I simply loved this book and was quite sad to see it end, especially as it sort of drifts to a conclusion but none is ever reached, there is no finality to the book. As this is a tale of life then I can excuse it for that as there is no death to neaten things off and provide a natural conclusion.
I think it helps that it is firmly set in a time period that I recognise all too well. Kate and Paul are children of the 1980s and a couple of years younger than I am so their fictional world is one I recognise - the brands, the TV shows, the events referenced - all help bring a sense of authenticity to the story. Couple that with the naivety of the young and their self-centredness and you begin to realise that some things are simply a universal experience.
Watching Kate almost destroy herself through work and poor choices is not as melodramatic as it all sounds. There is a healthy dose of realism in here that endears this rather wretched and dispossessed young woman to you and so you forgive her adult failings rather more readily in print then you would in real life. Maybe that's the joy of it, she has generally made a horrendous muck up of things so you feel slightly better about your own failings.
I did find the denouement rather bittersweet and strangely uplifting. It showed that maybe friendship is maybe far more important than passion and love and it is certainly more enduring.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Friday 25 May 2018
Frozen Statues by L. E. Fraser
It is quite clear from the outset that this book is part of a series and that we are already some way in. However, knowledge of the previous novels in the series is not necessary to enjoy this tale - in fact I may have found myself enjoying it rather more because of that. I don't know if the Incubus murders have already been covered in the series so making large portions of this book completely irrelevant to the plot but if they aren't then this is a genuinely good stand alone tale.
We do have some of the familiar devices beloved of the genre but the reasons for Sam's damaged state is a good one and the psychological ramifications of her sisters murder are well thought out and followed through on to the page. There is a really good sense of a devolving mental state and her descent in to obsession, if not madness, over those events that fuel the plot in this story. The relationship between her and Reece seems so perfect and then she begins to erode at that with her paranoia and personal foibles.
The tale takes some nice twists and turns and you genuinely find yourself trying to pre-guess the outcome. The liberal red herrings work well and throw us off the scent as enthusiastically as they do the investigators. This is no mean feat and it was a real joy to find myself scratching my head at times trying to figure out exactly what was going on and get to the right perpetrator before they did.
The handling of the Asperger's character, Eli, was sensitively done and the description of his interactions were pretty much spot on, as where his coping mechanisms. Bolster this with the enigmatic Danny and you can see them becoming integral parts of future plots.
I think part of what elevated this for me was the genuine creativity of the murders and the wonderful twists to get to the denouement. However, this paled in to insignificance at Sam's heartbreak when her dog dies. It was wonderful to see a pet acknowledged as part of the family and the grief that hits when they do die shown so baldly on the page.
A thoroughly enjoyable book that gets the old grey matter ticking over.
We do have some of the familiar devices beloved of the genre but the reasons for Sam's damaged state is a good one and the psychological ramifications of her sisters murder are well thought out and followed through on to the page. There is a really good sense of a devolving mental state and her descent in to obsession, if not madness, over those events that fuel the plot in this story. The relationship between her and Reece seems so perfect and then she begins to erode at that with her paranoia and personal foibles.
The tale takes some nice twists and turns and you genuinely find yourself trying to pre-guess the outcome. The liberal red herrings work well and throw us off the scent as enthusiastically as they do the investigators. This is no mean feat and it was a real joy to find myself scratching my head at times trying to figure out exactly what was going on and get to the right perpetrator before they did.
The handling of the Asperger's character, Eli, was sensitively done and the description of his interactions were pretty much spot on, as where his coping mechanisms. Bolster this with the enigmatic Danny and you can see them becoming integral parts of future plots.
I think part of what elevated this for me was the genuine creativity of the murders and the wonderful twists to get to the denouement. However, this paled in to insignificance at Sam's heartbreak when her dog dies. It was wonderful to see a pet acknowledged as part of the family and the grief that hits when they do die shown so baldly on the page.
A thoroughly enjoyable book that gets the old grey matter ticking over.
Cartel Wives by Mia Flores and Olivia Flores
This is quite a hard book to review as I did find myself frequently questioning the veracity of the information - I am an eternal sceptic it must be said. I just kept wondering if the Flores Twins had decided to become informants because they knew the net was closing in on them and this was the only way they could protect their families or if they really had experienced some sort of Damascene moment. Whichever way it happened they did become informants and their respective wives wholeheartedly believe that it was an altruistic act.
Olivia and Mia Flores certainly do not shy away from showing themselves in a less than flattering light in sections of the book. They both know that they have made bad choices in the past and they both seem to believe that Peter and Junior have been their salvations to a better life. Not a wealthier life as this has all been lost or clawed back by the Federal Government as it was all proceeds of crime but a spiritually better life.
I would be very interested to read the accounts of Peter and Junior about these years in their lives and compare and contrast with their wife's impressions. The twins are almost sanctified by their wives and it is very hard for someone from a country not torn apart by drug wars and cartels to rationalise the situations they were all in. Yes, a lot of these situations could have been avoided by making better decisions but they didn't so here they find themselves and I do wonder if some sort of gloss has been put on the story, a patina to show two (extremely) high ranking drug dealers as loving family men in the run up to their release from jail in the early 2020s.
You can't help but compare this to the accounts authored by Nicholas Pileggi of the New York Mafia. Unfortunately, this volume comes off less well against that comparison and I cannot really pout my finger on why. They are both tales of extreme violence juxtaposed with a strong moral code when it comes to interpersonal relationships and family. Somehow we can inhabit Pileggi's world in a way that we cannot with this more modern telling from the Flores ladies.
I have ended up feeling somehow ambivalent about this book.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Olivia and Mia Flores certainly do not shy away from showing themselves in a less than flattering light in sections of the book. They both know that they have made bad choices in the past and they both seem to believe that Peter and Junior have been their salvations to a better life. Not a wealthier life as this has all been lost or clawed back by the Federal Government as it was all proceeds of crime but a spiritually better life.
I would be very interested to read the accounts of Peter and Junior about these years in their lives and compare and contrast with their wife's impressions. The twins are almost sanctified by their wives and it is very hard for someone from a country not torn apart by drug wars and cartels to rationalise the situations they were all in. Yes, a lot of these situations could have been avoided by making better decisions but they didn't so here they find themselves and I do wonder if some sort of gloss has been put on the story, a patina to show two (extremely) high ranking drug dealers as loving family men in the run up to their release from jail in the early 2020s.
You can't help but compare this to the accounts authored by Nicholas Pileggi of the New York Mafia. Unfortunately, this volume comes off less well against that comparison and I cannot really pout my finger on why. They are both tales of extreme violence juxtaposed with a strong moral code when it comes to interpersonal relationships and family. Somehow we can inhabit Pileggi's world in a way that we cannot with this more modern telling from the Flores ladies.
I have ended up feeling somehow ambivalent about this book.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
The Vintage Girl by Hester Browne
Antiques, a Lovejoy-esque dealer and the Scottish Highlands - realoly what isn't to love about this book. Admittedly I am rather biased having been in the antiques trade myself (yes, the character of Evie's boss is sadly realistic) and being married to a Scot (albeit a Lowlander) but I really did enjoy this book.
Hester Browne's young ladies are all of a certain ilk - upper middle class and not very good with relationships - often, just not very good with people as a whole. Somehow, she manages to make these characters eminently likeable for this reader, even if their life situations and experiences are ones I only know about from books. Usually having little to hang your hat on in the way of commonality with the heroine can be disastrous for a book but that simply does not apply to this book. Evie may have had some privileges in her upbringing but she is a struggling working girl with a hoarding habit for the kitsch and the unloved and that definitely endears her to us.
Unfortunately, the romance is flagged early on and you know how that is going to work out from almost the moment she arrives at the ancestral home. The search for "treasure" within the walls is also a little over-telegraphed and before the finding of certain documentary evidence you know how that is going to work out. There is a nice little twist on the treasure side of things at the end of the book but I won't spoil it for you.
The enjoyability of this book comes from the characters and the setting. A Valentine's Ball with years of tradition in a Castle is certainly not to be sniffed at - even if it is snowing outside and the heating bills are astronomical so you are usually at the mercy of the draughts and wrapped up like Bibendum. The plot jogs along at a wonderfully relaxed pace, allowing you to savour the setting and enjy the character interactions on the page.
Bright, fresh and breezy it is not great literature. However, it is an incredibly fun way to pass a few hours which is sure to put a smile on your face from time to time. Everyone lives and breathes on the page and you do get quite swept up in their individual lives.
Hester Browne's young ladies are all of a certain ilk - upper middle class and not very good with relationships - often, just not very good with people as a whole. Somehow, she manages to make these characters eminently likeable for this reader, even if their life situations and experiences are ones I only know about from books. Usually having little to hang your hat on in the way of commonality with the heroine can be disastrous for a book but that simply does not apply to this book. Evie may have had some privileges in her upbringing but she is a struggling working girl with a hoarding habit for the kitsch and the unloved and that definitely endears her to us.
Unfortunately, the romance is flagged early on and you know how that is going to work out from almost the moment she arrives at the ancestral home. The search for "treasure" within the walls is also a little over-telegraphed and before the finding of certain documentary evidence you know how that is going to work out. There is a nice little twist on the treasure side of things at the end of the book but I won't spoil it for you.
The enjoyability of this book comes from the characters and the setting. A Valentine's Ball with years of tradition in a Castle is certainly not to be sniffed at - even if it is snowing outside and the heating bills are astronomical so you are usually at the mercy of the draughts and wrapped up like Bibendum. The plot jogs along at a wonderfully relaxed pace, allowing you to savour the setting and enjy the character interactions on the page.
Bright, fresh and breezy it is not great literature. However, it is an incredibly fun way to pass a few hours which is sure to put a smile on your face from time to time. Everyone lives and breathes on the page and you do get quite swept up in their individual lives.
The Reaper by Steven Dunne
There are some good motifs in this book, sadly they are not enough to rescue it. The relationship between Brook and Sorensen is a bizarre one to say the least and it does at least add a slightly different dimension to the usual police procedural. Unfortunately, there are far too many hackneyed tropes in the book and they are unashamedly displayed for the reader to tsk over. This is especially true of Brook himself, who has absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever; so much so I actually found myself hoping that the titular Reaper would overwhelm him in the end.
The murders are told with a relish that should be uncomfortable but isn't - I think a steady diet of brutal scandi-noir has removed the shock factor from such things for most people who read the genre. That and basic attention to biological function seems secondary to making a pleasing kill room scene. There is an attempt to be inventive but I found it did fall rather flat and the squeezing in of "culture" to be just that, squeezed in as a neat little signpost for the reader rather than an actual intrinsic part of the plot.
As plot goes it is slightly better than the characterisations in the book but not by much. Events that are supposed to make you gasp and hurriedly turn the page are left floundering because they become increasingly preposterous and rely far too much on coincidence and right place, wrong time formula to become truly engaging.
The opening salvo is intriguing and draws you in, you want to know what is happening on this sink estate and why the youth are quite so disaffected and feral. Unfortunately this is then backed up by a Police force that is dismissive and often bullying towards those of senior rank. Whilst I suppose there is an element of that that is true to life here it is laid on with spades and rather than elevating the impression of the police in the reader's minds (as so many in this genre manage to do - even when full of black humour and clear coping mechanisms) this particular example of the genre just serves to denigrate.
I found this to be a rather mundane and ploddy example of the genre and certainly would not look at purchasing other episodes in the DI Brook series.
The murders are told with a relish that should be uncomfortable but isn't - I think a steady diet of brutal scandi-noir has removed the shock factor from such things for most people who read the genre. That and basic attention to biological function seems secondary to making a pleasing kill room scene. There is an attempt to be inventive but I found it did fall rather flat and the squeezing in of "culture" to be just that, squeezed in as a neat little signpost for the reader rather than an actual intrinsic part of the plot.
As plot goes it is slightly better than the characterisations in the book but not by much. Events that are supposed to make you gasp and hurriedly turn the page are left floundering because they become increasingly preposterous and rely far too much on coincidence and right place, wrong time formula to become truly engaging.
The opening salvo is intriguing and draws you in, you want to know what is happening on this sink estate and why the youth are quite so disaffected and feral. Unfortunately this is then backed up by a Police force that is dismissive and often bullying towards those of senior rank. Whilst I suppose there is an element of that that is true to life here it is laid on with spades and rather than elevating the impression of the police in the reader's minds (as so many in this genre manage to do - even when full of black humour and clear coping mechanisms) this particular example of the genre just serves to denigrate.
I found this to be a rather mundane and ploddy example of the genre and certainly would not look at purchasing other episodes in the DI Brook series.
Thursday 17 May 2018
The Wrong Girl by C. J. Archer
I have to admit to being slightly disappointed by this book - it paled in comparison to the first of the Ministry Of Curiosities series. Somehow, I think I may have expected far more from it than was reasonable.
The premise would be sound if we hadn't already gathered that the Wrong Girl was really the Right Girl almost as soon as she is kidnapped - it just take Harriet a while to catch on. There is some attempt at building tension, especially later in the tale when they go to visit the One-Armed Man and realise that not all is what it seems. Sadly, it just all felt a little bit telegraphed and there were no real shocks or surprises.
The setting is very good and has the feel of an authentic Victorian Melodrama, if a somewhat romanticised one. The characters are all pretty much likeable and you do find yourself being sucked in to their world quite easily. Not as all-consuming as The Last Necromancer but getting there.
It sets up the second in the series quite well with a new-ish character joining them all at Freak House and I have to admit that I am interested in finding out what happens next but I will definitely have to take this series book by book as I do feel it may all become a little repetitive.
Solid YA Fantasy that translates well in to older audiences.
The premise would be sound if we hadn't already gathered that the Wrong Girl was really the Right Girl almost as soon as she is kidnapped - it just take Harriet a while to catch on. There is some attempt at building tension, especially later in the tale when they go to visit the One-Armed Man and realise that not all is what it seems. Sadly, it just all felt a little bit telegraphed and there were no real shocks or surprises.
The setting is very good and has the feel of an authentic Victorian Melodrama, if a somewhat romanticised one. The characters are all pretty much likeable and you do find yourself being sucked in to their world quite easily. Not as all-consuming as The Last Necromancer but getting there.
It sets up the second in the series quite well with a new-ish character joining them all at Freak House and I have to admit that I am interested in finding out what happens next but I will definitely have to take this series book by book as I do feel it may all become a little repetitive.
Solid YA Fantasy that translates well in to older audiences.
Where Have All The Boys Gone? by Jenny Colgan
This is a book completely devoid of any reality whatsoever - except we all know an Olivia, albeit not as extreme as the one in the book, but we all know one. The denouement comes as no surprise whatsoever to the reader, even if it does to the main character, Katie. It is complete and utter fluff. However, it is well written fluff that entertains and keeps you turning the pages wanting to see what disastrous mess Katie is going to get in to next. As you can tell by the 4 star rating, I thoroughly enjoyed every second I had reading this book.
Fairlish comes across as a bit of a Brigadoon type place, but as many places in the Highlands of Scotland have that distinct vibe to them then that comes as no surprise. The surprise comes from how welcome the locals make Katie and Lauren, two Southerners who decamp up there when Katie gets seconded on a PR job up there and Lauren is simply running away from the disaster that was her romantic life. Either everyone living there is transplanted from the South or they are the strangest lot of Highlanders I've ever come across.
It is not a laugh out loud book but it is definitely humorous and I did find myself grinning my way through it. It is light and fresh and I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the London activity and Fairlish. Particularly how the change of pace affects both Katie and Lauren and, eventually, alters their outlooks on how life should be lived or, rather, how their individual lives should be lived.
This is a perfect holiday read, especially is the weather is as unclement as a British summer usually is.
Fairlish comes across as a bit of a Brigadoon type place, but as many places in the Highlands of Scotland have that distinct vibe to them then that comes as no surprise. The surprise comes from how welcome the locals make Katie and Lauren, two Southerners who decamp up there when Katie gets seconded on a PR job up there and Lauren is simply running away from the disaster that was her romantic life. Either everyone living there is transplanted from the South or they are the strangest lot of Highlanders I've ever come across.
It is not a laugh out loud book but it is definitely humorous and I did find myself grinning my way through it. It is light and fresh and I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the London activity and Fairlish. Particularly how the change of pace affects both Katie and Lauren and, eventually, alters their outlooks on how life should be lived or, rather, how their individual lives should be lived.
This is a perfect holiday read, especially is the weather is as unclement as a British summer usually is.
Sunday 13 May 2018
Click, Date, Repeat by K. J. Farnham
Gently humorous look at online dating before it really exploded in to the world. Chloe is going through a bit of a dry spell emotionally, her last few relationships have not worked out at all and she is despairing of ever meeting Mr Right instead of Mr Right Now. Online dating has just started gaining a foothold and she is convinced by a friend of a friend to give it a go. She soon realises that it reflects herself back and tells her more about herself than she ever knew.
The little stats on each potential date (and Chloe herself) boil everyone down to a few easy to digest pieces of information. Chloe, and we, soon realise that everyone is so much more than that. She also learns that no matter how careful you are there are still nutters out there that can sneak beneath your radar. Even worse there are genuinely nice people out there that think you are the one with issues.
Jolly little tale with plenty of juicy gossip thrown up by each date. Fortunately, it is not all a tale of icebreakers, emails, phone calls and the inevitably disastrous meet up. There is a lot about friendship within the pages and the way in which Chloe's friendships with Shelley and Jess change over the course of the book due, mainly, to how their own personal lives are shaping up or not. There is also a strong family presence in Chloe's life and this helps to ground the book in some sort of reality - whilst presenting plenty of opportunities for black humour.
The one thing that grated was how attractive and irresistible people seemed to find Chloe. I am sure this was based on looks and not personality as she doesn't come across as a particularly sympathetic character on the page. She comes across realistically so a mix of all that is good and bad in people but I have to admit she is not someone I would embrace in to my circle of friends. There is just too much of a bitterness within her character that would make her difficult to trust.
Not a bad job and a fun look at dating that applies whether being set up by friends or trusting a computer algorithm.
The little stats on each potential date (and Chloe herself) boil everyone down to a few easy to digest pieces of information. Chloe, and we, soon realise that everyone is so much more than that. She also learns that no matter how careful you are there are still nutters out there that can sneak beneath your radar. Even worse there are genuinely nice people out there that think you are the one with issues.
Jolly little tale with plenty of juicy gossip thrown up by each date. Fortunately, it is not all a tale of icebreakers, emails, phone calls and the inevitably disastrous meet up. There is a lot about friendship within the pages and the way in which Chloe's friendships with Shelley and Jess change over the course of the book due, mainly, to how their own personal lives are shaping up or not. There is also a strong family presence in Chloe's life and this helps to ground the book in some sort of reality - whilst presenting plenty of opportunities for black humour.
The one thing that grated was how attractive and irresistible people seemed to find Chloe. I am sure this was based on looks and not personality as she doesn't come across as a particularly sympathetic character on the page. She comes across realistically so a mix of all that is good and bad in people but I have to admit she is not someone I would embrace in to my circle of friends. There is just too much of a bitterness within her character that would make her difficult to trust.
Not a bad job and a fun look at dating that applies whether being set up by friends or trusting a computer algorithm.
Shadow Boxer by Jen Greyson
Things really don't get any easier for Evy, indeed she is further away from mastering her Riding in this, the second book of the Lightning Rider series, than she was at the beginning of the first. With no real mentor, she is cast adrift into her first alteration - can she save Constantine's daughter? It's to be hoped she can as Penya has told her that her descendants will be an intrinsic part of the earth's scientific future; more importantly her second alteration hinges on it.
Ilif and Penya are still popping in and out of Evy's life - as is Constantine. The lines between good and bad become ever more blurred and Evy has no idea who trust. All she knows is she has been tasked with getting access to Nikola Tesla's work and getting his notebooks back to the 21st century. This is where the strength of the book lies - not in Evy's emotional issues (of which much is made seemingly without end) but in the science and the eccentricity of genius.
I found as the book went on that Evy's riding is somewhat erratic and the necessity for her to keep going back to Constantine for "training" became a little annoying; actually more than a little if I'm being honest. Rather too much soul searching goes on for this reader I have to admit - the action is frenetic and well written and I found myself wanting to jump sections just to get to back to Tesla; those sections really do make the book for me. Admittedly Tesla is written in a very sympathetic light, much of what I have read about him makes him seem quite an unsavoury character so it was nice to have a different opinion (albeit a fictitious one).
Great plotting and story development and the introduction of another Rider to the mix leaves us on a great cliffhanger. Even more importantly just what are Ilif and Penya up to and who can Evy trust? Sadly, my own opinions formed early in this book seem to be coming to fruition and you can't help wondering how street smart Evy got sucked in.
Guess, I'll have to read book 3 to find out if I was right or not won't I.
Ilif and Penya are still popping in and out of Evy's life - as is Constantine. The lines between good and bad become ever more blurred and Evy has no idea who trust. All she knows is she has been tasked with getting access to Nikola Tesla's work and getting his notebooks back to the 21st century. This is where the strength of the book lies - not in Evy's emotional issues (of which much is made seemingly without end) but in the science and the eccentricity of genius.
I found as the book went on that Evy's riding is somewhat erratic and the necessity for her to keep going back to Constantine for "training" became a little annoying; actually more than a little if I'm being honest. Rather too much soul searching goes on for this reader I have to admit - the action is frenetic and well written and I found myself wanting to jump sections just to get to back to Tesla; those sections really do make the book for me. Admittedly Tesla is written in a very sympathetic light, much of what I have read about him makes him seem quite an unsavoury character so it was nice to have a different opinion (albeit a fictitious one).
Great plotting and story development and the introduction of another Rider to the mix leaves us on a great cliffhanger. Even more importantly just what are Ilif and Penya up to and who can Evy trust? Sadly, my own opinions formed early in this book seem to be coming to fruition and you can't help wondering how street smart Evy got sucked in.
Guess, I'll have to read book 3 to find out if I was right or not won't I.
A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang
The synopsis of the plot sounds so thrilling, I was really looking forward to this book. Set during the later years of the Great War a privileged New York socialite and her less fortunate friends are drawn in to a complex plot where their nearest and dearest appear to be being murdered and the murderer is mocking them. Promising twists and turns aplenty I was ready to become absorbed by this dark tale.
Unfortunately, what I actually got was a rather insipid tale with lifeless characters who never step off the page. In fact, the maid Lucy/Lucia was potentially the most interesting person in the whole book and we know so very little about her except that she is initially set up as being a potential murderer of the first victim. We only find out a little more when Spanish Flu claims her life. I think it speaks volumes that the most memorable and empathetic character appears briefly two or three times through the book.
The main protagonists of Allene (rich socialite, unendingly self involved), Jasper (fallen on hard times and is desperate to prove himself) and Birdie (shallow and rather unpleasantly manipulative) are to the one completely unlikeable stereotypes of the pre-flapper era. I could not find one thing that redeemed any of these characters and it did make me wonder why the murderer didn't just cut straight to the chase and bump the three of them off and put us, the reader, out of our misery.
The writing itself is surprisingly good. It is a surprise as the characterisation is poor and the plot is actually not that far behind. There is a good attempt to build tension within the tale but, sadly, the people in the story just aren't up to it so it all falls a little bit flat on the page. The historical aspects of the story are dealt with very well and you get a feeling of the fear in the populace due not only to the new draft for men to fight in Europe but also the unstoppable tide of the Spanish Flu that is sweeping all before it. It is for that reason that it got 2 Stars from me and not just the 1 it would have received based on characters and story.
Unfortunately, what I actually got was a rather insipid tale with lifeless characters who never step off the page. In fact, the maid Lucy/Lucia was potentially the most interesting person in the whole book and we know so very little about her except that she is initially set up as being a potential murderer of the first victim. We only find out a little more when Spanish Flu claims her life. I think it speaks volumes that the most memorable and empathetic character appears briefly two or three times through the book.
The main protagonists of Allene (rich socialite, unendingly self involved), Jasper (fallen on hard times and is desperate to prove himself) and Birdie (shallow and rather unpleasantly manipulative) are to the one completely unlikeable stereotypes of the pre-flapper era. I could not find one thing that redeemed any of these characters and it did make me wonder why the murderer didn't just cut straight to the chase and bump the three of them off and put us, the reader, out of our misery.
The writing itself is surprisingly good. It is a surprise as the characterisation is poor and the plot is actually not that far behind. There is a good attempt to build tension within the tale but, sadly, the people in the story just aren't up to it so it all falls a little bit flat on the page. The historical aspects of the story are dealt with very well and you get a feeling of the fear in the populace due not only to the new draft for men to fight in Europe but also the unstoppable tide of the Spanish Flu that is sweeping all before it. It is for that reason that it got 2 Stars from me and not just the 1 it would have received based on characters and story.
The Dark Carousel (Books 2, 3 and 4) by Anya Allyn
This box sets contains the final 3 books of the Dark Carousel quadrilogy started with the Dollhouse book. Our main protagonists are, once again, Ethan and Cassie and events take up where we left off after Cassie's escape from the mysterious Dollhouse. Billed as being a supernatural horror I felt that this was eminently misleading. The books soon become less supernatural horror and more a weird blend of the gothic and science fiction. They do not make easy bed fellows and it did become a bit of a trial to finish the series.
I have reviewed each book independently but there is a brief synopsis below:
Paper Dolls - 4 Stars
This is a great follow up to the Dollhouse and follows the fortunes of Cassie, Ethan and the rest after the escape from their captivity. More importantly it gives us the backstory on Jessamine and Henry. It is a gripping read and really holds your interest right until the last when things begin to devolve from the Castle and moves in to it's reaches in to their World.
Marionette - 2 Stars
Set more in the Ice World than the Castle this book does not flow as well as the first two. In actual fact, there is probably more action in the Castle and more information about it than you at first think. This is because, for me, the Castle sections were devoured rather than read and the juxtaposition with the Ice World simply does not live up to expectations in any way, shape or form.
Paper Dolls - 2 Star
Yet more disappointment with a heavier Science Fiction approach to the tale this time. Sadly spoilt by events being set up and then discarded with a hidden ellipsis as though you will come back to ratify them but it never happens. No real conclusion to the tale either which leaves it all hanging rather precariously and the reader feeling disenchanted.
My advice is read Dollhouse and Paper Dolls - they really are excellent. However, Marionette and Music Box bring little new to the table and only serve to frustrate. In fact, Dollhouse stands on it's own with an ending (of sorts) so maybe just leave it there as Paper Dolls does lure you in to books 3 and 4.
I have reviewed each book independently but there is a brief synopsis below:
Paper Dolls - 4 Stars
This is a great follow up to the Dollhouse and follows the fortunes of Cassie, Ethan and the rest after the escape from their captivity. More importantly it gives us the backstory on Jessamine and Henry. It is a gripping read and really holds your interest right until the last when things begin to devolve from the Castle and moves in to it's reaches in to their World.
Marionette - 2 Stars
Set more in the Ice World than the Castle this book does not flow as well as the first two. In actual fact, there is probably more action in the Castle and more information about it than you at first think. This is because, for me, the Castle sections were devoured rather than read and the juxtaposition with the Ice World simply does not live up to expectations in any way, shape or form.
Paper Dolls - 2 Star
Yet more disappointment with a heavier Science Fiction approach to the tale this time. Sadly spoilt by events being set up and then discarded with a hidden ellipsis as though you will come back to ratify them but it never happens. No real conclusion to the tale either which leaves it all hanging rather precariously and the reader feeling disenchanted.
My advice is read Dollhouse and Paper Dolls - they really are excellent. However, Marionette and Music Box bring little new to the table and only serve to frustrate. In fact, Dollhouse stands on it's own with an ending (of sorts) so maybe just leave it there as Paper Dolls does lure you in to books 3 and 4.
Music Box by Anya Allyn
The final book in the Dark Carousel series ends with a damp squibb rather than a fizzing rocket. Ultimately, nothing is resolved for Cassie, Ethan, Molly, Sophronia, Aisha or Francis and we are left in a limbo where everything looks doomed to repeat itself all over again. Whilst Music Box is not quite as disappointing as Marionette, it is a close call - this is quite possibly because so much time is expended on the Ice World and the Serpents when all I really want is the dark gothic tension of the Dollhouse and the Castle that are found in such glorious detail in the first two books. Ultimately the series moves from a Gothic Horror to a more Science Fiction tale and the juxtaposition of the two just really doesn't work for me.
The other problem with Music Box is that so much is simply glossed over. For example, Ethan helps a family escape from Canada into the continental United States, makes them aware of the Reapers and then joins a band of revolutionaries intent on throwing over the New World Order. This results in us being told that they go to war on the Reapers but that's it, no details, no idea of what is happening to Ethan and the other fighters. It almost feels as though the author has written themself into a corner and with no way out chooses to drop that strand and use the shadow paths to gloss over it all.
The sections at the Castle are, once again, the stand out pieces in this quadrilogy. Sadly we spend much less time there this time around and it is much of a rehashing of information we already have from the previous books. The only real revelation is the identity of the watcher in the tower but even that is tempered by the science fiction element of the Serpent Empress - although she has been a presence in the books from the outset she has a real impact in this one, even if it is one that feels evermore hackneyed.
I was really disappointed with how this series panned out. The genre cross over just didn't work for me and I think it would have worked better as an either or book and that the Gothic Horror was really the way to go as the first two books were so strong. Instead what we ended up getting was a bit of a mess really and neither one thing nor the other. It also doesn't help that we are chested out of a definitive ending to the series, to be honest normally the whole thing being left open for further investigation would thrill me but in this case it just makes me sad. I don't need a happy ending to a tale but I do kind of like an ending, a sense of finality for the characters.
My advice would be read Dollhouse and Paper Dolls and then just make the rest of the tale up in your head rather than reading Marionette and Music Box.
The other problem with Music Box is that so much is simply glossed over. For example, Ethan helps a family escape from Canada into the continental United States, makes them aware of the Reapers and then joins a band of revolutionaries intent on throwing over the New World Order. This results in us being told that they go to war on the Reapers but that's it, no details, no idea of what is happening to Ethan and the other fighters. It almost feels as though the author has written themself into a corner and with no way out chooses to drop that strand and use the shadow paths to gloss over it all.
The sections at the Castle are, once again, the stand out pieces in this quadrilogy. Sadly we spend much less time there this time around and it is much of a rehashing of information we already have from the previous books. The only real revelation is the identity of the watcher in the tower but even that is tempered by the science fiction element of the Serpent Empress - although she has been a presence in the books from the outset she has a real impact in this one, even if it is one that feels evermore hackneyed.
I was really disappointed with how this series panned out. The genre cross over just didn't work for me and I think it would have worked better as an either or book and that the Gothic Horror was really the way to go as the first two books were so strong. Instead what we ended up getting was a bit of a mess really and neither one thing nor the other. It also doesn't help that we are chested out of a definitive ending to the series, to be honest normally the whole thing being left open for further investigation would thrill me but in this case it just makes me sad. I don't need a happy ending to a tale but I do kind of like an ending, a sense of finality for the characters.
My advice would be read Dollhouse and Paper Dolls and then just make the rest of the tale up in your head rather than reading Marionette and Music Box.
The Silk Weaver by Liz Trenow
This was such a beautiful tale with a very modern heroine transplanted to the 18th Century. Despite being brought up in a cloistered setting (rural vicarage) Anna's outlook on the world and her role in it are decidedly not what you would expect from an 18th Century girl - not fer her the hope of husband and family, she wants so much more from life. When she is to move to London to stay with relatives of her father she sees her opportunity to have the life she wants and not what society dictates she should want. At least that is what I came away with from this tale.
It is richly evocative of the times and, although fiction, it does give a relatively good facsimile of life in 18th Century London where class structure seems to rule above all else. Transplanted to this bustling city we learn about the machinations of society and the clear delineations between each class (much more complicated than the three classes you would expect - even the "middle class" have a strata of acceptability within it) through Anna's experience and her kicking against it's petty rules and restrictions. This is never more apparent than the schism between the silk weavers that supply her uncle and her uncle's family. They are seen as being almost less than human and yet without their undoubted artistry and talent the merchants would have little to sell.
The romance between Anna and Henri is beautifully written and you do become involved in this fictional life. The street scenes - particularly in the market place, are vivid and you can almost smell that uniquely silk scent of the weaving lofts. The perils of the weavers demonstrations and riots are brought to life quite well on the page but it is the harsh and, sometimes arbitrary, justice that is brought to bear on them that really stands out. The sections within Newgate Prison do raise the hairs on your neck.
I just felt that it all ended rather abruptly, with a single chapter summing up the rest of Anna's life after Henri completes his Master piece. I didn't expect another couple of hundred pages detailing every nuance of her experience but the end felt rushed and needlessly truncated. The historical timeline has been juggled about a bit for the purposes of the story but the author has gone to the trouble in the afterword of giving both her inspiration for our heroine but also the actual historical facts that buttress the tale which is always a welcome addition to this genre of novel.
A good strong read that sucks you in to a time that feels, moralistically, a million years from ours own but is really only a couple of corners back.
It is richly evocative of the times and, although fiction, it does give a relatively good facsimile of life in 18th Century London where class structure seems to rule above all else. Transplanted to this bustling city we learn about the machinations of society and the clear delineations between each class (much more complicated than the three classes you would expect - even the "middle class" have a strata of acceptability within it) through Anna's experience and her kicking against it's petty rules and restrictions. This is never more apparent than the schism between the silk weavers that supply her uncle and her uncle's family. They are seen as being almost less than human and yet without their undoubted artistry and talent the merchants would have little to sell.
The romance between Anna and Henri is beautifully written and you do become involved in this fictional life. The street scenes - particularly in the market place, are vivid and you can almost smell that uniquely silk scent of the weaving lofts. The perils of the weavers demonstrations and riots are brought to life quite well on the page but it is the harsh and, sometimes arbitrary, justice that is brought to bear on them that really stands out. The sections within Newgate Prison do raise the hairs on your neck.
I just felt that it all ended rather abruptly, with a single chapter summing up the rest of Anna's life after Henri completes his Master piece. I didn't expect another couple of hundred pages detailing every nuance of her experience but the end felt rushed and needlessly truncated. The historical timeline has been juggled about a bit for the purposes of the story but the author has gone to the trouble in the afterword of giving both her inspiration for our heroine but also the actual historical facts that buttress the tale which is always a welcome addition to this genre of novel.
A good strong read that sucks you in to a time that feels, moralistically, a million years from ours own but is really only a couple of corners back.
The Last Necromancer by C.J. Archer
I readily admit to having a penchant for the Gothic and the Supernatural and this book certainly covered both of those in spades. What I didn't expect was how much I would enjoy this book, I was immediately sucked in to Charlie's world and was reluctant to leave it (slow night at work, Kindle on desk and a frustrated Duty Manager asking you the same question three times before you realise you aren't in a fantasy of Victorian London but in the office - whoops!). If pushed to describe the book I would say it is Penny Dreadful Light, but I suspect this is only the case because of the appearance of a certain Doctor Victor Frankenstein.
The clash between the extreme poverty experienced in certain areas of London and the almost obscene wealth in other areas is well juxtaposed and adds to a burgeoning reality in this fantasy piece. Charlie is a well rounded character and you immediately feel comfortable in their company, almost as though you are toasting your toes in front of an open fire with a gale blowing outside whilst they recount their adventures to you. There is, however, an element of pantomime to the whole thing with the "baddies" being very clearly cast, so much so you have the urge to yell Boo and hiss as certain characters appear. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though, at least I didn't find to to be so.
The actual Ministry Of Curiosities certainly has legs as a concept and the people harboured within it are a complicated bunch. So far we only really though Lincoln Fitzroy and he is a bit of an enigma - he did give me shades of Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins Batman though with his knowledge of fighting and you just know there is a tragic backstory there. The rest of the Ministry remain fairly shadowy but some of them (I'm looking at you Gillingham) are undoubtedly not to be trusted.
The writing is fast paced and very engaging. There are some quibbles about Charlie's behaviour once her true identity is outed but they certainly didn't get in the way of my enjoyment of the book. It is a good mixture of action, fantasy and history that sucks you in and spits you out crying for more, and more there definitely is with 10 books in this series to date. I would urge you to read it - but son't take it on the commute; you WILL miss your stop.
I now have the second and the third in the series lined up to read and also the first of the Freak House books so I have my fingers crossed that the same sense of immersion can be found in these volumes.
The clash between the extreme poverty experienced in certain areas of London and the almost obscene wealth in other areas is well juxtaposed and adds to a burgeoning reality in this fantasy piece. Charlie is a well rounded character and you immediately feel comfortable in their company, almost as though you are toasting your toes in front of an open fire with a gale blowing outside whilst they recount their adventures to you. There is, however, an element of pantomime to the whole thing with the "baddies" being very clearly cast, so much so you have the urge to yell Boo and hiss as certain characters appear. This isn't necessarily a bad thing though, at least I didn't find to to be so.
The actual Ministry Of Curiosities certainly has legs as a concept and the people harboured within it are a complicated bunch. So far we only really though Lincoln Fitzroy and he is a bit of an enigma - he did give me shades of Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins Batman though with his knowledge of fighting and you just know there is a tragic backstory there. The rest of the Ministry remain fairly shadowy but some of them (I'm looking at you Gillingham) are undoubtedly not to be trusted.
The writing is fast paced and very engaging. There are some quibbles about Charlie's behaviour once her true identity is outed but they certainly didn't get in the way of my enjoyment of the book. It is a good mixture of action, fantasy and history that sucks you in and spits you out crying for more, and more there definitely is with 10 books in this series to date. I would urge you to read it - but son't take it on the commute; you WILL miss your stop.
I now have the second and the third in the series lined up to read and also the first of the Freak House books so I have my fingers crossed that the same sense of immersion can be found in these volumes.
Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix
This was actually quite a fun romance to read. The tale of the nerdy computer science major moving across the country for work and trying to stabilise her life and, more importantly for the story, her love life is actually quite sweet without ever slipping in to saccharine territory. The binary joke is a little overwrought and isn't actually accurate but it was close enough to make me snort a little (no mean feat that).
The characters are actually pretty believable and grounded, for the genre, and you do actually find yourself caring a little about Melody. Not so much about her romance and the ups and downs in her love life but how she will cope with her cross country move to take up a low level job with a large company. The relationship between her and Jeremy is a little overworked and you can see where it is going from that first clandestine meeting in Boston. Despite this overworking and the clear flagging up of where things are going, getting to the end point is fun and unchallenging.
The writing flows well and you do get drawn in to the little world Melody has wrapped around herself. This could be largely due to her relationship with her mother which is all too realistic. I also liked that when life threw lemons at her she didn't initially snap to and make lemonade. No, she did what most of us do she wallowed in self pity for a bit before reaching for her backbone - got to love the author's bravery in providing us with a heroine that does feel like a real person much of the time.
I suppose this could be classed as a fluff book but it is genuinely enjoyable to read and should put a smile on your face - maybe even a grin and a snicker if you are so inclined.
The characters are actually pretty believable and grounded, for the genre, and you do actually find yourself caring a little about Melody. Not so much about her romance and the ups and downs in her love life but how she will cope with her cross country move to take up a low level job with a large company. The relationship between her and Jeremy is a little overworked and you can see where it is going from that first clandestine meeting in Boston. Despite this overworking and the clear flagging up of where things are going, getting to the end point is fun and unchallenging.
The writing flows well and you do get drawn in to the little world Melody has wrapped around herself. This could be largely due to her relationship with her mother which is all too realistic. I also liked that when life threw lemons at her she didn't initially snap to and make lemonade. No, she did what most of us do she wallowed in self pity for a bit before reaching for her backbone - got to love the author's bravery in providing us with a heroine that does feel like a real person much of the time.
I suppose this could be classed as a fluff book but it is genuinely enjoyable to read and should put a smile on your face - maybe even a grin and a snicker if you are so inclined.
Mr Peacock's Possessions by Lydia Syson
There was something missing in this book and I'm not sure what it was. I never really became invested in either the Peacock family or the boys from The Rock who had been (literally) shipped in to help. This could have been an entirely absorbing read but I found myself disconnected from the people and the place much more than I anticipated.
There was a strong attempt to draw you in, particularly in the chapters narrated by Kalala as they were written in an almost pigeon style to reflect the communication style of native South Islanders. Initially this worried me as in the early chapters it feels very forced and unrealistic but once they've arrived on the island and the author has got used to her two main voices (Kalala and Lizzie) it does all settle down. My problem was there just wasn't enough there to really get a grasp of the characters.
This was a particular problem as the plot is pretty much character driven. There is the overarching tale of a family trying to cultivate a life from an uninhabited island whilst raising a family and all that entails. The tribulations of not having enough food and being more or less abandoned by the ship and it's crooked captain. Without an absorption in the characters you can't really become invested in their struggles to survive both the harshness of their supplanted life but also the changes in their characters as that harshness comes to bear.
It starts off quite promisingly with an introduction to the Peacock family and their spotting of the ship that will bring the kanakas to them to help clear the island vegetation for cultivation. We get to see Monday Island from both the perspective of the family and the boys imported from The Rock who bring their own hopes and fears to bear on the tale. Sadly the pace is excruciatingly slow and the myriad flashbacks explaining the background to their perspectives doesn't help move the tale along.
It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination but it isn't an absorbing book and I do feel it could have been. When I got to the end and saw that there were Book Club Notes my heart sank. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of books with such notes that I have actively enjoyed and become invested in. Most of them leave me, as this did, with a distinct sense of "meh" and I suspect this is because somewhere along the line a decision has been made that this is "an important/worthy book" so we need to really sit down and get to the gristle of the tale. Sometimes a story is just a story and the reader takes from it what they will.
What I took from it was that it was mediocre, at best, and the cover is quite likely the most intriguing and satisfying bit of the book.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
There was a strong attempt to draw you in, particularly in the chapters narrated by Kalala as they were written in an almost pigeon style to reflect the communication style of native South Islanders. Initially this worried me as in the early chapters it feels very forced and unrealistic but once they've arrived on the island and the author has got used to her two main voices (Kalala and Lizzie) it does all settle down. My problem was there just wasn't enough there to really get a grasp of the characters.
This was a particular problem as the plot is pretty much character driven. There is the overarching tale of a family trying to cultivate a life from an uninhabited island whilst raising a family and all that entails. The tribulations of not having enough food and being more or less abandoned by the ship and it's crooked captain. Without an absorption in the characters you can't really become invested in their struggles to survive both the harshness of their supplanted life but also the changes in their characters as that harshness comes to bear.
It starts off quite promisingly with an introduction to the Peacock family and their spotting of the ship that will bring the kanakas to them to help clear the island vegetation for cultivation. We get to see Monday Island from both the perspective of the family and the boys imported from The Rock who bring their own hopes and fears to bear on the tale. Sadly the pace is excruciatingly slow and the myriad flashbacks explaining the background to their perspectives doesn't help move the tale along.
It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination but it isn't an absorbing book and I do feel it could have been. When I got to the end and saw that there were Book Club Notes my heart sank. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of books with such notes that I have actively enjoyed and become invested in. Most of them leave me, as this did, with a distinct sense of "meh" and I suspect this is because somewhere along the line a decision has been made that this is "an important/worthy book" so we need to really sit down and get to the gristle of the tale. Sometimes a story is just a story and the reader takes from it what they will.
What I took from it was that it was mediocre, at best, and the cover is quite likely the most intriguing and satisfying bit of the book.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Thursday 3 May 2018
Keep The Home Fires Burning by S. Block
I have not seen the television show that this book is an offshoot from so the characters were completely new to me. Fortunately that is not a prerequisite as everything you need to know about the women is within these pages. In fact, I think it may be a boon to have come to it fresh as this means I have no preconceptions about how people should behave and what their "voice" is - somehow they are seem to have a bad case of RP in my head (think I've seen too many world war 2 epics where even the charlady speaks like she was presented at Court).
The plot itself deals with the trials and tribulations of a small Northern Village during the privations of World War 2. The biggest thing that stood out to me was the story of the "trekkers" who made their way in to the Countryside every night to escape the bombardment of Liverpool and then made their way back in the morning to work and attend school. This was not something I had been aware happened and led me to do some further investigation on the phenomenon. Although the people of Great Paxford do provide for them you have to wonder if this would have been the case with all food supplies being jealously guarded due to rationing would they have been willing to part with so much of their vegetable harvest to strangers?
I did find the all encompassing power of the WI in the village a little offputting if I'm being honest. As an organisation they have done a lot of good but the way they run the village is quite disturbing. I did like that although we had Jerusalem there was no Jam and the book did show how involved they became with various war efforts whilst trying to hold on to their pacifism.
The characters themselves are good mixture but they are a little stereotypical and not as nuanced as I would have liked. I feel that this is probably because we are supposed to have either seen the television series so already know them or as the author is used to writing scripts rather than novels he is used to actors putting that meat on to the character's bones.
I was vaguely interested in the burgeoning relationship between Angela and John Smith and may just pick up the next book to find out how that turns out (very daring for the times and the location).
The plot itself deals with the trials and tribulations of a small Northern Village during the privations of World War 2. The biggest thing that stood out to me was the story of the "trekkers" who made their way in to the Countryside every night to escape the bombardment of Liverpool and then made their way back in the morning to work and attend school. This was not something I had been aware happened and led me to do some further investigation on the phenomenon. Although the people of Great Paxford do provide for them you have to wonder if this would have been the case with all food supplies being jealously guarded due to rationing would they have been willing to part with so much of their vegetable harvest to strangers?
I did find the all encompassing power of the WI in the village a little offputting if I'm being honest. As an organisation they have done a lot of good but the way they run the village is quite disturbing. I did like that although we had Jerusalem there was no Jam and the book did show how involved they became with various war efforts whilst trying to hold on to their pacifism.
The characters themselves are good mixture but they are a little stereotypical and not as nuanced as I would have liked. I feel that this is probably because we are supposed to have either seen the television series so already know them or as the author is used to writing scripts rather than novels he is used to actors putting that meat on to the character's bones.
I was vaguely interested in the burgeoning relationship between Angela and John Smith and may just pick up the next book to find out how that turns out (very daring for the times and the location).
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
I think I expected far too much from this book to be honest. Sharp Objects was an absolutely blinding read and I was expecting the same from this. Sadly, it paled by comparison to this reader. It has all the ingredients for an excellent thriller but somehow it just didn't enthrall me as much as her first novel did.
It follows a similar pattern to Sharp Objects in that we have a socially inept heroine who is not entirely likeable. In fact, Libby is wholly unlikeable but she doesn't shy away from admitting that she is entirely selfish and motivated by greed. There is an attempt to garner sympathy for the character courtesy of the brutal murder of her family and her dirt poor upbringing but having heard from Libby itself you can't help but have the secret wish she'd met her end too. Her brother Ben is an enigmatic character and, for me, he came across as having severe mental issues which led him to his current predicament.
The plot is very strong and the juxtaposition of then and now is fluid and works very well within the context of the book. There are twists and turns here and a no holds barred telling of life below the poverty line where every quarter makes a difference. There is also a good examination of small town life where everyone is quick to judge and outward appearance belies the reality.
The introduction of the Kill Club was a good device for getting Libby interested in finding out what really did happen in January 1985. You also get the feeling that there is much more to tell about the people that populate this thriving underground club and that they may well be revisited in the future.
I was expecting to be sucked down the rabbit hole of Ms Flynn's disturbed imagination and to be unable to put the book down (as has happened the twice I have read Sharp Objects) but I did find it easy to put the book down. It is not the unrelenting grimness and darkness within the pages that caused this but rather a lack of genuine interest in how things turn out for the Day family.
This is a good solid Thriller and worth 3.5 Stars.
It follows a similar pattern to Sharp Objects in that we have a socially inept heroine who is not entirely likeable. In fact, Libby is wholly unlikeable but she doesn't shy away from admitting that she is entirely selfish and motivated by greed. There is an attempt to garner sympathy for the character courtesy of the brutal murder of her family and her dirt poor upbringing but having heard from Libby itself you can't help but have the secret wish she'd met her end too. Her brother Ben is an enigmatic character and, for me, he came across as having severe mental issues which led him to his current predicament.
The plot is very strong and the juxtaposition of then and now is fluid and works very well within the context of the book. There are twists and turns here and a no holds barred telling of life below the poverty line where every quarter makes a difference. There is also a good examination of small town life where everyone is quick to judge and outward appearance belies the reality.
The introduction of the Kill Club was a good device for getting Libby interested in finding out what really did happen in January 1985. You also get the feeling that there is much more to tell about the people that populate this thriving underground club and that they may well be revisited in the future.
I was expecting to be sucked down the rabbit hole of Ms Flynn's disturbed imagination and to be unable to put the book down (as has happened the twice I have read Sharp Objects) but I did find it easy to put the book down. It is not the unrelenting grimness and darkness within the pages that caused this but rather a lack of genuine interest in how things turn out for the Day family.
This is a good solid Thriller and worth 3.5 Stars.
Charmcaster by Sebastian De Castell
I was completely captivated by this, the third installment in the Spellslinger series. Kellen is as whiny as ever but Reichis has stepped up his rhetoric and Ferius is becoming ever more belligerent. The humour in this book is much tighter and the sense of genuine peril has been ratcheted up so you really do not want to put it down. I always felt there was something undefinable missing in the previous books but this one certainly doesn't leave you feeling that way.
Charmcaster does, somewhat, rely on you having read the previous two books as there is little in the way of backstory or character information here. Instead we are thrown straight in to the action as Ferius, Kellen and Reichois are being chased across the desert-lands of the Berabesq by 4 members of The Faithful as they make their way to Gitabria. The tale then jumps from action packed scenario to action packed scenario with little respite inbetween. However, it never feels like a host of set pieces jammed together, there is a very definite plot here and it works well.
There are cameo appearances from various Jan'Tep that have been important in Kellen's life and we learn much, much more about Ferius Parfax and The Way Of The Daisy. Kellen also discovers that he has more than just the tiny bit of Breath magic and his powders, a growing Shadowblack and a Wind Spirit lodging in his "good" eye, he has also the power of the - well you'll have to read it to find out won't you.
The scene-setting in Gitabria is well done and this new country feels complete in ways that ones in previous books haven't. This maybe because it reminds me somewhat of Elizabethan London with the shops along the bridges and the clamour for inventive entertainments. The characterisation for new characters is a lot tighter too and it feels as though Mr De Castell has finally become fully immersed in his creation (that's presuming the Shadowblack hasn't consumed him and turned him in to Reichis - not Kellen, the action is more a Reichis level of violence).
An entirely enthralling addition to the cannon and left on a rather large cliffhanger.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Charmcaster does, somewhat, rely on you having read the previous two books as there is little in the way of backstory or character information here. Instead we are thrown straight in to the action as Ferius, Kellen and Reichois are being chased across the desert-lands of the Berabesq by 4 members of The Faithful as they make their way to Gitabria. The tale then jumps from action packed scenario to action packed scenario with little respite inbetween. However, it never feels like a host of set pieces jammed together, there is a very definite plot here and it works well.
There are cameo appearances from various Jan'Tep that have been important in Kellen's life and we learn much, much more about Ferius Parfax and The Way Of The Daisy. Kellen also discovers that he has more than just the tiny bit of Breath magic and his powders, a growing Shadowblack and a Wind Spirit lodging in his "good" eye, he has also the power of the - well you'll have to read it to find out won't you.
The scene-setting in Gitabria is well done and this new country feels complete in ways that ones in previous books haven't. This maybe because it reminds me somewhat of Elizabethan London with the shops along the bridges and the clamour for inventive entertainments. The characterisation for new characters is a lot tighter too and it feels as though Mr De Castell has finally become fully immersed in his creation (that's presuming the Shadowblack hasn't consumed him and turned him in to Reichis - not Kellen, the action is more a Reichis level of violence).
An entirely enthralling addition to the cannon and left on a rather large cliffhanger.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
The Wedding That Changed Everything by Jennifer Joyce
Emily has always been reluctant to "let people in" and the death of her mother has exacerbated the condition. She pushed away her long term boyfriend, Edward, and her flatmate Alice is determined to find her the right man. When Alice wangles Emily an invitation to a family wedding at Durban Castle Emily agrees to let her matchmake for the week of the festivities and then let it drop. Cue a series of misunderstandings about men and a revelation of a secret. Pretty much standard fare really. Either I read too much of this kind of thing or there really are no shocks here with everything being flagged up well before it happens.
The characters are okay. Maybe the best one is the incorrigable Archie who does manage to confuse both on the page and off as he very much works to his own agenda. There is a stab at genuine depth with both Emily and Tom but it never really comes off and I was pretty much apathetic to the both of them. Everyone else is really just filler and fluff with Alice, Carolyn and Francelia being extremely one dimensional stereotypes. However, the fact I can remember their names a couple of days after finishing the book does mean that they are memorable in their lack of complexity and as I sometimes struggle to remember main protagonist names on the day of finishing that means there must be something right about them.
The plot trots along on it's merry way with the setting being more interesting than the machinations of the various people involved. The options for misunderstanding and revelations about the past are flagged up in almost neon lights so it doesn't really have a page turning factor to it. You do want to keep reading though as it is quite tender and life affirming in it's cliches.
Not a book to set the world on fire but a perfect holiday read that will leave you feeling quite content and not feeling as though you have wasted your time reading it.
The characters are okay. Maybe the best one is the incorrigable Archie who does manage to confuse both on the page and off as he very much works to his own agenda. There is a stab at genuine depth with both Emily and Tom but it never really comes off and I was pretty much apathetic to the both of them. Everyone else is really just filler and fluff with Alice, Carolyn and Francelia being extremely one dimensional stereotypes. However, the fact I can remember their names a couple of days after finishing the book does mean that they are memorable in their lack of complexity and as I sometimes struggle to remember main protagonist names on the day of finishing that means there must be something right about them.
The plot trots along on it's merry way with the setting being more interesting than the machinations of the various people involved. The options for misunderstanding and revelations about the past are flagged up in almost neon lights so it doesn't really have a page turning factor to it. You do want to keep reading though as it is quite tender and life affirming in it's cliches.
Not a book to set the world on fire but a perfect holiday read that will leave you feeling quite content and not feeling as though you have wasted your time reading it.
Tuesday 1 May 2018
Friends And Liars by Kaela Coble
Starting with the death of Danny, a group of schoolfriends get back together at his funeral and remake the connections they forged during the trying years of Middle and High School. At least, that is what I think we are supposed to think. While it is an intriguing premise to take a look at friendship 10 years down the line it doesn't really come off.
I found the characters themselves to be very cookie cutter and basically unlikeable. To a man (and woman) they seem to blame circumstance for anything that goes awry, nothing is ever their fault but rather the circumstance they were in formed their actions. The bulk of the book is told from Rosie's perspective and I found her to be completely unsympathetic and very self-centred. This wasn't helped by the fact that everyone is a caricature of a real person and embodies only one trait - I suppose it is an attempt to be a literary Breakfast Club for the Millennial generation but it falls so far short of the mark it is almost laughable.
The whole concept of having secrets that you keep from your closest friends is a good one; even if those secrets turn out to be rather unrealistic in terms of a small town life. Indeed there is only really Ally's infidelity whilst on "a break" from Emmet (watch Friends much author) and Rosie's that ring as being possibly true. The bulk of the book is flashback to when they were The Crew and full of concerns only children and teenagers have but because the characters are so one dimensional you find you don't really care about any of it.
I'm not entirely sure which genre this book falls in but I find that I care even less. It passed the time on some suddenly cold Spring days and it didn't anger me but that is the best I can say about it.
I found the characters themselves to be very cookie cutter and basically unlikeable. To a man (and woman) they seem to blame circumstance for anything that goes awry, nothing is ever their fault but rather the circumstance they were in formed their actions. The bulk of the book is told from Rosie's perspective and I found her to be completely unsympathetic and very self-centred. This wasn't helped by the fact that everyone is a caricature of a real person and embodies only one trait - I suppose it is an attempt to be a literary Breakfast Club for the Millennial generation but it falls so far short of the mark it is almost laughable.
The whole concept of having secrets that you keep from your closest friends is a good one; even if those secrets turn out to be rather unrealistic in terms of a small town life. Indeed there is only really Ally's infidelity whilst on "a break" from Emmet (watch Friends much author) and Rosie's that ring as being possibly true. The bulk of the book is flashback to when they were The Crew and full of concerns only children and teenagers have but because the characters are so one dimensional you find you don't really care about any of it.
I'm not entirely sure which genre this book falls in but I find that I care even less. It passed the time on some suddenly cold Spring days and it didn't anger me but that is the best I can say about it.
Perfect Match by D. B. Thorne
The first thing I have to mention about this book is the fact that whoever commissioned the cover art clearly hadn't read the story. I get that the title alludes to arson but the story really doesn't - unless they are trying to be all esoteric about "houses" and links to family but somehow I think I overthought that.
The basic tale is your standard serial attacker/killer (spoiler - not every victim dies) thriller. The twist comes from the fact that they select their victims from a dating app and that it isn't the police that solve the crime but a collection of quiz question setters called The Brain Pool (think QI Elves on steroids). The twist in the plot is a good one and I genuinely didn't see it coming as the author obfuscates with language so I genuinely found out what was happening at the same time as the characters.
I will admit that after reading the First Impression/Early Chapters of this book I was not impressed and wrote it off as just another book in a crowded genre. However, seeing it on sale for my e-book made me decide to give it a go and I am so glad I did. I really got sucked in to Solomon's world and that of his very dodgy brother. It did turn out to be a real page turner that managed to stay just far enough away from accepted rules of the genre to keep it fresh and interesting whilst creating deep characters that you could feel empathy with - even the horrendous DI Fox and her overweaning ambition.
There is genuine tension in the plot and I couldn't help but keep turning those pages and doing the one more chapter dance resulting in just being on time for work after not getting enough sleep. The crimes themselves are shocking but related in such a matter of fact way you don't feel that they are there just for shock value but as an intrinsic plot point.
Overall a very strong thriller that gives me hope for the genre as a whole.
The basic tale is your standard serial attacker/killer (spoiler - not every victim dies) thriller. The twist comes from the fact that they select their victims from a dating app and that it isn't the police that solve the crime but a collection of quiz question setters called The Brain Pool (think QI Elves on steroids). The twist in the plot is a good one and I genuinely didn't see it coming as the author obfuscates with language so I genuinely found out what was happening at the same time as the characters.
I will admit that after reading the First Impression/Early Chapters of this book I was not impressed and wrote it off as just another book in a crowded genre. However, seeing it on sale for my e-book made me decide to give it a go and I am so glad I did. I really got sucked in to Solomon's world and that of his very dodgy brother. It did turn out to be a real page turner that managed to stay just far enough away from accepted rules of the genre to keep it fresh and interesting whilst creating deep characters that you could feel empathy with - even the horrendous DI Fox and her overweaning ambition.
There is genuine tension in the plot and I couldn't help but keep turning those pages and doing the one more chapter dance resulting in just being on time for work after not getting enough sleep. The crimes themselves are shocking but related in such a matter of fact way you don't feel that they are there just for shock value but as an intrinsic plot point.
Overall a very strong thriller that gives me hope for the genre as a whole.
The Illumination Of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst
This a book that can only be read in it's printed form - no e-books for this one, they really will not do it justice. It feels like a decadent treat in your hands, from the gorgeous cover which is designed to replicate an illuminated manuscript (see what they did there huh) to the illustrations within to separate sections and chapters the whole serves as an experience in reading and not just a solitary act. Set around the 1680s the whole feel of the book is evocative of the time, looking like a ha'penny pamphlet in places it just solidifies your immersion in to the life of this one woman.
What a woman our delightful heroine Mrs Ursula Flight turns out to be. Born of the merchant classes with a father in favour with the newly restored Rex they have wealth. This doesn't matter to the young Ursula and her playmates are from all classes, even as her father begins her education at the age of 8. It is to be this education that serves her through her life - a life that includes marriage, cuckoldery, illegitimacy and one of the dodgiest professions in 17th Century England - acting (oh the baseness of it all!).
The language of the tale is a glorious mix of the contemporary and contemporaneous to the period (yes some judicious internet searches were required in places - in others I realised that old Lancashire words I use in my day to day parlance are actually Old English). As if Ursula's voice is not warm and witty enough to draw you in to this quirky telling of a life then the language alone should do it. I could rhapsodise for a good thousand more words about this book and dissect each nuance of every situation but I shall refrain.
This is a first novel and it sets an incredibly hard act to follow. You can certainly understand why the publishing house has decided to publish in hardback and laid out so much in the way of graphic design on it. This is one book that deserves to take pride of place on your shelves and if you do lend it out you will make sure you get it back. All I can say is BUY THE BOOK, you will thank me for it - honestly!
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
What a woman our delightful heroine Mrs Ursula Flight turns out to be. Born of the merchant classes with a father in favour with the newly restored Rex they have wealth. This doesn't matter to the young Ursula and her playmates are from all classes, even as her father begins her education at the age of 8. It is to be this education that serves her through her life - a life that includes marriage, cuckoldery, illegitimacy and one of the dodgiest professions in 17th Century England - acting (oh the baseness of it all!).
The language of the tale is a glorious mix of the contemporary and contemporaneous to the period (yes some judicious internet searches were required in places - in others I realised that old Lancashire words I use in my day to day parlance are actually Old English). As if Ursula's voice is not warm and witty enough to draw you in to this quirky telling of a life then the language alone should do it. I could rhapsodise for a good thousand more words about this book and dissect each nuance of every situation but I shall refrain.
This is a first novel and it sets an incredibly hard act to follow. You can certainly understand why the publishing house has decided to publish in hardback and laid out so much in the way of graphic design on it. This is one book that deserves to take pride of place on your shelves and if you do lend it out you will make sure you get it back. All I can say is BUY THE BOOK, you will thank me for it - honestly!
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Don't Make A Sound by David Jackson
This is quite a different book in the Thriller genre. The majority of the book focuses on Malcolm and Harriet Benson and the lengths they will go to have a family. First there is Daisy, then 3 years later along comes Poppy and only a few days later comes Ellie. Three perfect little girls to make the perfect family - the only problem is they are a secret family, hidden from the world in a bedroom of a normal suburban property. You do actually feel empathy for the protagonists in this book, maybe because we hear so much from them and as heinous as their crimes are you can see the twisted logic behind them - or can you, the denouement certainly provided a good twist to the tale.
My issues with the book came in the form of DS Nathan Cody. The procedural chapters had a good ring of authenticity but the actions of this one character did step outside the acceptable actions for an officer of the law and moved in to dangerously maverick territory. In particular the later segments in the Benson household appeared to be added for the sake of shock; I appreciate that they showcased the devolution of Malcolm's sanity but they just didn't fit with the tone or behaviour in the rest of the book.
Whilst this was a good story that got the pages turning in the early chapters, the good work done by having the story from the criminals point of view was soon undone by using the usual maverick cop with a troubled past as our hero. This meant that although I enjoyed the majority of the book I did want to just scan through or skip whole chapters because I simply wasn't interested in what Cody was thinking or doing - or his cardboard colleagues either.
The character of Daisy is particularly well written and her personality shines off the page. Despite her tender years, 10 at the time of the book, and her enforced captivity she is an empathetic character. Although the Benson's have committed reprehensible acts there is a melancholy there and a sense of solidarity between the couple that makes you warm to them - even though you know you shouldn't. That is the true triumph of the book, the ability to make you see the good in people that should be portrayed as bad.
There are a couple of good twists at the end but there is no easy wrap up to the story. As it is clear that there are previous books featuring DS Cody I am sure some of the characters will be revisited in a later book that may tie up some of those loose ends. The good thing was that although it was obvious this was a character that we should have history with there was enough in the text that you didn't feel completely at a loss as to who this person was and not so much that it felt like a rehash of previous books - a hard balancing act that the author did pull off with aplomb.
Sadly, I didn't like it enough to want to further investigate the origins of DS Nathan Cody and his Clowns.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
My issues with the book came in the form of DS Nathan Cody. The procedural chapters had a good ring of authenticity but the actions of this one character did step outside the acceptable actions for an officer of the law and moved in to dangerously maverick territory. In particular the later segments in the Benson household appeared to be added for the sake of shock; I appreciate that they showcased the devolution of Malcolm's sanity but they just didn't fit with the tone or behaviour in the rest of the book.
Whilst this was a good story that got the pages turning in the early chapters, the good work done by having the story from the criminals point of view was soon undone by using the usual maverick cop with a troubled past as our hero. This meant that although I enjoyed the majority of the book I did want to just scan through or skip whole chapters because I simply wasn't interested in what Cody was thinking or doing - or his cardboard colleagues either.
The character of Daisy is particularly well written and her personality shines off the page. Despite her tender years, 10 at the time of the book, and her enforced captivity she is an empathetic character. Although the Benson's have committed reprehensible acts there is a melancholy there and a sense of solidarity between the couple that makes you warm to them - even though you know you shouldn't. That is the true triumph of the book, the ability to make you see the good in people that should be portrayed as bad.
There are a couple of good twists at the end but there is no easy wrap up to the story. As it is clear that there are previous books featuring DS Cody I am sure some of the characters will be revisited in a later book that may tie up some of those loose ends. The good thing was that although it was obvious this was a character that we should have history with there was enough in the text that you didn't feel completely at a loss as to who this person was and not so much that it felt like a rehash of previous books - a hard balancing act that the author did pull off with aplomb.
Sadly, I didn't like it enough to want to further investigate the origins of DS Nathan Cody and his Clowns.
I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM READERS FIRST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
The Honeymoon Hotel by Hester Browne
I think this book ranks as a guilty pleasure; it is everything you should dislike about a book, full of cliches and tried and tested tropes but in Hester Browne's hands they feel fresh, new and invented just for this book. The setting itself, The Bonneville Hotel, is exquisite and you can almost smell the beeswax and lavender polish that I am pretty sure they use to buff up the banister of the sweeping staircase - oh, how I want to visit! You would think that constant references to "Hollywood Glamour" and of the building as being a "Grand Old Lady" would irk, but somehow they don't, they just help you inhabit this fictitious setting and make you understand just why Rosie is so devoted to the place. Strange really, I think I loved the hotel more than the people the tale purports to be about.
The characters are realistic and full of personal quirks and foibles that help you to understand them as living and breathing people not just words on the page. I think we all know a hypochondriac like Laurence (if you don't - newsflash - it's you), we understand Joe's reluctance to take on the family heritage and Rosie's sheer dedication to perfection for their events. I didn't really like Rosie as a person, and found myself agreeing with Joe early in the book that she was far too controlling and that her approach to Wedding's in particular was formulaic and didn't allow for individuality. Even though she annoyed me I did warm to her, a bit like a work colleague that drives you up the wall but you know they are ultimately harmless but they just don't really get "it".
The plot of the story is Rosie getting out of a dull relationship and falling in love with a capital L and has plenty of pratfalls along the way. To be honest that did little for me but the day to day events in her chaotic personal and professional lives is told with such verve you do get sucked in. Whilst not laugh out loud funny there is a warm, dry wit here that really does entertain and keep you reading. For once I can see how a book would translate to the screen and this would make a really good chick flick for date night - enough goofiness for the blokes and just enough romance for a starry-eyed girl to enjoy (definitely think early Sandra Bullock).
A couple of times I did find myself thinking "just one more chapter" so you know it can't be all bad. There was also a lot of sighing when I had to stop reading to go to work so it is definitely immersive and I can honestly state is is an awful lot of fun.
The characters are realistic and full of personal quirks and foibles that help you to understand them as living and breathing people not just words on the page. I think we all know a hypochondriac like Laurence (if you don't - newsflash - it's you), we understand Joe's reluctance to take on the family heritage and Rosie's sheer dedication to perfection for their events. I didn't really like Rosie as a person, and found myself agreeing with Joe early in the book that she was far too controlling and that her approach to Wedding's in particular was formulaic and didn't allow for individuality. Even though she annoyed me I did warm to her, a bit like a work colleague that drives you up the wall but you know they are ultimately harmless but they just don't really get "it".
The plot of the story is Rosie getting out of a dull relationship and falling in love with a capital L and has plenty of pratfalls along the way. To be honest that did little for me but the day to day events in her chaotic personal and professional lives is told with such verve you do get sucked in. Whilst not laugh out loud funny there is a warm, dry wit here that really does entertain and keep you reading. For once I can see how a book would translate to the screen and this would make a really good chick flick for date night - enough goofiness for the blokes and just enough romance for a starry-eyed girl to enjoy (definitely think early Sandra Bullock).
A couple of times I did find myself thinking "just one more chapter" so you know it can't be all bad. There was also a lot of sighing when I had to stop reading to go to work so it is definitely immersive and I can honestly state is is an awful lot of fun.
Marionette by Anya Allyn
Having really enjoyed Books 1 and 2 of the Dark Carousel series I was distinctly underwhelmed with this, the third book. It just doesn't gel in the same way the others did and the swapping between realities definitely didn't work this time around.
The strongest sections are spent with Cassie and Molly in the Castle. The true depth of depravity of the families is exposed with the changing walls and corridors of the castle and the strange marriage ceremony where the castle chooses your spouse. To some extent they are a caricature of the Dollhouse and the same level of spine tingling dread is not to be found within these pages. There is little to no character development for Cassie and Molly returns to being sickly and removed from the action by her overriding fatigue.
The sections in the Ice World don't really work. I think I can see what the author is trying to achieve but it fell flat for me and did not hold my attention. This isn't helped by the clumsy travelling mechanism of "the shadow" which seems somewhat at odds with the venality of the Empress Serpent that is supposedly the giver of the mechanism.
Things do start looking up in the last 20% or so of the book with a return to a more gothic tale. The title suddenly makes sense and Cassie appears to be in genuine peril from Balthazar. The scene setting is also richer and the tale benefits greatly from this which serves to give me hope for the fourth book in the series but I don't think I will be rushing to read it.
The strongest sections are spent with Cassie and Molly in the Castle. The true depth of depravity of the families is exposed with the changing walls and corridors of the castle and the strange marriage ceremony where the castle chooses your spouse. To some extent they are a caricature of the Dollhouse and the same level of spine tingling dread is not to be found within these pages. There is little to no character development for Cassie and Molly returns to being sickly and removed from the action by her overriding fatigue.
The sections in the Ice World don't really work. I think I can see what the author is trying to achieve but it fell flat for me and did not hold my attention. This isn't helped by the clumsy travelling mechanism of "the shadow" which seems somewhat at odds with the venality of the Empress Serpent that is supposedly the giver of the mechanism.
Things do start looking up in the last 20% or so of the book with a return to a more gothic tale. The title suddenly makes sense and Cassie appears to be in genuine peril from Balthazar. The scene setting is also richer and the tale benefits greatly from this which serves to give me hope for the fourth book in the series but I don't think I will be rushing to read it.
Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk
I found this to be a perfectly acceptable example of the genre - wow, that really is damning with faint praise (and pretentious to boot) isn't it. Sadly, it is true. There is nothing here to lift this above the serried ranks of chick lit but it was an undeniably fun read. Not laugh out loud funny but amusing in places.
Maddie might feel like the perpetual bridesmaid but it was more her encounters with her boss that lit the book up for me. I've had a boss like that, not quite so extreme, but close enough to make me wince and cheer Maddie on in her rebellion. The friendship ups and downs between Maddie, Lauren and Sarah are well realised and their falling outs and avoidance of each other are very true to life. For once friendship takes centre stage rather than romance and that was quite refreshing. Maybe this is as well because the plotting of Maddie's romantic life was rather predictable and dull.
The characterisations are rather sparse and although we get to know Maddie she is still quite flat on the page and I never really felt like I got to know her. Lauren is a mere cipher and Sarah is definitely a cardboard cut out. Both girls are defined by their marital status - Sarah about to become divorced and Lauren about to be married and there is little else about them. Maddie is defined by her job more than anything else, even her disastrous relationship with the two timing Luke (?) and her obliviousness in the face of Tom's rather olde worlde courtship.
I did enjoy reading the book but it wasn't a gripping page turner (yes, chick lit can be that - see Heidi Swann and Trisha Ashley) and was quite easy to pick up and put down at odd points during the day. This makes it ideal for the commute or for grabbing a few pages during your lunch break - or desperately slow night shift.
I am now convinced that there is a whole genre of chick lit devoted to event and wedding planners. We are only 4 months in to the year and I have read as many books with the heroine in that profession. Not necessarily a bad thing as it is a genuine job but I am starting to ponder on the propensity of authors to use this as a tool to bring love in to the equation.
Maddie might feel like the perpetual bridesmaid but it was more her encounters with her boss that lit the book up for me. I've had a boss like that, not quite so extreme, but close enough to make me wince and cheer Maddie on in her rebellion. The friendship ups and downs between Maddie, Lauren and Sarah are well realised and their falling outs and avoidance of each other are very true to life. For once friendship takes centre stage rather than romance and that was quite refreshing. Maybe this is as well because the plotting of Maddie's romantic life was rather predictable and dull.
The characterisations are rather sparse and although we get to know Maddie she is still quite flat on the page and I never really felt like I got to know her. Lauren is a mere cipher and Sarah is definitely a cardboard cut out. Both girls are defined by their marital status - Sarah about to become divorced and Lauren about to be married and there is little else about them. Maddie is defined by her job more than anything else, even her disastrous relationship with the two timing Luke (?) and her obliviousness in the face of Tom's rather olde worlde courtship.
I did enjoy reading the book but it wasn't a gripping page turner (yes, chick lit can be that - see Heidi Swann and Trisha Ashley) and was quite easy to pick up and put down at odd points during the day. This makes it ideal for the commute or for grabbing a few pages during your lunch break - or desperately slow night shift.
I am now convinced that there is a whole genre of chick lit devoted to event and wedding planners. We are only 4 months in to the year and I have read as many books with the heroine in that profession. Not necessarily a bad thing as it is a genuine job but I am starting to ponder on the propensity of authors to use this as a tool to bring love in to the equation.
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