Tori Williamson is alone. After a tragic event left her isolated from her loved ones, she’s been struggling to find her way back to, well – herself. That’s why she set up her blog, The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, as a way of – anonymously – connecting with the outside world and reaching others who just need a little help sometimes.
 
When she’s offered a free spot on a wellbeing retreat in exchange for a review on her blog, Tori is anxious about opening herself up to new surroundings. But after her three closest friends – who she talks to online but has never actually met – convince her it’ll do her some good, she reluctantly agrees and heads off for three weeks in the wild (well, a farm in Wales).
 
From the moment she arrives, Tori is sceptical and quickly finds herself drawn to fellow sceptic Than, the retreat’s dark and mysterious latecomer. But as the beauty of The Farm slowly comes to light she realizes that opening herself up might not be the worst thing. And sharing a yurt with fellow retreater Bay definitely isn’t.  Will the retreat be able to fix Tori? Or will she finally learn that being lonely doesn’t mean she’s broken . .

My Thoughts:

I feel as though this is a book that everyone should read whether you are lonely or just to get an understanding of someone who you feel may be lonely, I feel as though this book gives us a better understanding but also will help people realise that they are not alone. Tori is alone and struggling, she has been through a lot and needs to help herself. A wellbeing retreat is the perfect excuse to get help, when she gets there, she doesn’t think it is a good idea but slowly realises that it will help her. There is a nice hot guy too, who wants to help Tori but will she let him? I loved this book and I will cherish it for a very long time. I look forward to seeing what Laura writes about next.

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

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She already has your looks. Now she wants your life…

Beautiful twin sisters Iris and Summer are startlingly alike, but beneath the surface lies a darkness that sets them apart. Cynical and insecure, Iris has long been envious of open-hearted Summer’s seemingly never-ending good fortune, including her perfect husband Adam.

Called to Thailand to help sail the beloved family yacht to the Seychelles, Iris nurtures her own secret hopes for what might happen on the journey. But when she unexpectedly finds herself alone in the middle of the Indian Ocean, everything changes. Now is her chance to take what she’s always wanted – the idyllic life she’s coveted from afar. But just how far will she go to get the life she’s dreamed about? And how far will she go to ensure no one discovers the truth?

My Thoughts:

The plot for this book sounded unique and a little different. Twin sisters Iris and Summer, they embark on a journey across the ocean in their families yacht but will it be plain sailing? something dark is brewing and can they both make it to the shore alive? tough decisions have to be made when one twin is lost at sea. I liked the way the story flowed, I could kind of see what was going to happen but it didn’t put me off. I just felt as though the ending was rushed and there was a few loose knots that weren’t tidied up. But all in all a good read.

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

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ONE MISSING BOY.

Marissa Irvine arrives at 14 Tudor Grove, expecting to pick up her young son Milo from his first playdate with a boy at his new school. But the woman who answers the door isn’t a mother she recognises. She isn’t the nanny. She doesn’t have Milo. And so begins every parent’s worst nightmare.

FOUR GUILTY WOMEN.

As news of the disappearance filters through the quiet Dublin suburb and an unexpected suspect is named, whispers start to spread about the women most closely connected to the shocking event. Because only one of them may have taken Milo – but they could all be blamed . . .

IN A COMMUNITY FULL OF SECRETS, WHO IS REALLY AT FAULT?

My Thoughts:

This is a on the edge of your seat read, that will be very hard to put down. When Marissa arrives at the home of one of the mums at her boys school, the woman who answers the door is not someone she recognizes and this woman does not have her son. It feels like every parents worst nightmare, but where is Marissa’s son Milo? as the police and Marissa’s family try to piece together where Milo is, other things start coming to light and it really put me on edge wondering where the little boy was. I like how when one chapter finishes, you are unprepared for what might happens next. A very detailed story with twists and turns that you could never imagine.

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

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Hope Nicely hasn’t had an easy life.

But she’s happy enough living at 23 Station Close with her mum, Jenny Nicely, and she loves her job, walking other people’s dogs. She’s a bit different, but as Jenny always tells her, she’s a rainbow person, a special drop of light.

It’s just . . . there’s something she needs to know. Why did her birth mother abandon her in a cardboard box on a church step twenty-five years ago? And did she know that drinking while pregnant could lead to Hope being born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

In a bid to find her birth mother and the answers to these questions, Hope decides to write her autobiography. Despite having been bullied throughout school, Hope bravely joins an evening class where Hope will not only learn the lessons of writing, but will also begin to discover more about the world around her, about herself and even make some (human) friends.

But when Jenny suddenly falls ill, Hope realises there are many more lessons to come . . .

My Thoughts:

I loved this book so much and wanted to jump into the book and give Hope a great big hug. The way this book is written is like you are in Hope’s head and she really has been through the mill, it was such an eye opening experience one that I won’t be forgetting in a while. I found I really loved Hope and I laughed with her and I did shed a few tears just because of everything she has been through in her life. We find what it is really like living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, now I had heard of this but didn’t know much about it. From reading this book I feel like I have a clear understanding how it affects a person. The story was written well and I was sad when I had turned the last page. It is a story that I won’t forget in a hurry and a story I would read over and over again.

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

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Alicia Berenson lived a seemingly perfect life until one day six years ago.

When she shot her husband in the head five times.

Since then she hasn’t spoken a single word.

It’s time to find out why.

My Thoughts:

I was looking forward to read this book and it sounded great but I have to say I was not blown away with it. It sounded like a good story line but for me it just didn’t deliver. I felt as though it was predictable and not captivating enough, it is all about Alicia who lived a fairly normal life until one day she shoots her husband, since then she has not spoken and it has now been six years. Can anyone get her to open up? I found it a quick easy read.

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There are so many ways to kill a friendship . . .

You’re lying, sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, legs bent, arms wide.
And while this could be a tragic accident, if anyone’s got a motive to hurt you, it’s me.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. They have been through a lot together – from the death of Bec’s mother to the birth of Izzy’s daughter. But there is a darker side to their friendship. And Bec is about to reach breaking point.

Then Izzy’s body is found at the bottom of the stairs. It could have been an accident – perhaps she fell – but if the police decide to look for a killer, Bec is certain she will be the prime suspect. Because she knows better than anyone that those closest to you can hurt you the most. And that someone can only be pushed so far before they snap . . .

My Thoughts:

You need to read this book, it was absolutely brilliant and I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t believe this was a debut novel, it was a fantastic fast paced thriller. I will definitely be looking out for more of Polly’s books in the future. The main characters in this book are Bec and Izzy and I liked Bec more than Izzy, they have been through a lot over the years, but there is a darker side to their friendship and you start seeing these things through the book. Izzy has everything Bec would love, a husband and a child. When some thing bad happens to Izzy, was it an accident? Izzy is not around to tell what happened to her? who is the finger going to be pointed at? but was it really them? I couldn’t put this book down and the ending was superb. My heart was in my mouth throughout this book.

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

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To what depths would you sink to protect your own?

Hogmanay 1987

A prank robbery has fatal consequences.

Five Years Later

Highlands town Abergarry is shaken by the seemingly gratuitous murder of a local man. The case is unsolved.

Present Day

Ten-year-old Jamie, while on holiday in Abergarry with his mum Charis, overhears a conversation. To him, it is all part of a game. But this is no game and the consequences are far more serious than Jamie ever imagined.

Old wounds are about to be reopened

Struggling PI team Maddy Clifford and Paul Mackenzie find themselves involved by a chance meeting. How deep into those wounds will they have to delve to unravel the mystery?

My Thoughts:

This is book one in the Clifford- Mackenzie Crime Series and what a book it was. There are quite a few characters in this book that bring this story to life, a boy called Jamie who is on holiday with his mum, when he over hears a conversation he thinks it is all a game but what he doesn’t realize, is who he messing with. His mum has her own worries and doesn’t get the danger her son could be in and herself. Something is going on in the town when a local man is murdered but why and who did it? the police are investigating but should they be looking closer to home? a dodgy cop, a kid and a mum in despair make the cast of characters up. I stormed through this brilliant thriller, I didn’t know what would happen and I found I just wanted to keep reading on. Even though there is lots happening, it really is easy to keep up. I now can’t wait to read book two and follow on from where we left off.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Anne Cater and Hobeck books for sending me a copy.

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This grave can never be opened.
The head of Scotland’s most powerful crime family is brutally murdered, his body dumped inside an ancient grave in a remote cemetery.
 
This murder can never be forgotten.
D. S. Max Craigie and D. C. Janie Calder arrive at the scene, a small town where everyone has secrets to hide. They soon realise this murder is part of a blood feud between two Scottish families that stretches back to the 1800s. One thing’s for certain: it might be the latest killing, but it won’t be the last…
 
This killer can never be caught.
As the body count rises, the investigation uncovers large-scale corruption at the heart of Police Scotland. Now Max and Janie must turn against their closest colleagues – to solve a case that could cost them far more than just their lives…

My Thoughts:

Trust me when I say that this book is going to be a big hit. It was a brilliant, fast paced thriller of a ride. I felt as though I was on a rollercoaster reading this book as there are lots of twists and turns, some that are unexpected too. I felt as though I wanted to be there in the thick of it and I didn’t know how the story was going to pan out, I just wanted to keep on reading till the end. It was such a good storyline which is set in Scotland, a body has been found in a ancient grave, there is a blood feud going on between two families, is this part of the feud? and how many more people will die before the feud ends? can the police that are investigating stop it before it is too late? I wanted it to end so I could find out how the story would end but I didn’t want it to end as I really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this book.

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

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Eliza is angry. Very angry, and very, very hot.

Late for work and dodging traffic, she’s still reeling from the latest row with husband Paddy. Twenty-something years ago, their eyes met over the class divide in oh-so-cool Britpop London, but while Paddy now seems content filling his downtime with canal boats and cricket, Eliza craves the freedom and excitement of her youth. Fifty sounds dangerously close to pensionable: her woke children want to cancel her, a male motorist has just called her a ‘mad old bat’ and to cap it all her hormones are on the run. Who knew menopause was puberty’s evil older sister?

But then a moment of heroism draws an unexpected admirer, and Eliza sets out to discover whether the second half of life can be a glass half full after all. She might suffer mental fog and night sweats – and have temporarily mislaid her waist – but this is her renaissance.

My Thoughts:

This is such a hilarious book that it had me in stitches. So much of this story is relatable, I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Eliza is going through the menopause all she wants to do is re live her youth but with a husband at home who is more interested in canal boats, Eliza is fed up and what with the menopause side effects and her children she decides to do something about it. But will her decision have an impact on family life? A very funny way of looking at women who go through the menopause. I feel as though this book is trying to normalize this subject that every women goes through, which I think is a good thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this side splitting read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Lovereading for sending me a copy.

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

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The trouble with secrets is that you can’t guess what the consequences will be . . .

Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she’s living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired – if far-from-retiring – actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It’s definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.

At least Lainey isn’t looking for love. It’s time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor’s grandson, really is rather attractive. There’s growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn’t been honest with him?

Lainey’s not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything’s about to start unravelling . . .

A beautiful Cornish setting, one chaotic family, and a woman who’s had enough of love. Or has she?

My Thoughts:

I love Jill Mansell’s books, I don’t even have to know the blurb to know that I will enjoy it and this book was just brilliantly comforting. Lainey has not had the best start but when she gets her dream job looking after a very chaotic family she thinks life is amazing, down by the sea in Cornwall, she thinks her luck has changed. She is not looking for love but Seth has caught her attention but does he feel the same way? the sparks are flying can they admit to each other how they feel about each other? The only thing is Lainey has a secret but then so does Seth. Will Lainey’s luck run out or will she get her happy ever after? I found this a very comforting and engaging read, yes I knew what was going to happen but it is a nice easy read.

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