I have chosen some of my favourite books that I have enjoyed reading recently. I have chosen a mixture of different genres so that there is something for everyone, hope you enjoy and if you do read one of them, let me know what you thought in the comments. Thank you.
The Wild Girls By Phoebe Morgan
A cracking read about a group of friends that go away to a luxury retreat to Botswana but bad things start happening, are any of them safe?
2. Wolfe Trap( A clay Wolfe/Port Essex Mystery) book one
Clay has left his job as a homicide detective to look after his ill dad and to open up his own private detective agency but when his first case is to do with a drugs lord will he get out of it unscathed? The second book in the series is called Mind Trap and is just as good.
3. An Ordinary Life By Amanda Prowse
Molly is ninety four years old and currently lying in a hospital bed after having a stroke and falling. She reminisces of her life and what life was like in the 1940’s. A tale of an extraordinary woman that I will never forget.
4. Before I saw You By Emily Houghton
Two people in hospital both with injuries that they are struggling to come to terms with, they lay side by side each night but have never met face to face, can they help each other heal?
5. The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside
Dawn has been running from her past for a very long time, when she gets an offer of a bed in a hostel she jumps at the chance but when she finds out it is closing, she does everything she can to stop it as this place has really helped her, with new friends to help her anything is possible.
Hope you enjoy the books on the list and have a great bank holiday xx
A young man from Maine fights for social equality in New Orleans after the Civil War while pursuing a serial killer, becoming enmeshed in voodoo, and falling in love. Much like Louisiana’s famous gumbo, Love in A Time Of Hate: New Orleans During Reconstruction is a spicy dish of varied ingredients.
The main theme is the struggle for social equality between Whites, Blacks, and Creoles, but flavor is added with the subplots of politics, voodoo, murder, love, and hate. New Orleans becomes a literal battleground as carpetbaggers, scalawags, Creoles, and recently freed slaves fight against the entrenched southern plantation notion of white superiority.
My Thoughts:
This was a completely different kind of read for me, I found it interesting and thought provoking and I felt as though I learnt a great deal from reading it. I liked it, the story goes into a lot of depth and the subject has been researched well. The story is about Emmett who is trying to fight for social equality in new Orleans. Emmett is a very busy man whilst fighting for social equality, he is also on the hunt for a serial killer, there is a lot going on in this story along with Emmett getting himself caught up and being in love. But the main aspect is the social equality part which I feel as though needs to spoken about more. But I also like the fact that there are other elements in the story that bring the story alive. This is a very well thought out story that shows that everyone should be able to live in a world happily and freely.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Kerry Daynes, leading forensic psychologist, opens up the case files of some of her most perplexing clients to uncover what lies buried behind some of the most extreme and disturbing behaviour.
Whether she is dealing with a young murderer who says he has heard voices telling him to kill, a teacher who daubs children in red paint, or an aspiring serial killer who faints at the sight of blood, Kerry’s quest is to delve beyond the classic question asked of her profession: ‘Are they mad or are they bad?’
In her new book, Kerry provides an unflinching, enlightening and provocative insight into the minds of her clients, shedding light on the root causes of their behaviour and challenging our notions about who, and what, is dangerous.
My Thoughts:
This is a book of true stories told by a leading forensic psychologist and a book that I found interesting. The start of the book lays out what a forensic psychologist’s job entails and then each chapter is a different story that Kerry has to work out if that person is mad, bad or just misunderstood. It was clever how the story is written as you feel as though you are stepping into Kerry’s shoes. It was quite an eye opening experience but I felt as though I learnt things that I never would of known if I had not of read this book. I think it is important to make people aware of these situations with this kind of true stories book, I mean there are plenty of TV shows that show this kind of thing but I feel with a book you are getting the extra detail. I found it an engaging read.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
One stormy, snowy night, a pure silver calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm by the light of the moon. This is the legendary Mooncalf, whose arrival has been foretold since the dawn of time.
According to a dream passed down from animal to animal, if the calf dies, a great Terribleness will come – rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire, the end of all things… and Little Hare vows to persuade all the animals to protect Mooncalf, whatever the cost.
But it’s easier said than done, and soon Little Hare realises that he is the only one who can save the world…
My Thoughts:
I loved this book, and now will have to read the other books before this one. It is such a sweet book about a little hare who wants to save the world, it is such a magical story as he sets out on his quest to tell all the animals to protect a magical calf that has been born. I loved the story, I loved all the illustrations and it was just a fun and adventurous book to read. I feel as though I learnt things from this book including climate change and above all else friendship. I hope any child reading this book will feel the same and learn that there is hope out there. Even though this is a children’s books I am an adult and thoroughly enjoyed it, so give it a go.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Teddy Crutcher won Teacher of the Year at the prestigious Belmont Academy. Everyone thinks he’s brilliant. Only you know the truth.
They all smile when he tells us his wife couldn’t be more proud. But no-one has seen her in a while.
They’re impressed when he doesn’t let anything distract him – even the tragic death of a school parent. Even when the whispers start, saying it was murder.
You’re sure Teddy is hiding something about what happened that day.
You’re sure you can prove it.
But you didn’t stop to think that when it comes to catching a killer, there’s no place more dangerous than just one step behind . . .
My Thoughts:
I loved the sound of this story about a school teacher called Teddy, everyone thinks he is amazing but little do they really know about him, I felt as though I went on a journey with Teddy and everything he gets up to, I liked the way how it was written you kind of get inside Teddy’s head. I found it a fast paced, dark and sly read that I didn’t want to put down. The only thing I didn’t like was how Covid was mentioned, I personally don’t think it added anything to the story and when I want to escape with a book I don’t want to be reminded about what is going on in the world at the moment. I liked how we hear from a pupil and also a teacher, that set it up for a good story line, and how the story has twists I wasn’t expecting. You never really know what Teddy will get up to next but it was interesting to find out.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
He thinks he’s safe up there. But he’ll never be safe from you.
The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among the warehouses of Tower Bridge, its roof terrace so discreet you wouldn’t know it existed if you weren’t standing at the window of the flat directly opposite. But you are. And that’s when you see a man up there – a man you’d recognize anywhere. He’s older now and his appearance has subtly changed, but it’s definitely him.
Which makes no sense at all since you know he has been dead for over two years. You know this for a fact.
Because you’re the one who killed him. It’s time to confess what we did up there.
My Thoughts:
I get so excited when I see a new book out by Louise, they are always just so good. I wanted to race through this book but decided to pace myself to really enjoy it. The plot sounded brilliant and it lived up to being about obsessive revenge. It is fast paced and I found with each chapter it left me wanting more and I found I couldn’t put it down. It is a very clever plot that easily can lead you up one path when your expecting a different path. The ending got me and was absolutely superb. If you haven’t read any of Louise’s books I would highly recommend any of them, they are just brilliant and addictive. I cannot wait for her next one now.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
A remote yet beautiful village. A tiny kitchen lunch club. The perfect place to start again.
Anna moves to Crovie, a tiny fishing village on the Moray Firth, for a fresh start. But when she arrives, she realises her new home is really no more than a shed, and the village itself sits beneath a cliff right on the edge of the sea, in constant danger of storms and landslides. Has she made a terrible mistake?
Yet as she begins to learn about the Scottish coast and its people, something she thought she’d lost reawakens in her. She rediscovers her love of cooking, and turns her kitchen into a pop-up lunch club. But not all the locals are delighted about her arrival, and some are keen to see her plans fail.
Will Anna really be able to put down roots in this remote and wild village? Or will her fragile new beginning start to crumble with the cliffs . . . ?
My Thoughts:
I loved this book, it had everything I wanted and a perfect excuse to snuggle up and escape to Crovie. Anna has moved to Crovie, she is not prepared for what she sees as her new home, has she done the right thing and then someone has decided that they don’t want her here but can she work out who? there are some really lovely people in the community especially her neighbours who go above and beyond for her and help her rediscover her love of cooking. Anna has a brilliant idea of setting up a lunch club. Will Anna be able to make Crovie her home? It was such a wonderful read that kept me captivated and I was really rooting for Anna. Lots of food talk and friendship brings such warmth to this special book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Charlotte and Sam were partners. In life, and in crime. They never stole from anyone who couldn’t afford it. Wealthy clients, luxury cruise ships. It was easy money, and harmless. At least, that’s what Charlotte told herself, until the world caved in on her.
But now, years after she tried to put that past life behind her, it comes rushing back when her estranged ex-husband Sam suddenly goes missing – and someone threatens to expose what they did.
Desperate to escape whoever is tormenting her, Charlotte takes a job as events planner for an engagement party onboard a superyacht in the Caribbean. For a while, her plan seems to have worked, nothing but open ocean and clear skies ahead. Until it becomes clear that she’s no longer a thousand miles away from harm.
Because whoever is behind it all is onboard too. And now there’s nowhere left to run.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this addictive dark thriller, it was engaging from the first chapter and had me captivated through out the story. I found it a very interesting story about Charlotte and Sam and how they run their business of stealing from people that can afford it. It was an easy life for them until something happens, years later Charlotte realises there is nowhere else to run to. The story flowed at a good pace ad kept me guessing. This is a great Summer read that you won’t want to put down.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. An anniversary they’ll never forget.
Adam and Amelia are spending the weekend in the Scottish Highlands. The remote location is perfect for what they have planned.
But when their romantic trip takes a dark turn, they both start to wonder – can they trust the one they’re with?
Because every couple tells little white lies. Only for Adam and Amelia, the truth is far more dangerous.
My Thoughts:
This is my first book by Alice Feeney and it definitely will not be my last, I loved it. It has a twist or a turn when you are least expecting it and it was a well thought out plot that you wonder what will happen through out the story. But what you find you are least expecting. It is all about husband and wife Adam and Amelia who are having a weekend away in a remote place. Things start to go wrong, but can they trust each other? Lies, betrayals and secrets will soon be discovered but at what price will they have to pay? I didn’t want to put the book down even to sleep. It was just that good. I am glad to hear it will be turned into a Netflix series as I thought it would be a great story played out on screen.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations the last thing she expects is builders uncovering a body – two bodies, in fact.
POLICE INVESTIGATE
Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least thirty years. Nothing Saffy need worry herself over. Until the police launch a murder investigation and ask to speak to the cottage’s former owner – her grandmother, Rose.
OWNER QUESTIONED
Rose is in a care home and Alzheimer’s means her memory is increasingly confused. She can’t help the police but it is clear she remembers something.
A KILLER AT LARGE?
As Rose’s fragmented memories resurface, and the police dig ever deeper, Saffy fears she and the cottage are being watched.
What happened thirty years ago?
Why did no one miss the victims?
What part did her grandmother play?
And is Saffy now in danger?
My Thoughts:
If you are after a fantastic thriller, this is the one for you. It is a heart pounding and intensely creepy story. You never know what is going to happen in each chapter. I love Claire’s writing and how on edge she makes the reader feel, she is a very good writer and I have loved all of her previous books. Some of the chapters leave you on a cliff hanger so you have to read to find out more. The story is all about the past and present. Saffy and her husband have moved into her grandmother’s house, whilst having the garden sorted out, the workmen make a shocking discovery and no one’s life will ever be the same. Who is in danger? and will Saffy be able to find out what really happened back then. This is such a great read and I cannot wait to read Claire’s next book.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Echoes In An Empty Room 