Monthly Wrap Up: April 2015

April was both a busy and quiet month for me. I feel like I was constantly on the go with barely a free moment, and yet when I look back, I honestly couldn’t tell you what I’ve been up to or what I’ve achieved! But my head feels like it’s ready to explode from how hectic the last few weeks have been. Most free time has probably been spent trying to catch up with family, especially with my gorgeous little bro in the mix now. I’m still pretty much in awe of him, I can’t get over how wonderful he is and I want to spend every moment I can with him.

Mr & I have also got a little bit addicted to Pretty Little Liars – something I’d started after recommendations from friends as something to have on in the background, particularly when home alone, but we were quickly sucked in and are now well in to Season 3, in less than two weeks of watching it!! We’d previously binge-watched all 7 series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so needed something to fill the void that had left in our hearts. (Although I like to watch Once More With Feeling about once a week still, and listen to the soundtrack most days just to hear Spike sing…*ahem*)

So overall, crazy-busy without much really happening!

Harper Impulse Fortnight

April 27th – May 10th is Harper Impulse fortnight. I’ll put my hands up and admit my involvement so far has been poor with only one post, but I have some lovely guest posts lined up for next week, so stay tuned, and don’t forget to check out the hashtag #HIfortnight on twitter to keep up to date with all the latest from the lovely authors and bloggers involved.

April in Books

April for me has been an awful month for reading, in the sense that I simply haven’t had anywhere near enough time to read. I feel like i’ve constantly been struggling to grab a few pages here and there, with no real time to sit back and enjoy a book. However, what I did read, was overall pretty damn awesome. A lovely splash of vintage from The Doris Day Vintage Film Club and The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance, and some fabulous summer reads in Truly Madly Greekly and Game of Scones. It was great getting into some holiday reads and feeling summery again (even if the weather hasn’t followed suit!)

    

Books Releases to Get Excited About in May

 

The Heir – May 5th 2015

How I Wonder What You Are – May 7th 2015

Just The Way You Are – May 8th 2015

We Are All Made Of Stars – May 21st 2015

Truly Madly Greekly – May 22nd 2015

Resistance is Futile – May 28th 2015

Books I Plan to Read in May 

If you read my March Wrap-up you may recall I planned to read a few of the books that have been sitting around my house forlornly for months on end. Unfortunately, this was not to be as I found myself struggling for time to read, so they are still staring at me from all corners of my home and judging me for not having the time to read them. Hopefully May will prove more relaxed, but we shall see. I’m not going to set my expectations too high incase the last month is anything to go by for this one, but here’s what I hope to manage:

     

What are you looking forward to this month?

Book Releases: 23rd April 2015

Today is a pretty fab day in the world of book releases! Here’s some of my favourite picks:

The Cake Shop in the Garden, by Carole Matthews

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
My Review

If you aren’t already convinced you need to read this from that delicious cover, do have a read of my review and allow my mushy gushings to convince you! You really don’t want to miss out on Danny Wilde.

 

 

One Small Act of Kindness, by Lucy Dillon

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
My Review

A beautifully intriguing tale from Lucy Dillon, with two wonderful lead characters I couldn’t help but love. Highly recommended.

 

 

 

The Doris Day Vintage Film Club, by Fiona Harper

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
My Review

A fun story about secrets and misunderstandings, I really enjoyed Fiona Harper’s new book.

 

 

 

It Started at Sunset Cottage, by Bella Osbourne (Paperback)

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
My Review

A well-written and charming debut novel from Bella Osborne, definitely a worthwhile read for the chick lit lover.

 

 

Single Woman Seeks Revenge, by Tracy Bloom

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads

Tracy Bloom’s second novel is being re-published, and though I haven’t read this one yet, I think it just looks fab! I’ve enjoyed Tracy Bloom’s humour in what I’ve read before, and think this one is set to be hilarious. It’s definitely on my wish list!

 

 

The Lie, by C. L. Taylor

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads

Another I haven’t read but there is one hell of a buzz about this book! Everyone who’s read it is raving about it, so I’m certainly going to be getting my hands on this ASAP.

 

 

 

Which book releases are you excited about at the moment? Any of these make the cut on your wishlist?

Book Review: The Doris Day Vintage Film Club, by Fiona Harper

‘Sweet and romantic, a story guaranteed to have you smiling’ – Milly Johnson on The Little Shop of Hopes & Dreams

Claire Bixby grew up watching Doris Day films at her grandmother’s house and yearned to live in a world like the one on the screen – sunny, colourful and where happy endings with chiselled leading men were guaranteed. But recently Claire’s opportunities for a little ‘pillow talk’ have been thin on the ground.

Until she meets mysterious Dominic. Nic is full of secrets but their connection is instant. Could he help Claire finding the Hollywood ending she’s been searching for? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

Monthly Wrap Up: March 2015

It’s been a while since I’ve done a ‘wrap up’ or ‘what I’m looking forward to’ post, so I thought it was about time I got back into the habit! March was such an incredible month, both book-wise and otherwise, that I think it’s worth a wrap-up post (better late than never)!

Bundle of Joy

Of course, the most exciting news of all is the birth of my darling baby brother, Sonnie, earlier this month. This little slice of heaven has stolen my heart and I could not love him more, I’m just smitten! I’m so happy for my whole family and know this new addition will only bring us closer. I honestly just can’t get enough of the little monster – I could just stare at him all day!

Rebecca Raisin’s Party

The second most wonderful and exciting thing that happened in March was without a doubt going to Bec’s party in London and getting to meet her and so many of my wonderful bookish friends. I had a bit of a stressful time getting there after a flight delay caused me to miss my train (inducing a minor break down at Gatwick train station!) but eventually i arrived – an hour late – and luckily bumped into Bec and Tay downstairs and recognised them straight away, so I didn’t have to face my fear of having to walk in by myself! I had planned to meet Sharon an hour or so before hand which obviously didn’t happen, but luckily she very kindly saved me a seat at the table with her, Simona, Louise, Candy and Charlotte. It was such a strange feeling, feeling like I knew everyone all so well already, but meeting them for the first time! I quickly relaxed as we all fell into conversation like old friends. After we’d had a good natter and our fill of the delicious cakes and sandwiches served, and had a lovely speech from Bec, we all mingled a bit and moved round, so we had a chance to talk to everyone. I’m just so glad I’ve finally got to meet some of you lovely people who’ve come into my life in the last year, and made such a wonderful impression on me. I was reluctant to leave come the evening, and typically ended up sat in the airport for ages as my flight was delayed yet again, but it was so worth the flying visit. I think we definitely all want to make sure we get together again soon, so Tay, Charlotte and I are looking to plan a bookish picnic in late summer – watch this space! We were all given an adorable goodie bag full of Rebecca Raisin themed treats (the gingerbread man did not last the journey home!) and I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm. Thank you so much Bec, for such a wonderful day.

March in Books

On the whole, March was a pretty great month for books! I really enjoyed Secrets of the Tower as it was so different from most books I read, First Time in Forever and The Day We Disappeared were just WONDERFUL and I finally read Amelia Thorne’s Tied Up With Love, which was so worth waiting for and I loved every second of it so much that I immediately started her first book, Beneath The Moon and The Stars (also amazing!).

     

Books Releases to Get Excited About in April

  

The Day We Disappeared – April 9th 2015

The Cake Shop In The Garden – April 23rd 2015

The Doris Day Vintage Film Club – April 23rd 2015

Books I Plan to Read in April 

One thing I’ve really noticed lately – and I’m not moaning because I feel hugely privileged to be a book blogger and receive review copies! – is that nearly every book I’ve got for myself, and largely the ones I’ve received as gifts/prizes, are all sitting sad and untouched because I haven’t had a chance to get to them for the last six months. I do prioritise review copies and try to have them read and reviewed for around publication date, but it means my own books have been somewhat sadly neglected, so I have a lot of catching up to do. I’ve caught up on most of my ARC reading now, and left my self a bit more free for some time to hopefully catch up on my own books, which I’m really excited about. I still can’t believe I’ve never read Bridget Jones! That definitely has to change, and hopefully that can start this month.       

What are you looking forward to this month?

Book Review: The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams, by Fiona Harper

Nicole Harrison is planning the proposal of the century. Too bad its not her own…

Nicole, a born organiser and true romantic, has created her dream job when she sets up the Hopes & Dreams proposal agency – staging YouTube worthy proposals…until she’s hired to plan a proposal by gorgeous photographer Alex Black’s girlfriend.

Alex is the New Year’s kiss that Nicole hasn’t been able to forget – and now she’s planning his wedding to someone else! But if she lets herself fall for Alex’s charms, her reputation and business will be ruined before it’s even got off the ground! Suddenly the girl whose always prepared is at a loss…and falling head over heels

Thank you to Harlequin UK for approving me for a review copy via NetGalley.

This was a really lovely bit of chick lit, with the perfect cosy feel you want from a good book as we head into the cold winter months.

Holiday Reads!

Only 3 days to go till Mr and I set off to Egypt, and I can’t believe how quickly it’s come around! We started planning a holiday around April, and it felt so far away, but the last month or so has just flown by and now the time is actually here!

Packing is always a bitch, and for the book lover, even more so. It does pose some certain Bookworm Problems. While 2 glorious weeks off in the sun will provide me with lots of lovely reading time by the pool, there’s a couple of things I have to keep in mind.

My Week In Books

I’ve had a pretty busy week, so haven’t managed to get all the hours in reading that I wanted. It’s only really been this weekend that I’ve managed to knuckle down and get some real reading time, as opposed to snatching the odd page or chapter here or there.

This Week I read: