Take No Heed Of Her She Reads A Lot Of Books!

"Take no heed of her.... She reads a lot of books.”  -

Jasper Fforde, The Eyre Affair

A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore - Lucy Cardwell has recently lost her Father Tom in a car accident. While going through his belonging she find he has been researching a Uncle she never knew she had, fascinated Lucy visits her grandmother's childhood home Carylon Manor.
Where she meets an old family friend Beatrice who tells her the secrets of her family's past. Crowning up in 1930's Cornwall, Beatrice meets beautiful spoiled Angelina Wincanton (Lucy's Grandmother) it was a friendship that would change her life forever. Beatrice is welcomed into the Wincanton family and for a couple of years she felt she belonged there.
Then one summer Beatrice rescues a young man from drowning Rafe Ashton she falls helpless in love with him, but he is just as drawn to the Wincanton family just as she was. Then the war breaks and everything changes.

This book like Hothouse Flower, goes back and forth from past to present, 30's, 40's war time to present, there is also family secrets, and a huge family manor that is almost like another character. I really liked this book, the past and present stories intertwine much better than in Hothouse flower. From the first page of this book I was hooked. I knew that Rachel Hore could write brilliant because I found that I wasn't one bit bored of the long back story of the main character Beatrice. In some parts I felt that I was back there in 1940's war time England and France Hore captures the emotions of the characters brilliant.
Although I guessed the big ending half way through the book I didn't want the journey to end and relished each page. I think I would have liked was a little epilogue that took place a year or so later to see how the characters where keeping after airing all there secrets. It was a fantastic read and I would definitely recommend it.

Just Another Manic Mum-Day by Mink Elliott - Roxy, Jack and daughter Joey are starting a new life in sunny Sydney, Australia. Just when Roxy is starting to settle down in her new life and job she becomes pregnant again. Frustrated at the lack of places for stressed-out parents to go, Roxy and her friend Shoshanna set up a cafe catering for parents. When a chance arises to return to England will Roxy take it?
This is a follow up book from The Pi**ed Off Parents Club which I haven't read, and I really wish I knew about it before I read this book, as there are a lot of references to that book. The settling of Australia is really nice as I haven't read allot of books set there. I loved how at the end of the book there was glossary of slang Aussie words. Roxy is a really good character she is a loving Mum but she has her flaws, she does her best for her daughter and hubby, she is a little disorganised, and finds it hard to juggle her home and work life which I'm sure allot of woman can relate to! I did think some things happened a little too easy in the book, but hey it is a chick-lit! I enjoyed the book and it did have some really funny parts, and I would recommend it to any one who likes a light hearted read, it would be a great beach book.

The Madonna of the Almonds by Marina Fiorato - I have read a few of Marina Fiorato's books before so I decided to give this a read. It tells the story of Bernardino Luini apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci. Bernardino is commissioned to paint a fresco in the hills of Lombardy, where he meets a beautiful young widow Simonetta di Saronno. He falls in love with her and paints her in the fresco's in Saronno's church, she in return makes her lover a drink from the juice of almonds the famous Amaretto di Saronno. However this is trouble time of war, and a scandal treats the couple and there lives.
This books tells parallel love stories of Luini & Simonetta and the peasant girl Amaria & a young mute man she finds in the woods which she names Selvaggio. I found the latter story much more insteresting.
Some of the plot was predictable and I knew the outcome of the ending half way through the book. Nonetheless I thought this a charming and lovely tale of love, heartbreak, religions, friendship and war. The character and story of Mandrato the Jewish money lender with the gold hand was so well written, tinged with sadness, hope and love. His story was one of the standout parts of the book for me, and it was with a sad and heavy heart I read of his fate.
I really enjoyed this book it was my favourite of the four I read this time and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

The Greatest Love Story Of All Time by Lucy Robinson - Fran is turning thirty and things are good. She has just got a promotion, has great friends and is totally in love with her boyfriend Michael. She is getting ready for a birthday treat at the Ritz and Michael has a bulge the shape of a ring box in his pocket, but by the end of the night Fran is crying into a bottle of brandy and Michael's sock the only thing left in her apartment belong to him.
Michael has said he wants three months away with no contact at all to sort his head out. Fran goes to pieces and decides to live as a hermit for three months, cancels her favourite Gin Thursday and calls in sick from work. Its up to her friends to get Glam Fran back and force her to go on Eight Dates before the end of the three months.
I really enjoyed this book and read it in two days. The title is tongue in cheek as Fran can be a bit of a drama queen! Her mopping around did get a little tedious after a while so it was fun to see the how the different eight dates went and very funny.
I was often laughing out loud and the hubby was giving me strange looks...nothing new there!! I have read allot of books and can often see where the storyline is going, this book was a little predictable but there was still a few routes for my mind to wander down. I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a few laughs when they read.

So onto the next few books! Have you read these books? If so what did you think of them?