Erma Bridges’ life is far from perfect, but entirely ordinary. So when she is shot twice in a targetted attack by a colleague, her quiet existence is shattered in an instant.
With her would-be murderer dead, no one can give Erma the answers she needs to move on from her trauma. Why her? Why now?
So begins Erma’s quest for the truth – and a dangerous, spiralling journey into the heart of darkness.
My Thoughts:
After hearing about this book for so long, I was finally able to read it, it certainly does not disappoint. It is a very original and unique way for a book to be written but it works so well, I have never seen it done before. The story is fast paced and engaging, there are quite a few twists but the reader is the one to choose which way the story goes. It is such a fun and interesting read, that I consumed it within a few hours and now want to read it all over again. I cannot wait to see what the author Iain brings to the plate with this next book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review
I have had a really long hard think about what I want to achieve on my blog next year. I want to make my blog better but tweaking certain parts to it, and just making it stand out more. I have been very lucky to have had a couple of my review quotes in author’s books but would love to be in more next year. I need to make my review quotes stand out more. My main goal would be to be in Carole Matthews or Jenny Colgan’s books as they are my two favourite authors and Milly Johnson but I have been lucky enough to be in two of her books now. I would love to get more followers on my blog but also on my social media accounts too.
I have read some great books already for next year on Netgalley, if you are not signed up, then you are really missing out, I have read a fantastic selection of books on there already. I have also been contacted to have my review quote in a book that comes out in January and it is called The Island By C. L. Taylor, so keep your eyes peeled for that. I will have lots of reviews coming next year and they are brilliant.
Aslong as I keep enjoy what I am doing then I will be happy, I will also be working with another publisher which I am incredibly excited and grateful for.
What do you want to achieve next year for your blog?
I think most of us have found solace in books this year, I certainly have. These are my favourite reads of this year in no particular order. It was hard to whittle them down to just 26. There have just been some brilliant books out this year.
Hunting Abigail By Jeremy Costello
Six idiots witness a murder By Rob Hickman
Mainely Fear By Matt Cost
The Boy Between Us By Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley
The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside By Jessica Ryn
Your Life for Mine By Karen Clarke
Hungry By Grace Dent
Silent Night By Nell Pattison
The Silent House By Nell Pattison
The Chalet By Catherine Cooper
Remember Me? By Shobna Gulati
Too scared to tell By Cathy Glass
One More For Christmas By Sarah Morgan
A patchwork Family By Cathy Bramley
The Lonely Fajita By Abigail Mann
The Minute I saw you By Paige Toon
Meet me at Pebble Beach By Bella Osborne
One family Christmas By Bella Osborne
How to save a life By S. D. Robertson
Where We Belong By Anstey Harris
Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow By Jessica Redland
Secrets of a serial killer By Rosie Walker
A Terrible Secret By Cathy Glass
Coming Home to Glendale Hall By Victoria Walters
Why Mummy’s Sloshed By Gill Sims
A Surprise Christmas Wedding By Phillipa Ashley
Hope you have enjoyed this post. Post in the comments what your favourite read of this year has been?
Poppy is in agony – it is the First of December and she has twenty fours days to wait until Christmas and she is convinced that she will not be able to contain her excitement and impatience: How can she possibly wait so long for Santa to arrive? Poppy’s parents put their heads together and come up with a cunning plan that has Poppy completing a different, Christmas themed activity every day, to keep her busy until Christmas (and Santa) finally arrives.
Twenty four days to Christmas is an Advent Calendar of a book, which can be read one day at a time, or as a complete story and centres on Christmas, family and the magic of Christmas season.
My Thoughts:
This is a really good book if you are wanting to teach your child to learn the importance of Christmas and waiting. All of the ideas in this book are perfect for the lead up to Christmas. The illustrations are bright and colourful and on both pages, so children can look for certain objects, which is always fun. It is a fun and festive read and all the activities are easy enough to do and I am sure all children will love doing it.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
When a dreaded storm separates compassionate Kairo from his family, he is left to fend for himself on the outskirts of the jungle. Thankfully, the kind-hearted elephant matriarch Melina discovers his plight and decides to raise Kairo as her own.
Kairo learns to love life in the jungle, but when his parents come looking for him, Kairo is torn between returning to the life he once knew and staying with the elephant that saved his life.
My Thoughts:
I loved this story about Kairo, when a storm separates him from his family, he is left all alone on the Jungle. A very kind and caring elephant decides to take him on as her own. Just when Kairo is loving living in the Jungle, his family find him and the elephant has to give him back. I loved all the colourful pictures in this book, this is such a heartwarming read that I am sure any child will love to read over and over again. It did remind me a little of the Jungle book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to many authors and publishers who have sent me books this year, I am incredibly grateful to just be asked to read and review a book for an author. I have read some amazing books this year from debut authors who I look forward to reading more of in the future. The authors that have taken their time out to email me asking to read and review their books is brilliant, there have been a few which I have had to decline but only because I have been inundated with review requests. But next year I hope authors and publishers still ask me review their books as it shows me that I am doing a good job and I do work hard on my blog and my reviews.
I know this year has been weird and I have had to do more reading on my kindle but I am very grateful for the proof copies I have been sent through my door. I have gone absolutely crazy on netgalley this year and some of the books I have read (which are not out until next year) have been amazing.
I really appreciate the Publishers too that sent me proof copies or ask me to be on a blog tour, they work so hard to sort out all these things and I am truly grateful for their time and for sending me the books. I want to say a big thank you Avon, lovereading, Mills and Boon, Bitter Lemon Press, Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins, HQ for sending me incredible reads.
I have been lucky this year to have had my review quote published in three books and I already know I will be in one next year which is so exciting. I never thought I would have my review quoted in a book and over the years I am in nine books. This is one of my biggest achivements.
For next year I just want to grow my little blog more and be quoted in more books. To receive more proof copies also and to do lots more giveaways.
My blog has some exciting things coming for next year, so be sure to stick around.
This is the story about how a dad tries to explain away his moments of flatulent indiscretion to Poppy, his five year old daughter.
These are real moments. They are real excuses.
My Thoughts:
I found this a very comical and amusing story, it reminded me of when I was growing up and my dad use to let out trumps, I swear every dad does it and blames something or someone else. I think this story is great for kids and at the back of the book is ways to make fart noises, which I think boys will love. All the excuses are really funny too, a lighthearted funny book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
The novel is set in the Pantanal, the vast untamed Brazilian lowlands bordering Bolivia. One bright Sunday, alone on the banks of the Paraguay River, the narrator witnesses the fatal crash of a small ‘plane. He finds a kilo of cocaine in the dead pilot’s backpack. After but a moment’s hesitation he pockets the coke and the pilot’s expensive watch. Thus begins the protagonist’s long slide into corruption.
When the crash site is located several days later, the pilot’s body is missing and remains unfound for months despite a large-scale police search. Our hero gets involved in a busted cocaine deal and ends up owing a Bolivian drug gang so much money that blackmailing the wealthy family of the dead pilot seems to be the only way out. The family secretly agrees to pay serious money to recover the body of their son. Our hero doesn’t have the pilot’s body so someone else’s will do. Or so he thinks.
My Thoughts:
The story is about a guy that witnesses a small plane crash and after running over to help, finds the pilot is dead, but upon arrival he also finds a stash of drugs, he doesn’t even hesitate to take it. But the problem is will the drug gang now be after him? Will he confess to anyone what he did? It is a well thought out story with a certain grittiness to it. I didn’t particularly like the main character but I did admire him for what he does. There is lots of action to keep you entertained and it is a short read.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Echoes In An Empty Room 