Uno.

EVERYDAY SEXISM by Laura Bates

Published by Simon & Schuster, April 2015, 384 pages, £7.00

This book is absolutely AMAZING. I recommend it wholeheartedly. I think it should accompany school curriculum. I think every young man and woman should read it. I think copies should be distributed to walkers by in the street. I think if everybody read it the world would be a little better. But its not. And that’s why this book was made. EVERYDAY SEXISM is a project founded by Laura Bates that allows women to express their continued frustration with sexism of all monstrous shapes; the subtle, the gross, the accepted, and the endless. Bates created an online space (www.everydaysexism.com @everydaysexism) which people can share stories and motivate each other to take action. I have shared a few comments. Because sexism is everywhere. And it’s the sneaky ones that happen, get ignored and you realize it a few years later, which are potentially the worst. It means that sexism is normalized.

Bates and a new generation of feminists are on the war-path to strip down whatever you were brought up to think was normal.

This book covers the spectrum of society. It is held by the prism that is infected- social, economic and political. It address education, work, marriage, children, race. It goes through women in media, women in politics, and women portrayed in culture. Each chapter complies a list of tweets, shocking stories shared by the public and factual accounts researched by the author. These are indeed shocking stories, that will leave your mouth gaping at the indecency, the disrespect and the sadness that so many women and men have had to endure. The book highlights the daily jibes to the physical violence. There were so many issues that I had no idea about (which only means there’s so much more). And so many things that got me doing a U-turn. Like why was the media obsessed with Princess Kate’s post-pregant body? And yeah, why do people joke about men and child care?

This book is charged. Its more than just bounded paper. It’s voices that are getting louder.

Let’s hope it wakes a lot of people up and motivate them to see through a change. Believe it or not, I was actually a little worried about reading this in public. I was worried what people would think. Feminism has always gone through an ‘F-word’ stage. But my worry only validates the book even more. Why should I be conscious of what I read. I should be able to read whatever the hell I want!

Be warned though, this book will make you angry. It will get your face all screwed up and maybe even red with anger. And no- we won’t cheer up, take your darlin’ and shove it-.

Two. 

THE BEAUTY MYTH by Naomi Wolf

Published by Vintage, September 1991, 348 pages, £7.69

Beauty is a construct. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We can all agree with these statements. But how far are we really going to agree? Naomi Wolf does just that. She argues that beauty was created as a means to control women for political reasons. Can this really be true? Wolf believes so. And she argues it, with research, dates and statistics, fiercely. Wolf gets a lot of flak for being too far-fetched. There are some statements I am not sure about. For example, beauty being advertised more fervently to counter any political success women have made, like getting the vote.  In my opinion, beauty is just a chameleon that adapts with time.

Whether or not you agree that beauty is in the hands of rich powerful men, or dieting is like a religious cult, or professional women are pressured to be sexy, any woman would agree that beauty does to some extent imprisons them.

Why do some of us have a go-to technician for our eye-brows? Why do we need to think about anti-aging creams as we near thirty? Let’s think hard about why we ACTUALLY need to wear make-up.

But it’s not just that. Its the fact that, even after reading this book, I still wear it. Once you come to this level of realization, then some of Wolf’s theories will blow your mind.

Three.

VAGINA by Naomi Wolf

Published by Virago, December 2013, 512 pages, £9.98.

A very striking cover to match a very striking book. I was also conscious about reading this in public. I still think the ‘vagina’ can only really be referenced academically or medically. Otherwise, there is a whole array of distasteful nicknames used for it. I’m glad Naomi Wolf decided to read a book about it. She draws a firm connection between the vagina and the brain. This means that sex affects creativity, intellect and mental balance for a woman. Like The Beauty Myth she pulls out all the research, the stats, the scientific terminology which does get a bit confusing. But I do admit I agree with her. She claims that women have a more deeply ingrained emotional and mental relationship with their reproductive system than men. Chemicals, hormones and nerves form part of this complex system.

I think the book can be quite repetitive and you can tell that some of the theories are based on personal experience. Most chapters go back to confirm but repeat the above theory. However, I liked learning about the history of the vagina, which I actually knew very little of. My favorite chapter was the ‘Vagina began as Sacred’ in earliest western records and how it became ‘profane’, ‘shameful’ and ‘hateful’. I think the various cultural references to the vagina and its connection to language fascinating.

The term hysteria- hyster- comes from the Greek word for ‘womb’ (173).

Four.

HOW TO BE A WOMAN by Caitlin Moran

Published by Ebury Press, June 2011, 312 pages, £6.29

Honestly, I didn’t like this book as much as I thought I would. I like to read Moran’s columns now and then. I think she is FUNNY and has an envious affinity with words. This book was a bit too rude and squeamish for me. I still think it was try-to-control-yourself-in-public hilarious though. Moran basically rambles about her life from her first period up until the present. She stops off on the way to re-visit sex, beauty, marriage and childbirth. She talks about how she tried to figure out and is still figuring, what it means to be a woman, and how bloody hard it is.

It’s hard to take most of the book seriously. It’s like having a tipsy chat with Moran at the pub. However, at the end of each section, she switches it up and lays down some solid arguments about sexism. I liked how she attacks marriage and how it is supposed to be the climax of a woman’s life. She talks about the fury of being told to ask women she was interviewing (as a music journalist) when they were going to have children. It just really needed to be in there, claimed her editor. I also admired how she explains her unashamed decision for an abortion.

Feminism is about having a vagina and wanting to take charge of it

I feel like the majority of bad press books like these get comes from thinking readers will start adopting the beliefs of the author to the minute detail. (What are you exactly panicking about?). Have a little respect. Nobody reads something and then gets ‘brainwashed’ by every single theory. Its about listening to another voice and seeing something through another’s eyes. Only then can you hear your own voice and see something you want to share. 

Happy reading xx

Published by Mira UK, 11 Feb 2016, 384 pages, £7.99

Quick Description: Light, fashion comedy.

Steam?: none

Plot: When fashion boutique worker Amber Green is mistakenly offered a job as assistant to infamous, jet-setting ‘stylist to the stars’ Mona Armstrong, she hits the ground running, helping to style some of Hollywood’s hottest (and craziest) starlets. As awards season spins into action Mona is in hot demand and Amber’s life turned upside down. Suddenly she catching the attention of two very different suitors, TV producer Rob and Hollywood bad boy rising star Liam. How will Amber keep her head? And what the hell will everyone wear? The Stylist is a fast-paced, fun-packed rummage through the ultimate dressing up box.

This book is just fun. Its enjoyable, light and incredibly funny at times. It offered a nice distraction travelling to work in the mornings when the cold was clinging onto my eye-lashes. There must be an easier way to read with gloves on? When I read the plot and looked at the page count, I wondered how much there is to fill. But there wasn’t a moment where I felt like I was reading filler paragraphs. The books is very fast paced and has plenty of interesting personalities that are exploding with craziness. There is always something to be entertained by. The plot is constantly moving onto the next crisis involving A-listers and dresses that poor Amber is thrust into the middle of. We start off at the Golden Globes, to the BAFTAs, to the Oscars and wind up at the biggest celebrity wedding of the year.

There is a sense of mystery which creeps in with Mona Armstrong, threatening to strip away the glamorous lifestyle. There is also an unattainable love interest which adds another level of intrigue. But on the whole, the focus is one woman’s determination to survive in this cut throat industry where everyone and everything seems bonkers. You do have to like fashion to enjoy this. If only we could see the ultimate eye-candy haul Amber is swimming through. I wasn’t really sure how it was going to end, because by the middle of the read your thinking anything could happen really, but I think it had a neat finish. I suppose I would have wanted something a little more explosive. Anyway, its cute, care-free and feel-good.

Many thanks to Cara Thompson from Mira for my copy xxx

#tangotime #pinky

@Rosie_Nixon

Published by St. Martin’s Press, January 5th 2016, 320 pages, £7.59

Quick description: Contemporary YA, sexual awakening, teens with issues.

Plot: Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time-the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy – so far. Her mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn – or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

3 and a half stars.

This book started off making me feel a little queasy. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the plot and hesitated when I requested an ARC. I think I found it difficult understanding why a young woman (younger than me) would want to put herself in such a- not so much a vulnerable state- but an unlovable and most importantly, an unpleasurable position. I mean, Mercedes is voluntarily offering her body up and receiving no sexual gratification- or is she? Here comes the glitch as we enter some murky waters. To seek out virgin boyfriends and help them become better lovers is not the same an having an active and meaningless sex life. No one can be that charitable?  Then I began to worry what I would feel like if I was the ‘girlfriend’ without a clue. But then I felt like I should embrace reading about all levels of female sexuality (I have strange hobbies).

After you get past the strange set-up Mercedes has going, the book becomes quite enjoyable and addictive. There are a lot of thrilling moments, like if she ever is going to get caught and what happens when her BFF’s BF is getting clued up. We see a lot of horrid flash backs and the disconnected relationship she has with her parents to realise that her issues are running deep. This sounds cliched, but the author has made the revelations quite subtle. Despite knowing its not quite right and vowing to stop- something is driving Mercedes (intended thanks) to agree to another de-flowering night. Is sex a way for her to build up power and independence? Or is it an addictive distraction? Maybe its both. Maybe she doesn’t quite know. But its worth joining her and her classmates on this ‘figuring-stuff-out’ stage.

On the whole, Mercedes is a likeable character. She has a very sensitive nature, despite her harsh reality. What I did notice is that, boys are not represented that well, they seem almost evil. Then again some of the girls seemed quite stupid. If you had a vague interest in Easy A then you would like this. This gets right to the heart of double-standards and all that mumbo-jumbo that young girls always have to deal with. It also addresses the pressure young men face- to have control, to be knowledgeable, to be a man. And if these firm gender types are loosened, then the recipients are dubbed as not normal and basically sub-human, if that’s what a slut or a wimp is. So yes, this book will get your attention, get your adrenaline going, will make your blood simmer for a while.

Thanks to SMP for my review copy xx

Published by Penguin UK (Michael Joseph), September 2015, 416 pages £9.99.

Quick description: Sequel to Me Before You, the most heart-breaking book ever.

Steam?: Not much, plenty of warmth though.

Plot: Lou Clark has lots of questions. Like how it is she’s ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places. Or why the flat she’s owned for a year still doesn’t feel like home. Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago. And will she ever get over the love of her life. What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.

Then, one night, it does.

But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for – or just more questions? Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe. Open it and she risks everything. But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she’s going to keep it, she has to invite them in . . .

Let me first say that is a nice book. It was so good to get back into Lou’s life and revisit the Clarks again! They are such a hilarious bunch and always wrap me up with a warm homey feeling. But the sequel cannot compete with the greatness of Me Before You– how it completely worn my heart out- made me laugh, cry, and left its imprint, like many amazing books. I think After You brings a sense of closure and somehow helps you heal from the raw hurt that the first book left in its wake. Its perfect for fans who want a little bit more of Lou and also a way to imagine that Will returns. It will satisfy your curiosity about the Traynors and introduces you to a whole host of unique characters.

So it basically mops up your book hangover, but it wont wipe and wring it into something new.

After You is not a spin-off, so you definitely need to read the first book! Its generally well written and had me fairly hooked till the end. Its a 3-day max read. I liked how the author found a way for Lou to move on. Like many readers, I imagined my own future for her. I thought she could go travelling, do a fashion course and end up opening her own boutique or something. I guess that would always be my ending for it.

We readers always selfishly create our own world for characters existing parallel to the author’s.

What happens in After You is something I would never have thought, but it really works. And it offers a solution of sort for the Traynors as well. There is romance in this, but its nowhere as near the complex, heart-gushing mess Lou had with Will. There is more family love. We see how Lou is able to patch things up with her parents, makes new friends and attempts to let go. There are also strands of mini stories to keep you entertained.

All in all, definitely worth reading if you are on Lou’s team (which of course you are), but don’t big up your expectations.

Thank you Penguin for the review copy xxx

Published by Bastei Entertainment, April-Nov 2015, £1.49-3.79, 50-250 pages.

Steam?- Oh boy, hold onto your hat.

Ho hoho…  when was my last post? Well I have a good excuse. The fireplace in the Instagram below is a glimpse of my new flat in the city. I will take some more pics once the mayhem clears. What’s it like to move during the Christmas season?- well we don’t have plates, but we have Guitar Hero- pretty much sums it up.

But I bring you tidings in the form of three books! The Colours of Love series is published by a really young ‘Bastei Entertainment’, which branches off as a digital department from the German based ‘Bastei Lubbe’. It focuses on young e-readers. I think it hit the nail with this totally hot new series and I am going to be banging on about them to those unfortunate to stumble across my social feed. I am so pleased I found out about Bastei and about Kathryn Taylor, who kindly agreed to do an interview with me about romance writing. Check it out to hear more about what goes behind her steamy scenes and tips for aspiring authors!

But firstly, what I think:

If you are a fellow blogger and you also saw the book promoted by netgalley- and you also like even a hint of romance- I’d say request request! This book is perfect for cold nights in, travelling (although it might get fairly awkward during certain chapters), and just generally when you want a mind-chill, y’know when you want to take a break from reading Heidegger…

Here are the plots for all three instalments:

Unbound: Grace is young and has led a sheltered life. She hasn’t yet taken much of an interest in men. It’s only while doing an internship in London, where she meets the alluring Jonathan Huntington, that our sleeping beauty is awoken from her slumber. Jonathan is rich, incredibly attractive, and stems from British royalty – but he is a far cry from Prince Charming. He lures Grace ever deeper into his world of sinister passion, and she is sucked further and further into the maelstrom of her own growing desires. But when Jonathan demands she do the unthinkable to prove her love for him, she realizes just how dangerous her feelings for him are.

Uncovered: She’s fallen for him – hook, line, and sinker. Grace knows exactly how dangerous her feelings for Jonathan Huntington are, but her love for him nevertheless grows stronger each day she spends near him. Is he really as indifferent as he seems? Does Jonathan only see her as a willing plaything? When Grace tries to force him into showing his true colors, it leads to disaster …

Unleashed: Like a fairy-tale, it should have been so wonderful: after a year of marriage, Grace Huntington still experiences undreamt-of passionate bliss. But stubborn doubts keep eating away at her. Despite the many happy moments when she feels close to Jonathan, sometimes he seems just as inscrutable as he did at the start. And now she has something to confess, something she knows will put an enormous strain on their relationship.

So yeah it sounds very 50 shady. And when you start off reading it you may, like I did, think, is this a little lame? Young intern at a massive company has an instant connection to a CEO called ‘Huntington’, who by-the-way happens to be a member of the aristocracy… er okay… Even by my standards I was a little skeptical. But I gave it a whirl, nada regrets and you should too. No small plots, only small characters…

Grace’s character really starts to blossom as someone quite sweet, clever, brave and sensitive. I became quite attached to her aspirations, desires and vulnerable thoughts, mostly concerning Jonathan. The two make a good pair. Jonathan starts off as a bit of an enigma, bordering on creepy really. But he really does un-creep in the sequel, that’s when the story really does kick it up a notch. The first book is purely attraction and tension- I mean it’s got the heaviest scenes I’ve read in romance so far… It also had a few darker moments that was a little rough for me. But I think the book overall is tasteful. Kathryn has succeeded building up the characters first, then introduces love second.

Uncovered addresses the relationship, brings out complexities and really lets us into Jonathan life and history. We begin to understand why he appears so distant and brusque. But Grace helps him to open up and resolve issues that have been buried since childhood. You also have to hand it to the author for keeping a relationship exciting for longer than two books. I have read so many sequels where there is too much starting and stopping, and it just gets boring really. This movement was kept to a bare minimum here and the author is very inventive… you’ll see what I mean 😉

I also loved the secondary characters: Annie, Jonathan’s family- very adorable and really brings out the world they all live in.

Unleashed: I would point out that the final book is only 50 pages, so it’s more like a long epilogue- in case you were expecting a big finale. I personally would have preferred another standard size book as well. But mainly because I have become attached to the couple. Unleashed brings some unresolved issues closure and rounds everything up really. A nice little surprise at the end as well!

I cannot wait for Kathryn’s next creation. To sum it up: get this, I can assure you that nothing bad will come of reading this. If you can’t get a review copy, its sooo affordable.

Thanks so much Bastei for my copy!

Happy holidays everyone, may this season bring you joy with your loved ones. Wrap up warm and get ready for more reading in 2016…

Still in the zone? Read my interview with Kathryn where she shares the deets on romance writing.

Published by Peguin (Michael Joseph), 5 Jan 2012, 528 pages, £4.99

Plot: 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.

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.

I saw this book in an office charity sale for NSPCC and thought I’d give it a whirl. I had seen a lot of praise for it from fellow bloggers. I knew there was a sequel hanging around and rumours of a movie in the making… So it sat on my desk as a TBR looking sweet and promising. One day this week my body was aching from screen stiffness so I took this book with me to the loungey part of the office and decided to read for a while. One hour later I couldn’t wait to leave and do my commute. Why should I look forward to a 1 hour and a half journey nicely playing sardines on the public transport system? Because I’d get to read more of this book. Yes, this book would make you look forward to that. Would make your days a little brighter. Would make you forget about your mundane troubles.

I love how Lou and Will are completely different- their class, culture, family, interests, desires. Their worlds collide in with the most compelling, uplifting, fascinating results. The story will make you laugh, cry and ache with heart-break. Will’s life was once full of luxury and activity. He had a high paid job and lived in London. He filled his free time with travelling and dating. Then an accident left him paralyzed from the chest down, unable to even eat without assistance. I mean, can you imagine the hideousness of this deal? The book does go into some dark areas about disability and society.

Anyway, when you strip all the action away, Will really doesn’t have anyone. His girlfriend and his friends all abandoned him. You could argue whether there was much meaning in his life before, if nothing is strong enough to survive? Enter Lou, who has never known much luxury or activity, has never ever left the small town they both grew up in. What a waste you must think. But we soon learn her own secrets for living in comfort.

I love the detail gone into creating the other characters- Will’s troubled upper classes parents and Lou’s boisterous working class family. The class thing is quite key in this book. The attitudes described could be shocking for other readers, but its such a British thing I completely understand. We do have some serious problems.. Will and Lou would not have crossed paths if it had not been for this accident, despite living so close to each other. As they are forced to get along, they start to teach each other about how to live, and what there is to live for.

Published by Panmacmillan July 2, October 22 2015, 336/ 416, £3.59.

Quick description: Contemporary NA, set in an arts college.

Steam?: Way too much for my own good.

Plot: Bad Romeo– The heart wants what it wants . . . and sometimes it wants something bad While performing the greatest love story of all time, they discovered one of their own . . . Cassie Taylor was just another acting student with big dreams at her prestigious performing arts college . . . then she met Ethan Holt. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy on campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing on stage, Cassie and Ethan’s epic romance seemed destined. Until it ended in tragedy when he shattered her heart. Now they’ve made it to Broadway where they’re reunited as romantic leads once again – and their passionate scenes force them they’re forced to confront the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their intense college affair. For Ethan, losing Cassie was his biggest regret – and he’s determined to redeem himself. But for Cassie, even though Ethan was her first and only great love, he hurt her too much to ever be trusted again. The trouble is, working with him again reminds her that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks. And when it comes to love, sometimes it’s the things that aren’t good for us that are the most irresistible.

Broken Juliet- Some loves never let you go . . . Cassie swore she’d never forgive Ethan for breaking her heart when they were in acting school years ago. He was her one great love, and when he refused to love her back, a part of her died forever . . . or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Finally he’s able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago . . . but can she believe him? Has he really changed, and what makes this time different from all his other broken promises? The answer lies somewhere in the past, and now the truth will come to light. Will Cassie rediscover what it’s like to be trusting and open again – the way she was before Ethan? Or is it too late for these star-crossed lovers?

These two books have left me pret-ty exhausted. I would not recommend reading one after the other like I did. Set a two week breather between them I think. I liked the first book better. The writing was fast-paced, addictive and delved into describing some deep emotions. The protagonists suffer from deep insecurities, and the author drew out very honest and raw profiles. Cassie and Ethan materialized as very real and complicated characters. And the problems keep getting deeper and more complicated as we get on. The tension between them was- woah- it was so hot it practically slid of the page. In case you didn’t really gather before, this book is very sexy. Probably too sexy for me. Try reading this packed against everyone else on the tube hah! Awkward..

But I do feel I need to warn anyone who is not used to swearing in books because there’s a lot of that here. For someone a little prude like me, it was a bit of an eye-opener. O.O (my face most of the time). But I enjoyed reading something a little different from my more polite regencies. The other characters, loud, very crass and quite funny, reminded me of those in the movie ‘Fame’… I probably would not have survived this school ;).

I really liked the structure. The chapters alternate between past (broken up) and present (starting off). You see how they are in present day and wonder how they ended up like that, given the previous chapter they were so happily entwined. The two settings start to mix up and get confusing, for example tension start building up again in the present, or the past starts falling apart. I think this was the author’s intention- to convey the fluidity of the lover’s tumultuous affair. You can’t tell one end from the other, if you get my drift.

The author takes tease to a whole new level for me. There were some seriously great bits, but I think it got too frustrating after a while. You really have to throw the reader a bone sometimes. It was fine in the first book, when I was made of more sturdy stuff. But the hope for a satisfying conclusion carried onto the sequel and was stretched quite thin. I’m not sure if it was necessary for a second book and a less patient reader would have trouble waiting for the finale. There was a lot of stopping and starting, which is what got me so exhausted. But anyway, the clever structure held out. It really was the end transforming into the beginning. And overall, it was an enjoyably distracting read.

Thanks Panmacmillan for my review copies xxxx

@leisarayven

Published by St. Martin’s Press, 3rd November 2015, 352 pages, £4.92

Quick description: Regency romance with mystery and espionage.

Steam?: It will fog your glasses

Plot: Daphne Swift has not laid eyes on her devilishly charming husband, Captain Rafferty Cavendish, in quite some time. As a matter of fact, she wants the rogue to annul their brief marriage so that she can marry the reliable and estimable Lord Fitzwell. But the breathtakingly handsome Rafe is not interested in letting Daphne go-at least not without paying his scandalous price…
Rafe prefers to face the dangers of spying alone, but this time he needs his innocent, fiery wife to uncover the information he seeks. He has even agreed to release her from their marriage if she submits completely to his plan. However, Daphne’s alluring combination of courage and curves makes her a dangerous distraction, and it is not long before Rafe is trading subterfuge for seduction in order to prove that Daphne is meant to be his and his alone…

Another regency, SMP are on a roll. Did you enjoy Bella and the Beast by Olivia Drake? This is my first time reading from Valerie Bowman. And its not too shabby at all. Its a good value regency romance. A couple who have married for practical reasons under dangerous circumstances, but find themselves unable to get an annulment. Its a great, classic dilemma and works really well in this regency setting, because of all the rigid rules that become unraveled.

Daphne is back from an adventure, grieving the death of her brother and ready to re-enter elite society. She wants to put the past behind her and marry the most eligible bachelor who will provide her with title, security and stability. Everything has gone according to the system. She has been courted properly, her mother approves and the engagement party organised. Such a safe, sensible plan. What could go wrong? Well her husband showing up unannounced would be an issue. A husband who shares her passion of travel, danger, and freedom. And of course, totally gorgeous. Captain of a ship, awful reputation, dashingly unpredictable- he is everything wrong for her plan to fit into polite society. To top it all off, he had once rejected her affections by claiming she was like a sister to him. So Daphne has to battle; total cringe, anger, and undeniable attraction when he arrives. And he has the infuriating audacity to refuse an annulment! But does she actually want one…?

When news arrives of the spies that killed her brother, the ‘couple’ are thrown into another dangerous mission. They need each other; Daphne has the skill, Rafe has the experience. And once they realize that, would it be too late? This book has plenty of mystery and toe-curling scenes to dig in. My only issue is that, it was quite heavy on the espionage details when I would have preferred more tension built between the characters.

@ValerieGBowman

Thank you Amy Goppert from @SMPRomance

Published by Simon & Schuster, 12th May 2015, 320 pages, £6.99

Quick description: YA romance thriller set in New York City.

Steam?: rising off the page, but nothing explicit.

Plot: When seventeen-year-old Liva came to New York City, all she wanted was to escape the painful memories of her past and finally find a fresh start. Her hopes for a new future were dashed the moment she became the sole witness to a brutal murder. When she’s taken into police custody—supposedly for her own protection—she realizes something isn’t right, but it’s too late. Soon, bullets start flying, and Liva realizes that she is not just a witness, but the target—and she needs to escape before it’s too late.

With the help of a sexy car thief that she met at the station, Liva manages to get away from the massacre unharmed, but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit the two killers who will stop at nothing to find them. Liva and Jay are living on the edge, but when you’re on the edge, there’s a long way to fall.

This was SO GOOD! Anything Sarah Alderson writes now I think of as big lump of chocolate pudding to tuck into after a long slog in the office. Even though this was published ages ago, I still think this is worth publicizing. I got this as a giveaway after my interview with the amazing author about writing romance, to sum it up- have more sex… So thank you so much!! I have always focused on her NA books and thought that her YA may be too young for me. Hah! It really wasn’t. There was nothing graphic, but you can slice up the sexual tension, scoop it up even.

Ok, firstly, if you liked Conspiracy Girl you will definitely like this. Both are quite similar, a bold but confused heroine getting chased by a bunch of bad guys who hate her dad. To top it up, there seems to be another group of people after her. I mean, whats going on?? And these are seriously scary hitmen. The action and mystery pretty much starts from the first page and does not stop. The adrenaline flows to the end. What’s great is that its not predictable. There is a plot twist at the end, but the concluding page is a little abrupt.

I think I preferred Conspiracy Girl, purely because I loved the double POV. I would have loved to get more of Jay’s mind coming through. Despite being a complete stranger, he is the only person that Liva can depend on, and never mind him being a potential murderer. He helps her escape when police station gets attacked and when the chase continues. And yes he is pretty smoking. Whilst being scared, exhausted and confused by the chase, Liva has to battle her uncontrollable (get it?) attraction to Jay. The feelings mutual. They have 24 hours to stay alive, can they keep their hands off each other?

Get it, read, and thank me later.

Thanks again Sarah for the copy xxx

Published by St.Martin’s Press, 3rd Nov 2015, 320 pages, £3.99

Quick description: Sweet, seasonal romance.

Steam?: moderate

Plot: Daniel Garrett is no stranger to heartache or tragedy. Once a successful detective, his world fell apart with his son’s murder and his wife’s suicide. Leaving the police force, Daniel devotes his life to finding missing children, but when a case goes sour on the anniversary of his personal tragedy, he returns to Eternity Springs hoping for some of the town’s fabled healing.

Shannon O’Toole isn’t looking for romance. After her fiancé’s death, she closed off her heart. But she can’t deny the spark between her and a sexy stranger at a friend’s wedding. Shannon has her own secrets and has no place in her life for a private detective, even one who moves her as much as Daniel. But when the pair are thrown together on a case, the magic of Eternity Springs just might give them a second chance.

This was my first time reading an ‘Eternity Springs’ book, but I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything. It was on the whole a chilled out book, perfect for cosy autumn afternoons. Its never too early for a seasonal treat! As you can gather from the plot, it does have quite a punchy beginning that did shock me a little. This might deter any body who is a little squeamish to violence. The effect leaves you aching with sympathy for Daniel, wondering how on earth is he going to recover? Enter, Shannon and there, instant connection. Its all quite predictable, but that’s why we read romances right?

The couple are of a good standard; vivacious, hard-working woman meets kind-hearted, rugged detective. The two have a very rocky relationship and I’m not sure if there was enough built up tension, you know how I’m on the steam team. But their romance is one that really does restore your faith in the world. Its all very heart-warming for the soul. As Daniel begins to heal, little surprises from his past crop up and resolve themselves. Sweet stuff going on.

Eternity Springs is a typical American small town. The cuteness of it is why I love reading these books and my weakness for Channel 5 daytime movies. I love fantasizing what it would be like to live in these quaint towns where everybody is nice and has each other’s back.

However, despite all this there is a thriller streak. There is plenty of mystery to keep the reader curious to the end. As Daniel’s latest case starts to complicate, revelations about Shannon’s life starts to spill out, even more shocking that what Daniel had to endure. All is not what is seems and she may not be who is says she is…

Wrap up warm and read!

@EmilyMarchBooks

Many thanks to Amy Goppert from SMP for my review copy xxx