Thoughts For 50 - Pages 1 - 50 Of The Sudden Appearance Of Hope By Claire North

My name is Hope Arden, and you won't know who I am. We've met before - a thousand times. I am the girl the world forgets.
It started when I was sixteen years old. A slow declining, an isolation, one piece at a time.
A father forgetting to drive me to school. A mother setting the table for three, not four. A teacher who forgets to chase my missing homework. A friend who looks at me and sees a stranger.
No matter what I do, the words I say, the people I hurt, the crimes I commit - you will never remember who I am.
That makes my life difficult. It also makes me dangerous...
THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE is the tale of a girl no one remembers, yet her story will stay with you forever.

Laura's Thoughts
It was about time we got stuck into another book for our Thoughts for 50 feature, no matter what we read after Falling by Jane Green the book would have had a lot to live up to. The problem I am having with this one is that although both me and Jen were eagar to buy this book when we first read the blurb in work, the eagarness slowly drifted away for no apparent reason... Maybe it is part of Hopes mysteriousness but I suppose that would achieve the opposite affect of what Claire North was hoping to achieve with this book. I usually like when a book is written in first person however so far in this book it isn't working for me, North is trying to convey how intellegent Hope is for us by describing things we would never have to know in our life times and for me thats boring... saying that I didn't think I would become the slightest bit intrigued when reading the first 25 pages but the second half of our first read got my attention just a little bit... I am willing to give this book the benefit of the doubt... for now.

Jen's Thoughts

Finally we are reading this book, picking it up after a few months of buying it, took away some of its first appeal: but reading it we are. The narrative is not dissimilar to E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, as I don’t know how trustworthy she is to take us through the story. As readers we are thrown in at the deep end, with flashbacks and a present day thrills. As a character Hope seems very unlikable and not someone I would choose to spend time with. I think the fact is I can’t trust her, but I feel what she has been through has made who she is. For some reason every time I picture her, I see her in a black leather jumpsuit like the Matrix or Mission Impossible. I will keep reading it every week though as I am very intrigued about this ‘forgotten’ girl.

Laura Predicts

• More boring information we don't have to know
• Hope getting a side kick/ this person messaging her becoming an important pat of the story

Jen Predicts

• Someone will remember her
• She will get caught out

Stacking The Shelves - October 2016

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week or in our case over the previous month. 

This was a bad month for us both for Stacking the shelves, Laura had just moved into her new house and Jen was preparing for a move too... I swear sometimes it is like we are the same person. Jen is still dealing with the move as is Laura but now Laura has a little less stress and a little more time, just a little more time to do such things... This stacking the shelves will only consist of the books that Laura has some how managed to afford this month, Jen will do a double Stacking next month... God help us all with the amount that she buys monthly!

I am surprised I have ended up with this many books this month I was expecting to buy none but you all probably understand how impossible that would be! I miss my old shelf for my photograph this one looks a little rubbish sorry but I am living in chaos right now.

A Whole New World by Liz Braswell

The one below this Once upon a time came in on the delivery a few weeks ago and I instantly needed it in my life, I am a Disney fan through and through and it just didn't make sense not to buy this when I seen it in Tesco a few weeks later, I bought this along with The Beast within as part of the buy two for £7

Once Upon A Time by Liz Braswell

As mentioned above this book came into work on the delivery, I loved the look of the cover and the feel of the book as well as it being Disney related and bought it without hesitation

The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

I have blabbed on and on about this book since I read Me Before You  and After You that Jen so kindly bought me it as a house warming gift when I moved into my new house, what better way to war a house than to fill it with books, books and even more books... Thanks Jen!

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

When it comes to anything Shiny I am a magpie, if you seen me in the street you would know it was me from the amount of jewellery I have on that is so sparkly... same with books, a little bit of glitter or mirrored front covers and I will buy it no matter what it is about but this one looked pretty as well as sounding really interesting.

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland

I don't know why all of a sudden I am buying books with fish in the title or on the cover, I don't mean to its a fluke but this month I have managed to buy two that have fish on, This book caught my attention because it was described as John Green meets Rainbow Rowell in this heartbreaking tale of bittersweet first love. John Green... Rainbow Rowell... it had to be a winner and I only have a few pages of it left and I have loved it so much!

The Beast Within By Serena Valentino

Everyone who knows me will know that I love Belle and Beauty and the Beast... I am considering a village Bella tattoo too... At first I thought this book was part of the other two Disney books I have bought this month but now looking at it I can see that it is not... Still cannot wait to read it though!

Silence Is A Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher

My other fish book from this months haul... I pointed this one out to Jen as soon as I spotted it and she had bought it and read it before I got a chance to but i've heard its good so I bought it anyway.

Stacking The Shelves - September 2016

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week or in our case over the previous month.

 

Summer Secrets by Jane Green

After reading Falling by Jane Green I wanted to read more books by her so Jen has surprised me and brought in two Jane Green books to add to my shelves... Thank you Jen!

The Return Of The Young Prince by A.G Roemmers

I watched the film version of the first one of these on Netflix and it had me in tears can't wait to read this.

 

Sunshine On A Rainy Day by Bryony Fraser

Been feeling a bit down lately and this book caught my attention with the title, it also looks pretty

 

The Curious Case Of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

I was curious about this book, it also looks pretty

 

The Readers Of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katrina Bivald

It's a book about books you know what i'm like about that!

 

The Shock Of The Fall by Nathan Filer

This came back into our store last week after it catching my eye so much when it was originally on sale in our shop, I took it as a sign and bought it

 

Babyville by Jane Green

The other Jane Green book that Jen gave me.

 

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

One of the Richard and Judy book club books in our store, I had to buy it.

The History Of Us by Jonathon Harvey

It was signed by the author in Waterstones and also read of the week in work, I had to buy it I collect authors signatures now supposedly.

 

Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz

Sounded so intruging so I got it.

 

The Last Boy And Girl In The World by Siobhan Vivian

I don't know why I bought this but I did and I will read it.

The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe

The next thoughts for 50 book to read at the same time as Jen after we read the Hope book.

 

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

This looks pretty, sounds interesting and will be the next book I read

 

Username: Evie by Joe Sugg

I have wanted this one for ages and the sequel just got released!!!
 

Username: Regenerated by Joe Sugg

The sequel to the above, half price and staff discount!!!
 

The Potions Diaries: Royal Tour by Amy Alward 

Read the first one and loved it, so this is the second one in the series
 

Maestra by L.S Hilton 

A thriller and I want to be thrilled. Wasn’t interested till I read the first page!
 

Trans: A Memoir by Juliet Jacques 

Laura pointed this out to me and told me to buy it…..she will not be disobeyed.
 

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall 

More teenage angst: my type of book. Laura wouldn’t let me purchase Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, just for the new front cover, so I had to get this one instead!
 

The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe 

Another one of Laura’s choices, for us to read together 

Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah 

Hercule Poirot returns in the second of Sophie’s Poirot novels.
 

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher 

The last of Zoella’s book club books
 

If I was Your Girl by Meredith Russo 

Trans girl meets cis boy …
 

What’s a Girl Gotta Do? By Holly Bourne 

3 for 2, teenage angst with red lips on the front cover!
 

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 

3 for 2, like both authors!
 

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan 

3 for 2, love triangle with teenage angst!
 

The Widow by Fiona Barton 

A husband with secrets…..
 

Magic by Danielle Steel 

Nice front cover!
 

Truly Madly Guilty by Lianne Moriarty 

3 couples, one barbeque that affects them all….
 

The Ballroom by Anna Hope 

A ballroom in an asylum….intriguing….
 

Silence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher 

Damn you Laura for notifying me of this book’s existence!!!

Thoughts For 50 - Pages 251 to 300 Of Falling By Jane Green

Eight years ago, Emma Montague left behind the strict confines—and rather dull boyfriend—of her upper-crust English life and moved to New York City, where she immediately found success in finance. But her soulless, cutthroat, all-consuming job was another life she didn’t want.

Answering an ad on Craigslist, Emma finds a tiny beach cottage in the small town of Westport, Connecticut. It needs work—lots of work. But it’s the perfect project to satisfy Emma’s passion for interior design and gardening, if her new landlord, Dominic, is agreeable to the small changes she yearns to make. 

To Emma, Dominic himself is somewhat of a fixer-upper. A local handyman with a six-year-old son, he’s a world away from the men she should be interested in, but he’s comfortable in his own skin, confident, quiet, and kind. And slowly, over a shared garden, time spent with his son, and late-night conversations, Emma finds herself falling for Dominic...

From friends to lovers happens as naturally as the changing seasons. But setting down roots doesn’t come easily when two lives as different as their own merge into one. And Emma will realize that the seeds of happiness must be nurtured and cherished to grow into something strong enough to shelter all their hopes and dreams...

Laura's Thoughts

At the rate this book is going I am surprised me and Jen haven't given up on this feature and just sat and read the whole book in one sitting, well I speak for myself I have a slight suspicion that Jen may have read more than she is supposed to or at least skim read to see what happens! But I wouldn't blame her this book is amazing.

Jane Green has a way with words that enables us to be able to picture the surroundings of the characters wherever they may be, every character we meet is such a good strong character with a different personality from the others in the book, I think that is part of why I am so engaged in this book I am yet to find a part where I am bored and not enjoying the book, I hope the ending is as good as all this build up... Only two weeks to go!

Laura Predicts

• A proposal from Dominic while they are in England
• A problem with Jesse that means Emma and Dominic need to cut their stay short and get back home as quick as possible
• A pregnancy 
• Jesse running away from his grandparents
• Stacy kidnapping Jesse

Jen's Thoughts
We are on the home stretch…just two weeks to go…this is killing me. I have would have finished this book weeks ago, naughty Laura making me do this. This book is amazing. I have decided that Dominic is the best dad in the world as well as the best boyfriend: Laura has her fiancé, Dominic is mine! Things haven’t gone as predicted, because Dominic is ‘that’ amazing. Still finding the narrative leans towards the female psyche, even though it’s written in the third person: most events are seen through Emma’s eyes. I have just finished a book were the book was split between the main protagonists, whilst still being written in third person and it worked.
Anyway less about that, Sophie appeared ‘via text message’ and Jeff was mentioned fleetingly. They may appear for the wedding, which is hopefully going to happen.
There was couple cuteness as Dominic and Emma made their way through the English countryside to the latter’s nephew’s engagement party. Very amusing, as there is a little divide between Americanisms and our English lingo; I won’t spoil it for you! But also there is a class divide: ‘you didn’t tell me you lived at Downton Abbey!’ Think Friends Season Four, were Ross marries Rachael Emily. Emma’s Mum is not very nice….bitch!
The whole Stacy thing has kind of been dealt with seemingly, but I think Jane Green has leaded us into a false sense of security.

Jen Predicts

• Stacy will be back at Dominics house, after his parents argue and she will come back to rescue Jesse or she will kidnap him as Laura said
• There has to be a wedding
• Henrietta/Henry will turn out to be a man and George will come out as gay
• Emma will slap her Mum
• Hobbes will appear for more cat cuteness
• Dominic will leave Emma for me

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Favourite TV Shows Of All Time

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we are given a different top ten to complete. For more information and a list of past and future topics, go here.

We absolutely loved doing this weeks Top Ten it got us feeling all nostalgic and we cannot wait to look over everyone elses lists and see what other shows we loved that must have slipped our mind!

1. One Tree Hill
It's very possible that this might be the first series I have actually watched from the beginning to the very end. I miss it so much!

2. Pretty Little Liars
I even got my Fiance into watching this! I am gutted that series 7 has just been announced as the final season but at the same time I don't think there is much further that they could push the storyline.

3. Stranger Things
Does this even need an explanation, I'm sure you have probably watched it if you have Netflix and absolutely loved it, I can't wait for season two after the way season one ended!!

4. The Vampire Diaries
Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Stephen Mcqueen just to name a few of the amazingly beautiful cast The Vampire Diaries consists of... I don't think there is even one ugly person in that series! Not even just saying it... I read the books before I started watching this and in one of the very rare occasions the series was just as good as the books!

5. New Girl
Zooey Deschanel is life, shes quirky and gorgeous I must admit I do have a slight girl crush on her! this series has me howling, I have even got my mother into it! If you haven't heard of it or just not watched it I suggest you do! You will not be disappointed.

6. Game Of Thrones
Pretty well explanatory, you have probably seen how special Game Of Thrones is to me on previous posts, it is the reason me and my Fiance are exactly that, Engaged and even together, we got talking because of the books and got together because of the tour in Belfast where we went to see the sets for his 30th, plus Jon Snow.

7. Sabrina The Teenage Witch
This was my ultimate favourite TV show whilst I went through school, I even collected the Sabrina Secrets magazine with the makeup set when I was younger! I do miss this I feel as though children these days are missing out on so much now that this has ended.

8. How I Met Your Mother
Absolutely love this show even though I forgot where I was up to around Barneys wedding and decided to start again... I will finish this series as if my life depends on it.

9. The Strain
Different to anything else i've watched really, it was down to James that I started watching it and got hooked, even though it does frighten me quite a bit, looking forward to season two.

10. Lost
The second series I managed to watch from the very beginning to the very end although I am still quite lost in terms of what actually happened... Heard so many different things. I still highly enjoyed it though.


1. Melrose Place
I loved this show and yes I am showing my age, by saying this. The whole bitch-fest was brilliant: the main reason I loved the show was the opening credits and the fact Heather Locklear was billed as Special Guest Star for six seasons which was pure genius. Plots included baby napping, numerous affairs and deaths, alcoholism, homosexuality, AIDs and Jake being topless.

2. Sunset Beach
Another one that shows my age, this show was bonkers and every scene was left with a cliff-hanger. The actors/actresses weren’t employed for the ability to portray human emotion, but their ability to pout. I want a DVD boxset and I want it now. The days lasted weeks around six weeks’ worth of episodes were technically the same day: that’s thirty episodes! Trash TV at its best!

3. Friends
One of the best sitcoms of all time, the will they/won’t they with Ross and Rachael lasted its whole run. I still wanted Chandler and Joey to get together; but admit Chandler and Monica was the better option. Loved the whole series, and no I can’t choose a favourite friend, but Phoebe is up there…just saying.

4. Dallas
This feuding oil family was just amazing, love the theme tune and opening credits…just wished there was a Special Guest Star billing. Plots included numerous shootings, pregnancies/miscarriages, numerous takings over of Ewing oil, affairs, and one whole season being a dream…

5. Prisoner: Cell Block H
The set was made up of cardboard boxes which wobbled, the women were rough and ready and came in all shape and sizes. From naughty prisoner wardens, to numerous schemes and escapes; this drama had me glued… I watched the repeats not the original broadcast! The re-imagining of this drama: Wentworth Prison is also worthy of Top Ten Status.

6. Queer as Folk
This LGBT drama was amazing, much better the ‘inspired by’ original English version, mainly because it was longer, and the characters were broadened and their storylines extended. The Brian/Justin on/off relationship spanned the whole run. It was just pure brilliance.

7. Doctor Who
How can one program re-invent itself with regenerations and keep on going? Pure imaginative thrills and frolics beyond our galaxy, but still manages to play with human emotions. It just manages to keep me glued and the boxsets have been watched and re-watched.

8. The Tudors
King Henry VIII was sexy? I don’t think I need to say any more… The series itself wasn’t always historically accurate, but it kept me glued as series by series wives were divorced, beheaded and died. Loved the opening credits, especially the final episode were four of the wives featured in the opening sequence.

9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Girl power, sexy vampires, plenty of angst and the odd demon with witches thrown in too. I had the boxsets on video, but still haven’t updated my DVD collection. This fantasy drama evolved from high school to a more grown up grounding. Throw in a musical episode and this series was sweet.

10. Wentworth Prison
This re-imagined version of Number Five, updated the whole series and evolved it, storylines were changed and characters were re-booted. It has managed to distance itself from the it’s predecessor post-season one, but fans of the original do not need be disappointed, it is one of the best re-boots in recent years.