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{{newreview|authorclass-"wikitable" cellpadding= David Jester"15" <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->|title= Forever After: a dark comedy<!-- Hogan -->|rating= 4-|genrestyle= Paranormal"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669065.jpg|summarylink= Michael Holland is a cocky and brash young man who dies and gets made the offer of his lifetime; immortality. We follow Michael, a grim reaper and his friends Chip (a stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a stoner in the records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a clean surface to sit on in their flathttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669065/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||amazonuk=<amazonuk>1510704361</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Nina Stibbe|title=An Almost Perfect Christmas|rating[[Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan]]===4.5|genre=Humour [[image:5star.jpg|summarylink=Christmas – Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|General Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]] Tilda returns to Brighton, to tidy away the time remains of traditional traumaher mother's life after her death. You only have Whilst there, she returns to think about the turkey Paradise hotel, a haven for eccentrics and misfits. A place where people can be themselves, and let go of thoughts that – once upon a time it was leaving it sat on torment them elsewhere. Little wonder that Tilda cannot forgive her mother for banishing her as a child, from this place of wonder. With the downstairs loo to defrost overnighthelp of Queenie Malone, caring, and if that failed gregarious, Tilda begins to pick apart the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bettricky and uncertain relationship she had with her sometimes cruel and distant mother. Nowadays it[[Queenie Malone's all having to make sure it's suitably freeParadise Hotel by Ruth Hogan|Full Review]] <!--range and organic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat itvan LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=http://www.amazon. Christmas, though, is of course also a time of great boonsco. It's cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and beards, it was always a godsend for postmen with all the thankuk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-you letters to aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-hand as a child, and as for the makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of the year?align: left;"|===[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>0241309824</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]]{{newreview|author=Ian Doescher|title=William ShakespeareComic-Cons are a place of wonder and sanctuary for many people, and when Comic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, he's looking for both that and sanctuary with other fans and creators, plus the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh|rating=4chance of maybe, just maybe reuniting with his ex.5|genre=Science Fiction|summary=A long time agoHowever, when his rival is found dead, Mike is forced to navigate every dark corner of the con in order to clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and intrusive fans to zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and, in doing so, may just unravel a galaxy far away, there was a man called William Shakespeare, who was able to create dark secret behind a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul, rulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdylegendary industry creator. You may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''[[The Force Doth Awaken'', but here at last we get the actual script, complete with annoyingCon Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] <!-in-differentCoulton -ways-to>|-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurts| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1473669588. And if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the series is so popular we're on to part seven – surely making this over twice as good…jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473669588/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||amazonuk=<amazonuk>159474985X</amazonuk>==[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton]]===}}[[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{newreview{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:General Fiction|author=James Goss and Russell T Davies|title=Doctor WhoGeneral Fiction]], [[: Now We Are Six HundredCategory: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who)Humour|rating=4.5Humour]], [[:Category:Women's Fiction|genre=ChildrenWomen's Rhymes Fiction]] Lex Coulton's debut novel is a story about mistakes, failures, and Verse |summary=Consider the Doctorrelationships. Just how many birthday and Christmas gifts must he have to hand out each yearThe main protagonist, Frances Pilgrim, were he to keep in touch is a sixth form English teacher who has recently fallen out with her best friend Jackson, a work colleague, and is grappling with even half the increasingly eccentric behaviour of his companions? her mother. He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate This relationship is complicated by the life of a Time Lord and fact that of some of his friends and enemiesFrances's father disappeared at sea when she was five years old. As luck would have it, he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to him – sorry, her – would be to pop along to his local Earth[[Falling Short by Lex Coulton|Full Review]] <!-- van LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a shorter timescale, with a shorter lifespan, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the samealign: center;"|[[image:1683690346.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690346/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] |amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1785942719</amazonuk>"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|}}{{newreview|author=Annie Ingram|title=Conversations with Kammie|rating=4[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente]]===|genre=Pets[[image:4star.jpg|summarylink=It was something Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Comic-Cons are a place of a relief wonder and sanctuary for many people, and when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You seeComic book artist Mike Mason arrives at San Diego Comic-Con, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me he's looking for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating both that and sanctuary with humans other fans and not just on a level creators, plus the chance of ''food!''maybe, ''walk!'' or ''play!''just maybe reuniting with his ex. You do require extensive training to become fluentHowever, when his rival is found dead, but most dogs will be perfectly willing Mike is forced to give their time navigate every dark corner of the con in order to teach you clear his name – from cosplay flash mobs and all you have intrusive fans to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well zombie obstacle courses – Mike must prove his innocence and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations, in doing so, may just unravel a dark secret behind a legendary industry creator.[[The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] |amazonuk=<amazonuk!-- Curran -->1785451995</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Charles Harris-|titlestyle= The Breaking of Liam Glass"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:1683690133.jpg|ratinglink=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690133/ref=nosim?tag= 3thebookbag-21]] |genrestyle=Crime"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary= A flawed but reasonably entertaining swipe at modern media. There==[[My Lady's plenty here to like, Choosing by Kitty Curran and plenty not to. But good structure and scramjet pace keep this one flying to the final pageLarissa Zageris]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|amazonuklink=<amazonuk>1908943823</amazonuk>Category:{{{rating}}}{{newreviewStar Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|author= Fred Van Lente|title= Ten Dead ComediansHumour]], [[:Category: A Murder MysteryHistorical Fiction|rating= 4Historical Fiction]]|genre= Humour|summary= Nine comedians You are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise lass of working with Dustin Walkertwenty eight. Plucky, penniless and in Regency era London the race is on to find a comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, the washedsuitable suitor - or else doom yourself to life as an eternal spinster. Along your journey you'll be accompanied by Lady Evangeline Youngblood -up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoea fiesty noble eager to save you from a life alone, the rising female star with and fired by a new stand-up special coming soon; Danterogueish sense for adventure. When it comes to suitors though, who went from being a kid on the streets you'll have to make the hardest working road comic in ultimate decision between witty, pretty and wealthy Sir Benedict Granville, wholesome, rugged and caring Captain Angus MacTaggart, or the business; Olivermad, bad and terrifyingly sexy Lord Garraway Craven. With orphans, werewolves, long lost lovers and ancient Egyptian artifcats along the child-like prop comic who canway, it's clear this isn't get any respect from his peers; Janet, the insult comic who is past her primegoing to be an easy decision... [[My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris|Full Review]] <!-- Jester -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a reputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, the ultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder"|[[image:Jester_Forever.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1510704361?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1510704361]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; and William, whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is "|===[[Forever After: a far cry from his real personality as a posh millionairedark comedy by David Jester]]=== [[image:4star. Of coursejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Paranormal|Paranormal]], [[:Category:Horror|Horror]], all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on [[:Category:Fantasy|Fasntasy]] Michael Holland is a beam of light cocky and brash young man who dies and asks for your help, what gets made the hell else are you going to say?''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594749744</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=S Lynn Scott|title=Elizabethoffer of his lifetime; immortality. We follow Michael, William... a grim reaper and Me|rating=4.5|genre=Humour|summary=Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, his friends Chip (a husband stoner tooth fairy) and Naff (a job. Then comes stoner in the day when ordinariness flies out of the window. It's not records department) as they grapple with their long lives and finding a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I clean surface to sit on in the pantry and the Bard of Avon in her baththeir flat. What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that[[Forever After: a dark comedy by David Jester|Full Review]] <!-- Stibbe -->|amazonuk-| style=<amazonuk>1788037006</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Stibbe_Xmas.jpg|author= E G Rodfordleft|titlelink= The Surgeon's Casehttps: George Kocharyan Mystery 2//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241309824?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241309824]] |ratingstyle= 4"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||genre= Crime |summary=In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired =[[An Almost Perfect Christmas by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuablesNina Stibbe]]=== [[image:4.5star. Bill Galbraithjpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]], [[:Category:Short Stories|Short Stories]] Christmas – the time of traditional trauma. You only have to think about the turkey for that – once upon a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora. According time it was leaving it sat on the downstairs loo to Galbraithdefrost overnight, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the hospitaland if that failed the hair-dryer shoved inside it treatment was your next best bet. George agrees Nowadays it's all having to look into the theft, assuming make sure it will be a relatively easy and straightforward case – little does he know, he's about to enter a world of deceit suitably free-range and dysfunctionorganic – but not too organic that you can go and visit it, and get too friendly with it to want to eat it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178565005X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Toni Jordan|title=Our Tiny, Useless Hearts|rating=5|genre=WomenChristmas, though, is of course also a time of great boons. It's Fiction|summary=As predicted by Caroline cash in hand for a lot of plump people who can hire red suits and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding daybeards, their marriage is over, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, this is definitely not it was always a good weekend godsend for Janice postmen with all the thank-you letters to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split aunties you saw twice a decade that your parents made you write out in long-hand as a child, and as for the awkwardness makers of Meltis Newberry Fruits – well, did they even try and sell them any other time of the girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and over her exyear? [[An Almost Perfect Christmas by Nina Stibbe|Full Review]] <!-- Doescher -->|-husband Alec. She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door?|amazonukstyle=<amazonuk>1760293814</amazonuk>}}{{newreview"width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|author=Colin Taylor[[image:Doescher_Will.jpg|title=The Life of a Scilly Sergeantleft|ratinglink=4https://www.5amazon.co.uk/gp/product/159474985X?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=159474985X]] |genrestyle=Travel"vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"||summary=Meet ==[[William Shakespeare's the Isles of ScillyForce Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher]]=== [[image:4.5star. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the etiquette of their namejpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], their nature and location, etc.) For our more distant readers[[:Category:Humour|Humour]] A long time ago, they're several chunks of granite rock out in the Atlantica galaxy far away, where Cornwall is pointingthere was a man called William Shakespeare, with just 2who was able to create a series of dramatic histories full of machinations most foul,200 permanent residentsrulers most evil and rebellious heroes and heroines most sturdy. TheyYou may or may not have noticed the cinematic version of his original stage play for ''The Force Doth Awaken''re big on tourism, and big on growing flowers but here at last we get the actual script, complete with annoying-in the tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the weather is bad enough -different-ways-to turn any car to a rust bucket within years-before droids anew, returning heroes from elsewhere in his oeuvre, and people keeping it in the family til it hurts. TheyAnd if you need further encouragement, don't forget his audience only demanded three parts of Henry VI – here the series is so popular we're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a police presenceon to part seven – surely making this over twice as good… [[William Shakespeare's the Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars Part the Seventh by Ian Doescher|Full Review]] <!-- Goss -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Goss_600. But there is – at least two working at any one timejpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a welluk/gp/product/1785942719?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785942719]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-known online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work.align: left;"||amazonuk=<amazonuk>178475515X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|title='Twas the Fight Before Christmas[[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Parody|ratingCollection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies]]===3.5 [[image:4.5star.jpg|genrelink=HumourCategory:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=ItChildren's Christmas Eve Rhymes and Mum has arranged everything. All she now has to do is await Verse]], [[:Category:Science Fiction|Science Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Consider the arrival of the relatives Doctor. Just how many birthday and the food shopping delivery. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone Christmas gifts must he have the potential to ruin everything.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472125118</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Ryan North|title=Romeo hand out each year, were he to keep in touch with even half of his companions? He would certainly need a few novelty gifts for some of them, say, for example, whimsical books of verse that pithily encapsulate the life of a Time Lord and/or Juliet|rating=3.5|genre=Humour|summary=For all those who think tragedy plots are too restricted that of some of his friends and prescribed, read onenemies. In these pages you too will see that Romeo had lots of options en route to hitting the bottle. LikewiseAs luck would have it, she could have turned away from her predestined path at no end of junctures. And he has the space in his TARDIS to stock up in advance, so my advice to what result? Wellhim – sorry, happy marriage and her – would be to pop along to his local Earth-based book emporium and get himself ready. And if you're working on a kid called Benshorter timescale, because with a shorter lifespan, and thinking perhaps just one gift season ahead, well my advice is pretty much the leads have just banged people's heads together and stopped the quarrelling, or Death by Tybalt (him) or a long life running an establishment curing murderous women, such as a Lady M (her). same. [[Doctor Who: Now We Are Six Hundred: A Collection of Time Lord Verse (Dr Who) by James Goss and Russell T Davies|Full Review]] <!-- Ingram -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Ingram_Kammie.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785451995?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1785451995]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Pets|Pets]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It was something of a relief when I encountered Annie Ingram and her cocker spaniel Kammie. You see, Annie knows something which has been self-evident to me for a long time: dogs are perfectly capable of communicating with humans and not just on a level of food!, walk! or play!. You do require extensive training to become fluent, but most dogs will be perfectly willing to give their time to teach you and all you have to do is listen. Annie has studied hard: Kammie has trained her well and the pair have allowed us to share some of their conversations. [[Conversations with Kammie by Annie Ingram|Full Review]] <!-- Harris -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Harris_Glass.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1908943823/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris]]=== [[image:3star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Teenager Liam Glass is mugged and stabbed yards from his Camden flat. As the boy lies comatose, desperate journalist Jason Worthington scrabbles for the inside scoop, tired police officer Andy Rockham searches for a missing tape, harried politician Jamila Hasan fights for re-election, distraught mother Katrina Glass waits by her son, and gym-owner Royland simply finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. We follow this host of ensemble characters in a bleak, kaleidoscopic satire of modern media. [[The Breaking of Liam Glass by Charles Harris|Full Review]] <!-- LENTE -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lente_10.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1683690222/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Nine comedians are invited to a remote Caribbean island under the guise of working with Dustin Walker, a comedic legend. Each fits neatly into one of the archetypal comic stereotypes: Steve, the washed-up has-been who has fallen far from his early days; Zoe, the rising female star with a new stand-up special coming soon; Dante, who went from being a kid on the streets to the hardest working road comic in the business; Oliver, the child-like prop comic who can't get any respect from his peers; Janet, the insult comic who is past her prime; TJ, the nightly variety show host with a reputation for harassing his female colleagues and guest acts; Ruby, the ultra-feminist YouTuber and Blogger with a chip on her shoulder; and William, whose redneck character ''Billy the Contractor'' is a far cry from his real personality as a posh millionaire. Of course, all nine agree because ''when God almighty walks down on a beam of light and asks for your help, what the hell else are you going to say?'' [[Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente|Full Review]] <!-- Scott -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Scott_Eliz.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788037006/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Elizabeth, William... and Me by S Lynn Scott]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Ally is an ordinary woman with teenage children, a husband and a job. Then comes the day when ordinariness flies out of the window. It's not a coincidence that it's the same day she finds Queen Elizabeth I in the pantry and the Bard of Avon in her bath. What's she going to do? Well, Elizabeth and Will have their own ideas about that! [[Elizabeth, William... and Me by S Lynn Scott|Full Review]] <!-- Rodford -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Rodford_Surgeon.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178565005X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Crime|Crime]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] In the second instalment of this series, Private Investigator George Kocharyan has been hired by a well-known local man to track down some missing valuables. Bill Galbraith, a world-famous surgeon at Cambridge's Addenbrooke's Hospital who hosts a popular medical television programme, has had his briefcase stolen by his live-in domestic servant, Aurora. According to Galbraith, this briefcase contains confidential notes concerning an important patient of his at the hospital. George agrees to look into the theft, assuming it will be a relatively easy and straightforward case – little does he know, he's about to enter a world of deceit and dysfunction. [[The Surgeon's Case: George Kocharyan Mystery 2 by E G Rodford|Full Review]] <!-- Jordan -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Jordan_Tiny.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1760293814/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Women's Fiction|Women's Fiction]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] As predicted by Caroline and Janice's mother on Caroline and Henry's wedding day, their marriage is over, albeit 15 years and two daughters further along than predicted. Indeed, this is definitely not a good weekend for Janice to be babysitting at Caroline's house. There's the split and the awkwardness of the girls' schoolteacher being the other woman for a start. Then there's that mistaken identity moment involving the neighbours. At least Janice is well adjusted and over her ex-husband Alec. She still dreams of him, yes, but it's so over! Just as well really… guess who's at the door? [[Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan|Full Review]] <!-- Taylor -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Taylor_Scilly.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178475515X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Travel|Travel]], [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] Meet the Isles of Scilly. (I know they should be called that – the author provides a handy guide to the etiquette of their name, their nature and location, etc.) For our more distant readers, they're several chunks of granite rock out in the Atlantic, where Cornwall is pointing, with just 2,200 permanent residents. They're big on tourism, and big on growing flowers in the tropical climate the Gulf Stream bequeaths them – although the weather is bad enough to turn any car to a rust bucket within years. They're so wee, and so idyllic-seeming, especially at night, you can be mistaken for thinking there would be no need for a police presence. But there is – at least two working at any one time. And one of them in recent years has been Colin Taylor, who has done his official duty – alongside maintaining a well-known online existence, which has brought to life all the whimsical comedy of his work. [[The Life of a Scilly Sergeant by Colin Taylor|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_Twas.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472125118/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Humour|Humour]] It's Christmas Eve and Mum has arranged everything. All she now has to do is await the arrival of the relatives and the food shopping delivery. Little does Mum know that those two elements alone have the potential to ruin everything. [['Twas the Fight Before Christmas: A Parody by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0356508536</amazonuk>}}Full Review]]
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===[[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn]]===
Christmas in our house is the time we tend to get on a plane and head to either sun or snow, anywhere that is far, far away from the madness at home, last minute dashes to the shops on Christmas Eve, and food cupboard stockpiles that would imply supermarkets are shutting for a month, nor a mere 36 hours. But I do remember the feeling of Christmas when I was younger, back when it was magical, and back when you knew exactly what the season would bring with carol concerts and school nativities and Christmas parties. This book is an anthology of those moments, and it took me right back to the wonder of Christmas as a child. [[The Virgin Mary's Got Nits by Gervase Phinn|Full Review]]
