Driven - Dane Cobain

Description

Meet private detective James Leipfold, computer whizzkid Maile O'Hara and good-natured cop Jack Cholmondeley in the first book of the Leipfold series.

A car strikes in the middle of the night and a young actress lies dead in the road. The police force thinks it's an accident, but Maile and Leipfold aren't so sure.

Putting their differences aside, and brought together by a shared love of crosswords and busting bad guys, Maile and Leipfold investigate. But not all is as it seems, as they soon find out to their peril.

Review

I've followed Dane Cobain through social media for some time and so when he quit his day job to become a full time writer I was intrigued what his books would be like. I've had this book on my personal tbr list for some time and am so glad I finally got around to reading it.

It really was a cracking read. I loved the characters, especially Maile with her bang up to date internet sleuthing skills. In fact the book was full of great tech references even down to the killer car. Once I started to read I really couldn't put it down, I just loved the writing it flowed beautifully from the page. It reminded me a little of Galbraith's duo in that we have a PI down on his luck who lives mainly in his office and an assistant willing to work for little or nothing. The writing was just as good as Galbraith too.

Kept me guessing to the end as to who did what and why - a great twisting and turning plot. I would love to give the book five stars but I am going with four. Much as I love Agatha Christie I wasn't such a fan when Dane decided to use one of her literary vehicles in his book! Just didn't hit the spot with me. I won't say more as I don't do spoilers, maybe he meant it as a homage?

How to live Japanese - Yutaka Yazawa

Description

With nearly 60 per cent of us living in cities, the mega-city of Tokyo, through centuries of raze and rebuild, is surely the guiding light for how we can live together amicably in an ever-urbanising world.
 
Not only is Japan the mother of all metropolis’ but with two thirds of the country covered in forest, there is still much respect and celebration of the natural world, with people perfectly placed to make the most of the green space around them. From the art of making tea, to going for a hike, or celebrating imperfections, there are ceremonies the Japanese have been honing for centuries that thrive alongside modern traditions and practices of well-being.
 
From Miyazaki to mountains, sake to sparking joy, find your Zen and make time to learn about how to live Japanese. Whether it’s the cutting edge of film-making, revolutionizing the whisky market or competing with parents on lunchboxes, you’ll be all the better for some time spent with How to Live Japanese.
 
From Japanese writer, Yutaka Yazawa, this is the ultimate insider’s guide to the country of Japan, full of inspiration and insight to help you experience the very best of Japanese design, cookery, philosophy, and culture. So get outdoors, be gracious to your neighbour and start harmonizing your all too busy life.

Review

This is an absolutely beautiful book with many wonderful illustrations and photographs. Unfortunately there is no key to photographs - if you have been to Tokyo many of them you will recognise, but to the uninitiated it may have been nice to give details of the locations. It is also not a complete guide to the regions - I would have loved to have read about the Hokuriku region which is where I visited, but it is not covered.

This is not a book in the style of Marie Kondo with the advice on how to actually live in the Japanese style. Rather it is an observation by a Japanese person who very cleverly interprets for the western mind the culture and essence of Japan. You will not buy this book and begin to live like a Japanese person, you will however have some understanding of why certain things are done they way they are in Japan.

Different areas of Japan are highlighted and a little history about that area. Every aspect of life is covered from birth, naming babies to funerals. Things I have never read in a book about Japan before. Festivals by month are given There is also a small glossary of Japanese phrases that have no literal translation - again not something I have seen written down before.

As someone who has visited Japan I found this book fascinating and a memento of my time there. If you are yet to visit or just intrigued this is a good book to become acquainted with Japan.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of the book.

If Cats Disappeared From The World - Genki Kawamura

Description

Our narrator’s days are numbered. Estranged from his family, living alone with only his cat Cabbage for company, he was unprepared for the doctor’s diagnosis that he has only months to live. But before he can set about tackling his bucket list, the Devil appears with a special offer: in exchange for making one thing in the world disappear, he can have one extra day of life. And so begins a very bizarre week . . . Because how do you decide what makes life worth living? How do you separate out what you can do without from what you hold dear? In dealing with the Devil our narrator will take himself – and his beloved cat – to the brink. Genki Kawamura's If Cats Disappeared from the World is a story of loss and reconciliation, of one man’s journey to discover what really matters in modern life. This beautiful tale is translated from the Japanese by Eric Selland, who also translated The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide. Fans of The Guest Cat and The Travelling Cat Chronicles will also surely love If Cats Disappeared from the World.

Review

I'm not particularly a big lover of cats but I did love this book. If you are a cat owner you will really identify with the book. My reason for reading it was that it is by a Japanese author. From the description you might imagine this to be a sombre book dealing as it does with someone who has been told they are going to die very soon. It's actually far from that and in places it is very amusing, especially when a cat begins to speak and sounds like someone from Downton Abbey!

As the narrator strikes his deal with the devil who incidentally is wearing an Hawaiian shirt - things begin to disappear. What is life like when they are gone? There are so many life messages in this beautifully written book. It is really a novella and one I will probably read again just to let the lovely writing flow through my mind. Such a soothing book to read too.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this title. It is out on 20 September 2018.

Normal Dog and the Legend of Self Esteem: A Formula Q Story - Alexander Charalambides

Description

Kosuke is a perfectly normal dog with an unusual ambition: he wants to be a mechanic. He wants to design and build the powerful, exhilarating jetcars of Formula Q.

His problem? He’s a dog. Some people just won’t take him seriously, and that includes his own brother. 

Encouraged by Speedlord, an unknown subscriber to Kosuke’s lifestream, Kosuke decides to take one last shot at his dream, but when his big brother turns out to prove him wrong, the event becomes far more than just a race.

Can Kosuke prove that he too can handle the awe-inspiring speed of the Hyper Q jetcars he longs to design or will he lose not just the race, but his hopes and dreams for the future? Will his brother succeed in proving he’s a no talent normal dog? Who exactly is Speedlord? 

Normal Dog and the Legend of Self Esteem can be read alone or as part of a collection of YA stories and (so far) one novel (Formula Q - to be published September 2018) set in a bright, colorful future where cars fly, men and women race together, and dogs make superb mechanics.

Review

Having read K.I.A by the author I was intrigued what this short story was about. 

Kosuke wants to be a mechanic but he is a dog! However, in this world the author has created that doesn't seem to be reason enough to hold him back. He certainly has the talent needed. It's really the relationship he has with his brother that is the problem. 

I love the writing - so easy to read and accessible. I'm certainly interested in reading more about these characters.

My thanks to the author for an advance copy for review. You can buy it on Amazon at the moment for 99p.

The Mistress of Pennington's - Rachel Brimble

Description

1910 – A compelling tale of female empowerment in Bath's leading department store. Perfect for the fans of the TV series Mr Selfridge and The Paradise.

Elizabeth Pennington should be the rightful heir of Bath's premier department store through her enterprising schemes and dogged hard work. Her father, Edward Pennington believes his daughter lacks the business acumen to run his empire and is resolute a man will succeed him.

Determined to break from her father's iron-clad hold and prove she is worthy of inheriting the store, Elizabeth forms an unlikely alliance with ambitious and charismatic master glove-maker Joseph Carter. United they forge forward to bring Pennington's into a new decade, embracing woman's equality and progression whilst trying not to mix business and pleasure.

Can this dream team thwart Edward Pennington's plans for the store? Or will Edward prove himself an unshakeable force who will ultimately ruin both Elizabeth and Joseph?

Review

When I saw this book was going to be perfect for fans of Mr Selfridge and The Paradise I knew I had to read it and I wasn't disappointed.

My blood boiled frequently while reading the book and the fate of Miss Pennington at the hands of her draconian father. No matter that the suffragette movement was taking off, Mr Pennington has very firm ideas of how his daughter should behave and being in business is not one of them.

I know these were very different times and this is exactly how it would have been, but it still rankled with me whenever Mr Pennington had something to say to his daughter. He reminded me of Scrooge in a Christmas Carol. Thankfully Miss Pennington is made of strong stuff and does not back down from her Father and her plans for the store.

There is a romance within the pages and the story is maybe a little longer than it needed to be, but I still really liked it. There will be those that will say it is a predictable tale, but actually I thought the ending was anything but predictable. A great read, a little escapism and a wonderful insight into social history and the development of shopping within a Department store. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for an ARC to review.

The Lucky Dress - Aimee Brown

Description

We all have our lucky dress... an irresistibly hilarious rom-com!

Emi Harrison hasn't been feeling particularly lucky lately. Ever since her ex-fiancée, Jack Cabot, successfully shattered her heart into a million pieces. She's managed to avoid him for a whole year, but all that's about to change at her brother Evan's wedding...

She will have to face Jack, Jack's sister, Jack's parents, and Jack's new girlfriend: a mean girl that just won't quit. What could possibly go wrong?

With her lucky dress on, all bets are off, and maybe Emi will find her happily-ever-after at last?

Review

I've actually read and reviewed this book before - except Aimee got a new publisher and rewrote the book and so it's not technically the same book at all. I never read books twice - I mean why would you when there are so many books to read. However, something about the previous version of the book "The Little Gray Dress" hooked me so much that I just had to see how Aimee changed it.

Now don't get me wrong - I loved it the first time, but this time around as The Lucky Dress it is even better. Emi and Jack have only been apart from one another a year instead of two this time around. Although the "lovely"! (not) piece of work that is Greta is still hanging onto Jack's arm as his new girlfriend, this time around I felt more confident that she could be thrown off - but I will leave you to read and find out if that gets to happen.

The star of the book has to be Jack's Mother Amelia - do Mother-in-laws like this actually exist? - I wish this one did, what a true lady. I found myself waiting with glee for her lines.

I found it interesting to see how Aimee switched around some of the story a little but if it is the first time reading for you - you are in for a real treat. Such a good story with a romantic but down to earth feel - so glad I read it twice!

Five out of five stars to Aimee not only for a fab read but also the tenacity to rewrite - I'm not sure I would have had the tenacity - I hated rewriting and editing essays only a few thousands words long.

My thanks to Netgalley and Aria Publishing for an ARC of the book for review.

Also - Emi's friend Liam is going to get his own story due out next year! Can't wait.

How to Stop Time - Matt Haig

Description

HOW MANY LIFETIMES DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE?

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old history teacher, but he's been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz-Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen it all. As long as he keeps changing his identity he can keep one step ahead of his past - and stay alive. The only thing he must not do is fall in love . . .

Review

If you've read my reviews before you will know I love time travel books. Now whilst this isn't strictly time travel, it's someone who has lived for a very long time, so it still felt a little like time travel and I loved it.

I also love social history and this book has it in oodles, as Tom recounts some of his life from years past and then in the present day he points out how things in London have changed since Tudor times. I've read before accounts of the witch hunts and the dunking stool, but this brought it to all too real life for me. Especially when Tom gets tracked down across the sea.

The book flip flops back and forth from present day Tom the history teacher to his life over the many centuries. At times the concept reminded me of the book One Hundred Years of Solitude. In many ways it is a book of one man just retelling his day to day life, if you can count meeting Shakespeare and Charlie Chaplin as normal.

There is also a little romance, a cute dog and a secret organisation - really this book has it all and I was enthralled by it. I really got into the book and and no point questioned how crazy it all was, I just went with it and enjoyed the ride. I loved it so much I read it in one day. 

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. Thanks to the library for lending me a copy!