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Book Review - The Snowman by Jo Nesbo (movie tie-in)

Title: The Snowman (Harry Hole Book 7) Author: Jo Nesbo Edition: Movie Tie-in Rating: 5 stars  'The Snowman' was the book that ...

Friday 29 May 2015

Book Review: The Broken by Tamar Cohen

Title: The Broken
Author: Tamar Cohen
Release Date: 23rd April 2015
Rating: 4 Stars

Thanks to Netgalley who gave me an ARC of 'The Broken' in exchange for an honest review.

This book really does take you on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. I found the majority of the characters to be unlikeable, although as the story continued and their past histories began to unfold, I could understand why they really are 'the broken' of the title.

I don't like to comment too much on unexpected twists and turns in books, but unlike other reviews I've seen, certain things didn't come as a complete surprise to me, which is why I've rated this book 4 stars instead of 5. I don't think it's a reflection on the writing, as I thought The Broken' was beautifully written. I think it has more to do with the fact that I've read a lot of books with a surprising twist in the tale, so I'm always looking out for the unexpected.

That said, I thought 'The Broken' was a wonderful book and one that I would recommend. It was my first Tamar Cohen book, but will most definitely not be my last.

A good solid 4 stars.

Thursday 21 May 2015

Book Review: No Other Darkness by Sarah Hilary

Title: No Other Darkness (DI Marnie Rome Book 2)
Author: Sarah Hilary
Release Date: 23rd April 2015
Rating: 5 Stars

I didn't think Sarah Hilary would be able to top 'Someone Else's Skin', but with 'No Other Darkness' she has managed to do it with ease. 'No Other Darkness' is book 2 of the DI Marnie Rome series, and is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing, and just as you think you have it all worked out, something else happens that makes you realise you couldn't have been further from the truth.

An excellent read, with a wonderful cast of characters, and a storyline that makes you want to keep turning the page until you reach its heartbreaking conclusion.  DI Marnie Rome continues to be an intriguing character who is still haunted by the murder of her parents, and I look forward to reading more of her story as the series (hopefully) continues. Past events are referenced throughout 'No Other Darkness', so I would recommend reading book 1 in the series first.

Highly recommended. A well deserved 5 stars.

Book Review: Evil Games by Angela Marsons

Title: Evil Games (DI Kim Stone Book 2)
Author: Angela Marsons
Release Date: 29th May 2015
Rating: 5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley who gave me an ARC of Angela Marsons Evil Games in exchange for an honest review.

If anything, this second instalment of Angela Marsons DI Kim Stone series is even better than the first. In it, we are introduced to Dr. Alexandra Thorne, a psychiatrist who we quickly learn isn't everything she appears to be. The mind of a sociopath is a dangerous place to go, and DI Kim Stone soon comes to realise that Dr. Alexandra Thorne is not only a danger to her patients, manipulating them into carrying out crimes they would not otherwise have committed, but will also try to get into her head to bring forth memories she has fought to keep hidden since she was a small child.

What follows is a tense, edge of your seat thriller, that once started you do not want to put down. A thrilling 5 star read, and one that I highly recommend.

Monday 18 May 2015

Book Review: We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman

Title: We Are All Made of Stars
Author: Rowan Coleman
Release Date: 21st May 2015
Rating: 5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley who gave me an ARC of Rowan Coleman's 'We Are All Made of Stars' in exchange for an honest review.

I can always tell when a book has got to me emotionally, and that's when instead of racing through it to find out what happens in the end (like I do with crime novels), I find myself incredibly reluctant to finish it. And this is exactly how I felt as I was reading Rowan Coleman's 'We Are All Made of Stars'. I found myself reading each chapter slowly, savouring every beautifully written word, so it would take me as long as it possibly could to reach the end of the story.

It was a book that swept me away on a tide of pure emotion. It was funny, sad, happy, bittersweet and yes, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately it was a story full of hope that left me with a lovely warm glow when I reluctantly completed the last page.

It's a book full of very real characters, who are going through very real human emotions as they come face to face with their own mortality, and I fell in love with each and every character.  From Stella to Hope, to Hugh to Issy, and yes, even to Jake the cat. I really didn't want to say goodbye to these characters, and could quite happily have continued to read about them for some time to come.

A beautifully written novel that deserves every one of the 5 stars I'm giving it. If I could give it more, I would! Highly recommended.