Open to UK and Ireland residents only. One entry per person. Please ensure you are able to utilise eBooks with a device such a Kindle, Kobo or compatible device before entering. Good luck!
30 September 2014
Blog Tour: Giveaway - Before You Say Yes by Amy Griffin
Open to UK and Ireland residents only. One entry per person. Please ensure you are able to utilise eBooks with a device such a Kindle, Kobo or compatible device before entering. Good luck!
Book News: The Snow Angel by Lulu Taylor
You can pre-order The Snow Angel as a paperback or an eBook now.
"Cressida Felbridge is living the high life as a debutante in 1960s London society when she is courted by a friend of her brother's and set to marry. Wishing only the best for his daughter, her father decrees that she must have her portrait painted to mark the occasion. But as soon as she meets the painter Ralph Few, Cressie knows her life will never be the same again. Soon, she is deeply in love with Ralph, but there is one problem: Ralph is still married to Catherine. As Cassie is drawn into a strange, triangular relationship, Catherine's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and Ralph and Cressie escape to Cressie's family home in Cumbria. But Catherine will not give up Ralph that easily . . .
In the present day, Emily Conway has everything she could wish for: a huge house in West London, two beautiful children and a successful husband, Will. But as Emily and Will drive to a party, Will reveals that he has been betrayed by his business partner. Steering the car off the road at high speed, their perfect life is abruptly ended. When she wakes from her injuries, Emily is told of a mysterious legacy: a house in Cumbria on the edge of an estate, left to her by a woman she has never met. Could this house provide the chance to start anew, or does it hold secrets that she must uncover before it can be at peace?"
29 September 2014
eBook Review: Summer at Castle Stone by Lynn Marie Hulsman
Shayla Sheridan’s a New York native born into big city luxury, but she’s never really fitted in with the “it” crowd. Desperate to make it as a writer and to finally step out from her famous father’s shadow, Shayla decides to take on a tricky assignment across the pond…
Swapping skyscrapers and heels for wellies and the heart of the Irish countryside, Shayla must go about ghost-writing a book of recipes by the notoriously reclusive and attractive head chef of Castle Stone, Tom O’Grady.
The only problem? He has no idea that she’s writing it."
Rating: 4/5
You can buy Summer at Castle Stone as an eBook now.
I first read Lynn Marie Hulsman's work last Christmas when I read her festive eBook Christmas at Thornton Hall. That was a very enjoyable book, and I thought Harper Impulse had found a good new author to watch out for. Lynn Marie has a new book out this summer, called Summer at Castle Stone and I thought it sounded like another good read that I could really get into. I downloaded the eBook from NetGalley, and began reading, and got drawn into the world of Shayla, Tom and Castle Stone...
New Yorker Shayla is determined to make a name for herself as an author, but not off the back of her famous father's coat-tails. However, her writing career is stalled, but Shayla has an idea for a unique cookbook that she knows she can make a success of. Shayla wants to write a cookbook for Irish head chef Tom O'Grady, who cooks at Castle Stone. The only problem is that Shayla hasn't told Tom she's coming over the pond to write for him, and she has to invent a new identity for herself, as Sheila the new skivvy. As Shayla (or Sheila) starts to get closer to Tom, she wonders how long she can keep up appearances for before all is revealed...
While at first I thought the plot of this book sounded quite similar to Lynn's first book, I very much enjoyed the story and although there were similarities, the main crux of the novel is very different indeed. I really enjoyed reading about the characters, especially Shayla. I didn't necessarily agree with her disguising her identity and fooling poor Tom, but she was doing it for what she thought was a credible reason, albeit for her own ends. It did lead to some very amusing moments though, having to remember her new identity, not letting her best friend's phonecalls spoil everything, and of course falling for Tom O'Grady against her best intentions. I did feel sorry for Shayla regarding her job though, it makes the publishing world sound absolutely cut-throat and harsh, and I admired that Shayla wanted to get a contract off her own back, not because of who her father is.
Tom was the best thing about this book for me. He was so perfect in many ways, he can cook, he's handsome and just sounds like an all-round perfect guy - you can see why Shayla fell for him despite the fact she didn't want to! He comes across quite badly at first, very rude but as the book progresses, we find out why he is as he is, and I certainly warmed to him quite quickly. The other staff members at Castle Stone are fun to read about, but for me it was all about Tom and Shayla, and their budding relationship. At it's heart, this is a love story, and I found myself ploughing for the end to see if it would all finish with a happy ending.
The book is set in Ireland, and you can tell that the author has really researched this book so well, everything from the speech to the setting is perfectly written, and is very respectful of Irish people and their country. I liked that we read it from Shayla's point of view, as an American in a strange new country, and we discover Ireland and Castle Stone along with her. One other thing I loved about this book was the relationship between Tom and his mum, they are very close but also very traditional, and I liked how both were pushed out of their comfort zones in this book. I enjoyed everything about this book, from the setting to the fab characters, and the descriptions of the wonderful dishes that Tom conjours up too. It's got all the ingredients of a really good book, and it's one that I can definitely recommend. I really enjoyed it!
eBook News: Cold Feet at Christmas by Debbie Johnson
You can pre-order Cold Feet at Christmas as an eBook now!
"A remote Scottish castle on a snowy Christmas Eve. A handsome husband-to-be. A dress to die for. It should have been the happiest day of Leah Harvey’s life – but the fairytale wedding turns sour when she finds her fiancé halfway up the bridesmaid’s skirt just hours before the ceremony!
Fleeing the scene in a blizzard, Leah ends up stranded at the nearest cottage, where she collapses into the arms of its inhabitant – a man so handsome she thinks she must have died and gone to heaven!
And when Rob Cavelli suddenly finds himself with an armful of soaking wet, freezing cold, and absolutely gorgeous bride on the run, he’s more than happy to welcome her into his snowbound cottage this Christmas…"
28 September 2014
Book Review: Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
When a harmless quiz night ends with an act of shocking violence, the parents of Pirriwee Public School can't seem to stop their secrets from finally spilling out. Rumours ripple through the small town, as truth and lies blur to muddy the story of what really happened on that fateful night."
Rating: 5/5
You can buy Little Lies as a hardback or an eBook now.
Liane Moriarty is one of the authors that I have heard bloggers raving about for a few years now. For some reason, I've never gotten around to reading any of her books, but I'm not sure why. I was sent a review copy of Little Lies a few months ago, and finally decided to give it a go a few weeks ago when I was choosing my next read. I am really pleased that I did because it was a really gripping, very well written read that had me utterly absorbed for it's rather lengthy duration. It's set in Australia, being that Liane Moriarty is an Australian author, but I guess it's a plot that could happen anywhere - and I was gripped. Here's why.
Jane is a newcomer at the local school, her four year old son Ziggy is about to join the class of children beginning school for the first time. Jane doesn't really have any new friends in the town, given that she and Ziggy move around a lot, and she is keen to be accepted in her new home. When one of the mums, Madeline, befriends her, Jane wonders if they can finally settle down. But as things at the school take a more sinister twist, Jane is left wondering how she is going to be able to cope with the rumours. When a tragedy occurs at a school fundraising night, no-one seems to be able to get to the bottom of what happened on that tragic night.
This is a tricky book to review because I really don't want to give anything about the story away, because for me that is what made it so compulsive to read. You don't really get a lot from the blurb, and I enjoyed the story unravelling slowly as I read it, keen to find out what was going to happen and the backstory of these characters too. For me, it was definitely the characters that made this book so readable. I'm sure a lot of mums who do the school drop-off and pick-up will be able to pigeon-hole other mums into the groups that Jane finds these women to be in at Ziggy's school.
Jane is the lead character of this book, and I really liked her - in fact, I could relate to her a lot. She's very shy, awkward and is unsure of herself when she wants to befriend the other more confident mothers at the school. She is very likeable though, not fixated on image or money or anything, just on being a good mother to her son. Her past is revealed slowly as the book progresses, and goes a long way to explaining why she is as she is in the story. The other characters are brilliant too. My other favourite was strong, feisty Madeline, who befriends Jane on their children's first day. Madeline wasn't sucked in by the cliques of the playground, keen to stand up for what is right, and we see a lot of this in her in the book. Other mums include quiet and mysterious Celeste who is hiding her own dark secrets, opinionated and bitchy queen bee Renata, and their other halves made appearances too.
The writing in this book was really good, and there were points where I really didn't want to put the book down. I was so keen to find out what was going to happen next, or if any truths or lies were about to be revealed - there was something really compulsive about this book. The book begins at the school trivia night, and the rest of the book is leading up to this point, from the children's first day at school to what happens as they go on. The school trivia night events don't happen until right near the end of the book, you're left desperate for it to reach this point so you can finally find out what happened, and that's what is so addictive about this read for me. I found the book incredibly easy to read, with witty dialogue, enough description to bring it alive in your mind but it doesn't allow itself to be bogged down in it either.
For me, this might be my first of Liane Moriarty's books, but it certainly will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and was surprised by how hooked I became on the story. I felt a plethora of emotions throughout this book, from shock, to happiness, to anger and indignation. I love a book that is able to evoke emotion as I read, and this book certainly delivers on that. I loved everything about this book, from the intriguing plot to the characters and the writing. I drew my own conclusions as the book went on - one of them was correct but the other I hadn't seen coming at all, and I loved that. This was a stunning novel, one that is definitely going on my keeper's shelf, and I can't wait to read more from Liane Moriarty.
25 September 2014
Book Review: The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
As Don tries to get to grips with the requirements of starting a family, his unusual research style gets him into trouble. To make matters worse, Don has invited his closest friend to stay with them, but Gene is not exactly the best model for marital happiness. As Don's life with Rosie continues to be unpredictable, he needs to remember that emotional support is just as important as practical expertise."
Rating: 4/5
You can pre-order The Rosie Effect as a hardback or an eBook now.
I've been eagerly awaiting this book since I read Graeme Simsion's first book The Rosie Project last year on my Kindle. It isn't my usual kind of read, but I'm so glad I decided to give it a go. It was a funny and unique book, unlike anything I have read before and I loved the lead character Don Tillman. This book picks up about 10 months after the last book left off. Don and Rosie are happily married, living in New York, but Rosie has a bit of shocking news - she's pregnant, and Don doesn't quite know how to cope with the news. Cue 9 months of worry, organisation, research and much more for our resident Professor as he prepares for a new life as a father...
Sometimes, when you go into a sequel with really high hopes, the result can leave you a tad disappointed. While I did enjoy reading The Rosie Effect, I do have to confess that I don't think it was as good as the first book, it seemed a bit convoluted in parts and I did struggle to work out where it was going in parts. However, the best thing about the book, as it was in the first book, is the main character, Don Tillman. He is as hilarious as ever, managing to get himself into some very unique situations that honestly had me laughing out loud (the park scene in particular was just brilliant). He is determined to find out everything about pregnancy and birth, taking things to his usual extremes to quite funny consequences.
However, one thing I struggled with in this book is Rosie. She was likeable in the first book, a breath of fresh air for Don, but in this book, it was like she was a different person. Yes, I know she is pregnant, but even so I struggled to like her. She was horribly mean to Don, not seeming to understand him at all which was strange considering their relationship in the first book. Gene, Don's professor friend from the first book is back in this one, and is again a changed character, not quite as funny as he was previously but I still enjoyed his presence in the book. He was good for Don too, and I enjoyed reading their 'boys night out' with their other new acquaintances in New York.
The fact that Rosie's pregnancy is unplanned is what causes Don so many problems in the book. If you've read the previous book, you will know Don loves order, that he plans things to an absolute n-th degree, so when Rosie drops this bombshell it completely flummoxes Don. He has to embark on serious research, everything that can go wrong in pregnancy, how the foetus is growing and everything concerning Rosie and her health. I actually found all this fascinating to read, and in Don's narrative voice, it was very funny and had me smiling as I was reading. It does throw up interesting ideas of fathers struggling to connect to their unborn child and how to deal with these issues, there's certainly a lot of food for thought in this novel.
While I have to be honest and say I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, it was still an enjoyable read, and one I would recommend to people. It's especially good if you have read the first book - usually sequels work as stand-alone novels, but in this case, I really would recommend you read The Rosie Project first, simply to get used to Don, his eccentricities and how his relationship with Rosie came about - I feel it'll all make much sense if you have the background before you read this one. I'm not sure whether a third book would be a good idea, this one felt like it struggled slightly in parts, and in a way, it's a nice place to leave the story as the book ends. As I said, an enjoyable read and it was fab to be back with Don Tillman again. A fun read.
Blog Tour: Book Extract - The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion
You can buy The Rosie Effect as a hardback or an eBook now!
Book Extract
Orange juice was not scheduled for Fridays. Although Rosie and I had abandoned the Standardised Meal System, resulting in an improvement in ‘spontaneity’ at the expense of shopping time, food inventory and wastage, we had agreed that each week should include three alcohol-free days. Without formal scheduling, this target proved difficult to achieve, as I had predicted. Rosie eventually saw the logic of my solution.
Fridays and Saturdays were obvious days on which to consume alcohol. Neither of us had classes on the weekend. We could sleep late and possibly have sex.
Sex was absolutely not allowed to be scheduled, at least not by explicit discussion, but I had become familiar with the sequence of events likely to precipitate it: a blueberry muffin from Blue Sky Bakery, a triple shot of espresso from Otha’s, removal of my shirt, and my impersonation of Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. I had learned not to do all four in the same sequence on every occasion, as my intention would then be obvious. To provide an element of unpredictability, I settled on tossing a coin twice to select a component of the routine to delete.
I had placed a bottle of Elk Cove pinot gris in the refrigerator to accompany the divers’ scallops purchased that morning at Chelsea Market, but when I returned after retrieving our laundry from the basement, there were two glasses of orange juice on the table. Orange juice was not compatible with the wine. Drinking it first would desensitise our tastebuds to the slight residual sugar that was a feature of the pinot gris, thus creating an impression of sourness. Waiting until after we had finished the wine would also be unacceptable. Orange juice deteriorates rapidly – hence the emphasis placed by breakfast establishments on ‘freshly squeezed’.
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion is published today by Michael Joseph, £14.99 hardback!
You can read more of the extract here: http://penguinblog.co.uk/2014/08/06/exclusive-read-an-extract-from-graeme-simsions-the-rosie-effect/
And buy a copy of the book here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosie-Effect-Graeme-Simsion/dp/0718179471/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411467840&sr=1-1&keywords=the+rosie+effect
The blog tour continues tomorrow at Novelicious: http://www.novelicious.com/
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