ME BEFORE YOU

by Jojo Moyes

I loved this book. I cried for the last few chapters. I was on an emotional roller coaster for sure. When Lou loses her job and gets a new job as a carer to a quadriplegic,  she will never know how her future will change. She is to not only care for Will, but to give him a reason to live, within a short period of time, and the pressure is on her to change Will's mind of euthanasia. It's a heart warming tale and completely sucked me into the drama and romance.

Blurb: Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane. Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that. What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

THE SECRET KEEPER

by Kate Morton

Fabulous, fabulous book. Very intriguing, couldn't put it down. A story with many layers of mystery, secrets and deception.

Laurel witnesses a crime when she is a teenager. While hiding up a tree she sees her mother stab and kill a stranger, who comes to their home during a birthday party. Fifty years on, Laurel discovers some of the mystery of why this has happened and who this man was. Now her mother is close to death, and time is running out to get the answers to the many questions that has haunted her all her life. There are secrets and more secrets. All is not what it seems.

The story shifts between 1940's during the war, 1961 and 2011 and is woven around three characters whose lives will be fatefully entwined forever. There are twists and turns throughout which makes the story spellbinding. It touches on childhood memories, family tragedies and living during the London Blitz. A fantastic new release novel by an Australian author who has also written The Forgotten Garden and The Distant Hours.

WINTER ROSE

by Nora Roberts

What a lovely romantic short story by Nora Roberts. A warrier prince is wounded and dying after battle, in an icy land, when along comes Deirdre a young queen who rescues him and takes him to her kingdom. 
The queen rules over a land that has been cursed by her aunt, to eternal winter and snow. She risks her own life to heal others and is trapped in a lonely life, ruling over her people, with no family of her own. 
While Prince Kylar is recovering he falls in love with Deirdre and wants to take her away from this cursed land but she will not leave her people to struggle by themselves and cannot trust her heart to love anyone.

This story reminded me of the fairy tale of Snow White. It was a beautifully written love story that had a few 'aaahhh' moments, which I enjoyed. Short and sweet but nice.

THE FITZOSBORNE'S AT WAR

 by Michelle Cooper


What a fabulously captivating historical fiction, which is the last in a trilogy by Michelle Cooper. In this book Sophie and the rest of her family, the royal family of Montmaray, escape their remote island home when the Nazis attack, and flee to England, where they think they will be safe.


Written as Sophie's personal journal, the writer takes you on a ride of emotions as Sophie shares her very private secrets, her heartbreaks and fears during the six years of World War II, and what it was like living through this terrible time as a young adult. Losing family and friends, coping with the bombings and destruction in London, the rationing of food, and even the political events that were all part of this horrid time. There are so many historical facts written into this story yet it flows beautifully. I really connected with Sophie and felt her frustration and loss.


Even though I've read this trilogy out of order I think I'll seek out the other two and complete the journey.

ARTICLE 5

by Kristen Simmons


Yet another Dystopia YA fiction novel, but wow, it was great! I think this was Kristen's debut novel and she did a great job. I connected with Em and Chase and the story was exciting from start to finish.
There was fear, romance, revenge, chases, danger, death, adventure... everything you could hope for all rolled into one book. It was easy to read and really hard to put down.
Set in America after the 'Bill of Rights' has been revoked and there is a new law... 'Moral Statutes'. People are arrested and don't come back. There are no police only soldiers patrolling and arresting. Life as we knew it has changed and you can get arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark.
Ember Miller has shocked when her mother was arrested and she was sent to girls reformation school as punishment, dobbed in by her so-called friend. There starts her mission to escape and try to find her mother and save her from a trial and possible death. There will be struggles and a few surprises in stall but you'll have to read it to find out more!

The Queen's Lady

by Eve Edwards


I fell in love with this book. What a lovely story, set in 1583, a period of time I don't usually care to read about, however I really enjoyed this book, having picked it up because of the beautiful cover. I didn't realise it was #2 about the Lacey's (the other being 'The Countess') but it didn't matter I slipped into it easily. 


Lady Jane is the Marchioness of Rievaulx and begins service to the Queen (Elizabeth) after the death of her husband, who was much older than herself, but who she loved nonetheless. She is caught in a fight over her inheritance between her family and her former husbands sons. She is treated wickedly and is tricked into marrying a Frenchman so her father and brother can receive respect and wealth. She however loves James Lacey but he is not there to help her as he is exploring overseas. Will he come back in time to save her life? 


This story has plenty of villains, and romance, and the author has written in such a way that I felt like I was strolling down the streets of ol' England, and I that I could really see the costumes so beautifully described. It must've been a terrible time for women and the poor in this century and I'm glad we don't live like that any more... although I think the dresses sounded glorious. There was a wonderful friendship between Jane and Milly, who was her best friend and accomplished seamstress. The character of Diego, being dark skinned, and trying to fit into society and falling in love with an English women was also interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a romance.

PRISONER OF THE INQUISITON

PRISONER OF THE INQUISITON by Theresa Breslin  

I guess it was the cover of this book really grabbed my attention first and I’m glad because the story was great. A mixture of history, fiction, adventure, murder, deceit, betrayal and a little romance tossed in for good measure. I didn’t know much about the Spanish Inquisition really and this book filled me in a little. The story is about two teenagers, Zarita, a daughter of a wealthy magistrate and Saulo, son of a beggar. An incident early in the story sets the scene when Saulo’s father is killed unjustly by Zarita’s father, and Saulo is sold as a slave to a captain of a ship. This causes a hatred for the Zarita’s family and Saulo devotes himself to revenge his father and kill the magistrate’s entire family.

In the meantime the Inquisition is taking place and the town and there is torture and killings that has everyone living in fear. Family and friends betray each other to save their lives. Zarita is forced to live in a convent with her aunt and she tries to right the wrongs that have been done. Eighteen months on she and Saulo meet again but don’t recognize each other. Although the story is told in dual viewpoints narrated alternatively by Zarita and Saulo, it didn’t make the story disjointed at all and I think it added to the tension. I also liked the fact the Christopher Columbus was a minor character in the story. It was a gripping story that had me turning the pages as quickly as I could.

WICKED APPETITIE

WICKED APPETITIE by Janet Evanovich     

After reading all 18 books in the Stephanie Plum series ,by Janet Evanovich I was hoping I'd enjoy this new book Janet recently published, Sept. 2010, unfortunately it was nothing on the Plum series... I didn't laugh out loud!
It did have the same quirky lines and romance tension between Diesel and Lizzy Tucker. It was predictable and I certainly wasn't glued to the pages as I usually am with the Plum series, but it was an easy read.