Book Review: When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson

Elsie Maynard never expected to be starting again.
But eighteen months on fron the biggest challenge of her life, she is doing just that- because she made a promise to the person who believed in her the most.
Determined to step into her uncertain future, Elsie meets handsome Oliver Hogarth who seems intent on winning her heart and inadvertently founds a choir.
Then a heartfelt request brings her to Paris- and the final item on 'The List' she never dared complete. Can Elsie follow her heart and put her past to rest?

I have read Miranda Dickinson's previous books so I knew I was in for a treat when this one arrived.
When I Fall in Love is a lovely, romantic read. Elsie Maynard is moving on with her life, her new project is a choir, she is going to be the female equivalent to Gareth Malone. Her love life is also taking a new turn in the form of Oliver Hogarth, he is happy to take things slowly but will Elsie ever be ready to love again? Add to this mix Torrin Stewart who inadvertently keeps on coming to Elsie's rescue yet she cannot bear to be in the same room as him.
I love the humour that Miranda Dickinson injects into her books, I found the character of Woody particularly funny. The ageing rocker spurs Elsie on, he is not afraid to take risks and live life to the full, which is exactly what Elsie needs.
The final part of the book takes part in Paris so you obviously can't get any more romantic. Elsie takes the trip to fulfil someone else's dream but her time there is a big turning point, it allows her to leave the past behind and face the future.
I have to say that I liked the character of Oliver but I loved the brooding character of Torin Stewart, he is like a brooding Mr Darcy and for me that is always a welcome element to a book.
When I Fall in Love is such an enjoyable read, it has plenty of humour and romance and I was truly moved by Elsie's story. Miranda Dickinson has delivered another great book and I highly recommend that you take a look.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Avon for sending me this book to review, When I Fall in Love is out now! Also I meant to say that the cover may have people thinking that this is a Christmas time book but it actually has nothing to do with Christmas and would be lovely to read any time of the year!

Book Review: Belle by Lesley Pearse

She witnessed a murder- and now her life is in danger...
Fifteen year-old bell, though raised in a London brothel, is an innocent. But when she witnesses one of the girls brutally strangled by a client, she is cast into a cruel, heartless world. Snatched from the streets and sold into prostitution, she is made a courtesan in New Orleans. At the mercy of desperate men who crave her beauty and will do anything to keep her, Belle dreams of home, family and freedom appear futile.
Are Belle's courage and spirit strong enough to help her escape? And what will await her at the end of the long, dangerous journey home?

This book was recommended to me by the lovely Lou Graham whose blog you can find here. I had received The Promise which is the sequel for review and I asked on Twitter if I needed to read Belle first. Lou said yes and that it was her favourite book of 2011, after reading it for myself, I can understand why.
Lesley Pearse sets Belle's story in 1910 and when we meet Belle she is living in her mother's brothel in the notorious Seven Dials in London. At 15, Belle is innocently unaware of what goes on upstairs in her mother's house until one fateful night when she witnesses the violent murder of Millie by the hands of one of her customers. On realisation that Belle is a witness, the murderer snatches her off the street and sells her into prostitution, initially in France and then bawdy New Orleans. What follows is two parallel stories; on the one hand we follow Belle and her terrifying ordeal and on the other hand we stay with the people who she leaves behind and the struggles they face to try and get her back.
I enjoyed both sides of the story equally, they are linked by the world of prostitution at the time and the danger and corruption involved. Mog is Belle's mother's maid but she pretty much brought Belle up and views her as her daughter. Mog is relentless in her mission to find Belle and enlists the help of Jimmy who is a friend of Belle's and Noah, an investigator and journalist who was close to the murdered Millie. These three demonstrate their loyalty and love for Belle by placing themselves in danger and never giving up on their search.
Belle's ordeal is quite difficult to read about at times. Lesley Pearse provides some very graphic descriptions of what Belle endures at the hands of some very violent and desperate men. It is evident just how much research has gone into this book and I found the events described in Paris, London and New Orleans to be fascinating.
Belle is long at just under 600 pages but I flew through it. Lesley Pearse has a great way of leaving you wanting more at the end of each chapter.
Belle is a great book and I can't wait to find out what happens to her next in The Promise and to also try some of Lesley Pearse's other books as she certainly knows how to deliver a good story.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5 

Book Review: Die For Me by Amy Plum + Give away!!

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister Georgia and I were orphans. We put our loves into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent. Mysterious, sexy and unnervingly charming. Vincent appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk everyday. He also has enemies...immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

Can I risk putting my heart as well as my life and my family's in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Firstly let me say that the cover for this book is beautiful, it really captures the romantic nature of the story, especially with the Paris backdrop.
Die For Me is the first in the Revenants series by Amy Plum and what a brilliant beginning- this is one of the best paranormal, young adult books that I have read in a long time.
A revenant is an immortal being; in certain circumstances, people who die in the place of others come back to life 3 days later. They then continually save others even if that means dying again, they will always return to life unless someone burns their body, that is the only way they can truly die. Vincent is a revenant and he has fallen for Kate, who is only just getting over the death of her parents so the idea of being with someone who is going to have multiple deaths absolutely terrifies her.
Vincent is not alone, he lives with his 'uncle' Jean Baptiste and more of his kindred, as they call themselves, Charlotte, Charles, Ambrose and Gaspard. They work together to save the lives of others across the city of Paris.
The revenants have a major enemy in the Numa, they are the complete opposite, they have gained their immortality by taking the lives of others. Once immortal they continue to try and murder people, which is what the revenants have to work to prevent.
Kate has no contact with the Numa until the end of the book. A rescue attempt goes wrong and Charles cannot handle what happened and so he turns to the Numa to end it all for him. Lucien is head of the Paris Numa and is happy to take advantage of Charles' misfortune, especially as it means that he can gain revenge on Vincent who is his sworn enemy. However, Lucien didn't imagine that Vincent would ever fall in love with a human and so Kate finds herself in mortal danger and Lucien knows that Vincent will do anything to protect her.
Amy Plum has created such a beautiful story, I loved the romantic idea of the revenants, they are like angels on earth. Vincent is a very attractive character and I can see why Kate falls for him. Kate is a very likable character too but she is very vulnerable so it is understandable that she questions this new relationship. Kate needs somebody like Vincent but she has to decide if she will be able to cope with the fact that she will lose him again and again.
I'm so excited that this is just the first in the series as I just want to know more and more. Vincent and Kate's story will have great appeal for the YA market and I believe it will easily cross the gap to slightly older readers.
If you like your books with a paranormal edge then give this one a go, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Many thanks to Atom for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out on May 26th!

I actually have a copy of Die For Me to give away to any UK followers. If you would like a chance to read this book then please leave a comment below this post, the comment must include your email address so that I can contact the winner. This give away is open until midnight on Tuesday May 24th, good luck!!