Tag: reading

adventures in post, books, Illumicrate, lifestyle boxes, reviews

#Illumicrate12 Oh So Criminal

ramblingmads

August’s Illumicrate is all about the bad guys, the villains, the anti-heroes.

Kicking off the box is the book – Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas. This is part of DC’s relaunch of their female heroines, following on from the Wonder Woman book last year. Without getting into all the debate around Maas and whether she’s too rude for YA, this book intrigues me. Catwoman is someone I remember from the reruns of the old 60s Batman series with Adam West, then the Dark Knight’s scene stealing Anne Hathaway version. So I’m interested to see what Maas has done with Selina Kyle.

I love a canvas bag, they’re ever so useful and I have hundreds. This Villains are my Bag number from @kdpletters will be added into the mix.

I’m not a HP fan so this Sirius coaster doesn’t really do it for me. I’m sure however that one of my book club will love it. @katieabey designed it exclusively for Illumicrate.

Darkdawn was one of my favourite books of 2018 so far so this handy little nail file designed by @heyatlascreative is going straight into my bag.

I don’t wear a lanyard to work as I work at home but if I did then I’d be upgrading to this one from @fableandblack to rep the crew from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.

This necklace makes me smile – we’re all the protagonists of our own stories but are we also the antagonists in someone else’s? @down_the_rabbithole allows you to play both sides.

I love a good candle and this one will set the atmosphere for my next caper meeting. @elvenwickcandles has made this sparkly number which smells delicious.

A mirror is a handy tool to see who’s following you when carrying out the plan and this one from @reverieandink features a quote from Holly Black.

This art print card by @jamilamehio of Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn round off the box.

There are also a few goodies from different upcoming books but sadly no bonus ARC this time.

I’ve enjoyed the themed boxes we’ve had recently, it brings everything together nicely. This box has a decent mix of bits and bobs which I can see myself making use of.

blog tour, books, reviews

Book Review: The Hidden Bones by Nicola Ford

ramblingmads

9780749023621 hidden bones hb wb

Written by a real life archaeologist this crime novel takes place at a dig in the fictional town of Hungerbourne. After the death of Dr Gerald Hart, who began the dig back in the 70s, two archeologists, Dr David Barbrook and Clare Hills, go through his archive and revive the dig, but have they revived an unnamed killer?

After a series of accidents and deaths, Clare starts looking for the person behind all the tragedy, but are they willing to go to any lengths to close the dig?

This was really interesting to read, I actually find archeology really interesting, growing up my friend’s mum is a doctor of archeology and often had interesting pots and things in their house she was cataloguing for various museums. I would always ask about her work and she took us on trips to see projects she’d worked on on display.

So a combination of crime thriller and Bronze Age dig is right up my alley. Ford (aka Dr Nick Shashall) manages to get the balance between fictional crime and real scientific information right. I loved the behind the scenes at the British Museum, a place I love and would really enjoy delving behind the displays.

It also taps into the history of cursed archeological explorations, even referencing the Cartwright Tutankhamum curse. I’m also fascinated by English folklore and mythology, which this particular “curse” references.

Altogether, this is a really great first novel, and I look forward to the next in the series.

If you’d like to know more or see what other readers think, my review was part of the book tour below.

HB blog tour banner.png

books, reviews

Book Review: Woman Enters Left – Jessica Brockman

ramblingmads

With her acting career on the wane Louise Wilde heads off to Las Vegas to make a film that will keep the wolf from the door.

She gets diverted by memories of her past and the notebooks she inherited from her mother’s old friend Florrie Daniels.

Instead of Vegas she takes off on a road trip from the past.

Alternating from Louise’s drive to the one her mother Ethel took years before this book offers a glimpse into the past and the people who live there.

I found this really interesting, with Ethel and Florrie’s story being told in the form of notebooks and a rough film script, which gives you the thoughts of two women driving from New Jersey to California via Nevada, the camp grounds, the meals and the friendship laid out in pen and ink.

I actually found their journey far more interesting than the one being made by Louise I struggled with her as a character, mostly because I felt she was acting all the time. Being someone else and I couldn’t connect with her.

blog tour, books, reviews

Book Review: The Big Event by Anne John-Ligali

ramblingmads

Hello, today is my stop on the blog tour for The Big Event by Anne John-Ligali.

The Big Event is part one of the Friendship Online Short Story Series.

Constance Jeffries is excited when she gets the chance to meet up with virtual friends at a
get-together in a London hotel. She’s been tweeting and messaging her lovely friends for years and feels they must be just as excited to finally meet her in person too.
Or so she hopes.

A short story about the importance of ‘real’ friendships and how it’s the little things that matter the most.

About the author:

Anne John-Ligali is a writer and the founder of Books and Authors UK, a popular website featuring author interviews and book reviews. She loves all things books: reading, writing, going to book events, and meeting other book lovers. She has written a series of short stories and is currently writing her first novel.

Anne has always loved stories and read many books as a child, including the entire Sweet Valley High and Caitlyn series. Her interest in writing fiction came years later, when she began writing for pleasure in 2007. Since then, Anne has been writing on and off and enjoys participating in writing groups. Twice in 2014, she won the monthly Novelicious Pintrest Prompt Fiction Competition.

When Anne is not writing, she is likely to be at soft play with her kids, taking long evening walks in Hyde Park, making green smoothies, window shopping, or having a pampering session at her local beauty salon (whenever she gets the chance). She can also be found watching box sets (albeit with a bit of shame at still having to catch up on Scandal, Grey’s, and Downton).

Originally from Peterborough, Anne now lives in London. After moving to London, she studied graphic design at the University of Arts and has held a number IT administration jobs in the city. Anne continues writing and aspires to write more women’s fiction books, a non-fiction book and several children’s books.

You can find Anne at the following places:

website Twitter Facebook Instagram

For more info about the book check out:

Book Blog website Twitter Facebook

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this short story, it was a light fun read about friendship,of the virtual kind. Perfect for your commute to work as it’s quick to digest and hopefully unless it’s a very short trip, you won’t miss the stop!

Constance is an author and she’s at a Christmas party filled with people she knows, but not really.

We all portray ourselves a certain way online that often isn’t exactly the truth and these party goers are no exception. But sometimes what we’re hiding has a lot more heart to it.

There’s a sequel due out this year following on from The Big Event.

You can buy The Big Event here.

books, fun stuff

#tacklestack the first five

ramblingmads

In my bedroom (I live in a small flat) there is the book mountain, more than an average to be read (tbr) pile. And it is slowly becoming impossible to manage. 

I’ve seen some interesting methods for getting through these piles, from putting a pound in a jar every time you finish a book (I’d be broke in a week) to going on a book buying ban (never going to happen fyi there are just too many good books out there and the local library reduced its books after a refurb- a rant for another time). 

So when a Twitter friend introduced me to the #tacklestack challenge I was intrigued. Created by a book blogger to get through her own mountain, there are several different options. I chose the read 5 books one. 

My first 5 #tacklestack books

Mini reviews of each book will be posted on Instagram when I finish a stack. 

Some of these books have been kicking around for a while – I mean in some cases I moved in with them 6 years ago and still haven’t read them. 

Of course, being me, I had to complicate things – I am also dipping in and out of Tales of the Marvellous and News of the Strange, an English translation of some ancient Arabic fables that pre-date A Thousand and One Nights, and reading ARCs for review and some upcoming blog tours. 

I also have a stack of magazines to read and the weekend papers get delivered so I’m not completely out of the loop on world events (Twitter keeps me reasonably well informed five days a week). 

My dad passed over his Amazon Fire tablet as he’s got a new iPad  (that man does love a gadget) so I can read some ebooks to review (although I’m still not a fan) and download some French books to continue that plan too (it’s embarrassing to have a French name and family but be so bad at it). 

After I cut that damn mountain down to size I’m planning a Terry Pratchett re-read from the beginning  (if you get the Thameslink between Mill Hill and Blackfriars I’ll be the woman crying with laughter into her scarf twice a day). 

Anyone else tackling the stack? Wanna share your current reads? Comment here or find me on social media (I’m always ramblingmads) and chat books.  

books, reviews

Book review: Look For Her – Emily Winslow

ramblingmads

Another day, another review. Something a bit more psychological this time! 

A body found in the woods dressed in the clothing of a missing girl from forty years ago, a young woman obsessed by the case, a recent drowning. Is there a connection and if so, can detectives Keene and Frohmann find it before anyone else gets hurt? 

I haven’t read anything by Winslow before, except her story in the Deadlier anthology (which I also recommend) but I really enjoyed this, finishing it in one sitting. 

I liked the changes in perspective between the different characters, the fact that some of them had their own agendas and you couldn’t always clearly see what they were, and how it was all carefully drawn together at the end. 

Cold cases are quite fascinating, especially as technology as moved on so much and what we can tell now about a crime is so more in depth than in the past, making it both easier and harder to solve them.

This book is available now from all the usual places. 

books, reviews

Book Preview: What Falls Between the Cracks – Robert Scragg

ramblingmads

For a debut novel this is very accomplished, and in an amusing twist is set in and around my neck of the woods, with familiar places popping up as I read.

A frozen hand is found in an abandoned flat, whose is it and how did it end up there? DI Jake Porter and DS Nick Styles match the DNA to a woman who had been missing for 30 years. What happened to her? 

A simple investigation turns into a knotty and dangerous case, pitting the police against a gang of criminals and members of their own force. 

I really enjoyed this, I like a good, complex crime thriller and this delivered. Pacey, well written, fully fledged out characters, the rest of this proposed series should be interesting. 
The hardback isn’t out till April next year but if this is your sort of read I recommend putting it on your tbr list now. 

books, reviews

Book Review: The Last Time We Spoke – Fiona Sussman 

ramblingmads

This is a really interesting book about forgiveness and redemption. 
After her family are violently murdered Carla Reid is slowly rebuilding her life while Ben Toroa, one of her family’s attackers is facing the consequences of his violent past. Their paths cross when Carla decides to seek further understanding of the day she lost her loved ones. 

I don’t know a lot about New Zealand or Maori culture, but this offered an insight into that world as well as a redemptive narrative, that while quite sad at times, from Carla’s tragedy and Ben’s terrible home life, also has a heart. 

I can see why the author is award winning – her writing is fluid and rich, the plot is intelligent and emotionally driven. 

The book is available now. 

books, reviews

Book Review: The Fact of a Body – Alexandria Marzano-Lesenevich 

ramblingmads


I don’t really like true crime books, they’re often poorly written and lurid but this is nothing like those. Subtitled A Murder and a Memoir, this is not only the story of one terrible crime, but also a moving meditation on family, innocence and healing. 

Marzano-Lesenevich was an intern for famed lawyer Clive Stafford Smith when she started to investigate the case of one of his clients, Ricky Langley, a convicted paedophile who murdered a young boy, Jeremy Guillory in Louisiana in 1992 and was given the death penalty, which on appeal was commuted to life in prison. 

Combined with this case history is Marzano-Lesenevich’s own story. Hers is not a happy one either, life was often cruel and confusing and she is open about the hardships she too has suffered. 

A masterful writer, who manages to weave these disparate narrative strands together in a very compelling read. 

A mixture of court transcripts, reports and reconstructed scenes provide the story of Ricky, and Jeremy, while the author’s own memories and occasional family conversation build into her own. 

This was much more readable than I’m probably making it sound, and I was really fascinated. Obviously it’s not the cheeriest of reads, it is certainly an interesting one. 

books, Illumicrate, reviews

Book Review – Wonder Woman: Warbringer – Leigh Bardugo

ramblingmads

This book came in my recent Illumicrate and I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about it. I haven’t seen the Wonder Woman film for a variety of reasons. But this isn’t a novelization of the film or really part of that narrative. 
Bardugo wrote some of my favourite recent fantasy books (The Grisha trilogy, Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom), which meant I knew she could write but working with existing characters is not always a good idea (see some of the many recent continuation novels from Sophie Hannah, Anthony Horowitz etc, a rather uneven territory). 

However I was pleasantly surprised by her treatment of the DC super hero. Starting on the secret island Wonder Woman hails from, the novel really gets going once she leaves Themyscria for our modern world. 

Having saved Alia from a sinking ship and broken one of the laws of the Amazons, Diana must leave or face banishment. An ancient bloodline is also in play – and the end of the world could be nigh. 

In the end I read this very quickly, it certainly made my commute fly by, and it was really enjoyable. I hope this isn’t the one off it seems, Bardugo is a great writer and I really like the voice she gives to Wonder Woman. 

Have you read this book? Seen the film? Have anything you want to share? The comments section is waiting for you.