JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Spindrift by Tamara McKinley

Set in 1905, Spindrift is a historical fiction novel about three generations of women journeying from Tasmania to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Sixty-five year old Christy wants to make the trek back to where she was born and lived out her childhood years. Unwilling to let her go by herself, Christy’s daughter Anne and granddaughter Kathryn accompany her.

Tamara has established the setting of the novel and really created picturesque imagery for the reader to enjoy. She’s crafted Tasmania and Scotland beautifully and I really enjoyed both settings in the novel. Spindrift is well-paced, with plenty of historical references and enough mystery and intrigue to keep me reading.

There were a few things about the book that I disliked. Despite the bond these three develop, and despite the epic journey they undertake, I felt like the three characters weren’t very likeable. Christy seemed bland, Anne was so overly flawed that she was unlikeable, and Kathryn seemed unrealistic for a young girl of her age.

“Kathryn felt sorry for her mother’s embarrassment, but she really only had herself to blame. Grandmother had warned them that they should dress appropriately for their journey, which would involve getting on and off boats and ramps, and although she’d heeded the advice, her had, as usual, ignored it.”

“Gregor’s eyes twinkled and Kathryn giggled, but Anne gave a disgusted snort and moved to the far side of the carriage to distance herself from her mother’s shocking behaviour.”

Tamara McKinley has a habit of hinting at a conversation or known fact, but drawing it out to try and keep the reader interested. Instead of including dialogue for a conversation, Tamara will paraphrase the exchange but keep out vital information. Although this is intended to keep the reader interested in whatever ‘secret’ information is left out, it actually feels like a cheap trick and it frustrates the reader.

Harold, Anne’s husband, is presented with some documents that jeopardise some of Christy’s land, except, a lot of information is left out for most of the book and you find yourself confused. The reader doesn’t actually know what the lawsuit is about until right at the end of the novel when Christy talks about it. So, for the entire novel you’re reading about how worried Harold is and how stressed Christy and Anne are, but you really have no idea what they’re talking out. It’s quite confusing for the reader and at times I felt my interest faltering.

“Read through that while I take a bath. Once I’m clean and fed, I’ll be in a better frame of mind to discuss it with you.”
Harold went up to the sweeping staircase and along the wide landing to the suite of rooms in the west wing.”

After the above conversation, there’s a section break while Hamish reads the documents and so then they have a conversation about these papers, but the reader has no idea what’s on them!

Despite these few flaws, there were some great aspects to the book. Tamara sets up suspense and intrigue well – there are parallel stories running throughout the book and therefore there are a lot of secrets being uncovered and a lot of suspicions being raised. The ending to the mysteries are not predictable and quite well thought out – they satisfyingly rap up the storyline and bring an end to the story.

I would really only recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction. Without any romance to carry the story, it can feel like a chore at times.

Thank you to Hachette Publishers for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spindrift
Tamara McKinley
March 2017
Hachette Publishers

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak explores friendship, family and the importance of managing expectations at a young age. The novel is hilarious, but also heartfelt. It’s a romance about two teens recovering from heartbreak and discovering themselves on an accidental first date.

Zak is forced to go to the quiz bowl semi-finals because he failed his last assignment but his teacher will waive it if he attends. Ana Watson is at the quiz bowl semi-finals as well, but for different reasons. She’s there for the extra credit that will help her get into a fancy college. But then her little brother Clayton secretly ditches the semi-finals to go to Washingcon sci-fi convention. Ana and Zak team up to chase down Clayton in the sea of orcs, zombies, princesses, Trekkies and Smurfs. After all, one does not simply walk into Washingcon.

“But I’m Ana Watson. I didn’t spend four years on the debate team to lose an argument. I have a thousand reasons why going to school in Seattle is the best course of action. Besides, when it comes down to it, this is my life, my education, my decision.”

This book does have a playful element, and the banter between Ana and Zak is enjoyable. Additionally, this does touch on some troubling themes that may plague teenagers. Ana is under an immense amount of pressure from her parents to do well at school – Zak is potentially ruining that by tagging along to the quiz bowl semi-finals.

Ana’s parents are always disappointed in her because when her sister was her age, she fell pregnant and ran off with her boyfriend. Her parents have taken their disappointment out on her and Ana has never felt like a normal teenager.

But I see Ana over there in line, looking confused and a little out of sorts. That must be kind of weird for her. She’s usually so on top of things.”

I loved all the pop culture references in the book, and it really illustrates how two vastly different people can actually work together despite their differences. Ana and Zak actually help each other overcome their problems and face their futures. They’re sassy, witty and confident and they light up the book and keep the reader interested.

“Zak’s easier to follow than the plot of a vampire novel, but I don’t catch up with him. I’m the last person he needs to be with right now.”

I did find my attention waning towards the end of the book – the storyline felt a little repetitive to me. Ana’s little brother disappears. Ana and Zak almost find him. They’d find trouble and would be stuck trying to get out of that. Then they’d almost find him, but lose him. And so on.

This is really the lower end of the young adult spectrum, perfect for that 12-14 age group that are easing their way from children’s fiction to books with underlying themes and life lessons. This book would also be perfect for those who love comic books and conventions similar to Washingcon. You’ll adore the setting and all the reference will keep you entertained.

King’s Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard

King’s Cage is the third instalment in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series. I’ve reviewed the first two on the blog: Red Queen and Glass Sword. This review may contain spoilers for anyone that hasn’t read it yet.

We pick up where we left off at the end of Glass Sword: Mare Barrow is a prisoner to King Maven. She is powerless without her lightning ability (due to the presence of Silver Stone in the palace) and she is tormented by her captors. King Maven keeps her in a cell for months and she finds out very little information about the outside world. Maven’s mother may have once been controlling him, but now that she’s dead and he is King, he is every bit as lethal as she once was. He continues to weave his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country — and his prisoner, Mare.

Victoria has taken a very different turn with this book. Mare is no longer the strong fighter we saw in books one and two. She is helpless, forced to be Maven’s pawn in his public game. Maven parades her in front of televisions and forces her to say things to the public that aren’t true. Her allies, Cal, Cameron and Kilorn, can only watch from outside the walls of the palace as their leader Mare deteriorates and becomes Maven’s victim.

“I drift on a dark sea, and shadows drift with me. They could be memories. They could be dreams. Familiar but strange, and something wrong with each…Purple eats at the edge of my vision. I try to turn in to its embrace, knowing what it holds. My lightning is so close. If only I could find the memory of it and taste one last drop of power before plunging back into darkness. But it fades like the rest, ebbing away.”
-MARE BARROW

There is a lot on internal dialogue in this book. The book switches focus from Mare to Cal to Cameron and to Evangeline, and we come to understand all of their thoughts, fears, insecurities and worries. Victoria really gets inside their head so that the reader really understands who they are. They are three dimensional, fully-crafted characters who we sympathise with and empathise for.

King Maven is always an external character — despite the snippets we get when Mare is in the same scene with him, we don’t learn much more about him other than what others think of him. Or, from what we can read between the lines when he’s revealing something to Mare. There’s a particular scene where King Maven tells Mare about someone he used to love, and it does well to illustrate the kind of person he could’ve been had his mother not manipulated him and damaged him (psychologically) with her special ability.

The Queen used to invade his mind and force him to think things and do things he normally wouldn’t do. Maven reveals he was born disabled, but that the Queen wove herself inside his mind and forced him to walk properly. It hurt him so much that he hated her, but she still wouldn’t stop. And even until her death, she was manipulating him.

“Maven is a talented liar, and I don’t trust a single word he speaks. Even if he was telling the truth. Even is he is a product of his mother’s meddling, a thorned flower forced to grow a certain way. That doesn’t change things.”
-MARE BARROW

Most of the book is focused on Mare, but we do occasionally learn what the rest of the Scarlet Guard are up to, still fighting the cause and working to break Mare out of her cage. I did feel bored by Mare throughout the book. King’s Cage is about 600 pages, and yet Mare doesn’t fight back at all for most of it. She does as she’s told, and she doesn’t even try. I can understand this given she doesn’t have her powers, but she’s the leader of the Scarlet Guard. In books one and two, she was so fierce and I was expecting her to be more like that even whilst being held captive. But she is so complacent and plain in the book and I found myself quite bored.

“Cal follows orders, but he can’t make choices.”
-KING MAVEN

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series because I know it’s the last and I want to know how Victoria will resolve things. Although, I don’t think this book needed to be as long as it was and I would’ve liked to see it condensed. Perhaps Victoria could’ve merged books three and four?

Has anyone else read this book? Or perhaps the first two in the series? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

King’s Cage
Victoria Aveyard
February 2017
Hachette Publishers

It’s Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane

It’s Not Me, It’s You is a hilarious romance/chick lit novel from Mhairi McFarlane, author of Who’s That Girl?

Delia Moss isn’t quite sure what went wrong. She proposes to her boyfriend, he says yes and then he accidentally sends a message to Delia that he intended to send to his mistress. So, their relationship ends, and she needs a change. She moves to Newcastle for a PR job and lives with her best friend in the meantime. And of course, there’s a handsome journalist on the prowl threatening to expose her new boss and Delia tries to singlehandedly fend him off. All in all, this book is a jam-packed, hilarious recipe for a great romance read.

“Uncovering an affair wasn’t a one big fact headline story. It was like Metroyshka dolls, lies inside lies inside lies.”

This book is smart and funny, with characters you fall in love with and hilarious mishaps that you want to relive. Mhairi McFarlane has written another novel with comic romance and a dreamy love interest. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic and the book is laugh-out-loud funny.

“Ann’s policing of the office fridge was frightening. Despite being post-menopausal, she decanted her semi-skimmed into a plain container and labelled it ‘BREAST MILK’ to ward off thieves.”

There’s something in this book that I’m sure all readers can relate to – what do you do when the rug gets pulled out from under you? This is for all readers who’ve been suddenly dumped, or fired, or evicted. It’s for those of us who may need a little escape from the world right now – something to laugh at and giggle over. The characters are three dimensional and real, and the situations realistic.

“One night with you and he’s turned into a love-letter writer. You must have an incredible pelvic floor.”

I found my attention dropping off in the middle of the book. I felt like the book was about 100 pages too long and I couldn’t see where the story was going. The romance interested me and I persevered in order to find out what happens, but the storyline with Delia’s PR job and its complications are perhaps not strong enough to keep the ‘occasional reader’ interested. I soldiered on because it’s Mhairi McFarlane and I knew it’d have a satisfying conclusion, but I it was a real effort during those middle chapters.

It’s Not Me, It’s You is about picking yourself up after some hardships. It’s about taking that necessary time out to figure out what you really want and what you really need, and then going for it. It may take Delia a while to figure that out, but she does, and it’s uplifting and enjoyable for the reader.

I recommend this book to romantic fiction lovers, and to fans of chick lit. This is a feel-good book full of hilarity and heart. It’s one of those stories where you know it’s going to end up alright, like a Disney movie or a Hollywood rom-com.

It’s Not Me, It’s You
Mhairi McFarlane
November 2014
HarperCollins Publishers

Deliciously Ella with Friends by Ella Mills

Ella Mills’ food blog Deliciously Ella has taken the cookery world by storm since its launch in 2013. Ella is a trained nutritionist and Deliciously Ella with Friends makes it easy to prepare deliciously healthy food for friends and family – no matter the occasion.

Due to health reasons, Ella follows a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Because of that, all of the recipes in the book cater for vegans and don’t contain any meat. The meals are all light and healthy and use a variety of ingredients. For this of you who eat meat like me, you should view a lot of these recipes as sides. To Ella, things like Baked Sesame & Tomato Avocados might be considered a light meal. To me, I made them as a side. They were still delicious, but I ate them with a more substantial meal because my body is used to that.

“So many of my readers say that they love eating whole-foods and incorporating plant-based meals into their routine…but their husbands, wives, children, friends and colleagues are more sceptical and they’re not open-minded about trying new, veggie-laden dishes.”

I cooked a few things from the book that could be either a side or combined together with something else. I found the instructions easy to follow and the photos gorgeous, inviting, and super helpful. Nothing frustrates me more than when there aren’t enough photos, and thankfully, this cookbook has photos for everything.

Thyme Fried Mushrooms – page 45

Baked Sesame and Tomato Avocados – page 85

Spiced Roast Cauliflower – page 149

There are multiple sections in the book, perfect for cosy nights in, easy kitchen suppers, feasts, birthday parties and picnics. There’s even a mocktails and cocktails section and a dessert section for healthy, guilt-free recipes to end your night with.

“To make things more fun I’ve dedicated a whole chapter to parties: we’ve got nibbles, cocktails and mocktails and even birthday teas!”

There are a lot of different options to choose from in the book, from full meals like Scrambled turmeric & Red Pepper Tofu (page 42) to healthy snacks like Honey & Lemon Breakfast Bars (page 19). The recipes in the book also vary in the ingredients list. If you’re like me and you like to cook things that don’t take too much time, then you’ll definitely be able to find some meals in here.

And for those of you who love to spend your afternoons in the kitchen making a large meal for a group of people, there are also plenty of recipes in there for that. One in particular is the Tomato & Aubergine Bake on page 154. with over twenty-five ingredients and two pages of instructions!

“Healthy eating is about finding a way of eating that makes you happy. It’s about meals that make you feel your best – that might mean a crumbly blueberry square of breakfast, a lemon potato and butter bean salad for lunch…and then a pizza with wine for dinner with friends – and that’s totally OK.”

This book is fantastic for anyone who wants to dabble in some menus with plant-based ingredients. Some of the meals are quite small and might work better as a side. But if you pick some options and combine them together, then you’ll have a really delicious meal worth cooking.

Thank you to Hachette Publishers for sending me a review copy of this title.

Deliciously Ella with Friends
Ella Mills (Woodward)
February 2017
Hachette Publishers