WELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME…
Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family is in desperate need of a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the place to make that happen.

MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS…
Not long after they move in, Salma spots her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in their front garden. She chooses not to confront Tom because she wants to fit in. It’s a small thing, really. No need to make a fuss. So Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window instead. But the next morning she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.

AND PREPARE FOR THE NIGHTMARE TO BEGIN…
This time she does confront Tom, and the battle lines between the two families are drawn. As things begin to escalate and the stakes become higher, it’s clear that a reckoning is coming… And someone is going to get hurt.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this story, it is all about Salma and her family. When they move to a suburban development they think they are finally safe but when their neighbour starts acting out of turn, they are torn between what is right to do. They could never imagined how their lives will change for the worst. It is a great story packed with twists and turns and intriguing characters. I really felt for the family and hated the neighbour, it is one of those books that you want to keep reading because you can’t believe what is going on. A terrific read.

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

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Stranded on a dark road in the middle of the night, a young woman accepts a lift from a passing stranger. It’s the nightmare scenario that every girl is warned about, and she knows the dangers all too well – but what other choice does she have?

As they drive, she alternates between fear and relief – one moment thinking he is just a good man doing a good thing, the next convinced he’s a monster. But when he delivers her safely to her destination, she realizes her fears were unfounded.

And her heart sinks. Because a monster is what she’s looking for.

She’ll try again tomorrow night. But will the man who took her sister take the bait?

My Thoughts:

This is such a cleverly done thriller about a woman who accepts a lift from a stranger, its late at night and she is fearful for life, who is this man and why did he offer her a lift? does he have an ulterior motive? but once she gets to a place of safety everything is fine. She realises he is not the man who took her sister and she will do everything she can to find that man and make him pay for what he did. I loved the sound of this story and it was really good. A crazy good story that makes you think what would you do in that situation. It is a twisty story so don’t assume you know what is going to happen. You won’t want to read this creepy and thrilling read. I could never of imagined the outcome. Superb.

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

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Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on foodbanks for dinner, and doesn’t have a mum. But she’s happy enough with her dad and a mini zoo of rescued wildlife to care for. Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a private tutor and everything he could ever want. But his life isn’t perfect-far from it. He’s stuck at home recovering from cancer with an overprotective mum and no friends.

When a nest of baby birds brings them together as an animal rescue team, Adam and Norah discover they’re not so different after all. Can they solve the mystery of Norah’s missing mother together? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood?

My Thoughts:

I loved this book so much, even though it is a children’s book it really resonated with me. Norah’s life is completely different to Adam but when a nest of baby birds bring them together, what they don’t realise is that both of them help each other out. It kind of reminded me of a series I use to read as a child called Animal Ark. I felt for both kids and hoped that them being friends would help both their situations. It was a lovely feel good read that will shows kindness and friendship can help you feel as though you belong. It is a perfect read for animal lovers which I am and I loved reading that side of the story too.

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

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It’s New Year and Iceland is still reeling from the effects of the financial crash when a notorious financer is found beaten to death after a high-profile reception at the President’s residence. The Police are certain they have a killer – or do they? Determined to get to the truth, maverick lawyer Stella Blomkvist isn’t so sure. A stripper disappears from one of City’s seediest nightspots, and nobody but Stella seems interested in finding her. A drug mule cooling his heels in a prison cell refuses to speak to anyone but Stella – although she’s never heard of him. An old man makes a deathbed request for Stella to find the family he lost long ago. With a sharp tongue and a moral compass all of her own, Stella Blomkvist has a talent for attracting trouble and she’s as at home in the corridors of power as in the dark corners of Reykjavik’s underworld.

My Thoughts:

This book is set in Iceland and the whole story is about Stella Blomkvist, she is a maverick lawyer and is determined to find out the truth about a man who is found dead but things are not all as they seem, there are all these different cases that Stella wants to solve but can she solve them by herself? also will she end up getting into major trouble herself? I liked this short story, it had a great pace to it, it kept me engaged. Even though there are quite a few different characters in the story, I did feel as though I could keep up and remember who everyone was. The book has been translated and I think they have done a great job at that. It was intense, quirky and full of drama. I wonder what Stella Blomkvist will be getting up to next.

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

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A bonfire burns on a Cornish beach in the middle of the night.

Nearby, a young woman waits for morning, and for the estate agent to arrive with the keys to her new life in the peaceful fishing village.

She carries with her no trace of her previous life or the past she has left behind.

Quickly she becomes an object of fascination among the locals; one in particular finds that he is falling in love with her.

But can anyone really have a new life?
What happened to this woman’s old life?
And what price did she pay to escape it?

When secrets long buried explode into the light, they will change the lives of everyone around her.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this book, it sounded like my type of it. I think I have read one of Tony’s books in the past and enjoyed it so was looking forward to reading this one. It is set in a fishing village where everyone knows everyone else’s business. I would say it is a slow burner but makes up for it by all the twists and turns that pop up throughout the book. The story is a very intriguing one, when a woman turns up in this fishing village, she becomes an mysterious person to all living there, but why is she there and what secrets has she been hiding. Mystery, intriguing and full of suspense about who this woman is. A great story to get stuck into. I love Tony’s style of writing.

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

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“Don’t forget about the subtle magic that is happening all around you every day”

Meet the little frog! With its mushroom cap and endless collection of fabulous footwear, this adorable amphibian is here to be your new best friend. Whether you need an emotional boost, some friendly encouragement or an honest view on the world, the little frog will be your guide.

Created by the California-based artist Maybell Eequay, this book is a perfect compassionate gift for yourself or others. Inside you will find:
– Over 40 hand-drawn illustrations of the little frog
– Beautiful life lessons and empowering reminders that it’s okay to be gentle with yourself and to feel your feelings
– A humorous, no-nonsense approach to positivity

These illustrations will fill your heart with love for yourself and others, and remind you that it’s brave and wonderful of you to exist!

My Thoughts:

What a wonderful little book. Even the frog on the front made me smile. It is such a uplifting and sweet read. The illustrations are fantastic and really make the book special. The pages are filled with the beautiful illustrations but also positivity and life affirmations, it is a great little book that you can take anywhere and can flick to a page and read and feel the positivity. If you know anyone struggling, this would make a great gift to them. Even the illustrations make me smile so much so it is doing good just with them. A great little book with a cute frog.

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

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When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

My Thoughts:

I have read one of Taylor’s books before but it was a while ago and when I saw this book, I remembered how I liked the one before. I find her books thought provoking and engaging. This one is about Lauren and Ryan. They are married but going through issues and don’t like each other right now so Ryan decides something needs to be done about it and decides they both need a break from each other. Give it a year and see how how they feel about each other. There are rules that they both have to abide by. But Lauren struggles with some aspects of it, but finds comfort doing something that makes her feel closer to Ryan but will it have consequences. It is a story that you think what would you do in the same situation, I am sure there will be people that can relate to parts of this story. The ending surprised me but in a good way. I was not expecting the outcome but I loved it. I have now ordered more of Taylor’s books as I crave her writing and stories.

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She’s desperate to save her business. But will she end up losing her life?

Jenna Wyatt has finally achieved her dream. She loves baking cakes in her charming new café and relaxing in her perfect city flat. But as inflation soars and her shyster ex strikes, she worries everything she’s worked for will go up in flames.

Delighted when a customer offers to rent her spare rooms, she’s happy to tolerate his teenage daughter’s rudeness for a chance of financial security. But when she discovers her tenants are hiding secrets and a woman is found drowned in the canal, Jenna fears she’s been sharing her home with a killer.

Can she bring a murderer to justice without becoming the next victim?

My Thoughts:

Jenna has a decent life, she runs her cafe and bakes delicious sounding cakes in the city but money is tight and it is starting to rise more than she would like aside from starting to struggle she has her ex on her back and he is a no gooder. Help is in the form of a customer who decides to rent her spare room but with his daughter thrown into the mix who is rude, Jenna thinks everything might just be ok but is it? who is this man living in her spare room, he is more than meets the eye. I really enjoyed this thriller that transports you into the story where you just want to keep reading. I found it a good pace with some shocking twists which were unexpected. I felt tense for Jenna and thought about what I would do in her situation. I was thinking about this read whilst not reading it. It is the perfect read for a thriller fan.

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

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It was meant to be Caitlin’s perfect summer, but betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend, she finds herself hitchhiking home alone, heartbroken, and penniless.

When a smiling family pulls up on the roadside to help her on her way, she’s relieved – they seem so friendly, safe. And when they offer her a warm bed in their isolated house for the night, she’s grateful not to have to travel back alone in the dark. In any case, she’s in no rush to get home, where a grave secret is lying in wait to blow her family apart.

One night soon turns into two, and then three. The increasingly spellbinding couple wants her to stay, and why shouldn’t she? Their children need a tutor, and the longer she can avoid home, the better. But then an older member of the household warns her to leave immediately. And when her phone suddenly goes missing, when she realises that this perfect family is a perfect lie, it might not be so easy for her to leave…

My Thoughts:

When Caitlin finds herself homeless and alone, she decides to leave her life behind. With only a rucksack she finds herself being let into a car with a family who seem decent enough especially to give her a life. But when she turns up at their house, she could never imagine what she is going to experience, is there any way out? I love how Jane sets the scene as soon as Caitlin got in the car I knew something was off, all the family creeped me out. I didn’t want to stop reading, it was such a great story that had my mind all over the places thinking about all the different scenarios of what could happen. You are in for a shock.

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

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The Marriage Portrait is a dazzling evocation of the Italian Renaissance in all its beauty and brutality.

Winter, 1561. Lucrezia, Duchess of Ferrara, is taken on an unexpected visit to a country villa by her husband, Alfonso. As they sit down to dinner it occurs to Lucrezia that Alfonso has a sinister purpose in bringing her here. He intends to kill her.

Lucrezia is sixteen years old, and has led a sheltered life locked away inside Florence’s grandest palazzo. Here, in this remote villa, she is entirely at the mercy of her increasingly erratic husband.

What is Lucrezia to do with this sudden knowledge? What chance does she have against Alfonso, ruler of a province, and a trained soldier? How can she ensure her survival.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this blurb, it sounded right up my street. Lucrezia is on holiday with her husband Alfonso, whilst sitting down for dinner she knows why he has brought her here because he wants to kill her. It is a shame for me as this story didn’t live up to expectations, we get the before and now scenario which is good to get a little of the background. It is set in 1561 so I guess things were alot different back then. Maggie has clearly done her research into this book but I felt it lacked something, it was a little cringe and it made me wince a few times too. It made me feel uncomfortable that I jus wanted to finish it quickly. Not an author I would read again unfortunately.

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