What She Left by T. R . Richmond . Review

What She Left is the story about a young woman called Alice Salmon , and we know from the beginning that she died from drowning . We get to see Alice when she was alive through her journal entries , her relationships , and online presence so we do get to know quite a bit about her but this story only gives us little hints at a time about what was going on , enticing me to keep turning the pages well past my bed time. The story goes back and forth between when she was alive and after she died, we learn about those who she was close to , things she liked to do , and they all begin to paint a picture of Alice. Reading this feels like snooping with a mystery included that is just going to get darker and darker and so the tension builds nicely making this hard to put down. I found Jeremy a less then likeable character although reading Jeremy and Elizabeth's ( Alice's mother)emails back and forth to each other I found it easier to understand why he took it upon himself to write about this young journalist who had a great future ahead of her even if it made me feel uneasy. This is for those who enjoy a page turner with plenty of mystery that will leave you feeling unsettled about peoples online presence and what can be left behind. 

I received this book from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk for review.

This book is due to be released April 2015 and will be available to buy on Lovereading.co.uk and 

all other good bookstores then.

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Night Time Reading

What She Left by T. R Richmond . I can't wait to start this now !

Book Reading , Cold Weather , Hot Food

Did you ever have a day when you just need to get out of the house and just sit somewhere with a book and just be around nature.

I quite often pick days when most sensible people will stay inside and not be beaten by cold winds but that has never put me off. 

Firstly if you have never taken a long walk in really cold weather with lots of wind then you are missing out as by the time you get home and sit down to a warm drink or even better home made soup and bread then you will feel awesome and will probably sleep amazing that night as  it blows the cobwebs away completely. If you can drag a friend along too then all the better.

 I am talking a no make up day ,hat firmly stuck on head and a good waterproof jacket....snacks in pocket ..optional.. Flask in car..essential...

The peace.... the smell of the sea .... Nothing can beat it! 

Pre-Loved Book Haul Part 4

Morning lovelies , hope the sun is shining in your side of the world . Here is part 4 of my pre loved book haul. Don't worry we are nearly finished with it. Then I can show you the last of the books I got with my Christmas/birthday money. 

I have been seeing this book around for a very long time, as I don't know much about it I will have to check it out on Goodreads and see what the thoughts are of those who have read it. When I get around to all these books you can expect reviews. 

It was the title of this book that attracted me... I know nothing about this..

This sounds familiar... I am almost sure I watched a film once with this title , again research will have to go into this before I tackle it. 

I love Philippa! Such a great writer, I have no idea what this is about but I have loved all the previous books by her that I have read so I can't wait to read this too. 

Relentless. By Dean Koontz. The blurb on the front cover at the bottom had me intrigued.... 

I loved the book The First Wives Club so I thought I would give the author another go with this big chunky book. 

This looks and sounded like a sweet read and perfect for a Sunday afternoon. The Face in the locket by Alexander Connor

Pre- Loved Book Haul Part 3 .

You have probably gathered by now that these books in my recent hauls  were collected after a good few trips to used book stores and I am only getting around to uploading these beauties now. 

Pre-Loved Book Haul Part 2 And Book Bitching

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood.. This must be read this year. I have put it off for long enough. 

If there is one thing to do with books that drives me nuts it is when booksellers, booksellers!!!!!!  Put stickers on their books that when you try to take them off you A- Destroy the book or B- It Just Won't come off or especially....C - when you buy someone a book gift and the sticker is so firmly attached that by the time you do actually remove it it looks like you attacked it with a toolbox in the dark while in bad humour...... So in the end it looks less like a sparkling new book and more like something you made yourself in the garage.Honestly just thinking about it............ Shuffles off with steam coming out of my ears.

The Body In the Library by Agatha Christie.. Love Agatha!!

I love this cover of This Side Of Paradise. I do have this on my kindle but quite frankly an old edition with a glamourous old battered cover is going to win it's way into my bag. Also I do sometimes like to underline passages and add some scribbling notes in my old book editions. 

The back of the book. 

Life's Knocks And Reading

Do you ever think about the books that you have read and all the books that you have on your never ending TBR list ... I do .. I think about it as I have my head and neck tilted at strange angles in bookstores as I try to read the horizontal title of the books for meters and meters , by the time you get to the end of very long stretch of book shelves you straighten up ,give yourself a head rush ,and then realise you have just been in that position for the last hour. I imagine that if I am lucky enough to get to old age I will have multiple book related injuries...

When I was at school I swore I would never ever carry around a large heavy book bag again that would hurt my back and leave dents in my shoulders from the straps , then as an adult I find myself being tempted by big hard backs that could be mistaken for a cement block at a distance and I can't resist putting them in my bag and lugging them wherever I go so that I should never find myself without something big chunky and satisfying to read at any time. Well it's an ice breaker if nothing else..you take out a brick that big in a waiting room and someone is surely to ask you what it is , what it's about ,and after seeing the size of it asking if it quite possibly comes in a kindle version, which it likely does but nothing beats the comforting feel of a book in your hands, the feel, the smell, the sound of the pages turning .

I was in hospital a lot this past few months , at nights it was hard to sleep ,I would reach into my bag and pull out whatever book I had brought with me and within a few pages I felt comforted and instantly more relaxed . When the night nurse would come around during the night to check on us all I was still there reading my book , reading so I did not have to think about what was going on , things that I was not ready to think about yet. You guys are probably sick of me mentioning losing my baby a few weeks ago but at one point during my stay in hospital there was another woman in having a similar procedure as me and we talked about our babies and books and it made our stay just that small tiny bit more bearable . Books do that, they bring people together who may not have spoken to each other otherwise. I have lost count of the amount of times someone has asked ...is it any good?? Or... What's that about then??  

When your shoulders feel like things are weighing them down more then normal I bring my book here and recommend this to anyone. Find a book and space that let's you breathe and forget even if only for a little while. Then get up , brush yourself off and just keep going. 

Until next time x x x x x 

My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff . Review.

This is the story about a young woman starting out her working life at one of the older respected literary agencies  in New York City. Although the story is based in the nineties it has an older feel about it that I thoroughly loved. Typewriters were favoured more then computers in this office and if you like the TV program MadMen then there is that type of feel to this book. The author paints a vivid picture of her life working for the famous agents  to J D Salinger , known to his friends as Jerry.  The day to day life in the office and the private life of this young woman was a perfect book to read on a chilled out Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea/coffee propped up on your knee. I loved spending time in her world , and if you like J D Salingers writing or have an interest into the man himself  I think you will enjoy this even more ,go read this immediately ! This will be a re-read for me. 

Pre- Loved Book Haul Part 1

When ever I get a chance I love to have a wander around used book stores , especially this time of year  when the nights seem to drag on longer then usual and I need reading material like some one in the desert needing water. Reading is one of the  loveliest hobbies to have where you can read about  exotic countries with hot weather and villas and vineyards as you sit up in bed with your thermal pjs on as the hailstones are battering your windows and you are cosy inside with a hot drink and no place to go but into these fictional characters worlds where by the last page everything will have normally worked out for the best in the end. Sorry I was daydreaming there.. Let's press on with the books I got. Xxxxxxxxx

I know almost nothing about all these books so I will let you know more about them when I read and review them x x x 

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson . Review .

The day we disappeared is the story about two friends Kate and Annie. Kate is running away from some very bad things in her life only to find herself with a few more complications then she expected and Annie is struggling a bit with her work life until one day she meets someone special who can add some magic back into her life. These two women share a closer link then we could first imagine.This story has more to it then you might first think, it has a darker and sadder side that catches your breath and makes it easier to understand how these two women ended up where they are now and how the past can sometimes make us the people we become and how important friendship is and who we surround ourselves with. If you want a story that will stay with you long after you finish it and that will take you by surprise then read this as soon as you can. Breathtaking!

I kindly received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk 

This book is due to be released in March 2015 and will be available from lovereading and all other good bookstores then. 

Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading.co.uk website .

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/9781405911603/isbn/The-Day-We-Disappeared-by-Lucy-Robinson.html

Wish You Were Here by Catherine Alliott . Review

Wish you were here is the story about a husband and wife called Flora and James , James is a Doctor ( chiropodist ) and Flora is a food critic for a magazine. After a reluctant heroic act James receives a gift that his entire family can enjoy in the form of a holiday in a beautiful destination. Extended family are invited and no one could foresee just who else was likely to turn up and what events would take place. This book had it all, a perfect setting, relationship and family drama and secrets , a very cool grandmother and some mystery .I am a big fan of Catherine's books and this one does not disappoint , it was the perfect read on a rainy day in January to cheer me up and have me daydreaming of summer holidays and bad boy Max . Pick this up as soon as you can! 

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk 

This book is due to be published in February 2015 and will be a available to buy from Lovereading.co.uk and all other good bookstores then. 

Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading website. 

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/13780/Wish-You-Were-Here-by-Catherine-Alliott.html

In My Mailbox

In my mailbox today I found this awesome looking book sent to me for review from Lovereading.co.uk . What She  Left by T . R. Richmond . This is a haunting eerie story about a girl called Alice Salmon who drowned . I can't wait to start this!!!!!!!! This is being published by Penguin Books in April 2015 

Night Time Reading

A hot chocolate and an awesome book are the best way to finish any day . I can't put this book down!!! 

In My Mailbox

These two gorgeous books arrived today for review. I will have reviews up in a few days of both of these. 

Wish You Were a Here by Catherine Alliott.

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson

The Missing Skull by Joanne Clarey. Review

This is book 6 in The Mysteries of Hummingbird Falls series. The lead character is Ellie Hastings and she lives alone with her beloved dog Buddy in the scenic  mountains surrounding the town of Hummingburd Falls . In this book we see Ellie having more interaction with the town and locals when she decides to sell some of her possessions that she had stored for a long time in a storage unit . Getting to know some of the other vendors who are hoping to make some money selling their own items becomes a whole lot more dramatic then she ever expected on her first day with the sudden death of another popular seller. Twists and turns keep this story very interesting and the history of the town also comes  into this story which I loved mixing modern day crime with the past. It does not take long until Ellie has another mystery to solve and another crime to help the police with. If you love a cozy mystery then you will love this series. Each book can be read individually but to get the most from it start from the beginning! I can't wait for the next book in the series!!!! 

I was kindly gifted this book by the author who knows I am a big fan of this series , and not only that she did me a great honour by using my name for one of the characters. :0)

Thank you Joanne!!!!! Xxxxx

A Gift To Remember by Melissa Hill . Review

I am a big fan of Melissa's writing style and I was saving this to read for ages. The first thing that appealed to me was this gorgeous cover . I finally gave in and read it then loved it even more then I could have imagined. This is the story about a woman called Darcy who works in a bookshop in New York  and adores books , especially the classics.. She is really bookish and I love that about her. She loves stories about old fashioned romance..think Pride and Prejudice. Then when one day she hits someone while on her bicycle her whole world is shaken up as she tries to help this gorgeous man who now has amnesia find his way back to his life .

The writing is beautiful , the story is moreish and I loved these characters, I really cared about them. Darcy was probably my favourite character but the mystery behind Aidan's life was intriguing and then as I got to know his character I found him noble and a gentleman. Sigh...... It was a perfect read! Go get this immediately ! 

Below is a link to Melissa's website.

http://www.melissahill.info/books/4554609235

When We Were Friends by Tina Seskis. Review

This is the story about a group of female friends who have been friends since they were at university and who continue to stay in each other's lives despite the ups and downs of their lives and friendships . The story is told from each woman's perspective so we get a good glimpse at the group through each womans eyes. It is not always happy but it feels realistic and the changes they have all experienced in their lives since their university days is putting strain on the group. 

On one fateful meet up things take a nasty turn  for the group and the uglier side of their friendship shines through after secrets from the past are brought to light changing everything for everyone. 

Throughout the story we get glimpses into their past , then back to current day , showing us sometimes how events in their lives changed them from the women they used to be when they all first knew each other and life was more carefree. 

If you enjoy a gripping story about female friendship then this will have you glued to the page! 

 I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk.

This book is due to be published in April and will be available to buy from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then. 

Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading website .

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/9781405917957/isbn/When-We-Were-Friends-by-Tina-Seskis.html

The Two Of Us by Andy Jones . Review

 This is the truly engrossing story about a couple who have only recently started dating. Ivy and Fisher are only together a few weeks when their relationship is really put to the test. This is a story about relationships, the good ,  the bad , and the down right ugly told by the male narrator Fisher. Fisher is a comical guy, loyal, a bit goofy but lovable and just taking life one day at a time, Ivy is a good few years older and knows what she wants from life , they sound like an unlikely match but somehow it works really well. We get to spend about a year looking at their lives and how their relationship changes ,it is heartbreaking , funny and honest . I recommend this to anyone who wants to start a book and not leave it until they have it finished. It's too good to put down once you start!!

I received this book from Lovereading.co.uk for review.

You can find this book through the link below where you can also download a free extract from the book ,and it is available from  lovereading.co.uk and all other good bookstores in February.

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/13574/The-Two-of-Us-by-Andy-Jones.html