Last year I chose my five most anticipated chick lit reads. This year I’ve gone for bigger and better with ten titles I can’t wait to read – there are so many great books coming out in 2012! Some of the later books don’t have much detail yet but I’ll update this post as and when more information becomes available.

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella (Bantam February)

After reading all of the Shopaholic books as a blogging challenge a couple of years ago, I’m a big fan of Sophie’s books. I’m looking forward to meeting new characters in her latest standalone novel.

I’ve lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive!!

A couple of glasses of bubbly with the girls at a charity do and Poppy’s life has gone into meltdown. Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but in the panic that followed, she’s lost her phone too. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number with the hotel staff. It was meant to be!

Except the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back, and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, phone messages and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents, can things get any more tangled?

The Out of Office Girl by Nicola Doherty (Headline, March)

This sounds like a fun debut and perfect summer read!

From London ….

Alice Roberts is having a rubbish summer. She’s terrified of her boss, her career is stalling, and she’s just been dumped – by text message. But things are about to change …

… to Italy

When her boss Olivia is taken ill, Alice is sent on the work trip of a lifetime: to a villa in Sicily, to edit the autobiography of Hollywood bad boy Luther Carson. But it’s not all yachts, nightclubs and Camparis. Luther’s arrogant agent Sam wants him to ditch the book. Luther himself is gorgeous, charming and impossible to read. There only seems to be one way to get his attention, and it definitely involves mixing business with pleasure. Alice is out of the office, and into deep trouble …

… with love

Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan (Sphere March)

I love the cover for this book and it sounds like a lovely story.

Rosie Hopkins is about to face major upheaval. Her elderly aunt Lilian – feisty, independent Aunt Lily who never talked about her past – needs her help, so Rosie is moving to the depths of the countryside for a few months to look after her. Plus Rosie will be away from Gerard, the man she hopes to settle down with soon, and they’ll miss each other dreadfully . . . won’t they? Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton’s village sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to sell up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets. And the longer Rosie and Lilian spend together, the more they realise they can learn from each other . . .

White Wedding by Milly Johnson (Simon and Schuster, April)

I read my first Milly Johnson book last year and loved it so am very much looking forward to her next offering!

It’s the day they’ve always dreamed about. But will it turn out to be a nightmare …?

Bel is in the midst of planning her perfect wedding when disaster strikes and everything she thought she knew is turned on its head. Can she hold it all together and, with the help of her friends, and a mysterious man she meets unexpectedly, turn disaster into triumph?

Bel’s best friend, ice-cream parlour owner Violet, is engaged to Glyn, who is besotted by her although Violet fell out of love with him long ago. But however trapped she feels in the relationship, she can’t quite say the words, ‘I don’t want to marry you anymore.’ Then, just when she’s about to give up and resign herself to married life, she finds love in the most surprising of places. Will duty rule her heart or will she allow herself to be swept off her feet?

Their childhood friend Max was planning a quick registry office do with her fiance Stuart until she sees a TV programme about traveller brides and becomes determined to have the most extravagantly glitzy wedding ever. But in all the excitement has she lost sight of what’s really important? Does she want the wedding more than she wants the groom?

And as all three friends find the dress of their dreams at the White Wedding bridal shop, its owner, the lovely Freya, guarantees that her gowns will bring them happiness – though maybe not quite in the way they expected …

The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill (Hodder, May)

I have a charm bracelet that I add charms to, to mark important events in my life so I love the premise for this story – it sounds like another gripping read from Melissa.

Every charm bracelet tells a story and Holly O’Neill knows this better than most.

Years ago, at a difficult time in her life, a silver bracelet in a pretty wrapped box was delivered anonymously to her, a single charm attached. Some time later, another mysterious charm appeared, and the same thing happened many times over the years. Each charm proved to be significant in her life, as if her unnamed benefactor understood she needed some kind of talisman to help her through challenging times.

Since then, she has added her own charms – special reminders of the most important events in her life. Her bracelet makes memories tangible – spelling out the nuances of cherished moments through the shorthand of each tiny charm. For this reason, Holly’s charm bracelet is her most prized possession.

So when one day, she stumbles across a bracelet that somebody else has lost, she recognises a lifetime spelt out through the very different charms, and knows she must try to reunite it with its owner. In order to try and track this person down, she uses each charm to help discover more about them.

But as Holly gradually begins to piece together the details of this person’s life, her quest leads her somewhere she never expected.

One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon (Simon and Schuster May)

My favourite chick lit author – can’t wait to get my hands on this book!

‘Do you still love him?’ Every second of every minute of every hour of every day…Alice is18 and about to start university while Joe’s life is seemingly going nowhere. A Dorset summer, a chance meeting, and the two of them fall into step as if they have known each other forever. But their idyll is shattered, suddenly, unexpectedly. Alice heads off to Cambridge and slowly picks up the pieces of her broken heart. Joe is gone; she cannot find him. When she catches the attention of Lukas – gorgeous, gifted, rich boy Lukas – she is carried along by his charm, swept up in his ambitious plans for a future together. Then Joe is there, once more, but out of reach in a way that Alice could never have imagined. Life has moved on, the divide between them is now so great. Surely it is far too late to relive those perfect summer days of long ago?

Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews (Sphere, May)

This really appeals to me as someone who is always trying to juggle family, work and a million other things!

What if you had always dreamed of something more…? Nell McNamara has a happy life: her boyfriend Olly adores her, their four-year-old daughter Petal is the centre of their world and Nell has a steady job in the local chip shop. When the chippy needs a makeover, Nell jumps at the chance to unleash the creativity fizzing inside her. Inspired by what she can achieve – and encouraged by the best friends a girl can have – Nell is determined to try something new and starts making her own line of must-have handbags, which are soon flying off the shelves! It seems Nell’s dreams are finally coming true, but her success doesn’t come without a price. Before too long, Nell has to ask herself if it’s really possible to have it all… Full of fun, love and laughter, soak up the sunshine with Summer Daydreams.

I Heart London by Lindsey Kelk (Harper, June)

The fifth in the I Heart Series sees Angela back in London!

Angela’s visa has expired and it looks as though she’s going to have to set foot again on home turf where further romantic trouble awaits. She has to face the ex-boyfriend she ran out on, her best friend’s new baby, and her mum. Is she now a New York girl through and through or can London win her heart again?

When I Fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson (Avon, November)

No synopsis for this one yet but I’ve loved all of Miranda’s book so far and am eagerly anticipating this one!

From Notting Hill to New York… Actually by Ali McNamara (Sphere, November)

Scarlett goes to New York – yay!!

Are your favourite authors on my list? Which books are you looking forward to reading this year?

July was a busy month in terms of reading and the huge number of fab releases that came out. I managed to pack in nine books which is my monthly record for this year! My ‘to read’ pile is still huge but I’m steadily and happily working my way through it!

The nine books I read were:

July book of the month

The Raising by Lauren Kasischke

Working it Out by Nicola May

All For You by Sheila O’Flanagan

From London With Love by Jemma Forte

Maidens’ Trip by Emma Smith

Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon

Incubus by Carol Goodman

Lessons in Laughing Out Loud by Rowan Coleman

Sometimes it Happens by Pauline Barclay

All but one of these were paperbacks with just one Kindle book … I need to spend more time with my Kindle! Six of these were new releases for July. I’ve found it really difficult to choose a book of the month for July; I rated four of the books I read with my top 5/5 rating and I’ve been in a total dilemma trying to pick a favourite but I’ve finally chosen From London with Love because I think it’s such a lovely summer read and it made me laugh out loud!

As well as reading lots I was lucky to be invited by the lovely Headline team to interview Sheila O’Flanagan on Twitter which was great fun and I also interviewed Nicola May on the blog.

July's most popular review!

The top three most popular reviews on the site for July were:

Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon
About Last Night by Adele Parks
To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell

‘Paige Toon’ was top search closely followed by Adele Parks. This month I thought I’d take a look at the more unusual search terms that brought people to the site. My favourites are: “book black page edges”, “female antique appraiser discovers secret”, “book about a girl who loses her job and moves to Brighton” and “prom queen dies in car crash” – extra kudos to readers who correctly identify the books from those

August is going to be an interesting month for me as my baby is due at the end of the month so I might have to take a little blogging break at any time … or I could still be waiting to meet the little man in September! I’ll keep you posted but look out for reviews of Bad Girls by Rebecca Chance, A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James and What You Don’t Know by Lizzie Enfield. I’ll also be interviewing the lovely Keris Stainton very soon!

Happy Reading!

‘He’s not mine, is he?’ That’s the question I fear the most. You see, I have a secret. My son is not fathered by my boyfriend, but by one of the most famous rock stars that ever lived. And he doesn’t even know it.

One-time celebrity personal assistant to wild boy of rock Johnny Jefferson, Meg Stiles is now settled and living in the south of France with her doting boyfriend Christian and their son Barney. But they’re living a lie – a lie that will turn their lives upside down and inside out – because as Barney reaches his first birthday, Meg can no longer deny that her son is growing to look more and more like his rock star father every day, and less and less like Christian, and sooner or later, the world is going to realise …

I’m a huge fan of Paige Toon and have read all of her books so I’ve been both excitedly anticipating and slightly nervous about Baby Be Mine coming out ever since I heard that Paige’s next book would be a sequel to Johnny Be Good. For those who haven’t read Johnny, the book ended on a cliffhanger with lead character Meg wondering who was the father of her baby; was it rock god Johnny Jefferson or his best friend and Meg’s boyfriend Christian? Would the outcome be the one I wanted and what would that mean for the three main characters?

I’ve waited three years to find out the answers to my questions and, as you can see from the synopsis above, taken from the back cover of the new book; the answer to who baby Barney’s father is is revealed stright away in Baby Be Mine. But although as readers we know that baby Barney isn’t Christian’s son, the only person who knows the truth as the book opens is Meg and that’s how, true to form, Paige Toon gripped me from the start with her latest novel.

I love the way Paige writes; she uses a lot of dialogue and the story is told from Meg’s perspective in the first person – two factors that combine to make you feel like you are really in the middle of the drama. And there is plenty of drama in Baby be Mine; in addition to the main story of baby Barney’s paternity the plot includes a death and takes in both the glamorous and seedier side to the celebrity lifestyle. Moving between England, the South of France and LA taking in Barcelona along the way with some amazing locations, the book felt like a very summery read which balanced the dramas of the story nicely.

As Meg’s secret is revealed, her life changes dramatically but the big question throughout is who will she end up with? Paige Toon kept me guessing about the ending with Johnny, Christian and new man, film star Joseph all in the frame at one point and right up until the end of the book I was wondering would Meg end up with one of them or would she go it alone and dedicate herself to baby Barney? Of course I’m not going to tell you the outcome, but I will say that as with all of Paige’s books, the ending is brilliant and includes a surprise appearance from Paola and Luis from Chasing Daisy (Paige’s third novel). I was pleased to see that Paige has kept up the tradition of characters from earlier books making cameo appearances in later ones.

Although I’d highly recommend all of Paige’s books, you don’t need to have read Johnny Be Good to enjoy Baby be Mine as all the essentials are recapped as the story progresses but for those who have read Johnny Be Good I really enjoyed seeing how even the minor characters lives had moved on. I’m pleased to say that the wait for this sequel was well worth it and Paige is now firmly in place as one of my favourite chick lit authors. Baby Be Mine is a gripping read that will take you to another world and is perfect for packing in your suitcase this summer!

5/5

Baby Be Mine is released today and I’d like to thank Ally at Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy to review.

You can find out more about Paige Toon and her books at: http://www.paigetoon.com/ and also check out http://www.booksandthecity.co.uk/ for news and interviews with Paige as well as an extract from Baby Be Mine

Here are my six ‘hot picks’ from the July releases:

The Raising by Laura Kasischke
Released 1st July
Published by Corvus
Website: http://www.corvus-books.co.uk/

This book sounds so intriguing – I can’t wait to read it!

A sudden death.
In Godwin Honors Hall, the walls are draped in black. The college is in mourning for Nicole Werner, a blonde and beautiful prom queen who died in a car crash last semester. She was a straight-A student, and a prized member of the Virgin Sisters, the most powerful sorority on campus.

A feverish obsession.
Nicole’s boyfriend Craig was at the wheel that night. He has no memory of the crash, but he is plagued by guilt. For as winter sets in and the nights darken, Nicole’s death dominates college life. Candlelit vigils and fetishistic rituals become nightly events –and then the hauntings begin.

A flicker of suspicion.
Craig’s roommate, Perry, doesn’t believe in ghosts. A no-nonsense type who always thought Nicole was as manipulative as she was charming, he refuses to be swept up by the hysteria. But when he and his fellow sceptics join forces, he too sees Nicole’s spirit in the crumbling college halls.

Something very strange is going on…

David by Mary Hoffman
Released 4th July
Published by Bloomsbury
Website: http://www.maryhoffman.co.uk/

I haven’t read anything by Mary Hoffman before but I intend to change that with David!

Michelangelo’s statue of David is renowned all over the world. Thousands flock to Florence to admire the artistry behind this Renaissance masterpiece, and to admire the beauty of the human form captured in the marble. But the identity of the model for this statue that has been so revered for over five hundred years has been lost . . .

In this epic story Mary Hoffman uses her persuasive narrative skills to imagine the story of Gabriele, an eighteen-year-old who, by becoming Michelangelo’s model, finds himself drawn into a world of spies, politicking, sabotage and murder. Set against the backdrop of Florence, this is a rich, colourful and thrilling tale.

All For You by Sheila O’Flanagan
Released 7th July
Published by Headline
Website: http://www.sheilaoflanagan.net/

I really enjoyed Sheila’s last book, Stand By Me and this one sounds like another great read.

As TV’s favourite weather forecaster, Lainey is good at making predictions. But what she doesn’t foresee is that her own life is about to hit a stormy patch. With a string of failed relationships behind her, surely history isn’t about to repeat itself with her beloved Ken? To add fuel to the fire, her estranged mother announces that she’s returning to Dublin. Deanna has always been dismissive of Lainey’s choices – particularly in men. And Deanna’s lectures are the last thing Lainey needs now.

Yet is there more to her mother than she knows? Uncovering some long-concealed family secrets, Lainey begins to reassess her life. Is the happy-ever-after she’s always dreamed of really what she wants after all?

California Dreamers by Belinda Jones
Released 21st July
Published by Hodder
Website: http://www.belindajones.com/

I’ve always wanted to go to California and I loved Belinda’s last book Living La Vida Loca. This sounds like an ideal summer read.

Ever wished you could make-over your life?

Make-up artist Stella is an expert at helping other people change their images, but when it comes to transforming herself, she doesn’t even know where to start.

So when her new friend, glamorous Hollywood actress Marina Ray, summons her a movie set in California, Stella can’t resist the chance to start afresh – it is the land of sunshine and opportunity after all!

But are they really friends or does Marina have an ulterior motive? What is the secret that both women are hiding about the nautical (but nice) men in their lives? And what will it take to really make both of their California dreams come true?

Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon
Released 21st July
Published by Simon and Schuster
Website: http://authors.simonandschuster.co.uk/Paige-Toon/62701361

I don’t really need to say much more about this do I? I’ve been looking forward to the release of this book for so long!

‘He’s not mine, is he?’
That’s the question I fear the most.
You see, I have a secret. My son is not fathered by my boyfriend, but by one of the most famous rock stars that ever lived. And he doesn’t even know it.
One-time celebrity personal assistant to wild boy of rock Johnny Jefferson, Meg Stiles is now settled and living in the south of France with her doting boyfriend Christian and their son Barney. But they’re living a lie – a lie that will turn their lives upside down and inside out – because as Barney reaches his first birthday, Meg can no longer deny that her son is growing to look more and more like his rock star father every day, and less and less like Christian, and sooner or later, the world is going to realise . . .

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Released 26th July
Published by Atom
Website: http://www.andreacremer.com/

Another eagerly awaited sequel (to Nightshade) – I can’t wait to find out what happens next to Calla, Ren and Shay!

‘You’re an alpha, a leader. That’s what we need. It’s what we’ve always needed.’ When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. Then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save her pack – and the boy – she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? Will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials love can endure.

Simon and Schuster revealed the cover of the much anticipated next book from Paige Toon yesterday and it’s very different from her previous covers but despite the fact that it won’t match the others in my Paige Toon collection I really like it.

I think it looks fresh and interesting and will really stand out on the shelves – I also like the use of lots of blue (my favorite colour!). I cannot wait to read this book which is the sequel to Johnny Be Good. Baby Be Mine is out on 21st July:

He’s not mine, is he?
That’s the question I fear the most.
You see, I have a secret. My son is not fathered by my boyfriend, but by one of the most famous people that ever lived. And he doesn’t even know it.

Meg is terrified. She lives in the South of France with her doting boyfriend Christian, their beautiful son Barney has just turned one, and life should be idyllic. But she is living a lie – a lie that will turn their lives upside down and inside out. Because, as every day goes by, Meg’s son looks less and less like Christian.
How much longer can she keep her devastating secret from him, from her parents who live nearby, from Barney? How much longer before the whole world realizes that the father of her child is none other than Johnny Jefferson, wild boy of rock, constantly in the headlines, constantly in Meg’s thoughts?

Cover crush part one …

Victoria Connelly announced the release of the cover for her next book, The Perfect Hero this morning and what a lovely cover it is. I love the seaside theme with the pretty beach huts and I’m really looking forward to reading it.

The circus has come to town…

Die-hard romantic, Kay Ashton, uses her inheritance to open a B&B in the seaside town of Lyme Regis and is dumbstruck when the cast and crew of a new production of Persuasion descend, needing a place to stay. Kay can’t believe her luck – especially when she realises that heart throb actor Oli Wade Owen will be sleeping under her very own roof!

Meanwhile, co-star Gemma Reilly is worried that her acting isn’t up to scratch, despite landing a plum role. She finds a sympathetic ear in shy producer, Adam Craig, who is as baffled by the film world as she is. Kay thinks the two are meant for each other and can’t resist a spot of matchmaking.

Then, when Oli turns his trademark charm on Kay, it seems that she has found her real-life hero. But do heroes really exist?

What’s in a name?

As I was browsing Amazon today, I noticed that a couple of my wishlist books had undergone subtle name changes. Paige Toon’s follow up to Johnny Be Good which is one of my top five most anticipated chick lit books of 2011 has changed from Baby Be Mine to Be My Baby.

Melissa de la Cruz’s new adult series set in the same world as the brilliant Blue Bloods has a new UK title Witches of the East. It will still be published under the original title Witches of East End in the US.

Cover crush part two …

Lisa Jewell revealed the cover for her next book on her Facebook page this week and she is releasing extracts from the book over there too I love the cover – especially the colours and cannot wait to get my hands on this book!

As regular readers will know I’m a huge fan of the ‘chick lit’ genre and a few weeks ago I put a ‘top five’ feature together for book site Libri Populus on chick lit books to look out for this year. Since then I’ve found a few of updates on the books I chose so so I thought I’d share my five most anticipated chick lit reads for this year with you over here too.

Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal (Arrow, 14th April)

A whole generation of teenage girls grew up reading about the loves and lives of twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and their friends in Sweet Valley. I for one spent a large part of my teenage years wishing I attended Sweet Valley High. And this year they’re back. Sweet Valley Confidential moves us forward ten years to catch up with Jessica and Elizabeth at 27. I mentioned this one in a news feature when I first heard about it last year and I recently stumbled upon the Random House cataclogue for the first half of this year which includes a plot summary

Haven’t you ever wondered what happened to Jessica and Elizabeth?

It’s been ten years since we last caught up with the Wakefield twins, and a lot has happened. Jessica has married a millionaire, while Todd and Elizabeth have settled down to a life of quiet contentment in Sweet Valley. But when Jessica leaves her controlling and demanding husband and turns up on her sister’s doorstep, old passions are aroused, and the unthinkable happens. After all, didn’t Jessica go out with Todd first? Heartbroken, Elizabeth leaves Sweet Valley and tries to carve a name for herself as a theatre reviewer in New York. But she is burning with rage at what Jessica and Todd have done to her. For all of her life she’s been the good twin, the sweet twin, the play-by-the-rules twin. Now it’s time Elizabeth got her own back. But if she gives into the impulse for revenge, will she lose the second, unexpected chance at love that’s been waiting quietly for her in Sweet Valley for nearly ten years?

The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell (5th May, Century)

In a hospice in Bury St Edmunds, a man called Daniel is slowly fading away. His friend Maggie sits with him every day; she holds his hand and she listens to the story of his life, to his regrets and to his secrets. And then he tells her about the children he has never met and never will, conceived with women he has never slept with, never even touched. Four of them, apparently, two boys, two girls. He talks of them wistfully. His legacy, he calls them. Lydia, Robyn and Dean don’t know each other. Yet. And they are all facing difficult challenges. Lydia is still wearing the scars from her traumatic childhood and, although she is wealthy and successful, her life is lonely and disjointed. Until an unexpected letter from her long-lost uncle reveals a shocking truth about her childhood. Dean is a young man whose life is going nowhere. He is jobless and about to have a baby with a girl who hates him. But then one afternoon, life flips over and leaves him somewhere he never expected to be: a single dad to an ill daughter and he is forced to re-evaluate his whole life. Robyn is eighteen. She is training to be a doctor and is determined one day to be a paediatrician, just like her father. She has never met her father. Neither has her mother. He was an anonymous donor, and that’s exactly what she wants him to stay – a character in her own personal fairy tale. Until the day she meets the man of her dreams and falls in love. He looks like her, he thinks like her, he even has the same freckle in the same place on his left hand. It could be just a coincidence, but she needs to be sure before she can allow herself to be with him. It’s time for her to open the envelope her parents gave her on her eighteenth birthday. And Daniel’s children slowly find their way into each other’s lives…

No cover image for this one yet but it sounds just as gripping as my favourite Lisa Jewell novel, The Truth About Melody Browne and I can’t wait for it to be released!

The Single Girl’s To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk (Harper, 9th June)

Lindsey Kelk is a fast rising star in the wonderful world of chick lit. Her first three novels form the I Heart … series (insert New York, Hollywood and Paris for books one to three), the latest of which is on the Romantic Novelists’ Association long list for the ‘Pure Passion Romantic Novel of the Year’ award. This summer will see Ms Kelk release her first standalone novel which will focus on the newly single Rachel Summers; a London make-up artist in her twenties.

Rachel Summers lives every area of her life according to a to-do list and so far, she is ticking most things off. She has a job she loves (make-up artist to the stars), the perfect boyfriend, a cosy London flat and a fantastic circle of friends. All that remains on her life to-do list is to get married, have a baby and live happily ever after. Simple. Well, not quite…Suddenly, Rachel’s perfect boyfriend wants to take a break. She’s convinced it’s just cold feet but when the break turns into a split, her best friends Emelie and Matthew step in and come up with the ultimate heartbreak cure – the single girl’s to-do list, the top ten things Rachel must see and do to kick-start her fabulous, new single life.But nothing can prepare her for the adventures that unfold as the to-do list takes them all over town and even abroad, and proves to all three that love is out there if you’re willing to take a chance…

Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon (Pocket Books, 21st July)

To understand what all the fuss is about you’ll need to read, or have read Paige Toon’s second book Johnny Be Good which was published in 2008 and posed the question If your boss was the hottest rock star on the planet, would you mix business with pleasure? The book ended on the most excruciating cliff-hanger as pregnant Meg wondered over the identity of the father of her unborn child. Three long years later and we finally have a sequel – and hopefully some answers! Aside from wanting to know what happened to Meg and rock star Johnny, Paige Toon is one of my favourite chick lit authors and her books are always excellent summer page turners.

‘He’s not mine, is he?’ That’s the question I fear the most. You see, I have a secret. My son is not fathered by my boyfriend, but by one of the most famous people that ever lived. And he doesn’t even know it. One-time celebrity personal assistant to wild boy of rock Johnny Jefferson, Meg Stiles is now settled and living in the south of France with her doting boyfriend Christian and their son Phoenix. But they’re living a lie – a lie that will turn their lives upside down and inside out – because Meg’s son doesn’t look like Christian, he looks like his rock star father, and sooner or later, the world is going to realise…

It Started With A Kiss by Miranda Dickinson (Avon, 10th November)

Miranda’s recent novel Welcome To My World was one of my favourite books of last year and her debut, Fairytale of New York was a worldwide hit and Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller so I’m eagerly anticipating her next book. If you like your chick lit heart-warming and romantic then Miranda is the author for you. She excels at cosy winter reads and It Started With a Kiss looks set to continue the trend as Romily, a singer in a wedding band, searches for a handsome stranger who rescued her in her moment of need and then disappeared into the crowd.

So that’s my top five – I’d love to hear your views on my choices and get your recommendations for other books to look out for in the comments section below.

I read 74 books this year but as I didn’t start this blog until June, I only reviewed 45 of them on here. I’ve decided to pick my favourites from books released this year and have linked reviews where I posted them. I couldn’t pick an absolute favourite as I loved all of these books for different reasons so, in release date order, my books of the year are:

The Blue Bloods Series (published throughout 2010 by Atom)

Actually a bit of a cheat as I read all five of the books in the series when they were released this year plus the companion book Keys to the Repository. This is my absolute favourite vampire series at the moment and I can’t wait for the next installment Bloody Valentine: A Blue Bloods Novella which is released in January 2011.

The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne (published in May 2010 by Hodder)

 I loved this story of a very modern finishing school. Hester Browne was a new author for me this year and I’m hoping to read her previous novels in 2011 and am already looking forward to her new book Swept off her Feet which is released in March 2011.

Pictures of Lily by Paige Toon (published in July 2010 by Simon and Schuster)

I’m a huge fan of Paige Toon’s books and have read them all. Pictures of Lily was the perfect summer love story and I’m already counting the days to the release of her next book Baby be Mine a much awaited sequel to Johnny be Good.

I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk (published by Harper in July 2010)

Angela’s adventures in the ‘I Heart…’ series never fail to make me smile and her jaunt through Paris was another brilliant summer read.  I Heart Paris is also on the Romantic Novelists’ Association longlist for the Pure Passion Romantic Novel of the Year Award so good luck Lindsey when the shortlist is announced in February!

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur (published by Greenwillow books in August 2010)

A brilliant debut and start to a new college based series following Callie Andrews as she starts her first year at Harvard University. The next book in the series, Secrets is out in May 2011.

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (published by Transworld in September 2010)
In July I set myself a Shopaholic Challenge after confessing that I hadn’t read any of Sophie Kinsella’s books. The challenge was to read and review all of the Shopaholic series before the publication of Mini Shopaholic in September. I had an amazing response to the challenge and really enjoyed it. Mini Shopaholic is a fab addition to the series and I hope we see more of Becky and the gang soon.

 Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (published by Bloomsbury in October 2010)

The sories of Andi (modern day New Yorker) and Alex (occupant of Paris during the French Revolution)  collide in this brilliant historical fiction novel. It’s an absolutely gripping read.

Welcome to my World by Miranda Dickinson (published by Avon in November 2010)

One of my favourite reads this winter, Miranda Dickinson’s second novel sees protagonist Harri locked in the loo for the majority of the book as she ponders the events that have brought her to her hiding place. A lovely warm, romantic winter read.

From Notting Hill with Love … Actually by Ali McNamara (published by Sphere in November 2010) 

My favourite ending in a book this year, this book tells the story of film obsessed Scarlett as she tries to live her life like the movies whilst house sitting in Notting Hill.  A wonderful debut from Ali McNamara and I’m looking forward to reading more from her in 2011.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (published by Atom in December 2010)

A late addition to my favourite books of the year, Nightshade was released earlier this week and is set to be a huge hit in 2011. Also my favourite cover of the year and I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Wolfsbane.

So, that’s my list of favourite reads this year. What do you think? What was your favourite book of 2010?

If you fall too fast, you just might crash…Daisy has been dumped, unceremoniously jilted. Not by any ordinary guy, no…Daisy has a secret in her past that she won’t even tell her best friend, Holly. She’s given up on men – and on her own family. But life still has to be lived and where better to recover than as far away from home as possible. Grabbing a chance to see the world, Daisy packs her bags and joins the team catering to the world’s highest-paid, supercharged racing drivers on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. From Brazil to Italy, from Melbourne to Monte Carlo, life passes in a dizzying whirlwind. But nothing – and no one – can stop Daisy from falling again…this time for a man who is prepared to risk his life, and his heart, for the sake of speed, danger and ultimate success.

Paige Toon has released four novels to date and Chasing Daisy was the third. I reviewed her latest book, Pictures of Lily earlier this summer and have had Chasing Daisy on my to read pile for a while now. I have loved all of her books and Paige now has a firm place in my favourite author list.  Although they are all great books, Chasing Daisy is my favourite of her books so far.  I also love the way that Paige links the characters of her books together. I’m determined not to publish any spoilers on this one as I really didn’t figure what Daisy’s secret was and how she linked to previous stories – you will have to read it to find out! That said, you don’t have to read the books in order – I didn’t, as you can see. They read perfectly well as stand alone novels and you won’t enjoy Chasing Daisy any less if you haven’t read any of Paige’s other books.

This book starts with Daisy having an explosive run in with a Brazilian driver, only to find that he is actually Luis Castro, the new signing to the Formula 1 team that she works for. We then fast forward five months to the start of the new racing season as Daisy and her friend Holly, working as part of the front of house team, prepare for the Australian Grand Prix and the start of the Formula 1 season. I don’t know a huge amount about F1 - I do watch the odd race but it is clear that Paige Toon knows her stuff when it comes to racing (her Dad was a racing driver after all) and I think this detail makes the book feel very realistic and believable. But don’t worry if you’re not interested in F1 at all, it makes a unique backdrop to the story but any technical terms are explained by Daisy as she goes along.

It is certainly an exotic world and Daisy soon falls for William Trust, one of the drivers on the team. William has a girlfriend though so Daisy tries to fight the feelings she has. She also continues to have a fiery relationship with Will’s team mate Luis which makes for very funny reading. I liked the way that Will and Luis were complete opposites and how each brought out a different side to Daisy. I have to say that Luis was my favourite from the beginning but I didn’t expect the story to take the turn that it did at all. There are certainly lots of twists and surprises in this book and they kept me turning the pages as fast as I could! It really is a roller-coaster of a ride. The story is told in the first person from Daisy’s perspective which makes the roller-coaster ride of emotions very realistic and heartfelt. I like it when a character surprises me and I didn’t expect Daisy’s background to be what it was and as the book prgressed I was really wishing for a happy ending for Daisy as she had gone through so much in her life.

This book is part of my Summer Reading Challenge and is a perfect summer read. I loved the mix of glamourous locations, romance and drama and the Formula 1 setting was something a bit different for a chick lit novel. I would highly recommend this and any of Paige’s books and am already looking forward to her next release!

5/5

You can find out more about Paige and her books on her website: http://www.paigetoon.com/ and at: http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/

‘Will you marry me?’ I think of you, then. I think of you every day. But usually in the quietest part of the morning, or the darkest part of the night. Not when my boyfriend of two years has just proposed. I look up at Richard with his hopeful eyes. ‘Lily?’ he prompts. It’s been ten years, but it feels like only yesterday that you left. How can I say yes to Richard with all my heart when most of it has always belonged to you? I take a deep breath and will myself to speak…

Ten years ago when Lily was just sixteen, she fell in love with someone she really shouldn’t have fallen in love with. Now, living in Sydney and engaged to another man, she can’t forget the one that got away. Then her past comes back to haunt her, and she has to make a decision that will break her heart – and the heart of at least one of the men who love her.

Paige Toon’s books always hook me right from the start and have me racing through the pages to the end and Pictures of Lily was no exception. The prologue of the story is only nine lines long but as Lily’s boyfriend Richard proposes and she hesitates, immediately thinking of the man she lost ten years ago, I was gripped. The story then jumps back a decade, where we meet sixteen year old Lily as she has just arrived in Australia having been dragged there by her Mum. We have to wait 175 pages before we find out Lily’s answer to Richard’s proposal and I found it hard to tear myself away as the early part of the story unfolds and Lily falls in love for the first time.

In the second part of the book, simply titled ‘Now’, we find 26 year old Lily living and working in Sydney with her boyfriend Richard. She has never forgotten ‘the one that got away’ and as her past catches up with her, she has a heartbreaking decision to make about her future.

I really liked the character of  Lily (which is good as it’s one of my favorite names!) and I enjoyed the fact that the book is split into two parts; it was interesting to see how Lily’s life and character developed and and made me feel like I really knew her well. The book is written in the first person from Lily’s point of view which made it really easy to empathise with her. The male characters in the book; particularly the two love interests, are also both great characters and Paige did an excellent job of making me feel as torn as Lily over her decision and for the majority of the book I couldn’t decide which one I liked most!

I’ve read two of Paige Toon’s previous books – Lucy in the Sky and Johnny Be Good and I love how she provides mentions or updates on characters from earlier books in her subsequent novels. I don’t want to give any of the plot away but it was brilliant that the key characters from Lucy in the Sky are a big part of this book and I loved finding out what happened to Lucy and Nathan next. That’s not to say you have to have read the previous books to understand this one – Pictures of Lily is a great standalone story and Paige Toon cleverly writes her novels to appeal to her longstanding readers as well as new ones.

From the fantastic sparkly cover to the wonderfully romantic ending, this is a brilliant love story about the one that got away and first true love no matter what your age. I loved this book and can’t wait for Paige Toon’s next book which is going to be a sequel to Johnny Be Good!

You can find out more about Paige and her books on her website: http://www.paigetoon.com/ and at: http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/

5/5