Sorry, but I just wasn't impressed at all. Maybe the book was over hyped but I failed to be sucked into the story a**spoiler alert** We were obvious.
Sorry, but I just wasn't impressed at all. Maybe the book was over hyped but I failed to be sucked into the story and I guessed the "twist" before even half way through. Felt like a slight rip off of a Nicole Kidman film I watched years ago. ...more
Everyone who's read and enjoyed Lucy Diamonds previous Beach Cafe books will love this book. We revisit Evie and Ed back in their Cornish village justEveryone who's read and enjoyed Lucy Diamonds previous Beach Cafe books will love this book. We revisit Evie and Ed back in their Cornish village just before Christmas. This year they've invited along one of Evie's sisters who's having her own crisis, and her kids for Christmas; so again Evie is wondering if she'll ever get a "perfect" romantic Christmas with just her and Ed. However after something happens, which I'm sure anyone who reads this book will guess, maybe Evie will still have the best Christmas ever?
This book is a little different to the previous beach cafe books, as it's told from two different perspectives-Evie's and her sisters. I personally quite enjoyed seeing things through another persons eyes as it made me warm further towards Ruth and understand her more. My only issue is the book was just too short - hahahaha. I know it's a novella, but it just left me wanting more. I'm really hoping that Lucy Diamond may decide to write another full length Beach Cafe Book. Although I can't complain too much as if she writes a book each Christmas so we can see how Evie and co are doing, then that will satisfy some cravings! ...more
Festive, easy to read short book. Perfect to read in the run up to Christmas when you're running about in circles without a lot of spare time on your Festive, easy to read short book. Perfect to read in the run up to Christmas when you're running about in circles without a lot of spare time on your hands and a great little book to get you into the Christmas spirit with its talk of mince pies, mulled wine and other Christmas goodies. At the end of the book are a few little recipes you can try to crave the munchies this book will definitely cause you to have....more
Sorry but this book just isn't for me. Was ok to waste an hour but it was extremely cliched, cheesy and with a rubbish ending which I think was meant Sorry but this book just isn't for me. Was ok to waste an hour but it was extremely cliched, cheesy and with a rubbish ending which I think was meant to be a twist. ...more
I would have given this book another star but because I felt it was missing a certain resolution at the end I had to give it a 3. I got this novella nI would have given this book another star but because I felt it was missing a certain resolution at the end I had to give it a 3. I got this novella not expecting much to be honest. The only other Christmas theme book I've read was a bit of a let down. So this book was my last attempt at reading a Christmas book - notice I said was!?
I'm trying my best to get into the Christmas spirit - I know, I know, it's only November - and it's not like I put up decorations before December. But as I'm in Australia before heading home for Xmas and it's summer here, I'm attempting to evoke the spirit of Christmas....Which is pretty difficult when the suns blazing outside, it's boiling hot and I'm wearing a strappy summer dress! However this book succeeded into fooling me it was snowy and cold outside as it really did have a great Christmassy feel to it. I can almost feel the stinging cold wind hitting my cheeks and the need to grab some winter Woolies from the wardrobe and a mug of steaming hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.
The story is about a girl, Holly, who's parents own a Christmas themed party planning company in a small village in England. However Holly is 22, has just finished college and has ambitions to have a career throwing star studded glamorous parties for celebrities. When she gets the opportunity to head to New York and organise a Christmas party for a British celeb living there she jumps at the chance. I can't say much more without spoiling it, apart from she meets a guy and there's a sweet moral to the story. Which I really understand myself being so far from home with Christmas almost in sight. I'd recommend this book to anyone. It's a perfect Christmas read as it really feels like Christmas when you read it and it's a nice light easy read for when you just want to relax inbeteeeen dashing about christmas shopping, wrapping presents, Christmas parties, baking mince pies and Christmas cake etc. The only issue I have with the story is it's too short and i wanted to learn more about the characters. I think I may now have to delve further into Tallis others books to see what else she has written....more
I really wanted to enjoy this book to get into the Christmas spirit. Unfortunately I'm sorry to say it just didn't do it for me. The main issue was thI really wanted to enjoy this book to get into the Christmas spirit. Unfortunately I'm sorry to say it just didn't do it for me. The main issue was the main character of Carrie. She was a nanny hired to help a Father look after his two young children over the holiday period. She discovers he works such long hours that he doesn't really know his own kids. So she sets out to help them make "memories" together while at the same time attempting to figure out what to do with her life and what career she should retrain in, so she can get a life and basically a husband. I just found her so cliched and sickly sweet perfect that she ended up being annoying and a bit creepy in how she saw the family and became so attached within a matter of days. I found it difficult to believe she'd be so interfering towards her boss and the little time he spends with his kids-she was after all just a nanny that he hired as he was too busy to look after them. It's like she thought she was Mary Poppins and on the occasions she did doubt herself it was almost like it was added to try to make her appear less stalker'ish and weird. Then the ending. I won't say anymore so as not to spoil it, but I felt sorry for the guy in a way with little miss stalker. Sorry to the author for the bad review, although it wasn't my cup of tea I'm sure lots of others will enjoy it. ...more
I wasn't sure I'd like this book as I've only just started introducing some chick lit books back into my reading, as after a long stressful day I needI wasn't sure I'd like this book as I've only just started introducing some chick lit books back into my reading, as after a long stressful day I need some easy fluffy reading that doesn't require much brain power. I don't mean that in a sneery look down my nose snobby kind of way, as chick lit can be great. It's definitely my guilty little secret again. Anyway I'll get to the book! It's centred around Evie a woman whose life is stuck in a bit of a rut and feels like she's the black sheep of her family. Her boyfriend seems disinterested, she hates her job, has enrolled in a teaching reading course for lack of any other choices and feels a failure compared to her sisters and their "perfect" lives. She suddenly inherits a beachside cafe down in a seaside village in Cornwall and initially thinks she can manage it from Oxford. Well I won't go into too much detail or that'll defeat the need to read it - but the remainder of the book is following Evies new life.
Evies quite an identifiable character and I'm sure many readers will fall in love with the bay and the characters. The descriptions of the bay make it seem extremely vivid and you really can imagine how it looks and practically smell the ocean and feel the sea breeze. It also made me crave pasties and delicious cakes and I really think it will make me actually attempt some baking. I think this book is perfect holiday reading material and escapism. I used to believe living in a picturesque destination would be perfect. Until I lived in a postcard perfect place and was bored stiff once I realised there was nothing beneath the surface and while it was great for a holiday, it wasn't ideal (for me anyway) as a permanent thing. However Evies village sounds lovely and almost makes me want to move to Cornwall ;)
As it's now December and in the run up to Christmas and I enjoyed this book, I'm now going to read Lucy Diamonds follow up books -Christmas at the beach cafe. I'm really looking forward to revisiting the characters and seeing where they are now up to with their lives. Hopefully they'll be some mouth watering descriptions of delicious Christmas food that'll make it feel more Christmassy. As being in Australia in the sun and heat for another few weeks, I need all the help I can to evoke the sense of Christmas and hopefully Lucy Diamonds books can help.
Imagine how sometimes you feel when you wake up on holiday in a strange hotel or after a long flight? Possibly confused with jet lag wondering where tImagine how sometimes you feel when you wake up on holiday in a strange hotel or after a long flight? Possibly confused with jet lag wondering where the hell you are. Well that's what the main character of this book has to experience each morning she wakes up with a form of amnesia.
The premise for this book is similar to fifty first dates, although the main character in this story had her accident a few decades earlier and therefore has aged, which needs to be explained each morning. It's quite a riveting book, although there were aspects that I found slightly annoying, such as how Christine kept going on about how important having a child was to her...blah, blah. There's a sense of suspense throughout with suspicions being around different characters. By the time you reach the end of the book you may have worked out the ending, which I hate to say I felt slightly disappointed by, but maybe that's because I'd heard it being talked up too much....more
An inspiring and heartwarming story. Saroo was definitely one of the lucky ones out of the thousands of homeless/lost/abandoned Indian children. If yoAn inspiring and heartwarming story. Saroo was definitely one of the lucky ones out of the thousands of homeless/lost/abandoned Indian children. If you believe in fate, it's dealt him a good card :)...more
This book is written in a simple style, yet is still incredibly inspiring and thought provoking with its glimpses into communism in China and the starThis book is written in a simple style, yet is still incredibly inspiring and thought provoking with its glimpses into communism in China and the stark differences with the west. I loved the little Chinese fables that were included to show where Li got his drive to succeed and strength to grow from. It's not often a book can bring tears to my eyes, but this managed it on more than one occasion! You don't have to be a fan of dance or ballet to enjoy this book, although being a ballet fan I may be a little biased in how much I loved this book, but I would recommend this to anybody to read....more
Well I didn't expect that. I can't say much else without spoiling it for anyone! However this book of the series is full of twists, turns, surprises..Well I didn't expect that. I can't say much else without spoiling it for anyone! However this book of the series is full of twists, turns, surprises...and sadness. I will take the author at his word that the unexpected major event near the end of the book was a necessity and part of the bigger picture. Really looking forward to seeing where Mr Crane next takes this tale; he sure knows how to hook his readers in....more
Couldn't put this book down. I knew of the case when it happened, but I was of the age where I didn't pay much attention to the news, so I didn't knowCouldn't put this book down. I knew of the case when it happened, but I was of the age where I didn't pay much attention to the news, so I didn't know the full details. When i was in Australia on my whv I travelled up part of the Stuart highway on the way up to Darwin. It is a very lonely, desolate, empty and vast part of the country and just so hard to describe to anybody who's not been there. What Joanne and Peter suffered there at the hands of an evil man was heartbreaking. I have so much respect for Joanne and everything she endured - from the horrifying ordeal she went through, unprofessional incompetent police, fabricated media stories and false rumours. She is a brave lady with a great outlook on life and I hope both she and the Falconio family have happier futures....more
Love these books. Initially I wasn't sure if I was even going to finish the first book! Then I got sucked in and I am now addicted! I keep thinking I Love these books. Initially I wasn't sure if I was even going to finish the first book! Then I got sucked in and I am now addicted! I keep thinking I need to take a break to read something different, however each time I finish a book it ends in such a way I just have to download the next book onto my kindle. A great series full of action, adventure, mystery and emotion. But beware, they are very addictive so be prepared to give up your life until you finish them ;)...more
It's been ages since i've read any chick lit/romance books. Usually the only ones I can bear to read nowadays are Marian Keyes. I bought this around NIt's been ages since i've read any chick lit/romance books. Usually the only ones I can bear to read nowadays are Marian Keyes. I bought this around New Year and as I'm currently in oz and summer has begun, I thought it seemed like the perfect summer read. I have to say I really enjoyed the story and characters. Although it touched on some serious issues; the writing still maintained its sense of humour. The story is told from various points of views and this worked well in this book as you could get to know and understand the characters easier. I can't say much more without giving away the storyline and spoiling it. To round it up this book is uplifting and a good easy read if you just want to escape and don't want to do a lot of deep thinking. It's funny, romantic, deals with various issues (bullying, debt, work/money problems, blended families, illness) and has a storyline and characters that pull you in and feel a bit sad when you get to the end of the book and have to say goodbye....more
There seem to be many different interpretations of the issues in this book. My understanding is the future of any society appears bleak no matter whatThere seem to be many different interpretations of the issues in this book. My understanding is the future of any society appears bleak no matter what type of structure society takes. Communism isn't ideal nor is capitalism. Too much free will and civilisation would crumble, not enough and we become like the population in Brave New World. Eventually technology, science and medical advancements will be our downfall and we'll become like the society in this book. It appears we are already almost there. Dumbed down by trash tv, sexualisation through the media, obsessed with celebrity and superficialness, zombie like with phones/computers and distracted by social media. It seems all we are missing is some soma. ...more
Loved the wool trilogy. Great writing and great concept. I will now be looking for more of Hugh Howey's books to read. I was actually quite sad once ILoved the wool trilogy. Great writing and great concept. I will now be looking for more of Hugh Howey's books to read. I was actually quite sad once I reached the end of the third book as I realised that was the end of the world of the silos. Although as other reviewers have pointed out, there are still a lot of unanswered questions which could leave an opening for another book. Then we could see what happens with the few survivors who make it to the woods and the people still inside the numerous silos who may be wondering what is happening now silo 1 is no longer responding....more
**spoiler alert** I've had this book to read for ages and I'm not sure why it took me so long to actually get around to reading. Well I do, the film h**spoiler alert** I've had this book to read for ages and I'm not sure why it took me so long to actually get around to reading. Well I do, the film has just been released so I realised if I didn't read it ASAP I was guaranteed to hear a spoiler.
I'm sure most people are aware of the storyline, so I won't bother giving an outline. It's a pretty dark book and I found it rather difficult to feel much empathy or sympathy for either of the major two characters. One is a narc and the other a sociopath, and i couldn't tell if the author wanted readers to "favour" one character over the other. I found myself not really caring what happened to either character. Saying that I did enjoy the insight this book gave into the twisted minds of these type of people and I liked the structure of the book and how it was from two different pov's. I kind of guessed the twist in the book, although saying that, for some reason nothing really surprised me. I would say to everyone to give this book a read; unless you are having marital problems as this book may make you look at your other half in a paranoid way - which I'm sure i read was the authors intent - to make people look at their other halves and think do I really know this person......more
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