My 'To Be Read' Pile

I am guilty of buying books whenever I enter a bookstore. In fact come to think of it, I usually make a beeline for the book aisle in the supermarkets too! What can I say? I am a book nerd. However it has come to my attention that my 'to be read' pile has grown so vastly that it's taken over my bedroom. I haven't even made a dent in it and I am a little ashamed of myself.

Once upon a time I'd plough through a book in two evenings flat. These days I pick up a book, read a paragraph or two and then put it to one side. I know exactly what the problem is. Well, there's two actually! Firstly, I'm shattered at the moment. And I don't just mean - had a long busy day at work, need to collapse into bed and sleep - kind of tired. Nope. I'm mentally exhausted. This isn't uncommon for me. I find it hard to switch off at the best of times. In fact the only wind down time that works for me of late is watching Grey's Anatomy with my mum. (I love that TV show. Yes I'm borderline obsessed! Anyone else? Jemma I know you're nodding furiously right now! Ha ha!) And the second reason? I simply haven't read a really good book in ages.

It takes something special to grab my attention. Yes I'm a notoriously hard reader to please. My rule of thumb is if I'm not hooked by the end of the first page, then I don't tend to give the book much of a chance. My only exception to that is if it's a novel that has been hyped up by the media in which case I'll persist to see what the fuss is all about. Don't get me wrong, I've read plenty of 'okay' books this year. But I'm after another 'All The Bright Places' or 'Girl On A Train.' The kind of novel that will suck me in and keep me awake well into the early hours.

I'm hoping that now I've had a few days off work, I'll relax a bit and be more inclined to dive into one of the six I've photographed. Let me know if you've read any of these or if you have any recommendations. I'm all ears! Until next time... xxx

P.s... As I'm writing this I've just discovered a new author, Sophie McKenzie. Might be onto a winner... Watch this space! :)

'After You' By Jojo Moyes

 Murphy's Mother: Book Review 

'After You' 

by Jojo Moyes

 

Dear fellow readers

'After You' is the long awaited sequel to 'Me Before You.'

You really must read 'Me Before You' first to be able to identify properly with the characters and understand the emotions behind such a moving story.

'Me Before You' (pictured above) is a thought provoking and very emotional story of how one persons decision affects more than just one family.

Louisa Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that. 

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time...

(Click here to read more on 'Me Before You')

The sequel, 'After You' shows how difficult it is to move on and how one decision can affect peoples lives forever.

Lou Clark has lots of questions.

Like how it is she's ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.

Or why the flat she's owned for a year still doesn't feel like home.

Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.

And will she ever get over the love of her life.

What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change...

Then, one night, it does.

But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for - or just more questions?

Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.

Open it and she risks everything.

But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she's going to keep it, she has to invite them in...

(Click here to read more on 'After You')

I must admit I was a little hesitant about reading this book as 'Me Before You' is a very hard act to follow, however I really wanted to know what happened to Louisa after Will.

This novel is full of twists and turns and certainly delivers a few shocks along the way. I just didn't want to put the book down. I loved reading about Louisa's journey and how learning to live again also helped her to start loving again.

It was great to read about the Clark family and in this book their presence brings a lot of laughter and some of the stories made me laugh out loud ( I'm not going to spoil it but the permanent marker plot was hilarious).

The chemistry Jojo portays between Lou and Sam is funny, poignant and just perfect.

The relationship between Louisa and Lily is yet another triumph as they have a great deal in common. They are both lost lonely souls with a reluctance to build relationships as they are in fear of getting hurt again. I know at first I didn't like Lily as I was very protective over Louisa and I'm sure others will feel the same, but Jojo really brings depth to Lily's character and you'll soon realise she has a good heart.

This is a very different read to 'Me Before You' and I absolutely loved it and was left wanting more.

Jojo Moyes you did it again and I'll be waiting to read what happens next...

Until next time

MM xxx

*If you would like Murphy's Mother to read and review your book or if you have any requests, please in the first instance email 'MM' at jamachin07@aol.com 



'Me Before You' blurb taken from: http://www.jojomoyes.com/books/me-before-you/ 
'After You' blurb taken from: http://www.jojomoyes.com/books/after-you/
Photo of 'After You': Murphy's Mothers own
Photo of 'Me Before You' taken from: www.amazon.co.uk

New Book Review From Murphy's Mother

 

 

Book Review...

'Die Again' by Tess Gerritsen

Happy Friday people! Hope you've all had a pleasant week? Today's post is another from my resident book reviewer, Murphy's Mother. As you all may remember from her previous posts, she loves crime fiction and is a HUGE Tess Gerritsen fan... And on that note here is her review of Tess' latest novel.

Dear fellow readers...

Today's review is of Die Again by Tess Gerritsen. This is an amazingly gripping novel from start to finish. 

In Boston, Dectective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles are investigating a bizarre murder. A man has been found gutted and hanging in his home. When the remains of another victim are found, it's clear that this murderer has been at work for years and not just in Boston.

Maura connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard's kill.

Rizzoli follows the puzzling trail all the way to Botswana where she uncovers the unsolved mystery of a deadly camping safari six years before. When she realises the two cases are connected, Rizzoli must track down the sole survivor of the tragic trip to discover who or what is behind these gruesome deaths. 
 

This is another outstanding thriller in Tess Gerritsen's series featuring Detective Jane Rizzoli and her friend and colleague, medical examiner Dr Maura Isles. 

I love the characters of Jane and Maura, Tess portraits the warmth of the two women really well and this novel carries on adding depth to their relationship.

I can't wait to read Tess Gerristen's next novel.

Until next time... MM  xxx

Thanks as always to the lovely Murphy's Mother! Hope you all check out her latest recommendation. Should any of you want to know more about the author, I did a little bit of research...

Who is Tess Gerritsen? 

Tess worked for many years as a physician. It was while on maternity leave that Tess first began to write fiction. 'Call After Midnight' her debut novel was published in 1987. Now living in Maine, Tess has retired from medicine and writes full time.

Click here to read more about Tess' novel 'Die Again.'
 

'Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are back—and they're going into the wild to find a killer. Die Again is the latest heart-pounding thriller in Tess Gerritsen's New York Times bestselling series, the inspiration behind TNT's hit show Rizzoli & Isles.' (Excerpt taken from tess.gerritsen.com)

Contact Tess via Twitter: @tessgerritsen or via email: tess@tessgerritsen.com

 
That's all for now... Thankyou once again for all your lovely tweets, emails and messages. I never tire of hearing from you all! I also just want to share a glimpse of this beautiful card which I received this week from one of my readers... Huge thankyou for this! It really did make my day! 

I'll be back on Sunday with part two of my post on author Andrew Males! Until then, have a fabulous Friday night and weekend! GGD xxx

Britain's Next Bestseller...

 

 

Spotlight on Andrew Males. 

Author of '26 Miles To The Moon'

Hello my lovelies... So it's been a little while. (Apologies.) I've had quite a testing two weeks but I'm back now with a brand spanking new post. If you're a writer, aspiring or otherwise then this post may be of interest to you. If you're not, I hope you enjoy it all the same.

As I did previously with my 'All The Bright Places' post, I'm again going to split this one into two.

Part One 

 

So you may all be wondering... Who is Andrew Males?
First and foremost a husband, father and business analyst, Andy as he prefers to be called, is also the author of fictional novel, '26 Miles to the Moon.' (A romantic comedy about Jon Dunn - a nobody who is going nowhere in life until he answers a random email and finally takes a chance...)
Quite frankly I hadn't heard of Andy myself until I came across a feature in the 'Members' News' section of Writing Magazine.
He spoke of how his novel, 26 Miles to the Moon had been rejected by several agents. Now let's face it. We writers know that this is nothing unusual. For those of you who are sitting there lost... The book industry is a tough nut to crack. Winning the lottery is probably easier! However, knowing these facts does not stop the gut wrenching disheartened feeling that hits when your masterpiece, (often months of blood, sweat and tears) has been kicked to the curb. Not one to give up, (we writers are a tenacious breed) Andy decided to look into other avenues which could possibly fulfil his dream of publication... Cue route BNBS... The new book crowdfunding site Britain's Next Bestseller! 

Now if you're an unpublished, aspiring writer and haven't heard of this site then I definitely recommend you take a look. In a nutshell, you submit your manuscript to BNBS. If they approve your book then you'll be given a minimum pre-order sale target to achieve within a set time limit. The readers then decide who they want to see published. As BNBS says, it's a great opportunity to get a publishing deal based purely on the merit of your manuscript. Not to mention the fact you are guaranteed a publishing deal if your book achieves the minimum target. And as a reader, you get to check out the fresh new writing talent that's on offer. It's a lovely feeling to know you've supported new authors that might not otherwise have achieved publication.
Which leads me back to the main man in question. Andrew Males. His personal target was 250 which he smashed through in no time. I for one pre-ordered it and then set about trying to encourage others to do the same! Initially I got chatting to Andrew via Twitter (no surprise there... Twitter obsessive that I am) and so followed the idea to do a Q&A with him. I thought it would be a great insight for you all. Not just for the writers out there but for anyone with a dream. Because as Andrew himself has proven, with a lot of hard work and determination, you CAN make your dreams come true. Here is part one of my interview...

So Andrew, when did you know that you wanted to be a writer? At school, my teachers liked my stories, but it was only about eight years ago that I started writing again and realised that it was a perfect way to release my pent-up creative side.

       

What (apart from running marathons) gave you the idea or inspiration for this novel?

I wanted an adventure and a competition, something like Brewster's Millions. I love sci-fi and have a mild obsession with the Moon. I threw those ideas into the mixing bowl that is my brain and after cooking them for three weeks I'd got my plot.

Describe your average writing day.

When I was off work and writing daily it was:

Wake up. Think about the book and the 1500 words I have to write today.

Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast. Think of as many things as I can to delay starting writing.

Sit at my desk and read the previous day's work. Try not to cringe or go back and change anything.

Think of any last minute things I really, really need to do before I start typing. When did I last cut my toenails?

Write.

Resist the Dark Force that is the Internet. It's only a click away. Must. See. Sports. Headlines...

Find any excuse to stop and have lunch. Two and a Half Men, or Friends repeats. Maybe Bear Grylls, as I'm sure I might need survival tips in the wilderness of Stevenage.

Think of more things I need to do before resuming writing.

Write.

Reach 1500 words.

Do a little dance.

Make a little love.

Get down tonight.

(Or maybe just the first one).

Wait for girlfriend (now wife) to come home from work to tell her all about it the very second she steps through the door.

How long did it take you to write 26 Miles?

First draft: 3.5 months of 1500 words a day.

After that, a lot of editing, on and off, over the next 3.5 years. 

And what do you want the reader to take away from this particular story?

I'd like them to be inspired - to take a risk in life and see where it may lead. Failing that, just some LOLs.  

Tell us an inspirational quote that you love or that means something to you. 
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - F. Bueller, 1986.

 

To be continued...

The man himself. Andrew Males

In part two I'll be sharing my personal opinion of 26 Miles to the Moon. This is where Andrew runs and hides... ;)

If you fancy grabbing yourself a copy then just click here! If you've already read it then please do leave your own feedback in the comments box below.

Until next time... I hope you have a fantastic week. Don't work too hard! Love GGD xxx

Links 

Website: Andrew Males 

Email: andy@andrewmales.com

Twitter: @andrewdmales 

'26 Miles to the Moon'... Available on Amazon

10 Hopefuls. 26 Miles. 1 Target: The Moon. 

Jon Dunn is a nobody, going nowhere in life. But that all changes when he answers a random email that puts him on a journey that'll take him so far out of his comfort zone, he'll need a telescope just to look back at it...Read more of the book blurb on Amazon.

Introducing my new resident book reviewer...

'Murphy's Mother'

As you'll have gathered by now, (if you've read my last three posts) I usually only upload on a Friday evening. However, due to requests from lots of you lovely readers, I've decided to share a special mid-week post tonight!
Going by the name 'Murphy's Mother,' my new guest blogger's identity is a well kept secret. She will be sharing book reviews with you on a fortnightly basis. A bit like Jennifer Niven, she is loveliness personified so I hope you love her as much as I do... But be warned, like the Simon Cowell of the music industry, or the Anne Robinson of the quiz show world, Murphy's Mother is the sharp tongued protagonist for the book trade. She tells it like it is and although sometimes seemingly harsh, she will always give you her honest opinion. She does afterall want you to get the best out of your reading experience.
If you have a question or any feedback then please email me and I'll be sure to pass it on. GGD xx

Over to you Murphy's Mother...

Dear fellow readers

After all the hype surrounding the likes of 'Gone Girl' and 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' I decided enough was enough and wanted to express my own opinion as it would seem to me that the rest of the book critic world has gone slightly mad. Have they even read Gone Girl? I guessed the plot three pages in!

Don't get me wrong. There are some amazing writers out there (Tess Gerritsen is a fine example) but I also don't want you wasting your precious leisure hours reading drivel when you could be reading something actually mind blowing! Prior to buying Gone Girl I read so many rave reviews which now leaves me to think perhaps these people never even opened the book in the first place let alone read it in it's entirety. In truth there isn't many books in life I've given up on, but over one hundred pages in and I just couldn't justify wasting anymore of my time! This did surprise and disappoint me as I usually love crime fiction and I hate to let a book defeat me.

Never one to end on a negative, I have read some lovely and heart warming books which are altogether more thought provoking. Authors such as Victoria Hislop, JoJo Moyes and Lucy Diamond are firm favourites and I look forward to sharing these reviews with you in the near future. Until the next time... Many Thanks

Murphy's Mother xx


Have you read Gone Girl? Tell us what you thought of it in the comments box below.

Next post from girlgonedreamer coming this Friday...