The Villa in Italy
Another not my choice...mum on a holiday book hunt again. I loved it! Okay, it took a while to warm up and the characters take a while to grow on you, but due to a mysterious will all these people turn up at a villa and find themselves. Their interwoven stories and how they crossed paths with their unknown benefactor was brilliant. Descriptions of Italy and the pretty villa were also pretty convincing and made me want to take off. Will definately look for others by this author.

End of the holidays...

Where do two lovely long weeks go? It seems forever and suddenly it's the last weekend and I'm still ctaching up on all the things I promised I'd get done! Too depressing to dwell on!

So to update my reading - not so much this week as I've been away...

Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House by MC Beaton
After the depressing tales of Lilly I wanted something light...and also something that wouldn't need much concentration on the train! Here it is, usual stuff...new "love interest" that doesn't come right for Aggie and unfortunately the slimy Charles is back!

The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite by Beatrice Colin
I really wanted to like this book...it has a fab cover and had amazing reviews, but sadly it left me cold. The character of Lilly was passive and I couldn't actually like her, Hanne was even worse! The whole saga of the changes in her life and the terrible events in Germany at the time were interesting, but not compelling. I feel I've missed something that others have obviously seen in this book. Sorry. i stuck with it - willing it to grow on me, but sadly not.

Quickie...

The Cinderella Effect
It took me a while to get into this...partly due to the strange opening, but mainly due to the writing being in the first person but alternating between the main femaile character, Lila and the romantic interest, Johnny. I found this distracting, until I got further into the book. Unfortunately, I didn't find Lila particularly likable. However, on the plus side, I loved the setting and the basis of a Midsummer's Night Dream...so an extra star there!

Woo...
Forgot to say I've become a "super swapper" with RiSi...done 50 swaps! Now have a huge pile of books to read...what a dilemma!

So many books...so little time...

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
It's taken me a while to read this draft - I downloaded it during the Christmas hols when I had just finished reading all 4 books, but held off for a while. watching the Twilight dvd made me look at it again today. the film was good and I really emjoyed it...Robert Pattison is far too young for me to drool over and he's not quite as I imagined Edward to be, but overall he was excellent...if only I was 18 years younger! The film seemed less intense than the book, but Edward was more "tortured", it now makes sense after reading Midnight Sun. Yes, I wanted Edward's pov...particularly as I never had much sympathy with Jacob! But...I hope this book is finally finished and done properly...Edward is too pained and I want more of his background, I keep wanting to know why and find that frustrating. Although I'm aware this is a teen book and I'm massively out of the "target audience"...I think he's more interesting than his obsession with Bella, but maybe that's my image of him rather than the authors!


Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate by MC Beaton
More of the same - well I have read 13 of this seris, so no surprises! Better for the lack of James and the charmless Charles.

Take a Look at Me Now by Anita Notaro
Mixed feelings about this one...okay, I devoured it, but was left a bit cold by the main characters. The "shock" factor of the sisters background didn't really work for me and i had high hopes that it was going somewhere, but for me it didn't quite make it.

Agatha Raisin and the day the Floods Came by MC Beaton
As you'll have sussed by now I do love Aggie and have ordered the next lot from Amazon already so i can keep going. Usual quick read and fun. Not missing James and the new author is a potential love interest!

London - April 2009
Had a fantastic time! Loved Priscilla...it was soooo camp and then added more feathers and sequins! Everytime I see a new show I am amazed by how slick and fab it all is! Oliver Thornton was great - no man deserves to look that good in stockings and a dress!
Phantom was brilliant (my third time), better overall seats, as we could see better when the phantom is right at the top, but last time was good for seeing expressions and little quirks. I still cried at the end - it doesn't change and she goes with the wrong man! Ramin is amaaaaazing! Although I have doubts about a sequel, I'll pay to see him in it!

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde
Good quality chick-lit! An easy read, the main character is slightly confused by what a "strong, independent" woman is as she still needs the adoration of a man, but it's fun, fluffy and a nice way to spend a weekend!

Easter hols...

At last, the holidays have arrived! It's been a month every week for the past few and i never thought I'd get there! No after a couple of glasses of very chilled white, I'm a little more chilled myself!
Still ferociously reading and have managed quite a few despite the work load...and have lots more that I'm looking forward to!