The Boy In Her Dreams- Laekan Zea Kemp

Why Did I Buy This Book?

Could you even imagine never knowing if Harry kills Voldemort or Bella ends up with Edward? Quite simply I can’t leave a good series unfinished.  After spending so much time getting emotionally invested in the characters it seems a waste to leave them teetering on their cliff-hanger without knowing how they end up.

Synopsis

After waking Roman from his coma Bryn faces the agonising truth that he doesn’t remember anything from the dream life they lived together.  She decides to travel to German to under go experimental treatments to finally turn her back to normal.  On waking from his coma Roman realises he has no feeling in his legs and not wanting to subject Bryn to a life looking after him he lies to her to drive her away.  He remembers every moment of their time together and their separation is the spark he needs to push himself to get his mobility back.  Once they are separated both discover a terrible secret, that Roman is Bryn’s true protector and without him the shadows that are increasingly present in her dreams will kill her.  Roman must discover his hidden magical talents in order to fulfil this role and protect the person he loves most.

The Verdict

After the first being so promising, this book was an utter disappointment.  The beginning starts off strong, mirroring the central storyline of the first in the series of the connection between Bryn and Roman and the idea that their dream world might not be real to both of them.  From there the book descended into utter ridiculousness and confusion.  A huge number of new characters are suddenly added which are hard to keep track of and in the end when you are unsure of whose side everyone is on. It’s almost hard to care when you can’t remember who the person is in the first place.  The book lurches from one dramatic moment to the next and I found it very difficult to keep track of what was actually happening, was it happening in reality or the dream world or even both?  To give the book some credit, I do think the premise that Bryn can control time and that Roman is her protector is a great idea however the author over complicates the whole thing doing far more harm than good.  For anyone thinking of reading the series I would advise you to start at number one, enjoy that and then stop there because its all downhill.

The Girl In Between- Laekan Zea Kemp

Why Did I Buy This Book? 

I am a complete sucker for a fantasy novel, I don’t think I have ever read about a Vampire, Werwolf or whatever other kind of super natural being you can think of that I didn’t enjoy.  Whether it be Edward and Bella or Jace and Clary or my personal favourites, Ron and Hermione, there is nothing that I love more than a supernatural love story.  I have been looking endlessly for a new series to sink my teeth into (pun intended) and ‘The Girl in Between’ seemed like something that is both a little different and exactly what I have been searching for.

Synopsis

While most of us would love a few weeks of uninterrupted sleep, Bryn has suffered from a rare sleep disorder her whole life which has constantly prevented her from truly connecting with people outside of her dream world.  When Bryn falls into one of her coma states she exists alone in a dream state made of her own memories, however when a handsome stranger with no memory of who he is washes up on the shore of her dream state everything changes. Bryn vows to find who he really is in reality and in doing this she finds out his dark past. During this time a darkness has found its way into the dream world which will eventually consume Bryn and force her away from her new found love.

The Verdict

I really enjoyed this book.  It had the perfect mix of reality, supernatural, romance and adventure.  The idea of meeting the ‘man of your dreams’ in your dreams was really unique and interesting to me.  The description of the dream world is incredibly vivid which really helps distinguish it from reality.  There is a slight love triangle type situation which is always interesting in supernatural tales.  I actually liked how the more supernatural elements came into the story quite subtly which almost makes it more real and believable. If you are a fan of series like Twilight and Mortal Instruments I would definitely give this a go.  I wouldn’t go as far as to put them in quite the same league but it’s certainly a good imitation.

Doesn’t Everyone Have A Secret?- Sue Shepherd

Why Did I Buy This Book? 

This is a classic example of don’t always trust the Amazon best seller list.  So many times when I am uninspired with what to read or looking for something completely new I will turn to the Amazon best seller list.  By default I assume that popular books are high quality and interesting to read.  I do a bit more digging and read the blurb, once again it seems interesting and the buy now button is clicked.  However I have often come to find that many of the books that make it onto the best seller list are poorly written.  Part of being an avid reader is experiencing the peaks and troughs of what books you choose.  I always try to remind myself to persevere because for every rubbishy book you pick up there will always be one coming along that you just can’t put down.

Synopsis

Mother of two Steph Stubbs, finds herself uncontrollably attracted to the new school principle and seriously contemplating an affair.  Reverend Mike is being blackmailed by a mystery man threatening to reveal his illegitimate sister to his family.  Penny Littleton’s OCD is getting out of control and in the way of her new job.  But how do these people make it through their day to day lives without ruining everything? Well, that is the job of the Angels who are assigned to watch over them everyday and ‘suggest’ they make some better decisions.  As the three people’s lives start to spiral out of control, the angles must step in and help them connect in order to overcome all their problems.

The Verdict

I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped I would.  From the blurb it seemed like this book would be full of juicy secrets and crazy antics however it wasn’t half as salacious as it was made out to be.  Throughout the book it is very hard to tell where the story is going and some of the events that occur seem completely ridiculous and unnecessary.  Probably my biggest issue with this book is that from the offset they really don’t explain anything about the ‘Angels’.  When they are first brought into the story it’s quite difficult to get a sense of if these are ‘real Angels’ or something different.  Considering this is such an unusual part of the story it is very much just glazed over and you get so little information.  I wouldn’t recommend this book as I didn’t find it interesting enough to keep me reading.

Sin Tropez- Aita Ighodaro

Why Did I Buy This Book? 

For the past couple of years my family has spent there summers sunning themselves and drinking copious amounts of Minuty wine in St Tropez.  Last year was the first time I had been able to join them for the summer and… let’s just say it was an experience to never forget.  St Topez is the epitome of luxury where ever you look, from the hundreds of million pound yachts that line themselves up along Pamplona beach, to the parade of Louis Vuitton handbags.  Unfortunately this year my work commitments have inhibited by availability to spend a weekend dancing on tables at Moorea Plage  but that doesn’t mean I can’t indulge myself with a book all about the debauchery that goes on there.

Synopsis

A summer in St Tropez marks the kick off to the extravagant lifestyle of Abena and Tara, Oxford grads who are trying to maintain their high class, fast paced lifestyle on a shoe string.  They are constantly surrounded by the wrong men and the wrong influences but all in the name of a good time. Abena experiences heartbreak, leading her to get involved with a married man and Tara finds herself spiralling out of control abusing drugs and overspending.  Natalya is a struggling model who relies only on her looks in order to bag herself a billionaire and give her the financial security she needs. But when the man of her dreams turns out to be fiercely over controlling Natalya finds the push she needs to get her career off the ground and learn to depend on herself for a change.

The Verdict

Well, for a book that’s entitled ‘Sin Tropez’ there was a distinct lack of St Tropez in it.  That’s not to say it wasn’t mentioned or a part of the book at all but it certainly wasn’t the main feature.  Most of the book is set in London with only brief interludes to France at all.  I was looking forward to mentions of some of my favourite places but they were barely mentioned. I didn’t hate this book but I couldn’t go as far as to say that I loved it either, it was very much a bit of a non-entity.  There was plenty going on, the characters were interesting and there was a definitely theme of luxury and debauchery all the way through.  However for most of the book I had no idea where the storyline was going, it seemed just to wander where ever the author fancied at that time.  Also there were quite a few characters that were completely superfluous to the story but seemed to feature heavily for no apparent reason.  Having so many different characters complicated the story slightly which was completely unnecessary.  In all, it wasn’t good, but it wasn’t bad.

Manhattan- Ronni Cooper

Why Did I Buy This Book?

When I started this blog my overall goal was simply to share my thoughts and experiences reading the books I loved with other people, essentially my own virtual book club that anyone is welcome to join.  However reading back my last few posts I have noticed a tendency to apologise for reading books that are anything less than high brow.  Reading is something that I do for pleasure and whether you are reading a literary classic or something recommended to you in the back of Heat magazine, if you enjoy it then that is all that’s important.  Love me or hate me for it I am an unashamed lover of a good trashy novel that I can use as pure escapism from my 9-5 job.  My obsession with New York and everything it has to offer still hasn’t subsided yet so I picked up another Kindle read to feed the addiction.

Synopsis

Raine, Mei-Lin and Stevie, three women from three very different lives who are brought together for better or for worse by the crazy world of the Manhattan club scene and its sadistic top dog Jason Tang.  Raine is looking for revenge after the love of her life is murdered by Tang in cold blood, Mei-Lin has endured years of punishment as his personal sex slave entertaining the clubs drunken guests and lead singer of the world’s hottest female rock band Stevie is haunted by a video taken of her in the club that could ruin her life.  Mei-lin and Raine finally seize the opportunity to take Tang down and start a new life running New York’s hottest club without the drugs and violence with the help of Stevie’s star power. Despite knowing that Tang is locked away in a prison cell in Beijing the girls live in constant fear of the day he comes back to get revenge on them.

The Verdict

This is truly one of the most exciting books I have read in quite a while. It is absolutely choc full of drama, violence, sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.  While it is certainly not for the faint hearted it has a well developed storyline and any overtly controversial parts are absolutely justified and not just cheap shock tactics.  All three female characters are well developed and you end up feeling a personal connection to each one of them for very different reasons.  Despite each character having their own individual story and there being a constant progression through many years the storyline is easy to follow and you don’t end up completely confused.  I have very very little to criticise about this book but if I was going to be pedantic then I would perhaps say that while it is clear why Raine and Mei-lin end up teaming up, including Stevie is slightly more of a stretch as she isn’t as connected to Jason Tang directly to make her such a willing member of the threesome. In all this is a great read for anyone looking for a bit of glamour and some thrills.

His Other Life- Beth Thomas

Why Did I Buy This Book?

After reading a few shall we say ‘lighter’ books the past couple of weeks I wanted to read something with a little more bite.  I read the blurb’s of quite a few books and this one really seemed to grip me. Sometimes I find that on Amazon that you really can’t tell the quality of a book by the blurb anymore but I was prepared to take a risk.  A missing husband, a hunky police officer, a possible murder mystery… it was all up my street!

Synopsis

Gracie thinks she has found the perfect husband in Adam but there is one problem… she barely knows anything about him.  When Adam goes missing right after they receive a mysterious phone message Gracie has no time to grieve and every opportunity to uncover his secrets.  Gracie is led on a wild goose chase alongside her Police Officer best friends younger brother who just happens to have grown up into a bit of a hunk.  Finally she will discover what she has perhaps been denying all along and find the real love that she has been craving so much along the way.

The Verdict

This book was a real disappointment. From the blurb this book was completely set up to be a thriller.  The basic storyline could have lent itself so well to being chock full of interesting twists and turns that would have kept the reader gripped.  However this book was completely flat and slow.  Pretty much nothing of real interest happens throughout the whole book, you have absolutely no clue where the story is headed right up until the very end.  Then everything is just rounded up and answered in about 30 pages with minimal explanation or real conclusion.  Maybe I expect too much but a mystery or thriller needs to have what is says on the tin and this book had neither mystery not thrills.  It’s only redeeming feature was that the characters of Gracie and Policeman Matt are pretty loveable, their growing relationship is a nice aspect to the story but it tended to be the main focus rather than the main matter of her having a missing husband.

White Girl Problems- Babe Walker

Why Did I Buy This Book? 

This is a no judgement zone here.  I have in fact been following and sometimes even relating to the ridiculousness that is the one and only Babe Walker on Twitter and Instagram for years but never got round to reading her coveted book. I am a total instagram junkie, if there is someone famous on there I am following them. I assumed that the book would follow the same crazy and hilarious lines as her social media platforms so would be a good fun read while I am stuck in exam studying hell.

Synopsis

After a string of failed relationships, college majors, job opportunities and an over $200,000 shopping meltdown at Barney’s Babe Walker, daughter of a highly successful entertainment lawyer, checks herself into rehab to fight her shopping addiction.  Along the way she decides to chronicle her life and daily struggles which include never being chic enough, thin enough or drunk enough.  Babe goes from one disaster to another pretty much destroying everything in her wake with only her faithful Jamaican maid Mabinty by her side.  But when she accidentally meets her long lost mother during her stint in rehab Babe finally decides that she might need to look at her problems a little more seriously.

The Verdict

Say what you will but this book is utterly hilarious.  I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it in less than a day (although it’s not particularly long or challenging so I’m not sure that is much of an achievement.) It takes ridiculous, absurd and narcissistic to a whole new level which will have you chuckling away to yourself.  Maybe this is just me and I should think about some therapy myself but there are definitely moments that I can relate to in terms of my own mild shopping addiction and permanent struggles to find low calories food that I actually want to eat. So maybe, just maybe, this is a good book for putting things into perspective a little bit.  I feel like at some point in your life if you have an interest in fashion and the celebrity world every girl (or boy for that matter) should read this book just for shits and giggles.

Hedge Fund Wives- Tatiana Boncompagni

Why Did I Buy This Book?

In my new life as a sexy singleton I have had a lot more time on my hands which has therefore involved a lot of binge watching  Gossip Girl and Sex in the City.  Recently everything has seemed to involve the Big Apple, including an impending trip, so my reading preferences followed suit.  I wanted something mind numbingly indulgent with plenty of big brand name dropping to go with it and this little number promised all the shopping, sex and scandal I was looking for.

Synopsis

Marcy Emerson and her Hedge Fund Husband John have recently moved to NYC and are looking to join the high society big leagues.  Marcy struggles to fit in with the high expectations and even higher bank balances of her new found friends.  While her marriage is by no means perfect Marcy is taken completely off guard when she finds her dutiful husband in bed with one of the more cut throat Hedge Fund Wives.  With a divorce on the horizon Marcy realises that her life isn’t over and that she can make her own way in the Big Apple.

The Verdict

While this will never be a work of literary genius this is a highly enjoyable book.  Think Gossip Girl but 10 years on and even more debauchery if that is even possible.  As someone who loves an occasional treat of the finer things in life this book was packed full of high fashion brand names, interior design, food and travel. What was incredibly refreshing to me was what started as a book that many would see as rather shallow and vapid, being obsessed about money and the best of the best actually turns into an inspiring tale of female empowerment. Who would have thought a book named after a fictional title putting women behind the powerful men they are married to could actually be about the total opposite.  This is a great poolside read for anyone lucky enough to be on holiday right now.

Dead Romantic- Ruth Saberton

Why Did I Buy This Book?

I’ve had a backlog of random books I’ve picked up along the way sitting in my Amazon Wish List for months now.  One of my favourite things to do is to scour the various Kindle lists for potential future heart melters.  However every time I come to choose a book none of the books I have hoarded away for just such an occasion seem to tickle my fancy.  Well I thought it was about time I put a dent in my wish list with a goofy supernatural love story.

Synopsis

Since the death of her mother Cleo has spent the last ten years completely absorbed in her research of Ancient Egypt and maintaining her normal if not mundane life.  Cleo is the epitome of sensible and factual so when a bump on the head causes her to start seeing ghost’s her life turns completely upside down.  One particularly persistent ghost is hell bent on getting Cleo to reunite with a handsome stranger she met 10 years ago who is none other than famous Rockstar turned alcoholic Rafe Thorne. As Cleo’s personal life starts to get more interesting her professional life starts falling to pieces and it begins to seem like she cannot be a respected researcher and in love at the same time.

The Verdict

This book is good for exactly what it is, cheesy chick-lit that is easy and fun to read.  At first I couldn’t particularly see the point of having the ghosts involved in it, it seemed like you could have had the same affect with of the book without the use of pointless supernatural elements but actually when it all came together in the end I was glad for something that made the book a little different from all the other funny romance books.  Perhaps two of the most important elements of the story, her first meeting with Rafe and her research into Egyptology could have been a bit more developed as there were certain elements that felt a little disconnected to the story.  Overall I would say this book does exactly what it says on the tin and gives you a cute love story with some good old Brit humour added in.

The Best of Me- Nicholas Sparks

Why Did I Buy This Book?

At some point in our lives we all go through a bad break up, we all get our heart broken and we all think that we’ll never find someone like them again. During this time of crying, crazy mood swings and comfort eating there is one man that you can always count on to be there for you and that’s Nicholas Sparks.  Whether you want to sit with a pint of ice cream and cry at The Notebook or drool over Channing Tatum in Dear John, Sparks takes care of us girls when we need him most.  So for the avid reader the natural step was to source the most heart-wrenching Sparks book I could lay my hands on and settle down with a box of tissues in order to convince myself that at least my situation couldn’t be that bad and that my very own Noah is on his way to find me very soon.

Synopsis

Dawson was from the wrong side of the tracks and Amanda was the princess of their small high school, but instantly they feel completely and deeply in love.  Amanda’s parents are desperate  to keep them apart and eventually Dawson is forced to let her go off to college to build the life that he believes she deserves and he cannot give her.  20 years later they are brought together by death of an old friend who engineers a plan to help Dawson leave is place of isolation and Amanda get out of her loveless marriage.  However the universe conspires, once again, against the star-crossed lovers Amanda finds can never have both her family and Dawson at the same time.

The Verdict

While this book may have been what the doctor ordered I wouldn’t say it is necessarily his best.  The story and characters lack that certain something that made us fall completely in love with some of his other books.  There are a lot of different characters with their own stories going on which can at points make the story a little confusing especially because the narrator is constantly switching between Amanda and Dawson.  If you are looking for something light and romantic I would give it a go but I think like me you would have wished you had just stuck on The Last Song DVD. But even when Nicholas Sparks can’t do the trick you can always resort to my other favourite men ‘Ben & Jerry.’