Me Before You * Jojo Moyes

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 

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.

Louisa Clark likes the simple things in life, her little job at The Buttered Bun, her little family home and living close to the castle. 

Though when she arrives at work one day to find out she isn't needed anymore and that there's a bit of financial trouble at home, she decides it's time for a change whether she likes it or not. 

Though going through the torture of the Job Centre, is the last thing she wants right now. After meaningless interviews of "What skills do you have?" and "Have you been looking for work?" Lou is starting to come to the end of her tether, until an advert pops up for a stay in career. 

Will Traynor on the other hand really is having a bad time, what with once being a high end business man, travelling around in first class and going on skiing trips, though things drastically take a turn for the worse when he suddenly finds himself in a fatal accident. 

Now living on his own and slowly becoming a recluse, will Louisa be able to shake him of his past and get him out there to live life to the full one more time? And will he be able to  make Lou see herself, for who she really is? 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt books I have read in a long time, I think it comes close to To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell.  

The story itself was so beautiful and the characters we're lovely and charming. I fell in love with Louisa from the get go, her bubbly personality and they way she doesn't give up at all was inspiring. I even own a pair of bumblebee tights which made me smile. 

I'll be honest, this is the only book where I have literally cried my eyes out, I was sat in the bath for christ sake crying away! It's such a beautiful read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is needing a new romance book this summer, or just an inspiring - book that makes you smile unconditionally read. 

Moyes does not disappoint with characters, I know I've said that they are great but it really doesn't do the book justice. She has taken so much time and investment in each character and it really feels like you know them personally. You can relate to each one on some level and I think that is such a hard thing to do as an author. 

I will definitely be checking more of her work out in the near future. 

I will be giving this book 10/10

A Walk In The Park * Jill Mansell

A Walk In The Park by Jill Mansell 

It's been a while, but Lara Carson's back in Bath and lives are set to change as a result. 

Because Lara left her family and boyfriend Flynn eighteen years ago without a word to anyone. Why has no one heard from her since? 

Things have changed since Lara last left Bath, but returning eighteen years later hasn't changed her mind on what she has to do. She wouldn't have come back if the solicitors hadn't asked for her to be there at her late fathers funeral. 

Sitting at the back of the church, it seems like not everyone has forgotten that she left home when she was eighteen. Especially not her evil stepmother, if she had to be in any Disney film, she would place herself in Cinderella. 

But not everything is as bad as it seems, when she bumps into her oldest and best friend from school Evie, they act like as if Lara had never left. Evie has waited all her life to be able to see Lara again, and to ask her one simple question: Why did she leave Bath, and not tell her? 

Things are looking up for Evie, as far as Lara can see. She's getting married and Lara couldn't be more thrilled! But things aren't what they seem when Evie receives a distressed call from the hairdresser and make up artist for the big day, only to find out that her loving fiance Joel has been sleeping behind her back, could she of found out at a worse time? 

Lara never thought this would happen, but bumping into Flyn eighteen years later was like a kick to the chest, all the air was sucked out of her lungs and she felt like fainting. He still recognised her and he still looked as beautiful as ever, if not more handsome since he was eighteen. So when Evie grabs her hand to make a dash from her wedding and for her to follow, Lara couldn't be more thrilled. Though now she had to tell Flyn that he had an eighteen year old daughter, and nothing could be more complicated if she tried. 

Flyn can't believe his eyes, Lara was just standing in front of him, his Lara from eighteen years ago and she was still just as beautiful. But questions needed to be answered and he needed to find her and soon before he lost her again, his love for her was still strong and he's never been able to forget about her ever since.  

Join Evie and Flyn on their journey as they go from the past and into the future. Will Lara ever be able to love him again? Can Flyn really trust her and will Evie ever be happy ever after? And of course, the most important question on everyone's lips...

Why did you Leave Lara? 

A Walk In The Park by Jill Mansell, is the 23rd novel by the wonderful Jill! Now if you've been following this blog for a while, you will know how much of a Jill Mansell fan I am. I just adore her books and he writing! The first ever book review I did of one of Jill's books, was To The Moon And Back - and even though it was one of her newest books at the time, I just loved it, and since then I have reviewed many of her books and still reviewing them to this day! (Please take my apologies for the book review, it was a few years ago and not up to the standard of the reviews now) 

I had a bit of a thing the last time I read a Jill Mansell book, and although I love her, the last book I read I didn't really find enjoyable. I found it was a bit repetitive compared to some of the other books and you could tell what was going to happen. So I didn't read any of the books for a while and then I just decided I wanted to read a good old Chick-Lit this summer and I am so glad that I picked up one of Jill's books on my shelf because I loved it so much! This is the 5th book I have read by this incredible author and I will always continue to read the books as I just can't get enough!

I loved the storyline of this book so much, on how they we're just teenage sweethearts but it was so much more than that, it was a bit like a modern Romeo & Juliet but with a child into the equation. I loved Gigi's character and Flyn's the most, Flyn sounded devilishly handsome and Lara was just too cute. I found Evie was the heroin out of all the other characters in the book. I felt like she had to deal with so much more and my heart went out to her.  

Such a brilliant book and it has been added to my re-read list. 
Fantastic Jill! Keep up the brilliant work! 

I will give this book 9 out of 10

Not Until You: Dare - Part One * Roni Loren

Not Until You: Dare - Part One by Roni Loren

On the night of her graduation, innocent veterinary student Cela decides to play a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’ with the two hot neighbours she’s been harbouring a secret crush on. 

Cela thinks she’s earned a wild night before she has to move back home under the watchful gaze of her family. But what starts out as a simple game is about to take a very sensual turn.

Marcela Medina hasn't done much in her life, sure she's gone to college for seven years to study what she wants to do in life, which is to become a Vet and work within her fathers Veterinary business. 

So when Cela finally graduates, on a drunken walk home she decides that she needs to make a change with her life, seeing as she's never been with a man or even had a boyfriend for starters. She's never been out drinking with mates either, always coped up in her own world of studying and obeying her fathers orders. 

Though after a spillage of Chinese food outside her door and a bottle of Tequila slowly falling out of her hands, her two neighbours couldn't of come out of their flat at a better time, or worse depending on her state of mind and ability to stand let alone walk. 

Foster and Pike have been friends since they we're young, Foster making his way into the world of business, all suits and ties but definitely not work and no play, as there's always time to play in Fosters mind. Pike is a hunky drummer in a local band, given with good looks and a great beat on the musical instrument and with women when it comes to mind. So when they meet Cela, they can't help but stare and other body parts can't stay down. 

Cela has had a crush on Foster for as long as she can remember, although she has never had a steady relationship or been with another man, she wouldn't mind giving it a go with him though. But when they both invite her over for Pizza and a film to celebrate her graduation, she blankly refuses and goes home. 

Though Cela decides that she can't be a daddy's girl anymore, so putting on her best clothes and heels, she marches over to the boys and enjoys the party. Though things soon change when they invite her out to dance at a club, just dance. Foster has a thing for innocent women especially Vanilla ones, so when he starts to like Cela a bit more, it starts to become a problem. 

Do they all carry on with the dancing? Or call it a night? 

Not Until You: Dare - Part One by Roni Loren, is the first installment of the 9 book series and I honestly don't know what to think about it, I have a few mixed emotions that I will get all off my chest to you all. 

If you have read my latest book review on the Knight series then you will know that I have been trying to find another series just like it or one similar that will hold my attention and drag me into the books. I was hoping that these books might be able to as there are quite a few in the series. But I'm not too sure. 

One problem that I have is that it is written in first person, now I don't have anything wrong with books written in first person. I just personally don't think that erotic books should be written in the same text. I think they should be written in third, but then again that is just my personal opinion on them. 

With that said, I went at the book with Caution not knowing what to expect. Though it did surprise me a little I guess. The plot was okay for the first book, Roni Loren has done the book series in small short stories per each book, a bit like a chapter a book in my eyes. In ways I can see that this is a good thing, more money for the books and they are not that expensive, but a bit of a waste for the reader. If she could of done three books with three of the nine books in each and priced them up more I would happily prefer to do that. (With that said, I have just seen the whole series available on Overdrive for free if anyone is interested)

But I persisted with this book as I thought "why not? It's a free sample download and either way I can always do a review on it". The plot is okay I guess so far, I don't really like the erotic stories that much when the girl is portrayed as really naive and that she's just come out of college, as not all girls are like that and to be honest a little shallow, but that's my opinion. 

Foster and Pikes characters on the other hand, I like them, their funny with some witty humour about them as well, they have a bromance relationship so I would like to see how that unfolds in the story. I think I prefer Fosters character over Pike though. 

All in all I'll cut it short cause I've been rambling! I think it's an okay read, I don't think it's as up to standards as what the Knight series was - but I'm still on a mission to find a series as good as that, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to get to your prince! ;) I will probably give the next book a go and see how I feel about it, but I won't be going through the whole series just for the sake of it. I would like to see how the story line pans out and if it gets a little better. 

One thing I will say is  that I really, love the book cover for it. It's so beautiful, I know it's simple but I just love it and throughout the whole series it kind of stays the same but they use different colours for each book and there so vibrant and colourful! 

All in all, I will give this book 4 out of 10

The Vicious Deep * Zoraida Cordova

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave. 

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth. 

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods. 

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.

Tristan Hart has everything going for him, he's a talented swimmer on the swim team, he's popular, good looking, has the best group of friends anyone could ask for and has all the girls chasing after him. So what could possibly go wrong? 

Besides the fact that he drowned trying to save a child from the ocean and when he came back after blacking out, he couldn't remember anything at all apart from a weird woman with a mermaid tail and razor sharp teeth haunting his mind and dreams.

Though all things soon go out of shape when he falls asleep in the bath then wakes up with a mermaid's tail and fish pouring out of the taps and a scar on his back that burns like hell. So when he confronts his mother about his strange and bizarre problems, all things start to make sense...well, if you can say it makes sense, seeing as your mother is the sea kings daughter and you so happen to be the next heir to the underworld thrown and that your mothers evil sister is out to kill him, then yeah, Everything makes total sense!

Soon Tristan learns he's not the boy he thought he was and his life isn't what he thought it was, wiping away at the frosted windows Tristan realises he needs to think fast if he wants to save everyone and everything he loves, including his best friend Layla. Hart is a whole new world and doesn't know where to start, but with the help of his family, his grandfather and friends, he may just be able to pull it off, and save the world. Just.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova is the first instalment in The Vicious Deep book series and is about a young boy who finds out his life is quite different to what he thought it was and learning how to change fast to be able to save everyone he loves. 

I picked this book up from the Library a while a go and I admit I finished reading this book a few months back but never got round to writing the review so I apologise for the really late review, I have another review to do after this one as well, but we will be up to date then :) 

I really liked Tristan and Layla's characters in this book, to be honest I loved all the characters, the way they we're written and portrayed was great and it was a good and exciting read. I did sometimes find myself being a bit lazy and not wanting to finish it as in some places it did drag on a bit, though I am glad that I finished it. 

The book ends with a cliff hanger which is always good, to which it will then go onto the next two books, I don't know if I will be reading the other two books just yet but I will pick them up at some point and finish it off. 

The only thing I have about the book is that it was a bit slow in places and I felt it dragged on a little bit, but it did pick back up and Tristan's character was brilliant! He's cocky bu not too much, just the right amount and he's brave. Layla's character was mostly annoyed at him but you can tell that's she's smitten for him which it was lovely. 

This is a big one, but the other thing is that it reminded me of the Percy Jackson film (I've not read the books but would like too!) a bit too much in places which I feel lets it down a little regarding that this book came out after the Jackson books. There are some similarities in places. 

I will give this book 6.5 out of 10

Little Beach Street Bakery * Jenny Colgan

Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Hi - Authors don't usually write this bit - the bit on the back that tells you the story. And this story is dead simple: Polly opens a bakery! 

But, to me, what this book is really about is being brave; about striking out on your own when everything's against you. It's about daring to drop out of the rat race; about the satisfaction of making things by hand; of sharing with friends and neighbours; and how a simple creative act with a touch of flour and yeast can produce something quite magical. 

And it's about how simple things can bring you joy - the changing seasons; the sea; hard work - all these can lift your spirits, even when life tries it's hardest to kick you in the teeth. - Also it contains some very daft jokes about puffins. Probably too many, really, I got very attached to that puffin. 

Polly Waterford is on the run, from a relationship gone wrong, her job and the people coming round to take away her beloved possessions. So when she moves away from Plymouth and ends up in the quiet and peaceful town of Mount Polbearne, things couldn't get any worse. Apart from her flat that she is living in if falling around her, her new landlady is a horrible old woman and she hardly has any money to live off. 

So, putting her mind to use Polly starts to bake. The only thing that keeps her sane and calm is to bake a homemade loaf of bread, though things start to get out of hand when she takes some down for the local fishing crew and ends up making a pack with half of the people in town to make secret loafs. 

Though Polly has a few other things on her mind, what with her new best friend being an injured puffin and Mrs. Manse not liking her baking in "her" village, to which is threatening to boot her out of the home to make sure she never bakes bread again.  To which this infuriates Polly and she goes on every quest possible, to annoy the old lady. 

Soon Polly has become good friends with all the fishermen, even more so with Tarnie ,the captain of the lot. As well as the rest of the town folk, but there's one mysterious man that everyone talks about that she has never laid eyes on. The quiet and laid back beekeeper of Mount Polbearne, Huckle. But when Polly bumps into him, she soon knows who he is, with his beautiful eyes and long, surfer boy blond hair how could Polly not miss him.  

But when a tragedy hits Polbearne unexpectedly, will everyone's life go back to normal? Will Polly keep her business going and has she ruined it with the one man she wanted more than anyone in the world? And will Neil come back? 


Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan, is the first book I have ever read by this author and I'm actually questioning myself, why? I should have been reading Colgan's books years ago and cannot understand how I have only just picked this up. 

Having a huge passion for baking myself, this book stood out to me straight away in WHSmiths with it's title alone, then after reading the blurb I soon put it on my list to read and was over the moon when I finally bought it. I couldn't wait to read it! 

I loved this book so much! I loved all the characters, especially Polly and the little Puffin Neil, I loved his character so much. I thought the story line was really good, I didn't feel it dragged on like some romance stories. Though I find this book was more about finding yourself and who you really are, and that once you have a dream to do something in your life. To never, ever let it go and pursue that dream. Which is exactly what I am doing, and this book and inspired me even more to keep going with my dreams and ambitions, so I thank Jenny Colgan for that greatly. 

The story was written very well, it flowed throughout the book and the characters we're amazing! There wasn't one character I disliked or didn't take a shine too. They all had their own little personality which I think is a big thing to do when writing characters. 

All in all, I can say that this book has helped me not to let go of my dreams and to keep pushing at them if I'm honest. It's inspiring, heart warming, funny, and romantic all at the same time. There's even a big twist in it too! I will definitely be reading more of Jenny Colgan's books. 

I will give this book 10 out of 10

Lucy In The Sky * Paige Toon

Lucy In The Sky by Paige Toon

Settling down for a 24-hour flight to Australia, Lucy finds a text message on her phone - not from her boyfriend James, as she fondly hopes, but from a woman claiming to have slept with him four times in the past month. 

Trapped on the plane, she questions everything about her relationship with James. Nathan is a happy-go-lucky surfer boy, with no prospects, no place to live, an almost-girlfriend in tow. And the other side of the world...Lucy - a girl caught between two distant continents - and two very different men...

"Hi Lucy, Just shagged James in ur bed! 4 times this month! Nice Sheets xxx"

What could be worse than sitting on a plane for 24 hours? Receiving the above text from your loving boyfriend that someone has been shagging him in your own bed. But when Lucy phones James, he reassures her that the text was from a few friends just messing about. But this can't be right surely? As Lucy prepares for the worst flight in her life, things can only get better can't they? 

Three Singapore slings, two bossy flight attendants and a plane ride later. Lucy is in her home town in Sydney and on the way to see her childhood friends Molly and Sam for their wedding and a great holiday. But she can't help having a nagging suspicion about her lovable James at home in London, alone.

Seeing her two friends again and reminiscing about old times, is what Lucy's wanted to do for ages after she moved to London, and it's nice to know that she's finally over school crush for Sam. But when Sam's younger brother Nathan shows up, he knocks Lucy back into purgatory with her thoughts over James back at home. 

Nathan is a lovable, down to earth and an outright sexy surfer boy. He has no job, no permanent home, a woman in his life but not technically his girlfriend and is living every day as it comes. So when he sets his eyes on Lucy, things soon start to change and he soon knows what he wants in life. But it's not that easy, with her boyfriend stuck at home in London and his loved up friend who has the hots for him, but the feeling isn't mutual.

Though with Lucy leaving Australia in two weeks and her head in a mess over her feelings for both James and Nathan, where will this leave her? She doesn't want to go home, she doesn't want to leave Sam and Molly and she really doesn't want to leave Nathan. But she has too. Plus she has the best job to go back home too! What could be better than working with a well known PR Company? 

Will Lucy travel back to Australia? Which man will she choose? And will she ever decide on what she wants in life? 

Lucy In The Sky by Paige Toon, is the first book that I have read by Toon and I really don't know what to say about it, if I'm quite honest. I don't really know where to start but I'll give it a try. 

I thought the book was quite good at the start, I thought it had a good story line behind it with the text message and how Lucy was on the flight on the way to Australia, I could really sympathise with her and it was quite funny as well in places. I loved the story line with Nathan as well, and just liked Nathan's character in general. 

Though I think what ruined it for me on the whole was James's character and the way Lucy was with him. He was such a horrible person and treated her horribly and I just hated the fact that Lucy put up with that and just kind of accepted it even though she had feelings for Nathan and he made her happy. 

I think James's lie ran on a bit too long, I knew from the beginning what he had done and I know that it needs to be dragged on a bit more for the whole story, but I personally didn't think that it needed to be dragged out that long, it got a bit tedious and boring when it got to James.

Which sadly this was the only downside to the book, but it was quite a big downside. I don't know about reading anymore of Toon's books anytime soon. But I will do again at some point, keep your eyes peeled haha. 

One thing is for certain about this book that I did enjoy. It's made me really, really, REALLY want to go to Australia!! Haha Wanting a nice big summer, warm holiday now with a cocktail, a beach and a good book! I guess you'll find out if I go anywhere nice :) 

I will give this book 4.5 out of 10

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

Afternoon everyone!

Hope your all doing well? Just posting a little update on here to let you all know that I will be joining in on Sheffield's Memory walk on the 11th October 2014 to help raise money for Alzheimer's!

My goal is to raise £100 for the cause, and I will be walking 1okm on the day. At the moment I have already raise £5 with my Just Giving page being up for only a couple of hours which is amazing! 

I am doing this for my Nanan who was diagnosed with Dementia nearly a couple of years ago now, she is still fighting the illness, but has deteriorated a great deal much to the upset of my family and my granddad. It has been very hard for all of us to cope with my nan and see her the way she is, it's an illness that is soul destroying and very upsetting, it's horrible. 

My nanan is still here though and my mum and auntie and my granddad have done an AMAZING! job with looking after her and caring for her in her own home throughout the past years and they have done exceptionally well and been caring, loving and patient with her. Everyone in my family helps my nan out in anyway they can as she has always done the same for us. 

I cannot think of any better way than to help my nan and the other people like her to help raise more money for this cause and charity into helping other people like my nan including her. 

I think that personally, the charity doesn't get half as much credit to what it should do and not as much recognition compared to other charities, but it is an illness that affects quite a few older people around the world and not just in the UK. 

With your help and mine we can help raise more money for the amazing charity who help people with Alzheimer's and their families as much as they can. If you would like to give a donation, please head on over to my Just Giving page linked below you can give whatever price you wish too. If you can't for any reason, or just don't wish to which is fine! A simple good luck would be much appreciated! :) 

Emma's Memory Walk 2014

Thank you ever so much for having the time to read this post, I know it's nothing to do with baking. But it's something that matters to me, and I feel I need to share it with you all! 

Ta very much! Much love, 

Emma xxx