Rachael Richey

I don't read a lot of chicklit these days but there are certain authors I make an exception for and Rachael Richey is one of them. As it's the 1st of December, I find it rather fitting to start the advent period with a review of a Christmas themed book.

Olivia had planned the perfect getaway for the Christmas break: a cottage by the sea with her new boyfriend and best friends. Only she broke up with her boyfriend and she's dreading being alone at Christmas when her friends might think she show more made her boyfriend up in the first place. Olivia arrives at the cottage a few days early to get it ready for her guests and happens upon an unconscious man when walking on the beach one day. With a cut on his head, Olivia takes Adam back to the cottage to tend to his wounds and I could feel the air positively FIZZING with sexual tension.

Despite her worries that he could be an axe murderer, Olivia offers Adam her couch for the night so she can keep an eye on his head wound. He's just about to leave when one of Olivia's friends arrive and presume he is Olivia's boyfriend, as she hadn't told them that they had broke up. Adam sees it as a bit of fun to go along with the ruse but there's nothing fake when he kisses Olivia - oh boy! Of course, things are never perfect and Adam has some secrets of his own...but if Adam and Olivia are meant to be, fate will find a way.

I absolutely adore Rachael's Richey's books and her amazing ability to sweep me away with her gorgeous storylines; for anyone who believes in fate and believes that one day her prince will come, you will LOVE this book. It's not all sugar-coated and feel-good as there's a good dollop of real life hurt and disappointment in there, but I always know that I'm going to finish one of Rachael Richey's books with a smile on my face.

Practising for Christmas is a fabulous feel-good festive frolic and the perfect book to curl up with by the fire on a dark wintery night. So whip up a hot chocolate and allow Rachael Richey to warm the cockles of your heart with this seaside Christmas treat.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

Having thoroughly enjoyed Storm Rising, the first book in the Nighthawk series, I didn't waste much time moving on to the second book, Rhythm of Deceit. Wow, was I not disappointed. A fellow blogger told me that she thought this was better than the first book and I thought, 'surely not' but I have to say that, taking nothing away from the fantastic Storm Rising, I have to agree with her. I thought Storm Rising was amazing but both books together make this an outstanding series.

Rhythm of show more Deceit picks up a few years after Storm Rising, with Abi and Gideon happily married and with a new addition to their family - their little boy, Ollie. Gideon is just embarking on his solo career in London whilst Abi and Natasha remain at home with Ollie. During a visit with Abi's dad, he hands over an old suitcase belonging to Abi's mother and I think I was as excited as Natasha as my goosebumps appeared in anticipation of a family mystery to uncover. Abi's mother's story is told through old diaries belonging to her and her sister, making it so poignant and heart-breaking. I found myself trying to read quicker through Abi's chapters just so I could find out what happened to Joan and Pauline, but nothing could have prepared me for the ending to their story. It's simply brilliant and I'm not going to reveal any spoilers, but you really must read it for yourself.

In between chapters uncovering Joan and Pauline's story in the 1950's, are chapters from the present day, with Gideon's ex-bandmate, Simon, trying his very best to break up Abi and Gideon. Simon is such a repugnant, shady character - he is certainly the character I loved to hate. He's completely dastardly but so deluded, making him increasingly dangerous. As the ending of the book approached, my heart was racing as Simon's net closed in - and I braced myself for an explosive ending, as I wondered if it would all end in tears.

With such likeable and colourful characters, Rachael Richey has created a series that is an absolute winner. I'm really looking forward to Book 3, Cobwebs in the Dark, to see what is next in store for Abi and Gideon. Through Rachael's wonderfully eloquent and emotional writing, I've definitely become a big fan of Nighthawk!

It's not simply chick lit - with so many twists, excitement and danger it's pure rock-chick lit.

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less

I cannot begin to express how much I love the NightHawk series; it is pure escapism and I have loved every single instalment that Rachael Richey has written. You could, I suppose, read The Girl in the Painting as a stand-a-lone but to get the most out of the series you really should read them in order: Storm Rising, Rhythm of Deceit and Cobwebs in the Dark. They all got 5 star reviews from me, and many other readers, so take my advice and read them all. I really couldn't choose a favourite - show more they each have different qualities and each one is as captivating as the next.

This instalment is the story of Abi's grandmother, Janet. Abi never knew her grandmother as she died before she was born, but when Abi and Tasha uncover a very personal painting of a mysterious redhead in Abi's Dad's loft they are determined to find out more. As their search for Janet's story leads them to Paris, where Abi is exhibiting her own paintings, they find a lot more than they bargained for. As we're swept away to glamorous Paris at the end of the 1920's, I was as eager as Tasha to discover Janet's story.

While Abi and Tasha are uncovering their own family history, Gideon is across the Atlantic in America promoting his new album. He is planning to stay with his old friends, Kurt and Sonia, a fact that Abi is not best pleased about. Abi tells Gideon that Sonia is attracted to him, but he doesn't listen and gets himself in a sticky situation. When Sonia won't take no for an answer, she follows him to Seattle and the press wonder who the mystery woman is and what she means to Gideon. With Abi in Paris, the time difference means that Gideon can't get in touch with her to explain about Sonia - will Abi believe him or is there no smoke without fire?

The Girl in the Painting is a truly magnificent book; it's such a captivating story that effortlessly spans the decades as it transports the reader to another time and place. Rachael Richey is quite the expert at keeping us in suspense with her expressive writing style, resulting in a breathtakingly beautiful story that is slowly revealed like the unfurling petals of the most precious rose. I didn't think you could get more heart-warming or romantic than Abi and Gideon's story - but I was wrong! Rachael Richey continues to amaze with her superb NightHawk series.

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less

I absolutely loved Rachael Richey's NightHawk series so I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an early copy of her new RomCom. I was equally delighted to see my quote from Cobwebs in the Dark featured in the front of the book - thank you Rachael.

Kate is about to get married to Richard but a chance encounter with her high school crush, Sam, has Kate thinking about IF she marries Richard in a few weeks time rather than when. Is she crazy to be thinking this way when Sam never even show more asked her out in Sixth Form? They say that the heart wants what the heart wants and Kate can't get Sam out of her head, so when Sam asks Kate out on a date she doesn't refuse but she neglects to tell him that she is engaged to be married in a few weeks. Clearly, she has doubts about the wedding but she doesn't want to let everyone down at this late stage.

After a few dates with Sam, Kate decides to make some effort with Richard and makes a spur of the moment trip to London. Richard isn't exactly overjoyed to see her and events lead Kate to have further doubts about the wedding. Spending more time with Sam puts Kate's head and heart in a tizz, although Sam now knows that Kate is about to married. How does Sam really feel about Kate? Does Kate really know Richard at all? This is one problem that cake won't solve although it doesn't stop cake-loving Kate from having a slice or two!

Breaking All the Rules is written in the same warm and easy flowing manner as we have come to know and love from Rachael Richey. I really felt as if I knew all of the characters and welcomed them as if they were old friends. I felt like I was part of Kate's family so I was willing her to wake up and think of herself for a change; you only get one shot at life so you need to make the best of it. I wanted Richard to man up a bit too as he just felt a bit like a deflated balloon, I think I would have preferred him to turn out to be a bit of a cad.

I do think that the cover could do with a makeover as I don't think I would have picked it up if I hadn't read the author's previous work. I know we are told that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but unfortunately people often do, which will result in them missing out on this little gem. It's not often that you get such a page-turner outside of the thriller genre, but the pages turn effortlessly as Kate gets herself in so many scrapes as her wedding day rapidly approaches.

A superb RomCom with believable and likeable characters that I think is a bit of a modern fairytale - although I'm not telling you whether Kate gets a happy ending or not, but I'm sure she'll get some cake! If this doesn't leave you reminiscing about your own high school crush, you must have a heart of stone.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less