12 Books To Read In 2012

Peter James Dead Man’s Time

Peter James Dead man's time review

Few things in life are as fun as a hardback crime thriller in your hands and a few hours of spare time. This well-researched and fast paced book is an exciting roller-coaster of a book. I found it really hard to put this book down. Peter James is obviously a brilliant crime writer. Prepare to be blown away. Peter James is also a film producer, producing the Merchant Of Venice which starred Al Pacino and has worked as a screenwriter. Talented man. The hardback edition is an interactive book.

SOME WILL WAIT A LIFETIME TO TAKE THEIR REVENGE . . . A vicious robbery at a secluded Brighton mansion leaves its elderly occupant dying. And millions of pounds’ worth of valuables have been taken. But, as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, heading the enquiry, rapidly learns, there is one priceless item of sentimental value that the old woman’s powerful family cherish above all else. And they are fully prepared to take the law into their own hands, and will do anything, absolutely anything, to get it back. Within days, Grace is racing against the clock, following a murderous trail that leads him from the shady antiques world of Brighton, across Europe, and all the way back to the New York waterfront gang struggles of 1922, chasing a killer driven by the force of one man’s greed and another man’s fury.

Jim Pinnells Saturn’s Daughters: The Birth of Terrorism

Saturn’s Daughters Author Jim Pinnells Interview: On Russia, Pussy Riots And The Birth Of Terrorism, terrorism, Jim Pinnells, pussy riots,

I really loved this book. We interviewed Jim Pinnells so have a read. This book is a great insight into terrorism and revolutionaries. It mingles real and fictional characters brilliantly and really draws you into the world of 19th century Russia. Pinnells is a Russian Historian and it really shows. A brilliant book which will keep you gripped until the end, whilst giving you a fun history lesson. What more could you want?

Claire Garber Love is a Thief

love is a thief

An entertaining book which comes with a smart premise: what has love stolen from you? Heartwarming, smart, addictive and very, very funny. I also love Claire’s bio, ‘Claire did nothing remotely of interest until aged 26, when she visited the French Alps and fell in love with every single French man she met’.

Kate Winters is an ordinary girl, with a not-so-ordinary mission: take back what love stole!

Kate Winters might just be ‘that’ girl. You know the one. The girl who, for no particular reason, doesn’t get the guy, doesn’t have children, doesn’t get the romantic happy ever after. So she needs a plan. What does she like doing? What didn’t she get to do because she fell in love? What would she be happy spending the rest of her life doing if love never showed up again?

This is one girl’s journey to take back what love stole and maybe find love again along the way Feel-good, witty and addictive; Love is a Thief is the book everyone’s talking about.

Daron Sheehan The Socrates Project

Daron Sheehan The Socrates Project

An eco-thriller. Yes, en eco-thriller. Described as ‘Michael Crichton meets George Orwell’. The smart thing about this book is that it takes entertainment and combines it with the very real problem of the damage to our environment and global warming. We went to the launch and had a chat with Daron and adventurer Mark Beaumont. Daron went through quite a few drafts of The Socrates Project and you can tell his friends didn’t hold back as the novel is not a brilliant read which has started its own genre in literature.

The Socrates Project is a secret attempt by the United Nations to avert the predicted collapse of our civilisations. Simon Oceandis heads up the sicads, who must blend modern science and ancient wisdom to find the solutions before time runs out.

Not everybody welcomes the Project. An influential secret society plots to discredit and destroy the sicads. Torn between the love of a beautiful scientist and a fiery tribeswoman, Simon discovers an exotic world of adventure and wonder. To find the answers to save humanity, he must undergo a deep inner journey, yet his life becomes a frantic race for survival…

Is it happening? Could it happen? Should it happen? Decide for yourself! Live the story…

Charles Dubow Indiscretion

Charles Dubow Indiscretion

If you want a glamourous book about love and betrayal, desire and deceit, then Indiscretion is the book for you. Indiscretion is the first novel from Charles Dubow but it is a confident and powerful debut.

The Great Gatsby meets The Secret History in this torrid novel of love, lust and deception.

Harry and Madeleine Winslow are blessed with talent, money, and charm. Harry is an award–winning author on the cusp of greatness. Madeleine is a woman of sublime beauty and grace whose elemental goodness belies a privileged upbringing. Bonded by deep devotion, their marriage is both envied and admired by friends who spend summers at their East Hampton idyll.

When a holiday fling turns disastrously wrong, 26-year-old Claire falls into the Winslows’ welcoming orbit. They are enchanted by her youth and intelligence. In turn, Claire is entranced by Harry and Maddy. The love that exists between them is something of which, until now, she could only dream.

Seen through the omniscient eyes of Maddy’s childhood friend Walter, Indiscretion is a story about the complexities of love, the dangerous nature of desire and how obsession can tear apart even the most perfect of worlds.

This ebook edition also contains an extended extract from Maggie Shipstead’s award-winning, New York Times bestseller, Seating Arrangements.


Brigitte Cobb Make it Fly!: The step by step guide to make ANY idea, project or goal take off

Brigitte Cobb Make it Fly!: The step by step guide to make ANY idea, project or goal take off

I love how this book is layed out. It has exercises, tables, steps and a Do it! summary at the end of each chapter. Perfect for motivation and to get you started on your goals, whatever they may be. The tone is positive without being annoying and it is impossible to not feel inspired reading it. It is no nonsense, firm but fair and does the important thing of telling you to look after yourself. If you have an idea, project or even just a vague dream, buy it and you are on your way. I loved it.

Whether it’s a project at work or a dream for life, Make it Fly! is the ultimate success plan
for making things happen.

Its proven, step-by-step approach will make even the biggest goal achievable, giving you that vital first push and all the know-how, inspiration and practical techniques you need to see things through.

Discover how to:

Appraise your idea to make sure if it’s really ready to fly
Get the planning right so you know what’s happening now and what you’re doing next
Hurdle all the annoying obstacles that will try to put you off course
Stay motivated focused by taking every step in the right way and at the right time

Stop talking about what you’re going to do, and start doing what you’re talking about. It’s time to make it fly!

Dr Patrizia Collard Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy For Dummies

MindfulnessBasedCognitiveTherapyFD

With the stigma of mental health problems being eroded all the time, mindfulness and cognitive therapy are both huge topics and if this book shows anything, it is how mainstream mental health issues are now, which can only be a good thing as people who are ill are not suffering in silence. With this great book you can also download audio files. Like any ‘For Dummies’ Book, it is easy to read and understand. With great programmes and chapters on stopping the cycle of depression and breaking free from addiction, this is a very good book; if you have any problems or or just having a hard time, this book has a large amount of knowledge that can you put your life back on track.

It has a complete eight-week MBCT course, mindfulness exercises and even meditation practices. A must buy to get you over any bumps in the road.

Break the mental chains that keep you stuck in the past and start living a fuller, happier life If you suffer from depression you know how it feels to be dragged down by past hurts, regrets and disappointments. In this book you’ll learn an amazingly simple, yet highly effective, approach to breaking free of past woes (and future worries) and beating negative ways of thinking. Therapist Dr Patrizia Collard takes you on an eight–week journey of self–discovery, arming you with powerful tools for warding off future depression and related problems, such as anxiety, addiction and low self–esteem. Make room for peace of mind – learn to prepare a physical (and mental) space conducive to meditation practice Take a good look at what’s hurting you – find the courage to confront your demons, face–to–face, rather than pushing them away Break those mental chains – become aware of the background noise and static that’s distracting you from clarity and purpose Pay attention to the here and now – master mindfulness techniques for living in the present moment, rather than fixating on the past or worrying about what the future may bring Expand your focus – apply what you learn to beating an array of specific problems from addiction to depression, including eating disorders, pain, anxiety and more Audio download includes Seven guided meditations, including the sitting with difficult thoughts meditation and mindful breathing meditation Step–by–step advice to prepare yourself for effective meditation

Tiffany Reisz The Mistress

maZXqY_aPpzp7Nxxs61GShQ

Perfect for people who have read 50 Shades of Grey and are now not only huge fans of erotic fiction, but want to go further. Reisz’s writing really draws you in. Perfect for fans of erotic fiction. Is the latest book in the Original Sinners series. Hot, spicy, sweet and well-written.

Nora Sutherlin, Dominatrix-turned-literary-star, is held prisoner by two dangerous men. Under different circumstances she would enjoy this immensely. These men aren’t lovers, however, but tools of vengeance from an old adversary. Possessor of the hearts of two men, she plays her hardest hand. But her captor isn’t interested in play. Or pity.

In Nora’s world, however, no one is ever truly powerless. Her friends and lovers will do anything to save her – even if the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak. The stakes are high in a dangerous game of love, lust and passion

Lucy Cruickshanks The Trader of Saigon

Lucy Cruickshanks The Trader of Saigon

The Trader of Saigon is a book you can really sink your teeth into. Cruickshanks really brings post-civil war Vietnam to life. You can almost smell and taste it. With a clever plot and characters that you really care for, this book is well-researched that is atmospheric and thought-provoking. An amazing debut novel.

From Hanoi to Saigon, a tale of one woman’s search for a better life – and a thriller that strikes to the merciless heart of post-civil war Vietnam. In the chaos and corruption of 1980s’ Vietnam, three seemingly unconnected lives are brought together by greed, fear and hope.

As a US Army deserter, Alexander is a man without country; trapped in a life he no longer controls and embroiled in the dark business of trading women. His latest victim is Hanh, a rural girl who moved to Hanoi to escape inevitable poverty and who sees Alexander’s arrival as the answer to her prayers. Neither of them has ever met Phuc – a Vietnamese businessman who backed the wrong side in the war and is now unable to pay his financial and political debts to the Party. But his struggles are about to change both their lives.

From a society torn apart by war comes a tale of redemption and salvation; a thrilling saga and an explosive debut novel.

Anouska Knight Since You’ve Been Gone

 

This is a beautiful story that you can really lose yourself in. It is a slow burner and a heartwarming, witty and funny read.

How do you learn to love again?

In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.

His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow

Victoria Fox Wicked Ambition

Victoria Fox Wicked Ambition

Victoria Fox is single-highhandedly bringing the bonkbuster genre back. We interviewed Victoria a while ago and her books are pure escapism. You get the feeling that she is not making it all up, but is a Hollywood insider who really knows her stuff and is spilling secrets. Fox is a brilliant writer and this is another great book from her. Believable fantasy.

If not victory, revenge!
Some will do anything for fame.
Others will do anything to bring the famous down.
Three superstars. Three secrets.

For Robin, Turquoise and Kristin, the spotlight shines brightly. They’ve reached the glittering heights of stardom, and are adored the world over. But in the shadows lies the truth… An expose could be their end.
Because not everyone is happy about their success. Not everyone wants the best for them. Some people want to reveal the real stories behind the luxury parties and gorgeous men, and bring their dazzling worlds crashing to the ground.
Who will fall first

Cathy Kelly The Honey Queen

Cathy Kelly The Honey Queen

A very talented writer. Her books are beautifully written. A wonderful book about life and friendship and all of the trials that come with it that will warm your heart. A gripping book to get lost in and a joy to read.

Can she find the strength to help the family she never knew she had?

Vibrant and warm, Frankie manages people as a career – so her husband’s silence on redundancy comes as a shock. Suddenly both their dream house project in pretty Redstone and their marriage are under terrible strain.

Only twenty-seven, Peggy is opening her own knitting shop in town but her past threatens to unravel any prospect of love and a family of her own.

Lillie is the friend they both need. Newly arrived in the small Irish town from Australia, she’s no stranger to secrets and heartache. Wrapped in the warmth of the community, Lillie must help herself and her new friends rediscover the joy in life…

 What book will you read?

Saturn’s Daughters Author Jim Pinnells Interview: On Russia, Pussy Riots And The Birth Of Terrorism

 Saturn’s Daughters Author Jim Pinnells Interview: On Russia, Pussy Riots And The Birth Of Terrorism, terrorism, Jim Pinnells, pussy riots, Frost is very excited to interview Jim Pinnells. Jim has lead a fascinating life and he has written a great book called Saturn’s Daughters: The Birth of Terrorism. Grab yourself a copy.

You have led a fascinating life which has included working with the UN, on Chernobyl aftermath projects and being in Egypt during the Arab Spring.  Do you have a particular period that you felt most influenced your life and spurred you to research and write Saturn’s Daughters?

The first version of Saturn’s Daughters was written in the 1960’s when flower power and revolution were in the air. A book by David Footman, Red Prelude, got me hooked on the Russian revolutionaries of the 1880’s. With a bit of history, a natural streak of rebellion and an over-vivid imagination, I dreamed up a revolutionary romance about a terrorist called Viktor Pelin. His shadow survives in Saturn’s Daughters. An American agent pointed out that the female characters in the book were far more interesting than the male and suggested a rewrite. So Countess Anna moved centre-stage – though it took her thirty years to do so. Then I saw that Anna herself wasn’t really the key, but a whole cluster of women centred on Sofya Perovskaya. Her dedication, her idealism, her ruthlessness fascinated me. And this book is the result, almost half a century after the first draft. In a way, the many versions of Saturn’s Daughters are a measure of how far one can travel in a lifetime.

Where did the inspiration for the book come from?

From David Footman, from the Aldermaston marches, from an awareness as a young infantryman defending the River Weser that we were nothing but cannon fodder, from the Atlee government that gave me a scholarship to Cambridge but not the cash to cross the great social divide, from the farmers’ kids I taught in deepest Devon – from everything that ever happened to me really.
How did you undertake your research for the book?

Saturn’s Daughters is a historical novel. One thing I try to do is to get the history more or less right. That obviously means reading a stack of history books and biographies. Once that’s out of the way, there’s another kind of reading altogether – reading what the characters in the story would have read: magazines, newspapers, posters, adverts – every kind of ephemera. What music would they have listened to? What would they have stepped in when they were walking down the street? How would they have taken off their underclothes? And then topography. An earlier novel of mine, The Causeway, is set in a convent in the Bay of Naples. It wasn’t until I visited the convent (now a hotel) and paced the corridors from the cell of the Mother Superior to the punishment cells, found the terrace where the nuns would have seen Nelson evacuating Emma Hamilton from the quayside in Naples, dug my fingers into the soil of the nun’s kitchen garden – only then did the story come to life.

What is your writing routine?

I wish I had one. I’ve never had time to develop any kind routine. I take jobs that sound interesting wherever and whenever they come up. Vietnam, Venezuela, Russia, South Africa the Indonesian jungle or the Saudi desert. Some of my work involves report writing and that always kills real writing. I write fiction when I have time: on planes, on trains, during dead evenings when there’s nothing to do but chat with the locals in a bar somewhere. But then, to finalize a book, you have to sit down, lock the door, and work on it all the hours God made. If you don’t want a character to have blue eyes on page 12 and brown eyes on page 212, you have to (or at least I have to) rewrite the whole book in one intense anti-social bash.

Your book is about the first female terrorist. Do you think there are now less female terrorists, and if so, why?

Quantitatively there are probably as many terrorist movements in the world now as there were individual terrorists in the nineteenth century. Qualitatively it’s hard to say – I’m not quite sure how you’d measure the quality of female terrorists. Tons of debris per pound of explosive? As to the ability of women terrorists to attract public attention, I don’t think much has changed. Terror groups like to use young women as suicide bombers because a shattered female body harvests more news coverage. I think it’s always been a bit like that. But one thing has definitely changed. The romance has evaporated. A huge terrorist trial is going on at the moment in Germany. Beate Zschäpe is accused of murder (10 counts), attempted murder, arson, bank robbery and membership of a terrorist organization. (A charge of possessing child pornography has been dropped.) Zschäpe’s political beliefs – as far as the court has established them – are neo-nazi. Is she in fact a terrorist? That remains to be proved. But one thing both she and her cause certainly lack is any shimmer of romantic appeal. A neo-nazi terror cell that guns down Turkish street vendors disgusts most people and attracts only a handful of sympathizers. Chechen immigrants who blow up spectators at the Boston Marathon are in the same boat. A group of young idealists seeking to overthrow a repressive empire – that’s entirely different. They’ll always have a following. I think what has changed most are the ideologies. The methods, the relative number of women involved – those have stayed much the same.

What do you think breeds terrorism?

Short answer: perceived repression. When a group has strong views but has no power to enforce them, it tends to see itself as the victim of repression. In some societies there are “democratic” ways of handling this problem. Collecting money, starting a blog, forming a political party and then seeking election. But how many people have the time, the know-how or even the wish to work in the “democratic” way? The obvious short-cut, at least since the People’s Will showed the way (and this is the subject of Saturn’s Daughters), is terrorism. Not terrorism as a coherent system of action based on the assumption that even if you destroy the building, others will decide after you’re gone what will be built in its place. But terror as short-term, violent protest. A scream of frustration. A brief orgy of self-advertisement. So: perceived repression, despair, and the availability the weapons of the terrorist – fast transport, fast communications and the ability to make a big bang.

What do you think of modern-day groups like Al-Qaeda and the Taleban?

I sometimes think that if al-Qaeda didn’t exist, big government would have to invented it. But of course it does exist, simultaneously on the brink of extermination (because after all huge sums have been spent on the means of extermination) but yet able to unleash global mayhem at the drop of a hat (because large sums will be needed for future extermination exercises). Not that I’m trying to trivialize the problem. Al-Qaeda, the Taleban, the Imarat Kavkaz, Boko Haram, and countless similar organization all exist. They all pose a clear and present danger to the existing social order – especially in countries where they have their roots and which are vulnerable to their methods. In the “West” our real vulnerabilities lie elsewhere – a cyber-attack on the banking system, for example, or denial of commodities (especially oil). The West will not collapse in the face of aircraft with full fuel tanks hi-jacked by fanatics, and Russia will not collapse in the face of bombs in the Moscow Metro. Big regimes are more or less invulnerable. On the other hand, I’m sure regime change will be instigated by terrorist organizations in quite a few smaller, less stable countries. If these organizations remain in power after the regime change, then they may rule by means of terror. That, however, will be terror from above – the terror of a Stalin or a Robespierre – not terror from below as practiced by the People’s Will in the nineteenth century or by Al Qaeda today.
What change do you believe the world needs most right now?

Some years ago the Finnish aid agency PRODEC decided to channel more of its resources and direct more of African programmes toward women. I played a small part in that switch. The theory was this: menfolk may look more important like cocks on dunghills but really it’s the women who run things – so help them. Educate them and many good things will follow. Recently in Saudi Arabia, the government has completed a University City just outside Riyadh. It will house the 40,000 women of the Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University for Women. It hasn’t been built as a beacon of revolution, but it may function as one. Time will tell. Whatever the outcome in Saudi Arabia, women’s education seems to me the absolute social, commercial and political priority almost everywhere in the world.

What’s next for you?

Two new novels are on the launching pad. The first, Ilona Lost, is set in the First World War. The leading lady (you don’t see the word “heroine” so much these days) is an English nurse who serves with the Russian army on the eastern front and who goes home to Northampton to take over the family firm and build ambulances. The second, Reflections, concerns blood farms where Thai children (especially those with rare blood groups) are herded and milked for their blood which is then sold to the West. And, of course, work. I’m sure I shall give up work one day, but only “when the telephone stops ringing.”
Thank you Jim.