Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I loved PS I Love You, so I thought I'd give another Ahern book a go. I wasn't to fazed by the fact the story of Where Rainbows End is completely written as a correspondence, mostly between the two main characters, family and friends. I had read The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot which was written in a similar style and stilled loved the story.



The gist of Where Rainbows End is have you ever had someone, a boy or girl, who you had been friends with for long period of time and even though it seemed that you both liked each more than just friends, the circumstances where never quite right? You'd be single but he'd be dating someone else or vice versa? This story is what happens when two best friends Rosie and Alex are separated and the wrong set of circumstances keep tearing them apart though fate kept bringing them back together.



This book kept making me want to bash my head against a brick wall. Though I'm familiar with the situation, the fact that the story of this book takes place over a few DECADES with the same vicious cycle repeating itself over and over and over and over (x10) again, was really quite painful to read. By the end of the book I really pitied both Alex and Rosie for all the time lost and wasted.



Though you might enjoy the development and drama of the main characters, their friends and family, it might take you a while you get through this book as there is only so much repetitive/depressing events you can take in a space of time. I found myself repeatedly putting the book down and doing something else just to take a break from the same cycle of events.



The story wasn't bad but it wasn't great either and though the ending finally gave me a sigh of relief, I don't think it will be enough for me to pick up this book again.



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The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Based in England in 1582 this is story of Lady Eleanor "Ellie" Rodriguez of San Jaime. Thanks to her "Alchemist" father's endless pursuit of turning base metal into gold, all Ellie has is a worthless title and herself to offer in marriage. As the daughter of a failed Alchemist and a Spaniard mother, her chances of making a match, let alone a good match, are slim to none.

As her feisty spirit captivates the elite in Queen Elizabeth's Court, she finds unlikely friends in unexpected places but among the courtiers there are some that despise her father for the trail of financial ruin that he leaves in his wake. One of which is the Earl of Dorset, William Lacey. Ellie's father financially ruined the Lacey Estate when William's father caught the "gold" fever. Now it is up to William to make a good match at Court and restore the family fortune.

But his eye has been caught by a beautiful yet elusive countess at court. Unknownst to him that same mysterious countess is the same beggar brat daughter of Sir Arthur Hutton that he had banished from his lands after his father's death years before. If William discovers the truth it will be the beginning of Ellie's downfall and William will find more than one dilemma on his hands as he questions his motives and beliefs.

Although it was an ok read the story seemed one massive cliche and you get the feeling that it all has been done before. I got the feeling that maybe, with a few twicks here and there the story would have better suited as an adult romance novel but ended up as romance "light" for a younger reading auidience.

The synopsis was intriguing and was what had originally sucked me in but the story was somewhat of a let down as you could pretty much tell how things were going to work out and what was going to happen as it happened. Ellie goes through trial after trial because her father's misguided pursuits and self centered nature, which after a while does get a bit irritating so you end up wishing he would just blow himself up and free poor Ellie from being continually dragged down with him. But for all it faults, it was an Ok read. Who knows, maybe the sequel The Queen's Lady will redeem the series?





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Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've always been a fan of the roaring twenties, so when I came across Bright Young Things at Dymocks there was no way I could have walked passed it. The story centers around 3 girls in 1929 whose lives will change forever.

Letty Haubstadt dreams of something more than the quiet sheltered life she has always known. Confident that fame and shinning lights await her in New York City, Letty leaves everything she has ever known behind and changes her last name to Larkspur, determined to make her dreams of becoming a famous singer and star come true. But Letty will learn that the journey to fame isn't as easy as it seems when your not the only pretty girl aiming for the spotlight.

Cordelia Grey also leaves her life, and a husband she never wanted, behind to travel to New York City to find a long lost father with a shady past and present. Trying to build a new life for herself isn't easy and a life of privilege isn't all the glitz and glamour that it seems. Cordelia will have to learn the ropes of her new life quickly before her naivety costs her everything she holds dear.

Astrid Donal on the other hand is a flapper who has grown up in a life of privilege, knowing the ins and outs quite well. Moving from one rich family to the next, as her mother changes husbands and toyboys faster than she buys dresses, has been the norm longer than Astrid can remember. But is Astrid brave enough to break free from her mother's vicious cycle and make a new life for herself?

It's not a bad read, if you are a fan of Godbersen previous Lux series. It's amazing to see how much the 3 girls actually go through in the space of one book and the author, as with Lux, hooks you into her world of mafias, speakeasys and glamour. Can't wait to see what else is in store for Letty, Cordelia and Astrid in Godbersen's next installment.



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