Happy June beautiful people

Things have been a bit all over the place and I am a bit behind so trying to get back on it and we will start with our second June giveaway, our first can be accessed HERE. It is UK only, x1 ebook of "6 Ripley Aveue" by author Noelle Holten, UK only as it comes direct from Amazon and they don't allow you to gift outside your own country.

Up for grabs is, as pictured, x1 green dinousaur shaped, I have added a few piccys so you can see how it sits in the book.

IT is quite small/lightweight so will open this worldwide. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter, usual rules apply, please only complete the entries you actually do as winning entry is checked and every giveaway we have to disqualify people. Otherwise enjoy, good luck and keep your eyes peeled for additional giveaways coming (you can subscribe to the blog email and it sends emails out when there are new posts).

We will leave the post open for approx a month, we normally do to the end of the month but it is so late we will leave it up through to next month. Good luck all.


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206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 384

Publisher - Arrow Books

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

There are 206 bones in the human body. Forensic anthropologists know them intimately, can use them to reconstruct every kind of violent end. When Tempe finds herself regaining consciousness in some kind of very small, very dark, very cold enclosed space—bound, hands to feet—Tempe begins slowly to reconstruct...

Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had accompanied the recently discovered remains of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue. Suddenly, Tempe was accused of mishandling the autopsy—and the case. Back in Montreal, the corpse of a second elderly woman was found in the woods, and then a third. Seamlessly weaving between Tempe’s present-tense terror as she’s held captive and her memory of the cases of these murdered women, Reichs reveals the incredible devastation that would occur if a forensic colleague sabotaged work in the lab. The chemistry between Tempe and Ryan intensifies as this complex, riveting tale unfolds, proving once again, that Reichs is the dominant talent in forensic mystery writing.


My Review

Book 12 of the Tempe Brennan series, I will admit I haven't read all twelve nor in order I don't think in any actual sequence however I do try with the ones I have got. Temperance is a Forensic Anthropologist and whilst there is murder and investigations going on I love learning stuff from books and the examinations she does with the authors expertise brings a story and education. So when I see the books I check if I have read them if not I buy and add to the pile and just go from there. We know her and Lieutenant Ryan have a history and the book does briefly cover why they aren't together but there is no denying the attraction is there. So inbetween that we have the case(s) and bones being investigated, a killer on the loose and a newbie in the workplace who clearly wants to make a name for herself, I did not like her from the off.

The book goes between work place dynamics, the back and forth between Tempe/Andrew, we spend a wee bit of time with her ex hubby's family which I liked but not sure it added anything to the plot. This book looks at a few cases, work politics, bitchy colleagues and your usual murder/bones examination and some seriously shady behaviours by some.

I liked it I didn't love it, I have more of this series on my tbrm and will read them and continue to buy them as I come across them, 3/5 for me.

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Black River by Will Dean

Black River by Will Dean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 308

Publisher - Point Blank

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Black River is an electrifying return for relentless reporter Tuva Moodyson, from the author of Dark Pines and Red Snow.

FEAR

Tuva’s been living clean in southern Sweden for four months when she receives horrifying news. Her best friend Tammy Yamnim has gone missing.

SECRETS

Racing back to Gavrik at the height of Midsommar, Tuva fears for Tammy’s life. Who has taken her, and why? And who is sabotaging the small-town search efforts?

LIES

Surrounded by dark pine forest, the sinister residents of Snake River are suspicious of outsiders. Unfortunately, they also hold all the answers. On the shortest night of the year, Tuva must fight to save her friend. The only question is who will be there to save Tuva?


My Review

This is book three in the Tuva Moodyson series, we see Tuva has finally escaped the small town and working away in Sweden, its been four months. Word reaches Tuva that her bestie Tammy is missing and it doesn't look good, she doesn't disappear like this and it is dodgy looking circumstances. Tuva heads home and starts investigating not realising she is putting herself at risk too.

The small town has some real weird and unique characters, some of them ignorant and it isn't until a white person goes missing that people really sit up and takes notice. Along with Tuva this really got my goat but is true to life in quite a lot of places and I think authors do grand when they bring this level of realism and prejudices/racism weaved into the story. It isn't the whole plot by any means but it does highlight the shocking attitudes of some and yes this is fiction but absolutely mirrors the reality we live in especially in some places.

With it being a small town, surrounded by forest and not huge on outsiders we see a lot of people hunting/living off the land/animals so there is some animal harm/death within the books, just a headsup.

There is a threat and menace hovering throughout a lot of the book, tension, apprehension that follows Tuva and the reader as we investigate and explore what has happened to Tammy. I have the next in the series to read and whilst I liked this one I didn't love it. I really liked the previous two so not too sure why I didn't love this one as much, Tuva was frustrated and all over the place and I felt a lot of that too, 3/5 for me this time.

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Inside Out by Demi Moore

Inside Out by Demi Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 283

Publisher - Harper

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

For decades, Demi Moore has been synonymous with celebrity. From iconic film roles to high-profile relationships, Moore has never been far from the spotlight—or the headlines. Even as Demi was becoming the highest paid actress in Hollywood, however, she was always outrunning her past, just one step ahead of the doubts and insecurities that defined her childhood. Throughout her rise to fame and during some of the most pivotal moments of her life, Demi battled addiction, body image issues, and childhood trauma that would follow her for years—all while juggling a skyrocketing career and at times negative public perception. As her success grew, Demi found herself questioning if she belonged in Hollywood, if she was a good mother, a good actress—and, always, if she was simply good enough. As much as her story is about adversity, it is also about tremendous resilience. In this deeply candid and reflective memoir, Demi pulls back the curtain and opens up about her career and personal life—laying bare her tumultuous relationship with her mother, her marriages, her struggles balancing stardom with raising a family, and her journey toward open heartedness. Inside Out is a story of survival, success, and surrender—a wrenchingly honest portrayal of one woman’s at once ordinary and iconic life.



My Review

I know Moore from Ghost, I LOVED that movie growing up, we watched more for Sam (Patrick Swayze) but I think the penny scene and the single tear drop hit all the audiences. Other than that I haven't really seen her body of work nor really know much about her so this was on offer and I snapped it up. I think most of us knew she was married to Bruce Willis and later Ashton Kutcher and I love Charlies Angels so seen her on that.

The book takes us back to her beginnings, personal life, how she got into acting and movies. It is very much warts and all, the book opens with a drug induced/reaction seizure and then goes back in time. She is very honest about her sketchy upbringing, her faults, her battles with addictions, her relationship with Bruce and then Ashton. I actually really felt for her with Ashton, it must have been so hard, like breakups are devastating anyway but when the press totally rips you and has been against you ooft.

I think biography/memoir books are so interesting because you get to look behind the curtain and I think even for super fans of these celebrities they would find so much they hadn't been aware of. Moore seems to have gone through, like so many, a lot in her life, I hope she has found happiness and inner peace now and made up with her family, 4/5 for me.

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6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten & giveaway

6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 2 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - One More Chapter

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

ONE HOUSE
EIGHT KILLERS
NO WITNESSES

Jeanette is the manager of a probation hostel that houses high risk offenders released on license.

At 3am one morning, she receives a call telling her a resident has been murdered.

Her whole team, along with the eight convicted murderers, are now all suspects in a crime no one saw committed…

My Review

What a tag line, One House, 8 killers, no witnesses. I mean I am a Holten fan anyway so I was going to be reading this regardless but it is a great draw! Its a bit like a halfway house, these criminals are really dodgy bad guys, murderers, out with restrictions, they must be home between hours of X and Y. Substance testing, meetings etc, they are all dangerous and committed really bad crimes, therefore the community of course were up in arms about this house opening but it is established and going.....when a murder happens in the house *gasp* and everything really kicks off!

The book goes between characters points of view AND we hear from the killer without knowing who the actual killer is so I went a little Murder She Wrote and had tons of suspects, lmao I never get it right *sigh*

The unlikely friendship between the reporter Sloan and Helen, elderly lady who lives next door to the problem house, is sweet and I really felt for Helen. Helen was against the house from the beginning but finds sometimes keeping your enemies closer helps. Sloan is a character who has overcame some horrific personal battles, death of a loved one from murder, addiction only to come out the other side. Helen is lonely and connects with Sloan over their joint interest in no.6.

The book has some real unsavoury characters, skulduggery, insight into the killer I mean we hear directly from them without knowing who they are. The reader is drawn quickly into the story and kept intrigued and guessing as you go, looking forward to Holtens next, 4/5 from us!

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AND we are doing a wee giveaway so if you are in the UK and read ebooks you have the chance to enter and win a copy of 6 Ripley Avenue. It is UK only because Amazon doesn't allow me to gift outside my own country and the book is sent from Amazon to your kindle. Competition runs to the end of the month, entries are checked so please only complete those you have done.

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The No,1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 233

Publisher - Abacus

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages. These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life.

The Daddy introduces us to Mma Ramotswe as she embarks on her first case and takes on a new secretary, the resourceful and talented Mma Makutsi. Together, they must find the truth about a Daddy who appears to have returned from the dead—as well as investigating a wayward teenage girl and attempting to find a vanished child. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 10 September 2004.

The Bone sees the determined duo following Mr Patel's daughter to find out whether she has a boyfriend. They must also solve the darker and more frightening case of the finger bone found in a car—does it belong to a missing boy snatched by a witch doctor? First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 17 September 2004.

Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.



My Review

So I have read Smith before (the Bertie books) and assumed this one would be humourous too (it does say so), whilst there are snippets of "humour" there is a lot of dark issues within the book too. Domestic violence, spousal gaslighting, missing persons - it is a busy wee book.

The main character Mma Precious Ramotswe is a super strong individual, despite having some really hard situations to overcome she does, she is positive, has ideas galore and determined to make her business a success.

I love travelling to other places/cities/countries via books and in this one we hit Botswana Africa and I love descriptions of places/people and animals native to X place. Some of the things within the book may offend or upset some people, there are different cases explored and different topics. For being a thinish book it covers a lot, I believe this is a long series so will get book two when I come across it, 3/5 for me this time.

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