Category: Recent Reads

Recent Reads: Christmas; A short history from solstice to santa by Andy Thomas

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Christmas; A short history from solstice to santa by Andy Thomas looks at history through the ages, along with beautiful pictures.  It starts in ancient times and goes up to modern Christmas.  

This is a lovely book to read through at Christmas time, to have a read about how Christmas has been celebrated throughout history.

Christmas was published on 1 October 2019 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find a link for you to follow for Andy Thomas.

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

Recent Reads: The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow is about Mary Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.  It starts before the events of Pride and Prejudice, goes through them, and then continues afterwards.

I really enjoyed Mary’s story, seeing her as a more sympathetic character, and understanding her more.  It’s not written in the style of Pride and Prejudice, but written in a style that suits Mary.

The Other Bennet Sister was published on 9th January 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I’m afraid I couldn’t find any links for where you can follow Janice Hadlow.

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

Recent Reads: This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay is about Adam Kay’s experiences as a junior doctor in the NHS. It’s fascinating, harsh, sad, jubilant and graphic, and made me cry. 

Adam Kay shares his experiences from his notes he wrote at the time, which makes them vivid.  As he worked within a Gynaecological department, there are experiences of loss, and the reality of trying for a baby with IVF, so please let this be a trigger warning for you.

Well written, beautiful and shocking, this is a book to dive into and look at the NHS with new eyes.

This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor was published on 7th September 2017, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org. 

You can follow Adam Kay on Twitter and on his website.

Recent Reads: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot story 35)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot story 35) is a short story set at Christmas, in an English country house, where Hercule Poirot has been sent by the government in order to find a ring that has been stolen from an Eastern prince.

Hercule Poirot likes his comfort, and so being in a draughty English country house at Christmas isn’t his idea of fun, but he is there to work a case. 

This is a lovely cosy, festive story, which I enjoyed, and was especially evocative at Christmas time.  

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding was published on 12th December 1923, and is available as a short story collection from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

 

Recent Reads: Christmas in 100 words by words&pictures

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Christmas in 100 words by words&pictures is a picture book with lovely illustrations, which are child friendly, and is a fun way to get into the spirit of Christmas!

It’s available as a board book, a normal book and also as a kindle book.  It’s brightly coloured, and a lovely way to learn new words.

Christmas in 100 words was published on 15th October 2019 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

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

Recent Reads: Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy book 1)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy book 1) is  set in early 1900s, about Molly, who leaves Ireland as she’s murdered in self defence the son of the landowner, and heads to England, and then on to New York under a different name.  It’s the start of a new life for Molly, and she’s eager to take it, except a man is murdered on Ellis Island, and it’s a man whom she’s been seen arguing with.

Molly needs to convince handsome police captain, Daniel Sullivan that she’s not the murderer, and find out who really is!

I really enjoyed learning about this time period in New York, Ireland and England, and Molly is a great heroine that I’m enjoying getting to know!

I actually listened to this as an audiobook through my library online.  The narrator is Lara Hutchinson, who acts out all the parts, and does a good job of transporting me away to New York in 1900s as I listen!

Murphy’s Law was published in October 2001, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Rhys Bowen on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

Recent Reads: Love in the Blitz; A Woman in a World Turned Upside Down by Eileen Alexander

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Love in the Blitz; A Woman in a World Turned Upside Down by Eileen Alexander is a compilation of letters that Eileen Alexander sent to the man that she loves. They start in 1939 and go throughout World War 2, whilst Gershon is drafted, and sent off to war.

They are entertaining letters, and show a time when Eileen is ready to be her own person.  She writes about how difficult she finds the separation from Gershon, how her parents control her actions, how she finds her work, about her friends, and the about living through the war.

I found this to be well written, sometimes hard to read, interesting, and really insightful.  

Love in the Blitz was published on 30th April 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

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

Recent Reads: 20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women’s Murder Club 20)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women’s Murder Club 20) has Claire having to take time off work, Yuki prosecuting someone she doesn’t believe is guilty, Lindsay investigating multiple homicides, that happen at the same time in different counties, and Cindy being contacted by a killer. 

This is a fast paced thriller, with characters that I’ve grown to love over the last 19 books!  I’m still enjoying the series, and looking forward to what is going to be thrown at us next!

20th Victim was published on 5th March 2020 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.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Cornerstone.  And yes, I did read 19 books in order to review this one!

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

14th Deadly Sin – book 14

15th Affair – book 15

16th Seduction – book 16

17th Suspect – book 17

18th Abduction – book 18

19th Christmas – book 19

Recent Reads: Cold Days by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files 14)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Cold Days by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files 14) has Harry alive and being nursed back to health, with Mab trying to kill him often.  It’s all in aid of getting her Winter Knight ready to face whatever comes his way.  And when he’s better, it’s off to work he goes, at the behest of Mab, who asks him to kill Maeve, her daughter.

Harry returns to Chicago, and learns that Demonreach, his island, is in danger.  He also needs to do some explaining as to what’s happened, and of course, work out if Mab is serious.

I have been really enjoying reading this series, and when I finish one book, I want to start the next!  The world is well written and interesting, with characters who return, so none of them feel throw away.  I highly recommend this series if you want to dip your toe into urban fantasy!

Cold Days was published on 27th November 2012, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Jim Butcher on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

My reviews for previous Dresden Files books are below:

Storm Front (book 1)

Fool Moon (book 2)

Grave Peril (book 3)

Summer Knight (book 4)

Death Masks (book 5)

Blood Rites (book 6)

Dead Beat (book 7)

Proven Guilty (book 8)

White Night (book 9)

Small Favor (book 10)

Turn Coat (book 11)

Changes (book 12)

Ghost Story (book 13)

Recent Reads: The Fall of the House of Byron; Scandal and Seduction in Georgian England by Emily Brand

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Fall of the House of Byron; Scandal and Seduction in Georgian England by Emily Brand tells the stories of Lord Byron’s ancestors, who were just as scandalous as he was!  If you’re looking for a book about Lord Byron’s life, this isn’t it.  It is referenced, but assumes you know about it already.  

If you’re looking for background on Lord Byron’s family, or stories from Georgian times of elopement, murder, debt and adventures at sea, then this is a great book for you!

The Fall of the House of Byron was published on 16th April 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Emily Brand on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, and so many thanks to NetGalley and to John Murray Press.