Book Review - Relight My Fire by Joanna Bolouri

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title: Relight My Fire

Author: Joanna Bolouri

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 1st March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Phoebe and Oliver had their happy ending, but now, with a five year old daughter, they are far from the blissful hedonistic lifestyle of when they first started dating. Not one for giving up, Phoebe creates a sexy wishlist: a jar where they can ask the other for anything they've ever wanted in bed - or out of it. But with distractions aplenty, will they be able to relight the fire in the bedroom?

Set 5 years after The List, it was great to catch up with Phoebe and Oliver again.  I will shamefully admit that I don't after such a break since I read the first book, recall too much about it, but that does mean that I can assure anyone that this can easily be read as a standalone. 

There were a few reminders from The List, but on the whole this was a whole new story, about a married couple needing to reinvigorate their sex life. They have 4 year old Mollie now, and she is adorable, which would put a dampener on most people's passion, and so they come up with ways to try to spice up their lives. 

Easily my favourite parts of this book was the introduction of the sex jar and how it was used, and the scenarios being played out, were  a lot of fun, and incredibly sexy too. 

I really enjoyed Phoebe's best friend Lucy, she was such a breath of fresh air running through the book, some of the funniest lines seemed to come from her. 

The story takes place over a year, and is told in what appeared to be diary entries, some longer and some shorter.  I really enjoyed all of Pam's suggestions for Phoebe and Oliver and it really wasn't all plain sailing.  

This was the perfect length of book for me to read on a journey to and from Stoke, and it passed the journey incredibly well.  I almost missed at least one stop, and generally didn't notice the world passing me by. Was incredibly enjoyable and the ending left me with a massive grin on my face (to the extent I think I had a few weird looks). 

Many thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Joanne Bolouri - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Author: Joanne Bolouri

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied review copy

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 20th October 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Thirty-eight year old Emily has a satisfying job, fab friends, an amazing car and, most importantly, a wonderful flat, exactly 411 miles away from the judgemental, batshit crazy, interfering family she reluctantly sees twice a year. In fact, the only minor stress in her life is her twenty-something neighbour Evan and his penchant for flirting, loud music and even louder sex . . . but he's nothing she can't handle.

Emily also has a boyfriend called Robert and it's going really well. So well, in fact, that this year Emily is hoping to take him home for Christmas to meet her family. Finally she won't be subject to five days of nosy questions from her parents and pity looks from her younger married siblings.

But when Robert breaks up with her a week before Christmas, Emily is gutted. How on earth is she going to face her family now? Enlisting the help of party boy Evan (in exchange for one month's rent and the use of her convertible) Emily is determined to take Robert home for Christmas come hell or high water, even if it isn't the real Robert . . .

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a highly enjoyable story, predominately of one family's Christmas, a whole big 4 day fun extravaganza. Within that Emily has bigged up her current boyfriend Robert to the family, so they are expecting him to come with Emily for Christmas. 

However a few days later they break up, and Emily drunkenly persuaded Evan from next door, her much younger, obnoxious neighbour to pose as Robert for Christmas up in Scotland. This is hilarious as Emily really doesn't like Evan that much, and they even have to practice hugging just so it may look natural. 

Emily's family is great and borrows elements from perhaps even your own family. Her mother seems to manage to pick fault in most things, while making them sound like compliments. Her father is up for a drink and a dance. Her sister Iona, seems slightly uptight and doesn't have her husband with her this Christmas. Her brother Patrick loves video games, and his wife although quiet becomes a different person with a few drinks in her. 

Over the course of four days, there is a lot of family time, drinking games, karaoke, long walks, a big party and all manner of self discoveries - it is just a lot of fun and really entertaining to read. However I will admit that for me it took at least until the break up of Emily and Robert's relationship for the book to get going, so the first perhaps 100 pages felt a bit slow for my liking, but after that I loved every second, once the story really started to ramp up. 

Evan is a great guy, and one that I would happily date if he was real, and even in that first bit of the book he was a standout to me, and between his and Emily's quick wit, you get some really snappy one liners, and snap decisions with great affect. 

With a great sense of humour throughout the book, and a really strong family festive feel to the story, it really is a book that will get you smiling this Christmas. 

Thank you so much to Quercus for this copy of the book. This was my honest opinion. 

Book Review - I Followed the Rules by Joanna Bolouri

Amazon UK

Title: I Followed the Rules

Author: Joanna Bolouri

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Quercus

Publication Date: 2nd July 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Rule 1: Never ask him on a first date. Rule 2: Laugh admiringly at all his jokes. Rule 3: Always leave him wanting more. 
... wtf?!

Have you heard of The Rules of Engagement? It's a book that promises to teach you to find the man of your dreams in ten easy steps. Unsurprisingly, I don't own a copy. What is it, 1892?

But I'm a journalist, and I've promised to follow it to the letter and write about the results. Nevermind that my friends think I'm insane, I'm stalking men all over town and can't keep my mouth shut at the best of times.

My name is Cat Buchanan. I'm thirty-six years old and live with my daughter in Glasgow. I've been single for six years, but that's about to change. After all, I'm on a deadline.

I Followed the Rules and this is what happened.

I Followed the Rules is hilarious and very good fun, it follows Cat Buchanan a single mother, with 8 year old daughter Grace, as she tries to get a new boyfriend. Cat is also a columnist, which is going downhill a bit, so a colleague suggests she follows the ultimate dating guide "The Rules of Engagement" and write about her experiences with it.

Just one small problem, Cat disagrees with everything that is written in the rules, mainly as it seems outdated, and flies in the face of feminism, and means she will have to be something she isn't. But is willing to go along with it with a hefty dose of scepticism.

This is a book that follows Cat as she is attempting to follow these rules, and the funny tales they provide her. She has here fair share of nightmare dates, but she does manage to get a date using these rules and it goes from there. 

However this isn't the only man she meets during this experiment and its soon clear she has stronger feelings for one of the men than the other. 

Cat is a fantastic character, she is down to earth, a fabulous mother to Grace, a good sister and best friend, and isn't even too bitter towards her ex. She is the sort of person you would be honoured to have as your best friend. I loved Cat's daughter Grace, she is a such a contrast to Jason, the ragamuffin tomboy child of Cat's best friend Rose. Rose and Cat's friendship is also great to read, they are a couple of lovely ladies.

 I Followed the Rules is entertaining, and with what is revealed about the Rules of Engagement, could equally be used as a dating guide itself. However it is far more than just a dating book. I enjoyed every second of I Followed the Rules, and absolutely love Joanna Bolouri's writing style. 

Thanks so much to Quercus and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest review.