Bared To You by Sylvia Day

Title: Bared To You

Author: Sylvia Day

Published: April 2012

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness - beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily… 

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds… and desires. 

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart…

Rating: 5 Stars

So I realised that I hadn't ever really read any erotic fiction and since everyone has been on such a fifty shades hype I figured it was finally time to find out what all the fuss is about. However I didn't want to just jump on the bandwagon so I decided  to instead read this book first on the recommendation of a friend. 

I'm extremely glad that I picked this up as I have been kept thoroughly entertained over the past day. The scenes between Eva and Gideon were perfectly steamy and the chemistry between the two of them is undeniable. 

My only downside was that despite Gideon being a trouble character which only increases his attractiveness, was that he screwed up way too often. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes definitely. This was a brilliant sexy read. 

The Unseen by Katherine Webb

Title: The Unseen

Author: Katherine Webb

Published: May 2012

England, 1911. When a free-spirited young woman arrives in a sleepy Berkshire village to work as a maid in the household of The Reverend and Mrs Canning, she sets in motion a chain of events which changes all their lives. For Cat has a past - a past her new mistress is willing to overlook, but will never understand . . .

This is not all Hester Canning has to cope with. When her husband invites a young man into their home, he brings with him a dangerous obsession...

During the long, oppressive summer, the rectory becomes charged with ambition, love and jealousy - with the most devastating consequences.

Rating: 4 Stars

What I really loved about The Unseen is that it is two different stories set in different time periods that tie together to create one story. In 1911 we follow the vicar's household in Cold Ash Holt, and in 2011 we follow Leah trying to identify a dead soldier. However Leah is set to discover a lot more than the soldier's identity. 

I think that the characters were very well constructed, both the present day and the past ones. Cat is a breath of fresh air as she doesn't really fit in, as she herself says she is neither gentlewoman nor servant. Hester on the other hand is the sweet, docile and very innocent wife of the vicar, so innocent in fact that she remains a virgin. She is a very good natured character who means well, but doesn't always understand what is going on around her. In fact her innocence leads me to believe that her dear Bertie is gay. And Ryan ... Well he's just a smarmy creep. 

The story in itself is good with secrets being slowly teased out of the woodwork including Cat's identity. However to me it just felt like there was a little something missing. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes this was an excellent book and I can't wait to read more of Webb's work. 

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark

Title: I'll Walk Alone

Author: Mary Higgins Clark

Published: April 2011

Alexandra “Zan” Moreland, a gifted, beautiful interior designer on the verge of a successful Manhattan career, is terrified to discover that somebody is not only using her credit cards, but may also be impersonating her in a scheme that involves the much more brutal crimes of kidnapping and murder. Already haunted by the disappearance of her own son, Matthew, kidnapped in broad daylight two years ago in Central Park, Zan has been left torn between hope and despair. Now, on what would be Matthew's fifth birthday, photos surface that seem to show Zan kidnapping her own child, followed by a chain of events that suggests somebody has stolen her identity. 

Hounded by the press, under investigation by the police, attacked by both her angry ex-husband and a vindictive business rival, Zan, wracked by fear and pain and sustained only by her belief that Matthew is still alive, sets out to discover who is behind this cruel hoax. What she does not realize is that with every step she takes toward the truth, she is putting herself—and those she loves most—in mortal danger from the person who has ingeniously plotted out her destruction.

Rating: 5 Stars

I loved this. The plot was so intricate, and what a nightmare for an innocent parent to suddenly be incriminated in the abduction of their own child. And whilst Zan can prove that she was elsewhere, you then have to question how these undoctored photos of her abducting her own son can exist. The answer is right there in the book. Sorry but I wasn't going to give you a major spoiler like that for nothing. 

So the criminal mastermind behind Zan's destruction and Matthew's abduction? I'm glad to say that I was on completely the wrong track, instead following the thought patterns of several characters and completely overlooking the one person who orchestrated everything. I have seen other reviews where people have apparently worked out who the baddie is within one hundred pages but I'm not exactly sure what tipped them off. 

What I also really liked is that there are a few chapters from Matthew's perspective, and I'm not ashamed to say that the last chapter, not the epilogue, had me in tears. And now I'm laid here in bed holding my daughter close to make sure nothing happens to her like it did to Matthew. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes. It may not have lasted me long but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Title: I've Got Your Number

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Published: October 2011

A couple of glasses of bubbly with the girls and Poppy's life has gone into meltdown. Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but in the panic that followed, she’s lost her phone too.When she spots an abandoned phone in a bin it seems it was meant to be…Finders Keepers!

Except the phone's owner, elusive businessman Sam Roxton, doesn't agree. He wants his phone back, and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.Can things get any more tangled?

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book and absolutely loved Sam's character. He may be a ruthless businessman who is determined to get his phone back, but he also spends his time helping Poppy come into her own and face the things she's been dreading. However another character that really had me in stitches was Willow. She is the perfect psycho ex who doesn't seem to understand that her relationship has ended, and her emails to Sam are hilarious. I'm certain that she would be have been a total bridezilla given the chance. 

However I wasn't quite so fond of the main character Poppy. Now it's not that I really dislike her, but she just seemed too similar to another character of Kinsella's; Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series. As such whilst I was reading the book I kept thinking oh but that's exsctly what Becky would have done. 

When it came to the storyline I'm glad that Poppy was portrayed as a loyal girl, although I do wonder why alarm bells never rang in her head when Magnus propsed after only a month of being together. I'm glad that even though towards the end she suspects she may have feelings for someone else Poppy always tries to do the right thing for everyone else. 

I think I may have liked to see a couple more stand offs between Sam and Poppy, maybe with a bit more Willow thrown into the mix. I don't know. Given that the entire story takes place over a ten day period things have developed a little quickly. Although that said when you read the book it doesn't feel like a ten day period it feels like several weeks. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes. I wouldn't say it had me in stitches,  but there were still some funny moments along the way. 

No One Left To Tell by Karen Rose

Title: No One Left To Tell

Author: Karen Rose

Published: January 2012

Ramon Muñoz has spent five years in prison, convicted of a murder his family is convinced he did not commit. Unable to get the courts to take them seriously, they turn to private investigator Paige Holden for help.

Paige cannot resist the family's pleas. But when Ramon's wife, having just handed her the evidence that will help prove his innocence, is brutally executed in front of her eyes, Paige is thrown headlong into a case which will place her life into jeopardy.

As Paige risks everything to prove Ramon was set up, she comes to realise that there is more at stake if Ramon is freed than she could have ever guessed. Can Paige stay alive long enough to unmask an unstoppable killer who will not rest until there's no one left to tell?

Rating: 4 Stars

I can't quite explain how but this story didn't really head in the direction that I expected. I think it was because while the prologue was an excellent opener, I didn't expect it to end up where it did. However the way the prologue was written has you gripped and instantly you want to know who is behind the murder of Crystal Jones and what it is that she has proof of. 

This is one of those books where there are several strings to follow at any one time, and that's just on the crime front. We follow not only Paige and Grayson as they try to figure out what is going on, but also the sniper who isn't really that bad a guy, and some woman named Adele who for quite a while doesn't really seem to fit into the story. However Rose has done really well with tying everything up together at the ending, and she manages to keep you guessing about the identity of Crystal's murderer right up until the last few chapters. 

I loved her characterisation, especially where Silas was concerned. Even though he is essentially playing the bad guy, he's actually a really nice person who has only ever tried to protect his family. However that led him into making an awful decision and he's been stuck in a rut ever since. 

So why didn't I give this five stars? Because personally I hated the romance between Paige and Grayson. There was nothing for it to be based upon, no foundation to work with. And yet within days they're a forever couple. I'm just not buying it. Although there was a lovely sex scene for me to get excited over. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes. For anyone who says a woman can't write crime, go and read this and then come back to me with your opinions. 

Shatter The Bones by Stuart MacBride

Title: Shatter The Bones

Author: Stuart MacBride

Published: January 2011

No suspects. No clues. No rest for the wicked.

'You will raise money for the safe return of Alison and Jenny McGregor. If you raise enough money within fourteen days they will be released. If not, Jenny will be killed.'

Alison and Jenny McGregor – Aberdeen's own mother-daughter singing sensation – are through to the semi-finals of TV smash-hit Britain's Next Big Star. They're in all the gossip magazines, they've got millions of YouTube hits, everyone loves them.

But their reality-TV dream has turned into a real-life nightmare. The ransom demand appears in all the papers, on the TV, and the internet, telling the nation to dig deep if they want to keep Alison and Jenny alive.

The media want action; the public displays of grief and anger are reaching fever-pitch. Time is running out, but DS Logan McRae and his colleagues have nothing to go on: the kidnappers haven't left a single piece of forensic evidence. The investigation is going nowhere.

It looks as if the price of fame just got a lot higher ...

Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved this story. I really really loved it. There were so many laugh out loud moments for me, just with little one liners like "Did your mother find you under the idiot bush?" that really added to the book. And I think the humour was needed, because really the actual storyline is quite dark in some ways. I'm talking about Jenny's abduction, I didn't really care so much about Alison, but threatening to kill a six year old and also cutting off her toes and sending the video to the BBC is just gruesome. 

I think it is somewhat obvious who all the players are when it comes to the abduction, and what really made me laugh was that they all went by names of actors who've played the Doctor, and their leader or brains behind the operation went by the name of someone who'd played the Master. Then again I'm a bit of a geek who enjoys stuff like that.

There is also a really interesting secondary story that runs with Logan's personal life, and we're left with a lovely cliffhanger as to whether or not Samantha will pull through after the house fire. Personally I'm hoping she does but we'll see what happens when I eventually get around to reading the eighth book in the series. Yes I know I'm reading them out of order but shush.

Would I recommend this book? Hell yes. This was an amazing read and I'd happily pick it up again. 

Au Revoir Liverpool by Maureen Lee

Title: Au Revoir Liverpool

Author: Maureen Lee

Published: February 2011

Liverpool, 1937. Jessica is married to Bertie, a mean, patronising man who she has stayed with purely for the sake of her two young children. To make up for the love and passion that is missing from her life, she spends the occasional afternoon at the local cinema, lost in romantic films. But when an unexpected glass of champagne is offered to her in a Liverpool hotel, the consequences turn out to be shattering.

When Bertie discovers his wife's deceit, he is ruthless in his revenge. He sells their house and disappears with her beloved children, leaving Jessica devastated and alone. Then she is asked to visit Paris and help an old friend and her small daughters return to Liverpool before the onset of the war. But Jessica finds herself stranded in Paris under German occupation. With new friends and a small family to care for, she must find the courage that she never knew she possessed...

Rating: 4 Stars

What I really liked about Au Revoir Liverpool was that the main character Jessica is so easy to connect with. Right from the off I found her extremely likeable although I can't quite put my finger on why that was. Even when she spends one afternoon in the arms of another man, thereby ruining her marriage to the horrendous Bertie, I found myself thinking of Jessica as the victim and being wholly on her side. 

Whilst many people have described this book as a wartime romance I saw it as more the story of Jessica coming into her own. Through her own mistake she has lost her husband and her two children and is thoroughly down in the dumps. However she finds herself becoming a completely different person who is capable of standing on her own two feet and surviving wartime France. Okay yes some of that was to do with having a man around the place, but she does survive several years on her own as well. 

So now I'm going to be a little bit nitpicky. The one thing that bugged me was that Jessica kept falling completely and irrevocably in love. Now don't get me wrong, it's perfectly possible to fall in love. But to be completely and utterly in love with one man, and then another one only a year or two later I don't quite buy. There was also one character who appeared to me to have no redeeming quality whatsoever, and that would have to be Sara. Without beating about the bush she's one hell of a bitch. At least her superficial theatre owning husband did something worthwhile in the end. But the last thing that really bugged me was Ethel's reaction to Tom's affair. What woman would just go oh well I'm in love with him, and stay with him for years and yet delight in his later ruin? She doesn't make any sense to me. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes. It may have only occupied me for a day but this was a very enjoyable read. 

My Dear I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young

Title: My Dear I Wanted To Tell You

Author: Louisa Young

Published: May 2011

While Riley Purefoy and Peter Locke fight for their country, their survival and their sanity in the trenches of Flanders, Nadine Waveney, Julia Locke and Rose Locke do what they can at home. Beautiful, obsessive Julia and gentle, eccentric Peter are married: each day Julia goes through rituals to prepare for her beloved husband’s return. Nadine and Riley, only eighteen when the war starts, and with problems of their own already, want above all to make promises - but how can they when the future is not in their hands? And Rose? Well, what did happen to the traditionally brought-up women who lost all hope of marriage, because all the young men were dead?

Rating: 3 Stars

I had read several five star reviews of this book before opening my own copy, and I think this caused me to raise my expectations of the book. For me it felt as though I was trudging through the pages looking for the ending; I certainly didn't feel gripped as other reviewers promised I would. 

I didn't really take to any of the characters except Rose, and to be honest I would have liked to have seen more of her. To me she seemed to be the most real, the most human out of all of the main characters. Julia came across as somewhat vapid and shallow, and I just couldn't get to grips with the men. 

Therefore given how much I disliked this book I was somewhat surprised to find myself crying in the middle. Riley's accident and the immediate consequences for him and Nadine had me in tears, and it was certainly a job trying to explain to the other half why I was crying over a book that I didn't even enjoy that much. If I had to explain it then I guess that I was putting myself in Nadine's shoes and reacting accordingly. 

However this book also has a few positives. Firstly it shows the more human side of the war, and how normal everyday people are affected. We follow two families or partnerships over the four years of the war, and every single person has trials that they have to face. Secondly there wasn't a load of gore in the trench scenes, instead these scenes were very disjointed with only the key moments being picked out. This, I assume, would be true to real life. Whilst the trenches were undoubtedly a horrible place not every moment will be remembered in perfect harmony. Instead only particular moments will jump out. 

Would I recommend this book? That's actually a really hard question for once. Usually I'm able to give a straight yes or no, but I can't quite make up my mind with this one. So I'd say give it a try but don't expect to be bowled over. 

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson

Title: The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest

Author: Stieg Larsson

Published: January 2007

Salander is plotting her revenge - against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.

Rating: 3 Stars

I really wasn't a fan of the final installment of the Millennium trilogy. To me there was too much on Swedish politics in this book, something which doesn't interest me at all, and not enough new story. The only sections that really grabbed my attention was Erika's stalker and Salander's trial. 

The other thing, aside from the politics, that really bugged me was the introduction of so many new characters and sub-storylines. I felt like there were too many strings, and whilst everything ties up neatly in the end, it made the story extremely hard to follow for me. 

Even Salander wasn't really herself, not that that wasn't to be expected given that she'd just taken a bullet to the head at the end of The Girl Who Played With Fire. Blomkvist however came into his own, working with Salander's hacking friends in order to get the verdict that they wanted from the trial and also realising when they were all being followed. But Blomkvist still annoys me in that he's picked up another new woman, although it seems that he is a bit more serious about her. 

Despite all of that though, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest has the same charm of the first two where you find yourself wanting to hate Larsson but being unable too. 

Would I recommend this book? Although I didn't enjoy it as much as the others in the series I think it's still worth a read, mainly because you need to know what happens to Salander. 

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

Title: The Girl Who Played With Fire

Author: Stieg Larsson

Published: January 2006

Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden are murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society - but no-one can find her. Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium, does not believe the police. Using all his magazine staff and resources to prove Salander's innocence, Blomkvist also uncovers her terrible past, spent in criminally corrupt institutions. Yet Salander is more avenging angel than helpless victim. She may be an expert at staying out of sight - but she has ways of tracking down her most elusive enemies.

Rating: 5 Stars

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was very plot focused, however I found I preferred the character focused style of The Girl Who Played With Fire. This installment focuses on the character of Lisbeth Salander, and we learn a lot more about the way she works. Not only that but we finally learn what All The Evil is. And from learning about that particular scenario I have to say Salander certainly had balls at the age of twelve. 

This installment is set two years after the previous one, and we can see how the characters have developed over that period of time. Bjurman is still an arse, Salander has matured a bit but is still as reckless as ever, and is there anyone who Blomkvist isn't shagging? Seriously why throw Harriet Vangar into the mix as well. 

The villain this time is a mastermind, who just so happens to have the perfect muscle for any job. Dumb, and suffering from a genetic condition meaning he can't feel any pain, as well as being built like a mountain makes Ronald Neidermann a pretty formidable opponent in a fight. And of course the end gives us some beautiful plot twists as well as a great cliffhanger. 

I found the storyline much more interesting this time, although that might have something to do with the fact that Salander was the primary character. 

The only thing that really bugged me is that Salander is a billionaire now yet she furnishes her flat with stuff from Ikea. 

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. This was a great read, and the final cliffhanger means I'm about to buy the last book now. 

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Title: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Author: Stieg Larsson

Published: August 2005

Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder - and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family.

He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, truculent computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history.

But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.

Rating: 4 Stars

Overall this was a very enjoyable read. Solving a murder mystery forty years on, for which a body has never been found was never going to be an easy task. This murder has driven one man to his wits end, and he eventually hires a journalist to see if he can unearth some new material and discover the truth about what happened to Harriet. 

Until about halfway through when Blomkvist and Salander finally meet, the book feels as if its two separate stories. Out of those two stories I find myself more involved in Salander's story, and only gain a proper interest in what happened to Harriet once Salander and Blomkvist team up. This second half of the book though is where we suddenly see a lot more action so that's when I really started to become involved with the story. 

Characterisation wise I absolutely adored Salander. She is a bit of an enigma and I get the feeling that we still have a lot to learn about who she is, and what happened to her as a child. We know that there was a big event known as All The Evil, but we haven't explicitly been told what this is. Blomkvist on the other hand didn't really appeal to me. He's shown as having a very strong moral backbone and a very black and white outlook of the world, yet he's a ladies man who even when he is in a committed relationship is having this on off thing with Erika. So hes more than a bit of a hypocrite in my eyes. 

There are a few bits of book that I really don't agree with including details of Salander being raped, the truth of what happened to Harriet (you'll know what ai mean when you get to that point), and the detail with which particularly grisly murders are described. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes, this is well worth a read. Now I'm off to see if the other books in the trilogy live up to this one. 

Live Wire by Harlan Coben

Title: Live Wire

Author: Harlan Coben

Published: March 2011

Over the years, Myron Bolitar has walked a tight rope between sports agent, friend, problem solver and private eye, his big heart quick to defend his clients' interests so fiercely that he can't help but jump in to save them, no matter the cost to his own happiness.

So when former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, encounter an anonymous Facebook post questioning the paternity of their unborn child, Lex runs off, and Suzze - at eight months pregnant - asks Myron to save her marriage, and perhaps her husband's life. But when he finds Lex, he also finds two people he wasn't looking for: his sister-in-law, Kitty, wife of Myron's estranged brother, and her teenage son, Mickey, who is achingly familiar. But this boy that he has never met blames Myron for everything that has happened to his parents.

As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life after a savage heart-attack, he must face the lies that led to the estrangement long ago - including the ones told by Myron himself. He must also answer the questions that Mickey's arrival has thrown up. Who is Myron Bolitar really? And can he heal the damage of the past?

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the first Myron Bolitar book that I have read and after a while I found it to be fairly enjoyable. However I'm not sure that I entirely buy into the whole idea of Myron being an agent and some crime solving sleuth. I don't know but I really don't think that the two careers mesh together very well.

And whilst Myron is the main character it really seems to me that the brains behind the entire operation is his friend and colleague Win. Now that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but it does lower the attraction of Myron somewhat. Then again Myron seems to be good at everything so I'm pretty glad that Coben gave him the flaw of wanting to help everyone out, no matter how much he despises them. 

I have to admit that the plot turned in a completely different direction than what I first imagined, and I always enjoy it when a book manages to surprise me. However this was mainly because of the introduction of so many smaller characters who appear to be pulling the strings. My favourite twist though has to be the one with Lex and Gabriel, but I won't say anymore as I don't want to give the game away. 

Would I recommend this book? I would indeed. It may not be the hardest mystery to solve, but this was an enjoyable read nonetheless. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Title: Me Before You

Author: Jojo Moyes

Published: December 2012

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

Rating: 5 Stars

I'm sat here on my hospital bed in tears after reading this book. Wait no scratch that I've been crying for the last few chapters ever since I realised how this was going to end. And while a part of me always knew it would end that way, I still wasn't prepared for the emotion it would evoke within me. 

I really really enjoyed this book, I can't put into words just how much I enjoyed it. Will, despite being a bit of an arse in the beginning, actually shows himself to be a lovely guy and Lou it transpires actually has a crazy quirky nature. We even see her sister Treena mature as a character, and when we read the chapter from Treena's point of view I grew to respect her a bit more as a character. Patrick on the other hand seemed dull and very two dimensional to me. Okay he was probably intended to be that way, but I honestly can't see how he managed to keep hold of Lou for seven years. 

The storyline is in itself brilliant. There are plenty of twists and turns, none that I feel I can reveal without ruining the ending for you, but they are all brilliant. One thing that is for sure is that this isn't your conventional love story and you'll want your tissues handy. 

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. I really enjoyed this read, even if my heart was crushed by the end of it. 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins

Published: August 2010

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge...

Rating: 5 Stars

Mockingjay is the final installment in the Hunger Games trilogy and it certainly lives up to expectations. In some ways Mockingjay is a lot darker than the other books; we encounter torture and many gruesome deaths in the Capitol. And there's one death in particular which hits Katniss really hard. 

However that said there are happy moments too. We get to see a wedding and see Katniss finally make her choice between Gale and Peeta. 

Mockingjay is much more action packed, something I really enjoyed. Right from page one we are thrown into the military lifestyle of District Thirteen. I think this is where we finally get a feel for who Gale really is, and what surprised me was that I started to feel sympathetic towards Johanna of all people. 

This was a brilliant way to end the series and I hope Suzanne Collins brings us something new soon. 

Would I recommend this book? I'd recommend the entire series which has captivated me for the past week. 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Published: September 2009

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Rating: 5 Stars

Catching Fire is a brilliant sequel to The Hunger Games. Set a few months after Katniss and Peeta have become victors we now get to see them embark on the Victory Tour, and President Snow gives Katniss an ultimatum. The ultimate twist though, the perfect revenge for the Capitol is that as this year is the seventy fifth year of the Hunger Games, it's a Quarter Quell. And what better way to celebrate the Quarter Quell than by reaping the tributes from existing victors, meaning that Katniss will be headed back into the arena once more. 

I liked that Suzanne Collins kept things somewhat strained between Peeta and Katniss in the beginning, adding a reality to their relationship. It helps with the continuity of how the last book ended. And it was also brilliant how the Hunger Games are still as brutal as ever despite the unity of the victors. However I think the best part of the book for me was the bombshell of the final chapter. It's defintely one to watch out for.

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes defintely. I'd say go out and get a copy now because if you enjoyed The Hunger Games you'll love Catching Fire. 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Published: September 2008

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved The Hunger Games. I first read the series a few years ago when I was at uni and I've seen both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. So I already knew what was going to happen. Luckily though this is one of those books that you can pick up and enjoy time and time again. I still get emotional at particular parts of the book and still always cry over Rue. 

The character development is brilliant and by the end of the book we see Katniss struggling to work out whether or not she has feelings for Peeta, or if it was all just a part of the Games. 

The Games themselves are quite a barbaric concept, teenagers fighting it out to the death on television, but I think the worst part of the Games for me is how brutal some of those teenagers are. We aren't given ages for the majority of the other tributes but I'm choosing to believe that most of them are towards the older end of the scale. 

Would I recommend this book? Hell yes!!! Go get yourself a copy now. 

Daughters-in-Law by Joanna Trollope

Title: Daughters-in-law

Author: Joanna Trollope

Published: January 2011

When you've dedicated your life to your children, what happens when they grow up?

Rachel loves being at the centre of her large family. She has devoted herself fiercely to bringing up her three sons, but at their childhood home on the wide, bird-haunted coast of Suffolk, Rachel finds that her control begins to slip away. Other women - her daughters-in-law - are usurping her position. They have become more important to her boys than she is.

A crisis brings these subtle rifts to the surface. Can there be a way forward, if they are to survive as a family?

Rating: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book and right from the first page you feel as if you're almost a part of Rachel's family. I think the best part is she is so easy to relate to, and the story speaks of her struggle to adjust to only being a mother-in-law now. Rachel has always babied and protected her children, that's what she's good at, but now they've all married and have their own lives she just doesn't know how to adapt to the change in her lifestyle.

I think some people may find the newest daughter-in-law Charlotte a little bit manipulative, but I actually see a kindred spirit between her and Rachel. Charlotte has always been spoiled and babied ever since she was a child, so she too is finding it hard to adjust to a new lifestyle; especially when she discovers that she is pregnant!

The story takes place over the course of one summer, and we see things from every characters perspective. This gives the reader a better feel for the family and makes it easier to empathise with the characters. 

My only gripe is that this has a perfectly happy ending, which whilst it's nice that the Brinkleys are strong enough to pull through this, I really don't see Ralph and Petra working out. Ralph doesn't strike me as the type who can forgive and forget, and I get the feeling that it would be something he may use in arguments. 

However the rest of the characters really do transform themselves over the course of the book. Luke and Charlotte both become more mature and independent, and Rachel finally starts to curb her overbearing mothering instinct. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would, if you want a nice lazy Sunday read then this is the book for you.

Birthdays For The Dead by Stuart MacBride

Title: Birthdays For The Dead

Author: Stuart MacBride

Published: January 2012

Detective Constable Ash Henderson has a dark secret…

Five years ago his daughter, Rebecca, went missing on the eve of her thirteenth birthday. A year later the first card arrived: homemade, with a Polaroid picture stuck to the front – Rebecca, strapped to a chair, gagged and terrified. Every year another card: each one worse than the last.

The tabloids call him ‘The Birthday Boy’. He’s been snatching girls for twelve years, always in the run-up to their thirteenth birthday, sending the families his homemade cards showing their daughters being slowly tortured to death.

But Ash hasn’t told anyone about Rebecca’s birthday cards – they all think she’s just run away from home – because if anyone finds out, he’ll be taken off the investigation. And he’s sacrificed too much to give up before his daughter’s killer gets what he deserves…

Rating: 3 Stars

So I've been waiting impatinetly for a while to read this book, mainly because the blurb gripped me straight away. I was therefore a little disappointed that it took me until about two thirds of the way into the book for me to start enjoying it. 

In the first thirty or so pages I was seriously considering putting this down and not even returning to it. This was mainly because I just didn't like the characters at all. The main character Ash Henderson just annoyed me, and then the way the 'delightfully quirky' Alice (or Dr McFruitloop as she's more commonly known) would just babble on got boring very quickly. 

And then I had a serious question to ask which was never resolved in the books. The Birthday Boy sends cards showing the torture of the girls to their parents every year, even following them when they try and move house. However in the case of Ash's eldest daughter, the cards are only ever sent to Ash, and not to his ex wife Michelle at all. Now if you're going to go to all the trouble of finding out where the parents live every year then why not send the cards to both parents?

However the one thing that really really bugged me was that given Rebecca's fate, we know right from the off that she has been dead for years, MacBride should have left Ash's younger daughter Katie well alone. While a book can be dark, it shouldn't be that dark. Now obviously I won't reveal Katie's fate but that was one thing I really didn't enjoy about the book. 

On the other hand though, by the time I got into Birthdays for the Dead it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. And MacBride manages to tie up all the loose ends together as well, and keep us guessing as to the true identity of the Birthday Boy right until the end. 

Would I recommend this book? If you don't mind a darkish story with some tedious repetition at the beginning then you'll probably enjoy Birthdays For The Dead. If you persevere with this book you'll find it an enjoyable read in the end. 

The Republic Of Thieves by Scott Lynch

Title: The Republic Of Thieves

Author: Scott Lynch

Published: October 2013

After their adventures on the high seas, Locke and Jean are brought back to earth with a thump. Jean is mourning the loss of his lover and Locke must live with the fallout of crossing the all-powerful magical assassins, the Bonds Magi.

It is a fallout that will pit both men against Locke's own long-lost love. Sabetha is Locke's childhood sweetheart, the love of Locke's life and now it is time for them to meet again. Employed on different sides of a vicious dispute between factions of the Bonds, Sabetha has just one goal - to destroy Locke for ever.

Rating: 4 Stars

Okay I loved this book, but I really didn't think it was as strong as its predecessors. I can't quite put my finger on it but it felt as if the story was lacking in some way. 

The main story here being of course the relationship between Locke and Sabetha. Yes that's right, we finally meet the mysterious Sabetha. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Sabetha, she's clearly a perfect match for Locke, but I preferred the younger Sabetha shown when we explore her backstory. Present day Sabetha is still as devious as she ever was, but I felt that maybe she was a little static. Yes she's trying to protect Locke, but when the truth about him is finally revealed she turns and flees yet again. I did like exploring their relationship though, and Sabetha is clearly the more dominant of the two, with Locke bending to her will. 

And of course the Bondsmagi play a huge part in this book. Patience, the Falconer's mother, seems nice enough on the surface, after all she does save Locke from being poisoned, but underneath it all she's just as Locke suspects, a cold hearted bitch. We learn a lot more about how the Bondsmagi work, and while I still find them extremely complicated I know for sure that they are the last people I'd ever want to cross. 

And speaking of Bondsmagi my god the epilogue. The epilogue gives us the life of the Falconer, and how it ends definitely suggests trouble is brewing on the horizon, not just for the Bondsmagi but also for Locke and Jean as well. After all the Falconer isn't likely to have forgotten about them is he?

Would I recommend this book? Yes I would, if only because it finally sheds light on a more vulnerable side of Locke. This is definitely a good read, and I want the next installment to be released already. 

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

Title: Red Seas Under Red Skies

Author: Scott Lynch

Published: June 2007

Escaping from the attentions of the Bondsmagi Locke Lamora, the estwhile Thorn of Camorr and Jean Tannen have fled their home city. Taking ship they arrive in the city state of Tal Varrar where they are soon planning their most spectacular heist yet; they will take the luxurious gaming house, The Sinspire, for all of its countless riches.

No-one has ever taken even a single coin from the Sinspire that wasn't won on the tables or in the other games of chance on offer there.

But, as ever, the path of true crime rarely runs smooth and Locke and Jean soon find themselves co-opted into an attempt to bring the pirate fleet of the notorious Zamira Drakasha to justice. Fine work for thieves who don't know one end of galley from another.

And all the while the Bondsmagi are plotting their very necessary revenge against the one man who believes he has humiliated them and lived; Locke Lamora.

Rating: 5 Stars

After how gripping the first book was I was extremely worried that Red Seas Under Red Skies simply wouldn't live up to its predecessor. However I wasn't disappointed. Whilst this book is set two years after the events of the first, we glean sufficient information as to what Locke and Jean have done over this period of time. Typically they've moved from Camorr to Tal Verrar and are planning their biggest heist yet, something that is even more of a feat given that their numbers are down to two now. 

Red Seas Under Red Skies opens with a gripping prologue; one where we see Locke and Jean cornered by two potential assassins, and where it appears that Jean's loyalties have changed somewhat. Eager to see what has changed Jean so much I found I had to keep on reading. 

My one potential gripe with Red Seas is that at times, especially towards the end of the book, it felt like there were too many plots and subplots happening at the same time. We have the storyline with Requin, owner of the Sinspire and the plan to rob him blind. But we also have the Archon and the fact that poison is worming its way through Locke and Jean's veins, and then there's a huge pirate battle to contend with as well. At times I did admittedly find it hard to keep up with what was going on, but at the same time Scott Lynch manages to tie it all up beautifully. 

What I really enjoyed however was the more independent storyline for Jean. I loved the relationship he develops with Ezri, and how Locke has become a big enough person to accept the two of them happily. Ezri and Jean's relationship did bring a tear to my eye, okay I lie it brought a whole flood of tears to both of my eyes, but I won't say anymore as I don't want to be responsible for any major spoilers. 

Would I recommend this book? Definitely. This looks like a very promising series and I'm about to go buy the third installment now. You should read the series and do the same. 

The Lies Of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Title: The Lies Of Locke Lamora

Author: Scott Lynch

Published: June 2006

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count.

Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards.

Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.

But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming.

A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora . . .

Rating: 5 Stars

Okay I loved this book right from the off. Having never heard anything about the Gentlemen Bastard series I had no idea what I was going to be letting myself in for, but I'm so glad I picked this up; especially as I almost deleted it off my to be read list. 

We first meet Locke as a young child who has done something to undermine the Thiefmaker's authority causing him to be sold to Father Chains. The prologue ends with Locke about to tell Chains exactly what it was that he did, before our story cuts to the present day. 

The intricacy of the plot is absolutely amazing, everything happens for a reason and it all ties together so perfectly: Locke's current con against the Salvaras, Capa Barsavi's troubles with the Grey King and of course the nobles of Camorr. And even better is that we get left on so many cliffhangers throughout the book, because after every chapter we get an interlude where we learn something of Locke's past. 

The characters are extremely well written as well. Within the Gentlemen Bastards everyone has a role to play; Locke is a mastermind, Jean is the muscle, Calo and Galdo can do anything (I think of them as being a bit like the Weasley twins) and Bug ... Well Bug is the new boy. 

The only problem is that because everything is so crucial to the book, I can't really say much more in a review without giving away spoilers. So I'm going to be good and take a vow of silence. 

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes, even if fantasy stuff has never been your thing I guarantee that you will enjoy this book. 

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Title: Before I Go To Sleep

Author: S. J. Watson

Published: June 2011

Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight.

And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life.

Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved Before I Go To Sleep. I haven't read a book this quickly in such a long time. The blurb had me hooked, and I had anxiously waited as this climbed up my to be read list until it was finally time to pick up a copy. 

The storyline itself isn't entirely original, there are a multitude of books and films out there that explore the idea of repeated memory loss and the inability to create new memories, but as long as a book is well written then I have no problem with it being similar to others. 

The way the book is structured is particularly important. We awaken with the main character Christine in the morning, and have to experience alongside her finding out about her entire previous life. When Dr Nash turns up with her journal we finally get a key to the past two weeks of Christine's life. 

The next part of the book is Christine's journal, and we start to discover not only how horrible life is for her, having to rediscover who she is everyday, but also watching her unearth secrets. She remembers being pregnant, and then is told by her husband that her son is dead. We however start to see that certain things in Christine's life don't add up, there are a number of inconsistencies and this allows the reader to start creating their own judgement of what really happened to Christine all those years ago. 

And then we come back to the present day as Christine's journal ends, the present day where the painful truth of what really happened is about to come out. And my god is the twist a good one. I really was very happy with the ending. And especially the way the book itself ends, on a beautiful open ending where the reader can decide whether or not Christine ever fully regains her memory. Personally I'm hoping she does just because I'm a sucker for a happy ending. 

Overall this was a book that I really struggled to put down, and I loved pretty much every aspect of it. Here's to hoping the film is just as good. 

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! I couldn't put this one down, and I will almost certainly read it again in the future. Go get a copy now.