Sunday Post 10th July 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader. As always you can click on any of the pictures to be taken to the Goodreads page for that book if you're interested in finding out more about it.

We had a bit of a slow week blogging-wise this week. Both Ann and I got our exam results and we both did fairly well. I also took the Ilvermorny sorting on Pottermore and got Horned Serpent! Still gonna stick with my Slytherin pride though!  Ann has work experience next week so may be a bit absent but I am looking forward to getting back to a normal blogging schedule!

Last Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristic: Feathers
• Friday Reads

Books We Got This Week:
Clare:

The Little Beach Street Bakery/The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan: I can't believe I've never read any Jenny Colgan before. I've heard so many great things and I am interested to see what I think.

Destination Thailand by Katy Colins: I've seen this series around and I love books about travel so I thought I'd give it a go.

The Chic Boutique on Baker St. by Rachel Dove: If I am honest this was pure cover love. It's such a pretty cover and I am hoping the inside is as good.

Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher: These three books were in the three for £10 offer on Amazon. This sounds interesting to me and very similar to an old Ginger Rogers film I've seen.

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara: I've loved Ali's previous books so I am excited for it - plus it's another beautiful cover.

Marlow's Landing by Toby Vieira: Received from the publisher for review, this interests me a lot. The blurb promised me "diamonds, deceit, and a trip up river" and I am so up for that.

After Alice by Gregory Maguire: I love Wicked, and I love Alice in Wonderland so I was very excited to receive this from Headline.

The Unseeing by Anna Mazzola: Received from Tinder Press, Such a beautiful book and a really intriguing plot!

Summer Shadows by Joss Stirling: I really like the Benedict series by Joss Stirling so I am excited to read the 6th book in the series.

Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis: I received this for review from Headline Eternal and I have already read it so I will have a review up soon.

Ann:

Return to the Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz: Very excited to read this as I very much enjoyed the first one.

Reading Update:

Ann:

The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson: 4 stars, I enjoyed this book although the plot was a bit predictable.

Clare:

Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella: 5 stars, I always adore Sophie Kinsella's books and this is one of my favourites of hers - I just felt like re-reading it.

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella: 5 stars, Another re-read and another favourite. There are so many laugh out loud moments in these books.

A Girl Like You by Gemma Burgess: 5 stars, Yet another re-read. I love romance novels set in Britain - the slang and the references all actually make sense to me. I always feel so much more at home with them.

Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan: 4 stars, This was a really sweet story with some sad moments.

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan: 4 stars, Very much the same formula as Little Beach Street Bakery, but still a great read and perfect for book lovers.
The Chic Boutique on Baker St. by Rachel Dove: 2.5 stars, A fun read if slightly awkward writing style. 

The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara: 3 stars, I loved her Notting Hill books but I felt slightly more ambivalent about this one. It was nice but it didn't live up to the promise in my mind.

Darkness by Karen Robards: 3.5 stars, This was such a fun read. Plenty of action and excitement and I liked the romance. I wasn't always a fan of the writing style (far too many similes and metaphors for me) but it was a good read. I will have a full review up soon.

Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis: 5 stars, I loved this book. The characters were great and the plot was engaging. Definitely want more from Jill Shalvis. Full review coming soon.

Next Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristic: Balconies
• Top 5 Books You Wish Had Sequels
• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Clare Reviews: Darkness by Karen Robards
• Friday Reads
• Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Friday Reads 8th July 2016

Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading! 

Clare:

I have just started reading Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis, I received it for review from the publisher and I am hoping for a light, romantic read with great characters. Ann and I are both reading Jane Eyre, Ann for the first time me for something like the hundredth (I love Jane Eyre) and I am really enjoying re-reading it. It's really interesting seeing Ann's first time reactions to a book I've loved for so long!

Book Beginning:

"Pru Harris's mom had taught her to make wishes on pink cars, falling leaves and brass lamps, because wishing on something as ordinary as stars or wishing wells wasa sign of no imagination." - Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

Friday 56:

"Over the past year new pictures just showed up. More of Sean's doing. Finn got it. Sean felt guilty for all Finn had given up to raise him, but Finn didn't want him to feel guilty. He wanted him to take life more seriously." - Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

The book beginning definitely intrigues me - I already like Pru's mum! And I would love to know what's up with the pictures in the Friday 56. I am definitely hoping for good things from this book.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Cover Characteristic: Feathers

Cover Characteristics is a weekly feature hosted at Sugar & Snark. I loved the category this week. Ann and I went to the library last week and took the opportunity to wander around looking for covers with feathers (and getting a couple of strange looks as we went) and so we have rather more than the five we usually stick to.

My favourite is definitely A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston but then it's one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. When the book first arrived I spent a ridiculously long time staring at the cover - and then a bit more time wandering the house making everyone else stare at the cover. But I also love a lot of the other covers, such as Magonia which I think is beautiful and Feather Boy and Feathers which are both very simple but intriguing. 

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Sunday Post 3rd July 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader. As always you can click on any of the pictures to be taken to the Goodreads page for that book if you're interested in finding out more about it.

Last Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristic: Ladders
• Clare Reviews: Imprudence by Gail Carriger
• Dane Cobain Exclusive Poem

Books We Got This Week:

And I Darken by Kiersten White: I have been looking forward to this book for so long! If it is as brutal as it promises to be this should be a great read.

Tanya Bakes by Tanya Burr: I managed to snag a signed copy primarily for Ann who is a fan (and who likes to bake).

After You by Jojo Moyes: Me Before You broke my heart, I am hoping that somehow After You manages to put it back together!

Reading Update:
Ann:

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes: 5 stars, I really enjoyed this book. Also hopefully I will be able to read the next book soon.
The Wrath and The Dawn by : 5 stars, I loved this book. At first I wasn't loving it but after about 50 pages I was really enjoying it. Also looking forward to reading the next book as soon as Clare has read it. 

Clare:

I finally finished off all my Regency Romance novels this week - I enjoyed all of them although some - like the Tessa Dare books did stand out more than others. 

Wickham Hall by Cathy Bramley: 4 stars, This was a really fun read. It's long but I went through it so quick. I did find that the characters waggled their eyebrows a lot which started to get ridiculous and the main character twirled around so many times I wasn't surprised when she fainted.

One Hot Summer by Kat French: 4 stars, Lots of funny moments and a good romance. I really liked the main characters but I loved the side characters - they were so ridiculous. 

Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan: 5 stars, This was my first ever Sarah Morgan book despite the fact I've been recommended her books before. I loved it. It was light and funny and I adored the characters. 

Some Kind of Wonderful by Sarah Morgan: 4.5 stars, I am now officially a fan of Sarah Morgan! These are such easy to read books yet the characters have great depth.
The Love Detective by Alexandra Potter: 3.5 stars, The setting was amazing and I liked the plot but the main character kept acting like an idiot!

Next Week on the Blog:

• Cover Characteristic: Feathers
• Wednesday Catch-Up
• Clare Reviews: The Second Love of My Life by Victoria Walters
• Friday Reads

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Dane Cobain: Exclusive Poem

A week ago Dane Cobain an author and poet got in touch with me wondering whether or not I would like him to do something on the blog. After much consideration I decided it would be a nice change to have an exclusive poem. He then told me to pick 5 words and he would write a poem with them in for me to publish on the blog. My 5 words were pug, confess, midnight, hope and bleak, I hope you enjoy what he came up with.

Good God

Good god,

it's a good job

it’s a good blog,

like a good dog

in a mug shot

or a pug gone

to be a bulldog

in a gun shop.

Good god,

I think I’m dreaming,

something evil

and without meaning,

a bleak street

with a black sheep

screaming peaceful,

treated equal.

Good god,

they said the pope tokes dope

and I hope they’re only joking,

he’ll only choke on soap

and make ‘em vote

with coloured smoke

again.

Good god,

I made a confession

about my indiscretions,

mentioned pendants

with emeralds,

and I confess

I confessed

a false confession.

Good god,

I’m the midnight man

with an in-flight ban,

a big old house

for you to live in.

Good god,

I forgot

what I wanted

to mention.