A Shetland Winter Mystery Lorraine Smith

The latest book in the Shetland sailing mysteries. Marsali Taylor  shows her love for the Island through her vivid descriptions and creative stories.

The main characters are a solo sailor called Cass Lynch and Inverness DCI Gavin McRae. In the story  they are the victims of “Trowies” who appear to be the Shetland Wee Folk. They are in the shadow of the Wind Farm development being built on the Island.  It has all nail biting pleasure of unexplained deaths, sabotage of the wind farm development and even mystical creatures.

We are never quite sure if these beings are real or not, until two brothers pull a stunt trying to stage a vanishing to make it look like Trowie mischief. 

Then there is the sabotage at the wind farm, Trowies or teenagers.?  The latter turn out to be the culprits for the Trowie sightings, However that leaves the murders….

The brothers are part of a family where the eldest’s mother lives not too far away and the younger lives back at the family home with his Mother the second wife. The unfolding of the hatred of the two women for each other is a background to the death of both sons. Unusual and full of twists and turns, this book is riveting. There are an abundance of sub plots and  unusual circumstances to keep you guessing.These are all set against the backdrop of the authors vivid descriptions of Shetland. there were times when I could smell the sea. 

An excellent Christmas stocking filler.

 

 

 

 

Snowflakes’s Big Adventure. Lorraine Smith

 This is the story of Snowflake who is getting ready to be part of his first snowfall. Like all of us he is uncertain and wonders what his future will be.

He makes his first fall with the help of Mama snowflake and other snowflake friends. Once down to earth he finds himself as part of a snow pile in a the garden of a young boy.

Snowflake is excited when the boy comes out to play in the snow, and, at last, he gets to know his purpose.

He is going to be part of the boy’s snowman. Snowflake is delighted he has found his place.

This book can help children understand that we all struggle to find our place in life. It is beautifully illustrated by Kathlyn Jones. This would be a wonderful addition to your child’s library and a joy to read aloud.

This delightful little book would be proud to be part of a child’s Christmas pile.

This made me smile and I enjoyed it thoroughly. (Can’t wait for the plush toy).

Make snowflake and the book happy. Buy this for your child this Christmas!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1735830003/

I Made it Out. Lorraine Smith

I Made It Out” details the raw, uncut, and honest life events of Avishai El.  She is 32 years old and decided to write this book to help other people who are going through situations that they feel as though they can’t get out of.  She affirms that you can get out of any situation and provides historical context in which she used her mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual capacities to face challenges head on.  In order to maintain peace, one has to go through things in life to get there.  She has gone through ups and downs.  All readers from all walks of life will be able to relate to her shared experiences.  On days where you feel low in life and on days where you feel high on life, opening this book and reading it will provide you with the tools you need to succeed no matter what.  Some of the imagery is explicit to paint a visual picture for the reader.

If she could get through it you can. You can make it out.

Be inspired by a remarkable young woman who shares her story. This is a book to enjoy because it piques our emotions and inspires us in our own situations.

Rise and Kill First. Lorraine Smith

This book is exactly what it says in the cover. This is an exciting read. Telling the story of the earliest intelligence agencies in Israel. Also the leaders who relied on them to fight those enemies on all sides.

These agencies evolved over the years undertake daring missions, mostly targeted assassinations of those groups wreaking terror in Israel and abroad.

Ronen Bergman is a correspondent for Israelis daily Yedoith Ahronoth and the New York Times. He weaves a momentous tale of Israel’s survival and the targeted assassinations which have been at the core of their defence policy since before the birth of the nation state.

Isreal’s unique position in the world, surrounded on all sides by hostile Arab nations means that they must use intelligence and hutzpah to survive.

This is the story of a unique people and nation. It is also the story of how they survive. Targeted assassinations take down those who hold power and direct terrorism, in an effort to weaken and disable the enemy. It also tells the story of the men and women who carry out these assassinations. This means that Israel has assassinated more people than any country in the western world.

Israel has often felt alone on the world stage. Surrounded on all sides, and at the mercy of  anti Semitic political policies, targeted assassination had become the lynchpin of its defence policies. And the reason for this go to method is explained by Bergman.

One incident which immediately comes to mind is the West German police handling of kidnapping of Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972.  When  Israel was refused permission to lead the rescue mission. The disastrous handling led to Jews dying on German soil. No one can miss the significance of this. This was when Golda Meir decided to expand the remit of targeted assassinations to the world and even friendly European countries. 

The use of drones to target and enable strikes has also been covered. Bergman has provided details of the first drone strike by Israel. In 1992 drones enabled the assassination of the Secretary General of Hezbollah.

This book is well worth reading and I enjoyed it. Please join me and read it too.

This is my review for the Book Blog Tour 28th June - 4th July.

 This the second book in a series The Chronicles of Elabi.

First of all I have to admit that I have not read the first book, “The Walled City” so I came  to this series without pre conceived expectations.

This is the story of Macia, a young girl living in a society where displays of emotion are frowned upon. The members of this society engage in behaviours which ridicule those of lower status and forbids the reading of certain materials. However Macia loves Elabi and tries hard to achiever her best in life. When a so called friend alerts her to a forbidden book, (The Bible), then she finds her priorities and beliefs deeply challenged.  

For Macia the decision to investigate this mysterious book leads her to question all she has known and brings her to  faith. It also has consequences for her family which turns their circumstances upside down. This turmoil challenges Macia to hold to her new found faith. There is something for all of us to take from her struggle to hold tight to faith, even in the darkest moments. This novel describes a journey to faith from a world  where individuals are tightly bound by conventions with no ability to share joys and sorrows. This world is bleak. It is a picture of many of us caught up in worldly conventions and laws which imprison our real selves and suck the joy from life.

Macia finds hope and joy, but it comes at a price. Her journey is one told through her thoughts and feelings. She can see the difference between Elabi and the life Beyond the Hills. There are lessons for each of us.

 I will definitely read the first book now. I hope you will join me in reading both.

Viking Ferry

If you enjoy all things Viking and thought you were an expert, then this the book for you. 

We follow the adventures of the heroine Marieke who is travelling back home to the Netherlands to spend time with her family.She falls asleep on the ferry and wakes up in a different world. Marieke is captured by Vikings, yes, Vikings! We follow her into captivity and her escape. 

Marieke takes us on a journey to forgiveness. A feel good story, perfect for reading on journeys. Just don’t fall asleep!

This book is a journey into Viking territory, well researched and an excellent read. I highly recommend this.

Leah

 

The story of  Leah and Rachel the wives of the biblical Jacob are easy to overlook. Rachel takes centre place because she is the one loved by her husband. 

This book takes up Leah’s story. It is a fascinating read .We see through the eyes of Leah. Anyone who has felt unwanted, unwelcome or out of place will resonate with this. It is a journey of hope, faith and  to find her own worth. The needless jealousy between the sisters is one we can all identify with, and the pain it causes. 

We will all recognise ourselves along with Leah on her journey to transforming faith. In a way, it is the journey we all take through life and hopefully into a brighter future. 

I recommend this thought provoking book. It is well written and brings an overlooked Bible story into the spotlight.Everyone had something to share, unique talents, and gifts and Themselves. Find yourself in Leah’s story.  You won’t regret it.