28.3.13

Book review: The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins

Lucy has already done the whole whirlwind, heart-thumping, fairy-tale romance and she knows how it ends. Devastated by her husband's death; she's spent the last five years putting herself back together.
Now Lucy's ready to start over- but this time she's steering clear of any man who poses a risk to her heart.
Yet finding a perfectly boring husband is harder than it sounds, particularly when she's suddenly tempted by the one man she shouldn't want...
The Next Best Thing is an enjoyable read. It is light-hearted yet deals with some very sensitive issues. Lucy Lang has been widowed for five years, she has now decided that it is now time to move on and begin dating again. She immediately meets opposition in the form of The Black Widows; Lucy's mother and aunts who also lost their husbands at a young age. Jimmy's brother Ethan is also a little upset as Lucy informs him that their friends with benefits relationship must also stop. Is Lucy read though, can she truly love another man and why does she miss Ethan so much?
I really enjoyed the fact that Lucy is a baker as I own a cake shop too so I could see where she was coming from with her passion for puddings. A lot of the book takes place at the bakery with The Black Widows, I think they were my favourite aspect of the book as they provided so much humour.
I found Lucy a little irritating at times as I felt that she did  mess certain characters about but I still enjoyed reading her story. Ethan is an extremely likable character and I was hoping he'd find happiness by the end of the book.
The Next Best Thing is the second Mills and Boon book that I have read recently and they have both changed my perceptions of what this publisher has to offer.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Many thanks to Mills and Boon for sending me a copy of this book to review, it is out now.

24.3.13

Book Review: The Death of Lyndon Wilder and the Consequences Thereof by E.A. Dineley

When governess Anna Arbuthnot arrives at Ridey Hall, she finds a house in deep mourning. Lyndon Wilder, the oldest and most beloved son of Lord and Lady Charles has been killed in the Napoleonic wars, leaving behind him a now orphaned daughter, Lottie. Troublesome Lottie soon finds her match in her new governess, Anna who quickly establishes a bond with her young charge but other relationships begin to strain under the weight of Lyndon's absence.
As executor of his brother's will and guardian of Lottie, Major Thomas Wilder is forced to leave the military life he loves, to return to Ridley where he finds his family and estate in chaos.
When an unexpected guest arrives threatening to reveal the truth about Lyndon Wilder to the parents who adore him, Ridley Hall's futre is thrown into question. It is only with Anna's help that Thomas can save Ridley, and most crucially protect his parents from the truth about Lyndon Wilder. 
I have not read any historical fiction for a while but I really enjoyed this book by E. A. Dineley. The whole story revolves around the death of Lyndon Wilder who was killed in the Napoleonic War. His brother, Captain Thomas Wilder is now heir to Ridley Hall and guardian of his niece Lottie. He has to return from his duty to parents who barely know him and view their younger son as a poor replacement for Lyndon. Lady Charles is spectacular in her grief, she will not hear a bad word said about her beloved Lyndon and Major Wilder, although hurt by his mother's attitude, will not reveal the truth about the life and death of his older brother.
Anna Arbuthnot is the character who ties them all together. She is employed at Ridley as Lottie's governess. Captain Wilder's return throws everything upside down and Anna suddenly has more to worry about than keeping Lottie in line.
The Death of Lyndon Wilder and the Consequences Thereof is a lengthy read at 584 pages. . There were times when I felt that the story slowed a little but overall I thought it had good pace. I felt there were some comparisons to be made with Jane Eyre, Captain Wilder does not have a w
ife locked in the tower but he could certainly be described as brooding.
Anna Arbuthnot is a particularly interesting character; we learn about her life and how she came to be a governess and more importantly why she is so adverse to accepting Captain Wilder's affections.
The Death of Lyndon Wilder and the Consequences Thereof is a very interesting read. It will appeal to fans of historical fiction and the classics. This is E. A. Dineley's first book and I am looking forward to what she does next.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Corsair for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is available now.

19.3.13

Book Review: A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews

Grace had always been best friends with Ella and Flick. The late night chats, shared heartaches and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time.
When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband.
Then Flick arrives: lovable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah.
This is going to be one week that will change all of their lives forever...
I always know that I am in for a treat when one of Carole's books is published and A Cottage by the Sea is no exception. Be warned though that this book will have you googling coastal holiday cottages by the last page.
Ella has inherited the cottage from her parents so she drags her reluctant partner, Art and her friends Grace and Flick to spend the week in the British sunshine. Grace brings along her husband Harry who is visibly unhappy as there doesn't appear to be any phone signal in rural Wales. Flick turns up with Noah who is the latest in a long line of men. However, she says that this one is different and she may be right as Grace can't keep her eyes off him. This week is supposed to bring her and Harry closer together but she is beginning to wonder if the distance between them has become too much.
All three women are faced with relationship troubles and emotions run riot as they are all forced together under one roof. I really enjoyed the friendship between the three female characters and the ways in which it is tested during the story. Carole Matthews presents difficult situations with plenty of humour and honesty. All three women have to take stock of what they really want in life and more importantly, find the confidence to make it happen.
A Cottage by the Sea is beautifully detailed in its descriptions. I could fully visualise the seclusion of the cottage and smell the sea air, Carole is wonderful at taking you along for the story.
I am never disappointed by this lovely author and I highly recommend this book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Sphere for sending me a copy of the book to review. A Cottage by the Sea is available on Kindle now and will be available in paperback on March 28th.

13.3.13

Vote for After the Fall by Charity Norman in the Richard and Judy Book Club final!

It's that time of the year again, the Richard and Judy Book Club final! Out of all the books, my favourite is After the Fall by Charity Norman, you can read my review of this brilliant book here

Please take the time to vote and get this book the recognition that it deserves, here's the link:

12.3.13

Book Review: Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

All she wants is to hide away but love has found her.
In a town where people worry about what they're seen in and who they're seen with, Emma Thomas doesn't want to be seen at all. She's more concerned with feigning perfection- which means pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises. Emma doesn't want anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is.
But when Emma unexpectedly finds love it challenges her to recognise her own worth, at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she's desperate to hide.
Reason to Breathe is the first book in a new New Adult trilogy by Rebecca Donovan and it is brilliant.
Emma Thomas lives with her aunt and uncle, Carole and George. Her father died and her mother is a useless alcoholic. People in town assume that Emma is very lucky to be looked after by her family but they have no idea that Emma's life is a living hell. When she can't be seen, Carol subjects Emma to systematic mental and physical abuse. The only person that knows is her best friend Sara, that is until Evan arrives in town. Emma is barely surviving so she knows she shouldn't have anything to do with him but she can't ignore her feelings even if it means risking everything.
I don't want to spoil the plot by explaining why Emma stays under her aunt's roof but suffice to say, she is a very brave and determined character. It is a little frustrating at times when she won't let people help her but it becomes easy to understand why she behaves the way she does.
Emma and Evan's relationship develops slowly due to her initial insistence that they should just be friends. It is fascinating to watch Emma react to Evan; other than Sara, no one has ever cared for her and no one has loved her as Evan does.
Carol is a vile character, the scenes of abuse are very detailed and I felt myself tense every time her name appeared. As a character, we don't really get to know her or why she has so much venom for Emma, perhaps we will discover more in the next book. Rebecca Donovan's writing is excellent, I think she will gain a huge Young Adult audience with this trilogy.
The next two books are called Barely Breathing and Out of Breath and I am really looking forward to continuing Emma's story.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Penguin for sending me a copy of this book to review, Reason to Breathe is out now.

8.3.13

Book Review: How We Met by Katy Regan

What, at the end of it all is really important? Liv and her friends can't imagine a life different from now: freedom, lifelong friendships and dreams that are still within their reach.
Then Liv dies.
For those left behind- Mia, Fraser, Anna, Norm and Melody- everything stops. Their lives and dreams are frozen in time.
In the years that follow, they decide to meet on Liv's birthday to raise a toast and celebrate her life even though none of them are living their own- not really. Time marches inexorably on, and yet without Liv, the lynchpin of the group, they are all flailing, Mia and Fraser are falling apart because of the secret they share and, as truths are unearthed and their friendships are tested to the limit, they have to ask themselves - is it time to get on with the business of actually living?
This is the first book by Katy Regan that I have read and I thought it was lovely. I really took my time with this book, not because I wasn't enjoying it but because it was such an enjoyable read to keep dipping in and out of.
How We Met is about a group of friends, Mia, Fraser, Anna, Norm, Melody and Liv but Liv is no longer with them, she died a year ago and they are all suffering in their own ways with the loss of their friend. Liv was Fraser's girlfriend and Mia's best friend, they both miss her terribly but they are also connected by a secret they share which neither of them can forget or move on from.
Although Liv was the lynchpin of the group; the others still see each other and they all get together once a year to celebrate Liv's birthday. These meetings are hard, they want to honour and remember their friend but they also end up feeling guilty about living, about moving on with their lives and experiencing the things which Liv no longer can.
Fraser and Mia were my favourite characters. They are both genuinely good people and because of things being left unsaid or misunderstandings; their relationship is suffering which is something that Liv would have been very upset to see.
Ultimately, How We Met is about love, loss and friendship. When you lose someone so young how do you carry on, you have to but their presence and memory is still going to be part of the group.
I loved Katy Regan's writing style, she has a good balance of poignancy and humour. The characters are really well developed, I could imagine meeting them at the pub for a drink or two. I highly recommend this book, it will make you laugh but also have a good old think too.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Harper Collins for sending me a copy of the book to review, How We Met is out now.


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...