Book Review: Love Heart Lane by Christie Barlow

Synopsis:

Welcome to Love Heart Lane…

When Flick Simons returns to the cosy village of Heartcross she only expected to stay for a few days. The white-washed cottages of Love Heart Lane might be her home, but the place holds too many painful memories, and of one man in particular – Fergus Campbell.

When a winter storm sweeps in, the only bridge connecting the village to the main land is swept away. As the villagers pull together, Flick finds herself welcomed back by the friends she once left behind. And as the snow begins to melt, maybe there is a chance that Fergus’s heart will thaw too…

My Review:

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for allowing me to read and review this wonderful story by the amazing Christie Barlow.  Ahhhh my squishy heart is all full of love for this book right now!  

The book cover is a welcome delight to gaze at during these cold winter months! I am a huge fan of Christie's books and without even reading the synopsis I just knew straight away I was in for a treat.

The story features Flick who after hearing some sad news decides it's time to return to her home village of Heartcross situated in the Scottish Highlands.  The journey to Heartcross for Flick is an awful one through a winter storm and waiting on the other side of the bridge to the village are painful memories that Flick would rather not face especially one man in particular, Fergus Campbell.

As a reader we are not aware of Flick's past and the pain that comes with visiting Heartcross but it soon becomes clear and it just made me warm to Flick so much more.  I really liked the character of Fergus too, a quiet and mysterious character but you could totally tell that behind the barriers he puts up deep down there is a soft, caring and loveable side to him.

After a destructing winter storm which passes through the village causing chaos and leaving behind a broken swept away bridge that connects the village to the main land.  The villagers have to work together to ration food and keep morale up while they wait for help in the form of a temporary bridge to be constructed.

Flick uses this distraction to help her settle back into village life making new friends and mending past friendships that she left behind when she moved to London.  When the snow disappears and it's time for Flick to leave her homely village again, does she want to and will she?

I absolutely adore this story, I love Christie's fabulous writing and how she can make you feel so involved in village life and have you feeling like have known the characters forever.
I enjoyed all the little twists and heart warming moments.

This is most definitely one of those books that you rush through to get to the end and before you know it you are there but you haven't mentally prepared yourself for the story to end and leave the village and all the lovely people there but it's ok because we can return to Heartcross real soon in Christie's next instalment 'Foxglove Farm' YAY! I am counting down the days for this and June cannot come quick enough!

  

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Book Review: Love Punked by Nia Lucas

Synopsis:

When her life is irrevocably altered by a post-Rave tryst on her mother's floral patio recliner, Erin Roberts’ long-standing relationship with Humiliation takes her down a path that's not so much 'less well trodden', more 'perilous descent down sheer cliffs'.

Armed with a fierce devotion to her best friend and the unrequited love for the boy she might have accidentally married at age seven, when Erin falls pregnant at sixteen, life veers off at a most unexpected tangent.

Her journey to adulthood is far from ordinary as Erin learns that protecting the hearts of those most precious to you isn't balm enough when your Love Punked heart is as sore as your freshly tattooed arse.

Whilst raising football prodigies and trying not to get stuck in lifts with Social Work clients who hate her, Erin discovers that sometimes you have to circumnavigate the globe to find the very thing that was there all along.

My Review:

I was very fortunate to be asked by Nia Lucas to read and review 'Love Punked'.  

Slightly different to my usual reads, however after reading the synopsis I was intrigued and wanted to read more!

Blimey! I was gripped! Constantly trying to fit in a few pages where I could...  This read is highly addictive, down to earth and very funny and although it is based on a very serious subject of Teen pregnancy the humour and one liners Nia brings to the story is simply faultless.  Lets just say I cannot look at an Argos patio recliner in the same way! Ha!

I warmed to Erin immediately, loyal, trustworthy, dependable.  Erin is the type of friend that every girl should have.  I loved reading the story from her point of view, a young sixteen year old growing into an independent young lady and mother.  I also loved the closeness she had with her family and the support she received from them was heart warming.

Going back to the fantastic writing of Nia, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions, some pages would have me howling in laughter but at other times the story would turn a 360 and have me nearly in tears.  Loved also the references to the 90's they made me chuckle and cringe at the same time! Some of the outfit choices! What was the 90's thinking! Ha!

I remember feeling desperate by the end of the book wanting to get through the pages to find out how it ended and what lay ahead for Erin.  I wasn't disappointed though, I absolutely loved the ending and it left me with a huge smile on my face.  I really hope Nia brings out a follow up to Erin and the whole gang, I still think about the characters and often wonder what they are up to now. 

Thank you Nia for asking me to read your wonderful book I very much enjoyed it!

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Book Review: The Middle-Aged Virgin by Olivia Spring

Synopsis:
Sophia Huntingdon seems to have it all: a high-flying job running London’s coolest beauty PR agency, a lovely boyfriend and a dressing room filled with Louboutins.

But when tragedy strikes, Sophia realises that rather than living the dream, she’s actually an unhappy workaholic in a monotonous relationship, with zero personal life. Her lack of activity in the bedroom is so apparent that her best friend declares her a MARGIN, or Middle-Aged Virgin—a term used for adults who have experienced a drought so long that they can’t remember the last time they had sex.

Determined to transform her life whilst she’s still young enough to enjoy it, Sophia hatches a plan to work less, live more and embark on exciting adventures, including rediscovering the electrifying passion she’s been craving.

But after ending her fifteen-year relationship, how will Sophia, a self-confessed control freak handle navigating the unpredictable world of online dating?

If she does meet someone new, will she even remember what to do? And as an independent career woman, how much is Sophia really prepared to sacrifice for love?

My Review:
Firstly a huge thank you goes to Olivia Spring for reaching out and asking me to read and review her debut novel 'The Middle-Aged Virgin' 

The synopsis sounded right up my street, the book cover with it's happy yellow is very eye catching and definitely a book I would have picked up myself in the book shop.

The book is centred around Sophia Huntingdon, after hearing some sad news she decides that her life needs a makeover and some drastic changes need to happen.  Sophia decides to create an action plan of things to change and do over the next year before she hits the big 4 0!  One of the biggest changes was ending her fifteen year relationship with Rich who Sophia decides is not 'The One'. 

We then follow Sophia on her new adventure to find love, passion and happiness.  Along the way there are lots of highs, lows, yummy food, Italian men and lots of OMG moments...

The story throughout was good, I wasn't able to guess the ending and due to a few twists near to the end it kept me guessing right up to the last page however I must admit that I struggled to warm to Sophia.  I found her to be quite shallow and at times selfish, I found myself getting frustrated with some of the choices she makes and at times wanting to jump in the book and give her a slap!  I found it hard to relate to her, but I did find her personality change throughout the book and the Sophia we meet at the start is not the Sophia we leave by the end.

Some of my favourite scenes from the book were between Sophia and her two closest friends Roxy and Bella.  The friendship circle was very true to life and reminded me of my own group of friends.  True friends who might not agree with everything you say or do but support you throughout the decisions you make.  Sophia, Roxy and Bella meet on a regular basis and over food and drinks they put the world to rights and discuss everything... and I mean everything.  From careers to men to fashion to lady gardens! Yes! I mean everything! LOL

Overall the storyline was good and I would be intrigued to read a follow up on Sophia and what happened next!

I think Olivia Spring is an author to watch, with the right amount of comedy, romance and friendship I will be looking forward to her next read! 

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Book Review: It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane

Synopsis:

Delia Moss isn’t quite sure where she went wrong.

When she proposed and discovered her boyfriend was sleeping with someone else – she thought it was her fault.

When she realised life would never be the same again – she thought it was her fault.

And when he wanted her back like nothing had changed – Delia started to wonder if perhaps she was not to blame…

From Newcastle to London and back again, with dodgy jobs, eccentric bosses and annoyingly handsome journalists thrown in, Delia must find out where her old self went – and if she can ever get her back.

My Review:

I have only read a couple of books by Mhairi McFarlan which I really enjoyed so I have been really looking forward to starting this one!

You meet Delia Moss who decides to propose to her boyfriend Paul, I got the feeling that Paul wasn't as happy as Delia to be engaged and it soon becomes clear in the pub when Delia receives a text message from Paul meant for another woman. From that moment I was hooked and quite often stayed up to the early hours just to find out what Delia was going to do next.

I really felt for Delia, she felt like Paul cheating was somehow her fault, I loved that she decides to take charge and leaves Newcastle to start a fresh in London and live with her best friend Emma. I wasn't keen however on her new job and her new boss Kurt, I didn't trust him at all, but I could understand why Delia wanted to stick at the job and not give up. 

I really liked Adam the journalist Delia meets, I enjoyed the banter between the two of them especially how Adam liked to wind Delia up, however you could tell throughout that Adam did care for Delia.

I really liked the relationship between Delia and her brother Ralph, Mhairi wrote some lovely moments between them, Ralph was described as a bit of a loner, still living with his parents hiding out in his bedroom playing computer games. It was Ralph who gave Delia the courage to bring back her alter ego 'The Fox' which was a comic that Delia created when she was younger.

At some points I thought I knew where the story was going but the story took a few different twists and turns which kept me guessing right until the end. Don't be put off by the size of the book, over 500 pages might seem a little daunting but I never got bored, it's packed with so many ups and downs and had me laughing out loud. The book might be over but I am still thinking about the characters and wondering what they are up to!

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