Review:Manga Classics: Great Expectations by Nokman Poon, Morpheus Studios, Crystal Chan

Great Expectations
by Nokman Poon, Morpheus Studios, Crystal Chan
Series: Manga Classics
Published by Udon Entertainment on March 10, 2015
Genres: Classic, Manga
Pages: 350
Format: eBook 
Source: Net Galley 

Summary From Goodreads

Great Expectations has it all: romance, mystery, comedy, and unforgettable characters woven through a gripping rags-to-riches tale. Naive Pip, creepy Miss Haversham, beautifully cold Estella, terrifying Abel Magwitch, and the rest of Dicken’s fantastic cast are perfectly envisioned in this new adaptation in this 300-plus page volume featuring artwork by artist Nokman Poon. Manga Classics editions feature classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions. Proudly presented by UDON Entertainment and Morpheus Publishing.

My Review

I have already read three books of this series and they are all extraordinary, as soon as I finish one I immediately want to read another one and especially to read the original. The plot is summarized in a perfect way: it is flowing, clear and compelling, the characters are well defined and characterized.
I have not yet finished reading the original novel by Dickens but for what I've read the plot is faithful to it.
For those unfamiliar with the work of Dickens is the story of Pip, a poor orphan raised by his sister and his brother-in-law, in love with Estella, a girl with a heart of stone. He will try to redeem himself and become a gentleman for her but will he succeed in conquering her?
I loved all the characters but Joe and Biddy were extraordinary: sweet, generous, loving. The drawings are well done, perfectly able to convey the emotions of the characters and very beautiful scenary.

I definitely recommend it to young people who approach for the first time to this classic or to those people who are terrified of it but it's good for everyone.

Review: Love, Lies and Lemon Cake by Sue Watson (Amori, bugie e dolci al limone)

Love, Lies and Lemon Cake
by Sue Watson
Published by Bookouture on June 27th, 2014 
Genres:  Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit
Pages: 304
Format: eBook, Paperback 
Buy links: Amazon.com, Amazon.it

Summary From Goodreads

Faye Dobson has lost her sparkle. Living on film star fantasies and vague memories of a marriage that once was, she can’t help feeling that life is passing her by. She dreams of being whisked to Paris for dinner, making three wishes at the Trevi fountain and having sex under the stars. But the wrinkles are multiplying, her husband’s passion is for plumbing, and the nearest she’ll get to Rome is a take-away pizza. So when Faye meets Dan the gorgeous Australian surfer guy working in the local deli she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to see the world. He is blonde, tanned, ten years younger and bakes the most amazing lemon cake. Unlike her husband Dan actually listens to Faye, his smile makes her feel fizzy inside, and when he smiles... Oh. My. God. But is Faye being silly? What would Dan see in someone like her? Even if he did have feelings for her, could she give everything up to be with him? A laugh-out-loud, bittersweet comedy about taking your life back before it’s too late. 

My Review

E' stata una lettura frizzante, divertente con protagonista una donna matura che decide di prendere in mano la sua vita ormai diventata una noiosa routine 
Faye lavora come parrucchiera. Ha un marito e una figlia grande che ha già lasciato casa per studiare al college. Il suo matrimonio è ormai finito, lei e il marito non si parlano quasi più, le uniche cose che li tengono ancora uniti è la figlia e la paura di cambiare. Quando era ancora una studentessa Faye aveva mille sogni e mille desideri, aveva fatto anche una lista di cose da fare prima dei trentanni (vedere un tramonto a Santorini, fare l'amore in un prato...), purtroppo non è riuscita a farne neanche una. E' rimasta incinta e ha rinunciato alla carriera ma anche alla sua vitalità. E' ancora giovane, non può solo sopravvivere e finalmente trova il coraggio per uscire da questa situazione. Va a vivere da una sua amica e conosce un ragazzo australiano affascinante che prepara dei dolci davvero fantastici. Lui è più giovane di lei ma perchè non provare, anche se durerà solo qualche mese? Lui la aiuterà a realizzare diversi punti della sua lista.
Faye è una donna timida  e molto insicura, a volte è davvero imbranata e si caccia in situazioni molto imbarazzanti. Ma la sua relazione con Dan le da molta fiducia e la fa sentire di nuovo amata  e attraente. 
E' stata una lettura veloce, molto scorrevole, scritta con uno stile semplice e ricco di humor e ironia.
Lo consiglio a chi ama i Chick Lit e la Grecia, ci sono delle descrizioni di paesaggi così affascinanti che fanno davvero venire voglia di fare la valigia.


It was a sparkling, amusing reading starring a mature woman who decides to take over her life, which has now become a boring routine
Faye works as a hairdresser. She has a husband and a daughter who has already left home to study in college. Her marriage is now over, she and her husband don't talk to each other any more, the only things that still keep them together is their daughter and the fear of change. When she was still a student Faye had a thousand dreams and a thousand wishes, she had also made a list of things to do before the age of thirty (see a sunset in Santorini, make love in a meadow ...), unfortunately she couldn't do just one of them. She became pregnant and gave up her career but also her vitality. She is still young, she can not only survive and finally finds the courage to get out of this situation. She goes to live with one of her friend and knows a charming Australian boy who prepares really fantastic desserts. He is younger than her but why not try, even if it will last only a few months? He will help her make several points on her list.
Faye is a shy and very insecure woman, sometimes she's really clumsy and hunts in embarrassing situations. But her relationship with Dan gives her much confidence and makes her feel again loved and attractive.
It was a quick and flowing reading, written with a simple style full of humor and irony.
I recommend it to those who love Chick Lit and Greece, there are descriptions of such fascinating landscapes that really make you want to pack.

Author 

Sue Watson was a TV Producer with the BBC who combined motherhood and family life with a busy career. However, one day it dawned on Sue that Cosmo magazine may have been telling porkies about 'having it all,' and her life had become a slightly crazed juggling act. 

So after much soul searching (and comfort eating) Sue abandoned her TV career, bought a pink laptop and wrote a novel. 'Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes,' tells the story of Stella Weston, whose life is a constant struggle with a nasty boss at work, the weighing scales and being a mum, wife and daughter. 

Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her husband and teenage daughter in Worcestershire. When she's not toiling over her latest novel, Sue bakes (and eats) cake and enjoys very large tubs of Caramel Chew Chew ice cream all to herself while watching 'The Biggest Loser USA.' 

Sue's second book, 'Younger, Thinner, Blonder' was released in October (2013) and her third book 'Love, Lies and Lemon Cake' is released on June 27th 2014.

http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/
Twitter @suewatsonwriter 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/suewatsonbooks

2018 Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge

The Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge is hosted by Bookish Things & More. 

netgalley & edelweiss guidelines

• The challenge will run from Jan 1, 201 – Dec 31, 2018.
• Anyone is welcome to join. You do not need to be a blogger, just post your reviews and come back every month to link them up.
• Any genre, release date, request date, length, etc. counts so long as it came from Edelweiss or Netgalley.
• At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews.
• If you forget to link up one month it’s not a problem just add your reviews next month.
• If you would like to move up or down levels that is completely fine and at your discretion.
• If you have any questions tweet @BookishThings or e-mail bookishthingsandmore@yahoo.com!
• Hashtag: #NGEW2018

Netgalley & Edelweiss Levels

• Bronze – 10 Books
• Silver – 25 Books
• Gold – 50 Books
• Platinum – 75 Books
• Diamond – 100 Books

My Goal: is Gold  50 books!

my netgalley & edelweiss reads

Michael Jackson Reading Challenge 2018

                                                                         hosted here

Start Jan 1st 2018 to Dec 31st 2018
Books have to be at least 100 pgs. 

Off The Wall
1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Read a book in one day/within 24 hours
2. Rock with You - Read a romance or a book with rock in the title or author name
3. Working Day and Night - Read a book where  the main character(s) have multiple jobs or goes to school and has a job
4. Get on the Floor - Read a book with a musician in its list of characters
5. Off the Wall - Read a book with a shy character
6. Girlfriend (McCartney) - Read a female lead romance or a book about a BFF 
7. She's out of My Life - Read a book where the characters break up (they can get back together)
8. I Can't Help It - Read a book about addiction or obsession
9. It's the Falling in Love - Read a romance that results in marriage
10. Burn This Disco Out - Read a book with a musician in it's list of characters

Thriller
1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Read a book that centers around conflict (boxing, MMA, backstabbing friend)
2. Baby Be Mine - Read a book where a characters are engaged or getting married
3. The Girl Is Mine - Read a book where the male lead tries to get the girl
4. Thriller - Read a horror or psychological thriller
5. Beat It - Read a book centered around a fighting/martial art sport
6. Billie Jean - Read a book where a pregnancy or baby has brought the couple together
7. Human Nature - Freebie
8. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Read a y.a. book
9 The Lady In My Life - Read a romance novel

Bad
1. Bad - Read a book that got 2 stars or less
2. The Way You Make Me Feel - Read a steamy romance or erotica
3. Speed Demon - Read a book that you read in one sitting or about racing (auto, horse, dog etc)
4. Liberian Girl - Read a book set in any country in Africa or read an African American romance
5. Just Good Friends (Duet with Stevie Wonder) - read a book where the characters are friends
6. Another Part of Me - Read a book with a marriage or with a couple having or just had a baby
Humbled by Patricia Haley
7. Man in the Mirror - read a memoir/biography/autobiography
8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Read a book a character is being stalked or is the stalker or being harassed
9. Dirty Diana - Read a book where one of the characters is a cheater or is being cheated on
10. Smooth Criminal - Read a detective novel or a book where crime is going on in the background
11. Leave Me Alone - Read a book with a character who is a loner or outcast 

Dangerous
1. Jam - Read a book about music or about a musician
2. Why You Wanna Trip On Me - Read a book where a character is being set up or gossiped about
3. In The Closet - Read about secrets, has secret in the title, or about someone coming out of the closet
4. She Drives Me Wild - Read a steamy romance
5. Remember The Time - Read a memoir or read a book where the setting is in the past (historical romance and nonfiction history books for ex)
6. Can't Let Her Get Away - Read a book where one character was supposed to leave but ends up staying
7. Heal The World - Read a medical mystery (Temperance Brennan Series for ex)
8. Black Or White - Read a book from a Black author you have never read before and read a book from a White author you have never read before
9. Who Is It - Read a mystery
10. Give In To Me - Read a book where one of the characters like being in control
11. Will You Be There - Read a book where a character has to decide whether or not to trust or love someone
12. Keep The Faith - read a book about religion either real or fiction, read a book written by
13. Gone Too Soon - Read a memoir, Read a book from a series you wish had continued
14. Dangerous - Read a book where the villian also has a pov

Bonus Challenge:
History
DISC ONE:
1.  Billie Jean - Read a book where a pregnancy or baby has brought the couple together
2. The Way You Make Me Feel - Read a steamy romance or erotica
3. Black Or White - Read a book from a Black author you have never read before and read a book from a White author you have never read before
4. Rock with You - Read a romance or a book with rock in the title or author name
5. She's out of My Life - Read a book where the characters break up (they can get back together)
6. Bad - Read a book that got 2 stars or less
7.  I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Read a book a character is being stalked or is the stalker or being harassed
8. Man in the Mirror - read a memoir/biography/autobiography
9. Thriller - Read a horror or psychological thriller
10. Beat It - Read a book centered around a fighting/martial art sport
11. The Girl Is Mine - Read a book where the male lead tries to get the girl
12. Remember The Time - Read a memoir or read a book where the setting is in the past (historical romance and nonfiction history books for ex)
13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Read a book in one day/within 24 hours
14. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Read a book that centers around conflict (boxing, MMA, backstabbing friend)
15. Heal The World - Read a medical mystery (Temperance Brennan Series for ex)


DISC TWO
1. Scream (Duet with Janet Jackson) - Read a book written by 2 authors or read a horror book
2. They Don't Care About Us - Read a book where the main character is neglected or mistreated
3. Stranger In Moscow - Read a book set in Russia or by a Russian author, has stranger in the title, or by an author you've never read before
4. This Time Around - Read a rekindle romance or a book about reincarnation/character has been reincarnated
5. Earth Song - Read a book where the environment is part of the plot
6. D.S - Read a detective book, character or author name is Sheldon (can be either first or last name)
7. Money - Read a book with money in the title or a book where money is a plot device
8. Come Together - Read a romance, read a book about a group of characters (group of friends, military, knitting group etc)
9. You Are Not Alone - Read a series
10. Childhood - Read a children book (any page count), Read a book where a child is the main character (for this purpose a child is 17 and younger)
11. Tabloid Junkie - read a book written like a reality show (Laguna Nights series for ex) or where the main character is in show business
12. 2 Bad - Read a book with 2 or less stars
13. HIStory - Read a book written or set in the past
14. Little Susie - Read a book where the character is neglected or the character/author name is Susie/Susan/Susanne etc
15. Smile - Where one of the characters is pretending

Cover Reveal for Red by JM Walker

Title: Red

Series: A Brett MacLean Duet #1

Author: JM Walker

Model: Joel Berry

Photographer: FuriousFotog

Cover Designer: Just Write Creations

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 7

It started without trust. Passion. Lust. An all-consuming need; that was all we had in the beginning. 

Lies. Betrayal. Deceit. We moved past it all and fell in love anyway. 

Over ten years later, with a family of our own, our little world was perfect. Happy. 

But then that happiness faded away when she came into our lives. 

No control. No power. Just heartbreak and unwanted submission. 

We were forced to our knees at the sight of her. The words falling from her lips were like nails digging at our soul because we knew. 

We would have to go through hell to get out of this. 

And even then, I wasn’t sure if it would be enough.

 

J.M. Walker is an Amazon bestselling author who loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

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