Lost Dogs & Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon

SYNOPSIS
When the abandoned strays from a local dogs’ home are matched with brand new owners, it turns out it might not just be the dogs who need rescuing.

Rachel’s aunt has left her a house, a Border Collie and, despite knowing nothing about dogs, a crowded kennels. But since her life has collapsed she’s not sure she can deal with any more lost souls.

Zoe’s ex-husband has given their children a puppy. The kids are in love, but she’s the one stuck training Toffee the impossible Labrador. She’s nearly at the end of her tether – until Toffee leads her to a handsome doctor...

Meanwhile Natalie and Johnny’s marriage hasn’t been easy since they started trying for a baby. But is a fridge-raiding, sofa-stealing Basset hound like Bertie really the child substitute they’re looking for?

As the new owners’ paths cross on the town’s dog-walking circuits, their lives become interwoven. And they – and their dogs – learn some important lessons about loyalty, companionship and unconditional love . . .

MY VIEW
I am an absolute dog lover which helps with this book, if your not you might not quite get it or be able to identify with it.

The story revolves around the character of Rachel who has just arrived from London having split from her married (not to her!) lover, she finds the responsibility of the kennel on her hands, after her aunt who ran the kennels has passed away.

There are a great mix of characters here - Natalie & Johnny who are trying for a family (without much luck!), Zoe who has two children and recently split from her husband and Megan who is working at the kennels and originally from Australia just to mention a few.

This is a great chick lit with a twist of course, there is romance what good chick lit book would be without that? It meanders along nicely - its not hugely action packed and in some places is slower than others but, its just a cute read to while away a wet afternoon with a dog sat at your feet of course :-))

Witch In The House by Jenna McKnight

SYNOPSIS
Jade Delarue is determined to find the man of her dreams, so the sexy witch casts a spell that brings a gorgeous man to her door. But private detective Mason Kincaid isn't looking for love. Jilted by his last girlfriend, Mason's thrown himself into his work. He's visiting Jade on official business, and not even the blizzard raging outside her house—or her spellbinding beauty—can distract him.

Then Jade realizes the mistake she's made in her spell, and she wants him gone. But there are charms to spare in Mystic Manor, showing Mason that the witch in the house might be the woman he's been waiting for. Convincing her, though, means coming up with a little magic of his own.


My View
I found this book from my recommendations on Amazon and whilst this is not the greatest book you will ever read it was certainly fun.

The descriptions of the witchy things were quite good I loved the descriptions of Imbolc and spells etc. Jade does 3 spells which end up being sort of linked - firstly the spell she does for a woman called Brenda ends up with Brenda jilting her husband-to-be at the altar, so then she does a spell for the jilted man to find love and then one for herself because after six years since her husband died she is getting kind of lonely! Then an ill wind makes the candles all melt together.

This was a very humourous cutesy kind of romance think a witchy chick-lit!

Very cute and nice to read!

A Charmed Death by Madelyn Alt

Maggie O'Neill was just your average small-town girl, stuck in a dead-end job until she started working at Enchantments, Stony Mill's finest antique shop with a unique mystical secret. Now Maggie is Indiana's newest witch. Learning to cope with her newfound powers is tough enough, but add to that keeping the stock at Enchantments organized, keeping the peace with her somewhat controlling mom, and remembering to tape reruns of her favorite show, Magnum, P.I., and Maggie's got a full plate.

But when a second questionable death occurs a scant two months into her store tenure, she can't turn her thoughts away from all the town gossip about the teenage princess and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the girl's charmed life and death. While the police get caught up in procedure and logic, Maggie uses every trick, charm, and intuition she can summon, with the assistance of her favorite witchy boss Felicity Dow, to get to the heart of this spellbinding murder.

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

In this case? Get witchy!

This book starts 2 months after the ending of Trouble With Magic. And while Maggie's boss Liss recovers from her sisters murder Maggie is left to hold the fort at Enchantments.

Three girls from the local high school go into Enchantments and one of the girls, Amanda buys an antique clock, she subsequently ends up murdered!

Not as fast paced as the first book and I find Liss more exciting to read about than Maggie but, overall an enjoyable read.

The Trouble With Magic by Madelyn Alt

Bringing a little culture to Stony Mill, Indiana, Enchantments is one of the area’s finest antique stores. But shop clerk Maggie O’Neill and her employer Felicity Dow do more than conjure up curios for the locals—they each possess a talent for spellbinding sleuthing . . .

Bored with her office job, Maggie jumps at the opportunity to work at Enchantments. She was a little weirded out when Felicity described herself as a witch, but if her boss wants to play with broomsticks and cauldrons, where’s the harm? However, Maggie’s first day on the job may turn out to be her last when Police question Felicity in the murder of her estranged sister.

With everyone in town proclaiming Felicity’s guilt faster than the Salem Witch trials, Maggie finds herself wondering if she’ll also be tied to the stake. And lately, she’s been receiving messages on a spiritual frequency guiding her to prove Felicity’s innocence—and to embrace her own "charmed" life.

Another great paranormal chick lit (just can't get enough of these!!), this one was brilliant keeping you in suspense until the end as to who killed Felicity's sister. An interesting cast of characters and if I was to mark this I would give it 3 out of 5, there are some magical elements but, not a huge amount it was really for me more of a suspence than paranormal however, we see more of that in the second so definitely a series I will be sticking with just love the descriptions of all the pagan things.

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey

There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx—she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.

Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light . . . and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend . . . who's beginning to think she's totally nuts.

But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.

As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.


Continuing with my current addiction for Paranormal chick lit, this one is a stand alone (I think!). This is the first of Terri Garey's books I have read and oh boy what a feast, never a dull moment as there are a lots of sub plots going on here too.

I did find lots of similarities with Victoria Laurie's Ghosthunter series (previous review) but, thats fine I loved that too!

This is not an intense fun its a lot of light hearted fun and nothing too taxing on the brain but, something I am loving at the moment, I hope there is more but, to be honest I am not sure as this was on my recommendations list on Amazon so off to find out more about Ms Garey!

What's A Ghoul To Do by Victoria Laurie

M.J., her partner Gilley, and their client, the wealthy, de-lish Dr. Steven Sable, are at his family's lodge, where his grandfather allegedly jumped to his death from the roof-although Sable says it was foul play. But the patriarch's isn't the only ghost around. The place is lousy with souls, all with something to get off their ghoulish chests. Now M.J. will have to to quell the clamor-and listen for a voice with the answers...

This was more of a kind iof Paranormal chick lit and I loved it!

MJ is a ghost hunter and I loved reading about that side of things as the author is also a medium so that was quite interesting. She works alongside her partner Gilley and they help souls cross over etc. Think Most Haunted (though not as crap LOL) with better characters!!

Dr Sable's english is not so good and some of the things he comes out with were really quite funny! Of course there is a romantic twist (MJ & Dr Sable) which was pretty much predictable (well it wasn't going to happen between MJ & Gilley) and the ending was quite cutesy!

This was a fun, light read nothing too intense here and MJ was a great character - this is the first book I read of Victoria Laurie and she has written another Psychic series as well as the follow up to this which I definitely will be reading.

So if you love anything ghostly and paranormal thats not too intense you'll love it!

Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes

A nervous breakdown seems like a great idea: all that lying in bed and watching daytime TV. But who's going to have it? Will it be housewife Clodagh, who spends her days microwaving pasta for her demanding toddlers and waiting for her beautiful husband Dylan to come home? Or Lisa, hard, brittle and shiny as an M&M, reeling from the shock of a demotion from her fabulous job in London to a one-horse magazine in Dublin? Or Ashling, so normal she's weird?

Marian Keyes is one of my favourite authors and whilst I have liked some of her books better than others I have not yet read one that I don't like, Sushi For Beginners is no exception, kind of similar to Last Chance Saloon and is about several characters rather than focussing on just the one.

The three characters the book focusses on is Lisa, Ashling & Clodagh with a great cast of supporting characters. Lisa is a magazine editor who can be quite bitchy but, I got to like her towards the end then there is Ashling who is very nice all along and works for Lisa and Clodagh is Ashlings best buddy.

This was not my favourite Keyes book, I am still looking for the one that beats Watermelon and in all honesty I am not as keen on Keyes other books that aren't based on the Walshes but, I still really enjoyed this and Marian created a really lovely cast of characters and an excellent storyline.

Thanks For The Memories by Cecelia Aherne

Synopsis
Lose yourself in the magical new novel from Cecelia Ahern - the No.1 bestselling author of PS, I Love You How can you know someone you've never met? Joyce Conway remembers things she shouldn't. She knows about tiny cobbled streets in Paris, which she has never visited. And every night she dreams about an unknown little girl with blonde hair. When she leaves hospital after a terrible accident, with her life and her marriage in pieces, Joyce moves back in with her elderly father. All the while, a strong sense of deja vu is overwhelming her and she can't figure out why! Justin Hitchcock is divorced, lonely and restless. He arrives in Dublin to give a lecture on art and meets attractive doctor Sarah, who persuades him to donate blood. It's the first thing to come straight from his heart in a long time. When Justin receives a basket of muffins with a note simply saying thank you,he is sure someone is playing a trick on him. But then a series of gifts begin to arrive. Intrigued and disturbed, Justin is determined to find out who is sending them. What he discovers will change his life forever.

My View
As with all Cecelia's books this was a nice, easy cosy read buttttt ....

I found this a bit of a slog to read not as in it was hard to read I just didn't find it as enchanting as her other books. There are some really funny parts - when Joyce takes her dad to London and on his very first plane journey - and it was a nice storyline but, personally I didn't find the characters interesting enough and TBH was not really bothered what happened to them one way or the other!

As with all CA's books she touches on sensitive subjects - in this case miscarriage - in a really delicate way and Joyce IS a nice character don't get me wrong and I did feel for her in all the not so good things that happened to her but, in all honesty I was kind of glad when I got to the end.

Going by the other reviews it seems I may be alone but, this just did not hit the spot - perhaps I should stick to Fantasy!

Angels by Marian Keyes

The Walshes starred in a previous Keyes novel, the delightful Rachel's Holiday; Maggie is Rachel's older sister, (one of five) and the only one who "never did any of that nasty sleeping around business". Instead she got married to her first boyfriend Paul Garvan and everything was fine, until they suffered a couple of "setbacks". Unable to face sorting out the difficulties, Maggie hightails it to Los Angeles to stay with her old pal Emily. Emily is a script writer, her short film A Perfect Day was a big hit in Ireland, but her working life is a little tougher in the land of sunshine and fat-free Pringles. The two girls, along with a supporting cast of wannabes, scary film studio folk and slacker next door neighbours, get on with sorting out their emotional issues in a stylishly witty, wonderfully warm fashion. Maggie's devilish ex-boyfriend and the commitment phobic Troy add in a delightful frisson of sexual tension.

I think this must be the second in the series about the lovable Walshes, so looks like I've read them in totally the wrong order but, anyway ....

This was a fabulous funny feast as is the norm with Ms Keyes what Maggie gets up to in LA is pretty much hilarious for someone who was so settled before she left her husband. And Maggie's family feature quite a lot here which is great I think they are one of the funniest families in bookland!

However, this also touches on the very sensitive subject of miscarriage and thought it was so well done, although I'm lucky to have never suffered such a fate I thought it was very well done and Marian always has the brilliant way of dealing with issues like this while injecting a little light-heartedness, albeit sensitively.

This is not my favourite book from the Walshes, Watermelon still remains my favourite but, this was fun and a definite for anyone who loves chick-lit!

If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Aherne

Everything in Elizabeth Egan's life has its place, from the espresso cups in her gleaming kitchen to the swatches and paint pots of her interior design business. Order and precision keep life under control - and Elizabeth's heart from the pain and hurt she has suffered in the past. The only cloud on the horizon is her sister Saoirse, a red-haired whirlwind always leaving behind pieces, which Elizabeth struggles to pick up - including her six-year-old son Luke.

Being a reluctant mother while trying to keep her business on track is a full-time job, one which leaves little room for error - or fun. Until, one day, a stranger unexpectedly comes into their lives. Ivan is carefree, spontaneous and always looking for adventure - everything that Elizabeth is not. In no time at all, he has crept under her skin and started to change her life in ways she could never have . She knows barely anything about Ivan - who he is and whether he is everything he seems. And, if there is a future for their blossoming relationship!

This book is slightly different to Cecelia's other books but, equally as addictive to read. At first Elizabeth thinks her nephew, Luke just has this imaginary friend until he becomes Elizabeth's friend too!

I think this is one of those books where you either love it or hate it because, Ivan isn't exactly real per se it could be quite hard for some people to like him but, I loved this book because it was different and you can in some way relate to him because I think pretty much most of us had an imaginary friend when we was small or at least what other people thought was an imaginary friend but, who knows?

The Druidry Handbook by John Michael Greer

Firstly I am not a Druidess nor do I practice druidry, what I am is a pagan and like to learn as much as I can about other paths, that said I am very drawn to Druidry and my online name, Cerridwen is my patron Goddess (oor Ceridwen) who has very strong links with Druidry.

It has been such a long time since I have read a non-fiction book, mainly a lot of Pagan texts go over the same ground, especially Witchcraft & Wicca books, I'd forgotten how much I enjoy reading non-fiction!

This book I feel is more aimed at the new druid or someone wanting to learn more about the Druid path, the book does state that it can be used by experienced Druids but, I am not sure there is anything here that someone who has been on the path a long time would find of use.

You can read through the book end to end as I did, or you can just read sections as you go through. It has a very good section on the Ogham and there are some excellent methods for meditation, this would be a really good reference book as well.

The first part of the book looks more at the history of Druidry and its roots which was very fascinating and also very useful was at the end of each section a list of useful other recommended reading material.

The final two sections was more on the practical part of druidry and it was very interesting, the author I found seemed quite flexible in how he feels the reader could practice Druidry given where they may live etc. Obviously any path of Paganism is a nature path and the best place for ritual is outisde although as we know this is not always possible so some good alternatives are listed here.

Overall,this was a really good insight and for someone just getting into druidry I think this would be an excellent first book, its not comprehensive of course I don't think any book could be burt, this would definitely help with that first toe in the water into Druidism.