There Are No Men by Carol Maloney Scott

Divorced thirty-something Claire doesn’t know who’s in her dating pool—but she’s doing her best to avoid shark infested waters. Leaving her clueless and insensitive husband behind was a smart move after losing her fertility, but now she’s riding the wave of flying toupees, strange men in leather thongs and drunken nights in painfully impractical shoes. Claire desperately wanted to be a mother, but now she’ll settle for one middle aged man worthy of a second date.

After a long drought, men are flooding her shores and she’s drowning in choices. There’s Justin, the 25-year-old IT boy-genius with the GQ looks and cougar fetish, who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. A woman would have to be a blind, lesbian nun not to fall for him, but he reminds Claire of her wasted youth. And then the charming but mysterious Dr. Nathan appears, but he’s cheating on her with his medical mistress—a demanding cardiology practice.

To further rock her boat, Claire’s ‘stable’ career in publishing has been tossed about by her floundering company’s launch of a new line of trendy, salacious books. Cookbooks aren’t selling these days, but erotica is flying off the shelves—and challenging Claire’s attitude about sex, work . . . and her tempestuous new life.

When her best friend convinces her to buddy up to the aspiring writer who just moved in across the street, Claire rejects the idea—he has already caught her in more than one embarrassing and scantily clad situation. Giving in to her friend’s nudging, she tries to ignore the details she discovers about him, including his hard rock night gig and his mesmerizing blue eyes, in the hopes his literary talents can pull her publishing house up from the bottom of the ocean.

Claire’s dilemma begs the question: Are there NO men or TOO MANY?



Thank you to Carol for sending a copy of this book to me for review.

I adored this book! I wasn’t really sure what to expect before I started reading it but t captured my attention from the very beginning and it was so addictive! I read this book in a few days because it was so hard to put down.

I have read a few books lately about internet dating but they have all been so different, I think it is such a good topic to write about as there are so many people doing it now, so it is kind of a part of most people’s lives. It has you laughing out loud, wanting to cry for Claire and wanting to scream at her to get her to see sense.

It is one of those books that you don’t know what is going to happen next, what I wanted to happen did actually happen in the end but you don’t know this will actually happen until the very last page (I almost let out an excited scream when I got my ending)!

I loved Claire, she was the perfect lead character for this type of novel, she was fun, crazy and clumsy but so real, although she was a 30-something, divorced woman I could relate to her so well and I think anybody could. She is such a likeable character to the point where with every bone in your body you are rooting for her to find Mr Right! Claire’s sausage dog Dixie was such a good addition to the story and made Claire the character she was, Dixie caused lots of laughs (at Claire’s expense) and allowed Claire to show her motherly side even though she didn’t and couldn’t have children herself. The characters of Jane, Mike, Rebecca were all so different but made the story so much better, hearing what they all had to say about Claire’s love life and dating disasters kept the story flowing. While Brandon and Justin were such lovely men and you just wanted Claire to see how they felt about her and choose one of them.
One character that I didn’t like at all was Nathan, at first he came across as a lovely, caring gentlemen, but he eventually started to make my skin crawl. He was so demanding, bossy and controlling towards Claire and the constant calling her ‘Sweetie’ bleh!!

I’m not going to say much more about this book because it is definitely worth a read, it will cheer you up and have you laughing out loud. If you're looking for a light hearted, funny story then this is the book for you! Although there are some sad issues like infertility it is not full of it and it makes the story what it is, so if this issue affects you maybe be a bit careful with this book, but there is a good outcome even besides this so you may still enjoy it. I am not a particularly quick reader but I felt like I flew through this because I was addicted to Claire and her story. I started to feel like I was living her life with her.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel to this book! Pleaseeeee Carol!

Amazon UK | Amazon US

My favourite books of all time...so far!

Before and since blogging & reviewing I have read some amazing books, but some of them are the types of books that I want to give so much more than 5 stars to, that I just can't stop thinking about and that I want to scream from the rooftops so everybody knows how good they are. So I thought I'd do a little post to show you my favourite books of all time (so far, as I'm sure this list will grow and grow over the years).

So as of September 2014 these are my favourite books of all time and I can't recommend them enough.

One Day by David Nicholls

'I can imagine you at forty,' she said, a hint of malice in her voice. 'I can picture it right now.'

He smiled without opening his eyes. 'Go on then.'

15th July 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.

So where will they be on this one day next year?

And the year after that? And every year that follows?

Read my review 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Read my review

You're The One that I want by Giovanna Fletcher

Maddy, dressed in white, stands at the back of the church. At the end of the aisle is Rob – the man she’s about to marry. Next to Rob is Ben – best man and the best friend any two people ever had.And that’s the problem.

Because if it wasn’t Rob waiting for her at the altar, there’s a strong chance it would be Ben. Loyal and sensitive Ben has always kept his feelings to himself, but if he turned round and told Maddy she was making a mistake, would she listen? And would he be right?

Best friends since childhood, Maddy, Ben and Rob thought their bond was unbreakable. But love changes everything. Maddy has a choice to make but will she choose wisely? Her heart, and the hearts of the two best men she knows, depend on it…

Read my review 

One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin

Is there really such a thing as a perfect proposal?

Over the next hundred days I intend to find out. I will find one hundred ways to propose to our Chief Proposer Suzie McKenzie and post the results here for your enjoyment. One thing’s for sure, not one of my proposals will be on top of the Eiffel Tower with a dozen red roses.’

Best friends Suzie and Harry are partners in romance. That is, they run the.PerfectProposal.com, coming to the aid of would-be grooms to create the ultimate marriage proposal.

But when Harry decides to catapult the business into the big leagues with a PR stunt all Suzie can see is a hundred days of heartbreak stretching ahead of her. But however exotic the location, or breath-takingly romantic the setting, Suzie has to keep remembering that ‘Marry Me?’ is the one question she can’t say yes to.

This business proposal should come with one hundred broken heart warnings...

One hundred proposals, one hundred chances to say yes.

Read my review 

Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown

Georgie Hart loves her job–running the luxury handbag concession at Carrington’s Department store in the pretty seaside town of Mulberry Bay, and treating herself (once too often!) to a red velvet cupcake with buttercream icing in Carrington’s café.

But Georgie is thrown into disarray when Carrington’s is plunged into a recession-busting makeover, cueing the arrival of femme fatale Maxine, who wields the axe in her immaculately-manicured hands.

It spells a recipe for disaster for Georgie and soon she is fighting not only for her job, but also for the attentions of her gorgeous boss, James. And when hot newcomer Tom arrives, who may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread, Georgie must decide where her loyalties really lie…

Read my review 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

First drink, first prank, first friend, first girl, last words… A poignant and moving crossover novel about making friends and growing up.

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words – and tired of his safe, boring and rather lonely life at home. He leaves for boarding school filled with cautious optimism, to seek what the dying poet Francois Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.

Read my review 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. Having missed her flight, she’s stuck at JFK airport and late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.

Read my review

How Not to be Starstuck by Portia MacIntosh 

Nicole Wilde’s life is one of sell-out gigs, bunking on tour buses, trashing hotels and partying with the band all night long. But she’s not in the band. She is a music journalist, paid to be the world’s greatest groupie– and she loves it!

Nicole has the party lifestyle – and the hangovers to prove it – but no one stops her in the supermarket on a bad hair day. Until she is papped in an incriminating position with recently married mega-star Dylan King of The Burnouts and the tabloids start hounding her. This isn’t so fun. Especially when her make-up is a mess and she hasn’t yet had a chance to clean her teeth.

Dylan accuses her of ruining his marriage. His handsome PR agent, Charles, calls her a tart. She has to take gorgeous Luke from Two For the Road to hospital after a drug incident. And she’s dropped her mobile phone in the bath! Too much celebrity lifestyle for one week? Time to slow down and take stock? Maybe for somebody else. But Nicole Wilde is going to come out fighting.

Read my review

The Story Of You by Katy Regan 

There is no story of me without the story of you

I want to explain it all to you. How this happened. How that summer – the summer I was 16 – made me the person I am today.

I want to share my memories with you: the happy memories are like sunbursts, sparkling on the sea. But then, like a current dragging me under, there's that summer of 1997.

The summer my life exploded.

The summer I had to grow up.

The summer you came into my life.

And so this is the story of you.

Read my review

You Had Me at Hello by Mhari McFarlane

What happens when the one that got away comes back? 

‘Think of the great duos of history. We're just like them.’
‘You mean like Kylie and Jason? Torvill and Dean? Sonny and Cher?’
‘I think you’ve missed the point, Rachel.’

Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. It was them against the world. Until it all fell apart. It’s been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away.

They’d been partners in crime and the best of friends. But life has moved on: Ben is married. Rachel is not. Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she’s never been able to mend.

Hilarious, heartbreaking and everything in between, you’ll be hooked from their first ‘hello’.

Read my review

The Voice in my Ear by Ken Newman

Layla is the kind of girls that gets under a guy's skin...literally.
Mere moments from a gruesome death, Zack Cole makes a deal with a mysterious stranger. To live, Zack reluctantly becomes the guardian of Layla, an exotic woman struggling under a terrible curse.

Despite a rocky start, Layla discovers an intimacy and passion with the cocky, womanizing Zack that transcends her dreadful curse. Determined that Zack will be hers, Layla uses her vast power to help him solve the mysteries surrounding his attempted murder, unaware that Zack is the target of a vicious band of outcasts on a deadly mission for God.



Thank you to Ken Newman for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

When I first started reading this book I had no idea what to expect, from the blurb, it sounds so strange and I have only read a handful of books about the supernatural before, all of which have been completely different. This one is the most obscure of them all but probably the best. 

I have to admit, a few pages in when I realised what the story was about I wasn't sure if it was going to be something I'd enjoy. I thought it might be a novel that you really need to think about and quite a challenging read, but it is not at all. I also had my doubts as to whether the concept of the story would actually work, from first impressions and when you realise what is going on it is hard to believe that it would work as a novel, but it definitely does!
It is brilliantly written but it is also an easy read that you can just glide through and it doesn't take much to be able to understand the story.

I liked that as well as the supernatural there was a horror element to the story too, with a few gorey parts which keeps the story exciting, as you are wondering if and when somebody will be killed. This makes this story so different to the others I have read and it is a very unexpected twist.

I love that although there are so many different characters, all of which have their own stories, they are all connected in some way. I love when author's do this rather than having stories run by themselves but with the same outcome. Layla and Larry are strange character's (for obvious reasons), but fit so perfectly into the story.
There is such a mixture of personalities within the characters, there is Zack who is just trying to do what he can to get his life back, then there is Marci who is out for what she can get, even if it means murder, Each character adds something to the story and the fact that none of them are the same keeps the story so exciting.

Ken Newman is a brilliant writer, his writing style gets you so hooked on the story and makes you feel connected and interested in each character's story, This novel fits into a few different genres, which means it is perfect for a wider audience and I can't tell you enough that you should get yourself a copy! I can't wait to see what Ken writes next.

Amazon UK | Amazon UK

City Hospital by Keith Miles - BLOG TOUR

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for City Hospital Book 2 - Flames by Keith Miles. To celebrate this I have an exclusive excerpt from the book and a great competition for you to enter! Read below for the excerpt and details of how to enter the competition.

Blurb

Join five young trainee medics as they learn about life and love on the wards of City Hospital. Suzie, Mark, Karlene, Gordy and Bella share a house, and the ups and downs of being a medical student in a busy teaching hospital.

In City Hospital Book 2: Flames...

A terrible fire destroys lives, but was it an accident? Karlene is determined to get to the truth.

Gordy meets an old flame who won't take no for an answer.

A young man makes a drastic, and violent, decision, and Bella struggles to understand why.

The City Hospital series is perfect for fans of medical dramas like Casualty, Holby City and Doctors.

Excerpt

Next morning, Gordy Robbins and Mark Andrews walked to the hospital together. It was a fine but chilly day. Gordy wore his garish wool jacket and green chinos. In his old denim jacket, Mark looked rather dowdy beside his friend.

As he caught sight of the building, Mark thought of the fire and the appalling damage it had left behind. He wondered how Mrs Palmer and her son were doing in the Burns Unit. Mr Palmer, he knew, would be lying in the hospital morgue. Gordy’s mind was on something else.

‘Do you think she’ll come round in the end, Mark?’

‘Who?’

‘Suzie. She can’t hold me off for ever. I’m sure she fancies me on the quiet.’

‘Suzie just doesn’t want to get involved.’

‘That’s what’s so frustrating!’ said Gordy. ‘I share the house with this gorgeous girl and she keeps me at arm’s length.’

‘Maybe you’re not her type,’ said Mark, tactfully.

‘I’ll wear down her resistance in time.’

‘Don’t bank on it, Gordy.’

‘I drive most girls crazy. Why not Suzie?’

Mark said nothing. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Still rather shy with girls himself, he didn’t feel able to offer any advice. Gordy was much more experienced. Or, at least, he pretended to be.

‘It’s this stupid rule of Suzie’s,’ said Gordy. ‘Because we share a house, we mustn’t get involved.’

‘Nothing stupid about that,’ said Mark. ‘If two of us become an item, it makes it hard on the other three. Forget Suzie. Find someone else.’

‘Only as a stop-gap,’ said Gordy. ‘I’ll still carry a torch for Suzie. She’ll always be top of my list.’

‘I think Suzie’s got that message by now.’

Gordy went through the main gate of the hospital with his jaunty stride. His face was beaming. He was in good spirits. He sensed that he would have an enjoyable day at the medical school.
A female voice shattered the illusion.

‘Gordy!’

He stopped dead and stiffened, Mark beside him.

A tall, slim, shapely girl was running towards them. Her fair hair swinging, her pretty features glowing.

‘Hi, Gordy!’ she said.

‘Harriet!’

‘I was hoping I’d bump into you.’

‘Er, yes,’ gulped Gordy. ‘Nice to see you again.’

‘Aren’t you going to introduce me?’ she prompted.

‘What? Oh, sorry... This is Mark Andrews.’

‘Hi, Mark,’ she said, shaking hands with him. ‘I’m Harriet Collins. An old and very special friend of Gordy’s.’

Gordy looked more uncomfortable than ever. ‘Nice to meet you, Harriet.’ said Mark. ‘You’ll have to excuse me, I’m afraid. I mustn’t be late.’

‘Don’t leave us!’ begged Gordy.

‘I have to,’ he said, amused by the look of panic on Gordy’s face. ‘You two must have a lot to catch up on. I’d only be in the way.’

‘Wait!’ Gordy clutched at him but Mark walked away across the car park. Harriet stared up at Gordy, her eyes shining. She let out a sigh of sheer pleasure.

‘You look wonderful!’ she said.

‘Thanks, Harriet... Er, so do you.’

‘Are you pleased to see me?’

‘Yes, yes,’ he lied, searching for an escape.

‘I wanted to surprise you.’

‘Well, you certainly did that!’

‘It’s brilliant just to be with you again, Gordy.’

‘Is it? Good.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Heavens! Look at the time. I must be off.’

‘Of course.’

He backed slowly away. ‘Nice to... meet you again.’

‘I just had to get in touch with you.’

‘I’m glad you did,’ he said, uneasily.

‘That’s why I moved down here.’

Gordy froze. ‘What do you mean?’

‘To be near you,’ she said, touching his arm. ‘You’re going to be seeing a lot of me from now on, Gordy.’

‘I am?’

‘Yes, I’ve taken a job at the hospital!’

‘Here!’

‘As a receptionist.’

‘Oh... great...’

Gordy was in the grip of cold terror. His mouth went dry and his eyes misted over. He couldn’t move a muscle.

Harriet kissed him softly on the cheek.

‘I knew you’d be thrilled,’ she whispered.


Buy City Hospital books 1 and 2 on Amazon UK and Amazon US

Competition

Would you like to have a character in the next City Hospital book named after you? Well here's your chance!

The City Hospital novels are written by Keith Miles, who has written scripts for primetime TV and soaps. City Hospital is perfect for fans of shows like "Casualty" and "Holby City". It follows the lives of five medical students - Suzie, Mark, Karlene, Gordy and Bella - who share a house, and the ups and downs of working in a busy teaching hospital. Each novel mixes their own personal dramas with patients' stories. The series was a huge hit in print, and is now being reissued as e-books for the first time.

To be in with a chance to have a character in the next "City Hospital" book named after you, simply e-mail competition@greatstorieswithheart.com, with your name and the answer to the question - who writes the City Hospital series of novels? The deadline for entries is midnight on Monday 6th October. A winner will be picked at random and announced on Wednesday 8th October. 

Mrs Sinclair's Suitcase by Louise Walters

Forgive me, Dorothea, for I cannot forgive you. What you do, to this child, to this child's mother, it is wrong...

Roberta likes to collect the letters and postcards she finds in second-hand books. When her father gives her some of her grandmother's belongings, she finds a baffling letter from the grandfather she never knew - dated after he supposedly died in the war.

Dorothy is unhappily married to Albert, who is away at war. When an aeroplane crashes in the field behind her house she meets Squadron Leader Jan Pietrykowski, and as their bond deepens she dares to hope she might find happiness. But fate has other plans for them both, and soon she is hiding a secret so momentous that its shockwaves will touch her granddaughter many years later...




Thank you to Hodder for sending me a copy of this book for review. I heard about this book when it was released earlier this year and thought it sounded so intriguing, so I added it to my wish list and decided I would get this to read in the summer. Before I could do this though the lovely people at Hodder sent me a review copy in the post and I was so excited! Obviously as I have an obsession with books, so anything to do with bookshops I am going to love and this did not disappoint me!

I loved the whole plot of the story, the bookshop is so real in my head I can imagine myself in there for hours reading, browsing and buying so many of the books. I love the idea of finding letters and tickets in old books that people so many years ago probably used as bookmarks.

I don’t think I have read a novel like this before, one that is set over two different time zones. The book follows Roberta in the present day and her grandmother Dorothy in the 1930’s. Both women are perfect characters that are very intriguing and unique, this makes you want to follow their stories more just to find out what has happened in the past and what it will lead Roberta to in the future. The story just keeps moving the whole way through and you get completely sucked in. I loved that we have two characters that are both from different eras because as well as learning about them we get to see how different the culture is and how people were different then to how they are now. Although there are so many differences between both women, they both have secrets they are hiding from those close to them. I loved, loved, loved the concept and I think this book will inspire other authors to write in this way.

Roberta works in a book store and likes to collect postcards or letter that she finds in books, or in this case a suitcase. Working in a book store keeps this hobby going as there are always new letters to find in the new/old books that come into the store. When Roberta’s father gives her a suitcase which belonged to her grandmother, she is in for a surprise she didn’t expect when she finds a letter about her grandmother, revealing something she would never expect. We then learn about Dorothy, Roberta’s grandmother, who was living in the 1930’s,  was in a marriage that wasn't working out and with her husband away at war she decides to start helping two women who work as land girls to give her some fulfillment during the war.

This is one of those books that you fall deeper and deeper into the story and you have a major book hangover when you are finished! Louise has such an amazing way with words and writing that you don’t even feel like you are reading a book, the research that has gone into this book is phenomenal, it feels so real as if Louise and us are really in the 1930’s. I loved that Louise included parts of the letters and postcards that Roberta finds in the book, it makes it so much more real than having to guess what they might say or the way they have been written. What made this book so much better for me was that you just didn’t know what was going to happen, it was so unpredictable which made it exciting right up until the very last page.

This is the perfect debut novel and I have fallen in love with the writing of Louise Walters! There are so many good things about this book and I urge anybody, male or female to read this book as I think anybody would enjoy it. I cannot wait to read more by Louise. I think we have a bestseller right here!

Amazon UK | Amazon US

A Place for Us (Part 2) by Harriet Evans

The day Martha Winter decided to tear apart her family began like any other day.

The house has soft, purple wisteria twining around the door. You step inside.

The hall is cool after the hot summer's day. The welcome is kind, and always warm.

Yet something makes you suspect life here can't be as perfect as it seems.

After all, the brightest smile can hide the darkest secret.

But wouldn't you pay any price to have a glorious place like this?

Welcome to Winterfold.

Martha Winter's family is finally coming home.

After how much I adored Part 1, I was so excited when I saw Part 2 available for review. Although it wasn't long ago I read the first part it feels like I have been waiting forever seeing as how part 1 left us hanging! This is the first Harriet Evans novel I have read and am loving it so far.

I don't want to say too much as you need to read the first part to understand what is going on but in the short first part we briefly met Martha and her family as she has invited them all home to celebrate her 80th birthday. However, she has other intentions, which we were left on at the end of the first part of the story. This made me so excited to start part 2 because I wanted to see what would happen next and how the family would react.

I adore Harriet's writing style! You don't find it difficult to read or stay hooked to her story. She just makes you glide through the story with such ease and the plot just instantly has you hooked. I think this part is the best so far as we get to see more of the family and get to know them further, we also feel a lot more emotion in the story and with the story.

I am now so excited to read Part 3 has yet again we are left on a cliffhanger! 

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Read my review of Part 1 here:

A Life Less Normal: A Memoir Based on a True Story by Melissa Palmer

When Melissa’s mother commits suicide, she sends her daughter reeling into a self-flagellating tailspin of binge drinking, pill-popping and people hating that renders her completely abnormal. The only problem is Melissa hasn’t figured that out yet. 

It takes one night of drunken clarity to bring Melissa's dark past to light. It took one fateful bike ride with her would be Mr. Perfect, for Melissa to realize that psych wards, fistfights, and chemical induced hazes are not the stuff of fairy tales and happy endings. 

Laugh and cry along with a heroine who is not afraid to rip off the Band-Aids that have held her together for twenty-four years as she exposes her shredded secrets to the world for the chance of a life slightly normal. Follow her on her journey from the cocoon of hiding in her comic-filled closet to the raw, edgy openness of projectile vomiting all over her friend’s driveway, the black light emblazoned world of a college dorm acid trip gone horribly wrong, and her clumsy fumbling into the world of becoming a real-deal, actual human being.
Normal introduces readers to a heroine with whom grown and young women will relate and with whom young men will want to split a pizza. Her world resonates with readers because it is gut-wrenchingly honest, sad, yet comically endearing. She has a no-nonsense, non-touchy-feely attitude that the “whatever” type will know and love. But she never loses the capacity to hope. She rides the line between light and dark like a Jedi in turmoil, with the balance of a ninja master. It is a journey filled with digressions, trips into pop-culture, Appalachia, exotic cuisine, anything Melissa can use to distract herself from the truth she never sees. 

It's hard to figure out what normal is when you realize you're surrounded by crazy, but Melissa Palmer never stops trying. 

Thank you to Melissa for sending me a copy of this book for review. 

I haven't read many books of this sort and admittedly it did take me a while to get into because of the writing style. I am used to fiction books, mostly chic-lit, so this was new territory for me. It is a true story of the author's life so it is written like a diary, however it is not a diary full of love or happiness, it is the story of the terrible things Melissa has been through and it is so raw and real. 

The author warns of an unlikable character which is true as at first it is hard to like her, but once you get a little into the book you do end up liking her. I think the reason for this is that she is so real, open and honest about the pain she has felt. You start to really feel for her and desperately want to help her out and make life better for her.

There is no plot to this story it quite simply is the author telling us her real story, she never attempts to make you feel happier by adding joy where it should not be, she wants you to understand and feel her troubles along with her. However, although there are dark and upsetting there is still some humour and happiness in parts.

Melissa has the power to put you in the story with her and I think although she covers a lot of touching topics it makes you enjoy the story more because she is a real person whom this has happened to, it is not a made up character with a made up story. Melissa's writing is very straight to the point and easy to understand, the way you are taken through her story is great and keeps you interested. You spend the entire time rooting for Melissa and hoping that something good will happen to her. This book fascinates and frustrates you in equal measures.

I am not really sure what else I can say about this book because I think you would have to read it to see the emotion and appeal in it but I would recommend this book but don't pick it up if you are looking for a light fun read as this will pull at your heart strings.

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Dispatches from the Dating Zone - KT Valentine

Having exhausted all the conventional ways to meet her ‘Mr Right’ (and because now she really is a little bit desperate), Fleur Summers turns to her well-meaning, but eccentric friends and family for help.

From ‘Man Mountain’; an engineer who eats everything in sight and tall dark handsome Tom with big hands but no idea how to use them, to the mysterious and brooding Henry Austin. Follow the trials and tribulations of Fleur’s journey as she works her way through a number of eventful blind dates, all in the name of finding true love.

Thank you to KT for sending me a copy of this book for review. I LOVED this book! I finished it so fast and I really wish I hadn't because it is one of those books you wish you never had to put down. It is a perfect book to read when your feeling down, sitting on the beach or just want a quick fun read that will have you doubled over laughing.

The novel is written like a diary where Fleur is telling us about her life and (lack of) love life. As a divorced mother of one she turns to her friends and family to help set her up on dates. All of which end up leaving you laughing and feeling for Fleur purely for how horrible they are. Enter Henry who could quite possibly end Fleur's dating horrors, but will he?

I loved Fleur, although she was a typical chic-lit protagonist, she was different as she is divorced, in her thirties and had a son to care for. I found her very likeable, she wasn't perfect and had her flaws but she was real and you could so easily relate to her. Because of this you felt like you were part of the story to felt everything with her. The fact that the novel is written like a diary helps you to connect with Fleur even more as it feels like she is talking to you, which grabs you into the story to the point where you feel like her best friend with whom she has no boundaries with what she is telling you.
I also loved Jack, Denise and Leanne, they were the perfect personality matches for Fleur and their friendship was written perfectly, you agreed with most of the advise they gave to Fleur and you could see they really did care about her.
Although Henry was a character that you weren't particularly supposed to like you couldn't help it, I also couldn't help but want him and Fleur to get together, you could just tell they were made for each other!
I loved how KT kept Fleur's son Tobey in the story, I have read some books where the child is no longer mentioned as the story goes on but he remained there throughout and at the front of Fleur's mind which showed a nice mother, son relationship. He was also so funny and never failed to make you smile by coming out with something or other.

The whole concept of the story was intriguing and although you could guess the ending a little it didn't take anything away from the story, it was still just as good as it would of been had you not been able to guess. Plus you can only guess about 10 pages from the end because KT keeps you wondering up until then! I loved that there were other stories within the book that were all just as good as the main one, this allowed you to get to know a bit more about Fleur and her crazy life.

This book has lots of Bridget Jones type moments and I would recommend it to any ladies that want a laugh, or have even experiences disaster or blind dates and would like to relate. This is one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time and I cannot wait to read more from KT.

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Beautiful Day - Elin Hilderbrand

The Carmichaels and the Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a happy occasion: a wedding that will unite their two families. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride's late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter's future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event -- but in reality, things are falling apart.

While the couple-to-be are quite happy, their loved ones find their lives crumbling. In the days leading up to the wedding, love will be questioned, scandals will arise, and hearts will be broken and healed. Elin Hilderbrand takes readers on a touching journey in BEAUTIFUL DAY -- into the heart of marriage, what it means to be faithful, and how we choose to honor our commitments.


This is the first book by Elin that I have read and although I had heard a few good things I still wasn't too sure of her writing style or genre when starting this book. I love the cover of this book and it looked as if it was about a wedding (which I am a sucker for), so I wanted to read this straight away.

As soon as I started reading this book I knew I was going to enjoy it, the writing style was great from the start, Elin described everything in such detail it made it very easy for you to imagine yourself as part of the story.

What I loved most about this book is that although it is about an upcoming wedding it was not written from the brides point of view as you would normally find, it is written from her father and sister, this separates this novel from others straight away and makes it more intriguing. I would of liked to see the brides thoughts and feelings at some point but I think by not doing this it shows how great a writer Elin as she makes you think and has written her novel different to how most other authors would of done.

This novel covers many different topics and makes you feel so many different emotions,

I would urge everybody to get a copy of this book as it is a great summer read that you can get through in no time. I am definitely going to read more novels by Elin as her writing style is just perfect and if this book is anything to go by all of her books will be great!

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Counterfeit Supergirl: All that Glitters - Casey Fields (Jenny Foster)

Do you ever get the feeling that your life needs a little pick me up, but you just don't know where to start? You may feel alone with these thoughts, but the truth is most people are having a little life crisis on a daily basis. This book is designed to make your re-evaluate what you want out of life, but most importantly it shows you the changes you will need to make in order to turn your daydreams into reality. So embrace all your problems, laugh at your many issues, and turn your back on everything that no longer makes me smile. Just sit back and join me on this ride where together we will slowly tear our old lives apart and rebuild them, brick by happy brick.



Firstly thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am not really sure where to start with this review as I have never read a book like this before. This book is pretty much a self-help book but with so much character, humour and real life, unlike the more formal self-help books. I thought this was a great way to write a book (and a book of this genre) as it was so real, it was told straight to the point and no beating around the bush about anything. Basically it told you if you want something to go and bloody get it!

The writing style used made the book so easy to read and as it is only quite short I got through it in a day. You could laugh along with this book the whole way through. It is like you are reading the author's diary whilst also evaluating your own life based on what she is saying. In the end you might actually decide to change what you are doing and make a new life for yourself!

I would read this book if you are looking for a quick, quirky read that you can laugh at and at yourself alot! Or even if you are looking to change your life! It is well and truly a self-help book with a difference!

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How to Get a (Love) Life by Rosie Blake

Some people book last-minute holidays, walk barefoot in the grass or party on a week night. Not Nicola Brown. Nicola is the kind of girl who double-locks the front door, leaves the plastic covering on new furniture, sticks to a super-strict diet and definitely, absolutely Does Not Date.

Her colleague Caroline – loopy, warm and exasperated by her, knows that Nicola's reluctance to lose control means she's living only half a life. And so she lays down the gauntlet: Nicola must cast aside her hang ups and go on as many dates as it takes to find true love in time for Valentine's Day.

The pick of local men is, quite frankly, a bit rubbish. And there are only three months until February 14th. Surely it's an impossible task? But, as Nicola is about to find out on her dodgy dates, letting go isn't quite as scary as she imagined. In fact, it's rather a lot of fun..

I saw a lot of hype surrounding this book when it was released but as my TBR pile was very high, I decided to wait until I had freed up some reading space before I got it. I then spotted it on Amazon a few months ago for free! Yes FREE! So I couldn't resist!

First of all I know you shouldn't judge a book by it’s cover but look how pretty it is?! It stands out so well that it would make anybody pick it up! The second thing is that line at the beginning of the book! I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about it as everyone has picked up on it but as soon as I read it I laughed out loud and knew I’d love this book! If you haven’t read the book are you intrigued now? If so buy a copy of the book and you can see what I’m talking about!

Obviously as this is Rosie’s first book I hadn't read anything by her before and wasn't sure of her writing style etc, but I enjoyed this book from the start, it was light, funny and just flowed so easily. Rosie has a great way of getting you hooked into the story and making you effortlessly fly through the book. This was one of those books that I lost track of time reading because you don’t look up once you start reading.

The lead character Nicola is given the challenge by her work colleague Caroline to find a date for Valentines Day, as she has never had a date for the most romantic day of the year before, and it ends up being a lot harder than Nicola thought it would be. We get to go along on the dates with her and experience the disasters that come with them, so many times I felt myself going red with embarrassment for her! Will she end up finding a date? You will have to read the book and find out!

Rosie has created the perfect lead character in Nicola, she is so funny and easy to relate to, which made it so easy to feel like you are on her journey with her. Everything that Nicola goes through is so believable and nothing is too far-fetcher that you think ’no way’, you just think that at the things that happen to Nicola because you are so embarrassed for her! The whole way through the book I was rooting for her hoping she would find the right guy eventually. The additional character likes Caroline and Mark are all interesting and add to the humour of the book. I think Rosie has provided us with the perfect mix of characters!

Although you could predict the ending slightly it takes away nothing from the story itself and is still just as cute as it would be if you didn’t know it was coming. That is all I am going to say because I want everybody to read this book to find out what happens!

This book definitely deserves the hype it has been given and for a debut novel it is amazing. Rosie is a very talented writer with the ability to keep you enjoying the story from start to finish. I would recommend this book to anybody that wants a light, fun read. I cannot wait for more books from Rosie.

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