Gone and Voopyre

This week you are getting two reviews, but two very different books. The first was quite a heavy read and one for people who like to savour beautiful descriptions and a slow pace. I gave this 4 stars. The second is a short story with its roots in Russian folklore.I gave this 5 stars.

Gone by Julie Elizabeth Powell on Amazon.com

This is a beautifully written book. The writer takes us to a place that is her vision of the after-life and she describes this wondrous place in great detail. Even though this is fiction, the tragic event of her daughter becoming brain damaged mirrors the story of Charley the main character. It is a very personal and emotional book when the writer wonders what happened to her daughter’s spirit as the body remained. I found my mind wander at times as we were introduced to a myriad of unusual characters who each tried to explain to Charley what was going on. (At times quite funny, like when she encounters a talking plant.) I think this book will be helpful and enjoyable to people who question what happens to our spirit after we die. It is also a book in the spirit of Alice in wonderland with its surreal and bizarre characters. Not a quick and easy read but one for people who like well-crafted prose.

 

Voopyre by N.C.Stow on Amazon.com

I liked this fairy tale very much. From the get go you got a sense of foreboding and doom. At one point one of the characters says ‘if you go looking for trouble, trouble will find you.’ I love the way the writer described the scenery, but I could have maybe done with a little more explanation as to what the Voopyre and the beast-master are. Maybe if you’re familiar with Russian folklore you will know what all the terms the writer uses are, but I am not. That said, with a bit of imagination you can fill in the blanks and enjoy this story. I certainly did.

Emilia: The darkest days in history of Nazi Germany through a woman's eyes by Ellie Midwood

I had no trouble giving this book 5 stars. It held me engrossed from start to finish despite it's difficult subject matter.

Emilia the central character in this book is a complex one. She is a young woman who knows wrong from right, but takes a morally dubious decision to help her family to survive. A woman that survives because of her good looks is not a popular one with her fellow Jews. She finds out that camp life, rather than shape a common bond against the enemy, is poisoned by jealousy. Rather than facing sympathy, that her good looks are a curse as much as a blessing, she encounters hostility from every corner.

   I liked the fact that this book was not just about the Holocaust, it was also about what happened to Emilia after the war ended. It followed the story of Europe after the horrendous events of World War II. Soviet occupation, the release of prisoners of war and the big strive to rebuild cities and lives. It shows that the writer has done her research and knows a great deal about Poland during and after the war. The book is written in an engaging style and I read the book in a few days, even though the subject matter was very painful at times. The message that forgiveness is the first step to healing your wounds is a very hopeful one. It is also a timely reminder that we should have tolerance and not let racial hatred destroy us again.

Amie and The Child of Africa by Lucinda E Clarke

It has been a while since I read the first book in the series, but credit to the writer that I remembered a fair bit of it and didn't have to re-read the ending of Amie an African adventure. I actually liked this book better, even though I was  annoyed with Amie's stupidity and pigheadedness at first. It is a well written adventure and sometimes it is better not to question the characters actions too closely:) I gave it 5 stars for being an exiting read.

It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, but after a few pages I was back in Africa with Amie. This is not a stand-alone book if you have not read the first book in the series you’re going to be a bit lost, but Lucinda puts a couple of reminders in to help us back on track in the Child of Africa. At first I was a bit puzzled as to why Amie wanted to stay in such a dangerous place as Togodo, but it soon became clear that not only had the orphan Angelina taken a hold of Amie’s heart; but Africa itself too. I think Amie is also secretly an adrenalin junkie that thrives on adventure. I shouted a few times at the book in the early stages when Amie took some unnecessary risks and rash decisions, but gradually I was swept up in the adventure she had blundered into. The character of Shalima, brings an unexpected flavour of Birmingham and a few comic moments to the mixture. A powerful reminder that a lot of recent world events (such as the rise of IS) can start right in our back yard. The story is written in a style that keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seats. The adventure moves at a fast pace and it is clear from the descriptions an insight that the writer has lived in Africa for a long time. What bothered me a little in the first book was that Togodo and its civil war were fictional, but here Lucinda has cleverly interwoven some very current real world events and I found I was getting a much clearer view of Amie’s environment. The book ended on a cliff hanger and I’m pleased to see part three(Amie, Stolen Future) is already available.

Crushing on the Enemy by Darcy Doll

It has been a good week. I've had lots of fun setting up and posting to the new FB page: Tomfoolery. Tom the cat has now a decent following.
Tomfoolery on Facebook
The thunderclap campaign is also gathering momentum with half of it's target reached. With 13 days to go things, are on target.
Support my thunderclap
I've also updated the website (long overdue but I had to lean to do it myself!) I still have some work to do but the new book is added and the title changed:
 Webpage
Paradox design has provided the cover to the print copy and that is looking fantastic too.
Amongst all that, I've finished a book too. It is a gentle romance that will appeal to all ages. I gave the wholesome clean read 5 stars.

Crushing on the Enemy by Darci Doll on Amazon

Crushing on the enemy introduces us to a thoroughly modern woman with an old fashioned marshmallow heart. Roselyn Cosi is a hard working woman in charge of opening new 24/7 chain stores. When the chain is planning to open up in a picturesque village, they are met with fierce protests from local business owners. Roselyn is faced with a dilemma when the heart wants what the head forbids her to do.

What I do like about the main character Roselyn is that she faces what many women do in the work place. She has decided to sacrifice romance in the pursuit of a career. Two weeks before her 30^th Birthday she hears her biological clock ticking loudly and she realises she wants a family. Her younger sisters engagement and bliss make her realise a large part of her life is unfulfilled. She meets a man that is the polar opposite to her and she starts to question her love and work life.

I enjoyed this book; it is written in an engaging style and moves at a good pace. This is a book you won’t feel embarrassed to give to either your mother or your daughter as it is a good clean read that will appeal to all age groups.

 

Tomfoolery

Its been a good week. Penny my editor and her daughter Amy have done a wonderful job of editing and proof reading Conversations with Tom. I've formatted it and loaded it onto Amazon so it is ready to fill all those pre-orders. We are still tinkering (Well I made a mess and now Penny is clearing it up!) on Createspace and hopefully the paperback will also be ready for the 5th of February. If you haven't got your copy yet you can order it now:
Conversations with Tom

The book was inspired by my cat Clicquot and I've now given Tom/Clicquot his own Facebook page as he has plenty more to say.
Tomfoolery Facebook page of Tom the cat
There is also still time to support my Thunderclap campaign:
Thunderclap

Thunderclap

Gearing up for the big release of Conversations with Tom on the 5th of February. Pre-orders are starting to come in and excitement is building. I've set up a thunderclap campaign to help give the launch a social media blast on the day. You can support it via the following link:
http://thndr.me/blRaSK
Or even better you can pre-order the book via amazon.

Conversations with Tom on Amazon.com