No one sees him coming.
A stock-market trader is pushed from a high-rise balcony and falls to his death on the street below. The only clue the police can find is a box of matches.

No one survives for long.
The decomposing body of a member of the Saudi Royal Family is discovered in a car. Evidence suggests the killer took the man’s life, then stole his identity, wore his clothes and lived in his hotel room – before vanishing into thin air like smoke.

Nothing but matchsticks are left behind.
Dr Bloom realizes the only thing linking these murders is a trail of burnt matches and broken lives. Time is running out – and if she isn’t careful, she might be the next to burn …

My Thoughts:

This is book four in the DR Bloom series, this is the first book I have read in this series and I would recommend reading the other books first to get more of a sense of the characters as I felt as though I was missing out on that part. I liked how the plot sounded and was intrigued to find out about certain things. After two people die and the only clue is a box of matches can Dr Bloom find the killer before it is too late. I was intrigued about the matches and what significance they had, there are many turns that keep you guessing till the very end. It was good but the pace for me was a little slow.

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

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Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil co-parenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

My Thoughts:

This is the sequel to It Ends With Us and I highly recommend reading them in order as the book carries on with Lily, Ryle and Atlas’s story. I really loved this book so much, maybe a little more than the first book. After not seeing each other for so long Lily and Atlas decide to go on a date but it is not as easy as that, nothing ever is especially when you have a ex husband that is on the war path but can Lily and Atlas see a way through all that? There are sensitive topics raised to do with domestic violence, Lily has been through so much and was truly hoping she would get her happy ending finally. She deserves to be happy and with Atlas they are great together. It had a great pace to it all the way through that made me sit on the edge of my seat. I felt emotional after I had finished it, but wow what a corker of a book. Definitely in my top ten books I have loved this year.

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When Sky Terran returns to the village of Middledip after losing the job she loves, she anticipates a quiet Christmas getting used to her new life. However, the annual street decoration competition is coming up and this year, the residents of Winter Street are determined to win.

As she is pulled into the preparations, Sky quickly grows to love the quirky, tight-knit community she is now part of. Including the extremely handsome Daz, who soon becomes more than just a friendly neighbour.

But when Daz’s ex turns up determined to win him back and it seems he might not be the man Sky thought he was, she remembers how much allowing people into her life – and heart – can hurt. As the snow falls, will she and Daz find a way through – and help win a Christmas victory for Winter Street?

My Thoughts:

I love a good Christmas read and this one was really good. I have not read one of Sue’s books for a while and it was a brilliant and festive read. Sky has returned to Middledip the place where she grew up, now as a woman, she has come back after losing her job but gaining a beautiful old house. But does anyone remember her and it being a close knit community how will the villagers react to an outsider? It is a great packed story with plenty of interesting characters. I loved it and loved returning to Middledip.

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

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A family gathering
This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal – to avoid their family’s well-meaning questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don’t intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.

An uninvited guest
Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone, and the prospect of losing her job – unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller. She’ll deliver her proposal to his family home in the Scottish Highlands and then leave. After all, she wouldn’t want to intrude on the Miller’s perfect family Christmas.

A Christmas to remember
When Lucy appears on the Miller’s snow-covered doorstep, she is mistaken for Ross’s girlfriend. But by the time the confusion is cleared up, a storm has hit and Lucy is stuck. As everyone settles in for a snowed-in Christmas, tensions bubble to the surface and suddenly Lucy finds herself facing a big family fallout with a family that isn’t hers…

My Thoughts:

This was the perfect wintery read for me to snuggle up with. I loved it so much. The main character is called Lucy and after having to face the biggest time of the year alone and nearly losing her job, can she turn it all around by going to Scotland and trying to sort it all out. But what happens when you get stuck in the middle of nowhere? I loved seeing where the story was going to go, there were many different characters and I think I liked Lucy and I found the grandma quite funny too. Sarah’s books are always like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. Perfect.

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

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Meet Vikki and Justin, two best friends from Leeds, in chilly Northern England. Justin works at a bakery and Vikki is stuck at an office, and both of them are bored and badly needing a change in life.
One day at work, Vikki gets a surprise phone call that could change their fortunes forever…Do the two best pals have the courage to risk it all and start a fresh new adventure on distant shores? This is their golden opportunity, one that must surely be taken for a chance at the good life! Will they brace themselves and take the plunge together?
Cracking Ibiza is a fun-filled, easy-reading short novel, brimming over with sun, sea, sand, night-life, and plenty of humour- the perfect read to brighten up any day, all year round!

My Thoughts:

I have read a couple of this author’s books before and enjoyed them so was excited to learn that they had another book out. Cracking Ibiza is such an entertaining and amusing read. It is one of those books that you finish and want to re-read just to get that pleasure again. It is a fairly short and quick novel that I read in an evening and it has some great characters in it too. Vikki and Justin are two best friends who are both stuck in a rut and need their life changing asap. When a call comes through that could potentially change their lives they grab the bull by its horns and decide to take a leap of fate. Cue two best friends on a road trip, it was a very amusing and fun read that makes you wonder what if you had that opportunity would you go for it? A great read that will make you smile.

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

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When event planner Hallie Goodman receives party-inspiration material from the bride of her latest wedding project, the last thing she expects to find in the files are digital videos from Darcy’s ex-boyfriend. Hallie knows it’s wrong to keep watching these personal videos, but this guy is cute, funny, and an astronaut on the International Space Station to boot. She’s only human. And it’s not long until she starts sending e-mails and video diaries to his discontinued NASA address. Since they’re bouncing back, there’s no way anyone will ever be able to see them…right?

Christopher Ortiz is readjusting to life on earth and being constantly in the shadow of his deceased older brother. When a friend from NASA’s IT department forwards him the e-mails and video messages Hallie has sent, he can’t help but notice how much her sense of humor and pink hair make his heart race.

Separated by screens, Hallie and Chris are falling in love with each other, one transmission at a time. But can they make their star-crossed romance work when they each learn the other’s baggage?

My Thoughts:

I love how different and unique the storyline is, Hallie is an events planner and whilst planning a wedding for a couple she discovers the bride’s ex has left some video files on her laptop. Hallie decides to watch them and discovers they are from Chris. But what makes it more interesting is that Chris is an astronaut and was in Space at the time of filming the video. I love how the author Samantha has included space into her story, it was interesting to learn some new things about being in space as an astronaut. Also there is a romance which you could of guessed anyway from the title. I loved this fun and quirky read and even though it was a slow burner, it really was a joy to read.

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

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When college senior, Cassie, spends her Friday evening at an off-campus bar, she isn’t looking for a hook-up – it just happens. Buying a drink for a stranger turns into what should be an uncomplicated, amazing one-night stand. But then the next morning rolls around and her friend drags her along to meet her mum . . . who turns out to be the hot, older woman Cassie just slept with.

Erin was meant to spend the weekend getting closer to her daughter, not having a one-night stand. But despite her better judgement – how could sleeping with your daughter’s friend be anything but bad? – Erin and Cassie get along in the day just as well as they did last night.

What should have been a one-time fling quickly proves impossible to ignore, and soon Cassie and Erin are sneaking around. Worst of all, they start to realize they might really have something real. But is being honest about the love between them worth the cost?

My Thoughts:

Cassie is at college and one evening whilst out, she hooks up with a stranger, it is amazing and everything she could ever ask for until she realises the next day the person she hooked up with is her mates mum. cue awkwardness but neither can resist one another so they decide to keep quiet and have a good time, but when this happens feelings are turning into something far more real than Cassie could ever imagine. Love is love, it doesn’t matter who you love but how you have to deal with other people’s assumptions. It was a quick read that is full of sexiness.

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

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This anniversary edition celebrates 35 years of the original Winnie and Wilbur adventure.

Winnie shares her big black house with Wilbur her big black cat. So sometimes she accidentally trips over him. Ouch! After some spells that make Wilbur look very silly, Winnie finds just the right magic to make sure she can always see him. It’s a colourful Winnie and Wilbur adventure! Korky Paul’s intricate artwork is full of madcap humour and crazy details to pore over.

Since Winnie and Wilbur first appeared in 1987, they have been delighting children and adults in homes and schools all over the world and more than 9 million books have been sold. Celebrating the wonderful relationship that exists between Winnie and Wilbur, this anniversary edition includes forewords by the author and illustrator, a gallery of Winnie and Wilbur’s most magical memories, and sketches from Korky Paul’s studio.

My Thoughts:

I was so excited to read and review this book, this book really bought me back to my childhood where I would sit and read these books with my mum, I loved reminiscing and remembering Winnie and Wilbur. The book itself is beautiful and I can’t believe it is celebrating 35 years that is crazy. The illustrations are wonderful as always and lots to look at, lovely colour pictures bring the story to life. I read it then had to re-read it as it was such a wonderful and engaging story. It is an amusing story for all ages and I am glad I got the opportunity to revisit my favourite childhood book.

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

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Better cooking is a lifelong journey. It’s the flick of a wrist, pinch of the fingers, the whiff of a waft. It’s intuition. It’s flying hours and muscle memory, from childhood, through school and young-adult years, to bring-a-plates and dinner parties where you learn to keep things simple … eventually.

But what happens when we miss a stage? Or three?

The Art of Better Cooking is an instruction manual, but you’d never know it. Alice Zaslavsky, master-mind behind the colourful debut (and award-winning) cookbook, In Praise of Veg presents a collection of 100 recipes (plus countless riffs) that you’ll want to cook, on a weekly basis, with tips and tricks scribbled in the margins, and explanations where need be, so that by the time you’re finished (never!) you’ll have tripped over technique to a point where if feels second nature.

Starting with chapter one, entitled Really Outstanding Things Simply Thrown Together (hello All-seasons Avo Half and Wedge Caesar), through to Never Going Back (Fava Bean Felafel, Hubbababaganoush) and Making the Most of It (delicious ideas with leftovers, saggy bits and preserves). Then it’s Loosen the Shoulders Time (Onion and Tomato Pie) and building up to Showstoppers and Centrepieces (yes you can make Salt and Pepper Creme Caramel).

All recipes are naturally veg-forward, with countless suggestions for making adaptations, spotlights on favourite produce and kitchen gadgets galore.

You are a better cook than you know. Here’s the book that builds your confidence.

My Thoughts:

I love reviewing something a bit different from my usual reads. Being a big fan of cooking my own meals and regularly making things from scratch I was excited to delve into this book. I love the retro design and feel of this book, it is packed with some delicious sounding recipes that I cannot wait to try and recreate. There are different sections to this book, so like bits and bobs tossed together, using up gluts and windfalls, go-to’s, weekend food and of course sweet desserts. Just looking at the pictures made my mouth water and I couldn’t resit writing a list of all the different recipes that I want to recreate. I also like how after the recipe it has bonus bits which really helps as it shows you how to do certain things to do with the recipe like making the sauce or tips if things are not going how they should. Such a brilliant and amazing cookbook that I cannot wait to try out. It seems easy to follow too.

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

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Good taste is in the eye of the beholder….

England, 1932, and the country is in the grip of the Great Depression. To lift the spirits of the nation, Stella Douglas is tasked with writing a history of food in England. It’s to be quintessentially English and will remind English housewives of the old ways, and English men of the glory of their country. The only problem is – much of English food is really from, well, elsewhere…

So, Stella sets about unearthing recipes from all corners of the country, in the hope of finding a hidden culinary gem. But what she discovers is rissoles, gravy, stewed prunes and lots and lots of oatcakes.

Longing for something more thrilling, she heads off to speak to the nation’s housewives. But when her car breaks down and the dashing and charismatic Freddie springs to her rescue, she is led in a very different direction….

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t wait to start this book, a book that is centred around food is my idea of heaven. The amount of research that has gone in to this book is awesome, Caroline has really pulled it out of the bag with this heavenly novel. I found Stella the main character very warming and easy to connect with, she has a real passion for her job. I found it a fascinating insight into the world of English nostalgia and the way the world has changed since then. I hope Caroline writes another book along these lines as it was a wonderful insight into the world of food.

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

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