The Heart Of Winter

The Heart Of Winter

By Shona Kinsella

Genre:-Fantasy/Mythology

Pages:-240

Publisher:-Flame Tree Press

Blurb:-Brigit is a young woman living in a Scotland still ruled by tribes and largely Pagan. As Christianity is beginning to find a foothold, Brigit pays lip service to the church, but truly venerates the old gods. She does not support the changing position of women through the teachings of the church.

 A cool, damp summer and an early winter threaten the harvest. A harsh winter means starvation, so the elders of Brigit's village panic. They petition Aengus, the god of summer, to protect them. He agrees on the condition that they provide him with a bride. He chooses Brigit and the deal is made without her knowledge or consent.

 When Brigit learns of this arrangement, she flees into the Highlands to seek out the Cailleach, the goddess of winter. The Cailleach is uninterested in Brigit's plight; humans have hated and feared her for generations, and she is tired of their complaining. Brigit is not discouraged. She sets up camp outside the Cailleach's cave and makes offerings to the Winter Queen every day. Aengus comes looking for his bride but cannot approach the cave because he and the Cailleach are opposites. Caught between two gods and finding an unlikely ally in the Fae witch, Nicnevin, Brigit will be tested to her limits and beyond.

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My Review:-Based on Scottish mythology, as well as the beginning of Christianity. Brigit lives with her parents in Scotland a place that is still ruled by tribes and largely Pagan. When Brigit asks her best friend Mary who is crying at the well what is wrong, she is told that she must marry Hamish, even though he is nearly forty.  The year will be exceptionally hard and there won't be enough food for the village, the village elders decide a sacrifice has to be made to Aengus Lord of Summer, but Aengus won't take an elders life as sacrifice, he wants to marry Brigit, a young woman that he has noticed. The elders agree but once Brigit hears of it, she is against it. There is only one way she can stop Aengus and that is to find Cailleach, the goddess of winter, but it's not going to be as easy as Brigit thinks, and once she finds Cailleach will she agree to help, after all she has been hated and feared by humans for generations. Brigit is not one to take no for an answer and sets up a camp outside the Cailleach's cave. Brigit finds an unlikely ally in a fae witch called Nicnevin, but will this be enough.. A book of fantasy and also of knowing what you want and will try anything to get it

The Human Kind

The Human Kind

By Alexander Baron

Genre:-Wartime Fiction/Historical Fiction

Pages:-192

Publisher:-The Imperial War Museum and is part of the IWM Wartime Classics series

Blurb:-MARKING THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS WARTIME CLASSICS SERIES

 Alexander Baron's remarkable Trilogy of the Second World War to be published together for the first time.

Spanning the Sicilian countryside to the brothels of Ostend, and the final book in Alexander Baron's War Trilogy, The Human Kind is a series of pithy vignettes reflective of the author's own wartime experiences.

 From the interminable days of training in Britain to brutal combat across Northwest Europe, the book depicts many of the men, women-and, in some cases, children-affected by the widespread reach of the Second World War.

 In his trademark spare prose, Baron's work provides an emotive and incisive snapshot into the lives of myriad characters during this tumultuous period in history,

 Based on Alexander Baron's own wartime experiences, this new edition of a 1953 classic includes an introduction from IWM which puts the work in historical context, and concludes the author's War Trilogy

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My Review:-This is the final book in Alexander Baron's War Trilogy. I haven't read the other two books in the trilogy, but now that I have read this powerful book I will be reading the other two books in the trilogy. The book is set out as 25 short stories, which can be read as one or a pick up and put down. Each story has an narrator, but not till the end that we are introduce as 'Alex' (Alexander Baron). Having military links in the family I found this book both interesting and emotional. I have to say there wasn't anything I didn't like about this book. At times I felt that Baron's was sitting with me telling me the stories, as he remembered them happening. I highly recommend that you read this book. 

Little Red Driving Hood

Little Red Driving Hood

By Stacey Rayz

Genre:-Children's Fiction

Ages:-5-10

Publisher:-Two Season Press

Blurb:-Think you know the story of Little Red? Think again! This time Little Red is under the hood. What challenges will she encounter on her way to grandma's this time?

 Would you dare take a risk if your life depended on it? Especially on a day when everything seems to go wrong? Little Red dares to be different and takes bold risks as she ventures into a field that is out of the norm for girls.

 Perfect for girls and boys ages 5 to 10 who love cars, fixing things, and fairy tales, this empowering story is a modern mashup between Little Red Hood and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Little Red Driving Hood and the Three Repairs is a treat for little mechanics-in-the-making and girls who will grow up into empowered women with the choice to challenge gender roles for a better society.

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My Review:-This a twist on what we all know as Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red Driving Hood was read by my granddaughter Emily and myself. Little Red loves helping out at the car garage where her mam works on cars. Her mam asked if she would help her grandma fix her car and hands her a tool box, Red wants to show off her skills she has learnt. On the way to Grandma's house she meet three members of the Wolf family, baby wolf, Mama wolf and big bad Papa wolf. Even though she didn't manage to fix the first two cars she still keeps trying to help fix Papa wolf's car. Red shows children even if you don't manage something first time, you should still keep trying, and not to be afraid if you can't do it. The book shows that even if you are a woman you can still do whatever you want to do. Each page has a bright and colourful illustration. Emily found Little Red Driving Hood easy to read, as well as plenty to talk about.

Lost and Found

Lost 7 Found: 9 life-changing lessons about stuff from someone who has lost everything

By Helen Chandler-Wilde

Genre:-Non Fiction/Memoir/Social Psychology

Pages:-320

Publisher:-Aster/Octopus Books

Blurb:-An exploration into why we keep holding on to material things and what they mean to us.

 On New Year's Eve of 2018, journalist Helen Chandler-Wilde lost everything she owned in a storage unit fire in Croydon, where she's stowed all her possessions after a big break-up. She was left devastated, and forced to re-evaluate her relationship with owning material things.

 A mix of memoir, self-help and journalism, Lost & Found explores the psychological reasons for why we buy and keep the things we do, and explains how we can liberate ourselves from the tyranny of 'too much'. Helen interviews people from all walks of life, including behavioural psychologists on the science of nostalgia, a nun on what it's like to own almost nothing and consumer psychologists on why we spend impulsively, to help us better understand why we're surrounded by clutter and what we can do to change it.

 This smart-thinking book explains the sociological quirks of human nature and the fascinating science behind why we buy and hold onto things. By the end of it, your relationship with your belongings will be changed forever.

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My Review:-Helen Chandler-Wilde shares with us this heartbreaking and honest story. I think we will all be able to understand and relate with parts and even most of this book, I know I do. This is a book that I recommend to everyone, whether you are in need of help with hoarding, wondering why we/people do this or the psychology side, you will find it interesting. Some people feel a need to shop/buy something everyday, even when they don't need it, but it's that feeling inside that we need to look into. Helen has done a lot of research before writing this book, she has spoken to psychologists and neuroscientists to find out how our brains work and why we need to keep things. I think we all need to hold onto somethings, but it's how much it to much. I have found this book helpful, since my husband died suddenly 11 years ago, I have never parted or even moved anything from where they were when he was alive. 

Death In Nonna's Kitchen

Death In Nonna's Kitchen

By Alex Coombs

Genre:-Mystery/Cosy Mystery

Pages:-320

Publisher:-Exit Press

Blurb:-When famous TV chef Matteo McLeish turns up at the Old Forge Cafe and offers chef Charlie Hunter a place in his kitchen for the duration of Hampden Green's local opera festival, she thinks it's because he rates her cooking skills. In fact it's because he's heard she's good in a crisis. the wholesome star of Nonna's Kitchen is being blackmailed by one of his team.

 Tempted by an improbably large pay cheque and the boost to her CV, Charlie accepts his offer. Does the threat lie close to home, or back in Italy with Matteo's culinary roots? And can Charlie find the blackmailer before she's swept up in an avalanche of death and scandal?

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My Review:-This is Book Two in the 'Old Forge Cafe Mystery' series. Matteo McLeish is a famous TV chef and has came to the Old Forge Cafe to offer chef Charlie Hunter a chance to work in his kitchen while the Hampden Green's local opera festival is on. But Charlie thinks it's because her skills in the kitchen, but Matteo has other ideas why he wants her. Matteo is being blackmailed but there is one problem he's not to sure by who. Matteo is hoping having Charlie around she can take the pressure off himself so he can work out who is the blackmailer.. could it be someone that works in his kitchen and after his job, or maybe it goes far back than that and it's someone that knows him back in Italy and know about his past live? If you have read book one 'Murder On The Menu' you will see some new character that join characters we got to know in the first book. I loved everything about this book and can't wait to see what Alex has for next.

All You Need Is Love

 All You Need Is Love:- the End of the Beatles

By Steven Gaines and Peter Brown

Genre:-Non Fiction/Popular Culture/Individual composers &musicians, specific bands & group

Pages:-352

Publisher:-Monoray/Octopus

Blurb:-A stunning, revelatory new book about the final years of the Beatles based on extraordinarily frank, never-before-published or heard interviews with all the people involved, including George, Ringo, Paul and Yoko.

 All You Need Is Love is a ground-breaking oral history of the Beatles and how it all came to an end. Based on never-before-published or heard interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and their families, friends and business associates, this is a landmark book, containing stunning new revelations, about the biggest band the world has ever seen.

 In 1980-1981 former COO of Apple Corp, Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines interviewed everyone in the Beatles' inner circle and included a small portion of the transcripts in their international bestselling book The Love You Make, which spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list. But left in their archives was a treasure trove of unique and candid interviews that they chose not to publish, until now. A powerful work assembled through honest, intimate, sometimes contradictory and always fascinating testimony, All You Need is Love is a one-of-a-kind insight into the final days, weeks, months and years of the Beatles phenomenon.

COMPLETELY UNIQUE, GOLDEN MATERIAL FOR BEATLES FANS: The interviews included in this book have never been heard, seen or published before. They are totally unique and provide thrilling insight into the band for die-hard fans.

INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THREE BEATLES PLUS YOKO

INTIMATE AND HONEST INTERVIEWS GIVEN TO A TRUSTED INSIDER

WILL SPARK A CONVERSATION

THE LOVE YOU MAKE

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My review:-I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I have to say I did find parts more interesting than others. As well as interviews from Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and their families, friends and business associates, there was also some from Ex wives, Cynthia Lennon, Patti Harrison Clapton and Maureen Starkey. I would recommend given this book a read as everyone's views are different and there is something for everyone, there are even a few fun parts that you will enjoy.

Falling For A Bossy Cowboy

Falling For A Bossy Cowboy:-Vargas Ranch Series Book 3

By Karen Baney

Genre:-Contemporary Christian Western Romance/Adult Fiction 18+

Publisher:-Desert Life Media

Blurb:-She's famous and nearing the end of her career. He's blunt, bossy, and downright annoying. Will these two find the perfect balance between truth and love?

 Sports fanatic Derin Vargas steps down from his position as foreman of Vargas Ranch to run the family's new sports complex. Uncomfortable in his new role, he compensates by being bossy. when a famous pro-tennis player stays at the resort to rehab after surgery, Derin points out her shortcomings no one else will.

 Pro-tennis player Madison Moore heads to a remote sports complex on Vargas Guest Ranch & Resort to finish rehabbing after shoulder surgery. As she fears the death of her pro career, the bossy cowboy manager gets under her skin.

 Will Derin soften his rough edges to win over the beautiful tennis player? Will Madison listen to the hard truth about her future while opening her heart to love?

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My review:-This is book Three in the 'Vargas Ranch' series. I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing books one and two. I've been waiting to hear what was going to be going on at the Vargas Ranch and it hasn't disappointed me.  Derin is now CEO of the Sports Complex on Vargas Ranch, but isn't finding it as easy. But when Madison Moore a pro-tennis player arrives for rehab on a shoulder injury there in a clash between cowboy and tennis player. They both have a past that they need to get over but will they be able to do this and maybe find love... Even though you can read/listen to each book as a standalone, as Karen does introduce the characters from previous book, but personally recommend reading them in order. I have loved listening to all three books and found it easy to listen to as the narrator voice moves from one character to another as if they were telling the story themselves. I will be looking at other books by Karen.