Monthly Archives: February 2021

BLOG TOUR – One Night in Beartown by Nick Jones!

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Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for One Night in Beartown by Nick Jones!

The extra special news is this is also the first review my two daughters have played a part in writing 😊

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Children’s Fiction

From the award-winning duo that brought you Sarah’s Shadow comes another magical adventure…

When bear-mad schoolgirl Sandy Lane has her beloved teddy bear Berisford confiscated at school, she dreads the thought of going a whole night without his cuddles.

Little does she know that a bear-rilliant night awaits her, involving Berisford, a bear statue and many other wonderful friends!

Review

One Night in Beartown is the tale of Sandy, a little girl who loves bears. One bear in particular.. her teddybear Berisford.

At school a mean little boy makes fun of Sandy and the commotion leads to the teacher confiscating Berisford!

Sandy is heartbroken at the thought of not being with her bear but little does she know the amazing night she’s about to have.

Beartown has some magic about it and on very special occasions this magic helps all the teddy bears and bear statues in town come to life.. for one night only!

Berisford makes his way to Sandy and together they have a night that she will never forget and neither will the mean boy!

What my girls enjoyed about the book were first and foremost the illustrations by Si Clark. I loved the style and so did the girls. The cover certainly grabs your attention.

When asked about the plot my girls loved how in the end Sandy is happy, so even though her favourite teddy was taken away things were ok. Oh and the mean boy learns it’s not nice to be mean to someone!

For me the story was a nice easy read. My two are 6 years old and like to read themselves and there was no major stumbling blocks with the use of language for them.

The overall message of the book was nice, ignore bullies, it’s ok to be without those you love, things will be ok.. and hey who doesn’t want to believe in a little magic. It’s what you need as a kid.

Length wise the story was the perfect read to settle down at night, not too long but more than enough to keep the girls interested.

When asked if the girls would read it again it was a resounding yes!

5/5 Stars!

My thanks go to the author, the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour and for allowing my children to have a review copy of the book!

To find out more head to Goodreads, Amazon, Full Media or Nick Jones Author.co.uk-

Author Bio –

I’m Nick Jones, an award-winning author originally from Bristol but now living in Congleton, Cheshire. I write books for kids and I’ve also written several joke books for adults. My first book, Gagged and Bound – A Book of Puns, One-liners and Dad Jokes, was a best-seller under Puns and Wordplay on Amazon UK, and two sequels soon followed. You can download a FREE collection of my jokes here.

In December 2017, I tried something different: a children’s picture book about a girl who loses her shadow. Illustrated by the super-talented Si Clark, Sarah’s Shadow has proved popular with kids and parents alike. In 2018 it won Best Children’s Picture Book in the 2018 Book Awards on international book review site Readers’ Favorite. My claim to fame is that the same award was previously won by none other than Jim Carrey, the Hollywood actor-cum-children’s author! Sarah’s Shadow also won Runner-Up in the Book Excellence Awards and received a Purple Dragonfly Book Award as one of the best picture ebooks for children aged 6+.

In 2020 I ran a Kickstarter campaign during lockdown to fund my next book, One Night in Beartown. It was inspired by the Bearmania event that took place in 2011. Thanks to amazing support from businesses and individuals in Congleton and beyond, I raised £4,000 to illustrate and print the book. It was published on 1 December and you can buy it on my online shop, on my publisher’s website or as an ebook on Amazon. For updates, please follow me on social media or subscribe to my newsletter!

Social Media Links –

https://twitter.com/nickjonesauthor

https://www.facebook.com/NickJonesAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/nickjones_author/

The Forbidden Zone by Tom Trott

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Today I’m going to be reviewing The Forbidden Zone by Tom Trott.

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Supernatural/Paranormal Suspense

Every summer camp has its campfire stories, and that’s all they are: stories. But not here.

On the surface, Boys Club Camp is just like every other British summer camp: strict officers, woodland games, and night-time pranks. But Tommy remembers that summer in ’97, the year he turned thirteen, when he was the only one plagued with those little niggling questions: Why does the sound of howling cut through the cold night air? Why are the officers so obsessed with the legacy of Boys Club’s long-dead founder? Why aren’t boys allowed in the east woods?

A scream heard in the night led Tommy and his friends on a journey of discovery, to solve a mystery a hundred years in the making: what is the real purpose of Boys Club? The answer could only be found in the dark heart of the woods: the Forbidden Zone. Now an adult, Tommy needs to understand what they found there. It is his last hope of saving their lives.

Review

The Forbidden Zoneis the retelling of events that transpired when Tommy attended Boys Club Camp in 97.

Things start as you’d expect as the boy’s setup camp, dig trenches and such. We get to know the boys and the officers a little better.

Tommy been coming to camp for a while now and he’s kind of outgrown it. I actually quite liked Tommy. He knows where his strengths and weaknesses are and from my own experience as a boy scout the author showed how difficult it can be for a young boy in an environment when you need to show physical skill when your talents lay elsewhere. It’s hard to feel like one of the group at times.

Side note, I still remember my first day at camp.. slipping on a cow pat as soon as I got off the bus…not my finest moment I must say.

I loved how the author described the different camp events such as tent inspection which I recall myself very well and the frustration your tent mates would have if you let the side down. All  these little events add some depth to the character of Tommy, you like him and things progress fairly ok for him, at times it actually seems like this year is going to be his best yet, but that vibe never leaves you.. it’s the suspense as you know at any moment something has to happen right?

Well the title says it all. The Forbidden Zone is an area near camp out of bounds to the boys but there’s some troubling events connected to the area that are quite unexplainable at first.

It’s all about the build-up here as Tommy discusses his worries with his friends at camp and they agree to keep an eye on things. Things start to get creepy to say the least, officers are taken ill, friends start to act strange, and this is where things really get interesting as the author adds the supernatural edge to the tale.

Character development and plot flowed nicely together. When you look back you can see just how much time is given to the character development and it pays off as you feel a kind of personal connection with the boys. Tommy wants you to learn how he became the man he is.

I really don’t want to spoil the ending at all but its rather good I must admit. The history of Boys Club merges with the present and causes one hell of a headache for Tommy that he will never forget…Well he might forget..as the supernatural events progress there’s every chance Tommy may loose himself..it’s a rather confusing mad dash for the Tommy at the end, and you feel this confusion with him..who can be trusted? And what can he do to stop this evil from ever hurting anyone else?

I very much recommend the book, but maybe not if you are planning to go camping..

4/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or on Amazon!

My thanks go to the author for supplying a review copy, I’m glad to say I purchased my own also. I pride myself on doing fair honest reviews and I put my money where my mouth is 🙂

Publication Day for Preserved by Fiona Sherlock

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Today to celebrate the release of Preserved by Fiona Sherlock I’m going to be giving it my blog treatment. I do hope you enjoy the review!

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Crime Thriller

She’s stuck in the past, the killer wants to immortalise his future. When a local farmer announces on social media that he has discovered a bog body in Ardee, the world’s historians are keen to explore the secrets of the life and grisly death of the victim. Antique journalist January Quail is fighting to keep her newspaper job and uncovers far more than she bargained for.

The victim is actually a recent murder, and January uses her nose for the truth to investigate the County Louth town. From shopkeeper to the publican, everyone is a suspect, but when the Gardai can’t find the killer, can January?

Once she sets down the liqueur glass, January gains the confidence of the lead garda investigator. Within days, the case unravels into a much more dangerous situation with a killer on the loose.

Despite the risk, January is electrified that this newest discovery has come at the perfect time to inject some colour into her flailing career. January relinquishes her old ways to fight for survival, abandoning her antiques column and vintage corsets to solve a cryptic crime that has the experts puzzled. This woman who longs to lives in the past must now fight for her life in the present.

Review

January Quail is a difficult character to read, she holds the cards close to her chest. There’s family pain hidden deep and her life seems to have stagnated a little. She’s good at her job as a reporter but she’s not really going anywhere.. she’s not pushing herself…she needs something to get her teeth into.

Luckily for her the perfect story develops. A bog body has been found, bodies like this can have real historical significance and she’s the best reporter for the job since this wouldn’t be the first bog body she’s handled.

Very quickly it turns out the body has been misidentified as a bog body… it’s a recent murder.. and the killer is out there.

January sets out to learn what she can and quickly deduces this case is a right mess, things don’t add up.. Why did the killer put so much effort into how the body was preserved? Because they wanted it found, but why?

While on the case January is under pressure from Alf, her current boss at the paper. Some compromising photos of a well-known individual were sent to the paper.. he wants a story but January just isnt the one to be told what to do.. she’s got her own style of getting the job done.

The pressure increases as a second body is found, are the two bodies linked? And if so how?

There are more twists thrown in regarding the first body as the life of this victim unfolds before you.. and it’s not a fun life..

The conclusion of the story wraps the pieces up nicely but January won’t be the same after this, the events have changed her physically and mentally.

Character wise I like January, she’s a tough egg and can stand on her own two feet.. but you know there’s emotions hidden.. she’s just not ready to face her past.

There’s quite an ensemble of characters we meet along the way, each are written well, you can clearly recall them in your head, their professions, their outward personas. The development of each of the characters flowed well which helped keep the final identify of the killer unknown right until the end for me.

A very enjoyable thriller 🙂

4/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

My thanks go to the author and Rachel from Rachels Random Resources for letting me celebrate publication day with day!

Author Bio –

Fiona Sherlock is a crime writer from Bective, in Ireland. Her murder mystery games are played across the world.  She also writes poetry and prose but cannot stay away from a good murder.  After spending a decade in Dublin working in public relations and journalism, she moved to the country for mid-day fires and elderflower champagne.

Social Media Links –

http://instagram.com/fionasherlock

https://www.facebook.com/DionysisDiary

https://twitter.com/fionasherlock

Spear Havoc: 1066 – Alternative Histories by C.R. May – Review

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Today I’m going to be reviewing Spear Havoc: 1066 – Alternative Histories by C.R. May.

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Historical Fiction/Alternative History

The year 1066 is arguably the most famous in English history. Assailed on all sides, King Harold and his doughty army finally fall to a last gasp Norman assault.

It is perhaps the very first of those fights against the odds which have entered the national psyche, of which Agincourt, Rorke’s Drift and Dunkirk are but a few.

But what if Harold Godwinson had prevailed on that blood soaked ridge? Or the invasions of Harald of Norway and William of Normandy had never taken place at all?

Here, bestselling author C.R.May presents twelve short stories, each outlining widely differing ways which could easily — and in some cases should have — produced an entirely different timeline, alternative futures which would have had a dramatic effect on the world in which we live today.

Review

I’m a big fan of “What if” when it comes to history. One little event could have changed the course of history forever and that fascinates me.

What C.R. May delivers is a collection of short stories based around the events of 1066 in which the author shows his talent as a storyteller but also how knowledgeable of the period he is.

The accounts are very detailed when it comes to names and places. The events themselves are plausible and I loved the arguments/evidence put forward with each to help you see yourself how real these events could have been.

It’s a quite fun read if you enjoy the subject, I know I do, but any fan of history or alternative history would certainly enjoy this.

I’m definitely a fan of the author, his style is very much “detail”, you are going to get sucked into the vivid detail of each event and for me they just got better as the book progressed, each adding it’s own wow factor.

Another plus for me is the chapter length and flow, it’s perfect for someone like me who has a short lunch break at work and needs a reading fix, and the author commentary after each tale helps keep things fresh and intriguing.

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

Stocking the bookshelves – Feb/March

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One of my aims for 2021 was to plan my reading a bit more than I used to so I thought it would be good to share what you can expect from David’s Book Blurg over the next 2 month!

Do any of these take your fancy? What are you reading? Let me know!

Spear Havoc: 1066 – Alternative Histories by C. R. May

The year 1066 is arguably the most famous in English history. Assailed on all sides, King Harold and his doughty army finally fall to a last gasp Norman assault.

It is perhaps the very first of those fights against the odds which have entered the national psyche, of which Agincourt, Rorke’s Drift and Dunkirk are but a few.

But what if Harold Godwinson had prevailed on that blood soaked ridge? Or the invasions of Harald of Norway and William of Normandy had never taken place at all?

Here, bestselling author C.R.May presents twelve short stories, each outlining widely differing ways which could easily — and in some cases should have — produced an entirely different timeline, alternative futures which would have had a dramatic effect on the world in which we live today.

I’ve been wanting to read this one for ages, and I’m glad to say I finished it last week so look out for my review soon!

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams

Our hero Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the boringest grandma ever: all she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma.

1) She was once an international jewel thief.

2) All her life, she has been plotting to steal the Crown Jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help…

This year my girls turn 7 and have started to take more of an interest in reading, I want my blog to be a true reflection of my reading so thought it would be fun to record any children’s books to that we read together.

The Forbidden Zone by Tom Trott

Every summer camp has its campfire stories, and that’s all they are: stories. But not here.

On the surface, Boys Club Camp is just like every other British summer camp: strict officers, woodland games, and night-time pranks.

But Tommy remembers that summer in ’97, the year he turned thirteen, when he was the only one plagued with those little niggling questions: Why does the sound of howling cut through the cold night air? Why are the officers so obsessed with the legacy of Boys Club’s long-dead founder? Why aren’t boys allowed in the east woods?

A scream heard in the night led Tommy and his friends on a journey of discovery, to solve a mystery a hundred years in the making: what is the real purpose of Boys Club? The answer could only be found in the dark heart of the woods: the Forbidden Zone.

Now an adult, Tommy needs to understand what they found there. It is his last hope of saving their lives

This one just jumped out at me, as a young lad I spent time at camp myself and never really liked it.. Will this bring back bad memories? Ha

One Night in Beartown by Nick Jones, Si Clark (Illustrator)

When bear-mad schoolgirl Sandy Lane has her beloved teddy bear Berisford confiscated at school, she dreads the thought of going a whole night without his cuddles. Little does she know that a bear-rilliant night awaits her, involving Berisford, a bear statue and many other wonderful friends!

Another one for the kiddos and me. G especially loves bears! Will she love Beartown?

Preserved by Fiona Sherlock

When a local farmer announces on social media that he has discovered a bog body in Ardee, the world’s historians are keen to explore the secrets of the life and grisly death of the victim.

Antique journalist January Quail is fighting to keep her newspaper job and uncovers far more than she bargained for. The victim is actually a recent murder, and January uses her nose for the truth to investigate the County Louth town. From shopkeeper to the publican, everyone is a suspect, but when the Gardai can’t find the killer, can January?

Once she sets down the liqueur glass, January gains the confidence of the lead garda investigator. Within days, the case unravels into a much more dangerous situation with a killer on the loose.

Despite the risk, January is electrified that this newest discovery has come at the perfect time to inject some colour into her flailing career. January relinquishes her old ways to fight for survival, abandoning her antiques column and vintage corsets to solve a cryptic crime that has the experts puzzled. This woman who longs to lives in the past must now fight for her life in the present.

This one had me at bog body..I already need to find out what happened!

Masters of Rome (Rise of Emperors Book 2) by Simon Turney & Gordon Doherty

As competition for the imperial throne intensifies, Constantine and Maxentius realise their childhood friendship cannot last. Each man struggles to control their respective quadrant of empire, battered by currents of politics, religion and personal tragedy, threatened by barbarian forces and enemies within.

With their positions becoming at once stronger and more troubled, the strained threads of their friendship begin to unravel. Unfortunate words and misunderstandings finally sever their ties, leaving them as bitter opponents in the greatest game of all, with the throne of Rome the prize.

It is a matter that can only be settled by outright war…

To say I’m a fan of Turney and Doherty would be an understatement! I can’t wait to get to grips with this installment!

Yearn to Fear by Chas Murrell

Sydney scientist, Marcus Hall, is developing a radical 5G Wi-Fi receiver for CSIRO. With access to secretive Lamarr computer chips – this technology promises billions to repair Australia’s ravaged economy. On a caffeine boosted whim, he inadvertently discovers a therapeutic breakthrough in neuroscience. Or so he thinks…
His seemingly trustworthy lab partner, Henry, is an unlikely Australian spy. His official duty is keeping tabs on the project and their Lamarr chips. But the whole project is now classified top-secret.
Marcus remains blissfully unaware of the many secrets surrounding him, until he witnesses the graphic murder of a colleague. Could this event reveal Henry as a master deceiver and ruthless double agent? Will the scientific discovery be fatal for Marcus, those he loves, and the one he yearns for? Marcus faces a soul tearing dilemma: is the only means of stopping the carnage to weaponise his prototype?
Foreign intelligence agencies realise the top-secret breakthrough is priceless. One particular spy leads the race to seize the invention. A psychological master of the long game, espionage, and extortion, his only rule according to Kung Fu: Win.
Friend and foe alike confront this psychotic mastermind. All will FEAR him, but is their FEAR real? Only the next six minutes will tell…

This one just seemed interesting and fresh, I tend to stick mainly with historical fiction novels and this one seemed quite suitable for a change of pace.

Double Identity by Alison Morton

Deeply in love, a chic Parisian lifestyle before her. Now she’s facing prison for murder.

It’s three days since Mel des Pittones threw in her job as an intelligence analyst with the French special forces to marry financial trader Gérard Rohlbert. But her dream turns to nightmare when she wakes to find him dead in bed beside her.

Her horror deepens when she’s accused of his murder. Met Police detective Jeff McCracken wants to pin Gérard’s death on her. Mel must track down the real killer, even if that means being forced to work with the obnoxious McCracken.

But as she unpicks her fiancé’s past, she discovers his shocking secret life. To get to the truth, she has to go undercover—and finds almost everybody around her is hiding a second self.

Mel can trust nobody. Can she uncover the real killer before they stop her?

I’m a big fan of Alison Morton, this is a move away from her established work so I’m exciting to see if this will live up to the high standards set, I know it will 😊