Tell me about the person behind the blog?
I am an eclectic mix of the things that life has to offer. I run, ride, bake, have 150,032 ish pets and not surprisingly I love animals. I live with my husband in the depths of rural Lincolnshire.. I make everything from scratch food wise and yes, 150,000 of the pets are bees so we get our own honey occasionally. I also volunteer for a hen rescue organisation doing both rescues and administration. (www.fsfh.org.uk) . I don’t believe that there is such a thing as being bored! I enjoy keeping fit and active and then enjoying the baking afterwards. I have read since I could walk I think. I started reading again in earnest after being diagnosed with PTSD. I needed something to take my mind away to another place and try and relax. Reading fitted this perfectly.
When did you start blogging and why?
I had a Facebook blog for a couple of years before I was told “that doesn’t count” (Really?) and so started my “proper” blog in May of last year. I am thrilled beyond words that it gets so many “hits”
(Am I over using inverted comma’s ? If so- sorry). I like to think that I review with honesty and to keep things on a simple level. Long winded, wordy tomes don;t draw me in so I try not to write them.
What are your proudest moments or achievements to date as a blogger?
My proudest moments as a blogger: I think this is perhaps manyfold. I love the thought that writing a review and leaving a few sentences on Amazon etc can make an authors day. When they come back and say how much they appreciate it- It makes me smile and I am glad that I have been able to help albeit in a very small way. When I get asked to review books randomly, again I feel proud that they are asking me. I am now on the list of a major publisher and getting books from them gives me that buzz.. To be approved by an author or publisher is wonderful. I like to think of reviewing as paying it back a little. If I can make someone smile once a day then that makes me smile.
If you had to breakdown the components of your ideal perfect book what would they be?
My perfect book- Ooh. Where do I start? To get 5* from me it has to draw me in quickly, have a good plot and a good ending. To earn my special 5** it has to have that “je ne sais quoi” . That certain something extra- maybe to make me think about life, or maybe has a message within its pages. Not too long and not too short. Something that I don’t want to put down and that maybe, even makes me slightly uneasy to read it, or even so comfortable that I don;t want it to end.Wrapped up in a good book is my favourite place.
What is your favourite genre to read?
My favourite genre is psychological thrillers. This is fairly new to me and I was cautious to begin with as I didn’t want anything to give me nightmares. Having read more and more of them I now know differently- they are not horror novels!
What 3 books would you recommend and why?
My three books to recommend. (I could have made this many, many more- Three was really hard to choose)
1. The Theseus Paradox- David Videcette. Never before had I read a book that not only did I think about long afterwards but where truth ended and fiction started were very blurred edges. Probably the book I have recommended the most. (Husband is currently reading it after hearing me mention it soooooo many times)
2. The One- John Marrs. Again one that stayed with me long after reading it. A very clever premise and incredibly well written.
3. The Breakdown- B.A Paris. Another one that has stayed with me. I couldn’t put it down. When you can remember a book months after reading it (when you read 20-30 a month) it says something
Finally, tell me more about your blog and why we should subscribe
My blog.: Hmmm.. well, its’s Nicki’s book blog ( https://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk) and my strap line is ” The books I read reviewed with honesty. I read many genres and these are my thoughts pure and simple”
I enjoy a variety of different genres from Chicklit and Mystery through to Crime and of course Psychological thrillers. I don’t do horror or out and out romance or anything along those lines. If a book blurb interests me then of course I will give it a go whatever genre (other than horror or erotica) . I try to keep an open mind. If you want variety and interesting reads then my blog is one I would like to think you may follow.
Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoy some of the books that I have read.
