THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS HAYES CAMPBELL.

To the media, he’s the enigmatic front-man of a record-breaking boyband.

To his fans, he’s the boy of their dreams.

To his label, he’s gold-dust.

And to Solène Marchand, he’s the pretty face that’s plastered over her teenage daughter’s bedroom wall.

Until a chance meeting throws Hayes and Solène together . . .

The attraction is instant. The chemistry is electric. The affair is Solène’s secret.

But can it really stay that way forever?

My Thoughts:

This is an addictive read, it is a fresh and original story that is packed with lots of sexiness and a love affair. Hayes Campbell is a artist in a boy band, he is very successful and has many girls swooning over him. But when he meets Solene, who is a single mum whose daughter is hung up on the band especially Hayes, he is smitten with Solene. Is this a good idea to start something with a young guy who is in a boy band, can she keep this love affair secret from her daughter? especially when the media are all over the band. It is a sexy, sultry love affair story that will keep you reading till all hours.

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

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I drove myself out of New York City where a man shot himself in front of me. He was a gluttonous man and when his blood came out it looked like the blood of a pig.

That’s a cruel thing to think, I know. He did it in a restaurant where I was having dinner with another man, another married man.

Do you see how this is going? But I wasn’t always that way.

I am depraved. I hope you like me.

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book was out, I wanted to read it for myself and gather my own opinions on what I thought of this book. I found it quite an uncomfortable read, I found it hard to warm to Joan, she is broken and hurt and has put barriers up around herself to try and protect herself. I never really knew what was coming and some of the things that happen are truly shocking. However I wanted to read on and learn more about Joan and I am glad I did as it made me think. I think this book is a little like marmite you will ever like it or not. I am somewhere in between but I am grateful to have read it.

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

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A shift in the nature of light reveals an eighth colour in the visible spectrum. A boy befriends the last tree in the natural world. A single mother finds help at the darkest point of her life. A young man finds himself trapped in a university overrun by crows.

These stories and more form In Other Words, an anthology as diverse as the writers themselves. Some cover trauma, societal issues and stigma; others offer fragments of hope and light. Some reach back in time while others transport us to another dimension altogether. There is heartbreak, wit, humour, poignancy and above all a mastery of the imagination.

What these transcendent stories share is that they were created by autistic writers, people often dismissed as unimaginative or incapable of creativity a myth that has persisted for generations. This collection hopes to shatter those stereotypes, those misconceptions and misunderstandings, and the perception that one must be neurotypical to be afforded a voice in the arts.

My Thoughts:

I liked the fact that all the stories are written by autistic writers, I feel as though a lot of the time they don’t get to share their stories and I feel as though this is a good thing that needs to be read. So there is eight different stories in this book, they all seem to cover different things like trauma, different issues and stigma’s, there seems to be every emotion in each read too. I read each story slowly and really took the words in, and I enjoyed it. I hope this book helps other autistic writers to never give up on their dreams and also gives people an understanding what it is like for an autistic person living in the real world today. I now have more of an understanding from reading this wonderful book that I think everyone should shout about.

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

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Haileybrook, a beautiful village in the peaceful Cotswolds countryside, is most people’s idea of heaven on earth.

Born and raised in this small slice of paradise, Elle Bea can’t wait to leave.

It should be easy, but every time she packs her bags for exotic adventures, old loves and loyalties pull her back.

Will Elle be forced to forget her dreams of far-flung places and epic romance, or can she grab one last chance to have it all?

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book, I have read Claire’s previous book called Art and Soul and liked it. Claire’s descriptions makes it feel as though you want to be right there in Haileybrook where the book is set. It sounds wonderful and I would love to go to the Cotswolds one day. Elle lives there but cannot wait to leave, but why? something is always pulling her back, we see old flames pop up, and also she has firm roots and loyalties that she can’t just leave. Will she ever be able to detach from Haileybrook and live her own life or will she have to make do with the Cotswolds once and for all. I can understand why she wanted to leave but where she lives seems like a lovely place, I know I wouldn’t want to leave. I loved all the characters we meet in this book, there are some amusing parts and I felt as though it was an uplifting read , one I would recommend to everyone.

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

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The last thing Jack Baxi expected when a detective rang his doorbell in the middle of the night was that he’d be tortured and left for dead, with a young woman he’s never met before.

Now, running for their lives, Jack and Aisha frantically try to discover why the detective was so convinced they both have information on a missing person. Jack is a Sikh corner shopkeeper with a criminal record. Aisha is a Muslim medical student from a wealthy family. What could possibly connect them?

Their desperate hunt for answers will take them on a perilous journey, from the sprawling underground markets and dangerous red-light district of Delhi all the way to the most militarized zone in India.

But little do they know, a dangerous organisation is watching their every move – and they’ll do whatever it takes to stop Jack and Aisha learning the truth . . .

My Thoughts:

This was such a great read, it had everything I like in a thriller. It was fast paced, lots of twists and turns, not really sure where the story is heading, It was fantastic, I couldn’t believe that this is a debut novel it was superb. I read it in a day as I just didn’t want to put it down. It all starts with Jack and when one evening he gets a knock on his door from someone claiming to be a detective, with this detective is a woman and their lives are at risk if they don’t do something quick. So they flee, but what they both really want to know is why them and what could connect them? they go on a journey through India with the help of a very nice taxi driver who doesn’t know what he has let himself in for. Will they find out the truth before it is too late? The story moved at a good pace, some of the chapters left you hanging so you feel obliged to continue through to the next chapter. The characters were believable and the sense of urgency of finding out is really there. This author is definitely one to watch in the future.

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

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Life in the village of Stonesend is pretty uneventful, that is until Detective Tom Miller is transferred there following a personal tragedy. He is not greeted well by local police officer, Beth Harper, who feels he is not up to the job. The day of his arrival, Kate Marshall, a teacher at the local school, is beaten in her own home and left for dead.  The villagers are left in a state of shock.  Was it a random attack, or something more personal?

My Thoughts:

I loved getting stuck into this book, I love the way Lynda writes with so much description. This story is set in the village of Stonesend and nothing much happens around here in this quiet, sleepy village well not until a new detective is sent there. Detective Tom Miller is trying to cope with his own personal situation when he has to be moved to this quiet village, but is this really what he needs after all he has been through? When other things start happening in the village is it just a coincidence that Tom has arrived or is it something closer to home? I loved this book, it was fast paced and I couldn’t work out what was going to happen. There is lots of drama and secrets and you will not guess what is going to happen. The ending was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.

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

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So much can change in half a lifetime… 
 
Then
 
At fifteen, George is the foster brother Leah never asked for. As the angry, troubled boy struggles to come to terms with his circumstances, Leah finds herself getting drawn closer to him.
 
Theo’s wealthy family have mysteriously pulled him out of boarding school and he’s now enrolled at the local state school with Leah and George. When their worlds collide that summer, the three teenagers form a bond they believe will be unbreakable. But life doesn’t always go to plan…
 
Now
 
Shocking news brings Leah back to Yorkshire, baby daughter in tow. But Emilie’s father Theo isn’t with them, and George has unexpectedly returned. After half a lifetime, have they healed the scars of their pasts? Will coming back home set their hearts in a different direction?

My Thoughts:

Can I just say how beautiful the colour of this cover is, it gets me so excited for the Summer and this will be a perfect beach read. I love the design too so simple yet effective. I am a big fan of Paige Toon’s books and always get excited when I see a new one out, I devoured this book in one sitting, I know greedy right? but I just couldn’t help myself. Paige’s books are just so addictive and I just didn’t want to stop reading this fabulous story. The story goes from then to now and we see Leah’s family back then when her mum and dad were foster carers and how it was to be brought up with other children in the house. Especially when George comes to stay, he has a lot going on in his head and is very withdrawn but can Leah help him open up? When we go to the now we see Leah with her little family, she has to return to her family home as there has been an unexpected loss, but George is there too and can Leah cope with seeing him after what happened when she last saw him. She has a daughter now to protect but it is not just George that needs someone, it’s Leah too. Can they help heal each other’s wounds? I just loved it and now want to re read this charming and beautiful story.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Anne Cater for organizing such a fantastic blog tour.

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Strangers living worlds apart.
Strangers with nothing in common.

But it wasn’t always that way…

Kerry Hayes is single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past.

Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a young child, Noah never looks back.

When Kerry contacts Noah, the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever.

My Thoughts:

I have not read any of Mike’s books before so was intrigued to see what they were all about. There are two main characters in this book, Kerry who is a single mum living on a council estate, she cleans houses for the richer people that she in a million years could never afford, she had a bad past as a child and was taken into care, having never seen her brother for a very long time, she gets in touch with him, but how has his life changed compared to hers? Noah is successful and has a wife and daughter. They live in a lovely expensive house that Kerry could only dream of. But will the siblings get on or will Kerry be too jealous of the life Noah is now leading? I liked the story but I feel as though I knew what was going to happen so it didn’t really excite me, I liked reading about Kerry’s life but not really about Noah’s. I just wished it would of been better.

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IS ANYONE’S LIFE . . .

Beth shows that women really can have it all.
Ruby lives life by her own rules.
And then there’s Lauren, living the dream.

AS PERFECT AS IT LOOKS?
 
Beth hasn’t had sex in a year.
Ruby feels like she’s failing.
Lauren’s happiness is fake news.

And it just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out…

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I have read by Dawn and I enjoyed it, there are some very funny parts in it that had me laughing out loud. I like how the book is separated by three main characters Ruby, Beth and Lauren and also that they are going through real life situations that I am sure people will be able to relate too. They are three completely different women but they are all completing their own challenges. Some parts made me cringe with the explicit content in the book, but I liked Dawn’s style of writing it was warm yet refreshing. I would like to read more of her books.

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