Inver

'The Woman Who Painted Her Dreams' by Isla Dewar Well I started this book months ago and seemed to be enjoying it but it has taken me so long to get to 3/4 of the way through that I had completely lost track of what was actually happening. I have made the decision to abandon it, just not holding my interest anymore...life is to short as they say.

'Secrets of the Lighthouse' by Santa Montefiore This was my first read of this author and on the whole I enjoyed it. Ellen runs away to Ireland and doesn't want to be found and finds the perfect place when she goes to stay with her Aunt Peg and meets lots of members of her family she knew nothing about. Why had her mother kept all this a secret from her? She feels at home there but also hears about a tragedy that happened at the lighthouse. I loved the family she has in Ireland and she soon falls in love with their way of life and doesn't want to have to face what she has run away from and vows not to go back. Caitlin died tragically at the lighthouse, but what was the truth about why and how it happened. Caitlin is the supernatural element in this storyline and she talks to us as she watches over her children and her husband, who becomes involved with Ellen, she is jealous and wants to find a way to put an end to their relationship before it gets too serious. How would this be possible and how can make her peace and get closure. A weary soul who has to find a way. Surely Conor still loves her and not Ellen. Sometimes it was a bit predictable but it was still an enjoyable read. I may well try another of her books. 3/5

One more win Scotland..and we are nearly there.

Not sure how many of our members use(d) ReadItSwapIt, but I have just discovered that the site has closed. I was going to check on a book and found after it not connecting and googling that it closed at the end of September. I've had a good few books swapped and enjoyed on this site.

@frankie...which ones do you have to read?

I read 'The Trysting Tree' last year and as with all Linda's books, thoroughly enjoyed it. My review....

Sometimes you just need a 'nice' read with a bit of feel good factor. I hadn't read one of Erica's books in a while and 'Song of the Skylark' just fitted that niche. It was a present for Mother's Day from my youngest from my wishlist...always a good idea to keep a list for him to choose a book from for me. My review is here.... Anyone else recommend an Erica James read that you have enjoyed, then post here.

That is good, managed to add two more books to the list in September....one for someone's name in title and female author.

'Harry the Poisonous Centipede's Big Adventure' (#2 in the series) Another funny read involving Harry and George, the poisonous centipedes. When George goes missing Harry goes off to find him but both are captured by a 'hoo-min' and put in a glass jars. They have to find their way back home which involves dodging death and other creepier crawlies than themselves. Another read pinched of the boys bookshelf....back to childhood reads.

I do hope you enjoy it @Lau_Lou if you do read it.

'Song of the Skylark' by Erica James What a lovely read this was. Going between past and present....Clarissa and Lizzie, years apart in age but are brought together when Lizzie's mother gets her to volunteer at the care home she helps works at. Lizzie befriends Clarissa (95) and she begins to ask Clarissa about her past. She opens up and there the tale begins of how she sailed from America over to the UK at the age of 19 and how she made friends on board with Artie, Ellis, Effie, Betty. Once she arrives in England she seeks out her grandparents and there she stays. Her life totally different to what she has left and takes us up to and through WWII. She persuades her grandparents to take in two young boys torn apart from their parents due to the war. Clarissa remembers all the details of their lives through this trying time and how she still kept in touch with her friends she made. Everyone struggles through war time and not without love and losses, but they find strength to carry on. Lizzie has her problems too, but through her friendship with Clarissa she begins to see the error of her ways with guidance from her new friend. She comes to see that her future may take a different route and a more steady paced lifestyle could be just what she needs. Her family are there for support and she is loving helping out with her nephew, Freddie. I loved all the characters and the friendship of young and old was gently merged and became very special to both. The ending was inevitable but done in a very touching way and brought a tear to my eye. There were no loose ends as Lizzie and family had their own neat conclusion. 4/5

'The Forgotten Summer' by Carol Drinkwater I kept this one for my holiday read this year and thoroughly enjoyed being whisked away to France to the vineyards and olive trees. Carol writes about these subjects with such detail (I was taken back to The Olive Farm series...). I loved the characters and the twists in the storyline of past and present in the sun drenched Provence...although I wanted to shake Clarisse at times. When tragedy strikes Jane's beloved Luc she has to make decisions on how the future lies, whether it be in helping keep Luc's beloved vineyards going or go back to England. If Clarisse (Luc's mother) had her way she wouldn't let her have anything to do with it. When she is sifting through all Luc's files etc. she comes upon secrets he was keeping from her....and there lies a plot and how can she fine out the truth,but you will have to read the book to find out more. All in all I enjoyed this as my holiday read...thank you Carol. 4/5

...oh my...I've just looked at all your photos of book and bookshelves....!!! I think BCF need a trip to visit Athena Library....

@chaliepud ......So....the postie man left me a wee bookie shaped parcel through the letter box today. I know I hadn't ordered/swapped a book with anyone. I have the most generous bookie friends. Thanking you Hayley again for the nice surprise and I can say I haven't read this one but I have read all her others and enjoyed them. 'The Little Pieces for You and Me' by Vanessa Greene.

@Athena.....it was an ok read, but I'm finding here reads a bit samey now. Maybe I have just tired myself of her books. I've read other people feeling the same too. so not just me.

Finished...at last...my reading is slow at the moment..... 'House Rules' by Jodi Picoult.....bit predictable writing. Continuing reading... 'The Woman Who Painted Her Dreams' by Isla Dewar

This challenge won't be completed this year...definitely an 'ongoing' one.

'House Rules' by Jodi Picoult A while since I've read a Jodi Picoult again, so gave this one a go. Asperger's being the main topic this time. The usually scenario of mother trying to good by her children, whether guilty or not. A situation occurs that points the finger of guilt at her son Jacob, but did he do it? Although obviously well researched regarding the Asperger's syndrome I did find this book very repetitive and could well have been shorter and the conclusion reached sooner. I so wanted the accused to just tell them what happened by the end and then I wasn't quite sure about the ending! In my mind I knew what the outcome would be but found the ending a bit untidy. 2/5

Hubby and I went to see 'Dunkirk' at the weekend. I thought it was very good, hubby did too but thought it was a bit disjointed. He knows his planes, war facts etc. so the odd little thing niggled. Was pleasantly surprised how well Harry Styles did in the film too.

Managed to add another to title to fill in a gap...slowly slowly.

I have a feeling I'll be sending hubby out to collect an Indian take away...come the weekend I like to have a night off from having to cook...nobody else offers and this is the usual opt out.

Oh I do hope you enjoy it when you do. I took too long to read it after al the recommendations for it.

'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah Wow! I don't know why I haven't read this wonderful book sooner....recommended so many times by bookie friends. A totally riveting but heart wrenching read....sisters Isabelle and Vianne, two different characters who have to come through the atrocities of war and a France occupied by Nazi in WWII. A well researched and quite harrowing read in parts. I was near to tears on a few occasions. Where people reached for the strength to survive in these times of war is beyond me, but they did. A time of loss and pain for both sisters. Separated and not knowing what is happening to the other. Isabelle a headstrong, independent woman who wants to help France and Vianne, surviving at home with her child but also dealing with Nazi billeting in her home. Will they both survive? Kristin's writing had a way of making you feel almost exactly how the characters were feeling. Towards the end I was feeling a bit uncomfortable about how humans can treat each other so horribly, but that unfortunately that is the way of war. Totally recommend this book ( @chaliepud....sorry it took so long to get to this book, but thank you for recommending it) 5/5

Scrolling through this and thought I would have answered this one. 'Inver' was chosen a simple one I chose for a bookie site name originally. We had a caravan at site called 'Inver Mill' so just shortened it.

'Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams' by Jenny Colgan. Enjoyed the 'sweetie references' at the beginning of each chapter, but other than that a very ordinary, non taxing read. Sweetie shop, aged Aunt Lilian, Angie the daughter, asks, Rosie the great niece to go and look after her after illness. Shop potentially needs put up for sale. Rosie settles in, spruces up the shop, reopens, gets to know the locals etc. Didn't find the love interest very engaging. Not without its ups and downs but a bit predictable how it was going to end and a bit too 'sweet' for me. 2/5