Saturday 30 May 2015

May Book Haul

As with every month, I keep saying I won't buy more books. That's never worked, I doubt it ever will. It's books. They're everywhere! So this is what i brought/got this month! This is the first month i've decided to have a look at what i've actually brought.


Nine books in total. Not too bad. I didn't even buy two, thanks to some freebees at work! What I got was:
  1. I'll Give You The Sun - Jandy Nelson
  2. Always the Bridesmaid - Lindsey Kelk
  3. Dancing Shoes (Shoes #9) - Noel Streatfield
  4. The Vintage Girl - Hester Browne
  5. The Shadow Year - Hannah Richell
  6. Five Children & It - E.Nesbit
  7. The Lie - C.L. Taylor
  8. The 9th Girl - Tami Hoag
  9. Stranded (Maggie O'Dell #11) - Alex Kava
There is such a mixture of both old and new books here, I adore Lindsey Kelk so theres no need to justify why i brought her latest book. The others, they either stood out to me, or i'd heard many good things on both goodreads and twitter so brough them. The only annoying this is, two of these books are part of a series. Like not even no's. 1 or 2, but much further on. So I'm possibly going to have to invest in all other books sometime after reading, although i am hoping they can also be read as standalone. I'm looking forward to reading them all, as they are so different.

Now when do we think i'll get round to reading these?

Sunday 24 May 2015

War Horse

Title: War Horse
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Type: Paperback
Read: 24th May
Rating: 4/5
Published: 1st April 2007 by Scholastic Press

A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey.
In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?
 

Who'd have thought a book could be written from the viewpoint of a horse.
This touching, heartwarming tale of Joey the horse who brought and then sold to go to war. The journey taken by this wonderful creature. Survival, training and loyalty.
Then that of Joey's first ever owner, Albert, who at the time is too young to go to war, but is determind to find him one day and bring him home. And he succeeds.

It's a really touching tale, i don't think i'd ever have considered reading something like this before. But it does make you think, that although we worry and can somewhat understand the men who go to war, they have the ability to talk of their woes. But animals, we just assume, will cope fine. They are dumb. But infact they're clever and can survive on insticnt as like us humans.

I can't fault the story, its short and a very easy read. Truely wonderful.


Go get it from: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones 

When I Fall In Love

Title: When I Fall In Love
Author: Miranda Dickinson
Type: Paperback
Read: 19th May - 24th May
Rating: 3/5
Published: 8th November 2012 by Avon

Elsie Maynard never expected to be starting again...

...but eighteen months on from the biggest challenge of her life, she is doing just that –because she made a promise to the person who believed in her the most. Determined to step into her uncertain future, Elsie meets handsome Oliver Hogarth, who seems intent on winning her heart; she inadvertently founds a choir, and overcomes obstacles – most of which involve arrogant Torin Stewart.

Then a heartfelt request brings her to Paris – and the final item on ‘The List’ that she never dared complete. Can Elsie follow her heart and put her past to rest?

I love Mirandas books but this one i just could not get into. I seemed to have to force myself to finish it, i was hoping it would get better as the story went on, but it didn't.
The story was about Elsie who is trying to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband. Nothing new there but Elsie is only in her twenties and never expected to be a widow so early in life. Through the rebuild process Elsie starts to step out of her comfort zone, she sets out to start a choir with legend rocker Woody.
She also has run ins with the lovely and very patient Olly and the ever annoying Torin. Both very different and gradually start to appear in Elsie's life. Elsie believes she is destined to be with Olly when she finally settle the past to rest. But Torin appears throughout and just annoys Elsie. He seems so full of himself, he is rude, but then so is Elsie towards him.


The story takes the choir to pairs something that is deeply marked in Elsie's heart. Here she finishes the last of the list that ties her to her husband.
My main issue was that the characters were hard to connect with. I didn't believe any of them realistic. The ending of this book annoyed me more. I just didn't agree with it and it seems so very out of the blue.
Sadly not my favourite Miranda book.


Go get it from: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones

Monday 18 May 2015

It Started With A Kiss

Title: It Started With A Kiss
Author: Miranda Dickinson
Type: Paperback
Read: 15th May - 18th May
Rating: 5/5
Published: 10th November 2011 by Avon

What would you do to find the one that got away? As the singer in a wedding band, Romily Parker has seen her fair share of happy endings, even though her own love life isn't quite as simple. On the last Saturday before Christmas, (shortly after disastrously declaring her love for best friend Charlie), Romily has a brief encounter with a handsome stranger whose heart-stopping kiss changes everything. Determined to find him again, Romily embarks on a yearlong quest, helped (and sometimes hindered) by enthusiastic Uncle Dudley, cake-making Auntie Mags and flamboyant Wren. Will she find the man of her dreams? Or could true love be closer than she thinks?

Dear Miranda stop making me think i know the endings to books and then suddenly changing the dinamics so i don't. This book was brilliant. I picked it up because i thought it be a light read and I haven't gone wrong with Mirandas books so far.

This is another great story, i loved it because the first chapter and then the rest of the book was mainly set in my home town of Birmingham and just reading the places these characters lived/visited made me smile. I'd grew up seeing these places and it was just awesome to be able to relate to much to a book.

I did originally think the basis of the book a little far fetched. I mean who is crazy enough to spend a year of their lives looking for a complete stranger whom randomly kissed them on one cold christmas afternoon? Really? Made all the more crazier by the fact Romily knew nothing of this guy, except what he looked like and how the kiss felt. But you're drawn into this book and a little part of you is routing for her to relaise its a crazy mistake or she gets the guy.

Romily is in a band, 'The Pinstripes' and they're great. They play mainly wedding gigs and this is what the book is centred around. Romily is a cracking girl and i see a little of myself in here. Especially the start where she declaired her love for long time best friend Charlie who sadly doesn't feel the same way.

Que the quest to find this mysterious guy. Throughout it all Romilys friends are there to support her, mock her and just generally be as friend are. They're a fun bunch. Nothing phazes them at all. A little way through you're kinda routing for the underdog, and i seriously thouhgt i had this book figured out. But no. Miranda threw the biggest twist in it at the very last chapter that was so unfair but so realistic it makes you wonder why you didn't think of it yourself. I think because we trusted Miranda to choose who we wanted and its a great author who constantly keeps you on your toes.

The twist, i'm not giving it away but yes, there is a great on here, whatever you are expecting to happen, it won't. It will be not what you are thinking. Enjoy it. I practiaclly closed the book when i read the first few lines as i couldn't believe it. I had to seriously think about what i just read.

This book is really good. You're captivated by the characters and you're brought a long a crazy journey of finding love and friendship. Big shout out to aunt maggs and uncle dudley who were the most cutest, aunt and uncle out there. I loved them and will be trying the receipe in the back of the book too!!

Finally, the chapters are all titled after well known songs. And I dare you to read them without singing the next couple of lines!


Go get it from: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones 

Thursday 14 May 2015

The Longest Ride

Title: The Longest Ride
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Type: Paperback
Read: 7th May - 14th May
Rating: 2/5
Published: 2013 by Sphere

Ira Levinson is in trouble. Ninety-one years old and stranded and injured after a car crash, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together.

A few miles away, at a local bull-riding event, a Wake Forest College senior's life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward — even life and death - loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans — a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he's keeping doesn't destroy it first.

Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart.

I have read many books by Nicholas Sparks, each and everyone of them I have connected with. The writing has been great, the storylines amazing. All except this book, and the one before but especially this one.
I feel so let down, disappointed even. This book was such a chore to read. I've never wanted to give up something so much.
There were two stories running through this book, one of Ira & Ruth, the other of Sophia & Luke. You're constantly wondering what links both couples and it really is only until the last chapter that you know. But it seemed forced.
I didn't connect with any character this time, which was a shame. The background to both couples didn't grip me.
The only thing I took from this book is that love is worth more than paintings. I don't think I've ever scored a book by Nicholas Sparks so low before.


Go get it from: Amazon UK Book DepositoryWaterstones

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Wild

Title: Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found
Author: Cheryl Strayed
Type: Paperback
Read: 3rd May - 6th May
Rating: 5/5
Published: 1st January 2014 by Atlantic Books (UK)

At 26, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family disbanded and her marriage crumbled. With nothing to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to walk 1,100 miles of the west coast of America - from the Mojave Desert, through California and Oregon, and into Washington State - and to do it alone. She had no experience of long-distance hiking and the journey was nothing more than a line on a map. But it held a promise - a promise of piecing together a life that lay in ruins at her feet.

The cover of this book, the version with Reese Witherspoon on was one of the reasons i brought it. I'm not big on film adaptions whatsoever but then if you look at the original cover for this book, a simple boot, it doesn't shout to be read. Although this one doesn't either, the difference of the two covers is great.
I also need to say, I don't like or can't really read autobiographies as such. Or in this version, a book detailing someones journey. They're usually so me me me that i find it too much. But i read this one, pretty quickly because it's different.

I'm not sure how i can even begin to describe this book. I went into it, not really having a clue about it, except a girl decided to walk a trail. I never knew the PCT existed nor how long it was. But reading Cheryl's journey was inspiring. Who in the right mind would decide to backpack across a crazy number of miles, thousands really, on their own? No-one and especially someone with so little experience. I really felt drawn to Cheryl.

All her moments of up and down, the struggle to even walk a few miles the first couple of days because of her boots. Then the struggles of running out of water, money and bumping into a couple of mean people. I wouldn't have been able to do it? This shown what an amazing strenght Cheryl had deep within. Even running into bears, wolves and other animals never put her off. Hiking across snow ridden mountains, hitchiking across the parts she wasn't able to cross, all of these proved how brave she truely is.

There were some amazing people she had met throughtout the trip, some reoccuring and others just a fleeting moment, and these people, i respected just as much, for each of them wanted to prove to themselves, they could hike this trail.

Although Cheryl set out on this hike to figure stuff out, i think she found out so much more, even what she wasn't expecting to find. The trip changed her more than she could ever realise it would. I wish i could be as brave to hike something like that, the views and general at-one with nature, as described by Cheryl sound like they are really worth it.

I'm not doing this book justice what-so-ever. There is much more to it. I finished it and then felt lost. I didn't know how to explain how something like 'Wild' felt. It's something to dream about, it makes you realise, there is more to the world than for some of us, a concret jungle. More to the world than cars, work, money. Nature has a way of allowing you to forget stuff like that and just enjoy the beauty this earth has to offer you.

I love the fact the US has these national parks and hiking trails and that it's the norm to go to such places. Read this book. You won't regret it. Cheryl really is an insperation. 


Go get it from: Amazon UK Book Depository | Waterstones 

Sunday 3 May 2015

Killing the Dead

Title: Killing The Dead
Author: Marcus Sedgwick
Type: Paperback
Read: 2nd May - 3rd May
Rating: 3/5
Published: 5th March 2015 by Indigo

Set in a girls' boarding school in Massachusetts a haunting and sinister story YA story for World Book Day from prize-winning author Marcus Sedgwick. 1963. Foxgrove School near Stockbridge, Massachusetts. One of the oldest and finest academies in the country - but what really goes on behind closed doors? Nathaniel Drake, the new young English teacher, Isobel Milewski, the quiet girl who loved to draw spirals, her fingers stained with green ink, Jack Lewis, who lent Isobel books - just words, just ink on paper, Margot Leya, the girl with those eyes - who are they, what part have they played in killing the dead? Follow the dark, dark path Into the dark, dark woods To the dark, dark bridge By the dark, dark water. Linger. Let the ghosts of heaven tell their story. A stylish and creepy story for World Book Day from prize-winning author Marcus Sedgwick.

A short story for world book day at £1 a real bargain! It's simple and short. Although I didn't really get into it. A story about a girls boarding school and what happens behind closed doors. A girl kills herself and a year later things start happenings. Can the dead talk? It's a dad tale as I'm sure this can apply to anywhere in life. Children can be mean and then they have to suffer the consequences one day. Hoping yet no one finds out the parts they all played in the destruction of someone else. :(

Go get it from: Amazon UK Book DepositoryWaterstones

Saturday 2 May 2015

Hidden Treasures

Title: Hidden Treasures
Author: Fern Britton
Type: Paperback
Read: 30th April - 2nd May
Rating: 4/5
Published: 11th October 2012 by Harper Collins

Helen Merrifield decides to put her ex-husband behind her and start afresh in the idyllic Cornish village of Pendruggan. Throwing herself into local life, Helen is surprised to find herself the object of two very different men's attention - the rather desperate Vicar and the dark and brooding local historian, Piran.

Meanwhile, Helen's best friend, Penny, decides that the village is the perfect setting for her new TV series. When cast and crew descend, the community is thrown into a tizzy, but Helen has her hands full fending off her philandering ex, who seems determined to charm his way back into her bed.
Should Helen hold on to the past? Or will a Cornish Christmas give her something new to treasure?

I'm giving this book four stars purely based on parts being silly. This is a great book, it's a light fun read. I honestly never knew Fern Britton wrote books and I won this via a giveaway just before christmas.

Anyways, the story is of Helen, who is going through a divorce, ups and leaves london for the quiet life in cornwall. The start of the story goes on about an old lady who lives in the house Helen buys, we don't hear anything of said lady until probably a few chapters before the end.

There are some lovely cute moments, but some really cringworthy ones too. The start of the book, i really disliked Simon, i thought he was so creapy. He just seemed like one of these guys who had never ever known how to interact or interpret anyones actions. He was so full on. But he was likeable towards the end, although i still think he was a little far fetched.

The cornish village sounded lovely and then suddenly a filming of a TV show appeared and thats when things became a little OTT. I can imagin it happening as i'm sure TV shows do film on location obviously, but how nice everyone was to the locals seemed dramatic.

I think my favourite characters were Chloe who really grew up into someone amazing and also Piran. He was mysterious and a times a little evil but there was something about him that made you want to know more.

I would recommend this book to everyone, like i said its cute, its readable in a day or two. Just ignore some of the over dramatic parts.


Go get it from: Amazon UKBook DepositoryWaterstones