Blogger Book Nook: Summer Romance

Confession time, I actually didn't read a summer romance in the end for this months Bloggers Book Nook mainly as I wanted to get through the books i do have and none fit in the summer romance theme. Saying that I'm currently reading a summeryish book called The Summer of impossible things by Rowan Coleman which I am really enjoying.

I still wanted to join in with this months Bloggers Book Nook so read on to find out my thoughts on the Summer Romance genre.

1. Are you a fan of the classic summer romance read? Or do you tend to pick up another genre when you go on holiday?

I love a good summer romance when I go away. However I also do enjoy picking up other genres for when on holiday. I usually end up picking up something from my tbr pile that takes my fancy at the time.

2. Who’s your favourite romance author and what’s your favourite book written by them? Why?

This is a tough one as there are some great romance authors out there. I'm going to go with Paige Toon as I love her books. I don't think I can pick a favourite though.

3. Love triangles… yay or nay?
Honestly Nay mainly as they end up being so predictable and I get bored easily.

4. If you were stranded on an island, what book WOULDN’T you want to be stuck with?
It would have to be a clock work orange, although its a short book I've tried reading it before and I found it so hard to get into and it just felt a complicated read. Also I'd hate to be stranded with one of the books I had to study back in school such as Frankenstein as I just can't get into them kind of books as they just aren't my type of read.

5. If you were a character in a romance novel, what would be your ideal/dream love story?

Girl lives in a small town and finds love when she least expects it.

Book Nook: Time Machine

This month, for Blogger Book Nook it is all about historical fiction.Histrioical fiction is within my top 3 favourite genre's so I was excited to pick a book to fit in with the prompt. Some of my favourite historical fiction include books such as The book thief and All the light we cannot see to name a few.

 1.If you could time travel either to the past or the future, which would you pick and why?

Definitely has to be the past. I'd love to be able to visit some of the places mentioned in books I've read. This way I could see them for myself rather than rely on what my imagination comes up with. This also applies to situations as well as the places featured in historical fiction.

2.Historical novels aren’t always accurate in their details - is this something that bothers you? Why / why not?

Yes and no. Most of the time it doesn't really bother me as of course I'm reading fiction. Other times I like that some of the information to be accurate. I think it really depends on the book I am reading and what the storyline is about.

3.Is there one specific historical era that especially interests you? What novels set in that time would you recommend?

It has to be around the war time as I love reading the experiences of what it was like during them times. It also makes me feel thankful for what life is like for us today compared to back then. My favourite has to be book theif I liked the film too.

 4.Which historical figure (fictional or real!) would you most like to have dinner with?

This is a tough one and a question I'll have to come back to at some point.

5. Do you find historical fiction an appealing genre? Why / why not?

Yes however It does depend on the era and the story I tend to enjoy books based in the 1900's.

The Muse By Jessie Burton

First of all this is the first book I've read by Jessie Burton as I've yet to read her first book The Miniaturist. 

On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad five years ago, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a potential she didn't know she had, she remains a mystery - no more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery.

The truth about the painting lies in 1936 and a large house in rural Spain, where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harbouring ambitions of her own. Into this fragile paradise come artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister Teresa, who immediately insinuate themselves into the Schloss family, with explosive and devastating consequences . 

I had high hopes for this book as it sounded a great read for historical fiction however I was disappointed. The book goes between the story of Odelle in 1967 and Olive in 1936 which I liked the idea of. Unfortunately I struggled to get into it as I found it a slow starter. I did get into the story eventually however as much as it was an ok book it's definitely not one I'll be reading again. I think it's a book that seems to have mixed views, so if you have given it a read I'd love to know your thoughts.

Blogger Book Nook: Murder in the Library

When I saw that this month's Blogger Book Nook was going to be about crime and thriller fiction I was excited. I love a good thriller which is definitely my favourite genre to read and most of the books on my tbr pile are of that genre. I had fun choosing which book I wanted to pick up for my mini review at the end of this post.

1. Who is your favourite fictional detective and why?

I've found this question pretty tricky to answer because  most of the books I read in this genre don't tend to be written in the perspective of a detective. When I do though I like a detective that is reliable, has a back story and is motivated in his role.

2. Do you enjoy being able to solve the mystery in a book before the characters do, or do you like to be kept guessing until the end?

A bit of both really. I love a good gripping read that keeps me guessing however I do love working it out and seeing if I am right. I don't like working it out too early in the book or if there is a twist in the end that makes no sense though.

3.Murders, missing people, or heists and thefts: Which do you find most compelling?

Murders and missing people definitely.  I find them to be more exciting than heists and thefts. 

4. What keeps you most engaged in a crime plot? Intriguing characters? Mysterious settings? Or a whole lot of action?

The suspense! The characters for me along with the plot keep me engaged. If the characters are boring than I find it hard to continue reading. 


5. Crime is a popular theme for novels, TV shows and video games: Which is your favourite way of experiencing the genre?

It's definitely a tie between novels and tv shows! With novels it gives me the chance to use my imagination about the crime, what the characters are like etc however with tv shows I tend to focus more on the plot.

Now for the review:  Close to home by Cara Hunter

Close to Home is part of the Richard and Judy book club and I can see why they chose it. Close to Home features many twists and turns along the way and is a gripping novel. Eight year old Daisy Mason goes missing at a family party, no one saw anything- well that's what they are saying. DI Adam Fawley tries to keep an open mind but knows 9 times out of 10 it's someone the victim knew. That means someone is lying. This fast paced read is definitely my favourite read this month and I loved the twist at the end when we find out what really happened to Daisy.

Blogger Book Nook: Books to screen

I'm glad that I am very much into books a lot more this year as reading is my favourite pass time.. I'm sure this is something you would have noticed if you read my blog regularly. 

For starters I set up my own book group on Facebook: Hooked on books with Joanna Victoria as well as that I also have set up my own hooked on books guest series and started a monthly post on the books I've been reading.  On top of that I've been joining in with other book groups Bookish Mamas, Book bloggers library  and blogger book nook.

The blogger book nook is definitely a good one with many threads, Q&A's, A long with a monthly book prompt which I'm joining in with for the first time.

1. What’s your favourite book to screen adaptation? Why?

I actually have a few. I really enjoyed The hunger games trilogy. I wasn't too sure what to expect from the films but I love them just as much as the books.

Room is also a favourite of mine. I read the book before the film hit the cinema's and its definitely one of my favourite books. When I knew it was going to be made into a film I made a date with the hubby so that we could go and see it. 

2. What’s your least favourite book to screen adaptation? Why?

I've found that there is quite a few actually. First of all Harry Potter I loved the books when growing up but I've not loved the films at all. Twilight is another I read when growing up and again I just couldn't get on with the films at all. Last of all I have to mention my sister's keeper. It had the potential to be a great film however I was hugely disappointed.

3. What book would you most like to see on screen that hasn’t been adapted yet?

This is a tough one as there are so many great reads out there. I definitely think more of Jodi Picoult's books have the potential to do well, if done much better than my sister's keeper. 

4. Do you always read the book before watching the adaption?

Yes. Well I try to, there have been a few times when I’ve watched a film without knowing it is an adaptation. So I'd say 9 times out if 10 I read the book first. I definitely prefer to read books first as most adaptions don't always go by the book completely. Plus I like to imagine the characters and places myself before seeing them on the screen.

5. Does seeing your favourite characters on screen ruin how they appear in your imagination?

Sometimes, I think it depends on who plays the character/s. I do find quite a few times that the characters on screen don't turn out how I imagine them to be.

Mini review: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.  

I found it to be a gripiping read it does feature murder, domestic violence and sexual assaul.  Obviously they are series themes, however the book also has light heartedness too. The book follows 3 women Madeleine, Celeste and Jane and focuses on their lives. They all have children that are in kindergarden in the same year and each of their lives are very different however they are connected in ways they don't realise at first. The book flicks between each characters lives in the lead  up until the murder on triva night where someone is murdered. 

I really enjoyed the book the characters are believeable and the book is written well. I've only just started watching the series as I've wanted to make sure I read the book first.