A Question of Love by Gwen Kirkwood

Title: A Question of Love

Author: Gwen Kirkwood

Publisher: Endeavour Press

Release Date: 19th November 2013

Genre: Romance

Summary:

Roseanne Fairfax is a determined, young business women who has no time, or tolerance, for men in her life. However this all changes when Euan Kennedy, the nephew of her business partner, takes charge whilst his uncle is away. He is handsome, charming and funny; everything that Roseanne thought she never wanted.

Will Roseanne be able to keep up her hard, cold exterior or will she take a chance on this handsome stranger and realise that there is more to life than work? 

Review: 

I think this is the perfect holiday book as it is short, sweet and ever-so cheesy. 

Rather oddly this story of romance is centred around a meat packing plant in the Scottish highlands. Although, I found this quite unusual at first; as the story developed I felt this was nicely linked to the tranquility of the farm and was the perfect, yet unconventional, back-drop to the protagonists's romance.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Author: Stephen Chbosky
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: 2nd February 2009
Genre: Coming of age

Summary:
Charlie is a wallflower. He spends his life curiously watching people and asking himself "why?" However, when he starts high school he decides he does not want to watch people anymore. He wants to actually live his life, make friends and fall in love.

Review:
When reading this book I loved the way the story was told through a series of letters addressed to Charlies anonymous friend (he never even gets a reply!). Although, it took some time to get used to, I thought this was really effective as it highlighted how isolated and different Charlie is compared to all the other characters in the book.

I love the way Chbosky has characterised Charlie as a socially awkward pre-teen, who does not know how to act around other people, as I am sure it is relatable to everyone at some point in their life. It also highlights how his character changes throughout the plot and the progress (if can call it that) he makes as a person. He grows up A LOT.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

Title: Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
Author: John Grogan
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 26th July 2007
Genre: True Story, Humour

Summary:
Marley & Me follows the life and loves of the Grogan family and their (extremely) badly behaved dog, Marley. From being a dry-wall-eating puppy, to a training class flunk; Marley is "the world's worst dog!" However, throughout his short life he teaches his owners, and family, what it really means to be alive. Marley & Me is a true account and tribute to a much loved family pet.

Review:
For those of you who do not know me, I LOVE dogs (especially Labradors) so it comes as no surprise that I love this book and every time I read it; I cry like a baby (especially at the ending!).

The book is beautifully written in a relaxed and casual tone and provides the perfect balance of humour and love that portrays how much Marley affected the lives of his family.

Sword of Empire: Praetorian by Richard Foreman

Title: Sword of Empire: Praetorian
Author: Richard Foreman
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Release Date: 14th November 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: 
Set in 171 AD, Sword of Empire: Praetorian follows Gaius Maximus, a centurion officer of the Praetorian guard, as he escorts the son and daughter of a powerful German tribal chief back to their home in Germany. Amid rising tensions, and imminent battles between the Germanic armies, will Maximus's attempts be futile or will the Emperor succeed in his plans to gain back power and establish a treaty between the two rivals?

Review:
I have to admit Sword of Empire: Praetorian is not something I would usually read but as it was only 99p on Amazon Kindle I thought I would give it a try!

I was expecting the tone of the novella to be quite serious and political. I was, however, pleasantly surprised as little snippets of humour caught me off-guard and the underlying, yet subtle, themes of romance, family and rivalry made the plot interesting and entertaining.