Nicki's book blog

I ntention by C.S. Barnes - Crime Gillian was not like other children. She knew she was different. She knew how to do things that would make the other children squirm. For years she has heard her father beating her mother, and her mother covering up her bruises with makeup and making excuses about being clumsy. When her father is no longer around things change between them. She meets Daniel by chance and they get on well. He looks after his elderly Aunt who has terminal cancer. Gillian begins to see things differently and suddenly realises that she is in a relationship and has feeling for someone- something she hasn’t experienced beforehand ever.  she also meets Paul and his dog and somehow take to him but she can’t figure out why. I quite liked Gillian (although perhaps wouldn’t want her as a friend) as she stood up for herself in difficult situations. Maybe I felt for her rather than liked her. Her upbringing hadn’t been easy and being in the big

Cull- Tanvir Bush- Political Satire Think the future. Think a state where you pretty much have to work whatever your situation. If not you have to apply for 50 jobs a week otherwise no benefits. Where vulnerable and elderly are taken away so that their carers can work and add to the efficiency of the country. Alex is visually impaired and has her guide dog Chris. She stumbles across something that leads her on an interesting path , one that could put her in danger and where no one would care. There is truth (albeit it controversial- which is probably why it is there) amongst the pages “ A patient still staggering, still smoking still obese, moaning about the medication making them queasy when they were eating a ghastly diet and drinking litres of cheap vodka”. Think dystopian, think extremes. A woman journalist wanting to know what is going on in a world where everything is extreme. I enjoyed this although in parts I felt for th

Forgotten Children -Isabella Muir- family life/historical Emily is having a miscarriage. She hasn’t told her live in boyfriend that she is even pregnant. This stirs memories for her. When he does his best to cheer her up taking her out to dinner and proposing, she knows she has to leave. Twenty years ago aged just sixteen she gave birth to a child she never held and now wonders what his life has been like. She drives to Anglesey, far away from where she was in Hastings. This is set in the late 1980’s  and Emily frequently uses a phone box. This rather adds to its charm and the simplicity of the life she is leading when she leaves Mark. She spends some time in Anglesey, almost a holiday from life before setting out on her quest to find out about her son and tackling her estranged mother which in itself is another mountain to climb. I felt for Emily. Her mother like many others is cold hearted and callous, thinking only of what others think. I won’t spoil the

Out of The silence- Owen Mullen Afra and Jamal have been in each others lives as long as they can remember. When Afra is taken away promised to a stranger as a bride, Jamal is downhearted but tell her that he realises that he is not good enough for her and that she should go to the family of a rich man. Once she has left he travels to Lahore to find his Uncle and never having been out of his village before finds this both daunting and exciting in equal measure. Wise words” If we allow the opinion of other to matter we’re in their power. What they think of us becomes what we think of ourselves. The only opinion of you that matters is your own”. Jamal works hard and rises through the ranks in his uncle’s business. Afra meanwhile is not so fortunate. Years later when there are some murders, the bangles that they gave each other are at the side of the victims. What is going on? I really enjoyed this and liked and felt for both Jamal and Afra. Women in Pakist

You , Me and Mr Blue Sky- Craig Lancaster & Elisa Lorello- Jo-Jo has split from her fiancee shortly before their wedding when she finds via a friend his very active Tinder account. Linus is at a new year party at his friends house and at midnight Jo-Jo walks by and randomly kisses him. She is trying to open a gym but has been let down by contractors and so Linus contacts her to try and help as this is what he does. She then thinks he is being weird and can’t away from him fast enough. Mr Blue Sky- remember the song?- is a higher greater being who is watching over them and having his occasional say in the process. This is one of those wonderful easy reads that gives you a warm feeling inside ((without being at all slushy). There is life with its ups and downs, pasts and hopes for the future, all done with a brilliant turn of phrase and word that lulls you into turning again and again and again. I have read several of Craig’s books but not come across

Next Victim- Helen Durrant-Crime A man is found murdered. His throat has been cut and he is also very badly burned. The only clue to his identity is a small tattoo on his foot. A few years before hand, a young girl is asking her father not only where her mother went but also her brother. Now that little bit older she has traced his birth certificate but can’t find out anything about him. Rachel King is a DCI and has her own issues at home as well as at work. She has split from her daughters father and he has now moved in next door, which helps with child care but not her own private life. In the past she had a relationship that she would rather forget however her heart won’t quite let her. When the case brings a name to light she begins to wonder if her position in tenable. I love Helen’s books. It is rather like curling up in front of a roaring fire and know that you are going to be gripped whilst feeling warm and comfortable at the same time. Her ch

The Woman Inside- EG Scott - 26th Jan Rebecca arrives at work to be told she should leave or be fired. She has been more than keen taking samples in recent times and there has been a tip off to HR. She works for a Pharmaceutical company and hence “samples” are drugs which keep her on balance- in her own mind. (This is the USA- very different to UK Pharma) Going to take some money out she notices that the account balance of her and her husband isn't its usual healthy self. Instead of nearing a million dollars there is a measly $5000. She investigates and finds that Paul, her husband has been making withdrawals in the last few weeks without her knowledge. We discover that they have both had affairs, Paul more so and that his last fling isn’t going to let him go so easily. A mistress who wants her revenge on him Oh boy! This is one of those reads that lures you in for the first few chapters, then you get a sense of unease without really knowing why. There

My Mother the Psychopath- Olivia Rayne-Biography /Crime/ abuse A brave book, an interesting read. One many people should read to know about others. When you hear “the truth is stranger than fiction”  read on…..Where do I begin... This is a difficult one to write. Not because of the book but because there are many people who perhaps don’t quite realise to what extent that not all mothers are caring and loving and may not want to know about how others have suffered, not that they are naive, these things just don’t come to light until something really bad happens. We hear of “psychopathic” killers, do we ever consider that they are also perhaps parents? They don’t have to be a murderer to be this way and inflict torture on others and make their lives a misery, a living nightmare. Oh heck, misery doesn’t even begin to cover it. Olivia gives her life story. Each chapter is fronted by a little more about the traits of psychopaths and how her mother demonstrated

We own the Sky- Luke Allnutt 5* A story that will grip your heart and not let go. This may be an emotional read for some. Love, loss, hope and the small things that count. Jack is a much longed for child. Rob and Anna can’t believe their luck when this little bundle finally arrives in their arms after having previous miscarriages.  When he starts having balance issues his parents take him for further tests. This is the story of their journey from before he was born to the aftermath of tragedy. Rob has his own issues about what happened and struggles to fight the demons he feels inside about how he dealt with things and if things could have/should have been done differently and how this affected both him and Anna. We all deal with things in our own way and this tells of his struggle and emergence to the real world. A book to make you think about life and your own mortality and that the little things really do mean a lot. This is beautifully written with feeli