Sunday Catchup - Week 1

I've been umming and ahhing over the last few months whether to do a weekly review of the books I've read and plan to read in the next week, hopefully having the benefit of a more structured reading time, so I'm not taking days to decide on a book. I may also talk about the books I received or bought that week, but that is to be decided, is that something you would like to see? Anyway, here we go...

Read This Week:

Shopaholic to the Rescue - Sophie Kinsella
Released 22nd October

To Las Vegas . . . and beyond!

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is on a major rescue mission! Hollywood was full of surprises, and now she's on a road trip to Las Vegas to help her friends and family.

She's determined to get to the bottom of why her dad has mysteriously disappeared, help her best friend Suze and even bond with long-time enemy Alicia Bitch Long-legs (maybe...).

As Becky discovers just how much her friends and family need help, she comes up with her biggest, boldest, most brilliant plan yet! So can she save the day just when they need her most?

I really love Sophie Kinsella's books, especially the Shopaholic series, as the first one was one of the first books I read of this genre. This book is out on the 22nd Oct, so make sure to check it out!

The Beach Hut - Veronica Henry

On Everdene Sands, a row of beach huts holds the secrets of the families who own them - secrets of unrequited love, plain old-fashioned lust, childhood dreams and long-forgotten hopes...

'FOR SALE: a rare opportunity to purchase a beach hut on the spectacular Everdene Sands. "The Shack" has been in the family for fifty years, and was the first to be built on this renowned stretch of golden sand...'

Jane Milton doesn't want to sell her beloved beach hut, which has been the heart of so many family holidays and holds so many happy memories. But when her husband dies, leaving her with an overwhelming string of debts, she has no choice but to sell.

THE BEACH HUT follows the stories of the people who own the beach huts, families who come to Everdene each year, people who fall in - or out of - love, remembering their pasts, or trying to forget them...

I've never read anything by Veronica Henry before, but always admired the covers and added quite a view to my TBR pile. I am visiting a few events at the end of this month for Yeovil Literary Festival and one of them is a talk with Veronica Henry, who is the only author I am seeing whose books I've never read, so I thought I would change that! 

Currently Reading:

Clutch: A Novel - Lisa Becker
Released 26th October

Clutch: a novel is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit romance chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. 

With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto

I just love bags, I was always teased by my parents at having so many when I was younger, and I've actually passed my habit onto my mother, so I think I am having the last laugh! When I was offered the chance to review this book, nothing in the world could stop me saying 'Yes Please'!

Next Week's Reading:

Our Song - Dani Atkins
Released 14th January 2016

The stunning new emotional drama from ebook phenomenon Dani Atkins, author of Fractured - perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Dorothy Koomson.

This is the story of Ally and Charlotte, whose paths have intersected over the years though they've never really been close friends. Charlotte married Ally's ex and first true love, David. Fate is about to bring them together one last, dramatic time and change their lives forever.

Full of Dani's signature warmth and emotion, this is a gripping and emotional family drama. With breath-taking plot twists, Dani explores themes of serendipity, friendship and love. She fully engages the reader in the dilemmas faced by her characters. What would you do if your husband was the love of somebody else's life? And when faced with an agonising decision, could you put the past behind you and do the right thing?

This isn't out till 14th January 2016, but I was lucky enough to be sent a proof copy of this book a few weeks ago (Thanks Sara at Books and the City!) and it is perhaps the most beautiful book I've received to date, pictured above. It came with a slip cover, that you can see is just really pretty, with the handwritten style names intertwining with each other.  I've not read either of Dani's other books, but heard amazing things about them. I have sort of cheated and read the first page or two the instant I received this, and I can tell it is one I will adore!

It Started With Paris - Cathy Kelly

It all started with Paris...

At the top of the Eiffel Tower, a young man proposes to his girlfriend - and in that second, everything changes - for the couple, but also for their families back in Ireland...

Leila's been nursing a badly broken heart since her husband upped and left, but she's determined to put on a brave face for the bride. Vonnie, a widow and exceptional cake-maker, is just daring to let love back into her life, although someone seems determined to stop it. And head teacher Grace finds the impending wedding of her son means that she's spending more time with her ex-husband. After all those years apart, is it possible she's made a mistake?

Another Author I've never read, noticed a theme yet :). I was recently gifted this as part of Ninja Book Swap from Julie at Boon's Bookcase (Thank you again if you're reading!!) and it's just too tempting to not read this ASAP!