I Owe You One...Not the usual Sophie Kinsella that I love

Title: I Owe You One
Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 978-1784163570
Rating: 6/10
Genre: Chick Flick, Romance, Fiction
Type: Audiobook

"I learnt that failure doesn't mean you are a failure; it just means you're a human being...But what can you do about mistakes except thinking, Won't do that again, and move forward?... The trouble with me is, I can't let things go."

The Hunger Games Mockingjay...Finally finished the series

Title: Hunger Games Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN: 978-1-407132-10-5

Rating: 6/10
Series Rating: 8/10 (first time seen on this blog)
Genre: Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Drama
Type: Paperback

“I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather. This is where the bed I shared with my sister, Prim, stood. Over there was the kitchen table. The bricks of the chimney, which collapsed in a charred heap, provide a point of reference for the rest of the house. How else could I orient myself in this sea of grey?”

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit...Still fascinates me

Title: When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Author: Judith Kerr
ISBN:
Rating: 8/10
Genre: History, War, WWII, Autobiographical
Type: Kindle

"They spelled out the name under the photograph.
Adolf Hitler.
'He wants everybody to vote for him in the elections and then he's going to stop the Jews,' said Elsbeth. 'Do you think he's going to stop Rachel Lowenstein?'
'Nobody can stop Rachel Lowenstein,' said Anna. 'She's form captain. Perhaps he'll stop me. I'm Jewish too.'
'You're not!'
'I am! My father was talking to us about it only last week. He said we were Jews and no matter what happened my brother and I must never forget it.'
'But you don't go to a special church on Saturdays like Rachel Lowenstein.'
'That's because we're not religious. We don't go to church at all.'
'I wish my father wasn't religious,' said Elsbeth. 'We have to go every Sunday and I get cramp in my seat.' She looked at Anna curiously. 'I thought Jews were supposed to have bent noses, but your nose is quite ordinary. Has your brother got a bent nose?'
'No,' said Anna. 'The only person in our house with a bent nose is Bertha the maid, and hers only got like that because she broke it falling off a tram.'

I See You...I wonder what is next

Title: I See You
Author: Clare Mackintosh
ISBN: 978-0-7515-5412
Rating: 7/10
Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Adult, Crime
Type: Kindle

"There had been no violence, which meant the theft of Cathy's keys was a theft, not a robbery, but Kelly decided to gloss over the fact, in case the severity of the crime was directly proportionate to Tamir's level of cooperation. Besides, if Cathy was right and the offender had followed her home, and had since been using her key to gain access to her house, there was something far more serious going on. A shudder ran through Kelly at the thought of someone creeping around Cathy's house. What had he been doing? Touching her make-up? Taking her underwear? Cathy had said she thought someone had been in her house when she was at work, but what if that wasn't the only time? Kelly imagined an intruder moving quietly around Cathy's kitchen in the dead of night; creeping upstairs to stand by her bed and watch her sleep."

The House of Special Purpose...What Really Happened to the Romanov Family?

Title: The House of Special Purpose
Author: John Boyne
ISBN: 978-0-7531-4491-6
Rating: 8/10
Genre: History, Fiction
Type: Audiobook

The House of Special Purpose is a book which I absolutely loved. Georgy Jachmenev is a gentleman who was born in Russia leading up to World War One. He is kind, generous, considerate and hard working. I absolutely loved him. He is married to Zoya who when we meet is suffering from cancer. They have been together since they were 18 and now in their 80s Georgy is having to come to terms with living his adult life for the first time without Zoya once her illness becomes too much.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine...What a let down

Title: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
ISBN: 978-0-0081-7211-4
Rating: 6/10
Genre: Fiction, England, Grief
Type: Paperback

"I have always enjoyed reading, but I've never been sure how to select the appropriate material. There are so many books in the world - how do you tell them apart? How do you know which one will match your tastes and interests? That's why I just pick the first book I see. There's no point in trying to choose. The covers are of very little help, because they always say only good things, and I've found out to my cost that they are rarely accurate. Exhilarating. Dazzling. Hilarious. No!"

This is Going to Hurt...The true life of a junior doctor

Title: This is Going to Hurt
Author: Adam Kay
ISBN: 978-1-5098-5863-7
Rating: 7/10
Genre: Adult, Medical, Biography, Non-Fiction
Type: Paperback

"A few of my colleagues had kids by this point and lived their lives in constant childcare hell, adding 'guilt' to the psychology textbook of emotions that a career in medicine bequeaths you. I don't have kids, but I could understand what a gut-wrench it was for my colleagues to settle for a goodnight phone call with their children rather than tucking them in and reading them The Gruffalo. Or, more often than not, they'd miss the call altogether because labour ward was in meltdown. A friend who worked in general surgery once couldn't go along to his own son's emergency surgery because he was performing non-emergency surgery on someone else's son and no one could cover for him."

The Last Straw...I just wanted them all to be okay

Title: The Last Straw
Author: Ed Duncan
ISBN: 978-1-97344400-8
Rating: 7/10
Genre: Murder Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Type: Paperback

"It was a pleasant morning and all seemed right with the world. The sun shone brightly and there was a gentle breeze. As Rico and Jean strolled down a neighbourhood street, a rubber ball that had gotten away from some kids playing stick ball in the street bounced in front of them. Rico reflexively caught it on the fly and held it for a second before lobbing it back to them. He thought back to a time almost twenty-five years earlier when he had played the same game on the other side of town. Those were halycon times - until they weren't. But the thought passed quickly. Those days were gone and he seldom dwelled on them. Life was different now - more complicated and more dangerous - but not worse. He did what he wanted, came and went as he pleased, and controlled his own destiny. What more could he ask for?"

Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows...A great read for a teenager

Title: Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows
Author: J. M. Bergen
ISBN: 978-1-732-45780-5
Rating: 7/10
Genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Magic, Teen Fiction, Young Adult
Type: Paperback due for release on 2nd February

"Hey! Hey! Wait!' shouted Thomas. He rushed forward as the door swung shut. The lock clicked just as his fingers reached the doorknob. He pounded on the door, fiery anger flooding his body. 'HEY!!!! Let me out of here!'
Nothing. He hammered more and met with the same result. He hit the door with his fist. Pain shot through his hand and up his arm. He hit is again, harder than the first time. The jolt ached all the way to his shoulder. A trickle of blood escaped from a thin cut on the knuckle of his second finger. He leaned against the door, hurt and frustrated.
His stomach growled, loudly. He looked down, suddenly aware of the smells wafting into his nostrils. The domed lid lifted easily, revealing a plate of grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and seasoned green beans. A piece of chocolate cake with white frosting was resting on a side platter. The cake was loaded with chocolate chips and layers of fudge, just the way he liked it.
For a brief moment, Thomas forgot his surroundings. He had a drumstick in his hand and was about to take a bite when it hit him. Aside from the silver platter, it was the exact meal his mom cooked on special occasions. How was that possible? He stared suspiciously at the chicken. Was it laced with poison? A sleeping potion? Something worse?"