#review

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Dark Cracks of Kemang – Another Mrs B book review

Author; Jeremy Roberts

Release date: 23rd September 2022

Blurb: That old childhood saying ‘pick what you want from the tree of life’ simply not working anymore? Becoming a foreigner in Indonesia might be as good a stab at something new and rewarding, as anything…”

Armed with a teaching contract, some poems, and a guitar-playing buddy, Roberts discovers a potentially life-changing experience in 2013. And so the Bajaj Boys make themselves at home.

Indonesia is revealed as a challenging but welcoming land of ‘instant millionaires’, ‘beautiful rubbish’, abundant romance, powerful religion, and unnerving history.

Nasi goreng, alcohol, cigarettes, bajajs, motorbikes, a gentlemen’s club, poetry gigs, wild animals, and electrical storms weave together, as the dark cracks of Kemang open.

My thoughts:  I loved this book.  From start to finish it has been a great dive into the adventures of Jeremy and his buddies.  There were even things I have learnt about Indonesia and the experience of the “Great kiwi OE” – maybe I’ll do one myself one day. The poetry included and translations of the local lingo really added to the pizzaz. A solid 5 star book.

Disclosure: I was given a paperback copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Where to buy:You can buy this book through amazon here, by contacting the author direct( through the facebook link on his name) or request it through your local bookstore.

Another Mrs B Book Review – Secrets of the IN-Group

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Author: Carolyn Re and Loretta Re

Publisher:

Release Date: May 2, 2019

Book Blurb:

Six women in the riverside city of Albury realise that, without social media skills, they’re staring irrelevancy in the face. Their book club won’t cut it any more. It’s time to go virtual.

But their decision to plunge into the on-line world brings shocking revelations and unexpected outcomes. Friendships, new and old, are tested and their lives teeter on the edge of collapse. They must navigate a path through the chaos. But who exactly can they trust?

A small town. A world wide web.
Is the net really a friend?

My thoughts:

A lovely book and insight to the lives of the women who belong to the IN-Group.

I have recently been reading a lot of cozy mysteries and I found the pace of this book to be a much needed change.

I really like how the authors wrapped up the storyline and had me guessing to the end.

Disclosure: I received this book from Book sirens in exchange for an honest review.

Where to Buy: If you would like to purchase this book you can find it in my store here.

Book Review – The Forger and the Thief

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Author: Kirsten McKenzie

Publisher: Squabbling Sparrows Press

Release Date: July 31 2020

Book Blurb:

A wife on the run, a student searching for stolen art, a cleaner who has lined more than his pockets, a policeman whose career is almost over, and a guest who should never have received a wedding invite. Five strangers, entangled in the forger’s wicked web.

In a race against time, and desperate to save themselves and all they hold dear, will their secrets prove more treacherous than the ominous floodwaters swallowing the historic city?

Dive into a world of lies and deceit, where nothing is as it seems on the surface…

My thoughts: 5 people, an epic flood, fantastic history and some scary villians make an epic mix.

Due to end of year busyness I wasn’t able to sit and luxuriate in this book like I usually would. The way Kirsten has woven the story and written the characters meant I didn’t have to wonder about where I was up to and what the characters were doing. The book stayed with me it was THAT GOOD.

Disclosure: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Where to Buy: If you would like to buy this book (and I wholeheartedly recommend you do) you can find it through my affiliate link here.

Fly Like A Bird. Another Mrs B book review.

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The main character Ivy Taylor has been raised all her life by her grandmother, Violet. As Ivy grows up we learn about her extended family (2 Uncles and 2 cousins) her friends and the relationship she has with her grandmother.

They live in a small town in Iowa called Coffey. The timeline of the book covers 1959 – 1986.

As Ivy grows she learns her grandmother might be keeping some secrets about what happened to her parents.

The author does not dwell on the every day ins and outs of life in a small town. The author also ties up all story lines of the many characters, which I liked.

I would say this book is a coming of age tale as well as a mystery. There are some scenes of domestic violence and discussion of murder. It was all within context of the story so it wasn’t much of an issue.

I also think this book could have had a little more romance in it.

All in all a good read and I give it 4/5 stars.

I received this book from netgalley and I am giving this review voluntarily.

Entanglement – review.

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I will admit to being a bit sceptical at first, comparing this author to Douglas Adams is a big statement!  I must say it was a wonderful comparison!

This book is suited to anyone who is interested in sci-fi or something quirky.   The characters are all likable and the author captures their personalities very well.

This book is not in the “leave your brain at home” category.   The story line and points of view switch between the main characters quite regularly so you need to be engaged to remember what’s going on.  This wasn’t too difficult for my tired brain as I was enjoying it so much and wanted to see what happened next.

The continuing themes of cake, bricks, and moles added an extra something too.

I understand the Author is working on a follow up to this book and I cannot wait to read it.

In the mean time, if you would like to purchase this book you can through my affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/2JJj03o

I received this book from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I gave this book a 5 star rating on Netgalley and Amazon.

The Second Chance Supper Club. – Review

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The Second Chance Supper Club

The Second Chance Supper Club by Nicole Meier

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Julia and Ginny are sisters that have grown apart. Through a series of events Julia finds herself taking a break from her life in New York to fly across the country and pay Ginny a surprise visit in Arizona.
During the visit we find more about the sisters and why they grew apart. Julia also spends time with her now adult niece Olive.
The supper club is a charming setting and helps to weave the sisters stories together. Ginny runs the supper club from her home assisted by Olive. Ginny and Olive have a strained mother/daughter relationship. The addition of Julia adds a great perspective.
I found all 3 main characters and the peripheral characters reasonably likeable.
The book overall is a good read, its more “meaty” than a cozy romance. I did know fairly early on how the story would turn out.
A solid 3 star read.

I received and advance copy of this book and am giving this review voluntarily.



View all my reviews

The Sunday Potluck Club. A teeny tiny book preview review

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Recently I was given the chance to read a preview of The Sunday Potluck Club.

It’ll be available in March next year and I think it will be a great read.

The Sunday Potluck club follows Amy, Hazel, Bridget and Nichole. They met when they were each supporting one of their parents through cancer treatment.

The four women bonded, and the potluck club was born. Every Sunday they meet and have a potluck meal.
The story opens, focusing on Amy and her return to work. We also find out more about the other members of the club.

I can’t wait to read the rest of the book and find out what happens to Amy and the rest of the club.

The Corpse wore Stilettos, by MJ O’neil. With Coffee and a Cobblestone. Another Mrs B bite sized book review.

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Meet Kat Waters, she’s an ex socialite with a new job in morgue. With her eye for detail and fantastic makeup skills the morgue work seems fairly straight forward, if a bit icky.

One night she meets the very charming Burns McPhee. Through a series of events soon after meeting McPhee, the corpse she was working on gets stolen!

Throw in some other interesting characters, an eccentric grandmother, flamboyant friends and a newspaper reporter the book is a good read. There’s definitely potential for more books about these characters.

So where does the coffee and the cobblestone come in? The one place that I know you can purchase a cobblestone from is the restaurant that has “golden arches” for its logo. I see a cobblestone to be a cross between a muffin and a cinnamon scroll.

On the face of it this book looks like its written to the usual mystery formula. Instead it has a certain feel that veers away from that. The cinnamon scroll from the “golden arches” is a nice way to veer away from a hamburger.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Book Sirens. My reivew is honest.

If you would like to purchase this book (I recommend you do!) my affiliate link is: https://amzn.to/2JzWc5A If you purchase the book I will receive a portion of the sale amount.