Review: One by Sarah Crossan

Grace and Tippi. Tippi and Grace. Two sisters. Two hearts. Two dreams. Two lives. But one body.

Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins, joined at the waist, defying the odds of survival for sixteen years. They share everything, and they are everything to each other. They would never imagine being apart. For them, that would be the real tragedy.

But something is happening to them. Something they hoped would never happen. And Grace doesn’t want to admit it. Not even to Tippi.

How long can they hide from the truth—how long before they must face the most impossible choice of their lives? 

Review: ok so I hadn't read any Sarah Crossan before, I think I may own some Sarah Crossan but this one came so highly recommend on twitter, in Bookshops, from other bloggers who know what I like that I had to get it. I ended up downloading the audiobook because I knew I wanted to read it straight away and I only had time for audiobooks in the final term at school so... I would definitely be interested in owning a physical copy of this book because I have flicked through it in Bookshops and it seems like a really cool way to read a book, the set up, the structure, the way it is set in verse. I can tell from the audiobook that I would be a really quick read that way too and so I definitely plan on buying the physical version of this book so that I can experience the structure as well as just the story. 

The subject matter of this book is really interesting and I never thought that I would so interested in a book like this but in was fascinated by the thoughts and feelings that come across from these confined twins, these characters in this book and the way Sarah across an must have put so much research into this that u found myself swept along with their story. It's really hard to talk too much more about the subject matter without giving away spoilers but I did really enjoy that this was a new subject for a book for me and I think the uniqueness is the reason, along with the structure that so many people liked it. 

I do feel a little like this book suffered in my rating of it because of the length and because of the fact that scenes sometimes felt a little disjointed because of the structure of it, the rhythm and the pace were obviously a key focus here and so I think it meant that there wasn't as much depth as I'd hoped there'd be in the book, or it could be the fact that it is designed for younger readers and so further depth might have affected the audience and purpose. I liked the fact that it was a quick read and I enjoyed listening to it on audiobook because I think it meant that the verse came to life and I felt as if I knew these characters well because of listening to their story rather than reading it. 

This book has been a hit and has been nominated for awards, I don't think that I loved it as much as some of my friends  but it is definitely, something different for so many reasons and so I think it is definitely something that you should give a go, if not for any other reason than the novelty of the structure and the subject matter. I also love the cover and definitely want to have it sitting on my bookshelf! 

To order your copy now, click here!

Guest Review: Nice Work (If You Can Get It) by Celia Imrie

The second novel from the well-loved actress and Sunday Times bestselling author of Not Quite Nice, Celia Imrie. 

Somewhere on the French Riviera, tucked between glitzy Monte Carlo and Cannes’ redcarpets, lies the town of Bellevue-Sur-Mer, home to an energetic band of expat retirees who have resolved to show it’s never too late to start afresh, and open a restaurant.

But as the razzmatazz of Cannes film festival penetrates Bellevue-Sur-Mer, its inhabitants become entangled in a complex pattern of love triangles and conflicting business interests, and something starts to feel distinctly oeuf… 

Review: This is the follow up to Celia Imrie’s last novel, Not Quite Nice, which told the story of a group of British ex-pats living in the small coastal village of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice on the French Riviera. I really enjoyed Not Quite Nice, and so was delighted to find the audio version of this second book available to me.

In Nice Work (If You Can Get It), we find the same group of people, but after a little time has elapsed. They are looking for something to occupy their time and bring in some income, and hit on the idea of opening a restaurant. Not all of the group decide to join in the scheme though, one of them being drawn back into the glitzy world of acting and film production from whence she came.

What follows is a sometimes hilarious account of the trials and tribulations encountered by all of the protagonists as they try to succeed in their ventures. There are some glorious twists and turns to the story, and I found a surprise around every corner. It certainly kept my attention. I thought there was a great mix of characters. In addition to the ones we had met in Celia’s previous novel, several new people crept in to this tale, from film stars to gangsters. There was also a bit of love interest.

As with Celia’s last book, I really enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of light reading. It is mostly highly amusing, with interesting characters, although there are some seriously scary parts for some of them. Once again, the descriptions of the village were so vivid that I could imagine myself sitting there on the sea wall watching the boats bobbing in the harbour.

Review: Meternity by Meghann Foye

Like everyone in New York media, editor Liz Buckley runs on cupcakes, caffeine and cocktails. But at thirty-one, she's plateaued at glossy baby magazine Paddy Cakes.

Liz has spent years working a gazillion hours a week picking up the slack for colleagues with children, and she's tired of it. So one day when her stress-related nausea is mistaken for morning sickness by her bosses—boom! Liz is promoted to the mummy track. She decides to run with it and plans to use her paid time off to figure out her life: work, love and otherwise. It'll be her ‘meternity’ leave.

By day, Liz rocks a foam-rubber belly under fab maternity outfits. By night, she dumps the bump for karaoke and boozy dinners out. But how long can she keep up her charade…and hide it from the guy who might just be The One?

As her ‘due date’ approaches, Liz is exhausted—and exhilarated—by the ruse, the guilt and the feelings brought on by a totally fictional belly-tenant…about happiness, success, family and the nature of love.

Review: there as a whole lot of controversy surrounding this books but I knew even before people started shouting about it that I would want to read it. I love any book set in New York tend really enjoy reading about the publishing industry as well and so this book had it all for me, including a protagonist that was just like me and in a similar position to be, being one of the only women of her age in her workplace who doesn't have children. I'm in the lucky position of being able to take some time off just now and funnily enough it coincides with my best friend maternity leave so I'm saying it's like my own version of that, was this book actually written for me?

I really liked the idea behind the storyline and could totally see where it had come from. I really like the idea that this author challenged the I balance between people who have children and people who don't, in the work place and particularly the expectations we have of working mothers, whet here those expectations are too high or too low. I think this was an interesting way to explore the subject matter and at times, it felt as if it was handled in a little to much of a frivolous manner, but I think you do have to remember that this is a novel and not a journalistic piece of writing. 

Now I know that the character of Liz has been criticised a lot, but I tried to go into this with a really open mind when it came to Liz, and if we take Way the fake-pregnancy aspect of her story, she's really just a single woman in New York trying to have it all and we get to read about her going out and dating and having a good time just like many other novels. I really did like her and really coul identify with her. At times I felt that she as a little narrow-minded and a little naive, she didn't think everything through fully but that's called living life and learning as you go along, we all make mistakes and it was great to see how she picked herself up from those mistakes. 

Of course I loved that this book was set in New York, it is definitely one of my favourite settings for a novel and so I really liked reading about the workplace and the places she went for dates as well as Liz's apartment and what she did with her friends. It was really interesting reading about other people's perceptions of her and what we got to see about the others perceptions of working mothers and mothers in general. Liz's relationship with her own mother made me cringe a little but overall, I think that you can gather that i did enjoy reading this book. It felt like it could have been developed by about another 50 or so pages to avoid any massive time jumps but I would recommend it and I applaud this author for tackling a very contraversial subject matter in an entertaining way! 

Cover Reveal! If Ever I fall by SD Robertson

Another Sunday, another fabulous new cover to bring you. Its been a while since I brought you a shiny new cover, and what a cover to return with! All the details are there for you.

Are you ready to see the cover for SD Robertson's latest novel If Ever I Fall?

Here it is......

Publishing in eBook and Paperback: 9^th February 2017-Click here to pre-order now!

Is holding on harder than letting go?
Dan’s life has fallen apart at the seams. He’s lost his house, his job, and now he’s going to lose his family too. All he’s ever wanted is to keep them together, but is everything beyond repair?

Maria is drowning in grief. She spends her days writing letters that will never be answered. Nights are spent trying to hold terrible memories at bay, to escape the pain that threatens to engulf her.

Jack wakes up confused and alone. He doesn’t know who he is, how he got there, or why he finds himself on a deserted clifftop, but will piecing together the past leave him a broken man?

In the face of real tragedy, can these three people find a way to reconcile their past with a new future? And is love enough to carry them through?

Geeking out on studio tours

As I mentioned in my previous travel post, I went on a couple of studio tours whilst we were staying just outside LA. I knew that we were going to go on the universal studios tour, I've been on this before and really enjoyed it so I wanted to go again. Since I went last time, some of the tour was destroyed by fire and so I was intrigued to see how much it had changed. The day we went was a weekday so there was a lot of filming going on, limiting the amount that we could actually see and the places we could go and so I feel like I saw a little less than I had done on orevious occasions, but then how much you se will be completely determined by what day and time you go on the tour. 

The drawback of this tour is obviously the fact that you have to buy a ticket to get into the whole park, you can't just go on the tour itself. We enjoyed our day at the park, going on the Simpsons ride and enjoying a couple of showings of Shrek 4D, still one of my faves! We felt like the tour has now become just another ride though, some of the things I saw last time have now turned into 3D special effects type things rather than getting to see much of a set or a prop. 

The other tour we did was the Warner Bros tour. We decided to do this one because we had a little time to spare on our final day in LA. I also wanted to do this one because Warner is, of course, the home of Freinds and becaus our tour guide knew I love Freinds she made sure that we made a stop at the Friends stage! 

They also have a replica of Central Perk that you can go and have your picture taken in. This was really fun and I love the way the picture has turned out! 

Of course we had to go and have a drink inj not the central perk themed cafe too and this cupcake was actually yummy and not too over priced! 

There were lots of Harry Potter things to see as well which was cool and the tour featured a stop at a museum where they had lots of Marvel costumes, which didn't really interest me, but they also had Harry Potter  costumes and a sorting hat which sorted you into houses just like In the movies! 

Now previously I have been a Hufflepuff but this sorting hat decided I belonged in Gryffendor! Identity crisis?!

Seeing all of the costumes was cool but I loved seeing the sound stages and the sets. We were able to go onto the set of Pretty Little Liars and Fuller House and we saw the stages where Big Bang Theory and Two Broke Girls were rehearsing. It was also cool seeing the outdoor sets and see the building that was built to be used in the original film of Annie and have a look at the way it has been transformed for so many other films. 

Before we were dropped off at the gift shop, because all tours have to end there don't they?, our lovely tour stopped to show our group something that was just for me- Ellen Degeneres's parking spot-so cool! 

I feel you really got value for money from this tour because we were there's nearly 3 hours, got to see all sorts of props and sets, including all of the bat mobiles, and saw some of the special effects and sound effects and how they were done. Our tour guide was awesome and she really made the tour feel tailored to us. I would definitely go back and do this again next time I am in LA, although I'd really rather just get tickets to one of the recordings! 

Guest Review: Christmas Under A Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin

This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts… 

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. 

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face isGabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. 

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace. 

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home? 

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas. 

Review: I really enjoy Holly Martin's books and was excited to see that there were not one but two Christmas stories from her this year. Once I got started on this one, I finished it in no time at all, as it was easy to read but not so easy to put down. Her previous books that I have read have all been set in the south of England, in the town of White Cliff Bay, but this is set in the Shetland Isles.

The main characters are Piper (Pip for short) Chesterfield and Gabe Whitaker, both of them lovely people. Piper has been working as a mystery guest, reviewing hotels for a magazine and moving from one job to the next for 10 years without a break. She decides to take a 6-month sabbatical, but her last job, at the brand new Stardust Lake Hotel on Juniper Island has her stepping right into a past that she has tried to forget. At the hotel, she becomes reacquainted with childhood friend Gabe, who is now a widower with a charming four-year-old daughter, Wren, and is the hotel owner. Gabe's brother and sister are also involved in the running of the hotel.

The island itself is basically a Christmas holiday resort that Gabe has spent a lot of time and money developing. It sounds absolutely idyllic; he has covered all angles to make sure that it will appeal to guests the whole year around. The entire population of the island is involved in the business in some way or another. The only negative influence is a small group of Shetland ponies, who are constantly up to mischief it seems.

I really enjoyed this story. The descriptions of the island Christmas resort had me longing to be able to go and spend the holidays there. I loved that the whole island was involved in the venture, with craft shops in addition to the main complex. Gabe has even built special units where guests have a clear view of the stars at night, and the Northern lights when they are visible. Holly has really used her imagination in building this resort to appeal to everyone. Even the mode of transport by which visitors reach the island is fantastic. The next book, Christmas Under a Starlit Sky, to be published soon, takes up the story of Gabe's sister, Neve. I can't wait to read it!

An evening with Gayle Forman in Denver

On Tuesday night I attended the Tattered Cover bookstore for an evening they were hosting with Gayle Forman. This was my first event since moving to the US and so I was a little nervous. I got there early, got my copy of the book and waited for Gayle to arrive.

I've been to a Gayle Forman event before-see my previous post on this- and so I knew that she was an awesome speaker. She began by reading a little from her new adult novel, Leave Me, I've just started this and it seems like a really interesting story, it involves a 44 year old woman who has a heart attack and has to cope with how to run her family and take care of herself at the same time. It was interesting to hear that, although this isn't normally the type of novel that Gayle writes, she still had a lot of fun writing it and found it easy to take on the voice of an adult rather than a young person. It was also interesting that she chose to write this book in the third person rather than the first like she does with her YA novels. 

There were lots of interesting questions from the audience, including what her reaction was to the If I Stay movie. I didn't realise that If I stay was based on this authors personal experience and it was fascinating to hear how she reacted the second time she saw the movie because of that. She also told us that the guy playing Mia's dad in the movie, is wearing the leather jacket belonging to her freind who sadly dies in similar circumstances and you can actually see that jacket in all the movie posters and the movie edition of the book! 

Interestingly, this newest novel is also based on personal experience even though Gayle herself thinks that the character she is most like is Adam from where she went! It was funny for me because she was talking about how the year she spent studying abroad in England was the year that she felt she found herself and found her direction in life. She recounted anecdote about how she returned with an English accent and this was due to the fact that had to change the way she said certain things, including ordering a cheese and tomato sandwich just to get by! We had a whole conversation about this when she signed my book because I am finding a similar thing but the other way around! 

It was really great to hear her talking about the writing process and how she juggles work and family at home and lovely to chat to her when she singed my book. 

I think Tattered Cover hosted a great event and it seemed very fitting as my first event since moving here and I hope that there will be many more to come! 

Top Ten Tuesday: top ten audiobooks on my Wishlist 20/9/16

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

I've always got a massive Wishlist on audible but here are the ones that I definitely want to get and definitely want to read on audiobook. This might be because I like listening to biographies on audiobook or it might be because I've read something else by this author on audiobook and so without further ado...

1. Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon

2. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

3. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

4. Is everyone Hanging out Without Me? By Mindy Kaling

5. The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

6. Girl Walks into A Bar by Rachel Dratch

7. The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

8. 31 Dream Street By Lisa Jewell

9. Seeing Other People by Mike Gayle

10. All I know Now by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Review: Geek Girl Sunny Side Up

A brand new summer story from the no. 1 bestselling and award-winning GEEK GIRL series!

Harriet Manners knows many facts.

And she knows everything there is to know about Paris… except what to do when you’re the hottest new model at Fashion Week.

Can Harriet find her je ne sais quoi or will it be sacré bleu! on the runway?

Review: you know I love geek Girl and these Geek Girl shorts are so fabulous because they whet my appetite just enough, ready for the next book in the series to come out. I was so excited when I found out that this book existed becaus I had read the previous novella (All Wrapped Up) with some children that I teach and I was looking forward to sharing this with them again. It turned out to be an education experience as well because of the setting of this book, it was interesting seeing Harriet travel to Paris for fashion week. Of course this setting means lots of humour involving pronunciation and the language barrier, but it's also the first time we see Harriet, a somewhat unconventional model, at an actual fashion week. I feel like our little girl is growing up! 

Of course our favourite characters are all here in this mini-book, fret not, there is a healthy dose of Wilbur and of course, a nod to Mr Manners, both hugely popular comedic characters in this series. There are also a few appearances from characters from previous novels you might have forgotten, which was really fun. As I said above, it does feel as though Harriet has grown up a little and that gives us scope for a whole lot of messes she can get herself into and out of, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens to her as she does grow up, I can't wait to see her leave hom and head to uni or where've she decides to go-Holly Smale will handle that amazingly, I know! 

The storyline is short and sweet but complete for the lenghr of book it is. Despite this shortness (224 pages) we have a very clear structure and you will not be left feeling short changed by this book. It's the perfect length to fill a few lunchtime reading sessions, I can vouch for that, and the storyline is original and just as funny as the full-length books! I have no idea how Holly Smale manages to get so many Geek Girl books out there is such a short space of time, but if applaud her and long may she continue to do so! 

Letterbox Love #2

Welcome to Letterbox Love, this is a UK meme, hosted by the lovely Lynsey at Narratively Speaking and inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox. This post is a means by which to highlight the books we get in the post and beyond, and especially to bring attention to those books which may be sat on our shelves for a little while yet that we love all the same.

So my second book haul of the year! It's been a very different year for me reading wise and so it seems apt that I haven't really done any book hauls this year. I've been buying some audiobooks and I've had some lovely books from publishers but I haven't been buying many books because I haven't been reading many books-but that's all about to change! 

This haul is going to be broken into books I've bought and books I've borrowed because I joined the library this week! 

So I joined the library this week and I borrowed:

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Emmy and Oliver by

Kissing in America by Margo Rabb

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub 

Girl Walks into a Bar by Rachel Dratch

All of these books have been on my Wishlist for quite some time! 

They were also having a massive book sale at the library and so we could fill a bag with books for $6 can you believe it?

Amongst the books we got were:

Simply The best All American (cook book)

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Trading up by Candace Bushnell

Sisters by Danielle Steele

All the Stars in The Heavens by Adriana Trigiani

I also went to an event with Gayle Forman this week and got her new novel Leave Me. This is an adult novel soa little different from what she usually offers but I've already started it and it's really good! 

I also downloaded 2 audiobooks becaus I had a credit and there was also a sale on so I got both books for less than £6!

I got Ths Girl with The lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer and The Girls by Emma Cline-so looking forward to both these books! 

And finally I got 1 ebook this week and that was Green Tea Latte to Go by Aven Ellis

I'm really excited to get started with all of these books and really excited about the fact that I can borrow audiobooks and novels for free from the library! 

Happy reading! 

Joining the library

So whenever I move to a new place obviously one of the first things I do is join the library. I currently have 4 library cards for different libraries I the UK and I've had other library cards for other places I've lived but I actively use those four that I have.

So I don't have a social security number yet so I couldn't actually join the library where we are so m other half had to join for me and then I can borrow books on his card. Firstly it was exciting becaus they had a choice of different cards, there was literally every colour imaginable. Obviously I would've chosen pink but it's not actually my library card so didn't get to choose...

The other great thing about this library card is that I can use it in any library in denver and I can also return books to any library in denver, not just the one I joined and not just the one I borrowed from! Plus I can have up to 60 books at a time, which is much more than the 10 that I was allowed in the UK, but also much more than I could possibly read in a week! 

Now the other thing that completely wowed me when it came to the joining was that I asked about audiobooks, eyeing a very decent selection off to the side of the desk we were at-they are absolutely free to borrow, so I could borrow 60 audiobooks, keep them for 3 weeks and it wouldn't cost me a penny! I can't help but worry that they loose out on money that way but I benefit from it so-YEY! 

The day that we signed up they were having a massive books sale, so not only did we borrow some books and audiobooks, we also bought some so I will do a haul for you this week to show you what we got from the library! 

Sneak Peek: Chapter Samples of Love is a Four-Legged Word by Michele Gorman

How exciting, today I am bringing you a sneak peek of the first five chapters of Michele Gorman's novel Love is a Four-Legged Word. This isn't out until October 14th so this truly is a sneak peak. I love Michele Gorman's novels, here's what her latest is about...

 

Best friends Scarlett and Shannon spend their days tangled up in dog leads and covered in fur, running their dog business together. Scarlett’s intensive training course, Ruff Love, fixes owners as much as their pets, while Shannon spends her days walking spoiled pooches. 

They share more than their business though: they also share Scarlett's husband, Rufus, who's been Shannon's best friend since childhood. It's a cosy setup. Unless one of them has a secret... 

When Scarlett and Rufus's baby plans are decimated by a surprise turn of events, their marriage hits the rocks and they both turn to Shannon. All three relationships are pushed to breaking point, but when loyalties become divided, how do you decide who's most important?

Want to read a little bit now?

 

Here are the links to get the first five chapters of Love is a Four-Legged Word. They’re hosted on Google Drive. You should click the relevant link, then click the Download button and save the file to your computer before transferring it to your reading device.

 

ePub: http://bit.ly/ePub-LIAFLW-sample-book

Mobi: http://bit.ly/Mobi-LIAFLW-sample-book

PDF: http://bit.ly/PDF-LIAFLW-sample-book

 

And what's even more exciting is that the lovely publishers have lowered the price during the pre-order period (through October 12^th) to 99c/99p. On October 13^th, publication day, the price will go back up to normal ($5.99/£2.49).

 

Thanks so much to the publishers and Michele, all links are below if you want to find out more-happy reading! 

 

Author Bio

 

Michele writes books with heart and humour, full of best friends, girl power and, of course, love and romance. Call them beach books or summer reads, chick lit or romcom... readers and reviewers call them "feel good", "relatable" and "thought-provoking".

She is both a Sunday Times and a USA Today bestselling author, raised in the US and living in London. She is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films but objects to spiders and the word "portion". 

 

Instagram: @michelegormanuk
Twitter:@MicheleGormanUK
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MicheleGormanBooks
Blog: www.michelegormanwriter.blogspot.com
Website: www.michelegorman.co.uk

Review: The One With The Wedding Dress (bridesmaids part 2) by Erin Lawless

Nora Dervan is ready for her Happy Ever After. With her darling Harry waiting at the altar, and all her family and friends around her. She is certain that her special day will not be forgotten/will be one to remember…

But with her four bridesmaids hiding more secrets, than bottles of champagne. Will her big day be remembered for all the right reasons?

Bea has barely gotten past the fact that her two best friends are dating, and now they’re engaged, whilst cupid’s arrow points in a forbidden direction for Cleo. She is so distracted by her off limits, hot new colleague that she has forgotten Daisy, who has been left dreading the singles table. There’s more romance in the cheesy pick- up lines than Sarah’s own marriage, which hasn’t turned out as she hoped it would be.

Review: I have been waiting for the second installment in this series for what seems like ages now and, let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I devoured this whole lovely second part in one sitting, laughing and even reading aloud bits I found hilariously funny to my poor fiancée! I loved getting back into the lives of Nora, Bea, Cleo, Daisy and Sarah, and of course their accompanying love interests! I am now officially BFFs with all of them I feel I know them so well. If the first part in this series was about setting the scene and showing us what each character was going through this was about getting to know them even more and of course, finding out more about the wedding! 

This of course is the hunt for the wedding dress, but it is so much more than that. Of course a trip that involves trains hire cars, a dodgy pub and a B&B is going to be fraught with great stories, but we get to learn so much more about these girls in this installment. We get to meet Nora's mother and really find out what this relationship is. We learn about possible tensions in the group and a few secrets about some of these bridesmaids finally come to the surface. 

Of course the major thing from the last installment was possible new couples being formed and we get a little insight into those relationships in this episode, just a tantalising amount. I was hoping there would be some sort of resolution but I'm kind of glad there's nothing set in stone as yet because that will just keep me wanting more until the next in the series in released-when is that please?

As last time, this whole 100 page is one succinct little book of its own, despite that fact that is is part of a series, there's definitely a build up and some massive climaxes and you're left feeling comforted but still wanting more, just like a book should be! It's great that it is so short but frustrating that I'll now have to wait for the next part-noooo! I loved this, read both parts now and then join me int he wait for this fab author to fill our greedy book-loving hands with part 3!

Guest Review: Autumn At The Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn

As autumn starts to draw in and the nights are getting darker, the fire is lit at the Star and Sixpence and Nessie and Sam start to turn their thoughts to the annual bonfire night. The village comes together every year to celebrate the turning of the season and this year is going to be extra-special.

Review: This is the latest episode in a serialised ebook about the owners of the Star and Sixpence pub, and events in its location, the charming country village of Little  Monkham. 

It is now almost a year since Nessie and Sam were left the pub by their estranged father. They have become accepted in the village, even by the stern postmistress, and have renovated the pub, adding two guest bedrooms. It is becoming quite a popular venue due to its range of beers and it's comfortable beds. In this story, with it being Autumn, the girls are planning events themed to the season, including a Halloween party with fancy dress. You can almost feel the leaves turning colour and the temperature falling from the highs of summer. All is going along nicely, but things from the girls' past are increasingly catching up with them. Their love lives are progressing too, but along rocky paths. 

I am really enjoying this series of books. Everything is so well described by Holly. I really would love to visit the village and sit by the fire in the cosy bar with maybe a g&t. It is delightful to see things developing as the story unfolds and to learn more about the secrets in the past that were alluded to in earlier instalments. It is good, too, to get to know other inhabitants of the village as time goes on. I can't wait for the next instalment, Christmas at the Star and Sixpence - it's preordered already - and then the whole story is being published in ebook and paperback formats at the end of the year. 

Top Ten Tuesday: all time favourite YA books 13/9/16

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

I could pick any genre I wanted this week but I thought, it's back to school time, it's back to uni time, this makes me want to read YA contemporary and so I thought, why not put the spotlight on my YA collection (it's pretty small) so here we go...

1. Paper Towns by John Green-my favourite of his! 

2. Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews-great film too! 

3. If I stay by Gayle Forman

4. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

5.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

6. Cross My Heart by Carmen Reid

7. Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone

8. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

9. Finding Sky by Joss Stirling

10. Trouble by Non Pratt-would love to re-read this!