Review: The Misadventures of a Playground Mother

The Misadventures of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow what a brilliantly funny read this was. I stood in the playground waiting on my little one coming out of class, while reading this on my kindle. I stood laughing imagining what all those other parents must think of me. lol. Lucky for me, I really don't care, and try to keep myself to myself in the playground.

This was one of those books, you just can't help smile at while you are reading, a very easy read, and great a great fun read. It has laugh out moments, and a few, OH NO WAY moments.
This Is the first book I have read from this author and will certainly be looking out for more. It really gave me an uplift, and brightened up my day while reading this.
Anyone feeling a little down in the dumps should read this book.
I liked the character Rachel and thought she has a whole lot of patience, certainly a lot more that I have that's for sure. Penelope was a character that I kind of liked and disliked at the same time.
There is so much i want to say about the story line, but I can't give it all away and spoil it for those of you that have not read it yet. Because believe me.. You do want to read it, I can just tell by your face.
It's just one of those books you can relate to, a real life kind of book. The Characters as you read through the book, you will probably know someone just like each one of them. lol.
A great fun believable read.
I just wish I had read the previous book before this one. Then I could have read them back to back.

View all my reviews

Review: Unexpected: A True Short Story

Unexpected: A True Short Story by Rosie Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's difficult not to say too much in a review when the book you have just read was a short story.
But I had a spare hour, while the house was empty so I put my feet up and got stuck into this.
It is only around 43 pages long, or should that say short, but It is a good story.
A sad story but good if that makes any sense.
I think knowing it was true story makes it a little harder to read as it was quite sad, But still it was interest and kept me reading. The only thing stopped me going the whole hog and giving it a full 5 starts was it was too short, I know it's a short story, but this seemed a very short story.

View all my reviews

Review: Dead Wrong

Dead Wrong by Helen H. Durrant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like the look of this book as soon as I saw it, and I was lucky enough to get a review copy.
Half way through this book I went and purchased book 2, so i could get it started once this one finished.
I did enjoy the book, quite gruesome and grizzly in parts, but that just adds to the great story line of it.
I also like it when I start a new series of books, getting to know the characters, And I think Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss are going to be very interesting people to get to know in future books. I liked these two, and I find with books like this that form part of a series, it's the lives of the main characters that are just as interesting as the crimes they are trying to solve. I look forward to getting to know these two more, and seeing where life's journey takes them.
It was a very good read, and kept me interested throughout. Towards the end I had a few holding my breath moments, and a few funny looks, when I was talking to my kindle saying "NO" and "OMG"
A Brilliantly interesting read.
This is the first book I have read, so another new author for me, but it certainly will not be the last, as I now have book 2 and book 3 waiting for me, and I really am looking forward to reading them.

View all my reviews

Review: The River Is Dark

The River Is Dark by Joe Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My Thoughts

I had had this book on my kindle for a while, and after reading some great books couldn't decide what to read next, so I checked which I'd had the longest, and started there.
I hate it when I realise I've had a good book waiting for me for so long, but then I like it, that I have just discovered something good to read when I just didn't know what to start.
Joe Hart is also a new author for me.
As this story develops the jigsaw starts piecing together. Liam Dempsey is an ex detective, and has gone to find out why his brother has died. Or more importantly why his brother has been brutally murdered. there is enough going on in this book to keep you guessing, and keep you interested. But for me I felt something was lacking. I just don't know what. It was quite a quick read only being 242 pages.

View all my reviews

Review: Girl Alone: Part 3 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father's suicide. Angry and hurting, she's out of control.

Girl Alone: Part 3 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father's suicide. Angry and hurting, she's out of control. by Cathy Glass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a few years since I read a book by Cathy Glass, and when I saw this one, I really wanted to give it a read. I enjoy books like this occasionally in between all the crime books I read.
I was lucky enough to get a review copy of this book. And I couldn't wait to start it.
I enjoy the writing style of Cathy Glass, and the way the books are told. Honest and down to the point.
This is by no doubt another fantastic book. I think the blurb about the book gives enough of what it is about and I don't want to go into the story for fear of giving anything away about how it goes. But it is really interesting how a family copes with such big changes. It was good hearing some more on Cathy's other children. I felt like I was visiting a family I hadn't seen for a while.
It really is a good read, if you have read and enjoyed any of Cathy's previous books. Then you will really enjoy this one.

View all my reviews

Review: Girl Alone: Part 2 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father's suicide. Angry and hurting, she's out of control.

Girl Alone: Part 2 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father's suicide. Angry and hurting, she's out of control. by Cathy Glass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a few years since I read a book by Cathy Glass, and when I saw this one, I really wanted to give it a read. I enjoy books like this occasionally in between all the crime books I read.
I was lucky enough to get a review copy of this book. And I couldn't wait to start it.
I enjoy the writing style of Cathy Glass, and the way the books are told. Honest and down to the point.
This is by no doubt another fantastic book. I think the blurb about the book gives enough of what it is about and I don't want to go into the story for fear of giving anything away about how it goes. But it is really interesting how a family copes with such big changes. It was good hearing some more on Cathy's other children. I felt like I was visiting a family I hadn't seen for a while.
It really is a good read, if you have read and enjoyed any of Cathy's previous books. Then you will really enjoy this one.

View all my reviews

Review: Girl Alone: Part 1 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father's suicide. Angry and hurting, she's out of control.

Girl Alone: Part 1 of 3: Joss came home from school to discover her father's suicide. Angry and hurting, she's out of control. by Cathy Glass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a few years since I read a book by Cathy Glass, and when I saw this one, I really wanted to give it a read. I enjoy books like this occasionally in between all the crime books I read.
I was lucky enough to get a review copy of this book. And I couldn't wait to start it.
I enjoy the writing style of Cathy Glass, and the way the books are told. Honest and down to the point.
This is by no doubt another fantastic book. I think the blurb about the book gives enough of what it is about and I don't want to go into the story for fear of giving anything away about how it goes. But it is really interesting how a family copes with such big changes. It was good hearing some more on Cathy's other children. I felt like I was visiting a family I hadn't seen for a while.
It really is a good read, if you have read and enjoyed any of Cathy's previous books. Then you will really enjoy this one.

Available in 3 parts or all as one book.

View all my reviews

Review: Girl Alone: Joss came home from school to discover her father’s death. Angry and hurting, she’s out of control.

Girl Alone: Joss came home from school to discover her father’s death. Angry and hurting, she’s out of control. by Cathy Glass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's a few years since I read a book by Cathy Glass, and when I saw this one, I really wanted to give it a read. I enjoy books like this occasionally in between all the crime books I read.
I was lucky enough to get a review copy of this book. And I couldn't wait to start it.
I enjoy the writing style of Cathy Glass, and the way the books are told. Honest and down to the point.
This is by no doubt another fantastic book. I think the blurb about the book gives enough of what it is about and I don't want to go into the story for fear of giving anything away about how it goes. But it is really interesting how a family copes with such big changes. It was good hearing some more on Cathy's other children. I felt like I was visiting a family I hadn't seen for a while.
It really is a good read, if you have read and enjoyed any of Cathy's previous books. Then you will really enjoy this one.

View all my reviews

Review: The River Is Dark

The River Is Dark by Joe Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My Thoughts

I had had this book on my kindle for a while, and after reading some great books couldn't decide what to read next, so I checked which I'd had the longest, and started there.
I hate it when I realise I've had a good book waiting for me for so long, but then I like it, that I have just discovered something good to read when I just didn't know what to start.
Joe Hart is also a new author for me.
As this story develops the jigsaw starts piecing together. Liam Dempsey is an ex detective, and has gone to find out why his brother has died. Or more importantly why his brother has been brutally murdered. there is enough going on in this book to keep you guessing, and keep you interested. But for me I felt something was lacking. I just don't know what. It was quite a quick read only being 242 pages.

View all my reviews

Review: Down Among the Dead Men

Down Among the Dead Men by Kerry Wilkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book kick's off with a young Jason Green, and life as it is for him. He is rescued from a good kicking by Crime boss, Harry Irwell.
It then fast forwards to Jason now. and the life he is living. He seem's quite an ordinary guy, doesn't like to stand out, doesn't like attention. Despite seeming quite ordinary he is very much playing at being one of the big boy's. Where robbery just seem's as normal as going to work for the day.
We shoot from past to present in this book, which gives you good background on the characters. Despite what they do, I did like a few of the character. And Jason seemed like someone that everyone could know, that guy who doesn't really stand out, the one you think is quiet, the one you think just goes home and chills out of an evening.
There seemed to be quite a bit of background and getting to know Jason, which I liked. I just felt that the start of this book was a little slow at taking off.
However once it took off it took off I really got into in. The story was interesting and certainly kept me reading, I read this book pretty quick. And did enjoy it.
It was a little different to what I have previously read by Kerry, but still a really good, interesting read.

It’s difficult to say too much more about the storyline as to do so would ruin it for those people that haven’t read it yet.

It also makes you wonder how different life would have been for Jason had he not met Harry on that day. How would things have turned out for him.

I have to admit, I kept waiting for Jessica to pop up. (those that have read Kerry's other books will know where I'm coming from). but sadly I have to wait forever for the next Jessica book.


A big THANK YOU to Kerry for sending me an early review copy of this book, It's an honour as always to read your work.

View all my reviews