Monday 30 June 2014

Cupid's Way - by Joanne Phillips


Original Cover
My own copy
 The blurb:

When Evie Stone’ s grandparents enlist her help to save their home in Cupid’s Way, Evie is happy to oblige. On the cusp of her thirties, and still disappointingly single, Evie’s so-called dream job with a firm of architects has been driving her crazy for months. What she needs, even more than a new man, is a challenge.

But saving Cupid’s Way won’t be easy. A perfectly preserved Victorian terrace, surrounded by modern estates and retail parks, the street is a proud oasis of quirky characters, cobbled pathways and communal gardens. Unfortunately, it also sits on prime development land worth millions.

Dynamite Construction have the deal in the bag, and soon the residents of Cupid’s Way will be forced to sell up and ship out CEO Michael Andrews, charismatic and super-successful, has certainly never let sentimentality get in the way of business. At least, he hadn’t until he met Evie Stone.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Evie is not really happy with her job and her love life sucks. She has to speak at a conference and that’s where she meets lovely Michael. The two of them get along really well and there is a connection between them from the beginning. She even finds herself telling him something about her job nobody knows.

When he suddenly has to leave, she is confused, but she’ll found out soon enough. Evie goes to Bristol to help her grandparent’s safe Cupid’s Way, their cute little street. And who is their opponent? – Yes, I think you can guess that one.
Evie couldn’t believe her eyes when Michael was there, Michael Andrews CEO of Dynamite Construction ready to destroy a street and the life of it’s residents. That’s why he didn’t say a thing…

After that the story unfortunately got a little boring for me without any big actions or drama. Of course there was the tension between Evie and Michael and the residents trying to find a solution, something was missing for me though.

Towards the end that changed again and I was fully brought back into this story. The residents had a great idea for saving their street. Such a cute, adorable and sweet way and they all just said what Cupid’s Way means to them. Evie’s grandmother made me cry… and Evie as well. What that they all go and see Michael and that’s where Evie lets out all of her emotions and is finally true and honest about everything. And Michael? Well, I won’t tell you, but let’s just say, he isn’t the way Evie described him in the story, he has a big heart is full of surprises.

The residents of Cupid’s Way were sweet and they all had they’re own story to tell, which was great. A great story based on a wonderful idea, but the last spark was missing. It’s still a very good 3.5 coffee rating and a catchy little story.

Rating:


My passible cast:

Evie: Emily Blunt














Michael: Josh Henderson














About the author:

Joanne Phillips lives in rural Shropshire with her husband and young daughter. She’s the author of romantic comedies Can’t Live Without and The Family Trap, and the Flora Lively series of contemporary mysteries. Can’t Live Without was an Amazon top 100 bestseller in 2012 and her books regularly appear on category bestseller lists. Before becoming a writer, Joanne had jobs as diverse as hairdresser, air hostess and librarian, but now divides her time between writing and finding creative ways to avoid housework. She’s a fan of super-dark chocolate, iced coffee and Masterchef. Joanne blogs about writing and publishing at www.writersjourney.co.uk









Sunday 29 June 2014

One Hundred Proposals - by Holly Martin

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My own copy
Original Cover















The blurb:

‘Is there really such a thing as a perfect proposal?
Over the next hundred days I intend to find out. I will find one hundred ways to propose to our Chief Proposer Suzie McKenzie and post the results here for your enjoyment. One thing’s for sure, not one of my proposals will be on top of the Eiffel Tower with a dozen red roses.’

Best friends Suzie and Harry are partners in romance. That is, they run the.PerfectProposal.com, coming to the aid of would-be grooms to create the ultimate marriage proposal.

But when Harry decides to catapult the business into the big leagues with a PR stunt all Suzie can see is a hundred days of heartbreak stretching ahead of her. But however exotic the location, or breath-takingly romantic the setting, Suzie has to keep remembering that ‘Marry Me?’ is the one question she can’t say yes to.

This business proposal should come with one hundred broken heart warnings...
One hundred proposals, one hundred chances to say yes.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

First of all I’d like to Holly for sending me her book, I was so happy when I had it in my inbox, so thank you lovely lady, xxx.

I don’t really know where to start, because I have so many feelings and thoughts about this book.

As the title already say we will witness a lot of proposals ;).
The story follows Suzie and her wedding proposal business. She’s not in the best lace, because her brother died a few months ago, she is happy to have Harry by her side. Harry the best friend she could ever wish for, but she wants him to be more, she has been in love with him for a while, but she is convinced that he doesn’t feel the same, since he’s sleeping around with different women all the time.

Harry and Suzie also work together and that’s where Harry comes up with this crazy idea of proposing to Suzie every day, for 100 day, to find the perfect proposal for her. In a blog he talks about these experiences and her reactions.
Suzie is not really happy with all this, how can she survive proposal, which mean nothing to him and break her heart every time.

A magazine loves their idea and sends them on a world trip for ninety days and Harry blogging about the proposals. They travel to beautiful places, which was awesome to read about and I just loved how Harry prepared every single proposal with so much heart and detail. One could feel his love for Suzie through every single one of them, only Suzie doesn’t see it.

He creates a secret blog to talk about his feelings and we get to know him much better through that. It was great to read about his feelings as well. Holly did this in a beautiful and so effective way. We know that Harry only stayed in England, because of the woman he loves. Well, who is she?

Suzie’s reactions to his behaviour always end up with jealousy and eventually they have a big fight. I got really angry with both of them at one point, because they were stubborn and didn’t want to tell “their best friend” who they really feel. I just wanted them to be together and have the happiness they deserve, but that was a hard journey to go at.

Next to Harry, Suzie also has to get used to the fact that her sister-in-law fell in love with another guy, even worse her cousin Badger. Harry was there for her through all of that and I just love that he was so supportive, protective, caring and sweet.
And a man doing what Harry does for Suzie with the proposal is just amazing and so romantic. I really fell in love with him.  BOOK BOYFREIND!!!!

This book is full of love, friendship, small and big gestures, feelings and real emotions. Holly created a MASTERPIECE here, I couldn’t put this book down. I was sobbing in the end, I loved it so much and I just didn’t want it to end, I wasn’t ready to leave this beautiful and wonderful story.
Is it really about the proposal?! The way the proposal is or is also other facts important. Suzie is about to find out. It took her a long time to realise it…

This books is incredibly beautiful, sweet, adorable, amazing, gripping… There are not enough words to describe this novel. Holly’s writing is perfection, she created authentic scenes with a great storyline, real characters and so much heart. I loved that Suzie was telling her story, but we got to read about Harry’s side as well, in a very special way. HOLLY MARTIN you’re an absolute GENIUS!!! 

Rating: 








My possible cast:

Suzie: Jolina Fust


















Harry: Ben Barnes
























Holly on Twitter: @hollymartin00

Buy Links

Bio

Holly has been writing for five years, mainly chick-lit novels. Changing Casanova and The Chainsaw Masquerade were shortlisted for the Festival of Romance New Talent Award 2012. Her short story won the Belinda Jones Travel Club short story competition last year and was published in the first Sunlounger anthology. Her fantasy adventure young-adult book, The Sentinel, was published in October and hit three different bestsellers lists within twenty four hours. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 and her novel The Guestbook was released on Valentine’s Day 2014. Her short story Beneath The Bay Bridge is in this year’s Sunlounger 2 anthology




Saturday 28 June 2014

Book Blogger Tag

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A big, big thanks to Bookabulary for tagging me. Here we go.



What are your top three book hates?

Creased spines, reading the ending before finishing the book (that spoils the whole thing), people talking openly about the ending of a book (I’d like to read it myself and not know about the ending yet).
Describe your perfect reading spot.
My bed. It’s comfy and I have my piece and quiet to read. In summer I also love to read in the garden or at the beach.
Tell us three book confessions.
-       I mark pages in the book to go back fort hem when I’m writing the review. It makes it easier form e to cast the characters afterwards, sometimes I don’t need it, because the characters are still so alive in my head, but sometimes... I try to us post-ist to do that, but I don’t have them with me all the time, so I bend the pages... Bad I know...
-       I don’t like reading more than one book at the time. I’d really like to focus on the story. Exeptions are a collection of short story books...
-       When I’m reading I need silence around me. I don’t like people trying to talkt o me when I’m reading are somebody next to me reading a book as well, but doing it aloud...
When was the last time you cried while reading a book?
It was when I was reading Me Without You by Kelly Rimmer. It’s such a beautiful, but also sad story.
What is your favorite snack while you're reading?
It’s not a snack, but I drink a lot of coffee when I’m reading and sometimes combined with cookies or chocolate.
 Name three books you would recommend to everyone.
Oh only three?! Ok I’ll try...
-       Connectivity by Aven Ellis: It’s an amazing book with awesome characters and the writing is just brilliant! The feelings and emotions of the main character really come through.
-       Chasing Daisy by Paige Toon: I’m a huge Paige Toon fan and I love all of her books, but this one is my favourite. It’s fun, dramatic, sad,entertaining....
-       One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin: this book is perfection, so sweet, adorable, gripping, romantic and about real love.
Show us a picture of your favorite bookshelf on your bookcase.
Oh well, my bookshelf is actually to small right now, I don’t really now where to put all my books and there is not really a favourite part o fit, so here is the whole thing (sorry for the mess, there is no structure at all ;)... )



Write how much books mean to you in just three words.

Uniquely life-changing magic!

What is your biggest reading secret?

Oh really? I already made three confessions, didn’t I? Ok then, let me think... I’m a sucker for happy endings, I just love it when books have a joyful and sweet ending. Of course I also read books with different endings and I got used to it now, but in the beginning it was hard and I think it also had influence on my rating.

Tagging:

Maryline @ M's Bookshelf
Sophie @ Reviewed the Book