The Take, a novel by Martina Cole

Advantages: A compelling tale of a criminally inclined family
Disadvantages: Strong language and violent scenes may cause offence.

...Review of ?The Take? a novel by Martina Cole I am reviewing the hardback version of the book, ISBN 978-0747269717 , 512 pages, published by Headline Book Publishing, in 2005. Jacket price £17.99. Also available used from www.amazon.co.uk . **The Novel** This novel is from the pen of Martina Cole, a British author who has made the London criminal underworld come alive for the readers of her work. The Take follows the fortunes and lives of the Jackson family from the early 1980's to the early '00s. The plot begins with the release from prison of Freddie Jackson. Freddie has done his time, made some useful contacts in prison and is back on the streets accompanied by his young cousin, Jimmy. As Freddie celebrates his freedom with booze, women and drugs, he conveniently forgets his wife Jackie waiting at home...

brittle1906 30.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Take - Martina Cole

Martina Cole - Close

Advantages: another cole classic
Disadvantages: not as good as some of her previous work

...Martina Cole - Close I couldn't wait to buy the new book from Martina Cole, Close and even though I cant stand to read hardback books, when I saw it in Tesco's for a discounted price I snapped it up and rushed home with a big bar of chocolate to begin the read. Unlike most Cole books this particular one seemed to take me a little while to get into the plot. For those who have yet the pleasure of read a Cole classic I will tell you that all her books are about the crime and gangster world of the London streets. The books are often filled with plenty of violence and skulduggery. The main two characters of this book are Lilly and Pat Brodie. You begin the book with them as a young couple just starting out in life and as the book progresses we follow their complicated lives through the tough world that is the London crime...

newby2 15.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Close - Martina Cole

FREE DVDs

Advantages: Free trial, large choice, post included,new realeases
Disadvantages: see review

...I like movies and I like freebies, so when you get offered both in one swoop you?re bound to accept! I used my two week free trial with this company and remained with them for a couple of monthsbefore moving on to try many other companies free trials (and winning a new DVD player on Tesco DVD rental site on their free trial offer). I then had an email from DVDs 365 asking me to go back, and offering me a free DVD if I did so. I had just left Tesco (with my new DVD player) so I chose to go back with them. ∆◊◊ THE SERVICE THEY OFFER ∆◊◊ Basically it?s like going to a video shop and hiring films on DVD, except you don?t pay for each film you chose ? rather a monthly fee for which you can watch as many movies as you can fit in, for us this is usually around 8 a month (2 a week usually weekends...

dabmim 15.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of dvds365.com

The Take by Martina Cole

Advantages: Addictive
Disadvantages: Violent in places

...The Take by Martina Cole As I am normally the chick lit Queen, I was surprised that I even gave this one a second glance. A friend lent it to me and told me that it was a good read. I was doubtful, but I thought I'd read the first few pages anyway - expecting to have put it down after a few pages. Instead I was hooked. This book is about the criminal underworld, gangsters and a lot of wheeling and dealing. I don't normally read or watch this type of thing, but Martina Cole has an excellent way of writing. She brings the characters to life, makes them real, and she really draws you in. The main story revolves around the Jacksons - Freddie and his younger cousin Jimmy. Jimmy looks up to Freddie at the beginning of the story but the tables turn throughout it. Freddie is married to Jackie, a raging alcoholic whose first love is...

jules.34 26.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Take - Martina Cole

Abel & Cole Organics

Advantages: Scrummy fruit and veg, ethical company
Disadvantages: Seasonal availability, can only pay by card

...I always had a vague interest in eating organic food, but at the end of the day it always seemed a little bit too hard or too expensive to bother with (OK, I?m lazy, bite me ;o) ). I?d go so far as to pick up leaflets about different organic delivery schemes in my local area, think about them for a while before putting them in the recycle bin and feeling vaguely guilty. Then, along came Abel & Cole, who purely by chance stuck a leaflet through our front door just after we moved from a flat into a house. This was a key turning point, since I didn?t trust my neighbours in the flat not to nick off with my order before I got home from work! So, we decided to give them a try. *The company Abel & Cole was set up in the late 80s in Catford, London, and they went fully organic in 1993. The original product lines were purely fruits...

xalala 30.11.2003 · Read review
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Review of Abel-cole.co.uk

George's Marvellous Medicine

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...?George?s Marvellous Medicine? was the first of Roald Dahl?s stories which we read to our eldest son. It?s the story of a little boy who has a real stinker of a grandmother. She?s rude and scary and bosses him around all the time. One day George?s mum and dad have both gone out, leaving him alone with his Grandma. George has had enough of Grandma bullying him and so decides to cure her of her cantankerous behaviour with a special potion, which he?ll give her instead of her usual medicine. He finds an enormous saucepan in the kitchen and lugs it all around the house, essentially putting in a bit of everything he finds [lipsticks and canary seed included!]. He even makes sure he adds some brown paint so that it is the same colour as Grandma?s real medicine! He then boils it up to make sure that everything?s nicely mixed together before...

princesslaura 13.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of George's Marvellous Medicine - Roald Dahl

George and the dragon

Advantages: Great re take on a well known tale
Disadvantages: None

...George and the Dragon An amusing spin off from the story of George and the Dragon as we know it?ie knight with sword killing a dragon. This book, however does indeed have a scary dragon, but the hero, far from being a knight in shining armour, is a mouse called George. ~~Story and Illustrations~~ The scene is set as we enter a landscape of high and rocky mountains and move into a "deep, deep valley in a dark dark cave"" (ooh!! The suspense). In this dark cave, lives a mighty dragon. Yes, he is big and very red. So big, in fact, that he takes up a whole double page spread, and there he stands amongst the rubble, blowing smoke from his nostrils. This mighty dragon can fly higher than the clouds and faster than the birds. He can burn down forests and smash castle walls and with a brush of his wing, he can foil and destroy whole...

danielalong 27.11.2006 · Read review
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Review of George and The Dragon - Chris Wormell

Large George Foreman grill and griddle for healthier food

Advantages: quick, healthy food
Disadvantages: weak instruction guide

...I bought this George Foreman 6 person indoor grill about two months ago. I would rather say it is for 4 persons. It is quite big when you have to bring it home or you have to find place for it, but is perfect size when you grill on it. First impressions I saw it on Internet on www.argos.co.uk site, it was on offer for 44.99 pounds. I reserved it and went to pick it up. It was in a huge box. When I arrived home with it I opened and found that the grill is really big. I had to put some household appliances away to have enough place for it. There were the grill, a drip tray and two spatulas in the box. The grill was in one piece there was no need for assemble anything. Features Non stick grill and griddle: the vegetables need a little oil because otherwise they stick to the griddle. So before I spice them, I pour a little oil on them...

D_i_a_n_e 25.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of George Foreman 11761

Unforgettable Songs by Natalie Cole

Advantages: Very memorable songs
Disadvantages: None

...First it was UNFORGETTABLE WITH LOVE, by Natalie Cole in 1991, an album which highlights the songs of her father and catapulted this popular jazz artist to success. And now we have STILL UNFORGETTABLE-another compendium that is definitely fabulous! Fabulous is one word I can muster for this work of art by Natalie Cole. Who doesn't know Natalie after she recorded the song UNFORGETTABLE which, she admits, altered the course of her career way back in 1991. Nat "King" Cole was her father, the crowned king of balladeers in the music's kingdom hall of fame where the likes of Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett also ruled time after time. She is a living legend in music, having won two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and many more-nine Grammies in all. On February this year, she won a National Association...

bertalways 23.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Still Unforgettable - Natalie Cole

Surprising Picture Quality - Panasonic DVD-S54

Advantages: Incredible picture quality when compared to my old non-upscaling player with a scart lead
Disadvantages: Sometimes disc drive can be really noisy when DVD's initially load.

...At first I wasn't convinced by up-scaling DVD player technology but was persuaded after reading an article in "What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision" magazine. Unable to afford a Blu-Ray player my sister and I bought the Panasonic DVD-S54 to match our parents brand new Panasonic TX-32LZD80 LCD television as their Christmas 2008 present. Admittedly it was a slightly selfish purchase as we both live at home and wanted to watch DVDs on the big new TV ourselves! We bought the player from the electrical retailer Comet for about £100 just before Christmas so there were no discounts applied. On Christmas day when opened we found a relatively small box tightly packed with the player in polystyrene packaging. All the components such as cables, remote and manuals were well presented in their own protective plastic bags, to keep them protected. The player...

bobbacon985 12.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Panasonic DVD-S54