Three months after Kyo Maclear’s father dies in December 2018, she gets the results of a DNA test showing that she and the father who raised her are not biologically related. Suddenly Maclear becomes a detective in her own life, unraveling a family mystery piece by piece, and assembling the story of her biological father. Along the way, larger questions arise: What exactly is kinship? What does it mean to be a family? And how do we belong to larger ecosystems?

My Thoughts:

This is Kyo Maclear’s story about her life and how it all changed when she had some results of a DNA test done. Kyo finds out something that she never would of expected. And this is the story about how she overcame these obstacles. It is a thought provoking read and I really felt for Kyo at times. It was a very moving and powerful read that I would recommend reading. It was great.

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

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Grief is universal, but it’s also as unique to each of us as the person we’ve lost. It can be overwhelming, exhausting, lonely, unreasonable, there when we least expect it and seemingly never-ending. Wherever you are with your grief and whoever you’re grieving for, I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This is here to support you. To tell you, until you believe it, that things will get easier.

When bestselling writer Clare Mackintosh lost her five-week-old son, she searched for help in books. All of them wanted to tell her what she should be feeling and when she should be feeling it, but the truth – as she soon found out – is that there are no neat, labelled stages for grief, or crash grief-diets to relieve us of our pain. What we need when we’re grieving is time and understanding. With 18 short assurances that are full of compassion – drawn from Clare’s experiences of losing her son and her father – I Promise it Won’t Always Hurt Like This is the book she needed then.

My Thoughts:

This is different to Clare’s other books but I am so glad she has written it. Everyone deals with grief in different ways and I have seen it first hand. But when the author writing this book has been through grief then you know what you are reading is straight from the heart, Clare’s way of helping others with how to deal with grief. There are 18 different assurances in this book to console and help the reader, and even though I have never read anything like this before I am glad I have because I have lost people in the past and I feel as though I never had any help with the grieving process. I am so glad Clare has written this book, and I really hope it helps lots of people in the world. I am glad she has written it but I am very sorry for her loss, her words have really touched me.

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

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Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.

As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.

But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.

As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . 

My Thoughts:

I have read a few of Lesley’s books now and always enjoyed them so when I saw she had an memoir I knew I needed to read it. It is a wonderful insight into the life of Lesley Pearse, it explores all aspects of her life and I couldn’t believe some of the things she had to go through in her life. I went through many emotions reading this book and I really felt for Lesley at times but she does show that you can get through anything. What a wonderful memoir and I have great inspiration from reading this book. I loved reading this book.

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

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London, 1915: Tarot reader Katerina is trying to hold her life together amid the wartime chaos. When she opens a bakery that offers divination alongside sweet treats, she is hailed as a beacon of hope. But Katerina is hiding a dark truth that could cost her everything.

Germany, 1918: A mute British soldier is taken to a prisoner of war camp where he meets Miriam, a researcher. She is drawn to his gentle manner and secretly vows to help him. But soon she will have to make an impossible choice: will she save the one she loves, or herself?

Cornwall, Present Day: Recently widowed Edie is astonished to discover a mysterious box hidden in the wall of her newly renovated cottage. As Edie starts to investigate, she uncovers a secret that has lain hidden for over a century…

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this book, set in three different times and three different places. London in 1915 we see Katerina living through the War, she wants to help people so sets up a bakery but there is more to her than meets the eye. In Germany in 1918 we are sent to a prisoner of war camp and meet Miriam who is a researcher there, but when a soldier comes in with a request can she help him or will she be caught doing the wrong thing. In the present day we are in Cornwall where Edie finds a box hidden in the walls of her new home, but what secrets will she uncover. I loved how the stories intertwined and I felt hope for all of these women. Parts are sad but parts are also happy, I was willing for better lives for Katerina and Miriam. Iris the author has done some brilliant research into this book and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend.

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

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Donegal, Ireland, 1939

As the world teeters on the brink of WWII, Eliza Lavery is alone in the world after her fiancé, Davey, was lost following the Irish War of Independence. But a fateful meeting on the wild beauty of Ballymastocker Bay could change everything.

Hamilton, Bermuda, 2022

Eight decades later, troubled by her future, Saoirse O’Donnell walks on the pink sands of Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay. When she uncovers a connection to Eliza, all those years before, she hears a story that promises to influence her own heart and her own choice – but that also reveals a long-buried secret.

My Thoughts:

The story alternates between 1939 and 2022, I loved reading about Eliza who lived in Ireland in 1939 just before WWII happened. I found her story incredibly interesting and heartfelt. A love story at it’s best. In 2022 Saoirse finds out she has a connection with Eliza and then we see the stories intertwine. There is a lot of historic detail through out this book which made it even more interesting to me to read, you can see Carmel has researched well into this novel. I loved it from the start to the very end. A must read.

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

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Twenty years.
One secret.
A promise never to tell…

Nikki finally owns the coastguard cottage of her dreams – and it’s just a few steps away from the hidden beach that means so much to her . . .

But when a handwritten note lands on her doorstep, she realises it’s only a matter of time before the heartbreaking truth about her past is uncovered.

Twenty years ago, her world was turned upside-down when a terrible storm rolled into the tiny Cornish town of Speedwell.

Ever since that night, Nikki has been keeping a secret. One she knows has the power to destroy the lives of those she loves most.

Because as sure as the tide turns, there are no secrets in a small town. . . .

My Thoughts:

Nikki is returning to her town that she left many years ago, she has found the most perfect cottage that has been in her dreams for a long time, but whilst she is getting settled in to her new life, mysterious notes are left on her doorstep and it is from someone who knows about her past and the secrets she tried to leave behind many years ago, but who is it and what do they want from her? I always feel with Veronica’s books that you can just melt away with them, you can get lost in between the pages of someone else’s life. It is a gentle pace with sensitive issues that Veronica does well to be sympathetic. I was sad when I finished this wonderful read but I look forward to Veronica’s next book.

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

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Someone is killing the world’s leading experts on robotics and computers. A desperate Russian scientist approaches Court Gentry and Zoya Zakharova to ask for their protection, but before they can help, they are attacked by a team of professional assassins.

They escape, but wherever they turn, it’s clear that whoever’s tracking them is always going to be one step ahead. With a danger of this level, there’s no choice but to attack into the threat.

There is one man who may hold the answers to all their questions. But he’s gone to ground in a fortress surrounded by a veritable army. If that’s bad enough, he has a new chief of security - Court’s old comrade, Zack Hightower.

My Thoughts:

This is book thirteen in the Gray Man Series and this is my first book by Mark. It can be read as a standalone, right from the first page, you get a sense of this is going to be a great read and it really was. The story line held my attention, the characters really made the story into something great. It was intense, gripping and full of action. I likes the way the story unfolds throughout. It was a great read and now I want to go back and read the previous books. This would be great as a film.

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

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An impulsive lie told with the best intentions consumes the Wilf Family. Even as they change and grow, each is haunted by what they choose to forget. Then the Shenkmans move in across the street: a couple with their own secrets and a lonely, brilliant son.

As their stories collide in ways they never could have imagined, the past comes hurtling back to Division Street, setting in motion a spellbinding chain of events that will transform both families forever.

my Thoughts:

This is a story about two very different families that all have secrets that they want to keep hidden but that is easier said then done. We moved through the book with the past, present and the future and as the reader gets a full history of both families. It was edge of the seat reading that had me gripped from the start. I wanted to know all about these two families and how they would intertwine. A very good read. One I would recommend.

I received an Arc Copy of this book for an honest review.

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When she discovers her biological mother has had a new baby, Chloe doesn’t hesitate to provide a home for her. Failing to meet social services financial evaluation, she’s forced into a new initiative: joining households with another prospective guardian.

Surly garage mechanics Warren, who is trying to gain custody of his deaf teenage brother, does not make a great first impression. But as their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren discover they have more in common than they thought. So much so that the chemistry between them threatens everything they’ve fought for…

My Thoughts:

When Chloe has to move out of her home, she has to share a house with someone else this is where Warren comes in. He doesn’t show the most nicest of approaches towards Chloe but they ideally want the same thing at the end. So they learn to love with each other. But is there more to meet the eye than just living together, as they get to know each other they like what they see. A great and fun read. It was an easy pick up and put down kind of read where little concentration is needed. My kind of read. I liked all the characters too.

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

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When Cass is asked by her father to take on an unusual photography project in the Caribbean Island of Dominica, she really can’t see a reason to say no.

But the remote island has just been hit be a severe hurricane, leaving destruction in its wake. Cass is travelling with Ranulph who is searching for the rare stone carvings her father wants her to photograph.

Their hunt leads Cass down a path of bravery and self-discovery, and she soon falls for Ranulph, who has been by her side every step of the way.

But does he feel the same way about her?

My Thoughts:

I haven’t read many of Katie’s books before but I liked the sound of this one. Cass is going on an adventure to a remote island all because her dad wants her to photograph something rare. But the man who her father has sent with her is a bit distracting as Cass really fancies him. The island has been devastated by a hurricane and Cass and Ranulph have to do everything to help these poor people recover. Cass doesn’t know if Ranulph feels the same about her but I am sure she will discover sooner or later if he does. It was a nice easy read, a feel good story that will make you heart feel uplifted and warm. I liked Cass right from the start and how she tackles everything in her stride. The story grabbed my attention.

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

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