Book Review: Someone Else's Wedding by Tamar Cohen

"Mr & Mrs Max Irving request the company of:

Mrs Fran Friedman, mourning her empty nest, her lost baby, the galloping years, and a disastrous haircut.

Mr Saul Friedman, runner of marathons, avoider of conflicts and increasingly distant husband

The two Misses Friedman, Pip and Katy, one pining over the man she can't have, the other trying to shake off the man she no longer wants

At the marriage of their son James Irving, forbidden object of inappropriate and troubling desire

For thirty-six hours of secrets and lies, painted-on-smiles and potential ruin. And drinks, plenty of drinks.

There's nothing like a wedding for stirring up the past. As Fran negotiates her way from Saturday morning to Sunday evening she is forced to confront things she's long thought buried, sending shockwaves through her family, and to make decisions about the future that will have far-reaching consequences for them all."

Rating: 5/5

You can buy Someone Else's Wedding as a hardback or an eBook now.

I've been lucky enough to read both of Tamar Cohen's previous novels, The War of the Wives and The Mistresses Revenge, and I was completely engrossed by both of them. I have to say both have a pretty controversial topic, where you end up a bit shocked by what you're reading but at the same time, you just can't put it down because you have to know how things are going to be tied up nicely for the end! Cohen's writing is fantastic to read, and I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest book Someone Else's Wedding, complete with a pretty shocking book cover that actually I really liked, and eagerly got stuck into the story.

Fran Friedman is getting used to life on her own. Her two daughters have grown up and left home, leaving her home alone with her husband Saul, and she doesn't know what to do with herself. She's still mourning the loss of her stillborn baby just a few years ago, and struggles to cope with the insensitivity of others to the issue. When she and her family are invited to the wedding of Jamie, a family friend, Fran wonders if she can hide everything she's thinking behind a smile. Those around her keep throwing looks at her and Jamie, wondering what could be going on between the older woman and young groom, but Fran is determined to keep her secrets well and truly hidden. At the end of the wedding day, will Fran have made some life-changing decisions of her own?

I have to first of all mention the narrative of the book, which is each chapter is an hour of the wedding weekend, a bit like episodes of 24 which was my first thought when I started reading lol, although with less guns and no Jack Bauer of course! The book only takes place over a few days, but this doesn't slow it down at all, in fact, moving in real time really draws you and you know that things are going to happen quite quickly and dramatically to keep the tension, and I was left wondering how long it would be until Fran gave herself away or something else happened to shock us readers. We follow Fran for the entire book, reading all about her, her thoughts, feelings and her watching the action of the wedding around her, so she is the one we get to know best. She isn't a perfect character by any means, she's clearly hiding something (we don't find out what for a huge chunk of the book), and you cannot help but feel immensely sorry for her over the death of her baby, Molly, and how it affects her in everything she does. Her pregnancy is documented in flashbacks in the book, and were very emotional to read for me, I found some of the scenes quite hard actually.

There are quite a few other characters in the book to keep track of, but the main ones are Fran's daughters, her husband Saul, and the bridge and groom from the wedding. We only get Fran's point of view about these people, so it is a little biased but it's fun to try and form your own opinion of them from things that happen as the book progresses. Jamie was the only one I struggled to like, there was just something a bit funny about him that I couldn't warm to, but when things were revealed (and oh my goodness, I did NOT ever see that one coming!!), it sort of made sense a bit more, I loved that Cohen was able to play about with these characters so well. The wedding itself is the perfect setting - lots of people, lots of things going on, and Fran and Saul's marriage really being put to the test and under scrutiny too. It shows how outward happiness can be a facade, and you feel sorry for Fran as you can see she is still suffering throughout the book.

I loved Cohen's writing, and found her pacing of the book, and the way she spaced it over just a weekend was a really unique way to write, and it was easy to dip in and out of the book as well. You are left wondering and guessing as to what the twists are going to be, but I was truly surprised when things came out in this book, and I really love it when an author can surprise me, especially when I'm right near the end of the book and am sure I've worked it all out! It's an emotional book, very tied up with Fran and her feelings, so be prepared to get quite invested in that, but it is worth the read. I honestly did enjoy this book so very much, Cohen is a fantastic storyteller, and while the cast of characters aren't especially likeable people, you will want to read all about them, and keep turning the pages until you reach the last one. A super story that makes me eager for Tamar Cohen's next book!

Blog Tour: Author Interview with Lindsey Kelk - About A Girl Blog Tour!

Today I am delighted to welcome one of my favourite authors to my site... Lindsey Kelk! Lindsey's amazing new book 'About A Girl' is out now, and it's an absolute must-read for the summer, I loved every page of it. Lindsey was kind enough to answer lots of my questions, so here it is! My hugest thanks go to Lindsey for taking the time to answer them!

Q1. Please tell me about your new book 'About A Girl'.

Well, not to state the obvious but it’s about a girl called Tess who thinks she’s got her entire life planned out, thinks she knows exactly what she’s doing and exactly what she wants – a top job at an ad agency, her own flat and the love of her life, Charlie. So when her life is pulled right out from underneath her, she decides to try on someone else’s instead, unfortunately, that someone is her nightmare flatmate. Before she even knows what’s happening, Tess’ London life is far behind her and she’s pretending to be a fashion photographer in Hawaii, fighting off the advances of an irritating journalist and knocking back cocktails with her NBF, Kekipi. But real life has to catch up with her eventually and then what will she do?

I think it’s a fun, funny book that really addresses what we do in life when the thing we thought we wanted turns out to be not be the thing we needed. Or something. I think.

Q2. 'About A Girl' is the first in a new book series for you - what is it about writing series' that you enjoy so much? How many books are there in the new series?!

At the moment I’m planning three books in this series but I was only planning five books for Angela and now it feels like her story will never end! It’s always fun to write characters you know because they more or less write themselves but as a writer, it’s refreshing to create new people and develop their personalities, their relationships and have no idea where they’re going to go. It’s genuinely such an adventure, you never really know what someone’s going to do until they do it.

Q3. Tess is a great lead character for the new book - were you conscious of making sure she wasn't too much like Angela, and making her own person??

For the first few chapters it really was weighing on my mind but after a while, it got easier. Tess felt pretty real from the off. I think because she’s a lot more like me than I’d really like to admit…

Q4. Recently you wrote the last book (for a while) in your 'I Heart...' series (although Angela's now back in 'I Heart Christmas', hurrah!). Before you knew that was happening, how did it feel to write the ending to those characters are 5 books? How has it been to rejoin Angela and Alex again?

Before I started writing I Heart London, I was so done with everyone in that I just wanted it done. I felt exhausted, like I had nothing left for them to say or do but really, I think it was me who was tired and not them. As soon as I got to the end of the book, I was devastated and couldn’t deal with the thought of never seeing them again but I didn’t want to flog a dead horse. It didn’t seem like it would be fair on the story that had gone before. Then, when I was working on About A Girl, I suddenly knew what Angela’s next story was and then I couldn’t wait to start writing them again! It’s been fun to catch up with everyone but it was difficult to get back into the swing of writing people and a city that I know so well when I’d just had the adventure of everyone in About A Girl and exploring Hawaii… Happily, I do heart Christmas so that helped!

Q5. Thanks to Twitter, we can all see that you travel around a lot, especially around America. Where have been your favourite places to visit so far, and where is still on your wish list?

The thing is, I keep collecting people in specific places and then all my spare time is spent going back there to visit. Not that I’m complaining! Hawaii was definitely my favourite place EVER. I really didn’t think it would be as I’m not much of a beach person, generally speaking but wow, it was so beautiful and so relaxing and I just want to be there ALL THE TIME. There aren’t many places I haven’t absolutely loved, Austin is great, DC was so interesting and every time I come to LA I think I never want to leave. Next cities on my US wish list are Portland, San Francisco and New Orleans but I really want to go back to Hawaii and I really, really want to visit Alaska but it’s so far away. In September, I’m off to Italy and I can’t wait. I’ve only ever been to Milan for work so I’m super giddy about this trip. And it might be research for my next book.

Q6. You've lived in NYC a while now - what are you some of your best discoveries from living over the pond... any new foods or products we gotta get over here?!

Honestly, there isn’t much you can’t get everywhere these days – I am obsessed with Sour Patch Kids but they’re in the UK now, thank god. You were being deprived! My favourite US treats are buffalo wings and blue cheese dressing and the amazing Mexican food that you can get everywhere here. Happily for the size of my bum, the chocolate is terrible over here so it’s easy to keep my sweet tooth under control although, if you do come over, make sure you go to a Trader Joe’s supermarket and just buy everything. I’m serious, EVERYTHING. The chocolate covered crisps sound disgusting but they are delicious. Honest.

Q7. Have you read anything lately that you've thought - wow, I wish I'd written that?

Everything I read! I just finished Bright Lights, Big City which I can’t believe I’d never read and loved it and I loved The Selection and The Elite by Kiera Cass. I haven’t been reading any chick lit at all this year because I’m writing all the time and I can’t read my genre when I’m writing. I know, I’m mad. Looking forward to enjoying some of my friend’s books on my time off though.

Q9. We haven't yet seen a cover for I Heart Christmas - have you seen any early designs for it? Will you be coming back to the UK again for the launch of it?

I’ve seen a first sketch and it’s LOVELY. Can’t wait to see the final thing – I’m hoping for lots of glitter – and yes, I should be back! I have to pop back near Christmas anyway to stock up on advent calendars. They don’t have them in the states and it’s a CRIME.

Q9. Can't have a Q&A without a WWE question lol - you went to WrestleMania recently - was it everything you wanted to be, and what is your dream match to see??

Of course! The actual card for Mania was a bit rubbish and the matches weren’t brilliant but the spectacle of it, the size, the pyrotechnics and everything are amazing. I definitely want to go back again. I actually don’t know what my dream match would be… maybe Edge, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and CM Punk in a fatal fourway no DQ match? That would be FUN.

Q10. When I tell people I'm a WWE fan, they're always surprised, tell me it's fake and ask me what on earth I like about it. Why do you think people are quick to mock our love of it, and what do you say to those who don't understand why we like it so much?!

I think most people just think of it as a kids’ thing because they watched it as kids. I try not to be offended, I do understand their position but I just love it. Yes, the storylines are pre-written but a lot of people don’t appreciate the athleticism of the wrestlers, the training, the injuries and the crazy demands of the lifestyle. They’re on the road 200 nights out of the year, that’s not easy. Great wrestling is so much fun to watch, just like any sport. So it’s hot guys, sport plus soap opera – what’s not to love?

Q10. What's next for Lindsey Kelk?? :)

Right now? A shower. And then the beach because it’s my last day in LA before I fly back to London for the About A Girl launch. And then I’ve got to do the final rewrites on I Heart Christmas and then it’s right into the sequel to About A Girl! I think I get another day off some time in March 2014…

Book Review: About A Girl by Lindsey Kelk

"Tess Brookes has always been a Girl with a Plan. But when the Plan goes belly up, she’s forced to reconsider.

After accidently answering her flatmate Vanessa’s phone, she decides that since being Tess isn’t going so well, she might try being Vanessa. With nothing left to lose, she accepts Vanessa’s photography assignment to Hawaii – she used to be an amateur snapper, how hard can it be? Right?

But Tess is soon in big trouble. And the gorgeous journalist on the shoot with her, who is making it very clear he’d like to get into her pants, is an egotistical monster. Far from home and in someone else’s shoes, Tess must decide whether to fight on through, or ‘fess up and run…"

Rating: 5/5

You can buy About A Girl as a paperback or an eBook now!

Lindsey Kelk is back! Yippeeeeee! I was over the moon when I was sent a really early review copy of Lindsey's brand new book About A Girl, which is the first in a brand new series of books by her, and stars a brand new leading lady, Tess Brookes. I have loved Lindsey's 'I Heart...' series, always eager to pick up a new Angela Clark adventure so I hoped I would be able to get into this too and start to love Tess like I loved Angela! I have to say the cover is so gorgeous and summery, it's most definitely a book you'll want to take with you on your summer holidays and enjoy in the sun, but I enjoyed it just as much on my sofa in a cloudy April too lol!

When Tess Brookes suddenly finds herself being made shockingly redundant, she doesn't know what to do with herself. She loved her career and put everything into it, so now what does a girl do? Tess also manages to make a bit of a hash of things with her best friend Charlie, so when she accidentally answers her horrible flatmate Vanessa's phone, she accepts the job as a photographer in Hawaii, and hops on the next plane out there, never mind the fact she hasn't done any photography in a long time. Armed with Vanessa's camera, and a small supply of clothes, Tess goes about convincing everyone, inclduing journalist Nick who is working on the exclusive job with her, that she is in fact Vanessa, photographer of the stars. The job doesn't exactly go to plan though, and Tess is left wondering how she can possibly pick up the pieces of the mess she's managed to make...

One thing I loved about this book was that Tess wasn't a perfect woman by any stretch of the imagination - she's flawed and she knows it. However, I loved her despite those flaws and I was really keen to read her story and find out what madcap idea she was going to get into next! The fact she accepts someone else's job and hops a plane without thinking of the consequences made for a hilarious story, especially when she realises she actually has to be Vanessa for the duration, and that her reputation isn't the best! I don't think I could have kept it up like Tess does, and it's hilarious to see her as she tries to remember who she is every morning she wakes up! It leads to a lot of laughs in the book, and you can't help but feel a bit sorry for her when it all gets too much and she can't cope! Enter Kekipi, the wonderfully hilarious man in charge of the estate where Tess is staying, he's every girl's perfect BFF and he and Tess were fab to read about together!

Nick was the main male character that we see in the book, a journalist with quite a good impression of himself, and he isn't afraid to show that women like him either. He's a bit of a cad, but you can see why Tess falls for him, and her dilemma in admitting the truth about who she is to him! One of my other favourite characters was Paige, the designer from Vanessa's magazine who is in charge of the photoshoot, a bit of a crazy woman whose heart is in the right place, but you wonder how far Tess can trust her. The whole cast is really likeable, and between them cause a lot of really funny moments that will have you laughing out loud, and cringing as well! Tess is perfect though as the main female character, and I really can't wait to find out more about her other adventures, she's the perfect next Angela!

The setting of Hawaii sounds absolutely perfect, and I am so jealous that Lindsey got to go there to research the book, it's one of my dream holiday destinations! Writing from Tess' point of view, we get to discover the island through her eyes, and it sounds like a dream, Tess certainly picked the right job to accept! I loved that there was a bit of everything in here - love, laughs, sex and a gorgeous location to boot. It's got that typical Kelk writing style too that just makes you want to keep ploughing on to the end of the book, I just didn't want to put it down, it was so much fun to read. I love escapist books that I can get lost in of an evening, and About A Girl certainly delivered that for me. I have to say I loved the little plot twists along the way too, it kept it fresh and me surprised, which is always a good thing! The ending is one that'll leave you satisfied, but certainly wanting to find out what Tess is up to next. It's definitely my Summer Read of the year, and I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series due out in 2014!

Book Review: Always You by Erin Kaye

"It’s 1992 and Sarah is in love with Cahal, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. As they plan to graduate from university, all seems set for their happily ever after…

Fast forward to 2012 and something’s gone wrong. Cahal is out of the picture and Sarah is divorced from Ian by whom she’s had two children. What happened? As Cahal walks back into Sarah’s life, can they overcome past decisions and surrounding prejudice and make it work a second time around?"

Rating: 4/5

You can buy Always You as a paperback or an eBook now.

This is the first novel by Erin Kaye that I have read. I have to be honest and say I was tempted to read it by the cover, purple is my favourite colour and it was so pretty and inviting, I couldn't resist giving it a go. I have read good reviews of Erin's work on sites like Amazon and other book blogs, so I was hopeful that she would become an author that I'd really want to read as I seem to love a lot of Irish authors' writing. Luckily for me, Erin Kaye didn't let me down, and I have to say I really enjoyed Always You and I'm so pleased I decided to give it a try.

Young and in love, Sarah and Cahal are sure that their relationship is going to last forever. However, there's a few obstacles in their way. Sarah's from a well-to-do family, and Cahal is from the other side of the tracks, so when her father finds out, he immediately tells Sarah she is to end their relationship. Move on a few years to the present day, and Sarah is now divorced from Ian, the father of her two children, and Cahal is suddenly back in her life from halfway across the world. When the pair meet entirely by chance, Sarah recognises a spark, and wonders if her feelings for Cahal have ever really gone away. Will Cahal and Sarah be able to make a go of it once more?

The book begins with Sarah and Cahal as teenagers, enjoying their relationship but already showing a slight division, as Sarah is reluctant to tell her family about their relationship. Quickly though, we move to the present day where Sarah is living as a single mum, working hard and juggling her home commitments, as well as her somewhat awkward relationship with her ex husband Ian, and his sick mother, a part of the book which I felt was very emotional and so very well written. The way the broken family blends together in times of sadness was very touching, and I have to admit to shedding a tear or two at some of the times, Kaye certainly writes them with real heart and feeling behind them. Sarah herself was very likeable, and although you get the impression she married her husband for the wrong reasons, she is doing the best she can by him and her children, despite his obvious desires.

Cahal was a fantastic male lead, and you can understand why Sarah loves him! He's the bad boy gone good, and it is quite heart-breaking to read the scenes with Cahal's parents, and you can see why he has a need to be so close to his own family, and his feeling of being torn between those he loves. The love story between them was wonderful to read, it's very much a Romeo and Juliet type story, and as the twists and turns are revealed towards the end of the book, I have to say I was shocked, hadn't seen it coming at all but was praying for a happy ending for everyone. I have to say, actually, that all of the relationships in the book are really wonderful to read, from Sarah and her ex-mother-in-law, to Sarah and her sister, and even Ian and his mother, and Cahal and his children, they're all positive and realistic relationships that were a joy to read about.

I'm so pleased I decided to read Always You because it was an utterly brilliant read that I will certainly be recommending to anyone who loves a proper love story. The characters within a likeable, all keen to do the right thing by those they love yet battling with intense feelings, about many different things. I was kept guessing all the way about Sarah's dad's dislike for Cahal, and Erin Kaye really kept that under wraps, I thought it was very cleverly done in the book. Her writing style was incredibly easy to read, and I was able to dip in and out of the book when I could, and simply pick up the story where I left off. This book definitely makes me want to read more books by Erin Kaye, I certainly really enjoyed this book, and it left me with a lovely warm feeling inside. A fabulous read.

Author Interview: Melissa Hill

Today I am delighted to be welcoming the fabulous Melissa Hill to my blog for an author interview! I recently read and reviewed her latest book, The Guest List which was a fantastic read, and one I highly recommend you add to your 'Summer Reads' pile. After this, Melissa was kind enough to answer my questions, so  my thanks go to her for taking the time to answer my Q&A, and I hope you enjoy it!

Q1. Please tell me about your latest book The Guest List.

It’s a story about a newly-engaged couple who try to plan a simple, no fuss beach wedding that reflects their commitment to each other, but very quickly encounter opposition at every turn from their well-meaning, but interfering families who want them to have a big white wedding at home.

Q2. Shane and Cara are very much in love, but it's their families which are keeping them apart in the book. Was it fun to write such dislikeable characters, and do you ever base your characters on people you know or in the media?

The story of THE GUEST LIST was very loosely based on my own experiences when planning my own wedding many moons ago, as the original intention was to have a beach wedding too. At the time, friends and family were a bit taken aback by the notion of an easy-going approach, and some were very nervous about foreign travel. Though I should point out that none were as mean or indeed conniving as the characters in the story!

Q3. Your books are notorious for their "twists" - how hard is it to write them without making things too obvious, and do you plan it from the start or do the twists sometimes comes as you're writing?

I don’t like to plot too much at the start, as I think this would take all the fun out of the writing process. Instead I tend to begin with an interesting idea and see where it takes me. Seeing the characters and story come alive on the page is the most magical part of the process for me but if a plot twist comes into my head throughout the writing process, then all bets are off and everything needs to change. 13 books in, readers are pretty wise to my red herrings by now and are always trying to second-guess me, so it means I end up having to double and triple bluff which requires considerable mental gymnastics! And doesn’t always work, sadly.

Q4. Your next book A Gift to Remember is due out in October, and is set in New York - not the first time you've set a book here. What is about New York that's made you want to feature it in several books?

I adore the city and every time I visit I find inspiration on every corner.  It is such a vibrant, almost magical place and for me, there is always this wonderful sense that anything can happen. Also the notion that in a city of millions the fate of perfect strangers can collide in a variety of interesting ways is especially alluring for any writer.

Q5. Your book covers are always stunning - your 2013 covers are both gorgeous. How important is a book in this digital day and age what with Kindles, and which of your book covers is your favourite of all?

Covers are hugely important for both physical and digital books as no matter what people say, of course they are judged by their covers. I’ve been very lucky with the designs for all of my books but think that the UK hardback and US trade paperback covers for SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY’S are especially gorgeous.

I’m obsessed with all things Tiffany (which I’m sure will come as a huge surprise, ahem) and was over the moon with the iconic ‘blue box’ design Hodder created for that. And though a totally different approach, the snowy US jacket perfectly reflects the story by evoking a gorgeous Hollywood romantic movie poster.

Q6. You also write crime books with your husband under the pen name Casey Hill - how do you manage to write 2 women's fiction books a year, plus another crime novel?!

As you can probably imagine, there is never a dull moment in our house.

Right from the beginning, Kevin and I worked out a relay system so that while one of us is writing, the other keeps tabs on our three-year-old while also dealing with other publishing-related admin – copyedits, accounting, staying up to date with emails etc. It’s getting harder as our daughter gets older and needs a lot more attention and life can get really hectic when a promotional period for one book coincides with a manuscript deadline for another, which happens quite a bit, but most of the time we manage to work around it. And sacrifice a LOT of sleep.

Q7. Despite the bashing it takes in the media, chick lit seems to be as popular as ever. Are you proud to be one of the genre's most popular and successful authors, and what do you think there is about it that makes women keep wanting to read more?

I’m very proud to be a chicklit author and unashamed to be described as such! I think readers will always seek out good stories which help them temporarily put aside everyday life and get lost in characters and storylines they can relate to. Irrespective of labels or covers which are more of a marketing creation in any case.

Q8. What are you reading at the moment?

An ARC of a novel by a US author called TAMPA, due to be released this summer, and which I’m guessing will raise a few eyebrows due to the rather conversational subject matter! Am only a little of the way in but already suspect that it’s not exactly my cup of tea…

Q9. If a person had never read "chick lit" before, which 3 books/authors would you recommend them to showcase the best of the genre (aside from your own of course!).

I think Sophie Kinsella’s SHOPAHOLIC series, Candace Bushnell’s SEX AND THE CITY or SOMETHING BORROWED by Emily Giffin all give a good overview of the genre and the breadth of themes/tones explored within the genre.

Q10. What is up next for you? 

Kevin and I are just putting finishing touches to the fourth Reilly Steel thriller, and I’m a little of the way into writing book no 14, due out next year.

Book Review: Things We Never Say by Sheila O'Flanagan

"Abbey Andersen is the last person to go looking for change. Yes, it's tough that she barely sees her mother these days - but in San Francisco she has great friends, a steady relationship and a job she enjoys. When Abbey is contacted by Irish lawyer Ryan Gilligan she learns in an instant everything she believed about her roots is a lie. She must travel to Dublin to find out more - but she's scarcely off the plane when she's plunged into a new crisis. One that will change everything not just for Abbey but for the family in Ireland who had no idea that she even existed. Now Abbey has to make a choice that will affect everyone she knows. How can she be sure she makes the right one? And can life ever be quite the same again?"

Rating: 4/5

You can buy Things We Never Say as a hardback or an eBook.

I have to say I was really curious about the idea of Sheila O'Flanagan's new book Things We Never Say. The blurb didn't give too much away and I was curious to find out exactly what happened with Abbey and her family. As usual, I like the cover for the book, but I have to say I find it a little bland and a bit unrelated to the story which is a shame - a book cover is really important for me, and I prefer something a little brighter and bolder, but that's just me. The book is a rather large hardback, but as always, Sheila had me whizzing through the pages, engrossed in the story and eager to find out what was going to happen next. Here's why you should read Things We Never Say.

Abbey Andersen is happy living in San Francisco, she's got a great job as a nail artist, has good friends, and although she doesn't see her mother anywhere near enough, she's happy that she is in a good place too. When Abbey finds out everything she thought about herself is slightly different to what she's always believed, she's shocked and heads to Ireland to find out more about her new family. Something shocking soon happens, and leaves Abbey in a quandry and she doesn't know what to do. She can't quickly turn to her mother, so asks Irish lawyer Ryan, who seems to be a nice guy, what to do with her tough decision she has to make, knowing it's more than just her who will be affected by the outcome...

I have to say I really liked Abbey from the beginning. She's an easy to like character, someone who seems to fade into the background of life, but she's happy with her lot. She's a talented artist, but has never quite managed to make it in that career, instead loving her work as a nail artist, making other women happy with themselves while struggling to find that happiness for herself. I did find her a little weak at times, especially relating to male relationships in the book, but other than that, there really wasn't anything I disliked about her. We follow her for pretty much all of the book, so it's important that readers warm to her and care about the outcome for her life. The things that happen for Abbey are really surprising, and I enjoyed the twists and tales of the story as things progressed for Abbey. Her relationship with her mother's ex-boyfriend Pete was touching too, and it was a positive relationship. Abbey's mother was a complete mystery, and I was guessing all the way along what was happening with her, but I was pleasantly surprised to see I was totally wrong! Their relationship, though, was very touching and I enjoyed their closeness despite their distance from each other.

The Fitzpatrick family were certainly interesting characters, if intensely dislikeable at times too. The male Fitzpatrick's were quite unbearable actually, and I really wanted their respective wives to give them a bit of kick into reality, they were just living in cloud cuckoo land! Suzanne, the Fitzpatrick daughter is the only remotely likeable one, but is still as money-obsessed as her awful brothers - it's quite sad actually that they all only cared about the money in the end and nothing else. I found the information about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland very intriguing, it's not something I've heard much about before but it certainly brings to forefront of your mind how views on things such as teenage pregnancy have changed dramatically over the years, and I thought it was a fascinating subject for Sheila to cover in her story, and the way it was woven in to the book was cleverly done.

The action is split between Ireland and San Francisco, and I enjoyed Abbey discovering Ireland through a foreigner's point of view, highlighting the beautiful parts of the country, the friendliness of people and of course, the Irish weather, and I liked having an American main character for a bit of a change too. Things We Never Say was a really interesting book, and had lots of twists along the way that kept me intrigued, especially the mystery involving Abbey's mum, and the eventual outcome, which I have to say I was initially displeased with but soon grew to accept it! With an interesting cast of characters who will certainly evoke emotion in a reader, Things We Never Say is a very readable book, and I'm sure fans of Sheila's books will love it. It's a family drama, highlighting not a perfect family, but in fact some of the worst aspects of family, and how money really can be the root of all evil. It's a long book, but worth the investment for such an enjoyable story.

July 2013 Releases

It's hitting the summer months at long last, and what a fabulous selection we have available in July for us! The covers are absolutely beautiful, there's definitely a 'blue-hue' going on here too! I'm looking forward to reading so  many of them, but my pick of the month definitely has to be Lindsey Kelk's About A Girl! Which of these are you most looking forward to?