Recent comments

The tea rose / by Donnelly, Jennifer,

Publication: London : HarperCollins, 2003 . 544 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2003

It's an endearing read about two ambitious people from the lower part of society in the late 1800s. Some nice glimpses of historic England and America that were very interesting. Added 09/10/2014 by

A mother's courage / by Court, Dilly,

Publication: London : Century, 2007 . 534 pages ; 18 cm. Date: 2007

A very moving story of courage that makes us realise how lucky we are not to have to go through what the mother in this story did. Added 09/10/2014 by

Safe haven / by Sparks, Nicholas,

Publication: New York : Grand Central Pub., 2010 . viii, 340 p. ; 22 cm. Date: 2010

A romantic family story that is scary and sad. The plot is very well thought out. Added 09/10/2014 by

Raiders of the Nile : a novel of the ancient world / by Saylor, Steven,

Publication: . 342 pages : 25 cm.

An adventurous comedy filled with love and history Added 09/10/2014 by

Elizabeth is missing / by Healey, Emma,

Publication: . 274 p. ; 21 cm.

Written with sympathy and understanding for both the aged mother with developing dementia and the caring daughter trying to deal with that in addition to her own working and family life. Added 07/10/2014 by Heather

A song for Issy Bradley : a novel / by Bray, Carys,

Publication: . 399 pages ; 20 cm.

Author Carys Bray was brought up as Mormon and so writes with some understanding about a Mormon Bishop's family whose youngest child dies of meningitis. Each member deals with it differently and the father/bishop tries to answer their reactions with the memorised teachings of his church. But he comes to realise that that is not enough. A moving, well written and thoughtful book with moments of gentle humour, well worth reading. Added 27/09/2014 by Heather

Crimson dawn / by McDonald, Fleur,

Publication: . 394 pages ; 24 cm.

Women writers from Australia are really coming to the fore in the genre of mystery/romance, especially when it comes to writing of farming in the remote areas. This is one of those authors and one of those books. A young woman has inherited an outback farm and is successfully widening the streams of income from the land. A bitter row with her long time boyfriend and his sister leads to a possible take-over bid for her much loved farm and she has to call on all the help she can muster to combat the threat. Nicely written and very easy to read, this is another author I will be reading again. Recommended

The First of July / by Speller, Elizabeth,

Publication: . xiii, 399 pages ; 24 cm.

Centred on the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, there are four main characters - an American with an aristocratic English family, a French carpenter, an English department store salesman and a cycling enthusiast. They each experience the horrors of war in different fighting ranks and situations, slowly realising the hard realities of war. Worth reading! Added 20/09/2014 by Heather

Catching air / by Pekkanen, Sarah,

Publication: . 455 pages (large print) ; 23 cm

Going on the publisher's blurb, I had high hopes for this book. I should have known better! The story concerns two married couples who, for different reasons, come together to run a very upmarket bed and breakfast in Vermont, USA. I must say that this B & B is not like any that I've ever known! Apart from the unbelievable B &B, the characters are equally unbelievable; weak women, men who either so 'modern man' they almost sprout wings or so stupid that they should have a forked tail! I ploughed my way through to the end of this most unlikely story but I will not be reading more from this author.

Making soapies in Kabul : hot days, crazy nights and dangerous liasons in a war zone / by Tierney, Trudi-Ann,

Publication: Sydney : Allen & Unwin, 2014 . 296 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : 24 cm. Date: 2014

I did not find this book as interesting as I expected - lots of focus on the author's social life rather than the problems of Kabul. I did not finish it, Added 29/08/2014 by Heather

Freedom's land / by Jacobs, Anna,

Publication: London : Hodder, 2008 . 405 p. ; 20 cm. Date: 2008

I think I must have read and enjoyed most of Anna Jacobs' books but this one was just a little bit of a let down. The story is fine but the writing appears somewhat laboured and probable reads more like a documentary that a novel. I could well imagine that this was written in response to a publisher's cry of 'write another book quickly' and Ms Jacobs has done just that. Not a bad book but not up to the authors usual high standard.

The secret life of James Cook / by Lay, Graeme,

Publication: . 368 pages : 24 cm

This book and its sequel James Cook's New World' are accounts of the life of this justly famous sailor, navigator and explorer put together as a novel. Written by NZ author, Graeme Lay, this strategy works splendidly, bringing the both the private and professional life of this remarkable man brilliantly to life. Equally, it highlights the very real drawbacks of the life of a seaman in the 18th century, including the great difficulties and sorrows it caused his wife, Elizabeth, and his children. Few of his children survived to adulthood and their mother had to bear these losses on her own. The books do not minimise these problems in any way but they also show the great pleasure and satisfaction that Cook gained from his life. His great care for those under him, including all the common sailors who sailed with him, shows him to have been a man of high principles and who lived by those principles. Cook's great love of the sea and his equally great love for his wife meant that he had to choose between them and, as we know, the sea was the winner. These books are obviously the result of a great deal of research and are written so well that they are very easy to read, gallop along like a good story and, at the same time, a great deal of knowledge of the times, navigation, the sea and sailing is being absorbed by the reader almost without realising it. Lay is a prolific writer in a number of genre and I am surprised that I haven't come across him before. I believe he is writing a third in the series and I will be looking out for this as well as other of his books. I cannot recommend these books too highly, both as great reads and for their insight into the lives of many people who had great influence in the founding of New Zealand.

Nightshade / by Leather, Stephen,

Publication: London : Hodder & Stoughton, 2013 . 425 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2013

heart gripping occult drama. The interaction between all the characters to make this a book I needed to get to the end so that all would be put right again. Not to be read before bed. I wondered why I choose this as its a bit scary. Added 14/08/2014 by Gail

The broken places / by Atkins, Ace,

Publication: . 358 pages : 24 cm.

Hillbillies in todays world I didn't finish this book. Added 14/08/2014 by Gail

Life or death / by Robotham, Michael,

Publication: . 434 pages ; 24 cm.

Not part of the Joe O'loughlin series..Disappointiing.

Up and down in the Dales / by Phinn, Gervase,

Publication: London : Penguin, 2005 . 288 p. ; 18 cm. Date: 2005

Another lovely book in this series. If you liked James Herriot you will love these books by Gervase Phinn. Lots of fun, some emotion and all eminently readable. Highly recommended

As darkness falls / by Parry, Bronwyn,

Publication: Sydney : Hachette Australia, 2008 . 358 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2008

I seem to be reading and enjoying more books set (and written) across the Tasman! This one contains some horrifying crimes in the far outback of NSW. A woman Park Ranger and a bruised and battered policeman set out to solve the mystery and, at the same time, keep themselves safe. Well written, good feel for the country and believable characters. The murders are pretty brutal and so be prepared for that. I very much liked this story and want more from Ms Parry.

The modern family survival guide / by Latta, Nigel,

Publication: Auckland, N.Z. : Random House, 2013 . 301 p. ; 24 cm. Date: 2013

Helpful, funny and filled with wisdom and common sense. Added 09/12/2013 by

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross / by Patterson, James,

Publication: New York : Little, Brown and Co., 2012 . 323, 7, 6 p. ; 25 cm. Date: 2012

Another really good suspense novel from James Patterson Added 09/12/2013 by

Instructions for a heatwave / by O'Farrell, Maggie,

Publication: London : Tinder, 2013 . 338 pages ; 24 cm. Date: 2013

An intriguing book about complicated relationships. Very compelling and honest. Added 09/12/2013 by