IOU by @helencwarner a review #fridayreads #amreading

The lovely folks at Simon and Schuster sent me a copy of IOU by Helen Warner to review. Thanks guys I quite liked it.

Here's what Amazon have to say about it:
Amy has enjoyed a charmed life, shopping and lunching while the nanny looks after her children. Until her world is thrown into disarray when husband Ben's business collapses overnight, taking their house and savings with it. Suddenly Amy finds herself the breadwinner. Can she rise to the challenge? Will her marriage survive such an upheaval? Or is it a case of 'Till Debt Do Us Part'? Kate has always had to struggle by, juggling her job with two children and a husband, though she wouldn't have it any other way. But her safe little world is rocked when she meets enigmatic Jack in a chance encounter. Feeling increasingly estranged from husband Miles, Kate wonders if Jack can offer her a fresh start. But there's something about Jack that Kate doesn't know...Jennifer is only just beginning to recover from the death of her own husband. When Jennifer makes contact with old flame Hugh she unlocks a dangerous Pandora's box. She is desperate to find the answer to a question that has tormented her for decades. But will she be able to cope with the truth?

One thing I like about doing book reviews is that it introduces me to new authors and/or genres of books I wouldn't normally touch. IOU is in one of the genres I read but haven't been reading much of lately so it probably wouldn't have been an obvious one for me to pick up, especially as Helen Warner is a new author to me.

I liked this book, it's perfectly paced. Occasionally I thought something was going to be the next plot point only to find it was mentioned almost in passing and the next chapter started a few days or weeks in the future. I did guess one of the major twists before it was revealed. I was surprised by it in a way because whilst I'd figured it out I'd expected it to be really sinister but it wasn't at all. It's a good book. If the twist had been handled how I expected it would have been a very different book.

The end surprised me. I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't that. The final page also contains the term (word?) IOU which I think is the only time it's used. That surprised me given its the title of the book and made me wonder why it was chosen.




Finally, I feel it important to note that this book has nothing to do with weddings. Probably more indicative of how my mind works than the book but... I had the book on my bedside table for 10 days or so before I read it. Face down. Every time I caught sight of it I would think how much the design on the back looked like a wedding invitation. I don't know why.

Off Balanced by Zachary Fenell

Zach sent me a free copy of Off Balanced. It's his self published ebook memoir of life as a teen with CP. In the UK it's available on Kindle.. In the US it's on both Kindle and Nook.

In the interests of being fair, here is the synopsis. However I strongly disagree with some of the statements made about CP within it. I'm also not sure this is the best summary as it focuses on the CP aspects and to me it read more as being about life than about CP. Although for those of us with CP it does have a big impact on our lives.

Off Balanced dives into the thoughts of a teenager with the neurological disability cerebral palsy. Just like how CP can throw one off balance physically, the condition can create mental unsteadiness. Learn how poor balance, muscle tightness, and other cerebral palsy symptoms influence the emotional teenage mindset. From coping with the disability and relating to classmates to building self-confidence and making friends discover first hand insight about teenage life with CP. For teens troubled by cerebral palsy Off Balanced lets you know you are not alone. Additionally the memoir demonstrates to able-bodied youths how big their smallest actions can be.

I liked this because I like connecting and sharing experiences with other disabled people (and particularly those with CP). From reading Off Balanced I have the impression that this is something Zach didn't experience growing up. I think that's a shame. From the tips and tricks only another disabled person can share to the companionship of spending time with people who "get" disability there's a lot to be said for spending time in the disabled community both on and off line and knowing you aren't alone. We're definitely a powerful community when we work together each doing the little bit we can. Just this week the Spartacus Report has shown that.

Something I don't understand is Zach trying to hide his CP as a child. But then as a wheelchair user I've never had that option. It's something I've noticed in several of the disability memoirs I've read - that theme of hating and hiding then accepting it and almost coming out as a crip. I wonder why that is? I'll have to blog more about that I think.

As a writer I've heard a lot of debate about what is a book? What's a novel? How many words or pages before you can say that's what you've written? I've never seen a standard definition or heard any agreement and I really don't think it's an argument that can ever be settled. Nor do I think it should be. Some of the best books I've read have been incredibly short. Others have been over 1000 pages and just as good.

I mention this because although Zachary packs a lot in, Off Balanced is very short (the PDF review copy I received is approx 65 pages). Once or twice it felt like things were being rushed or glossed over a little and I certainly had expected it to be at least twice the length it is. Treatments he had are mentioned in passing only which intrigued me as they would have been a big part of any memoir I wrote about the impact of CP on life. Botox, physio, splints etc to me are the big things which make a CPer different so Zach's omitting to mention them fully interests me. I'd love to know why.

The book is good at explaining things in a way that doesn't overwhelm or get too technical. When things like surgeries and baclofen are a part of your normal it can be easy to forget that there are people who don't know what they are. Getting the terms and their explanations in without turning people off is well done. In a few places however the writing in general needed a bit of tightening up. I had to read a couple of sentences a few times to make sense of them as they felt wrong to me.

Off Balanced shows what life was like for Zachary growing up and does it well. It would be a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn about being disabled (although there are several blogs which also do that including - I hope - this one). I think there's definite potential there and I'd love to see it expanded with more content and edited.

The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St John

Waterstones gave me a copy of The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St John to review. It's coming out on 1st March.

Here's the synopsis:
Casey Blue loves horses but living, as she does, in the inner city with her father, who is not always on the right side of the law, her dreams of becoming an event rider seem out of reach. Until one day she rescues a horse from the knacker's yard. She works hard waitressing to keep the horse, whom she names Storm Force at her run down local stables, and she nurses him back to health. In time a sleek and highly strung thoroughbred emerges from the bag of bones she rescued and Casey sets about finding out who her horse really is. When Casey is talent-spotted and sponsored she and Storm Force move into a different riding league and suddenly her dream of competing at Badminton is within her grasp. But dreams can turn into nightmares, and Casey is just about to come face to face with the worst nightmare ever! A real life thriller that delves into the competitive and elite equestrian world of Grand Slam riding with all its highs and lows, jealousies, envy, triumphs and tragedies.

Being that this is marketed as a children's book and I'm 30 it's safe to say I am very much not the target audience. But I really enjoyed it. It's the perfect length for an older child/young teen and is easy to read without talking down to the reader.

Casey is a very believable character who you just want to do well. But at the same time things aren't easy for her and she has to fight her corner just as we all do. I liked that, it added to the realism of the book.

Towards the end there were one or two bits that I thought were rushed or were otherwise glossed over. That's my only criticism of the book though.

The story ends on a high but with one or two loose ends making a sequel unlikely but not impossible. I'd certainly like to read more about Casey and Storm Warning if Lauren St John were to write it.

Lord of the Lightning by David Butler

One of my blog readers and fellow CPer, Becky, sent me an email asking if I'd like to review her Dad's new book. And not being one to turn down free books (and because it sounded good) I said yes. The book is Lord of the Lightning by David Butler

Here is the synopsis
The poet Homer says the Greek gods made androids, replica humans able to speak and move and think. Consider that…

The ancient Greek gods, Zeus and the rest, weren't gods at all. They were aliens, travellers in space and time, who chanced upon planet Earth when their vehicle broke down. We were a handy emergency stop. Their technology was taken for divine magic so they were taken for gods.

Earth was a disappointment. The science the Olympians needed to mend their vehicle was unknown to the ancient Greeks. And the Olympians were falling sick. So they entered suspended animation.

In 1996 they awoke. Now they've done a deal with a global tycoon. Fix the ship, cure the illnesses and the Olympians will depart, leaving the tycoon equipped with the same technology the Greeks mistook for divine power.

Planet Earth may fall under the dictatorship of a single business leader, Malvol. If some of the Olympians have their way, worse fates may await humanity, including the theft of the planet. An alien shape-shifter named Demogorgon has equally menacing plans.

Leadership in the battle to save the human race falls by chance to an unemployed journalist, an American professor, a female aboriginal Australian diplomat, a quartet of first year university students led by a young woman in a wheelchair - oh yes, and a hyper-intelligent Siamese cat whose interests include geometry and Latin poetry. Can Earth be saved?

There was something about this that just kept me reading. It had hints of sci fi enough to keep me happy but not so much to put off someone who wasn't a fan. There was quite a lot of Greek mythology in it an area I know little or nothing about. However it wasn't overwhelming and for the most part was explained without making it boring or you feel like the author was talking down to you.

I especially loved the plot with Leo the cat, which not being a cat fan (they freak me out) I hadn't expected.

Another aspect that was very good was the way disability is handled. It's not hidden away or brushed aside. Nor is the point that Penelope is disabled shoved down your throat. It's just a part of who she is along with many other things. Once or twice her disability was used to describe her when I didn't think it needed to be though. I have a feeling there are a lot of autobiographical elements to the characters of Penelope and her parents and would be interested to know how much that is so.

I'm glad I read this book and if there's a sequel I'd want to read it.

Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris

Simon and Schuster very kindly gave me a copy of Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris to review.

Here's the synopsis:
Dreams can come true - it could happen to you...For the past two years, Evie Taylor has lived an invisible existence in London, a city she hoped would bring sparkle to her life. But all that is about to change. For winter has brought a flurry of snow and unexpected possibilities. Hidden away in the basement of Hardy's - once London's most elegant department store - Evie manages the stockroom of a shop whose glory days have long since passed. When Evie overhears that Hardy's is at risk of being sold, she secretly hatches a plan. If she can reverse the store's fortunes by December 26th - three weeks away - and transform it into a magical destination once again, she might just be able to save it. But she's going to need every ounce of talent and determination she has. In fact, she's going to need a miracle.

I loved this book.  It's so feel good and Christmassy and just brilliant.  I actually finished it about a month ago (review writing delayed by NaNoWriMo consuming me for the entirity of November amongst other things) and am giving serious consideration to reading it again to help get into the Christmas spirit right about now.  I could use a little Christmas spirit I think.

To start with I just wanted to scream at Evie to grow up and stand up for herself.  But then as the book continues it becomes all the more obvious why she is how she is and all the more understandable too.  As someone whose disability often makes her invisible I could relate to Evie's problem with not being known for who she is and often being ignored.  And I could recognise a lot of a younger, less confident me.  I wish my own journey to increased confidence and losing (some of) my invisibility had been as fun and rewarding in the end as Evie's was in this book.  I think this shows just how believable and well written the characters in this book are.

If you like books which you have to work to enjoy and which make you think, this may not be the book for you.  I found it did make me think as I said above but it's definitely more of a fun read than a literary or education read.  That's not to say it was predictable or formulaic or anything like that because it wasn't.  It's chicklit, yes, but it's chicklit at it's best.  This reminded me of Marian Keyes at her strongest. Miracle on Regent Street is Ali Harris's first novel and I predict it won't be her last.  I'll certainly be watching out for more by her.

It's totally perfect for a cold evening snuggled under the duvet or on the sofa - preferably with a hot chocolate.  And it's the sort of book I would love to find in my Christmas stocking on the big day.  It's that good.

December Goals

Take my meds every day (seriously my med compliance has been absolutely atrocious lately. And no suprise, my mood is appalling as a result. Surprisingly my spasticity hasn't gone as crazy as it used to with not meds).

Continue my one better choice a day plan I've been working on.

Finish some damn knitting.  (honestly I don't think I've finished a single knitting project this year :-O)

No more ridiculous chocolate binges (I ate a totally ridiculous amount today and don't know how I wasn't sick).

15 mins on the house each day.

Catch up on book reviews

Exercise a couple of times a week.

Necklace of the Gods by Alison Goodman

Transworld gave me a copy of Necklace of the Gods by Alison Goodman to review. Note: this book is also available as a YA edition with the title Eona: Return of the Dragoneye.

Here's the synopsis:

Once she was Eon, a girl disguised as a boy, risking her life for the chance to become a Dragoneye apprentice. Now she is Eona, thrust into the role of her country’s saviour.

But Eona has an even more dangerous secret — she cannot control her power. When she tries to bond with her Mirror Dragon, the anguish of the ten spirit beasts whose Dragoneyes were murdered surges through her. The result: a killing force that destroys everything before it. On the run from High Lord Sethon’s army, Eona and her friends must help the Pearl Emperor, Kygo, wrest back his throne. Everyone is relying on Eona’s power. Can she face her own darkness within, and drive a dangerous bargain with an old enemy? A wrong move could obliterate them all.

Against a thrilling backdrop of explosive combat, ruthless power struggles and exotic lore, Eona is the gripping story of a remarkable warrior who must find the strength to walk a deadly line between truth and justice. Full of pulse-racing drama, heart-stirring romance, dazzling fight scenes, and myriad surprises, The Necklace of the Gods brings this extraordinarily imagined and exciting fantasy epic to a resounding climax.


I've not really read any fantasy novels before so I kept putting this off.  Once I got started though I found that I did like it more than I expected.  I'd thought that fantasy would be full of weird words and things that didn't make sense and would just be really hard going.  It wasn't anything like that at all.

This is the second book in a trilogy featuring Eona.  I don't think it is necessary to read the first book before reading this but it might be better to do.  I certainly would like to because I think it might make certain parts of the story clearer. It wasn't that I didn't understand them just that I wanted to know more about the whys etc than was included in this book (rightly so because no one wants to retell the entire first book in the second, that would be pointless).

For various reasons I didn't finish this book - I kept finding other things that I wanted to read more.  It was perfectly readable but just not my genre as such.  Plus I have a good friend who was very keen to read it so I passed it her way. When she finishes it I've asked her to review it ;-).  I will definitely give it another go when I get it back but I'll probably read the first book in the series first.  There are definite parts of the plot that have got me wondering what comes next... always a sign of a good book.

Welly Walks and Biscuit Baking by Hannah Ensor

I decided to start the read-a-thon off with something super easy and read my friend Hannah Ensor's new books which are released today.  I'm also going to pop up to her book launch a bit later and I'm looking forward to it.

Hannah is a writer and illustrator who uses her trademark stickman style to use humour to education about disability.  Her two newest books which come out today are Welly Walks and Biscuit Baking - stories aimed at children aged between 2 and 5.  Each includes a character in a wheelchair but at no point are the words "disabled", "disability" or "wheelchair" mentioned in the stories. The wheelchair user just is.

These books are so much fun.  I liked them both but I think Biscuit Baking is my favourite.  I love the colour in them too, it really made the pictures pop.  Plus I am once again left in awe of how much life and character Hannah manages to get into simple stickmen characters.

I really recommend these books (and Hannah's other books and products, her wheelchair signs are a particular favourite of mine). I know several people who've had kids this year and I want to buy these for them.  But as they are all pretty much still in the newborn stage I'll have to hold off... for now.

£1 from the sale of each book goes to Whizz-Kids - as Hannah describes it:

Who help children enjoy fun and full childhoods, get the right wheelchairs for them at the right time, and learn the skills they need – all without pity or patronisation. With loads of input from the kidz themselves, it is run with humour, respect, positivity, professionalism and cheek. A charity after my own heart.

It's also a cause that I too believe in.

Hannah's blog is here and her website is here.  The books are available from available from the publisher 2QT, WHSmiths,and other similar places. I have been told that Amazon is taking a long time to process orders.

The Odin Mission by James Holland

I received a review copy of The Odin Mission by James Holland as a part of Transworld's Reading Group. It was quite good.

Here's the synopsis from Amazon:



April 1940. Nazi Germany has invaded neutral Norway. Fleeing north from their brutal Blitzkrieg advance are three officers of the King’s Guard – men who have been entrusted by the Norwegian King with a vitally important mission. The only military force which stands between the Nazi forces and total victory are the poorly equipped, undertrained squaddies of the British 148th Brigade. Among them is Sergeant Jack Tanner, recently returned from the Middle East. As the British are pushed back from Lillehammer, Sergeant Tanner and his patrol are left stranded in the mountains in the chaos of retreat. Trying to rejoin their unit, they stumble first across Sandvold and his protectors, and then a French patrol of alpine troops. Trekking through snow-clad mountains with the Germans dogging their every move, Tanner is forced to try and out-fox and out-fight not only their pursuers but the best efforts of his own side. And as the Allies' resistance collapses, it quickly becomes clear that the small band of fugitives can rely on no-one but themselves.

For the most part I enjoyed this book. The Second World War is a period that I've always been very interested in. However I knew nothing about Norway's involvement in it so the idea of this book intrigued me. James Holland is an historian and the book is fully of accurate details which really add to it's feel. I'm quite intrigued now to read more about Norway and the war.

It also uses several military terms relevant to the time. These are explained in a glossary at the back of the book. Personally I would have preferred this to be at the beginning of the book mostly because I spent ages trying to figure out what one of the terms was and even googled it (unsuccessfully). That said I did like the use of the slang and it really does help with the realism of the story. There's no denying that James Holland is a talented writer.

Having visited Norway many years ago the descriptions of the weather, seasons and especially the landscape struck a chord with me. I really enjoyed the two weeks we spent there all those years ago, the stunning views in particular. Whilst the book does a very good job of describing them it doesn't do them justice. But it did make me hanker to go back!

Jack Tanner is a brilliant character. I really liked him, he was gritty and fierce when needed but also had a softer side and obviously cares a lot for the men under his command. A man of honour, his determination to do what's right and get things done pervades the entire book and provides a major part of the plot. This is the first of several books in which he features and I'll definitely be reading more of them.

The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt

Waterstones very kindly gave me a copy of The Summer Without Men to review.

Here's the synopsis:
After Mia Fredricksen's husband of thirty years asks for a pause - so he can indulge his infatuation with a young French colleague -  she cracks up (briefly), rages (deeply), then decamps to her prairie childhood home.

There, gradually, she is drawn into the lives of those around her: her mother's circle of feisty widows; the young woman next door; and the diabolical teenage girls in her poetry class. By the end of the summer without men, Mia knows what's worth fighting for - and on whose terms.

Provocative, mordant, and fiercely intelligent, this is a gloriously vivacious tragi-comedy about women and girls, love and marriage, and the age-old war between the sexes.

At it's heart this book is the story of one woman trying to find herself after her husband meets someone else and asks to "pause" their marriage. It's very well handled and very well written. Through time spent with her mother and her friends, time spent with the seven teenage girls who she teaches poetry and with her 20 something neighbour with young children. Mia sees different stages of life and the problems they bring - bullying, failing health, adjusting to parenthood, etc and thinking back over her own life is able to begin to heal from what her husband did.

Mia is a poet. Throughout the book are poems she wrote, poems the teens wrote and snippets of famous poems. It makes for a very nice feel in the book and makes it that little bit different from regular fiction. I don't read poetry as a rule and it's making me think maybe I should give it a go.

Mental health issues feature in this book and in my opinion are handled very sensitively. Disability isn't always handled well, however, with two uses of the R word and a person with muscular dystrophy being mentioned in passing along with the suggestion of pity.

I found this book hard to get into and initially it didn't hold my attention. I ended up putting it aside for a week or so and reading a couple of other books before going back to it. On the whole it was worth the read.

An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson

Simon and Schuster sent me a pre-release copy of An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson to review. It's being released on 29th September and will be available as both a book and an ebook.

Here's what Amazon has to say about it:


After a bruising divorce, headstrong Juliet Miller invests in a flat and advertises for a flatmate, little believing that in her mid-thirties she'll find anyone suitable. But along comes self-employed copywriter Floz, raw from her own relationship split, and the two woman hit it off. When Juliet's twin brother Guy meets Floz, he is overcome with a massive crush. But being a shy, gentle giant, he communicates so clumsily with her as to give her the opposite impression. Guy's best friend Steve has always had a secret, unrequited crush on Juliet. After a night of too much wine, Steve and Juliet end up in bed, after moaning about the lack of sex in their lives. Convinced that Juliet doesn't feel the same way, Steve agrees to a 'just-sex' relationship, until they can both hook their dream partners. Just when Guy has finally plucked up the courage to tell Floz how he feels, he finds she has rekindled an old romance. Floz has never had much love in her life and is obviously thirsty for affection. She loves the whole Miller family, from Juliet and Guy's warm, loving parents, to their ancient one-eyed black cat. But can Guy turn Floz's affection for his family into something more - into love for him? Then Juliet makes a series of discoveries which will turn the lives of all four friends upside-down and turns that Autumn into a season where love can be harvested.

I have just spent a very enjoyable afternoon reading this. This was the perfect book to spend a dreary September afternoon snuggled under the duvet reading. The sound of the pouring rain providing a backdrop and adding to the atmosphere.
This book is definitely worth looking out for.

I must admit when I selected this off my shelf last night I was looking for pure unadulterated escapism. The sort that only chick lit can provide. This book did provide the perfect escape but it was more than that. The plot follows the same basic premise of single girl looking for romance that most chick lit does. But it takes it further. It has twists you don't expect and even when I knew a secret was about to be revealed I couldn't figure it out.

A couple of unusual topics are covered but this is done sensitively and very well. A theme of friendship pervades the entire book, showcasing that these characters are friends before they are anything else. I really liked that, particularly the friendship between Guy and Steve neither of whom are the stereotypical flawless male hero. These characters could easily be your friends.

A very lovely book.

The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark #fridayreads #amreading #transworldreadinggroup

I'm taking part in Transworld's Reading Group. As a part of that I received a copy of
The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark to review.

Here's what Amazon has to say about it It is 1947, and Evie and Martin Mitchell have just arrived in the Indian village of Masoorla with their five-year-old son. But cracks soon appear in their marriage as Evie struggles to adapt to her new life, and Martin fails to bury unbearable wartime memories.

When Evie finds a collection of letters, concealed deep in the brickwork of their rented bungalow, so begins an investigation that consumes her, allowing her to escape to another world, a hundred years earlier, and to the extraordinary friendship of two very different young women.

And as Evie’s fascination with her Victorian discoveries deepens, she unearths powerful secrets. But at what cost to her present, already fragile existence?

I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. If I'd have written the review as soon as I finished it it basically would have consisted of "you have to read this book. Buy it. Buy it now.". You may have seen my tweet about that.

Why did I love it? It had brilliantly written characters, amazing scenes and a great atmosphere. The colour, sounds and other things that made up life in India in both the time periods described jump off the page and really make you feel like you're there. I found I really came to care about the characters and as Evie was discovering the Victorian girls' secrets I wanted to tell her to hurry up, I needed to know what was happening to them and couldn't wait. I would really love to read more about these characters, especially Felicity and Adela.

I found this book hard to put down. When I start a new book I like to read the first 50 pages. Not always in one go but that's my goal I think if after 50 pages I'm not into it I'm not likely to like it. I started reading this when I had an hour or so before needing to start making dinner which I figured meant I'd read roughly 50 pages ( unless a book has really long chapters, I like to stop at the end of one). I think I'd read something like 140 pages before hunger forced my hand. Needless to say it was a very late dinner that night!

The book has a brilliant ending - it ties up all the threads and you know how things will go but you don't know the details of how, what, and where. I like that. I was left wanting to know what came next in the story of Evie and her family. Knowing that the part of their story in the book is over and being able to make my own mind up about how it continues is something I like as a reader. I don't find many books with characters that do that to me.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time.

Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon

Simon and Schuester sent me a copy of Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon to review.  Many thanks for that, I really enjoyed it!

Here's what Amazon have to say about the book (text is similar if not the same as the back cover blurb)

'He's not mine, is he?' That's the question I fear the most. You see, I have a secret. My son is not fathered by my boyfriend, but by one of the most famous rock stars that ever lived. And he doesn't even know it. One-time celebrity personal assistant to wild boy of rock Johnny Jefferson, Meg Stiles is now settled and living in the south of France with her doting boyfriend Christian and their son Barney. But they're living a lie - a lie that will turn their lives upside down and inside out - because as Barney reaches his first birthday, Meg can no longer deny that her son is growing to look more and more like his rock star father every day, and less and less like Christian, and sooner or later, the world is going to realise ...

This is a great book, pure unadulterated chicklit. I read it pretty much in one afternoon whilst sat in the garden and it was very enjoyable!


It's the sequel to one of Paige Toon's earlier books but you don't need to have read it to read and enjoy this book. In fact I didn't realise until I got to the end of the book that it was a sequel. That said I would like to read the first one simply because I've not read any of her other books and she's definitely someone I'd like to read more by as she is a good writer with brilliant books if this is anything to go by.

The characters were believable and the plot didn't feel contrived at all. They all came across as down to earth and could be people you know - even Johnny the rock star father of Barney once you got past all the drugs and famous girlfriend and all that.

If you want a really gripping meaty book that you have to work at this isn't it but if you're looking for something fun, enjoyable, believeable and relaxing this is definitely it. It has all of that and it keeps you reading whilst making you wonder what you would do if you'd been in Meg's situation. A perfect holiday read and I definitely recommend it.

What About The Boy by Stephen Gallup

A few months ago I had an e-mail from Stephen asking if I wanted to review his soon to be self published book (it's out in September).  You can read more about the book on Stephen's blog  or find it on Amazon.

Here's the text on the back:

Nobody knew what hurt little Joseph, and no one was offering a way to help him. He cried most of the time, and thrashed about as if in pain. He wasn't learning how to crawl, talk, or interact normally. Doctors told his parents to seek counseling, because nothing could help their son, and the quality of their own lives was at risk. Refusal to accept that advice changed their lives forever. WHAT ABOUT THE BOY? A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son chronicles a family's rejection of hopelessness and their commitment to the pursuit of normalcy.

The day this book arrived a friend was here and we both looked at it and agreed I would either love it or hate it.  In reality it had both good and bad bits and I can't say I loved it or hated it.  It was interesting and definitely has a way of drawing you into events and holding your attention.  Towards the end I did begin to be very frustrated by the book however as the author shared some views the total opposite of what I agree with and which I found shocking.

The other thing my friend and I were discussing looking at the book was the title - What About The Boy?  I took that to mean that it was about a fight with medical staff etc to see Joseph for who he was and to give him the chance to be a little boy - to do fun things and have more in his life than just various different therapies.  However I hated the use of The Boy in it and thought What About Joseph would have been a better title.  Because, just like me and everyone other person disabled or otherwise, Joseph deserves to have who he is recognised - using The Boy struck me as a touch of depersonalisation. My initial ideas based on the title proved not to be quite right. Unsurprising, I'm sure you'll agree.

Apart from a few stylistic errors this was quite well written.  To be fair, what I consider errors or inappropriate wording might not have been but instead been the difference between English and American - such as the use of the term "hurt children" to refer to kids with disabilities. In England that would be pretty much unacceptable in that context as it's not a social model term.  But it's my understanding that America is much more medical model based so maybe it's acceptable there.

I find myself somewhat wary of recommending this book because some of the practices Joseph's parents tried in efforts to help him strike me as naive and at times downright dangerous.  Joseph's parents showed a lot of people the alternative therapy they'd been shown how to do - including some doctors.  I was very surprised that 1) Joseph didn't end up injured at any time because of it and 2) nothing happened when they showed the doctors other than them being told to stop wasting their money and time.  But... that said there's nothing to say that didn't happen and just didn't make it into the book.

NOTE: I am deliberately not mentioning any of the therapies used because I don't condone them as a whole (a few sort of make sense but not when applied in the extreme) and don't want people coming to my blog looking for info on them.

On the whole I would say this is a very interesting read and it kept me involved the entire time. The love for Joseph shines through the book and the level of dedication shown to him is to be applauded.  I'd say to read this if you want to gain an idea of what it can be like to be a disabled person and especially to be the parent of a disabled child.  I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking to it for treatment options simply because as I said above I personally don't condone the treatments - although I don't know enough about them - and all such decisions should be based on more than just anecdotal evidence.

I'm glad I read this book because it made me think a lot and consider a viewpoint very different to what I believe in.  I'll probably check back on Steve, Joseph and the rest of the family from time to time on their blog because the book made you care what happened to them.

I plan to see if my mum wants to read the book because I'd be interested in her take.  I'd also love to hear what other disabled people and parents of disabled kids think of it.

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson

Transworld gave me a copy of Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson to review.

Here's what's on the back of the book (helpfully copied from Amazon)

Hey, pretty lady, haven’t we met?

Yes, beautiful thirty-something Autumn Haven has definitely met hockey-superstar Sam LeClaire before. Several years ago she had a passionate, Vegas-inspired fling with him involving getting hitched in an Elvis-themed wedding chapel and ending with her waking up in a hotel room: alone, heartbroken… and pregnant.

So these days, reminding her ex-husband that she even exists isn’t high on Autumn's to-do list. But they have a child, Conner, and suddenly Sam claims to have grown up, wanting to be more involved with his son. And handsome, drop-dead sexy Sam always gets what he wants. Being a good dad to Conner is one thing, but to her horror, Autumn realises she still finds it practically impossible to be around Sam without falling for his charms once again. And that’s the last thing she wants… isn’t it?

Sexy, funny, unputdownable – there’s no one quite like Rachel Gibson.

This book is pure and simple chicklit.  I found it quite a quick read and enjoyed it as simple escapism.  This isn't the book for you if you're looking for something with substance.  But if you're looking for something that will make you smile and laugh in places and that you can just get lost in without thinking then this is the perfect book.  

On the whole I found the plot and characters believable and the book well written.  There was one moment towards the end of the book that was needed for the plot but which I felt was slightly rushed and didn't fit as well but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.  I really enjoyed the interaction between Sam and Conner in the book and it was nice to read a chicklit book with a good dad in it.

I'd never heard of Rachel Gibson before but looking at Amazon it seems she has several other books out.  Some of them form something of a series based around the various characters in the hockey team Sam is a player on.  It looks like different characters are the focus of the different books.  I'm not going to rush out and buy more of these books right now but if I saw them in a shop I'd definitely stop to look and consider buying them.

This book would make a perfect holiday (or garden) read for the long sunny days that are hopefully coming.  Although I read it in bed which was also lovely!

History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason

Waterstones gave me an advance copy of History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason to review.  But a combination of my being busy and blogger being down means this review is a few days later than planned (I finished it Sunday) and actually the book is now out, having been released on 12th May.

Here's the text from the back of the book, helpfully taken from the Waterstones website:

The adventures of adolescence had taught Piet Barol that he was extremely attractive to most women and to many men. He was old enough to be pragmatic about this advantage...' It is 1907. The belle epoque is in full swing. Piet Barol has escaped the drabness of the provinces for the grandest mansion in Amsterdam. As tutor to the son of Europe's wealthiest hotelier, he learns the intimate secrets of this glittering family - and changes it forever. With nothing but his exquisite looks and wit to rely on, he is determined to make a fortune of his own. But in the heady exhilaration of this new world, amid delights and temptations he has only dreamed of, Piet discovers that some of the liaisons he has cultivated are dangerous indeed.

The first thing I have to say is how much I love the cover of this book! Very stylish, it gives little away of the plot but has a decadent feel to it very appropriate to the plot.  I've no idea how they made books back in 1907 when this was set or wether they would have looked like this does (as though it has a ribbon over the back spine holding the book together) but it feels to me like a book from that period. Love it. Obviously an actual book with the same cover with an actual ribbon over the back would be much cooler. but, also priced out of my budget so I'm glad this one was faked!

I really enjoyed this book and at times found it hard to put down.  Some disability issues (relating to mental health conditions) are addressed as a sub plot and are for the most part well handled.  The one time they are badly handled it's brief everyone is shocked and disapproving about that and it's necessary to the plot.  As a disabled person I would prefer such issues were always well handled but that would be very unrealistic and in this particular case I'm not sure what else could have advanced the plot in such a way.  I was unsure if the interaction between Piet and the hotelier who employs him was realistic for a tutor and his employer or if he should have been treated more as a servant BUT it works and is well written making it believable.  That's the more important thing in a book, in my opinion.

The book is about Piet's search for pleasure in all forms - good clothes, good food, fine drinks, a better life. And there are sex scenes which whilst not overly graphic could make some people uncomfortable with the level of description and language used - these were not gratuitious but neither were they "and then they went to bed..." with the rest left to your imagination.

The book ends with the words "to be continued..." so there must be another book planned.  The ending itself seems a bit of a con, as though it just trailed off. I personally felt it should have ended a page or two sooner as this would have been much stronger.

Overall this isn't the best book I've ever read or even reviewed but I did like it and there were definite "keepy you reading" moments.  I would have reservations over who I recommended or lent it to however.

Past Caring by Robert Goddard

(image description) it says "The Great Transworld Crime Caper" The T in transworld is bigger and blue, the rest of the text is black.  There is a magnifying glass over the T, yellow "crime scene do not cross" tape across the entire logo and a gun with blood splatters in the top right of the image.

I was given a copy of Past Caring by Robert Goddard to review by Transworld as a part of their Great Crime Caper

This is what Amazon has to say about it (which is also pretty much word for word what's on the back cover

1910: Distinguished MP Edwin Strafford resigns at the pinnacle of his career, removing himself from the public eye. The woman he loves, and for whom he was willing to sacrifice everything, suddenly and coldly rejects him. All the reasons for his fall from grace are shrouded in darkness.

Seventy years later, historian Martin Radford is down on his luck when a mysterious benefactor offers him the opportunity of a lifetime: to uncover what exactly happened to Edwin Strafford. But this apparent good fortune swiftly turns into a nightmare. Radford’s investigations trigger a violent series of events, which throw him straight into the path of those who believed they had escaped punishment for crimes long past but never paid for…
This was the least graphic of the three thrillers I had to review as a part of the Crime Caper, it was much more of a suspenseful psychological thriller.  Obviously it did have it's share of moments of violence etc but it was built much more around of the question of  "what happened" for the first probably two thirds of the book.  That doesn't mean it was a bad book, in fact it was a really good one and I think I probably enjoyed it the most out of the three (although sections of it are set around 1910, a period of history I've always found interesting which helps).

I think this is probably a really good book for someone who hasn't read much in the way of thrillers before because it's got all the required elements but isn't too harsh with it.  But it's also good for a die hard thriller fan because it does keep you guessing and wondering right to the end.

The characters were believable to start with but by the end I must admit Martin Radford was beginning to get on my nerves.  Everyone else you're either supposed to love or to hate and it's pretty obvious which it is for each character.

This book has a real feel of coming full circle which I particularly liked.  I've not read any Robert Goddard books before and whilst I won't be placing an order for some right this very minute he's certainly an author I might read the back of in a bookshop if I spotted it.  Overall a good book but a few things I would have changed.

The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett

I thought a book review would be apt given that today is World Book Day

(image description) it says "The Great Transworld Crime Caper" The T in transworld is bigger and blue, the rest of the text is black.  There is a magnifying glass over the T, yellow "crime scene do not cross" tape across the entire logo and a gun with blood splatters in the top right of the image.

I was given a copy of The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett to review by Transworld as a part of their Great Crime Caper

This is the blurb from the back cover (helpfully provided from Amazon)

Three years ago, forensics expert David Hunter abandoned his old life after a tragedy nearly destroyed him. Now working as a doctor in a remote Norfolk village, he believes he's left his past behind.


But then they find what’s left of Sally Palmer...


The body has been savagely mutilated. The police need Hunter's expertise to find the killer, but he is desperate to remain uninvolved. Then a second woman disappears and the close-knit community that had been Hunter’s refuge becomes a maelstrom of fear and paranoia. No one is exempt from suspicion. Suddenly, there is no place to hide...


When I got this book I was a bit concerned that it might be a bit too gruesome for me.  Not sure why considering I chose it!  But anyway I kept putting off starting it as a result.  I was wrong.  The first page or so were a bit gruesome for my tastes but that eased off very quickly and you were left with a very readable book.There were one or two other slightly graphic parts but nothing as gruesome and they weren't overdone or milked.  Overall I'm glad I read this - it's a good book.  In fact I have two of the sequels - Written in Bone and Whispers of the Dead - sat on my desk next to me, that's how much I enjoyed it.

I didn't manage to guess who the bad guy was.  At one point I briefly wondered if it could be the guy it turned out to be but dismissed it.  The book is full of twists and you keep thinking you know who done it or what's going to happen next and then it turns out that no, you don't.

Also this book manages to be disability positive with one of the characters who plays a frequent role in the book being a wheelchair user.  And a realistic wheelchair user at that.  No super human crips in this book!

Comparing this book to The Accident Man which was the first book I reviewed for the Crime Caper is difficult because they are so different in scope and writing style.  Both are great books and I enjoyed them in very different ways - The Accident Man being more of a "what if" to The Chemistry of Death's straight thriller.  But I think I enjoyed this one a little more.

Swagbucks

Since November time last year I've been using Swagbucks.  It's a great site where you can earn reward points for doing basic stuff like searching the web, playing games, taking surveys and watching videos.  You can also earn them using certain other websites if you go through Swagbucks first.  These reward points or swagbucks can be cashed in for free stuff including £5 Amazon vouchers.  Since I've been using Swagbucks I've had two £5 giftcards and almost have enough to order a third - hopefully by the end of the weekend.  It's a great treat for those of us who are on benefits or who are trying to make the pennies stretch.  Or even if you just love free stuff - and who doesn't

Monday is the 3rd Birthday of Swagbucks and I'm one of a group of bloggers who've been asked to promote the site on our blogs as a part of the very big birthday celebration they have planned!  When you sign up to Swagbucks, you get given 30 SB.  However I've been given a code to share with my readers which will earn them an additional 50 SB on top of that.  Simply sign up using this link (this is a referral link which shows you came from me and I get a bonus for people who sign up using it) and then use the code 3rdBirthday50 exactly as it's written here to get that extra 50!  That code expires at the end of Monday 28th Feb (midnight US time)

Swagbucks is an American site but it's great because it has prizes in all sorts of currencies and for different places so please don't think it's not for you without looking into it first.

My username is FunkyFairy22 on Swagbucks the same as it is on Twitter and a lot of other places.  Let me know if you sign up.

The Accident Man by Tom Cain

(image description) it says "The Great Transworld Crime Caper" The T in transworld is bigger and blue, the rest of the text is black.  There is a magnifying glass over the T, yellow "crime scene do not cross" tape across the entire logo and a gun with blood splatters in the top right of the image.

I was given a copy of The Accident Man by Tom Cain to review by Transworld as a part of their Great Crime Caper

The Accident Man is a "what if?" tale based around the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.  This is what Amazon has to say about it

12.19am A Mercedes leaves the Ritz hotel.
12.25am A car loses control in a Paris underpass.
3.57am Three people are pronounced dead.
3.58am Samuel Carver realizes he’s been set up . . . 

Ex-marine Samuel Carver makes bad things happen to worse people. But now he wants out. He takes on one last hit - the target, they say, is a high-ranking terrorist. When Carver discovers his victim’s true identity, he becomes the next target. He knows too much. Unless he can track down the mystery men behind his murderous mission, his life is over…

‘The most audacious and timely thriller in years’ Daily Mirror ‘Like the Bourne movies meets Frederick Forsyth’ Guardian ‘This is the best first thriller I have read since The Day of the Jackal’ Wilbur Smith

Carver and the rest of the characters are believable.  The characters you're supposed to like are likeable and realistic.   The ones you're supposed to hate... are nasty and horrible and totally right for the book without being over the top or ridiculous.

I took this book with me on Saturday when I met a friend from uni. I was on the train for an hour and a half ish each way.  I'd thought I might just read a little because I like to people watch and often get distracted on trains by things going on around me.  I read for pretty much the entire time.  And I read more when I got home.  By the time I turned my light out that night I'd read just over half the book (it's over 500 pages long).

I liked the way it kept you guessing and was difficult to put down.  I'd wondered if being based around real events it would focus too much on those.  However they were only in occasionally as a sort of seasoning rather than a major aspect of the plot.  I didn't guess any of the twists which is something I really like in a book, particularly when they are believable twists as in this case.  The ending took me somewhat by surprise and was lower key than I expected but worked for the plot.  It also made the crip in me happy but for fear of spoilers I won't tell you why!

I'd highly reccommend this book, I've seen two sequels to it on Amazon and the only reason I've not ordered them already is my attempt at saving money - I'm definitely looking forward to reading them!