So many books, so little time..........

The downside of rarely getting on the computer is that my inclination to type at length on a smartphone is virtually zero......... so a lot of books have not yet been reviewed. A few that I have however are copied below:
 Trinity: well written; believable characters; good plotline! GREAT READ!, 7 Sep 2013 (via Amazon)
I read this because I am a big fan of the author in his other persona,as a Craft presenter and innovator. I read a lot, but do tend to focus more on other genres these days. That said, I have most Jilly Coopers in my library and grew up with Jackie Collins, Lace etc. I know what a good bonkbuster romp should look like in other words - and Nigel May did NOT disappoint! The characters were well crafted so that you felt you knew them, or at least have known someone like them in your own life. The locations were beautifully described, giving plenty of fodder to be able to really picture them in my head, even ones where I have never been or seen. The pace was just right and the writing style flowed effortlessly, with the result that you are drawn into the book and can easily lose yourself in it. I have since recommended this book to others and so far everyone else has enjoyed it too! Nigel May has surpassed himself and is a new author to watch - I know I am definitely keen to read more work by him and can't wait for his next book!

  Kathryn - rated it 4 stars

Feb 08, 2014 01:49AM

Great premis - took a few pages to embrace the narrative style but well worth it. Absolutely love Henry and Sloane, two great female leads. ( Indexing
by Seanan McGuire)

Defender by Robert J Crane (Sanctuary series Book 1) 
 I am guessing the author has played MMO's; this book made me want to revisit my WOW subscription! That is however, not a criticism nor was the book derivative of its type. The characters were well-developed and the over-arching plot of the components for a weapon of mass destruction being amassed by an unknown foe was interesting and kept me hooked. The book is also quite a good length, no feeling short-changed here as is the case with some freebies! If you like your Sci-fi fantasy and even more so if you are into your MMOs, then this book is well worth a read - and how can you miss out when it is even free for Kindle?!

The Glass Throne shone!

Just finished reading the above, by Sarah Maas. It's been lurking around on various sites I visit for Fantasy/Sci Fi type recommendations but the library didnt have it in and I am skint. Luckily my friend has lent me her Kindle with a plethora of books on it to keep me entertained. Much to my delight, this was on it and so I dived in with anticipation. I was not disappointed. This is a highly entertaining and well written tale of a young female assassin, rescued from prison camp in order to compete to be the Kings Champion. Somewhat of a Hobsons choice as it turns out - freedom after 4 years but only by working for the very King who sent her to the prison camps and whom she hates. Or she can return to the Endovier mines immediately. She chooses the competition but all is not what is seems with the other contestants......
The characters are well crafted and you get little insights along the way into each that makes them more and more likeable and credible. There are enough original ideas within the book to keep even the most die-hard fantasy reader happy and the style/pace of the writing is spot-on.
All in all, I'd probably give this an 8 out of 10 and will definitely be on the look out for Book #2

Gollanz Geeks Freebie

I was lucky enough to be selected recently to receive a free copy of "Poison" by Sarah Pinborough, on the condition that I provided a review. I read a lot of reviews and find some people are just too verbose - they are clearly trying to sound intelligent, erudite and articulate but I just want to know if the book is any good or not! I went for brevity, as an aid for someone who might be dithering about purchasing the book. Here is my review:  
As a fan of Grimm and the original Grimms Fairytales, I was hoping for a something a bit different than the usual anodised versions of Snow White. Poison delivered this, with several new twists on the old classic. I liked the fact that the animosity between the Queen and Snow was more than just envy - the idea of their being very close in age at the point of the marriage added a new dimension to understanding the Queen and her resentment. Sarah Pinborough is clearly a fan of the classics and ties her characters into other Grimms tales neatly. Snow was portrayed as a more down-to-earth beauty than the Disney images - this is no shy or retiring princess and as such, you care more about what happens to her. Her relationship with the Dwarves is endearing and we also learn how Dreamy really got his name, as does Prince Charming. The biggest twist comes towards the end of the book and I was not expecting it at all - cue a sharp intake of breath upon reading it! No spoilers though, you need to find out for yourself. The book is well written and thus is an easy read; ideal for bedtime reading but don't expect a happy ending..........
Find this at: 

Light frothy Kindle reads for under £2

I generally trawl the world of Freebies but occasionally put my hand in my pocket for what appears to be a good deal. Such as one was the Boxset of the High Heels Mysteries by Gemma Halliday - 5 books for under a quid! The main character is Maddie Springer, childrens shoe designer and self-turned sleuth. She can be a bit ditzy at times but not to the point of annoyance, as is sometimes the case. With Maddie it is more of the "Doh!" moments that most of us experience so I felt that this made her more endearing. Each book has Maddie embroiled in another mystery to solve, usually to the exasperation of Detective Ramirez, the very hot love-interest! The books are well written with an easy writing style that flows nicely,  taking you on the journey without effort - something I find especially important if I am reading before I sleep. If you are going on holiday, this is great value - five books to entertain you for less than a pound!