The Odin Mission – James Holland

[b]Synopsis [/b]- April 1940. Nazi Germany has invaded neutral Norway. Fleeing north from their brutal Blitzkrieg advance are three officers of the King’s Guard – men who have been entrusted by the Norwegian King with a vitally important mission: to get leading scientist, Hening Sandvold, out of Oslo and away to the safety of the Allies. The only military force which stands between the Nazi forces and total victory are the poorly equipped, undertrained squaddies of the British 148th Brigade. Among them is Sergeant Jack Tanner, recently returned from the Middle East to join the King’s Own Yorkshire Rangers. As the British are pushed back from Lillehammer, Sergeant Tanner and his patrol are left stranded in the mountains in the chaos of retreat. Trying to rejoin their unit, they stumble first across Sandvold and his protectors, and then a French patrol of alpine troops. The odds of this ragtag group of soldiers and civilians making it to safety are stacked against them.Trekking through snow-clad mountains with the Germans dogging their every move, Tanner is forced to try and out-fox and out-fight not only their pursuers but the best efforts of his own side. And as the Allies resistance collapses, it quickly becomes clear that the small band of fugitives can rely on no-one but themselves. Yet Tanner knows he has to succeed. For, as he discovers, Sandvold holds the key to a vital secret – one that could change the outcome of the entire war…

[b]My Thoughts [/b]- This book was sent to me as my final choice for The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge. I love love loved this book! This book is set during The Second World War, my favourite historical time period. I was really looking forward to this one and hoping it would be good, and it was! It was fast paced, changes in the story were brilliant, but the main thing that i loved was that both sides of the story, Both the English and German, something that i havent come across before! I am so pleased i picked this book! Whats even more amazing is that its part of a series so i cant wait to read more. The book was also written by a historian, so its historically acurate! I loved this book, highly recommended!

[b]Rating[/b] – 5/5

Yay!! Book 4 is here! (and also a little sad!)

My forth (and final) book for The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge arrived over the weekend. While I’m happy that this has arrived, I’m also a little sad that this marks the end of the challenge. I have loved taking part in this chalenge. My wishlist has grown so much because of this challenge and I’ve discovered some really good authors.

Now, onto the book. The final book i picked is The Odin Misson by James Holland.  The Synopsis (from Amazon) is as follows;

April 1940. Nazi Germany has invaded neutral Norway. Fleeing north from their brutal Blitzkrieg advance are three officers of the King’s Guard – men who have been entrusted by the Norwegian King with a vitally important mission: to get leading scientist, Hening Sandvold, out of Oslo and away to the safety of the Allies. The only military force which stands between the Nazi forces and total victory are the poorly equipped, undertrained squaddies of the British 148th Brigade. Among them is Sergeant Jack Tanner, recently returned from the Middle East to join the King’s Own Yorkshire Rangers. As the British are pushed back from Lillehammer, Sergeant Tanner and his patrol are left stranded in the mountains in the chaos of retreat. Trying to rejoin their unit, they stumble first across Sandvold and his protectors, and then a French patrol of alpine troops. The odds of this ragtag group of soldiers and civilians making it to safety are stacked against them.Trekking through snow-clad mountains with the Germans dogging their every move, Tanner is forced to try and out-fox and out-fight not only their pursuers but the best efforts of his own side. And as the Allies resistance collapses, it quickly becomes clear that the small band of fugitives can rely on no-one but themselves. Yet Tanner knows he has to succeed. For, as he discovers, Sandvold holds the key to a vital secret – one that could change the outcome of the entire war…

This is set in my favourite time period, during the second world war. I can’t wait to start this book, just need to finish my current read first!

Teacher, Teacher! – Jack Sheffield

Synopsis – It’s 1977 and Jack Sheffield is appointed headmaster of a small village primary school in North Yorkshire. So begins Jack’s eventful journey through the school year and his attempts to overcome the many problems that face him as a young and inexperienced headmaster.

The many colourful chapters include Ruby the 20 stone caretaker with an acute spelling problem, a secretary who worships Margaret Thatcher, a villager who grows giant carrots, a barmaid/parent who requests sex lessons, and a five-year-old boy whose language is colourful in the extreme. And then there’s also beautiful, bright Beth Henderson, who is irresistibly attractive to the young headmaster…

Warm, funny and nostalgic, Teacher, Teacher is a delightful read that is guaranteed to make you feel better, whatever kind of day you’ve had.

My Thoughts – Well, what can i say about this book? This was my third choice from The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge and i am so glad that i picked this! This book centres on Jack Sheffield, a head teacher in a tiny village school, and what happens over the course of a year. It is a true account too and i found it very heart-warming and funny. I actually laughed at some parts and actually cried at others. This is part of a series and i cant wait to get more books in it, am even considering going to buy them today to continue the story. I actually read this book in the course of a day, its been a long time that I’ve sat all day and not put a book down, but this book was so worth it. Its the best book ive read in a long time, probably my favourite book of the year! This cannot be rated highly enough in my opinion!

Rating – 5/5

Third book is here!

My third book for The Transworld Book Group reading Challenge arrived this afternoon and i really want to start reading this now!

The Third book i picked is Teacher Teacher by Jack Sheffield and the synopsis (from Amazon) is as follows

It’s 1977 and Jack Sheffield is appointed headmaster of a small village primary school in North Yorkshire. So begins Jack’s eventful journey through the school year and his attempts to overcome the many problems that face him as a young and inexperienced headmaster.

 

The many colourful chapters include Ruby the 20 stone caretaker with an acute spelling problem, a secretary who worships Margaret Thatcher, a villager who grows giant carrots, a barmaid/parent who requests sex lessons, and a five-year-old boy whose language is colourful in the extreme. And then there’s also beautiful, bright Beth Henderson, who is irresistibly attractive to the young headmaster…

 

Warm, funny and nostalgic, Teacher, Teacher is a delightful read that is guaranteed to make you feel better, whatever kind of day you’ve had!

This book looks better and better everytime i read the synopsis. I really want to start this as it seems right up my street, and ive just found out its a series book too!

Caligula – Douglas Jackson

Synopsis – Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the third Roman Emperor, is better known by another name: Caligula, a name synonymous with decadence, cruelty and madness. His reign was marked by excess, huge building projects, the largest gladiatorial battles Rome was ever to see – men and animals killed in their hundreds – conspiracies, assassination attempts and sexual scandal.

Rufus as a young slave grows up far from the corruption of the imperial court. His master is a trainer of animals for the gladiatorial arena. Rufus discovers that he has a natural ability with animals, a talent for controlling and schooling them. It is at the arenas that Rufus meets his great friend Cupido, one of Rome’s greatest gladiators.

It is his growing reputation as an animal trainer and his friendship with Cupido that attracts the cruel gaze of the Emperor. Caligula wants a keeper for the imperial elephant and Rufus is bought from his master and taken to the imperial palace. Life here is dictated by Caligula’s ever shifting moods. Caligula is as generous as he is cruel, he is a megalomaniac who declares himself a living god and simultaneously lives in constant fear of the plots against his life. But his paranoia is not misplaced, intrigue permeates his court, and Rufus and Cupido find themselves unwittingly placed at the centre of a conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor.

My Thoughts – This is the first book i have ever read on the theme of Romans, and i loved it! The story centres on an elephant keeper Rufus who is a slave and almost lives in fear of his life. He gets ridiculed by the emporor Caligula, his friends get killed before him, he is found a wife, with that their is also some differences. The emporor Caligula is horrible, he kills people just for fun, he treats people awfully!
This book is brilliant. It deals with death, life, birth, fighting, animals, love, hate, roman history, nearly a bit of everything. The fighting scenes are quite gorey, but i didnt think they were over gorey, it gave the right impression of roman life.
Once i picked up this book i couldnt put it down and i cant wait to read more in the series, need to get my hands on the next book! Highly recommended reading.

Rating – 5/5

Second Book is Here!!!

My second book for The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge arrived this afternoon and i cant wait to start reading it!

The scond book i picked is Caligula by Douglas Jackson and the synopsis from Amazon is as follows,

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the third Roman Emperor, is better known by another name: Caligula, a name synonymous with decadence, cruelty and madness. His reign was marked by excess, huge building projects, the largest gladiatorial battles Rome was ever to see – men and animals killed in their hundreds – conspiracies, assassination attempts and sexual scandal.

Rufus as a young slave grows up far from the corruption of the imperial court. His master is a trainer of animals for the gladiatorial arena. Rufus discovers that he has a natural ability with animals, a talent for controlling and schooling them. It is at the arenas that Rufus meets his great friend Cupido, one of Rome’s greatest gladiators.

It is his growing reputation as an animal trainer and his friendship with Cupido that attracts the cruel gaze of the Emperor. Caligula wants a keeper for the imperial elephant and Rufus is bought from his master and taken to the imperial palace. Life here is dictated by Caligula’s ever shifting moods. Caligula is as generous as he is cruel, he is a megalomaniac who declares himself a living god and simultaneously lives in constant fear of the plots against his life. But his paranoia is not misplaced, intrigue permeates his court, and Rufus and Cupido find themselves unwittingly placed at the centre of a conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor.

This is the book that i think will be my favourite, and I’ve already rea a few rave reviews from other book bloggers so i’m so excited to read this! I’m currently reading a challenge book so ill get that one finished and then start on this one!

WWW Wednesdays (24th Aug)

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme held over on Should be Reading. To play along, just answer the following questions.

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading Up All Night by Carmen Reid. I’m not that far into this book, having only started reading it last night, but i think im enjoying it so far! This book has quotes at the start of every chapter and i think these are really quite interesting! Its not a partically long book either, so I’m hoping ill get it read before this time next week!

 

What did you recently finish reading?

I actually read three books this last week! Thats a record for me!

The first book i finished was Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll. I read this as part of The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge. I loved loved loved this book! Its a genre that i havent really read much within and ill definitaly be reading more! And this book now has a sequal so i’ll be picking that one up soon!

The second book i finished this week was Airs and Graces by Erica James. I was excited to read this as ive heard good things about this author. I enjoyed this book, but it wasnt the best that i had read this year, i would read more if i came across it but i’m in no rush!

The third book i read this week was Young Wives’ Tales by Adele Parks. I’ll post my thoughts more on this one later but its safe to say i was presently surprised by this book!

 

 

What do you think you’ll read next?

I have a choice of a few books again this week!

i have My Fabulous Divorce by Claire Dowling next off my TBR pile. I’ve read another book by her and i wasnt too impressed, but im going to give a different book a try!

 

I also have the next book for The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge on its way to me! I’m not sure which book it is, only the fact that i have a book on its way! Really looking forward to this parcel!

I also have on its way to me A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers. this book is part of a group read for the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge over on the BCF.

 

Hmm decisions of what to read next!

Its Monday! What Are You Reading (22nd Aug)

Its Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme where book lovers can gather and discuss their reading week!

This meme always seems to come around really quickly and its my favourite meme of the week!

Books Read – I actually managed two books this last week 😀 Yay!!! and im about a third of the way through another! Not to sure as to why my reading has picked up so much, but it has!

The First book i finished was Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll. This book was sent to me as part of The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge. I really enjoyed this book, it was good to read something so far out of what i normally read. Even more exciting is their is a sequal, and i cant wait to get my hands on it and continue along with the story.

The second book i read this week was Airs and Graces by Erica James. This author is my mums favourite so i was quite excited to see what it was all about. I enjoyed this story, quite a fluffy book but i was after something that didnt require much thinking so this was perfect for that!

 

Reading Now – I’m currently reading Young Wives Tales by Adele Parks. Yep another chick lit! this one is quite good and I’m enjoying it so far. Not too sure if i will read anything else this week as this is quite a big book again!

Next up – I have a choice of a couple of books again. If my next choice for The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge arrives i will read that, but if not it will be back to the ‘Read all the chick lit books on my shelf to get rid of them mission’  The next book off the shelf is Up All Night – Carmen Reid.

Books Brought – I have brought a couple of books but they havent arrived yet, or even been dispatched! I’ll post about these next week when I’m sure I’m going to be getting them!

 

Black Swan Rising – Lee Carroll

Synopsis – Jeweller Garet James isn’t the same as everyone else.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

With her fair share of problems – money (lack of), an elderly father, a struggling business – Garet should be just like any other young, feisty, single New Yorker. If only it was that simple…

It begins with the old silver box that had been soldered shut. All Garet has to do is open it. A favour for the frail owner of the antiques shop. Who wouldn’t help?

Only it’s then that things start to change. Garet doesn’t notice at first, the shifts barely perceptible. But the city in which she grew up is beginning to reveal a long-hidden side – darker, and altogether more dangerous: parallel world of chaos, smoke and blood.

And now it’s out of the box…and it has no intention of going back in.

My Thoughts – This is the first book that I have read for the Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge. Also, this is the first fantasy/vampire book that i have read in a good many years!
The story centres on Garet, who to start with seems to be a normal woman living in New York, apart from having the struggle of coping with an elderly father, seems quite normal. However, this all changes when she gets her hands on a mysterious silver box, from the equally mysterious John Dee. Once the box is opened, it enleashes all sorts of horrors into New York. Garet meets all different kinds of ‘people’ vampires, fairies, creatures, dragons in her quest to find the silver box.
This book did start off a little bit slow for me during the first few pages, but the pace picked up very quickly and i was hooked into the story. The author isnt just one person, its a husband and wife team and i thought this brought a bit more to the book, two heads are better than one in that respect!
I was a little unsure if this was going to be a little bit to YA, but this was definitaly for me an adult book, quite dark in places too. i have kind of stayed away from the huge volume of vampire/fantasy books due to the sheer volume of books on this subject, but this was definitaly a breath of fresh air for me. I am so pleased that i picked this book for the transworld book group.
This book comes highly recommended, and the best part? The sequal has already been published, and i cant wait to get my hands on it!

Rating – 4/5

It’s Monday! What are you Reading?

Its Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme where book lovers can gather and discuss their reading week!

This meme always seems to come around really quickly and its my favourite meme of the week!

Books Read – I read the one book this last week, but as it was almost 650 pages long i thought this was actually quite an achievement! For me anyway! It was Forbidden Places by Penny Vincenzi. I did enjoy this book however i think i would have enjoyed it a bit more if it was a couple of hundred pages shorter! I will be putting my thoughts up on this one a bit later!

Reading Now – I’m currently reading Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll. I’ll explain why I’m reading this one in a little while but i am enjoying it so far! its not something that i would normally read but im really enjoying it so far!

Next up – I’m going to read the book that i was going to start last week which is Airs and Graces by Erica James.

New Reading Challenge – I have had the chance to take part in The Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge, which is giving book bloggers and reviewers the chance to read 4 books before the end of October and also reveiw them. I picked my four books and the first one arrived at the end of the last week. I’m so excited to be taking part in this challenge!

Books Aquired – i only aquired the one book this week, and that was Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll. I actually havent brought any books yet this month!