Shopaholic Abroad by Sophie Kinsella.

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0552999407
Genre: Fiction - Comedy
Publisher: Black Swan

"For Rebecca life is peachy. She has a job on morning TV, her bank manager is being nice to her, and the icing on the brioche is that she has been offered work in New York. The Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and she does intend to visit them all, but first Saks, then Bloomingdales..."

This book for me was slower than Sophies first book of the Shopaholic series. I found it to be a little slower and I wasn't as gripped. It was only the last 100 or so pages that I became gripped in the book and I have to say in this point I neary cried for becky. It was still enjoyable to read though, and I've picked up her next book in the Shopaholic series 'Shopaholic Ties the Knot'


Verdict: An enjoyable read.

SHRINE by James Herbert

Author: James Herbert
ISBN: 0-450-05659-7
Genre: Fiction- Horror
Publisher: nel


"Innocence and evil become one as a little girl called Alice, a deaf mute, sees a lady in shimmering white who says she is the Immaculate Conception. Alice is suddenly cured and can perform miracles but her saintliness is replaced by a vile force."

I got this book on recommendation from my sister and like her it scared the shit out of me! LOL. I found it to be chilling, spooky and so scary.
I've read some James Herbert novels before; Magic Cottage, The Fog, Once, Haunted, but this one so far is my favourite simply because the fear factor is there. The atmosphere of the book just got to me!

Verdict: Brilliantly Scary!

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0552998877
Genre: Fiction-Chick Lit
Publisher: Black Swan


"Meet Rebecca Bloomwood.

She's a journalist. She spends her working life telling others how to manage their money. She spends her leisure time...shopping.

Retail therapy is the answer to all her problems. She knows she should stop, but she can't. She tries Cutting Back, she tries Making More Money. But neither seems to work. The stories she concocts become more and more fantastic as she tries to untangle her increasingly dire financial difficulties. Her only comfort is to buy herself something - just a little something...

Can Becky ever escape from this dream world, find true love, and regain the use of her Switch card?"


I love Sophie's books and this is the first of the Shopaholic series, and it was a good read. It had me laughing and was easy going. I love the way Sophie writes.
May be not as good as her 'Undomestic Goddess' but still has laughs and during some time in the book you can't help but feel sorry for Rebecca Bloomwood.

Verdict: A good Chick Lit

I Can make You Thin by Paul Mckenna

Author: Paul Mckenna
ISBN: 0593050541
Genre: Non Fiction-Educational-Health
Publisher: Bantam Press

"Would you like to eat whatever you want and still lose weight? Would you like to feel really happy with your body? Are you unable to lose those last 10 pounds? Are you a late-night snacker? Do you find it difficult to say no to second helpings? Do you get disheartened about your eating habits and your weight? Then this amazing book and CD can help you! Welcome to a revolutionary new way to stop overeating, control cravings and feel totally motivated to take exercise. Paul McKenna has developed a breakthrough weight-loss system that re-patterns your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs about yourself, your health and food to help you easily get control of your diet and lose weight permanently. As you use Paul?s system, psychological techniques will automatically help you start losing weight straight away! You can use it again and again to make you feel happier about yourself as you go all the way to your ideal shape, size and weight."

This is an amazing book and I can't recommend it enough. It is one of the best books I have ever read! It works it really does, and the best thing is it is NOT a diet. There are no forbidden foods, you can eat what you want when you are hungry.

Paul talks you through how the body works, and how when you skip meals, your body actually stores fat, because your body becomes confused. This book comes with a cd for you to listen to. It is so easy to follow, there are only a couple of rules, and when you read them and begin using them you realise they are plain common sense and wonder why you didn't do this years ago! Every person, family imo should be following this healthy system. It changd my life and it can change yours, so what you waiting for? Go buy that book!

Misery by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King
ISBN: 0-340-92328-8
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: nel

"After a car crash, writer Paul Sheldon is saved by his number one fan. She brought him home, splinted his mangled legs, and all he had to do in return was write a very special book, one all about her favourite character. Because if he didn't, if he was bad, she would be cross - very cross."

I loved the movie but the book was by far the best! In here you get to read what's going on in Paul Sheldons mind, and you can feel his fear and excitement. It had me hooked and gave me chills! I love how this book was written, makes you wish you never meet an Annie Wilkes!

Verdict: Brilliant Horror!

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

Author: Sue Monk Kidd
ISBN: NA
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Review

"Lily has grown up believing she accidentally killed her mother when she was four. She not only has her own memory of holding the gun, but her father's account of the event. Now fourteen, she yeams for her mother, and for forgiveness. Living on a peach farm in South Carolina with her father, she has only one friend: Rosaleen, a black servant whose sharp exterior hides a tender heart. South Carolina in the sixties is a place where segregation is still considered a cause worth fighting for. When racial tension explodes one summer afternoon, and Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily is compelled to act. Fugitives from justice and from Lily's harsh and unyielding father, they follow a trail left by the woman who died ten years before. Finding sanctuary in the home of three beekeeping sisters, Lily starts a journey as much about her understanding of the world, as about the mystery surrounding her mother."

I love this book, it's beautifully written and had me drawn in completely. It's about friendship and family and right and wrong. I felt as though I was there as I read it and it's one book I'll always cherish.

Verdict: Wonderful

Camelots Shadow by Sarah Zettel

Author: Sarah Zettel
ISBN: 0-00-717109-9
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Harper Collins

"A stunning tale of romance and magic set against the legendary backdrop of King Arthur's court. At nineteen the beautiful Lady Rhian is clearly of marriageable age. But her father seems reluctant to give his blessing to any of her suitors. When she discovers the true reason for this -- that in return for her mother's life he promised her to a sorcerer -- she runs away to join a convent. The sorcerer, Euberacon, is determined to exact his payment and waylays Rhian on the road, but she is rescued by the valiant Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table, who gallantly offers to escort Rhian to Camelot. Gawain has grave tidings to bring to Arthur -- the Saxons are growing restless, and the threat of war looms. He has taken a great risk in stopping to help Rhian. But when a band of Saxons attacks them, Rhian proves that her skills include more than tapestry and gossip -- and Gawain will be captivated as much by her bravery as by her beauty."

I really enjoyed this book and it was my first of the Authurian fiction. It kept me hooked and I will be getting the other two to this trilogy.

Verdict: Good!

Chocolat by Joanne Harris

Author: Joanne Harris
ISBN: 0-552-99848-6
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Black Swan


"When an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, arrives in the French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church, Father Reynaud, identifies her as a serious danger to his flock - especially as it is the beginning of Lent, the traditional season of self-denial. War is declared as the priest denounces the newcomer's wares as the ultimate sin.

Suddenly Vianne's shop-cum-café means that there is somewhere to for secrets to be whispered, grievances to be aired, dreams to be tested. But Viane's plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community in a conflict that escalates into a 'Church not Chocolate' battle. As mouths water in anticipation, can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair?"

I loved this book and found it easy to read. It was exciting and a real page turner. It had me hooked from start to finish. The characters are loveable, especially Armande.

As I begun the book and got through it, I found myself falling in love with the characters, and I found that lots of detail had been given to them and the town etc, so much that I felt I was there with them as I read the book.

I also found that I could identify with Vianne, and this helped me to feel close to her. But my favourite character of the book has to be Armande and did I cry!

Verdict: Wonderful!

Priestess Of the White by Trudi Canavan.

"When Auraya was chosen to become a priestess, it meant leaving behind her village, her family and the friendship she had formed with Leiard, the local Dreamweaver. Masters of herb lore and healing, Dreamweavers were despised for their heathen beliefs, and Auraya knew that she must hide her respect for the godless healers if she was to succeed in her new role. Now, ten years later she is a Priestess of the White, gifted with exceptional powers by the gods. Auraya still needs time to fully adapt to her new abilities but time is the one thing she does not have. Mysterious black-clad sorcerers plague the land, raising fears that these powerful strangers may even be stronger than the gods' chosen five. As hostile forces gather momentum, the White work to seal alliances wherever they can. If the land is to be drawn back from the brink of war, Auraya will need to master her Gifts and call upon all of the courage and wisdom at her disposal. For if the tide is not turned quickly, Auraya fears she may be remembered as the last Priestess of the White..."


I found this book to be disappointing. The discription of the book sounded good and I had heard Trudi Canavans Black Magician Trilogy was brilliant, and so hearing that she had wrote some amazing books I decided to purchase this one and after slugging through it, I wished I hadn't. It was boring and a real chore to get through. It's a big book with 659 pages and I found only the last 200 pages to be readable.

The story just wasn't exciting and discriptive enough. It didn't grab me. Verdict: Boring!