Jury service & a pleasant surprise

I was called up for jury service this week and was due to be part of a trial starting on Wednesday. Could be interesting I thought, never know where you might find material for a book. Material was in limited supply however, as the trial twas not to be. Got there, sat around for a while, then they told us the trial would be next week instead and they would draw a new jury from next week's pool of jurors.
On the upside, while doing all that waiting around at court I started a book that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I freely admit I didn't have high expectations as I read very little chick lit; plus I'd picked it up based (and this is going to sound terrible) solely on the basis of the log line on the cover "What if you woke up and your life was perfect?". I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for more books by this author.

'Remember Me?' by Sophie Kinsella... Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it’s 2004 and she’s a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it’s actually 2007 – she’s twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she’s the boss of her department – and she’s married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life??!
She can’t believe her luck – especially when she sees her stunning new home. She’s sure she’ll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He’s drawn up a ‘manual of our marriage’, which should help.
But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old friends hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up… and lands a new bombshell.
What the **** happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

Music: LCD Sound System
Just read: 'Remember Me?' by Sophie Kinsella

Countdown to Branded By Fire by Nalini Singh

The lovely Nalini has saved me having to think up a blog post this week. Instead I'm passing on an invitation...

There's only 8 days to go until Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh is released so she's throwing a cyber party - and why wouldn't you?
Head on over to her blog and check out the giveaways and other assorted fun.

Branded by Fire is number 6 in the Psi/Changling series, but don't let that scare you, all the books can easily be read as stand-alones. If you're thinking you've heard me mention these books on my blog before then you'd be right. This is one of my all time favourite paranormal romance series and I totally recommend giving it a go. Want to know more about her books, visit her website. If Psi powers and shape-shifters aren't your thing but you'd love to give angels a go, try her new series which is shaping up to be every bit as good.

Music: Gossip
Currently reading: 'Magic Burns' by Ilona Andrews

Good read

I'm going through a bit of a Suzanne Brockmann faze at the moment. Just finished reading 'Embraced by Love' and thought I would share it with you. It was originally published in 1995 but they have recently reissued it and I think it was worth printing again.

One of the things that made this book standout for me was that unlike most romances which are about the hero & heroine meeting and falling in love, this book starts with the characters already married and already in love. It fills in a bit of back story so you get to share the buzz of first love but you also see the life they are living now and the problems they are facing - the biggest of which is that the heroine is a workaholic.
The pivot point of the book comes when the couple finds themselves responsible for two young children. In their already busy lives they struggle to find time for each other, how are they going to fit in two kids.
The story shows a glowing relationship (albeit with problems) take a complete nose dive. You watch and feel deeply for the couple as things start to fall apart for them. In particular my heart really went out to the hero who always felt a secondary priority in the heroine's life and now with the kids....
Anyway I recommend this if you're looking for a romance that is a little different from the norm that has well shaped and sympathetic characters.

Music: Still on Primal Scream
Currently reading: 'Blood Rites' by Jim Butcher
Just started this one - hope it's as good as his others :)
Mood: Looking forward to another short week