Just Like the Other Girls By Claire Douglas

Just Like the Other Girls By Claire Douglas

by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

claire douglas

*Carer/Companion wanted for elderly lady*

*Young female preferred * Competitive Salary *

*Room and Board Included*

Una Richardson is devastated after the death of her mother. Hoping for a fresh start, she responds to an advertisement and steps into the rich, comforting world of elderly Mrs Elspeth McKenzie.

But Elspeth’s home is not as safe as it seems.

Kathryn, her cold and bitter daughter, resents Una’s presence. More disturbing is the evidence suggesting two girls lived here before.

What happened to the girls?

Why will the McKenzies not talk about them?

As the walls close in around her Una fears she’ll end up just like the other girls….

My Thoughts:

A psychological thriller at it’s best. The story is about Elspeth McKenzie who is an elderly lady who would like a carer. Elspeth has a daughter called Kathryn who doesn’t like the fact that her mother keeps bringing in all these carers and tries to bring them down a notch but why? and what secrets is she hiding. When Una finds something of the previous carer she decides to do some digging and then lies, twists and secrets surface. Is Elspeth all she is cracked up to be or is there more going on behind closed doors. I liked how the lies and secrets unravel to make for a book that you just wont want to put down.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Other-Girls-Claire-Douglas-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Other-Girls-Claire-Douglas

Under Your Skin By Rose McClelland

Under Your Skin By Rose McClelland

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Where is Hannah?

When Kyle’s wife Hannah goes missing, the whole town is out in force to try to find her. One person knows where she is. One person is keeping a secret.

Detective Inspector Simon Peters and Detective Kerry Lawlor have been brought in to investigate the case, but Hannah has left no traces and Kyle has no clues.

Local Belfast resident Julia Matthews joins the #FindHannah campaign and becomes friendly with Kyle, sympathising with his tragedy. As Julia becomes more involved in the case than she bargained for, she begins to uncover more secrets than the Police ever could.

Julia was only trying to help, but has she become drawn into a web of mystery that she can’t escape?

My Thoughts:

When I read a psychological thriller I want twists, turns, not knowing what is going to happen and a spectacular ending and this had everything. I found the characters were all suspicious, and I really did’t like Kyle at all. The story is about Kyle and his wife Hannah who goes missing. Julia wants to help Kyle find Hannah but gets too wrapped up and involved. Will she uncover something sinister. Lots of secrets and lies are heavily involved. A real page turner at its best.

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

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kindle edition

paperback

Another Us By Kirsten Hesketh

Another Us By Kirsten Hesketh

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What if Emma isn’t the person she thought she was?

Her younger son has just been diagnosed with autism.

She’s accidentally quit her job.

The marriage she was dedicated to suddenly seems like a sham.

She’s pretty sure that she is going to have an affair with a hot new dad at the school.

The only thing that stays the same is everyone else. Emma realises it’s not them – it’s her. But if she’s not who she thought she was, can her old life fit in with the new Emma?

My Thoughts:

This is the story of Emma and her family, with her son has been recently diagnosed with Asperger’s, Emma sets out on a journey to take a long hard look at herself as mother, wife, daughter and friend. We see Emma at her best and at her worse, even though there is a serious side to this story there are also lots of funny moments and also some of what her son says is pretty funny. We learn about Asperger’s which I knew nothing about but now have respect and a little understanding for it. Family life under pressure and all the emotions are set in this wonderful read that I think everyone should read.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

paperback

Switchback: A Mountain Ranch Novel By Willa J. Brand

Switchback: A Mountain Ranch Novel By Willa J. Brand

by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

As an only child of a bold Colorado rancher, Laney McRae has grown up confident in herself and fiercely self-reliant. Romance hasn’t entered her world since the disastrous end to her high school love affair, and she has all but given up on men. When a new sheriff arrives in town he instantly ignites a flame she’s never before encountered, but the new relationship may not survive the demands of her forward personality. When strange events begin to unfold on the ranch, it quickly becomes clear that she is being targeted by someone with a deadly intent, and she struggles to assert her independence amid the turmoil. As events escalate, she will be left fighting not only for the love she deserves, but also for her own life.

My Thoughts:

I was so happy to be asked to read and review the second book in the mountain ranch series, I loved the first book which is called Refuge and this one was just as brilliant. I looked forward to the next instalment. I liked Laney and felt as though she was a strong and confident woman, she has not had the best relationships or guys in the past so when a new hunky guy turns up in her town she can’t wait to introduce herself. I did worry what would become of their relationship as Laney is so confident and forward. But then things start to happen and I was worried for Laney, the ending was dramatic and I really want to read the next book as I just love all these characters.

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

Kindle edition

The Shelf By Helly Acton

The Shelf By Helly Acton

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Ever feel like you’re losing a race you never signed up for?

Everyone in Amy’s life seems to be getting married, having children and settling down (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she’s falling behind.

So, when her long-term boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday, she thinks he’s going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when, instead, she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.

Along with five other women, Amy is brutally dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned ‘The Keeper’.

While inside the house, will Amy learn that there are worse things than being ‘left on the shelf’?

My Thoughts:

Amy is at the age where all her friends are getting married or having children, and she feels as though she is being left behind. Jamie her partner who I did not like one bit, I hated how he spoke to Amy, I would of dumped him straight away. He decides to dump her live on TV and insist she stays to play a reality TV show called The shelf where six men dump their girlfriends and the girlfriends have to compete to win 1 million pounds. I have watched reality TV shows like this before and some of the tasks they had to do were similar to what I have seen before. I liked the way Helly has bought feminism into the book but getting the women to stick together and go against the tasks. But this story for me just felt a little cringe and a little repetitive.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

The Phone Box at the Edge of the World By Laura Imai Messina

The Phone Box at the Edge of the World By Laura Imai Messina

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When Yui loses her mother and daughter in the tsunami, she wonders how she will ever carry on. Yet in the face of this unthinkable loss, life must somehow continue. Then one day she hears about a man who has an old disused telephone box in his garden. There, those who have lost loved ones find the strength to speak to them, and begin to come to terms with their grief. As news of the phone box spreads, people will travel there from miles around. Soon Yui will make her own pilgrimage to the phone box, too. But once there she cannot bring herself to speak into the receiver. Then she finds Takeshi. a bereaved husband whose own daughter has stopped talking in the wake of their loss. What happens next will warm your heart, even when it feels as though it is breaking.

My Thoughts:

This was such a lovely heart warming story, it is about Yui, who has lost her mother and daughter in a tsunami, she hears about this phone box where you can hear loved ones speak and decides to make the pilgrimage there. She meets some lovely character son the way including Takeshi who lost his wife and mother to their beautiful daughter. It is such a sad story with all the losses but it is an uplifting one too as this phone box really does bring the people’s lives so much better. There are a lot of Japanese phrases and words in this book, but it if you go to the last few pages of the book there is a few pages with all the words translated into English which was really helpful and a nice touch. A very interesting read.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

hardcover

A Thousand Years By K. T. Dady

A Thousand Years By K. T. Dady

by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

The universe has always worked quite well, thank you very much. However, things can go wrong. Can’t be helped. Anyway, it was only a small glitch. No one even noticed until that woman, Kate Coster, heard her soul speak. Kate had a happy life. She lived on her own, had a job she loved, and hung out with a small circle of friends. She had no idea that something was missing, or rather, someone. The universe knew exactly who was missing. It knew all about Kate Coster’s soulmate, from the past to the present day. Kate was about to get the shock of her life.

My Thoughts:

This is the story of Kate who is a romance author and she believes she is going crazy as she can hear voices in her head that is her soul talking to her. She decides to give her soul a name and that name is Ivy, it is at that moment that Kate begins to learn lots of things she never knew before now. I liked Kate a lot, I felt as though she is a really good friend and very caring, I think she is instantly likeable, she has been stung in the past by relationships and has just got used to being on her own. I am sure people can relate to this, when Kate does find her soulmate it made my heart warm, such a sweet romance and a very enjoyable read.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

Paperback

The Existence of Amy By Lana Grace Riva

The Existence of Amy By Lana Grace Riva

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments

Amy has a normal life. That is, if you were to go by a definition of ‘no obvious indicators of peculiarity’, and you didn’t know her very well. She has good friends, a good job, a nice enough home. This normality, however, is precariously plastered on top of a different life. A life that is Amy’s real life. The only one her brain will let her lead. A fictional story that depicts the reality of mental illness behind a perception of normality.

My Thoughts:

This is such a powerful story that I just had to read. I haven’t read a book about mental health like this before. Amy is the main character and she has OCD, seeing how it affects her day to day was really hard but Lana has done a brilliant job surrounding mental health and has done it sensitively. It is a useful insight into OCD and how it affects that person and also people around them. I knew that they try and keep it hidden by certain people which shows in this book about how Amy is around her work colleagues at least some of them understand, it was nice to see her relationship with Ed. I felt as though I understand a little bit more about OCD and if I were to know anyone that has I could try and help them. Overall a very interesting and thought provoking read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Lana who kindly sent me a copy of her book.

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

paperback

The Connection By David Billingsley

The Connection By David Billingsley

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A drifter appears…this town will never be the same. Again…

Not much happens in the small West Texas town of Dinley, and radio DJ Sandy McAllister is fine with that. Following the tragic loss of her husband and son, she’s carved out a steady, solitary existence. No more deep friendships, no more love, no more loss.

But a loud boom on the outskirts of town followed by the sudden appearance of a drifter is about to upset Sandy’s carefully scripted life. His mysterious arrival on a warm summer evening coincides with the eruption of addictive and powerful feelings she cannot control or deny. And she’s not the only one.

The bond, the connection, with this stranger threatens to turn her life inside out and polarize her town.

And it’s not the first time this has happened in Dinley.

My Thoughts:

I love finding a new author whose book I really like and then finding out this author has written previous books makes me very happy. I will certainly be reading David’s other books. I don’t normally read books with sci fi in them but the sci-fi part was very small and did not put me of the book which for me was great. After reading one chapter I wanted to keep reading and I knew the housework would just have to wait another day. It pulled me in, the writing is descriptive and every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something else happened. It is a really good mystery story, one that I would recommend.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

paperback

Old and Ugly By C L Moir

Old and Ugly By C L Moir

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments

Ange has been invited to a reunion… Old and Ugly is the story of that reunion – and the story of Ange’s life. Hilarious and laughable, conceited and fearful, feisty and (some might say) a fool for the admiration of men, Ange must finally confront the truth about her fantastical life of glamour and good fortune to be freed from its secrets – and freed from the man who made her, then broke her. Irreverent and moving, disturbing and joyful, you’ve probably never read anything quite like it…

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this delightful read, I love receiving books that are slightly different to the norm and this certainly was, the binding is special and it has a lovely feel to it making it feel special, it is a hardback but it is smaller than a usual hardback which I would say fits better in your hand, the design on the cover is simple but when you have read the book take another look at it, a picture tells a thousand stories. What a pleasant surprise to read though, this story will certainly make you chuckle as it did with me, I love the added drawings through out the story it made it feel more personalised and some of them made me laugh. I fell in love with Ange she says it like it is, she use to be a beauty queen but over the years her weight has crept up on her, when being invited over to an old friends house for a reunion, her and her friend Elizabeth it was great to see their relationship and how each of them still says it like it is. They do not hold back on each other. At times I felt it was a little dark, I felt for Ange as I could see she is a little depressed. It is a very amusing book, would be nice to continue with Ange’s story in another book.

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Behind The Press for sending me this copy.

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

hardback