The absolute best thing about having a holiday is being able to read a book in a day. This is what I did with Lindisfarne and there is nothing like it for truly immersing yourself in a story. So much so that when I had to pop to Lidl for some essentials I imagined I was on a supply run and found myself checking out the aisles for the best things to take. Read the book, you’ll know what I mean.

Terry Tyler really gets people and while her characters are richly rounded it’s the way they interact and what they think about the relationships they have with others, or that are happening around them, that I find particularly interesting.

Several of the characters from Tipping Point arrive in Lindisfarne looking for a community to join and live in. Everybody there has been through a bad time but this relatively small group of people have to try to get along with each other. And that’s not easy. They come from the entire spectrum of society and accordingly have different sensitivities. They are also all simply trying to survive, or in one case seek vengeance, and the story is full of drama, and death, because of it.

Fully absorbing, this story, as with Tipping Point, makes you think about how things would be and how you would cope should something apocalyptic happen. What sort of person would you become?

I thought Lottie was a star, Vicky, weak, although I could understand why, Heath, most excellent, Travis, stronger than he thinks he is and Dex, well… I have no words that wouldn’t spoil it for those of you yet to try this series. You won’t know what you’re missing until you do.

I will add that there is a helpful ‘The Story So Far’ bit if like me you read Tipping Point ages ago (and reviewed here). As for me, well I’m onto the next in the series, UK2.

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It’s not giving anything away to say that Alice May gets saved one day while out on a kayak by Henry. They soon become romantically involved which would be fine were it not for the fact that Henry died 100 years ago and is living in some sort of purgatory. And he’s not the only one ‘living’ this way.

I enjoyed the setting with the descriptions of Alice’s life in the town of Pacific Grove where she lives with her dad and sister after her mum died. I also liked her friends Christian and Emily.

The things that jarred with me were that I was confused about whether people could see Henry with Alice, or not, at least at first. Later in the story it was clear he could be seen by everyone and also he seemed as solid as a properly living person.

Strangely at one point Alice is concerned by the fact that Henry is 100 years old and what effect that would have on their relationship, without considering the perplexing issue that he is essentially dead so their future together is not looking that promising anyway.

I am probably not the ideal audience for this book but I’m sure it would appeal to younger readers as they would relate to the age range of the characters better.

I chose to read this book and received a copy from the author but this does not affect my review in any way.

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The Art of Healing was a story that grew on me. It felt a little sticky and slow at the beginning and I’ll admit I wasn’t sure about it but I then found myself drawn into the relationship that eventually developed between Julianne and Jokob. And that’s what I enjoyed because both of these characters had been through a rough time, Jokob particularly (I actually thought Julianne had a lucky escape!) But it was the fact that the romance grew steadily, and dare I say it, normally. The first date, for example, just as it should be, a getting to know you exercise.

I thought the ongoing struggle for Jokob, and the inclusion of Keara to the tale was particularly well handled and the ending was terrific. I thought it was going to go one way with the possibility of Julianne losing herself again (although I don’t think Jokob would let that happen) but it didn’t and it was all the better for it. Good job!

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I chose to read The Bledbrooke Works from the submissions made to Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team. I received a copy from the author but this has not altered my review at all.

Donald Hobdike’s title is Manager of Works in the small, somewhat creepy, town of Bledbrooke, and has been for forty years. Over that time his role has become considerably less glamorous than it sounds and now extends to little more than managing the sewage system.

He is also, on occasion, sent community service young offenders to accompany him on his day’s work. Which is why when a blockage is reported in a posh part of town Hobdike has the surly Mikey in tow as they disappear into the depths of the sewers.

But they are not alone.

This story is written from the differing points of view of Hobdike and Mikey and these were my favourite parts. The characterisation of each is excellent, their thoughts about the other right on the nail. But there is a third character. An unknown quantity. Gone to earth.

Like I said, they are not alone, and as if the revolting setting of the claustrophobic sewage system was not enough suspense builds because you know, you just know, something is waiting for them.

I loved the twist, the horror of the finale, and having appreciated Leonard’s writing for a while now I thoroughly enjoyed this short story and highly recommend it to all those seeking something different and interesting to read.

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The Alchemy of Noise is a novel in which boy meets girl and essentially it has a love story at its heart. But it is so much more than that.

Sidonie manages a successful and popular music and events bar. Chris has his own business but steps in to help out the club when the usual sound guy lets them down. Both characters are likeable, honest, reliable and drawn to each other. But they come from very different worlds, because Sidonie is white and Chris is black. It shouldn’t matter, in fact it doesn’t to them, but in the world in which they live thinking that it isn’t going to matter is not that simple.

‘… we can’t know what we don’t experience.’

This, for me, was the crux of the tale. However open minded and empathetic you might think you are, however much you think you understand the world lived from another’s perspective, simply falling in love with someone who is good and kind is not enough. Because when something goes wrong for Chris, and it goes very wrong indeed, Sidonie is brutally awakened to the reality of their life together.

Families either close ranks, or crack, fissures starting to appear in previously strong relationships, as Sidonie finds, to her surprise, and shock, it’s not a given that everyone around her shares the same values she has about race, or the police.

The exploration of all the relationships in this novel is excellent. The characters rich and rounded, the way they react and interact absorbing.

It is very well written. It’s intelligent, educational and eye-opening, though still easy to read, the prose flowing and drawing you in. The Alchemy of Noise is an excellent novel I thoroughly enjoyed and don’t hesitate for a moment to recommend.

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I chose to read this book as a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team. I received a copy from the author but that does not alter my review in any way.

I do so love it when you open a book and within the first few lines you know you are in for a treat. The Silent Beauty is just such a read.

Colleeda has been bestowed with not only beauty but also a wonderful voice yet she is a horribly, horribly vain and selfish woman with not one redeeming feature. She treats everyone around her appallingly, her thoughts and manners ugly and breath-takingly arrogant. However, her favourite pursuit of luring men to her, then leave them heartbroken, proves her undoing when she seeks to distract a good man, dismissive of the fact his fiancé is rumoured to be a witch.

The Silent Beauty is book three in a series of fairy tales and contains all the magic of such tales with good and evil, heroes and heroines, and characters brought low by their own weaknesses. Does this one offer the possibility of redemption and send out a moral message? Well, you will have to read it yourself to find out and I highly recommend that you do. At only 80 pages long this is a gem. The writing is excellent, the descriptions rich and the storytelling wonderful.

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Monty, Cookie and the spangles are back at the beach for the fifth book in this series of childrens books. 

When Cookie sees a splash in the water her newfoundland instinct to rescue takes over and she immediately heads out to help. When she returns the dogs get a huge surprise as they hear a desperate plea.

What follows is an adventure that could turn out to be their biggest and most difficult so far. 

This is a gentle introduction for children about the issues of plastic pollution in our oceans and even features Sir David Attenborough.

My Review

As some of you may know I am due to become a grandmother this year and I have been asked, more than once, if I’m busy knitting. No, no, no, I reply. Knitting is not part of my skill set, however, building a library for my grandchild is. Let’s hope he/she is a reader 😀

As is the way nowadays I made this comment online and in mere hours had been approached to take part in the blog tour for Monty and the Ocean Rescue: A Plastic Disaster. I was absolutely delighted to receive a paperback copy of this beautiful book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

As someone who has not looked at children’s books for many, many years my first thought was that if this is an indication of what is out there then I, I mean my grandchild, is in for plenty of treats. I thought the illustrations were excellent and I’m sure children will love all the different sea creatures as well as the main characters in this book.

I liked the overall story and the fact it rhymed but the thing I liked most was that I thought the whole theme was timely and just what is needed to help new generations be constantly educated about the dangers plastics pose to our planet and in particular to our seas.

The book has been dedicated to Sir David Attenborough which is a nice touch and there are details at the back of where to go online to find out more about how to reduce plastic waste as well as help protect our sea creatures.

Links to purchase

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Signed and pawtagraphed copies are available worldwide via the website https://www.montydogge.com/bookstore

The book is also available via most online bookstores.

MT Sanders is a writer, blogger and author of the childrens book Monty and the Ocean Rescue.

An accidental career began after he took early retirement and began writing stories on social media about his five dogs. Life according to Monty Dogge soon attracted a huge following and led to invites to blog live from Crufts and other high-profile events.

In 2017 and 2018 Vuelio placed it in the top ten UK pet blogs and the still growing readership encouraged MT to write a book. I’m not a Pandacow was the debut children’s book released in 2017 and this has been quickly followed by four more to date.

MT and Monty spend the major part of their time touring schools across the country bringing the tales to life as children get to meet the star of the books.

The latest book is a real passion project for the author who is a huge supporter of conservation projects and a champion for animal welfare. It goes without saying that MT was delighted to receive a handwritten message of good luck from no other than Sir David Attenborough who features in the book.

Social media links

Life according to Monty Dogge and the Books of Monty Dogge on Facebook

@montydogge on Twitter

@monty_dogge on Instagram

I chose to read Let’s Be Legends as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. I received a copy from the author but this does not alter my review in any way.

I enjoyed reading this short story. Right from the beginning we know Kara Olecki is on trial over the death of her boyfriend. The storyline hops between the proceedings in the court and from two years previously when we get to see the build up of the relationship between Kara and Matt and what actually happened to land Kara in the court room.

We all have a side we show to the world and one we prefer to keep hidden but Kara takes this to another level having her Internal Kara and External Kara, and I’m not sure that helped her mental state because when things went bad Internal Kara took over, and was out of control.

I think what I liked most about the story was Kara’s voice. I don’t read a lot of young adult novels but I could completely ‘see’ Kara, and I enjoyed her life as a teenager venturing into her first romance and this was very well done.

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