Review: The Visitor by Lee Child

The Visitor by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read this book as a part of a challenge, my partner had it lying around so I thought, why not.

The books is engaging from the very first page.

Jack Reacher is sitting in a bar, where the owner of the bar is being hassled by the local "mafia" to pay cash for "security" which a whole load of rubbish, the owner can't afford it and he is being bullied. Jack cant just stand by and watch someone being picked on and belittled, even though it has nothing to do with him, so Jack puts together a very simple but extremely clever plan, and he teaches these men a lesson, don't pick on the little people.

Jack returns home from the bar, and is blinded by bright lights, there are police surrounding him everywhere, he has been taken into custody and is investigated by the FBI, he is the suspect of serial killing of two women he previously represented whilst he was in the Army. These two women have only one thing in common and that is that they both know Jack Reacher.

Jack is a hero, I assimilate him with a James Bond type character, he is suave, strong, intelligent, cool, calm and collected.

The case is mysterious, and nothing I could have guessed.

I like the thrill of the book, but a little slow for my likings. I will give the series another go, with another on in the Jack Reacher series to see if they are similar.

View all my reviews

Review: Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Truly Madly Guilty is another outstandingly good book by Liane Moriarty.

Erika and Clementine are childhood friends, who grew up in two completely different families. Clementine

I truly enjoy the style Liane Moriarty uses to write her book, each character gets to tell their side of the story in their own words, and you get to feel each characters point of view. She introduces you to each character through the beginning of the book, you get to know and understand each character well.

Through the book, there are hints and suggestions of some kind of tragedy, and we see how it effects each character differently, in the middle of the book, the tragedy is revealed and it is not what I guessed what it would have been, I was shocked.

The book is very well written, like all of Liane's book.

I highly recommend it.

View all my reviews

Review: The Orchard Murders by Robert Gott

The Orchard Murders by Robert Gott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Orchard Murders is the 4th book in the series by Robert Gott, although I read it as a standalone having never read the prior 3 books. It was easy to follow without the need of reading the first three books.

The book is focused in Nunawading, Melbourne, Victoria during 1944. There has been a triple murder, A Husband and wife and their 2 month old child, there is a suspect to the murders, however he conveniently is suffering from memory loss, and his recall of the event is sketchy to say the least. The suspect is placed into custody by Inspector Titus Lambert, as there are currently no other suspects, and by having someone in custody it can, at the very least, help the town sleep better at night.

The police force is very low on staff, due to the war so Inspector Lambert employs the assistance of Helen Lord and Joe Sable, who have recently retired from the force.

Joe and Guy Kirkham (Joe's mate) attempt to infiltrate a church cult, where the leader sees himself as the Messiah incarnate, Guy goes deep undercover into the cult, and is sending messages to Joe on the outside, to assist in the triple homicide investigation. This undercover investigation ends in tragic circumstances.

This book is a fantastic read, the "who done it suspense" is well written and very intriguing. I highly recommend for all lovers of crime, mystery and suspense.

I received a copy of this book from Scribe Publishers in exchange for an honest review, this book is extremely entertaining, it receives 4 stars from me.

View all my reviews

Review: 28 by Brandon Jack

28 by Brandon Jack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a phenomenal book.

I am an avid Sydney Swans fan, and I must admit my interest in reading this book initiated from my cult like following of the Swans, but after reading the book, I believe it will be thoroughly enjoyed by an sports fan, not just AFL.

Brandon is a local Sydney boy, who group up in the Hills Shire, his father was the infamous Garry Jack from Balmain Tigers and the Australian Rugby team, Brandon was the youngest of three boys Kieran, Rhys and Brandon.

The eldest son Kieran was a professional footy player for the Sydney Swans, he was a premiership player, club captain and all Australian.

Football was imbedded into the boys since they were young, it was similar to a religion to them, the boys all grew up playing local rugby, with the boys playing for numerous local comps, with Rhys going on to play Harold Matts for Parramatta and Leichardt.

Kieran left the family tradition of League and moved on to AFL, Brandon also left the family comfort of League and changed codes to AFL.

The pressure footballers put themselves under every day to become successful and to play in the seniors team, is unthinkable, they literally live and breath footy every moment of their lives, every decision that Brandon makes is in regards to how it effects his chances of being selected for a senior footy game.

Brandon leaves the family home and moves into a club organised share house with some of his other team mates, closer to the SCG. Brandon works hard, to make senior team selection, and the opportunity always seems to be hanging in front of him, like a carrot on string, he is told numerous times, that he is doing everything right, but just doesn't see to be enough to make team selection.

He really punishes himself and works himself hard, physically and mentally to become the athlete that the coach's require him to be. He pushes and pushes himself so hard, that it is extremely tolling on his body mentally and physically.

Brandon opens up a lot about his personal life, about the parties, the drinking, the excessive amounts of alcohol, drug usage, sex, women, his own personal sexuality choices.

Brandon also talks about his music career, his band, the music he has written and produced.

Brandon is a gentle soul, with a lot of emotion and feeling, I feel that his love hate relationship with football, truly took it's toll on him, and came very close to destroying him.

The pressure these young athletes put themselves through just for team selection, and then adding to the mix the binge drinking, night life, parties and sexual encounters, these athletes are both mentally and physically challenged.

As a Swans fan, this book is a marvelous trip down memory lane, reading about past players, and reliving glorious moments like the 2012 Premiership and then the roads to the 2014 and 2016 Grand Final appearances.

John Longmire is an outstanding coach, and I will be forever proud to call the Sydney Swans my team, particularly when you read how the coaching staff install mental health sessions for their athletes, and are constantly taking care of their wellbeing, at the same time of training them to be elite athletes and footballers.

The influence these athletes have had over one another, in particular the way the senior team and leadership group have assisted with the first and 2nd year players is a great read. Particular the influence of the likes of Adam Goodes and Rhyce Shaw.

Brandon touches briefly on the racism incidents with Adam Goodes, but what he does highlight is the incredibly amazing man that Adam Goodes that is, his influence on young children and the fans, and the respect that his fellow team mates and Swans staff and fans have for him.

Respect is a huge part of the football culture, and it is great to read about how the club and it's staff encourage and influence the respect for one another.

Brandon is a multi talented young man, and a wonderful writer.

I was extremely lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book by publisher Allen and Unwin, and in doing so, I am more then happy to offer my honest review.

View all my reviews

Review: It's in His Kiss: Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

It's in His Kiss: Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fabulous Bridgerton book.

This book is based around the story of Hyacinth, named after her mother's favourite flavour. The Bridgerton family is made up of 8 children, all famously named in alphabetical order, with Hyacinth being the youngest and the last female in the family in need of a Husband.

Hyacinth is great friends with Lady Danbury, they are both smart, witty, talented and unafraid to voice their opinions, but when it comes to sourcing a husband these can be attributes that do not sit in Hyacinth's favour, as most men looking for a wife are seeking a wife whom they can control, not a wife who is smart and witty, and holds opinions of her own.

Lady Danbury's grandson, Gareth St Clair is a mischievous Rake, he is estranged from his father, and lives life by his own rules, he does however adore his Grandmother, and dotes on her enormously, he never fails to visit her numerous times a week.

Gareth is given a diary written by his late mother and it is written in Italian, Hyacinth attempts to translate the diary for him, and the two of them discover some intriguing family secrets.

This books is so much fun, I truly regretted having to put it down to attend to reality i.e work and family life etc.

View all my reviews

Review: Solomon's Song by Bryce Courtenay

Solomon's Song by Bryce Courtenay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Solomon's Song is the third book in the Potato Factory trilogy by Bryce Courtenay.

It continues on directly from where Tommo & Hawk left off in the previous book. It starts in Sydney Town with Tommo hunting down Sparrer Fart for the death of his brother Hawk's beloved Maggie Pye. A body is found washed up on the shore, and is required to be identified, the body is found headless, and is wearing a Maori medal around it's neck, and Tommo's wallet in the pockets of the clothing. Mary and Hawk are called into Alexandria morgue to identify the body, and Mary confirms it is in fact the body of her son Tommo. It later becomes apparent that Tommo had devised a clever plan and had found and murdered Sparrer Fart, but changing the identity to his own at the very last minute, which prevented further investigations being made.

Tommo has retreated to New Zealand, where his daughter resides and has been raised by the Maori chief. Hawk follows Tommo to New Zealand, and is there with his brother in his last days before Tommo's passing, the wound in Tommo's head making Tommo extremely ill and causing the passing of his final days.

Hinetitema, Tommo's daughter is now 21, she is very strong willed and stubborn just like her father Tommo. Hawk tries to convince Hinetitema to come to Auckland to meet her Grandmother Mary Abacus. Hinetitema will have nothing of it, as she wants to be a nurse, and continue to reside in New Zealand and assist the poor.


Hinetitema is working as a Nurse in New Zealand and succumbs to the effects of alcohol, hawk on one of his annual visits to New Zealand discovers she is missing, and finds her a mess, he cleans her up and brings her back to Hobart with him. Mary and Hinetitema get along famously even though both women are very similar in personality and extremely stubborn.

Mary is getting quite elderly and is desperate for a heir to take over The Potato Factory, with Tommo passed and Hawk' without a partner, her only hope is in Hinetitema. Mary sends multiple suiters for Hinetitema to consider, none of them are of interest to her. Mary makes a risky move and arranges for a former flame of her niece's to come to Hobart, he is an alcoholic and a card shark.

The move pays off for Mary and Hinetitiema and the Dutch man, marry and conceive two children Ben and Victoria.

20 years later and Ben has gone to Gallipoli with the Anzacs and becomes and Victoria is learning the business of the Potato Factory under the guiding hand of her Uncle Hawk.

This is a must read story for every Australian. Bryce had detailed the story of Gallipoli in a clear heart-wrenching descriptive, you feel like you are there with the soldiers and hoping not to die. Make sure you have a book of tissues on hand when you read this book.

An outstanding story and deserves 10 stars. This is a book that stay with you for eternity.

View all my reviews

Review: When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When he was wicked, is the sixth book in Bridgerton series, this time featuring the story of Francesca.

Francesca is married to John, and they are both very much in love and living in Kilmarton House in Scotland. Francesca, John and John's best made Michael spend a lot of time together and all get a long famously. Francesca even refers to Michael as her best friend also.

Francesca's husband John passes away suddenly, and Francesca is pregnant, unfortunately her pregnancy does not take and she miscarriages, as you could imagine this is heartbreaking for Francesca and also for their families, as this would have been a small piece of John that they had left to hang onto.

Four long years pass by and Francesca decides it is time to look for a new husband, as much as she loves John and sees that she will never be able to love another man like the way she loved her husband, she is lonely and seeking companionship and she also would like to have a baby. At the same time Michael returns from his adventures in India and he too has decided it is time to put aside is Rakish ways and also look for a wife, so they both are out in society in London looking for a partner together. Michael is extremely protective of Francesca and sees to it that none of the Men in London that are seeking a wife will take advantage of her.

Michael has been in love with Francesca since the day he lied on her, but Francesca was always "off limits" as she was his best friends wife. When John died, John left everything to his cousin Michael, his estate, his properties, his fortune, everything. It was bad enough that Michael had taken over John's place in life, but he cannot take away the one that that John had left, his beautiful wife Francesca.

The chemistry between Francesca and Michael is hot and passionate, they both feel it but struggle to keep their hands off one another.

This book is fiery and passionate, it is hot and seductive. Read this on your own ladies, it is a book that can be thoroughly enjoyed.

I read the version of this book that included an additional epilogue, and to me this was brilliant, it totally completed the book perfectly. Without the epilogue, I can understand some of the bad reviews, but with the epilogue, this book is brilliant.

View all my reviews