Journal Entry 1 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, August 01, 2010

Kindly donated to BookCrossing by the publisher, Headline.

From the publisher's website:

The gripping new instalment of the adventures of Brenda and Effie.

No matter what she tries to do, trouble has a way of finding Brenda. It’s hardly surprising with secrets like hers. When her old adversary Mr Danby starts filling the airwaves with his late night phone in show it can only mean one thing – and sure enough best friend Effie soon finds herself up to her neck in it. But that is only the beginning; fate has an even bigger surprise in store. Romance is in the air for Brenda and, do what she will, she cannot deny that she and her man were made for each other – literally. But as usual, Brenda and Effie will face up to whatever dangers come their way with fortitude and grace: even if that means journeying to places beyond their wildest dreams.

My review:

Yup, read out of order. Couldn't wait that long to catch up with the adventures of Brenda & Effie!

It's hard to review these books without giving away the plot. So all I'll say is that we have more classic adventures, giggles and oohs and aahs as we meet characters old and new, spend more time with Sheila Manchu, and decide who is going to Hell! In a departure from the first two books, this is written by a narrator rather than in Brenda's words, but this gives us more of an insight into other characters' thoughts and feelings.

I particularly liked the nods to classic children's books - the snow queen from Narnia, Bedknobs & Broomsticks...

Another excellent read that I almost couldn't put down when I was meant to be working today. Bring on the next one! 

Journal Entry 2 by LyzzyBee at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Book spiral!

katisha50 UK (UK)
Caroley UK (EU pref)
Amethystlady64 UK (anywhere)
PeaMartian UK (anywhere) <--- it's here!
Cross-Patch UK (anywhere)
Samrana UK (UK)
Disneyfreaksam UK (anywhere)
LiniP Germany (EU)
Tsjara Netherlands (EU) 

Journal Entry 3 by LyzzyBee at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, September 27, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (9/27/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Passing to Katisha50 today! 

Journal Entry 4 by Katisha50 at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, September 27, 2010

Hooray! This is the incentive I need to crack on with the current read (Iris Murdoch). 

Journal Entry 5 by Katisha50 at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, October 23, 2010

These books just get better and better. I did feel that there was a bit of Jasper Fforde-type fantasy here, in terms of the parallel worlds (which interested me, having only just read my first JF). I still love the down-to-earth written style. Bring on the next one! 

Journal Entry 6 by Katisha50 at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, October 23, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/23/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to Caroley today. 

Journal Entry 7 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, November 07, 2010

I've just got back from my holiday to find this waiting for me. Just what I needed!

It had company on the doormat though and the other one had an earlier postmark so I'll read that one first. Just to be fair. Even if Brenda and Effie are calling to me ;-) 

Journal Entry 8 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, November 15, 2010

They just keep getting better! I loved that this one was written in the third person, giving you more insight into the other characters. I liked that you got to see more of the characters from the other two books, even the ones who'd died.
I really loved the depiction of Hell. That was just marvellous.
I thought the chapters seemed shorter in this one, which made it feel like the book was faster paced with more action to it.

I'll PM Amethystlady64 and then get it on its way. Thanks for organising this great spiral Liz!

08/12/10 - still waiting for a reply from Amethystlady64. I'll PM her again.

 

Journal Entry 9 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, December 12, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (12/12/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted 2nd class to Amethystlady64 

Journal Entry 10 by Amethystlady64 at Hastings, East Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, January 14, 2011

Eek, sorry thought I had journaled receiving and I hadn't! Received with much thanks! 

Journal Entry 11 by Amethystlady64 at Hastings, East Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, March 03, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/3/2011 UTC) at Hastings, East Sussex United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On it's way to Peamartian! 

Journal Entry 12 by PeaMartian at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Saturday, March 19, 2011

Received with thanks and added to my TBR pile... 

Journal Entry 13 by PeaMartian at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Well, I've just realised that this book along with #4 in the series has been sitting on my shelf unloved for over a year. I am trying a new regime of being ruthless, and so I'm going to send this on to cross-patch along with #2 and #4 in the series, in the hope of kick-starting the spiral again. I didn't enjoy #2 as much is the first in the series, and so am finding it hard to motivative myself to read any further in the series. I think it best to draw a line here, and set these books off on the next leg of their journey. Sorry for stalling for so long! Hope everyone else enjoys the full series!

Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 14 by Cross-patch at Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, May 28, 2012

Arrived with two others in the series. I shall try to pass on in a timely way.