What I've Been Reading: Going the Distance by Christina Jones

This month Accent Books have re-released Christina Jones' Milton St John Trilogy with new covers.

They have also been on special offer in the Kindle bookstore, so of course I took it upon myself to top up my collection.

This trilogy started calling me due to my part-time job where I input racing detail. It gives me something to daydream and play makebelieve about during my shift. I know, it's naughty but hey it passes the time.

The book is set in the town of Milton St John, and reminds me a little of a frothy Polo. Granted I haven't read Polo since I was a teenager so I might just be romanticising it a little.

Our heroine of the piece is Maddy. Unlucky in love, but successfully running her own business, living in horse racing village Milton St John with her younger sister - also an apprentice jockey she is at the heart of the neighbourhood.

Peapods, the property across the road from her cottage, used to be a sports club run by her ex-boyfriend has a new resident. Horse trainer Drew Fitzgerald is moving his stable over from Jersey.

The pair first catch sight of each other at a party held at one of Maddy's client/friend home. There is an instant attraction, which strengthens when Drew saves her from her letcherous ex.

Soon Maddy finds out that the Drew is married and feels that they are coming too close for her comfort. Feeling that it would be wrong to come between and man and his wife, which is complicated even further after she meets Caroline and finds out that she really likes her.

As if that wasn't complicated enough, Maddy's ex manages to dived the village with his latest stay rich and powerful scheme.

The village rise up against the scheme as the racing season heats up.

This is a fast-paced story, that didn't let me put it down for long. Probably why I read it in one evening.

I've already started on the second book in the series.

What's In My Bag?

This is my current bag, I'm using it for work and generally live out of it. It is the Storm Cabin Bag in a fantastic teal patent. I love it. It will be available to buy through Avon during Campaign 8. 

I have so much in here, as you are about to find out. 

Microfibre cloth, this is mainly for cleaning my glasses now, it used to be for wiping down the windscreen in my car!

My father-in-law's kindle. It's filled with books, including a pre-release I'm reading for an online book club I work with. 

My purse, I got this for my birthday last year from work. I absolutely love it. 

Giant notepad and pen. I never go anywhere without one. If I don't write my ideas down when I have them, poof they're gone never to be thought of again. 

Body lotion and fragrance spray, in my current favourite Apricot and Shea scent. I love it so much, I've even ordered the shampoo and conditioner now. 

These are my inhalers, got to love being asthmatic. I don't use them often but they need to be there. 

Mini make-up bag, hand sanitiser, tissues and face powder.

Hello Kitty first aid bits, paracetamol, plasters, safety pins. And my favourite perfume.

Apart from 2 loose pennies, that's the main section empty!

Now for the little inside pouch.

Dental floss, fruit knife (me and apples don't get on!), little mirror and my daily vitamins & anti-histamines. Also extra hayfever tablets in case I have an allergic reaction. And a biscuit leftover from a coffee I had last week. 

In the front pocket of the bag I keep my 2 phones. The world's worst Blackberry and a back up android that I use for apps and watching YouTube! A USB charger and some ear buds.

This is my mini manicure set, I picked it up from a poundshop and added in the orange stick - love those for cleaning my nails out on the go, and the tictac box I keep my kirby grips/bobby pins in. Top tip there!

So that is what I have in my bag. 

What I've Been Reading: Kindle Edition

Have you got a Kindle? Or even the Kindle app on your tablet/smart phone?

I've mentioned before how my father-in-law has lent me his Kindle, before that I used the app on my android tablet.

On a whole I read a lot. I'm partial to murder mysteries, light and frothy chick lit, horror tales and short stories.

Right now I have been on a run of novellas from De-Ann Black's Tea Dress Shop Series 99p reads that don't take long to pick up and get to the point.

As it is I am already a sucker for a Christmas novel which is originally how I discovered this series of three.

As a busy mum I don't always have time for a big book or an indepth novel. I just want something that will occupy me during the football.

Got to love living in a house full of boys.

Back to the books, they are all very similar, so all can be read independently of each other. Although, Findlay, the lead protagonist from the first story, is referred back to as she is the original Tea Dress shop owner.

Personally I preferred the third book in the series.

The Vintage Tea Dress Shop in Summer.

Hard-working marketing expert Esmie is passed over for promotion once again, just as she is offered the chance to own her own shop in a small Scottish village.

After a short weekend visit she finds herself falling in love with the quiet life and the villagers residents... and one in particular.

The Fairytale Tea Dress Shop in Edinburgh

Delphine leaves Glasgow and with her redundancy settlement opens the Fairy Tale Tea Dress Shop in Edinburgh. At the same time she splits from her chef boyfriend.

After previously working as a fashion merchandiser Delphine puts her knowledge to good use. The other businesses in the neighbourhood quickly showed support for the fledgling retailer.

A couple of mislabelled blog posts and an email later and business is booming, but can Delphine find what her heart is searching for?

The Tea Dress Shop at Christmas

Findlay has been unlucky in love, after finding out that her boyfriend and her supposed best friend have been more than just friends, she moves to Glasgow and decides to make a fresh start for herself.

After finding a shop that had laid empty for a long time she decides to pile in her savings and open a shop selling new and vintage tea dresses that she has designed and made herself.

We follow Findlay as she renovates her shop, builds her business and listens to what her heart wants.

Exposure by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Before it was a TV series Bones was a character dreamt up by former forensic anthropologist turned best-selling author Kathy Reichs. In her famed novels Temperence Brennan hunts down killers as she splits her time between Vancouver and South Carolina.

Her the author teams up with her son Brendan for the fourth novel in the Virals series.

Based around the adventures, and mis-adventures, of Victoria 'Tory' Brennan, great-niece of Temperence, and her school pals.

Tory, Hi, Ben and Shelton aren't your average teenagers though. After an experiment went wrong the friends were infected with a virus which changed their DNA, heightening their senses and turning them into a pack of 'Virals', almost superhuman with wolf-like mannerisms. They are linked by Tory's wolfdog Cooper, the original source of the man-made virus.

When twins Lucy and Peter miss school, and a video ransom is delivered, it becomes apparent that they have been taken. A cryptic clue is left behind in the form of a card picturing the astrological sign Ophiuchus. Wanting to help, the school friends take it upon themselves to find out where they went.

Able to tap into their wolf-like senses, and with some forensics knowledge, picked up by Tory from her aunt, the pack decides to hunt down the culprit. After searching the twin's home, Tory discovers that something bad has happened in the house, but gets the sense that she is also in danger. However, her reputation at the police station is shot and no one believes them when they present evidence that something is going on.

But when her best friend is also abducted, and a card with Cetus on is left behind, in the midst of a flawed manhunt, the pack redouble their efforts to get to the bottom of what is going on, even putting their own lives on the line to discover the truth.

I loved this book, yes it is aimed at Young Adults, however so was Twilight and I enjoyed those too. It flowed well and the shorter chapter style (eerily similar to James Patterson) kept the pages turning.

I have now downloaded the first 3 novels and the 2 novellas on to my Kindle to enjoy.

You can get a copy here.

What I've Been Reading: Kate Harrison's The Secret Shopper Unwrapped

This is the second book in Kate Harrison's Secret Shopper Trilogy. 

We meet up with Sandie, Emily and Grazia. Formerly, Charlie's Shopping Angels. After the success of the rebrand of Will's DIY store, Sandie is on the up and up with her new business helping troubled companies to keep the wolves from the door. 

Emily and toddler Freddie are now living with Will above the shop. They've re-opened as a village shop and are struggling to make ends meet. Over Christmas, with the help of her son, Emily visits the department stores of London to check on the Santas in their grottos. 

Grazia, has moved on from her old life. With wealth on her side, and a new toy boy, she is checking out the latest hotels. 

Can Emily and Will pull together and lift the shop out of certain financial ruin. Will Sandie find balance instead of losing herself in her work and will Grazia remember just how old she told everyone she was?

I loved this book, and was really difficult to put down. 

What I've Been Reading: Kate Harrison's Secret Shoppers Revenge

I've read quite a few of Kate Harrison's books before.

Knowing how they have the ability to suck you in I waiting until I had the full trilogy in my possession before I read the first one.

In The Secret Shopper's Revenge we are first introduced to single-mother Emily.

After moving into the City of London, Emily is left by her husband in the flat that they bought together. Struggling to make ends meet, and to find her way as a lone parent, Emily attempts to lose herself in her favourite department store.

Emily decides to try on some clothes, which then gets marked by her baby. In a muddle Store Manager Sandie comes to her rescue, but in the process seals her own fate at the hands of an unscrupulous colleague.

Both of them come into contact with glamorous widow Gazia. Where looks are at their most deceptive. Still mourning the death of her artist husband, Grazia is spending beyond her frugal means. Grazia helps to fund her lavish lifestyle secret shopping. Spying on stores to report back on the good, the bad and the ugly for the ultimate shopping experience.

After the event in the changing room, unassuming Emily finds herself out for revenge, Sandie who wants to bring down the shop assistant that ended her career doing the one thing she knows how to and Grazia signs them up to the agency that she works for. Together they are Charlie's Shopping Angels.

When they are sent to a small DIY shop the trio find that their loyalties start to become strained.

I loved this book so much, and couldn't put it down. I read it in just one evening.

You can buy your copy here

List of Pleasures

It's the most frugal month of the year.

January seems like the longest month ever. This is probably due in part to being paid a week earlier than usual in December and all the other extra outgoings that creep in.

To treat myself I have made up a list of Small Pleasures that won't cost me a penny but will keep me happy and relaxed.

On my list I have:

Read a book
Browse blogs (I like to use bloglovin')
Shuffle through Pinterest (hours disappear in seconds on this site)
Do my nails.
Go for a walk.
Play a computer game.

Watch a film (go onto YouTube you'll be amazed what you'll find on there).
Mini pamper session (if you don't have any pamper products, head to the kitchen and make a couple).
Listen to a podcast.
Watch a favourite tv show on iplayer/skygo.
Take your digital camera out for a walk.
Learn origami.
Listen to some music.
Change bedding (a bit of a chore, but boy the result pays off later).

Those are just a few from my list of free pleasures and treats

This post has been inspired by Kate Harrison's new book 5:2 Your Life: Get Happy, Get Healthy, Get Slim you can get your copy here from Amazon.

What I Read: Wish Upon a Star by Trisha Ashley

Another uplifting and heart-warming tale from the queen of Christmas fiction's pen.

In Wish Upon a Star we are introduced to Cally who is deserted by her fiance, only to find out she is pregnant. Stella is born with a complicated heart condition.

The single mum dotes on her precious daughter. Her career as a food writer is booming and her second book is due soon, but as her professional life soars her personal life begins to crumble.

Stella is starting to get sick and needs vital surgery not available in the UK, so to conserve cash Cally moves up to west Lancashire to live with her mother Martha to try and save the much-needed money to pay for the surgery in America. The sale of her home in London is gifted to Stella's Stars; the charity she set up to pay for the surgery.

After an appointment with Stella, Cally pops into a new bakery in Ormskirk and meets baker Jago. She feels an instant connection, and the pair strike up a firm friendship. Jago has his own romantic baggage and when his ex-fiancee turns up after running out on him on the eve of their wedding determined to win him back.

As Stella's surgery draws closer the residents of Sticklepond draw together to help give the child a fighting chance of a normal life.

It's another well-paced story from Trisha Ashley, just enough sweetness and a couple of characters who then cut through so it's didn't become sickly. A great read not for Christmas.

What I Read: Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley

This novel has been on my bookshelf for a while, my groaning bookshelf at that. I don't know what took me so long to pick it up. As with every other Trisha Ashley book I have read (which is almost all of them - I've just got 2 outstanding) it was a perfect piece of escapism.

Here we are introduced to Tish, a romance novelist, and her husband James, a seemingly straight-laced solicitor with big ideas. 

We first meet Tish as an idealistic 17 year old. She's been dating the dark and brooding next door neighbour Fergal Rocco for a year and is planning to go to university. Rocco drops the bombshell that he's moving overseas with his upcoming band. 

Not hearing from Rocco, Tish starts uni broken hearted. That is until she meets James. Good looking, dependable and perfect father material. It doesn't hurt that Tish's mother also likes him (she never approved of Rocco). 

Fast forward 10 years. James and Tish have been married for seven year and have just moved to a cottage in the countryside. In need of a lot of work Tish starts renovating the property, as James spends longer and longer at work and in the village pub. It soon becomes apparent, for Tish at least, that something isn't right. 

Rock star Rocco is filling the headlines with his celebrity lifestyle, but inside it's all feeling empty. He has travelled the world, had a girl waiting for him at every port, yet all he can think about is the girl that got away. Can he win his former love back, just as she is entering a new phase in her own life?

This novel is well paced and easy to read. It really pulls you in from the middle and races to the end making it difficult to put down. I finished reading this one morning at 2am, which I think is testament to how you get sucked into the world that Trisha Ashley has created.

To buy a copy from Amazon click here currently £3.85 for the paperback and £1.49 on Kindle.

You can also follow Trisha on Twitter just click here