Every morning, Sophie boards the same train.

Every morning, she spots him – tall, unreadable, always with a novel in hand…often the same one she is reading.

Soon, their commute becomes a silent exchange of titles, a game only they seem to be playing. But how long can a love story stay between the lines before someone dares to take it off the page…

My Thoughts:

This is a story all about Sophie and Max, when their eyes meet across a packed train each day, they both are curious as to what the other one is reading. Without even speaking Max starts reading the same books as Sophie. But when a chance encounter between the two of them, will they have much in common? is this a blossoming love story played out over books? I liked the first half of the book, it is a very easy read with not too many characters, I liked hearing about Sophie’s friend Anna who helps her set up her book Instagram that was interesting to read about, but after half way I felt as though it slowed right down and just went a little stale and predictable. It is a shame as it had every premonition to be a great read.

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

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She helped him disappear. She’ll wish she hadn’t . . .

There is a chilling phenomenon in Japan known as Johatsu – people who vanish voluntarily from their lives. It’s said 100,000 people per year are Johatsu, and an entire industry has sprung up to support those who choose to.

Life is hard. For some people, it’s just too much.

That’s what I thought when I brought the concept to England. People will disappear anyway. What if I could help them? So I pack their belongings discreetly, create new identities, forge documents, give directions to the cities and towns where the ‘night-mover’ can live anonymously.

It’s just a business. I never saw it as a shameful act. I’ve helped people flee from abusive relationships, from work pressure, from debt, from unfulfilled lives. People in need.

I consider what I do to be honourable.
Until now that is.

Because I’ve just learned that I’m not absent of responsibility. That I am capable of doing a terrible thing.
That it’s not just a business.

I helped somebody flee from a crime. From the police.

I evaporated a murderer.

And if I don’t find him, I can’t live with what he might do next.

My Thoughts:

When you help people disappear, you must know it is a risky business but what happens when things get more dicey and now you cannot find this person that you helped because they have done a very bad thing and you may be pulled into it all. You have to find that person as quickly as possible but it is harder than it seems. I flew through this thriller, I read it in two hours and my eyes didn’t leave the page, I felt as though I was in the story and found it overwhelming good. It was a great storyline, one I had never read before which I liked. It really did pack a punch, but did she find him? you will just need to read it to find out. I haven’t read many of Jo’s books before but I will be going back to read her previous ones now.

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

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Welcome to paradise on the island of St Lucia.

Erin Howard has just joined The Palms Hotel as guest relations manager. She is determined to make her mark, and a deal with Daniel MacKenzie, the enigmatic CEO of the hottest new ecotourist agency, could be just the way to do that.

Meanwhile, events coordinator Lily Carter, is drawn to Shay Brady, a heartbroken groom seeking solace in the island’s tranquillity after his fiancée leaves him. As their bond deepens, Lily starts to question her own desires for the life she’s built.

Naomi Sparks, a vibrant social media influencer, has just arrived to celebrate her milestone birthday with family and friends. As she begins to see the cracks in her relationship with her boyfriend Greg, new and unexpected connections form, leading her to question what true love really means.

Against this stunning backdrop, the lives of staff and guests intertwine. But when a threat to The Palms emerges, it becomes clear that trusting the wrong person could put the survival of the beloved resort in jeopardy…

My Thoughts:

I have not read any of Melissa’s books before so was Intrigued. I liked the sound of the plot centering around a hotel. Different characters really brought this book to life. At every chapter I wanted to read on. You get different peoples perspectives and I really liked that. It was a really great easy read and I look forward to reading more of Melissa’s books.

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

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When Jenna’s husband fails to return from work one evening, she’s painfully aware what it might mean. Yet another woman.

This time, though, Jenna won’t sit and wait for Joel to come back to her. It’s the summer holidays and she wants to make sure her seven-year-old twins have fun. So, they head for the beautiful coastal village of Kelsea Sands, where her mum’s thrilled to have them stay.

At the village’s North Star inn, Sam is struggling with his reclusive father, pub landlord Seb, and is short-staffed for the summer. Jenna steps in; working evenings at the inn is the distraction she needs right now.

As the summer passes, Jenna opens up to Sam about her marriage, while he shares his own worries. With the twins gently working their magic on the grieving Seb, Jenna and Sam grow ever closer. But Joel hasn’t finished with her yet…

My Thoughts:

This is book two in the Kelsea Sands Series and after reading book one I was looking forward to catching up with all the characters. These books can be read a standalone but I would say read them all as they were just brilliant. I loved the idea of Kelsea Sands and the home that Mac and Jenna’s mum have built together, with all the animals. It sounds wonderful. It was a shame about the way Joel showed his true colours in the end. But I liked how Jenna opened up to Sam and how the story ended was predictable but satisfying. I loved it and didn’t want it to end.

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

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You never know what happens behind closed doors.

Rafe seems like your perfect man – intelligent, charming, attractive.

He also happens to be your boss.

You’re too swept up to care for office gossip. In Rafe, you have found the one.

You go back to his house one evening and falls asleep in his arms.

When you wake, you reach out for him. But something feels cold beside you…

Rafe is dead – murdered in bed as you lay next to him – and everyone is going to think you did it.

My Thoughts:

When I saw Mary had a new book out, I was excited to read it. The Cleaner was really well told and had a great atmosphere and this one was as good as. From the outside looking in, you would never expect anything else apart from a good looking guy who basically has everything he wants. What happens when you work for him and go to bed with him at night. When tragedy strikes and you are left holding the pieces who the hell were you going home to each night. I liked the storyline and the level of tension that each page brought, it gets better towards the middle as we uncover some things that shocked me. It was cleverly written and full of thrills and twists. I gasped when I read the ending. Such a great read. I loved it.

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

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Years ago, Nora Bridge walked out on her marriage and left her daughters behind. She has since become a famous radio talk-show host and newspaper columnist beloved for her moral advice, while her youngest daughter, Ruby, is a struggling comedian who uses her famous mother as fuel for her bitter, cynical humour.

When the tabloids unearth a scandalous secret from Nora’s past, their estrangement suddenly becomes dramatic. After Nora is injured in an accident, a glossy magazine offers Ruby a fortune to write a tell-all about her mother and Ruby returns home under the pretext of taking care of the woman she hasn’t spoken to for almost a decade.

Nora insists they retreat to Summer Island, to the lovely old house on the water where Ruby grew up; a place filled with childhood memories of love and joy and belonging. There, Ruby is also reunited with her first love and his brother. Once, the three of them had been best friends; inseparable. Until the summer that Nora left, and everyone’s hearts were broken . .

My Thoughts:

When Nora left her marriage and her kids behind many years ago, she knew in her later life there would be consequences. After a fall, Nora wants to escape her life as she is a famous radio host. A huge scandal comes out about her and she knows she needs time to recuperate but also work out what she is going to do with her life. Her daughters now older, don’t really know their mother that well, so now is the time to try to reconnect and the best way is to go back to Summer Island which use to be their place when they were younger. It brings back all sorts of memories for all three women. Some good and some bad. But how will their life change now? for the better? I think I have only read one of Kristen’s books before and I found it ok, but this one was brilliant. I am glad I decided to read it. I liked the sound of the plot and I like reading about all three women. Summer Island sounds wonderful, Kristen’s descriptions were everything, You could imagine being there alongside the women. It kept me hooked and intrigued about what would happen and I loved the ending. I am looking forward to reading more of Kristen’s books now.

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

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At sixty-four, Michelle thought her best years were behind her. She couldn’t have been more wrong . . .

When Michelle loses her beloved husband Eddie, she’s sure the best part of her life has gone with him.

Then her mother passes away, leaving her half a million pounds — money Michelle is certain she doesn’t deserve.

Determined to give every penny to charity, Michelle sets out to find the worthiest cause. And she’s not doing it alone.

There’s Doug — her landlord, her brother’s oldest friend, and the rugby-playing heartthrob of her teenage dreams. He’s kind. He’s funny, and he still makes her stomach flip like she’s sixteen. There’s just one problem, Doug has broken more hearts than Michelle has had hot dinners, and she’s not about to become another name on his list.

Then she meets dashing charity trustee, Luke,and is swept into a world of scarlet ball gowns and champagne. For the first time in years, Michelle feels beautiful. Desired. Worth it.

But a forgotten suitcase, hidden away in storage, holds a secret about her inheritance. And as Michelle uncovers the truth, she must decide — about the money, her future and who her heart truly belongs to.

My Thoughts:

I like the idea of this story, Michelle is someone who thinks others deserve an inheritance she has gained. I liked her to start with but then I was just getting annoyed with her. Could she not see what was right in front of her, I understand she wanted to do good but she was wasting her time trying to put right the things her mother had not. It was sad to read her mother’s diary and I did feel for her. The story was ok, a bit long winded and drawn out and I kept on getting annoyed at Michelle. But it was ok. Not sure I would read this author again.

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

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After successful ad exec Alan Anderson bombs the biggest pitch of his career, he has an epiphany. His entire career has been about making people buy stuff that they don’t need so they feel perpetually unsatisfied and less-than. After a lifetime of striving for capitalism, Alan is opting out.

He retires to the ridiculously extravagant playhouse in his family’s suburban Connecticut garden (a classic example of something the Andersons didn’t need), gives up showering, shoe-wearing, and purchases of all kinds. He might even read a book! This is all very upsetting for his wife Vivian, who is on the verge of being accepted into the insanely elite Queen’s Anne Club – guaranteed to make all her insecurities disappear and her children popular.

But maybe everyone will want to buy what Alan’s not selling? And, in losing his ambition, might he find what we’re all looking for?

My Thoughts:

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I found the first half of the book very slow but after halfway it gets better. The characters are hard to like straight away and I did find I liked Alan more when he had opted out. There are some funny parts and some parts made me laugh out loud. It’s one of those books that would of been great if the first half had not of been so slow.

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

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Five years ago, Zennor’s perfect Cornish wedding fell apart in the most spectacular style – thanks to Matt Veryan, the man who crashed the celebrations and shattered her happily ever after.

Now a successful business owner in St Ives, Zennor is shocked to discover Matt is not only back in her life- he’s also her new landlord.

As old feelings resurface and long-buried secrets come to light, Zennor must face the truth about her past, her marriage . . . and the man she never truly forgot.

But can Zennor ever forgive Matt? And if she does, could it lead her to a love greater than she ever dared dream possible?

My Thoughts:

Phillipa is one of my go to authors, I don’t need to read the blurb to know it will be just as good as her previous books. This one is about Zennor who had her heart shattered many years ago, and now has her life back on track until the person that hurt her back then comes back into her life. But can she forgive and forget? it was a read that people may be able to relate to, it is also a thought provoking read as in what would you do if you were in Zennor’s shoes? I zoomed through this read as I just felt as though I needed to know if Zennor was going to be alright in the end. It was a great read with a great bunch of characters.

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

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A new adventure is on the menu . . .

Juliet has learnt that life is too short not to chase your dreams. But when she buys an old watermill in France, her tranquil new start is quickly kneaded into something far more ambitious when the local mayor offers her a deal she can’t refuse: reopen the village’s derelict boulangerie.

With a formidable rival – the owner of the local bread vending machine – determined to crush her, Juliet faces disgruntled villagers, her own lack of baking skills, and hidden secrets within the mill itself.

But with help from her outspoken neighbour and the charming Tabac owner, Juliet battles to bring back the aroma of freshly baked bread – and with it, the heart of the community.

Can she prove that even the biggest dreams start with just a little pinch of courage?

My Thoughts:

When Juliet’s life does not go to plan she decides to step out of her comfort zone and go and chase her dreams. She has always wanted to run her own bakery and moving to France and buying an old watermill is just what the doctor ordered. But she soon realises there is more to renovating and even staying in France but she is a determined woman even if the locals are not happy she is there, they don’t like an outsider coming in and trying to change the norm. But gradually Juliet finds people to help her but can she make a success of the bakery or will she leave with her tail between her legs? It was another great read from Jo which I flew through as I just loved reading it. Jo is one of my comfort go to authors. I cannot get enough of her satisfying writing and delicious sounding food. Don’t read this book on an empty stomach as you will regret it. My mouth was watering reading the description of the baguettes. Yum. This is going to be very popular when it comes out.

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

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