Book Review - The year I met You

                                         

                                             

The Year I Met You By Cecelia Ahern

My Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

My thoughts....

Jasmine has been fired from the only thing she is good at, (her job) and put on gardening leave. Racked with insomina, she begins staring out of her bedroom window, where she finds the annoying antics of her neighbour, Matt. Whom she has a fond hatred for, andshe has every right to. However, Matt is also taking gardening leave, much to Jasmine's dislike. Nevertheless, not everything is as it seems and both Jasmine and Matt are forced to think again. 

Well, I have to say that, Cecelia Ahern has done it again, for the eleventh time. I really enjoyed this book. It was something I wasn't expecting and was refreshing. I loved the variety of characters in this book, which made the story have depth and become realistic. Cecelia writes about issues, some people have trouble acknowledging and that's why I loved this read. There are also great hidden twists and turns, that kept me guessing at what is going to happen. It defiantly wasn't predictable. 

However, when I first started reading the first chapter, I wasn't sure if I was going to get into it. The main reason was how the story was written. In first person. With hardly any dialogue to begin with. But, I gave it a chance and soon I got use to the style and was drawn in. 

My overview of this book is that It was a fantastic read. A story, I have never come across before. I can't even compare it to another book, it's so different and captivating. Blooming marvellous.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review - Landline

   

                                      

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My  Thoughts...

What would you do, if you had a magic phone that was linked to the past?

With only a few days left before Christmas, Georgie Mccool was suppose to of gone on vacation with her family. However, being a workaholic, with a serious deadline looming in under seven days. Georgie decides not to go, leaving husband Neal and their two daughters to go alone.

Not surprisingly no one is happy about this, especially Neal. Therefore as the days begin to merge, and Georgie has trouble contacting her husband. She convinces herself that her marriage is in danger. Well, everyone else thinks so, so it must be true. Que. the magic phone that Georgie finds in her old childhood room, that she uses to contact her husband Neal, from the past.

This was my first Rainbow Rowell read and I loved it! It was a bit weird reading a story based around Christmas now. However, I got past it and enjoyed the tale. I loved Georgie. She's not your typical book heroine. Tall, skinny and flawless. She reminded me, of me. I have the same coloured hair and I wear glasses, to write and read. Also Georgie is portrayed as a real woman, with curves and stretch marks, which her husband loves. She was my favourite character. I also loved Noomi, who thinks she's a cat and her pug obsessed mum.

I can't think of anything bad to say about this book. The cover is gorgeous, the layout superb. The characters are likeable and detailed. Rainbow has done a fantastic job of getting you hooked, from start to finish.

I loved every minute of this book, one of my favourite reads this year. If you haven't read it, why are you here? Go and read it. Now! 😋

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Book Review - The Taxidermist's Daughter

        

                                      

The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts...

Sussex, 1912. Constantia 'Connie' Gifford lives with her father in an old house out, in the marshes of Fishbourne. Once a well known Taxidermist, with his own museum of stuffed birds, which used to grace every parlour, are now out of fashion. Leaving Gifford a bitter old man. However, that was not the only reason why Gifford and his daughter shut up shop and moved to a quiet village on the coast. 

This was a dark and mysterious murder mystery. With each chapter focusing on certain aspects of each character, as we learn about the secret that Gifford has kept from his daughter. Kate's description and detail of each character was amazing and I could picture, quite clearly how each one looked and portrayed themselves. I loved the way Kate made you feel sorry for Gifford and how she made Connie an independent woman, taking charge of the family home, when her father disappears. 

The map at the beginning of the book is a nice touch and adds to the atmosphere of the story. Even though, I enjoyed the story. I did find it slow going in some places and I had to force myself to read, so I could get to the good bits and even then, it kept you on your toes. I particularly liked the gruesome parts, which made you check your shoulder every now and again. Kate Mosse made you feel part of the story.

Nevertheless, the story was excellent and intriguing. Gothic and ghostly. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy murder mysteries. Personally, this book wasn't for me.

I give this 3 out of 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟   

Book Review - The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements

The Crimson Ribbon by Katherine Clements

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Thoughts...

Well done Katherine Clements.

This book captivated me from the moment I turned the first page.
Set in mid-seventeenth century England, where the persecution of witches were rife and the horrors of the civil war plagued the country.
Ruth Flowers is forced to flee her household of Oliver Cromwell in Ely and flee to London. On the road she meets a former, troublesome soldier. However, when she reaches the city, it's the Poole household which changes her life forever.

I throughly enjoyed reading this book, couldn't put it down and even took it to work with me. The author has a way with words that brings you into the story, making you a part of its world.
At times you can kind of predict of what will happen along the way, only because of what history dictates and what we have learned. Though there are surprising corners in which you turn.

I fell in love with Ruth Flowers, as you join her on her journey and watch her grow and change. It was fascinating to see how she deals with constant issues and problems. Though at times, she annoyed me and I wanted to slap her around the face. Never the less, she was my favourite character and I wanted the best for her.

I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone, young and old. It is an insight into how the world was back in 1646 and how little peoples minds truly were.


I give this book a five stars

Foyles: Witching Hour Literacy Event

I've been so busy of late, with reading and working in my 'real' job that I just didn't have time to blog. However, on Monday 8th Septemember I was lucky enough to attend Foyles, Witching Hour literary Event in London. With authours: Deborah Harkness (All Souls Trilogy), Karen Maitland (The Vanishing Witch) and Katherine Clement (The Crimson Ribbon)

It wasn't what I was expecting. Then, again I didn't know what to expect. The event was held at Foyles book store in Charing cross road on the 6th floor (massive shop! with a cafe on the 5th floor) at 7pm. 

Now, I'm a huge fan of Deborah Harkness and her All Souls Trilogy and I'm also a memeber of the Facebook group AST discussion. So there were a good group of us attending. 

On arrival we were given a free glass of Prosecco before choosing where to sit. It wasn't as busy as I thought it might be. Maybe 50 people, mostly made up of women. The atmospehere was tense with excitment before the three writers appeared on stage. 

Cathy Rentzenbrink opened up the event and introduced the authors to the room.

The event lasted for one hour with a ten minute question time. The authors discussed their latest books and topics such as; How women were portraited and treated in the Medeival time period - 19th centuary, discussion on a few famous past witches and how magic and science are similar.

It was an interesting and pleasent event and afterwards we could buy their books and have them signed, takes pictures and what not. 

Took my own copy of Deborah Harkness Book Of Life (The final book in the All Souls Trilogy)

Book Review: Honor's Lark by Rachel L Hamm

Honor's Lark by Rachel L Hamm

My Rating: 5 out of 5!

My thoughts...

I won this book from Goodreads Giveaway. After scouring the giveaway section of Goodreads, I came upon this book and after a quick review of the summary, I thought it was something difeerent. When I found out that I won, I was happy and looked forward to reading it.

In a world where everyone is assigned a lifemate at birth by the Gods, thirty year-old Honor is still looking for hers. When her new boss, Sedric, points out that her mate probably died before they met, Honor embarks on a quest for closure. She needs to know who her mate was and what he was like so she can move on with her life. 

Can I just say, first of all, wow. I never thought I would become hooked to this book. A 253 page read, it was short, but amazing. I zoomed through this book with ernest, wanting to found out what happened next. I loved how unique the plot was and how intriguing the sub plots were. I also loved the different world Rachel created, where everyone had a lark (an incomplete design) somewhere on their body and it only completed when you found your mate. It was a world similar to our own and you could easily relate to. A genius idea! 

This book is easy to read and will have you hooked from the start. You will also fall in love with the characters. I hope there will be a sequel :)

My favourite book, so far this year!

From Notting Hill to New York... Actually Review

From Notting Hill To New York... Actually By Ali McNamara

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My thoughts... 

I absolutely loved the first book 'From Notting Hill, with love actually.' And equally I adored this one, just the same. I whizzed through this book in four days! I just could not put it down.

We are delved into the wonderful, and exciting world of Scarlett who has now been living in Notting Hill for one year. However, things aren't as rosy as they once were with her and Sean, as they are now settled and living together. Scarlett is obsessed with the internet and tracking celebrities on Twitter, meanwhile her best friend, the fabulous and care free Oscar suggests they go and visit the Antiques Roadshow. With nothing to show, Scarlett manages to find a brooch at the bottom of her jewellery box. And the adventure begins...

Ali's writing is just so good, the way the story flowed, it was so easy to keep turning the pages and before you knew it, you have finished the book! As I was reading and laughing at the same time, I couldn't help but think, that I could see these books becoming a Richard Curtis film. They are just so light and fluffy and all that a Richard Curtis film is.

Well done Ali for creating a world I love so much. Now, I'm wanting to read the third one!