I know, I've been slacking when it comes to reading and #50books2014 but honestly, I have been SO busy! The past month or so has been chaos. I've had one illness after another, tonsillitis, chest infections, as well as dealing with my everyday struggle with IIH) and now a sinus infection. The little's have also been poorly and currently H & C have tummy bugs so I haven't had as much time as I would like when it comes to blogging. I am certain everyone understands though.
Anyway, I have a spare ten minutes so I thought I would hop online and share my October book reviews, as well as my November book reviews. I haven't read anywhere near as much as I would like but such is life.

 "Cathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family.


When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?


Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.


Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her."

First of all I read Cathy Glass' latest book 'The child Bride'

I read this book within two days! Honestly, I couldn't put it down! It's very sad and absolutely heartbreaking but a good ending. It's sad to know just how many child brides there really are in the world and how different certain religions/cultures are to our own. I really felt for Zeena, it was hard to believe she was just a child. Throughout the book, I really got a sense of how she had no choice but to grow up fast. Thank goodness for Cathy is all I can say! I love Cathy's books. I've said it before & I'll say it again - The world needs more people like Cathy. I give this book FIVE stars. It's beautifully written, too.

Not many people appear to have tweeted there book round ups, so let me know in the comments/leave a link to your book reviews for September :)

Soph over at Ignoring life one book at a time has been busy reading 'Eavesdropping on Jane Austin's England'. This sounds like a really cool book - something I would be interested in reading! Soph has wrote a lovely book review, please head over and give her blog a browse :)

Tantrums & Glitters has been reading 'Anybody out there' by Marian Keyes. She has wrote a really nice book review on this book and it sounds like something I might like to read in the future! Please pop over and have a read!

I have read two books this month (and am half way thru a third!). I really enjoyed 'The child without a voice' by one of my favourite authors - Casey Watson.

If you'd like to join in with the #50books2014 challenge, you can join in on twitter using the #50books2014 hash tag. Don't forget to tweet me your book posts before the end of October! :)

Sarah xXx

I've actually read one book this month! I've missed reading so much. I've read 23 (or 24?) books in total this year, so far. I really would LOVE to reach 50 but we'll see how that goes.
Also, please don't forget to tweet me your book review posts (or use the #50books2014 hash tag) before 30th September so I can add them to the monthly round up - which I have really missed doing.

"Aproximately one hundred and fifty thousand children go missing in the U.K. every year. That’s one child every three and a half minutes.

Seven year-old Natalie Barrett is missing. She was last seen at 3:45 on Friday afternoon, walking from her school. One witness reported seeing an unusual car parked in the road. Police are canvassing the area for evidence.

Sarah Jenson is Natalie’s teacher. When one of the detectives on the case is mysteriously killed, Sarah sees a connection between the incidents and sets about her own investigation. With suspects stacking up, she is in a race against time to discover the true identity of the perpetrator before Natalie winds up as another statistic.

Where were Natalie’s parents when they should have been collecting her? Why is Natalie so scared of her Uncle Jimmy? Could a convicted sexual offender from Sarah’s past be involved?

Children not found within the first seventy-two hours, rarely return home alive. Sarah knows the clock is ticking…

Set in Southampton, and with D.I. Jack Vincent leading the investigation, Snatched is the latest break-neck-pace thriller from the pen of Stephen Edger"
Source

A story about a girl named Natalie, aged 7, being kidnapped/snatched from the school gates after school. It becomes a mystery as to what happened to her. The police are involved as is the school teacher and they try to figure out what exactly has happened to Natalie. I'm not gonna lie, this wasn't really a book I would have usually read but it was free on amazon. I wasn't really sure about it to be fair. I did find it hard to get into but after a couple of chapters, it wasn't so bad. I did have to skip a few paragraphs in different places as I found it to much info and I would rather just not read it as it was rather horrific. I predicted who had abducted the girl quite early on, so I wasn't surprised at all. It didn't make any difference to the story, I still followed it ok. It's nicely written and easy to follow. The ending wasn't what I was expecting but again, it wasn't bad. I'm not a HUGE thriller fan and not my ideal read.

3.5 stars from me. 


"Bestselling author and foster carer Casey Watson tells the shocking and deeply moving true story of a young girl with severe behavioural problems.


This is the first of several stories about ‘difficult’ children Casey helped during her time as a behaviour manager at her local comprehensive.


Casey has been in the post for six months when thirteen-year-old Imogen joins her class. One of six children Casey is teaching, Imogen has selective mutism. She’s a bright girl, but her speech problems have been making mainstream lessons difficult.


Life at home is also hard for Imogen. Her mum walked out on her a few years earlier and she’s never got on with her dad’s new girlfriend. She’s now living with her grandparents. There’s no physical explanation for Imogen’s condition, and her family insist she’s never had troubles like this before.


Everyone thinks Imogen is just playing up – except the member of staff closest to her, her teacher Casey Watson. It is the deadpan expression she constantly has on her face that is most disturbing to Casey. Determined there must be more to it, Casey starts digging and it’s not long before she starts to discover a very different side to Imogen’s character.


A visit to her grandparents’ reveals that Imogen is anything but silent at home. In fact she’s prone to violent outbursts; her elderly grandparents are terrified of her.


Eventually Casey’s hard work starts to pay off. After months of silence, Imogen utters her first, terrified, words to Casey: ‘I thought she was going to burn me.’


Dark, shocking and deeply disturbing, Casey begins to uncover the reality of what Imogen has been subjected to for years"
  
This is a true life story about a young girl (Imogen) who has silent mutism and no one really knows why! Casey however, makes it her mission to find out. This book is beautifully written. It is a sad story with a good ending. I don't want to go into detail as its on a few of my blogger friends 'to read' lists. 
FIVE stars from me!!  

Oh my goodness. I totally suck at these round ups! I have just been SO busy!
Anyway, please add your book reviews to the linky below.

I honestly haven't even had time to pick up a book for goodness knows how long, so I have nothing to add! I will do better next month though and be back to normal with the round ups each month!

Sarah xXx

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Gosh, I have been so, so busy. I've only read one book in June and that has taken me ALL month to read! I have seriously had no time. The end of term is so busy. The kids have joined more after school clubs, I have sports days/special assemblies/fetes and so on to attend. It's manic here.
Anyway, so this month I read 'Mothers Ruin' by Nicola Barry.


'Nicola Barry grew up in well-to-do Murrayfield, Edinburgh. Her father was a hopsital consultant, her mother was medically trained, her brothers boarders at public school. But behind the closed doors of their imposing family home, her mother was drinking herself to death. A beautiful, quirky woman, this is the story of how Monica Barry became a prisoner to alcohol and a prisoner in her own home, her addiction slowly sucking the life out of her. And how - with her father at work, and her brothers away at school - Nicola spent a lot of her childhood as her mother's unofficial carer: hauling her from the bath when she was too drunk to function and running errands to buy her booze.

Full of harrowing incidents, and warmed by a touching, bleak humour, this is the powerful story of how a mother drank herself to death and how alcohol destroyed a family. And of how Nicola battled with her own alcoholism but, determined to throw off her mother's legacy, came through - a survivor.'

Nicola had quite a rough childhood looking after her mother who was always drunk. Her father worked as a surgeon and was hardly ever home. It was quite a sad book. However, Nicola is very inspiring and a true survivor. It's well written and easy to read. I enjoyed reading this book (when I had time!) and am glad I read it.
4 stars from me!

Sarah xXx

So far this month I have only read two books. I don't know what has got into me but I have had not very much motivation to read. And I don't know what's going on with the goodreads counter widget but it doesn't seem to have registered the last two books that I have read. I've read seventeen books, not fifteen. Very odd. Anyway, here are my book review for this month (so far)


"He beat them, he abused them, and he tortured them. He broke their dreams. But they came back stronger.
‘Terrie and Paul are two of the bravest people I have ever met. I have only shared the briefest glimpse into the true horrors this brother and sister have endured, but I rarely come across cases this bad. After the unspeakable abuse and shocking betrayals, two incredible human beings came through – to inspire us all.’
Sara Payne OBE, co-founder of Phoenix Survivors
Terrie and Paul’s step-father had been living with them for six months when the abuse and grooming began. What started as innocent conversations and goodnight kisses quickly developed into something far darker and depraved.
Everyday Terrie was assaulted and abused; her rapes were photographed, filmed and shared. Paul was regularly taunted and mercilessly beaten. But despite the bruises and the scars, and the desperate pleas for help, no one saw their pain.
But through it all they stuck together, battling for their childhoods for over a decade and masterminding creative ways to outwit their stepfather and buy themselves fleeting moments of joy.
In March 2013, thirty years on, Terrie and Paul made the brave decision to give up their right to anonymity to tell of the years of abuse they endured at the hands of their recently convicted step-father and raise awareness for the ongoing battle for justice for victims of child abuse. A powerful testament of what can be achieved through courage and love, this is their inspiring story" 

This is a true story of bravery. It's written very well. It is quite hard to read but only because it is so incredibly heartbreaking. Having said that though, I couldn't put this book down. This has to be one of the most heartbreaking, horrendous stories I have ever read. It's very, very sad and incredible what these two children endured, I can't even imagine. No child should EVER have to go through what these two siblings went through. 
Five stars from me.  



Mary had reservations about eight-year-old Hannah joining her class. The three emotionally disturbed boys she was currently looking after had been making steady progress, and Hannah, who had a reputation for being a withdrawn and incredibly troubled child, would only be a disruptive influence.
For the first fortnight Hannah retired to a cupboard and refused to come out. Howling almost non-stop she was displaying the worst symptoms that Mary had ever seen.
How could Mary help a child who had been shut up in closets and treated like an animal? What could she say to a child who had been locked out of her own home, and beaten by both her brother and her father? How could she reach this lost girl?
This is the remarkable story of Hannah and Mary’s journey together. Deep within Hannah, Mary recognises an amazing strength. And with love, skill and patience, she gradually starts to make a difference. It’s a long road to recovery, but Mary never gives up.
As this moving true story unfolds, we feel Mary’s joy, we share her hope and, in time, her faith that Hannah will be okay

Very easy book to read, I read it in just over a day. 
This was a very moving story, true life and real. I loved this book! I felt so incredibly sorry for Hannah and her mother, it does have a happy ending though. Really glad I read this book. 
4.5 stars from me.  

Wow, I can't believe it's May tomorrow! April flew by!!
I've managed to read three books this month, not too bad but I could have done a bit better if I'm honest. I enjoyed 'The world according to Bob'. I'm hoping to get around to reading 'The book thief' and 'The fault in our stars' in May but we'll see how I go with that, lol.

This month Soph over at Ignoring life one book at a time has read several books including 'The crow road' by Iain Banks, 'After dead' by Charlaine Harris, 'The cuckoo's calling' by Robert Galbraith and four others! A total of seven books this month, well done Soph!

My type of thing has read a lovely book called 'The Lowland' by Jhumpa Lahiri. I sounds like a really lovely book 

Tantrums and glitter has had a busy month reading, she's read four books this month, including 'The Fault in our stars' and Mercy by Jodi Picoult as well as two other books!

You can add your April book reviews to the post below if I've missed you. Please remember to tweet me your posts or use the #50books2014 hash tag on twitter :)


What's on everyone's book lists for May?

Sarah xXx

"The latest title from the internationally bestselling author and foster carer Cathy Glass.

Beth is a sweet-natured child who appears to have been well looked after. But it isn’t long before Cathy begins to have concerns that the relationship between Beth and her father is not as it should be.
Little Beth, aged 7, has been brought up by her father Derek after her mother left when she was a toddler. When Derek is suddenly admitted to hospital with psychiatric problems Beth is taken into care and arrives at Cathy’s.
Beth and her father clearly love each other very much and Derek spoils his daughter, treating her like a princess, but there is something bothering Cathy, something she can’t quite put her finger on.
Meanwhile Cathy’s husband is working away a lot and coming home less at weekends. Then, suddenly, everything changes. Events take a dramatic turn for both Beth and Cathy and her family; as Cathy strives to pick up the pieces all their lives are changed forever"

 I have read just about every book y Cathy Glass. Cathy Glass is a foster parent in UK who has fostered more than 100 children. She is truly very inspirational and the world needs more people like Cathy! 

This story goes back to when Cathy's own children were little. She tells the story of how Beth came to be fostered by her and tells Beths story just perfectly. Although it is sad, (not as sad as some of Cathy's other books, it is still sad though) and my heart goes out to little Beth and her father. I really, really want to write so much about this story but it;s newly released and there are a few people reading this post, that have this on there books lists, so I don't want to ruin it for them. It does have a happy ending for Beth. I learned a lot about Cathy and her how her and her husband broke up in this book, which I have often wondered about whilst reading Cathy's previous books. 
This book is beautifully written, the story is very well told. FIVE stars from me! 



'The harrowing true story of a travelling Irish family bonded by love, broken apart by life, and then betrayed by their carers in a cruel convent in Ireland.
“For those who we lost along the way, I tell this story. For all the children who suffered in this terrible place. For all those I consider my brothers and sisters; the ones who died, the ones who lost their minds, the ones who drown their memories everyday in a bottle of whisky, I tell this for you.
Because in the end we are all brothers and sisters – and if we don’t feel that bond of love between each other, just as human beings, then we are nothing. We are no better than the monsters that ran the convents.”
Based in Ireland in the 1960s and 70s, Kathleen’s story is a story of extreme hardship, suffering and abuse. It is the story of 11 siblings, abandoned by their mother and torn from their father, incarcerated in convents and then driven apart in the cruellest ways imaginable; it is the story of their ruined childhoods and their fight for recompense. But more than that, it is a story of courage, survival and the incredible strength of sibling bonds against overwhelming adversities.
Out of terrible darkness comes a remarkable story. In the tradition of Irish storytelling, Kathleen offers a mesmerising account of her family’s experience.'

Kathleen tells her story of how she was brought up in Ireland during the 1960's & 1970's. It's such a harrowing story, very sad indeed. It is also very inspiring, I hope that makes sense! If you read it, you'll see exactly what I mean! Kathleens story is shocking and very heartbreaking. Kathleen is very brave, she and her siblings had a horrific, abusive childhood.  We learn a lot about her brothers and sisters and her parents, too! I learned a lot about the institutions/convents durring that time. Thankfully they were all shut down in the end.

This book is beautifully written and I could not put it down!I wish Kathleen and her family best of luck for the future. I am really glad I read this book, it opened my eyes to A LOT.


FIVE stars from me.




      
'Since Bob has appeared, I've made huge strides in my life. For more than a decade I was a homeless drug addict. I was lost to the world and had forgotten what was important in life. Now I've got myself back on my two feet, but as I put the past behind me, I'm still stepping unsteadily into the future. I still need help in the right direction. Bob is always there to offer guidance and friendship.' James and his street cat Bob have been on a remarkable journey together. In the years since their story ended in the bestselling A STREET CAT NAMED BOB James, with Bob's help, has begun to find his way back to the real world. Almost every day, Bob provides moments of intelligence, bravery and humour, at the same time opening his human friend's eyes to important truths about friendship, loyalty, trust - and the meaning of happiness. In the continuing tale of their life together James shows the many ways in which Bob has been his protector and guardian angel through times of illness, hardship, even life-threatening danger. As they high five together for their crowds of admirers, James knows that the tricks he's taught Bob are nothing compared to the lessons he's learnt from his street-wise cat'

Last year I read A street cat named Bob. I am a HUGE bob fan, hehe. 'The World According To Bob' is another book about the street cat 'Bob' and his owner 'James'. James was a drug addict who lived on the streets. This book reflects on his life on the streets but it also reflects on his life now. James and the ginger cat 'Bob' are inseperable and I can tell they have an extrmely strong bond by reading this book!  He has a flat and sells 'The Big Issue'. He is also now free of drugs & is completely clean. This story tells little tales of bob and what he gets up, how mischievous bob can be but also what a clever cat he is! It's set in London during the mid 00's (recent!). It's a lovely read, wonderfully written and again I couldn't put it down! 
Is it wrong that I want to go to London just to meet Bob the street cat?! Lol. 
Five stars from me!!  

More book reviews coming soon. 

I know, I know I am always late posting this but I've been really busy and plus, it gives everyone a few extra days to get there posts up and tweeted to me.
I've only managed to read two books in March. I am really going to try and make more time to read this month!! You can read my book reviews here.

Tantrums & glitter has managed to read two books this month including 'The Debt & Doormat' which sounds like an interesting book indeed and she has also read 'Mockingjay' from The Hunger Games series. I really need to get into those books!

Shay over at Shays bookshelf has read four books this month including 'The Prey' by Andrew Fukuda, Uprising by Scott G Mariani, which is a vampire book! She has three other books, too! Shay is currently reading 'The Book Thief' which I am also planning on reading this month!

Soph over at inoring life one book at a time has been busy this month reading 'A place of greater safety' by Hilary Mantel. All about the French revolution. This sounds like a great book and I could probably learn a lot from it! Soph has also read ' A History of Britain' and again, it sounds like a great book. I do love a good Historical read!

Sorry if I've missed you out of the round up. I could only find those three posts via the #50books2014. Please tweet me your posts to be included in next months round up. I've added a linky at the bottom of this post for you to add your March book reviews too :)

Sarah xXx 

 I know, I am totally slacking at posting the round up for February. I didn't really have much spare time to read last month. I am aiming to read at least four books in March. You can read my February book reviews here.

Thank you to everyone who tweeted me there posts :) 

Shay over at Shays bookshelf has read four books this month, including Lemonade Revealed by Will Chluho, The Dark Inside by Rupert Wallis and a couple more too! Shay is already on her eighth book for the 50 books, book challenge! Tantrums and Glitter has read three books this month including the very famous Hunger Games: Catching Fire and is also half way through the third hunger games book.
Mum Turned Mom read two books in February, including 11/22/63 by Stephen King and A Crown Imperilled by Raymond E. Feist and is currently reading Magician’s End by Raymond E. Feist.

You've all done wonderfully, I love reading all your book reviews and hearing about what you're reading via twitter. 

Please remember you can tweet me your posts or email me your book reviews :) Don't forget you can join in on twitter too, using the #50books2014 hash tag.

If I've missed you out of the round up, please add your link to the linky below.

Sarah xXx

Gosh, I am a bit behind on publishing this post! I didn't find very much time to read last month. Infact, one of these books I actually started middle of January and finished the first week in February. I need to find more time to read! Less time watching random T.V and more time reading I think! I am aiming to read at least four books in March to get myself back on track (wish me luck, haha)
 Here are my February book reviews.

 Breaking Twig by Deborah Epperson.

Southern fiction and Mother-Daugther Relationships

Set in rural Georgia in the 1960s, BREAKING TWIG is a coming-of-age novel about Becky (Twig) Cooper, a young woman trying to survive the physical and emotional abuse of her mother, Helen, a beautiful, calculating woman who can, with a mere look, send the meanest cur in Sugardale, Georgia running for its life. Not even Twig’s vivid imagination, keen wit, and dark sense of humor is enough to help her survive the escalating assaults of Helen and a new stepbrother, but help comes from an unexpected source—Frank, her stepfather. Sometimes, having one person who loves and believes in you is all a girl needs to keep hope alive.

Often raw and irreverent and sprinkled with all the Southern flavoring found in a good bowl of chicken and dumplings, BREAKING TWIG, is about finding love where we least expect it, destroying lives with easy lies, and realizing each of us determine our own truth. 

It took me a couple of chapters to actually get into this book but once I did get into it, I couldn't put it down! It certainly had it's up and downs but I really did enjoy it! I won't say too much about it because I know of at least one person's book list this on and I don't want to spoil it. All I'll say is though, give it a chance. It's a really good book and I am glad I read it! 
Four stars from me! 
(I read this book on my kindle. It was free when I downloaded this book)


Forbidden Strawberries by Cipora Hurwitz 


Cipora Hurwitz (Fela Rozensztajn) was less than six years old when the Second World War erupted. All at once the life of her tranquil family became a Hell. FORBIDDEN STRAWBERRIES is the gripping auto-biography of Cipora Hurwitz, an innocent young girl caught up in the Maelstrom of the Holocaust. Her eldest brother survived the war by the skin of his teeth by fleeing to the Soviet Union. The second brother was murdered when only sixteen. Her parents, by great efforts, succeeded in hiding their little daughter and thereby save her life. Devastatingly, they themselves were unable to escape the hands of the murderers. Cipora, as yet a young child and an orphan, was miraculously saved after surviving the Budzyn camps and the Majdanek extermination camp. The book ends with Cipora arriving in Palestine. The author relates the story of her life during the Holocaust to a delegation of American and Israeli High School students on a mission to the death camps in Poland. In FORBIDDEN STRAWBERRIES, Cipora presents her testimony on what transpired to her family and friends who were exterminated, thus paying tribute to their memory.

WOW. Where do I even begin with this book? Seriously, one of the best books I've read for a long time! This is a story about a girl who survives the holacaust. Having said that, you can probably imagine that is quite hard to read about the suffering and cruelty this girl experienced, however, I am very glad I read it! It must have taken a lot of courage to write and share her story with the world. I love the way Cipora has written this book, really well in my opinion and I am very glad I read this book! I give this book five stars. 
 (I read this book on my kindle!) 

Sarah xXx

Phew! It's finally the end of January, is it just me or has January gone really slow?! It's just a depressing month, after the holidays and what not. It's also been a bit hectic for most (don't ask me how I've managed to get in as much reading as I have because I do not know. Actually, I do. I stay up until the early hours of the morning reading and then I'm tired all the next day, but ha! It's totally worth it. I will get to my 50 books goal this year.)
Hopefully February will be much more cheerful and less chaotic (ha! Who am I kidding?! lol)  

I've read NINE books this month already, a couple were only quick reads/short stories though. Still, I think I've done rather well! You can read my book reviews for January here.
Thank you to everyone who tweeted me your January book reviews. I'm @OoserzoO on twitter for those who aren't sure. You can also join in using the hash tag #50books2014

Jo over at Ojo's world has been reading Gone Girl this month! Soph, over at ignoring life one book at a time has been reading about the London underground, a book called 'Overground Underground'. Tracy aka Tantrutms & Glitter has read four books this month, including the (very famous) 'Hunger Games' and 'What Stays In Vegas'. Shay over at Shay's Bookshelf has read 'The Husbands Secret' this month & also 'A Zoo In My Luggage' along with a few others!

You've all done wonderfully, I love reading all your book reviews and hearing about what you're reading via twitter. 

Please remember you can tweet me your posts or email me your book reviews :)

If I've missed you out of the round up, please add your link to the linky below.

Happy reading folks, I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Sarah xXx

As most of you are aware, I am aiming to read fifty books this year and I am also hosting the #50books2014 challenge. Thank's to Julie over @ Mama Owl. So far I have read three books already this month & I am currently on my third book. I'm still looking for more books to add to my Book List, so if you have any recommendations for books you think I might like or that I should read, please leave the title in a comment :)



Between Shades Of Grey by Ruta Sepetys.

"Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart." 


One of the best books I have read for a while. Everyone needs to read this book, honestly, it's really good. I couldn't put it down and I read it in less than 24 hours.
I was actually recommended to read this from a friend and I am SO glad I read it. It's incredibly well written and so sad!
It's a holocaust book about a family that get sent to work camps. It's absolutly harrowing and heartbreakinly sad what they endured. And yet it's kind of inspiring. It was hard to read because it was so sad, yet I couldn't help but read on.
What makes this book even sader is that it's based on true events. The author put an awful lots of research, time and effort into this book which makes it unique. I could say so much about this book. Honestly, I don't want to give too much away about this book because it really is very good and I really, really think you should all read it. But prepare yourself, you will need tissues. I will admit - I cried.
This book gets five stars from me. Truly amazing book.

The following books are ADULT books.


Release Me by J. Kenner. {stark #1}

"For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes an erotic, emotionally charged romance between a powerful man who’s never heard “no” and a fiery woman who says “yes” on her own terms.

He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist.

Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.

Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart.

But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever.

Release Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences" 

This is obviously a book intended for adults and is very, very similar to fifty shades of grey and the crossfire series. Except it's written better than fifty shades. A lot better.
It's very intense and passionate but it does have a good story. I really like the characters, especially Nikki. I would say that Damien is likable but to begin with, I didn't like him too much. He grew on me though. He's a very powerful, controlling man.
In some parts of this book I did think it was a little TMI but then I guess that's all part of it being an adult book..
If you liked fifty shades of grey then you will probably like this book.




 Claim Me by J. Kenner. {Stark #2}

 "For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.

Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.

I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.

But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely.

Release Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences"

The second book in The Stark series. Following on from 'Release Me'
I liked this book a little bit better than the first one, I must admit. We get to find out more about Damien and get to know him a little better. It seems that he see's Nikki as a bit of a game but she is really quite serious about him.
Damien and Nikki's relationship becomes a bit of a rollercoaster of a ride, it's intense, emotional and seemed a bit exhausting IMO. They start off so happy but ends as a massive cliffhanger and there future together seems a little uncertain.


Complete me - J.Kenner.

"This sexy, emotionally charged romance continues the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who’s never had to take “no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says “yes” on her own terms.

Our desire runs deep. But our secrets cut close. Beautiful, strong, and commanding, Damien Stark fills a void in me that no other man can touch. His fierce cravings push me beyond the brink of bliss—and unleash a wild passion that utterly consumes us both.

Yet beneath his need for dominance, he carries the wounds of a painful past. Haunted by a legacy of dark secrets and broken trust, he seeks release in our shared ecstasy, the  heat between us burning stronger each day.

Our attraction is undeniable, our obsession inevitable. Yet not even Damien can run from his ghosts, or shield us from the dangers yet to come.

Complete Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences"

I love Damien and Nikki, they make a lovely couple. Although I could've done with much less TMI, the story is good though. There's lots of drama in this book and it's full of emotions but I really enjoyed it! I feel that Damien and Nikki become a lot stronger as a couple, too!
 Again, this is really well written.




 Take me - J.Kenner. (3.5 - stark series)

"I’ve long dreamed of my fairy tale wedding, but it wasn’t until I met Damien Stark—who captured me with his kisses and undid me with his touch—that I began to believe it was my destiny. Though we both carry secrets and scars, our shared passion heals us, binding us together. We have surrendered to each other completely, and our mutual ecstasy is the brightest light in my life.

But darkness still snakes through the cracks in our armor. Ghosts from our past have moved in, bringing fresh pain that cuts deep and threatens to destroy everything we hold dear.

Damien is my anchor to this world, and I am his. But if we are going to keep each other, we have to fight the shadows of our pasts to move forward into our future.

“Take Me” is an erotic romance intended for mature audiencesI’ve long dreamed of my fairy tale wedding, but it wasn’t until I met Damien Stark—who captured me with his kisses and undid me with his touch—that I began to believe it was my destiny. Though we both carry secrets and scars, our shared passion heals us, binding us together. We have surrendered to each other completely, and our mutual ecstasy is the brightest light in my life.

But darkness still snakes through the cracks in our armor. Ghosts from our past have moved in, bringing fresh pain that cuts deep and threatens to destroy everything we hold dear.

Damien is my anchor to this world, and I am his. But if we are going to keep each other, we have to fight the shadows of our pasts to move forward into our future.

“Take Me” is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences"

I am glad that J. Kenner wrote this book, the final book in the series.
I enjoyed reading this one more than the other books, although I did like those, too!
Nikki's mother is finally put in her place! And it's about time, too! I loved hearing about the wedding and loved the fact that Nikki organised most of it herself! I actually now really like Damien and I wasn't too sure about him at the start of the series. I read this book in less than 24 hours (on and off, of course!) and it was a nice finish to the series.



Long Journey Home - Lucy Lipiner

"The summer of 1939 was the last summer in Lucy Lipiner’s childhood. On September 1, when she was just six years old, she was roused from her bed by her parents. Together with them, her older sisters, and her other relatives, they left their hometown of Sucha. They were among the town’s population of 780 Jews. Their decision to leave saved their lives.

Lusia’s Long Journey Home tells the story of their journey of survival from the eyes of a little girl. It is an odyssey of escape and rescue full of hardships and tribulations that takes Lipiner from her idyllic small town life at the foothills of the Tatra Mountains to the frozen wastes of Siberia, and the vast wilderness of Tajikistan. Along the harsh way, she experiences hunger and poverty, desperation and fear, but she survives and perseveres through the adversities. Finally, she arrives in America, and with her memoir she shares the emotional and physical struggles of a ten-year flight to freedom.

In her work, Lipiner gives a detailed and historical account of a little-known and rarely discussed group of Holocaust survivors. Lusia’s Long Journey Home is their story of resilience"

A harrowing Holocaust book. I went thru so many emotions reading this book, sad, happy.. I even cried! This story tells the story of Luscia and her family and how they suffered during the holocaust. They were forced to leave there home.. They go thru two countries, end up in a siberian camp where they are forced to work! This story is very sad so be warned! It's another book I think everyoen should read. It's inspirational! In my opinion it's nicely written and easy to read!



Remeberance - Calloline Billard
"*A Short Story*

One can never expect what twists they will be surprised with during their life.
Wes, a young adult, overlooked the simpler things in life. He was a typical teenager, just wanting to live; to not care about much, to do whatever he could and to keep things interesting. While he was not a terrible person, Wes was ignorant and lived without many cares. Never could he have guessed what was to become of him.

A completely unexpected snow storm caused panic within victimized areas. Applewood, a small town in northern Vermont, was hit with slick ice acting as a shell on the roads and snow covering everywhere else. It being late October, no one was prepared for such a thing.
After an unavoidable car accident, Wes was left in a hospital, lucky to be alive. Seemingly fine besides a couple of cuts and bruises on the surface, everyone was surprised when he woke up, only to find that he had no memory of anyone or anything, besides his mother.
Once fully recovered and released from the hospital, Wes was thrown back into the world with a huge task at hand: re-learn what life is all about.
New insights on society, nature and just the world in general are found as he ventures deeper into newly found thoughts. Even the simplest of things are taken to the heart and have a profound impact on Wes.

Lessons, new wonders, and re-living the best moments one could have, Remembrance is inspired by life and everything that happens in it" 

Hmm. Not really sure what to say about this book. It was alright, it could have been better in my personal opinion. This was one of my recommended reads on goodreads. It's a bit different and very easy to read! It's about a young boy loosing his memory due to a car accident! It's a nice short story and alright if your looking for a quick read! 




A Beautiful wedding by Jamie McGuire (Beautiful 2.5) 


"You know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But what do you really know?

Why did Abby pop the question?
What secrets were shared before the ceremony?
Where did they spend their wedding night?
Who else knew about it . . . and didn’t tell?

Everything about Abby and Travis’s elopement was top-secret . . . until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)—and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait." 

This is the last in the 'Beautiful' series (I think?). I read the other two books last year. And I LOVED them. 
I really like Abby and Travis as a couple! This book didn't really tell us anything new but I still enjoyed it and I am glad I read it! It filled in some of the gaps about Abby and Travis wedding in Vegas. It did take me a few days to read it. I wasn't as hooked on this as was the last two books but like I said, it is worth reading.  I won't say too much as I know it's on some of my readers 'To read' list and I don't want to spoil any of it for you!

This book was a lovely finish to the series.

Last year Mama Owl hosted the #50books2013, it was such good fun! So when I was asked if I'd like to host #50books2014 this year, I of course said yes.

I am so excited about #50books2014, I am determined to read 50 books this year!!

The aim of #50books2014 is to read 50 books in 2014. Last year I read around 30 books, so I failed to reach my 50 books goal.

Every month I will review the books I have read in my blog, you can join in too! There's no set day to post your book reviews but at the end of every month (around the 28th-30th) I will post a round up, linking your book reviews that you have posted in your blog. (I'll also add a linky at the bottom of each monthly round up post). If you can email me or tweet me the links to your book review posts, by the 28th of each month, that would be great!  Feel free to add the badge at the top of the page.

You don't have to be a blogger to join in, you can also join in on twitter, using the #50books2014 hash tag. You can also leave me a comment to let me know that you'll be joining in with me =)

I hope that some of you will join in with me for #50books2014 :)

Please note: This challenge is not a race or a competition. 

You don't have to have a book list, I however do have a book list, I just add to it when I come across a good book that I'd like to read!

Sarah xXx

 Last year I read (I think) 28 or 30 books. I need to add some books to my book list, that I did actually read but forgot to add! Argh! I didn't get to read all the books on my list for one reason or another, there were a few I just couldn't get into for some reason. In 2014 I plan on keeping my book list much more organised and up to date! I also really want to achieve reading fifty books. It's more than possible but I know I don't always get time to read - I need to MAKE time. Time for me. To read, lol. I got a kindle for my birthday last year and I love it so much! It is SO easy to read on and so much better for my eyes, I have trouble reading small print books and it can become very frustrating. I love my kindle ♥

These are some of the books I am hoping to read in 2014.
My list is totally random... 

1)  Captivated by You (crossfire #4) - Sylvia Day (no release date yet) *
2)  Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover (expected March 2014) *
3)  Trouble - Samantha Towle
4)  The Living Dead Boy - Rhiannon Frater
5)  Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
6)  Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps - Kelly Williams Brown
7)  The Husbands Secret - Liane Moriarty
8)  Me Before You - JoJo Moyes
9)  Between Shades Of Grey - Ruta Sepetys
10)  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Miss Peregrine#1)
11)  Hollow City (Miss Peregrine #2) (release date - January 2014) *
Stark Trilogy
12) Release me (stark trilogy #1)
13) Claim me (stark trilogy #2)
14) Complete me (stark trilogy #3)
15) Take me (stark trilogy #3.5) 
Gabriel's Inferno series
16) Gabriel's Inferno (#1)

17) Gabriel's Rapture (#2)
18) Gabriel's Redemption

19) Lusia's Long Journey Home - Lucy Lipiner
20) Remembrance - Caroline Billard
21) Forbidden Strawberries - Cipora Hurwitz
22) Beautiful Wedding - Jamie McGuire 
23) Breaking Twig -  Deborah Eppson 
24) Forbidden Strawberries - Cipora Hurwitz
25) I am Lubo - Lou Pechi
26) In your dreams - Amy Martin
27) The Fault In Our Stars - John Green
28) Scarlett's Secret: A real-life short story - Casey Watson
29) Love - Mary MacCraken
30) Stolen Voices - Terrie Duckett 
31) Little drifters  - Kathleen Story.
32) Daddy's little princess - Cathy Glass
33) Hackney Child - Morag Livingstone 
34) The world according to Bob - James Bowen 
35) Beautiful Oblivion - Jamie McGuire. 
36) Happenstance - Jamie McGuire.



... More to be added...


If you have a suggestion of a book you think I might like or should read, please leave a comment below.

 Feel free to follow me on goodreads and twitter for regular updates about my book list!

Sarah xXx

* = Not released yet.
(I still need to purchase some of the books on my booklist)