Katie Brenner aims to live the perfect life in London. She has a long commute into work each day as she can only afford to live in a small, shared, rented flat which is miles from her office. She budgets very carefully as money is tight and life in London is expensive.
Just after she is suddenly and very unexpectedly fired from her job, she is asked to go back to her family home in Somerset for a couple of weeks to help her dad and step mum who are setting up a glamping holiday village on their farm.
When Demeter, Katie's old boss, turns up on the farm with her family for a holiday Katie can't resist the chance to get her own back on Demeter for treating her badly and shattering her dreams. Demeter always seemed to have the perfect family and live the perfect life, but as Katie gets to see more of her she realises that this may not be true and she and Demeter may actually have more in common than she thought.
This is an interesting and fun story. I have read quite a few Sophie Kinsella books, most, but not all, in the Shopaholic series and also 'The Undomestic Goddess', and 'Remember Me?'. I have also read numerous books by Madeline Wickham (the real name of Sophie Kinsella). I have 'Can you Keep a Secret?', 'I've Got Your Number' and 'Twenties Girl' on my bookshelf.
Thursday, 25 January 2018
Wednesday, 17 January 2018
The Funny Farm by Jackie Moffat
This is a non-fiction book.
Jackie Moffat moved from London to set up a small farm in Cumbria.
Each chapter is an article which Jackie wrote to appear in the Cumbria and Lake District Life magazine. They each tell a short story of life on the farm, or occasionally something Jackie is doing, places she is going, or just things she has been thinking about. We are introduced to many different cows, horses, sheep, pigs, dogs, a goat and even an old tractor and learn of their quirky ways and behaviour.
Jackie's joy of being outside and caring for the animals is very clear. The hard times of the foot and mouth crisis are seen through the eyes of an animal lover who had to lose all her animals and look at empty fields until it was again deemed safe to re-stock.
Coming from magazine articles, each chapter is only around 5 pages long so the book is very easy to pick up for a few minutes to read an odd chapter.
Jackie Moffat moved from London to set up a small farm in Cumbria.
Each chapter is an article which Jackie wrote to appear in the Cumbria and Lake District Life magazine. They each tell a short story of life on the farm, or occasionally something Jackie is doing, places she is going, or just things she has been thinking about. We are introduced to many different cows, horses, sheep, pigs, dogs, a goat and even an old tractor and learn of their quirky ways and behaviour.
Jackie's joy of being outside and caring for the animals is very clear. The hard times of the foot and mouth crisis are seen through the eyes of an animal lover who had to lose all her animals and look at empty fields until it was again deemed safe to re-stock.
Coming from magazine articles, each chapter is only around 5 pages long so the book is very easy to pick up for a few minutes to read an odd chapter.
Wednesday, 10 January 2018
Must be Love by Cathy Woodman
Maz and Emma are partners in the busy Otter House Vets practice in the fictional market town of Talyton St George in Devon.
With Emma soon to be taking maternity leave they need a locum vet to provide cover and help Maz in the practice. Emma finds Drew, an Australian vet, who is just finishing a contract with a practice in Edinburgh. Drew proves to be very popular with a lot of local ladies, but Maz has reservations about him.
Maz is in a relationship with Alex Fox-Gifford. Fox-Gifford senior, with son Alex, run the local rival vets practice Talyton Manor Vets. Alex's parents do not like Maz. They are constantly rude and insulting to her and are not happy about her relationship with their son.
There is a lot happening for Maz as she tries to keep the busy practice going, find time to spend with Alex, keep an eye on Drew and then she gets some unexpected news of her own which she has to deal with too.
This is the second book in a series but can be read as a stand alone story. I have previously read the first book 'Trust Me, I'm a Vet' and I have other books in the series on my book shelf, the third 'The Sweetest Thing', the fifth 'The Village Vet', the sixth 'Vets in Love' and the seventh 'Country Living'. I am missing the fourth book 'It's a Vet's Life'.
With Emma soon to be taking maternity leave they need a locum vet to provide cover and help Maz in the practice. Emma finds Drew, an Australian vet, who is just finishing a contract with a practice in Edinburgh. Drew proves to be very popular with a lot of local ladies, but Maz has reservations about him.
Maz is in a relationship with Alex Fox-Gifford. Fox-Gifford senior, with son Alex, run the local rival vets practice Talyton Manor Vets. Alex's parents do not like Maz. They are constantly rude and insulting to her and are not happy about her relationship with their son.
There is a lot happening for Maz as she tries to keep the busy practice going, find time to spend with Alex, keep an eye on Drew and then she gets some unexpected news of her own which she has to deal with too.
This is the second book in a series but can be read as a stand alone story. I have previously read the first book 'Trust Me, I'm a Vet' and I have other books in the series on my book shelf, the third 'The Sweetest Thing', the fifth 'The Village Vet', the sixth 'Vets in Love' and the seventh 'Country Living'. I am missing the fourth book 'It's a Vet's Life'.
Friday, 5 January 2018
Petite Anglaise by Catherine Sanderson
This is the true story of Catherine falling in love with the French language as a child and deciding to live in France. She spends time in France whilst completing her degree course and then returns to take up a one year teaching post at the Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Whilst in Paris she meets and falls in love with Mr Frog. They live together and after a few years they have a daughter together. By now Catherine is doing a different job, Mr Frog is concentrating on his career and their relationship is falling apart.
Catherine begins to write a blog called Petite Anglaise which she uses as a diary and an outlet to her thoughts and frustrations. Through the blog she meets new friends and gains the confidence to make changes in her life.
This is an interesting story in which Catherine is very honest about her life and feelings. It is very easy to read and if you missed the words 'a true story' on the front of the book, you could well think this was a fictional novel.
Whilst in Paris she meets and falls in love with Mr Frog. They live together and after a few years they have a daughter together. By now Catherine is doing a different job, Mr Frog is concentrating on his career and their relationship is falling apart.
Catherine begins to write a blog called Petite Anglaise which she uses as a diary and an outlet to her thoughts and frustrations. Through the blog she meets new friends and gains the confidence to make changes in her life.
This is an interesting story in which Catherine is very honest about her life and feelings. It is very easy to read and if you missed the words 'a true story' on the front of the book, you could well think this was a fictional novel.
Monday, 1 January 2018
My 2017 Book Reading Statistics
From 1 January to 31 December 2017 I have read 33 books.
The shortest book was Stolen by Alison Golden and Gabriella Zinnas with 200 pages (a Kindle book).
The longest book was Amy Snow by Tracy Rees which had 568 pages.
I have read a total of 12,727 pages over the year which is only just over half that read in 2016.
Tomorrow I will begin my first book of 2018!
Secrets of Death by Stephen Booth
This is another Ben Cooper and Diane Fry novel.
The body of Roger Farrell is found in his car in a car park in the peak district. He has obviously committed suicide. DI Ben Cooper finds a card in the car with the words 'Secrets of Death'.
DI Cooper begins to investigate if there is a link between a number of suicides in the area. There is a concern that there may be negative press in the area as a place for 'suicide tourism'. Within the investigations he interviews one person, Anson Tate, who was saved from his own act of suicide by a passing tourist. If he can get Mr Tate to talk and tell him about the 'secrets of death' he may be able to stop further suicide attempts taking place.
In another division, at the same time, DS Diane Fry is investigating Roger Farrell and when he is found to be dead Cooper and Fry share information to help both of their investigations.
The body of Roger Farrell is found in his car in a car park in the peak district. He has obviously committed suicide. DI Ben Cooper finds a card in the car with the words 'Secrets of Death'.
DI Cooper begins to investigate if there is a link between a number of suicides in the area. There is a concern that there may be negative press in the area as a place for 'suicide tourism'. Within the investigations he interviews one person, Anson Tate, who was saved from his own act of suicide by a passing tourist. If he can get Mr Tate to talk and tell him about the 'secrets of death' he may be able to stop further suicide attempts taking place.
In another division, at the same time, DS Diane Fry is investigating Roger Farrell and when he is found to be dead Cooper and Fry share information to help both of their investigations.
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