Tales of the City Sequence by Armistead Maupin

My bestest friend in the whole wide world kept this little secret hidden from me for over 13 years. I recently had to go into hospital for a major operation and she bought me the first three Tales of the City books to read whilst recuperating. Six weeks later I have now read 6 of the sequence, am in the middle of "Michael Tolliver Lives", have one more to go before having to wait in rabid anticipation for the final instalment, "The Days of Anna Madrigal" to be published in January 2014. I purchased "Significant Others" on Kindle because I'd just finished the "Babycakes" paperback and couldn't wait to go to the shop the next day. Albeit slightly the fault of my so called bestest friend in the whole wide world, but I can't believe it took me so long to find Mike, Anna, Brian, Mary Ann, DeDe et al, but my goodness, don't I feel blessed. If you are searching for a little solace and comfort, with friends who will love you no matter who you are and what you do, who will take the fear away and help you realise that everything is going to be OK, then pick up Tales of the City - start on page one and enjoy. It's a book romance you will never forget. Don't wait.

Sister Psychopath by Maggie James

This is my first foray into the dark and sinister world of Maggie James and most definitely won't be my last. Brilliantly based in and around the city of Bristol, cleverly sexy plot twists and distinctly deep character voices combine to make this, one of her first novels, an extremely intense experience which leaves you gasping, feeling as though you've been played all along.
What happens when two very different sisters want the same thing? How far will they go to get what they want? And will they deserve it when they get it? An impressive first read by the new psychological thriller writer on the block. Jump in - just don't get hurt.

What can I say, a mere mortal, in the face of such talent? Nothing that won't make me look like a fool next to this author - but here goes... I devoured Wolf Hall in a matter of days when it first came out. Learning from experience, I then chose to leisurely consume Bringing up the bodies. Spellbinding. I've studied and read so much about this period that even though I knew the characters, the setting, the ending, Hilary Mantel has made it new and enthralling again. She paints, weaves, knits, sings, rhymes, drizzles words in an intriguing narrative that brings the whole story together into a perfect crescendo. I finished the book last night. I closed the book, held my hand on the cover and smiled, sighed, content. Wonderful. Thank you Hilary. Thank you so very, very much.

This is my first foray into the world of Fiorato and I must say I quite enjoyed the trip. Easy to read, flowing prose, descriptive exotic characters, nasty evil people, a heroine, plague, pestilence, resurrection and a meeting of minds against all odds. What more, pray tell do you want from an entertaining night in with a good book and a few glasses of fine Italian wine? Nowt. This northern chick rocks. Bravo

Click here to buy The Venetian Contract by Marina Fiorato

Dodo Destiny by Tom Parker

What a wonderful travelogue! As an author who specialises in Mauritian topics, I was really intrigued to discover a book about Mauritius written by an American. I always imagined that Mauritius would be too far off the beaten track to interest our cousins from across the pond, especially as they have the Caribbean and Polynesia on their doorstep. It was therefore very refreshing to find a work which takes in a brand new perspective on the island. Not only does the author, "get" the island of Mauritius he is sensitive to describing it's unique situation. This isn't your usual travel book about Mauritius. It isn't your average ecological pamphlet about Extinction. By combining a brief history of the island, a balanced anthropology, a study of the rare and exquisite flora and fauna of the island and the infamous legend of the Dodo, Tom Parker has created a very accessible and enjoyable read for all. I for one am very impressed and glad I purchased Dodo Destiny. If you'd like to find out more about Mauritius or are looking for a book to supplement your knowledge, check this one out.

Click here to download Dodo Destiny by Tom Parker onto your Kindle

It's Always Darkest by Stephen C. Spencer

This is the first of the Paul Mallory series that I have read and I must say, if this is anything to go by, I will be reading the whole collection.
Good looking, Sports News Reporter, Paul Mallory, is in for a bumpy ride. When he lands a reporting job that he doesn't want for an over inflated wage, that entails travelling half way around the world to report on a sport he doesn't give a damn about, he's bound to be biting off more than he can chew. When he finally trips onto a story that might interest his new boss about Handball, it comes as some surprise when his interviewee is discovered decapitated and stabbed to death. Thrown into a situation he really didn't want to get into and surrounded with women who appear to rip off their clothes the moment they lay eyes on him, Paul Mallory is a man's man and a woman's fantasy.
Author, Stephen C. Spencer demonstrates great skill in story telling and intrigue weaving with this darkly comedic Bondesque thriller. Throughout the book, Spencer shows that he knows his stuff when it comes to detective genre fiction, embroidering original characters into elaborate scenarios that take you from one side of the world to the other. The reader is shuttled from Russia to Germany and Greece and back to the US at break neck speed, all the while exposed to the violent machinations of "The Chameleon", a baddie of spine chilling proportions, whose tactics are not for the faint hearted.
It's always darkest is a ripping good yarn, with a protagonist who will appeal to both sexes and a humour that tickles in all the right places, ensuring that darker elements of the story are perfectly balanced.
My only criticism would be that at times you get the sensation he's earning commission from product placement that doesn't necessarily add to the description, (Narzan Mineral Water is now a part of my vocabulary), but that triviality aside, I couldn't fault it. If you're looking to find out more about Connie Francis' music as well as take an enjoyable trip out of the day to day, check out It's Always Darkest; it will pick you up, throw you up into the air and keep you gulping for breath until the very end.
Heartily recommend.

Click here to get It's Always Darkest by Stephen C. Spencer

Prime Witness by Penny Morgan

I've had this novel on my shelf for a little while and wish it hadn't taken me so long to meet Caro. Caro is the beautiful protagonist in this hard hitting murder mystery thriller from Penny Morgan. Penny introduces you to a world we all know exists but are mostly too complacent to contemplate, the dark world of powerful corporate pharmaceutical companies and the animals they use to provide us humans with the medicines we use everyday. Penny trained in zoology at King's College, London University and specialised in comparative psychology, gaining a PhD at Bristol University and also has a law degree. In this novel she uses all of these skills and more to entwine you in the argument for Animal Rights to great effect. If you don't shed a tear, question your responsibility as a human being, as well as the rights of all living beings in the world around you after reading this story, you're dead behind the eyes. Caro is a Bonobo monkey, she can think, feel and learn; she can even speak with the help of her portable lexicon machine. When a fire consumes the facility where she lives and one of the researchers who looks after her is murdered, poor little Caro finds herself thrown into a tumultuous world where not only her existence but that of all associated with her are put into peril. Why would someone want to kill Caro? Who stands to gain by ensuring animals are seen as dumb unconscious beings? What depths will human beings go to ensure we maintain our ignorance to the capabilities of living breathing fellow dwellers of this tiny earth? What are the consequences of realising that animals have souls? These questions and more are thrown at the reader in this fast paced thriller; plot twists, conspiracy theories galore and a powerful argument for animal rights which makes the reader question how all animals are perceived and treated by man. If you are an animal lover you need to read this book, it will make you question everything. If you're not an animal lover you need to read this book, to help you open your eyes to the bigger picture. Even if you're not fussed either way, you're in for a great ride!

Click here to get Prime Witness from Amazon.