Book Review - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

 

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Published: 2012

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 357

Available in Paperback and Kindle

 

 

 Blurb

It's 1999 and for the staff of one newspaper office, the internet is still a novelty. By day, two young women, Beth and Jennifer, spend their hours emailing each other, discussing in hilarious detail every aspect of their lives, from love troubles to family dramas. And by night, Lincoln, a shy, lonely IT guy spends his hours reading every exchange.

At first their emails offer a welcome diversion, but as Lincoln unwittingly becomes drawn into their lives, the more he reads, the more he finds himself falling for one of them. By the time Lincoln realizes just how head-over-heels he really is, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say to her? 'Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mails - and also, I think I love you'.

After a series of close encounters, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart, and find out whether there really is such a thing as love before first-sight.

 

Review

Attachments is the story of Lincoln, who works nights at The Courier newspaper as an internet security guy monitoring the company emails. He begins to read the emails between two co-workers Beth and Jennifer as they share their ups and downs with each other. Slowly Lincoln begins to have feelings for one of the girls and begins to feel uneasy about his job. Will Lincoln have the courage to embrace his feelings and find out if you can fall in love before first sight?

This book alternates in chapters between Lincoln’s story and the email dialogue between Beth and Jennifer, at first I wasn’t sure if I would like this but it worked really well. You get to know Beth and Jennifer without actually meeting them.  It highlighted really well they way that Lincoln almost meets his girl on more than one occasion and that he’s not the only one who has been admiring from afar, as he gets nick named “my cute guy” by one of the girls which made this story for me really adorable.

I loved Lincoln as a character, he was just so cute the way he fell for the real girl and not just her looks. He just appeared to be an all-round nice guy that had got himself stuck in a rut and needed a little inspiration to find his way out. I really enjoyed the way he handled his mother, you could tell he became frustrated with her sometimes but he was never disrespectful, he just gently ignored her and carried on.  His growing friendship with Doris the cleaner was also really cute and just made me want to hug him.

It was really refreshing to read a romantic tale from the male perspective as this is very rare in books, especially chick-lit type books (not that this is full on chick-lit) and think it is something which should be done more.

I loved this book and will definitely be reading more from Rainbow Rowell even though the majority of her work is Young Adult fiction which I don’t read much of.  I recommend this to anyone who wants a light hearted funny read with a very adorable male lead that will just make you feel warm and cosy inside.

Rating 5/5

Sunday Showcase #10

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share what books they have added to their collection in the previous week. This week I have been really lucky and received some great books to review and also collected a few freebies on my kindle.

 

 

I received the following all from bookbridgr and Headline

 

The Proposal by Tasmina Perry - already released

A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry - paperback released 23rd October 2014

A New York Christmas by Anne Perry released on kindle and hardback on 23rd October 2014

 

I am super excited about the Tasmina Perry book as I've wanted to read this for months but I'm not a huge fan of heavy hardbacks and that all I could find. I've not heard of Anne Perry before but chose these off bookbridgr as they both looked like really good Christmas reads. I like that they are short as can curl up with some hot chocolate and finish them in one night.

 

 

 

I also picked up these on Amazon for my kindle, they are currently free but please check price before you buy as might change. I've been very good and not bought any actual books in the last couple of weeks but I'm sure once we hit October that will change, so next week there may be more books to see.

 

 

Release Day Round Up #4

Today is super exiting for me as there are so many great books published today it was hard to narrow to down to the six I'm most looking forward to reading.

 

Saving Grace by Jane Green

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 400

Available in: Kindle and Hardback

Order from Amazon here

 

Grace and Ted Chapman are widely regarded as the perfect literary power couple. Ted is a successful novelist and Grace, his wife of twenty years, is beautiful, stylish, carefree, and a wonderful homemaker. But what no one sees, what is churning under the surface, is Ted’s rages. His mood swings. And the precarious house of cards that their lifestyle is built upon. When Ted’s longtime assistant and mainstay leaves, the house of cards begins to crumble and Grace, with dark secrets in her past, is most vulnerable. She finds herself in need of help but with no one to turn to…until the perfect new assistant shows up out of the blue.  To the rescue comes Beth, a competent young woman who can handle Ted and has the calm efficiency to weather the storms that threaten to engulf the Chapman household. Soon, though, it’s clear to Grace that Beth might be too good to be true. This new interloper might be the biggest threat of all, one that could cost Grace her marriage, her reputation, and even her sanity.  With everything at stake and no one to confide in, Grace must find a way to save herself before it is too late.

Saving Grace is the new Jane Green novel and its a little darker and deeper than some of her early work and although personally I don't think it was her best its still pretty good and definitely worth a read, take a look at my review here for all my thoughts.

 

Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Bantam Press

Pages: 400

Available on Kindle and Hardback

Order your copy here.

 

Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is in Hollywood! It's as if all her life has been leading to this moment. She's hanging out with the stars . or at least she will be, when she finally gets to meet movie superstar Sage Seymour, whom husband Luke is now managing.

There's so much to see and do! And getting Minnie through the hurdles for her A-list Hollywood pre-school will require some.er.help.

Becky sets her heart on a new career - she's going to be a celebrity stylist. Red carpet, here she comes! But Becky soon finds it's tough in Tinseltown. Luckily her best friend Suze comes over to keep her company, and together they embark on the Hollywood insider trail. But somehow...things aren't quite working out as they'd hoped.

Then Becky's big chance comes, and it's an opportunity that money can't buy. But will it cost her too much?

The wait is over folks, Becky is back and has hit Hollywood. I love this series and cannot wait to get a copy to find out Becky gets herself into this time. I was hoping to re-read the whole series before I read the one but I haven't made it past book one yet, so this could be one that appears on my Christmas list.

 

One Step Closer to You by Alice Peterson

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Quercus

Pages: 403

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Order your copy here.

 

After Polly ends her relationship with the father of her young son, Louis, she is determined to move on. All she wants is to focus on her job, her friends and to be a good mum. No more looking over her shoulder. No more complications…

Then Polly meets Ben.

Ben is guardian of his niece, Emily. They become close, with Polly teaching Ben how to plait Emily’s hair, and Ben playing football with Louis. Their friendship is unexpected. Polly’s never been happier.

But when Louis’s dad reappears in their life, all Polly’s mistakes come back to haunt her and her resolve weakens when he swears he has changed.

Will she give herself a second chance to love?

 

 

This sounds really good, I've never read anything by Alice Peterson some when I pick this up I'm hoping to find another author I really enjoy.

 

 

Pieces of You by Ella Harper

Published: 25th September 2014 (paperback)

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 400

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Order from here.

 

Lucy. I don’t even know how to start this letter.
Something happened. Something terrible . . .

Lucy was always sure of one thing – her future with husband and soulmate Luke. But after eight long, heartbreaking years trying to have a baby, that future is crumbling before her eyes.
When a terrible accident puts Luke into a coma, Lucy is forced to reassess everything she thought she wanted.

Then a woman arrives with a shocking secret that will force Lucy to make the hardest decision of her life. 

 

This book  had a brilliant marketing campaign when it came out on the Kindle and I was very tempted to buy it then as I wanted to find out what all the mystery and secrets are that seemed to be hinted at in the blurb. I've held off for the paperback copy but know this book will be on my next buying splurge.

 

 

No Safe House by Linwood Barclay

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 464

Available in Hardback and Kindle

Order a copy from here.

 

 

Seven years ago, Terry Archer and his family experienced a horrific ordeal that nearly cost them their lives. Today, the echoes of that fateful night are still audible. Terry's wife, Cynthia, is living separate from her husband and daughter after her own personal demons threatened to ruin her relationship with them permanently. Their daughter, Grace, is rebelling against her parents' seemingly needless overprotection. Terry is just trying to keep his family together. And the entire town is reeling from the senseless murder of two elderly locals.

But when Grace foolishly follows her delinquent boyfriend into a strange house, the Archers must do more than stay together. They must stay alive. Because now they have all been unwillingly drawn into the shadowy depths of their seemingly idyllic hometown.

For there, they will be reconnected with the man who saved their lives seven years ago, but who still remains a ruthless, unrepentant criminal. They will encounter killers for hire working all sides. And they will learn that there are some things people value much more than money, and will do anything to get it.

Caught in a labyrinth between family loyalty and ultimate betrayal, Terry must find a way to extricate his family from a lethal situation he still doesn't fully comprehend. All he knows is that to live, he may have to do the unthinkable....

 

 

Linwood Barclay is an author that keeps cropping up in blogging land and one that I think I need to read. this book looks really good and one which has been added to my wishlist, along with its prequel No Time For Goodbye.

 

 

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe by Judy Astley

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Bantam Press

Pages: 352

Available in Hardcover and Kindle

Order a copy from here

 

Thea's parents decide to host a big family Christmas in a house by the sea. even though they are, in fact, about to split up. Thea herself is newly single - her sister and brother are both settled, with children, homes and a future. But Thea's boyfriend has ditched her in favour of his pedigree dogs, and Thea can't decide whether or not she minds.

There will be copious food and drink, holly and mistletoe, lots of bracing walks and a wintry barbecue on the beach. If it seems an odd way to celebrate the final break-up of a marriage and the Moving On to new partners, no- one is saying so. But then no-one had anticipated that the new partners might actually turn up to complicate the sleeping arrangements.

As Cornwall experiences the biggest snowstorm in living memory, the festive atmosphere comes under some strain. Will Thea manage to find some happiness for herself? Will the mistletoe work its magic on them all?

I couldn't end todays list without a Christmas book as its exactly three months till Christmas, so this is my choice, again not read anything by this author but she has written an awful lot of books which all look good so go check her out like I intend to very soon.

 

 

Book Review - Saving Grace by Jane Green

 

Saving Grace by Jane Green

Published: 25th September 2014

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 400

Available in: Kindle and Hardcover

Pre-Order from Amazon here

 

Blurb

Grace Chapman has an enviable set-up, living comfortably with her husband, bestselling author Ted, in a picture-perfect farmhouse on the Hudson River in New York state.

Then Ted advertises for a new assistant, and Beth walks into their lives. Organized, passionate and eager to learn, Beth quickly makes herself indispensable to Ted and his family. But Grace soon begins to feel sidelined in her home - and her marriage - by this ambitious younger woman.

Is Grace just paranoid, as her husband tells her, or is there more to Beth than there first appears?

Review
I have read almost everything that Jane Green has written and have seen her style develop from basic love triangles to those with much deeper issues such as infertility and cancer, this goes in a slightly different direction and is verging on a psychological thriller type plot.  Ted’s new assistant Beth is determined that she will ruin Grace and she seems to have no limits to the measures she will take to ensure she succeeds.  Initially Beth doesn’t appear to be a threat to Grace as she seemed mousey and timid but gradually an incredibly disturbing character emerges which leaves Grace heading for disaster.

Initially I wasn’t convinced I was going to enjoy this book as there is a lot of scene setting and nothing much happens for the first third of the book and then it hits you.  So if you start reading and are not sure please keep going as the plot when it gets going is very gripping.  I also wasn’t too sure about Grace as a character initially as all she seems to do is spend her time making everyone around her happy which did seem to make her vulnerable and insecure making it easy for Beth to take over, I was glad when she finally got some balls and decided what she wanted.

I was left with a couple of issues which I felt were not addressed in the book, firstly why didn’t Grace get a second opinion when in her heart she knew the doctor was wrong and secondly what on earth happened to Beth to cause Beth to be the way she was?

This book is written in the third person from just Grace’s perspective. Personally I think it would have worked better been written in the first person then we would have gained more insight into how Grace was coping with her life if we knew her actual thoughts and feelings.  Also I would have liked some of the story to be told from Beth’s perspective so we could understand what was driving her behaviour.

There are recipes at the end of each chapter which I just found irritating, especially when the story was unfolding; I think these would have been much better in a section at the end of the book. 

After the slow start I did really enjoy this book and I’m sure many fans of Jane Green will love it. I rate this book 4/5 as I had a few issues with it, but it was still a gripping and enjoyable read which I would recommend to both fans and new readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan for sending me an arc copy to read.

 



Top Ten Tuesday - My Autumn TBR List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week the list was the top ten books on your Autumn TBR pile, I've interpreted this as books that are going to be released in September, October and November, so here goes:

 

 

 

1. Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella, released September 25th 2014

I love the Shopaholic series and am definitely ready to find out what Becky gets up to next.

 

 

2. The Woman who Stole my Life by Marian Keyes, released 6th November 2014

I love Marian Keyes novels so any new one was always going to be on the list.

 

 

3. The Great Christmas Knit Off by Alexandra Brown released 6th November 2014

I loved Cupcakes at Carrington's and even through I've yet to read the next two books I know I will love this book, it sounds just perfect for a cosy read one night.

4. Hello  from the Gillespies by Monica McInerney, released 6th November 2014

This is one which sounds a really good read and I actually have an ARC of this on my kindle which I can't wait to start reading.

 

 

5. A Most Desirable Marriage by Hilary Boyd released 2nd October 2014

This looks a really interesting book, which I was lucky enough to win a copy of in a goodreads giveaway so I hope it doesn't take too long to arrive.

 

 

6. The Seafront Tea Rooms by Vanessa Greene released 9th October 2014

I've not read anything by Vanessa Greene but this looks like a really good read, so hoping to get a copy of this one next month.

 

 

7. The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern released 9th October 2014

I just think the cover alone should make anyone want to read this one, its just beautiful.

 

 

 8. The Christmas Party by Carole Matthews released 23rd October 2014

This looks like the perfect book to kick off the Christmas reads this year and who doesn't love a good Christmas party?

 

 

9. Coming Home for Christmas by Julia Williams released 6th November

Another one to get us in the mood for Christmas, love the character names in this one.

 

 

10. Baby it's Cold Outside by Kerry Barrett released 9th October 2014

I recently stumbled across this on twitter and it looks really good, who doesn't love Christmas, weddings and a bit of magic. Even though its the third in a series I can't wait to read this.

 

So that's what I'm most excited to read this autumn, let see how many I actually manage to read. Check out what is on other blogger lists here.

 

Showcase Sunday #9

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share what books they have added to their collection in the previous week. This week I've been very good and only added two books to my tbr pile.

 

 

Firstly I received this to review from bookbridgr, thank you bookbrigr and headline.

 

 

Secondly I was sent this to review from Choc Lit, it looks really good and is due for release on October 7th.

 

What new books did you add to your collection this week? Link up with Vicky's blog and see everyone's list here.

 

 

 

 

Release Day Round-Up #3

Just three picks for my release day round up this week:

 The Beginner's Gide to the Birds and the Bees by Sophie Hart

Publication Date: September 19th 2014

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 384

Available on Kindle and Paperback

Pre-Order now from Amazon

 

What happens in the bedroom doesn’t have to stay in the bedroom
A refreshingly open and uplifting romantic comedy about friendship, love and sex. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone in order to give a relationship a good dose of TLC…

Sex therapist Annie Hall helps couples put the fizz back into their relationships. It’s a shame her own love life is non-existent. When Jamie who works next door catches her eye, she can’t ignore the spark of chemistry.

Most men would jump at the chance to skive off work for an afternoon quickie with their gorgeous wife, but Nick knows Julia is after only one thing – a baby. Sex shouldn’t be a chore. Can Annie help Julia see that?

Newly engaged Zoe and Simon can’t keep their hands off each other. They’ve decided to take a vow of celibacy until their wedding night. Will Annie help them stick to it?

Roy and Linda have been married for over thirty years but she’s more interested in the family business than getting intimate with him. Can Annie convince Linda to rediscover her passion for Roy after all this time?

While Annie begins to work her magic with the three couples, she soon discovers that she’ll need to take some of her own advice if she’s going to let a new man into her life.

 

I loved this book, see my full review here. If you enjoyed her previous novel then this is a must read.

 Twitter Girl by Nic Tatano

Published: Septeber 18th September 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 288

Available in Kindle from Amazon

 

Meet America’s Tweet-Heart.

She’s network reporter Cassidy Shea, better known as @TwitterGirl, with more than a million followers thanks to her sarcastic tweets. One hundred forty characters that can take anyone down a notch.

But while brevity may be the soul of wit, it can also get you fired.

When a controversial tweet goes viral the snarky redhead finds herself locked out of the career she loves… and watches her boyfriend take a hike.

Alas, no industry values sarcasm more than politics, and Cassidy becomes a marketable commodity for Presidential candidate Will Becker, a squeaky-clean, stone cold lock to be the next occupant of the White House. This candidate is unlike any other; he’s the country’s most eligible bachelor. He’s also looking for a running mate, and we’re not talking about a Vice President.

Twitter Girl has caught his eye.

Cassidy finds herself swept up in a whirlwind romance that turns her into the next Jackie Kennedy and becomes the favorite to be the next First Lady. The country can’t get enough of America’s First Couple… will Cassidy and Will Becker bring back Camelot?

But an anonymous tip triggers her journalistic curiosity. Is Will Becker all that he seems? The search for the answer teaches Cassidy the meaning of love.

 

I've not read anything by Nic Tatano yet but this looks really good, plus I'm intrigued to read some chick-lit written by a man.

 

 After the Wedding by Roisin Meaney

Published: September 18th 2014

Publisher: Hachette Books Ireland

Pages: 400

Available in Kindle and Paperback

 

After a bumpy start, Nell and James have finally said 'I do' and everything seems to be falling into place. Nell is getting comfortable in her new role as stepmother to James' sixteen-year-old son Andy, she's finally mending fences with her father and she's ready to look to the future.

Then Nell's ex-fiancé Tim - her husband James' brother - comes back to Roone, a place he's never liked, and she begins to feel uneasy. As the summer days roll by, and Tim seems in no hurry to return to his wife and daughter, Nell is finding it more and more difficult to enjoy her new beginning.

But when the little island of Roone is rocked by the disappearance of a young child, Nell realises that life can change in a single moment. Will happiness be restored before the autumn comes?

I really like the sound of this book and this is an author that I've not heard of before, so that excites me.

 

Book Review - The Beginner's Guide to the Birds and the Bees by Sophie Hart

 

The Beginner's Guide to the Birds and the Bees by Sophie Hart

Published: September 19th 2014

Publisher: Bookouture

Available on Kindle, pre-order here,

 

 

 

Blurb

What happens in the bedroom doesn’t have to stay in the bedroom A refreshingly open and uplifting romantic comedy about friendship, love and sex. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone in order to give a relationship a good dose of TLC…

Sex therapist Annie Hall helps couples put the fizz back into their relationships. It’s a shame her own love life is non-existent. When Jamie who works next door catches her eye, she can’t ignore the spark of chemistry.

Most men would jump at the chance to skive off work for an afternoon quickie with their gorgeous wife, but Nick knows Julia is after only one thing – a baby. Sex shouldn’t be a chore. Can Annie help Julia see that?

Newly engaged Zoe and Simon can’t keep their hands off each other. They’ve decided to take a vow of celibacy until their wedding night. Will Annie help them stick to it?

Roy and Linda have been married for over thirty years but she’s more interested in the family business than getting intimate with him. Can Annie convince Linda to rediscover her passion for Roy after all this time?

While Annie begins to work her magic with the three couples, she soon discovers that she’ll need to take some of her own advice if she’s going to let a new man into her life.

If you’re a fan of Tracy Bloom’s No one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday and Lindsey Kelk, kick your feet up, turn off your phone, and sink into Sophie’s novel

 

Review

Firstly thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

 

Sophie Hart’s first book The Naughty Girls Book Club was one of my favourite reads of last year; it was funny, heart-warming and engaging.  If you enjoyed her last book as much as I did then you will not be disappointed by this one. It is very similar, in that it has the same sort of premise where a group of unlikely characters come together and become friends. The characters are on the whole engaging and the story flows really, probably a little too well as this book was finished far too soon.

From the blurb I expected this book to talk heavily about sex, in fact  it doesn’t feature that much, Annie as the sex therapist talks to her clients more about how their emotional relationships are working rather than actual physical sexual problems.  I liked this as it gave more insight into the characters and their insecurities; this particularly came through with Ray and Linda’s relationship.

Out of all the characters I think Ray was my favourite, he reminded me of a big squashy teddy bear and I just wanted to go give him a hug and tell him everything would be alright in the end. I also loved Annie, she was so sassy and confident most of the time but she let her insecurities about finding love show a couple of times which just made me love her. The way the sparks built up between her and Jamie was really well done and I couldn’t wait to find out if anything would happen between them.

If you read Sophie’s previous novel then you are in for another treat with this one and if you haven’t read it I still recommend you read this as its honest, funny and very well written. I just hoping a third novel is not too far away.

Rating 5/5

Top Ten Tuesday - Authors I've Only Read One Book From But Need to Rad More

 

This week's Top Ten was authors you've only read one book from but need to read more, this is a great list for me as I've read so many new authors over the last three months , most over which I'm desperate to read more from. This list is in no particular order:

 

 

1. Melissa Hill

I read A Gift to Remember last month and I loved it, Darcy was such a great character who I really related to. I particularly want to read The Charm Bracelet and Something from Tiffany's both of which sound perfect reads for me.

 

 

 

2. Natalie Meg Evans

If you want a historical romance with a hint of mystery then this is the book for you, I loved it and cannot wait until her next book The Milliner's Secret is released next spring.

 

 

3. Rosie Fiore

Back in 2012 I became pregnant after trying for months and I devoured almost every mum to be book I could get my hands on, this was one of the best. I've not picked up her other book Wonder Woman yet but it look like something I would really like.

 

4. Emma Garcia

I found this brilliantly funny and loved Viv as a main character. Really want to pick up the sequel OMG Baby soon.

 

 

 

 

5. Katie Fforde

I cannot believe that I've got to 31 and this was the first Katie Fforde book that I read, I know it definitely wont be the last, its just deciding which one to read next from all the others.

 

 

 

6. Lucy Diamond

This was the first book that I wrote a review for on this blog so will always be a favourite. I'd never read any Lucy Diamond before and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I really want to read The Beach Café, Sweet Temptation and One Night in Italy before too long.


7. John Green

 This book was everywhere when I started blogging so I had to read and I'm so glad I did, this book was amazing and has made me want to read all of John Green's other books, I have An Abundance of Katherine's on my tbr pile so should read it before the end of the year.




8. Philip Kazan
I won this book off Goodreads and was so excited as it was the first book I've ever received for free. The descriptive language in this book is just stunning and very absorbing, I can't wait to see what his next book is like.



9. Jill Steeples
This is a really good chick-lit read which has wetted my appetite for more of Jill Steeples' work, hopefully I can read Desperatley  Seeking Heaven soon as this sounds so good.



10. Zara Stoneley
This book had me laughing all the way through, it was just brilliant. The rest of Zara's work seems to be more erotic fiction than chick lit but I still really want to read more from her and hope there is a sequel to Stable Mates to read

So that's my list this week, what is on yours? To see everyone's list take a look here.

Showcase Sunday #8

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share what books they have added to their collection in the previous week.  This week I have been fairly good and just bought one book and picked one up in the local library.

 

 

 

I bought Daughter by Jane Shemilt and picked up The Playground by Julia Kelly which I was super excited about as it was only released this week. What new books did you receive this week? Link up with Vicky's blog and see the list here.

 

Book Review - The Wish List by Jane Costello

 

The Wish List by Jane Costello

Published: April 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 496

Available in Kindle or Paperback

 

Blurb    

There are six months left of Emma Reiss's twenties. . . and she has some unfinished business.
Emma and her friends are about to turn thirty, and for Emma it's a defining moment. Defined, that is, by her having achieved none of the things she'd imagined she would.
Her career is all wrong, her love life is a desert and that penthouse apartment she pictured herself in simply ne...more There are six months left of Emma Reiss's twenties. . . and she has some unfinished business.
Emma and her friends are about to turn thirty, and for Emma it's a defining moment. Defined, that is, by her having achieved none of the things she'd imagined she would.
Her career is all wrong, her love life is a desert and that penthouse apartment she pictured herself in simply never materialised. Moreover, she's never jumped out of a plane, hasn't met the man she's going to marry, has never slept under the stars, or snogged anyone famous - just some of the aspirations on a list she and her friends compiled fifteen years ago.
As an endless round of birthday parties sees Emma hurtle towards her own thirtieth, she sets about addressing these issues. But, as she discovers with hilarious consequences, some of them are trickier to tick off than she'd thought…

 

Review

This book has been on my to read pile for months and I finally decided it was time to read it and I was instantly hooked, Jane Costello is definitely one of my new favourite writers, this book was brilliant.

It tells the story 29 year old Emma Reiss who is approaching the big 3-Oh and worrying that life has past her by. One day she stumbles upon a list she made when she was fifteen of all the things she wanted to do before she was thirty. This list includes things like become an interior designer and find the man you will marry, along with more extreme things such as jump out of a plane. Emma decides to embark on completing the list in the six months left before her birthday.

Emma is the perfect heroine for a chick-lit novel, she’s funny, caring and just a little bit clumsy which make her adorable and right from the start you’re rooting for her.  This book has some wonderful hilarious scenes, my personal favourite being the night Emma spends in a tent with Rob, just brilliant!

There is also number of sub-plots happening in this book which involve her sister Marianne and two friends Cally and Asha. I felt these added an extra dimension and made the story more realistic, they also added a little bit of heartbreak. My favourite character was Giles; I just loved how he changed from being so grumpy to funny and loving once he found the right woman.

I adored this book and found Jane Costello’s writing very addictive and this book was finished far too soon.  I cannot wait to read more of her work.

Rating 5/5

 

 

Release Day Round-Up #2

Here is my pick of my favourite new releases for this week, the first two I have been lucky enough to read and review already:

 

The Best of Me by Nicolas Sparks

(Movie Tie-In Version)

Available in: Kindle, Paperback

Published: September 11th 2014 (this version)

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 336

Order here from Amazon

 

They were teenage sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks - with a passion that would change their lives for ever. But life would force them apart.

Years later, the lines they had drawn between past and present are about to slip . . . Called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter when they needed it most, they are faced with each other once again, and forced to confront the paths they chose. Can true love ever rewrite the past?

 

This was the first Nicholas Sparks book that I have read and I loved it, read my full review here.

 

 

 

Crossing the Line by Kerry Wilkinson

Available: Kindle and Paperback

Published: September 11th 2014

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Pages: 300

Order from Amazon here

 

Long before Jessica Daniel became a police detective, Manchester was a ghost city after dark. Fear ruled as people were afraid to be out by themselves, the notorious Stretford Slasher terrorizing its inhabitants.

Now, twenty-five years on and the media are feeling nostalgic. But Jessica has a new case to worry about. Apparent strangers are being targeted in broad daylight, the attacker unworried about being caught. If only Jessica and her team could track him down . . .

It's the coldest spring in memory and Jessica has old friends to look out for, plus secrets - so many secrets - that should have long been buried.

This was the first Kerry Wilkinson book I've read and I'm sure it won't be my last as planning on going back and reading from book 1 in the series, hopefully before book nine makes an appearance. Check out my full review here.

Here are three books which are also out today but I've yet to pick up a copy to read:

 

The School Gate Survival Guide by Kerry Fisher

Available on Kindle and Paperback

Published: September 11th 2014

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 400

Order from amazon here

 

Maia Etxeleku is a cleaner for ladies who lunch. With mops and buckets in tow, she spends her days dashing from house to house cleaning up after them, as they rush from one exhausting Pilates class to the next.
But an unusual inheritance catapults her into the very exclusive world of Stirling Hall School – a place where no child can survive without organic apricots and no woman goes a week without a manicure.
As Maia and her children, Bronte and Harley, try to settle into their new life, Maia is inadvertently drawn to the one man who can help her family fit in. But is his interest in her purely professional? And will it win her any favours at the school gate?
A hilarious, straight-talking read for anyone who's ever despaired at the politics of the school run.

I love the sound of this one as I love a good "mum" book and this looks like it could be good to curl up with after a miserable wet school run, which I'm sure will be happening in the not so distant future.

 

The Honeymoon Hotel by Hester Browne

Available in Kindle and Paperback

Published: September 11th 2014

Publisher: Quercus

Pages: 448

Order from Amazon here

 

The Bonneville Hotel is the best kept secret in Mayfair: its art deco suites and glittering ballrooms a former home-away-from-home for royalty and film stars alike. Recent years haven't been kind, but thanks to Events Manager Rosie, the Bonneville is reclaiming some of its old cachet as a chic retro-glam wedding venue.
While Rosie's weddings are the ultimate in romance, Rosie herself isn't; she's focused on the details, not the dramas. But when the hotel owner appoints his eccentric son Joe to the Bonneville staff, Rosie finds herself up against an unprecedented challenge: a rival whose predilection for the unconventional could derail not only Rosie's own career, but the most elaborate, high-profile wedding the Bonneville has ever seen.

I've yet to read anything by Hester Browne but this could finally be the book that I pick up, I love the sound of Rosie and the plot and think the cover is just beautiful.

 

The Long Fall by Julia Crouch

Available in Kindle and Paperback

Published: September 11th 2014

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 448

Order from Amazon here

 

How far would you go to protect your secrets?

Greece, 1980

Emma takes part in a shattering, violent event. An event to which she is anything but an innocent bystander.
She is only eighteen, but this marks her fall from innocence.
It will haunt her for the rest of her life.

London, now

Kate has the perfect existence: a glossy image, a glamorous home, a perfect family.
But there are cracks.
All is not what it seems.

And now the two worlds are about to collide.
Somebody's out for revenge.
Someone who has been waiting thirty years...

I'm really intrigued by this book and cannot wait to read it and find out what its all about. So that is the books that I'm most excited about from this weeks releases, what book has interested you this week?