29.8.10

New to Dot Scribbles Shelves

Lots of lovely books here this week at Dot Scribbles! I took full advantage of Waterstones 3 for 2 offer and bought the following:

Like Bees to Honey by Caroline Smailes (Friday Fiction) Nina, her son Christopher in tow flies to Malta to visit her aging parents one last time. Her previous attempt to see them ended in tears. Disowned for falling pregnant while at university in England, she was not allowed into the house. This will be her final chance to make peace with them. But Malta holds more secrets and surprises than Nina could possibly imagine. What she finds is not the land of her youth, a place full of memories and happiness. Instead she meets dead people. Lots of them. Malta, it transpires, is a transit lounge for recently deceased spirits and somehow Christopher enables her to see them, speak with them and help them. And in return Nina comes to terms with her own loss. One so great that she has yet to admit it to herself.

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova (Sphere) Dr Andrew Marlow has a perfectly ordered life, full of devotion to his work and the painting hobby he loves. This order is destroyed when renowned artist Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery and becomes his patient. As Oliver refuses to speak, Marlow's only clue is the beautiful haunted woman Oliver paints obsessively, day after day. Who is she, and what strange hold does she have over this tormented genius? Desperate to help, Marlow embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closer to Oliver, and to a dark story at the heart of French Impressionism- a tragedy that ripples out to touch present-day lives.


The Taste of Sorrow by Jude Morgan (Headline Review) The Bronte sisters, the drama, the passion, and a story that lives forever.

I have received two lovely books for review which I am really looking forward to:


Single in the City by Michele Gorman (Penguin) It's official. Hannag has left her friends and family in the US behind and is following her dream. To live in London. Hannah's looking for:
1. Her dream guy. A prince or Hugh Grant would be nice. Or does she have to settle for her half-naked Australian house-mate or an English gentleman with terrible hygiene habits?
2. Her dream job. Something fantastic on fashion. So how has she ended up being the mini-me for an evil party planner who doesn't even trust her to arrange the paper clips?>
3. Her dream friends. But everyone in London seems to have known each other for years and Hannah doesn't know the rules of engagement, Who's she going to have fun with?


Stolen Child by Laura Elliot (Avon)
When Carla Kelly and Robert Gardner marry, they seem destined for happiness. But tragedy strikes when their two-day-old baby, Isobel is stolen. Distraught, they must cope with the media frenzy that follows at the same time as searching for their precious child. Meanwhile, miles away in a small country town, Joy, miracle baby, is the adored only child of Susanne and David Dowling. But Susanne is harbouring a terrible secret and in her determination to remain undiscovered, rears Joy in isolation. But Carla's love for her child burns fiercely. Leaving no stone unturned in her search, she will sacrifice everything to prove that her beloved Isobel still lives. As the years pass, hope dwindles- but for the stolen child, secrets long hidden will be uncovered and brought into the light.

If you have read any of these then let me know what you thought!

27.8.10

Book Review: I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

I Heart New York is the first in the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk and it is fabulous! I accidentally read the latest book in the series first which I loved so the lovely Charlotte from Harper kindly sent me the first two books so that I could start from the beginning.
Angela Clarke flees to New York after she finds her boyfriend Mark with his pants round his ankles cheating on her with his new tennis partner. She shuts herself away in a glamorous hotel and starts abusing the mini-bar. Jenny, the hotel's concierge comes to the rescue, she picks Angela up and shows her the glorious city of New York. Soon Angela has a new wardrobe, new hair, a new writing job plus dates with two very eligible men. She has to decide whether New York is going to be her new life or whether she must stop running away and return to face the music at home.
Angela Clarke is the best part of the book for me, as a character I find her entirely believable. She is a Libran like me so completely indecisive and always trying to create some kind of balance in her life. The relationship that she forges with Jenny is also a really important part of the book. Jenny is exactly the kind of friend that every girl needs, always there with a bottle of wine and a shoulder to cry on but also not afraid to point out when you are wrong about something.
I cannot recommend these books by Lindsey Kelk enough, they're so good and I can't wait to find out what happens in I Heart Hollywood.

25.8.10

Book Review: The Fame Factor by Polly Courtney

By day, Zoe Kidd lives a tedious existence, following orders and trying to appease her parents. By night, she's the raucous lead singer of all-girl rock band Dirty Money.
For six years, Dirty Money has toured the London scene, playing pubs, clubs, shopping centres and the odd public toilet. They're gifted, they're beautiful and they're determined to make it to the top.
So when the American hit-maker Louis Castle appears at one of their gigs with talk of record deals and stadium tours, it seems as though their dreams are finally beginning to come true. But fame turns out to be more elusive and troublesome than any of the girls could imagine...
Polly Courtney wrote The Fame Factor after having experience of the music industry herself plus having friends in unsigned bands trying to hit the big time.
It took me a while to get into this book but once I was hooked I couldn't put it down, I wanted to know more and more about the ruthless industry that Zoe is trying to break into.
Some would say that Polly Courtney paints a negative picture of the music industry but really she is showing that it can be fantastic as long as you go into it with your eyes open. This is something that Zoe fails to do, it takes her a long time to realise that she is no longer in control of her own life or destiny.
I have really enjoyed The Fame Factor and I think that it is a book that a lot of people will identify with whether they want to be a rock star or not. If you truly want to follow your dreams you have got to put in all the hard work and take the rough with the smooth, as Zoe discovers, you have to sure of what you really want.

Many thanks to Avon for sending me The Fame Factor to review, it is published today.

23.8.10

Book Review: The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her House is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin, Henry VI of England fails to recognise her as a kindred spirit, and even more when he sinks into madness. Worst of all for Margaret is discovering that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.
Married to a man twice her age, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son Henry on the throne of England, regardless of the cost. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty she sends Henry into exile and pledges him in marriage to the daughter of her enemy Elizabeth Woodville. She feigns loyalty to the usurper King Richard III, marries one of his faithful supporters and and masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time- all the while knowing that her son is growing to manhood, recruiting an army, his eyes on the greatest prize.
The Red Queen is the second in The Cousin's War series by Philippa Gregory. I loved The White Queen and have really looked forward to reading the next installment. The White Queen dealt with Elizabeth Woodville on the York side of the War of the Roses whereas The Red Queen focuses on Margaret Beaufort who is Lancaster through and through. Both books deal with exactly the same period of history and it is fascinating to see both sides of the same story. However we also have to remember that this isn't just a story, the events are actually true and Margaret Beaufort greatly influenced England's history by getting her son Henry on the throne who then went on to produce the infamous Henry VIII.
Margaret Beaufort believes that she is England's answer to Joan of Arc, her sole aim in life is to see her son wear the royal crown as she believes that it is his divine right to rule. The whole book sees her devising plot after plot to secure the throne; each time she puts herself, her son and her allies in danger of death as if they are discovered then they would surely be tried for treason and if found guilty would pay with their lives. I still cannot decide what I think of this woman, I understand that she believed her son should rule but she gives up and risks so much. You begin to wonder just how selfish she was, was she really fighting for her son or was it her own ambitions?
Philippa Gregory paints a wonderful picture again of this time in our history. It really must have been a very unsettling environment to live in, people were hatching plots all over the place. Margaret Beaufort has to rely on her great faith on many occasions, at one point she doesn't know if her own husband will fight on the Lancaster side or whether he will support the York King.
I've really enjoyed reading The Red Queen and it has made  me want to read more books set in this tumultuous time. I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you have read The White Queen. These are my favourite so far of Philippa Gregory's books and I hope there are many more to come.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book to review, it is in shops now.

19.8.10

Book Review: Juliet by Anne Fortier

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety deposit box in Siena, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a precarious journey into the history of her ancestor Guiletta whose love for a young man named Romeo inspired Shakespeare's unforgettable story.
As Julie crosses paths with the families who turned medieval Siena upside down, she begins to realise that the notorious curse- 'a plague on both your houses'- is still at work.
I was really excited to receive this book from Harper as I love Shakespeare and have always been fascinated with the story of Romeo and Juliet. Anne Fortier has created such an intriguing story as she explores the way in which fact and fiction often cross paths throughout history.
This book reminded me a little of Kate Mosses's books such as Labyrinth or Sepulchre but I think that Juliet had a much faster pace which I enjoyed. It is quite a long book but you are right in the thick of it from the very beginning, I couldn't stop turning the pages.
The book jumps between the present day and Siena back in 1340, the chapters in the past explain a part of the puzzle that Juliet is trying to solve in the present. I found myself looking forward to these chapters as I knew that I would be getting some more answers to the mystery that Julie finds herself in. There are quotes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet throughout the book, each chapter also begins with one and they help to tie the story together.
Anne Fortier offers many surprises plus the odd red herring. There is a lot to take in with this book as it spans across so much time but it is definitely worth it. If you are a fan of Shakespeare then you would greatly enjoy this book. If you are not a fan of the Bard, you would still be reading a great book full of mystery, history and romance.

Many thanks to Harper for sending me a copy to review, Juliet is published today.

18.8.10

Book Review: The Poisoned House by Michael Ford + GIVEAWAY!!

Abi is servant at Greave Hall, a stately London home. She runs away, but is soon recaptured, to suffer once more under the tyrannical rule of Mrs Cotton, the housekeeper. The house though, has a darker secret. Something ghostly inhabits the corridors leading Abi to the very truth someone has tried so hard to bury. The more she discovers, the more her life is in danger, as she begins to unravel the mystery within the poisoned house.
I saw this book in the Bloomsbury catalogue a while ago and I was really looking forward to receiving a copy to review. The blurb sounded very mysterious and I like the spooky cover too.
The whole story revolves around Abi and her life at Greave Hall; we know from the very first page that she is desperate to leave as we watch her attempt at a midnight escape. Her failed escape introduces the reader to the extremely sinister Mrs Cotton; she is the housekeeper but also the sister-in-law of the widowed Lord Greave. She is very much a Mrs Danvers character, always watching and listening to everything while hatching some malicious plan.
It is the spooky events in Greave Hall that lead Abi to question those around her. Michael Ford builds the tension gradually and you have to add to it that Abi is completely isolated during these terrifying events, she has no-one to turn to.
The last few chapters are particularly fast paced as Abi comes to clearly understand that her life is in danger. There are many twists and turns and you do not know until the very end whether Abi will survive the poisoned house or not.
I would highly recommend this highly atmospheric book to both young adult and adult readers, it is a spine tingling page turner. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this book.

Luckily for readers of Dot Scribbles I received two copies of The Poisoned House so I am offering one of them as a giveaway. To enter simply leave a comment containing your email address, this is open worldwide and entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday, August 27th, good luck!

16.8.10

Book Review: The C-Word by Lisa Lynch

The last thing Lisa Lynch expected to put on her things to do before you're 30 list was beating breast cancer, but thems the breaks. So with her life on hold, and her mind close to capacity with unspoken fears, questions and emotions, she turned to her Mac and started blogging about the frustrating, life altering, sheer-pain-in-the-arse inconvenience of getting breast cancer at the age of 28.
The C-Word is an unflinchingly honest and darkly humorous account of Lisa's battle with The Bullshit as she came to call it. From the good days when she could almost pretend it wasn't happening, to the bad days when she couldn't bear to wake up. Lisa's story is emotional, heartbreaking and often hilarious. The C-Word will make you laugh and cry and ultimately reaffirm your faith in life. 
My sister lent me this book after telling me how brilliant she thought it was, she wasn't wrong! Lisa Lynch wrote much of the book as a blog when she discovered that she had breast cancer at the age of 28. She is frank throughout the book, she really does tell it as it is which can make difficult but important reading. I say important because I think that  most people come into contact with cancer in some way during their lives. I have had friends whose mums have had breast cancer but you don't always feel right in asking too many questions about it but I think that Lisa Lynch addresses most things that I have ever wondered about.
As the synopsis says, reading The C-Word reaffirms your faith in life. Lisa Lynch is not looking for pity or pats on the back, she is just telling people about her experience. Her young married life was turned upside down and her and her husband's future were changed forever. Being nearly the same age and only a year into marriage it definitely made me question how I would handle such a situation. Realistically I have no idea but I would hope I would have just a tiny shred of the courage, honesty and humour that Lisa Lynch expresses in this brilliantly open book.

12.8.10

Book Review: Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

Switch off those TVs, kill your mobiles and settle down with the most controversial book ever written. Once denounced as 'wicked', 'sordid', 'cheap moral filth' Peyton Place was the top read of its time, selling millions of copies worldwide.
Way before Twin Peaks, Survivor or Big Brother, the curtains were twitching in the mythical New England town of Peyton Place, and this soapy story exposed the dirty secrets of 1950s small town America: incest, abortion, adultery, repression and lust.
This book is so, so good, it was the brilliant reviews on Savidge Reads and Novel Insights that made me want to read it and I am so glad I did.
Grace Metalious's writing is wonderful, it feels as though she has made you a homemade glass of lemonade and invited you to sit on her front porch so you can watch the events of Peyton Place unfold. Whilst this book us probably not that shocking to readers in 2010, I can understand why it was banned in the 1950s and caused such uproar.
Grace Metalious was extremely brave to write about so many controversial subjects in one book: incest, rape, abortion, illegitimate children, murder and so on. It's quite sad in a way that we are not overly shocked to come across such subjects in current books but at the time of publication these must have been a surprise to some readers.
Allison Mackenzie is the character who ties the whole story together, we watch her grow up as the story unfolds. Peyton Place has many characters, you would think it would get quite confusing but instead you have a feeling that you are moving into a small town and meeting all the neighbours.
I loved the idea that to the outsider, Peyton Place is a sleepy town where nothing exciting happens whereas it is really a hot bed of scandal and gossip, rife with secrets and misconceptions.
I think that in many ways this book is beautifully timeless and will be relevant for many years to come, I would highly recommend giving this one a go, you wouldn't regret it.

10.8.10

New to Dot Scribbles Shelves

I had some lovely packages waiting for me when I returned from my holiday, three books for review this week:

Juliet by Anne Fortier (Harper 19th August) When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety deposit box in Siena, she is told it will lead her to old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a precarious journey  into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose love for a young man names Romeo inspired Shakespeare's unforgettable story. As Julie crosses paths with the families who turned medieval Siena upside down, she begins to realise that the notorious curse- 'a plague on both your houses'- is still at work.


Glee The Beginning by Sophia Lowell (Headline 5th August) All great performances deserve a warm up! Enroll early at McKinley High to discover what went on before New Directions was even a glimmer in Mr Schuester's eye. When did Rachel first decide Finn was more than just a jock? When did Puck and Quinn start their secret romance? And how did the fledgling Glee Club function without a fearless leader? Hint: It wasn't exactly a perfect melody.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory (Simon & Schuster 19th August) Following the No. 1 best selling The White Queen, Philippa Gregory moves to the story of a determined woman who believes she is destined to shape the course of history. Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her House is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin, Henry VI of England, fails to recognise her as a kindred spirit, and even more when he sinks into madness. Worst of all for Margaret is discovering that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales. Married to a man twice her age, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son Henry on the throne of England regardless of the cost. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty she sends Henry into exile and pledges him in marriage to the daughter of her enemy Elizabeth Woodville. She feigns loyalty to the usurper King Richard III, marries one of his faithful supporters and then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time- all the while knowing that her son is growing into manhood , recruiting an army, his eyes on the greatest prize.

I also bought one book this week after the cover caught my eye:

Shadows and Lies by Marjorie Eccles (Allison & Busby) It is 1910 and the bloodstained body of an unknown woman is found in the grounds of Sir Henry Chetwynd's Shropshire estate. It is a murder that unveils dark shadows of the past, and has an unexpected impact on the lives of Sir Henry Chetwynd and his family. But it is not only the Chetwynds whose lives lie under a shadow: Hannah, living in London, has lost part of her memory after being involved in a serious accident. As she attempts to piece together the fragments of those missing years, it seems that the events in Shropshire could hold the key.

Do let me know if you have read any of these or heard anything interesting about them!

9.8.10

Book Review: Daughters of Fortune by Tara Hyland

William Melville's daughters are heiresses to the world's most exclusive fashion dynasty. Beautiful and rich, they are envied by all. But behind the glittering facade of their lives, each hides a dark secret that threatens to tear their family apart.
Smart, ambitious Elizabeth knows how to manipulate every man she meets, except the one who counts: her father.
Gentle, naive Caitlin, the illegitimate child, struggling into a world of privilege while staying true to herself.
Stunning, spoilt Amber, the party girl with a weakness for bad boys; more fragile than anyone realises.
As each of them seeks to carve out her own destiny, Elizabeth, Caitlin and Amber face difficult choices which will take them in wildly different directions. But as old wounds resurface and threaten to destroy the foundations of the Melville empire, their paths will cross again. Because the simple truth is that, no matter how far you go, you cannot escape the claims of family.
Daughters of Fortune is Tara Hyland's first book and it is brilliant. I was hooked from the very first page and I was a little sad when I reached the final page as I just wanted it to continue.
It is a saga in that it involves members of the same family across a few generations but it has a very fresh and modern feel to it. By focusing on a fashion dynasty, the author is able to bring in the glamour and the exotic locations plus the ruthlessness to be at the top of the game.
Caitlin was my favourite character, she is the catalyst for the whole plot. Her arrival as the illegitimate child alters the whole dynamic and futures of the Melville family. Plus it's great as she offers an outsider's view of this famous and wealthy family and we see all the struggles she has in order to fit in with their world.
It has to be said though that I enjoyed all the characters that Tara Hyland had created, I felt as though none of them were superfluous, they all had a part to play, however small.
Daughters of Fortune is such an enjoyable book, it has a little bit of everything , I am excited about what Tara Hyland will treat her readers to next.

5.8.10

Book Review: Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Tilly Bagshawe

Grace Brookstein is young, beautiful and the wife of billionaire Lenny Brookstein when the US stock market goes into a terrifying free fall. Oblivious and seemingly unscathed, Grace continues her charmed life, until the death of her husband in a tragic sailing "accident" forces her to face reality. Was it possible that Lenny had conned thousands of people out of millions of dollars to live like a king, and how much did Grace know?
Untangling a spiralling web is vicious lies and well planned deceit, Grace soon puts her own life in danger in an attempt to prove her innocence.
Tilly Bagshawe writing as Sidney Sheldon is excellent, this book is full of glamour, sex, intrigue and mystery. I have never actually read a Sidney Sheldon book but I shall be catching up with his other books, what a great way to continue his legacy by introducing new readers to his writing in this way.
After the Darkness is set in the recent crash of the US stock market so obviously it is extremely relevant to readers who have watched the real life events unfold across the world. Lenny Brookstein runs a Hedge fund which in itself is shrouded in mystery. Tilly Bagshawe explores how many people benefited from extraordinary wealth without ever questioning where it came from.
Grace Brookstein embodies this unquestioning nature, married to Lenny and surrounded by glamour, wealth and opulence, she never once stopped to wonder where all the money came from as she was too busy spending it. All of this changes though with Lenny's death and I loved seeing the transformation in Grace. She is stripped of everything with no-one to turn to for support and the interesting part of the story is that she doesn't necessarily mourn the loss of wealth but instead begins to look at the simplicity of life without it. Grace's first instinct is to gain the truth, this sends her on a terrifying journey where she is constantly putting her own life at risk.
I read After the Darkness in one day as I didn't want to put it down. Each twist and turn just left me wanting more, I would highly recommend this excellent book.

Many thanks to Harper for sending me a copy of this book to review, it is published today.

4.8.10

Book Review: Up Close and Personal by Leonie Fox

Juliet, Nicole and Yasmin. Best friends forever. Stunning, sexy and anything but sensible.
Yasmin is a straight talking game player who's got no-strings ex down to  T. So why is she suddenly craving commitment from the one man she cannot have.
Nicole is trapped in a passionless marriage but tangled up in a passionate affair. Should she risk the safety of her happy-ever-after for something that's oh-so-sexy but oh-so-risky?
They both envy Juliet who seems to have it all. She's bagged a gorgeous toy boy of a husband, but is she still entertaining naughty thoughts about a dangerous old flame?
These girls will go to the ends of the earth for one another... and any lengths to get their man. But when everything starts to unravel, will they choose friendship- or sex?
I haven't read Leonie Fox's other books so I didn't really know what to expect. The blurb sounded very promising but I have to say that it doesn't match what this book is about. I was expecting these three women to be fighting over men but in the book they all have their own love interests and are nothing but supportive of each other.
My favourite character was Nicole, she is probably the character who changes the most in the book and you are willing her to stick up for herself the whole time.
Up Close and Personal is a really fun read that looks at what happens when you fall for someone that you didn't expect to. This highly enjoyable read is published by Penguin on August 5th.

3.8.10

Book Review: No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Lou Bertignac has an IQ of 160 and a good friend called Lucas who gets her through the school day. At home her father cries in secret and her mother hasn't been out of their flat properly for years.
The Lou meets and becomes friends with No, a teenage girl living on the streets, and asks her parents if No can come to live with them. No's sudden presence within Lou's fractured family has an explosive force which will change the lives of Lou- and her parents- forever.
I really wasn't sure what to make of this book when I received it but I am pleased that I read it as I think it is great and extremely thought provoking. The book has been translated from the original French and is actually set in the city of Paris.
Lou's relationship with No starts out as a school project but eventually their relationship seeps into every part of her life. Lou is different, she is only 13 years old but her IQ has placed her two years ahead and therefore surrounded by people older than her. No is 18 years old but Lou and her have an extremely strong connection, strong enough for Lou to ask her parents if No can come and live with them rather than sleeping on the streets.
Delphine de Vigan explores the huge difficulty that homeless people have in integrating into society again and just how desperate and frustrating their situations can be.
At first I felt that Lou simply wanted to help No but as the book progresses I started to see that Lou perhaps sees No as the answer to some of her problems especially those surrounding her parents.
No and Me is a very powerful book and I think that it is perfect for young adult readers as it raises so many questions. I would highly recommend this book, it would be great for a book group or for the starting point of exploring homelessness with young people.

This book was published yesterday by Bloomsbury.

1.8.10

I'm back!!!

Dot Scribbles is back, thank you for all your lovely comments about having a good holiday! Mr S and I had a lovely time and returned home on Saturday to meet our beautiful new nephew Harry who was born while we were away!!
I have had a good old relax and managed to read 5 books so I shall have reviews of the following coming up shortly:

  • No and Me by Delphine de Vigan
  • Daughters of Fortune by Tara Hyland
  • Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
  • Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness by Tilly Bagshawe
  • Up Close and Personal by Leonie Fox

All change here!

I have made the decision to stop doing written reviews on here for a little while. I shall keep this page open but for the time being I sha...