Review: Instructions For A Second Hand Heart by Tamsyn Murrary

Jonny has a faulty heart and his time is running out. Niamh has just lost her twin brother in a tragic accident. As their fates collide, soon Jonny is on the mend - but desperate to know more about his donor. When he tracks down Niamh, he only intends to find out about her brother, the first owner of his heart. He doesn't plan on falling in love... A stunning, tear-jerking novel about grief, guilt, and the unpredictability of love.

Review: I was worried how emotional this book would be before picking it up as I had heard nothing but good things about it in terms of the amount that I was going to cry, but as soon as I started reading it, i forgot all about that and found myself drawn into the world of Johnny and Niamh. I found this to be an incredibly quick read because I was so drawn to the two of them as characters and the stories that they had to tell, I raced through the pages!

This sounds like quite a morbid topic for a YA novel but this is so much more than a story about people who have died and people who are close to dying. Niamh and Johnny are just two teenagers, like any other teenagers. The difference between them and many other teenagers is that they have this different take on life, a heightened respect for it in many ways and they know, but don't always appreciate how precious their lives are. I really liked getting to know them as characters and found myself wanting to find out more about them and about their growing friendship.

Obviously there many emotional aspects to this book. Dealing with terminally ill children and children who loose their lives is always going to be emotional but that is not the main aspect of this novel, so if you are worried about it being a morbid look at death and cancer and the like, then you need not fear! As I've mentioned above, these characters have a respect for life that so many of us forget about because of how close they have come to loss, but this doesn't mean either that this book is all about the completion of bucket lists and living life to the full. It is more about an attitude and a mind set than an about any actual thing. 

I so enjoyed this book, i cried twice and it left me thinking. These characters have stayed with me and I do hope to hear more about them one day but they will stay with me for a while yet, and that, to me, is the sign of a good book!

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Review: Searching for a Silver Lining by Miranda Dickinson

It began with a promise . . .

Matilda Bell is left heartbroken when she falls out with her beloved grandfather just before he dies. Haunted by regret, she makes a promise that will soon change everything . . .

When spirited former singing star Reenie Silver enters her life, Mattie seizes the opportunity to make amends. Together, Mattie and Reenie embark on an incredible journey that will find lost friends, uncover secrets from the glamorous 1950s and put right a sixty-year wrong.

Touchingly funny, warm and life-affirming, this is a sparkling story of second chances. Perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Searching for a Silver Lining by Miranda Dickinson will take you on a trip you'll never forget.

Review: I love a Miranda Dickinson novel so I'm not sure why it took me to long to read this one! This book has 3 main storylines, all mingling amongst each other but I'd say that the three are very distinct. We have the story involving Mattie, Reenie and club owner Gill and their road trip to try and get the group The Silver Five back together for one very special performance. I would say that this was my favourite of the three storylines. The road trip takes in so many parts of the country and takes in some of my favourite places, including Barter Books, Beaconsfield Services and Soho! I really loved the situations they got themselves into and the travelling itself!

The other 2 storylines involve Mattie and her Grandad Joe. The novel begins with his funeral and we know straightaway that he and Mattie weren't talking when he died and so she feels like she needs to make it up to him. I wasn't as keen on this storyline, I'm not really sure why, perhaps I just didn't like how much of her life Mattie was dedicating to making it up to him, but the flashbacks to Grandad Joe's life ere very interesting and I liked them. The other storyline is, of course, a love story and what's not to like about that. I'm not going to go any further into that one because I don't want to give anything away!

In terms of the characters, I defy anyone not to love Reenie. She is a typical diva, but over 80 and living in a retirement community. I loved how bolshy she was and I loved her accent, it totally comes right off the page and whenever she is speaking or recalling something, you can hear this Cilla Black type matriarch right there in the room with you. Matilda, Mattie Bell is an interesting character. I didn't find myself warming to her quite as much. I think this again comes down to the fact that she lives her life so much in the past and dwells on things so much. I loved that she was so determined to help Reenie though and make things right for her, and I loved the relationship that she had with her sister, Jo and her cousin Jack. Gil, the club owner is another major character in the book and I liked him when he was in the club, doing his thing, but not as much when he was taken out of that setting and chatting to Mattie and Reenie.

Ultimately this is a story of hope and of second chances, but there are also some great insights into relationships of every kind, family, friends, lovers and enemies and I really liked that strong theme coming through. I always love a Miranda Dickinson book and, as with all her novels, you will leave this novel feeling heart warmed and having great faith in your fellow man!

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Review: Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen

Reviw Lately, Felicity just can’t shake a shadow of uncertainty. Her husband Quinn is the kindest person she knows and loves her peculiarities more than Felicity feels she deserves. But suddenly it’s as if she doesn’t quite belong.

Then Felicity experiences something extraordinary: a scent of perfume in the air which evokes memories that have been settled within her for a long time, untouched and undisturbed. As it happens again and again, the memories of a man Felicity hasn’t seen for ten years also flutter to the surface. And so do the feelings of being deeply, exquisitely in love . . .

Overwhelmed and bewildered by her emotions, Felicity tries to resist sinking blissfully into the past. But what if something truly isn’t as it should be? What if her mind has been playing tricks on her heart?

Which would you trust?

Review: wow! I stormed through this book. I was recommended this book by Miranda Dickson who couldn't promise this novel highly enough and was lucky enough to attend the launch and meet the authors but before I went to the launch I sat down to read the novel and iterally couldn't out it down. It forms kind of a love story, kind of a mystery, kind of a real life drama but it's all completely compelling, dramatic and yet heart warming at the same time. 

The main character felicity seems to be a loveable scatter brain and I thought I might find that annoying. The way she seems to do things on a whim and without really thinking of the consequences. It explains at the beginning of the book how she is always late for things and again I saw this as a bit of a warning sign that I might not get along with felicity, but you can't not love this woman-you just want to make her a nice cup of tea and tell her that everything is going to be all right. I wanted the best for her throughout this novel and I this that's one of the things that I found so compelling about it! 

I also really really loved her husband. He is kind and funny and the prefect compliment to Felicity's slight airy fairy ness. He takes it all in his stride, is always there for her and puts up with a hell of a lot very patiently. His family, i didn't like quite so much but they play a pivotal role in the book, as does blast from the past Ewan, again I didn't like him quite so much. Although she is not alive, Felicity's mother also plays a key role in this book. I thought perhaps she may feature as a sort of ghostly presence, something which I don't think I would've liked, but she stays firmly in the background, tying everything together. 

There is a massive spoiler in this book and so it is very hard to talk about the storyline without giving anything away. It is a bit like a rollercoater though, a slow climb up and then suddenly you are rushing through drama and intrigue and mystery and then round into a plot twist you go before coming out the other side again, it's a lot of fun! The ending of the book was superb. Through the last few chapters I went through all of the facial expressions there are (I finished reading this in a pub so I'm sure that went down well!) but I was entirely pleased with the ending. You are kept in suspense as to what is going to happen it up until the last 2 pages and I love that! 

Overall this book was a real treat, it was easy to get to know the characters, easy to get into the storyline and made for a very enjoyable day's reading. I think this books would appeal to most readers and you don't need to have read anything by this author before to quickly become familiar with her beautiful way of writing. A must for your summer reading!