Hopelessly Devoted by Margaret Blake

Title: Hopelessly Devoted
Author: Margaret Blake
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Release Date: 4th December 2013
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Crime

Summary:
All is not well in paradise. After moving to New Zealand to start a new life; Bronwen's life is soon turned upside-down when her husband, Jack, disappears along with her money, boat and her heart. Has the appearance of her estranged cousin, Marged, got anything to do with disappearances or is it all a coincidence?

Bronwen does all she can to reunite with her husband, but little does she know; someone has a price on her head.

Review:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book as the plot was fast-faced (a little too fast at times, in my opinion) and interesting, although being somewhat predictable. It was pretty obvious from the start who did it. However, even though it was predictable I kept turning the pages and reading on as like other books from this publisher; it was a nice, easy read that was enjoyable and short.

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Title: Broken Homes
Author: Ben Aaronovitch
Publisher: Gollancz, Orion Publishing Group
Release Date: 25th July 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Crime, Young Adult 

Summary:
Peter Grant is back in the fourth installment in the Rivers of London series, in which we find our heroic, magical Policeman venturing South of the River to Elephant and Castle.

With an already hectic caseload, the last thing Grant wants is trouble on a housing estate with the work of the Faceless Man all-over-it. It is then Grant's duty to make sure nothing explosive happens...

Review:
When I originally posted my review of the first installment of the series, Rivers of London, (you can find my review here) I had no intention of writing any for the subsequent books, as I felt it was such a good series. However, even though the series started with such optimism; I really struggled with this installment and felt it was necessary to write a follow-up.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 3rd January 2013

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Summary: 

Hazel Grace is a terminally ill teenager, who has suffered from cancer for many years. She is lonely; but likes it that way. It reduces the casualties. Hazels' world is, however, turned upside down when she meets Augustus Waters, the gorgeous ex-basketball player who is desperate to be remembered, at her weekly support group.

Review:

The Fault in Our Stars, has been on my 'to read' list for ages as I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about. After reading it in two days straight, amidst doing important university stuff, I can honestly say all the hype surrounding this book is justified! I loved it!

5 Reasons Why Harry Potter is the Best Children's Series of All Time

Today my best friend and I went to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour for the third (yes, third) time.

As you can probably tell I am a huge Harry Potter fan, specifically of the books. I have loads of memorabilia (including an iPhone case, travel mug and Gryffindor scarf) have ridden on a broomstick three times, have drunk Butterbear in two different continents and have been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando.

My recent visit down Harry Potter memory lane got me thinking about why generations across the World have fallen in love with this series and inspired so many. The following are the reasons I have come up with (there's probably many, many more...).

1) An amazing book makes a great film

I am a huge fan of the films and, like many, I watched the films before I read the books. However, when I did read the books; I realised that the films do not do them justice. Much of Rowling's creativity, spark and imagination is lost, like many book to film productions, as the scale and detail of the world she created is not done justice in the films. For example, did you know that when translated into Aramaic, the killing curse, Avada Kedavra means "I will destroy as I speak"?! That is absolute genius. Why would you cut any of that creativity? After reading the books, I therefore felt somewhat at a loss and could not get over the amount that was changed and left out of the films.

One Day by David Nicholls

Title: One Day
Author: David Nicholls
Publisher: Hodder
Release Date: 4th February 2010
Genre: Romance, Coming of Age

Summary:
On the night of their graduation, Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet for the first time. Is it a one-night stand or something more? They do not know, but it is something. With their whole lives ahead of them, and the possibility of never meeting again, they vow to keep in contact somehow. Life, however, throws hurdles in their way.

Will they realise that the answer to all their problems is standing right in-front of them, or carry on blissfully unaware?

Review:
Usually I am not a fan of the typical romantic, boy-meets-girl novels which are often found at the top of the charts. However, surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book and found it really hard to put down!

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.