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The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald @Christinamac79 @HQstories #TheNightOliviaFell #BookReview
It is the most gripping suspense mystery you'll read this year. They said it was an accident.
Her mother knows they're lying. But the truth comes with a price... IT'S EVERY PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE. Abi Knight is startled awake in the middle of the night to a ringing phone and devastating news - her teenage daughter, Olivia, has been in a terrible accident. Abi is told that Olivia slipped and fell from a bridge into the icy water below, and now she lies silent, dependent on life support. But then Abi sees the angry bruises around Olivia's wrists and learns that her sensible daughter is in fact three months pregnant . . . WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT IF THEY TOLD YOU IT WAS AN ACCIDENT?
The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald was published in paperback by HQ in March this year. My thanks to the author and publisher who sent my copy for review.
The story begins with a middle of the night phone call. Just the thought of the phone ringing, late at night is enough to scare the wits out of most of us.
For Abi, it's the beginning of her nightmare. The worst night of her life and the most terrible news to listen to. She's told that her daughter Olivia has had an accident and is in hospital. Abi is a single mother who has loved, adored and protected Olivia for her entire life. Olivia is bright and sporty and whilst she often grumbles about her mother's over protectiveness, she knows that she is loved.
Abi's devastation continues when she learns that Olivia is officially brain dead; there is nothing that the medics can do for her. However, according to state law, they are required to keep her alive via machines as Olivia is pregnant. Abi is shocked beyond belief, she really thought she knew everything about her daughter.
As far as the police are concerned this was a tragic accident and Olivia fell from a bridge. Abi doesn't believe them, especially when she spots a ring of bruises
This clever author has structured her novel so very well. The reader is introduced to Abi and then to Olivia as we hear her story in her own words and this certainly gives two sides to the story. It's an interesting concept and is skilfully done, allowing the reader to get a real insight into Olivia's character, and her actions right up until that fateful moment on the bridge.
The Night Olivia Fell packs a massive emotional punch at times, this is not just a psychological thriller, or a mystery. It is also an in-depth and probing look at the mother/daughter relationship. Abi's pain is beautifully and sometimes painfully portrayed, especially as she realises that the birth of a grandchild will mean that Olivia will truly be gone forever.
Clever and gripping. This is a fine debut from a talented author and I will look forward to her next book with great anticipation.
Christina McDonald is the USA Today bestselling author of The Night Olivia Fell, which has been optioned for television by a major Hollywood studio.
Her writing has been featured in The Sunday Times, Dublin, USAToday.com, and Expedia. Originally from Seattle, WA, she has an MA in Journalism from the National University of Ireland Galway, and now lives in London, England with her husband, two sons, and their dog, Tango.
www.christina-mcdonald.com
Twitter @Christinamac79
Author Page on Facebook
Instagram @christinamac79
I Dare You by Sam Carrington @sam_carrington1 BLOG TOUR @AvonBooksUK #IDareYou #BookReview
Mapledon, 1989
Two little girls were out playing a game of dares. Only one returned home.
The ten-year-old told police what she saw: village loner Bill 'Creepy' Cawley dragged her friend into his truck and disappeared.
No body was found, but her testimony sent Cawley to prison for murder. An open and shut case, the right man behind bars.
The village could sleep safe once again.
Anna thought she had left Mapledon and her nightmares behind but a distraught phone call brings her back to face her past.
30 years ago, someone lied. 30 years ago, the man convicted wasn't the only guilty party.
Now he's out of prison and looking for revenge. The question is, who will he start with?
I Dare You by Sam Carrington was published in paperback by Avon on 12 December 2019. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review and who invited me to take part on this Blog Tour
I have been a fan of Sam Carrington's books ever since she published her debut; Saving Sophie, in August 2016. I've read every one of her books and reviewed them all here on Random Things. I've always enjoyed her intelligent writing and her perfectly created characters.
I can safely say that I Dare You is her very best book yet. It's a story that grabs the reader and drags them into the story with a very tense prologue set in 1989.
Chapter One introduces us to Anna, in 2019 and the novel continues in this vein. Short, snappy and electrifying chapters, alternating between 1989 and 2019, and narrated in the main, by Anna and Lizzie; two complex yet compelling female characters who you never quite trust to tell the truth.
Thirty years ago, when the prologue is set, the children of Mapledon village found their greatest excitement by playing Knock Knock Ginger; knocking on doors and then running away. Their main target was 'Creepy' Billy Cawley; a young widower, father of a small girl himself, and an outsider. The only reason that he's the target of those kids is because they've listened to the adults around them. Mapledon is one of those small, insular villages, where anyone who cannot trace their village heritage for hundreds of years is treated with suspicion.
When Jonie; ten-years-old and one of the keenest players of Knock Knock Ginger disappears, it is her friend's witness statement that sees Billy Cawley imprisoned. Jonie's body was never found.
Billy Cawley has served his sentence and is now a free man. There are many people in Mapledon who would prefer that he was never talked of, and will do their very best to keep long-held secrets.
Anna and Lizzie have their own parts to play out. Both of them left Mapledon many years ago, but both of them are drawn back to their childhood homes, but for very different reasons.
The author excels in character building, and in I Dare You, the village of Mapledon is a character too. Her depiction of this small, tight-knit village, populated by generations of the same families, with the same secrets, nursing the same fears is brilliantly done. It's certainly not a place that I'd like to visit; with a village shop full of gossip and scandal, and an assortment of, mainly female characters who wouldn't be out of place in the most sordid of soap opera scenes.
I really enjoyed the short chapters, nipping back and forth, slowly drip feeding the reader with clues, and it has to be said; a few red herrings along the way too. It's extremely cleverly constructed and throws up question after surprise after reveal, all the way through.
This is an intense, clever and engrossing psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages frantically throughout. Atmospheric with flawed characters that really do chill.
Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat.
She has three adult children and a new grandson!
She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse.
Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator.
Her experiences within this field inspired her writing.
She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. SAVING SOPHIE, her debut psychological thriller, published in September 2016. It became a Kindle eBook bestseller, with the paperback hitting The Bookseller Heatseeker chart at #8.
Sam was named an Amazon Rising Star of 2016.
Her second psychological thriller, BAD SISTER, published in 2017 followed by ONE LITTLE LIE in July 2018. THE MISSING WIFE was published in June 2019 and I DARE YOU on 12th December 2019.
www.samcarrington.blogspot.com
Twitter @sam_carrington1
Expectation by Anna Hope @Anna_Hope @DoubledayUK #ExpectationBook @TransworldBooks #BookReview
Hannah, Cate and Lissa are young, vibrant and inseparable. Living on the edge of a common in East London, their shared world is ablaze with art and activism, romance and revelry – and the promise of everything to come. They are electric. They are the best of friends.
Ten years on, they are not where they hoped to be. Amidst flailing careers and faltering marriages, each hungers for what the others have. And each wrestles with the same question: what does it take to lead a meaningful life?
The most razor-sharp and heartbreaking novel of the year, EXPECTATION is a novel about finding your way: as a mother, a daughter, a wife, a rebel.
Expectation by Anna Hope was published on 11 July 2019 by Doubleday/Transworld. The paperback will be released in April 2020. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
I absolutely adored both of Anna Hope's previous novels; Wake (2015) and The Ballroom (2016). Both of those are historical fiction and I was intrigued to find out how she would deal with a more contemporary setting in Expectation.
She deals with it very well. Expectation is the proof that Hope is one of our finest and most adaptable novelists at the moment. Her ability to create characters who worm their way into the reader's brain and are difficult to shake off is incredible.
"Good God, we got out there and we changed the world for you. For our daughters. And what have you done with it?"
These words were spoken to Lissa, one of the novel's main characters, by her mother, and it's a theme and question that runs right through this story.
The title 'Expectation' is perfect for the story of three friends; Lissa, Hannah and Cate and the reader accompanies them through the thirty or so years of that friendship. Beginning as they prepare to graduate from University, as they lead a carefree life, living together in a London house and continuing throughout their lives; incorporating careers, relationships, children and always expectation.
Anna Hope pinpoints the exact things that concern women in the twenty-first century. Her characters are flawed and often make disappointing decisions, but they are so recognisable. Their hopes, their dreams, and their expectations never quite leave them, despite the disappointments and trauma that each of them have to bear throughout the story.
The author deals with the expectation of becoming a mother, and deals with it with honesty and in vivid detail. The reader sees how this expectation and the results of that can shape lives, and alter friendships. As Cate struggles with sleep deprivation and an interfering mother-in-law and the changing relationship between her and partner, she also knows that by becoming a new mother, her friendship with Hannah has altered. Hannah, despite her successful career and beautiful home wants nothing more than to be a mother. Endless rounds of IVF and the constant despair of this have fractured her relationship with Cate and seems to be destroying her own marriage too. Those expectations again, and the hopeless reality that blur them are intelligently described.
Finally, we learn of Lissa's expectations and how they've shaped what she's become, and how the expectation of her own mother, as in the line at the top of this review has left a searing scar upon her.
Most women will see something of themselves, their friends and possibly their mothers in these characters. It is an exploration of hope, a tender but often brutal depiction of friendship and most of all, a beautifully written novel.
There can be nothing more devastating than the failure of a friendship, but there is also nothing quite like that feeling of having your 'tribe'; those friends who become our therapists, who share our secrets and our joys, and most of all, help us to manage our own expectations.
This is a stunning novel, written with empathy and honesty. I adore it.
Anna's powerful first novel, Wake, sold to Transworld Publishers in a seven-way auction.
Set over the course of five days in 1920, Wake weaves the stories of three women around the journey of the Unknown Soldier, from its excavation in Northern France to Armistice Day at Westminster Abbey.
US rights were pre-empted by Random House.
The book was published in Doubleday hardback on 16th January 2014.
Wake has now been sold in 17 foreign territories.
Anna's second novel, The Ballroom, was published in January 2016 and was selected for Richard and Judy's Autumn promotion.
Her third novel Expectation, also with Doubleday, was published in July 2019.
Website www.annahope.uk
Twitter @Anna_Hope
Amazing Grace by Kim Nash @KimTheBookworm @HeraBooks #AmazingGrace #BookReview
Grace thought she had it all. Living in the beautiful village of Little Ollington, along with head teacher husband Mark and gorgeous son, Archie, she devoted herself to being the perfect mum and the perfect wife, her little family giving her everything she ever wanted.
Until that fateful day when she walked in on Mark kissing his secretary - and her perfect life fell apart.
Now she's a single mum to Archie, trying to find her way in life and keep things together for his sake. Saturday nights consist of a Chinese takeaway eaten in front of the TV clad in greying pyjamas, and she can't remember the last time she had a kiss from anyone aside from her dog, Becks…
Grace's life needs a shake up – fast. So when gorgeous gardener Vinnie turns up on her doorstep, his twinkling eyes suggesting that he might be interested in more than just her conifers, she might just have found the answer to her prayers. But as Grace falls deeper for Vinnie, ten-year-old Archie fears that his mum finding love means she'll never reconcile with the dad he loves.
So when ex-husband Mark begs her for another chance, telling her he's changed from the man that broke her heart, Grace finds herself with an impossible dilemma. Should she take back Mark and reunite the family that Archie loves? Or risk it all for a new chance of happiness?
A funny, feel good romance about finding your own path and changing your life for the better – readers of Cathy Bramley, Jill Mansell and Josie Silver will love this uplifting read.
Amazing Grace by Kim Nash was published digitally by Hera Books in April 2019. Now, I don't usually read digitally; I don't own an e-reader. However, I really wanted to read this debut by fellow blogger Kim Nash, so downloaded the Kindle app to my phone and bought it.
It has taken me a while, and that is nothing at all to do with the book, but purely down to my inability to read quickly on that damn app! Maybe it's time to buy a Kindle ...... shrieks with horror!!
Anyway, back to the book. Oh my days! I am so so glad that I read this. I loved it and the writing is so accomplished. It's perfectly structured, with a good dash of laugh-out-loud humour, combined with deeper and more emotional issues; the reader moves from tears of laughter, to tears of sadness throughout the book.
Lead character Grace is awesome. I'd so love to have her in my life. She's a good, kind woman who is devoted to her young son Archie. She's had it rough though, since the day that she caught her husband Mark smooching with his secretary. All her dreams and all her beliefs about their perfectly happy and contented life crashed down around her.
She's got through though and her and Archie are a great team. Does she need a new love interest? Well, her friend Monica certainly thinks so and her input creates some hilarious scenes of on-line dating exploits. I snorted with laughter.
Enter Vinnie. Oh, Vinnie .... I think I'm in love with him myself. He's everything that is perfect for Grace and he's pretty interested in her too. Archie however, is not so sure. He wants nothing more than for his Mum and Dad to get back together, and when Mark coming begging to Grace, and asks her to take him back; she's faced with a big, big decision. What to do?
These characters enter your heart and stay there. They are created so wonderfully; from odious Mark to delicious Vinnie. Archie is an absolute treat; his little boy ways combined with his utter devotion and loyalty to Grace is beautifully and realistically presented.
The author made me cry when she incorporates Grace's mother into the story. The feelings of loss and grief are palpable and I know for a fact that these scenes were written from the heart. Just beautiful.
Amazing Grace is a wonderful read. Kim Nash is a talented author and a welcome newbie to this genre, her writing reminds me of Jill Mansell's ... and she's one of my favourites.
Kim Nash is an author of feel-good, heart-warming, romantic comedies.
She lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk.
Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.
When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.
Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019.
Escape to Giddywell Grange is Kim's second novel and was published on September 18th 2019.
You can read Kim's Blog here: www.kimthebookworm.co.uk
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases.
https://www.kimthebookworm.co.uk/
Connect with Kim on Social Media here:
Twitter: (@KimTheBookworm) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimTheBookWorm/
Instagram: @Kim_the_bookworm
Another Planet by Tracey Thorn @tracey_thorn @canongatebooks @EmmaFinnigan #AnotherPlanet #BookReview
In a 1970s commuter town, Tracey Thorn's teenage life was forged from what failed to happen. Her diaries were packed with entries about not buying things, not going to the disco, the school coach not arriving.
Before she became an acclaimed musician and writer, Tracey Thorn was a typical teenager: bored and cynical, despairing of her aspirational parents. Her only comfort came from house parties, Meaningful Conversations and the female pop icons who hinted at a new kind of living.
Returning more than three decades later to Brookmans Park, scene of her childhood, Thorn takes us beyond the bus shelters and pub car parks, the utopian cul-de-sacs, the train to Potters Bar and the weekly discos, to the parents who wanted so much for their children, the children who wanted none of it. With endearing wit and great insight, Thorn reconsiders the Green Belt post-war dream so many artists have mocked, and yet so many artists have come from.
Another Planet by Tracey Thorn was published by Canongate Books in hardback in February this year. The paperback will be released in February 2020.
My thanks to Emma Finnigan, PR, who sent my copy for review.
I've been a fan of Tracey Thorn for many years, we are a similar age, I love her music, and I adore her writing. I was introduced to her at the Costa Book Awards earlier this year, and admit to coming over all fan-girl, and just shaking her hand and mumbling incoherently!
A few years ago I read and reviewed her book Naked At The Albert Hall, I really enjoyed it. I knew that Another Planet was going to be a treat, and it is, a huge huge treat. I loved it.
I step off the train
I'm walking down your street again
And past your door, but you don't live there anymore
It's years since you've been there
Now you've disappeared somewhere, like outer space
You've found some better place
These are the lyrics from the opening verse of 'Missing' by Everything But The Girl; probably Tracey Thorn's biggest and most recognisable hit single.
I wonder if Another Planet was inspired by this song? I wonder if she was thinking about writing this memoir before she wrote the song? It doesn't matter though, because both the song, and the book are incredible.
Tracey Thorn grew up in the 1970s in rural Hertfordshire; a place called Brookman's Park; a place where nothing happened, every single day. I too grew up in a quiet village, albeit in Nottinghamshire, but nothing happened there either. Like Tracey, the highlight of our week was to take the bus to the nearby town and see what we could buy.
We were often disappointed. As was Tracey.
Another Planet is so familiar to anyone who spent their formative years in a village that offered little excitement. As I was reading, I nodded in agreement at every page. As she talks about the television shows and recounts entries from her diary, it really could have been me, and my friends.
As Tracey Thorn re-visits the streets of her youth, she includes snatches from the diary that she religiously filled in during those years. These entries are both funny and poignant, and tell of a girl who wanted so much more, but wasn't quite sure what it was that would fulfil her.
There is such a lot of details of things that didn't happen for Tracey. The things she didn't buy, the nights out that she didn't attend; fairly typical of a teenage girl; we all wanted so much more.
This is a warm and witty, and very honest account of teenage angst and boredom. I loved every word, she's an incredibly talented author, but we knew that didn't we? Those song lyrics!
Touching, thoughtful and so familiar. Made me love her even more
The youngest of three children,Thorn was born in Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. She grew up in Hatfield and studied English at the University of Hull, where she graduated in 1984 with First Class Honours. She later took an MA degree at Birkbeck College, University of London.
After 27 years as a couple, Thorn and the other half of Everything But The Girl, Ben Watt, married in 2008 at Chelsea Register Office. They live in Hampstead, North London. The couple have twin girls, Jean and Alfie, born in 1998, and a son, Blake, born in 2001.
Website : www.traceythorn.com
Twitter : @tracey_thorn
After The End by Clare Mackintosh @claremackint0sh @BooksSphere #AfterTheEnd #BookReview
Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know. They're best friends, lovers—unshakable. But then their son gets sick and the doctors put the question of his survival into their hands. For the first time, Max and Pip can't agree. They each want a different future for their son.
What if they could have both?
A gripping and propulsive exploration of love, marriage, parenthood, and the road not taken, After the End brings one unforgettable family from unimaginable loss to a surprising, satisfying, and redemptive ending and the life they are fated to find. With the emotional power of Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper, Mackintosh helps us to see that sometimes the end is just another beginning.
After The End by Clare Mackintosh was published by Sphere in hardback on 25 June 2019, the paperback will be released on 14 May 2020. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
I read After The End whilst on holiday in Corfu back in September. It's an absolutely beautiful book, it's unlike her previous books which were all psychological thriller; this is a story of love, family and hope.
After The End is a book of two halves. The prologue takes place in a courtroom; just a few paragraphs that set the scene for what was one of the most difficult and heart wrenching stories I've read for a long time.
The reader gets to know Max and Pip who are head over heels in love; a strong and determined couple who are the proud parents of young Dylan.
However, tragedy comes calling and Dylan is diagnosed with cancer. During an operation he suffers brain damage. It's serious; possibly life limiting and will leave him unable to do anything for himself.
However, there are options. There are medics in the States who promise that they can treat Dylan; it's risky and pioneering and there's little evidence to back up their claims, but for these traumatised parents it certainly is an option.
After The End has an unusual structure; part two leads the reader down two very separate paths and poses that question; what would I do? The author has quite obviously invested a lot of emotion into this story and it's not a secret that she has been through a similar situation in real life. It is her experience that adds so much depth to this book; the reader really believes, although it's so hard to judge either of the parents.
Max, Pip and Doctor Leila are the lead characters in the novel, and each one has a strong, believable voice. The supporting cast of characters, especially the other parents in the hospital are especially well created too, and the fraught, yet strong friendships that are established are perfect.
This is a difficult review to write as I don't want to give too much away, about either the plot, or the ending. I can say that is so very tender, yet deals with one of the most heart-breaking issues that any parent can ever experience.
A story that is both life-affirming and hopeful yet will pull on every one of your heartstrings.
Passionately written with an empathy and understanding that is heartbreaking in its reality.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/20/my-new-novel-allowed-me-to-grieve-years-after-losing-my-baby-boy
With over 2 million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015.
It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016.
Both Clare's second and third novels, I See You and Let Me Lie, were number one Sunday Times bestsellers.
All three of her books were selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club, and together have been translated into over thirty-five languages.
Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies. She lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children.
For more information visit Clare's website www.claremackintosh.com or find her at www.facebook.com/ClareMackWrites or on Twitter @ClareMackint0sh #ILetYouGo #ISeeYou #LetMeLie #AftertheEnd
The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey @Iona_Grey @simonschusteruk @TeamBATC #TheGlitteringHour #BookReview
1925. The war is over and a new generation is coming of age, keen to put the trauma of the previous one behind them.
Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing whose life is dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure; to parties and drinking and staying just the right side of scandal. Lawrence Weston is a struggling artist, desperate to escape the poverty of his upbringing and make something of himself. When their worlds collide one summer night, neither can resist the thrill of the forbidden, the lure of a love affair that they know cannot possibly last.
But there is a dark side to pleasure and a price to be paid for breaking the rules. By the end of that summer everything has changed.
A decade later, nine year old Alice is staying at Blackwood Hall with her distant grandparents, piecing together clues from her mother's letters to discover the secrets of the past, the truth about the present, and hope for the future.
The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey was published by Simon & Schuster in hardback on 30 May 2019. The paperback was published on 17 October.
My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review
This review was originally published in the Daily Express in November 2019
This wonderfully written, evocative novel sweeps the reader back to the 1920s; the time of the Bright Young Things. The young, rich and reckless who devote their lives to pleasure.
Selina Lennox is one of the brightest of them. She comes from a well-known, wealthy family who disapprove of her antics. The regular columns in the newspapers; the photographs of her and her friends attending glittering parties and causing scandal along the way.
Lawrence Weston come from the other side of the tracks. He's a struggling artist from a poor family, but finds himself on the fringes of the London social scene. When he and Selina meet unexpectedly one evening, this is the start of a long and tragic love affair that is doomed from the beginning.
Ten years later, young Alice has been sent to stay at Blackwood Manor; the family home of Selina's family. She's scared and neglected by her distant grandparents, and it's only the intermittent letters that she receives from her mother that give her any joy in life.
This is an epic story of love and loss set amongst the glamour and glitz of 1920s London. The author's ability to bring to life her characters is truly outstanding. Whilst on the surface, the life of the Bright Young Things appears to one of fun and privilege, the author cleverly incorporates the darker elements and the long-term effects of the Great War, giving the story great depth and emotion.
A beautiful love story; tender and captivating. A real treat for the reader.
Iona Grey has a degree in English Literature and Language from Manchester University, an obsession with history and an enduring fascination with the lives of women in the twentieth century.
She lives in rural Cheshire with her husband and three daughters.
Twitter @Iona_Grey
Instagram @ionagrey
The Book Collector by Alice Thompson @saltpublishing #TheBookCollector #IndiePublisher #BookReview
In Edwardian England, Violet has a fairy tale existence: loving husband, beautiful baby son and luxurious home. She wants for nothing. But soon after the birth of her baby the idyll begins to disintegrate. Violet becomes obsessed by a book of fairy tales her husband has locked away in a safe. Paranoid hallucinations begin to haunt her and she starts to question her sanity. Meanwhile, vulnerable young women are starting to disappear from the nearby asylum. Soon Violet herself is interned in the asylum for treatment only to discover, on coming out, that her husband has hired a nanny while she has been away, the beautiful, enigmatic Clara. The brutality of the asylum is nothing compared to the horrors that now lie in wait.
The Book Collector by Alice Thompson was published in paperback by Salt on 5 November 2015.
A few months ago, I decided that I would buy at least one book per month from an Independent Publisher. The Book Collector was my first purchase.
This is a slim novel at just under 180 pages. However, I didn't find it a 'quick' read at all; it's a story to savour with characters who the reader would like to know more about and a twisty plot that conjures up a great dose of gothic horror.
It's not a horror story, but it is filled with horror after horror. The story is seen through the eyes of Violet, and it's never quite clear how much of her tale is real, or imagined. Violet is one of the most unusual and compelling narrators that I've read for a long time, I questioned her and her actions throughout the story, but also backed her and wanted her to rise ceremoniously over her strange husband and their peculiar Nanny, Clara.
Violet was young and quite innocent when she met and married Lord Archie Murray. He's older and his first wife Rose and their young child died, it's clear to the reader that Archie sees Violet as his wife's replacement, as he mutters, on their first meeting; 'Rose, Rose. By any other name.'
We meet Violet properly as she waits at home for Archie to return. They now have a small son, Felix and Violet feels happy, but is not content. She is curious about the deceased Rose and discovers a book of fairy-tales in Archie's safe, that is dedicated to the dead woman.
This seems to be a turning point for Violet and she quickly descends into what appears to be madness and Archie is quick to have her committed to the nearby lunatic asylum for treatment. Meanwhile female patients from the asylum are disappearing, with bodies of some discovered nearby.
This is a creepy story, with more than a hint of darkness and suspicion. The author cleverly leaves most of Violet and Archie's back stories blank, giving them both an air of mystery that pervades the story. There's also Nanny Clara; a wonderfully drawn character who again we know little about but whose presence on the pages is perfectly done.
A chillingly haunting story from a talented author. I will certainly be reading more from Alice Thompson in the future.
Alice Thompson was born and brought up in Edinburgh.
She was the former keyboard player with post-punk eighties band, The Woodentops and joint winner with Graham Swift of The James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction for her first novel, Justine.
Her second novel, Pandora's Box, was shortlisted for The Stakis Prize for Scottish Writer of the Year.
Her other novels are Pharos, The Falconer and most recently Burnt Island.
Alice is a past winner of a Creative Scotland Award.
She is now lecturer in Creative Writing at Edinburgh University.
Half A World Away by Mike Gayle @mikegayle @HodderBooks #HalfAWorldAway #BookReview
Strangers living worlds apart.
Strangers with nothing in common.
But it wasn't always that way...
Kerry Hayes is a single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never hope to afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot ever forget her past.
Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a child, Noah always looks forward, never back.
When Kerry reaches out to the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will have life-changing consequences for them both.
By turns funny and moving, Half a World Away is a story that will stay with you long after you read its powerfully emotional, heartbreaking final page.
Half A World Away by Mike Gayle was published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton on 13 June 2019, the paperback will be published on 20 February 2020.
My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
This review was originally published in the Daily Express, Books on Friday feature in the summer
Kerry Hayes is a cleaner, lives on a tough London housing estate, is a single mum to ten year old Kian who is her whole world, and was brought up in care from the age of ten.
Noah Martineau is a barrister, lives in Primrose Hill with his wife and daughter, and was adopted by a wealthy white couple when he was age two.
Kerry will never forget her past, whilst Noah chooses never to remember.
Every year, Kerry has written a letter to the younger brother who she adored; who she was separated from when they were removed from their mother Mary.
Kerry has never received a response to her letters, but this year she intends to find her brother, and when they do finally meet, their lives will change forever.
This is, at times, a very emotionally challenging read. Mike Gayle has an incredible talent for creating huge and totally realistic characters who the reader will totally invest in.
Narrated alternately by Kerry and Noah, the author seamlessly weaves all of the detail of their lives, both past and present with such flair.
The author writes with wit and humour; some scenes are laugh out loud funny, but he also deals with some serious and heart wrenching issues that will make the reader reach for the tissues.
The story touches on race, social class, the care system and terminal illness and is accomplished sensitive and powerful.
A truly beautiful story about the power of love, and family. Mike Gayle's best book to date.
Mike Gayle was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology Mike moved to London with ambitions of becoming a music journalist. This didn't happen however and following a slight detour in his five-year plan he ended up as an agony uncle for teenage girls' magazine Bliss before becoming Features Editor on the now much missed Just Seventeen. Since those early days Mike has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Cosmopolitan.
Mike became a full time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by The Independent as 'Full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations,' and by The Times as 'A funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic.'
To date Mike is the author of twelve novels including Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty and Wish You Were Here. His books have been translated into over thirty languages.
After stints in Manchester and London Mike now lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids, two sheds and a rabbit.
Website : www.mikegayle.co.uk
Twitter @mikegayle
Instagram @mikegaylethenovelist
Poetry For Christmas by Orna Ross @OrnaRoss BLOG TOUR #RandomThingsTours #PoetryForChristmas
Whether you're marking the Christian Christmas, the Chinese Dongzhi, the Jewish Hannukah, the Hindi Makaraa Sankrānti, the Irish Meán Geimhridh, or any other mid-winter festival, the hibernal solstice is a celebration of rebirth and renewal.
The ever-present potential for beginning anew, as signified by the return of light, is the theme of this chapbook. In it, you'll find a poem for each of the twelve days of this season when the days start to get longer again, that will encourage you to rejoice, reflect and recharge.
Dark nights, lamp or candlelight, and fireside flames in a quiet room provide the perfect conditions for deep and transformative reading.
Reconnect with the wonder of the world-- and of those with whom you share it—through the powerful pleasure of inspirational poetry.
Poetry For Christmas and Other Beginnings by Orna Ross is a collection of twelve inspirational poems for deep mid-winter.
I'm delighted to share one of the poems with you today, as part of the #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour
Christmas Rain
In the year's dying days,
rainfall once again is falling,
failing to freeze, to become snow.
No white Christmas again this year,
just the falling, failing rain
as silent, I overheard you say,
as a Christmas suicide.
What a chilling line.
I know it hurts your soul,
this ceaseless raining on the town
and on the fields of forest trees
raised for the season,
spruce and cedar, pine and fir,
grown to be cut down.
No sooner born than dying,
you said, and reminded us again,
lest we forget, about the ill,
the afraid and the alone.
Well yes, we must do what we can
but the trees die, it also must be said,
in the cause of life:
faith and hope
and charity
friends and fun
and family
hymns and prayers
and superfluity
of food and drink and gifts.
And now, whatever we might think,
it's time to loop bright pearls of light
and tinsel round the waiting bough,
to decorate its needle-leaves,
hang bauble globes of colour
from its stalky branches,
and top off the confection
with a sharply-pointed star.
Then to step outside
into the sodden air
and join the heaving crowds
to add our input
to the manic ring
of goods and money
changing hands.
I am not blind to what that brings,
but, my dear, is it not also true
that in the spangled homes,
the valiant trees are letting loose
their scent of pine and fir?
And the weary world is waking
to the light returning
for another year?
can it be the rain is slowing,
growing plump and white?
Oh, let's indulge the throb of hope.
Let's inhale, while we still can,
the joy within
the sparkly season's
glistening.
Let's taste the love
that is contained
in the illuminating rain
ORNA ROSS is an award-winning writer, an advocate for independent authors and other creative entrepreneurs, and "one of the 100 most influential people in publishing" [The Bookseller]. She writes novels, poems and nonfiction guides for creatives, and is Founder-Director of two popular online communities, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and The Creativist Club. She lives in London and writes, publishes and teaches around the globe. When not writing, you'll probably find her reading.
Website : http://www.ornaross.com/
Twitter : @ornaross
Instagram @ornaross
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We have our own local specialty restaurant.
Here you can enjoy a freshly prepared delicious 3 course menu. You can, of course, go for an breakfast or lunch. It is also possible that we provide a packed lunch for you to take with you when Hiking.
At the camp site is a fireplace present which you can use in consultation jointly or individually.
We organize from time to time a specialties menu on this campfire with the so called Medzev pans. UNIQUE!
This is only in Medzev from the history of the former mines and in forestry.
Every day (except on Sundays) freshly prepared delicious 3 course menu. Cooking as cooking is supposed to happen our customers have said!
Mushrooms from the surrounding fields and Woods. We will teach you search and prepare the found mushrooms like in a special daily menu for you!


text:
Music Legend David Essex Releases New CD "Unplayed Hits"
Featuring songs rarely played live or played on the radio
Legendary singer, songwriter, and actor David Essex is releasing a new album of songs rarely played live or played on the radio titled "Unplayed Hits." The album is available exclusively from his web shop. There are 100 signed copies available as well.
Since the 1970s, David Essex has attained 19 Top 40 singles in the UK (including two number ones) and 16 Top 40 albums. Internationally, Essex had the most success with his 1973 single "Rock On." It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in March 1974. It was nominated for a Grammy and reached No. 1 in Cashbox and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has also had an extensive career as an actor.
Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base and his British tours created scenes of hysteria reminiscent of Beatlemania. According to The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, he was voted the number one British male vocalist in 1974, and was a teen idol for more than a decade.
"As the 2020 tour had to be postponed till September 2021, I have put together a new CD in the meantime, 'Unplayed Hits' featuring songs rarely played live or played on the radio. Also, there is a brand new web shop that I hope you like, where you can download or buy the CD plus many other things." – David Essex
"Unplayed Hits" – Tracklist:
Time Is Catching Up
Carrying The Water Home
Cool Out Tonight
Alice Stay Young & Free
You Crazy Fool
Heart Turns To Stone
What Did I Do
Forever And A Day
Oh Suburbia
Africa You Shine
Fallen Angels Riding
Never Meant To Hurt You
She's Emotional
A Shoulder To Cry On
Stage Struck
To purchase: https://www.musicglue.com/david-essex/shop/categories/all/page/1
For more information: www.davidessex.com
This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2020 at 15:35 and posted in David Essex, Press Release. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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10cc/Godley & Creme Legend Kevin Godley To Release Very First Solo Album MUSCLE MEMORY December 17, 2020 »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Items tagged with 6TB
by Joshua Gulick - Mon, May 11, 2015
Fixstars Boasts Performance And Capacity With Drool-Worthy 6TB SSD In 2.5-Inch Form-Factor
When we reviewed the latest 6 terabyte hard drives at the beginning of the year, we acknowledged that, for all the benefits of solid-state drives, capacity and price-per-terabyte remained in the hard drive's "pros" column. But with Fixstars' announcement that it will be shipping 6TB SSDs this summer, solid-state drives are looking even better. Hard drives still have the lead when it comes to capacity, but at 6TB, Fixstar's SSD is going to be plenty of storage for many users. The 2.5-inch SATA 6Gbps SSD (model SSD-6000M) has 540MBps / 520MBps read and write speeds, respectively. "The unparalleled performance of our previous model's (The SSD-3000M) sequential I/O helped propel our SSDs and garner... Read more...
by Josh Norem - Mon, Dec 29, 2014
6 TB Hard Drive Round-Up: WD Red, WD Green, Seagate Enterprise
The hard drive market has become a lot less sexy in the past few years thanks to SSDs. What we used to consider "fast" for a hard drive is relatively slow compared to even the cheapest of today's solid state drives. But there are two areas where hard drives still rule the roost, and that's in terms of overall capacity and cost per gigabyte. Right now you can buy a 4TB hard drive for the same cost as a 256GB SSD, so the two are in separate universes in that regard. We love SSDs and think just about everyone should run their OS on one, but most aren't large enough to hold all user data over a long period of time, so we still need hard drives for bulk storage duties, and will continue to need them... Read more...
Features, News, Storage, PC Components, Data Center/SOHO, IT/Enterprise
by Paul Lilly - Mon, Jul 21, 2014
Western Digital Expands WD Red Line Of NAS Drives With 6 Terabyte, 5 Platter HDD
Western Digital this morning hit the storage industry over its head with a couple of new high capacity hard drive options being offered in the company's WD Red line of drives. One is a 5-terabyte HDD and the other is a first-to-market 6-terabyte capacity HDD based on a tightly packed five-platter design, and like all WD Red drives, they're both intended for home and small office NAS systems In addition to these new high capacity storage solutions, Western Digital announced the introduction of its WD Red Pro HDD series available in 1TB to 4TB capacities for the medium and large business NAS markets. WD's Pro level drives are compatibility tested with top NAS system manufacturers and optimized... Read more...


text:
Broncos Fire OC Rich Scangarello After 1 Season
By Eric Christensen January 12, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Filed Under:Denver Broncos News
DENVER (CBS4) – Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello is one and done as the team's offensive coordinator. On Sunday, CBS4's Michael Spencer confirmed the team had fired the first year offensive coordinator.
With the firing of Rich Scangarello the Broncos will enter 2020 with their 5th offensive coordinator in as many season.
2016: Dennison
2017: McCoy
2018: Musgrave
2019: Scangarello
2020: TBD#4Broncos @CBSDenver #BroncosCountry
— Michael Spencer (@MichaelCBS4) January 12, 2020
Scangarello was hired on Jan. 16, 2019 to replace Bill Musgrave as offensive coordinator.
He was previously the quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
"With the addition of Rich Scangarello as our offensive coordinator, we're getting an experienced coach who was a trusted and valued assistant with Kyle Shanahan for three seasons," said head coach Vic Fangio when he hired Scangarello. "With is background and knowledge, it's the perfect time for Rich to be an offensive coordinator in the NFL."
The Broncos released a statement on behalf of Fangio shortly after the news broke on social media.
Fangio said in part, "Rich is a bright coach with a great future ahead of him. I appreciate all of his hard work and thank him for his contributions to the Broncos."
"We need to do everything we can to get better — in all areas — as we start working toward next year."
Coach Fangio on his decision to part ways with OC Rich Scangarello » https://t.co/xlzsCZcqKD pic.twitter.com/8gzk2iBqTA
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 12, 2020
Fangio said he didn't plan to make any changes to his coaching staff in his end-of-the-season news conference.
It was a rocky first year for the rookie coordinator as the Broncos finished in the bottom 10 of almost every statistical category.
Rich Scangarello credit: (CBS)
They ranked 28th in the league in points per game (17.6), yards per game (298.6), yards per play (5.0) and passing yards per game (194.7).
The team did finish on a high note winning four of their last five since inserting Drew Lock as quarterback. In the team's final five games they averaged 21.4 points per game.
Eric Christensen is CBS4's managing editor of sports. He's been producing, reporting and anchoring sports at CBS4 for 19 years. More from Eric Christensen
Rudy Ray says:
He told Elway that the Mizzou guy was not ready in October. He was an idiot.


The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting had been on my bucket list for some time. So, we booked tickets and headed to Omaha. The audience was a fascinating mix of nationalities, and I was surprised Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger answered questions for so long.


With our support, community based educators actively participate in providing education to youth and their family members on HIV/AIDs, STIs and reproductive health; as a result, youth have adopted new behaviours and now share household roles in the family, as well as practice more gender equality in their daily living.
Through our programs, 362 GBV victims are more empowered to access support and treatment services. The community people and women survivors are accessing support services at the commune level, and most importantly, reporting violence cases to local authorities.
Child nutrition is improving as a result of our positive deviance programme approach. Results from the end-line survey found a 66.3% increase in number of women with children aged 6-24 months who provide porridge for complementary feeding. We also saw a 59% increase in the number of positive deviant parents involved in home gardening providing important role modeling within their communities.
Our Strategic Planning workshop, which included staff and local community people, has helped focus our vision. We are proposing a new cycle funding phase for our donors to better help the poor rural people in Cambodia who we work with.
These and other significant accomplishments are only achieved by the commitment of the CHEC team and volunteers who work diligently to help us realize our goals. My sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who is a member of our team.
We would also like to say a heartfelt "thank you" to our many donors who supported us both technically and financially in order for us to accomplish our mission. We are indebted to your commitment to our work and the people we assist.
I am delighted and honored to welcome you to the website of the Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC).
Since 2001, CHEC has established well-developed programs in the 7 Operational Districts of Sa Ang and Ta Khmao (Kandal Province), Kampong Tralach and Boribo (Kampong Chhnang Province), Preah Sdach (Prey Veng Province), Chhouk (Kampot Province) and Srey Santhor (Kampong Cham Province). More than 10,000 people have received CHEC's HIV/AIDS training.
Through the successful implementation process of our projects, we also strengthened our partnerships and collaboration with local government partners, community members and field volunteers. This consolidation of effort is critical to our success in accomplishing our mandate for the year. Our activities culminated in the following vital programmes: "Women, girls and out of school youth living healthy lives free from gender based violence and HIV/AIDS" in seven operational districts; the "Community Based Care" programme in five operational districts; and the Improving Children's Nutritional Status Using the Positive Deviance Approach" in three operational districts. Our focus for these activities was on increasing the awareness of HIV/AIDS, STIs, Reproductive Health, Gender and Life Skills with specific attention on providing information on diagnosis, treatment and integration of HIV and AIDS into the Commune Investment Plan.
CHEC is a non-government organization (NGOs) localized from a training projects of Quaker Service Australia since 2001.
CHEC works extensively in local communities to improve health care &support services, education and training awareness related to HIV/AIDS, Gender Based Violence and Home Based Care Program.
CHEC believes that sustainability of all of our programs is crucial.
Therefore we provide high quality training to beneficiaries ensure that community participate and mobilization.
CHEC has highly experienced in strengthening the capacity of youth, women and men to work together with local authorities in the dissemination of information and services to the wider community, youth groups and marginalized groups so that they can sustain the project activities within their own communities. So far, the intervention of the program includes production of TV debates, radio call in shows, community forums at community level have provided the opportunity for in and out of school youths and community people at all age express opinions and accept to change behaviour in relation to sexual reproductive health and sexuality. Our staff are well expertise in the provision of training to these target groups on Sexuality, Gender, Reproductive Health and Life Skills for many years and conduct interactive peer-to-peer through the peer gathering at the community level.
CHEC works towards the sustainability of the program through provision of training and community participation and mobilization to create a sense of self-reliance and ownership of their responses to HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health, gender based violence and support them to run education sessions.
Over the past four years CHEC engage with men and boys through sports events (volleyball contests) to disseminate the information on gender and encourage and assist women subjected to, or at risk of, gender based violence to contact CCWC, District Women's Affairs, or other NGOs for support.
CHEC also provide technical support for the Commune Council for Women and Children in their role to support women subjected to, or at risk of, gender based violence, trafficking and link with the police service.
We have strengthened networks of government authorities, NGOs and religious leaders providing support services to women subjected to, or at risk of, gender based violence including trafficking.
CHEC is the first player who leads the initiative on the linkage of GBV and HIV services.
CHEC collaborates with development partners, including community members, civil society organizations, private sector organizations and government to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people, particularly people living with HIV and AIDS.
Vulnerable people, particularly people living with HIV and AIDS, have high quality of life.
• Service: We deliver high quality programs and activities that are relevant to the needs of vulnerable people.


Primary health care is about providing the right care at the right time in the right place – a focus on healthy living by prevention, health promotion and support for self-management, improved coordination and continuity of care.
In 2016, a unique partnership developed between Eastern Health and community representatives. The Bonavista Primary Health Care Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was formed to re-design primary health care in the region – exploring innovative and cost-effective ways to improve the quality and delivery of health-care services. This included implementation of one of the province's first electronic medical records (EMR) – a single patient record that is more readily available, up-to-date and results in more efficient diagnosis and more effective treatment.
You can also view this video on Eastern Health's YouTube page.
The production of this video was managed by Eastern Health communications manager Deborah Collins.
Tags: caring, change, commitment, community, compassion, dedication, Eastern Health, employees, health, newfoundland and labrador, passion, Regional, Support.
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Foothills Gym is a beautifully renovated post-and-beam building providing a bright, clean and comfortable workout environment. We offer a wide range of Cybex equipment, a large free weight area, treadmills, bicycles, cross trainers and ellipticals. Locker rooms and showers are on site for your convenience.
Whether you're in the area visiting for a short time or live nearby, we've got a membership option that suits your needs.
New visitors to our gym often say, "I had no idea we have such a beautiful gym in our town!"


We are the reference in the manufacturing of wooden stairs and railings. We have an extensive experience in designing and manufacturing beautiful staircases.
A log staircase brings an artistic element to a log house. Often a center of attraction and wonder were the beauty of the wood and the quality of the craftsmanship can be realy appreciated.


Over the last few uears, INOXCVA's product offering has been growing steadily.To illustrate just how diverse the company's manufacturing capabilities are, one need look no further than the cryogenic railcar it recentily created for Linde Norht America.Like every project INOXCVA takes on, the company sought to improve upon existing railcar options."Linde came to us with experience using cryogenic railcars as a mode of transport, and they had a good idea of what features they wanted to see.With our engineering and manufacturing expertise in tanks and trailers, we were able to work together to develop exactly what Linde was looking for."
"We had an aging fleet of argon railcars that required replacement,"says Smith,Fleet engineering at Linde. After reviewing replacement costs,payload improvements and thermal efficiency offered in new railcars, it was INOXCVA that stood out.Says Smith,"Along with the cost and performance advantages, INOXCVA offered design modifications to reduce loss of Argon during the entire trip cycle,from start of fill through transport and unloading. The modifications resulted in improved payload,improved operator acceptance and lower maintenance costs." The railcars were finished in DuPont Imron EZ Clearcoat with Teflon anti-graffiti technology, which extends re-paint cycles and lowers environmental impact. "These railcars will be around for another 40 years to come," says Smith.


Use this sharpener with our brow pencils and lip liners.
Four pencil size options in one sharpener. Beware of using sharpeners from other brands on our pencils. If the sharpener is made in any country other than Germany, it could cause grinding on our pencils. Our lip and eye pencils are all made in Germany.


The Cashmadnesss.com is a web page which can be loaded into your web-browser with the help of 'ad-supported' software (also known as adware). The ad-supported software may modify the settings of browsers like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Microsoft Edge or install a malicious web-browser add-on that designed to generate tons of annoying pop up advertisements. It'll lead to the fact that when you open the browser or browse the Internet, it will always be forced to show Cashmadnesss.com ads, even when your browser is configured to block pop up advertisements or your system has a application that stops pop-up advertisements. On current date, the adware continues to increase the number of personal computers which have been affected.
The 'ad supported' software that causes internet browsers to show annoying Cashmadnesss.com pop up ads, can attack your machine's web-browsers such as the Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Maybe you approve the idea that the popup ads from it is just a small problem. But these intrusive Cashmadnesss.com advertisements eat PC resources. The worst is, it can be used to collect your browsing history and personal information, including passwords and credit card numbers. In the future, confidential information about you can be transferred to third parties.
The 'ad supported' software can change the settings of the Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer, but often that a harmful software like this can also affect all types of internet browsers by modifying their desktop shortcut files. Thus forcing the user each time start the browser to see the intrusive Cashmadnesss.com web page.
We strongly recommend that you perform the tutorial below which will assist you to delete Cashmadnesss.com pop up ads using the standard features of Windows and some proven free programs.
There are several steps to removing the 'ad supported' software that causes browsers to open annoying Cashmadnesss.com pop up advertisements, because it installs itself so deeply into Microsoft Windows. You need to uninstall all suspicious and unknown programs, then delete malicious add-ons from the FF, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Edge and other web browsers you have installed. Finally, you need to reset your web browser settings to delete any changes the adware has made, and then scan your PC system with Zemana, MalwareBytes or AdwCleaner to ensure the adware is fully removed. It will take a while.
If you perform exactly the instructions below you should be able to remove the Cashmadnesss.com popups from the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, MS Edge and FF browsers.
Some potentially unwanted programs, browser hijacking programs and adware can be removed by uninstalling the freeware they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed apps in Microsoft Windows Control Panel. Use the "Uninstall" command in order to delete them.
First, click Windows button , then click Search . Type 'Control panel'and press Enter as displayed in the following example.
Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your PC system. Most probably, one of them is the ad supported software related to Cashmadnesss.com advertisements. If you've many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious apps by sort the list by date of installation. Once you've found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that press 'Uninstall'.
Once the Windows 'Control Panel' opens, you need to click 'Uninstall a program' under 'Programs' as displayed in the figure below.
You will see a list of apps installed on your computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the apps that were installed last. Most likely, it is the ad-supported software that causes browsers to show annoying Cashmadnesss.com pop-up advertisements. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the program which you need to remove is found, simply click on its name, and then click 'Uninstall' as displayed on the screen below.
The 'ad supported' software related to Cashmadnesss.com redirect, can hijack various Windows shortcuts on your desktop (most often, all web browsers shortcut files), so in this step you need to check and clean them by removing the argument like http://site.address/.
To clear the web browser shortcut file, right-click to it and choose Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text like "http://site.address" which has been added here. You need to delete it.
If the Firefox settings like new tab, default search engine and start page have been modified by the ad-supported software, then resetting it to the default state can help.
Click the "Refresh Firefox" button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select "Refresh Firefox" in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will begin a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the adware that responsible for browser redirect to the undesired Cashmadnesss.com web-page. Once, it is done, click the "Finish" button.
In order to restore all browser default search engine, start page and new tab you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the MS Windows was installed on your system.
First, start the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear ( ). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, click the "Internet Options" as on the image below.
In the "Internet Options" window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The IE will show the "Reset Internet Explorer settings" window like below. Select the "Delete personal settings" check box, then press "Reset" button.
If your Google Chrome browser is redirected to intrusive Cashmadnesss.com web page, it may be necessary to completely reset your web-browser program to its default settings.
If the undesired Cashmadnesss.com web site opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and get rid of all the tasks that have been created by 'ad-supported' program.
Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time. It will open a prompt which called Run. In the text field, type "taskschd.msc" (without the quotes) and press OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click "Task Scheduler Library", like below.
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be display just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Necessary to look at the text which is written under Details. Found something such as "explorer.exe http://site.address" or "chrome.exe http://site.address" or "firefox.exe http://site.address", then you need get rid of this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it's a component of the malicious programs, then this task also should be removed.
There are not many good free antimalware programs with high detection ratio. The effectiveness of malware removal tools depends on various factors, mostly on how often their virus/malware signatures DB are updated in order to effectively detect modern malware, adware, hijacker infections and other PUPs. We recommend to use several programs, not just one. These programs which listed below will help you get rid of all components of the ad-supported software from your disk and Windows registry and thereby remove Cashmadnesss.com pop-ups.
We suggest using the Zemana Anti-malware that are completely clean your system of the adware. The utility is an advanced malicious software removal application made by (c) Zemana lab. It's able to help you get rid of PUPs, browser hijackers, malicious software, toolbars, ransomware and ad-supported software that cause annoying Cashmadnesss.com popups to appear.
Download Zemana Anti Malware from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
When the download is done, close all apps and windows on your personal computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that's named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as shown in the figure below.
Once install is finished, you will see window as displayed on the screen below.
Now click the "Scan" button . Zemana utility will begin scanning the whole PC to find out adware responsible for redirecting your web-browser to Cashmadnesss.com web-page. This task may take quite a while, so please be patient. While the Zemana is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.
After the checking is finished, Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) will show a list of all items found by the scan. When you are ready, click "Next" button.
The Zemana Free will remove ad supported software responsible for Cashmadnesss.com pop-up advertisements.
HitmanPro is a free removal utility. It removes potentially unwanted software, adware, hijackers and undesired web-browser plugins. It'll search for and get rid of adware that causes browsers to open intrusive Cashmadnesss.com pop-up advertisements. Hitman Pro uses very small PC resources and is a portable application. Moreover, HitmanPro does add another layer of malware protection.
Installing the HitmanPro is simple. First you will need to download Hitman Pro on your Windows Desktop from the link below.
After the downloading process is complete, open the file location and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the HitmanPro tool. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to launch the program, click Yes button to continue.
Next, click "Next" to look for 'ad supported' software responsible for redirecting your web-browser to Cashmadnesss.com page. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your personal computer and the speed of your personal computer. While the Hitman Pro program is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
When the scan get finished, the results are displayed in the scan report as displayed in the figure below.
Review the results once the tool has done the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply press "Next" button. It will open a prompt, press the "Activate free license" button. The HitmanPro will remove ad supported software that responsible for the appearance of Cashmadnesss.com ads and add items to the Quarantine. After finished, the tool may ask you to restart your computer.
We advise using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your personal computer of the adware. The free utility is an advanced malicious software removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world's most popular anti-malware technology. It's able to help you remove undesired Cashmadnesss.com advertisements from your web browsers, PUPs, malicious software, hijackers, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your computer for free.
After the downloading process is finished, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that's named mb3-setup.
Once installation is done, click the "Scan Now" button to perform a system scan with this tool for the adware responsible for redirects to Cashmadnesss.com. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your personal computer. When a threat is detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
When finished, the results are displayed in the scan report. Next, you need to press "Quarantine Selected". Once the task is done, you may be prompted to restart your PC system.
The following video offers a step-by-step tutorial on how to remove browser hijackers, adware and other malicious software with MalwareBytes.
We advise to install an ad-blocker program that can block Cashmadnesss.com and other unwanted web pages. The ad-blocker utility like AdGuard is a program that basically removes advertising from the Net and blocks access to malicious web sites. Moreover, security experts says that using ad-blocker applications is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Internet.
When the download is finished, double-click the downloaded file to launch it. The "Setup Wizard" window will show up on the computer screen as shown below.
Each time, when you run your system, AdGuard will run automatically and block ads, sites such as Cashmadnesss.com, as well as other malicious or misleading pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.
Now your PC system should be free of the ad supported software responsible for redirections to Cashmadnesss.com. Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep Zemana (to periodically scan your computer for new ad supported softwares and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop intrusive pop-up advertisements and malicious pages). Moreover, to prevent any adware, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps, make sure that your antivirus application, turn on the option to search for PUPs.
If you need more help with Cashmadnesss.com pop-up ads related issues, go to our Spyware/Malware removal forum.


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8 Things You Should Know About Chinese New Year
Check out eight facts about this celebration of renewal.
Jesse Greenspan
1. Chinese New Year coincides with both spring and spring cleaning.
Under the Chinese calendar, the New Year holiday marks not only a new year, but also the switchover from winter to spring, when ancient farmers began another season for planting crops. "When we start spring they're actually just getting into the middle of it," said Anthony DeBlasi, a professor of Chinese history at the University at Albany. Conventional New Year preparations include shopping for clothes, hanging paper scrolls that contain wishes for such things as "happiness" and "wealth," and repaying all debts. It's also time for spring cleaning, traditionally believed to sweep away bad luck and appease the gods. "You want everything to be spotless," DeBlasi said. Just make sure to finish before the new year actually starts. Otherwise, you might be getting rid of good luck.
2. Chinese New Year is 15 days long.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, families tend to gather for an enormous feast, complete with dumplings that resemble ancient coins in northern China and sticky rice cakes in southern China. Other traditional foods include fish, which in multiple Chinese languages sounds like the word for "abundance"; tangerines, which sound like the word for "luck"; and uncut noodles, which signify a long life. Since eight is a lucky number, the meal often consists of eight courses. In addition to eating, children receive red envelopes with money inside, and nearly everyone in China lights off fireworks and firecrackers. "I've never been in a war zone, but it's what I'd imagine a war zone would be like," DeBlasi said. "Its just really loud and thunderous." The holiday then continues for another 15 days, lasting from the new moon to the full moon. It culminates with the aptly named Lantern Festival, when lanterns are hung outside homes and on streets. Some people also celebrate the so-called "Small New Year," an homage to the "kitchen god" that takes place a few days before the New Year's Eve dinner.
3. A baby boom occurs during the Year of the Dragon.
Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of a dozen zodiac animals. This past year, for example, was the Year of the Dragon—the only mythical creature among the 12—which is associated with power, wisdom, charisma and royalty. "The Eastern dragon is very different from the Western dragon, which heroes try to find and slay because they are so evil," said Duanduan Li, a professor of Chinese applied linguistics at the University of British Columbia. "Eastern dragons are thought of as divine." Since people are believed to take on the personality of the animal of their birth year, the Year of the Dragon is considered more desirable than others for having babies. In fact, it has been reported that the birth rate in places like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong typically goes up about 5 percent. The Year of the Dragon also is regarded as a good moment for opening businesses, starting new careers and buying property. Yet prosperity is far from guaranteed. "Mao Zedong died in the Year of the Dragon," Li said. "And that was the year we had the biggest earthquake in Tangshan," which killed at least 240,000 people.
4. The Year of the Snake, on the other hand, is not so desirable.
Intelligent, wily and enigmatic, snakes are not the most beloved of the zodiac animals. People born in prior snake years like 1977, 1989 and 2001 have even been known to euphemistically call themselves "small dragons." With another Year of the Snake beginning Sunday, soon-to-be parents can take solace from such famous "snakes" as former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and artist Pablo Picasso. Or they can ignore the zodiac signs altogether. "There are probably a few people who take it to the extreme, just like there are with Western astrology," said Elizabeth VanderVen, a former professor of East Asian and Chinese history who now runs Unicorn Intercultural Consulting. "Most people take it with a grain of salt."
5. No one used to know what year it was.
Legend holds that Emperor Huangdi invented the lunar-solar Chinese calendar in 2637 B.C. Until recently, however, the Chinese never concerned themselves with numbering sequentially. "Centuries ago, they wouldn't have known it was 3842 or whatever," DeBlasi said. "They numbered, but they tended to number in cycles." Even today, there is no universally accepted starting point. Nonetheless, it's generally agreed that Year 1 corresponds to the supposed first year of Huangdi's reign in 2698 B.C., meaning this upcoming year is 4711.
6. China's Communist Party tried to suppress New Year celebrations.
China's new republican government adopted the Western-style Gregorian calendar in 1912 and changed the official name of Chinese New Year to Spring Festival. The Communist Party under Mao Zedong, which took power in 1949, then tried to do-away with all aspects of the holiday that it considered religious, feudalistic or superstitious. Throughout the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), the Communists even cracked down on lion and dragon dances, along with traditional greetings. "Sometimes very minor things could invite big trouble for you and your family," Li said. Chinese New Year was reappraised, however, during the period of economic liberalization that followed Mao's death. Since 1996, it has been designated a weeklong vacation.
7. Chinese New Year is the world's largest travel rush.
In the United States, nightmare traffic jams are the norm on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mother's Day, when travelers clog up highways and airports on their way to visit family. But none of those holidays come close to matching Chinese New Year in China, when, in what's been called the world's largest seasonal migration of people, an estimated 3.2 billion trips are taken over a six-week period. "I would never recommend any foreign tourist traveling in China at that time, although a lot of them want to go," VanderVen said. Many American families of Chinese descent also hit the road around now, causing attendance to sag at certain schools.
8. A generational gap has sprung up with regards to Chinese New Year.
Although family remains an important component of Chinese New Year, a new generation in China is rejecting some of the holiday's other traditional elements. "The modern urban lifestyle has affected how people celebrate," VanderVen said. "Younger people probably just want to play video games, text with their friends and not think about studying." Meanwhile, parades have become popular in North American, European and Australian "Chinatowns," complete with floats, lion and dragon dances, costumes and marching bands.
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