Sale - Sweet Dreams, Miss England

In need for another Christmas Present ?

Check out my book ! It'll be on Sale from now until Christmas for only A$9.95 (no postage). Reviews have been really good:

From: http://www.cmashlovestoread.blogspot.com/
 
After finishing and digesting this book, I sit here very torn. I will try to write this review solely on the book and not the interjection of my beliefs. I will, however, say that I do not condone the main character, Nicky's, actions. I found it very hard to relate with the character Nicky because of the story line but once I took a step back and analyzed just "the book", I could see that she did have some good qualities. The author's writing style quite surprised me as a debut author. She wrote this story with a fluid, flowing and detailed account of the plot. The narrative, characters, emotions and descriptions of the settings were written in such a seasoned style that her words were conveyed with the ability to form vivid imagery. The relationships between characters profound and meaningful on many levels . I thought that this would be another typical love story and would know the ending, but, the author delivered an unexpected twist which left me with thought provoking questions. (I will not include spoilers in this review). Overall, a very well written novel from a very talented writer


Contact me on: sweetdreamsmissengland@gmail.com to purchase a copy!

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Cecelia Ahern - The Book of Tomorrow

Publisher:  Harper Collins

ISBN: 978-0007233700

My rating: 4/5

Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she’s ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and a large four poster bed complete with a luxurious bathroom en-suite. She’s always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow.
But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country to live with Tamara’s Uncle and Aunt. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gate house is a world away from Tamara’s childhood. With her Mother shut away with grief, and her Aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.
When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. She needs a distraction. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. With some help, Tamara finally manages to open the book. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core. (http://www.ceceliaahern.ie/)


My thougths


I like Cecelia Ahern, I really do. Actually one of my favourite books is by Cecelia Ahern. She brings a touch of magic into her books that I love – and she does it so well you sometimes find yourself believing in it. "The Book of Tomorrow" delivers what we expect from Cecelia Ahern.

I’ve had this book for almost two years here on my desk and I feel really awful because I know my very special friend made the effort to not only send it to me, but have it signed by Cecelia as well. Initially it took me at least four or five attempts until I got through the first 100 pages, then I got to the point where Tamara found the book in the mobile Library, she met Sister Ignatius and read the first diary entry - and I was hooked and the story was interesting enough for me to keep reading at every spare minute.

Tamara’s father commits suicide because of financial troubles and she then finds herself living with her aunt and uncle in the Irish countryside. There she is drawn to a mysterious castle and its surrounding land. Bored and lonely, she’s happy to meet Marcus who drives the mobile library – this is where Tamara comes across the large leather bound book locked with a gold clasp and padlock.

Even though I did enjoy the book there were still a few things about the book I felt didn’t get answered. We’re never told where magical book actually comes from; Tamara never raises the question why she out of all people found the book or where it came from ... for me there wasn’t enough information, even if it were in line with the magical theme, about the book and its history.

Give it a try, I believe if you like Cecelia Ahern, you’ll like this one as well, even though you need to struggle through the first odd chapters.

Favourite Quote: "I think about books a lot differently now."

Sophie Kinsella Christmas Cards Competition

(from Sophie's Website)

Hi everyone!

It's that festive time again - and I'm feeling especially festive right now because of my special Christmas cover!!! I'm so excited to share with you all the new-look Mini Shopaholic, which is being released in the UK just in time for the holiday season. Isn't it a great idea, a special Christmas edition?! Perfect for a present or just a treat.

The cover is so beautiful and Christmassy that it inspired me with a whole new idea - why not send Christmas cards to my readers? You have sent me so many lovely messages over the past year, I'd really like to give something back to you.

Of course, I'd love to be able to send you ALL a Christmas card. But as that would be impossible, I've decided to send out a hundred cards to my readers around the world, signed personally by me. The card will be based on the Mini Shopaholic cover design and will I hope be a lovely memento.

If you would like a card from me this Christmas, simply enter your details on my special Christmas Card competition page before Sunday 28th November 2010. Then keep a lookout in your mailbox.

Merry Christmas!

Love Sophie xxx

Westlife - Please stay

Everyone listening to my radio program knows that I finish off my two hours with a Westlife song, because it really is their music that inspires me to write - so this is the B-side of their latest single, which was release recently. It's not their best song, but kinda cute :-)

Rachel Gibson - Not another bad date

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 9780061178047

My rating: 3/5



Adele Harris has never had a problem finding a man—it’s finding a good man that’s damn near impossible

Adele Harris has dated them all-geeks, nerds, liars, losers. Egomaniacs, nymphomaniacs, and just plain maniacs. She's been set up and stood up, and now she's had it up to here with the jerks of the world. It’s enough to make a girl give up dating forever. If only she could find a guy that made her heart flutter like her first love, Zach, the college quarterback who swept her off her feet senior year... before dumping her to marry someone else. Okay, so he wasn't perfect. But when Adele heads back to Cedar Creek, Texas, for a family emergency, she discovers that her hometown heartthrob is still as sexy as ever—and now he’s single.
It could be the end of Adele's streak. After all, forgiving Zach for breaking her heart years ago and learning to trust him again will take everything she's got, but Adele can handle anything... anything but another bad date. (www.rachelgibson.com)


My thoughts

So this one was a  bit confusing.

First of all there was the Devon Epilogue - blame it on English being my second language, but I had no idea what was going on, except that she must've been the reason for "the curse". Then there was "the baby" which was born prematurely (or so I understood it - please correct me if I'm wrong) and in the following chapters the sister was still pregnant with the -same- baby. Odd! Another thing that irritated me was the constant descriptions in short sentences, but also "she looked at his wide shoulders", "she looked past his wide shoulders" .... and after a while I got sick of his wide shoulders!
As for the story ... as I said the Devon part was different, but there were a few things which didn't make sense to me like when Zach comes to Adele's Condo to hand back the "lost item" and she asks Zack to stay and ends up in bed with  although in all the previous chapters she was adamant not to have anything to do with him, and why if Devon was the reason for "the curse" didn't it work on Zach?

Again .... the sex scenes - nice and obviously part of Rachel Gibson's "trademark", but five pages ???

So all in all nice story, not executed all that well, but still a reasonably good read for those Gibson fans.

Janet Evanvovich - Motor Mouth

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 9780060584054

My rating:  3/5

It's the last race of the season, and the wheels are smoking and the temperature is rising at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Alexandra Barnaby is NASCAR driver Sam Hooker's raceday spotter, his eye-in-the-sky, telling Hooker when to pass and when to get off the gas. From her vantage point high above the grandstand she's also seeing things going on in the infield that will change her life. Things that will lead to a stolen racecar hauler, a kidnapped Saint Bernard, a bizarre murder, some restless nights under the covers with Hooker, and a reunion with super cigar roller Rosa Florez and the queen of wholesale fruit Felicia Ibarra.
From Miami, Florida to Concord, North Carolina and back to Miami this is an action-packed multi-car crash of shady dealings, stolen technology, drive-thru windows and destruction of personal property. Everything you always wanted to know about righteous indignation, stealing an eight-wheeler, stashing a dead body, and sex in the fast lane. (www. evanovich.com)


 
My thoughts
 
I had my hopes up with this series, but .... hmmm .... the second installment didn't really live up to the first one and any of my expectations. It was a good book, great story, great plot, I love Sam Hooker, but it was long and drawn out.

Alex Barnaby and NASCAR guy Sam Hooker are back solving a murder or two within the racing community. All very technical and sometimes way beyond my understanding, but not to the point where I was completely lost. I honestly believe if Janet Evanovich would give this series a little bit more thought and time it could turn out really really well - I like the pair! I like the dialogue and I especially like Hooker's witty verbal come-backs. It's a real treat.

Obviously I have been comparing the books to the Stephanie Plum series, but just because they are from the same author doesn't necessarily mean that we, as readers, should do that - quite the opposite. And as such, I still believe that this series has potential, soI am a bit disappointed that book three is a graphic novel.

Janet Evanovich - Sizzling Sixteen

Publisher: St Martins Press

ISBN: 978-0312383305

My rating: 3/5


Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck....

BAD LUCK:
Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.
GOOD LUCK:
Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.
BAD LUCK:
Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up local stoner Walter “Moon Man” Dunphy's vibe and making Stephanie question genetics.
GOOD LUCK:
Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, a plan that makes Mooner’s Hobbit-Con look sane, and Uncle Pip’s mysterious bottle, they just might raise enough money to save Vinnie and the business from ruin.
BAD LUCK:
Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a Turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.
GOOD LUCK:
The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky---the only question is . . . with whom?
 
Sizzling Sixteen . . . so hot, the pages might spontaneously combust!Nothing really sizzling about Sixteen! (http://www.evanovich.com/)


My thoughts
The plot is slightly more interesting than Fifteen (which wasn’t all that hard to achieve I assume), but still very confusing!

So here the short version: Steph is still on a break with Morelli so we get to have lots of Ranger. That has to be good – right? But for once Steph showed a bit of backbone and I respect her more by not jumping into Ranger’s bed just because she’s on a break with Morelli – though the reasoning was quite odd.

The plot? Not sure. Vinnie gets kidnapped because of gambling debts. Steph, Lula and Connie first try to find him and then to pay the debt.

And finally; what was it with all the hobbits?