Review: The French Girl

The French Girl

Lexie Elliott

 A decade ago, when six college friends were having a break at a French farmhouse a local girl, Severine disappeared. When her body is found in a well, the French police arrive in London to question, once again the group of friends. So many years have passed, and most haven't given Severine a second thought, except Kate Channing, mainly because Severine haunts her daily. When the police seem to suspect that Kate may have something to do with the murder, she realizes that her career as a fledgling headhunter in London could be damaged if the rumors spread. But, if she didn't do it who did? What about the others? Did they have motive and opportunity for murder? It's hard to believe that the dark heart of a murderer could exist within this group, and yet it must.

The French Girl was a terrific read. I felt like I knew the characters by the end of the story. This one was superbly written with a great atmosphere and an ending that was not quite what I had expected. I also loved that the author followed the characters after the murderer had been uncovered. I didn't feel that I was left hanging in the end and it provided a satisfying sense of closure to the story. Hopefully, this debut novel will lead to more exciting stories from a talented writer.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: How Hard Can It Be

How Hard Can It Be

Allison Pearson

Kate Redding is almost 50 and she hasn't quite come to terms with it yet. Instead she is struggling with family, career and just about everything life throws at her in the witty and laugh out loud story. Her teenage daughter Emily is distraught over a social media faux pas when this story opens. Kate isn't quite sure how to handle the problem since her own social media experience is limited. Compounding problems at home her husband has decided to retrain as a counselor, meaning he will be without an income for the next two years. Having purchased a fixer-upper which is turning into a money pit, Kate decides its time to get back into the job market. After a seven-year absence from the world of finance, this may not be as easy as it seems. Kate will just have to do what it takes to find a job in the city of London, even if that means lying about her age.

As if that is not enough there is the onset of menopause to worry about, aging parents that need to be looked after, by Kate of course and a marital relationship that has seen better days. All of which will be tested with the appearance of an old boyfriend and Kate's determination to face life head-on. It was not hard to laugh out loud and marvel at the observations made in this book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Zen Camera

Zen Camera

David Ulrich

Zen Camera aims to help you gain a new perspective on what you see and hopefully translate that into more interesting and unique photographs. The book is divided into six lessons and designed so that it can be followed like a course. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic being covered and is followed by exercises and tips. You don't need any prior knowledge of photography, or zen for that matter but, you will need to invest a little time, patience and daily practice to see with your minds' eye.

I like the unique concept and the fact that it aims to raise awareness and creativity by finding and seeing something within, with or without a camera in hand. This is an interesting book for anyone who wants to try and create photos with more personal meaning. It doesn't require any special equipment, any camera or cell phone camera will work. This one is all about getting to know yourself and how to let the knowledge you gain shine through in your work. Hopefully, it will inspire you to see something from a totally new angle.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.