Review..Under Current

I got this book as freebie and to be honest I wasn't looking forward to reading it. I judged it by the awful cover expecting cheesy, unbalanced book and forgive me for the pun (Its wrong to judge a book by its cover). This book is good.  I was hooked from the first word, I couldn't put it down. Elaine Meece is a brilliant author. She captures the injustice suffered by Caleb, he's the brooding type, a Heathcliff in the making yet you fall in love with him. Some aspects of the story I found irritating for example the murder of choice (Speedboat). Murder by speedboat, really? Couldn't she think of a better weapon of choice. To her credit however she manages to balance the crime and romance perfectly. The cover of the book could be better but overall its a book worth trying.

Synopsis
Recently paroled from prison, Caleb McGregor returns to Faith, Missouri, hoping to remember the boating accident that killed two girls and stole ten years of his life. Disowned by his brother and ostracized by the small town, Caleb has no one in his life until five year old Ally Ross wanders into his yard. Her mother, Julie Ross, a young widow with two kids, has been in every fantasy his sex-starved mind can think of. She’s also the timid girl he ignored in high school.

Regardless of the fact that Caleb McGregor caused her cousin’s death, Julie Ross befriends him and finds she’s still attracted to him. Is it because of the crush she had on the high school hottie years ago? After someone threatens her and vandalizes her boat rental business, Caleb insists she take the threats seriously. Even though it could send him back to the slammer, he assumes the role of her protector. A position he plans to keep, if someone doesn’t kill him first.

Despite their growing attraction to each other, Caleb and Julie fight their desires. Too many obstacles stand in their way. While dealing with her own problems, Julie becomes driven to clear Caleb’s name. 

But as secrets from the past begin to surface, someone who has a lot to lose wants to bury them along with the truth.

Review..Iced Romance

Synopsis

Kennedy Carter has the perfect life. It includes an engagement to an NHL celebrity all-star, a Vera Wang wedding dress, and more money than she could ever spend. But when Kennedy learns that her fiance Todd is cheating on her, she's ready to leave the glamour and glitz behind.

She escapes to Orlando, Florida with a plan to rebuild her life while staying hidden from a country obsessed with celebrity scandals. The real world however, is tougher than she expected. Suddenly Kennedy has to deal with cockroaches, creepy alarm salesmen, and waiting tables... along with David, a gorgeous new love interest.

But what happens when the past refuses to stay hidden? When the truth of her background catches up to her, Kennedy must finally decide who she is, what she wants and where she really belongs.

Review

The cover is bad, the title even worse but apart from that I liked the book. I didn't love it I must emphasis, I liked it. The authors is very good but at times I got the impression that the author was trying to be like Sophie Kinsella. This would be okay if all the characters were well rounded, apart from Kennedy  the rest of the characters are annoying, irritating and I would gladly strangle with my bare hands including.

On second thoughts David was lovable at times, sometimes he was insipid and lacked personality.  Kennedy is probably the best thing about this book. she's witty and clueless and utterly lovable. Todd is the worst not because he's a cheater and a liar but because he's not well developed.
Would I pay £4.53 for this book? I dont think I would.

Coming soon...2013

2012: Books that Never seemed to Go Away.

This year was the year of books that I loved, read and then wished would disappear. These are my top 5 books that I enjoyed to some extent but wished for the love of God that they would burn in hell. Sorry..
1)Fifty Shades of Grey


2)Before I go to Sleep

3)She's gotta Be Mine

4)Three Girls and  a Baby

5) The wife of Riley

Books on Rewind...The House At Riverton

Synopsis

 Summer 1924: On the eve of a glittering Society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.

Winter 1999: Grace Bradley, 98, one-time housemaid of Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks.

A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten but Grace never could. A thrilling mystery and a compelling love story, The House at Riverton will appeal to readers of Ian McEwan's Atonement, L.P. Hartley's The Go-Between, and lovers of the film Gosford Park. 

Thoughts

Some books you read once, you enjoy the ride but wouldn't want to go back onto that ride. Other books the ride is sweeter every single time. The House At Riverton is one of those rare gems that stays with you long after you put it down. Kate Morton manages to create a beautiful masterpiece where all the pieces of puzzle fit perfectly.

Some Great Reviews

 
"Along with J.D. Salinger, Fitzgerald has got to be my favorite writer of fiction. As opposed to Hemingway's bluntness, and Faulkner's artiness, Fitzgerald's prose seems(to paraphrase Michael Chabon) to rain down from style heaven. His style in fact is like the ladies he writes about: cool, lean and absolutely enchanting. He would never dream of overwriting and knows exactly when to hold back for maximum effect. His use of the language is assured and consequently eminently readable. For that alone this should be considered the Mona Lisa of prose." Rolls Andre Goodreads on the Great Gatsby (http://www.goodreads.com/librarian/user/18657-rolls)

" Watermelon touches the feminine fear of rejection and the power of becoming a mother and thus discovering a greater kind of love superbly." Shamsh on Watermelon by Marian Keyes 

"Good story, good heroine, lousy hero." Candy on His Christmas Present  (http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2W1QVST02ECOS/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp)

"Three Girls and a Baby is what I would call a good fix of modern romance without any frills or complications." Tarot (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A33DOZDTJUNB2M/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp)

Books into Films Now and in the New Year

I love book adaptation (most of the time), this year we were blessed with Ana Karenina; the year previous we had One day. Good film adaptations have a way of bringing the book alive, bad film adaptations leave a sour taste in your mouth. Fingers crossed these new adaptations will not disappoint. 

1) Midnight's children

2) Cloud Atlas


3)Life of Pi


4) Les Miserables

5)Dorothy of Oz

6) The Great Gatsby

Tainted by Temptation

Review 

I should start off by saying that when I brought this book, it was free. I had no idea how good it would be or if I would actually like it. The name was awful -Tainted by Temptation, really? The synopsis left little to be desired and the cover was just as bad; it was basically a gamble. I read it out of boredom. We all have those moments where you just read a really long, emotionally draining novel and you need some light comedy and entertainment.  Having said all that, at times I enjoyed this book. It's well written and could be great.

But and this is a big BUT, the characters are very unlikable   Velvet (yes the heroin's name is velvet) is sappy; she is so dry and annoying, at times I wanted to inject some personality into her. I wanted her to fight and have some energy to her character. But she was bland and a tad irritating. Lucian has more personality but his cruelty to his daughter makes him very unlikeable. Towards the end, you fall in love with the characters but by then it’s too late. Another thing that irritated me was the ending, the unravelling of the story. The author built up this mystery only to leave feeling hard done by. The big reveal is not very revealing at all. It’s too predictable. I should end by saying however, I loved the epilogue. She brings the story together nicely, giving you a glimpse into what the future holds for these two. For a freebie, I would recommend it. For the full price I would leave it well alone. If the cover doesn't put you off, the characters will. 

Some of Jill Mansell's Magic

My favourite christmas treats

Every year I read many Christmas romantic books, some good, some bad, some that fall in between. This year is no exception, so far I've read more Christmas books than I would care to admit. But four titles stood out from the rest. His Christmas Present so far stands out more but I cant fault Patricia Kay's Home for Christmas. Merry Christmas Everyone and happy reading.

Good Luck, Bad Timing and When Harry met Sally

Synopsis 
Celia Mason begins the adventure of a lifetime when she leaves her purse in a New York City cab on Valentine's Day. David Willingham ends up with more than he bargained for by being a good samaritan. When Cupid's arrow takes aim, do the lonely singles duck, run for cover, or take the shot to the heart?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Timing-Harry-Sally-ebook/dp/B008E9MUJS/ref=la_B004Z2E082_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1355341741&sr=1-8

Rushed to the finish line

Athletes thrive on energy. They exercise tirelessly with one goal in mind; to be the best, the biggest, the quickest. Usain Bolt thrives on speed, on power, on technique. His entire body lives for the moment when he comes first: The first to the finishing line, the best in his field. Authors are very similar to athletes; they work tirelessly, day in and day out, typing furiously on their computers hoping for J.K Rowling masterpieces. Problem is like Usain Bolt they rush to the finish line, forgetting the finesse, the technique, the details required to tell a beautiful story. Time and time again I've read books that could become something more but the author rushes, she grips you from the beginning then lets you down. She begins with good intentions, sucking you in with her charismatic characters, you fall in love with her words then like a rat down a drain pipe she forces you into a sewage pit. The ride is beautiful, fun, the fall almost as painful. The pain seeing what could be, knowing it never could.

Books worth trying...A very Accidental Love story

An original, funny and poignant story about those things in life that you just can’t plan for…‘A very modern fairytale, full of Claudia’s trademark wit and humour’ Sheila O’Flanagan
Eloise Elliot is one of the youngest newspaper editors in the country. Respected and revered by her peers, she’s at the top of her game.
But, on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, finding herself surrounded by some pathetic looking balloons and mangy sandwiches in The Daily Post’s conference room, Eloise is hit but a long sharp pang of loneliness.
Suddenly, and with dazzling clarity, she realises what she wants to make her life more complete. A baby.
One successful trip to the sperm bank and almost three years later and she is the adoring mother of a gorgeous little girl, Lily. Juggling a high-powered job with motherhood is not easy and when she finds herself without childcare she sends an SOS to her sister Helen. Yet it’s when Lily starts asking about her ‘daddy’ that Eloise really starts to panic. What will she tell her?
So Eloise decides there’s nothing for it – she’s going to find Lily’s father. After all, she chose the perfect donor so surely there won’t be any surprises. Except that there are plenty, and Eloise gets a lot more than she bargained for.

Reviews coming soon
 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Very-Accidental-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B007QOW1XC/ref=zg_bs_341689031_21

Coming soon..Death of the Hardback

That Dreaded Celebrity Memoir

When I was 16yrs old I was into Westlife and like a true fan I brought into their endless memorabilia from the overpriced T-shirts to posters that looked so bad my mother was "forced" to tear them down. Sadly for me and happily for my poor mother that obsession ended the year I decided to buy one of their "memoirs". It was unquestioningly one of the worst book I've ever had the misfortune of buying. For a 12 year old to loose respect for you, that says a lot about your writing ability. That book was half filled with picture I could find online, their story was half arsed, rushed and completely not worth the £10 I saved up all week. I could have brought wine gums with that well earned money.

Since then my hate for memoirs has deepened and feasted into an unnatural being. Every year I watch in horror as celebrities flog their dreaded, half arsed nonsense on talk shows. Sure I will hate you more now I've read about your impending divorce. With the exception of Miranda Hart, I will not be buying any memoirs this year. My poor bank balance is doing the rumba as we speak.

Books in the New Year..

1) Lena Dunham's $3.5 advise book

 So what should we expect from this highly anticipated advise book? I loved her vulgar humor in Girls but will I love her book?  She reminds me of an explicit Miranda Hart. I would love her just a little bit more if she collaborated with Miranda Hart. That would make my year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/shortcuts/2012/dec/10/lena-dunham-leaked-book-treatment

2)Kellington Book 5

I'm looking forward to reading Liam's story in the last of the Kellington series. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Mistress-Longer-Kellington-ebook/dp/B0051EZBRM

3) The comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Comfort-of-Lies-ebook/dp/B008O4X326/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1355176889&sr=1-6

Five years ago, Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. Married, and the father of two boys, Nathan was unavailable in every way. When she became pregnant, he disappeared, and she gave up her baby for adoption.

Five years ago, Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. She prayed her misgivings would disappear; instead, she’s questioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother.

Five years ago, Juliette considered her life ideal: she had a solid marriage, two beautiful young sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again, and she trusted him.

But when Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband from Tia that contains pictures of a child with a deep resemblance to her husband, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? And if he’s kept this a secret from her, what else is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl. And before long, the three women and Nathan are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted.

Review: One of the Guys by Jesssica Strassner

I should start off by saying there is nothing wrong with this book. It's well written, the characters are likeable, it fast paced and very interesting. The problem I had with this book was that it leaves you wanting more. The author fails to explore this idea of whether it is possible to date one your guy friends. She rushed the book and at times I was let down by her lack of detail. If this book was written by Marian Keyes it would be one of the favourite books. Why? Because Marian Keyes is funny, quirky and witty. Jessica Strassner tries but fails at times. I loved the idea of this book, I was expecting to be gushing about how amazing this book is. I'm left with a lot of disspointment.