Ten Days - A Netgalley Review

Ten Days

by Gillian Slovo

In "Ten Days", Gillian Slovo takes the reader on a time-line to chaos. How does one death plunge a nation into violence and disobedience? A London in the not so distant future is the background for this chilling read. From the drudge of a local council estate to the fancy lifestyle of the British Politicians, the reader is taken along on an insightful journey of how a quest for answers from those at the top can lead to civil unrest. 
Anybody who witnessed the 2011 riots on Britain's streets, will recognize the scenes described, in brilliant detail, by the author. The fascinating thing about this book is that the author seems to answer the most burning questions anybody had at the time: How could this happen? Why did this happen? 
At times it was difficult to remember that this was a piece of fiction as Gillian Slovo does such a good job of transporting us back to the news headlines, the constant media loops we were all glued to, the vivid descriptions of the scenes the main characters were facing.
We follow the unfolding of the events from several different aspects, a resident on the council estate of where it all starts, a police officer and the new commissioner of the MET, the home secretary and the prime minister. 
The author manages to address a number of society's problems and ties these firmly into the foundations of the book's objective. 

The Soul Room - A TBC review

The Soul Room

by Corinna Edwards-Colledge 

A beautiful book and perfect holiday read. If you are lucky enough to be reading this at the pool in a sun drenched country, you will literally feel as though you stepped into the story. If you are reading this, like me, in the wet winter months of the UK, you will feel as though Corinna Edwards-Colledge has taken you on holiday. Detailed and very vivid descriptions of the beautiful Italian country side, coupled with a story line that sweeps you along at points and lets you gently float along at others make this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Maddie has taken a summer job in Italy to work on a vineyard she has not visited since she was a small child. She has all but resigned herself to a life on her own when a young man enters her idyllic safe haven. Life has so much more in store for Maddie than she ever dreamed of.

A story full of loss, love, hope, life and the entirely unexpected. 

Thank you to the author and TBC for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Crochet 1 Skein Wonders for Babies - Netgalley Review

Crochet One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Projects for Infants and Toddlers

by Judith Durant

This book contains a wealth of patterns, neatly organised into categories such as Hats &Caps, Socks & Booties, toys, clothes, useful items and blankets.
All patterns can be worked from one skein of wool, though attention should be given to the size.
The patterns are well written, easy to understand and follow and many also incorporate a diagram, however the individual patterns give no indication to the difficulty level of each item made.
The patterns provide a wide range of presents or useful things for new mums, aunts, grandmothers or friends to crochet.
Most patterns give varying size guides, and for those where no other sizes are explained, this could be worked out from the pattern.
The basic stitches and a very useful key to read diagrams are included in the back of the book for beginners or those who need a little reminder of how stitches are worked.
Beautiful photos, clear descriptions and instructions make this a valuable resource for anyone who wants to create items for babies and toddlers.

The Dog, Ray - Netgalley Review

The Dog, Ray

by Linda Coggin

This is a lovely, gentle book for younger readers aged 10+. Even though this is a book for children, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the character developments and the relationships that evolve. This book is about love, relationships, life... and death and life AFTER death. 

Daisy is killed in a car accident, she finds herself being reborn as a puppy. A mix up at the "job centre" means that her memories remain. Narrated from Daisy's viewpoint as a puppy and dog, this is a heart-warming tale of hope, love and friendship.

Recognitions - A TBC Review

Recognitions

by Daniella I. Norris

Amelia finds herself a single, working mum at the age of 40 (and a bit). Feeling somewhat unsettled and dissatisfied with her life she seeks the help of a hypnotherapist to help her resolve these issues. A sceptic at first, she finds answers to her problems.
This book captured me on many levels. A unique story, four very different and seemingly unconnected lives turn out to be very intertwined. 
The characters are well built, I personally felt a strong connection to Noah,
 I found the insight into this character particularly fascinating. 
The book works on its own, but I am very pleased to learn that it is part of a trilogy and I hope we get to find out more about Adele and the young shaman's apprentice. 

I was kindly given an ARC via TBC Facebook group in order to provide an honest review.

A Secret Muse - A TBC Review

A Secret Muse

by  Mandy Jackson-Beverly

This is most definitely a 4 1/2 * read. I loved how the story developed and the vivid pictures Mandy Jackson-Beverly paints with words.

CoCo, a young art professor, learns on her 32nd birthday, that her life so far isn't all she believed it to be. Once she embraces her family heritage, the story begins to unfold.

This book has all the elements we have come to love about fantasy novels, vampires, witches, warlocks, magic, attraction.. along with breathtaking scenery that takes the reader into the heart of Italy. The magic of paintings gives the story a fresh, new twist.

The only reason I rated it 4 1/2 * is the sheer amount of characters that we are introduced to and some more explicit language towards the end. The characters are well thought out and all relate to each other, but there are points where you have to remind yourself of who is who.

If you love "Discovery of wtiches", then this is a must read!
I was kindly given a free copy via TBC facebook group in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Crochet Stories: The Nutcracker - Netgalley Review

Crochet Stories: E. T. A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker

by Lindsay Smith 

This is another great addition to the "crochet story series" from Dover Publications.
Lindsay Smith brings to life the story of "The Nutcracker", a firm favourite with children and adults alike. A book that would make a perfect resource for educators and parents but equally exciting to lovers of fairytales and the nutcracker.

This book retells the story by introducing each character pattern with excerpts from the story.
Patterns are well written and easy to follow and understand. Plenty of high quality photos are provided to guide even the novice crocheter through the process of making up the patterns.
Material suggestions and a very useful Techniques section at the back will give all the information that make this book accessible to crocheters of all levels and experience.