Ivy Lane: Spring: Part One by Cathy Bramley

The Blurb:

Friendship blossoms at Ivy Lane...

Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she settles in to a new town seeking peace and solitude, taking on her own plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution. But the vibrant, friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and endeavour to entice Tilly into seedling swaps and Easter egg hunts. Can Tilly let new friends into her life, or will she stay a wallflower for good?

Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts - taking you from spring to summer, autumn to winter - which tell a charming, light-hearted and moving story you won't want to put down.

 

My review:
 

We meet Tilly Parker as she moves in to the area. We know she has moved after losing James, but we don't know what has happened to him. Tilly cuts a sad lonely figure, and as a reader I almost instantly wanted to join her and make life happier for her.

Tilly applies for, and gets an allotment space at the local Ivy Lane allotments. There she meets amongst others, Charlie and Gemma. At the outset Tilly wants to be left alone, but you can see as time passes, Tilly enjoys being part of the community and becomes more of an integral part as we go. 

Tilly has a few disasters which made me warm to her even more, and throughout I definitely had an urge to rescue her and make it all better. I was struck by the hole that James has left in Tilly's life, but wasn't sure if it was a breakup or a bereavement. I am still pondering it even now. Charlie would be great for her!

I really enjoyed the style of writing, and found it easy to like the characters and develop soft spots for them.  We get a glimpse of them all, their warmth, and their eccentric ways. 

I have wanted an allotment for a while (even though I never garden). They feel like places of tranquility and escape. This story has made me want one even more now.

I can't wait to see what happens next....roll on summer!

Thanks to RandomHouse UK, Transworld, for a copy of the story in return for an honest review.

The Time of Our Lives by Jane Costello

Three best friends. One five-star hotel. Will it be the holiday of a lifetime . . .?
Imogen and her friends Meredith and Nicola have had their fill of budget holidays, cattle-class flights and 6 a.m. offensives for a space by the pool.
So when Meredith wins a VIP holiday at Barcelona's hippest new hotel, they plan to sip champagne with the jet set, party with the glitterati and switch off in unapologetic luxury.
But when the worst crisis of her working life erupts back home, Imogen has to juggle her BlackBerry with a Manhattan, while soothing a hysterical boss and hunting down an AWOL assistant.
Between a robbery, a run-in with hotel security staff and an encounter on a nudist beach that they'd all rather forget, the friends stumble from one disaster to the next. At least Imogen has a distraction in the form of the gorgeous guy who's always in the right place at the very worst time. Until, that is, his motives start to arouse a few suspicions . . . 

My View

If you think you're having a tough time....wait until you meet Imogen!

The Time of Our Lives is another brilliant book by Jane Costello. From the opening chapter when you meet Imogen, Meredith and Nicola, 3 best friends coming back from a trip to Zante talking about bowel issues you know you are about to become the fly on the wall 4th friend.

The book grabs you from the start and has you howling with laughter throughout. It centres around the girls going on a VIP holiday to Barcelona, and you soon discover that it isn't going to be the plain sailing, relaxing holiday they were expecting. The story centres on Imogen, but her friends are more than extras, they are pivotal to telling her story. Whilst very very funny there are a number of really touching beautiful moments where you discover more about Imogen and her life. You may even be reaching for tissues at times.

I don't want to spoil the book by telling you what happens but I guarantee you will have bundles of fun. This is a perfect read for the beach or actually anywhere!

Jane Costello knows exactly how to write a great feel good book that leaves you with a beaming smile, and I can't wait for her next one.

White Lies by Emily Harper

The Blurb:

Imagine standing in line at Harvey Nichols waiting to buy the most gorgeous silk Gucci dress. The only minor problem? You can’t afford it, it's a size smaller than you are, and you have absolutely no place to wear it.
Meet Natalie Flemming: a twenty-something woman working in London for a fabulous shoe-designing firm, but the only thing they let her touch is the company’s tax forms. She has decided to give fate a vacation and takes the task of finding the man of her dreams (or Johnny Depp if he would just return her calls...) into her own hands.
She craves adventure, spontaneity, passion- or will just settle for a decent date.

My Review:

White Lies is a great, easy to get engrossed in read. The story centres around Natalie. She works as an accountant in a shoe designing company. Natalie is single and looking for love. Before each chapter Natalie writes a letter to the man of her dreams telling us what she is looking for. 

 Enter Oliver, the love interest of the book. As in most chick lit the course of love never runs smoothly.....Oliver is a consultant sent in along with his partner Angelica to sort out the company who are floundering. You can see the spark between them right from the off. As the book progresses the flirting starts, but is there any future for them? Oliver is only around temporarily and his business partner Angelica seems to want more than just a business partnership. Will she get her happy ending? Read the book to find out :-)

I found this book really easy to get into. There is a good, strong storyline and well developed characters. I felt I could identify with some of Natalie's personality and traits which made me laugh quite a lot. The book is lighthearted and has some funny scenes but there is enough depth to the characters for you to boo and hiss at the mean ones, and cheer for the goodies. 

I would recommend this book for a holiday read, for when travelling, or even a cosy weekend on the sofa with some chocolate for company.

Thank you to the author Emily Harper who kindly sent me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Three Of Us by Cathy Woodman

The blurb:

Tessa and Jack live at the animal sanctuary in Talyton St George. They had been friends for years, but it wasn't until Jack interrupted Tessa's wedding that she discovered his feelings for her were stronger than she ever knew.

Now, a year on, they could not be happier. And when Tessa discovers she's pregnant, it's as if all their dreams have come true.

But a scan shows that there are complications, and suddenly Tessa realises that Jack has always had doubts about having a baby. Supported throughout by Zara, the village midwife, Tessa and Jack have some tough decisions to make. 

However, as the baby's birth draws closer, Tessa and Jack grow further apart. Will he feel differently when the baby is born? Or will having her wonderful child mean losing the man of her dreams?

My review

The Three Of Us is a short story. It centres around Jack and Tessa who are married and expecting their first child. The pregnancy develops some serious complications which divide Tessa and Jack in a big way. You also meet Tessa's parents and Zara the midwife. As part of a small village community it is, as you would expect, hard to keep anything secret and you meet some of the typical characters you would meet n a real village, such as the local gossip. You get a sense of community and closeness through the writing. 

I haven't read anything by Cathy Woodman before, and know that the characters have also feathered in earlier work so was unsure whether I would be able to follow and engage with the book. However this hasn't been a problem and the story works well as a stand alone. 

When complications with the pregnancy arise there are some very moving scenes which really tapped into my emotions. I felt angry, sad and frustrated with Jack and could sense myself wanting to take care of Tessa, whilst also feeling sorry for Jack, even though I hadn't read any previous books. There are a few twists and turns they keep you wondering if it will all turn out well...and I don't want to give anything away!

I don't usually like short stories but this was really good, and a nice quick read.

Thanks to Random House, Cornerstone for the e-book in return for an honest review. 

Thirteen by Tom Hoyle

The Blurb:

Born at midnight in London, on the stroke of the new millennium, Adam is the target of a cult that believes boys born on this date must die before the end of their thirteenth year. Twelve boys have been killed so far. Coron, the crazy cult leader, will stop at nothing to bring in his new kingdom. And now he is planning a bombing spectacular across London to celebrate the sacrifice of his final victim: Adam.

My review:

Since reading The Hunger Games I have become more open to reading and enjoying books aimed at young adults. I did really enjoy Thirteen, particularly the first third of the book. We meet Adam who is born on the turn of the new millennium.  A cult, led by Coron set out to find and sacrifice Adam before his fourteenth birthday. The first third of the book is very dark and I found some of the scenes quite graphically violent. It is quite a serious and dark read at bedtime and I would definitely say to parent ps to think about the age group that this is appropriate for.

The middle of the book didn't grip me as much, but that is probably indictable of the fact it is written for young adults. We do get to see more of Adam's friendship with Megan, and there are some surprises when we discover some if the unlikely cult members.  The level of violence dropped and it became more about the chase and build up to Adam's fourteenth birthday. However the book recovered for me towards the end and I found myself gripped and not able to put it down until I knew what happened.

The author has a sequel planned and I will be looking out for it. 

This book was kindly supplied by Pan Macmillan in return for an honest review.

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

The blurb:

When the body of a woman is discovered in a local park—with her bewildered four-year-old son sitting beside her—veteran social worker Ellen Moore is called in to assist in the police investigation. Positioned beneath a statue of Leto, the goddess of motherhood, the crime is weighted with meaning and, Ellen discovers, remarkably similar to one from a decade past.

Ellen's professional duty is to protect the child, but she's not equipped to contend with a killer. As she races to connect the dots, she knows her time is running out. And the stakes are high: if she fails, another mother is sure to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review:

This short story is a prequel to Heather's new book Little Mercies which is due for publication on 4th July. In the book we meet Ellen Moore who is a Social Worker. Ellen is called in by police to help look after a four year old boy after his mother is discovered murdered in a local park.

The story centres around the investigation into who committed the murder, which bears many similarities to another murder ten years earlier, that Ellen was also involved in.

If you have read any of Heather's other books you will know that her writing style is always gripping and storylines are intense. She doesn't shirk away from hard hitting topics and I have a feeling thag Little Mercies will be another hard hitting addictive read. This story doesn't disappoint, the characters are well written so they become familiar quickly, they are very likeable and this short story is a great introduction to Ellen, her family and Joe from the Police department. I felt like I could get straight into the investigation and as always, tried to play detective myself.

Heathers books always pack a punch and if this is anything to go by Little Mercies is going to be an absolute cracker.

Thank you for Harlequin for sending me this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Chocolate Book Tag......

Happy sunny Saturday

Thanks to the lovely Catriona (fabulousbookfiend.blogspot.co.uk) who has included me in a great idea called the chocolate book tag. I know some people are doing vlog's but as I'm too shy I have written my replies below (pictures of books will follow next week I hope). Like naming top ten lists this is really hard!

Dark chocolate: a book that covers a dark topic.

Fragile by Nikki Graham. I got this as a freebie on my kindle and didn't expect to get even half way through. How wrong I was! This was a riveting and heartbreaking recollection of Nikki Graham's almost life long battle with anorexia. Very moving and a real insight into the mind of someone struggling. Eating disorders and mental health, whilst more recognised are still a taboo and hard to talk about subject.

White chocolate: your favourite lighthearted / humorous read.

The Secret Dreamworld of A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I was late to the party in starting the shopaholic series, but once I found them I have lapped them up. Real escapism and feel good factor. Lots of laughs, particularly when you can see traits of yourself and your friends in Rebecca.

Milk chocolate: a book that has a lot of hype that you're dying to read.

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes. I have to confess that I have only read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, but by golly, that was some book! I have had so many people and publications rave about all her work, and excellent reviews about her new book so really looking forward to getting stuck in. I almost feel like I am saving it for best!

Chocolate with a caramel centre: a book that makes you feel all gooey in the middle while you are reading it

Same author but different books that I can't choose between. Lindsey Kelk has the ability to write books that have great lead female characters as well as a small army of supporting characters that a reader like me adores. I fell in love with Angela in the I Heart series and always settle down in eager anticipation feeling all gooey reading them. However, a new heroine in the form of Tess appeared in About A Girl last summer. I loved it and definitely have the gooey feeling already waiting for the next instalment coming this summer.

Wafer free kit kat: name a book that has surprised you lately

I have deliberated over this one because I don't want to become monotonous and rave about the same books all the time. However, the truth is that The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman did surprise me. Not so much from the storyline, but it got me to question and re evaluate my own views and opinions, some of which changed which was a surprise given how stubborn and headstrong I can be.

Snickers: a book that you are going nuts about

Simple, for me it is Beyond Grace's Rainbow by Carmel Harrington. This is my book of the year. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I laughed, I cried and I think I scared my poor boyfriend with my reactions throughout.

Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows: a book that you would turn to for a comfort read.

Take A Look At Me Now by Miranda Dickinson. That was an easy peaty choice for me. I read it recently and it is just a great feel good book, full of adventure, love and friendship. All the best things in life. I could wrap it up in my arms and cuddle it under a warm duvet to feel good.

Box of chocolates: what series have you read that you feel has a wide variety and something for everyone.

Oh dear, I'm not sure I really have one of these. I guess the closest for me would be The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Whilst I know it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea I absolutely loved them, and have spoke to people both younger and older, male and female, who have an eclectic reading taste and no one has had anything other than great things about them.


So, that's my choices. It's now my turn to tag some other bloggers. If they haven't already done it I would like to tag:

Sharon: shazsbookboudoir.blogspot.co.uk
Margaret: bleachhouselibrary.blogspot.ie
Kevin: iheart-chick lit.blogspot.com
Natalie: myflutterbybooks.blogspot.com