Unplugging until 2016

Sun, sand, strawberries and champagne - that is what I have planned for the remainder of 2015. To all my wonderful readers, have an awesome holiday season, and see you on the other side!

What Alice Forgot

It's difficult to write a book about memory loss that's different from all the other books about the topic. And so Liane Moriarty's "What Alice Forgot" starts off on a not-too-different trajectory to Sophie Kinsella's "Remember Me", with a heroine who doesn't remember the last x years of her life, and finds herself older, fitter, and richer.

Nevertheless, the plot diverges from there, and the resulting story is riveting. Beautiful writing. Realistic characters. Spot-on observations about love and marriage.

A lust poem

a brief crush

he was just a boy

really

that's what 26 looks like

from the 34^th mark

no mystery in it

really

our contract was simple

i would make a man of him

and in return

i would make a man of him

i mean

how could i resist

how did i

&

why

The Hypnotist's Love Story

The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty is exactly what it says it is: the heroine is a hypnotherapist and the book is about her journey to love. But wait, it's not as bland as it seems: her love interest has a stalker, an ex girlfriend from hell. Or is she?

This is a book about dating a widower, being a step mom, growing up without a father and a multitude of other small issues that make up modern relationships. The highlight for me was when the hero was revealed to be a hoarder - being married to one, certainly made me empathise with the heroine.

Dan Carter - My Story

This is Dan Carter's love story with rugby. I love it because of the cover and because it's Dan. I mean, isn't he just the ultimate hero of any romance book?

The blurb:
Dan Carter: My Story is an up close and personal account of a New Zealand sporting icon: a down home country boy who went on to become a world superstar. Acknowledged as the greatest fly-half to have played international rugby and a veteran of more than 100 test matches, he is the world record holder for most test points, has twice been named the IRB’s Player of the Year and twice named New Zealand Player of the Year. 

Carter, though, is renowned for his modesty and unassuming nature, and argues that he has he always 'just tried to do the best job I can for the All Blacks'. In this authorised biography, the great All Blacks pivot with the model good-looks opens up for the first time about his stellar 12 year career. He looks back on the myriad highs, including that virtuoso performance for the All Blacks against the Lions in the second test of the 2005 series. 

And with an equal measure of honesty, Carter also reflects on the lows of his career, speaking frankly of the mental anguish he felt after twice being invalided out of Rugby World Cups. He talks about his unflinching loyalty to the famous black jersey and the reasons why he elected to make a long-term commitment to New Zealand.

Whether you want to get up close and personal with this sporting legend or you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your household rugby tragic, clickBuy to get your hands on a copy of the most hotly anticipated sports biography in years.

Who would like to review "Sweet Somethings"?

If you'd like a review copy of "Sweet Somethings" or "Spicy Somethings" by Eve Summers, please send me an email to yve at xtra dot co dot nz.

Jurassic World

Yes, it has a love story angle.