Recent Reads: Extracted by RR Haywood (Extracted Trilogy 1)

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Extracted by RR Haywood (Extracted 1) has three people being taken to save the world.

‘Mad’ Harry Madden is a World War Two legend, who has the reputation for doing impossible missions.

Ben Ryder is an insurance investigator, but when the time comes, he does what he has to do.

Safa Patel is an armed police officer, protecting the Prime Minister in Downing Street.  

This is a science fiction novel, and one that takes you on a ride! I enjoyed the surprises, and was interested in where the story took you.  I’m going to be reading more in the series, so you can look forward to those reviews as well!

Extracted was published on 1st March 2017, and is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow RR Haywood on Twitter, Facebook and his website.

Recent Reads: Witchcraft; A Secret History by Michael Streeter

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Witchcraft; A Secret History by Michael Streeter looks at witcraft through the ages, from the ancient world, medieval world to modern day.  It has illustrations from throughout history of witches and witchcraft, and looks at myths in relation to witches as well.

If you’d like some more context for witches, then this is a good book for you to read.  This is well researched and interesting to read but it looks mostly at witches of Europe.

Witchcraft; A Secret History was published on 3 March 2020 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org,.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find a link for where you could follow Michael Streeter.

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

Recent Reads: The 9th Judgement by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women’s Murder Club 9)

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The 9th Judgement by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro has a cat burglar nicknamed ‘Hello Kitty’ who breaks into rich people’s homes.  Tonight is no exception, and she’s making off with the wife of an A-lister’s jewels, but the wife has also been murdered, and so Hello Kitty is suspected.

Elsewhere in San Fransisco, a mother and child are shot down.

Lindsay is assigned to both cases, and so that means the Women’s Murder Club is also on both of them!

You can see into who has killed the mother and child, and why as the story goes on, which makes for added tension as you want to tell Lindsay etc.  These books are fast paced, and with short chapters, they are accessible.  This is a series of books that you would read when you don’t want to have to work too hard in order to have a thrill ride.

The 9th Judgement was published in 2010 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

Recent Reads: Loch Down Abbey by Beth Cowan-Erskine

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Loch Down Abbey by Beth Cowan-Erskine is a murder mystery that has a lot of elements of lock down life in 2020!  There is toilet paper hoarding, food shortages, and unexpected childcare!

In the style of a golden age murder mystery, this is a country house murder set in the 1930s, where the guests can’t leave due to an illness sweeping the countryside. 

The house is Loch Down Abbey, and when the Earl is found dead, everyone is a suspect.  We have family members who don’t get on, weird dynamics, and of course, secrets and lies.

This is a rollicking read, and especially funny as you encounter lockdown reminders as you go along.

Loch Down Abbey was published on 10th June 2021 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find anywhere for you to follow Beth Cowan-Erskine.

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

Recent Reads: The Lucky Escape by Laura Jane Williams

Posted on by Pam

My review:?????

The Lucky Escape is Laura Jane Williams’ third novel, and is just as good as the others!

Annie was due to marry Alexander, but he doesn’t show up for the wedding, so when she ends up going on her honeymoon with an old friend, Patrick, it’s not quite the honeymoon she had thought she was going to have!

Annie is reminded of who she used to be, pre Alexander, and this is the perfect trip to reset herself.

This is a romance, with unexpected moments, sadness and joy.  I really enjoyed reading Annie and Patrick’s journey.

The Lucky Escape was published on 10th June 2021 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

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

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

Recent Reads: The Secret Life of the Savoy and the D’Oyly Carte family by Olivia Williams

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Secret Life of the Savoy and the D’Oyly Carte family by Olivia Williams is the history of the Savoy hotel and the Savoy theatre, and the family that built this up.  

The D’Oyly family are the family that built both, and employed Gilbert and Sullivan to make shows for the theatre.  This is a well written book, with lots of information, and stories about the ups and downs for the Savoy.

The Secret Life of the Savoy was published on 10th June 2021 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Olivia Williams on Twitter.

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

Recent Reads: Being Creative: Be inspired. Unlock your originality 20 thought-provoking lessons by Michael Atavar

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Being Creative: Be inspired. Unlock your originality 20 thought-provoking lessons by Michael Atavar wants to teach you to be creative, and gives you tools and tips for being more creative, and not being overwhelmed.

This is a great book if you feel like you could do more, and just need some help to see how.  There are ideas about how to use a process for creativity, and suggestions for challenges and problems you could face.  This is a bright, stylish book, laid out in a way to make the ideas feel achievable.

Being Creative was published on 9th April 2019 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Michael Atavar on Twitter, Instagram and his website.

I was given this book in exchange of an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Quarto Publishing.

Recent Reads: Rough Magic; Riding the world’s wildest horse race by Lara Prior-Palmer

Posted on by Pam

My review:?????

Rough Magic; Riding the world’s wildest horse race by Lara Prior-Palmer is the true story of Lara’s experience of riding in the Mongol Derby, which is the world’s toughest horse race.  Every August, riders have to ride wild ponies over a 1,000 km course within 10 days.

This is a fascinating read, and takes you day by day through her adventure!  It is an epic ride, and is very atmospheric. 

I hadn’t heard of this race before, but was hanging on to the book, wanting to know what would happen next.  You’re told the race outcome early on, but not how it happened, and that’s what kept me turning pages!  Literally a wild ride!

Rough Magic was published on 6th June 2019 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find a link for you to follow Lara Prior-Palmer.

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

Recent Reads: Only You by Kate Eberlen

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Only You by Kate Eberlen has Alf and Letty who meet in Rome on a language course.  They both have a background in dance – Letty in ballet and Alf in ballroom.  Whilst they both connect, they both have pasts.

We are taken between the present and the past to see how history has an impact on their current actions, and why they are both in Rome for a language course.  

This is a romance with some odd connections, and situations that are hard.  I enjoyed the reveal, piece by piece of the past and what the implications were. 

This is a well written book, covering some tough subjects, so here’s a trigger warning for rape.

Only You was published on 30th April 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Kate Eberlen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and her website.

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

Recent Reads: Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Wilder Girls by Rory Power is set in a girls boarding school in the middle of nowhere, and it’s been 18 months since they were sent into quarantine.  Many of the girls and teachers have died from the Tox, and there is a small amount of both left alive.  

This is a YA novel that is a mix of fantasy and sci-fi, with a bit of horror thrown in, with the government keeping the school under quarantine.  When one of the girls goes missing, Hetty goes hunting for her.

I enjoyed this book, and the story, and wanted to see how things were going to come out for them all.

Wilder Girls was published on 6th February 2020 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Rory Power on Twitter, Instagram and her website.

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