{"id":5607,"date":"2015-01-18T07:00:07","date_gmt":"2015-01-18T07:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janetgover.com\/?p=5607"},"modified":"2015-01-18T07:00:07","modified_gmt":"2015-01-18T07:00:07","slug":"some-books-to-consider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/janetgover.com\/?p=5607","title":{"rendered":"Some books to consider"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>
A return to a favourite author.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

With a bit of spare time during the holidays, I was able to catch up on some reading (not that my to be read pile seems any smaller).<\/p>\n

I tried to spread my wings a little and try some new authors as well as some old favourites.<\/p>\n

Here’s a selection that I thought you might find interesting.<\/p>\n

The Comforts of Home – Jodi Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n

This the third of the Harmony books \u2013 from an author who is already one of my favourites. This series just gets better.<\/p>\n

I have had many conversations with fellow writers about how many characters and how many different points of view should be in a book. Some stories are told through the eyes of just one character \u2013 or perhaps two. I can\u2019t tell you how many character viewpoints there are in this book \u2013 I lost count. But that doesn\u2019t matter. Because reading a Harmony book is like walking through the town, meeting old friends and talking to each one.<\/p>\n

Loved it\u2026 and have just downloaded the next in the series.<\/p>\n

\"Read<\/a>
Read it – but I have dibbs on the lovely Marsh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Girl on the Run \u2013 Rhoda Baxter<\/strong><\/p>\n

I read this because I know Rhoda \u2013 and she is a smart, funny person. Not surprisingly, it\u2019s a smart funny book.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s light and enjoyable \u2013 perfect for reading in bed on a lazy Sunday morning. I read it quickly \u2013 not just to avoid housework, but because I really wanted to know what happened next.<\/p>\n

The hero Marsh is smart \u2013 and so lovely. I still have a bit of a crush on him.<\/p>\n

I really liked the way it was set in the contemporary world \u2013 with a lot of the relationships involving as much text and e-mail and they did face to face meetings. After all, isn’t that\u00a0how we keep in touch with people these days.<\/p>\n

I have already bought the next book by Rhoda.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Agincourt \u2013 Bernard Cornwell<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A big book about a big battle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This was my first Bernard Cornwell book. I have been hearing friends rave about this historical novelist for such a long time \u2013 and I was not disappointed.<\/p>\n

This is a big, rich book \u2013 not for the faint-hearted – in more ways than one.<\/p>\n

Coming into the novel, I knew almost nothing about the famous battle \u2013 it wasn\u2019t taught in Australian history classes. Cornwell has a reputation for historical accuracy – and the book is certainly written with authority and convection.<\/p>\n

Cornwell uses fictional characters (or the fictional story of real characters) to tell his tale , and it works well. I was caught up in the battle \u2013 I could smell the blood and smoke and\u2026. Well, let\u2019s just say Cornwell doesn\u2019t sugar coat the unpleasantness of a medieval battle field.<\/p>\n

The battle scenes are written in great detail. Perhaps a little too much detail in places. There are only so many times I want to read how to kill a man in armour. And as most of the book is a battle, it did get a bit much towards the end. But having said that. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and read it in just a few days (no mean feat –\u00a0it\u2019s a thick book).<\/p>\n

I will be reading more of Cornwell, but for the next, I might for something a little less battle-heavy.<\/p>\n

Does he do books without battles?<\/p>\n

A Lawman\u2019s Christmas \u2013 Linda Lael Miller<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Not<\/a>
Not a bad choice if you’re a fan of men in big hats and big boots.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This book had two complete stories \u2013 one a recently written western and a \u2018classic bonus\u2019 story first published (I think) in 1990.<\/p>\n

What I found so interesting here was the difference between the two stories.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a big fan of Linda Lael Miller\u2019s western romances \u2013 and the first story was the equal of any of them.<\/p>\n

The second story \u2013 called Daring Moves was quite short \u2013 an so very obviously an early work.<\/p>\n

Although no doubt contemporary at the time, the lack of mobile phones and computers etc did date the story\u2026 as did the writing style. While there were flashes of the storytelling that I love in her more recent books, this was obviously an author still developing her style and voice.<\/p>\n

The short was not as good as her other work \u2013 but\u00a0gave a really interesting picture of\u00a0how much she has changed and grown as a writer over time.<\/p>\n

I hope that twenty years from now, a reader comparing my latest novel and an old one will say the same about me.<\/p>\n

Woman walks into a Bar \u2013 Rowan Coleman.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A good book and a good cause<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to recommend this book for two reasons<\/p>\n

First \u2013 it is a great read. It\u2019s a novella \u2013 so it\u2019s short, but perfectly formed. It\u2019s real and emotional and funny and sad.<\/p>\n

Not only that, the lovely author has donated 100 % of her royalties from this book to Refuge – a charity for the victims of domestic violence.<\/p>\n

Very well done on both counts, Rowan Coleman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I fall in Love \u2013 Miranda Dickinson<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Keep<\/a>
Keep the tissues handy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

This book was a delight. It\u2019s my first Miranda Dickinson book, but it won\u2019t be my last.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s funny and sad. There are really sad moment that had me fighting back the tears, and laugh out loud moments too.<\/p>\n

The characters are people I would like to be friends with. Their problems are real and their happy ending is also real.<\/p>\n

I think this is probably very much a girls book \u2013 I can\u2019t see a lot of men reading it.<\/p>\n

But girls, I\u2019m pretty sure you\u2019ll love it as much as I did.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joyland \u2013 Stephen King<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The cover is a good indication of what lies inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019m going to make this book of the month \u2013 because I just could not put it down.<\/p>\n

So much has been said \u2013 and argued \u2013 about Stephen King, there\u2019s really nothing I can add \u2013 oh wait. Yes there is.<\/p>\n

Joyland is a departure from the traditional King horror novels. Yes, there is a supernatural element, but it is a gentle ghost story. It\u2019s a not-so-gentle crime story too that seems to cross a few boundaries.<\/p>\n

The setting in a failing US theme park is a bit reminiscent of Ray Bradbury \u2013 but the story and the writing are all King. I was engrossed. There were unexpected plot twists to keep me guessing.<\/p>\n

If you have been wary of trying King because you don\u2019t like the gory horror bits \u2013 try this.<\/p>\n

You might just like it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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