Fluence By Stephen Oram

Fluence By Stephen Oram

Amber is young and ambitious. Martin is burnt out by years of struggling. She cheats to get what she wants while he barely clings on to what he has. It’s the week before the annual Pay Day when strata positions are decided by the controlling corporations.

The social media feed is frenetic with people trying to boost their influence rating while those above the strata and those who’ve opted out pursue their own manipulative goals. Set in a dystopian London, ‘Fluence’ is a story of aspiration and desperation and of power seen and unseen.

It’s a story of control and consequence. It’s the story of the extremes to which Amber and Martin are prepared to go in these last ten thousand minutes before Pay Day.

My Thoughts:

This is a very interesting read, it is a story that really makes you think what you would do. I liked how Amber and Martin the two main characters work together. It makes for an exciting read, I wanted to read on to find out what happens to them. I liked the author’s writing style too, very descriptive.

The Other Side Of Town By Eleanor Smythe

The Other Side Of Town By Eleanor Smythe

When tragedy strikes, the lives of two families are torn apart. Although they live on opposite sides of the town, both families experience the pain of grief, betrayal and deception.
Everything becomes clear when a specialist team of police officers are deployed from London to the town of Millbrook, investigating an international criminal who they suspect to be carrying out illegal activities in the area.

My Thoughts:

Even though this is not usually the kind of thing I read, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy it. I liked how the author had different points of view from the characters. I was surprised to learn this is Eleanor’s first novel, I would like to read her next novel as I am sure it will be just as good as this one. Really good read.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Town-Eleanor-Smythe-ebook

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea By Ali Mc Namara

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea By Ali Mc Namara

This title will be released on July 30, 2015.

The blossom is out in the little Cornish harbour town of St Felix

But Poppy Carmichael’s spirits aren’t lifted by the pretty West Country spring. Inheriting her grandmother’s flower shop has forced her to return to Cornwall, a place that holds too many memories.

Poppy is determined to do her best for the sake of her adored grandmother, but she struggles with the responsibility of the more-shabby-than-chic shop. And with the added complication of Jake, the gruff but gorgeous local flower grower, Poppy is very tempted to run away…

The pretty little town has a few surprises in store for Poppy. With new friends to help her and romance blooming, it’s time for Poppy to open her heart to St Felix and to the special magic of a little flower shop by the sea!

My Thoughts:

I haven’t read many of Ali’s books before but this one was a nice easy read perfect to take on holiday. The story was a nice little one maybe predictable but all the same very enjoyable. I liked reading about what all the different flowers mean it was very interesting. I thought Poppy the main character seemed lovely and I think her and Jake suited each other very well. It would be nice to have a follow up to see what happens in the future. The story is set in Cornwall which is just a lovely place, an enjoyable read.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Little-Flower-Shop-SeaPaperback not out until 30 th July )

I Am Pilgrim By Terry Hayes

I Am Pilgrim By Terry Hayes

Can you commit the perfect crime?
Pilgrim is the codename for a man who doesn’t exist. The adopted son of a wealthy American family, he once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence. Before he disappeared into anonymous retirement, he wrote the definitive book on forensic criminal investigation.
But that book will come back to haunt him. It will help NYPD detective Ben Bradley track him down. And it will take him to a rundown New York hotel room where the body of a woman is found facedown in a bath of acid, her features erased, her teeth missing, her fingerprints gone. It is a textbook murder – and Pilgrim wrote the book.
What begins as an unusual and challenging investigation will become a terrifying race-against-time to save America from oblivion. Pilgrim will have to make a journey from a public beheading in Mecca to a deserted ruins on the Turkish coast via a Nazi death camp in Alsace and the barren wilderness of the Hindu Kush in search of the faceless man who would commit an appalling act of mass murder in the name of his God.

My Thoughts:

I was given this book to read by my lovely neighbour. Not having read anything like this, I did wonder if I would like it. I have to say it was superbly written, it has everything you would want in a spy thriller. It is a big book but you will undoubtedly not realise this as you are reading as you will be hooked. There are some brilliant touches in this book but I don’t want to say too much as it may spoil it for those of you who haven’t read it yet. I found I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, I found the book very descriptive but really well written. This is a book I would happily read again and again.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Am-Pilgrim-Terry-Hayes

Monty & Me By Louisa Bennet

Monty & Me By Louisa Bennet

 

The first book introducing loveable dog detective Monty!

You might think that dogs can’t understand us…but you’d be wrong.

Apart from an obsession with cheese, Monty is a perfectly rational animal. So when his beloved master is stabbed to death, Monty decides to use his formidable nose to track the killer down.

Luckily he manages to find a home with Rose Sidebottom, the young policewoman who’s investigating the case. But with her colleagues turning against her, and the wrong man collared, she’s going to need a little help…

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this book, I loved the story and best of all I loved Monty. He is everything you would want from a dog and he has a really good nose which is helping him track down the killer of his beloved master. I thought all the characters were great I liked Rose who is the next person Monty goes to live with and he helps her too. Wonderful little story that you just wont want to miss out on.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monty-Me-Louisa-Bennet-ebook/

An average day for Monty, the dog detective in Monty And Me by Louisa Bennet

 

Monty at laptop with Sherlock hat (small)

Hi there, I’m Monty, the furry, four-legged partner of the crime-busting duo in The Monty And Sidebottom Mysteries. Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

I thought I’d tell you about my average day, although I expect being both a dog and a detective is far from average. Of course, there’s my good mate Inspector Rex, that super cool German Shepherd who sinks his teeth into those nasty perps and gets the bad guys every time. Love that TV show! I always bark at the screen to cheer him on.

Anyway, my detecting career began when my beloved master, Paddy, was murdered. I resolved to hunt down his killer. I didn’t expect to be adopted by one of the detectives on the case, Rose Sidebottom, and I certainly didn’t expect to find we’d grow so close and become a formidable team. I had some help from a professional detective from the insect world. Yes, I did say insect. Celeste runs the Celestial PI Agency. As she says herself: she puts the ‘I’ back into PI. ‘I’ is for Insect Crime. But I don’t want to give too much of the story away, so I’ll say no more about Celeste. What I will say is that a magpie who is both thief and computer hacker, and a rat with connections to the criminal underworld, can be very helpful allies when trying to catch criminals.

My greatest asset is my sense of smell. My super sniffer. As long as I know the scent of the killer, I will find him. Dogs can follow scent trails for miles and we can also tell whether the person has been there recently or a long time ago, by the strength of their aroma. I’m a strong swimmer. So if the perp thinks he can get away across water, then he’s mistaken. I’m also a fast runner, but I can’t keep up with a car for long, so I need to catch them while they are still on foot. My teeth are sharp and can inflict a nasty bite although I will only use them as a last resort. Dogs have a formidable communications network in the form of wee-mails. They are like emails but their scent conveys are mood, such as elated or fearful. Ever wondered why your dog stops to sniff hedges and lamp post and corners so often? They’re reading the latest news and gossip on the wee-vine. News can spread far and fast that way, believe me, from countryside to the city and back again.

Being a dog detective requires a fair bit of patience and a lot of surveillance work. Watching and waiting. Some dogs find it hard to keep still but as long as I have something to chew, I’m happy. Sometimes I simply enjoy sniffing the breeze. People’s scents tell stories about their day: where they’ve been and who they’ve touched. That’s why your dog gives you a thorough sniff when you come home. They want to find out where you’ve been and who you met.

There’s one part of my day I have to keep very secret because us dogs aren’t supposed to know how to use computers, but if the heavy old telephone directory won’t give me the answer I need, then a very clever person called Mr Google who lives inside a computer, can often give me those answers. But please don’t tell anybody I do this. Just between us, okay? I am a bit slow tapping the keys, to be honest, because my paws are so big, but I manage, slowly.

Well, I hope you enjoy our adventures in Monty And Me. It’s been fun! Woof! If you’d like to stay in touch, please join me at:

https://twitter.com/montydogdblue paw

https://www.facebook.com/MontyDogDetective

Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe By Milly Johnson

Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe By Milly Johnson

Love and friendship bloom at the Sunflower Café…

When Connie discovers that Jimmy Diamond, her husband of more than twenty years, is planning to leave her for his office junior, her world is turned upside down.

Determined to salvage her pride, she resolves to get her own back. Along with Della, Jimmy’s right-hand woman at his cleaning firm, Diamond Shine, and the cleaners who meet at the Sunflower Café, she’ll make him wish he had never underestimated her.

Then Connie meets the charming Brandon Locke, a master chocolatier, whose kindness starts to melt her soul. Could he be her second chance at happiness?

Can the ladies of the Sunflower Cafe help Connie scrub away the hurt? And can Brandon make her trust again?

My Thoughts:

I have read all of Milly Johnson’s other books and completely adored them, I didn’t think Milly would be able to top her previous book the Teashop on the Corner but she really has. This book was superb, it is quite a chunky book but I devoured it in two days straight. There were quite a few characters in this book most with what I would call real life problems, I loved reading all there stories, I really liked Connie and Della I could see myself in them sometimes. I thought Brandon the chocolatier sounded lovely, who wouldn’t want a hunky man but one that works with chocolate it is every woman’s dream. This is a brilliant book that will have you in stitches as there are some very funny moments, it has a twist in the plot that you could never imagine but it will leave you with a big ahhhh!! at the end.  This is definitely one of my favourite books for this year. Pure Delight!!

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Afternoon-Tea-at-Sunflower-Caf%C3%A9

The Hunt By Tim J. Lebbon

The Hunt By Tim J. Lebbon

Escape and they’ll kill your family.

The cruellest game. The highest stakes. Only she can bring his family back alive …

Rose is the one that got away. She was the prey in a human trophy hunt organised by an elite secret organisation for super-rich clients seeking a unique thrill. She paid a terrible price. Every moment since she has been planning her revenge … And now her day has come.

Chris returns from his morning run to find his wife and children missing and a stranger in his kitchen.

He’s told to run.

If he’s caught and killed, his family go free. If he escapes, they die.

Rose is the only one who can help him, but Rose only has her sights on one conclusion. For her, Chris is bait. But The Trail have not forgotten the woman who tried to outwit them.

The Trail want Rose. The hunters want Chris’s corpse. Rose wants revenge, and Chris just wants his family back.

The hunt is on …

My Thoughts:

I won this book on a goodreads giveaway. I loved the cover it looked an interesting read and I have to say it really was. It was fast paced and exciting, wondering what was going to happen. There was emotion, like I really felt for the characters and wanted them to be safe. It is a book that is definitely pulse – pounding and every page is intense. A book you certainly wont want to put down.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hunt-Tim-Lebbon

It Ain’t Easy: Short Stories By Keisa Alexandra

It Ain’t Easy: Short Stories By Keisa Alexandra

“It Ain’t Easy” is a collection of short stories on growing up in Washington, DC. If you think it’s all memorials and museums, you’re mistaken.

This collection explores the every day lives of those who reside in the city— from the around the way girls and boys in the hood to the private schools on the privileged side of town.

“It Ain’t Easy” shows one of America’s most talked about cities in a way it is rarely seen; through the eyes of the people.

My Thoughts:

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. It is a collection of stories about what it is like to live in the part  of the city that is the gritty streets of some of the poorest parts of the city to the privileged halls of its prestigious private schools. I liked the way Keisa writes, she takes you in to the heart and mind of the characters, I didn’t realise she is only 24 years old. The title of the stories truly sums up the way some of these poor people live. Will definitely be looking out for more of her books. These stories make for a great read.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aint-Easy-Short-stories

The Sun In Her Eyes By Paige Toon

The Sun In Her Eyes By Paige Toon

Blinding sunshine… A bend in the road… What became of the little girl with the sun in her eyes?

Amber was three when a car crash stole her mother’s life. She doesn’t remember the accident, but a stranger at the scene has been unable to forget. Now, almost thirty years later, she’s trying to track Amber down.

Amber, meanwhile, is married to Ned and living on the other side of the world in London. When her father has a stroke, she flies straight home to Australia to be with him. Away from her husband, Amber finds comfort in her oldest friends, but her feelings for Ethan, the gorgeous, green-eyed man she once fell for, have never been platonic.

As Ethan and Amber grow closer, married life in London feels far away. Then Amber receives a letter that changes everything. ‘Before your mother died, she asked me to tell you something…’

My Thoughts:

I always seem to read Paige Toon’s books really fast, this one I read in a day and a half. They are the best kind of chick lit. The characters were realistic, the story has quite a few emotions going through it which I think people can relate to love, betrayal and loss. I enjoyed this book not as much as her others, there were some parts in the book I didn’t condone but it didn’t put me off reading about it. My favourite character was Doris, I think what she did was such a lovely thing to do. A perfect holiday read.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sun-Her-Eyes-Paige-Toon/

The Great Zoo of China By Matthew Reilly

The Great Zoo of China By Matthew Reilly

This title will be released on January 21, 2016.

A high-concept, action-packed thriller from the bestselling author of SCARECROW AND THE ARMY OF THIEVES.
It is a secret the Chinese government has been keeping for 40 years. They have found a species of animal no one believed even existed. It will amaze the world.
Now the Chinese are ready to unveil their astonishing discovery within the greatest zoo ever constructed. A small group of VIPs and journalists has been brought to the zoo deep within China to see its fabulous creatures for the first time. Among them is Dr Cassandra Jane ‘CJ’ Cameron, a writer for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and an expert on reptiles.
The visitors are assured by their Chinese hosts that they will be struck with wonder at these beasts, that they are perfectly safe, and that nothing can go wrong…
GET READY FOR ACTION ON A GIGANTIC SCALE

My Thoughts:

I was lucky enough to have won this book in a goodreads competition. It is a big book and I thought it would take me ages to read, well it didn’t I managed to read this book in two days. It has big writing which helps, but it also was fast paced that I was utterly engrossed in it. It did remind me of Jurassic park which I enjoyed, I knew something would go wrong when I saw that they had built a zoo which contained dragons. Haven’t read a book like this but thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Great-Zoo-Of-China