Book Review - The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

 

Published: September 11th 2014

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 336

 

 

Blurb

 

They were teenage sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks - with a passion that would change their lives for ever. But life would force them apart.

Years later, the lines they had drawn between past and present are about to slip . . . Called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter when they needed it most, they are faced with each other once again, and forced to confront the paths they chose. Can true love ever rewrite the past?

 

 

Review

 

This is the first Nicholas Sparks book which I have read although he has been on my list of authors to read for some time, so when I won a copy of this in a giveaway I was delighted, thank you Sphere and Little Book Café for this copy.

The Best of Me is the story of first love between Dawson Cole and Amanda Collier. They fall madly in love when they are teenagers but sadly are split apart when Amanda goes off to college and Dawson to prison. Years later they are reunited when their old friend Tuck dies and they come together to say goodbye. As the feelings come flooding back to them Amanda has to decide to give her love with Dawson one more chance or return to her husband and children.

I loved both of the main characters.  Dawson is such great male lead, very early on you realise just how much he seems to be driven by a sense of guilt and duty for events in his past and I think meeting again Amanda helped him to realise it was time to move on let it go. I bet he was an incredibly sexy brooding teenager so there is no wonder Amanda fell for him. Amanda seems to be a lovely person who is devoted to her family life even though her marriage to husband Frank does not seem ideal. When she meets Dawson again she is torn between following her heart and rekindling their love and her head telling her not to break her family up.

Dawson’s two cousins Abee and Ted for me added a comical touch to the book as they just reminded me of the two buglers in the Home Alone movie the way they could never quite get to Dawson and I’ll be interested to see who plays these characters in the movie.

This is a beautiful will they, won’t they story where you feel emotion of these two characters all the way through, which made my heart ache and the ending was not something I was expecting and it totally threw me and I wasn’t sure it was the ending I wanted but now I’ve thought about it for a few days it does seem a very fitting end to a beautiful love story.

After reading this I think I have caught the Nicholas Sparks’ bug and definitely need to read more of his work soon it’s magical.

Rating 5/5



Showcase Sunday #7

 

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where book bloggers share all things book related in the last week. This post covers two weeks for me as I took a blogging break last week. So here is what I've collected:

 

Bought:

 

 

 

 

Borrowed from the Library:

 

    

 

From Publishers:

 

   

 

Thank you to Pan Macmillian for Crossing the Line and The Silent Sister (which has a different cover) , to Sphere for the copy of The Best of Me and Bookbridgr and Headline Review for The Fortune Hunter

 

 

NetGalley:

 

     

 

 

So I've had a very busy fortnight adding to my to be read pile, think I need to try and make a dent in it before I get anything else. What have you received this week? Take a look at other people's lists here.

Book Review - Hopelessly Devoted to You by Jill Steeples

Publisher: Carina UK

Published: August 14th 2014

Pages: 304

Available on Kindle

Order from amazon here.

 

Blurb

Meet Ruby’s fiancé, Finn. He’s gorgeous, thoughtful, successful and adoring – pretty much anyone could ever want in a man. In fact, he’s perfect. The catch? He’s just not perfect for her. But when Ruby finally plucks up the courage to come clean, Finn’s so furious that he misses his footing as he runs down the stairs – and suddenly, it’s not just his heart that’s broken!

When Finn wakes up, he can’t remember a thing. Not that Ruby dumped him – not even that they were ever engaged! It’s on the tip of Ruby’s tongue to come clean, but somehow, it never seems to be the right time... And as the weeks pass, she sees a new side to Finn. Arrogant and a shameless flirt, he’s irresistibly bad, and the chemistry between them is explosive!

It’s not that Ruby’s lying… she’s just withholding the truth. And seeing as things are going so well, perhaps there’s no need for Finn to have his memory jogged… The trouble is, there’s every chance that Finn might remember for himself!

 

Review

Firstly I would like to thank Carina UK for allowing me to read this via NetGalley.

 

To be totally honest I knew nothing about this book or its author before I requested it, I just saw that beautiful cover and was instantly drawn to it. I'm so glad I read it because I devoured it in one sitting, which doesn't happen often. The story really drew me in and I just couldn't put it down.

 

At first I didn't warm to the character of Ruby, she has this perfect boyfriend in Finn who is sexy, polite, considerate and even brings her flowers when its not her birthday but Ruby  feels she can't marry him because she doesn't love him. The first couple of chapters are just about Ruby trying to work out how to get rid of Finn and I just found Ruby to by whiny and annoying at this point, luckily after Finn has his accident  she changes and becomes a lovely caring person who I would actually like to be friends with.

 

I loved that this book had a couple of unexpected twists so wasn't as predictable as I thought it might be, this made for a story which I wanted to keep reading as I wanted to know if things would happen in the way I expected or not. Jill's style of writing flows really well and with a few unexpected plot twists and characters which became really quite loveable it makes reading this book a joy.

 

I will definitely be reading more of her work as her writing suits me perfectly when I just want a heart warming tale to curl up with. If you enjoy Milly Johnson or Katie Fforde then I'm sure you will enjoy this book. I give this book 5/5

 

 

 

 

Release Day Round Up #1

While I had my blogging break I decided on a few changes for my blog, firstly I will probably not be participating in the "Waiting On" Wednesday event hosted over at Breaking The Spine anymore, instead as Thursday seems to be the main publication day in the UK I will be showcasing three to five of my favourite books that I have reviewed or intend to read soon,  which are released today or this week. So here is my selection for today:

 

Stable Mates by Zara Stoneley

Available on Kindle

Released September 4th 2014
Publisher: Harper Impulse

Order from Amazon here

 

Secrets and scandals, love and lust – when the ‘Cheshire Set’ are up against the ‘Footballer’s Wives’ the only common ground is carnal…
Flirting and fun seem the perfect antidote for Lottie's battered heart, and where better to find them than back in tranquil Tippermere, home of sexy eventer Rory Steel, the smiling Irish eyes of hunky farrier Mick O'Neal, and mysterious newcomer, model Tom Strachan?
But when landowner Marcus James drops dead unexpectedly, and the threat of his waggish wife Amanda selling the heart of the village out from under them looms large, things look like they're about to heat up in and out of the saddle.
With tensions running high, and the champagne flowing as freely as the adrenalin, is it any wonder that love catches more than one of them unawares?

 

I reviewed this on the blog yesterday and I loved it. Its set in the villages of Tippermere and Kitterly Heath and is the perfect mix of horsey shenanigans and footballers wife glamor fans of Fiona Walker and Tilly Bagshaw will love this.

 

 

 

A Husband's Confession by Zoe Miller

Available: Kindle and Paperback

Released September 4th 2014
Publisher: Hachette Books Ireland

Order from Amazon here

 

The artisan bakery Ali and Max Kennedy own isn't just a successful business - it's a second home, a dream come true. But when bad luck begins to stalk the couple, Ali worries that her fear of losing it all is becoming a reality.
Across the city, Max's brother Finn and his wife Jo long for the carefree happiness they had when they first met in Australia over twenty years ago. But when Finn loses his high profile TV job and becomes more bitter by the day, Jo starts to suspect that he's hiding something from her.
While both couples navigate their marriages, little do they realise that Max and Ali's daughter Jessica harbours a dark secret which threatens to destroy the whole family.
Then it happens - the accident. And the Kennedys will never be the same again.

I'm really intrigued by this book and its 'accindent', I've not read anything by Zoe Miller and I've discovered so many great new authors recently so I'm excited to get hold of this and give it a read.

 

The Wedding Proposal by Sue Moorcroft

Available: Kindle and Paperback

Released: September 5th 2014
Publisher: Choc Lit

Order from Amazon here

 

Elle Jamieson is a private person, in relationships as well as at work - and for good reason. But then she's made redundant and with no ties to hold her, Elle heads off to sunny Malta.

Lucas Rose hates secrets - he prides himself on his ability to lay his cards on the table and he expects nothing less in return. He's furious when his summer working as a divemaster is interrupted by the arrival of Elle, his ex, all thanks to his Uncle Simon's misguided attempts at matchmaking.

Forced to live in close proximity, it's hard to ignore what they had shared before Lucas's wedding proposal scared Elle away. But then a phone call from England allows Lucas a rare glimpse of the true Elle. Can he deal with Elle's closely guarded past when it finally comes to light?

 

Again another author whose books I've not read but looks really good, I love books where there are secrets from the past to learn about.

 



 



 

The Playground by Julia Kelly
Available: Kindle and Paperback
Published: 4th September 2014 (Paperback)
Publisher: Quercus
Order from amazon here



 

 

Eve is putting her life together again.
Her partner has walked out on her. She's moved into a tiny flat on the outskirts of Dublin. She has no job. But she does have her beloved baby daughter - and there's a little playground across the street.
It's a tired spot for teenagers and tramps, but Eve is determined to make this new life work. Alongside her interfering lodger and a group of local mums she swings into action to make the playground the heart of the community.
But not all games are innocent - and not all friends are true. When a terrible accident is blamed on her, Eve must forge her own independence - and realise that the playground is not a place to hide from adulthood.

This is another book that looks like it is full of mystery, can't wait to read it. So there are my picks of  this weeks releases, which one is your favourite?
 

 

 

 

Book Review - Stable Mates by Zara Stoneley

 

Published: 4th September 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 288

Available from Amazon on Kindle

 

Blurb

Secrets and scandals, love and lust – when the ‘Cheshire Set’ are up against the ‘Footballer’s Wives’ the only common ground is carnal…

Flirting and fun seem the perfect antidote for Lottie's battered heart, and where better to find them than back in tranquil Tippermere, home of sexy eventer Rory Steel, the smiling Irish eyes of hunky farrier Mick O'Neal, and mysterious newcomer, model Tom Strachan?

But when landowner Marcus James drops dead unexpectedly, and the threat of his waggish wife Amanda selling the heart of the village out from under them looms large, things look like they're about to heat up in and out of the saddle.

With tensions running high, and the champagne flowing as freely as the adrenalin, is it any wonder that love catches more than one of them unawares?

 

Review

Thank you to Harper Impulse for the copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Stable Mates” is the perfect mix of horsey shenanigans, Cheshire glamour and flirty fun. Set in the villages of Tippermere and Kitterley Heath we meet an eclectic bunch of characters ranging from down to earth Lottie Brinkley, posh Lady Elizabeth Stanthorpe ,  Goth teenager Tabatha Strachan and Sam the stereotypical footballers wife. I loved all of these characters and although the main focus was on Lottie the other characters were all brought to life so well I felt like I was one of the Tippermere residents also.

Lottie was my favourite character, she’s like so many women enjoying the fun with hunky boyfriend Rory but deep down wondering if he is the one for keeps or if the she would be better with charming Mick the farrier or sexy newcomer Tom. I so wanted Rory to just admit to Lottie how he felt as all she wants is her forever man, just like her mother had with her father.

The book is full of little mysteries which all add up to a brilliant read where you just want to find out what is going to happen next. I really liked how little pieces of information were given so we could slowly unravel all the mysteries in the characters histories.

Fans of Fiona Walker and Jo Carnegie’s Churchminister series will love this book as it has the same mix of wonderful characters and frivolous fun, along with an interesting plot. I laughed all the way through this book and really hope she writes a follow up as I’d love to read more about these characters. I rate this book 5/5

 

Taking a Break

Hello Everyone,

I've decided to take a little break and just focus on my little ones for the last week of the school holidays so I will be back blogging on Wednesday 3rd September. Enjoy the sun, if you get some.

Joanne x

Book Review - Dear Thing by Julie Cohen

 

Published: May 2014 (this edition)

Publisher: Black Swan

Pages: 482

Source: Library Copy

Available from Amazon in: Kindle / Hardcover / Paperback

 

“Dear Thing” is a real emotional rollercoaster of a book which tackles the topic of surrogacy; it’s so beautifully absorbing that you will not be able to put it down.

Ben and Claire have an almost perfect life; the only thing missing is a baby. They have been trying to have a baby for years and have gone through numerous tests and cycles of IVF, after their latest failure Claire decides she’s had enough and begins to a contemplate life without children. Ben is heartbroken and seeks comfort with best friend and single mum Romily. Romily in a drunken haze offers to be a surrogate for Ben and Claire, she found pregnancy easy with her daughter Posie  and would do anything to help her friends. Before she really has chance to let this idea sink in she finds she’s pregnant and there is no going back. When reality sinks in Romily’s feelings which she has kept hidden for so long are beginning to surface and could threaten her friendship with Ben and Claire and potentially wreck their marriage. This is the story of an impossible decision when there are two mothers and only one baby.

 

Surrogacy is not a topic which is written about very much but Cohen has done a wonderful job of highlighting the issues that arise and showing us both sides of the story. It really tugs at your heart as right from the first page you feel the heartbreak Ben and Claire are suffering and you can feel the despair as they face yet another setback in their dreams. Cohen has made the reader feel like they are also feeling the emotions of the characters and as the story is told from the perspectives of Claire, Ben and  Romily you feel like you are pulled one way then another.

 

I think Cohen has done a brilliant job in the portrayal of the two contrasting “mothers”. Claire is the perfect motherly type, she’s organised, caring, loves cooking from scratch and you can tell her whole focus will be on making “Thing” completely happy, the only thing she can’t do is conceive and carry her child. Romily is dis-organised, forgetful and more focused on her own life than Posie’s, but she has the perfect body for growing a baby. Both totally different but both want the baby so much.

 

I think my favourite character was Romily’s daughter Mariposa “Posie”, I just love that unique name and thought it suited this very intelligent and insightful seven year old perfectly. I thought Posie brought some light- heartedness to a book which was needed when dealing with such a serious topic.

 

The title “Dear Thing” comes from the letters which Romily begins to write to the unborn baby as a way to work out her feelings that are churning inside her. It’s through these letters that we learn more about Romily and why she makes such a huge gesture to her friends and I think they help us to understand her and the way she is with Posie.

 

This book is truly gripping and I loved that things didn’t always go the way you expected, which kept you just wanting more. This is not just a book about surrogacy and longing for a child, it’s about friendship, about finally letting go of the past and about realising what you thought you wanted is not always what you need. It is a book which will stay with you for a long time and one which I thing anyone who has a child should read.  Truly breath-taking, I give it 5 out of 5 stars.