He wants your life ….

Matt Langley used to be somebody. Back in the late 90’s his star shone bright. Thanks to his debut novel, the shocking The Devil’s Debt, he was at the forefront of the Bright Young Things. He was on chat shows and culture shows. He was the man of the moment. And then it all stopped, because there was no second book.

Now, with his marriage to Naz on the rocks, they’re trying to start over. They’ve sold the house that The Devil’s Debt built and moved to a farmhouse deep in the wilds of Northumbria, where no one knows them, and for a while their new life is fragile but good. Furthermore, Matt’s leading a writing group at the library and is even thinking about writing again.

Marlin is part of that writing group. He’s a quiet young man who has survived things no kid should ever have to. On meeting Matt he shows him his battered copy of The Devil’s Debt. The book is filled with underlining’s and notes and, he soon discovers, messages from the young man’s dead mother.

That book serves as the basis for a bond between the two. Matt feels like they have a kinship and wants to help the young writer. So, when he and Naz find him sleeping rough they invite him into their house for a week or so, until Marlin is back on his feet. But Marlin is a malevolent cuckoo they’ve brought into their home. And that was their first big mistake…

My Thoughts:

This is a story about a writer who back in the 90’s debuted his first book and did really well but since then kind of fell of the bandwagon and he stopped writing. Now he has moved on with his life, he has sold his house and has moved to Northumbria with his wife and they are starting over again , he is even started to contemplate whether he should write again. But he joins a writing group and one person in particular sparks his interest, Marlin a young guy who holds everything on his shoulders, little does Matt know what he is in for letting this kid into his life, he had better watch out.. It was a slow burner of a read but when it did start getting better, it was intriguing and I wondered where the story was going to go. I found it quite disturbing in parts and feel like I have never read a book like this before.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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After 30 years of marriage, and a wonderful family Christmas, Louisa is stunned when husband Kip asks for a divorce on Boxing Day. He’d never seemed unhappy – and they’ve raised three children together.

For months, Kip has been secretly seeing a younger woman – and if that wasn’t bad enough – it’s the woman who broke their youngest son’s heart.

Now Kip is moving out and embarking on a new life with Zoe, and Louisa is left to pick up the pieces. Their beloved family home, Charity Cottage, is up for sale, and tensions are running high.

Yet, despite the betrayal and anger, when Louisa lays eyes on what might be a unique and welcoming new home, she feels a first glimmer of hope that life might be taking a turn for the better.

And while Louisa is making exciting plans, Kip finds himself facing challenges of his own and begins to learn that living the dream may not be as simple as he thought…

My Thoughts:

Louisa leads a good life with her three beautiful children and her husband, she is not expecting her husband to tell her he wants a divorce. Louisa is shocked, she had never seen this coming. But when he tells her he loves someone else she never expected who it is in a million years, neither does the rest of the family. Heartbroken and undecided what to do with her life, she does everything to give herself a life she wants. But as her husband has made his bed and is lying in it, he realises it is not all as it seems. An interesting take on this kind of situation that happens every day in real life, I felt sorry for Louisa and the kids but I felt anger towards her husband and also later on when he makes a sudden realisation. A great summer read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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You dote on your fluffy feline, but it may feel like the relationship is a little one-sided at times. Whether it’s the judgemental stares or the cold shoulders, sometimes your cat doesn’t seem to have the same enthusiasm for you as you do for them. If you’re wondering why they treat you this way, allow this book to explain; your cat thinks you’re a fool!

Filled with witty original illustrations, this book offers many reasons why your pampered puss thinks you’re ridiculous and why they’re in charge. From following you into the bathroom to knocking things off shelves, gain insight into the mind of your moggy and allow them to explain why they act the way they do.

Perfect for any cat lovers, or long-suffering owners, this book reveals the truth: your cat just thinks you are an idiot.

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Firstly I have a cat, secondly he looks very much like the cat on the front and thirdly I am pretty sure he thinks I am an idiot. Ha Ha. This was such a funny book and everything was true and relatable, I loved the illustrations they seemed to bring the words to life. It is one of those hilarious books that you need in your life, cat owners will totally understand and get everything. Also if you are looking into getting a cat, this is the book to warn you what you are in for.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Meet the inspirational animals who went from being rescued to becoming rescuer in these incredible true stories

You’ll read all about…
– Constantine and Crystal, the guinea pigs who gave a bullied girl with autism a reason to smile
– Alex, the tiger who inspired a homeless drug addict to get her life back on track
– Angel, the horse who helped her owner to lose weight and regain her confidence
– Daniel, the duck who was rescued from a food market and succeeded in soothing his owner’s PTSD

as well as many other animal heroes who came to their owner’s aid – whether it was helping them to recover from mental illness, relationship breakdown or bereavement.

These remarkable creatures all repaid the love and appreciation that their human companions displayed in caring for them. Let these uplifting stories warm your heart, and show you that adopted animals can heal our pain and transform our lives.

My Thoughts:

This was a lovely book to curl up with. I went through a range of emotions reading this book, but it was worth it. These are a collection of short stories about how pets have helped their owners in many ways than one. From helping a girl that was being bullied, to helping a drug addict sort out her life. It is absolutely amazing what these animals can do just to sit with you to calm you down, they are all incredible. It is one of those books that I read quickly but I am going to go back to again and again. I would highly recommend anyone that loves animals or is in need of a little help to show you what these incredible animals can do for you. A beautiful and heart warming read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Dive into these pages to meet some of the most incredible dogs and puppies who have touched the lives of their owners in unforgettable ways. From loyal service dogs who have helped their owners through some of life’s toughest challenges, to playful puppies who bring joy to every moment, the furry friends featured in this heart-warming collection of stories will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

Whether you’re a dog lover or simply need a dose of positivity, the stories inside are sure to raise your spirits. Filled with tales of courage, love and loyalty, this book is here to remind you of the unbreakable bond between dogs and humans. So settle in with your furry friend and get ready to be inspired by the stories of these amazing pups!

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t wait to start reading this book. I am a big animal lover so when I get an opportunity to read any books about animals I am there. This is a collection of short stories all about different dogs and what they have done in their lives, like for example they are a service dog. I cannot pick a story I loved the most as they are all so heart warming and uplifting to my soul. Full of cute dogs and puppies, it is incredible what man’s best friend can really do. I loved it. A great read for any dog or animal lover.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review

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THREE WOMEN. ONE BUILDING. 111 YEARS . . .

East London, 1909. When her family fall on hard times, Ellen finds work in a box factory and is drawn into a tight-knit circle of friendship, one that will transform her life and test her in unexpected ways.

In 1984, the factory is now derelict. Eighteen-year- old Frances moves in with a group of squatters and activists who have taken over the abandoned building. As she tries to build a new life, an unsettling relationship develops, forcing her to question who she is and where her loyalties lie.

In 2020, the squat is now a gentrified conversion in a fashionable corner of the city. Amanda feels trapped in her tiny flat, overwhelmed by the demands of new motherhood and unsure of what the future holds – until the possibility of an alternative life presents itself . . .

My Thoughts:

It is crazy how one building can shape three women’s futures. The story is set in three years and in all of the years I found it unbelievably interesting to read about. You can tell this story has ben researched well and in a lot of detail. I felt as though I learnt things I never would of even thought of let alone knew. It was an interesting insight into three generations of women but with a sensitive touch. I would like this book to be turned into a film, that would be really good.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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In August 1943, Sergeant Craddock leads his battle-weary platoon down Via Garibaldi in Catania, Sicily. Struck by the oppressive heat and the alien new surroundings, the men soon settle into this lull in their combat experience. The next few weeks take on a dreamlike quality as newfound relationships flourish and the war itself – let alone homelife in Britain – recedes into the distance. Against this backdrop, There’s No Home, the second book of Alexander Baron’s War Trilogy meditates upon friendship, loyalty and love.

Based on Baron’s own experiences with the Eighth Army in Italy, this new edition of a 1950 classic includes an introduction from the Imperial War Museum.

Here is an extract taken from this book:

THIS IS NOT a story of war but of one of those brief interludes in war when the almost-

forgotten rhythms of normal living are permitted to emerge again; and when it seeps

back into the consciousness of human beings – painfully, sometimes heartbreakingly –

that they are, after all, human.

Which war? It might have been any war; the war we knew, the war our fathers knew; or it

might be a glimpse, foreseen, of tomorrow’s war. It makes little di&erence.

But since most people like to know when a thing happened, and where, let it be recorded

that this story takes place on the island of Sicily, in the town of Catania, and that it

begins on the )fth day of August in the year 1943.

All the morning the British soldiers had been streaming into the town. They came

clattering in through the Garibaldi Gate, down the steep and narrow Via Garibaldi, always

in straggling single )le. Their boots and gaiters were white with dust. Their dark denim

trousers were )lthy, shapeless and torn. Their khaki drill jackets showed black patches of

sweat and their faces, scarlet or glistening brown with the heat, were ugly with stubble

and sores. They were bowed and weary beneath their packs and weapons. The rays of

the sun fell upon them like hammer blows from above and bounced back at them from

walls and pavements in dry gusts of furnace- like heat. The saving shadow had been

banished; every corner of creation was 2ooded with a blinding white glare that hurt their

eyes and made their heads ache; so that it was only occasionally, and with little interest,

that men glanced about them, at the town which they had fought so long and su&ered so

bitterly to capture. The obsession of battle – that strange sense of trance in which all the

super2uous faculties and emotions are anaesthetised – was still upon them. At the

moment, only their soldier’s senses functioned, keeping their tortured bodies in motion,

guiding them over the hillocks of rubble which spilled across the streets, searching the

ground before their feet for mines, watching roofs and windows for ambush, recording

through their ears the sharp, distant sounds of battle from the foothills north of the town

which told them that the German rearguards were still in action, falling reluctantly back

along the coast towards Messina.

At the foot of the Via Garibaldi they struck left along what appeared to be the town’s

main thoroughfare, a broad street in which )ne buildings, shops and tree-lined squares

alternated with enormous mounds of ruin. High above the street hung the sun, a splash

of unbearable incandescence that )lled half the sky. At the street’s end, appearing

deceptively near, rose the blue immensity of Etna, mocking them with its cool

tranquillity, as it had done throughout the days of slaughter they had endured on the

parched plains which now lay behind them peopled only by the dead. All the morning

they came; armoured cars, moving without haste along the street as if their crews were

sightseeing, gathering speed noisily as they approached the far side of the town; tanks,

lorries, water-trucks, motor cycles; and the bobbing )les of infantry, with their

indefatigable, spring-heeled walk. The sun rose ever higher above their heads. The last

breaths of wind died, murdered. The air became so charged with heat that it seemed that

it must ignite and shrivel them all in a great 2ash. The daylight disintegrated before the

men’s eyes, its radiance shimmering with curtains of darkness and coloured )re, so that

the white walls and the bleached pavements seemed to waver.

Ellen Walsh has done something very, very bad. If only she knew what it was . . .

Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling non-stop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting, to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail declaring:

SOONER OR LATER EVERYONE SITS DOWN TO A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES.

Why would someone send her this note? Ellen has no clue. She’s no angel – a white lie here and there, an occasional sharp tongue – but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy.
Everyone around Ellen – her husband, her teenage daughter, her sister, her best friend, her neighbours – can guess why, though.  They all know from bitter experience that while Ellen’s intentions are always good, this ultimately counts for very little when you’ve (unintentionally?) blown up someone’s life.  Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong?

As she races to discover who’s set on destroying her life, Ellen receives more anonymous messages, each one more threatening than the last . . . and each hitting closer and closer to home and everything she cherishes.

My Thoughts:

This is the story all about Ellen, she is a mother, wife and teacher who lives a simple but contented life, so when she receives a anonymous note she is perplexed about what it is about. Her closest friends and family know what the note means though, they each have their own reasons why Ellen could be receiving this hate but is it one of them? it was a mysterious and tense thriller that had me gripped. It was a slow burner but once it got started it was really intense and a good read. Can Ellen find out who the hater is before her world comes crashing down before her eyes? will it be too little too late in the end. The ending had me shocked.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Birdie Greenwing has been at a loose end ever since her beloved twin sister and husband passed away. Too proud and stubborn to admit she is lonely, Birdie’s world has shrunk. But then some new neighbours move in to the house next door.

Jane has come to Brighton for a fresh start, away from her ferociously protective mother Min. While Jane finds it hard to stand up for herself, her daughter Frankie has no problem telling people what she does and doesn’t want. Ada Kowalski has come to England to follow her dreams, but her new life is harder than she expected.

When a series of incidents brings their lives crashing together, the three find that there is always more to a person than meets the eye …

My Thoughts:

When Birdie Greenwing’s beloved husband and sister pass away, Birdie does not know how she is going to live without them. She has not one else left in the world. But when she gets new neighbours, these people may be able to help Birdie turn her life around. There are three sets of people in this book and to see how their lives intertwine makes for emotional reading. I choked up quite a bit as I really felt for not just Birdie but also for Jane and Ada. They are real life situations which Ericka has dealt with in a sensitive manner, I found it such a well expressed and moving story that I just didn’t want to put down. I was sad when it came to an end. You will need tissues for this story. It is a story that makes you appreciate what you have in your own life and if you know a neighbour that could be struggling, to go and see if they need any help. Little things can really change someone’s day. Such an inspiring story and I loved Birdie so much.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Sweeping from the French Riviera to the wind-blown Cornish cliffs, lose yourself in this spellbinding novel about one golden family – and a devastating secret that binds them, forever…

Year after idyllic year, the Challant family retreat to their summer house on the glittering French Riviera.

Until one stormy night in 1928 when a local boy suffers a fatal accident in the grounds. Overnight, it becomes a place of ghosts.

As time unspools, those dark memories loosen their grip on the four Challant children. And yet the local whispers about that night never quieten, calling them back to the house on the Riviera.

A family secret lies waiting in the past.

But dare they unlock the truth?

My Thoughts:

Set in 1900’s and The Challant family have returned to their family summer house on the French Riviera, with a whole family to entertain some are happy to be back but some are not. There are lots of characters to read about all with their own agenda. When a storm blows through and something dreadful happens, all the ghosts from the past rear their ugly heads and will life ever be the same again for the Challant family. It was a good read packed with history and full of mystery. I liked the way the story flowed and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was brimming full of secrets.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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