MIRA Books

2 short stories; ‘Christmas Letters' and ‘The Perfect Christmas.

Both of the stories carry a similar theme of finding love with the most unlikely characters, but probably the most predictable.

The book was an easy read, the type of book to curl up with on a cold winter's day. Easily read in a couple of sittings. However I found the storyline rather shallow. I would have liked to have a greater sense that the stories were set in Seattle, more about the historic waterfront perhaps - the stories could have been set in any city.

Ok so in this final part of the story Yelena finds out who, or rather, what she is. But she needs training! Of course Yelena, on the other hand, does what she always does. She doesn't listen. Thinks she knows best! Goes her own way, etc., then wonders why there's a whole heap of trouble following her, her brother and her lover, everywhere she goes. It seems to me the strength of Snyder's lead character is her fickleness, inability to learn, and her reliance on all around her to bail her out of disaster. ..read more

Entertaining chick-lit from the author of the popular Thursdays at Eight. Using the same formula of taking four female characters from different backgrounds meeting up for a common purpose, in this case a knitting group, and following their lives through difficult phases.

Just the thing for an easy read, and Ms Macomber to be congratulated on finding a novel way of drawing in more readers - this even includes a knitting pattern ! Not as vacuous as many in this genre, genuinely well written and holds the interest with a fast pace and likeable characters.

Another good chick-lit offering from Ms Macomber, using again some of her knitting group characters, and a shade darker this time.

Yes it's formulaic, but the formula works, her readers know what to expect and like it. There's a nice mix of dialogue and description, the problems to be overcome are realistic and the pace is good.

Overall the message is positive, stressing the powers of friendship, and knitting!

Another good and easy read from Ms Macomber, this time following up on the knitting group first encountered met in the Shop on Blossom Street plus some new characters not as happy as they could be.

I like the mix of characters, rich (handy for sorting out some problems) and poor, old and young, and the upbeat messages. One should always have some light reading like this - heart warming, non-threatening, well written - to hand for those grey days when a little cheer is needed.

Debbie Macomber serves up another of her feel-good books, and, as a measure of her success the Romance Writers of America (RWA) has announced it will present the 2010 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award to Debbie on Saturday, July 31, 2010.

This one tells the story of Anne Marie Roche, a recently widowed, book shop owner who feels that her life is not as she would wish. As usual this is a fast paced, well written tale with amiable characters, a firm, but not predictable story line and a positive message.

I have to say I just love Debbie Macomber and her Cedar Cove trilogy - she brought back many memories of my stay with my father in Cedar Grove in North Carolina in 2002 and also of Woodbridge, Suffolk where my mother lives.

I wanted to know what happened to all her characters especially Cecilia and Ian - could they get back together again after Judge Julia Lockheart refused to let their divorce go through and work out their problems. And how about Grace who's suffering from the fact that her husband has gone missing.

An interesting book about gang warfare on the streets of LA but written from the perspective of an ex-cop who is desperately trying to find a missing girl. Although the novel is not big on suspense, the characters are believable and the story flows well and has a good, if not expected ending.

Jaywalker is an instantly likeable rogue lawyer who has a knack for getting his clients off, but suspected murderess Samara Tennanbaum is his toughest case yet.

You immediately bond with Jaywalker as the hardworking rule bender who puts his all into his cases. Even though he has his own story, his past is not dwelt upon which is a welcome relief.

Paul Tallis is an ex police officer working freelance for MI5. while in turkey his friend is targeted and killed by hitmen, and soon Paul finds hiimself running for his life. After surviving a violent stay in a turkish prison MI5 have him tailing one of the most notorious UK crime bosses-turned informant, in a bid to work out if he really has gone straight, or is it all a cover for something far more sinister?