Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Publisher - Ballantine Books

Pages - 480

Blurb from Godreads

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.



My Review

Ruth is an experienced nurse of twenty years, helping ladies through their labour and delivery, Ruth is also African American which until now hasn't been an issue. Her latest baby is the child of white supremacists who refuse to have Ruth touch their baby. When short staffing forces Ruth to be the one to check on the child and the child is having a medical emergency Ruth is torn between instinct and following orders. What follows will change Ruth's life forever.

Picoult is known for pushing the reader out of their comfort zones, creating some of the darkest moments human beings can be faced with and the human response. The story is told through three main characters points of view, Ruth of course, the nurse and accused. Turk is the father of the baby, supporter and advocate of white power, thinks nothing of violence and spewing racial venom. And lastly from Kennedy, Ruth's lawyer, Kennedy is by no means racist however after spending time with Ruth and seeing the world through her eyes she realizes she has a lot to learn.

This is no two ways about it, this is not an easy story to read. Not because it isn't well written, it absolutely is and it is no secret I do like Picoult books. It is the subject content, the blatant racism, the enablers of racism, those behind it who promote it, live breath and spread hatred. The absolute horror that whilst this is fiction, much of this hatred and bile still exists in today's society.

This book provokes emotion, thought, anger and the reader to examine if they contribute to this type of behaviour, because one who stands by and allows or ignores actions can be equally as guilty as those who do it. It is a story of passion, love, loss, relationships, family, racism, societal attitudes and human behavior. A story that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page, 4/5 for me this time. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.

View all my reviews

They Move Below by Karl Drinkwater

They Move Below: & Other Dark Tales by Karl Drinkwater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 398

Publisher - Organic Apocalypse

Blurb from Goodreads

Horror lives in the shadows.

It exists under the earth’s surface in ancient caves; below the vast sea’s undulating waves; under dense forest cover; within a storm’s thick, rolling clouds; downstairs in our homes, when we hear the knife drawer rattle in the night. Even our minds and bodies harbour the alien under the skin, the childhood nightmares in our subconscious.

In this collection of sixteen tales Karl Drinkwater sews flesh onto the bones of our worst fears whilst revisiting some of horror’s classic settings, such as the teen party, the boat in trouble, the thing in the cellar, the haunted museum, the ghost in the machine, and the urban legends that come true. No-one is safe. Darkness hides things, no matter how much we strain our eyes. And sometimes those things are looking back at us.


My Review

I never pick up short stories as a first choice, it is very rare I like them although master King is always the exception. However, I read a Drinkwater novella before, a few years ago, and as he is horror/spooky this collection fits perfectly for my October reads so I thought I would give it a whirl.

Sixteen creepy short stories that will have the hair on the back of your neck standing, holding your breath and listening out for things that go bump in the night. I didn't love all sixteen, one or two I found only ok however the majority of them left me creeped out and back to how I felt back in the days when I first read horror. I love when an author recommends or mentions another author's work within a story, he did this with Koontz and I bought the book as I want to know the rest of the tale.

I would be had pushed to pick a favourite however of the lot I think "Just Telling Stories" two 'friends' in a hotel room freaking each other with scary tales which is something we used to do as kids. And "Claws Truth Forebear" a story that will have you feeling claustrophobic whilst the characters struggle through enclosed spaces and examining the consequences of ones actions. Some of the others are quite dark too but these two stuck out for me.

Drinkwater has the knack of creating a tense and terrifying atmosphere that draws in the readers and creeps them out almost from the get go. Some of the stories are only a handful of pages long whilst others have a bit more meat. I have read this author before and I will read him again, if you like a bit of freak and a good scare this is the book for you, 4/5 for me this time.

View all my reviews

Q&A with Michael Christopher Carter

1. Welcome to So Many Books, So Little Time Michael, thanks for taking the time to come and chat. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in England’s Home Counties of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, before succumbing to the Pembrokeshire Pull and moving to the wonderful Pembrokeshire Coast National park in the South West corner of Wales. The scenery, towns and cities of Wales have been a big inspiration, and feature prominently in many of my stories.


2. Who inspires you and are you reading anything just now?

I have enjoyed many of the biggest names—John Grisham, Stephen King, Dean Kuntz and Robert Goddard, but really I have a very diverse taste. Recently, I’ve been enjoying discovering independent authors but, whether it’s a thriller, or a comedy, or horror, or even an autobiography I do like a twist! I always have a twist in my stories, and because I plan them out beforehand, there are always clues along the way. I get very excited when I write something and imagine myself as the reader trying to work it out. When I get feedback from readers who have been hooked by my red herrings, I get very excited.


3. An Extraordinary Haunting, is this your first book? Without spoilers, what is your book about?

I wrote and released three other books before this one, each exploring different paranormal elements, and each having their own twists. This one’s about a houseful of students in Swansea who experience some weird poltergeist activity. Ghostly goings on are occurring in other places too: the local pub, as well as the new home of former housemate, Elin Treharne. Nothing is as it seems, and when hints of the truth are realised, all the threads collide in a thrilling climax. And I don’t like loose ends. I try to make sure all questions are answered; it’s one of the key questions I put to Beta-Readers.


4. What gave you the idea for it?

Real life experiences of my wife and my late mother-in-law were the inspiration. It’s difficult to say what those were without spoiling the story.

5. When I read the blurb I expected a completely different kind of read, what made you decide to tell the book with astro travel themes rather than horror?

It wasn’t so much a decision. It was always the inspiration. Offering a different perspective for poltergeist activity was my main intention. I love exploring the unusual, and imagining readers exploring with me is thrilling. Reviews all say how scary the book is, but to be honest, that surprised me. I’m pleased, but the thrust of the story for me are the twists. The scary parts were required to make those happen, but it seems to work!


6. Are you working on anything just now?

Of course! But I’m not sure ‘working’ is the right word, because I enjoy it so much. I am writing every day creating a couple of books at the moment; one, ‘The Nightmare of Eliot Armstrong’ is almost out with beta-readers, and my next novel ‘Destructive Interference’ is in alpha stage. I hope to release by November and New Year.

7. Where can fans find you?

On Amazon, worldwide. I have U.S. and U.K. author pages, Facebook, and Twitter, and at my website: michaelchristophercarter.co.uk. Don’t be shy, I’d love to hear from you!


Twitter - @cartercarter72 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michaelchristophercarter/?ref=bookmarks



And now is your chance to win a paperback copy of An Extraordinary Haunting, as always use the Rafflecopter below to enter, this competition is open only to the UK, good luck.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

One by Conrad Williams

One by Conrad Williams
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 6 days

Pages - 363

Publisher - Virgin

Blurb from Goodreads

This is no country he knows, and no place he ever wants to see, even in the shuttered madness of his worst dreams. But Richard Jane survived. He walks because he has no choice and at the end of this molten road, running along the spine of a burned, battered country, his son may be alive. The sky crawls with venomous cloud and burning rain while the land is a scorched sprawl of rubble and corpses. Rats have risen from the depths to gorge on the carrion, and a glittering dust coats everything. It hides a terrible secret as new horrors take root. He walks on, with one hope.


My Review

This book started off really strong, Richard Jane is a diver and down in the ocean when it hits. After witnessing horrors and experiencing his own brush with death, Jane makes it to the topside the world as we know it is gone. Death is everywhere, people, animals, the land, the sky is wrong and the rain burns. Jane fits himself with protective gear and heads for home, the idea of getting to his son the only thing that keeps him going. When Jane thinks all is lost and that he is the only survivor, he finally finds others. Together they struggle to come to terms with earth as it is now, surviving, loss, self purpose and trying to stay alive.

This first part of this book I really liked, the main character goes through all of the trials and tribulations, emotions, struggles and a few hairy moments that are so well written at times I felt claustrophobic. However, the books splits off to a decade later about half way through, no explanation of why and the set up in the later part is completely different. I really dislike when books do that, it also took the apocalypse in a whole other direction, we have more survivors, what happens to them is completely different, there is a tiger running around. The later part reminded me of so many other books and movies it seemed like two completely different books merged into one and all apocalypse ideas thrown in.

It is gory, creepy, tackles lots of different areas of apocalyptic stories, had it stuck to the formula in the first part I think I would have really enjoyed it. Instead, for me, by covering so much it rather diluted the story for me, too many plot holes, unanswered questions and I generally don't like that. To be fair, Justin Cronin did that with The Passage, one story broke into two parts, and The Road which I also didn't enjoy. If you liked the format of those books you may well love this, sadly it just wasn't for me, 2/5 this time.

View all my reviews

Sweet Temptation by Lucy Diamond

Sweet Temptation by Lucy Diamond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 447

Blurb from Goodreads

Maddie's getting it from all sides. Her bitchy new boss at the radio station humiliates her live on air about her figure, her glamour-puss mum keeps dropping not-so-subtle hints that Maddie should lose weight and her kids are embarrassed to be seen with her after the disastrous Mums' race at their school sports day. Something's got to change...


My Review

Three main characters, Maddie, Jess and Lauren all are trying to lose weight so they join FatBusters club, not all exactly voluntarily. Maddie is pushed on by her horrible boss at the radio station and her journey publicly cataloged. Jess is desperate to be everything her partner wants her to be, including thin enough to be his bride. Lauren is a successful business woman who runs a dating agency but lost her husband to another woman and wants to slim down a bit. The woman find friendship when none are looking for it and come together to battle the bulge and overcome personal difficulties.

I can't remember if I have ever read Diamond before however this will not be my last. Chick lit at its best, humour, emotional, touching, friendship, families, weight issues, diets, abuse and love are only some of the subjects tackled in this tale. Whilst some scenes and exchanges make for uncomfortable reading it mirrors the reality of some of the real life struggles individuals experience. I do like when art imitates life, it adds authenticity to the story and gives weight to the characters. 4/5 for me this time, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys chick lit with some serious undertones.

View all my reviews

Skin by Mo Hayder

Skin by Mo Hayder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - over 6 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - Bantam Books

Blurb from Goodreads

When the decomposed body of a young woman is found by near railway tracks just outside Bristol one hot May morning, all indications are that she's committed suicide. That's how the police want it too: all neatly squared and tidied away.

But DI Jack Caffery is not so sure. He is on the trail of someone predatory, someone who hides in the shadows and can slip into houses unseen.

And for the first time in a very long time, he feels scared.

Police Diver Flea Marley is working alongside Caffery. Having come to terms with the loss of her parents, and with the traumas of her past safely behind her, she's beginning to wonder whether their relationship could go beyond the professional.

And then she finds something that changes everything. Not only is it far too close to home for comfort - but it's so horrifying that she knows that nothing will ever be the same again.

And that this time, no one - not even Caffery - can help her ...



My Review

A young woman who has committed suicide or so it appears, DI Caffery is on the case and doesn't think it is quite so clear cut. Working alongside Police Diver Flea Marley the two try to get on with the job whilst acknowledging there is something between them. If that isn't enough to whet the appetite, Flea discovers something about her brother that could ruin both their lives and Caffery is being stalked. Can they solve the case, deal with their feelings and keep everything together whilst trying to deal with their own personal demons!

I wasn't sure if I had read Hayder before, I don't think I have and to be honest I think I need to start at the beginning of the series. Clearly a lot has transpired, it is after all the fourth book however I do feel the reader is at a disadvantage starting with this one and that is my fault. The chapters split between the two main police officers and we get a wee chapter here and there from the killer. There is some brutal animal treatment, in that they are skinned which made for really uncomfortable reading however it is relative to the main story line. I had major issues with the behaviour of one main character and some very questionable choices, I felt you had to suspend belief as I genuinely cannot see a cop doing some of the actions this one did. That in itself made the book a bit of a struggle for me and I failed to connect with any of the characters.

I am sure if you have read the previous books you may well love this one, I think my lack of knowledge on the back story impeded my enjoyment. I just couldn't get over some of the questionable choices made, maybe if I had read the previous books I would get where that character was coming from. Just a tad out of the realms of belief for me, coming from someone who likes horror and zombie reads I know I have a cheek! 3/5 for me this time, I would read this author again however I think I would make a point of reading the books in chronological order first.

View all my reviews

Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak

Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 384

Publisher - Headline

Blurb from Goodreads

Evelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only sixteen when her own boyfriend Jasper imprisoned and tortured her—and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amarok, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community…even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn threatens to tear his world apart.
BEGINS WITH AN ESCAPE FROM HER PAST
Then, just as the bitter Alaskan winter cuts both town and prison off from the outside world, the mutilated body of a local woman turns up. For Amarok, this is the final proof he needs: Hanover has to go. Evelyn, though, has reason to fear that the crime is a personal message to her—the first sign that the killer who haunts her dreams has found her again. . .and that the life she has so carefully rebuilt will never be the same…


My Review

Evelyn Talbot is our main character, we open when she is a teenager and has her first brush with a serial killer and near death experience. Fast forward to twenty years later, Evelyn is marked by her past experiences and now a Doctor studying some of the most depraved criminal minds. In an effort to understand the psychopaths, her past and predicting criminal behavior she is the pioneer of Hanover House, a mental health facility based in Alaska. Facing hostility from the local police form, still dealing with her past horrors, Evelyn is trying to keep it together and make a difference. When a mutilated body is found Evelyn's establishment comes under scrutiny and Evelyn has to face the possibility her past has come back to haunt her.

This is my first time reading this author, I cannot wait to read more by her and hope we get some answers I felt were left hanging from this book. Evelyn has many hangups, as you would expect, from the brutal sexual assaults and near death experience she suffered as a teenager. This drives her work as an adult and her career choice, she struggles with relationships and finds herself still looking over her shoulder. Attracted to Amarok, the local cop, Evelyn finds herself drawn to him and trying to work through her issues. The snow is thick and fast, there is a killer on the loose and the inmates at Hanover House may be behind bars but have a far reach!

Whilst there is a lot of dark topics in this book, sexual abuse, sexual deviancy, murder and torture there is also friendship, relationships, family, survival and personal growth. A story that engages the reader from the opening page, draws you in and keeps you up until the small hours to see where the story is going to go. 4/5 for me this time, I will be checking to see if this author has any other books and waiting impatiently for the next. Thanks so much to Bookbridgr for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review and introducing me to a new author, for me anyway.

View all my reviews