When Afia, a newborn Western Lowland Gorilla, is rejected by her mother Kera after a difficult birth, her human keepers must start the challenging – but rewarding – experience of hand-rearing her themselves. Teaching her the ropes of life in the Gorilla House at Bristol Zoo is tricky enough. But providing 24/7 care for a baby gorilla means Alan must hand-rear Afia in his own home too, an experience that forges a remarkable emotional bond between the two of them over the course of many sleepless nights.

Soon a second baby gorilla, Hasani, is facing rejection from his mother, and Alan and his colleagues must embark on a daring mission to train Kera – now recovered but socially isolated – to become Hasani’s surrogate mother. Can she learn to protect and love Hasani as her own, in a way she couldn’t for Afia? Can she find her maternal instincts and claim a place within the troop at last?

My Thoughts:

I love a book that is a bit different to my usual reads and this was the perfect read. The cover is so cute and I knew I was going to fall in love with this read and I did. This is about a zookeeper at Bristol Zoo having to hand rear a baby gorilla called Afia. I fell in love with Afia straight away. It is a long and slow process but worth it in the end to see a fit and healthy gorilla go and make it in the world. I had never realised how much work a zookeeper would have to put in to look after a baby animal let alone a gorilla. It takes time and Patience and you can tell Alan the zookeeper loves his job very much. It was an eye opening read and one I feel really passionate towards. I think baby gorillas are my new favourite animal now. Thank you Alan for writing about your experience. It means a lot.

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

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For delivery rider Damir, time is money.

He races through cycle lanes next to Uber drivers and grocery vans, delivering your every desire. He arrives with your sushi rolls and pizzas and disappears into the night – Ping! Onto the next drop.

He is invisible: one player in the boardgame of the city.

But one summer’s evening, in a postcode that could be another universe, Damir arrives on Decca’s doorstep and there’s an immediate connection between them.

The man on the bike crosses the divide – suddenly fully seen. And a throwaway delivery sparks a chain of events that will change all their lives, forever.

My Thoughts:

I really liked the concept behind this book, it was fresh and exciting reading about a delivery rider, I have read many books but not one that is based around a delivery rider. It started off really good, Damir is the delivery rider and he doesn’t have much to his name, he works to make ends meet and lives with his friend where they don’t have a lot. However one night, one angry customer he does not realise how much this would change his life. The angry customer’s wife gives him a tip and a big one at that and then they start messaging and meeting up. Damir is quids in quite literally and likes living this life. Life is good until it’s not. I felt as though the first half of the book was really good, but the second half let it down, it was very drawn out and its one of those books that made me cringe a little with the affair storyline.

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

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Saddle up for love…

Caroline swears she’s done with love. Fleeing her Scottish homeland with a broken heart for fresh start in Oklahoma is supposed to be smooth riding – until a whisky-soaked night at a local bar leads to a smouldering kiss with a devastatingly handsome cowboy. Hunter’s charm stirs something wild in her, awakening desires she thought she’d buried for good after her divorce.

Hunter has no time for distractions. With his family’s ranch on the line, he has enough on his plate. But then he meets Caroline, a sultry, sharp-tongued, whip-smart doctor. Their chemistry is electric, their connection undeniable – and that kiss? Unforgettable.

As their worlds collide, Caroline and Hunter find themselves drawn together in a whirlwind of passion and longing. But both are tied to the past and neither is ready to let go.

My Thoughts:

This is a story about two people bought together by chance. Caroline is starting a new life in Oklahoma, when she sets her sight on Hunter you can feel the instant attraction between them both. But they both have things in their past they are trying to run away from. But can they both help each other to forget about the past and enjoy their future. I can almost imagine Hunter’s character being the hot cowboy. It was fun and enjoyable read, it does get pretty steamy in parts but an easy read to follow along with. Light hearted and uplifting and some horses too. The perfect read.

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

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Celia Grey appears to have the perfect life: married to Dominic, the man of her dreams, and living on a glorious, thriving vineyard in the south of France. To celebrate their good fortune, she decides to throw a huge party.

When she is contacted by a stranger who claims to be her long-lost son, David, the newborn she gave up at twenty and has never spoken of since, Celia impulsively invites him for the weekend of celebrations – without mentioning it to her husband.

Despite his surprise, Dominic graciously welcomes David and his unexpected companion – but secretly he harbours doubts. Is David really Celia’s son? And who is the mysterious young woman travelling with him?

Only Celia can decide how far she will go to hold everything together, to keep her perfect life from unravelling…
One Summer in Provence is a story of betrayal and belonging, and of discovering love in unexpected places.

My Thoughts:

This is a feel good summery read that whisked me away to the south of France. Celia is married to Dominic and they have the perfect life living in the south of France, when she arranges a big party, this is going to be epic but many years ago she gave up her new born son and now there is someone who says he is her son but is he? Celia decides to invite him to their party but a woman turns up with him who is she? will Celia and her husband’s life going to be the same again? It was a good solid story to follow along with, with relatable characters, and I found it a light easy read. Perfect for the summer.

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

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Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with rich, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly community in a picture-postcard town.

Until, one day, Bonnie the labrador comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone – the only trace left behind is a single black sandal.

Their lives don’t fall apart immediately. While there’s still hope, they dig deep and try to carry on.

But as desperation mounts, arms around shoulders become fingers pointed – at friends, family, strangers, each other. Without any answers, only questions remain. Who can they trust? How far will they go to find out what happened to Rory?

And the deadliest question of all: what could be worse than your child disappearing?

When the truth begins to emerge, they find themselves in a world they could barely have imagined.

My Thoughts:

This is the first thriller I have read for a number of weeks and it was a great one to get stuck into. The story is about a married couple, who are leading a normal and happy life with their son. They live in a nice and safe area and everything is going swimmingly until it’s not. Their son was out walking the dog until it is only the dog that comes back but where did he vanish too? When they get the police involved everything starts to fall apart, have lies been told and is the answer much more closer to home than they think? will they ever get their son back alive? It was a slow burner but it was in a good way as you kind of get to peel the layers away to begin with, a bit of back story and intrigue and then it builds up in to a tense, gritty and suspenseful read. An author to watch out for. This was a brilliant read with a superb ending. I did not want it to end.

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

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