The Two of Us by Andy Jones

Title:  The Two of Us
Author: Andy Jones
ISBN: 9781471142444
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publish Date: February 2015

Synopsis:
Falling in love is the easy part. What matters most is what happens next...


Fisher and Ivy have been an item for a whole nineteen days. And they just know they are meant to be together. The fact that they know little else about each other is a minor detail. Over the course of twelve months, in which their lives will change forever, Fisher and Ivy discover that falling in love is one thing, but staying there is an entirely different story.

My Thoughts

The Two of Us is the story of a whirlwind romance and and the struggles of keeping a relationship together. The story is told through the eyes of Fisher giving this book a unique feel.
For the most part it is a light and fluffy read, although, like every relationship there are times when Fisher and Ivy's journey will pull at your heartstrings.
The characters are real and well written, making them easy to care about and drawing the reader into the story.
The Two of Us is a beautifully told story of love, friendship, loss and new beginnings that will stay with you long after the pages are closed.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for the ARC.

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

Title: Before I Go
Author: Colleen Oakley
ISBN: 9781760111939
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publish Date: January 2015

Synopsis:
Daisy never asks you to feel sorry for her.
Daisy is 27-years-old and has only months to live. And, each day, she's finding her way through what needs to be done.
Her major worry is what her wonderful, charming husband, Jack, will do without her. She knows that he won't take care of himself so Daisy has to do it for him. As she searches for Jack's next wife, she begins to realise that her plan to ensure Jack's happiness is much more complicated than she expected.

My Thoughts:

Before I Go is one of those books where you know exactly what you are getting, but it is also surprising light-hearted for such a serious and heartbreaking subject. These days we all know someone who has fought or is fighting a battle with cancer making it easy to relate to the characters in the story and leaves you asking the question, 'what would I do?' This book has left me thoughtful and, dare I say it, a little more appreciative of my health. Daisy and Jack's relationship show us the importance of being able to openly communicate with our loved ones and not to take each other for granted.
Before I Go is an emotional roller coaster that is wonderfully written. Definitely recommended, but you might need some tissues.

Review copy received from Allen & Unwin Australia via GoodReads giveaway.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Yes I am late on the bandwagon for this one and yes it is entirely by choice. I went to the cinema and watched this last week, I put off going, firstly because I hate crowds and secondly because I hate endings. I was having trouble accepting that this would be the last time I would be seeing Middle Earth on the big screen. I know a lot of people had issues with these movies but I personally loved them, They are a beautiful interpretation of Tolkien's books.
As usual my family and I were the last ones to leave the cinema. as we always watch the credits, after all the hard work these people put in the least we can do is acknowledge them, and the credits on this movie were worth watching as they were accompanied by stunning art and design sketches from the film. The talent of these artists never ceases to amaze me and I left the theatre feeling heartbroken yet inspired.
What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Daughter by Jane Shemilt

Title: Daughter
Author: Jane Shemilt
ISBN: 9781405915298
Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: January 2015

Synopsis:

Jenny is a successful family doctor, the mother of three great teenagers, married to a celebrated neurosurgeon.

But when her youngest child, fifteen-year-old Naomi, doesn’t come home after her school play, Jenny’s seemingly ideal life begins to crumble. The authorities launch a nationwide search with no success. Naomi has vanished, and her family is broken.

As the months pass, the worst-case scenarios—kidnapping, murder—seem less plausible. The trail has gone cold. Yet for a desperate Jenny, the search has barely begun. More than a year after her daughter’s disappearance, she’s still digging for answers—and what she finds disturbs her. Everyone she’s trusted, everyone she thought she knew, has been keeping secrets, especially Naomi. Piecing together the traces her daughter left behind, Jenny discovers a very different Naomi from the girl she thought she’d raised.

My Thoughts:
Every parents nightmare is a missing child. When 15 year old Naomi goes missing, the lives of her family start to fall apart. Told from Naomi's mother, Jenny's, point of view, Daughter is a story of betrayals and secrets.
The story bounces between the past and the present, slowly revealing information and clues about what happened on that fateful night. The pacing was perfect, with enough information given at the right times to keep the pages turning and the reader guessing. I did find the main character, Jenny, irritating and not very engaging, making her difficult to relate to, but I could not help but feel for her circumstances, despite not liking her as a character.
Daughter is a solid mystery and family drama with many twists and secrets that kept me guessing. An engaging read.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia and Netgalley for the review copy.

Mini Review - Outback Ghost

Outback Ghost - by Rachael Johns
(ISBN: 9781743568682)

It is no secret that I love Rachael Johns' Bunyip Bay series and this one is no exception. The dynamics between the characters and the rural setting are wonderfully delivered as always. An emotional and slightly eerie mystery that fans of the series have been curious about since the first book, Outback Dreams, is the icing on the cake. Loved this book, highly recommended for any rural romance fan.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for the ARC.

An Explanation

Firstly I would like to apologize for my absence and the lack of posts. I have had a busy and at times stressful couple of months, with a death in the family and family members in and out of hospital, not to mention all sorts of busyness at work. With all these goings on it has been impossible for me to find the time to write any reviews and update my blog, but things are starting to settle down a bit know and I am getting back on track. I look forward to posting some new reviews very soon.

Author Sighting - Brooke Davis (Lost & Found)

Today I met Brooke Davis, the author of Lost & Found. She did a talk at the local library last Friday, and today she was visiting the local bookstores. I was very excited to meet her, I would have liked to have gone to her talk but unfortunately I couldn't make it, so having her pop into the shop was very unexpected and exciting surprise. Brooke was a very upbeat and friendly person to talk to and I hope our paths will cross again. I have added her book to my must read list, it sounds like a good one.

Lost & Found by Brooke Davis

Millie Bird (aka Captain Funeral), seven-years old and ever hopeful, always wears red gumboots to match her red, curly hair. Her struggling mother leaves Millie in a local department store and never returns.

Agatha Pantha, eighty-two, has not left her house – or spoken to another human being – since she was widowed seven years ago. She fills the silences by yelling at passers by, watching loud static on the TV and maintaining a strict daily schedule.

Karl the Touch Typist, eighty-seven, once used his fingers to type out love notes on his wife's skin. Now he types his words out into the air as he speaks. Karl is moved into a nursing home but in a moment of clarity and joy, he escapes.

A series of events binds the three together on a road trip that takes them from the south coast of WA to Kalgoorlie and along the Nullarbor to the edge of the continent. Millie wants to find her mum. Karl wants to find out how to be a man. And Agatha just wants everything to go back to how it was.

They will discover that old age is not the same as death, that the young can be wise, and that letting yourself experience sadness just might be the key to life.