Book Launch - Talk Of The Toun by Helen MacKinven

Last night saw a group of us going along to support Helen MacKinven on the launch of her debut novel, Talk Of The Toun. We met the lovely Catherine Hokin & two of my friends who are not readers joined us, with my book lover friend making it, this was her first launch attendance.

The event was held in Argyll Street Waterstones and the lovely team at ThunderPoint assisted Helen with providing themed cupcakes and refreshments, pink glasses as modelled by Bimbo (the poodle on the cover) and some fabulous music of the time.





The turnout was fabulous, not an empty seat to be seen which isn't something I see at launches of a lot of debut nights. Helen read 3 passages from the story, I think the presence and strength of a reading can impact on how a tale is received by prospective buyers. She brought the characters to life and despite already having read the book, I was lucky enough to get an ARC, I wanted to read it again and reconnect with the characters. The crowd responded to all of the readings, the room rocked with laughter and the Q&A had a good participation from the crowd.





This is one of the nicest launches I have attended, there was a bit of an emosh moment at the end when Helen presented, two of her close friends who have assisted with the book cover design and support, a small gift. Then her publicist produced a beautiful bouquet of flowers to Helen. The book was launched yesterday 29/10/2015, available on the kindle for £4.00 and in paperback form for £9.99. You can find my review here http://www.alwaysreading.net/2015/10/talk-of-toun-by-helen-mackinven_12.html

The blog tour for this book is now underway, please support an author & bloggers and stop by. I got my ARC copy signed last night and will put it up for competition when it is my stop on the tour. Please check the dates below.

The Ice Twins by S K Tremayne

The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days (on and off)

Pages - 373

Publisher - Harper

Blurb from Goodreads

A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcraft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives.

But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity—that she, in fact, is Lydia—their world comes crashing down once again.

As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, Sarah finds herself tortured by the past—what really happened on that fateful day one of her daughters died?



My review

Angus and Sarah Moorcroft have been through the mill, it's been a year since one of their twin daughters died. Moving to a remote island in Scotland seems the best plan of action, Angus can get work, Sarah can fix up the house and do some work on the side and most importantly, their surviving twin Kirstie can move on. But when they get to the island, Kirstie has some news, she states she is Lydia and her parents have gotten it wrong. Things get spooky, the relationship between Angus and Sarah becomes strained and Kirstie or Lydia's behaviour is becoming increasingly disturbing.

So the whole creepy thing with Kirstie claiming she is Lydia begins early on and draws the reader in, it could happen, did they get it wrong? Then we see the strain of the past year taking its tole on the marriage, Kirstie becomes more erratic and the reader questions what exactly is going on. What happened to Lydia or Kirstie, which one died peeked my interest and kept me reading, I also liked the pictures dottered throughout the book. What I didn't like was how it took, what seemed an age, to get to the mystery of what was happening. The main characters weren't very likeable, both mother and father got very caught up in themselves rather than their surviving child. I felt some questions were left unanswered and some of the actions of the adults very unbelievable.

So many people loved this book so I am in the minority, certainly give it a go and see how you get on. I found it did have spooky elements and some suspense but there was more about this book I didn't enjoy than that that I did. 2/5 for me this time, I would read this author again as I don't think it was the writing that was my issue, more the story path itself.

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Shafted by Mandasue Heller

Shafted by Mandasue Heller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 551

Publisher - Hodder

Blurb from Goodreads

Larry Logan is a small-time TV star with a mile-wide ego. When his latest show is axed, he is dismayed to find that the only work he can get is fronting a fake game show that is actually an undercover police sting designed to trap criminals. His reluctance evaporates, however, as the show rockets his career back to prime-time stardom, and when the lovely, shy Stephanie enters his life he thinks he finally has it made. But Larry doesn't know how dangerous those criminals are. He helped imprison some dangerous men—and they want revenge.


My Review

Larry Logan is a disgrace, at the top of his game on a tv show and raking the cash in he is rude, turning up drunk and rude and about to make the mistake of his life! When he pushes his luck one time too much he finds himself spurned from those who loved him, broke and fallen from grace. His only chance at redemption lies in accepting home truths, help from his agent and a new tv show that may boost him back onto the scene but at what cost. Liaising with producers and the police Larry gets involved in a new project were he meets Stephanie and Larry finds out the past isn't always easy to leave behind.

As always, I love the worlds Heller creates, the writing draws you in and the characters are despicable. Just when you think it can't get any worse for Larry there is another twist. I worked out one or two early on but there was plenty to keep you guessing and amused. Larry's life is just a car crash, you cringe for him and can see so many of hollywood's "finest" getting into one or two of these scrapes. 4/5 for me this time, I read this in practically one sitting, I have read most of Heller's work and will continue to do so. One of my fav gritty crime writers, for anyone who isn't familiar with this author, there is swearing, sex, drugs, violence and themes that coincide with the darker side of society.

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Surviving The Evacuation - London by Frank Tayell

London by Frank Tayell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days (on and off)

Pages - 201

Blurb from Goodreads

The outbreak started in New York. Within days the infection had spread to every corner of the world. Nowhere is safe from the undead...

Bill watched from his window as London was evacuated. His leg broken, he is unable to join the exodus. Turning to his friends in the government, he waits and hopes for rescue. As the days turn into weeks, realising inaction will lead only to starvation and death, his thoughts turn to escape.

Forced to leave the safety of his home he ventures out into the undead wasteland that once was England, where he will discover a horrific secret.

This is the first volume of his journal.



My Review

An outbreak that starts in New York soon finds its way to London. Bill is stuck in his house watching it all unfold as he is stuck indoors with a broken leg. As the chaos descends Bill knows that he will have to make a break for it if he is to survive, this story is Bills journal cataloging his journey.

As you may know, I love zombie/apocalyptic stories, this is a fairly thin read although I believe there is 7 volumes available. Bill is our main character, it is his voice and diary we follow as the events unfold and he faces the choice of staying safe indoors and starving or attempting to go out and escape where he has seen so many perish.

This is a bit different from the books I have read on this genre, it is told in diary format which isn't exactly unique however Bill has a broken leg. The outbreak is hard enough to try and survive without having a cast on and being slowed down. It builds up the tension as you feel the despair of the situation for Bill and things go quickly from bad to worse. There are a few surprises along the way and considering it is a lone voice telling the story and for the most part it is only Bill, the author manages to bring in other characters through Bills previous chats/memories and things he happens upon.

I think some people may have issue with this one because Bill has a cast on, one or two things that happen you question the validity however, it is a zombie outbreak book and I think it all works pretty well. I have already downloaded the second one of this in the series and can't wait to see what happens next, 4/5 for me and I definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

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Talk of the Toun by Helen MacKinven

Talk of the Toun by Helen MacKinven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days on and off

Pages - 288

Publisher - Thunderpoint Publishing

Blurb from Goodreads

‘She was greetin’ again. But there’s no need for Lorraine to be feart, since the first day of primary school, Angela has always been there to mop up her tears and snotters.’

An uplifting black comedy of love, family life and friendship, Talk of the Toun is a bittersweet coming-of-age tale set in the summer of 1985, in working class, central belt Scotland.

Lifelong friends Angela and Lorraine are two very different girls, with a growing divide in their aspirations and ambitions putting their friendship under increasing strain.

Artistically gifted Angela has her sights set on art school, but lassies like Angela, from a small town council scheme, are expected to settle for a nice wee secretarial job at the local factory. Her only ally is her gallus gran, Senga, the pet psychic, who firmly believes that her granddaughter can be whatever she wants.

Though Lorraine’s ambitions are focused closer to home Angela has plans for her too, and a caravan holiday to Filey with Angela’s family tests the dynamics of their relationship and has lifelong consequences for them both.

Effortlessly capturing the religious and social intricacies of 1980s Scotland, Talk of the Toun is the perfect mix of pathos and humour as the two girls wrestle with the complications of growing up and exploring who they really are.



My Review

The first thing I would say to anyone going to pick up this book is, it isn't for the easily offended. It isn't that it is out and out offensive however, it is set in Scotland, the mid 1980s and captures the people from the scheme and the language of the times perfectly. It is black humour, unpc and you find yourself laughing, sometimes out loud, at some of the antics and language which nowadays would be frowned upon and all kinds of labels flung about. The story centers around Angela, whose viewpoint the story is told from, and her best friend Lorraine. Angela has always looked out for Lorraine and lately their friendship is starting to get strained, Angela isn't about to let go and is sure when she gets Lorraine to Filey for the caravan holiday with her family all will slot back into place. However things don't go as Angela planned and events come to play that will impact their friendship and lives forever.

This book took me down memory lane, just some of the things discussed or some of the terms, I haven't heard geggie in absolutely years, just evoked a plethora of long forgotten memories. I think anyone who was born or lived during that time period will take a stroll back in time, not sure if that was the authors intent but it was a lovely wee addition and gift from just "reading a book". The main characters are teenage girls, seventeen and some of the things are a bit teen angst because well thats what they are. Angela, for me was a really dislikable character at times and as the story goes on you see a switch in the roles Lorraine and Angela initially played in each others lives.

One character I have to talk about, because in all honesty, despite not being a main character I think she stole the show. Senga, Angela's "gallus" granny was a typical figure from that time period, fabulous, straight talking, supportive but put you in your place when need be. I will be hitting the author up about any plans for a book on Senga herself and if not I really think she should. If you love books that delve into people from a scheme, with Scottish banter that captures the struggles of that time period, sectarianism, social divide and just trying to follow their dreams rather than the path carved out for a council scheme girl, then you will love this book. If I gave half stars this would be 4.5 for me so it is a 4/5 for me this time, I wasn't sure if the author was going to be able to round it up at the end but she pulled it off and it made me look at the character a little better than I had whilst reading. I think MacKinven is worth a watch and may well become a familiar name amongst authors who portray the Scottish people and times of old with affection and praise. Thanks to the author & ThunderPoint publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can buy this book from 29th October 2015, Kindle price & paperback from all good retailers.

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The Stand by Stephen King

The Stand by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 5 days

Publisher - New English Library

Pages - 1415

Blurb from Goodreads

When a man crashes his car into a petrol station, he brings with him the foul corpses of his wife and daughter. He dies and it doesn't take long for the plague which killed him to spread across America and the world. From the author of The Tommyknockers, Misery and Pet Sematary.


My Review

A military containment fails and Captain Trips gets out, a flu that wipes out most of humanity. What is left splits into two groups, one heading to Las Vegas to see him, Randal Flagg causer of nitemares or Colorado to Mother Abigail, a beacon of hope doing the Lords work. A whole host of characters, trying to stay alive because in a world where there is only good and evil, there are more scary things than the plague.

I read this years ago as a teenager, King is or was a huge favourite of mine so a perfect choice for Halloween reads. There is a lot to take in as characters and locations change but you soon get settled in and read as the world fall apart. This is the first time I have read the uncut version however it has been so long since I read the normal version I couldn't honestly say whats new and what wasn't.

Some of it is tough going, violence, murder, sexual abuse, evil, good and thats just some of it. I am sure most people are familiar with the tones of Kings work so you know what you are in for. The Stand is a great Apocalyptic type tale with many dimensions, the fall of society, the attempted rise of society, the battle of good and evil, the trials and sacrifices and of course love, betrayal, relationships and lies. 4/5 for me this time, I love King so of course I will be reading him again.

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Octobers giveaway is a signed copy of Dying For Christmas by Tammy Cohen

The lovely Tammy Cohen has a new book out just now, the paperback version came out last week "First One Missing" which is only £4.00 for the paperback on Amazon or £3.80 for the kindle http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-One-Missing-Tammy-Cohen-ebook/dp/B00T5H3XAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444566219&sr=1-1&keywords=first+one+missing



In order to highlight this, the book chosen for this months giveaway is a signed copy of Dying For Christmas.







Please note the kitty is not included in the competition :D



As always, please use the rafflecopter form below to enter, the more entries you complete the more chances you have of winning. This competition is open internationally as well, good luck and thank you for stopping by.



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