New Books!

I went to a book sale and lunch at my dad's church today.

 Christ Church, Lancaster

I took 8 or 9 books with me to sell and only bought 5 back so that's downsizing...isn't it? LOL

I thought you might like to know what I bought and maybe once I've read them I'll write a little review! don't hold you breath though I'm reading very slowly at present! Just a chapter or 2 before bed! 

 'The Reading Room' by Ruth Hamilton

This is what Amazon says about it...

Leanne Chalmers has made a career for herself presenting her own style of home decorating and design on the nation’s screens. That was her past life, at least. For now Leanne has been forced to start again as Lily, leaving her name, job and marriage behind.

No-one in the Lancashire village of Eagleton has a clue about Lily, save that she’s come up from the South West with her best friend and a small child. But it’s hard to lead a solitary existence in a small place, and Lily and Babs are swiftly embraced by some of the local characters: Mike, the Catholic priest, who the girls can’t help noticing is easy on the eye; Eve, a Liverpudlian, who has a big mouth but a heart of gold; the hairdressers Paul and Maurice; and Dave and his love, Philly, both shy yet determined not to be cowed by Dave’s mother, the domineering matriarch of the village.

Soon, Lily’s new life is full of promise and as she joins Dave’s reading room, a shop come café and library, she begins to relax. But then Eve is wounded in a burglary, and suddenly, Lily is afraid that her secret is out: her husband Clive may have discovered where she is, and, having left her for dead before, is now out to kill her…

Full of Ruth Hamilton’s unique warmth and humour, THE READING ROOM is a rich, compelling novel of love, life and courage. 

'The Orchid Thief' by Sarah Orlean

This I was surprised to see is a true Story which I'm sure will make it all the more interesting! 

A review on Amazon said this...

Essentially a portrait of John Larouche, orchid hunter and thief extraordinaire, as well as (surprisingly) supporting the conservation movement, this laconically humorous tale takes us into the depths of the Everglades, the forests of the Far East and the hot-houses of the rich, famous and crooked.

There are some strange asides, that illustrate the type of enigmatic person who goes in for the underworld orchid trade; tales of frog poachers, happy in their slimy occupation; capsicum and bromeliad growers who dump the whole crop in a fit of pique; collectors who also spray-paint pigeons' tails.In all, this reads more like a novel than an investigation into the illegal orchid trade, but loses no credibility for that, rather, it lends a more accessible quality to the book than it would otherwise have.

A very funny, worthwhile read

'What's so Amazing About Grace?' By Phillip Yancey

 Philip says it best when he describes "grace" as the one unique word that distinguishes authentic Christianity throughout the ages. It's what I need every day; it's likely what you desire every day. Philip's book will prod us all to receive grace and dispense it. The results will surprise and delight us.

'Marshmallows For Breakfast' by Dorothy Koomson.

 What a great title! Makes me want to be in their house at breakfast eating marshmallows with them!

After Kendra Tamale returns to England from Australia, she rents a room from Kyle, a single father of two, and looks forward to an uncomplicated life.

Kyle’s young twins, Summer and Jaxon, have other ideas and quickly adopt Kendra as their new mother – mainly because she lets them eat marshmallows for breakfast. Even though Kendra is hiding a painful secret that makes her keep everyone – particularly children – at arm’s length, life improves for her as she becomes a part of their family.

Then Kendra bumps into the man who shares her awful secret and everything falls apart – especially when the kids are taken away by their mother. The only way to fix things is to confess all about her past, but that’s something she swore never to do…

Sadly in looking for a blurb for my blog here I found some very damning reviews but as I tend to like films that only get 2 stars hopefully this will be the same and I will enjoy itfor what it is and not what someone else thinks about it. After all it's my opinion that counts!

'A Vintage Affair' by Isabel Wolff

Phoebe Swift, has just opened a vintage dress shop in Blackheath. At the same time she is coping with the recent loss of her best friend, Emma. So Phoebe takes refuge in her work - restoring these wonderful old clothes to their former glory so that they can go on to have new lives. But what of the past lives these clothes have lived she often wonders? What stories would they tell if they could speak? One day Phoebe meets an elderly French woman, Therese, who wishes to sell her some elegant dresses and suits. In Therese's wardrobe Phoebe also finds a child's sky-blue winter coat, from wartime France. At first Therese wishes not to reveal the coat's history but, as the two women become friends, she opens up. Phoebe listens to the poignant story of the little blue coat not knowing that it is to have a profound and uplifting connection with her own life...

I think this is the book I'll start with. I'm just starting up my own business and I'm sure I'll identify with the theme of this novel! How I would love to have my own shop! Online shops will have to do for me now.

Well I hope you are interested in my choice of books. Have you read any of them? If so let me know if you enjoyed them. Just don't give anything away! Hehe Or if you would like you can read any or all of them alongside me. Let me know if you are joining me and we can chat about how we found them, what we liked or disliked and maybe start our own little reading circle!