 Diary:
Alone on Earth by J. D. Weldy
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for
Diary: Alone on Earth by J. D. Weldy. David, the
narrator of
Diary: Alone on Earth, is a loner, but he is yet
to discover what true loneliness feels like. David suffered
a great tragedy in life, so he has decided to cut himself
completely loose from all those who love him. This man
now feels safe inside his comfort shell, having abandoned
friends, family for a hermit lifestyle in a tiny Alabama
town. But his world is turned upside down on one particular
day: November 16, 2016. An intermittent humming noise
is emitted throughout the entire world. No one seems
to understand from where it is originating. Russia suspects
the United States is up to something, and is threatening
war. That night, David goes to sleep with his beloved
beagle, Ralph, at the foot of his bed. They both feel
a little sick, both hope the humming noise is past them.
David thinks tomorrow it will all have blown over. He
is wrong... more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st December 2012
[9/10] |
The Pleasure of my Company by Steve Martin
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for The
Pleasure of my Company by Steve Martin. Daniel Cambridge
is a thirty-three year old compulsive-obsessive. He
knows the exact wattage of the bulbs in his flat, and
will panic if the wattage isn't kept constant. This
makes it difficult if a woman wants the lights out in
the bedroom. He can't cross the street unless two opposing
driveways break the kerb. Such characteristics make
it difficult for Daniel to find the right woman, but
he's very keen on Elizabeth who's selling the flats
across the street and Zandy who works in the local pharmacy
(though he's yet to actually speak to her). There's
also the murder of Bob from downstairs. Daniel has an
alibi but is still a suspect, and his agreeing to a
TV reconstruction of the murder inquiry could well backfire...
more»»
Ben Macnair
31st December 2012 [8/10] |
The Describer's Dictionary by David Grambs
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Carolyn Howard-Johnson has sent in a review for The
Describer's Dictionary by David Grambs. Have you
ever found yourself grasping in vain for that ideal
descriptive word lost somewhere within the misty recesses
of your vocabulary? Or felt frustrated that an oddly
shaped structure or pretty setting you wished to portray
in writing didn't quite translate clearly to paper?
If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then
The Describer's Dictionary is exactly the book
you need. Open it, and you have not only just the right
words but - bringing them to life - stellar literary
examples of descriptive writing as well showing how
it's done by the best - hundreds of colourful and evocative
descriptive passages from such diverse authors as Dickens,
Darwin, and Updike appear on facing pages, making this
a singularly and richly different kind of reference
book... more»»
Carolyn
Howard-Johnson 31st December
2012 [9/10] |
Little Miss Straight Lace by Maria Romana
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Molly has sent in a review for Little
Miss Straight Lace by Maria Romana. When a dedicated
researcher learns a bit too much about her pharmaceutical
client's new drug, her life begins to spin out of control,
and a dashing computer security expert from South America
seems the perfect antidote. But is his sudden arrival
really just the happy coincidence it appears to be?
Find out in this complex tale of suspense, humour, and
romance that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride
of murder, mayhem, sex, and drugs - of the pharmaceutical
variety, of course - until the very last page... more»»
Molly
Martin 31st December 2012
[8/10] |
 The
Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Jessica has sent in a review for The
Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill. When her father
dies in battle, fourteen-year-old Thirrin becomes Queen
of the Icemark, a tin kingdom forever caught between
dangerous neighbours. But she bears a heavy burden.
Thirrin must find a way to protect her people from the
most terrible invasion that her nation has ever known
- and do so before the end of the winter snows. The
Cry of the Icemark is the glorious story of how
she rallies her country and finds some extraordinary
allies: Vampires, Wolf-folk and most noble of all, giant
Snow Leopards. But it's also a heart-felt tale of duty
and sacrifice, of unexpected laughter and awful uncertainty,
and of a girl whose friendships are forged in the heat
of battle... more»»
Jessica
31st December 2012 [8/10] |
 Moon
Bumps by James Marsden
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Cat has sent in a review for Moon
Bumps by James Marsden. Can time, space or even
the world's end separate something that was meant to
be? When Reclamation Officer Alli Katalli finds herself
catapulted away from her life, her world and her fianc,
Jon, to the long-ago destroyed planet Earth, she faces
more than just a few hundred years worth of time-difference
to return home. Believing her gone for good, Jon's life
spirals out of control as he struggles to let go of
his feelings for Alli. As they battle individually to
survive their separation, will those who endeavour to
keep them apart succeed, or is the couples' bond just
too great? A quirky offbeat story of love, time travel
and the end of the world... more»»
Cat
31st December 2012 [9/10] |
Aging Gratefully by Michael McGan
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Nigel has reviewed Aging
Gratefully by Michael McGan. A humorous look at
the aging process, being a baby boomer and not fading
away. What is middle age, and how do you come to be
there? What did you do to deserve this? And what happens
next? Will there be vampires or handcuffs involved?
Probably not but you never know. In Aging
Gratefully Michael McGan has put together
a collection of his latest thoughts and meditations
and, due to his advancing years, these have inevitably
turned to the passing of time and the apparent madness
taking over the world. In his trademark style, and with
the advantage of a few years on the clock, he looks
at the meaning of life and tries to answer the ultimate
question What is it all about?... more»»
Nigel
2nd December 2012 [8/10] |
 The
Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Emilie has sent in a review for The
Turn of the Screw by Henry James. For lucidity and
compactness of style, James's short novels, or novellas,
are shining examples of his genius. Few other writings
of the century have so captured the American imagination.
When Daisy Miller, the tale of the girl from
Schenectady, first appeared in 1878, it was an extraordinary
success. James had discovered nothing less than the
American girl - free spirited, flirtatious, an innocent
abroad determined to defy European convention even if
it meant scandal or tragedy. But the subtle danger lurking
beneath the surface in Daisy Miller evolves
into a classic tale of terror and obsession in The
Turn of the Screw. "The imagination,"
Henry James said to Bernard Shaw, "has a life if
its own." In this blood-curdling story, that imagination
weaves the lives of two children, a governess in love
with her employer, and a sprawling country house into
a flawless story, still unsurpassed as the prototype
of modern horror fiction... more»»
Emilie
30th November 2012 [7/10] |
 I,
Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge
Average Rating [10/10]
(1 Review)
Jon has sent in a review for I,
Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge.
Journalist, presenter, broadcaster, husband, father,
vigorous all-rounder - Alan Partridge - a man with a
fascinating past and an amazing future. Gregarious and
popular, yet Alans never happier than when relaxing
in his own five-bedroom, south-built house with three
acres of land and access to a private stream. But who
is this mysterious enigma? Alan Gordon Partridge is
the best - and best-loved - radio presenter in the region.
Born into a changing world of rationing, Teddy Boys,
apes in space and the launch of ITV, Alans broadcasting
career began as chief DJ of Radio Smile at St. Lukes
Hospital in Norwich. After replacing Peter Flint as
the presenter of Scout About, he entered the top 8 of
BBC sports presenters. Now single, Alan is an intensely
private man but he opens up, for the second time, in
this candid, entertaining, often deeply emotional -
and of course compelling - memoir, written entirely
in his own words... more»»
Jon
30th November 2012 [10/10] |
 Broken
Slate by Kelly Jennings
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for Broken
Slate by Kelly Jennings. Taken from his familys
merchant ship at the age of fourteen, Martin Eduardo
endured years in the brutal contract labour system on
the planet Julian. Now a contract rebellion brews. The
precarious - and emotionally costly - safety Martin
had found with his seventh contract holder is put at
risk by another holder, Jeno Lord Harper, who seeks
to use Martin for his own aims. Years in the system
have demonstrated what happens to contracts who fight
back; Martin knows resistance will prove dangerous.
As the contract labour uprising gains momentum, and
as he grows more acquainted with those involved in the
rebellion, Martin begins to suspect that, although the
consequences of disobedience are grim - even fatal -
the consequences of obedience might be worse... more»»
Paul
Lappen 30th November 2012
[8/10] |
 Circle
Tide by Rebecca K. Rowe
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for Circle
Tide by Rebecca K. Rowe. A tale of two unlikely
companions cast together in a mystery, and a mission
to save the planet. Noah of Domus Aqua, an environmentalist
and the son of extreme wealth, is a fugitive suspected
in the high profile murder of his long-time friend and
mentor Senator Mari Ortega. Promising his dying friend
that he'll deliver a highly confidential datasphere
to a trusted government official, Noah plunges himself
into the Underground, a gritty subterranean world of
knife-wielding monks, a crew of oddball hackers and
a smart intelligence bent on his destruction, as he
avoids virtual detection and his arrest. Enter Rika
Musashi Grant, a street-smart data thief. Heavily in
debt from getting mind enhancements that fail, Rika
is given one more chance to prove herself and right
past wrongs - by stealing Noah's datasphere. Joined
by circumstance and mutual disdain, the two quickly
realize they must join forces to survive... more»»
Paul
Lappen 25th November 2012
[9/10] |
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for An
Object of Beauty by Steve Martin. An irresistible
look at the glamour and subterfuge of New York's art
world, from bestselling author and Hollywood star Steve
Martin. Lacey Yeager is beautiful, captivating, and
ambitious enough to take the NYC art world by storm.
She begins her career at Sotheby's, amidst the winks
and nods of the fabulously wealthy. But hungry for more
- and pursued by a whiff of scandal - Lacey migrates
to edgy Downtown, watching Hirsts and Warhols multiply
in value before her eyes. Charming men and women, old
and young, rich and even richer, Lacey's ascendancy
seems assured. But when the art world bubble looks set
to burst, a secret from her past rears its head, threatening
to undermine everything she has worked for... more»»
Ben Macnair
31st October 2012 [8/10] |
 A
Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Emilie has sent in a review for A
Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay. After attending
a sance, Maskull, a restless and rootless man, finds
himself embarking on a journey to the planet Tormance,
which orbits Arcturus. Alone, he wanders the startling
landscape, open to a bewildering range of experiences
from love to ritual murder, encountering new monsters
at every turn, metamorphosing, constantly seeking the
truth about the divinity known as Shaping, Surtur and
Crystalman. Although the science fiction novel initially
sold less than six hundred copies, it has come to be
known as a major "underground" novel of the
20th century, and heavily influenced C.S. Lewis's
Out of the Silent Planet... more»»
Emilie
31st October 2012 [7/10] |
 Paraestrals
Volume I by S. E. Stenner
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Crystal(2) has sent in a review for Paraestrals
Volume I by S E Stenner. 'My name is Samantha LeFay,
I'm young, popular, with my whole life ahead of me,
what can go wrong - everything! After turning sixteen
and suddenly becoming allergic to the sun along with
a few other weird afflictions, my life begins to unravel
at the seams, as my friends desert me, my boss at my
weekend job forces me to quit and my stepmother nags
me to the point of insanity. My life's different now,
I'm different. As the people at school would put it
I'm a freak - Sammy LeFreak. I don't know if they're
right, all I know is the sun burns my skin, I suddenly
have the strength to throw a guy ten foot in the air
and my body craves a particular substance... Blood!'
A narrative coming of age thriller/horror, about a young
girl whose world is turned upside down as the origins
of her dark lineage surface... more»»
Crystal(2)
31st October 2012 [8/10] |
 I
Am Alive by Cameron Jace
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Lewis Deakin has sent in a review for I
Am Alive by Cameron Jace. Sixteen-year-old Decca
Tenderstone feels captivated when she meets gorgeous
and reckless Leo, who is arrogant, silent, beautiful,
and shoots almost every one he meets. Your everyday
girl meets badboy lame story ... hmm ... with a twist
... They live in a dystopian future in Los Angeles where
every sixteen-year-old is ranked on a scale from one
to ten to determine their future. Outranks, who are
considered a danger to society, are forced to attend
the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is
broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens
are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for
their lives in deadly games... more»»
Lewis Deakin
31st October 2012
[9/10] |
 Dogs
by Mark Fleming
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
John Tennent has sent in a review for Mark Fleming's
short story anthology, Dogs.
Despite its title, the 'alpha males' featured are all
Homo Sapiens - men with violent tendencies and pack
mentalities, who often display misogynist, racist or
homophobic attitudes. For all that this fiction explores
life's often darker extremes, with themes including
war crimes, domestic abuse, street violence and drug
problems, there is always a sense of hope and the inevitable
triumph of the human spirit. The stories are set in
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Musselburgh... more»»
John Tennent
31st October 2012
[9/10] |
The Lurking Man by Keith Rommel
Average Rating [9/10]
(2 Reviews)
Nigel and Paul have both sent in a review for Keith
Rommel’s latest book in the Thantology Series, The
Lurking Man. Cailean stands beneath a spotlight
in a blinding snowstorm. She has no idea where she is
or how she got there, but she senses something moving
around her in the darkness outside the light. When the
ominous presence calling himself Sariel makes himself
known, he declares that he is Death Incarnate. Cailean
has died, and now she will be forced to face the sins
of her past in exchange for twenty-four hours of life
to try to right her wrongs. And what she must do in
return for this precious time is unthinkable... more»»
Nigel
15th September 2012 [8/10]
Paul
Lappen 15th September 2012
[9/10] |
 The
Roswell Conspiracy by Boyd Morrison
Average Rating [6/10]
(1 Review)
Jon has sent in a review for The
Roswell Conspiracy by Boyd Morrison. 1947 - Ten-year-old
Fay Allen of Roswell, New Mexico, witnesses the fiery
crash of an extraordinary craft unlike anything she's
ever seen. 2011 - More than sixty years later, army
engineer Tyler Locke rescues Fay from gunmen. She says
they were after a piece of wreckage she has retained
from the Roswell crash - and she claims to know secrets
about that incident that have never previously been
revealed. Tyler is initially sceptical but after he
is kidnapped by a mysterious gang, he comes to believe
that Roswell holds the key to his and his countrymen's
survival. And he realises that there is a desperate
race against time for him to uncover its secrets. Fast-paced
and thrilling, The
Roswell Conspiracy draws on actual evidence from
the Roswell Incident to create a page-turning and thought-provoking
thriller... more»»
Jon
11th August 2012 [6/10] |
 The
Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Average Rating [10/10]
(2 Reviews)
Matt Brown has sent in a review for The
Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Diagnosed with
Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to
die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours
in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old
Hazel is post-everything else too, post-high school,
post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she
could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel
lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously
kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter
Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support
group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly,
to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both
an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey,
pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health,
life and death, will define her and the legacy that
everyone leaves behind... more»»
Matt Brown
31st July 2012 [10/10] |
Apathy and other Small Victories by Paul
Neilan
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for Apathy
and other Small Victories by Paul Neilan. The only
thing Shane cares about is leaving. Usually on a Greyhound
bus, right before his life falls apart again. Just like
he planned. But this time it's complicated: there's
a sadistic corporate climber who thinks she's his girlfriend,
a rent-subsidized affair with his landlord's wife, and
the bizarrely appealing deaf assistant to Shane's cosmically
unstable dentist. When one of the women is murdered,
and Shane is the only suspect who doesn't care enough
to act like he didn't do it, the question becomes just
how he'll clear the good name he never had and doesn't
particularly want: his own... more»»
Ben Macnair
31st July 2012 [8/10] |
 Red
Serpent: The Falsifier by Delson Armstrong
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for
Red Serpent: The Falsifier by Delson Armstrong.
After years of exile, humanity has banded together,
waiting for his fateful coming... On Earth, the evil
Vampire overlords prepare to do battle with him... Both
races, enemies to each other, seek to befriend him...
For they know his power... He is the Falsifier. In the
far future, the last free humans have fled to a massive
space station in Earth's orbit. On the planet below
lurk their oppressors: a race of vampires who seek to
breed and harvest them like animals. Orphaned as a child,
Alex grows to manhood in the shadow of his legendary
father who united the scattered remnants of humanity.
But as he takes up his father's banner, he uncovers
a frightening secret about himself: he is the Falsifier,
fated to bring down the Vampire Empire. As he struggles
with his destiny, the vampires abduct him in a surprise
raid. With humanity's survival at stake, Alex must find
- and fight - his way back and take his place in history...
more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st July 2012
[8/10] |
 Red
Serpent: The Elemental King by Delson Armstrong
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for
Red Serpent: The Elemental King by Delson Armstrong.
The bloodthirsty General returns to unite with his Earthly
forces, ready to strike. Humanity must choose its allegiances
as it stands at the brink of chaos. Rebellious leaders
lurk in the shadows and threaten their survival. The
Falsifier realizes the hidden truths and takes charge.
And the Elemental King rises up to his call. Anaxagoras's
forces close in on the human fronts. On Earth, every
vampire stands at the border of change in preparation
for their monarch. As Alex struggles to gain control
over the political upheavals his family faces, he must
also find a way to win the War of Vengeance by finding
the Elemental King. But Anaxagoras senses the Falsifier's
actions and seeks to stop him, jeopardizing humanity's
one chance to freedom.... more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st July 2012
[9/10] |
Going the Distance by Christina Jones
Average Rating [8/10]
(2 Reviews)
Jackie Raine has sent in a review for Going
the Distance by Christina Jones. Chaotic, likeable
Maddy Beckett lives in Milton St John where horses,
trainers and jockeys outnumber the rest of the inhabitants.
Fully recovered from a disastrous love affair and running
a successful small business, she is 'her own woman'
- until she meets deliciously tall, dark and wealthy
Drew Fitzgerald. All is going swimmingly until his cool
and impossibly elegant wife appears on the scene. Maddy
desperately wants Drew - but does she want him enough
to become the 'other' woman in his life? Morally it's
out of the question, but physically. Has their relationship
got what it takes to go the distance... more»»
Jackie Raine
31st July 2012 [9/10]
|
Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh has sent in a review for Failing
Forward by John C. Maxwell. The major difference
between achieving people and average people is their
perception of and response to failure. John C. Maxwell
takes a closer look at failure-and reveals that the
secret of moving beyond failure is to use it as a lesson
and a stepping-stone. He covers the top reasons people
fail and shows how to master fear instead of being mastered
by it. Readers will discover that positive benefits
can accompany negative experiences - if you have the
right attitude. Chock full of action suggestions and
real-life stores, Failing Forward is a strategic
guide that will help men and women move beyond mistakes
to fulfil their potential and achieve success... more»»
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh
31st July 2012
[8/10] |
 Razor
Sharp 3.0 by Ola Adigun
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for Razor
Sharp 3.0 by Ola Adigun. Zeus is a mathematical
genius that never seems to complete what he starts.
Losing his father and inheriting a huge debt changed
all that. He purposed to channel his energy to developing
an intelligent software agent for predicting stock prices.
It was a total failure, or so he thought... His brainchild
takes a life of its own, infiltrating millions of computers
worldwide in its quest to gain more processing power.
One of the computers in question belongs to a secretive
organization with highly sensitive information. And
so began the race to find and take out the creator(s)
of this elusive worm before they can figure out the
power of what they have. Can Zeus stay ahead of the
ruthless people after him? Find out... more»»
Paul
Lappen 30th June 2012
[9/10] |
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Matt Brown has sent in a review for The
Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. Anderson Lake is
a company man, AgriGen's calorie representative in Thailand.
Under cover as a factory manager, he combs Bangkok's
street markets in search of foodstuffs long thought
to be extinct. There he meets the windup girl - the
beautiful and enigmatic Emiko - now abandoned to the
slums. She is one of the New People, bred to suit the
whims of the rich. Engineered as slaves, soldiers and
toys, they are the new underclass in a chilling near
future where oil has run out, calorie companies dominate
nations and bio-engineered plagues run rampant across
the globe. And as Lake becomes increasingly obsessed
with Emiko, conspiracies breed in the heat and political
tensions threaten to spiral out of control... more»»
Matt Brown
30th June 2012 [7/10] |
Coming Back to Me by Marcus Trescothick
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Charlotte Hodges has sent in a review for Coming
Back to Me: The Autobiography of Marcus Trescothick.
A true-life sporting memoir of one of the best batsman
in the game who stunned the cricket world when he prematurely
ended his own England career. Trescothick's brave and
soul-baring account of his mental frailties opens the
way to a better understanding of the unique pressures
experienced by modern-day professional sportsmen. At
29, Marcus Trescothick was widely regarded as one of
the batting greats. With more than 5,000 Test runs to
his name and a 2005 Ashes hero, some were predicting
this gentle West Country cricket nut might even surpass
Graham Gooch's record to become England's highest ever
Test run scorer. But the next time Trescothick hit the
headlines it was for reasons no one but a handful of
close friends and colleagues could have foreseen...
more»»
Charlotte Hodges
30th June 2012 [8/10] |
Alpha to Omega by William Lynhope
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Norma has sent in a review for Alpha
to Omega by William Lynhope. "The dark cloud
over Britain will not return. We certainly need have
no fear of travelling by train, Tube or bus in London
or any other city." Seven years later and Andrew
Aitken re-reads an old newspaper cutting. The focus
of most policing and security throughout 2012 had been
on the London Olympics. For him, however, there was
a puzzle spanning more than 70 years to unravel; further
complicated by the brutal murder of an elderly former
Intelligence officer connected to the case he is now
working on. From a series of apparently unconnected
incidents, before and after the old man's death, a bizarre
picture begins to emerge... more»»
Norma
30th June 2012 [8/10] |
 Blood
Falls by Tom Bale
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Chrissi has reviewed Blood
Falls by Tom Bale. Joe Clayton thought the dangers
of his undercover career were behind him. He was wrong.
One grey October morning, while working in a quiet Bristol
street, he hears the voice of the man who has sworn
to destroy him. Minutes later Joe is running for his
life again. Desperate for sanctuary, he heads for the
small Cornish town of Trelennan, and the home of Diana
Bamber, widow of a former police colleague. But Diana
reacts strangely to his arrival, and gradually Joe discovers
that Trelennan is far from the idyllic, law-abiding
resort it claims to be. The town is in the grip of one
man. Leon Race doesn't welcome strangers, especially
ex-cops who start asking questions about missing women...
more»»
Chrissi
31st May 2012 [8/10]
|
 Deadfall
by Shaun Jeffrey
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Nigel has reviewed Deadfall
by Shaun Jeffrey. "Kill them or convert them -
either way we win." A team of mercenaries race
to an abandoned mining village to rescue two children
held hostage by rogue ex-soldiers. But the kidnappers
are a ruse, the real threat more terrifying than any
of them could imagine. Aided by a couple of unsuspecting
eco-warriors, mercenary team leader Amber Redgrave must
fight to survive against foes that don't sleep and don't
feel pain. Now as the body count rises, so do the stakes,
and when the dead won't stay dead, there's going to
be hell to pay... more»»
Nigel
31st May 2012 [8/10]
|
 Holy
Shmit! by Corey Deitz
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for Holy
Shmit! by Corey Deitz, a funny, irreverent, and
surprisingly sweet story infused with a heavy dose of
technology and celebrities. The plot is so inventive
and out-of-the-box different, it is sure to please millions
of readers and offend millions more! This is one story
that will be applauded and condemned at the same time
- and only you can decide which side you're on. We all
take for granted that the world we wake up to each day
will pretty much go on as scheduled. The sun will rise,
the traffic will be heavy, your boss will continue to
be a jerk, and your home won't be the centre for the
most dangerous demonic possession ever to occur in the
Universe. Until now. Everything as we know it does hang
in the balance because God, the Universe's Master Programmer,
has finally been compromised by Satan... more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st May 2012
[9/10] |
The Old Spring by Richard Francis
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for The
Old Spring by Richard Francis. Dawn and Frank wake
up one wet morning in the flat above their pub, the
Old Spring. Today they have to meet the brewery representative,
creepy Tim Green, and track down an error in their books
- or face the consequences. Dawn has something else
on her mind, too: the anniversary of an old tragedy
for which she has always felt responsible. Frank has
a problem of his own - a secret that has ended his sex
life with Dawn. Darren the cleaner, meanwhile, is haunted
by the ghost of a long-dead landlord. The pub's 'chaplain',
Father Thomas, tries to rediscover his faith under the
sceptical scrutiny of his tormentor, Alan. And, in the
local hospital, pub regular Romesh drifts towards death
on his magic carpet, while back in the snug, the tattoed
man faces up to a life and death crisis of his own...
more»»
Ben Macnair
31st May 2012 [7/10] |
A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks
Average Rating [9/10]
(2 Reviews)
Matt Brown has sent in a review for A
Week in December by Sebastian Faulks. London, the
week before Christmas, 2007. Over seven days we follow
the lives of seven major characters: a hedge fund manager
trying to bring off the biggest trade of his career;
a professional footballer recently arrived from Poland;
a young lawyer with little work and too much time to
speculate; a student who has been led astray by Islamist
theory; a hack book-reviewer; a schoolboy hooked on
skunk and reality TV; and a Tube train driver whose
Circle Line train joins these and countless other lives
together in a daily loop... more»»
Matt Brown
31st May 2012 [8/10] |
 Doomsday
by Graham Brown
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Chrissi has reviewed Doomsday
by Graham Brown. An ancient secret. A terrifying prophecy.
The last race against time... In the heart of the Amazon,
NRI operative Danielle Laidlaw makes an incredible discovery:
a translucent Mayan stone generating massive waves of
energy while counting down toward the infamous apocalyptic
date: December 21, 2012. And somewhere, there are three
more just like it. What power will be unleashed if all
four stones come together? Who created them - and who
has them now? Using a cryptic Mayan map and a prophecy
that points to the end of the world, Danielle and her
team race toward answers. But one staggering question
remains: Were these artefacts meant to save us - or
to destroy us once and for all... more»»
Chrissi
30th April 2012 [8/10]
|
 The
House of Dark Shadows by Digger Cartwright
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for The
House of Dark Shadows by Digger Cartwright. Alex
Rommel, a debonair Charleston playboy, is sceptical
about online dating. When he encounters an old college
buddy by chance, he learns his friend has found love
over the internet. Tormented by demons from his past,
a contentious land deal, the memories of the woman he
loved, and his sexually insatiable secretary, Alex wades
into the shadowy world of internet dating only to find
the woman of his dreams - a French freelance journalist,
Hope. Just when he thinks he has found true happiness,
Alex's relationship takes a mysterious turn, and he
finds himself immersed in Hope's world - one plagued
by a nagging mother, lies, and drama. As pressures mount
in the relationship and in his business dealings, Alex,
torn between love and reality, finds himself questioning
Hope's motivations... more»»
Paul
Lappen 30th April 2012
[9/10] |
Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for Noah's
Compass by Anne Tyler. Widowed, re-married, divorced
and the father of three daughters, Liam is a man who
is proud of his recall but has learned to dodge issues
and skirt adventure. Something occurs, though, to jolt
him out of his certainty. Obsessed with a frightening
gap in his memory, he sets out to uncover what happened,
and finds instead an unusual woman with secrets of her
own, and a late-flowering love that brings its own thorny
problems. Noah's
Compass is about memory and its loss, about incidents
and relationships which open up sight lines into a painful
past long dead for a man who becomes aware that merely
trying to stay afloat may not be enough... more»»
Ben Macnair
30th April 2012 [7/10] |
Thud! By Terry Pratchett
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Hidayah Ismawi has sent in a review for Thud!
by Terry Pratchett. KoomValley? That was where the trolls
ambushed the dwarfs, or the dwarfs ambushed the trolls.
It was far away. It was a long time ago. But if he doesn’t
solve the murder of just one dwarf, Commander Sam Vimes
of Ankh-Morpork City Watch is going to see it fought
again, right outside his office. With his beloved Watch
crumbling around him and war-drums sounding, he must
unravel every clue, outwit every assassin and brave
any darkness to find the solution. And darkness is following
him. Oh... and at six o’clock every day, without fail,
with no excuses, he must go home to read Where’s
My Cow?, with all the right farmyard noises, to
his little boy. There are some things you have to do...
more»»
Hidayah Ismawi
30th April 2012 [9/10]
|
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by
Stephen R. Covey
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh has sent in a review for The
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R.
Covey. In this seminal work, Stephen R. Covey presents
a holistic, integrated, principle-centred approach for
solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating
insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step
pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty
and human dignity - principles that give us the security
to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take
advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
Translated into thirty-four languages and with phenomenal
sales, The
7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been the
key to the success of legions of business leaders and
individuals the world over ... more»»
Nongmaithem Rakesh Singh
30th April 2012
[8/10] |
Lord Lucan My Story by William Coles
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for Lord
Lucan My Story by William Coles. The Lord Lucan
Scandal is one of the greatest and most extraordinary
mysteries of the 20th Century. Ever since Lucky Lord
Lucan disappeared in 1974 after the murder of his nanny,
the world has wondered what happened to Britain's most
dashing Peer. Here, in his own hand, is the answer.
This is Lord Lucan's personal memoir of his life as
the world’s most infamous fugitive. It is the story
of an Old Etonian Earl on the run; of how a man became
a murderer; and how a life-long friendship soured into
an enduring hate. Here, for the first time, is the full
monstrous account of the life of Lord Lucan. This is
his story... more»»
Ben Macnair
31st March 2012 [7/10] |
 The
Pineville Heist by Lee Chambers
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for The
Pineville Heist by Lee Chambers. Will Aaron Stevens
survive the night of the Pineville Heist? Seventeen
year old Aaron stumbles into the aftermath of a five
million dollar bank heist gone wrong. Hiding under a
canoe, Aaron partially catches the murder of one of
the robbers. In the chaos he sneaks away with the money
and heads straight for the closest place of safety,
his high school. Terrified, Aaron tells his shocking
tale to Amanda Becker, his drama teacher, but it doesn’t
take long for one of the psychotic robbers to show up.
In the locked down school the pair are relentlessly
pursued in a quest to get the money back and wipe out
the evidence... more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st March 2012
[9/10] |
Night in the Lonesome October by Richard Laymon
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Jessica has sent in a review for Night
in the Lonesome October by Richard Laymon. Ed Logan
is 20 years old and a sophomore at Willmington University.
He's also been dumped by his girlfriend. Lonesome and
broken-hearted, he goes for a late-night walk. He doesn't
know where he's headed. He doesn't know what he's going
to do when he gets there. And he has absolutely no idea
of the strange people he is about to meet. Like Casey,
the athletic blonde who roams the streets as if she's
on a mission. And then there's Randy, who's definitely
on a mission - to make Ed's life hell. And then there's
the others. Not exactly people. And very definitely
not friendly. If Ed's not careful, he's not going to
make it home at all... more»»
Jessica
31st March 2012 [8/10]
|
 Infoquake
by David Louis Edelman
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for Infoquake
by David Louis Edelman. Natch is a master of bio/logics,
the programming of the human body. He's clawed and scraped
his way to the top of the bio/logics market using little
more than his wits. Now his sudden notoriety has brought
him to the attention of Margaret Surina, the owner of
a mysterious new technology called MultiReal. Only by
enlisting Natch's devious mind can Margaret keep MultiReal
out of the hands of High Executive Len Borda and his
ruthless armies. To fend off the intricate net of enemies
closing in around him, Natch and his apprentices must
accomplish the impossible. They must understand this
strange new technology, run through the product development
cycle, and prepare MultiReal for release to the public
- all in three days... more»»
Paul
Lappen 29th February 2012
[9/10] |
Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Hidayah Ismawi has sent in a review for Here
Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve. An utterly captivating,
original and thoroughly 21st century re-telling of Britain's
most enduring legend. Gwyna is just a small girl, a
mouse, when she is bound in service to Myrddin the bard
- a traveller and spinner of tales. But Myrdin transfroms
her - into a lady goddess, a boy warrior, and a spy.
Without Gwyna, Myrddin will not be able to work the
most glorious transformation of all - and turn the leader
of a raggle-tagglear-band into King Arthur, the greatest
hero of all time. Exploring the power of storytelling
and political machination, a master writer retells the
Arthur legend - with a shocking spin. Winner of the
Carnegie Medal 2008... more»»
Hidayah Ismawi
29th February 2012 [8/10]
|
 The
Harvesting by Martyn Ellington
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Nigel has reviewed The
Harvesting by Martyn Ellington. Three friends leave
the Scottish oil fields and head home to England for
their scheduled leave but as the journey starts they
find themselves embroiled in strange disappearances
and unexplained activities. An 'unusual' rain had fallen
- resulting in abnormal sightings and behaviour within
the region and it's spreading globally. Learn how events
unfold and discover the fate of the travellers as well
as that of their loved ones. It is estimated 250,000
people vanish in the UK each year. It is estimated 820,000
people vanish in the USA each year. It is not known
how many people vanish world wide each year. But on
November 25th 2011 at 17:37 GMT 88.7% of the earth's
population will vanish in one night and for one man
the search will begin ... more»»
Nigel
29th February 2012 [8/10]
|
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen
Chbosky
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Ben Macnair has sent in a review for The
Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest
geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy,
introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially
awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to
live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is
attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory:
the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas
and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The
Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires
is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.
But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing
on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective.
But there comes a time to see what it looks like from
the dance floor... more»»
Ben Macnair
29th February 2012
[7/10] |
Others by James Herbert
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Jessica has sent in a review for Others
by James Herbert. Nicholas Dismas is a Private Investigator
like no other. He carries a secret about himself to
which not even he has the answer. He is hired to find
a baby taken at birth and his investigation leads him
to a mysterious place called 'Perfect Rest'. It is supposed
to be a home for the elderly, but there is a lot more
to this place than meets the eye. Here Dismas will discover
the dark secret of the 'Others'. And in an astonishing
and spectacular finale he will resolve the enigma of
his own existence. As chilling, as memorable and as
timely as only James Herbert can be, Others
will join the classics for which he is remembered with
fear. 'It sounded easy. Find a missing kid. Eighteen
years old. Only he was dead. Died at birth. So why was
his mother so sure he was still alive'... more»»
Jessica
29th February 2012 [8/10]
|
A Howlin' Wind by John Blaney
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Dan Swinhoe has sent in a review for A
Howlin' Wind: Pub Rock and the Birth of New Wave
by John Blaney. A fascinating study of how pub rock
started, thrived and ultimately evolved into the New
Wave. Blaney starts during the 1960s with the hippie
roots of the movement, and then covers the main bands
(Eggs Over Easy, Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe et al).
He explains how many of the Pub Rock bands re-invented
themselves as New Wave acts (Kilburn and the High Roads
becoming Ian Dury and the Blockheads, for example),
often as a result of universities being awash with money
and being able to pay over the odds for acts, thus putting
the landlords of live music pubs out of business...
more»»
Dan Swinhoe
29th February 2012 [7/10] |
 The
Liberation of Alice Love by Abby McDonald
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Sarah(3) has sent in a review for The
Liberation of Alice Love by Abby McDonald. Alice
Love keeps her life running in perfect order, so when
her bank card is declined, she thinks it's just a simple
mistake. But she soon discovers that someone has emptied
every penny from her bank account, spending her hard-earned
savings on glamorous holidays, sexy lingerie, and a
to-die-for wardrobe and leaving Alice with thousands
of pounds' worth of debt. With her perfectly-organised
world crumbling around her, Alice enlists the help of
dashing fraud investigator, Nathan, and sets about clearing
her name. But as she unravels the intriguing paper trail,
she makes a shocking discovery: her thief is closer
to home than she ever imagined... more»»
Sarah(3)
29th February 2012 [8/10] |
Nettie Parker's Backyard by C.V. Smith
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Deb Hockenberry has sent in a review for Nettie
Parker's Backyard by C.V. Smith. Ask anyone who
knows Nettie Parker, and they'll say that she's an amazing,
mystical woman... what else would you call someone who
receives supernatural signs sent just to them? And being
able to live longer than anyone else? That alone is
pretty amazing! Nettie's been through many hardships
in her life, and she's learned first-hand that prejudice
can be a multi-headed dragon, but her courage and determination
show others that differences in skin colour or in physical
abilities don't matter. In fact, as Nettie and her fighter-pilot
husband both get caught up in World War II, survival
becomes what matters most - not just for them, but also
for the eight Jewish refugee children she comes to care
for... more»»
Deb Hockenberry
29th February 2012 [9/10] |
Return to Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Pip Lantos has sent in a review for Return
to Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz. Originally
published as The Unholy Grail this is the second
book in what was meant to be a series. 13-year-old magician,
David Elliot, fights a mysterious villain who plans
to destroy his school. A year ago, he'd have been happy
to see the end of Groosham Grange and its ghoulish teachers.
Now, he's on course to win the Unholy Grail, a cup of
magical power presented to the star pupil. But a series
of suspicious mishaps sees the gap between David and
new boy Vincent King narrow alarmingly. Someone, it
seems, is trying to stop David winning - and, worse,
threatening Groosham Grange itself... more»»
Pip Lantos
29th February 2012 [7/10] |
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Jenna has sent in a review for The
Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. When Jason, Piper and
Leo crash land at Camp Half-Blood, they have no idea
what to expect. Apparently this is the only safe place
for children of the Greek Gods - despite the monsters
roaming the woods and demigods practising archery with
flaming arrows and explosives. But rumours of a terrible
curse - and a missing hero - are flying around camp.
It seems Jason, Piper and Leo are the chosen ones to
embark on a terrifying new quest, which they must complete
by the winter solstice. In just four days time. Can
the trio succeed on this deadly mission - and what must
they sacrifice in order to survive... more»»
Jenna
29th February 2012 [9/10] |
Nate Rocks the World by Karen P. Toz
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Deb Hockenberry has sent in a review for Nate
Rocks the World by Karen P. Toz. Ten-year-old Nathan
Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a
fourth-grader can be hazardous - what with science projects
to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone,
including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck
when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an older sister
who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past,
and a mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful
cooking, and poor Nathan's life as a fourth-grader appears
to be completely doomed. Armed only with his sketchpad,
his imagination, and his wits, Nathan Rockledge navigates
the perils of the fourth grade in style... more»»
Deb Hockenberry
29th February 2012 [9/10] |
 The
Coming by Joe Haldeman
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Paul has sent in a review for The
Coming by Joe Haldeman, an intriguing tale of Earth
in the twenty-first century. Astronomy professor Aurora
Bell gets a message from space that seems to portend
the arrival of extraterrestrials. According to her calculations,
whoever is coming will arrive in three months - on New
Year's Day, to be exact. Earth is in chaos, struggling
in the wake of nuclear war and certainly unprepared
to face invasion of any kind. But the more Rory investigates,
the more she doubts the authenticity of the transmission.
If the message is an elaborate hoax, who's behind it,
and why? And so the world waits. But the question remains
as to what, exactly, everyone is waiting for... more»»
Paul
Lappen 31st January 2012
[9/10] |
 One
Day by David Nicholls
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Hannah Johnson has sent in a review for One
Day by David Nicholls.
'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice
in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.'
He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.'
15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time
on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must
go their separate ways.
So where will they be on this one day next year?
And the year after that? And every year that follows?
Twenty years, two people, One Day. From the
author of the massive bestseller Starter For Ten...
more»»
Hannah Johnson
31st January 2012 [7/10] |
The
Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Kat has sent in a review for The
Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Diagnosed with
Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to
die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours
in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old
Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school,
post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she
could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel
lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously
kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter
Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support
group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly,
to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both
an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey,
pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health,
life and death, will define her and the legacy that
everyone leaves behind... more»»
Kat
31st January 2012 [9/10] |
 How
to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles
Yu
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Nigel has reviewed How
to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by
Charles Yu. With only TAMMY - a slightly tearful computer
with self-esteem issues - a software boss called Phil
- Microsoft Middle Manager 3.0 - and an imaginary dog
called Ed for company, fixing time machines is a lonely
business and Charles Yu is stuck in a rut. He's spent
the better part of a decade navel-gazing, spying on
39 different versions of himself in alternate universes
(and discovered that 35 of them are total jerks). And
he's kind of fallen in love with TAMMY, which is bad
because she doesn't have a module for that. With all
that's on his mind, perhaps it's no surprise that when
he meets his future self, he shoots him in the stomach.
And that's a beginner's mistake for a time machine repairman.
Now he's stuck in a time loop, going in circles forever...
more»»
Nigel
31st January 2012 [7/10]
|
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Hidayah Ismawi has sent in a review for Half
Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. A debut novel based
on the extraordinary life of Jeannette Walls' maternal
grandmother - a sassy, straight-talking heroine for
whom saving lives, taming wild horses and beating ranch
hands at poker are all in a day's work. Born in 1901
in the rolling grassland of West Texas, at the age of
15, with very little formal education, Lily Casey Smith
left home to begin teaching in a frontier town, riding
500 miles on her beloved pony, Patch, all alone, to
get to her job. She went on, with her husband, to run
an 180,000 acre ranch in Arizona and to raise two children,
one of whom is Jeannette's memorable mother, Rosemary
Smith Walls. Readers will love and marvel at this intrepid
woman, for her fearlessness, her courage, her wicked
sense of humour... more»»
Hidayah Ismawi
31st January 2012 [9/10]
|
His Name is John by Dorien Grey
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Molly has sent in a review for His
Name is John by Dorien Grey - An Elliott Smith Mystery
#1. Elliott Smith never considered himself to be anything
special, if you didn't count having wealthy parents,
whom he largely ignores. His profession is buying, restoring
and reselling small apartment buildings around Chicago.
Gay and contentedly single at 38, he has, in addition
to his globetrotting parents, a devoted sister, a police
detective brother-in-law, two nieces and a nephew. Everything
in his life is going along perfectly fine until he wakes
in the hospital after being hit by a car aware of being
watched by someone who isn't there. Despite being sure
what happens next can be attributed to his injuries
from the accident, Elliott is reluctantly, inexorably,
drawn into the search to find a name for the unidentified
murdered man who died next to him in the Emergency Room
- and who killed him... more»»
Molly
Martin 31st January 2012
[9/10] |
Aaron’s Wait by Dorien Grey
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Molly has sent in a review for Aaron’s
Wait by Dorien Grey - An Elliott Smith Mystery #2.
Elliott Smith's latest restoration project is a beautiful
old six-unit apartment building. Unfortunately for Elliott,
he discovers that Aaron Stiles, one of the tenants,
has been dead for four years and doesn't know it. His
partner, Bill Somers, left for work one morning and
never returned. Devastated to think that Bill might
have left him. Aaron suffered a heart attack and died.
But he is still waiting for Bill to come home, and unless
Elliott can convince him otherwise, he's not going anywhere
until that happens-or until Elliott can figure out which
of the people most interested in seeing Bill dead killed
him... more»»
Molly
Martin 31st January 2012
[9/10] |
Caesar’s Fall by Dorien Grey
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Molly has sent in a review for Caesar’s
Fall by Dorien Grey - An Elliott Smith Mystery #3.
With a new building to restore and his relationship
with Steve growing more serious, the last thing Elliott
needs is someone else's problem, but when lottery millionaire
Bruno Caesar moves into his building he can't just ignore
the man's pleas for help. Then Bruno's life comes to
an abrupt end when he falls from his balcony. There's
only one problem-he was terrified of heights... and
never went onto the balcony. Bruno can't rest until
the puzzle of his sudden death is solved, and Elliott
and John are once again searching for answers... more»»
Molly
Martin 31st January 2012
[9/10] |
 Drink
Deep by Chloe Neill
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Sarah(3) has sent in a review for Drink
Deep by Chloe Neill. Clouds are brewing over Cadogan
House, and recently turned vampire Merit can't tell
if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm
before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over
paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal
registration act, times haven't been this precarious
for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only
they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm
down. That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly
turn pitch black - and things really start getting ugly.
Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about,
but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven
a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of
nature... more»»
Sarah(3)
31st January 2012 [9/10] |
 Man's
World by Rupert Smith
Average Rating [7/10]
(1 Review)
Ieva Marscionkaite has sent in a review for Man's
World by Rupert Smith, a story of gay life now,
and gay life 50 years ago. London today - a world of
sex, drugs and designer clothes, where Robert searches
for fulfilment in gay clubs. London 50 years ago - Michael
enters a secret queer underworld, negotiating the dangers
of law and the closet. Two parallel narratives - two
generations - two worlds that barely recognise each
other. But do Robert and Michael have more in common
than they think? A historical romance with a difference,
Man's World is a funny, sexy and moving story
about friendship and desire, about how much the world
has changed - and how little... more»»
Ieva Marscionkaite
31st January 2012 [7/10] |
 Fidel
Castro is Dead by Pradeep Persaud
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Sarah A. has sent in a review for Fidel
Castro is Dead by Pradeep Persaud, an odyssey about
love, life, and laughter. The story begins in 1975,
transpires over three decades, and follows a group of
individuals through the height of the Cold War to the
depths of 9/11, from the dawn of the World Wide Web
to the madness of the dotcoms, and from unimaginable
wealth to unrelenting destitution before climaxing in
a bizarre and ironic twist. Triumphs and tragedies;
premonitions and nightmares; dramatic twists of plot
and gut-busting laughter form the backdrop to the ever-powerful
attraction between two childhood friends turned lovers
whose lives are perpetually affected, for better or
for worse, by extraordinary events beyond their control...
more»»
Sarah A.
31st January 2012 [8/10] |
1106 Grand Boulevard by Betty Dravis
Average Rating [9/10]
(1 Review)
Deb Hockenberry has sent in a review for 1106
Grand Boulevard by Betty Dravis. Will Billie Jean
find true love and happiness? All her life, Billie Jean
Sloane, a charismatic, exquisite, small-town beauty,
has been desired and spoiled by men. At sixteen, following
a tragedy involving her first husband - "the love
of her life" - she is heartbroken. Unable to forgive
or forget, her parents take drastic measures to keep
them apart. The vain, yet innocent, Billie Jean - one
of seven siblings - is swept from her humble beginnings
at 1106 Grand Boulevard in the Midwestern town of Hamilton,
Ohio to a luxurious life-style in Phoenix, Arizona and
other fascinating locales... more»»
Deb Hockenberry
31st January 2012 [9/10] |
 Walkabout
Dancer by Eileen Kramer
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Fiona Baile has sent in a review for Walkabout
Dancer by Eileen Kramer. Eileen Kramer spent her
childhood listening to the kookaburras and sailing along
the coast of Australia. Dwelling on this island continent,
it was not surprising that the rest of the world rarely
visibly manifested itself through the window of Eileen's
existence. A creative, magical spirit from the beginning,
young Eileen left school at an early age, finding a
course that enabled her to go her own way. Eileen's
life was changed in 1939 when she attended a performance
of the Bodenwieser Dance Company in Sydney, opening
the door for her world travels and her remarkable journey
through life. The dance company taught its dancers more
than just dance. Through Madame Bodenwieser, Eileen
absorbed European culture - appreciation of music, art,
architecture, politics - in other words, the dance company
brought about a life-changing way of thinking... more»»
Fiona Baile
31st January 2012 [8/10] |
 Teaching
College Students to Read Analytically by Jan Cooper,
Rick Evans and Elizabeth Robertson
Average Rating [8/10]
(1 Review)
Patrick Burney has sent in a review for Teaching
College Students to Read Analytically by Jan Cooper,
Rick Evans and Elizabeth Robertson. Based on the experiences
of writing lab instructors working with college students
whose writing was affected by poor comprehension of
difficult texts, this book explores the use of writing
about reading to help students become more aware or
analytical of their reading processes. The first chapter
provides a theoretical context for teaching analytical
reading in the context of writing. The second chapter
recounts a teacher's work with a basic writing student
whose inexperience with reading interfered with his
writing, and describes the individualized reading course
that balanced familiar and unfamiliar reading materials...
more»»
Patrick Burney
31st January 2012 [8/10] |
|
...and a Happy New Year
Well, yet another year has been and gone; how quick was
that? Many thanks to all those that made contributions
to the site during the year, much appreciated. Plenty
of new reviews this month along with Publication
Dates for January and February as well as the latest
Top 10 Hardback
and Paperback
Charts. We also have a new Author Page for Alastair
Reynolds as well as an updated Author Page for Keith
Rommel, with news on The
Cursed Man movie and finally, a happy and prosperous
new year to you all.
Admin
31st December 2012 |
Ta-Da
Redeemed just. One update during the month
and some reviews at the end; never let it be said we didn't
do what we said we would do when we said we would do it.
Reviews this month include one for The
Turn of the Screw by Henry James, classic literature
from 1898 and free on Amazon. Booklore Top Tip: check
out some of the classics if you are a bit short of cash
at the moment, some real gems out there and not to be
dismissed simply because they are 'old'; most are out
of copyright and freely available thats right, you can
legally download them for free.
Mini Competition
Guess the book from which this first line comes from:
May
3. Bistritz.-- Left Munich at 8:35 P.M., on 1st May,
arriving at Vienna early next morning; should have arrived
at 6:46, but train was an hour late.
and get a free copy here.*
And finally no smilie this month because, apparently,
you can have too much of a good thing... 
hehehe...
Admin
30th November 2012
*Requires Amazon
Account and Kindle Reader. |
Hopeless
Well, that didnt work did it? So much for
regular rapid updates to keep you all on your toes all
it did was remove the deadline and let us sit back. So,
from now on we will try a combination of the two, a month
end update (without fail:) plus a few teasers in-between.
Congratulations to reviewer Ray on his marriage to Sally;
an excellent wedding on a lovely autumn day. So, as October
ends and Christmas draws near sorry. The usual stuff,
some reviews, the latest Top
10, etc., etc. Enjoy.
And finally another smilie because you can't have too
much of a good thing. 
Admin
31st October 2012 |
Are You Addicted?
Due to the relentless rise in social networking BookLore
has succumbed; from this month we will be updating as
and when we can rather than on a monthly basis. Apparently
if the addicts dont get their endorphin hit from a new
post every minute they become grumpy (joke :). This should
mean more new stuff more often we hope. Anyway, some good
reviews this month as well as new Publication
Dates for October. On the news front we have just
finished reading the proof for Keith Rommels next instalment
in the Thanatology Series, The Lurking Man; review
to be posted as soon as the book is released, hopefully
during August. We also have the new book from Michael
McGan, Aging Gratefully; expect some more
deep and meaningful stuff with a philosophical bent and
laughing, which is always good. Enjoy. :)
And finally a smilie because we havent had one for a while.
Admin
31st July 2012 |
Christian Cook Wins!
Congratulations to Christian
Cook, the author of Broken
Eggshells and Pulling
Power, for winning the 2012 Ruth Rendell Short Story
Competition with his story Facing East. Baroness
Rendell presented the award to Christian at a ceremony
held at the St Bride Foundation near Fleet Street.
Run by InterAct
Reading Service, an award-winning charity that aims
to stimulate the minds of stroke patients through live
readings, the competition is held biennially and is open
to all UK residents.
Christian's story will be included in a new collection
of short stories, called Interactions, published
in June. The book, which is being sold in aid of InterAct,
also includes contributions from Ruth Rendell, Toby Young,
Nell Dunn, and Nobel prize-winning poet, Seamus Heaney,
among others.
Christian, who is a freelance designer and photographer
when not writing, said of his win, 'It was a great honour
to receive the award from Baroness Rendell. InterAct is
a wonderful charity that do a tremendous amount of good
work to support stroke patients, and I'm delighted that
my story will be included in their book.'
As part of the prize Christian will be writer in residence
to the charity and is commissioned to write four more
stories for the work that they do.
For more information, including a link to download Facing
East, see Christians Author
Page.
Admin
31st May 2012 |
McGan's Meditations
Michael McGan, the author of Fleeting
Thoughts and The
Hamster Never Sleeps, looks at your chances of survival...
I
Will Survive
No, this is not about that Gloria Gayner song from the
seventies, but about people who are getting ready for
The Zombie Apocalypse. Sounds like the name of a heavy
metal band doesnt it? What it really means is any type
of life changing event that would be really, really
bad such as a total financial collapse, a rapidly spreading
disease, natural disaster on a large scale or actual
flesh eating zombies roaming the country side. Hey,
it could happen. This phrase comes from a preparedness
piece by the CDC. They recommend that you have three
days worth of food and water in your home for each family
member. This includes enough beer for your deadbeat
brother who will show up empty handed as soon as the
news hits. According to the survival experts you should
scold him for not prepping by saying something like
Too bad, so sad. Then give him enough food for the day
and send him packing, unless he has skills that might
come in handy. Your brother can whistle the classics
and play the spoons? Awesome, hes in! So what if he
eats like a horse, the entertainment factor is priceless
after the fit hits the shan and you cant watch Idol
anyway.
Another agency called The Red Cross recommends three
weeks worth of food and water per family member and
all kinds of other things you should have on hand, such
as flashlights, batteries (duh!), candles and (duh!)
matches, blankets, medicines and much more. This resource
is actually very good. The problem with following these
suggestions, especially suggestions recommended by the
government, is that by being prepared with these things
you have become a hoarder of things that make you look
suspicious to the afore mentioned government. What kind
of kook are you, storing three weeks worth of food and
water in your basement? Is some of that food freeze
dried? Survival food? OMG! Youre definitely up to something.
There are websites and blogs that give all kinds of
information on how to get through tough times such as
survivalblog.com, which is viewed by people all over
the world. In the UK there is uk-preppers.co.uk and
they all give links to other sites. Some of them are
about simple things that our grandparents used to do
like canning food. I cannot understand why they call
it canning when they put these foods in glass jars.
Why isnt it jarring? This is never explained and has
kept me awake many a night. Other sites are more hard-core
and get into guns, cammo clothes, defending perimeters
etc. Cheery stuff indeed. Listen, I dont want to be
Rambo Im just looking to cook my freeze dried scrambled
eggs and bacon in the post-apocalyptic morning even
if I do have to do it over an open fire. Or a solar
cook stove, eh? Although some sites often offer articles
on things like economic, political, and social topics
I try not to frequent these more radical sites. They
may be talking about dragging people off to FEMA camps
(that dont existreally or do they?) for having three
days worth of food or a statue of the Virgin Mary on
your front lawn. It all becomes very depressing. What
has the world come to?
Someone at work recommended that I check out a show
called Doomsday Preppers. I watched about ten minutes
of it. There was a man who said he invented this shovel
with serrated edges which he said you could use as a
weapon when you run out of bullets (hello?) and he proceeded
to demonstrate its effectiveness on a pig carcass which
he had hanging. Pass the popcorn, honey? Next he was
buying cargo containers that he was going to bury in
the desert and have his family live in. Thats when it
hit me, enough of this crap. I cant take it. So I switched
it over to a show where they were converting ordinary
cars into ridiculously long stretch limos and it was
quite funny. Not a zombie in site.
This survival/preparedness subject can be quite addictive.
I have been hooked on the genre for some time. It doesnt
make you bad to be reading this stuff, but after a while,
it might make you crazy.
...only remember, when the apocalypse comes chances are
you won't be able to refer to the WWW, that's why it's
an apocalypse. :)
Michael McGan 31st March 2012 |
Kindle Formatting Made Easy
Recently Carolyn
Howard-Johnson published some quick tips on publishing
articles and books on Kindle in her Sharing
with Writers newsletter and got tons of feedback,
some of it from folks who said they were still worried
about "the learning curve." They helped Carolyn
to see that the little secrets she shared may have been
too advanced; many writers need something thats more A
to Z. Its so easy that Carolyn thought shed take the worry
out of it for those who have been procrastinating. Kindle
Formatting Made Easy is a simple step-by-step guide
to take away that worry... more»»
Admin
4th February 2012 |
Belated Happy New Year
Well, yet another year has arrived. Many thanks to all
those that made contributions to the site last year, much
appreciated. Plenty of new reviews this month to make
up for a woeful December along with Publication
Dates for March and April and as always the latest
Top 10. May
you all be contented in your reading in 2012... and if
not let us know why :).
Admin
31st January 2012 |
|
