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Kindle Unlimited: Value for Money?

Posted on by Flora

Hello, fellow book lovers. Thank you, Kim, for inviting me to the BG Blog. Today, I’d like to share a discussion post I wrote for my personal blog in November 2020. It was discussing my experiences with Amazon’s book borrowing service, Kindle Unlimited.

I’ll share my thoughts and experiences about the scheme, explain what you get as part of the subscription and whether I feel the monthly fee is value for money.

This isn’t a sponsored post or anything but I’ve seen a lot of reviews about Kindle Unlimited coming up in my feeds. I want to add my thoughts to the blogosphere.

Just in case you didn’t know, here’s a bit of information on what it is.

Kindle Unlimited Subscription

Kindle Unlimited is a paid monthly subscription that gives you access to Amazon’s Kindle lending library. You can enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Amazon’s catalogue is extensive (over 1 million eBooks) and has titles in every category and genre including those with audible narrations. There’s a rotating selection of popular magazines that you can borrow too.

For £7.99 a month, you can borrow up to 10 Kindle Unlimited books at a time. Once you have 10 out and are looking to borrow another one, Amazon lets you choose which book or multiple books to return.

Sign up for a 30-day free trial. You have the option to cancel your subscription any time. What are you waiting for?

Here are the links:

Kindle Unlimited UK ¦ Kindle Unlimited US

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I’ve had my subscription since 14th May 2019 and have borrowed lots of books. But is it worth it?

The eBooks

To a book hoarder worm like me, my biggest issue at the beginning was that I didn’t actually own any of the books I download. I like owning books. However, if I’m honest with myself, there are certain books I re-read, but the majority of the books I own I read once and haven’t picked up since. Since starting Kindle Unlimited eighteen months ago, I’ve borrowed 26 books which is about 3 books borrowed every couple of months.

The Audiobooks

book cover for Warrior Chronicles book 1 - Chosen by K.F. Breene

I bought an Audible subscription way back on 8th July 2018. It’s the same price per month as Kindle Unlimited. I’ve always used my free monthly credit as soon as it pops onto my account. Therefore, I’m frequently taking advantage of the discounted price for the audiobooks to Kindle Unlimited members. There are over 50,000 audiobooks available through the scheme, all have whispersync so you can swap between the eBook and narration easily.

My first experience of whispersync was with Chosen by K.F. Breene.

The story was an epic fantasy. I’d steered clear of that genre in the past due to the usually tricky pronunciations. Listening to the story while I was reading it seemed like the perfect solution. It was! In fact, listening to the narration while reading on my Kindle quickly became my favourite way to immersing myself into a story.

The Magazines

To be honest, I’m not a big magazine reader. Therefore, I can’t comment on this aspect of the membership. I know that there are lots of magazines to choose from across many genres. If you’re a KU subscriber and have borrowed magazines with your membership, drop me a comment. I’d love to know your thoughts about the selection, rotation and quantity of magazines available.

My Conclusion: Is a subscription for Kindle Unlimited worth the money?

I think for me, it is worth the £7.99 a month I’m currently paying. As a supporter of indie authors, many of them put their books in Kindle Unlimited either permanently or temporarily after release. Plus, I’ve taken advantage of the huge discount on audiobooks by borrowing the eBooks from the catalogue.

book cover for Glimmer Lake 2 - Semi-Psychic Life by Elizabeth Hunter

For example, I borrowed Semi-Psychic Life by Elizabeth Hunter with my Kindle Unlimited membership and added the narration for £3.49! The audiobook costs non-members £16.00. Damn good saving, right?

In conclusion, Kindle Unlimited hasn’t saved me megabucks as I’m not a super-fast reader. However, I still think my bank account is in a healthier state because of it. I mean, I’d still be buying books, right?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about Kindle Unlimited. Are you thinking of buying a subscription? Do you have KU already? Drop me a comment below.

Before you go, don’t forget to check out my post about my growing love of eBooks and audiobooks over on my personal blog, Flora’s Musings.

Bye for now,

Flora x

SPaG: Spelling The English Language ~ Variations across the Atlantic

Posted on by Kim

Hello and welcome to the blog. It’s undeniable that the English language is tricky to master. I’ve already talked about the pitfalls when it comes to spelling. Today, I’m talking about the English language: variations found on both sides of the Atlantic.

The majority of my clients are British, however, I’ve worked with Canadians and Americans too. One of the first questions I ask a client before starting work on their manuscript is where they’ll be marketing their book? In other words, who is their target audience?

wood art dirty broken
Photo by Lara Jameson on Pexels.com

This decision will impact which version of English the novel should be written in. Today, I’m just going to look at the difference between English spellings in Britain and America.

BRITISH or AMERICAN ENGLISH

Please note that I use British English throughout this website. But what are the differences? Try these.

BRITISHAMERICAN
center
litre
humour
labor
neighbour
analyze
traveling
fueling
leukaemia
maneuver
pediatric
defence
offense
catalogue

How did you do? A couple of these have me reaching for my trusty Oxford English dictionary embarrassingly frequently.

You may be wondering why we live next door to neighbours, while our friends across the pond have neighbors. Or why our sky is grey, while theirs is gray.

The simple answer is:

Here are a few other differences to take notice of:

  • Words that end in a vowel and an “l”: in American English, “travel” becomes “traveled” or “traveling”, but, in British English, it becomes “travelled” or “travelling”.
  • The vowel combinations of “ae” or “oe”: in American English, they’d write “maneuver”, but on this side of the pond it’s “manoeuvre”.
  • Words that end in “-ize” or “ization”: using a “z” rather than an “s” is sometimes acceptable in British English.
  • Universally Americanised words: in British English, you program your computer but you still watch a TV programme.

How do these variations affect me?

I’m a self-confessed bookworm. While I’m reading, the differences between American spelling and English spelling jump out of the page. However, if the story is written by an American author my brain takes those variations in its stride as being part of the world-building and setting.

Therefore, when writing your own novel, consider your target audience. Are you looking to break into the American marketplace or here in the UK?

Once you’ve decided where your target audience live, you can make sure the spelling in your novel is consistent. We all use spell check programs. But remember to check what English variation your computer’s program is set to. Is it UK English or American English? While you shouldn’t rely solely on an automated program to find errors if whatever you use isn’t set to the English you are working with, the suggestions and corrections you see won’t be appropriate.

miniature toy robot on top of laptop s keyboard
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com

I hope this post has helped. Which variations catch you out the most? (It’s okay — we’re all guilty of at least one.) Make a mental note to avoid those slips in the future, or just bookmark this page to remind yourself of them over and over (and over) again.

English, like many other languages, has its own set of tricky rules and intricacies. But with a little bit of practice and help from guides like this one, you can become a grammar master. I found a couple of fun (tongue-in-cheek) quizzes to try. They certainly put a smile on my face!

Buzz Feeds – American Vs British Words Quiz

Macmillan – British and American English Quiz

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read The English Language: Variations across the Atlantic. If you have any tips or tricks to help you remember which spelling variant to use, drop me a comment below.

Until next time,

Kim

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How do you become a professional beta reader?

Posted on by Flora

Hello everyone.Kim has asked me to write a post for The BG Blog today. I’ve decided to share my secrets about being a paid beta reader.

I get asked lots of questions about being a beta reader. One of the most common is how did I manage to turn my hobby into a business? 😉 It’s every bookworm’s dream to get paid to read books, right?!

Independent British author, Holly Bell, asked that very question when she interviewed me for her blog on 9th November 2019.

Don’t have time to read the interview now? No problem…

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As you’ll see, it didn’t happen overnight. But then nothing worthwhile ever does, does it?

Could You Be A Pro Reader? – Flora Gatehouse Tells How She Did It

Dear Readers,

Could you? Ever thought about it? Someone ever told you that you could do this professionally?

train on viaduct - journey to becoming a beta reader

What? Make the transition from reader to beta reader to reviewer/blogger to pro beta reader to editor. That’s quite a journey, you’re thinking? You’re a reader, so you’ve made a start. But would it be possible to turn your favourite hobby into something that actually generates income? Well, here is someone who’s done it.

It is my privilege to interview my treasured editor, who has been with the Amanda Cadabra books from the very beginning, Flora Gatehouse, pro beta reader and literary enthusiast:

Flora, I think, people who don’t write at all would like to know how you became a book reviewer.

I have always loved books; I remember as a child reading anything I could get my hands on and that love of reading has stayed with me all the way into adulthood. I’m not quite sure how I became a bona fide book reviewer though. I have always waxed lyrical about my favourite reads to my family and friends, hoping to encourage them to read one book or another. I love it when someone reads and enjoys a book that I suggested; it’s quite a thrill. I eventually decided to use my blog, to put pen to paper, as it were, and put my thoughts and suggestions out there. I have been writing book reviews in increasing frequency over the last four years and have even written a post about it – How Do I Start? – that gives some basic pointers and highlights the questions that I ask myself when I write reviews.

Green winged elf in long green dress in woodland. Text: Flora's Musings

How do you know what books to read?

It may sound obvious but I read the books that I think I’ll enjoy. I’m persuaded by the front cover, the blurb on the back and the general opinions about the story that I find on Amazon and Goodreads.com. Of course, if I’ve read other books by that same author and enjoyed them, I’m already halfway sold on it. Reading is my hobby and my passion, so I want to reduce the odds of the book I pick up, not being to my taste by avoiding genres, themes and authors I’ve read in the past that weren’t my cup of tea.

How do you decide what is good?

Lol! That’s a loaded question, Holly. Deciding what is “good” is a wholly subjective thing. Many of my fellow book bloggers have recently decided to stop “rating” books as everyone’s idea of what is good (or not) is different. For me, I’m looking at the way the story is told as well as the story itself, for example, I don’t like it when the flow is stunted by too many things that a good editor would pick up (spelling, grammar, punctuation, plot holes, inconsistencies, etc), I hate it when a book ends on a perilous cliff-hanger and I always want to be emotionally connected to the protagonists; I wrote a post about some of my expectations regarding the leading female character too (OK, it might have been a bit of a rant, actually so, sorry in advance). If a book can make me laugh, cry and hold my breath, then I’m going to enjoy it more and rate it higher; I want to be swept away and drawn into the adventure.

How do you separate whether it’s your sort of book or not from its worth as a literary work?

fountain pen on handwritten page and rose petal in soft purple light - meaning: beta reader choosing between literature and likeable

That’s a tough one. The definition of literary work is a written piece of art but what is art? I don’t think it’s my job to decide whether a book is a literary work or not. My job as a book reviewer is all about giving other readers my opinion about the story, to help them decide whether a particular book is their sort of thing. As a beta reader, my job of reviewing a book has a slightly different directive; as well as my opinion about whether I liked the story as a whole, I’m also giving the author a detailed critique about every aspect of their unpublished manuscript.

How do you become a professional beta reader? What is that? What criteria do you use?

A beta reader is someone who reads an unreleased work of literature or other writing, who gives feedback from the point of view of an average reader to the author (similar to beta testing in software). The feedback is used by the writer to fix remaining issues with plot, pacing and consistency. Many authors send their manuscript off for beta reading so that they can gain some unbiased insight; ensuring that their book is well suited for readers, is conveying the right message and is enjoyable to read before they move on to final editing or publishing.

I almost fell into beta reading by accident, although looking back it does feel like a natural transition.

As I mentioned before, over the last 5 years I have been reviewing books that I’ve bought or been given by family and friends, but I have also been given ARCs (Advanced Reader Copy) from publishers and authors in exchange for my reviews. The combination of my passion for reading, attention to detail and my skill set developed as a teaching assistant, has led to my hobby developing into a service that I offer authors.

Text: Flora's Beta Reading Service. woman's hand writing in book on bent knees, in jeans, grass in background. florasmusings.com

I charge a fee for my beta reading service but what do I do to earn it?

Well, as I have already mentioned, as a beta reader I complete a detailed feedback report answering thirty questions about an author’s manuscript. I have arranged these questions into seven specific areas; opening scene, characters & dialogue, plot & conflict, flow & pacing, setting & world-building, writing style and overall impression. Answering these in-depth questions gives an author a comprehensive analysis of their story but if they’d also like to know which scenes made me cry, chuckle or shiver in fear, I offer also offer in-line comments as an additional service. In-line comments are when I write my immediate thoughts, feelings and comments directly into their manuscript using MS Word Comment.

What are your top 2 favourite books?

Pile of three books on table with apple and metal pot of yellow flowers

Lol! Holly, I can’t answer that! It’s like asking me who in my family I love the most!  What I will tell you is what my favourite genres are. In my long history of reading, I’ve read everything from the classics to horror to historical romances to science fiction and loved them. Since getting my first Kindle in 2013, my reading passion has been firmly rooted in the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and cosy paranormal mystery genres. As a cosy paranormal mystery writer yourself, Holly, you are one of my favourite authors; Angie Fox, Victoria DeLuis and Kristen Painter being on that exclusive list too.

Please keep writing!

Thank you for wanting to interview me, Holly, for your blog, it’s not often that I sit this side of the table.  I hope that your readers enjoyed it as much as I did. The book blogging community is a wonderful place, full of supportive, kind-hearted souls who love talking about books. If any of your readers were thinking about reviewing the books they read or starting their own book blog, I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve made some amazing friends, met some awesome authors and I’ve loved every minute of it; I can’t imagine my life without it.

Bye for now and happy reading.

Thank you, Flora, that was inspiring. And what a lovely compliment! We can follow Flora on https://florasmusings.com/

A writer? Yes, why not. I’ll tell you how I got from editor to writer. But that’s a story for another day! Perhaps next time, when I’ll be back with news of a new video and plans for a special Christmas event or two.

Happy reading,

Holly Bell

It certainly felt strange being the interviewee rather than the interviewer. However, Holly is so lovely that the whole experience was enjoyable and one that I feel comfortable repeating. If you have any questions about what beta reading is or how to be one, please drop me a line.

I love being a professional beta reader and have met some wonderful people in the book blogging and writing communities. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone with a passion for great stories.

Before you go, don’t forget to check out the different beta reading services that Kim offers.

Bye for now,

Flora

SPaG: Spelling – Solutions For Those Words in English That Always Trip Us Up!

Posted on by Kim

It is a well-repeated mantra in schools and authors’ circles that English is a confusing language to master. Many of the “rules” of spelling and grammar have more exceptions than inclusions! Even after my many years in education, there are some that cause me to pause and reach for my reference books.

I’ve decided to write a few blog posts about spelling, punctuation and grammar. I’ll highlight some of the more common mistakes that turn up in the big wild world of publishing and show you how to avoid them.

Let’s start with spelling.

A boy was once told off by his teacher for misspelling a word. “You should have looked it up in the dictionary,” she told him.

He replied: “Why would I look it up if I didn’t know it was spelt wrong?”

Not only does this have me giggling but it’s an important point. It’s easy for little spelling and grammar mistakes to slip by, especially when you’re self-editing. One of the points that were continually emphasised during my proofreading and editing training was to check every single word, even if it looks right.

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Good, you’re still with me.

There are more and more talented storytellers taking the bull by the horns and going down the self-publishing route to get their books out there.

Look at these common words listed below, which ones do you think are spelt correctly?

accommodateaccomodate
apparantlyapparently
appearanceappearence
assassinationassasination
bizarrebizzare
calendercalendar
cemetarycemetery
colleaguecollegue
completlycompletely
consciousconcious
curiositycuriousity
dilemnadilemma
dissapeardisappear
dissapointdisappoint
existenceexistance
forseeableforeseeable
fourtyforty
gistjist
glamourousglamorous
harassharrass
humouroushumorous
idiosyncrasyidiosyncracy
incidentlyincidentally
independantindependent
interruptinterupt
irresistableirresistible
liaiseliase
millenniummillenium
noticeablenoticable
occasionocassion
occurrenceoccurance
persistantpersistent
posessionpossession
preferredprefered
propagandapropoganda
recievereceive
resistanceresistence
seperateseparate
seigesiege
succesfulsuccessful
supersedesupercede
tattootatoo
tendencytendancy
threshholdthreshold
tonguetounge
unforseenunforeseen
unfortunatelyunfortunatly
untiluntill

Thankfully there are some excellent online dictionaries available. While I was training, I used Collins Dictionary Online to check EVERYTHING.

Techniques to improve your spelling

Here are some tips that will help you to keep your spelling up to standard:

  1. Use a small dictionary or an online one such as http://www.collinsdictionary.com/ or a smartphone app. Refer to it frequently: if in doubt, check.
  2. Keep your own “dictionary” on your PC or device or in a notebook or both. List the words that trip you up, A – Z.
  3. Practise your weak spellings. Write them down repeatedly until you know them.
  4. Check the spelling in everything you write, including email messages and social media posts. This will develop accuracy and improve your spelling.
  5. Use a spell check (most word-processing software packages have them) but never rely on them completely. They will pick out obvious errors but not mistakes like using “toe” instead of “tow”.

One of the statements I hear most frequently from new writers when talking about the pitfalls of spelling is:

“But I don’t need to check my spelling with a dictionary, word does it for me“

Yes, a spell-checking program is a lifesaver. I use one ALL THE TIME! 😉 However, it wouldn’t necessarily pick up a homophone error such as “hear” instead of “here” as I have already mentioned above. Also, make sure which language the program is set to. Is it UK English or American English? If it’s not set to the correct English language variation, you’ll miss some subtle but crucial spelling differences which I cover in The English Language: Variations across the Atlantic.

I hope this post has helped. Which common spelling mistakes resonate with you the most? (It’s okay — we’re all guilty of at least one.) Make a mental note to avoid those mistakes in the future, or just bookmark this page to remind yourself of them over and over (and over) again.

Here are some good interactive spelling tests. Try them and see how you score.

How To Spell – Tests

The Telegraph – Spelling Quiz: How good are you?

The Guardian – Quiz

Until next time,

Kim

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Hello from The BG Blog.

Posted on by Kim

Hello and welcome to the first post from The BG Blog as a fiction editor.

I decided that it would be fun to include a blog on the Brockway Gatehouse website after reading some posts from my fellow editors and some lovely lifestyle and book bloggers. My friend, Flora, and I share a love of books and reading. We’re both teaching assistants, enjoy passing on our skills and knowledge to others and get great satisfaction from our jobs. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. Flora has kindly agreed to write some posts for The BG Blog as I’m still fairly new to the blogging world.

I’ve decided to publish a monthly blog post about the things that Flora and I hold dear and anything else we want to share with you about the bookish community. Flora already has a book blog and is an old hand at writing posts. We’re in the process of planning the topics we want to write about and Flora is teaching me the value of SEO and “readability”. Two buzz words I’m becoming very familiar with! 😉

Therefore, check back in a couple of weeks to read our first official blog post which I’m busy writing now.

If you would like us to cover any specific topics in these regular posts, please get in touch.

Until then bye for now,

Kim & Flora

Review: The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) by Dianne Duvall

Posted on by Kim

The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) by Dianne Duvall

Read: 16th – 18th May 2020

Publication Date: 21st April 2020

My Overall Rating: 5/5

If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you’ll know, I don’t post spoilers of any kind or reveal any plot twists in my book reviews.

Here’s what the official blurb has to say about the story:

New York Times bestselling author Dianne Duvall brings readers the first novel in a thrilling new sci-fi series full of action, intrigue, humor, and romance.

Taelon searches the galaxy for his younger sister, who mysteriously disappeared while on a diplomatic mission. When an ally reveals that she was seized and is being held prisoner on Earth, Taelon descends upon the blue planet, intent on freeing her and exacting vengeance. However, all does not go as planned. Before he can find her, Taelon is captured and becomes the subject of torturous experiments. For what feels like an eternity, all he knows is pain and fury… until a mind tentatively touches his own and a woman’s voice forever changes his world.

After suffering tragic losses, Lisa is finally beginning to carve out a future for herself when chance sends her to the Anomalous Cognition Research Institute. What at first appears to be a benign organization seeking participants for a psychic study instead turns out to be a government facility harboring a much darker intent. Lisa discovers this too late and soon becomes the unwilling subject of a terrifying experiment. Just as fear and desperation threaten to consume her, a deep, compelling voice penetrates the looming insanity and lends her hope.

Having seen only the worst of humanity, Taelon is shocked when Lisa risks everything to free him. Together the two make their escape, and Taelon finds himself fascinated by the small human woman who—despite all she’s suffered—can still laugh and tease and lure smiles from him. Friendship swiftly grows between them as they work together to evade soldiers intent on capturing them and find themselves hunted by mystifying preternatural beings. Through it all, Lisa steadfastly remains by his side, stealing more of his heart each day while she helps him unravel the mystery of his sister’s fate. Can they find his sister before the hunters find them? If they survive their quest, will Taelon have to bid Lisa farewell… or can he coax her into leaving her planet and joining him for the adventure of a lifetime?

So, what did I think about it?

I really love Ms Duvall’s writing style and find her books very easy to read (but impossible to put down! Lol!). She writes intelligent, engaging stories with a collection of well written characters, set against an imaginative world that cleverly mixes fantasy and reality. She makes it so easy to submerse oneself completely in her books. The pace of her stories are usually fast, full of action and contain a couple of plot lines that run alongside the main romantic story arc. But fear not lovely readers, she always manages to pack it all in without making you feel overwhelmed, bewildered or lost.

The Characters

If you’ve read my reviews before, then you’ll know that I connect to a story more when the main female character is intelligent, resilient, self-reliant and has plenty of gumption. I wasn’t disappointed here. Lisa was amazing and someone I could believe in, she certainly had oodles of gumption and a great big heart. In fact, it’s because all of the characters within these pages have been written with personalities that we can see in the real world around us adds that level of believability to this tale for me, even though the majority of them are mythical or extra-terrestrial beings.

I loved The Lasaran and couldn’t put it down! This book had everything that I look for in a 5 star story.

  • ✅ Intelligent writing style that showed us rather than told us.
  • ✅ This was very easy to read and understand the intricacies of the plot.
  • ✅ The main protagonists – Taelon and Lisa – had personalities that felt realistic (even though they’re fictional, fantasy creations).
  • ✅ There was a range and depth of character in the supporting cast that all played their part in the story.
  • ✅ The background to the story and the setting felt believable.
  • ✅ There was a good balanced mix of relationship and/or romance scenes to action scenes.

I was left breathless, wondering where on earth Ms Duvall would take us next in this addictive series! (Pun definitely intended!) 😉

Content Warning!

Due to the graphic nature of the violence and sex scenes, I would only recommend this book to adults who are not offended by content of this sort. Readers who enjoy stories with strong alpha heroes and independent capable heroines, tense and often traumatic and brutal confrontations and hot lust/romance scenes.

This is Dianne’s first foray into the science fiction genre. As a newbie to the genre myself, I was completely captivated and can’t wait to read more.

Find out more about other books I’ve read, take a look at my profile on Goodreads.

Visit DIANNE DUVALL‘s own little corner of the web. Support her by buying a copy of this (or any of her books) directly from her website!

Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to read my review. I hope that you’ll add this amazing book to your already towering TBR piles! 😉

Review: The Ghost of Marlow House (Haunting Danielle #1) by Bobbi Holmes

Posted on by Kim

The Ghost of Marlow House (Haunting Danielle #1) by Bobbi Holmes

Read: 25th – 29th January 2019

Publication Date: 30th August 2014

My Overall Rating: 4/5

Plot: 4/5 – Flow: 4/5 – Character Development: 4/5 – World Building: 4/5

Quote from The Ghost of Marlow House (Haunting Danielle #1)

“Walt Marlow had adapted to his solitude though there were times he missed sharing a brandy with one of his friends or admiring a pretty young woman”

So what’s this book about?

The Ghost of Marlow House is the first novel (approx 258 pages) in Bobbi Holmes’ cozy paranormal mystery series – Haunting Danielle. Currently 20 books, about a young woman who starts her life anew after she inherits an old house in the seaside town of Frederickport in Oregon.

If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you’ll know that I don’t post spoilers of any kind or reveal any plot twists in my book reviews.

So, here’s what the official blurb has to say about the story.

When Danielle Boatman inherits Marlow House, she dreams of turning it into a seaside bed and breakfast. Since she’s never visited the property, Danielle’s not sure what awaits her in Oregon. She certainly doesn’t expect to find one of the house’s previous owners still in residence. After all, the man has been dead for almost ninety years—shouldn’t he have moved on by now?

Charming Walt Marlow convinces Danielle the only way he can move on is if she solves the mystery of his death. Danielle soon discovers her real problems may come from the living—those who have their sights on Marlow House’s other secrets.

There are no cliffhangers and the “mystery” is solved by the end of the book, so, I think that The Ghost of Marlow House could be read as a standalone title. Although I am keen to find out what Danielle uncovers next.

So, what did I like about it?

The Ghost of Marlow House is currently free on Kindle so I added the audio version as it was offered at a reduced rate too. I alternated between reading and listening to the narration before bed, which has become my favourite way to “read” a book.

Bobbi Holmes is a new-to-me author and I really liked her writing style. I found this book very easy to read. I liked the pace at which her tale progressed and way she wove all the mysteries of this story together – both past and present. Admittedly, I usually work out the mystery in these sorts of books before the big reveal at the end but that wasn’t the case with this one. I loved that! As a narrated book, I was impressed with Romy Nordlinger’s performance. Loving the pace at which she read the story and her tonal adjustments for the dialogue. I would definitely buy books narrated by her in the future.

I loved that the characters, both living and dead, were complex and multi-dimensional. Each character with their own stories; I liked the twists and quirks that Ms Holmes created for them — it made them all feel very believable. I must also add that the fictional town of Frederickport was also richly drawn; steeped with history and charm and so well described, I was easily transported there.

I prefer to read stories with intelligent, witty heroines who have plenty of gumption and resilience and who never give up. Our leading lady here does not disappoint, and her best friend, Lily, isn’t too shabby either.

Although I wouldn’t class this as a romance novel, I did enjoy how the friendship between Danielle and Walt that built throughout this book. As well as the romance between her best friend Lily and mystery man, Ian; the pace felt very natural and realistic in both.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

No.

I am pleased to confirm that as there are no cliffhangers (Woop!). The “mystery” is solved by the end of the book. Therefore, I think that The Ghost of Marlow House can easily be read as a standalone title. Although, I am keen to find out what Danielle uncovers next.

So, basically what I’m saying is…

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a great ghostly cozy mystery that has everything I look for in a good story.

  • ✅ Some wonderful characters
  • ✅ A plot that made me chuckle with gentle humour,
  • ✅ Scenes where I shed a tear or two and
  • ✅ a romance that made me root for a happy ending.

I don’t think there is anything in this book that could cause offence. Therefore, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys ‘cozy mysteries’ with a paranormal focus. I have already added the whole series to my Amazon wish list. Lol!

So, has my review of THE GHOST OF MARLOW HOUSE (HAUNTING DANIELLE #1) encouraged you to find out more? I really hope so. Click on the links below to check out the book yourself, or to find out more about the author.

See THE GHOST OF MARLOW HOUSE on Goodreads.com

Visit BOBBI HOLMES‘ own little corner of the web. Support her by buying a copy of this book directly from her website!

Check out my profile on Goodreads to see the other books I’ve read, or read more reviews here on The BG Blog.

Review: Tom Fool (The Unhappy Medium 2) A supernatural comedy by T.J. Brown

Posted on by Kim

Tom Fool (The Unhappy Medium 2) A supernatural comedy by T.J. Brown

Read: 11th – 15th August 2017

Format: Kindle

My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

So, before we get into what I thought about Tom Fool, I want you to know that I was lucky enough to be given a pre-publication digital version for free from the author, Tim Brown, for an honest review. Thanks for the advance copy.

The publication date was 6th August 2017

…So what’s this book about?

Tom Fool, a novel of approx 356 pages, is the second outing into the world of The Unhappy Medium. It is a paranormal novel that features ghosts and other strange creations with a definite satirical point of view. I think would happily sit in the urban fantasy or science fiction genres due to the content/plot.

The world created for The Unhappy Medium books is set in our modern day world. It features evil dead people, evil living people and those tasked with the thankless job of thwarting their evil plans all the while keeping the secrets of the afterlife obscured from human knowledge. The evil doers and adventures change with each book. However, our heroes – called the Purgatorians – remain the same. We have disgraced physicist, Dr Newton Barlow, his resourceful girlfriend, Viv, his ‘Goth’ daughter, Gabby, and the enthusiastic C of E warrior vicar, the Reverend J M Bennet. Other Purgatorians include my personal favourite Neolithic kickass hero ever, the Bonetaker. Oh and I’d better not forget Newton’s line manager and supervisor, Mr Jameson. From the other side of the curtain there’s Dr Alex Sixsmith, Newton’s dearly departed friend, the ever lamenting prison warden in Purgatory, Eric the Greek and the officious but frustratingly anonymous Purgatorial council.

If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you’ll know, I don’t post spoilers of any kind or reveal any plot twists in my book reviews.

Here’s what the official blurb has to say about the story:

Dr Newton Barlow and the Purgatorians are back.

Now that the fight between good and evil has become routine, one-time sceptical physicist and unhappy medium, Dr Newton Barlow, is badly in need of a challenge.

It arrives in the shape of a crime so cunning in its planning, so dastardly in its execution, that even the hyper-logical Dr Barlow will struggle to prevent it.

But with Barlow and his team navigating a flood of mind-curdling distractions, and an adversary that seems to know their every weakness, things are destined to get a little messy for the Purgatorians. Plus, with his girlfriend demanding a slice of the paranormal action, his old employer getting a bit too close to his personal life and his current employer using his home as a hotel, Newton’s challenges are hardly the kind he was seeking.

Missing links, an enigmatic jester and the unexpected nature of portraiture, Tom Fool is a fast and furious comedy about the perils of notoriety.

So, what did I like about it?

Goodness me, practically everything! Where do I begin…

I only discovered Tim Brown this year but I’m becoming quite the fan. His writing style is very easy to read, his descriptions, characters and plot development engage me from the very first page and keep me reading. Oh, and I love the way that he weaves facts, stories and theories from history and science throughout his tales. I really relate to his sense of humour (think Horrible Histories for adults or Pratchett’s Discworld irreverence). Tom Fool did not let me down.

There are a lot of great characters in this book. Some we met in the last book, and some are new to this one. But all of them have their own back-story, complexities and foibles that make them feel real (even the supernatural ones). I loved how both Viv and Gabby developed in this book, and enjoyed witnessing their intelligence and strength thrown into the fray. Some of my favourite scenes featured The Bonetaker; I love his softer side and enjoy seeing him kick some well needed evil arse.

Now of course, being a ‘supernatural comedy’ I found myself smiling, chuckling and outright laughing at the cleverly penned wit. But, the emotions didn’t stop there, the main mystery kept me intrigued, the action and fighting had my adrenaline pumped and the growth of the friendships/relationships made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. In other words, this story kept me guessing and kept me turning the pages – I was gripped.

So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Nope – hence the 5 stars!

…So, basically what I’m saying is…

This is a great supernatural tale, I really enjoyed it; it was such a fun read! The characters were entertaining, the plot was interesting and I enjoyed the twists & turns. Mr Brown has created a great new world that I hope we’ll see further instalments from.

I would recommend this book if you like adventure stories featuring ghosts, gun toting clergy, irritated physicists, kickass girlfriends and quick minded but sullen teenagers from paranormal, urban fantasy or science fiction genres that are told with a definite tongue in the cheek.

So, has my review of TOM FOOL: THE UNHAPPY MEDIUM 2: A SUPERNATURAL COMEDY sparked your interest in this book, the Unhappy Medium world or the author? Just click on any of the links below to check it all out for yourself.

See TOM FOOL on Goodreads.com

Visit T.J. BROWN‘s own little corner of the web. Support him by buying a copy of this book directly from his website!

Check out my profile on Goodreads to see the other books I’ve read, or read more reviews here on The BG Blog.

Review: Kissed by a Dark Prince (Eternal Mates #1) by Felicity Heaton

Posted on by Kim

Kissed by a Dark Prince (Eternal Mates #1) by Felicity Heaton

Read: 4th – 5th October 2014

Re-Read: 6th – 10th June 2017

Format: Kindle

My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

…So what’s this book about?

This is a paranormal romance novel (approx 283 pages) mainly featuring humans and Elves with shapeshifters, demons and witches also making appearances and is set in the same world as Ms Heaton’s Vampire Erotic Theatre romance series. Kissed by a Dark Prince is the first book of Ms Heaton’s Eternal Mates series (currently 11 books in the series) but can be read as a standalone story as the romance aspect of the tale is concluded by the end of the book in Ms Heaton’s signature HEA style.

Now as my regular followers will know, I never post any spoilers or reveal plot twists in my reviews, so this is what the official blurb says:

Olivia thinks it’s her lucky night when a dangerously handsome unconscious fae ends up on her inspection table. He’s her chance to redeem herself with her employer, the demon-hunting organisation, Archangel. But when the tall, dark and deadly immortal warrior awakes, she gets much more than she bargained for…

Attacked by his enemy in the elf kingdom, the last thing Prince Loren expects when he comes around is a beautiful angel watching over him and medical technology of the mortal realm. Hazy from his injuries, all he can focus on is the pulse ticking in her throat and the sweet allure of her blood.

One single bite reveals she is his eternal mate, triggering a bond between them that will leave him weakened until it is complete… or broken, and pulling Olivia into the crossfire of his ancient feud.

To protect his people and his mate from the machinations of a madman, Loren must risk everything by working with Olivia at Archangel to find a way to break the bond blossoming between them.

But will Loren be strong enough to place duty before desire and give up the one thing he has waited millennia for and craves above all others—his eternal mate? And will Olivia be able to resist the incredible heat that burns between them and the temptation of her dark prince’s kiss?

…So, what did I like about it?

I am already a fan; I love Felicity Heaton’s writing style and find her stories very easy to read. I feel transported into the paranormal world she creates, love her complex, multifaceted characters and enjoy the twists and turns she builds into her plots. This story didn’t disappoint.

Now, I’ve gotta mention the sex; this is quite an erotic paranormal romance tale but I love the way Ms Heaton makes the most explicit sexual scenes very romantic (I think she’s a very talented writer to accomplish this), these erotic acts are balanced nicely with beautifully written descriptions and the characters’ internal dialogue. For me, a story is only really erotic if I’m emotionally connected to the characters involved, Ms Heaton gives her characters such depth that they become real. So of course, I got caught up with the naughty shenanigans (who wouldn’t *blush*) but the tender insights into both Loren and Olivia’s doubts and feelings and the growth of their trust in each other’s love was heart-warming to read.

This PNR made me chuckle, I shed a tear or two, the fighting and action fed my adrenalin and the passion put fire in my blood. In other words I was gripped and couldn’t stop reading.

…So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Nope – hence the 5 stars!

…So, basically what I’m saying is…

I loved this book! Great world building, multi dimensional strong characters and a gripping background story! It’s a tale of epic battles, secret histories & hidden foes, uneasy allies & new friendships and all consuming emotions but underlining all of that – it’s a passionate rollercoaster of a love story.

Due to the sexual content, I’d recommend this book to adults only – it’s definitely steamy – who are fans of relationship and romance stories.

So, has my review of KISSED BY A DARK PRINCE (ETERNAL MATES #1) sparked your interest? Just click on any of the links below to check out the book yourself.

See KISSED BY A DARK PRINCE on Goodreads.com

Visit FELICITY HEATON ‘s own little corner of the web and support her by buying a copy of this book (paperback, ebook, or audio) directly from her website!

Check out my profile on Goodreads to see the other books I’ve read, or read more reviews here on The BG Blog.