A Hundred Pieces Of Me by Lucy Dillon.

A beautiful and inspirational book.

When I first got this book I was bowled over by how beautiful the cover was but the story inside is much more wonderful.

When reading A Hundred Pieces Of Me you will enter Gina's world whilst she is coming to the end of a divorce and about to begin a new life on her own.  As someone who has been through so much in her life, Gina's positive outlook is in inspiration and I felt instantly drawn to her character.  Like all the characters in this book, she had real depth, and truly felt like someone I would love to know in real life.  For fans of Lucy Dillon's writing we meet Rachel again, who returns from Lost Dog and Lonely Hearts, I love it when we get to meet a loveable character again.  But you'll also meet Gina's friends new characters Nick and Naomi.

I truly couldn't put this book down and was reading another few pages at every opportunity I got.  Despite loving this book I'm finding it quite hard to explain exactly why, all I can say is there was something magical about it, that meant reading it made me feel truly calm and swept away into a different world.

This is really a story of hope and realising that all is not lost even when you think it is.  There is a beautiful sense of romance and optimism that will keep you turning pages.

I would most definitely recommend.

The back page blurb:
Letters from the only man she's ever loved.
A keepsake of the father she never knew.
Or just a beautiful glass vase that catches the light, even on a grey day.
If you had the chance to make a fresh start, what would you keep from your old life? What would you give away?
Gina Bellamy is starting again, after a difficult few years she'd rather forget. But the belongings she's treasured for so long just don't seem to fit who she is now.
So Gina makes a resolution. She'll keep just a hundred special items - the rest can go.
But that means coming to terms with her past and learning to embrace the future, whatever it might bring . . .

Title: A Hundred Pieces Of Me
Author: Lucy Dillon
Release date: 27 February 2014
Buy A Hundred Pieces of Me

Lost Dogs And Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon.

So here's the thing... I'm a cat person.  Dogs are okay but give me a purring cat any day.  So the fact that I fell in love with this book, despite it being all about those fluffy little canines must mean it's a good book!

The story was just delightful to read, all of the characters were charming and I particularly fell in love with Rachel and Natalie.  Both their stories were so believable and I could relate to them on so many levels.

This is my first time reading a Lucy Dillon book and I absolutely loved her writing style.  I was whizzing through the pages because I just couldn't put the book down.

I was worried that being about a rescue centre for dogs, the story would have me in tears because I really don't like reading about animals in distress, but this book was so heart warming that even the sad tales had an optimistic ending.

There were so many topics covered in this book, from animals to divorce, babies, romance, friendship and families.  I really believe there is something in this book for everyone.  It's a lovely chick-lit book to read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy (and pining for a dog of your own - even if you are a crazy cat lady like me!)

The back page blurb:

When the abandoned strays from a local dogs' home are matched with brand new owners, it turns out it might not just be the dogs who need rescuing.

Rachel's aunt has left her a house, a Border Collie and, despite knowing nothing about dogs, a crowded kennel. But since her life has collapsed she's not sure she can deal with any more lost souls.

Zoe's ex-husband has given their children a puppy. The kids are in love, but she's the one stuck training Toffee the impossible Labrador. She's nearly at the end of her tether - until Toffee leads her to a handsome doctor . . .

Meanwhile Natalie and Johnny's marriage hasn't been easy since they started trying for a baby. But is a fridge-raiding, sofa-stealing Basset hound like Bertie really the child substitute they're looking for?

As the new owners' paths cross on the town's dog-walking circuits, their lives become interwoven. And they - and their dogs - learn some important lessons about loyalty, companionship and unconditional love . . .

Title: Lost Dogs And Lonely Hearts
Author: Lucy Dillon