The Dartmoor Bookworm

 I really enjoyed this book, the story of Diana Clare (pianist extraordinaire)and her love song written and performed once by her, and then lost after her tragic death. Her husband Arie, grieving for his wife,  but his instant love of Evie after a brief encounter, a true love story, a song that finds its way to different couples, all who appreciate the song for what it is, but all who know nothing of its whereabouts or where it came from, and the way in which the song travels around the world, to be brought back to Arie.   The couples are all very different, brought together in different ways, across different generations, and so something in the love story will appeal to most readers. It was very cleverly thought through and put together and beautifully written. The characters were well developed and likeable, and the story and the way in which it was interlinked was fabulous. If you like an easy read, and romance then I'd definitely recommend this book.  I gave it ...

I was sent a free copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review. This book tells the story of Poppy, a nanny working for a well off family who one days speaks her mind and finds herself out on the street. She is rescued by Drew, (Rich, good looking, older)  who offers immediate help and a whirlwind romance quickly materialises. Within weeks they are married and on returning to England , Drew buys a home in the country for them.  The house is big and beautiful but there is something about it that doesn’t sit right with Poppy.  Her one and only friend, Gina, comes to stay and helps Poppy make the house feel a bit more like home and Gina is amazed to discover that Poppy and Drew made a promise never to discuss the past (before they met). After a weekend with Drew’s friends, secrets start to unfold and the past eventually catches up with  both of them.  The book floats between the here and now throughout, looking back at Poppy’s past and gi...

I was sent a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. I loved the look of the book, there was something magical about the cover, I chose a lot of books based on their covers and this one looked so lovely and Christmassy that I had to read it. It took some time to get into but I really enjoyed it once I did.  The story is about Rosie and her family, her sister Kate and their parents. Rosie is living in the US and Katie is a A&E doctor here in England. One night Katie receives a phone call from her sister telling her she is marrying her boyfriend of a few months this coming Christmas in the US. Katie who feels that it is all too quick decides she's going to stop the wedding. Rosie parents and Katie travel to the US for the wedding, but things aren't all they seem, secrets are being kept by all members of the family and the story, however predictable is heart warming. Love blossoms between unexpected people, (though i guessed early on that it ...

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review. Ask,Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane is a story about two people, Kate and Peter, born around the same time to parents living next door to each other. Kate the youngest of three girls and Peter an only child. Their friendship develops and the link between them is strong but Peter's mother disapproves. Both of their fathers are Police officers who worked together for a short time, but that relationship never grew and Kate's father has little time for his neighbours. When the children are 14 an event one evening changes their futures forever and their relationship is put on hold as each of them tries to forget the events of that night and move on with their lives. I will be really honest, it took me four attempts at starting this book before I finally got into it.  The first chapter about when the two fathers were working together didn't inspire me to read on, but I knew I had to persevere with ...

I was sent a  copy of this (ebook) for free in return for an honest review. Tessa is 16 years old, homeschooled and a poetry blogger. She lives at home with her grandparents who have raised her since birth. (Her father is unknown and her mother moved away to find work.) One day Tessa and her grandmother are involved in a car accident, being hit by a drunk driver and as a result of the accident Tessa experiences temporary blindness. Her reaction, as I'm sure most peoples would be is panic, self hatred and a longing to stay safe, safe inside her home. She is unhappy and frustrated at not being able to see and do the things she used to do.  Her grandparents think the best thing for her is to get her back blogging again, but how can she when she can't see? They go to place an ad in a local paper asking for an assistant, but Tessa finds out and makes them pull the ad before it's published. Weston is also 16 years old and helping at his dad's workplace (the newspaper)...

I was given a prepublication copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. Quinn is something of a swimming prodigy, but having failed to make it to the Olympics, she is still piecing her confidence back together and is now aiming for the World Championships. She cannot let herself become distracted by anything or anyone, no matter how pretty they are. At high school everyone knows about Quinn's sexuality but her best friend deserted her when she moved away and since coming back their relationship has been non existent. Kennedy Reed won't even look at Quinn, let alone have a conversation with her and Quinn is unsure why. Go back to when they were 13 and Kennedy was about to move away and a kiss between them on the front porch of Kennedy's house and the story starts to unwind. To add to the confusion, there is also the relationship between Quinn and her twin brother Liam, who also has a massive crush of Kennedy, and the problems that creates. The s...

So I have seen this book many times whilst out shopping but have never bought it. On Thursday I went shopping and picked it up, read the blurb and put it back on the shelf.  When I got home I downloaded it onto my kindle ready for a weekend at the beach house. Unfortunately I was still reading The Winter Secret and with a poorly child I didn't get that finished until yesterday. With the 10 year old flaked out on the sofa all day, I decided to start reading it. I knew the reviews were good, but quickly realised how good this book is.  It is based on a true story, one that Heather Morris has researched and written with the help of Lale (the main character) and his son. It is a beautiful moving love story surrounded by the horrific day to day happenings of Auschwitz.  Morris brings very clear and vivid imagery to her writing, and part of me, even though I know what happened in concentration camps, when it's written from the mouth of one survivor, it still left me num...

This is the first book by Lulu Taylor that I have read. It took me a few chapters to fully get into it but I then found it really hard to put down. The story centres on Buttercup Redmain as the main character, who lives in her husband’s large country house with him and his staff. His ex wifeand the ex owner of the big house live in what I assumed to be smaller gate houses near to the main entrance.  The story follows Buttercup and her day to day goings on, where everything is done for her by her husbands grand team of staff. She quickly realised that the team are watching her every move and starts to delve into her husbands former relationship with his ex. The story also follows Xenia, the previous owner and goes back through her life of living in Charcombe, with her father and film star mother, how she comes to live in one of the gate houses.  I really got into the story and wanted to know what happened in the end. The ending was a real twist and not what I was ex...

I love Lucy Diamond books. They are usually easy readers, books I can read in a day or two. This one took a little longer. It’s about a house in Brighton, where 3 individuals end up living and who are all there for different reasons. Rosa has experienced a break up and has made a fresh start at Dukes House. Charlotte has experienced the death of her daughter and subsequent relationship break down and has come to Dukes House for a new start and Georgie has come to Brighton with her boyfriend Simon who has a new job down in Brighton. She has no job and knows no one so Dukes House becomes her new beginning too. The story follows these three individuals and the friendship they form through living in the same building. I loved the character of Margot, an elderly French lady living in the top floor flat who helps Charlotte find love in Brighton.  Other people l iving in the house are also brought into the story, for example, Bea who is thrown into Rosa’s care when her mum, Jo is take...

I Wonder... How many of you have read the book or seen the film? The reviews I have to admit are good and it's a book that I've wanted to read but haven't got around to getting it, until now. During the day I work at a small SEND school, teaching one to one to pupils with varying special educational needs. We have recently taken on a year 9 girl and I thought we might look at Wonder together as part of her English curriculum. She's not a reader (her words) but she likes being read to and will happily sit and listen. So I purchased the book, my only problem now is do I read it with her and wait or do I read the whole story over the weekend. Then I can let myself watch the film. Which do you prefer the film or book? Should I wait?