Tuesday 10 July 2018

Summer Reading

Our grandson is the absolute light of my life, I love the bones of him and love being a nanny, but phew... I think I must have forgotten about littlies and all the germs they like to share around! Zackary goes to nursery the days we don't have him and has just had a nasty cold and chest infection. While I'm sure this is boosting his immunity being exposed to these nasties, it isn't doing a lot for me as I appear to be his favourite person to share them with and have been laid low recently with a bad chest, temperatures and cold.

It means I get some time to sit and read though, so I thought I'd share a few of the titles I've read recently with you.

I'm probably very late to the party here, but have discovered Marian Keyes. I picked up a copy of 'The Break' and just couldn't put it down.




It's not a book I would generally pick up, but fancied something a bit different and while it didn't make me laugh out loud, I did find it amusing in parts. I think what I enjoyed so much was the way I felt that I got to know the characters and felt caught up in their world. This is the blurb on Amazon about it

If only.
Amy's husband Hugh says he isn't leaving her.
He still loves her, he's just taking a break - from their marriage, their children and, most of all, from their life together. 
Six months in South-East Asia. And nothing she says can stop him.
But when does a break become a break up?
For a lot can happen in six months. And it's enough to send Amy and her family of gossips, misfits and troublemakers teetering over the edge.

When Hugh returns if he returns, will he be the same man she married? 
Will Amy be the same woman?
Because if Hugh is on a break from their marriage, then isn't she?

I actually felt a bit lost when I finished it and wanted more. Off to the charity shops where I found this



I didn't enjoy it as much as 'The Break', but 'The Other Side of the Story' was a good read and I shall now keep my eyes open for any more Marian Keyes books. Here's the blurb for this one from marian's site
The agent
Jojo, a high-flying literary agent on the up, has just made a very bad career move: she’s jumped into bed with her married boss, Mark …
The bestseller
Jojo’s sweet-natured client Lily’s first novel is a roaring success. She and lover Anton celebrate by spending the advance for her second book. Then she gets writer’s block…
The unknown
Gemma used to be Lily’s best friend – until Lily ‘stole’ Anton. Now she’s writing her own story – painfully and hilariously – when supershark Jojo stumbles across it …
Three girls hoping and sometimes needing to make it big in the publishing world. But did anybody ever tell them that there’s always another side to every story?

Change of pace now, after reading Paula Hawkins' 'Girl on a Train', I was keen to read her next book 'Into the Water'. 

Again, a thoroughly enjoyable read, page turner and told through different view points the same as her last book. Here's the blurb bit

Just days before her sister plunged to her death, Jules ignored her call.


Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules must return to her sister's house to care for her daughter, and to face the mystery of Nel's death.



But Jules is afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of this small town that is drowning in secrecy . . . 



And of knowing that Nel would never have jumped.


Another author I hadn't read before, Camilla Way and 'The Lies we Told'


A novel with lots of twists and turns, here's the blurb to entice you
A DAUGHTER

Beth has always known there was something strange about her daughter, Hannah. The lack of emotion, the disturbing behaviour, the apparent delight in hurting others… sometimes Beth is scared of her, and what she could be capable of.

A SON

Luke comes from the perfect family, with the perfect parents. But one day, he disappears without trace, and his girlfriend Clara is left desperate to discover what has happened to him.

A LIFE BUILT ON LIES

As Clara digs into the past, she realizes that no family is truly perfect, and uncovers a link between Luke’s long-lost sister and a strange girl named Hannah. Now Luke’s life is in danger because of the lies once told and the secrets once kept. Can she find him before it’s too late?


This next book I read was called 'No Escape' by Lucy Clarke, but the same book is also under the title 'The Blue'

I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as exciting as the others I've mentioned. Here's the amazon info on this one

When there’s danger in paradise, will you be the one to stay alive?
With a quick spin of the globe, Kitty and Lana escape their grey reality and journey to the Philippines. There they discover The Blue – a beautiful yacht, with a wandering crew.
They spend day after languorous day exploring the pristine white beaches and swimming beneath the stars, and Lana
drifts further away from the long-buried secrets of home.

But the tide turns when death creeps quietly on deck.
A dangerous swell of mistrust and lies threatens to bring the crew’s adventures to an end – but some won’t let paradise go…whatever the price.

They were a few I've picked up recently, still a big pile of books to read, isn't there always! Let me know what you think of them if you've read any.

Off to make a hot drink and open a fresh box of tissues



Take care
xxx






37 comments:

  1. Hi Cheryl I do hope you feel better soon.
    I have never been a fiction reader, but have started again, I have been collecting books from the charity shops and car boot, I am going to have a relaxing day tomorrow and do a bit of reading.

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    1. I love a bit of escapism, always have a book on the go x

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  2. I hope you're feeling much better soon Cheryl. These small children are adorable but they are excellent spreaders of germs. X

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    1. Thank you, yes they are so gorgeous, but nurseries and schools are like germ breeding grounds x

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  3. Couple of books I have not read, will have to search them out. My grandson Will has given me every bug going, still love him.

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  4. Dear Cheryl
    Hope you'll feel better soon. Have you tried boosting your immune system with some echinacea? I used to work with 4 and 5 year olds and constantly had colds. I took echinacea (for one week, then had a break, then one week, then a break - don't take it all the time) and it really did help. I still got colds, but they weren't as severe and didn't last as long. I can't say it will definitely help you, but it just might. Do read up on it first, of course.
    In the meantime, keep enjoying your reading.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Thank you Ellie, when I catch these germs they do seem to send me reeling, so I shall definitely try some x

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  5. Sadly my grandkids are banned if they have such germs as it would be serious for me to pick them up. And yes they usually do have snotty noses...

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    1. I don’t understand how my husband seems able to dodge the germs x

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  6. Hello Cheryl, I enjoy Marian Keyes quite often but also need breaks between reading her books. You may enjoy This Charming Man I think ... it is a good read of hers. Hope you are soon feeling much improved.

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    1. Thank you for the recommendation Julie, that’s another one I’ve found in a charity shop, I’m looking forward to it x

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  7. Oh I do feel for you Cheryl but you seem to be doing the right thing by resting and catching up on some reading.
    Get better soon.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. It has been rather nice to have a rest this week, just need this coughing to stop rattling my poor brain about x

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  8. Sorry little Zachary brought you an unwelcome gift of germs. I hope you feel better soon.
    I will look for that book The Break when I'm at the library. Thanks for recommending summer reading!!

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    1. Thank you, yes do give The Break a go, I thoroughly enjoyed it x

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  9. Sure hope you're feeling better soon. Being sick is not fun.

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  10. Children are lovely but everytime they get a cold so does Nana! Thank you for the book reviews. I have taken note of three to try!Get well soon.

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    1. Thank you, hope you enjoy the books as much as I have x

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  11. I have a huge pile of books on my tablet but reading has been on the back burner. This is my garden and sewing part of the year, I read more in the autumn when the nights draw in. It is ages since I read Marian Keyes, she spins a good tale.

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    1. It was my first introduction to ms Keyes and I’m definitely a fan, it’s so lovely to be in the garden this time of year x

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  12. I hope you feel better soon. I don't think I've read any of Marian Keyes' books so will have a look next time I go to the library. Thanks for the reading recommendations.

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    1. Thank you, my immunity system will be building alongside Zacks x

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  13. I hope you feel better very soon, picking up colds from the grandchildren is something that always caused problems for Col.
    It's a wonder nursery teachers and childminders survive, unless they get immune after a few years!

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    1. When my husband taught he would always catch their colds throughout the winter and that was secondary schoolchildren x

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  14. You certainly have read a lot of books lately. When you are not feeling well it is always lovely to get cosy with a book in hand. Hope you are feeling better.

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    1. Thank you Kim, definitely getting over it, has been nice to have some reading time to myself x

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  15. No wonder you are such a good writer, you do a lot of reading. Hope you feel better soon. Children do tend to pass their colds back and forth to each other and the family. Fresh garlic works for me.

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    1. That was a lovely thing to say, thank you. We’ve had lots of garlic with our tea this evening, it was rather lovely x

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  16. Greetings from Carolina! I'm bored to tears at work
    so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.
    I love the knowledge you provide here and can't wait to take a look when I get
    home. I'm amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my
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  17. Hope you feel better soon that's the joys of children they do like to share...lol!

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  18. Hope you feel better Cheryl. I think the down time will do you good. Happy reading!
    xx Beca

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  19. Me, too. I have a whopper of a cold given to me by my sweet grands. I slept ten hours last night which I hardly ever do, even though I want to.
    I put Vicks on my feet and smelled all the essential oils. Now I need a nap.
    Get well soon!

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  20. I haven't read any of these books, so thanks for the recommendations. I did read Girl on a Train, I enjoyed it but the reviews of Into The Water have put me off, they shouldn't really because we all like different things don't we?
    I hope you are feeling a little better now.

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  21. Thank you for commenting in my blog...

    Oh yes, when little ones go to any sort of "school," they enter "germ factories." Which is good for them, but not so good, for their care-takers. -sigh-

    Guess you can only think, of all the immunity you are building up, along with him. Which isn't much help, while suffering through these things.

    But lots of time to read. And to share possible reading suggestions. And I love reading suggestions!

    Thank you!!!!

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  22. Sorry to hear you're a little under the weather - I do hope you feel better soon.

    Thanks for all the information on the books, I'm reading a Lyn Andrews book at the moment called Heart and Home which I'm enjoying.

    All the best Jan

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