Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly is a slow moving, but deep story about two unique individuals; Addie and Sol. Both have been sheltered from a lot of reality by their families. Both have very different, strange family dynamics, and it takes their courage to step away from the expectations piled upon them to find one another. I don’t quite know how to describe the story, but it takes a while, then digs deeper into your soul as you read, and become more and more immersed in the ‘puffin-esque’ (is that even a word!) of their developing relationship. A beautiful story about two misfits, and how they end up fitting one another perfectly. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC.
Another gorgeous read from Kim Nash, with book two in the Driftwood Series. I always enjoy being able to revisit characters and settings in a good series, and this was no different, with the first book’s mc, Meredith, featuring within book two, but fear not! It can be read as a stand alone, too. In Finding Family at the Cornish Cove, we get to know more about Gemma, the local cafe owner. She’s embarking on a huge change in her life, renovating the much loved cafe that her mother had started, many years ago. Having had a tumultuous few years in her own life, losing her beloved mother, then the breakdown of her marriage, this new direction is both exciting and scary. Along the way, she meets Occy, a feisty teen, who has gaps in her own family, and Occy’s fireman father, Jude, who quite possibly could be something more, but the both of them are once bitten twice shy, and they embark upon a friendship that they both need, too. I loved learning more about the community, and the characters I had met before, as well as delving into Gemma’s life more. Learning about her sister, Lucy, their close relationship, and how they navigated the loss of their mother, and how she impacted upon their life was beautiful. The developing relationship between Gemma and Occy is also a joy to read. Kim has really delved into the complexities of modern family life, and shone a light on the impact of one person shouldering the responsibility of being a parent, and how that can affect people in different ways. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to delve into the third book, so I can visit Driftwood Bay, and imagine myself back in this beautiful Cornish village.
Not content with getting us all obsessed with lighthouses, now Kim Nash has turned our heads to dancing! I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two books in the Cornish Cove series, and this third was a wonderful addition. In Makin Memories, we focus on Lydia, the mother of the first Cove main character, Meredith. Lydia is a woman of a certain age. In her seventies, she has been divorced several times and finally wants to put herself first. She is sent a box of old belongings that starts a cascade of memories from when she fell pregnant with Mere, and feelings arise once it starts. Lydia loved dancing competitively, though no one knew this. An opportunity to take part in a competition brings many thoughts back to the forefront of her mind, including how she could improve her relationship with her daughter and whether, at 71, she is too old for romance. What a lovely story! Easy to read and such fun, with plenty of revisits to the characters from the first two books, but enough in them for you to read as a stand-alone. Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Not just saying this because I feature, but I read the other stories within this anthology and, what an impact, showing strong and fearless women, dealing with everyday situations! Some beautiful words, and I was struck, especially by certain lines within the story by Faiqa Mansab. A brilliant read, for a most worthy cause. Please, if you get a chance, order this book, as all proceeds go to charity.
I have enjoyed some of Emily Kerr’s books already, so I was looking forward to reading The Typo. A simple typo that could have been ignored ends up connecting two individuals who are unknown to one another. Amy thinks she is a failed violinist, trudging along in her life as a marketing manager for an Edinburgh theatre that is possibly about to close. An email that lands in her inbox because of a typo means she somehow ends up searching for the person who should have received it. Cameron is on a boat in the Antarctic when he receives a message from a stranger who forwards an amazing opportunity to him. I enjoyed the story and how the two strangers built a relationship via email despite not knowing one another. Their being strangers ends up being a significant factor in their character development, as their closeness develops and they realise they aren’t being true to themselves or the other, which spurs them on to do different things with their lives that they have been too afraid to try and do. Could there have been more romance? Probably. They didn’t finally meet until very late in the book, so we don’t get a chance to see their relationship develop in the same way that we see their friendship begin to blossom, but a cute ending. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Fiction for an ARC.
I won’t share my full review here as lovely Kiley is popping over for a Book and a Brew around release date to chat about her newest book, so I will keep it for then!
Releasing April 25th 2024
Absolute 5-stars from me, but you will have to wait for my review, as I have the lovely Lucy on my Blog for a Book & a Brew soon, to chat about the book.
This is probably the second of Portia Macintosh’s books that I have read, and it was as easy and entertaining as the first. Gigi is in a bit of a bind. She has a beautiful opportunity to visit Maui, where her sister is getting married in a proper destination wedding, complete with a venue and hotel that costs an arm and a leg, and possibly a lot more besides. However, she will have to contend with her ex being there, with his new influencer girlfriend, as he is her brother-in-law’s best friend and best man. And she has no date of her own. Instead of owning her single status, Gigi announces that she has a surprise plus-one joining her there and then finds herself in a bind as she tries to procure an impressive date with only a few days until she flies out. Hilarity ensues as she suffers some horrendous dates, and then she opts to find someone in Maui. While there, she gets an upgrade to her room, which is more than a kingsize bed. She finds herself in a suite suitable for a billionaire, with everyone waiting hand on foot for her and the undying adoration of far too many males around her. She makes one friend, Donnie, who seems to be the only average person around, and the story develops as she continues her search for the perfect date. There are some funny moments throughout the story, and it’s a quick, easy holiday read that made me want to go to Maui to see the gorgeous views and maybe experience some of that billionaire suite life! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Another wonderful romance by Jeevani Charika, which has a dash of culture, and a sprinkle of health knowledge and a pinch of hate-to-love! The Winner Bakes It All is a great example of rivalry to love, where our FMC, Elodie, is desperately trying to make her business venture a success. She’s a talented baker and cake decorator and has a small unit in the arcade of shops in her small town. An opportunity arises for expansion, and she is excited. Finally, wanting to be able to prove her family wrong, she waits to sign a new lease. Then Mal happens. Mal is a man bun-toting gym bro with a penchant for all things Keto. He’s appeared on the scene with a signed lease for the very space Elodie has been waiting for. The story unfolds with a lot of negativity, and to top it off, a battle for an exclusive catering contract is thrown into the mix (-ing bowl? Sorry!) I love cake, baking, and admiring those who can create amazing edible art through cake decorating. So, loving Elodie was going to be easy, wasn’t it? I felt for her as she strives to make those around her believe that her dream isn’t just a fad or a placeholder until something better or ‘proper’ comes along. And Mal… what a sweetheart in muscly disguise! Here’s me, the antithesis of anything healthy. (I’m Sitting here eating a coconut and raspberry sponge for breakfast!) Yet, somehow, I found myself sympathising with a gym-bro, lol! Thanks, Jeevani! I also learned something about the Ketogenic diet, referred to throughout the story. I have tried it as a weight loss aid, but I didn’t realise there were medical conditions that could be controlled, too! An exciting cast of side characters, including Elodies’ right-hand man, Marty, her not-too-nice brother, Travis, Mal’s business partner and best friend, Jake, and a high-maintenance influencer, Saffron, added another layer of depth to the story. Oh, and I didn’t like Leon! If you love cake, healthy eating, and drama, this book is for you! Oh, and I am now humming ABBA tunes. Thanks again, Jeevani! Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC.
Releasing 4th June, 2024
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
“She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.”
Annie Dillard
Thank you, Spidey, for finding another quote that suits me just fine!.
Firstly, sorry for posting late!
But, this, as you will see from the gist of my post, is where the above quote is relevant.
As soon as I start school in September, things begin to happen.
Life goes from a comfortable speed to powering ahead with me a the wheel of a large truck, trying to keep all my cargo safe.
my team and their wellbeing
my new class, and settling them into their new life in school
new initiatives and expectations to be implemented in school
my family and their various needs, be it being taxi mum to their emotional health and wellbeing
keeping house, even after long days (that ironing pile seems to double when we are working!)
having time for Hubby Dearest, who is juggling his own cargo load
giving Sonu Singh plenty of love
new pressures of keeping to a better budget with all these rising costs…
my own health and sanity, not helped by the onset of Perimenopause
As you can imagine, all this leaves me pretty shattered at the end of a typical working day.
It means that I have no energy left for my other passion which is my writing. I have editing to do. I have a new book to start plotting… But I don’t have the headspace or the time to do either.
What I won’t forgo, though, is my time with a good book.
Reading is like food for my soul. A moment to dip into the lives of others and to forget what is going on around me at any given moment.
It’s true that I read much less in the week, as I find I am asleep by 9.30pm, but I will always read a few pages at least before my eyes close.
My Kindle is brimming with at least 150 unread books that I have downloaded over the years, and my little trolley of unread books holds around 50 more physical books I have either been sent to read or have picked up on my visits to bookshops. My Amazon Wishlist has plenty more that I want to read… one day…
I don’t think I will ever reach the end of my TBR pile, virtual or otherwise, and I am not sad about that at all. It means that I will always have a tap of beautiful stories to turn on and sink into when I have nothing left to give to the world…
August is a month where school takes a total back burner… well, usually, it does. I may have some documents to read and write, and a visit into the classroom, to get ready for September, but for the best part it will be cricket, house stuff, a little writing (I hope!) and reading! Bring it on! (I have sp many arcs publishing this month, I hope I get them all read!)
Advance Warning!: I managed to read loads! TWENTY BOOKS! And the reading also included some Christmas ARCs, so for me, it wsa Christmas in August, not July, as many like to post about!
Having lapped up Sandy Barker’s previous novels, I was extremely excited to get a chance to read The Dating Game, her highly anticipated next release. And I was not disappointed! Abby is a woman with dreams of becoming a serious journalist. But right now, she’s ended up on a gig where she writes as her alter-ego, Anastasia Blabbergasted, a hilarious gossip columnist whose recaps of reality shows grasp the attention of the masses. Somehow, she ends up being railroaded into taking part in The Stag (think The Batchelor), purely for fly on the wall, research purposes, where she is asked to pretend to be one of the Does (the women hoping to be chosen by The Stag), so she can get close to the action, and write really juicy recaps of the newest series. So that is Abigail the journalist Abby the Doe and Anastasia the columnist. Quite a lot of personas for one person to juggle! What she didn’t expect was to feel the flutterings of romance building up from a totally different source, as well as finding out she really likes some of her fellow contestants! Okay, so if you are looking for a straight-up romance, it ain’t gonna necessarily come from this book, but that doesn’t mean, by any way, shape, or means that there isn’t any sizzle. Add to that, the fact that he’s a hot Aussie hunk… who isn’t The Stag… There is hidden romance and plenty of laughs, so it firmly sits in the Rom-Com sector, for me. I do love a bit of reality TV, and having watched series like The Batchelor, it was great to get a feel for what possibly happens behind the scenes! The dynamics between a group of women vying for the attention of one man, for very, very different reasons, was a great avenue to explore. Add in all the different locations they visit on dates, in and around Sydney, and I felt like I was on holiday, myself! (Much needed in this climate, I’ll have you know!) A fun, light-hearted read to give you a giggle! Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Uk and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As I embarked upon making my own writing dreams a reality, I stumbled upon author Nikesh Shukla, a fellow Indian of Kenyan descent, who was of similar age, and though he was Gujerati, and Male, to my Punjabi and Female, there were enough similarities to make his career interesting to me. Brown Baby is a memoir, as well as a guide to life for his own Brown Baby, Ganga, and her sister, but the memories he recounts, the feelings he encounters, growing up as a British-born Indian, a child of immigrant parents, displaced by society, not really getting why, but then, yeah, getting it, were all emotions I’ve felt, too. The passages about his mother and those feelings of love, loss, and guilt were overwhelming. Add in the fact that his own Brown Baby has a mother who isn’t brown, so there are so many other questions, and hurdles to overcome. Again, close to home, as my own brother married a Finnish girl, and their boys are ‘Finndian’, so yup, more intriguing questions as they grow up, inquisitive. A heartfelt tribute to a strong mother, a memoir filled with lessons. All in all, a good read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Having spent the whole of January gorging on the entire Bridgerton Series, I was drawn to try this older regency novel by Georgette Hayer, after it was advertised as something for Bridgerton fans. We still have a rakish Duke, and a young lady who may, or may not, be suitable as a bride for him, alongside a strange situation that throws them together, despite neither of them really wanting to be with one another. I’m afraid this was where the similarity ends, for me. Perhaps the writing was not a style that I enjoyed, as it was written quite a while back, compared to the slightly more contemporary way the Bridgerton series was penned. The story was intriguing, but I did find the language didn’t captivate me in the same way. Still, if you are a Regency Romance fan, I am sure you would be more than happy to read this, and the many others Heyer has penned. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Wish List was a book I loved, when I read it, so to be offered the chance to read a new book by Sofie Money-Coutts was not to be sniffed at. I really loved this story centring around first loves and second chances. Nell is a successful lawyer in a prestigious law firm in London, specialising in family law, so basically she spends her days dealing with divorces. Good thing that she wasn’t all that fussed about marriage, since the stories she has to deal with, would put off many a bridezilla. Oh and her partner, Gus, was also of the opinion that marriage was unimportant: an unnecessary evil in their perfect relationship. A local tragedy brings her back home for a short while, but in that twenty four hours she is back, she meets people who stir up a whole lot of long hidden emotions. She’s faced with Art, the newly appointed Lord of the manor, since his father passed away, and also, her first love. Of course, he’s married, and lives in another country, so why would he remember much about their teenage romance? Or was it just a little fling for him? Fantastic story! I think I always know where it would end up, however, there were a few points where I thought the end might have been something different, so I was definitely turning the pages, in anticipation. I kinda loved Art, the handsome new Lord, who really didn’t know what he’d done wrong. Gus, well, I could take him or leave him, but I understood why Nell was with him, comfortable, content, but was she happy? The addition of the secondary characters back home; Nell’s newly separated parents, her brother and her two besties from school, Colin and Luce, all made for some interesting side storylines, too. And Nell, I was quite proud of her by the end, making a stand where it counted! Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Okay, so I’ll start off by saying that Horror is not my go-to genre, usually, but having read the opening chapters of this book, previously, my appetite was well and truly whetted, so when I was given the opportunity to read the whole book, I jumped at the chance, straight away! Ouija is the debut novel by Zoé-Lee O’Farrell, and what a fantastic debut it is, too! Six high school students take it upon themselves to have a go at something they really shouldn’t have touched, i.e. the Ouija board, inside an abandoned school, where tragedy struck a little while before. What were they thinking? That’s what I was thinking, as I read, having been a little silly in my own youth, and tried this occult madness out at university. Put it this way, we had to break the session, and I was too scared to walk home in the dark, alone, for ages! Still, Jon, Ben, Caley, Lara, and twins, Simon and Sophie all head into the school, some with doubt and trepidation, some with scepticism, some with a little indifference. They all leave with something that binds them all together for life, and it ain’t something pleasant, I tell you! O’Farrell has created just the right amount of tension and jumps, twists and turns to really keep you turning the pages, and the ending? OMG! I will be needing a continuation, please! If you like a bit of horror, that isn’t overly gory, but will play with your mind, you need to read this!
What a beautifully crafted story about fate, and what was always meant to be, but how, sometimes it’s just not the right time. Nell, our heroine, is stuck in the snow, after a hurried reunion at her old college, where she was meant to be coming home with a special package. Instead, she is sat in the car, on the M4, stuck because of heavy snowfall, with a letter, memories, extreme emotions and a mobile with a flat battery. Her hero arrives, not on a trusty steed, as such, but with a knock at the window, and the offer of a charger, as well as some company, the night ends up as the most perfect eight hours of her life. Only, they never exchange contact details after. The next few months sees so many coincidental events happening, that it is hard for Nell to discount the thoughts of her hippyish best friends, Theo and Charlie, who firmly believe in the whole ‘it was meant to be’ theory. But, were they right? A book I devoured within hours. Honestly, if I hadn’t started it so late last night, I would have finished it in a single sitting. I truly felt for Nell, a woman with so much talent, but with responsibilities weighing her down, in the shape of her mother. A troublesome ex, and a wayward brother, make her feel like she isn’t worth much more than the lot life has thrown her. Then there’s her knight in shining armour, Sam, who rescues her from the snow, and over the story, their own lives entwine in ways that seem unreal. A hunk with a heart, that’s Sam! Of course, there is also Ed, the ex who pops back in, and even though she is thinking there could be something there, I found him rather smarmy. Keep well away, Nell! Honestly, this was a wonderful read, covering so much within it, including loss, and bereavement, as well as postnatal depression, and that old chestnut, Fate. A thoroughly good read that I would highly recommend! Many thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Kitty Wilson is a ‘new to me” author, so reading the blurb was what attracted me to the story. I mean, who doesn’t love a Christmas Romance story? This was a beautifully crafted story about a woman and man, each with their own insecurities and losses, but with so much to give to the world, and possibly each other, if they could be brave enough to chance it. Despite coming from a family of means, Belle Wilde is determined to make it, by herself in this world. She has her love of Shakespeare, and a lifelong project she needs help to launch, but there is no way she wants to take money from her parents, especially since her famous father doesn’t really rate her chances at anything in life. Christmas is looming and faced with a jobless festive season, she goes about thinking of the cheap and cheerful gifts she could bring home when she unexpectedly bumps into Rory, an old acquaintance from student days. Now, Belle, she loves Christmas. Rory? Not so much, After the loss of his wife in December a few years previously, Christmas has lost its sparkle for him. Somehow, after finding out about Belle’s secret project, he finds himself entwined in her life every day of that festive month, as she slowly teaches him how to love Christmas, and quite possibly other things, again. Each chapter of the book is set on a different day in December and I loved it all! Belle’s goddaughter, Marsha is a firecracker of a five-year-old, and I absolutely loved Angela, cancer-stricken mum of Rory, with spunk to match that of Belle’s! Filled with a real slow burn of a romance, building a casual friendship up into something rarely found in relationships, this was a lovely read that I have to admit made me shed a tear of sentimental happiness at the end, too! I’d love to read a bonus chapter, a year on. What is happening in the world of Belle and Rory? Is Marsha still crazy but oh-so-cute? Did Angela’s Secret Santa tradition keep on going? How is that Shakespeare project progressing? And, what is happening with Belle and Rory? Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Nicola Marsh has totally done it again, honestly! I’ve read a couple of her domestic thrillers now, and each time, she pulls me in with the storyline, all the twists and turns, and I am blown away by the ending! The Liar Next Door was no different. Three women living as neighbours in a lovely neighbourhood become tentative friends, knowing no one else there. They each have their own secrets, and reasons for moving from previous locations, but some are more sinister than others. But, which one is lying? All three characters have issues of their own, from paternity secrets to infidelities, and the way their stories end up weaved together is nothing short of genius. You have a married mum of one, who is a famous influencer, a young, newly married, pregnant woman and a single mum, apparently fleeing from some danger. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and can’t wait for another! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re looking for an easy, uplifting read, with a bit of a slow burn romance, then this is quite possibly a book for you. Hot Desk is about precisely that. A company changes up its working procedures post-Covid, with more work from home, and less time in the office,e meaning people now have to share desks. Music to the ears of some, but not for Alice, our heroine, for whom the lockdowns and being stuck in her room in her house share haven’t been ideal, especially for work. And then she finds out that her haven at work is now to be shared, and by none other than Jamie, her annoying colleague, who was also the one to give her a kiss to remember, many moons ago, yet doesn’t seem to remember said life-changing moment. Kinda second chance romance, though the first time didn’t really go anywhere. I’ll be honest, not my favourite ever read, but it was a pleasant one, and I enjoyed the story. It would make a good beach read. Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Freckles. The cover and the blurb enticed me to read. A woman, who is floundering in life uses a phrase uttered to her in a moment of annoyance, to shape the rest of her life. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Who are those five people, and how have they shaped her? Are they the same five people throughout her life, or do they change? Allegra Bird is a complex character. She shows shades of autism throughout the book. I have to admit that, initially, I found it quite hard to get into, as there were no speech marks throughout the book, and sometimes I was mixing speech for thought, etc, but it added to the confusion in the mind of our main character. But, once I was in, I was IN, if you know what I mean. I was making my own list of five for Allegra, throughout the book, and am so glad I got it right, in the end! There were hints of a possible romance, but the essence of the story wasn’t muddied by that. Instead, we were given a hopeful ending. I felt for the young girl, discarded by her mother, who wanted to know more. A woman who wanted to help others, but didn’t often get it quite right. Someone who was frequently misunderstood. As I mentioned before, it took a little while to get into, but I did enjoy the journey through Allegra’s quest to pinpoint her five.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Louise Fein, and I have to say I was glad I gave it a try. The Hidden Child is a story steeped in history, filled with beliefs that many of us would find hard to swallow nowadays, but which were held to by many a century ago. The story centres around Husband and wife, Edward and Eleanor. Both have a strong belief in Eugenics, and the plan to institutionalise those who suffer from certain afflictions and maybe even sterilise them, to prevent the risk of ‘inherited’ disorders, such as epilepsy, being passed down to the next generations. Until something happens in their own personal life that tears both them apart, and their own beliefs. I have to say I couldn’t read this in one sitting because the subject matter was so deep; eugenics, the search for the perfect Aryan race, institutionalisation, alternative treatments, But behind those topics was a story about a real family, struggling with dealing with situations out of their hands, Reading the Author’s note at the end was enlightening, as certain aspects of the story are based upon one of her own background truths, and it is also quite scary to read how much of what is included in The Hidden Child is based upon truths, politically, and medically. I have to say there were moments, as a mother, I had tears in my eyes,. There were times I wanted to cheer, as Eleanor grew a backbone, and also moments of upset when I read about some of the Eugenic beliefs. A really fascinating, and engaging book. It’s not an easy read beach book, but something to take time, and mull over. Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
You’ve got to love a Susan Lewis book, haven’t you? Well, I know I’m always going to enjoy her brilliant storytelling skills, having read many of her books over the years. I Have Something To Tell You was nothing short of a masterpiece, quite possibly one of her best, to date. Jay is a defence lawyer, caught up in the early confusion of a new murder trial. She finds herself sucked up into this particular case more than others, as she tries her hardest to help her client, who she has a gut feeling about. He can’t be guilty. Can he? Meanwhile, in her personal life, she’s dealing with trust issues. Fractured trust is never quite as strong after it’s been shattered once, and she is finding that, even years after finding out her husband cheated on her. With good reason, it seems. There were so many twists and turns within each different part of the story. from Jay’s relationship with Tom, her husband, to how she handles the murder case client, Blake, and all the investigations. I Have Something To Tell You is a brilliant title for the book, where those words, or something similar, are uttered several times, bringing new tweaks to an already engaging story. Thoroughly enjoyed this! Many thanks, to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to the Authors for providing a copy for review purposes.
Seizing the Bygone Light: A Tribute to Early Photography captures the essence of emotions within the images enclosed by the authors, and the words of poetry that accompany them. I loved some of the chosen images, which left me feeling wistful, in some ways, and ignited inspiration within me. An interesting book for photography enthusiasts, with a love of poetry.
We all need a bit of positivity in our life, and this beautiful collection of poetry and photography has it in spades. I am a lover of poetry, both syllabic, and not, and being introduced to the new-to-me forms, Kindku and Sixku, was great. I enjoyed both the photography-based lines, as well as those inspired by the words of well-known figures, such as Maya Angelou. Many thanks to the Authors for providing me with a copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Can I just say, I was so excited to be heading back to Port Willow, with Kiley Dunbar! I’ve been a huge fan of Dunbar’s stories over the last couple of years and was thrilled that I was able to read the next book about The Princess and Pea Inn, and its lost soul inhabitants and guests. It was a joy to be back with Atholl and Beatrice, Gene and Kitty, and to meet all the newer characters that made the story so great to read. Beatrice and Atholl have settled into their life at the Inn, with plenty of exciting new projects to get their teeth into. They have a couple coming to stay, who are to celebrate their twenty-fifth Anniversary, during their month-long stay, and a young woman from New York, coming to find some new trends around the Highlands that she can tout to her company back home, as the next ‘big thing’. Each of these characters has stories of their own that bring about the ‘Matchmaking’ part of the book’s title. I don’t want to go into too much detail, and give things away, but, despite being a book two in a series, it is easily readable as a stand-alone. There are trigger warnings with regards to miscarriage, but it has been health with sensitively, and as I mentioned before, I’ve read the first book, so was aware of this side of the story. Also, hats off to the author for bringing menopause into the equation. Also, it is lovely to have a cast of characters who aren’t all young, beautiful people, looking for love and finding it, but those more advanced in their years, with a history behind them, and, yes, still finding it! A heart-warming story with the capacity for more to happen… hint, hint! Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I’ve read two of Lauren North’s previous books and loved them, so was excited to get my teeth into her latest one, Safe At Home. She is a fantastic author of Psychological Suspense, and her plots keep your mind ticking over, second-guessing every thought you have, throughout the books she writes. Safe At Home is no different. Anna is bringing up her three girls alone, while her husband, Rob, works overseas. After some incident prior to the start of the book, they are living in a different area and living a completely different life to what they were used to. She’s become an extremely protective mother, not trusting anyone, despite the local community trying to welcome her into their folds. A decision, not taken lightly, to leave one of her girls at home alone for what should have been a twenty-minute period, becomes the catalyst for an event that changes the lives of not only her family but many people around her. I was on tenterhooks throughout the whole book, I have to admit. What a fantastically told story, with so many twists, and possibilities, to make you think you know what is going on, before you get thrown off the scent, again. Loved it! Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars Reading the blurb for this book, I felt I really wanted to read it. an LGBTQ romance, based in recent years, in Mumbai. It’s not something that is written about often, so I was excited. Ved Mehra is the son of an affluent businessman, from a wealthy family, and wants for nothing. Except for love and acceptance. Finding himself forced into an engagement with the delightful Disha, Ved thinks it must be for the best. Only… he’s gay. Then he meets Carlos. The story is set around the time when Section 377, a law set in British colonial times, criminalising homosexual activity, amongst other things is due to be overturned. While I really wanted to love the story, I found the characters to be underdeveloped, and there were areas that the story almost went too fast, or felt a little unbelievable. I mean, considering Ved hadn’t come out to his parents, would he still have brought a man back to the house, so brazenly, indulged in such loud physical pleasure, and have none of the house staff batting an eyelid, nor his father asking questions? But, there was a HEA, so, I was happy!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You hear people talking, jokingly, about getting together in x amount of years, if you’re both still single, but in Baby, It’s Cold Outside, the pact to meet in ten years in Dublin is something our main character Norah Jones is seriously considering. Having met Andrew in Italy, as a fresh-faced young woman, and been swept off her feet, fate brought them together but tore them apart too. As the date of reckoning approaches, life throws Norah a curveball, leaving her at a loose end at Christmas, and she finds herself going to Dublin to see if this meeting will really happen, with her long time friend Joe with her. I really loved Norah Jones, singer, turned music teacher. She’s been dealt a tough hand by life, in so many ways, losing people she loved, and I really wanted her to get her happily ever after, She gets her Happily Ever After, but, maybe, not in the way she expected. The cast of characters within the book was great, with Norah’s circle of friends, her mum, and several special other people she meets in Dublin. And, talking of Dublin, reading this book makes me want to go and visit! A lovely Christmas story to warm the cockles of your heart. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was thrilled to receive a copy of Louise Jensen’s new psychological thriller, having enjoyed some of her previous books, and All For You didn’t disappoint. On the surface, the Walsh family seem like your average family, husband and wife with their two sons, but when you scratch the surface, all isn’t as simple as it should be. For a start, there is a young boy suffering an illness that nothing but a transplant can help with, and another teenager suffering anxiety and stress from a tragic event that happened in his own life a few months before. To top it off you have a husband and wife with their own secrets. Then, the unthinkable happens. One of their boys goes missing. The story is told from the viewpoints of both husband and wife, Aiden and Lucy, and the eldest son, Conner. We find out snippets of their pasts, as layers are slowly peeled off, as the story unfolds. A wonderfully wicked web of interweaving storylines makes for a fantastic thriller, and it kept me on my toes the whole way through. At many points, I was convinced I knew what was happening, only for the next chapter to throw another curveball. It really does make you think, ‘What would I do?’, had you been in a situation similar to any of the characters, for they all made bad decisions in the past, though for compelling reasons… Fantastic read. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You can’t go wrong with a Sarah Morgan Christmas book, can you? Well, I’m pretty certain of that fact, and I loved this one as much as the others that I have read. This story centres around three main characters, Robyn, her niece, Christy and Christy’s best friend Alix. Robyn lives in Lapland with her husband Erik and has been estranged from her family for many years, yet, out of the blue, she receives an email from her niece, wanting to come over. Christy is nervously excited at the thought of meeting her aunty, the Rebel Robyn, about whom she knows nothing, other than her mother refused to discuss her, at all. She’s due to take her family; husband Seb and small, feisty daughter Holly to visit her rebel aunt, with her best friend and ally, Alix in tow, too, all the way to Lapland. But, things happen. (Of course, they do!) And she finds herself having to ask her best friend a huge favour, i.e. stepping in as ‘mum’ for a while, as she sorts out something personal, meaning Alix has to go to Lapland with Holly. With backup, of course. Zak. Who happens to be Seb’s best friend, and apparently a sworn enemy of Alix’s. Yes, it is a romance, in many ways, and how can you not get romantic, thinking of the Northern Lights, and midnight sleigh rides, the snow, and saunas… Though, more than that, I felt this book was about relationships and friendships, and misunderstandings. How something that seems so small can end up becoming bigger than you realise, and that thing you thought was huge, actually isn’t important at all. A fabulous read that I devoured pretty much in one sitting on a Bank Holiday Monday! Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Releasing 28th October, 2021
So, I’ve given you quite a selection to think on from Romantic, to Christmas, Psychological thrillers to poetry, not forgetting a little LGBTQ fiction. What tickles your fancy? And share what you read this month, or recently, that you would recommend!
Last month was a wash out, with reports and assessments. This month is the last one of term, so I’m not holding out much reading hope to be honest! Still, I can try! And I have SO MAY ARCS to read, via Netgalley, that my brain is swimming with deadline dates! (Someone, tell me to stop agreeing to read, or requesting them!)
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I requested this book, but when I began reading I realised it was very different to my usual reading genre. Dystopian fiction is not really my thing, However, when you couple an unknown genre with a topic I love, which is motherhood, and family, and the lengths said mother would go to for hers, then you get a pretty good read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book on so many levels. Poppy and Alex are made for each other, but they really don’t get it. Well, not straight away. Despite being best friends for so many years, and taking their special yearly vacations together, things simmer, but never bubble over. Until one trip. A trip that changes so much. I have to say I felt for Poppy, so much through the whole book, holding onto her unrequited love, as well as trauma from the past. I honestly wanted to shake Alex. I mean, come on, why didn’t you give any indications any earlier, as to how you felt?! Still, I really enjoyed the read, and would recommend it for a great summer sizzler! Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
The title, The Lock In, really pulled me to request this book, and though it wasn’t about a lock in , in its truest sense, the story was a cringy gigglefest from start to finish! Imagine it, being hungover, in a house that has a huge leak, and locked in the attic with three other people. Ellen, one of the fated housemates, is suffering from a rather wild night before, and after discovering a leak, tries her hardest to find the off switch (!!) in the attic. So something I would do, pre being a homeowner. After no success, she has to wake her fellow housemates, to alert them to said leak, and request their assistance in turning off the water. Jack, the most recent addition to the house, is clueless, but Alexa, Ellen’s friend from university, and final housemate is savvier, however, doesn’t have the brute strength to actually turn the stopcock (that was under the sink, in case you needed to know!) off. They all find themselves up in the attic, questioning Ellen’s presence there, when the fourth in the adventure arrives, Ben, who was actually Alexa’s date. Now, his brute strength is another matter, and he ends up locking them in the attic, and breaking the door handle! The hilarity that ensues from being stuck with almost no phone (I won’t go into that, too much!), no toilet, food or water, along with old stories being recalled, oh, and the memories of an old romance that turned sour popping its head up, it’s an entertaining book. The visit back to 2009 with MSN Messenger, drunken nights and the first digital cameras took me back to my own youth! I found all the characters likeable in their own way and ended up with a soft spot for Jack, who is socially clueless but ends up in the limelight in a way he never thought possible.
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Penguin Mochale Joseph UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Can I start by saying I want to go to Ferry Lane Market? I want to meet this cast of characters; colourful, caring and complicated! So, we have Kara, a woman stuck in an eight-year-old relationship, that is going nowhere, with barely the finance needed to stretch to living a little, outside of paying her mortgage. She’s in a job she loves, but without the appreciation from her boss, even that shine has dulled. Surrounded by people who care about her, she ends up on an adventure of a lifetime, after kicking Jago, her useless, cheating boyfriend, to the curb, to find her true path, I really enjoyed immersing myself in the world of the Ferry Lane market, and it was fantastic to read about a woman, just past what people would say was the prime of her life, finally finding her feet, her passion, and some love, along the way! And I’m looking forward to reading more about all the fantastic characters in the books to follow! Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Two woman, one man, livng far apart, yet irreversibly connected. Brilliant read! Seriously, I had one idea in my mind about what this book was going to be about, and though I clicked, part way through, the twists and turns to get to the conclusion were gripping! The stories of the two women, how we move from the present to the past, the takes interweaving, to create this blanket of connections… was fantastic! I can’t write much, as I would give the story away, but it’s good, trust me! Loved it! Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed part one of this book, so was thrilled to be able to read the whole of the novel. You know you’re in for a good read when within a few pages, you know exactly what you want to happen, and you speed through the chapters waiting for it, going on a fantastic journey to get to that expected destination. It was like that for me, with The Promise Of Summer. An easy, light-hearted read with three interesting characters; Ruby, with her obsession with having a baby, Kim and her secret, and Curtis… I was fascinated by Curtis, the whole way through! The pointers from the very beginning of the story indicated a person on the autistic spectrum, and it was just a joy to see him with his own happily ever after, to be honest. And don’t let me forget to mention Boomer, or Boomerang, the rescue dog, who ends up stealing plenty of hearts!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What’s Left Unsaid is a book that took me a little while to get into, but once I was in, I was hooked. Hannah Williamson is a woman with her own past and troubles. Having been sent to live with her grandmother, Mamaw, in a little town in Minnesota, on the pretext of looking after her, she embarks upon a job at the local paper, keen to get back to her real career in journalism. While there, she finds out about a story, something kept deeply hidden, which triggers her thirst for wanting to know more. The more she knows, the more invested she becomes in the story, not knowing just how involved she is to become. There are many issues raised in this book, not least the extreme prejudices that were held on to so tightly, in the South, but child abuse, depression, adoption, miscarriage… And to think it is a story based upon the real story of the author’s great aunt. A fascinating read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
So, what happens when you are a woman living the aftermath of a broken relationship, where you found your then partner, in bed, with another man? Coupled with doing your residency in a hospital, training to be a doctor? Alongside generally feeling like absolute rubbish, because, well, you are. Anyway, that’s how life has made you come to view yourself? This kinda sums up our heroine, Tess. Oh, but I forgot, she has these two voices in her head, or rather like the devil and angel one might have on your shoulders, she has the chat show host, akin to Jerry Springer, rubbing her face in all the downs she encounters, with the lovely Jane Austen on her other side, cheering her along, with her ladylike grace. While on her training stint in the hospice of the local hospital, she encounters a patient with who she develops a strong bond. What she wasn’t counting on, was the son of said patient, who brings back certain memories… yet, he doesn’t appear to remember her, at all. It took me a short while to really get into the swing of the book, but once I was there, I was THERE, if you know what I mean! Honestly, there were times I wanted to punch the Chat Show Host in the face – What an obnoxious man! But the light-hearted banter that spilt from the mouths of the two voices, along with the story, as it unfolds, had me wanting to read more! Many thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What an amazing read! No, seriously, I haven’t felt gushy about a book for a while, now, and this one, well, it gave me the feels. Now, it’s not a rom-com, as I usually enjoy, but the story of Patience, a woman diagnosed with Rett Syndrome in childhood, captivate me. I enjoyed how the book was written, with Patience’s point of view given through her thoughts, since, she is unable to talk, and the differing viewpoints of her family: both parents and her sister, Eliza. Life can’t be easy as a carer, and member of family of an individual who is diagnosed with such a disorder. You often find the world sympathising with them, but this also turned the tables on that, by providing Patience with a voice. Regardless of whether she was able to talk, move, feed. herself, etc., she still has opinions, and thoughts, reminding me that we never know what is going on in the mind of someone we may consider ‘disabled’. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Released on 5th August, 2021
Well, I am quite impressed with myself to be honest! After a thankless last couple of months, with the house move and the last term of the school year, reading has always been there, but not at the forefront of my life, so nine books, this month, I think, is a winner!
So, were there any there that sparked your interest? Let me know what you’ve been reading this month, too!
So, last month I went ARC mad and read quite a few from my list, hoping to lessen it… then over the month, I managed to amass the same amount again in new arcs! So, I will try and mix up arc and TBR list reading, this month. the first two weeks I am on holiday so I hope to get a bit read, then!
A holiday that involves books, a bookshop, baking, a dog and a hunk? What’s not to love? Jude’s life revolves around her family, caring for her grandmother, and pottering around, helping her parents in the family bakery business, alongside completing her English degree part-time. Books are her faithful friends throughout her life. When her forbidden romance, ends badly, along with finding out her parents are shutting up shop, and her gran wants to move to a retirement village, she’s at a loss as to what to do, until an email arrives, confirming a booking Jude and her then-boyfriend had made for a two week holiday, running a bookshop and a cafe in a small village in Devon. She arrives, after being forced by her parents and best friend to take the break, hoping for a fortnight of solitude, books and baking, and is rudely awakened on her first night by an intruder. I won’t go into more detail, other than to say that the intruder ends up being hot, and the bookstore comes with a mangy mutt, who both end up stealing the reader’s heart. Jude is a character who has such low self-esteem and feels like she doesn’t have a real place in the world, and this story gives her a chance to grow into herself, and find the life she always wanted. Elliott – that’s the intruder – well, he’s just a fab character, all big and brooding, but gentle and kind, too, and he’s an animal lover. Oh, and he has a bit of a past that he’s trying to get away from. Aldous, the dog, oh, what a star! I loved his connection with the bookshop, and wished I could be the one to coax him out of his grief and stupor! And all the characters in the fictitious village of Clove Lore, from Mrs C and her ‘book’ filled with bets on who will get together and stay in the village, to Minty, owner of the Estate, who has her suspicions about Elliot and why he’s here. A wonderful, sweet, feel-good read. And if you, like me, are someone who doesn’t get along with maths, you’ll relish this story all the more! When I heard about Kiley Dunbar’s latest book, I eagerly awaited the release date and was honoured to be approved to read an arc, as I have loved all of Kiley’s previous releases. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a touching tale, based upon truths that are a part of author Bette Lee Crosby’s own history. Margaret is grieving. Her husband of fifty years passes on, leaving her alone, aside from her housekeeper, cleaner and friend, Jean. No family to speak of, no children, Margaret is at a loss. She happens upon a stack of paperwork when clearing out her deceased husband’s desk that leads her on a voyage of discovery, where she ends up with a lot more family than she ever thought possible. Based partially in the early 1900s and the 1960s, the story is told of Margaret’s journey to reunite herself with the family she thought she had lost, and the story of her mother, Eliza, a woman whose children meant more to her than the world, and how they go from being a family to being spread around the country, estranged from one another. A heartwrenching read, I’d recommend to all.
When I see Sarah Morgan, my first thought is Christmas stories, because she writes such amazingly memorable ones. I know there are others, but that is the genre that sticks in my mind. Having said that, seeing The Summer Seekers blurb whet my appetite for another cracker of a story. It seems to be a common theme in recent books I have read, for the story to be set around a road trip, this was the third in as many weeks that I read. Kathleen is an eighty-year-old woman, living alone, fiercely independent, but afraid of what impending age will do to her life. Liza, Kathleen’s daughter wants only the best for her mother. She spent her childhood watching her whirlwind of a mother, taking off to all sorts of glamorous locations as the host of a famous travel show, with little time for her, She has spent her adulthood determined to be more like the mother she wished she had, there, always, for her twin girls and husband, Sean, but that life begins to take its toll. A chance encounter featuring an intruder, a skillet, the police and a head injury, fires up the urge for Kathleen to take one last trip of a lifetime. She’s always wanted to travel Route 66, but, rather like the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow, there is something important she knows she might find at the end of the trip, only she’s not so sure if she wants to find it. However, driving over two thousand miles alone at eighty is probably not a good idea, and there is no way she wants to take this trip with her daughter. Cue Martha, a mid-twenties woman with nothing to lose. An incomplete education, failed marriage and family disapproval behind her, the intrigue of an advert, requiring someone to drive, on an all-expenses-paid trip, spurs her on to take a step in a direction she has never considered before. A wonderful premise for a story filled with so much, from realisation, to love, new beginnings to happy endings; it’s all there and written in a way that has you falling in love with all the characters, and the places they visit, too. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic feel-good read! Alexa Humphries is a young lawyer who is feeling the grind. Daily, she is pouring her heart and soul into her job, which leaves little time for her life. (And I know this is a reality, as my own solicitor emailed me last night past 11 pm, and I wanted to tell her off for still working!) That morning arrives when it all becomes too much, and after much deliberation, she takes her brother’s advice and calls in sick… Duvet Day! It would, ordinarily, be a simple thing, call in, make excuses, then settle down for a day filled with series binges, comfort eating, and relaxing. Simple, if you didn’t live in a houseshare with one of your lawyer colleagues, who needs to learn a little about sympathy, and another mystery housemate who has never introduced herself. Hilarity ensues, as, cosied up in her Unicorn onesie and teddy bear fluffy slippers, Alexa finds herself locked out of the house, after making the (bad) decision to answer the door for a delivery, addressed to her unknown housemate. Oh, what a giggle, from start to finish! I really felt for Alexa, being in a job that can drain everything from you, myself. The thought of a duvet day would buoy me up, too, but equally, fill me with dread about what I’d backlog of work I’d encounter when I got back to work. Poor Alexa has her heart in the right place, and all she wants is the best for the world, to make a difference. I’m sure she wasn’t ever expecting to make that difference, dressed up as a unicorn, though! I won’t spoil the story for you, but it’s a wonderful read, and yes, there is definitely a slow simmering romance, which takes the whole book to begin to boil, but, when you think about it, it’s all rather fast, since the book takes place over the course of one day! Fantastic! Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and One More Chapter, for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
Do you ever have those moments when you read a book that has been sitting on your TBR for a while, and then you kick yourself for not having read it earlier? Well, I had that revelation as I became more and more engrossed in this wonderful debut by Lucy Keeling. I have been following her progress for a while, but, ashamedly I hadn’t managed to read one of her books. Knowing that book 3 (yes, three, that means I still have another to catch up on!) comes out in less than a week, I felt I simply had to get caught up on the Friends series (not the TV one, obvs!) and so I did. I must add, as an aside, that Lucy’s book came at a time I really needed something to keep my spirits high, put a smile on my face, and generally help me feel good. And Just A Boyfriend did exactly that! Sophie is a wannabe social media influencer. She’s got her five-year plan, and, as long as she sticks to what she has mapped out, she’ll be a wannabe no longer, but, the thing is, her plans don’t really involve life in it, as well. Because, other than work, there is a whole host of other entities that can affect your future plans, including your friends, family, kittens, and men. Specifically, romance with said men. Romance is a no-no, right now. She has no time for it. But why do feelings keep creeping up on her? Especially for a certain male who happens to be the brother of one of her best friends? Such a fun story, with plenty of laugh out loud moments, and cringe factors, where I buried my head in my hands, peeking out that the words that followed, in case that awful thing I thought might happen actually did… Sophie is surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast, including Paige, her friend and employer, as well as a new foster mum for four gorgeous kittens, Mya, another friend, from uni, as well as her landlady, a woman with a few mysteries of her own, and Polly, Sophie’s childhood best friend, who also happens to be the one with the hot bro! Marcus, (said hot bro), is a gardener and oh, he is such a cute character! With strong feelings already attached to his sister’s best mate, he takes on a job, landscaping her garden, not knowing whether he will be able to face Sophie every day. Oh, I really did love it! Sweet, sexy and sassy, all rolled into one story, and I am so excited to dive into the next one, to find out what is in store for Polly!
Just Friends centres on a different one of the group of friends we met in Just A Boyfriend, Lucy Keeling’s debut novel. This time we become more intimate with Polly, sister of Marcus, who was the hero du jour in book one. Polly’s got some unprocessed feelings for a certain gardener, who also happens to be her brother’s best friend, but the player that he is, she can’t trust herself to get too close, so she settles for an office romance that seems to be safe. Oh, and she’s got another secret passion that no one knows about. Bailey’s got issues. He’s harbouring a huge crush, bordering on unrequited love, for his best mate’s sister. But she hasn’t a clue, and she’s also in a new relationship. And, to add icing to his issue cake, his mum is ill. Really ill. And all she wants is to see him happy and settled. What ensues is a brilliant story, filled with will they, won’t they moments, amidst the planning of a huge wedding, (not theirs!) and a ton of sexual chemistry! I love Bailey, he’s giving out Jason Momoa vibes… Polly, I just wanted to scream at her to TELL HIM HOW SHE FEELS! Eager to get into book two, I pretty much devoured this in a day! Oh, Lucy, you have created such a great cast of characters, here. I loved each moment. And with that ending, now I HAVE to read the next one as soon as it is out! Good thing I only have two days to wait!
Oh, such fun! I read the previous two books, last week, in anticipation of this third coming out, and I was not disappointed in the least! Mya has always been the mysterious one, out of these four friends, even though Paige appears to have some sort of psychic talent. We’ve been led through the first two books, with no inkling as to what her secret job is, but now, we finally find out. I won’t spell it out, since you need to read the book to get your own confirmation, but I had an idea… Finding herself at her next ‘job’, Mya is faced with a rival she’d rather not be dealing with, Smithy. A friend of her best friend, Sophie’s husband, hot as hell, and a past conquest Mya would rather forget, especially as she didn’t do ‘that’ twice, with anyone. But it’s hard to get your heart and mind on one track, sometimes. Smithy is the same, battling feelings he’d rather not experience towards this sexy woman, who holds some sort of power over him. I’ve never been to Vegas, but I tell you what, I really want to go, now, to experience some of what these two got up to, even though I know artistic license has been applied! It is great to see a POC main character, with her ethnicity not thrown in your face all the time. Mya may be of Indian heritage but she just proves that women are all the same, really, and can experience the same as any other woman out there. (Heck, her heritage may have just made her even hotter, but then as an Indian woman, myself, I might be biased!) Another cracker of a book, read with ease and speed. So fast that I need the next one, so I know what Paige is up to, too! Come on Ms Keeling, we’re waiting!
This is my first Sophie Claire book, and I was not disappointed, at all. Lily has been transported back to her grandmother’s home to recuperate, after a nasty accident during work. Back to where she spent idyllic childhood times before her world crumbled around her. But not a place she calls home, herself. Though they say home is where the heart is, and her heart seems to be pining for someone, equally attached to that same place. Olivier grew up with Lily. Craving a family of his own, and that anchor that makes you feel at home, he is constantly pulled back to where his parents live, despite being a successful baker in Paris, with a chain of bakeries. This was a love story, but not as traditional as some. It involved a whole lot of accepting yourself, and self-love, as well as the romantic kind. Lily is a character damaged, physically and emotionally by the events of her past. Olivier’s own experiences growing up and coping with knowing no one was really ‘his’, shape him to be the man he is today, and the dreams he holds for the future. And then we have Mamie. Lily’s grandmother. She is an anchor for both these lost souls and wants to use her power over them to protect them in a way only she knows how. A beautiful story, a compelling read and definitely recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I do enjoy a good Adele Parks book, so was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Both Of Them, a psychological thriller that sounded intriguing. Two women, two disappearances, two husbands confused. Leigh Fletcher is a happy woman, step-mum to two lovely boys and wife to a gorgeous husband. Do they have ups and downs? Sure they do. But nothing major. Kai Janssen is another blissfully happy woman. Married to a rich man who desires her completely, and surrounded by luxury, she wants for nothing. Then one day, they both disappear. The story follows the mysterious disappearance of both women, told from the viewpoints of various characters from the book, including both husbands, Leigh’s eldest stepson, the investigating DC, and her best friend Fiona. Information is drip-fed in a way that makes you want to keep turning the pages until you find out what has happened to them both. I can’t really say much more, because I don’t want to give anything away, but once you get into it, this book is extremely hard to put down again. Did I guess what the ending would be? Well, I’d be lying if I said yes, straight out. I had my suspicions, then they got sent awry as I was led down other paths… Very good. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Waiting To Begin is the story of a woman, Bessie, but told on two simultaneous days, her birthday, but thirty-seven years apart. At sixteen, Bess thinks she has it all. Her results are out today, her future is all but planned out, she just needs those results to get where she wants. Bess’s family is your usual type, a caring, but an annoying set of parents and an older brother who is just – urgh! She’s got a tentative boyfriend and dreams of their life together Thirty-seven years later, Bess is content. Well, on the surface, anyway. Nothing quite panned out how she hoped, but she’s not unhappy with her life. A doting husband, two great kids, one of them married, their own home. But, there are still gaping holes in her life. There are still secrets that are eating away at her, affecting everything she does, though no one else knows. Not wanting to give the story away, I will comment on the essence. Decisions we make, flippantly, can have huge effects on our life. The need to be keeping up with the rest of the world can eat away at you, making you do things you might not have, otherwise. My heart filled with pity for teenage Bess. I wanted to scoop her up into a hug, and tell her everything will be okay. I will admit to wanting to physically harm a certain young man, too, The same sorrow was felt for older Bess, who is sifting through her life decisions, not sure whether to rock the boat, but finding herself in a situation where she has no choice. An emotional story that will definitely tug, hard, at your heartstrings. When Waiting To Begin flashed up as another new book to come, by Amanda Prowse, I jumped at the chance to read, because she is my all-time favourite author. Her stories never fail to touch the heart, and the way she tells them leaves you emotional for a long time to come, Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
What happens when two best friends lose each other, because of a man, and then, many years later, get thrown together to plan a wedding… for their children? This is exactly what happens to Tennyson and Melanie. Both from two very different backgrounds, but at the same school, they form a firm friendship, promising to be there for each other, forever. Then life happens, and love happens, and men, or rather, man, happens. This story was written cleverly, interweaving the story from the past in with the present day, when two almost sworn enemies have to face each other with smiles, when their children fall in love. Enjoyable read.
Another really great read from Liz Talley. Chase London is a child star, thrown into fame’s spotlights from a young age, but, as is the story for many, the fame doesn’t translate as well as an adult. Battling addiction, rehab, and a failing career, she ends up in the hands of therapist, Olivia Han, who’s been hired to straighten her out and get her ready for her next role. They end up in a small wooden cabin, inherited by Olivia and her sister, Neve, as an opportunity for Chase to learn how to Adult – something she has never been taught to do. Simple tasks, such as grocery shopping, clearing leaves from a garden as well as the simple pleasures of eating a candy apple or going fishing. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward story of spoilt rich kid needs bringing down a peg or two, but quite quickly, the story shows the depth of trauma that Chase has suffered over the years; something quite tangled for Olivia to unpick. Beyond that, the treatment ends up being a time of reflection for Olivia, as well, facing some disturbing truths from her own life, building bridges and burning some, too. Of course, there is the element of relationships, too. Olivia is avoiding her supposed ‘soulmate’, and Chase has never really thought about the future, and who might be her ‘one’. A touching book, with some moments to make you smile, but equally, some distressing moments, with talks of child abuse, but handled sensitively.
So, I ended up finishing twelve books, in April. Not too shabby, considering all I have going on with life!
Was there anything above that caught your eye? Tickled your fancy? Let me know in the comments!
I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading and enjoying, too!
But I Smile Anyway... 