Reclaiming the Sand – A. Meredith Walters

It’s been a while since I last posted. Many posts have been started and then life seemed to get in the way.  I currently have a second blog that if you are interested in being in publishing might be of some interest to you but it has taken my time away from this one. I found this book through bookbub and was a little apprehensive. It includes a boy who has Aspergers. I find these, if done badly, can be offensive. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime was excellently done and I feel many people just jumped on the Autism bandwagon. However, if done well then you bring the readers into this world and it can be beautiful.

Plot

Reclaiming the Sand starts off based on Ellie’s point of view. We see that she is in a dead end job, with dead end friends and on the road to living a life probably in prison, already having spent a stint in jail for arson. Ellie is on the brink of joining the local community college to study English Literature but is in fear of not being good enough, something her life in foster care has taught her.

Having committed to a study course, she runs into Flynn. He is the reason she was in jail, he is the reason she thinks she isn’t good enough, he is the reason she thinks she is a bad person. We learn about their teenage relationship through Flynn’s eyes and it shows how adult Ellie is still as confused as teenage Ellie. She wants to be friends with Flynn but doesn’t know how he could fit into her life of abuse, lies and status.

Flynn likes Ellie. He always has. In his head he can’t understand why she is sometimes nice to him and sometimes mean but he likes nice Ellie so much that he can forgive mean Ellie. Even when she pushed it too far, Flynn has already forgiven her for everything she did. The only question is can she forgive herself?

Opinion

This book is just breath taking in its elegance and structure. It was a stroke of genius to tell the story originally from Ellie’s point of view and to see her struggle to better herself and break free of her ‘friends’. It means that when you see how she acted in high school, you don’t hate her. You feel sorry for her, disappointed in her weaknesses but you admire her even more for the changes in her life that she managed to accomplish.

Flynn is exquisitely written. I have a slight understanding of Autism through a mother working within social services and Flynn is how someone with Autism acts. It never feels forced or contrite and you never cringe at the storyline and what he says. Walters either knows someone with Autism or did extensive research but Flynn is perfect. His attitude towards life is refreshing and his ability to forgive is one we should all hope to aspire to. He knows all the bad things about Ellie and while he might not be able to understand it or vocalise his feelings about it, he does forgive her because he loves her. It is that simple for him.

All in all an excellent read full of emotion. My verdict: 9/10. Don’t be put off by the seemingly heavy subject matter, give it a go! It wont disappoint!

Loving Mr. Daniels – Brittainy C Cherry

Ever hear of BookBub? Neither had I until I saw an internet advert. Intrigued I followed the link and found something truly amazing. A website that sends you an email every day with some great book offers. BookBub scours the internet for books relating to your favourite genres (as chosen on their website), they then send you the list and you can follow the link to get it. I have selected that I only read off of Amazon kindle so I get to find out the latest free or cheap books. Loving Mr. Daniels came through a few days ago as there is currently an offer on for it. Try out the website and you might be surprised what you get.

Plot

Loving Mr. Daniels starts off with Daniel, the titular character (yes he is called Daniel Daniels), and his horrific story. He picks up his drug dealer and user brother only to then find he is wanted by a drug gang. This gang then shoot the boys’ mother at their family home. Cut to Ashlynn and our main protagonist. She is at the funeral of her twin sister, Gabby, who died of Leukaemia. Ashlynn’s mother can no longer handle a daughter and sends her to live with her estranged father. An important note here is that Ashlynn was ill as a child so was held back a year at school, meaning she is 19 starting her last year of American high school. Gabby also left her twin letters for every big stage of Ashlynn’s life.

On the train to her father’s house and new life, she meets a young man (Daniel) who invited her to see his band perform in a local bar. After getting to know each other they realise that they are both broken individuals but seem to be able to mend slightly with each other. They share a passionate kiss and arrange to meet up for a ‘proper’ date.

On Monday at high school, Ashlynn enters into her AP English class to find her teacher is non other than Daniel…

Opinion

I don’t feel that my plot section has done this book justice. It truly is one of the best chick flick/romance books I have ever read. It has the taboo of Teacher/Student romance with an unjust feeling as she is technically a year older than high school. It has the typical romance situation of two broken people but with two people who are broken because of a real life occurrence (a girl dying of Leukaemia and a drug killing is more plausible than two people who happen to find each other but were both sexually abused). It doesn’t pander to people who might not be that intellectual reading a romance book for the thrill. Intelligence and reading is seen as sexy and knowing Shakespeare is a turn on for both characters. Daniel and Ashlynn’s love is never seen as sleazy or wrong and their professional relationship is not the reason for their personal one.

Cherry has written a very smart book and it is not the actions of the characters that add the sexual tension but the words. Daniel’s quotes are amazing and are what every girl/woman wants to hear her man say; “I love you because I was born to do so”, “You’re beautiful… I don’t just mean your looks. I mean your smarts, your tears, your brokenness. I think that’s beautiful”. Imagine if your boyfriend said that too you!

I cried throughout the book. Each letter opened by Ashlynn from Gabby made me cry, the joyful events made me cry and the sad events made me cry. Unfortunately I then had to go to work…  A fantastic look with puffy and red eyes for bar work!

The interactions between all the characters are great and I think it is this that adds what has been lacking for me in books of this genre. Usually you have the two main characters and everyone else is a side note. Where as Cherry has actually taken then time to create a wealth of characters, all interesting and all vital to the plot. Daniels and Ashlynn actually have lives outside of each other and this is what adds depth to the story.

All in all a great read. One you should definitely pick up and a welcomed relief after the terror of the last book! My verdict 9/10. Give it a go!

The Forever Trilogy – Sandi Lynn

As usual with recent books that I have read, this trilogy was recommended by kindle for me. I have read 50 Shades of Grey and The Crossfire Series so I quite like romance novels that have some sort of story line. However, I couldn’t even get past the 1st book. This is highly unusual for me. Even the worst book on this blog I could finish. Time to review!

Plot
Blah blah, rip off of 50 Shades… Blah blah, badly written sex scene… blah blah, rip off of Crossfire Series, blah…

Opinion
As you might have guessed I really didn’t like this book! For the first time ever this review is about a book I did not finish. As I have reviewed over 50 books on here and also read many more on top of that, this is definitely unusual behaviour!

The writing was appalling. Every few lines I was pulled out of the ‘story’ in utter disbelief at how bad it was. How anyone read it and felt the need to continue for another 2 books is beyond me. I genuinely threw my kindle away from me in disgust at how bad it was.

The storyline is a complete and utter rip off. I know many stories can be linked together (Women’s Murder Club similar to Rizzoli and Isles, Inheritance Cycle is similar to The Lord of the Rings) but this just takes the biscuit! Combine the previously mentioned romance novels together, throw in some bad dialogue and you have yourself a Forever Trilogy.

I always want people to read the books and see if they agree with me but I doubt I could let my own worst enemy read this and not feel guilty so people please, take this review on board and DO NOT READ!!! For the first time ever my verdict is… 0/10. Nothing in this book made it salvageable.

The Proposal – Lily Zante

As with most of my books recently, this was recommended by kindle and was a free download. I read the blurb and it seemed like a ‘me’ read. This was a bit like Wedding Date and What Happens in Vegas. Both excellent chick flick films and I know people use influences from other sources (Inheritance Cycle a prime example) so nothing to unusual about it. I shall add the 3rd in this series to the mix. It is the sequel to this and the reason I shall add into this review is the fact that it could all be one book. I think it should be one book, it reads well as one book.

Plot

The Proposal starts off at the bachelorette party of Nadine’s sister. Nadine hires male strippers to come to her home to ‘perform’ for her sister and friends. Nadine is a work freak and whilst she should be enjoying the show, she is instead working from home. One of the male strippers,Ethan, catches her eye and whilst watching him, she finds her body reacting to him in a way she hasn’t for a man in a long time.

Cut to later in the story and we see that she has been invited to a work’s weekend away and it is strongly advised she brings her ‘other half’ with her. Not wanting to miss out on an opportunity to do well at work, she hires Ethan to be her boyfriend for the weekend. People love him, especially her boss and owner of the company. During the weekend, Nadine and Ethan realise they have feelings for one another and decide to make it a case of seeing each other outside on this arrangement. Needless to say, the obvious happens with fallouts and make ups on the way.

Following this book, the 3rd in the series, Heart Sync  continues the story and we see how workaholic Nadine and growing art sculpture Ethan continue their romance. We see the strain of his previous line of work on their relationship and how Nadine needs to learn how to think as a couple. Job prospects can no longer be taken without any thought for what might happen for her relationship. Again, a predictable happy ending occurs after some turbulence and we see a happy and strong couple at the end.

Opinion

This is a very solid chick lit book(s). Nadine and Ethan are both likeable characters and Zante has managed to create a very palpable chemistry between them. Yes the storyline is predictable but I am yet to run across a chick-lit or romance book that isn’t. After all, if they weren’t predictable, the happy ending everyone reads them for wouldn’t exist.

What did annoy me was how little Zante included the characters best friends in the books. Nadine’s was cast aside easily and only brought in twice selfishly by Nadine. I understand that Zante was trying to show that Nadine was very wrapped up in work and then Ethan too but she didn’t even tell her she was going to Europe for a whole year until a month before she was due to go???? Really?! What girl do you know doesn’t tell her best friend this?

Overall the two books combined are pretty decent and I always say that if the 1st one can make me read a 2nd, it must have been ok. My verdict a very solid and reliable 6.75/10. If you like chick lit books, this is one you should definitely put on your ‘to read’ list.

 

A Hollywood Ending – Robyn Sisman

I first found Robyn Sisman when I was in my early teens through Just Friends. I loved that book. It is one of my all time favourites to read. Now why am I reviewing one that isn’t that book? Well simply, I have just recently finished A Hollywood Ending compared to Just Friends. It seems to follow a similar pattern to that of her previous books so Sisman is clearly working under the ethos that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. For some, this philosophy doesn’t work as the same storyline repeated but with different characters can make an author boring. Sisman falls into this category I am afraid.

Plot

This book is about a woman named Paige Carson. A movie star with an Oscar under her belt. However, her career is on the decline and after being embarrassed by her current co-star, she decided a change in needed. Off to England she goes to perform in a Shakespearean play. However, obstacles appear before her in the shapes of no car service, an obnoxious landlord named Ed, can she even act and no one seems to care who she is.

Opinion

I don’t think I need to continue with the plot. Can you see where this book is going? We have an uptight American who comes to England and annoys the hell out of an English guy whilst panicking that maybe she really can’t act. So what happens? She falls in love with the English guy (obviously a twist involved) and succeeds at the play.

Don’t get me wrong. I love chick lits. From the paragraph above you might surmise that I don’t. Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors and my previous read of Sisman’s was excellent. It’s just this followed the same storyline as her previous book. An English person and an American person, both headstrong, both on failing careers or with a boss who doesn’t appreciate them. Falling in love, arguing, missed a sign from each other etc etc. its just the same. <—Not a happy chappy.

All in all, not a great read. If you want a good Robyn Sisman book, read Just Friends not this. My verdict 5/10. 

Three Girls and a Baby – Rachel Schurig

 I originally got this book because of the title. I t reminded me of one of my favourite films “Three men and a Baby”. It is very similar to this film but different enough to not be classed as a copy cat. I had never heard of Rachel Schurig before and this was recommended by Kindle. It’s a first in a series, followed by three other “Three girls and a…” books. I have now read all four and they all follow the same main three characters (which later turns to four). Shows this must have been an ok read to want to follow the girls through their lives.

Plot

We meet Ginny, Annie and Jen. Three house mates who have been friends since high school, finished college and moved in together after. Ginny and her high school boyfriend have been split up for a few months and Ginny can see her friends are getting tired of her constant moping. She has a job as an au-pair for a rich family, a little below her English degree intelligence. One night her ex comes back into her life and a quick night of remembrance occurs. Ginny asks Josh to stay away for a while as she needs to get her head screwed back on after their break up. However, that one night has changed everything for Ginny. She is now pregnant and with the help of her best friends she embarks on a journey of love, life and laughter.

Opinion

This is a great book. It had some real laugh out loud moments and great wit about it. It won’t win any writing awards but that’s not what this book  is about. It is a book written by a woman, about women, for women. The humour, content and friendships are all “girlie” and as such I doubt any male would understand it or find it funny. Each character reminds you of one of your best-friends and the situations that arise can be placed easily into your own. Schurig has created a world that we could all potentially live in and it is this one fact that makes this book one of the best ‘chick flicks’ I have read in a while.

Great storyline, great characters and you will find great heart within the pages. my verdict 8/10. A great bedside read.