Celia Grey appears to have the perfect life: married to Dominic, the man of her dreams, and living on a glorious, thriving vineyard in the south of France. To celebrate their good fortune, she decides to throw a huge party.

When she is contacted by a stranger who claims to be her long-lost son, David, the newborn she gave up at twenty and has never spoken of since, Celia impulsively invites him for the weekend of celebrations – without mentioning it to her husband.

Despite his surprise, Dominic graciously welcomes David and his unexpected companion – but secretly he harbours doubts. Is David really Celia’s son? And who is the mysterious young woman travelling with him?

Only Celia can decide how far she will go to hold everything together, to keep her perfect life from unravelling…
One Summer in Provence is a story of betrayal and belonging, and of discovering love in unexpected places.

My Thoughts:

This is a feel good summery read that whisked me away to the south of France. Celia is married to Dominic and they have the perfect life living in the south of France, when she arranges a big party, this is going to be epic but many years ago she gave up her new born son and now there is someone who says he is her son but is he? Celia decides to invite him to their party but a woman turns up with him who is she? will Celia and her husband’s life going to be the same again? It was a good solid story to follow along with, with relatable characters, and I found it a light easy read. Perfect for the summer.

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

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Gordon and Sarah Rutherford are normal, happy people with rich, fulfilling lives. They have a son they adore, a house on the beach and a safe, friendly community in a picture-postcard town.

Until, one day, Bonnie the labrador comes in from the beach alone. Their son, Rory, has gone – the only trace left behind is a single black sandal.

Their lives don’t fall apart immediately. While there’s still hope, they dig deep and try to carry on.

But as desperation mounts, arms around shoulders become fingers pointed – at friends, family, strangers, each other. Without any answers, only questions remain. Who can they trust? How far will they go to find out what happened to Rory?

And the deadliest question of all: what could be worse than your child disappearing?

When the truth begins to emerge, they find themselves in a world they could barely have imagined.

My Thoughts:

This is the first thriller I have read for a number of weeks and it was a great one to get stuck into. The story is about a married couple, who are leading a normal and happy life with their son. They live in a nice and safe area and everything is going swimmingly until it’s not. Their son was out walking the dog until it is only the dog that comes back but where did he vanish too? When they get the police involved everything starts to fall apart, have lies been told and is the answer much more closer to home than they think? will they ever get their son back alive? It was a slow burner but it was in a good way as you kind of get to peel the layers away to begin with, a bit of back story and intrigue and then it builds up in to a tense, gritty and suspenseful read. An author to watch out for. This was a brilliant read with a superb ending. I did not want it to end.

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

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One best friend’s wedding.
One predicted love match.
And no way of guessing how the story will end . . .

Anna was never going to have an easy time at her best friend’s wedding. She’s the bridesmaid; her ex, Joel, is a groomsman. But she’s determined to get through the weekend with a smile. Despite the fact that Joel is bringing his new girlfriend. Despite the fact that they are all staying in the same house. And despite the fact that at thirty, Anna’s life is, objectively, not going to plan. Luckily she has her feelings completely under control – right up until the moment Joel drops a bombshell that changes everything.

Anna needs a distraction, and Patrick, the wedding photographer, might be the ideal solution. After all, a psychic literally predicted she would fall in love with a man named Patrick. Everyone has decided he is perfect for her. He is perfect for her.

Except the arrival of Mac, a not-quite-famous actor who has flown in from New York, complicates Anna’s plotting. And she must accept that when it comes to love, destiny doesn’t always follow the rules . . .

My Thoughts:

This is romantic comedy at it’s best. I laughed the whole way through this story. It really brightened my day and I could not put it down. Anna is at her best friend’s wedding but she is not having the best of time as her ex is the groomsman and he has brought along his new girlfriend. Anna has to get along with them all, just for one day as she keeps reminding herself. Then Joel tells her something that she never thought she would hear and it is not good. Patrick is the wedding photographer and Anna knows that this is the only way she can forget the news she has just heard. But then another man is thrown into the mix and Anna has never been more confused in her life. It was a brilliantly funny romantic comedy that will leave you in stitches and I cannot wait to read more of Nina’s books.

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

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London, 1941

When Mary meets a glamorous stranger named Elizabeth she realises their lives couldn’t be more different. Elizbeth is beautiful and charming, about to set off on a dazzling adventure to Ireland where she’s inherited a grand house. Mary, shy and meek, has nothing to look forward to but the dreary life of a maid in Hampstead.

But when an air raid forces them to take shelter underground Mary’s life is suddenly changed forever. After waking up in hospital, injured but alive, the nurse mistakes her for Elizabeth and hands over her suitcase with Elizabeth’s money and tickets to Ireland inside.

This is Mary’s chance to escape the hardship of her life and start afresh.

Will she take it and what could go wrong?

My Thoughts:

The story is set in London in the 1940’s which I found such a fascinating era. There is a war going on, people have to take cover in air raid shelters, to live in that ear would of been so scary not really know what will happen next. Mary meets Elizabeth and the two could not be anymore different from each other. Mary does not have the best of lives but Elizabeth does. So when Mary ends up in hospital, she cannot believe it when the nurse thinks she is Elizabeth, she decides to play along with it and little does she realise how much her life will change but will it be for the better? It was a great story, I loved the historical side of the story and to follow Mary along her journey of being someone completely different intrigued me. It was a story that I did not want to end. I wanted to saviour it. Brilliant.

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

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Maple Tree Lodge has been the home of the Jackson family for over a century. But the hotel has never been a success and, following the sudden loss of his father, architect Ben Jackson soon discovers the hotel is close to financial ruin. Ben has to make some tough decisions if the hotel is to survive and his family are to keep a roof over their heads.

With the hotel in urgent need of a renovation, Ben’s sister calls on the talents of her best friend, interior designer Lily Watson. Cash strapped Lily needs a successful project to prove to herself and her high-achieving parents that she can carve a successful career and Maple Tree Lodge sounds like just the place for Lily to showcase her talents. However, Lily’s vision for a cosy, country Cotswolds hotel is the complete opposite to what Ben has in mind for a minimalistic, modern makeover and fireworks ensue!

Can they work together to save Maple Tree Lodge?

My Thoughts:

Ben’s family own Maple Tree Lodge and the hotel has seen better days and hardly has any guests staying, Ben has had to come back home to deal with the mess and to save his struggling families hotel. Lily is Ben’s sisters best friend and she needs a new project so when she gets called into to help the struggling hotel, she has some great ideas to transform the place and get the much needed cash flow problem sorted but Ben has other ideas that Lily is not keen on so Lily needs to work out which option is better and go with it. It was an easy story to follow along to, for me the storyline was quite similar to other books I have read before so I found it a bit of the same. It was a nice easy gentle read that did not require too much thinking.

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

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When midwife Zoe Padbury moves into Kestrel Cottage, high on a misty hill above the village of Thimblebury, everyone rallies round to make sure she doesn’t feel lonely. And as she begins her job at the doctor’s surgery, dealing with expectant mums and helping to bring newborns into the world, warmth begins to flood back into her battered and broken heart.

But the evenings are long and as Zoe sits on her cornflower-blue sofa, looking at the golden peaks crowned by clouds, she can’t help but wish she had someone to share her new life with. Her ex-husband treated her badly, but it’s still hard to resist his warm and loving messages begging for a second chance.

Distraction arrives when she meets Alex out walking his shaggy grey dog, and discovers that he will be moving in next door. As she chats to Alex, Zoe finds it hard to ignore his thick dark hair and eyes the colour of chocolate, and her heart clenches at the worried frown that creases his brow.

She soon learns why Alex is anxious when she pays his pregnant daughter a home visit and learns of the tragedy that has brought them to Thimblebury. Zoe is no stranger to sadness, and as she and Alex lean on each other, a tentative spark begins to flicker.

But when Alex gets the wrong idea and thinks Zoe has betrayed his trust, followed by Zoe’s ex appearing on her doorstep, swearing he’s a changed man, will that spark be snuffed out? Coming to the Lake District was meant to be a fresh start for Zoe. But what if the pull of her old life is too overwhelming to resist?

My Thoughts:

I have read Tilly’s books before and enjoyed them so when I saw this one pop up, I knew I had to read it. When Zoe moves to the Lake District, she has moved for a reason, she gets stuck into her new job and is loving it being a midwife, everyone is so lovely but Zoe feels as though something is missing in her life until she meets Alex and then it suddenly hits her why. Both of them have been through tough times in the past but can they help each other find happiness again. You could tell what was going to happen in this read but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Great characters and an easy and light hearted storyline. The perfect read.

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

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You think it will never happen to you: the ring of the bell, the policeman on the doorstep. What he says traps you in a nightmare that starts with the words, ‘I’m afraid…’

Sally Lambert is also afraid, and desperate enough to consider the unthinkable. Is it really, definitely, impossible to escape from this horror? Maybe not. There’s always something you can do, right?

Of course, no one would ever do this particular something – except the Lamberts, who might have to.

No one has ever gone this far. Until Sally decides that the Lamberts will…

My Thoughts:

This is my first read by Sophie, and I liked it. It is all about Sally Lambert and how when the police turn up on her doorstep that everything changes dramatically for her. Sally cannot think straight and is questioning everything, this cannot be happening to her and then she takes matters into her own hands. I liked how the story was paced, it was a quick paced, the story has got layers to it as you turn the page you discover more and more. There are twists that I did not expect to happen and it was full of intrigue and mystery, I flew through this gripping story to find out what it was all about. It was so good. I will be looking out for more of Sophie’s books in the future.

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

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Eve has always loved antiques.

She loves the way an item from the past can offer a glimpse of another world, of another time. It’s why she painstakingly researches the stories behind every item in Rainy Day Antiques, her little Cambridge shop, to share with their new owners. It’s her way of honouring the past and cherishing the present.

Adam is firmly focussed on the future.

He’s only in town to sort his late grandfather’s affairs. When he discovers that his grandfather hired Eve to manage his house clearance, he can only hope her methods don’t delay his return to London.

What neither of them know is that Adam’s grandfather chose Eve for a reason. It’s finally the right place and the right time for the two of them to meet. But what did he have planned for them?

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to start reading this book, I love Ali’s writing, and this book was brilliant. It is all about Eve who owns Rainy Day Antiques, she loves her shop, but the unique thing about Eve is that she takes pride in her shop and will research into every item she stocks in her shop. It is hard work for Eve but I found it fascinating reading about the Antique world. Ali has clearly researched into this world and it shows. Eve has a job to clear a house but she is greeted with a less than friendly man who just wants everything gone so he can go back to London and move on but Eve has other ideas, can they both help mend their ways? It was a story that made me feel warm inside, I loved Eve and how she brought to life the different items she sells. A wonderful story.

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

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Richard Wellington is one of the country’s most recognised doctors. A morning TV regular, surgeon to the elite, and scandal-proof despite a malpractice case that should have ruined him.

But when his body is found sprawled in a harborside park on a sweltering Sydney morning, the facade shatters. His murder dominates the headlines, and the normally quiet cul-de-sac he called home becomes a media circus, seething with speculation and unease.

For Liv Elliot, none of that matters – except for one detail: her daughter, Gracie, was at the park that morning. As the investigation heats up and dark secrets about Richard begin to surface, Liv takes steps to shield her daughter from the storm – steps that could destroy them both if the truth comes out.

How far would a mother go to protect her daughter?

My Thoughts:

A doctor that many people recognise as being on TV and being a top surgeon, so how did Richard become caught up in a malpractice case, but when he is found dead , people around him cannot believe this has happened, people are speculating the worst. But one person knows what happened to Richard but is she going to spill the beans on what she saw. Things start to come to light about Richard and this person really needs to speak up before it is too late. It was an intriguing story line to read along with, it is a thriller that has many underlying secrets and lies, it is packed with suspense and tension. I did not know where this story would lead and I loved the ending.

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

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