laural27's reviews
706 reviews

Without sounding hyperbolic, I think this book has changed my life.
Fantasy is a genre I've tried time and time again to immerse myself in but I've never succeeded. There seems to be a small part of my brain that refuses to suspend disbelief and constantly goes NO. THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE. Yes brain, well done: we are reading a fantasy novel, that is why.

I've known about Tethers for a long time but I've never really had much of an urge to read it even after Megan protested countless times that I should. But yesterday Tethers turned the grand old age of one and my curiosity got the better of me. I went to Amazon, downloaded the free sample, started reading and couldn't stop. Without a second thought I downloaded the whole book and got lost in Karl and Esther's world.

Karl and Esther, two young teenagers, are our main characters. Karl, ever curious, has spent time covertly sneaking into Mr Stratham's garden and surveying the inside of his huge house. A small silver box piques his interest but he's caught before he can explore any further. One morning, promising his mother he will stay away from Mr Stratham's house, Karl informs Esther of what he saw and how desperately he wants to find out what it is. Against his mothers orders, they sneak back into Stratham's garden, only to find the silver box gone and the house ransacked. Before they leave, Karl finds an old journal and the last page of the journal sends them into a whole mess of confusion. For there, on the last page of the journal, the final entry states: Karl and Esther.

Their names are in this journal, but why? How? Who is the author?
Karl and Esther set out on a journey to discover what this means and soon they are caught up in a dangerous and adrenalin filled adventure that puts friendship, trust and bravery to the test.

Let me just set the record straight. This is a fantasy book and I UNDERSTOOD and ENJOYED every last second of it. And no, I don't think I'm ill.

Oh my goodness, where to start?

Firstly, the characters are incredible. They are so well described that you can't help but form the most beautiful portraits of them as you read about their physical prowess and individual mannerisms. Not only are they richly described, they also develop beautifully over the course of the novel and interact with each other in the most believable of ways. Without a doubt, my favourite character was Esther: she's a feisty one that refuses to adhere to what's expected of a young woman; instead opting to learn how to sword fight. What a girl!
Karl was also another favourite, he was bold, brave and extremely intelligent and I found that the two together created the most fantastic team. A whole host of other characters: Harland, Mr Caudwell and Vivian (to name a few) were also so fantastically written about that slipping into their world was effortless.

The plot was so cleverly formed that I could not predict where it would go and what challenges the characters would face next. It was perfectly paced and ridiculously addictive which meant I couldn't sleep until I'd finished it. I was so invested in these characters and their world that I didn't want the book to end!

Lastly, Jacks writing style. Oh Jack, how you nearly made me weep with pleasure at your command of the English language. Every description was just beautiful and the way you told this story was flawless. Not a single word was out of place and throughout the entirety of the book I would often pause and reread descriptions because they were so tactile and tangible.

I really cannot find the words to express how much I enjoyed this book. Not only has Jack introduced me to Esther and Karl's world, he's also made me believe in a genre that I've never believed in before. I cannot wait to start slowly exploring more fantasy titles but I desperately cannot wait for the next book from Jack.

Tethers is the first book in a trilogy with UNWOVEN and TORN to follow. I cannot wait to catch up with these characters again and see where they are. My excitement is almost too much to deal with!!

So Jack. You now have a massive new fan girl and someone in complete awe of your story telling abilities!

I cannot recommend this book enough.

A fast paced, action packed adventure filled with lovable characters and unexpected twists that is written so lyrically and beautifully you will want to read it over and over again.

It is rapidly dawning on me that I have wasted a huge chunk of my life by refusing to read fantasy novels. And this book is just one example of why.
Eve is a normal seventeen year old girl on her way back from a school skiing holiday in France. Everything is seemingly average until the coach she is travelling on ends up dangling over the edge of a cliff. Two of her teachers rush to help Eve to safety but Eve is confused: why are they so focused on rescuing Eve and no one else on the bus? Things start to get even stranger as her teachers have the ability to hold the bus and stop it from falling and as Eve soon discovers, so does she.
Very quickly she becomes aware the two teachers are called Guardians and that they are there to protect her at all costs. When she returns home it soon becomes apparent that everyone around her is there to protect her. Even her dog, Quinn. Slowly she unravels the mystery and finds out the reason why she needs to be protected and why people are out to get her.
This book hooked me, from the second I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I even read it whilst I ate my breakfast this morning and I ended up trying to put a spoonful of cereal up my nose. I was dubious about starting this book as first because even though I’ve seemingly fallen massively in love with the fantasy genre, I was worried this book would confuse me and leave me back at square one. I needn’t have worried for this book was so engrossing and wrapped it’s large arms tightly around me. Everything was explained perfectly which meant I was able to follow the story extremely easily and do a lot of gasping and swearing when things started happening!
The plot moved at an alarming pace which kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was expecting it to unravel slowly but I loved the adrenalin filled plot that it turned out to be. My heart genuinely started to beat faster in certain parts; I was so immersed.
Without a doubt, this book contains some of the most intriguing and lovable characters I have ever read about. Eve is charming, kind, shockingly mature and beautifully sympathetic. Seth, her best friend is everything you could ever want in a best friend: loyal, kind and protective. The supporting cast of characters are just as fantastic and I found myself warming to Quinn and Eli especially quickly.
I loved Holly’s style of writing. It wasn’t overly laden with superfluous descriptions and scene filling; every sentence was crucial to the narrative and each one flowed seamlessly into the next. My favourite kind of story is one that can give you vivid descriptions of the settings but also keep the story moving. Holly nailed this.
There are going to be another three books in this series and I cannot tell you how desperate I am to read them! The Prophecies will be out in April and I for one cannot wait!
A fast paced, thrilling fantasy about saving the world, love, friendship and everything in between.

This is the third book in Millie’s series and this one, by the title, promised a proposal. This was all I needed to know: I wanted to read this book!
We join Millie and James in their beautiful house in London and they paint the picture of a blissful relationship full of love and compromise but very quickly the cracks begin to show and it becomes apparent that there are a few strains on the relationship.
James has just returned from Zurich where he was stationed for work and Millie is exhausted after having to travel backwards and forwards to visit him every weekend. When James casually mentions he will be working in Singapore for the next year, he totally expects Millie to join him. However, Millie doesn’t want to be a kept woman and a lady of leisure in a foreign country. She wants to keep working at her own job and make her own money and even with the insistence of James that she doesn’t need to work and he’ll look after her she is adamant it’s not what she wants. With this in mind, she decides to end the relationship with James.
She is then approached at work and asked if she wants to spend some time in the New York offices and Millie doesn’t have to be asked twice. She flies out and meets up with old friends but soon Rob, her ex, ex is back in her life bringing unwanted feelings to the surface. Can Millie get over James and forget about her feelings for Rob in New York or is the complication of two men just too much to handle?
I enjoyed being back in Millie’s crazy world. She is a really lovable character to follow around and I find her to be a trustworthy and relatable protagonist. In this book she is faced with some really tough decisions and whilst I disagreed with a few ways she handled certain situations, I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic towards her and want to envelope her in a huge hug.
I loved re-joining the old characters from previous books and I really loved spending time with Rob again. He was still completely lovable and attractive and I desperately wanted him for myself! I felt a lot of empathy for James and at times I just wanted to tell him that I loved him so he didn’t feel so abandoned and lonely! I really did feel for him towards the end of the book and I wish he had done something REALLY awful so I had cause to dislike him.
Annabel’s writing is always writing I’ve enjoyed: it’s quick, simple and really addictive which is the best kind! I’m not a huge fan of unnecessary descriptions and plot filling and this one didn’t have any of that, it was straight to the point and very well executed. The emotion is really well described and it is tangible to a point where I can feel the anguish that Millie was feeling at certain points. There was a nice level of humour and some lighter moments which really impressed me too.
This is a really fun, quick read that flows nicely from the previous books in the series and, to top it off, there will be another Millie book out before the end of this year! Hooray!

Where to start?!
This book was just fantastic. I haven’t seen such a unique and well executed idea in this genre for a very long time. The aptly titled, The Guestbook, is made to read like a holiday cottage guestbook, full of different guests thoughts, feelings and comments about the gorgeous Willow Cottage.
Willow Cottage is situated in a gorgeous seaside village and is owned by the widowed Annie Butterworth. A multitude of eclectic guests walk through the front door of Willow Cottage and whether they stay for one night or seven, they all make an entry in the guestbook. Without any kind of formal narrative, we are able to learn about each of the characters through their interactions with the others in the guestbook. Annie’s brother in law, Oliver, is a regular visitor and we see his and Annie’s friendship strengthen and blossom over the course of the novel. We are also privy to the thoughts of the cleaning lady, Sophia. The majority of the guests who stay in Willow Cottage are using it as an escape from their problems and we get to find out all about the lives that they lead, whether they are ill, pregnant, on the verge of divorce and everything in-between!
The range of emotions I went through whilst reading this book was vast. I laughed, I smiled, I gasped and at points I even felt sad but the overall feeling of this book was one of joy. As I turned the last page, I grinned widely and felt everything was just perfect!
The main character Annie developed beautifully over the novel; she went from a seemingly lonely widow to a woman who didn’t want to waste another moment of her life living in the past which was a really fantastic thing to see. I loved Olly, Annie’s brother in law; he provided some fantastic comical moments and was also really protective over Annie and her cottage.
The one thing I particularly loved about this book was the plethora of fonts used throughout. It made it instantly clear who was writing in the guest book because each character had their individual font. This also meant I didn’t have to keep flicking to the end of each guestbook entry to see who was talking. It gave it a very realistic feel. I felt quite naughty sitting there reading through all these entries as if I’d sneakily stolen the guest book and was reading through it all: that was a really great feeling. I love books than can make you feel like you’re really sneaky for reading it!
Holly is a really fantastic writer and she managed to give rich descriptions of the location and characters without breaking the theme of the book. There were no added descriptions between entries; everything you learn about the location and characters is gathered through the guestbook entries. It is so very clever!
This book would be the perfect holiday read and beware of reading it when you’re not on holiday because it will make you want to pack a bag and head off to your very own holiday cottage!
A beautifully clever book exploring the complexities of human relationships set against a backdrop of a holiday cottage, a three legged goat and a blackcurrant stain underneath the rug in the spare bedroom.

This novella has totally got me ready to read the longer novel and I am so looking forward to seeing where these characters end up.

Bad boy Dylan is an infamous rockstar and takes his star status for granted. Sleeping with fans, partying into the morning and drinking too much champagne means he’s often late for everything. His tour manager Claire is exasperated by his immature behaviour and so hands the reins over to Nicole: the only person who can keep Dylan under control.

Dylan has to be on the tour bus to play a charity gig in less than twenty four hours but with no one knowing where he is, Nicole begins a huge wild goose chase to try and track him down and it turns out Dylan isn’t staying still for one moment. Can she find him and get him on the tour bus before she loses her job and Dylan ends up disappointing a whole host of people?

This novella was the perfect little teaser for Portia’s main novel, Starstruck. We get to know all of the main characters and learn a little about their backgrounds and their motivations. Dylan is a really exciting character and I am looking forward to learning more about him and seeing if he has it in him to change his bad boy ways. Nicola is very admirable and I felt a little in awe of her and her ability to work in the job that she did without much of a hatred for it. I know I wouldn’t be able to do her job!

Portia’s writing is perfect for the genre and has a really great level of wittiness to it. The narrative voice is believable which made me warm to the characters instantly. The plot never felt unbelievable; I can imagine the world of a rockstar is a crazy one and would involve a lot of chasing unruly men around the bedrooms of fan girls! I am really looking forward to reading Starstuck now!

A sweet novella about one woman, one rockstar and a whole heap of trouble!

Checking Inn follows the story of Kate and her Summerside Inn. Kate is meticulous in the way she conducts her life and her habits stretch to her working environment too; everything has to be perfect. When a hotel critic, who Kate has history with, visits to write a review about the newly renovated inn, Kate becomes even more focussed on perfecting her inn. However, very soon, Kate is left panicking about the future of her business when the hotel critic is found dead in her bedroom.
An investigation ensues and as Kate and the leading detective on the case, Ben, try and work out who could have murdered the critic, it soon becomes clear that Kate’s life is about to irrevocably change.
Emily’s writing style is fresh and fun, turning this book into a bit of a tragicomedy. Whilst there is a dark side to this novel there were also many laughs to be had. I guess I could even go as far as to say, this is a little like a modern-day Christie novel. There was plenty of scheming and deceiving in this plot and I couldn’t have predicted where the novel ended up which is always a bonus; I often manage to predict where ‘murder’ plots will end up.
The characters were an interesting bunch. I found it hard to warm to Kate in the beginning: it seemed she cared less about someone being dead and more about making sure her inn wouldn’t be tainted by the incident. I slowly started to warm to her but I wouldn’t say I completely sympathised with her. Ben, the hunky detective, was a lovely addition to the plot: he was clever, gorgeous and had a very calming presence. Kate’s mother was a challenging character! She really grated on me but I think that was her purpose in the novel!
This book wasn’t particularly long which made for a nice quick read. The pace was superb throughout and I found it hard to put down. There were some lovely twists and turns and shocking revelations that were made throughout that kept me hooked.
I guess I would have liked it to have a been a little longer so we could have seen a little bit more about what happened after the murder was solved, I felt like we were cheated at bit at the end…I wanted more!
After reading Checking Inn I am certainly going to keep my eye out for any future books from Emily!
A tragicomic novel about lies, deception and colour-coded pens.

The League of Sharks is classed as a YA read which made me eager to pick it up. I love YA reads as they are often quick to get into and easy to read but with this one, I had a totally different experience.

The League Of Sharks tells the tale of Junk; a young Irish boy who bears witness to his sister’s abduction by a huge, otherworldly creature who runs away with her and jumps into the sea, killing her immediately. Junk is traumatised and as he begins to explain to his parents what has happened, he realises how futile it is: they are never going to believe a big ‘shark-man’ stole his sister. Ostracised by his family, he runs away, determined to find and capture the creature who took his sister so he can prove to his parents that he wasn’t the one responsible for her death. But, how do you find a huge ‘shark-man’? Where do you start looking? Junk travels around for years until one day, on a routine fishing expedition, he dives to the sea bed and finds a glowing green door which leads him into a whole new world: The Room Of Doors.

He meets a whole host of mystical beings and realises that he’s ended up three million years in the future. All Junk wants to do is find out what happened to his sister, but it seems he’s not the only one on a mission…

David Logan really knows how to write a book: that much is clear. What I found odd about this book though was the lack of compulsion I had to read it. I really enjoyed reading it, thought the writing was great, the plot was perfect but it just wasn’t compelling and I can’t for the life of me figure out why! I found it a very immersive read and every time I picked up the book, I fell straight back into Junk’s crazy world, however, I could very easily stop after each chapter and walk away from the book without being too fussed about it.

Anyway, I think that is totally a fault with the reader rather than the writer!

Logan has got a very interesting premise set up here: a story that starts in reality but rapidly descends into fantasy which was a very smooth transition. I liked the fact we didn’t spend too long in reality, so we didn’t get the chance to become too attached to it, instead we were whisked off on a magical adventure. This book is classed as a YA novel but I’m not sure if I agree with this rating: it’s certainly not adult fiction but in places it felt too mature for a young adult reader. It’s an odd one!

The characters were extremely unique and the myriad of creatures were such fantastic inventions of the imagination that I was quite jealous that I’d never thought of such amazing ideas! Junk was a really great lead character; he was driven by justice and was extremely compassionate towards all of the new friends he makes on his journey. The addition of an almost ‘love interest’ in the form of Lasel, was really interesting and I loved watching the dynamic between the two. There were lots of lovely explorations of friendship in all its forms throughout this book and I really enjoyed that aspect.

The League Of Sharks ends on a cliff-hanger with promises that it will ‘be continued’. I am actually quite excited by this prospect and would certainly keep an eye out for the second installment.

Whilst I didn’t find this book particularly addictive, I was very keen to finish it and find out what would ultimately occur.

An interesting and exciting start to what will hopefully become a very popular YA fantasy series.

In a state of desperation after finishing Tethers, I rushed to Amazon to see if there was anything else Jack had written that I could read to fill the hole that had been left. I stumbled across X and downloaded it straight away, not even caring to read the blurb!

X is a short story that quickly pulls you into a world of a despairing teenager called X who is living in some kind of dystopian setting on her own, struggling to survive. There are ‘uglies’ who are wandering around, killing every living thing in their way. X is hiding within the confines of an old farmhouse cellar and it is there she decides to keep a diary to document what she does and what she knows about these uglies so if a survivor ever comes across her body, she might able to help them.

This was SUCH a teaser of a short story and I really want to know more about this world X inhabits. Luckily, the lovely Jack has said he’s working on a novel length story set in X’s world which is SO exciting! I cannot wait to find out more about what has happened to everyone else in the world and why X has seemingly managed to survive and whether there are any more survivors out there. This book gave me a really lovely reminder of a book called Survivors by Terry Nation which I read years ago and thoroughly enjoyed.

I LOVED the perspective of this book. It was told through diary entries which was really clever. I felt like I was trapped in this claustrophobic environment and I was reading the diary of someone who may or may not be alive. It was a really tactile experience: I could almost smell the damp ground and feel the cold on my fingers as I sat reading.

As I mentioned when I reviewed Tethers, I am so in love with Jack’s writing style. It is so immersive and gripping and so beautifully worded that you don’t want to stop reading. I read this short story in one go and did a tiny scream when I finished because I wanted so much more! I am so impatient and cannot wait until the next installment in this world.

This was a fantastic short story that did exactly the right thing: pulled you into a world and then threw you out quickly, leaving you wanting more.

Oh my goodness. I have just turned the last page of this book and need to get my feelings down right now!
The Dead Wife’s Handbook is a treat from start to finish and I cannot begin to explain the emotions I have experienced throughout.
Rachel is our protagonist who is slightly different from most: she’s dead. She died in her early thirties and left behind her husband, Max, and beautiful daughter, Ellie. Rachel is granted, by some higher force, the chance to see the world she left behind, often stepping out of her brand new ‘white’ world and being able to bear witness to how her family and friends cope with life without her. As Rachel spends time watching the world carry on without her, she goes through a whole host of emotions, not yet ready to come to terms with her untimely death. Over the course of the novel we follow Rachel, being privy to her thoughts and feelings as she goes through seven stages of grief and watch her come to terms with the unlucky hand fate dealt her.
Now, when I first started reading the book, I struggled with it. I couldn’t sympathise with Rachel and I found her to be quite selfish. As I was reading, I began to wonder how I would behave in Rachel’s situation. This was hard, mainly because I don’t have a husband or child, but also because imagining you are dead is not easy! I personally felt that if I died and left behind a husband and child that I would want them to be happy and I’d want my husband to fall in love again and my daughter to find someone to fill my shoes, yet Rachel didn’t feel this way at all: this is where we clashed. I felt she was very self-absorbed and selfish to be feeling the way she did, but actually, maybe she had every right to feel that way.
As the book progressed I found it easier to read. Rachel began to mellow and I started to appreciate her a lot more and understand her feelings. By the end of the book I wanted to squeeze her so tightly; I felt so proud of the journey she had been on and I wanted her to know that someone was reading her story and totally in awe of her. Beckerman has created such a stunning protagonist that goes on perhaps the greatest journey I’ve ever read about. The change Rachel goes through was just stunningly beautiful.
Hannah’s writing is divine. It has the most beautiful tone to it and her command of the English language is just stunning. I have never seen such gorgeously worded sentences before! Every page felt like I was reading a piece of art and the artist had toiled for years making sure each word was in precisely the right place.
I cannot begin to recommend this book enough. Whilst there are some dark themes of death and mourning, the overall feeling you take away from the book is one of complete renewal. It’s life-affirming, comforting and will leave you wanting to live everyday as if it were your last.
A modern masterpiece.