Tuesday 12 February 2013

I've Been Reading...

This post should have been done yesterday, but I was out clothes shopping with one of my younger sons- the fashion aware one at that too. Needless to say I was exhausted by the time I got home, so the blog is being done today instead.

It did cross my mind that it would have been much easier in the 19th century; I could have just sent him along to the tailor to measure him up and make the clothes he needed...

So I thought I'd share with you a couple of the books I've been reading- both have been keeping me up until midnight just to finish the next chapter.

I've read a few of Trisha Ashley's books over the last two years, so when I was trawling through the kobo bookstore and saw 'A Winter's Tale' and read the brief description, I wasn't too sure if I'd enjoy it, so I downloaded the preview to read, and I was hooked.

Sophy Winter is a single mother who has just lost her job, but finds out she's unexpectedly inherited her childhood family home 'Winters End'. With family squabbles, a ghost ancestress and two men to deal with, as well as trying to come up with a plan to make the stately home pay its way, she's going to be busy.

The book was fun to read, and kept me guessing until the end whether Sophy would get her happy ending. I'd recommend it if you want an entertaining feel-good read.

Immediately after I finished 'A Winter's Tale' I started reading Erica James's 'The Real Katie Lavender'. Another book that I downloaded a preview of and then decided to buy.

I'm enjoying the book, but it's a bit more intense on the family dynamics front. I think Erica James is an author I might read again, but not without downloading a preview of the story first.

30 year old Katie Lavender is made redundant. At the same time she receives a letter from a solicitor who has instructions to give Katie a letter. The letter is from her mother who died a year previously. The contents lead her on a journey that will change her future...

I haven't quite finished reading it yet, but it's a, must just read the next chapter before I go to bed, type of book.

I'm hoping for a happy ending for a few of the characters at least...

By the time I finish this book, I will have read about 8 books so far this year. Well I did say to writer friends last year, that I was going to try and read more books in 2013, and try authors I haven't read before...

Have you read any books so far this year that you'd recommend?



5 comments:

Teresa Ashby said...

That's a lovely lot of books you've read, Carol! It's funny because just today someone recommended Erica James to me, so I'm going to give her books a try.

And I have a Trisha Ashley on my TBR pile.

The two books I've enjoyed most so far this year are Love Songs from a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill and A Streetcat Named Bob by James Bowen :-) x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Haven't read either of those, Carol. Among other books, I really enjoyed Frances Garood's The Birds, the Bees and Other Secrets and Liz Bailey's historical, The Conqueror's Dilemma.

Patsy said...

I've just finished reading Great Expectations. I can't honestly say I had any great expectations when I started but I live near Portsmouth (where Dickens was born) and decided it was wrong that I hadn't read anything of his.

I loved it.

liz young said...

I love "old family home" books - might have to read that one.

Carolb said...

Teresa, Bob the Streetcat and his owner, who wrote the book, were on today's BBC Breakfast. I saw the book on the counter in my local Waterstones the other day too.

Patsy, I read Great Expectations when I did my O'level English course many years ago.
I found it the easiest of Dickens' books to read and enjoy, perhaps because it doesn't have as much doom and gloom as some of his stories.

Thanks, Rosemary. I've heard of the Liz Bailey book, so will look out for it.

Lizy, I think you would enjoy Trisha Ashley's books generally. Especially the ones with chocolate involved. :-)

Glad to add that Katie Lavender (the one I hadn't quite finished reading when I posted) did have a happy ending.