Celebrating reaching 1000+ Twitters followers

Thank you to everyone who follows on twitter, retweets, takes part in the competitions and of course reads my reviews and takes the time to comment and stop by the blog.

Up for grabs is a brand new Gimble, making reading easy and hands free, see the picture below. Fits and holds paperback books up to 4 CM (over 1 and a half inches) thick.

Competition runs until the end of the month, so only a few days. Enter using the rafflecopter as usual, any problems or issues please let me know. a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC - The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson

The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days

Source - RealReaders

Publisher - Penguin books

Pages - 488 (uncorrected proof)

Blurb from Goodreads

Sally is an incredible singer but she sings only in her wardrobe where nobody can hear her. She'd rather join a nudist colony than sing in public.

That is until she ventures to New York where a wild and heady summer of love and loss changes her forever. No longer able to hide in the shadows, Sally must return home to London to fulfill a promise she cannot break - to share her voice.

But just as she's about to embark on her new life, a beautiful man turns up on Sally's doorstep bearing a sheepish smile and a mysterious hand-written message.

How did he find her? Why is he here? Does he hold the truth to what happened back in New York? And, with him back on the scene, will she still have the courage to step into the spotlight?



My Review

Sally Howlett is our quirky main character, we meet her in the opening chapter with her teddy, after hiding out most of the day in her wardrobe. Sally does that, flees to her wardrobe when she is worried, needs time or is doing her number one thing in the world, singing. Coming from an estate, a family who like no fuss or standing out, it has been hard for her to sing anywhere else but the safety of her wardrobe. However, events have brought us to this moment and Sally is panicking, she has signed up to go to college and sing opera, she has an amazing talent and beautiful voice but has always had to shut it away. After a traumatic event in her past, she is bound by her word to share her talents and pursue it but there is so much in the way. Things from her past she would rather let go, always pleasing everyone but herself, her families utterly against such a pursuit and the biggest of them all, her crippling fear of anyone hearing her sing. Can Sally keep her word and do her diploma at the Royal College of Music, can she utter a note outside her wardrobe? Any why now, of all times, has the man from her past shown up to turn her world upside down. Sally will need to dig deep to deal with all the challenges she is faced with or forever hid in the safety of her wardrobe!

I honestly didn't think reading the blurb that I would like this novel. I was intrigued about the beautiful gentleman from her past but the whole music thing just didn't seem like it would interest me. I was wrong, very wrong! It is funny how you can relate to someone or something in a book that you, at first glance, could never imagine any comparison with at all. Sally grew up in an estate, opera is not something you expect one to be interested in let alone be able to engage with or produce the beauty that it is. Sally has such negative experiences and attitudes by those she loves she must lock it away, almost as a dirty secret. So now as an adult, to embrace it, to do something that goes against her core, pleasing everyone but herself, it is unthinkable. However Sally has depths and is learning and growing whilst having to face some of the most hurtful moments of her past, to deal with her promising future.

This book was a delight to read, there are so many levels to it, self growth, love, hurt, family dysfunction, betrayal, talent and that is only some of the themes. You will find yourself laughing out loud at some of the scenes, especially one or two with the fabulous Jan Borsos, it is naughty, funny, tongue in cheek and despite some mentions of sex, there is a beautiful innocence to some of the story. Sometimes the language they use toward each other felt, to me, a little out of place or young as they are performers, talented, educated and it just seemed like how a younger generation communicate rather than adults. However that said, it does work especially for Sally who is quite innocent despite being the mother role for Fiona, her hell raiser cousin, sister and best friend.

The time frame jumps around so it takes a while to discover what happened with Sally and the beautiful stranger who turns up at her door. To peel through the present day and some of the issues Sally carries with her and why she behaves as she does now. It is quite well signposted so you can follow the jumps in time well and slowly the back story is revealed. I have read this author before and would read her again, you can get your hands on this book from the 19th of June, 2014. Thank you so much to RealReaders for sending me this book, which I would certainly have passed over and missed out on a lovely tale, don't make that mistake and deprive yourself.

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Review - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Publisher - Phoenix

Pages - 463

Blurb from Goodreads

Who are you?
What have we done to each other?

These are the questions Nick Dunne finds himself asking on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they weren't made by him. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone.

So what did happen to Nick's beautiful wife?


My Review

The tale opens with Nick Dunne, husband of Amy Elliott, on the day Amy goes missing. We have a short chapter covering Nicks morning, the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, before he hears Amy has disappeared. The next chapter is a diary entry, from some years previous, with Amy when she meets Nick for the first time. This is how the story is laid out, chapters going between Nick and Amy, past and present as we get a build up and view of their relationship until both parties are caught up to present day. Amy has gone missing, the house shows signs of a struggle and Nick quickly comes under scrutiny from the police and eventually the press. Amy's diary entries gives the reader a different look at the relationship, from the early days and then jumping through months and years until caught up to the present. Nick is behaving inappropriately and weird for a mans whose wife has disappeared, and there seems to be more to this story than meets the eye.

Despite the tale jumping through time periods and two characters, the chapters are well signposted and the reader can follow what is happening very quickly. Amy seems like a likable character at the beginning of the story however as you get into the meat of the tale, neither Nick, nor Amy are particularly easy to like characters. The pace of the story is set well and the reader is drawn in very quickly, I read this story in one day as I was dying to find out what happened to Amy and was Nick involved?

It is a fabulous thriller, I didn't see the twists and turns coming and think the diary entries from Amy are very well done, although this isn't a format I like normally in stories. This was my first time reading this author and I would read her again. Your interest is captured quickly, your guessing who done it, what happened and keep going for one more chapter in case you find out. The chapter length makes this easy to do so as they are fairly short which also helps you to race through. My only gripe would be considering the pace and depth throughout, the ending was a little weak in comparison however it is still a great psychological thriller worth checking out. 4/5 for me and I will be tracking down more by this author.

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Also this book saw a late night as I wanted to know how the book ended, kitty struggled to stay up

Review - Murphy's Boy by Torey Hayden

Murphy's Boy by Torey L. Hayden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Publisher - Avon

Pages - 324


Blurb From Goodreads

His name was Kevin but his keepers called him Zoo Boy. He didn't talk. He hid under tables and surrounded himself with a cage of chairs. He hadn't been out of the building in the four years since he'd come in. He was afraid of water and wouldn't take a shower. He was afraid to be naked, to change his clothes. He was nearly 16.

Desperate to see change in the boy, the staff of Kevin's adolescent treatment center hired Hayden. As Hayden read to him and encouraged him to read, crawling down into his cage of chairs with him, Kevin talked. Then he started to draw and paint and showed himself to have a quick wit and a rolling, seething, murderous hatred for his stepfather.


My Review

Kevin is 15 years old, cowering under a table when Torey first meets him, called Zoo Boy for the behaviors he exhibits and his self built cage of chairs and tables. He is afraid of everything, assumed to have a low IQ, a sketchy abusive past and talks to no one. When Torey starts to break down the barriers, Kevin begins to become more of a person than "an animal" and allows Torey glimpses of the boy he is. A long and arduous journey begins for Kevin, to face his past and all the things that terrify him and Torey finds herself faced with possibly one of her biggest challenges yet.

I have read a few of Torey Hayden's books and they can be really hard going, abuse, horror, violence and poverty being just a few of the issues. This one is no different and does cover some horrifying subjects however the bulk of the focus is on Kevin and his journey. It is quite emotional to see this poor child transform from an elective mute and try and face his demons. The processes involved and the red tape around establishments, care available and employers homophobic attitudes toward employees, it is really interesting how some systems work.

There is another child in the story, Charity who is 8 years old, brought to Torey through the big sister project, a little girl with a big attitude and a poor family. Torey splits her time between the two and the reader gets to see the positive influence, love, time and effort can have on two very different children and the impact it can have on them. Whilst some of the story is sad, hard going and plucks a few heart strings it is a story that restores faith in someone who does her job and really cares about the children than come into her care, however brief. Hayden writes very well and covers some horrific topics in a sensitive manner so 4/5 for me this time.

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Review - The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley

The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Publisher - Orbit

Pages - 369

Blurb from Goodreads

Edinburgh: 1828
In the starkly-lit operating theaters of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly- formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment - and no one is safe from its corruption.
The Edinburgh Dead" is a powerful fusion of gothic horror, history, and the fantastical.


My review

The opening of the story grabs you, experiments and bodies being cut open in a theater in front of the public. Manipulation of the bodies to make them move after death. morbid fascination. Flip on to 1828, there has been a grisly murder and officer Adam Quire is on the case. The mans throat has been torn out and his identity is unknown. When Adam starts digging deeper he uncovers things that don't make sense, can't be possible, supernatural elements and someone with money is not happy with Quire. The investigation will cost him everything if he doesn't relent but for Quire, justice and truth must be followed at all costs, even his life.

Oh the beginning of this story was so good, bodies, experiments and then a murder. However is soon slowed its pace, the word zombie is thrown about however I disagree in that Frankenstein, in my eyes, was not what I would call a zombie. There is occult, spells, black magic, reanimation, murder and downright freakishness within the tale. We also get a glimpse of the war Quire was in which gives an understanding of his character and why he pursues the course of justice, to any cost.

The insight into the police and how they treat each other was quite something although I would need to read some books to see if it is an accurate representation however it made for good reading. The book also has mention of some old famous Edinburgh historical characters which was good and well incorporated into the story.

Despite being quite slow going at parts, other parts really gripped the reader and I felt whilst it wasn't amazing, it was a pretty good tale. 3/5 for me this time and I would read this author again.

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Author Interview & Giveaway with Rebecca Mascull

As you know I don't often do author interviews however in this case I am really glad I did, enjoy!

If you haven't heard of her before, Rebecca Mascull is the author of the visitors, her debut novel, you can read my review here http://www.alwaysreading.net/2014/05/arr-visitors-by-rebecca-mascull.html


Where did you come up with the idea for this book?

I worked with deaf students when I was teacher training and read a lot about deafness. I was so interested by the way sign language worked and how beautiful and complex I felt it was. Also, I saw a movie about Helen Keller years ago and it really stayed with me, especially the moment where Helen learns her first word, ‘water’. When I came to write this book, I started with the idea of deafness and then it occurred to me that a huge challenge would be to have my character lose both her sight and her hearing – a challenge of course for her, but also for me as a writer. And I can’t resist a challenge!

When did you decide you wanted to write a book and why?

I’ve been writing stories since I was a little girl. My first attempt at a novel was when I was about 12 and it was a western! My second was a hospital drama! But I started writing seriously when I left full-time teaching and started a Masters in Writing, about 13 years ago. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career. But I’ve always loved writing, and now I can’t imagine NOT writing.

Reading my review, it is obvious this book, especially at the start, touched me. How did you decide on the content and focus the first half on the communication aspect?

I’m so glad it touched you – thanks for saying so. It just seemed the logical place to start, with Liza’s early experiences. I liked the idea that the Visitors were with her right from the beginning, so that’s why I decided to start with her birth and have them there, watching her. Also, she is born with little sight and I wanted to convey that too, as well as the loss of her hearing and sight in her first years. I read about Keller’s early years, yet I read even more about a girl called Laura Bridgman – I wrote an article about it here: https://www.hodder.co.uk/Articles/THE%20VISITORS%20and%20Deaf-Blindness.page She was the first deaf-blind child to be formally educated in America. I read a wonderful account of her education, written by one of her tutors. The process of teaching her finger-spelling, then reading, then writing was so fascinating to me, I wanted to convey this to readers. I hoped they would find it as interesting as I did.

Did you mean for it to have an impact upon your readers?


Gosh, yes, I certainly hoped it would. I was very moved by what I read, particularly by Laura’s determination and astonishing progress – not only in her ability to communicate, but her journey to becoming a full human being. Liza has a different character and a very different outcome to Laura, but they share that ferocious drive to learn. I admired her and Keller so very much, and wanted my character to have a similar impact.

Which authors inspire you?

I have a very mixed taste, but I must admit I do read mostly historical fiction, and much of it written in the past. Until recently, I rarely read contemporary novels, but now I’m in the publishing world I’m open to a lot more influences and have discovered some fantastic current novelists, which has been a joy. As for particular authors, my influences include Charles Dickens, Margaret Atwood, Thomas Hardy, Daphne du Maurier and John Fowles. My favourites at the moment include Amy Tan and Isabel Allende – I’d read just about anything by those two. Great, sweeping novels and very entertaining.



Who did you read growing up and do you feel they inspired you?

My earliest memories of books were those wonderful Ladybird Well-Loved Tales from the 60s, with the beautiful paintings by artists like Eric Winter. As a kid, I read a lot of escapist stuff about other worlds – loads of Enid Blyton (the fairy/toy books more than Secret 7 etc.) and my absolute favourites were the Doctor Dolittle books – I read and reread them over and over, longing to escape on a boat and travel to distant lands, as he did. I also was a massive Star Wars fan! And even tried to write a sequel to The Empire Strikes Back, with my brother! We were very annoyed when George Lucas beat us to it… Later, I read a lot of English, American and Post-Colonial classics at university – the Brontës, Hardy, Blake, Wordsworth, Denis Potter, Jean Rhys, Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner – as well as Spanish and South American literature e.g. Federico Garcia Lorca, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, some of which used magic realism. I also read The Lord of the Rings in my final year, when I should have been revising. All of these influences – as well as the many movies and TV drama series I’ve watched over the years – mixed up like a delicious soup and hugely influence my work now, in unexpected and mysterious ways.

Were you trying to get a message across in your book and if so why?

Ooh, that’s a good question. Uh, I’m not really sure! I guess I was just interested in the different aspects of Liza’s condition, her friendship with Lottie and the power of first love, and the mystery inherent in the Visitors. When I researched the Boer War, I was surprised by a lot of what I learnt – particularly about the concentration camps – and so I felt the reader might find that informative, but also a good part of the story. But really I wanted Caleb to grow up and become himself, and his wartime experiences in Africa and meeting Maria did that for him, and ultimately freed Liza to be herself too. If the book has a message, I’d guess it would be not to underestimate anyone, based on their circumstance or situation – that one can overcome adversity and achieve almost anything, with determination and self-belief. It’s also a story about the power of friendship, something very close to my heart.

What’s next for Rebecca Mascull?

Well, I’ve just finished my next novel and was thrilled to be offered a two-book deal by my publisher Hodder and Stoughton, for that novel and the next one I’ve yet to write. The new one is about an C18th orphan girl who becomes a scientist and makes a remarkable discovery. It’s presently in the editing process and is due to come out in 2015. As for the next one, I am bound to keep that under wraps! Suffice to say, it is likely to be set in the early decades of the twentieth century, but that’s all I can say about that right now! In the meantime, the paperback of THE VISITORS is due out on July 18th. It has a gorgeous cover, have you seen it?! Thanks so much for great questions, Lainy. It’s been a pleasure.



And now, you can win a signed copy of The Visitors and a bookmark, this competition is only up for one week as I have two other running until the end of the month. As always you can enter with the rafflecopter below and any problems just email me or tweet and I will sort it out. PLEASE NOTE, the book cover uploaded below is of the paperback version of The Visitors, the cover of the book you are entering the competition for is the one shown on my review.

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ARR - The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull

The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 247

Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton

Blurb from Goodreads

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 56 ratings · 19 reviews
Imagine if you couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't speak... Then, one day, somebody took your hand and opened the world up to you.

Adeliza Golding is a deaf-blind girl, born in late Victorian England on her father's hop farm. Unable to interact with her loving family, she exists in a world of darkness and confusion; her only communication is with the ghosts she speaks to in her head, whom she has christened the 'Visitors'. One day she runs out into the fields and a young hop-picker, Lottie, grabs her hand and starts drawing shapes in it. Finally Liza can communicate.

Her friendship with her teacher and with Lottie's beloved brother Caleb leads her from the hop gardens and oyster beds of Kent to the dusty veldt of South Africa and the Boer War, and ultimately to the truth about the Visitors.

Rebecca Mascull's first novel is the tale of a wonderful friendship, but it is also a thrilling adventure, a heartbreaking love story and a compelling ghost story.


My Review

The story opens with our main character, Adeliza (Liza) Golding and takes us from the moment she is born up to and throughout her adult life. After birth she describes seeing the visitors, which turn out to be ghosts although she doesn't cover too much detail here. We are then told about how she comes to be deaf and blind and how this affects her behavior as she is growing up. She is angry, aggressive and almost feral in her frustration and loneliness until she is 6 years old and a chance encounter with Lottie changes everything. Lottie teaches Liza how to communicate which impacts upon her quality of life and opens up a new world for her. The book is then focused upon her becoming an adult, the war and how this affects her life and relationships.

The first part of this book moved me, if you have a family member or friend who is blind or deaf I think you may feel the same. Having someone who is so isolated and being helpless to do anything about it, I could appreciate how that must be for Liza's father although that isn't heavily featured in the book. How Lottie manages to change Liza's whole life, with patience and giving her the means to communicate was beautiful. Her experiences and how everything changes through having access to talk to others and seeing the character bloom was just wonderful.

The next part focuses on her interactions as an adult, her character growth, war and the visitors. As a child she meets and is taken with Caleb, Lottie's twin brother. As war is coming he is caught up in that and writes home to Liza and Lottie about what he sees and experiences which takes the novel down a darker path. Whilst the letters gave a stark look at the horrors seen whilst out in the field during war and they were interesting, they were a world away from the style and theme of the beginning of the book. I think some readers may like this contrast however for me I would have preferred it to be delivered maybe in a different format?

The ghost aspect is quite different, Liza isn't sure how she can see them when others cannot. What is the purpose to it, why her? Some questions are answered but not all and whilst this generally irks me when I am reading, I didn't mind the unanswered questions as you discovered answers along with Liza and accept her view point on it all, well I did.

I think this is a well written debut novel and can't describe how, on a personal level, watching the beginning of a new world opening for Lottie warmed me. It was a delight to read and I don't think I have read anything like it before. This writer has so much more to share with the reading world and I hope she continues to write, I will certainly be looking for any new material from her, 4/5 for me this time.

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