Looking for Captain Poldark by Rowan Coleman

Looking for Captain Poldark by Rowan Coleman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


How far would you go to find the perfect hero?

Four strangers, united by their shared love of POLDARK, come together on a trip to Cornwall in search of their hero...

Lisa has sworn off love and relationships after a really bad experience, but lately she’s been tempted to take a chance on a more exciting life. First she meets other fans of the TV show Poldark online. Then she proposes a very special road trip to Cornwall, in search of where their favourite show is being filmed.

But can four strangers find friendship, as well as a certain sexy hunk on their trip south?

Neatly packed little novella follows the road trip of 4 Poldark fans to Cornwall where they all hope to meet Aiden Turner (Captain Poldark) on location filming the popular series.

These 4 people are all strangers who meet through an appreciation Poldark site and decide to make this road trip together. All of these people have their own demons to lay and the trip takes on different meaning for each of them.

Amusing little tale, it does what it says on the tin, perfect for a quick plane ride read or by the pool entertainment. It could easily have been fleshed out to make a better novel but ok never the less. 3 stars for this one.

ROAR by Cecelia Ahern

Roar by Cecelia Ahern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever stood at a crossroads, undecided…Have you ever had a moment when you wanted to roar?

From much-loved, international bestseller Cecelia Ahern come stories for all of us: the women who befriend us, the women who encourage us, the women who make us brave. From The Woman Who Slowly Disappeared to The Woman Who Returned and Exchanged her Husband, discover thirty touching, often hilarious, stories and meet thirty very different women. Each discovers her strength; each realizes she holds the power to make a change.

Witty, tender, surprising, these keenly observed tales speak to us all, and capture the moment when we all want to roar.

I love books by Cecelia Ahern, I always have, however I feel since I have got older I have more of a love/hate relationship with them. Sometimes I just find them a little bizarre, crazy and unbelievable. This book was very different, this is 30 short stories all about women, I love short stories as having a very busy job I can not always invest a lot of time in a story and I can feel very disappointed as I haven't given it the attention it deserves. With short stories this never happens, they let me read one feel like I have accomplished something before bed.

These short stories are all about women, at different periods of their lives, some stories are longer than others and some are quite bizarre, which I struggled with. Some of them really stayed in my mind for a long time after I had finished them and made me think. There were some I preferred to others.

Overall it is a nice short story collection, I think it would be better to read a few at a time, perhaps pick up another book and then return to these. It is a very interesting collection of short stories and was written very well, I rated this 3.5* rounded up to 4* for Amazon and Goodreads. The reason the rating isn't higher is because in my opinion some of the stories were just a little to far fetched and silly for me.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Text by Claire Douglas

The Text by Claire Douglas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A single text changed her life. Did it end his?

Emily Latimer is furious. Her boss Andrew is being so unreasonable, as always. She fires off a text to her boyfriend, only in her haste she sends it to her whole office group.

In it she says Andrew's being difficult about letting her have time off work. That she is angry. That she hopes he dies. The next day her face burns in the office. No one believes her when she says it was a typo, she meant to say does. She hopes he does.

It's a nightmare. But it gets worse - Andrew doesn't turn up for work. And then the police come knocking. Because Andrew Burton has been murdered . . .

A nice quick short story, it has been years since I have read a book by Claire Douglas, so kind of forgotten what to expect.

This is currently free on Amazon and well worth a read if you have a spare hour or so, it is short but a lot is packed into it.

Emily wants to go away with her friends but her boss Andrew isn't keen on her having the time off, this sparks anger with Emily and she sends a text to her boyfriend to complain about him. Thing is she isn't concentrating and she ends up sending it to her Whatsapp group which includes the majority of her work colleagues. The following day Andrew doesn't turn up for work and it turns out he is dead.

Although this is short there are a few twists and turns in it, which make you continue reading. Overall this was an enjoyable short read.

The Beach Wedding by Dorothy Koomson

The Beach Wedding by Dorothy Koomson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Will your past always catch up with you?

Tessa Dannall is excited and happy when her daughter, Nia, arrives at their family’s tropical beach resort to get married.

Tessa is also trying to forget the last time she went to a wedding on this beach and how that day changed her life for ever.

But as the big day draws near, Tessa realises she must face the deadly ghosts from her past – or they may ruin her daughter’s future...

I love the time of year when Quick Reads release their titles for the year. These are perfect for people on the go, who have a little time but really want to feel like they have read and achieved something.

Koomson is a popular women's fiction writer and has written some very popular books. This is less than 100 pages but didn't feel rushed and had many twists and turns in it.

Nia and Marvin are due to be getting married at Nia's family home in Ghana, this was the same place that her mother was meant to marry her father, but something happened on that faithful day that she doesn't like to speak about. Nia's mother is not so sure it is a good idea that her daughter is to marry in the same place, surely it is bad luck? Things look like they are going ahead anyway and when Marvin's parents turn up a few days early, everything changes.

This was a short story that I devoured in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, I would recommend this to anyone who wants a small escapism but can't commit to a full length novel.

Flytrap by Simon Kernick

Flytrap by Simon Kernick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Also includes a sneak preview of Simon Kernick's blistering new thriller, The Bone Field.

Him
He has an addiction that he cannot quench. His solitary life sailing the Caribbean is the only way he can survive. That is, until, he meets…

Her
A widow with nothing left to lose, she finds herself on his sleek forty-foot yacht. He’s handsome and charming; exactly what she’s been looking for.

But the night doesn’t go exactly as they had planned, and only one of them will get out alive.

An excellent little thriller!

I was looking for something to get my teeth into just before I started another large novel, this was perfect. I was very quickly transported to the Caribbean, to a beach bar, where we meet our characters of the book. Although it is a short story, I really liked the format of the chapter changes entitles him and her. This is a fast paced thriller and Kernick really added a lot into it.

I really enjoyed this short story and after reading this I would be tempted to pick up a full length novel by Kernick, the best thing about this was it is currently on kindle for free. This can allow you to check out his writing style before you commit. If you are anything like me though you will race through it and go searching for his full length novels.

A brilliant little thriller.

The Apple Orchard by Veronica Henry

The Apple Orchard by Veronica Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the charming town of Peasebrook, there's a place for everyone. War vet Joe has made new friends and a new home for himself here, overlooking a beautiful apple orchard. But when tragedy strikes and Joe is left out in the cold, it will bring them all together in entirely unexpected ways . . .

The Apple Orchard is a truly feel-good short story about friendship and kindness. It's the perfect introduction to Veronica Henry and includes an extract of her upcoming novel The Forever House.


When I downloaded this I am not sure what I was expecting, although reading other Henry novels I thought it would be chick lity and a lovely read. Don't get me wrong this was a lovely read, just not what I was expecting.

This is a very short story, most of it is a sample of her new book which I believe follows on from this. I found this story very moving and it did bring me to tears, I did enjoy the story more than I thought I would, however I think it was almost too short and that the characters were wasted. I would like to have learnt more about Joe and perhaps read about more of his previous life and how he ended up living where he was, perhaps the relationships he had in more detail.

Although these were addressed I would have liked that to have been a full length novel as I really felt connected to him and Digby.

This is a nice short story and worth a read if it is free. I would suggest this is too short to justify purchasing it, however this may encourage you to pre order/buy Henry's new novel. Overall I would give this 3.5*

Dead Simple by Harry Bingham

Dead Simple by Harry Bingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A woman reports a crime to the police, with unexpected results
The grieving widow who finds that she's about to lose more than just her husband
When a man attempts the perfect murder, it's not quite as easy as he thinks
Two men in prison play a deadly game of Scrabble
A young woman tries to trick an old man and gets more than she bargained for
Sometimes crimes are solved in ways you can't explain
A murderer about to be hanged finds that's not the worst thing that can happen
You never know who's going to turn up at your door

Original stories from Mark Billingham, Clare Mackintosh, James Oswald, Jane Casey, Angela Marsons, Harry Bingham, Antonia Hodgson and CL Taylor - specially written for Quick Reads.


By now you know that I love short stories as I can finish something during week after a busy day. It really makes me feel like I have accomplished something.

This is a collection of eight short stories from best selling crime authors. This is where I have a confession, I have never actually actually read any of these authors, so I was excited to get started to see if I will discover a new favourite. I do have quite a few novels by these authors though on my shelf to read soon!

These stories range from a couple of pages to 20-30. I didn't enjoy all of the stories, however my favourite three were: The Funeral by Clare Mackintosh, Old Tricks by Jane Casey and The Perfect Murder by Harry Bingham. I really managed to get into these and I would have enjoyed fuller length novels featuring these I think.

Overall this is a good Quick Read, it allows you to try authors work perhaps you haven't before and You can finish a story in around 15 minutes. Some of the stories I felt did need to be longer as it didn't give the reader long enough to get into it, however I think this is a brilliant book to release fo the Quick Reads program this year and recommend you to pick this up. Like me, you may discover some brand new authors.

The Reading Group: December by Della Parker

The Reading Group: December by Della Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


'Brims with laughs, love, family and friendship. You will love this heartwarming read!' Trisha Ashley. Meet the Reading Group: six women in the seaside village of Little Sanderton come together every month to share their love of reading. No topic is off-limits: books, family, love and loss . . . and don't forget the glass of red!

Grace knows that the holiday season is going to be different this year. No turkey, no tinsel, no gorgeously wrapped gifts under the tree . . . how on earth is she going to break it to her little boys that Christmas is effectively cancelled? And can she bear to tell anyone her embarrassing secret? Enter the Reading Group: Grace's life might have turned upside down but there's no problem they can't solve.


This is the beginning of a series, at around 17 pages I was a little apprehensive that I would be able to get into it before it was over. I shouldn't have been worried. It begins with a reading group, Grace is on her way there, but the reader quickly learns that she is struggling in more ways that one and didn't want to attend the group in case she ruined her friends evening. After spilling all at the group, her friends offer to help her out.

This is such an easy read, I couldn't believe that the story was over so soon, I can't wait however for the others in the series, although short and sweet I feel this is going to be a series I devour quickly. This installment is currently free so make sure you download it in time for Christmas.

Three Men and a Maybe by Katey Lovell

Three Men and a Maybe by Katey Lovell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A free short story…the perfect treat for yourself this Christmas

It’s the age-old saying. You wait all day for a bus, and then three come along at once. But proposals? That’s just ridiculous. And yet, on New Year’s Eve, as the countdown finishes and the whole pub erupts in celebrations, Cerys finds herself staring at her ex-fiancé, Ricky. Who just so happens to be kneeling on the floor, ring in hand, asking her to marry him. Again.

And if that weren’t enough, hot barman Angelo, and longtime friend Huw also decide to pop the question. At the exact same time.

Three men, two real contenders, but just one choice. What on earth will she do?

This is a cute short story for the festive season. It begins one New Years Eve, Cerys is at the pub with her friends. Just before midnight two of her ex's and her best friend all go down on one knee. This is only 60 pages or so, so you can easily read it in one sitting. Although it is so short, it does feel like a full length novel. By going back in time to discover what things were like for Cerys when she was going out with these men and how she feels about them, really gives the reader character description and understanding.

By the time the clock strikes midnight we have visited Cerys flashbacks and she has made her decision.

This was a very enjoyable read and the best thing is this little gem is currently free on Amazon so you have nothing to lose.

Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart

Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

At the Manhattan School of Art and Music, where everyone is unique, Gretchen Yee feels ordinary. It doesn't help that she's known as the shy girl who sits alone at lunch, drawing pictures of her favourite superhero, just so she won't have to talk to anyone.

It's no surprise that Gretchen isn't exactly successful in the boy department. Her ex-boyfriend is a cold-fish-sometimes-flirty ex who she can't stop bumping into. Plus, she has a massive crush on a boy named, Titus but is too scared to make the first move. One minute he seems like a sensitive guy, the next, he's a completely different person when he's with his friends. She can't seem to figure boys out!

Gretchen has one wish: to be a fly on the wall in the boy's locker room. What are boys really like? What do they talk about?

This is the story of how one girl's wish came true.


When I heard e.lockhart had another one of her books rebranded by Hot Key books and it was one I hadn't read I couldn't wait to get my teeth stuck into it. My favourite has been We Were Liars of hers and to be honest I haven't read another that has come close yet. Unfortunately this doesn't make it into the same league of that book either.

I thought this sounded really interesting 'fly on the wall' scenario, when has anyone not wished they could be a fly on the wall at some time in their lives. This was just that though, the story was split into three sections. To be honest I found it difficult to link these all together and how they fit together. The first section we learn about Gretchen, who is a normal girl who goes to an artsy school, she knows little about boys and is always falling out with her friends. Gretchen makes a wish to be a fly on the wall and for some reason this actually comes true. This is the major issue for me, it is completely unbelievable, which would be fine if this was explained as to how this happened and for me this was a big fail.

The whole middle section is about Gretchen being this fly on the wall, the things she sees and hears on the wall of the boys locker room. Some of this is amusing, however some of the language used to describe parts of the anatomy I found was very immature.

The third section links a little more with the first but we still didn't know exactly how this all happened. This was a very short read at just over 170 page. I read this in a couple of hours and it did pass the time. I would not recommend this to older teenagers as I think they may find it a little irritating.

This book was O.K and only O.K I wouldn't be reading this again, which is a shame as I loved e. Lockharts We Were Liars, I am still trying to find another of hers, which holds up to this.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review. 

The Witnesses by James Patterson

The Witnesses by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The family next door has a very dark secret.

The Sanderson family has been forced into hiding after one of them stumbled upon a criminal plot. Or so they think. No one will answer their questions. And the terrifying truth may come too late...


I love James Patterson books, I think they are faced paced and they always grab me from the first page. This little book was no different.

James Patterson has released many short stories this year under the 'bookshot' series to encourage reluctant readers, this is the first I have read in this series. I love the idea of them as I can fit in a story into my busy day. As this was free on kindle I decided to start with this one.

This story focuses on the Sanderson family, who are on witness protection and have been moved from Tunisia to a small town in America. Ronald ex police lives next door and had to retire due to ill health but never really gave up on the job. He is constantly on the look out for any suspicious behaviour. When the Sanderson family move next door, which as far as he can work out is a body guard he knows something is not right. Perhaps they are terrorists? He will keep an eye on them.

I don't want to say too much about the plot as the book is so short, but I did enjoy the book. The only negative I have is that the ending felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the book. I would recommend this to others and I will be reading the others in the bookshot series.

Raincoats and Retrievers by Cressida McLaughlin

Raincoats and Retrievers by Cressida McLaughlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s autumn and Primrose Terrace has never looked lovelier. But things are far from rosy for the Barker’s at No.6. Cat’s been walking their pair of gorgeous Golden Retrievers and she’s noticed that things are distinctly chilly between owners Juliette and Will. For Cat, things are coming to a head with Mark, but is he the right man for her? Especially as she is getting closer to flatmate Joe. Cat thinks she must be able to do something to stop autumn falling on the Barker’s marriage, but is there anything she can do to resolve her feelings about Mark?

Raincoats and Retrievers is the third part of a serialized novel told in four parts – all set in Primrose Terrace.


I began reading this delightful series a while back and I enjoyed it so much. Something happened and I never got round to reading this installment, so when I turned on my kindle and saw it staring at me, I couldn't wait to continue the series and got stuck in.

It is the beginning of Autumn and we get to take another dip into Fairview and the neighbours of Primrose Terrace. I was worried picking this up after such a long time away from the series, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to slip into it easily and that I would have to reconnect with the characters. I am so glad I was wrong, as soon as I had finished the first page I felt back in these wonderful characters lives and felt I had never been away. Something else I noticed about reading this so far apart from the others is that these novellas could quite easily be read a stand a lone novels, however reading them in order does allow you to really connect with the characters and make links.

Cat Palmer's dog walking business is really taking off, she gets to know not only the canines that she walks but also the families they come from. In this installment we get to meet some new characters and Cat soon discovers that one of her retrievers owner is having marriage trouble. She is also having her own trouble when it comes to her love life, her and Mark seem to hit it off but at the same time seem to not want to commit, finally they go on a date, are things beginning to look like they could have a future?

This is such a quick series to read, the writing flow well and it is enjoyable. I love the fact this has been released in installments. Personally I find it so much easier to read a book broken down in this way. Perfect for busy days and nights when I only get an hour or so to read. This actually makes me feel like I have completed something. I can't wait for the final part now.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

A Baby at the Beach Café by Lucy Diamond

A Baby at the Beach Café by Lucy Diamond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Baby at the Beach Cafe is an engaging short story follow-up to Lucy Diamond's bestselling novel The Beach Cafe.

Evie loves running her beach cafe in Cornwall but with a baby on the way, she's been told to put her feet up. Let someone else take over? Not likely.

Helen's come to Cornwall to escape the stress of city living. She hopes a seaside life will be the answer to all her dreams. When she sees a job advertised at the cafe it sounds perfect.

But the two women clash and sparks fly. . . and then events take a dramatic turn. Can the pair of them put aside their differences in a crisis?


This is another quick read for this year, Lucy Diamond is an author I have heard about, however I have never actually read one of her books. I didn't think this was going to be good as this novella is in the Beach Cafe series. Saying that, it really didn't matter that I hadn't read the others.

This novella is broken down into 2 women's perspectives, Helen and Evie. Evie owns and runs the Beach Cafe with her husband Ed, they took over from her aunt and have been there ever since. Heavily pregnant and running the cafe it is hard, although Evie doesn't want to slow down, her husband and her doctor have told her otherwise. They need a new manager, just while Evie is out of action.

Helen and her husband used to own a pub and moved down to Cornwall to have a long awaited gap year, however Helen is bored and wants a job. The ladies don't hit it off from the onset but Helen is determined to make the best of it.

This is a wonderful quick read, which I enjoyed immensely. As I mentioned before it is part of a series, that didn't matter though it can be enjoyed as a stand alone. I found it so easy to get stuck into and I really liked the characters. Due to the shortness of the novella, you don't feel there is enough time to build up a relationship with the characters or really get to know them. This didn't bother me though and if I want to I could now go back and read the series.

This is a delightful story to read on a gloomy day, which will cheer you up no end. I would recommend this if you are a Lucy Diamond fan or you just love a little bit of chick lit.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

My Christmas Wish by Julia Williams

My Christmas Wish by Julia Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Dear Mum,
I miss you…

As a way of coping with his mum’s death, fifteen-year-old Joe writes letters to her. As Christmas comes around, Joe only wishes for one thing. Will his Christmas wish come true.

I love a short story, it allows me to be able to escape during my busy life and be able to devour a whole story at once, which doesn't seem to happen often these days!

This story is very short, just over 30 pages and is written in letter form. I do really enjoy books that are written in letters/emails they tend to be quirky and fun reads. Unfortunately this book was not fun at all. It became apparent this was written by a child, a child who had lost his mum around Christmas time. The story was set over a period of a year, the fact it was so short didn't allow me to get into it and I found it quite difficult to discover the story line. Apart from trying to cope with loss and grief there wasn't much too it, which was disappointing. Saying that it is only a novella and after all it was free.

I am going to read the others in the short stories and hopefully things will become a bit clearer. Perhaps I just read these in the wrong order.

IN THEIR SHOES: FAIRY TALES AND FOLKTALES by Lucie Arnoux

IN THEIR SHOES: FAIRY TALES AND FOLKTALES by Lucie Arnoux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


To coincide with a major V&A exhibition: the best shoe stories from around the world

Red shoes, golden slippers, seven-league boots... Just step into the shoes of princes and princesses, ogres and orphans, cats and rabbits, and discover a fascinating fairy-tale world of footwear.

Did you know that long ago Cinderella lived in China? That dogs in America wear boots? And that a small pair of shoes in France can fall in love?

With original illustrations by Lucie Arnoux, this is a timeless and captivating collection of fairy tales and folktales, whose footprints have lasted through the generations, over the centuries, and all around the world.


This little book is just beautiful! The cover is stunning, the gold shoes glisten in the light and parts of it are embossed. Although this is marketed for the children's audience adults will enjoy this little gem just as much.

This is a collection of short stories, which are all old fairy tales or folktales from around the world. When reading, some of these I did find shocking, considering they are for children. In example The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Anderson has moments of gore and horror in it.

My favourite story was The Story of Yexian, this is the earliest known to date story of Cinderella, set in China. Although it is different to the Cinderella we know today, you can quite clearly see the similarities of it.

Some of the stories I found a little difficult to follow and my attention began to drift. However, I enjoyed the majority of the stories, just at times I couldn't believe how dark they were, saying that though the Grimm Brothers are well known for their dark fairy tales.

If you are a fairy tale lover this is certainly a little book to add to your collection. I liked how short the book was as a whole but included a lot of stories. These are perfect for reading just before you go to be as they are short enough for you to enjoy a whole story before falling asleep!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel does Rome - Nicola Doherty

Rachel Does Rome by Nicola Doherty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The fourth instalment in this hilarious, romantic and unputdownable five-part series. Perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk's I Heart... novels.

What do you do when your boyfriend of two months cancels Valentine's Day?

If you're Rachel, you book a last-minute trip to Rome. Together with her friends Lily and Maggie, she's planning a relaxing weekend of culture and cappuccinos to take her mind off men altogether. But when she bumps into a figure from her past, Rachel finds herself on a Roman Holiday that features Vespa rides, hot tubs and some very unexpected consequences ...

Girls on Tour is an irresistible series of interlinked stories about four ordinary girls who have extraordinary fun in faraway places. Expect the unexpected, the utterly hilarious and unforgettable, on this rollercoaster ride of love, laughs, surprises and sparks. You have a VIP pass to join each girl's adventure, so pack your bags and buckle your seatbelts, because just about anything is possible...


So I have been able to catch up again with the girls and this time Rachel is in Rome. Slowly through reading these novellas I feel like I have travelled half way around the world and I have loved them. Rome is a place I have never been, I have visited Italy a few times but never got the opportunity to visit here, after reading this it has made me more determined to want to visit in the near future.

Rachel's boyfriend is off to a work conference over Valentines Weekend and although Rachel had agreed that Valentines day is overrated and an unnecessary expense, deep down she does wish that Oliver and her would do something. When he announces that he has to go away for the weekend she takes it with a pinch of salt. She decides that she should get away for the weekend. Most of her friends are going to be loved up except Maggie who jumps at the chance to go. She brings a long Lily one of her oldest friends who is visiting from the States.

From reading this novella Rachel came across a little ridged with her thoughts, she clearly has other ideas about this holiday to Maggie and Lily, they are there to party and have fun, whereas Rachel wants to stick to the guide book at all times. I enjoyed reading about Rachel and how her attitude began to change as the weekend went on. She started to become more confident and adventurous.

I really loved the ending of this novella, I thought that it was perfect and bought all aspects of the story to a close. I thought the characters were well developed and the story line was paced brilliantly. This is a typical chick lit that will have you feeling warm and fuzzy at the end. It is humourous but also has other dimensions which is brilliant.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

In a New York minute - Claudia Carroll

In A New York Minute by Claudia Carroll
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Love isn’t always like it is in the movies … or is it?

Amy has moved to the city that never sleeps, and now she’s looking for love.

But after a string of dating disasters it seems that finding Mr. Right isn’t quite as easy as Amy first thought.

Following in the footsteps of her favourite New York movies Amy is determined to have that romantic Manhattan moment. But like all good romances – love often turns up in the most unexpected of places…

A heart-warming, 23 page short story from best-selling author, Claudia Carroll, this is the perfect read for Valentine’s Day.

This is the first time I have read a Carroll book. Maybe I wasn't meant to start with this novella as I found it very predictable and a little rushed.

The novella is only about 25 pages long and it is very difficult to try and get a plot into that amount of pages. I found that part of the stories were very rushed. Such as the dates, I thought these could have been extremely funny and clever had they been a few pages longer.

There are many references to Sleepless in Seattle, which is a film I personally have not seen, not that this mattered. It was very easy to follow and had some lovely moments in it.

It was a cute story, but due to the length of it and the lack of development of the characters I felt I could only give it 3*. It is an ok read if you want something to fill 15 minutes.

It is also free on Amazon at the moment so really there is little to complain about.

Second Chance Island - Jenny Schwartz

Second Chance Island by Jenny Schwartz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


She’s escaped to a tropical paradise, but her past is going to find her.

Laura Robertson is working at a tropical resort on the Great Barrier Reef, biding her time and nursing her wounds when her ex-lover Phil Cooper arrives on Topaz Island. She’s betrayed him, broken his trust, and shamed herself. And yet it seems that he’s the one man she can’t let go.

She’s spent her whole life fighting to save the reef, and her time on Topaz Island fighting for her self-respect. Does she have enough fight left to fight for a second chance?



This short novella does not lack any drama or action, from the first few pages you are thrown right into it.

I love the setting of this novella, with a back drop of the Great Barrier Reef, this book just gleams sparkle and holidays. It took me back to my time in Australia and reminded me what a beautiful county it is.

It is just over 40 pages, which makes it such an easy and quick read for the odd hour you have, I read this in one sitting in just under an hour and I was really swept up in the story.

This is about a girl and a guy, who had previously met, however they have changed a lot and perhaps are not the people they remember them as. Laura had hurt Phil four years ago and now she is here, with him on Tropical Island. This is a great contemporary which is going to be brilliant for the summer months, personally I love a little bit of heat and anything that can take me away from the winter skies, so reading it this time of year was perfect for me.

This was my first experience of Jenny Schwartz, however I would be keen in reading her longer novels after finishing this.

I would recommend this novella for a pick me up on a winters day and urge you to look out for this author.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas Fireside Stories - Margaret Dickinson

Christmas Fireside Stories: A collection of heart-warming Christmas short stories from six bestselling authors by Margaret Dickinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Snuggle up by the fire with this festive collection of Christmas short stories from six bestselling authors . . .

Christmas at Briar Farm by Diane Allen

Christmas preparations are in full swing at Briar farm as the Bainbridge family get ready for a traditional 1960s Christmas - with all the trimmings.

Kate's Miracle by Rita Bradshaw

It's Christmas 1919 in the north of England and things are looking bleak for Kate and her two small children. That is until Kate discovers the strength of friendship and community at Christmas time . . .

The Gift by Margaret Dickinson

Christmas Eve, 1914. A moment of hope unites soldiers on both sides of the trenches as the spirit of Christmas reaches those divided by war, and an act of generosity changes one man's life forever.

Christmas at Thalstead Halt by Annie Murray

The station master at Thalstead Halt has the unexpected task of sheltering snow bound passengers, in the run up to Christmas 1886. And that's not the only unexpected occurrence at Thalstead Halt . . .

You'll Never Know Just How Much I Love You by Pam Weaver

Christmas Eve, 1943. The post office at Goring-on-Sea is up against bitter winter weather but nothing can stop an emergency delivery, or the power of true love at Christmas time.

A Wounded Christmas by Mary Wood

Can friendship, humour and a Boxing Day party help to ease the heartaches of 1942? A heart-warming story featuring characters from the saga novel Proud of You.

This collection includes delicious Christmas recipes recommended by the authors



I know it's February, well actually March, but even though these are essentially Christmas stories this book can be read any time of the year and give you a real warm glow. Written by 6 authors all the stories have a Christmas theme running through them, perfect for snuggling down in your duvet on a cold winters' night. All the stories are well written and worth the read, I particularly liked The Gift by Margaret Dickinson and A Wounded Christmas by Mary Wood; the first is about 1914 soldiers in the trenches and how one act of kindness from a German soldier saves the life of a British soldier. Really very poignant and relevant to the 100 year anniversary which has recently been celebrated.

The second is about Christmas celebrations during the 2nd World war in 1942 with a party on Boxing day that is organised in a hospital for wounded officers and staff. For a short time it allows everyone to forget the horrors of war, loved ones lost and facing an unsure future and gives everyone a few hours of fun. Quite a different slant on war than the first story but none the less poignant in its' own right showing the effects of those in the trenches, those that came home wounded and those that didn't come home at all and how lives were changed forever.

All the stories in this book manage to make you feel hopeful at the end of them, either in the spirit of heroism, friendship or hope for the future. A book that really does give you a warm glow after reading and may introduce you to authors you have not read before. A good 4 stars for this collection which has been thoughtfully put together so that each story compliments the others.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Pictures or it didn't happen - Sophie Hannah

Pictures Or It Didn't Happen by Sophie Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Would you trust a complete stranger?

After Chloe and her daughter Freya are rescued from disaster by a man who seems too good to be true, Chloe decides she must find him again to thank him. But instead of meeting her knight in shining armour, she comes across a woman called Nadine Caspian who warns her to stay well away from him. The man is dangerous, Nadine claims, and a compulsive liar. Alarmed, Chloe asks her what she means, but Nadine will say no more.

Chloe knows that the sensible choice would be to walk away - after all, she doesn't know anything about this man. But she is too curious. What could Nadine have meant? And can Chloe find out the truth without putting herself and her daughter in danger?



I love quick reads, they allow you to experience authors you may never of read before and you could discover a really great one.

Sophie Hannah is an author I have heard a lot about but have never read one of her books. This was the perfect opportunity for me to experience her writing style in a Quick Read.

This book had all the aspects that could have made it great, unfortunately I was let down by it. I found it to be a little silly and disappointed with the plot.

Chloe and Lorna's relationship was great,I also liked Tom, I did think his behavior was a little strange - this seemed to be further into the book I got. I loved the first few chapters and I found the book to be an incredible easy read; the chapters were short, this was perfect for short time I had as I was able to continue with the story.

Unfortunately as time went on I began to get a little fed up with the read as I thought it was a little unbelievable.

This was my first experience of Hannah and to be honest I am still undecided as to whether I would read another by her.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.