Review - Nightfall in Mogadishu by Veronica Li

Nightfall in Mogadishu by Veronica Li

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Blurb from Amazon

Nightfall in Mogadishu is a spy thriller and historical novel set in Somalia. It weaves the country’s history, politics and culture into a tale of international intrigue. Susan Chen, a CIA agent is sent to Mogadishu to thwart a plot to overthrow the government. She finds a nation that has lost its soul and is whirling into a vortex of violence and terror.

My review

Susan is an undercover agent sent to Somalia to stop the destruction of the Somalia government, this is her first assignment. Whilst there she finds murder, brutality and something she wasn't expecting with harsh consequences.

I am not a fan of war books to be honest but with a woman able to defend herself and undercover I thought I would be able to get on with it. There is too much government and politics throughout the book for me, two things I don't understand and don't have one iota of interest in. I think if I had known some of Somalia's background maybe I wouldn't have been so lost.

The book does have some good that I could get on with, Susan is a great character. Strong, able, out spoken (when in a place where woman should be seen and not heard) and not afraid to go after something or someone in her way.

There is a lot of murder and brutality in the book and people and animals suffer so it isn't for the light hearted. There is also quite a bit of action in it but I got so bogged down with the political issues I couldn't enjoy any of the other aspects of the book. It is written well and the author has put a lot of heart and time into the book but it just isn't my kind of story but I did give it a bash. If you like reading about war and other countries then this is a book for you, sadly a 2/5 for me this time but I would read this author again as I did like her style just now the subject content.


Thanks to the author for giving me the chance to read this and you can get it for only £0.77 on Amazon for the kindle.

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Review - The Christmas Village by Melissa Ann Goodwin

The Christmas Village by Melissa Ann Goodwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Blurb From Goodreads

When 12-year-old Jamie Reynolds comes to his grandparents' Vermont home for Christmas, he just wants things to go back to the way they were before his dad disappeared. Time and again he is drawn to Grandma's miniature Christmas Village, where he imagines that life is perfect. Late one night, the village comes to life before his eyes, and his fantasy of escaping into it becomes very real indeed. Jamie discovers that the village is called Canterbury, where the year is 1932. He becomes fast friends with Kelly and Christopher Pennysworth, and is taken in by Ida, who runs the local boarding house. But he also makes a dangerous enemy of the mysterious and menacing Jim Gordon, whose return to town is nothing but trouble.

As Jamie desperately races against time to find his way back home, he is suddenly faced with a terrifying choice: to go ahead with his plan to leave, or to stay and help his friends, at the risk of never going home again

My Review

Jamie is going through a tough time for a 12 year old. After his fathers actions put his family to shame Jamie and his mum leave their town to spend Christmas with his grandparents and get away from it all. His Grandparents have their Christmas decorations up with one beautiful piece, a town complete with figures and it's own story. Jamie wishes he could be part of the beautiful wee town and before he knows it his wish comes true.

Oh what a stunning, beautiful wee story! I loved it. Had work not got in the way I would have devoured it in one sitting. It is beautifully wrote, very simple to follow and most important (for me) just about every question I had was answered.

Not only is it a magical journey for Jamie it is also a journey of self discovery, friendship and a path to adulthood. If I had to class this book in a genre I would say Young Adult but also for adults to enjoy. There is something for everyone in this lovely story. I think as a child you can identify with Jamie and as an adult it takes you back to your childhood and some of the magic you may have found yourself wishing for when fairies where still a possibility.

It is definately a book I will be recommending to adults and kids and will revisit it again, 4/5 for me ad I would certainly read this author again. Available on the kindle for £2.60 and on paperback for £8.43.

Thank you so much to the author for introducing me to this beautiful story and giving me the chance to review it.

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Review - Curb Chek by Zach Fortier

Curb Check by Zach Fortier by Zach Fortier

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Blurb from Goodreads

Curbchek chronicles the experiences of a Police Officer as he transitions from a new boot with challenging life experiences to a salty veteran who has been baptized into the dark side of reality by countless hours on the streets.

My Review

Zach Fortier takes us on a brutally honest journey through some of his time as a cop and military officer (mostly a cop) and the things and situations he came across. This book is definitely not for the faint hearted, there is a lot of cursing and bad language and the book is oozing testosterone.

We are invited in to graphic descriptions of events, how the officers behave around each other and to suspects and quite a bit of racism too. As an officer Zach was sometimes unlikeable for me because of his foul mouth and in your face way of handling some of the criminals (sometimes over the top force), however that is easy for me to say sitting safe behind a book and not having a huge 6 foot bear of a man trying to beat on me. I know this is a contradiction but as much as Zach was sometimes unlikeable I really loved how he stood up for what was right and more often in the interest of the people rather than scoring points or making targets.

It is a marmite book for me in that some bits of it I really liked and others I disliked and got under my skin. For example swearing doesn't often bother me but it was every other line so I thought that was a bit much and some of the scenes where so graphic and horrific but it also made it compelling reading.

The other big thing for me was there was no introduction of this is why I decided to become a cop or really any background, it just jumps right into scenes and situations. This may be a welcome change for some readers who get bored caught up in the introductions and it certainly jumps you straight into the action. Everything considered I did really enjoy it but the things that I didn't has to be recognized so it is a 3/5 for me and I would read this author again. If you like a read that is stripped of all the fluff and padding, graphic and straight to it then this is the book for you.

Available for only £0.77 on the kindle or on paperback for £6.85 on Amazon.co.uk

Thank you so much to Zach for introducing me to his work and giving me the chance to read Curb Check

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