August Book Haul

I'm actually surprised i've got this many books this month. I wasnt' expecting to get many after the craziness of July. But a few things happened. I went to Ireland, so therefore I had to buy more books. Three infact. Plus whist shopping in an independant book store {Dubray Books}, i got the Harper Lee bag with the books in, so i'm in love with it. Was a nightmare trying to get back in a case without getting it crushed. Then for my birthday as I recieved some money last month, i treated myself to the Rebel Editions of the Hunger Games series. I'm actually really excited to read these. The bright covers are just amazing.

Then, as per previous posts, I won three books via instagram and these arrived too. Waterstones sent out 'Surviour two weeks early or so and I read that whilst being delayed travelling to Ireland. Again, I love the brightness of this cover and so glad it matches the two previous books by Tom Hoyle.

1. Survivor - Tom Hoyle
2. You, Me & Other People - Fionnuala Kearney
3. The Sisters - Claire Douglas
4. Paperweight - Meg Haston
5. The Old Curiosity Shop - Charles Dickens
6. The Wings of the Dove - Henry James
7. The Life I Left Behind - Colette McBeth
8. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games #1) - Suzanne Collins
9. Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) - Suzanne Collins
10. Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) - Suzanne Collins
11. How To Build A Girl - Caitlin Moran
12. A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
13. The Rain (The Rain #1) - Virgina Bergin
14. The Ice Cream Girls - Dorothy Koomson
15. A Little Princess - Frances Hogdson Burnett
16. A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams  

 I have some amazing books this month of which two are currently read (a first for me!) But i promise, my book buying is going to be slow coming up to christmas. I've a handful on pre-order so as long as i tempt myself away from bookstores, pre-orders are all i should aquire! 

Fifty is not a Four Letter Word

Title: Fifty is not a Four Letter Word
Author: Linda Kelsey
Type: Paperback
Read: 22nd August - 27th August
Rating: 4/5
Published: 1st July 2007 by Hodder & Stoughton

Life begins at 50.. Well, it certainly does for Hope, though not at all as she had planned. She reluctantly hits her half-century on New Year's Day and within weeks her career, her marriage and her self-esteme are in free-fall. But Hope has guts - and a sense of humor. By the end of her annus horribilis, she has aquired a taste for designer underware, climbing mountains - and the memory of one perfect night in Paris. A funny, wise and touching look at all the issues closest to our hearts. The novel grown-up girls have been waiting for.

Meet Hope, she's due to turn 50 on new years day and doesnt' like it one bit. 50 means she's a half a century, she's getting old and everything is changing, she can deal with that, slightly, if she ignores it. But at least she has her family, her devoted husband Jack, her typically moody eighteen year old son Olly and a successful job as editor of a magazine. Turning 50, she can ignore because everything around her is fine.

So what happens, when it's not? Suddenly turning 50 is the worse thing in the world, Hopes family falls apart and she's made redundant from her job in favour of someone younger and more fresher. Hope has no idea what to do. Not being in control is something Hope doesnt' know how to deal with. She's used to being busy, planning, and doing. Not sitting and waiting. Then her mother falls ill, her best friend falls out with her, can anything else go wrong?

This book is probably aimed more at those who are of the mature age, however as someone in their thirties i throughly enjoyed it. It had me laughing in places and cringing in others. I was with Hope all the way through the good times and the bad and the just plain crazy times.

I loved the change we see of Hope, from being compelety in control of her life and possibly everyones around her, to suddenly having no-one rely on her was a huge step. The fact Hope after mourning her loss decided to try things that weren't of her normal activites, made me smile, from going to Paris on her own, to the encounter there with the lovely but sleazy Dan, to trecking across moutians, Hope gave it her all.

It's not to say Hope was perfect or a warming character at first, no, she was a pain in the bottom. Everyone was expected to tend to her at times, she had to be the centre of attention and her rift with her mother wound me up. But it's typical life. It's what everyone goes through at times. And i think for Hope especially she had to learn the hard way to really truely appreicate what she had and who she had around her.

The ending was nice, although a little not what i was expecting. I think the author left it up to us to decide what we think happens between Hope and Jack in the end. But i think she's better off on her own now.

Overall a wonderful book. I'd recommend everyone to read but possibly the mature ones will understand it more.

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

Book Post, Prize

So a few weeks ago I entered a giveaway on Instagram by a fellow book girl. I love book give aways, although i am rarely successful in winning any. But this one had three winners, all we had to do was repost a photo and pick which three books we would like from the picture. We wasn't guarenteed to get all three books, depending on how popular they were, but it was worth a shot. So i entered. And whilst in Ireland last week, i found out I'd won. 

And today my books arrived! 

I even got the three books I'd chosen. 

- The Ice Cream Girls - Dorothy Koomson

- Rain - Virginia Bergin

- A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula Le Guin

Plus a super funky Harry Potter/Hermione Granger book mark!

Can't wait to get reading these. All three books were picked just based on their name. I had no idea what they'd be about. I didn't even goodread them, I just selected three and hoped for the best.  It worked!

The Life I Left Behind

Title: The Life I Left Behind
Author: Colette McBeth
Type: Paperback
Read: 16th August - 21st August
Rating: 5/5
Published: 13th August by Headline Review

Six years ago Melody was left for dead. When the body of another woman, Eve, is discovered, Melody knows her attacker is still out there. The only ways she can survive is to follow the clues of the life that Eve left behind. 

I requested a copy of Book Bridgr which i recived about two weeks before release date. I did pick this book based on its title. I wanted to know why someone left their life behind, then when i read the description, i realised they had no choice.

The book is split into three sections although not titled so, you just notice that you get chapter one a few times over. The story is told from various view points, Eve, who has been killed and is stuck, almost in limbo. Not yet able to cross over but able to watch over people. Then it changes to Melody, who was attacked six years prior to Eve. What brings these two people together. We also get the view point of DI Rutter who is in charge of investigating Eves murder.

The change of characters is good, when each tells their stories, it switches back and forth to present time and what happened in the past. Eve we learn was helping David Alden with trying to clear his name, having spent five years in prison after being charged with attacking Melody and leaving her for dead. Eve is looking down, she knows who really attacked Melody as its the same person that killed her.

I was slow reading this book at first and there were some characters that i really wasnt' enjoying. Melody took a while to like, i think her fear was something that stopped me liking her straight away. As the book went on we met her partner Sam and friend Patrick and you love one and hate the other. Eve was brilliant, i did adore her. She was likeable, happy and full of life, well when she lived, but she was just someone you wanted to know more of, what her life was like and what happened for it to end so soon.

The story goes through both attaks, through flashbacks and various characters are in the firing line for who you start to think did it. I did think half way through i figured it out and i was getting annoyed at it being dragged out. But a good author doesn't make it so easy. It was only until the last few chapters that i began doubting everything i thought i knew. It was gripping towards the end. I stayed up till midnight just to ensure i finished it.

I love books that get you thinkig and then doubting yourself. I love mysteries. It's an addictive book, one certainly worth reading!

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

Survivor

Title: Survivor
Author: Tom Hoyle
Type: Paperback
Read: 8th - 9th August
Rating: 4/5
Published: 13th August by Macmillan Childrens Books

When the first person on the Ultimate Bushcraft adventure holiday mysteriously dies, it's a tragedy. But when the second, and third die ...it's no longer mysterious: it's suspicious. Who can you trust when everyone left alive is a suspect? Who is the murderer? As the numbers dwindle, the chances of survival plummet ...Staying alive has never seemed so guilty. Perfect for fans of Michael Grant.

Waterstones sent this out a week early. I'm not complaining! Firstly the book is another bright one. Green. I do love these bright colours. The story is about George, who because he has saved a life, gets to go on an adventure to Oz. Whilst there with a number of boys things begin to happen. Bad things. Boys start being killed and no one knows why or who's next. The story switches between George's statement of what happens and also the attackers. We never know who the attacker is until near the end and I wasn't expecting it. It's a good book. I am fast becoming a fan of Tom Hoyle. Can't wait for more stuff! I also want to know who Tom Hoyle really is, this isn't his real name so its a great secret! 

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

The Dish

Title: The Dish
Author: Stella Newman
Type: Paperback
Read: 15th July - 5th August
Rating: 4/5
Published: 21st May by Headline Review

Love is on the menu. With a side order of lies.
When Laura Parker first crosses forks with Adam Bayley, she's only after one thing: his custard doughnut. But when she takes a closer look she sees a talented, handsome man who outshines the string of jokers she's been dating.
There's just one problem. Adam's job means Laura has to keep her job as restaurant critic for 'The Dish' a secret. Tricky for someone who prides herself on honesty.
Can the truth be put on ice long enough for love to flourish? And how can you expect your boyfriend to be honest if you're not quiet telling the truth yourself?

The Dish, was a great read. I had a bit of a reading slump with it so it took me forever to finish, but not because its's a bad book, its bloody brilliant. I've never read anything by Stella Newman before and I seen this book everywhere whilst shopping, so one day took the plung and got it. I love the cover, its catchy.

I did think the storyline was a little slow in places, but towards the end, it flew by. Laura is a secret reviewer of all food places, her artical, The Dish, gets rave reviews from everyone, so having the chance to eat at the fanciest new restaurant Laura writes her most honest review to date. It's not sugar coated. But through sheer coincidence once the review is written and submitted, she meets Adam, a chef. Laura must now keep her job a secret, especially having just reviewed the resturant Adam works at.

It's a typical tale of girl and boy meet, fall in love and all the crazy stuff in between tests them. It's certainly different and you're constantly wanting Laura to be honest, to just tell Adam her job. Together they're a cute pair. Seriously, they just so sweet. But then as with everything, the reality must happen and the wrong review is published, and it all goes a little la la after that.

I did feel sorry for Laura at times, I understood her need for being anominous and then again i also felt that Adam was to partly blame. If he had admitted his fault on that night, Laura wouldn't have had to go through half the stuff she did. Between them, they're as bad as each other.

But it is a cute story. The ending is just fluff. It's adorable and I was routing for everything to go right. Laura's sister though is a pain. Oh my god, how on earth she puts up with her is beyond me. Laura's co-workers are a breath of fresh air, even Sandra.

A wonderful book, by a great author! Can't wait to read more.

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

July Book Haul

This month I went a little book crazy. It was allowed, I mean, it's birthday month. What better things to recieve or treat thy self to, than books. Lots of pretty books. Bargain books too! It was also a bad month for reading, I've just not been able to focus and have been on the same book for weeks.

1. Gypsy Boy - Mikey Walsh
2. The Last Testament - Sam Bourne
3. Whistledown Woman - Josephine Cox
4. A Piece of Cake - Cupcake Brown
5. Charmed Lives - Susannah Bates
6. Twilight (Twilight #1) - Stephenie Meyer
7. New Moon (Twilight #2) - Stephenie Meyer
8. Eclipse (Twlight #3) - Stephenie Meyer
9. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Twilight #3.5) - Stephenie Meyer
10. Breaking Dawn (Twilight #4) - Stephenie Meyer
11. Gangsta Granny - David Walliams
12. Sense & Sensibility - Jane Austen
13. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll
14. An Englishwoman in New York - Anne-Marie Casey
15. Still Alice - Lisa Genova
16. A Room with a View - E.M. Forster
17. The Girls - Lisa Jewell 
18. Do Not Disturb (Deanna Madden #2) - A.R. Torre
19. The Hunt - Tim Lebbon
20. The Other Child - Lucy Atkins

I've never been interested in the Twilight Saga, sparkly vampires do not interest me at all however I was given New Moon with a few other books, then figured I would need to buy the first to really understand the storyline. So then opted to get all books in the series from either charity shops or boot sales. I refused to buy new, but I did want the collection to match.
I've also discovered the gorgeous range of Penguin Enlgish Library books, so i'm slowly falling in love with the simple yet stunning covers of these books. I've got three out of i believe one hundred and fifty issued. I think I've alot of saving up to do to buy them all. I do struggle with classics, so i've opted for books that I've never read and therefore I dont' know alot about.
When i found out there was going to be a sequal to 'Girl in 6E' i had to pre-order and was so excited to recieve 'Do Not Disturb' on release day. I love the story line of Deanna and I can't wait to get back into it. Plus theres a third book out in November ish time, so that will be preordered soon.

Overall, lots of pretty awesome, very different to each other books.