Creative Crochet Projects: 12 Playful Projects for Beginners and Beyond by - A NetGalley Review

Creative Crochet Projects: 12 Playful Projects for Beginners and Beyond

 by Stephanie Pokorny

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In “Creative Crochet Projects” Stephanie Pokorny shares 12 unique, quirky and fun patterns suited to all levels of crochet knowledge. 

The beginning chapter is dedicated to explaining terminology and stitches used. Clear photographs and written explanations make this accessible to all skill levels. 

The patterns contained in this book give room for growth, there are some patterns that I would class suitable for advanced crocheters.

This book will delight those with children or young adults! I loved the play kitchen, with stove and sink. The owl hood is simply delightful and would make a perfect gift for a teen or young woman. 

The patterns are well thought out, clearly written and easy to understand. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for unique makes for young ones. 

My thanks go to NetGalley, Landauer Publishing and the author, Stephanie Pokorny, for an ARC of this book. 

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This is our undoing by Lorraine Wilson - A TBC Review

This Is Our Undoing

by Lorraine  Wilson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lina Stephenson works as a scientist in the Rila Mountain area of Bulgaria. She thought, she had left her old life and dangers behind and guards her secret carefully. When a high profile politician in her former home, London, is murdered, his family is sent to Linda’s research station, posing a risk not just to Lina, but to her father and brother, too. She races against the clock to save her family and herself! 

This story begins somewhere in the middle. The reader is thrust into the action without too much of a background or history. This adds to the overall haunting and mysterious feeling of the book. The author transports the reader to the mountains, the forest and village come to life. The characters all have something to hide, something the reader wants to find out and solve. 

I kept reading, thinking the author would provide me with ready made, easy to digest answers to my many questions. As the story progressed, I was left with hints and clues but ultimate had to work out for myself, what I felt for the characters. Lorraine Wilson creates a cast of complex, often mysterious characters. Not one is predictable or simply good or bad.

This book does not neatly fit into any one genre, part dystopian (albeit only hinted at), part murder mystery, mixed in with some paranormal and psychological thriller elements. I found myself with more questions than answers, but strangely that is a good thing in this instance! I would love to read a prequel, where the background of Linda’s life is explained in more detail.

My thanks go to TBC and Lorraine Wilson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

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Songbirds by Christy Lefteri - A Netgalley Review

 Songbirds

 by Christy Lefteri

My rating:5 of 5 stars

I have taken a long time trying to put my feelings about Songbirds by Christy Lefteri into words.

This is so much more than just a well told story, with exquisite location settings and incredible characters. This is a testament to modern day struggles, a call to open our eyes to what is really happening around us, to the conditions we quietly accept fellow humans to live in and through.

Petra is a typical working mother living in Cyprus. Having lost her husband before her daughter was born, she did as many in Cyprus do: she hires Nisha to help her raise her child and look after the household. Petra does not really spend much time thinking about Nisha, wondering how her service to her family impacts Nisha's own family. Only when Nisha goes missing, does Petra take notice! She learns, that Nisha has a whole other life, and is much loved by her lodger, Yiannis. 

I was not aware of the issues that were described in this book, so i educated myself. This book will stay with me for a very long time, the plight, migrant workers all over the world, and especially in the western world, face are a wake up call to us all. 

Anybody who reads this book will not only be blown away by the beautiful way Christy Lefteri weaves the story, but also be touched and deeply moved by the issues discussed. 

I would like to thank Netgalley and Christy Lefteri for an ARC of this book. This review is my own and reflects my thoughts and feelings.

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The Trial of Gwen Foley by Jane O'Connor - A Bloodhound Books Review

The Trial of Gwen Foley

 by Jane O'Connor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 1723, the town of Lichfield is rocked by the execution of a mother. Not long after, a vicious murder leads to the accusation of another innocent woman. Hester, the temporary magistrate’s wife, forms the Lunar Society with a small group of like minded women to avoid another execution.

This book is historical fiction, as such, some things are not a faithful depiction of the period the book takes place in.

I liked the idea of strong women having such influence on society and being so empowered. 

I really enjoyed the different facets of the story, the murder mystery giving another layer of complexity to the story with some surprising turns. 

The characters were well thought out, the plot developed at a good pace and the scene setting was very well implemented. I don’t live far from Lichfield and could imagine the locations described in the book. 

I would like to thank Bloodhound books and the author for an ARC. <br />This review is my own opinion. 

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