Review: The Christmas Appeal, by Janice Hallett

Print Book ISBN: 9781800817357
Thriller
BIC: FF, 5HC
26 October 2023
£10.99
224 pp
Hardback
B format
198mm x 129mm
World ex USA,Can
eBook ISBN: 9781800817425

DESCRIPTION

THE CAST OF SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING THE APPEAL RETURN FOR
A FESTIVE MURDER MYSTERY

One dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth?
Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, to raise money for the church roof appeal.
But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking amongst the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the fibreglass beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and a someone is intent on ruining the panto even before the curtain goes up.

Of course there’s also the matter of the dead body. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list?

Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts. Will the show go on?

Continue reading “Review: The Christmas Appeal, by Janice Hallett”

Review: The Beaver Theory, by Antti Tuomainen, trs. David Hackston

PUBLICATION DATE: 12th OCTOBER 2023
HARDBACK ORIGINAL | £16.99 | ORENDA BOOKS

Description

Henri Koskinen, intrepid insurance mathematician and adventure park entrepreneur, firmly believes in the power of common sense and order. That is until he moves in with painter Laura Helanto and her daughter…

As Henri realises he has inadvertently become part of a group of local dads, a competing adventure park is seeking to expand their operations, not always sticking to the law in the process…

Is it possible to combine the increasingly dangerous world of the adventure-park business with the unpredictability of life in a blended family? At first glance, the two appear to have only one thing in common: neither deals particularly well with a mounting body count.

In order to solve this seemingly impossible conundrum, Henri is forced to step far beyond the mathematical precision of his comfort zone … and the stakes have never been higher…

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TBR Pile Review: The Moose Paradox, by Antti Tuomainen, trs. David Hackston

Original title: Hirvikaava
Series: Rabbit Factor (#2)
This edition
Format: 300 pages, Hardcover
Published: October 27, 2022 by Orenda Books
ISBN: 9781914585340 (ISBN10: 1914585348)
Language: English

Blurb

Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen has finally restored order both to his life and to YouMeFun, the adventure park he now owns, when a man from the past appears – and turns everything upside down again. More problems arise when the park’s equipment supplier is taken over by a shady trio, with confusing demands. Why won’t Toy of Finland Ltd sell the new Moose Chute to Henri when he needs it as the park’s main attraction?

Meanwhile, Henri’s relationship with artist Laura has reached breaking point, and, in order to survive this new chaotic world, he must push every calculation to its limits, before it’s too late…

Absurdly funny, heart-stoppingly poignant and full of nail-biting suspense, The Moose Paradox is the second instalment in the critically acclaimed, pitch-perfect Rabbit Factor Trilogy and things are messier than ever…

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Book Review: Stigma, by Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger, trs, Rosie Hedger

PUBLICATION DATE: 12th OCTOBER 2023
PAPERBACK ORIGINAL | £9.99 | ORENDA BOOKS

Description

Alexander Blix is a broken man. Convicted for avenging his daughter’s death, he is now being held in one of Norway’s high-security prisons. Inside, the other prisoners take every opportunity to challenge and humiliate the former police investigator.

On the outside, Blix’s former colleagues have begun the hunt for a terrifying killer. Walter Kroos has escaped from prison in Germany and is making his way north. The only lead established by the police is that Kroos has a friend in Blix’s prison ward. And now they need Blix’s help.

Journalist Emma Ramm is one of Blix’s few visitors, and she becomes his ally as he struggles to connect the link between past and present, between the world inside and outside the prison walls. And as he begins to piece things together, he identifies a woodland community in Norway where deeply scarred inhabitants foster deadly secrets … secrets that may be the unravelling of everyone involved.

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Review: White As Snow, by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, trs. Quentin Bates

P U B L I C AT I O N DATE: 12th OCTOBER 2023
PA PE RB AC K O R I G I N A L | £9.99 | ORE N DA BOOKS

Blurb

On a snowy winter morning, an abandoned shipping container is discovered near Reykjavík. Inside are the bodies of five young women – one of them barely alive.

As Icelandic Police detective Daníel struggles to investigate the most brutal crime of his career, Áróra looks into the background of a suspicious man, who turns out to be engaged to Daníel’s former wife, and the connections don’t stop there…

Daníel and Áróra’s cases pit them both against ruthless criminals with horrifying agendas, while Áróra persists with her search for her missing sister, Ísafold, whose devastating disappearance continues to haunt her.

As the temperature drops and the 24-hour darkness and freezing snow hamper their efforts, their investigations become increasingly dangerous … for everyone.

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Review: A Sword of Bronze and Ashes, by  Anna Smith Spark

●  Genre – Fiction > Fantasy
●  ISBN hardcover – 978-1-78758-840-0
●  ISBN paperback – 978-1-78758-839-4
●  ISBN ebook – 978-1-78758-841-7
●  Pricing [USD] $26.95 (HC) / $16.95 (PB) / $4.99 (EB)
●  Pricing [GBP] £20 (HC) / £9.95 (PB) / £6.95 (EB)
●  Releases September 12 2023
●  Published by Flame Tree Press
●  Distributed by Simon & Schuster (US),
Hachette Book Group (UK)

Blurb

A Sword of Bronze and Ashes combines the fierce beauty of Celtic myth with grimdark battle violence. It’s a lyrical, folk horror high fantasy.

Kanda has a good life until shadows from her past return threatening everything she loves. And Kanda, like any parent, has things in her past she does not want her children to know. Red war is coming: pursued by an ancient evil, Kanda must call upon all her strength to protect her family. But how can she keep her children safe, if they want to stand as warriors beside her when the light fades and darkness rises?

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Review: Promise, by Christi Nogle

Promise collects Christi Nogle’s best futuristic stories ranging from plausible tech-based science fiction to science fantasy stories about aliens in our midst: chameleonic foils hover in the skies, you can order a headset to speak and dream with your dog, and your devices sometimes connect not just to the web but to the underworld.

These tales will recall the stories of Ray Bradbury, television programs such as Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone, and novels such as Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin or Under the Skin by Michel Faber.

They are often strange and dreadful but veer towards themes of hope, potential, promise.

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Review: If I Were Invisible, by Lily Lawson, Illustrated by Gustyawan

If I were Invisible

Think of all the things we could get away with if nobody could see us! But how long would the fun last, if we had to do it all alone?

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/IfIwereInvisible

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Review: Helping Paws from the Mayo Clinic, by Pat McCaw @MccawPat @mayoclinicpress @KellyALacey @lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter 

Cricket Gives Comfort: Exploring Epilepsy (Helping Paws Academy)

This inviting chapter book series explores health topics through the friendly lens of therapy dogs. Follow an adorable therapy dog helping a child through a diagnosis of epilepsy with strong messages of empathy, kindness, and courage. Therapy dogs are specially trained to help kids through medical experiences—from lifting spirits, motivating movement, modelling the power of play, and more. Nonfiction back matter provides more information about medical topics introduced in the books, from acute to chronic issues, while also providing more information about therapy dog programs and the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center.

My Review

A short chapter book with lots of illustrations, covering epilepsy. Cricket spends the day helping a child cope with his seizures and the tests he needs to help control them. Cricket also plays with a child in physio rehab and plays frisbee with another of the therapy dogs.

I liked the story. I think it explains epilepsy, and the way seizures are investigated, well, and the illustrations are very good. They’re fun and cheery. The book shows the relationships between therapy dogs, their handlers, hospital staff and, most importantly, patients.


Dash and the Cancer Center: Learning About Leukemia

This inviting chapter book series explores health topics through the friendly lens of therapy dogs. Follow an adorable therapy dog helping a child through a cancer diagnosis with strong messages of empathy, kindness, and courage. Therapy dogs are specially trained to help kids through medical experiences—from lifting spirits, motivating movement, modelling the power of play, and more. Nonfiction back matter provides more information about medical topics introduced in the books, from acute to chronic issues, while also providing more information about therapy dog programs and the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center.

Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with paediatric experts.

My Review

In this book we meet Dash, who helps a child with leukaemia understand their diagnosis and treatment. Again, short, educational chapters and fun illustrations, that follow Dash through their day.


Lumos Helps with Healing: Battling Broken Bones (Helping Paws Academy)

This inviting chapter book series explores health topics through the friendly lens of therapy dogs. Follow an adorable therapy dog helping a child who broke her arm with strong messages of empathy, kindness, and courage. Therapy dogs are specially trained to help kids through medical experiences—from lifting spirits, motivating movement, modelling the power of play, and more. Nonfiction back matter provides more information about medical topics introduced in the books, from acute to chronic issues, while also providing more information about therapy dog programs and the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center.

Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with paediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.

My Review

We meet Lumos, a therapy dog at children’s hospital, and his handler. They help Ada, a child with a broken arm, cope with her first visit to a hospital after falling and hurting her arm, and Greta, a child in a wheelchair at her rehab session. Lumos enjoys helping children and mentoring other therapy dogs, and playing with his handler’s sons once his working day is done.

This story guides children through hospital trips and what happens when you have an X-ray and brake an arm. The story sensitively explains the process of having a cast put on and how to properly care for it. The interlude with Greta normalises children being in wheelchairs and the freedom a set of wheels brings. A wheelchair opens up the world to those who need them. I wish they’d mentioned that you shouldn’t touch a person’s chair without asking. The story shows Greta and Lumos navigating an obstacle course and having a lot of fun.

I enjoyed this story; the information is explained in a way children will understand but without being condescending. I also enjoyed the illustrations and the relationship between Lumos and his handler.

There’s only so much I can say about each of the books, but overall I think these books are helpful introductions to hospitals and a variety of medical conditions, for young children. I also think they’re good introductions to the concept of therapy dogs and what they can do for patients. I found the stories engaging and characters likeable.

Review: How to draw a giraffe the Alice May Way, by Alice G May

How to Draw A Giraffe – The Alice May Way

There is only one rule when you draw the Alice May Way and that is to have FUN!

Follow along with Alice, step by step, and learn how to draw a giraffe.

Packed with interesting facts about giraffes, the environment and what we can do to protect our planet, this all-age book is a must-have for those who love to draw animals.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Draw-Giraffe-Alice-May-ebook/dp/B0CB3Y4RNR

https://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Giraffe-Alice-May-ebook/dp/B0CB3Y4RNR

Continue reading “Review: How to draw a giraffe the Alice May Way, by Alice G May”