ARC - The First Cut by Ali Knight

The First Cut by Ali Knight by Ali Knight
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Five years ago, Nicky's best friend Grace was brutally murdered.

No one was ever charged with this terrible crime and Nicky in her grief sought solace in the arms of Grace's widower.

They're now married but he is often out of the country for work, and when Nicky meets Adam, who is young, good-looking and obviously interested, she's tempted.

But what starts as an innocent flirtation leads to a terrible ordeal, and a dark secret. A secret that involves her husband, and Adam, and what happened to Grace all those years before.

Nicky finds herself fighting for answers. But when love is worth killing for, the price paid for the truth can be very high indeed...

My Review

We start off with the murder of Grace and quickly flip to present day. Nicky and Greg (Grace's then husband) are now married and things are far from perfect. He is always away for work, they aren't talking and things are just strained. Along comes a chance encounter and she meets Adam, young, fun and very flirty. Soon the fun turns to danger and Nicky finds herself caught up in murder, lies, deceit and a secret that will change everything.

I was gripped after the first few pages and really drawn in until soon after she meets Adam. Then things change dramatically and I found myself having to re read parts incase I missed something as it didn't seem to make sense. I found myself thinking that a few times in parts where characters would say something and I had to go back incase I was missing the link. The confusion did take away from my enjoyment as I kept trying to work out the what and why in different parts (sorry for being sketchy but I don't do spoilers in my reviews).


Another thing I liked about this book is the chapter length is a handful of pages between each (like James Patterson does) which means you can race through it inbetween doing your daily chores.I did enjoy the book and the things I liked far outweighed those I didn't and all of the confusion was pretty much cleared up and all the boxes ticked by the end. My first encounter with this author and I would read their work again. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for introducing me to yet another new author and giving me the chance to review this book. An on the fence 3/5 for me.

This book is available from all good retailers from the 5th of July 2012.

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ARC - Dandy Gilver & A Bothersome Number Of Corpses by Catriona McPherson

Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses by Catriona McPherson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 5 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Before she was a detective, before she was a reluctant wife and distracted mother, before she was even a débutante, Dandy Gilver spent one perfect summer with the Lipscotts of Pereford. The golden memories of it have sustained her through many a cold snap in Perthshire.

So when two of the Lipscott sisters beg her to help the third, she can hardly refuse. Sweet, pretty Fleur Lipscott: where is she now? The astonishing answer to this is that Fleur - still Miss Lipscott, indeed more Miss Lipscott than ever - is buried alive in the tiny seaside village of Portpatrick, working as a schoolmistress at St Columba's College for Young Ladies.

But she is one of the few remaining, for St Columba's has been shedding mistresses as a snake its skins and the exodus is far from over.

With mistresses vanishing and corpses mounting up, can Mrs Gilver, detective, pass herself off as Miss Gilver, English mistress, to solve the one and stop the other?

My Review

This is Catriona McPhersons 5th book but my first time reading her work and being introduced to Dandy Gilver. Dandy is a female detective who works along side with her male partner (and it isn't her husband!). She is asked for help from her old friends to find their sister who is in a small village working as a teacher. What follows is murder, lies deceit and a who done it with Dandy leading the way.

When I started this I didn't think I was going to like it, it is set in the late 1920s or early 1930s and phrases like "One has to think what one has to say" and I am really not into that kind of pompous narrative. However it fits with the time period and I soon got used to it, also Dandy is quite amusing in some of her antics and what she says that you warm up to the story and the character(s) fairly quickly.

It is a slow paced story with lots of little things happening but no big thrills or murders throughout for the most part. For me it reminded me of murder she wrote, lots of investigating into little things and pretense by the main character to get her answers. Whilst it went along slowly there was something about this wee story that I didn't want to put it down and when all is revealed I was surprised by the who done it which is always a good thing I feel. 3/5 for me this time. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for introducing me to this author and giving me the chance to review this book. You can get your own copy from July 5th 2012 in hardback and ebook at any good retailer. Also for the Glasgow/Edinburgh followers you can meet the author who is touring, please see below for details.

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Review - The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories by Tim Burton

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories by Tim Burton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 15 minutes

Blurb From Goodreads

From breathtaking stop-action animation to bittersweet modern fairy tales, filmmaker Tim Burton has become known for his unique visual brilliance -- witty and macabre at once. Now he gives birth to a cast of gruesomely sympathetic children -- misunderstood outcasts who struggle to find love and belonging in their cruel, cruel worlds. His lovingly lurid illustrations evoke both the sweetness and the tragedy of these dark yet simple beings -- hopeful, hapless heroes who appeal to the ugly outsider in all of us, and let us laugh at a world we have long left behind (mostly anyway).

My Review

It is hard to really review such a wee short book like this. It is basically tiny short stories that are really poems about weird and wonderful characters. Funny & morbid at the same time. This is my first encounter with the written word of Time Burton (I have seen some of his movie collaborations). So whilst short I did like it but without going into and ruining the wee poems (or rather stories) I can only say if you like poems and weirdness then this is perfect for you. It also only takes a tiny amount of time to read (there are illustrations throughout) and the text is short. 3/5 for me.

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Review - The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Anne Tyler gives us a wise, haunting, and deeply moving new novel in which she explores how a middle-aged man, ripped apart by the death of his wife, is gradually restored by her frequent appearances—in their house, on the roadway, in the market.

Crippled in his right arm and leg, Aaron spent his childhood fending off a sister who wants to manage him. So when he meets Dorothy, a plain, outspoken, self-dependent young woman, she is like a breath of fresh air. Unhesitatingly he marries her, and they have a relatively happy, unremarkable marriage. But when a tree crashes into their house and Dorothy is killed, Aaron feels as though he has been erased forever. Only Dorothy’s unexpected appearances from the dead help him to live in the moment and to find some peace.

Gradually he discovers, as he works in the family’s vanity-publishing business, turning out titles that presume to guide beginners through the trials of life, that maybe for this beginner there is a way of saying goodbye.

A beautiful, subtle exploration of loss and recovery, pierced throughout with Anne Tyler’s humor, wisdom, and always penetrating look at human foibles.

My Review


I thought after reading the first few lines of this book I was going to love it. The main character Aaron is talking about how since his wife came back (as a ghost), people would pretend not to see her or cross the street or just avoid them. I thought the book was going to be centered around the how and why of the ghost but it was actually about Aaron's journey through grief and the healing process.

The book also jumps around a fair bit from when she returned to before the accident, to Aaron trying to come to terms with life without Dorothy. The story also visits Aaron's work life at the publishing business which didn't interest me at all (although I am sure some people will be really interested).

My problem is I went into this book thinking it was going to be a ghost story and a lot about that but it is actually about Aaron's journey through the grief process and adjusting to life without her and getting back into some semblance of normality. Easy to read for the most part and well written (plenty of rave reviews for it on Amazon and Goodreads so definitely worth checking out for yourself) but sadly not for me. 2/5 this time for me but I would read this author again.

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Review - Fifty Shades Freed

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 1 day

Blurb From Goodreads

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

My Review

This is the third and last installment of the trilogy. This book finds the erotic, naughty, blushing and on the edge in full force and we also get all our answers to the questions raised from the previous book.

Christian and Ana now have everything, commitment, each other, wealth and a strong foundation for their relationship yet there is still someone trying to take Christian down and will stop at nothing (and noone) to get it.

With action (in all senses of the word), drama, thrills and closure E.L. James has rounded off the final book really well and the fans who loved the first two will not be disappointed. 4/5 for me this time.

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Review - Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Blurb From Goodreads

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.

My Review

This is the second book in the series and we pick up where we left off with Christian and Ana. Ana finds herself in a new job and trying to cope with how things were left with Christian and a boss who is interested in more than just a working relationship.

I really enjoyed this book, more than the first one actually. This one still has all the naughtiness and oh mys that the first one did but I felt there was actually a lot more to the stories and characters this time. We learn more about why Mr Grey is how he is, see their relationship go to a new level and a few obstacles in the way.

Yet again hard to put down and a lot more insight into the characters, I really liked this and will be heading straight into book number 3 as two finished on a great wee cliff hanger so I am dying to know what happens next, 4/5 this time.

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A.R.R - A Dark Time by Dennis Bradford

A Dark Time by Dennis E. Bradford
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb From Goodreads

A college student vanishes. Her worried grandfather asks one of her favorite professors, Max Stephansson, to solve the mystery. What Max discovers is tragic. The suspense surrounding her disappearance unfolds to yield insight, but at the cost of danger and death.

My Review

A wealthy locals granddaughter goes missing and in his distress the grandfather asks her old college professor to investigate. The hunt for the girl reveals murder, sadness, secrets and new friendships to which all come at a cost.

To be honest my main issue was why on earth would you ask a professor that teaches humanities who once taught her class to investigate? (To be fair the professor does ask this question himself but still). He has no experience in this kind of thing yet has access to things you wouldn't expect from an academic professor and he does a great job for his first stab at an investigation.

The format of the book was off putting although sadly this is how the place it was printed from does the layout, after the first 5 chapters though I did get used to it. The writing itself isn't what I am used to and quite different from my usual authors but still very readable, you can tell he has put a lot of effort and thought into his characters and the plot.

It sadly just wasn't for me and the pace of the book changed a bit but was mostly slow going and building up which some people love but it isn't for me. It started off well and a murder before the first 50 pages is really good going but the book then took a different turn so that it almost felt like two different stories (the professor and a new relationship). Also near the end I found one of the characters to be vile, disgusting and a sexual deviant which made for very uncomfortable reading and there isn't any warning until you happen upon it.

All in all I think this will make for a great read for people who like to read about an academic hero with some intellectual discussions spotted through the book and a few twists and turns. I would try this author again but this time for this book it is a 2/5 for me. Thank you so much to the author for giving me the chance to read his work and for the bonus thrown into the book. A free consultation worth $300 so that itself you might fancy a wee look into. For more information please check out his site http://dennis-bradford.com/

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