Elodie was beautiful. Elodie was smart. Elodie was troubled. Elodie is dead.
Sylvie hasn’t been back to her crumbling French family home in years. Not since the death of her eldest daughter Elodie.
Every corner of the old house feels haunted by memories of her – memories she has tried to forget.
But as temperatures rise, and forest fires rage through the French countryside, a long-buried family secret is about to come to light.
Because there’s something Sylvie’s been hiding about what really happened to Elodie that summer.
And it could change everything.
My Thoughts:
I was looking forward to delving into this story, the blurb promised to be a really good psychological thriller, however it seemed to be quite slow going for the first half of the book, it is set in France in the middle of a heatwave, I read this when we had out heatwave here in England so could almost imagine I was there. There is a uncovered mystery and secrets are hidden but will they be revealed? It is quite a dark and tense read.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
This is the story of The Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived…
Born into a post-war circus family, our nameless star was unwanted and forgotten, abandoned in the shadows of the big top. Until the bright light of Serendipity Wilson threw her into focus.
Now an adult, haunted by an incident in which a child was lost from the circus, our narrator, a tightrope artiste, weaves together her spellbinding tales of circus legends, earthy magic and folklore, all in the hope of finding the child… But will her story be enough to bring the pair together again?
My Thoughts:
If you are after a magical and spell binding story then this is the one for you, as long as you use your imagination you are in for a real treat. The main character is called Mouse and I felt as though it was Mouse that was in search of something, both abstract and concrete. Then comes in Serendipity what a incredible name, she teaches Mouse to become a funambulist which I did not know what it meant. It is a tightrope walker. The side of the circus was interesting to me with a mixture of different characters with their own stories. I liked this story it made me feel dreamy like did I read this book or not? Unless that is to do with the spell binding and magical way to this story. A captivating story that I want to read all over again.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Tess Williams has seen a lot of dead bodies. Not surprising – she’s responsible for most of them being in that state.
However, Tess isn’t just a killer, but a rogue assassin with a passion for meting out justice to those who harm others – murderers, rapists, gangbangers, pimps – so when a young woman is abducted in Krakow, Poland, Tess dives into the city’s sleazy underworld to save her.
And that’s when the bodies start piling up.
Tess finds out the hard way that she’s taken on way more than just some local street thugs and plunges into a life-or-death struggle to rescue the woman. But she has only 24 hours to do it. And the clock is ticking…
Outgunned, outnumbered, and out of options, Tess is about to discover that victory sometimes comes at a price too terrifying to pay.
My Thoughts:
This is an action packed thriller with a great story line. The lead character I wasn’t too sure of at the start but began to like them through out the story. I have not read many books with female vigilantes and we learn more out about Tess going more into the story. This one was really good and grabbed my attention, the only other thing I would say is that if you are squeamish like me, be warned. Though saying that I am looking forward to reading the next book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
On a stormy summer day the Aosawas, owners of a prominent local hospital, host a large birthday party. The occasion turns into tragedy when 17 people die from cyanide in their drinks. The only surviving links to what might have happened are a cryptic verse that could be the killer’s, and the physician’s bewitching blind daughter, Hisako, the only person spared injury. But the youth who emerges as the prime suspect commits suicide that October, effectively sealing his guilt while consigning his motives to mystery.
The police are convinced that Hisako had a role in the crime, as are many in the town, including the author of a bestselling book about the murders written a decade after the incident, who was herself a childhood friend of Hisako’ and witness to the discovery of the murders. The truth is revealed through a skilful juggling of testimony by different voices: family members, witnesses and neighbours, police investigators and of course the mesmerising Hisako herself.
My Thoughts:
I found this a quite unusual story, the focus of the story is about the crime, and the after effects, at a party several people die from drinking cyanide, now here is the question why would someone poison the drinks? there are a few narrators telling the reader their tale but was left a bit confused as to what was going on here as I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for. I am still kind of dumbfounded to what I actually read. A very strange tale with not really a ending.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Bitter Lemon Press for kindly sending me a copy.
I have written down some fantastic Christmas books that I think you and I will both enjoy, some of them I have read already and they are brilliant. They are all to pre-order, so it is always a nice treat to have especially when you forget that you have pre-ordered a book and it turns up. Enjoy and happy reading.
If you want to pre-order any of them, click on the picture and it will take you straight to amazon for you to pre-order, how easy is that?
Christmas at the Island Hotel By Jenny Colgan which is out 15th October
Pre-order your copy here:
One Family Christmas By Bella Osborne Out 15th October
Pre-order your copy here:
The Country Village Christmas Show By Cathy Lake Out 29th October
Perdita Riley is facing the greatest dilemma of her life. Why had she taken Violet Freestone’s advice on how to make herself look more alluring? It led her into the arms of a womaniser. And now Perdita has to deal with a huge setback. Actually, Setback Number One isn’t huge yet, but it won’t be long before it is. To cheer herself up, Perdita goes shopping, where an extraordinary encounter deposits her, literally, into the lap of Saul Hadley. She would like to stay there, but Setback Number One is going to get in the way. Will she find a way to deal with what has happened? Can she manage the complications of her growing attraction to Saul?
My Thoughts:
If you are after a laugh out loud book then this is the one for you, I genuinely could not stop laughing. I found this book to be well written and an easy read, I liked Perdita and I liked the fact that she was different and had a very quirky personality. Mari tackles the serious side very well, I liked the way Perdita does toughen up but also finds happiness. I look forward to the sequel. I really enjoyed this book, and one I would recommend and read again.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
When Hannah meets Sonny, she’s irresistibly drawn to him: he’s sexy and confident, but only in town on holiday. That’s fine with Hannah – she doesn’t do long-term relationships. And luckily for her, neither does Sonny. But before they can even so much as kiss, Sonny receives some shocking news and commits to making serious life changes – ones that can’t and won’t include romance.
With even a short fling now off the cards, Hannah and Sonny settle for being friends. But as summer hots up and their chemistry shows no signs of cooling, they start to question their reasons for shutting each other out.
Are they both too broken to find love? And if they tear down the walls between them, will they still like what’s on the other side?
My Thoughts:
Paige Toon has done it again another brilliant read that I could not put down. I love that Paige’s books always are uplifting and once you finish them you always have a smile on your face. I always know when I need cheering up to reach for a Paige Toon book. I loved the story about Hannah (good name) and Sonny’s story, they both have secrets but will they both break the barrier and let each other know what has happened in their pasts. I felt as though I was friends with Hannah straight away as she seems an easy going person that puts other people before herself and she is very caring. She has had a tough start in life and carries around her second heartbreak every single day but shows how you can continue your life. I felt slightly wary of Sonny to start with, I wasn’t sure what his intentions were and he has a lot of skeletons in his past, but I did eventually warm to him hearing about his past. Paige delves into issues that are necessarily bought up in this type of genre, I am most grateful to Paige for bringing up these topics and I feel as though we should be talking about them more. I don’t know how Paige will top this book with her next book but I look forward to finding out.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Laura and Jess are sisters – but that’s pretty much all they have in common…
Laura has a laid back attitude to life. Her home isn’t spotless, and after a hard day she likes to take to bed with a block of cheese.
Jess, on the other hand, is your classic overachiever: The Big Sister, Chief of Chivvying, Queen of the family WhatsApp. Her life is picture-perfect.
Laura and Jess lost their dad when they were kids, and now their mum is gone too. And one of the hardest times in life is made harder by the fact they can’t agree on a single thing, from where to scatter the ashes to whether “passed away” is even an acceptable term.
But when Laura starts pushing her own boundaries and Jess agrees to let other people in to her (not so) perfect life, the two women realize they need each other more than ever. They might not be ready to admit it, but family is everything…
My Thoughts:
A thoroughly entertaining read but tender and emotional at the same time. This is Nicola’s second book, if you haven’t read the neighbours then you definitely should. This story is about two sisters called Laura and Jess who are relatable characters and are going through subjects that I think most people can relate to. I really felt for Laura as I felt as though people see her as a push over and she never has any time for herself. Jess I felt as though even though she is the bigger sister, she seemed very bossy and a little bit stuck up, like look at me. But she is hiding things that no one knows about, will she let her secrets come between her and Laura or will Laura be able to help her? Even though there are sad parts to this story there are also some hilarious bits that had me in stitches. Some of the things Laura says and does and also her son Billy.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.
Hella Mauzer was the first-ever woman Inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit. But she’s been fired despite solving her first murder case. This is Helsinki, March 1953. An unusually long and cold winter, everywhere frozen sea, ice-covered lakes and rivers. In a port city flooded with refugees, who cares if a young woman goes missing? An up-and-coming inspector who views this as an opportunity to advance his career. A heartbroken PI with a score to settle. They have yet to discover one thing: the most dangerous lies are those we tell ourselves.
It all begins when Nellie, a prostitute working in a high-end brothel is found floating upside down in Helsinki Harbor. Not exactly a high priority case for the Helsinki police, so homicide chief Jokela passes the job to his former colleague Hella. It’s beginning to look like a serial killer is at work when Elena, another lady of the night, narrowly escapes being driven into the harbor by her 19-year-old john. Problem was he had handcuffed her in the car. And to add further excitement to Hella’s life, the madam is soon found dead in the garden outside the brothel.
What begins like a taut whodunit turns into something more tantalizing and psychological as Hella investigates different suspects, including Steve, the US DJ and love of her life, reluctant to leave his wife for Hella, and the fascinating Inspector Mustonen, charismatic, ambitious and trying desperately to live up to the standards of his high maintenance wife. There are dark powers at play, as well as lighter passages, particularly those involving Anita, voluptuous but savvy, freshly arrived from Lapland to join the Helsinki police force, a most unwanted roommate for Hella. Sadly she too ends up in deep trouble, in a satisfying denouement of twists and turns.
My Thoughts:
This is the Second book in the series, I wish I had read the first one beforehand but I will read it soon. I found this book really good, each chapter is between Hella and Chief Inspector Mustonen. It is a gripping read and it flowed nicely through out. It was an interesting story, Hella is a private investigator who was fired from the police force but why? when a woman is found dead in the harbour in a very Cold Winter Hella decides someone needs to investigate into this and she decides that person is going to be her. The story is set in 1953, in a very bitter and Cold Winter and you can imagine how cold it would of been. I really liked Hella, I think she is smart and got a good shoulder on her head.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
One unsolved murder. A best friend determined to right the wrongs of the past.
On the 21st August Tabitha Rice disappeared without a trace. All the signs point to murder, but no signs point to a murderer. The easiest answer is her husband, Rick. But he protests his innocence and there is little proof he is the murderer.
Annabella knows there is more to the story than what the police are telling. Tabitha was her best friend and she vows to uncover the truth.
As Annabella delves further into the past, she uncovers sides to Tabitha that she never saw coming, and she finds herself asking the question… Was this murder? Or is there more to Tabitha Rice’s story than meets the eye?
My Thoughts:
I like it when you get a book that engages you like this one did for me, I was captivated from the start, When Tabitha disappears, everything points to murder but there are no signs that actually point to a murderer, I was hooked I tried to work out what the logical explanation was but couldn’t get the answers I wanted. Tabitha’s best friend decides to delve deeper and uncovers stuff that she would never imagine, but what happened to Tabitha and can Annabella work it all out before it is too late?
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Echoes In An Empty Room 