Kate

I'm going to read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers today as I started and finished The Great Destruction by Melanie Ray yesterday

Synopsis: Heather Wells Rocks! Or, at least, she did. That was before she left the pop-idol life behind after she gained a dress size or two

I'm reading a review book: The Great Destruction Book 1 by Melanie Ray, not very far into it yet

Synopsis: Polly becomes Private Oliver Perks, who is on a quest to find her older brother, who's recently MIA in one of the innumerable wars the tiny nation of Borogravia has a habit of starting with its neighbors. This peevish tendency has all but expended Borogravia's ranks of cannon fodder. Whether Sergeant Jackrum knows her secret or not, he can't afford to be choosy, as Perks and her/his comrades are among the last able-bodied recruits left in Borogravia. This collection of misfits includes the aforementioned vampire (reformed and off the blood, thank you), troll, and macabre Igor, who is only too happy to sew you a new leg if you aren't too particular about previous ownership. Off to war, Polly/Oliver learns that having a pair of, um, socks is a good way to open up doors in this man's army. This is number 31 in the Discworld series, and one of the better ones The star of this story is Polly, who has disguised herself as her dead brother Oliver so she could join the army. She wants to go fight in order to find her older brother Paul. She thinks she is the only girl in the regiment, but then someone gives her a pair of socks to use as an area of her anatomy, and she starts to suspect there is another girl amongst the men, but who is it? Along with that, Polly and her comrades have become feared, after taking out a group of bandits. Polly sets off to war, and learns many things along the way. This book had me laughing most of the way through. Terry Pratchett wrote another book that is full of adventure, humour and imagination. This novel is all about girl-power, coffee and a pair of socks! There are several images that will stay with me for a long time I think - such as Malachai the vampire having caffeine withdrawal symptoms, which I found very funny! Again, Pratchett wrote a book full of weird and wonderful characters. I liked Polly, she was headstrong and clever; and I loved her band of brothers. Working out who was female was fun, and they were all funny in their own ways. I don't know how Pratchett came up with characters like vampires who like coffee not blood or Egors, who mend themselves with other people's body parts. His imagination is incredible. I really enjoyed this book. It is one of my favourite from the Discworld series and I would highly recommend it.

I'm hoping to read Alice this week, and I have taken The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Bel Canto out the library

That is great Kell! Well done!

I've been listening to Going Postal by Terry Pratchett - enjoying it a lot

I have just finished 50 Harbour Street by Debbie Macomber and am going to read a review book The Great Destructions by Melanie Ray

I haven't seen the film yet, but I guess the main change will be Ronnie playing the guitar and not the piano... You should definitely read the book, the film won't affect your reading and enjoyment

I've written a review and am currently reading 50 Harbour Street by Debbie Macomber

Synopsis: Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them. Nicholas Sparks is another author that I love ♥ I am slowly reading my way through his novels and am yet to find one I don't like. I loved this novel. the story follows Ronnie as she is shipped off to Wilmington to spend the summer with her father - a man who she hasn't spoken to since he left the family. She does not want to go, and sulks all the way there. And when she gets there she almost immediately finds herself in trouble. But her father surprises her and doesn't yell at her; in fact he is extremely reasonable. This opens up doors which had been closed for a long time. This is a summer of changes and growing up for Ronnie. She patches up her relationship with her father - to have her heart broken, she changes her attitude and best of all, she falls in love. This novel is gorgeous. Sparks explores two loves: that between parent and child, and first love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - in fact as I think about it all I can do is gush! Many changes occur during this novel - in Jonah, Ronnie's brother, her father, and of course, Ronnie. I liked all three of these characters, in particular Jonah. He was so cute - so excited to see his Dad and I loved how even though he was younger than Ronnie he looked out for her. I loved Will as well - handsome, caring and athletic. He was sensible, volunteered and best of all: he chose Ronnie even when his mother dismissed her. The story was lovely, but also heartbreaking. Secrets are kept - and the main one nearly broke my heart when I found out. I had tears in my eyes a lot while the book was drawing to a close. I love a book that pulls on my emotions - and The Last Song did just that. There are many other things that remain in my mind too - I liked how it was nature, turtles to be precise, that softened Ronnie; and the image of the stain glass window that Jonah and their Dad was building was beautiful. Sparks writes gripping novels - and this was no exception. I was hooked from the first page and I sped through this book. And I was gutted when it ended - I wanted more! I think every issue raised in this book was dealt with wonderfully - with compassion and intelligence. This is a romance novel and I guess would be classed as chick-lit, but it is a mature novel and well worth reading. Top marks from me!

I've read 18 now! I've just finished The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble

I have just finished The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble. Not sure what to read next.

Thank you! Books have been coming out of my ears! I don't know how I've managed it!

Synopsis: Clayton Miller's promising media career and personal life are in tatters. To put it all behind him he retreats to a secluded country house. There he meets Alice, who goes to great lengths to avoid telling the truth about herself. When Alice and Clayton discover the truth about each other they form an unlikely friendship... I love Erica James' novels ♥ I have read them all, except one, which I have waiting to be read, and like the others, I was not let down by The Queen of New Beginnings. The story follows two characters: Alice and Clayton. The former is private and wants to keep her past hidden. She is a voice-over artist and makes her living reading stories for audiobooks or recording adverts. She has changed her name and lives in a quite, secluded village. Clayton, on the other hand, has had his life ruined in the media. He is a screen writer who has come to the same village to hide out. His girlfriend and best friend have shacked up and are blaming him for the loss of their unborn baby. It is all over the press and Clayton has been shamed. He meets Alice and eventually gets the truth of her past out; only to use it for his salvation... This is a great story. Alice is a very likeable character - and she made me laugh at the beginning of the novel when she took the persona of a woman called Katya, who was intimidating, even to Clayton. She has a sad story - a girl who lost her mother, then fell for her step-brother who used her and then broke her heart. She had lost contact with her father over the years and had been living a new life, albeit a fairly lonely one. I enjoyed reading her story and seeing her open up. I liked Clayton too. He is in hiding, but as we learn more about him, I just felt so sorry for him. Barry, his ex-best friend and his old writing partner really betrayed him, and I felt more angry at him than Clayton's ex-girlfriend. Clayton does make a monumental mistake - but I understood why he did it, and it had good consequences, which made good reading. They are not the only two characters who make this book though. James writes some wonderful people, and my overall favourite was easily George, the mad old lady. When we first meet her she is pointing a gun at Clayton, and from there her eccentric ways continue. She even knew Alice as a girl, which was a lovely link to the past. She was wise, very good at reading people, and just a great personality. There is a lot in this story, with a whole range of characters and events. James keeps you interested the whole way through and it did not take long to read this book. I really enjoyed it. It was realistic, and I found myself getting involved. James has done it again - written a cracking book! This is more mature chick-lit, and I loved it! James writes wonderful locations too, all of which I can still picture, even though I read the book a month ago! I remember the story clearly, and there are some shocks in the story line. The end was fairly predictable, but there were moments when I could have cried, and times when I laughed. And I liked how Clayton and Alice worked as a team and how everything worked out. Top marks from me!

I've read another six since updating this thread! Terry Pratchett: A Hat Full of Sky Kate Harrison: Old School Ties Debbie Macomber: 44 Cranberry Point Matt Beaumont: E Judy Blume: Forever Rachel Hore: The Memory Garden I've read 17 books this month!

Synopsis: Stardust is an utterly charming fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics and author of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. One fateful night, Tristran promises his beloved that he will retrieve a fallen star for her from beyond the Wall that stands between their rural English town (called, appropriately, Wall) and the Faerie realm. No one ever ventures beyond the Wall except to attend an enchanted flea market that is held every nine years (and during which, unbeknownst to him, Tristran was conceived). But Tristran bravely sets out to fetch the fallen star and thus win the hand of his love. His adventures in the magical land will keep you turning pages as fast as you can--he and the star escape evil old witches, deadly clutching trees, goblin press-gangs, and the scheming sons of the dead Lord of Stormhold. The story is by turns thrillingly scary and very funny. You'll love goofy, earnest Tristran and the talking animals, gnomes, magic trees, and other irresistible denizens of Faerie that he encounters in his travels. Stardust is a perfect read-aloud book, a brand-new fairy tale you'll want to share with a kid, or maybe hoard for yourself. (If you read it to kids, watch out for a couple of spicy sex bits and one epithet.) --Therese Littleton This is the first Gaiman novel I have read, and I enjoyed it. It wasn't a long read but it was full of imagination and fun. The story follows Tristran as he goes through The Wall to catch the fallen star, to bring her back to his "true love". Except, the Star is not overly happy to be joined to Tristran, especially when he saves her and she is in debt to him. They encounter all sorts of fantastical creatures, including trees that gave out advice, and witches who changed people into animals. This was a great book. There is so much imagination and life in this book - and I liked the Star most. I thought it was great that she was so stubborn - not what you would expect. Tristran was a great read too. I liked how his character changed and matured. There were so many different characters in this book which all added to the story, I loved it! There were other stories that ran through book, including the witches who wanted to be young again and the brother's fighting to rule the kingdom - but they were all linked by the star. I liked that there were sub-plots throughout the book, made for a more interesting read. And I found the ghosts of the brothers hilarious! Gaiman reminds me of Terry Pratchett - and I know they have worked together. Both have amazing imaginations and write thoroughly entertaining books. Some of the creatures they both create I would never have dreamed of, but now I have encountered them and love them! I will be reading more Gaiman I think, because this was a fun, exciting, gripping book. Gaiman's descriptions are very good and his characters are so much fun! If you like fantasy and humour, this is for you.

I have finished The Memory Garden by Rachel Hore, and loved it! It was a slow read but gorgeous. I read Forever by Judy Blume over the weekend too. I'm now reading The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble

Sorry Abby, forgot to put in my ratings: Polysyllabic Spree: 3/5 The Belljar: 4/5

They are really good Shin!

I'm still reading The Memory Garden by Rachel Hore

Synopsis: As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed

I'm reading The Memory Garden by Rachel Hore - really like it

Bad news: Meyer has stopped writing Midnight Sun because she is "burnt out of vampires" and it "feels like homework". I think this is a shame, I wanted that to be finished more than I wanted the Bree Tanner book. http://wp.me/pJBhQ-qL