WOULD YOU SAVE THE MAN
WHO DESTROYED YOUR LIFE?

When paramedic Megan Lowe is called to the scene of an attempted murder, all she can do is try to save the victim. But as the man is lifted onto a stretcher, she realises she knows him. She despises him. Why should she save his life when he destroyed hers?

Jess Foster is on her way home when she receives a text from Megan. Once best friends, the two women haven’t been close for years, not since the night when they were just the teenage girls whom no-one believed; whose reputations were ruined. All Jess can think is, you had it coming.

Now Megan and Jess are at the centre of a murder investigation. But what secrets are they hiding? Can they trust one another? And who really is the victim?

My Thoughts:

I was looking forward to reading this book as I don’t think I have read a book involving a paramedic and it is a job I find fascinating. Megan is the paramedic and whilst on call, she and her work mate get called to a job where she tries her best to save the victim, it is only when they lift him and she sees him more clearly that she realizes she knows him. What happened in the past to make her not want to help him? we then see the whole story unravel and spiral out of control. What happened back then? what is going to happen now that everything is dragged up again? A intriguing story that you are just unsure of how it is going to play out but the author does it brilliantly. After each chapter I just wanted to read more.

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

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NAOMI ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MOTHER.

But three years ago, her husband left, taking their child with him.

Now, her daughter has come to stay, and Naomi knows it’s her one chance to re-build her family.

But the night ends in a terrible accident.

And Naomi has no memory of what happened.

Panicking, desperate, Naomi finds herself telling a lie:

‘My daughter is missing.’

NOW SHE CAN NEVER TAKE IT BACK.

My Thoughts:

When I had finished this story, I couldn’t believe that it was a debut novel, it was superb. It shook me up to the point that I felt breathless, I needed to know how the story was going to finish but was not prepared for what was going to happen. Naomi’s husband left a few years ago taking their daughter with him, now she has come to stay with Naomi, can Naomi put everything right again with her? tragedy strikes and Naomi has no recollection of what actually happened, but will anyone believe her? will she be bale to find out what really happened to her daughter before it is too late? I found it a tense and gripping story, one that I didn’t want to put down for a second. It is the stuff of nightmares reading it.

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

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One house, two women, a lifetime of secrets…

Following the death of her mother, Becky begins the sad task of sorting through her empty flat. Starting with the letters piling up on the doormat, she finds an envelope post-marked from Cornwall. In it is a letter that will change her life forever. A desperate plea from her mother’s elderly cousin, Olivia, to help save her beloved home.

Becky arrives at Chynalls to find the beautiful old house crumbling into the ground, and Olivia stuck in hospital with no hope of being discharged until her home is made habitable.

Though daunted by the enormity of the task, Becky sets to work. But as she peels back the layers of paint, plaster and grime, she uncovers secrets buried for more than seventy years. Secrets from a time when Olivia was young, the Second World War was raging, and danger and romance lurked round every corner…

My Thoughts:

I love reading books that flit from the past to the present. The past is set in World War Two which gives a good perspective on that time especially for people living in a small fishing village. The war here seems so far away but it will have a way of finding them. Olivia is a sixteen year old girl who is being brought up in World War Two, it changes her life in so many ways and have repercussions in her lifetime. When we head to the present we meet Olivia again as a ninety year old lady, who I loved. She is a brilliant character and is full of feistiness and very direct but why not be at her age. Rebecca has just lost someone close to her and needs a new direction so comes to Cornwall to help out Olivia. It was lovely to see Rebecca grow. I loved escaping to Cornwall in this beautifully told tale.

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

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 These 25 poems are united in their aim to challenge comforts and hardships as they cover themes of love, family and hope. 

Observational in tone, the poems explore connections with those around us, old and new, from loved ones to strangers who pass by. They focus on human – and sometimes animal – nature, special moments, relationships over time, and detail the strength and beauty of those ties, when so much can feel out of our hands. 

The book also touches on romance, marriage, the birth of a nephew, passing of a grandad, and recent experiences through lockdown and restrictions, as it seeks to find meaning in places, at a time when we’ve all been forced to slow down and reflect.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this poem book, the illustrations in it are really lovely, and brings the book to life. These are a collections of different poems that deal with life and love, but also Chris has touched upon life in Lockdown as we are dealing with it at this moment in time. My favourite poems are Mr Cat, as I own a cat and it reminded me of him, also the name of the poem amuses me. Man upstairs, as we have a very noisy neighbour next door, I love how it is a short poem but packs a punch. Hit the slopes as how the poem is set out, is very clever, it is like two ski’s next to each other and St Ives Cafe is lovely too as the illustrations are just so inviting and the words made me crave a scone with jam.

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

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In Tokyo – one of the world’s largest megacities – a stray cat is wending her way through the back alleys. And, with each detour, she brushes up against the seemingly disparate lives of the city-dwellers, connecting them in unexpected ways.

But the city is changing. As it does, it pushes her to the margins where she chances upon a series of apparent strangers – from a homeless man squatting in an abandoned hotel, to a shut-in hermit afraid to leave his house, to a convenience store worker searching for love. The cat orbits Tokyo’s denizens, drawing them ever closer.

My Thoughts:

I loved how interesting this book was, it is a collection of short stories that are brought to life with nature and cats. I love the uniqueness of the book, each story is about the character and the nature and is captured in the title of each story. They are nice easy stories and it is a great pick me up read. I liked the fact it is all set around Tokyo, a place I have never been to but heard so much about. Also there is a part that talks about a game called Street fighter which I remember playing as a child. You don’t have to have heard or played the game but it would help to be knowledgeable. I really liked this read and cats included was the icing on the cake for me.

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

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Every family has its secrets, and at Hedgehog Hollow there is no exception…

It was always Samantha’s dream to run her beautiful rescue centre, Hedgehog Hollow, full-time. But just as her wish comes true, she becomes a victim of her own kindness when she finds herself with a house full of guests – all with their own problems and secrets – looking to her for support.

When her self-absorbed cousin, Chloe, unexpectedly turns up at the farm – swiftly handing over her baby to Samantha to care for – trouble is definitely brewing. Especially as Chloe won’t tell anyone why she’s left her husband, James…

As Samantha juggles new hedgehog arrivals, family dramas and her own health challenges, it soon becomes clear that she needs to start putting herself first for once. Little does she know that life-changing secrets from the past are about to unravel and turn their lives upside down…

My Thoughts:

I have loved all the books in the Hedgehog Hollow series and I am so glad there is going to be another one. I feel as though I have gained an insight into working in a Hedgehog rescue centre but also it has taught me more about hedgehogs. There are some handy hints and tips at the end to discover. If you have not read the other books in the series I would suggest to do that before reading this one as you will meet the characters and know what their back story is. Sam is the owner of Hedgehog Hollow and she is always crazy busy, she always puts others before herself and never really has any time for herself. When her cousin Chloe and her young son turns up its the last thing Sam needs but because it is her cousin she allows them to stay. Chloe is a bit self obsessed and Sam wonders why she has left her husband. Things get too much for Sam when Chloe decides to be a pain and not help her, Sam is literally left holding the baby. Sam soon is struggling herself. Can she get Chloe to open up and tell her what has happened/or will Chloe drop a bombshell no one was ever expecting? These books are just so good to get away from everything and think about other things rather than what is going on. Also there are some cute hedgehogs too that made me smile. I loved this series and never want it to end.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for sending me a copy.

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Sheffield’s beautiful Botanical Gardens – an oasis of peace in a world filled with sorrow, confusion and pain. And then, one morning, a body is found in the Gardens. A young woman, dead from a stab wound, buried in a quiet corner. Police quickly determine that the body’s been there for months. It would have gone undiscovered for years – but someone just sneaked into the Gardens and dug it up.
 
Who is the victim? Who killed her and hid her body? Who dug her up? And who left a macabre marker on the body?
 
In his quest to find her murderer, DS Adam Tyler will find himself drawn into the secretive world of nighthawkers: treasure-hunters who operate under cover of darkness, seeking the lost and valuable . . . and willing to kill to keep what they find.

My Thoughts:

This story is the follow up from FireWatching which I have yet to read but definitely want to. It is set around the Botanical Gardens where a NightHawker goes at night time with his metal detector and comes upon something he wasn’t expecting. The investigation is brought up by DS Adam Tyler and DC Mina Rabbani, which takes them to a dangerous place, is anyone safe? I liked all the characters, they were all believable, I really liked Mina as I felt as though she is becoming what she has always wanted to be. It has a good pace through out and the ending will leave you shocked to the core. I couldn’t believe it and neither will you.

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

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This is the story about how a dad tries to distract his daughter when she has hurt herself or feels ill. These are all real moments.

Written by Andrew Rogerson, this book is for anyone who enjoys reading time with their children. It especially highlights the unique relationship between a father and his daughter and shows how acting silly can sometimes distract and defuse a tricky situation.

My Thoughts:

This is such a wonderful story about a little girl and a dad and how he distracts her when she is feeling unwell. Some of the things dad does to distract her are so sweet, it reminded me of my dad and what he used to do when I wasn’t well. It really shows the bond between father and daughter. It is a nice story for kids to read and I love how the illustrations are bright and colourful, they also take up a whole page and are very visual. At the back of the book there is a part where you and your child can interact and look for different things through out the story. I think this is a ideal children’s book.

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

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NO CRIME CAN STAY HIDDEN FOREVER

When a hurricane hits the Carolinas it uncovers two bodies, sharing uncanny similarities with a cold case in Quebec that has haunted Temperance Brennan for fifteen years.

At the same time, a rare bacterium that can eat human flesh is discovered in Charleston. Panic erupts and people test themselves for a genetic mutation that leaves them vulnerable.

With support from her long time partner Andrew Ryan, in a search that soon proves dangerous, Temperance discovers the startling connection between the victims of both murder cases – and that both the murders and the disease outbreak have a common cause . . .

My Thoughts:

I haven’t read any of Kathy’s books before so didn’t know what to expect. I liked the sound of the plot line and it was a really good thriller with twists that pull you more into the story. When two bodies are uncovered, that share similarities to an older case, can Temperance connect the two cases together. Aswell as trying to find out about this case there is a panic going on over a bacterium that easts human flesh. I liked the story the only thing that I was not keen on was how a couple of the words were shortened. But overall I enjoyed it and would read more of Kathy’s books.

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

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Near the dying English seaside town of Ilmarsh, local police detective Alec Nichols discovers sixteen horses’ heads on a farm, each buried with a single eye facing the low winter sun. After forensic veterinarian Cooper Allen travels to the scene, the investigators soon uncover evidence of a chain of crimes in the community – disappearances, arson and mutilations – all culminating in the reveal of something deadly lurking in the ground itself.

In the dark days that follow, the town slips into panic and paranoia. Everything is not as it seems. Anyone could be a suspect. And as Cooper finds herself unable to leave town, Alec is stalked by an unseen threat. The two investigators race to uncover the truth behind these frightening and insidious mysteries – no matter the cost.

My Thoughts:

Upon hearing that this was a debut novel, I couldn’t wait to get started. I found it deeply creepy, eerie and gruesome in every way shape and form. The local police officer finds sixteen horses heads buried on a farm with their eyes pointing to the sun, the forensic veterinarian who investigates the crime scene soon uncovers more than she bargained for. Some things are just not quite right and it is for the police and the forensic veterinarian to discover what. I had never heard of a forensic vet before so it was interesting to learn about the job, the way the story goes is pure evil but it works, I would love to see this made for TV, I think it would do really well as a series. I haven’t read anything like this before and I don’t think I ever will.

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