The Cottage on Sunshine Beach By Holly Martin

The Cottage on Sunshine Beach By Holly Martin

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Melody Rosewood loves her new home in idyllic Sandcastle Bay. The beautiful little cottage on the edge of Sunshine Beach, with its bright yellow door and view of the sea has captured her heart. And she loves being close by to her family and best friend Tori Graham.

Life by the sea is pretty much perfect, there’s just one thing missing…

Gorgeous Jamie Jackson, with his cheeky grin and adorable puppy, works as a sculptor opposite Melody’s jewellery shop. From the moment he and Melody meet sparks fly. But despite their instant attraction, a past heartache is holding Jamie back.

As Melody starts to make a life for herself in the close-knit, quirky seaside community, she realises Jamie could be the one for her. But as the two of them take a chance on romance, it’s one dating disaster after another. Are they destined to always be just good friends?

Or will Melody finally find her happily-ever-after in Sandcastle Bay?

My Thoughts:

Here we meet up with old friends if you have read Holly’s previous novel called The Holiday Cottage by the sea. I really enjoyed coming back to Sandcastle Beach and I can definitely see why Melody loves it so much. Even though this is Melody’s story we see other characters pop up and we find out about their lives too. Romance, seaside, what more could you want? I loved this one and cannot wait until the next one is out.

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cottage-Sunshine-Beach-gorgeous-romantic-ebook/

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cottage-Sunshine-Beach-gorgeous-romantic

The rise and fall of Becky Sharpe By Sarra Manning

The rise and fall of Becky Sharpe By Sarra Manning

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Becky Sharp has big dreams and no connections. Determined to swap the gutters of Soho for the glamorous, exclusive world behind the velvet rope, Becky will do anything to achieve fame, riches and status.

Whether it’s seducing society’s most eligible bachelors, or befriending silly debutantes and rich old ladies, Becky Sharp is destined for great things. Because it might be tough at the top but it’s worse at the bottom.

From London to Paris and beyond, Becky Sharp is going places – so get the hell out of her way…

My Thoughts:

What we find here is a very clever way of updating a classic novel which is really rather funny. It is an easy to read story with a reality show, scandal, revenge and lies all packed in. I haven’t actually read the classic but I will be now after reading this book has inspired me too.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Fall-Becky-Sharp-razor-sharp-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Fall-Becky-Sharp

Cryptofauna By Patrick Canning

Cryptofauna By Patrick Canning

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Could be his job as a janitor at an insane asylum, could be the meaninglessness of existence, could be the unwanted cilantro on his tacos. Whatever the reason, Jim has elected to commit suicide. But before he can do the deed, a mysterious resident at work equips him with a dog and a bag of ash, and throws him into a secret game known as Cryptofauna. Cryptofauna is played by Operators, persons of special abilities who battle one another to influence important events around the world.

To become an Operator, Jim must survive being stranded in the Pacific Ocean, pass a bizarre examination by leprous French monks, and pluck the existential splinter from his troubled soul. If there’s time, he must also stop a rival player from ending all life on the planet.

Underwater Norwegian lairs, obsession with a decent pair of socks, and shapeshifting animals obsessed with AM radio all make up the strange world of Cryptofauna, which might help Jim discover a reason to live, assuming he doesn’t die in the process.

My Thoughts:

A little different to what I would normally read but the plot sounded intriguing and mysterious. We follow Jim who is bored with his job so thinks about doing something rather drastic but before he does he meets someone and they throw him into a world of gaming. It is a really interesting read with a original plot line. I would love to read more by this author.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cryptofauna-Patrick-Canning-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cryptofauna-Patrick-Canning

 

Ellen By Coral McCallum

Ellen By Coral McCallum

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Ellen “I vowed to prove them wrong.” Tailz “I believe this is about where we got to before.” Luke “You mess this up and you’re history! Hear me?” Nana “You should be soulmates not lovers.”

Emotions run high when Ellen Lloyd steps up to the mic as the new vocalist for rock band After Life. Will she prove to be heaven sent or will her arrival see the band descend into the depths of hell?

Ellen is a standalone contemporary rock star romance but is also a spin off from the Silver Lake series by the same author.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoy Coral’s stories and I think she is a very talented author. This book is addictive and I really didn’t want to put it down. Ellen is the main character and she manages to come back to the life that she loved after a tragedy. I think it is written extremely well that I can’t wait till the next book.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ellen-Coral-McCallum-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ellen-Coral-McCallum

Perfect Silence (A DI Callanach Crime Thriller, Book 4) By Helen Fields

Perfect Silence (A DI Callanach Crime Thriller, Book 4) By Helen Fields

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When silence falls, who will hear their cries?

The body of a young girl is found dumped on the roadside on the outskirts of Edinburgh. When pathologists examine the remains, they make a gruesome discovery: the silhouette of a doll carved in the victim’s skin.

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach are struggling to find leads in the case, until a doll made of skin is found nestled beside an abandoned baby.

After another young woman is found butchered, Luc and Ava realise the babydoll killer is playing a horrifying game. And it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again. Can they stop another victim from being silenced forever – or is it already too late?

My Thoughts:

Helen Fields books just keep getting better and better. This one was as chilling as all her other books are and just had me on the edge of my seat. This is book four and I would suggest (though you don’t have to) that you read the other books first to get to know the characters. This is a fast paced chilling thriller, one that you will not want to put down and now I want to read the next book.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Silence-Callanach-Crime-Thriller-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Silence-Callanach-Crime-Thriller

This is Going to Hurt By Adam Kay

This is Going to Hurt By Adam Kay

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Welcome to the life of a junior doctor: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a constant tsunami of bodily fluids, and the hospital parking meter earns more than you.

Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, Adam Kay’s This is Going to Hurt provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking, this diary is everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn’t – about life on and off the hospital ward.

My Thoughts:

It is really refreshing to read something a little bit different. Here we follow the life of a junior doctor called Adam and how he progresses up the scales in his profession. He also shares some of the stories that await him on the wards that he visits. There are some really funny stories and some that will leave you thinking why? but there are also some really sad stories that may leave you to shed a few tears. A beautiful book that touched my heart.

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Going-Hurt-Secret-Diaries-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Going-Hurt-Secret-Diaries

A Size Too Small By Sofia Ellis

A Size Too Small By Sofia Ellis

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Emily Eden can figure out what other people want and need within ten minutes of meeting them. After almost seven years of working in human resources, she has become very good at reading people. But she has no idea what she wants. All she knows is that her entire life feels like it’s a size too small.

When her boyfriend of eight years proposes to her, she turns him down even though she knows he’s a great catch. Nine months later, she is single, unemployed, and on vacation. Thanks to missing a ferry, she gets stranded on a remote Greek island where she runs into a charming Englishman who, just like Emily, is at a crossroads in life.

In a place that seems too good to be true, Emily starts to build a new life for herself. Things she never knew she wanted are suddenly within her reach. But will she find the courage it takes to make a grab for them?

My Thoughts:

What a little cracker of a read. I found it a bit different but in a good way. In this story we meet Emily who after being stuck in the same job for a long time, she decides to bite the bullet and ends up on a Greek Island, que a handsome guy, a bit of romance and willing Emily to get the life she deserves. A lovely story that is well worth a read. This is an author I certainly want to read more of.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Size-Too-Small-Sofia-Ellis-ebook

The Helicopter Heist By Jonas Bonnier

The Helicopter Heist By Jonas Bonnier

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Four men gather in Stockholm. Each has existed on the fringes of Stockholm society. Each has a past that just won’t let them go.

Then a plan falls into their laps. A plan to steal millions from the largest cash facility in Sweden. At first the scheme seems foolproof, every contingency covered, every detail planned perfectly. But is everyone involved who they say they are? Can they ever really hope to pull off such an extraordinary crime?

My Thoughts:

This is a real life story that is set in Stockholm. The plot for me sounded exciting and tense something I thought I would enjoy, however I loved the first part but by the middle it fizzled out for me and I was no longer interested in what happened.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helicopter-Heist-race-against-time-thriller-incredible-ebook

How Hard Can It Be? By Allison Pearson

How Hard Can It Be? By Allison Pearson

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Kate Reddy is counting down the days until she is fifty, but not in a good way.

Fifty, in Kate’s mind, equals invisibility, and she’s caught between her traitorous hormones, unknowable teenage children and ailing parents.

She’s back at work after a break, now that her husband Rich has dropped out of the rat race to master the art of mindfulness. But just as Kate is finding a few tricks to get by, her old client and flame Jack reappears – complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it…

My Thoughts:

If you want something a bit light hearted and very funny then this is the book for you. I found myself really warming to Kate and feeling sorry for what she has to go through with her kids and husband. I did feel as though I could slightly relate to her with her husband and his Bike collection. It really made me chuckle. I loved the story and what Kate gets up to and I shall be looking out for more of Allison Pearson’s books in the future.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review from lovereading. Check out their website below:

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Hard-Can-Allison-Pearson-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Hard-Can-Allison-Pearson/

Anyone for Seconds? By Laurie Graham

Anyone for Seconds? By Laurie Graham

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Life has been going downhill for ex-TV chef Lizzie Partridge ever since she spectacularly ended her television career by throwing a chocolate mousse at the host of Midlands This Morning. Her partner Tom has left her, Nigella and Jamie have got the cookery world sewn up, and now her cookery column – her last bit of work – has been axed. Surely the only way is up from here?

In a desperate bid for sympathy and attention she runs away, from the gas bill and the mouse under the sink, and in wet and wintry Aberystwyth she experiences a brush with her past and a glimmer of new prospects. And when her nephew’s girlfriend – a TV producer – has the bright idea to reunite her with her former nemesis and target of the mousse attack in a new show, it seems like things could be going Lizzie’s way again after all!

My Thoughts:

Even though this is a sequel to perfect meringues you can still read it as a standalone like I did, though I will definitely now want to read the first one. This is the story about Lizzie who is an ex TV chef and the reasons why she is now an ex. She decides to head to Aberystwyth to drown her sorrows and look for other work and from there on in the future seems a bit brighter for her. Lots of different characters make for some great comedy.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anyone-Seconds-Laurie-Graham-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anyone-Seconds-Laurie-Graham