Book Review - The Right Side of Mr Wrong by Jane Linfoot

 

Title: The Right Side of Mr Wrong

Author: Jane Linfoot

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Released:6th March 2014

Pages: 174 (Kindle Edition)

Source: Free from author in exchange for an honest review, part of the #SexMeUpReadathon

 

 

 

Shea Summers arrives at Edgerton Manor having entered a competition to be the "wife" of Brando Marshall, to prove to her friends that she is capable from moving on from her past. Brando is a rich, handsome playboy who has no intention of settling down. He believes Shea to be a gold-digger looking to bag herself a rich husband so decides to teach her a lesson. When these two meet the chemistry is instant and the one-upmanship between the two is intense and leads to some HOT scenes...

At 174 pages this is a short read which I think suits the hot, fast-paced, flirty style of writing this story has. I devoured this in around three hours as once you start reading it’s hard to put it down.  In a way I wish it had been longer as I wasn’t ready to stop reading about these characters, however I think this may have ruined the pace of the book.

I loved the way that the book focused just on the relationship between Shea and Brando, there were hints of other characters like Bryony and Mrs McCaul but we don't really get to know much about them. Keeping the story between Shea and Brando added to the intensity of the heat which develops between them as their reluctance to give in to their feelings drifts away.

Brando's the perfect male character for this book being handsome and sure of himself, I can imagine any woman would fall at his feet just as he wanted. I love the way that he changes as Shea puts up some resistance and makes him work a bit harder for what he wants, which in the end works out well as this seems to helps him overcome his demons from the past and become more settled in himself.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book as I think I’ve found another author who could become a favourite, I really loved her fast paced witty style of writing and will definitely be reading her other books in the near future.

 Rating 5/5

 

 

Showcase Sunday #3

Showcase Sunday is a meme hosted by Vicky at Books,Biscuits and Tea aimed at sharing your new books with everyone else. This week I only bought one book:

Wolf Bride by Elizabeth Moss, this is for the #SexMeUpReadathon which is starting tomorrow!

I also went to visit my local library which is somewhere I have not been about two years. I was so pleased to find these three books which have been on my wishlist since they came out:

Never Google Heartbreak by Emma Garcia

The Dress Thief by Natalie Meg Evans

A Gift to Remember by Melissa Hill

Will definitely be visiting the library more frequently from now on I think. What did you receive this week?

Children's Book Review Pig's Egg by Katherine Sully

Author: Katherine Sully

Illustrated by: Sam Chaffey

Published: Cupcake (Imprint of Alligator Books) 2011

This is a cute little story about Pig who wants to be just like his friends Goose, Hen and Duck and be able to fly. When his friends all have eggs which hatch Pig feels even more left out until he finds a turnip which he believes to be an egg. Eventually he finds a caterpillar in the turnip which he then watches as it turns into a butterfly and then learns to fly like the babies of Goose, Hen and Duck.

This is a lovely story perfect to read with young children. The illustrations are beautiful and bring the story alive, my son and I loved the image of pig trying to fly the best.

Rating 5/5

Book Review - The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson

I’ve been waiting to read this book for months as I am a HUGE Milly Johnson fan and The Teashop on the Corner did not disappoint me, I loved every single page.

The Teashop on the Corner is Milly’s tenth full length novel and yet again she has created an incredible bunch of genuine characters whose lives all end up being entwined in some way.  In this book it is the teashop run by Leni Merryman where all the characters meet and become friends. Leni appears to be an extremely bubbly person whose life appears complete but as the book unfolds we begin to get subtle hints that all is not as perfect as it seems.

The book focuses mainly on the lives of Carla Pride, Will Linton and Molly Jones. Carla has just buried her husband Martin and just received a huge shock which completely changes her world when she enters the Teashop. Will Linton has just lost his business and his wife and needs to begin to rebuild his life and overcome his fears. Molly Jones is sixty-eight and fears she will be put into “Autumn Grange” a retirement home by her son Gram and his wife Sherry who are far more concerned with Molly’s money than molly herself. When Molly’s ex-husband Harvey reappears after twenty-eight years apart Molly can’t believe it, he claims he is dying and wants to right his wrongs before its far too late, will Molly let him? As these three struggle with their upheavals, it’s the Teashop and Leni which become their sanctuary to help sort out their lives. 

I love Milly’s books and this one is definitely as good as the rest, I won’t say better because there is not one of them I can single out as a favourite, I love them all. I love the way Milly can write about five or six characters in the same book and you never get confused as to what is happening to each one. Milly Johnson has a real talent for making a group of characters come together and become friends which is believable when it could so easily seem forced. From the very first page of this book I was hooked yet again as I began to learn more about the characters. I think the thing I love most about Milly Johnson’s book and this one does it particularly  well is the ability to drop subtle hints about what happened in the past and what might happen in the future, so you keep reading just a bit more before you know it you’ve finished the book.

The Teashop on the Corner is a book about friendship, love and forgiveness all mixed in with a little Milly magic. It is the perfect summer read and my favourite book of the year so far.

I rate this book 5/5 most definitely.

"Waiting on" Wednesday - What Would Mary Berry Do? by Claire Sandy

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Author: Claire Sandy

Published: Pan Macmillan 31st July 2014

Pages: 350

ISBN13 97814472534950

Genre: Woman's Fiction, Chick Lit

Taken From Goodreads:

For fans of The Great British Bake Off, this is a story about family life, unfriendly rivalry and flat Victoria sponges.

Marie Dunwoody doesn't want for much in life. She has a lovely husband, three wonderful children, and a business of her own. Except, her cupcakes are crap. Her meringues are runny and her biscuits rock-hard. She cannot bake for toffee. Or, for that matter, make toffee.

Marie can't ignore the disappointed looks any more, or continue to be shamed by neighbour and nemesis, Lucy Gray. Lucy whips up perfect profiteroles with one hand, while ironing her bed sheets with the other. Marie's had enough: this is the year it all changes. She vows to follow - to the letter - recipes from the Queen of Baking and at all times ask 'What would Mary Berry do?'

Husband Robert has noticed that his boss takes crumb structure as seriously as budget sheets and so puts on the pinny: serious redundancies are on the horizon. Twins Rose and Iris are happy to eat all the half-baked mistakes that come their way, but big brother Angus is more distant than usual, as if something is troubling him. And there is no one as nosey as a matching pair of nine-year-old girls . . .

Marie starts to realise that the wise words of Mary Berry can help her with more than just a Victoria Sponge. But can Robert save the wobbling soufflé that is his career? And is Lucy's sweet demeanour hiding something secretly sour?

This is a delicious feast of a funny novel, perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Allison Pearson.

*** This is a work of fiction, in no way endorsed by Mary Berry, and where neither Mary Berry herself nor her recipes feature. ***


This is Claire Sandy's first book and it looks really good, I'm a huge fan of anything to do with baking so can't wait to get my hands on this.

Joanne

Top Ten Tuesday - Favourite TV Shows/Movies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, to find out more out this meme click here. This week's top ten was favourite tv shows or movies. I'm going to focus on movies as couldn't think of ten TV programs that I really like.

1. Pretty Woman - Love this film so much, have lost count of the number of times I've watched it and the soundtrack is amazing!

2. The Devil Wears Prada - Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep are brilliant in this, but I do prefer the book version more.

3. Mamma Mia - What can I say I love ABBA songs and so wish I'd been around when they were popular, this always makes me want to dance.

4. The Holiday - Love Kate Winslett's character Iris in this, plus Jude Law is always good to look at.

5. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Probably my favourite Audrey Hepburn film ever.

6. P.S I love you - One day I will watch this and not cry like a baby, I will also read the book one day

7. Mona Lisa Smile-  Love nearly every character in this, its just brilliant!

8.  Confessions of a Shopaholic - Love this Isla Fisher is the perfect actress to play Becky Bloomwood. I have really been wanting to watch this again so may cave and finally buy the dvd.

9. Beaches- this is an older film with Bette Midler in, I watched it years ago with my friend who moved to Canada and every time I've watched it, it has brought back childhood memories.

10. Gnomeo and Juliet - Classic tale retold with gnomes! I've watched this so many times over the last two years with my son, he just loves it when the giant lawnmower tears through the garden.

Can you tell I have a bit of a thing for chick flicks?

Book Review - Appetite by Philip Kazan

Source: Goodreads First Reads Giveaway

Published: Orion 2013

This debut novel from Philip Kazan is stunning and one which should be savoured very slowly.  Appetite is set in Florence 1466, in the middle of the Italian Renaissance and tells the story of Nino Latini from age fourteen when he has just lost his mother.  Nino has an exceptional gift at being able to taste things to the extreme; he can tell whereabouts something was grown just by its taste. At the start of the book Nino is spending most of his time with his childhood sweetheart Tessina Albizzi until fate separates them. Nino then begins to work as a chef in his uncle’s tavern and from here his cooking skills grow until he finds himself cooking for the Medici‘s under the watchful eye from Maestro Zohan di Ferrara. From here Nino’s confidence grows and so do his ambitions both to win back Tessina and to create the most perfect feast.  Nino must trust fate to lead him on his journey.

I loved this book, the descriptive language which Kazan uses creates the most beautiful images which make Florence and all the food comes alive. You feel as if you are experiencing the rich and lavish dishes which are being created for yourself. Kazan’s descriptions are so good that when he is describing the rather more unpleasant side of Renaissance Florence I did want to heave at one point.

Nino was not the most appealing character to me, as he does come across as very arrogant, self-important and sometimes just plain silly. I did however like the way in which you felt his character develop from an idealistic young man who was a full of himself to a more sensible grown up man who began to consider the feelings of those around him.

I think this is a wonderful debut novel which has given me a wonderful glimpse into the lives of those living in Renaissance Italy and the importance that was placed on food at that time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction at this time or someone who enjoys a story with a romantic element.

I am so grateful to have won this as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway, it is a truly wonderful book and I hope to see more from Philip Kazan in the future.

I rate this book 5/5