Polly Potter is surviving, not thriving. She used to love her job – until her mentor died and her new boss decided to make her life hell. She used to love her partner Chris – until he cheated on her, and now she can’t forget. The only place where her life is working is on the pages of the novel she is writing – there she can create a feistier, bolder, more successful version of herself – as the ­fictional Sabrina Anderson.

But what if it was possible to start over again? To leave everything behind, forget all that went before, and live the life you’d always dreamed of?

After a set of unforeseen circumstances, Polly ends up believing she really IS Sabrina, living at the heart of a noisy Italian family restaurant by the sea. Run by Teddy, the son of her new landlady Marielle, it’s a much-loved place, facing threat of closure as a rival restaurant moves in next door. Sabrina can’t remember her life as Polly, but she knows she is living a different life from the one she used to have.

But what if this new life could belong to her after all?

My Thoughts:

You just know when you read one of Milly’s books you are just going to love it, her books just keep getting better and better. Polly is not loving her job anymore since her boss died. Everyone treats her as a skivvy and she is fed up with it, so she has plan and one she is sticking to to make her life much better. When she gets home after a long day at work it is no better as her husband to be is exactly the same basically just using her. The only way she can escape is her passion for writing, she can escape through the writing and be in a different world. Will she be able to go forward with her plan to escape or will she be stuck in a rut forever? I really warmed to Polly, I am sure there are plenty of women in the world that may be in the same situation as Polly and want to leave but don’t feel confident to actually do it. This proves you can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it. I did feel as though I went through an emotional rollercoaster but there is always something so comforting about reading one of Milly’s books. I really enjoyed it.

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

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For Piglet – an unshakable childhood nickname – getting married is her opportunity to reinvent. Together, Kit and Piglet are the picture of domestic bliss – effortless hosts, planning a covetable wedding … But if a life looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Thirteen days before they are due to be married, Kit reveals an awful truth, cracking the façade Piglet has created. It has the power to strip her of the life she has so carefully built, so smugly shared. To do something about it would be to self-destruct. But what will it cost her to do nothing?

As the hours count down to their wedding, Piglet is torn between a growing appetite and the desire to follow the recipe, follow the rules. Surely, with her husband, she could be herself again. Wouldn’t it be a waste for everything to curdle now?

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to read this book. It is all about Piglet who is married and everything is going well in her life until she finds something out about her fiancé that breaks down everything she ever knew. But what should she do. It is a thought provoking read that deals with sensitive issues that Lottie the author has written well. The pace is good and zips through Piglets life and discusses all the delicious mouth watering food that is included in this story. It was an interesting read.

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I have seen an increasing number of posts on twitter for the last few months of our local bookshops struggling to ends meet. People are just not buying from their local bookshops anymore, which I feel is a real shame. The people that run these bookshops are putting so much effort and time into running the bookshop and completing online orders. YES online orders, if you didn’t know most of them have a website where you can purchase the books online. But I don’t know about you, but there is always something so lovely about going into the bookshop and perusing the shelves yourself. It is a cosy environment and the smell is amazing. Every bookshop owner will help you choose the book you are after or leave you be, but they are always the friendliest of people and cannot help enough. They are very knowledgeable and you can be having a natter about books which has certainly helped my mental health at times.

Why you should support your local bookshop:

cosy atmosphere

knowledgeable and friendly staff

You will be helping to support a local business

If you go in, you are more likely to pick a book that you would of never picked before.

Local bookshops also run events. Which could be author signings or author readings.

Great way to meet new people.

Here are two small business bookshops that I think your going to love:

https://www.foxlanebooks.co.uk

This is a great website and very easy to navigate, there is also a sale on at the moment so grab your bargains whilst you can. If you are after a gift for a book lover I recommend checking out their gifts section, there is literally something for everyone in there. I have placed my first order with them and the process was so easy. I treated myself to a few books and a really nice tote bag, will post a picture once they arrive. Very excited.

https://www.book-ish.co.uk/shop

This is another great website which offers something a little different. On here not only can you purchase books but there are different subscriptions to choose from, here is an example:

choose a type of book, ie: fiction, non fiction, crime etc

pick how long for a subscription, 1 month up to 12 months.

You will get sent the book every month and they may even thrown in some goodies too. This is a great idea for yourself but also for the book lover in your life.

Another cool idea that they do is blind date with a book, you pick which description you like the sound of and they will send you a book you know nothing about straight to your door. I love the sound of this and it must be exciting not knowing what book you will receive. They also do lots of lovely gifts for book lovers. If you decide to visit Book-ish they have a lovely café which serves delicious cakes and other food. I think it is a win win, food and books and great chat. If you go, you must leave me a comment and let me know what it is like.

If you like what you see, need a present for a book lover or just want to treat yourself, please remember these two small businesses as every little help and they would be made up to receive an order for whatever you would like.

Just remember Support your local Bookshops. Happy Reading

Valdin is still in love with his ex-boyfriend Xabi, who left the country because he thought he was making Valdin sad. Greta is in love with fellow English tutor Holly, who only seems to be using her for admin support. But perhaps all is not lost. Valdin is coming to realize that he might not be so unlovable, and Greta, that she might be worth more than the papers she can mark.

Helping the siblings navigate queerness, multiracial identity, and the tendency of their love interests to either leave the country or not love them back, is the whole Vladisavljevic family: Maori-Russian-Catalonian, and as passionate and loving as they are eccentric and over-emotional.

My Thoughts:

This is a story of love and family. Greta and Valdin are siblings who each have their own personal lives. They have a big family and to help navigate the big wide world, their family is on hand to show them the way. I think everyone is going to love both of these siblings and I just loved the whole family as one. It was heart warming to see what the family do in the situations that Greta and Valdin get themselves up to. It was a great story to encounter and I look forward to more of Rebecca’s books

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

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For Geeta, life as a widow is more peaceful than life as a wife…

Until the other women in her village decide they want to be widows, too.

Geeta is believed to have killed her vanished husband – a rumour she hasn’t bothered trying to correct, because a reputation like that can keep a single woman safe in rural India. But when she’s approached for help in ridding another wife of her abusive drunk of a husband, her reluctant agreement sets in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of all the women in the village….

My Thoughts:

When Geeta is accused of a terrible crime, but she is not about to correct these people as her reputation can keep her safe in India. When she is asked to do the unspeakable, will she agree to it, will she be able to help the other women in her village? It was a great read full of unexpected twists, I laughed out loud so many times. It was a thrilling and adventurous story that really made me chuckle. I look forward to reading more by this author.

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

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On a small private Greek island, former movie star Lana Farrar – an old friend – invites a select group of us to stay.

It’ll be hot, sunny, perfect. A chance to relax and reconnect – and maybe for a few hidden truths to come out.

Because nothing on this island is quite what it seems.

Not Lana. Not her guests.

Certainly not the murderer – furiously plotting their crime . . .

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

My Thoughts:

A select bunch of friends are invited to stay on a private Island, this is going to be a chance to relax and enjoy themselves but the island has other ideas for them and when something dreadful happens, who is to blame? the story is narrated by Elliot who is one of the select bunch and we hear it from his perspective what went on. But there is more to Elliot than meets the eye, it was intriguing reading it from Elliot’s point of view but it also confused me a little. They are all intriguing in their own rights. But who is the murderer? It was a good read but I find that this kind of story with an island and a murderer same to previous books I have read. They feel a little overdone now.

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

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As soon as Kat Jenson set foot in the idyllic French village of Kirchhoffen, she knew she’d found her home. Now she has a dreamy boyfriend, a delightful dog and the perfect job managing a bustling book café in the vibrant Parc Lemmel. ‘

But when she learns her boyfriend isn’t all he seems, it’s the start of a difficult summer for Kat. Vindictive troublemakers, work woes and family heartache follow, and the clear blue sky that was her life suddenly seems full of clouds.

Then she gets to know the mysterious Noah, and her sun begins to shine brighter than ever. But Noah has problems of his own – ones that could scupper their new-found happiness. Together, can they overcome their many obstacles, and find love again?

My Thoughts:

Kat has the perfect life living in France, with her boyfriend and their dog. She has a book café that is always busy and full of life and she is living the dream until she finds out something about her boyfriend that she never expected. With family problems and work issues can Kat ever find a happy medium again? It was a great pick up and put down read, I felt as though I didn’t really have to concentrate too much which was nice. I wanted to read something set in the summer so I could imagine the warmth of the sun on my back and this book did that for me. I enjoyed it. It was perfect light relief.

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At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless jobs since graduating college. On the heels of leaving another city, Hannah moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles and takes up residence with her best friend Gabby. Shortly after, Hannah goes out to a bar one night with Gabby and meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

Just after midnight, Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. A moment later, Ethan offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay. Hannah hesitates. What happens if she leaves with Gabby? What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent story lines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into radically different stories with large-scale consequences for Hannah, as well as the people around her. As the two alternate realities run their course, Maybe in Another Life raises questions about fate and true love: Is anything meant to be? Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she’s found him.

My Thoughts:

I cannot get enough of Taylor’s books at the minute, this one was just so good. It is about Hannah and how her life changes when she goes back to her hometown, she is not happy where she is living so decides to go and live back home with her best mate. One night when they go out, Hannah sees her boyfriend from when she was at school, but is this fate and what does this mean for the future? Next we see two completely different storylines for Hannah’s future that run alongside each other. It was a very clever idea for a story and it worked really well. I enjoyed seeing what path Hannah could take for her future happiness. It was a really interesting concept and I really enjoyed reading it.

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Five old friends.
One glamping weekend.
A storm that will change everything.

Max and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. They invite old university friends – TV star Dominic, doctor and new mum Kira, and free-spirited Jim and Suze – and their children for a trial weekend but the reunion quickly veers off-course.
First, there’s The Incident around the campfire on the first night. The following afternoon, a storm quickly develops off the rugged North Coast. When one of their group goes missing, all hell breaks loose. And as the winds batter the bell-tents, emotions run high and tension mounts for all the characters.
Who is lying in hospital, who has gone missing and who is the body on the beach below the cliffs . . .?

My Thoughts:

Five friends go glamping but will they all go home at the end of the weekend? All the friends have their own lives and when they get together everything seems fine to start with and then something dreadful happens. They all have their own secrets and you can almost feel the tension between them. I could never of imagined what the outcome would be. It is a fast paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat. This was such a great thriller and one I would recommend. I will be looking out for more of Hannah’s books in the future now.

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

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Benny Catspaw’s perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée, and his favorite chair. He’s not paranoid. Someone is out to get him. He just doesn’t know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he’s never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. All will be well in time.

How strange―though it’s a blessing, his uncle promises. Stranger yet is what’s inside the crate. He’s a seven-foot-tall self-described “bad weather friend” named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. Spike will take care of it. He’ll find Benny’s enemies. He’ll deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn’t such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation.

In the company of Spike and a fascinated young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure, the likes of which never would have crossed the mind of a decent guy like him.

My Thoughts:

Benny Catspaw is out of luck at the minute, he has lost his job and his fiancé and is just fed up with life right now. He knows there is someone out to get him and he cant shake off that feeling of being followed.
Benny’s luck changes when he inherits his uncles place but is it too good to be true? But when he finds a crate with his name on it, Benny could never of imagined what could be in there. Meet Spike, Benny’s new sidekick and together they will fight the world and go on great adventures together. I loved the name Benny Catspaw only because I have a cat called Benson and we call him Benny. It is my first book by Dean and I did find it hard to get into. The pace was steady to start with but does build up. It was a good strong read and I did love Spike.

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

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