Notes of Life

Author: Percy Spurlark Parker
Publisher: Untreed Reads
ASIN: B004OEIL7C

Troy Calini, mob boss in Chicago, doesn’t have the best reputation in the city, but when his daughter Marie suspects him of killing her boyfriend, he’s determined to prove his innocence, and he “invites” Big Bull Nelson to do just that.

Bull isn’t too happy about the invite and would rather be back at his hotel, but, if you know what’s good for you, you just don’t say no to a mob boss! Bull must use his connections and skills to find out the truth and clear Calini’s name.

An Unrefusable Request is a novella featuring Big Bull Nelson, who originally appeared in Percy Spurlark Parker’s novel ‘Good Girls Don’t Get Murdered’. I haven’t read the novel, but the description novella appealed to me when Untreed Reads gave me the opportunity to review an e-book for them, after all, I’m a sucker for a crime story.

Being a crime story involving a mob boss, I was expecting this novella to give me suspense and tension. The story started off well, but, sadly, I found most of it flat and unexciting, with little tension or suspense.

One thing though… I didn’t guess who the murderer was until it was revealed and then I could see the clues added together (a bit like a light-bulb moment!).

An Unrefusable Request just wasn’t for me, but we all have different tastes, so if you’d like to try it out…….

Visit Untreed Reads to buy An Unrefusable Request by Percy Spurlark Parker.

Author: Mary Hooper
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 978-0747599128
ASIN: B0043D2BHK

In Victorian London, Grace is having to do what no-one should, bury her child. Following advice from a kind midwife and to save the baby from being buried in a pauper’s grave, Grace places his small body in the coffin of a rich lady’s coffin to be buried in Brookwood Cemetery. There she meets two people, James Solent and Mrs Unwin, both of whom will have a profound affect on her life in the months to follow.

Grace can’t dwell on the death of her baby, instead she must continue as before, scraping together enough money to be fed and to keep a roof over her and her sister, Lily. But even this sorry life is shattered and Grace & Lily are thrown to the mercy of a manipulative family.

I had wanted to read another of Mary Hooper’s books ever since reading Newes from the Dead last year, so last night, when I saw the Fallen Grace at £2.49 for the Kindle edition, I just had to buy it. This morning, I also decided I’d dive straight into it and I enjoyed it so much that I finished reading it this afternoon. It’s a rare occasion for me to sit and read a whole book in a day!

(Just one note regarding the Kindle edition: The beginning of each chapter has a small illustration such as an announcement or tombstone epitaph. I found I could only just read the text on the illustration and suspect they are easier to read in the print editions of the book).

Mary Hooper has a knack for historical fiction. The scenes in Fallen Grace are atmospheric and I found myself easily imagining being in Victorian London at the time. We get to see both sides of the coin – the people who are scraping by, doing anything they can to get themselves fed, to keep a roof over their heads and to stay out of the workhouse, as well as those who don’t have to worry about money ,yet never seem to be satisfied with what they’ve got.

As with Newes from the Dead, Mary Hooper has done her research of the period Fallen Grace is set in and we’re given notes at the end of the book (though they’re not needed to enjoy the story). Of course, as with any author, Mary Hooper has used a little artistic license in regards to history in some areas.

Despite her circumstances, the main character, Grace, is strong and determined. She has to be to get through the tragic life that has been dealt to her and to care for her sister. Grace’s sister Lily is, in fact, Grace’s older sister, yet comes across as a much younger sister due to being incapable of looking after herself. Lily provides a bit of light to the story with her child-like naivety.

The reader also meets a number of other characters throughout the story. Some aren’t to be trusted, but we learn that not everyone has an agenda. I found Grace to be a good judge of character, but Lily not so much!

There’s more than one story strand to Fallen Grace and as the story goes on they all become entwined. I had guessed how one of those strands might end, and I’d guessed correctly, but that didn’t detract from the story at all.

Fallen Grace has been written for teenagers, but I think it is enjoyable for teenagers and adults of any age. I’ve certainly never let a guidance age put me off reading a book. If you’re looking for an easy-to-read, interesting and gritty historical novel, then I’d definitely recommend giving this book a go. If you’ve read another of Mary Hooper’s historical novels, then your bound to enjoy this one too. If you’ve never read a Mary Hooper book, then why not give this one a go?

Buy Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper in paperback format (Book Depository/Amazon UK) or Kindle format (Amazon UK).

See my review of Newes by the Dead by Mary Hooper.

Mary Hooper is a British author, born in London.

This is the 18th book I’ve read for the British Books Challenge.

Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk Books
ISBN: 978-1594744761

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is a story about Jacob and his storytelling Grandpa Portman. The tales Grandpa tells Jacob are magical, fantastical and quite unbelievable!

After Grandpa’s shocking and horrific death, Jacob sets out on his own adventure to find the children’s home his Grandpa once lived at and to find out just how much, if anything, of what his Grandpa told him is true. Having arrived on the remote Welsh island, Jacob sets about finding Miss Peregrine, could she still be alive? Having found the old children’s home in ruins and about to give up, little does Jacob realise that he’s about to discover a lot more, not just about Grandpa and the home, but about himself too.

This is no ordinary book. It isn’t just presented as text, we’re also treated to a wealth of black & white photos and hand-written letters dotted throughout the book as if they were in a photo album or scrapbook. The book was perfect for me… I love looking through old photographs and imaginging the story behind them.

The chapter titles are also thoughtfully presented on their own page decorated with a patterned background. Even the spine of the book is designed to look like an old leather-bound book found in the library of a big house.

So, does the story live up to the wonderful presented book? It certainly does! This is a fantasy story without any vampires, wolves or angels involved. It’s beautifully written with descriptive (but not overly so) text. While some of the story is set in the present day, a lot of it is set during World War 2. Despite the differing times, it is easy to follow. It’s haunting, fun, adventurous, mysterious and creative.

Despite really enjoying this book, I did have a few little niggles…

Niggle 1: Not a big niggle, but Cairnholm sounds more Scottish than Welsh. While we have a few islands ending with *holm, Cairn is Irish or Scottish Gaelic. (I’m just being really picky here though).

Niggle 2: Worm sounds more like a city kid and “sickest” in the sense that he says it is more American slang than Brit.

Niggle 3: The big niggle – More than once “taking a piss” is said when it should be “taking THE piss” (as in taking the mick or having a joke). “Taking a piss” is an entirely different thing!

Niggles aside, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is a wonderful book for teenagers and adults alike. I didn’t know quite what to expect with this book, but was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely a book I’d recommend!

Buy Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs at the Book Depository.

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Please note: I received this book free through the Amazon Vine program in return for a review. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

From Georgia Lawe via Random House Children’s Books…

Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin – Theresa Breslin is a new author to me, but Georgia assures me this is one of her favourite books to be published in the past few years and that’s a pretty good recommendation in my book! It’s a historical novel set suring the Spanish Inquisition and promises dramatic adventure, forbidden love and an unforgettable story. It’s definitely got me intrigued!

Bartimaeus – The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud – Jonathan Stroud is one of those authors who I’ve heard of, but somehow who’s books I haven’t got around to reading. Georgia thinks his books should be right up my street as they are funny and urban fantasy… Sounds good to me!

… In My Shopping Basket…

The Surgeon / Life Support / Harvest by Tess Gerritsen – I got these 3 books as a boxset from Tesco for just £2.50! I’ve already read and reviewed The Surgeon, but I hadn’t got Life Support or Harvest so I couldn’t pass up on such a bargain!

Witch & Wizard by James Patterson (with Gabrielle Charbonnet) – James Patterson is another author I’ve heard about but not read any of his books. Witch & Wizard was in Tesco for the grand price of 1p (yes, that’s 1 pence!), so a bargain whether I like it or not!

Other stuff…

You may have noticed that the blog has been a bit quiet this past week. Well, I’ve been a bit busy.

Friday, 1st July, I went down to London to see Take That (including Robbie Williams!) at Wembley Stadium and I loved every minute of it! I’d been waiting since 1995 to see all 5 of them reunited in concert and it was certainly worth the wait. I managed to get a spot at the barrier by the right-hand side of the main stage (they have second mini stage out in the middle of the stadium, with a runway to it). Take That as a four-some did a few songs together (the ones released when they got back together without Robbie), then Robbie did his solo hits, then all 5 of them were reunited on stage for the rest of the show. At the end of the show, they all came running from the 2nd stage and Robbie headed our way and, in a fan-girl-squee moment, I got to touch his hand… though I was pretty much pinned to the barrier at this point by the thousands behind me trying to reach him too! (Also, would you believe their support act was the Pet Shop Boys?).

I’ve spent a lot of time with my niece and nephew this past week, so I’ve spent more time reading my niece’s books than reading my own. Both are growing fast and my niece, in particular, certainly keeps me on my toes.

My new bike arrived while I was down in London. I loved cycling as a teenager, so in a bid to get fit I bought myself a new bike. I haven’t been far on it yet, my excuse being that it’s all hills around here and I want to ease myself back into it (especially as I was out of breath having cycled up the hill going out of the village on my first go!).

Have you been up to anything exciting this week? Any new books?

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Remember the photos of the swans I took last month? Well, they weren’t the only creatures I found down on the canal…

I think they might have been up to something in these last couple of shots, so shhh…

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