J.D. Robb Brotherhood in Death Book Review

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

J.D Robb (AKA Nora Roberts) does it again. This is a riveting and well written book. It is almost impossible to put it down. A superb, entertaining thriller. Get your hands on a copy now.

The new novel featuring homicide detective Eve Dallas from the #1 New York Timesbestselling author of Devoted in Death.

Sometimes brotherhood can be another word for conspiracy. . . .

Dennis Mira just had two unpleasant surprises. First he learned that his cousin Edward was secretly meeting with a real estate agent about their late grandfather’s magnificent West Village brownstone, despite the promise they both made to keep it in the family. Then, when he went to the house to confront Edward about it, he got a blunt object to the back of the head.

Luckily Dennis is married to Charlotte Mira, the NYPSD’s top profiler and a good friend of Lieutenant Eve Dallas. When the two arrive on the scene, he explains that the last thing he saw was Edward in a chair, bruised and bloody. When he came to, his cousin was gone. With the mess cleaned up and the security disks removed, there’s nothing left behind but a few traces for forensics to analyze.

As a former lawyer, judge, and senator, Edward Mira mingled with the elite and crossed paths with criminals, making enemies on a regular basis. Like so many politicians, he also made some very close friends behind closed—and locked—doors. But a badge and a billionaire husband can get you into places others can’t go, and Eve intends to shine some light on the dirty deals and dark motives behind the disappearance of a powerful man, the family discord over a multimillion-dollar piece of real estate . . . and a new case that no one saw coming.

Brotherhood in Death is available here.

The House at Baker Street by Michelle Birkby Reviewed By Frances Colville

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Frostie

It’s a growing trend to write fiction about the women behind famous men, and a brilliant idea to extend this to write about the women behind fictional characters too; in this case the women connected to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. The House at Baker Street by Michelle Birkby puts together the scraps of information we learn about these ‘background’ women in the Arthur Conan Doyle stories and gives them a detective adventure of their own.

Both Martha Hudson and Mary Watson are believable characters and the plot is a good one, though not perhaps quite of the standard of an original Conan Doyle. The book doesn’t have the same period feel as the Conan Doyle stories either, but then why should it? It was written a hundred years later and doesn’t make any pretentions to be the same as the originals.

As far as I can tell, without extensive knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes books, it fits in well and I didn’t come across any annoying anomalies. In short, it could have happened! I enjoyed it very much and I particularly liked the way the scene is now set for further adventures by the same pair of intrepid female detectives.

The House at Baker Street by Michelle Birkby is published by Pan Macmillan and will be available in paperback from 25 February 2016

Journey to Death by Leigh Russell Review by Frances Colville

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Margaret Graham

The first of a new series by established crime writer Leigh Russell, Journey to Death is set on an island in The Seychelles. Lucy Hall arrives on the island with her parents for a holiday following the traumatic break-up of a relationship, but soon becomes aware that all is not as it seems. Behind the warmth and tranquility of a popular tourist destination lies a dark and mysterious threat to the safety of Lucy and her family. Is someone trying to frighten or even kill them, and if so, why?

Lucy is an appealing if rather naive character who steps up to try to solve a crime in which the authorities are not particularly interested. I enjoyed the setting, and the descriptions of the island and its beaches and thought the book was generally well plotted. There were a few occasions when it was all a bit slow and tedious and I wanted things to speed up and get sorted. But overall it’s a good read – uncomplicated and easy to follow. And intriguing enough to make you want to get to the end and discover how it all works out.

Journey to Death is a stand-alone book but the seeds are sown within it for a new crime series featuring Lucy Hall. Published February 2016 by Thomas & Mercer (an imprint of Amazon Publishing) and available in paperback and e-book versions.

The Glittering Art of Falling Apart by Ilana Fox Review by Jan Speedie

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Margaret Graham

A story of jealousy, secrets, heartbreak and love – read and enjoy.

Beaufont Hall, ancestral home of the Tempest family, lies empty, crumbling and the family feel cursed. Will the future glitter for the younger members of the family as their lives take very different paths?

Eliza is bored with life in small council flat in Tottenham and school. Fuelled by thoughts of glamorous parties, night clubs, late nights and freedom Eliza heads for the electric pull of Soho in the 1980s. Eliza feels the world is at her feet, fame and fortune are within her grasp – can she grab it?

Cassie fascinated by her family history and Beaufont Hall and jumps at the chance to explore the abandoned Hall. Cassie finds Eliza’s diaries in the library and from them discovers the hidden truth about her family’s past.

Ilana Fox has woven a fascinating story about Eliza and Cassie who are separated by a generation but linked by the diaries. She paints an evocative picture of life in Soho in the 1980s and Cassie’s determination to find the truth about the past.

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Ilana Fox lives in East Dulwich and is a supporter of Save Soho whose aim is to preserve iconic music venues in Soho from developers. This is Ilana 4^th novel and before turning to writing fiction she worked as a journalist for several leading newspapers.

Published by Orion Fiction

In Paperback on 18^th February 2016 – £7.99 – eBook £4.99 Available from Amazon.co.uk

Not Working by Lisa Owens Reviewed by Frances Colville

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Frostie

Which of us hasn’t dreamed of quitting an unsatisfactory job to find out what we really want to do with our lives and careers? This is just what Claire Flannery decides to do, but despite excellent intentions to get fit, improve her general knowledge, read Moby Dick, get to grips with modern art and the world economy, she soon finds that having too much time on her hands is not entirely a good thing and that without a job to define her and map out her daily routine she is floundering.

The opening pages – a bizarre conversation with a passing stranger about the buddleia growing on the roof of her house – set the tone well for this first novel from author Lisa Owens. It’s a funny, observant and very perceptive view of the mundane ordinariness of daily life. And at the same time a poignant and intelligent discussion of some of the bigger issues we face.

Written almost like a diary and broken up into chunks of various lengths often with amusing headings, it’s easy to read and very easy to enjoy. But there is more to it than that and as you read it you’ll be left pondering questions and answers, and relating the narrative to your own life.

My first impression was that the ending didn’t work as well as it might have done. I’d expected something more definite to happen; for there to be a bit more resolution. But on second thoughts not knowing all the answers is just what real life is like – isn’t it?

Either way, it would be hard not to appreciate this novel. And I’ll look forward to the next from Lisa Owens.

Not Working is published by Picador and will be available in hardback on 21 April 2016.

Not Working by Lisa Owens is available here.

The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger Only £1.99 Until End of Today

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Frostie

Our editor Catherine Balavage’s new blogging book, The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger, is only £1.99 until the end of today. It has already had a four star review on Good Reads and a five star review on Amazon. Catherine was also interviewed in Best of You Magazine. The print copy of the magazine is out now. You can buy The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger here.

The Secret of the Cathars by Michael Hillier Review by Frances Colville

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Margaret Graham

This book is an intriguing mix of fact and fiction. Based on the history of the Cathars, a religious heresy of the medieval period in France, and with references to the Knights Templar, there is enough information to whet the appetite of those interested in such things without turning into overkill for those who just want a good story and don’t care too much about the setting. After a rather slow start and a lengthy list of characters to get to grips with, the story moves along at a good pace with some interesting twists and turns on route. A sort of archaeological treasure hunt with competitors ranging from a TV presenter through a religious group to members of the mafia. Some of the characters are stereotypical and didn’t really come to life for me, but others – including the two main – were more convincing. I was initially somewhat disappointed by the ending which didn’t seem to tie up all the loose ends, but then I realised that this book is intended as the first of a trilogy and all became clear. And the over-long list of characters was also explained. All in all a good enough read to make me look out for the next instalment at some stage, but not one which completely wowed me.

The Secret of the Cathars is published by Matador and available in paperback and as an e-book.

Sweet Memories of You by Ellie Dean Reviewed by Jan Speedie

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Ellie Deane has produced another heartwarming story in her Beach View Boarding House Series.

Sweet Memories of You is set in 1943 in Cliffhaven, a small town on the south coast of Britain. Peggy Reilly runs the Beach View Boarding House and is determined to give her lodgers and evacuees a homely, happy place to live.

Peggy’s husband, Jim, is away with the Army in India and she is reliant on his regular airgraphs to know he is safe. Doreen, Peggy’s younger sister, has at last found happiness after her divorce from her adulterous husband but fate changes this.

Doreen returns to Cliffhaven to the love and comfort of her family but her past cannot stay away.

There is however a protector in Ron Reilly and his faithful brindle lurcher, Harvey. Ron watches over everyone at Beach Villa and with his Irish charm, mischievous ways and network of friends, keeps trouble at bay.

Read and enjoy this charming story of ordinary people coping with the hardships of air raids, rationing and the heartaches of a war which feels as though will never end.

Ellie Dean has lived in a village in the heart of the South Downs for many years. She has raised 3 children and this is her tenth novel in a successful writing career.

Published by Arrow in paperback: Price £5.99.

Also available as an ebook.

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