My review of THE WAITING BOOTH (Whispering Woods #1) By Brinda Berry

THE WAITING BOOTH
(Whispering Woods #1)
By Brinda Berry

A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal...

Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High--find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia’s drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it’s no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia’s secrets, she begins to wonder if there’s more going on than she thought...and if she was wrong to trust him...

MY THOUGHTS

I really liked reading this book and was torn all the way through it... Arizona or Regulus?

I came to a conclusion in the end that, if I had a choice, I would choose Arizona. Not only is he a fun, food loving joker, he has such a cool name! And besides... Regulus hardly ever laughs so my sense of humour would be wasted on him!


I give this book a four star rating, for there were certain parts of the book which confused me a little, trying to figure out where Dr Bleeker fits into it all, but I can guarantee that I will definitely be reading it again.

My review of THE TINKERS GIRL by Catherine Cookson

THE TINKERS GIRL
BY
Catherine Cookson

When young Jinnie Howlett’s widowed father, a tinker man, died a pauper, she was already a reluctant inmate of a northern workhouse. But she thought herself fortunate – the alternative might have meant she ended up on the streets.

When close to her fifteenth birthday and after years of toil and drudgery, she was at last offered a position as a maid-of-all-work. Jinnie’s employers were the Shalemans and her place of work Tollet’s Ridge Farm, a bleakly isolated and run-down sheep farm way out beyond Allendale and towards the Cumbrian border. Before long, she discovered she had exchanged one kind of drudgery for another, this time for the Shaleman family. 

Rose, invalid wife of Pug and mother to Bruce and Hal, demanded every hour of the day and night of her. Fortunately Bruce soon recognized that there was more to this seemingly vulnerable girl and it was he who would defend her against the taunts and harassment of the brutish Pug and Hal. 

She became acquainted with Richard Baxton-Powell, who owed his life to Bruce, but when the persistent attention Richard paid her became too obtrusive, she was to understand that her growing confidence and maturity owed more to her life with the Shalemans than to any outside influence. It was then that Jinnie Howlett was suddenly thrust into womanhood, and the path to her own destiny became clear.

MY THOUGHTS...

This book is one of the best books that I have read for a long time.

There were several characters in this book that I hated and several that I wanted only good things to happen to. Bruce, Jinnie and Max were my favourite characters, but the list of characters I didn't like goes on a bit longer.

I didn't like Mrs or Mr Shaleman. They treated Jinnie appallingly, although she put up with it, most of the time. Richard seemed nice at first, but he soon joined Mrs and Mr Shaleman on the list of characters I hated. But the one character who tops this list is Hal. For those who have read this book, you'll know why I feel this way about Hal, but for those of you who haven't read this book; read it. Right now.

This book is one of my absolute favourites, and I will be reading this one over and over again until I know it off by heart.

I Highly Recommend this book to EVERYONE!

My review of THE NEXT TOGETHER (The Next Together #1) By Lauren James

THE NEXT TOGETHER
(The Next Together #1)
By Lauren James

A powerful and epic debut novel about fate and the timelessness of first love. Katherine and Matthew are destined to be born again and again. Each time their presence changes history for the better, and each time, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be tragically separated. How many times can you lose the person you love? For Matthew and Katherine it is again and again, over and over, century after century. But why do they keep coming back? How many times must they die to save the world? What else must they achieve before they can be left to live and love in peace? Maybe the next together will be different.

MY THOUGHTS 

This book confused me. It is no spoiler that Katherine and Mathew time travel to be with one another, but they have no idea how they do it. Was it anything to do with Clove? This book, although was entertaining to read and was like reading three books in one, due to the different time settings, wasn't very explanative on the matter of how the time travel works.

My favourite time setting was 1754. I thought that, for a lady of the era, Katherine was brave to stick up for what she believed in. The Matthew in 1754 was my favourite version of Matthew and I cried when his fate caught up with him. I felt sorry for Katherine, for her Mathew was so suddenly changed and the Mathew in his place wasn’t the same.

I Highly Recommend this book to Historical Fiction/Time Travel/Romance loving teens!

My review of A King Under Siege: Book One of The Plantagenet Legacy by Mercedes Rochelle

A King Under Siege: Book One of The Plantagenet Legacy

By Mercedes Rochelle

Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants' Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard's inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.



MY THOUGHTS

I saw a post on one of my favourite history blogs written by Mercedes Rochelle, and in this post, she talked about her upcoming book, which certainly piqued my interest. I have had A King Under Seige on my to-read list since it came out, so when I found out it was on NetGalley, I just had to read it. And WOW what a fabulous story. I started reading it last night, and I was so engrossed that I stayed up half the night to finish it! This is one of those books that you can not put down, well, I couldn't anyway! I thought Mercedes portrayal of Richard II was soooo good and completely believable. I loved this book so much. I may just have to go back and reread it!

I Highly Recommend it.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for review consideration.

Amazon 

My review of Gifts of the Gods: Iron and Bronze by Thomas J. Berry

Gifts of the Gods: Iron and Bronze
By Thomas J. Berry

Fifty years after King Leonidas of Sparta and his brave 300 fought to the death against Xerxes' Persian hordes at Thermopylae, a long and bloody rivalry erupted between the new superpowers of the era. The world of Ancient Greece in 480 B.C. was evolving into a new landscape. The isolated, socialist regime that grew from their king's sacrifice soon found itself at a vital crossroads with the democratic empire of Athens. The Peloponnesian War was not just a battle for political ideology but a brutal military campaign pitting the world's strongest army against the most powerful navy that ever sailed the seas. The fallout from this consummate struggle would change the course of human history forever.

Amidst the battlefields, ordinary men and women continue to work together behind walled cities and open farmland in order to survive. The Olympic festivals honor the gods with their renowned athletic contests and one woman finds herself in a deadly gamble when she must make an agonizing choice. A young helot slave longs for freedom while a new wife imperils herself to stand by her husband and home. When a wealthy aristocrat finds his world turned upside down, he must learn what true sacrifice and honor are all about. A Spartan officer who has lived by a strict code of tradition must discover new ways to cope in an unconventional war.

Five people from different walks of life must adapt to their changing world while remaining true to themselves. Who will survive the war and what will their lives be like when it's over?

MY THOUGHTS...

This book is absolutely amazing. I don't know much about Ancient Greece, but that didn't matter in the slightest. This book is full of non-stop action, and it is totally gripping from beginning to end. This book is on my repeat-to-read list. Loved it!

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for review consideration.

Amazon 

My reiview of Uther's Destiny (A Light in the Dark Ages Book 3) By Tim Walker

Uther's Destiny (A Light in the Dark Ages Book 3)
By Tim Walker

Late fifth century Britannia recoils in shock at the murder of charismatic High King, Ambrosius Aurelianus, and looks to his brother and successor, Uther, to continue his work in leading the resistance to barbarian invaders. Uther’s destiny as a warrior king seems set until his world is turned on its head when his burning desire to possess the beautiful Ygerne leads to conflict. Could the fate of his kingdom hang in the balance as a consequence?

Court healer and schemer, Merlyn, sees an opportunity in Uther’s lustful obsession to fulfil the prophetic visions that guide him. He is encouraged on his mission by druids who align their desire for a return to ancient ways with his urge to protect the one destined to save the Britons from invaders and lead them to a time of peace and prosperity. Merlyn must use his wisdom and guile to thwart the machinations of an enemy intent on foiling his plans.

Meanwhile, Saxon chiefs Octa and Ælla have their own plans for seizing the island of Britannia and forging a new colony of Germanic tribes. Can Uther rise above his family problems and raise an army to oppose them?

Book three in A Light in the Dark Ages series, Uther’s Destiny is an historical fiction novel set in the Fifth Century - a time of myths and legends that builds to the greatest legend of all – King Arthur and his knights.

My THOUGHTS....

I loved this book! I was a little concerned when I started reading Uther's Destiny as this is the third book in the series, but I am pleased to say this book works very well as a stand-alone. I thought the story was very engaging and once started, I could not put this book down. Mr Walker has brought this era back to life.

I will certainly be looking out for the other books in this series.

I Highly Recommend.


*I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley.

Amazon 

My review of The Du Lac Princess by Mary Anne Yarde

THE DU LAC PRINCESS
By Mary Anne Yarde

War is coming…

The ink has dried on Amandine’s death warrant. Her crime? She is a du Lac.

All that stands in the way of a grisly death on a pyre is the King of Brittany. However, King Philippe is a fickle friend, and if her death is profitable to him, then she has no doubt that he would light the pyre himself.

Alan, the only man Amandine trusts, has a secret and must make an impossible choice, which could have far-reaching consequences — not only for Amandine, but for the whole of Briton.



MY THOUGHTS…

The Du Lac Chronicles continues with another fantastic book by Mary Anne Yarde!

The Du Lac Princess is by far my favorite book by Mary Anne Yarde, and there were many new characters to keep the story even more interesting than before. Out of the intertwined storylines, i loved reading about Galahad and Teagan. They are possibly my favourite characters in the series, in the order of Galahad, Teagan and then Alden.

The tension never ends, with an impossible love story and a quest to start. The Du Lac Princess had me sat on the edge of my seat and then when I had finished reading it, jumping up and down in anticipation of book 4!

This book is Highly Recommended for all Historical Fiction lovers, who are looking for the most epic love story ever.