Shiny Linkiness

I can promise more reviews before Christmas, but in the mean time, here are some more links to my reviews in the latest issue of Shiny New Books…

Old Buildings in North Texas by Jen Waldo

old-buildingsThis compact novel had me chortling from the first page. Olivia is a recovering from a heart attack and cocaine addiction and her mother is once again her keeper (a court requirement this time). She needs a new hobby and discovers ‘Urban Exploration’ which helps to make her life worth living again. More than just a comedy narrated by the wise-cracking Olivia, there is also a wonderful family story with three strong women at the heart of this novel and I adored it.  (10/10)

Read my full review here.

Read a Q&A with the lovely Jen Waldo here too.


The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church

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It is the beginning of 1941, the USA hasn’t yet joined WWII.  Meri, a young academic studying ornithology falls for Alden, a physics professor and when he is seconded to Los Alamos to work on the Manhattan Project, she ultimately opts to give up her own career to marry him and move south.

Their relationship will suffer with his secret work and the age-gap between them, so Meri looks to find other sources of fulfillment, starting up her ornithology again….

While the main story of the young woman giving up her own career for her husband’s, then finding a lover is nothing new, Church’s novel was an engaging read. Meri is an interesting woman throughout her life and I was on her side all the way. I enjoyed this book a lot (and loved the cover).  (8.5/10)

Read my full review here.


Under a Pole Star by Stef Penney

stef-penneyFor her third novel, Stef Penney turns north again to tell the story of Flora Mackie, the daughter of a whaling captain, who becomes an arctic explorer and scientist at the end of the 19th century.

Paralleling Flora’s story is that of Jakob, another explorer who joins another American expedition. Although Flora and Jakob don’t meet until around page 200, you know they are made for each other.

Epic in feel, Under a Pole Star is another well-written and very enjoyable novel from Penney, recommended for those who like to get stuck into a big fat adventure (it’s just short of 600 pages). (8.5/10)

Read my full review here.

Read a Q&A with Stef Penney here too.


All review copies – Thank you.

To explore any of these further on Amazon UK (affiliate) please click the links below:

  • Jen Waldo, Old Buildings in North Texas (Arcadia, 2016).  215 pp., hardback. BUY
  • Elizabeth J. Church, The Atomic Weight of Love (4th Estate, 2016). 368 pp., hardback. BUY
  • Stef Penney, Under a Pole Star (Quercus, 2016)  596 pp., hardback. BUY

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