied up in Ethan's life is, Izzy knows the time is fast approaching when she must make some decisions and take charge of her future. The only question is: will Ethan allow himself to be a part of it?

*First of all I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: An absolute treat of a book. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed every page. Amelia is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors with her original plots and sexy characters. In Tied Up with Love we meet Izzy, strong but a bit lost right now. I loved how she used all her strengths not only to land a job on Ethan's business but also to make it a real success. She was not afraid to speak up her mind and I instantly felt like she would be a great friend.

Ethan's business was certainly out of the ordinary. This and his family reputation made him the bad boy and womanizer no one is town wanted to be associated with. But as the story unfolds we get to know a new side of him that has nothing to do with his reputation and with his instant chemistry with Izzy, I found myself cheering for them from page one.

Tied Up with Love is a sexy fun story that will make you get lost on its pages. Original and unexpected, I cannot recommend this book enough. And let me tell you, Amelia's men are to die for. I am already looking forward to her next novel.      

Rating: 

14:00


Welcome to Bookish Recipes, a new feature on the blog where I cook or bake a recipe from a book I have loved and share the result with you. So two weeks ago, it was the first world Harry Potter Book Night (you can read my post about it here) and I browsed the Internet to fins some Harry Potter themed recipes. When I spotted this version of Cauldron Cakes by Food in Literature, I feel in love with the idea that the chocolate bubbles out of the cauldrons, so I decided to try it myself. 

Cauldron Cakes are a firm favourite in the wirzarding world of Harry Potter. They can be bought from the Honeydukes Express trolley on the Hogwarts Express or at Honeydukes Sweetshop in Hogsmeade.



"He had never had any money for candy with the Dursleys, and now that he had pockets rattling with gold and silver he was ready to buy as many Mars Bars as he could carry – but the woman didn’t have Mars Bars. What she did have were Bettie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had never seen in his life.

Not wanting to miss anything, he got some of everything and paid the woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts."

-Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, K Rowling



1) I think that it looks really cute if you bake individual cakes in these pottery little cups. So try to find 5 or 6 (depending on the size). Preheat oven to 180C.
2) Mix together the flour, cocoa and brown sugar and then stir in the vanilla essence, butter, milk and egg until well combined.
3) Spoon the mixture into the cute cups and fill it 2/3 to leave enough space for it to rise and also for the sauce. 
4) Then in a smaller bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cocoa and spoon it on top of the cake mixture. 
5) Pour the boiling water over the sauce powder and cake mixture and place in oven. If you want it to bubble all the way out (like in the picture) fill it all and put a oven paper on the platter so it doesn't stick to it afterwards.
6) Bake for 45 minutes. And eat it while it's still warm. You will find the sauce at the bottom, all warm and gooey. Perfect for chocolate lovers.

09:31

Title: Thoughtful (Thoughtless #1,5)
Author: S.C. Stephens
Published: February 24th 2015 by Sphere
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: A new novel in the Thoughtless series from #1 New York Times bestselling author S. C. Stephens! 

Every story has two sides, and in this new book, the epic love story between Kiera and Kellan is shown through his eyes. 

All Kellan Kyle needs is his guitar, and some clean sheets of paper. Growing up in a house that was far from a home, he learned a hard lesson:You're worthless. Now his life is comfortably filled with passionate music, loyal band mates, and fast women...until he meets her. 

Kiera makes him ache for more. Makes him feel for the first time that he'sworth more. But there's one problem - she's his best friend's girl. 

Just when Kellan thought his emotional defenses were rock solid, Kiera's indecisive heart wreaks havoc on his soul, changing him forever. Losing Kiera is not an option.


*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: When I was offered this book to review, I had not read Thoughtless but I had heart great things about it and, especially, about Kellan Kyle. So I decided to give it a try and see what all the fuss was about. From the beginning I could tell why Kellan was a firm book boyfriend favourite for so many. It was really interesting to get to know all of him, learning about his difficult past and seeing how he became who he is now. 

I really enjoyed the first part of the story and I was quite hooked. However, the second half was too repetitive for me, I couldn't understand why Kiera couldn't make up her mind and I ended up not liking her. Which made me enjoy the story less than I expected. 

The story though does not only centers around Kellan and Kiera. Kellan's band has a very important role and we meet his bandmates and some of their fans. I enjoyed reading about their gigs and how they wrote their songs. They were a fun bunch.

One think for sure though, whether you are new to the series or not, you will fall a bit in love with Kellan. 

11:00

At the beginning of February, my blog turned one and I am overwhelmed with all the love and support you all have given me. To celebrate my blogiversary, I had some bookish friends and authors visiting the blog to talk about their own Booklands and these post have been a real success. Plus, lots of you have visited the blog for the giveaways and the new features during these past weeks. Thank you all, it's been great fun.

And I didn't want to end the celebrations without a big end. So I have organised this little giveaway for you. Enter to win:

  • One of my latest additions to my Etsy shop: Let's Fly Away Tote Bag
  • Paperback copy of the fab book The Stall of Second Chances by Dana Bate. 
  • Cupcakes notebook and stickers + mustache washi tape. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

14:33

Title: The Death Season (Wesley Peterson #19)
Author: Kate Ellis
Published: January 1st 2015 by Piatkus
Amazon | Amazon UK


Blurb: Detective Wesley Peterson investigates another mysterious and deathly case on his 19th adventure in Kate Ellis's captivating crime series 

When a middle-aged man is found dead in a hotel room, it seems like a routine matter—until it becomes clear to DI Wesley Peterson that it is a case of cold blooded murder and that the identity the victim has been using isn't his own. Then DCI Gerry Heffeman, frustrated at being given only cold cases during his recovery from being shot in the line of duty, discovers from a DNA review that Wesley's mystery man was responsible for the murder of a child back in 1979. But soon, as Wesley delves in to the events of the past more people die. Meanwhile archeologist Neil Watson is investigating a ruined village that tumbled into the sea during a storm at the time of World War I. Events take a cryptic turn when he encounters a 100-year-old mystery with echoes in the present. As a terrifying truth is revealed, Wesley has to face a great danger, especially if he is to save someone very precious to him.


*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*


Review: This is my first book by Kate Ellis and you might think that starting a series on the 19th book is not the best idea, but The Death Season can perfectly be read as a stand alone. I never felt like I was missing any crucial information, quite the opposite, I could see there was a lot back story to the characters but this only made me want to pick the previous books, because I really enjoyed meeting them for the first time and I wanted to know more about them.

The Death Season handles three different stories. There are extracts from a diary that a girl wrote during WW1 at the beginning of each chapter. Then in present day, there was the murder in the hotel that seemed to be linked to a cold case from the seventies and then, there were the excavations in a ruined village engulfed by the sea during WW1. As you can tell, there is a lot going on but in no moment did I feel like it was too much, the transitions from one story to the other were clear and soon you could see how all of them were linked one way or another. 

I really enjoyed reading about Wesley Peterson, he was a very clever and intuitive investigator and you could tell how he was struggling with the demands of this job. He couldn't see his family as much as he wanted. Plus, there was Rachel, his colleague who had feelings for him. It was obvious that he was not comfortable with this situation and this made their interactions really interesting to read. I also liked Gerry, their chief, a lot. He was recovering from a shot but didn't want to miss anything, investigation or gossip, he wanted to know everything.

The Death Season is very enjoyable read, I never got bored and I was quite hooked trying to guess who the murder was. It surprised me more than once with its clever twists and unexpected links between stories and I am sure I will be checking more Wesley Peterson books.

Rating: 

09:15

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week's topic is about book related problems. I had a lot of fun making this list and I am sure that any bookworm will have very similar problems. Let me know if you share them with me:

1) My TBR pile is endless. You know what they say, so many amazing book, so little time. And they just keep coming. 

2) Consequently, I don't have enough shelving space. Admit it, you have piles of books everywhere in you room! 
*Sighs* I need Belle's Library...

3) Books make me cry in public places. A lot. 

4) Sometimes I don't function correctly during the day because I spent the night thinking one more chapter. Who hasn't?
5) When I am immersed with a book, I end up doing everything else one handed. It is not easy but years of training do help.

6) When I enter a bookstore I can spend hours without realising. Also, I need to buy half the books from the shop. 

7) I am turning into a bookslut. I fall head over heels almost with every book. 

8) I may explode when one of my favourite authors announces a new book. The excitement is too much.

9) People around me don't get that I am at a crucial moment in my book. Why can't they celebrate the latest goal in silence?

10) I tend to judge people by the cover. If I see a friend reading a book I loved, I know I picked them well. But if someone tells me they don't like reading... 

So here they are. These are my book related problems. I didn't mention how I feel when one of my favourite characters dies... because it is just too much to talk about it...

Newer Posts
Older Posts

Currently Reading

Currently Reading

Popular Posts

  • Book Review: A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain
    Book Review: A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain
  • Connectivity
    Connectivity
  • Book Review: Coming Home to Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn
    Book Review: Coming Home to Brightwater Bay by Holly Hepburn
  • Blog Tour: See Me by Nicholas Sparks - Review and Giveaway
    Blog Tour: See Me by Nicholas Sparks - Review and Giveaway
  • Blog Tour: Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square by Heidi Swain
    Blog Tour: Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square by Heidi Swain

Instagram

Followers

Twitter

Tweets by @albainbookland

Blog Archive

  • May 2021 (1)
  • January 2021 (1)
  • December 2020 (2)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (2)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (6)
  • February 2019 (3)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • December 2018 (4)
  • September 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (7)
  • July 2018 (5)
  • June 2018 (5)
  • May 2018 (7)
  • April 2018 (11)
  • March 2018 (9)
  • February 2018 (5)
  • January 2018 (7)
  • December 2017 (12)
  • November 2017 (9)
  • October 2017 (9)
  • September 2017 (8)
  • August 2017 (4)
  • July 2017 (9)
  • June 2017 (8)
  • May 2017 (11)
  • April 2017 (13)
  • March 2017 (11)
  • February 2017 (13)
  • January 2017 (13)
  • December 2016 (20)
  • November 2016 (14)
  • October 2016 (14)
  • September 2016 (18)
  • August 2016 (16)
  • July 2016 (26)
  • June 2016 (26)
  • May 2016 (20)
  • April 2016 (20)
  • March 2016 (18)
  • February 2016 (25)
  • January 2016 (18)
  • December 2015 (21)
  • November 2015 (15)
  • October 2015 (14)
  • September 2015 (14)
  • August 2015 (18)
  • July 2015 (21)
  • June 2015 (26)
  • May 2015 (30)
  • April 2015 (24)
  • March 2015 (29)
  • February 2015 (30)
  • January 2015 (19)
  • December 2014 (25)
  • November 2014 (16)
  • October 2014 (21)
  • September 2014 (15)
  • August 2014 (17)
  • July 2014 (14)
  • June 2014 (13)
  • May 2014 (10)
  • April 2014 (12)
  • March 2014 (10)
  • February 2014 (6)

Total Pageviews

375
likes
3.995
followers
575
Followers
592
Friends
252
Followers

Powered by Sora Templates & Blogger Templates
ALL CONTENT AND IMAGES © Copyright: ALBA FORBE (UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED).

Back to top