Books Online

Well I’ve done it!!  I have moved over and my preference is now for an online book rather than a paperback.  I never thought it would happen, and for a while I was still more drawn to books with paper pages, then I liked both equally, but now - since discovering Wattpad - my preference is for an online book!

When reading on an ereader (I have the basic Kindle) the advantages are:

• Being able to enlarge the typeface (so no need for eyeglasses in bed)
• Defining the meaning of words at the touch of a button
• Having a library of alternative reading matter with me in one little device
• The ease of holding a really chunky book (because you’re reading it on Kindle)

When reading Wattpad on my i-Pad or Laptop the advantages are:

• Being able to read existing and new authors, many un-published yet, but very skilled
• Commenting on paragraphs and chapters - what you do and don’t like
• Getting comments back from the authors
• Reading comments/starting conversations with fellow readers

• Having a library of alternative reading matter with me in one little device

So, let the reading recommendations begin!

Unbeautiful  :  Jessica Sorensen

This book was actually the first of a series, so a little frustrating to read and get hooked, and the story is not even ‘entire’ but leaves the reader on a cliff-hanger needing to read the next title.

[Untamed]

That said, it was intriguing.  It has 2 different (teen) PoVs:

Emery:  a young girl from a prosperous, prominent family, but one where a veneer of perfection hides dark secrets and troubles.  She breaks away from her family to go to college, striving for  independence, but discovers the depth of her naivety and inexperience, in both life and love.  She writes her true thoughts and feelings in her poems.

Ryler: a troubled, scarred boy who’s unable to speak, instead he expresses his anger and individuality via tattoos, piercings and poetry.  He is running from both his father and a mobster, but is persuaded the only way to outrun his history is to turn double-agent for the police.  

Living down the hall from Emery they bump into each other and make a connection.  At first it is innocent, attraction and lust, but soon it will become dark and twisted when Ryler is asked to watch over her by one of his mob colleagues, and this man is no stranger to Emery at all ...

7.23 am  : Asia Keller

We all start off as strangers   The heroine, Talia, is being texted by an unknown person, it seems to be a boy, who she has no recollection of meeting.  Talia has a boyfriend - he doesn’t like  the close contact between her and the mystery texter, he doesn’t much like Talia following her own interests period!  Talia has a best friend, and a close family but there are troubles too.  Talia needs to be strong and not tolerate bullying or violence.

Mystery boy is funny and caring and a great listener, but he has his own issues.  Talia needs to draw him out and bolster him, as much as he needs to support her.  The story is told in texts and it’s sweet and romantic and humorous, but with a serious message (maybe more than one).  

I’m expecting this novel to become a ‘paper’ book very soon!  Read it if you love young romance and want to be reminded of your first love.

Bank Holiday Reading

I have really indulged myself this bank holiday (and the lead up to it)  the weather has been mostly sunny and warm and I have selected three wonderful books to 'enhance' my enjoyment.

The Woman Who Upped and Left ~ Fiona Gibson

As I began this book I wasn't hopeful, the cover was uninspiring and I felt that it might turn into a 'flavour of the moment' story as there are books out there with similar titles.  But I shouldn't have judged a book by its cover!

The central character is called Audrey Hepburn, so she's spent much of her life striving to live-up-to or run away from the expectations of that famous icon's name.  A single parent with an 18 year old son who lazes about rather than looking for a career, she often feels in the way at home because her son & his girlfriend are forever snuggled up, in the living room, in the bedroom, with undies scattered all over the house, which really gets on Audrey's nerves!

Audrey has 2 jobs, a dinner lady and a elderly person's carer, then she wins a prize!  She's voted best dinner lady & can take money or attend a cookery course.   As funds are tight she almost takes option 1 but then she has a 'what the hell' moment & takes the course.  She stays in a plush hotel, others on the course are upper crust types she wouldn't normally meet.  The rather florid celebrity chef takes a shine to her ...  funny and embarrassing escapades ensue.  At this point I thought I knew where the story was headed:  I couldn't have been more wrong.

Complications come in the form of Audrey's young lover, who she regularly 'liaises'  with at motels.  He seems exciting, he makes her feel desirable and attractive, but is he what he seems?  Next minute, her son is in the middle of a drama and her job as a carer is at risk because the old lady's daughter plans to sell up and put her mother in a home.  Audrey's mid-life crises are humorously dealt with.

Does Audrey find love?  does she change her vocation?  does her son become gainfully employed? I wouldn't want to include spoilers, but suffice it to say that Audrey no sooner solves one problem than another rears its ugly head, but she has loyal friends and an ex ready to encourage, support and fortify her as she struggles to find solutions.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book to find  for myself.  Pop this one in your beach bag, it makes a great frothy summer read.

One Hot Summer ~ Kat French

Possibly my favourite chick-lit of 2017: I truly could not bear to put this book down!  The characters were so fabulously eccentric, the heroine - Alice McBride - was a wonderful mixture of fragility and strength, and the love interest (US country singer Robinson Duff) was such a romantic, dependable hunk I was half in love with him myself!

I really couldn't begin to describe the plot and do it justice, but the English village setting during a heatwave instantly makes it a great summer read.  The story starts with double heartbreak and follows Alice and Robinson's efforts to get their lives back on track.  I adored Stewie who was a 70s porn star - with his many  wigs and outrageous outfits the mynah bird owned by the local 'white witch' is also a great source of humor and secret-spilling.

Robinson is as gentle and thoughtful as one could wish from a gallant southern boy, but his attempts to forget all about Nashville and his stellar career are fairly unsuccessful.  Alice is enchantingly loyal to her home, Bourne Manor and is driven to be its custodian for years to come, no matter what sacrifices she must make.  The pair vow that this will be a HOT holiday romance and that they won't get involved - but we've all heard that before haven't we?

Gloss ~ Marilyn Kaye

This novel is set in 1963 and is about a group of girls who have won places as interns at Gloss - a magazine aimed at teenagers.  The plot follows four of the interns as they experience moving to New York from other states in America, and the most interesting feature of the novel is its exposure of each girl's previous concepts of life and social structures and how they are required to adjust these as they mix with different ages, backgrounds and cultures during this one summer.

Marilyn often writes for a YA readership so its no surprise that this book has a coming of age feel.  The girls must deal with sexual advances, pregnancy, sexism in the workplace, adultery - all this while finding their feet, keeping secrets while not being sure who to trust as they are all newcomers to the big apple and working life.

The story has a lot of pace, the girls want to experience as much as possible in a short time as each only expects to be in New York for this one summer.  Lovers of Hairspray and Grease will find several points of reference in the book and, as a big fan of Ugly Betty, it was great to cross reference with how the wheels of a magazine turned back in the 60s.

Definitely a chick-lit novel which is not run of the mill;  again, great poolside reading.

Does Fame Inhibit Creativity?

The Muse : Jessie Burton

I imagine that having huge success, especially with the first thing you create, is very daunting.  It might prevent you creating anything again, as nothing feels as if it measures up to your stellar first effort.

Jessie Burton had international acclaim with her first novel The Miniaturist.  In her second venture into the literary world the author explores this challenge:  Odelle Bastien, with her dreams of becoming an author and Olive Schloss, who longs to be an artist and earn her art dealer father's recognition, both girls struggle with the challenge of creating for an audience which already has high expectations of their capability.

The voice and story of Odelle, who's made her way to cold, unforgiving British shores from Trinidad, is rich and colourful.  The passages of the novel which revolve around Odelle are rich and lively, with humour and mystery.  She takes prejudice in her stride, but is at her most relaxed alongside her best friend Cynthia who travelled with her from the West Indies.

Time spent in Spain with Olive and her parents seems less up-beat, partly because her parents' lives are fractured and because Olive feels so invisible.   The country is on the brink of war, but revolution is on the family's doorstep because Isaac & his sister Teresa, who help around the property are embroiled in right-wing activities.

Due to a misunderstanding (which starts as a mistake, but is soon purposefully encouraged)  Olive's vibrant, and unusual painting gets launched with Isaac as the front man, making a big noise in the art world.  Years later, at the Gallery in London where Odelle works, a painting surfaces which appears to be by Isaac - but in order to feature in an exhibition there must be an investigation into its provenance (remind you of The Girl You Left Behind?) and this mystery was, for me was the power that drove the novel forward.

I really enjoyed this book, perhaps the storyline around Odelle and the gallery more than Olive's development as an artist.  I can't deny being slightly disappointed by the speed at which the book was wrapped up.  It had surprises, it tied up loose ends, but it felt slightly rushed, in comparison with the languid speed at which the rest of the novel unfolded.

Elvis has Not left the Building : J R Rain

This book has a lot of comedy! I love the concept of Elvis Presley being alive and well, making a living as a Private Investigator. Aaron King has re-invented himself since he spectacularly faked his death in the 70s. He reinvented himself with plastic surgery, he has therapist, an on again/off again girlfriend (who is gossipy) a friend who's an attorney (and knows his true identity) - his life is full of conflict about what he can say and do around people. He also has huge guilt over abandoning his daughter, a yearning to perform again, while the battle with alcohol and prescription drugs is ever-present.

Mr King has is a PI specializing in finding missing persons (usually children). In this adventure he's tasked with locating a beautiful young starlet; A case which both the Police and other abandoned when the trail went cold.

I was first introduced to Aaron King in the Samantha Moon series, where the detective is a young mother, forced to work at night since being turned into a vampire. In American Vampire King is enlisted to track down a little girl who has been abducted by a very bad man, he and Samantha must follow a trail to 'Sin City' to rescue her before the unthinkable happens. I loved the elder statesman JR Rain created, trying to keep under the radar yet is still imbued with a big attractive personality and unmistakable southern charm. I resolved to read more about him, and this book did not disappoint!

Get Loved up for Valentines Day!  

Romantic Reads

Real life fellas have a lot to live up to if their partner is a bibliophile!  We may constantly compare them with the love-interests in the novels we read.  I have a full blown crush on Eric Northman (the sexy vampire who is Sookie Stackhouse's on/off boyfriend in Charlaine Harris' vampire novels), but I also nominate these page-turning hotties:  Try my favourite high-brow & dignified heroes like Fitzwilliam Darcy, Will Traynor, Jay Gatsby or some gritty action heroes who show no fear, like Jack Reacher, Matthew Clairmont or Ranger - it's no wonder our poor guys fall short.

Here's a list of some of the most romantic books I've read:

• Eleanor & Park :  Rainbow Rowell
• The Girl you Left Behind : Jojo Moyes
• The One You Really Want : Jill Mansell
• Sense & Sensibility : Jane Austen
• Twilight : Stephanie Meyer
• Love, Rosie (Where Rainbows End) : Celia Ahern
• Beautiful Creatures : Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
• Some Girls Do : Clodagh Murphy
• Shiver : Maggie Stiefvater
• Welcome to Temptation : Jennifer Crusie

Happy reading guys.  Let me know what you think of my suggestions, and any new romantic heroes that I ought to be looking up!