Recently I've Read - September 2016

I'm incredibly late posting this monthly round up and that's mainly because September was a pretty fruitful month when it came to reading.  It's fair to say I was looking for love in my September reads, with lots of commercial romantic fiction, but I also enjoyed a fair amount of manga too, which I'll wrote about in a separate post. 

Step Back in Time - Ali McNamara

 

 

The Blurb
How many lifetimes would you travel to find a love that lasts for ever?
When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car, she awakes to find herself in 1963. The fashion, the music, her job, even her romantic life: everything is different. And then it happens three more times, and Jo-Jo finds herself living a completely new life in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The only people she can rely on are Harry and Ellie, two companions from 2013, and George, the owner of a second-hand record store.
If she's ever to return from her travels, Jo-Jo must work out why she's jumping through time like this. And if she does make it back, will her old life ever be the same again?

My Thoughts
A great read with romance, time travel and a whole lot of Beatles references! 
This was a fun and original story which had me chuckling along as protagonist Jo-Jo found herself leaping between the decades.  The attention to detail in each era made this perfect for book for anyone with a nostalgic bone in their body, and I absolutely adored record shop owner George.
My first Ali McNamara book, but certainly not my last!

Read Me Like a Book - Liz Kessler

 



The Blurb
The first YA novel from bestselling author Liz Kessler, Read Me Like A Book is a brave, honest and vital coming-out story that follows one girl's exploration of love, identity and sexuality.
Ashleigh Walker is having a difficult year. She's struggling at school, and coming home to parents who are on the verge of divorce. She knows she should be happy spending time with her boyfriend - but, for some reason, being around him just makes her worry more. It's only in her English teacher, Miss Murray, that she feels she's found a kindred spirit. Miss Murray helps Ashleigh develop her writing skills and her confidence - but what happens when boundaries begin to blur? What will the repercussions be for Ashleigh? And how will she navigate her own sexuality?

My Thoughts
An engaging and relevant coming of age story which will appeal to both YA and adult readership. This was an extremely readable tale and I rooted for Ashleigh as she explored her own sexuality.  There have been more LGBT+ books published again lately, and if they are all of this quality then I'm sure they'll be a welcome addition to bookshelves everywhere.

Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner - Helen Cox

 

 

 

The Blurb

Esther Knight is sharp, sarcastic – and hiding something. She waitresses at The Starlight Diner: a retro eatery where Fifties tunes stream out of the jukebox long into the night, and the tastiest milkshakes in New York are served.

Nobody at the diner knows why Esther left London for America – or why she repeatedly resists the charms of their newest regular, actor Jack Faber.

Esther is desperate to start a new life in the land of the free, but despite the warm welcome from the close-knit diner crowd, something from her past is holding her back. Can she ever learn to love and live again?

Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner is a witty, romantic, New York-inspired novel.

 

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed Milkshakes and Heartbreaks at the Starlight Diner.  The cover and the blurb and mainly cheery and uplifting, but don't be fooled, this isn't all ice cream sundaes and eggs sunny side up.  Esther is a far more enigmatic character than that.

I loved how this book tackled some darker plot lines whilst still having a warm humour to add a delightful balance to the novel.

This is the first book in a series and I'm very much looking forward to the next.  Service please!

 

 

Keeping Her Secret - Sarah Nicholas

 

 

The Blurb

The last person Riya Johnson expected to run into at her new summer camp is Courtney Chastain—her childhood best friend and the girl who broke her heart after a secret, mind-blowing, life-altering kiss. She definitely didn’t expect to be sharing a bunk bed with her for four long weeks.

Courtney has what every girl wants—she’s beautiful, rich, and the object of every boy’s desire at Camp Pine Ridge. Too bad none of them make her feel an iota of what Riya’s kiss did all those years ago. But Courtney needs to uphold appearances at all costs—even if it means instigating an all-out prank war with Riya as her main target.
Neither girl can stop thinking about the other…but that doesn’t mean they can give up past hurts and take a chance on a future together.

 

My Thoughts

Riya and Courtney used to be friends. Then they kissed and everything changed. Now their paths have crossed at camp and it's time to assess if they are friends or if there's something more between them...
Full of angst, camp pranks and f/f romance, this is a cute book from Entangled, but I'd have liked more of the romance and 'aww' of the later sections earlier on.                   

Miss You - Kate Eberlen

 

 

 

The Blurb

Tess and Gus are meant to be. They just haven't met properly yet. And perhaps they never will . . .
Today is the first day of the rest of your life is the motto on a plate in the kitchen at home, and Tess can't get it out of her head, even though she's in Florence for a final, idyllic holiday before university. Her life is about to change forever - but not in the way she expects.
Gus and his parents are also on holiday in Florence. Their lives have already changed suddenly and dramatically. Gus tries to be a dutiful son, but longs to escape and discover what sort of person he is going to be.
For one day, the paths of an eighteen-year-old girl and boy criss-cross before they each return to England.
Over the course of the next sixteen years, life and love will offer them very different challenges. Separated by distance and fate, there's no way the two of them are ever going to meet each other properly . . . or is there?

My Thoughts
I adored this book!  The near-misses of Tess and Gus had me hooked from the very first page.  Kate Eberlen has created two characters that I genuinely cared about, with a supporting cast of interesting periphery characters to back them up.  None of them were two dimensional, they were real and flawed and utterly believable.
As well as wonderfully rich characters, this book had me longing to be back in the beautiful city of Florence, encapsulating the magic of place perfectly.
I've recommended this book to everyone I know - if you love a love story (and I absolutely do) then you really must read Miss You.  One of my favourite books of 2016, hands down.

 

The Honey Trap - Mary Jayne Baker

 

 

 

The Blurb

The trap is set – but which one of them is the bait?
Journalist Angel Blackthorne is looking for her next big scoop. When her sleazy editor asks her to use her charms on super successful – and married – film director Sebastian Wilchester for a juicy exposé, Angel thinks what the hell? There’s a staff job on the horizon, and, let’s be honest, no one can make a cheater cheat if they don’t want to, right?
After the scandal breaks, Angel tries to put the story – and Seb – behind her, but fate seems to have other ideas. A near miss at a premiere after-party and a shared love of vintage film brings the honey closer to the trap.
But what happens when pretence leads to passion, and a ‘kiss and tell’ becomes something real?

 

My Thoughts

Fun, flirty and at points downright filthy, The Honey Trap is the story of Angel, who works for a tabloid newspaper, and big name film producer Seb. When Angel's boss asks her to act as a 'honey trap' in order to get compromising photos and a sensationalist headline, sparks begin to fly between the two of them...
What I loved most about this was the balance between humour and sexiness - it was a red hot read in places! There were also tender moments and little twists which made me eager to keep reading. Although to be honest I fell a little bit in love with Seb along the way too, and once I love a hero I'm always hooked. If this book is anything to go by Mary Jayne Baker definitely knows how to write a delicious male lead! I'm looking forward to what's to come next from this debut author.
If you've loved the balance of wit and sex in Debbie Johnson's books, you'll adore this one.

 

The One with the Wedding Dress - Erin Lawless

 

 

 

The Blurb

For fans of romantic comedies like Bridesmaids and Four Weddings & a Funeral, and bestselling authors Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Oliver, this is a hilarious new romantic comedy series about one bride and her four best friends.

 

My thoughts

Following on from The One with the Engagement Party, The One with the Wedding Dress reintroduces bride to be Nora and her flock of bridesmaids as they head to the Cotswolds in search of the perfect wedding day attire. Of course, in true romcom fashion there are hitches along the way and that combined with the wit and pun-tastic humour I've come to expect from Erin Lawless makes for a fun second instalment of the Bridesmaids series.
I love books that are centred around a group of friends and these girls have totally captured my heart - I can't help noticing flickers of my own pals in their character traits and I'm wondering which of the wedding party I myself have most in common with!
I'm loving watching these characters develop and can't wait to find out what happens in part three!  

 

Recently I've Read...A Whole Lot of Romance

I've read some fantastic romance lately!  Here are the books that have set my heart aflutter - perfect love stories for long summer nights.

 

The One with the Engagement Party - Erin Lawless

 

 

Nora and Harry have just got engaged and so of course, it's time to celebrate! With their friends by their side they can start planning for the big day, but they each have their own hurdles to overcome. Perfect summer reading which left me gagging for more. Heartwarming and humorous, The One with the Engagement Party is Erin Lawless at her best.

The Sunshine and Biscotti Club - Jenny Oliver

 

 

Jenny Oliver whisked me away to the sun with this story of a group of friends helping to set up a baking holiday resort. As ever Oliver's descriptions of the food - aroma, taste, texture - are fantastic. Each character grows as the story progresses which makes this a satisfying romantic read. The only reason I didn't give this 5* is that it took me a long time to differentiate between the characters, especially the males, which meant I was referring back to make sure I wasn't getting muddled. All in all, a delightful summer read.

The Little Bookshop on the Seine - Rebecca Raisin

 

 

I loved this book! A story of self discovery and long distance romance set in a Paris bookshop. Rebecca writes setting and description beautifully - and creates characters that are easy to relate to through common themes of friendship, love and trust. A comforting read which I quickly became engrossed in - Rebecca Raisin has come up trumps again!  

 

Give them a try - they're the perfect blend of uplifting fun and love-riddled angst.  They're all available NOW.                 

The Making of Us- Erin Lawless

The Blurb
HarperImpulse are delighted to introduce brilliant debut author Erin Lawless… perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Katy Regan and David Nicholls!

A free teaser of Erin Lawless’s fabulous debut The Best Thing I Never Had, complete with extra scenes and character biographies.

The Review

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Erin Lawless.  I absolutely raved about The Best Thing I Never Had back in 2013 and this summer's wonderful Somewhere Only We Know was better still.  I'd somehow missed that there was this freebie teaser for Erin's debut title, so I was delighted when I stumbled across it on Amazon.  More stories from one of my favourite authors!

The Making of Us is a collection of short snapshot moments using characters from The Best Thing I Never Had.   I love the banter between the students in the stories and particularly enjoyed the story of a forfeit following a lost bet!  There's also character profiles which reveal additional information about the friendship group.

If you've not read anything by Erin Lawless, this is a great way to get acquainted with her humorous, easy style and if you read and enjoyed her debut you'll enjoy the opportunity to know a bit more about her characters. 

It made me long for more!

The Making of Us is free and available to download from Amazon.  Published by Harper Impulse.

I read this as part of #HIReadathon 2015.  To get involved, follow the hashtag.

Somewhere Only We Know- Erin Lawless

The Blurb

‘Engaging modern day romantic fiction, that will make you smile all the way through.’ – Bestselling Irish author Carmel Harrington

Boy meets girl…

Alex Bradley can't help but feel that life is rather passing him by. And not just life – promotions, invitations, romance; the girl he loves only has eyes for his flatmate and his 9-5 job as the Immigration department skivvy is slowly numbing his soul. Until he meets Nadia.

Girl meets boy…

Nadia Osipova is running out of time. With no money, no lawyer and a totally fictitious boyfriend, she’s got one last summer and one last appeal before the British government deport her back to Russia.

Girl gets deported?

It's going to be a bumpy ride, one she's dragging her new friend Alex along for. As Nadia races through a list of all her favourite London adventures, for what may be the last time, Alex can’t help but start to see the city, and his life, through Nadia’s eyes.

From hazy summer days on the Common and heady nights in Soho’s basement bars, to twilight walks along the Southbank, will Alex realise what he’s got before it’s too late?

Funny, addictive and always honest, this is a love letter to London, friendship and the unexpected from the author of the bestselling The Best Thing I Never Had. 

The Review
 

Show More

At the back end of 2013, I was invited to take part in a blog tour for a book by a debut author.  I wasn't told much about it; only that it was contemporary romance and centred around a group of friends at university.  Despite being up to my eyes in Advent-ures in Fiction, my annual celebration of festive books that runs throughout December, I said yes.  And I'm so glad I did, because that book, The Best Thing I Never Had, was one of my favourite reads not just of that year, but ever.

 

I've been impatiently waiting for a new book from Erin Lawless for the past eighteen months.  I've hounded the poor girl with tweets asking questions, like 'what's the new book called?', 'when's it out?', 'can't you just give me some teensy hints about what the characters are like?'

 

And now, finally, I'm able to say I've read it, and I love it just as much as The Best Thing I Never Had. It is powerful and emotive, it made me laugh, and cry, and feel.

 

Somewhere Only We Know is told from the viewpoints of two central characters- Alex, who works in the immigration department, and Nadia, who is waiting for the government to make a decision about whether or not she can stay in the UK.  The pair start out as strangers, but from the moment Alex lays eyes on Nadia's application he takes a shine to this vivacious girl, someone who has friends fighting for her to be granted permission to stay, someone who loves British life, who has grabbed London by the scruff of the neck and desperately tried to experience all that the city has to offer.

 

I'll admit it.  At the start of the book Alex was a bit irritating. He comes across as a bit of a wimp.  He's a games console geek who spends most nights playing gooseberry and feeling a bit jealous, because his best friend's going out with the girl he himself fancies.

 

But, when Alex and Nadia's paths coincidentally cross, he's forced out of his shell.  Alex tries new things, grows in confidence and becomes someone more fun-loving.  More laid back.  More like Nadia.

 

Their friendship grows and soon they are spending more and more time together.  What they have together is enviable and the easy openness Nadia and Alex share floods off the page.  Honestly, this book gave me so many warm and fuzzies, it's untrue! 

 

Of course, what happens in the future depends on whether Nadia will be given Indefinite Leave to Remain and be able to stay in London.  If she has to return to Russia, she'll be leaving not just Alex, but her friends Holly, Caro and Ledge, who are still backing her application with a desperate, but empty, hope.

 

I cried during the opening chapters and I wept at the end.  This book was devastatingly brilliant, and the warmth of Alex and Nadia's relationship radiated off every page.  It's the kind of book that makes you want to tell those you love just how special they are to you and to wrap them in a bear hug and never, ever let go.

 

Erin Lawless- you've done it again.  Somewhere Only We Know is an absolute triumph.  From now on, whenever I'm asked for my favourite authors your name is going to be right up there.

 

So, I'd better head off to twitter because I've got just one more question...how long until book three's released?!

 

Somewhere Only We Know is released in ebook format on June 11th 2015 and in paperback 16th July 2015, published by Harper Collins' digital first romance imprint Harper Impulse.

 

With thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

 

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday...Somewhere Only We Know- Erin Lawless

This is my first ever Waiting on Wednesday, a weekly feature created by Breaking the Spine.  It's the perfect opportunity to share excitement about upcoming releases!

My first choice is Somewhere Only We Know by Erin Lawless.  I loved Erin's last book The Best Thing I Never Had and it's felt like a long wait for this next release!

 

The Blurb

‘Engaging modern day romantic fiction, that will make you smile all the way through.’ – Bestselling Irish author Carmel Harrington

Boy meets girl…

Alex Bradley can't help but feel that life is rather passing him by. And not just life – promotions, invitations, romance; the girl he loves only has eyes for his flatmate and his 9-5 job as the Immigration department skivvy is slowly numbing his soul. Until he meets Nadia.

Girl meets boy…

Nadia Osipova is running out of time. With no money, no lawyer and a totally fictitious boyfriend, she’s got one last summer and one last appeal before the British government deport her back to Russia.

Girl gets deported?

It's going to be a bumpy ride, one she's dragging her new friend Alex along for. As Nadia races through a list of all her favourite London adventures, for what may be the last time, Alex can’t help but start to see the city, and his life, through Nadia’s eyes.

From hazy summer days on the Common and heady nights in Soho’s basement bars, to twilight walks along the Southbank, will Alex realise what he’s got before it’s too late?

Funny, addictive and always honest, this is a love letter to London, friendship and the unexpected from the author of the bestselling The Best Thing I Never Had.

Somewhere Only We Know is released in ebook format on June 11th, published by Harper Impulse.

Show More

    

Fortune- A Short Story by Erin Lawless HARPER IMPULSE FORTNIGHT

Harper Impulse Fortnight is finally here!  And kicking off the fun is the fabulous Erin Lawless (who wrote the wonderful The Best Thing I Never Had) with an exclusive short story. 

FORTUNE by Erin Lawless

Sarah had always had a hearty appetite, and it had always been a point of amusement for Jack. As it was, she had valiantly matched her old friend course for course, serving for serving, right up until dessert, where the thought of deep-fried fruit was finally enough to make her queasy. Seeing her expression Jack hesitated, before closing the menu and asking instead for the bill.

"It's gonna be massive," he whined, slouching in his chair. "Why do you have to eat so much?" he pointed at chopstick at her accusingly. Sarah batted it away with one of her own.

"Me?" she asked, incredulously. "You had practically that entire duck to yourself!"

They were interrupted by the timely arrival of the bill, placed in a conspicuously inconspicuous manner on a plate piled high with gold-wrapped fortune cookies. Jack whipped the bill out from under them, skimmed it quickly before slipping the waitress his bank card.

"What's the damage?" Sarah asked, reaching for her purse as the waitress went to fetch the card machine.

Jack waved the moist towelette he'd just unwrapped dismissively. "You'll get the next one." Sarah made a mental note to make sure that she did; she and Jack had a long-standing dinner date, the first Friday of every month, without fail.

As Jack duly checked the amount and entered his PIN, Sarah opened one of the cookies.

There is no limit to love's forbearance - to its trust, its hope, and its power to endure.

Sarah read it through three times, then sighed and lowered her hands to the table, the small slip of paper folding between them. The waitress wished them a good evening and left with her cash tip. Jack made a grab for a cookie of his own.

Trust your intuition. The universe is guiding your life.

He waved his fortune at her with a smug expression.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. These things don't actually mean anything."

"What does yours say then?"

"It says, "Help! I'm trapped in a fortune cookie factory"," Sarah joked, reaching for another cookie.

Only love lets us see ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Sarah sighed and a curious Jack pulled the little piece of paper from her fingers. His eyes flicked up to look at his companion. The bridge of her nose was flushed pink and her long fingers were occupied with nervously shredding the golden foil the cookies had come wrapped in. Jack pressed his lips together to suppress a smile. She'd been so edgy these last few months. He'd hoped he'd guessed the reason why. He let the paper flutter down to the tablecloth and reached leisurely for the penultimate cookie.

One who admires you greatly is hidden before your eyes he recited aloud, this time unable to conceal his amusement. Sarah's blush darkened but she maintained an aloof expression, staring into the middle distance.

"These things are just for kids…" she murmured, her agitated fingers plucking and shredding. Jack regarded her in silence for a moment before reaching for the final fortune, extracting it from the cookie and reading it solemnly. Sarah waited for him to announce it in that typical jokey way, but instead he looked up at her, in silence, before folding the small piece of paper in two, sliding it into his wallet and slipping that in turn into his jeans pocket.

He grinned cheerfully at her as he rose from the table.

"C'mon," he said simply, standing at the side of the table and extending a hand to her. "Let's go walk all this food off." Hesitantly Sarah slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her up from her chair. Bidding their farewell and thanks to the waiting staff, they exited the restaurant and set off into the darkened city streets. It was finally the right time. He kept her hand in his.

Jack always kept that little paper fortune tucked in his wallet after that night: Decide what you want and go for it.

 

You can find out more about Erin by visiting her website, facebook or by following her on twitter @rinylou.  Her new novel, Somewhere Only We Know , is available for preorder now.

 

The Best Thing I Never Had- Erin Lawless *blog tour post*

The Blurb
If you fell in love with Mhairi McFarlane’s You Had Me at Hello and David Nicholls’ One Day, then this book is for YOU.

Beware false friends and the smiles of certain boys…

Miles and Nicky are getting married.
Unfortunately, their wedding party is a tangle of ex-housemates, ex-friends and ex-lovers.
Leigha, Sukie and Harriet used to be the best of friends.
Unfortunately, there are some things you just can’t forgive.
Adam and Harriet. They might have been something, once. But definitely not any more…
So this wedding isn’t just a wedding, it’s a reunion.
The Best Thing I Never Had moves back and forth between 2007 and 2012 and seven characters to build up a compelling story, in turns funny and sad, but always honest, about friendship in all its forms and the practicality of second chances.

Review
In The Best Thing I Never Had , Erin Lawless has created characters full of emotion and opinion, and this means readers will be able to relate their characteristics and personality traits to people they know. 

I particularly loved the character of Sukie, who goes off the rails.  Her life seemed so interesting and diverse, I'd have loved to have got to know more about her and her story. 

The university setting reminded me of my own university days filled with drunken nights and dodgy takeaways, and particularly the perils of housesharing and the pressure of the dissertation.  Many authors try and encapsulate this pivotal time in life, but I felt Erin Lawless managed to convey just how young and impressionable students really are and the growth that occurs in the years following university.

A story of love and friendship, The Best Thing I Never Had is accessible and highly readable.  Fans of chicklit, romance and women's fiction will particularly enjoy it, but do be prepared to cry-those heightened emotions related to first love are described exquisitely, the acute pleasure and pain of love, rejection and relationships so very, very real.  I'm not ashamed to say I blubbed reading this book. 

The Best Thing I Never Had is one of the most engaging books I've read this year. I loved it.  I highly recommend clicking on the link below to read the first chapter.

The Best Thing I Never Had is out tomorrow.

9/10