Book Review: Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

A gripping story full of twists! I loved the triple narration between Lisa, Marilyn and Ava. The pacing of this book was perfect the way it started slower and then picked up as it went on revealing more puzzle pieces as it goes along with flashback scenes that show more information.

I am a terrible thriller guesser and was working on a couple of different theories whilst reading but I was so wrong it was ridiculous! I especially loved how the characters developed over the course of the story, Lisa and Ava's relationship in particular. I do wish the ending could have been a little more filled out though in regards to repurcussions etc.

Stef Out x

Film Review: The Incredible Journey vs Homeward Bound

I just watched Disney's The Incredible Journey for the first time. I feel like I've read the book but it was so long ago that I can't remember it and I've been a fan of the remake for years so I thought a watch of the original was in order.

The Incredible Journey tells the story of young Labrador Retriever Luath, elderly Bull Terrier Bodger and talkative Siamese cat Tao. The animals are living with a family friend as their own humans have gone to England temporarily for the father to complete a visiting fellowship at Oxford.

One day their foster owner leaves for the open of the duck hunting season on the understanding that the housekeeper will keep an eye on the animals. This is not to be as Luath spots some geese flying home overhead which awakens his own instincts to return home. With some persuasion the others follow - getting into several scrapes along the way including bears, porcupines, a deadly river and a lynx. Bodger being elderly struggles along the way and nearly doesn't make it but eventually all three animals make it home after more than three weeks of travel.

The human acting and scriptwork left a lot to be desired but the narrator Rex Allen had a wonderful, smooth voice that was easy to understand and listen to. The animal actors on the other hand were fantastic, so well-trained and none of them appeared unhappy. There was just one thing they forgot to keep an eye on... Bodger is referred to as a male dog but for 80% of the film at a rough estimate he was portrayed by a female dog.

Overall 3/5 stars for The Incredible Journey.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is the flashier remake also by Disney following Chance the rambunctious American Bulldog, elderly Shadow the Golden Retriever and Sassy the Himalayan cat. Their story begins when the family temporarily relocate to San Francisco and leave the pets at a ranch. Shadow, the old, wise one misses his boy Peter and thinks something must be wrong which sets of a strong homing instinct and he persuades the others to leave with him.

From there the base plot is much the same as the original but the action is livened up with the animals being given voices and Chance narrating the overall action. The general acting quality is much improved as well. The switch to having the leader being the eldest was a wise decision because it was always stretching believability in my opinion having the eldest being a follower, would that pack loyalty go far enough to follow without question? Whereas Shadow being the old leader he has the mindset to push through the pain. I also really loved the scene where Shadow falls in the hole because it does put everything in jeopardy and you don't know the definite outcome until the very last minute.

4/5 stars for Homeward Bound.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Shatter Me by Tehereh Mafi

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

I feel like the story has potential but the flow could use some work. There was a lot of not a lot, Juliette telling us about Adam's eyes and his, well, everything a lot.

Then we had a change of scene with Warner the psycho head of sector (or something) who made me think of a slimy, overweight old man despite him being described as apparently being an attractive 19 year old. We get more obsessiveness over his eyes as well... The author certainly has a thing for them.

The action picked up during the second half but there is still a general lack of information or half information that was frustrating. I would like to know what happens though so I may do a library request sometime or something.

Stef Out x

Book Review: When We Were Young by Anna Benoit

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Content Note: Rape, domestic violence, drug use.

I think damaging would be a way to describe this book. Shocking considering the author is apparently a therapist.

We follow two troubled teenagers: Livvy and Jack. Jack is on probation following a stint in juvenile detention for assault and is connecting with a father who never knew he existed. Livvy is the girl next door whose parents have all but abandoned her all while she's dealing with abusive boyfriend Luke.

Honestly if I'm seeing domestic violence in teen novels I want it to be more of an instruction manual on how to get out safely unlike in this book where Livvy only escapes in the last couple of chapters thanks to a near-death experience.

The characters on the whole were not that likeable and I found Jay and John hard to distinguish and Livvy's friends were a waste of space. 2 stars only because I finished it. Also small niggle but the title makes no sense since there is not mention of the characters when they are older to be talking about 'When We Were Young'. Overall do not recommend.

Stef Out x

Book Review: Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

This book was really cute and I loved the characters!

I loved that Annie was a wheelchair user and that the information was sort of snuck into a scene, not thrown right at us. I really enjoyed Annie's attitude about it all. The bus scene depressed me though. Legally in the UK bus drivers must make people move their pushchairs for a wheelchair user but so many still don't. Disability blogger Shona Louise has done several posts around this Left on the pavement 1, Left on the pavement 2 and Wheelchair spaces on buses that are all worth a read.

I liked Fab as a character and the Polish stuff was obviously well researched but his behaviour and persistence following Annie's "No" are off-putting and knock off a star. I also would have liked to get to know some of the other characters better.

Stef Out x

Book Review: That Secret You Keep by Brenda Benny

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

A really sweet book that flowed nicely and had likeable main characters. It tells the story of shy Max and his long term crush on Serena who is consumed with grief and guilt following the death of her mother in a car accident.

A big hurdle to their relationship is Max's general inexperience around girls thanks to 2 dads and a gay best friend with whom he used to be very close - a point I wish could have been explored further - however their relationship developed steadily and was overall very sweet.

I wish we could have learnt more about Hayden and Vanessa, in general the backing characters could have used some more fleshing out. Also we had Max debating whether he was actually straight - thanks to his dads and his past with Hayden - but I think Brenda missed an opportunity here to make him bisexual. We need more bi characters in fiction and bi men in particular get a bad rap but I can also understand not wanting to be too controversial with a debut novel. All in all I quite liked the book but it was just missing that spark to make it a 5.

Stef Out x

Book Review: The Cows by Dawn O'Porter

Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.

Strange in places but compelling. I loved Cam, liked Tara and hated Stella. I thought her obsession with having kids was weird, especially the way it started to consume her entire being, it freaked me out a little but her overall story arc was interesting in it's progression.

I was impressed with Tara for doing things her way with her job and raising her kid but I did find the tube thing a bit much but thinking about it that's probably because we hear so little about female sexuality. Also Cam is right when she says that watching these non-consensual videos is contributing to the continued abuse of the victim. I thought that the way she turned things around was brilliant although I did want to know if her boss did ever come out..?

Cam was fab! As a childfree woman myself I completely empathised with her and I'd do the same thing in her situation - one that is thankfully unlikely personally thanks to gayness - I'm just sad that her storyline had to end the way it did but I understand it had to happen for the others to be able to move on.

Stef Out x