Reading Habits

1.Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
In the Summer I love reading in our back garden, but I mostly read in bed with a toddler that's really the only chance I get the time to read. I do try grab a few pages while curled up on the sofa if the housework is done and the little one is watching Peppa Pig, but that only lasts 15 minutes if I'm really lucky! 

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Both! I do love themed bookmarks but I always losing them or the toddler gets his hands on them! Recently my cousin bought me a beautiful angel bookmark but Oisìn got his hands on it and now I am back to using a random piece of paper!

3.Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/certain amount of time?
I always have to stop after a chapter I can't just leave a book down in the middle of a chapter
but I do have to limit my time reading as I read in bed I could read into the early hours of the morning with an almost three year old that wakes at the crack of dawn its not good to be reading till 2am!
I done that once when reading Dragonfly In Amber and was like a zombie the next morning!

4.Do you eat or drink while reading?
I don't normally eat much but I do drink I love a cup of tea or hot chocolate while reading so cosy!

5.Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
Neither! I don't mind something on low in the background but I definitely can't watch TV while reading!

6.One book at a time or several at once?
Normally I can only read one book at a time but this month I am reading two together and am enjoying it

7.Reading at home or everywhere?
I read anywhere I can get a chance! I have had lots of hospital appointments the past few years and always bring a book for the waiting rooms!

8.Reading out loud or silently in your head?
Silently bugs the life out of me when people read out loud to themselves!

9.Do you read ahead or even skip pages
No....if I am struggling with a book I might skim over pages but I don't skip pages

10.Breaking the spin or keeping it like new?
My Mam and I really disagree with this she breaks the spin on her books so when I get a lend of books of her I think they always look tatty! I like to keep them look newish and I never break the spin, I do bend them a little but never break them!

11.Do you write in your books?
No never! I am currently reading a library book and someone before me unlined random words in the first few chapters with pen and it so annoyed me!

What are your reading habits?

This Month I Have Mostly Been Reading-October

This month has been an odd one, some books I loved and some I hated!
I even got hubby to write a review on the book he was reading!
While I really enjoyed some of the books I read, I found on the whole I am not really enjoying reading! I think I am putting too much pressure on myself to read a certain amount of books.
For November I am going to cut my TBR in half and just go with what books strike me to read.

The Nightingale~Kristin Hannah

This was my favourite book of the month! The story is set in France in World War II and it follows two sisters Vianne and Isabelle who to be honest are not very likable at the begin of the book. It took me a few chapters to like either of them. I liked how the POV shifted to either sister in each chapter it was this that made me see into there thoughts and feelings. Isabelle is 18 years old and not going to take this war lying down, she is made of hard stuff and knows she is going to try help the resistance any way she can.

Vianne is much more refined and will keep the peace to keep her daughter safe. Her situation is a nerve wrecking one with her husband off fighting for the French. The occupying Germans see her home as somewhere there men can stay. She is aways trending on water between her loyalty to her friends and family and staying on the Germans good side. 

Isabelle goes to huge lengths to help the allies her physical strength is amazing and yet Vianne mental strength is also to be admired. This book pulls on the heart strings, it sucked in and really made me care about the characters.

While both sisters are very different there are both to be admired for the different ways they helped in the war effort. The end of the book was quite heart breaking and definitely not what I saw coming!

It's a book that will stay with you long after reading

You And Me, Always~Jill Mansell

This was my first Mansell book to read and it will not be my last I loved this light sweet read!

This has a sweet plot about first loves, Hollywood glamour, and beautiful country village.

The plots are slightly predictable but after reading the heartbreaking plot of The Nightingale this was just what I needed!

Lily's mother died when she was just eight years old she left a letter for her daughter for every birthday until her twenty-fifth this is her last letter. This letter changes things and brings up someone from Lily's past. Jill Mansell brings life into great charaters I loved all of the characters and the settling of pretty postcard village Stanton Langley is stunning.

It's defiantly a curl up on the sofa read, while forgetting the worries of the world to get lost in Mansell's funny and heartwarming world. 

The Misbegotten~Katherine Webb
I had this book on my TBR for a while so thought October and Autumn would be a good time to finally read this. I had high hopes for this book, dark secrets set in a rural village in Victoria times it sounded right up my ally. So you can imagination how I felt when I put it down after only 120 pages! I just couldn't get into it, it was so sold paced and the main character Rachel was so unlikable! I didn't want to get into a reading slump so I put it down!

  Divided Loyalites-Patricia Scanlan
I really enjoy Patricia Scanlan books this was like an family saga spanning over years
While its a long read over 700 pages I read it quickly as it was an easy read and really enjoyable
It's mostly about two sisters and there highs and lows over the course of a few years
I liked how the book started at Christmas time and went through all the seasons until it was Christmas again many years later.

What Paul Has Been Reading This Month:

Jurassic Park~Michael Crichton

As  I have taken up more reading again, my wife has asked me to write a review on the book I read each month.
This month I have read Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, most of the newer generation do not realise that everyone's favourite movie about dinosaurs began with a book. Having been a big fan of the films for many years I decided it was time to compare the novel and I wasn't disappointed. The book differs greatly to the original blockbuster to the point that characters that were villains in the movie started out as heroes and vice versa. Characters integral to the story have been completely erased or glazed over. There are so many great scenes that the movie could have added such as the T-Rex hunting the raft with Lex, Tim and Grant in the lagoon.
The obvious character to pick out was Richard Hammond (everyone's favourite granddad) in the novel Richard Hammond is a visionary like his movie counterpart however that is where the similarity ends. This Richard Hammond would have been better played by Jonathon Pryce, he is a capitalist first and refuses to see reason. He is also the reason for the failures in the park, he forces Denis Nedry into the arms of his rivals by under paying him for work on the computer system.
One character that is portrayed as coward in the movie is Gennaro the lawyer. this character is involved in almost every rescue operation in the book and is the reason for the survival of most of the characters.
I really enjoyed this book and I have already ordered the sequel - The Lost World.
Sadly we may never see this version of the book make the big screen but in this case I am a big fan of both book and movie.

What Oisìn has been reading this month

Skip To The Loo, My Darling~Sally Lloyd-Jones
We have been reading this sweet book to Oisìn hoping that he will get back on track
with his potty training! Its a cute little book that shows lots of animals using the potty and then includes a mirror so that you can join them!

So thats our reads this month what's yours?

The Bedtime Reading Tag!

A Book That Kept You Up All Night Reading?

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton 

This book had me reading till the early hours of the morning till I finished it!

I remember getting up the next morning with Oisìn very very early an awful lot of caffeine was consumed that day! I only read it earlier this year but the book and author have become my favourites

A Book That Made You Scared To Go Asleep?

The Witches by Roald Dahl

I was a huge fan of Roald Dahl as a child I made my way through his books with speed!

I came to this book just after I saw the movie version (which also made me too scared to sleep)

It sat in my bedroom book shelf for a long time before I had the nerve to read in! In the end I asked my Dad to read in with me a bit each night like what we had done with The BFG. It still scared me as after reading it each night images of  Anjelica Huston revealing her witch form flooded my mind!

A Book That Made You Go Asleep?

The Misbegotten by Katherine Webb

One that comes to mind straight away is a book I tried to read this month

I do say try because after 100 pages of struggling to keep myself awake I put it down before finishing it. I was so disappointed because it sounded like something I would really enjoy but the pacing was so slow and all the characters unlikeable.

A Book That Made You Toss and Turn In Excitement For It's Release?

A Song Of War by Kate Quinn and other authors

I love most of Kate Quinn books she really knows how to tell a epic historical tale with a good twist.
Her books have love, war, friends, and bitter enemies! This one promises to have it all princes, slavers, lovers, the rich and poor. Along with Kate Quinn there is six other authors joining her to tell this epic tale.

A Book That Has Your Dream Boyfriend?

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Jamie Fraser of course!!

What's not to love about a hunky, Scottish red head!
Insert picture here to see what I mean!!

A Book That Would Be Your Worst Nightmare To Live In?

It By Stephen King

I have read this book but never actually seen the movie the book was enough for me!

Killer clowns, horrible abusive families and childhoods. It terrified me and I can never look at clowns the same way since!

A Book Cover That Reminds You Of Nighttime?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
While I haven't read this book yet its on my Autumn TBR
For the cover reminds me of night time with the black and white with hints of red

A Book That Has A Nightmarish Cliffhanger?

Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon
I think I have gone on about this book in almost every book tag I have done!
Following on from Outlander this book just had me hooked from the very first page
Then that huge cliffhanger at the end of the book! I just loved it and am looking forward to reading the fourth book in the series in November!

A Book That You Actually Dreamt About?

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
As a huge Phantom fan since I was 12! I have had various dreams about this story,
some about the musical, some about the novel, and some scary ones after watching a horror movie version!

A Book Monster That You Would Not Want To Find Under Your Bed?

Penny Wise-IT by Stephen King
This little weirdo again! I think I would pee my pants and sleep with the lights on forever if I ever found this clown/alien/thing under my bed!
I off to think off happy things before bed!

The Autumn Book Tag

1) Are there any books you plan on reading over the Autumn season?
I do TBR's every month but I am not very strict with them. I like to read at least three books from my TBR every month and then one or two that I just pick up.
I do want to read some Anne Rice in October, Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon in November
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah this month, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and Queen of The Night by Chee Alexander in the next couple of months. I also want to re-read Phantom by Susan Kay, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and Little Women by Louisa May Scott in the Autumn time.

2) September brings back to school memories: what book did you most enjoy studying? And what were your favourite and least favourite school subjects?
My first book I remember really enjoying in school was Carrie's War by Nina Bawden. I think I studied it in the few couple of years of secondary school. It started my love for historical fiction which has continued throughout my life.
My favourite subjects where English and History no surprise there!
My least favourite was Maths I HATED it!

3) October means Halloween: do you enjoy scary books and films? If so what are some of your favourites?
I do like horror movies and books, but I am VERY picky about the type of horror I watch and read!
I do love vampires but NOT Twilight! I like Victoria era horrors IE Frankenstein, The Woman In Black, Dracula, The Turn of The Screw and The Woman In White are some of my favourites.
Horror movies I am picky about too! I am not into slasher movies some of my favourite horror movies are Interview With A Vampire, The Wolfman, Fright Night, American Werewolf in London, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and The Lost Boys

4) With November it's time for bonfire night & firework displays. What's the most exciting book you've read that really kept you gripped?
Although I didn't love the book Girl On The Train had me gripped when I read it last Summer
Also Dragonfly In Amber had me gripped with all the twists and turns I love that book!

5) What book is your favourite cosy comfort read?
I have a few cosy reads most of them are classics but at Christmas time I do love a good chick lit to get me feeling cosy! Chick Lit isn't my favourite reading genre but when done right it can make you feel all warm inside feeling lovely and cosy. A few of my favourites are A Very Big House In The Country, You And Me Always, Twelve Days Of Christmas and What Would Mary Berry Do?
But my two favourite ever cosy reads are Little Women by Louisa May Scott and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

6) Curled up with a good book, what is your hot drink of choice?
In the morning times I love a good cup of coffee while reading. I love Costa coffee so that would be my ideal choice but most of the time I also enjoy a cup of tea. I am not into different times of tea only breakfast tea and peppermint tea I have a cute little tea pot for when I enjoy a cup of peppermint. Coming into the colder months I also really enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while snuggling with a blanket and a book

7) Any plans you're looking forward to over the next few months?

I am going to see a musical this week with the hubby so looking forward to that.
I am also looking forward to doing Halloween this year with Oisìn this is the first year he has asked to dress up as some one he wants to be The Hulk which should be fun. This year Halloween falls on a bank holiday in Ireland we are going to have a fun spooky long weekend. We are hoping to pop into Dublin city centre the weekend of Halloween to join in with some of the family fun activities.
Then we have my best friend's baby son's christening which I am looking forward too
At the end of the month my Mam, cousin and I are going to see ballet The Nutcracker which will be a lovely ladies day out and will bring us into December nicely!

This Month I Have Mostly Been Reading-September

This month was a strange one reading wise, I just didn't enjoy reading for most of the month

Books that I was so excited for where let downs and I got into a bit of a slump

I found it hard to get into books and therefor didn't enjoy reading but there was thankfully a few gems that I really enjoyed. Maybe I am putting too much pressure on myself to read so much so October I am just going with the flow and see how many books I fancy reading!

On The Other Side~Carrie Hope Fletcher

 I really want to love this one, and while I love Carrie I just couldn't get into or love this book
The plot itself is magical and sweet but it reads one dimensional and quite childish. It tells the story of Evie Snow who has died and to get to the other side she must go back and relive her secrets.
While I enjoyed the whole premise of the plot, the characters are quite flat and I hated the childish names of the characters Evie Snow, Vincent Winters, Colin Autumn, Grayson Pear and Sonny Shine!! I mean really?! That is like something I would of written in primary school! Both lead characters come across as very immature for 27, Evie espically is very childish and comes across physically as a mirror image of the author large eyes, curly blonde hair, with a green coat who likes to drink tea and eat sweets! 

Something that really bothered me when reading this, was there was no time period setting. Evie's family situation was like something from 1900's, Evie's work setting felt like it was the 1950's but then people had mobile phones, and wore the latest trends from today! I think the story would of had much more dept if the author picked a time period and stuck to it, because to be honest the plot didn't make much sense out of context of a time line.
There was a few nice moments but over all this read like bad fan fiction and I think I will stick to listening to Carrie sing and watch her vlogs rather than read her books!

The Second Love Of My Life~Victoria Walters
I am not sure what is going on with me but I have been reading alot of books that are leaving me disappointed lately! This was another that left me feeling meh! While every else is raving on about it, I just thought it was okay! The cover is stunning and really stood out to me it was the main reason I picked it up. Rose is a widow at the tender age of 24, after losing Lucas her childhood sweetheart her whole life has changed. All the plans they had together are gone and she is getting to grips with being alone and starting again. Rose is a painter and in the four years since Lucas has died she hasn't took up a brush and is selling off the last of her paintings. Robert comes to the small town of Talting to buy the paintings but ends up finding much more!
This is typical chick lit but I found the characters slightly annoying! I didn't feel any sadness or pity for Rose she came across as selfish and a bit of a crap friend. Robert seemed moody and a bit weird!
Some of the minor characters where funnier and I would of liked to know more about them. Talting itself sounds stunning and more like an extra character than a setting.
It's an okay read but I wouldn't read it again in a hurry!

The Lilac Girls~Martha Hall Kelly
This my first five star read in a while. Once every few years or so I read a book that I know will stay with my for life this was definitely one of these books.
This book is inspired by real events which makes it all the more heart breaking. This book tells the stories of three very different strong women and how there lives intertwine. Caroline in New York seems a world away from the war in Europe, but she is a kind hearted strong woman with a keen interest in humanity. Her care packages make the New York elite feel like they are helping the orphans of Europe, but as the war drags on Caroline gets more and more involved. She falls for a French actor and must travel to Nazi occupied France
Herta is a German with a great admiration for her Fuhrer she believes everything that he stands for and agrees with all the Nazi propaganda. She is eager to become a doctor and surgeon after passing her medical exams with great results. She applies for one of the only jobs she has seen looking for a female doctor at Ravensbruck. When she gets there it is nothing like she imagined and she is horrified, yet she stays and becomes one of the most horrific things at Ravensbruck The Rabbit Surgeon.
Kasia is a young women from Lublin Poland after her town is bombed and took over by Nazis she gets involved in Underground/Resistance activities. She is caught and along with her Mother, sisters and friends is sent to Ravensbruck to be taught in the ways of The Fuhrer. She suffers such hardship at the hands of some of the most evil female Nazis and then became one of the infamous Rabbits who was experimented on at the hands of Herta.
This book is beautifully written I liked how each chapter is written in the different women's perspective so after a very harrowing chapter we might get some light relief when moved on to a different point of view. Most of the story is set around the time of the first view years of the war when Hitler was invading countries and Germany was winning the war. The setting of Ravensbruck the only women camp of WW11 is a haunting and forgotten place. I had never heard of it before reading this book. This isn't an easy read the horrors of the camp, the evil that one human can enjoy watching another suffer is what makes WW11 a evil dark time in history.
I also applaud the author for writing a character from the other point of view, the character of Herta wasn't easy to read and being honest sometimes I had to put the book down after reading her chapters. I read her chapters wondering how she could be so hard and cruel she really did see these women as numbers with no feelings. I got annoyed at how she could be so blind to the Nazi propaganda. Yet I know this was how most Nazi felt the never questioning of there leader, his believes and values.  

I liked how the book didn't end at the end of the war as these women's stories were not over yet. In Poland after Nazi rule the Poles still felt imprisoned as Stalin's communist rule took over and banned most things. There lives would never be as care free as before the war.
The Nazi's are forced to take responsibility for there horrific actions in the war as stories about concentration camps and gas chambers come to light.
In New York life has moved on but Caroline has heard about these so called "Rabbits" and she will not stop until she gets these women the help and justice they deserve.
It's hard to believe that these crimes happened and The Rabbits were real. I think that this is a book that should be read in history classes. I learned so much from this book not just the crimes of war, but how much people will help each other in times of need.

Storms~Carol Ann Harris
After The Lilac Girls I wanted a lighter read and went for this bio of Lindsey Buckingham's ex girlfriend Carol Ann.  Now Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nick's are my favourite artists of all time so I will read ANYTHING about them! Carol Ann states this is her story but to be honest it isn't the reader doesn't get to know her very much. I know she was only 22 when she met Lindsey the amazing singer and guitarist in Fleetwood Mac, but by that time she had already had an abusive failed marriage behind her, put her daughter up for adoption and traveled all around Europe so to say she might be a bit of a character is an understatement but she doesn't tell us much of that. In fact there is only about one page about her daughter and two of her marriage and we never find out how, why or when she has been to all these wonderful countries before Fleetwood Mac!
She focuses on the first few years with Lindsey from 1976-1979 and to be honest I think by the time it got to 1982 and recording Fleetwood Mac's Mirage she and Lindsey where pretty much over. She didn't go to the recording of that album or on the tour.
She paints her time with the band as drug/drink crazy time which all Mac fans know is the truth but Carol Ann forgets that she had a well known drug problem herself! The little things she remembers she really couldn't because she was wasted for most of the time too!
I do think she adored Lindsey and for a part I think he loved her too, but she was much more into him than he was to her. She admitted for another book that he was still in love with Stevie for most of the time they where together. Yet in this book she says that he didn't care about breaking up with Stevie well sorry Carol but 'Go Your Own Way' 'Never Going Back Again' 'Not That Funny' 'The Ledge' and 'Can't Go Back' state other wise!
She does tread dangerous waters when she stated that Lindsey was physically abusive to her! While she states it is her story there aren't very many pictures of her in the book and the cover is a Fleetwood Mac picture! Why not a picture of herself and Lindsey on the cover?! Also all the titles of the chapters are either lyrics from Stevie Nick songs or Fleetwood Mac songs and the actual title of the book is a Stevie Nick's song from Tusk!
She paints Lindsey as hard to live with, a loner with abusive tendencies, Mick Fleetwood as womaniser, money loving, coke fiend (maybe she got him right) John McVie was her only true friend who thanked her for changing Lindsey's image (really I think John of all people wouldn't give a toss about what Lindsey wore) Christine is a hard drinking tom boy who blamed Carol Ann for sleeping with her man and Stevie Nicks is a  jealous, air head, hippy dippy, who hates the ground Carol walks on! While Carol herself is the sweet girl next door, who doesn't drink or do drugs. Yet she doesn't tell the reader that some how after eight years in the inner circle of Fleetwood Mac, that she wrecked her car while driving on drugs, ended up on heroin (making a point here that none of the band members ever had a problem with heroin, coke was there drug of choice) and in the end Lindsey evicted her from his LA house due to her drug problem.
There is nothing new in this book none of the pictures are new or even a good quality!
All that being said I enjoyed reading this trashy tell all but read it all with large grain of salt!

What Oisìn has been reading this month

Supertato~Sue Hendra
Oisìn has been enjoying this funny book about a Supertato who has to save the day
when a frozen pea gets out of the freezer to cause trouble!

What have you been reading this month

This Month I Have Mostly Been Reading~August

I gave myself a huge TBR this month I got through most of them
but I might have been pushing my luck to think I would get through them all!
I really enjoyed reading this month and found myself reading every where I could get a few moments in peace (well as much peace you can get with a two and half year old bouncing about) in the bath, on the bus, at hospital appointments and in the garden.
I do think I slightly burned myself out by the end of the month because this week
it took me forever to get through one book! September is a busy month so my TBR will be around seven books!

Always With Love~Giovanna Fletcher
This is the sequel to Billy and Me which I read last Summer on holidays
I really enjoyed it so was looking forward to reading this follow up.
It follows on from Billy & Me, with Sophie and Billy staying in the quiet little village Rosefont Hill while Billy is taking time out from Hollywood. Billy is the big star and Sophie the stay at home girl next door, their relationship is still very new and fresh. The book deals with when Billy goes back to Hollywood, Sophie meets his parents, can there relationship survive the long distance?
I really wanted to love this book as I had really liked the characters in Billy & Me but
I felt the plot was so drawn out that maybe there was no need for a sequel. It is a nice, sweet read but I felt that it needed more drama, as it felt a little dull in places, for me Billy and Sophie lost something as characters as I just couldn't connect with them in this book. The misunderstanding and conflicts which where meant to give the big drama in the book, felt overblown and are sorted out maybe a little too easily!
I do like Giovanna Fletcher's books but this wasn't my favourite.

After You~Jojo Moyes
I read Me Before You at the start of Summer and loved it. I know it gets alot of flak from readers but I just loved it and thought it was one of the best books I read in years. I was so excited when I heard there was a sequel I couldn't wait to read it, and now that I have I feel meh!
For me I was so disappointed in Lou's storyline, yes I know she was grieving and I know from personally experience how hard that can be but I just didn't believe that she would go back to a dead end job after everything she learned and that happened in Me Before You.
I think for me the problem was this book is so different from the first book that it doesn't really feel like a sequel. If I hadn't read Me Before You I probably would of liked this book more for what it is and that is a fairly good stand alone novel about a group of people trying to find themselves after various heart aches in there lives.
Some of the new characters are just plain boring or unlikable. I just hated spoiled poor rich me storyline and character of Lily, where we meant to feel sorry for this character cause I just wanted to slap her through out the book! While I loved Lou's character in Before You I didn't like her very much in this follow up! She came across as whinny, naive and a bit of a push over! The new love interest is nice but fairly forgettable, and some of the sub plots like Lou's Mother's mid life crisis felt unnecessary and I didn't enjoy the whole near death experience at the end of the book.
Part's of the book did sparkle but I didn't feel anyway like I did  while reading Before You
and being honest I think this sequel was not needed, for me Lou and Will's story ended in Me Before You.

Enchanted August~Brenda Bowen
This is basically an updated version of Elizabeth Von Arnmin's Enchanted April which I love
so was expecting to love this novel. I didn't I liked it but didn't fall in love with it!
Four strangers see an ad about a cottage in Maine and rent it for the month of August.
Where they can escape the realities of life, for two full time Mothers it's a chance to escape the gossiping at the school gates, demanding kids and husbands. Another is trying to get over the death of the love of there life, and another is a Hollywood actress trying to escape the latest scandal in LaLa Land! I loved the setting on Hope Island this book transported me to beautiful Maine with, sea food, parties, and beautiful beaches.
I liked the characters but did not love them, sometimes each of them where annoying in there own way! It did take a while for me to get into the book the pacing was slow at the start, for a short book I thought I would get through it quick but I put it down a few times. I am not sure why but I found it hard to fully get into and I'm not sure what I didn't like. While I like the journey the characters where on and the setting was stunning it felt there was alot of waiting for the story to pick up.
Of course the characters grew and I loved the ending of the book but for me the book just lacked something.

Time To Say Goodbye~SD Robertson
I am feeling a slight theme to the books I read this month liked but didn't love!
This next book is the same I can't really review this book without spoilers so SPOILERS AHEAD!
In basic terms this book is about a Father Will who is bringing up this daughter alone as his wife has died in childbirth but when he is killed in an car accident he doesn't accept his death and wants to stay with his daughter.
So far I liked it and found it tear jerking. He is then given a guide who is meant to help him pass over without much fuss, Will is then giving a dead line date in which he has to make a choice to pass over or stay and there is no going back for either choice. If he decides to stay it's for all eternity he will not be able to pass over again, and when his love ones pass away he will have to watch them pass over unable to go with them.
I am not sure if Will had his daughter's best interests at heart or his own but he finally finds a way for her to see him and talk to him, but only she can see him and he makes her not tell anyone. Not a very nice thing to do to a six year old who is struggling with losing her Father.
The first part of the book I really enjoyed and found it hard to put down, but then a quarter way through the book a big secret comes to light about Will's Dad and then it lost it creditable with me. I really didn't like where it went then, and found that storyline quite pointless. It did pick up again towards the end of the book. I really enjoyed Roberston's style of writing and the book is very easy to get into straight from the very first page. I think personally I would of enjoyed it more if the story kept it's focus on the father/daughter relationship instead of adding a unnecessary storyline about Will's Father which ends up with his death. The whole we can turn back time twist at the end of the book, lessened the whole feel of the story for me. That all been said I read this book in two days as I couldn't put it down! It pulled me in from the first page and while I didn't like how it ended it is a good piece of story telling.

Bitter Sweet~Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
This is a book that was recommended to me so I found it in my library I wasn't sure if it was my thing when I read the blurb, but it turned out to be one of my favourites this month and of the Summer!
It tells the story of two college room-mates Mabel and Ev, Mabel the narrator is on a scholarship, loves college, learning and literature, unlike Ev she isn't blonde or thin, although she does have one thing in common with Ev she hates her home life especially her Mother. She is ready to do anything not to have to go home for the Summer even if that is sell her soul to privileged, self centred, snobby, glamours Ev.
Ev invites Mabel to spend the Summer in Winloch the Winslow Summer Residence. Each of the Winslow family live here from the big house to the little cabins, from the head of the family to the distant cousins. Mabel is just happy to be some what popular and feels like her and Ev are actually becoming friends. This book was definitely armchair transport as I felt like I was there in forest and beaches of Vermont. Mabel thinks that this wonderful family can do no wrong and the Summer will be a hazy time of relaxing, exploring, eating, drinking and having fun. It is all that but somehow Mabel gets roped into keeping secerts, while babysitting Ev and uncovering dark secrets about the family. The more she learns about the family the more she is horrified, but she has fallen for one of the family and being honest she liked the high life and she loves Winloch. As she wrestles with her morals a huge a price is paid before she could do anything about it.
I really enjoyed this novel with it's many twists, turns and shocks. I loved the ending. It's not everyones cup of tea and it does have it's flaws but I could look pass them and enjoy the story. I would recommends this for book clubs as it seems to divide opinion!

Goodnight Lady~Martina Cole
This a very different type of Martina Cole one of her early books and like Faces it spans decades.
I much perter Cole's earlier works to some of her later books which have lost some of the spark.
This is based around Briony Cavanagh at the turn of the twentieth century, when she is sold by her family to essentially keep a roof over there heads to a sick perverted rich man. He uses an abuses Briony and then gets her pregnant when she is only 12 years old. Briony isn't give a choice what to do with her baby son she has to give him up to the rich man's wife who although kind had used Briony to get what she wants a child. This changes Briony and she knows she will stop at nothing to get what she wants in life, with the help of  her partner tough Tommy Lane she fast comes a well know madame, with Tommy they become the Faces of the East End. Briony isn't a gangster she is a well loved but feared member of the East End. The story moves into the Jazz heights of the 1920's and we get to know Briony sister's each of which is different but I enjoyed reading about them all. The story moves to the 30's and 40's and that could be the finish of the novel, but Martina Cole's earlier books are epics and this one was no different at more than 800 pages it sweeps into the 50's with The Twins Briony's nephews. This two become the most feared and violent Faces of the East End. They do sound very like the Kray twins the last part of the book is classic Cole and more like her other books but I really enjoyed Briony's story.
This book takes the reader on a epic journey, from the slums of London at the turn of the twentieth century, to the Jazz filled clubs of the 1920's, to the glamour of a singer on the rise in the 1930's, to the bombed out streets of London in the 1940's and the hazy Summers of swinging 60's
Cole's has brilliant layered characters in this book, some chapters I disliked Briony but mostly I love her! I have read alot of Martina Cole and this one is definitely one of my favourites.

Finding Fraser~KC Dyer
I am now three books into the Outlander series and a bit obsessed with the TV show
so when I found out there was a novel about a woman on her a quest to find her own Jamie Fraser I knew I just had to read it!
Emma is turning 30 after a failed marriage she is having a bit of a mid life crisis and decides to sell up and go to Scotland to repeat Claire's journey in the book Outlander. Emma is a funny yet slightly annoying main character! She seems to be more like 19 than 29 in the way she is so trusting and falls for Scottish men very quickly.....well normally the douche bags anyway! The one she should really be looking at is in front of her eyes. For a huge Outlander fan she seems caught up in what her Jamie should look like and not that bothered about the personalty or quality's that make Jamie a dream man!
Some of the things that happen in the book are very funny like the Outlander Convention, Emma getting robbed, and The Outlander tour.
I did had a few issues with it for an Outlander inspired book there isn't much Outlander in it, I actually know more about William Wallace after reading this than Jamie! Emma's sister I wanted to punch in the face for most of the book! She was so annoying and degrading to Emma, but now looking back at how immature Emma was, maybe her sister was sick of picking her crap! I loved the character of Jack but there wasn't enough of him in the book, he actually reminded me of Roger from the Outlander books. I would of liked to find out much more about him, besides the few things we actually know about him. The ending was done really well and I really enjoyed the scenes at the stones.
If your a chick lit fan and a fan of Outlander you might like this just don't expect to love it!

What Oisìn has been reading this month:

Mutt Dog~Stephen Michael King
My little boy has been loving this sweet story of a stray dog who finally finds a family and a home.
Such a lovely book which pulls on the heart strings. Oisìn loves it so much I have found it in bed with him during the night!

What have you been reading this month?

Weekly Favourites

This week has a bit of everything, bit of Summer, bit of Autumn,

bit of Stevie Nicks, bit of Outlander, bit of Jamie Fraser,

bit of wine and a bit of beer!

Book

Finding Fraser~KC Dyer

I love anything Outlander related so when I found out there was a novel

about a women on a quest to find her own Jamie Fraser! I knew I just has to read it!

I am only quarter of the way through and it has already had me in giggles!

So far Emma has encountered a tanned Jamie stripper, been robbed by an Irish chancer, and basely robbed an airline!

I can't wait to read what happens next!

Blog

WritelikenoonesWatching

Charlotte's blog is actually one blog that I have been following since I started blogging!

I love following her Mum advice, hauls, recipes and her journey as she became a Mum

for a second time to her daughter Daisy. She has had a rough time of it lately and sometimes I just want to giver her a virtual hug! 

Her vlog channel is also very good and I love her weekend style vlogs 

I will definitely be featuring her vlog channel here again

Movie

La Belle Et La Bete

I rediscovered this beautiful old 1946 movie while having a clean out the other day!

I have it on an old VHS tape so I hooked up the video player and then got lost in this

stunning black and white movie! I first saw it at the age of 16 after I heard Stevie Nicks wrote a

song after seeing this movie. I found a copy on ebay and after I watched it I knew why Nicks had to write a song after watching it!

This French subtitled black and white old movie took my breath away! Josette Day is brilliant as the slightly aloof Belle but for me Jean Marias steals the movie as not just the Beast/Prince but he also plays Avent (this movies version of Gaston from the Disney movie) I love the twist that he plays both Belle's suitors. The stunning filming tricks such as the arm of candelabra's have been used in different movies as homage to this movie. Written and directed by Jean Cocteau who in my opinion was a legend

Instagram

Little Mama Gems

This account follows Gemma and her hand crafted small business 

but also her life as a mum, wife and gin drinker!

Album

In Your Dreams~Stevie Nicks

This is my favourite solo album from Stevie since her first album Bella Donna

For me it's classic Stevie and takes her back to her roots. It's romantic soft rock at its best, I think working with Dave Stewart has added a dept to her music. These two know what works for Stevie and I love every single song on this album. It has a kind of Gothic feel to it, with Stevie referencing Anne Rice in the song New Orleans, Mr Rochester in Wide Sargasso Sea, Twilight in Moonlight, Edgar Allan Poe in Annabelle Lee and true love in Italian Summer. She also sings about her love affairs in the songs on this album Mick Fleetwood in Secret Love, and of course Lindsey Buckingham in Everybody Loves You and You May Be The One.

Drink

Castellore Pinot Grigio~ Aldi 6.50

I really enjoy a nice Pinot Grigio and this is my favourite from Aldi

This Italian wine has a fresh citrus taste to it, it's a lovely dry crisp wine

I love to drink it with seafood or pasta

Schofferhofer~Aldi 1.80

Hubby has been loving this German light wheat beer from Aldi

It keeps it's frothy head for the whole glass 

For such a cheap beer it has a great quality

Vlogger

PeruseProject

I love Regan's booktub channel! She comes across as a person who really does loves to read.

While I don't read alot of the genre she does, she is mostly into fantasy and YA. While I do like some fantasy I am more of an adult fiction reader.

That being said I still love watching her reviews of all different book, her unboxings and book hauls. I have actually bought a book called Queen of the Night due to one of her book hauls and can't wait to read it!

Store

Boohoo.com

To be honest I had never bought anything from this online store

before but I have another wedding coming up in September

and was looking for a new maxi dress and they have some

really reasonable ones but so pretty too!

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally FRIDAY

Weekly Favourites

This post is late this week as I seem to have lost a bit of my blogging motivation!

I will still be posting in the month August but will be taking a break from my

meal plans and on the box posts, as I am taking a break from meal planing and Slimming World at the moment due to illness. We are also not watching much TV at the moment due to the Olympics and most of our favourite shows finished up until the autumn but a few good show will be starting back soon like Poldark, Bakeoff and the new ITV show Victoria which I will be watching and review in September!

Book

Time To Say Goodbye~SD Robertson

Bitter Sweet~Miranda Beverly Whittemore

I have been really enjoying reading this month

with not watching much TV I have spent most of my time reading!

Two books I read this week I really enjoyed the first was called Time to Say Goodbye

This book started off really strong and pulled on my heart strings but as the book went on I think it lost some of the joy that made it good to read. I have mixed feeling about this one and will be fully explaining my feelings in my monthly book review at the end of the month.

The other book I read this week was Bitter Sweet which I loved the book took a totally different turn and was a really good and enjoyable read, a book that stays with you after reading.

Blog

ComfyReading

As well as doing lots of reading I have been enjoying blogs about books and reading!

This blog called Comfy Reading I really like. I enjoy Kerrie's honest reviews and sometimes

takes me out of my comfort zone when thinking of books to read.

Movie

Creed

I enjoyed watching this movie the other night with the hubby

It was his pick AGAIN but I don't mind watching no brainer movies after a long day!

This moves the Rocky movies into modern day with Sly handing the legacy over to deceased his

friend Apollo son Donnie. Rocky trains him, while also fighting cancer and the fight scene at the end of the movie set in Liverpool is worth watching the movie alone for! 

Instagram

Middle Earth Cottage

I love this beautiful account with pretty cottage life pictures

Beautiful pictures of nature, food, animals, scenery and homelife

Album

Hounds of Love~Kate Bush

I have two favourite albums ever one is Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

The other is this album Hounds of Love by Kate Bush, it's been a while since I have listened

to completely. I have been listening to a radio station called Magic and they have been playing alot of Kate which sparked me to dig out this album and listen to it fully. I love the first few songs Cloudbusting, Running Up That Hill and Hounds of Love are fantastic songs, but for me when The Ninth Waves starts the hairs on my arms stand up! 

Jig of Life, Hello Earth and The Morning Fog are my favourites from The Ninth Wave collection but I love almost everything from this album! 

Make-Up Product

Catrice Prime & Fine Primer 

Normally No7 or Estee Lauder are my go to make up and skin care

but I am on a bit of a budget this month so thought I would try this brand

To be honest I wasn't expecting much I am normally not a big fan of low cost make up

Wow was I surprised! This primer is amazing! I found this light to the touch and doesn't cling to my face as other primers can. It took the redness from my face and doesn't feel cakey as some primers can and most importantly it doesn't break me out which often happens with my sensitive skin. A bargain for four euro!

I have also been using there Even Skin Tone Fountain I found this okay, not something I will be changing my normal fountain for but it is good for every day use. I use 010 Vanilla but that might be a bit too light for me! The coverage is medium okay for every day use but nothing compered to my favourite Estee Lauder Double Wear! For the price of seven euro it is another bargain!

Vlogger

ViennaWaitsBooks

I really love this Booktube channel, from Kristyn we have the same taste in most books

Her reviews and thoughts are so honest that I would read books that she reviews even if there

outside my comfort zone! I have actually bought The Crimson Petal and the White because of her review alone! 

Store

ASOS

We have another wedding coming up in September so I quickly got online

and found a beautiful dress on this great website which I love!!

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally THE WEEKEND