Cal's Blog: Book Review - The Summer of Impossible Things by R...

Cal's Blog: Book Review - The Summer of Impossible Things by R...: Title: The Summer of Impossible Things Author: Rowan Coleman Release Date: June 2017 Rating: 5 stars 'The Summer of Impossible Thin...

Book Review - Kindred Spirits by Jean Marie Bauhaus

Title: Kindred Spirits (Restless Spirits Book 2)
Author: Jean Marie Bauhaus
Release Date: June 30th 2017
Rating: 5 stars

'Kindred Spirits' is book 2 in the 'Restless Spirits' series by Jean Marie Bauhaus. 

The perfect book to curl up and relax with, 'Kindred Spirits' is a paranormal romance with likeable characters and a story that keeps you guessing throughout. Ron and Chris, the sisters who we first met in 'Restless Spirits', are back and as usual are caught up in all sorts of ghostly goings on. This time there is the added element of a potential romance for Chris, plus a murder mystery that can only be solved with the help of the spirit world.

'Kindred Spirits' is a quick and easy read and is one that I enjoyed immensely. If you're looking for a well written paranormal romance to lose yourself in for a few hours after a long, hard day, then look no further than this.

This book does exactly what it sets out to do and for me is a heartwarming 5 star read.

Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

Book Review - A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

Title: A God in Ruins (companion piece to Life After Life)
Author: Kate Atkinson
Release Date: 2015
Rating: 4 stars

'A God in Ruins' is a very difficult book to review. As someone who adored 'Life After Life' I went into this companion piece with high expectations, which it sadly did not quite live up to. I started reading it way back in 2015, but found the pace so slow and hard going that I abandoned it until a couple of weeks ago, when I decided that I really must try to get through it.

So how do I review this book without giving too much away? There are flashes of sheer brilliance throughout 'A God in Ruins', with some chapters that literally took my breath away, but there are also large portions of the story that drag and are bogged down by unnecessary passages that seemed to go on and on forever.

Up until the last few chapters I was going to give it a 3.5 star rating. There are some breathtaking moments, so beautifully written with such understanding and emotion that they made my heart ache, but it is the final few chapters that pack a real emotional punch and made me change my rating to 4 stars. 

I can't say any more without giving too much away, but will say that even though I found 'A God in Ruins' a hard slog at times, I'm glad that I took the time to go back and finish it. The beautiful writing and the powerful emotional impact of the ending made it a story to remember and I'm so glad I decide to reacquaint myself with the unforgettable Todd family.

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Book Review - Differently Normal by Tammy Robinson

Title: Differently Normal
Author: Tammy Robinson
Release Date: April 2017
Rating: 5 Stars

'Differently Normal' is a beautifully written story that will stay with me for a long time to come. With memorable characters that drew me in from the very first page, it is also a book that resonated with me on a very personal level. It portrays the reality of caring for a loved one with a disability in such a believable way, and is told with the care, humour and sensitivity I have come to expect from this author's work.

Tammy Robinson is a born storyteller. She breathes life into her characters, making you love and care about them, feeling every emotion right along with them. Maddy and Albert are brought vividly to life on the page and, more than anything, you're willing everything to work out well and for them to get all the things that life has so far denied them.

The unwavering love Maddy has for her sister, Bee (who has autism), is as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, and as the parent of a (now adult) child with a disability, my heart goes out to her as she struggles to come to terms with the responsibility of caring for someone you love who is 'differently normal'.

A beautiful story of love and heartache that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, 'Differently Normal' has a cast of memorable characters and a story that will stay with you long after the final page has been turned. Highly recommended.

Thank you to TBC and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

Book Review - The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse

Title: The Idea of You
Author: Amanda Prowse
Release Date: 21st March 2017
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary:

With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter thinks she finally has it all: a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect.

But becoming parents proves much harder to achieve than Lucy and Jonah imagined, and when Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them, she becomes a constant reminder of what Lucy doesn’t have. Jonah’s love and support are unquestioning, but Lucy’s struggles with work and her own failing dreams begin to take their toll. With Camille’s presence straining the bonds of Lucy’s marriage even further, Lucy suddenly feels herself close to losing everything…

My Review:

Going into 'The Idea of You' I already knew it was going to be an emotional read as baby loss is an issue that's very close to my heart. As I read it, I also knew that when it came to writing my review it would be very difficult not to talk about the emotional impact it had on me on a very personal level. 

I have never suffered a miscarriage myself, however my son and his wife lost their firstborn little boy, my grandson, to stillbirth in 2012. The lives of my family were forever changed in an instant, and our beautiful, perfect baby boy will be etched on our memories and in our hearts always.

So knowing that 'The Idea of You' dealt with baby loss I began to read with some trepidation, nervous at how the subject would be handled. But I needn't have worried as, in Amanda Prowse's capable hands, it was dealt with sensitively and with great empathy. I didn't always like Lucy and Jonah, or the way they dealt with things, but that made them all the more real and believable to me. And from my own personal experience of seeing loved ones grieve the loss of a much wanted baby, I recognised and empathised with so much of what they went through.

As the story progressed and more details of Lucy's past emerged, I grew to understand and sympathise with her even more, so much so that I went from sometimes wanting to shake her to wanting to envelop her in a gigantic hug. With a cast of supporting characters (including Jonah's feisty, beautiful teenage daughter Camille) that you quickly come to like and care about, this is a book full of heart and family values. Beautifully writtten with such a wonderful depth of emotion, 'The Idea of You' is not only a story of heartbreak and loss, but also one of hope.

A highly recommended 5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this beautiful book.

Book Review - Quieter Than Killing by Sarah Hilary

Title: Quieter Than Killing
Author: Sarah Hilary
Release Date: March 9th 2017
Rating: 5 Stars

This is the fourth in Sarah Hilary's wonderful DI Marnie Rome series, and was every bit as good as I expected it to be.

Delving even deeper into Marnie's past and the murder of her parents by her foster brother Stephen Keele, 'Quieter Than Killing' is a psychological thriller full of the twists and turns we have come to expect, taking you on a rollercoaster of a ride that leaves you breathless and eager to find out what happens next.

With the always fabulous DS Noah Jake by her side, Marnie is investigating a spate of what appear to be vigilante attacks. But nothing is ever as straight forward as it seems and the case begins to take a very unexpected turn, with Marnie having to face up to the ghosts of her past while trying to remain focused on the task of bringing the perpetrator to justice.

I don't know how she manages to do it with every outing, but 'Quieter Than Killing' is the best in the series so far and Sarah Hilary has outdone herself yet again. Beautifully written, with a cast of memorable characters, the DI Marnie Rome series is one I highly recommend. And if you haven't read them yet? Do it, now. You won't regret it.

A fantastic 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher who gave me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, which is available to buy now.

Book Review - The Liberation by Kate Furnivall

Title: The Liberation
Author: Kate Furnivall
Release Date: November 2016
Rating: 4 stars

'The Liberation' is a fabulous historical romance that's as rich in atmosphere as it is in characterisation. It drew me in from the very first page and moved along at such a fast pace that the hours just sped by and before I knew it the story was coming to an end. Beautifully written, with characters you quickly come to care about, the twists and turns come thick and fast, even taking me by surprise on occasion. The sense of time and place is brought to life on the page and I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would.

A different kind of read to what I usually choose, but I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on it. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and would definitely read more by Kate Furnivall in the future. A good solid 4 stars from me.

Thank you to TBC and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read 'The Liberation'.