Review: HOTHOUSE FLOWER by Lucinda Riley *****

A heart-rending page turner which sweeps from war-torn Europe to Thailand and back again . . .
As a child Julia Forrester spent many idyllic hours in the hothouse of Wharton Park estate, where her grandfather tended the exotic flowers. So when a family tragedy strikes, Julia returns to the tranquility of Wharton Park and its hothouse.
Recently inherited by charismatic Kit Crawford, the estate is undergoing renovation. This leads to the discovery of an old diary, prompting the pair to seek out Julia's grandmother to learn the truth behind a love affair that almost destroyed Wharton Park.
Julia is taken back to the 1940s where the fortunes of young couple Olivia and Harry Crawford will have terrible consequences on generations to come. For as war breaks out Olivia and Harry are cruelly separated ...

First of all, doesn't this cover positively SCREAM Kate Morton? I don't mind one bit as I think it's a gorgeous cover, but still a liiiittle obvious. The summary sounds quite a bit like a Kate Morton story too, which is brilliant if you're a fan of Ms Morton and you need a quick fix when you're waiting for her next book (speaking of which, where is it?????). And the best news? Unlike some other books I've read that appeared to have tried to match Ms Morton's level of storytelling and not quite managed, this one can actually compare! The story was great and I couldn't put the book down ...

As the story opens, we meet Julia, a young woman who is still recovering from a horrible personal tragedy and she has travelled back to England from France to hopefully heal her wounds. She becomes involved with Wharton Park again, once magnificent but now a crumbling property that has recently been inherited by Kit. They came across a diary and Julia's grandmother Elsie, who was a maid at Wharton Park when the diary came to be, tells them what really happened during World War II when master Harry married Olivia and was soon after sent on an overseas mission to Thailand ... So what is in the diary? And how did Olivia go from being an exquisite debutante to such a bitter old woman?

The author really knows how to tell a great story and how to connect the present narrative with Julia and the past narrative with Harry in Thailand and all the consequences of that. I found myself really engrossed into the story and raced through the pages to learn what really happened all those years ago, and at the same time really felt for Julia. A lot of secrets are interwoven in the story (including a shocking appearance towards the end - whoa!) and I really enjoyed reading both stories, set in Thailand and in the English countryside.

On top of wonderful plot, I thought the characters were really well portrayed too. Namely Julia's pain was palpable and her story just broke my heart. I grew incredibly fond of Kit, was fascinated by Olivia and really warmed up to Elsie as well as other side characters.

I believe this is the author's debut and oh what a great piece of fiction it is! I'm so glad she got published and I'm very happy to report that she has another book coming out in October called THE GIRL ON THE CLIFF, which sounds fantastic - right up my alley! I cannot wait to see the cover and to finally read it!

I'm sure the author is fed up with being compared to Kate Morton, but I'm afraid that's unavoidable and nothing short of a compliment! Overall, if enjoy novels that connect the present and the past and tie it all up with an intriguing mystery, then this is the book for you! Definitely recommended.

overall rating:
plot: 5/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 5/5 | cover: 5/5

Watch the interview with the author below.

In My Mailbox #72

I'm (still) terribly sorry that IMMs are almost all that I post on here these days, but but but life's too busy for blogging right now and it's not like I particularly want to do IMMs, but I just get soooo many AMAZING books and I need to share my joy with the world and what better way to do it than IMM, right? :)
The past weeks have been nothing short of spectacular in terms of books - I mean, just LOOK at all the lovelies I got!!!

FEMALE FICTION

• SING YOU HOME by Jodi Picoult - I used to be a massive Picoult fan and I've read almost all her books, but this one just doesn't appeal so much, I guess ... At the same time, I'm very tempted to read it because I know Picoult sure can tell a fantastic story ... So we'll see, but I might not be able to resist it after all! Thanks though, Hodder!
• ALONG CAME A STORK by Marisa Mackle - Review copy from Poolbeg. And while the cover is rather gooorgeous and eyecatching, I'm really not about books about pregnant women. Not my cup of tea, but it looks very pretty!
• THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown (ARC) - This one comes out in the UK in August and don't you just LOVE the cover? Totally makes me want to read the book!
• THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (ARC) - This one also comes out in August and is said to be THE publishing event of 2011! The final UK cover is rather pretty, but so is this one actually - I'm loving the simplicity and the beautiful lettering! Sounds good too!
• GIRL ON THE RUN by Jane Costello - I've already read this one and quite liked it. Review to come eventually, hehe. Lovely cover though, no?
• IDOL by Carrie Duffy (ARC) - Squeeee! I've been wanting to read this one ever since I've heard of it and saw the cover (gorgeous, y/y?!) so I was over the moon that I was able to snag an ARC! Can't wait to read it, although I'm told it's much raunchier than it looks, hehe. ;)
• TO MARRY A PRINCE by Sophie Page - Squeeee! Another book that I've been dying to read for months and now I finally have it, yay - all I need is some free time, bah! Will deffo read this asap, but probably not in time for the big fat Royal Wedding in a couple of weeks. Shame but oh well.
• PEARL by Deidre Purcell - This one sounds really good, but I decided to wait for the paperback, which is finally out now! Not sure about the cover though ...
• THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett - Now, I got this for free so I really shouldn't complain, but but but I can't help bringing up the cover. Yes, I hear the book is really good and I've been wanting to read it, BUT how can I get past this cover?!?! This has got to be one of the most awful covers I have ever come across and I just cannot justify it. :( In my eyes, everything's completely wrong: the colour combination (eww), the plain text, the random birds. There's just no excuse for this cover, seriously - I find it straight up HORRIBLE. I know it's not chick lit and the cover's not meant to be pretty, but that doesn't mean you have to make it soooo BLAH. I would never ever spend money on a cover like this, but I got it for free so I can't bitch too much. Although if I do read (which I'm hoping to some day), I'll certainly use a book jacket or something.

YOUNG ADULT

• THE ANTI-PROM by Abby McDonald - I've loved all Abby's previous books and I'm very excited about this one too, it's bound to be fantastic!
• THE FITZOSBORNES IN EXILE by Michelle Cooper - I haven't read the first book (Brief History of Montmaray), but I suspect it's good stuff so I just got the sequel.
• A YEAR WITHOUT AUTUMN by Liz Kessler - Very intrigued by the premise of this one!
• ROYALLY CRUSHED by Niki Burnham - Isn't this cover just the cutest?! I couldn't resist it!
• THE LYING GAME by Sara Shepard - Now, I haven't read PLL yet (gasp, I know!), but I'm fully planning to as it sounds amazing and so does this book - right up my alley! Very excited!
• RUNNING IN HEELS by Helen Bailey - I like the sound and the look of this one so I just myself a copy to read one day.

Last but not least, I also got a copy of THE TIME-TRAVELING FASHIONISTA by Bianca Turetsky, which is absolutely gorgeous both inside and out! It's beautifully illustrated so I just couldn't resist taking a few snaps on how it looks on the inside - isn't it just amazing? Yeah, I think so.


That's it from me - what did YOU get?????? :)

Waiting on Wednesday: California Dreamers

This week I decided to feature Belinda Jones's upcoming book CALIFORNIA DREAMERS, which comes out on 21st July 2011. I've been looking forward to it ever since I read the summary!

Ever wished you could make-over your life?

Make-up artist Stella is an expert at helping other people change their images, but when it comes to transforming herself, she doesn't even know where to start.

So when her new friend, glamorous Hollywood actress Marina Ray, summons her a movie set in California, Stella can't resist the chance to start afresh - it is the land of sunshine and opportunity after all!

But are they really friends or does Marina have an ulterior motive? What is the secret that both women are hiding about the nautical (but nice) men in their lives? And what will it take to really make both of their California dreams come true?

In a Pacific Coast journey that takes in Los Angeles, the world's most romantic ranch and California's very own castle in the sky - this story of friendship, long-distance love, kissing (and making up) is the perfect escapist read.

Fabulous, isn't it? I haven't read any of Belinda Jones's previous books, but I've been told they're fantastic so I'm definitely planning to!

I was particularly looking forward to this one because Jones's previous cover was absolutely gorgeous (I've discussed it here) so I hoped the publishers would follow the same trend ... but sadly it appears they won't.
The cover featured above is by no means official, but it was listed in the latest Hodder catalogue so it's definitely legit, I'm just not sure if it's the final one. Well, this one isn't bad or anything, but it sure has NOTHING on the Living La Vida Loca cover, which was just mindblowing.

Anyway, the story sounds great so I'll definitely be reading this one asap!

In My Mailbox #71

Three IMMs back to back? Oh yeah, that's bad, trés BAD, I know and I'm terribly sorry about the inexcusable lack of proper posts round here lately, buuuuut saying that things are hectic doesn't even begin to describe my life right now. I'm way behind on reading (and pretty much everything else, eek) and I miss it so much - y'know, just lying in bed and reading. I haven't done it for too long (honestly, NO time) and I'm like a junkie who needs their fix BADLY. I'll have to take like an evening off someday soon and just read, but I still have so many things to do before then. :(

I've been getting & buying sooooo many amazing books lately and it breaks my heart that I can't read them immediately because I really, really want to, but can't. I will though, I promise, promise!

Here are the goodies I received in the past weeks!

PURCHASED

CALLING ROMEO by Alexandra Potter
THE LEGACY by Katherine Webb
WHAT MY BEST FRIEND DID by Lucy Dawson
LIZZY HARRISON LOSES CONTROL by Pippa Wright
A MOMENT LIKE FOREVER by Martina Reilly
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis
THE SONGWRITER by Beatrice Colin
LIVING LA VIDA LOCA by Belinda Jones

FOR REVIEW

SWEPT OFF HER FEET by Hester Browne - YAAAAY!!! Hester very kindly sent me a lovely signed copy herself, along with a fantastic note! Totally made my week! I loved Hester's previous book The Finishing Touches and I cannot WAIT to read this one! :D
KATE'S WEDDING by Chrissie Manby - Brilliant surprise from Hodder! I featured this in one of my WOW and then it showed up, woohoo!
MEN I'VE LOVED BEFORE by Adele Parks - A surprise copy from Headline. I've already read and reviewed the hardcover (it hit very close to home), but the paperback is SO much prettier! The re-design was certainly a smart move!

That's it from me! What did you get? :)

In My Mailbox #70

LOOKING FOR LEON by Shirley Benton - A surprise review copy from Poolbeg. Sounds interesting and looks great, although I wish the title was really sparkly, but otherwise the cover's lovely.
CRYSTAL BALLS by Amanda Brobyn - I fell in love with this cover as soon as I saw it and I can't wait to read it! Thanks for offering a review copy, Amanda!
RSVP by Helen Warner - A surprise review copy from S&S UK. It came wrapped in this blue and brown paper that you can see under the books and the cover was sprinkled with little silver hearts that you can also see above - adorable! I love it when people put in an effort like that! Well done, Ally. ;)
FAKING IT by Lotte Daley - I've been waiting for this book for aaaages and now I finally have it, yay! It sounds fantastic and I wish I could read it NOW, but sadly I have no spare time. :(
GETTING AWAY WITH IT by Julie Cohen - Another book I've been VERY excited about, but decided to wait for the paperback and now I got a surprise review copy from Headline - thank yoooou! I cannot wait to read this - it sounds brilliant, plus LOOK AT THE COVER!!! This is hands down one of my absolute favourite covers EVER! Outstanding! Amazing! Beautiful!
MERMAID by Carolyn Turgeon - Another surprise review copy from Headline! I'm not sure how I feel about novels that feature mermaids, but this one looks interesting ...

That's it from me, what did you get? :)

In My Mailbox #69

Sorry I've been a bit MIA lately. Things are very hectic at the moment and I'm afraid I don't have much time to read or blog. Sadly this will probably continue for the next couple of months so the posts are likely to be sparce, but please bear with me? :)

Anyway, here's my haul from the last couple of weeks!
IN A HEARTBEAT by Loretta Elsworth - Finally out in paperback, yay!
THE LOCKET by Stacey Jay - Sounds good, couldn't resist it!
GOING FOR GOLD by Kay Woodward - The fourth book in the Skate School series. Haven't read the first three, but I'm planning to!
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME by Sara Manning - Sounds really good, can't wait if it lives up to the hype!
BEFORE I KNEW YOU by Amanda Brookfield - A review copy. This book was SO much more appealing when it was called HOUSE SWAP and it had an amazingly pretty cover. Such a downgrade, I really don't like this horrible new look. :(

That it's from me - what did YOU get? :)

Author interview: LULU TAYLOR

I've recently read MIDNIGHT GIRLS by Lulu Taylor, which I absolutely loved so I was very excited when the author kindly agreed to an interview for my little blog! Read on to learn more about Ms Taylor, her inspiration, her writing process and even some scoop on her next book!!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was brought up just outside Oxford in England, and then went to university there, where I read English Literature – and had a marvellous time. After that, I worked in publishing for a while and then became a freelance writer. Now I love spending my time weaving stories about high society and the ridiculously rich. I live in London.

Your debut novel was published in 2009 and since then you've written a book a year. What was your road to becoming a published author like?
My road to becoming an author was a bit different to most people’s, as I had already worked in publishing and had an idea of how it all worked – for example, I knew how to send my work to an agent and I had a good sense of which agencies might suit me. I think that definitely helped, but having said that, no publisher publishes something that they don’t rate, so there’s no way I could have got a deal just by knowing the business. I get nervous every time I finish a book that the publisher won’t like it and it will all be over.

How would you describe each of your books in five words?
Sexy, dramatic, dark, rich, scandalous. That covers all of them, I think. Besides the heroines’ journeys, there is always another angle or two, and I research those carefully. In HEIRESSES, there is a lot about scent and how perfumes are made and sold. The exclusive nightclubs in MIDNIGHT GIRLS are based on famous places and you will find lots of real details in there of how they look and how they’re run. The department store in BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is based on a very well-known London landmark.

What all your three books seem to have in common is that they are set in the world of the incredibly rich. Is there are particular reason why you decided to write such glamorous bonkbusters? Where do you get the inspiration?
I wanted to write about this world because I’m fascinated by it and love reading about it. The rich really live very different lives to the rest of us. In some ways, those lives are very seductive – a world where you can have anything you want, where high luxury is just an everyday occurrence. In other ways, those lives are dangerous because they’re so removed from reality and because the most extraordinary events – like kidnappings or disinheritance – actually happen. I loved programmes like Dallas and Dynasty when I was growing up, and the novels are like that: soap operas with big cars and expensive houses.

I get inspiration all the time – in fact, it’s hard keeping hold of all the ideas. Newspapers, magazines, and just stories I hear about other people’s lives are always starting off potential plot lines for me.

Are your novels based on personal experience? What kind of research have you had to do so far?
There is plenty of personal experience in the books – in fact, I think readers might be surprised at exactly what is true and what is not! Some of the most bizarre things are completely real – but of course I’m not saying which. The bits in Oxford in MIDNIGHT GIRLS had a lot of truth: I saw some wild events and some very rich young people going off the rails. Luckily I didn’t get pulled into that life myself.

Writing HEIRESSES, I had to research perfume and became a real geek on it for a while, trying out dozens of scents and learning to distinguish between them. MIDNIGHT GIRLS was pretty enjoyable, as I had to go to some smart nightclubs and drink cocktails (I know, it’s a hard life). BEAUTIFUL CREATURES was more desk research than travelling about – though I did have to take a helicopter flight. It’s the small things that can cause the most difficulties – how family businesses work, points of law and trust management – that sort of thing. And I always spend a lot of time researching the clothes, food, furnishings... everything that makes the books feel real.

Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? How and where do you write? How long does it take for you to write one novel, since they're all massive?
It takes several months to write each book. I work in a variety of places, most often at home. Sometimes I just have to get out of the house for a change of scene and new inspiration. In those cases, I go to libraries or quiet places. I like certain cafes or clubs where I can order coffee and cake when I need a boost. Surroundings can help, so I like to go to luxurious places occasionally. Once the first draft is done, there is always the second to do, and that can be really hard work. As soon as one book is finished, it’s time to plan the next.

As I said, your books are very lengthy and yet they're anything but boring and they seem to be very well structured. Do you do a lot of planning in advance?
I always know where it’s going to begin and where it’s going to end, and what the main plotlines are. I plan the early part of the book and then I always get keen to start, so off I go. Often I end up on quite a different track, or a character turns out not to be what I’d planned, and things change quite radically. That’s part of the fun – seeing where it all goes... I always try to keep it pacy and eventful, and easy to read so you want to keep turning the pages. Sometimes I get completely absorbed by it all, and carried away at high moments of emotion. When a character died in MIDNIGHT GIRLS, I was sobbing!

When can we expect your next novel and can you share any information about it yet (please!)?
My next novel is due out in January 2012, and it doesn’t have a title yet, though I’m working on it. This one is about two girls, born on the same day to very different families and backgrounds. But their lives become irreversibly intertwined and their fortunes vary hugely. There is a love story in this one that’s absolutely central to the plot, and a big, bold villain as well. It’s already lots of fun to write.

Your books would make fantastic films - do you have anything like that planned for the future? Which book for you most like to see as a film and what would your ideal cast be like?
I would love to see one of the novels filmed, though I always imagine them more as mini dramas on the television – because of my old Dynasty influences, I suppose. People are making rather grittier things than this at the moment though, or else making period dramas. So we shall see what happens, but I won’t hold my breath. My ideal cast would be, of course, very glamorous and very good at high drama. I’d love Joan Collins to have a guest role, even if I had to write it in!

Thank you for answering my questions!

Ms Taylor's book BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is out now! Don't forget to check out her other two books, HEIRESSESS and MIDNIGHT GIRLS.
You can learn more about the author on her website or follow her on Twitter!

Review: REDHEAD REVEALED by Alice Clayton *****

As their careers catch fire, Grace and Jack -- everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed, funny, and feisty couple -- find themselves on opposite coasts. Grace has landed in New York City, where she loves being onstage again, particularly because she’s playing a fabulous character in a musical written by her old college flame, Michael. Their rekindled friendship makes exploring the city that much more fun.
Wait, it’s just friendship, right?

Meanwhile, in L.A., Jack can scarcely keep up with the swirling throngs of women who track him everywhere he goes, the endless press appearances, and the ridiculous rules his manager, Holly, keeps concocting for him -- all part of the buildup to the release of Time, his steamy new film.
Thank goodness for phone sex.

But even when their schedules allow them to connect, Grace and Jack must keep their relationship off the radar and away from paparazzi cameras. Sure, the sex is sensational, but can this duo survive swirling rumors, the demands of their chosen professions, Grace’s raging internal battles, and a whopping nine-year age difference?
Tick-tock, the clock is ticking. Isn’t it?

Alice Clayton brings the second installment of a tale told with her magical mix of humor and heat, so cuddle up under the sheets and flip on the Golden Girls. Grace and Jack are at it again.

I'm honestly head over heels in LOVE with this crazy hot couple!
This is the second book in the so-called Redhead series and some of you may remember how much I enjoyed the first one, The Unidentified Redhead - well, that one was AMAZING, but this one was EVEN BETTER! Yes, caps are necessary because this books deserve them because they are SO GOOD!

Anyway, in my review of the first book I mentioned that while I really enjoyed reading about G&J's hott relationship, I also thought it was a very superficial one - they hardly knew each other outside the bedroom and they seemed to only 'exist in their sex bubble'. Well, in the second book, reality hits and all Grace's unresolved issues and insecurities from the past come back to haunt her. They're both making it big on the opposite sides of the country so they don't get to see each other very often and even when they do, things don't always go according to the plan ... Can they make it through the crazy times and is there a future for them? Do they want a family? Do they even know what they're getting themselves into? Will the passion ever wear off?

Talking about the characters - Grace is fantastic and I grew even fonder of her after this book, but Jack, Jack, Jack ... Oh, Jack, why do you have to be so SWOONWORTHY?! I mean, not only is this man BRITISH (!!!), he's also rich and has an amazingly kind and understanding personality and he's fun and oh oh OOH! Luke Brandon (from Shopaholic) used to be my #1 book crush, but Jack is soooo close to stealing that title, lol.

So yes, I loved that this story was a bit more complex and had some downs and not just ups (life ain't a fairytale, yo), but at the same time it kept its trademark (raunchy) humour and hotness and adorable characters! Quick warning though: this book doesn't shy away from sex or swearing so if you're sensitive about that, then this might not be quite the book for you - but I still strongly recommend it because it's so much FUN to read!

Overall, I have nothing but praise for this gem of a book and I cannot wait for further hothothot adventures of Grace & Jack, whom I absolutely adore! I hear the third book is already in the making and you best believe I'll gobble it up as soon as it's available!

overall rating:
plot: 5/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 5/5 | cover: 3/5

ps: Oh and did I mention that the first book contains the best line e-v-e-r: "TALK BRITISH TO ME." My girl Grace knows what's up! ;)