30.7.13

Book Review: The Son-in-Law by Charity Norman

On a sharp winter's morning, a man turns his back on prison. Joseph Scott has served his term. He's almost lost everything: his career as a teacher, his wife, the future he'd envisaged. All he has left are his three children but he is not allowed anywhere near them.
This is the story of Joseph, who killed his wife, Zoe. Of their three children who witnessed the event. Of Zoe's parents, Hannah and Frederick, who are bringing up the children and can't forgive or understand Joseph.
They slowly adjust to life without Zoe, until the day Joseph is released from prison...
Charity Norman just gets better. I very much enjoyed her first book, After the Fall but I think that The Son-in-Law is her best yet.
Joseph Scott leaves prison, the only thing he has been thinking about, focusing on, is seeing his three children, Scarlett, Theo and Ben. But does he have the right to see them? Will they want to see him? The last time they saw him they witnessed Joseph kill their mother, Ben was in Zoe's arms as she fell to the floor.
We follow the family as Joseph tries to re-stablish contact. The readers discovers the events leading up to Zoe's death. How Zoe's parents, Hannah and Freddie have cared for the children. How their lives will never be the same again and the way this impacts on their individual futures.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of either Joseph, Hannah or Scarlett so we always get their different view point of the same events. Each character in this book is conflicted and broken, they all loved Zoe and would do anything to have her back but they all know that is not possible.
Scarlett and her brothers are incredibly angry at their father and maybe a little frightened but he is still their Dad. They want to see him but they feel disloyal to Hannah and Frederick who have cared for them and loved them so well.
Hannah and Frederick will never forgive Joseph for taking their daughter and they are prepared to fight him all the way but they also have to remove their feelings and emotions and only consider what is best for the children. But how can they hand over their precious grandchildren to the very man who killed their daughter?
Charity Norman has written a really intricate story that explores the many ties that hold a family together.. The ending had me in tears as it is so clear that everyone wants the children to
be happy and so sacrifices have to be made.
The Son-in-Law is a fantastic read. I think that Charity Norman's book gives you a lot to think about which is one of the best things about reading. The writing style is engaging and you will be gripped from the very beginning. I am already looking forward to Charity Norman's next book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Pages: 304
Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Many thanks to the lovely Sam at Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this book to review, The Son-in-Law is out now!


26.7.13

Book Review: Someday I'll Find You by Richard Madeley

James Blackwell is handsome, sexy, with an element of mystery about him. He's a fighter pilot- every girl's dream. At least that is what Diana Arnold thinks when her brother John first introduces them. They marry in haste, one summer morning in 1940, and Diana is still wearing her wedding dress when her new husband and John are summoned back to base to fly their next, terrifying mission.
Then fate delivers what is the first of its cruel twists; James, that very day is show down over Northern France. Diana is left a widow- and pregnant with their child.
Ten years later, living in the South of France with her new husband and a daughter who will never know her real father. Diana is content and flourishing in the Provençal sunshine. Until one morning, sipping her coffee in the town square, she hears something that makes her blood run cold: the voice of someone who will set out to torment her and blackmail her, and from whom there can only be one means of escape...
Someday I'll Find You is a brilliant fictional debut from Richard Madeley. I don't read many books by male authors but I am a big fan of Richard and Judy so I was intrigued.
Diana Arnold is drawn to James Blackwell when they are introduced by her brother who is in the same flying squadron. They have a whirlwind romance and marry in the summer of 1940. However, fate intervenes  and James is shot down on their wedding night. Diana finds herself a pregnant widow, one of many women in that situation at the time. Ten years later, Diana is living in the South of France with her new husband. One morning in the village square she hears the voice of James Blackwell, but he died more than a decade ago, if not then where has he been all this time?
I was completely riveted by the story as it unfolded. Richard Madeley jumps back between the past and the present. We learn about how Diana and James met and Diana's life after the war. James really is a horrible character; Richard Madeley has created such an interesting villain. Diana's initial excitement at hearing his voice again soon turns to disbelief  as to how she could ever have married and lo
ved such a man.
I enjoyed Madeley's writing style, his chapters are short and snappy and I read this book over a couple of days, really struggling to put it down on several occasions.
Someday I'll Find You is a refreshing take on a classic World War II love story; Richard Madeley questions how you would feel if your loved ones did come back from the dead, especially if you don't really know the true person.
I will definitely read Richard Madeley's books in the future, he has a real knack for story-telling and I highly recommend this book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Pages: 416
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now!

24.7.13

Guest Review: The Baby Diaries by Sam Binnie

Our guest review today comes from Jean, she was interested in reviewing The Baby Diaries by Sam Binne as she had just welcomed her first grandchild into the world! Here's what Jean thought:


The hilarious and heart-warming second in the series from the author of The Wedding Diaries.
"I'd be sick right now, but I never like to reinforce a cliché."
A few weeks after Kiki and Thom return from honeymoon, Kiki finds there's a noticeable absence. An extremely serious noticeable absence of something, it turns out, Kiki now realises she was pretty glad about. One pregnancy test later, Kiki's breaking the "good news" (Thom: Wow. We're so… Edwardian.) and rewriting all the plans she'd made before.
With an ever-expanding waistline, her nightmare childhood "friend" Annie pregnant too, all the problem authors at Polka Dot Books she could (not) wish for and an army of NW London's Smug Mothers to deal with, these nine months might not be the nine months of blooming relaxation she'd been promised…


I’ve been following Dot Scribble’s book reviews for quite a while and I often read the books she recommends, so I was really pleased when she sent out an SOS for people to review some books for her. There were six and I wasn’t sure which one to chose until I spotted The Baby Diaries by Sam Binnie, because my first grandchild had just arrived and it seemed the perfect choice!
As the name suggests, it’s written like Bridget Jones’s Diary, but whereas Bridget lists the calories she’s eaten and the cigarettes she’s smoked, Sam’s character, Kiki, makes a list of things to do to get ready for her baby. It’s written in a humorous style which kept me chuckling all the way through. I wasn’t too sure about the dialogue being written as a script at first, but I soon got used to the rhythm of the chapters with their vivid descriptions of Kiki’s world of publishing and antenatal classes. However, I wished that I had read The Wedding Diaries first to get to know all the characters Kiki mentions.
The progress of Kiki’s pregnancy kept me glued to the book. In fact I was so engrossed while I waited in the car for my daughter, that when she opened the door, it made me jump! The first days after Kiki's baby is born are captured very well. I especially like her parents coming and taking the baby out for three hours so she can sleep. I’ll have to offer to do that myself!
Some things have changed in the past 30 years, and I'm glad to see that the techniques I was taught in my NCT classes have been adopted by the NHS. One interesting thing is that Kiki (and my daughter) packed snacks to eat during labour. In my day you were only allowed ice cubes to suck, in case you needed a caesarian!
The story continues with the trials of going back to work and finishes with the baby’s six-month birthday party, followed by a section on advice for the newly pregnant mother.
I think that it’s a great read for mothers-to-be, new mothers and new grannies, and I shall certainly be reading The Wedding Diaries soon!  

Jean's Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 384 

Many thanks to Avon for sending a copy of the book to review, The Baby Diaries is out now! 

22.7.13

Book Review: Kept By Elle Field

'Did she really just say that? I am fifteen again, except the reality is I am experiencing full paternal horror , aged twenty-five. I want to die.' Life hasn't quite worked out how Arielle Lockley imagined it would. Becoming the next Coco Chanel was always her childhood dream, but she's spent the last four years living a dizzying whirl of glitzy parties, luxurious holidays and daily shopping sprees- all paid for by boyfriend  Piers- and not doing anything to make her Coco dreams happen. When the recession hits, it's not just the economy that takes a tumble, and Arielle finds herself living back with her parents, on bad terns with Piers, and having a CV that's as welcome as a pair of knock-off Jimmy Choos. And maybe it's the location, but she's also finding unwelcome thoughts of her childhood sweetheart popping into her head... what's a girl to do? Can Arielle figure out what it is she now wants to do with her life and move on, or will she be doomed to spend the rest of her life dwelling over her worst mistakes, stuck listening to her parents embarrassing dinner table talk each night?
Kept is a brilliant debut novel from Elle Field. Arielle literally is a kept woman; she meets Piers who is happy to fund her life with his large earnings; Arielle is determined that the situation is a temporary one. But soon four years have gone by and Arielle's ambitions have not been met but she does have a well stocked wardrobe. Piers is under a huge amount of stress because of the recession so Arielle suddenly finds herself back at home with her parents, no achievements to speak of and a seriously out-of-date CV.
Kept is a classic tale of a young woman finding her way in life. Arielle has to be honest about what she wants to do with her life, there is only so much shopping she can do at the end of the day.
Whilst it is a classic plot, I found Elle Field's writing to be witty and stylish. Arielle's love life alone is enough to keep you reading the book but also I really took to this character and I was willing her to get her life and her future together.
Kept will appeal to readers of chick-lit and I felt that it had a similar feel to some of Marian Keye's ealry books. I think that Elle Field is one to watch out for and I would definitely read her next book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4.5/5

14.7.13

Book Review: The Antenatal Group by Amy Bratley

Seven months pregnant, Mel is dumped by her partner and is suddenly facing parenthood alone.
But at her antenatal class, she meets a group of women who quickly become invaluable friends in the terrifying new world of birth and babies...
Katy- rich, successful and with the dream husband- has her delivery planned to perfection. But she soon realises that nature doesn't always follow suit.
Lexi, loud and confident, is coping well on her own. Until the only man she has ever loved reappears at the most unexpected moment.
Rebecca is the youngest of the group- not long out of her teens, in fact- but she's determined to hold onto her dreams, even without her family's support.
Erin already seems to be an expert on babies, but her quiet nature hides a secret tragedy.
When you're contemplating pain relief, birth positions and sleepless nights you really need a good friend- or four.
I have been seriously busy with work so I was only able to dip in and out of this book occasionally but I loved it.
The Antenatal Group is the first book by Amy Bratley that I've read but this author had me laughing and crying on several occasions.
Mel, Katy, Lex, Rebecca and Erin are five very different women but they all have something in common, they are about to become first-time mums. The story follows them from antenatal classes, through their five very different labours to the first few months of looking after a newborn.
As a mother of a one year old, this book totally resonated with me. Amy Bratley shows the mixed emotions and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth and then the elation and terror of holding your child and then taking them home.
The characters in this book were very realistic and likeable. I really did feel that the author presented a very honest picture of motherhood while still being entertaining and providing a gripping story.
The Antenatal Group is an excellent read, I would highly recommend it to parents to be or any new mothers who finally have five minutes to pick up a book again!

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Pages: 400
Publisher: Pan

Many thanks to the lovely Roisin at Midas PR for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Antenatal Group is out now.


11.7.13

Guest Book Review: The Wedding Diaries by Sam Binnie

We have a guest review today from the lovely Rachel, this is her second post on Dot Scribbles and today she is reviewing The Wedding Diaries by Sam Binnie:

The first in a brand new series introduces Kiki Carlow, a woman on a mission to create her perfect wedding.
Kiki Carlow is shocked but delighted when boyfriend Thom proposes. Planning a wedding is easy, right? That’s as long as you ignore:
1. The utterly bankrupting price of the only dress you’ll ever truly love.2. Your suddenly pregnant sister – surprise!3. The celebrity wedding you’re covering for work which is devouring your every waking thought.4. The Mother of the Bride. Entirely.
Kiki soon discovers that planning the perfect wedding might just bring total chaos to the rest of her life. Can she stop being a Bridezilla in time to marry the man she loves?
Heart-warming and hilarious, The Wedding Diaries will make you laugh, cry, and want to watch Bridesmaids all over again…



The Wedding Diaries follows a newly engaged couple Kiki and Thom in the lead up to the most important day of their lives. The book is as the title suggests written in a diary format which I found a nice concept (I am a huge fan of the Bridget Jones books). Kiki writes to-do lists through her diary which at first I thought was a nice idea but as the story went on and the lists grew longer I felt that they were not really necessary. I disliked the character Kiki throughout the book and only slightly warmed to her towards the end of the story. For most of the book she was acting like a "bridezilla" and although plenty of events unfolded to change her outlook and grasp the important concepts of a marriage, I don’t think the character was portrayed very well in understanding this lesson.

Having said all that the book had some real laugh out loud moments, really funny one liners and scenarios that were a recipe for disaster that I enjoyed reading. As the book was the first in a series of three, I would give the second one a read, in particular i would be interested to see if some of the supporting characters(such as Jacki and Pedro) would be developed more in the next book.

This was not a book that I could not put down but it was a book that I picked up on and off. An easy read that you don’t really need concentrate on. Good for the upcoming holiday season.

Rachel's Rating: 3/5
Pages: 380
Publisher: Avon

Many thanks to Avon for sending me a copy of the book for review, The Wedding Diaries is out now. 


Book Review: Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction...my every desire... mine.
My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We'd never work. It was too hard, too painful... except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.
We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession. 
Gideon and Eva's story continues in Reflected In You. Eva's past come backs to haunt them both and Gideon offers Eva a few glimpses of his devastating history. They are still deeply in love and unable to keep their hands off each other. Gideon will do anything not to lose Eva but even she perhaps is unaware as to how far he will go.
I found Gideon infuriating in this book; it feels like he expects a lot from Eva but isn't prepared to give as much back. Sylvia Day alludes to his past experiences but there were times when it felt as though he purposely antagonised Eva, spent ages apologising only to go and do it all over again.
Eva and Gideon are bad news for each other in so many ways but they are also each others' saviour. This interests me most in the book; they are almost wary of each other yet can't bear to be apart.
Toward the end of the book we learn a little about Gideon's past. I did kind of wonder why it has taken him so long to share it with Eva when she has been so honest from the beginning.
I think and hope we will discover more about Gideon in the next book. I will definitely continue with this series; the relationship between Gideon and Eva is fascinating and leaves you wanting more.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 3.75/5
Pages: 357
Publisher: Penguin

Many thanks to Penguin for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now! 

10.7.13

Book Review: The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison

Todd and Jodie have been together for more than twenty years. They are both aware their world is in  crisis, though neither is willing to admit it.
Todd is living a dual existence, while Jodie is living in denial. But she also likes to settle scores. When it becomes clear their affluent Chicago lifestyle could disintegrate at any moment, Jodie knows everything is at stake. It's only now she will discover how much she's truly capable of...
The Silent Wife is being talked about a lot and after reading it, I can see why.
The beginning feels a little slow but once I had got into the book I could see how clever the beginning was. A.S.A. Harrison paints Todd and Jodie's domestic life in great detail. As we learn of Todd's infidelity you can understand why he has strayed yet also why he doesn't want to lose everything he already has.
Jodie is a fascinating character, she is very cold and calculated and although we learn a lot about her, I can't say that I grew to like her in any way. We learn of Jodie's past through the transcriptions of her therapy sessions. I don't this necessarily explains Jodie's behaviour though. I was left wondering if Jodie really was in control of her actions.
I loved the atmosphere that A.S.A Harrison creates in the book. There is an impending sense that something awful is going to happen, I couldn't stop reading as I needed to know how events would unfold.
The Silent Wife swaps between the perspectives of Jodie and Todd. Todd's narration felt a little more helpless though. His behaviour is inexcusable but as a reader I saw him as being quite vulnerable. He is going about his daily life with no idea as to what Jodie is thinking and working herself up to; you almost want to warn him to watch his back.
The Silent Wife is such an interesting read, I felt that it really explored the nature of relationships; the roles we fulfil and what we are capable of when hurt by those we love. I think that A.S.A Harrison has written a strong, psychological thriller. It's a great legacy but also a great shame that this will be her only book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5
Pages: 384
Publisher: Headline

Many thanks to the lovely Ben at Headline Review for sending me a copy of this book, The Silent Wife is out now.


5.7.13

Book Review: Looking for La La by Ellie Campbell

When Cathy O'Farrell's husband, Declan receives a saucy postcard from the mysterious La La, Cathy is thrilled. Not seriously suspecting that her husband is having an affair, Cathy and her friend Raz start an investigation aided in part by the Tuesday Twice Monthly's, a tight knit group of local moms. Soon the notes turn sinister and Cathy notices a red estate car following her. Is this mystery perhaps more than she bargained for?

I really enjoyed Looking for La La, I think it is an original and entertaining read. Part chick-lit, part mystery, the authors keep your interest throughout.
Ellie Campbell is actually sisters Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell and the bo
ok was apparently inspired by  Pam's husband receiving anonymous postcards in real life. When Cathy's husband receives the mail signed from La La, she decides to investigate. Worryingly Cathy is more excited that this postcard will bring some excitement to her life rather than being concerned that her husband is having an affair.
I liked Cathy's character, her two children are at school now and Declan is talking about her returning to work but she really doesn't want to. I felt a little sorry for Cathy, she doesn't seem to know what she wants at the start of the book; her role of wife and mother is changing and I think that is something that many female readers will identify with.
One of my favourite characters was Raz, along with Cathy's personality, they bring a lot of humour to the story which gives it a chick-lit feel.
I would recommend Looking for La La if you are after a chick-lit read with a slightly  more engaging storyline. I hope that Pam Burke and Lorraine Campbell have more books to offer in the future.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

3.7.13

The Bookshop Strikes Back by Ann Patchett

In case you hadn't realised, it is Independent Book Sellers week, right up until 6th July. I received a lovely little booklet from Bloomsbury last week which contained an essay written by independent bookseller and novelist Ann Patchett:

One morning Ann Patchett woke up to find her city no longer had a bookshop. Surely, she thought, someone would open another. So she waited, daydreaming all the while about the bookshops of her childhood: ones that valued books over muffins; where staff passionately introduced readers to new writing; where buying a book was a social experience. And then she decided to take matters into her own hands and open her own bookshop. A prize-winning novelist turned champion of independent booksellers, Ann Patchett celebrates the joy of local bookshops. 

I really enjoyed Ann Patchett's essay and more importantly it made me realise how little I use independent bookshops even though it is one of my favourite things to do. To be completely honest, I am a huge fan of Amazon, I work from home with a one year old so trips to the shops are not that often. Yet this author brought a lot of lovely memories back for me of wandering around local book stores, reading booksellers reviews, reading the first few pages of several books and coming home with something unexpected that I certainly wouldn't have found on Amazon. My daughter Darcey is only one yet she already loves books and will happily sit and look through her growing collection or bringing them to me to read to her. After reading this essay I know I will make much more effort in using my local bookshops rather than the internet and also taking Darcey along too so she gets to begin building the same memories as I have.

The Bookshop Strikes Back is available in independent bookshops and is only £1.99, it's a very interesting read that will have you thinking of the huge positives of these lovely and important places compared to the convenience of a huge, faceless website.

Many thanks to Eleanor at Bloomsbury for sending this essay for me to read.

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...