Nicki's book blog

Do bugs Wear shoes and other Silly Questions- Addie Broussard and Anthony Puttee This is a fun read to learn all about bugs. Clear easy to see pages for little eyes and fun filled facts making learning simple and enjoyable about a subject little ones enjoy and some squirm at! There are linked video clips for further information in certain areas- like bees go to school to learn how to play. Answer questions such as have bugs gone to space and could you eat a silkworm cookie? There is a free bug art activity pack to download. I could see this being a morning spent maybe with grandparents learning, bug hunting and watching as well as reading and the enjoyment being for both age groups. A different interactive read and learn. A fun book of questions designed to thrill curious little ones. Learn what happens when a bug goes to space, to school and to the gym. Find out how to become friends with a bug and understand its feelings. Vote on the world's most beautif...

Shadow Crimes- Michael Hambling A man is found dead by his wife. Although a bit of a shock she isn’t really that surprised as he had been ill for quite a while. When she calls the police, one or two things arouse their suspicions and it looks like murder. The victim was a prison officer. Another team is investigating the smuggling of phone and drugs into local prisons, something which is happening nationwide. When a member of their own team gets involved in the wrong way things get rather serious.  Could the two cases be connected? DCI Sophie Allen is on the case- a likeable character with a sense of humour. Set in Dorset this is number seven in the series but will happily stand alone. If you like the books of Joy Ellis and Faith Martin then this series could be for you. Characters you take to and a nice easy read with nothing too much to give you nightmares or to put you off your dinner. Teamwork and in this case two wonderful female leads. A good ...

Peas, carrots and an Aston Martin- Hannah Lynn Eric has recently lost his remaining parent, his father. There was little love lost between them and Eric is already planning what he will do with his expected inheritance. His father lived in a eight hundred thousand pound home and Eric, his wife and even his seven year old daughter have made plans. On visiting the solicitor in order to sign the papers for the inheritance, Eric is horrified to learn that not only has he only inherited his father’s Aston Martin but that it come with the proviso that he has to look after his allotment. The terms are that this means weekly visit otherwise ownership of the DB4 will be rescinded. Hannah has done it again. A wonderful story with larger than life characters that you take to, feel for and then find yourself smiling at several times along the way. Poor Eric- you feel sorry for him but early on realise that he is missing something in his life, spending most of his...

So Here it is- Dave Hill Who doesn’t know Merry Xmas Everybody?(which even has its own Wiki entry!)  A song from 1973 (was it really that many years ago?) which has become iconic and transcended the generations. Dave Hill was and is a part of Slade who sang and glammed through it all. This is his story. From a brummie boy to a well known face. The one who was known for his silver suits and straight hair. From working at Tarmac to giving it all up to do a months work abroad- which was unheard of at the time. This is a real down to earth story of a working boy-made-good. Dave was and is a hard working man and despite having the trappings of a good life, things haven’t always been that way. When, as the general public, we see someone “famous” we tend to think that the money flows easily in. As Dave explains time and again fortune wasn’t easily had and came and went with records or the lack there of. I think what struck me about this book was Dave’s r...

Lost In The Lake- AJ Waines Rosie has been in an accident where the three others in the vehicle are all now missing presumed drowned. She goes to see Dr Samantha Willerby who is  a clinical psychologist specialising in  Post Traumatic Stress disorder. This is the second in the series and happily stands alone- but would be better understood in some ways if the first has also been read.  Sam has her own issues as her sister is schizophrenic and although currently doing well she feels responsible for her. Rosie thinks that there is more to the crash than it being an accident and gets rather fixated on Sam who she wants as a friend as well as her psychologist. Rosie is especially keen to get back her viola. It was nothing special so why is she so attached to it? Sam has her demons to face as one of her last patients committed suicide and she feels responsible.  Again AJ has the knack of being able to draw you in early on which then for me m...

Isolation Junction- Jennifer Gilmour 5* I read this book out of curiosity. We all know abuse happens. We see it on TV, maybe even the news and in various types of programmes. What we don’t get told is that much of it happens behind closed doors and goes unreported either through fear or ignorance. This is the story of Rose who finds her husband changes once they are married and that he controls her every move. A brave book to write, a delicate subject matter. What does matter is that we need to be more aware of this and realise that even just one kind word could make the difference to someone realising “it’s not them”. By this I mean that the victim very often thinks they are to blame- “I pushed him to it “ etc. No! The victims have a journey to make before they can understand that they are innocent, they are normal and that it is the perpetrators who are in the wrong. This is written from the heart, told with feeling. almost like a journal rather t h...