The Moment Collector by Jodi Lynn Anderson

A key is buried under the front stairs of 208 Water Street. Scorched on one side, was it in a fire? Who lost it, and when?

From me, it’s a clue, a piece of the past. Because the yard of this house is a graveyards of moments, and everything left behind is a reminder: sand paper, a bracelet, a love note, some letter, a match, a movie stub, a postcard.

Published by Orchard Books in August 2014

Pages - 256

Summary

There's a ghost haunting 208 Water Street. She doesn't know who she was, or why she's still here. She does know that she is drawn to Maggie, the new girl in town, and her friends - beautiful, carefree Pauline and Liam, the boy who loves her.
But the ghost isn't all that's lurking in Gill Creek... Someone is killing young girls all across the county. Can the ghost keep these three friends safe? Or does she have another purpose?

*****

Although I enjoyed this story, I found myself confused about it for nearly three quarters of the book. It wasn’t until I reached the end, that I truly understood what was going on.  From the first few pages, we know a killer is on the loose in the little town, but we never ever find out who it is. It felt as though a certain aspect of the story was set up in the beginning but unfortunately not carried through to the end.  I couldn’t see the point of making such a big deal about the murders if they weren’t integral to the plot.

Out of all the characters in the book, Maggie was definitely my favourite. She was a bright young thing, who worked hard at her studies and did all she could to make her parent’s lives easier.  On arriving in town, she was soon befriended by Pauline, who annoyed the hell out of me. Pauline came across as flighty and immature. I felt that she used Maggie when ever she felt she needed a friend. It was pretty obvious from the start that Pauline would always win every outcome.

This story is told mainly in third person, apart from the sections where the spirit speaks in first person. Now I’m a big fan of using  a mixture of narrative points of view in one novel but I will be honest, I struggled with it in this book until the very end. By the time I reached the conclusion,  it finally dawned on me why it had been written in this way and completely made sense; however I felt that was a bit too late to appease my annoyance throughout the rest of the book. 

The ending was the saviour of this story. However I was quite shocked to discover the true identity of the ghost in the last chapter. This was an OK read with a really strong ending. If you enjoyed  A Certain Slant of Light, you would probably enjoy this one too.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair family.

No one is a criminal.

No one is an addict.

No one is a failure.

Published by Hot Key Books in May 2014

Pages - 225

Summary

We are the Liars.
We are beautiful, privileged and live a life of carefree luxury.
We are cracked and broken.
A story of love and romance.
A tale of tragedy.
Which are lies?
Which is truth?

******

The Sinclairs are just as you would imagine a family who owned land in Martha’s Vineyard. They are loaded with money and aristocratic values, causing them to look down their noses a little at the world that surrounds them. They appear to the world, as a close knit family, tightly bound by generations and generations of strong blood lines. Yet as the book progresses, you watch in awe as their perfect lives, starts to lose the glamorous facade they have painted over it. The cracks appear, as we find out more and more about Cadence and her family and you find yourself no longer envying them but pitying them.

This book has a strong sense of  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby about it. The way the various strands of the family come together for the summer on the island. I adored the cousins when they were all together. Mirren, Jonathan, Gat and Cadence are a united group, who might not see each other the rest of the year but are closer than siblings as each summer returns.

I loved the way this book was written. E. Lockhart writes with a poetic nature and her words transform the tale beautifully, given a vintage glamour to it. I loved the inclusion of the family tree and the map of the island. I wanted to visit the island and explore it for myself.

Interspersed between the chapters, there are variations on the fairy-tale stories we have all grown up with. Each time one appears, you get a clearer picture of what the family are really like. Cadence loves fiction, growing up surrounded by the fairy tales brought from around the world. However, you start to wonder whether she can separate fact and fiction as the story unfolds.

This book may actually have caused a few of my brain cells to explode. I was convinced I was reading one genre and happily making my way through the book until two thirds of the way through, the author changed tactics and sprung a completely different genre into the tale. The transformation was carried out with perfection, but by then my mind was blown. The ending of this book will require discussion and lots of it. You’ll find yourself searching on Twitter and Facebook for fellow victims of this tale, because you will need to analyse it and break it down in segments to work out where you should have guessed what was coming.

On further reflection, you realise that every word you read, probably had a different meaning, leaving you with the burning desire to re-read it, in order to spot the signs which were hidden during the first read.

This extremely clever tale will wow you. You will read it. Gasp with shock and then rush to read it again. You will try to separate reality form mythology to understand what really happened to this family. A book that can easily be devoured in a day.

Ferryman by Claire McFall

He sat on the hillside and waited.

Another day, another job. Before him, rusting tracks disappeared into the depths of the tunnel mouth. In the grey gloom of the cloudy day, the light barely penetrated beyond the stone arch of the opening. His eyes never left the entrance. He was expectant, but jaded.

Published in March 2013 by Templar Publishing.

Goodreads Summary

When Dylan emerges from the wreckage of a train crash onto a bleak Scottish hillside, she meets a strange boy who seems to be waiting for her.
But Tristan is no ordinary teenage boy, and the journey across the desolate, wraith infested wasteland is no ordinary journey.
Life, death, love-which will Dylan choose?

*******

When I first heard the premise of this book it sent a tingle down my spine. I knew it would be a book that I would love and I wasn’t wrong. The premise is original and breath taking. The legendary tale of the ferryman taking you to your final destination is one that you can only dream is true. I am a big believer in the after life so I honestly couldn’t wait to read the book.

The author writes beautifully. Her prose is almost poetic in nature as the words flow off the page. It’s rich, deep and absorbing. Her descriptive passages full of original metaphors and similes. Her characters vibrant. You can’t rush through this book, as the writing is too filling to allow you. You want to savour every sentence.

The story is told in third person  and alternates between Dylan and Tristan, who dominate the book all the way through. This story isn’t just about life after death, it’s also about everlasting love; finding your soul mate in the last place you would ever think of looking.  Dylan is a really strong female character who accepts her situation maturely but will fight for the boy she loves. Tristan will warm your heart as quickly as his own melts. This has to be the most unusual love story I have ever read. I believed it could happen, against all the odds that were telling me it was doomed.

The ending took my breath away. I wouldn’t ever have considered the ending chosen, yet on reflection no other ending would have worked and it was the right one for this book.

I can see this book winning awards over the next year, because it is one that will touch your heart and make you believe that there is more to life than what we can see.  A stunning original debut from an author we will need to watch out for in the future.

The Hollow by Nora Roberts

Pages - 325

Published by Piatkus in 2008

Book borrowed from the library

On a bright summer morning, a teacup poodle drowned in the Bestler's backyard swimming pool. At first Lynne Bestler, who'd gone out ot sneak in a solitary swim before her kids woke, thought it was  a dead squirrel. Which would've been bad enough. But when she steeled herself to scoop out the tangle of fur with the net, she recognised her neighbour's beloved Marcell.

Goodreads Summary

For Fox, Caleb, Gage, and the other residents of Hawkins Hollow, the number seven portends doom - ever since, as boys, they freed a demon trapped for centuries when their blood spilled upon the Pagan Stone.
Their innocent bonding ritual led to seven days of madness, every seven years. And now, as the dreaded seventh month looms before them, the men can feel the storm brewing. Already they are plagued by visions of death and destruction. But this year they are better prepared, joined in their battle by three women who have come to the Hollow. Layla, Quinn, and Cybil are somehow connected to the demon, just as the men are connected to the force that trapped it.
Since that fateful day at the Pagan Stone, town lawyer Fox has been able to see into others' minds, a talent he shares with Layla. He must earn her trust, because their link will help fight the darkness that threatens to engulf the town. But Layla is having trouble coming to terms with her new found ability - and with this intimate connection to Fox. She knows that once she opens her mind, she'll have no defence against the desire that threatens to consume them both.

*****

This book was a bit of a disappointment to me. I can’t deny it wasn’t well written because it was but I felt a little like I had been duped, because the plot seemed very similar to the first book in the series, Blood Brothers which I loved to bits.

The story returns to Hawkins Hollow after the newly formed group of six had won their first battle with the darkness that haunts the town every seven years. In the first book, I was thrilled to read that Caleb had fallen for the feisty investigative reporter Quinn. In this book, it felt a little déjà vu as Caleb’s friend Fox, began to fall in love with Layla, Quinn’s friend. Shall we take bets on what will happen in the third book with the last two members of the group?

As much as I wanted to see all six become three loving couples, it felt too predictable, way too obvious to the story. So I found it difficult to work my way through it without gritting my teeth in annoyance.

The plot didn’t seem to advance that much further than the last book which I found disappointing. At the end of this book, they face the darkness yet again in a similar way, showing the action culminating in the last couple of chapters.

As I said earlier, I felt duped, as though the wool had been pulled over my eyes and that I wouldn’t realise it would have been easier  to combine the stories from all three books into one which would have made it a much sharper, more action packed thriller.

This is only the second book that I have read by Nora Roberts and to be honest, I am now not sure I want to read more. As much as I love the characters and the town, I’m not sure if I feel compelled enough to finish the series. This book definitely suffered second book syndrome so perhaps I should continue to the end because I can only imagine that it will be explosive, especially after building in tension extremely slowly for the previous two books.

I’m curious what Nora Roberts books my lovely readers have read and enjoyed. I if you have found one that you love, please let me know because I want to read one that I will love.

 

Piatkus Blogger Event

Normally when I go to these London events I am really good at taking pictures. I don't know what happened when I went to Piatkus but I only took three. I think I was too busy drooling at the books!

Before I went to there offices I met up with Sarah from Feeling Fictional for a walk. I didn't come to London during the jubilee celebrations, so I was really quite excited to see this up  on a building along the Thames. 

 You can't visit London with the obligatory picture of the London Eye...

 ...And the OXO Tower!

 On arriving at Piatkus, it was lovely to catch up with the ladies who keep us drooling. Donna  and Lucy, editors for Piatkus ran us through the books they were excited about which were coming out in the next year.

 Also in attendance were Carolyn from Book Chick City and Grete and Tracey from Bookthing_UK. We had a real giggle with these ladies afterwards. Unfortunately the conversation is unrepeatable!

 During the presentation we got to hear all about Piatkus Entice which was launched on Valentine's Day this year. Now folks, if you love a bit of romance, this is definitely the website for you. The books range from paranormal romance ot historical and not forgetting the a genre that has become popular in the last few months - erotica!
Piatkus Entice will publish up to 10 books a month for your Ereader and they will range in price from 99p to £2.99. A real bargain! And no one will be able to work out what you are reading on your Kindle when you start to blush!

So what else do Piatkus have to offer us over the next year then?

The Mark of the Vampire series hit out shores at the beginning of the year and appears to be doing rather well. These are suitable for fans of Charlene Harris and J.R. Ward and the band of warrior brothers appear to be really really hot!

Christine Feehan brings out a standalone in paperback later this year. Lair of the Lion will be released in October 2012, but I believe it is available from Piatkus Entice right now. 

For fans of the Dark-Hunter series, August sees the publication of the new book in this Sherrilyn Kenyon series. 

The first book in this series, Dragon Bound,  was released earlier in the year and was very popular. If you like dragons, wyrs and werewolves then this one is for you.

The second book Serpent's Kiss will be out in July. 

Steamy sex, gripping action and gorgeous heroes. Paranormal romance at its best! The fourth book in the Lords of Deliverance series will be out in November.

Romantic suspense. The author's first novel came out in December last year, entitled Shadow Woman.  I am really intrigued by this author and her second book Prey, which is due out in July  arrived in the post this week! 

I always feel bad when I see a Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb book as I have still to read one. I have heard such good things about  her books.  This woman is definitely a writing machine. In November the final book in her trilogy 'The Inn at Boonsboro' will be published. Next spring sees the publication of Whiskey Beach, a standalone romantic suspense novel set along the coast in Massachusetts. The latest 'In Death' book was published in February. 

For those who love a bit of historical romance. Eloisa James will be publishing the fourth book in her Regency fiction with a  fairytale twist. This one is 'The Ugly Duchess' based on 'The Ugly Duckling'.

Eloisa will also be involved with 'The Lady Most Likely' a novel written in three parts alongside Julia Quinn and Connie Brockway. 

Now I loved Charlotte's first novel 'The Apothecary's Daughter, so I was extremely excited to read that her second novel would be out later this year. This one is set 20 years on from her first novel, during the Glorious Revolution and  features Susannah's daughter, Beth. I can't wait for this book!

Dream Lake leads us into the contemporary fiction books that Piatkus publish. This is the third novel in the Friday Harbour series and I would definitely recommend it. I read the first one 'Christmas Eve at Friday Harbour' when it first came out and it was brilliant. Alongside Rainshadow Road, these books have a touch of magical realism to them. Dream Lake is published in August. 

The Guilty One is the new super lead title for 2012. This book is taking the world by storm and has already sold to 23 territories worldwide. It will be published in August. 

Mariah Stewart  is a name that caught my interest at the blogger event and I went straight home and loaded up the first book from her Chesapeake Diaries series onto my Kindle. Her books were part of the Piatkus Entice launch and will follow as paperbacks in September. Excellent choice for fans of Nora Roberts.

So as you can see Piatkus have some gorgeous books coming out over the next year and we were lucky to be given a goody bag with some of their titles. These are the books we were given. 

Thank you Piatkus for an awesome event. I honestly don't know what to read first!