The Popish Midwife: History that Conspires to Enthrall

I have been lucky enough to interact with a many word smiths on my favourite social media platform, 'Twitter'. As an avid reader, getting to chat with authors is as exciting to me as meeting Angelina Jolie would be for a United Nations groupie (with the added bonus that I don't have to hide my unusually gorgeous husband in the background).

Quite often, I am inspired to read books merely by the cut of an authors 'Jib' on Twitter. If I like the author, I feel compelled to read their book!

'The Popish Midwife' By Annelisa Christensen,  (@Alpha_Annelisa) is a classic example of this.

The novelists cheerful and positive twitter profile led me to think;

''By God, I need to read her book!"

So, never being one to miss an opportunity, I downloaded 'The Popish Midwife' and got to reading.

There was something exciting about reading a debut novel that successfully removed me from my modern existence; depositing me firmly amidst the religious prejudice and intrigue of 17th century England.

The plot was both remote from my life and incredibly familiar, highlighting how, with an appalling sense of routine, society will separate and persecute people based on nothing more than religion and race.

In 'The Popish Midwife', Christensen tells the tale of  real life heroine Elizabeth Cellier, a midwife who fearlessly trod the line between acceptance in gentile society and execution.

Catholic by marriage, she finds herself unable to turn away from the horror and injustice that abounds in the English legal system; where decisions of life and death are based less on fact and more on fear and ignorance. (Sound at all familiar?)

After witnessing and documenting Catholic prisoners being tortured, Elizabeth sets out to expose the players in a wicked conspiracy to frame innocent Catholics in a plot against the life of the King.

Will her brilliant mind and determination be enough for her to prevail and just how much is she willing to sacrifice in her pursuit of justice?

You'll have to read this intriguing novel to find out! Combining documented fact with engaging story telling,  'The Popish Midwife' will convince even readers who do not usually 'do' historical fiction to dive in and enjoy.

A compelling and composed debut novel, Christensen has crafted a work that earns its space on any bookshelf, or in my case, Kindle Storage.

As always, may your books be awesome and your reading opportunities many.

:) LMK

Bloodwalker: By L. X. Cain; Unique and Chilling!

I will make you a bold promise before you read 'Bloodwalker' by L. X. Cain....

You have NOT read this book before.

You will not find it published under a different title, written by a different author with a slightly different plot.

The characters will not mingle in your mind with those from other dark thrillers, merging into one vague, troubled mass.

Bottom line, you will find it wonderfully...... unique.

It is not often I can, in good conscience, make that promise. 

Being a card carrying reading addict(read-anon member #43) I am reading ALL the time and to be honest, most books remind me of other books.

This is not usually a bad thing, especially if I loved the book I am reminded of. 

It is however, my version of paradise to lose myself in the plot of a book that stands alone.

Best of all; you will NOT figure out what the hell is going on!

In 'Bloodwalker' , L. X, Cain deftly weaves her magic through two seemingly separate stories; both dark, both laced with a sense of creeping dread.
Each staring a protagonist who feels damaged beyond repair and unworthy of any hope for their own lives. Both retain however, a sense of responsibility to their communities.

Rurik, former Strong Man for the Zorka Circus, now reduced to security, has uncovered a horrific string of child abductions and murders linked to the circus.
The authorities are clueless to the connection; with the children separated by country and language.
Disfigured to gargoyle proportions by a lightening strike at age seventeen, he is left unable to show his face without inspiring fear and revulsion. How can he, the ultimate circus freak, track down the worst type of criminal? 
Crucially though, he has a clue, gathered from a strange and brutal fight with the killer. A button from a antiquated clown costume; is this the evidence he will need to catch the killer and stop the stomach turning crimes?

Sylvie is fighting her own battle, born into a family of Romanian 'Bloodwalkers' (women who over countless generations have tended to the dead), she is to be married to a stranger; as is the custom of the Skomori Tribe.

She is elated and frightened, will her failures as a Bloodwalker be exposed during the ceremony? Will her new husband reject her?
Sylvie's story is particularly bleak; bound to a tradition that suffocates her and shreds her self worth, then to a husband who is abusive.
She is however, lovely, a ray of light that illuminates others, yet leaves herself in darkness. 

With murder and violence dogging both their steps it is inevitable (and frankly Yay!) that Sylvie and Rurik will find their way to each others' half of the plot.


Together can they stop the horror before it destroys them?

I loved the elements in this book; 'Bloodwalker' is crammed full of darkness and has a suffocating atmosphere that will chill readers, immersing us into this strange and frightening world.

With classic nods to the horror genre, despicable clowns, a circus that harbors death and the more unusual,  a heroine whose life work is to minister to the dead, this book could not be any more delicious.

Yes, this is every part a five star read!

Get on board, before the lights are dimmed, the Big Top lowered and the Circus leaves town.

Happy (and creepy) reading to all lovers of the dark and twisted corner of the book shelf.

xo LMK.

Disclaimer: I was kindly provided with a review copy of 'Bloodwalker' in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own thoughts on the work.

Buy it, Read it!

KOBO Australia

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon Australia

'The Paper Magician': Magic and Love Beautifully Entwined!

Reading 'The Paper Magician' by Charlie N. Holmberg feels like those rare times when I am lucky enough to find myself sitting in a comfortable chair, lit by a warm ray of sunlight, with no one else in the house. There is a feeling of warmth, contentment and underlying bliss that is hard to beat.

'The Paper Magician' itself is golden and warm, lit from within by gorgeous detail and sustained by a unusual and briskly paced plot.

With an unique take on the practice of magic and a realistic historical setting, Holmberg has delivered a novel that feels like peeking into a parallel universe.

The story opens, with a defiant and unhappy young magician, Ceony, set to meet her supervising magician, and perform the ceremony that will forever bond her to the practice of paper magic, extinguishing all other dreams and options she may have had.

Unbeknownst to Ceony, this moment, seemingly filled with despair, will set her on a course of  dangerous adventure and unexpected fulfillment.
She will learn, the hard way, not to judge a  branch of magic, or indeed a magician by its cover. Sometimes that which seems 'average' and bland, can transform into something the heart cannot do without.

Ceony discovers that love, even love unknown and unacknowledged can be the source of great courage ( though I suspect Ceony had a fairly stiff spine to begin with.)

I loved 'The Paper Magician' for it's slow burn romance and genuinely touching moments. Holmberg makes it easy to imagine falling in love and finding your purpose in this gorgeous book.

I managed to read 'The Paper Magician' and then the two subsequent books in the series, 'The Glass Magician' and 'The Master Magician'; in the space of four days. I am pretty sure that anyone taking on board my 'highly recommended' rating for this series, would equally enjoy the devouring of these great reads.
If you are lucky, it might be in a comfortable and sun drenched chair!

All three books in the series are available for purchase from amazon.com, either in Kindle format, or perhaps more appropriately 'paper back'.:)

Happy Reading!

Big Little Lies: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing!

Wow, this is one cunning book! Luring readers in with 'the funny' before delivering a plot line that will alternatively break hearts, raise hackles and devastate.

First with the 'Funny'......

The beginning of 'Big Little Lies' had me laughing in recognition as Moriaty introduces us to the Parents of Pirrawee Public School. Much like the children, these parents quickly separate themselves into cliques and alliances. 

Hollywood 'Mean Girls' style (though set in Australia), the Mums and Dad's find themselves firmly in one of two parental camps after an episode of bullying during the orientation day for Kindergarten.

Two Alpha females struggle for control of the hearts and minds of the school: Madeline ( a grown up 'shiny girl'; loud, sparkly, opinionated and big hearted) and Renata ( career Mum with a BIG job and LOTS of board meetings) are both convinced in the righteousness of their cause.
Madeline in defence of the accused bully Ziggy, who steadfastly denies all charges and Renata in her drive to ostracize Ziggy and his waif like mother from the school community.

Moriarty, initially writes her characters so that is clear who is 'good' and who is 'nasty'. While we understand why Renata is so driven to protect her daughter Amabella ('It's a real name, it's French..... we didn't make it up!) who is a victim of the 'bully', it is clear that she steps over the line to become a bully herself. Madeline, while brash and outspoken is clearly on side of justice.

Here is where the story becomes tricky, gradually moving from an amusing story of the innocence of childhood and the political machinations of parental cliques to something more sinister.
Rape and domestic violence rear their vile heads, with all the confusion of guilt and love that come along with these. Characters that seem originally to be supporting, Jane, mother of the infamous 'Ziggy' and the beautiful and wealthy Celeste, a vague and anxious mother of twin boys, come to the fore of the narrative.

Moriarty begins to expertly manipulate the emotions of her readers and what was a light and fun book darkens to something that offers more grit and substance.

I really adored 'Big, Little Lies', it delivered so much more than I was expecting. I love being surprised by a book and while 'twist' endings are exciting, how much more impressive when a narrative can morph from a Teddy Bear into a real Bear!

This shape shifting modern classic is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link:

'Big Little Lies' by Liane Moriarty

All purchases made via this link will support Little Miss Kindle's reading and reviewing addiction. Many Thanks!

Gone Girl: Why you should get on the Band Wagon too

Talk about a late bloomer, finally I am on the 'Gone Girl' band wagon! 

For a self confessed reading addict, I really cannot explain this delay as other than a lapse in judgement. More telling perhaps, is that it took an afternoon drive time radio show to push me over the edge (over edge into reading that is....I went over the other edge years ago :).

Thank heavens for drive time! Gone Girl is well worth the hype it has generated in the years since its release (maybe that's why I hadn't read it, too much hype?).

An intense and startling novel, 'Gone Girl' is so crammed with icy cold suspense that I nearly broke my golden 'never read ahead' rule.

Problem was I had an urgent need to know..... let me explain with a quick non spoiler review.

Nick and Amy are young, married and in love when their perfect life starts to come apart. After losing their jobs and discovering Nick's mother is dying from cancer they move from New York to the vastly 'different' Missouri to care for her.
Problem is Amy is desperately unhappy with the move and Nick copes by becoming ever more distant from his struggling wife.
In the midst of marital struggles, the unthinkable happens and Amy disappears without a trace.

All to soon suspicion falls on Nick, after all, isn't it always the husband? As a reader, emerging details rocked my faith in Nick as well, is he the good guy he seems, or an abusive and cruel husband. Hence my issue, I HAD TO KNOW.

Some advice, follow my rule. DO NOT read ahead to see, you will ruin this book for yourself. Don't do it. Just don't. (Also don't google 'Gone Girl' either... not every site avoids spoilers).

One definite 'do' is: Do read 'Gone Girl'. Gillian Flynn has created a taut psychological thriller that will deliver surprises, shocks and SUSPENSE right through to the gut wrenching end.

To read Gone Girl now, download to your free Kindle app from amazon via the following link:

'Gone Girl' By Gillian Flynn

Happy Reading!

'Brilliance': Marcus Sakey's Irresistible Series

It has happened.... my luck has finally run out! I was on a 'series' roll, every series that I discovered and loved (with a major exception... you know who I'm talking about Mr George R R Martin) being complete and whole and satisfying..... and I repeat, finished!
No wondering for years what the heck was going to happen after the cliff hanger ending, just a seamless trip to the buy button on my Kindle to buy book 2 and 3 (and in some cases 4 and 5).

But reading Karma has caught up with me in the form of 'Brilliance' by Marcus Sakey. Bottom line is this, I read book one (loved it), book two (loved it a bit more) and then..... what is this? Book three is yet to be released?

What is there to do but inflict my pain on the world with a BIG recommendation for this fantastic series.

Set in an alternate reality where a small minority of 'Brilliants' (people born with extraordinarily developed abilities, such as reading body language, seeing patterns in numbers and systems etc) find themselves regulated and even hunted by the majority of 'normals'. Problem is, the regular man on the street has moved beyond being intimidated by the potential of these people, to being afraid of a world where they are always outwitted by their more 'Brilliant' brothers and sisters.

Caught in this evolutionary battle, Federal Agent (and 'Brilliant') Nick Cooper has spent his career hunting rogue Brilliants; but what if his mission was based on lies? Will the truth set him free or plunge him into a battle to save civilization from imploding into chaos?

You guessed it..... chaos it is!

With a cast of great characters and plot lines skillfully interwoven into a fast paced whole, 'Brilliance' is a must read for all lovers of Thrillers and conspiracy books alike.

'Brilliance' is available for purchase from Amazon.com through the following link:

'Brilliance' By Marcus Sakey

All purchases made through your Amazon account via this link will support 'Little Miss Kindle'.

'The Giver': A Gift to the Reader.

A little like the cover of the book displayed here, 'The Giver' is a muted yet deeply powerful book.

A small story, with a big message for society, and our constant drive towards 'sameness' and conformity.

While often described as a 'YA' novel, I found 'The Giver', by Lois Lowry, a book for all ages and generations. The narrative is disturbing and saddening, a glimpse into a future altered to achieve a type of perfection. This perfection, designed to remove all traces of the ugliness of humanity, has also eradicated beauty, emotion and most crucially, love.

I first read Lowry's award winning book just over a year ago, coming to it ignorant of its role in creating the 'dystopian' genre of fiction (I am thinking 'Divergent' and 'The Hunger Games here people!).
Without the baggage of knowledge or expectation I was able to be surprised and moved by Lowry's bleak vision.

I suppose I should not be surprised that 'The Giver' has been made into a movie, given the popularity of its YA cousins. I hope however that the director manages to capture the subtle movement of the main character, Jonas, from ignorance to anger and the sadness in the slow reveal of the true nature of the community.

The lesson, without love, humanity is doomed to perpetuate evil in the name of efficiency, survival and perfection.

If at first this book does not grab you, for heavens sake, persist!

'The Giver' is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link;

'The Giver', By Lois Lowry

All purchase made through your Amazon account via this link will help support 'Little Miss Kindle' (and her love of reading and reviewing!)

'The Cuckoo's Calling': J K Rowling is Criminally good!

For a creative person, being typecast in a role must be incredibly frustrating. To be forever seen as James Bond, when you secretly yearn to play Shakespeare is a common enough issue among actors, but perhaps this is a  frustration also shared by authors?

Enter, the pseudonym.

The brilliant J.K Rowling has employed this sneaky tactic several times, in an effort I suspect, for her work to be judged on its merits and to find new audiences of readers not yet entranced by Mr H. Potter (though I admit I am very suspicious of anyone who has not fallen under the Potter spell).

In this case J K Rowling writes under the pen name Robert Galbraith.
The bottom line is this, whoever she pretends to be, man or woman, Rowling is an wordsmith of extraordinary talent and flexibility.

'The Cuckoo's Calling' bears little or no resemblance to her more famous series, rooted as it is in a gritty reality rather than magical fantasy.

The story revolves around Cormoran Strike, a man who seems to be failing both in his Business (as a Private Investigator) and in life itself.

Strike, a disabled war veteran, appears at first glance to be devoid of hope and (dare I say it) talent. Seen for the first time through the eyes of the delightfully capable agency 'temp' Robin Ellacott, Strike looms large, disheveled and even slightly sinister after an accidental breast grope in the small rooms of his offices.

From this inauspicious start however, Rowling quickly and with consummate ease reveals to the reader a protagonist capable of tracking down even the most shrewd of killers, and along the way slowly healing his own broken life.

I loved loved loved this book and quickly moved onto the 'Cormoron Strike' sequel 'The Silkworm', without, I might add, any of the character 'fatigue' that can sometimes be felt when reading books from the same series consecutively.

If you have not already done so, I highly recommend getting on the 'Strike' band wagon, it is a ride worth the ticket price.

Both books in the 'Cormoran Strike' series are available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link:

'The Cuckoo's Calling' By Robert Galbraith

All purchase made from this page will support 'Little Miss Kindle'

(One last question, has a pen name failed when everyone knows the identity of the real author?... just saying.)

The Memory Child: Unsettling and Upsetting

Right from the outset it is clear that something is a little 'off' about the situation new mother 'Diane' finds herself in.

Seemingly abandoned by her (up until this point at least) wonderfully attentive husband Brian, molly coddled by her live in Nanny and avoided by everyone else; Diane's only joy comes from her almost suffocating love for her newborn daughter, Claire.

Only feeling comfort when holding or looking at Claire, Diane's unease with the other relationships in her life escalates to near panic levels.

Holmes reveals her plot as a winding country road reveals the landscape. Each corner presenting a puzzle piece of insights into the past and present lives of Diane and Brian.

While the twists and turns may be designed to confuse and puzzle, I was sure from very early on that the destination of this particular literary journey was not going to be a 'happy place'.

'The Memory Child' travels difficult terrain, dealing with postpartum psychosis, abortion and death.
Steena Holmes handles her subject matter with great care and while we may not always 'like' Diane, I am sure many of us can relate to her and in the final analysis, her pain.

'The Memory Child' is best read when something 'light and fluffy' will not do and a serious read is required.
Though for those already feeling a little grey and bleak... maybe bookmark this one for later and check out my 'Life Kick- Starters' instead:)

As always, may your reading opportunities be frequent and long!

'The Bloodletter's Daughter': Real History can enthrall too!

For Game of Thrones addicts like myself, it is sometimes easy to forget that 'actual' history can be as bloody, magical and lascivious as the imagined.

The truth is, Game of Thrones has all but ruined me for reading about our real world. I have been avoiding historical fiction thinking it would be flat and boring when compared with the world created by Mr Martin. As usual, when I pre judge books (and in this case whole genres) I was wrong (I have been wrong a lot in this blog).

So what is special about  'The Bloodletter's Daughter', by Linda Lafferty?

 In a word, the amazing reality that is history.

How our world has changed! This change is especially apparent when compared with the microcosm that was 17th century Bohemia.

Case in point, our heroine, sixteen year old Marketa (a real life historical figure).

Raised to a life of dual roles, both which would be unthinkable in today's polite society.
Marketa works as her fathers assistant, holding the catching bowl for her father as he drains patients of blood, by knife and leech. Marketa is fascinated by the process of healing, in this case by removing the 'bad humours' from the blood of the afflicted.
More controversially by modern standards, Marketa also works in her mothers 'Bath house'. Marketa helps the inhabitants of her small town stay fresh, clean and sweet smelling and when we meet her, on the brink of helping them with their sexual satisfaction as well (very Bohemian).

Her double life throws her in the path of the King's illegitimate son, Don Julius (also a real historical figure) who is by any estimation, violently insane. With a history of rape and violence, the King banishes Julius to the castle in Marketa's small town for treatment and healing.

What happens next between the bastard prince and the humble Marketa is a matter of historical record and is as tragic as it is true.

No boring and flat read this! With romance, magic (via the local 'cunning woman), friendship, love, betrayal and a young girl's rapid transition to maturity,  'The Bloodletter's Daughter', is a rich and vibrant read. Is there any better way to learn about history than through a expertly told story such as this.

I think I will add some more novels from this genre on to my 'to read' list!

If you would like to read  'The Bloodletter's Daughter', it is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link.

 'The Bloodletter's Daughter', By Linda Lafferty

The Profilers Daughter: A Criminally good Thriller

It is not too often that I give the cover of a book such a large pride of place at the beginning of my reviews, in this case however, I have made an exception.

Not because I think it is a particularly great cover either; I am honestly not really sure what is going on with the red nails and the fingerless glove, but I digress. I have given this cover priority for one reason only.....

If you see it.... I want you to buy it.

'The Profilers Daughter' by P.M Steffen, grabbed me by the brain and dragged me inside its pages within the first three pages of the book and sadly (for the rest of my life's responsibilities) did not let me go until I finished the last satisfying words. Then, three weeks later, I read it again!

If I had to characterise the 'what' that makes this such a great read (and given that I am writing book reviews, I probably do), I would say the following:

• Steffen has created a relative rarity in the crime thriller genre; a plot that is truly multi layered. The reader meets Sky Stone (the 'Profilers Daughter') and quickly finds themselves immersed in her life both past and present. Her deep personal losses, her frailties, romances, family and professional life. This is refreshing, we meet Sky outside of the context of the 'case at hand' and darn it if that does not make the reader 'care' about Miss Stone.
• The 'murderous' aspects of the plot rattle along at a fast pace; the sense of a pervading darkness and evil grows equally quickly and soon the reader and supporting characters alike become very concerned for the welfare of our (too) fearless heroine.
• Sky is wonderfully human, and her choices throughout the novel reflect this. She does some brave things, some silly things, hurtful things and wise things. I have to admit, I found her character to be relate-able and I love that in my crime fighting heroes!

Most importantly I would say I loved this book for the quality of the writing, I felt like I was reading a 'proper' book. A book I could proudly recommend to any book club, a book I could read and re read without its charm fading.

If you love a well written and sinister crime thriller, then please, please, read this one!

The Profilers Daughter is available for purchase through Amazon.com via the link shown below:

'The Profilers Daughter' by P.M Steffen,

Happy Reading

'Little Bee': A poignant tale, with a very dark 'sting'

I purchased 'Little Bee' from a Balinese book store while on holidays, imagining,  for some reason, that it would be a relaxing diversion for one of my eyes, while the other one watched my children splashing in the pool....

Now, there is unquestionably more than one way to be 'wrong' in this world, for example you could be;

Wrong in a way that causes nasty and unwanted consequences to wreak havoc on your life, or

Wrong in that your expectations were 'wrong' and you have ended up with a different kind of benefit, unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome.

When it came to my choice of book, I was wrong, very wrong; happily though, my mistake fell into the second category of error.

'Little Bee'  (also published under the name 'On the other hand'), was NOT a relaxing holiday read, rather it is an upsetting and brutal tale where two worlds (one civilised and safe, one desperate and violently misogynistic) collide, sparking a series of events possessed with the unstoppable momentum of a runaway train.

While, the cover of the book rather coyly insists on not giving the plot of the story away, I think some details are required before the decision is made 'to read, or not to read'; especially for younger readers:

Little Bee: read this, before you read that...

• 'Little Bee' centres around the life of a Nigerian Refugee, Little Bee. Little Bee lives in fear of 'The Men Coming'. In her world, when the men come, it is better to be already dead.
• Little Bee's life entwines with that of Sarah, a hopelessly (if temporarily) sheltered English woman whom she meets on Beach in Nigeria. Horror (and no, there is no other word for it) accompanies Little Bee to the beach for that fateful meeting.
• Cleave alludes to this horror for much of the book, but be warned, an unflinching, graphic and shattering description of the events on the beach is eventually given. For me, I found reading these pages difficult and upsetting, I also found myself thinking; 'If only more people would read this book. How could people remain 'cold' to the plight of so many refugees when faced with this reality?' 

You might be wondering, where exactly is the benefit to be found in reading a book like this on a holiday, or anywhere, for that matter? Again, while not giving the plot away I say this; Cleave has produced a powerful and thought provoking novel, highlighting with a terrible clarity the plight of the dispossessed and helpless in our world. He has shown us their fear and desperation, while shining a light on our own indifference and, ironically, our own fear.

Read it to challenge your thinking and world view, though perhaps don't make it your first choice for a relaxing pool side read!

Little Bee is available for purchase through amazon.com via the following link:

'Little Bee' by Chris Cleave