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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!
Well now, isn’t this gorgeous! This is a book to fall into, it’s both simple and intricate, unmistakable and intriguing, and it’s beautiful too. Author Rosemary Gladstar, has collated many words, quotes, voices, thoughts, and feelings, both current and from history. She has picked those that inspire her, that hold meaning, and gathered them here into this book alongside pages upon pages of stunning photos and images of plants. Plants help to provide our air, food and medicine, shelter and clothing, and they are also creations of beauty. She asks that we listen, that ... View Full Review
Sleeping Beauty, but not as you know it, in fact you could possibly read this imaginative story without fully realising the link. Once known, aspects from the original twist into being while other well-known moments remain buried in the fairytale of old. Dark magic crashes down on a baby and her mother, who will do all in her power to protect her child. Author Georgia Leighton has given voice to the strength and fortitude of women when under siege. Seventeen years and five very different women follow a difficult path. In this story love is lost, lives divide, life is ... View Full Review
These stories dance with death and crime and murder, they’re compelling and fascinating too as they join and link with twelve Scottish landmarks. The locations are pivotal to each story, twisting with the words and acting as witness. The book also includes a map and information about each building which means no doubt, that you’ll be adding to your list of places to visit by the time you finish. The twelve Scottish author’s are well known, and two are co-founders of crime writing festival Bloody Scotland. James Crawford, from Historic Environment Scotland, explains in ... View Full Review
Slicing its way into my thoughts, this novel caught hold of my imagination from the very start and refused to release me from its grip. Joseph Ware finds himself snared by the Witch Tree, where a woman was executed in 1567, when he determines to catch a falling chestnut that legend promises will grant every desire. Author Scott O’Neill has the ability to take whispers of dreams and magnify them into nightmares. HIs descriptive detailing is so vivid, there were times when I wanted to shut my eyes to protect myself, and yet I couldn’t stop reading. ... View Full Review
I love it when each new book by an author becomes your favourite, and that is the case with John Sutherland, police officer turned writer. The authenticity stamps itself onto each page, as he has created a main character who follows the author’s own career as a hostage negotiator. Each outing has been one heck of an adventure. It now feels as though the author is really settling into his role and allowing his imagination the freedom to explore, and occasionally run riot, while keeping to the ethics and moral responsibilities he clearly feels. Here the series goes ... View Full Review
Every now and then I fall completely head over heels for a book, and this is one of those moments. I didn’t want the story to end, so entirely had it caught me, I just wanted to return to page one and experience the wonder all over again. Set in a land of sacred animals, emperors, and hidden magic, a high profile murder leads to an investigation by a socially awkward scholar who has risen through the ranks. I had previously met author Antonia Hodgson’s writing with the wonderful Thomas Hawkins historical crime series, so was ... View Full Review
Gosh this was a lot of fun, even as I met hit men and witnessed dodgy deals and murderous plans I enjoyed myself immensely. The Retirement Plan sits as both a LoveReading Star Book and Liz Pick of the Month. Three men who lost their money along with their plans for retirement have a scheme to get it back, in the meantime, their wives decide their only option is to collect their husband’s life insurance. Author Sue Hincenberg has devised a deviously twisted plot and I loved it! The characters are vividly colourful, and form themselves into a ... View Full Review
What a title! It definitely shocks, it also made me wonder at what was contained inside and I positively itched to turn the first pages. Written by two ‘quarrelsome dames’ Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, this non-fiction slice of fascination opens up the Scottish witch trials, asks all manner of intelligent questions, and provokes a whole host of reactions. Between 3000 to 5000 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland between the 16th and 18th centuries, and 85% of them were women. I actually found myself raging at the injustice that they faced, and fearful too, as the accusation of ‘... View Full Review
This entertaining and engaging novel captures the essence of the joy and thrill of music, poetry, and folklore. Author Randee Dawn has set this novel in the 90’s as three childhood friends form a band blended of traditional Irish music and rock. With music in their soul, they snare the attention of three sidhe from legends past and their lives begin to fracture. From the beginning I was aware of an otherworldly echo, which became louder and more vibrant as I turned the pages. The musical component felt so authentic, the depth and lifeblood of music could be felt, ... View Full Review
Remove the allure of the vampire and you are basically left with a serial killer, keep that in mind as you read! 1532, 1837, and 2019 mark the beginning of three female vampire’s stories. The tales weave together, intricate stitch by intricate stitch. This isn’t an easy read, there are a lot of vicious killings resulting in a whole heap of dead bodies. Author V.E. Schwab has created three very complicated and yet fascinating characters, these vampires have an edge. The timelines, the locations, all have an immense sense of place. The social and political difficulties faced by ... View Full Review
Beautifully evocative and intimate, and important in terms of time and place, this is a story that is both gentle and heartfelt, yet mysterious and adventurous. In Bombay, Sona’s life is awakened when an artist unexpectedly dies and Sona falls under suspicion, a journey to Europe awaits as she attempts to prove her innocence. Author Alka Joshi, not only writes with an engaging pen, she obviously throughly researches her subject. She explains in her Author’s Note about the inspiration for this novel which was absolutely fascinating. The sense of place in each location took me by ... View Full Review
A powerful and provocative story where the narrator uses a fairytale to explain a current story of abuse and violence. Different versions of Bluebeard exist, featuring a manipulative predator of a man who has murdered each of his wives when they fail to abide by his warning. The narrator of Sour Cherry is surrounded by ghosts who listen to this version of the tale, keeping ever-present company yet offering warning. This is not a comfortable read, it covers themes of toxic masculinity, plague, and murder. Men as well as women have fallen foul of this monster of a man. Author ... View Full Review
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