Mailbox Monday & Life This Week - 25th January

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Life This Week is a meme created by Denyse Whelan Blogs where bloggers share snaps of what is currently happening in their lives.

Happy Monday!

I'm still in holiday mode so we have been enjoying lots of luncheons and picnics.

Lunch at the golf club

A picnic by the lake

 

 While the weather was still mild we enjoyed a bush walk

 

I've joined a walking group which encourages me to get out there and walk more

Morning tea in the city

The temperatures have now soared to the high 30s and low 40s so it will be all indoors this week.

Books I've received recently

 

I would love to hear what books you received in the mail recently!

Book Review: Blood Will Have Blood by Thomas H Carry

 Blood Will Have Blood

by

Thomas H. Carry

Publisher: Bad Alley Books

Publication date:  19th January 2021

Genre: Crime

Pages: 223

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of Smith Publicity Services

 

About the book

 

Seven years in New York, and that big break has yet to materialize for struggling actor and inveterate pothead Scott Russo. Performing in terrible, barely attended Off-Off Broadway productions, hopping from one soul-crushing job to the next, Scott slacks away in a pot-fueled haze and contemplates throwing in the towel on his anemic career. The only thing that keeps him going is the humiliation of returning home to Baltimore. That and his current theatrical gig: an idiotically bad production of Macbeth.

Broke and out of a job, Scott jumps at his friend’s offer to work for a pot delivery service, only to get caught in a web of brutal Irish gangsters, a charismatic psychopath, ruthless prosecutors, and clueless actors. As his theatrical and criminal worlds collide in mayhem, murder, and betrayal, Scott finds himself morphing into a bumbling and blood-stained Macbeth, on stage and off.

If he can just make it to opening night…  

My review

I really enjoyed this gritty crime novel. My first book by Thomas H Carry.

Scott is a down and out actor, doped up on pot, wondering where his life is going but not having the motivation to really care. Scott has a disdain for the scrabble for big money. Basically he was lazy! However when friend and pot delivery guy Freddie suggests he join the postmen, a pot delivery service, Scott’s disdain for big money soon diminishes as he sees this as an easy way to make himself some big money.
 

Carry’s writing style is edgy with plenty of dark humour and the setting of New York City with its seedy underworld of territorial crime bosses and the grab for power was easily imagined.
 

What at first looks like easy money soon sees Scott complicit to murder and by the time he realises he needs to get out of this, everything conspires against him to wedge him deeper and deeper into the deadly game.
 

The story had me on the edge of my seat and had me eagerly reading with no idea where the plot would go or how Scott could possibly get out of this situation.

There is plenty of violence and it’s a bit gruesome but I feel it wasn’t overdone.
 

I enjoyed the connection between Scott’s real life dramas and his acting part as Macbeth and how the more his life unravelled the better his acting became.
 

Blood Will Have Blood is a cleverly plotted, gritty noir crime which will appeal to fans of Elmore Leonard, Lawrence Block and Lou Berney.

 

5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Meet the author

 

Thomas H. Carry's debut novel, Privilege (Koehler Books, 2020), was an Amazon bestseller in satire fiction and named one of the best 100 indie novels of 2020 by Kirkus Review. Carry holds a doctorate in literature and has worked as a professional actor, educator, consultant, and bouncer. He lives in Manhattan with his wife.

 

 

 

 

Challenges entered: Cloak and Dagger challenge

 

 

Storybook Corner Book Review: The Toad From Outer Space by Faiz Kermani

 

 

The Toad From Outer Space

by

Faiz Kermani

Illustrated by Korey Scott

 

Publisher: Children's Funny Books
Publication date: 3rd July 2020
Genre: Children / Picture storybook
Pages: 26
Format read: Softcover
Source: Courtesy of the author

 

About the book

 

Fizzy Frog Swamp was a beautiful location
A croaking wonderland for rest and relaxation
Every local frog possessing cold blood
Considered it a paradise of insects and mud

An uneventful life was all that they desired
The swamp provided everything that they required
If there was food, then nothing else mattered
But the peace of their home was about to be shattered…

 

My review

 

Snotbubble (a name that elicited many giggles) was forced to leave his home as it had become overrun with pollution and human waste. He makes a rocket from refuse left In the lake. Crash landing in Fizzy Frog Swamp a quiet, unpolluted haven he spins a story to the frogs that he is an alien from outer space. Mudball is suspicious about Snotbubble’s story and does some investigating. He is soon found out to be lying and decides to come clean and tell the truth. When they hear his story of how the lake was polluted and all the inhabitants had to leave, they tell him they must all stick together and he can stay.

I really enjoy Faiz Kermani’s children’s books! They have messages of acceptance, anti-bullying, being different, honesty and being your best self. I love the use of frogs and toads in these wonderful tales featuring anthropomorphism and are a fun way to introduce meaningful, related topics.

The Toad from Outer Space is a story of acceptance and honesty with themes of displacement and conservation. This picture storybook is told in verse and the story moves along smoothly with a good cadence and wonderful imagery.

Each page of text is accompanied by a full page colour plate giving the story an extra lift in imagery. The text also has a visual effect with colour, size and font change to express noise, movement, colour and atmosphere.

 

5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Meet the author

 

 

Away from his serious scientific day job, in his free time, Faiz Kermani loves writing children's books that have funny and wacky themes.
A lot of his books have frogs in them but no one knows why.
His books have won awards in the US and UK and have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian. Faiz is also involved in various literacy projects with schools and non-profit work with healthcare charities.


For more information on his books please visit:

childrensfunnybooks.co.uk

 

 

Meet the illustrator

 

Korey Scott is an illustrator who specializes in children's books, educational material, and funny characters/cartoons.
His illustration style is perfect for capturing the attention of children and adults. Not only are they fun to look at, but they provide a beneficial resource to a child's education. He explains, "I love what I do, and try to put something unique in each project while learning something new too. When I am not drawing (and many times when I am) you can find me telling jokes, making sound effects, speaking Spanish, and trying to make people laugh".


See more of Korey's work at:

childrensillustrators.com/koreyscott/portfolio

 

 Other books I've read by Faiz Kermani

The Frog Who Was Blue 

The Toad Who Loved Tea 

 

 

Book Review: Smoke and Mirrors: The Trueheart

Smoke and Mirrors: The Trueheart

by

Helene Opocensky

 

 

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 10th October 2020

Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy

Pages: 380

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of Smith Publicity Services

 

About the book

 

How could Corbin possibly do what he was supposed to do? After Corbin's mother died, Maxim Moritz Grobian took him, penniless orphan that he was, under his wing and taught him the magic that was their heritage. Corbin owed Max everything, and now Max had given him a mission. Corbin was to bring Max's estranged daughter to New York. Lorelei was the only one, Max insisted, that could used the Heartstone, a crystal of phenomenal power, to keep mages safe from the Inquisitors that hunted them and allow mages to finally take their rightful place in the world.

A wothy goal, thought Corbin initially, but now that he had actually met Lorelei all he really wanted to do was to run for the hills. Both afraid of hurting her and endangering himself, he needed to stay away from her not befriend her to do Max's bidding. Besides his instructions  were more than to just befriend her. He was supposed to make her fall in love with him!

There was no way, absolutely no way he was going to do that - not after what she told him.

My review

In Smoke and Mirrors: The Trueheart we follow Corbin, a young orphan boy, as he first discovers his magic at the tender age of 10 when consumed by sadness at his mother's death he turns into a crow and flies off with a crow that was perched on his window. He is soon befriended by a mage who, seeing his potential, makes Corbin his protege.

The story is written in an uncomplicated style which seemed to be geared towards a younger audience 12+ however I found it lacking in good role models. Corbin was very self-centred and vain. I'm not adverse to teens kissing but Corbin was kissing his friends' girlfriends and there didn't seem to be any animosity or concern over this. There was also much talk about the easy girls he used to date. I feel stories with teens need to have at least one strong female. Hyacinth and Lorelei were nymphs so it was understandable that they were obsessed with looks and were flirtatious (although I think this was a little overdone). The other female was Maggie and I was disappointed that she wasn't more assertive with the boys.

I have to commend the world building. This was well executed. Detailed but not complicated.

In my fantasy reads I want to see the magic. I want to feel real danger and I want the antagonist to be mean right from the start. He did come through in the end with a kidnapping and threat of torture but I felt it was too late.

I would have liked a lot more showing and less telling. Corbin tells us he is having magic lessons, we are told he lived with the crows for two years and how he ran with the wolf pack but what I really wanted was to live these scenes.

I think Smoke and Mirrors: The Trueheart has a fantastic premise and exceptional world building. I would like the next book to concentrate on the mission and why it's important. With more magic, more danger and a bit less on personal issues I think this could be a great series.

I don't usually mention cover art but I think this one is captivating.

2.5/5   ⭐⭐½

Meet the author

 

Photo credit: Goodreads

Helene Opocensky was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States as a child.

After college graduation, she worked for an insurance company for ten years but, after filing a sex discrimination lawsuit against them, she was hired by her law firm and encouraged to attend law school.

After graduation, she worked for many years in the child support department as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Connecticut.

She has recently released her debut young adult novel, Smoke and Mirrors.

 

 

 

Winner of the eBook copies of Prince of Typgar announced

 Once again I would like to thank everyone who entered my giveaway for a copy of The Prince of Typgar books 1 & 2.  The giveaway closed on the 11th January and the winner was randomly selected (using Random org) from all correct entries. 

Congratulations to........   Karen S

The winner has been notified and has seven days to respond.

 

Please see my Giveaway tab for more chances to win great books. 

Mailbox Monday & Life This Week - January 11th

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Life This Week is a meme created by Denyse Whelan Blogs where bloggers share snaps of what is currently happening in their lives.

Happy Monday!

Christmas has come and gone since my last post. New Year came with a new Covid outbreak in Sydney and compulsory mask wearing was declared for all indoor areas. We are fortunate that any outbreaks are jumped on quickly and the source identified.

I'm currently on an "at home" holiday and have managed to get out and about on a few walks and visiting outdoor cafes.

 

Taken very late on Christmas Eve

School holiday fun at the park

I won tickets to The Dry - Highly recommended!

I spotted this albino fish in the lake.

My daughter needed to buy clothes for work and the shops are deserted


Books I've received recently

Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen

The Women and the Girls by Laura Bloom

The Devils You Know by Ben Sanders

My Best Friends Murder by Polly Phillips



I would love to hear what books you received in the mail recently!

Book Review: The Last Truehart by Darry Fraser

The Last Truehart

by

Darry Fraser

 

Publisher: Harper Collins 

Imprint: Mira-AU

Publication date: 2nd December 2020

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 416

RRP: $29.99AUD 

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Beauty & Lace book club 

 

About the book

 

1898, Geelong, Victoria. Stella Truehart is all alone in the world. Her good-for-nothing husband has died violently at the hands of an unknown assailant. Her mother is dead, her father deserted them before she was born, and now her kindly Truehart grandparents are also in their graves.

Private detective Bendigo Barrett has been tasked with finding Stella. He believes his client's intentions are good, but it is evident that someone with darker motives is also seeking her. For her own part Stella is fiercely independent, but as danger mounts she agrees to work with Bendigo and before long they travel together to Sydney to meet his mysterious client where they discover more questions than answers.

What role do a stolen precious jewel and a long-ago US Civil War ship play in Stella's story? Will sudden bloodshed prevent the resolution of the mystery and stand in the way of her feelings for Bendigo? It is time, at last, for the truth to be revealed...

 

My review

 

This was my first book by Australian author Darry Fraser and I was drawn into Alice and Stella's story from page one. Darry Fraser's writing is descriptive and powerfully evocative.

I love reading Historical Fiction set in Australia and The Last Truehart did not disappoint.

 

Stella is alone after the recent death of her beloved grandparents. Her mother had died years earlier and she had never known  her father. She did have her dear close friends Constance and Isabella Leonard. These young women were great characters, women before their time, confident and full of life, declaring they didn't need a man to complete them.

 

PI Bendigo Barrett is hired by his Sydney client to find Stella. Bendigo finds himself enamored by the outspoken Stella but he can see a vulnerability behind her tough exterior. however after an abusive marriage Stella is reluctant to open her heart to any man.

 

Their journey to uncover the mystery of her father is fraught with danger and by the time it is all uncovered more than one life will be lost.

I enjoyed the contrast between the way of life in country Bendigo and Ballarat with that of the characters living in Sydney. 

 

Darry Fraser effortlessly weaves historical events throughout including lively debates around women's votes and talk of the coming federation of Australia.

The Last Truehart is filled with treachery, murder, family secrets, hidden riches, a dying man's confession and a touch of romance making it a must read for historical fiction fans. 

 

4.5/5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ 

 

Meet the author

 

Darry Fraser's first novel, Daughter of the Murray, is set on her beloved River Murray where she spent part of her childhood. Where the River Runs, her second novel, is set in Bendigo in the 1890s, and her third novel The Widow of Ballarat, takes place on the Ballarat goldfields in the 1850s. In The Good Woman of Renmark, she takes us to the rural riverland of South Australia, while Elsa Goody, Bushranger, journeys from South Australia into Victoria. Darry currently lives, works and writes on Kangaroo Island, an awe-inspiring place off the coast of South Australia.

 

 

Challenges entered:

Aussie Author Challenge  #AussieAuthor21

Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021 

Historical Fiction challenge #HistFicReadingChallenge