The Greatest Love Story of all Time by Lucy Robinson

Its Frans 30^th birthday and things are good. She’s bluffed her way into a very posh job and her outlandishly handsome and talented boyfriend Michael is escorting her to the Ritz with a bulge in the shape of a ring box in his pocket.

But something has gone wrong. By the end of the evening Fran is howling in bed with a bottle of cheap brandy and one of Michaels old socks.

In her quest to figure out why her life has suddenly gone down the pan, Fran comes up with a failsafe plan: live like a badger, stalk a stranger called Nellie and cancel her beloved Gin Thursdays in favour for drinking gin every night. But then Frans friends force a very different plan on her and its nowhere near as fun. How could eight dates possibly make her feel better?

But eventually she agrees. And so begins the greatest love story of all time………

The blog on the back of this book, nowhere near covers the delectable delights, the LOL one liners that are in store for the reader. The emotional turmoil that most of us can relate to when we are dumped, but also with an alcoholic mother who is having a 20 year affair with a tory politician there is some real emotional depth. As a daughter of two alcoholic parents I totally get the angst that Fran goes through.

Without giving too much away, I guarantee a feel good ending that we expect from this kind of story. A lovely light, entertaining read that I would highly recommend.

The Commuting Bookworm 18/03/2013

The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

June the first, a bright summers evening, a Monday and into the busy bustling homes at 66 Star Street slips unseen, a mysterious visitor. As the couples, flatmates and repentant singletons on No 66 fall in and out of love, clutch at and drop secrets, laugh, cry and simply try to live, no one suspects the caller patiently in the wings. For soon: really soon, everything is going to change…….

This is my first Marian Keyes, and it took a while to get into it. Not because of her style but because I was trying to work out who or what the narrator is. However once I penetrated the story and I was in, there was no putting it down until the last page was turned.  This novel is like peeling an onion there are so many layers to it. If you have chunks of time to read blocks of pages in each reading sitting, this is a worthwhile read.

Having spoken to a friend who has read more Marian Keyes, this one is not representative of her others. This has wet my appetite and I will read another at some point in the future.

The Commuting Bookworm 2013

Lifesaving for Beginners by Ciara Geraghty

She has lots of friends, an ordinary job, and she never ever thinks about her past. This is Kats story. None of it is true.

Milo McIntyre loves his mam, the peanut butter and banana muffins at the funky Banana café, and the lifesaving class he does after school. He never thinks about his future, until the day it changes forever. This is Milo’s story, all of it is true.

And then there is the other story. The one with a twist of fate which somehow brings together a boy from Brighton and a woman in Dublin, and uncovers the truth once and for all.

This is the story that’s just about to begin……..

This really is a read with real depth. It also shows how society has changes in its opinions over the last 20 years. This is a family that faces crises and grows through it. A wonderful heart-warming, believable tale. Ciara Geraghty has been compared to Marian and I can quite understand why. A very enjoyable read and should not be overlooked for this year’s holiday reads selection.

The Commuting Bookworm 2013

Move Over Darling By Christine Stovell

Coralie Casey is haunted by her past, moves to the marvellous close knit community of Penmorfa, where she builds her business of Sweet Cleans, and all natural cleaning and beauty products based on her Grandmas formulas.

Gethin Lewis is an internationally acclaimed artist originally from Penmorfa now residing in New York, who returns to the village to settle his late father estate. The locals think that Gethin has betrayed them both in his work and also in they way he wants nothing to do with the village.

The village has a village hall that need renovating but they have no money. Gethin, feels attracted to Coralie, and knows from past experience if he can paint the girl he will work the attraction out of his system. Therefore he offers the village a painting that they can auction and get the money they so desperately need. There is only one catch, the subject has to be Coralie and she has to go to New York to sit for him.

There are many sub – stories running through this will they or wont they, roller coaster of a novel. Christine Stovell has the gift of interweaving the characters and getting the reader to care about all of them. She uses the colour of Coralies retro clothes to exenterate the happy and sad emotions of the story.

As the secrets of all become unravelled, the truth is exposed as are the true feelings of them all, they reader is rewarded with being the fly on the wall in this small village life, as if we there. A wonderful story by an amazing author who gives us her all.

The Commuting Bookworm 01/10/12

To buy from Amazon

The Road Back by Liz Harris

The Road Back by Liz Harris

 When Patricia accompanies her father, Major George Carstairs on a trip to Ladakh, north of the Himalayas, in the early 1960s, she sees it as a chance to finally win his love. What she could never have foreseen is meeting Kalden – a local man destined by circumstances beyond his control to be a monk, but fated to be the love of her life. Despite her fathers fury, the lovers are determined to be together, but can forbidden love survive?

The story is classic, girl meets boy, controlling father forbids it, adversity needs to be overcome, and the rest as they say is history. However, this story takes the reader on so many twist’s and turns it becomes the ultimate emotional roller coaster. This book has all of the special ingredients we have come to expect from the Choc Lit library and does not disappoint. Im not going to give any spoilers but you will need the hankies along the way and a box of Malteesers, a cosy beanbag and the phone switched off would mean you really do get the full benefit of this wonderful novel.

Liz Harris has a degree in English and therefore the quality of the writing is excellent and it a real treat to enjoy. As well as following the story of Patricia, Kalden and others, the trip to Ladakh is insightfully picturesque and a fraction of the cost of going for real but no less vivid. 

The Commuting Bookworm 27/09/12

The Secret She Kept by Amelia Carr

As it was an Advance Reading Copy I was sent to review by Newbooks Magazine, there is no blurb on the back of my copy telling me what this novel is about, or what to expect.  This always makes for an exciting adventure within the pages and this book is no disappointment. I will focus on the barebones of the story but concentrate on how I enjoyed it, so as not to give any spoilers.

The story jumps between the 1950’s and the late 1980’s. We have Fliss and Jo who are sailing partners and best friends. When Fliss finds herself pregnant in the 1950’S she has no alternative but to marry Martin. We really get a bit of social history because the narrative tells us about the cars, the house and also people’s perception at the time. We also know about the emotions of heartbreak surrounding young girls who had to have babies adopted.

 In the 1980’S are introduced to Emma and we follow her journey for the search of the truth.  We follow her onto the Jubilee Sailing trust’s boat The lord Nelson, where she becomes a watch leader and becomes friends with a young disabled woman called Mel.  

Amelia Carr transforms us from one era, to another and keeps us attached to all of the characters in the most substantial way. I found myself being so attached to this book, I was even stirring the dinner whilst reading, so unable to leave it, it is a real page turner. I feel that Emma is my own personal  friend; I cared so very much about her and her story.

There is no disappointment in this emotional page turner, it has several ‘love stories’ for the romantics amongst us, lots of interest for those who like a bit of social history and plenty of emotional action and the twist and turns would make Agatha Christie jealous! 

Personal Read 5 : Reading Group 5

The Commuting Bookworm 06/09/12

http://www.newbooksmag.com/

Police, Crime & 999 by John Donoghue

I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the author, however this in no way has influenced my review.

I found this book to be laugh out load funny in many places, John has a very wicked sense of humour and this comes out in his reminiscence of situations he has found himself in, whilst on duty as a Police constable some where up north in the UK.

Because of his location, I found some of the stereo types of people quite sad, but I do know from personal experience they are probably very true. I’m sure he has cleaned up many of the stories so that they do not cause offence and to protect the innocent (and those that could influence his career). 

A well written book that has been written in a narrative form and therefore sometimes John does digress, and you feel like you want to prod him back on track of his original story. However, this is a trait that so many ex-solders have, and it’s a bit endearing and reminds me of sitting in the pub listening to my dads (also ex-solder) stories. Because each chapter is a separate incidence, this is a great book for having by your bed side or in the bathroom as it is perfect for dipping in and out of when you only have a few minutes to read.

The Commuting Bookworm 04/09/12