The Holiday Swap By A J McDine

The Holiday Swap By A J McDine

The perfect holiday. A perfect nightmare.

We’re broke.

The last thing we can afford is a holiday.

So when my husband Robin’s wealthy boss offers to swap houses for the week, it feels too good to be true.

The Lookout is all we could ever want: a stunning glass house perched high on the cliffs overlooking the sea.

Everything is perfect… until Robin’s old friend Pete turns up drunk in the middle of the night.

The next morning, I wake to find blood in the kitchen.

Pete is gone.

And Robin can’t remember a thing.

As I try to piece together what happened that night, I realise this was never an innocent house swap. Someone wanted us at The Lookout. And they’ll stop at nothing to make sure I never uncover the truth.

Because our week by the sea was never just a holiday. Everyone had an agenda. Everyone was keeping secrets and everyone was lying.

Even me.

My Thoughts:

If your husband’s boss offers to swap house for a week so you can go on holiday, would you do it? of course you would, it is a beautiful house with views of the sea. Everything is going great, it’s relaxing and just what they needed but when an old friend turns up, she goes upstairs to bed to leave them to chat.. The morning after the night before, she makes a shock discovery, blood everywhere. The old friend is gone but her husband cannot remember what happened last night. But someone did see what happened as the house is made of glass and there cannot be any stone left unturned. The story I felt as though I knew what had happened but the twists that come turned me around again. It is a great thriller to get your teeth into. Very dramatic read with plenty of suspicious characters.

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

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One of Us is Guilty By Steve Cavanagh

One of Us is Guilty By Steve Cavanagh

Patrick Vanderpool, son of a billionaire media mogul, is destined for power. But the affair he’s having could ruin everything.

Vanessa Vanderpool, married to one of America’s most influential men, has her own ambitions. But the affair he’s having could ruin everything.

When the other woman is found brutally murdered, there are only two suspects…

One of them is guilty. But which one?
Conman turned defence lawyer Eddie Flynn must risk his life to find out…

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of the plot for this book, it centres around the Vanderpool’s. Patrick and Vanessa are husband and wife, she thought they were happy but when she discovers he is having an affair, Patrick has a lot of power but Vanessa is driven and knows what she wants so when she finds out Patrick is having an affair, she sets out to sort out this mess. Then tragedy strikes and the other woman is found murdered, who is the guilty one? the husband or the wife? Bring in Lawyer Eddie Flynn, can he find out the truth before it is too late? I liked the flow of the story and how each chapter revealed a tiny piece of information. I could not put it down and I feel as thought the storyline was cleverly put together. You will never see the twist until it whacks you in the face.

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

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Blue Skies Ahead By Jessica Redland

Blue Skies Ahead By Jessica Redland

Leaving behind everything she thought she knew, Grace arrives at Hazelwick Farm with her teenage daughter, Maddie, and her mother, Frances, ready to build a new life together.

Grace has dreamt of fresh air, open skies and days filled with taking care of the animals while building a family business together. But starting over isn’t as simple as she hoped.

Maddie has barely spoken to her since the divorce from her father and Grace doesn’t know how to fix what she doesn’t fully understand. Between strained silences at home, and the demands of getting the farm ready to open for business, Grace begins to wonder if she’s made a mistake.

Yet life at Hazelwick Farm has its surprises. Grace keeps crossing paths with handsome tenant, Caleb, whether she means to or not. Could this unexpected connection be the start of something she never saw coming?

My Thoughts:

When Grace’s marriage unexpectedly ends, she decides to up sticks with her mum and her daughter Maddie. They find a beautiful farm for sale and they know with hard work and determination that they can make this a successful business. But Maddie’s behaviour is out of control and Grace is at the end of her tether, can she help understand what Maddie is going through let alone moving away. I loved the sound of Hazelwick farm and I was rooting for them all to do well and make is a success. I liked all the characters especially all the animals. I use to work on a farm and kind of know the behind the scenes so it was a lovely memory to remember whilst reading the book. Jessica has done a wonderful job with this wonderful family. I loved the meaning behind the title of the book too. There is a lot going on but it is all relatable issues. Throw in a little romance and you have a great story in your hands. I love the way Jessica writes, it is like being part of the team.

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

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The Burning Tide By William Shaw

The Burning Tide By William Shaw

A SCORCHING SUMMER

Down in the seaside town of Teignmouth, ex-Met detective Eden Driscoll grows restless after a long summer caring for his nine-year-old nephew.

A DESPERATE PLEA

When a man knocks at Eden’s door desperate for help, claiming someone is trying to kill him, Eden jumps at the chance to solve a mystery. But before he can ask more questions, the stranger disappears.

A DEADLY FIRE

The cry for help came too late – that same night a house along the coast is burnt to the ground, and a man’s remains are discovered among the rubble. In the days after, Eden’s curiosity only grows. He soon finds himself investigating, and begins to uncover a web of deception, jealousy and corruption.

My Thoughts:

I needed a really good thriller to get my teeth into and this was the perfect one. This is book two in the Eden Driscoll Series and I absolutely loved it. It is a fast paced thriller about an Ex detective who is caring for his nephew after a tragedy in the family. But when a man wants to speak with Eden, he knows something is up and he needs to put his detective hat on to work out what is going on with this case. As Eden becomes more involved in the case, he thinks he can see the light at the end of the tunnel or is he? I liked the storyline, the parts about how the police and detectives work. I liked William’s style of writing, it was addictive and I did not want to put the book now. I thought I knew the outcome but I really didn’t. It keeps you guessing from the start. I think I have found a new author to start reading more of now. Loved it. The ending was brilliant.

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

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On Mystic Lake By Kristen Hannah

On Mystic Lake By Kristen Hannah

Annie Colwater’s only child has just left home for school in England. On that same day, her husband of twenty years confesses that he’s in love with a younger woman. Left alone in the beautiful California house which was once a home, Annie comes to the painful realization that the years have eroded not just her confidence but also her self-esteem, and she’s no longer the woman she once was.

Devastated, Annie retreats to Mystic, the remote lakeside town in the Pacific Northwest where she grew up, hoping that she can start to rebuild her life and rediscover herself. There, she is reunited with her first love, Nick Delacroix, recently widowed and trying to cope with his emotionally scarred young daughter. Together, the three of them begin to heal. But just when Annie believes she’s been given a second chance at happiness, her world is turned upside down again and she is forced to make a choice that no woman in love should ever have to make.

My Thoughts:

Annie’s life has come to a complete stop, her only child has left home, and her husband has decided he doesn’t want to be with her anymore. Annie does not know what to think or do so she retreats to Mystic, where she grew up. Annie wants to build her life back up, but when she is reunited with her first love Nick, she knows she wants to help him and his daughter. They are both struggling and Annie knows she is needed in their lives to help re bond them. As things start to look up, something happens that no one could of predicted. Can they really be happy ever after again? I liked the way the story flowed, it was a predictable story line but one that had me pulled in from the start. I liked the in depth of all the characters and I thought Izzy was a very brave girl. It shows that you just have to be honest with yourself and don’t let anyone tell you any different. You got this.

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

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Out of the Ashes By M. J. Arlidge

Out of the Ashes By M. J. Arlidge

As Detective Inspector Helen Grace’s best friend fights for her life, the man responsible flees the country.

An international manhunt leads to the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, where crime is big business.

With the underworld harbouring one of its own, the local police closing ranks against an outsider, and a pair of trained assassins shadowing her every move – Helen is all alone.

Far from home – and closing in on a killer – she must rely on her instincts, her drive for justice, and her thirst for revenge.

Can she track down her target before he escapes forever? Or will she see her life and everything she loves left in ashes…?

My Thoughts:

I feel as though I have missed a couple of these books in the series. They can be read as a standalone but I think if you really want to get to know Detective Inspector Helen Grace you really need to read them in order. It is a great series. We follow D. I Helen Grace on her next investigation and after the last book she obviously had some bad things happen to her but will it interfere with this investigation. Great pace and I love it when a book makes you want to keep on reading and you don’t care about anything else. Full of turns and twists, unexpectedness and a great Detective. I loved it.

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

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Escape to the Turquoise Seas By Carrie Walker

Escape to the Turquoise Seas By Carrie Walker

Kat Brennan has always been the work-hard, play-harder type, navigating single life in London and the chaos of her job at Northstar PR. So when Excalibur Cruises invite her aboard to pitch for their account, she jumps at the chance to prove to her boss she’s indispensable… and to finally relax a little.

But the last person she wants to get stuck on a boat with is industry hotshot Leo Kendrick, the CEO of rival agency Amplify – and Kat’s nemesis. When Leo bagged a coveted marketing internship 15 years ago, Kat vowed never to let him win anything again. She is not about to break that promise, even if Leo has become a distractingly attractive opponent.

As the Esmerelda sails the seas, from the Azores to Lisbon via Madeira, the two agencies must battle it out to present the best pitch. But in such close quarters, the sea might not be the only thing rocking the boat…

My Thoughts:

What a glorious book to wind down with. Kat is a hard working, single woman who is head strong and puts her career before anything else so when she is invited on a cruise to pitch, she knows she must show her boss what a valued member of the team she is and that she can do this for the business. But when Leo ends up on board too from a rival company, Kat needs to show everyone that she is the woman for the job, it is unfortunate that Leo is very good looking and Kat may be tempted. It was such a light and easy read. Amusing in parts and just full of sunshine, cruises, work and maybe a little romance. Light hearted and lovely.

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

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Every Vow You Break By Peter Swanson

Every Vow You Break By Peter Swanson

After a whirlwind, fairytale romance, Abigail Baskin marries freshly-minted Silicon Valley millionaire Bruce Lamb.

For their honeymoon, he whisks her away to an exclusive retreat at a friend’s resort off the Maine coast on Heart Pond Island. But once there, Abigail’s perfect new life threatens to crash down around her as she recognises one of their fellow guests as the good looking, charismatic stranger who weeks earlier had seduced her at her own Bachelorette party…

My Thoughts:

I have read a few of Peter’s books before and they were good but this one blew them all out of the park. It was phenomenal. The first chapter blew me away and I read the book in an afternoon, it did not deserve to be put down. Abigail marries Bruce, she thinks she has it all, he is a millionaire and she knows she has got the perfect life from now on. But when a mystery guest turns up at a exclusive retreat that the newlyweds are on, will they uncover the real Abigail and will her new husband find out. This was such a good read but it is so much more than you will ever think. It gets so good half way through and the turns that you think will lead you right to the point, change direction and will leave you stunned. Such a great read and I cannot wait to delve into more of Peter’s books in the future.

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The House Guest By Jennifer Pashley

The House Guest By Jennifer Pashley

Brett Novak is a young upstart chef, with real, raw talent – if only she could catch a break. After getting dumped by her married girlfriend and losing the perfect job offer, Brett accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson Smart, who resides in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod.

Carson immediately seduces her, but things get complicated when Carson’s wife, Vera, arrives home from her trip, and the love/hate relationship between the two spouses erupts, leaving Brett caught in the middle. Brett, starved for attention, craves Carson’s affection and yet is oddly drawn to Vera’s seductive and destructive charms.

As Brett becomes an unwitting pawn and weapon, she questions how far husband and wife will go to wound the other. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to stay – even as her hold on reality begins to slip. Can she survive her employers’ dark appetites?

My Thoughts:

It is about a woman who becomes a live In chef for a married couple. When her boss seduces her she feels drawn to the wife too but not everything is as it seems. Should she of taken the job in the first place or not. It sounded like a great thriller story line but for me it didn’t live up to the case, I felt it was slow and didn’t captivate me enough to want to keep reading it though I did in case it got better but it did not.

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

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A Second Chance Summer in Dublin By Caroline Grace-Cassidy

A Second Chance Summer in Dublin By Caroline Grace-Cassidy

It’s been five hundred and ninety days since Grace Algar was left stranded at the altar on her wedding day; nineteen months and eleven days since she last laid eyes on her ex-fiancé, Logan. Now, she spends her days nursing her broken heart in a tiny Dublin flat, while attempting to resurrect her career as a wedding-dress designer, helping to create happily-ever-afters for other brides.

When her best friend, Mia, announces that her brother – Grace’s runaway groom – is flying in from New York and will be attending her divorce party, Grace’s heartbreak feels fresher than ever and she knows she needs a plan. Preferably one involving a date who will show Logan what he’s missing. Enter Donal: a slightly chaotic Irishman who is definitely not Grace’s type. But he’s kind and keeps turning up exactly when she needs him most.

As Grace juggles her (only) bridal commission with old wounds, heartbreak and a very unexpected spark, she will learn that sometimes the wrong man can be just right – and that the best love stories are the ones you never see coming.

My Thoughts:

Grace has been left stranded. With no wedding on the horizon she goes into a big slump. But when her ex fiance is returning she decides she needs to show him what is missing and her friend Mia finds her a date. He is not like anyone Grace would ever date but he is kind and funny but who will be the one to get hurt in this situation? I can understand why Grace did it but I thought she was going to hurt her dates feelings when he found out it was just to upset her ex. But what evolves is pure genius and I loved the way the story ended. A brilliant read.

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

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