Beautiful by Katie Piper

This is a book I have been wanting to read for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally got round to it. I spent a whole day reading this book and just couldn't put it down. The story of how she met and was hurt by her boyfriend, Danny, was told so well that my heart was beating fast in my chest. Reading the story of her recovery was truly inspiring and emotional, and I really admired her honesty about the fears and doubts she still had years later. This book really makes you look at people and life in a different light, showing that superficial beauty is not everything. I give this book 10/10.

A Year of Doing Good by Judith O'Reilly

I really enjoyed this book, having never heard of Judith O'Reilly before but being attracted by the idea behind it. I liked how it was written in short diary excerpts, which made it easy to read. Although Judith sometimes reluctantly performed her good deeds and sometimes came across as a little selfish, I liked her honesty about the difficulty of her resolution. Some of the deeds, especially her work with the Jam Jar Army, were fascinating to read and a real inspiration. I'd say the only real problem I had with the book was that she didn't name her children, which seemed a little impersonal, but rather called them 'the-eight-year-old' or similar. Overall, though, this was a humourous read and I give this book 8/10.

Pedigree Mum by Fiona Gibson

This was a really enjoyable read. It was the concept of getting a dog that drew me to this book, and although Buddy did feature in the book a bit, I felt he could have played an even bigger role. However, the plot was still enough to keep me gripped throughout. Kerry was a great leading lady and it was amazing to see her grow and recover from her husband's adultery during the story. Kerry's husband's storyline was interesting in itself, to see how he accepted his mistakes and learned to live with them. What I liked about the other love interests was that it wasn't obvious who Kerry would end up with right until the end - James, Harvey or even her (ex)husband. I give this book 9/10.

Don't Want To Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell

I absolutely loved this book - I was hooked from page one! I felt immersed in the lives of all the of loveable characters, which got me emotionally attached and kept me in suspense because I was desperate to find out what would happen next! I loved some of the twists and turns that happened on their journeys, which were made all the better sprinkled with a bit of Mansell's wit. Whilst the ending was pretty predictable, it is a feel-good story that left me smiling. I give this book 10/10!

A French Affair by Katie Fforde

I really do not want to say anything negative about a Katie Fforde novel because she is my favourite author. However, I am sad to admit that I was disappointed by this book. I just could not engage with the main character, Gina, because she was so changeable. One minute she was kind and understanding, the next she would throw a tantrum and start throwing things around the room! Matthew was a real let down as a romantic love interest. One minute he was all over Gina and the next he was cold and icy. I couldn't decide if I liked him as a person or not. The whole storyline was a bit farfetched, and Gina was not as strong a character as some of Katie Fforde's previous heroines. I did enjoy reading parts of the story, however. And it was enjoyable to a certain extent, I was just disappointed because Katie Fforde's standard is usually so high and I always wait in anticipation for each of her new novels. I give this book 5/10.

The Hidden Cottage by Erica James

I really loved this book, another great novel by Erica James. The setting of the book was idyllic, the descriptions of the village of Little Pelham, as well as the Hidden Cottage itself, made me fall in love with the place. The book was full of loveable characters, from the main character, Mia, to busybody  Muriel to the village peacock named Putin! There were some very serious issues raised in the book, from infidelity to anorexia to death. The major twist in the plot was a real shock, but added a lot of substance to the book. The story really showed the importance of family, love and happiness and was a joy to read. I give this book 10/10.