Searching for that rush...

Hi there, I got this one because I enjoyed her Divergent series and while I liked this book there was a lot I didn't like. The premise of the story is good; I like the conflict, the war, the 'gifts' and the travel. There is family conflict, violence and of course, a little bit of romance.  Yeah I like a good bit of violence and political corruption but the story seemed like information overload. Usually, your given everything in bits and pieces, but two whole cultures plus the conflict, gifts and family issues.  Akos is kidnapped and held hostage for years by the Noavek family, he's taught to fight and then is forced to be Cyra Noavek's personal servant. Sort of. His current gift interrupts other gifts, while Cyra's only gives pain including to herself. Sometimes it's so unbearable that she cannot even stand or think.  When these two are forced together of course romance is in the air, but perhaps not so much when your evil older brother is tort...

Hey all, my momma bought me this book on a whim, there's nothing better than unexpected books. This book is about two friends, one whimsy, one serious. Both looking for something. When Sonia is offered the chance to go to Spain to dance, she jumps at it. In this small Spanish town, Sonia stumbles upon a old man with a story to tell. Not only does Sonia learn about Spain's civil war and it's politics, she learns something about herself. Her mother is long dead and her bond with her father is shaky, her relationship with her husband is turbulent. A photograph in a Spanish cafe of a woman, Sonia thought she knew sends her life in a tailspin. This novel brings a rich history which clashes wonderfully with the present. Sonia is forced to confront certain things about her own life and make life changing decisions.  Of course the dancing is something else. It's amazing how words can create an image in your head and make you see (feel) the way of the dance. The langu...

Hello again, I read this one after I went to Scotland for a visit and I have to say I want to go back. Although this town is fictional, the general Scottishness about it, is delicious.  So when Flora has to go back to her quite hometown after leaving for work in London, years previously, for a pushy client. Flora is filled with dread, but of course when her dishy boss asks her to go, obviously she says yes. Her life in London was the only thing keeping her going after her mother died. Going back is bringing up a lot of bad stuff for Flora, never mind seeing her dad and brothers for the first time since.  Not only do her brothers have some resentment about her leaving them, they apparently can't look after themselves.  So not only does Flora have to contend with the judgemental community of Mure, she has to now cook and clean for family on top of trying to be a kick ass solicitor for her mega-bucks client.  Then she finds a recipe book of her mothers and t...

Hi hi hi, this is one of those novels where; yes there's a central character but it's really a whole town kind of story. Everyone is involved, they all have quirks, stories to tell and play their part in this quirky little town of Beachcomber Bay. Clemency meets someone unexpectedly on a plane, the chemistry is undeniable. Even when three years later they meet again, there's the spark but he's got a girlfriend. Clem's coworker Ronan, has got the looks, the charm but can't get the girl he wants. Belle, Clem's step sister has the perfect boyfriend but it's just not quite right.   As the tales of the people of town get told, more than one person ends up in tears. Truths are told and more than one life is turned upside down, whether for the good or not is up to you to find out. I'm keeping the details on this one pretty scarce as the niche of this story is the characters and how they link in together. I really enjoyed this book, and really really h...

Hi there;  When Alice Rose is found as a baby on the Yorkshire moors above Haworth. She's adopted by the nicest family and feels at home with them but when her adoptive dad dies and Alice is left with her evil step-mother, her life takes a turn.  She runs away on the search for somewhere that feels like home. It seems only natural that she should return to Haworth  after spending so long looking for 'home.' Alice is a baker, experienced cafe owner and novelist.  When the opportunity arises to buy a cafe in Haworth, she does. Of course the building is too good to be true, the previous owner not only took all the furniture she was promised but the place wasn't left in a clean state. So after she has a run in with her absolutely gorgeous, antiques dealing neighbour, she finds herself swept into his loving family. They run a local BnB where Alice is automatically made to feel to feel at home. As Alice searches for her birth family, she turns her cafe around, f...

Hey all, here we go again, me apologising for not writing in so long! A few things have changed since I last posted, new job, new outlook. Did a couple of things I said I would to get me back on track. Reading more, listening to music, have even been doing some arts and crafts stuff. It's been good.  Time for writing however, has been hard to find. Although it's been like that since I started this blog... :/ In this book, Coco's mother passes away suddenly. She always wanted her daughter to have a Coco Chanel bag, so when one comes into Coco's possession she tries her hardest to find out who it belongs to and the story behind the mysterious person who owned it. Coco has a pretty interesting personal life, a crazy family, a glam best friend with teenager problems and of course there's a man.  This book is incredibly funny and sad. As Coco struggles to figure out where she belongs and find her mysterious Chanel bag owner, we fall a little bit more in love w...