Reviews

A few months ago I started frequenting the mobile library that comes to our village. It only comes once a month but like many things it is under threat. While I’d used it for many years when my children were young there has been a period when frankly I’d forgotten all about it, but, following […]

This is an anthology of stories and poetry written by pupils of Nottingham Free School as part of the ongoing Brilliant Book project. In the case of this book all the Year 8 pupils are keen to become writers or work in fields where writing is necessary. Blue Filters by A G Pillay Oooh, this […]

When I started this writing caper I decided to review everything I read. I posted those reviews to Amazon in the UK and US (you could in those days without having to spend $50 with them first! #JustSaying!) and Goodreads. It didn’t cross my mind to post them on my blog… duh! As I’m aiming […]

I picked up Grim following an email from Ebookskill, the book was free so I thought I’d try it. Here is my review. The story is told, mostly, from the point of view of Cora, a gay teenage musician, whose father died when she was young and who has a stepfather, Thomas. Because of a […]

One of the most magical times when raising children is getting to read to, and with, them, and What If Butterflies Loved Snow? is a wonderful book to choose to do just that. I love the many questions that come from a child’s view of the world, particularly those that make you stop and think […]

August is a ten-year-old boy who is anything but ordinary. The story starts off by being told from his point of view but as you progress through the book the reader does get to see things from the viewpoint of others: his sister, his friends, for example. Up until this point August has been home […]

The romance in this novel is not only in the plotline or between the characters but for me it was in the fabulous setting. A crumbling estate on the dramatic coast of Ireland, what’s not to love. Mia is a dresser on film sets (I thoroughly enjoyed the attention given to the detail of her […]

I chose to read this book from those submitted to Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team and as a member I received a free copy. This does not affect my review in any way. Oh my goodness, how I loved this read. Hiding is a terrific title as there are so many ways in which the […]

Words of Wonder is the latest anthology produced by the creative writing students of Nottingham College. Here is my review. At Least Seven Ways to Hate Carrots by Emma Penny This is a wonderful non-fiction piece about food. I loved the conversational style of the writing and, as I have a great interest in eating, […]

A Midnight Clear This is an uplifting story of a woman standing alone in London and contemplating the breakdown of her marriage, the significance of the bells as they start to chime more poignant than ever before. Magic Christmas Alice and her children are facing a dismal Christmas in a hostel until a kindly stranger […]