Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay By Ali McNamara

Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay By Ali McNamara

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Amelia is a single mother, doing her very best to look after her young son, Charlie – but money is tight and times are tough. When she first hears that she is the last descendent of the Chesterford family and that she has inherited a Real-Life Castle by the sea, Amelia can’t quite believe her ears. But it’s true!

She soon finds that owning a castle isn’t quite the ticket to sorting out her money problems that she’d first hoped: she can’t sell, because the terms of the ancient bequest state that any Chesterford who inherits the castle, must live there and work towards the upkeep and maintenance of the family home. So ever-practical Amelia decides to uproot her little family and move to this magnificent castle by the sea.

Living in a castle on the beautiful Northumberland coast is fun at first, but organising the day-to-day running is a lot more complicated than Amelia first imagined. Luckily she has help from the small band of eccentric and unconventional staff that are already employed there – and a mysterious unseen hand that often gives her a push in the right direction just when she needs it most. It’s only when she meets Tom, a furniture restorer who comes to the castle to help repair some antique furniture, that Amelia realises she might get the fairy-tale ending that she and Charlie truly deserve…

My Thoughts:

I love the design on the cover it feels really summery. I loved the storyline as it is a little unusual. There are some truly spectacular characters too and some ghosts. I love how everyone pulls together and gets involved. I really felt connected to Amelia and I wished her happiness and success. Ali McNamara’s books just keep getting better and better.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Seashells-at-Rainbow-Bay-ebook/

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Seashells-at-Rainbow-Bay

Maker of Footprints BY Sheila Turner Johnston

Maker of Footprints BY Sheila Turner Johnston

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Meeting him was easy. It was knowing him that burned bone.

Paul Shepherd is dangerous. He crashes into Jenna s life like an asteroid into an ocean. Willful and exhausting, he stirs feelings that make her confront all that has kept her safe and bored. Relentless and determined, he needs Jenna with a desperation she does not understand. Jenna discovers that, although she can try to hide from Paul, there is nowhere to hide from herself.

But he is married…

What do you do when you discover you are not the person you thought you were?

My Thoughts:

I was intrigued by this book, the cover is very unique and it made me want to know what the book was all about. The characters are all well written and relatable, this is a story that will draw you in from the beginning and wont let you surface until the very end. I wanted to find out the ending but then I didn’t as I knew the book would be finished.

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

Get your copy here:

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maker-Footprints-Sheila-Turner-Johnston

 

If You Could Go Anywhere By Paige Toon

If You Could Go Anywhere By Paige Toon

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HOW DO YOU FIND WHERE YOU’RE GOING, IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’RE FROM . . . 

Angie has always wanted to travel. But at twenty-seven, she has barely stepped outside the small mining town where she was born. Instead, she discovers the world through stories told to her by passing travellers, dreaming that one day she’ll see it all for herself.

When her grandmother passes away, leaving Angie with no remaining family, she is ready to start her own adventures. Then she finds a letter revealing the address of the father she never knew, and realises instantly where her journey must begin: Italy.

As Angie sets out to find the truth – about her family, her past and who she really is – will mysterious and reckless Italian Alessandro help guide the way?

My Thoughts:

I can never resist a book written by the wonderful Paige Toon. Her books are always so full of life and brilliant characters. Angie is the main character in this book, she doesn’t have any family left in the UK so decides to travel to Italy to see if she can connect with her father who she doesn’t know. It’s a lovely story, I felt as though I was learning about Italy too which seems a wonderful place where I would love to go. Add a little bit of romance, good food, good wine and family and it is the perfect mix for a brilliant story.

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-You-Could-Go-Anywhere-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-You-Could-Go-Anywhere

Forget Me Not By Claire Allan

Forget Me Not By Claire Allan

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 disappeared on a Tuesday afternoon. I was there one minute and the next I was gone. They’ve never found my body…

It’s six in the morning during the hottest summer on record when Elizabeth O’Loughlin, out walking her dog, comes across Clare, a victim of a horrific knife attack, clinging onto life at the side of the road.

Clare dies minutes later, but not before whispering her haunting last words to Elizabeth.

When it becomes clear that Clare’s killer has more than one murder on his mind, Elizabeth has to take drastic action or face losing everything.

But what if she can’t stop a killer determined never to be forgotten?

My Thoughts:

Claire Allan is a fantastic author who keeps you on the edge of your seat through out all of her books. This story was brilliant in the way there are twists and turns at every possible time. You can’t stop reading as the chapters leave you wanting more. The chapters alternate between the two main characters and it is interesting to see how they grow as a person. Another fantastic read, look forward to the next one.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forget-Me-Not-Claire-Allan-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forget-Me-Not-Claire-Allan

Poppy’s Recipe for Life By Heidi Swain

Poppy’s Recipe for Life By Heidi Swain

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Things haven’t always been straightforward in Poppy’s life but her dreams are finally within her reach.

She’s moving into a cottage in beautiful Nightingale Square, close to the local community garden, where she can indulge her passion for making preserves and pickles. She may not have the best relationship with her family but she is surrounded by loving friends, and feels sure that even her grumpy new neighbour, Jacob, has more to him than his steely exterior belies.

But the unexpected arrival of Poppy’s troubled younger brother soon threatens her new-found happiness and as the garden team works together to win community space of the year, Poppy must decide where her priorities lie and what she is prepared to fight for …

My Thoughts:

I need to read more of Heidi’s books they are fantastic. I couldn’t put this little cracker of a read down. Some lovely characters and a dishy neighbour, what more can you ask for? I loved reading about Poppy’s new life moving to Nightingale Square, you can see how good a community that she has come into.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poppys-Recipe-Life-Heidi-Swain-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poppys-Recipe-Life-Heidi-Swain

Stolen By Paul Finch

Stolen By Paul Finch

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How do you find the missing when there’s no trail to follow?

DC Lucy Clayburn is having a tough time of it. Not only is her estranged father one of the North West’s toughest gangsters, but she is in the midst of one of the biggest police operations of her life.

Members of the public have started to disappear, taken from the streets as they’re going about their every day lives. But no bodies are appearing – it’s almost as if the victims never existed.

Lucy must chase a trail of dead ends and false starts as the disappearances mount up. But when her father gets caught in the crossfire, the investigation suddenly becomes a whole lot more bloody…

My Thoughts:

This story intrigued me, I love a good thriller and this was perfect for me, I did find the start a little bit slow but as I worked my way through the story I couldn’t put the book down. I liked DC Lucy Clayburn I think her character bought the story to life and made it thrilling and exciting. I really enjoyed this book.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stolen-Paul-Finch-ebook

paperback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stolen-Paul-Finch

Ellie and the Harp Maker By Hazel Prior

Ellie and the Harp Maker By Hazel Prior

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Meet Ellie. She’s perfectly happy with her home and her husband and her quiet life. Happy enough, anyway. Which is why she’s so surprised to find herself drawn to an extraordinary stranger who gives her a gift – and a fresh perspective.

Meet Dan. He thinks that all he needs to be content is the time and space to carry on making harps. But the last thing he expects is for Ellie – and her cherry-coloured socks – to whirl into his life, bringing a string of surprises to his ordered existence.

Sometimes it takes a chance encounter to discover what your life can be . . .

My Thoughts:

I love the simplicity of this cover. I did wonder what a pheasant had to do with the story though so I was very intrigued. This is a lovely story about two people called Ellie and Dan, it has been tenderly written and there are some sensitive issues that are dealt with particularly well. I loved Phineas the pheasant too, his involvement in the story is really sweet.This is a author that I definitely 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/Ellie-Harpmaker-Hazel-Prior-ebook

hardback

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ellie-Harpmaker-Hazel-Prior

Perfect Crime ( A DI Callanach Thriller, Book 5) By Helen Fields

Perfect Crime ( A DI Callanach Thriller, Book 5) By Helen Fields

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Your darkest moment is your most vulnerable…

Stephen Berry is about to jump off a bridge until a suicide prevention counsellor stops him. A week later, Stephen is dead. Found at the bottom of a cliff, DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner are drafted in to investigate whether he jumped or whether he was pushed…

As they dig deeper, more would-be suicides roll in: a woman found dead in a bath; a man violently electrocuted. But these are carefully curated deaths – nothing like the impulsive suicide attempts they’ve been made out to be.

Little do Callanach and Turner know how close their perpetrator is as, across Edinburgh, a violent and psychopathic killer gains more confidence with every life he takes…

My Thoughts:

I am a big fan of Helen Fields books, they always seem to have a interesting storyline to them but also we get to catch up with previous characters from the series. This story is an emotional and sensitive topic but it has been written very well and sensitively. Although I guessed who the murderer was quite early on, there were parts when I doubted myself. Another extremely well written 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-Crime-gripping-thriller-Callanach-ebook

paperback

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

The Furies By Katie Lowe

The Furies By Katie Lowe

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You’d kill to be one of them.

1998. A sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on school property, dressed in white and posed on a swing. No known cause of death.

Four girls know what happened.

They’ve kept their silence.

Until now.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of the blurb on the back of this book it sounded mysterious and intriguing. It is slightly creepy and the girls all seem a little weird but I couldn’t put the book down as I really wanted to know what had happened. Some parts are quite intense too, but I will certainly read more of Katie Lowe’s books in the future.

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

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Furies-Katie-Lowe-ebook

Hardcover

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Furies-Katie-Lowe

 

You Let Me In By Lucy Clarke

You Let Me In By Lucy Clarke

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Nothing has felt right since Elle rented out her house . . .

I’M IN YOUR HOUSE

There’s a new coldness. A shift in the atmosphere. The prickling feeling that someone is watching her every move from the shadows.

I’M IN YOUR HEAD

Maybe it’s all in Elle’s mind? She’s a writer – her imagination, after all, is her strength. And yet every threat seems personal. As if someone has discovered the secrets that keep her awake at night.

AND NOW I KNOW YOUR SECRET

As fear and paranoia close in, Elle’s own home becomes a prison. Someone is unlocking her past – and she’s given them the key…

My Thoughts:

This is a cleverly written story that comes together with twist after twist. I thought I knew how the ending would pan out in the middle of this book but when I got to the end I was completely and utterly shocked by the ending. I loved how the writing flows so easily and you get swept up into the book.

Get your copy here:

kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Let-Me-unputdownable-page-turner-ebook

hardcover

https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Let-Me-unputdownable-page-turner