Book Review: You're the One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher

Maddy, Ben and Robert have been inseparable since they met in the school playground. They've stuck together through thick and thin, feeling safe in the knowledge that they have each other.
So when Ben falls hopelessly in love with Maddy, he decides to keep it quiet for the sake of their friendship. Until Robert swoops in and kisses Maddy- irrevocably fracturing things between them as the kiss turns to love.
But when Robert and Maddy's love turns sour, can Ben continue to say nothing? And can Maddy choose between her two best friends?

You're the One That I Want is Giovanna Fletcher's second book and I thought it was even better than her first, Billy and Me which I really enjoyed.

Maddy, Ben and Robert have been the best of friends since primary school. As they get older and hormones are raging, Maddy and Robert become a couple and Ben's love for Maddy becomes a deep secret which he shares only with his Mum. When Robert and Maddy have relationship trouble, Ben has to decide whether to tell Maddy how he really feels, risking his friendship with both of them.
Each chapter is told from either Maddy or Ben's perspective. This diary-like style really suited the story as the reader gets to know both characters intimately and we are privy to their private thoughts and feelings.
I felt that Giovanna Flethcher captured each stage of their relationship so well. I loved the parts from their childhoods but then it became more complex and emotional as they grew up and friendship turned into other feelings for all of them.
This book reminded me a little of One Day by David Nicholls but I actually thought it was more interesting by adding the love triangle element. I was completely torn  by who I wanted Maddy to be with, both Robert and Ben truly love her and I could completely understand her conflicting feelings for both.
Giovanna Fletcher is particularly good at drawing you into her story and making you care about the characters she has created. You're the One That I Want is a very entertaining book, the characters are very likeable and there are enough twists and turns to keep you reading; I would highly recommend.

Many thanks to Katie at Penguin for sending me a review copy.

Book Review: Stranded by Emily Barr

It was meant to be a trip to Paradise...
Bruised from the breakdown of her marriage, Esther Lomax needs to get away and hopes Malaysia's unspoilt shores will provide the space and time alone she seeks.
But a day's boat trip takes a desperate turn when Esther, along with six other holiday makers, is deposited on an uninhabited island, their guide promising to pick them up in an hour's time.
Only, he doesn't come back: not an hour later, not two, not even the next day. Before long, the dreadful reality of the situation hits the group: they have no way of getting back to the mainland and they know nothing about each other. As tensions erupt, secrets emerge and time begins to run out, Esther must ask herself the ultimate question, will she leave the island alive?

I love Emily Barr's last novel, The First Wife so I had high expectations of Stranded. I am pleased to report that my expectations were met, I couldn't put Stranded down and my romantic notion of a deserted island has been blown apart!
In Emily Barr's books, nothing is ever as it seems, characters are often hiding something and the plot has you guessing what will happen next.
Esther Lomax goes to Malaysia to get her head together after her divorce. She leaves her daughter Daisy at home and she is the sole reason that she wants to return in one piece; she wants to be able to prove to Daisy that she can be the mother that she deserves. A day trip to a deserted island turns into Esther's worst nightmare when the guide does not return to pick up her and the other travellers. However idyllic looking the island is, the reality is horrendous, they have to pull together in order to survive, their hope of being rescued, fading every day.
I don't want to give the story away but Emily Barr delivers a beautifully sinister plot, the ending took me completely by surprise, I loved that it wasn't predictable in any way.
Stranded is an excellent read, Emily Barr has a writing style that draws you in, her characters are flawed and believable and you quickly become engrossed in the story she is telling. Highly recommended.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Headline for sending me a copy of the book to review, Stranded is out now.

Recipe Book Review: Nigella Express

I am a MASSIVE Nigella Lawson fan so I thought that I would start this new feature with one of my favourite recipe books, Nigella Express. I have all of Nigella's books but I probably use this one once a week and my copy is well thumbed.
Nigella Express is so accessible, I always cook a fresh meal every night and this book has provided us with many gorgeous weekday dinners. My husband and I both work so we don't want to be cooking for hours of an evening but we both enjoy fresh, wholesome food. Nearly all of the recipes in this book are just one page long with easily found ingredients. I also love how Nigella makes recommendations as to what you can do with any leftovers.
Nigella Express is split into thirteen sections ranging from Instant Calmer, Against the Clock and Workday Winners. There are some sections that are a little more specific; there's a whole chapter on speedy Mexican food and a whole chapter on Christmas, both have some great ideas.
Some of my favourite recipes from this book are the Chicken, Mushroom and Bacon Pie (page 175), this is perfect in the Winter and includes garam masala in the sauce so it's really tasty. My husband also loves the Pollo alla Cacciatora which is known as Nigella Chicken in our house. It is like an Italian chicken stew, really filling and perfect served with big pieces of crusty bread. Nigella also includes a gorgeous recipe for Chocolate Pear Pudding; I have lost count how many times I have made this as people always love it and it is incredibly easy.
The pictures in this book are very clear and most are full page; I prefer this as I think it gives you confidence when cooking to have a good picture of the finished product. Nigella also make useful suggestions for alternative ingredients but I have never been unable to get something for her recipes.
As I said, my copy of Nigella Express is extremely well thumbed but I still find new things that I want to try when I look through it. Next on my list are the chocolate macaroons and the black pasta with red mullet which looks delicious.
If you are looking for an accessible book that you can cook from in the week then Nigella Express is perfect. She does have some dishes that take longer and are more suited to a special occasion but in the main I know that I can always rely on this book for tasty weekday dinners.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5

Book Review: A Surprise Party by Sue Welfare

When feuding sisters Suzie and Liz come together to organise a 40th anniversary party for their parents, they struggle to keep their own personal dramas in check.

Suzie is trying to keep her marriage afloat whilst Liz is keen to retain her Queen Bee status. Their mother and aunt are at logger heads and Suzie's daughters are experiencing the angst of adolescence. 

As the champagne flows and the drama unfolds; it quickly becomes clear that this is a party that no-one will ever forget- but will there be a happy family left standing?

A Surprise Party is a very enjoyable read. Suzie and Liz are organising a party for their parent's 40th wedding anniversary. The two sisters are like chalk and cheese, Suzie lives for her family and her garden whereas Liz is a judge on a TV talent show and lives for the next tabloid headline. The relationship between the sisters is mirrored in their mother Rose's relationship with her sister Fleur. It appears that all of these women have misguided perceptions about each other's lives. It is very much a case of believing that the grass is greener in each other's lives. Suzie's daughters Hannah and Megan are also struggling. Their parents aren't communicating and Hannah is feeling the peer pressure from the same group of friends that her mother has been trying to keep her away from.
A Surprise Party only covers the time period of the actual party which I didn't think would work. However it was successful as it brings all of the main characters together and the readers gets to watch the fireworks!
I think that Sue Welfare has written a lovely book that looks at family relationships that we often take for granted. I enjoyed her writing style and I was pleased to discover that she has written four other books which I shall be taking a look at.

Many thanks to Avon for sending me a copy of the book to review, A Surprise Party is out now.

Book Review: That Gallagher Girl by Kate Thompson

Fore free-spirited Cat Gallagher, having a roof over her head involves a spot of unofficial house sitting. Cat lands on her feet once again when she discovers a deserted villa in the village of Lissamore. But when the new owner unexpectedly arrives to take possession, Cat needs to think fast to avoid being thrown out on her ear.
Rio Kinsella is also in a predicament. When an old flame turns up on her door step, the future seems rosy, but Rio soon finds out that nothing is ever that simple- especially where love is concerned. Can both women find a way through their problems?

It took me a little while to get in to this book as there seemed to be a lot of characters and at first I wasn't entirely sure how they were all connected but once I got into it I found it very enjoyable.
Cat Gallagher is the daughter of world famous artist Hugo Gallagher and she is extremely talented in that area too. However, Cat is a bit of a drifter, she has no job or home and in the beginning of the book, no direction either. I liked the character a little more by the end of the book but I have to say that for the most part, I found her pretty annoying.
Cat ends up squatting effectively in a mansion in Lissamore. Finn, the new owner's son returns to work on the house so Cat has to come up with  something quickly in order to keep a roof over her head. Finn is actually doing the house up for his Dad, movie star Shane and so he allows Cat to stay on in return for her decorating skills.
Rio Kinsella is Finn's Mum and when her old flame Adair returns to the village she can envision a very happy future together. But she still has a place in her heart for Shane so how will she feel when she learns that he is returning too?
That Gallagher Girl is an enjoyable read. It is about friendship and love and the opportunities we take and those we decide to pass on by. I loved the Irish setting and will look out for Kate Thompson's other books in the future.

Many thanks to Avon for sending me a copy to review, it is in shops now!

Book Review: Rosebush by Michele Jaffe + Win a copy of the book!

Jane doesn't remember being hit by a car and left for dead. But as she's convalescing she realises that her friends stories and her memories of what happened that night aren't adding up.
Very soon the only thing she does know is that one of her friends was trying to kill her. One of them still is...

Firstly I would like to say that the cover for this book is brilliant, one of my favourite so far this year. What's inside isn't too bad either. Jane wakes up in hospital after being run over. She was found in a rosebush, the driver did not stop to help. Jane's memory is fuzzy to say the least, she remembers being at a party with her friends but no idea how she ended up in intensive care, unable to move her legs.
Jane has a lot of friends, her best friends being Kate and Langley, or the three musketeers as they like to call themselves. Both friends were there as was her boyfriend David but they all seem unable to shed any light on the matter. Jane then starts receiving creepy gifts at the hospital and phone calls from someone saying they will be coming to finish her off properly this time. The doctors and even her own mother don't believe her, putting it down to hallucinations caused by all the medications she is on. But Jane knows she's not hallucinating, she can't believe it but she knows that one of her friends tried to kill her and will be coming back to finish off the job.
Michele Jaffe has written a very clever thriller. That fact that Jane is so helpless in her hospital bed just makes the whole situation even more desperate. The story takes place over 5 days so the pace is pretty fast, with short chapters leaving you wanting more. There were several twists that I didn't see coming and the last few chapters had me holding my breath.
Rosebush is going to appeal to many young adult readers. I agree with Atom that there are not enough young adult thriller writers, I think that Michele Jaffe will be a leading light.

Many thanks to Atom for sending me a copy of this book to review.

I have a copy of this brilliant book to give away to any UK readers! All you need to do is leave me a comment with your email address. This competition will remain open until Midnight on March 30th and I shall pick a winner. Any comments without email addresses will not be entered! Good luck! 

Book Review: Love Nest by Julia Llewellyn

I was very lucky to receive a copy of Love Nest by Julia Llewellyn which is published by Penguin on February 4th. It follows the fortunes of four people involved in a house chain. Grace has grown up in the sprawling Chadlicote Manor but after the death of her mother she has to sell in order to settle the huge family debt. Grace wants Chadlicote to be bought by the best possible people but how easy will it be for her to leave and start a brand new life? Karen's husband Phil believes that the manor offers the new life that he has been looking for but Karen has no desire to become a lady of leisure in the country especially when a blast from the past turns up at work. Gemma's sights are are set on Karen's suburban home which is preferable to her and Alex's loft apartment particularly for bringing up the baby that she is longing for. Meanwhile Nick Crex is in one of the UK's latest rock bands and Gemma's flat will take him a step closer to the rock and roll lifestyle that he thinks he should be leading. He falls for the classy estate agent, Lucinda who may not be all that she seems but he is still going to have to explain all of this to Kylie, his devoted childhood sweetheart.

This is the first book I have ready by Julia Llewellyn but I thought that it was fantastic. It is such a good idea to link all of these characters together in this way. Moving house often means that you are at a significant point in your life and the new property often reflects your hopes and dreams for the future. All of these characters are at important junctions in life and I was completely gripped as I found out what decisions and mistakes they would make.

The characters are very believable and I think that Julia Llewellyn covers some tough subjects in an honest and sensitive way. If you have read any of her other books then please let me know if you have any recommendations as I would like to read more.

Book Review: The Behvaiour of Moths by Poppy Adams

The Behaviour of Moths is Poppy Adams debut novel, I was totally engrossed from the very first page and it has only taken me two evenings to read it.
It is the tale of two elderly sisters, Ginny and Vivien. Vivien is returning to Bulburrow Court after an absence of forty-seven years. The crumbling mansion was once their childhood home where the sisters had grown up being the best of friends. The reader is left to wonder if the events which have kept Vivien away for so long will be able to remain in the past or whether the sister's reunion will bring them to the fore again.
Ginny is the sole narrator of the story and as you get further and further into the book you begin to wonder just how believable she is and how far you can trust what she is saying. This unsettling feeling permeates throughout the story. There are so many questions from the past that you want answered but the most important question from the present is why exactly Vivien has returned to Bulburrow Court after so many years.
Poppy Adams delves head first into the relationships within a family. The sisterly relationship between Ginny and Vivien dominates the story but their relationship is also intrinsically linked to the very different relationships that they had with both of their parents individually.
I loved the aspect of the story that looked at Ginny and her father's role as lepidopterologists; collectors and researchers of moths. You can clearly see that Poppy Adams heavily researched this area and I truly would not have believed that moths could be so fascinating. Ginny and her father are so caught up in observing the moths that the chaos occurring around them goes unnoticed until it is far too late and the consequences for the family are devastating.
The Behaviour of Moths does have a feel of Du Maurier's Rebecca about it in that it gives you this very unsettling feeling as it gradually builds up to quite a shocking finale. I was not expecting what happened at the end even though the possibility of it had been hovering in the background.
Poppy Adams has created a beautiful yet quite sinister story that grabs you from the very first page. As a debut novel it is beautifully written and I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future.

Book Review: The Seven Secrets of Happiness by Sharon Owens

The lovely people at Penguin sent me Sharon Owen's book, The Seven Secrets of Happiness, it is published today in paperback and well worth a read:

Ruby O'Neill leads a charmed life in a perfect house on an elegant street, married to gorgeous Jonathan who adores her. It is a snowy Christmas Eve and life has even more glitter and sparkle than usual. Ruby blissfully decorates their Christmas tree, dreaming of a romantic holiday season when she and Johnathan will enjoy lovely lie-ins and start the baby she longs for. Then a telephone call shatters her fairytale existence forever. In the New Year Ruby picks herself up and finds comfort in sewing seven exquisite little velvet bags which seem touched by magic. Through them her life is touched by the lives of others and she learns six secrets which begin to thaw her frozen heart. And little does she know she has a guardian angel watching over her. Though wounded himself, he holds in his hands the seventh secret and Ruby's chance of having love blossom again in her life.

The Seven Secrets of Happiness was a really lovely start to my reading year. The story starts off on Christmas Eve and goes through to new year and it really encompasses that feeling of new chances and opportunities that we get when he say goodbye to the year gone by and welcome a new one.
Sharon Owens has created a very believable set of characters. Ruby O'Neill is cautious and sensible and this is mirrored by her best friend Jasmine who pushes her to take some risks and have some fun. I loved how we meet the character of Tom Lavery right at the beginning of the book and get to know him even before Ruby does. Ruby's dysfunctional parents offer both humorous and poignant moments and they bring another element to the story so that we are not solely focused on the events of Ruby's everyday life.
This book deals with love and loss and the ways in which we have to move forward and look to the future. It is the first book by Sharon Owens that I have read but I shall definitely be looking up her other books in the future.

Book Review: Thinking of you by Jill Mansell

I don't like to write negative reviews but I really didn't enjoy this book. I'm not sure if maybe I had too much on my mind but I felt like it was a real chore to get to the end.
This is the first book that I have read by Jill Mansell and I am going to try not to let it put me off as I have read so many good reviews of her books and it could be that this one just wasn't right for me.
The idea of the book is that Ginny Holland's daughter, Jem, has gone off to university and Ginny needs to revamp her own life. So she gets a new job as a waitress with the gorgeous Finn as her new boss; starts a relationship with the charming Perry Kennedy and tries not to worry about Jem too much.
Unfortunately, I found the whole book to be a little predictable and therefore I found it hard to believe in. I did enjoy the characters that Jill Mansell created though and I think this is what kept me reading to the end.
Has anyone read any other Jill Mansell books that they can recommend as I would like to give them another go?

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I read Kate Morton's other book The House at Riverton last year and whilst I enjoyed it, I didn't love it so I was a bit anxious about reading her new book The Forgotten Garden. However, I shouldn't have worried as I thought that it was brilliant, it is definitely in my top five favourite reads of the year so far!
I'm sorry to be lazy and give you the blurb again but it would be too easy to give away the little twists and turns in this book and they are undeniably the best bits!

1913- On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without a trace.
1975- Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell's journey after all these years?
2005- On Nell's death her grandaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds- secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why the young Nell was abandoned all those decades before.

So as you can see there are three strands to the story, all with their own discoveries and secrets. Kate Morton weaves the three strands together brilliantly, we learn more about Nell's past but we are constantly given new questions and mysteries to solve and this is what keeps you turning the pages. Gardens are key to the story in this and Kate Morton's last book. The Forgotten Garden at Blackhurst Manor holds the answers that Cassandra is looking for, she just needs to know where to look exactly. I think a garden is a really intersting symbol, they promote new life and new beginings but if left uncared for then they become overgrown and therefore cover up the past and any secrets held within.
I really enoyed all the characters that Morton created, you feel that none of them are meerly filling space, they all have something important to contribute to the story. It is the story that I loved, it was entirely believable and you can feel the sheer frustration of the characters of Nell and Cassandra in particular as they try to uncover the past that their ancestors went to great lengths to cover up. If you have read The House at Riverton and enjoyed it then you would love this as it is so much better. If you haven't read anything by Kate Morton but love a good mystery with love, intrigue and a country estate and all that that brings then you should definitely give The Forgotten Garden a try.

Review: Agatha Rasin and the Haunted House by M.C. Beaton

I discovered the Agatha Raisin series a few years ago when I went on a cruise and read everything too quickly so had to raid the ship's library! They were such a great discovery, Agatha Raisin is a brilliant character and I love finding out about all of the trouble that she has been getting into! This is the fourteenth book in the series:

Reports of a haunted house soon have Agatha snooping round, but it turns out the victim is a universally disliked old biddy and someone is playing a practical joke. And then the old lady is murdered- but for Agatha, solving a crime is much more fun than hunting a ghost! Very soon she's up to her usual tricks, involving the villagers, local police, and, of course her handsome new neighbour...

M.C. Beaton has created another fantastic mystery in the Cotswolds and Agatha Raisin once again is there to save the day. I love her character, on the outside she is incredibly feisty and forward but the reader also gets to hear all the insecurities and worries that she carries round with her; making her a very believable and likable character. Her eye has been caught by her handsome new neighbour Paul Chatterton; he has a wife in Spain but is extremely flirtatious with Agatha so trouble soon ensues. Familiar characters from the series pop up in this book, there's Mrs Bloxby the vicar's wife, Bill Wong the policeman trying to keep Agatha out of trouble and Sir Charles Fraith, Agatha's part-time partner in crime. Beaton keeps you guessing to the very end about the death of the old lady and there are many red herrings along the way.
These books are a good, quick read, they keep you interested all the way through and the characters are so lovely that I always feel like I have spent the day with old friends whenever I read any of these! M.C. Beaton has a brilliant website so go and have a look and see if the Agatha Raisin mysteries interest you!

The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

Sorry that it has been a wee bit quiet on Dot Scribbles recently but I've not been too well, so there has been lots of sleeping during the day rather than blogging! I'm back now though and I have just finished The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain which was fantastic. I had noticed it on quite a few other blogs and managed to swap a copy with someone, it's definitely worth a read.

Would you live a lie to keep your child?
In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child.
CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve died - because she was there. She also knows what happened to .missing infant, because two decades ago CeeCee made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own.
Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and CeeCee has another choice to make. Tell the truth and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die to protect a lifetime of lies.

I have read many reviews that have compared this book to those of Jodi Picoult's, I have to say that I think this is better. I always feel that the characters are a little bit distant in Picoult's books but Diane Chamberlain's characters are completely believable and vivid. The action in the book starts immediately as we observe Corinne Bailey's reaction to her mother, CeeCee Wilke's confession about her involvement in the kidnapping of Genevieve Russell. The reader is then taken back to when the devastating events occurred and we begin to build up a picture of the type of person CeeCee Wilkes was at that time and what led her to make the momentous decisions that she did. The scenes described between the young CeeCee and Genevieve are devastating and you can feel the panic and guilt experienced by CeeCee which then permeates throughout the rest of the story.
There is a lot of action in this book but the main purpose is to explore how we deal with the consequences of our actions. Diane Chamberlain explores this by showing how CeeCee Wilkes tried to live her life and bring up the child that she had kidnapped in a loving and stable environment. You gain a real sense though that since that fateful day, CeeCee Wilkes has never been at peace, she has constantly been looking over her shoulder and this is an awful way to live a life. The character of CeeCee Wilkes obviously changes during the book and there were many occasions that I really did not like her but when you see her having to make the decision at the end of the book you see what a completely remarkable person she is.
The very first page of the book obviously gives away the ending and this is quite a long book. So what keeps you reading? For me there were so many things that I wanted to know. What happened to Timothy Gleason? How did CeeCee Wilkes survive? Why did she confess to her actions? How will her 'daughter' react to the knowledge that her whole life has been a lie?
The Lost Daughter in many ways is a simple thriller yet I felt that it was a little bit more than that. As a reader, you are really forced to ask yourself so many questions as you wander how you would react in those situations. Diane Chamberlain takes a really exciting story and uses it to look at some of the most basic aspects of human nature.

Running in Heels by Anna Maxted

I have been meaning to read this Anna Maxted book for years and finally bought a copy and finished it this weekend! We follow the character of Nat, who begins the story by saying:
To say that Babs is my closest friend is rather like saying that Einstein was good at sums. And if you've ever had a best friend, you'll know what I mean. Babs and I had such a beautiful relationship, no man could better it. And then she met Simon.
So Babs has got married and moved out of the flat that she shares with Nat into her new life with Simon. Nat does not take this too well at all. She seems to have a problem in seeing reality, whether that be about her new boyfriend, her career, her best friend's marriage or what she sees when she looks into the mirror. I really enjoyed Anna Maxted's style of writing, she is extremely witty yet also offers the reader many poignant moments throughout the story. One of the main subjects in this book took me completely by surprise and I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it. I will say though that an extremely difficult subject is dealt with brilliantly, it is very clear that the author put a lot of time and effort into researching this area.
The characters in this book are very well created, I loved Nat's mother and found her completely believable. However, I could not take to the character of Babs at all, even when she was trying to help Nat, I couldn't warm to her. You can't like everyone though can you?
It didn't take me long at all to read this book as the character of Nat totally drew me in and I was willing her to get her life back on track right up to the last page. I know that this book is pretty old but if any of you, like me, have not got round to reading it then I would urge you to get a copy as I thought it was excellent.

The Gift by Cecila Ahern

I missed this book when it came out at Christmas but finally got round to finishing it at the weekend. Although The Gift is set in the Christmas period, I still really enjoyed reading it over a sunny June weekend!

Basically the story revolves around the question of:

If you could wish for one gift this Christmas, what would it be?

Cecilia Ahern presents us with the character of Lou Suffern, he is a young, successful man with a wife and two kids who nearly always needs but fails to be in two places at the same time. One morning he meets Gabe who is homeless and begging outside of Lou's office building; he is intrigued by this man who looks remarkably similar to himself and so he finds him a job in the company's mail room. Lou starts to find Gabe's presence a little odd, how does he manage to be in two places at the same time? Christmas gets closer and Gabe seems to be interfering in Lou's life even more, trying to teach him the true value of time. Towards the end of the book Lou has begun to realise what is really important in life but then he has to learn the harshest lesson of all.

Once again Cecilia Ahern presents you with a slightly fairy-tale like story that is completely believable and absorbing. The book held my interest from the very beginning and there were many twists and turns that I would never have predicted. Lou Suffern is a fantastic character, you get a real feel for the scarily fast speed that he is living his life at and the many responsibilities that he is trying to juggle. Gabe is the true fairy-tale character of the story, we do not know who he is or where he has come from, yet his impact on the story is huge.
I would have liked to have read this book at Christmas but it was still lovely to read at this time of year. I felt that Cecilia Ahern really captured that time of year, with the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, the cold weather and the many social commitments that we all make. The book had a really lovely message that is relevant all year round, not just during the festive period. We do take people for granted sometimes and need a little nudge to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
If you are a Cecilia Ahern fan like me then I am sure you will really enjoy this book and if you haven't read any of her books then here is a good place to start. I can highly recommend reading a book set in December during this heatwave, all the talk of snow and biting winds cooled me right down!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I was lucky enough to win this book in the competition held by dovegreyreader, I loved her review of it so I was really looking forward to being able to read it myself. The book revolves around 17 year old Mia, she has a loving family; great friends and a boyfriend who she truly loves. Mia has decisions to make about her future; she is a talented cellist and there is the possibility that she will have won a place to study at Julliard in New York, leaving her life in Oregon behind. However, Mia's choices are vastly compromised by a cold February morning and a snowy road; she is left having to face an even harder decision all on her own.
I don't want to give the story away in my review but I do want to stress that I thought that this book was amazing. I literally couldn't put it down, I read it in one ago as I was totally absorbed into the story and the characters. I think that it is possibly one of the best young adult books that I have ever read; so many sensitive subjects are explored to their very limits. I loved how Gayle Forman painted the picture of Mia's relationship with her parents and also her boyfriend Adam. By building this up gradually the reader is left knowing how hard it is for Mia to make her decision at the end of the book. Ultimately this is a tale of love and loss; it really does make you take a step back and realise just how lucky we all are and how many things we take for granted every single day.
This review in no way does this book justice; there is so much that I would like to talk about further but I think that I would end up giving the story away. Gayle Forman has a wonderful website which probably describes the book in a much better way then I have; I thought If I Stay was a wonderful book though and I'm still thinking about it days after finishing the last page.

A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott

I've never really taken the time to pick up a Catherine Alliott book for some reason, however this one found it's way into my basket and I'm extremely glad that it did. The story revolves round Imogen Cameron, her husband Alex and their son Rufus. The Camerons are experiencing financial troubles so they have to leave their house and life in London and accept Eleanor Latimer's offer of a rent-free cottage on her large country estate. The problem is that Eleanor is Alex's glamorous ex and Imogen already has her suspicions.
So they relocate to the country and settle into Shepherd's Cottage which comes complete with sheep, chickens and cows that Imogen is expected to look after. Life becomes very busy, Rufus has to be settled into a new school; Imogen has many encounters with the bossy but handsome vet and Alex and Eleanor seem to be spending far too much time together. Although Imogen had not welcomed the move to the country she does find that she is able to re-invigorate her painting career and begins to think that she could become very happy in the country. There are many twists and turns in the story as the situation finally comes to a head. I did not expect the ending at all which was a nice surprise really as books in this genre can sometimes be a little predictable.
A Crowded Marriage made me laugh out loud on several occasions and I think that Catherine Alliot creates extremely witty dialogue between her lovely characters. I will definitely be reading another Catherine Alliot book, I just hope the rest are as good as this one!

Sanctuary by Nora Roberts

This is the first Nora Roberts book that I have read; I kept on coming across her books so I decided to give one a go. I'm going to cheat a little and give you the blurb as this is a thriller and it would be far too easy to give the story away:

Photographer Jo Ellen Hathaway thought she'd escaped the house called Sanctuary long ago. She'd spent her loneliest years there, after the sudden, unexplained disappearance of her mother. But now someone is sending her pictures: strange, candid close-ups, culminating in the most shocking portrait of all- a photo of her mother, dead.

She decides she must return to Sanctuary to face her past. While her presence stirs up old family resentments, Jo finds solace with architect Nathan Delaney - who is also battling his own demons. But a sinister presence is still watching the Hathaway family with interest. It seems Sanctuary may be the most dangerous place of all...

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book and I'm not really sure why as the action starts immediately. The story was really good and once I was engrossed I thought that the pace of the book was excellent. There are quite a few characters in this book but the author does not skimp on details, we get a good picture of each one. Nora Roberts builds the tension up throughout the story and keeps you guessing to the very end. I haven't read a thriller like this for a long time; Roberts describes what she writes as Romantic suspense which is spot on really. I'm sorry that this review is not very detailed but it would be too easy to spoil for anyone. If you like the occasional thriller though, then I would give Nora Roberts a go; she has written many books so there is a good selection to choose from.

Secrets by Freya North

I was really excited when I heard that Freya North had a new book out and I finally got round to reading Secrets a couple of days ago. I really like the very pink front cover, it's completely different from Freya's other covers but I think it's better!
I love Freya North's books so I may be a little biased but I was completely absorbed from the very first page. Joe is our male protagonist, he has a beautiful house in Saltburn; a high flying career and nothing to tie him down. He advertises for a house sitter and along comes Tess who kind of takes the job before he has had the chance to offer it. So Joe lets Tess into his home without questioning where she has come from and why she has so little belongings or references. There is something about her that captivates him even when she is being infuriatingly sensitive and soon he begins to miss her more than the house when he has to go away.
As the title suggests, this book contains a lot of secrets which I don't want to give away in my review as it's not fair to spoil it for anyone. Freya North, once again has created beautiful characters whose lives she lets you into. I loved how we see the thoughts of both Joe and Tess about the same situation and as a reader you are willing them to realise what each other is thinking and feeling.
I think that Freya North has really explored the different types of secrets and the reason that we keep them from each other. Ultimately she shows how finding someone who you love and trust enough to share your secrets with is one of the greatest gifts that a relationship can offer. If you are a Freya North fan then you will probably not need any encouragement to read this but if not then go and take a look at her website, all her other books are just as good.