Galaxy Quick Reads 2016

Last year I reviewed some fabulous quick read books with a little Galaxy bar to help me along!

So when I received an email asking if I would like to be sent this years Galaxy Quick Reads, of course I said yes.

These books are perfect for mums like me who barely get a minute to themselves, but love reading.

I am one of those that gets so involved in a book, hours could pass and I wouldn’t notice, which is obviously not practical whilst looking after seven children and working!

There are six titles, I was sent five of them and a lovely bar of Galaxy to enjoy whilst reading, unfortunately I didn’t hide it well enough and the children all sat there with puppy dog eyes and I caved and let them eat it!

The first one I chose to read was

Too Good To be True – When young teacher Anna Blackwell is found dead in her home, the police think her death was suicide or a tragic accident. After all, Stonebridge is a quiet country village in the Scottish Borders, where murders just don’t happen. But Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez soon arrives from far-away Shetland when his ex-wife, Sarah, asks him to look into the case. The local gossips are saying that her new husband, Tom, was having an affair with Anna. Could Tom have been involved with her death? Sarah refuses to believe it – but needs proof. Anna had been a teacher. She must have loved kids. Would she kill herself knowing there was nobody to look after her daughter? She had seemed happier than ever before she died. And to Perez, this suggests not suicide, but murder …

I was amazed that such a good story could be condensed down into just a few short chapters, I can’t go into much detail as it would spoil them!

A Baby At The Beach Café – Evie loves running her beach cafe in Cornwall but with a baby on the way, she’s been told to put her feet up. Let someone else take over? Not likely. Helen’s come to Cornwall to escape the stress of city living. She hopes a seaside life will be the answer to all her dreams. When she sees a job advertised at the cafe it sounds perfect. But the two women clash and sparks fly…and then events take a dramatic turn. Can the pair of them put aside their differences in a crisis?

I loved this story and it did make me cry a little…

The Double Clue and other Hercule Poirot Stories – A perfect introduction to Agatha Christie – four of the best Hercule Poirot stories, chosen for their readability and sense of adventure. A man is found shot through the head in a locked room. A wealthy banker vanishes while posting a letter. A thief disappears with a haul of rubies and emeralds. And, in the golden sands of Egypt, the men who discovered an ancient tomb are dying one by one …Hercule Poirot, the fussy Belgian detective with the egg-shaped head and immaculate moustache, solved some of the world’s most puzzling crimes.

Amazing, I have never read any Agatha Christie, but I couldn’t believe that an entire mystery could be solved within a few pages, these were perfect for reading in an advert break, whilst watching a film, never one to waste a minute!

I still have two more to read, but I have a couple of evenings to myself next week, so I anticipate they will feature somewhere…

On The Rock – This is the call he is always ready for. They’ve had word of a planned attack. That’s why he’s back here, opposite some suit who’s trying to tell him what he needs to do. But he knows exactly what’s required. Four men. Plain clothes. Eyes peeled. Three targets. Two cases. One car. Gibraltar isn’t an ideal location. Too many people. Too many blind alleys. But then again, he’s not the terrorist. Who knows what goes through their minds? Well, he will soon. If everything goes to plan.

The Anniversary – (Ten Stories) A young woman with memories of D-Day and a life both dangerous and exciting A father and son with a shared birthday and deeply held secrets A single mum taxi driver, whose envy for the rich couple on their way to the Ritz soon changes The unlikely marriage, born in the depths of war The Tudor wife receives the ghostly message, ‘Never marry a dangerous man’ An agoraphobic widower, unable to visit his wife’s grave The Elvis impersonator who finds hope for a new romance with Marilyn Monroe The ex soldiers burdened with the consequences of one bad decision The long-held memories of a wartime tragedy The anniversary supper which changed the world…THE ANNIVERSARY – a collection of the very best short fiction around.

The Missing Book is

I am Malala – The Girl Who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban – *Winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize* When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, one girl fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, 9 October 2012, she almost paid the ultimate price when she was shot in the head at point-blank range. Malala Yousafzai’s extraordinary journey has taken her from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations. She has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and is the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. I Am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.

AND the most amazing thing about them all is that they are only £1 each, how cool is that. They are all available from today (4th February 2016).

Galaxy Quick Reads are bite-sized books written by best-selling authors which cost only £1. They are available from bookshops, supermarkets and online or can be borrowed from libraries across the country. They are also available as eBooks across all major eBook platforms.

Have you read any of these, do you have a favourite ?

 

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