Book Blogging is hard work and I almost quit and deleted the lot.

I decided to post something a little bit different today because I am behind with my reading and to be honest I have no current read books to review.

When I started this blog back in May I initially thought yeah, this will be easy.  I read loads of books anyway so hard how can it be to read a book, review it and then post it? Well, actually very hard. I started putting myself under pressure to read more and more when the reality was I wasn't enjoying the fact that I felt like I had to use every free second just to read a book. It stopped me loving to read and it started to feel more like a chore.  I needed to post a review regulary to keep people reading my blog and gain followers when the reality is I sometimes just don't have the time

I then discovered Netgalley where I could request proof copies and happily clicked away requesting more books than I needed and finding that actually I was requesting books that are not really my thing and then I have to review a book that I don't actually like.

I found myself feeling guilty for not reading enough books and reading books that I don't actually enjoy, just because it's the book that everyone else seems to be reading and so I should read it and love it to.  Truth was I don't even like some of them but I was trudging through them just because I felt I should.

Don't even get me started on the use of twitter.  Book Bloggers that have thousands of followers, blogs that have thousands of followers.  I am barely starting out and have managed to accumulate a grand following on twitter of 100 and followers of my blog zero. I felt like a failure even though I was new to this. I kind of assumed people would see this and like this and start interacting but nope.

Does that mean that my blog is rubbish? Why is no one liking my posts? Why does no one interact with me?   I post and comment and try my hardest to gain page views and receive very little in return.

I've had a good hard think about why I wanted to start this blog in the first place and that was to spread the love for the books I read and enjoy. So why then am I reading books that are not actually my cup of tea? Why am I getting hung up on followers?  That was not the reason I wanted to do this at all.

I took a step back and pondered whether to just delete the lot and forget all about it but there was this little niggle inside me that really doesn't want to do that.  Truth is I still love reading and reviewing, yeah it is more than a little addictive.

I have realised that I need to just be myself. Read the books that I love to read.  Not because I have to but because I want to and then post my little review.  If no one reads it or comments, so what.   Is it the end of the world if I don't have a load of followers? I actually don't want thousands of followers as that would put even more pressure on me.

I have decided that I am continuing because I want to.  I have and will always read and nothing will stop that ever.  I will post reviews when I get the chance and when I have no time than nothing will get posted.  The one thing I am doing is stopping getting fixated on page views.  If no one reads it, that's fine.  I am doing what makes me happy and that was the whole reason I started this blog.

I Will Make You Pay by Teresa Driscoll

Synopsis

Every Wednesday, like clockwork, the terror returns.

It seems like an ordinary Wednesday, until the phone rings. A mysterious caller with a chilling threat. Journalist Alice Henderson hangs up, ready to dismiss it as a hoax against the newspaper. But the next Wednesday, the stalker makes another move—and it becomes clear that this is all about Alice.

Someone wants her to suffer, but for what? Her articles have made her a popular local champion—could it be her past rather than her work that’s put her life in danger? Alice is determined not to give in to fear, but with the police investigation at a dead end, her boyfriend insists on hiring private investigator Matthew Hill.

With every passing Wednesday the warnings escalate, until it’s not only Alice but also her family in the stalker’s sights. As her tormentor closes in, can Alice uncover what she’s being punished for before the terrifying threats become an unthinkable reality?

My Review

This book was dark, creepy, unnerving and very unsettling.  The tension was kept right till the very end and I couldn't tear myself away from it.  We follow the story through Alice's eyes and also flashbacks to a young unknown boy until the threads are tied together in a very satisfying ending.

When Alice, a young reporter, receives a threatening phone call little does she know that what she first assumes is a prank call will result in her worst nightmare about to begin. Wednesdays are her stalkers day of choice and when Alice thinks back the prank call is not the first contact with her.

There is a whole host of potential suspects that are all blended into the story very nicely so much so that all the way through I was kept guessing who the real villain was.  I earmarked every male and sometimes some of the females as the potential stalker until the end reveal which I didn't see coming at all.

Even hiring a private investigator does not protect Alice in full.  The stalker is so determined to get his revenge that he will stop at nothing to get his message across.

I loved the depth of the bonds in the characters in this book and the scenes between Alice and her mother were very touching.

The flashback chapters gave us an insight into the hard childhood that the villain had to endure and a glimpse into why Wednesdays were is day of choice.

I have nothing but good things to say about book this and cannot wait to read more from this author.  I could say a lot more about this but would be difficult to do so without giving the ending away.  

The Lying Room by Nikki French

This book had me gripped from page one and guessing right until the very end.  I read this in two sittings and honestly didn't want it to end.

Synopsis

‘You know, it’s funny,’ Detective Inspector Hitching said. ‘Whoever I see, they keep saying, talk to Neve Connolly, she’ll know. She’s the one people talk to, she’s the one people confide in.’
A trusted colleague and friend. A mother. A wife. Neve Connolly is all these things.
She has also made mistakes; some small, some unconsciously done, some large, some deliberate. She is only human, after all.
But now one mistake is spiralling out of control and Neve is bringing those around her into immense danger.
She can’t tell the truth. So how far is she prepared  to go to protect those she loves?
And who does she really know? And who can she trust?
A liar. A cheat. A threat. Neve Connolly is all these things.
Could she be a murderer?

Author: Nikki French
Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK
Publication Date: 3rd October 2019

My Review

This book had me gripped from page one and guessing right until the very end.  I read this in two sittings and honestly didn't want it to end.

Neve is a people person, she is constantly surrounded by an army of friends and whenever someone has a problem she is their go to person.  Her home life is chaotic, she's juggling raising 3 children, a depressive husband and a teenager that is due to go to university but has been a very troublesome teenager.  There really is no wonder that Neve fell into an illicit affair with her new boss,Saul.

When Saul, is found brutally murdered in his flat Never goes into overdrive. She has to protect her family from the secret life that she has been living but it's far harder than she ever imagined.  She is also not the only person that has been keeping secrets and the book just keeps revealing more and more from not one but all of the characters.

I really loved the complex character of Neve.  She just came alive on the page.  You could literally feel her strength but at times you got to see her almost crumble.  One scene that really stood out for me was when she went out to spend time with Whiskey, the little family pet guinea pig.  It was very touching and such a normal thing to do.  It was nice to have a book that didn't have the expected cat or dog as the family pet and Yes, I am a guinea pig lover so that was a big plus from me.

As the book twists and turns and we get to better know Neve, and her friends it's not long before Neve is secretly looking at each of them as the potential murderer.

This book was very fast paced just how I like my books to be.  My only little niggle was the murder scene. It was a little far fetched.  However, having never been in that position myself who knows what would be possible to cover up a crime.

I could write about this chilling book for a long time however that would mean revealing too much of the storyline and I really don't want to spoil this for anyone wanting to read this so all I can say is just read it.  If your a lover of Crime fiction this in my opinion is a winner.

When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neal

Synopsis

Her sister has been dead for fifteen years when she sees her on the TV news…

Josie Bianci was killed years ago on a train during a terrorist attack. Gone forever. It’s what her sister, Kit, an ER doctor in Santa Cruz, has always believed. Yet all it takes is a few heart-wrenching seconds to upend Kit’s world. Live coverage of a club fire in Auckland has captured the image of a woman stumbling through the smoke and debris. Her resemblance to Josie is unbelievable. And unmistakable. With it comes a flood of emotions—grief, loss, and anger—that Kit finally has a chance to put to rest: by finding the sister who’s been living a lie.

After arriving in New Zealand, Kit begins her journey with the memories of the past: of days spent on the beach with Josie. Of a lost teenage boy who’d become part of their family. And of a trauma that has haunted Kit and Josie their entire lives.

Now, if two sisters are to reunite, it can only be by unearthing long-buried secrets and facing a devastating truth that has kept them apart far too long. To regain their relationship, they may have to lose everything.

Author: Barbara O'Neal

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: 16th July 2019

I purchased a copy of this book to read and review.

My Review

This book was a game of two halves for me.  So, firstly the title put me off.  At first glance I assumed it would be more of a fantasy book, which I am not so big a fan of but when I really looked at the cover and took the time to read the book description I immediately knew this would be a book I would enjoy.

The book was for me a little slow places but I did persevere and I am so glad I did.  The book drew me in and the characters got under my skin and came to life. As I approached the middle of the book I struggled to put it down as the threads started to come together and the tragic pasts were revealed.

The two sisters are the total opposites.  Firstly, there is a Kit, she's worked hard to be a doctor and now works in the ER department.  He job and surfing is her life along with her cat, Hobo.  She's lives near to her mother and near to the sea.  Her sister Josie was wild and reckless falling in with the wrong crowd as a teenager she ran off to Europe where she was caught up in a terrorist attach and presumed dead.  When Kit spots a woman who looks the spitting image of Josie she sets off to New Zealand to find out the truth.

Mari, previously known as Josie, is not all she seems.  She is living the perfect life under the guise of a terrible lie.  The one thing she doesn't want to happen is for her sister Kit to appear out of the blue and destroy her web of lies but the things soon spiral out of her control.

This book seamlessly flicks between the past and the present.  Both the sisters did not have the prefect upbringing and when a lone boy named Drew enters the family they both fall in love with him but Drew is damaged beyond repair and they are saving him and much as he is saving them.  

I enjoyed getting to know the complex character of Drew.  His story was never fully revealed but the author cleverly drip fed enough information about him to make him intriguing and mysterious.  I still don't know if I loved him or hated him.

I loved the way that this book gently dug into each characters hopes and fears and portrayed them as the damaged individuals that they are.  The scars that they'd all accumulated along the path of life would probably never truly fully heal but they were starting to try and move on.  

Both sisters had one thing in common and that was their love of surfing. A sport that they undertook that enabled them to forget about life for a short while and be at one with the sea.

This book although a slow burner for me soon had me hooked.  A story of love, loss, heartbreak and unbreakable bonds.  Everything I love in a book.

The Girls who went to War by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi.

Synopsis

The personal accounts of three young women who joined up in 1940.

In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone against Germany.  The British Army stood at just over one and a half million men, while the Germans had three times that many, and a population almost twice the size of ours from which to draw new waves of soldiers.  Clearly, in the fight against Hitler, manpower alone wasn't going to be enough.

Eighteen-year-old Jessie Ward defied her mother to join the ATS, Margery Poss signed up for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and nanny Kathleen Skin the WRNS.  They left quiet homes for the rigours of training, the camaraderie of the young women who worked together to closely and to face a war that would change their lives for ever.

Overall, more than half a million women served in the armed foces during the Second World War.  This book tells the story of just three of them - one from the Army, one from the Navy and one from the Air Force.  But in their stories are reflected the lives of hundreds of thousands of others like them - ordinary girls who went to war, wearing their uniforms with pride.

Authors: Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi

Publication Date: 7th May 2015

Publisher: Harper Element

My Review

A recent trip to the Imperial War Museum in London led me to bump into these authors signing copies of this book.  Of course I had to snap one up and I am so glad that I did.   I do have a love for any world war 1 and 2 related so this was right up my street.

This is based on the real life stories of three young girls that served in the second world war.   First we meet Jessie. she signs up for the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) next is Margery who signs up for the WAAF (Woman's Auxiliary Air Force) and finally Kathleen who desperately wanted to join the WRNS (Women's Royal Navy Service) but recruitment was tough and after a first rejection she had to first put in service as a land army girl, followed by a stint working on the ambulances before becoming an auxiliary nurse.  Eventually on her second application she was accepted into the prestigious WRNS.

This book does not fictionalise the war, it simply tells the stories of each of these remarkable women.  From their loves and heartbreaks to the horror of serving in the war until the day the war is declared over and the girls have to return to civilian life.

Unexpectedly, Jessie spent a big portion of the War in Humberside working the guns and trying to protect the City of Hull.  Having being born and still live in Hull myself that really struck a chord with me.  Hull was badly damaged during the war time air attacks and to think that someone like Jessie and many more like her were doing their best to try and protect it was is totally awe-inspiring.

I loved this book from page one and really felt that I was getting to know these inspirational ladies.  I cried with them, I felt their pain and I laughed with them.

If you are a lover of good inspirational war stories that this is the book for you.

The Existence of Amy by Lana Grace Riva

Synopsis

Amy has a normal life. That is, if you were to go by a definition of 'no immediate obvious indicators of peculiarity', and you didn't know her very well. She has good friends, a good job, a nice enough home. This normality, however, is precariously plastered on top of a different life. A life that is Amy's real life. The only one her brain will let her lead.

My Review

I was thrilled when this author contacted me to see if I would be interested in a copy of her book to review.  Of course, I accepted and then the fear set in.  What if I didn't like the book and I had to leave a review that was a bit sugar coated.  I've always prided myself in being totally honest when providing my feedback.  Thankfully, I can honestly say I truly enjoyed this book.


It was written in the first person, which is not a style I have read a lot of, but for this story it worked perfectly and drew me into Amy's world.  This felt very much like reading a very personal diary which although you feel you shouldn't be reading has a naughtiness that keeps you hooked.

Amy suffers from OCD and Depression and her symptoms are so bad at times that she is restricted from living her life.  She feels that she is simply watching life pass her by without being involved.  She has some big obstacles to face when her job sends her to the other side of the world.  A long haul flight is not something that her fears allow her to face easily,  In fact, her fears seriously restrict even the most basic of daily routines.

Amy sinks to her lowest point when her friend announces that him and his wife are moving to Singapore.  Amy feels alone and encases herself in her flat blocking out the world for weeks on end but what Amy is unaware of is that she doesn't have just one friend,  She has a whole army of people there to support and help her.

I am thankful that I have never suffered with any kind of mental health issues but this book allowed me to see inside the mind of someone who does and I certainly feel it has given me a better understanding of how people that suffer with these illnesses must feel.

I would highly recommend this book.  My only problem with it was that it had to end.  I would love to know how Amy's story continues.

Their Last Breath by Sibel Hodge

Synopsis

Detective Carter knows all about torture – but he’s never known a case as dark as this one.

The Six…

An abandoned building goes up in flames. Six women are chained inside and left to die – the truth is left to burn with them. Only one piece of evidence remains, but will it be enough to find their killer?

The Detective…

Retired detective Warren Carter has been suffocated by grief for his wife and is looking for a new start. But when he gets a call that cuts to the heart of the force, investigating a corrupt police officer, he has to accept. This time, though, he’s going to have to face his demons and work out who to trust when the truth is guarded by his own colleagues.

The Bad Cop…

It was supposed to be the perfect crime: they knew the system well enough to beat it and get away with murder. But they didn’t know Detective Carter, and how far a man will go when he has nothing left to lose…

Author: Sibel Hodge

Publication Date: 24 September 2019

Publisher: Amazon Publishing Ltd

My Review

Having read all of Sibel's previous books I was super excited to be approved for an advance copy of this book.  I hoped I was in for a treat and I was right.  This had everything that I expected from the book and much more. It was fast paced and gripping from the first word until the last.

It was nice to see the return of the characters, Detective Warren Carter and Detective Becky Harris, who had played their parts in previous books but you don't have to read these to enjoy this book to the full.

Warren Carter is retired but when we receives a call from the Professional Standards Anti Corruption Unit he is drawn back to the force.  Six women have been found in a burned building and there is all the evidence to support that this is a human trafficking issue.

Becky Harris is assigned to investigate a double murder.  Two bodies have been found bound and stabbed to death and words scrawled across the wall.  The circumstances are similar to a previous case and it's looking likely that there is a serial killer in town.

Harris is warned by her superior that she needs to tow the line and that her gut instinct needs to be reined in and she has to follow orders but when she contacts Carter and the cases start to show an underlying thread, Harris against all orders, follows her heart to reveal the truth. Carter and Harris are soon teamed up and the race is on to bring justice for the 6 dead women.

This is not just a police procedural story it is so much more.  intertwined is the heartbreaking story of  one of the refugee's. She so desperately wants to escape the prison that she feels she is in close to Syria and start a better life for herself.  She has lost everything and everyone in the world and feels that with a little help and a little hope that she can finally be free.  Little does she know of the danger that she is placing herself in.

The book flips seamlessly from case to case and ultimately is joined together perfectly to bring about the fabulous conclusion.  Those that we trust are not always the people that they appear to be.

This books covers the theme of trafficking which Sibel has previously published before but the clever way that she has of writing makes each novel fresh and standalone from her previous work. This books kept me reading late into the night and I am so please to rate this a 5 star read.   I loved, loved, loved this book.

Lies, Lies, Lies by Adele Parks

Synopsis

Daisy and Simon's marriage is great, isn't it?

After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place.  A happy little family of three.

And so what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes - Daisy's used to it.  She knows he's letting off steam.  Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control.  and that happy little family of three will never be the same again.

Author: Adele Parks
Publication Date: 19th September 2019


My Review


Daisy and Simon appear to have the prefect life with the perfect little girl.  Simon wants to add to their brood but Daisy is not so sure.  Getting pregnant the first time around was hard enough and she is not sure that she can go through that again.  Surely, they should be happy with what they have?

One night everything falls apart. A terrible accident destroys their world.  But everything is not as clear cut as we are lead to believe.

I loved this book and don't want to give away any spoilers but the web of lies that their life is build on begins to unravel and long held secrets are revealed.

I loved and hated all of the characters in this book.  One minute I would be sympathising with them and the next I would be almost shouting at them, "well what did you expect?"

I would highly recommend this book just make sure you have a good chunk of time to sit down and enjoy it as guaranteed you won't want to put it down.

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

Synopsis

It starts as a game at a book group one night. Never Have I Ever... done something I shouldn't.

But Amy Whey has done something she shouldn't. And Roux, the glamorous newcomer to Amy's suburban neighbourhood, knows exactly what that is.

Roux promises she will go away. She will take herself and her son, who is already growing dangerously close to Amy's teenage stepdaughter, and she will go. If Amy plays by her rules.

But Amy isn't prepared to lose everything she's built. She's going to fight back, and in this escalating game of cat and mouse, there can be only one winner.

Author: Joshilyn Jackson

Publication Date: 8 August 2019

Publisher:  Bloomsbury Publsihing Plc (UK & ANZ)

                 Raven Books

My Review

I will be honest and say that I read chapter one and I did wonder if this book was for me.  It all seemed a little fluffy and a little bit missing something.  I didn't grip me.  I considered not carrying one however I rarely not finish a book and therefore cracked on with chapter two.  I am so glad I did as I was plunged into the darkening web of the story and was hooked.

The game never have I ever, which I have to say, my children love to play leads to a lot of secrets being unearthed and the twists just start coming thick and fast.

When a stranger gate crashes what should be a quiet book club meeting Amy is instantly on edge.  As the alcohol begins to flow the atmosphere begins to change.

I don't want to give away the plot on this one but deep buried secrets are about to be revealed.

Reading this book was almost like watching a high action movie and once it had me hooked I was lost in it.

Despite the slow start once the action started it did so in abundance and I was left flipping the pages as quickly as I could.

Home Truths by Susan Lewis

Synopsis

How far would you go to keep your family safe?

Angie Watt's used to have everything. A new home. A beloved husband. Three adorable children.

But Angie's happy life is shattered when her son Liam falls in with the wrong crowd. And after son's bad choices lead to the murder of her husband, it's up to Angie to hold what's left of her family together. 

Her son is missing. Her daughter is looking for help in dangerous places. And Angie is fighting just to keep a roof over their heads. 

But Angie is a mother. And a mother does anything to protect her children - even when the world is falling apart...

If home is where the heart is, what happens when it breaks?

Author: Susan Lewis
Publication Date: 22 August 2019
Publisher: Harper Collins

My Review

I have read a lot of Susan's previous books and knew I was in for a treat.  As with some books from other authors I have previously enjoyed, I have sometimes been left a little disappointed, but thankfully I have never been let down by this author. I saved this as a holiday read and loved, loved, loved it.

The book really struck a chord as being a single parent myself living on the edge of a council estate I know how easy it can be to make ends meet.  I thank god that my situation is no where near as bad as the character, Angie.

The thing I love about Susan's writing is that the characters are true to life.  I could almost imagine myself chatting to Angie at the school gates.  These are characters that are put into real life situations and manage to find the light at the end of the tunnel. The book covers a lot of hard hitting issue including gangs, drugs and on line grooming.  Sadly all issues that are now to much apart of life.

We start the story with Steve finding his five year old son playing with a syringe he's found in the living room.  He storms off onto the estate in the hunt for his older son Liam. A short time later his battered body is found, leaving Angie a widow and having to rely on benefits. It's not long before her debts are spiralling out of control. Not only has she lost her husband Steve, but her eldest son, Liam has gone on the run.  In a fit of rage she told him she was dead to him.

Angie's job at Hill House is to support vulnerable people, people who have mental health issues, people who have found them selves living on the streets.  Everybody loves her.  She's always there to help whenever she can but soon Angie will need more help then she ever imagined. She is still grieving for her husband and trying to find Liam but Angie's life is spiralling out of control and she is losing the house from over her head.

Angie's daughter, thirteen year old Grace is desperate to help her mum financially so when she advertises on the Internet for part time work she is unaware of the danger that she's placing herself in. Liam had been sucked into a gang on the estate. Could Grace be about to find herself going down a slippery slope?

Angie finds herself at her lowest when the kids go to live with her sister and she has to sleep in her van.  Everything she has worked and lived for has gone. She has no where left to turn.  Then a chance meeting with Steve's old friend starts to turn her life around.

I couldn't read this book quickly enough and flew through the pages.  It was hard hitting and so close to reality. Just the type of story that I love to read with lots of flawed characters.  I hear stories similar to these at the school gates and always pray for the happy after.

Although these are fictional characters it's a sad fact that the situation they find themselves in is so true to life. More and more I am hearing about people that are unable to feed their family through no fault of their own.  This book revealed to me that although I sometimes find money a stretch some months, I thank god that I am not in the situation of Angie and the situation that so many other people find them selves in. I am one of the lucky ones.

The story line was a little predictable but that is the one thing that I love about this author.  Life is also predictable. All I can say is I loved it from page one until the very end.

The food of Love by Amanda Prowse

Synopsis

A loving mother.  A perfect family.  A shock wave that could shatter everything.

Freya Braithwaite knows she is lucky.  Nineteen years of marriage to a man who still warms her soul and two beautiful teenage daughters to show for it: confident Charlotte and thoughtful Lexi.  Her home is filled with love and laughter.

But when Lexi's struggles with weight take control of her life, everything Freya once took for granted falls apart, leaving the whole family with a sense of helplessness that can only be confronted with understanding, unity and , above all, love.

In this compelling and heart-wrenching work by best selling author Amanda Prowse, one ordinary family tackles unexpected difficulties and discovers that love can find it's way through life's darkest moments.

Author: Amanda Prowse

Publication Date: 1st December 2016

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

I bought me own copy of he book to read and review

My Review

I wanted to read a book that I knew I would pick up and love from page one.  I have read a number of Amanda's previous and current books and this one has been sitting in my to be read pile for quite some time so I knew that this would be a good read.

As predicted this gripped me page one and I was instantly drawn into Freya's world and family.  Their busy chaotic family home is filled with love, laughter and warmth.  Freya spends her days writing about food and cooking up fabulous dishes for her family and her husband Lockie is a photographer but before long the cracks start to appear as Freya is called into the school. A teacher is concerned about her daughter Lexi.  Lexi had fainted at school and with the lack of food in her body and the extra exercise she was undertaking she was becoming worryingly thin but hiding this under piles of baggy clothes.

As the extent of the situation is revealed things start to spiral out of control.  Freya blames herself for not noticing the signs but is determined that she can fix things.  She is Lexi's mother and mothers can always fix things but it soon becomes clear this situation is bigger then she can handle.

Lexi becomes withdrawn and more and more secretive and conniving in finding ways to starve and purge herself.  so much so that even with Freya's attempts to help the pounds increase this is creating the opposite in Lexi and the weight is still dropping to a dangerous level.

When Lexi becomes seriously ill she has to be admitted to feeding clinic where a feeding tube has to be inserted.  After six weeks she is released home but she has yet to hit rock bottom.  Only on the verge of death does a serious decision have to be made for Lexi.

This story was heart breaking to read but at the same time I struggled to put the book down. Amanda does not create characters she creates people and offers us readers their struggles which are all to vivid.  As much as my heart went out to Lexi who was starving herself my heart reached out further to Freya who was living a mother's worst nightmare.  

A mother's love is like no other and as a mother you believe that you will always keep your children safe but what if you can't?  Some things are too big for us mother's to resolve on our own much as we want to.  The decision to bring in the outside help is one of he hardest to make especially when everything around you is falling apart.

I could write about this fabulous book all day but all I can say is just read it. 

The Dream House by Jess Ryder

Synopsis

When I first set eyes of Westhill House with it's perfect-taking views of the sea I knew it was the perfect place for a fresh start.

The place may be falling apart, but it can be fixed with some tender loving care.  And as Jack and I work to repair this beautiful building, maybe we can repair our relationship too.  Maybe we can make Westhill House a refuge from all the tragedies that came before.

Lori has come to Westhill House for shelter too.  She says it used to be a place where women went for safety. How can I turn her away, when violence waits for her outside these high walls?

But the longer Lori stays, the more time Jack spends away.  And the more time she helps me restore the house, the more secrets start to be revealed.

Like the children's drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom.

The hidden pages underneath the floor boards in the turret room.

But why does Lori know so much about Westhill House, if she's never been here before?

What does she really need protection from?

And now I've invited her into my dream house, is there any escape for either of us?

Author: Jess Ryder
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 21st June 2019

I purchased a cope of this book to read and review.

My Review

This book deals with the tough subject of domestic violence but it was dealt with in a very understanding and clear manner.  There were violent aspects of the book but these needed to be there for the sake of the story but the violence was not just put there to add drama to the story line.

The first chapter of the book really gripped me and I needed to find out who the solitary woman was wandering around the secluded garden in the middle of the night alone on bonfire night.

We then meet Stella. Her and her boyfriend Jack have recently bought the dilapidated Westhill House with the view of renovating it into her Dream House but with only a solitary builder undertaking her huge project things are not going according to plan. I really loved the beautiful descriptions of this old and worn out house and I could picture exactly what the character was seeing and had fallen in love with. Although this wouldn't be my dream house I could easily see why Stella had fallen in love with the place and especially the views.

To be honest I then got a little lost as we met Kay.  It took me a while to clearly understand that Kay escaped to the house back in the 70's when the house was a refuge for women.  The chapter headings didn't make this clear and it took a few more chapters to fully see that this story was being told from two time lines.  Kay in the 70's and Stella in the present day.  It would have been helpful if the chapters had had a date rather then just staring Then and Now.

When Lori knocks on the door in the middle of the night, battered and bleeding, Stella tries to explain that the house in no longer a refuge but hasn't the heart to turn away someone that is in need so invites her to stay for the night.  One night leads to two, which leads to weeks.

There is so much going on in this book that once I'd settled into the two time frames I flew through the chapters intrigued as to what would happen next and became totally immersed in the characters lives.

Each of the characters are fighting their own demons and this is a brilliant story of heart break, friendship and broken families.  I really enjoyed this book and will be looking to read more from this author.

The flower girls by Alice Clark-Platts

Synopsis

Three Children went out to play. Only two came back.

The flower girls.  Laurel and Primrose.

One convicted of murder, the other given a new identity.

Now, nineteen years later, another child has gone missing.

And the flower girls are about to hit all over again.

Author: Alice Clark-Platts
Publisher: Raven Books
Publication Date: 24th January 2019

I bought my own copy of this book to read and review.

My Review

This was a dark and disturbing read which kept me intrigued from page one until the very end.

Laurel aged just 10 was convicted of the brutal killing of a toddler. Her sister Primrose aged just 6 was allowed to walk away and start a new life.  As Laurel is abandoned by her parents and swept into the prison system, she makes appeals to review her sentence but no to avail.  

Her sister Primrose changes her name and begins living her life as Hazel.  She is a misfit in society and prefers to keep herself away from other people until she meets Jonny.  He takes her under his wing and before long and despite knowing her history he asks her to marry him.

On a weekend break a child goes missing and the eyes of blame are thrown onto Hazel. This sets off a roller-coaster and Hazel is urged to tell her side of the story of what happened on that fateful day. As memories start to come back to Hazel all is not quite as it seems.

This book made me think an awful lot about the way that we see people.  Mud can stick and if we are told a version of events enough times it must be true, mustn't it?  The waters are soon muddied in this story and it's difficult to know who to believe.  

This was a very cleverly told story as we flitted back and forth from the day of the Murder, to the current missing child, back to Laurels version of events and then to Hazels before the story is sort of tied up together at the end.  I am still non the wiser as to who actually committed the murder but this is the perfect end to the story.

I really enjoyed this book even though the ending left me with lots of unanswered questions about what the future has in store for all of the characters.  With some books I do find this quite irksome but with this one it was quite fulfilling to not really have all the answers and still not know the complete truth about the sisters.

Swallowtail Summer by Erica James

Synopsis

They thought they were friends for life - until one summer, everything changed . . . 

Linston End on the Norfolk Broads has been the holiday home to three families for many years. The memories of their time there are ingrained in their hearts: picnics on the river, gin and tonics in the pavilion at dusk, hours spent seeking out the local swallowtail butterflies. Everyone together.

But widower Alastair has been faced with a few of life's surprises recently. Now, he is about to shock his circle of friends with the decisions he has made - and the changes it will mean for them all. For some, it feels like the end. For others, it might just be the beginning . . .

My Review

I am a big fan of this author so I jumped at the chance of an ARC of this book.

It wasn't what I was fully expected but from page one this book got under my skin. Once I'd started reading I was hooked.  The main character Alistair is in his 60's and I did wonder if maybe this book wouldn't be for me but it most certainly was.

I loved the way that the book portrayed the emotions from all angles. This was full of the twists and turns of family, love and friendship. We had Alistair who had recently lost his wife and left his life behind to go on a new adventure.  Little did his friends know that he would return with a new lady in his life, who of course all his friends hate at first sight. We flip to the younger generation of the circle who in their 30's are all still single but could love be on the cards?

This is a truly unique group of friends, Alistair and late wife Orla, Sorrel and Simon with their grown up children Rachel and Callum and Danny and Frankie with their daughter Jenna.  The group have always, apart from one, spent their summers at Linston End but now with the house going up for sale the whole dynamic of the group is about to change.

The last get together is one that will see secrets being told and hearts being broken.

I am not going to give away any spoilers of this story but Alistair, Danny and Simon have been friends since school and their love lives are more linked then they'd ever imagined when the truth is out this leads to tragic consequences.  With the added mix of Valentina and her two step children this leads to a explosive combination of emotions and the fireworks are set to go off.

Set on the idyllic Norfolk Broads this book hooked me in and left me wanting more.  I love each character and their in depth personality traits that just tied the whole book together.  This was a really heartwarming and enjoyable read.

The Unlucky Ones by Kerry Wilkinson

Synopsis

A man who survived being drowned ends up in Manchester’s canal. Someone who was hit by a car is shoved in front of DC Archie Davey’s patrol vehicle.

Killers generally aren’t a happy bunch but this particular one seems to have a problem with second chances.

Luckily for DI Jessica Daniel, things are looking up. She’s been assigned to work on the most crime-free estate in the city and she’s back living with her best friend.

Things could not be hunky-dorier.

That is unless there’s a sinister reason why the estate is so free of trouble...

My Review

I have read some of the previous books in the Jessica Daniels series and wow book 14 is no disappointment.  It is probably not my favourite to date but it was another fast paced rip roaring read.  I devoured the book in two days and didn't want it to end. I really like this writers style it is so easy to follow and really draws you into the story.

The book is another fast paced thriller of a read.  We meet Jessica as she is leaving the Lees Estate.  An estate in Manchester that has worryingly low crime statistics.  Not even the hint of a stolen push bike has been reported.  This should be good news for the police but the surrounding estates have seen an increase in reported crime.

Bang, we are straight into the action when leaving the estate, DC Archie Davey, her colleague fails to spot a pedestrian and he is flipped over the car and killed.  This is just the start of a number of deaths in the book.  Each victim has already been through a similar accident and survived first time around but the outcome of the second repeat incident always results in death.

The book flips seamlessly from the investigation as to why it is so quiet on the estate to the hunting down of the killer of numerous innocent people.

As always this is not just a police procedural as we slip into Jessica's home life.  The relationship between Jessica and her friend Caroline will change forever when Jessica is faced with an unexpected situation.  I loved this section of the story but don't want to give too much away.

I loved the mix of characters in the book from the old gent Roly, to the mysterious Jefferson Cass to the eccentric Francine.  They really brought the book to life and living on an estate myself I could easily relate these to the people I see on a daily basis.

Although this book is part of a series you can easily read as a standalone.  I can't wait for the next instalment and would definitely recommend if you are a fan of crime fiction and thrillers.

The unlucky ones

The Divorce by Victoria Jenkins

Synopsis

They seemed like any other couple,

Josh and Lydia Green. A doctor, and a stay-at-home mother.  They met at a party, which led to a dinner, which led to a comfortable and happy life together.  They married young, and had children earlier than planned.

Their marriage seemed like any other marriage.

They have their moments, of course - who doesn't? with Josh working longer hours in the hospital, and Lydia feeling increasingly isolated at home, the strain is starting to show. They don't talk as much as they used to.

But they have a secret like no other.

Not every wife is as scared as Lydia.
Not every husband is hiding as much as Josh.
Not everything you think about them is true.

And this book contains a twist like no other.

Author: Victoria Jenkins
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication date: 4th July 2019

My Review


I was really looking forward to reading this book but I was left feeling a little flat and deflated.  The story line was good but something was missing and I think that was the constant setting of the therapist's room. The characters just didn't come alive enough for me.

We meet Karen, a marriage counsellor,  who has faced her own demons in her life and with the loss of her beloved husband she is struggling just to get through the days.  From there we are introduced to Lydia and Josh in their first  counselling session.

Life has not been kind to Karen and we get glimpses into her background as the book progresses. Lydia is portrayed as the beat down house wife whilst Josh is the domineering hard working doctor but they are not as they seem and it's not long before things bubble to the top.

I do think this book would have possibly been a bit more exciting if we'd seen the characters outside of the consultation room.  I would have liked to have got to know them in the outside world.

This was a good story where all is not as it appears but unfortunately I did predict the twist and the ending was a little unsatisfactory.

I really hate leaving bad reviews and for that I apologise but I have to give my honest opinion on a book and for me this book was a not good as I hoped.

The things I know by Amanda Prowse

Synopsis

Thomasina 'Hitch' Waycott loves living and working on the remote family farm and B&B,  But she also wants more.  To see the world.  To own her own home,  To fall madly in love.

But those are fairy tales, and if her life is a fairy tale, then she's the ugly duckling.  Her deformed lip, her crooked limbs and her weak heart have kept her from taking chances.  But that's about to change.

When Grayson Potts comes to stay, he's unlike anyone Thomasina has ever met.  He's aloof, eccentric and exceptionally kind.  He's also totally unconcerned with the physical flaws that have always defined Thomasina.

The two form a bond that neither has had before.  It's possible that it could be something more, but Thomasina also wonders if it's too good to be true.  By putting her heart on the line, Thomasina may open herself to heartbreak.  But she may also open herself to much more.

Author: Amanda Prowse
Publisher: Amazon Publishing Uk / Lake Union Publishing
Publication date: 11th June 2019

My Review

I have loved Amanda Prowse from her very first book Poppy day.  She never fails to disappoint and this latest book is another winner.

I do have to admit that I did find the beginning of this book a little slow and I did wonder if maybe I wasn't going to enjoy this book quite as much as I'd enjoyed others however once I got through the first few chapters it started to get under my skin and the pages were flying as I became immersed in Hitch's (Thomasina's) world.

This book covered so much from disfigurement to bullying to family's to divorce, forgiveness  and love.  It's so hard to know where to start with my review.

Thomasina, (I will refer to her by her real name as she doesn't want to be known by the name of Hitch) was born disfigured with a cleft pallet, a wonky foot and a heart condition, as if that wasn't enough she had a hand that didn't grip properly.  I loved this character not for her disfigurements but for the person inside.  She's dealt with bullying and that included the worst kind of bullying  when it happened over a period of years at home and yes, that's got to her at times but she's a strong, resilient person that sets out to get what she wants.

When Thomasina meets Grayson there is an instant connection.  We find out that he is not physically disfigured but he appears to have some kind of autism but the pair just connect and they are made for each other.

The path to love is far from smooth.  Grayson has his demanding mother to consider,  She just doesn't like Thomasina she dislikes the world and everyone in it.  It takes courage for Grayson to step away and form a new life.

What I loved about this book was the minor characters also had a big part to play.  Thomasina's mum want straight to my heart with her saying of, "Everything is going to be OK, I promise." This brought to me memories of my own mum who would say a similar thing to me.  And I couldn't help but fall in love with the chickens.  My heart broke for poor old Daphne.

Amanda portrays not just characters but people.  The disabilities of the characters is not the focus of the story.  The focus is the personalities behind the disabilities. The life struggles that each and everyone of us face.  The struggle to fit in, in this world and the strength we need to find to keep on battling through.

This book made my laugh in places and almost cry in others. I could write about it all night but all I can say is this is a must read for any fan of true heartwarming fiction.

Finding Lucy by Diana Finley

Synopsis

Every family has its secrets.
None more than this one.

Alison's life has been a lonely one, but now it's time to change that. With no children in her future there is only one answer - she'll take one.

She'dd rescue a girl who needs a better home.  A better mother.  A better life.

It will be the start of a perfect family, and no one will question who Lucy really is. Especially not Lucy herself.

Author: Diana Finley
Publisher: HQ
Publication date: 2018

My Review

I was really looking forward to reading this book however I just failed to connect with it.  The story line was good but I didn't have any feelings for any of the characters.  They all left me feeling a little cold and I struggled in parts to keep reading as the story instead of moving forward appeared to just keep repeating information that I was already aware of.

Alison is obviously a very troubled woman but  she is also very clever.  She manages to execute the perfect abduction and this goes undetected for twenty years.  She clearly has mental health issues but is this enough to forgive her for the crime that she committed.  I would have liked to have felt more emotionally involved with her but she was so cold and bland as a character.  This was maybe the way that the author wanted to portray her due to the mental health issues but reading it just felt like little wooden.  Even when she is faced with terminal illness I still failed to be moved by her.

With the character of Stacey (or Lucy as she became known) I loved the opening sections of the book.  Her confusion and the true child like actions and speech were clearly shown and I could feel the little girls distress at having been removed from everything and everyone she has ever know.  However, as Lucy grew into an adult and the confusion about her life increases things she is told don't ring true, I really wondered if any teenager would deal with the revelations quite so calmly,

This was an OK read but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

The Boy in the Photo by Nicole Trope

Synopsis

She becomes aware of the silence at the other end of the line.  A prickling sensation crawls up her arms.  Her heart speeds up.  "Found who?" she asks, slowly, carefully, deliberately.  "They found Daniel."

Six years ago

Meghan waits at the school gates for her six-year-old-son, Daniel.  As the playground empties, panic bubbles inside her.  Daniel is nowhere to be found.  Her darling son is missing.

Six years later

After years of sleepless nights and endless days of missing her son, Meghan finally gets the call she has been dreaming about.  Daniel has walked into a police station in a remote town just a few miles away.

Meghan is overjoyed - her son is finally coming home.  She has kept Daniel's room, with his cookie monster poster on the wall and a stack of lego under the bed, in perfect shape to welcome him back.  But when he returns, there is something different about Daniel...

According to the police, Daniel was kidnapped by his father.  After his dad died in a fire, Daniel was finally able to escape.  Desperate to find out the truth, Meghan tried to talk to her little boy - but he barely answers hers questions.  Longing to help him heal, Meghan tries everything - his favourite chocolate milkshake, a reunion with his best friend, a present for every birthday missed - but still, Daniel is distant.

And as they struggle to connect, Meghan begins to suspect that there is more to the story.  Soon, she fears that her son is hiding a secret. A secret that could destroy her family.

Author: Nicole Trope
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 28 June 2019

My Review

This was an incredible, sometimes distressing, emotional roller-coaster of a book and it's going on my list of favourite reads of the year.  I had tears streaming down my cheeks as I flipped the book closed and it's not often a book effects me in that way.

We start the story as Meghan goes to collect her 6 year old son, Daniel from school, only to learn that his father has already collected him.  A father that she has recently divorced.  He's a violent bully of a man and will stop at nothing to exact his revenge for the hurt she has caused him. Daniel has disappeared.  Personally, this is every woman's worst nightmare.

Meghan is torn apart and even a desperate search for her son reveals nothing.  She will never give in but eventually she has to start to move on with her life however Daniel is never forgotten and even when Meghan re-marries and they move to a new family home, Daniel's room is still there, ready and waiting for his return.

As the years go on Meghan has to accept that she may never see her son again and this line really effected me: She hopes that her son is no longer missing her even though she misses him every single day. 

One day, Daniel just walks into a police station and tells them who he is.  A tragic accident has left him with no one and finally he is re-united with this mother. The trauma for this family is not yet over and instead they have a whole new set of challenges to face.

This books flips from the the years of searching to the present day and seamlessly the story is told from both Meghan's side and her missing son's Daniels.  After being separated from his mother for half of his life they are finally reunited but Daniel is no longer the happy, cheeky six year old that she lost but a sullen twelve year old boy that is distant and broken.  He is angry.  Angry at her for giving him away,  Angry at her for not looking for him and angry at her for starting a new life without him.

One day at a time is the only way that Meghan can start to deal with Daniel.  There are moments where his disturbing behaviour leads her to almost believe that he isn't in fact her son.  She thought it would be easy but the truth is, it is much harder then she ever imagined. She has to learn to get to know the stranger that she has brought home and welcomed into her house.  Underneath that is the story that Daniel may not appear as he seems and he could be capable of inflicting harm on both Meghan and his new family.

I don't want to give the plot away but the twists at the end are brilliant.  They are so cleverly woven in so that I ,as the reader, didn't even noticing what was occurring before boom, I was blown away. I never once saw the ending coming.  It made me gasp at points as people that you believed were helping, turned out not to be all that they seemed.  There were points near the end that I physically put the book down as I was unable to process the information and I so desperately needed the happy ever after. Not just for Meghan but for Daniel to.

I really can't say enough great things about this book.  It is a must read and I have to confess that I have already ordered more of this authors previous work.