October 2018 – Everything Is Better With Dragons

Review: ‘Nessie’s Husband’, by Sibel Beadle

Publication Date: 31^st October 2018

Published By: Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd

Format: Picture Book

I.S.B.N.: 9781786233394

Price: £6.99

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witchy-Travel-Tales-Nessies-Husband/dp/1786233398/

Blurb

Miranda’s daughter, Mimi, is half-cat half-human. Mimi wants to become invisible and hopes that Nessie can teach her how to become invisible and hide from her classmates. The story takes, Mimi accompanied by her witch mother and sisters, to a magical trip across Scotland where the family ends up rediscovering themselves and finding Nessie’s husband.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Nessie’s Husband’, by Sibel Beadle”

Review: ‘Reprobation’, by Catherine Fearns

Blurb

Are you one of the elect?

Dr. Helen Hope is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgement, and the destiny of humankind. She is also a Calvinist nun, her life devoted to atoning for a secret crime.

When a body is found crucified on a Liverpool beach, she forms an unlikely alliance with suspect Mikko Kristensen, lead guitarist in death metal band Total Depravity. Together, they go on the trail of a rogue geneticist who they believe holds the key – not just to the murder, but to something much darker.

Also on the trail is cynical Scouse detective Darren Swift. In his first murder case, he must confront his own lack of faith as a series of horrific crimes drag the city of two cathedrals to the gates of hell.

Science meets religious belief in this gripping murder mystery.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Reprobation’, by Catherine Fearns”

Dissertation news

Last Wednesday my dissertation arrived with notes and my final score: 65%

I was pleased but disappointed at the same time, because I’d really wanted a higher mark. I have high expectations of myself and felt I’d let myself down by only getting 65%. I’ve got over that now, almost. It sent me into a bit of a depression for a couple of days but I’m beginning to get through that. It hasn’t helped that I’ve been depressed anyway for the last two months. It’s easy for a little thing, like disappointment in my dissertation results to send me somewhere dark.

I’ve completed my amendments, which were mostly typos, because of my sticky ‘h’ key 😀 and submitted it via turnitin. I’ve got to get it printed and bound at the university library and hand it in by 12th December, so I’d better get on with that.

So, what else have I been up to?

I’m working on a short sci-fi story, that I hope will be the first in a series of three linked stories. A ship five hundred years from now is sent to retrieve a probe sent out two centuries before, but nothing goes to plan.

I’ve started another WEA course, the follow up to the one I did last year. So far we’ve covered using radiation to investigate crimes, like art fraud and injuries, and blood spatter patterns. Tomorrow it’s ‘UV light and high intensity radiation in crime investigations’, according to the lesson plan. Should be interesting.

I’m reading some books for next month’s review schedule, and other books I’me reading because I’m interested in them. Some will get reviews, some won’t. Depends on how I feel.

Right, that’s it. Enjoy the day.

Blog Tour Calendar: ‘Reprobation’, by Catherine Fearns

I’m taking part in this blog tour, organised by Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources, on Thursday. I liked the blurb when I read it, so I thought I’d take part and review. Here’s the blurb I was so taken by:

Blurb

Are you one of the elect?

Dr. Helen Hope is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgement, and the destiny of humankind. She is also a Calvinist nun, her life devoted to atoning for a secret crime.

When a body is found crucified on a Liverpool beach, she forms an unlikely alliance with suspect Mikko Kristensen, lead guitarist in death metal band Total Depravity. Together, they go on the trail of a rogue geneticist who they believe holds the key – not just to the murder, but to something much darker.

Also on the trail is cynical Scouse detective Darren Swift. In his first murder case, he must confront his own lack of faith as a series of horrific crimes drag the city of two cathedrals to the gates of hell.

Science meets religious belief in this gripping murder mystery.

There’s a giveaway with this tour, too, but I’ll have more details on that for you on Thursday!

Book Spotlight: ‘Jackson Saves An Owl’, by Darren Garwood and Carl Osbourne

Today I’d like to share with you a book that Faye Rogers (who usually contacts me about Clink Street books, but this is one of her independent PR jobs) told me about. I haven’t got time this month to review it, unfortunately, but I thought I’d share it with you all. As you can see, I’m part of a blog tour with several other bookbloggers sharing this book. Most of them will have reviews if you’d like to see what they think.

Information about the book

Title: Jackson Saves an Owl

Author: Darren Garwood

Illustrator: Carl Osborne

Release Date: 1^st September 2018

Genre: Picture Book

Publisher: Untold Books

Summary:

Jackson Superhero might not be a real name, but it is a story about a real boy, and as the name suggests, Jackson is far from ordinary. By day, a rare disease limits his ability to move freely, but at night he is far from grounded. When the sleeping hours come around, and weightlessness takes over, Jackson takes to the skies. He knows what it means to need the support of others, which is why when he hears a call for help, he is quickly there to lend a hand.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42141736-jackson-saves-an-owl

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jackson-Saves-Owl-Superhero/dp/8799506262/

Author Information

Darren Garwood is the father of Jackson, a real boy living with a rare and terminal illness called Krabbe disease. Darren came up with the Jackson Superhero series because as Jackson can’t move during the day, Darren wanted to help him dream at night, when he was free to be anything he wanted to be. Jackson Saves an owl is written in lively, fantastic rhyme, and is the first in the Jackson Superhero series.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacksons_smile

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacksongarwoodsmile

Review: ‘Sex Drive’, by Stephanie Theobald

Publication Date: 18th October 2018

Published by: Unbound

I.S.B.N.: 978-1-78352-681-9

Format: Hardback

Price: £16.99

Blurb

Arriving in New York with a failing relationship and a body she felt out of touch with, Stephanie Theobald set off on a 3,497 mile trip across America to re-build her orgasm from the ground up. What started as a quest for the ultimate auto-erotic experience became a fantastic voyage into her own body.

She takes us from ‘body sex’ classes with the legendary feminist Betty Dodson to an interview with the former US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who was fired for suggesting that masturbation should be talked about in schools. Along the way, we are immersed in a weird, countercultural America of marijuana farms and ‘ecosexual sexologists’.

Sex Drive is a memoir about desire and pleasure, merging sexuality and spirituality,
eighteenth-century porn and enlightenment philosophy. A new sexual revolution has begun – and this time round, it’s all about the women.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Sex Drive’, by Stephanie Theobald”

Blog Tour Calendar: ‘Sex Drive’, by Stephanie Theobald

Sex Drive Final Blog Tour Poster

Blurb

Arriving in New York with a failing relationship and a body she felt out of touch with, Stephanie Theobald set off on a 3,497 mile trip across America to re-build her orgasm from the ground up. What started as a quest for the ultimate auto-erotic experience became a fantastic voyage into her own body. She takes us from ‘body sex’ classes with the legendary feminist Betty Dodson to an interview with the former US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who was fired for suggesting that masturbation should be talked about in schools. Along the way, we are immersed in a weird, countercultural America of marijuana farms and ‘ecosexual sexologists’.

Sex Drive is a memoir about desire and pleasure, merging sexuality and spirituality,
eighteenth-century porn and enlightenment philosophy. A new sexual revolution has begun – and this time round, it’s all about the women.

Author Bio

Quête de Vision, pays basques Stephanie Theobald is a British journalist, novelist, public speaker and broadcaster known for her playful and
thoughtful work around sexuality and feminism. The Times described her as as ‘one of London’s most
celebrated literary lesbians’ and she writes regularly for the Guardian , the Sunday Times and Elle UK . She is the
author of four novels, most recently A Partial Indulgence (2010). She lives between London and Los Angeles.

Review: ‘Redneck’s Revenge’, by Joan Livingston

Published By: CreateSpace

Publication Date: 31st July 2018

I.S.B.N.: 978-1724560483

Format: Kindle and Paperback

Price: £1.99 (Kindle), £6.99 (Paperback)

Blurb

Her next case. She’s in it for good.

Isabel Long is in a funk months after solving her first case. Her relationship with the Rooster Bar’s owner is over. Then the cops say she must work for a licensed P.I. before working solo.

Encouraged by her ‘Watson’ — her 92-year-old mother — Isabel snaps out of it by hooking up with a P.I. and finding a new case.

The official ruling is Chet Waters, an ornery so-and-so, was passed out when his house caught fire. His daughter, who inherited the junkyard, believes he was murdered. Topping the list of suspects are dangerous drug-dealing brothers, a rival junkyard owner, and an ex-husband.

Could the man’s death simply be a case of redneck’s revenge? Isabel is about to find out.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Redneck’s Revenge’, by Joan Livingston”

Book Review: ‘Spectrum Women’, edited by Barb Cook and Dr. Michelle Garnett

38884913

Publication Date: August 21st 2018

Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

ISBN: 9781785924347

Format: Paperback

Price: £13.16 (amazon.co.uk)

Blurb

Barb Cook and 14 other autistic women describe life from a female autistic perspective, and present empowering, helpful and supportive insights from their personal experience for fellow autistic women. Michelle Garnett’s comments validate and expand the experiences described from a clinician’s perspective, and provide extensive recommendations.

Autistic advocates including Liane Holliday Willey, Anita Lesko, Jeanette Purkis, Artemisia and Samantha Craft offer their personal guidance on significant issues that particularly affect women, as well as those that are more general to autism. Contributors cover issues including growing up, identity, diversity, parenting, independence and self-care amongst many others. With great contributions from exceptional women, this is a truly well-rounded collection of knowledge and sage advice for any woman with autism.

My Review

I think I’m slightly in love with this book. I treat myself to it in August, a few days after publication and read it swiftly. I’ve been keeping it to myself ever since (except to review on Good Reads) because I’m selfish and it is fantastic! I keep meaning to lend it to my sisters to try to help them understand, but it’s not leaving my house, sorry. It’s too insightful and useful.

This book is a gripping insight into being a woman on the spectrum, as well as excellent advice for women on the spectrum. I found some of the chapters more helpful than others, from a personal point of view, but I think it’ll be useful to any woman or girl on the spectrum, to understand themself and some direction in the world around them.

If you’re an autistic woman, or parenting an autistic girl, go and read this book!

Blog Tour Calendar: ‘Jackson Saves An Owl’

Faye Rogers has organised a blog tour for this children’s book, and I’m taking part. Just a spotlight post from me, with details about the book and author, but there are a variety of other book bloggers taking part and reviewing if you want to take a look. And there’s always the Good Reads reviews: