Accidentally In Love – Anna Premoli

Accidentally In Love tells the story of Sara and Ethan. The pair couldn’t be more different. Sara is a very successful lawyer who hasn’t had much luck in love and choses to live near her family in Brooklyn. Ethan on the other hand has been born into privilege. When his father dies he and his brother are left the successful business, however Ethan is too busy partying and drinking all of his money away in Manhattans trendiest spots. When Sara is appointed as Ethan’s financial legal guardian conflict is bound to happen due to the fact that they are completely opposites.

Its no secret that reading this type of storyline is one of my favourite genre types and Accidentally In Love certainly did not disappoint. You know those days when you want to read a romance novel that makes you absolutely laugh out loud? Yep, this is a perfect example of the kind of book. Sara and Ethan are both hilarious. The ways in which they go to try and torment the other made me actually laugh out loud at certain points in the book, particularly Ethan as he’s so desperate to get Sara to resign as his guardian. Truthfully, I started this book when I wasn’t feel 100% and I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it, however when I picked my kindle up a few nights later I found myself completely and utterly addicted.

Yes, the story may have been predictable but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I thoroughly enjoyed the build up in the story. Again, the same applies with Sara and Ethan. Ethan is particular is such the stereotypical, rich bad boy character but he worked so wonderfully in this story. Sara and Ethan’s hate relationship makes such a great read and I think if they hadn’t had stereotypical traits the story probably wouldn’t have been so enjoyable. However, Sara is absolutely hilarious. The ways she reacts to Ethan made me laugh. She tries so hard to remain calm and the one in control as she’s his guardian which makes for a great read.

This is the 2^nd one of Anna Premoli’s novels that I’ve read and really enjoyed reading. They’re always a great romantic story with so many funny moments doted thorough. I think if you’re in between books at the moment and are looking for a reasonable fast read this is the book for you.

Synopsis –

A funny romantic comedy about how opposites definitely do attract... 

Sara Di Giovanni is a successful lawyer in New York City: she is the star of her profession, an excellent role model to her very vivacious little sister, but has so far been unlucky in love... 

Ethan Phelps is the rich playboy trouble-maker whose only talent in life is spending money and dating women... That is until Ethan's father dies with no will to his name, leaving his two sons the legal heirs to his billion-dollar company. 

Sara is forced to become the court-appointed guardian to handle Ethan's share of the fortune, as his family do not trust him to manage it himself. Sara thinks it should be easy, but it's not so simple when Ethan is determined to get rid of her by whatever means necessary... 

What ensues is a dramatic and hilarious power-play between Sara and Ethan... but what will happen when feelings start to get in the way?

Love To Hate You – Jo Watson

Sera normally does everything right, she works hard to support herself and her family and she truly tries to be a good girl all the time. Then after one night of poor judgement she finds herself having a one-night stand…in the back of a stranger’s car no less! However, little does Sera know it wasn’t going to be a one night stand she could just forget about as mystery man. Ben, turns out to be her new boss.

I read Love To Hate You in one day. You know those books that are a nice easy read but addictive so you can’t put them down then you look at the clock and its 2am but you only have a few pages left so you figure you might as well finish the book? This was 100% that kind of book for me. It was just that addictive.

The relationship between Sera and Ben is a ridiculously slow build up despite how quickly they initially get together in the back of his car. To be honest, normally I get bored with storylines like this, I just end up practically screaming at my kindle for them to either get together or just call it a day – no need to leave us, the readers, in limbo. However, I don’t know why but the fact that it is slow works so well in this book and I surprisingly its what I enjoyed most about the story.

The characters were great to read about even if completely stereotypical, especially Ben. He was just the standard arrogant male love interest especially when he ends up being her boss. Again, this normally is something I dislike in books but it just worked in this story. Sera on the other hand couldn’t be more different. She’s so independent and confident in her decisions and just tries to just be a genuinely nice person to everyone and I loved this about her.

Overall, I found the story great. I thought certain aspects were thrown in just to add more to the story, like the problems Sera has with her family particularly towards the end but generally I enjoyed the story. I mean I didn’t stay up until the early hours of the money reading it so you can safety say I enjoyed this book.

If you’re looking for an easy to read, fun romance novel this is your book!

Synopsis –

An unmissable sexy rom-com from the author of ALMOST A BRIDE. Perfect for fans of Joanna Bolouri, Cate Woods and Sally Thorne's THE HATING GAME.

Sera is usually a good girl. (Except for one wild night in the backseat of a stranger's car!) But what happens when that bad boy turns out to be her new boss? And what happens when he wants more than one night...and he can be very persuasive...

For more laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy hijinks, don't miss Jo's other rom-coms, BURNING MOON, ALMOST A BRIDE and FINDING YOU.

The Extinction Trails - S.M. Wilson

Fact – everyone loves dinosaurs. No matter how old you are I think you’ll always have a part of you that likes dinosaurs so when I received The Extinction Trials by S.M. Wilson in my latest Wildest Dreams book club box its safe to say I was excited to read it.

The Extinction Trails takes you to a land with dinosaurs. The human race is rapidly expanding so needs more space to expand so they host a series of trials to find willing people to go to the continent of the dinosaurs to collect eggs in order to try cause their extinction to make more space for humans. The book follows the story from two contestants point of view, Stormchaser and Lincoln. They both have their own reasons for taking part in the trails. Little do they know what will be ahead of them when they take part in the trials.

The book itself is being advertised as The Hungers Games meets Jurassic Park which is a pretty big statement in itself. However, now I’ve read the book I can honestly say this is the perfect way to describe this book. It’s a gripping story from start to finish – and did I mention it features dinosaurs?! The group of trialists are from a variety of backgrounds and I thoroughly enjoyed reading how they worked together as a team in order to collect the dinosaur eggs. However, like the Hunger Games it does feature multiple deaths so it may not be too suitable for younger readers.

Chapters are told from the point of view of Stormchaser and Lincoln. Now, normally I’m not a huge fan of chapters from multiple perspectives as I find it makes stories a little confusing and difficult to follow. However, this is the same story and it absolutely flows from two perspectives. To be honest, this is one of the few books that I thoroughly enjoyed being told from multiple perspectives and I felt that it really benefitted from it as you could read about what is going on in both of their heads. Aside from that they’re both very different characters but both equally as enjoyable to read about, normally with dual perspectives I majorly favour one of the characters but in this book, I really did enjoy reading about both.

As the synopsis suggests the book is full of danger where characters are willing to stab each other in the back in order to win. The story truly was addictive, I read this within a couple of days despite it not being a particularly short book. It was full of twist and turns and chapters that made you just continue reading as you just had to know what happened next. The continent the dinosaurs live on is so vividly described to the extent I kept checking out of my window every time I heard a noise just in case a T-Rex was lurking outside my window! I was transported to the world and as I read I found myself becoming more absorbed in this world.

The Extinction Trials is going to be a series but the book has a good enough ending that it works as a standalone. However, it still left me wanting more so I’m already eagerly waiting the next instalment in this book series! To be honest, if I saw this book on a shelf I admit I probably wouldn’t have picked it up, I received it in my Wildest Dreams subscription box and I’m so thrilled that I did because this book is brilliant. If you liked The Hunger Games (and dinosaurs!) you will 100% love this book and I can only recommend that you make it your next must read book.

Synopsis –

Betrayal. Sacrifice. Survival.

Welcome to the Extinction Trials.

In Stormchaser and Lincoln's ruined world, the only way to survive is to risk everything. To face a contest more dangerous than anyone can imagine. And they will do anything to win.

But in a land full of monsters - human and reptilian - they can't afford to trust anyone. Perhaps not even each other...

Talk Of Shame – Alex Everwood

Talk Of Shame tells the story of three students in the first year at Somerville University. They’ve all got to the university in different ways and they all have very different ideas of what to get out of the university / sorority experience. The story follows them around as they start the university.

I so badly wanted to love this book. From the synopsis it sounded like such a good book however it just wasn’t overly my cup of tea. Yes, I enjoyed it but personally it isn’t going to be my favourite book. The story is told in multiple perspectives and I don’t really enjoy this in a book. For me, sadly this is what I didn’t even this about this book as I found I just couldn’t get into the story as quickly as I’d have liked. However, I did enjoy the story and I did find myself invested in the characters as the book went on, but it did take me a long time to get into the story and to figure out which character was which.

I actually did enjoy all three of the characters. It was interesting to read about how different every individuals university life can be. What I enjoyed too is that Katie, Jill and Beatrice or not two-dimensional characters. They all don’t seem to be what you initially think about them.

To be perfectly honest, this is probably one of the hardest reviews of a book that I’ve ever had to write. I really don’t want to say that it’s a bad book because it isn’t, its just that for me I didn’t really enjoy each chapter being told from a different person’s perspective. I think if you do enjoy books split like this and you read the synopsis and it sounds like a book you’d like I reckon you probably would. I mean, I enjoyed reading the story and I did feel completely engrossed in the campus life and the characters are likeable. I just didn’t enjoy the different perspectives.

Synopsis –

Goodbye, high school. Hello, Alpha Chi! 

Somerville University. For freshmen Katie Brown, Jill Everson, and Beatrice Fritch, their approach to college-and relationships-couldn't be more different. They kick off freshman year with high hopes, but life doesn't always go as planned. One thing is for sure: no one wants to get caught on the Talk of Shame Instagram feed, the university's unofficial gossip site. One unsavory pic, and your reputation is shot. Unfortunately, that's a lesson learned the hard way... 

Katie's earned admission into the private university through her hard work in high school. Her aunt is paying her tuition on one condition: Katie must join a sorority, specifically Kappa Kappa Theta (KKT.) There's just one problem. Katie was kicked out of the "cool clique" in high school. Now she's independent and afraid of losing herself if forced to become a sorority girl. But is she using independence to protect herself from forming relationships? Especially if it's with the gorgeous editor of Somerville University's student newspaper? 

Jill chose Somerville for one reason: Alpha Chi Alpha (Chi Alpha), the most beautiful sorority house on campus, boasting the prettiest girls on campus. Jill has always been the southern belle who can "wear her weight well." Her confidence and humorous personality have won her lots of friends-and quite a few hook-ups. But she has yet to have a steady boyfriend. But that'll happen automatically once becoming a Chi Alpha. Right? 

And then there's Beatrice. College wouldn't be complete without a frenemy: something that comes easy to the young, coed. A member of Chicago's wealthy elite, she wears only the best labels, drives only the hottest cars, and enrolls at Somerville-the most prestigious private university around. But her status comes at a price: lasting friendship. Beatrice has learned to manipulate others in order to protect herself, and her childhood friendship with Katie was the first one to suffer. Will Somerville give her the chance to reconcile and find her true self? 

Katie, Jill, and Beatrice champion and struggle with the ins-and-outs of Greek Row, a life filled with hook-ups, heartbreak, backstabbing, and cheating. Both in and out of the classroom. 

For fans of Bright Side by Kim Holden, Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan, and the TV Series Gossip Girl.

Loserville Musical

Back in 2012, I became obsessed with the musical Loserville. I mean, the musical is co written by one of my favourite band members, James Bourne and it is jam packed full of songs from his band, Son Of Dork. Top that off with the fact that the play starred Chris Hardman (Lil Chris) who I’m pretty sure everyone loved when he released his ridiculously catching song, Checkin’ It Out. Let’s face it, I was always going to love this musical. A few months later however the show shut and it hasn’t been on a West End stage since.

Flash forward six years and Loserville came back to the Garrick Theatre on London’s West End last weekend with most of the original cast for a one night only special event. Very sadly the show was brought back in memory of Lil Chris who unfortunately suffered with severe depressing which ultimately led to him committing suicide a few years ago. Loserville was the perfect was to remember him and also to raise money for Maytree, a charity focussing on trying to help people with suicidal thoughts. Loserville was also raising money for the Youth Music Theatre UK, a company encouraging young people into performing arts.

Honestly the evening was just wonderful. I had a drinks reception with some of the members of the cast and people involved in the show and the sheer enthusiasm of every single person in that room was off the chart. You could literally feel the real buzz in the room. Everyone was so excited that Loserville was back and that really was projected onto the stage later in the evening.

The show was advertised as a concert and it really was. The audience were encouraged to sing along and we were even invited to get our phones out and light up the theatre with the torches on them at one point in the show. However, it wasn’t just a case of the cast singing the songs. It was every single line of the original West End show that was performed and it worked just as wonderfully on stage as the original show did. You could just see on stage how much every single person on that stage was absolutely loving this song being back even if due to the sad circumstances of it being performed once more.

Its sad that the show was only for one night but Loserville is such a fantastic show and it truly would be a real shame for it not to be revived for a longer period of time in the future.  

Important Links –

Maytree - http://www.maytree.org.uk/

Youth Music Theatre - http://www.youthmusictheatreuk.org/

Obviously, the show was brought back to raise money for both Maytree and Youth Music Theatre UK. If you want to donate all you have to do is text – YMTR33 and £1 £2 £5 or £10 to 70070 

The Wedding That Changed Everything – Jennifer Joyce

The Wedding That Changed Everything tells the story of Emily. She has her heart broken by men and even her own mother…so it’s safe to say she’s completely and utterly done with the idea of love. However, her best friend Alice couldn’t be more opposite. Alice is a hopeless romantic who completely believes in finding Prince Charming. Alice has her love life sorted so she has taken it upon herself to find Emily her very own Prince Charming. When a spare place comes available at Alice’s sister’s wedding, Emily finds herself invited. Alice see’s the wedding as the perfect opportunity to find Emily her own perfect match.

From only a few chapters in I knew I would absolutely love this book. You know those books that you start reading then before you know it, its 3am and you’ve finished the book - this is absolutely one of those books! Everything about it just makes it a good book, I loved the story, I loved the setting of the castle, I loved the characters...I could go on!

The story is set in the most wonderfully, magic location of Alice’s family castle, Durban Castle. The descriptions of the castle and its grounds are fantastic and I found myself fully transported there whilst reading the book. I also really liked the actual storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed Alice’s attempts at trying to find a potential suitor for Emily and Emily’s attempts at trying to not get involved in any of it at all. I found myself actually laughing out loud at some of the moments in the book. However, its absolutely a romance novel and this book certainly isn’t lacking those either! Ok yes, some moments are a little farfetched but overall the story is believable and you can truly imagine yourself being in this situation.

All of the main characters are wonderful to read about. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters but Emily is a down to earth normal character which only added to my enjoyment of the book. She is funny, prone to getting lost and always up for all the pre-wedding games.

This book is everything you want from a romance novel. It’s a book you can get fully absorbed in quickly and the only bad thing about it is that it ends too soon. I’d very much like a sequel or at least something a little more as I’m just not ready to stop ready to stop reading about these characters. As you can tell, I really enjoyed reading this book and if you like the blurb then you will certainly love this book.

Synopsis –

Love happens when you least expect it… 

Emily Atkinson stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago! She’s fed up of dating frogs in order to track down her very own Prince Charming, despite the best efforts of her matchmaking best friend…

But now she’s been invited to the wedding of the year at the enchanting Durban Castle, and perhaps bumping into a knight in shining armour isn’t as far away as she thought!

Will Emily survive the wedding and walk away an unscathed singleton – or finally find her own happily-ever-after? 

New Years Resolution Failure

Today is the 14^th January. 13 years ago today my favourite band, Busted announced they were splitting and literally broke little 12 years heart. This is completely irrelevant to today’s blog post but I couldn’t post today and not post about it!

As rubbish as my attempt at Blogtober was, it at least got me writing about other things than what books I’m reading which is perfect as I have nothing new to talk about this week. I’ve just reread a book this week so it seems ridiculous to write a review about a novel that I’ve already wrote about previously! So instead I thought I’d do a little post about new years resolutions.

As it’s the 14^th it means we are two whole weeks into January – where on earth did that time go? Which also means we’ve had two whole weeks to make a good start at our new years resolutions. I wrote abit about my resolutions and well, I have failed absolutely miserably already. I wanted to finish writing a book and yes as the 1^st January rolled in, I really concentrated and started write, yet 2 weeks later I’ve been struck with a case of writing block and probably haven’t wrote anything for a week. I wanted to lose weight and yes, I am cutting back and trying to eat healthier, except yesterday I went out and ate a 3-course meal without any consideration towards choosing a healthy option and I wanted to quit Facebook. Believe it or not this has been the only one that I’ve relatively stuck to. I deleted the app off my phone and now I only check it on my PC when I get the email to say someone has tagged me in a post. Downside to less Facebook? I’m still not spending my time productively, I’m just spending a lot of time on Taylor Swift’s app, The Swift Life. However, for my mental sanity seeing photos people post of Taylor Swift is a lot happier on my brain then seeing all the people I know posting about their fake perfect lives.

Am I a failure? Potentially. I mean I haven’t given up on my goals, but the January 1^st, New Year New Me euphoria has certainly gone out of the window. Perhaps just settling down on the 1^st and saying yep I’m going to stop doing this, or start doing this and instantly do it isn’t the way to go as you’re going to give it up. So, I’m going to continue doing a little towards achieving things, after all a little is better than none at all. Hopefully your goals are going better than mine!

A little bit of a rubbish blog posts this week but January is that month of doom and gloom where nothing really happens. Hopefully soon I’ll be posting more interesting posts to read about.