Mills and Book RIVA Goodies

Hey guys,

I received a really funky pamper kit from the Mills & Boon people in relation to their new RIVA books....



Best wishes 

Debs

MASSIVE Book haul

Hey guys,

So, I went shopping yesterday to a town  nearby that I don't get to go to much and I just had the best luck ever.  It seemed that everywhere I went to I found books that I wanted at really cheap prices and also found an amazing store called The Works here in England where you can get books, that are normallly £7.00 each, for less than that... Three books for £5 which I thought was AMAZING.... 









Phew!  Ive got enough books now to last me a while! lol...  But since they were so cheap and theyw ere books that I really wanted, I thought it would save me money in the long run by getting them now...

Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Evermore by Alyson Noel (Book 1 in the Immotals Series)

Hey guys,

This is a really good series I have started so far....

Publisher is 

Number of Pages - 324

My review - 10 out of 10

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

This is such a great book...  At first I thought it was going to be another vampire type story but I was really wrong about that.  I loiked this book because it is definately different and I was completely hooked on this and cannot wait to read the rest of the series (5 books published so far and 6th on its way this year I believe).
For a more detailed review -



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - His 'n' Hers by Mike Gayle

Hey guys,

This book has to be my favourite book of the week..... 

 
Published by Hodder

Number of pages - 368

My review - 100000000000 out of 10

From their first meeting at the student union over a decade ago, Jim and Alison successfully navigated their way through first dates, meeting parents, moving in together and more! Then they split up and divided their worldly goods (including a sofa, a cat and their flat) into his 'n' hers. Now, three years on and with new lives and new loves, they couldn't be happier. Until a chance encounter throws them back together, and causes them to embark on a journey through their past to ask themselves the big question: where did it all go wrong, and is it too late to put it all right? 

I loved this book and read it almost in one evening, it was that good...  I loved Mike Gayle's style of writing, which I found very easy to read and follow the story and I also loved the sense of humour and how Jim and Alison's relationship was dealt with in this book.  I am absolutely amazed that I had not found this book sooner....  Can't wait to read more of Mike Gayle's books....

For a more detailed review -



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad (LA Candy Book 3)

Hey guys,

Its confirmed, I am hooked on this series now...

Published by Harper Collins


Number of pages :  288


My review - 8 out of 10


In TV star Lauren Conrad's delicious, entertaining novel about young Hollywood, the lies are only as sweet as the people telling them. Jane Roberts is a bona fide celebrity -- she is treated like a queen, has couture clothes and starlet looks. She also has the tabloid scandals, fake friends and relentless paparazzi. Now that Jane has survived her first season on the air, she has learned a few things. Most importantly: Hollywood is full of people trying to use you -- especially her former friend and current co-star, Madison Parker. So Jane is trying to surround herself with the people she knows love her for her. Like Scarlett, her best friend since childhood. And Caleb, her high school boyfriend who happens to be back in Los Angeles for the next few months. Sure, after a recent -- and very public -- love-life implosion, Jane is on a break from boys. But that does not mean she can't spend time with Caleb. They are just friends. She and Braden are also now friends after they lived through a horrible photo scandal. Well, maybe not, but a little drama never hurt anyone! too badly. Full of the ripped-from-real-life plot twists that Lauren's fans love, SUGAR AND SPICE is another great page-turner in this juicy teen series. 

 I am really getting into the LA Candy story now..  I love the character of Jane, which personally I think she is a bit of a pushover at times and her best friend Scarlett who is so headstrong I think those characters tend to balance themselves out.....  I was a little sad that there was not many pages to this story, it could have done with a bit more in places....

For a more detailed review -



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad (LA Candy Book 2)

Hey guys!

This is the first of a few book reviews this week and I have to say that I am really enjoying the LA Candy Series so far...

Published by Harper Collins

Number of Pages - 336

My review - 9 out of 10 



Jane Roberts was the average girl next door until she and her best friend, Scarlett Harp, landed their own hit reality show, L.A. Candy. But life on camera is getting complicated. . . . 

When racy photos of Jane are leaked to the press, she becomes the center of a tabloid scandal. She turns to costar Madison Parker for help, but does Madison really have Jane's back? 

Scarlett's got a scandal of her own. She's fallen for a guy who's strictly off-limits—which means Scarlett has a big secret to keep. But nothing stays secret for long in Hollywood. 

In television star Lauren Conrad's dishy, entertaining novel about young Hollywood, the lies are only as sweet as the people telling them. 

This is a really good easy read...  I am really loving this series so far and want to find out what happens next...  If it were a TV show, I would say it is similar to Sex and the City but without the Sex part....   I laughed my way through most of this book.

For a more in depth review - 





Best wishes 


Debs

Giveaway - At Books with Bridget Blog

Hey guys,

Just wanted to put a little post on today to say that Bridget from Books With Bridget is having an amazing giveaway...  To see more details the link is below:

http://bookswithbridgetvw.blogspot.com/2011/01/giveaway-whisperers-john-connolly-int.html

I hope you guys are well and there will be some reviews coming soon...

Best wishes

Debs

Organising my bookshelf....

Hey guys,

Ok so this is a task that I have been wanting to do for quite a while but never really got around to doing it so I had a free weekend and was determined to sort them out.......











Best wishes

Debs

Book Beginnings - Late Friday Post

Hey guys,

I came across a fantastic blog theme this week from the blog A Few More Pages....

How this works....  Basically every Friday I will pick up the book I am currently reading and put in the first line  of that book...  I shall also give a little description of my impressions etc.....   I thought this was a fun thing to do so I thought I would give it a go.... 

So the book I am reading at the moment is Evermore by Alyson Noel.

Published by Macmillan
Number of Pages -  356
Released - 2009

First Line

'Guess who'  Haven's warm clammy palms press hard against my cheeks as the tarnished edge of her silver skull ring leaves a smudge on my skin

This first line told me a lot of about the main character and what I believe must be her best friend for someone to have that kind of close relationship, either that or it could have been a man and Haven was his girlfriend.  I went with the assumption that because of the cover being that of a girl, the main character was a girl and Haven was her best friend.  What this first line also told me was that this main character possibly did not like being touched for some reason by the way she described her friends 'clammy hands' and the 'smudge on my skin'.  She could have described it as a nice surprise and wondering what was going to happen next but the main character decided to concentrate on how the act of her friend putting her hands over her eyes made her feel.... 

I have really enjoyed this post...  Do check out the link above to the blog A Few More Pages who started this up....

Best wishes

Debs

Charity Shop Book Haul - 22nd January 2011

Hey guys,

So I was wondering around town completely adament that I would not buy any new books, which I succeeded in doing... But I popped into a few charity shops and found some really great books, most of which I have been looking for, for quite a while so I was really pleased.... 

Best wishes

Debs

Mini Book Haul

Hey guys,

So, I was very proud of myself...  I was faced with a wall of books that were £1 each and I only came away with ONE!!!!  And I also had one from a swap site that i am on...



Best wishes

Debs

Harry Potter Book Box Set Showing - Requested

Hey guys!

Here is a video showing the absolutely beautiful Harry Potter box set that I got for Christmas... 



Best wishes

Debs

Book Haul - Waterstones and Charity Shop

Hey guys!

So, the Christmas period is over and I still have a gift card to spend....  I went around town in my lunch hour and picked up a couple of bargains.....  The books I picked up were:

 Night Star (Immortals) by Alyson Noel
Alphabet Weekends: Love on the Road from A to Z by Elizabeth Noble
A Change in Altitude: A Novel  by Anita Shreve
A Wedding in December: A Novel by Anita Shreve


Here is my video:



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - LA Candy by Lauren Conrad (Book 1 in the LA Candy Series)

Hey guys,


Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun. 

When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please! 

Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara—free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres—and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight. 

In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be. 

Publisher : Harper Teen
Review:  10 out of 10

This is such a great read...  The cover on this one drew me in and then I started reading and knew I had to finish it all and finish it quickly....  This is such a brilliant first novel by Lauren Conrad.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.  It is a great chicklit teen book that was an excellent read for when you want to wind down after a long hard day at work...   If you loved reading the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard, I would recommend trying this out....

For a more detailed review:

 

Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Mommy Told Me Not To Tell by Cathy Glass

Hey guys, 

When Reece arrives at Cathy's door aged 7 years old, he has already passed through the hands of four different carers in four weeks. As the details of his short life emerge, it becomes clear that to help him, Cathy will face her biggest challenge yet.

Reece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him 'Sharky'.

Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece’s distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece’s family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, Reece’s behaviour suddenly starts to make sense, and together they can begin to rebuild his life. 

Publisher :  Harper
Review :  10 out of 10

This story was so emotional.  This poor little boy who really did not know any better, chose to stay loyal to the family that brought him up but did not realise that this was the wrong way to be...  I really felt for Reece and all he had to go through and completely understand the way he acted out...  This book is very emotional and cuts very deep into the mistreatment of children today.....

For a more detailed review:



Best wishes

Debs 

Stylish Blogger Award

Hey guys!

I utterly wonderful and brilliant Braiden from Braiden's YA Concoction awarded me with a Stylish Blogger Award...  Thanks Braiden!  Do check out his blog (and YouTube Channel) guys, it is brilliant..... 

The award comes with a price.  You have to award some other fellow bloggers as well and here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

 

Now for the sharing 7 things about myself (I just know that I am going to get to about number 3 and then feel completely bamboozled as to what to put next lol!!!):

1. By night I am a book blogging diva, by day I am a legal secretary.
2. I want to be a full time writer..
3. I am working on my first novel and have written half a first draft so far...
4. I love reading, writing, watching loads of TV shows and films and going shopping for more books, TV shows and films!!!!
5. My favourite colour is turquoise.
6. I am also on You Tube - My channel is here, feel free to check me out and subscribe - http://www.youtube.com/user/DebrasBookCafe?feature=mhum.
7.  I have a lady cat called Gizmo who loves to feature in all my videos on You Tube and is slightly a diva herself (like mother like lady cat daughter loll!!!)

OK, now for the awarding.  Here are the blogs that I absolutely love and look forward to catching up with:

1.  Bitten by Book Lust
2. 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
3. Tangled Up In Blue
4. Nicoleslaw00 Book Blog
5. Grab a Book from our Stack
6. Chapter Chicks
7. Parcels of Extraordinary Fancy
8. End of Story Next Book
9. The Compulsive Reader
10. Bellas Novella
11. OCD About Books
12. Amused by Books
13. Forever Young
14. Always with a book
15. A Musing Reviews

 Check these guys out, they are truly amazing...

Best wishes

Debs

 

Book Haul - 8th January 2011

Hey guys!

So I hit the shops today and got some great after Christmas sales......

Here is my video!



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

Hey guys!

Here is the third book that I read this year:

When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? 

Number of Pages :   443
Published by:  Black Swan
Released in the UK in 2008
My Review:  8 out of 10
 
This was a great book.  Although I felt that it did put a bit too much description in this some places, I just loved the story and the way certain issues are dealt with.  This is a great funny and sad book which has a fantastic ending......  

For a more detailed review, please see below:



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella

Hey!!!

So here is my first book review for 2011 and I am going to start the year off with a few chicklit books, which I have been delaying reading at the end of 2010 because I am taking part in the Chicklit 15 book challenge this year so I was having major chick lit withdrawal symptoms!!!

 Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her...

Number of Pages :   363
Publisher :  Black Swan
Released in the UK :   17th March 2003
Review :   100000000 out of 10


I absolutely loved this book...   It was quite a short book at only 363 pages and the font was quite large so it really did not take me very long to read this one at all.  The cover on this book was definately the hook for me.  I saw this, I think, in a charity shop and it immediately drew to my attention because of the bright colour and I am glad I noticed it...


I absolutely adored this book.  It was a classic chick lit book which was funny, sad and also romantic...  I could read this book over and over again....

If you would like to see a more indepth review, please see below:



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - The Cupid Effect by Dorothy Koomson

Hey guys!

This is another amazing book, which I am so glad I found...

Ceri D'Altroy's hero-worship of Oprah Winfrey is beginning to have serious repercussions. Bored with London life and writing yet another 'black is the new black' fashion feature, she's decided to take Oprah's advice and follow her heart's desire. Going back to college might not be everyone's dream but all Ceri's has ever wanted to do is teach...But though her professional life seems to be sorted, Ceri's personal life is still a no-go area. After six long, long, months without so much as a snog, she's given up hope of ever finding anyone who'll put up with her various idiosyncrasies. In fact just lately, her pent-up energies and frustrations seem to have been diverted into solving other people's romantic problems. Since arriving in Leeds she's reunited a happily uncoupled couple, encouraged her new flatmate to do something about his unrequited love and outed the closet relationship of two of her new colleagues. All this, in spite of her new life resolution to mind her own business. But is Ceri destined to always play Cupid? Or can she use some of her powers where they're needed most - to help herself? 

Number of Pages : 342
Published by : Sphere
Release Date in both US and UK:  6th February 2003
Review :  1000000 out of 10 


This book was amazing...   This is the first book I have read written by Dorothy Koomson and I was very surprised.  The cover that I picked up (shown above) is not normally a cover that I would go to and pick up but I am glad that I did because this book is another great chicklit, romantic type book which made me laugh and cry (and sometimes both at the same time)...  If you like chick lit and romance books, this book is a great read.....

For a more detailed review, please see below:



Best wishes

Debs  

Broken Birds by Jeannette Katzir

Hey guys,


I have had the pleasure of reading a truly inspirational book, Broken Birds by Jeannette Katzir (http://www.brokenbirds.com/brokenbirds.com/HOME.html)


Description
(which can be found on the website link above together with much more information, which also has a link to purchase this book)

World War II has long since ended, and yet Jaclyn and her brothers and sisters grow up learning to survive it.  Having lived through the Holocaust on the principle of constant distrust, their mother, Channa, dutifully teaches her children to cling to one another while casting a suspicious eye to the outside world.  When Channa dies, the unexpected contents of her will force her adult children to confront years of suppressed indignation.  For Jaclyn and her siblings, the greatest war will not be against strangers, but against each other.


I loved a lot of things about this book including the style of Jeannette's writing which was easy to read and easy to follow. With some books about the War, I have found that I get lost in terminology and things that I do not understand but in Broken Birds I had no trouble. The plight of Jeannette and her brothers and sisters was so moving I cried several times throughout this book because it moved me so much...


Number of Pages (ebook) : 383

Release date : 2009 (Paperback) and 26^th January 2010 (kindle)

Review : 9 out of 10

I had the great pleasure of being able to ask Jeannette Katzir a few questions:


If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
J.K. Rowling – because she has the ability, no talent, to allow you to envision a movie in your mind about what you reading and that is remarkable.Jeannette Walls – for your incredible ability to describe as few others do scenes and moments in the pages of her books.

What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write? Writing a portion of my very full day. I ride horses as well as do the bookkeeping for my family's business. I am also a very involved Grandma-ma, so my writing usually occurs in the moments all my work is done. I turn the volume down on my television and then write. Then I read it, edit it, and write some more.   

What is the hardest part of the art of writing for you? The time needed and the feeling that plagues me that I am not doing an adequate enough job explaining my vision for the pages I've written. 

When and why did you first start writing? I have written all my life. When I was very young I would write little books and hand them in for extra credit. Then when I was in my early 20's I co-wrote a book about my friends and myself, but it was too hard to be as honest as would be needed, so that book now sits in my shelves – unpublished. When my mother died and the family was thrown into turmoil, once again I began writing, and now I enjoy it immensely.  

How did you come up with the idea for the book 'Broken Birds? This book wasn't an idea but my reflections and reactions to a mother's death and a family never equipped to handle her loss. The name came from a term I used when I described my parents. It was the only justified title of the bo

Was it hard to write such an emotional story? No, in actuality, the writing of this book was very cathartic. When events occurred that were beyond explanation, the computer became a wonderful sounding board . . . willing and accepting all I had to say

Have any of your family read your book and what were their thoughts? Two of my siblings have read it. One has even written the poem in the front of the book. I hope that my father and other siblings never learn of this book, as it will only cause more problems. 

Is there a message in you book 'Broken Birds' that you want your readers to grasp? If I had something to say to people it would be to be careful about what and how you handle things from beyond the grave. It isn't about what you leave; it's about what and how the persons left behind feel. If you aren't going to be fair, that is you decision, but be kind and tell all those concerned while you are alive, why and what you are planning to do. Or else we who are left behind will then live with the question of "Why?" 

Do you have any favourite authors/books? As I wrote earlier, I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, The Glass Castle, The Red Tent, Dancing with Angels, The Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown – the author. 

Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now? I can not be a big reader because I am a slow reader, but I usually have a book around waiting to be read at any given time. Currently I am reading a holocaust memoir called "Jew Boy." 

Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers? This was advice I have compiled from numerous persons. Don't expect to make any money at it. Don't listen to the reviewers, because there will always be one you loves your book and one who hates it, so develop a thick skin. And don't try and write for someone else's taste, only your own.

If you enjoy reading inspirational stories and real life stories, I would definitely recommend this book to you.....



Best wishes

Debs

The Best of 2010 in Books

Hey guys,

I visited Jess's blog, Tangled Up in Blue the other day where she featured a survey which originated from The Perpetual Page Turner Blog and I thought it would be fun to give it a go...

1.   Best Book of 2010

If I had to pick one book from many fantastic books I have read this year, I would have to pick If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern.  This book just amazed me.  I picked it up thinking that it was just a normal chicklit book, which will give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside and leave me feeling happy.  This book was much more than that.  It was an amazing story of love and strength and many other things.  This book also surprised me like no book has ever done before..  I won't spoil it for those of you have not read it but the turning point in this book shone a new light to what the book was called.








2.   Worst Book of 2010

I would love it if I could come to this question and not be able to answer because all the books I read this year was brilliant but I have come across a few that I did not enjoy as much as the others.   But I have to choose and my choice is Land of the Living by Nicci French.  I do not normally like murder mystery, murder thriller type books and this was a 'step outside of the box' choice for me to see if I liked it.  Unfortunately, I didn't.  The built up I found was very long winded and there was no hook that sucked me into the story.  Maybe it was the story that I did not like but it could also be the fact that it was a genre that I was not invested in...


3.   Most Disappointing Book of 2010

For this, I would have to choose Impossible by Nancy Werlin.   I had heard and read some great reviews on this book and I loved the idea of it.   I had the impression when reading the back that it was some kind of supernatural romance but I was very wrong.  Although the concept of the story was very well thought of as there is no other book out there like this one at them moment (that I am aware of) but I just ended up being really frustrated by the main character and by the other characters around...










4.   Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2010?

Most definitely I would have to say the same book I answered at question 1 above, If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern...  Its a truly magical book.


5.  Book you recommend to people the most in 2010?

Although I most definitely would recommend If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern, the next book that I would recommend is Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  This book really opened my eyes to so many things about life and love and certainly puts life into perspective.  This is a really good real life story of taking chances in life and I would highly recommend it..
 











6.   Best Series you Discovered in 2010?  

I would have to say that the best series I have discovered this year would have to be the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard.  I had heard this through a review and it sounded good so I thought I would give it a go and boy was I glad I did.  Here in the United Kingdom we had not yet had any of these books for sale so I had to have mine shipped from the USA (and I am glad I did because the covers that have come out here in are mainly the TV show covers, which I am not too fond of).  I started reading the first one and was immediately hooked.  One after another, I read each and every one and would have to say that I LOVED it all and especially LOVED the way it ended..







7.   Favourite New Authors You Discovered in 2010? 

To name only a few:

• Sara Shepard
• Maureen Johnson
• Stephenie Meyer
• Elizabeth Gilbert
• Lauren Kate
• Becca Fitzpatrick
• Rachel Hawkins
• James Patterson
• Jessica Verday
• Sarah Addison Allen
• Mike Gayle

OK, so some of these may have been around for a considerable amount of time before 2010 but these are the authors that I discovered I liked in 2010... 

8.  Most Hilarious Read of 2010

For this one, I would have to say The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.  This one was hilarious from start to finish.  At the beginning of the story we see the main character as a business lady who makes a mistake, gets on a train, goes to somewhere she does not know and gets mistaken for an interviewee for a housekeeping job, which she is accepted for.  The only problem is that the main character does not know anything about housekeeping and certainly does not know how to cook and clean.  This book is so funny.










9.   Most thrilling unputdownable book of 2010.

I would have to say that the most thrilling book I read this year would have to be The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.  This was one of the longest books I have read this year and one that I could not put down.  I LOVED The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons and bought this one straight away as soon as it came out.  












10.   Books you most anticipated in 2010.

For this one I would have to say Pretty Little Liars series.  As I had to order them from the USA, I had to wait a while for them to be delivered.  They were well worth the wait!

11.   Favourite Cover of a Book You Read in 2010

That would have to be House Rules by Jodi Picoult.  I just love the colours in this book and the brightness and fullness of the colour of the person in the rug shows that this must be important to the story... 






























12.   Most memorable character of 2010?

I would have to say that this would be Samantha from The Undomestic Goddess.  This character's personality and the way she chooses her life journey in the book is just so funny.

13.   Most beautifully written book of 2010?

For this it has to be Save Haven by Nicholas Sparks.  As always, the way Nicholas Sparks writes his stories are so beautifully woven together the words seem to flow effortlessly, which must take a lot of skill to do.  This is truly a beautiful story and one that I will read time and time again.  












14.   Book that had the greatest impact of 2010.  

This would have to be Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert as this book was really inspirational.  Following the story of Elizabeth Gilbert as she changes her whole world and takes a chance on travelling and on her life definitely impacted on me.  Not that I have changed anything that major but I have definitely become more confident and actually doing what I set out to do and not putting it aside for another day... 

15.   Books you cannot believe you waited 2010 to finally read? 

There are so many but to list a few:

• The Hollow and the Haunted by Jessica Verday
• The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
• Pretty Little Liars Series by Sara Shepard.

There have been so many books I could not believe I have waited for that I could keep going for quite a while.....  

What a great survey...  If any of you fancy having a go, please do and let me know.......

Best wishes

Debs

Bookshelf Tour - January 2011 Update

Hey guys! 

I thought I would do a bookshelf tour update to start the year off as I mean to go on...  I am planning on not buying as many books as I have been and reading the ones I already have on my bookshelf...

Here is my video (there are two parts):

FIRST PART



SECOND PART



Best wishes

Debs

Book Review - (Read in 2010) Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Hey guys,

Here is my last review for 2010 (sorry for posting it late as I have been so busy for the past few weeks with Christmas and New Years and many other things as well as not being well for a while)...... 



Best wishes

Debs