Title: Written in the Stars by Ali Harris

Published by: Simon & Schuster UK

Price/Availability: RRP £7.99

Available on Amazon in Paperback for £3.85 & Kindle for £3.32

Rating: 5/5






THE BLURB

One decision + two different paths = how many happy endings?


Have you ever wondered 'What if…?' What if you'd taken that other job, gone on a date with that sweet guy, moved to a different city? Would an alternative life path have led to a happier ending?
Now imagine if you could have taken both paths…

When Bea Bishop slips while walking down the aisle on her wedding day, she is momentarily knocked unconscious. And in a flash, her world splits and two separate parallel lives take her on two very different journeys. In one, Bea flees back down the aisle and out of the church. In the other, she glides blissfully towards Adam, her intended.

Each path will take her on a very different journey. And each will see her life change for better and for worse. But which story will lead to her happy-ever-after?

MY OPINION

Moments ago, I was crying... full girly tears of sheer joy and happiness as I witnessed a truly remarkable ending to a book with a hefty 450 pages in. Written in the Stars, is by largely one of the best ever books I've ever read... in my LIFE! For a book to bring tears to my eyes and a sense of happiness for the characters... well it is a masterpiece!

Written in the Stars is very unique in the way it is written. I for one have never read a book that is put together by the author right down to the most intricate detail in the way that Ali Harris has. The style of telling two different stories that could have been Bea Bishop's life path at the same time is one that separates Ali's book from so many of the others out there. It really is a book for every woman who has ever wondered..."what if?...". I for one know that I have wondered 'What if?' on more than one occasion, and through this book, as a reader you can't help but ponder on your very own 'what if?' moments.

Throughout the book, Bea is guided by her diary gifted to her by her Father on her 7th birthday - the day before he left, and just like the seasonal year, we see through Bea's eyes that life really is cyclical and turns with the seasons. We begin the book with scenes of the past that shows what has led up to one of the key moments in her life...her wedding day. Walking down the aisle, Bea slips after seeing someone in the congregation that she wasn't expecting to see, and suddenly floods of memories past hit her like a stormy sea of waves that knock her unconscious. When she comes around the reader is shown two very different ways in which her life could play out. To get married to Adam or to not get married to Adam? That really was the question that began Bea's dramatic and heart-warming journey to finding the person that she has always longed for... even if it's not who she quite expected it to be in the start.

Love, guilt, career choices and dreams of gardening from the past come flooding back - in both of her lives - and it is how she deals with them that sees the reader go on a trip of a lifetime with Bea where she finally discovers what the key to her life is ... to do what makes her happy.

I particularly love the ending as we see her two worlds collide and we find Bea right where she needs to be. Ali, has most definitely done book bloggers, faithful readers, fellow facebookers & Tweeters, not to mention the book world an immense service in the writing of this book. She should be immensely proud!

Having started the book way back in April and only recently picking it back up to continue reading (due to personal circumstances), I am only sorry that I didn't finish it sooner! However if I have learnt anything from Bea Bishop (lead character), it is that I would always have ended up here... wiping tears from my eyes, and being fully in love with the entire story.

There is a quote from one of her Father's diary entries to her that really stood out to me;

Each path we choose, every decision we make may one day take us back to the very same one we turned away from.

It's a tender yet strong message for everyone I feel, not just Bea, and one that we can all try to live up to. As someone who can relate to Bea's character in that she made a decision once upon a time to live a different life to what she had always wanted, I can attest to the fact that just like Bea, 7 years later, you may ... like me, find yourself coming full circle where you are almost being given a second chance of the life you not only always wanted because it is what makes you happy, but that sometimes, it just so happens to be 'Written in the Stars'.


ABOUT ALI HARRIS

Ali Harris is a magazine journalist and has written for publications such as Red, ELLE, Stylist, Cosmopolitan and Company and was deputy features editor at No.1 women's magazine Glamour before leaving to write books and have babies. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and their two children.

You can connect with her:

Twitter: @AliHarrisWriter

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AliHarrisWriter

Published : 3 March 2009
Publisher : Harper Pages : 480
Price : RRP £7.99 Amazon Price £5.59
Author : Cathy Kelly
Reviewer Rating : 10/10


Something happens that changes you forever…

Ingrid Fitzgerald is flying high. A successful TV presenter, she's happily married with two wonderful children. But as they fly the nest, she's about to discover a secret that will shatter her world.

Natalie Flynn is falling in love – but the secrecy surrounding her mother's past still troubles her.

And Charlie Fallon loves her family and her job at Kenny's Department Store, but could now be the time to fight for her own happiness?

The woman with the power to help them is free spirit Star Bluestone. Experience tells her that the important things in life must be treasured and the chance for real joy comes only once in a lifetime…

"Once in a Lifetime" is not just a book that was written way back and published in 2009 and therefore should be left on the shelf as it's not a "NEW RELEASE", it's a book of healing, magic, memories, togetherness, community and wisdom beyond years. I highly recommend this book, and I keep nudging my Mum to read it next after she finishes her current read. If I had to sum this book up in no more than 5 words, it would be easy.

A Whiff of Scandal was a book that I almost put down and back on the shelf, but something about the blurb, the cover and the way the characters in the village were behaving convinced me to continue on and read their story. I am so glad that I did. It has been such a long time since a book has had me laughing out loud in the bath, on the sofa, in the park, ... basically anywhere I could read, I read this book and this book made me laugh out loud. It was almost ridiculous (my laughing that is) if it wasn't so entertaining!

The book begins with the nosey neighbours across the road spying on the newbie, Rose who is an aromatherapist from London. They are sisters whom live together and are the stereotypical old ladies whom have nothing better to do other than to spy on their neighbours and spread rumours. Rose gets a reputation as a "lady of the night" thanks to one of the ladies, but is later supported by the other sister who changes her mind after visiting Rose for an aromatherapy appointment.

There's something you should know about the people who live in this village - they all have names connected to aromatherapy; Basil, Melissa, Rose, Anise,...etc. The dishy man of the village is Dan (Spikenard) who lives at Builder's Bottom ( the name of his house) with his long term girlfriend Gardenia. Dan and Rose have several encounters, one even involving being dressed like a Viking! But do they get together? Well Rose came to the village to run away from her past - we all do that or at least wish we could, we dream of it - Rose does it! But what is she running away from? Cliff Richard? NO! That's one of those nosey old ladies' rumours again. Don't believe everything you hear. Even Mr Patel at the local shop gets things wrong from time to time.

What about Rose's stalker? Calling her and breathing heavily down the phone? Does she know her stalker? Who is it? And what about when her once dream guy finally offers her the world? Is it enough? Can you really mix your past with your future? Is there such a blend for an aromatherapist?

Rose is very skilled at what she does, so much so that she regularly blends together Passion oils for her new best friend Melissa who is married to the local policeman - but what's Melissa hiding, and is Frank (her husband) the last to know?

And what about the building development proposal to build apartments? Will it cause uproar or will it be welcomed? Will the villagers pull together or will it cause a divide? Then there's the proposal - who is it that is made a romantic offer of marriage? And what will the neighbours say?!

There are more Whiffs of Scandal in this book alone than there ever could be in a year of Corrie! If you want a thrilling laugh out loud, comedy romance, and a reason to smile everyday, then you really must read A Whiff of Scandal. I'd love to know what happens after A Whiff of Scandal, and what becomes of Builder Bottom, and do those old ladies ever stop spying on their neighbours with ladders and binoculars? I guess that's a scent of the future I must simply ponder on... for now... maybe ;)

Hi there!

Thank you for visiting my book-a-licious blog!

A Page of Love has been a dream of mine for a long time, ever since I was drawn into the world of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City who spent many an episode sat at her laptop writing about her passion - sex! Well A Page of Love is where I will be writing about my passion - Books!


From as far back as I can recall I've always had my head in a good book, devouring my school library far quicker than they were able to add more interesting titles, so much so that every weekend Mum and I would hit the City Centre in Birmingham and head to Dillions (it's now called Waterstones - my knowing this is something that my Mr says 'shows my age' - Piffle). I would spend at least an hour in there choosing books that I wanted to take home with me. I'm grateful that my Mum and Dad supported my love of reading, and actively encouraged it. It's definitely something that has stuck with me through thick and thin - and I'm not just talking about the depth of the books ;)

In my more recent years, my early twenties (I'm mid-twenties now), I took a Creative Writing course with the Open University which is counting towards my degree, and I learnt so much about the art of creative writing. Many of those gems I've picked up along the way I'll be sharing here in various posts, along with many reviews of those books that I totally adore reading. I currently intend on their being 3 aspects to A Page of Love which is R.A.W - Reviews, Advice & Writings. The writings section will be where I write my little heart out from writing prompts (an exercise I love doing), and short stories that I've written.

So what kind of book reviews will I feature here? Do I have some top authors I adore?

Sure I do! My top 5 authors right now are;

1. Sophie Kinsella
2. Emma Garcia
3. Carole Matthews
4. Debbie Macomber
5. Karen Thompson-Walker

I've reviewed many books over the past couple of years, mainly self help/personal development books that reflect my practice as a fully trained and qualified life coach, but I also had dabbled in a few reviews for chick-lit novels which are a huge passion of mine! It's those chick-lit titles that will feature here, along with author interviews, and recommended titles.

As well as reading pretty awesome books, reviewing them, being a life coach (& keeping a life coaching blog), I also happen to be a trainee teacher in a primary school which I adore doing! There is just something so wonderful about teaching and working with the little darlings, watching them grow up and then express tears when they leave because as much as they have annoyed you, you just can't help but miss them!

If you are an author or a publishing house and would like me to review your book, and are willing to send me a copy then you can send me an email to Dawn.Brierley@gmail.com

Please let me know in the email if there is a specific deadline for the book review, or want it posting at a certain time due to promotion and release dates, I'm happy to work around your needs. I'm also more than happy to review books that have been in publication for a while but you'd like readers to be reminded about them.