Angela Lockwood's Blog, page 3
March 13, 2019
Happy for you by Luci Beach
Feeling a bit lazy today, so I've put my review on goodreads on my blog:) Work and other stuff taking most of my time, but still reading and reviewing. Happy For You by Luci Beach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The concept of this romantic novel is great. To set a story over four seven year intervals is rather clever. A boy and a girl meet during an experiment that follows them from 7 year old children into adulthood. We see Ciara and Max grow from childhood friends into complicated adults. It is clear from the outset that Ciara and Max are attracted to each other, but love is never simple. Luci Beach has created in Ciara an at times frustrating heroine and I found myself shouting at my kindle for Ciara to get over herself and accept her feelings for Max. I could have done with a little less ‘will they, won’t they?’ However this is a well written book with a nice cast of supporting characters. I also liked the sub plot of Ciara creating a catalogue of unsold underwear. It added a good dose of humour.
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February 15, 2019
The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part Two by Audrey Davis
This is the second instalment in the Hattie Hastings series, and I would say it is as good as the first or even better. Comic and touching the story continues in the same style. Part one I reviewed a few weeks ago and I'm giving this 5 stars.
After reading the first part, I bought part two straight away. I just bought the third and last part just now. If I have one quibble with the book it’s that it is short. I hope the writer is thinking of releasing the series as a box set now part 3 has been released.This book is great fun as we follow Hattie and her loved ones getting on with their lives. Finding new love for friends Hattie and Cat is not easy. Hattie is not willing to let deceased husband Gary go, understandable as he still drops in now and then. Cat seems to be on the path to true romance, but will one stupid decision spoil it all. Gary knows he is hanging about as there is still a mission to complete, but we don’t get much closer to finding out what it is.Part three therefore has plenty more loose ends to be tied up and I can’t wait to get to the conclusion. Well written with plenty of humour, but also some touching moments.
After reading the first part, I bought part two straight away. I just bought the third and last part just now. If I have one quibble with the book it’s that it is short. I hope the writer is thinking of releasing the series as a box set now part 3 has been released.This book is great fun as we follow Hattie and her loved ones getting on with their lives. Finding new love for friends Hattie and Cat is not easy. Hattie is not willing to let deceased husband Gary go, understandable as he still drops in now and then. Cat seems to be on the path to true romance, but will one stupid decision spoil it all. Gary knows he is hanging about as there is still a mission to complete, but we don’t get much closer to finding out what it is.Part three therefore has plenty more loose ends to be tied up and I can’t wait to get to the conclusion. Well written with plenty of humour, but also some touching moments.
January 30, 2019
Untitled by Pete Hartley
I don't think this will win any prizes for best book covers, but give it a chance as I did and you will be pleasantly surprised. 5 stars for plot and writing.
Click on the pic to take you to Amazon.
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It’s an old cliché to say don’t judge a book by its cover. With the picture of a dark haired woman and untitled across the top, it looks a bit unfinished and could be the cover for anything. Nothing alludes to the rather clever and well worked out cold war thriller you will find inside. The reader is swept along by the mystery of an unnamed woman trying to trace her war time lover. But she knows virtually nothing about him. We learn of a rather sweet romance that could probably only have happened in war time, where fleeting moments were all important and couples rushed into engagements and marriage before the war would claim one of them. Gradually the plot turns more sinister as the woman now finds herself caught up in the dangerous world of cold war espionage.The book is quite unusual both in its style and story line. The writer likes playing with various shades of grey and nothing is ever clear cut or seems as it appears. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to all lovers of spy thrillers, crime and something with a well thought out complex plot.
Click on the pic to take you to Amazon.
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It’s an old cliché to say don’t judge a book by its cover. With the picture of a dark haired woman and untitled across the top, it looks a bit unfinished and could be the cover for anything. Nothing alludes to the rather clever and well worked out cold war thriller you will find inside. The reader is swept along by the mystery of an unnamed woman trying to trace her war time lover. But she knows virtually nothing about him. We learn of a rather sweet romance that could probably only have happened in war time, where fleeting moments were all important and couples rushed into engagements and marriage before the war would claim one of them. Gradually the plot turns more sinister as the woman now finds herself caught up in the dangerous world of cold war espionage.The book is quite unusual both in its style and story line. The writer likes playing with various shades of grey and nothing is ever clear cut or seems as it appears. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to all lovers of spy thrillers, crime and something with a well thought out complex plot.
January 5, 2019
The Haunting of Hattie Hastings Part One: A ghostly, gloriously witty feel-good romance with a liberal dose of comedy by Audrey Davis
Firstly a Happy New Year to all my readers. 2018 seemed to have gone by in a blur. I didn't achieve much on either the writing or reading front. A more challenging job and a new hobby (Painting) has gotten in the way. Here to 2019 and a resolution to read more books.
So here is to the latest book review. A mild mannered and very British comedy. I gave it 4 stars mainly because it was only 90 long and I feel that the story barely got underway. I did buy part two already.
[image error] This is the first in a three book series and this darkly comedic story is certainly a good opener. Middle aged Hattie, her layabout adult son and soon to be deceased husband are all characters we can relate to. They are ordinary British people thrown into an unusual situation and dealing with it as best as they can and with a good bit of humour. It was a fun read and I’m keen to snap up part 2 and 3; as there are still a lot of things that are unresolved and I think the fun is just beginning.
So here is to the latest book review. A mild mannered and very British comedy. I gave it 4 stars mainly because it was only 90 long and I feel that the story barely got underway. I did buy part two already.
[image error] This is the first in a three book series and this darkly comedic story is certainly a good opener. Middle aged Hattie, her layabout adult son and soon to be deceased husband are all characters we can relate to. They are ordinary British people thrown into an unusual situation and dealing with it as best as they can and with a good bit of humour. It was a fun read and I’m keen to snap up part 2 and 3; as there are still a lot of things that are unresolved and I think the fun is just beginning.
December 13, 2018
Homebody: A Toni Credella Baltimore Mystery (Toni Credella Baltimore Mysteries Book 1) by Louise Titchener
As the year is nearing its end I realised that I completely missed my target of reading 52 books this year. I only managed to do a 'measly' 25, hopefully 26 before the year is out. I do have a good excuse; I've taken on a more challenging job and spend now most of my lunch hour catching up on emails etc. It is temporary so I hope to get some more reading and reviewing done in 2019.
This book I liked a lot and I had no hesitation giving it 5 stars. Here is the review.
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Toni Credella is a great and complex heroine. Marrying too young for the wrong reasons, she finds herself in an abusive relationship. Fearing for her life she shoots her policeman husband. The book starts here as Toni tries to resume her life after being acquitted of murder.What I like is Toni’s vulnerability and courage. She is determined not to be a victim again and that gives her a newfound drive and strength. She is not a gun-toting tough cookie, but a delicate woman that had to fight against prejudice (she is both of Italian and Korean heritage), Violence and naked hatred (her husband’s cop buddies and even her own family) She emerges bruised and still full of self-doubt, but getting stronger by the day.This is a great little thriller that throws up a few surprises, but most of all it’s the depth of character of Toni that spoke to me the most and kept me reading. I would love to read the next instalment in this series. Very promising start.
This book I liked a lot and I had no hesitation giving it 5 stars. Here is the review.
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Toni Credella is a great and complex heroine. Marrying too young for the wrong reasons, she finds herself in an abusive relationship. Fearing for her life she shoots her policeman husband. The book starts here as Toni tries to resume her life after being acquitted of murder.What I like is Toni’s vulnerability and courage. She is determined not to be a victim again and that gives her a newfound drive and strength. She is not a gun-toting tough cookie, but a delicate woman that had to fight against prejudice (she is both of Italian and Korean heritage), Violence and naked hatred (her husband’s cop buddies and even her own family) She emerges bruised and still full of self-doubt, but getting stronger by the day.This is a great little thriller that throws up a few surprises, but most of all it’s the depth of character of Toni that spoke to me the most and kept me reading. I would love to read the next instalment in this series. Very promising start.
November 17, 2018
Time for Surprises (The Solvik Series Book 4) by Mette Barfelt
I picked this book up as it was by a Norwegian writer set in Norway. I wasn't disappointed in the descriptions of the beautiful scenery or the characters in the book. But the whole book felt a bit disjointed and the romance and humour where in the wrong places. I think a lot went wrong in translation here. This is part 4 in a series, but it stands alone and not having read the other books was not a problem. I gave it 3 stars.
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Time for surprises is a very apt title for this gentle romance set in Norway. It starts with a family inheriting a hotel from their father. Miranda our main character is set to run the operation as per her father’s wishes, as her husband, Vidar, gets the lowly job of janitor. The sisters Miranda, Isabel, Jasmine, brother Tony and recently revealed half-sister Celine are forced to work together. The fact that they are all very different characters adds to the tension. There is a lot to get on with and the disasters and mishaps follow quickly. There are good characters here and they are quite well developed. My issue was mostly with the tone of the book, the translation from Norwegian might be a factor. There was humour and romance there but at somewhat inappropriate moments; for instance a fat policeman having a rather slapstick moment before a rather grisly discovery. I would like to read more of this writer as her character development is good, maybe a more out and out romance would suit me better.
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Time for surprises is a very apt title for this gentle romance set in Norway. It starts with a family inheriting a hotel from their father. Miranda our main character is set to run the operation as per her father’s wishes, as her husband, Vidar, gets the lowly job of janitor. The sisters Miranda, Isabel, Jasmine, brother Tony and recently revealed half-sister Celine are forced to work together. The fact that they are all very different characters adds to the tension. There is a lot to get on with and the disasters and mishaps follow quickly. There are good characters here and they are quite well developed. My issue was mostly with the tone of the book, the translation from Norwegian might be a factor. There was humour and romance there but at somewhat inappropriate moments; for instance a fat policeman having a rather slapstick moment before a rather grisly discovery. I would like to read more of this writer as her character development is good, maybe a more out and out romance would suit me better.
November 6, 2018
Ula (Born of Shadows Book 1) by J.R. Erickson
Fantasy is a great genre for authors, even though it isn't my favourite genre to read, I did chose it to write 'Language in the Blood'. Reality sometimes doesn't allow you to take the story to where you want. I can see that J.R.Erickson had great fun creating her baddies the vepars; a sort of vampiric demon and giving her Abby awesome powers. It worked mostly and I enjoyed this book. 4 Stars.
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I rather liked this book as it had plenty of action and pace. It is the first in an already 5 book series, so I didn’t mind the slightly abrupt ending as the author has put the first chapter of the next book in at the end as a taster. We have been introduced to a myriad of characters which we probably get to know better in the next book. This book is all about Abby and her growth, not just as a young woman finding her way in the world, but also the growth of Abby the inexperienced witch. I thought that was nicely done as we first meet Abby, a rather mousy girl that rather runs away than stand up to her overbearing mother and boyfriend. Hiding out in her aunt’s lake house she finds that she isn’t alone and Sebastian is also hiding there to get away from some demons. A grisly discovery and some other forces, throw them together on an exhilarating and terrifying adventure. Well written if somewhat over done with flowery metaphors. My attention was kept from beginning to end and had a few edge of my seat moments. Wouldn’t mind reading the next one.
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I rather liked this book as it had plenty of action and pace. It is the first in an already 5 book series, so I didn’t mind the slightly abrupt ending as the author has put the first chapter of the next book in at the end as a taster. We have been introduced to a myriad of characters which we probably get to know better in the next book. This book is all about Abby and her growth, not just as a young woman finding her way in the world, but also the growth of Abby the inexperienced witch. I thought that was nicely done as we first meet Abby, a rather mousy girl that rather runs away than stand up to her overbearing mother and boyfriend. Hiding out in her aunt’s lake house she finds that she isn’t alone and Sebastian is also hiding there to get away from some demons. A grisly discovery and some other forces, throw them together on an exhilarating and terrifying adventure. Well written if somewhat over done with flowery metaphors. My attention was kept from beginning to end and had a few edge of my seat moments. Wouldn’t mind reading the next one.
October 14, 2018
Mary Rosie's War by Catherine M. Byrne
I wanted to like this book as it was set in the North of Scotland and it was historical fiction, but ultimately I was left a bit frustrated by the pace of the book and some of the characters decisions. But if you like a slow paced coming of age story, this one will be for you. I gave it 3 stars as it does have a lot of good points too. Here is the review and click on the pick to take you to Amazon.
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This was a nice story set in the north of Scotland, England and France. Three young people: Mary, Johnny and Liesl find their lives irrevocably changed by war. We mostly follow Mary and her growth from a 17 year old Caithness country girl into a serious woman shaped by World War two. My problem with the book was mostly with pace. Mary to me wasn’t the most interesting person in the book. I found her mother far more intriguing. Her past was never fully developed and her budding romance with Sinclair again not quite fully explored. The relationship between Mary and Johnny was described at great length and its conclusion rather unsatisfying. (I don’t want to give the plot away, but the end left me a bit puzzled as to Mary’s decision.) Liesls time in Germany was dealt with in a chapter and Johnny’s time in France was equally quickly dealt with. For me they were exiting story lines with I would have liked to have seen much further explored. Gentle read for lovers of clean romance with just a little adventure.
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This was a nice story set in the north of Scotland, England and France. Three young people: Mary, Johnny and Liesl find their lives irrevocably changed by war. We mostly follow Mary and her growth from a 17 year old Caithness country girl into a serious woman shaped by World War two. My problem with the book was mostly with pace. Mary to me wasn’t the most interesting person in the book. I found her mother far more intriguing. Her past was never fully developed and her budding romance with Sinclair again not quite fully explored. The relationship between Mary and Johnny was described at great length and its conclusion rather unsatisfying. (I don’t want to give the plot away, but the end left me a bit puzzled as to Mary’s decision.) Liesls time in Germany was dealt with in a chapter and Johnny’s time in France was equally quickly dealt with. For me they were exiting story lines with I would have liked to have seen much further explored. Gentle read for lovers of clean romance with just a little adventure.
September 26, 2018
Another Kind of Sunset by Susan Wüthrich
I really wanted to read this book as it is in my favourite genre of historical fiction, but also it set in the aftermath of World War two; a period which is much less written about than WWII itself. The author was very kind in providing me with a copy as it was slightly above my usual reading budget. However I can recommend it and it more than worth its purchase price. 5 stars.
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Plenty of books have been written about the Second World War, quite refreshing to find a book that deals with its aftermath. We meet Eve a young widowed mother of three. We read of her struggle to raise her kids in 1948 Britain. Not only does she have to deal with that, her grief but also the nursery business she built with her late husband. We can relate to Eve as she is a real woman dealing with very real problems and we can easily imagine ourselves in her shoes. The action moves between 1948 and 1975, but is mostly about those crucial after war years. The 1975 bit is interesting as her daughter Faith drops a bomb shell that has Eve questioning everything she knew about the man she came to love. I don’t want to give anything away about the plot as there are many different twists and turns, which had me eagerly turning my kindle pages. An interesting part of history and a book with a good substantial plot. Recommended. I received a free copy for a fair and honest review.
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Plenty of books have been written about the Second World War, quite refreshing to find a book that deals with its aftermath. We meet Eve a young widowed mother of three. We read of her struggle to raise her kids in 1948 Britain. Not only does she have to deal with that, her grief but also the nursery business she built with her late husband. We can relate to Eve as she is a real woman dealing with very real problems and we can easily imagine ourselves in her shoes. The action moves between 1948 and 1975, but is mostly about those crucial after war years. The 1975 bit is interesting as her daughter Faith drops a bomb shell that has Eve questioning everything she knew about the man she came to love. I don’t want to give anything away about the plot as there are many different twists and turns, which had me eagerly turning my kindle pages. An interesting part of history and a book with a good substantial plot. Recommended. I received a free copy for a fair and honest review.
September 23, 2018
Remember: A unique love story by Shervin Jamali
I don't normally read metaphysical or religious fiction, but this book was a bit different. Well written and quite gritty, it dealt with heaven, reincarnation in an original way. Heartbreaking without straying into the sentimental, I was gripped from start to finish. 5 stars.
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Do you ever have that feeling of déjà vue? When Daniels wife Gracie tells him with her dying breath that they knew each other before, he starts wondering if they did. Struggling with his grief, alcoholism and her strange parting words, he sets out to find the truth. Daniel is a complex character; a reformed alcoholic that falls off the wagon after his wife’s death, we find out what turned him to drink in the first place. As harrowing as his story is we do have along it a message of hope and love. I really liked this book, even though it was quite a heart breaking story it left me feeling warm and fuzzy in the end. Very uplifting message; that love will find a way. It will appeal to people who wonder about heaven and reincarnation, but even if religion is not your thing this is an excellent read.
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Do you ever have that feeling of déjà vue? When Daniels wife Gracie tells him with her dying breath that they knew each other before, he starts wondering if they did. Struggling with his grief, alcoholism and her strange parting words, he sets out to find the truth. Daniel is a complex character; a reformed alcoholic that falls off the wagon after his wife’s death, we find out what turned him to drink in the first place. As harrowing as his story is we do have along it a message of hope and love. I really liked this book, even though it was quite a heart breaking story it left me feeling warm and fuzzy in the end. Very uplifting message; that love will find a way. It will appeal to people who wonder about heaven and reincarnation, but even if religion is not your thing this is an excellent read.
