A book deal to die for.

Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled.

Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.

But then the women begin to die.

Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this fresh and original idea for a story, all about five women who attend a writing retreat with a famous writer hosting it. Each of them must complete an entire novel and the winner gets a fantastic prize, but is foul play at act? each of the women are caught up into something they never could ever imagine, when each of them die, the others are suspicious. It was a great read and kept me entertained, but I did guess what was going to happen and I guessed fairly early on. It was full of tension, suspicion and a great bunch of characters. I will be intrigued to see what Julia the author writes about in her next story.

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

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All murder mysteries follow a simple set of rules.

In the 1930s, Grant McAllister, a mathematics professor turned author, worked them out, hiding their secrets in a book of crime stories.

Then Grant disappeared.

Julia Hart has finally tracked him down. She wants to know what happened to him.

But she’s about to discover that a good mystery can be murder to solve . .

My Thoughts:

The story is set in Spain in the 1930’s and Henry and Megan have been invited over to Bunny’s Villa. Whilst Bunny is upstairs having a nap, but when he doesn’t return after a few hours, Henry and Megan go and find him. What they find shocks them both as they find Bunny has been murdered. They then point the finger at each other but who was it really? there are plenty of red herrings and twists. I found it a very unique detective book. There are multiple stories inside this book to discover, I felt as though there is a little bit for everyone.

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When Richard walked out, Margo locked herself away, leaving her three daughters, Rachel, Imogen and Sasha, to run wild.

Years later, charismatic Margo entertains lovers and friends in her cottage on the Isle of Wight, refusing to ever speak of Richard and her painful past. But her silence is keeping each of the Garnett girls from finding true happiness.

Rachel is desperate to return to London, but is held hostage by responsibility for Sandcove, their beloved but crumbling family home.

Dreamy Imogen feels the pressure to marry her kind, considerate fiancé, even when life is taking an unexpected turn.

And wild, passionate Sasha, trapped between her fractured family and controlling husband, is weighed down by a secret that could shake the family to its core…

My Thoughts:

I loved this book, I felt as though I was so absorbed into the book nothing else around me mattered. It is a beautiful story which explores the understanding of a family, you will get swept away into this book. I love the way Georgina the author has written the description of the place the book is set in the Isle of Wight, it is a beautiful setting to set a book. I felt as though the characters were all interesting and I loved following them throughout the book. If this is a debut I cannot wait to see what Georgina brings to the table next time.

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

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Danny is the definition of a man who ‘could do better’. He drinks more than he should, currently lives in his best friend’s garden shed – and he hasn’t spoken to his sister in 16 years.

But when Danny is the subject of a misleading newspaper article, claiming his lifestyle is actually quite enlightened, he suddenly finds himself in the limelight. Letters begin to flood in from strangers seeking his guidance.

Wolfie is the daughter of Danny’s estranged sister, Lou. She’s never met her uncle, but her mother is struggling. So when Wolfie sees Danny’s picture in the paper, she sets out to find him.

Within a week, Danny goes from being responsibility-free to a big brother, an uncle and an unwitting existential ‘guru’ to some very lost souls.

Can he become the man they all need him to be?

My Thoughts:

I am a big fan of this book, how does the author write such a moving story but with added humour. It is a gentle and heartfelt story that will bring tears to your eyes but also will lift your spirit. Danny is a man who has given up on life, he drinks too much, doesn’t speak to his family and lives in his best friend’s shed. After the newspaper gets a whiff of his current situation they decide to publish an article about him. Then comes Wolfie who is Danny’s sister’s daughter, she sees the uncle that she has never met and sets out to find him. Can Danny cope with being an uncle and can he finally get his life back on track. This was such a lovely read and I am glad I have read it.

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

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When 35-year-old Leni McKenzie is knocked off her bike, her family’s world is turned upside down.

Leni and her sister Alice were best friends as well as siblings. But did they know each other as well as Alice thought? In the hope of coming to terms with her grief, she tries to piece together Leni’s last weeks – but her discoveries only lead to more questions. And that’s before the surprise reappearance of someone from the past. Life is certainly getting very complicated …

Meanwhile, the rest of the family seem to be falling apart. Belinda, Alice’s mum, has developed an unhealthy obsession with a clairvoyant, and Tony, her dad, is stressed about becoming a father all over again, what with three failed marriages stacking up behind him.

As for Will, the youngest McKenzie, he’s in denial, having hopped onto a plane to Thailand days after the funeral. Secretly, he’s tormented by the part he played in Leni’s death … and the thing about secrets is, they always come out eventually …

My Thoughts:

I really love reading Lucy’s books, they are always real life situations and pure escapism which I love. I genuinely felt as though I was placed in the middle of the situation and felt as though I wanted to help the family come to terms with what happened. It can be relatable to some people and I hope it helps those people. I loved the way Lucy writes with such warmth and sympathy, and she also adds in a little humour that is such a comfort when you are reading a story like this. You won’t want to put this book down. It was beautiful.

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

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It’s 1990. The Happy Mondays are in the charts, a 15-year-old called Kate Moss is on the cover of the Face magazine, and Julia Roberts wears thigh-boots for the poster for a new movie called Pretty Woman. 
 
February Kingdom is nineteen years old when she is knocked sideways by family tragedy. Then one evening in May she finds an escaped canary in her kitchen and it sparks a glimmer of hope in her. With the help of the bird called Yellow, Feb starts to feel her way out of her own private darkness, just as her aunt embarks on a passionate and all-consuming affair with a married American drama teacher.  

My Thoughts:

Before I start my review I have to say how much I loved the cover, it is very 90’s which is the era this book is set in. It is a story about February Kingdom who is a young woman, at such a tender age she is hit with a family tragedy, when all looks down she finds a yellow canary in her home. It must of escaped from someone’s home but it gives her hope. Yellow as she calls it, helps her to see the light at the end of the tunnel and helps her to come to terms with what has happened and how to move on. I was very young in the 90’s so I don’t remember much but I am sure people reading this book can reminisce about that era. It didn’t have me hooked like I would of thought it would of done. The story was ok.

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

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Let me tell you a story…

When Chloe Hooper’s partner is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive illness, she has to find a way to tell their two young sons.

By instinct, she turns to the bookshelf. Can the news be broken as a bedtime tale? Is there a perfect book to prepare children for loss? Hooper embarks on a quest to find what practical lessons children’s literature—with its innocent orphans and evil adults, magic, monsters and anthropomorphic animals—can teach about grief and resilience in real life.

As she discovers, ‘the right words are an incantation, a spell of hope for the future.’ From the Brothers Grimm to Frances Hodgson Burnett and Tolkien and Dahl—all of whom suffered childhood bereavements—she follows the breadcrumbs of the world’s favourite authors, searching for the deep wisdom in their books and lives.

My Thoughts:

I spent a long time trying to decide what to write about this book, I felt as though I needed a moment until I could collect my thoughts to write a review, a book has never done that to me before and I have read many books. This book is about Chloe who’s partner has been diagnosed leukaemia and Chloe has to find a way to tell their two sons. It is a memoir but so much more, I could never imagine being in the position Chloe is in and I am sure other parents that are in similar situations will find comfort and also help in this read. I found it very emotional reading it but I absolutely loved how it was written. There are illustrations through out the book that just wonderful and so relatable. It is a book that I think will help parents and also anyone struggling with death and grief to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you are not alone.

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

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Transform your relationship with yourself! This is the ultimate guide to embracing self-love and living a life with more self-compassion

We all know the value of treating other people with kindness – so why do we often forget to extend the same courtesy to ourselves?

Learn a radical new approach to self-love with this beautiful handbook. Through a combination of practical tips and actionable advice, Self-Kindness will help you to deepen your self-love and grow your happiness.

You will learn how to:

Find peace within yourself and nurture a more positive mindset

Look after your mind and body to develop greater self-confidence

Enrich your overall health and well-being with diet and exercise

Tap into the uplifting power of affirmations

Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey to self-acceptance, or you’re a seasoned self-love advocate, let this guide celebrate and support you as you continue on the path to self-kindness, joy and well-being.

My Thoughts:

This is such a brilliant and handy book to have. I am going through some things at the moment and I have felt myself struggling a little bit. This book came at the perfect time for me and I now wont be anywhere without it. It is the perfect small size to be able to have in your handbag when you are out and about and need it. Each page is a different self kindness, even the colours on the pages make me feel calmer. It helps put you into a better mindset and shows you how to love you for you with practical tips and quotes. I like flicking to a different page and it really helps to set me up for the day. I love it. It is really helping me to learn to love myself.

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

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The Little Love Book is a heart-warming collection of uplifting quotes and practical exercises that capture the nature of love. This beautifully inspiring book is a celebration of love in all its forms, revealing pieces of wisdom, not just on love, but the messy business of affection.

My Thoughts:

This book cover is so simple yet so stunning with the gold foil. It is a handy sized small book that would be great as a gift for Valentines day or to show someone how much you love them. It is so much more than just beautiful love quotes, it shows you things to do together, different tips, it basically shows you how to bring you and your loved one together and how to really mean it. It is a wonderful book.

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

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A beautiful, heartfelt collection of romantic words and powerful affirmations of love – the perfect gift, whatever the occasion, for the one who has captured your heart

You are my everything

For the person you can’t live without – the one who puts butterflies in your stomach and a smile in your heart; your best friend and closest confidant all in one – this book will show that special someone how much they mean to you.

Writers and poets have long looked for the perfect way to say “I love you”. This charming book brings together some of the most soul-stirring expressions of passion, from lovers old and new – from Sappho and Rumi to modern-day romantics like Kahlil Gibran and Sally Rooney.

My Thoughts:

This is such a lovely little book, it would make the perfect gift for Valentines of just to show someone how much they mean to you. It is a collection of different quotes and words for your loved one. It is a good size to keep handy when you want to tell someone one of the quotes. Reading through them all it made me feel really happy and made me realise how much I love my husband. I am now going to be reading him one at bedtime so he knows how much he is loved.

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

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