Monday, 30 April 2018

Chuckles Spring Book Tag


The weather has warmed a bit, the bunnies are playing in the meadows, the ducks are quacking on the lakes and the birds are nesting in the trees! Yes it is Spring and to celebrate I decided to do a Spring Book Tag! You are all welcome to join in. No rules, no forced tagging, just a few Booky and Spring related questions.

1-What Do You Like Most About Spring?
I like seeing the beautiful colours in gardens and woods as flowers bloom and grass goes that lovely vibrant green! There are lovely bushes in my garden that change colours through the year so I love seeing it come to life after winter is over. I like not having to put the fire on every day, the spring rain on my window and a bit of blue sky! I also love watching the foxes bring their cubs out and the ducklings out paddling in the local pond.

2-Anything About Spring That You Don't Like?
The Coming Of The Insects! Big Hairy Spiders crawling out the garden hut, flying horrors dive-bombing you every time you step outdoors. Also the smells from neighbours bins on warmer days, more cats invading the garden to try and eat the birds and crap everywhere, people gardening with loud machinery as soon as it gets light and having to go and cut the stupid hedges our neighbour planted!

 3-Do You Read Outdoors In Spring?
Never. I have a thing about insects attacking me while I read. Also as soon as you appear outside with a book, the neighbours descend to the fences to talk to you! Don't talk to me I'm READING you rude git!

4-Favourite Spring Destination To Visit?
Any excuse to visit Blackpool, a coastal seaside town in Blackpool that I just love! The rollercoaster theme park (Pleasure Beach), Blackpool Tower, the three piers, the park, the zoo, Sealife Centre, the tram and donkey rides, the tacky shops and junk food...love it!

 5-What Books Do You Plan To Read This Spring?
*snorts* This year has been the reading slump from hell and I just don't want to read at the moment! I want to catch up on some horror by Hunter Shea, catch up on the Carrie Vaughn Kitty Norville series and read A Dance With Dragons part two!

6-What Spring Releases Are You Waiting For/Received But Not Read?
I'm waiting on the final Kevin Hearne Iron Druid book to arrive from Amazon which I'm looking forward to. I'm waiting for a lot of books in June though!

7-Best Read So Far This Spring?
I've really enjoyed things like The Haunted Forest Tour, The Last Flag (despite editing issues) and new books in series I already enjoyed like Extinction War and Beyond Sight. I haven't read much more than that other than decent political books by Robin Cook and Ed Balls.

 8-Disappointing Spring Read?
The lack of reading has been the worst disappointment I think but I hope to get that sorted soon. A Conservative Coup, about the fall from power of Margaret Thatcher was very heavy going and not as good as I hoped it would be.

9-Any Book Goals This Spring?
My goal is to read a book. Any book. ANYTHING to get me started again as this slump is depressing! I need to finish The Extinction Trials which I've been trying to read for three weeks. I was enjoying it but can't seem to get motivated to go back to it!

 10) Do you Spring Clean? Are You Doing home DIY or garden improvements this Spring?
The plan was to get on with a mass spring clean and get the house organised from the chaos it always seems to be in but my dad and I getting the flu brought that to a halt. We still want to get it done before the main summer but I'm not looking forward to it-new cupboards and shelves, repairs, furniture shifting, finishing the garden...ugh!

 11) What have you been watching this Spring?
Reruns of Coronation Street from 1984 and 1988 as well as the 2018 episodes. The newest series of Masterchef which I enjoyed. The newest Steve Austin Broken Skull Challenge. Love that! The game show Revolution. The Commonwealth Games from Gold Coast in Australia. That has kept me pretty busy...I did get interested in watching the NFL Draft for the first time ever and despite not knowing any of the players, it was strangely addictive!

12-If You Were A Bunny What Would Your Name Be?
I'm not sure that Chuckles the Bunny has a ring to it! Ballyhoo has a sort of funny and I'm a bit of a troublemaker vibe coming off it so I might go with that!

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Around The Blogs With Chuckles


We all enjoy snooping and lurking on other people's blogs right? Why not share those entertaining things you found with other readers and bloggers too! Welcome to Around the Blogs with Chuckles, where I take time out to show you some of my favourite blog posts from the previous seven days and link you up so you can check them out. 

This week!
 
1) Book Review-Dread Nation by Justina Ireland 
AJ looks in depth at a much anticipated book.

2) Book Review-Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel
Carole and Mogsy both look at book 3 in this SF series.

3) Book Review-The Strain by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
Bark looks at the book that inspired the series.

4) Book Review-Ace Of Shades by Amanda Foody
A look at YA fantasy.


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Sunday, 29 April 2018

Chuckles Cover Love #73 Lucy Hounsom


If there is one thing that makes a great book even better, it is when it has a cover that we love! The cover design is what catches the eye as we browse through a bookstore shelf or check out the Amazon or Goodreads recommendations. The right cover makes me look closer at a book, to read the blurb and maybe make a purchase. A poor cover might mean I never look at the blurb at all.

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account.  

This Week! Lucy Hounsom! 

 Not my genre, but like the covers...

 



















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Friday, 27 April 2018

Chuckles Weekend Roundup


Welcome to my feature Chuckles Weekend Roundup where I will be looking at what books I've received, anything interesting I've done or bought or watched and other random stuff. I'll be taking a look back at what happened in my blogging world too, sort of like The Sunday Post that some of you do! 

Please note that I'll be visiting your STS/SP as normal, but I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow DISQUS to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I am the only one who does that on my social media! I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. Sometimes, I have problems leaving messages on blogs hosted by Wordpress-they try to block me because I deleted my account with them but I will persevere as it only happens the odd time!
****************
 This has been a more productive week on the whole. I managed to grab myself more free and cheap books in my favourite genre so I have a lovely backlog of things to add to my Goodreads shelves! Of course it means more books to entice you guys with too! *evil snigger* I've been doing some computer housekeeping-wading through vall the files on my computer and deleting what I no longer want and need but it's going to take another few weeks to complete that by the look of it! Ugh! I still have to do a good sort of my Goodreads shelves-cut them down, rearrange and relabel everything...and that will take ages too. The good news is that I've been working hard to get ahead on all my regular blog posts...5 weeks ahead on all my usual posts except the chat ones which I'll be working on today. Pleased with progress!
 
The down side is that I read nothing this week except a couple of short stories. It's a bit frustrating as I really was enjoying The Extinction Files but I seem to be too tired to read at any time of the day right now. I'm watching plenty TV, catching up with my favourite soap and things like Masterchef. I'm having fun but I do need to find a way back into my reading. I'll give it a try this weekend and hopefully there will be good news to report soon. I'm a bit behind on answering comments but I'll catch up once this is posted.
 
DOWNLOADS
 
 




 
Chuckles Blogging World
I've been working on a lot of those time consuming computer jobs-deleting files and writing poststo get my regular posts 5 weeks ahead. I had to use up a lot of pre-written posts during that flu so it's nice to get back ahead again. Still got a lot of file deleting and work on my Goodreads shelves to do but that'll take weeks! 

Book Reviews
 Sadly I just didn't get time to get to any book reviews but being ahead on blog posts again should give me time to get a few reviews done next week. I hope!

Regular Posts
No samples or prepping this week as I ran out of time again. I feel like a broken record when I keep saying the same thing...Cover Love looked at CW Snyder, Top Ten Tuesday was all about Sea Monsters, Can't Wait Wednesday featured Kelly Meding and Books From The Backlog was Gameland. I did my usual Around The Blogs post too.
 
Chuckles Cover Love

Around The Blogs With Chuckles

Top Ten Tuesday

Can't Wait Wednesday

Books From The Backlog
 
Discussion Posts 
This week saw the return of Chuckles Chat with a discussion about non-fiction books and Game of Thrones Gossip featured Bronn, Shae and Pod.
 
Chuckles Chat

Game of Thrones Gossip
 
Film Reviews 
none this week
 
Special Posts 
 
New Release: Collapse by Kyle Danvers

Book Tags/Blog Awards
 
Twenty Questions Book Tag

Currently Reading/Up Next
 No progress to report!

Next Week On The Blog
I'll be going Around The Blogs, maybe doing some samples and book reviews and hopefully a Book Tag if I have time. Cover Love looks at Lucy Hounsom, Top Ten Tuesday is another of my own book lists, Can't Wait Wednesday is Sole Survivor, Game of Thrones Gossip features The Brotherhood Without Banners, Chuckles Chat takes a look at what we like and hate about horror and Books From The Backlog is Clean.
 
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Thursday, 26 April 2018

Books From The Backlog


Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf.  You might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. Go to Carole's blog and add your blog post link in to join in the fun! Hosted by Carole at https://carolesrandomlife.blogspot.co.uk/

This seems like a fun feature and I have been planning to take part since Carole launched this so at last, here we go! I have a TON of unread books to choose from in various genres and I'm looking forward to sharing some of them with everybody. 


SERIES DESCRIPTION:
In the center of Long Island's forbidden wasteland, overseen by a large and powerful corporation known as Arc Properties, is GAMELAND, a virtual reality arcade where the rich and privileged act out their base fantasies using zombies as avatars. Connected to their Infected Players via neural implants (government-mandated in the event of an outbreak), Operators pit the Undead against one another using remote gaming controllers in a high stakes game of money, violence, and power. For the poor, the televised action on state-controlled Media streams is horrifying yet powerfully addictive.

Volunteering to become an Undead Player is strictly forbidden, but fame and money lure some to The Game.

On a whim, a small group of computer hackers and gamers decides to sneak onto the island, hoping to catch a glimpse of the uncontrolled Infecteds, unimplanted victims of an outbreak that took place there over a decade earlier. But while breaking in turns out to be a lot easier than any of them could have ever imagined, getting back out is one a hell of a killer. As they soon discover, when you play, you play to win. Because, if you die, you become part of The Game.

The series consists of eight episodes publishing monthly through December 2012. Also available in paperback.

I read the first segment of the serial novel a long time ago and liked it so I waited to get the whole thing. And I still haven't read it! At 700+ pages, it is intimidating me but I really do want to read it! I added it to my pile in November 2014.
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Chuckles Chat #62 Non Fiction

Welcome to Chuckles Chat where great blogging minds unite to discuss the topics of the day mainly in the book and blogging world. I'll be sharing my thoughts on a topic and then inviting you all to share your thoughts. It's ok to disagree but PLEASE be respectful of each other's views! All of the comments on my blog are moderated and offensive posts ie racist, bigoted will not be published! 

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account.   

 This week I'm taking a look at the kind of non fiction that we read. I've always had non fiction on my shelves as I liked to read about subjects that I found interesting. Through the years of course my interests have changed. As a kid I liked non fiction about dinosaurs, looking at all the different kinds and where in the world they were found. I still love my dinosaurs but I would like to find that one great encyclopedia that isn't aimed at kids for reference purposes that has maps, drawings and all about each species. Oh to have Alan Grant's books! 

By the time I was in secondary school and was loving History, I had developed an interest in WWI and WWII, an interest that has grown through the years. I'm now also interested in other wars such as Vietnam, the American Civil War, and I'd like to actually read something about the Korean War, which is quite relevant today. In more recent times, I have developed a fascination with The Tudors and the War of the Roses, thanks to discovering Philippa Gregory's books through friends so I have a few non fiction on these subjects that I'd like to get to at some point.

 I guess to a certain extent I've always had an interest in politics too, since at school we studied the US election system and witnessed our own on the TV. My dad's side of the family were Labour mad but my mum was interested in the Liberal Democrats. I actually became more interested in politics than the whole family put together and tried to study it at college but didn't quite get the grades. I wanted to do politics and journalism and it sucks that I was one grade short of being accepted into the course. Still, I read a lot of political memoirs from MPs on all sides of the spectrum, including US politicians. I also love the behind the scenes of the political campaigns, seeing all the fighting and scandal!

 When I started doing reading challenges in Goodreads groups, one of the tasks was to read a book with mountains and 'Into Thin Air' was recommended by a few friends. After reading that, I became addicted to mountain expedition books. The deadly conditions, the storms, the stunning scenery...something about it all just appealed to me and I started to devour a ton of books on the subject. I still have a lot of these unread on my shelves. I also read about natural and manmade disasters and terrorist attacks so I have a few books about 9/11 still to be looked at at along with air, sea and rail disasters. Just call me Cheerful Chuckles!

 I do sometimes read the memoirs of people that interest me though a lot of times these books are hit and miss. I like an honest memoir where the person talks about the good and bad parts of their life, instead of missing out the bits they don't want to talk about. What is the point of that? Why write it in the first place! I've read books about favourite soap stars, sportsmen and women, those from favourite TV shows etc. I admit that my interest in this kind of non fiction isn't what it used to be as so many of the books aren't all that interesting or spend too much time on years and years of dull childhood, rather than what we know them for. I do still read the odd one though.

I also read books about the investigations into serial killers. I actually have an interest in that because of circumstances. A known serial killer called Peter Tobin lived in my town for a while and my mum saw him several times at the high rise building across the road from us. That gives you the shivers, knowing you were playing outside your home and he probably walked by you. A neighbour of ours had a son who was on a school debating team and a girl from an opposing school team in our area was murdered about 20 minutes from where I live. Another Scottish serial killer called Robert Black was in the area at the time, and of course Tobin lived not far from there at the time. Kind of makes you think. Her murder has never been solved but I believe one of them did it and I'm trying to research that online with little success.

 Now my newest non fiction interest is in prepper books. I love reading about how to make a chemical toilet, use a pizza box as a solar oven, make meals using cans as a mini stove, building nuclear bomb shelters, food storage, disaster prepping, home security and a ton of other stuff. A lot of this I'm reading just for interest as the subject fascinates me and I'm certainly not constructing bomb shelters in my garden-I can't mess up my dad's patio! However some of the subjects are educational and could be useful skills to have should a crisis come along. I actually bought my first nuclear war non fiction book when I was about 11 so I've always been a person who wants to learn about scary stuff and give herself nightmares.

 I do also like companion guides to TV that I like. I've got quite a few Stargate and Buffy guides from when I was mad fans of these series! I've got behind the scenes books about Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Recently, I'm hoovering up anything interesting connected to Game of Thrones. I've got the HBO guides, the houses of Westeros, GRRM history of Westeros (looking forward to the new ones, maybe even one this year!) I would like a book that goes more into the casting of the parts, actors being replaced, behind the scenes disputes etc so if you can recommend one, let me know!

The problem is time. I don't get as much reading time as I would like and I tend to devote that mostly to fiction for entertainment purposes. After a bad day, relaxing with Harry Potter or some zombies is how I like to chill out and it takes me longer to plough through a big non fiction book. Sometimes seeing a film can make me more interested in reading a book on the subject, just so I can learn more. I have a few of these to read on things like the Chile Mining Disaster and the Hatton Garden robbery.

What non fiction topics interest you? Or are you just a fiction person?
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Game of Thrones Gossip #64 Bronn, Shae and Pod

Welcome to my Game of Thrones Gossip, where us fanatics get the chance to discuss everything we love about this amazing TV series. I decided to do a whole series of these discussion posts that let us say everything we want and enjoy every second of it! Please feel free to comment fully and without restriction!

I have to warn you that it is important that you have seen all six seasons before reading any of these posts because these posts and blogger comments will be exploding spoilers all over the place. If you haven't watched the series and plan to, be warned that it's a bad idea to be here right now! I take no responsibility if you read on and things are spoiled for you.

Now I'm looking at the main characters introduced in season three, what our season two characters were doing and looking at all the bests bits. Enjoy the season three posts! 

Bronn finds that his status has been raised after his heroism during the Battle of the Blackwater and he is knighted by Joffrey. He still does not have any lands so he tells Tyrion that he expects a new improved pay to go with being Ser Bronn. He is summoned to retain his position of protecting Tyrion who is now seriously paranoid about his safety after the attempt to murder him during the battle. Bronn revels in the anger and disgust of the Kingsguard who do not think he is worthy of his Knighthood. He suggests to Tyrion that Pod should be well paid for his bravery and the two of them deliver the unsuspecting boy to prostitutes.

 Bronn cares little about Tyrion's worries over the nation being in debt as long as he is being paid and doesn't grasp the concept of why people are expected to pay what they owe, continually asking who is going to force them to pay it if they don't want to. He is a lot more interested in the return of Pod from the prostitutes who liked him so much that they refused to take his money for services rendered. Tyrion and Bronn are determined to quiz Pod for details! He isn't greatly sympathetic to Tyrion's women troubles, pointing out that he can continue to see Shae as long as he does his duty by Sansa, and he will get a beautiful bride and a Kingdom to rule.


Shae's relationship with Sansa has become a lot closer and she has started to care for her soon to be rival. She takes heed of the warning of Ros not to trust Littlefinger's motives when it comes to Sansa. Shae tries to warn Sansa that nobody will offer help and expect nothing in return. Sansa indicates that Littlefinger is a friend of her mother and is upset by Shae's implication that he wants more than friendship from her. Shae decides to tell Tyrion her concern for Sansa.

 Shae is upset when she hears of the wedding between Tyrion and Sansa, fearing that Tyrion will lose interest in her when he has his new young bride. Whatever Tyrion says to comfort her, she takes it the wrong way and their relationship descends into petty jealousy and constant bickering, which starts to wear Tyrion down. She has one happy moment when she realises that the marriage has not yet been consumated but Tyrion is trying to keep her at arms length for fear that their relationship will be discovered by spies for Cersei.

 It is Varys who decides that drastic action needs to be taken and he approaches Shae with diamonds to try and persuade her to do what is right for Tyrion and leave the city. She is angry at the attempt to buy her off. It makes her even more determined to stay and look after Sansa and be there for Tyrion.

Pod has become one of the few people that Tyrion trusts at King's Landing and he is totally loyal to him, as he proved by saving his life in the Battle of the Blackwater. His reward for his deeds is to have Tyrion pay for him to spend some time with three prostitutes, who enjoy him so much that they refuse to be paid for it. Pod is constantly by Tyrion's side throughout the series, and has a memorable encounter with Olenna Tyrell who is far from impressed by his waitor services.
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Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Can't Wait Wednesday-Stray Magic


Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at http://www.wishfulendings.com/ to spotlight and discuss books we're excited about but haven't read, which may not even be released yet. 

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. 


Shiloh Harrison was hoping for a few days off to recover from a particularly nasty assignment, preferably with the help of the talented hands (and, well, the rest of his body too) of her sexy boyfriend, Vincent. But when a group of vampires takes an entire trailer park hostage, there’s nothing to do but make her apologies and get to the scene.

Such is the life of a Federal Marshal in the Paranormal Investigators Unit.

Yet this isn’t like her typical track-and-nab case: something is going on that has vampires scared, and it takes all her strength not to imagine what could frighten such powerful creatures. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have that option. Her boss is MIA, someone is snatching vampires, and there’s a ticking clock that can only end one way: a bloodbath.

Unless she can stop it.

I liked the first Dreg City book by this author and I want to give this one a try despite all the boyfriend talk. The plot sounds interesting and I like the cover.

Releasing in June 2018.
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Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Twenty Questions Book Tag


I saw this book on AJ's blog at http://ajsterkel.blogspot.co.uk/ and it was originally sighted on https://booksvertigoandtea.com/2018/04/02/20-questions-book-tag/

1-How Many Books Are Too Many In A Series?
I think it depends on the author and book content. I have several series that are at 13 books and more but because the plot evolves all the time and characters develop, I'm just as invested in them now as I was in book one. On the flip side, Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series started like that but by book 10 it was just Anita having sex with multiple men and fighting with the same people over the same issues book after book and that got boring fast for me. I see that series is still going at book 26...

 2-How Do You Feel About Cliffhangers?
I don't mind them at all! The way I see it, by the end of the book I'm either going to buy the next book or not buy it based on how I enjoyed it. If I like it, I have plenty other books to keep me amused until the next one comes out. If I didn't like it, no cliffhanger will entice me to read on anyway. So they really don't bother me one way or another unless there is a massive cliffhanger and no other book is ever published to resolve it. 

3-Hardback or Paperback?
Paperbacks. Hardbacks are too expensive and take up too much room on my bookshelves. They are also harder to get a grip on to read! I do hate sometimes having to wait a whole year after the hardback release to get my hands on the shiny paperback though.

4-Favourite Book?
My favourite ever book is Stephen King's It. I fell in love with it when I was about 12 and have read it countless times. I loved the characters and the kids run ins with the bullies and the various forms of the monsters, then was intrigued by the scared adults returning to fight it again. Classic horror!

5-Least Favourite Book?
There are plenty books I didn't like. I DNF a lot of them but it is hard to single out one book for the most hated! I guess things like Fight Club, Wuthering Heights, Catch 22, Hitchhikers Guide, His Dark Materials, Wicked, The Lovely Bones and Anansi Boys would be up there.

 6-Love Triangles, Yes or No?
NO NO NO NO NO! This trope is a dealbreaker for me in books. If I see a great sounding plot and it hints at a love triangle, I won't pick up the book. I want to read the plot whether it is stopping a killer, fighting monsters or whatever, not endless whining over which hot guy or girl to choose and all the dumb angst and bickering that goes with it. It detracts from the story flow and has spoiled good books for me before. It is one of the reasons I rarely go near YA now.

7-Most Recent Book You Couldn't Finish?
The last DNFs were during the Puppy Love Challenge and were Peggy Webb's Elvis and the Dearly Departed, Cherise Kelly's Dog Aliens and Bobby D Lux's Dog Duty. I can't remember the order of DNF but none of them were to my taste!

 8-A Book You Are Currently Reading?
At the moment I'm reading The Extinction Files by SM Wilson but my ongoing reading slump struggles are stopping me getting on with it! I'm trying to look at a few assorted short stories to keep me ticking over too!

 9-Last Book You Recommended To Someone?
I don't specifically recommend books to my online blogging friends as it is hard to know what they might like. I tend to just put reviews about books on my blog and Goodreads and let those reading them decide for themselves if it is their kind of book. I do know my dad's book tastes which are similar to mine so I do give him the books I read! The last things I gave to him were creature feature books by Rick Chesler and Hunter Shea which he loves. 

10-Oldest Book You've Read? (Publishing Date)
I think it would be Pride and Prejudice in 1813 though I can't recall if I did actually finish it. I know I did finish Dracula which was 1897. (dates supplied by Goodreads)

 11-Newest Book You've Read? (Publishing Date)
This is tricky. Most books I buy sit for a while before I get to them. It could be Nicholas Sansbury Smith's Extinction War or Kevin Hearne's The Squirrel on the Train which came out November 2017.

12-Favourite Author?
You can never name just one can you...Richard Laymon wrote so many entertaining books and will always remain a favourite. I do love reading Hunter Shea in modern horror and Patricia Briggs werewolf series. I like JK Rowling's Harry Potters but not her adult works.

13-Buying Books Or Borrowing Books?
Buying books is my only option. Our local libraries do not feature the genres I read ie zombies and prepper apocalypses, and their horror section is about 15-20 years out of date! If I want the books in my favourite genres, I rely on Amazon.

14-A Book You Dislike That Everybody Seems To Love?
Lots! I'm not a person who follows the crowd and reads popular books and popular genres. Everyone seems to love Terry Pratchett but his stuff never did it for me. Nothing wrong with the books and they are well written but I wanted to love them and didn't.

15-Bookmarks or Dog Ears?
Dog Ears belong on cute beagles, not on my beloved books! I hate book cruelty and always use a bookmark!

16-A Book You Can Always Reread? 
Harry Potter is something I will never tire of!

17-Can You Read While Listening To Music?
I can, but I don't generally do it. I like to have the TV on as background with the sound muted when I read just in case any breaking news occurs. Sometimes I put on favourite films on a low volume while I read.

18-One Point Of View Or Multiple?
As long as the writing is good, I'm not too bothered. I suppose I do prefer one or limited POVs. If there are multiple POVs it really has to be done well or it can become either a mess, or a waste of time where every 'voice' sounds the same. George RR Martin is an example of the brilliant use of multiple POVs. 

19-Do You Read A Book In One Sitting Or Over Multiple Days?
It pretty much depends on my mood and the book. If I'm feeling alert and I get a book that really grips me, I can read for hours uninterrupted. I used to read right through the night when I got into a book but I can no longer do that as I suffer for days after if I try that! Mostly these days I read a normal sized book over 3 days and the 200 page books maybe over 2 days. 

20-A Book You Read Because Of The Cover? 
I never read a book purely based on the cover. A cover might make me pick up a book but only the blurb or detailed book reviews will entice me to buy it.
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Top Ten Tuesday-Ten Sea Monster Creature Feature Books

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/

NB: I don't follow or leave comments on blogs run by Google Plus, or DISQUS as I refuse to join something just to leave comments, and I won't allow them to follow new people, update my profile or post tweets 'on my behalf'. I won't comment on any blog that makes me sign in using another account. 

 This week, I'm doing Top Ten Creature Feature Sea Monster books to try!

1) Hunter Shea-They Rise 
In the sea, they travel in packs, hunting down boats, jumping from the water to feast on people who think they are safe. Huge Chimaera fish are creating terror and a trail of death and destruction which even the US Navy struggle to contain. Perfect sea adventure with lots of death by one of my favourite horror authors. Stand-alone.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28474289-they-rise

 2) Chris Jameson-Shark Island
Scientists create a signal to lure sharks away from the beaches to a more remote area. The plan upsets local fishermen and environmentalists who decide to interfere and then comes a storm and the realisation that the signal has made the sharks aggresive enough to attack the boats. I really enjoyed the tense shark action and the diversity of the cast. Stand-alone.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31450829-shark-island 

 3) Jamie Hutchison-Red Swarm
Packs of eel hybrids have escaped from a research facility and are causing terror across Europe and America. These eels can plan and set traps and are able to come ashore to find unsuspecting victims. Now scientists and the British Navy need to find a way to stop them. Tense thriller with lots of death and great characters. Stand-alone.  
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28205197-red-swarm

 4) Eric S Brown-The Kraken Rises
The crew of a research platform awaken a swarm of deadly squids and their monster sized parent kraken. Now the monsters are attacking the platform and any ship they come into contact with. Massive body count creature feature. There is also a connected second story about the creatures in Kraken by the same author.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36404743-the-kraken-rises 

 5) Rick Chesler-Hotel Megalodon
The grand opening of an undersea resort turns bloody when a giant megalodon shark begins to attack it, trapping the guests underwater with air running out and the facility flooding. Action packed shark thriller by an author who usually entertains in the genre. Stand-alone.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25389832-hotel-megalodon 

 6) Paul Mannering-Hell's Teeth
An exploration of the sea bed turns deadly when a terrorist attack traps a group of scientists in a specially created habitat underwater. With the habitat damaged, one of their team losing her sanity and aggresive sharks circling, will anyone make it to the surface? Tense sea thriller with intriguing plot. Stand-alone.

7) J Kent Messum-Bait
6 drug addicted people are trapped on an island and forced into a deadly game. If they want food, water and their next fix, they must make the short swim to the next island and take their chances with the deadly sharks. Failure to play has consequences. I'm not a fan of junkie characters but I did like this book and ended up rooting for the characters. Stand-alone.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17707710-bait 

 8) TR Schumer-Death Catch
A scientist saddened by the slaughter of sharks for profit accidently uses a voodoo charm to resurrect them as zombie sharks, intent on killing humans. Now the sharks are attacking beaches and finding their way on to ships and the scientist must stop them. Not as cheesy as it sounds, there are lots of good characters and great mass death scenes. Trilogy.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30163474-death-catch 

 9) Victor Zarkov-Megatooth (aka Megashark)
Two boats, one with environmental activists and the other testing mining equipment are about to discover that a shark bigger than they thought existed is hunting them down as dinner. It's a classic megalodon of a smart shark out-thinking the humans who must work together to survive and find a way to get help. Lots of shark action! Stand-alone.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28096303-megatooth

 10) Rick Chesler-Sawfish
A sacked scientist who accidently created a giant sawfish decides to release it into the sea. When it begins to kill people, he sees a chance for a comeback by releasing more into the water, then coming to the rescue by stopping them. Mad scientists and sea monsters are always a fun mix and I liked this one. Stand-alone.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29244613-sawfish 
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Monday, 23 April 2018

Around The Blogs With Chuckles


We all enjoy snooping and lurking on other people's blogs right? Why not share those entertaining things you found with other readers and bloggers too! Welcome to Around the Blogs with Chuckles, where I take time out to show you some of my favourite blog posts from the previous seven days and link you up so you can check them out. 

This week!
 
1) Book Review-Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak 
Carole looks at a thriller in Alaska.
 
2) Tips For Handling Negative Book Reviews 
Danielle looks at how to write a helpful and fair negative review
 
3) Book Review-Beyond A Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake 
YA historical fantasy stand-alone
 
4) Prepper Fiction You Have To Read 
Some of my favourites are on the list along with a few new-to-me
 
5) Book Review-Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence 
Eagerly awaited fantasy sequel
 
6) Bookish Identity Book Tag 
Want to do some fun book quizzes?
 
 
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