Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get Round Too

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish who love list making an reading. Each week there is a different book related list to create and share with other bloggers and readers. This week the list was Top Ten Books from 2014 that you meant to read but just didn't quite manage too. For me this list could have been three times as long as were loads I really wanted to read. I've narrowed it down to the ones I've bought and not read yet or the ones I know I will be on the look out for this year.

 

 

1. What Would Mary Berry Do? by Claire Sandy

 

This was one of the first books that caught me eye after I started blogging and I have a copy waiting for me to read. I'm thinking this will be the book I take with me to hospital in March as I'll be able to enjoy it in one sitting.

 

 

2. The Proposal by Tasmina Perry

 

This was the first book I received for review from bookbridgr but for some reason I've just not read it, despite longing for it to come out in paperback. I think this is a case of I have so much expectation that I don't want to be disappointed so I'm savouring it.

 

 

 

3.The Snow Angel by Lulu Taylor

 

This one I had a pre-order from practically the first day it was available but since it arrived I haven't had a chance to read it, definitely one to tackle soon as I just love Lulu's books.

 

 

4. One Night in Italy by Lucy Diamond

 

I have a copy of this sitting on my shelf kindly lent to me from a friend, will have to read it soon as I'm sure she'll want it back. The cover is even more beautiful in real life!

 

 

5. The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

 

I'm a huge Marian Keyes fan so really wanted to read this one, sadly I wasn't accepted to read the arc on Netgally and I'm not a huge hardback fan so will wait for a paperback copy to be published.

 

 

6. The Christmas Party by Carole Matthews

 

I have a copy of this which I never got round to read as I was hoping to start making a dent in books by Carole Matthews. Sadly I think this will be left on the shelf till next December but hopefully I make time to read a couple of others of hers which I have.

 

 

7. It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi MacFarlane

 

This one had such a brilliant plot that I'm gutted I didn't manage to read it last year. Hopefully I be able to pick it up once I've waded through the review books I have.

 

 

 

8. Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella

 

I'm super excited there is another "Shopaholic" book out there, I've yet to pick this up but will be top of my list in paperback in March.

 

 

 

 

9. It Started With Paris by Cathy Kelly

 

I loved the sound of this when it was released back in Octoberr, sadly so many other great books came out at the same time that I forgot about it. As I've recently become engaged myself I'm keen to read this as my family has gone a little crazy itself.

 

 

 

 

10. The Dead Wife's Handbook by Hannah Beckerman

 

Everyone that read this seems to have loved it and it does sound so good, its definitely on my list of books to look out for this year.

 

So that is my list of the books I missed from last year. Did you read any of these? Which would you recommend I go back and pick up first? What is on your missed list from 2014.

 

To see the master list of this weeks links, click here.

 

 

 



 

Book Review - The Year of Taking Chances by Lucy Diamond

 

The Year of Taking Chances by Lucy Diamond

Published: 1st January 2015

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 454

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

It's New Year's Eve, and Gemma and Spencer Bailey are throwing a house party. There's music, dancing, champagne and all their best friends under one roof. It's going to be a night to remember.

Also at the party is Caitlin, who has returned to the village to pack up her much-missed mum's house and to figure out what to do with her life; and Saffron, a PR executive who's keeping a secret which no amount of spin can change. The three women bond over Gemma's dodgy cocktails and fortune cookies, and vow to make this year their best one yet.

But as the following months unfold, Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin find themselves tested to their limits by shocking new developments. Family, love, work, home - all the things they've taken for granted - are thrown into disarray. Under pressure, they are each forced to rethink their lives and start over. But dare they take a chance on something new?  

 

Review

Having discovered and enjoyed Lucy Diamond’s books last year I was eager to read something else by her and The Year of Taking Chances seemed the perfect book being as we’re starting a new year. The Year of Taking Chances is based on the lives of Gemma, Caitlin and Saffron who all meet at Gemma’s New Year’s Eve party. The three instantly bond and agree to make the following year the best they’ve ever had, little do they know it’s a year that’s really going to test each of them.

I instantly warmed to all three of these women and was drawn into their story so much that the rest of the world just passed me by until I was finished. These are real women who have to deal with real issues and I loved how much I could relate to them and longed to be part of their little group.

Gemma is a stay at home mum and is beginning to question what to do with the rest of her live now her kids are both at school and see her as “just a mum”, she’s wanting to be more but not sure how to fit it in around her family. I can totally relate to Gemma in this situation as I’m sure many mothers do, we long to be home for our children but also long to belong back in the adult world of work and it’s not easy to find a balance. When Gemma’s world is turned upside down she takes a chance and follows a lifelong dream, but can she manage to keep her family together as well.

Caitlin is returning to her childhood home to pack up the house after the death of her beloved  mother, stuck in a rut with her career and single again after finding her boyfriend with her best friend she’s feeling alone and vulnerable and craving the life she lost. As she begins to pack up the house she begins to uncover a secret which has been hidden for years and her which turns her even more upside down.

Saffron has escaped her London flat to think about her future, escape from PR nightmare Bunty and work out exactly what she’s going to do about her big secret which will more than likely tear her sisters heart to shreds.

Although I loved all three of these women I think my favourite character was Bunty, I just loved the way that she changed from being an over bearing nightmare to an actually quite kind hearted and likable woman. I think her confrontation with Saffron was probably one of my favourite parts of the books as I felt it was a huge turning point for both of these characters, Saffron became stronger willed and more determined and Bunty softened and became less irritating.

The Year of Taking Chances is a book with many themes including friendship, marriage, heartbreak, hidden secrets, pregnancy, careers, lack of money, it’s about the real life dramas we all face, about releasing how lucky you are and that only you can really go out there and get the life you want, all you have to do is take a chance.

I adored this book and was gutted when I’d finished, which wasn’t long as I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of the few books I’ve read where I loved all the characters, even Gemma’s horrible mother! It’s the perfect book to start off the New Year and fans of Lucy Diamond will adore it, I know I did.

 

A Little Update

Hello and Happy New Year Everyone,

The last month has been an emotional rollercoaster for me and although I have read quite a few books I've not had chance to write the reviews for them, hence the lack of posts. After visiting he hospital on the 18th December I didn't get the news I was hoping for and it looks like I'm going to need two operations to fix my heart, one of which is very complicated so the doctors don't really want to do it until absolutely necessary.

So I was feeling a little down just before Christmas, which is usually my happiest time of year, but my wonderful boyfriend made it perfect on Christmas day by asking me to marry him, which made my year! So we've been super busy looking at wedding things for the past fortnight, but I've calmed down a little now school has started and the early mornings are back with us.

I have read some amazing books over the last month and am hoping to catch up with my reviews this weekend, so come Monday the blog will have something new for you to look at. If your looking to pick up something to read then here is a list of what I've and thought was really good over the last month:

An Irish Promise by Isabella Conner
You Think You Know Me by Claire Chase
The Kings Sister by Anne 'Brien
The Year of Taking Chance by Lucy Diamond
The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
and I've just finished The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBeth which was incredible!

So that's all now, I'll be back Monday with a review of The Year of Taking Chances by Lucy Diamond

Joanne x

Book Review - A Season to Remember by Shelia O'Flanagan

 

A Season to Remember by Shelia O'Flanagan

Published: 27th October 2011

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 372

Available in Hardback, Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

In this collection of interlinked short stories Sheila O'Flanagan brings her own trademark sparkle to Christmas - a time when friends, families and lovers traditionally come together and when every person is hoping their wishes will come true.

 

Review

Firstly I would like to thank bookbridgr and Headline Review for sending me a copy to review, it’s been a long time since I read a novel by Shelia O’Flanagan and it was a pleasure to read something by her again.  Unlike her other books A Season to Remember is a collection of short stories all linked because they take place at The Sugar Loaf Lodge. I didn’t realise this initially and was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this book as much because of it, but I’m pleased to say it was a joy to read and definitely put me in a festive mood.

The Sugar Loaf Lodge is run by Neil and Claire Archer, who have turned it from derelict old house with a tragic past into a luxury boutique hotel, which I would love to visit myself one day! The book begins by introducing us to Neil and Clare and we learn that they are having financial difficulties and have hardly any bookings for over Christmas. They’ve just rejected a deal to sell the hotel to a large company, financially this was maybe not the best decision but they both feel a connection to the hotel, Claire especially. Somehow the Sugar Loaf becomes fully booked for Christmas and they begin to welcome their guests for the season.

Each of the rooms in the hotel are named after Irish mountains and so are the chapter titles, in each chapter we meet the room occupants and learn  their background story and find out how they ended up at the Sugar Loaf Lodge for Christmas. I really liked this and was surprised how much background details we learn about these characters in such a short amount of time, they felt like we’d known them for much longer than a few pages.  Not all of their stories are happy ones but I loved the way that while at the Sugar Loaf they all seemed to let their worries melt away and enjoyed themselves.

The Sugar Loaf Lodge for me was the perfect place to set a Christmas story, the place just oozes luxury with its first class restaurant and award winning spa. Set at the foot of the mountains in lovely grounds it makes the perfect place to spend Christmas, I mean who can resist roaring log fires at Christmas?

Louisa’s story was my favourite as it gave the Lodge some history and helped to bring the whole book together as you could begin to see how Claire felt such a connection to the place and why the guests felt so spoilt. I also liked the way the last couple of stories tied many of the characters together as they celebrated Christmas Day together, this for me made this book better the a short story collection. I would love for Shelia O’Flanagan to write more about some of these characters as I’d love to know what happens next to them.

If you are looking for a feel good Christmas read then I can highly recommend this book, it highlights the fact we don’t always get on with our families but at Christmas we try our best to compromise and come together to make the best of what we have. It has left me with a lovely warm Christmassy glow and a longing to go to The Sugar Loaf Lodge myself someday.

Rating 4/5

Book Review - A New York Christmas by Anne Perry

 

A New York Christmas by Anne Perry

Released: 23rd October 2014

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 154

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

December, 1904. Jemima Pitt, now twenty-two, agrees to act as a “suitable companion” to her friend Delphinia, who is traveling to New York to be married to Brent Albright, toast of New York high society. Jemima is excited about the prospect of a Christmas adventure in a strange big city, but little does she expect to be enlisted on a top secret mission by Brent’s brother Harley, to track down Delphinia’s estranged mother. After some detective work and a little luck, they manage to locate her lodgings—but to their horror, they find Maria dead. Truly her parents’ daughter, Jemima is determined to unmask the killer, and enlists the aid of handsome young police officer Patrick Flannery to do it. And along the way she comes to learn an important lesson about staying true to oneself, no matter the cost. Once again, as only she can, Perry delivers a darkly suspenseful, ultimately heart-warming novel that truly captures the essence of the holiday spirit.

 

Review

Jemima Pitt, I’m assuming the daughter of Inspector Pitt in one of Perry’s others series’ is heading to New York to accompany her wealthy young friend Delphinia Cardew to New York to marry into the Albright family, who are the cream of New York society. On arrival Jemima finds herself mixed up in the murder of Maria, a women believed to be Delphinia’s estranged mother. Jemima must use all her detective skills picked up from her father to help her out of trouble.

I really wanted to enjoy this story more than the previous Anne Perry novel which I read, but sadly I did not. I found the characters weak and the plotline bordering on ridiculous. The first thing that bothered me was that Jemima at twenty-three is considered past-it and only useful as a chaperone to nineteen year old Phinnie. Jemima herself came across very easily led, all Harley Albright had to do was smile at her and she followed him round New York on a silly quest, later on in the story she meets Patrick Flannery again who again pays her a little attention and she’s smitten, which made her seem a little desperate. I found Phinnie to be an incredibly annoying character; she was so smug about her fancy wedding, if I was Jemima I would have smacked her.

There was no mystery around the murder, it was obvious who has done it and why and I really couldn’t understand why Jemima was unable to see what was right in front of her nose. It lacked any kind a depth which makes a good crime novel. As for this being a Christmas novella, well the only link to Christmas throughout the whole book is the fact that New York is covered in snow, a very weak link to Christmas.

I’m glad that this was a short novella as it only took me an hour to read, any longer and I think I would have given up. I know Anne Perry has a huge following and has written a great number of books but they are not for me. I would like to thank bookbridgr for sending me a copy to review; sadly I can only give this book 1/5.

Release Day Round Up #13

This week there are five books which have been released which have taken my interest:

 

You Think You Know Me by Clare Chase

Released: 3rd December 2014

Publisher: Choc Lit Uk

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Sometimes, it’s not easy to tell the good guys from the bad …

Freelance journalist, Anna Morris, is struggling to make a name for herself, so she’s delighted to attend a launch event for a hip, young artist at her friend Seb’s gallery.

But an exclusive interview isn’t all Anna comes away with. After an encounter with the enigmatic Darrick Farron, she is flung into the shady underground of the art scene – a world of underhand dealings, missing paintings and mysterious deaths …

Seb is intent on convincing Anna that Darrick is up to no good but, try as she might, she can’t seem to keep away from him. And as she becomes further embroiled, Anna begins to wonder – is Seb’s behaviour the well-intentioned concern of an old friend, or does he have something to hide?  

 

I am lucky enough to have a review copy of this sent from Choc Lit UK, I've only read a few chapters but so far it seems really good, look out for my review next week.

 

 

 

I'll Take New York by Miranda Dickinson

Released: 4th December 2014

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 416

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Have you ever given up on love?


When her boyfriend lets her down for the last time, Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James makes a decision – no more. No more men, no more heartbreak, and no more pain.


Psychiatrist Jake Steinmann is making a new start too, leaving his broken marriage behind in San Francisco. From now on there'll just be one love in his life: New York.


At a party where they seem to be the only two singletons, Bea and Jake meet, and decide there’s just one thing for it. They will make a pact: no more relationships.

 

 

I haven't read many Miranda Dickinson novels but I don't think I can resist the cover of this one with it gold highlights, plus it seems a like a good plot line.

The Snow Angel by Lulu Taylor

Released: 4th December 2014

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 400

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

A forbidden passion. A lifetime of consequences.

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 Cressie 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?

 

 

Lulu Taylor is one of my favourite authors and anything she writes will definitely end up on my bookshelf. I have a copy of this one on its way to me, so keep an eye out for my review in the next few weeks.

 

A Christmas Feast by Katie Fforde

Released: 4th December 2014

Publisher: Arrow

Pages: 240

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Add some extra sparkle to your Christmas by joining Katie Fforde for a perfect, romantic Christmas feast of short stories. Collected together for the first time and including one brand new story.


Make your Christmas wishes come true...

 

 

I have a review copy of this to read and I'm really looking forward to grabbing a few moments here and there the read a story all in one go. Look out for my review soon.

 

Red Rose, White Rose by Joanna Hickson

Released: 4th December 2014

Publisher: Harper

Pages: 400

Available in paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Richard, the thirteen-year-old Duke of York, England’s richest heir.
Told through the eyes of Cicely and her half-brother Cuthbert, Red Rose, White Rose is the story of one of the most powerful women in England during one of its most turbulent periods. Born of Lancaster and married to York, the willowy and wayward Cicely treads a hazardous path through love, loss and imprisonment and between the violent factions of Lancaster and York, as the Wars of the Roses tear England’s ruling families apart.
So nearly queen herself, Cicely Neville was the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of kings – and her descendants still wear the crown.

 

I haven't read an historical fiction in ages, so when I came across this book it seemed perfect. I've not read anything by this author before and very little about the Neville family, so looking forward to getting a chance to read this sometime.

 

This will be my last Release Day Round for 2014. I hope you have enjoyed taking a look at my favourite releases and have found some interesting books to add to your tbr piles. I will be back on January 1st with the first Release Day Round Up of 2015.

 

 

 

Book Review - A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry

 

A Christmas Hope (Christmas Novellas #11) by Anne Perry

Published: October 23rd 2014 (Paperback)

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 165

Available in Hardback, Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

London, 1868. As the Christmas season begins, Claudine Burroughs feels little joy in its endless social calls and extravagant events. Working at a clinic for desperate women has opened her eyes to a different world.

Then her two worlds collide. A prostitute smuggled into a grandiose Christmas party is found brutally beaten. Poet Dai Tregarron stands accused. But Dai insists he was trying to protect her from the violence of three young men. Claudine believes him, but with society closing ranks against him, how can she prove his innocence without risking everything?

Review

This was my first experience with an Anne Perry Christmas novella and I found it to be a gritty look at Victorian England. The blurb sounded intriguing and I was hoping for a mystery set among the grandeur of a Victorian Christmas, instead I got a slightly depressing look at the morals of the Victorian upper classes, done in a way which I found slightly repetitive.

Claudine Burroughs is an outsider in her social circle and spends much of her time helping less fortunate women in a clinic. I wanted to feel something kind of empathy for her as she’s not happy in her marriage to her husband who clearly doesn’t love her but she just came across as a rather dull character.

There is no real mystery to the story as it’s obvious to the reader what happened to the poor young woman. This is more a story of Claudine trying to find a way to convince people to do the right thing and not let their social standing impact on their actions. It gives a very bleak view of the concept of marriage in Victorian England; love is not a factor often considered it seems, this for me made a quite bleak story. I’m someone who loves a little romance in a book, especially at Christmas.

If you are a fan of stories set in Victorian times you will probably enjoy the bleak realism this book portrays, for me it lacked depth in the mystery and was missing a little Christmas spirit.

Thank you to bookridgr for sending me a copy to review. Rating 2/5