Tuesday, September 29, 2015
In My Mailbox
In my mailbox today I received this gorgeous book for review. The Christmas Cafe by Amanda Prowse. I am feeling all Christmas in September ! :0)
Monday, September 28, 2015
The Marble Collector by Ceceila Ahern . Review
This is the story about a father called Fergus and a daughter called Sabrina and the secrets this father kept throughout his life from his wife and daughter. Now in his old age and with his memory severely fading his daughter is trying to piece together this man who she now feels she never really knew , thus sending her on an adventure ,mystery tour as she tries to put together a puzzle with surprising results.
The story starts when Fergus was a boy and we see and understand why collecting marbles became an important and necessary part of his life that he did not share with most people who were closest to him. He kept this hobby into adulthood where he gained great comfort from it and each one remind him of better times in his life .
I found the idea of the story very thought provoking about the objects we hold dear to us, each meaning something different to everyone and how they bring us comfort. I loved the plot a lot and Ceceila writes beautifully capturing the Irish charm and wit perfectly while not stearing us away from tougher subjects. A beautiful story for all fans of Ceceila!
I received this book for review from the lovely folks over at Lovereading.co.uk
This book is being published in November by Harper Fiction .
Below please find a link to this book on the lovereading website where it will be available for purchase in November .
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Christmas Chocolat by Kate Defrise . Review
As soon as I saw the cover for this book I instantly had high hopes for this book and my instincts were not wrong. The story starts in the run down to Christmas with the head of the family wanting his children around him for Christmas , he is a hard shelled man so his family are a little wary of his motivations so this request is not met with excitement , in fact dread is a common feeling for his children as he is not a laid back loving father but rather a man who has high standards he wants everyone in his family to meet . Before we meet him in the story we meet his children and get to know them , their work , hopes , and dreams and they are a very likeable family who this man should feel lucky to have .
Without a wife now he is the only parent they have and as Christmas grows nearer and the family dinner looms ever closer the story became even more delicious and thought provoking .
There is delicious recipes included in the book and all combined it is a real feel good story that will leave you with a warm glow .
This book is being published September 29th 2015 by Kensington Books.
I received my review copy through Netgalley.
Below please find link to this book on Amazon below.
Christmas Chocolat by Kate Defrise http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RRT31HG/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_.aRcwbNPTWBQW
The Amish Christmas Sleigh by Kelly Long, Amy Lilliard , and Molly Jebber . Review
This book contains three novellas , one from each author that remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
Love, family, forgiveness , faith and hope are all found in this book reminding us that we all have our own problems and that Christmas is the time we all hope the festive spirit will find us. This is a feel good story that would be perfect to pick up and read with a cup of something warm and get cozy . I loved all three stories but I had a special fondness for the second book which contained some very mischievous children making it a comical read . Children's loveable innocence at its best! In the book you have grumpy men , prospective husbands and as I said some very mischievous children , what's not to love about that ! A very enjoyable read .
I received this book through Netgalley.
This book is published through Kensington Books.
This book is being published on the 29th of September.
Amazon.co.uk
Molly Jebber
Kelly Long
Amy Lilliard
Friday, September 25, 2015
Book Review Haul
These books have been out quite a long time but they have gorgeous new covers and are published by Pan . I can't wait to start these!
Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson
A Conpany Of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson
A Song For Summer by Eva Ibbotson
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Reading This Weekend
While out and about , cooking or doing housework I will be listening to these two audiobooks and going between these two paperbacks at night. I love these books and covers.
The Marble Collector by Cecelia Ahern.
Off The Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
Mystery In White by J. Jefferson Farjeon
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Reading This Week
Maple Mayhem by Jessie Crockett
If the shoe kills by Lynn Cahoon
Murder in Cottage #6 by Dianne Harman
Elizabeth is missing by Emma Healey
The Martian by Andy Weir . Review
This was a truly engrossing story that I played constantly ever chance I could until I finished it!
The story is about NASA sending an Ares
3 mission to Mars . While there one of the crew Mark Watney gets injured is presumed dead and his crew leave him there and head home due to severe weather not knowing that he is very much alive . Here starts an amazing one man adventure on Mars listening to bad music and reading good books as he's also tries to not blow himself up on a day to day basis . Watney as he is called throughout the story is a sarcastic , funny , Jack the lad and the best man to leave alone on a planet to keep himself entertained and alive! I never tired of this story for one second and my only regret is not finding this book sooner. This is now a firm favourite! Read this!
My Week
Here is my week in pictures. Hope you guys had a great week. I had a mixed one myself.
Out walking here this week. 
Listening to this week
Listening to this awesomeness ! Excellent main character that inserts humour whenever possible ! Can't believe it took me so long to get this.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Tea is the only thing keeping me going !
Xxxxx
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Pumpkin Pied by Karen MacInerney . Review
It is autumn time on Cranberry island and the grey whale inn owner Natalie Barnes is getting ready to enter a pie in one of the competitions at the Pumpkin festival . With a friend in town and a quiet inn Natalie gets to chill out a little and enjoy her friend visiting . Her friend Charlaine and her boyfriend John also make an appearance which I loved ! There are some creepy things going on on the island as well as some backstabbing and delicious cooking.
It was great being back on the island in the autumn time with this short story and I am crossing fingers and toes that this won't be the last short story in this series to be published to keep me going until more books are published :0) . A Christmas book would be awesome! .( crossing fingers)
P.s there are a few gorgeous recipes at the back of the book as well as a sample from another new series by Karen called Killer Jam. Def check this series out!
Goodreads
Amazon.co.uk
Friday, September 18, 2015
A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett. Review
The setting of this story is the picturesque Victoria's Square in the Artisans Alley there, where crafters of all types sell their art and wares. When the owner Ezra is found dead it leaves the future of the alley in a shaky position leaving everyone to question what will happen to their future there. Then the main character Katie Bonner arrives and tries to sort out the mess that she is left with while trying to reassure booth holders and put the business back on track while also trying to find out who killed Ezra.
This book had a great setting , interesting characters making it a lovely cozy mystery!
Check out Lorraine's website below where she also writes under other names.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Hell And High Water by Tanya Landman. Review
This is the story about a young half cast boy called Caleb who lives with his father who is a puppeteer . After a very simple misunderstanding his father is taken from him and arrested for something he did not do leading Caleb on an adventure to find his aunt and a new life for himself .
I am not sure what I expected from this book but it far exceded that! Caleb is a gentle soul but he is not afraid to stand up for injustice and those who have been wronged . In a time when his skin colour was something that some disproved of he showed his worth and made his family proud. A truly wonderful book with adventure, mystery , and an inspiring young male character.
I received this book for review from the kind folks over at Lovereading4kids.co.uk.
This book is being published October 2015 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then.
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Review
I listened to this in about two big chunks as I carried on with my day ,but I found myself stopping and listening to the honey toned voice of the narrator . The story is about a young girl during summer holidays from school in the small mining town of Manifest. This book was pure heaven! Lazy hazy summer days, friends , adventures , stories and small town history combine to make this a dreamy feel good book . All kinds of small town characters live here where current residents can recall previous generations and everyone knows everyone else's business . The rich are very rich here and the poor are really struggling but all are interesting and it was completely impossible to put this down.
Read this gem immediately, it is a perfect summer book. This would make a great summer read with a cold drink by your side .
Below is a link to this book.
Monday, September 14, 2015
In My Mailbox
Hell And High Water by Tanya Landman.
I love the sound of this YA review book set in the 18th century about a young mixed race boy who is the son of a puppeteer in the time of slavery.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton . Review
I had high hopes for this book as it is a very small book and the plot seemed simple and the setting seemed quaint . One third of the way through the book I began to struggle with the hopelessness of the situation the characters were in . The sourness of Ethan's wife , deceptions , illness and the weather all resulted in this being a grey book. By that I mean it lacked all hope , it was dismal and depressing and in a very small amount of pages it conjures a lot of harsh criticism by me. A man in the countryside living with two women , his wife and her relation that lives with them . The only glimmer of hope for the book was that the setting depicted the season well and it went perfectly with the tone of the book. I won't be reading this again but if you like a slim book with an uncomplicated plot to read in one go then this may be perfect for you.
The Book Lovers by Victoria Connelly . Review
If you enjoy books about books, bookish surroundings , writers etc then this is the book for you. I have been to Hay-On -Wye in Wales and I did think of that boomtown as I was reading this book as it is quite similar to it making it even more delightful . The story is about a writer who has recently separated from her husband and moved away to this bookish town away from where her family would ideally like her to be. She is not long there before she meets a very interesting man and as he is in the book business they could be a perfect match !
The story was delightful and it was very much a feel good story ...that I read in one sitting . The setting was perfect and I would love to read more about these characters! Go read this and enjoy!
Recent Kindle Books
Over the past few months I have been accumulating some kindle books to store away for the autumn / winter. Below check out the goodies that I got. In case you did not already know it is worth checking out Amazon's daily deals for kindle books at very low prices and also their free books list which often changes. 
Maple Mayhem by Jessie Crockett
One Summer In Venice by Nicky Pellegrino
The Book Lovers by Victoria Connelly
Summer At The Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
If The Shoe Kills By Lynn Cahoon
Strangled By Silk by Barbara Jean Coast
Elizabeth Is Misding by Emma Healey
Suspendered Sentence by Laura Bradford
The Food Of Love Cookery School by Nicky Pellegrino
The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud
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