Us by David Nicholls
I snapped this one up out of the library as I've never read a David Nicholls book before but I thoroughly enjoyed this so I will be adding Starter for Ten, The Understudy and One Day to my reading pile. It was beautifully written and so easy to read that I didn't want it to end.
The characters were defined brilliantly and I liked the interspersing of chapters with little snippets from their past. Right from the first few pages we are launched straight into a crumbling marriage when Connie drops her bombshell on an unsuspecting Douglas. Despite their intention to separate, they agree to go on a Grand Tour of Europe with their 17 year old son, Albie. Albie's relationship with Douglas is very fraught to say the least, I thought he was just a troubled teenager but getting the insight into the past meant that we could see the deep rooted distance between Albie and Douglas compared with the closeness between Albie and Connie.
When they first met, Connie and Douglas appeared to be complete opposites but there is no doubt that they loved each other through all the ups and downs of married life. I was therefore a firm believer that the Grand Tour would bring them back together, until Albie threw a spanner in the works and ran away! Douglas surprised me by going to look for Albie while Connie went home - I felt it was symbolic that the family were divided across Europe, as fragmented as they were whilst living in the same house. Without spoiling the story, it was rewarding reading show more about relationships being both broken and mended.
This is a lovely story of family life and how it often goes wrong and despite everything we do always love each other but may not always show it. show less
The characters were defined brilliantly and I liked the interspersing of chapters with little snippets from their past. Right from the first few pages we are launched straight into a crumbling marriage when Connie drops her bombshell on an unsuspecting Douglas. Despite their intention to separate, they agree to go on a Grand Tour of Europe with their 17 year old son, Albie. Albie's relationship with Douglas is very fraught to say the least, I thought he was just a troubled teenager but getting the insight into the past meant that we could see the deep rooted distance between Albie and Douglas compared with the closeness between Albie and Connie.
When they first met, Connie and Douglas appeared to be complete opposites but there is no doubt that they loved each other through all the ups and downs of married life. I was therefore a firm believer that the Grand Tour would bring them back together, until Albie threw a spanner in the works and ran away! Douglas surprised me by going to look for Albie while Connie went home - I felt it was symbolic that the family were divided across Europe, as fragmented as they were whilst living in the same house. Without spoiling the story, it was rewarding reading show more about relationships being both broken and mended.
This is a lovely story of family life and how it often goes wrong and despite everything we do always love each other but may not always show it. show less
I admit, this book had me crying just from reading the back! I knew there was only going to be one outcome for Ivo but as he got near to the end of the alphabet I was stuck with a dilemma of not wanting the book to end but at the same time wanting to find out how it ended. How did it end? Not at all as I expected - cue the absolutely massive gasp out loud!
I'm not going to spoil any of the story in my review but this is a wonderful testimonial of Ivo's life. Yes, he's made mistakes and boy is he paying for them. There are some really tender poignant moments where he talks about his ex-girlfriend, Mia - the girl with the patience of a saint. It must have been love when she put up with Ivo's partying, often at the expense of taking his insulin.
During the reminiscences, I was reminded of the feeling of being young and thinking you're invincible. Then we are reminded of where Ivo has ended up - on oxygen and morphine in a hospice as his kidneys are failing. It's a brilliant contrast between the feel good happy memories of the past and the stark reality of the present.
The hospice environment was written with dignity and respect. Ivo's nurse, Sheila, is always there when he needs her and I liken her to a guardian angel. Perhaps not a guardian angel as such, as it's too late to keep him safe from harm, but an angel who makes Ivo's final journey as comfortable as it can be.
It's an absolutely stunning book. I loved the A to Z idea and have some favourite Ivo stories such as show more hanging the crochet hearts from the tree and asking the vicar about his Adam's apple. What will your favourite Ivo story be?
This is a book that pulled at my heart, not only for Ivo's suffering, but for really making me appreciate what I have - my family, friends and health. So cheers, James Hannah!
I received this book from the publisher, Transworld, in exchange for an honest review. show less
I'm not going to spoil any of the story in my review but this is a wonderful testimonial of Ivo's life. Yes, he's made mistakes and boy is he paying for them. There are some really tender poignant moments where he talks about his ex-girlfriend, Mia - the girl with the patience of a saint. It must have been love when she put up with Ivo's partying, often at the expense of taking his insulin.
During the reminiscences, I was reminded of the feeling of being young and thinking you're invincible. Then we are reminded of where Ivo has ended up - on oxygen and morphine in a hospice as his kidneys are failing. It's a brilliant contrast between the feel good happy memories of the past and the stark reality of the present.
The hospice environment was written with dignity and respect. Ivo's nurse, Sheila, is always there when he needs her and I liken her to a guardian angel. Perhaps not a guardian angel as such, as it's too late to keep him safe from harm, but an angel who makes Ivo's final journey as comfortable as it can be.
It's an absolutely stunning book. I loved the A to Z idea and have some favourite Ivo stories such as show more hanging the crochet hearts from the tree and asking the vicar about his Adam's apple. What will your favourite Ivo story be?
This is a book that pulled at my heart, not only for Ivo's suffering, but for really making me appreciate what I have - my family, friends and health. So cheers, James Hannah!
I received this book from the publisher, Transworld, in exchange for an honest review. show less
This has an amazing twist! I really didn't see this one coming, and I've read my fair share of psychological thrillers!
This kept me hooked from the first few pages, although I did have to note down who was who as I kept getting the journalist and the family liaison officer mixed up. There are also quite a few names thrown around due to the families of the missing children, but they each have their own characteristics so you quickly get to know them.
The guilt of the remaining children is absolutely heart-wrenching and the parents are trying so hard to keep it together themselves that they don't really notice what the children are going through.
There are so many puzzles to work through, including leaks to the press and nasty texts, that this book grips you from the beginning and refuses to let go. Even when I thought that the killer had been identified, a twist pops up and I searched my memory for clues I might have missed.
A thrilling page turner that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This kept me hooked from the first few pages, although I did have to note down who was who as I kept getting the journalist and the family liaison officer mixed up. There are also quite a few names thrown around due to the families of the missing children, but they each have their own characteristics so you quickly get to know them.
The guilt of the remaining children is absolutely heart-wrenching and the parents are trying so hard to keep it together themselves that they don't really notice what the children are going through.
There are so many puzzles to work through, including leaks to the press and nasty texts, that this book grips you from the beginning and refuses to let go. Even when I thought that the killer had been identified, a twist pops up and I searched my memory for clues I might have missed.
A thrilling page turner that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I read about the intertwined skeletons at the beginning I knew I was going to love this book. It’s not at all what I expected which is what makes it so brilliant.
This is excellent writing, I was completely engrossed in Morgan’s Russian adventure and raced through this book in no time. Morgan seems to be quite an unlucky guy, so there are many moments of hilarity when his visit to Russia doesn’t go as planned. I really admired him when he chose one of the Russian ladies to correspond with, when most of the other American men he meets on the plane were hedging their bets by corresponding with lots of women. It just shows how loyal and monogamous he intended to be right from the start, and gives all single ladies hope that there are some genuinely nice guys out there.
Near the end of his trip, Morgan seemed right at home in Saint Petersburg and it seemed only right that he, as a Californian, experienced a Russian snowfall. The writing was so beautiful that I could almost feel the snowflakes on my face. I loved the stark contrast between the poverty of the residential areas and the beauty of the tourist sites. I’ll not spoil the story by giving any more of it away but it’s really worth reading.
This was clearly very well researched and at the end of the book I found myself heading off to google to find out more about some of the sites mentioned, e.g. Bridge of Kisses, Church of the Spilt Blood, The Hermitage Museum, Mikhailovsky Castle and the Palace show more Square, to name but a few. Perhaps not a conventional way to meet your future partner but love knows no bounds and rather philosophically we are reminded that “Half the distance around the earth is only two centimeters on a map”.
A wonderful read that reminds us to follow our heart wherever it may lead.
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
This is excellent writing, I was completely engrossed in Morgan’s Russian adventure and raced through this book in no time. Morgan seems to be quite an unlucky guy, so there are many moments of hilarity when his visit to Russia doesn’t go as planned. I really admired him when he chose one of the Russian ladies to correspond with, when most of the other American men he meets on the plane were hedging their bets by corresponding with lots of women. It just shows how loyal and monogamous he intended to be right from the start, and gives all single ladies hope that there are some genuinely nice guys out there.
Near the end of his trip, Morgan seemed right at home in Saint Petersburg and it seemed only right that he, as a Californian, experienced a Russian snowfall. The writing was so beautiful that I could almost feel the snowflakes on my face. I loved the stark contrast between the poverty of the residential areas and the beauty of the tourist sites. I’ll not spoil the story by giving any more of it away but it’s really worth reading.
This was clearly very well researched and at the end of the book I found myself heading off to google to find out more about some of the sites mentioned, e.g. Bridge of Kisses, Church of the Spilt Blood, The Hermitage Museum, Mikhailovsky Castle and the Palace show more Square, to name but a few. Perhaps not a conventional way to meet your future partner but love knows no bounds and rather philosophically we are reminded that “Half the distance around the earth is only two centimeters on a map”.
A wonderful read that reminds us to follow our heart wherever it may lead.
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
Oh wow this book is stunning! I was not just emotional at the end of it, I was emotion-full and absolutely speechless. It is written so beautifully that I was immediately absorbed and felt that I was floating above watching the events unfold.
Jessica feels so lost and empty after the loss of her mother so she really wasn’t in the mood to go to a New Year’s Eve party. Fate has a way of weaving its magic spell and she meets Finn, after her hilarious encounter with his friend, Mark. Finn did seem too good to be true and Jessica’s brief moment of happiness is cut short when she doesn’t hear from him again.
It is on a day when Jessica faints after leaving grief counselling that she meets Alex and Hannah. Alex lives next door to the grief counsellor and rushed to help Jessica when she fainted, as did Hannah, who was also attending the session. Each of these women are weighed down with secrets and trying to keep their emotions buried and it is only through finding each other that they will eventually be unburdened.
I loved all three ladies' stories and I was continually surprised and moved as their individual stories were revealed. It is only through the revealing of their stories that we realise how very closely these women are linked. Everything is meant to be, just as they were meant to meet in the way that they did and become a part of each other's lives. I can't say any more about the book or I will spoil it, so you will have to read it for yourself.
Whether you believe show more in life-after-death or not, this is a beautiful book that will resonate with so many people. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason, although we may not understand why at the time. This book left a warm glow around me and I believe I was meant to read it so that I could defrost a little bit of my heart!
This is an absolutely amazing, life-changing book that I will recommend again and again, for many years to come.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
Jessica feels so lost and empty after the loss of her mother so she really wasn’t in the mood to go to a New Year’s Eve party. Fate has a way of weaving its magic spell and she meets Finn, after her hilarious encounter with his friend, Mark. Finn did seem too good to be true and Jessica’s brief moment of happiness is cut short when she doesn’t hear from him again.
It is on a day when Jessica faints after leaving grief counselling that she meets Alex and Hannah. Alex lives next door to the grief counsellor and rushed to help Jessica when she fainted, as did Hannah, who was also attending the session. Each of these women are weighed down with secrets and trying to keep their emotions buried and it is only through finding each other that they will eventually be unburdened.
I loved all three ladies' stories and I was continually surprised and moved as their individual stories were revealed. It is only through the revealing of their stories that we realise how very closely these women are linked. Everything is meant to be, just as they were meant to meet in the way that they did and become a part of each other's lives. I can't say any more about the book or I will spoil it, so you will have to read it for yourself.
Whether you believe show more in life-after-death or not, this is a beautiful book that will resonate with so many people. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason, although we may not understand why at the time. This book left a warm glow around me and I believe I was meant to read it so that I could defrost a little bit of my heart!
This is an absolutely amazing, life-changing book that I will recommend again and again, for many years to come.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
This was a feel good story of old fashioned courting by a seasoned bachelor with a love of cricket.
Brian is a solicitor and bachelor, but also a key player on the local cricket team. He's got used to being on his own but is sometimes lonely. Then he meets Elizabeth at his local church. He doesn't really know how to act with Elizabeth and his fear of rejection can sometimes be seen by her to be indifference.
It's really endearing how we see Brian, or Colin as the local vicar hilariously calls him, break down the walls that surround him and take a chance on Elizabeth. He's a proper gentleman and a little bit old before his time, but it's lovely to see that love can find all of us even when we're not looking for it.
I found some of the cricket references a little bit too much at times, as it's not a sport I've ever been interested in, but Elizabeth's story was enough of a hook to keep me turning the pages and I did finish the book the same day that I started it. What Brian did for Eric towards the end of the book shows what a lovely man he is...yes, I know he's not real!
This is a book for a sunny day and a glass of wine. Read it and rekindle your faith in humankind.
Brian is a solicitor and bachelor, but also a key player on the local cricket team. He's got used to being on his own but is sometimes lonely. Then he meets Elizabeth at his local church. He doesn't really know how to act with Elizabeth and his fear of rejection can sometimes be seen by her to be indifference.
It's really endearing how we see Brian, or Colin as the local vicar hilariously calls him, break down the walls that surround him and take a chance on Elizabeth. He's a proper gentleman and a little bit old before his time, but it's lovely to see that love can find all of us even when we're not looking for it.
I found some of the cricket references a little bit too much at times, as it's not a sport I've ever been interested in, but Elizabeth's story was enough of a hook to keep me turning the pages and I did finish the book the same day that I started it. What Brian did for Eric towards the end of the book shows what a lovely man he is...yes, I know he's not real!
This is a book for a sunny day and a glass of wine. Read it and rekindle your faith in humankind.
I was completely hooked right from the start of this one and had quite a late night reading! I liked the layout of the chapters with sections on Alex and Nadia. Alex working in the Home Office with pointless Friday afternoon team meetings and Nadia wanting to poke her eyes out with a fork rather than watch daytime TV.
It's fate that brings Alex and Nadia together at a pub quiz, right after he has passed along her application to stay in the UK. There's a definite spark between Alex and Nadia but Alex doesn't really notice it so when Nadia meets Matt the same night she agrees to go out with him. Alex and Nadia become friends and you can feel their relationship growing whilst Nadia's relationship with Matt is very flat. Events always seem to conspire against Alex and Nadia as each time you think they're going to get together something happens to get in their way.
Alex and Nadia have an amazing time going through Nadia's bucket list of things to do in London before she's deported. I could really feel the buzz of the city and Nadia is so vibrant whilst Alex is so British! I liked all of the characters in the book and felt the strong bond of friendship between Nadia and Holly shining through the pages.
It's a really excellent feel good book which doesn't have a predictable ending but leaves us instead with a message to make our own lives extraordinary.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's fate that brings Alex and Nadia together at a pub quiz, right after he has passed along her application to stay in the UK. There's a definite spark between Alex and Nadia but Alex doesn't really notice it so when Nadia meets Matt the same night she agrees to go out with him. Alex and Nadia become friends and you can feel their relationship growing whilst Nadia's relationship with Matt is very flat. Events always seem to conspire against Alex and Nadia as each time you think they're going to get together something happens to get in their way.
Alex and Nadia have an amazing time going through Nadia's bucket list of things to do in London before she's deported. I could really feel the buzz of the city and Nadia is so vibrant whilst Alex is so British! I liked all of the characters in the book and felt the strong bond of friendship between Nadia and Holly shining through the pages.
It's a really excellent feel good book which doesn't have a predictable ending but leaves us instead with a message to make our own lives extraordinary.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was really creepy at times, when Tess feels like somebody is watching her, the phone rings and nobody is there and things get moved in the house. My heart was pounding on several occasions and I felt that something terrible was going to happen, and felt relieved rather than disappointed that there was no knife wielding killer in the kitchen.
I felt sorry for Tess, pregnant and often alone in a strange country with less than friendly neighbours. Her next door neighbour, Helena, was portrayed as a nasty piece of work and I could almost hear the witch theme from the Wizard of Oz in my head every time she appeared.
The passages relating to Tess's pregnancy were clearly from the author's own experiences and were written quite beautifully. I really felt the miracle of life growing with each little somersault and hiccup!
So this wasn't a blood thirsty thriller but it was actually quite clever in the fact that it made me examine my own misconceptions of people. I admit I jumped on the bandwagon of Greg having something to hide and whatever it was, he was guilty. Perhaps he was wrongly accused, and he's just trying to live a normal life without the past haunting him. I felt quite guilty when Tess drove to the cabin and it was almost a picture of perfect family life - Greg was reading with Joe tucked up in bed upstairs - what was I expecting? Joe to be thrown off a ski-lift? Yes, probably but this reads more like an observation of real life - Greg has perhaps tried to escape a show more misunderstanding in his past, but when it catches up with him it's too late to untangle the lies.
A creepy page turner that will have you questioning who is telling the truth. show less
I felt sorry for Tess, pregnant and often alone in a strange country with less than friendly neighbours. Her next door neighbour, Helena, was portrayed as a nasty piece of work and I could almost hear the witch theme from the Wizard of Oz in my head every time she appeared.
The passages relating to Tess's pregnancy were clearly from the author's own experiences and were written quite beautifully. I really felt the miracle of life growing with each little somersault and hiccup!
So this wasn't a blood thirsty thriller but it was actually quite clever in the fact that it made me examine my own misconceptions of people. I admit I jumped on the bandwagon of Greg having something to hide and whatever it was, he was guilty. Perhaps he was wrongly accused, and he's just trying to live a normal life without the past haunting him. I felt quite guilty when Tess drove to the cabin and it was almost a picture of perfect family life - Greg was reading with Joe tucked up in bed upstairs - what was I expecting? Joe to be thrown off a ski-lift? Yes, probably but this reads more like an observation of real life - Greg has perhaps tried to escape a show more misunderstanding in his past, but when it catches up with him it's too late to untangle the lies.
A creepy page turner that will have you questioning who is telling the truth. show less
I'm really getting spoilt with all of these gripping books I'm unable to put down and Chance is certainly one of those. The cover was a bit creepy and I wasn't sure how relevant it was to the story until I started reading. It reminds us that Cassie is a child who has had to grow up so quickly due to the things that she has seen and experienced, so it makes perfect sense to have Katie on the front.
Aside from the murders, there are loads of tough topics covered in the book, including school bullying, child neglect, physical abuse and drug use. So there's an abundance of events to play with our emotions in between the killings. The story revolving around Cassie's mum, Leanne is exceptional. At the beginning of the book she couldn't care less about how Cassie gets home from school but she certainly turns into a lioness protecting her cub at the end. This turned my feelings for Leanne from exasperation to admiration - I really didn't think I could experience such a broad spectrum of emotions in one book, never mind for one character!
I enjoyed the story of Laura Robinson, the social worker assigned to Cassie's case. Laura has struggled with her own problems, giving her the ability to empathise with every one of her cases. She really looks out for Cassie and goes above and beyond the call of duty. I held my breath (no pun intended) and gritted my own teeth during one of her scenes, I was so absorbed in the book!
Cassie seeing and feeling the emotions of the killer was an show more absolutely brilliant idea for a book. Whether you believe in people having such an ability or not, we are left in no doubt that Cassie is experiencing some things that no 9 year-old should ever experience and my heart went out to her. Although I guessed who the killer was, I really didn't see the explosive ending coming. To say any more would spoil the story but you really must add Chance to your reading list and experience this rollercoaster for yourself.
This is such a well-written, flawless book with an exceptional storyline that I would not hesitate to recommend it.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
Aside from the murders, there are loads of tough topics covered in the book, including school bullying, child neglect, physical abuse and drug use. So there's an abundance of events to play with our emotions in between the killings. The story revolving around Cassie's mum, Leanne is exceptional. At the beginning of the book she couldn't care less about how Cassie gets home from school but she certainly turns into a lioness protecting her cub at the end. This turned my feelings for Leanne from exasperation to admiration - I really didn't think I could experience such a broad spectrum of emotions in one book, never mind for one character!
I enjoyed the story of Laura Robinson, the social worker assigned to Cassie's case. Laura has struggled with her own problems, giving her the ability to empathise with every one of her cases. She really looks out for Cassie and goes above and beyond the call of duty. I held my breath (no pun intended) and gritted my own teeth during one of her scenes, I was so absorbed in the book!
Cassie seeing and feeling the emotions of the killer was an show more absolutely brilliant idea for a book. Whether you believe in people having such an ability or not, we are left in no doubt that Cassie is experiencing some things that no 9 year-old should ever experience and my heart went out to her. Although I guessed who the killer was, I really didn't see the explosive ending coming. To say any more would spoil the story but you really must add Chance to your reading list and experience this rollercoaster for yourself.
This is such a well-written, flawless book with an exceptional storyline that I would not hesitate to recommend it.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
This was such good fun! I absolutely adored the chapters being named after plants and fruits including their botanical (latin) names. It was so clever how these plants or fruits were then weaved into the relevant chapter. It shows how well thought out this book was.
I laughed out loud on so many occasions and felt the need to read excerpts out to whichever lucky person was sitting in the room with me! Chloe is an instantly likeable character, living the single life and not necessarily looking for love when, like the number 9 bus, two men come along at once. She can't decide between the two so she dates both of them, and whilst I don't condone this I can understand the confusion on the dating scene. She's ultimately looking to settle down with someone, she is 22...er...25...er actually 28 after all. So professional, respectable Terrence seems like a good choice over fun, flirty Blake. Will Terrence turn out to be Mr. Right or Mr. Wrong? That's what I was asking myself throughout the book, so I had to keep reading into the early hours to find out!
I really enjoyed the way that Grigory Ryzhakov has written this book. His humour shines out of every page and I found myself laughing,smiling and cursing dastardly men throughout the book. I notice on Amazon that this is Girl Scientist Book 1 - so I'll be looking out for book 2. Hopefully we will hear more of Chloe's escapades and find out if she ended up with Mr. Right after all.
I received this book from the author via a Goodreads show more Giveaway. show less
I laughed out loud on so many occasions and felt the need to read excerpts out to whichever lucky person was sitting in the room with me! Chloe is an instantly likeable character, living the single life and not necessarily looking for love when, like the number 9 bus, two men come along at once. She can't decide between the two so she dates both of them, and whilst I don't condone this I can understand the confusion on the dating scene. She's ultimately looking to settle down with someone, she is 22...er...25...er actually 28 after all. So professional, respectable Terrence seems like a good choice over fun, flirty Blake. Will Terrence turn out to be Mr. Right or Mr. Wrong? That's what I was asking myself throughout the book, so I had to keep reading into the early hours to find out!
I really enjoyed the way that Grigory Ryzhakov has written this book. His humour shines out of every page and I found myself laughing,smiling and cursing dastardly men throughout the book. I notice on Amazon that this is Girl Scientist Book 1 - so I'll be looking out for book 2. Hopefully we will hear more of Chloe's escapades and find out if she ended up with Mr. Right after all.
I received this book from the author via a Goodreads show more Giveaway. show less
What an absolutely laugh-out-loud, light-hearted read - chock full of trademark Irish humour and an amazing debut from Amy Lynch. This is a book to lose yourself in and not take too seriously as I can see that Rebecca could annoy a lot of people, but I thought she was hilarious. This book would make a great film!
Rebecca and Barry seem completely mis-matched but that is the beauty of their relationship as their individual traits complete one (slightly crazy) whole. Rebecca reminds me a bit of Elle, Reese Witherspoon's character, in Legally Blonde - she is so pink and bubbly and her heart is in the right place, even though her hand is in Barry's wallet. Rebecca is completely harmless but so superficial and selfish - as highlighted by Barry's business trip when she has no idea where he has gone, the location changes whenever she mentions it and I never got tired of it - I laughed every time!
It did sometimes wonder whether Rebecca really loved Barry or just wanted to be a bride. I think perhaps she got there in the end when she finally showed that she cared more about her relationship than her appearance.
All in all, this book was real good fun and I felt an important message came across - weddings can be elaborate and expensive but it's the marriage that's important. I'm really looking forward to more books by Amy Lynch.
I picked this up from Amazon when it was on promotion for free.
Rebecca and Barry seem completely mis-matched but that is the beauty of their relationship as their individual traits complete one (slightly crazy) whole. Rebecca reminds me a bit of Elle, Reese Witherspoon's character, in Legally Blonde - she is so pink and bubbly and her heart is in the right place, even though her hand is in Barry's wallet. Rebecca is completely harmless but so superficial and selfish - as highlighted by Barry's business trip when she has no idea where he has gone, the location changes whenever she mentions it and I never got tired of it - I laughed every time!
It did sometimes wonder whether Rebecca really loved Barry or just wanted to be a bride. I think perhaps she got there in the end when she finally showed that she cared more about her relationship than her appearance.
All in all, this book was real good fun and I felt an important message came across - weddings can be elaborate and expensive but it's the marriage that's important. I'm really looking forward to more books by Amy Lynch.
I picked this up from Amazon when it was on promotion for free.
This is a phenomenal debut from NC Marshall that had me gripped from start to finish. I had chosen this book as my lunchtime read but after about a third of the way in, it became my morning, noon and night read. As Nat digs into Jess's life and Jess's secrets are uncovered I absolutely refused to take my eyes off this book. It's so beautifully written that it's hard to believe it's a debut novel and for that I must applaud the author!
It was a fascinating analysis of the relationship between two sisters that continued beyond the grave. Nat thought she knew everything about Jess; they were close, they confided in each other but when Nat investigates Jess's death she questions whether she actually knew her sister at all.
There are certainly more gasp out loud moments in this book than I ever imagined. From family secrets being revealed to ghostly manifestations, this book had me holding my breath on the edge of my seat with my heart beating out of my chest. I expected a family story of love and loss but there's a very clever thriller bubbling under the surface of this book that successfully managed to surprise me, as I was pointing my finger at completely the wrong person! I'm not going to reveal any secrets buried within the wonderful pages of this book, but I am confident that you won't be disappointed when you read it for yourself.
With a twist that I didn't see coming at all, I heartily recommend this book and will be looking forward to more books from NC Marshall.
I show more received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
It was a fascinating analysis of the relationship between two sisters that continued beyond the grave. Nat thought she knew everything about Jess; they were close, they confided in each other but when Nat investigates Jess's death she questions whether she actually knew her sister at all.
There are certainly more gasp out loud moments in this book than I ever imagined. From family secrets being revealed to ghostly manifestations, this book had me holding my breath on the edge of my seat with my heart beating out of my chest. I expected a family story of love and loss but there's a very clever thriller bubbling under the surface of this book that successfully managed to surprise me, as I was pointing my finger at completely the wrong person! I'm not going to reveal any secrets buried within the wonderful pages of this book, but I am confident that you won't be disappointed when you read it for yourself.
With a twist that I didn't see coming at all, I heartily recommend this book and will be looking forward to more books from NC Marshall.
I show more received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
How I have gone through my reading life without coming across Veronica Henry is a mystery to me. What a treat this was! From the synopsis, I thought there were going to be too many names and I wouldn't know who was who but after a few chapters I felt like one of the residents!
Despite being such a sad occasion for Kate, it was fascinating to read about her discarding her New York armour and slipping back into her Cornish life. It was really sad when Kate was clearing out the house but there were lovely memories attached to each item that she found, which reminded her of who she is. Her boss in New York was awful, hassling her to come back to work when she should have been allowed peaceful bereavement leave. I kept mentally shouting "turn the phone off" and "tell him to stick his job". I just thought it was a shame that Kate was spending time in Pennfleet without her Mum, making me think that we should make the effort to visit our loved ones and appreciate them while they are here. Perhaps a morbid thought from me, but the book is definitely about life not death.
Vanessa has a funeral for her husband on the same day as Kate's mother's funeral. It was good to see the comparison between the two - one being a celebration of life and the other being an excuse for a party and to see what's been left in the will. I didn't doubt that Vanessa loved her husband but she never really knew what it meant to be happy. Until she met Nathan... Nathan sounded absolutely yummy - rugged and show more thoughtful - I had to keep reminding myself he wasn't real.
I really enjoyed Sam's story too. I thought he might have been a love interest for Kate at the beginning but he didn't get much page coverage in the first half of the book, so I thought there must be other plans for him. He has a lovely little family and it is clear how much they love and help each other following their own personal heartache.
I felt really bad for enjoying this so much with two funerals going on! I loved every single one of the characters in this book; I was swept away just like Frank Cooper and similarly I hope to return to Pennfleet one day. You'll just have to read the book to find out who Frank Cooper is. Meanwhile, I'm off to the library for more of Veronica Henry's books!
I received this book from the publisher, Orion, in exchange for an honest review. show less
Despite being such a sad occasion for Kate, it was fascinating to read about her discarding her New York armour and slipping back into her Cornish life. It was really sad when Kate was clearing out the house but there were lovely memories attached to each item that she found, which reminded her of who she is. Her boss in New York was awful, hassling her to come back to work when she should have been allowed peaceful bereavement leave. I kept mentally shouting "turn the phone off" and "tell him to stick his job". I just thought it was a shame that Kate was spending time in Pennfleet without her Mum, making me think that we should make the effort to visit our loved ones and appreciate them while they are here. Perhaps a morbid thought from me, but the book is definitely about life not death.
Vanessa has a funeral for her husband on the same day as Kate's mother's funeral. It was good to see the comparison between the two - one being a celebration of life and the other being an excuse for a party and to see what's been left in the will. I didn't doubt that Vanessa loved her husband but she never really knew what it meant to be happy. Until she met Nathan... Nathan sounded absolutely yummy - rugged and show more thoughtful - I had to keep reminding myself he wasn't real.
I really enjoyed Sam's story too. I thought he might have been a love interest for Kate at the beginning but he didn't get much page coverage in the first half of the book, so I thought there must be other plans for him. He has a lovely little family and it is clear how much they love and help each other following their own personal heartache.
I felt really bad for enjoying this so much with two funerals going on! I loved every single one of the characters in this book; I was swept away just like Frank Cooper and similarly I hope to return to Pennfleet one day. You'll just have to read the book to find out who Frank Cooper is. Meanwhile, I'm off to the library for more of Veronica Henry's books!
I received this book from the publisher, Orion, in exchange for an honest review. show less
With characters so full of life they almost burst off the page, Holly Martin has written another winner. I have previously read and adored Fairytale Beginnings so when I saw another Holly Martin book, I couldn't wait to get stuck in.
Holly has created a perfect manly man in Henry; he's strong, loyal and has a cute bum! I loved that there was a bit of a mix-up when Henry first arrived in town and Penny thought that Daisy was his wife, so she tried to dampen her attraction to him. Penny (not short for Penelope, producing a huge guffaw from me!) is so lovely - she's been so unlucky in her life and pretty much gave up looking for love...until she met Henry.
I found that I read this book with a smile on my face and with the odd giggle thrown in, as I've come to expect from Holly Martin. Seriously, Holly's books should come on prescription - they are a literary anti-depressant. I can't wait for another visit to White Cliff Bay with Snowflakes on Silver Cove.
I have noticed that Holly Martin is building quite a fan base and it's no surprise with books of this quality. I'm definitely a Holly Martin fan - she reaches out through each fabulous page to give the reader a massive hug and will warm even the coldest of hearts. When the snow starts to fall in Gateshead this Christmas, I'll be picking this book back up to escape to White Cliff Bay once again.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Holly has created a perfect manly man in Henry; he's strong, loyal and has a cute bum! I loved that there was a bit of a mix-up when Henry first arrived in town and Penny thought that Daisy was his wife, so she tried to dampen her attraction to him. Penny (not short for Penelope, producing a huge guffaw from me!) is so lovely - she's been so unlucky in her life and pretty much gave up looking for love...until she met Henry.
I found that I read this book with a smile on my face and with the odd giggle thrown in, as I've come to expect from Holly Martin. Seriously, Holly's books should come on prescription - they are a literary anti-depressant. I can't wait for another visit to White Cliff Bay with Snowflakes on Silver Cove.
I have noticed that Holly Martin is building quite a fan base and it's no surprise with books of this quality. I'm definitely a Holly Martin fan - she reaches out through each fabulous page to give the reader a massive hug and will warm even the coldest of hearts. When the snow starts to fall in Gateshead this Christmas, I'll be picking this book back up to escape to White Cliff Bay once again.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was impressed with some of the reviews of Ivy's Envy so I couldn't wait to read it myself. I agree, I didn't see the ending coming because it was a bit like a Stephen King book and completely out of sync with the whole story. Looking back, I should have paid more attention in chapter 1 as the story brings the reader back to this point at the end.
I thought the writing was excellent and I loved the continual link with Ivy's grandmother but I was a little disappointed in the ending. I think it does have a lesson to be learned in the book, not only that you can't have your own way all the time but be careful what you wish for as it may just turn out to bite you in the ass.
It's a short story and a very quick read. Now that I have read it, I will be looking out for book two in the trilogy as there's just something so very addictive about it.
I received this ebook from Booklover Catlady Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the writing was excellent and I loved the continual link with Ivy's grandmother but I was a little disappointed in the ending. I think it does have a lesson to be learned in the book, not only that you can't have your own way all the time but be careful what you wish for as it may just turn out to bite you in the ass.
It's a short story and a very quick read. Now that I have read it, I will be looking out for book two in the trilogy as there's just something so very addictive about it.
I received this ebook from Booklover Catlady Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cracking read that I think should be renamed (you will read this within) 24 Hours as once you pick it up, you really can't put it down. It zips back and forth between 'then' and 'now' so every time you finish a chapter you have to read the next one and the next one...
Laurie is separated from her husband and while their daughter, Polly, goes on a trip to EuroDisney with Granny, Laurie takes the opportunity to have a spa weekend with her friend Emily. While Laurie is nipping out to the car for Emily's migraine pills, a fire breaks out in the hotel and Laurie can't get the door of their room open to rouse Emily. Emily perishes in the fire but the police believe that it is Laurie who died. Laurie believes that the fire was meant to kill her so she goes on the run to meet Polly off the Eurostar while people think she is dead.
The story is so pacey that I felt I was on the run with Laurie and I was reading as fast as she was travelling. All the time wondering who was trying to kill her and sometimes wondering if it was all in her head. As events unfold from 'then' everybody that Laurie has been in contact with is painted in such a way that any one of them could be the killer. Even when all is revealed there is still a little twist that I didn't see coming at all.
An absolutely thrilling read from Claire Seeber - I shall be seeking out more of her books, although they're definitely not for reading on a work night.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, show more via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
Laurie is separated from her husband and while their daughter, Polly, goes on a trip to EuroDisney with Granny, Laurie takes the opportunity to have a spa weekend with her friend Emily. While Laurie is nipping out to the car for Emily's migraine pills, a fire breaks out in the hotel and Laurie can't get the door of their room open to rouse Emily. Emily perishes in the fire but the police believe that it is Laurie who died. Laurie believes that the fire was meant to kill her so she goes on the run to meet Polly off the Eurostar while people think she is dead.
The story is so pacey that I felt I was on the run with Laurie and I was reading as fast as she was travelling. All the time wondering who was trying to kill her and sometimes wondering if it was all in her head. As events unfold from 'then' everybody that Laurie has been in contact with is painted in such a way that any one of them could be the killer. Even when all is revealed there is still a little twist that I didn't see coming at all.
An absolutely thrilling read from Claire Seeber - I shall be seeking out more of her books, although they're definitely not for reading on a work night.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, show more via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
The Little Bookshop on the Seine (The Little Paris Collection, #1; The Bookshop, #2) by Rebecca Raisin
There is just something so very magical about this book - it really made me feel like I could see, smell and experience Paris from the comfort of my living room.
Sarah is quite comfortable in her little bookshop in sleepy Ashford, USA. She has her friends across the road in the Gingerbread Cafe (an earlier book of Rebecca Raisin's) and her boyfriend is on the road trying to make a career for himself as a reporter. Then her friend Sophie in Paris has a bust up with her boyfriend and asks Sarah to swap bookshops. This is where the fun begins!
Sarah isn't the most confident of ladies and I though she did brilliantly well to get to Paris on her own in the first place. She barely speaks French and the trains are a nightmare but she finally makes it to Sophie's bookshop and it is heaving with people! Sarah dives straight in and helps out, quickly realising that her idea of dreamily wandering around Paris was indeed a dream as she doesn't get a spare minute in Sophie's bookshop.
I loved Sarah's love of books. Her flinching as a reader cracks a spine on a book (me too!) and calling them her book babies. Sarah's knack of matching readers to books was a lovely idea and I could almost smell and feel the books, so much so that I wanted to hop on a plane to Paris to find this wonderful bookshop for myself!
There are some lovely little stories within this book - the famous author who visits the bookshop every day to write and to be near his unrequited love and the mystery of the money show more going missing from the till. All will be revealed in the pages of this gorgeous book.
I felt that Sarah really gained confidence throughout the book although she gave her boyfriend one too many chances, in my opinion. I really didn't trust Ridge throughout the book, I felt he was messing Sarah around and was living a single life while he was away. Spending one day with her in Paris was atrocious, he might as well have not bothered at all. I'm sure Sarah and Ridge will appear in another book but I get the feeling that they are not meant for each other. Perhaps I am wrong...my opinion did change slightly towards the end but my suspicions had already been raised and no satisfactory explanations were forthcoming!
There are such wonderful sparkling characters in this book that I couldn't help but smile as I read it. I loved Sarah's visits to The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower which left me eager to read the next Little Paris instalment but, in the meantime, I hopped over to Amazon to pick up Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe.
This is my first Rebecca Raisin book and I loved it. Her style of writing is almost dreamlike and sparkly which will bring a smile to everyone's face.
I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
Sarah is quite comfortable in her little bookshop in sleepy Ashford, USA. She has her friends across the road in the Gingerbread Cafe (an earlier book of Rebecca Raisin's) and her boyfriend is on the road trying to make a career for himself as a reporter. Then her friend Sophie in Paris has a bust up with her boyfriend and asks Sarah to swap bookshops. This is where the fun begins!
Sarah isn't the most confident of ladies and I though she did brilliantly well to get to Paris on her own in the first place. She barely speaks French and the trains are a nightmare but she finally makes it to Sophie's bookshop and it is heaving with people! Sarah dives straight in and helps out, quickly realising that her idea of dreamily wandering around Paris was indeed a dream as she doesn't get a spare minute in Sophie's bookshop.
I loved Sarah's love of books. Her flinching as a reader cracks a spine on a book (me too!) and calling them her book babies. Sarah's knack of matching readers to books was a lovely idea and I could almost smell and feel the books, so much so that I wanted to hop on a plane to Paris to find this wonderful bookshop for myself!
There are some lovely little stories within this book - the famous author who visits the bookshop every day to write and to be near his unrequited love and the mystery of the money show more going missing from the till. All will be revealed in the pages of this gorgeous book.
I felt that Sarah really gained confidence throughout the book although she gave her boyfriend one too many chances, in my opinion. I really didn't trust Ridge throughout the book, I felt he was messing Sarah around and was living a single life while he was away. Spending one day with her in Paris was atrocious, he might as well have not bothered at all. I'm sure Sarah and Ridge will appear in another book but I get the feeling that they are not meant for each other. Perhaps I am wrong...my opinion did change slightly towards the end but my suspicions had already been raised and no satisfactory explanations were forthcoming!
There are such wonderful sparkling characters in this book that I couldn't help but smile as I read it. I loved Sarah's visits to The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower which left me eager to read the next Little Paris instalment but, in the meantime, I hopped over to Amazon to pick up Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe.
This is my first Rebecca Raisin book and I loved it. Her style of writing is almost dreamlike and sparkly which will bring a smile to everyone's face.
I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
Wow – what a rollercoaster and a stonking debut from Hugh Fraser. This was another one of those books that you can't put down. It is evident from the start that Rina is a very strong female lead character. As we delve into her background, we find that she’s had such a hard life looking after her young siblings and alcoholic mother but surrounded by an amazing female support system. She's suffered so much that it's not surprising she has turned into a contract killer - she has nothing left to lose.
The writing was so vivid, perhaps too vivid sometimes – the scene near the end with Carmela still churns my stomach when I'm thinking about it now! There are some surprising twists as you don't know who is on which side in Mexico, and the way the deal goes down between Lee and Manuel really was inspired - all I'll say is metal joints! The flashbacks to Rina's teenage life in Notting Hill really captured the essence of the era; men in dark smoky pubs and women at home with the kids living in poverty. Rina reminds me of Sydney Bristow in Alias and I wouldn't be surprised to see Harm picked up for the small screen.
There were a few same-sex love scenes but they were written with enough subtlety so as not to disturb even the most faint-hearted reader. With her history, it's hardly surprising that Rina would avoid men at all costs.
Hugh's writing is excellent; I really hope it's not the last we hear of Rina Walker!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The writing was so vivid, perhaps too vivid sometimes – the scene near the end with Carmela still churns my stomach when I'm thinking about it now! There are some surprising twists as you don't know who is on which side in Mexico, and the way the deal goes down between Lee and Manuel really was inspired - all I'll say is metal joints! The flashbacks to Rina's teenage life in Notting Hill really captured the essence of the era; men in dark smoky pubs and women at home with the kids living in poverty. Rina reminds me of Sydney Bristow in Alias and I wouldn't be surprised to see Harm picked up for the small screen.
There were a few same-sex love scenes but they were written with enough subtlety so as not to disturb even the most faint-hearted reader. With her history, it's hardly surprising that Rina would avoid men at all costs.
Hugh's writing is excellent; I really hope it's not the last we hear of Rina Walker!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was fantastic - I absolutely raced through it and couldn't put it down. I hadn't read the first book in the series but, although it might have been beneficial to do so, it didn't diminish the effect of the story.
Jennifer is a great character as she has a gift herself; to be able to see inside the mind of another human being. I almost jumped out of my skin when she managed to get inside the mind of The Raven! What is even better, is that Jennifer is part of Operation Moonlight and we find that other police officers have psychic abilities too - it's like a British crime fighting X-Men or X-Files. Then we add the love interest to make the perfect story - Will, who is Jennifer's partner at work but there's so much chemistry between them that I found myself reading quicker to find out if they managed to get together or not.
The Raven was so creepy - he is definitely the character you love to hate. With his flaky itchy skin I was almost itchy myself and felt shivers going down my spine every time he offered to perform a tarot reading. The story of his past which appears in flashbacks was an amazing addition to the story and you get to understand more about the reason he is acting the way that he is. About half-way through I did start to think that he wasn't acting alone, but you'll just have to read for yourself to find out if I was right or wrong.
With characters so vivid they almost jump out of the pages - Caroline Mitchell has found out how to write in 3D! I will show more certainly be reading Detective Jennifer Knight book 2 Don't Turn Around at my very first opportunity. I also plan to read Caroline's book, Paranormal Intruder, about her own family's paranormal experience - to have experienced the paranormal and then to be able to write stories that must bring back memories of this terrible experience, makes Caroline one very special lady indeed.
This was such a spine-tingling book and I'm really look forward to reading more from Caroline Mitchell.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
Jennifer is a great character as she has a gift herself; to be able to see inside the mind of another human being. I almost jumped out of my skin when she managed to get inside the mind of The Raven! What is even better, is that Jennifer is part of Operation Moonlight and we find that other police officers have psychic abilities too - it's like a British crime fighting X-Men or X-Files. Then we add the love interest to make the perfect story - Will, who is Jennifer's partner at work but there's so much chemistry between them that I found myself reading quicker to find out if they managed to get together or not.
The Raven was so creepy - he is definitely the character you love to hate. With his flaky itchy skin I was almost itchy myself and felt shivers going down my spine every time he offered to perform a tarot reading. The story of his past which appears in flashbacks was an amazing addition to the story and you get to understand more about the reason he is acting the way that he is. About half-way through I did start to think that he wasn't acting alone, but you'll just have to read for yourself to find out if I was right or wrong.
With characters so vivid they almost jump out of the pages - Caroline Mitchell has found out how to write in 3D! I will show more certainly be reading Detective Jennifer Knight book 2 Don't Turn Around at my very first opportunity. I also plan to read Caroline's book, Paranormal Intruder, about her own family's paranormal experience - to have experienced the paranormal and then to be able to write stories that must bring back memories of this terrible experience, makes Caroline one very special lady indeed.
This was such a spine-tingling book and I'm really look forward to reading more from Caroline Mitchell.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
This is the type of story we've all dreamed of - it's a piece of perfect escapism for any girl who's ever dreamed about meeting her idol...and let's face it, we all have.
Ellen was a big Four Ape fan in her youth, so it's a dream come true when she runs into lead singer, Jasper Ryan, when she's 21. Jasper is staying in a hotel, waiting for a flight to go and visit his dying Father. Ellen manages to get stuck in a lift with Jasper and he invites her into his penthouse suite...but things don't go quite as you'd expect. I totally expected Ellen to jump straight into bed with Jasper but instead she listens to him reminiscing about his Dad. Jasper asks Ellen for her number so they can be friends and perhaps go on a date sometime. Ellen isn't surprised later when he doesn't call.
Several years later, Ellen has to go on a course for work, so she decides to book into a hotel and make a trip of it. She can't believe her luck when she finds that she is staying in the same hotel as Four Ape guitarist, Tom Green. Ellen and Tom hit it off straight away but she doesn't tell him that she is a big Four Ape fan - well, she'll never see Tom again after this weekend, will she? Wrong!! Tom completely falls for Ellen and before you know it, he's asking her to move in with him - she can't tell him she was a big Four Ape fan now!
Then disaster strike for Ellen, but the most amazing thing happens for a Four Ape fan - the band decide to reform which brings Ellen face to face with Jasper again. show more That's ok, he'll never remember her - he didn't call her, he'll have slept with hundreds of women since then. Oh but he does remember her...leaving Ellen in a quandary. Does she stay with kind dependable Tom or take a chance on unreliable heartthrob Jasper?
I really enjoyed this. Ellen is a likeable character - as someone who managed to spill a fried egg sandwich down her top at work, I immediately felt an affinity for her when she made a mess eating a chocolate egg. Yeah, you're not really going to find two band members falling for the same fan but Sarah Louise Smith has clearly had fun putting every girl's dream into words, whether you're a Take That fan (I'm not) or have another idol who made your heart race as a teenager (and perhaps still does).
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
Ellen was a big Four Ape fan in her youth, so it's a dream come true when she runs into lead singer, Jasper Ryan, when she's 21. Jasper is staying in a hotel, waiting for a flight to go and visit his dying Father. Ellen manages to get stuck in a lift with Jasper and he invites her into his penthouse suite...but things don't go quite as you'd expect. I totally expected Ellen to jump straight into bed with Jasper but instead she listens to him reminiscing about his Dad. Jasper asks Ellen for her number so they can be friends and perhaps go on a date sometime. Ellen isn't surprised later when he doesn't call.
Several years later, Ellen has to go on a course for work, so she decides to book into a hotel and make a trip of it. She can't believe her luck when she finds that she is staying in the same hotel as Four Ape guitarist, Tom Green. Ellen and Tom hit it off straight away but she doesn't tell him that she is a big Four Ape fan - well, she'll never see Tom again after this weekend, will she? Wrong!! Tom completely falls for Ellen and before you know it, he's asking her to move in with him - she can't tell him she was a big Four Ape fan now!
Then disaster strike for Ellen, but the most amazing thing happens for a Four Ape fan - the band decide to reform which brings Ellen face to face with Jasper again. show more That's ok, he'll never remember her - he didn't call her, he'll have slept with hundreds of women since then. Oh but he does remember her...leaving Ellen in a quandary. Does she stay with kind dependable Tom or take a chance on unreliable heartthrob Jasper?
I really enjoyed this. Ellen is a likeable character - as someone who managed to spill a fried egg sandwich down her top at work, I immediately felt an affinity for her when she made a mess eating a chocolate egg. Yeah, you're not really going to find two band members falling for the same fan but Sarah Louise Smith has clearly had fun putting every girl's dream into words, whether you're a Take That fan (I'm not) or have another idol who made your heart race as a teenager (and perhaps still does).
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
This is a story of two women living in Manchester decades apart but both with heart wrenching stories.
Chrissie meets Billy in 1939 and just as war breaks out, she finds out that she is pregnant. Billy reacts badly to the news and decides to write Chrissie a letter. Before Chrissie receives the letter she is packed off to Ireland by her strict parents.
Tina is married to Rick and is a volunteer at a charity shop in 1973. Rick is an alcoholic and Tina is a victim of domestic violence. Tina finds Billy's letter in a donated suit and she sets out to find Chrissie to deliver the letter.
Part Two of the book focuses on William, Chrissie's son, who was born in a convent in Ireland and adopted by an American couple. William has travelled to Ireland and then Manchester to find his birth mother and joins forces with Tina when he finds her searching for Chrissie to deliver the letter from his father.
The story of Rick and Tina is disturbing at times due to the depths of the abuse and violence and the story of Billy and Chrissie is heartbreaking as Chrissie is ultimately forced to give up her son. I was close to shedding a tear on more than one occasion and I would recommend that you read this book with a few tissues by your side. Kathryn Hughes really brought the characters to life and gave a voice to the story of thousands of women who have given up their babies in convents across Ireland.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Chrissie meets Billy in 1939 and just as war breaks out, she finds out that she is pregnant. Billy reacts badly to the news and decides to write Chrissie a letter. Before Chrissie receives the letter she is packed off to Ireland by her strict parents.
Tina is married to Rick and is a volunteer at a charity shop in 1973. Rick is an alcoholic and Tina is a victim of domestic violence. Tina finds Billy's letter in a donated suit and she sets out to find Chrissie to deliver the letter.
Part Two of the book focuses on William, Chrissie's son, who was born in a convent in Ireland and adopted by an American couple. William has travelled to Ireland and then Manchester to find his birth mother and joins forces with Tina when he finds her searching for Chrissie to deliver the letter from his father.
The story of Rick and Tina is disturbing at times due to the depths of the abuse and violence and the story of Billy and Chrissie is heartbreaking as Chrissie is ultimately forced to give up her son. I was close to shedding a tear on more than one occasion and I would recommend that you read this book with a few tissues by your side. Kathryn Hughes really brought the characters to life and gave a voice to the story of thousands of women who have given up their babies in convents across Ireland.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an edge of the seat rollercoaster of a read. It's gruesome, it's gory, and it’s brilliant!
The fear emanating from the captives jumps from each page and I almost wanted to read with my hands covering my eyes at several points! Sights and smells were so descriptive that it felt like I was watching a movie inside my brain, and I think it’s only a matter of time before we see Detective Robert Hunter on the big screen (I hope).
I liked the close working relationship between Hunter and Garcia and I will definitely be reading the earlier books in the series. Although this is book 7, it can be read as a standalone but I would have liked to know a bit more about the histories of Hunter and Garcia, as little snippets of past cases are referred to.
After the violence of the killings and the frantic page turning twist revelation, Chris Carter gives us an inspired feel-good ending by revisiting one of the witnesses. It was completely unexpected in such an action-packed book but it finished the story off nicely.
I’ve no idea how this is my first Chris Carter book, but it certainly won’t be my last.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Simon & Schuster, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The fear emanating from the captives jumps from each page and I almost wanted to read with my hands covering my eyes at several points! Sights and smells were so descriptive that it felt like I was watching a movie inside my brain, and I think it’s only a matter of time before we see Detective Robert Hunter on the big screen (I hope).
I liked the close working relationship between Hunter and Garcia and I will definitely be reading the earlier books in the series. Although this is book 7, it can be read as a standalone but I would have liked to know a bit more about the histories of Hunter and Garcia, as little snippets of past cases are referred to.
After the violence of the killings and the frantic page turning twist revelation, Chris Carter gives us an inspired feel-good ending by revisiting one of the witnesses. It was completely unexpected in such an action-packed book but it finished the story off nicely.
I’ve no idea how this is my first Chris Carter book, but it certainly won’t be my last.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Simon & Schuster, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My favourite Disney film is Cinderella so it's no surprise that I picked up this book with a Disney obsessed heroine. I knew I was going to enjoy this right from the start when Milly and her old car, Dick, struggle up the hill to the village and get passed by a boy on a bike. I loved Milly's enthusiasm for the castle and can imagine her eyes lighting up at the sight of the blue turrets. Our introduction to Cameron had a sprinkling of humour despite his oaf-like appearance and a welcome bordering on rudeness. As Milly warmed to him, he also grew on me.
This isn't a sickly sweet Disney story by any means, as Sophia the ghost and Gregory the dog make sure of that. There is a undeniable element of magic in the air but not everything goes according to plan, especially when OIivia, Cameron's PA, arrives. The villagers were so delightful, they could have all stepped out of a fairytale and I could not suppress my laughter at the surprisingly flamboyant display during the summer festival.
I loved all of the characters, the exploring of the castle, the treasure hunting and the magical fairytale ending. This is a fabulous book for any Disney lover and I was completely enchanted from start to finish by this amazing heart-warming tale.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This isn't a sickly sweet Disney story by any means, as Sophia the ghost and Gregory the dog make sure of that. There is a undeniable element of magic in the air but not everything goes according to plan, especially when OIivia, Cameron's PA, arrives. The villagers were so delightful, they could have all stepped out of a fairytale and I could not suppress my laughter at the surprisingly flamboyant display during the summer festival.
I loved all of the characters, the exploring of the castle, the treasure hunting and the magical fairytale ending. This is a fabulous book for any Disney lover and I was completely enchanted from start to finish by this amazing heart-warming tale.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've had my eye on Mel Sherratt's books for a while but haven't yet managed to read one, so it was no surprise that this one caught my eye, written under Mel's pseudonym of Marcie Steele.
The characters were all very likeable, even huffy Chloe, but I would have liked to read a bit more about them, perhaps Marcie Steele will revisit the town of Somerley for another instalment. I loved the story of how their friendship grew, despite being of varying ages and backgrounds. It was almost as if fate conspired to bring them all together.
Lily's story, although sad, was quite inspirational. Lily is a filter coffee - strong, traditional and dependable. She had a vision for her cafe which exceeded all expectations, enabled her to make lifelong friends and gave her permanent residence in the kitchen, according to Chloe. It's worth reading for that little gem alone!
I enjoyed seeing the friendships develop among the three younger women. They complemented each other and I likened them to different types of coffee. Kate is a cappuccino - pretty and frothy on top but surprisingly strong underneath. Chloe, the baby of the group, is a little espresso - dark, moody and bitter. She does mellow throughout the book which was lovely to see. Lucy is a character I would have liked to hear more about as to me she is a latte - all froth and pretty bland.
This was a nice pleasant bit of light reading; it was good fun but sad and left a lingering message never to give up on your dreams.
I received this show more e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
The characters were all very likeable, even huffy Chloe, but I would have liked to read a bit more about them, perhaps Marcie Steele will revisit the town of Somerley for another instalment. I loved the story of how their friendship grew, despite being of varying ages and backgrounds. It was almost as if fate conspired to bring them all together.
Lily's story, although sad, was quite inspirational. Lily is a filter coffee - strong, traditional and dependable. She had a vision for her cafe which exceeded all expectations, enabled her to make lifelong friends and gave her permanent residence in the kitchen, according to Chloe. It's worth reading for that little gem alone!
I enjoyed seeing the friendships develop among the three younger women. They complemented each other and I likened them to different types of coffee. Kate is a cappuccino - pretty and frothy on top but surprisingly strong underneath. Chloe, the baby of the group, is a little espresso - dark, moody and bitter. She does mellow throughout the book which was lovely to see. Lucy is a character I would have liked to hear more about as to me she is a latte - all froth and pretty bland.
This was a nice pleasant bit of light reading; it was good fun but sad and left a lingering message never to give up on your dreams.
I received this show more e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
I didn't really know what to expect when I picked up this book, I certainly didn't expect to have it glued to my hand until I finished it. It is such an amazing book that completely hooked me from start to finish, leaving me eager to pick up the next book in The NightHawk Series.
The book starts with Abi's mother's funeral and it's clear that there is no love lost between Abi and her parents. 'What on earth could have happened?', I thought - as I was snagged on the first hook. By the end of Chapter 3, after being introduced to Gideon Hawk and Abi makes a discovery in her parents' attic, I was firmly caught in the net of Storm Rising.
The book flips back and forth between Abi's past and present, making sure that no stone lies unturned as Abi's story is fully revealed. As this is a book that I would highly recommend reading, I can't write any more about the story without spoiling it for others. There are some terribly heart-rending moments which brought many a tear to my eye (happy or sad tears, I'm not saying), showing how emotionally involved I was in the story. I loved Abi, Gideon and Judy - despite fame and the passage of time, they still feel the same about each other as they always did.
This book has everything a girl could want - first love and teenage heartbreak; family secrets and backstabbing friends; old relationships and new beginnings. Rachael Richey has written a very poignant story touching on some very difficult subjects. It is written in such a way that a show more surprise or a shock could turn up on any page when it is least expected. This is an exceptional debut novel and I'm really looking forward to reading book 2, Rhythm of Deceit.
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
The book starts with Abi's mother's funeral and it's clear that there is no love lost between Abi and her parents. 'What on earth could have happened?', I thought - as I was snagged on the first hook. By the end of Chapter 3, after being introduced to Gideon Hawk and Abi makes a discovery in her parents' attic, I was firmly caught in the net of Storm Rising.
The book flips back and forth between Abi's past and present, making sure that no stone lies unturned as Abi's story is fully revealed. As this is a book that I would highly recommend reading, I can't write any more about the story without spoiling it for others. There are some terribly heart-rending moments which brought many a tear to my eye (happy or sad tears, I'm not saying), showing how emotionally involved I was in the story. I loved Abi, Gideon and Judy - despite fame and the passage of time, they still feel the same about each other as they always did.
This book has everything a girl could want - first love and teenage heartbreak; family secrets and backstabbing friends; old relationships and new beginnings. Rachael Richey has written a very poignant story touching on some very difficult subjects. It is written in such a way that a show more surprise or a shock could turn up on any page when it is least expected. This is an exceptional debut novel and I'm really looking forward to reading book 2, Rhythm of Deceit.
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
Wow! This really is a fast paced thriller - there's almost no time to draw breath and I'm sure I held my own breath on more than one occasion. The house could have fallen down around me and I wouldn't have noticed whilst I was reading it.
This is my first Kim Stone book and, although I will definitely be adding the earlier books to my reading list, I didn't feel that I was missing out by not having read them. I loved Kim, she has such a short fuse and her heart rules her head sometimes so she's not afraid to say what she thinks. In such a distressing situation as a kidnap, everyone's emotions are on edge but this is not as straightforward as a kidnapping as the parents are required to take part in an auction to save one of the children. So tempers are frayed, relationships are at breaking point and couples who were once friends become competitors. The emotion pours out of every page - anger, frustration and despair.
I read this book in 3 large chunks as the chapters are so small you might as well read the next one, then the next one and the next one...although to be honest, I wouldn't have been able to put it down anyway so the chapter sizes are irrelevant. There are shocks and surprises in store as the story unfolds and I thought I would never get my heart rate back to normal after finishing the book.
An absolutely cracking race against time page-turner - prepare to be up all night!
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an show more honest review. show less
This is my first Kim Stone book and, although I will definitely be adding the earlier books to my reading list, I didn't feel that I was missing out by not having read them. I loved Kim, she has such a short fuse and her heart rules her head sometimes so she's not afraid to say what she thinks. In such a distressing situation as a kidnap, everyone's emotions are on edge but this is not as straightforward as a kidnapping as the parents are required to take part in an auction to save one of the children. So tempers are frayed, relationships are at breaking point and couples who were once friends become competitors. The emotion pours out of every page - anger, frustration and despair.
I read this book in 3 large chunks as the chapters are so small you might as well read the next one, then the next one and the next one...although to be honest, I wouldn't have been able to put it down anyway so the chapter sizes are irrelevant. There are shocks and surprises in store as the story unfolds and I thought I would never get my heart rate back to normal after finishing the book.
An absolutely cracking race against time page-turner - prepare to be up all night!
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an show more honest review. 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 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 show more 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
Rhythm of 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 show more 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
With a prologue entitled 'The day she died' I knew straight away that I was going to be up all night reading this book, and I wasn't wrong. I would have read it in one sitting had I not needed to eat and feed my I'm a Celebrity addiction.
The clever hook from the prologue is that we don't know who finds the body of Vivien. Indeed, what kind of person would find a dead body and not report it? Could it be the same person who killed her, or was it a suicide as it appears? So many questions were flying through my mind as I was reading this book and I really couldn't read it fast enough. Thankfully, all questions are answered with flashbacks telling us what actually happened and I hadn't guessed at all, so it was an amazing reveal for me at the end.
This is written in a way that the reader examines all the main characters and comes up with any number of reasons as to why they might have killed Vivien, whilst still wondering if it was perhaps a suicide. At different points in the book I thought each one of them could have done it; Ben the husband; Rose the mother; and stalker/femme fatale Cleo - slipping too easily into a dead woman's still warm shoes. I frequently alternated between murder and suicide as Vivien's mental state is explored.
The story is written from the point of view of Rose, Vivien's mother. Vivien and Rose didn't have a good relationship and I felt that Rose tried to compensate for this by her emotional attachments to the babies she looks after in the intensive show more care ward. Rose also tries to make up for her failings with Vivien by trying to be a grandmother to Lexi, Vivien's daughter whom she has hardly seen since she was born. I really felt for Rose - she had made mistakes in the past and I hoped she would get the opportunity to right her wrongs.
Forget Me Not is a superb book that really kept on my toes trying to work out what had happened and I would never have guessed the ending in a million years.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Random House, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
The clever hook from the prologue is that we don't know who finds the body of Vivien. Indeed, what kind of person would find a dead body and not report it? Could it be the same person who killed her, or was it a suicide as it appears? So many questions were flying through my mind as I was reading this book and I really couldn't read it fast enough. Thankfully, all questions are answered with flashbacks telling us what actually happened and I hadn't guessed at all, so it was an amazing reveal for me at the end.
This is written in a way that the reader examines all the main characters and comes up with any number of reasons as to why they might have killed Vivien, whilst still wondering if it was perhaps a suicide. At different points in the book I thought each one of them could have done it; Ben the husband; Rose the mother; and stalker/femme fatale Cleo - slipping too easily into a dead woman's still warm shoes. I frequently alternated between murder and suicide as Vivien's mental state is explored.
The story is written from the point of view of Rose, Vivien's mother. Vivien and Rose didn't have a good relationship and I felt that Rose tried to compensate for this by her emotional attachments to the babies she looks after in the intensive show more care ward. Rose also tries to make up for her failings with Vivien by trying to be a grandmother to Lexi, Vivien's daughter whom she has hardly seen since she was born. I really felt for Rose - she had made mistakes in the past and I hoped she would get the opportunity to right her wrongs.
Forget Me Not is a superb book that really kept on my toes trying to work out what had happened and I would never have guessed the ending in a million years.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Random House, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less
From looking at the cover, you might be forgiven for thinking that this is run-of-the-mill chick lit, but Crazy Over You is a really thought-provoking book examining the effect of an affair on a marriage. Far from being all man-hating and finger pointing, it really digs deep into Abby's thoughts and feelings.
Abby is understandably crushed by Simon's affair. She feels hurt, betrayed and angry so it's no wonder that she starts a harmless flirtation with her colleague, Brad the hunky PE teacher. I wasn't sure of Abby's frame of mind when flirting with Brad, was she trying to get back at Simon or simply wanting to feel attractive? Either way, Brad turns out to be a really good friend (almost with benefits) and when Simon sees Abby with Brad he gets a touch of the green-eyed monster and realises what he has lost.
The book really delves into Abby's psyche and I thought it was brilliant when she vented her anger by writing a therapeutic letter to 'her'. As we all know, it takes two to tango so although Abby is angry with the other woman at first, she realises it is Simon she must forgive or forget in order to move on. I really felt her struggling with her feelings and as she flirts more with Brad I could feel her struggling as she was still in love with Simon.
Abby needs to decide if her marriage is worth saving and just when she has made her decision she finds out that her friend has also been keeping a secret from her. Abby is so confused and tormented that she thinks the worst show more and I wondered if she could ever trust Rachel or Simon again. I'm not giving the ending away but this book is written in such a way that anything could happen and I'm sure it's an ending that will divide opinions.
A very clever, deep and thought provoking story. For some reason, I didn't really warm to Abby so I can't award 5 stars, but I did enjoy the book as a whole. It's a really good debut novel from Carol Thomas and I look forward to reading more from her.
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
Abby is understandably crushed by Simon's affair. She feels hurt, betrayed and angry so it's no wonder that she starts a harmless flirtation with her colleague, Brad the hunky PE teacher. I wasn't sure of Abby's frame of mind when flirting with Brad, was she trying to get back at Simon or simply wanting to feel attractive? Either way, Brad turns out to be a really good friend (almost with benefits) and when Simon sees Abby with Brad he gets a touch of the green-eyed monster and realises what he has lost.
The book really delves into Abby's psyche and I thought it was brilliant when she vented her anger by writing a therapeutic letter to 'her'. As we all know, it takes two to tango so although Abby is angry with the other woman at first, she realises it is Simon she must forgive or forget in order to move on. I really felt her struggling with her feelings and as she flirts more with Brad I could feel her struggling as she was still in love with Simon.
Abby needs to decide if her marriage is worth saving and just when she has made her decision she finds out that her friend has also been keeping a secret from her. Abby is so confused and tormented that she thinks the worst show more and I wondered if she could ever trust Rachel or Simon again. I'm not giving the ending away but this book is written in such a way that anything could happen and I'm sure it's an ending that will divide opinions.
A very clever, deep and thought provoking story. For some reason, I didn't really warm to Abby so I can't award 5 stars, but I did enjoy the book as a whole. It's a really good debut novel from Carol Thomas and I look forward to reading more from her.
I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. show less
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book but once I did, I couldn’t rest until I found out what had happened in Leah’s past. It’s a really good psychological thriller as it has the reader keen to uncover the past but at the same time on the edge of your seat trying to find out who is stalking Leah in the present day.
I do love a good flashback so I really enjoyed these parts of the book as I scoured the pages for clues as to what Leah is hiding from her past. The young Leah has few friends at school and is part of a small group of four – 2 boys and 2 girls. They quickly pair up and become couples but Leah’s relationship is far from perfect as her boyfriend, Adam, sets up a hate campaign against one of the teachers. He is so obsessed with this teacher that I wondered if something untoward had happened and it was really creepy when he used to sit outside her house. The others are drawn into Adam’s campaign and my mind was racing as I wondered what had happened. I’m not going reveal any spoilers but I will say that I was grimacing as some events were described.
Leah is paying for her sins by living sparingly, having little contact with family and not attempting to make friends. She works in a library and meets Ben who is donating books one day. I think Leah sees Ben as safe as he has a girlfriend and only wants to be a friend. It seemed completely out of character that she trusted him so quickly as she had kept everybody at arms-length until then. show more Leah becomes even more unrecognisable by joining a dating site and meeting a guy called Julian. He seems perfect and even accepts her soulless living arrangements. So I thought that she is finally getting her life back together…but I was so WRONG! As the stalker’s campaign against Leah intensified I started to wonder who she could trust and I actually ended up mistrusting everybody. Sometimes you are just better off on your own, I say!
As the past is revealed I thought of how cruel fate can be – how one action or inaction can cause a chain reaction of events that will affect you for the rest of your life. I did really enjoy this book but I did feel a bit exasperated at times with Leah’s conflicting ability to trust no-one/trust a complete stranger, so for that reason it’s a solid 4 stars from me.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Bookouture, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less