Book Review- Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

So another holiday read! Having read and enjoyed Jenny Colgan's other books i looked forward to reading this book and saved it for the sunbed! The main Character is Issy who loves baking cupcakes and other deliciousness (each chapter starts with a recipe, some of which sound fab). She is made redundant from her job, by her boyfriend, so eventually decides to open up the cupcake cafe. we follow her on this journey and meet Pearl and her little boy, Caroline, Austin and Issy's Gramps. 

I really enjoyed reading this and thought Jenny dealt with dementia really well, i loved the development of Pearl and would love to read more about her. Austin provides the love story line and is a great improvement on Graeme, who is a typical city boy.

The only disappointing part of the book was the ending, it was a little bored now so i'll finish it in a page. I hope that the follow up book makes up for this, but i do look forward to reading the next one.

i'll give this 4 stars out of 5.

Book Review- The Birds & The Bees by Milly Johnson

Another holiday read, i mainly took authors that i had enjoyed before and i have loved the previous books i have read by Milly. 

this book follows Stevie, a romance writer, through finding out her fiance is cheating on her with her new friend. She finds out from her friends ex, Adam. the book gets going when Adam suggests he move in with Stevie and her son to make their ex's jealous so they go back to their original partners. as the plot develops we discover that neither ex is who they have made out to be and they are better off without them.

As this is a chicklit book you know where the book is going but i still enjoyed the journey, it was just slower starting then some of her other books.

A great read so 4 stars out of 5.

Book Review- A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde

This was one of 2 Katie Fforde books that i took on holiday with me- 14 books in total! Unfortunately i didn't enjoy this one as much as the other one or any of her other books i have read. That's not to say it is a difficult read it just took a while to get going, or for me to get into it, i'm not sure which! From reading the back i knew that the book would have a happy ending like all Katie's books do. This isn't a bad thing for me but it is worth pointing it out.  

Anyway this story is about Sophie and her life. At the start of the book she doesn't really have one and is quite downtrodden, however a trip to New York a chance meeting introduces her to Matilda and her Grandson and we see where the plot is going! a few bumps along the way and it all ends happily ever after :)

I could go into more details but i don't want to ruin the book for you. It is an ok read but not one of her best

3 stars out of 5.

Book review- A tiny bit marvellous by Dawn French

I didn't think I was going to read this book, but when I saw it in a charity shop for 50p I thought I'd give it a whirl. Quite a few if my friends have read it and enjoyed it so I bought it and saved it for my holiday. I started reading it the day before we flew and then on the aeroplane, it was a perfect book for that as it is written diary style, and the chapters are quite short.

The story follows the Battle family's life over a short period of time, which includes Dora sitting her A levels and turning 18. Dora is quite an immature person, but very insecure, which is not helped by her mum's recent behaviour. Her mum, Mo, is going through a mid life crisis (i think), and sees several things differently to how they really are. My favourite character is granny Pamela, who always seems to know what to say and bake. I didn't think all of the swearing was needed for the storyline and it grated in some sections. I also found Oscar to be a strange character and I have never met a teenager like him. I could easily have removed him from the story or made him a smaller character.

Overall I did enjoy the book despite a few niggles so I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Did you enjoy this book?

What did you think about Oscar?

What about Noel's contribution to the storyline?

Book Review- The winter lodge by Susan Wiggs

Until this book i have never heard of this author, but i am very glad that i have now! This is such a lovely story all about Jenny and her life in Avalon. There is a bit of flicking from the past to the present day but this is ok, as long as you read from the start of the chapter and see the year! 

The book's main character is Jenny who we meet just as her house is burning down. She has lived there from being little with her Grandparents, and now has lost everything bar the few things she recovers from the ashes. 

I loved reading the history between Jenny and Rourke, and the author included a few twists that i didn't anticipate at all. We also look into Jenny's history and meet other characters that live in Avalon, which has left me wanting to buy more of Susan Wiggs' books. One plot that i hope is developed into a book is Daisy, her dad and brother. 

Overall i loved this book and will definitely be coming back for more

have you read this book?

did you enjoy it?

have you read any other books by Susan Wiggs?

5 stars out of 5