The Babble Hinge - 3.

I received a message via Facebook yesterday asking me to review a book and today, had it all confirmed after a couple of private messages back and forth which means, my blog is starting to take off and people are interested.Yay. I do put my reviews onto Goodreads and Amazon but this is MY platform, MY blog and I'm quite enjoying it so far.

After being blown about a windswept city, trying to keep from eating my hair and meeting a friend who incidentally would not have that problem due to him being bald (although he would say, at least my head is kept warm), we went off to a local D.I.Y store to check out all the beautiful kitchens that I can't have due to the fact that I rent my home. SIGH...... haha. I did buy a Z bed or what ever the generic name is for them these days.Just a single one, ready for when my niece comes to stay. Once home, I opened up the Z bed and popped the mattress in place and a big awake nightmare ensued of being folded up rather abruptly in the Z bed!! I had one of these as a child to sleep on regularly and yes, it folded up regularly, with me in it, half asleep much to everyone's delight and humour, but definitely not mine.I did lay on it to check it out and I was settled with the fact that they are much better made these days and fold the other way.Phew! I don't think my sister would be too impressed if I bought my niece back so bent up and resembling Flat Stanley (written by Jeff Brown). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley

After deciding it was fine and thinking I really didn't need to pay for a delivery, I could have fitted this thing in my car at least five times over, I got comfy enough to finish the rest of what was, my current read From a Poison Pen by B.P. Smythe. It didn't take me long as it was so captivating. I virtually drank this book, it was such an easy read, a page turner with just the right size and style/format of text. Don't you find certain style or text format makes you turn the page quicker and read the pages faster? I do. Check out the review I wrote for this book. 

I also wrote a review yesterday for The Surrogate (Brennan & Esposito #1) by Tania Carver which I also enjoyed but in a very different way. 
I have another review to put together tomorrow and add to my blog too.

I just want to share how shocked and surprised I am that in less than two weeks,my blog view count at this time stands at 1160!! I am so chuffed and very happy by this. Thankyou to all that have had a little look and added to this number over the last 13 days. I hope to understand this blogging biz a bit more and make a better job of it. Be patient, I am completely self taught, trying to work it out as I'm going along. I have a couple more ideas that I will put in place soon enough. Keep coming back and I hope you keep enjoying my reviews.

Back to my next book........hmmmm.........ok, I've decided. It's going to be - The Taxidermists Daughter written by Kate Mosse and published by Orion Books.

                                     

Time to retire for a little read in bed. We will do it all again very soon.

Additional info - 29/03/16 I have renamed 'End of Day Thoughts' as I thought it a little plain and just lacked a bit of zing, besides, I am not writing something everyday.I have decided to name it THE BABBLE HINGE as I babble on and it is a hinge, connecting the pages together.Hope you like it too.

From a Poison Pen by B.P. Smythe

Read from March 20th - 26th 2016.

Published February 15th 2016 by Bloodhound Books

Format    Paperback - 386 pages

Review

..........'Now lying on her back, Myra knew this wasn't the best position. She twisted herself around, swearing as she banged her head and face in the process until she was resting crouched up on her knees. From there with great effort, as the line stretched and cut deep into her wrists, Myra raised her top half; then painfully rolled head-first over the wardrobe edge and flopped onto the marble tiles' .......excerpt taken from Lovers Leap. Lovers Leap is just one of ten short stories I have had the pleasure of reading in this book by B.P.Smythe. "B.P.Smythe, really? you wrote all these? how versatile are you?" Catchy little reads of varying length. Just enough to suck you in, get you comfortable, enjoy the read and then BANG, the macabre twist hits you head on and ties it all together in a neat little bundle. The author engages the reader right from the start and doesn't let go, enticing them to read more and more of these easy read shorts. Most of these stories have dark undertones to them leading to some weird but psychologically "oh yeah" revelation moments. There is a couple of grammatical errors and the last story, We'll Meet Again, I felt was overly waffled in segments. These very small issues did not hinder the stories at all and in fact, I'd go as far as to say We'll Meet Again was one of my favourite ones. I found myself quite captivated by a lot of the characters in the book. Many showing great depth of which I found connection even in the short time they invaded my head space. The writing IS simple and comfortable which readers who want a book they can just pick up and go with will love. The stories full of intrigue and a small element of suspense in some that will appeal to a diverse type of reader who appreciates anything from murder mysteries, war stories to dark humour. I recommend this book to anyone who I have described above and anyone who likes a little of a Twilight Zone esque feel to their reads. I will certainly be looking out for more works by this author. /http://www.bloodhoundbooks.com/from-a-poison-pen/ 4 out of 5 stars given.

The Surrogate (Brennan & Esposito #1) by Tania Carver

Read from March 10th - 20th 2016.

Published September 17th 2009 by Little, Brown Book Group

Format    Paperback - 438 pages

Review

I need to give this book 3 and a half stars, a well deserved 3 and a half it was too.I enjoyed reading it, although this is an odd thing to say bearing in mind that this book really does have a rather gory subject matter. There is a killer targeting heavily pregnant women and is intent on taking the precious cargo they are carrying by brutal force. The case falls to Detective Inspector Phil Brennan.He and his team are finding it difficult to make sense of the killings and call in Marina Esposito, a criminal profiler to help solve the case. Marina is Phil’s former lover; they met over a previous case that left Maria in a rather desperately dangerous situation, which tested their relationship to the full. Maria believes there is a woman involved in the killings, a woman desperate for a baby. Tania Carver is actually a pseudonym for a husband and wife duo Martyn and Linda Waites. This is their debut novel and what a debut it is, making quite a grand entrance. This book is truly a captivating read which I really enjoyed and found it hard to put down. An absolute page turner. The book doesn't give away too many clues throughout, keeping the reader in suspense all the way. The details aren't the most gruesome I have read, but does make for some unsettling reading and although fast paced in sections, it is equally slow going in many places too. I'd rather it were a little more consistent. I have raved about much better. This lacked a little something, even though it also hit depths others haven't (I think) dared to tread which I liked. None of the detectives made me feel any kind of connection with them. DI Phil Brennan, I felt, a little flat and not that engaging. The plot from start to finish is packed with red herrings and well placed twists and ends with a big shocker that is impossible to anticipate. If you are not squeamish, then I highly recommend. A good debut novel that has attracted a lot of attention and justly so. I will definitely read more in this collection. I have book 2, The Creeper on my shelf, ready and waiting.

Incubus (Fairwick Chronicles #1) by Carol Goodman

Read from May 3rd - 12th 2015.

Published July 21st 2011 by Ebury Press

Format    Paperback - 466 pages

Review

I came upon this book when I was looking into buying one of Deborah Harkness, All Souls Trilogy on Amazon.Up it came in the other readers enjoyed this/if you like that you will like this section.I thought, give it a go and purchased all three of the Fairwick chronicles over time.I don't do lovey dovey Mills and Boons/Twilight style teen romance books.I just don't want to read about teens or adults kissing and smooching-boring! However, I love magic, fantasy, witches, folklore and other worldly stories and this advertised just that and as with Deborah Harkness All Souls Trilogy that I was buying when I came across Carol Goodman's Incubus, I don't mind some intimacy as long as it is kept relevant and doesn't overtake the whole story.This book leant more to the urban fantasy market.The intimacy parts,integral to the plot wasn't the keystone of the whole book which infact had many key points. Carol Goodman has written under the pseudonym Juliet Dark before but writes this under her real name.I do not know what her other books under Juliet Dark are like so can only assume they must be very different to use an alternative name as some authors do when they change style.I feel Carol succeeds beautifully with this book.She creates vivid imagery throughout this story and includes lots of attention to detail which introduces you to many endearing characters and mythical creatures. I found, this book although very much an adult read, was written in a very YA style, being an easy, light read. Callie McFey (Dr),arrives at Fairwick for an interview at the local college to teach folklore. Callie is also a writer. After some thinking time she decides to take on the post at detriment to her dream of teaching in New York and making a life with her boyfriend Paul.She comes across an old Victorian house that backs onto inviting woods whilst in Fairwick. The house is for sale and is called Honeysuckle House.Callie purchases Honeysuckle House that seems to suck her into it's charms before she even seals the deal.Soon she is visited by a presence that seems to be made of shadow and moonlight. This shadow has powers, powers that do not feel healthy but she can not reject it and it feels so right.How can something so wrong feel so right. Callie soon comes to realise that there is a lot more going on in Fairwick than meets the eye. If I am to pick any negative points, it would be that some pages (very few) seemed to waffle in places it need not.I found myself scanning over these sections and maybe in one or two places, the intimacy was just too much and began to bore, to be in the book. I very much enjoyed reading this book with its gothic, myth and folklore imagery. I was very surprised that I enjoyed it so much with all the intimacy in it's pages. I am looking forward to the next story in the chronicles, that is called Water Witch. 5 out of 5 stars given to this one.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter #1)

Read from April 7th - 14th 2015.

Published September 1st 2014 by Bloomsbury Childrens

Format    Paperback - 352 pages

Review

On the doorstep of Petunia and Vernon Dersley's house, a baby is waiting to be found.This baby is their nephew-Harry. He lives with his aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and his cousin Dudley for eleven of his young years.Eleven years of tolerating his unpleasant, miserable life sleeping in the cupboard under the stairs, and being excluded from any family activity and thinking his parents died in a car accident which caused his lightening shaped scar on his forehead. After being rescued by Hagrid, the grounds keeper at Hogwarts school,Harry is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,where his parent's had also spent their secondary school years.There he and his new friends find out about the evil one known to all around simply as 'You Know Who'. Hogwarts is a truly magical place. Hogwarts is a place that everybody wishes they could have gone to when they where eleven.Everyone that is anyone knows all about Harry, including the story about that interesting scar which Harry soon finds to be different to the one he has been led to believe. Hogwarts school is full of excitement,fantasy,mystery and friendship but Harry soon learns that there is also dark magic around him and enemies out to get him. This book has it all in spades including a three-headed dog, an attacking troll and a life sized, come to life chess board. Although this book is aimed at children, it really is to be enjoyed by all ages. I am totally enamoured by the first book in this series. I never read/watch anything when it is in the 'hype' and only recently watched the films in full, and in order. I am so glad I chose to read the books as well.I didn't want my imagination influenced by the films and am very glad to say, it wasn't.There is so much more to the book, much more detail that isn't in the film, and so the book was a whole new imaginative fantasy playing out in my mind. There is a huge amount of action packed into this amazing warm book. JK Rowling's writing style flows beautifully with crafty segments of humour scattered amongst it, that made me chuckle out loud.It's such an easy read and will appeal to children and grownups alike.I can't wait to rediscover the rest of this series and enter Hogwarts magical world once more. 5 out of 5 stars given.

In Too Deep by Bea Davenport

Read from November 12th to 15th 2015.

Published June 1st 2013 by Legend Press

Format    Paperback - 256 pages

Review

Maura is a young lady living with her husband and child in what seems to be a sleepy,flowery'Midsummer Murders' style market town living the life of a woman who is 'looked after', spending her time buying makeup, magazines and cooking dinner for the family. A newcomer,a bright, ambitious reporter arrives in town after a campaign to get more publicity for the forthcoming summer fair - Kim.Kim is a larger than life character with no morals.Probably too full on for such a small place and it's residents that do not accept outsiders readily.Maura befriends Kim and I believe,relishes the adventure and excitement Kim has to offer and attracts.The friendship is looked down upon by the rest of the townsfolk. Maura's husband takes charge of that summer's annual medieval fair. Things start to take a turn for the worst for Maura and eventually for Kim also.Not going into this for fear of spoiling. This book is told in first person and is quick to reveal vital clues's to the plot and storyline from the get go. Five years on,why has Maura changed her name and left this town? She seems to be hiding from someone or something.Maura's life is now in total contrast to what it was until she is visited by a reporter. What made him come looking for her? Lots of questions all become clear as the story unfolds. Eventually the truth comes out and reveals the towns hidden secrets from five years previous. This book was,Bea Davenport's debut adult novel.I read her This Little Piggy first and was blown away by it.Loved the smoothness and flow. However I didn't feel this so much with In Too Deep.The book jumps from when the reporter found her and the events form five years before. I have read a few books that jump between time lines but felt this one lacked the continuity and flow to carry this off and I experienced confusion every so often.This is not to say I didn't like this book and don't want you to be put off by the three stars.I liked it a lot.It just didn't blow me away like her other works.I still enjoyed Bea's style of writing and her journalist background shone through again. I wasn't expecting the hard hitting content that bounced off the pages at me later in the book and gasped as I read it.I had only read the blurb on the back page which kept this part of the book a huge secret much like Maura's story itself. Wow,it was uncomfortable and a tender subject to tackle and I think Bea wrote it extremely well.Making me feel, was evidence that the book had drawn me right into this distressing topic and had 'got me'. All the same,I did struggle to read these pages and even skim read quite a few.Up till this point, I didn't feel anything for these characters but this topic made me feel. This book is well worth a read but you need to have a strong mind about you. A good debut novel.Constant suspense throughout even though it wasn't a favourite for me personally.I will definitely read more from Bea Davenport because if This Little Piggy was even better, what will future novels be like? fabulous? 3 out of 5 stars.

The Bat (Harry Hole #1) by Jo Nesbø, Don Bartlett (Translator)

Read from August 6th to 18th 2015.

Published October 9th 2012 by Random House Canada

Format    Paperback - 369 pages

Review

I've used the blurb already written for the book here - 'Before Harry took on the neo-Nazi gangs of Oslo, before he met Rakel, before The Snowman tried to take everything he held dear, he went to Australia. Harry Hole is sent to Sydney to investigate the murder of Inger Holter, a young Norwegian girl, who was working in a bar. Initially sidelined as an outsider, Harry becomes central to the Australian police investigation when they start to notice a number of unsolved rape and murder cases around the country. The victims were usually young blondes. Inger had a number of admirers, each with his own share of secrets, but there is no obvious suspect, and the pattern of the other crimes seems impossible to crack. Then a circus performer is brutally murdered followed by yet another young woman. Harry is in a race against time to stop highly intelligent killer, who is bent on total destruction.' What can I say, I was really looking forward to reading this book, the first Harry Hole novel but if I'm honest it was rather dull as murder/thrillers go. It was just like reading a contract or insurance papers. In places it came across a little far fetched but that is the best thing about books, they can be what ever the author wants it to be. When a Norwegian national is murdered in Australia, detective Harry Hole is sent over from Norway to assist in the investigation. Harry is a flawed detective but conscientious too. He has his personal demons to tackle whilst working this case and they do rise and bite him later in the novel. Although this is the first Harry Hole novel, it is the last one to be translated into English. The plot throughout is solid enough and easy to follow but didn't show any of that nail biting angst you expect from a murder plot. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it but I must admit I cut out chunks in the end and still kept up with it.What I did like was that the killers identity was not who I expected to be at all.That was a well hidden surprise.I did find it's language quite wooden in places.Maybe some text does not translate very well.Considering it was written in modern times, there were small moments that felt uncomfortable with the stereotypes and colloquialisms. I kept with it as I did feel I needed to turn the page and see what was coming next. I have been advised that the rest of the Harry Hole novels do get better and I do have another to read so fingers crossed it doesn't come across with The Bat's dullness. Overall, an enjoyable book with an unexpected outcome, a rushed ending and lacked spark that you expect from this genre but I would definitely try more of them. 3 out of 5 stars given.