A Lesser Evil by Lesley Pearse

A Lesser Evil by Lesley Pearse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 498

Publisher - Penguin Books

Blurb from Goodreads

Would you cross the street if wickedness lived there?

When Fifi moves to London with her bricklayer boyfriend Dan, her mother is outraged. Despite initial feelings of horror at her new surroundings, Fifi finds the freedom from her middle-class family background exhilarating.

Insatiably inquisitive, Fifi is fascinated by her new neighbours and wants to know what goes on behind all those shabby front doors. Why is Yvette, the French dressmaker, such a hermit? Why doesn't widower Frank join his daughter and grandchildren in Australia? And why doesn't the formidable and well-bred Miss Diamond move somewhere smarter?

But most of all she is ghoulishly fascinated by the Muckles who live opposite in terrible squalor. She listens to their violent quarrels, watches their ill-treated and wretchedly unhappy children, and is appalled by all she sees.

When Fifi tries to help the Muckles' youngest child, who has been physically abused by her father, Fifi unwittingly unleashes a chain of events which will not only bring heartache to her and Dan, but terrible danger to all the inhabitants of Dale Street ...



My Review

Fifi isn't your average girl of the 1960s, she has a career and not falling over herself to get married. When she meets Dan she risks further disapproval from her mother and frozen out from her family, true love will always win. Dan trys to give Fifi everything she deserves, coming from money Fifi has always known the best, choosing Dan introduces her to a new way of life. Moving to London to find work, Fifi follows her husband and meet some of the poorest people and conditions but meets people who teach her about real life. The darker side of the street comes to light, Fifi realises that she is not only next to criminals but a family who abuse their children, exploit anyone who is naive enough to get in their way and who liase with some very dangerous people.

Ooooh I do love Pearse, she has a way of writing that pulls you in and merges you with the characters, feeling the emotions and living the life alongside them. This book, as with the others of hers I have read, covers some hard and emotive subjects. Child abuse, grief, love, lies, violence, murder and terror and just some of the subjects covered in this book. A glimpse into the life of the privileged and that of those struggling to make ends meet, how people respond differently to poverty and how low some people can sink.

A book that packs a punch, I have read Pearse before and I will absolutely read her again, 4/5 for me this time!

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The Rest Of My Life by Sheryl Browne

The Rest of My Life by Sheryl Browne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 246

Publisher - Choc Lit

Blurb from Goodreads

You can’t run away from commitment forever …

Adam Hamilton-Shaw has more reason than most to avoid commitment. Living on a houseboat in the Severn Valley, his dream is to sail into the sunset – preferably with a woman waiting in every port. But lately, his life looks more like a road to destruction than an idyllic boat ride…

Would-be screenplay writer Sienna Meadows realises that everything about Adam spells trouble – but she can’t ignore the feeling that there is more to him than just his bad reputation. Nor can she ignore the intense physical attraction that exists between them.

And it just so happens that Adam sees Sienna as the kind of woman he could commit to. But can he change his damaging behaviour – or is the road to destruction a one-way street?


My Review

Adam is a Lothario in a small town, on a path to self destruction. After a personal tragedy and relationship crisis, Adam is going about life the wrong way. Bedding wives, girlfriends and just about any woman who comes along his path, Adam is making himself a target for the wrong kind of attention. Enter Sienna, sweet, innocent, who has rented a cottage with her friend, her wee dog and is writing her screen play. When she sees the Adonis that is Adam she can't help but be drawn to him, aware of his reputation she aims to keep her distance. However as the attraction grows, Sienna can't help but ignore her head and listen to her body. With so much stacked against them, can Adam get over his past and Sienna keep her heart safe?

This is a very chick lit book, relationships, lust and attraction are big features however there are more layers and deeper emotive topics covered. Adams previous relationship has left emotional scars and the driving force for his behaviour with woman and alcohol. His friend wants to support him but we all have our limits and Adam is pushing the boundaries. Sienna is almost sickly sweet, some of her behaviour, for me, was very irritating however I believe it echos the reality of some women in positions such as she finds herself in. Adam will draw in scores of female fans who would love to rush in and save him from himself, he does have many layers rather than just the boy toy he initially presents as. For some readers, I think he will evoke fury, having no respect for some of the women (or their partners) when he beds them. Infidelity often gives rise to rage for a lot of readers so just an FYI.

The story goes along the boy meets girl style story, obstacles in the way however it goes a bit deeper and delves into issues that some readers may find a touch a nerve. We hear a lot from Adams view point which is quite refreshing as a lot of these books have the female as the main protagonist. Certainly a different read and whilst I didn't love the characters, I did have a soft spot for Sienna's father, I did enjoy the book. 3/5 for me this time, this is my first dance with this author, I would read her again. I voluntarily reviewed this book, thanks to the author for introducing me to her writing!

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Christmas Giveaway

My new wee latern from B&M, I love it!







Sorry I am a bit late with December's giveaway, I cannot believe it is the 4th already! The draw for last months competition has been announced and the winner emailed. So nothing for it but to get Decembers up, I have decided to draw it earlier this year and try and get it to the winner before Christmas. If you enter and are outwith the UK it won't get there before the holidays I am afraid, if you are in the UK it should as we will draw the competition to a close on Friday the 16th of December and if the winner has provided all the info needed I will hit the post office on Saturday.







As you can see, we have been embracing the festive period here, well I have and dragging the others with me. We usually do decorations up 12 days before and down 12 days after, but a wee bit of Christmas here and there doesn't count! So, this months prize will be a wee surprise giveaway, a surprise book and maybe a wee extra something. Merry Christmas guys, as always please use the Rafflecopter to enter, the more entries you complete the more times your name goes into the draw, open worldwide.







a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bridget Jones's Baby by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries by Helen Fielding
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - <4 hours

Pages - 219

Blurb from Goodreads

Bridget Jones, beloved Singleton and global phenomenon, is back with a bump in Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries.
8:45 P.M. Realize there have been so many times in my life when have fantasized about going to a scan with Mark or Daniel: just not both at the same time.
Before motherhood, before marriage, Bridget with biological clock ticking very, very loudly, finds herself unexpectedly pregnant at the eleventh hour: a joyful pregnancy which is dominated, however, by a crucial but terribly awkward question who is the father? Mark Darcy: honourable, decent, notable human rights lawyer? Or Daniel Cleaver: charming, witty, notable fuckwit?
9:45 PM It s like they re two halves of the perfect man, who ll spend the rest of their lives each wanting to outdo the other one. And now it s all enacting itself in my stomach.
In this gloriously funny, touching story of baby-deadline panic, maternal bliss, and social, professional, technological, culinary and childbirth chaos, Bridget Jones global phenomenon and the world s favorite Singleton is back with a bump."



My Review

We all know my feelings on book 3, Mad About The Boy, so it was lovely to head back to a nicer time and in this book we find Bridget, Mark and Daniel again in another "relationship" nightmare. Bridget has a dalliance with each of the boys, one night only resulting in a pregnancy, having no idea which is the father, the three try to work together to get through the pregnancy. As always, told in diary format Bridget catalogs the hilarious trials and tribulations from the run up to pregnancy, coping with the boys and being pregnant and how it impacts her whole life really!

This is one of the few times I preferred the movie to the book, the film is my fav of them all but I did still enjoy the book. The movie sees the introduction of a billionaire and Cleaver is not around however the book stays true to the characters and we have the age old competitive rivalry between the two men, Darcy and Cleaver.

The tale opens written to the baby with Bridget explaining he will hear the story anyway so she would rather hear it from her and her diary entries. Considering some of the content, probably not what I would leave for my kid, some of Cleaver's attitude will quite probably offend some readers however he was always a cad so it isn't really anything new. Timeline wise, this one is set before Mad About The Boy and if you haven't read it I personally would by pass it. Also if you haven't seen the movie, go check it out, absolutely brilliant. 3/5 for me this time, it is always nice to catch up with Bridg especially when all is right in the world of regular characters!

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Blind Date with a book

So I had a look about online to see what book delivery boxes are available as my book saving jar (you put £1 in a jar for every book you read from Jan 1st to December 31st) will be up next month. There are many sites and offers out there but some of them are pretty pricey. I recently found one, on Etsy and Facebook, that offers you one book, a drink of your choice, a wee charm, a tea light candle and some sweets. It is ridiculously good value, under £10 (UK, for International postage is more expensive) for all of that and that is including postage. You can pick your style (genre) and the drink of your choice from your Etsy drop down menu, click here to go straight to the Etsy site. Here is the Facebook link, click here if you love postage, surprise book post (it is a blind date!) and wee extra goodies guys this is honestly the best.



So, as with most people, you are always a bit suspect when ordering things online and small new businesses. I could not be more happy with my delivery. Lets have a wee look at mine, also please remember it is ONE book with your box, I got two in mine however the normal will be you get one book as listed.







So it came wrapped in brown paper, then wrapped in black tissue with a wee gold heart. The book itself is wrapped in brown paper and the sweeties also wrapped in purple tissue :D black and purple, my fave colours, by chance not request!



Inside I had my wee hot chocolate and a wee mini milk, sweeties as you can see below in the pictures and an adorable wee owl charm that I am going to turn into a hanging bookmark I think.







I cannot recommend this enough guys, I will post when my next one comes, I am going to order it tonight. I may even get a few for Christmas presents for my fellow book geeks. Some books are brand new, some are used, you won't know which book it is until it arrives so it could be one you have read before, it is a blind date. I was delighted that I haven't read mine but even if I had (I have 5 bookcases and 300+ books on my kindle so it was a possibility) I wouldn't have minded. For the price you really can't complain and I don't mind re reading a book, I have re read a fair few in my time and whilst I give lots away & do comps, I think as my first ever box I will be keeping both! Lets support small businesses and spoil ourselves with a little indulgence. Oh and if you order, please leave a review and like the Facebook page and word of mouth is what supports and keeps these wee businesses going!







And if all of that wasn't enough, the string that comes with the box and on my wee book has been providing hours of fun for Princess, she will be 16 in January, doesn't keep in great health and I haven't seen her this playful in ages. So a wee additional extra for the kitty, delighted.

Jodi Picoult Book Launch Small Great Things

You can read my review for Small Great Things here, I was very lucky to get an ARC copy from Netgalley.



Last night me & my beautiful friends and friends eldest daughter went along to the Kelvin Grove Art gallery & museum for the book tour Small Great Things. How stunning is the inside of the gallery! Tickets were £20 which I know some people think is quite steep for a book event however this included a signed hardback copy of the new book and Picoult is a fabulous speaker. Not only that the poor lamb had laryngitis and kept going like a trooper!





You can read the review for the book as above however I just want to reiterate that this is a book that will stay with you, racism, injustice and it will make you question yourself too. Last night someone asked her how she felt about the timing of the book what with everything that is happening in America just now. Her answer gave me goosebumps, she said this book is 200 years in coming, it addresses issues that even now are often skirted around. 2016 and racism is still an ugly but very real issue, more so or certainly more in the public eye with Trumps election, Jodie answered with class and honestly she is just such a classy woman with such a great attitude.







The book cover is not like the one posted on Goodreads and linked on my review, it is beautiful and I know I am not normally one to comment much on covers. The front Is black and white striped with a mild texture to it, the writing is a gold/orange shimer as is the spine cover. I was planning on giving the book away as a competition prize but I may just hold on to it, see the pictures below and Princess Trixie is of course in the picture too!.







If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing Picoult speak and back and fro over going, seriously guys go. It is a great night, really worth it and we all enjoyed it. You come away with a great book and thinking a little bit differently!

Penance by Theresa Talbot

Penance by Theresa Talbot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 315

Publisher - Strident

Blurb from Goodreads

TV journalist and media darling Oonagh O'Neil faces danger and chaos when an elderly priest dies on the altar of his Glasgow church. His death comes as she is about to expose the shocking truth behind the closure of a Magdalene Institution.
The Church has already tried to suppress the story. Is someone covering their tracks?
What secrets lie behind the derelict Institution's doors? What sparked the infamous three-day riot that closed t? And what happened to the three 'Maggies' who vowed to stay forever friends?



My Review


We open in Glasgow 1958 to a chilling scene in a Magdalene institution, the next chapter flips to present day, the year 2000 and a priest dies on the altar. We are swiftly introduced to Oonagh O'Neil, a TV journalist and favorite with the people who is doing a tv piece on the Magdalene Institution with the help of her friend and younger priest Tom Findlay. Oonagh has relationship issues, particularly her boyfriend being a married man, Tom is having a crisis with his faith and the priest who died on the alter's death may not be as it first appeared.

Oooh this is a busy wee book, the scenes that briefly visit the Magdalene institution are quite upsetting and disturbing. I think mostly because we know, whilst this is a fiction book that these places existed and the thought of these poor women being exploited, beaten and used is heartbreaking. In current events, the younger priest is having faith issues which may not sit well with some readers of a religion background. The issue of infidelity and extramarital sex may also prickle with some audiences, however all that aside we have some other hot topics. Murders, lies, violence, blackmail, extortion and secrets are just some of the themes covered in this story.

A strong debut, (Talbot has written another book although that is non fiction), a page turner and an opening chapter that will have the hair on the back of your neck standing. This is my first time reading this author, I would certainly read more of her work if and when she brings out another. 4/5 for me this time, Penance is available to buy from all good retailers, go check it out.

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