Out of the Picture – Polly Samson

Synopsis – Quite unlike her fair stepsisters, Lizzie is dark and secretive: ‘Just like your father’ says her mother. But what was her father like? Photos of him are hidden away; snatches of overheard conversation between her mother and her stepfather deepen the mystery. Only her best friend Savannah – also abandoned by her father when she was a baby – knows what it feels like to wonder, to try and piece together an earlier story. But when events propel Lizzie alone to London she stops wondering and starts searching…Beautifully evoking the ache of childhood loss, the scrappy joys of chaotic families, and the hurt and relief of understanding, OUT OF THE PICTURE reveals Polly Samson’s talent for laying bare the uncomfortable truths that lie just under the skin – in every family, in every secret.

my thoughts – I was looking forward to this book and i have to say i was disappointed. The plot kept jumping about from past to present and then back again. A lot of the book was written in the present tense and i personally find it very difficult to get into a book that is written in this tense. The story in itself was quite good, with a daughter who feels like she didnt belong in her family trying to find her biological father, and all the twists and turns that this entailed, it just wasnt my cup of tea.

Danielle Steel – Answered Prayers

synopsis – Faith Madison is the very picture of a sophisticated New Yorker. Slim, blonde, stylish, married to a successful merchant banker and having raised two daughters, Faith has a life many would envy. But Faith has overcome a childhood marred by tragedy, and has carried within herself a secret she could divulge to no-one. The sudden death of her stepfather sets off a journey of change and revelation. At the funeral, painful memories flood back – and an old friend re-enters Faith’s life. Brad, a long lanky boy from her childhood days who had teased, tormented and protected her. Now a busy lawyer in California, Brad re-enters Faith’s life just as she makes a decision that plunges her marriage into crisis. As these two childhood friends rediscover each other, Faith is finally ready to face the most painful step of all: of sharing a secret that has long been haunting her, and opening up her heart for the first time in her life.

my thoughts – this was the second Danielle Steel Book that i have read. I didnt enjoy this one as much as the last, but it was still fairly enjoyable. i thought for a thicker book, it had very little plot to it. It was an easy read, and once i got into it it was ok, but i just thought it was quite slow paced. The storyline was quite good, however i did find it slightly predictable. I enjoyed the book however it would not be one that i would read again. I would read more books by Danielle Steel if i came across them, not ones that i would specifically go out and buy.

Leap of Faith – Danielle Steel

Synopsis – A compelling story of the power of lies, the misuse of trust and one woman’s triumph over a devastating betrayal. Marie-Ange Hawkins has the kind of childhood that most people dream of – freedom, love and security in a beautiful old French chateau. But when she is just eleven, a tragic accident marks the end of this idyllic life. Orphaned and alone, she is sent to America to live with her great-aunt on a farm in Iowa, where she is forced to work while dreaming of returning to her beloved chateau. Only the friendship of a local boy, Billy Parker, offers comfort and hope. When an unexpected visitor brings some startling news, she returns to France and meets the chateau’s new owner, the Comte Bernard de Beauchamp – a dashing widower who invites her into his home and his heart. For a time they enjoy a magical life together, until Marie-Ange hears a shocking story, so chilling that she can scarcely believe it. Not even her dear friend Billy can help her now, As the darkness gathers around her she must find the courage to take one last, desperate step to save her loved ones… and herself.

My thoughts – This is a book about a girl called Marie-ange whose parents and brother die in a car crash, and she is sent away to live in a different country with a great aunt who doesnt like her very much. This is danielle steel’s fifty second novel, which in itself is a great achievement.

Once Marie-Ange gets to America she makes a friend in Billy, their relationship is a complex one and at times i felt myself wanting to bang their heads together and make them get together, indeed in the end of the book it is not clear if they will or not.

this was the first danielle steel book that i have read and will definitaly read more.

Crazy In Love Chrissie Manby

Synopsis – Golf resort heiress Birdie Sederburg’s life revolves around how visible she is on the latest celebrity watch blog. Until she (quite literally, in her Mercedes) bumps into hot new actor Dean Stevenson – after weeks of stalking. Dean’s agent manages to persuade him that being seen with Birdie is a good thing for his profile, and it’s just a short distance from that to engagement. At least in Birdie’s head. The course of true love, however, does not run smooth, and Birdie is forced to have herself kidnapped in order to convince Dean he really does love her. A recipe for disaster…

This is a Chick-lit book, very easy to read and a very easy plot to follow. It folows the character of Birdie who very much reminded me of a Paris Hilton type charater, who would go to any length to get the famous man of her dreams.

Birdie comes across at the start as  very materialistic, who only cares about money, social status and gossip columns. At the begining of the the book i couldn’t warm to her and wanted to slap her, but at the end i really ended up loving her.  She decides that her and Dean should be it ‘it’ celebrity couple, seen together at all the events together. Dean is the heartthrob of a soap opera, and in order to enhance his career, with the advice of his agent decides that he will use Birdie to do so. However, things turn sour and and Birdie decides that the only way to win him back is to get herself kidnapped.

I found the book funny at points, with some relivant mentionings, for example regular TV programmes and famous people. it was not a taxing read, very easy to get into and to stay into.

i would recommend this book to anyone who needed a light hearted read without having to concentrate to much. I have also added Getting Over Mr Right by the same author to my wishlist.