Jacqueline Harvey books…

Continuing on the books in my collection, I'm sharing Jacqueline Harvey Goodreads Author and her Clementine Rose books, or at least the first two. Jacqueline Harvey Born AustraliaWebsite http://www.jacquelineharvey.com.au/Twitter JacquelineHarveGenre Children's BooksMember Since July 2011Jacqueline Harvey has combined a successful career in education with her love of a good story. She is the author of…

Eco Rangers books by Candice…

Microbat Mayhem (Eco Rangers #2) by Candice Lemon-Scott (Goodreads Author), Aśka (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)  I really enjoyed this book. Not only did I feel I got to know Ebony and Jay better and their commitment to being Eco Rangers. They both took on the care of two abandoned baby bats, including feeding and cleaning. They found the baby bats at…

Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra by Karen Tyrrell

Book review by Jill Smith copyright Sept21 Karen Tyrrell & Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra Josh Atkins aka Jo-Kin, is reluctant to take on the role of Super Space Kid again. Especially after his terrifying ordeal battling the IT. When he is asked by Captain Nova, to battle Lord Terra and his sidekick Prince Poison, he…

Liars – The Truth App by Jack Heath

Book Review by Jill Smith copyright Sept21 This is a heart pounding story, from the first sentence to the last.Jarli, is a school kid with a great imagination. He creates THE TRUTH APP and posts the code for people to try and see if it works. Leaving the school with his dad, after a stressful…

Ghost Ship by Mary Higgins Clark…

Ghost Ship by Mary Higgins Clark reviewed by Jill Smith copyright Sept21 Mary Higgins Clark Thomas is visiting his grandmother in her very old Cape Cod house by the sea. The house was built by a sea captain and there was a long flight of stairs to the beach. The day after a heavy storm…

More Karen Tyrrell books

Back to Karen Tyrrell's resilience books for children. Songbird Superhero is book one of this series. Here is my review, copyright September 21. This is another great story of self empowerment for children by Karen Tyrrell. Rosella Bird dreams of flying. Will she ever fly? Her new neighbor Frank Furter turns out to be the…

Wombat books by Jackie French

Jackie French https://www.jackiefrench.com/diary-of-a-wombat Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French Created with Bruce Whatley Diary of a Wombat has also been adapted for stage by the team at monkey baa theatre.   Diary of a Wombat A delightful and entertaining peek into the life of one very busy wombat! Monday Morning: Slept. Afternoon: Slept. Evening: Ate.…

Karen Tyrrell books continued…

Hello fellow creatives, My Book Review Harry Helps Grandpa Remember by Karen Tyrrell Reviewed by Jill Smith on YouTube copyright Sept21Harry Hope lives on a farm. His grandparents live nearby and Harry just loves it when Grandpa plays hide and seek with him.He starts to notice Grandpa getting slower, then one day, Grandpa doesn’t want…

The Casual Vacancy review by Jill Smith

ballot paper cover The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling alias Robert Galbraith review by Jill Smith copyright Sept21 I wanted to read this book for some time, so glad I finally got to read J K Rowling's adults story. It's an intriguing tale of local politics in a small village in England. The characters…

Karen Tyrrell book reviews on YouTube

BAILEY BEATS THE BLAH@Sept21 This is a deceptively simple book. The illustrations are so in tune with the words. Bailey is in a new school, his tummy hurts and doesn’t want to get up. Even his faithful and fun loving dog Fuzzy can’t cheer him up. Life is BLAH! All this changes when a new…

Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh review

Goodreads Blurb - The key to her future is trapped in the past. Tapestry cover In 1978, Jane Maxwell is celebrating her engagement to Will, a handsome American geophysicist, but though she should be deliriously happy, she is plagued by doubts. When tragedy leaves Will hanging between life and death, Jane's guilt makes her determined…

The Champagne War reviewed by Jill

Hi friends of my blog, Continuing to my reviews of Fiona McIntosh's books in my collection, this is my YouTube review of The Champagne War, which I've read most recently. It felt very real to me as this story was based on Fiona's meeting with a French woman from the Champagne region in France and…

The Pearl Thief my review on YouTube

Hi my creative friends, Fiona and Jill I was lucky enough to join a couple of my friends from The Ten Penners to see Fiona McIntosh launch this book. She had beautiful bookmarks, entertaining narrative and descriptions of her travels overseas. It was a magical evening and I managed to get a photo of her…

The Whisperer by Fiona McIntosh review

Fiona McIntosh This book is a great young adults book. Griff is working as a grunter or labourer, in the circus. His brothers are contortionists, Griff can only do the manual work, helping put up the tents and the like, because he can’t cope with too many people around him. When the greedy circus master…

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge YouTube book review

Hi Readers and Creatives, Here is my next YouTube view book review on a delightful picture book 'Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge' by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas. For those who don't know Mem Fox (she's pretty famous in Australia) I'm putting in her biography, and then my written book review. I hope you…

League of Llamas book review You Tube

Hi Creatives, This is Book 1 and 2 of Aleesah Darlison illustrated by Simon Greiner, full reviews below and the YouTube video on Jill Writes Book Reviews. Again, please feel free to comment on my blog or YouTube. - Jill The Golden Llama (League of Llamas, #1)by Aleesah Darlison, Simon Greiner Phillipe Llamar is LOL (League of…

Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee my YouTube review

Three-year-old Lenny is a new big sister to her baby brother Davey. Her mother, Cynthia Spink, is good at knowing when something is not right. She had a bad feeling about Davey. He was born ‘Perfectly Normal’. Six days after Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon Davey turned five and he had…

Father’s Day 2021

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there. Our son rang my husband early today as he's away with his daughters who are competing in Equestrian and Gymnastics this weekend. It was a brilliant start to our day. Now I'm recalling what a wonderful dad my father was with his brood of five girls.…

The Ten Penners September meeting

We met at The Black Lime Cafe in Carrara, for cuppa and cake and chat. Today we got straight into planning our next book of short stories for children. We worked out our target audience and are planning to bring contemporary books in the younger 6 to 8 age range to discuss style next month.…

A Most Magical Girl Book Review on YouTube…

A Most Magical Girlby Karen Foxlee, Elly MacKay (Illustrator) Annabel Grey has been bought up in a privileged home, with an elegant mother and Miss Finch’s Little Blue Book (1855) to guide her. Such advice as - ‘A young lady does not yawn or sigh but listens attentively to any lesson or wise anecdote an elder may offer.’…

The Very Hungry Bear book review by Jill Smith

Book Review by Jill Smith©Sept21 Title: The Very Hungry Bear Author/Illustrator: Nick Bland Publisher: Scholastic Press Nick Bland Bear was very hungry and grumpy. He hadn't caught a fish until...he got something big on his line. He pulled and pulled until Polar Bear faced him.Brown Bear could see Polar Bear had lots of fish. You've…

Spring has sprung…

It’s the First of September and I’m we’ve been working in our garden and enjoying the sunshine. My thoughts are turning to strategies to improve my blog posts, my YouTube efforts and to plan for November NaNoWriMo. Next Saturday is The Ten Penners meeting and I’m excited because it looks like we’ll have all our…

‘Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy’ book review

Hi readers and fellow creatives. Here's my next review on YouTube. I'm passionate about the hugely talented and imaginative work of Karen Foxlee. I hope you enjoy this review and my background to Karen's creativity. https://karenfoxlee.com Please comment and let me know what you think of my review. Happy reading, writing and creating. - Jill…

Jill Writes Book Reviews YouTube… Bob the Railway Dog

cover This is my next YouTube video book review. Bob the Railway Dogby Corinne Fenton (Goodreads Author), Andrew McLean (Illustrator) This is a delightful picture book that became the theme for the Myers window display the year the book was released way back in 2015. This book is based on a true story. I hope you like this review…

Dream Riders Storm book #2 read on YouTube

Hi fellow creatives, This is my second attempt and one of many in the coming days, to showcase my reviews. Please comment and tell me what you think of my review and video. https://youtu.be/ds2RuwF9Fpo I read a lot of young adults, children's picture books and adults in various genre's. Please tell me what you want…

Jill Smith Writes book review YouTube…

Hi fellow readers, writers and creatives. I'm experimenting with YouTube. I'll start reading my reviews and sharing them. Please let me know what you think of my first attempt. Post a comment below or use my contact tab. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks - Jill https://youtu.be/WDizfYF3rDA

Gold Coast Writers Meeting 21st August – Judy Wollin

Judy Wollin Judy is a member of Gold Coast Writers and a current Committee member. She's also recently joined the 'Adults Writing for Children' subgroup 'The Ten Penners' which I belong to and enjoy. This group has released three anthologies and are hoping that we'll have another to add to this list in the next…

Candice Lemon-Scott talk GCW meeting – Part two

Yesterday, was part one of Candice Lemon-Scotts talk at last Saturday's Gold Coast Writers meeting. Today I'll continue from when she began to explain How she got her books out there. Candice explained that she's introverted and said if she can do it, anyone can. She then went onto the 'Types of Promotional Opportunities' slide.…

Candice Lemon-Scott talk at Gold Coast Writers meeting…

This is a brief run down of last Saturday's Gold Coast Writers meeting. This is part one of this write up, more tomorrow. Candice Lemon-Scott books Candice began by saying she has a long link with Gold Coast Writers as she'd been a member and known and supported many local authors. She was first published…

Inspirational Gold Coast Writers meeting today…

Today was a wonderful Gold Coast Writers meeting. I'll have a write up of the days notes shortly but till then I'll tell you a bit about the speakers. Candice Lemon-Scott is an award winning author and owner of Big B Books a second hand book shop in Burleigh Heads, Queensland. She's been a friend…

Books on Tour PR & Marketing…

I've been slow to catch opportunities this year due to moving house, and more recently my husband having pnemonia. I've always loved being able to participate in Books on Tour promotions of wonderful books by brilliant Australian writers. This was posted today and I couldn't resist sharing it as this book is delightful. Big Sky…

Focus on family…

My husband recently had a double pneumonia and it reminded me how precious every day is. Just how much I need to get back on track with my writing to re-edit my manuscripts and get them published into the wide world. All the while holding my family close and enjoying our time together. Because we’ve…

Jacqueline Harvey books in my collection…

These are books I've bought to give my grand daughters, and I haven't read these yet. In truth I've given the older girl Alice Miranda on Holiday which had a cantankerous horse in it. My girls love horses. So I found these and thought I'd carry on with this wonderful character. Then my younger granddaughter…

Dictionary of Dreams by Rose Inserra

I’ve picked up this book at my volunteer work today hoping to share some of the insights with my writing friends in The Ten Penners to generate story ideas. Opening the book at random I found in the F section: FLEAS are annoying and cause irritation. In a dream they are signs that we need…

What I’m reading now and next…

I'm currently reading 'The Champagne War' by Fiona McIntosh. As you'll have noticed in my review of books in my collection I've read several of Fiona's books and had her sign some at book signings. I loved 'The Pearl Thief' and 'The Whisperer', and have all her books on my TBR list. Fiona McIntoshGoodreads AuthorBornBrighton,…

Tristan Bancks – Two Wolves book in my collection

Two Wolves is a book I was recommended by a friend of mine. I'm glad I read it and will be reading more of his books. I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads, something I only do for books that are extremely good. He's written a lot of great titles and I'm showcasing his covers.…

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle book review by Jill Smith

Book Review by Jill Smith©Aug 21 Rebecca Serle Title: In Five Years Author: Rebecca Serle Publisher: Quercus Dannie Kohan is meticulous in her planning. She’d meet a guy and fall in love, they’d move in together and then get married. It was the perfect five year plan. She's a lawyer and does everything by numbers…

800 posts plus… giveaway

Hi, my reading and writing friends, I put a post in on the 5th of August to celebrate my 800th blog post. Me with my hubby and friends I asked for a comment to be posted at the bottom of that blog post or put in through my Comments tab. Please contact me and ask…

George Ivanoff books in my collection…

George Ivanoff is a effervescent entertainer. I've been enthralled with his presentation at Somerset and allowed the children's laughter to carry the narrative of the You Choose book through. Being an actor must help him give to his audience, but his personality shines wherever he is. I shook his hand and congratulated him on a…

My 800th Blog Post…lets celebrate with giveaways

According to the stats this post is my 800th since I started blogging. I'm thrilled to reach this landmark and I'm celebrating by giving away a copies of my books. Children's books, first to comment will get a copy of 'Fan-tas-tic-al Tales' by The Ten Penners, second comment will get a copy of 'Mystery, Mayhem…

James Moloney books in my collection…

James Moloney was a Somerset Storyfest and I bought 'Bridget A New Australian' An Irish girl's journey to Moreton Bay in 1848. I love that James gets into the skin of this young girl who is forced to leave their family farm in Ireland when the land was cleared for sheep. The family faced immediate…

More books in my collection…

Hazel Barker is a writing friend I through Gold Coast Writers Assoc., I've read one of her many books - 'Heaven Tempers the Wind, Story of a War Child' which is compelling, heart-wrenching and autobiographical. I've been impressed with her growing catalogue of books and adding them all to my To Be Read List. This…

The Locksmiths Daughter by Karen Brooks review…

Mallory Bright is at the beginning of this book a shamed woman who hides from everyone except her playwright friend Caleb. She enjoys the theatre but not the walk through the streets of Queen Elizabeth's London where her former fiancé ridicules her. As readers, we are drawn into an Elizabethan England with Protestants against Catholic…

Kim Wilkins books in my collection…

I've read several of Kim Wilkins books including the 'Gina Champion' Young Adults books 'Bloodlace', 'Fireheart' and her much darker adults 'Angel of Ruin' in the gothic horror mode. Then a friend of mine suggested I read her Kimberley Freeman books which are much more romantic and not as chilling. Either way she's a fabulous…

Back to Book Reviews

My youngest granddaughter has just had her eleventh birthday, so I've read and reviewed a few books I'll be giving her. I did get her an illustrated and abridged 'The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe' but I'm not reviewing that one here. Her older sister has the book but this version is more suited…

Christine Bongers books next in my book collection…

Christine presents difficult topics through teenage girls eyes, so realistically it makes you feel sad, confused and frightened with the characters. I love her writing and have enjoyed her presentations at Somerset Storyfest. If you like Fiona Wood, Cath Crowley or Jaclyn Moriarty, you'll love Christine Bongers' gripping new coming of age story, Intruder.I don't…

EOFY summary of my books collection…

Over the last couple of months I've posted about books I packed away because we moved house. I've now unpacked these books and they now take pride of place in my new home. As we're in Lockdown again, and, for those who've not caught up with all these posts I thought being the first of…

Deborah Carlyon shows us cultures colliding…

Deborah Carlyon came to Gold Coast Writers several years ago and spoke about her family and life. I purchased 'Loku And the Shark Attack' and loved the charm of the story being told and how it was a lesson learned and shared. Later I bought 'Mama Kuma: One woman, two cultures. As the title suggests…

Cath Crowley books in my collection

I first saw Cath Crowley at Somerset Storyfest when she was talking about her book 'Graffiti Moon'. I loved the way she admitted to her young audience that they were her inspiration and that she was wanting to know what they were thinking. Plying her audience with questions became a two way street. It was…

Next book ‘The Peony Lantern’ by Frances Watts

Here's my next must keep book in my collection, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Peony Lantern When Kasumi leaves her remote village in the teeming city of Edo, her life is transformed. As a lady-in-waiting in a samurai mansion she discovers a rare talent for art and falls in love with a young samurai. How…

Op Shop Opportunity – books!

Look what I found at my Op shop today! It’s great to be working where books come in and they are given to me first as the ‘book’ lady I check to see what’s best to put out on the shelves. I grabbed these to bring home as Christmas is around the corner and I…