Top ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best/Worst Series Endings

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

I haven't read that many series that have ended. I think some have reached their final book that has been released, but in terms of it ending, a lot of the series that I read, are still going. I shall attempt to give you a top ten, hopefully 50/50 best/worst. If any of you think you can help me out, leave me your thoughts in the comments below!

1. The shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. I'm not sure if this series has finished yet, but if it has, I'm very happy with the way it has ended. Becky Bloomwood has grown and developed I've the series in the completely realistic way and so if that is the last we have heard from Becky, then I think it's a great ending! 

2. The Narnia Series! I so wasn't happy with the ending of this series, I loved the Lion The Witch and Wardrobe and then everything went down hill post-Prince Caspian (how I love Prince Caspian!) this was definitely not a good ending to the series-Narnia should be left open to possibility! 

3. The personal shopper series by Carmen Reid. I am a massive fan of Carmen Reid and her personal shopper/Annie Valentine series is just wonderful, again I'm not sure if the series is finished yet, but if it is, I'm happy with the way things have been left with all the characters! 

4. The fifty Shade trilogy. I don't know if anyone was happy with the way these books wrapped up. I'm looking forward to the film to see what's been done wight he story but they can't change the ending and I think the ending of this series was a bit of a cop out! 

5. Ok so I know this series hasn't been finished yet as I think book 3 is being developed right now, but the Geek Girl novels by Holly Smale, the sequel: Model Misfit was brilliant and I'm sure book 3 will be awesome too! 

6. Another addition to a series that I'm looking forward to coming out if I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk. This series has been great so far and I'm sure if this book is the ending, it will be wonderful! 

7. Another book which I'm looking forward to coming out this week is the addition to the Bridget Jones series by Helen Fielding. I loved the first two books and so for this now to become a trilogy, I'm very much looking forward to it and I'm sure this author will wrap things up with our Bridget very satisfactorily! 

8.  The Complete Notes by Bill Bryson. This was a duo of books Notes from A Big Country and Notes From a Small island and, although they're not really a series, these books compliment each other brilliantly and so I think this was definitely a good ending to a 'series'!

Ok I'm stuck now. I don't think i really read very many series, I'm aware that there are tons more out there and that I own some of them, they're hiding in my kindle, or on my bookshelf and I haven't read them yet. If you know my reading habits and think I've missed anything I should've added. Leave me a comment below! 

Review! What Would Oprah Do? By Erin Emerson

Cate Sanders is a 32-year-old woman living on her own in Atlanta, who’s at a crossroads. After being laid off from her corporate job, she’s determined to find a new career path. To help guide her, she looks to the woman she admires most, Oprah Winfrey. At every new phase she writes a letter to Oprah, knowing in all probability her hero won’t be reading them, but finds hope and inspiration from imagining what Oprah’s words of wisdom would be.

With Amelia Bedelia tendencies and a Chelsea Handler attitude, Cate’s mishaps provide humor, while her relationships give the story depth. Throughout her amusing and heartwarming trials, she searches for the answer to one question. Can she find her purpose in life by pursuing her passion?

Review: Such a cute idea for a book! Each of the chapters in the book begins with a letter to Oprah from Cate. I thought this was such a good way to structure this whole story and meant that I found myself uttering to immortal phrase 'just one more chapter' so I could read what she was going to write to Oprah next! Cat is a fab character, totally someone I could relate to, and someone a lot of readers will be able to relate to as well. She finds herself suddenly laid off from her job, something which has happened to many of us in the economic climate, and struggling for money. She writes to Oprah countless times and even though she doesn't get a reply, she uses these letters as a kind of sounding board as to where she is going to go next with her life. 

The great thing about this story is that we get to live vicariously through Cate. Many of us would love the chance to start over, completely change what it is we do for a living, chase those dreams and be free from tax bills and paying into a pension fund and that is exactly what Cate is faced with, only it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Thankfully she has some wonderful friends who proved great entertainment as characters in this novel, and they help her through the tough times. Everything that happens to Cate is totally realistic and yet I found myself getting frustrated on her behalf, she really did seem to have the worst luck.

Over the course of the novel, she volunteers at various organisations and gets various part time jobs, whether they are creating her own jewellery or her own hats. Through all of this she meets Vivian. Vivian is an elderly woman with a fabulous dog called Buddy and she is just the best character for me. She helps Cate discover what it really is she wants to do. She is a mother figure to Cate and she educates her in the ways of plants. I really wanted to meet the real life Vivian, have her make me some 'good coffee' and spend some time with Buddy too! 

This was a thoroughly optimistic novel with a fabulous storyline, structured so cleverly and it really drew me in to Cate's world. The epilogue is absolutely hilarious and totally wraps up the book beautifully! This was a nice easy read and although Oprah is somewhat of an American treasure, the concept of writing to someone like that and asking them for help or advice, definitely translates over here in the UK too!

This fabulous novel is available at a total bargain price right now, so to get your copy, just click here

Letterbox love #7

Welcome to Letterbox Love, this is a UK meme, hosted by the lovely Lynsey at Narratively Speaking and inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox. This post is a means by which to highlight the books we get in the post and beyond, and especially to bring attention to those books which may be sat on our shelves for a little while yet that we love all the same.

I've received a few books from publishers, won a few books and now that my books buying ban is officially over, I've bought a few books this week, so I'm going to share those with you now...

I received a copy of This Child of Mine by Sinaed Moriarty. I have another of hers on my TBR pile so I will probably read both of these at the same time. Thank you very much for this review copy, it sounds fabulous! 

What Would Oprah Do by Erin Emerson. The lovely Erin sent me a copy of this for my perusal and you will actually be able to see my review of this on here tomorrow! Thanks very much for sending me a copy of this funny novel! 

One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson. I received an ARC of this mammoth book a couple of weeks ago. I'm just over halfway through this book so you can look out for a review of this soon. Thanks to Transworld for my copy of this! 

I also won some novels by Abbi Glines from the lovely folks at Books and the City. I received the rest of the books in the Fallen Too Far series and the Sea Breeze series. Can't wait to get stuck into these-I feel a marathon coming on! 

Another book I received on ebook this week was Geli Voyante's Hot or Not by Elle Field. I am on the blog tour for this book and so you can look out for my review on the 24th October! 

From Netgally recently I have very excitingly received Take a Look At me Now by Miranda Dickinson, Finding it by Cora Carmack, Geek Girl 2 by Holly Smale and Christmas at Carringtons by Alexandra Brown. All of these books were on my wish list and I am very excited about reading, or perhaps even having read, these ones! 

Since my books buying ban eded I've bought Diary of a Mummy Misfit by Amanda Egan, The Coffee Shop Book Club which is a collection of stories by various authors, as is the Booby Trap. I've also bought Let it Snow by John Green and others. I think I'll probably wait till Christmas time to read this one! 

Leave me links to what you've bought this week and let me know what you think of my haul I've built up over the last couple of weeks! 

Review! Coming Home For Christmas by Jenny Hale

Christmas is a time for family - isn't it?

Allie Richfield loves Christmas, so when she lands a job as House Manager for the amazing Ashford Estate—which includes organizing the Marley family festivities—she is in her element. With a budget bigger than her life savings and a team of staff, how hard can it be?

As one-by-one she meets the Marleys, she’s about to find out…

Allie’s new boss, Robert, might be gorgeous, but he’s also colder than the snow outside and refuses to come home for Christmas. Robert’s playboy brother, Kip, flirts with her relentlessly; and his sister, Sloane, arrives home with baggage—both the divorce-kind and the Louis Vuitton kind. Their ninety-two year old grandmother, Pippa, spends her day grumbling at everybody from her mobility scooter.

With Robert intending to sell Ashford, it’s the Marley’s last chance to create some happy memories in their family home—and Allie is determined to make it happen… even if it takes a little Christmas magic! With the festive spirit in full swing, she might even discover a little happiness of her own…

Review: What a lovely heartwarming tale! I knew I was going to enjoy this book just from reading the publisher's summary but I didn't realise just how feel-good it would be. It's a nice quick start to the story, you get to know Allie and her sister Megan straight away and then when Allie moves to look after Ashford (the house she is employed to look after) the characters start being introduced there too. Allie is a totally relatable lead character. She has her insecurities and yet she is determined to make the most of her life, something I'm sure we will all be able to relate to. Her only slightly niggling habit is that she jumps to conclusions rather quickly and can rush off before things were resolved, but this make for an interesting storyline with plenty of twists.

The idea of her going to look after a house over Christmas is a great idea for a plot, it was just a shame that she wasn't going to see her family over Christmas. The house is described in brilliant detail, as are its surroundings and so that made for an easy read. The brothers of the family, the male leads, are pretty interesting characters. I wasn't really sure what to make of them, and I wasn't sure whether i actually liked either of them. They seemed to have a certain stubbornness in common whilst one was incredibly laid back and the other the complete opposite. The grandmother of the family seemed to be the character who controlled the storyline, Allie would think she was going in one direction and then Pippa would reveal something and Allie would find herself doing something completely different, or having to question her actions!

The love story within this novel was a seriously slow burner, I was shouting at the book right up until the last few pages for Allie to get together with a certain someone (no spoilers here) I can just say the the ending was totally Hollywood movie worthy and reminded me very much of Pretty Woman, as it is commented up in the text by Allie's Mom! I did a little cheer when the plot finally unravelled itself for me, and was thoroughly satisfied that I was kept guessing up until the last moment! 

This is the kind of Christmas book where Christmas isn't shoved down your throat for the entire novel, christmas is in the background, there are presents and a meal, but Allie's story is more important and the slow-burning love plot reigns overall. There are certainly strong family values in this novel and for that reason i truly loved it. It's a great read if you are looking for something to ease you into the festive season but I really think that it would work at any time of year!

This book is released today, so get your copy by clicking here

The Leibster Award

I was really pleased that I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Both Sam at The Book Corner and Emma at Chicklit vs Fantasy so I will endeavour to answer both of their sets of questions-why not!

So what is the Liebster Award?

The idea behind the award is to give new and upcoming bloggers the opportunity to build their community and get to know one another. It’s the perfect way to meet new people and let them find out some interesting facts about you.

Here’s some rules:
1. Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer;
2. Nominate some other bloggers!
3. Let them know!

These are the questions I was asked by Sam:

1. What book have you had on yourself for what feels like years but never got round to reading?

Dawn French's autobiography 

2. Which book would you recommend everyone to read at least once in their life?

Has to be One Day, always always One Day! 

3. Who is your favourite book character?

I love Becky Bloomwood-I mean who doesn't but the new girl coming up close behind her has got to be Harriet Manners from Geek Girl! 

4. If you could only ever read one more book what would you choose? 

Wow SUCH a hard question! I am desperate to read the new Scarlet Bailey because she write such lovely Christmas novels and is just a gorgeous yummy person so I think that even though I haven't read it yet! 

5. How many books do you have on your TBR pile?

I have no idea, this week? Like 2, this month? TONS! 

6. Which book that features travel has made you want to visit that place?

Eat Pray Love made me want to visit Naples, still haven't done it though! 

7. Where do you love to read?

In the bath, in Starbucks or in my chair at home! 

8. Have you ever started a book and not finished it? If so what was it?

I totally couldn't finish Julie and Julia which I strange because it has all the right qualities and I have the DVD and love that ( I read the book first of course!) there have been others too...

9. If you could have any book made into a film what would it be?

I would love The Naughty Girls Book Club by Sophie Hart to be made into a film, or maybe a TV show, where every book had its own episode...

10. Would you ever attempt to write a book?

Yes, I'm going to attempt to write SOMETHING next month actually, thanks for asking! 

Ok now for Emma's questions... 

Who is your favourite author and why?

I'd have to say Rowan Coleman, I've loved everything she has written, she is so versatile and she is a lovely lovely person! 

 
Who is your favourite book boyfriend?

I have to pick just one? Ok I'm going to go for Dave from The Greatest Love Story of All Time by Lucy Robinson. He's a Glaswegian heartthrob who I definitely would fancy in real life! 

What’s your favourite place in the world?

Glasgow

Where do you love to read?

As above! 

You can only read 3 books for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Bridget Jones's Diary, One Day and The Accidental Mother

What is your favourite drink (alcoholic and non)?

Alcoholic: a Manhatten Non Alcholoic: a tie between coffee and diet coke- caffeine!!!

What’s your comfort food?

Hmmm.... Macaroni cheese is what I turn to when I'm I'll...

If you have had a bad day what do you do to cheer yourself up?

I would find someone to give me a hug, take myself for a coffee and a read and maybe buy myself something like socks or earrings, nothing too extravagant that ill regret when I'm feeling better...

What is your favourite picture?

I have a photo of my lounge of The Clyde Arc in Glasgow (known as The Squinty Bridge) and its black and white with the bridge lit up in pink-I love it! 

What is your most prized possession?

Hmm that's hard... I'm proud that I can afford my flat and I love my iPad but I would have to say my pets are the things I would treasure most...

My nominations are:

Kerrie at Read and Repeat

Debbie at Snuggling on the Sofa

Kirsty at Love of a Good Book

Natalie at my flutterby books

Kev at I heart Chick Lit

And here are my questions for them:

1. How many books do you read at a time?

2. What is your favourite genre?

3. Does it bother you if a book is made into a movie and you see the movie first?

4. Do you prefer kindle/paperback/hardback or audiobook?

5. What was the last book (if any) that made you cry and why?

6. Which book was the biggest disappointment to you?

7. Do you read in your lunch break?

8. What do you do with your books when you've finished with them?

9. Do you prefer long or short chapters?

10. What would be your ultimate book recommendation for me?

Review! The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

Review: I was a little intimidated to read this book because it seems to be on EVERYONE'S favourite book list, every bookshop I go in it's up there on the MUST READ books stand and when I said I was in the process of reading it people were telling me how much they loved it. The problem was, I didn't love it! I enjoyed listening to it, I got it on audiobook and it was wonderfully read. I think perhaps if I'd got the paperback, i might have given up on this one because its a long old slog! I liked the concept and I liked the setting, it just didn't wow me in the way I thought it might.

The writing though is just beautiful, everyone told me it was beautifully written and this is where the hype is definitely right! The smilies and the description are just gorgeous, I am definitely going to recommend this to some of the kids that I teach and am definitely going to use some of the descriptions of settings and people when I teach that aspect of writing. I would find myself lost in the descriptions as I was driving along listening to it.

I was really pleased to discover that the book thief was a girl, definitely expected it to be a boy and so I thought making her a girl was an excellent choice and something which makes it stand out from other books. I also liked the fact that death was the narrator and found his asides during the book particularly amusing and at some times poignant. I have read and enjoyed a few books set during the nazi occupation/world war II times recently and so the setting wasn't the problem but I just didn't feel the storyline went anywhere and I think that's why I didn't enjoy it.

I liked the characters and I liked some of the individual story lines throughout the novel but overall it didn't wow me. I totally fell in love with Papa and defy anyone not to, I thought that Liesel and her friends were fab characters, I just prefer a book with a definite-this is the beginning, this is what happened, this is an ending. I found the epilogue quite moving and had a tear when I found out the fates of some of the characters in the novel. If you prefer your writing in short bursts of beautiful description then this is one for you. If you are looking for a quick read then I wouldn't recommend this book as your next buy.

To read this book for yourself, click here.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Turn Offs

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

You know what's its like when you're reading a book thinking, this is totally my kind of thing, completely something I'm into and then BAM something changes! Suddenly you're soooo not into the book anymore, or you find yourself suddenly skimming when you were totally absorbed before. Here are my top ten turn offs:

1. Cheating. I find it really difficult to identify with a character when they cheat on their partner, I feel like they've cheated on me too! 

2. Domestic abuse. I find this really uncomfortable to read and have been known to abandon more than one book because I couldn't get past the domestic absurd storyline. 

3. Crime. I don't like reading about crime and if it comes up in a book suddenly, I'm just not that keen to carry on!

4. The bad boy wins. I'm a big fan of the good guy, and indeed the good girl. If a female character chooses the bad boy over the adorable good guy, I sulk-honestly I do! 

5. Too much lip biting. There seems to be an awful lot of lip biting in books at the moment, and there has to be a point where I say-I can't stand this anymore! 

6. Abrupt endings. I know this doesn't happen until right to the end but I'm a noses reader, I neeeeeeed to know what happens to everyone, unless I know for sure there is going to be a sequel! I love an epilogue and so my review of a book with an abrupt ending can go seriously downhill unless things are properly resolved. 

7. Discovering things were really a dream. My boyfriend read a book recently where they woke up and it was all a dream-what a cop out! This has happened to me before as well, just the same as above, my review of that book goes from 5 star to 2 all at once! 

8. Crazy random acts just for the sake of it. Now I'm a planner, I'm organised but every now and then I do like a bit of spontaneity, I think that life it like that, I hate books though where the characters do crazy random things out of the blue, I think sometimes it's just because the author wanted to pad out the storyline another few hundred words. If they are spontaneous all the time, that's ok, but if there is a sudden crazy act, nope! 

9. When women become needy. If you've read my reviews before, you'll know I'm a big fan of a strong female character. I hate a needy, whiney girl. Sometimes you get YA novels where the girl is needy and moody all the way through, she is a teenager, she has an excuse. The minute someone my age becomes needy and always has to have a man around, nope-not for me! 

10. Nothing. I like a nice juicy storyline, something I can say, you,l never guess what just happened in my book, or listen to this funny bit in my book, or my book just made me bawl my eyes out. If nothing is happening in the book, there is nothing to talk about! It's even worse when the story has been going along nicely and then all of a sudden, it tails off and you're left with nothings a 'meh' point, total turn off! 

I'd love to hear what made it onto your list, or any you think I might have missed out! If you fancy arguing the case of the things I've stuck into the Room 101, feel free to leave me a comment below!