Kit by Marina Fiorato [Book Review]

[I was very kindly sent this book by Hodder & Stoughton in return for an honest review, thank you!]

Historial fiction is not a genre that I read often. I usually mix my history with the element of fantasy so that the everyday world can become extraordinary. So when I was offered Marina Fiorato's newest novel, Kit, for review, I was slightly unsure. What was historical fiction exactly? Was it like a non-fiction book at the Library with a hint of elaboration? The premise seemed interesting enough - a young woman, Kit Kavanagh - joins the army and pretends to be a man, all so she can find her husband Richard, who was whisked away to enlist at a moment's notice.

So I started it. Kit's feelings as Richard was ripped away from her, and the general shock that all women must have felt during times of war was really powerful. Fiorato wrote the emotions of all the characters especially well, even those of the hard to understand so called 'evil' characters. A motive and a meaning lay behind every character, it was almost as if watching a playthrough of several life stories, though through the eyes of a distraught wife.

Kit is an outstanding protagonist. Throughout the novel, she grows in strength, wisdom and courage, and what you believe to be a simple love story becomes a tale of incredible character growth, sacrifice and more importantly, a tale of a journey.

Kit's journey is incredible, and with elements of real history wound into it, Fiorato has created a story that is not only compelling but also is a prime source of raw emotion, engaging plot twists and a fierce heroine. I can't wait to read more of Fiorato's work.

5 Stars!

Daily Diary - It's the Little Things

So today I went to my local Starbucks to do a bit of job hunting, soul searching and general coffee drinking. I was on the phone to a recruitment agency and was explaining my mental health being seen as a disability and one of the reasons I was dismissed from my last job. A woman and her daughter were sat opposite me and as they heard this, she got out a pen. I thought nothing of it, until she placed this on the arm of my chair as she left:

I cannot even comprehend how happy I am with humanity following this. This is so kind, I feel so blessed. I've welled up, it's made a difficult time a lot easier.

Thank you kind stranger.

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix [Book Review]

Meet Amy Ponder.

She's your average young girl, struggling to pay bills all whilst working for a company named Orsk, who sell expensive flat pack furniture to anyone and everyone. We start the book with Amy hating her manager, Basil, and we discover that she wishes to transfer shops. Simple enough, eh? Happy story coming up about Amy's fabulous life?

WRONG.

Yes, Amy's life is about to get a whole lot worse. Horrorstor follows Amy, Basil and Ruby Ann as they spend the entire night in Orsk, trying to discover the source of some rather creepy goings on. At first it just seems like a usual scenario, maybe a thief? A maintenance problem? But no, this is far far creepier, and just a bit more supernatural. This book completely grips you, as the fear sets in with every page, and with the addition of the book actually looking like an Orsk catalogue, complete with furniture descriptions that get creepier as the book goes on. I was absolutely hooked.

Grady Hendrix has written Horrorstor in such a way that anyone could pick it up, believing they were going to read a simple tale about a young girl and be dragged into the horror element before they could even realise what was happening. Hairs were sticking up on the back of my neck, my heart was racing and even the very thought of being near a wardrobe made me feel quite queasy.

The writing style was superb, with fantastic build up to the really gruesome parts of the story, meaning that even when your stomach was going to turn inside out with fear, you couldn't stop reading. I absolutely adored this book, it has 100% made it into one of my favourite reads for 2014. An absolutely unforgettable unique book, I can't wait to see what Grady Hendrix does next!!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

[I'd like to say a huge thank you to Quirk Books for sending me this to review, you guys rock!]

[Big] Little Lies by Liane Moriarty [Book Review]

So, those of you who know me (if you don't, HI!) are probably aware of the hold that The Husband's Secret had on me. It was one of my favourite books of 2013 and it's safe to say I was a tad impatient for Liane Moriarty's next release Little Lies or as it's known in the USA and Australia,  Big Little Lies. Why the difference? Not a clue! So yes, I was wandering around, slightly grumpy and without the pretty cover (did I mention I saw this on the way to Florida and my Dad noticed and made me walk away? Le cry.)

But finally, great things happened and I got my copy! And boy, did I lug that thing everywhere! As much as I like hardbacks, they are a struggle to fit into my handbag alongside all the rubbish that I pack in there, so I am usually crammed into the 7am train to work with the book practically touching my nose and my handbag on my lap as commuters glance around me on their Kindles, (I am too stubborn to convert. And books smell good. Fact.)

Anyway, enough about my strange morning habits, onto the story!

This story focuses around the topic of lies, but more so around a group of parents whose children are starting their first day at kindergarden. From what I can tell seeing as the children all seem to be around the age of five, for the UK, that is about Reception year. Now as some of you know, parents can be very...lets say...interesting when it comes to their children. A variety of those different personalities crop up, personalities which we have all seen on the playground, be it if you were a parent yourself, a sibling, or the little darling child waiting to be picked up, you've seen them. 

We have Madeline, the type of mother who hides her insecurities by buying the latest stilettos despite her money issues, all whilst being quite whimsical in her way alongside her partner in crime Celeste, who has a super rich husband and is so naturally beautiful she would make any woman weep. Oh, and did I mention that they're gossips?

Next up, we have Renata, the working mother who reckons she runs the school, the parental committee and probably everyones bladder functions. Seriously, she's that bad. And to make matters worse, she has a loyal lapdog in the form of Harper. You know, when you were in high school and you saw the irritatingly smart popular girls backed up by little minions who echoed what they said like parrots? Yeah. That.

There's Bonnie, the new wife of Madeline's ex husband whose determined to show Madeline's 14 year old daughter Abigail a new natural, calm and namaste way of living...

And last but by no means least, there's Jane. The character who changes everything. Why, if she hadn't come to Piriwee would any of this have happened? Oh, and did I mention she sticks out like a sore thumb? She's not a gossip, a hippy or a control freak. Nope, she's just...

Yeah. Not as classy.

Moriarty begins Little Lies through the eyes of an elderly lady who lives by the school. All poor Mrs Ponder is doing is talking to her cat as if she were a person, and happens to pace over to her window to hear quite a ruckus. As the reader, we are keen to continue, what the heck is happening, you ask?

Well folks, as they say in good ol' Midsomer (points if you get that reference) THERES BEEN A MURDAH!

Cool it, no supernatural stuff here. (though that skeleton is creepy eh?) Just a murder. That happened at a trivia night. Where all the parents were. Holy crap. So the book continues from what innocent old Mrs Ponder saw into a classic who-dun-it story with so many other storylines that your brain starts to wander off from the main one, in the classic Moriarty style, making the ending even more gripping and so very satisfying. I've found Liane Moriarty to be, like Linwood Barclay, an author who I can never guess the ending of her books. And I love that in an author. Of course, as a writer myself and an avid reader, I expect myself to know endings to books, and to be surprised so often is refreshing and exciting. Just like with The Husband's Secret, I had to take a few minutes after reading one of the penultimate chapters (Moriarty always reveals the twist a few chapters before the end, and gives us the last few to deal with it, wonderful!) and then still had a complete fangirl meltdown.

Congrats Liane Moriarty you did it again!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars...duh.

The One by Kiera Cass [Book Review]

 Finally, the review I've been longing to write! The Selection series by Kiera Cass has been one that I've been desperate to review but felt that I could only really review it once it had come to a close. Now of course, I'm not going to give any spoilers, as the whole process of reading this third and final book just to see who America chose is just a mix of so many emotions that I thought all my feels were going to give out. Yes, I just used the term 'feels'. Am I too old for that? Answers on a postcard. Also, does anyone notice that America seems to have everyone and their nan pining after her? Honestly, severe feeding frenzy!

Jokes aside though (for now), this series has been my guilty pleasure from day one. The castes, whilst compared to The Hunger Games, I actually like more than T.H.G and provide an interesting look into how society could be if given a different sort of push and power behind it. Cass creates a dystopian world that has just the right element of realism in it, which engrains itself into your brain whilst you focus on the romantic stuff, creating a powerful story world right under your nose.

But I know what you're all thinking, who did she choose? Really? Not telling! What am I, a spoiler mill?

So during this book we see America supposedly prepping for Princess-dom, going to numerous balls and generally chilling with the other potential princesses. Including Celeste. Oh, Celeste.

 I think that significantly conveys what I have thought of Celeste for the past two books, how my blood has boiled when I've had to witness her. But readers, have no fear! The One spins so many views on so many characters on their heads (not literally, we're not street dancing) in ways that make you question the book altogether, and sometimes makes you think whether any decision that is made is going to be reversed and the book ended with 'it was all a dream'

But no, the prose remains enthralling as usual with so many fangirl moments that I found myself sobbing from both sadness and happiness, probably with a bit of crazy in. It's an impossible decision really, in The Selection, I was Team Maxon. In The Elite, I was Team Aspen. And with this? Utterly bloody clueless! The tension between the three of them during this trilogy has honestly been one of the best love triangles that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

To sum it up, The Selection series, and in particular The One are fantastic young adult dystopians with a focus on romance that isn't overused or boring. The series is one that you read and initially wonder whether a story about princesses or princes can be anything other than just a normal fairytale. But no, no, no it is so much more. It's a fairytale with new life breathed into it, with a hint of horror and about a pot full of romance with a hell of a lot drama. Yes, that's how I'd sum up this series in one word!

I can't wait to read what Kiera Cass comes up with next!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

Beauty by Louise Mensch [Book Review]

I was kindly sent this to review by Headline Publishing on Bookbridgr. Beauty looked like an intriguing take on Chick Lit for me, having only really lived in a secluded Sophie Kinsella shaped bubble when it came to that genre (no matter how awesome Miss Kinsella is!). But I think after reading Beauty, Louise Mensch (formerly Louise Bagshawe) has definitely entered my list of 'Chick Lit Authors Whose Books I Will Buy!' (Note to self: I need better list names.) So why did I like Beauty so much? Well, let me tell you. Are you sitting comfortably? (Am I being condescending and sarcastic? It's late, but I'm channelling Dina Kane, I'm sorry.) Let's begin!

So, Dina Kane. Where do we start with Dina Kane? Well, she's a very beautiful lady. I know what you're thinking, not another book about pretty women?! Wait, wait, wait...before you start ranting...

...You just had to share your views on gardening tools didn't you? Really.

Anyway, this isn't just another book about a pretty woman. It is, but with a twist! And we all love twists don't we? Mmm?

I knew I had your attention.

Anyway, Dina Kane is a very beautiful woman who decides to use her beauty to help her get anywhere she wants in life. And no, this isn't a cheap book about a woman who suddenly becomes beautiful and gets love and kinky sex deals (cough cough Anastasia Steele) but it's about a woman who uses the way others treat her in regards to her looks to progress in life.

Mensch's writing style is extremely interesting as whilst Dina has that sarcastic attitude that could make you want to slap her if you met her on the street, she also has a very redeeming quality. She's clever as anything. And who doesn't love clever women? Especially clever women who use a feature they were born with to progress. It's intriguing and mysterious, and more than anything, it's damn hilarious.

For about the first half of this book, you think you're just having an easy ride, rolling through Chick Lit Land like it's a weekend trip. However, once you get to that halfway point, there's no going back. All those little bits you laughed at? They counted. And all those guys fawning over Dina? Oooooh, it meant something all right!

Suddenly, Beauty becomes about more than just beauty, it's about drama, and fear and a fight to survive and come out on top. It makes your heart race, it makes you want to yell your opinion at whoever may listen, and more importantly, it makes you realise that Dina Kane isn't just a pretty face, she's a badass. 

So readers, put away any opinions you may have of books about 'perfect' women and give this a read. You won't be disappointed.

That means you Bree, honestly!!

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars