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Liz Robinson - Editorial Expert
Liz has been an Editorial Expert writing reviews for LoveReading since 2014. Reading has always played a huge part in her life and she happily describes herself as a fully fledged bookworm. By day she works for a charity, and at every other free moment devours books of all genres. She video interviews authors for LoveReading and has previously judged the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Gold Dagger and Crime Fiction in Translation Awards, the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award, the Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival Short Story Competition, and the LoveReading Very Short Story Award. It’s simply all about sharing the book love!
If you love a beautifully written slow-burn exploration of a mystery then this should bypass your ‘to be read’ pile to arrive straight into your hands so you can soak up the unforgettable characters and small town politics. Bestselling and award-winning author Michael Robotham explains in his acknowledgements that this was the first story he wrote back in his early 20’s, but its taken 19 previous novels for him to decide to rework it and and let it loose into the world. It feels as though his experience of life, of writing, and his love for the story ... View Full Review
A fantastically unsettling thriller set in a town that boasts it’s the safest in the US, however when Dan and his daughter Sadie arrive at their new home from the UK, they find a dead body in the pool. Particular favourites of mine by bestselling author C.J. Tudor include LoveReading Star Books The Drift and A Sliver of Darkness. She has the particular gift of adding a decided dose of sinister and creepy into the mix while retaining all of hallmarks of a realistic and cracking crime thriller novel. While she very much has her own style, ... View Full Review
This is a joyful and celebratory book, to be dipped into or fully immerse yourself within. Commonplace books are a type of journal, favourite items from all things written including books, sayings, recipes, proverbs and songs are included. This anthology sits along a central theme (as per the author’s The Country Commonplace Book), this time celebrating all things cosy. While this is a gorgeous standalone, it also sits perfectly alongside its sister, and I hope there are more to come as you’ll have a gorgeous collection in your hands. Cosy conjures comforting and restful, something that ... View Full Review
What a treasure this is! From the title, the cover, and the artwork, to the fascinating words contained within, this is a gorgeous book detailing our human history with shooting stars. Author Jade Angeles Fitton leads you into the most wonderful world, from the art and culture, belief and superstition, science and progressive energy, to the use of propaganda and PR to great effect, the shooting star has had and will continue to have a huge influence on humanity. I’ve been fascinated by our night sky since I spent a number of months in the Santa Barbara mountains ... View Full Review
The bestselling No:1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series continues in fine style with the 27th novel to feature the wonderful characters and setting of Botswana. I want to applause every time I rejoin Precious Ramotswe, I’m not sure how award-winning author Alexander McCall Smith is able to bring a fresh story each time while still retaining the comfort of familiarity but I’m very glad he does! Trainee detective Charlie is entrusted with looking after the agency while Mma Ramotswe and Matekoni head north to an elephant sanctuary. If this series is a firm favourite, you ... View Full Review
I expected a breathtaking pirate-based romance, yet found so much more as I entered an intricately built fantasy world of islands, colonies, and a fierce fight for survival on the Lyrian Sea. This is the first in a duology and author Victoria Aveyard’s adult debut. Tempest sets up a long and slow burn of a tale, building tension, following two strong timeframes ten years apart. Alternating ‘before’ and ‘after’ chapters highlight the difference between the main character Lady Catrine Rose at the age of 20, and ten years later as Widow Rose, forced to betray ... View Full Review
Absolutely fascinating, this opens the door to the last Emperor of China and his court, combining details from letters, diaries, and memoirs with in-depth research of records and archives, and photos. It is obvious from the start that author Paul French knows and has thoroughly researched the history of this period, I immediately felt safe in his hands. You are first greeted by maps, which I really appreciated, maps speak to me and I love to spend time delving into the corners. I found the oh-so descriptive names of The Forbidden City painted images across my minds-eye, from the Hall ... View Full Review
This high-octane debut fantasy novel about a female dragon racer took me straight back to reading The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey as a teenager. Tailwind though, is very much its own animal, and I loved spending so much time with dragons in such a thrilling setting. Lena works as a keeper on the circuit yet is desperate to return to the dragon racing she loves, an accident allows her to sneak a ride on Gottyk, the dragon she raised, to enter the arena once more. The competition feels like a more extreme Formula 1 as the teams travel ... View Full Review
We have now reached number 26 in the wonderfully titled series The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency which began in 1998. Bestselling and award-winning author Alexander McCall Smith obviously has a great fondness for the setting and people of Gaborone, Botswana. He creates a gentle pace and tone that feels oh-so welcome in our rushed and busy world. Whenever I enter the stories containing Precious Ramotswe and friends I can feel myself relax and slow down, appreciating the vivid and colourful descriptions of the land and the warmth of the people. Friendship, patience, kindness and empathy, sharing of food and community are ... View Full Review
The most wonderfully readable murder mystery awaits, take a bow Lucy Foley as it’s standing ovation time. How utterly fabulous, an authorised Miss Marple is back, 50 years after she last left the pen of Agatha Christie in Sleeping Murder: Miss Marple’s Last Case which was published posthumously in 1976 and our November 2012 Guest Editor Kate Mosse described as one of her favourites: “a tale of old secrets and long shadows”. Bestselling author Lucy Foley is a favourite of mine, both for her historical and crime mystery novels, and she is perfectly placed to take up ... View Full Review
If you love to travel back in time, revel in folklore, myth, and what feels to be a deep authentic magic, then this series should go to the top of your reading list. Author Shauna Lawless puts the history of Ireland centre stage, with warring kingdoms and the fabled Tuatara De Danann and Fomorians under threat. Do start at the beginning with The Children of Gods and Fighting Men, it’s a stunner of a debut and sets up this collection beautifully. Son of the Serpent sits within the Gael Song series and along with Daughter of the Otherworld ... View Full Review
Ahh, this was just what I needed, reading medicine for the soul can be found in this gorgeous and generous novel where the dogs sit centre stage. When Leo decides to move to the outskirts of a small market town and open a rescue centre for dogs, it not only changes their lives, but also those in the local community. I love Ruth Hogan’s writing, from The Keeper of Lost Things to The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, she creates arms-open-wide welcoming hugs of books. The different strands on offer here are lovely, there is an inner story ... View Full Review
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