Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Olmec Obituary by L.J.M. Owen

RRP $29.99
Published November 2015

* Copy courtesy of Echo Publishing * 

Click here for my review of Olmec Obituary by L.J.M. Owen.

Blurb
Yearning for her former life as an archaeologist, Australian librarian Dr. Elizabeth Pimms is struggling with a job she doesn’t want, a family she both loves and resents, and enforced separation from her boyfriend.

A royal Olmec cemetery is discovered deep in the Mexican jungle, containing the earliest writing in all the Americas. Dr. Pimms is elated to join the team investigating these Aztec ancestors. Triumph is short-lived, however, as Elizabeth’s position on the team is threatened by a volatile excavation director, contradictory evidence, and hostile colleagues. With everything working against her, will Dr Pimms find the cause of death for a 3,000-year-old athlete and those buried with her?

With the archaeological intrigue of Elizabeth Peters, forensic insight of Kathy Reichs, and comfort of a cosy mystery, Olmec Obituary is the first novel in a fascinating new series: Dr Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth. Really cold cases.

About the Author
L.J. currently lives in Canberra, Australia and is trained in archaeology and librarianship, with a PhD in palaeogenetics. L.J.'s interests include writing, ancient cultures and existentialism and her first novel Olmec Obituary, opens the archaeological mystery series 'Dr Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth'. 

Giveaway

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Review: The Sting - The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe's Killer by Kate Kyriacou

* Copy courtesy of Echo Publishing *

Everyone in Australia knows the name of Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe and most are familiar with his 2003 abduction and the search to find and bring him home.

I remember hearing Daniel's killer had finally confessed in an undercover operation which eventually led to the grisly discovery of Daniel's remains and wanted to know more about how the police were able to 'catch him out'.

The Sting - The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe's Killer is true to its title and much more. Reading about the investigation into Daniel's disappearance I was surprised - and impressed - by the sheer volume of leads and enquiries made by QLD Police in the hunt for Daniel. I really had no idea just how big the investigation was.

I was also horrified to learn about the killer's history (I won't name him here because I don't want his name on my blog) and the fact that he'd been molesting children since the age of 10. This pedophile is a repulsive man and I really don't know how the undercover officers were able to befriend him and put up with his shit. I guess they did it for Daniel and his family. And to make sure he didn't harm anyone else. What else is there really?

I wasn't expecting to get much of an insight into the killer, but there is much dialogue included from recordings during the operation and you definitely get a sense of the man. This 'access' to the mind and behaviours of such a predator was sickening and actually gave me nightmares. 

I can't imagine the pain of Daniel's parents, Denise and Bruce Morcombe, but their victim statements at the end of the book gave this reader some idea. After putting down The Sting, I felt compelled to make a donation to the Daniel Morcome Foundation to help Bruce and Denise continue their work, and if you'd like to do the same, please click here. 

I was also moved by the amazing work done by Police, despite the politics between the states. Author Kate Kyriacou has done an amazing job covering this case and there's much to be learned.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Review: Olmec Obituary by L.J.M. Owen

* Copy courtesy of Echo Publishing *

Dr Elizabeth Pimms is the main character in Olmec Obituary, and it's no coincidence that she has much in common with the author, L.J.M. Owen.

Australian author L.J.M. Owen is trained in archaeology and librarianship as is her character Dr Pimms, who comes to life quickly and easily on the page.

Forced to move back to Canberra and leave her archaeology work behind was a hard decision for Pimms, however I loved learning about her life as a librarian. (In fact, I wish the entire book had been set with her in the library, working her way through the rotations).

Olmec Obituary is essentially a crime novel come cozy mystery (with stunning cover) where Dr Pimms will need all of her skills if she has any hope of unravelling a 3,000 year old mystery.

I enjoyed this debut, but two things kept me from rating it higher. The first being the few chapters set 3,000 years ago. The dialogue between the characters seemed very 21st Century, and even though I have no knowledge of the Olmec people, I struggled to believe that they would behave as we do, with children begging: "can we? pleeease" to get what they want.

My second issue was the number of times the character's cats were mentioned. If you love cats, then you'll love these additions to the novel, but I just found them repetitive.

Olmec Obituary is the first in the Dr Pimms Intermillennial Sleuth series of nine planned books, and I'll be giving away a copy very soon, so stay tuned to win a copy for yourself (valued at RRP $29.99).

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Winner of An Empty Coast by Tony Park Announced

Thanks to all those who entered last week's Friday Freebie to win a copy of An Empty Coast by Tony Park. This one has been a popular giveaway with lots of entries, so thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for the copy.

The giveaway closed at midnight Friday 13th November, and the winner was drawn today, congratulations to (drum roll):

Mythicalmoofie

Congratulations Mythicalmoofie, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win, and as soon as you've provided your postal address, your prize will be mailed out to you direct from the publisher, Pan Macmillan Australia.

Thanks and stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon.

Review: Grief Is The Thing With Feathers by Max Porter

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin *

Grief Is The Thing With Feathers by Max Porter is many things. It's part fable, part poem and part short story about grief, sorrow, family and brothers.

The novella is a mythical tale about a crow who joins a family in mourning after the mother of two boys passes away, leaving the brothers and their father deep in grief.

The structure is unusual and refreshing and personally reminded me of the feeling I had when I discovered The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.

Beautifully written, often musical and definitely lyrical, I'll be the first to admit Grief Is The Thing With Feathers won't be for everyone. I'll admit not understanding all of the entries (some from the father, some from the brothers and some from the crow) however I was still moved and laughed out loud at the crow's sense of humour.

Delightfully presented in an A5 size hardback with a stunning dust jacket, Grief Is The Thing With Feathers by Max Porter will make a thoughtful gift for writers, poets and literary lovers who are still moving through the stages of loss and grief.

My rating = ***1/2

Carpe Librum!

Review: Humans of New York (HONY) by Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton is a photographer, and his book Humans Of New York is a collection of portraits taken in the great city of New York.

The Humans Of New York series of photos is also referred to by the acronym HONY and has inspired offshoots in other cities. Stanton began his HONY project in 2010 and published his work on his blog. Stanton's work became popular and he now has more than 15 million Facebook followers and this book is a #1 New York Times bestseller.

This collection of photographs - some of which include captions and short anecdotes - is an inspiring and thought provoking body of work.

Humans Of New York makes a great coffee table book, and is easy to browse through, but if you take your time, your curiosity will be rewarded.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was entirely due to the layout. Some of the photographs suffered due to placement, which I found a shame, and I'm confident this could have been enhanced by someone with better skills and vision for the project.

I highly recommend Humans Of New York for professional and amateur photographers and readers who enjoy the art of people watching; here you can do it without the risk of being caught!

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Winner of Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie Announced

Thanks to all those who entered last week's Friday Freebie to win a copy of Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie, courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

The giveaway closed at midnight Friday 6th November, and the winner was drawn today, congratulations to (drum roll):

Liana!!!

Congratulations Liana, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win, and as soon as you've provided your postal address, your prize will be mailed out to you.

If you missed out this time, enter this week's giveaway here.

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of An Empty Coast by Tony Park

RRP $29.99 AUD

* Copy thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia *

Blurb
A body. A cover-up. A buried secret.

Sonja Kurtz - former soldier, supposedly retired mercenary - is in Vietnam carrying out a personal revenge mission when her daughter sends a call for help.

Emma, a student archaeologist on a dig at the edge of Namibia's Etosha National Park, has discovered a body dating back to the country's liberation war of the 1980s.

The remains of the airman, identified as Hudson Brand, are a key piece of a puzzle that will reveal the location of a modern-day buried treasure - a find people will kill for.

Sonja returns to the country of her birth to find Emma, who since her call has gone missing. Former CIA agent Hudson Brand is very much alive and is also drawn back to Namibia to finally solve a decades-old mystery whose clues are entombed in an empty corner of the desert.

Author Bio

Tony Park grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney and has worked as a journalist in Australia and the UK, a government press secretary, a PR consultant and a freelance writer. He is also a Major in the Australian Army Reserve and served six months in Afghanistan in 2002 as the public affairs officer for the Australian ground forces. 

Tony and his wife, Nicola, divide their time between Sydney and southern Africa. Tony is an impeccable researcher, and writes character-driven thrilling page-turners set in exotic locations and exploring fascinating political, social and natural histories.

Click here to visit Tony's website.

Giveaway

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Snail Mail: Rediscovering the Art and Craft of Handmade Correspondence by Michelle Mackintosh

I love sending and receiving things through the mail - cards, letters etc. and receiving something unexpected is such a joy. Perhaps it comes from growing up in a Post Office, and helping to sort the mail as I got older.

I still remember writing to Dolly magazine asking for a penpal and promising to write back to every single letter. The mail came pouring in, and there was no way I could reply to the hundreds of letters, so instead I made a commitment to write back to every person who'd sent me a photo with their letter. 

Times have changed, but I still love to send birthday cards, notes and Christmas cards in the mail, even though people are doing this less and less. Nowadays people wish each other Happy Birthday via text message or a Facebook post, and when I sent my family and friends a change of address card earlier this year, a friend called me 'retro' and another laughingly called me 'old school.'

Well, I'm proud to be old school, and am hanging on to the art of snail mail with everything I've got. I also keep every card and note I've ever received, and can enjoy them long after text messages and Facebook posts are lost to the cloud/ether/black hole of technology.

Review
Michelle Mackintosh is a woman after my own heart. A fellow stationery lover and devotee of the printed word, her book Snail Mail: Rediscovering the Art and Craft of Handmade Correspondence was an absolute joy to read.

I certainly didn't need any convincing when it comes to the benefits of sending a sentiment in the post, but she gave me plenty of inspiration and ideas that I could be making more of what I do send. If you're looking for inspiration and want to send more snail mail in your life, then I heartily recommend Snail Mail. This beautiful book is full of ideas, examples and inspiration and is the perfect place to start.

If you want me to send you something in the mail, drop me a line here with your address (if I don't already have it) and I'll see what I can do :-)

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Winner of The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered last week's Friday Freebie to win a copy of The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst thanks to JAM PR.

The giveaway closed at midnight Friday 30th October, and the winner was drawn today, and:

the winner is Carly!

Congratulations Carly, you'll receive an email shortly letting you know about your win, and as soon as you've provided your postal address, your prize will be mailed out to you.

If you missed out this time, please stay tuned for more great giveaways.

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Here We Lie by Sophie McKenzie

RRP $29.99
Published in September 2015

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

Blurb
On holiday with family and her adoring fiancé, Jed, Emily couldn't be happier. But overnight, the idyllic trip turns into a waking nightmare when one of the group is found dead in what appears to be a terrible accident. 

The devastated party returns to London to cope with their loss while trying to resume their normal lives. But new revelations shed a shocking light on the holiday tragedy and set Emily on a perilous journey to discover the truth about what happened. 

Soon a terrifying series of threats and lies bring her face to face with the dark truths at the heart of her family - and into life-threatening danger... 

About the author
Sophie is the award-winning author of a range of teen thrillers, including the Missing series (Girl, Missing, Sister, Missing and Missing Me), Blood Ties and Blood Ransom and the Medusa Project series. Split Second is her first teen stand-alone novel in seven years and her first novel for adults was the psychological thriller Close My Eyes.

Giveaway

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Review: The Lake House by Kate Morton

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin and The Reading Room *

Kate Morton is one of my favourite Australian authors, and has sold more than 10 million copies of her books, quite an accomplishment. I've enjoyed all of them and The Lake House is her latest standalone historical fiction novel.

In the 1930s, Alice's younger brother Theo disappears during a Midsummer's Eve party at their estate, and is never seen again. The family leave Loeanneth (the lake house of the title) and never return. Alice grows up to become a crime writer, and seventy years later, Detective Sadie Sparrow stumbles across the cold case.

The story unfolds from multiple points of view, as we hear from Sadie, Alice and Alice's mother Eleanor. The result is a rich tapestry of family, regret, guilt, love, grief and the weaving together of secrets to form an intriguing mystery.

The Edevane family house Loeanneth is a character in of itself, magical and bustling with life, and then atmospheric, overgrown and abandoned after the tragic disappearance of little Theo. Morton's description of the house shut up and sealed for decades reminded me of the Paris apartment that lay untouched for 70 years. 

Morton has clearly had some fun in selecting the character names for The Lake House, Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Peter (Alice's assistant) from Peter Pan are both stories about lost children, and therefore fitting character names for this mystery about a missing child.

Alice was my favourite character by far though, an elderly writer, reclusive, aloof and set in her ways, she was an absolute joy to read.

Living in Australia, the tale of the missing boy is close to my heart, with the unsolved disappearance of William Tyrrell in the news every day and the case of Daniel Morcombe still fresh in my mind. I'll never understand how a person can just 'steal' someone from their lives and loved ones and claim them as their own. In a recent interview, Kate Morton said the disappearance of the Beaumont children had in part inspired her to write a mystery about a missing child.

The past and the present come together beautifully in The Lake House, and my only niggle was that the story was tied up way too neatly at the end in a coincidence that was a little too convenient for this reader to swallow. Some readers will love the reveal, but loyal fans who've read all of Morton's books will recognise that the magic that made me gasp in The Forgotten Garden and The Shifting Fog is absent at the end of The Lake House.

Still highly recommended and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Watch an interview here with Kate Morton filmed in Cornwall.

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine by Alex Brunkhorst

* Copy courtesy of JAM PR * 

Blurb
A modern-day Gatsby tale of forbidden love, family secrets and the true price of wealth. The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is filled with mystery, intrigue and a touch of glamour making it the perfect summer read.

The story begins with a dinner party invitation.
When young journalist Thomas Cleary is sent to dig up quotes for the obituary of a legendary film producer, the man's eccentric daughter offers him entrée into the exclusive upper echelons of Hollywood society. A small-town boy with working-class roots, Thomas is a stranger in this opulent world of private jets and sprawling mansions. Then he meets Matilda Duplaine.

Matilda is a beautiful and mysterious young woman who has never left the lush Bel-Air estate where she was raised. Thomas is immediately entranced by the enigmatic girl and the two begin a secret love affair. But what starts as an enchanted romance soon unravels a web of secrets and lies that could destroy their lives - and the lives of everyone around them - forever.

Filled with unforgettable characters and charm, The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine is a sparkling love letter to Los Angeles and a captivating journey beyond the golden gates of its most glamorous estates. Timeless, romantic and utterly absorbing, it is a mesmerising and poignant exploration of privilege, identify and the difficult choices we make in the pursuit of power.

Author Bio
Alex Brunkhorst is a novelist and a real estate agent specialising in multi-million dollar estates for wealthiest professionals in Los Angeles. She is also the founder of the popular luxury lifestyle site Bungalux.com. Alex is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in Los Angeles.

Giveaway

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Review: Huntress Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff

FBI Special Agent Roarke finds himself tracking a female serial killer in Huntress Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff.

Roarke is a great character who did time in the FBI Behavioural Analysis Unit (Criminal Minds anyone? Yes please!) but it's his prey who really steals the show.

The villainous female character is the star of the book, and it's her behaviour and first person narrative that really drive the reader.

The entire time I wanted to know what she was doing, why she was doing it and what she was going to do next. And boy, can she kick some ass!

The writing creates suspense and tension and Huntress Moon is a great crime-thriller. It's the first in the Huntress series, with Blood Moon next, followed by Cold Moon.

I've also heard on the grapevine that this series might be coming to TV in the US, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for that.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Thanks to Carol at Reading, Writing and Riesling for the recommendation, she gave it 10 stars so how could I resist?

Winner of illustrated children's picture book Wow! The Wonders of Our World announced

Thanks to everyone who entered last week's Friday Freebie to win a copy of illustrated children's book WOW! The Wonders of Our World by Joy Noble and Lucy Buxton thanks to Quikmark Media.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night, and the winner was drawn today, and:

the winner is Alisha Tostevin!

Congratulations Alisha, you'll receive an email shortly letting you know about your win, and as soon as you've provided your postal details, your prize valued at $19.95 will be sent to you directly from the publicist.

I'd like to thank Scott from Quikmark Media for providing an advanced copy of WOW! ahead of its November release for this giveaway. If you want to be a winner, I'm giving away a book a week for the next three weeks, so please enter and good luck!

Review: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I know Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a classic, but sadly I just didn't enjoy it, in fact, I considered calling this review: Fahrenheit 45none. 

I really wanted to fall in love with it, besides, it's set in a world where books are forbidden and firemen burn houses down instead of saving them.

Written in the 1950s but set in the future, I just found the world-setting too abstract. It's a warning to readers about the dangers of censorship and frightens us with an alternative world where people are obsessed with their TV walls and distracted by listening to the radio with their ear pieces.

Bradbury wasn't too far off the mark. You just have to sit on public transport for 5 minutes to see that everyone is 'jacked in' either wearing earphones, or staring into the screens of their smart phone or tablet. They seem completely disengaged with the world outside or even the people next to them.

Even though I didn't enjoy it, I'm glad I've read Fahrenheit 451 now, and at least can offer an opinion. The strongest opinion I have is that I don't think it should be a part of a high school syllabus. I just think that it's too abstract and removed for the youth of today. 

Do you disagree? Do you think I missed something? Let me know in the comments below.

My rating = **

Carpe Librum!

Review: Love Letters of Great Men by Ursula Doyle

Love Letters of Great Men by Ursula Doyle is a collection that includes personal and private letters from some great names in history and literature, including: 

- King Henry VIII (writing to Anne Boleyn)
- Mozart (writing to his wife)
- Napoleon writing to his wife Josephine
- Beethoven (writing to his Immortal Beloved)
- Mark Twain (writing to Olivia Langdon)
- Oscar Wilde (writing to Lord Alfred Douglas)
and more!

A short introduction is given to each letter which was concise and welcome background setting the scene.

Some of the letters were beautifully written, some poorly written (but all reproduced in type font, so don't worry, you don't have to read their handwriting) and some just down right possessive. I'm talking about you Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Page 37):

But I should not like you to take long walks without me. I entreat you to follow my advice exactly, for it comes from my heart.

So, it turns out Mozart was possessive, jealous and just a tad bossy. Who knew?

For more insights into the love lives of 41 men from history, check out Love Letters of Great Men by Ursula Doyle.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Review & Blog Tour for The Patterson Girls by Rachael Johns

* Copy courtesy of JAM PR *

Popular Australian author Rachael Johns is best known for her rural romance and farm-lit novels, however The Patterson Girls is her first foray into a genre she herself calls 'contemporary life lit'.

Basically it's a story about four sisters, who grew up in a motel run by the family in a small town 3.5 hours from Adelaide, near Port Augusta.

Grieving the loss of their mother six months earlier, each sister has their own unique personality, one living in London, one in USA, one in Melbourne and the other in Perth. 

I think my favourite part of The Patterson Girls was the fact they all grew up in a motel. I grew up in a small town general store and could definitely relate to their upbringing. The motel in the novel has seen better times, and I was really hoping for a 'makeover.' This is one of my favourite sub-plots in a book, where a run down building is cleaned up and renovated. I won't spoil the story, but my needs were satisfied here as well.

The sisters aren't a cohesive and trusting unit in the beginning and their dynamics and personal troubles were interesting to discover. In fact, I found myself enjoying The Patterson Girls much more than I'd expected, having been initially concerned there might be too much romance. The ending was also satisfying and who doesn't love a family secret or a family curse?

My only reservations were that the sisters drank too much wine (oh well, no harm there right?) and I think the title should have been Patterson's Curse instead of The Patterson Girls.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

Feel free to visit Rachael’s website.

Review: Frankenstein - Prodigal Son by Dean Koontz

If you've been following my reviews here for a while, you'll know I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz. I've read 27 books by Koontz, reviewed 18 of them and Frankenstein - Prodigal Son is the 28th.

The first in a series, Frankenstein is a mash-up of genres, including crime, science fiction and supernatural elements and while the character of Deucalion intrigued me, the story fell kind of flat.

Having said that, here's a great quote from page 41:

"Anger, like a long-repressed hunger, rose in Deucalion. Once anger had been his meat, and feasting on it, he had starved."

Prodigal Son is the first in the Frankenstein series, which contained five books at last count, but unfortunately I don't think I'll be reading any further.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of illustrated children's picture book Wow! The Wonders of Our World

*Copy courtesy of Quikmark Media * 

You asked for it, and so I bring you a children's book giveaway. Enter below to get your hands on a copy of Wow! The Wonders of Our World (valued at $19.95) before it's published.

Blurb for Wow! The Wonders of Our World
In an era with rapidly changing technology, it’s important to remind children of just how far we have come. To develop a thirst for knowledge. To learn more about our planet and the amazing things it offers, and never take it for granted.

In the upcoming illustrated children’s picture book, Wow! The Wonders of Our World, authors Joy Noble and Fiona Johnston have written an engaging book that aims to help children discover more about the world around them, and develop a sense of curiosity.

Published 15 November 2015
RRP $19.95

Through the pages younger readers will learn about things such as:

• How technology has changed the world (& how it was before)
• How our awesome bodies work
• The world of sport and why we need it
• The power of music and its impact on the world
• Different animals and their roles
• An introduction into Multiculturalism

Educational and fun with lots of great illustrations, Wow! The Wonders of Our World is an engaging read for parents and caregivers looking to show kids just how amazing the world really is.

About the Authors
After working as a social worker and administrator in South Australia and New Guinea, Joy Noble has had many books published. She was awarded an AM for the development of the principles and practice of volunteering. Until her recent retirement Fiona Johnston was a freelance editor and writer.

Lucy Buxton is a children's book illustrator based in Melbourne. She has studied Visual Arts, where she majored in Printmaking, and post graduate studies in Arts and Community Engagement. Wow! The Wonders of our World is her first book.

Giveaway

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