Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 310

Publisher - Scholastic

Blurb from Goodreads

Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy. He lives with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who are mean to him and make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. (Dudley, however, has two bedrooms, one to sleep in and one for all his toys and games.) Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed forever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! The first book in the "Harry Potter" series makes the perfect introduction to the world of Hogwarts.


My review

I have read this book about three times and cannot believe this is the first time I have reviewed it! Harry Potter lives with his aunt, uncle and cousin, the Dursleys, Harry has been an unwelcome guest since he was put upon the Dursleys after his parents died. Harry is unliked, unwelcome and above all just an ordinary boy or so the Dursleys would have him think. But as Harry's birthday approaches, he gets letters informing him he has been enrolled in Hogwarts School for witches and wizards. Life as Harry knew it is about to change, secrets about his family, who he is and learning just how dangerous being Harry Potter can be.

Oh I love this book, a tale of friendship, love, family, honour, secrets and magic, whats not to love. The book introduces us to poor Harry, a lovely boy who is treated so poorly by his family, they make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs and have never gave him any kind of love or even respect as a human. Harry is then taken to a world where he is famous, a world full of magic and mayhem where he meets friends and finds out all about the magical world of wizardry.

This book is loved by kids and adults alike, I am currently re reading the whole series, Rowling has created some fabulous loveable and equally horrid and loathable characters. 5/5 for me, this book is a keeper for me and I will return again to it in the future.

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Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 hours

Pages - 320

Publisher - MIRA

Blurb from Goodreads

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace.

He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do. Though, you’d like to get to know Grace better.

But it’s difficult, because you realise Jack and Grace are never apart.

Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.

Sometimes, the perfect marriage is the perfect lie.


My Review

We open in the present, Grace is entertaining Jacks friends with a dinner party at their home. The opening chapter is very discreet, we are told of Jack and Grace's perfect meeting, how long they have been married & everything seems wonderful. The reader picks up Grace is very nervous but no obvious in your face reasoning why, my spidey senses where up though. We are told of Millie, Grace's seventeen year old sister, who has Down's Syndrome and who Jack has agreed to her coming to live with them once she is eighteen, everything is perfect. We flip between the present and past, Grace meeting Jack, perfect Jack, polite, attentive and accepting of Millie. As we flit between the two time lines it becomes apparent life isn't quite as perfect as it first seems and Jack and Grace are hiding a horrendous deadly secret.

I found this book hard to put down, I think depending on your background the more you will be drawn into Grace's world. I knew very quickly something was wrong and when it became apparent what was happening, how I loathed at least one of the main characters and became frustrated by others. You are desperate to find out what is truly going on and then enraged to be kept waiting for the outcome, what is going to happen, will there be an outing of it all.

I think Paris has done fabulously well to draw in the reader, engage them and handle some very tricky subject matter. So many people have loved this book, some not so much and you can appreciate how it can differ for so many. I was completely engaged, I couldn't put the book down, I went through a roller coaster of emotions and found the end came far too quickly for me. The author does what any good author should, leaves the reader wanting more, very impressive and packing quite a punch for their debut. 4/5 for me this time, I would absolutely read this author again, B A Paris is one to watch out for. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

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A Siege Of Bitterns by Steve Burrows

A Siege of Bitterns: A Birder Murder Mystery by Steve Burrows
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days (on and off)

Pages - 352

Publisher - Oneworld Publishers

Blurb from Goodreads

Newly appointed police inspector Domenic Jejeune doesn’t mind ruffling a few feathers to flush out suspects in the brutal murder of a renowned ecological activist.


Inspector Domenic Jejeune’s success has made him a poster boy for the U.K. police service. The problem is Jejeune doesn’t really want to be a detective at all; he much prefers watching birds.


Recently reassigned to the small Norfolk town of Saltmarsh, located in the heart of Britain’s premier birding country, Jejeune’s two worlds collide when he investigates the grisly murder of a prominent ecological activist. His ambitious police superintendent foresees a blaze of welcome publicity, but she begins to have her doubts when Jejeune’s most promising theory involves a feud over birdwatching lists. A second murder only complicates matters.


To unravel this mystery, Jejeune must deal with unwelcome public acclaim, the mistrust of colleagues, and his own insecurities. In the case of the Saltmarsh birder murders, the victims may not be the only casualties.


My Review

First off, I need to say this is not a book I would normally be drawn to or pick up myself. I am so so glad RealReaders sent me a copy of this, otherwise I would have missed a great into to a new author (for me) and a new series. I loved birds as a child and enjoy viewing them as an adult but generally wouldn't pick up a book that features them so much.

Inspector Domenic Jejeune is relatively new to the small English town of Saltmarsh and finding his feet among the people. When an ecological activist is murdered, Jejeune needs to get to the bottom of it, but small towns have their secrets and not everyone wants to tell all to our officer. As the investigation progresses Jejeune gets to indulge in his love of birds and try and piece together possible motives and suspects for the murder.

I really enjoyed reading the bird aspect of the novel, so much so afterwards I read up a bit on the kind of activities of the spotters mentioned in the story. The murder itself was well written as was the show of how the inspectors mindset was focusing. One of the things I didn't like was how sometimes the characters would be called by their first name, other times by their surnames. I personally found this quite confusing at times and for the first while had to kept checking which character it was I was reading about.

I didn't see the twists coming which is always a good thing although I was a bit surprised at how quick it wrapped up and how it all played out. An impressive new way of going about crime, certainly for me. 3/5 for me this time, thanks so much to RealReaders for sending me a copy to review in exchange for an honest review. I hadn't read this author before but I certainly would read him again and more in this series.

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Hola - I am home

Hell lovely people. Apologies for lack of updates/reviews. We were on holiday to Tenerife and the wifi wasn't great.





The weather was lovely, I took more than a few books, below is just some of the ones I took :D





We picked up a few from the lovely we shop upstairs, they had a swap shelf so I got a few from there and left lots of mine. As a result I now have lots to of reviews to catch up on. I also have over 1000 emails to get through, if you have contacted via any of my email accounts I will reply, it just might take a while.

Last night I made the mistake or re starting the first Harry Potter, I have a ton of review books to still get through, two cases full of washing not to mention work stuff and house work. We also got Princess Trixie back today, looking a tad orange around the paws, she is spending the day singing me the song of her people!



Hope you are all well, the winner for February comp has been announced and contacted. I will try and get the March comp up as soon as I can.

Out Of The Darkness by Katy Hogan

Out of the Darkness: A Tale of Love, Loss and Life After Death by Katy Hogan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - on and off for 4 days

Pages - 292

Publisher - Illumine

Blurb from Goodreads

Out of the Darkness is a haunting, sometimes heart-breaking, contemporary novel with a supernatural twist. A tale of friendship and redemption, of love and loss, and life after death. Set in the lively coastal town of Brighton, Out of the Darkness tells the moving story of three women, complete strangers, each burdened by their own secrets, fears and emotional baggage. Their lives are changed irrevocably when they are brought together by one remarkable connection: someone who wants to help them.....from beyond the grave.


My Review

Jessica Gibson is our main character, struggling to deal with her mothers sudden death and keep her life going. With no real friends and a job grating on her Jessica finds herself unexpectedly running into an old friend and opening up to a stranger. What follows changes Jessica's life as she knew it, doors open, psychics, friendships, ghosts, secrets and love.

This book took me a good bit to get into, I think it was about 100 pages in before I settled and got a feel for all of the characters. Alex & Hannah are the other main characters we get to know, each with their own issues and seeking solace and finding friendship. The three bond over loss and new beginnings, soon finding themselves at a psychic event discovering more than friendship is bringing them together.

It is a lovely story that I think some people will take comfort in and some who have experience recent bereavement it may conjure a roller coaster of emotions. There are quite a few themes addressed, rather sensitively I thought, throughout the tale. A few unexpected surprises and maybe one or two I anticipated although I was also wrong about a few which is always a good thing. I am always interested in reading anything about the supernatural so this did give the book an extra perk for me personally. 4/5 for me this time thanks to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review, I would certainly read this author again and watch out for their next venture!

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Confessions of a Male Nurse by Michael Alexander

Confessions of a Male Nurse by Michael Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 320

Publisher - Friday Project

Blurb from Goodreads

From the people who brought you the bestselling Confessions of a GP.

From stampeding nudes to inebriated teenagers, young nurse Michael Alexander never really knew what he was getting himself into. But now, sixteen years since he was first launched into his nursing career – as the only man in a gynaecology ward – he’s pretty much dealt with everything: Body parts that come off in his hands; Teenagers with phantom pregnancies; Doctors unable to tell the difference between their left and right; Violent drunks; Singing relatives; Sexism; . . . and a whole lot of nudity.

Confessions of a Male Nurse is a touching, shocking and frequently hilarious account of one man’s life in nursing.


My Review

I love reading the "Confessions of A" type books but I think this is my first nurse style one. The author takes us through situations from just qualifying to being an experienced nurse dealing with patients and situations across the nursing fields.

The book has some humour, sheds light on just how scary nursing can actually be and some of the high and low lights of what nurses have to endure. The author puts some of their feelings and thoughts on particular situations or patients which I think may cause a bit of a stir with some readers. I think these kind of books give regular Joe public a glimpse into some of the things they may not think of or consider in that line of work. Even for people who work in specific areas in nursing get a glimpse into fields they may not have considered or worked in before.

The chapters are short which I always love, makes for easy reading and you can pick it up and down as desired or get through it rapidly, always a bonus for me. The writing style is very relaxed which again makes for easy reading. I really enjoyed the book and could have read much more, 4/5 for me and I would read more by this author.

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The Walking Dead - The Road To Woodbury by Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga

The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 277

Publisher - Thomas Dunne Books

Blurb from Goodreads

The first book explained how the Governor was created; this thrilling sequel to The New York Times bestseller further reveals his ruthless, inhuman conquest of Woodbury

The zombie plague unleashes its horrors on the suburbs of Atlanta without warning, pitting the living against the dead. Caught in the mass exodus, Lilly Caul struggles to survive in a series of ragtag encampments and improvised shelters. But the Walkers are multiplying. Dogged by their feral hunger for flesh and crippled by fear, Lilly relies on the protection of good Samaritans by seeking refuge in a walled-in town once known as Woodbury, Georgia.

At first, Woodbury seems like a perfect sanctuary. Squatters barter services for food, people have roofs over their heads, and the barricade expands, growing stronger every day. Best of all, a mysterious self-proclaimed leader named Philip Blake keeps the citizens in line. But Lilly begins to suspect that all is not as it seems… Blake, who has recently begun to call himself The Governor, has disturbing ideas about law and order.

Ultimately, Lilly and a band of rebels open up a Pandora's box of mayhem and destruction when they challenge The Governor's reign… and the road to Woodbury becomes the highway to hell in this riveting follow-up to Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga's New York Times bestselling The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor.



My Review

I am a big fan of the TV show The Walking Dead, I have also read the first book in this series: The Rise Of The Governor. This book starts with Lilly Caul and the survivors she finds herself grouped with. After their camp gets attacked and people start to turn on each other, Lilly finds herself leaving with Josh, Bob, Scott & Megan. Eventually they find themselves in Woodbury and coming to the conclusion that the walkers may not be their biggest threat.

I love zombie books anyways, and films/shows so to be honest it isn't rocket science that I would really like this. As well as the usual fight or flight, struggle to survive, breakdown and strengthening of friendships, in this particular type of book we learn more about characters we already knew in the show. The Governor is not a nice guy at all, we know this but we get some insight and answers into some of his behaviour and actions we saw on the show and the previous book.

There are some things people will dislike about the book, the dialogue between Josh and Lilly can be a bit grating and repetitive. Some of the actions of the characters, as always, often causes annoyance or makes you questions their actions or lack of. However, for zombie fans I think you would like this book. I would recommend getting the first in the series so you get a bit of background on the governor although you could pick this up and read it as a stand alone. I believe there are two more books after this one, I will be on the look out for them, 4/5 for me this time.

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