Chick Lit Challenge # 24

After years of romantic drought, Nell is enjoying a thrilling fling with a sexy new man and loving London life, somehow managing to juggle single motherhood with a busy career. Plus, in the city it's easy to avoid her sister who is about to marry Nell's ex. (Yes, messy.) Then she gets the news. Please could she return to Tredower, the crumbling old family home in Cornwall for the summer? Disaster. Tredower has no wifi, harbours her big dysfunctional family, and, far worse, memories of her passionate love affair with the man who is about to become her brother-in-law. The past is another county. Can she go there?

Another woman is making her way west too, carrying an explosive secret. Love will be lost, broken, and found, lives changed forever...

What can I say about this book except that I really enjoyed it - think I actually gave it 5 stars.

I loved the main character of Nell and all her different relationships with her family members and the fact they have all been thrown together due to a family crisis. Her writing style is brilliant and had me turning the pages to fins out more. Will definitely be reading more by this author.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 23

Another older chick lit title that is now stocked by local library - A Minor Indiscretion by Carole Matthews - with a brand new shiny copy.



Happily married with three children, Ali Kingston can't believe that a quick cappuccino in a Covent Garden café will turn her life upside down. But then it isn’t every day that a gorgeous street artist, fifteen years her junior, falls at her feet. When Ali's husband, Ed, finds out that she's spent time with another man, he's sure there's more to it than meets the eye. And what started as a minor indiscretion soon turns into something major...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - loved the characters and all the twists and turns in the plot. Yes the story line was a little unbelievable - but who doesn't enjoy a little bit of escapism? This book made me laugh - especially the bits about the youngest son - he has some cracking on liners!

I now have another Carole Matthews lined up in my to be read pile.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 22

One of my debut authors for this challenge and it was recommended by Samantha who is the host of the challenge.



The blurb for Attachments by Rainbow Rowell reads as follows:

It's 1999 and for the staff of one newspaper office, the Internet is still a novelty. By day, two young women, Beth and Jennifer, spend their hours emailing each other, discussing in hilarious detail every aspect of their lives, from love troubles to family dramas. And by night, Lincoln, a shy, lonely IT guy spends his hours reading every exchange. At first their emails offer a welcome diversion, but as Lincoln unwittingly becomes drawn into their lives, the more he reads, the more he finds himself falling for one of them. By the time Lincoln realizes just how head-over-heels he really is, it's way too late to introduce himself. What would he say to her? 'Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail - and also, I think I love you'. After a series of close encounters, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart ...and find out whether there really is such a thing as love before first-sight. Heartwarming, witty and unforgettable, ATTACHMENTS is an irresistible romantic comedy that has it all.

I have to admit that I struggled to get into this book - I think maybe it was because part of it was written in the format of emails between two female work colleagues. I did like the character of Lincoln (even felt a bit sorry for him in places) But I preserved with the story and was rewarded with a happy ending - a thoroughly modern love story!

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 21

I'm a bit behind with my reviews for the Chick Lit Challenge.

A recent read was A Winter's Weddng by Sharon Owens. Wrong time of year to be reading a book about winter, but the cover appealed and she is a new author to me.




















Emily loves Dylan.And Dylan loves Emily.Their relationship is rock solid.Everyone says they are meant to be together, it’s just a matter of when – not if – Dylan’s going to pop the Big Question.


There’s just one tiny fly in the ointment: Emily hates weddings. Which is fair enough seeing as she was jilted at the altar years ago by Alex, her supposed soulmate.Still, Dylan isn’t Alex.He’s gorgeous and sexy and scruffy and kind – and more than worth taking a chance on …


But what happens when the ghost of Emily’s Christmas past threatens to ruin everything? Can Dylan convince the love of his life he’s different and that their wedding day will be remembered for the right reasons?


After all, with a sprinkling of snow and a touch of magic in the air, there’s nothing quite like a winter’s wedding to warm the soul …



Going by the title of the book I was expecting a story based around a wedding including the lead up and planning of it so I was surprised when I found that the story had very little of that and in actual fact at the start of the book the main character Emily is single.

I loved reading how Emily and Dylan met and about how their relationship developed over time. I also enjoyed the relationship between Emily and her boss Arabella as it was different to most boss/employee relationships in a lot of similar books in the fact that the two of them are good friends. Throw in a couple of wacky parents and you have a great easy read.

Will certainly be reading more by this author.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 20

This was a book that was recommended to me by a friend who works in my local library - she had enjoyed it and thought I would too.

Girl On The Run by Jane Costello:




He's a real catch ...if only she could catch him up Abby Rogers has been on health kicks before - they involve eating one blueberry muffin for breakfast instead of two. But since starting her own business, after watching one too many episodes of The Apprentice, the 28-year-old's waistline has taken even more of a back seat than her long-neglected love life. When Abby is encouraged to join her sporty best friend's running club - by none other than its gorgeous new captain - she finds a mysterious compulsion to exercise. Sadly, her first session doesn't go to plan. Between the obscenely unflattering pink leggings, and the fact that her lungs feel as though they've been set on fire, she vows never to return. Then her colleague Heidi turns up at work and makes a devastating announcement, one that will change her life - and Abby's - forever.

There are quite a few side-plots: the ups and downs of her business, her best friend's troubled marriage, her parents' difficult post-divorce relationship, her colleague's tumultuous love life, her other colleague's ill-health. Really, of these, the only one that really interested me was the plot about her business.

This is a witty easy read and did make me chuckle on places (re the thong incident!!) Apart form the main storyline of Abby taking up running as a fund raising scheme there are quite a few side plots - the ups and downs of running her own business, her friends marriage which appears to be on the rocks, her parents post divorce relationship etc.

I have never read anything by this author before - but have picked up another one from the library which is now sitting in my to be read pile.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 19

I seem to be slipping behind with my reviews for this challenge so am going to be playing catch up.

First up is Head Over Heels by Jill Mansell. This is one of her older books but the library and a new shiny copy which I couldn't resist and I usually enjoy her books.




Jessie has kept the identity of her son Oliver's father a secret for years. She's stunned when she discovers that the man in question, actor Toby Gillespie, has just moved in next door. The truth's about to come out. One glance at Oliver, and a little mental arithmetic, and Toby has the situation sussed. Meeting the son he never knew he had is the shock of a lifetime. It's a shock, too, for Toby's wife, the beautiful Deborah, though she seems to take it in her stride. Would Deborah be so relaxed if she knew just how close Toby wants to get to the mother of his firstborn? As the attraction between them flares up again, Jessie just can't see her way to a happy ending. But no one is quite what they seem, and there are more surprises to come...

This was an enjoyable read even if the storyline was a little predictable. The main story revolves around Jessie and Toby who have some history and the repercussions ripple throughout the book. There are some fantastic character introduced along the way which make for a very entertaining read. Chick lit at it's best in my opinion.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 17 and # 18

I have read some cracking books just lately - even with my dodgy eyesight and having to hold my book at arms length to be able to see the words clearly!!

My 17th book for the Chick Lit Reading Challenge was One Day In May by Catherine Alliott:






One day in May, Hattie's life changes for ever ...Hattie Carrington has good reason to be happy. Her antiques business is flourishing, her teenage son is settled at school and she's enjoying a fling with a sexy, younger man. But when work takes her back to the village of Little Crandon, heartbreaking memories of her first love surface. It seems that the secret affair with married politician Dominic Forbes, which changed the course of her life, just won't go away. So when Hattie's bumps into Dominic's widow and his gorgeous younger brother, Hal, her world is turned upside down. Though she's still trying to hide from her mistakes, she knows that if she's ever to fall in love again she needs to be honest with others, and herself. Can she admit what really happened with Dominic all those years ago? And, if so, is she ready for the consequences?

I loved this book - a perfect holiday story to get yourself lost in. The main character of Hattie was very believable and you soon got gripped with all the different story lines and characters running through the book. I totally wasn't expecting the major twist in the tale towards the end - but I won't spoilt it for you.


My 18th book I blogged about yesterday and which I finished this morning. It was my first Rowan Coleman book - The Happy Home For Broken Hearts - but it won't be my last. My only criticsm is that it all ended on a cliffhanger but maybe that means there will be a sequel. Here's hoping!! She too has a new book out which I have on reserve from my local library called Lessons In Laughing Out Loud.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 16

I have just read Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe which is the latest offering from Jenny Colgan.

I think I have read one of her before a long time ago - but after reading this one I will be looking out for more at my local library.

Ever dreamed of starting over? Issy Randall can bake. No, more than that - Issy can create stunning, mouth-wateringly divine cakes. After a childhood spent in her beloved Grampa Joe's bakery she has undoubtedly inherited his talent. So when she's made redundant from her safe but dull City job, Issy decides to seize the moment and open up her own cafe. It should be a piece of cake, right? Wrong. As her friends point out, she has trouble remembering where she left her house keys, let alone trying to run her own business. But Issy is determined. Armed with recipes posted to her from Grampa, and with her local bank manager fighting her corner, Issy attempts to prove everyone wrong. Following your dreams is never easy and this is no exception. Can Issy do it?
























This was a lovely feel good book with the added bonus of a cupcake recipe at the start of every chapter - what more could you want from a book? I instantly warmed to the main character of Issy and her trials and tribulations in setting up her own business. There is nothing earth shattering about this book but I do think it is chick lit at it's best - and I couldn't put it down.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 14 & 15 and a debut author

Fern Britton is an icon of daytime telly (not something I ever see as I am at work at that time)and I did briefly see her recent foray into teatime broadcasting (where she was interviewing the delicious Professor Brian Cox who seemed to be squirming in his seat!)




This is her first novel and to be honest I wasn't expecting too much from it.

A warm, witty and wise debut about the ups and downs of life as a TV presenter
Christie Lynch’s life is about to change – for ever.
A journalist and single mother of two, she can’t believe her luck when she is spotted by a talent agent during an appearance on daytime TV show, Tart Talk.
Soon the nation’s sweetheart, Christie can’t help but love her new job and, for the first time in years, she can mend her leaking roof and buy her kids, Libby and Freddie, a few treats. But as her career soars, Christie’s forced to spend more and more time away from her kids and from Richard – the gorgeous single dad she recently met at the school gate.
Can Christie find a way to balance her role as a mother with her increasingly demanding job? And will she make it in the cut-throat world of TV? Whatever happens, Christie's going to give it all she's got…
Warm, witty and wise, New Beginnings is a behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs in the life of a daytime TV presenter.



She is writing about a subject that she knows so well and to that end it was a light read - if a little predictable - you just know there is going to be a happy ending. But I did like the main character and wanted to continue reading so I could find out what happens to her. A great first novel and I hope she writes more.

My second book really made me laugh out loud - although I had my children in my 30's I think this will appeal to mothers of all ages.

Whatever your age, becoming a mum for the first time brings with it excitement, anxiety and numerous challenges. But how do you cope when, to top it all, you discover you are old enough to be the mother of everyone else in your NCT group? The story of one woman, one new baby, a slipped disc and rather too many wrinkles, "The Secret Diary of a New Mum (Aged 43 1/4)" follows the tale of a midlife mum as she tries to make the transition from experienced TV producer to utterly inexperienced parent. One in five babies is born to a mum over 35, and the number of over 40s giving birth has doubled. The first humorous narrative account of what it's really like to be a midlife mum - whether it's deftly side-stepping any questions about age and baby number two or weeping as younger counterparts ping back into their size ten jeans within thirty seconds of giving birth - this is the thoroughly entertaining, insightful and often hilarious account of what happens as you face up to menopause and new motherhood at the same time.




I might recommend this to my brothers girlfriend who has just had their first baby at the age of 41. All I can say is that I am glad it's not me - don't think I could cope with a baby now - I'll settle for the teenager!!

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 13 - debut author

I picked up Faking It by Lotte Daley after it was recommended to be by one of the girls at my kickboxing class. The author is godmother to her grandson and she asked me to read it as it was her first novel.




















It’s not you, it’s me


That’s the cowardly text message that Katie receives from Jack, her actor boyfriend of three years, when he dumps her. And things go from bad to worse when photos of Jack canoodling with a famous size-zero actress are splashed across every gossip magazine and tabloid soon after. Just how much humiliation can a girl take?


With the paparazzi camped out on her doorstep, Katie decides to preserve what’s left of her dignity. So she agrees to become her PR colleagues’ next project. They will make her over (hair, teeth, clothes, Botox, boobs – the works) and turn her into an instant celebrity in order to win back her ex and show the world that an ordinary girl can rival a beautiful bimbo.


But will a new life in the limelight be everything Katie dreamt of? Can she make it in the cut-throat world of the beautiful, rich and famous? Is Jack worth all the hassle or is there someone else out there who might love Katie just the way she is?



I do enjoy a good chick lit book but have to admit that maybe this was a bit lighter than I normally enjoy. But saying that it was well written and of the moment, It would make a perfect beach read. My only criticism is that the chapters were a bit on the long side for such a light book.

But it was good to see my friend, her daughter and her grandson mentioned at the back of the book.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 12

My list of favourite authors is growing - and Shelia O'Flanagan is one of them. Stand By Me is her latest offering and very good it is too.

Dominique ('Domino') lives a charmed existence as wife to one of Ireland's most successful businessmen, Brendan Delahaye - until the day Brendan disappears, leaving his company in disarray and Domino and their daughter alone to face the music. STAND BY ME is the story of Domino's recovery and her journey from obliging and dependent wife to a stronger and happier woman, with a new man ready to step into the gap left by her deserting husband. And that's when Brendan comes home, handsome and charismatic as ever, expecting life to carry on just as it was before...
















I liked the main character of Domino and although the story doesn't race ahead at a speed of knots I kept wanting to turn the pages to find out more. Maybe not a happy ending you would expect but enjoyable all the same. The only part of the story I was unhappy with the way everyone stood by Brendan when he did eventually return - not sure that would happen.

You can read more about this author and her books here - and I can't wait for her next book All For You to come out in the summer.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 11

This afternoon I sat out in the sunshine in my local park and finished my current book - and I have to say it was one of the better chick lit books I have read recently. (I have also reade the latest Adele Parks book called Men I've Loved Before but I'm afraid that wasn't worthy of a review!!)

The book in question was Pieces Of My Heart by Sinead Moriarty. I didn't read the blurb on the back of the book when I picked it up from the library as I have read this author before and always enjoyed her books. It tells the tale of a slightly dysfunctional (but amusing)family whose life is disrupted when the eldest teenage daughter is diagnosed as being anorexic. This should mean the book descends into doom and gloom - but it doesn't. It tells the serious story of the anorexic but it is peppered with funny incidents mainly from the other stroppy would be actress tennager daughter and Grandad who has moved his much younger Polish pole dancing girlfriend into the family home!!!




The modern woman is a Jill of all trades . . .


Ava is a wife, lover, mother, daughter, friend, fixer, boss … so many different people, in fact, she no longer knows what it means to be herself.


Not that anyone will let her – not her work-obsessed husband, nor her tearaway younger daughter, nor her out-of-control Dad, nor even her sassy-but-lonely best friend. There’s always someone wanting something from her.She’s trying to do her best for all of them but lately feels like she can’t make everyone happy. And that's before she discovers that her elder daughter Alison is in deep, deep trouble.


Can Ava keep a hold of the most precious pieces of her heart? And what will happen if she loses one?



I do like Irish chick lit authors - so if you like Marian Keyes, Patricia Scanlan, Shelia O'Flanagan then you will enjoy this one.

You can read more about this challenge here and see what everyone else is reading.

Chick Lit Challenge # 10

My book blogging seems to have fallen by the wayside just lately (like so many other things!!) and I have read several chick lit books but none of them are fresh enough in my mind to write about them.

I spotted Love Always by Harriet Evans in my local Waterstones and in an effort not to add to my book collection I duly went round to the library to request a copy.
























A compelling and heartbreaking tale of lost love, family secrets and those little moments that can change your life for ever. Returning to the wild Cornish coast for the funeral of her beloved grandmother, Natasha has no idea of how things are about to change. This trip reunites her with her large and complicated family for perhaps the last time: Summercove, her grandparents' beautiful house by the sea, is being sold. With it go a generation of memories and the key to the death, many years ago, of fifteen-year-old Cecily, her aunt, a tragedy that no one ever discusses. When she finds the opening pages of Cecily's diary, written the summer she died, Natasha discovers the family she idealised has secrets that have long been buried. But where is the rest of the diary? Back in London, trying to rebuild her own life, Natasha is haunted by Cecily's writing and the tragic tale of love, rivalry and heartbreak promised in those scant pages. She has to know what happened, the summer her aunt died. And so she makes some life-changing decisions -- and in the process finds out that a second chance at love might be possible!


This book started off very slowly - so slowly in fact that I almost gave up on it and returned it to the library. I enjoy books which have 2 strands of the same story set in different years with each chapter going backwards and forwards between 1963 and 2009. Although I have to say I enjoyed the story of Cecily more set in 1963 and the cross cultural references between England and India made this a bit different from your usual chick lit.

From the cover I would have expected a typical light and fluffy read - but this was a bit more than that - and quite enjoyable.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 9

This week I have read The Birthday Party by Veronica Henry - I have read some of her earlier books such as The Honeycote Series (Honeycote, Making Hay and Just A Family Affair.)

Delilah Rafferty has lived out her tempestuous marriage to hell-raiser Raf in the full glare of the media spotlight. Now, from the luxurious comfort of her beautiful kitchen, Delilah is planning her birthday party, a night that will see a star-studded gathering of friends and family celebrate in traditional Rafferty style. But she has more on her mind than just invitations...Raf has been offered a part in a movie he can't refuse. But will that mean he'll succumb to the temptations he's struggled so hard to resist for the last ten years - beautiful women and too much wine? And Delilah's three daughters, Coco, Violet and Tyger, are building careers of their own, only too aware that the press are waiting for them to slip up. For although the Rafferty girls might look like angels, they are only human. As with all families, there are secrets and rivalries bubbling away, and on one gloriously starry night, it's all going to come spilling out This is your invitation to a birthday party of the year...





















This was a fun read which I managed to get through quite quickly - it was a bit racy in parts which is different to some of her earlier books. Lots of different characters in the Rafferty family to keep up with but I would describe it as the perfect holiday read.

Chick Lit reading Challenge # 8

Jojo Moyes is a brand new author to me but after reading some good reviews for The Last Letter From Your Lover I thought I would give her a go.



When journalist Ellie looks through her newspaper's archives for a story, she doesn't think she'll find anything of interest. Instead she discovers a letter from 1960, written by a man asking his lover to leave her husband - and Ellie is caught up in the intrigue of a past love affair. Despite, or perhaps because of her own romantic entanglements with a married man.

In 1960, Jennifer wakes up in hospital after a car accident. She can't remember anything - her husband, her friends, who she used to be. And then, when she returns home, she uncovers a hidden letter, and begins to remember the lover she was willing to risk everything for.

Ellie and Jennifer's stories of passion, adultery and loss are wound together in this richly emotive novel - interspersed with real 'last letters'.

I loved this book - really believable characters which I fell in love with and quite a sad but heartwarming plot. It was the sort of book you want to read quickly so you can find out what happens next - but then again you want to read it slowly to savour the story so it doesn't end too quickly.

I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 7

I hadn't picked up a Cathy Kelly for quite some time but as I have a bit of a soft spot for novels set in Ireland I thought I would give her new one Homecoming it a go.

Eleanor Levine left Ireland seventy years ago with little more than a suitcase and her mother's handwritten recipe book. Now, a lifetime later, she's returning from New York with hard won wisdom and memories of her own. A renowned psychoanalyst, Eleanor knows there's one final journey she has to make…

Lovely young actress Megan Bouchier didn't have to chase success – it arrived effortlessly. Fame was what she always wanted until a disastrous affair made her the wrong kind of headlines – now Megan needs a place to hide…

Darkly beautiful Rae is a wonderful wife, a loyal friend and a dedicated community carer. From Titania's Tea Rooms she dispenses tea and sympathy to everyone – until a painful secret from her past threatens everything she holds dear.
Big-hearted teacher Connie O'Callaghan has given up on love. She's cheerfully approaching forty and besides, why does no man ever match the heroes in her beloved romantic novels?
As Eleanor re-reads her mother's comforting words and watches life unfold from her window in Dublin's pretty Golden Square, she slowly becomes drawn into the lives of Megan, Rae and Connie. But can treasured wisdom handed down from mother to daughter really be relevant today? And what are the ingredients for a life well lived…?





I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters and how their stories developed - the addition of Eleanor's mother's cookbook was interesting. It is no ordinary cookbook but is filled with recipes for life which she then passes on to the other characters.

Cathy Kelly has been described as the the Maeve Binchy - maybe that's another author I should try.

To see what the challenge is al about pop over and have a look here.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge #6

I requested a copy of Coming Home by Melanie Rose from my library after a recommendation over on Goodreads. She is a new author to me and as far as I can tell has written several novels.

Ever experienced deja vu? An enchanting and magical novel from the author of Could It Be Magic? A freak snowstorm leaves a young woman unconscious and stranded. Coming to, she has no recollection of who she is or how she happened to be stuck in the middle of unfamiliar countryside. All she recalls is the warm arms of a passing stranger coming to her rescue and carrying her to safety! She awakes in an idyllic country cottage, a cottage belonging to Vincent, a recently widowed city banker who uses it as his rural getaway. Dashing and polite, the woman can't think of a better knight in shining armour. While the housekeeper isn't best pleased abut her arrival, Vincent's six-year-old daughter Jadie, can hardly contain her excitement, chattering away excitedly. Trouble is, she's been mute for the past two years! As she struggles with flashbacks to her past, memories come back to the woman which aren't her own, bringing with them a stream of questions. What secrets does Vincent hide? Why has Jadie being silent for so long? Will she ever discover her true identity? Or is she, as Jadie believes, an angel come to save them all? An enchanting and magical novel about forgotten lives and second chances for fans of Cecelia Ahern and Sophie Kinsella.





















It did remind me very much of Cecelia Ahern in places - it is quite a quirky storyline. But for me I found it a bit slow and didn't like all of the characters - really wasn't sure about the hypnotherapy/regression part. But it was a pleasant gentle read - nothing too taxing - which is just what you need sometimes. I think I have another of her books in my ever growing library book pile.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge # 5

I really should blog my book as soon as I have finished reading it - while it is still fresh in my mind!! But as usual life has a tendency to get in the way - but I recently finished The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble.

My second Elizabeth Noble book of the year - but I have to say it wasn't quite as good as The Way We Were.

A New Year. A New Page. A New Reading Group. Five women meet for their first reading group, little realising this social gathering over books and glasses of wine might see them share more than literary debate ...and will, in fact, take each of them to places they'd never imagined. Harriet and Nicole are the ringleaders, best friends who can't quite admit - to themselves or one other - they might be trapped in loveless marriages. While Polly, a determined single mum, finds herself tipped off course by an unexpected proposal. Susan, usually so carefree and happy, is forced to face a shattering reality and Clare, quiet and mysterious, plainly has more on her mind than next week's book choice. Over the coming year their worlds will intertwine in delightful, unexpected and surprising ways. Stories will be re-written as dreams are made and broken, but through it all they'll have the Reading Group, with friendship, tears and laughter featuring in every chapter of their lives

The idea of the reading group bringing this group of women together is a good one - although the books they actually read aren't really discussed much. It is typical chick lit - plenty of characters whose stories intertwine and deal with many relationship issues. Not sure a real life reading group would be quite the same though.

A perfect read for curling up on the sofa with.



See what everyone else is reading over on the Chick Lit Reading Challenge.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge - Book # 4

I tried to read The Brightest Star In The Sky by Marian Keyes when it was first published in hardback and for some reason gave up on only a few chapters in. After some encouragement from an old friend and her rave review of the book I once again borrowed it from the library.

Synopsis
At 66, Star Street in Dublin, someone is watching over the lives of the people living in its flats. But no one is aware of it - yet...One of them is ready to take the plunge and fall in love; another is torn between two very different lovers. For some, secrets they want to stay buried will come to light and for others, the unveiling of those secrets will have tragic consequences. Fate is on its way to Star Street, bringing with it love and tragedy, friendship and heartbreak, and the power to change their lives in the most unexpected of ways...


The first thing that struck me was how similar it is to a couple of Cecelia Aherns books (most notably If You Could See Me Now)- with the "magical" character lurking around the periphery of the storyline. I have read a few Marian Keyes books before and this is quite different - whereas her books usually tend to be a bit light and fluffy this one had slightly darker undertones.

On the plus side I finished it this time - but it wasn't my favourite Keyes book.

Chick Lit Reading Challenge 2011 - Book # 3

My 3rd book for this challenge is Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella.

Synopsis
Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) thought motherhood would be a breeze and that having a daughter was a dream come true - a shopping friend for life! But it's trickier than she thought - two-year-old Minnie has a quite different approach to shopping. She can create havoc everywhere from Harrods to Harvey Nicks to her own christening. She hires taxis at random, her favourite word is 'Mine', and she's even started bidding for designer bags on ebay. On top of everything else, there's a big financial crisis. People are having to Cut Back - including all of Becky's personal shopping clients - and she and Luke are still living with Becky's Mum and Dad. To cheer everyone up, Becky decides to throw a surprise birthday party - on a budget - but then things become really complicated. Who will end up on the naughty step, who will get a gold star and will Becky's secret wishes come true?

























This is the 6th installment of the popular Shopaholic series (one of them has been made into a film now I think) I haven't read all of the series but I think maybe Kinsella has gone as far as she can go with Becky. I found the main character of Becky very artificial and irritating - I felt I would like to give her a good slap!! If there is another book published in the series I can't see me reading it - the earlier books were a breezy light hearted read but this one just seem to plod along.