2013 Reading Challenge: Book 21 - The Husband's Secret

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was a book club read for me, so I'd not heard of it before. I enjoyed the different characters and reading the different stories, although I did find it frustrating when a chapter ended at a crucial moment and switched to another character, however, that was also part of the books charm.

I found the ending was a little bit flat and wanted something more from it, but I did also enjoy the Epilogue with the 'what could have been'.

All in all though, this was a well written, enjoyable story that is great for a quick read.

Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 20 - The Lady of the Rivers

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As a fan of Philippa Gregory, when I saw this at the library, I didn't hesitate to loan it out. However, I found this much slower reading than I normally do with these books.

I did enjoy reading about the story of Jacquetta and Margaret of Anjou and to read what happened before The White Queen. It is an enjoyable read, but I did find that it didn't have the same pull that the others in the Cousins War series had.

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2013 Reading Challenge: Book 19 - Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a book club read for me. I liked how the book was structured and found the subject an interesting choice. There are probably quite a few books from a single mother's point of view, but to write about a teenage single father is quite unique.

Although the book description focuses on the story of Dante, the book has a side story of Dante's brother Adam, which really comes into play for the second part of the book.

All in all, this was a well written story aimed at young adults and for that age group, it would be a great read.

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2013 Reading Challenge: Book 18 - The Kingmaker's Daughter

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Having already read The White Queen and The Red Queen and watching the recent BBC series, I was looking forward to reading the story from Anne Neville's point of view.

I did find this book a little slower going than the other two books, but just like with the other two books, I found myself warming to Anne Neville's character and sympathising with her.

Another great read from Philippa Gregory and I am looking forward to reading The White Princess in the near future.

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2013 Reading Challenge: Book 17 - The Buddha In The Attic

Recently I joined the BritMums Book Club group and for August we were sent this book to read.  I am so glad that I joined this group and look forward to the next book.

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a beautiful story telling the tale of various Japanese women in their journey to the United States to join the husbands that most of them haven't met. The book starts off in the boat journey over from Japan and ends with the Japanese Internment in 1942.

The way the story is written from so many different points of view is very unique and very well done. Although it is hard to attach to any one particular character, you do feel for all the women together as a whole. Some of whom you don't even get to know their names.

I would recommend this book as a must read for anyone and will be looking out for the authors previous book 'When the Emperor was Divine'.

Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 16 - A Time To Kill

A Time to Kill by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a book club read for me, so not one I would normally go for. I thought that it was a good story. Sometimes I felt that the author went in to too much detail about irrelevant things and seemed to get sidetracked easily. I found most of the characters likeable most of the time, although occasionally they would annoy me.

All in all, I did enjoy this book and I am intrigued to see how the movie version relates to the book. I would probably read more books from the author as well.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 15 - Reflected In You

Reflected in You by Sylvia Day
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I loved Bared to You and had high expectations for this book. I was very disappointed. I spent most of the first half of the book willing Eva to grow a pair and tell Gideon where to go! It did get better in the second half of the book, but I wouldn't recommend this book to others.

After reading this book I am in serious doubts as to whether I want to read the last book of the trilogy.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 14 - Carrie

Since reading my last book, I have joined a local book club through a friend.  This book was my first read for the book club and I am looking forward to the next one.  I am hoping that through the book club I will get to read some books that I wouldn't normally pick up.


Carrie by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was surprised by this book. Being a Stephen King, I was expecting it to be very scary. I haven't watched the movie for the same reason, so I didn't know what the story was.

I did enjoy the book and loved the lead up to the main event. I liked how you were thrown straight into the story and through the excerpts you kinda got the gist of what was to come. The prom night scene was well done as well, but some of the aftermath spoilt the book for me. I didn't like the scene with Sue and Carrie at the end of the book and felt that it was unnecessary.

All in all though, it was a good book and I would recommend it.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 13 - Dream Of You

Dream Of You by Kate Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the story of Lola and Sam, however I found the sub story of Kristin and Rob rather unbelievable.

Still, this was one of the better books in the Laurel Heights series and all in all an enjoyable read.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 12 - Love Letters

First of all, I would like to explain my long absence.  I have been attempting to read 'Pride and Prejudice'.  I felt that at the grand old age of 33, I should read a 'classic' as I have never read one.  A month and a bit down the line and I am still only 30% into the book!  So, after some recommendations from my friends on the best version, I ended up watching the 1995 tv series to see whether or not I should continue with the book.  I watched all six episodes in one night and the outcome of which is that I can see the attraction to the book and I would like to finish it eventually, but I will be reading other books in between.

So, here we are with book number 12:

Love Letters by Katie Fforde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book and was hooked. That was until the end. I thought that the ending was very flat and boring in comparison with the rest of the book.

The story was quite predictable and a typical 'chick lit' type book. Girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy but doesn't think he likes her, girl gets boy, boy messes up, girl is heartbroken, boy gets girl back, girl & boy live happily ever after.

All in all, it was a good read, however I would have liked for the character of Dermott to have kept his rough, rugged image at the end.

Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 11 - Looking For You

Looking For You by Kate Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This wasn't my favourite of the Laurel Heights series, but a good read all the same. A bit slower than the others, but another feel good love story. As usual, the heroine gets her man in the end.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 10 - Return To You

Return To You by Kate Perry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great read in the Laurel Heights series. This time the story revolves around Lingerie shop owner Olivia and her high school love Michael. With a sub plot of Olivia's father and his assistant Lainie, it keeps the book varied.

It was nice to see a bit of Eve from the last book and a nice introduction to Gwen, who I believe the next book is about.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 9 - Marital Bitch

Martial Bitch by JC Emery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book! As it was free in the Kindle store, I really wasn't prepared for how amazing it would be. This book is not just a typical love story. I really felt the emotional rollercoaster that the main characters were going through.

I would say that the story is a mix of the Ross & Rachel story line from Friends and the film What Happens In Vegas, but with so much more. This is a must read for any woman!

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 8 - Close To You

Close to You by Kate Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a much better read than the first book and I really enjoyed it. The story is centred around coffee shop owner Eve (who is linked to the first book as the best friend of the main character in Perfect for You) and handsome bad boy Treat. Typically Treat falls in love with more than Eve's chocolate croissants and mochas, but also has to deal with the fact that his mother views Eve's coffee shop as a threat to her own tea-house.

This is a great story to escape in to and I am looking forward to the next one in the series!

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 7 - A Dark Kiss of Rapture

A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was looking for something different and not too heavy and this certainly fitted the bill.

Having previously read Sylvia Day's Bared to You, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. I'm glad that it's not an erotic novel, I think it had just the right amount of sex in it without making it OTT.

This novella is the first instalment of the Renegade Angels series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 6 - Perfect For You

Perfect for You by Kate Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A lovely story about Freya and her neighbour Greg. Although a little steamy in parts, I wouldn't put it in the same category as 50 Shades or Bared to You.

This was a quick and easy read. I thought that the story was ok, but I did feel that it was somewhat lacking in places and it could have had more to it.

It is good for a holiday read or for when you don't want anything too long and intense. I would still read the other books in the series if I came across them, but wouldn't go out of my way to ensure that I had them in my reading list.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Books 3, 4 & 5 - The Hunger Games Series

I loved this series of books and read them all one after the other in just over a week.  If you are looking to read this book, I do recommend that you have the two follow on books ready and waiting!


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. It wasn't on my 'must read' list until after I had seen the film. I enjoyed the film and loved the book even more.

Telling the story of 16 year old Katniss as she takes the place of her younger sister in The Hunger Games, the story captures the audience in not just Katniss's story, but also intertwines that of her fellow contestant Peeta and her mentor Haymitch.

The whole book is captivating from beginning to end and I ended up not wanting to put it down.

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After the exciting first book, I had to start on the next book straight away and wasn't disappointed! I was unsure how they would follow on from the first book and found the second story just as captivating as the first.

It was nice to read some of the back-story of other characters in the first book, such as Haymitch. I also enjoyed the fact that the other tributes in these Games were adults and how they reacted in the situation.

Another fantastic read!

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Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was a bit apprehensive starting this book after reading some of the reviews here on Goodreads, however, I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slower going compared to the other two and was lacking in action, but nonetheless, still a very good story.

I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and could have been expanded on more. Other than at the very end, I also thought that it lacked some of the emotions that ran so high in the first two books. Maybe this is more to do with Katniss's situation in the book, but I do feel that it could have had more.

All in all, I thought that it was an enjoyable book, but not the best of the series.

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Jackie. x

2013 Reading Challenge: Book 2 - Bared to You

Bared to You by Sylvia Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, more so once I got past comparing it to 50 Shades. The first few chapters do have some strong resemblances to FSOG, but it does come into it's own after about Chapter 5.

I found myself absorbed in the world of Eva, Gideon and Cary and was rooting for a happyish outcome (lets be honest, there wouldn't be a story if it was all happy ever after!). I was a little disappointed that we don't find out Gideon's secret, but that gives us something to look forward to in the next book. I would also love to have more of Cary's background story as well. In fact, I would love a novel with Cary as the main character.

The story is well written and although I didn't find the sex scenes quite as hot as FSOG, they were still a good read and felt like they were part of the story, rather than just being in there for the sake of it like I found with FSOG.

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2013 Reading Challenge: Book 1 - The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing! Not what I would have expected from JK Rowling, but just as riveting as the Harry Potter books.
Set in the small town of Pagford, this book tells the story of the inhabitants of the town. From the towns First Citizen to the junkies daughter. The judgements you make of the characters at the beginning of the book are not the same as what you feel at the end.
I was a bit surprised to come across the 'c' word a few chapters into the book, but I do feel that the swearing does make the characters more realistic. This is most certainly a book aimed for an adult audience, however, I wouldn't be surprised if this book was put on an English Literature GCSE or A-Level reading list as the exploration into the different characters is fantastic.
I look forward to seeing what else JK Rowling comes up with in the future.

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