Book Reviews: The Snow Crystal Trilogy by Sarah Morgan

So, this review actually covers books three, four and five of 2016! I read Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan, which is feel-good book full of Christmas! Kayla is a workaholic Briton, living and working in New York City.  She avoids all things Christmas, which prompts her to take on a difficult job at this festive time of year to help Jackson O’Neil and his family save their business.  Snow Crystal is a family resort in Vermont that has been owned for generations by the O’Neil family.  Due to Jackson’s father lacking a business mind, the resort is failing and so Jackson hires Kayla for her exceptional PR skills.  What Kayla doesn’t expect is that Snow Crystal, the O’Neil’s and Christmas go hand in hand.

Wow.  I have to say that I read this as a little light relief and I truly loved it.  The characters are so very likeable, and the snowy setting is enchanting.  I really felt that I was able to immerse myself in the story, and despite the fact that I read it outside of the Christmas period I loved the trees, the snow and the family love.

I loved this story so much that I immediately read Suddenly Last Summer, quickly followed by Maybe This Christmas; the former follows Jackson’s twin brother Sean and the latter their younger brother Tyler.  The love stories of the three O’Neil brothers, all centred around Snow Crystal, are enthralling as is the magical location.

Despite the fact that Christmas is but a distant memory, I cannot recommend this trilogy enough.  I do enjoy a good chick lit, and this definitely fits the bill.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

What to Read Next?

So I have an extensive to be read list which I thought I might share just a little of with you all.  It consists of the following;

The Vintage Teacup Club, Vanessa Greene

My Sister’s Secret, Tracy Buchanan

Waiting for the Bee Stings, Calvin Wade

The Lies We Told, Diane Chamberlain

The Scandalous Duchess, Anne O’Brien

Montana Cherries, Kim Law

I will of course share my thoughts with you all on these books!

Book Review:The Rosie Project

Book Number two of this years book reviews is Graeme Samson’s The Rosie Project.  The blurb reads:

Love isn’t an exact science – but no one told Don Tillman. A thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don’s never had a second date. So he devises the Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie – ‘the world’s most incompatible woman’ – throwing Don’s safe, ordered life into chaos. But what is this unsettling, alien emotion he’s feeling?

I read the first chapter hearing Don Tillman with the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock – strange but true!  Don Tillman see’s everything in a very logical, organised way making him incredibly socially awkward.  He starts The Wife Project as a way of finding his life partner after conventional methods don’t seem to work for him.  A chance meeting with Rosie however puts The Wife Project to one side as he works to help with her own problems.

I loved this book.  I loved how honest Don is with everyone, even if it did mean he struggled to make and keep friends.  This book showed how love and life is not easy for everyone, but how people persevere, no matter how difficult it is for them.

Read this book!

Rating: 4 and half stars out of 5

Word Wednesday’s!

So Word Wednesday has arrived! Wednesday will be the day that I release my word of the week.  I hope that my word of the week will help to expand your vocabulary as much as it will be expanding mine.  So, A seems a pretty good place to start.  My word of the week is therefore…

anachronism n. something which seems to belong to another time.

(Oxford English Dictionary)

 

Book Review – It Would be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t it?)

So my first book of 2016 has been It Would be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t It?) by Sophie Ronald. I wanted to start off with an easy read, and this definitely falls within that category.  The story is fairly predictable, there is no getting away from that.  However it is warm and engaging, with likeable characters.  It is quite easy to see very early on how the novel will end – in fact I found myself getting quite frustrated with Ellie, the lead character, as she was so very blind to what was going on around her.  Whilst I feel I am being quite negative, please don’t let that put you off.  For a light read, it’s great – I enjoyed reading about Ellie and Rose, two sisters who are very different yet so close, something that I can definitely relate to.  The dynamics of their relationship is one of my favourite parts of the book.

So, whilst I don’t think this novel is one that will stay with you for a long time to come, it is certainly an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon on the beach, or an evening in front of a fire with a glass of wine and a slice of cake!

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

2016 – The Start of a New Chapter

So it’s 2016, and with it brings a new blog.  I intend to fill this blog with all things books and cake – my inner geek is breaking free!

So, as my first act of geek I have started my own Goodreads Reading Challenge – one year, 50 books.  If i’m honest I could probably read more but 50 seems like a rather large number of books! You will get to join in with me as I post my reviews for each of these books.  In addition I’ll be posting my word of the week, expanding my vocabulary (and hopefully yours too!) along with any other literature things that take my fancy!

I look forward sharing this with you all!