Booklover Book Reviews

A big welcome to the month of May, when down here in Australia the nights start to get cooler and it is perfect weather to curl up with a book.

Here is a quick recap of what happened at Booklover Book Reviews during the month of April:

Book Reviews Published:

Click on the pictures to read the reviews

Other articles:

• Wrote a Warning to ebook authors who do not put effort into book covers…

• Compiled a selection of Book releases by Aussie Authors in May 2013 for you to get excited about

• Announced the winner of the Significance international book giveaway

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Okay, so it is April Fool’s Day, and do you know what that reminds me of, other than to be even more sceptical of  TV news headlines than usual?

This is the first April Fool’s Day since the passing of much loved Aussie author Bryce Courtney - his book April Fool’s Day (1993), a tribute to his son Damon, remains one of the most moving and inspirational books I have ever read. But before you go off to get yourself a copy along with the requisite tissues….

… here is a quick recap of what happened at Booklover Book Reviews in March 2013:

Book Reviews Published:

Click on the pictures to read the reviews

As you can see a slow month for review publication, but on the whole, the quality was high.

Instead of my usual number of book reviews, what did I get up to during March? 

• Hosted a Trajectory of Dreams Prize Pack Giveaway as part of Nicole Wolverton’s first book tour
• Published a wonderful guest post from author Lise Sonntag titled ‘Stories Within Stories‘ and offered a copy of her debut novel Significance for international giveaway (entries close 7th April)
• Gave an update on the Aussie Author Challenge new participants and notable reviews, and Edna the Echidna (challenge mascot) asked, “Are non-fiction the genre du jour?”
• Launched the giveaway of a 3 Book Hans Fallada Pack + Book Bag kindly provided by Scribe Publications (entries close 2nd April)
• I installed a new comments system, and then during Bloggiesta carried out some more renovations to my site – changed my header image and site logo, added a subscribe via Bloglovin button and a subscribe to follow-up comments option
• For the first time ever I have nominated my own site for the Best Australian Blogs Competition - you can vote for me in the People’s Choice category if you like what’s offered on Booklover Book Reviews
• Compiled a selection of Book releases by Aussie Authors in April 2013 for you to feast your eyes on

What’s planned for April?

• Publishing lots of book reviews

Click on the pictures for book information

• Reading review titles being released in April, Another Sun by Timothy Williams (currently reading), Seduction by M J Rose and  Survival Skills by Jean Ryan
• Participating in Kim’s Australian Literature Month at Reading Matters as it fits in nicely with my annual Aussie Author Challenge reading list

What are your bookish plans for April?

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A quick recap of what happened at Booklover Book Reviews in February 2013, and the first three days of March:

Book Reviews Published:

Click on the pictures to read the reviews

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A quick recap of what happened at Booklover Book Reviews in January 2013, and the first two days of February:

Book Reviews Published:

Click on the pictures to read the reviews

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As 2012 draws to a close it is time to reflect on all the wonderful books that have entertained and challenged our minds in 2012…

…and shine a spotlight on my Best Books of 2012.

In 2012 I awarded 7 books my overall 5 star rating here at Booklover Book Reviews. That means they received a 5 / 5 for both The Story and The Writing.

My Best Books of 2012 were:

Click on the covers to read my reviews

My Best Books of 2012 span a range of genre, from science-fiction through to classics, which makes it very hard to pick one absolute favourite. But, of these, I have found myself recommending The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson and The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman most often.

It has been a high quality reading year for me in 2012, as evidenced by the fact that I also awarded 14 books an overall rating of 4.5 stars:

Click on the covers to read my reviews

I note that there are some wonderful books I read in 2012 that I will not get around to publishing reviews for until 2013, such as Talking to the Dead by Harry Bingham and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I highly recommend these as well.

What titles did you include in your Best Books of 2012 list?

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A quick recap of what happened at Booklover Book Reviews in October:

Book Reviews Published:

Click on the pictures to read the reviews
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Here is a quick recap of what happened at Booklover Book Reviews in September:

Book Reviews Published:

WE BURY THE LANDSCAPE – Kristin Ong Muslim [ 3.5+ stars ]

BEAUTIFUL RUINS – Jess Walter (audio) [ 5 stars ]

LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! – Stephen May [ 3+ stars ]

MR SOMETHING – Jay Baker [ 3.5+ stars ]

PAWS – Kathy Finikakos

SNAP: NEW TALENT – Michele Drier [ 3+ stars ]

NO REMORSE – Ian Walkley [ 4+ stars ]

A LADY CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO KASHGAR – Suzane Joinson [ 4.5+ stars ]

DON’T LOOK UNDER THE BED – Juan Jose Millas [ DNF ]

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY – Rachel Joyce [ 3.5+ stars ]

THE CORAL THIEF – Rebecca Stott [ 4+ stars ]

Caught up on my backlog of reviews during my holidays, a couple of real stand-outs this month and a couple that did not live up to my expectations.
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