Dear John by Nicolas Sparks

'Dear John' by Nicholas Sparks

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart.

But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else.

Dear John, the letter read... and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love—and face the hardest decision of his life.

REVIEW

I was slight disappointed by Dear John. As I had enjoyed The Notebook and given it 5stars on good reads, I was looking forward to reading another one of Nicolas Sparks books but I felt it didn't deliver compared to The Notebook. I had expected to fall in love with this story but I found after the first half which I did actually enjoy, I then found myself becoming irritated by Savannah. I enjoyed their love at first sight but was disappointed that she gave up on this love - maybe this was because I'm from a military marriage and yes it's a hard love with the separation but if you truly loved someone you would not give up on it. The story just lost that pulling me in power wanting to read it.

The ending was disappointing. I wanted more! I would still recommend this if you want an easy read with a love story which did give me a little lump in my throat with the story of his dad but not enough to give it 5stars! If I had to give it stars I would probably give it a 2 1/2.

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An Amish Wedding by Beth Wiseman

'An Amish Wedding' by Beth Wiseman

Three best-selling authors. Three possible brides. Three separate tales. They come together for an Amish wedding.

Priscilla King has dreamed of being married to Chester Lapp since she was sixteen. With the help of her sister Naomi's matchmaking skills, Chester proposes to Priscilla on her nineteenth birthday. As the wedding day approaches, problems emerge: an attendant with poison ivy, a failed celery crop, and a torn wedding dress.

At the same time, Priscilla's best friend Rose is convinced her fiance is hiding something and she is intent on discovering the truth at any cost.

Naomi remains hopeful that she, too, will soon find her perfect match. When Chester's cousin shows up, there's an immediate attraction between him and Naomi-as well as an obstacle that may just as immediately derail their blossoming love.

Is God sending a message to stop the wedding? What is certain is that the hearts of these three women will be forever transformed by this touching Amish wedding.

REVIEW

'An Amish wedding' contains 3 small stories written by different authors:
A perfect secret by Kelly Long
A perfect match by Kathleen Fuller
A perfect plan by Beth Wiseman

The three stories are inter-linked by characters, with the first two stories mentioning the wedding of Chester and Priscilla which is the main event in the third story, but each story focuses on a different couple. This was an enjoyable short story collection and easy to read. It was nice to read about three Amish women as they focus on their life's, love and a wedding, and what happens when everything doesn't go to plan.

Nice easy read, would recommend if you want a light hearted book


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The Saturday Supper Club by Amy Bratley

'The Saturday Supper Club' by Amy Bratley

Wanted: four amateur cooks to compete in a supper club contest Rules: four strangers, four weeks, four houses, four dinner parties You might win: a cash prize You might lose: your heart Eve had her world torn apart three years ago, when the love of her life Ethan disappeared, and she never found out why. But now, her life is rosy. With a lovely new boyfriend, Joe, and a café opening on the cards, things finally seem to be falling into place. … until she agrees to take part in a supper club competition for a local newspaper. Eve is cooking the first dinner and who should turn up on her doorstep expecting a three-course meal, but her long lost love Ethan?

REVIEW

This was a bookclub book and one that everyone enjoyed. It's is a light hearted read with a touch of humour as well as a serious story. Eve agrees to do a favour for her boyfriend Joe, a freelance reporter. She agrees to take part in the Saturday Supper Club Dinner, giving her just 24 hours to cook a 3 course meal for people she doesn't know. She agrees to do it as it will be free publicity for her new cafe which is opening in 8 weeks as well as winning the cash prize but more important she doesn't want to let her boyfriend Joe down by saying she doesn't really want to do it. Eve is left shocked though as one of the guests is her ex boyfriend Ethan. Eve's world is just about to fall apart. Will life ever be the same?

I have to say though the ending caused a mixed review with everyone at bookclub, some thinking the ending was a nice resolved ending but others going what???? The ending I thought myself could of been a little different as not sure myself if I could of forgiven those around me! But still a good read. And best of all I want to thank Amy Bratley for the lovely Lovebird Chocolate Cake recipe - it is so good!!!

Would recommend for a light read and for the recipe!

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Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

'Gathering Blue' by Lois Lowry

It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.

REVIEW

This is the second book in 'The Giver' series. I wasn't sure if I was going to read the rest of the series after reading The Giver and finding it just an ok read but after some discussion about the book with a friend she encouraged me to finish the series as they get better and the story is a really good one. So I started this one thinking that it was going to carry on where The Giver left off with Jonas and Gabriel surviving and finding a community where colour, music and happiness/love was. But that was not the case at all!! Lowry doesn't put our mind at ease giving us the knowledge if Jonas and Gabriel survived but instead this book explores another community in the future 6 years after The Giver, in a village where we meet Kira. This community is hostile to young children and casts out damaged individuals to the Forest. We find Kira at the beginning of the book orphaned and at the mercy of The Council of Guardians. I liked the plot of this book but wasn't taken by the characters as much as the first book and once again I was left with a cliffhanger not knowing the fate of some of the main characters. I will read the third book just to find out how the books tie in together!

Once again, another ok read.

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The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

‘The Notebook’ by Nicolas Sparks

How far can love endure?

Noah Calhoun has just returned from World War Two. Attempting to escape the ghosts of battle, he tries to concentrate on restoring an old plantation home to its former glory. And yet he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met there fourteen years before, a girl who captured his heart like no other.

But when these distant memories begin to slide into reality, the passion that had lain still is ignited once more. Though so much is in their way, the miraculous force of their love refuses to fade.

REVIEW

This is the first book I have read of Nicolas Sparks and I wasn’t disappointed at all. I really enjoyed this story right from the first chapter. It is a lovely story of an endless love between Noah and his wife Allie, about a love lost and found again. I did cry a little at the story of their love. Look forward to reading another of Sparks books.

Would highly recommend


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Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefuater

‘Scorpio Races’ by Maggie Stiefuater 

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

REVIEW

This book was my first audiobook I have listened to, and I think it was prefect for me as it was while I was in hospital having my first operation. I enjoyed listening to it before and as soon as I was awake I wanted to carry on listening to the story. It is a young adult book and one which I was given from my church bookclub group. I found the concept of the story very interesting and I really enjoyed the relationship between Corr and Sean, Sean’s unconditional love that he has for this strange being, a water horse that might kill him in the blink of an eye. It is a story based on the friendship between a man and a monster; and a girl who will race to save her family. I loved their romance as well. They are total opposites but they both love the island and these strange magical creatures.

I’m not sure if I enjoyed it more because it was an audiobook or I was still under the influence of a sleeping drug (!) but I did enjoy it and would recommend. 

The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd

'The Poisoned Island' by Lloyd Shepherd

LONDON 1812: For forty years Britain has dreamed of the Pacific island of Tahiti, a dark paradise of bloody cults and beautiful natives. Now, decades after the first voyage of Captain Cook, a new ship returns to London, crammed with botanical specimens and, it seems, the mysteries of Tahiti. When, days after the Solander's arrival, some of its crew are found dead and their sea-chests ransacked - their throats slashed, faces frozen into terrible smiles - John Harriott, magistrate of the Thames river police, puts constable Charles Horton in charge of the investigation. But what connects the crewmen's dying dreams with the ambitions of the ship's principal backer, Sir Joseph Banks of the Royal Society? And how can Britain's new science possibly explain the strangeness of Tahiti's floral riches now growing at Kew? Horton must employ his singular methods to uncover a chain of conspiracy stretching all the way back to the foot of the great dead volcano Tahiti Nui, beneath the hungry eyes of ancient gods.

REVIEW

I was really looking forward to reading this, as from the description it sounded like a really good story, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it at all. I wanted to put it down many times and not pick it back up but I did as it was a bookclub book and I still found that I needed to know what happened and I did hope it might capture me at some point. I didn’t like how it jumped around from past to present and I found I had to keep turning back to remember who was who and from where and from what time!!

Would not recommend