My Review For Hidden Beach By Karen Swan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  This review is for The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan, which I listened to as an Audiobook through BorrowBox.  I love Karen Swan's novels and I don't think there is one that I haven't enjoyed.  I usually listen to a Karen Swan story rather than reading one - I'm not sure why, but I tend to download them and then become absorbed whilst pottering in the garden, doing housework or out walking with my dog, Freddie.

The Hidden Beach is set in Sweden, initially in Stockholm, and later in the archipelagos of the Swedish Coast.  Bell (until I read the synopsis after I'd finished the book, I thought this would be written as Belle for some reason) is a nanny for a well-to-do family, looking after a young boy and twin girls.  One morning, Bell receives a telephone call from Hanna, the children's mother, and from that moment on, no one's life is the same again.

The story takes place over the summer months,  written mainly from Bell's perspective with the occasional view of another character, and momentary glances back in time, we discover how a seemingly solid and normal family can be anything but that, as we delve into their lives to discover what lies beneath.  

As a side story, Bell has suffered heartbreak in the past and we join her on her journey as she learns to deal with the tragic events of her past and tries to learn to love again, to enjoy life and to be happy.  With good friends by her side, encouraging her to move forwards, I found myself rooting for her and hoping she would make the correct choices. 

I always enjoy the enthusiasm with which Karen Swan writes about life, love and laughter, along with sadness and despair.  As a reader (or in this instance, a listener), I always find myself so involved with her characters and stories.  The author's adeptness at descriptive writing will always find me 'in' her stories rather than just reading them.

Was there anything I disliked about the book?  I'm not sure that there was, it turned out to be a proper feel-good story, so maybe, as with many of Karen Swan's novels, maybe I was left wanting a sequel.

If we ever get back to a beach again (for those reading this review in later years, I reviewed this in early 2021) then this would be a really enjoyable beach read.  I would definitely recommend The Hidden Beach if you are a Karen Swan fan and if you haven't read any of her books before - well then - get reading!

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My Review for Gerta by Katerina Tuckova, Veronique Firkusny (Translator)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This review is for Gerta by Katerina Tuckova, which I received as an Amazon First Reads. I was a real slow-starter with this one, finding it difficult to get to grips with the characters.  I just didn't bond with them for at least the first quarter of the book, but not one to give up, I ploughed on, and I think I was pleased that I did. Throughout the book, the author described an important part of the history of World War II from the perspective of the Czechs and the Germans. I found very few errors and it was translated well.

Gerta Schnirch is a young girl; who has a Czech mother and a German father, which proves to be somewhat difficult in post-war Moravia.  Despite her parentage, Gerta is seen as wholly German and banished from her home country in 1945. With a baby daughter, she takes to the road with only the clothes she stands up in. The story follows Gerta's life journey as she begins her new life more or less as a slave, trying to stay alive whilst raising her daughter, and making some lifelong friends along the way.

 

As the years' progress, Gerta's life very gradually improves, but she is forever reminded that the place she used to call home would never be the same again. She is faced with the loss of loved ones, time and time again and seemingly leads a very lonely life.

Katerina Tuckova writes hauntingly about a time in Czech history that I certainly never knew existed, and indeed some of the episodes she describes leave you feeling sad about how fellow human beings can treat each other so appallingly.

Throughout the book, things like street names and market places are given their Czech/German names which are then followed up with the English translation. I'm not sure why these were included, and for me, it would have been easier to read if just the translation was included as I tended to just skip over them. This is what I disliked most about the book, however, there may have been a valid reason as to why the author has done this - I just couldn't see it.

What I enjoyed most about the book was learning some of the histories behind the people and countries on the opposite side to the British in the war.  Ultimately everyone was just fighting for their own country, and many people suffered and lost loved ones regardless of which side they were on. 

Readers who enjoy fiction, which includes elements of fact would enjoy this book and it is definitely worth reading if you are interested in World War II.  Due to the disturbing nature of some of the stories though, I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers.

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My Review For Waves Break (on Unknown Shores) by Barry Litherland

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This review is for Waves Break (on Unknown Shores) by Barry Litherland, which I reviewed in March 2021 for Online Book Club. I found it difficult to get into and remain involved with the story. I think the book was professionally edited, as I didn’t find any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors and just a few missed words.

Waves Break is a novel in which the leading character, Phil Tyler, narrates his story about how a traumatic childhood event between three friends shapes his journey into adulthood.  One of these friends, Wayne, is Phil’s best friend and has never seemed to fit into Phil’s world, either in childhood or adulthood.  Phil gives the impression of being rather straitlaced and almost boring, whereas Wayne appears zany, oblivious to other people’s feelings and often selfish.  As we progress through the book, it is apparent that Wayne is like this as a defence mechanism against his sufferings as a child.  As the book develops, Wayne grows as a person and becomes well-liked and trusted by the people who matter most to him.

Waves Break is part thriller, part mystery, and I guess part romance. As crimes are committed, people are hurt, and the same crimes are inevitably solved, but, as in a previous novel by Litherland, the police don’t play a huge part in this, indeed it is the main characters in the book who play the major role in working out what is happening.

The novel includes humour and wit, tears and laughter, friendship and enemies, and the author describes the characters well, ensuring that we are aware of their stories and how they fit into the plot.

The thing that I enjoyed most about this book was how Wayne developed from an unruly child, although understandably so, to an unruly, rather selfish adult initially but grew into a young man who cares for other people and how his actions affect their lives.

The plot wasn’t as fast-paced as I’d have liked, and this is probably what I disliked the most.  I did enjoy the story, but I found that sometimes my mind wandered, and I wasn’t as gripped with Waves Break as I was with Shifting Sands, a Barry Litherland novel I have read previously.

The book would appeal to readers who enjoy mystery and thriller novels, but due to the bad language, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under 18.

 

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San Francisco & Las Vegas - September 2018

September 2018, my husband's 50th birthday and so we decided on a trip to San Francisco (first visit) and Las Vegas (tenth visit - I think)!

Day 1 - We arrived at San Francisco International at around 4 pm on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow, and after collecting our luggage we found our way to the Lyft pick-up and ordered ourselves a Lyft, which we had never done before. For those of you who have never used Lyft or Uber, it’s very simple and straightforward, just download the relevant app. After a 45 minute journey, we arrived at Argonaut Hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf, where we upgraded our room for one with a view of Alcatraz and wandered out to get our bearings. We went down to Pier 39, had a quick look at the seals, soaked up the atmosphere and ate some fries. One of the things we didn’t do much of on this trip was eating, so I am unable to comment on restaurants, etc. We had breakfast each morning, and that pretty much set us up for the day, other than that we just ate snacky foods, fries, burgers, etc, and no alcohol - we saved ourselves for Vegas!!

Day 2 - The dreaded jet lag kicked in and we awoke at 3 am so we drank coffee in the room and messed around on our iPads, booking bike hire for that day! At 5 am my husband popped out to Starbucks, bringing lattes back to the room. We showered and dressed and went for a walk, getting back at 7 am, which is when Blue Mermaid opened for breakfast. I’d definitely recommend this place, it is open to everyone, not just hotel guests. We picked the bikes up around 9.30 am, having decided that we were going to go across the Golden Gate Bridge. As is usual in San Francisco, it was misty across the bridge and at the time of crossing, we couldn’t see the other side!

It took us about half an hour to cycle to the bridge from Fisherman’s Wharf, however, there are dedicated cycle paths for the majority of the route, so all was good. The bridge was very busy and you do need to be careful of pedestrians, but it was well worth the trip across. People say that there are lots of different climates around San Francisco, and upon arriving in Sausalito, on the other side of the bridge, the mist had disappeared and jumpers were off - it was positively warm! We parked our bikes, (paying $3) in a secure location where we locked them up, safely leaving the helmets with the bikes. There was a security guard at each end of the bike park, ensuring all remained safe and secure and you couldn’t leave with your bikes until you showed them your release ticket. We had a wander around Sausalito, stopping off for a coffee and popping in and out of the various shops before making our way back to collect the bikes and catching the ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf. As you are sailing back from Sausalito, you can see the steep streets that San Francisco is famous for.

We dropped the bikes off around 3 pm and then wandered up to see what Lombard Street was all about! It’s truly amazing and known as the 'crookedest street in the world'. Lombard Street is very steep and winding with the trees and bushes that have been planted alongside the road just adding to the attraction. This is definitely worth a visit. The photos I have don't do it justice, so take a look at the videos on YouTube.

Be mindful that if you are heading in that direction then the streets are very, very steep and it’s just as difficult walking down as up, I thought my legs would never be the same again! After our workout, we wandered around Pier 39 for a few hours before heading back to the hotel for an early night. We seemed to make up our own time in San Francisco, going to bed when we were tired and waking up when we woke up, which was usually around 4 am! Everything shuts down in Fishermans Wharf at about 9 pm anyway so you aren’t missing much!

Day 3 - Up early again and an early breakfast before heading down to the Alcatraz landing site where we had booked tickets for the 8.45 am crossing.

You can book tickets exactly 90 days in advance of the date and time you want to go, but remember if you are in the UK, there is an 8-hour time difference. For example, if you want to go at 8.45 am you can book at 4.45 pm 90 days before. The early bird crossings sell out fast, so set yourself a reminder. The only authorised website for booking is this one - Alcatraz Tickets, so please don't be fooled by others. On arrival, you will be greeted by one of the guides, who was a former prisoner of Alcatraz, and they all have some fascinating stories. I would recommend taking the time to talk to them. Once inside, there was a stark realisation of the conditions these prisoners were living in and their reminder of the freedom across the water.

We spent about 2 hours on Alcatraz and if you are visiting San Francisco then you really should make this trip. It is insightful and interesting and something which will remain with you for a long time. On our return to Pier 33, we walked along the waterfront and into the financial district of San Francisco and then on into China Town and to the cable car museum. This museum is another place that is well worth a visit. In fact, it isn’t actually a museum, it’s a working building, with all the cables which are currently running the cable cars, on view.

The one thing that is very evident in San Fran is the number of homeless people, which is shocking and upsetting, however, we didn’t feel threatened at all - just sad We were shattered after today and walked many miles through the ‘Streets of San Francisco’ so another early night for us!

Day 4 - Today we were booked onto a Movie Tour, which we booked through the website San Francisco Movie Tour. We met just before Pier 39 and climbed aboard the small minibus. There were only 9 of us on the tour which made it much nicer and more personalised. The concept was great, the guy in charge, Wiley, played us a clip of a movie, and then when you looked out of the window you were there! The tour was just under 3 hours, and I would highly recommend it.

We saw the Painted Ladies and the house from Mrs Doubtfire as well as the George Lucas building where scenes from Star Wars and Harry Potter were filmed. The tour was fantastic, have a look at the website and all the tour information is included there.

When we got back from the movie tour, around 1 pm we took a Lyft into the centre of San Francisco and into Westfield Shopping Centre, we didn’t stay long, bought a few things, and then caught a Lyft back, dumped our bags and went off around Fisherman’s Wharf again for snacks and a wander.

Day 5 -Up early and a visit to the seals again, and it was so early there were only us visiting! It was so lovely to see them, and everyone who visits San Fran must go and see them. Apparently, they appeared after the earthquake in 1989 and never went away!

Final breakfast at the Blue Mermaid and then a Lyft to the airport where we were Vegas bound!

Day 5 continued... we flew into Las Vegas on Monday 10 September 2018, and for anyone as obsessed with Vegas as much as I am - there is nothing quite like the sight of the strip as you fly into McCarran International Airport. We have an awesome host at Mirage, and she had already arranged a limo for us, the driver was waiting for us at baggage claim, taking our bags from the carousel and whisking us off to the Mirage. Depending on where you stay, having a host usually entitles you to VIP check-in, and it makes such a difference. You can be standing in line at the usual check-in for anything up to an hour, especially on a Friday or Saturday, so VIP check-in, with no queues in a chilled out room, is just the ticket. We had a room reserved in the Tower Suite, so, weaving our way across the casino floor we headed to our room for a quick shower before heading out.

That evening we ate at the Wynn buffet, which I had wanted to visit as others had raved about it. I have to say that I was disappointed, with the price we paid I thought the food was simply average, there wasn’t as much choice as I thought there would be, and the waiting staff were unfriendly, although this is obviously just my opinion. We followed dinner with a cocktail or two at Parasol Down and after a little gamble, we made our way back to Mirage.

Our room had been filled with balloons as a nice touch for my husband's upcoming 50th birthday - we couldn't move for balloons, it was incredible!

Day 6 - We picked up a car from the Avis desk at Mirage and tackled American roads for the first time - who knew you could turn right on a red light! Our first stop was Hoover Dam which is located on the Arizona/Nevada border. Here you can step from one time zone into another.

If you enter from the Nevada stateside you are in Pacific Standard Time (PST) zone and if you enter from the Arizona stateside you are in Mountain Standard Time (MST) zone. Pretty cool I thought - as was Hoover Dam and well worth a visit. We stayed on the outside, although you can take a tour to see the workings inside.

Lake Mead was our next stop and was absolutely huge (112 miles long) and spectacular. It also provides 90% of the drinking water for Las Vegas. You can drive down to the lake itself but unless you're planning a camping trip I'd take your photos from the Visitor Centre otherwise you have to pay $25. To end our trip out today, we drove through The Valley of Fire State Park, its name comes from the red sandstone formations, which were formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. The park is so quiet with spectacular scenery and petrified trees - definitely worth a visit. 

Once we had arrived back in Las Vegas we visited Carnegie Deli at Mirage for a bite to eat before we went to see the show Absinthe at Caesars Palace. Described as 'an adults-only, circus-style spectacular that combines old-world burlesque with speciality acts and outrageous comedy'. That was an understatement, it is an absolutely phenomenal show, but it is very politically incorrect, with a lot of swearing and sexual content so do your research first If you’re ok with that, then you’ll love it!

Day 7 - This was a very long day, but just the best ever! We took an 8-hour round-trip drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

You can also visit the West Rim, which is the closest to Las Vegas at just 130 miles away, but I did some research and found that it was much more touristy and not as photographic so we opted for the long drive and the South Rim. I'm so glad we did, it was just completely - wow!

Photographs really don't do it justice so if you ever get the chance to go, then yes, just go.

Day 8 - we took a drive out to Red Rock Canyon, which is a one-way, 13-mile scenic drive and lies in Nevada's Mojave desert. It has similar scenery to the Valley of Fire, providing excellent photo opportunities. On our way back to the strip we called into Red Rock Casino and Green Valley Ranch for a look at a couple of out-of-town casinos. We lunched at Pizza Rock which is an awesome pizza place with the best pizzas I've ever tasted. You can also find one at Downtown Grand, in downtown Las Vegas. This evening we had tickets booked to see Rat Pack Live at Tuscany Suites. For those of you who don't know it, you walk down the side of Ballys and keep walking for about 20 minutes, and it's on that road. I loved it, it was a small, intimate showroom, and we were close to the front. I enjoy all the old swing music, and it took you back to what the Rat Pack would have been like in the olden days - apart from the fug of cigarette smoke which I oddly missed - it would have made it more authentic!

Day 9 - This was our first day without the car, and so we decided to take a walk up to Circus Circus for old time's sake. This is the first place we ever stayed in Vegas, and I know it has a bad reputation, but I can honestly say that at the time it was fine, but no, I wouldn't stay there again, it's too far up the strip, and there are others, centre strip which are just as cheap if that's what you're aiming for. We had heard great reviews for Peppermill, an American diner on the strip between Sahara and Wynn, so we stopped for brunch. We had about half an hour wait and I thought it was 'just ok'. It was nothing special, the food was only lukewarm, and personally, I just wouldn't bother - there are better places to eat. We wandered up to Wynn for a look around, they have some amazing decor with the merry-go-round and the hot-air balloon made out of flowers that truly look real.

Later we popped into Venetian where I won $888 on an 88c machine 🎰 a nice little mid-afternoon win! in the evening we went to see Adam Lambert and Queen at The Park. I'm not really one for concerts anymore but, Oh My God, they were amazing. Adam Lambert does Freddie Mercury proud, with such an awesome voice and a magnificent stage presence. If I ever get the chance to go and see them again I'll be first in line.

Day 10 - We caught a Lyft to the Town Square, which is just outside the airport. There isn't much there, to be honest, but I think it may be better in a few years, perhaps just up and coming. We then walked, yes walked, in 37-degree heat, back up to Mandalay Bay, into Luxor and then into Excalibur, where we had a gamble in each, and from there back up to Mirage where we dumped some clothes we had bought at Town Square and caught a Lyft downtown. We didn’t stay long, just long enough to catch an early dinner at Oscars Steakhouse at Plaza. Oscars is owned by Oscar Goodman who spent a large part of his career as a lawyer to mob members, and more recently as the mayor of Las Vegas. For anyone interested, his autobiography, Being Oscar is well worth a read. There are numerous steakhouses in Las Vegas and although not cheap, I'd rate it up there as one of the best.

Day 11 - Today I booked lunch at Gordon Ramsey's Hell’s Kitchen. Often, at places such as this, I think lunch is a lot more relaxed than dinner. We both had burgers. My husband had the standard burger, and I had the Gordon Ramsay spicy burger, which was simply amazing. We didn't feel rushed, and the whole dining experience was simply outstanding.

Feeling that we then needed to walk off such a delicious lunch, we wandered down to Ellis Island and from there back up to M&M World, MGM, Tropicana, across to NYNY, and back to Mirage, with some gambling along the way!

Day 12 - This was our final full day, we popped up to the Fashion Show Mall to buy my son-in-law a Golden Knights jersey, a gift card for our host, and a spare suitcase.  We then headed out to Premium North Outlets to buy clothes to fill the suitcase!   Later in the afternoon, we headed for  Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips - this is always a go-to place for us if we want a quick snack and no, they aren't the cheapest fish and chips in the world, but they are yummy. These were followed by Fat Tuesdays (Google them), and some gambling at The Linq before we headed back to Mirage to get ready for dinner for my husband’s 50th birthday!

Whilst I was lounging in the bath, he went downstairs into the casino to wait for me and got another hand pay of $3200 (what a great birthday present)!  I had booked dinner at Prime, Bellagio on the terrace, in front of the fountains. It was absolutely amazing, and for a special occasion I would highly recommend it, but when I say the tip was $70 you might have an idea of how much the bill was!  

Day 13 - A day of travel, and we were headed home but not before we checked out, and our host had comped everything, and I mean everything. We didn’t pay for a single night's stay, no food, no drink or coffees, and yes, I am including that meal at Prime on there. As I and many before me have said, if you are staying at a property that is linked with others, charge absolutely everything to your room. It helps if you gamble, but if you do then definitely do this - hopefully you won’t be disappointed. 

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask or private message me, I will try and answer everything. If you got this far, thanks for reading - Viva Las Vegas

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My Review For The Dream Keepers by Linda Keen

⭐⭐⭐⭐. My first book review was for The Dream Keepers by Linda Keen which I reviewed in August 2020 for Online Book Club.  I found it quite difficult to grab my interest at the beginning and I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to finish it but how wrong I was!

In essence, the book is about a young brother and sister who, together, learn to find their way in a world that isn’t always accepting or tolerating the people who live in it. The novel follows their lives as they develop from children into young adults and how they deal with various situations and other people along the way. From their families to their friends and from strangers both kind and not so kind, Star and Thatcher deal with whatever life throws at them as they continue on life’s journey, showing the true meaning of being there for each other.

The book covers a multitude of life’s issues, from race and culture to suicide and near-death experiences and although it took me a few chapters to become used to the characters, I was soon embroiled in their lives and this became a real page-turner. I found the sister to be an addictive character and I often discovered myself encouraging her in some of her adventures and wanting to be involved.

There are many dream experiences described in the book and these are what I disliked the most throughout the story. Although I understand the relevance and insight these provided, in my opinion there probably didn’t need to be as many and I wanted to read through these as quickly as possible and to return to the main characters and their stories.

On the flip side, I found that the descriptions of the different characters, cities, and environments the children found themselves in were what I enjoyed the most. They were well written and the author drags the reader into each situation and you can imagine yourself being with the kids along their journeys.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a novel with a spiritual undertone, for those who value the importance and learning that reading about race, culture, and diversity brings and for those that like to be immersed in someone else’s world for a while to bring you relief from your own. I will definitely be looking out for future novels by Linda Keen.

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My Review For A Long Dark Rainbow by Michael Tappenden

⭐⭐⭐   This review is for A Long Dark Rainbow by Michael Tappenden which I reviewed in September 2020 for Online Book Club. I was slightly wary before beginning this novel as some of the reviews were fairly negative but I did in fact love it. I think it may have helped that I’m from the UK, as was the author, so some of the quirky language that other reviewers mentioned, may have made more sense to me.

The novel is labelled as ‘erotic’ on the front cover and in my opinion, the majority of the descriptions are beautiful and romantic rather than vulgar. There are very few profanity occurrences and it seems that the novel is professionally edited.

There are two main characters in the story, Alex and Samantha, both in their 70s, who have found each other again after many years. The story follows their relationship as they get to know each other, learning what makes the other happy, both intimately and in their everyday lives. We also learn about what has brought them to this stage in their lives and their journeys from teenagers through to old age.

I really enjoyed Alex sharing his love of art with Samantha as she slowly begins to appreciate it in the way that he does. Alex shares his experiences with the reader, seemingly explaining that every picture tells a story, which I loved, and will perhaps now make me stop and think and actually ‘see’ a painting.

I disliked the ending the most, the story seemed to just stop which was disappointing. I actually thought there were pages missing! In my opinion, there could have been another chapter just to finalise the novel.

I think the novel would appeal to a wide range of audiences, the story is gripping and definitely makes you wonder what is going to happen next as you turn a page. Whether it makes a difference to people, that the author is from the UK I’m not sure. In my opinion, authors from the UK definitely have a different way of writing from other authors, particularly to those in the US but this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the novel. If you are uncomfortable reading about sex then this may not be the book for you, but it only amounts to a small proportion of the book. I would recommend this book and I will definitely be reading any other novels by Michael Tappenden.

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My Review for Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. This review is for Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland, which I reviewed in November 2020 for Online Book Club. I was thoroughly absorbed with the story, which kept me entertained throughout. I believe that this book has been professionally edited as I did not find any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

There is a mystery surrounding Westleigh Lodge, and local journalist, Phil Tyler, and his editor, Liz, are determined to find out what is going on behind the fortress-like walls. Between himself and Liz, and his madcap array of friends and colleagues they set out to unravel the mystery of the strange clinic which seems to have taken up residence in Westleigh Lodge.

This book was impossible to put down. The story is gripping and extremely well-written, with humour, action, and intrigue throughout. Written in the first person, the author involves us with each journey he embarks on, taking us along as he fights thugs, investigates weird goings-on, and tiptoes around love.

Litherland has a great descriptive talent. As the reader, you can easily visualise every character, every scene, every meal, and every scenario. You will cringe as Mr Tyler attempts to woo the girl, and shrink back at every fight - you will live within the novel.

Every character has their own story to tell and their own unique personality. Litherland is excellent at describing to the reader how each character fits into the novel, and how everything and everyone links together as the story progresses. The plot kept me guessing until the end, despite my continuing thoughts as to the outcome, there were twists and turns, surprises and revelations and I loved the ending.

The thing that I enjoyed most about this book was that I was hooked from beginning to end. I believe that only an exceptional author has the ability to achieve this and, Litherland falls into this category.

I am aware that this is a huge statement, but I didn’t find anything I disliked about this book. I will definitely be adding his other books to my ‘to be read’ pile.

I think the books would appeal to a wide range of audiences, however, due to the mature language I would not recommend this to younger audiences.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves a crime/thriller/mystery novel, with a fascinating and humorous story from start to finish.

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My Review for The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye

⭐⭐⭐⭐. This review is for The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye which I reviewed in December 2020 for Online Book Club.  I simply loved the story, and I can honestly say it has been one of the most compelling and spellbinding novels I have read in 2020.  I believe that this book has been professionally edited, as I did not find any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden is the first book in a trilogy by Londyn Skye, and is an absolutely incredible novel. Lily is a nine-year-old girl who is sold into slavery, leaving her mother behind, not knowing whether she remains alive or dead. The beginning of the story focusses on Lily’s fourteen years with her new master, but we soon jump ahead as she is provided with an escape and a way out of the only life she has ever really known, as she becomes a musical prodigy. A number of characters are influential in the change of her way of life, but an elderly gentleman, by the name of William Werthington, is paramount to how her life progresses from the moment of her escape.

Readers are transported back to the mid-nineteenth century where slaves were a part of normal life in the Deep South, and as well as being entertaining, I also found the novel educational, and this encouraged me to research more about those times. In fact, this is what I found the most enjoyable about the book, the inspiration it gave me to read more into American History.

The ending left me aghast and upset, which is what I disliked the most about the book. However as there are two more in the series, I am encouraged to read on and see how the story ends.

I was captivated throughout Skye’s telling of The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden. She has an amazing talent for descriptive writing, and although I have read reviews stating that other readers have been bored by some of her writings, I found her a compelling author and was drawn into the story more and more as she wrote.

I think the book would appeal to a wide range of audiences, however due to sexual, racial, and violent content, as well as a high content of profanity, I would advise caution if you are of a sensitive nature.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, and to those who would appreciate a clearer understanding of the difference in people’s lives in the Deep South in the nineteenth century.

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My Review for Honesty is Key: The Magic Ingredient by Tayma Tameem

⭐⭐⭐. This review is for Honesty is Key: The Magic Ingredient by Tayma Tameem, which I reviewed in  January 2021 for Online Book Club. I enjoyed the story, which was very easy to read and would be a good beach read. I believe that this book has been professionally edited as I did not find any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

Honesty is Key: The Magic Ingredient is the first book in a trilogy by Tayma Tameem. Atlas is an out-of-work actor who has previously claimed that he can cook, and has now been employed as a chef on a new television show. The only problem is; that he can’t cook!

The story takes us through the first series of the television show, and how Atlas adapts his skills and his personality, which will be imperative as to whether the show succeeds or fails. Selina is Atlas’s producer on the show, and throughout the book, the reader is constantly wondering whether this is a love interest that will lead to anything more than an employer/employee relationship.

Tayma’s book caused me to laugh out loud quite a few times, and not many books have that effect on me. The descriptions that Tayma includes in her text ensure that you can visualise what is happening, particularly when she is describing the scenes that take place when the filming of the television series is in progress.

Honesty is Key: The Magic Ingredient makes for easy reading, and although cringe-worthy in places, it is well written and entertaining. The thing that I enjoyed most about the book was that it made me laugh, and allowed me to escape into someone else’s world for a while.

There wasn’t really anything about the book that I disliked, although, in some parts, I felt embarrassed for Atlas and felt that perhaps these could have been written in a slightly different way, these didn’t detract from the easiness and enjoyment of the book. I would like to read the other books in The Honesty is Key series to find out what adventures Atlas has in the future.

I think the book would appeal to a wide range of audiences. As I didn’t find any profanity or eroticism in the content, they would suit Young Adults upwards. In my opinion, due to the storyline, it would probably suit a female audience rather than a male.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants something easy to read and a distraction from everyday life.

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My Review for The Trafficking Murders (Inspector Sheehan Mysteries #5) by Brian O'Hare

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.   This review is for The Trafficking Murders (Inspector Sheehan Mysteries #5) by Brian O'Hare which I reviewed in  January 2021 for Online Book Club The storyline gripped me and will open the reader’s eyes to the trafficking and modern slave trade in the 21st century. I think the book was professionally edited because I found very few grammatical or spelling mistakes.

The Trafficking Murders are essentially about two different forms of slavery/trafficking. One is a high-end business that has the girls settled into luxury apartments and provided with enough money to purchase fine clothes, but with a very grim side to what they have to carry out to benefit from this. The other is rather less glamorous with the men and women brought into Northern Ireland in container ships and dealt with brutally from the start. Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan and his Serious Crimes Unit find themselves embroiled in several murders which all seem to be linked to the Chinese Community in Belfast. The Trafficking Murders follows the team as they attempt to solve the crime, eventually realising that everything is linked.

I was caught up in this book and curious about every page turn and what was coming next. The author treats a sensitive subject with delicacy and compassion, but there is also humour involved as his team often banter with each other as they continue with the case. As the story continues, the author’s descriptive style guides us through the Belfast police procedure, and therefore, most things that you think you may not understand become clear. The author is from Northern Ireland and consequently, some US readers may find some police terminology confusing. The author has thoughtfully provided a glossary of acronyms that are commonplace in police forces in the UK, for guidance.

The thing that I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that it wasn’t a normal, run-of-the-mill crime novel. It focussed on a sensitive and very real topic and appeared to be researched well. The crime is complex, and careful readers will notice the clues and try to solve the mystery alongside the Chief Inspector’s team.

There wasn’t anything I disliked about the book, but if I was pushed, I would have liked to see more graphic detail about the things these poor victims go through during these hideous crimes.

I think the book would appeal to readers who enjoy a crime novel but should know this is a very genuine subject and there are people suffering because of Human Trafficking every single day.

I haven’t previously read any Brian O’Hare novels, but this won’t be my last. The author has kindly sent me a copy of one of his other novels, and I will read this shortly.

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