Archive of: Book reviews

The First Vet: A story of love and corruption inspired by real events

The First Vet: A story of love and corruption inspired by real events

Linda Chamberlain

I love the premise of this historical romance (set in 1794) – (the real) Bracy Clark, one of the first students at the Veterinary College of London, set up his own practice in London and devoted his life to the healing of horses and researching new cures, but was in long-term conflict with the (real) head of the college, Edward Coleman. The romance comes in the form of (the fictional) Christina, sister of Edward. The reality is well depicted, but I wasn't so keen on the romance.


The Bloodless Boy

The Bloodless Boy

Robert J. Lloyd

This fictional story is set in 1678 during the Reformation. I loved it. There are real people from the time side-by-side with fictional characters. You don't need to know the history as it is well explained (quite naturally, as part of the story). It is well researched and well written. I highly recommend it – particularly if you like historical fiction, but even if you normally don't: it can be read just as well as a darn good mystery.


Letting In Light

Letting In Light

Emma Davies

This relationships/romance story couldn’t half do with a spit and polish and redesign. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it. The tone of the writing is warm and engaging and the storyline not quite what you’ll expect.


Finding A Voice

Finding A Voice

Kim Hood

This is a beautiful and moving story about the friendship between a thirteen-year-old girl who acts as an unofficial carer to her mother, and a fifteen-year-old young man with cerebral palsy who most other people assume is unable to understand what is happening around him. It was short-listed for the Bookseller YA Book Award 2015. It is YA, but those As who are not quite so Y will enjoy it, too.


Avon Street: A Tale of Murder in Victorian Bath

Avon Street: A Tale of Murder in Victorian Bath

Paul Emanuelli

This novel is set in Victorial Bath, but unlike most novels set in this city in this era, the characters range from grubby criminals to those in society, with the working class and the professional class in between. It's a really enjoyable read: well researched, well plotted and tantalising to the last page as what could happen is anybody's guess.


The One Saving Grace

The One Saving Grace

Julie Houston

This is a light and amusing escapism book, which nevertheless touches on some serious subjects. It is about families and friendships and loyalties. It's an enjoyable read.


Goodness, Grace and Me

Goodness, Grace and Me

Julie Houston

This is a light and amusing escapism book, which nevertheless touches on some serious subjects. It is about families and friendships and loyalties.


The Cinderella Reflex

The Cinderella Reflex

Johanna Buchanan

This is a fairly typical contemporary romance. It is written well, so if you devour books in this genre I am sure you will love it.


London Irish Dublin English

London Irish Dublin English

Daniel M Doyle

The story is about Donal’s working life as an IT salesman for the Dublin division of a US parent company in the 1980s. It focuses largely on one pitch to a bank and the people involved in that. There is a lot of detail about how the sales process worked and the various conversations he and his colleague had with the bank. It is a novel, but reads more like a memoir. There is a lot of gentle humour, and much detail on the sales pitch.


Window On the World

Window On the World

Hugh Cornwell

This is Hugh Cornwell's first novel. There are some glaring plot holes, but the story sucked me in against my will. This is a book about obsession.


Irish Farming Life: History and Heritage

Irish Farming Life: History and Heritage

Jonathan Bell and Mervyn Watson

I found this book to be completely absorbing. It is scholarly but eminently readable for anyone interested in rural Ireland and/or farming over the last few hundred years. The authors bring together their research from thirty years of working at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. They quote and reference work from historians (written and oral), anthropologists, novelists, poets, photographers and artists, and the history encompasses the whole of the island of Ireland (with a few forays into Scotland and England).


Would You Marry A Farmer?

Would You Marry A Farmer?

Lorna Sixsmith

This is a humorous look at the life of a farmer's wife, although there are some serious sections too on the history of farming relationships and the future of them. It will appeal to both women and men, farmers and non-farmers. It can act as a warning or as a catalyst for getting in touch with a matchmaker – you read it and decide!


Me and My Backbone

Me and My Backbone

Siobhán Mungovan with Carol Byrne

It was predicted that Siobhán would never walk, would be brain damaged and would need round-the-clock care. This is Siobhán’s story – from her birth to today, where as an independent twenty-eight-year-old woman she is living in her own house, working in an office and getting around on her own two legs. An easy (in the best meaning of the word) and witty read.


From Here to Nashville

From Here to Nashville

Julie Stock

This is a contemporary romance, but not quite so predictable as some of the genre. I liked it. It is well crafted and an enjoyable read, with believable characters and interesting backdrops.


On Laughton Moor

On Laughton Moor

Lisa Hartley

This is a first book in a series by a first-time novelist and is a good introduction to the characters. It is a police procedural set in Lincolnshire with a DI new to the area. I like the characterisation and the interaction between the members of the team, but the plotting is a little shaky.


Butterfly Barn

Butterfly Barn

Karen Power

This is an ambitious first novel that is an emotional but in many ways an uplifting read. There are strong themes of friendship, hope and love (not just of the romantic kind) and an ending that will leave you wanting more.


The Yellow Hoods: Along Came A Wolf

The Yellow Hoods: Along Came A Wolf

Adam Dreece

This is a lovely story for all ages, and particularly good for an adult to read to an older child. It is cleverly written to include elements from well-known fairy tales, and there are many facets to be teased from the story. It is my introduction to the steampunk genre, and has left me wanting to read more.


The Self-Publisher's Ultimate Resource Guide

The Self-Publisher's Ultimate Resource Guide

Joel Friedlander and Betty Kelly Sargent

This book is created by two of the most well-known and respected people in the self-publishing world. It aims to be a go-to resource for indie authors looking for their "team". I don't think it fulfils this aim, and in particular will be of little use to indie-authors in the UK and Ireland.


Keep Away From Those Ferraris

Keep Away From Those Ferraris

Pat Fitzpatrick

This is a fast-paced, highly readable, darkly humorous, satirical thriller. It is well written, but not for the faint-hearted if you are averse to drugs, sex and partying (or reading about them). I highly recommend it.


The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris

Evie Gaughan

This is a charming, gentle read with a few twists to keep you on your toes. The various relationships (romance, friendships, working) are written well. The descriptions are vivid and the history is fascinating. Francophiles will enjoy it especially.


Page 2 of 3 Previous Next
http://thetbrpile.com/archive.php?cat=book-reviews&page=2
thetbrpile.com
crawl=CC-MAIN-2017-13
42225
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:JTVBJYNYWMNYSDILACHTIUGVXPLE2CZB
<urn:uuid:1719c13b-795d-40ab-a3ca-7629395620f4>
2017-03-25T13:36:33Z
78.137.164.61
sha1:FZ2QQ4CMK4SRUWFCRDCV2XTN5I5BYVDJ
<urn:uuid:54c265e3-6a62-41e2-8852-c27abbf93418>
http://thetbrpile.com/archive.php?cat=book-reviews&page=2
response
<urn:uuid:4b7d81ab-1a73-40bc-a4cd-584adb916994>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-13
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for March 2017
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf