Landovel - The Truth Teller

 Author: Emily Rodda

ISBN: 978-1-76106-975-8

Hi Everyone,

Finished! I read all three books and thought about them. 

I am not the average reader who reads a book and puts it back on the shelf.  I think and ponder all the ins and outs. The characters and their motivation. The plot and how it was connected, layer by layer and book by book. Many trilogies, could be written as one book, but the "Landovel' series connected all three books into a complete trilogy that I was happy to read through.

Emily Rodda has written a series about friendship. She has sprinkled in secrets, truth, and some experiences and lessons that can lead to good conversations with young readers.  The friendships are quite realistic, portraying the way that friends can be friends today; missing and questioning tomorrow; and then the questioning of whether a friendship is good for them or not good for them.  There was pride and seeking of power before the fall, or maybe rising - you will have to read to find out.  

The plot kept me opening the next book without hesitation - always a good sign,

And as for the presentation! Fantastic box set, brightly coloured covers, and sprayed edges. Perfectly presented, an asset to any bookcase.

Description:

While El Forgive,

The King will live.

Fate has led Derry into King Greville's palace, the evil heart of the Scarlet City. Against all odds, he has gained the king's trust. Fully aware he is in terrible danger, Derry resolves to follow in the footsteps of the mysterious rebel leader, Hant, and use his position as Greville's truth-teller to penetrate the dark secrets locked within the palace.

Nothing, he discovers, is as it seems. Menaced by corrupt nobles, sinister Wordsmiths, and the threat of an avenging El, Derry and his companions must come together in a final, desperate race against time to save the land and the people they love.

The thrilling conclusion to the Landovel quest.

Happy reading

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Landovel - The Secret Keeper

 Author: Emily Rodda

ISBN: 987-1/-76106-975-8

Hi Everyone,

Book two of the Landovel series has managed to keep me interested in every evolving quest.  My only question is: Who do I trust?

The further into this series I venture, the more I am finding myself questioning everyone. The title of this book is 'The Secret Keeper,' but who is keeping the biggest secrets?  I am invested in the quest, but even larger than the quest, I am invested in each of the characters. I don't know how much longer I can wait for this mission to be completed and my young friends to find a place to belong and safety.

I guess I just have to keep reading book 3

Description:

Till the Star Stone flies, 

Till the Dead arise...

Derry and his companions, Straw, Cat and Num, begin their perilous journey to True Landovel, very aware they are in enemy territory. Secret allies will help them on their way, but the spies and soldiers of King Greville, who holds the land in thrall, are far from being the only dangers they will face.

Somehow, the companions must reach the fear-filled Scarlet City and make contact with the elusive hero, Hant. Only Hant can stand against the looming threat of war and destruction.

But where in the teeming city is Hant hiding? 

Is he even still alive?

Happy reading

Landovel - The Poison Taster

 Author: Emily Rodda

ISBN: 0978-1-76106-975-8

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the world of Landovel - This is book one of the Landovel quest.

Once again, I only picked up this book because the box set was perfectly illustrated and the books inside didn't let me down either, with coloured edges and brightly enticing illustrations on every cover.

Emily Rodda hasn't let me down in the past, and according to book one of this quest, she will keep me reading to the end of book three.  The world-building is fantastic. You will start an adventure with Derry from the very first page. Each character has their own personality, unique from the others, particularly Num, who has his own unique form of communicating. As you traverse through the pages, you will see that Num will become invaluable to the group. Then there is Cat who, like his name, is a rivalrous, feisty character. And Straw. Just read the book!

I have started this journey with them, and I am now on book two which I will bring to you over the coming weeks.  Right now, I am not sure who to trust but I am sure that opinion will soon evolve.

Description:

Till the Tower Falls,

Till the Great Bell Calls...

Derry remembers nothing before his capture by the vicious sea raider, Cram. Life as Cram's poison taster is all he knows, and books are his only friends. The one clue to his past is that he was taken along with others fleeing the kingdom of True Landovel.

Then a mysterious traveller comes to Cram's Rock, pursued by sinister El - strange beings Derry had thought were myths.  The coded journal she leaves behind is vitally important - and the secrets it holds will change everything.

Derry doesn't know it yet, but plots are hatching beyond the horizon - plots that will draw him into a dangerous journey.

Happy reading

Today' Quote - Mary Oliver

 

Babel

 Author: R F Kuang

ISBN: 978 0008501839

Hi Everyone,

I have two minds about this book. 

On one hand, I enjoyed the themes, especially that of the power of language, both written and spoken. Of course I would, seeing as I read and write for both teaching and enjoyment. The avenues that the theme of language traversed kept me interested and turning the pages. It is the same theme that has dominated much of history for centuries.  It was interesting to read a novel that went into depth, in a fantasy world, with linkages to this world still hidden in the pages.

Where the enjoyment of this novel tripped me up, was the timeline.  This book could have been cut down by a third and still remained a page turner - in truth, for me, it would have left more of a lasting impression.  I find this in quite a few books.  A novel does not need to have multitudes of fuller-pages to give the book length or substance. I would find it by far more enjoyable to grasp the storyline and run with it.  

Overall, this was a good novel with underlying themes that could become questions for essays. It would be easy to research, expand, and write on these themes. Yet I would have liked 'depth of storyline' rather than 'length of book'. Maybe I just expected more due to the reviews and the time in which I had this sitting in my TBR pile.  

Read it and let me know what you think. 

Description:

The city of dreaming spires. It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world. And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the empire flows.

Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift. Until it became a prison...

But can a student stand against an empire?

Available from: Amazon.com 

Happy reading

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Dancing With The Moon

Author: Gabrielle Yetter

ISBN: 9798270822491

Hi Everyone

What a treat to receive a fine work of poetry!  When Gabrielle Yetter reached out offering me a copy of her poetry "Dancing with the Moon', I was unable to say no because we all know that poetry is one of my favourite genre's.

I was not disappointed by any piece of poetry in this book.  Her work is pure written art!  Every poem offered my insight into a world/life other than my own. They all left me thinking in some small way, both logically and metaphorically. What more can we ask of poetry? The answer to that lies in how deeply you want to dive into Gabrielle Yetter's words.

I can highly recommend that you get yourself a copy of this once you find it.  I have done a little research and found it is available through Amazon. It is well worth the value.

Here is a sample of one of her poems, so that I can leave you with a taste of her work.

Hope

They call it madness

To point out slivers of sunlight

And comment that the day will be filled

with brightness

As the storm rages on,

They call it Naivete

To turn the page on the news of the day

Read movie reviews and sports results

Then search for a seven-letter clue to the

crossword.

They call it obliviousness

To dismiss potholes in the road

Brush aside the dust on the cracked table

And cover it with a satin cloth.

They call it ignorance 

To switch the channel from war and famine,

To tender sounds of

Brahms and Rachmaninoff.

The call it madness

Oblivion

Ignorance

They may say I'm out of touch

Deluded

Unaware.

I call it hope.

Gabrielle Yetter

Happy reading

The Diary of a CEO

 Author: Steven Bartlett

ISBN:9781529146516

Hi Everyone

I have a lot of work and play happening at the moment, but it does not mean that I don't find the time to read.  I have found myself reading at night instead of watching./scrolling technology, and it has been a life changer.  The written word is a gift, don't miss out on it.  A few months back, I had trouble with my eyes and quickly learned that reading was something that I had taken for granted. We don't know how long we have good eyes; we forget that not everyone has been given the knowledge of reading; and we still have books!

So if you can read, pick up a book!!

Anyway, on this journey, I have picked up 'The Diary of a CEO'. My goodness, this book has so many good points, and I am only halfway through.  I am not waiting to let you know that this book is worth taking a look at. It doesn't matter what angle you want to read this book from, business or life, it has a wealth of logical thought put into the pages

If you can obtain a copy, then take the risk of learning something new, or maybe old.  We all need some logical ideas passed to us from time to time.

Now I will go back to reading the rest of the book. I hope to get more inspiration from it yet.  

Let's see :)

From pages 2-3:

This book is not a book about business strategy. Strategy changes like the seasons. This is a book about something much more permanent. This is a book about fundamental, enduring laws of building great things and becoming great yourself. 

These laws can be used by anyone, regardless of your industry or occupation.

These laws will work now or 100 years from now.

These laws are rooted in psychology, science, and centuries of research, and to further validate these laws I surveyed tens of thousands of people across every continent, every age group and every profession. 

Reference:

Steven Bartlett. The Diary of a CEO - The 33 Laws of Business & Life. pg2-3. Penguin Random House. 

Happy reading

Wundersmith

 Author: Jessica Townsend

ISBN: 9780734418227

Hi Everyone

For the first half of this novel, I struggled to feel the spark that a good story gives. I contemplated starting a new book, one that had a bit more ... something. Then, about halfway through, I decided to take the time to think about what I was reading. When I take time to think and read, the whole book changes for me. As did Wundersmith. That is not to say that the first half was perfect. I think it could have been better, considering this is a novel aimed at young people, and how many young people take the time to analyse what they are reading, They shouldn't have to, they should be able to be drawn into the novel like a movie playing in their head, transported from all the troubles of their world.

So let's look at the concepts that I have come to find interesting:

Loyalty - there are things that the characters had to do, else a secret was going to be released. I liked that each character had to make their decision, and the outcomes aligned with the purpose of the plot. I have a few concerns about the depth of the emphasis put on 'loyalty to friendships'. Especially for young people trying to navigate the dynamics around them every day. A decision should come down to what an individual believes is the right thing. I felt there was a bit too much 'pressure' put on some decisions. I would have liked to see one or two navigate their decisions a little more to show young readers that their argument, decision, or belief is also valid. Nonetheless, the outcome does bring everything together very well in the novel.

Friendship - Morrigan feels she has a family/friendship base, finally in her life. Once again, in the end it all comes together. Throughout the novel, some of these friendships are absolutely rubbish. Morrigan is rejected, humiliated, shunned, misunderstood, and the opposite on all levels, all the way through the novel. Of course, all turns out great, and another dynamic is added at the end to keep the reader opening the next book. And, I will be opening the next book because I am enjoying the journey through the Nevermoor series. 

Good versus evil - This one is interesting. Who is good and who is evil? It is hard to tell. There are so many twists and turns in Wundersmith that you have to keep checking in. What characters are really who they say they are.  This is a good concept for life lessons. We all come across people who we think are wonderful, only to find they are far from it once the curtains are opened on their true self. There are also those whom we judge far too quickly, only to find they are really great people.  Wundersmith shows this concept extremely well.

I guess what I am thinking is, this series has given me a lot to think about. There is more to be uncovered in the third book of this series, ' Hollowpox - The Hunt for Morrigan Crow.  I have it in my hand and will update you on my thoughts on Hollowpox soon.

Description:

Wunder is gathering

Morrigan Crow has escaped her deadly fate and found a new home in the fantastical city of Nevermoor. She has also discovered that she has a strange and magical ability. But will her unique talent be a blessing or another curse?

Now that  Morrigan and her best friend Hawthorne are proud scholars in the elite Wundrous Society, she is sure that she's found a place to belong at last, but life is far from perfect. Can Morrigan prove that she deserves to be in the Society - or will an unexpected enemy run in her life?

Happy reading

The Lost Bookshop

 Author: Evie Woods

Hi Everyone

This is one to add to your list!

I thought, 'I should read more rather than scrolling my phone, watching Youtube, or Netflix and see if I could sleep a little better at night'. Well, how wrong was I?!?

The Lost Bookshop was my choice of reading material. All it did was made me sit up until all hours of the morning reading. Seriously? This isn't how it is meant to work. Getting off the blue light of our phones is intended to help sleep..... wrong.

Reading this novel, you spend one chapter in the past (historical figure), then one in the present. Often these kinds of novels annoy me. I constantly consider reading every second chapter, then returning to read the other time zone. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I was quite content to travel both story lines, parallel to each other. It was extremely well-connected. I got hooked on both situations as a whole. 

But it was the last quarter that had me up reading until 1am.  Yes, that is correct, 1am in the morning, when my end goal was to go to sleep earlier.  Really, this book is well worth picking up. So much so that I have purchased 'The Story Collector" by Evie Woods.  If this next book is as good, then I will be adding Evie Woods to my must-read authors' list.

Description

On A quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found...

For too long, Opaline, Martha, and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts it spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking he secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder... where nothing is as it seems.

Happy reading

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The War of Art

Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Author: Steven Pressfield

Hi Everyone

Some would categorise this book as a self-help book. Others will categorise it as an inspiration.

I call it a book full of quotes.

I highlighted numerous pages in this small book. I will use them to look back over for inspiration and encouragement. There will be times that I will look at them and get a kick back in the right direction. 

There is one simple thing that I will do with this book, and that is to open it again from time to time. I am certain that I will continue to find new gems within the pages as I re-read during different stages of my life.

Description:

Think of The War of Art as tough love.... for yourself

Since 2002, The War of Art has inspired people around the world to defeat 'Resistance"; to recognize and knock down dream-blocking barriers and to silence the naysayers within us. Resistance kicks everyone's but, and the desire to defeat it is equally as universal. The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer the internal foe, and then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success. 

Available from: Amazon.com

Happy reading

Children of the Rush

 Author: James Russell

ISBN: 9781991166807

Hi Everyone

Upon visiting Central Otago in New Zealand, you will discover a wealth of gold mining history that remains intact. There are old stone houses (many partly collapsed); hills that during winter get covered in snow; and towns like Clyde that maintain a historical street frontage. If you wish to travel to Gabriel's Valley, you will also find that much of the gold mining history is still able to be seen.

Gabriel's Valley is where this story is based. I have been to both Dunedin and Gabriel's Valley, so reading this, I was able to envision the townships and the children. It was quite an adventure reading through these pages. 

As for the story itself, I enjoyed how the author has interwoven both the history and the depth of hardship that adults and families endured during this time in history, along with a story of friendship and loyalty. The story is rich with history, yet still has an element of imagination (or maybe truth). 

It was refreshing to read a historical children's novel. I would like to see many more like this written. Living books. Ones that we can read time and again, while still finding new snippets of information to ignite our wonder of the history that has been left for our children to discover.

Description:

It's 1861, and gold fever is sweeping New Zealand.

Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal But two children have been caught up in the rush. Michael and Atarangi couldn't be more different, but they share one thing: each has a remarkable and magical talent. 

Circumstances conspire to bring the children together in remote and inhospitable goldfields, and they're thrust into a world where lawlessness, greed, and cruelty reign.

When the children find out that a cut-throat gang stalks the goldfields, preying upon the innocent, they have a choice to make: turn a blind eye, or fight back?

Happy reading

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Nevermoor - The Trials of Morigan Crow

 Author: Jessica Townsend

ISBN: 978-0-7344-1807-4

Hi Everyone

My favorite series of all time, 'Inkspell', has almost been knocked off its perch. Nevermoor has taken up the battle for first place on my favorites list. With adventure and imagination, intertwined in a plot that grabed my attention from the first page, I am hooked. If the rest of the series continues to live up to the same standard, then I have two series that I would recommend to readers of all ages.

'Morrigan Crow is cursed'..... that is how we are introduced to Morrigan.  How wrong and stupid can people be? She is not even present at most of the events, yet she was born on the wrong day, which makes her a 'cursed child'. I found this concept fascinating, mainly because everyone believed it and the self-fulfilling prophecy effect took hold of Morrigan.  

We see this all around us, beyond the book. How often do we tell children the same thing often enough (sometimes once) only to see them take it on as part of their identity. I studied this in my education studies, we all know it, yet children constantly get told they can't do things right, or at all. I hear it quite regularly from some of my students, 'I'm just not good at ...', 'I have (whatever label they have been given).....". The list of limiting beliefs is long. No! Young people have the ability to learn if we would just stop giving them belief systems that tell them otherwise. Okay, I agree some things are hard, even almost impossible, but give them a chance and some extra time, and you will be amazed at what can be achieved.

Jupiter North knew there was more to Morrigan and whisked her away to a secret magical city called Nevermore. I really like Jupiter. His answers to Morrigan's questions are limited, wise, and confusing all at the same time. And then there is Fenestra - the cat, if you can imagine a huge cat. Typical of a cat, Fen is grumpy, competitive, and knows everything. And Jack, he is annoying, but an important part of the story, so don't leave him off the list; his character gave a little extra something to the book.

Then there is information that takes form near the end of the book, or is it just the start of the story for the rest of the series?

Right now, I could go on for hours about Nevermoor. I have the next three books in the series. I will review them as I get through each one. They better not let me down. I have big expectations now.

Description:

Morrigan Crow is Cursed.

Born on an unlucky day, she is blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks - and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on Eventide.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away to a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to pass four difficult and dangerous trials - or she'll have to leave the city and confront her deadly fate.

Happu reading

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A Life of Her Own

 Author: Ellen Feldman

Read by Rosanna Pilcher

ISBN: 9781038628336

Hi Everyone

What do I say about this one?

I'm left feeling quite neutral about it.

The storyline was good. The characters were well developed. 

I have it! I know what my problem with this book was 😀 There were too many themes crammed into the plot.  It was a story written over a season of time in Fanny's life, but it moved from idea to idea quickly.  There were a few times that I had to go back and re-listen to make sure I hadn't missed something. I found myself talking to friends about how the plot jumped in sections of the book.  So, I leave the audiobook returned to the library, feeling pleased to have listened to it but not excited.

Would I recommend it? Yes, of course. We are all different, and what I took away from this novel was a simple, enjoyable read.  What will you get? Read or listen to it and let me know.  

Description:

When life doesn't give you a happily ever after ... 

New York City, 1945. The war is over, the men are coming home and life can go back to normal for young Fanny Fabricant. But when she loses her rosy future in a single instant, she is forced to reinvent her life and raise her daughter alone on sheer will and courage. 

Brought up to be a 'nice girl', to never step out of bounds, and educated for a career as a wife and mother, Fanny quickly learns that the real world isn't so straightforward. 

When Fanny gets a job working for the queen of radio dramas, she finally has a sense of control over her life - until two very different men enter, giving Fanny an impossible choice. Will Fanny play it safe, or do what she knows is right? Ellen Feldman, the international bestselling author of Paris Never Leaves You, presents a gripping tale of ethics, love and self-determination in a vivid historical setting - a story of heart, history and impossible choices.

Happy Reading

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

 Author: Khaled Hosseini

ISBN: 9780747593775

Hi Everyone

There is so much going on in our world today. We hear snippets of news from sources of media that tell us points of view applicable to our countries. We often see only the point of view that we choose to observe.  It isn't always being ignorant of what is happening - sometimes we just don't know.

I know that this book is about two women who come together through marriage to Rasheed. But this book, somehow, took me beyond the story and into a world quite different from my own. Most of my life I have been watching the dynamics between Afghanistan and America. It is not very often that we are taken into the world of the women living through it all. So many times I had to put the book down, as I grieved for the characters who quickly became women living resilient lives beyond what I see in the media. 

There are so many things that this book left me thinking. I can't put it all into words here. I can only recommend that you pick this book up and see what you take from reading the lives of these women, living in a totally different continent from mine, and maybe yours. I have since been told to read the other books by this author, which are apparently just as good.  I will be doing so in the future because these kinds of books are what one would call "living books".

Description:

Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship grows between Mariam and a local teenager, Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. When the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism.

Happy reading

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Hot Mess

Author: Jeff Kinney

ISN: 9780143778479

Hi Everyone

Who can resist a new edition of Diary of a Wimpy Kid being added to their collection every year?

I have been buying a new one of these books every year for my son, for as long as I can remember. This year, I didn't give him one, so my daughter went and purchased one for him.  It has become quite a tradition.  

Now, I also have my students picking them up from their school library to read. This past Christmas, the edition was - 'Hot Mess'.  It still has the best illustrations, fun characters, twists and turns, and pure joy sprinkled through every page. A few of my students have read this one here during their sessions, and this is what a couple thought of it:

“I thought the book was good. There were funny parts about the grandma’s meatballs and the vacation holiday  on Ruttyneck Island.”  

"I liked the part when grandma lied to the family about her secret recipe. I like the drama and the pictures  in the book, and when  Greg  freaked out when he was sitting down with the easter bunny."

So, no matter what age you are, young or old, there is some pleasure to be had from reading these books.  

Description: 

The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it is a recipe for disaster. Speaking of recipes, the secret ingredients behind Gramma's famous meatballs have been closely guarded for years. Can Greg unpack all his family's mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot?

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A Global History - The Greeks

 Author: Roderick Beaton

ISBN: 978-0-571-35357-6

Hi Everyone

This book has been a huge endeavor to maneuver my way through.  At times, it was like chewing the actual brick! But for the most part, I have enjoyed taking the time to read and understand these parts of history. 

The easiest way to show you what gems of information this book holds is to give you the list of contents:

1. Of Legers and legends (1500 BCE - 118 BCE)
2. Homers World. Not Ours (1180 BCE - 720 BCE)
3. Inventing Politics, Discovering Cosmos (720 BCE - 494 BCE)
4. The First World Wars and the Classical Age (494 BCE - 404 BCE)
5. Cultural Capital (404  - 322 BCE)
6. Becoming Greek (322BCE - 27 BCE)
7. Rome's Greek Empire (27 BCE - 337 CE)
8. Rome's Christian (337 - 630)
9. The Eyes of the Universe (630 - 1018)
10. City of the World's Desire (1018 - 1204)
11. Hopeful Monsters (1204 - 1453)
12. Between Two Worlds (1453 - 1669)
13. Greek Revival (1669 - 1833)
14. European State, Global Nation (1833 - 1974)
15. New Ledgers, New Legends (1974 - 2021)
    
    

The maps and photos brought life to the story and a little sense of reality to my reading journey, as I got a vision of the area in which people walked and lived.  Over the course of 466 pages (excluding the additional notes and reading recommendations), a world of people who lived before me came alive again. 

I purchased this book while on a holiday with my daughter over a year ago.  It was her fault! She insisted I go back to this wonderful little bookshop that was packed with every kind of book.... I went back to our motel with most of my spending money spent. We were two very happy girls as we sat the rest of the afternoon looking at our books 😁 I have to admit, it was worth going back, this book has been extremely interesting and I still have a bundle of books left to read yet.

Description:

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The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison

 Author: Meredith Jaffe

Read by: Simone Gescheit

ISBN: 9781867535430

Hi Everyone

Unique.

Who would have thought that a group of men, in prison, making a dress, could catch my attention? I guess it is because I like to do my own needlework and the thought of a hand-embroidered dress interested me.  I enjoyed envisioning the dress as it took shape, and what the outcome would be.  Would Debbie wear it, or would her mother stand in the way? Would it be show cased? Or, would it be discarded?

Debbie and her mother were 'next level' annoying! Well, I suppose you could really say the mother was beyond annoying. Just read it!

This is an easy read - or in my case, 'listen to'. The plot is pretty standard, with the odd bit of chaos added in. But you won't be disappointed.  Just let your mind envision the dress and the emotions of every character as the process becomes their story.

Description:

Derek's daughter Debbie is getting married. He's desperate to be there, but he's banged up in Yarrandarrah Correctional Centre for embezzling funds from the golf club, and, thanks to his ex-wife, Lorraine, he hasn't spoken to Debbie in years. He wants to make a grand gesture - to show her how much he loves her. But what?

Inspiration strikes while he's embroidering a cushion at his weekly prison sewing circle - he'll make her a wedding dress.  His fellow stitchers rally around and soon this motley gang of crims is immersed in a joyous whirl of silks, satins and covered bottons.

But as time runs out and tensions rise both inside and outside the prison, the wedding dress project takes on greater significance. With lives at stake, Derek feels his chance to reconcile with Debbie is slipping through his fingers... 

Happy reading

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