Whatever it Takes by Joy Wood
When an author makes a gift of a book, it is a generous gesture. Joy wood gave me a copy of her new novel, Whatever it Takes, without...
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VAL PENNY
Best selling author of The DI Hunter Wilson Thrillers
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authorvalpenny
Oct 23 min read
The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea by Lizzie Chantree
I have always enjoyed books by Lizzie Chantree and was delighted when I had the chance to meet her when she lectured at a conference...
15 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Aug 102 min read
The Lady's Favour by A.J. Roberts
The Lady's Favour is comprised of three novellas written by A.J. Roberts and combined to produced a satisfying novel. This book includes...
16 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
May 112 min read
Proof of Life by Karen Campbell
I live in a village in South West Scotland and was delighted when, a few years ago, Karen Campbell ran a writers' workshop in the library...
20 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Apr 202 min read
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
I usually like Linwood Barclay's books. They are nicely plotted with an overtone of humour and when I see one I haven't read I will pick...
12 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Feb 102 min read
Missing The Deadline by Joan Livingston
I have read every book in Joan Livingston's Isabel Long series so it will not surprise anybody that I enjoy the books. The author is...
10 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jan 132 min read
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows
When this book was book of the month at my book group, I sighed. Generally speaking I do not like books written as a series of letters. ...
19 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jan 62 min read
Funeral Note by Quintin Jardine
I have read many of Quintin Jardine’s books and much prefer his Bob Skinner character to his Oz Blackstone series. In Funeral Notes, a...
2 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Nov 15, 20233 min read
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell was book of the month for our village book group. There was a wide variety of views about it, but...
15 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Aug 28, 20232 min read
A Gentle Nudge by Mason Bushell
For a long time, short stories seemed to be out of fashion. Occasionally,well-known writers like Ian Rankin, Agatha Christie and Jeffrey...
27 views1 comment
authorvalpenny
Aug 5, 20233 min read
The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
The book was recommended to me by my nephew, Mathew because he had enjoyed the book so much. The Blurb Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing...
3 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jul 29, 20232 min read
The Mission Song by John le Carre
Joining a book group is a great way to read outside your usual genres and away from the authors you normally choose. When my book group...
16 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jul 22, 20232 min read
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
A friend bought and read The Thursday Murder Club for her group but didn't want to keep it, so gave it to me. I should have known... The...
43 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jul 12, 20233 min read
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson has a cult following and was recommended to me by the co-ordinator of the first book...
11 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jul 8, 20232 min read
The Narcissist’s Daughter by Craig Holden
Craig Holden is the author of several novels including The River Sorrow, The Last Sanctuary, Four Corners of Night, The Jazz Bird and...
20 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jul 5, 20233 min read
Wasted by Mark Johnson
Wasted was book of the month at my book club. It is the autobiography of Mark Johnson who suffered a poor and violent childhood. He...
20 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Jun 3, 20233 min read
Lies Behind the Ruins by Helen Matthews
I recently read Lies Behind the Ruins by Helen Matthews. I had enjoyed all the previous books by her that I had read, so I thought this...
41 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
May 27, 20233 min read
Justice be Damned by Rosemary J Kind
Justice be Damned is a gripping by Rosemary J Kind, whom I have met many times at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. When I bought it, I...
27 views0 comments
authorvalpenny
Apr 29, 20232 min read
The Hollow by Agatha Christie
My mother gave me a series of Agatha Christie books as a gift. Some of them I had read before, but The Hollow was new to me. I really...
19 views2 comments
authorvalpenny
Apr 1, 20232 min read
The Omega Chronicles by Mark Carnelly
I had read The Time Detective by author Mark Carnelly previously and enjoyed it so much that I bought a second copy for my nephew, so...
13 views0 comments
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