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I've decided to move my cards into instagram as I'm not very good at this blogging! I'll also be sharing any charity shop finds or bargain deals.
If you search for 'cassies cards and finds' then you should find me.

New blog

Incase any of my followers want to follow my new blog its here. I`ll be covering the stresses of moving house, job and counties. Hopefully continuing with craft, getting back to blogging about it. hopefully we may even have some days out that I'll share with you. wish me luck!

Book Review- Look Who it is by Alan Carr



I don't like many comedians but Alan Carr makes me cry with laughter and i miss him on radio 2. The book takes us through his childhood, up until he starts the friday night project. There were so many interesting and funny stories in here i really enjoyed reading this and laughed out loud in several parts. if you have ever laughed at alan carr then i suggest you buy this book, even though it was written a few years ago.

4 stars out of 5.

Book Review- Fame by Tilly Bagshawe

To describe this as a bonk buster would be unfair. it is so well written and enjoyable that the name bonk buster seems cheap and sleazy and this book is anything but. It is set in the film world, and based in LA, Derbyshire and Romania  there are 4 main characters, Damien the Romanian film producer, Sabrina the spoilt Lindsey lohan style actress, Viorel the hot actor adopted from Romania when he was a baby and Tish who runs a Romanian orphanage and is called back to her families house in Derbyshire to help sort out the finances. She agrees to let Damien film his remake of Wuthering Heights there. 

I loved reading this from start to finish and loved the friendship built between Viorel and Abel, it was really sweet. The characters were all so well written even the minor characters, rather then added for effect.

i give this book 5 starts out of 5.

Book Review- Destiny by Louise Bagshawe

I have read all of Bagshawe's previous books and enjoyed them all. To me she is a modern day Jackie Collins, and until earlier this year an MP. The books main character is Kate fox who is a virtual orphan, and on first appearances a gold digger. however as we learn more about her we discover a highly intelligent woman who has done all she can to avoid living life like her mother did. She is a writer on a magazine, but spends the rest of her time hunting rich men. She eventually manages to marry one (Marcus Broder) but things don't work out, when they divorce Marcus wants Kate to disappear, but she isn't that type of girl!

I enjoyed reading this book, but the small continuity errors annoyed me. they were only silly things, but i expect better from a author of 10+ books.

4 stars out of 5

Book Review- When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

I avoiding reading this book as i thought it was going to be a disappointment after all the hype it had. But i saw it for 50p in a charity shop i thought i'd give it a chance and packed it into the hand luggage.

It is narrated by Elly and split into 2 parts, when she is a young girl and then when she is in her late 20's. It read like an autobiography, but it isn't. It covers the 70's and  9/11, has homosexuality and neglect sub plots but also manages to make you laugh out loud.

I was unsure of what i thought about this book once i had read it, yes it has some great moments but sometimes the bits in between were awkward. i think it would have been better with slightly less story lines and develop the remaining ones.

over all i will give this 3.5 out of 5.

Book Review- The Magic of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

I had seen this book several times, but always passed over it thinking it was a bit old for me and when reading the back cover i noticed it was a reworking of another book called sweet nothings. However when i went into a  charity shop they had an offer of buy one get one free, so i took advantage of this. 

It focuses on Lizzy who lives in the little village of Middlemoss, It is like a christmassy version of heartbeat! Lizzy is married to not the best of husbands and lives with him and their son on their small holding. She has a few problems to deal with alone the way but thankfully the book finishes with a happy ending at Christmas time.

I will definitely be reading more of  Trisha Ashley from now on.

4 stars out of 5.

Book Review- One Day In May by Catherine Alliott

Another Catherine Alliott book review for you, but it is fab! The title is what the whole book is based one, but that doesn't become clear until much later in the book and then you go.... oh that makes sense! This is a fab read as we follow Hattie an interior designer, to Bosnia, the houses of Parliament, France and Little Crandon. We learn all about her 1st love and how her actions years ago, are now catching up with her and the secrets and lies she has and told are coming out in the wash! It has several twists in the storyline, and a great ending!

this is a 5 star book and you should definitely read it!

PS the review is short, as it is difficult to tell you more without revealing important parts of the story. even the back cover is vague!

Book Review- Gypsy Princess by Violet cannon

Another book about Gypsys/ Travellers, this is a factual book based on Violet's life. I really enjoyed reading about her childhood and what she and her siblings got up to. I enjoyed reading about her experinces in school and the families differing views on education. Another great part was reading about the difference between gypsy's and fair folk. We have a travelling fair that comes every year to my hometown and i never knew they were classed differently to gypsies.

Overall this was a good read and very informative.

5 stars out of 5.

Book Review- Love Letters by Katie Fforde

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Another Holiday read, I'm setting them up one a week hence this being october and i read it in august! 

This is the 2nd Katie Fforde book i took away with me. Another good read, the book's mains charactor is Laura, she works in a bookshop which she loves. As well as selling books she has a book club and also arranges book signings. At one of these signings she meets the agent who has nothing but praise for the event and as Henry the owner is closing the bookshop she suggests a job for Laura, organising a literary and music festival in the heart of the English countryside.

There is a misunderstanding and Laura is tasked with getting infamous writer Dermot Flynn to be the star of the festival. Over the past few years he has become a bit of a recluse, so Laura and her new friend travel to Ireland to see him and then the romance starts to happen :)

it flows like a typical Katie Fforde book and there is a bump in the love path, but thankfully it all ends happily ever after :)

4 stars our of 5

Book Review- A Married Man by Catherine Alliott

I have read Catherine Alliott in the past but she fell of my radar until recently, but i'm glad I've rediscovered her. After finishing this book i immediately got anther Alliott book to read. The review is to follow for that one! 

This isn't a deep book, but is well written and covers more things then the average chicklit book. The main character is Laura, who is a widow and has 2 children. She meets a man randomly on the dtreet and ends up following (stalking) him. Some of the reviews i have read didn't like this, but having never been through anything like this, i don't know how it would effect me. She leaves behind her friends to go live on her parent in law's grounds, due to money and child issues, the married man also lives near by. I'll leave you to read the rest of the book yourself, and enjoy it as it is well written with a couple of twist thrown in for good measure!

5 stars out of 5.

Book Review- Little Gypsy by Roxy Freeman

I Love MBFGW and when i saw the gypsy books coming out i wanted to read them. This book is interesting to read but i would say the author is more a new age traveller then an actual gypsy. I don't know lots about gypsies but i know being a gypsy is not just a way of life but more like a religion. 

Anyway i'm nit picking, i enjoyed this and would recommend reading this, it gives a good insight into life on the road and living hand to mouth.

4 stars out of 5.

Book Review- Changing Places by Colette Caddle

The cover for this book doesn't look the best, but she is an amazing writer, if you love Patricia Scanlan then i think you will become a fan of Colette Caddle as well.

The main characters in this book are 2 sisters Anna and Rachel, who have grown apart, but are held together by their cousin Jill. The sisters are slightly envious of each others lives; Rachel is married to Gary and has a little boy and Anna is married to Liam and she has a good job in an estate agents.  too much goes on in the book to write it all down here, but i was gripped to the very end of the book. nothing felt like padding or needed taking it, it all just flowed so well.

5 stars our of 5- I'd give more if i could!

Book Review-After The Party by Lisa Jewell

This is the sequal to Ralph's Party, another book by Lisa Jewell. This book totally passed me by when in was released, but i saw it in tesco and thought i need to read that, so in it went (3 for £5) and then i packed it for Egypt :) I didn't read the 1st book again before reading this and it wasn't essential but i think it might help to know more of the background story, it did come back to me, but i think i'm going to pull it out and read it again.

We meet Ralph and Gem 11 years down the line with 2 children, and at this point i think it is where most people will relate to the story, i don't have any children but i still felt it touch a few raw nerves. They both love each other but after 11 years everything has become a bit robotic and monotonous. The book follows them on a journey and i'll leave you to read where this journey takes them.

I loved reading this book and really recommend it

5 stars out of 5.

Book Review-Adored by Tilly Bagshawe

I used to love Jackie Collins books when i was a teenager ( not sure why my mum let me read them but that is another story!) and this book is like their 21st century sister.

The book starts off in the 70's and we meet Duke McMahon and his family, moving on we meet Sienna his grandaughter and the main character of this book. She is really close to her Grandad and she is devastated when he died. She doesn't really get on with her parents, and as she gets older she is no longer in touch with them but keeps seeking her half Uncle as they were really close when they were little.

The flaw in this story is that Sienna is very difficult to like, she's spoilt and attention seeking, but she does have a kind side when she is with her Uncle (Hunter) (Hunters story is a good addition and totally hollywood!)

There are lots of characters to get to know but once you get going with the book , it's easy to remember who they all are. 

4 stars out of 5.

Book Review- Air Babylon by Imogen Edward Jones

Possibly not the best book to read on a plane! Luckily having read several other babylon books i read this after arriving at the resort, but was looking around watching the plane for any of the incidents i had read about in the book!

The book is based on true stories collected up by the Author, and then fitted into a 24hour period. It is a little contrived but it is a good read and i really recommend reading it. this is a short review but i don't want to give out too much information about it.

4 stars out of 5

Book Review-Two's Company by Jill Mansell

I have most of Jill Mansell's books and packed this one for a guaranteed good read.

This book follows Cass, Jack and their family, they meet Imogen, a writer for Hi magazine (like hello), Jack creates a bad impression and Cass want's him to make try to create a better 2nd impression, this goes slightly too far and Jack leaves Cass for Imogen. Whilst this is happening they have 3 children, Cleo- a famous model, Sean-a comedian, who gets his girlfriend pregnant and Sophie, a wanna be eco warrior. I'll not go into the finer details of this book, but i did enjoy reading it and i want to know more about Sean's friend Danny, he deserves a nice life! I'm not sure how i wanted this book to end but i think i enjoyed the ending!

4 stars out of 5

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.