"Confessions of a Male Nurse" by (Nurse) Michael Alexander

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know how I start 'em all off, right? By saying that all books start off with the full trolley-load of stars but I'm not shy about taking stars off. I always give my reasons and it always breaks my heart when an otherwise 5 star book reduces to 4 because of the authors use of trademarks. This book ain't any different, but the newest addition is that I gladly return a knocked off star if there's a magic little sentence to say that brand names are used fictitiously and/or with permission.

Let's get on with the reading and reviewing.

Wowsers, the first few pages have been incredible and soo addictive that the world has just sauntered past me for the last 10 minutes while I've had my head in this book. Still very much a 5 star must-read so far.

This is such a good book and that first patient experience has really lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face.

Just like with other fantastic books, I'm not gonna comment on every chapter but will still, of course, update this review with any worthy comments that strike me as I read.

These are great chapters and it is wonderful getting to know the patients and especially the medical staff that work with them! I had a great deal of respect for our NHS before I started reading but this book is rapidly filling every last little corner of my being with gratitude to them. It's not an easy job and I wouldn't even last an hour but they are absolutely incredibly fantastic people and my heart is beating out of my chest with pride and gratitude for each and every one of them.

I really don't know how nurses cope with patients let alone doctors who are so blatently sexist and scary as the doctor on that ward!

Blimey! I can see why the majority of patients wanted the mouthwash now lol

I obviously haven't got a clue who that patient is but just that one shower seems to have made all the difference to her, which is a relief!

Wow! The section on the patients who are psychiatrically unwell was a real eye opener. Thank you for opening my eyes, Michael.

Just finished reading this absolutely incredible book which has really opened my eyes to the struggles and stresses and strains that a nurse goes through every day of their working life. I've always had an enormous amount of respect for the medical bods but this book has brought awareness to things that I hadn't even thought of. Thank you to every single nurse of the past, present and future.

"Pitching Up!" by Deborah Aubrey

If you've already read any of my recent book reviews, you'll know that I start them all off by saying that every book starts with the perfect score of stars and that I'm always hopeful that they will all still be stuck firmly in place by the time I close the back cover. You'll also know that I'm not shy about taking stars off and that I always give my reasons for each removal within the review. A recent addition is that if I've removed a star for copyright or trademark infringement but there's a magic little sentence either at the start or end of the book, then the dropped star instantly regains its rightful position.

I've had a busy, very emotional few weeks since Christmas 2022 so I'm hoping to get lost in a totally fictitious book. I've got nothing planned until Sunday now, so I'm gonna totally veg out with my nose in my Kindle and try and get out of my head and into this trilogy for a while.

Let's get going shall we?

Oh dear. I'm only a quarter of the way down the second page and the first star is already significantly wobbly after the use of 2 names of the Royal Family... any more and off it comes. It's well-written so far, but the use of famous people and brands is a huuuuge frustration of mine and why most books that should be 5 stars actually end up being 4 stars.

Oh boy, now a potential trademark infringement less than a paragraph later, so this book is already down to 4 stars after only a page and a half.

Too many famous names again, and I haven't even reached the end of the first chapter yet... if the author doesn't have permission from each of these people and products then she could get into serious legal hot water. It's an OK book at best, not my next favourite book that I was hoping for unfortunately. If it doesn't rapidly improve then another star is coming off from sheer boredom.

I'm not enjoying this book at all. The same thing has happened with almost exactly the same wording three times in that chapter, so another star is coming off at the end of the first chapter unfortunately.

Oh boy, the start of chapter 2 is so dull that I'm already skipping pages unfortunately... if it doesn't rapidly and dramatically improve then the next star is coming off.

I've skipped forward two chapters because it hasn't improved at all, so at 17% the book is already down to 2 stars and it's not looking hopeful that I'll even make it to the quarter point of this highly disappointing book.

And now there are two supermarket brand names, so the fourth and final star is coming off this hugely disappointing book at 17% and I have officially given up.

"Confessions of an Undercover Cop" by Ash Cameron

If you've read any of my recent reviews you'll already know that I start them all off in the same way, right? By saying that every book starts off with the full shebang of stars and that I'm always hopeful that they'll still be firmly in place when I close the back cover. If you've read my even more recent reviews you'll know about me gladly returning a star to its rightful position if there's a magic little sentence. My usual reason for knocking a star off a book that should be 5 stars is for potential copyright infringement but those few magic words will rapidly replace the knocked off star if it's there.

Let's get on with the review now, shall we?

It sounds like the 20 weeks at Henden and the first good while after training were total alcohol initiations for all the trainees... I wouldn't last a week! lol

You have to have a strong head (and stomach), kind heart and understanding head to become a probationary police officer... especially if you're female!

Wow. That rioting chapter was so intense and I was right there on the front line with the author.

I've finished reading for the afternoon now otherwise I'll never be able to sleep lol This book is just as good as the others I've read in the series though and it's still very much a 5 star book.

Back now and I feel sorry for those drivers who got clamped but loved the insight into what happens in the last week of the year for a police officer lol

That bit sounded pretty bad, but it got the job done and out of the way, so it obviously worked!

Some of my first friends when I first moved to this city were people who were homeless. I always had a soft spot for them and took them into a fast food place for a hot drink and bite to eat... it might have been their only chance to eat, drink and get warm that day! It sounds like the person that the author befriended was equally grateful and I can totally see why she was upset when she found out the details - don't worry, no spoilers.

I didn't find the prank at all funny, in fact, writing about it in such a humourous way could lead to people doing the same thing but for real... totally irresponsible for a police officer.

That... that... that... I don't even know the word without typing a very rude swear word that'd make even the most foul-mouthed person cringe. He got what he deserved and I hope his wife and daughter are living a safer and happier life now - it sounds like it's the least they deserve!

I'm glad I didn't read that chapter just before I headed to bed lol

Oh dear, that poor window cleaner lol

Blimmin' 'eck that was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, but it wouldn't have happened if there had been enough radio's!

WTG Darcy!

My heart is breaking for poor Jom and all for a £2.20 sarnie.

I'm gonna regret saying this, but the warning at the start of these few chapters made me wary that I might loose my breakfast at some point, but I haven't at all so far... so of course, the next chapters are gonna be totally gross, aren't they?! lol

I'll never be able to look at a judge, a barrister and a court clark in the same light again... especially in London lol

What an awful experience for poor Celia... nobody should have to go through what she went through to get the result that was got!

I'm at 75% and it's very nearly lunchtime, so will I be able to finish off this incredible book in about 5 hours? It's still very much a 5 star book and the chapters being so short and self-contained has meant that I've been able to take three days to read and enjoy it rather than having to cram it into one day with my eye constantly on the time 'cos there's no way I can read usual grown-up books over 3 days!

I'm not sure that should have happened, but I'm sure that father and son appreciated their secret santa!

Wow! I've just finished reading and while there were several big brand names used in some of the places throughout the book, I'm not so sure about the legalities of using trademarks so the star stays.

A definite must-read for nosey parkers like me lol

Confessions of a New York Taxi Driver by Eugene Salomon

out of 5

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews then you'll already know that I start 'em all off in the same way, right? By saying that every book starts off with the full whack of 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that they'll all still be firmly in place. You'll also know that I'm not shy about taking off stars but that I always give my reasons for doing it. I've also replaced a star on a book that had a magic little sentence right at the end of the book... it's only happened once so far, but I'm happy to do it again and again as long as that sentence is there.

Let's get started with the reading and reviewing shall we?

Like with the other books in this series that I've read, I'm already loving it... I just hope there aren't too many gross bits in it like the medical books in this series lol I'm fully expecting there to be someone losing their lunch, I just hope it's not too close to a meal time for me lol

As predicted, there was someone throwing up. Seven times. But thankfully not in the taxi so I was spared the grossness at that point, but I'm only 11% of the way through so far, so there's plenty of opportunity for me to be grossed out yet lol

There's been canoodling and rumpo already, but I was assuming that happened in New York (and other big cities worldwide) anyway, so that was no surprise.

Oooh! That chapter was tense. I could feel it in every word and I'm relieved that all four of us (me, the cabby and the two passengers) came out alive!

This'll be the real test of the book - I've just made myself my first hot drink of the day... will it be hot or cold next time I take my nose out for long enough to update you all?

Yep.

I've got proof now.

My drink is stone cold so this must be a truly fantastic book.

I'm at 20% and it's starting to get a bit dark to read without causing my eyes significant pain, so I'll leave it there for today and carry on reading tomorrow. Very much a 5 star book - just don't go expecting hot drinks to stay hot ;-D

Back again and I'm ready to carry on reading and reviewing, so let's get going shall we?

This is a great book, but I can't help wondering the same things as the taxi driver about that passenger.

A second day of reading and a second stone-cold drink... you'd think I'd have learnt by now, wouldn't you? lol

Day three and I've learnt my lesson - I've got water instead of a hot drink today lol

It really tells me something about how good a book is, when I go for almost a day and a half without saying a word about what I'm reading. I'm up to 71% now and my right arm especially is so stiff and sore because it's barely moved since lunchtime, other than to scroll to the next page. I'm gonna aim for 80% before bedtime then give my arms a bit of a break and finish reading tomorrow I reckon. You seriously need to invest in this book though, it's truly incredible and eye-opening!

Yeeees. I think I'll leave it there for tonight 'cos the next chapter is about nasty niffs which I really don't want to read about just before I head to bed lol I'm up to 79% so I've only got 21% of this incredible book left to read tomorrow, so hopefully it'll still, very much, be a 5 star book. I can't recommend this series highly enough!

Morning again all. I've got myself a bottle of pop on the go and I'm not expecting anyone to come to the door for the next 3-ish hours, so I'm hoping I'll get a few more chapters under my belt and I'll hopefully remember to add something to this review today lol

The nasty niffs section was totally NOT what I was expecting at all, thankfully, but this next section is already making me weary 'cos it's about drunks who are too drunk to even communicate, so I'm assuming that there will be lots of spewing in this section.

I've got no idea how far a block is in America, but I'd guess it's a bit of a walk away so I can see why the author gave # that hail a perfect score!

Another perfect hail from a block away (I've still got no idea how far that is though lol)

Maybe it's because I'm a female too, but I instantly knew what the lady was thinking and felt towards what the cabby said and I don't blame her reaction one bit 'cos I would have felt the same way.

I'm at 98% and it's very nearly lunchtime, so I'm gonna stop reading until after I've eaten now. This is very much a 5 star book though and as long as there aren't any huuuuge mistakes in the last 2% it'll highly likely stay there too.

What an incredible book and a must-read for anyone who wants to know the truth about life as an American taxi driver... some were definitely eye-opening and I'm sooo glad I was wrong about the smells chapter!

If you're as nosey as me, definitely get your hands on a copy of this book!

"A Fly on the Ward" by Michael K Chapman

If you've read any of my other book reviews from the last 18 months or so, you'll already know that I start 'em all off in the same way and that is that every book starts off with the full whack of 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that they will all still be firmly in place by the time I finish reading. You'll also already know that I'm not shy about removing stars but that I always explain my reasons for doing it each time within the review. I've also replaced a star in one review 'cos of a magic sentence right at the back of the book after the story had finished and I'm totally happy to do that each time I see that magic little sentence... it's only happened once so far - will it happen again?

Let's get going with the reading and reviewing.

The first chapter was good. Will this be another book with self-contained chapters that I don't need to rely on my awful (at best) memory again? I really hope so!

The second chapter was good too and it seems, so far, to be self-contained chapters, so I can dip in and out as slowly as I need to without having to remember anything lol

The third chapter brought back many memories of the various lifts in hospitals that I've been in over the years - it's not just hospitals though, it's the same with car parks and shopping centres too!

This book is definitely up there with the "Confessions of..." series and I'm desperately hoping that this book is just the start of a series.

Like with my other book reviews, I'm gonna stop commenting on every chapter now 'cos this review is already getting on the long side. If anything significant happens or I need to drop a star (I'm really hoping that won't happen though) then I'll update this review, but for now this is a very well-deserving 5 star book.

I understand what George meant even if nobody else did because I'm pretty sure I said that myself when I was an in-patient for the best part of 3 months!

Carl was a cheeky swine, but I could see that coming too lol

It's my bedtime again, so I'm gonna finish the review here for the night and get cracking on chapter 11 tomorrow.

I've got a hot drink on the go... the sign of a good book, for me, is it going cold before I've finished it - will it happen with this awesome book?

Yep, stone cold and I haven't even finished the chapter yet lol

Up to chapter 14 and I'm sooo glad that patient on the ward was given the gift that he needed to hopefully speed up his recovery. I'm left with a gentle smile and a relieved heart now.

Chapter 15 raised a smile too and it proves that one mistake can cause a ripple effect to other patients. Medical bods are only human so slip-ups are bound to happen, I'm just glad it wasn't a deadly slip-up for either of those patients!

I'm up to 80% now and peppermint has a very similar effect on me as the one that the new patient was being given, illegally, by his wife lol

Time for another attempt with a hot drink... I'm thinking I'll stick to tea this time though lol

Just finished another cold drink and a totally incredible book. Definitely 5 stars throughout and I would sooo recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of a lift.

"Confessions of a Barrister (The Confessions Series)" by Russell Winnock

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know what I'm gonna say in this first paragraph, right? If this is your first reading of one of my book reviews, welcome! I start them all off by saying that every book I read and review starts off with the full ship-load of 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that they'll all still be there by the time I close the book. You'll also know that I'm not shy about knocking off stars, usually for trademark or copyright infringement. A new addition is that if there is a magic sentence usually at the back, a dropped star for copyright/trademark infringement hurriedly gets replaced. As well as all that, you'll also know that I always explain why I remove a star within my review.

Blimey, that's a lot of text! Lets get on with reading and reviewing shall we?

I've always been confuzzled about the differences between solicitors and lawyers especially, but barristers too. Judging by the cover of this book, a barrister is a court bod though, yeah? I'll hopefully find out one way or another as I read this book.

Oh dear, poor Mr Fordyke and I'm not sure whether the judge was attempting humour, was ill or if it was just a genuine mistake... I'm hoping for the mistake!

Ooh! It looks like I might just get my confusion about solicitors and barristers talked about in this chapter and it's only 8% of the way through, so which other nuggets am I gonna pick up in the rest of the book?

So solicitors are GPs and Barristers are consultants are they?

FWIW, I'm glad the barrister made the right decision with that client - yes, it potentially lost him thousands, but he would have been able to sleep with a clean conscience that night, so I think he made the right choice with that case and client.

Oooh! That court appearance had an unexpected twist and I'd want him as my barrister too!

I should have expected social media to come up and I wasn't wrong lol

This is another great book in the series that is, yet again, to lose any stars. These are all prolly totally fictional, but they are told with such realism that I genuinely can't tell for sure!

There have been a few mentions of a social media platform which has got the first star wobbly, just like with other books, but it wouldn't have had the same impact if it wasn't named!

Ooooh! I was wrong in my wondering if this was a work of fiction or not - the author is really a real barrister, just obviously using a pseudonym, so it's his job to know about the law and makes me glad that I didn't knock the star off about the social media platform mentions now.

Another fantastic book in the series that hasn't made me feel sick, given me nightmares or dread the next word. A very well-deserved 5 star book.

"In Rude Health: The Funniest and Most Explicit Stories from the NHS" by Robbie Guillory

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know that I start 'em all off in the same way, by saying that every book I read and review starts off with the full 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that they will all still be firmly in place by the time I close the back cover. You'll also know that I'm not shy about removing stars but that I always give my reasons within the review. The most common reason for making a thoroughly deserving 5 star book into a 4 star one is 'cos of copyright or trademark infringement. It always breaks my heart when that happens but it's a huge annoyance of mine with things like that. I've rapidly replaced the fifth star once so far thanks to a magic little sentence right at the back of the book.

Now that's out of the way, lets get on with reading and reviewing shall we? My Kindle is telling me that it'll take about an hour to read so that should give me plenty of time to potentially recover before I head to bed.

The cover is making me think that this is a light-hearted book which is always a real treat but it takes something truly spectacular to even raise a smile out of me... will this book manage it?

First story leaves me wincing at the very thought and grateful that I'm not a man with a cat...

Dexam-what? They've all been really short stories so far but this is a pill (I assume) that I've never even heard of before!

Oh yes, I'm only 17% of the way through and I'm already smiling and shaking my head which it takes an absolutely incredible book to do!

Nooo! The fifth star is wobbly at only 17% because of that potential trademark infringement I was going on about right at the start of this review... please, no more otherwise it'll have to be another heartbreakingly 4-star book which I really don't want to happen, given how much I'm enjoying it!

The 'Frank Exchange' one was the shortest so far and got the first snort of laughter out of me at only 32% of the way through the book.

I'm at 49% now and this is an absolutely fantabulous book... definitely one of the best I've read so far this year (and I've read a *lot* of books so far) - it's funny with just the right amount of gross without making me lose my lunch - it's made me smile, chuckle, wince, tut and desperate to keep reading!

The vacuum cleaner one made me chuckle and shake my head in disbelief lol

Noooo! Not again! My heart is breaking 'cos the first star is coming of for the second potential trademark infringement in 60% of the book!

The 72% one is a total groaner - not gross or anything, just a "d'oheth! Why didn't I think of that?" thing that is probably similar to what I would have done in the same situation lol

And a third potential Trademark infringement at 81% but I've already very reluctantly removed a star for that reason so we're still at a very solid 4 stars.

Yup, the book ended on a tsk and a smile lol. Overall an awesome book and if it hadn't been for those 3 potential Trademark infringements it would have been an easy 5 star book.

If you want a quick read that'll make you shake your head in disbelief while you smile and chuckle, you really need to read this book.

My world feels a lot lighter after reading this book.

"Preserving Patients: Anecdotes of a Junior Doctor" by Tom Parsons

It's been a while since I last read and reviewed a book but things are settling down now and I've got a free afternoon so now seems like as good as any to pick up my next book and I'm a nosey parker so this seems like as good a place as any to re-start my reading.

I started all my other reviews by saying that each book starts off with the full 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that they will all still be there when I close the back cover... this book is no different.

That first chapter was suitably gross lol

I've already forgotten what the first password was for and I only read it 10 minutes ago lol

The chapters are all self-contained, so I'll be able to dip in and out as necessary without having to remember what has happened so far... I prefer books like that.

The first star is coming off for the use of several brand names... I've got no idea what the law says about the use of TV programmes in fiction, which is why I've waited until 9% of the way through, but the first removal is coming off already unfortunately.

This is a really good book so far... not too many gross bits and each chapter is short and self-contained - exactly my kinda book.

I'm stopping at 28% with a broken heart. I'll start again tomorrow at some point.

Back now, a lot later than I planned, but that's OK 'cos the chapters are self-contained and my main disability means that I can't remember what I did 10 minutes ago let alone the previous day!

Let's get going for today.

That was erm... enlightening? I'm glad he got it out though!

Ooh! That was an intense chapter! Lots of blood but hopefully a life saved!

I was turfed sooo many times when I first became ill and all it would have taken was a simple blood test done every couple of weeks then treated when they saw my levels dropping instead of being shuffled from one department to the next at I dread to think what cost to the NHS and multiple, awful, agonising tests that all, unsurprisingly enough, came back clear. I am now disabled with a very unlikely chance of ever getting better and one of the pills I was on for literally years (that had a maximum time limit of 12 weeks) has left me at risk of getting Parkinsons too.

Another particularly gross chapter, but I'm at 51% now, so I'm gonna take my evening pills and try not to throw up too violently before I go to bed tonight.

I'm at 54% now after another truly heartbreaking chapter... my pillow will be soggy with tears again tonight, for the second night on the trot.

Well that one was a rather crude introduction to the world of paediatrics in the world of the GP surgery!

That chapter raised a smile too... the poor patient must have felt sooo embarrassed to be dragged there by his wife in the first place then to be asked if it was hereditary in front of his son too must have been awful!

Yup, I've been almost exactly where that patient is and it's only thanks to an incredible consultant Neurologist that I'm still alive!

I'm at 82% now and it's bedtime for me... will I finish this book tomorrow after 6 days?

I've just finished the first chapter of the day and it sounds like that particular patient needs a consultation with a mental health bod rather than A&E - especially after what happened at the end of the chapter!

Wowsers! What an end to a truly incredible book! A definite must-read if you're after a great read with self-contained chapters!

"Just A Few Bumps" by Emily L Nash

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know that I start them all off with the full shebang of 5 stars and that I'm always hopeful that they will all be stuck firmly in place when I close the back cover. You'll also know that I'm not shy about removing stars (usually for copyright or trademark infringement) but I always give my reason for removing each star. I've extremely gladly replaced a star on the last page of a book, after the novel had finished when there was a magic little sentence about the reason I removed the star and I'm always hopeful that I'll read that sentence again each time I feel the need to remove a star for that reason.

Let's get going with the review shall we?

Nooooo! Not already! The author has used the names of two TV programmes and a streaming services as well as an internet search engine, so the first star is already coming off at only 6%! I'm already hoping for that magic sentence at the back of the book and I'm not even in the double figures percentage-wise!

The first chapter was good... will it be a good choice for the author?

Oooh! Chapter 2 was good too! As long as you can forgive the trademark infringement that made me knock off the first star, this is a definite must-read for everyone - especially if you are a nosey parker like me lol

Chapter 3 was pretty gross, so make sure you don't read it around the time you eat ;-)

Just finished chapter 11 and it makes me feel for paramedics who may have to deal with my rare mental health condition lol

You definitely don't wanna be eating around the time you read chapter 18 - it's even grosser than chapter 3!

That poor kid really needed her mum but what the mum did was unbelievable!

It's waaaaay past my bedtime now but I'm at 82% so I'll finish reading and reviewing tomorrow with any luck.

Mornin'!

I can't believe how some people treat our NHS and especially the paramedics - they are medical professionals, not cleaners fer flip's sake!!

I really don't know how this paramedic coped with that little girl but the next chapter had (I presume) a much better outcome... although all those doctors being huddled around the machine in confusion, maybe not! lol

Just finished reading this book and it was an awesome read... one of those books that the one and only reason it's not the full whack of stars is 'cos of those early Trademark things.

"Just a Sharp Scratch" by Emily L. Nash

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know that every book starts off with the full 5 stars and that I also hope that each star will be stuck firmly in place by the time I close the back cover. You'll also know that I'm a stickler for copyright and trademark infringement and that it's the most common reason for me dropping a star on an otherwise awesome book but if there's a magic little sentence then I rapidly and gladly replace that fallen star... it's only happened once but I'm always hopeful that it'll happen again if I have to drop the star.

Let's get on with the reading and reviewing shall we?

I read the first book in this series a little while ago and really enjoyed it, so I've got high hopes for this one too and I'm hoping that there will be more to come!

Noooo! Not again! The first sentence of the second paragraph of the first page of the first chapter is Trademark infringement again, so like with other books, the star immediately falls to the floor.

A second trademark infringement on the second page, but I've already taken the star off, so I won't comment on those any more, but it's broken my heart that we're already down to 4 stars again when the author could have just said "energy drink" and "supermarket" and it would still definitely have been the full whack of stars.

That waiter sounds like he did what I would have done in the same situation, but being so distanced from it and reading it as opposed to experiencing it right then and there is a whole different ball game, right? lol

I don't know how the paramedics dealt with that... how can I say this without swearing... idiot? Nowhere near offensive enough but it'll have to do.

Poor "baby"! I hope they will be OK!

I'm up to page 80 and it's past my bedtime, so I'm gonna stop reading for the day and head off to bed now. I'll be back to finish reading this awesome book in the morning - a total must-read for nosey-parkers like me lol

Back now and the last couple of chapters have been fast-paced, so I'm glad I didn't read them last night otherwise I'd never have got to sleep lol

I'm already up to page 106 out of 100 so I've got no idea how many pages this book has *really* got lol

Wow. What a way to finish. Every page over the 100 was so worth it and it's given me even more appreciation for paramedics than ever before. Thank you Emily.