Audiobook: The Wedding Planner by Melanie La'Brooy

This audiobook took me a while to get into for a couple of reasons. Firstly, being set in Australia meant that the narrator put on an Australian accent for the characters, which was a little irritating, particularly the voice for Mimi. And secondly, it was partly about celebrity, which is something that I am not that interested in. However, as the story progressed and I began to get to know the characters, I started to enjoy the story. There were some interesting revelations about various characters, and whilst the main character, Mimi, annoyed me quite a lot, I could see why her character was this way. I give this audiobook 5/10.

The Secret of Happy Ever After by Lucy Dillon

This book is definately going on my list of all-time-favourite books. I've always enjoyed reading Lucy Dillon's books but this is my favourite so far. That may be because one of the subject matters is a bookshop (because I work with books), and another involved dogs (because I have a dog!). But it was also very well written and had some lovely and warming story lines. The two main characters were different types of women but I felt I could relate to both of them and always wanted to find out more. As Michelle's past slowly revealed itself, I couldn't help but read on because I was so intrigued by the events in her life that had made her who she was. And because I shared a love of children's books and reading with Anna, I felt as if I knew her like a best friend. There was not one bad point to this book and I couldn't put it down, so I give it 10/10!

To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell

I really enjoyed this book. I immediately felt connected to the main character, Ellie, and felt for her because of her husband's death. Even though conjuring up her husband in her mind and having conversations was a little strange, it was her character's way of dealing with his death and it made me sympathise with her. I didn't feel so connected to the character Roo. Firstly, the name is a bit of a strange choice, and secondly her circumstances of being with a married man were a lot less easy to sympathise with, as was her methods of repenting for her past actions. At first I liked Todd's character but I did not like his storyline as it progressed, especially how he acted towards Roo. However, the main storyline which revolved around Ellie was really enjoyable to read, as was the sub-plot involving her father-in-law, and the style of Mansell's writing is easy and pleasant to read as always. I give this book 8/10.

Audiobook: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

I really enjoyed this story as it was very gripping. As Jodi Picoult usually does, the story is told from the perspectives of several characters, which I feel helped me get to know and understand them all well. Deliah was my favourite character and her chapters were always the most enjoyable. Andrew's chapters, I felt, were often very dark and told of some traumatic scenes from prison, which I did not personally enjoy but could see why they were important. The only character I could not really feel connected to was Fitz. Although this may have been because the narrator reading his part sounded very angry and sounded as if he was shouting all the time. There were parts where I started to lose interest, but I was glad to have stuck it out as there was a really good ending with some interesting twists towards the end. I give this audiobook 7/10.

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Sarra Manning

I'm still a bit undecided about this book. I really love the story. I think the messages it projects are really important: to love yourself the way you are and that things do not always live up to your high expectations. I liked the character of Neve and also Max. But there was something about the way it was told that didn't quite work for me. It seemed very much revolved around sex, and some of the language used to describe the sex scenes was a bit distasteful. There were sex scenes randomly placed throughout, that felt that they were there just for the sake of it. I also felt that I couldn't connect to all of the characters, such as Neve's brother and sister, and that their characters could have been explored a bit further. However, I did enjoy the book, I just feel it could have been much better. I give this book 5/10.

A Summer Fling by Milly Johnson

I quite enjoyed this book once I got into it and got to know the different characters. Each of the main characters were loveable and had some twist to their story. Raychel's was particularly surprising and helped me to understand her character better. My favourite characters were those who were with awful men but managed to overcome these and move on, showing their strength as women. Grace was perhaps my favourite, as you could see how much she loved her children and how much she had to go through in order to allow herself to follow her head and heart. Probably the only character I did not like that I was supposed to was Vladamir Darq because of the whole 'vampire' idea surrounding him, which seems to be a strange craze at the moment. I do not think it is particularly attractive in a man, and there were too many cliched jokes about him. Other than that, though, I generally enjoyed this book. I give it 8/10.

Audiobook: The Enchanted by Charlotte Bingham

I've recently gotten into audiobooks and this was a brilliant one to get me started. I really loved the story of this one, and all of the different characters that are brought together as part of it. Kathleen was my favourite character because of her connection to her horse, The Enchanted. But there wasn't a single character I didn't grow to love by the end, except those you are supposed to hate such as Lynne's ex, Gerry. I don't know much about horse racing, but I really enjoyed the descriptions of the races and really felt my heart pounding as if I were really there. It took me a while to get used to the narrator, as her Irish accent was a bit strange at first, but by the end I couldn't have imagined it any different. I give this audiobook 9/10.