August was a really good reading month. I read 7 paperbacks, 1 hardback and 5 ebooks, making a total of 13 books! I'm a bit sad that August is over but I know that next month is coming packed with amazing titles (the first Christmas ones!) and I'm looking forwards to snuggling under a blanket in the sofa with a hot tea in my hand. Now it's time though to have a look at what I read, what I was up to and what I blogged about this past month: 

What I read:

5 Stars:

Falling by Julie Cohen

The Trouble with Henry and Zoe by Andy Jones

4 Stars:

If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell

The House in Quill Court by Charlotte Betts

One Last Summer at Hideaway Bay by Zoë Cook

Wildflower Bay by Rachael Lucas

A Library of Lemons by Jo Cotterill

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls' Ghostbusting Agency by Kitty French

To be reviewed:

The Canal Boat Cafe by Cressida McLaughlin

Nothing Tastes as Good by Claire Hennessy

The Second Love of My Life by Victoria Walters

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 

What I was up to:

We spent the first week of August at my parents' place. They live in the delta of the river Ebre, in the south of Catalonia. It's a beautiful area so we basically spent the week enjoying nature and the beach. 

Back in Germany, the weather has been fantastic so we had a few day trips. The best one was to Neuschwanstein Castle. It is famous because the Disney castle was inspired by it and basically because it's stunning. The area around it is just breathtaking and there are many hiking paths. 

This past weekend, we visited Karlsruhe and went to a Beer Festival with some friends. It was cool because they had beers from around the world (although I still think Bavarian beer is the best) and there was a lights show that was very impressive.

Big news! I got tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! I was lucky enough to snatch them when they opened the lines for next year. They are for September 2017 but I'm already looking forward to seeing the play after enjoying the script. 

What I blogged about:

Top Holidays Reads to discover the world from your couch

Cooking:

Mozzarella in Carozza from The Plumberry School by Comfort Food by Cathy Bramley

Travel:

Read about our trip to Chiemsee

Title: If I Only Had a Duke (The Disgraceful Dukes #2)

Author: Lenora Bell

Published: August 30th 2016 by Piatkus

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: After three failed seasons and a disastrous jilting, Lady Dorothea Beaumont has had more than enough of her family's scheming. She won't domesticate a duke, entangle an earl or vie for a viscount. She will quietly exit to her aunt's Irish estate for a life of blissful freedom. Until an arrogant, sinfully handsome duke singles her out for a waltz, making Thea the most popular belle of the season.Well, the duke ruined her plans and now he'll just have to fix them.

Dalton, Duke of Osborne, is far too heartless for debutantes or marriage - he uses dalliances to distract from his real purpose: finding the man who destroyed his family. When his search leads to Ireland, the last thing he needs is the determined, achingly innocent Thea, who arrives in the dead of night demanding he escort her to her aunt. His foolish agreement may prove his undoing. The road to the Emerald Isle is fraught with unforeseen dangers, but the greatest peril of all might just be discovering that he has a heart... and he's losing it to Thea.

Review: This was such a fun book and I enjoyed it immensely. The story revolves around Lady Dorothea, who turned out to be a fantastic heroine. She had been brought up with a sole purpose: marry a duke. But her family hadn't counted on something: she was prone to disaster and no one seemed interested in her. Thea though had other intentions, she had no interest on dukes, her heart belonged to art and wanted to spend her life dedicated to it. 

Art is actually the reason why Thea first contacts the Duke of Osborne. She finds quite a collection hidden in his residence in Ireland and writes to him demanding to make this collection public. They exchange then some hilarious letters that set the tone for the story, there's lots of irony, bantering and even some flirting. So when they finally meet in person the sparks are already flying. 

One thing that I especially enjoyed in this story is seeing Thea flourish. She started being quite shy and naive but as the story progressed and she spent more time with the Duke trying to get back to Ireland uncovered, we started seeing her sassy and brave side more and more. She was just such an interesting character to read about and definitely my favourite character in the story. I loved that she was not your usual historical fiction heroine waiting to be rescued. And she came up with the craziest ideas.

The Duke of Osborne was also a very intriguing character. I loved how he had this back story that made him have two identities. And I also loved how he treated Thea. It was so much fun seeing this big scary guy being saved more than once by tiny lady Dorothea. They definitely made a great team. 

This book was such a fantastic read, full of action and drama and with complex and interesting characters. It surprised me more than once and I found it a really exciting read. I can't wait to read what Lenora Bell comes up with next.

Rating: 4 stars

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

About the author: 

Lenora Bell is a third generation Alaskan and her hometown still has no traffic lights or fast food, but the public library is going strong!

An English teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing, Lenora has traveled the globe using music to bring smiles to classrooms. She currently lives in Switzerland with her carpenter husband and two naughty tiger-striped kitties.

http://lenorabell.com/ | @lenora_bell

September is around the corner and it comes packed with new and exciting titles. I've had the pleasure of already reading some of them and I can't tell you how good they are. I'm also really excited to read new installments in some of my favourite series and also to start with my Christmas reading! 

Alex loves his family, and yet he struggles to connect with his eight-year-old autistic son, Sam. The strain has pushed his marriage to the breaking point. So Alex moves in with his merrily irresponsible best friend on the world’s most uncomfortable blow-up bed.

As Alex navigates single life, long-buried family secrets, and part-time fatherhood, his son begins playing Minecraft. Sam’s imagination blossoms and the game opens up a whole new world for father and son to share. Together, they discover that sometimes life must fall apart before you can build a better one.

Inspired by the author’s own relationship with his autistic son, A Boy Made of Blocks is a tear-jerking, funny, and, most, of all true-to-life novel about the power of difference and one very special little boy.

Why so excited: This is unmissable. I've already read it and I can tell you that it will be one of my books of the year. A very special story that will touch many hearts. 

Order it now!

Autumn at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn - September 6th

As autumn starts to draw in and the nights are getting darker, the fire is lit at the Star and Sixpence and Nessie and Sam start to turn their thoughts to the annual bonfire night. The village comes together every year to celebrate the turning of the season and this year is going to be extra-special.

Why so excited: This is the 4th installment in the Star and Sixpence series. I really enjoyed the first three parts so I'm really curious to find out what happens next! 

Order it now!

The Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor - September 8th 

The new rich and compelling novel from the author of The Girl Who Came Home. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore.

Dolly Lane is a dreamer; a downtrodden maid who longs to dance on the London stage, but the outbreak of war takes everything from her: Teddy, the man she loves – and her hopes of a better life.

When she secures employment as a chambermaid at London’s grandest hotel, The Savoy, Dolly’s proximity to the dazzling guests makes her yearn for a life beyond the grey drudgery she was born into. Her fortunes take an unexpected turn when she responds to an unusual newspaper advert and finds herself thrust into the heady atmosphere of London’s glittering theatre scene and into the sphere of the celebrated actress, Loretta May, and her brother, Perry.

All three are searching for something, yet the aftermath of war has cast a dark shadow over them all. A brighter future is tantalisingly close – but can a girl like Dolly ever truly leave her past behind?

Why so excited: This is a gem of a book. If had the pleasure of reading it already and I found it a very well researched story with many layers that delivers a lot more than you might expect. Highly recommended!

Order it now! 

Destination Chile by Katy Colins - September 22nd

Welcome to Paradise

Next on her bucket list Georgia Green is heading to Chile, but this time she’s not going alone…

The new favourite series for fans of The Curvy Girls Club, theShopaholic series and Eat, Pray, Love.

Join Georgia Green for a romantic trip into the sunset…

Why so excited: This is the year of Katy Colins, I am loving her The Lonely Hearts Travel Series and I can't wait to explore a new continent with her. If you haven't picked one of her books yet, you are missing out!

Order it now!

The Deviants by C J Skuse - September 22nd

THEN

Ella, Max, Corey, Fallon and Zane.

The Fearless Five, inseparable as children growing up in a sleepy English seaside town. But when Max’s older sister is killed, the friendship seems to die with her.

NOW

Only Max and Ella are in touch, still best friends and a couple since they were thirteen. But Ella is hiding things – like why she’s afraid to take their relationship to the next level. And when underdog Corey is bullied, the Fearless Five are brought back together again, teaming up to wreak havoc and revenge on those who have wronged them.

But when the secrets they are keeping can no longer be kept quiet, will their fearlessness be enough to save them from themselves?

Why so excited: How cool does this look? I am very intrigued by this story and I've only heard praise about it. Luckily I've got an advance copy so I'll be diving in very soon. 

Order it now!

This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts… 

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. 

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. 

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace. 

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

Why so excited: With September, the first Christmas books are starting to arrive! I love Christmas stories and Holly Martin's new one couldn't sound more christmassy. I'll probably be my next read because I just can resist Holly's books! 

Order it now!

Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafè by Debbie Johnson - September 23rd

Becca Fletcher hates Christmas so much, she’s considering getting ‘Bah Humbug!’ tattooed on her forehead. She has her reasons for being Little Miss Grinch; Reasons that make this the very worst time of year for her.

Now, though, she can’t avoid her version of ho-ho-hell – because she’s travelling to the Comfort Food Cafe to spend the festive season with her sister Laura, and her family. She’s expecting mulled wine, the smell of pine trees, 24-hour Christmas movie marathons and all kinds of very merry torture.

But little does Becca know that the Comfort Food Cafe is like no other place on earth. Perched on a snow-covered hill on a windswept bay, it’s a place full of friendship; a place where broken hearts can heal, and a place where new love can blossom. It’s a place where Becca’s Christmas miracle really could happen – if only she can let it…

Inviting readers new and old to pull up a cosy armchair, Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is the novella-length follow-up to the 2016 best-seller Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe.

Why so excited: I adored Summer at the Comfort Food Cafè so I'm really excited to be back at this magical place. I hope we'll catch up with old friends but also meet new ones. I'm sure the cafè will be just as special during Christmas!

Order it now!

Husband and I moved to Munich in January and since then we've been slowly exploring this city and the area around it. We've been to little medieval towns with a lot of charm, to beautiful lakes, to beer festivals and to huge markets and flea markets. So I've decided to share our little adventures with you all.

The Chiemsee is a beautiful lake on the south east of Munich. It took us about an hour by car to get there, but it's easily accessible by train too. Plus, we saw that for the last stretch of the train line to get to Prien am Chiemsee, they use a really old steam train, so this would make for a real fun day trip from Munich if you are visiting.

In the lake there are two islands that you can visit by boat from many towns around the lake. So after having a stroll around the lake in Prien, we took a boat. It first takes you to the bigger island, Herreninsel (island of the men). There, you can get off and explore this island. As you can imagine, it has a brewery, a couple of restaurants and a biergarten but the main attraction is Herrenchiemsee, a palace built by kink Ludwig II in 1878. The curious thing is that the palace is a replica of the Palace of Versailles and even if the king died before it was completed, you can now visit it and enjoy this little piece of France in Bavaria.

Today I'm delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for Charlotte Betts' latest book. From the multi-award-winning author of The Apothecary’s Daughter, The House in Quill Court is a gorgeously evocative Regency novel bursting with historical flavour and characters you won’t forget. If you love Philippa Gregory and Joanne Harris, you will adore Charlotte Betts.

Title: The House in Quill Court

Author: Charlotte Betts

Published: August 25th 2016 by Piatkus

Amazon | Amazon UK

Review: Charlotte Betts is one of my favourite historical fiction authors so I was over the moon to get a review copy of her latest work. Plus, I always enjoy reading about the regency era, so this book had all the ingredients to be a great read. And it did not disappoint at all. The House in Quill Court is a highly entertaining fast-paced story that resolves around Venetia Lovell and her family.

Venetia is a joy to read. Bright, determined and brave, she completely steals the story. At the beginning of the book, her family receives some terrible news and they all have to leave their lovely home in the coast to move to London and try to gain an income. They find obstacle after obstacle and soon their whole life is threatened. 

This story completely captured me. There was so much going on! I found it really interesting to see two worlds collide: Charlotte Betts not only talked about the rich people with their elegant townhouses and their need for exclusive artifacts but also about the filthy alleys where the poor lived only a few metres away. Back then, as we see in the story, it was very easy to be a criminal, with no real police to control them, and many suffered under the hands of the most ruthless and ambitious characters. 

This book has it all, rich in history and details, full of action and with complex and interesting characters. It surprised me more than once and I found it a really exciting read. Highly recommended from me. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

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

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Charlotte Betts about her latest book. Read all about it here.

Today I've got a review for One Last Summer at Hideaway Bay, Zoë Cook's debut novel. Secrets lie waiting beneath the Cornish waves in this moving and unforgettable love story. Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Jojo Moyes.

Title: One Last Summer at Hideaway

Author: Zoë Cook

Published: July 21st 2016 by HarperImpulse

Amazon | Amazon UK

Today's review is for Falling, Julie Cohen's latest work. This book was originally titled The Day of Second Chances and I first got a limited edition signed proof in January. The publishers then announced that publication day was being pushed to July and the book would have a new image, so I decided to wait a bit to read it. The time has come now, the book is out and here's what I thought about it:

Title: Falling

Author: Julie Cohen

Published: July 28th 2016 by Transworld

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Can you imagine keeping a secret so devastating, you couldn’t even tell the people you love?

Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.

Jo’s secret could smash apart the ‘normal’ family life she’s fought so hard to build.

Lydia’s secret could bring her love - or the loss of everything that matters to her.

One summer’s day, grandmother, mother and daughter’s secrets will collide in a single dramatic moment.

Is it too late for second chances?

Review: Julie Cohen's books are always something special and Falling is no exception. It tells the story of three different women; a grandmother, a mother and a daughter who all lost someone very special almost ten years ago: a son, a husband, a father. Since then, life hasn't been easy and they've grown apart, keeping big secrets from each other. But things cannot go on like that any more. 

I really enjoyed getting to know these three characters and finding out about their secrets. Each of them had their own story with its challenges and difficulties, their own life and their own preoccupations so it was really interesting to read about how their worlds collided and the three of them had to share the same roof. With two little kids creating mayhem thrown into the mix, cohabitation was definitely not easy (but very entertaining for the reader).

I really don't want to give anything away about the plot because it's better if you find out for yourself how compelling this story is. It will surprise you, it will make you hold your breath and it will steal your heart. Julie Cohen handles serious day to day topics in her own thought provoking way. Always with tact, but making you think and reflect on how unfair life can be. 

If you haven't read anything by Julie Cohen yet, you're missing out. Her stories leave no one indifferent and her characters get in your head for a long time after finishing the book. If you are already a Julie Cohen fan, then pick this up immediately. Falling is probably her best book yet. 

Rating: 5 stars

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

Welcome to Bookish Recipes, a feature on the blog where I cook or bake a recipe from a book I have loved and share the result with you. This time, the recipe is inspired by the book The Plumberry School of Comfort Food by Cathy Bramley. This story is full of love, joy and heart but also sadness and raw emotions. A story that will steal your hearts for sure.

In the story, Verity and the gang open a culinary school with lots of original and fun courses. And as usual, Cathy Bramley has added some recipes at the end of the book. This time is all about comfort food and I decided to try Mozzarella in Carozza, an Italian savoury treat. This recipe is from Francesca, Cathy's editor and it's fantastic:

Ingredients for 3 sandwiches: 

- 6 slices of white bread

- A ball of mozzarella, cut in thick slices

- Anchovy fillets (optional)

- 125 ml milk

- 3 or 4 tbsp of flour

- 1 egg, beaten

- Salt and pepper

- Vegetable oil for frying

1) Pour the milk into a bowl, the flour into another and the beaten egg with the salt and pepper into a third one. Make the sandwiches: put the slices of mozzarella on a slice of white bread, leaving one centimetre on the edges uncovered. Add the anchovies if you are using them (we love anchovies, so I added a couple of small fillets on each sandwich) and then put the other slice of bread on top. Squash a bit the edges so it's sealed.

2) Put a saucepan with oil on the fire and once it's hot, it's ready to start frying. Slightly dip a sandwich into the milk, then into the flour and finally, a quick dip on the egg. Fry it until it's golden on both side (2 or 3 minutes per side). 

3) Put the sandwiche on a plate with kitchen towels to absorb the excess oil. And repeat for the other sandwiches. Eat them while they are still hot so they are all gooey inside. 

I really liked this recipe. The mozzarella had completely melted and the anchovies gave it the perfect salty kick. After only one sandwich, I was already full. Really comforting food. Thanks to Cathy and Francesca for this fantastic recipe! 

Title: The Plumberry School of Comfort Food

Author: Cathy Bramley

Published: June 30th 2016 by Corgi

Amazon | Amazon UK

Today's review is for Rachael Lucas' latest book, Wildflower Bay. It was firstly published as a 3-part serialised enovel and the paperback of the whole story has just been published. I had read and enjoyed both Rachael Lucas' previous books (especially her debut), so I was really excited to discover her latest story. Here's what I thought about it:

Title: Wildflower Bay

Author: Rachael Lucas

Published: August 11th 2016 by Pan

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Wildflower Bay is a stunning, romantic summer read by Rachael Lucas.

This little island has some big secrets...

Isla's got her dream job as head stylist at the most exclusive salon in Edinburgh. The fact that she's been so single-minded in her career that she's forgotten to have a life has completely passed her by - until disaster strikes.

Out of options, she heads to the remote island of Auchenmor to help out her aunt who is in desperate need of an extra pair of scissors at her salon.

A native to the island, Finn is thirty-five and reality has just hit him hard. His best friends are about to have a baby and everything is changing. When into his life walks Isla...

Review: In her latest book, Rachael Lucas takes us back to the island of Auchenmor. If you read her debut, Sealed with a Kiss, you'll remember this little island and one of the characters, Finn. I did, so I was really excited to be back as I had really good memories of this place. If you didn't, then you are in for a treat: discovering this stunning island with lots of secrets and a charming little community!

But the story starts in Edinburgh with Isla. She had quite a difficult childhood and never fitted in, but as an adult she has become a very successful and driven stylist. She finally has the perfect clothes, the perfect car and the perfect job... until she loses it. Getting to know Isla was very interesting. She projected herself as this super woman, confident, fashionable and strong but under this facade, she still was that little girl who had no friends. I could tell that life in Auchenmor would bring a new side of her out and we'd discover even more about her. And I was not wrong, I really enjoyed her flourishing, making friends and getting passionate about things outside of work.

The star of the story for me was not Isla though but Ruth. I first thought that this lovely old lady was just going to be a minor secondary character but the author surprised me making her one of the main characters. She became a real good friend to Isla but she also had her own story. I was really intrigued by her story and it surprised me more than once. It even brought some tears to my eyes. Ruth will be one of those characters difficult to forget, so wise and generous. 

When I first picked this book (and after reading the blurb), I thought the love story would play quite a big part but it actually doesn't. You can tell that both Isla and Finn are interested in each other but their relationship grows really slowly and they share very few pages together. I mean, they both have many things to worry about apart from a possible relationship but I would have loved to see more scenes of them together. The same with the high school reunion Isla attends. She spends half the book worrying about it, getting ready for it, dreading it. And then in a couple of pages it's done. 

But all in all, even if the story didn't turn out to be exactly as I expected, I enjoyed it immensely. Who doesn't love some surprises? It was great to catch up with old friends from Sealed with a Kiss but also discover these new characters. As I said, Ruth was a real gem and I'm sure her story will touch many hearts. 

Rating: 4 stars

Today I review A Library of Lemons by Jo Cotterill. This is my first book by this author but I'm quite sure it won't be my last, as I found this story both heart-breaking and up-lifting. Perfect of book lovers like me, here's what I thought about it:

Title: A Library of Lemons 

Author: Jo Cotterill

Published: May 5th 2016 by Hot Key Books

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb:A poignant story about dealing with grief through the magic of reading and friendship.

Calypso's mum died a few years ago and her emotionally incompetent Dad can't, or won't, talk about Mum at all. Instead he throws himself into writing his book A History of the Lemon. Meanwhile the house is dusty, there's never any food in the fridge, and Calypso retreats into her own world of books and fiction. When a new girl, Mae, arrives at school, the girls' shared love of reading and writing stories draws them together. Mae's friendship and her lively and chaotic home - where people argue and hug each other - make Calypso feel more normal than she has for a long time. 

But when Calypso finally plucks up the courage to invite Mae over to her own house, the girls discover the truth about her dad and his magnum opus - and Calypso's happiness starts to unravel.

Review: A Library of Lemons is a beautiful and emotional story about a young girl, Calypso, who after losing her mother has to take care of her father, who is not dealing well with his grief. At the beginning of the story, Calypso is convinced that she doesn't need any friends. She has her books for company. But when she meets a new classmate, Mae, a friendship slowly starts to blossom between the two girls, who both share a great love for books and writing. 

Seeing this friendship grow was such a treat. It made me realize how hard it is not to have someone to hug you when things get hard. Calypso was such a lonely girl with a huge responsibility on her shoulders and having Mae and her family was a life changer for her. We got to see a new side of her as she slowly realised that her life was not supposed to be so hard.

The story handles serious topics like loneliness, grieving or depression with tact but also with a dash of hope and books play a very important role, not only as a form of escapism but as a way of life. Calypso takes her favourite characters as an inspiration. She really was a beautiful character to get to know, her naivité was touching but her determination was admirable. 

A Library of Lemons is a heartbreaking story that will touch many hearts but will also put more than one smile on your face. Well written and full of book reference, this is a story all book lovers will enjoy. 

Rating: 4 stars

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

Any Ghostbusters fans out there? Welcome to Chapelwick, home of the brand new and hilarious Girls Ghostbusting Agency series, where things really do go bump in the night. Here's what I thought of the first installment of this new series:

Title: Melody Bittersweet and The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency (Girls Ghostbusting Agency #1)

Author: Kitty French

Published: July 14th 2016 by Bookouture

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Life’s tough for Melody Bittersweet. 

She’s single, addicted to sugar and super heroes, her family are officially bonkers, and she sees dead people. Is it any wonder no-one’s swiping right on Tinder? 

Waking up lonely on her twenty seventh birthday, Melody finally snaps. She can’t carry on basing all of her life decisions on the advice of her magic 8 ball; things have got to change. 

Fast forward two months, and she’s now the proud proprietor of her very own ghostbusting agency - kind of like in the movies but without the dodgy white jumpsuits. She’s also flirting with her ex Leo Dark, fraternising with her enemy in alleyways, and she’s somehow ended up with a pug called Lestat. 

Life just went from dull to dynamite and it’s showing no sign of slowing up anytime soon. Melody’s been hired to clear Scarborough House of its incumbent ghosts, there’s the small matter of a murder to solve, and then there’s the two very handsome, totally inappropriate men hoping to distract her from the job… 

Review: I usually never read paranormal stories but I was a huge Ghostbusters fan as a kid and I'm really excited to see the new one so I decided to give this story a go. And I'm so glad that I did. This story is so original and so much fun! 

Basically, Melody Bittersweet comes from a family with a gift: they can all see and talk to ghosts. Tired of depending of her family's business, she decides to set up her own ghostbusting agency with her best friend, hilarious Sicilian Marina. They end up hiring awkward but super sweet Artie. And quite surprisingly, this trio makes a fantastic team. The whole story revolves around one case, a haunted old house with three brothers stuck there until the truth about the murder of one of them is discovered. I found the story of the Scarborough brothers really interesting. Each one of them was so different and with their own secrets and I think their story added the perfect emotional spark to the book.

I found the character of Melody Bittersweet fantastic. She was such a brave and determined girl but she also had a great heart and was always ready to help. I had a great time following her around, especially when a crazy pug joined the family.

There were so many crazy situations in this story that had me in stitches that I just couldn't pick one. The whole cast of characters was unbelievably good, starting with the psycho twins that are helping Leo, Melody's ex and arch-rival, and ending with Melody's grandma, always ready for a glass of bubbles. I'm already looking forward to the next installment of the series to see what all this crazy bunch is up to next!

Rating: 4 stars

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

I've got a new book review today for Andy Jones' latest book, The Trouble with Henry and Zoe. After loving his previous book, The Two of Us, I was very excited to get a review copy of this one. And you know what? It didn't disappoint at all. Read my thought about it here: 

Title: The Trouble with Henry and Zoe

Author: Andy Jones

Published: July 28th 2016 by Simon & Schuster

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Henry and Zoe have more in common than they realise. For a start, they both have pasts they'd rather leave behind.

After jilting his childhood sweetheart on the eve of their wedding in the small town where they both grew up, Henry runs away to London, planning to reinvent himself and start afresh.

Zoe has her own healing to do and so she plans to leave London, travel the world, and figure out just what it is she wants out of life. She doesn't know where she's going, but she is determined to go there alone.

If Henry and Zoe had met one year ago, perhaps things could have worked out differently. But that's not the way it works; they meet seven months after their worlds have been turned upside down. And four months before Zoe is due to climb on a plane...

Review: Last year, I fell in love with Andy Jones' first book, The Two of Us, so I was really excited to read The Trouble with Henry and Zoe. The first think that caught my attention, was the awesome cover. I think it fits with the story perfectly and gives you an idea of you can expect, a fun, unconventional love story between two people whose lives seem to go in opposite directions but have a lot in common.

Henry and Zoe are two very complex characters and I loved getting to know them. At the beginning, it's difficult to like them as they both have made many mistakes, especially Henry. I mean, he disappeared the night before his wedding without telling anybody! But as you get to know him, you can't help but warming to him. And you end up caring for both of them and wishing the best for them.

As I said, Henry and Zoe do not have the most conventional love story. For starters, they don't tell each other about their pasts and then, they also have an expiration date, Zoe is leaving to discover the world and herself in a few months. But this is what makes this story so unique and unexpected. You have no idea how it will go, so you just sit and enjoy the journey while it lasts. Plus, the story is told from both characters' points of view so you know what both are thinking and how they are feeling at each stage of their relationship. I always find it fascinating to know both sides of the story in a book. And Andy Jones' easy and sharp style make you connect with his characters really quickly.

All in all, I enjoyed this story immensely. It made me laugh and it surprised me more than once. I even shade a tear or two. The emails you find between some chapters are just the perfect emotional touch to this quirky and warm story. Definitely a recommended read for this summer.  

Rating: 5 stars

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

A couple of years ago, I shared the perfect books to travel the world from your own couch (check out my Top Holidays Reads of 2014 here) and because it's August again and we're not travelling anywhere exotic this year, I've decided to share with 10 more books that will take to some of the hottest spots of the planet. Let's have a look at our route: 

1) Summer at the Comfort Food Café: the Jurassic Coast, UK

We start our route in the UK. I've chosen this book because it's set in a part of the UK I didn't know about and after reading about those stunning landscapes I can't wait to discover it! The brand new book from best-selling author Debbie Johnson will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you raid the pantry in the middle of the night…

Read my 5 stars review of  Summer at the Comfort Food Café here.
Get it now.

2) Catch Me If You Cannes: Cannes, France

On our second stop, Lisa Dickenson takes us to beautiful Cannes with two lovely and a bit crazy friends. This story is a total summer hit: laughs, beach, cocktails, sunshine and Cannes (oh! and Nutella!). What a perfect combination for a lazy afternoon by the pool. Even better if combined with a cocktail or a glass of bubbly! Also, highly recommended, Lisa's You Had Me at Merlot, set in beautiful Tuscany! 

Read my 5 stars review of Catch Me If You Cannes here.
Get it now.

3) The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop: Sorrento, Italy

This story takes us to Sorrento and I could so easily picture the stunning Italian scenery! Abby Clements has a way of transporting you far far away from home, and make you enjoy the most delicious treats too. Her descriptions of ice cream and other delicious sweet creations were so detailed and scrumptious that left me with no other choice than consume great quantities of ice cream while enjoying this summery read.

Read my 5 stars review of The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop here.
Get it now.

4) My Map of You: Zante, Greece

Read my 5 stars review of My Map of You here. 
Get it now.

Check out my Interview with Isabelle Broom for more pics and secrets about this story and its setting

5) Destination Thailand: Thailand.

On our 5th stop, we join Georgia on her tour around Thailand. She follows a bucket list, with things like riding an elephant or make something wild, but as soon as Georgia lands in Thailand, we discover that backpacking alone around such a different country is not going to be that easy... A fantastic debut novel by Katy Colins, inspired by her own adventures. 

Read my 5 stars review of Destination Thailand here.
Get it now. 

6) Destination India: India.

After Thailand, Georgia's adventures are not over and on the second book on the The Lonely Hearts Travel Club, she takes us to India. I enjoyed this one as much as the first and I had such a great time following her around and discovering this new country through her eyes. As usual, Katy Colins makes a great job of describing the atmosphere of the place and I found myself wishing, more than once, that I could also be in India discovering this beautiful country.

Read my 5 stars review of Destination India here. 
Get it now.

7) How to Find Your (First) Husband: Tioman Island, Malaysia.

Next, we are flying to Malaysia to discover the stunning Tioman Island with Rosie Blake's latest story. For me, this is everything a summer read should be and more. With an amazing setting, lovable character, an hilarious plot and turtles thrown into the mix, this is the book you cannot miss this summer. Laughs and good vibes guaranteed!

Read my 5 stars review of How to Find Your (First) Husband here. 
Get it now.

8) The Blue: The Philippines. 

In this story, Kitty and Lana travel to the Philippines where they discover a beautiful yacht, the Blue. For a while they travel on the yacht and explore every bit of this paradise but after a while things start to feel wrong. The Blue by Lucy Clarke is a darker story than the ones I've talked about so far but equally compelling and stunning.
Get it now.

9) The Girl From Everywhere: Hawaii, USA.

I love books set in Hawaii because it's a place I'm dying to visit. Some of my favourites are Moloka'i by Alan Brennert and About a Girl by Lindsey Kelk. So I was very happy when I saw that The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig was set in Hawaii too. The story is a mixture of fantasy, history, time-travelling and romance (there's even a pirate ship and a dragon!). With a diverse and multicultural cast and plenty of adventures.

Read my 4 stars review of The Girl From Everywhere here. 

Get it now.

10) Sleepless in Manhattan: New York, USA. 

And we end our tour around the world in New York, where else? Sarah Morgan's latest trilogy is set in New York and you know what? I love New York, I've been there twice and I'm already looking forward to going back. With this story I could totally picture myself there, from cool and trendy Brooklyn to posh and lively Manhattan. The life and shine of the city really got through the story and it felt like it was one more character in the story.

Read my 4 stars review of Sleepless in Manhattan here. 
Get it now.

The first time I went up The Top of the Rock, I fell a bit in love with this city.

I hope you had fun on my route around the world with books! What books have you read lately that have taken you to other places? Tell me, I love travelling with books! 

*All image sources are linked.