Wednesday 21 September 2011

MY FAVORITE THINGS.......

I know I sound like Oprah.  But since she is an inspiring women why not!!! 

So this is going to be a new series of blogs I’ll write about my favorite things.  Things that I read, things that I cook, things that I gift, places I visit and music I listen too.

I hope you enjoy reading about my favorite things.

To kick things off I have to tell you about my new favorite books.  I have just finished reading two books which are just fabulous!!!  Both are fiction and both are novels written by women.

The first is the new Nora Roberts book “Chasing Fire”.  Now I am a big Nora Roberts fan and have read just about all her books.  Her style is similar in each book which could make them predictable but I find them interesting enough not to mind the predictable romance and crime elements. 

Below is the summery of Chasing Fire taken from the Nora Roberts website…………………….


“The number-one New York Times-bestselling author delves into the world of elite firefighters who thrive on danger and adrenaline-men and women who wouldn’t know how to live life it wasn’t on the edge.  

There’s little as thrilling as firefighting at least to Rowan Tripp.  The Missoula smoke jumpers are in Rowan’s blood: her father is a legend.  She’s been fighting fires since her since her eighteenth birthday.  At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering.

Fortunately, this year’s rookie crop is one of the strongest eve and Gulliver Curry’s one of the best.  He’s also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and winder job at a kids arcade.

Everything is thrown off balance when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year’s tragedy.  Rowan knows she cant complicate things with Gull any distractions in the air or on the ground could mean the end but is she doesn’t find someone she can lean on, she may not make it through the summer…….”

I loved the book.  I had never really thought about the work that firefighters do especially not those who work in forest areas and nature reserves.  I had not thought of how fit they must be, the stamina it takes and the very real danger they face.  Add to that the thrill of being a jumper and you have one seriously interesting read.  Then of course there is the budding romance and the suspense of the “who dunnit”.  All in all a good read for your summer holidays. 

The second book Is The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes.  I enjoy Marian’s books because I like the “Irish” she brings to each and every novel she writes. She always has  quirky  characters and her characters always face real everyday problems….kinda like the rest of us do.

This is the books summary from Marian Keyes website.


“Welcome to 66 Star Street……

In the top floor flat lives music exec Katie.  She spends her days fighting off has been rock stars and wondering how much cheesecake you’d need to eat yourself to death.

Below her, a pair of muscular Poles share with a streetwise cabbie named Lydia who has a sharp tongue, an even sharper brain but some unexpected soft spots.

On the first floor is Fionn the gardener who prefers the company of parsnips to people.  But he looks like a fairytale prince and when he’s offered his own television show, he’s suddenly thrust into the limelight.

And at the bottom of the house live Matt and Maeve, who are very much in love and who stave off despair by doing random acts of kindness.

But a mysterious visitor has just landed at 66 Star Street and big changes are on the way.  Old secrets are working their way to the surface, bringing love, tragedy and an unexpected optimism.  And life will be very different for everyone……”

I loved Matt and Maeve’s struggle and I was well into their story before I started guessing what the real issue was in their lives.  Katie reminds me a little of myself….think it has to do with the fact that we share a shoe fetish.

The mysterious visitor is only revealed at the end which is wonderful if you have not guessed who it is.  I was about three quarters from the end when I clicked who it was and was still surprised when I was right.  Marian Keyes has a very easy to read style of writing and she makes an interesting turn of phrase…..must be the Irish.  The Brightest Star in the Sky is a wonderful read.

So my two favorite books at the moment Chasing Fire and The Brightest Star in the Sky should most definitely be in your beach bag this summer!!!











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