Chick-lit-week #2 'Swept off Her Feet'

Welcome back to another *review-recommendation-thingy* in my chick-lit week.

>>To all my followers who read YA and follow my blog because of its YA-content, don't worry, I'll be back with YA-paranormal/dystopian/contemporary soon!

 The steps of a charmingly complex dance—Scotland’s famous reel—are at the heart of Hester Browne’s enchanting contemporary novel of two very different sisters whose dreams may come true at a romantic Scottish ball. Evie Nicholson is in love . . . with the past. An antiques appraiser in a London shop, Evie spins fanciful attachments to Victorian picture frames, French champagne glasses, satin evening gloves, and tattered teddy bears—regardless of their monetary value.
Alice Nicholson is in love . . . with Fraser Graham, a dashing Scotsman whom Evie secretly desires. As crisply neat and stylish as Evie is cheerfully cluttered, Alice is a professional organizer determined to pull her sister out of her comfort zone—and who presents her with an irresistible offer.
As a favor to friends of Fraser’s family, Evie jumps at the chance to appraise a Scottish castle full of artifacts and heirlooms. What could be more thrilling than roaming the halls of Kettlesheer and uncovering the McAndrews’ family treasures—and dusty secrets?
But crossing paths with moody heir Robert McAndrew has Evie assessing what she wants the most . . . and at an upcoming candlelight gala, a traditional dance will set her heart reeling.

Why did I pick this up?

I haven't previously read anything by Hester Browne, even though I've actually bought one of her books while on holiday on Gran Canaria. I had every intention of reading that one, but when I was at the beach, opening the book I realised it was the third book in her Little Lady Agency series What the Lady Wants (now called the Little Lady Agency and the Prince). Anyway, I didn't want to read the third book without reading the other two, so I put it away and somehow never got around to buy these first two books. Anyway, when Swept Off her Feet started popping up on various blogs I recognized the authors name - Hester Browne, and thought, why not :).

My thoughts about the cover: The cover looks actually better in the picture than in reality. The colors are much paler than the image shows. I'm not a fan of shoes and no fan of the color-combination of that read with the pale blue. And isn't the woman sitting in a very awkward position? I like the yellow dress though (even though I have no idea what it has to do with a ball in a castle in the winter...) and the Scottish tartan pattern on the shoes is a nice touch!

My thoughts about the book, why I liked it:

I didn't like this book at first, as my Goodreads-updates clearly show.

 "What I don't like in books ( or movies) ( or IRL) are scenes that are hilarious/funny bordering on embarrassing. I think in this book they're meant to be funny but I cringe all the time. They are not too embarrassing yet, so I read on... ( like the story/plot though - just not the naivety/dumbness/stupidity of the MC)" - is what I wrote down while reading. I don't know why I can't read or watch embarrassing scenes and my threshold is pretty low. So I think other readers will just find these scenes funny, lightening up the plot and will laugh out loud while reading. 

I pushed on though, because I really liked the premise. I like the heroine's quirkiness, her inner monologues and daydreams and her clumsiness. Evie and her sister Alice where referred to Big Bird and King Kong (p.20) by their teachers and fellow pupils, the image that creates in my mind is just ridiculous, haha. 

It took a while for me to feel the connection between the lead-guy and Evie. Evie was so caught up in her crush on her sister's fiancé that it took a while to feel the chemistry. 

But as they say, opposites attract. As soon as I felt the chemistry I just had to read more and more and I couldn't stop. I loved the fact that it is written from first person POV, loved to be left in the dark about what he was feeling. The development of the romance between the two of them felt real, it went under my skin. 

And did I mention that it is set in a castle(ish), in Scotland? Swooon :)

My verdict: This is a new take on an old fairytale, with lots of interesting details and tidbits of *old things*, the female lead is different and adorable, the premise interesting, the romance oh so sweet. After a somewhat rocky start I couldn't put this book down. *swoon*

Chick-lit-week #1 'The Girls Guide to Homemaking'

Hello everybody,

You've probably all noted that I've been quite AWOL here this year. I haven't even posted a single review. I'm a bad bad girl *ashamed*. Well, I'll try to be better in the future.

I've started out this blog as a way for me to keep up with my reading, organize it, remember the books I've read and give ideas to others, what books to buy, where to find ideas of new books and so on. Let's face it, I was really lost back then (2.5 years ago), and I still am most of the time. I still have no idea what I'm doing, haha. Anyway, when I started this blog I was mostly if not only reading chick-lit. This has changed during the past 8 months, now I'm leaning more and more towards YA, contemporary and paranormal, fantasy and thus I read less and less chick-lit. Sometimes though I like to go back to my *roots* and read a pink, girly and flowery book again :). 

So, this week my focus will be on the few chick-lit books I've read during the past months, I probably won't write any long and thoughtful (when have I ever done that?) reviews, only some short recommendations and random ramblings about feelings and emotions (blaargh) because I'm all about those..haha

The Girl's Guide to Homemaking by Amy Bratley

'What makes you happy? What do you want from life?' I ran through a list of things that I supposed would make me sound cool. And then I told the truth. 'A home,' I said. 'A home with some people in it I love.' On a mission to have the perfect home, with tweeting bluebirds and a white picket fence, Juliet hits a major stumbling block - reality. On the first night with her boyfriend in their new flat, Juliet discovers that Simon has been sleeping with her best friend. After growing up in a dysfunctional family with secrets that haunt her, there's no way she is prepared to build her nest on a broken branch. Heartbroken and seeking an escape from her troubles, Juliet retreats into the comforting world of her grandmother's 1950s homemaking manuals, discovering tips like 'put a ribbon in your hair to brighten your husband's day' and though Juliet knows that won't get her anywhere, she discovers that craft and homemaking are back in style. Taking control of her life, Juliet is determined to get her home with a heart. But who will win hers?

Why did I pick this up?
I've seen this book mentioned on various book-blogs and chick-lit sites, but it didn't really *jump* at me, yelling buy me, buy me!!! I've dismissed it with a single glance, never to look back. Why did I do that? Well, firstly I don't like the cover, it's a bit old-fashioned (though cute!) but screamed 'old-lady' at me and secondly the title, what's up with that? I have to quote myself here (one of my earliest posts from 2009):
And I don't particular care for books with titles such as "A Singles Guide to...",. 


Well, that should say it all, but it doesn't. Homemaking - urrghh, not my thing, at all. Nope, I was never ever going pick up this book. And not because I judged the book by its cover, but because I wasn't the target-group for this book, simple as that.

But how did I end up with this book anyway, and reading it, and LOVING it? A few weeks back I had the privilege to be able to visit THE Bookshop in Zürich, The Orell Füssli English Bookshop. So when I was browsing their shelves I realised with horror that I've already had read every single book that looked interesting! So after a while, with that sinking feeling in my stomach that I had come all the way there for nothing, I started to randomly pick up books, read the blurb and put them pack. Then I saw The Girl's Guide to Homemaking, I recognized it and thought, well, it can't hurt, so I picked it up, read the blurb and bought it! (I later also found some books upstairs in the YA-section).

My thoughts about the book, why I liked it:

This from my Goodreads-account: 'Page 171, Yay - I finally have some spare time to read! I'm in LOVE with this book!!!!!'.  So, yeah, this book really surprised me. I was hooked from the first page, I wanted to know how Juliet would rise herself up again and start anew after hearing her boyfriend call out her best friends name in the first night at their new home. The home that was everything to Juliet.
What I most liked about this book is the contrast. The contrast of the inside from the outside. What's written in those pages doesn't match the cover or title. Amy Bratley managed to constantly surprise me, throwing curve-balls at me. I love the contrast of  Juliets 'homemaking' to how Juliet speaks and acts. I cried, I laughed, I couldn't put it down!

Book recommendations #2

Have you all read The Duff  by Kody Keplinger?

If not, and you like a very very well-written YA-novel with problems, issues and sex ..read it. I read it in one night when I couldn't sleep. It was my saviour. I loved it.
I really recognized myself in it. The self-sabotaging streak we all have, at least I did, I didn't use the same method, but I could relate. But most of all I got sucked into the story by the wonderful writing.

Book recommendations #1

Hi everybody,
Welcome to a new instalment on my blog.
As you all know (well, the you who still bother to come here now and then) I don't and didn't have much spare time lately. I've started an intern-ship that is part of my university-studies and is only for five weeks, I have two and a half week left, that means I'm halfway through. On top of all that I came down with a nasty eye-infection that still hasn't healed properly and made reading, at least in the first two weeks, really painful (not that that did stop me much anyway). So, I don't have time/eyes to read as much as I would like to and I have even less time to write something here which makes reviews a very hard task for me. So,I spend a big chunk of time every day travelling, at least three hours a day I spend on a train to and from *work*, which actually gives me some opportunity to read, good books and bad books and I thought I could write a few lines about the books I read, give you recommendations until I find the time again to write proper reviews.

The book that has impressed me most these past weeks is the utterly breathtaking and wonderful North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

North of Beautiful is actually one the best books I've read so far this year. It leaves you thinking, it still hasn't left my mind, it has oozed through my skin, is still surrounding me. Apparently there are two kinds of North, the True North and the Magnetic North. But there are many kinds of beautiful, right? Or is there a True Beautiful? Is it only skin-deep. Shallow?

Yeah, well, apparently I'm in love with this book. READ IT! :)