Month: August 2021

Recent Reads: Deeplight by Frances Hardinge

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge is set in a world where the gods ruled the seas.  They were in the form of giant sea creatures, and could cause death and chaos when they wanted!  Sacrifices were made, priests advised what to do, and then one day thirty years ago, all of the gods killed each other, and no one knows why.

Now, there are bits of god to be found in the bottom of the sea, valuable to some, and dangerous to collect.  Hark is always dragged into ill-advised things by his best friend, Jelt, and tonight will be no exception.

This is a fantasy novel, with a rich back story.  I enjoyed the story unfolding, and learning more about Hawk, Jelt, and the gods.  

Deeplight was published on 31st October 2019 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Frances Hardinge on Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to Pan Macmillan.

Recent Reads: The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer

Posted on by Pam

My review:?????

The Black Moth was Georgette Heyer’s first novel, and is a well written book, with lots of intricate plot, and characters who you enjoy cheering on or booing.

Jack Carstates is a highwayman, having been exiled by his family for cheating at cards, and lived abroad for years, but now he is back in England.  

Diana Beauleigh is a beauty, and the Duke of Andover has decided that she should be his, and so arranges a kidnapping that a certain highwayman interrupts.

I’ve loved Georgette Heyer since I discovered her in my late teens.  They are books that sweep you off on adventures, and always have some form of misapprehension about someone’s identity, or their intentions, and the Black Moth doesn’t disappoint!

The Black Moth was first published in 1921, and so this is the centanuary edition, which was published on 26th August 2021, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

Georgette Heyer wrote a great many regency romances, and also detective fiction, and so here is a link for her on GoodReads.

If you’ve been enjoying The Bridgerton TV series or books, then I would highly recommend you try Georgette Heyer!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Cornerstone.

Recent Reads: The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman (The Invisible Library 3)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman (The Invisible Library 3) has the return of Alberich, the former librarian, turned fae magic user, and he’s up to something!  

The great detective, Vale, after rescuing Irene and Kai in the previous book in a fae heavy world, is suffering the aftereffects of this, and Irene isn’t sure what she can do to help him!

Access to the Library is starting to go, leading to Irene being taken back to their base of operations by Kai, in dragon form!  So that’s another thing that Irene needs to look into!

This is an action packed book, with thrills and surprises.  I really enjoyed this book, and this series!  It’s fantasy, with action, spies, and books!

The Burning Page was publishing on 15th December 2015 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Genevieve Cogman on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

My reviews for the other books in the series are below:

The Invisible Library (book 1)

The Masked City (book 2)

Recent Reads: The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde (The Last Dragonslayer 3)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Eyes of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde (The Last Dragonslayer 3) has the Mighty Shandar, the most powerful wizard ever known, is returning!  He didn’t solve the dragon problem from the first book, and so really owes a refund on his fee, but he doesn’t want to do that!  He wants to get rid of the dragons, unless Jennifer and the wizards can give him the Eye of Zoltar!

There’s a journey through the Cambrian Empire, for which there is a 50% fatality index, and other mischief and odd happenings!  And a princess who needs to be brought down to Earth!

I found this book to be a great addition to the series!  There were surprises, 50% death guaranteed, magic and humour!

The Eyes of Zoltar was published on 10th April 2014, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Jasper Fforde on Twitter and his website.

You can read my reviews of the books in this series:

The Last Dragonslayer – book 1 

The Song of the Quarkbeast – book 2

The Eye of Zoltar – book 3

The Great Troll War – book 4

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin 6)

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist by M.C. Beaton has James Lacey in Cyprus, after the disastrous wedding day with Agatha.  Agatha is at home in Carsley, and is planning to chase after James.  Afterall, he’s on their honeymoon without her! 

In Cyprus, she ends up doing some of the tourist things with a couple of groups, who seem to be the opposite of each other.  When one of the group is killed, Agatha decides that she is going to be the one to figure it out.  She needs something to take her mind off James!

This has twists and turns that surprised me, and having a different setting was interesting.  This was a good book, with fun occurrences, and  a lot of Agatha blundering aro

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist was published in October 1997 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

My review of the previous book in the Agatha Raisin series are below:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (book 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (book 2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (book 3)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (book 4)

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (book 5)

Recent Reads: Life Unplugged; A Digital Detox Workbook by Meleah Bowles and Elise Williams Rikard

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Life Unplugged; A Digital Detox Workbook by Meleah Bowles and Elise Williams Rikard is about how to spend less time staring at a screen and the benefits that it brings.  It also tells you about the downsides of looking at a screen.

It gives suggestions for ways you can do this, such as making notes in a notebook rather than on a laptop or tablet.  It also gives you suggestions and challenges, such as making the effort to write to a friend rather than sending them a message.

I thought this was a good book if you’re looking for suggestions on how to look at a screen less.  The challenges were a fun way to do this, so you could see the difference it made to you.

Life Unplugged; A Digital Detox Workbook was published on 24th December 2019, and is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Meleah Bowles on Twitter.

You can follow Elise Williams Rikard on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Recent Reads: 14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Womens Murder Club 14)

Posted on by Pam

My review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women’s Murder Club 14) and Lindsay, Claire, Cindy and Yuki are all back with a bang!  It’s Claire’s birthday!  Yuki is thinking about changing her job, Cindy has written a book about the serial killers she helped to bring down, and Lindsay is still catching bad guys!

I found it interesting to see Yuki’s thoughts on her job, and seeing Cindy becoming an author.  I didn’t think either of these were explored very much, but then these books are light reading.

It was fast paced and had surprises, and so was exactly what I was expecting!  I think there’s always room for a book series that you know what you’re getting.

14th Deadly Sin was published on 26th February 2015, and it’s available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow James Patterson on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and his website.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find any links for Maxine Paetro for you to follow.

Women’s Murder Club books:

1st to Die   – book 1 

2nd Chance – book 2

3rd Degree – book 3

4th of July – book 4

The 5th Horseman – book 5

The 6th Target – book 6

7th Heaven – book 7

The 8th Confession – book 8;

The 9th Judgement – book 9

10th Anniversary – book 10

11th Hour – book 11

12th of Never – book 12

Unlucky 13 – book 13

Recent Reads: The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox (Southern Spirits 10)

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox is set at homecoming, and Verity’s mother has also decided to come home!

There’s a body discovered at the homecoming festivities, and so Verity investigates!  Frankie is also trying to hide as he says El Gato is out to get him!

This is the school that Verity and her mother both went to, so there are some shared memories, and of course, ghosts that Verity recognises from when she went there.  

It’s a fun read, with people pretending to be other people, ghosts, and a heap of family drama.

The Haunted Homecoming was published on 17th August 2021 and is available on Amazon.

Angie Fox has a Facebook page and a reader group.

I’ve previously read and reviewed the below books in the series:

Southern Spirits, A Ghostly Gift and The Skeleton in the Closet – book 1, 1.5 and 2

Pecan Pies and Dead Guys – book 7 

The Mint Julep Murders – book 8

The Ghost of Christmas Past – book 8.5

Southern Bred and Dead – book 9

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Moose Island Books and Author Collective 20  (the publishers) for this book.

Recent Reads: The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde (The Last Dragonslayer 2)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde (The Last Dragonslayer 2) has Jennifer and the wizards of Kazam returning!  With Big Magic being unleashed in the last book, there’s more magic around, and King Snodd IV wants to be the one in control of it!

I thought the Quarkbeast was a great creature, and enjoyed the story in this book!  If you like your fantasy to be funny, then these are the books for you!

The Song of the Quarkbeast was published on 3rd September 2013, and is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

You can follow Jasper Fforde on Twitter and his website.

You can read my reviews of the books in this series:

The Last Dragonslayer – book 1 

The Song of the Quarkbeast – book 2

The Eye of Zoltar – book 3

The Great Troll War – book 4

Recent Reads: Unlucky 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women’s Murder Club 13)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Unlucky 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women’s Murder Club 13) has Yuki and Brady getting married!  And they’re off on honeymoon, which is a cruise!  Lindsay is back at work and Joe is at home with baby Julie.  But of course, there’s still murder and mayhem happening in beautiful San Francisco as 2 people are found on Golden Gate Bridge, with their stomachs blown out! 

This is another thriller from James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, and is very enjoyable. 

Unlucky 13 was published on 5th May 2014 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow James Patterson on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and his website.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find any links for Maxine Paetro for you to follow.

Women’s Murder Club books:

1st to Die   – book 1 

2nd Chance – book 2

3rd Degree – book 3

4th of July – book 4

The 5th Horseman – book 5

The 6th Target – book 6

7th Heaven – book 7

The 8th Confession – book 8;

The 9th Judgement – book 9

10th Anniversary – book 10

11th Hour – book 11

12th of Never – book 12