Book Review - Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft

Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft (buy me)

Synopsis
New home, new friends, new love. Can starting over be that simple? Tess Riddell reckons her beloved Freelander is more reliable than any man - especially her ex-fiance, Olly Gray. She's moving on from her old life and into the perfect cottage in the country. Miles Rattenbury's passions - Old cars and new women! Romance - He's into fun rather than commitment. When Tess crashes the Freelander into his breakdown truck, they find that they're nearly neighbours - yet worlds apart. Despite her overprotective parents and a suddenly attentive Olly, she discovers the joys of village life and even forms an unlikely friendship with Miles. Then, just as their relationship develops into something deeper, an old flame comes looking for him ...Is their love strong enough to overcome the past? Or will it take more than either of them is prepared to give?

My Review

Sue Moorcroft has written an outstanding novel that has over powered me with love. Its not very often I pick up Adult Fiction and when I do its not normally Chick Lit. I love my paranormal and historical Fiction, but when it comes to chick lit I'm more for anything YA. So to read something that's so gripping from the start left me dumb struck and in awe. Sue takes us on a journey of love, mistakes and bad relationships...and I found myself engaged from the very first page.

Sue write's the characters with such passion that they vibrate off the page and once you hold on you can't let go! Miles a.k.a Ratty is that 'guy' you know the one that makes the book, he pulled on my heart strings and made it race with his bad boy vibes. While Tess had me constantly rooting for her I formed a unmistakable love for this women, no matter if she was wrong or right she pulled me along with her for the ride.

I would definitely recommend this book as it is an unmissable read and I must admitt I'm eager to start the second book I received for review written by her All That Mullarkey.

Happy Thursday xxx

Book Review - Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson

Image taken from waterstones

Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson(Pre order me - 5th August)

Synopsis
Hanover Falls hasn't had a werewolf problem in over one hundred years. But when people suddenly start dying in Claire Benoit's town, panic spreads fast. At Claire's sixteenth birthday party, the gruesome killings are all anyone can talk about. Claire, however, is more interested in the fact that the gorgeous Matthew Engle keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf. As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever...

My Review

For Christine Johnson's debut novel I feel she has set her standards high for the sequel. Christine Johnson writes an engaging novel with a good plot although it was a little slow at parts, just never slow enough for you to wanna put it down. I moved from page to page with a feeling of slight disappointment when I thought I figured the plot out not even half way in and when it was revealed , my face lit up in enthusiasm as I was proven wrong (a very rare thing to happen) Christine I applaud you, I believe like many readers I was fooled :o)

The  simple characters suited the plot well. Claire's character flourished beautifully, she managed to grasp onto her responsibilities with her head held high and recognized a time for change. Claire's will power, bravery and loyalty kept me mesmerized from page one she never faltered or stopped trying. I do wish Matthew's character had a bigger part in the book, he seems to be a charming young man that is soft hearted and forgiving and deserved to be wrapped into the pages of Claire De Lune. Although I think that this is the starting of a great 1st in a series.

Christine had me hooked from page one and although I felt it was a little slow at times and I wished there was more on the history behind the pack, it didn't take me long to complete it. I'm glad to know that Claire De Lune has a sequel in the making, as it is a great base to start the world in a Claire De Lune frenzy. I recommend to all of my paranormal lovers it truly is a great addition to the bookshelves.
 
(note to my lovely USA readers - feel free to send me a gift of the USA cover version as that cover is to die for *wink wink*).
 
Happy Reading xxx

Trailer Tuesday(4)

Trailer Tuesday is a feature I will be hosting every Tuesday for book trailers I currently adore, it can be a released or due to be released, it can be the original or a fan made trailer....as long as you like it. Feel free to join in and let me know in the comments so I can come and check it out.

 Hey all, its that time of week again where I share with you my trailer love. This weeks trailer is for the FAB sounding book The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

I have heard some interesting things about this novel and can not wait to receive my copy that I have just ordered from the Book Depository.

Whats your favourite trailer right now...come on tell me! you never know i may not have seen it yet!!

Book Review - Zelah Green (One more little problem) by Vanessa Curtis

Zelah Green bk 2 (One more little problem) bu Vanessa Curtis

Synopsis
Warm, winning and real, Zelah Green is back! My name is Zelah Green and I'm a Cleanaholic. It's the summer hols and I'm on major Flirt Alert. I've joined mysortaspace.com and ever since I've been getting emails from loads of boys. Boys are Dirt Alert AND Germ Alert. Don't even talk to me about kissing...The rest of my life's a bit rubbish too. That's because: my dad is moping about the house missing his girlfriend; my ex-best friend still isn't speaking to me; my grumpy weirdo Satanist friend has turned up to stay; my cleaning rituals are are taking up way too much time; and, most importantly, the guy I really like, Sol, has disappeared off the face of the earth...


My Review
If you remember I read and reviewed the first book in the Zelah Green set here and loved it, so when I began the second I was stoked into a world where the old saying 'before things get better they get worse' came into play.
 
Vanessa writes this book better then her first and it only gets more funky with never ending humour throughout. It explores Zelah in a different light, allowing us to see what makes her OCD worse, and with everything that's going on in her life I don't blame her. I love Zelah's character it reminds me of today's typical teens(without the OCD) stressing about boys, life, family, friends except Zelah is a little more mature in many aspects, she has had to grow up very fast.
 
Zelah Green is a book series that I would recommend, it highlights many aspects around us. Making those with a problem, want to seek help and those without, to understand that there are many reasons why people out there suffer, they do what they do for a reason. Vanessa Curtis  has wrote a truthful book that explores self-harm, depression, and alcoholism, she is never patronising or employing self-improvement trash. A thumbs up from me!


Happy Reading xx

Where We Read - Kristi (The Story Siren)

Welcome to Where We Read, the new feature here at The Readings of a Busy Mom.

 Its the place to see and share with you where us blogger's and authors enjoy to read.

From sofa's and beds to fancy nook's this is the place we read out books

To Start of this week we have been joined by the fabulous Kristi from The Story Siren

Can you tell is a little about yourself?

My name is Kristi! I'm a young adult literature addict. I share that addiction on my blog, The Story Siren. I live in a small town in Indiana with my husband and our rottweiler, Xander. When I'm not reading or blogging, I'm hanging out with my boys!

Where is your favorite reading spot?

My frumpy couch, with my blanket.

Oh I love that couch it looks soft! Why do you like to read there?
I read there because it's comfy! I don't seclude myself when I'm reading a book. Otherwise I'd probably never see my husband, so he is usually there beside me on the couch watching television while I read. I don't have any problems tuning out the television when I'm reading, so it works out nicely for me

Can you tell us your top 5 books so we can enjoy them in our spots.

This is such a loaded question..... only five!

Yeah 5, as if I make you narrow them down they will be the best 5 ;o)
Speak by Laure Halse Anderson (for something serious)

Lover Mine by J.R. Ward (for a steamy romance)

Forget You by Jennifer Echols (for something different)

A Match Made in High School (for something funny)

Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead (for an escape from reality)

Thank you Kristi, don't you all just love that couch you can see why Kristi enjoys to read there it looks all soft and comfy! If you don't know who Kristi is please check out her blog

If you would like to take part in my new feature Where We Read please email me

In My Mailbox(5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that explores the contents of one's mailbox. IMM was started by Kristi at The Story Siren

I really wanted to do a vlog for this weeks In my Mailbox, but my little Leela Bug(youngest daughter) hasn't been too well so i will try to do one and add it later today.

I got some FANTASTIC books this week  for review, I was also meant to get a parcel from Amazon which hasn't arrived so that will be in next weeks IMM. So lets start with what I got this week

     

 IDRACULA by Bekka Black

A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware

The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

 

Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

 

Black Sea Twilight by Domnica Radulescu

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

TheWolf Next Door by Lydia Dare

 So that's all this week guys, leave me a comment and link me to your In My Mailbox, I would love to see what you got!

Book Review - His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm

His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm(Pre-order your copy)
Synopsis

When sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de' Medici marries the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso d'Este, she imagines life with her handsome husband will be idyllic. But little does she know that he is a very complicated man. The marriage is fraught with difficulties from the start, and, as time passes, Lucrezia becomes increasingly alienated. For Alfonso, the pressure mounts as the Vatican threatens to reclaim his title should the couple remain unable to produce an heir. Only his lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury. But Alfonso's growing resentment towards his duchess soon becomes unbearable, and he begins to plot an unthinkable way to escape his problems.

My Review

His last Duchess is Gabrielle Kimm's debut novel which is inspired by the poem 'My Last Duchess by Robert Browing'. The novel has become a fave amongst my shelves and stands proud with its beautiful cover(you know you all agree). Holding it in my hands once received and even smelling the pages for this novel wasn't enough to hold me content, so it rushed to the front of my TBR pile and boy I'm glad I did.

I was immediately seduced by His Last Duchess and grew very fond of the characters Lucrezia with her compassion and innocence, I found myself rooting for her to have a happy ending and was constantly praying for her to escape the vicious lie of a marriage to Alfonso who was a nasty, troubled man (that also needs a good beating ;o}). I was constantly surprised at how Gabrielle worked her magic never allowing the suspense, adventure and danger to leave the page and for it only to get more exciting towards the end.

His Last Duchess is a definite addition to your books shelves - get yourself a little historical fiction to make your mouth water and toes curl with the gripping novel and life like situations explored in breathtaking detail which gives you a great sense of time. I was never a real historical fiction fan but have found myself falling harder then expected. I can not wait for the sequel The Courtesan’s Choice, which will be about one of the minor characters Francesca (Alfonso's lover).

I recommend this to all my readers - why you ask? Because its one bad ass novel in 416 pages ;o)

Happy Weekend xxx