Review - Revenge by Martina Cole

Revenge by Martina Cole
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days

Publisher - Headline

Psges - 512

Blurb from Goodreads

BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT.

Michael Flynn is untouchable in a world of power, money and violence. He fights for what he wants and he takes it, whatever the cost. He learns the rules of the Life from the best and when his mentor, legendary Face Patrick Costello, is taken out, no one questions that Michael Flynn is his natural successor. For Michael, loyalty - and crime - pay.

Michael rises to heights beyond anything the criminal underworld has seen. He owns everyone and he rules his empire with an even but fierce hand. No one would dare challenge him.

Then the unthinkable happens.

Perhaps Michael Flynn is not so untouchable after all, and he must learn that...

WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE CAN BE NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS.


My Review

I quite like Martina Cole, she was one of the first crime authors I read after starting to branch into the crime genre. The story focuses around Michael Flynn and the disappearance of his daughter, the building of his empire and how he came to get to where he is now. The time flips from the present, Michael's daughter Jess going missing and then back to when he first gets into the business and finally back to present day.

As with all of Cole's work it contains a whole load of bad language, murder, skulduggery, crime and drugs. The story itself gives you a back drop on all aspects of Michaels life, meeting his wife, the decisions he has to make and the kind of man he is. I do enjoy a crime read and don't mind the grittiness however I have to agree that Cole is not the same writer as her earlier books. The hard edge is still there however I found so much repetition, the book could have been at least 100 pages lighter and not impacted on the story at all. I read this over 5 days due to work and normally I have to read back a bit to catch up however the repetition saved me from doing that and when I did get a good run at reading it I noticed the repetition immediately.

I do like to have answers to all my questions and Cole didn't disappoint there, however I did find the ending a tad of a let down without getting into it, I don't do spoilers. It just seemed like some characters did a bit of a 1-80 and it just didn't gel for me. There are some good twists along the way and it was a good read however based on her previous tales it was a bit pale in comparison. 3/5 this time for me, I would still read her next book but I certainly wouldn't be racing to get it or pre ordering it I'm afraid.

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ARC - The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Publisher - St. Martin's Press

Pages - 352

Source - NetGalley

Blurb From Goodreads

In The Silent Sister, Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality, in this engrossing mystery from international bestselling author Diane Chamberlain.


My Review

Riley MacPherson is our main character, her father has passed away and she is going to get his affairs in order. Riley soon discovers her family have secrets, especially her dad. Always believing Lisa, her sister, had committed suicide she is shocked to discover this isn't the case and not only did her father know, others did too. Riley is intent on uncovering the truth, she needs her family, at any cost!

I have always loved reading Diane Chamberlain books and recommend her often to people looking for a new, for them, author. I couldn't with all honestly start them here. The start of the book has the Chamberlain pull and I found it hard to put down. However as the tale deepens and mysteries unravel, I found myself often with more questions than those answered. I found it hard to believe some of the characters actions, choices and behavior. It is still an engaging story, I did want to know what happened to the characters and reading the flip between Lisa and Riley, past and present was quite good to give you a good grasp of what happened.

I felt the ending came suddenly, it was over just too quickly for me. Like a good author does I was left wanting more, yet this never sits well with me. I wanted closure on the other characters although some people do enjoy coming to their own conclusions. It just didn't feel like a Chamberlain book for me, it still was a good read but being left with so many questions and having to suspend reality for one or two things it did bring the overall enjoyment down for me. Thanks so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title is out to buy from October 2014, some people loved it so check it out for yourself.

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DRC - The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Publisher - Canongate books Ltd

Pages - 346

Source - NetGalley

Blurb from Goodreads

"Then she opened her mouth to scream--and recognised me. It was what I'd been waiting for. She froze. She looked into my eyes. She said, "It's you."
"
Meet Jake. A bit on the elderly side (he turns 201 in March), but you'd never suspect it. Nonstop sex and exercise will do that for you--and a diet with lots of animal protein. Jake is a werewolf, and after the unfortunate and violent death of his one contemporary, he is now the last of his species. Although he is physically healthy, Jake is deeply distraught and lonely.
Jake's depression has carried him to the point where he is actually contemplating suicide--even if it means terminating a legend thousands of years old. It would seem to be easy enough for him to end everything. But for very different reasons there are two dangerous groups pursuing him who will stop at nothing to keep him alive.
Here is a powerful, definitive new version of the werewolf legend--mesmerising and incredibly sexy. In Jake, Glen Duncan has given us a werewolf for the twenty-first century--a man whose deeds can only be described as monstrous but who is in some magical way deeply human.
One of the most original, audacious, and terrifying novels in years.


My Review

Jake Marlowe is the last werewolf alive however not for long. Desperately lonely, pursued by different groups who have their own agendas for him he is willing to die. When events come to pass that shake Jake back to caring about life he has some hard choices to make. All the while he is pursued by humans and other mythical beings, some want him dead, some want something much more important than his life.

I didn't know what to make of this tale, from the beginning you know what Jake is, we then get a lot of time spent on how unhappy he is and then a look back on how we got here. He is over 200 years old and is fed up, he moans a lot and even a shocking death doesn't seem to have any affect on him. Suddenly something does happen and Jake is forced into action, he wants to live and will do anything he needs to to stay that way and protect that which is his.

I can't go into too much detail without giving spoilers which I never do so forgive me for the vagueness in some of my review. There is a lot of bad, crude and often shocking language used, some of which I felt there was no requirement for as it was overdone. Sex is also strongly featured, in graphic detail which I felt detracted from the story. When there wasn't masses of swear words, including the C word, or non stop sex or sexual references which some people will find offensive, the story itself was readable. To read about the werewolves perspective and how they cope with things from turning, the deaths of their victims and what they experience during the time of change was interesting. I haven't read a lot of books about werewolves so found this take on it interesting, especially the reasons werewolves and the other type of creature listed don't get on. Had the author focused more on the story rather than the cruder aspects, I think this may have been a wider and well received story.

I found some of it predictable whilst at other parts I was confused and left with more questions, this is the first of a trilogy so maybe more answers will be forthcoming in the next book(s). I wouldn't be rushing out to get the next book however I would read it if I came across it, I have never read this author before and would try them again, at a later date. 2/5 for me this time, whilst I did like aspects of the story, the parts I disliked overshadowed those that I did. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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July competition is an Amazon voucher

One £5 Amazon voucher. Sorry it isn't a book, I just don't have time this month for the postie so instead this is easier and it has been a while since we did one. Apologies it is late going up, we had a wee impromptu getaway as I had finished one placement and start another tomorrow.

I will share with you some of the pictures from todays visit at one of the castles in Scotland, Dunnottar Castle, could have stayed there all day, no seriously as getting to it was so many stairs and hills I was exhausted :P
As always just use the Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway, the more options you choose the more chances you have of winning.

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ARC - Lawless by Jessie Keane

Lawless by Jessie Keane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Publisher - Pan

Pages - 493

Blurb from back cover


It is 1975 and Ruby Darke is struggling to deal with the brutal murder of her lover, Michael Ward. As her children, Daisy and Kit, battle their own demons, her retail empire starts to crumble.

Meanwhile, after the revenge killing of Tito Danieri, Kit is the lowest he's ever been. But soon doubt is thrown over whether Kit killed the right person, and now the Danieris are out for his blood and the blood of the entire Darke family.

As the bodies pile up, the chase is on - can the Darkes resolve their own family conflicts and find Michael Ward's true killer before the vengeful Danieris kill them? Or will they take the law into their own hands . . .


My Review

Ruby Darke is still reeling from the murder of her partner, Michael Ward. Kit, her son, is also taking it hard and hell bent on revenge which will put all their lives at risk. Retribution will be swift but who will pay for Kits actions?

The story opens up and flings us right into the mix immediately, Ruby is accosted on her way home and the story throws back a bit to give us the know of why we got to this point. The book is set in 1975, in England and crime was established and growing even then. People are hard to forgive or forget any indiscretions made against their family and soon the body count is rising. Ruby's daughter Daisy has some issues going on in her life too although nothing in comparison to Kit. Ruby's son has never forgiven her and never will, he is angry about Michael's death which he blames upon the Danieri family, especially Tito. An eye for an eye sees tension rising between him and the surviving brothers, Vittore & Fabio. Can the families work out their differences or will it be bloodshed all the way?

I do enjoy Jessie Keane, it is gritty crime, fairly fast paced and if you have read her before you know what your getting. Murder, bad language, sex, crime, betrayal and that is usually just scratching the surface. I have read a few of her books and the last one wasn't, I felt, as good as the others. This one sees her back on top, writing with an ease and drawing you into a fast paced dangerous way of life. The women characters in this tale are as strong or dominant as the main male characters, I felt, which is a nice change. There are a few shocks along the way and I could have read this in one sitting had time permitted. Overall 4/5 for me, thank you to Anne for passing this ARC along in exchange for an honest review. You can get your hands on a copy from the 17th of July, 2014 so not long to wait.

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RRR - Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Publisher - Penguin Books (UK)

Source - RealReaders

Blurb from Goodreads

Top ten bestselling author Liane Moriarty returns with another gripping read.

She could hear men and women shouting. Angry hollers crashed through the soft humid salty summer night. It was somehow hurtful for Mrs Ponder to hear, as if all that rage was directed at her . . . then she heard the wail of a siren in the distance, at the same time as a woman still inside the building began to scream and scream . . .

When a harmless quiz night ends with an act of shocking violence, the parents of Pirriwee Public School can't seem to stop their secrets from finally spilling out. Rumours ripple through the small town, as truth and lies blur to muddy the story of what really happened on that fateful night . .


My Review

Set in a small town, three mums bond and have a friendship strengthened over their kids being at the same school/kindergarten, they all have issues within their private lives. Loud mouth, opinionated and just turned 40 Madeline MacKenzie, her ex husband has moved to her town with his wife and child in tow. Jane is a single mum, very protective of her only child Ziggy, she is young and has always kept her little boys fathers identity quiet. Celeste has it all, beautiful, two boys, super rich and successful husband but is all as it seems? Celeste and Madeline were friends when Jane moves to town already and accept Jane into their duo. After a shocking first day Jane's son gets in such trouble that Jane finds herself and Ziggy ousted by a lot of the parents and subject to lots of negative attention. When a trivia night at the school sees all of the tension to a head, a murder follows and secrets are no longer able to stay hidden.

I have read this author before, The Husbands Secret and I really liked it. It was slow to start and this one took a while, for me anyway, to get right into it. You have people being interviewed after the incident, initially, their name and then what they have spoken, then the book goes back to months before that fateful night and the back story and build up begins. Parents behaving shockingly, bad behaviour from a few of the characters and you are left hanging for a long time to actually learn what happened that night.

I loved reading the slow build up, I wasn't sure I was going to like it and felt this way initially about her last book. However it mirrors reality in that you never know much about a person when you initially meet them. You have to chip away and get familiar with each other before you find out who they really are and Moriarty portrays this with her writing.

Initally, things seem a tad mundane, parents, school, the kids, opinions and such however it all works to setting up the scene and why events come to play. The book has some humour, violence, secrets, friendships and family dramas to name but a few of the themes within this story. Once I got into it I couldn't put it down. I really enjoy this authors writing, despite it taking me a bit to get into it so a 4/5 for me this time. Thank you to RealReaders for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is available to buy from the 31st of July, 2014.

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