Book Review - Island Games: Mystery of the Four Quadrants by Caleb J. Boyer

Island Games is the debut novel from 12-year-old Caleb J. Boyer. The story introduces the reader to Matthew and Ryan, best friends, who wake up to find themselves washed up onto the shore of an island with a massive volcano. Neither of the boys can remember how they got there. The last thing the boys remember is playing video games. They wonder whether they have been kidnapped or maybe are in a TV reality show. They are also distraught that their families will look for them and not know where to look. Realizing that they are entirely alone, they set about looking after themselves. Ahead of them, they fight for survival, overcoming the many twists and turns the island has to offer. Ryan and Matthew must be clever and resilient and work together to overcome the many challenges. This fantasy adventure will test their friendship and show them the important things in life.

Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer is a quick and easy read but has repetitive language in places and could do with more description and some more work on the dialogue as this is the weakest part of the book. In my opinion, this would make the story even more interesting to read. I was not too fond of the ending, which would have been perfect if there was a sequel, but as it is, this book's ending is unsatisfying and leaves the reader with too many questions unanswered. Some more resolution about why the boys were on the island would have given more substance to the story.

Although I am not the target audience, I appreciated the theme of this book which focuses on friendship and staying positive. I enjoyed getting the boy's two different points of view throughout, which added depth and insight to this book, and I got to know both characters and their different feelings well. I loved reading the story through their innocent eyes as they question their lives and choices. I also liked the idea of the boys solving puzzles to get resources and the lessons learned about the importance of teamwork.

I recommend Island Games to children between 10 and 13 who enjoy fun and entertaining books about challenges, mysteries, and fantasy adventure.

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. The editing was excellent, and the score is due to the naivety of the writing, the work needed on the dialogue, and the unsatisfactory ending.

Thank you to Caleb J. Boyer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Tales From The Gray Area by Curtis Stephen Burdick

 

After watching The Twilight Zone, Curtis Stephen Burdick was inspired to write Tales From The Gray Area. This book contains seven intriguing novellas which take the reader on a journey of discovery. Every story has a different theme which means the reader is constantly on the edge of their seat, turning the pages to find out what happens next. Curtis Stephen Burdick is an author who has researched the subject matter of the tales he tells, and each novella is unique and spellbinding. Each story investigates an aspect of universal life that remains unqualified, hidden in the depths of what Curtis Stephen Burdick terms 'the gray area' despite being questioned and theorized throughout human existence. His tales stem from the science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian genres. Each has its fulfilling ending yet leaves questions for further inquiry. In my opinion, the stories Vacation From Hell, Alien Addiction, and Sorceress could easily be made into full-length books as the endings are real cliffhangers.

In Tales from the Gray Area, Curtis Stephen Burdick writes excellent descriptions of the people and places, and they instantly become real, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are constant twists in the tales, which kept me wanting more up to the end of the story and beyond. These are the stories the reader will remember for a long time after they've been read. The story I liked best was a tale called "Vacation from Hell." This novella revolves around fallen angels who agree with the Devil to go on vacations on Earth. They inhabit the bodies of those who have sold their souls to Satan. A fallen angel named Dwayne begins to love the family of the man whose body he uses as his vessel, and the story is all about his struggles. I like this tale for its fascinating plot and fantastic ending.

The only thing I disliked about this fantastic book was that I was left wanting more at the end of every story! I rate Tales From The Gray Area by Curtis Stephen Burdick a well earned 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this to anyone who likes short stories, particularly sci-fi and horror fans. I suggest it is marketed at adults as there is a lot of swearing in some of the stories. This is the first book I have read by Curtis Stephen Burdick. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to Curtis Stephen Burdick for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Audible original Novella review - Kill Your Brother by Jack Heath - Narrated by Hannah Monson

 

Kill Your Brother by Jack Heath is an Audible Novella set in Australia. It is a tense and compelling story with a damaged young woman at its heart. Elise is a disgraced elite athlete – the backstory to the cause of her disgrace is gradually revealed through the novella. She is searching for her older brother Callum who seemingly has disappeared. Demonstrating considerable strength and resourcefulness, Elise soon realizes that more choices are available to her than the two she has been presented with. As in all good psychological thrillers, the story unfolds with sufficient twists and turns to ensure the reader is kept enthralled to the last page.

Readers of the crime genre do not always look for depth in character development. Their requirements are more for a fast-paced plot-driven story with twists, turns, and perhaps some clarity at its conclusion as to who did what. There are, of course, some crime writers whose characters are fully-fledged and who inhabit their stories with depth and breadth of personality. This novella is essentially plot-driven. Its characters are drawn only to the extent that serves the plot. Elise's parents – for example – are lightly sketched out. Just enough to tell the listener how inadequate they were in their responses to the issues confronting Elise and Callum as children and teenagers.

Callum's personality features strongly throughout the novella, even when he is not physically present. His whereabouts and the reasons behind his disappearance drive the narrative. The third protagonist Stephanie, however, is the one who is the puppet master. Through the story's exposition, the reader slowly learns what led to her actions, even if there may be some difficulty in accepting them.

Telling the backstories of Elise, Callum, and Stephanie while at the same time ensuring that the momentum of the present time narrative is maintained is no mean feat. But it is one that the author manages exceptionally well. The tension increases as the novella moves closer to its conclusion. Kill Your Brother is a well-crafted psychological thriller that will satisfy the listener. 

 

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to an adult audience who enjoy psychological crime thrillers.

Book review - Yesterday by Samyann

Yesterday is a book about romance and reincarnation by Samyann. The book begins with a train derailment where the main characters, Amanda and Mark, meet for the first time in present-day Chicago. They help each other get to safety from the flying debris. Mark is knocked out for a while, but Amanda has a broken arm and other injuries and is kept in the hospital overnight. They both feel strongly that they have met before. Leaving Amanda in hospital, Mark, a policeman, heads back to the station to check records and see if he can find anything about her. Having found nothing, he visits Amanda in hospital. He writes his cell phone number on her cast, desperate to see her again. Mark is persistent, but having had many traumas in life, losing her elder brother, her parents, and her fiancee Amanda does not want to get hurt again. Amanda buys a grandfather clock in an antique store because this is another thing she feels in some way has a connection to her past. Mark and Amanda search for answers about their past and the clock. In the end, they turn to Amanda's godmother Mary who is a successful psychologist. 

I found myself disliking Mark. He came across as arrogant and pushy, especially when they went out for their first meal together, and he told Amanda that he would choose for both of them. His behavior bordered on harassment as he would not take "No" for an answer and constantly pushed himself on Amanda. Also, I did not particularly appreciate how Mark kept dropping Irish Gaelic into conversations. It would start a new discussion between him and Amanda that seemed totally pointless to the storyline. Additionally, I found the way Mark took the samples from the grandfather clock and said he would get them analyzed at the police station unbelievable. Why would the forensic team give up police time to analyze Mark's private samples on a whim?

I loved how the author kept you wondering what all the connections were between Mark, Amanda, and the grandfather clock. It was incredible how the present started to mingle and intertwine with the past. I also thought the characters developed well. I particularly liked Amanda, who, despite losing most of her close family in tragic accidents, is still stoic and striving to move along with her life. 

I particularly liked when Amanda underwent regression therapy and returned to South Carolina in 1862. The author has a great way of using speech so the reader can feel the style of talking. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will be looking out for more books by this author. I will undoubtedly be cooking the Idiots Delight recipe, which is included in the book and was fed to Confederate soldiers; this was an excellent addition.

Lastly, I give Yesterday by Samyann 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, it is a well-written and well-edited book; I only found minor errors. I am dropping a point because of the excessive use of Irish Gaelic. It was an enjoyable and fast read that I highly recommend to older teenagers and adults who enjoy romance and reincarnation.

Thank you to Samyann for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

3 night anniversary break at The White Hart Inn, Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire

 

We have never visited Berkshire before but wanted somewhere to stay which was not too far from home, which was dog friendly and catered for my diet ( gluten-free and no meat) We are so pleased we found The White Hart Inn, Hampstead Norreys it's a little gem. 

The following photo's are taken from The White Hart Inn's website The White Hart Inn, Newbury – Updated 2022 Prices (booking.com) and the rest of the photo's are mine

We were very warmly welcomed by Stella, Clint and all members of their team. Our accommodation was in a beautifully converted barn with its own patio which then led to the beer garden which was beautifully tended. The pub itself is warm and inviting, we were here for 3 very hot summer days, the pub was cool and relaxing ( there was a big fireplace and logs and I would imagine it would be lovely and snug in the winter) We had 2 dogs with us, one a puppy and they were made to feel very welcome too. There are great walks right from the pub and after the walk, you can sit and relax with one of their own beers from their microbrewery on site. 

  

💖Awesome 💖

   The pub has a barrel full of water and lots of dog bowls for you to help yourself to water for your pooch and a jar of gravy bones. 

 The menu was exceptional and catered well for me as a gluten-free pescatarian. Sadly the chef was taken ill with Covid on our 2nd and 3rd night but Stella managed to put together a short but equally delicious mini menu. Breakfast was great there were yogurts, cereals, croissants, and toast (gluten-free toast was also available)fresh tea and coffee, and an extensive cooked menu. We really enjoyed our mini break, for our anniversary, The White Hart gave us everything we hoped for and lots more and we will definitely return. Thank you so much for being so awesome! We will definitely return and have told the rest of the family how fabulous our stay was, we are thinking of having a family weekend away next year!! 

Book Review - Just Die by E. Alan Fleischauer

 

In his book, Just Die, E Alan Fleischauer introduces the reader to his main character Jake Silver when he finds himself in the hospital recovering from a stroke. Jake is far from impressed that he is sharing a room with another stroke victim who spends all his time moaning loudly. As a teenager, Jake was taught to drive by his Mum, who advised him never to show his anger to other car drivers as this could get him into trouble. Instead, she says he should point his finger at his protagonist and say, "Just Die." By midnight Jake is still being kept awake by his roommate; he is so frustrated that he points his finger at him and says, "Just Die." Before he can think, nurses rush into the room, and the man dies. Many people imagine what it would be like to have a superpower for Jake Silver; that day has come, and there is no going back. Just Die by E. Alan Fleischauer is a supernatural thriller that takes the reader on a fast-paced journey into real life with super-human abilities.

The writing is clear and concise; it is descriptive enough to paint a decent picture and allows the reader to visualize the story and the characters portrayed in it. The plot is unusual, and Fleischauer builds the story while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what will happen next. I also found that the book was exceptionally well-edited.

I love the suspense that builds up, but I feel there are areas of the book that waffle along, especially in the dialogues between characters. For me, Just Die was a good story, but I feel it did not reach its potential of being great. In my opinion, Fleischauer could have used more detailed descriptions to draw us into Jake's life and his relationships with the other character's in the book, particularly his fiancee. The sub-stories were very loose, and Fleischauer let himself down here as I feel the narrative could have been more substantial and detailed.

 

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

I would recommend this book to an adult audience as there is a lot of swearing and drug use. Due to the way Jake can kill people after his stroke, I think Just Die by E Alan Fleischauer would particularly appeal to readers who are fans of superheroes or the supernatural.

 

Thank you to Alan Fleischauer for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Hattie Vavaseur by M. Rebecca Wildsmith

 

M Rebecca Wildsmith introduces the reader to Hattie Vavaseur when she is at a funeral. Hattie is perturbed that she doesn't know why she is at the funeral and has no idea who has died! After the funeral, Hattie is whisked off by John Bertram, who seems to think that at one time he was employed by Hattie as a chauffeur, to a mansion with a taciturn owner. In the beginning, I wondered if Hattie had dementia, it's not until chapter 4 that we find out the truth of Hattie's situation. Until then, all we know is that Hattie can only remember being a child brought up by a strict aunt and uncle who disliked her and that Hattie hates the color pink. Every character brings their own story, which means the reader is constantly on the edge of their seat, turning the pages to find out what happens next. We travel with Hattie while she learns about her past and future. Wildsmith is a writing genius. Her book contains humor, mystery, suspense, ghosts, the supernatural, and romance.

M Rebecca Wildsmith gave excellent descriptions of the people and places, and they became real instantly, which I really enjoyed. I also liked that the reader is slowly given information about Hattie's situation. There are constant twists in the tale which keep the reader on their toes. I also thoroughly enjoyed the humor throughout the book.

This book should have been a quick and easy read, but Wildsmith continually uses outdated words interrupting the flow of the story while the reader checks their meaning. For instance (on page 20), 'Hattie descended the grand staircase in the main hall, smartly dressed in her befurbelowed blue suit.' It is almost as if the author has looked up all the most complicated and outdated wording in the dictionary and tried to use all of it in this book; it may not be such a significant issue to other readers, but I found this both annoying and frustrating.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good old-fashioned murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and some romance thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to M. Rebecca Wildsmith for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Hello July Goodbye June - week 3 and 4

 This week was the one for all the Dad's out there with Father's Day. We all gathered at our youngest son's house for a sumptuous BBQ - everyone was catered for, vegan, pescatarian and gluten-free options, the boys did a grand job! Mark came away with a huge box of Tring brewery beers too, what a spoilt boy. The rest of the week was a bit dull we got a gardener in to repair a fence and tidy trees and bushes and a plasterer in to replaster a wall where I'd discovered a big crack due to a long time leak in the roof ( luckily number 2 son is a roofer ) when I smashed up the horrible fitted wardrobe we inherited when we moved in. Then we were packing our bags for a visit to a friend in Suffolk, joining up with our besties from Kent too. We had a great time: visiting the local area with the best guide, our host cooked amazing meals and we had the best companions. Too many highlights to mention so I will let the photos do the talking for me.

 

 

 

Hello July - Goodbye June week 2

 Once again we headed over to my brother who was very kindly looking after Ida and Ernie while we went on a helicopter ride, with champagne and chocolates. 

This was another event that had been bumped for a few years and we were both very excited. If you have never been on a helicopter trip you really must, it was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done and 20 minutes was over so quickly it really was only a taster. Tim didn't miss out though as he got the 2 mini bottles of champagne, he can't eat chocolates ... shame ... yum yum 😜

 

 

Hello July - Goodbye June week 1

 I imagine like me everyone is finding life slightly hectic after lockdown. All the gigs, weddings, festivals, etc., bounced to this year are coming up thick and fast! June was a busy month I won't bore you with it all - just the highlights 😀

So we had only just started June when the Queen's Platinum Jubilee long weekend started and we were off to visit my brother about a 45-minute drive from us. He really spoilt us with homemade fish and chips and strawberries and ice cream, all washed down with gin for me and red wine for the boys. Ida and Ernie love their cousins Chilli and Reggie and Tim has a plethora of treats and toys as well as a big garden so everyone was happy.

On Friday we had a leisurely breakfast I'd made a homemade fruit bread which looked a bit like a large cow pat but luckily tasted much better than it looked. Once I have perfected the recipe I will share it with you. Then me and Mark were off into London for a day of sight seeing then to The London Palladium to see The Hollies. I used to work in London and living in Harrow we were only 12 miles away, so we spent a lot of time there but this trip was amazing everyone was happy, the sun was shining, people were chatting to us, it felt like everyone was in the holiday spirit. In our case the holiday spirit was in us as we couldn't go to London and not sample some of the food and drink the centuries old public houses had to offer. 

  

Then the fantastic Hollies 60th Anniversary tour gig at the iconic London Palladium what an amazing day!!

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