Where one goes - B.N. Toler

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What happens when the very thing ruining your life ends up saving it? I was never one to believe in spirits—until six years ago, when a bone-chilling accident changed my life…forever. My name is Charlotte, but most people call me Char…and I have a special gift. 

I talk to the dead. 

This was beautifully written and a wonderful listen. I got this book as part of Audible's romance package, there are some really good gems hidden in those stacks. It is narrated by Cris Dukehart and Corey M. Snow and the pair make for a wonderful experience.

I chose this book solely for its cover and was a little surprised when the book turned out to be about a girl who could speak to the dead, at first I did want to stop it, but the story just pulled me in and I was so glad I decided to continue. 

“Would you dance with me tonight if you could?”

His brows rise, surprised by my question. Standing, he looks down at me, his expression serious. “Every fucking song.”

Charlotte was a well written lovable character, and the struggles she faces became so real to me that I felt her despair, the pressure of having to save George but in doing so, she needs to let go of Ike. 

The book did get me choked up a couple of times, really a very touching story. 

Mansfield Park - Jane Austen

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Adopted into the household of her uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, Fanny Price grows up a meek outsider among her cousins in the unaccustomed elegance of Mansfield Park. Soon after Sir Thomas absents himself on estate business in Antigua (the family's investment in slavery and sugar is considered in the Introduction in a new, post-colonial light), Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive at Mansfield, bringing with them London glamour, and the seductive taste for flirtation and theatre that precipitates a crisis.

As with all Austen books, you will probably find it hard to not compare it to Pride and Prejudice, this was a let down for me as I was expecting so much. It was a struggle to connect with the characters, and this only happened when I was about halfway through the book. Unlike Pride and Prejudice, the love interest felt forced to me. 

While most of the characters only pursue wealth and status, up to a point where it was quite comical, Fanny Price was a breath of fresh air, she was a little indifferent regarding this, and this actually captured the difference between her and the other characters. 

There were parts where it did drag a little, but it could have been that my heart was just not into the book at the time. I will, of course, re-visit this book in years to come and who knows, by that time it will ring a different tune to me. 

Letter from Home Series - Maryann Jordan

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Don't you just love it when you find a new troupe? That one storyline that makes your heart beat faster, and makes you go through countless pages on Amazon trying to find your next fix. My latest favourite is letters to soldiers, yes, you will see a lot of these types of books on the blog for a while. So I thought it best to combine the first series in one post. 

The first book in this series is called Class of Love,

When Letters From Home make all the difference. Ethan Miller, an Army Apache Helicopter mechanic, was on tour in Afghanistan, biding his time as he worked hard and played hard. Brooke Thompson, a fourth-grade teacher, was leading her class in a project to write to a soldier. 

Through the letters and gifts, Ethan grew to care for the group of children…and their teacher.

What more do you need? This story is so wholesome, with a handsome hero who will steal your heart. This is a sweet story about a teacher, who as a class project asks children to write to a soldier, the children ask the soldier questions, and he answers them. Through their interactions they get to know one another, our main characters then also start falling for each other through their writing. It is a quick read and makes you crave more, which is a good thing because there is more. This was my favourite book in the series.

The second book in the series is Freedom of Love,

Brody Molina, an Army medic on tour in Afghanistan, saved lives every day but preferred to spend his downtime with a good book. Molly Thurston, working in a library, sent boxes to books to soldiers overseas. Slipping a note into one, she wondered who would write back. Finding each other through a love of books, the friends continue to write, but Molly, with a secret to hide, is afraid of her growing attraction. 

When the secret is revealed, will the love between two pen pals overcome all obstacles? 

This has a sweet story, that is full of hope and redemption for our main character. Romance stories where the characters fall in love through letters written to each other really makes me very happy. There were some plot holes that did niggle a little in the back of my mind, but it was still very satisfying. 

The last book in this series is Bond of Love,

Ben Fowler, an Army mechanic on tour in Afghanistan, loved listening to his squad member read letters from his sister. Alicia Newton’s letters to her twin brother kept them as close as ever. When tragedy strikes, she relies on his friend, Ben, to fill the void. As Ben and Alicia help each other with shared grief, they grow closer. But as Ben’s job is still dangerous, Alicia wonders if she can risk her heart again. 

Can two broken hearts find healing in each other? 

This was my second favourite in the series, a beautiful story of friends to lovers which is probably one of my favourite types of books. This book made me cry and laugh. It really has a special place in my heart.

I think what made this series special was the fact that if you felt like it, you could read each book as a stand alone book, or in different orders. Truly a great read when you find a new troupe. 

The Wall of Winnipeg and me - Mariana Zapata

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There is nothing in the world that will make up for a slow simmering romance book, something that will take you on a ride along a coastal road, making you crave more and satisfying everything you didn't know you needed at that moment. 

While on holiday in July, I felt the need for some soppy love stories, stories where I wouldn't need to think, this was exactly what the doctor ordered. 

Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them includes washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

Even though this is classed as a slow burn romance, I flew through it, the story was fast-paced. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Callie Dalton and she was the perfect choice for it. I always appreciate when narrators don't give silly voices to the opposite sex narrations. 

"Home is where you are. I would go anywhere for you if you wanted me there"

84, Charing Cross Road – Helene Hanff

♥♥♥♥ Those who know me well, know that I love letters, and was introduced to the magic that is books published telling stories through letters.  This charming classic love story, first published in 1970, brings together twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, at the time, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a winsome, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books. Their relationship, captured so acutely in these letters, is one that has touched the hearts of thousands of readers around the world This does not disappoint, you get to know the people through their correspondence with each other. It started off as a woman, Helene Hanff, buying books from a bookshop in London, gradually you get to know all the people who work in the shop and she tells more about her life as a writer in New York. This is a great compilation of letters and I’m glad I also got the audiobook. That was narrated by Juliet Stevenson and John Nettles. The two narrators brought a different dimension to these letters, they blew life back into them

Bridge to Haven - Francine Rivers

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What can you say, it’s a Francine Rivers book. As expected the characters go through hell, to come together in perfect unison. Rivers has a way of describing situations that pull you in and make you fall in love with the characters. 

To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. Few know her real name is Abra. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven.

The characters are well written, with personal growth throughout the book. Abra and Joshua are some of those characters that crawl into your heart and stays with you long after you have closed the book.

I even love it when an author can write the “bad guy” in such a way that when he is a part of the story it makes your hackles rise.

The cover design is also gorgeous and I bought it before I even looked at the summary at the back

In perfect Francine Rivers style, knows how to take a Bible story and turn it into this perfectly recreated scenario that both makes you look at it in a different light and also teaches you a valuable lesson. 

Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

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I’m not even sorry this book took me almost 2 years to finish, I started it right after reading the first book, and with it being such a bulky book, I would gladly put it down to read something else. But in the last two months, I made a serious point of trying to finish it.

This one was almost as good as Outlander, we follow Jamie and Claire to France, where they have new challenges to try and stop the battle at Culloden. New and old foes battle it out, new and old friends to help them on their journey. I have to be honest that there was a lot of parts that dragged on for pages, and that’s probably the reason why it took me so long to get into the story again.

I laughed, cried, and heaved a sigh of relief. This series is going to be one of my favourites if I can just finish the next books in the series.

There will probably be a lot of readers that will stone me for this, but it does help that we have a wonderful series that gives faces to characters. There will still be people who say they would rather just watch the series, just remember dear ones, there are some major developments that the series does not show.

Here’s to finding long-running book series that you can spend your non-existent time to try and catch up. 

Eliza and Her Monsters - Francesca Zappia

♥♥♥♥ ½

If you are like me and love writing fanfiction, and spending hours on the internet speculating about your favourite authors latest books or the latest episode of your favourite television show, this is the one for you. This is the first book of Zappia that I’m reading, and based on this, she will become one of my auto-buys.

Scott Westerfeld’s Afterworlds meets Nimona in this novel about art, fandom, and finding the courage to be yourself. Features illustrations by the author throughout. Perfect for readers of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl. In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, smart and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza’s persona is popular. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community. Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile.

Zappia deals with some very real subjects while blowing life into Eliza’s story, Monstrous Sea, besides the relatability for people who live their lives on the internet, Eliza deals with some issues that affect most people in today's life. The way Zappia introduces these characters to you and makes you fall in love with them makes the journey of seeing them grow worth every heart-clenching moment.

She brought in the fact that internet friends are as important as real friends, with that fine line of balance between the two worlds, it made this book come to life and you know the author ‘gets’ how it feels to be a part of such a community.

I loved the art throughout the book, and wouldn’t have minded if Monstrous Sea was a real comic.

Well done Francesca on this book that will probably be one of my favourites for the year. 

Unravel - Christine Bernard

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This one is difficult to review, you can't say too much without giving away the plot.

Meet Rose Madison, a senior at college, a budding writer with the shadow of her best-selling author mother hovering over her. She is beautiful, funny, intelligent and she seems to be headed for success in the literary world.

In this suspenseful debut novel by Christine Bernard, you can’t help but develop trust issues in the people around you, thinking twice about that sound you just heard behind you.

It is well written and even though I had an idea about the outcome from the beginning, I couldn’t help second guessing myself every time a new twist came along. 

If this is the first book for Christine I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve with her new books that will surely follow this one. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas

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Oh man, this book took me a while to get in, but once I got over my reading slump, it sucked me in and the story really worked for me.

This book has been on my TBR since I found out it was a beauty and the beast retelling, which is one of my all time favourite stories. So of course when I finally got round to reading it, it was just plain bad luck that I was going through a reading slump. It felt like the book took ages to kick off. So I did what I always did, put it down and went to one of my go to authors to pull me out of it, which didn’t work.

After finding a different type of book, it got me back on track. And boy did ACOTAR then finally kick off, the story pulled me in, and true to Maas’ writing style the characters are well written and you find yourself rooting for them.

There isn’t a lot that you can say about this book since it is the first in the series and I am really scared since I haven’t read the rest yet that whatever I say in the review will be a spoiler.

I would definitely recommend this, just look at the cover it is absolutely gorgeous

The Law of Tall Girls - Joanne Macgregor

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Who would’ve thought that a book about a tall girl will appeal to this short girl?

This is not just your average romance novel, there are some deeper lessons that you can learn, something that you can either know about yourself or about the people around you. This is definitely not just a story about a tall girl that learns to accept who she is but also that everyone should learn to love themselves for who they are.

Admittedly Peyton did work on my nerve with her constant complaining and to this self-confessed mama’s girl, her relationship with her mother got me worked up. But true to Macgregor’s style, all was revealed in an epic twist and I could then understand the relationship a little better.

I adored the whole misfit crew, you could see all of the characters grow throughout the story.

There was laughter with a couple of very witty jokes, my heart raced with Peyton as she fell for the tall boy, I could feel the weight of keeping her secret, cried with her at 1 in the morning.

Well done Joanne this is another great read.

Lastly, can we have a round of applause for the cover design, it grabs your eye and draws you in. It is gorgeous.

Dirty Little Secret - Kendall Ryan

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Sorry for the long wait, I had one of the longest reading slumps and it took me a couple of books to get me out of it. After searching for something on Netgalley, I came across this little gem. It is a quick, dirty book that pulled me from my slump so fast and sent me catapulted into more books.

This is everything you would want from the first book in a series. The build up, the anticipation of what is sure to come and the sweet cliff-hanger that makes you want to shake the author by the shoulders to make her write faster.

We meet Emma a mousy librarian and Gavin the CEO of a multi-billion dollar escort agency. The two characters have chemistry oozing from every pore. The sexual tension between these two characters was almost palpable and throw in the little hint of a love triangle and it makes you giddy and binge read the book in one sitting. The only problem I had with Emma, she did come off a little naïve at some parts and that irritated me, but not enough to put the book down.

The anticipation leaves you gasping for more and to me, that is the sign of a good author, someone I will recommend to more people. The characters are well written and you get to know them and see where they are struggling with themselves.

This is my first book by Ryan and I have to say the way this book pulled me from my reading slump I am more than willing to delve into her other work. 

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

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I have listened or watched every adaption of this book but every time I started the book since I was in school, I just thought the language was too difficult and never persevered to finally read it. This time though it was different. I flew through it, the book pulled me in immediately and now I understand why this is one of the most loved classics. Jane Austen had a way to bewitch you with words, they draw you into this story and I couldn’t put it down.

The characters were more detailed and I could understand them better, I fell in love with Mr Darcy, I grew frustrated with Lydia, Mrs Bennet irritated me (in a good way) and all the other characters just crept deeper into my heart. The way they all played their part in this story made you either like or dislike them more and to me, this will be one of my favourite character driven books.

I truly wish I read this book earlier, but then I also believe that if a book doesn’t hook you it is not your time to read you. If I pushed through with all my earlier attempts this wouldn’t have had such an impact on me.

If you struggle reading this one, I would also recommend you spend the money and get the audiobook narrated by Rosamund Pike, she does different voices for each character and it really helped me get into this book. I combined the audiobook with my physical copy and in the end only read the book once I got accustomed to the language.

The Legacy - Melissa Delport

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Dystopian books, I really thought by now that I’ve read most of them and that there won’t be another one that will get me, then I remembered I had two, yes you read that right, two copies of this book. Boy, was I surprised and irritated with myself for waiting so long to read this.

The book is set in a post-apocalyptic United States or not so the United States. Our heroine is a great character, with support from the rest. We have a love triangle that will set you on edge and wonder why you are rooting for both of them.

Rebecca Davis is one of the characters that really pulled me in, the sacrifices she was willing to make for the greater good of mankind really makes you sit back and hope that one day you will life up to her example. Melissa has a way of writing characters that become your best friends, you want to see them succeed, to kick ass and to overcome whatever obstacles are in their way.

The build up throughout the book was intense and it really got my heart racing, the action scenes was incredible and the way she described them I could picture this all happening in my head.

The ending made me want to grab the next book in the series as soon as possible, and that to me is a great way to continue a series. 

How to be a Bawse - Lilly Singh

Lately, I am getting more into Memoirs, but then it I prefer getting them on Audible, just because you get that little bit more personal touch of hearing the author speaking. 

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This is a gentle mixture between a memoir, where we get to see a little bit more of the woman behind the Youtube sensation Superwoman, and a well thought out self-help book. I would recommend getting the audiobook as well, Lilly Singh being her quirky self while reading the book was just the cherry on top, I also loved the hardcover with all the photos and quotes, and you could see all her hard work come to life.

With Lilly’s unique personality, I have to say she got me all riled up and ready to make changes in my own life. At the end of each chapter, there are a couple of steps that you can follow to help you improve yourself. I am not saying this will be the case with everyone, but she does help you reflect on this, and plant that seed that will help you make the relevant changes in your life.

The photo’s inside and the way that it is laid out is really stunning.

I will definitely read this one again, to go deeper into all the tasks she sets out for you. 

The Only Pirate at the Party – Lindsey Stirling

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This is a thrilling glimpse into the quirky violinist start and how she worked at getting to where she is now. We all have seen the videos on Youtube that show the quirky dressed up in a pirate costume, splashing in a fountain, violinist.

This book, especially the audiobook really brings you closer to Lindsey and listening to her telling her story, and what makes her do what she does, is worth it. I listened to this during some car trips, and even my passengers were enthralled with her story.

The book was beautifully written with a lot of stories from her early years of learning to play the violin, through her journey on America’s Got Talent, to where she is today. You learn a little about her religion and family life.

I would definitely recommend getting the audiobook, or even better, both. 

Confess - Colleen Hoover

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I only discovered Colleen Hoover books recently, and have slowly but surely tried to go through her books, this is has proven quite difficult if you love hard copies of books like I do, as CoHo books aren’t freely available in South Africa. After caving and getting a Kindle copy, it has been waving at me for a while. Then I found out the series was releasing and that sparked me bumping this book to the top of the TBR pile.

The premise of the story was fascinating, with the whole love lost and love gained angle. The characters drew me in from the beginning with a sense of mystery from the beginning, CoHo pulls you in and she really does know how to deliver a great story. The artwork throughout the book was incredible and this somehow made the story even more believable.

There were some parts I couldn’t quite understand, maybe that was my South African mentality screaming, I mean who just goes into a building because there is a sign on the door? But, other than that the book was really enjoyable and a very quick read for me, considering it took me a couple of days to finish. My work may or may not have suffered under this.

I felt bad for Owen when it was revealed what he was sacrificing, Autumn frustrated me very much in the middle of the book, but that to me is the sign of great writing when you get so pulled into the story that you can’t focus on anything else but the story. 

Hushed - Joanne MacGregor

Even though I am from South Africa, I haven't really been keeping up to date with South African authors. After joining a local Facebook book club this has changed drastically and I've found some local authors that have taken a very big place in my heart and my bookshelves. I originally asked for an ARC from the author but a couple chapters in decided to purchase the book from Amazon. 

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Hushed is a modern day Little Mermaid retelling, and believe me, Joanne had me hook, line and sinker from the beginning. She pulls you in from the first words, the characters are loveable with a couple who stand out, the eccentric grandmother was probably one of my favourites

The story is any fangirls’ dream, Joanne writes it in such a way that it doesn’t come across as fan fiction.

Throughout the book, you not only learn more about the characters but also about some serious environmental issues. I especially enjoyed all the referrals to local spots in and around Cape Town, it took me back to my last holiday there. There was also a line about a lion in Africa that made me think back to all my American penpals, who always thought we had pet lions.

There were elements that reminded me of the Disney version of Little Mermaid and this has now given me a craving to watch it as soon as possible.

Joanne MacGregor’s writing is wonderful and she is definitely one of my “Will buy no matter what” writers. 

Norse Mythology – Neil Gaiman

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I have been a fan of Neil Gaiman since watching Doctor Who and it’s only after I did research that I found out he wrote Coraline as well. His writing always submerges you in the world of the story that he is weaving around you.

In Norse Mythology he does not disappoint, I loved every second of it, and I highly recommend that you get yourself an audible copy as he narrates the book himself.

Gaiman stuck to the original stories, giving it to the reader in its purest form. No bells or whistles, no alterations, just the original stories told in Gaiman’s novelistic arc. It starts from the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs and giants. The work comes to an end with Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and rebirth of a new time and people.

Gaiman has a way of breathing life into these stories that have been told many times before, and it pulls you in from the beginning right through to the last page. You get to read more about characters that you have gotten to know in the Marvel universe, Odin, Thor and Loki.