This perfect house on a quiet street was supposed to be my sanctuary, a place to recover. But everything changed the moment I saw that woman in the charity shop. She triggered something dark, buried deep within my memory…

Now I’ve started forgetting small things, like locking the front door.

And bigger things, like remembering to pick my little girl up from nursery.

I feel terrified every time I pass through a particular spot in our living room.

And sometimes, when I’m alone, I’m sure I can hear a baby crying…

I think the woman knows what happened to me. But if I can’t trust myself to believe she’s real, who else will believe me?

My Thoughts:

This is my first book by Valerie and I found it good. It is a twisty thriller that pulls you in and you wonder what is really going on in her head. Everything changes when she first spots the woman and it brings back memories that she tried to hide many years ago. Bad things happened then and she does not want to relive them a minute longer. But then other things start to happen and she can feel herself spiralling out of control. I liked the story but I did feel as though it was a little repetitive and the characters did not really hold my attention, however I did want to know the outcome as I had many ideas but was unsure if they would be the right one. I did feel the ending let the story down though.

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

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Five passengers. Five minutes until the next train … five minutes until someone dies.

Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station. It will happen in the next five minutes when the 7:06 to London Victoria arrives.

On a train platform, five strangers unknowingly face a chilling countdown: one of them will die in five minutes.

In this gripping tale narrated with a sharp tongue, the five main characters – a child, a mother, a businessman, an old woman, and a gambler – will draw you in with their stories of fate, sacrifice, and the relationships we build and those we break.

As the clock ticks down, we look away from the demonic child Gideon. We judge his mother Emma who must surely be to blame. We are curiously compelled by the successful yet damaged businessman Liam. We pity the furious old Mrs Worth who grew up in a macabre household and failed at being a mother. And we fall in love with the beautiful Sonny who is on the verge of gambling his life away.

My Thoughts:

This story is set at at a train station and includes five different people. No one knows what will happen when the next train arrives but someone’s life will get caught short. As we follow the story along we get to know each of the five people, and see which one the reader thinks could be the one. But not everything is as it seems as the train starts to arrive who will be the victim? you will go through every emotion reading this book, it is a tense, edge of the seat stuff and you won’t be disappointed. I found it a thought provoking read.

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

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Looking out at the crystal clear waters of Sorrento, my heart aches at the loss of the future I’d allowed myself to dream. But Tom’s lie is bigger than I could have imagined. How can we survive it? My decision will shatter more than just my own heart. Am I really ready to say the words that will change everything?

It was supposed to be a week of bliss leading to our dream wedding on the Italian coast. But it’s obvious our families are against it. My mother questions why Tom has controlled so much of the planning, twisting his generous surprise into something sinister. Tom’s daughter, Lily, makes it known she’ll never see me as her mother.

Trying to focus on our dream day, I can’t help but notice a woman who spends every day at the pool, alone. She seems fascinated by Lily in a way that worries me. When Tom finally locks eyes with her, he immediately pales.

This week should have been the best time of our lives but before our future can begin, Tom will confess a secret that could destroy everything. But he’s not the only one who kept a past lie hidden for the sake of happily-ever-after. By the end of the week with both our secrets laid bare, will we really say, ‘I do’?

My Thoughts:

When two people are about to tie the knot for their wedding they had planned for a long time, Italy would be the perfect place for them. But not everyone in the wedding party is happy about it all, will it all work out in the end? There is a strange woman who keeps on taking an interest in the groom’s daughter and things don’t feel right. When the groom lets a shocker of a secret out of the bag what must the bride do and how will she be after the aftermath, it was a good story which kept me intrigued. I would say a little slow in places but it did get better. It was one of those stories where you go did that really happen? shockers, betrayals and will they won’t they all wrapped up in a tense and twisty thriller.

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

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For a decade, Tam has quietly held YorkMart together whilst others took the credit, making herself smaller in the process. When she’s briefly promoted to acting Managing Director, she finally has a chance to shine—until her promotion is snatched away and handed to Jack Cesaroni—the man brought in to do the job that should have been hers.

Tam expects nothing but disappointment from Jack. But when they’re trapped in a lift between floors thirteen and fourteen, he sees what no one else has: Tam is exceptional. That single word of recognition sparks something Tam thought she’d lost—and an unexpected connection she never saw coming.

Now Tam faces an impossible choice: stay being the smaller version of herself she’s become used to, or take a leap and reclaim the vibrant, authentic woman she once was—and discover how wonderful it could be if she lets someone see the real her…

My Thoughts:

If you are after a brilliant short story this is the one for you. It is all about Tam who puts everyone before herself even in her job, whilst holding the business together she is happy when she gets promoted, little does she realise it won’t last long and then the unexpected happens when she gets locked in a lift with her rival. It really is an eye opener for Tam and she has to decide whether she wants to fight for what she wants or to run away with her tail between her legs. It was such a heartening, uplifting and powerful story, I instantly liked Tam and I feel people will be able to relate to her. I loved the concept of the book and found it worked really well as a short story. I love Milly’s writing there is always a hidden message when you read in between the lines and it may be a predictable story line but it is one that packs a punch. Absolutely brilliant.

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

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Dolly Lymford is having one of those days…The kind that starts with dreams of opening a café… and ends with discovering your boyfriend kissing your best friend!

Heartbroken and with nowhere else to go, Dolly accidentally-on-purpose borrows her now-ex-boyfriend’s campervan and drives until the road runs out. This leads her to Thimblenouth, a picture-perfect Yorkshire Dales village where life moves more slowly and the kettle is always on.

After literally bumping into gorgeous local builder Reece Sterling, Dolly begins to feel something she hasn’t in a long time: safe. She also rediscovers her love of baking, filling the campervan with the scent of warm scones and freshly brewed tea. And Reece is always around to share a lemon pie or two…

When Dolly has an idea to open her own pop-up café, Reece is all too happy to help. And as the summer sun begins to warm everything it touches, Dolly wonders if she’s finally found a place to call home… maybe even with Reece.

But can she really build a future on borrowed wheels?

My Thoughts:

Dolly thought her day was going well, until she finds her best friend and boyfriend in a very compromising situation. Dolly flees in his campervan, and does not really know where she is headed just far far away from them both. She ends up in Thimblenouth, where no one will be able to find her so she thinks. For a time everything seems to be going well, she has turned the campervan into a little café with the help from a handsome local and money is starting to come in, just when things are looking up, Dolly’s ex shows up. Is Dolly’s dreams going to be scuppered again? It was a nice light easy read. I liked the characters and was hoping for a happy ending for Dolly. It was a predictable read but sometimes that is not a bad thing. A perfect escapism read.

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

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Having a bad day? Visit the Tenderness convenience store in Mojiko, Kitakyushu.

A sweet treat to lift your spirits.

A quiet place to talk over a warm meal.

A kind word when you need it most.

The sound of the sea in the distance.

You’ll always find more than you imagined possible here…

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I have read by Sonoko and they are an author I would definitely read more of. I found it such a calming and pleasant read. It is set in Japan in a little convenience store where everything is full of kindness and hope. We meet customers and also the employees that make this store completely different to anywhere else. It made me want to visit this place and feel the warmth and comfort that people feel when they go there. A heart warming and soothing escape from the world we live in today. I liked reading about each person and their reasons to visit the store. I look forward to reading the other books from Sonoko. A comfort read with a hug.

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

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Single and in a dead-end job, Kate feels hope spring when an anonymous invitation falls from the pages of a book. Now, she’s standing in a charming Scottish village and trying to ignore the six-four silver fox by her side. He’s got an invitation too, a husky Chicago accent, and dangerously gorgeous sea-blue eyes…

Widowed ex-police officer Brody never expected to be stranded in Scotland with a cute British lady. Her smile might be bewitching… but her attitude? Way too cheerful. And eccentric bookshop owner Moira says they can stay for free, as long as they don’t mind sharing one very cozy little cottage.

That’s the least of their problems. Turns out Moira’s bookshop needs them just as much as Kate and Brody need a fresh start. And with a twinkle in Moira’s mischievous matchmaking eye, things are soon hotting up in surprising ways!

But as they string fairy lights over snug reading nooks and rally the whole community to buy their favourite reads, can Kate and Brody save the bookshop and heal their hearts? Or will their fresh start come crashing down?

My Thoughts:

When a book is set in a bookshop, you know as a reader it is going to be good. This story is about two people, Kate is lonely and feels as though nothing is going for her right now until a invitation falls out of a book, she knows this could be her chance of happiness so when she takes up the other and finds herself next to a very attractive man could he be the answer to her prayers? Brody is feeling the same as Kate and neither of them realise how important each other will become to the other. It was such a lovely read to melt away with. I liked the characters and I also liked seeing how Kate and Brody blossomed. They also need to help a struggling bookshop but with passion on their side this must surely work? I just loved how cozy and relaxing this story was.

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

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Maisy Gallagher always dreamed of becoming a nurse, but when her father died, she gave it all up to support her family. Now, years later, she’s built a quiet, steady life – safe, predictable, and entirely focused on others.

Chase Furst is everything Maisy isn’t. A high-flying bank executive with a complicated past, he’s learnt not to rely on anyone. But when a twist of fate brings them together, Maisy offers him kindness with no strings attached – and it throws him completely off balance.

Determined to prove he can return the favour, Chase sets out to do one selfless thing. What he doesn’t expect is how much it will change him – or how hard it will be to forget the woman who made him believe in second chances.

My Thoughts:

Now in her later life Maisy is doing things that make her happy and doing things for herself. After being a support to family, this is Maisy’s time to break free and do what she likes. When Chase comes into her life, they both feel a connection but they both have their reasons to be cautious. It was fun getting to know Maisy and Chase but for me the story did not feel as though it went anywhere. It was an easy and predictable read but for me it was just ok, it does not make me want to read any more of this authors books.

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

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A Summer in Suffolk could be just what she needs…

When Tilly heads to the river in Willowell, Suffolk, to scatter her dad’s ashes, she’s in need of some rest and relaxation. Life has been tough lately, and she wants a new start.

Constance has lived in Fernside forever. She owns the beautiful Willowell Woods – but she can’t manage them alone, and they’re now up for sale.

Her nephew, James, has always loved Willowell Woods – and he doesn’t want anyone taking them over. So when Tilly asks to buy them, with an exciting idea for the land, sparks begin to fly… the problem is, they’re already falling in love.

Can Tilly and James find a way to turn sparks into fireworks? And will Constance finally realise that letting in the new doesn’t have to mean getting rid of the old…?

My Thoughts:

Another great read from Heidi. This made me look forward to the brighter days of Summer, the book is set in Suffolk which is a place I have never been to but now would love to go. It seemed the perfect setting for this book. It is about three different people who have their own issues they need to deal with. Tilly needs a fresh start after losing her dad. Constance is struggling at her age but would never ask for help, and James is trying to put a spanner in the works. I loved seeing how they intertwined with one another and I loved the way Tilly is so caring, it bought a huge comfort to me. I felt as though I wanted to help Tilly and her plans for what she was going to do, I really felt involved even though I was not. It was a great story to while away a few hours and I cannot wait to read Heidi’s next book and see what that one is all about.

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

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Anne Evans was a ‘nuisance caller’. She would repetitively dial 999 in desperate panic, screaming down the phone that ‘he’ was going to burn her alive…

But after years of false alarms, people stopped listening.

Now, as the smoke clears, DCI Liz Field can only watch helplessly as Anne’s charred home collapses, her body still trapped inside.

The blaze leaves scant evidence behind, but the more Field’s team uncover in the rubble, the more disturbing the case becomes. This wasn’t merely arson, it was murder, tailored to the victim’s worst nightmare.

Everyone thought Anne was just a paranoid recluse. But is it really paranoia, if all that you feared comes true?

My Thoughts:

DCI Liz Field is on duty when a call comes in about a home that has been burnt down, the occupant was well known to the police as a nuisance caller. Her body is still trapped inside. After so many police attended her property it was found that nothing was untoward. She kept telling the police he was going to burn her alive and unfortunately this time around, she was correct. But who is he? when the police are allowed to investigate the scene they find a lot more than they bargained for. This poor woman did not deserve what she got and DCI Liz Fields is going to do her upmost to get her killer to confess if she can find him first. I liked the premise of the story, it is something you hear about but I have never read a book relating to this situation of being a nuisance caller, and what the protocol for the police was. I felt the story was captivating and gritty and a good detective novel that I am sure going to enjoy more of Hannah’s books. This is book two but I think it can be read as a standalone. I liked getting to know DCI Liz Field too.

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

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