a place for us part2 by harriet evans

A PLACE FOR US PART 2 BY HARRIET EVANS 
BOOK 8 IN MY NET GALLEY MONTH 
THE BLURB 
The SECOND of four exclusive part-serialisations of a A Place for Us by Harriet Evans will reunite you with the Winter family …
The day Martha Winter decided to tear apart her family began like any other day. 
So opens A Place for Us by Sunday Times bestselling author Harriet Evans, a book you’ll dive into, featuring a family you’ll fall in love with … and never want to leave. If you devour Rosamund Pilcher and Maeve Binchy and have discovered Jojo Moyes, you’ll be thrilled to add Harriet Evans to your collection of favourite authors.
The house has soft, purple wisteria twining around the door. You step inside.
The hall is cool after the hot summer’s day. The welcome is kind, and always warm.
Yet something makes you suspect life here can’t be as perfect as it seems.
After all, the brightest smile can hide the darkest secret.
But wouldn’t you pay any price to have a glorious place like this?
Welcome to Winterfold.
Martha Winter’s family is finally coming home.
WHAT I SAY 
I liked this book better i did find part 1 a bit slow as we just go to know the characters . Part 2 we learn the truth and who comes to the party ? 
This book was more gripping i enjoy it a lot more we get to hear more about each family members lives , more secrets are being told 
Cat back from paris with Luke who was he ( that one secret out in the open now ) 
Daisy not a the party why ? 
Florence has turn up to me she very weird i can not work her out i not really sure of her 
Bill and karen are there to there seem to be lot of tension between them as karen been having a affair 
Joe the chef made all the food it looked fab he the talk of the town for doing this big party to me he seem to be getting to involved with the family ( i think he one of them i may be wrong ) i feel that some thing very bad has happen in the past i not sure what each person has a bit of sadness about them but why ? You just get hooked into this story it very clever the way is done it full of emotions all the family speak their minds which i liked it still full of mysteries 
Some of the family members are hiding things i feel but they will come out soon i think the cliffhangers are happening a few times now end left me wanting to know more again i got to say i would of like as one whole book not in four parts as i was just getting into the plot we get a big cliffhanger again now i left waiting for part 3 a fab book this time so well written left me want more i enjoy the plot this time to 
4 stars read enjoy pass on 
I like to thank net gallery for letting me read this great second part

 

birthday post with lavender smith

Today a join post with lavender for her birthday which was last week we came up with this ideas to ask each some question and link to post together 
Lavender a fab friend i made from doing my blog and twitter she so kind she always sending out happy mail to make us all happy her blog is fab i hope u follow her she is such a lovely lady she is alway so kind with her word of support i know somedays she not well but she always full of beans ,so happy she always talks to us on twitter i love her book review and her lavender story’s your a star suus ( or should say lavender we know you as ) i loved the question you asked me 
Here the question lavender said me 

1) What inspired you to start blogging about books?

I do as you know my diet diaries page on facebook i lost 5 1/2 stone up to now i post my meals we talk 3)
about diets on there some of my follower read books i posted my reviews on there to start with then i did my aj book review club page as i was reading more as i was ill tanya and me talk about me stating it up as we both read a lot of book i want to keep diet diaries just for diet talks so my new page was born i loved doing it so i started my blog on 10th april i still do them all now i love doing them so much 

2) If you could have a high tea with three different authors who would you invite? 

1 Rene d schultz she become a fab friend to me when i first started she gave my her book done deal to review that was my first post on my face book page from a author we talk most day she a great lady she helps me so much . 
2 JRR Tolkien cause i read the hobbit at school when i was 8 mr hill did a book club i join we read all his book i love to find out were he got his ideas for his book from 
3 Sophie Kinsella i loved her books i read them all i had them in my loft i started to read her books in my youth and have keep them all i got all of her books up to now i just got her new one to review now 
That 3 very different author i love to read any kind of book 

3) What is your favourite topic to read about?

I not sure i enjoy most book but i not to keen on some click lit ones i like more depth in my books i like fantasy , crime historic. I got to say i do read any book

4) If you had a choice between two things: a fantastic round trip in the US (I know you like to go there, so it starts in NY) or free books for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

US i got to say i love it i only been to new york , Boston, Washington , la vegas ,san francisco and key west my favourite place is New york i been 8 times i just love it there i go tomor if i could i love to live there it fab . 

5) Do you judge books by their cover and if so what kind of covers do you like best? 

Yes and no sometimes i will pick a book cause i like cover but i alway read the back to i love covers like what carina uk do 6) Do you have any reading rituals?

Yes i do i alway use a paper clip and a bookmark to keep my page i like to read in bath too i can not read in bed much i take my book everywhere now as got kindle on mob too as soon as i get up i make my breakfast and sit down to read for 15 min then get ready for work i alway read for about 15 mins before work with my coffee 

7) If you could go on the a holiday that can be found in a book you love, which book would you choose? 

I heart la vegas as i not been for 8 years i loved to go back to see the new hotel i loved to go for new year 

8) What’s your favourite Christmas read ?

I love all the Debbie Macomber christmas book mrs miracle is one of my favourite books i can not wait for this years mr miracle it out 20 nov

9) Which would you choose?
Summer or Winter reading?

I love winter book i really enjoy all christmas reads .They are my favourite i get as many as i can each year 

Novels or novellas? 
Novels 
Ebooks or paperbacks?

I love the feel of a book but my ebooks are fab for work as can read on mob if not got kindle with me i got to say i love both 

Classics or contemporary? 

I not sure i enjoy both as much as each other 

Romance or Chick-lit
I say chick lit i not keen on either some of them i like . I like a bit more action that just the boy meets girl kind of read i get bored 

Strong, kick-ass feminine heroines or damsels in distress who need to be rescued by handsome men? 

String kick as feminine 
I get bored by some damsels in distress books sorry 

10) You love to write stories about a very cosy tea shop, would you like to have one of your own? And if so, would the place be filled with books? What would it look like?

I love to i do in the 1940 style i love all the miss match tea cups the old cakes stands i love table cloths i make ribbon flowers like they did in the 1940s my grandma show me how to make them i have them In shop in some plant pot i paint them and the shop in pale shades of pink lavenders and lemon i make bunting to go around the shop i like the old posters to be on the walls the staff would wear tea-dress as my uniform 
I have a book corner and i run a book clubs in the evenings Or i use the upstair as a bookshop that could sell all gifts to do books and book i would not like a big shop just a small cosy tea shop i call it my little teashop just like the short story’s i write on my blog and face book i only done two tales up to now i think i new tale at the weekend now 
Fab question i enjoy answering them for you x 
CHECK OUT MY QUESTION TO LAVENDER HER LINK BELOW 
www.librarianlavender.com

Please check us both out on twitter too
@LavenderLibrary
@ajcraftybox
My blog. sparklebook4u.wordpress.com/
Lavender blog 
www.librarianlavender.com

the dress for my teashop

 

tea cups and cakes stands

 

A PLACE FOR US PART 1 BY HARRIET EVANS

A PLACE FOR US PART1 BY HARRIET EVANS 
BOOK 7 FOR MY NET GALLERY MONTH 
THE BLURB 
The FIRST of four exclusive part-serialisations of a A Place for Us by Harriet Evans – you’ll be desperate to read on …
The day Martha Winter decided to tear apart her family began like any other day. 
So opens A Place for Us by Sunday Times bestselling author Harriet Evans, a book you’ll dive into, featuring a family you’ll fall in love with … and never want to leave. If you devour Rosamund Pilcher and Maeve Binchy and have discovered Jojo Moyes, you’ll be thrilled to add Harriet Evans to your collection of favourite authors.
The house has soft, purple wisteria twining around the door. You step inside.
The hall is cool after the hot summer’s day. The welcome is kind, and always warm.
Yet something makes you suspect life here can’t be as perfect as it seems.
After all, the brightest smile can hide the darkest secret.
But wouldn’t you pay any price to have a glorious place like this?
Welcome to Winterfold.
Martha Winter’s family is finally coming home.
WHAT I SAY 
This is the first part of a four part story .It a very good read full of mystery it just makes you want to read the next instalment which i got to say i did read part 2 straight after .
In this part 1 we get to meet all the Winter family i think they got a few secrets to hide each chapter is told by a family member we hear their story about their life it full of tension and drama . 
It written beautifully Harriet describes their life’s so well each family member story all link together so well 
The book base on them all coming back home for Martha 80th birthday she sent out invitations saying she got a announce to make we hear about each member of the family member getting it in the post how the react to it and why the left i sure we got more family to show up this part of the book is just getting to know the family 
The cliffhanger at the end was just fab i could not wait to read the next part to see what happens next I did find it a bit slow but i did enjoy read it

3 stars ( the book is written so well it a good plot I just found it a bit slow but the  next part good it  is the start to a fab read I think )
Ok read borrow i wouldn’t read again 
I like to thank net gallery for letting me read this book

 

TAYNA REVIEW POST PINK WELLIES AND FLAT CAPS BY LYNDA RENHAM

TANYA REVIEW ON A MONDAY 
Pink wellies and Flat caps – Lynda Renham
The blurb
Alice Lane has everything; a wonderful fiancé, a responsible job and a lovely flat in Chelsea, but after she has a bra fitting her life goes tits up. Homeless, and with just a sparkling engagement ring as a memory of her previous life Alice accepts a live-in farm manager’s job and discovers that things actually can get worse. Come with Alice as she makes her hilarious career change and struggles to cope with her moody employer, Edward. … But can Alice turn her back on romance and resist the dashing Dominic or will the past come back to surprise her?
What tanya said 
Well this book caught me from the opening pages with the opening lines “Don’t you just hate men’s timing? Only a man could drop a bombshell on you while you’re sitting in a fitting room with your tits hanging out.” Any book that starts like that is going to have you giggling in places.

Alice Lane is engaged to be married very soon to Charlie Marrow, however her world turns upside down when weeks before the wedding he changes his mind. Along with this she loses her flat and her job. What’s a woman to do? Well this woman finds herself a comfy role in a country estate. Or so she thinks! Again her life does not take the path that she expects and she has to try a very unusual route to find herself and what she really wants in life.

The book has some unexpected turns, some slightly farfetched ideas however I really enjoyed it. The majority of the characters make you smile and you find your imagination running wild about what they may be up to. I love the rural aspect of the book. Another book responsible for a long night as was reading it until the early hours.

 

Tanya review post on monday welcome TANYA

TANYA  REVIEW POST ON MONDAY 
I like to welcome Tanya to my facebook page and my blog 
Tanya will join us each monday to do a guess review for us 

could you tell a bit about you tanya please ? 

I’m currently 37, love rubbing that into my husband who is three months older than me. I have two girls aged 12 and 9. I love spending time with my family and using my caravan.

What books do you like to read ? 
I like most genres but not too keen on erotica (the prude in me) or horror as get nightmares. 

Where do you buy your books ?
I tend to buy most of my books on my kindle because of ease and the price is good. However there is nothing like the feel and smell of a new book. My first memories of buying books was from a lovely independent book store where you could pay off a little at a time to save for the books. Remembering buying Mallory towers from there. Now I tend to buy from supermarkets but live going to waterstones in Cardiff

How many book do you read a week? 
I read about three books a week depending on how busy I am with my girls it if away in the caravan. 

Where do you like to read?
I usually read in bed mostly in the evenings. Lately I hardly watch television. Although formula one and rugby are another passion of mine that has me putting down my book.

What food and drink do you like ? 
I have to start my day with a cup of coffee or two. I enjoy a glass of wine on occasions but can’t drink a lot due to medication. I love all food especially chocolate and cheese and biscuits. However any food with good friends is great

Thank you tanya a fab post x 
i post tanya first review later 
( that wrong to say as tanya done a few review for me since i started in april ) 
Check out my blog 
sparklebook4u.wordpress.com/
My facebook page 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aj-book-review-club/750098761682059
Twitter @ajcraftybox 
Tanya is on twitter too @ tanyainwales 
Please follow us both 
Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed this post x

First we take Manhattan by Colette Caddle MY GEM OF A BOOK

FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN BY COLETTE CADDLE 
My next galley month book 6 
THE BLURB 
Identical twins, Sinéad and Sheila Fields, have always done everything together and so, after graduating in millinery, they decide to open their own hat shop. It’s a small business but thanks to hard work and talent, they build up a loyal clientele. Then one day a glamorous young actress buys one of their hats, wears it to the Baftas and suddenly success seems guaranteed.
But within weeks, tragedy strikes when Sheila disappears, and is presumed dead. After months of desolation, Sinéad is just beginning to come to terms with her loss when she is given new hope: there has been a sighting of her sister. While she is filled with excitement at the thought that Sheila might be alive, she is haunted by questions. Why would Sheila have deserted her twin without a word? After all, they had always told each other everything … hadn’t they?
A compelling, emotional story from number one bestseller Colette Caddle.
‘Caddle can whip up a tremendous love story’ Irish Independent
WHAT I SAY 
Well what can i say about this fab book . I have read it twice now i just loved it . I do love NewYork it my favourite place i been a few times now . The book about a family that have been torn apart . The story got love , mystery , secrets, romance ,family , NewYork and Dublin what more could you want . It got a lot of twist and turns It will keep you hooked
I loved the way the story was told i liked the setting of new york and Dublin
The family problems were told from most of the character point of view we get to hear their different takes on them it was very touching in parts and sad then fun in other ways to . You got lots of heartbreak , suspicion and a few confusion in the plot too . 
The family had lost their mum she drown when they were young their dad was so shocked and sad .A aunt came to stay with them she had a very sad life to but what was the dad hide from them ? 
Sheila one of the twins had just disappear her handbag and car were found on a sea road i not sure why any one would just leave their bag they was a suspicion of suicide it still hanging in the air now but why would she just do that ? It not like her at all 
She had it all a nice house and good husband . The hat making business was very successful why would she just go like that ? You will be wondering why i was i was just hooked on the story to see what was going to happen next it just grips you into it . Sinead not coping with out sheila the hat business they set up is now in a mess she can not run it right with her sister she losing sales she just not coping with life she finding it very tough all her life a bit of a mess she not sure what she doing .Max the brother steps in to help her i really like him he was a very nice guy he want to get this business back on top they were at one point the top hat makes a actress worn one of their hats to the baftas they were on tv in the new paper everyone know their name 
Sheila was the more serious one i think she was the leader she know what she want and she did it . The connection between the twins was very true i got friends that are twins they just seem to feel if something not right or some thing wrong just like Sinead did she did not think sheila was dead it was that bond they have it very special . The book told you the story of them as kids which was good to hear i was just hooked to hear all about them now and in the past 
Sinead was more outgoing i say but now she just feeling helpless she missing a part of her she got to get her life back on track i just wanted to help as if she was my friend that how the story made me feel one day a girl call krystie walks into her life i loved her she was my favourite character she was working in manhattan in a sewing shop she was sacked she got no money to pay her rent she had no choice but to come back home to Dublin
Sinead takes her on to work in the shop she was a very talented designer her eye for detail was just fab . She make all her own clothes they sounded so well made i can see her design in my mind i loved to hear about her designs.The hats she made were fab her and Sinead worked so well together they seem to bring out the best in each other they could make this business one of the best again . 
One day she see a photo of a lady omg she seen that lady in manhattan looking in shop windows she took notice cause she like her style 
Now the story take on the path to find her we got a few if and why . Who will help them ? 
The book so well written the plot just fab the story just flowed and you flowed along with it 
I like all the characters but i was not sure on a few i bet you guess who i mean ? 
Not all families are perfect the book shows you that all the family member play a big part in the book which i like .It a real page turner it will keep you guessing right up to the end but all the family secret do come out how do they cope with what they find out ? All family have problems we all pull together to sort them out it so touching a very heart felt read i got so emotionally involved in the story it just gripped me from the first page to the last 
A BRILLIANT BOOK I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU ALL TO BUY 
MY GEM BOOK MY PURPLE STAR 
I READ IT TWICE NOW JUST FAB ONE OF MY BOOKS OF THE YEAR I like to thank net gallery for letting me read and review this gem of a book 
About the Author
Colette Caddle lives in Dublin with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of the bestselling A CUT ABOVE, TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, FOREVER FM, SHAKEN NOT STIRRED (all published by Poolbeg in Ireland and by Hodder in the UK), RED LETTER DAY and CHANGING PLACES .
Please check out my blog thank you all 
sparklebook4u.wordpress.com/
THE BOOK ALSO MY BOOK OF THE WEEK ON MY FACE BOOK PAGE 
Aj book review club 
Amazon link for book
First We Take Manhattan by Colette Caddlehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F8L5Z06/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_6Ghdub0WNVGZE

 

my weekly wrap up and how many books i read this year

 

My WEEKLY WRAP UP 
UP TO NOW THIS YEAR I HAD READ 143 BOOKS AT THE START OF YEAR I WANT TO READ 54 SO I WELL PASSED THAT LOL 
THIS WEEK I READ 5 BOOKS 1286 PAGES 
First we take manhattan by colette caddle ( i read it two now ) 
ARE BOOK CLUB READ 
the ghost house by Helen phifer 
A place for us part 1 and part 2 by Harriet Evans 
The memory book by rowan coleman 
I brought or i should say paul got me 5 books 
I had 4 come in post to review 
I WON MY FIRST SIGNED BOOK I SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT IT WAS FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN BY COLETTE CADDLE 
THAT MY BOOK OF THE WEEK TOO CAUSE I READ IT TWICE I LOVED IT
THE BLUB 
(From amazon ) 
Identical twins, Sinéad and Sheila Fields, have always done everything together and so, after graduating in millinery, they decide to open their own hat shop. It’s a small business but thanks to hard work and talent, they build up a loyal clientele. Then one day a glamorous young actress buys one of their hats, wears it to the Baftas and suddenly success seems guaranteed.
But within weeks, tragedy strikes when Sheila disappears, and is presumed dead. After months of desolation, Sinéad is just beginning to come to terms with her loss when she is given new hope: there has been a sighting of her sister. While she is filled with excitement at the thought that Sheila might be alive, she is haunted by questions. Why would Sheila have deserted her twin without a word? After all, they had always told each other everything … hadn’t they?
A compelling, emotional story from number one bestseller Colette Caddle.
‘Caddle can whip up a tremendous love story’ Irish Independent
It such a fab book one of my books of the year and my book of the week this week

 

i was nominated to tell you all my top 10 books here they are

 I was nominated by jill stratton to name my top ten reads so here my list ( in no particular order ) 
1 charlotte’s web by E B White 
2my sister keeper by jodi piscoult 
3 done deal by Rene D Schultz 
4 first we take manhatten by colette caddle 
5 The proposal by Tasmina Perry 
6 A perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi 
7 twilight by Stephanie Meyer
8 Dear Thing by Julie Cohen 9 The secret dreamworld of a shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella 
10 The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien 
Well that my 10 books i going to nominate 
Tanya Phipps and Gurdeep Assi

NATIONAL BOOK DAY WHAT ARE YOU ALL READING ?

TODAY READ A BOOK DAY SO I BEEN TOLD SO NO HOUSEWORK TODAY DAY JUST SIT DOWN TO READ I WISH LOL

today book shopping WHAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT TODAY ?

I went to fate in the village today  I got both books for 50p a fab buy as was going to buy the Richard Madeley one  a few times in Tesco but I did not

today paul got me a couple of book to thank you so much just the ones I wanted x

HAVE YOU BROUGH ANY BOOKS TODAY ?

the proposal by tasmina perry a fab book 5 stars

The proposal by tasmina perry 
The blurb 
A magnificent, moving epic with a haunting secret love story at its heart, which will sweep you from present-day Manhattan to London in 1958 – the year of the last debutantes.
1958. At eighteen, Georgia Hamilton is sent to London for the Debutante Season. Independent, and with secret dreams to be a writer, she has no wish to join the other debs competing for a husband. But when tragedy strikes, her fate appears to have been sealed. 
2012. Hurrying to meet her lover, Amy Carrell hopes tonight will change her destiny. And it does – but not in the way she imagined. Desolate and desperate to get out of London, she accepts a position as companion to a mysterious stranger, bound for Manhattan – little knowing she is about to unlock a love story that has waited fifty years to be told. And a heart waiting to come back to life…
WHAT I SAY 
I loves this book it was my first book by tasmina that i have read and it will not be the last i just loved it all it a beautiful story told in a fab way so well written it just flows very easy to follow brilliant read 
Amy was from New York she now working in London in cafe but she wants to be a dancer she broken her toe so she took a break but now ones to get back into it 
Amy wants to go back home to New York she fall out with her boyfriend she got no money to go but she saw a advert for a travelling companion to take Georgia to New York 
Georgia a lovely lady she got money nice clothes she likes the good things in life she worked hard for them the book flicks back and forth to the 1950 she was a debutantes the life’s they live were fascinating the balls were great to hear about they mum push them to the best men the whole plot of the ball , the man, the dresses were Written so well you could see it in your mind it was the year of sophistication and glamour times it sounded so lovely the whole book revolves about a secret when amy hears this secret she wants to get justice for Georgia i loved the unlikely friendship of the two of them you just got pull into the story with them you felt you were there with them l just loved Georgia tales of the season just what life was like for them 
The trip to NewYork was very vivid you could see then places i been toNew York near xmas it was told just how it was when i went in nov for their thanksgiving it made me want to go again i like that when the lady were eating or having a drink the book tell about the past if Georgia tell her story to amy over coffee it was clever and well written 
I loved the way both help each other out
Georgia’s so strong and elegant Amy very soft but loveable so totally different but they work so well as friends the book got a few unexpected twist it got romance, betrayal ,family,love and scandal you just want to read to see what happens next i wanted the book to carry on more i wanted to see what happen next i hope it carries on with Amy and Georgia friendship 
The book just what i like the 1950,the debutant balls the lovely tea dresses i could see it all in my mind so clear the end was sad but very clever the way it was done i was gripped by the whole story from the first page to the last a superb story i just loved it all 5 stars my gem book 
I like to thank book review for letting me read this fab book 
About the Author
TASMINA PERRY is a Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author. She left a career in law to enter the world of women’s magazine publishing, going on to become an award-winning writer and contributor to titles such as Elle, Glamour and Marie Claire. In 2004 she launched her own travel and fashion magazine, Jaunt, and was editing InStyle magazine when she left the industry to write books full time. Her novels have been published in seventeen countries. Tasmina lives with her husband and son in London, where she is at work on her next novel.

bishop street by rene d schultz review by tanya fab gave away too

Here tanya review for are aug book club read 
Bishop Street
THE BLURB 
“Bishop Street” is a heartwarming and redemptive novel that captures the complex relationships between four orphans and their lifetime of challenges. It’s uplifting and with each turn of the page you fall more in love with the characters. 

Margaret Gray for the past twenty years has hidden behind a facade of normalcy. She wasn’t always rich and famous. At the age of seven her mother abandons her on the steps of the Bishop Street Orphanage with a note pinned to her coat. Here, under the cruel tutelage of Sister Theresa, Maggie develops a powerful bond with her roommates, Elizabeth, Lucy and Randolph. Their close friendship fortifies them against the years of physical abuse, emotional torment, and manipulation that follow. 

Now, Maggie is thirty-nine and her nightmares are coming back. Despite a successful writing career and a flawless reputation, she is unable to keep all that she has built from crumbling around her. It’s been twenty years since she’s heard from her friends. Why didn’t they answer her letters? Had they survived? Had Sister Theresa been right, or had she manipulated them all with lies, aiming to destroy their friendship, forever? 

Sister Theresa is dead and with nothing left to fear, Maggie hires Damon Depre, a private investigator to find her friends, and seek the truth. This starts her down a twisted path that will once again, test her strength of character. Will she find more than just her friends… 

On 08-30-2014…HOUSE OF STONE the sequel to Bishop Street was released! 
WHAT TANYA SAYS 
The story is about four adults that were bought up in an orphanage by a very unkind, spiteful Sister Theresa.
In fact Maggie one of the characters describes the orphanage “as living in a house that was never a home was disheartening”. Due to the Sister the children that were once everything to each other all lost contact and their lives took on new roles. Some were successful some weren’t. However they never forgot the years that they spent on the orphanage and it impacted on their adult lives in many ways.

Maggie a successful author has a break down and realises that she needs to find the others and explain what happened when she left. She hires investigator Damon Dupree who helps her find her three childhood friends. I won’t spoil the story by saying if they meet or what happens after. 

The book is contains heart wrenching parts but however has the ability to make you smile at the same time. The characters are interesting and by the end you want to hug them all. Some parts I found were too long however the story is good and I cannot wait to read the follow up. I have since told my mum to purchase the book and would recommend it to others. 

My favourite character was Elizabeth I loved her wise ways and caring nature
There was no character other that the mentioned Sister Theresa that I disliked.
The idea of the home scared me, I wish I could help any child that was in a home to feel like they had someone who loved and cared for them.
Yes I would have hired Damon but I’m surprised that she did not research the people first on the internet. I loved the relationship between the two characters and how she reveals herself to him.

post me your links for your review for bishop street you  could win a ebook  book of house of stone by rene  one winner by next week the 12 sept

 

 

summer of love by sophie pembroke

Summer of love by sophie pembroke 
book 4 of my net gallery month 
The blurb
It’s only a summer fling…
Boutique jewellery designer Lily Thomas knows hating the boring ring her fiancé gave her isn’t a good enough reason to end a seven-yearrelationship. Especially when settling down with Edward is the only thing she’s ever done right in the eyes of her mother–and her hometown. Besides, everyone else seems to be getting married: Lily’s best friend Cora, her cousin, her friends from work. So why not Lily?
But when Alex Harper, Lily’s high school crush, moves back to Felinfach, he shows her exactly why. She can’t pretend to be someone she’s not just to keep her fiancé happy. It’s a terrible way to start a marriage, and a terrible way to live. Lily calls off her engagement, but she still needs a date to all the weddings crowding her summer calendar. Conveniently, Alex has a few weddings to attend as well.
They agree to be wedding buddies, and soon the whole town is talking about them. If everyone’s going to talk anyway, why shouldn’t Lily and Alex make the most of it? As long as they both know it’s only a summer fling 
WHAT I SAY 
i got to say i loved the cover that what draw me to read the book . It a great summer read .It all about Lilly and boyfriend their up and down they are having i not sure why she was with him he so not the wrong man for her 
Lilly a lovely lady she such a fun character she a jewellery designer in a Great boutique she been with Edward for about 7 years now that way to long there are so not right for each other as you will see when you read the book he made her the way she is now not her happy self 
Then one day Alex a old friends turns up they just seem to hit it off straight the way he bring her out of her shell i thought you can see were the plot was going very quickly soon you got romance rival between her and Edward
It a very lighthearted read i like all the character seem to know each another their stories all mixed into one all the character were very nice they made the story fun 
I just go to see the plot before it happen it hold no surprises for me it very well written it flowed very well ,easy to read ,a good story you will love it .it was just not me 
Thank you net gallery for letting me read I did enjoy 3 stars borrow read enjoy ok read

 

when i wasn”t watching by michelle kelly my review a gem of a book

WHEN I WASN’T WATCHING BY MICHELLE KELLY 
THE BLURB 
Every parent’s worst nightmare…
Eight years ago, Lucy and Ethan Randall’s little boy, Jack, was abducted and murdered by teenager Terry Prince. A moment’s distraction had ripped a family apart – and with the loss of their son came the collapse of the Randalls’ marriage. Tortured by memories, Lucy was left to battle her grief while raising her remaining son alone.
Now, Jack’s killer has walked free, giving him the second chance at life that little Jack never had. Lucy’s wounds newly opened, her world is turned upside down a second time when another child goes missing – and she can’t shake the suspicion that Prince has struck again. 
When DI Matt Winston, the same officer who found Jack’s body, is assigned to the case, the echoes of Lucy’s past grow ever more insistent. Bound by their tragic shared experiences, Matt and Lucy grow closer – and become fixated on bringing the culprit to justice. But now history has repeated itself, answers seem even further out of reach. And for Lucy, it’s time to face her ghosts, and ask the most terrible question of all: can she ever really forgive herself?
WHAT I SAY 
Well what can i say about this book it got to be every parent worst nightmare . The whole story excellent it so well written to me is not a straight forward crime book it got lots of twist and turns you will be shocked by the end i did think it may be that but i was not sure it just a fab read you will be pulled into the story .The family emotions are very painful and very honest it very well written 
Lucy the mum i could feel all her pain she just trying to cope with life after her son jack was killed her emotion are so deep i like the book had her son jack who was killed talk to you his point of view how he saw things it was good that we hear how he felt why he talked to his killer it will make you think Ricky the older son gave his point of view to it was very different we get to hear why he doing things why he being different now what can he see and hear ? It all makes you think i liked his point of view i like to hear what he thought 
The book gave you each character point of view on things that happen and what were happing now which was good my heart when out to them all 
Matt the police man just such a fab guy he was lovely i did like how he and Lucy were getting on her was a great help to her 
I want to tell you more but you should read it the whole book very moving it packed a very emotional punch i like the ghost feel to the book too it a very thought provoking read it very fast paced i loved it a gem of a read i read in a day so good you should read i like to thank net gallery for letting me read and review it 

liberty silk by Kate Beaufoy my review

LIBERTY SILK BY KATE BEAUFOY 
Book3 net gallery month 
THE BLURB 
One beautiful dress is the key to three brave women’s destinies.
France 1919: Jessie is celebrating the last heady days of her honeymoon. But when her husband suddenly disappears she finds herself bereft. Until a chance encounter thrusts her into the centre of the intoxicating world of Parisian high life.
Hollywood 1945: Lisa has come a long way from her quiet, unassuming life in London and is taking Hollywood by storm. But all that glitters is not gold, and as the smoke and mirrors of the lifestyle she so longed for shatter around her there are some secrets she can never escape.
London 1965: Cat, headstrong and independent, drawn to danger and passionately opposed to injustice, has no idea of the legacy that precedes her. Once past secrets are unveiled, she has the chance to find out what liberty really means…
An evocative story of survival, betrayal and the invincibility of love.
WHAT I SAY 
I loved this book but i got to say it took me a while to get into it i did not see the link between the three women at the start but i was hooked from the few few pages it got lots of twists and surprises it just a fab read 
Jessie was in love with scotch his was a very good artist on their honeymoon in Italy and France in the 1920 ‘s that were the story begins jessie turns her back on her family she left home to marry scotch but one morning she wake up to find him gone what will she do now ? She alone and penniless she had to sell things to live but she keep a lovely liberty silk dress this play a big part in the book jessie is pregnant with no where to go we get took on her journey how will she survive we not money you just get pull into her life you feel for her thing get very tough for her 
Then we got Baba but she changes her name to Lisa la touche as she want to be a film star she want the glitz and the glam of this world it now set in 1945 we follow her life again you just get pulled into her life style i really felt for her sometime she would not eat just to get a part in a film . She fell for the wrong king of men sometime she had to make very tough decisions both Lisa and jessie have very tough decision to make in the life’s 
Then we got Cat i loved her she was a very strong minded young girl she wanted to make a different in this world we live in she a very good photographer the photo she takes were very hard to think about as she took photo in the most grief stricken places and most war-torn places 
She lived in the 1960’s i liked to hear about her life
Each character life is very hard i like that we got to hear about coco chanel we also got to hear about V or i should say number 5 the perfume it still one of the world best sellers i loved this story the whole book just fab you do not get the link between the three of them for some time we just get their three life story it all just flow along so well i loved to hear about all the fashion coco channel the dresses the glam it written so well at the end of the book we find out that the book was base on letter write after the war to Kate’s grandma she had fell in live with a painter that where kate base the book on 
All three women were so strong, determined women they all will fight for want they want in life the book very heartbreaking in places each characters just so different the backdrop to each character just pull you into their world 
I can not recommend enough a fab book a gem 
About the Author
Kate Beaufoy has an MA in French and English literature from Trinity College Dublin. She began her career as a professional actor before becoming a full-time writer. As Kate Thompson she has had a dozen novels published, including the number one bestseller THE BLUE HOUR which was shortlisted for the RNA award.
LIBERTY SILK is her first historical novel. It was inspired by real letters written from Europe by her grandmother, Jessie Beaufoy, in the aftermath of the Great War.
Kate scuba dives to an advanced level and is in thrall to her Burmese cat

i like to thank net gallery for letting me read this fab book one of books of the year

my blog review for me without you by Kelly Rimmer

Net galley month book 2 
Me without you by kelly Rimmer 
THE BLURB 
A story of how love can break our hearts – and heal them. 
A year ago I met the love of my life. For two people who didn’t believe in love at first sight, we came pretty close. 
Lilah MacDonald – beautiful, opinionated, stubborn and all kinds of wonderful in ways that words could never quite capture. The woman who taught me to live again. 
My Lilah, who gave me so much, and yet kept from me a secret that she knew would break my heart. 
My name is Callum Roberts, and this is our story. 
Me Without You is a book to make you smile, bring you to tears and remind you to hold on tightly to those you love. 
WHAT I SAY 
This book so good but do not read out as i found my self laughing at it then crying at it . You will need a tissue . The book so well written it got humour, love , it all about life the whole book touch me .It a book that full of relationship circumstance and how we deal with them it a very gripping read . Kelly captures it beautifully with her write style it a real page turner it a love story of Callum and lilah it wrote so nicely The book will make you see how important life should be to us we all should live for now and should love and support each other all the time we should not take life for granted but we all do i love Callum he very much just into his job but now he trying to find out about how to enjoy life and let go . l like that they see the city they lived in for the first time i mean we can live in a town and not see the real town we live in we are to busy rushing around to look at things . 
I like that Callum and Lilah fell in love i like there relationship but what secret she holding back why is it so hard to be will Callum ?i want to tell you more but you got to read it 
To me this book about making the most of your time it about loving and caring for each other not matter what it a real page turner i would recommend it to you all 
5 stars a fab book read enjoy pass on 
I like to thank net galley for letting me read this book

my blog review for the summer guest by Emma Hannigan

THE SUMMER GUEST BY EMMA HANNIGAN 
THE BLURB 
Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy, a lovely, warm, Irish family saga of three generations of women coming together one magical summer in the small seaside town of Caracove Bay. 
A little magic is about to come to sleepy Caracove Bay…
Lexie and her husband Sam have spent years lovingly restoring No. 3 Cashel Square to its former glory. So imagine Lexie’s delight when a stranger knocks on the door, asking to see the house she was born in over sixty years ago.
Kathleen is visiting from America, longing to see her childhood home… and longing for distraction from the grief of losing her husband.
And as Lexie and Sam battle over whether or not to have a baby and Kathleen struggles with her loss, the two women realise their unexpected friendship will touch them in ways neither could have imagined.
In Caracove, there’s more than a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
WHAT I SAY 
What a joy to read a great summer read . I love all the characters they were fun and the story touched on some serious issues very well . The whole book to me about friendship .
Kathleen back on home ground she come back home from the USA 
Sam and Lexi live in her old home she lived in as a kid she want to take a look inside so she pops a note in the door asking if she could take a look around sam and lexi have work hard doing it up will she like what they done ?
Lexi calls her to come to look round soon they become very good friends 
Lexi asks Kathleen to stay in the basement for the summer we get to here why Kathleen here 
Kathleen just like a grandma figure they all seem to get on with her they all go to her for advice she a very kind lady she seem to have a very calming way about her a very nice grandma figure full of love 
Lexie a very strong lady she doesn’t want any children she got a fab job she runs a art gallery she always very busy she will be 40 soon she need to think about what she wants out of her life 
Amelie a great character she a very mixed up young lady she just wants to be loved she not sure what she wants or were her life going she a girl who just want to have fun 
This is not a good thing for her 
All the characters seem to be a very different times in their life’s i think they all go to work through their problems you could relate to them all you get pull into their life’s 
I could feel all the emotion , the happiness, the tears and the love they all felt the book so easy to read it fun a very enjoyable read the writing style very easy to read it just flow along 
4 stars a good book read enjoy pass on 
About the Author
Emma Hannigan is the author of six bestselling novels, including Perfect Wives and Driving Home for Christmas, and a bestselling memoir Talk to the Headscarf which charts her journey through cancer. Emma lives in Bray, County Wicklow, with her husband and two children

my blog weekly wrap up and august wrap up

Hi all i have not done my weekly wrap up for 2 weeks sorry so here it is now 
For august i read 19 books 
The last 2 weeks i read 10 books 3680 pages 
Here what i read in last two week 
The mill river redemption by Darcie chan 
The proposal by tasmina perry 
Beautiful day by erin hilderband 
Where love lies by julie cohen 
Me without you by kelly rimmer 
Liberty silk by kate beautoy 
When i wasn’t watching by michelle kelly 
First we take Manhattan by colette caddle 
Paper swans by jessica thompson 
I had a good 2 weeks there i had 8 book in post to review hope you all enjoy what you been read my fav was 
The proposal it just loved the whole thing

 

 

book club question time with me and rene d schultz

BOOK CLUB QUESTION TIME 
Here are the first five book club question i love us all to post your answers 
I like to thank Rene for answer my question too 
1 Which character did you like best? 
RENE 
I love them all! When you spend so much time developing them as an author you give them their personality and quirks! Sometimes those quirks are annoying, but then that makes for a great character in your book. Maggie is closest to my heart. I get her. She’s dealt with abandonment and trust issues for a long time after she left the orphanage. Having her finally let them go to trust again was a big accomplishment.
ME AJ
I just love maggie she missed out on so much in her life she now a very successful author she should be happy , but i got to say my heart when out to them all .The bond they build was very good it made maggie a stronger person 
2 Who did you not like?
Rene 
In Bishop Street how could you not love all of them? They were all innocent children pushed into an ugly childhood and then thrown out into the cruel world. They are became successful in their own way, except Lucy. The one scene where Maggie finds her in the sleezebag hotel had me crying for days. It was one of the best, emotional scenes I’ve ever written. I think the character I really hated was Sister Theresa. I made her very mean and spiteful toward the children.
Me Aj 
I did not like maggie mum i want to shout at her to stop the drinking .Sister Therese was a cow very spiteful very mean women she was so bad the abuse was bad she made me think of the film annie that children home was bad i saw this one 100 times worst you just had to hate her she just took all the children childhood away in a very mean way i could see it all in my mind could you ! 

3 What did you think of the home?
Rene 
Orphanages in those days were very sterile and unforgiving. The children merely existed and their life was far from any kind of normal. They never had privacy or individual attention. They didn’t go to the movies, shop for clothes, have sleep overs, and do all those special things that children get to do when growing up in a family. They lived a childhood without love. 
Me Aj 
It was bad no love or any family times i hate to think of any one living like them i hope home are so much better now 

4 What did you think of Sister Therese?
Rene 
I needed someone that was going to bring angst into the book for all the readers to hate. You need an aggressive and hostile person who readers can get made at.
Me aj 
A cow , mean hateful lady what she did was so mean i hated her just like Rene wanted us all to feel about her 

5 Would you have hire Damon?
Rene 
Damon was a strong character who I wanted to butt heads with Maggie. Maggie stood her ground and never let anyone near her but Denise. I wanted Maggie and Damon to recognize their vulnerability by pushing each other. Damon would be the man of my dreams! In House of Stone you will see a different side of him.
Me Aj 
I like him he was a very good character very deep he to me was a very handsome guy he become a wonderful friend to maggie he push her they grow together 
RENE HAS ANSWER A FEW EXTRA QUESTION FOR ME 
Where did you get the idea for Bishop Street from?
I don’t really know exactly where my ideas of my books come from. I can be sitting in the room writing and then, all of the sudden something dawns on me. The other night I woke up at three in the morning and realized what my character in my new book was going to do next. I know I love to write about issues that we all can relate to, and can feel an emotional pull from. I hear that from a lot of readers who wrote me and said, “I never cry.” But in the book they found themselves welling up with tears.

Are some of the character like people you know?
I think in the beginning of the book my acknowledgement said,
Maggie-the author in me.
Elizabeth-the mother in me.
Lucy-the lost child (childhood) in me.
Randolph-the successful part of me.
Denise-the humor in me.
Damon-the man of my dreams.
So it is safe to say, that authors write what they know and sometimes how they feel. It’s an accumulation of a lifetime of experience. And I think that is why readers relate to my books. They feel the emotional tug of the characters. My character development and dialog deals with head-on issues of childhood abandonment and how the four small orphans dealt with this throughout their lifetime.

What made you start to write?
When I came out of a long marriage and my sons were grown, I went back to my roots and decided to do what made me happy. Only, I had no clue, it had been so long. My son was in the movie industry and worked for David Kelley on ‘The Practice.’ I told him I had a great storyline I had come up with and he suggested I write it into story form. That is how Bishop Street was hatched. I sat on it for six years, and kept writing novels and screenplays. Then one day, I went into Facebook and by accident, wound up in a UK reviewer room. Sue Ward and Philomena Callan, asked for my book and I was terrified. For years, I had just been writing for me. The next thing I know they were ranting and raving about it to everyone who would listen. They begged me to publish it. They are the first to read each and every book since. They call themselves –my stalkers!

Where do you like to write?
I have a writing room upstairs in my home. I cut out a whole wall so that the room overlooks the entire house. This gives me the feeling of not being closed in. I put on some great music and sit down and let my fingers do the typing. I used to have my dear cat sit with me for my entire writing career. But he passed on six months ago, and I miss him dearly.

What advice could you gave anyone who would like to write a book?
If you think you have a story to tell. Sit down and write. Don’t worry about the grammar or editing or anything. Just concentrate on the story and make sure it flows. It is a very difficult field to break into. But, it is rapidly changing and publishing houses are becoming obsolete as the new wave of Indie authors, like myself, forge a way to get their books out there. That is the hardest part of being an author. Having to publicize you’re on your own takes a lot of time. And readers are so fast to stray from their favorite well-known authors.

How did you come up with the idea of your newest book?
House of Stone was released this week and is the sequel to Bishop Street. I wrote two more books after Bishop Street was published. One about our ugly Healthcare System and a woman who takes it down. Another, about how our society views beauty. But, House of Stone was kind of pushed on me. I laughed, because after the reviewers/fans/readers read it, they all had begged me to write a sequel. I put it off, until one day when my cat died. Filled with grief, I sequestered myself into my writing room and felt my comfort amongst my old friends from Bishop Street. It is a great story about what has transpired in the orphans lives five years later!

Who is your biggest inspiration?
The book that influenced me more than anything in my life is, The Wizard of Oz. I think the meaning of it is totally different looking at it through a child’s eyes, than as an adult. To me, Dorothy was going on her journey in life to see where she really belonged. The yellow brick road represented her journey. We all have a journey in life, and we all walk down our own yellow brick road. It is filled with people we meet, obstacles that happen, and decisions that change our lives. I try to make every book I write, about someone’s journey. So far it has worked! AND you will always notice, stuck in some place in each of my books, there is a reference to ‘the wizard of oz.’
I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY ARE FIRST BOOK CLUB READ ? Please tell me 
COULD WE ALL ANSWER THE FIRST 5 QUESTION I LOVE US TO TALK ABOUT ARE ANSWERS 
TO WIN A E BOOK OF HOUSE WRITE YOUR REVIEWS OF BISHOP STREET FOR ME AND POST ME YOUR LINK BY 8 th sept 
Rene will pick one winner 
post on my Facebook or blog 
sparklebook4u.wordpress.com/

where love lies by julie cohen net galley month book 1 my review

Where loves lies by juile cohen  book 1 for my net gallery month
The blurb 
Lately, Felicity just can’t shake a shadow of uncertainty. Her husband Quinn is the kindest person she knows and loves her peculiarities more than Felicity feels she deserves. But suddenly it’s as if she doesn’t quite belong.
Then Felicity experiences something extraordinary: a scent of perfume in the air which evokes memories that have been settled within her for a long time, untouched and undisturbed. As it happens again and again, the memories of a man Felicity hasn’t seen for ten years also flutter to the surface. And so do the feelings of being deeply, exquisitely in love . . .
Overwhelmed and bewildered by her emotions, Felicity tries to resist sinking blissfully into the past. But what if something truly isn’t as it should be? What if her mind has been playing tricks on her heart?
Which would you trust?
WHAT I SAY 
I got to say i not sure what to write for this book . It just a stunning read. I really could not put it down . They are so many emotions in this book you all got to read it now . It just a wonderful story and a very heart wrenching read .
To me the village were they live came alive as i read about it .I think it was a very close knit community were they all know each other i felt i was part of that community too . Felicity to me was just a very lovely young lady she seem to be s bit of a dreamer . She writes books about a owl which was nice to hear about . Her mum was a very talented artist she died but now years later her art work being show in new york one of my favourite places any one been ? 
Quinn a very successful businessman he very close to his family a bit to much at times i think . He was a very kind and lovely man he would do any thing for you . He just so in love with felicity . They seem the perfect family but are they ? 
Quinn has never hear a think about felicity mum how did she die? Why did felicity not talk about here at all ? He not sure why 
One day felicity pick up a smell she thinks it her mum or is it ? it a frangipani Smell why that come from? 
The book pull you into the story we hear both sides of the story from Quinn and felicity 
Felicity thinks she in love she not eating she can not do her book she not acting like her self 
This book takes you on a very big journey Ewan a friend from felicity past he seem a very unhappy man one of his friend has died was it his fault we hear all about this i want to tell you more but i want you to read it you need a few tissue when reading this book do not read in company it sad 
All the character are very deep i can see them all i was there with them sometimes i got mad with them or at them . Sometimes i sympathised with them . I did not see what was happing at all i just thought felicity rushed into her marriage 
The smell takes her back to ewan it seem to turn her life up side down . I liked how the book goes back to felicity memories from year ago . I liked that the book tell you Quinn and Ewan point of view i felt that they all felt a bit lost at times 
I want to tell you more it one of the best book i read it got so many twist and turns you all got to read this book it will make you think about love and life it just a superb story it just flows i was on tender hooks reading it it such a powerful book a gem 5 stars read enjoy keep read again 
I like to thank netgalley for letting me read it 
About the Author
Julie Cohen grew up in Maine and studied English at Brown University and Cambridge University. She moved to the UK to research fairies in Victorian children’s literature at the University of Reading and this was followed by a career teaching English at secondary level. She now writes full time and is a popular speaker and teacher of creative writing. She lives with her husband and their son in Berkshire.
Amazon link for book 
Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JG1V2AG/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_Hvkbub11CG7ST