Blog Update

Long time no see blog! Life has just sort of gotten in the way of my goal of trying to weekly blog and before you know it two months has passed since I blogged.

I’ve had deadlines coming out of my ears, family health problems, money worries, events to attend...need I go on? Heck, my brain has been that cluttered as of late that I haven’t even picked up my kindle in the two months that I’ve not been blogging. Instead I’ve been spending every spare moment I have marathoning the entire seven series of Gilmore Girls on Netflix. It’s got to the point now that although my brain is still worrying about everything under the sun, I’m starting to feel like I’m wasting my time just constantly sat watching TV.

So here I am blog! I’m back! I’m not going to commit to weekly blogging as at the minute my head is all over the place but I’m certainly going to commit to taking the time to write as much as I possibly can again because I certainly miss writing on this blog!

The Christmasaurus - Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher of McFly fame, is one of my favourite people so I'd pretty much buy anything he'd put his on. Yes, I've even bought everyone of the pooping dinosaur book series he wrote for myself despite being a good twenty years older than the recommended again for them. 

The Christmasaurus is a Christmas novel. It tells the story of William Trundle who isn't having the best time in life, however his belief in Christmas and his love of dinosaurs is just about enough to get him through the day. One day when Santa is looking through the Christmas lists he has been sent he stumbles across William's letter and takes pity of the little boy so decides to personally make the toy on William's list. William wants a dinosaur so Santa sets out making one based on the North Pole's resident dinosaur the Christmasaurus. 

I know that I love author Tom Fletcher but that doesn't mean that I would say that this book is good just for the sake of it - believe me I've always been first to moan about some things McFly have done in the past. However, I genuinely cannot find a fault with this book. It's truly captures the spirit of Christmas and it made me laugh out loud, cry (yes I'm holding my hands up, I cried reading a children's book) and just filled me with warm Christmassy feelings.  Even though the story is dinosaur themed it still doesn't mean that the story isn't relatable which I think is another reason why the story is so enjoyable particularly to a more older reader.

I've read this book a few times since its release as it is just so wonderfully Christmassy. It is larger a children's book but I love the way that Tom Fletcher has written this book - plus the illustrations are incredible! This book is truly one that the entire family will enjoy and I couldn't recommend picking it up more.

Synopsis -

The Christmasaurus is a story about a boy named William Trundle, and a dinosaur, the Christmasaurus. It's about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have a magical adventure. It's about friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer, music and magic. It's about discovering your heart's true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible...

The Two-Night One-Night Stand - Ryan Ringbloom

Holly is absolutely not the type of person to have a one night stand, let alone have a one night stand twice! Thanks to a identity mix up, Holly ends up sleeping with who she thought was her blind date but instead it just ended up being Matthew Daniels, a doctor who claims he's too busy for love. Can a one night stand (that happens twice) ultimately end up in love? 

I knew from the second I read the blurb that The Two Night One Night Stand was exactly my kind of book. What I liked the most was the fact that neither of the characters would ever have a one night stand on a normal day yet here they both are. I felt that the fact they were both acting out of character made the characters very likeable. It was helped with the dual narrative told from both Holly and Matthew's point of views. 

As promised this book did make me laugh at loud at certain points and I found that I whizzed through reading it as I loved it so much. If you read the blurb and think you'll love it I can almost guarantee that you will! Just as an aside this book contains lots of sex so just be aware if that's not the kind of thing you like to read about. I personally loved this book and the way in which the author writes. I'll certainly be checking out more of the authors others novels.

Synopsis - 

A girl. A guy. And a talking peen. 

Holly Martin isn't the type to have a one-night stand. But a crushing break up, a sexy blind date, and a few shots of Fireball is about to change all that. 

Matthew Daniels is an introverted PA who claims he’s too busy to date. But that doesn’t stop his older brothers from encouraging him to let loose and get out there, because as they put it - the right girl won’t just walk up to you.

But what if she does?

Is it possible for a one-night stand that happens twice, to actually become more? Could two nights of reckless debauchery actually lead to true love? Or is this just another case of a whisky induced disaster?

This Romantic Comedy is sure to have you laughing, cringing, rolling your eyes, shouting at the pages and looking for a shot glass of your own. 

**This book contains mature content (and immature content). It is intended for adult readers. 

Taking The Reins - Katrina Abbott

Taking The Reins tells the story of Brooklyn. Due to her dads job she is sent to Rosewood, which is a boarding school for the rich and famous. The Rosewood girls give her a warm welcome and before you know it she gets thrown headfirst into the life of a Rosewood girl. Not only does she have new friends to contend with but also boys from the neighbouring boys boarding school, Westwood and to the stable boy she meets in Rosewoods stables.

Taking The Reins was an incredibly quick read. However this isn't necessarily a bad thing as sometimes all you want is a quick, enjoyable, light hearted read. If I was heading for a long train journey or a plane trip somewhere this book would certainly be one that I would chose to take with me. Although I've seen discovered that this book is part of a series of 10 books, Taking The Reigns actually finishes at quite a non cliff hanger ending. Ok, I would've liked to have read more in particularly about Brooklyn's love life but now we know there are multiple books in this series then I think that will probably be more of a feature in later books.

I really enjoyed reading about Brooklyn. Despite her fathers job she seems completely down to earth and she is relatively unfazed about moving to an American boarding school. I found her quite funny at times, particularly when it came to the assumptions made regarding the stable boy, and very loyal to her fellow Rosewood girls. I actually thought the girls she attends school with were be great snobby and annoying to read about but I was happy that this wasn't the case at all. The adventures that they go through in this novel is exactly the kind of thing that I've always imagined would take place at a girls boarding school too which to be helps add to the enjoyment of the novel.

If you want a quick, lighthearted read with a few romantic moments thrown in for good measure then you will love Taking The Reigns. I've downloaded the next book in the series to read as I enjoyed it so much. 

Synopsis -

Brooklyn Prescott (if that’s even her real name) is the new girl at The Rosewood Academy for Academic Excellence, now that she’s moved back to the States after two years living in London. Rosewood, a boarding school for children of the rich and famous and known for its celebutantes, is missing just one element important to any junior’s education: boys. But luckily for Brooklyn, and the rest of the Rosewood girls, there’s a boys’ boarding school, The Westwood Academy, just a few miles away. 

On her very first day, Brooklyn meets Will, a gorgeous and flirty boy on campus to help with move in. But is he who she thinks he is? And what about Brady, the cute stable boy? Or Jared, the former child actor with his grown-up good looks who can always make her laugh? As Brooklyn settles in at Rosewood, she’s faced with new friends, new challenges and new opportunities to make herself into the girl she always wanted to be. Whoever that might be.

Taking The Reins is the first installment of The Rosewoods, an exciting new Young Adult series for readers who love fun, flirty love stories.

The Singalong Society For Singles – Katey Lovell

The Singalong Society For Singles is a story about Monique (Mon) and her friends. Mon’s childhood sweetheart Justin, has just dropped the bombshell on her that he’s going to go and work in America for a year. It comes as a shock to Mon and her friends love lives aren’t going much better. So together they decide to start a club where every Friday they all meet up, eat food, drink wine and watch their favourite musicals. However, when 2 males unexpectedly join the club perhaps they can change the group’s opinions on being single. 

I love musicals and the idea of this club sounds so fun, so for me it was a complete effortless read that you just wanted to never end. I was pretty much sold on this book from the second I read which musicals were going to be included in the novel. I really enjoyed the way that the author writes and I’ll certainly be looking at reading some of her other novels. The story wasn’t just the story of Mon but instead weaved in multiple storylines but without it being too much and confusing. It fact every additional piece of important you gained about Mon and her friends just added to the enjoyment of the book. I’m also a tiny bit bias as this book is set in Sheffield so as I live very near I am well aware of all the places that the characters visit in the book.

The characters all brought slightly different elements to the book including new members Ray and Liam who just slotted in with the gang as if they’d always known the friends. I found all of the characters were enjoyable to read about and each one had their own mission and issues with life which are all slightly touched upon.

If you read the synopsis and like the sound of this novel then I can safely say you will love this book. I personally loved the addition of musicals and think it’s an interesting concept to loosely base a novel around. I loved the story, I loved the characters – this book is just a really great read.   

Synopsis –

Monique and Issy are teachers, housemates and lovers of musicals! Their Friday night routine consists of snacks, wine and the Frozen DVD. So when Monique’s boyfriend moves to America for a year and her sister Hope moves in because of her own relationship woes, Friday nights get a new name… ‘The Singalong Society for Singletons’!

It’s a chance to get together, sing along to their favourite tracks from the best-loved West End shows, and forget the worries of work, relationships and love (or lack of it). But when Issy shares the details of their little group further afield, they get some unexpected new members who might just change their opinions on singledom for good….

A New York Love Story – Cassie Rocca

Clover loves Christmas, good job really as her job consists of buying people presents. She can’t afford to live in Manhatten so lives just across the water in a quiet area of Staten Island. Meanwhile, world famous Hollywood actor Cade Harrision has just had a messy public breakup with an actress and has fled to an apartment in New York...more specifically Staten Island, bang opposite Clover’s apartment. Their lives are completely different yet when meeting at Christmas even the most magical things can happen.

I love New York, I love Christmas and I love storylines like this one! When I first started the book I worried that it wasn’t going to meet my expectations as it took me a few chapters in to get hooked then before I knew it I ended up spending the entire day sat on a chair reading this book! It's such a cute, Christmas read!

I loved the characters. Clover is different - in a good one! She desperately tries to please her family but with no joy but she loves her job and has great friends. I found her very enjoyable to read about. Her life couldn't be more different from the life of a Hollywood actor so instead of falling at Cade's feet at the sight of him she has quite an adverse reaction. Personally I liked the fact that she didn't instantly like him and it took somewhat grovelling from Cade to get her attention. Meanwhile, Cade is the typical egotistical famous person on the surface but as his barriers start to crumble it's revealed he does have a caring side. Clover and Cade interacted well together and provided some sickeningly adorable romantic moments which I loved!

It's getting to the season where Christmas is starting to get in the back of people's minds. If you're ready for a book set over the Christmas period and you love a good romance story, particularly involving a famous individual then you will absolutely love this book! I loved reading it now but I know that I'll be digging this book out for a reread over the festive period in a few months. 

Synopsis –

Giving a present is not always easy. Clover O’Brian knows that only too well: her job consists of helping people in the arduous task of choosing unusual gifts. Christmas is coming, New York is buzzing, and Clover, who has always loved the festive period, savours the atmosphere.

Cade Harrison already has everything in life. A Hollywood actor, he is handsome, rich, famous and popular. Success, however, has its downsides; having just emerged from a disastrous relationship with an actress, he feels a need to hide away in an area unfrequented by stars, in an apartment lent him by a friend, far from prying eyes – especially those of tabloid reporters. But as chance will have it, the apartment in question is right opposite the one occupied by Clover, who until now has seen Hollywood actors only on the big screen. Two quite different lives meet by chance, at the most exhilarating time of year…

Loserville - Montgomery Theatre Sheffield

Loserville is the first musical that made it to the West End stage that was written by James Bourne and Elliot Davis. As you know by this blog I'm a huge fan of James Bourne and as I was at university in London at the time Loserville was in the West End I saw the show on a number of occasions and loved every performance I saw. Well now I'm back home I couldn't resist going when I saw Loserville was coming to the Montgomery Theatre in Sheffield! 

Loserville revolves around Michael Dork. He's is the ultimate computer geek whose determined to change the world by inventing emails. As expected he is bullied at school but is determined to keep trying to success with help from his friends Lucas, Frances and Marvin and of course potential love interest Holly. It's a typical geek/popular crowd story line but add in music from Son Of Dork's Welcome To Loserville album, talented actors and you've got yourself one hell of a musical!

This particular performance was put on by Splinters Theatre Group, a young persons musical company for those aged between 14-30. What a talented bunch of performers, they could easily match those who I saw playing the characters in the West End. Richard Granger playing Michael Dork was phenomenal. He had captured the awkwardness of the character perfectly and was a great lead. Lucy Keeton who plays love interest Holly was also extremely good. Her vocals throughout were fantastic and unbelievably I discovered she is only 17! Certainly a name to watch in the future. I also particularly enjoyed Matthew Bevan's performance of Lucas and Joseph Oliver Walker's as Eddie. It's worth mentioning however, that every single performer on that stage was enthusiastic and energetic. I know I'll certainly be checking out future Splinters theatre shows.  

Sadly today was the last day in which Loserville is showing in Sheffield but I was given a flyer for Rock Of Ages on the way out of the theatre, if you'd like to catch this talented group of actors in action in the future!