A beautiful novel

One Day by David Nicholls is a beautiful, enjoyable and charming novel to read. It definitely destined to be a modern day classic, as it is written wonderfully with depth, dialogues and vivid descriptions. It is a well-defined story unfolding in your mind. The leading characters of Dexter and Emma steal the show and there is a strong chemistry between the two who share a touching and strong friendship. Or does end in tragedy as readers we all hope does not reach the outcome. The novel provides a nostalgic journey from the late 80's of their student days to the present. Story features Emma's love of acting and Dexter love of travelling. It provides a chorological journey that is written and takes a deep look at relation between the two, who take separate journeys, but never forgert each other. The plot, characters and general setting makes the novel absolute pleasure to read. I cannot fault the novel at all, as it has the making of greatness. One Day can be expressed strongly in terms of beauty, as the story touches your heart and draws readers to the characters. There is a touch of Shakespere classic tale"Romeo and Juillet" applied to the modern world, as it about a special bonding. There is humour and drama, as odd occasions the friendship is challenged. The novel represents a fine piece of modern literature to enjoy and cherish. I love a good read when it comes and could not resist picking up One Day, as I heard positive reviews

Another compelling chapter in Sookie's story

It's been two and a half months since the end of the last book and finally the Weres have come out. When a werepanther is found horribly dead in the carpark of Merlotte's Sookie is called in to try to identify the murderer. But caught between the FBI, who already want to find her after the events in Rhodes, the faeries and her own personal problems, Sookie is pulled into her greatest danger yet.<br /><br />This is another great instalment in the series, albeit a very dark one. Despite a lovely little interlude between Sookie and Eric, the climactic ending leaves even Sookie herself unable to recover completely. And just when we thought the romantic triangle between Eric and Bill had worked itself out, we're asked to think again...<br /><br />I love these books which are funny, sexy, intriguing and dramatic: full of great characters, wit, and sly humour they are utterly addictive. You do really need to read them in the right order as the past nearly always throws shadows on the present. And if you've been watching the TV series, the books are often quite different, but just as compelling: highly recommended.<br />

Queen of New Beginnings

This was OK - I always enjoy Erica James books - but it was far from her best. The development of the relationship between the two main characters felt somewhat forced, the overall plot was unconvincing and the ending was not only unbelievable but downright silly!<br /><br />Precious Time and The Holiday were my favourites! This one is not a patch on those, but I still look forward to the next Erica James - one less than perfect book does not a bad author make!

The same theme over and over and over

This book started out really well. I was totally absorbed in the final hours with Roxanne and her daughter before Anne went off as an evacuee to countryside unknown. The journey was well decribed as was her eventual arrival at Ashton Court as one of over 80 children in the small school set up by Thomas and Elizabeth Ashton.<br /><br />Anne settlers well into her new life while her mother, bereft now of both her daughter and her husband, who is fighting in Egypt, begins a new life as a 'single' woman.<br />Meanwhile, there are undercurrents in the big house as we realise that the adults are not as happy as they may outwardly seem.<br /><br />So far, so good. But then things start to repeat. Four relationships are described, all illicit and three of the four across huge age gaps. When we reached the third I was yawning, by the fourth I just wanted to get to the end of the book and read something else.<br />I am truly amazed that this book was short listed for the Orange Prize. In my opinion it needed a serious re-write.<br />The scope was there for an excellent novel but it missed the mark.<br /><br />

Brilliant!

I haven't read Mary Nichols's book before. Brilliant book! I couldn't put it down! Looking forward next book" The Fountain"

Getting Better and Better

After reading Areon's (keeper of Wrath) story in The Darkest Passion and finding it so-so, I really enjoyed this and found it refreshing. <br /><br />Gideon (keeper of lies) hadn't really interested me that much before, but he turned out to be very funny, sweet and dam sexy. It was annoying how the author felt the need to 'translate' all of his lies for us as some were pretty obvious ("I hate you" means"I love you" ... no, really?) but at other times the help was needed. On the whole though it got tiring after a while, which I'd feared might happen, and kinda took my attention away from the story it bugged me that much.<br />Scarlet started out funny and sassy but soon became pretty typical. She was a little stereotypical in the way she was a smart mouthed, strong female lead who could kick-ass.<br /><br />Their story had already been built up in the previous book and I was interested in finding out more about them. Their story has probably been the most interesting so far. The fact that they had history together was new and exciting. And what twists! Really some shockers. Made for gripping reading.<br /><br />The sub plots going on throughout the book were interesting too and i'm not really looking forward to Strider and Amun's stories. I do have to admit I enjoy the ongoing plot with the Hunters and Titans. It's not something i've come across before- demon possessed immortals. <br /><br />So on the whole this has probably been the best in the series so far but a few things made it less than perfect for me. Just some nice brain candy that you can relax to and just enjoy. If you like other paranormal romance authors like Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Kelley Armstrong, Kim Harrison, then you'll enjoy this.

More pseudo-historical dreck

The story now moves back to places and people that are more well-known, although much of the tale has been constructed entirely by Cornwell, with nods here and there to real history. The story isn't much constrained by reality, and so has the potential to be, like the third installment in the series, better than the earlier volumes. Unfortunately, what's made up is rather ridiculous, and has some inconsistencies with what has gone before, by which the book is dragged back down to mediocrity.

A perfect proposal- katie fforde

It was a typical Katie FForde romance, and easy read with some humour, I did enjoy it however it is not one of her best.<br />If your looking for and easy read then this book is it.

Predictable bit of chick-lit escapism

Predictable bit of chick-lit escapism. Girl meets older man, older man ruins her life, girl seeks revenge etc etc etc. However, if you want something light and easy to read then this is the one for you. No worrying about detailed plots/sub-plots its all very straightforward and there's plenty of naughtiness too!<br /><br />Sasha Miller comes to Cambridge with a dream and leaves on a mission. After falling for the lies and charms of her Director of Studies `Theo Dexter' she finds herself betrayed, humiliated and nursing a bundle of broken dreams. Heading to the US she is determined to rebuild her life.<br /><br />Years later, Sasha emerges from Harvard Business School with one thing on her mind, the downfall of the now famous Professor Theo Dexter.<br /><br />Meanwhile Theo's long-suffering wife Theresa also finds herself betrayed and cast aside for a younger and prettier model. Unable to cope she returns to Cambridge a broken woman and tries to rebuild her life away from the scheming Theo Dexter.<br /><br />One night Sasha turns up at Theresa's door, she wants revenge at any cost, will Theresa help her?<br /><br />From the deepest betrayal comes a shocking alliance.<br />Two vengeful women, one very unlucky man...

fantastic read.

I absolutely loved this book. I have read other books by this author (written under another name) and enjoy her style of writing.<br />This book moved along at a great pace and the characters came alive. <br />John Smith is a bodygaurd with a difference. He has a secret past and is the best. He has been hired to protect Grace from the threat of a maniac who is killing her freinds in order of an article they all appeared in. Grace was the last to be featured in that article and John must protect her until this serial killer is caught.<br />I have to say that i figured out who done it and was not surprised when it was revealed at the end. But despite this i still enjoyed the book and have already ordered one of the accompanying books in this series.<br />Highly recommended.

Another fab book in this series... BUT ...

Firstly, I really (REALLY) enjoyed reading this. I think NS is a fantastic writer, creating characters that I care about, interactions that feel right (and real) and a world that is fascinating. Sophia Russo is a J designated Psy, with a touch of F (but as back-sight). True to NS's sense of the logic of this world, J's have a streak of the DarkMind running through them which leads them to occasionally dispense justice to those who may escape it (so criminals die unexpectedly when a J is in the vicinity). Sophia has dispensed this justice several times (killing those who have abused children) - but every action has a reaction, and both this and her exposure to all the negative thoughts of the criminals she deals with is slowly but surely eroding her shields. This is the fate of all J's - eventually they either die (through suicide) or are rehabilitated as their shields fail. <br /><br />Max Shannon was first seen in Talin and Clay's story 'Mine to Possess': he carries his own psychological scars due to a traumatic childhood. He is interested in Sophia from the first time he sees her - which is when she is dealing with a sociopath (Bonner) who Max has finally arrested. Previous reviewers have dealt with the general plot, and I must agree with those who lauded the slow development of Max and Sophia's relationship - NS always makes sense, her plots and characters always develop naturally and I'm never startled by an awkward revelation. This is where my only 'gripe' with this book arises. In past books it hasn't been made very clear that those Psy who are still in the Net can still have contact with those outside the Net. In fact, it has almost been the opposite - when Psy drop out of the Net they are no longer in contact with either the Net or those still in it. That was always my assumption - I suppose thinking back, that wasn't made entirely clear, but it was strongly hinted at. So, imagine my surprise when Nikita is able to telepath Sascha (in an emergency) and Faith is able to 'spot' Sophia as she navigates the Net. Faith is also able to tell that Sophia has been the subject of a psychic attack - when Faith isn't in the Web and shouldn't be able to perceive this.<br /><br />NS develops her world perfectly, it all makes sense, the pieces fit together. This is hugely unusual in this genre - many authors employ the 'oh how convenient' plot device that boggles my mind at just the right point in the story - NS never does this. That is why I noticed the discrepancies in this book. There were also exchanges between Nikita, Kaleb and Anthony which are less 'psy' and more 'normal' - this could be to show the gradual collapse of the Net (which is the over-riding story arc that runs through all the books), but it did jar slightly.<br /><br />If I could have given this 4.5 stars I would have. It's a great book, contributes well to the overall storyline and I enjoyed it, but I did find those few 'continuity' errors ever-so-slightly irritating. It's a very relationship based book - charting an emotional entanglement rather than a physical one - which makes a really nice change. Read it and enjoy it, but expect a few jarring moments.

Adorable, entertaining romance

At the ripe old age of 28, Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is firmly on the shelf. Relegated to the spinster seating at every ball and on the fringes on society, Callie is a little more than unsatisfied by her lot. So she vows to make a change in her life and do all the things that she's always wanted to do even if she has to break society's rules to do it.<br /><br />But stealing a midnight kiss, smoking a cheroot, learning to fence and drinking in a tavern aren't as easy to achieve without a willing partner. And willing or not, the handsome rake Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston, soon finds himself caught up in Callie's adventures. <br /><br /><br />I absolutely adored this book and it's definitely one of the best that I've read in a long time. Gabriel is a delicious rake but he's such a rich character and it's so entertaining to see him almost baffled by his growing feelings towards Callie. Callie herself was such a refreshing heroine. She was so endearing and likeable that I felt really engaged with her and really rooted for her. Together the pair had the kind of chemistry that gives you butterflies in your stomach and makes you think about the story even when you're not reading. <br /><br />The plot itself was witty, clever and so entertaining. Despite Callie undertaking scandalous tasks, the book never got ridiculous and you always cheered for Callie. There were times when I laughed out loud, times when I felt Callie's pain and times when I was almost giddy at the sweetness of the romance between Callie and Gabriel. There were also no clichés and the secondary characters were as rich and full as the main pair but without ever overshadowing the actual love story. Gabriel's twin brother, Nick, gets his own story in the next book, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord. I'm hoping that other characters that appear in this book also get their own stories in the future.<br /><br />Overall this is a book that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. It's so well written and so engaging that you're sure to enjoy it and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance. I will definitely be looking out for any new stories written by Sarah McLean. 5 stars.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Eternal Kiss of Darkness is the second instalment in the Night Huntress World series by Jeaniene Frost. This book focuses on Mencheres and Kira.<br /><br />Mencheres is an ancient and very powerful vampire. He co-rules his people with Bones. Kira is a private detective who happened to save his life. Saving Mencheres has changed her life irrevocably. <br /><br />I absolutely loved this book. Jeaniene Frost has outdone herself yet again. I never actually thought much about Mencheres other than what Cat thought of him throughout the Night Huntress series so I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book at all but I am glad to say I was proved wrong. This book has totally changed my thoughts of Mencheres. I thought he was a heartless vampire by messing with Cat and Bones in Frost's other series but this book has made me realize that underneath it all he is just a man that feels total and utter regret for what he did in his past and he can't seem to overcome it. <br /><br />I can't seem to be able to pick just one favourite character from this book. I love them all. However, I can pick one favourite scene was with the bath tub. I thought it was brilliant, that and the ceiling scene. Pure masterpiece of literature. I think those scenes should win awards. I don't want to say too much as it will ruin the story for those of you that haven't read the book yet.<br /><br />Overall, I loved this book and feel that if I keep writing I will end up writing huge spoilers and I don't want to do that. This book and series is brilliant and I highly recommend it to any of you that have read the Night Huntress series. Definitely a good way to learn more about the characters from the aforementioned series. I can't wait to read the next book. Bring it on! I can only imagine what Jeaniene Frost will come up with next, this woman has a magnificent imagination when it comes to writing.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money and I have not been paid to review this book. Everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.<br />

Anna Karenina

I have read with interest the first 50 pages. The book has 813 pages and the length of the story made me decide to save the book for holiday reading, rather than reading it in small bites. I shall look forward to the story.

Disappointing

I normally love Nora Roberts and enjoy her books very much. But the bride quartet has proven very disappointing so far.<br /><br />Where is the plot? At least in all the other series you had some kind of story woven into the romance. But here, nil. I already found Vision in white shallow but at least you had Mac's mother to provide a background. <br /><br />I like the idea with the wedding company but the little tidbits just don't provide enough framework.<br /><br />

Another great story

Thank you Chloe for yet another great book. Although it is a stand alone story I would recommend that you read the first two books Some girls bite and Friday night bites, it is not necessary but lets be honest these books are so great you may as well as after one you are hooked on Merit, Ethan and all the other Chicagoland Vampires. In this book Merit is acting as bodyguard to the head of the shifters, the twists and turns that happen make this story a read in one sitting book as you will not be able to put it down. Roll on July 2011 for the next book.

Quick and HOT!

There are three other volumes in this series, but I think this one tops them all. The stories are short and to the point and very erotic. I love the whole idea of it and will read more. I also liked and would recommend: Sex Scenes: Erotica Excerpts from the Novels of Kim Corum.

An Heir for Burracombe

Fully up to Lillian's standard. Sat down and read it as soon as it arrived! Did not do another thing all day! Another 5 star book and have already recommended it to family and friends.