Me & You by Claudia Carroll

When Angie is stood up by her best friend Kitty on her birthday, she knows there will be a good explanation, but when she gets in touch with Kitty’s boyfriend Simon it soon becomes apparent that Kitty has gone missing. So they begin to search to find out what has happened to her. Only to find that the Kitty they thought they knew and loved may not all she appeared to be.

This I have to say is one of the best books I have ever read. Claudia Carroll certainly knows how to write amazing stories.  This is one of those books that you just cannot put down.  It is a moving story of happily living in the moment and for it all to be taken from you in an instant when the past finally finds you.

I really liked all the characters in this book, and the way you almost thought you were going to predict what would happen, only for the storyline to go in another direction to what you are thinking.  The ending to this book is just wonderful too, so perfectly written.  This is going in my current top ten reads at number one.  From its cover on the outside to what is written on the inside, this is a beautiful book that is an exceptional read.

The Debt & the Doormat by Laura Barnard

When Poppy and best friend Jazz decide to swap lives. What follows is an epic story filled with a dizzy calamity of mishaps.

What was such a shame about this book is that in my copy it had sentences missing from the story, so it jumps a lot and you have to work out what is happening.  The book is not badly written it is written in an entertaining and lively way, and I did read the book the whole way through.  I just found the leading character not that likeable, she is very shallow and there are too much stereotyping of people which some readers may not like.  The leading character does not hold back and at some times is quite crude.  But at the end of the day she is just a character, and there are people like this in the world, so why shouldn’t an author use this type of person as a character in the book?  So that is what I was thinking when I was reading the story, but for me personally I like to connect with the characters and like the leading one, which sadly just did not happen for me with this book.

Three Little Birds by Carol E. Wyer

After a family tragedy life had almost come to stand still for almost forty year old Charlie Blundell. Charlie finds working as a presenter for her local hospital radio a comfort helping others. On a drunken night with friend Mercedes the pair comes up with an alternate Bucket List, A Carpe Diem list, with challenges set for each other to complete.

When the radio station desperately need funds raising or it risks having to shut down, Charlie’s challenges become sponsored and are picked by the radio listeners putting more pressure on Charlie to complete each task.  Charlie must leave her comfort zone behind, overcome her fears, and deal with a stalker ex-boyfriend to save the radio station.  Is she up for the challenge?

What I liked about this book is that it made me want to leap up of the sofa and get out and do something! This is a story of learning to live life to the full, about turning things around and changing things for the better. I like the way Carol turns what could have been such a sad story into such a positive and lively tale.

My Two Flags by Javier A. Robayo

Antonio Amaya moves from Ecuador to America, a dream his family have looked forward to. Aged just thirteen Antonio does not find the transition easy. In a new country and in a new school, he finds himself unable to fit in, due to language barriers, and prejudice. Antonio tries to fit in while going through the normal traits of being a teenager. A wonderful told story about what it is like to be different in a strange and new country, adjusting to a new world and adapting to the surroundings, about feeling out of place, not fitting in, overcoming bullying and prejudice, and learning a new language. Making friends and starting a new life.

I really felt for what Antonio was going through, and wanted to reach out and help. Also I learnt a lot from this book about what it is like to move to a different country when you do not speak the language, and now understand how difficult this can be. We have all had times in our lives were we have felt like outsiders and that we do not fit in, the awkwardness and loneliness of the situation is written beautifully by the author.