My 2019 Reading Challenge - Update #2

Early in March I posted my first book update for 2019. I set myself a goal of reading 30 books this year and in the first post I had just reached number 21 and I'm now at #38 so try and avoid this post being ridiculously long, I thought now was the perfect time for my second update. I'll probably do these every 3 or 4 months so I'm excited to see where I'll be at by the end of the year. I've definitely slowed down on the reading front over the last month or so but I'm happy I've managed to reach my goal already!

All That She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was the first book I've ever read from Carrie Hope Fletcher and despite it having mixed reviews online, I actually really enjoyed it. I loved the main character Cherry, it being set around baking was perfect for me and I liked that the ending wasn't completely clear cut. It had a very magical theme around it which isn't something I'd ever usually pick but I liked it!

Paddington's Guide To London by Michael Bond - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I wasn't sure at first whether this would really count but it was actually far more informative than I was expecting. I'm sure you all know my love for London by now (and I do adore Paddington too) so when I spotted this in the Notting Hill Bookshop earlier this year, I decided to grab it. It goes into great detail about all the tourist spots in London and I found myself bookmarking so many places for our next trip. 

Strictly Between Us by Jane Fallon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The third book I read from Jane Fallon, who has become one of my go to authors recently. She is just perfect at writing about friendships, love and betrayal. A lot of her books tend to be quite similar but I like that I kind of know what to expect, sometimes you just need something a bit more normal and easy-going.

With Or Without You by Carole Matthews - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a surprise this book was! I really enjoyed Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews last year so I've been keen to go back to the start of her books and try and get through them all. One of her early ones is With Or Without You and whilst I thought I'd like it, it just blew me away. I just adored the main character Lyssa and I loved following her journey all the way to Nepal. Really likeable characters and a good amount of unpredictability about it.

Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon - ⭐⭐⭐

It pains me to give this book 3 stars because I usually really get on with anything by Paige Toon but I just struggled with this. I don't feel the story ever really got going and I'm just not sure the ending was what any of the characters deserved, it was just a bit all over the place for me.

Watching You by Lisa Jewell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lisa Jewell knows exactly how to write a thriller. The second book I've read from her now after Then She Was Gone, and this left me feeling just as impressed. It was tense, full of twists and keeps you guessing right til the very end.

Foursome by Jane Fallon - ⭐⭐⭐

You might think from the title this is some raunchy read, but it's kind of the complete opposite. It's about two couples who have been best friends for years and what happens when one of them splits up. There's a good amount of drama throughout and as I've said before in a previous review, Jane Fallon is the best at writing unlikeable characters, but something was missing for me.

The Evidence Against You by Gillian McAllister - ⭐⭐

I think this might be the first book I've ever given 2 stars. The premise of this was brilliant, as soon as I saw it I grabbed it, it just seemed like the perfect thriller for me to get stuck into but wow I could not get through it at all. Incredibly slow paced, I didn't connect with any of the characters and I just didn't want to pick it up. It's a book that I think could go either way with people, I've read some great reviews of it so I definitely think I'm in the minority with not enjoying this.

Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the biggest surprises this year for sure. I picked this up on a whim when it was £2 on Amazon but then it took me a while to get that urge to actually read it, once I did though I just thought why have I left it so long to start this! Such a shocker of a book, I genuinely never knew what was going to happen next and some of the twists left me baffled. It would make such an incredible movie.

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Burrows - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ahh this book makes me smile just thinking about it. I watched the film first which I just loved beyond belief so I gave the book a go afterwards and it's definitely one of my favourites ever. It's so heartwarming, the characters are hard to say goodbye to and though it teaches you quite a lot about the Occupation in Guernsey, it never feels too informative.

Do Not Disturb by Claire Douglas - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Claire Douglas is up there as one of the best authors of thriller/mystery novels in my eyes. The Sisters blew me away last year so I was really hoping Do Not Disturb would do the same. I was seriously unable to put this down. It's mysterious, every character is suspicious and the ending leaves it in a way that says there could definitely be more in future.

You Had Me At Hello & After Hello by Mhairi McFarlane ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I mentioned in my review of this that literally within the first few pages I had that oh god feeling, where it just seemed like it wasn't going to be for me. I had a strange feeling about it but within a few chapters, that all changed. It's set partly in Sheffield so it felt very close to home, I thought the characters were relatable and it was just pure romance. I didn't want it to end. I read the short story follow-up 'After Hello' quite quickly afterwards and it was the perfect way to finish Ben and Rachel's story.

Got You Back by Jane Fallon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a bit of a strange one because I found it really enjoyable to read but not much actually happens. It was very much a story about deceit and betrayal which a lot of Jane's books seem to centre around, but it's something she does so well. I think this would be a good holiday read.

Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book blew my mind. I'd been impressed with the two other books I'd read from Claire so I expected to enjoy this too but I could never have predicted where the story went. It was fast paced, creepy and the twist that comes at the end of part 1 genuinely made me need to stop and have a breather because I was just baffled. It completely changed up the story, almost to the point where I wanted to go back to beginning and start again. Just insane. Read it!

Messy Wonderful Us by Catherine Isaac - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was a total surprise. I was intrigued but wasn't 100% sure it would be one that would grab me. It's not strictly a romance and maybe bit more of a serious read than I'd usually go for but I'm so glad I gave it a chance! It's a real emotional drama that pulls on your heartstrings, I couldn't put it down. Full review here.

I'd love to know what you've been reading recently and what your favourite book has been of the year so far? Let me know if you've read any of these too, would love to know what you thought!

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My Lotus Biscoff Brownies Recipe

Just last week I shared my recipe for these insane Bourbon Brick Brownies, and they have gone down so well. I actually think the photo I posted on Instagram is my most liked picture ever! If you haven't already given them a try, they're so worth making. I mentioned in that post that the basic brownie recipe was the best I'd ever found and you could easily swap out the bourbons for other ingredients, so that's what I did! I decided to make Lotus Biscoff Brownies and they were out of this world. I'm actually really surprised at myself for making something else for the first time and not messing it up!

Ingredients:

100g butter

200g golden caster sugar

200g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

100g plain flour

12 Lotus Biscoff biscuits

14 tsps of Lotus Biscoff spread

Method:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees (160 fan) and grease and line a large square baking tin. A 20cm one would be ideal but anything similar to that should be fine

2. Put the butter and sugar into a saucepan and warm over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved

3. Take the pan off the heat and add in the broken up chocolate and vanilla extract. Keep stirring until the chocolate has fully melted and is incorporated into the mixture

4. Add in your two eggs and then using a hand-held electric whisk if possible, beat them until the mix is thick and velvety

5. Sift in your flour and then add in 8 broken up Lotus Biscoff biscuits. Give it one final mix and pour into the tin 

6. Make sure the mixture is spread evenly and then you can add your Lotus Biscoff spread. I ended up using 14 teaspoons and I just dotted them around on top of the brownie mix. Swirl with a skewer or knife. I then added 4 biscuits which I broke into pieces and placed closely to the spread

7. Pop into the oven for 40-45 minutes

8. Leave to cool completely in the tin, this will make cutting them so much easier!

9. Remove the brownie from the tin, cut into squares and enjoy!

If you're a fan of Biscoff, you need to give this recipe a try. There might be a few steps to it but trust me, it's worth it. Very indulgent, so moreish and the perfect chocolate fix.

Recipes - Chocolate mousse // Victoria Sponge // Vanilla Fork Biscuits

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Summer Crafting Ideas For Adults*

There is something about long Summer days that helps inspire our creative flow! Summer is the perfect time for creative crafts so why not make the most of the longer Summer days and spend time making some accessories for your home and garden. The lovely thing about craft activities is that you can gain enjoyment working on your projects alone or invite a friend round for the evening and enjoy making crafts together - it really can be a social activity that can be enjoyed with friends and family, if you wish.

Some craft projects are easier than other but there is nothing more satisfying than completing something created by your own hands, that has been made with love; it really does give you a strong satisfying sense of completion.

Below are a couple of ideas to get you started! All the below crafts are made using duck tape. These would all make fantastic gifts or could be made to donate to your village summer fetes or your child's school fair.

We are all in need of a beach bag so why not create your very own Duck Tape Beach Bag; something practical and colourful! Using just coloured or printed Duck Tape, a craft knife and cutting board you can create your own unique colourful bag with the whole activity taking about one and a half hours. A perfect evening activity!

Duck Tape is not only pretty and practical but hard-wearing and waterproof! With that said, the garden is a great place to benefit from its many uses! Why not try perking up your garden terracotta plant pots by covering them in Duck Tape? Spending more time outdoors doesn't mean that you need to kiss goodbye to all those lovely, cosy months you've spent indulging in Winter crafting sessions! Have fun creating some bright and practical Duck Tape crafts.

*This is a collaborative post with Duck Tape

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Messy Wonderful Us By Catherine Isaac Book Review*

You know when you start a book not really sure if it's going to be for you or not and then it ends up taking you completely by surprise? That happened to me with The Guilty Wife by Elle Croft earlier this year and for different reasons, I felt exactly the same once I had finished Messy Wonderful Us by Catherine Isaac. I read the synopsis of this and though it maybe wasn't typically something I'd reach for over an obvious romance book, there was something about it that drew me in straight away and I felt compelled to read it. Just to be clear, I received a copy from NetGalley to review, so now let's see if I can manage to do it some justice!

'One morning in early Summer, a man and woman wait to board a flight to Italy. Allie has lived a careful, focused existence. But now she has unexpectedly taken leave from her job as an academic research scientist to fly to a place she only recently heard about in a letter. Her father, Joe, doesn't know the reason for her trip, and Allie can't bring herself to tell him that she's flying to Italy to unpick the truth about what her mother did all those years ago. Beside her is her best friend since schooldays, Ed. He has just shocked everyone with a sudden seperation from his wife, Julia. Allie hopes that a break will help him open up. But the secrets that emerge as the sun beats down on Lake Garda and Liguria don't merely concern her family's tangled past. And the two friends are forced to confront questions about their own life-long relationship that are impossible to resolve.'

My review

After a sneak peak in her Grandma Peggy's wardrobe to check for something, Allie uncovers a letter which was never meant to be found. This letter contains secrets that were never supposed to be revealed. What happens next is Allie's journey to Italy to discover if the man who has raised her is really her father or if Stefano, the man she had no idea about until recently is about to change her whole life. We start with Allie who I really warmed to right from the start. She's an incredibly intelligent woman, currently working as an academic research scientist, and though there are elements which maybe at times could come across as a little stand-offish, I found I just genuinely really, really liked her. Surprisingly I also didn't find the details of her work too confusing given I'm absolutely awful at anything to do with science. The book delves into her work life every so often and we see just how passionate she is about the projects she's working on and how determined she is to make a change for people, and I just found that really endearing. 

We only get glimpses into Ed's life at the beginning but I felt the detail was enough to get a clear picture of him as a person, his toxic relationship with wife Julia, and why he and Allie had remained such good friends since teenagers. He was interesting and clearly a match for Allie, in whichever way that might be. He was someone I always wanted to know more about so it was nice that the book became about uncovering and exploring both his and Allie's relationships, with each other and with other people. Though the story is primarily told by Allie's point of view, there are times we hear from Ed and something else which also surprised me, we also hear a lot from Grandma Peggy who ends up having many secrets of her own. Some that truly shocked me and changed up the whole story! It's clear each time we switch to another person which I found useful as sometimes when there are multiple characters telling their own story, it can get a little all over the place.

I think the title Messy Wonderful Us sums up this book perfectly. The friendship between Ed and Allie does become messy at times, there are hints that maybe there's more than just platonic feelings for both of them but could they ever really explore that? Ed and Julia clearly have a turbulent relationship, and the topic of domestic abuse is spoken about which I certainly wasn't expecting, and then there's the themes of loss and grief which affects a number of characters throughout. All of the tough subjects though are dealt with delicately and realistically. It might not have all these twists and turns many people wait for in a book, but it doesn't need them. It's packed full of real life things which I think only makes it even easier to fall in love with everything about it.

A lot of the book takes place in Italy too which certainly helps aswell. It makes such a wonderful setting for the story. Catherine's writing almost transports you to each place they visit on their quest to find Stefano, I just want to go even more now! 

I'm still surprised by just how taken I feel by this book. I honestly never expected to love it quite as much as I do. It's bittersweet, pulls at your heartstrings and leaves you gripped right til the very end. If you like an emotional drama, this is the book for you.

Reviews - The Sisters by Claire Douglas // You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane // Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

*I was provided with a free copy for the purpose of this review

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