31.10.13

Book Review: Calling Mrs Christmas by Carole Matthews

Cassie Smith has been out of work for a while but she has an idea. Drawing on her love of Christmas, she begins charging for small things: wrapping presents, writing cards; tree decorating. She's soon in huge demand and Cassie's business, Calling Mrs Christmas is born.
Carter Randall wants to make Christmas special for his children, so he enlists Cassie's help, and his lavish requests start taking up all her time. Thank goodness she can rely on her loving partner, Jim to handle the rest of her clients.
When millionaire Carter asks Cassie to join his family on a trip to Lapland, she knows she shouldn't go... Suddenly Cassie finds herself facing a heartbreaking choice that could change her entire life. 
Carole Matthews is just fabulous at what she does. Calling Mrs Christmas is a great read that will get you in the mood for the festive season, think Indecent Proposal but with mince pies!
Cassie lost her job months ago and her and partner Jim have been struggling to make ends meet. Cassie has a fantastic business idea, she loves Christmas so why not make some money out of it. Calling Mrs Christmas is created, Cassie is offering all types of festive services, card writing, tree decorating, making mince pies etc. It feels like things are looking up for Cassie and Jim but then she bumps into Carter Randall. A multi-millionaire businessman in the middle of a messy divorce; he employs Cassie to make Christmas magical for his two young children. Cassie is initially overjoyed to have landed such a big client but then things get complicated. She joins Carter on a trip to Lapland with the children and it becomes clear that she has feelings for him. Can she return to Jim or does she want to stay with Carter and have a life of sheer luxury with no money worries?
Calling Mrs Christmas is a brilliantly festive read. I loved the trip to Lapland; Carole's research trip very much paid off as all the little details she included really brought the story to life. And what could be more festive than Lapland?
In the main, I did like Cassie but I did find her rather selfish at times. I could see how she fell for Carter and all he could offer but she just seemed so fickle where Jim was concerned.
Carole Matthews always delivers. Calling Mrs Christmas is a warm, entertaining story, perfect to curl up with in the run up to Christmas.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 480

Many thanks to the lovely Jo at Sphere for sending me a review copy, Calling Mrs Christmas is out now!

28.10.13

GUEST REVIEW: The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne

The very lovely Jo from Cometbabesbooks very kindly offered to do a guest review, she chose The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne and here's what she thought: 

Amy Wilde is tired of the idiots her glamorous flatmate Jo tries to set her up with - she'd much rather be landscaping a garden with her dog Badger at her side than trying to find the man of her dreams. That is, until she meets Leo Wolfsburg. Handsome, polite, funny, intriguing - Leo is everything Amy could want in a man. Best of all, the attraction seems mutual. But Leo's lifestyle is a world away from her own. Private planes, charity balls, exclusive members' clubs - Amy begins to realise that her simple existence has been turned upside down. And just where is Leo's home country of Nirona, anyway? Is this all too good to be true? 

I offered to review the above book for Dot and I am glad that I did.   Right from page one I found Amy easy to identify with and her friends likeable.  Hester Browne's writing went into detail about all the characters, I wanted to find out more.  I even found myself liking the annoying Rolf, who comes across as a Rik Mayall type character in the Blackadder series, although right from the start I never wanted him to end up with Jo, I always wanted Ted and Jo to get together.  Leo was intriguing, even though you new right from the start there was something different about him.
The book follows Leo's and Amy's romance through the months of the year.  Amy does find who Leo is and even so still plans to marry him.  Although Amy does have a secret of her own that she feels she can not tell Leo about. 10 years previously her sister Kelly did something bad that almost destroyed her family, Amy feels as though she has been left to pick up the pieces.
Amy's feels she is not good enough for Leo and his family, this isn't helped by his sister Sofia and his mother Liza.  Eventually this almost destroys their relationship. 
Towards the end there is a twist with Amy's sister that I certainly didn't see coming.  I won't spoil the end of this book, but would recommend it as an enjoyable read.


Publisher: Quercus
Pages: 448

Many thanks to Quercus for providing a copy of this book to review. it is out now! 

25.10.13

Book review: The Returned by Jason Mott

Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have never been the same since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they've settled into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time... Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep- flesh and blood, still eight years old.
All over the world- people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why, whether it's a miracle or sign of the end. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family find themselves at the centre of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.
Exploring timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction. 
I found this book quite haunting, mainly due to its simplicity.
Jacob drowned in his eighth birthday in 1966 but now he has returned. He is still eight years old but his parents are now in their retirement years. They have hugely conflicted emotions; they are overjoyed to be reunited with their son but is it really Jacob and where has he been? Jacob is not the only one, people are returning all over the world which causes huge problems, people are frightened and there is not enough room.
Harold and Lucille live in a small southern American town called Arcadia and Jacob and the other returned are creating a lot of tension. Harold and Lucille must protect the son they have already lost once.
Jason Mott has written such an interesting story. There are not a huge amount of sub-plots in this book, it is more about the characters and the questions they raise. How would you react if your loved ones returned? How would you treat them? What if you didn't want them back? What if your loved ones didn't return?
The author chooses words very carefully to create an emotive and highly charged atmosphere. This book left me with a lot to think about and Jason Mott is an author I will look out for.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5
Pages: 400 
Publisher: Mira

Many thanks to Pauline at Cherish PR for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Returned is out now!

24.10.13

Christmas Carol by Michele Gorman published today!

If you, like me, are excited about Christmas then you will love the new book out today by Michele Gorman, Christmas Carol. I have just started my Christmas reading pile and this one will definitely be featured, take a look at the beautiful cover:

One winter wedding, two happy couples, three ex-boyfriends... And a very uncomfortable weekend. Carol hates Christmas. Being recently dumped, she’s not crazy about weddings either. So her sister Marley’s nuptials, over the Christmas weekend, are making her positively Scrooge-like. When she arrives for the weekend at the stately home in rural Scotland to find her three ex-boyfriends in attendance, Carol has no choice but to face her ghosts to discover what really happened in those relationships, learning a lot about herself in the process. As the snow falls outside and the fire crackles in the hearth, might one of the wedding guests become the harbinger of Christmases to come?

Michele has written a lovely novella, perfect to get you in the mood for the festive season! Check out Michele's website here and her twitter page here! Christmas Carol is published today! 

I'm off to make some mince pies! 

22.10.13

Book Review: Take a Look at Me Now by Miranda Dickinson

When Nell's on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, the last thing she expects is to lose her job. Heartbroken and unemployed, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to San Francisco. But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?
I have enjoyed Miranda Dickinson's latest book so much. Take a Look at Me Now is a lovely, aspirational, entertaining and warm read. The only problem I had with it is that I now want to live in San Francisco!
Nell has lost her job, the shock made even worse by it being her on-off boyfriend firing her. Armed with her redundancy pay-out, Nell heads off to San Francisco where her cousin Lizzie is based. 8 weeks should be long enough to come up with a plan of action but the problem may be that she won't want to come back.
I have enjoyed all of the books I have read by Miranda Dickinson. Nell, like Miranda's other female characters is well, rounded, likeable and
more importantly, believable. Nell is worried about losing her job but she is not desperate to carry on in the same career. She has always wanted to run her own American diner so where better to do some research then one of the greatest American cities?
My favourite part of the book was San Francisco . Miranda's enthusiasm and in-depth research was clear to see. I felt that she really brought the city alive in the book and I found myself researching the places that explores during her visit.
I would highly recommend Take a Look at Me Now. Miranda Dickinson's writing is up-lifting and entertaining; I think she brings a breath of fresh air to this genre and I'm already excited about her future books.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Pages: 416
Publisher: Avon

Take a Look at Me Now is out October 24th!!!

18.10.13

Book Review: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

How well do you know your own daughter?
Single mother and lawyer Kate Baron is in the meeting of her career when she is interrupted by a telephone call. Her daughter Amelia has just been suspended from her exclusive prep school. When Kate eventually arrives at Grace Hall an hour later, she is greeted by the news that no mother ever wants to hear.
A grieving Kate can't accept that her daughter would kill herself. But she soon discovers that she didn't know Amelia quite as well as she thought she did. Who are the friends she kept, what are the secrets she hid? How much would you tell your mother?
And so begins an investigation which takes her deep into Amelia's private world and into the mind of a troubled young girl. Then Kate receives an anonymous text:
AMELIA DIDN'T JUMP
Is someone toying with her or has she been right all along? To find the truth about her daughter, Kate must now face a darker reality than she could ever have imagined.
Reconstructing Amelia was a very interesting read and particularly relevant . Kate's daughter is dead after apparently jumping from the school roof. Kate knows Amelia would not have taken her own life. She has to find out what happened to her beautiful daughter but this will mean discovering that Amelia had many secrets; Kate is left wondering if she knew her daughter at all.
Kimberly McCreight has written a very modern mystery. Most chapters are told from either Amelia or Kate's persp
ective but these are then interspersed with Amelia's text messages and Facebook updates. It becomes apparent to Kate that her daughter was being bullied, in person but then via the internet and text messages. There have been several cases in the news recently of young people committing suicide due to cyber bullying. The author shows how the pressure builds upon Amelia, the messages and abuse are relentless and Amelia becomes more and more desperate to escape it all.
I felt that this  book was a little slow in places but in the main I really enjoyed it. Reconstructing Amelia made me think of the ways in which we communicate. I cannot imagine life without the internet or mobile phones but when used as a weapon against someone, the consequences can be devastating.
I would recommend Reconstructing Amelia, the story was interesting and topical and I particularly liked the refreshing way in which Kimberly McCreight presented it.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 400

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy, Reconstructing Amelia is available now.

15.10.13

GUEST REVIEW: Wicked Wives by Anna Lou Weatherley

I have another guest review for you today, this time we have the very lovely Rachel who has reviewed on Dot Scribbles before. This time Rachel read Wicked Wives by Anna Lou Weatherley, this is what she thought:

Casino owner and serial gambler Tom Black leaves a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes. So when he disappears, it's no surprise that foul play is suspected. Suspicion points to three women from his past; Eleanor, the socialite with a sordid past, Loretta, the power-hungry gold-digger, and Victoria, the glamorous, heartbroken author. But in the game of love there can only be one winner, and these woman will stop at nothing to get what they want.


After reading and enjoying the author’s first novel Chelsea Wives I was excited to start Wicked Wives. I'm not always a lover of the author using a prologue as it almost takes away the intrigue and drama from the storyline. In this case I thought that it was written well with enough detail in the main body of the book to keep you hooked thoughout. 
The main character Tom Black was almost too fictional in my opinion, the ultimate bad boy. The three women characters in the book each had there own story which entwined them into the life of Mr Black.I felt the author focused on the character of Ellie which lead to the other female characters lacking depth. I would have liked to see these characters expanded on. For example Ellie's husband was described a few times as someone with a past, more than meets the eye and I was almost frustrated that you never learnt any history as to why he was that way.
I enjoyed this book as much as the author's first and would recommend it, a tip to the reader would be to try not to get too frustrated by the label and name dropping which I saw as padding when the characters could have been explored a little further. 

Rachel's Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 416

10.10.13

GUEST REVIEW: An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding by Christina Jones

We have another lovely guest review today, Jean from Jean Bull's Writing Blog has kindly reviewed An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding by Christina Jones, here's what she thought:

Life simply couldn't be better for Erin Bentley. At twenty-seven, she is engaged to the simply divine Jay Keskar - and every minute of her day currently revolves around planning the wedding of her dreams. Until, that is, Jay's parents announce that they want to 'discuss' things - and this is when Erin's wedding heaven turns into her wedding hell . . . Tavish and Deena are Indian and have very firm beliefs about the form of wedding their only son should have. Of course, they say, Erin will be wearing a sari. And of course all the Indian pre-wedding ritual ceremonies - including tilakmehendisangeet - will be observed. As Bollywood comes to Berkshire, can East eventually meet West in perfect harmony? And if not, will Erin and Jay's dream wedding even take place?


I was pleased to see that Dot was looking for more volunteers to review some books. On her list was An Enormously English Monsoon Wedding, one that I had planned to read because its tagline was ‘Bollywood comes to Berkshire’ and it sounded crazy and exciting!
Christina Jones has written a very romantic story bathed in sunshine and kisses which makes you hope that it won’t turn out to be a clash of cultures catastrophe!
Erin fell in love with Jay, Nook Green’s village vet, when he saved the life of her beloved cat, Florence. Now two years later, they have planned the perfect wedding at the Swan Hotel. And there’s only six weeks to go. They’ve chosen a civil ceremony so as not to upset either set of parents, and Erin has chosen the most beautiful dress. As they stroll through the hotel grounds to meet Jay’s parents, Deena and Tavish, everything in the garden is lovely, until lunchtime when his mother starts to question their plans and makes it clear that she expects them to have a more traditional Indian wedding. On top of this they have brought Nalisha, Jay’s childhood sweetheart, with them!
The village has some other memorable characters: Kam, Jay’s cousin and also a vet; Gina who runs the Merry Cobbler; Uncle Doug who owns The Old Curiosity Shop where Erin works; and Erin’s parents, Rose and Pete, who arrive from Australia. I particularly like the part when Deena takes Erin and her mother to buy Rose a wedding outfit.
Christina grew up in a similar close-knit Berkshire village, and has recently been involved in her daughter’s fusion wedding which, she says, went more smoothly than Erin and Jay’s! Therefore, she had lots of material to base her story on which makes it ring true. 
It’s difficult to write about this book without giving too much away. Christina describes it as a ‘Bucolic Frolic’, and it is romantic and funny: perfect to read on holiday or at home by a roaring fire. I really felt for poor Erin and Jay and I was gripped by the story, which has some surprising twists and turns and Bollywood moments, to find out whether Deena gets her way or not.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Christina Jones. She’s writing three more in this series, set in the surrounding fictional Berkshire villages she mentions in this book, and I will certainly be looking out for them. 

Jean's Rating: 5/5
Pages: Piatkus
Pages: 384

Many thanks to Piatkus for sending a review copy! 


 

9.10.13

Book Review: Glittering Fortunes by Victoria Fox

Two brothers. Two rivals. One devastating family secret.
Charlie Lomax hasn't seen his brother in years. Cato's been too busy living the A-list Hollywood dream to bother with a small Cornish town. But now he's back. Hollywood and British aristocracy are about to clash as Cato sets out to claim the Lomax legacy he believes is his birthright.
Unsuspecting Olivia needs a job after spectacularly failing to make a life for herself in London. Forced back to Cornwall she has no idea what she's letting herself in for by becoming a gardener at the crumbling but beautiful Usherwood estate.
She certainly didn't bargain on becoming embroiled in the biggest scandal of the year, and not least because the brooding Charlie is a man she can't seem to stay away from...
Victoria Fox has done it again, another highly entertaining read. Glittering Fortunes is the story of two brothers, Charlie and Cato Lomax. Charlie has been running the beautiful Usherwood estate whilst Cato has been living it up as a Hollywood movie star. But Cato is back now and ready to claim his birthright.
Olivia has just arrived back in Cornwall after trying her luck in London. She takes a job at Usherwood just as Cato arrives back but it is Charlie who she can't take her eyes off.
I really enjoyed Glittering Fortunes, the conflict between Cato and Charlie added another dimension which made the story more interesting. I would have liked a little more interaction between Charlie and Olivia as they were my favourite characters.
Victoria Fox is so good at writing in this genre. Her books offer a little bit of escapism with plenty of scandal and intrigue, highly recommended.

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

Many thanks to Cherish PR for sending me a copy of the book to review, Glittering Fortunes is out now.

7.10.13

Book Review: The Villa Girls by Nicky Pellegrino

Escape, celebration, recovery, everyone goes on holiday for their own reasons. For Rosie, it is a chance to get away with her friends, a break from the worries of their normal lives. But of all the Villa Girls, it is Rosie whose life is changed  the most by those stolen days.
For Enzo, getting away isn't an option. The heir to an Italian olive estate, his destiny is clear. But when he uncovers a secret that tears his family apart, he must make one of the toughest choices of his life.
As the years go by and the girls grow up, each has their own journey to  make. But for Rosie and Enzo, time will lead them back to the same question: What will they do for love?
My lovely friend Kim from Still Reading sent me this book as she had enjoyed it so much. It was the perfect start to my holiday as it was such a great, easy read.
The Villa Girls follows Rosie, Addoloratas, Toni and Lou. It also follows Enzo, the heir to a vast olive estate in Italy.
The girls end up going on a villa holiday the year they finish school and they make a pact to go on a villa holiday together every three years, no matter where life has taken them. Rosie is the main female character and she has had more than her fair share of tragedy. The holidays are a chance for her to escape from it all and prepare herself to face everything again.
Enzo's life is so different  from Rosies, he is to inherit the family estate so his whole future is mapped out for him whereas Rosie is still trying to come up with  a plan for hers. However, there seem to be a few secrets in Enzo's family and he feels that it is his duty to get to the bottom of it. How will Enzo and Rosie come together and will their two very different lives be able to come together?
The Villa Girls is mainly about family, love, relationships and friendships but it is also about food. There are so many descriptions of beautiful Italian food and recipes that this book will make you hungry.
This is the first book by Nicky Pellegrino that I have read but I was really pleased to see that she has written several others. Her descriptions are particularly detailed and it is easy to image the world she creates. This book is perfect for on holiday but perhaps not great if you are on a diet!

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4.5/5
Publisher: Orion
Pages: 336

4.10.13

Book Review: The Shining Girls By Lauren Beukes

The Girl Who Wouldn't Die. Kirby is lucky she survived the attack. She is sure there are other victims less fortunate, but the evidence she finds is...impossible. Hunting a serial killer who shouldn't exist.
Harper stalks his shining girls through the years- and cuts the spark out of them. But what if the one that got away came back for him?
I completely loved this book even though it terrified me! Kirby survives a horrific attack as a teenager; she is lucky to be alive but she cannot settle until she has found the man who intended to end her life in a viscous and carefully planned manner.
Harper is a serial killer, he's not particularly smart but his sole focus is to kill the shining girls as he calls them. He takes something from each victim and leaves it with another of his prey.
Kirby begins to investigate but the evidence is baffling. It appears that Harper has been killing women for more than 60 years, but how would be do
that? How would an older man be inflicting such physical violence acts on people much younger than him?
The Shining Girls kept me away at night; Harper is one of the scariest characters that I have ever come across. He is just relentless, there are no discerning features to him, he is pure evil.
This book has split opinion and I think that it mainly due to some of its fantastical elements. These made the book for me. Lauren Beukes delivers a completely original type of psychological thriller of which I am sure there will be many poor imitations.
The Shining Girls is gripping, terrifying and thought-provoking. It is definitely not one to read late at night but it is also not be to missed.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Harper
Pages: 416

3.10.13

GUEST BOOK REVIEW: Leftovers by Stella Newman

Some lovely people offered to do some guest book reviews on Dot Scribbles recently, first we have Susan who has reviewed Leftovers by Stella Newman:

Susie Rosen's life is a mess. According to her best friend Rebecca, she needs to get over her ex. Move forward and start dating- or at least stop being rude to every guy who tries to speak to her. A magazine feature tells her she is a 'Leftover'- a post Bridget-Jones 30 something who has neither her dream job or any sense of a meaningful relationship- she doesn't even own 4 matching dinner plates.
Following her grandmother's philosophy that there is a pasta shape and sauce for just about every situation, Susie cooks as she is overlooked for promotion yet again, manages hellish clients and tries to stop stalking her ex on Facebook.
Painfully honest about what it's like to be single in your mid-30's in a big city, Stella Newman writes with wit and insight about the leftovers we carry with us from our past and what we should really leave behind.


I really enjoyed this novel; it does not follow the standard formula for books of this genre and so feels fresh and original. The story covers a three month period in Susie’s life and reads almost like a diary (this is reinforced by chapter headings of dates or days of the week). What makes this book so enjoyable is the quality of the writing;   understated and with subtle emotion that seeps into the sub-conscious and so before you know it you are really rooting for the central character ( so much so I could have popped to NMN and slapped a few people). Other characters in the book are well written, believable and certainly recognisable – who doesn’t have at least one unreliable friend or back stabbing work colleague? The ending is perfect and not at all clichéd, the epilogue (ok it is slightly clichéd but I still loved it) is the “cherry on the cake”.

The book has extra bonus pages that include recipes, everything you need to know about Ryan Gosling’s films and an extract from Pear Shaped – Stella Newman’s previous novel.

Publisher: Avon
Pages: 400

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...