Welcome to 'Giovanna's World' -A place where I get to share the things I love. Be prepared for things that make you smile and fill you with joy! 
Book Club
I get sent some books, I have fun reading them - then I let you know what I think about them…
(Un)like A Virgin by Lucy-Anne Holmes
The Blurb:
You know that bit in The X Factor, when the singer tells everyone about the rocky road they travelled to pursue their dream? Well, that’s Gracie Fowers’ story.
Gracie is very focused for a woman of almost twenty-six. Her favourite book is The 5-Year Plan: Making the Most of Your Life. And her five-year plan is going very well. That is, until she is usurped from her big promotion be a handsome, posh idiot; she is dumped by her boyfriend; and discovers her loopy mother is facing bankruptcy.
Hormones awry and ice-cream over-ordered, a dream Gracie thought she’d buried ten years ago begins to resurface. A dream that reminds her of the girl she used to e and everything she wanted to become.
My Thoughts:
Gracie Flowers is likeable from the start of this novel; she is instantly funny, witty and relatable. She is highly honesty and unable to do anything but tell the truth.
Because a bond is formed with Gracie, your heart goes out to her immediately when her life plans start to go awry. Like all those big sob stories you see on The X Factor (you know the ones – lots of close up shots, tears and dramatic classical music in the background) your bottom lip will start quivering and you’ll find yourself suddenly overcome with emotion… Never has a book had me so close to laughter and tears continuously throughout.
Tender, heartfelt and wonderfully hilarious. I urge you to read this book!
One Day by David Nicholls
The Blurb:
You can live your whole life not realising that what you’ve been looking for is right in front of you.
15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.
So where will they be on this day next year? And the year after that?
And every year that follows
My Thoughts:
Everyone loves a love story – and from the moment you start reading this book you’re willing the two leads, Emma and Dexter, to get together – shouting at them as they fall for other people and don’t act on their feelings…and then really hating Dexter when he acts in pretty idiotic ways!
We meet the couple on the 15th July 1988 and then meet them on the same day for the next twenty years. We cleverly find out about the events of the last twelve months and get to grips with the current state of their relationship – will they be talking? Will they get to see each other? Will they have partners? What shocking revelations have we missed?
One Day is an extremely moving book, which is beautifully heartbreaking and frustratingly tragic. I was blown away by it’s ending, with the last fifty pages causing me to weep uncontrollably.
This is a must-read and should definitely be read before it hits the cinema at the end of the month.
Lessons In Laughing Out Loud by Rowan Coleman
The Blurb:
Willow and Holly are identical twins. They are everything to each other. Holly calls Willow her rock, her soul mate, her other half. And Willow feels the same about Holly. They are alike in every respect except one – Willow is afraid on the inside. And all because of a secret – one that binds the sisters closely together and yet has meant their adult lives have taken two very different paths.
Willow often feels there are large parts of her missing, qualities she only knows she’s lacking because she sees them in her sister. For a very long time Willow has felt separated from Holly by one terrible moment in time – a moment that meant Willow’s life was never the same again. And when the past catches up with her, Willow realises it’s finally time for her to face her fears, and – with Holly’s help – learn to laugh out loud once more…
My Thoughts:
Willow doesn’t think very much of herself. In fact, she feels safest when she is sat in front of the telly with a bottle of wine and a huge bar of chocolate – this obviously adds to her putting on weight, which adds to her sense of self-loathing. She loves her job in a top talent agency, probably because it gives her a focus away from her own life.
Willow’s life changes when she takes a wrong turn and stumbles across a curious junk shop with a beautiful pair of shoes in the window. From the moment Willow puts on the shoes things start changing…those little changes make her realise that it’s time to face the past that has been haunting her for so long, a past that has been convincing her that she is undeserving of love.
Riveting from beginning to end, with a great mixture of believable characters. Encouraging, heartwarming and funny – with a touch of magic.
Marrying Up by Wendy Holden
The Blurb:
Scheming social climber Alexa may be humbly born, but she’s a class-hopping cruise missile aimed at the very top of the gold-digging tree. Only a title, mansion and family tiara will do. Befriending feckless aristo Florrie (three surnames plus black hole where her brain should be) means the grandest doors swing open and the prince of her dreams is in sights. But has Florrie’s mother, the formidable Lady Annabel, rumbled what Alexa is up to?
Beautiful but penniless student Polly, meanwhile, is in love. Is Max, the handsome young vet she’s found in a country lane, quite as ordinary as he seems, however?
Passionate love, eye-widening snobbery and more than naked ambition abound in this contemporary Cinderella tale - a deliciously satirical novel of the upwardly mobile
My thoughts:
The real story for me, and the one that really gripped me and made me want to devour the pages for more information, was the one between Polly and Max. Their love comes from a place of real romance, and they fall for each over because of what’s inside - not because of who they might be.
Aside from that I really enjoyed Alexa’s comical struggle to plant herself within aristocratic circles, with no shame or realisation on how absurd and shallow her dream is. That matched with Florrie’s dippy manner means that she finds herself in amusing situations, which actually did lead me to laugh on loud on a few occasions (luckily I was at home alone and not on a busy train!).
This book will certainly make you look at the way you view your life and question what it is that attracts you to certain people. Also, perhaps more interestingly, what attracts them to you…
Funny, bizarre and romantic - definitely worth picking up!
Midwife’s Confessions by Diane Chamberlain
The Blurb:
Dear Anna,
What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I’m so sorry…
The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle’s suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle—her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—described a woman who embraced life.
Yet there was so much they didn’t know.
With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle’s friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives—and the life of a desperate stranger—with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.
My Thoughts:
It’s surprising how the tiniest decisions we make can affect the outcome of our lives… however for Noelle it’s the massive choices she makes (and then covers up) which lead her to become someone other than who her friends know and love.
As the plot thickens and we discover more about Noelle you feel such complex emotions towards her: pity, disbelief and sorrow. She’d kept so much to herself that it’s only through her death that her friends actually discover the real Noelle.
We’re told the story as we follow different characters – Emerson and Tara take us through the present day, whereas we follow Noelle in the past. As she moves through the years, and the pieces fit together, we discover she has more than just one shocking secret.
There are so many twists that your head is left spinning. This book is dark, tragic and full of delicious detail.
About Last Night by Adele Parks
The Blurb:
For thirty years, best friends Stephanie and Phillippa have been practically inseparable. They’ve supported each other through school, fledging careers, marriages, childbirth and heartache. There’s nothing they would not do for one another.
Until a few words change everything.
‘I need you to say that I was with you.’
Steph, eternally solid, considerate and dependable, is begging her best friend to lie to the police as she’s desperately trying to conceal not one but two shocking secrets to protect her family. Her carefully- constructed, perfect life is about to be torn apart. Unless Pip agrees to this lie.
Pip, self-consigned to the role of scatty, frivolous hot-head, is overwhelmed; she’s normally the one asking for help in a crisis although never anything as catastrophic as this. After years of struggle Pip’s life just seems to be coming together; lying will jeopardise everything she’s recently established. But telling the truth will destroy Steph.
Both women have always believed that friendship is built on mutual selflessness, concession and trust. Are those beliefs now to be tested beyond endurance?
How far would you go for your best friend?
My Thoughts:
I love Adele Parks, in fact I can still remember picking up Playing Away (which must have been about ten years ago) and devouring every delicious moment of it. From then on Adele Parks was firmly on my list of favourite authors, and she never disappoints!
About Last Night is the most descriptive book I think I’ve read from Adele Parks, which follows three characters – two best friends and ‘the other woman.’
The bond between Steph and Pip is one that goes back to their childhood and they’ve seen each other through everything – relationships, deaths, births and divorces. They’re instantly likeable and relatable.
On the other hand, Kirsten, aka the other woman, is dislikeable straight away and instantly made me feel a little angry, with her irresponsible ways and ridiculous life. Hmmm… I really didn’t like her!
The story turns out to be a surprise ‘who dunnit’, which I really didn’t expect from Adele. It’s surprising how quickly your opinions on certain characters change and how you find yourself doubting them instantly. With short chapters you find yourself gobbling up the story as your heart demands to know the truth.
The book carries with it thought-provoking ideas about life, and how we should be living it. Occasionally we all get so worked up with what others around us think looking in on our lives that we forget to actually enjoy ourselves and ask what we want from it. Life isn’t about being the model parent/girlfriend/neighbour – not all the time, especially if that takes over your being. Keep dreaming and existing…
I definitely recommend picking up About Last Night this summer; it’s heartbreaking, gripping and just as superb as anything else I’ve read by Adele Parks!
Goddess Of Vengeance by Jackie Collins
The Blurb:
Lucky Santangelo is back with a vengeance – in a novel full of power, passion, revenge and the raging family dynamics of the Santangelo clan – and, as always, Lucky comes out on top!
Lucky rules with her high profile casino and hotel complex, The Keys in Begas. Lennie, her ex-movie-star huband, is still writing and directing successful movies; while Max, her wild and gorgeous teenage daughter, is about to celebrate her 18thbirthday; and her son, Bobby, owns a string of clubs.
Lucky has everything. Family. Love. Life
And everything is exactly what billionaire business Armand Jordan is deteremined to take from her one way or the other.
Born a Prince in the small but affluent MiddleEastern country of Akramshar, Armand comes to America with his mother at an early age and rises to become a real estate business titan. Women in his eyes are nothing more than breeding mares or sexual playthings, so when he’s told that the one property ge covets more than anything,The Keys, is not for sale, he is shocked. That a mere woman would turn down his offer to buy The Keys is unthinkable and Armand vows to force Lucky’s hand whatever it takes.
And so the battle of power begins…
Meanwhile Bobby and Max are getting into their own trouble. Bobbt inadvertently becomes involved in his ex-best friend , Frankie Romano’s, drug problms, causing friction between Bobby and his girlfriend, L.A. Deputy D.A., Denver Jones. And young Max I getting restless. Not interested in college, she fights with Lucky and embarks on a series of adventures that could turn out to have deadly consequences. But Max is like a little Lucky, and eventually she proves her strength in more ways than one.
My Thoughts:
Ok, I’m going to confess this straight away - I have never (until now) read a book by Jackie Collins. I know, I know…it’s awful and I don’t know how I have made it this far into life without purchasing one of them.
But now I have, so want to know what I thought…?
I recently read that when reading a great book you should constantly be asking ‘…and then what?’ Well, I don’t think there was a moment in this book where I wasn’t thirsty to discover what came next in the story and asking questions - You can feel the book gearing up for something explosive to take place. The interesting thing here is that sometimes when a book builds suspense like this I find myself reading ultra quickly, sometimes not really taking in the words, so that I get to the main event sooner. But Jackie writes in a way that keeps you in check and makes you want to devour every single word. The style of writing is inviting and easy to absorb which enables the story to flow in an addictive manner.
It’s the 8th book following Lucky Santangelo and you’d think I’d feel lost with so many characters floating around. But NO! The chapters are short, which is what makes them easy to swallow and get your head around. The characters are so varied but each has such a clear and crisp persona that they are remembered instantly. The past isn’t dwelled on, just mentioned here and there (don’t you just hate it when you pick up a book that’s part of a series and the spend half of the book recapping on what happened in the previous books? That doesn’t happen here!), and Lucky is an absolute diva who you would love to be able to call your friend.
This book is sexy, powerful and stylish… I want to read MORE Jackie Collins!!
Never Mind The Botox by Penny Avis & Joanna Berry
The Blurb:
Never Mind the Botox is a book series about four professional women all working on the sale of high profile cosmetic surgery business the Beau Street Group. Each book reveals how the women cope with one of the most glamorous but challenging deals of their careers and the dramatic impact it has on their personal lives. With a briefcase in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, can they navigate their way through a surreal world of boob jobs by day and intrigue by night - and still keep their own love lives on track?
Alex Fisher is a high-flying lawyer close to making partner and busy planning her perfect wedding to Elliott. But life suddenly becomes complicated when she’s faced with a hot junior lawyer on her team and an actress threatening to jeopardise the deal by exposing her dodgy surgery. Soon Alex is forced into a series of impossible choices that are all inextricably linked and life will never be the same again.
My Thoughts:
Ok, if I’m honest here I was a little bit dubious when I started reading this book…and I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps it was the mention of botox? (I’m a little squeamish) Or the fact that it had two authors, both of whom hadn’t come from a literary background? (one a lawyer and the other an accountant) Whatever is was – I was completely wrong! Yeah, so alright, at first a little bit of lawyer jargon caught me by surprise – but the more I read the more I wanted to read on.
We follow Alex, a career driven female who is looking for a big case so that she can fulfill her dream of becoming partner. She is likeable and ambitious, with her head firmly screwed on…almost. Her relationship with a lazy plonker, when she could do so much better, makes you will her to wake up and realise that she’s being used. You feel her pain at not being able to let go - she has a wedding to plan and she can’t just cancel it all now…or can she? With no real scenes of love and intimacy between the couple you find yourself eyeing up every new man that enters in the hope that he’ll be Alex’s Prince Charming!
Completely accessible to all, this book will help you while away the hours and escape into a world full of botox injections, boob jobs and romance. Humorous and insightful!
It Happened One Summer by Polly Williams
The Blurb:
After years of romantic drought, Nell is enjoying a thrilling fling with a sexy new man and loving London life, somehow managing to juggle single motherhood with a busy career. Plus, in the city it’s easy to avoid her sister who is about to marry Nell’s ex. (Yes, messy.) Then she gets the news. Please could she return to Tredower, the crumbling old family home in Cornwall for the summer? Disaster. Tredower has no wifi, harbours her big dysfunctional family, and, far worse, memories of her passionate love affair with the man who is about to become her brother-in-law. The past is another county. Can she go there?
Another woman is making her way west too, carrying an explosive secret. Love will be lost, broken, and found, lives changed forever…
My Thoughts:
I first opened this book on a busy commuter train coming home from London and could feel the man next to me reading over my shoulder… the first few pages are a little bit saucy, therefore I became quite embarrassed (which I tried to hide. I’m a super-cool 26 year old after all! Not!). But fear not, I got home unscathed and have managed to spend the last few days curled up in the comfort of my own home.
Now, don’t go thinking that this book is all about sex, it really isn’t. I think the reason for it at the start of the book is to show how much Nell’s life has changed when we see her the chapter afterwards, which is set five years later. By this point Nell has split from the boyfriend in chapter one, and he is now engaged to her sister… You just know when you read that little corker that this book is going to be full of complex feelings and lots of gripping emotional baggage! Marvellous!
A lovely read which reminds you to stop and take notice of what’s important and what it is in life that you actually want. We all get so caught up in the game of life sometimes that we forget to be thankful for what we have. Oh, and just remember that actions and consequences will follow you forever.
A moving and funny tale which is thoroughly enjoyable.
Damn You Autocorrect by Jillian Madison
The Blurb:
Damn You, Autocorrect! brings together some of the laugh-out-loud funny and painfully embarrassing posts from the hit website, which highlight the hilarity that often ensues when messaging goes wrong: girlfriends getting together for ‘manila penis,’(mani pedis); a husband texting his wife that he ‘laid’ the babysitter (paid); a friend asking if someone got tickets to the ‘Lady Vagina’ (Lady Gaga) concert, and the most popular image on the website so far: a father texting his daughter that he and his mother were going to divorce, when they were in fact just going to Disney. Oops.
The phenomenally successful Damnyouautocorrect.com began when author Jillian Madison innocently tried to invite some friends over for gelato. Autocorrect, however, had another idea, and asked them over for a night of ‘fellatio’ instead. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Damn You, Autocorrect! includes 200 never before seen submissions to the website, as well as an introduction from the author and website creator, Jillian Madison.
My thoughts:
It used to be that you’d send a text to the wrong person (usually the person you’re talking about - oops!), but thankfully iPhone have made that almost impossible to do… Instead we have come up against a different problem - autocorrect! This, sometimes wonderful, device plagues our texts with massive errors, which can usually cause us to blush for hours.
This is simply a greatly funny book which you can pick up and put down as many times as you like, without it getting old and boring. I have had so much fun flicking through and reading out certain conversations to friends of mine.
A superb book to dip in and out of!
The Making Of Us By Lisa Jewell
The Blurb:
In a hospice in Bury St Edmunds, a man called Daniel is slowly fading away. His friend Maggie sits with him every day; she holds his hand and she listens to the story of his life, to his regrets and to his secrets. And then he tells her about the children he has never met and never will. He talks of them wistfully. His legacy, he calls them.
Lydia, Dean and Robyn don’t know each other. Yet. And they are all facing difficult changes. Lydia is still wearing the scars from her traumatic childhood and although she is wealthy and successful, her life is lonely and disjointed. Dean is a young man, burdened with unexpected responsibility, whose life is going nowhere. And Robyn wants to be a doctor, just like her father – a man she’s never met. But is her whole life built on an illusion.
Three people leading three very different lives. All lost. All looking for something. But when they slowly find their way into each other’s lives, everything starts to change …
My Thoughts:
A few weeks ago I read Lisa Jewell’s After The Party – after loving that I couldn’t wait to find some time to sit down with her next offering.
Let me tell you a secret… I don’t read blurbs! Rarely am I seen pondering over the back of a book getting a glimpse of the story – just as I would never read the last page of the story without reading the rest first. Because of this I have no idea what’s coming when I open a book. From page one I’m looking at different avenues I think the story could be going down – and with this book I was so wrong!
The idea behind the story is mind-blowingly beautiful and kicks up lots of conflicting emotions inside the reader. Told from six different people’s point of view, we hear how each of their lives have been affected by sperm donation – and thanks to the Sibling Register (a website where you can track people who share the same donor), some of these individuals are able to find their brothers and sisters (Plus a whole lot more).
I was compelled by this storyline which is full of a humans need to belong, expectations of life and the beauty of family. Truly insightful and thought-provoking.
After The Party by Lisa Jewell
The Blurb:
Eleven years ago, Jem Catterick and Ralph McLeary fell in love. They thought it would be for ever, that they’d found their happy ending.
Then two became four, a flat became a house. Romantic nights out became sleepless nights in. And life wasn’t quite so simple any more.
Now the unimaginable has happened. Two people who were so right together are starting to drift apart – Ralph is standing on the sidelines, and Jem is losing herself. Something has to change. As they try to find a way back to each other, back to what they once had, they both become dangerously distracted – but maybe it’s not too late to recapture happily ever after…
My Thoughts:
I remember being engrossed in Ralph’s Party when I was in my teens, so it’s unsurprising that I was excited to get my mitts onto this book to see what actually happened to the two characters I willed together all those years ago.
Sadly, life had happened and worn the pair down. We learn right at the start that the pair are no longer together, but that they have had two children and so are still in contact. We then recap over the last year and witness the sequence of events that lead them to this sad and lonely place in life.
As in most relationships these two are guilty of not communicating their true feelings, which leads to resentment and confusion. On top of this it would seem that temptation outside their relationship is at an all time high, with understanding strangers flocking to shoulder their burden. Is it wrong that I just wanted to shout at these outsiders to go away and stop confusing the couple further? Of course it is, this is fiction after all…
A true to life and well observed tale, which was worth the wait!
12th April
The Guardian Angel’s Journal by Carolyn Jess-Cooke
A Brief Description:
When Margot Delacroix dies at forty-two years old, she is sent back to earth as a guardian angel - to herself. Renamed Ruth, she is forced by divine mandate to re-experience and record her biggest mistakes and fiercest regrets from the beginning of her life to her untimely death. Forced from the moment of her birth to witness the cogs of fate and the stuttering engine of free will, Ruth sets out to change the course of her life, and, ultimately, to prevent her premature death. When she realises that the reasons behind her teenage son’s descent into drugs and murder lay within her own actions as Margot, she makes a pact with a demon - she will give up her place in Heaven in exchange for the opportunity to save her son from his fate. But the changes she makes result in consequences no one could expect…
My Thoughts:
Picking up a book about Guardian Angels you automatically think that it is going to be littered with themes of choice and consequence, good and evil, right and wrong… Well that is what you can expect from this book, as those themes are definitely covered. If you’re anything like me then you might also conjure up the image of the Guardian Angel being perched on someone’s shoulder, with the devil on the other one… thankfully, this is not what occurs in this book. The way in which Carloyn Jess-Cooke has developed and expressed this alternative world is humble, heartwarming and thought-provoking with impressive imagery.
Even though Margot makes some appalling decisions throughout her life, which are captured in this book, because we are being told the story by her (she is her own Guardian Angel) you can’t help but feel sympathy and sorrow for her. Clearly there are also some moments where you want to shout at her to stop certain outcomes…however there is an understanding and a huge sense of foreboding which forces you to keep reading.
This book is as beautiful as the little girl on it’s cover… VERY!
5th April 2011
Where Would I be Without You? by Guillaume Musso
Brief Description:
Parisian cop Martin Beaumont has never really got over his first love, Gabrielle. Their brief, intense affair in San Francisco and the pain of her rejection still haunt him years later. Now, however, he’s a successful detective - and tonight he’s going to arrest the legendary art thief, Archibald Maclean, when he raids the Musee d’Orsay for a priceless Van Gogh. But the enigmatic Archibald has other plans. Martin’s pursuit of the master criminal across Paris is the first step in an adventure that will take him back to San Francisco, and to the edge of love and life itself.
My Thoughts:
Right, let me be completely honest – when I first picked this up I didn’t think I was going to like it at all. I thought it was going to be quite heavy on the crime side and I haven’t read a book of that genre for a while…But in fact I blooming loved it! (This isn’t surprising as it’s sold over 1million copies worldwide so far!)
It starts off with a gorgeous love affair, which is innocent and passionate, and then you’re smashed straight into heartbreak, cold and painful.
The last half of this book is where it really comes alive and where you really fall in love with the piece and story. I couldn’t put this book down. It asked me to devour it in one go – I managed it in just two sittings!
Carrying many wonderful messages and thoughts, this novel is moving, surprising and beautiful.
Simply divine…
29th March 2011
RSVP by Helen Warner
The Blurb:
You are cordinally invited to the wedding of the year…
Meet:
Anna, The Heartbroken Ex - Anna’s world is rocked when she receives an invitation to her ex Toby’s wedding. Toby was The Love Of Her Life, The One That Got Away. Will attending his Big Day finally give her the sense of closure she needs?
Clare, The Best Friend - Clare is Anna’s best friend, the person who was there for her when she and Toby split all those years ago. But little does Clare know that Toby’s wedding day will change her own life forever.
Ella, The Femme Fatale - Ella loves men and leaves them without a backward glance. But the one who’s never fallen for her charms is Toby. As he prepares to get hitched, is it too late for a last-ditch attempt to win his heart?
Rachel, The Bride-to-be - This should be the happiest day of her life. So how come she feels nothing but a terrible sense of foreboding?
My Thoughts:
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…is the first thing that comes into my head on describing my thoughts towards this book. I blooming LOVED it!
Helen Warner has managed to capture four believable characters who you will love finding out more about as the story develops - they’re all complex, loveable and each of them make you shout at them in frustration at various times. The characters and their intricate relationships are what guides the whole book - there are no silly jobs or subplots which make everything hazy. It is purely about these characters and the affects that this wedding will have on their lives.
This book is superbly written, I simply can’t gush about it enough! It is heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, sexy and devastating.
RSVP Is amazing, a must read… In fact, I think I’m going to go read it again!
Dear Helen, please write a sequel!
21st March 2011
*****as seen in heat magazine*****
New Beginnings by Fern Britton
Queen of daytime TV, Fern Britton, has taken time out of her hectic schedule to whip together this little corker – and we’re glad she did! Christine Lynch’s life is turned upside down when her husband tragically dies on his way to work, leaving her to care for their two young children and huge debt alone. Two years later things are starting to pick up when she is offered her dream job as a daytime TV presenter and offered representation by one of the biggest agents in London. However things don’t seem to be running as smoothly as she hoped – her family cry out for attention, she struggles to find out who she can trust and somehow the media start to show her in a negative light. As Christine tries to balance her home and work life she wonders if it’s possible to have a successful career and be a good mother at the same time. It’s clear that Fern’s own dilemma’s and life experiences have been drawn upon in this heartwarming, yet devious, tale.
****4 stars
3rd March 2011
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
The Description:
Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness, until she meets Ernest Hemingway. After a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they soon fall in with a circle of lively and volatile expatriates, including F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound.
Ernest and Hadley are thrust into a life of artistic ambition, hard liquor and spur-of-the-moment dashes to Pamplona, the Riviera and the Swiss Alps. But Jazz Age Paris does not lend itself to family life and fidelity. As Hadley struggles with jealousy and self-doubt, Ernest’s ferocious literary endeavours begin to bear fruit, and the couple faces the ultimate crisis of their marriage - a deception that will lead to the unravelling of everything they made for themselves in Paris, their ‘great good place’.
My Thoughts:
Firstly I have to say that I blooming wish I experienced love in the 1920’s…it all seems so much more romantic - and all so much more devastating and dramatic when it all goes wrong! This book captures a different world, one full of promise, glamour and drive - all set in Paris’s Jazz Age.
Obviously I have heard of Ernest Hemingway and have come across his work, however I know nothing of his private life - so I took to this book with completely fresh eyes, not knowing anything! Knowing that this book was a fictional piece but based on a true relationship I found myself wanting to jump on to Google and find out everything I could…But I managed to somehow restrain myself! Phew!
On the whole this is told from Hadley’s point of view, but with snippets of Ernest’s thoughts featured too. The beginning of their romance is full of such passion and charm, that you find yourself falling for Hemingway yourself, therefore you really feel it when he sucked into the Parisian life style. A world that makes fidelity and truth hard to honour.
A tragic love story which leaves you longing for another time and place!
3rd March 2011
To Touch the Stars by Jessica Ruston
***printed in heat magazine***
Violet Cavalley catapulted herself into the fashion industry and launched one of the world’s most successful millineries. To the outside world beautiful Violet looks to have had the perfect life, a thriving business, an abundance of money and three talented children. However, no one actually knows the truth about her mysterious past and the pain and hurt that she has managed to keep hidden. When Violet discovers that she is dying she realises that she needs to tell her family about the dark secrets she has kept. She wants them to hear the truth from her so that they can move on with an understanding of the choices that she made in her life. It is time she revealed the full extent of the Cavalley Curse which has plagued her for so long. Deeply moving and emotional – Jessica Ruston picks us up and takes us on an epic ride through Violets life. Full of twists and knock backs, an addictive tale which you won’t want to put down. ****4 stars
——————————————————————————————————
I really did enjoy reading this book and I really cared for Violet - it surprising how much! As a reader you want her to find happiness and to escape the life she is living in certain parts of the book… that might be because you know that danger is lurking around the corner, just waiting to pop it’s head out and ruin everything.
Brilliantly told!
3rd March 2011
Cuckoo by Julia Crouch
***as seen in heat magazine***
We all have that one bestest friend who we go to in our time of need- the one who knows everything about us, the good, the bad and the oh-so-very-ugly. So when they need your help you welcome them with open arms and do all you can to repay them. This is exactly what Rose does when best bud’s Polly’s husband dies. She takes her oldest friend in, along with her two foul-mouthed sons, and tries to help her recover from her loss.
Life for Rose was close to perfect, idyllically living in the countryside with her husband and two daughters, but Polly’s arrival throws everything into disarray. Is Rose just being paranoid around her closest friend? Or is she really out to destroy her life? Surely one lady can’t cause so much havoc…
At one point Rose is described as having the “Thrill of dread”- well, that perfectly sums up our state when reading it! A riveting story which keeps your eyes locked on the page and leaves you feeling shaken and out of sorts!
*****5 stars
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I actually couldn’t put this down! In fact it was so gripping that I had to sit up to read it - like sitting to attention! You can just sense that things are going to explode and that bad things are going to happen… ahhhh! It’s given me goosebumps just thinking about it!
6th February 2011
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell
The Blurb:
Fresh our of university and in disgrace, Lexie Sinclair is waiting for her life to begin. When the sophisticated Innes Kent turns up on her doorstep in rural Devon, she realises she can wait no longer, and leaves for London. There, Lexie carves out a new life for herself at the heart of bohemian 1950s Soho, with Innes by her side.
In the present, Ted and Elina no longer recognise their lives after the arrival of their first child. Elina, an artist, wonders if she will ever paint again, while ted is disturbed by memories of his own childhood - memories that don’t tally with his parent’s version of events.
As Ted’s search for answers gathers momentum, so a portrait is revealed of two women separated by fifty years, but linked by their passionate refusal to settle for ordinary lives.
My Thoughts:
We are taken on, what first appears to be, two separate stories - following Lexie in the 1950’s and Elina in the present. Interestingly each story manages to capture your heart even though they’re extremely different. For the most part, especially the first half, Lexie’s story is full of liberation, freedom and romance - whereas Elina’s story is full of confusion, numbness and pain. Both are compelling and urge you to read on further.
You can feel during the telling of the story that something big is going to be revealed, that whatever it is that ties the whole thing together is going to cause a big reaction within you - it certainly does.
I don’t think I usually talk about how a book is written - But Maggie O’Farrell has such a delightful way of storytelling that keeps everything alive and up in the air - little dips into the past or future, crossing over and bringing tiny details together. It’s an incredibly enjoyable read full of emotion, colour and style.
2nd February 2011
The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson
The Blurb:
She’s out of his life, but is she out of his heart?
Libby has a nice life with a great job, a gorgeous husband and a big home by the sea. But she’s becoming more unsure of Jack’s feelings for her – and if he is over the mysterious death of Eve, his first wife.
When fate intervenes in their relationship, Libby decides to find out all she can about the man she hastily married and the seemingly perfect Eve.
Eventually Libby stumbles across some startling truths about Eve. As she begins to unearth more and more devastating secrets, Libby becomes frightened that she too will end up like the first woman Jack loved…
Tense and moving The Woman He Loved Beforeexplores if the love you want is always the love you need – or deserve.
My Thoughts:
You’ve all probably gathered that Dorothy is one of my favourite authors of all time - I’m fortunate to call her a friend now too. So you can guess how excited I was, just before Christmas, when a mock up copy of this book landed on my doorstep. I shrieked! I did feel a little nervous with anticipation as I opened the copy and started to read - Would it live up to Dorothy’s amazing standard? Er… Yes it would!!
In every book of Dorothy’s that I have read (all of them) she manages to catch you by your heart in the first chapter - scrap that, first 2 pages - and then you have no choice but to carry on reading and block out every other living thing in your life. I did actually spend two whole days on the sofa with my nose in this book ignoring Tom…he wasn’t impressed.
You don’t just go on one emotional journey with this book - you go on four at least. With each character you find yourself questioning them, feeling for them and mentally shouting at them as they make ill chosen decisions and fail to open up to the people they love. To say that this book is emotionally engaging is an understatement. I felt tense, nervous and scared throughout - although there are also heart-warming scenes thrown in too, which are cleverly placed.
I actually can’t recommend this book highly enough. It lingered on my mind. Even now, weeks after reading it, the very thought of it gives me tingles. Quite simply a MUST READ!
Out tomorrow - so to get you even more excited why not visit Dorothy’s website and read the first chapter here… http://www.dorothykoomson.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Woman-He-Loved-Before-extract.pdf
30th January 2011
I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson
A Description:
Remember when the man of your dreams was waiting for you between the pages of Jackie?
Remember when pop concerts kicked off at 2.00pm so you could be home in time for Blind Date?
Remember when your signature scent was a heady mix of joss sticks and ‘White Musk’?
This summer let Allison Pearson’s hilarious and heart-warming novel take you back to the days of lip-gloss, unrequited love, teenage crushes and Anne French cleansing milk. We enter the world of two unforgettable friends: Petra and Sharon, in 1970s South Wales, who live for David Cassidy. His fan magazine is the girls’ Bible and they memorise every word that he sings and writes, in the hope of becoming the future Mrs Cassidy. But unbeknownst to Petra, and to millions of other hopefuls, David’s letters may not be all his own work. The secret lies with Bill Finn, English graduate turned reluctant pop journalist, whose job it is to compile the Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz. Top prize: the trip of a lifetime, to meet your one and only love.
Over two decades later, bruised by grief, Petra is living with her thirteen-year-old daughter, who has her own teen crush. By sheer chance – unless you believe in destiny - Petra discovers that the questions which obsessed her back in 1974 are suddenly very much alive. And Bill, successful in business but never in love, has some confessions of his own….
My Thoughts:
I really liked the sound of this book before reading. A teenage crush on a popstar or any celeb is something that we can all identify with. The thought of revisiting that as an adult is an amusing thought and I could picture quite a few comical scenes in my head surrounding this idea.
I loved the fact that the popstar of petra’s affections is a REAL one, who was around in the 70’s – the pieces that were based on fact about the magazines of the times, the gigs and the obsession surrounding David were really interesting and it was funny to see how times haven’t changed.
I struggled to connect with the characters when they were younger and unfortunately they’re young for the first half of the book. I’d have liked this book to start half way through as the real emotional connection and story happens when we go into the present, instead of the past.
Ahhhh… I really wanted to like this book, and there are parts of it that I DO really like. But I wasn’t swept away with it…
Sunday 23rd January
Valentine’s Kiss by Lucie Hart
The Blurb:
This Valentine’s day Imogen is going to meet the man of her dreams.
If only she can discover who he is…
At a gloriously over-the-top house party in the balmy South of France, British trainee chef Imogen finds herself playing blind man’s buff with a host of impossibly handsome men. And then one of them kisses her.
It’s the most perfect kiss she’s ever experienced in her short – and frankly, to date romantically disappointing – life. Sweet, sexy and full of promise. Imogen wants more, but by the time she recovers her wits sufficiently to remove her blindfold her mystery kisser has disappeared.
Could her Prince Charming be one of her fellow-chefs, Dimitri or Bastien? Both are clearly interested in her. But there’s also enigmatic Latino hunk Enzo, good-times-guy DJ Cheyenne, aristocratic Amaury, and the American visitors – Archer and Everett… So many men, so little time. And Imogen can’t just keep kissing men until she finds the right one… can she?
My Thoughts:
A little bit of romance in time for Valentines Day – how perfect and fitting!
Imogen has always been taken advantage of by her family – she spends her time running around after them all and has little time for herself. So she leaves them all quite shocked when she decides to head to France for 6 months. Once there she discovers that life can be quite liberating when you’re not trying to please everyone else all the time.
Until page 176 I liked this book – after that I didn’t like it, I loved it. The big romantic valentine’s kiss happens there – almost half way through the book. As a reader I think that it is at this precise moment that you REALLY begin to like Imogen and care about who her mystery kisser is. A massive gear change happens at this point and the book really comes alive. I do understand that the ‘whodunnit’ needs to be set up – and this is what is happening in the first half of the book – however I think it could’ve all happened a bit quicker!
A modern Cinderella tale with a twist – definitely worth reading for the gushy feeling it will leave you with!
Sunday 16th January
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
The Blurb:
Is love a great enough power against evil?
Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel the warrior; Ivy the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. Bt she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone – especially herself…
My Thoughts:
Angels have always fascinated me – to the point where I actually think that a few of my friends might be angels that have been sent to help me (I have some lovely friends). So I’m really pleased that after having our minds filled with vampires, wizards and werewolves over the last few years that we are finally going to be hearing a lot more from Angels! Clearly Demons will be featured too…
Written in first person narrative from Bethany’s POV, Halo is book one in the Trilogy set. We follow Bethany as she gets to grip with her new human form and learns the “do’s and don’t’s” in human social circles – which gives us a comical read!
Full of humour, heartache and mystery, Halo gives us a wonderful love story that we can all connect to. Nothing is more powerful than love that cannot be requited. Can an Angel really fall for a Mortal? Or are her human hormones getting the better of her? Is she only struggling with a teenage crush?
The most shocking thing about the whole book came on the last page of the entire book – after the story has finished… Alexandra Adornetto, the author, is just 18 years old and had her first book published when she was just 14. What an inspiration to us all! I can’t wait for the next instalment of the trilogy – I expect it will get darker and even deeper in meaning as we go through.
OK, so the book is quite long at 484 pages – but at no point did I get bored. They are simply 484 pages of pure gold!
Angels are our future – read it!
Friday 24th December 2010
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Part one of the trilogy
The Blurb:
She can control her pack, but not her heart …’I wanted him to kiss me - wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can’t, Calla. This boy isn’t the one for you.’ Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack. But when she defies her masters’ laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything?
My Thoughts
After reading Twilight I never thought I’d find another book of that genre to fill the void that it left in my life…. I think I’m going to be very bold and say that this has filled it!
It would be impossible not to reference Twilight when talking about Nightshade, simply because we follow Calla – an alpha to her wolf pack. But there are no Vampires this time – just lots of Searchers, Keepers and a whole lot of history, which has been kept from the pack. We follow Calla as she discovers hidden information and struggles to understand whether she is fighting for the right team.
Gripping, heartwrenching and exciting! Easily relatable for anyone who has ever felt confused, restricted or oppressed by life…anyone that’s lived through their teens then!!!
There are two new teams for you to support and argue over – Team Shay and Team Ren… I’m still making up my mind!
Full of sexual tension and teen angst – I love it!!
Sunday 19th December 2010
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
The Blurb:
Everyone has something to hide – especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna.
Spencer coverts her sister’s boyfriend. Aria’s fantasising about her English teacher. Emily has a crush on a new girl at school. And Hanna is using some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.
But they’ve all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished
How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were and the naughty girls they are now. And guess what? I’m telling.
An addictive combination of mystery, scandal, intrigue and suspense, Pretty Little Liars is now a hit show on VIVA.
My Thoughts:
I have discovered something in the last few months… and that is that I LOVE teen-fiction! I find this quite funny because when I was 15 I was already reading Jane Green and Adele Parks – so it’s funny that now at almost 26 I am loving what I perhaps should’ve enjoyed back then. But I think that’s part of the charm of this genre – I can relive all those feelings of anger, lust, confusion and all the other mixed emotions that ruled my life 10years ago. I love it!
I’ve never heard of this book or of the series, so I really wasn’t sure what to expect- although I was blown away with the amount of comments I got on twitter when I announced that I was reading it.
The piece is written from each girls POV – which makes it extremely exciting as each girl is going through her own mini drama. After their best friend’s disappearance the girls all drift apart from each other and it’s intriguing to see how their lives have panned out.
I can’t wait to read what happens next. Full of suspense, naughtiness and thrilling scenes – I want more!!
Sunday 12th December 2010
Promises, Promises By Erica James
The Blurb:
‘I Must Stand Up for Myself More’ promises Maggie Storm who spends her days cleaning houses for people who often have more money than manners. Married to a man with as much sex appeal as Mr Blobby, she dreams of a life straight from the pages of a romantic novel. ‘My Head Must Rule Over My Heart’ promises Ella Moore who, determined never to let her heart get the better of her again, is recovering from seven wasted years of failing to win over the daughter of the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life. ‘No More Women’ promises Ethan Edwards who, to distract himself from the depressing sham of his marriage, is a repeat offender when it comes to turning to other women for sexual consolation. But when Ella appears unexpectedly in his life, he finds himself turning to her for very different reasons…
My Thoughts:
We’ve all done it, the New Year comes along and we set about changing our lives. Cutting out chocolate, wine and anything else that we love but know is bad for us. However for Ethan, Ella and Maggie their resolutions are a bit bigger. Ella promises to start thinking with her head and not her heart. After a painful break-up, from a 7 year relationship she shouldn’t have entered into in the first place, it’s time to stop giving her heart so freely. Maggie promises to stop being a doormat for others – which isn’t easy seeing as she cleans houses for snobby, arrogant woman and has a husband at home who is incapable of doing anything for himself. No wonder she spends most of her time daydreaming of her prince charming. Ethan promises to stop cheating on his wife – but seeing as she’s a dragon in disguise we can’t blame him! All three decide to take charge of their lives and make their own futures.
A hilarious and heart warming read.
Sunday 5th December
Fearne and Holly – The Best Friends’ Guide to Life by Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby
The Blurb:
What makes a great friend? Has Facebook ruined dating? What’s the secret to effortless style?
“Hello! This is a book written by proper best friends - us! - who have been hanging out together for over ten years. We thought that if we shared some of our own experiences and views on friendship, relationships, leaving home, studying or starting a new job, then it might help you on your own journey. Inside you’ll find loads of stories - some funny, some sad, and some that make us cringe with embarrassment - as well as tips and advice on things like dating and looking good. We’ve included our best photos from over the years (even the dodgy ones!) and drawings that Fearne has done especially. Let’s face it, life isn’t easy at times so we hope that this book will make you laugh, entertain you, but most of all that it might be a bit like talking to your very best friend.
My Thoughts:
I love these two women, and I can honestly say that I can’t think of two better role models to write this guide! Covering all sorts of topics that will have you nodding in agreement or laughing out loud. Each chapter is introduced, and then Fearne and Holly both talk about their own experiences within that subject, therefore the book is a guide with an autobiographical twist. Topics covered include relationships between friends and boyfriends, relationships with parents, moving out, developing your own style and how to go after what you want in life.
Both girls live exceptional lives and constantly thrive to do more. The interesting thing about the pair is how different they both are – Holly is currently the Mum of the pair. She loves her home life and the future of her little boy Harry is the main focus of her life. However she is also a successful presenter, she always seems to be on our TV’s! She’s bubbly, giggly and girlie – extremely approachable and understanding. Then there’s Fearne, the spiritual music-guru. Workahcolic Fearne’s life is full of gigs, art and nights out with friends….well, when she’s not working! Both girls are so different, but they share lots of the same ideas and creative flare.
I’m happy that this little guide is now in my book collection - It filled me with joy.
Sunday 28th November
From Notting Hill With Love… Actually by AliMcNamara
In the Author’s words:
Scarlett loves the moives – they’re just so much more exciting and romantic than her own mundane life mending popcorn machines and living with her DIY obsessed fiancé - David. So when everyone keeps telling her she needs to stop day-dreaming her life away in Johnny Depp & Brad Pitt’s arms, and settle down and get on with real life, Scarlett decides to prove them all wrong.
When she’s given the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill for a month, Scarlett thinks this will be her ideal opportunity to prove her family wrong about the movies. But she quickly finds the real Notting Hill is nothing like the celluloid version, and after she meets her new neighbour - the cool, confident, but movie-hating Sean, Scarlett starts to realise this challenge might be trickier than she first thought.
Every day Scarlett tries - usually unsuccessfully - to place herself in as many movie scenes as she can. But it’s when she’s least expecting it that she finds a link to one of her favourites…and it’s then that she discovers so much more than the fairytale ending she’s always dreamed of.
My Thoughts:
Ok… I’ll be completely honest - When I first started reading this book I didn’t know what I was going to make of it. I wasn’t sure whether I was just going to be hit with a whole load of movie type scenario comparisons from Scarlett. But those feelings were discarded from about 50 pages in. I completely bought into Scarlett’s dreamlike, expectant and longing character and found myself relating to her - MASSIVELY!
Most girls love a Rom-Com, and I’m no exception. I love the over-riding theme of this book which is about how a love of that genre can change the way we view the world – kind of like looking at it through rose tinted glasses… We romanticise. How many times have you stormed out of a room and hoped beyond hope that your dream guy would follow you? That he’d fight for your honor if needed? That fate would step in and lend a helping hand, if necessary, and that you’re eyes would meet your destined lover across a crowded room… How many times have you watched a film, like Love Actually, and thought, “I wish that was me…” Scarlett spends her time looking for these comparisons, and is constantly told by the people around her that life isn’t like the movies, that she has to be more realistic – How very grown-up and boring of them! Quite frankly who cares if it makes us all dreamy and expect a little bit more from the men in our lives?! We blooming deserve it!
You’ll find yourself being reminded of great scenes from amazing films – which will make you laugh at the sheer comedy of it all. At no point is the book cliché, it is simply joyful and delicious. It taps into films, images, songs and quotes that have already left an imprint on our hearts, and that is what makes it so clever! I wish I could’ve been with Ali McNamara when she was researching for this book, I bet she had an absolute ball!
I managed to read the last 300pages in one sitting, and I’m thrilled that I did as I literally just got sweep up in it all, as I would when watching a good Rom-Com. From Notting Hill With Love… Actually has the most splendid and most ROMANTIC ending that I’ve read in a long time… I literally wept through the last 5 pages and was left feeling euphoric, loving life and loving LOVE!
“After all… I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
Wednesday 17th November 2010
The Body Finder By Kimberly Derting
The Description:
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world… and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer… and becoming his prey herself.
My Thoughts:
As you all know I’m a big chick-lit fan, I’m a sucker for romance. So when this fell on to my doormat – a book that revolves around people being murdered – I wasn’t sure if it was going to be my cup of tea. But I’m SOOOOOO glad that I read it!
Told from Violet’s POV, we learn about her past of being drawn to dead (murdered) bodies and her ability to see an imprint surrounding a killer. What’s exceptionally intriguing is the occasional two page chapters that are slotted in from the killers POV. You become a little detective yourself whilst reading!
The sensing dead people side of things is gripping, interesting and nicely told, but my real love of this book comes from the relationship between Violet and her bestest friend, since forever, Jay. It captures what it’s like to be young and suddenly have these feelings of lust and attraction thrust upon you. I now have a brand new fictional crush. Ok, so he might not be a Wizard, a Vampire of a Werewolf…but he is a bit of a dreamboat!!
I totally bought into this book; I loved it from start to finish! Now I just want more…
Sunday 10th October 2010
Ambition by Immodesty Blaize
The Blurb:
IT TAKES MORE THAN TALENT TO MAKE A STAR…
Las Vegas. The home of gambling, glamour, excess and, of course, showgirls. It’s where dreams are made - and some are shattered forever.
YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK…
Sienna Starr is sex on (very) long legs and determined to make it to the top, whatever it takes. She’s landed a job in the bigest show in town, she’s living in a fabulous mansion, and she’s having sheet-scorching sex with one of the richest playboys.
AND A WHOLE LOT OF AMBITION…
My thoughts:
I know nothing about the lives of showgirls, but Immodesty Blaize does -as she is one. So it seems fitting that she should be the one to tell this story. I had no idea whilst reading it that this was actually the second installment from her whilst following the same central character Sienna Starr - so that shows that this book is one that you can definitely pick up on its own.
Each time I put this book down I found myself wondering what was going to happen to all the different characters. I completely got sucked into their world which is full of revenge, glamour and ambition. It’s surprising the lengths that people will go to to secure their time in the spotlight is uninterrupted and not overshadowed.
Fun, dark, sexy and wonderful.
Sunday 3rd October 2010
You Know Me by Robbie Williams
The Blurb:
The twenty-year journey, intimately told in his own words and pictures.
Ever since a sixteen-year-old boy called Robert Peter Williams joined a boy band and was told his new name, he has been Robbie Williams. It has been twenty years now. Twenty years of singing, songwriting and performing. Twenty years of adventure, mischief, hiding and self-exposure. Twenty years of triumph, mishap, uncertainty and irrepressibility. Twenty years of searching for the right balance between growing up and gloriously refusing to grow up. ‘It’s like it happened to someone else’ he says, as if he needs to remind himself that it did happen. But it really did. Here is the evidence.
My Thoughts:
The author of Robbie’s Biography Feel, Chris Heath, has joined him again to create this little gem. However this has actually been co-written by the pair. Chris gives us an introduction to each chapter and then Robbie talks about each photo – where it was taken, how he was feeling…what drugs he was on at the time. It’s really insightful and shocking.
Robbie is open, honest and soul-baring, which leads to the book being filled with complex emotions. There are moments that on the surface appear to be happy and funny – but there seems to be a hint of sadness.
What struck me most, and has really got me talking about this book, is perception and how it can change. You can go for years looking back and feeling one way about a situation – then one thing happens years later and this can twist everything on its head and you feel differently towards it. That’s certainly how I feel about Robbie’s views on Take That and how they have changed. His negativity towards it all in Feel has been replaced with fondness in many areas. It makes me really happy to see that. It’s as if he has had a weight taken off of his shoulders.
Robbie and Chris take us through Robbie’s 20 year career in music. Some of the photo’s include ones that have never been seen before. It’s a beautiful book.
What a journey. What a ride. What a thrill!
Wednesday 29th September 2010
A Million Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton
The Blurb:
You can’t believe it. You’ve actually won the lottery!
So what happens next? It’s entirely up to you. Do you get out of debt? Quit your job? Travel the world? Go on the shopping spree of a lifetime? The possibilities are endless!
In A Million Little Mistakes you get to decide where the story goes from here. It’s time to start choosing your own adventure.
Remember, life is full of surprises…
My Thoughts:
This book is not to be read as a normal novel, from beginning to end - instead at the end of each chapter you are given two choices to choose from, which will then direct you to different chapters in the book.
Ok… I’m not going to lie - at the end of the first chapter (after I’ve found out that I’ve won the lottery) I have the option of quitting my job or keeping it… Even the first choice I have to make leaves me in a pool of sweat as I try an figure out what the right thing to do would be! I’m so indecisive it’s unbelievable… However after making a decision, and rolling with all the other ones that I have to make, I find myself suddenly hooked. After I die in my first chosen scenario of a horrible death I decide to go back and see what might have been if I’d have made a different choice somewhere along the line. Then I do the same again, and again, and again, and again…. it’s quite addictive!
This book shows us (in a comical way) that everything we do, every choice we make, comes with a consequence.
Fun, addictive and thought-provoking!
Thursday 16th September 2010
The Carver by Tania Carver
The Blurb:
Suzanne Perry is having a vivid nightmare. Someone is in her bedroom, touching her, and she can’t move a muscle. She wakes, relieved to put the nightmare behind her, but when she opens the curtains, she sees a polaroid stuck to the window. A photo of her sleeping self, taken during the night. And underneath the words: ‘I’m watching over you’. Her nightmare isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning. Detective Inspector Phil Brennan of the Major Incident Squad has a killer to hunt. A killer who stalks young women, insinuates himself into their lives, and ultimately tortures and murders them in the most shocking way possible. But the more Phil investigates, the more he delves into the twisted psychology of his quarry, Phil realises that it isn’t just a serial killer he’s hunting but something, or someone, infinitely more calculating and horrific. And much closer to home than he realised…
My Thoughts:
I can safely say that I’ve never read something of this genre before. I love murder-mysteries on the telly, big fan of Jessica Fletcher, however I can’t watch horror films. I can’t put myself in that place where I feel scared and on edge… But I do realise that many people get kicks out of it. So I was a little dubious about starting this book - what if it gave me nightmares? Ahhhh…. Well, I told myself that, like Joey in Friends, I could just pop it in the Freezer if it got too scary - WHICH I ALMOST DID!! However I persevered, and I’m glad I was so brave…
This is the second book following DI Phil Brennan as he tries to bring pieces of a puzzle together to solve a crime. Fans of the first book “The Surrogate” will be pleased to hear more about Phil and where his relationship with Marina has gone since then.
This book kept me gripped from the beginning and I literally couldn’t put it down. It is dark, thrilling and intense.
I think I’m going to read more of this genre. Besides, if I’m ever in doubt I could always just put it in the freezer!
Sunday 12th September 2010
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
The Blurb:
Seven Stones of Power. No one knows when they were created or by whom, each said to represent one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
For centuries, treasure hunters have been eager to possess the stones, undeterred by their corrupting nature. The list is long — Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, to name a few. Now the Stones have found their way to Salem, Massachusetts, and so has Gerwulf Grimoire, adding himself to this rogues’ gallery of power seekers. He’s an uncommonly dangerous man, with a hunger for the forbidden, and a set of abilities that are way beyond ordinary. Abilities that he feels entitle him to possess anything he might desire.
That would include Elizabeth Tucker, the woman he needs to find the Stones. She’s freshly transplanted from New York City to Boston’s North Shore. With a new job as pastry chef at Dazzle’s bakery and an old house inherited from her Aunt Ophelia, her life is pretty much on track …until it’s suddenly derailed by a guy named Diesel, a rude monkey, and a ninja cat.
Lizzy can handle the monkey and the cat. She’s not sure about Diesel. He’s offering up his own set of unusual talents, promising to protect her from Grimoire. The kind of protection that Lizzy suspects might involve guarding her body day and night.
The Seven Deadly Sins are pride, greed, lust, envy wrath, sloth and gluttony. That pretty much covers everything that is wicked. Diesel thinks it also pretty much covers everything that’s fun. And Lizzy thinks Diesel and the Seven Deadly Sins cover everything her mother warned her about.
My Thoughts:
This is the first time I have come across Janet Evanovich’s books, but after doing some research I have found that she’s already had a lot of success from another series of books called “Between The Numbers”. One of the main characters from those books, Diesel, has moved into this series - alongside Carl the Monkey.
In this series we follow Lizzie Tucker, with everything being seen from her point of view. Lizzie is full of life, witty and lovable. Her outlook on the world will have you giggling all the way through. I loved this book. It’s fast-paced, silly and funny.
I am highly recommending you read this book - plus, with this book focused around gluttony we can almost guarantee that there will be, at least, another six books in the series… I can’t wait for another bout of silliness!!
**Released 14th September 2010**
Wednesday 8th September 2010
Kiss Heaven Goodbye by Tasmina Perry
The Blurb:
1990. On the luxurious private island of Angel Cay, four privileged students toast the end of their exams. Self-assured Miles, clever Grace, talented Alex and beautiful Sasha have the world at their feet. But one dark night will change their perfect lives for ever.
As the friends move into their glamorous careers – fashion, music, politics – each tries to put the past behind them. But no matter how high their stars climb, they cannot escape the dreadful truth.
And when the consequences of that fateful night finally catch up with them, for one of the four, there is a terrible price to be paid…
From the sugar-white sands of the Bahamas to Australia’s Coral Sea; from London’s glittering society scene to the lavish decadence of Hollywood, Tasmina Perry travels the world and turns up the heat in her most spectacular novel yet…
My Thoughts:
Sometimes a book comes along and you love every second of reading it - but for some reason it takes you ages to read. This is one of those books. But there is ONE explanation - This is a BIG book! I didn’t realise exactly how big until I got to page 400 and was still reading, with 166 pages to go. So one thing I would say is to take your time with this book, don’t try and rush your way through it. I actually think the perfect place to read this book is curled up by the fire on those long winter nights.
We start in present day, straight away hearing that the group of old friends are going to have to go back “to the night that changed their lives forever”. We are then taken back to 1990 and are told of that nights events, from here we follow each individual as they try and put the past behind them. Yet none of them quite manage to forget. Told from the 4 different view points we can understand their mixed feeling towards each other and the desire to be as far away as possible.
Full of corruption and lies this book has you gripped from beginning to end. A dark, sexy, mysterious read with is full of escapism! Highly recommended!
2nd September 2010
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
The Blurb:
Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true a shopping friend for life! But it’s trickier than she thought, two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping.
Cue havoc everywhere from Harrods to Harvey Nicks and to her own christening. She even starts bidding on ebay!
On top of everything else, there’s a big financial crisis. People are having to Cut Back including all of Becky’s personal shopping clients and she and Luke are still living with Becky’s Mum and Dad. To cheer everyone up, Becky decides to throw a surprise birthday party on a budget but then things become really complicated.
Who will end up on the naughty step, who will get a gold star and will Becky’s secret wishes come true?
My Thoughts:
This is actually the first time I have come across the character Becky Brandon (née bloomwood) even though it’s the SIXTH book following the character. For years people have been telling me to get into the shopaholic series and for some odd reason I never have. (Although I have read a few of Kinsella’s books away from this series and have LOVED them!)
Fans that already know and love Becky should enjoy this - after all we are all guilty of finishing books and wondering what happens to that character after the last page… The wonderful thing about this series is that you see Becky go through different stages of life.
In Becky we find a lady who has an obsession with shopping and labels, makes mountains out of mole hills and definitely doesn’t think before she speaks. She is warm, funny and indulgent. For those that share the need to shop and who haven’t let the recession stop them, no matter how guilty you feel after the purchase, you will enjoy watching Becky comically trying to cut-back her spending.
The end of the book feels like you are being led into the start of the next chapter in Becky’s life (the next book I’m guessing), which leaves you feeling unresolved in certain matters. However, knowing that this is part of a series and that there’s probably more to come means that this isn’t a completely negative thing. It’ll make us all come back for the next chapter…
A light-hearted, comical read.
Sunday 29th August 2010
My Last Duchess by Daisy Goodwin
I recently reviewed this for heat magazine, but it’s so good that I want those of you not in the UK to hear about it too - So here is a bit of an insight and a more descriptive look into what I thought…
The inside cover says:
The evening of Cora Cash’s masquerade ball, nothing has been left to chance. Gorgeous, spirited and extravagantly rich , Cora is the closet thing New York society has to a princess. Her mother has devised for her a debut that promises to be te most opulent of the gilded 1890’s.
The ball is the prelude to a campign that will see her mother whisk Cora to Europe. Mre Cash wants nothing less than a title for her daughter, and in Endland, impoverished blue-bloods are queuing up for introductions to American heiresses - and seem content to overlook the sometimes lowly origins of their fortunes.
Cora makes a dazzling impression, but the English aristocracy is a realm fraught with arcane rules and pitfalls, where there are those less than eager to welcome a wealthy outsider. When she loses her heart to a man she barely knows, Cora soon realises that she is playing in a game she does not fully understand, and that her future happiness is the prize.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book, and thought about it long after I put it down. Although it is set in the 1890’s I never felt like I couldn’t connect with the character Cora Cash, which could easily happen with use of a different era. In fact her thoughts and fears spoke volumes to me. Overbearing mothers, partners that grow distant and cold and past lovers lingering in the wings - tales that I will never bore of hearing about. As a woman of the 1890’s Cora has crushing restrictions placed on her and forceful demands made of her. She deals with everything in such a manner that just makes me fall in love with her!
I was taken into another time, full of secrets, desires and longing. Daisy Goodwin has created a fantastic world in her debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! Delicious.
Wednesday 18th August 2010
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner By Stephenie Meyer
The Blurb:
Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits.
Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood…life before she was a vampire.
All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has a few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don’t draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn’t know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.
The Bree finds an unexpected friend in Dieo, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realise that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could’ve imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find out the truth?
In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.
My Thoughts:
Brilliant book and just as good as the rest of the Twilight Saga - which is a big compliment. When I first saw the book I thought to myself “Twilight but without Edward, Bella and Jacob…where’s the fun in that?”. But it is completely brilliant and thrilling and can stand as a book in it’s own right.
The book is a continuous piece of writing, there are no chapters to break it up. At 178 pages long you might think that this is annoying - but not at all. The book completely works as a chapter within the Twilight Saga, which is why it makes sense to be a whole and not split in pieces.
You literally don’t want to put the book down, so therefore it turns into a very quick and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Monday 16th August
Eleven by Mark Watson
A Brief Desciption:
Xavier Ireland is a radio DJ who by night listens to the hopes, fears and regrets of sleepless Londoners and by day keeps himself very much to himself - until he is brought into the light by a one-of-a-kind cleaning lady and forced to confront his own biggest regret. This is a tale of love, loss, Scrabble and six degrees of separation, asking big questions about life and death, strangers and friends, heartache and comfort, and whether the choices we don’t make affect us just as powerfully as those we do…
My Thoughts:
I can remember when I was 9 years old and the local policeman, PC Ryan, came in to talk to us all about choices and consequences. I can remember those two words written so clearly on the board. The lesson he was teaching us is that with every choice we make comes a consequence… and that is what this book is all about.
Everything we do, every single choice we make has a knock on affect to other people. Xavier witnesses a powerless boy being beaten up by a group of children and doesn’t do enough to stop it. From this point we see events unravel, through eleven different people.
It’s very cleverly written. The detail on people’s lives is superb. Even people that come into the story for a fleeting paragraph are captured with great skill, sometimes with only a single line glimpsing at their future. I never once found this information overbearing or too much to take in. I loved all the little diversions created, they work to set this book apart from anything I’ve ever read before.
A fantastic book which will most definitely make you think about how you react to people around you.
Officially released on 19th August. Enjoy!!!!
Wednesday 11th August
Paradise By Katie Price
The Blurb:
It’s six months since Beautiful model Angel Summer found herself having to choose between a life with Ethan Turner, the laid-back Californian baseball player, or giving her marriage to football star Cal Bailey another go. Her friends and family were stunned when she picked Ethan, but it looks like angel made the right decision: Ethan loves her and she loves him.
But nothing is perfect. Ethan has secrets in his past that could threaten their relationship, and when he faces financial ruin the couple are forced to star in a reality TV show about their life together. Despite everything. though. Angel is convinced that Ethan is the man for her. So why can’t she stop thinking about Cal?
As the tabloids have always been quick to point out, the part of true love has never run smoothly for our celebrity, and when her dad falls dangerously ill Angel rushes back to England to be by his bedside, throwing her and Cal back together. But Ethan loves her, Cal has a girlfriend, and Angel has made her choice. It’s too late to go back now…isn’t it?
My Thoughts:
OK, I believe that you shouldn’t have any preconceived thoughts against a book when you start reading one. Otherwise what’s the point in reading it? So whether or not you like Katie Price or whatever the whole thing is about her actually writing the book - gather that stuff up and throw it aside before getting your hands on a copy of this book… then you might actually enjoy it!
Paradise is the third book from Katie Price which follows the same character Angel Summers. Now, I haven’t read the other two books that come before this one - but it does cope very well on it’s own as a stand alone book. After all, with every book that you read every character that you learn about has a history before page one of that book. So with some careful recapping we become up-to-date with all the going on’s from previous books.
I was completely sucked into Summer’s world and the dilemma’s that she faced. It’s a wonderful insight to the celeb world and the harsh truth of what it must be like to constantly live under public scrutiny. A world where if you aren’t giving the press the stories they’ll make them up anyway.
Read this book for what it’s meant to be - a playful summer read - and you will thoroughly enjoy it… I did!
Sunday 1st August
Men I’ve Loved Before By Adele Parks
The Blurb:
Neil and Nat are a match made in heaven. They hate marmite and the opera. They love smelly cheese and the missionary position. And they both absolutely do not want children.
At least that’s what Nat thought. But now Neil seems to have softened to the prospect of dirty nappies and sleepless nights, and he’s practically begging her for a baby. Nat, however, has no intention of swapping her high-flying career for a life of endless self-sacrifice. As the cracks start to show, Nat wonders if Neil really is the man of her dreams. Or is it possible that someone from her past could actually be ‘the one’?
Nat’s little black book, filled with the names and addresses of previous lovers, could hold the answers she’s looking for. Or it could be a one-way ticket to all kinds of trouble. And is the perfect match too much to ask for?
My Thoughts:
Adele Parks has always been one of my favourite chick-lit authors, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on this! I’m thrilled to say that she has produced yet another great read!
We are told the story from Nat and Neil’s POV’s, so we are always in the loop as to what exactly is going on, even when other characters aren’t. That is what makes this book so emotional and heart wrenching. It makes you want to shout at this made-to-be-for-each-other-couple to just TALK to each other. But, obviously, sometimes it’s just not that simple.
Largely the book is about finding your “one”, and how you know when you’ve found each other. Nat’s journey of reconnecting with her ex-boyfriends is hilarious, as it conjures up images of your own ex’s…all I can say is that most ex’s are ex’s for a reason!
If you’re anything like me then you will spend the last 30 pages of the book crying your eyes out… ENJOY!!
Sunday 18th July 2010
Fierce By Kelly Osbourne
A Brief description:
‘This no-holes-barred account of Kelly Obsourne’s upbringing is as shocking as it is disarmingly funny. From stories about her father’s alcoholism to pushing over portaloos on tour, Kelly unflinchingly deals with the extraordinary experiences that have made up her life so far: ‘Kelly Osbourne has written “Fierce”, a handbook for teenage girls/memoir of adolescence lived under very bright lights. After reading it, and her anecdotes about her mum’s early experiments with home waxing, and her dad snipping off her thong, and Amy Winehouse complimenting her on her tits, and the confidence that comes with Vicodin, as well as the fact boxes with advice about bullying and hair straighteners, I like her very much’ - Eva Wiseman, Observer.
My Thoughts:
In the first couple of pages of the book I was shocked at her candid use of the F-word. I wasn’t sure if it was necessary for what she was telling us - but in the end it just becomes a part of her character and actually her lack of care to these matters is quite endearing. She comes across as a well-rounded, caring individual - who isn’t afraid to confess that she has messed up a few times in the past. It’s actually a very refreshing read, as this isn’t done to gain sympathy or our understanding. I genuinely believe that a massive part of Kelly writing this book is to HELP other people. In fact a whopping 40 pages at the back of the book are full of advice and useful numbers - most related to troubles that have affected her life in someway. There’s also a little note section at the back, which I think is a lovely little touch. It makes the book more personal for each individual reader. It’s as if Kelly is literally saying “Here’s my story, take from it what you will”.
The closeness of the Osbourne family has always been obvious to outsiders, it’s lovely to read how proud Kelly is of each of them. Yes, they might drive each other mad from time to time - but there is real love there, and it’s beautiful to read.
There are high’s and low’s in this book, you laugh and you cry.
Kelly isn’t perfect, but she faces life head on with her head held high - In this aspect she is a great role model. You cannot fail to like her in this open account of her journey so far.
Wednesday 14th July 2010
Pictures Of Lily by Paige Toon
The Blurb:
‘Will you marry me?’ I think of you, then. I think of you every day. But usually in the quietest part of the morning, or the darkest part of the night. Not when my boyfriend of two years has just proposed. I look up at Richard with his hopeful eyes. ‘Lily?’ he prompts. It’s been ten years, but it feels like only yesterday that you left. How can I say yes to Richard with all my heart when most of it has always belonged to you? I take a deep breath and will myself to speak…Ten years ago when Lily was just sixteen, she fell in love with someone she really shouldn’t have fallen in love with. Now, living in Sydney and engaged to another man, she can’t forget the one that got away. Then her past comes back to haunt her, and she has to make a decision that will break her heart - and the heart of at least one of the men who love her.
My Thoughts:
Sometimes falling in love is only the beginning of the story…
At 16 someone makes a mark on Lily’s heart which she can’t rub off, she can’t let go of that special someone - but ten years later is it time to finally move on? As the reader it’s up to us to decide whether it’s just a teenage crush. We’ve all been there, fancying someone we shouldn’t - having them fuel our brains and hearts for hours on end…but what if it’s more than that? More than just a crush? What if it’s meant to be? This is a question that even Lily ponders, and so we make the discoveries together.
As the reader I know what I wanted Lily to do when a massive life choice was presented - but even as the reader I felt bad for thinking it because I knew it would cause one character a lot of heartache… Oh the guilt I felt whilst reading this book - It might as well have been ME making the choice!
I literally couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. Give. Me. The. Answers. Now.
Brilliant book - a fantastic summer read. If you’re as hooked as I was then you’ll read it in a day!!
Sunday 11th July 2010
Jasper Jones By Craig Silvey
A Brief Description:
Late on a hot summer night in the tail end of 1965, Charlie Bucktin is startled by an urgent knock on his bedroom window. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in the regional mining town of Corrigan. Rebellious, mixed-race and solitary, Jasper is a distant figure of danger and intrigue for Charlie. So when Jasper begs for his help, Charlie eagerly steals into the night by his side. Jasper takes him through town and to his secret glade in the bush, and it’s here that Charlie bears witness to Jasper’s horrible discovery. With his secret like a brick in his belly, Charlie is pushed and pulled by a town closing in on itself in fear and suspicion as he locks horns with his tempestuous mother; falls nervously in love and battles to keep a lid on his zealous best friend, Jeffrey Lu. Charlie learns to discern the truth from the myth, and why white lies creep like a curse. In the simmering summer where everything changes, Charlie learns why the truth of things is so hard to know, and even harder to hold in his heart.
My Thoughts:
This was described to me as a “coming of age” story. The last book of that kind that I read was “Catcher in the Rye” - and I wasn’t a massive fan (didn’t like Holden and thought it was a little dull and that he was a little self-obsessed - but it is a classic, so should be read!).
I can safely say that this “coming of age” story kept me riveted from beginning to end - you want answers and resolution for the characters involved. Charlie Bucktin is extremely likeable as the protagonist. He is not cool or popular, he has an innocent and naive quality which makes you feel for him and wish all the bad away. As he is in his early teens the book sparks up lots of thoughts about children being exposed to things too young…how they then deal with what they’ve seen, how it makes them grow up quicker and how it might affect them.
Craig Silvey has written in a way that is accessible to young and old. It’s descriptive, captivating and thrilling - a book with a long lifespan.
I throughly enjoyed this book, which is different from the chick lits that usually fuel my brain. All I can say about this book is: READ IT!
Wednesday 30th June 2010
Other People’s Secrets by Louise Candlish
A Brief Description:
When Ginny and Adam Trustlove arrive on holiday in Italy they have been torn apart by personal tragedy. A boathouse on peaceful Lake Orta is exactly the place to start piecing together their lives. A day later, the silence is broken by the arrival at the main villa of the Sale family: wealthy, high-flying Marty, his beautiful wife Bea, and their privileged, confident offspring. It doesn’t take long for Ginny and Adam to be drawn in, especially when the teenage Pippi introduces a new friend into the circle. For there is something about Zach that seems to loosen old secrets - and create shocking new ones …
My Thoughts:
We are aware straight away that nearly every character in this book has a secret, an emotional burden which is why they have come to Lake Orta. Some secrets are revealed towards the beginning and with others we are kept in the dark till the end. This helps to make this a completely captivating and engrossing read, full of wants, needs and desires.
I finished reading this book yesterday, and I woke up today still thinking about the characters…if that’s not a sign of a good book then I don’t know what is. It’s nice to finish a book and not just forget about it as soon as you close it and pop it onto your bookshelf. I want to know what happens next to all the characters…so I hope Louise Candlish will give us some more from Ginny, Adam and Bea at some point!
This is the first book I have read by Louise Candlish, having been strongly recommended her books in the past I’m glad that I’ve been able to sit down with this one - I’m now going to delve into her back catalogue.
Other People’s Secrets is released in paperback on July 8th, so if you wait till then you’ll be able to have a nice, small, light copy to take around with you. PERFECT!!
Sunday 27th June 2010
Warning: Explicit!! Not for younger readers!
Rock Chicks By Ronni Cooper
A Brief Description:
“Behind every great man there is a woman. Behind the world’s greatest band there are three”
The Groupie: Coco LaBiba has the beauty, she has the money, but she just needs sex, music and fame to get high. She won’t give up her wild ways for anyone -except the one guy she can never have.
The Wife: Marny Rammer - pretty, shy, devoted wife of the band’s lead singer. But there’s a price to pay when superstardom comes knocking on your husband’s door, and for Marny it comes in a dangerous pile of fine white powder…
The Manager: Lori Wyatt is the girl from the sticks turned kick-ass band manager who can play any man at their own game - business, or pleasure - and who will do anything she can to sky-rocket her boys to the top.
My Thoughts:
I was warned before reading this book that it was quite a saucy read and not for the younger readers or for the fainthearted… after reading it I cannot stress that point enough. If this was a film then it would be x-rated. It contains so much sex, drugs and Rock’n’roll that I actually felt ashamed reading it whilst sat next to my 90 year old Nonna. But, that being said, I couldn’t put it down.
Rock Chicks follows Steel Spikes, a Rock’n’Roll band, on their rise to fame and admiration. We do this mainly through the three female characters Coco, Marny and Lori. The three ladies are so different in personality that we are able to see completely different sides of the world that they all enter into. For some it’s a path of self-destruction and for others it’s a journey of self discovery as they realise that the past will always come back to haunt you and that there is no place for secrets and lies.
On the front cover we read “Behind every great man is a women” - well, I never disagree with that statement seeing as I am one of those women, the supporting role.
I had so much fun reading this book, although I must say that I’m so glad that Tom and the rest of Mcfly don’t live the life that is explored. A nice, down to earth, grounded lifestyle is what I’m happy to have - and I’ve never been happier to not be in love with an egotistical, self obsessed, crackhead… Phew!
This book is an addictive, gritty, eye-opener - read with pleasure!
Wednesday 23rd June 2010
Confetti Confidential by Holly McQueen…
This started my mini holiday off peeeerfectly!! After reading My Sister’s Keeper I needed a nice, light summer read -and this book is definitely that!!
A Brief Description…
“Isabel Bookbinder dreams of pearly white weddings, happy brides, handsome grooms. And champagne towers that don’t topple over. She dreams of the perfect wedding. But not for herself…for her clients. It’s all about bride management as far as Isabel’s concerned. Even when she misplaces a couple of brides and loses her job working for wedding guru Pippa Everitt, Isabel isn’t disheartened. She throws herself straight into launching Isabel Bookbinder, Individual Weddings, and with a pop starlet and a millionaire as her first clients, business is looking rosy. Unfortunately for Isabel, nothing ever goes quite according to plan…”
My Thoughts:
On the front cover of my copy of this book is a little sticker that tells me “As good as Sophie Kinsella or your money back”… Well I won’t be asking for my money back. This was such a lovely, breezey, summer read - perfect for reading whilst on the beach.
The main character, Isabel Bookbinder is funny and likeable. At times she appears to have verbal diarrhea when it comes to her thoughts, but thats what makes her so refreshing.
A very satisfying read! I hope you enjoy it on a sun lounger in the sunshine, with a nice cocktail beside you!
Sunday 20th June 2010
Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper
I’m sure a lot of you have seen the film, but I resisted temptation, because I KNEW how amazing this book would be and I didn’t want that to be spoilt by seeing the film first. It’s always such a pickle of a situation - film or book first? -BUT, in my view the book would have been turned into a film based on it’s brilliance. Therefore, I go for book first (This generally means that I sit tutting through the film though, where bits have been changed and such like! Simply don’t go to the cinema with me on one of these films because I’m very annoying!).
Brief Description of the book:
“‘A major decision about me is being made, and no one’s bothered to ask the one person who most deserves it to speak her opinion.’
The only reason Anna was born was to donate her cord blood cells to her older sister. And though Anna is not sick, she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukaemia that has plagued her since she was a child. Anna was born for this purpose, her parents tell her, which is why they love her even more. But now that she has reached an age of physical awareness, she can’t help but long for control over her own body and respite from the constant flow of her own blood seeping into her sister’s veins.
And so she makes a decision that for most would be too difficult to bear, at any time and at any age. She decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body.”
My Thoughts:
The book is thought-provoking and gripping, I could not put it down. What makes this book so great is that we see the situation through SEVEN different sets of eyes, so we see each character’s pain and inner turmoil. This also means that we become in a whirlwind of our own thoughts -What would I do if it was my daughter dying? What would I do if it was my body that was always called on to save others, stopping me from having my own life? What would I do if I was the forgotten child?
There is no easy choice when it comes to life and death and this book highlights this beautifully. I STRONGLY recommend reading this amazing piece.
Sunday 13th June 2010
John by Cynthia Lennon
I love autobiographies or books about people’s lives. In this book Cynthia Lennon talks us through how/when/where she met her future husband and the journey they went on together during the rise of The Beatles. She also delves into how she was “hidden” from the public for the beginning stages of their career, about the breakdown of her marriage and about John’s death. It is such a personal book, and must have taken a lot of courage to write. It is a VERY interesting read, and if you love The Beatles as much as I do then you will love it!! I do wonder how good someone’s memory can be when being specific about events that happened 30/40 years ago, also I think that time can alter our perception on events and feelings - When reading the book it is important to remember that there are two sides to every story - but this is a fascinating book. Read Cynthia’s take on an extraordinary life!!
“Cynthia and John Lennon’s relationship spanned ten crucial years of the Beatles phenomenon. But as well as new insight into the Beatles years, Cynthia has a compelling personal story of marriage, motherhood and the man who was to become the most idolised and admired of all the Beatles. Cynthia is candid about the cruel and the loving sides of John. She tells of the end of their marriage and the beginning of his relationship with Yoko Ono in more detail than ever before, and reveals the many difficulties estrangement from John - and then his death - brought for herself and Julian. Cynthia is a remarkable survivor and this is her extraordinary story and unique insight into a man loved and idolised all over the world.”
Sunday 6th June 2010
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I have had this book on my bookshelf for a couple of years, but have never got round to reading it. So I thought it was about time I dedicated myself to it. I’m not going to lie, it has taken me forever to read - but I have managed to read half of it in the last two days. If you’re someone that enjoys Jane Austen books then I’m absolutely sure that you will love this book. It really is delightful in the same way that Austen’s books are. With each character going on their own personal journey and dealing with the pressures of society.
Sunday 30th May 2010
Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson
This is the first book I bought by Dorothy Koomson and to be honest I think bought it because I liked the look of the cover. Now, we all know that you should never judge a book by it’s cover… But I’m so glad that I did. I opened the book and within the first two pages I was completely connected to the characters and crying my eyes out. This will cement Dorothy firmly into your best author list!!!
“What would you do for the friend who broke your heart? Best friends Kamryn Matika and Adele Brannon thought nothing could come between them - until Adele did the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn’s fiance, Nate. Worse still, she got pregnant and had his child. When Kamryn discovered the truth about their betrayal she vowed never to see any of them again. Two years later, Kamryn receives a letter from Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and begs Kamryn to adopt her daughter, Tegan. With a great job and a hectic social life, the last thing Kamryn needs is a five year old to disrupt things. Especially not one who reminds her of Nate. But with no one else to take care of Tegan and Adele fading fast, does she have any other choice? So begins a difficult journey that leads Kamryn towards forgiveness, love, responsibility and, ultimately, a better understanding of herself.”
Sunday 23rd May
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
I was recommended this book by a friend of mine last year. In fact I think he bought me a copy to make sure that I read it! He was half way through reading it at the time and was loving it, so wanted to spread the love. So here I am spreading the love further… It is a deeply moving book with the characters going through tough and traumatic times! Expect to shed a tear or two!
“Set before and during the great war, “Birdsong” captures the drama of that era on both a national and a personal scale. It is the story of Stephen, a young Englishman, who arrives in Amiens in 1910. His life goes through a series of traumatic experiences, from the clandestine love affair that tears apart the family with whom he lives, to the unprecedented experiences of the war itself.”
Sunday 16th May
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
I’m sure most of you have heard the story of how Peter Pan, the boy who refuses to grow up, flies into the Darling’s nursery and leads them all to the magical Neverland. There have been many plays, films and panto’s based on the whole journey. But I recently revisited the story PROPERLY, by going back to the original book. It’s easy to see why so many people have retold the story again and again. A true, fun and beautiful classic.
“It was Friday night. Mr and Mrs Darling were dining out. Nana had been tied up in the backyard. The poor dog was barking, for she could smell danger. And she was right - this was the night that Peter Pan would take the Darling children on the most breath-taking adventure of their lives, to a place called Neverland, a strange country where the lost boys live and never grow up, a land with mermaids, fairies and pirates - and of course the terrible, evil, Captain Hook. Peter Pan is undoubtedly one of the most famous and best-loved stories for children, an unforgettable, magical fantasy which has been enjoyed by generations.”
Sunday 9th May 2010
Jemima J By Jane Green
This weeks’s Book Recommendation is Jemima J By Jane Green. A real Rom-Com. I first read this when I was 15 and have read it a few times since… It’s a moving, enjoyable, easy read. (There’s no harm in books being easy every now and then! We don’t always have to be reading educational classics!)
“Jemima Jones is overweight. About seven stone overweight. Treated like a slave by her thin and bitchy flatmates, lorded over at the Kilburn Herald by the beautiful Geraldine (less talented, better paid), her only consolation is food. That and a passion for her charming, sexy colleague Ben. Her life needs to change and soon. But can Jemima reinvent herself? Should she? A novel about attraction, obsession and the meaning of true love.”
