I cannot express sufficient gratitude to Louise Rhind-Tutt of lrtpublicity.co.uk for providing a review copy of this glorious hardback edition of ‘Pristine Seas – Journeys to the Ocean’s Last Wild Places’ by Enric Sala and with a foreword by Leonardo DiCaprio. It was published by National Geographic in hardback on September 22nd 2015.

I am obsessed by the sea, having been in the water with a manatee, swum with manta rays in the Maldives, sharks in the Galapagos and dolphins in the Caribbean and snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Consequently, I was beyond excited when I received this glorious book – so much so that I actually cried. I was meant to be doing many other things when the book arrived but it so captivated me that they were all set aside until I had consumed it avariciously in one go.

Reading the foreword, I had not previously had any idea of Leonardo DiCaprio’s own fascination with the sea, early ambitions to be a marine biologist or activist support which was interesting in itself, but, famous actors aside, it is Eric Sala’s journey, from a young boy idolising Jacques Cousteau to becoming an expert advising international organisations and governments on how to protect our oceans, that is the central pull of ‘Pristine Seas’.

The book is divided into geographical regions with brief scientific and factual details about each area, the most startling of which is that, at the time of writing, only 1% of the ocean was fully protected in no-take marine reserves.

The text is Enric Sala’s first person account of the places he has explored, gathering data and totally absorbing the reader in the descriptions of where he and his team have been and what they have seen. This is no clinical, dry non-fiction writing, but an exhilarating experience often written with prose approaching poetry. I wouldn’t have thought of juvenile masked boobies as being ‘like a bunch of teenagers gathering around a flashy new car that just arrived in town’, for example. It is also often desperately sad such as when we learn that Mediterranean red coral is all but extinct except for a pocket in Corsica’s Scandola Nature Reserve. However, there is much to be hopeful for too in Enric Sala’s writing. If American presidents are beginning to show an interest and to understand that oceans can repair themselves if we manage and protect them, then maybe there is a chance to retain and regenerate what we have before it is really too late.

Above all, the greatest delight in ‘Pristine Seas’ is the photography, almost all of which has been taken by the author. Photographs are breathtakingly beautiful and completely moving. The intimacy of mating turtles, the vivid orange of great star coral, the old-man appearance of walruses in Arctic ice or the dramatic landscapes of the Arctic are just some examples that make ‘Pristine Seas’ a book to be treasured. Anyone who has dived or snorkeled would be completely enthralled by seeing these images.

‘Pristine Seas’ is a book that I feel privileged to own and I would urge anyone with the slightest interest in nature and a love of the sea to read it too..

I was delighted to be offered the chance to read ‘Merry Mistletoe’ by the author, Emma Davies, via Netgalley. I have seen so many positive comments about Emma’s writing since I started blogging but hadn’t got round to reading any of her work so I was intrigued as to what style I might find.

Freya’s four year relationship with Gareth is breaking down and her life long home is under threat as she can no longer afford to live there following the death of her father, so the only person she can rely on is the enigmatic and itinerant Amos. When neighbours put in a bid to buy her home, Freya’s past is about to catch up with her and her heart is in danger of being broken again.

I really enjoyed this novella. Emma Davies’ writing style is easy and fluent so that the story develops beautifully and is easy to read. She captures a scene very effectively, using the senses evocatively to create a truly Christmassy atmosphere.

Whilst this is a traditional feel good Christmas story, there is also an underlying mystery that is only gradually revealed, adding even more layers of enjoyment. I also liked the way plot devices worked naturally without the awkward contrivance of some women’s fiction so that every action was believable. As the story progressed I really wanted Freya to have a happy ever after ending.

‘Merry Mistletoe’ is a super story to get readers in the mood for a romantic Christmas and I heartily recommend it.

I am indebted to Lydia Gittings at Titan books for providing a copy of Deanna Raybourn’s ‘A Curious Beginning’ in return for an honest review. It was published in paperback on October 2nd 2015.

Having just buried her last remaining relative, her Aunt Nell, Veronica Speedwell returns to the cottage they had shared to find it being ransacked by a villain who attempts to abduct her. Rescued by the mysterious Baron Maximilian von Stauffenbach, Veronica’s adventures begin in England 1887.

I absolutely loved this story. Deanna Raybourne writes sparkling, witty prose that entertains from the first word to the last. There is often great humour amongst the peril, especially in the highly natural dialogue.

The plot races along, twisting and turning along the way, assisted admirably by the lively first person narrative. I thought the way Deanna Raybourne gradually uncovered information about both Veronica and Stoker was masterful. The reader becomes as much involved in the story as they do and it is exciting to find out a little bit more at the same time as the characters.

I loved both Veronica and Stoker. Veronica Speedwell is instantly likeable and realistic, despite not conforming to the stereotypes expected for the Victorian era in which the novel is set. She is a woman any reader would like to meet in real life, being feisty and intelligent and, as Stoker says of her at one point, ‘She is entirely her own woman’. Stoker too is brilliantly portrayed. The story crackles with sexual tension between these two main characters and their sparky repartee is utterly engaging for the reader.

As ‘A Curious Beginning’ is the first in what is to be a new Victorian crime series, I honestly can’t wait to read the next. This story would make a fabulous television drama series. Historically accurate and authentic, ‘A Curious Beginning’ is for readers who like a strong female protagonist, excellently depicted relationships and a strong romp of a book. I thought it was wonderful.

Having met the author, Laurie Ellingham, at a book event, Laurie agreed to provide a guest post for my blog which can be read here. She also kindly provided a copy of her book, ‘The Reluctant Celebrity’, which was published by Austin Macauley on 29th May 2015, in return for an honest review. It is available in both paperback and ebook.

Heartbroken by the actions of her ex-boyfriend, the now famous Guy Rawson, Juliet Stewart reinvents herself as Jules and spends five years avoiding relationships and running away from the past. Unscrupulous media reports mean that her past is about to catch up with her and not necessarily how she wants.

I really enjoyed ‘The Reluctant Celebrity’ – so much so that I found myself thinking about what might happen to the characters when I wasn’t actually reading the book.

I found the writing eloquent, fresh and modern, but with the elements I’d expect of female romance literature so that it is a thoroughly entertaining and absorbing read. The plot speeds along, whilst having sufficient detail to enable the reader to participate fully in events. Once or twice I even had a tear in my eye. There’s a great balance in the third person narrative so that we understand both Jules and Guy’s perspectives brilliantly. The direct speech is so natural that it feels as if real people are talking. That takees real skill.

I loved all the characters from the taciturn Stan to the rather gorgeous Rich in the pub. I’m hoping Laurie Ellingham will write a sequel to ‘The Reluctant Celebrity’ that picks up the lives of some of these characters later.

Whilst being a light and entertaining read, there were some thought provoking elements too; the way the media can twist words and manipulate the unsuspecting, how we judge others without really knowing them and how our choices can affect not just us. These themes provided real substance to the storytelling and contributed to a totally satisfying read.

I’m sure many readers won’t have heard of Laurie Ellingham yet, but I think once they have, they are in for a real treat.

‘Harlot at the Homestead’ is the second book in the Duggans of Montana series by Molly Ann Wishlade published by Totally Bound and I was lucky enough to receive a copy from the author herself in return for an honest review.

I was delighted to read this book as I had previously read the second in the series ‘A Rancher for Rosie’ and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can read my review of that book here. I wanted to know the back story of the Duggans and especially to find out what had happened to Catherine.

Catherine turns up on the Duggan doorstep two years having been allegedly abducted and killed by Red Indians. Her fiance Kenan Duggan is desperate to know the truth of what has happened to her.

I was slightly wary that I might not enjoy this book as much as I had ‘A Rancher for Rosie’, being concerned that the author’s style might have developed for ‘Harlot at the Homestead’ and the first in the series might disappoint or that I might find it too similar. Neither was true.

There is a poetic style to Molly Ann Wishlade’s writing that conjures the sights, smells and sounds of Montana beautifully. The attention to detail paints a vivid picture for the reader and all the senses are catered for. Highly effectively executed metaphors contribute to complex themes of revenge and retribution, love and loyalty as well as the expected sensual elements from erotic fiction. There is a real sense of passion in the story.

Along with a great plot that races along, ‘Harlot at the Homestead’ has authentic social, geographical and historical contexts giving a depth to the reading that surprised me. I also really loved the balance of male and female perspectives so that we get a true understanding of events from both Catherine and Kenan’s point of view.

If, like me, you’re somewhat reluctant to read erotic fiction as insufficiently ‘literary’, I think Molly Ann Wishlade’s The Duggans of Montana might just be the series to make you re-evaluate your views. These stories are well constructed, interesting, entertaining and above all, extremely well written. I’ll be reading book three, ‘Her Montana Cowboy’ just as soon as I can.