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Showing posts from February, 2014

A detailed story-by-story review of 'In All Probability' by Ami Blackwelder

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"A Collection of Literary Entertainment" The first story "Dead Eye" has a good flow to it, reminds me in the beginning of a short story by Mark Twain, the way the mundane details of the everyday become intriguing. the ending made me laugh a bit. Irony. Yet, I also enjoyed the way the sentences flowed in this story, Some short and some long confutation of words makes it flow naturally. "Lightning Strikes Twice", the second short story, about a possible one time wonder musician has another shot at a record deal and a woman, but though he tries to runaway from his past, his past catches up to him eventually in the end. I enjoyed the witty humor in this one. The third short, "The Lay-Off", told in first person, tells a story of an athlete, a soccer player, with poor luck. or perhaps just luck most of us have. Relatable and true, this was a joy to read.

Jack the Ripper, a clear and unbiased introduction to the case ...a Ripperologist review

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Jack the Ripper - Through the Mists of Time The Review* "Through the Mists of Time is an overview of the Ripper case written with the intention of clearing away the accretion of myth and fantasy that has obscured the facts, and it achieves this purpose admirably, Hodgson's enthusiasm and objectivity shining through . . . In Chapter 8 Hodgson takes account of some of the latest candidates to be the Ripper, such as Carl Feigenbaum, Robert Mann and Patricia Cornwell's advocacy of Walter Sickert. Information about Thomas Cutbush, gleaned from the Broadmoor files, is in the last chapter, and the chapter 'Jack in Films' briefly discusses From Hell. The number of illustrations has been increased and Stuart Hodgson, the author's son, evidently a talented artist, has produced some drawings of the victims. The hairstyles, particularly Kelly's, look a little too modern to me, but they are interesting pencil portraits of Nichols, Chapman, Eddowes and Kell

'The Sins Of Emily Watson' - a short story by author Neal James

Excerpt Emily Watson had never considered herself to be bad. She had, it was true, been involved in some dubious matters in her youth, but at the age of thirty-six that was now well behind her. “Morning, dear.” The cheery voice of Raymond, her partner, preceded him into the dining room like a warm summer breeze. She smiled over the top of her newspaper in reply and went back to her coffee while he prepared his breakfast. Raymond Martin was, on paper, a millionaire, and had made his money in the boom years of the Thatcher revolution in the 1980s. From relatively humble beginnings with a string of northern market stalls, he had expanded operations on the back of some shrewd wheeler-dealing. He bought his first high street shop in 1986, and by the end of that decade had a further six. “You’re in the news again.” She laid the daily paper across the table and tapped a section of the financial press. “Looks like the new trainee management initiative’s going down well.”

A review of Neal James' 'Threads of Deceit' by Jane Thomas.

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Threads of Deceit | Fiction: Crime Detective "1st book I have read by Neal James and it won't be the last. Great story, a little slow at the beginning but this did allow you to get to know the characters. The story starts of in a very down to earth textile company with realistic characters that I am sure we have all worked with. The plot develops into an intriguing mystery/suspense story with lots twists and developments that keeps you reading. A relatively short book that I couldn't put down and managed to complete in a day ( I am usually a slow reader). The twists build to an excellent ending that certainly didn't disappoint. I would highly recommend this, well worth a read." Jane Thomas Paperback | Waterstones | Amazon UK Ebook | Kobo | Hive | Google Play |  Amazon Kindle |  Apple iBook | Txtr

"Tough but tender, inspirational yet utterly real, this is a small gem of a tale."

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About the Book Title: My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy | Authors: Shaila Abdullah & Aanyah Abdullah | Publication Date: December 16, 2013 | Publisher: Loving Healing Press | Pages: 17 | Recommended Ages: 3+ Summary: A simple tale of love and friendship to warm your heart. Award-winning author and designer Shaila Abdullah teams up with her 10-year-old daughter Aanyah to bring you this heartwarming tale of a little girl who forms a close bond with a child with cerebral palsy.

The Bifrost Bridge "...a beautiful and entrancing fairy tale!"

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About the Book Title: The Bifrost Bridge | Author: James Bradley Clarke | Illustrator: Marcus Gran | Publication Date: January, 2013 | Publisher: Wynwidyn Press | Pages: 92 | Recommended Ages: 8+ Summary: The Bifrost Bridge is a Viking princess fairy tale intertwined with Norse mythology. Silya, the feisty ten year old Princess of Norway, eagerly awaits the arrival of her cousin and best friend, Princess Hedda of Denmark. The princesses are both looking forward to the summer solstice celebration, but trouble lurks in their future as magical villains see the girls as being vital for their deadly conspiracy. Hedda and Silya find themselves cast into a dangerous adventure filled with fire giants, female warrior angels and the God of Thunder.

A review of 'The House That Jack Built’, by Irene Truman, a critical reviewer for the Bronte Gazette.

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The House That Jack Built | Fiction: Historical / adventure "Much of this novel is semi-autobiographical. John Butler constantly cared about keeping a written account of his life with the intention of making it available to the public. An admirer of Charlotte Bronte John was particularly inspired by her novel ‘Jane Eyre’ the life of a 19th century governess. Jack Forest, the main protagonist in ‘The House That Jack Built’ finds adventure, self fulfilment and love whilst working as a teacher in 20thcentury post war Britain, as Jane Eyre did within the classrooms of 1840’s England. Jack is creative, caring and passionate. In spite of being left behind when his colleagues leave for war service he takes the opportunity to train as a teacher, facing battles within rural and urban classroom walls. Jack’s teaching career starts soon after the end of the second world war with its rationing and coming to terms with peacetime.

"A great book to read when on holiday." Review by Peter Hodgson

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They're all foreigners abroad | Travel / Humorous "If anybody is an expert on Brits antics abroad then that person is Stuart Wright. The author's life experiences are in full bloom in this offering of diverse, funny stories. His A to Z of recollections and anecdotes range from mildly amusing to hilarious. You are bound to recognize yourself in there somewhere. (I hate to say this but  I am one of those people who go online to check my emails; and yes I do miss my dog when I'm on holiday abroad.) The author also offers sound advice along the way and his post comments admirably round off each jocular entry. You will find Stuart's wit relentless as his humour spills from the pages. It is quite an achievement to write so much that is so funny. The best side-splitting entry for me came under 'Squeaky mattresses . . .' Nuff said! A great book to read when on holiday." Peter Hodgson, Author of Crime Novels