Nicki's book blog

  The Old Gals' Bucket List by Karen King- women’s fiction A delightful read I raced through.  Patti and Sandra were friends many years ago. Sandra is now on her own following the loss of her husband and her son is rather protective. When he announces he is moving with work and she should move with them, her world is sent into a tailspin. She loves seeing her son and her grandchildren but doesn’t want to move from the home she loves and certainly not into a retirement complex- she is not 92! Patti comes to the rescue. She too is on her own and has just overcome a battle of a different type and is determined to live life to the full. Between them they decide to create and tick off a bucket list and record it all on Instagram. One life, live it! What a  joy of a read and a reminder to all of us that we have but one life. Grab opportunities whilst you can and never say never. Who knows what you can do if you say yes. A positive mindset is a healthy way to be. I loved the lad...

  Dead of Winter by Keri Beevis psychological thriller A read that once started I didn't want to stop (and read in a day). Lola wants to find out about her parents. She was adopted as a baby and has recently discovered she has a brother, but he is reluctant to converse. As she has a meeting near where he lives she makes contact aiming at a short meeting, if only to find out a little more about her birth parents. Enroute she by chance is on the same train as her ex, someone she still cares for. He offers to go with her but she says it is something she has to do alone. On arrival at Midwinter Manor her brother Daniel and his wife Rose appear to be hiding something. When the weather turns and Lola can't get back, she is forced to spend the night. Can she find out more with the rather sinister part of her family? Keri is a master at putting the reader into the heart of the action and leaving them there on a knife edge. I found myself reading faster as if I wanted to keep Lola safe...

  The Little Black book Killer by Fiona Walker- cozy crime (out 8th Oct) This is the third in the series but happily stands alone (I haven’t read the second one- yet). Juno has gone onto a dating app, one that is rather exclusive. She then finds that one of the investors in this app lives locally and is found dead after a party where many of the locals were attending including her friend and fellow Village detective Phoebe, who days ago also found another body- no such thing as coincidence? What is going on and why? This is a great series and a lightheated one- there’s a smile on most pages. I loved finding humorous comments such as “ Mrs potato head” (refers to someone for a reason). It's cleverly written and an easy read. Funny and charming, entertaining and page turning. A well crafted read with several twists I most thoroughly enjoyed. 

  The Crystal Slipper and the Three Keys by RW Mitchell- Childrens Shattered glass. Stolen crowns. A slipper with untold power. The fairy tales have lied. And now the truth is about to be revealed. When  Elina , one of Cinderella’s so-called “ugly” sisters, stumbles into a deadly secret, she is thrust into a quest that will change the fate of the  Seven Fairytale Kingdoms  forever. The first of the seven legendary  Crystal Objects —the Crystal Slippers—has appeared, and both Elina and the wicked  Fairy Godmother  will do anything to claim it. Joined by the roguish  Sinbad , the cunning  Wolf , and the ever-hungry  Francis the Pig , Elina must face treacherous enemies, bloodthirsty blind mice, and even Cinderella herself in a race for power that could shatter every kingdom. Can Elina survive the trials ahead, seize the  Crystal Slippers , and take the first step in the quest for the Crystals? The Crystal Slippers & the Three Keys...

  The Optician by Stewart Giles- Crime   DS Jason Smith has been getting migraines for a while and is persuaded to go see an optician. He doesn’t realise at the time how fortuitous this is as his next murder case involves eyes in a rather gruesome way. Beautiful young women are going missing and then 24 hours later are found dead with their eyes mutilated. What is going on and why? Stewart has done it again- I can't stop turning the pages to find out more each and every time. This story has lots of twists and turns and the usual Smith insights and gut feelings leading him to clues. A very well calculated, thought out plot, quite an intricate one- but easy to follow.  An amazing concept, brilliantly crafted. Stunning doesn't do this justice. Wow! --------------------------------- From bestselling author: Stewart Giles comes another brilliant addition to the Detective Jason Smith. 'Open your eyes.' Two dead women. Both of them incredibly beautiful, and both...

  The Good Girl by Patricia Dixon - Psychological Thriller Julia Lassiter has it all, well almost. She is the head of a very successful company and has the trappings to prove it. A few years ago her husband sadly passed away and a couple of years afterwards she started seeing Shane. Things haven't been great between them and Julia wants out. Her sister, a lawyer in Canada, is helping her put things in order. Her daughter Molly has a secret, one that if brought to light would destroy the family. When things take a turn for the worse, the family secrets begin to come to light. Oh wow! This is such a beautifully written book as with all of Patricia’s work, one that gives you a false sense of security to begin with….. And then the drama ramps up.  “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”  Sir Walter Scott’s words were echoing in my ears as I read this. Few can carry off deception well, and those that think they can are heading for a fall in more wa...

  Black Notice by Joy Ellis- Crime This is part of a series and would stand alone. However….. I’ve read all of them and wouldn't want to have missed a single one! DI Jackman and DS Evans don't have much on at the moment other than a money laundering case which can easily be done by others in the team. So when a woman Marie recognises comes into the station asking for help, they can assist especially as it relates to one of their old cases that Marie was highly unsure about at the time. The woman's husband has gone missing, a man newly freed from prison and she is in fear of his life as she says he was badly and cleverly set up to put him out of the way. When bodies are found in an old pill box, the cases step up several notches. What is going on and why? Joy has the skill of engaging the reader from the outset and keeping them there. It's a clever, well thought out plot (as with all of Joy’s books) and characters you can't help but like. There's a wonderful cam...