Notes of Life

… and I’m already more than half way through a book that only arrived this morning! For a Monday, I must note that this is highly unusual as I’d normally be at work, but I was awake for half the night and haven’t felt well (I won’t go into details, let’s just say you wouldn’t want to know!). So, I’ve spent most of today in bed (with the odd trip to the bathroom) and as my latest book in the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge arrived this morning I thought I’d get stuck straight into it.

The book?

Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The paperback is due for release in the UK on 16th September, so I thought I’d get it read and reviewed before then. As I’ve said, I’m more than half way through and I’m enjoying it so far.

The book is about a very ill, nineteen year old girl called Vida who has spent more of her short life preparing for her death. However, her life changes when a new chance comes along, but somebody had to die for Vida to get that new chance. Vida is gifted Richard’s beloved wife’s heart after she dies in a car accident and Richard feels compelled to meet the girl who inherited his wife’s heart. Can two people be bound by a second hand heart? I’m finding out!

Last week, I finished Bryant & May On the Loose by Christopher Fowler. It’s the 7th book in the Bryant & May series, but you don’t have to have read the other books to enjoy this one. I’ll definitely be checking out some of the other books in this crume series.

After Second Hand Heart, I’m planning on reading Taken By The Others by Jess Haines and, having read a teaser for the book at the end of Hunted By The Others, it promises to be a good read.

Posted for It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by Book Journey.

When I posted this photo on Flickr after my trip to York & Scarborough, I gave it a title of “Otter Playing”. However, my friend Sarah commented on Flickr that the otter actually looks like it’s praying not playing… and now Mum just said the same thing! It does look like it’s praying, doesn’t it?

Posted for Camera Critters.

Author: Christopher Fowler
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-385-61465-8

The Peculiar Crimes Unit has been disbanded and octogenarian detectives Arthur Bryant and John May look set for retirement. That is until a headless body is found in a freezer. A mysterious figure with antlers made of knives also catches their interest, but are the two connected? Either way, Bryant & May and the rest of the PCU are back in business, only with very limited resources and so little time.

I’d never heard of the Bryant & May series of books by Christopher Fowler until Bryant & May On the Loose was listed as part of Transworld’s Summer Reading Challenge. I was a little hesitant at reading it as “On the Loose” is the 7th book in the Bryant & May series and I hadn’t read any of the others. I needn’t have worried though as “On the Loose” stands well as a book by itself. There’s no need to have read any of the other books in the series as the main characters of Arthur Bryant and John May shine through the book and by the end you feel as if you know them very well, like old friends. I love the fact that they’ve worked together for so long that they’re almost like an old married couple!

In a way, Bryant & May and their colleagues at the PCU remind me of the BBC TV series New Tricks, I found the book to very much have that kind of feel to it.

The story is set in the Kings Cross area of London and I have a feeling the author knows the area like the back of his hand. We’re treated to the myths & legends of the area, as well as historical and architectural information… When reading this book you feel like you could be walking the very same streets or occupying the same buildings.

No part of the story is wasted, there’s no fillers, every word in this book is there for a reason. All of which makes this book a good read. It goes at a steady pace, with splashes of humour here and there, as well as action (not that you’d expect it with a pair of old codgers as the lead characters!), tension and a little bit of romance thrown in. All in all, Bryant & May On the Loose is a good “whodunnit” story. Will they get their killer? Why not read the book and see!

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Please note: I received this book free from Transworld Publishers as part of the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge. However, this in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

I love these blue cornflowers, but we’ve only got a couple in the garden this summer. I’m sure we had some white & pink ones last year. Typically, as I went outside to take some photos in the garden last week, the wind kicked up making the plants & flowers sway, so getting a good shot wasn’t easy.

When I downloaded the photos from the camera, I was quite surprised how vibrant the colours were in the cornflower photos, especially as the photos were taken in the evening and our back garden gets very little sun.

Posted for this week’s Thematic Photographic – Blue.

A special package arrived in my mailbox on Thursday and I could barely wait to open it!

The package was from author Jess Haines and contained an autographed “uncorrected proof” ARC (advanced readers copy) of Taken By The Others, a proof copy of the cover and a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.

Taken By The Others is the 2nd book in the H&W Investigations Series. The first book is Hunted By The Others and comes highly recommended by me (my review can be found here). The end of the book contained a teaser for Taken By The Others, so I already know I’m in for a treat.

If you’re into Urban Fanasy books, then I’d certainly recommend giving the H&W Investigations series a go. Hunted By The Others was released in May, but Taken By The Others isn’t released until January 2011… Yes, I have my copy 5 months early and I can’t wait to get stuck in!

Watch this space for my review of Taken By The Others by Jess Haines!

Another book containing a story by Jess Haines is due to be released at the end of the month. If “otherworldly desires” are your cup of tea, then check out Nocturnal – this book also contains stories by Jacquelyn Frank, Kate Douglas and Clare Willis.

Posted for Mailbox Monday – created by The Printed Page and hosted by Chick Loves Lit.