“Reality doesn’t always give us the life that we desire, but we can always find what we desire between the pages of books.”

 

The F**k It! List – Melanie Cantor (Pub. Date 28 March 2024)

When Daisy, who is just about to have everything she ever wanted, suddenly has her life implode when she catches her long-term partner bonking someone else in the garden at her 40th birthday party – she suddenly has a lot of decisions to make regarding what compromises she may now have to make to still realise at least some of her dreams. Exploring the strength it takes to not take the easy, the conventional, widely accepted and understood route in life. Because the easy route is not right for everyone. The F**k It! List is very funny, albeit heart-breaking at times, but it really reinforces the importance of friendship and a great support network in life.

 

Britannia Rises – Russell Dumper

A dystopian (of sorts) thriller of underworld and underhand tactics to gain control and amass power for The British Empire. A mixture of economic obfuscation, civil liberties distortions, enemies created to suit an agenda and way to many true to life parallels to feel comfortable with. Brilliantly written, excellently researched and seemingly very clued up on military combat and operative knowledge that just got you hooked.  Very clever. What a great debut! Not for those who dislike graphic violence...

 

Seven Days - Robert Rutherford (Pub. Date 11 Apr 2024)

You have 7 days to save the life of a man on death row who despite his admittance of his undoubtable shady past misdemeanours, is adamant he did not do what has had him sentenced to death. Not an uncommon assertion when being found guilty. However, Alice has been tasked with at least trying to prove his innocence, after all it is her job to defend the indefensible, everyone deserves a fair trial. Despite Alice knowing his past is deplorable and he at least guilty of something. He’s also her dad.

But while battling with moral dilemmas of duty, who you can and can’t trust and surprises popping up all over the place, sometimes we have to accept that both good and bad people make mistakes they regret. And we have to navigate this while trying not to get killed.

 

Dog Smart - Jennifer S. Holland (Pub. Date 21 May 2024)

Sit. stay. Read. What an absolute treat from an author whose delivery style in talking about ‘people’s best friend, was funny, engaging, varied and incredibly eye opening. What science, research and intrigue are helping us understand about dogs and what they can do, why they want to and how to achieve and measure this is beyond what I ever imagined. I would also love to know what my dog (a Beagle) was capable of, but sensibility and lack of the necessity to potentially put her in harms way hinders that. Apart from the times I know she proved capability, when she decided that she wasn’t feeling the walk one day and set off home. I just didn’t have a go-pro attached to see how good/careful she was!

I support a charity called Support Dogs UK that train dogs to help with autistic children, people with disabilities and epilepsy seizure alert. So, I already know they are incredible in what they are capable of. I am soon to by doing a wing-walking event to help raise money for there here.

I am now that person that keeps on regurgitating incites from this book, I found it enthralling and I devoured it!

 

More books...