'A Dark Lure': Read and Read Again!

One of the best measures of a good book is the tried and tested 'Second Read Test'. (Patent pending of course;).

Can I scroll back through my Kindle history, open the book, drag the percentage read bar back to '0' and dive in again with as much pleasure as the first time read?

(For those of you who are disgusted by my love for the e-format, I guess you could just open the book back at page one.)

Now, while I don't want to confuse you with complicated mathematical equations, (all tested of course in the 'Little Miss Kindle' research facility) I will say this:

The better the book, the sooner a successful 'reread' can be achieved.

From this equation it can be assumed, that the very best book would stand being reread immediately after the last word on the last page has been scanned.

I have yet to find this holy grail of great books (no... poems don't count), though I have found many that can stand a same year or even same month read.

'A Dark Lure' by Loreth Anne White is one such book that has successfully passed the reread test, slotting in with a very respectable reread at month seven!

What is it about 'A Dark Lure' that enabled this success? 

Is it the menacing tone, underpinned by the ever present grey and foreboding onset of winter (Think deep snow and frost bitten toes)?

Is it the heroine, Sarah Baker, who is attempting to hide from her past as the 'one that lived' after escaping from the brutal 'Watt Lake Serial Killer'?

Perhaps it is the handsome, capable and equally conflicted hero who is realizing that family and love might save him after all? (I do love a hero who is as capable as he is cute!)

Surely it's not the animalistic perversity of the Watt Lake Killer himself that makes this novel a definite reread winner?

If you were to ask me, I would say it is all of the above, wrapped in a chilling and tense thriller that makes 'A Dark Lure' so appealing as a novel to read again.

If you like scary page turners then this one is for you! Read it now, you'll thank me in seven months (or less).

As always, Happy Reading!

'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!

The Virtues of Oxygen

Sometimes I am tempted to review a book in just one word. If temptation were to become a reality for Susan Schoenberger's work 'The Virtues of Oxygen', the word would most probably be 'affirmation'.

For a book that is essentially a treatise to loss and how to deal with it, the intriguingly titled 'The Virtues of Oxygen', manages to affirm life and all its blessings in a way that is both engaging and provoking.

The story is woven around the lives of Vivian and Holly, two women who are dealing with very different types of loss.

Nearly every moment of Vivian's life has been spent coming to terms with the repercussions of  a childhood bout of polio. A virus that seems remote and even old-fashioned in modern day America has none the less left Vivian confined to an iron lung since age six.

 Now I will do you all a favor and post a picture of an iron lung here as I could not begin to imagine what this was like while I was reading the book.

Righto, back to the review....

Somehow, despite this frankly unimaginable confinement and requiring twenty four hour assistance, Vivian has gradually managed to turn her life into a 'success'.

With friends, money and even her own podcast, Vivian has become the vibrant glue that holds her small community together.

Holly, her friend, volunteer helper and editor of the local newspaper is also dealing with life's harsher realities. Widowed, still grieving and struggling financially she is told that her small newspaper is being shut down.

With having no income a looming reality and mounting debts, (a plight familiar to many people over the GFC, when this story is set), Holly finds herself sinking towards despair.

'The Virtues of Oxygen', may seem bleak from this brief (non spoiler) plot outline, but believe me it is anything but! Somehow hope and joy creep into this book until they become the unlikely dominant force.

Read this for a perspective check, life 'aint that bad' after all!

'The Virtues of Oxygen' is available for purchase from Amazon.com via the following link:

'The Virtues of Oxygen'

All purchase made through this link will support 'Little Miss Kindle' and her growing obsession with reading and reviewing :)

'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

Romancing the Page

Is it only me, or has there been a steady move towards replacing romance with sex on the printed page (and human partners with the paranormal)?
While I will not argue that sex does not have its place in literature, I do argue that sex, by itself at least, is not romance.
'Lust' at first sight, is not synonymous with 'love' and instant fireworks in the bedroom is not a fool-proof method for identifying life long compatibility (hey, don't shoot the messenger, it's true!).

Truth is I am getting sick of lazy authors thinking it is enough to describe an 'instant connection' (usually before any words are exchanged) between an awkward yet beautiful young woman and a powerful, smouldering, handsome, slightly older man (who, by the by, is most often  a 'shifter', Vampire or Guardian Angel).

 I could forgive the pre-conversation sparks, if something in the following interactions supported the inevitability of the 'fall' into love....... most of the time however, this evidence is missing. The girl merely simpers, offering occasional examples of spunk as the guy struggles with his own urges to protect at all costs.

Boring!

In the face of all this 'new school' formulaic 'Romance', I thought I would offer some 'old school' (in fact and or style) literary romance for you to enjoy... read on for my list of real 'Romance' novels to sigh over!

1) 'A Room with a View', by E. M. Forster; Number one for so many reasons! The lies, the 'Kiss', the simmering slow burn of an attraction denied. Love it.


2) 'Pride and Prejudice', by Jane Austin; I have two words for you......'Mr
Darcy'. Case closed.

3) 'Jamaica Inn', By Daphne Du Maurier; Terror and Romance all tied up in a bleak and compelling book. This
is a definite 'read again' (and again) novel.

4)'Girl with a Pearl Earring', By Tracy Chevalier; Beautifully realised
story of forbidden love.

One more point in favour of these books.... none of them herald the start of a series. Hallelujah! 





All these romantic reads are available for purchase through Amazon.com, to get started click on the title links above:)

Become an 'Opportunist' (fan:)

When I am trawling Amazon, looking for the next occupant for my Kindle, I often check out reader reviews.

Indulge me for a moment, and let me share a line from a reader review for 'The Opportunist' by Tarryn Fisher;

'I kept putting off picking it up, even as its hauntingly seductive cover peered up at me enticingly from the table where I'd proudly, if skittishly, placed my copy. ' 

Yep, this review, nearly single handedly made me NOT have a crack at this book. (I am hopeful I do not have to explain why...)

Numerous 5 star ratings however from over 900 readers, made me reconsider.


After whipping through the book, I feel compelled to compile a quick list;

5 reasons for 'Romance fans' to relish 'The Opportunist'

1. Olivia Kaspen. Female protagonist and recovering badass, Olivia has baggage to spare and some surprising attributes. Olivia lied and manipulated her way into a relationship that defined her life, (one true love rings a bell here) never once realising it was hers for the taking from the get go. As Olivia helpfully comments at the beginning of the book, 'If I love something I rip it from my life.' 

Sad and loveable at the same time.

2. Caleb Drake. Ok ladies, he is tall and handsome and not to provide a spoiler, but he is BIG time unhappy with our girl (all the while harbouring undying love of course). Throw a wicked new fiance and amnesia into the mix and we have a live one! 

3. Oliva Kaspen. Did I mention she will do nearly anything to regain the love of her life? Did I mention he has amnesia? Enough said.

4. Tarryn Fisher slides her story seamlessly between the past and the present gradually unravelling the truth behind her characters and their relationship. Oliva's self hate is examined and in my mind at least, the need for it questioned. 

5. This Romance is not 'cookie cutter', you have not read it before. The characters do not (for the main part) seem generic. After reading lots of books in this genre, this achievement on the part of the author is to be applauded.

Of course, in the way of so many books these days, The opportunist heralds the beginning of a series. I have just downloaded the second book (Dirty Red) and will let you know whether to do the same....

'The Opportunist' is available for purchase through Amazon.com via the following link:

'The Opportunist' by Tarryn Fisher

Alice Clayton; Is 'Wallbanger' truly worth the hype?

Alice Clayton's 'Wallbanger'
Worth a read?

Warning: Wallbanger certainly does contain 'adult themes', if this is not your cup of tea, bypass this one.

I have to be truthful, despite hovering near the top of bestselling lists and being thoroughly hyped, I turned my back on the 'buy' button when it came to Wallbanger for MONTHS.

It was the name you see, 'Wallbanger'. 

Wallbanger... sounded to me, trite and cheap and most probably not worth the trouble. 

Question is, was I right (I love being right!)?

Answer is, well no..... and here is why.

Wallbanger is actually LOTS of fun to read and sometimes fun is enough.

Clayton ensures her main characters (Caroline and Simon, AKA, 'wallbanger') do not 'disappoint', or infuriate.
 I am sure you know what I mean here, there is nothing worse than cookie cutter, angst ridden, borderline certifiable characters. Especially the ones who still manage to rise above all this to find 'true love' within the space of 300 pages.

Caroline and Simon have a host of likeable qualities, (Caroline loves to bake, is a successful designer and to a large degree has her life together. Simon is a talented photographer who travels the world) there is a chance that if you knew them, you might want to be friends. Nice.

First world problems however, abound for the characters in this novel, from Caroline's missing 'O' (yes, this probably stands for what you think it does) to Simon's concerns re 'being picket fenced' by one woman.
While CaSi's problems seem trivial, the slow burn of their entanglement seems less so. Clayton manages to develop their relationship at a pace that makes their attraction seem plausible and possibly, just ever so slightly, 'real world-esque'. A nice change from the 'Fifty Shades' style instant obsessive hook up.

If I had one issue with the book, the end seems overly long and I grew tired of the love birds 'new couple glow' a touch before they did.

My advice, pack your worries and your minds away and just enjoy. A good summer beach, (or winter fireside) read.

'Wallbanger' is available for purchase through amazon.com via the link shown below:

'Wallbanger' by Alice Clayton