Right now I'm reading...


Right now I'm reading... Taylor Swift: The Whole Story by Chas Newkey-Burden.

Saturday 28 December 2013

Something From Tiffany's by Melissa Hill.

I felt this book started off a little slow.  It was nothing different from the average chick-lit books with a Christmas twist.  Set in New York the reader meets two guys trying to sort their Christmas presents.  Both buy gifts from the famous Tiffany's store but things go wrong when their gifts get mixed up.

For a while I felt like nothing much was happening but around half way through the book the story really picked up pace and there were lots of twists and turns making the book really interesting.  I got to a point where I thought the plot would be quite predictable but then things took an unexpected turn and I really enjoyed reading until the end.

There's not as many festive details as I would like to read in a Christmas book, but then a lot of the story takes place after New Year so that makes sense.

There are lots of very likeable characters in the book. I really enjoyed reading Rachel's story and couldn't wait for her to find out the truth about her gift.

All in all this is a sweet story perfect for Christmas, full of romantic proposals and a little touch of festive cheer.

The back page blurb:
Doesn't every girl dream of getting . . . something from Tiffany's?
It's Christmas Eve. And on 5th Avenue in New York City, two very different men are shopping for gifts for the women they love. 
Gary is buying his girlfriend Rachel a charm bracelet. Partly to thank her for paying for their holiday-of-a-lifetime to New York. But mainly because he's left his Christmas shopping far too late.
Whereas Ethan's looking for something a little more special - an engagement ring for the first woman to have made him happy since he lost the love of his life.
But when the two men's shopping bags get confused, and Rachel somehow ends up with Ethan's ring, the couples' lives become intertwined. And, as Ethan tries to reunite the ring with the woman it was actually intended for, he finds it trickier than expected. 
Does fate have other ideas for the couples? Or is there simply a bit of Tiffany's magic in the air ...


Title: Something From Tiffany's
Author: Melissa Hill

Wednesday 18 December 2013

This Is A Love Story by Jessica Thompson.

So it's no big surprise that this story is a romantic one.  But when I say romantic I actually mean achingly romantic.  This is the kind of book that has you in tears, desperate to find out what will happen in the end, and getting butterflies of excitement when you think the story is going to come to it's conclusion.

It started off as a very pleasant read where you meet Sienna and Nick and learn how they both love one another, yet neither has any knowledge that the other shares their feelings.  But by the time you get a little more into the story it becomes addictive to read.  I just had to know how things would turn out.  At one point I thought I had guessed the ending, only to be thrown totally the other way and ending up in floods of tears.

Sienna and Nick are such loveable characters.  They are so ordinary which makes them so real and easy to read about.  I particularly loved Sienna, I thought she had a huge heart and her relationship with her father really touched me.  He was such an inspiration in the way he refused to feel restrained by his illness and instead did his utmost to explore the outside world without ever taking a step past the front door.

I love a book that takes you on an emotional journey and this one certainly did, from romance and friendship to hurt and loss, it was a roller-coaster of a read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Don't discount this book as just another love story: it's so much more than that.

The back page blurb:
This is a love story. 
Boy meets girl and girl falls for boy - that much is true. 
But when Sienna meets Nick it's not the way it happens in love stories. It's because of a squirrel on water skis...
She sees Nick's dangerous brown eyes and thinks,
Don't.
Fall.
Into.
Them.
Who will be there to catch Sienna when she falls? She is so fragile. She has so many secrets, and he is not that serious.
Funny and sad, this is the story of two people destined never to come together in the great love affair they crave more than anything else.


Title: This Is A Love Story
Author: Jessica Thompson

Sunday 15 December 2013

Callings Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews.

Snuggle up beside your tree and read this wonderful story to get you feeling fabulously festive.

If you're looking for a heart-warming story packed full of Christmas cheer then you need to read this novel from the Queen of chick-lit Carole Matthews.

We meet Cassie Smith, who after being made redundant and struggling to find a new job decides to make her love of the Christmas season into a career and starts up a business to help people create their perfect Christmas.

There are loads of lovely characters in this book, from millionaire Carter to the wonderful Jim, Cassie's boyfriend.  Jim was my favourite character, he does a very honourable job working in a young offender's institute and is the perfect boyfriend, being loyal, reliable and romantic.

As always with Christmas books written by Carole Matthews you are guaranteed a story stuffed full of festivities, and this book really does get you in the mood for Christmas.  Not only does Cassie's Calling Mrs Christmas business means she's wrapping presents, decorating trees and organising Christmas parties; she also takes a trip to Lapland.  Reading about Lapland was so interested, it sounds amazing.  Then to top it off there's an idyllic family Christmas to end the story.

This books explores what Christmas might be like for people who have money to throw away compared to those who have nothing at all and really makes you think for yourself what the truly important things are at Christmas time.

There is friendship, romance and family relationships a plenty in this story, all tied together with very likeable characters.  A really heart-warming story.

The back page blurb:
Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents; writing cards; tree-decorating. She's soon in huge demand and Cassie's business, Calling Mrs Christmas, is born.
Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children, so he enlists Cassie's help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her loving partner Jim to handle the rest of her clients.
When millionaire Carter asks Cassie to join his family on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn't go . . . Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heart-breaking choice that could change her entire life.

Title: Calling Mrs Christmas
Author: Carole Matthews

Saturday 7 December 2013

I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk.

I love the main character Angela and I love Christmas so I just knew I would love this book and I was not disappointed.  Everything about this book was in keeping with the fantastic escapism that every I Heart book promises you.  Everywhere Angela goes it's guaranteed that mayhem with follow.  Reading about her adventures is so entertaining, it will have you laughing out loud.

I adore the 'I Heart' series of books and couldn't wait for the next instalment.  In this book we see Angela "Christmas the shit out of [herself]" (her words not mine!) and knowing what can happen when Angela gets involved, I just knew things would get exciting.

Not only is Angela taking on new challenges at work, she's also moving house, has unexpected house guests and plans to hit the New York Christmas scene hard!

We meet all of the much loved I Heart characters.  Once again Alex outdoes himself as the most romantic boyfriend you could wish for.  Jenny is full of life, opinions and pushiness and we see Louisa let herself go and enjoy all New York has to offer at Christmas.  We even see Angela's parents make an appearance.

Parts of this book are so so romantic I was melting whilst reading it.  And there is an obscene amount of festive loveliness sprinkled throughout the pages.

Angela might be ever so slightly crazy, definitely a bit neurotic and hopeless at dealing with problems but I adore everything about her.  She's a real hero in every book and an inspiration that no matter how badly things turn out, and how embarrassed you might feel, you can always carry on with your head held high.

This is a must read if you need an uplifting inspirational book absolutely chocced full of festive yumminess.

The back page blurb:
Angela’s planning her very own fairytale of New York…
• Enormous Christmas tree
• Eggnog
• Eccentric British traditions
• Gorgeous man
But Santa’s throwing her a few curveballs – new job (as if it’s not mental enough already), new baby-craze from her best friend Jenny, and Alex determined they should grow up and settle down. Once friends start turning up uninvited on her doorstep (and leading her astray), can Angela really have a merry little Christmas? So much for happy holidays – something’s got to give…

Title: I Heart Christmas
Author: Lindsey Kelk
I Heart Series #6

Sunday 1 December 2013

Billy And Me by Giovanna Fletcher.

I loved this book.  Right from the first page I was hooked and could not wait to keep turning pages until I found out more about Sophie.  I loved everything about her character.  From being a shy child she had found a place to work which brought her happiness, both through the work itself and the people she worked with.

Then all of a sudden, Billy falls into her life and everything changes. The story was just so romantic. Page after page was full of the twists and turns that every relationship goes through and so cleverly written I found myself flicking between which character I agreed with, never quite sure who was in the wrong and who was overreacting.

The ides that an ordinary waitress from a small town could fall in love with a Hollywood movie start and get whisked away into his showbiz world could seem a little bit unrealistic but everything about the way the story is written is so believable that I didn't question it once.

I was in tears reading this book, it is probably the most romantic novel I have read all year.  One of my favourite lines from the book (and there were so many beautiful moments it was hard to choose) is when Billy states: "I would tell her that my world is colourless without her in it, and that, from the moment I met her, she was all I ever wanted."

I feel like this was such an honest book, based simply on a relationship between two people.  There were ups and downs, romance and jealously, hurt and loneliness.  It was true and heartfelt and therefore a pleasure to read. I would seriously recommend this to any bookworm.

The back page blurb:
Sophie May has a secret.
One that she's successfully kept for years. It's meant that she's had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.
But then she meets the gorgeous Billy - an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy's glamorous - but ruthless - world.
Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?

Title: Billy And Me
Author: Giovanna Fletcher