Colours of Home

Colours of Home

By Miriam Latimer

Genre:-Children

Age:-3-7 years

Pages:-36

Publisher:-Graffeg Books

Blurb:-When Ana leaves everything she knows and loves to escape the turmoil of war, she struggles to settle into her new home with Olive and her family. Olive has some adjustment struggles of her own, but when the girls draw together. Olive realises what Ana has had to sacrifice for the simple right to be safe. Little by little, Olive’s kindness and love help bring colour back into Ana’s world.

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My Review:-My granddaughter Emily and I read this book together. Ana is a refugee, coming to stay with Olive and her family. Olive doesn't understand why Ana is sad and try's so many things to make her smile, but Ana is sad. Olive then has an idea to draw pictures of family. Ana draws picture of what she has had to leave behind and how things are back home. Through drawing and playing Ana starts to smile. It's not long before Ana has loads of friends at school and she starts to enjoy herself more. She even get to see and speak to her family back home through video chat. It's a story that many children are going through, showing how war has a big impact on so many things for them. The book is filled with emotions, both happy and sad. The illustrations tells the story through colour for younger children to understand easier. Emily spoke about children in her school that have had to leave home behind and came to England where it's safe for them.

A Girl and Her Compass

 A Girl and Her Compass

By Oliver Crane

Genre:-Saga/Literary/Adventure

Publisher:-TBLOD

Blurb:

- A beautiful book, to be taken slowly and thoughtfully

A gorgeous journey of adventure and discovery
A novel in which the characters' lives ebb and flow, rejuvenating the spirit
The hopes and dreams of three young adults – Tracy, Nicholas and Dani – lie in tatters.
Nicholas embarks on a seemingly futile quest to try and reclaim what they have lost. Dani is resigned to abandonment and reluctantly seeks a new path, whilst Tracy takes refuge with her father in his luxurious London apartment.
But despite her comfortable life, Tracy feels trapped by her fears. The mere thought of returning to Scotland, where painful memories linger, paralyses her.

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My Review:-This is Book Three in 'The Nicholas Trilogy' and I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Oliver Crane's other two books 'A Boy in a Storm' and 'Past, Present, and Hope.' In this book we get to meet new and old characters, some I love and others not so much. This book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading books one and two first. Three people, Nicholas, Dani and Tracy each on searching for what is missing in their life. Even though they have been through a lot there is still something they all need. I don't want to give to much away, as this is a great read. I will say I love the ending but I feel it's also an ending that could be added to. A story of self-discovery, resilience, hope, but most of all friendship. If you have friendship you will never be alone.

Time To Rhyme

Time To Rhyme

By Nigel Tetley

Illustrated By:-Peter David Scott

Genre:-Rhyme, verse and wordplay

Ages:-Baby upwards

Pages:-52

Publisher:-Troubador Publishing Ltd

Blurb:-A unique resource for Early Year's Literacy classes

This book features three variations on the theme of time which together introduce young readers to the cyclical rhythms of the seven days of the week, the four seasons, and the twelve months of the calendar year.

 Useful as both a charming story and a unique teaching resource, the beautiful illustrations from Peter David Scott throughout help provide discussion points for the young reader and adult to talk through. The ever-shifting scenery of the English countryside is the setting for this gentle and lyrical depiction of the passing of time as refracted through the prism of a child's imagination.

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My Review:-My grandchildren love reading as well as listening to stories. This is a lovely book to learn younger children the days of the week, the months of the years and the seasons. I loved how the author Nigel Tetley added a little story about my shadow. The illustrations for this book are beautifully painted, they could be put in a frame on your wall. We loved talking about the weather we have had and what weather they like as well as the different times of the year.

KIller Delivery

Killer Delivery

By Calum France

Genre:-Horror

Pages:-69 (15,000 words)

Blurb:-On a snow-covered Halloween night in the town of Aberlea, Jonathan Harker, a reclusive and wildly successful novelist, lives in an eerie Victorian mansion where the eyes in the paintings seem to watch your every move. Known for his chilling horror novels, Jonathan hides more than just dark tales within the walls of his grand but decaying home — there’s a secret buried in these walls that he’s desperate to keep hidden.

Karlee Monroe, filling in for the local takeaway driver, arrives at Harker's mansion with a tale of a broken-down car. But nothing about her arrival is accidental. A devoted fan of Jonathan's work, Karlee has meticulously planned her visit, bringing with her ulterior motives and a hidden agenda. The mansion, with all its secrets, is her true destination, but Karlee isn’t the only one with plans for the night.

As Jonathan and Karlee engage in a tense and uneasy dance of deception, the mansion’s doors are forced open by an even more dangerous threat. A group of three strangers invades the home, turning the night into a living nightmare.

When the lights go out, the real horror begins.

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My Review:-With this being a short 69 pages, it's one that is perfect for Halloween or sitting round a camp fire in  the middle of nowhere with friends. It's a fast paced, tension building read with a dark side and a few twist added throughout. The story is set around Jonathan Harker, a successful novelist living in his Victorian mansion in Aberlea. It's a cold snowy night when Karlee Monroe disguised as a Chinese takeaway driver calls for help saying she's broken down, but that's not the full or even half the story. I loved everything about this book and will be looking for more by author Calum France.

Escape For Christmas

Escape For Christmas

By Phillipa Ashley

Genre:-Contemporary Romance

Pages:-400

Publisher:-Penguin

Blub:-Sophie used to adore everything about Christmas. Hot chocolate and velvet bows, fairy lights and mince pies.

 Until then, Sophie opened Sunnyside Hotel, a quaint guesthouse nestled deep in the Cumbrian countryside. And, though it might be winter at Sunnyside, it's never Christmas.

 Marketing her hotel to those who wish to avoid the festivities, Sophie is busy preparing for a season full of joy and laughter, but without the tinsel and mistletoe. Yet, as she finds herself growing closer to her gorgeous neighbour, Brody, her heart begins to melt.

 Will this Christmas bring the touch of magic Sophie needs to give love another chance?

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My Review:-When Sophie has an idea, she wasn't expecting her countryside B & B, Sunnyside in the Lake District to be full. But it looks like she's not the only one to want an alternative Christmas. Just when Sophie thinks everything is going to plan, things start to go wrong. Being snowed in and a power cut is just a couple of things. Having to ask for help from her neighbour isn't something she wanted.  You'll have to read it yourself to see what else is in store for Sophie.

 I love the thought of Christmas in the Lake District with snow and that's what you get with this book.

It Never Rains

 It Never Rains - (Book 6 Detectives Roy and Roscoe crime fiction)

By Tony Bassett

Genre:-Crime Fiction

Pages:-260

Publisher:-The Book Folks

Blurb:-It never rains but it pours…

When a ruthless gang burgles the home of a Premier League football player, DCI Gavin Roscoe and DS Sunita Roy suddenly have a murder and a kidnap on their hands.
The footballer’s stepson, Marcel, is taken from the palatial property whilst it is being ransacked, and his bodyguard is shot, stone cold dead.
To help them with their task, DI Parkes from the National Crime Agency’s Kidnap Unit joins the investigation but he has very different ideas about how the operation should be run.
While rain lashes the surrounding countryside, tempers rise, as do the flood waters.
Can the police track down this dangerous gang, unmask its malevolent ringleader, and reunite the boy with his family before it’s too late?
IT NEVER RAINS is the sixth book in the detectives Roy and Roscoe crime fiction series by Tony Bassett. The full list of books, all available on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback from Amazon, is as follows:
1. MURDER ON OXFORD LANE
2. THE CROSSBOW STALKER
3. MURDER OF A DOCTOR
4. OUT FOR REVENGE
5. HEIR TO MURDER
6. IT NEVER RAINS

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My Review:-Just as a meal is being made for premier footballer Jean-Jacques Beauvais, three people break into the house. After tying Marilyn Willis up, they kill the bodyguard and kidnap Jean-Jacques's 16 year-old step-son Marcel, using the footballers Bentley as a get away car. DS Sunita Roy and DCI Gavin Roscoe speak to the neighbours, as well as search for clues inside and outside. Because of Marcel being kidnapped DI Parkes from National Crime Agency Kidnap Unit is brought in to help, which has a few problems with policing methods.  Marcel knows his only hope is if they find him quick, so he starts to leave small clues without the gang knowing or noticing. Who is behind this? Is it an inside job?

 I love Tony Bassett's writing skill, he has you from the beginning and keeps you guessing. I have to say the only problem I had was I didn't want to put it down.

Rodasauri The Dinosaur's Trip To London

Rodasauri The Dinosaur's Trip To London

By Lainey Dee

Genre:-Dinosaurs

Ages:-3-8 years

Pages:-26

Blurb:-Rodasauri the Diplodocus has always dreamed of experiencing a proper London Christmas. On his way to find this land of sparkling decorations, he meets the generous Father Christmas who helps him get to London, taking him on a tour of all the wonderful and diverse Christmas treats that London has to offer. What Rodasauri finds is a place of love and friendship, filled with many different people-and now a dinosaur!-who all join together to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.

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My Review:-When I seen this book, I knew it was the book for the family. Rodasauri TheDinosaur decides he wants to go to London and see all the Christmas decorations and bight colourful lights, as well all the Christmas smells of food. So on Christmas Eve Rodassauri packs his backpack and off he goes. He knew it was going to be a long way from Divouri, a secret dinosaur land to London, but he didn't mind. It wasn't long before he meets Santa. After helping Santa with his problem, Santa gave Rodasauri a lift to London on his sleigh. Everyone wanted to take photos of Rodasauri. Then he met Thomas, Rose and their mam, they took him to all the place he wanted to see, then they asked him if he would like to come home with them and have Christmas dinner, after all you can't have Christmas without Christmas dinner. It was soon time for Rodasauri to go home, taken a yule log with him.

This is a great Christmas stories for both young and older children, (even adults really). I loved how the illustrations told the story as well, which is great for the younger children. Great book for Christmas Eve.