Claire loves to read!

I'm Claire and I've loved books all my life. My favourite genres are crime, police procedural, psychological thriller, suspense, horror, mystery and paranormal; throw in a hint of romance and it'll tick another box. The type of genres I read has been widened considerably by accepting review requests from authors and publishers, so I'm happy to give almost anything a go, although I'm not keen on erotica.

 

     2016 NetGalley Challenge       Reviews Published 2015 Challenge Participant

 *NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING REVIEW APPLICATIONS*
 
I also review music, including albums/EPs/singles and live gigs (usually of the rock/metal variety) and you can find my reviews over at Down the Front Media
 
 

Review: Eat Real Food by Julie Montagu

Eat Real Food - Julie Montagu

Published by: Hay House UK (8th March 2016)

 

ISBN: 978-1781805633

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 4*

 

Description:

Eating healthy doesn't have to be complicated or confusing. But somewhere along the way, even the most health-conscious of us can become overwhelmed by the endless information and advice available to us, and feel tempted to give up. Eat Real Food takes things back to basics, and guides you to make simple but positive dietary choices that will increase your intake of Julie's 'Flexi Five' - the five healthy food groups that are most important for keeping your brain and body balanced and happy:

· Green leafy vegetables
· Whole grains
· Healthy fats
· Natural sweeteners
· Superfoods

Julie introduces you to the superheroes in each of these different food groups, shares the best ways to prepare them, explains their nutritional benefits, and then provides a variety of imaginative ways to include these foods in your diet every day, whether you're at home or on the go. As well as delicious recipes, Julie shares how you can improve your health and increase your happiness with meditation, affirmations, simple breathing exercises and gentle yoga poses. You can have boundless energy and glowing health, you just need to give your body the food and attention it craves and deserves. It really is that simple!

 

Review:

Julie Montagu's no-nonsense approach to whole food, plant-based eating is quite refreshing in this rather overcrowded market. It seems that everybody is on a cleanse, doing a detox, clean eating or whatever the latest buzz word is, and Julie just explains things in simple English. No gimmicks, no hard-selling. The only reason I haven't given this 5 stars is because if you've read other books of a similar nature or have plant-based cookbooks already, there's not really any new information to be gained here. Having said that, the inclusion of breathing exercises and yoga poses may provide additional interest for some. 

There aren't many recipes here, for those who were expecting a  complete cookbook; this is more a book of wellbeing, with a few recipes added. 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and this is my honest review. 

Review: Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley

Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body. - Jessamyn Stanley

Published by: Workman Publishing (13th April 2017)

 

ISBN: 978-0761193111

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 5*

 

Description: 

From the unforgettable teacher Jessamyn Stanley comes Every Body Yoga, a book that breaks all the stereotypes. It's a book of inspiration for beginners of all shapes and sizes: If Jessamyn could transcend these emotional and physical barriers, so can we. lt's a book for readers already doing yoga, looking to refresh their practice or find new ways to stay motivated.

 

lt's a how-to book: Here are easy-to-follow directions to 50 basic yoga poses and 10 sequences to practice at home, all photographed in full colour. lt's a book that challenges the larger issues of body acceptance and the meaning of beauty. Most of all, it's a book that changes the paradigm, showing us that yoga isn't about how one looks, but how one feels, with yoga sequences like "I Want to Energise My Spirit," "I Need to Release Fear," "I Want to Love Myself".

 

Jessamyn Stanley, a yogi who breaks all the stereotypes, has built a life as an internationally recognized yoga teacher and award-winning Instagram star by combining a deep understanding for yoga with a willingness to share her personal struggles in a way that touches everyone who comes to know her. Now she brings her body-positive, emotionally uplifting approach to yoga in a book that will help every reader discover the power of yoga and how to weave it seamlessly into his or her life.

 

Review:

Wow...I love this book! Jessamyn's attitude is inspirational.  Her body-positive approach to classes is fantastic and the way the book is written just outstanding. To write about her personal journey towards self love and body acceptance must have been such a difficult yet cathartic thing to do. To be at peace with her body now and to be such an inspiration to so many others as a yogi and such an influence via her Instagram account must bring her the happiness you see on her face. 

 

The yoga poses in the book are in full colour, and it is clearly demonstrated how to get into and out of each pose too. There is an emphasis on breathing, interesting chapters about the history of yoga, and lots of detailed information. This is probably the only yoga book you'll ever need! I read an ebook but have since got a printed copy for reference. 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and this is my unbiased review. 

Review: The Perfect Blend by Tess Masters

The Perfect Blend - Tess Masters

Published by: Ten Speed Press (27th December 2016)

 

ISBN: 978-1607746454

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 4*

 

Description:

Online phenomenon The Blender Girl offers up 100 recipes for healthy living with tasty, crowd-pleasing dishes to help boost nutrition for every meal of the day.

The Perfect Blend functions not only as a cookbook but also as a guide for how to lead a more vibrant and healthy life. Blogging powerhouse Tess Masters lays out a dozen healthy goals for readers, including gaining energy, boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, detoxing the body, and probiotic power. Then Masters offers easy-to-follow recipes for smoothies, elixirs, snacks, salads, sides, soups, mains, and desserts that help you reach these goals and get results fast. Including a guide to key ingredients, an extensive resources section, and optional nutritional boosters for each recipe, The Perfect Blend will help you find your own perfect blend and leave you feeling energized and revitalized.

 

Review:

Although I'd not previously heard of The Blender Girl, I'm guilty of having a vitamix I barely use, so thought this book would be a great aide to finding ways to utilise it more. The introduction is great, with Masters laying out targets including reducing inflammation and gaining energy. Rather than being in divisions like other cookbooks, the recipes are also laid out in these sections, which can make it time consuming when trying to find a particular recipe. That's my only criticism though. The recipes themselves are vibrant and delicious. Sweet potato and macadamia soup is my personal favourite! 

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley and this is my unbiased review. 

Review: The Friend by Teresa Driscoll

The Friend: An emotional psychological thriller with a twist - Teresa O'Driscoll

Published by: Thomas & Mercer  (22nd March 2018)

 

ISBN: 978-1542046664

 

Rating: 5*

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Synopsis: 

On a train with her husband, miles from home and their four-year-old son, Ben, Sophie receives a chilling phone call. Two boys are in hospital after a tragic accident. One of them is Ben.

She thought she could trust Emma, her new friend, to look after her little boy. After all, Emma’s a kindred spirit—someone Sophie was sure she could bare her soul to, despite the village rumours. But Sophie can’t shake the feeling that she’s made an unforgivable mistake and now her whole family is in danger.

Because how well does she know Emma, really? Should she have trusted her at all?

Time is running out. Powerless to help her child, still hours from home, Sophie is about to discover the truth. And her life will never be the same.

 

Review:

Wow! Teresa Driscoll must have magic fingers to weave such an enticing, gripping tale. It is obvious that the story has been clearly and precisely thought out, and the book is intelligently written, with more twists and turns than your average rollercoaster. I read it in one sitting, furiously devouring each page, unable to rest until I'd reached the end and discovered the fate of the boys in the hospital. 

 

The story alternates between the present day Sophie, on the train, rushing towards the hospital, and the Sophie from the past, recounting the day she met Emma and how their friendship grew. I didn't find this, or the switch between narratives, distracting, I notice other reviewers have mentioned there being a lot of back story, but I feel that is the main part of this chilling tale, after all it's about The Friend.

 

I think immediately after reading this, everyone is likely to be rather less trusting of people they meet and seem to have an affinity with! I do wonder where the author got the idea...

I can't wait to see what Teresa Driscoll comes up with next! 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Review: The Prague Ultimatum by James Silvester

The Prague Ultimatum - James L. Silvester

Published by: Urbane Publications  (20th April 2017)

 

ISBN: 978-1911331384

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 3*

 

Synopsis: 

Fear stalks the newly reunified Czechoslovakia, the terror wrought by international terrorism and violent extremists overshadowing the forthcoming fiftieth anniversary of the Prague Spring, and threatening to burn the country in its wake.

 

Into this arena steps Captain Lincoln Stone, a disgraced British officer, humiliatingly scapegoated by his government for his role in the disastrous on-going Syrian Conflict. Plucked from his purgatory, Stone is teased with exoneration by British Foreign Secretary Jonathan Greyson, in return for his 'off the books' aid of Czechoslovak Prime Minister, Miroslava Svobodova. Stone, resentful of his treatment and determined to prove himself, is driven by deeper motives than the casual platitudes of his superiors, and finds himself at the epicentre as the country descends into chaos.

 

Cut off from the international community and isolated in the face of an expansionist Russia, and with the sinister Institute for European Harmony ever present behind the scenes, Czechoslovakia's fate, and that of the world, hangs on the outcome to the Prague Ultimatum.

 

Review:

The Prague Ultimatum has an interesting lead character in Lincoln Stone. Disgraced but bright back into service with the promise of exoneration dangling like a carrot on a stick, he grudgingly throws himself into proving his worth. I found him great to read, and his interaction with the other characters a highlight. 

 

I'll admit I really struggled with the plot. There are many twists and turns - if this was a rollercoaster I'd have been puking by the third chapter! It wasn't that I couldn't keep up, I think maybe the military language, combined with some names I found hard to read kept putting me off. I kept picking this book up and putting it down, for several weeks, eventually abandoning it at 50% read. Other reviews have given between 3 and 5 stars, so some purple obviously loved it. I'm sorry I'm not one of them :-(

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

 

Review: Nadiya's British Food Adventure by Nadiya Hussain (sampler)

Nadiya's British Food Adventure - Nadiya Hussain

Published by: Michael Joseph (13th July 2017)

 

ISBN: 978-0718187668

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 4*

 

Synopsis: 

Nadiya Hussain, winner of 2015's Great British Bake Off, is loved for her warmth and charisma as well as her unique approach to flavours. In her brand new TV series and book, Nadiya sets off around the country to meet some of the food heroes, growers and producers who are changing the face of modern British food.

 

Inspired by her journey, Nadiya has devised over 120 easy and enticing new recipes that fuse the local ingredients she encounters with her favourite flavours, plus a nod here and there to her Bangladeshi roots. Her reinvented classics sum up the remarkable diversity of twenty-first century Britain and the melting pot of tastes and culinary influences that shape what we all love to cook and eat today.

 

Nadiya's recipes just beg readers to try and taste for themselves, including: Masala Eggy Bread, Spiced Bean and Banger Stew, Ploughman's Cheese and Pickle Tart, Fish Pie with Cinnamon Sweet Potato, Lamb Bhuna with Garlic Naan, Star Anise Chicken Wings with Chunky Chips, Rosemary Banoffee Pie and Eton Mess Cheesecake.

 

Review:

The sampler of this cookbook from the winner of the popular Bake Off programme is crammed with appealing photographs designed to get your tummy rumbling and your tastebuds tingling, and it certainly did that!

The recipes are easy to follow and not there's no faffing about like you get with some other recipe books. After looking through this well thought out taster, I'll be looking forward to trying out some recipes from the full version. 

Review: Terrible Lie by Gareth Endean

Terrible Lie - Gareth Endean

Self-published (17th July 2016)

 

Source: purchased

 

Rating: 5*

 

Synopsis:

Some people try to get away with murder. Christopher Hart is just trying to get away from it. Haunted by the violent death of a close friend, Christopher returns to his home town of Croydon to try and get his life back on track. However his dreams of an easy life are shattered when an old flame contacts him claiming she has been convicted of a murder that she doesn't even remember. Reluctant to get involved but unable to refuse Christopher is exposed to the dark underside of Croydon - a world of drugs, crime and dishonesty. Can Christopher pick his way through the lies to find the real killer before the killer finds him? His only help comes from the flirtatious local web-journalist, Ruth Withers. But even she is hiding something...

 

Review:

Gareth Endean has written such a beguiling character in Christopher Hart. I've only just finished the book and I'm already itching to find out what he's up to now, I find him that intriguing. Christopher is the unlikely hero after solving the murder of his friend in America, and seems powerless to turn down old flame B's cry for help. It's this readiness to see the good in others, combined with the dog-with-a-bone attitude towards solving the murder which I find so appealing.

Several other supporting characters appear, all play their parts well, but I must just mention B. I really like her and I hope she might make an appearance in a future Christopher Hart novel. I've never been to Croydon but the area was described in colourful glory so I was able to easily picture the surroundings that the various characters found themselves in. 

 

The plot itself is intelligently written and there are enough twists that even a seasoned crime reader like myself didn't anticipate them all. The story flows well, the conversations feel natural and the book is so hard to put down. There is some violence (nothing graphic), but there are some light scenes too, so the book feels well balanced throughout. When the murderer is eventually revealed, I was truly astonished; I did not see that coming at all!

Review: Andorra Pett on Mars by Richard Dee

Published by: 4Star Scifi (April 2018)

 

Source: ARC via author

 

Rating: 5*

 

Synopsis:

 

Andorra Pett has left the Oort Cloud Café; she’s back on Mars, a place she vowed she’d never visit again. 

She’s gone back for her friend Maisie’s funeral. Everyone thinks it was suicide but the more she learns, the less sure she is. Things don’t add up and she realises that the whole story doesn’t make sense. Something else is going on and the questions soon multiply. 

 

Why would Maisie kill herself if she’d just had good news? Why is Andi being followed? What was the mystery bequest? When she begins to find the clues that Maisie has left for her, it becomes a race against time. Andi must work out what’s going on and hope that she can get out alive.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

Review:

 

I'd previously read and LOVED Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Café, so when I realised there would be a another novel featuring the supersleuth of Saturn herself, I was really pleased and couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy...luckily, I didn't have to wait long as author Richard Dee was kind enough to send  over a copy.

Although this book picks up where Oort Cloud Café finishes, I don't think it's a necessity to have read that before starting this, as it reads well as a standalone, and any information that you do need is well explained. 

 

Andi is as fantastic as before, larger than life, beautifully written, and just sounds like someone you'd want to go down the pub and swap embarrassing stories with. Cy is entertaining, and his relationship with Andi is sweet. There is a whole host of other characters that make the book as engrossing as it is. Andi and Cy unwittingly getting sucked into a rollercoaster ride of drama while trying to find out what happened to poor Maisie made captivating reading.

 

Andorra Pett on Mars satisfied both the sci-fi nerd and crime thriller fan in me simultaneously; it's an intelligently written tale full of twists and turns that I found impossible to put down! Special thanks to author Richard Dee for the ARC; this is my unbiased review. 

Review: Silent Victim by Caroline Mitchell

Silent Victim - Caroline Mitchell

Published by: Thomas & Mercer (1st March 2018)

 

ISBN: 978-1503948983

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 5*

 

Synopsis: 

Emma’s darkest secrets are buried in the past. But the truth can’t stay hidden for long.

 

Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen.It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma’s husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can’t leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge…

 

Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone.

Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he’ll wish he’d learned sooner. And others he’ll long to forget.

 

Review:

Ooh, I do love to get well and truly stuck into a book by Caroline Mitchell...which is precisely what I've done with Silent Victim as it's now a little past 4 in the morning and I've been reading solidly for the last several hours! I simply couldn't go to sleep until I got to the end of the book and found out what happened! 

 

I've been a fan of the author since her first book, and thoroughly enjoy both her crime/police procedural novels and psychological thrillers. Regardless of genre, Caroline nails the plot, drawing you in with ease and making it look effortless. Her clever attention to detail, combined with an intelligent style of writing weave the intricate details together exquisitely. 

 

There are such complex characters in this deliciously dark tale! Emma is wonderful. Luke...what can I possibly say? Alex, Theresa and Josh all support well. I can't give any more details without any spoilers! Just when you think you have worked a character out... it all gets turned on its head. Masterful Mitchell at her best!

 

Silent Victim is a fast-paced, on the edge of your seat, biting your nails kinda book. It's dark, shocking, a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns that has you clinging on for dear life! Brilliant! 

 

Thanks to Caroline Mitchell, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy.

 

Review: The Secret Wound by Deirdre Quiery

The Secret Wound - Deirdre Quiery

Published by: Urbane Publications (9th June 2017)

 

ISBN: 978-1911331834

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 2.5*

 

Synopsis: 

The Secret Wound draws the reader into a complex web of relationships within the ex-pat community in Mallorca, discovering their dangerous secrets...and a potential murderer in their midst. One of their number carries a dark and deadly secret from their past, and has murderous plans for a fellow ex-pat. Can any of the close- knit community discover the brutal plans before they are all put in mortal danger? 

 

Review:

I had been very intrigued by the description of this book, but somehow it was left languishing on my TBR for a while. I'm pleased I've now (finally!) managed to read it. 

 

Although this is a book about a crime, it is also about complex relationships between the characters. Gurtha and his parents Nuala and Paddy, Gurtha's friend Cornelia, her husband,  and various other characters that drift in and out of all of their lives. 

 

I liked that the book was set in both Dublin and Mallorca, though most of the story does take place in Mallorca. The descriptions of the scenes there are fantastic; I was easily able to conjure up images in my head.

 

I found the story quite difficult to get into initially, but in places it did hold my interest. I think it's definitely more of a grower. I was really struggling towards the last third but persevered as I wanted to find out what happened in the end. Although there is some real drama just before the end of the book, the very last page or two were a real let-down for me! I just thought "is that it?!"

 

 

Review: A Daughter's Courage by Renita D'Silva

A Daughter's Courage - Renita D'Silva

Published by: Bookouture (26th May 2017)

 

ISBN: 978-1786811783

 

Source: Netgalley 

 

Rating: 5*

 

Synopsis:

1929. When a passionate love affair threatens to leave Lucy in disgrace, she chooses a respectable marriage over a life of shame. With her husband, coffee-plantation-owner James, she travels to her new home in India, leaving her troubled past behind her.

Everything in India is new to Lucy, from the jewel-coloured fabrics to the exotic spices. When her path crosses that of Gowri, a young woman who tends the temple on the plantation’s edge, Lucy is curious to find out more about her, and the events that lead her to live in isolation from her family…

 

Now. With her career in shatters and her heart broken by the man she thought was her future, Kayva flees from bustling Mumbai to her home town. A crumbling temple has been discovered in a village nearby, and with it letters detailing its tragic history – desperate pleas from a young woman called Gowri.

 

As Kavya learns of Gowri and Lucy’s painful story, she begins to understand the terrible sacrifices that were made and the decision the two women took that changed their lives forever. Can the secrets of the past help Kavya to rebuild her life?

 

Review:

Wow. What a myriad of emotions A Daughter's Courage evokes. I am feeling so many different things right now! This book is so touching, heartbreakingly sad yet uplifting and heartwarming. This isn't a book that I'd typically pick up and read, it was recommended to me by my very good friend, and fellow book blogger, Jules (who I'm so pleased to see get a mention in the book acknowledgements :))

 

The three main characters, Lucy, Gowri and Kavya are all so well written. They are such distinct personalities and so different from each other. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Gowri, her soul shines through. Lucy is so different from Gowri and I just couldn't wait to find out where the story would go next. When the two women meet, the interaction is so brilliantly described, it really felt as if I was stood right there, breathing in the rich Indian aromas as I witnessed the meeting. Kavya is different again and thoroughly modern. I really enjoyed how the threads of their individual stories intertwined and then came together.

 

India really came to life from 'the pages' (my kindle) as it was just depicted in such a wonderful way. The colours, from the jewel brights of the saris to the dirty brown of the mud, everything felt as though I was actually seeing it myself. Renita D'Silva has such a fantastic way with words. I also loved all the descriptions of the food that Gowri and the others were preparing; I've taken notes! A Daughter's Courage may have been the first of the author's books that I've read but it certainly won't be the last! Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC, and to Jules Mortimer for another great recommendation.  

 

 

Review: Tattletale by Sarah J. Naughton

Tattletale - Sarah J. Naughton

Published by: Trapeze (23rd March 2017)

 

ISBN: 978-1409170228

 

Source: Netgalley

 

Rating: 4.5*

 

Synopsis:

One day changes Jody's life forever. She has shut herself down, haunted by her memories and unable to trust anyone. But then she meets Abe, the perfect stranger next door and suddenly life seems full of possibility and hope.

 

One day changes Mags's life forever. After years of estrangement from her family, Mags receives a shocking phone call. Her brother Abe is in hospital and no-one knows what happened to him. She meets his fiancé Jody, and gradually pieces together the ruins of the life she left behind. But the pieces don't quite seem to fit...

 

Review:

Tattletale is one of those books I've been meaning to read for ages but for some reason I just overlooked. I've promised myself that this year I will read as many books as I can that have been on my TBR for a long while for one reason or another.

 

I was so impressed by this novel that I looked the author up on goodreads as soon as I  finished reading to see how many books she'd written before this one. I was so impressed when I discovered this was her debut. It's intelligently written with such an eye for detail. The author has a real knack for holding the reader's interest and taking them on a journey.

 

The two central characters here are wonderfully complex, full of personality, flaws, anguish and all that that entails. The plot weaves around them beautifully, and just when you think you know what is going to happen, Sarah J. Naughton throws a curve ball you really weren't expecting! There are twists on top of twists! Brilliant stuff!

 

Review: For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood

For Reasons Unknown - Michael   Wood

Published by: Killer Reads (5th November 2015)

 

ISBN: 978-0008158675

 

Source: Purchased

 

Rating: 5*

 

Synopsis:

DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.

Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…

 

Review:

For Reasons Unknown has been languishing on my TBR for far too long, so I've started the year as I mean to go on, and what a cracking start! This is crime writing at its very best and I'm seriously impressed. The plot had me on the edge of my seat, it's full of twists and turns that I didn't see coming, the characters are great...DCI Matilda Darke is brilliant! The ending had me actually shouting 'Noooo!' at my kindle!

 

DCI Matilda Darke is a fantastic character. She's a little broken, but there's a glimpse of fighting spirit underneath, which I'm looking forward to seeing more of in subsequent books. There's lots of interaction with her colleagues too, which I really enjoyed, so I hope to see some of those again too. 

 

The author has an easy way of drawing you in and keeping you interested in the story throughout. His intelligent writing style and great use of detail really made the story come alive. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to all readers of crime and psychological thrillers and police procedurals.

 

 

Reading progress update: I've read 65%.

For Reasons Unknown - Michael   Wood

Non-fiction top reads 2017

Back to the Boy - James Arthur But My Family Would Never Eat Vegan!: 125 Recipes to Win Everyone OverPicky kids will try it, hungry adults won't miss meat, and holiday traditions can live on! - Kristy Turner Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes - Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Matthew Ruscigno

My top reads of 2017 - the top 3!

Bad Sister - Sam Carrington I Am Watching You - Teresa O'Driscoll Tastes Like Fear: DI Marnie Rome 3 - Headline Digital, Sarah Hilary, Imogen Church

Currently reading

Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Reclaim Your Emotional Autonomy and Find Personal Happiness by Lindsay C. Gibson
Progress: 35%
Haunted by Maria Savva