Never has a quote been so relevant to EVERY book worm around the globe (and further!). SO many books, but so little time! The same can also be said for book bloggers. We read that many books so we can share them with our audience, but we find ourselves short of time to write all our thoughts down in a comprehensive review.
This brings us nicely to ‘Mini Review Monday’. A place where, to compliment our current content, we can share with you some of our initial thoughts on books we have been reading over the last week 🙂
THE BEAST WITHIN (Villains #2) by Serena Valentino
A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle.
Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp–like a beast’s!
But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bitter monster?
And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?
I found this to be a clever alternate story to the original Beauty & The Beast we all know and love. All the well loved and not so well loved characters were included in this story.
It was interesting to read how the story could have happened from the Beast’s point of view, as in the Disney film we took it at face value that the Beast was selfish and spoilt without any explanation what made him that way.
This is the first book I have read by Serena Valentino, will definitely be looking for the rest in this series
[K]
’48 by James Herbert
In 1945, Hitler unleashed the Blood Death on Britain as his final act of vengeance.
Those who died at once were the lucky ones. The really unfortunate took years. The survivors – people like me, who had the blood group that kept us safe from the disease – were now targets for those who believed our blood could save them.
I survived for three years. I lived alone, spending my days avoiding the fascist Blackshirts who wanted my blood for their dying leader. Then I met the others – and life got complicated all over again . . .
This book is a different take on the apocalyptic dystopian alternate history ‘the world has ended’ genre, even though it was first published in 1996. Majority of England (and possibly the world?) has been wiped out by Hitler’s last hurrah, a bomb with a deadly virus.
The story focuses on the main character Hoke who is immune, but unfortunately for him there are others who are surviving in a sense but are in near constant pursuit and after his blood.
I found this a real page turner of a book with many twists that keeps you reading. I first read this book years ago as a teenager, and have ever since wanted to read it again but couldn’t remember the title or the author.
My mum happened to come across this at our local library and I am so glad she did! I have now managed to re-read a book which fragments of the story has managed to say with me for the last 18 years and now purchased my own copy so I can re-read again at my leisure.
[K]
A BABY AT THE BEACH CAFE by Lucy Diamond
A Baby at the Beach Cafe is an engaging short story follow-up to Lucy Diamond’s bestselling novel The Beach Cafe.
Evie loves running her beach cafe in Cornwall but with a baby on the way, she’s been told to put her feet up. Let someone else take over? Not likely.
Helen’s come to Cornwall to escape the stress of city living. She hopes a seaside life will be the answer to all her dreams. When she sees a job advertised at the cafe it sounds perfect.
But the two women clash and sparks fly. . . and then events take a dramatic turn. Can the pair of them put aside their differences in a crisis?
This is lovely little short story with characters I found I could relate to and believe in.
Due to it being a short story this will only be a short review as I do not want to inadvertently give away any spoilers.
But if you have a spare couple of hours please pick up this book for a lovely heartwarming story beside the seaside.
[K]
Have you read any of the books above? Let us know your thoughts! 🙂
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