Alba in bookland

June is almost here and it looks like it is going to be another fantastic month for books with releases and debuts. Here are the ones I am most excited about:

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella - June 4th

Blurb: Meet Audrey: an ordinary teenage girl with not so ordinary problems.

Aside from her completely crazy and chaotic family, she suffers from an anxiety disorder which makes talking to her brother's hot new best friend a bit of a challenge.

But Audrey has a plan to help her face her fears and take on the world again. First stop: Starbucks.

A laugh-out-loud romance from the bestselling author of the Shopaholic series.

Why so excited? I have already read Sophie's first YA novel and I can tell you that it is an amazing novel and both new and old fans of Sophie Kinsella. Check my Review.

The Silent Hours by Cesca Major - June 4th

Blurb: An epic, sweeping tale of love and loss inspired by heartrending true events in the Unoccupied Zone of wartime France.
The Silent Hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them apart:

Adeline, a mute who takes refuge in a convent, haunted by memories of her past;

Sebastian, a young Jewish banker whose love for the beautiful Isabelle will change the course of his life dramatically;

Tristin, a nine-year-old boy, whose family moves from Paris to settle in a village that is seemingly untouched by war.

Beautifully wrought, utterly compelling and with a shocking true story at its core, The Silent Hours is an unforgettable portrayal of love and loss.

Why so excited? I think The Silent Hours is one of the most anticipated debuts of the year. The story sounds amazing and the first reviews have been ravishing about it. I certainly cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Return to Bluebell Hill by Rebecca Pugh - June 18th

Blurb: Home is where the heart is…
Jessica McAdams has never belonged anywhere; never truly felt at home. Of course, what did she expect from parents who never made her feel welcome in her own house? Leaving her life in London to return home to the charming country village of Bluebell Hill is harder than she thought. Especially as she never considered she’d be returning under such heart wrenching circumstances…

Clearing out the stunning and imposing Bluebell House after her parents’ death is difficult for Jessica—they never had the best relationship and now it’s too late. Yet spending time in the house that was never a home, having afternoon tea with dear old friend Esme—and sharing hot, sizzling kisses with delectable gardener Rueben!—opens Jessica’s eyes to the potential of Bluebell House… Could this big old, beautiful manor really be her forever home? Is Bluebell Hill where her heart is, has always been?

Jessica soon dares to dream of her very own home with delicious Rueben by her side. But when a deep, dark secret of Bluebell House is unearthed, Jessica’s world is turned upside down…

Will Jessica ever find where her heart truly lies?

Why so excited? Another debut I can't wait to discover. Moreover, this one feels really special to me as Rebecca Pugh is one of the most loveliest bloggers there are and she's been sharing her excitement for her book deal with Carina with all of us. I'm sure it'll be a huge success.

The Truth According To Us by Annie Barrows - June 18th

Blurb: There are small towns in America that never seem to change, places where time holds still, and where nothing has or will – ever - happen.This is a lie.

Summer, 1938: the small town of Macedonia, West Virginia, is celebrating its 150th anniversary, to be commemorated with parades, picnics, and most importantly, a book recounting its history. Its reluctant author, the debutante Miss Layla Beck, recently disinherited by her father, arrives in town with one goal – to get out of it as quickly as possible.

Macedonia’s history seems simple enough - brief and uneventful. Then Layla meets the Romeyns: Jottie, Willa, Felix, Emmett, a family at once entertaining, eccentric, seductive, and inextricably bound up in Macedonia’s most well-kept historical secret – a secret yet to be told.

Annie Barrows’ THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO US will spirit you away into a town from a by-gone age, where customs and habits may be different, but where the hearts of its inhabitants, both dark and loving, remain recognisable to all.

Why so excited? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my favourite books ever so when I heart Annie Barrows was writing a new book I was over the moon. Plus, I have an early review copy, so soon enough you'll hear me raving about it, I am sure of it.

What are the books you are excited about this month?

Title: Catch Me If You Cannes, Part 4
Author: Lisa Dickenson
Published: May 25th 2015 by Sphere
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: The final part in this hilarious four-part romantic comedy, from the author of You Had Me at Merlot and The Twelve Dates of Christmas - winner of the Novelicious Debut of the Year award.

Just one week ago, Jess was safely tucked away in her quiet seaside home, running her cafe and not really doing much of anything. So what on earth has happened between then and now that has her stealing a superyacht from Cannes marina?

Leo. Leo happened.

Jess doesn't want to believe what everybody is saying about him. He's her Leo, with his lazy smile, soft kisses and firm hugs, and she knows he's a good man. But she can't deny that something isn't quite right so she just needs some time to figure things out. All Jess did was fall in love with a boy who liked Nutella. How has it come to this?

Full of hilarious one-liners, sparkling blue seas and plenty of romantic moments, Catch Me If You Cannes is the story of two friends, a few white lies and one extremely delicious man. WARNING: reading Catch Me If You Cannes may result in embarrassing outbursts of belly-aching laughter on public transport.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: If you have been following my reviews for the previous parts, you might have noticed that I am loving this series immensely. After all the mystery and secrets, we finally find out what was going on with Leo and Harvey, and Lisa Dickenson being one of the most fun writers around, it is quite hilarious. Jess' parents turn out to be a perfect addition to the cast!

Because this one is the last part of the story, I don't want to give anything away but I can assure you that this story couldn't have ended better. And I loved also reading a bit about life A.C. (after Cannes) for our beloved characters.

All in all, I think this series will be a summer hit: laughs, beach, cocktails, sunshine and Cannes (oh! and Nutella!!). What a perfect combination for a lazy afternoon by the pool. And now that all four parts are out, you have no excuses for not getting them all and devouring them.

Take my advice, put some Lisa Dickenson sunshine in your life this summer, you won't regret it!

Rating:

Check out my review for Part 1 here!

Check out my review for Part 2 here!

Check out my review for Part 3 here!

Title: Coming Up Roses
Author: Rachael Lucas
Published: May 21st 2015 by Pan
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Would-be gardener Daisy can’t believe her luck when her parents announce they’re off on a midlife crisis gap year, leaving her in charge of their gorgeous garden. After a turbulent few months, a spot of quiet in the countryside is just what she needs.

A shoulder to cry on wouldn't go amiss either - so when Daisy comes across Elaine and Jo, she breathes a sigh of relief. But her new friends are dealing with dramas of their own…

As Daisy wrestles the garden into something resembling order, her feelings for handsome Irishman George begin to take root. Daisy’s heart’s desire − her parent’s garden − is under threat, and Daisy's forced to confront nosey neighbours and fight greedy developers. Village life is turning out to be far from peaceful.

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I loved Rachael Lucas' first book, Sealed with a Kiss, so I was over the moon the get an early review copy of Coming Up Roses. And with that cover! Don't you just love it? I'm happy to say that the story lived up to my expectations. Coming Up Roses turned out to be a lovely read with stunning descriptions of gardening and a beautiful picture of village life.

Daisy, our heroine, arrives at her parents place after a horrible break up and when she has just finished a gardening course. So the opportunity to make her parents beautiful but forgotten garden come back to life while they are away is the perfect project to immerse herself and forget about everything else. At first, she doesn't want to get into the village dynamics. But soon enough she meets the lovely Thomas, an old retired gardener, who becomes a friend and a confident for her. I really liked Thomas and enjoyed a lot reading his interactions with Daisy. He is usually the voice of reason but also loves causing a bit of mischief. I think Rachael Lucas found a winner with Thomas as I'm sure everyone will love him while reading this novel.

But Thomas is not the only new friend for Daisy. She starts hanging out with her new neighbour, Elaine, a successful lifestyle blogger that posts everything from her perfect and posh life, house, husband and food on her blog, and Jo, a single mother and counselor. I found it very interesting how these very different women developed such a strong friendship during the story. They really were there for each other when they needed it the most and both Elaine's and Jo's stories took an important role too. Soon I found myself caring for them too and wishing the best for both of them when their lives turned out to be not so perfect.

During the story there's also a romantic story line, as a dashing Irishman asks Daisy out after bumping into her a few times. He is a total charmer and they start seeing each other. But I liked that this romantic line takes more of a secondary role in the story. The real star of the story is the garden. Daisy finds refuge working in the garden and as we see it flourish, we also see her opening up to new adventures and finding herself again. And with the detailed and generous descriptions, you can really picture all the colours and the smells.

Coming Up Roses is a beautiful novel about finding your place in the world and fighting for it. Also, if you enjoy a bit of gardening, you'll love reading about Daisy's work and the lovely village of Steeple St John, where life is not as quiet and peaceful as you might think.

Rating:

You can follow the Blog Tour for this lovely title here:

Title: Girl at War
Author: Sara Novic
Published: May 21st 2015 by Little Brown
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Zagreb, summer of 1991. Ten-year-old Ana Juric is a carefree tomboy who runs the streets of Croatia’s capital with her best friend, Luka, takes care of her baby sister, Rahela, and idolizes her father. But as civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia, soccer games and school lessons are supplanted by sniper fire and air raid drills. When tragedy suddenly strikes, Ana is lost to a world of guerilla warfare and child soldiers; a daring escape plan to America becomes her only chance for survival.

Ten years later Ana is a college student in New York. She’s been hiding her past from her boyfriend, her friends, and most especially herself. Haunted by the events that forever changed her family, she returns alone to Croatia, where she must rediscover the place that was once her home and search for the ghosts of those she’s lost.

With generosity, intelligence, and sheer storytelling talent, Sara Nović’s first novel confronts the enduring impact of war, and the enduring bonds of country and friendship.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

It has been a while since a book had made such a strong impression on me. Girl at War is an
extraordinary tale about war, loss and grief but also about love and hope and the need to find your place in the world. With two main story lines, Girl at War tells the story of Ana, a Croatian girl who survived a cruel and violent war but lost almost everything in it, even a part of herself. We follow a ten-year-old Ana in Zagreb, in the midst of the civil war, and a twenty-year-old Ana in New York, on her third year of university.

It still shocks me that this war happened only twenty years ago. I vaguely remember the news about it as I was quite young still but I remember thinking that those countries had to be far far away. My little mind couldn't conceive that such atrocities were really happening so close and nobody was doing anything to prevent it. Reviving those acts of destruction through young Ana's eyes really got to me. She and her friends, unable to really understand the concept of war and ethnic cleansing and the dangers that it implies, turn the new war elements into a game. Playing with the piles of sacks or fighting over the bike that serves as a generator in the basement they hide during the air raids. But soon, Ana's innocence is cut short and she ends up in an occupied village where she is recruited by the local guerilla. The matter-of-factly and simple narrative make this tale even more raw and shocking.

When we read about Ana in America, ten years later, we see another version of Ana. She tells everyone she's from New Jersey and keeps her memories and demons in a locked part of her brain, avoiding going there at all costs. But with no real place to call home and with no idea of who she really is she must face the difficult but necessary return to her old town. A real journey of self discovery, I was completely enthralled with the story. Trying and failing to image how she must have been feeling.

I think that having the chance of reading such a tale is a privilege for us readers. Sara Novic takes us in a raw but truly memorable journey. Making us remember the atrocities of war and wonder why there are still so many conflicts in the world. Sara's voice needs to be heard, loud and clear, and after such an amazing debut, I can't wait for more by this young author.

Rating:

Don't miss any stops of the blog tour for this fantastic title:

Title: Deliciously Ella: 100+ Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Plant-Based, Gluten-Free Recipes.
Author: Ella Woodward
Published: March 3rd 2015 by Scribner
Amazon | Amazon UK

Description: From the founder of the wildly popular food blog Deliciously Ella, 120 plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free recipes with gorgeous, full-color photographs that capture the amazing things we can do with natural ingredients.

In 2011, nineteen-year-old Ella Woodward was diagnosed with a rare illness that left her bed-ridden, in chronic pain, and plagued by heart palpitations and headaches. When conventional medicine failed her, Ella decided to change her diet. She gave up meat, gluten, dairy, sugar, and anything processed and the effects were immediate: her symptoms disappeared, her energy returned, and she was able to go off all her medication. A self-confessed sweet tooth, Ella taught herself how to make delicious, plant-based meals that delight the palette and improve overall well-being.

Deliciously Ella is an essential, how-to guide to clean, plant-based eating, taking you through the best ingredients and methods for preparing easy, exciting meals. This is not a diet, it is about creating a new mindset that embraces fantastic food. From sweet potato brownies to silky chocolate mousse and roasted butternut squash risotto and homemade fries and ketchup, Ella shares 100 brand-new recipes and twenty classics in her signature, elegant style. Packed with vivid photos and simple, foolproof instructions, Deliciously Ella provides a foundation for a pure, unprocessed, unrefined diet, so you can look and feel better while enjoying great food.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Before getting my hands on this book I already knew Ella from her fantastic blog and had successfully tried a couple of her recipes. But recently, my partner and I have decided to start a healthier and cleaner diet and this book has definitely helped us expand our meals and learn a lot about what we are eating.

The book not only offers a diverse range of recipes but also explains which ingredients you'll need and gives you tips on how to prepare basic ingredients (like nut butters or milks) and which equipment to use. I found this part very useful and checked it a few times while doing other recipes. Also, I'd like to mention how beautiful the images on the book are. They really make you want to prepare that food.

Then, the recipes are divided by parts depending on the main ingredients, so you find parts like Grains, Nuts and Seeds, Beans and Legumes or Vegetables. I liked that most the recipes could be made with the same basic ingredients so once you had had them you didn't have to buy an endless list of different things for each recipe.

We have already tried quite a lot of the recipes and some of them more than once as they were a huge success, like the different types of hummus, Black and Kidney Bean Chili (or chili sin carne, as we call it) and Coconut Thai Curry with Chickpeas.

I also fund very useful the healthy snacks like the raw brownie and the dates with nut butter. Actually, the dates have been a wonderful surprise as they were not part of my diet and now I seem to use them for everything.

All in all, Deliciously Ella is well thought and detailed cookbook that serves as a perfect introduction to a healthier diet. The comments from readers and the beautiful photos make this book very easy to the eye and interesting to read too. I highly recommend it if you are new to the plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free world.

Rating:

Title: The Little Paris Bookshop
Author: Nina George
Published: April 23rd 2015 by Abacus
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: On a barge on the Seine, Jean Perdu runs a bookshop, or rather a 'literary apothecary', for this bookseller possess a rare gift for sensing which books will soothe his customers' troubled souls.

The only person he is unable to cure, it seems, is himself. For twenty-one years he has nursed a broken heart - and never dared open the letter his love left behind. But the arrival of an enigmatic new neighbour inspires Jean to unlock his heart, unmoor the floating bookshop and set off for Provence, in search of the past and his beloved.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I always enjoy books about books and The Little Paris Bookshop is an ode to books. Jean Perdu is a joy to read. He owns a literary apothecary and cures his costumer's souls prescribing them books to read. He has quite a simple life that he pretends to enjoy but nothing could be farther from the truth. Living in an empty flat with locked rooms and with no friends, he still misses the love of his life, who left him more than twenty years ago. But when a new neighbour awakes something more in Perdu he decides to take his barge on the trip of a lifetime around France to rediscover himself.

But Perdu doesn't travel alone, from a lost best seller author to an Italian looking for a lost love, the barge becomes a temporary home for a colourful range of characters. They all have their own stories to tell and will help Perdu in his quest to find meaning to his life. With a stunning scenery and detailed and generous descriptions, you feel like one more in the barge. Discovering the beautiful French towns and its unique inhabitants.

The Little Paris Bookshop is a book to enjoy. To take your time reading and rereading. I think you could fill various notebooks with wonderful quotes from this story. Perdu's story is life affirming and warm like a hug but also complex, deep and meaningful. You learn a lot about books, life and living while reading this book and it makes you think a lot about love and death.

A stunning book for booklovers, one to read over lazy summer evenings. Taking in every sentence and every word. I'd say it reads like a modern fable, the moral being that to have a life you have to live it. Loving, discovering, risking, giving your everything, reading...

Rating:

Title: Catch Me If You Cannes, Part 3
Author: Lisa Dickenson
Published: May 18th 2015 by Sphere
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: The third part in this hilarious four-part romantic comedy, from the author of You Had Me at Merlot and The Twelve Dates of Christmas - winner of the Novelicious Debut of the Year award.

Things could not be going better between Jess and Leo. Every moment they spend together is lovely and sunkissed and full of anticipation. Jess hasn't felt like this in a very long time and she doesn't want it to end. Sure, Leo is a bit vague about certain areas of his life but that doesn't mean anything . . .

Suddenly Jess's perfect holiday romance isn't looking so great and she has a choice to make - should she ignore what Bryony is telling her and keep living the dream, or should she run the risk of losing Leo in order to prove her friend wrong?

Full of hilarious one-liners, sparkling blue seas and plenty of romantic moments, Catch Me If You Cannes is the story of two friends, a few white lies and one extremely delicious man. WARNING: reading Catch Me If You Cannes may result in embarrassing outbursts of belly-aching laughter on public transport.

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Aaaah! Lisa, what are you doing to us? Who is Leo? These cliff hangers are killing me. In this part we have discovered two things: first, Leo is the loveliest man alive; second, he might not be so lovely. I wish with all my heart that he really is because I really like him and he is perfect for sweet Jess.

I am also enjoying a lot reading about Bryony and her dilemma about her job. Should she just sell herself and expose celebrities (which she hates) to keep her job or should she stand for herself and send her stupid to a certain place? I have a lot in faith in her.

This 3rd part was so packed with drama and so fast paced that I think that I didn't even stop to breath. The plot is getting really interesting and the fabulous vacation on Cannes is turning out to be not so glam.

And because the story wasn't interesting enough, Jess' family has landed in Cannes too! They seem such a fun gang and I'm sure they'll make this hilarious story even more fun.

In case you haven't realise it yet. I am loving this story and I can't recommend it enough. If you still haven't read anything by the extremely talented Lisa Dickenson, you are missing out. Get this one asap!

Diving into the last part right now, I can't wait to find out how the story ends!

Rating:

Check out my review for Part 1 here!

Check out my review for Part 2 here!

Follow the tour and stay tuned for my review of Part 4 next Thursday the 28th!

Title: The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP)
Author: Kate Winter
Published: May 21st 2015 by Sphere
Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Falling in love is never simple. Especially when you're dead.

When Rosie Potter wakes up one morning with what she assumes is the world's worst hangover, the last thing she expects is to discover that she's actually dead. With a frustrating case of amnesia, suspicious circumstances surrounding her untimely demise, and stuck wearing her ugliest flannel PJs, Rosie must figure out not only what happened last night, but why on earth she's still here.

Slowly the mystery unravels, but there are many other secrets buried in the quiet Irish village of Ballycarragh, and nobody is as innocent as they first appear. Aided by the unlikeliest of allies in her investigation, Rosie discovers that life after death isn't all it's cracked up to be, particularly when you might just be falling in love...

In this hilarious, life-affirming and romantic journey through Rosie Potter's afterlife, she shares the ghostly tale of how she lived, she died, and she loved (in that order).

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I am not a big fan of paranormal but sometimes a ghost in a story works so incredible well, like in Twenties Girls by Sophie Kinsella (one of my favourites), and The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) is one of them. Rosie is probably the most hilarious ghost in history. Reading about her shock at discovering that yes, she was actually dead and therefore she must be a ghost, had me in stitches. And her process figuring out how to act, move and go through objects was even better.

When you pick up this book, you really have no idea what to expect, but I certainly wasn't expecting laughing so much. Rosie Potter might be dead but she is one of the most lively characters I have read in a while. I instantly loved her and was really curious to know more about her life (and afterlife) and how she died as there's quite a mystery surrounding her passing away. But soon, Rosie finds help to investigate in an old friend, who apparently is the only one who can see her. The interactions between these two were priceless. I loved reading the mischief in their relationship, from when they were just kids to the current peculiar situation.

But as the story unfolds, it starts turning a bit more serious and I found myself shading more than one tear for this lovely girl who got her life cut short. It certainly makes you think a lot about how short life is and how we always must try to grab all of our chances for happiness. I have to say though that the epilogue of the story is just perfect and put a huge grin in my face. As it gives this lovely story the perfect closure.

The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) is a fun, unique story that I am sure will make you laugh out loud but also will warm your heart. Kate Winter has made an exquisite job creating the perfect balance between humour and grieving. Her style is so fresh and entertaining that I am sure once you start this book, you won't put it down until you're done. If you are looking for a love story with something a bit different, definitely go for this one, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:

About the author:

Kate Winter is a journalist, novelist and storyteller from the North West of Ireland who was lucky enough to grow up with no TV (although she didn't consider it a lucky break at the time) and lots of books. After graduating from University of Ulster with first class honours and the Ulster Television Award for her BA in Media Studies, Kate promptly forged a glittering career for herself in waitressing. Then one day, beside a swimming pool in Australia, Kate decided it was time to write a book. The Happy Ever Afterlife of Rosie Potter (RIP) is Kate's debut novel.

You can connect with Kate Winter on Twitter or visiting her page winterwritings.wordpress.com

You can follow the #RosiePotter Blog Tour here:

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