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

Two Women, hard hitting fiction from Martina Cole

Advantages: A very readable novel from a popular author
Disadvantages: Strong language and unsavoury subject matter may upset some

...Martina Cole is a popular novelist, known for her gritty, gutsy, no holds barred style of writing. If readers have experienced any of her other books, they will know that Ms Cole's novels are usually set in the seedy back streets of London's underworld, an area ruled by violence, hard men and poverty. The male characters are archetypical men's men, hard drinking, hard fighting, villains. Their women are generally downtrodden and ill used, if not prostitutes. Two Women is set against this backdrop. ~~The Plot~~ The book begins in the 1980's, with convicted murderess Susan Dalston, being transported from Durham prison to Holloway prison. Dalston has lodged an appeal against her life sentence. Dalston's reputation has preceded her, a dangerous woman who battered her husband to death by hitting him over 100 times around the head...

brittle1906 02.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Two Women - 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

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

Is Stephanie McIntosh on her way Down Under?

Advantages: Some Strong Tracks / Catchy Tunes /
Disadvantages: Lack of Originality / Only 1 song written by herself / No Diversity between tracks

...Released yesterday (20/08/07), Tightrope is Stephanie McIntosh?s debut album release and although topping the Australian charts at number 4 achieving Gold status in weeks and reaching number 11 on the UK Pre-order charts, is Tightrope ready to take on the UK charts by storm or simply flopping dismally. **WHO IS STEPHANIE MCINTOSH? ** Born in July 1985, Miss McIntosh is best known for her character portrayal ?Sky Mangel? in hit Aussie soap Neighbours, which she played for four years. Following in the footsteps of other Neighbours stars such as Kylie Minogue and Holly Valance and in Brother Jason Donovan, McIntosh decided to take on the world with music early in 2006. This is her debut album signed by Universal Productions based in Australia; McIntosh obviously has her goals set high as she has a 5 Album contract with Universal...

dan_pentagram 21.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Tightrope - Stephanie McIntosh

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

Stephanie: A bad babe.

Advantages: Daughter of the boss.
Disadvantages: Daughter of the boss.

...Stephanie tricked us all and because of that she makes the excellent baddie. With hindsight now, I did think it was strange that she was engaged to Test. ?Test?? I found myself thinking, ?Who the h*ll is Test?? She was supposed to marry Triple H. The marriage was the perfect union and it has created the best set of uber-villains that the WWF has seen to date. Stephanie, for those of you who have come to the reviews to find out about these people, is the daughter was Vince Mahon. Vince owns the WWF. Stephanie, for those of you who do not have a television set, is the pretty brunette who sits on the tall blond?s arm (He being HHH). The beauty and the beast, the brains and the brawn, I am sure the careful WWF viewer will have worked out that Stephanie is as sharp as a razorblade (and about as mean to). Steph is out to make her...

Manx 05.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley