We’d all like our fellow commuters and coffee shop dwellers to believe we’re constantly stimulating our minds by reading works of famed philosophers or controversial political opinion pieces in newspapers but the truth is, sometimes, we need to indulge our imaginations in a little light relief. My absolute love is “chick lit”, although I hate … More #WorldBookDay : Guilty Pleasures
Author Liz Riley Jones got in touch with me about her new novel, Hiraeth, part of a trilogy Celtic fantasy novels. I was so keen to read this book as the synopsis really appealed to that part of me that still loves being wrapped up in a world of myth, monsters and mystery. Hiraeth follows … More Book Review: Hiraeth
I was delighted to be approached by young author Chris Reardon about his novella Breaking Rules. This short tale is full of magic and meddling and is sure to keep young and experienced readers hooked until the very last word! We meet Salina, a bossy and entitled young witch who begins to interfere in other … More Book Review: Breaking Rules
I love a good trashy novel. One that is shamelessly romantic; has little to no profound life affirming message within it and is just a great read for the train, plane or automobile you might find yourself travelling in. This time of year is great for those books, with hundreds of festive reads to get … More Christmas Reads
If you’ve ever had a slight niggling thought that maybe Google, Apple and Facebook know just a little bit too much about your life, then prepare to have all your worst fears realised in the form of Dave Eggers’ latest novel, The Circle. Please bear with my intense hyperbole; I’m utterly addicted to this book, … More The Circle – Dave Eggers
With the days getting longer and Britain experiencing some uncharacteristic sunshine I decide to do what any good person does, and dive into the book shop rather than sunbathe. I picked up some interesting sounding books in Waterstones and am looking forward to carefully reading every word without creasing the spine (it’s definitely not just … More Summer Reads
Marionette is a very different novel to TB Markinson’s first published work, A Woman Lost, but retaining a similar tone of writing. The central character, Paige, is a troubled and bitter teen heading off to college. Paige sees college as an opportunity to escape the controlling life she has led, at the hands of her … More Review: Marionette – TB Markinson
The world of Young Adult literature can be a dark, mysterious and sometimes very lucrative place. The trouble is the labelling, “Young Adult” – what does that mean? Can you only read these novels if you’re an angst ridden teenager? Are they too ‘easy’ to be considered acceptable reading for adults? I’ve compiled a brief … More Fiction For The Young (and old) Adult
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive a copy of fellow blogger TB Markinson’s debut novel, A Woman Lost to review. Find her blog here http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/tag/a-woman-lost/ A Woman Lost details the life of Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Petrie, a young woman whose voice within the novel (told in first person) is strong, independent … More A Woman Lost – T.B. Markinson – Review
Upon the recommendation of YouTube vlogger Hayley G Hoover http://youtu.be/EpuKq9IOkbw I hunted down a copy of The Bling Ring, by Nancy Jo Sales. This piece of non-fiction is an expansion of Sales’ Vanity Fair article on the burgling of Paris Hilton and other young Hollywood ‘royalty’ during late 2008 and 2009. Living on the other … More The Bling Ring – A Circular Problem
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