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

Paradox - Equilibrium (Book 4) (Paradox series) by Patti Roberts

As you might know, Patti Roberts is the talented lady that designs my book covers. What you might not, is that she is a great writer too. This is the forth book I have read in the Paradox series and they are getting better. Book 3 was a little slower, but this one picks up the pace ending on a few cliff-hangers. 5 stars.

Paradox-Equilibrium (Book 4) (Paradox series) by Patti Roberts on Amazon.com

This has been a riveting series so far and in this one we are getting to know some more about the other characters in Grace’s life as her story takes a back seat now and then. This is not a criticism as the other people in Grace’s life have back stories that would fill a whole other series, and they add plenty of action. Grace herself finally knows the truth and what it took to keep that truth from her. Angela was her deadpan amusing self when she showed her friend how she had created a home next door, even picking some suitable parents from a catalogue. The book ends on no less than two cliff-hangers and I just have to find out what happens next.  As usual, Patti puts her readers on the edge of their seats and leaves them dangling there, desperate for the next instalment.

Conversations with Tom

Big News! Conversations with Tom is ready to pre-order on Amazon. Be the first to have a copy on your kindle when it hits the virtual shelves on the 5th of February. It is the perfect romantic Valentines read.

Conversations with Tom by Angela Lockwood on Amazon.com

When Jeff and his wife Lisa adopt a kitten named Tom, they have no idea their marriage is in trouble. When the fluffy kitten turns out to be a boisterous cat, hell-bent on destroying furniture, Lisa realises life isn’t turning out the way she’d planned. Tom’s conviction that 4am really is the best time of day, plus her husband’s disastrous business sense, soon drives Lisa into the arms of another man.

Newly single, and at a loss, Jeff turns to his cat for a sympathetic furry ear. The witty and convincingly cat-like character he imagines becomes the friend he so desperately needs. But as his owner agonises about love and life, Tom concerns himself with more important matters, such as soliciting tuna and how to get better acquainted with the neighbour’s rabbit. Although they don’t always understand each other, Jeff and Tom form an unbreakable bond – until a trip to the vet changes everything…

 
You might have also noted that the blog has changed it's title to a more suitable: Angela Lockwood writes and reviews.

Who Killed Vivien Morse (DCI Hatherall Book 4) by Diana J Febry

Happy new year to all my readers. A bit slow of the mark, but with work and a bout of flu, things are not as quick as I would like. With the launch of Conversations of Tom on the horizon, I realise that I have a lot of work to do. The book is safely in the hands of Penny Hunter who is finalising the edit. I however need to plan and execute a big roll out for the 5th of February. 1st on the agenda was a revamped and renamed Facebook site. Language in the Blood is no longer my only book and this blog will need a new name too. (Any suggestions?)
Have a look, I think the banner by Paradox looks great:Angela Lockwood Author
I still try to read and review books by other independent authors. One of them; Diana Febry has been on my list for a long time and I'm glad I've finally got round to reading one of her books. I gave it 5 stars.

Who Killed Vivien Morse (DCI Hatherall Book 4) by Diana J Febry on Amazon.com 

When the body of Vivien Morse is found in some woodland, the case quickly becomes complicated. The abusive ex-husband has a cast iron alibi and due to her job as a social worker, there are many leads to follow for DCI Hatherall and his partner Fiona. This is not only a good mystery that had me guessing to the last, but also a highly entertaining read. This book could only have been set in the English country side; where else would you find such a colourful and eccentric mix of characters. I did feel for our DCI when he is trying to do his job, deal with personal problems and has to placate the local Neighbourhood watch busybody. A man dressed as a druid and not wearing shoes is hardly cause for hysteria? It was highly entertaining to be travelling in the shoes of our long suffering DCI as he was trying to extract fact from tittle tattle and flamboyant statements. Who Killed Vivien Morse is the 4th book in the DCI Hatherall series. Some characters pop up and it is clear that they played a role in earlier books but that doesn’t get in the way at of the story. I’m certainly tempted now to explore the first three books in the series.