Review - Confessions of a Corporate Slut by Jacqueline Gum

Don't be put off by the title thinking it is all about sexual exploits on the job because it is not. Reading this book out and about has drawn quite a few looks, some tuts and even one or two whispers!

Meet Roberta our main character. We start with her picking up her life after her divorce causing Roberta to look over her life and how she got here(this is what the book is about, getting to this point). It is like meeting someone at a night out and them sitting telling you their life story. It is funny, easy going, sad, frustrating and just like sitting down with someone who has the gift of the gab and a good tale to spin.

The start of the book is a bare layout of Robertas life (early on with her family) but mostly focused on her marriage. It is at times hard going and frustrating to read, watching the change of a independant hard working confident women into " a corporate slut". How I grew to hate her husband with each passing page and tale. I was also very frustrated and annoyed at Roberta, allowing herself to get to that point and being treated like that. The sad thing is many many women will be able to identify with it, if not on a personal note then certainly knowing someone who is touched by this kind of life and treatment of their husband (and it is based on a true story).

I got totally drawn in and despite the hate of the husband and sheer annoyance at Roberta I really enjoyed this book. It is really easy to read and I tore through it within a day.

The is scope there for a second and I wonder if this may be on the cards, if it was I would get it! 4 out of 5 for me.

Review - Widows by Lynda LaPlante

Widows by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Blurb from goodreads

Three thieves' widows decide to continue their late husbands' latest burglary . . .

My Review

When you read books like this you really wish there was a and a half rating as I dont think this merits a 3 but didn't want to give it a 2 either.

The book starts fabulously well with a great plot of the men doing a robbery and it going horrifically wrong. 2 and a half pages and I was hooked. However this is a classic example of something that starts so well that quickly goes downhill.

The plot is great that the widows take over where the husbands left off and take charge of the plan. However it started going wrong for my by the portrayal of the female characters. In a situation like that they would pull together and do what needs must and in some parts they do. However quite a lot through it they bicker, act childish and like drama queens and I felt it was a poor portrayal of women put into 'a mans situation'.

There was aspects of the book I liked and I am curious to find out how it pans out so if the second books comes along I would happily give it another go but I must say I was dissapointed by LaPlante this time as I felt the women were childish, spoilt and weak when they had the potential to be great. A reluctant 3 out of 5 for me.



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Review - Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Private by James Patterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Blurb from goodreads

Former Marine and CIA agent Jack Morgan inherits his father's renowned security and detective business--along with a case load that tests him to the breaking point. Getting to the bottom of an NFL gambling scandal and an unsolved LAPD investigation into 18 school girl slayings would be enough. On top of all that, Morgan takes on solving the horrific murder of his best friend's wife.

As Morgan fights the urge to exact brutal revenge on that killer, he has to navigate a workplace imbroglio that could blow the roof off his elite agency. And it's an especially explosive situation . . . because the love affair is his own.

My review

As with all James Patterson the blurb from the back page draws you in and the story starts off well enough and grabs your attention. However there was so much going on and with so many characters it was hard to remember who was who and what their part was. It is fair to say it was busy, almost like 2 or 3 stories wrapped into one which isn't necessarily a bad thing but for me it was too much.

I found myself getting a bit lost and often wondering what the relevance was to what I had just read in relation to the story. A lot of the characters are quite unlikeable and even annoying to a point. Certainly not his best but a quick read none the less so a 3/5 for me.



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Review - Spiral by Koji Suzuki

Spiral by Koji Suzuki

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Blurb from Goodreads



In this award-winning sequel, the story we thought we knew in Ring (the original novel which inspired the blockbuster movie) is broken down and twisted into a new reality.







Ando, a medical doctor haunted by dreams of his drowned son, faces a choice at the end of Spiral more sinister than Asakawa s in Ring.



My review



This is the second book (follow on) from the Ring but can be read as a stand alone (which you might find you enjoy it more if you have nothing to compare it to).



I do hate when you expect so much from a book and don't really get it.



There is a bit of intrigue at the start about Andos childs death but we are soon put in the picture about it. And despite a few deaths with very small unique findings not a lot happens until we hit past page 70 and part two and even then it is only teasing/hinting at what is on the tape.



Then the story delves into DNA and Genetics which I have absolutely no interest in let alone the brain capacity to actually follow it. There are a few (small) moments in the book when you think actually this is interesting but it goes nowhere or is overshaddowed by the DNA coding.



I had really high hopes for this, firstly because I really liked the first book and second because I was told it was great, freaky and a spine chilling read. I would say boring, slow paced (certainly weird at times) and even the way it shaped up was random and just made little to no sense. Didn't really like it, didn't for the most part get why they took it in the direction they did which is why I have to give it 2 out of 5.



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Review - Royal Flush by Lynda LaPlante

Royal Flush by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Blurb from goodreads

High adventure, furious plotting, blackmail and betrayal...'The Colonel' is rumoured to have masterminded several of the most successful robberies in the UK over the last forty years. But who is he? Edward de Jersey, now a wealthy man, owns a very successful racing yard and stud farm and his pride and joy is his horse, Royal Flush, who he has always dreamed will one day win the Derby. But de Jersey's luck runs out when his trusted financial advisor invests his fortune in a fledgling internet company which goes bust, leaving de Jersey with no capital and mounting debts. In danger of losing everything, De Jersey resurrects his criminal past, turning to the internet to find a team of specialists who will help him pull off the most audacious heist in history.

My Review

The book starts by introducing us to Edward de Jersey (the main character) at the Royal Ascot and builds up our character who loves, lives and breaths for his horses. He has a huge racing yard and stud farm which houses his prized horse Royal Flush. In one fail swoop Edwards world is threatened when he faces financial ruin and everything he has achieved he is about to loose. There is nothing else for it but to go back to his criminal roots for one last job to get back in the black.

I didn't think I was going to like this book too much as there is quite a bit of focus on the horse aspect of it but once it got going I loved it. I felt it lagged a wee bit but picked up and became a page turner.

Once it got to a quarter to the end and the big finale had happened I thought it had nowhere else to go but I loved it right up to the last line. Really good read 4/5 for me.



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Review - Fallen Angel by Maggie Wilson

Fallen Angel by Maggie Wilson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Blurb from goodreads

Sister Cate Carter has been working at Westwood General Hospital for many years and always loved her job. Until the world according to Cate came crashing down when two detectives marched on to her ward. Ward 73 gave them cause for suspicion, more and more deaths were occurring with no reasonable explanation of why. This had happened before, not at Westwood General, not recently, but it had happened. David Waters, a name very well known in the medical world, was being brought up again. David was responsible for the deaths of seven patients, at least that s all they could get him for. He claimed he just wanted to put his patients out of their misery. Is this a copy-cat murderer? Or is there really another David Waters killing their patients and getting away with it?

My review

The book kicks off fairly quickly, going over the murders years ago of David Waters and then to present day. Someone strikes at Westwood General and takes patients down with no apparent link in how they choose or when they will attack again. DS Charlie Hammond is on the case and conducting interviews and making the lives hell of the staff trying to find his killer.

I liked the pace, it wasn't rushing to the end whilst not keeping you hanging around forever. I didn't like the detectives switching from inappropriate behaviour towards the object of his affections during such a massive scaled investiagtion, to hardcore cop. And his arrogance irritated me but then there where sides to his character I could tolerate and almost like. The same goes for Sister Carter, sometimes she seemed like someone you could relate to then she would behave in a way that had the character been infront of you, you would have been hard pushed not to have slapped her.

The story is told simplistically enough that even if you have no medical background or knowledge you can follow it perfectly well as the author takes you through the explanations in plain english. I got a little confused right at the end and had to re read it to see what had happened but it had a very good twist and I will be looking out for no.2, 4/5 for me.



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Review - The Forbidden Vampire, The Inception book 1 by William Wdowiasz

The Forbidden Vampire: The Inception, Book I by William Wdowiasz

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I received a complimentary copy of (The Forbidden Vampire, The inception book 1 by William Wdowiasz) as a member of the

Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com

to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

------------------



My review



I received this book from Dorrance books at http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dor... http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/fovainb...


Forbidden a vampire concieved from a woman and the Devil. A woman trying to hide her child from its "father"



The story starts with a brief description of Forbiddens conception and subsequent life into hiding. We are introduced to Richie and a brief history before he meets Gloria (and the names of the rivers and places he passes to find her, it gets a bit repetitive) and the story takes off from there.



The lingo when Richie talks really annoyed me, ending sentences with Yo, dude and man frequently, I found this fairly irksome and quite off putting! The book dabbles with many issues, satanism, virgin birth, Jesus and visions.



The story itself would have worked in that the vampire creation is a new and fresh idea but there was just too much of everything thrown in. Jumping back and forth from past to present, from one set of characters to several others, it was almost like 3 stories thrown into one there was so much going on.



By the end of the book I hated (yes a very strong word) Richie, an annoying ignorant idiot. I was delighted to get finished with this book and unless I am stuck with nothing to read and the second book came along free I won't be reading it. 1/5 for me (this is only the 2nd ever book to get such a rating) and the one is purely for the very small part I actually liked.



You can buy this book by using the direct link at the top of the page (next to the blurb) or go directly to the site http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dor...



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Review - Getting Over Edgar by Joan Barfoot

Getting Over Edgar by Joan Barfoot

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


From the back cover

Seven weeks and three days before his death, Edgar walks out on Gwen and their comfortable, long-standing marriage. To aid his search for excitement, he has taken to driving a brand-new cherry red convertible. But it is not adventure that sweeps Edgar away when his car becomes stuck on a level crossing; it is the 8.20 eastbound train.

My Review

The book is a tad confusing at times as it starts off with Gwen staring at Edgars dead corpse, her behaviour at his funeral and her demands at the undertakers. It then goes back and forth between Edgars leaving her, to present day and everything inbetween. Present day, she takes off from the funeral and meets a young lad at an unlikely place with unlikely behaviour which turns her future down a road she never expected.

The book then jumps from Gwen and what is happening to David (the young guy from the bar) and we follow their lives in jumps which you can follow but it is very confusing (well it was for me). The end of the book on Gwens life answers questions and is even a nice ending but with David I was left hanging and with questions, I expected their to be more. I found closure on Gwens chapter but nothing close to it with Davids.

The book is definately worth reading if for nothing else it is different but I certainly didn't love it like I expected. Maybe the problem is I had such high hopes for it (maybe too high). I liked it, but it isn't up there with any of my all time favourites and if I came across another by Joan Barfoot I would read it but I wont be actively searching it out. 3/5 for me.



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Review - I Zombie I by Jack Wallen

I Zombie I by Jack Wallen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Edited to add this is my first Jack Wallen novel and it wont be my last!

Wow what a brilliant zombie novel and one with a twist or two!

Jacob Plummer is our main character, a journalist in Germany to cover the unveiling of a machine that will save our resources. However Jacob awakes to a blast and a world unlike anything he could have imagined. As a journalist he keeps a log of everything he experiences along the way.

The book goes at a pretty good pace, lots of gore to satisfy our horror fans and a few funnies along the way (along with blood, guts, gore and even budding relationships). Jacob finds himself flung into hero, survivalist and leader mode before having to make some tough decisions for the sake of himself and the survivors along the way.

What I really liked about this zombie story is we have a how and a why to the outbreak and I have read many many zombies books and only one before this gave this. I could hardly put it down, definately for me a page turner and I will be buying the next installment when it is out. a 4 out of 5 for me.

More from this author at http://monkeypantz.net or on twitter @jlwallen




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Trixie and some books

From old to new




reading the cats meow :D



- took today, checking out the kindle

A favour please fellow bloggers

Some people are having a problem leaving comments, could you try and leave one (even just saying test) and let me know if you cant (just email).

I have recently changed over my domain name (I did it through blogger) so it is just to see if it is an issue caused by that.

http//:smbslt.blogspot.com and if that doesn't work try the new domain which is www.alwaysreading.net

thanks in advance

Review - Monster Story by McCarthy Griffin

Monster Story by McCarty Griffin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Synopsis from the authors site www.mccartygriffinbooksonline.com

Christy McCauley has returned home to a surreal nightmare. In the deep hollows of rural Augusta County, something unspeakable is slaughtering people in the night. Authorities don't know if its human or animal, or how to stop it. Christy and her friends only know they must hunt it and destroy it, before it kills again.



As you may have picked up from the synopsis Christy McCauley is our main character, returning home from the big city to the quiet town she grew up in. The people are the same but there is a monster on the loose and the police don't know what to make of it. Is it a bear or some lunatic on the loose, ripping apart the residents. This is a horror story with a few twists (getting a view point from the monster as well as the characters). Early on we follow the monster and it emerging (which I drew my own conclusions and though I knew what it was, I was wrong). This novel can't be just put into the horror category as it has many levels to it, it is certainly a thriller and keeps you on edge but also takes you into the budding relationships between the characters and animals alike (I loved that!). The horror aspect and murders scenes paint quite a picture and are really graphic and quite gory which scores big points for this kind of book

The story has so many heart stopping, tension building moments, I can tell you I lost some sleep as I had to find out how it all turned out. Right up until the last pages it has you gripped and on the edge of your seat. I feel there was definate scope for a prequel with this and if it does come out I would certainly be getting it to find out the origins of our monster.

Engaging, easy to follow and certainly easy to read, I was hooked practically from the beginning - a 4/5 for me.





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Review - Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts

Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I started this I was expecting a lot, again with a vampire in it your pretty much sure it is going to be good (if your a vampire fan). It starts pretty quickly establishing the relationship between our main character Hoyt Mac Cionaoith and his brother and the devastating events that turn them against each other.

Hoyt is a sorcerer and his brother is a vampire, turning brothers into enemies. There is much worse to come as Cian is turned by the vampire queen Lilith who is set on destroying our world as we know it and Hoyt has to travel time and the world to get his "army" together to go up against her. The army is made up of the most unlikely allies and the numbers are against them being successful.

This is the first in a series and follows the build up of the greatest battle on earth. It isn't just a war story, it has friendship, love, loss and courage. Initially I didn't think I would rate it as although it started good with the dramatic scene with Hoyt, Lilith and his brother I didn't fancy the way he conjoured his magic (the ryhming of it) however as the book when on it actually became something I liked as part of their ritual.

I now will have to get the second book to find out what happens next as it ends rather gripping and certainly wanting more. This is my first Nora Roberts and certainly wont be my last 4/5 for me.



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Free books

Dream - Online book giveaways!
Online book giveaways!
Book lovers can get new book releases for free if they share the book on Facebook & Twitter and write a short review. Dream enables authors and publishers to giveaway promotional copies of upcoming book releases.

Launching soon. Enter your email to join our invite list:

http://dreamonus.com/eekls

Good luck guys

Review - Posted to death by Dean James

Posted To Death by Dean James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Posted to death is, in this case a book being posted to death :D. It is making its way around some of my friends on Risi and started out in the USA. So far it has travelled 6230 miles (unpon getting to me) and will be heading to England I believe next.

It is a fabulous non challenging wee read and for me I was sold with "it has a gay vampire in it", I do love vampire books and this is a first for me. Simon Kirby-Jones is our star and author himself, he moves to a wee village in England. Filled with busy bodies and all the other antics of a small close knit town Simon finds himself surrounded by drama of all kinds.

With the threat of an expose play based on the village peoples secrets a murder occurs and the book is basically about finding out who done it and revealing the characters of the village (and the secrets they would rather keep quiet).

It is a funny, naughty, intriguing and for me, quick, fun read. The first two lines had me hooked 'The vicar doesn't know I'm a vampire. Nor does he know I'm gay'. That was it for me. The book also has a different take on vampires in that they can do things normal vampires can't and this is due to medication. It gives a brief explanation on it, certainly enough for you to follow it and I would hope in the series follow ups it gives a bit more detail on that. 4/5 for me and I will certainly be looking out for the follow up.



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Julys pre-loved giveaway is Shattered by various (crime) authors

This book is in perfect condition it could be given away as a gift. It is fairly thin with only 135 pages.

Open to UK and International readers.

You can now contact me/enter the giveaway via my new form Fill out my form!

Blurb from the back cover

This collection of stories by some of Scotland's leading writers illustrates the devastating impact of crime on people's lives - from burglary to domestic abuse, rape and murder - and focuses on the victims of crime rather than the perpetrators and the investigators.

Acompletely different take on the usual crime book.

All the writers have donated their royalties to Victim Support Scotland.

The book is introduced by Ian Rankin

Authors are:

Lin Anderson
Ray Banks
Christopher Brookmyre
Karen Campbell
Gillian Galbraith
Alex Gray
Allan Guthrie
Stuart MacBride
GJ Moffat
Louise Welsh

Junes pre-loved giveaway winner is.....................

Brittany Gale (not website provided). Congratulations and I hope you enjoy the book.

In the event Brittany doesn't claim the book, I will pick another winner. Thank you so much to everyone who took part and I will be putting up Julys book soon, apologies again for the delay.

Apologies re June Pre-loved comp

I am still trying to get back to normality after the wedding/honeymoon. Back at work full time and trying to sort wedding photos and gifts not to mention the huge amount of thank you cards plus a big birthday in a month.

I finish my shifts in a few days (3 12 hour shifts straight) so once I have done that I will do the names in a bowl and pick a random winner and notify on here and by email/blog if available.

Thank you for your patience, it is much appreciated and normal service will resume. I also still need to update on the first ever Risi readers day meet up in Birmingham!