Dear Charlie by N.D Gomes #Review @nd_gomes @HQstories

Book description

At sixteen, Sam Macmillan is supposed to be thinking about girls, homework and his upcoming application to music college, not picking up the pieces after the school shooting that his brother Charlie committed.

Yet as Sam desperately tries to hang on to the memories he has of his brother, the media storm surrounding their family threatens to destroy everything. And Sam has to question all he thought he knew about life, death, right and wrong.

 

I decided to read this book after seeing the book advertised on Twitter and I’m so glad I did. As you can imagine a book that deals with a difficult and emotive subject isn’t going to be a light read by any means. The author deals with the subject with sensitivity and doesn’t use the plot to add shock value. Sam should be enjoying the best years of his life, but instead the sixteen-year-old is trying to deal with the fact his older brother Charlie was the perpetrator of a mass school shooting, leaving fourteen people dead before killing himself. I don’t feel I’m giving any spoilers at this point as it’s all in the book description.

If I’m honest I have never really given much thought to the perpetrators family up until now, when these story’s reach the headlines I always find my sympathies lie with the deceased victims families. Dear Charlie concentrates very much on the after mass, (so there are no graphic scenes in case you were wondering). As the reader joins Charlie’s family on their journey the author explores the issues of a family left behind, a family who are judged, ridiculed and hounded by the media, a family so fragmented by events you can’t help wondering if they will ever be a “normal” family again.

You can’t help feeling empathy for Sam as he struggles to come to terms with his brothers heinous crimes, he gets little support from his family and his friends have deserted him, this is a young boy who wants to be accepted by his peers and not treated like a pariah. The authors describe Sam’s feelings and thoughts with such conviction you cannot help but become emotionally involved with his character. I was surprised that the author doesn’t give the reader answers to what drove Charlie to commit such a terrible act, but in not going into great detail about the why’s of Charlie’s crimes the author encourages the reader to see the person behind the crime, a son, a brother, and friend.

Dear Charlie is not fast paced or action filled, so I would imagine this is not a read everyone would enjoy. For me this is a novel that is very much character driven, and one that deals with emotions of very credible characters.Sometimes poignant, sometimes heartbreaking this is a book that will provoke an array of a wide range of emotions. This is a fairly short read but don’t think for one minute it lacks depth it’s very well written and despite this being billed as a YA read I think it’s a book that’s well worth reading whatever your age. I couldn’t say I enjoyed this book due to the subject matter but I did find it an emotive and a thought provoking read.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️out of 5

Paperback: 287 pages

Publisher: HQ; First edition edition (20 Oct. 2016)

Amazon UK   🇬🇧   Amazon US  🇺🇸

**My A-Z Books Tag**

I’ve seen numerous book bloggers use My A-Z Books tag, so I figured I’d take part as well!

Author you’ve read the most books from:

It’s got to be Kimberley chambers I’ve read every book she’s written so if my memory serves me correct that’s 12 books, Peter James is a close second I’ve read everyone of the Dead series featuring Roy Grace so that’s 11 books plus I have his new one Love You Dead to read.

Best Sequel Ever:

Hmmm this is a difficult one but it’s got to be Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl, I loved Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, and I use to read both books to my son when he was growing up.

Currently reading:

The Safe Word by Karen Long, as I’m on the blog tour for it in June

Drink of choice while reading:

More often than not coffee and my husband Andy makes a mean caramel sticky toffee coffee which I’m addicted to, who needs Starbucks?, or if I’m pushing the boat out I might have a Pepsi Max….I’m so rock and roll 😂

E-reader or physical book:

I love both an E-reader is convenient for carrying around and it’s great to get ARCs delivered to your device straightaway, but you can’t beat the smell and feel of a real book (and no I don’t crack the spines!)

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school:

I dated my husband in high school, and we’re still together 36 years later, so I wouldn’t have wanted to date anyone else 💞💕💞💕

Glad you gave this book a chance:

Hot House Flower by Lucinda Riley, as I usually crime/psychological thrillers this book was right out of my comfort zone but I loved it and when I finished it I bought all her books. I love how her books are written and they go between the past and present day, and she weaves such an intricate plot

Hidden Gem book:

Hmmm this is a hard one I would probably say Go Ask Alice by Anon, I read it at school (OMG30 years + ago), it’s about a young girl who starts taking drugs and it’s very sad and has always stuck with me

Important moment in your reading life:

It has to be when I started blogging, when I started I expected a few people to look at my reviews, but it has gone from strength to strength, and I’m still amazed when publishers/authors get in touch with me, asking me if I would like to review their book. I’ve also come across lots of fellow book bloggers who are a very friendly bunch and feel like friends.

Just finished:

Chosen Child by Linda Huber, which I really enjoyed.

Kind of book you won’t read

I’m not a fan of erotica although I did read 50 Shades, and then wondered what all the fuss was about.

Longest book you’ve ever read:

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley at 702, but I get so wrapped up in her books it seems much less

Major book hangover:

The Twighlight series by Stephenie Meyer, I read the books back to back and felt bereft when I finished them

Number of bookcases you own:

NONE… Yes you read that right, at the moment my books are all over the place, in cupboards, the spare bedroom, on my coffee table, but I’m hoping to rectify that soon and get a bookcase, so I can have all my books in one place.

One book you’ve read multiple times:

I don’t reread books as there are so many books I want to read, and there’s not enough time to read them, let alone go back and read a book I’ve read

Preferred place to read:

In my lounge sat in my recliner, I can’t read in bed as I can never get comfy

Quote that inspired you/ Gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

 

Reading regret:

Like a lot of book bloggers and readers it’s got to be spending time reading books that I didn’t enjoy when I could have been reading a book I loved would be a reading regret, and also not having enough time to read the books I want to read.

Series you started and need to finish:

I really can’t think of a series I need to finish, as if I love a book enough to read a series then I tend to binge read the whole series

Three of your all time favourite books:

This is a hard question! I’ve loved so many books that it’s impossible to choose three so I’m afraid I’ll have to skip this question!

Unapologetic fangirl for:

Ohhhh another hard one but I would have to say Kimberley Chambers I absolutely love her books, she has such a unique way of writing that makes her characters come to life, her books are very entertaining and I always learn a few new swear words from them 😂😂

Very excited for this release more than all others:

I’m a huge fan of James Carol and the thrillers featuring former FBI profiler Jefferson Winter, he’s written a standalone thriller under the pseudonym JS Carol for one of my favourite publishers Bookouture . The first of these is Tick Tick Boom, which is being published in July 2016, so I’m really looking forward to reading it

Worst bookish habit:

Spending to much time reading, when I should be doing something else

X marks the spot- start on the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

Criminal Shadows: Inside the Mind of the Serial Killer Paperback – by David Canter

Your latest purchase:

Love You Dead by Peter James
Willow Walk by SJI Holliday
Outside Looking In by Michael Wood
Anything For Her by Jack Jordan

Zzzzz Snatcher book (the book that kept you up way too late):

The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza

I hope you have enjoyed reading my A-Z of books tag and please feel free to leave me a book related comment 

**Guest Post ** Sachael Desires by Melody Winter

 

Book Description

During her ordeal with the Sect, Estelle Bailey dreamt of escaping back into the arms of the sea—and Azariah. But freedom came at a price, and though she’s back with the Sachael who’s stolen her heart, she’s also land-bound until the next full moon. And with the threat of Orontes looming ever larger behind them, Azariah, Estelle, and Michael—her once-captor turned rescuer and friend—are on the run. 

Following Michael’s lead, they seek sanctuary amidst the natural beauty of the Orkney and Shetland Islands until Estelle can complete her next submergence ritual and Azariah can whisk her away to the safety of Saicean. 
​ ​
Secrets, betrayals, and old enemies await them, though, and as events spiral out of control, Azariah makes a decision that puts all their lives at risk, forcing Estelle to face a journey she never wanted to take. With time running out and tempers running high, her only hope to save the man she loves lies in a reconciliation between two kingdoms who despise each other.
Book Two in the Mine Series, Sachael Desires further expands on the intricate underwater world of the Sachaels, and the hostility and isolation of not belonging.

to order a copy 

http://www.reuts.com/books/sachael-desires/

About Melody Winter:
Growing up, Melody Winter showed a natural ability in art, a head for maths, and a tendency to write far too long English essays. Difficult to place in the world when she graduated, she pursued a career in teaching, but eventually ended up working in Finance. Melody is convinced the methodical time she spends working with numbers fuels her desire to drift into dream worlds and write about the illusory characters in her head.
Melody Winter lives in North Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two sons. When not dealing with football, rugby, and a whole plethora of ‘boy’ activities, she will be found scribbling notes for her stories, or preparing for another trip to the beach. With an obsession for anything mythical, Melody revels in reading and writing about such creatures. In fact, if she wasn’t such a terrible swimmer, she’d say she was a mermaid.
Sachael Desires is her second book in the New Adult Romantic Fantasy series – the ‘Mine Series’.

Learn more about Melody Winter on her website http://melodywinter.com,

twitter https://twitter.com/melodywinter

 https://www.facebook.com/melody.winterbooks

Trailer Code:

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