Book Review: Love In Row 27 by Eithne Shortall.

Airline check-in agent, Cora Hendricks, is the queen of match-making. With the help of online research, she sees potential mates and brings them together on board Aer Lingus short-haul routes. Row 27 has been earmarked by herself and her cabin-crew friend, Nancy; where the unsuspecting singles are seated together and given some on-board VIP treatment. Not all the matches are successful, but Cora and Nancy cross their fingers and wait for the magic to happen. Meanwhile, Cupid's arrow seems to have flown right past Cora and she despairs at ever meeting Mr. Right. 

The search for the perfect summer read ends here. Eithne Shortall has written a wonderfully fun and uplifting tale, with Cora at its heart. Based in London Heathrow, the world of human interaction is temporarily restored when self-service and online check-in are suspended for a time. The days of queuing at an airline desk and chatting to the agent ceased back in the late 1990s and air travel lost a bit of its wonder. Staff become almost invisible and match-making opportunities were all but gone. By suspending passengers ability to ignore check-in, the story is given wings that would otherwise have been clipped. Cora's co-workers are a mixed bunch and the banter between all departments in the airport is just as real as it is in real-life. Ground crew; Cabin crew; baggage handlers; airport security; concession staff; they all work in the climate controlled, permanently busy airport. There is never a dull day and no two passengers are the same. 

Cora's mother is suffering from early on-set dementia and has been placed in a care-facility. Visits can be difficult and memories are becoming harder and harder to grasp. Nancy is hoping for promotion and to be seen more than just the 'coffee or tea? girl. A host of other airline staff are ever-present and the new-found fame of one of the gang leads to some hilarious antics in front of a TV crew. As the passengers board flights, they are unaware of the bigger story.  Female fiction doesn't get much better than this. Love in Row 27 is a refreshing and rewarding read, definitely worth packing in your suitcase. Highly recommended.

Love in Row 27 is published by Corvus and is available in PB an ebook format. You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Book Review - 'Be Frank With Me' by Julia Claiborne-Johnson. My Top Read of 2016.

I received a copy of this title, from the publishers, in return for an honest review...

Nine year-year-old Frank is different to other kids.  Fascinated with old, classic movies he channels his inner Cary Grant and Humprey Bogart, dressing with style and individual flair.  He can quote huge chunks of his favourite movies and sees the world through the eyes of a old-style Hollywood director.  When Alice comes to stay with Frank and his author mother, Mimi Manning, an unusual friendship forms as they learn to adjust their personalities to suit their living arrangements.

Mimi Manning is a reclusive writer, with a massive bestseller under her belt but has now been given the task of writing another.  Herself and Frank have been hidden behind the glass walls off their LA home for years and neither are keen to have a young woman move in with them as the new book is written.  Alice struggles to learn their quirkiness and each day brings new challenges.  It is not long before she sees Frank's compulsive behaviours for what they are... He is a child who lives in the past.  He dresses like a dapper 1950s movie star, accessorizes each outfit with a button hole or cravat, has an array of catch phrases and knows the best places in LA to shop for his vast, eclectic wardrobe.  He may not be great with human interaction, but he is utterly charming in his eccentricity.  

Alice is charged with watching Frank as Mimi holes herself in her bedroom to write the next great novel.  Left to their own devices, there are plenty of hit-and-miss moments between the two.  Frank doesn't like to be touched and Alice learns this the hard way.  He is also not keen on having his 'stuff' touched, which makes things a bit difficult.  However, after some initial teething problems, the unlikely duo settle into a routine.  Watching old black and white movies, driving through the streets of LA, attempting some day trips and flicking through some old photo albums.  Frank unwraps his life, slowly, through vignettes and snatched details garnered from his mother.  Alice relaxes into their quirky routine and their friendship blossoms.  If only she could get Mimi to finish her manuscript...

Julia Claiborne Johnson has produced one of the most enchanting books I have ever read.  I completely lost myself in Frank's world.  He is delightfully weird and wonderful and entirely unforgettable.  A child who has virtually no social skills, a brain full of random and insightful facts, the ability to name and re-count hundreds of classic movies and can wear a top hat on public transport.  He lights up the pages of the novel and you know that each chapter will have his personality seeping into your soul.   Mimi has a touch of the Harper Lee about her, with the One Great Novel being both her saviour and her downfall.  Alice is far from Mary Poppins, but she has something special.  She accepts Frank for who he is, sees what he needs and more importantly what he doesn't need.  A child who is different should not be forced to fit a mould.  Frank is special and Alice brings out the best in him.  They have mini-adventures, fighting the system and learn to adapt as minimally as they can.  Like Christopher Boone, in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Frank is a boy who will imprint himself on the reader's mind.  You will want to slow down the reading, so you won't have to say goodbye.  This is a truly spectacular novel, written with simple prose and mighty articulation.  Once you enter the gates of Frank's LA home, you will be hooked.  There is magic within the pages of this book, moments that will stay with you long after you have reluctantly turned the back cover.  Frank will linger for days, weeks, months.  He is a monocle-wearing, slicked-haired, mini-gentleman who will charm even the hardest cynic.  I miss him desperately.

This is my book of the year.  I cannot recommend it enough.  A must-read for anyone who loves life, or even for those who need to learn to love life again...

Be Frank With Me is published by Corvus and is available in HB and ebook format.  You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Book Review - "Distress Signals" by Catherine Ryan Howard,

I received a copy of this title, from the publishers, in return for an honest review...

Adam Dunne has turned a corner.  After years of being a struggling writer, his script has piqued interest and it looks like his life is about to become everything he has dreamed of.  He can't wait for his girlfriend, Sarah, to return from a business trip to Barcelona so the celebrations can begin in earnest.  There is just one problem.  He can't contact her.  When she fails to arrive back on her planned flight, Adam realizes something is terribly wrong.  Digging deeper, he discovers that she was not even meant to be on a work trip.  It seems she had embarked on a cruise, and not alone either.  A handwritten note arrives at Adam's home, attached to Sarah's passport, with the simple words "I'm sorry".  Adam refuses to believe that Sarah has simply left him, and as the authorities are subject to 'at sea' restrictions, he begins his own investigation into Sarah's disappearance...

Catherine Ryan Howard's thriller debut is something special.  She has taken the crime fiction genre and cleverly added an element of legal and procedural uncertainty.  What happens when a crime is committed aboard a cruise ship, miles from land?  What country has jurisdiction and is there a definitive person, or even state, to hold responsible for any wrong doing?  These questions are addressed and answered as we travel alongside Adam on his quest for the truth.  There are parallel stories intertwined throughout the novel, where the reader is treated to snippets of  other lives and the atmosphere is taut and thrilling.  The cruise ship, the Celebrate, is a character in itself.  Its many bars, restaurants, swimming pools and staff quarters make for fine reading. The onboard politics are divulged whilst the secrets are hidden behind many doors and on many different levels.  Surrounded by the ocean, the waves of intrigue gain momentum and the chapters lead the reader on a bumpy ride of climatic thrills.  This is one of those books that has you thinking 'just one more chapter' at each sitting.  A constant, thrilling pace is maintained throughout with no unnecessary padding and each chapter is equally as important as the last.  There are red herrings, blind corners and a multitude of possible endings.  Don't be overly confident that you have it all figured out, as each page brings more possibilities.  

Distress Signals is a brave and assertive fiction debut from this young Irish author.  She writes with confidence, without facetiousness and has earned her place alongside some great crime fiction writers from this small island.  Don't presume that it is a book just for females either.  The cover is misleading.  A male protagonist and sharp, snappy dialogue makes this ideal for fans of Harlan Coben, David Baldacci and James Patterson.  I cannot think of a better book to grab for the summer holidays than this one.  It has it all. From Cork to Barcelona and onto the vast oceans of a cruise company's well-travelled routes, this is a page-turner that should be packed in every suitcase this year.  Just don't expect to dip in and out of it.  It will grab you from the very start and you will lose all sense of reality while it's in your hands.  Maybe buy two copies, as your spouse/partner/friend may feel a little left out?  I promise they will be just as hooked as you will be...

Distress Signals is published by Corvus on 5th May 2016 and is available in TPB and ebook format.

Book Review: 'How To Get Ahead In Television' by Sophie Cousens. Guest Review from Kay Mitchell.

A sparkling comedy romance set in the madcap world of TV broadcasting.

From the winner of the #LoveatFirstWrite competition from Corvus and Lovereading.  

Poppy Penfold desperately wants a career in television. After months of dead-end applications, she gets her big break with a temporary job as a runner for RealiTV. But to land a permanent role, Poppy will need to go head-to-head with fellow runner Rhidian: arrogant, highly competitive – and ridiculously good looking.

Poppy goes all out to impress, but somehow things don’t go to plan. Whether failing to prevent a washed-up soap star from becoming roaring drunk during Scottish game show Last Clan Standing, or managing to scare the horses during the filming of Strictly Come Prancing, Poppy gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. With highly strung presenters and distractingly handsome producers in the mix, it’s Poppy’s determination that will see her win or lose her dream job, and maybe her dream man too…

Featuring TV programmes such as:

Can Your Dog Do Your Job?

Strictly Come Prancing

Changing Grooms

Till Death Do Us Party

Sophie Cousens has worked in television for twelve years. She attributes surviving this long to always knowing where the Post-it notes are kept, and her ability to carry six coffee cups at once. This is her first novel.

Review from Kay Mitchell

Well if you want an entertaining read this is the one for you. This book fits into the coming of age category with lots of hilarity thrown in and I do mean spontaneous laugh out loud moments. Fans of Bridget Jones-this is one to add to the repertoire with a little less angst and soul searching.

The reader is immediately drawn into the narrative as Penny Penfold seeks to find her way in the world as a working girl now that her halcyon days of University have come to an end. Typical of any girl in her early twenties who wants to carve out a path in an area she has a passion and an interest in, she has to fend off her mother’s well intentioned advice to steer clear and head to a steady career in banking. Perseverance pays off eventually and she secures a contract despite the mishaps surrounding her initial interview.

Penny is quickly involved in the day to day background goings on associated with the Media industry. As in all walks of life she has to negotiate how the pecking order works and quickly learns that she faces strong competition to secure a contract from the very handsome and charming Rhidian.

Many escapades later Penny finds herself in a compromising situation with the well-known lady killer James but makes a quick exit after a light bulb moment as to what is really going on.

As a light hearted read it works well. It is an easy read that will take you over a wet weekend without a doubt and what it lacks in depth it makes up for in entertainment.

How To Get Ahead In Television is published by Corvus and is available in ebook format.  You can order your copy via amazon link below: