Author: Pam

Recent Reads: Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Bridge of Birds is set in an ancient China that could have been.  Number Ten Ox sets out to find a wiseman when the children in his village come down with a mysterious illness, and so he meets Master Li Kao.

Master Li has some ideas about how to cure the children, and so they set off on a series of adventures, and a series of coincidences.

This is a simple story that reads like mythology or an ancient story, and as the author claims it’s a novel of an ancient China that never was, then it works really well!

Bridge of Birds was published on 1st April 1984, and is available from Amazon. 

Recent Reads: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Posted on by Pam

My review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is set in a world of magic, mythology, love and betrayal.

Xingjin’s mother is hiding her from everyone, including the Celestial Emperor, after her mother was exiled for stealing the potion of immortality.

Xingjin is bored with a very quiet life, but knows no other.  All is safe and well until Xingjin’s magic flares and attracts attention.  She has to leave, and disguised, she trains alongside the Emperor’s son.

Xingjin hears of something that cold mean the Emperor would grant her wish, and she plans to ask for her mother to be freed.  

I listened to this audiobook, and enjoyed the narrator.  It’s a fantastical story that I really liked listening to the story.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was published on 20th January 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Sue Lynn Tan on Twitter and her website.

 

Recent Reads: A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (The Chronicles of St Mary’s book 2)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Symphony of Echoes is the second book in the series, and Max went through a lot in the first book! 

There is more adventure in this book, starting with a visit to see Jack the Ripper, Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, and the future!

It’s fast paced, entertaining and involves a lot of fun and squabbles!

I found the author’s writing to be really evocative of the time including smells, the different types of litter you have in the street in different times.

A Symphony of Echoes was published on 22nd October 2013, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can read my review of the first book in this series here.

You can follow Jodi Taylor on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and her website.

Recent Reads: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Shady Hollow by Juneau Black is a murder mystery with anthropomorphic woodland creatures.

Shady Hollow is the small town where  a grumpy toad is found dead, and newcomer and local reporter, Vera Vixen starts investigating.

It’s a cosy mystery but with woodland creatures, and was an enjoyable read.

Shady Hollow was published on 3rd February 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Juneau Black on Twitter and their website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

Recent Reads: Poster Art of the Disney Parks by Daniel Handke, Vanessa Hunt

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Poster Art of the Disney Parks by Daniel Handke, Vanessa Hunt is a fascinating book, with posters from when rides opened in Disneyland, and then more up to date posters from rides opening in other parks.  It shows the art influence across the years.

It shows the evolution on the posters, and the printing process in some cases.  I really liked this book, and found the insights fascinating! 

Poster Art of the Disney Parks was published in September 2012, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

It looks like there’s a new edition coming out this year as well!

You can follow Daniel Handke on Twitter and Vanessa Hunt on Instagram.

Recent Reads: This Charming Man by C. K. McDonnell (The Stranger Times book 2)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

This Charming Man is the second book in the Stranger Times series.  Everyone knows that vampires don’t exist, except for the vampires that are popping up in Manchester!

On top of that, there’s someone trying to kidnap one of the Stranger Times staff, the Assistant Editor, Hannah has returned after a messy divorce, and the editor, Vincent, is as unpleasant as ever.

This is an urban fantasy, all set in a newspaper that prints stories that seem to be ridiculous, but at least some of them are true!

I’ve enjoyed this series, and seeing urban fantasy from a slightly different point of view.  

This Charming Man was published on 17th February 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Random House, Transworld Publishers.

Recent Reads: Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟

Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton is book 9 in the series.  I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I did enjoy the book, and didn’t find that I missed out on too much.

Jaymie has invited her female friends from her college days, and whilst they always take a bit of time to get used to each other’s groove, this time is extra hard with someone new being brought along.

This is a murder mystery with a lot of female friendship dynamics.  It’s a cosy mystery, set in a small town, where the residents all know each other, and was a fun read.

Cast Iron Alibi was published on 5th November 2019, and is available from Amazon and Waterstones (as an audio book).

You can follow Victoria Hamilton on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Beyond the Page Publishing.

Recent Reads: The Wrong Suitcase by Laura Jane Williams

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Wrong Suitcase by Laura Jane Williams is set at a destination wedding, with Lizzie and Sam ending up with each other’s suitcases, and the hilarity that ensues.

This is a lovely novella, with beautiful descriptions of Italy, and a big dollop of romance.  I listened to the audiobook, and so enjoyed listening to Laura Jane Williams reading her book.  If you’re looking for something to transport you, then this is great!

The Wrong Suitcase was published on 12th February 2022, and is available from Amazon as an e-book and as an audiobook, read by the author.

You can follow Laura Jane Williams on Twitter, Instagram and her website.

You can read my reviews for Laura Jane Williams books:

Our Stop

The Love Square

The Lucky Escape

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

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M. C Beaton (Agatha Raisin book 12)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came has Agatha with a bit of a broken heart after James.  The fact that he ran off and said he was being a monk, and asked for a divorce was a lot.  But now he has sold his cottage, you know what this means…opportunity for romance on Agatha’s doorstep!

But this is Agatha we’re talking about!  There has been a flood, and Agatha sees a bride in wedding dress, and with a bouquet, go by under a bridge, and Agatha knows her from a recent beauty appointment!

Charles got married on his way back from France in the previous book! Agatha goes on holiday to a remote island in the South Pacific – running away from her problems, or towards herself?

All in all, a good book in the series!

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came was published on 12th July 2002 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)

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (book 6)

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (book 7)

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (book 8)

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (book 9)

Agatha Raisin and the fairies of Fryfam (book 10)

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell (book 11)

Recent Reads: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (The Chronicles Of St Mary’s book 1)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (The Chronicles Of St Mary’s book 1) is the first book in the series, and I’ve been really enjoying it!  It’s about a group of people who investigate major historical events in a contemporary time – just don’t call it time travel!

Madeline Maxwell joins St Mary’s, and the fun begins from there!

This jump from 11th century London, World War I, Cretaceous period and the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria!  You get to find out just how much chaos historians really do bring about!

I thought this was a really good start to a series, with lots of characters, historical settings that felt real, and a storyline I enjoyed!

Just One Damned Thing After Another was published on 1st June 2013 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Jodi Taylor on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and her website.