Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

Were you a sherbet lemon or chocolate lime fan? Penny chews or hard boiled sweeties (you do get more for your money that way)? The jangle of your pocket money.. the rustle of the pink and green stripped paper bag .. Rosie Hopkins thinks leaving her busy London life, and her boyfriend Gerard, to sort out her elderly Aunt Lilian’a sweetshop in a small country village is going to be dull. Boy, is she wrong. Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton’s sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to settle up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets. 

I love this book. It is perfect for anyone who is going on holiday or just want something light to read. It is engaging and so easy to read. Lilian and Rosie are amazing characters and I love how the story goes between the past and the future. I do feel bad for Lilian as when she lost someone she cared for, it seemed her father forgot she was there. This, I think, really shows how grief doesn’t work in a rational manner. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_13?k=welcome+to+rosie+hopkins%27+sweet+shop+of+dreams&sprefix=welcome+to+ro

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=welcome%20to%20rosie%20hopkins%20sweetshop%20of%20dreams&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/p-10041-welcome-to-rosie-hopkins-sweetshop-of-dreams.aspx

Glitz by Louise Bagshawe

All’ fair in love and war- especially when there’s a trust fund at stake. The four beautiful Chambers girls are rolling in money, thanks to the trust fund set up their reclusive, super rich uncle Clem. But when he summons his nieces to his mansion in the Seychelles to announce his engagement to Bai Ling, a woman young enough to be their baby sister, the girls know could be over. Can they stop the wedding? What happens when four pampered princesses have to cope without their trust fund? Who will learn to stand on their own two feet.. and who will fall?

This is such a good book. At the start you don’t particularly like the main characters, but as the story goes they grow on you. It also shows you how to be proud of your successes and what you can do on your own two feet. I really enjoyed it. I love everything about it. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it.  

Links to book:

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=Glitz+Louise+&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/p-511978-glitz.aspx

Skin Game by Jim Butcher

Queen Mab has traded on Harry’s skills to pay off a debt. And now he must help a group of villains led by his most despised enemy, Nicodemus Archleone, break into a vault in the Nevernever. Problem is, the vault belongs to Hades, Lord of the Underworld. And Dresden is dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience. Dresden’s always been tricky, but he’s going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this particular heist …

I love this book. This is definitely up to Jim Butcher’s usual and pretty high standard. One of the things I love about it is that you really do see Harry grow from book to book. I absolutely love everything about this book, from the story to the characters and the writing style. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=skin%20game%20jim%20butcher&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/p-3401631-skin-game.aspx

Ravished by Amanda Quick

What Miss Harriet Pomeroy needed was a man. Someone powerful and clever who could help her rout the unscrupulous thieves who were using her beloved caves to hide their loot. But when Harriet summoned Gideon Westbrook, Viscount St. Justin, to her aid, she could not know that she was summoning the devil himself… Dubbed the Beast of Blackthorne Hall for his scarred face and lecherous past, Gideon was strong and fierce and notoriously menacing. Yet Harriet could not find it in her heart to fear him. For in his tawny gaze she sensed a savage pain she longed to soothe… and searing passion she yearned to answer. Now, caught up in the Beast’s clutches, Harriet must find a way to heart-and evade the deadly trap of a scheming villain who would see them parted for all time. 

This is a such a good book. Harriet and Gideon are such amazing characters. Amanda Quick is one of my favourite authors. She writes stories and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. In this book, Quick does it again, Ravished is engaging and so easy to read. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_3_8?k=ravished+amanda+quick&sprefix=Ravished

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=ravished%20amanda%20quick&search=Find+book

The Elder Gods by David and Leigh Eddings

Somewhere beyond the farthest pole of the world, the land of Dhrall lies anchored by the will of 4 powerful Gods. Able to bend reality to their whims and influence the lives of mortal men, these deities are still bound by the laws of nature and cannot take lives. Yet the Gods are not the only power. For in the centre of Dhrall lives a voracious beast known as the Vlagh. A nightmare made flesh, the Vlagh had bred a massive army of hideous monsters to overrun the world. In the coming battles the people of Dhrall will be aided by a ragtag force of foreign mercenaries and pirates, but the true champions of the war of will be four enigmatic children known as the Dreamers. Raised by the Gods themselves, these children can alter the fabric of reality. But, unlike the Elder Gods, the dreamers do not hesitate to kill. 

This is such a good book. David and Leigh Eddings are amazing writers and they are able to create a world and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. My only complaint is that it would have been nice to have the Gods powers explored a little more but apart from that it is an amazing book. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=the+elder+gods+david+eddings

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=the%20elder%20gods%20david%20eddings&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=The%20elder%20gods%20David%20Eddings

Cold Days by Jim Butcher

A bargain with the Queen of Air and Darkness has forced Harry into a new job: professional killer. His first task is to bring death to an immortal. As if that wasn’t hard enough, Harry learns of a danger to Demonreach, the living island hidden upon Lake Michigan. A danger that could destroy billions and land him in the deepest trouble he has ever known. Harry has 24 hours to gather the allies he has left and prevent a cataclysm- all the while the power he bargained to get, but never meant to keep, lays siege to his very soul. 

This series just gets better and better. And this book makes you realise that Harry is no longer a big fish in a small pond. He is now playing in the big leagues. You really see how much Harry has changed from the first book. It is such an enjoyable book. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=cold%20days%20jim%20butcher&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=Cold%20days%20Jim%20Butcher

Great Fictional Mothers

So in honour of Mother’s Day tomorrow, I thought I would mention some amazing fictional mothers. 

The main one for me is Molly Weasley. She is a typical mammy, who always insisted Harry got seconds. She’s not just warm and loving but is willing to put her life on the line to protect her kids. 

Another is Mrs. Bennett. I know a bit of a weird one. She is a bit of a ditz at times, but I truly believe that she cares about her kids. I know do a modern reader it seems a bit strange that marring your daughter to the first person she sees, but at the time, a woman’s main path to freedom was through marriage. I really believe that Mrs. Bennett truly cared about her daughters and she did this by ensuring that her daughters were all married, happily or otherwise. 

Catelyn Stark is another mamma bear. I have to admit I am not a huge fan of Game of Thrones, but from what I have read and seen in the TV show, there is very little Catelyn Stark wouldn’t do for her kids. 

These are the main ones that I can think of at the moment, but I know there are loads of other examples out there. If there are any you can think of let me know in the comments. 

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

As if being murdered wasn’t enough, Harry’s shade can’t rest in peace. He learns that three of his loved ones are in mortal danger, and only by discovering his assailant’s identity can he save them bring the criminals to justice and move on. It would just be easier if he could interact with the physical world, had a (working) crystal ball, and had access to his magic. And he’s far from the only silent presence roaming Chicago’s darkest alleys. Hell, he put some of them there himself. And now, they’re looking for payback. 

I love this book. Harry Dresden is an amazing character. In this book, it was a little heartbreaking. It was sad to see how some of the characters reacted to grief. Having said that it was a great book. Jim Butcher is a brilliant writer. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_13?k=ghost+story+jim+butcher&sprefix=ghost+story+j

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=ghost%20story%20jim%20butcher&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/search/go#w=Ghost%20story%20Jim%20Butcher

Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley

Desperate to help her widowed sister and baby escape a deadly pursuer, Lady Chasity Ware dresses as a highway man and captures the first coach to travel down the road. Coming face to face with its occupant, the arrogant aristocrat, Cyn Malloren m, she orders him to drive her to a remote cottage. Little does Chastity realise that after long months of recovering from his war wounds, the handsome Cyn is looking for adventure, and being abducted by a cocky highway man – the obviously a lovely woman in disguise- is even more than he hoped for. Willingly he is drawn into her devilishly reckless plan … and helplessly he is seduced by her wonderfully wicked ways. 

This is such a good book. Jo Beverley is a brilliant writer who creates characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This is such a wonderful read. It did get a bit ridiculous towards to the middle of the book but it gets better towards the ends of the book. Apart from that, it is an excellent book and one that is worth reading. I would definitely recommend and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?k=lady+notorious

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=my%20lady%20notorious&search=Find+book

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, student glass magician Opal Cowan lost her powers. Immune to the effects of magic, Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had. Powers that make a difference in the world. Suddenly the beautiful pieces she makes begin to flash in the presence of magic and Opal learns that someone has stolen some of her blood. Finding it might let her regain powers or discover that they’re lost forever…

This is a great conclusion to the Glass series. This is an excellent book and I really enjoyed it. Opal is a great character, even if she seems a bit navie at times. I love her and the story. Maria V. Snyder is a brilliant writer who creates a world that you can’t help but get sucked into. I would definitely recommend it and I hope you enjoy it. 

Links to book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_11?k=spy+glass+maria+v+snyder&sprefix=spy+glass+m

https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=spy%20glass%20maria%20v%20snyder&search=Find+book

http://www.easons.com/p-1225666-spy-glass.aspx