Book News: Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella

Becky is back! The Shopaholic books were the first chick-lit books I read and I am always happy to return and enjoy the series. I think Becky is fab and I can't wait to find out what she'll get up to in LA!

Shopaholic to the Stars is out 25th September and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) has stars in her eyes. She and her daughter, Minnie, have joined husband Luke in LA—city of herbal smoothies, multimillion-dollar yoga retreats, and the lure of celebrity. Luke is there to help manage the career of famous actress Sage Seymour—and Becky is convinced she is destined to be Sage’s personal stylist, and go from there to every A-list celebrity in Hollywood! But things become complicated when Becky joins the team of Sage’s archrival. How will charming and supportive Luke deal with this conflict? Is it possible that what Becky wants most will end up hurting those she loves most? Shopaholic fans old and new will devour Sophie Kinsella’s newest adventure!

Book News: Power Games by Victoria Fox

The fabulous new bonkbuster from Victoria Fox is out this year and looks to be the most scandalous yet! This storyline is packed with infamous celebrities, a revenge plan, a downed plane and much much more.

Power Games is out 4th July and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
SEVEN INFAMOUS CELEBRITIES

The most exclusive invitation of the year has been issued; the supermodel, the thief, the senator, the heiress, the paparazzo, the pop prince and the playboy board a private jet. Destination: paradise.

SEVEN DEADLY SINNERS

Someone is watching. Someone who knows the dark secrets and the wicked reputations lurking beneath their glamorous facades. When it comes to revenge, knowledge is power. Vanity, pride, lust, greed - whatever their crime…

ONE PUNISHMENT FITS THEM ALL

No one sees the plane go down, but everyone knows who was on board. Seven notorious passengers, on an island that does not welcome visitors. The challenge is to survive.

Let the power games begin.

Are you brave enough to play?

Review: If I Could Turn Back Time

Author: Nicola Doherty
Publisher: Headline Review
Release Date: 10th April 2014
Pages: 368
Genre: Chick-Lit, Romantic Comedy

Source: Book Bridgr

Synopsis

What if you found The One, then lost him again?

Or not so much lost him as became the neurotic, needy girlfriend from hell. The girl who tried to make him choose between her and his job, and got seriously paranoid about his relationship with his best female friend...

Zoe knows she doesn't deserve another chance with David. But if there's the tiniest possibility of making things right, she'll snatch it. Even if it means breaking the laws of physics to do so...

Review

Zoe is devastated when her boyfriend David breaks up with her. She knows she hasn't been the model girlfriend but is convinced he is the one for her. When Zoe wakes up one morning a few months before she went to sleep, she's ecstatic! None of the mistakes she made with David have happened yet and she's able to do a re-write. How will Zoe edit her life and what will she learn about herself in the process?

I must admit I have a soft spot for romantic comedies. I love the combination of love and laughter. If I Could Turn Back Time had me laughing throughout, Zoe got herself into some right situations. This book was a breath of fresh air which I really enjoyed  reading.

Zoe is a brilliant main character. She is very easy to relate to, I think most women can think of events in their life that they would love to re-write! It is really interesting to see the effect Zoe has on other people as she changes events in her past. You get the feeling very quickly that not everything will go to plan. Zoe does make mistakes, but I was rooting for her to figure things out.

I really love Zoe's best friend Rachel and flatmate Max. Rachel is ambitious but also a brilliant friend to Zoe and Max may not be the perfect room-mate but is a good friend of Zoe's all the same. Even the enemy Jenny is fun to read about. She plays the first class bitch to perfection!

It was brilliant to read about Zoe's job in fashion. I loved hearing about all the latest trends, as well as the ins and outs of working in a department store. It appears that a lot of work goes into predicting next season's trends and it looks like Zoe has a knack for nailing the up-and-coming fashions much to the amazement of her colleagues.

If I Could Turn Back Time was an absolutely fabulous read, one which will stick with me for a long time. Nicola Doherty has ultimately shown that everything happens for a reason and changing our past may not actually make us happy.

5/5 Stars

My Song Choice: 5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale

Review: Unleashing Mr Darcy

Author: Teri Wilson
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Release Date: 4th April 2014
Pages: 361
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman teetering on the verge of thirty must be in want of a husband.

Not true for Manhattanite Elizabeth Scott. Instead of planning a walk down the aisle, she's crossing the pond with the only companion she needs; her darling dog, Bliss. Caring for a pack of show dogs in England seems the perfect distraction from the scandal that ruined her teaching career, and her reputation, in New York. What she doesn't count on is an unstoppable attraction to billionaire dog breeder Donovan Darcy. The London tycoon's a little bit arrogant, a whole lot sexy, and the chemistry between them is disarming. When passion is finally unleashed, might Elizabeth hope to take home more than a blue ribbon?

Review

Elizabeth Scott jumps at the opportunity to seek refuge in England with her dog Bliss when her teaching career in New York is engulfed in disgrace. England is the retreat she is looking for whilst the scandal in New York dies down. Looking after a group of show dogs and competing in England's finest dog shows is an added bonus. What Elizabeth doesn't expect is to be blown away by the smug and gorgeous dog show judge Donovan Darcy. How will Elizabeth react to the undeniable chemistry between her and Mr Darcy?

This fun twist on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was a new take on the classic novel. Teri Wilson put a chick-lit spin on the original which made this an easy but pleasant read. I loved seeing London from an American's perspective, it definitely put a new and interesting spin on things. I must admit there were a few clichés in there that weren't necessarily true, but I would definitely recommend overlooking these as the story beneath is worth it. 

Donovan Darcy was a brilliant leading man. I would say he represented all those men out there that frustrate you more than anything but in the end you know they're worth it! The insight into Darcy's world was definitely an experience, even though I live in England myself I forget that the high class that Darcy belongs to still exists.

One of my favourite things about the book was the change in narrator - the book was written in both Elizabeth and Darcy's point of view. You can see them develop feelings for each other as the book progressed, even if they couldn't!

I really enjoyed this retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Teri Wilson and will be recommending it to any lovers of updated classics.

4/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Chasing Pavements by Adele 

Book News: Written in the Stars by Ali Harris

Not long to wait till Ali Harris' newest book Written in the Stars is released! The synopsis of this book has piqued my interest already. This book is chick-lit with a definite twist.

Written in the Stars is due out on 5th June and is available to pre-order from Amazon UK now.

Synopsis
Bea Bishop is horrible at making decisions. Forget big life ones, even everyday choices seem to paralyse her. She's learned to live with this because experience has taught her that it doesn't matter what you do, no one has the power to control destiny. Anyone who believes they can is a fool. 

But as her wedding day approaches, her years of indecision are weighing heavily on her, and she can't help but wonder, 'What if, what if, what if….' 

What if she hadn't upped sticks and moved to London? What if she hadn't grabbed the first job that came along and settled down with the first guy who showed an interest? But all of her questions are silenced when she slips while walking down the aisle and is knocked unconscious. In this split second her life splits into two: in one existence, Bea flees back down the aisle and out of the church. In the other she glides blissfully towards her intended.

But which story will lead to her happily ever after?

Review: Take A Look At Me Now

Author: Miranda Dickinson
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: 24th October 2013
Pages: 401
Genre: Chick-Lit

Synopsis

How far would you go to make a new start?

When Nell’s on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, losing her job is the last thing she expects.

Heartbroken and unemployed to boot, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to the untested waters of San Francisco.

But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

Review

This is my first Miranda Dickinson novel and it certainly will not be my last - what a fabulous read! I am ashamed that I haven't read her books before.

When Nell walks into her office she has no idea it will be for the last time. Nell is left shocked when her on-off boyfriend Aidan tells her she's being made redundant and sends her on her way. Nell takes her broken heart and redundancy pay straight to a travel agency and books herself an 8 week trip to San Francisco. Will living in a brand new city with her cousin Lizzie heal her scars and allow her to plan her future or will her past continue to haunt her?

To be honest I really just want to gush about how amazing this book is! Miranda drew me in from the very beginning and I could not put this book down. Miranda describes San Francisco with such realistic detail - I could see Nell's view of the Golden Gate Bridge, I was there as Nell and Lizzie wandered round the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood. In fact, I am so enthralled by this book San Francisco has moved to the top of my bucket list!

Nell is such an amazing character. She is strong-willed and brave to visit San Francisco - a place she has never visited before. She meets some fabulous people on her journey, including the tough cookie Annie and the drop-dead gorgeous Max. I was left drooling when reading about the mouth-watering food Annie serves up in her diner. I loved learning about the mysterious Max who appeared to have many secrets - this added extra suspense to the book.

The kids at the school where Nell volunteers were complete sweethearts. Seeing San Francisco through a child's eyes is brilliant. I have a major soft spot for Eva, a little girl with a love of Mary Poppins and a humongous heart.

Miranda has written a heart-warming, romantic, emotionally driven book that will stay with me for a very long time. It is a book that has encouraged me to follow my dreams, to get out there and do something new and to most of all appreciate the help of people around me.

5/5 Stars

My Song Choice: Always Where I Need To Be by The Kooks

Showcase Sunday #21

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky from Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Its' aim is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. To join Showcase Sunday or find out more click here.

Hi everyone! I've got some absolutely amazing books to report this week. I have already started reading Unleashing Mr Darcy by Teri Wilson which is a brilliant take on Pride and Prejudice. I am looking forward to getting stuck into the rest of these books.

eBooks

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth (bought)

Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth (bought)

Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth (bought)

Unlucky 13 by James Patterson (bought)

Fifteen Weekends by Christy Pastore (for review)

How to Get a Love Life by Rosie Blake (bought)

Physical Books

If I Could Turn Back Time by Nicola Doherty (for review)

Unleashing Mr Darcy by Teri Wilson (for review)

What have you received this week?

Beckie xxx