Can I Let You Go? By Cathy Glass

Can I Let You Go? By Cathy Glass

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Can I Let You Go? is the true story of Faye, a wonderful young woman who may never be able to parent her unborn child.

Faye is 24, pregnant, and has learning difficulties as a result of her mother’s alcoholism. Faye is gentle, childlike and vulnerable, and normally lives with her grandparents, both of whom have mobility problems. Cathy and her children welcome Faye into their home and hearts. The care plan is for Faye to stay with Cathy until after the birth when she will return home and the baby will go for adoption. Given that Faye never goes out alone it is something of a mystery how she ever became pregnant and Faye says it’s a secret.

To begin with Faye won’t acknowledge she is pregnant or talk about the changes in her body as she worries it will upset her grandparents, but after her social worker assures her she can talk to Cathy she opens up. However, this leads to Faye realizing just how much she will lose and she changes her mind and says she wants to keep her baby.

Is it possible Faye could learn enough to parent her child? Cathy believes it is, and Faye’s social worker is obliged to give Faye the chance.

My Thoughts:

I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. I have read some of Cathy’s previous novels and really enjoyed them. Cathy Glass is a foster carer and has been a carer to more than 150 children. This one focuses on Faye and her story. It is a bit different to Cathy’s previous novels as she normally has to take care of young children but Faye is older. I really felt for Faye at times as some of the things she has to deal with are really sad. I did shed a few tears near the end. Such a beautiful and moving story.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-Let-You-Go-heartbreaking/

Watching Edie By Camilla Way

Watching Edie By Camilla Way

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watching edie

THERE ARE SOME FRIENDS YOU’LL NEVER FORGET…
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY

BEFORE
Edie is the friend that Heather has always craved. But one night, it goes terrifyingly wrong. And what started as an innocent friendship ends in two lives being destroyed.

AFTER
Sixteen years later, Edie is still rebuilding her life. But Heather isn’t ready to let her forget so easily. It’s no coincidence that she shows up when Edie needs her most.

NOW
Edie or Heather?
Heather or Edie?

Someone has to pay for what happened, but who will it be?

My Thoughts:

Having read other psychological thrillers I was looking forward to reading this one. It is about two friends Edie and Heather. It flits from when they were younger to as they are now, and the horrific events that have lead them to where they both are now. I enjoyed it but it wasn’t that fast paced for me and didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat that I like with psychological thrillers.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-Edie-unsettling-psychological-thriller

Late Summer in the Vineyard By Jo Thomas

Late Summer in the Vineyard By Jo Thomas

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Emmy Bridges has always looked out for others. Now it’s time to put down roots of her own.

Working for a wine-maker in France is the opportunity of a lifetime for Emmy. Even if she doesn’t know a thing about wine – beyond what’s on offer at the local supermarket.

There’s plenty to get to grips with in the rustic town of Petit Frère. Emmy’s new work friends need more than a little winning over. Then there’s her infuriatingly brash tutor, Isaac, and the enigmatic Madame Beaumont, tucked away in her vineyard of secrets.

But Emmy will soon realise that in life – just as in wine-making – the best things happen when you let go and trust your instincts. Particularly when there’s romance in the air…

My Thoughts:

Another brilliant read once again from Jo Thomas. I was excited to get a copy of this book as I have read Jo’s previous novels (The oyster catcher and the olive branch) and really enjoyed them. The cover looks stunning and so summery. I finished this book in a few days as I just did not want to put it down it was so good.

My heart went out to Emmy at some points in this book but she did make em chuckle a few times. I felt like I was there with her feeling the warmth on my skin and the taste of the delicious grapes. I enjoyed reading about how wine is made before machines came into operation. Such a fascinating  read with a little romance added in. I just needed a lovely chilled glass of wine with it. Perfect.

If you would like to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Late-Summer-Vineyard-Jo-Thomas/

Silver Stars – Love, Lies & Limo’s series 2 By Maggie Caldwell

Silver Stars – Love, Lies & Limo’s series 2 By Maggie Caldwell

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While working hard on a career as a fashion designer to the stars, and forging a name for herself, Victoria Davies is content and comfortable with her life – a life that includes her handsome rock star husband and their crazy – yet loveable – children. Having moved on with her life from a troubled relationship, best friend Melanie is safe and secure with marriage and motherhood, and making the most of her creative career.

Despite her best efforts, she struggles with her demons – mostly ex-husband Kevin. When a face from the past resurfaces to tear apart what should be their exciting and happy times, and shake their worlds – it sets in motion a chain of events with disastrous and deadly consequences. Follow the two best friends as they battle to keep the lives they have built for themselves intact, and hold onto those that they love.

My Thoughts:

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. Having read Deceitful Desires which is the first book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book. I loved the characters in this book, the way the story is set out and how the story unfolds is brilliant. I love the fact that it is all about two best friends and how they cope with certain things in their life. Exciting and emotional this book is a definite read for this year. I look forward to the next book.

If you would like to purchase your copy, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Stars-Love-Lies-Limos/

Pastures New By Julia Williams

Pastures New By Julia Williams

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pastures new

Take one sleepy Suffolk village
Add a young widow
Throw in a local vamp and a harassed mum
Stir it up with a sexy, secretive doctor
And watch feuds grow, tempers fray and love blossom…

Amy Nicholson never expected to leave London for the Suffolk countryside. But she also never expected to be a 33-year-old widow, left alone with a young son. Fleeing her memories, she swaps her heels for wellies and embarks on a new rural life.

The big-hearted community of Nevermorewell welcome them with open arms. There’s old Harry, offering pearls of advice (fuelled by whisky from his hip flask), Saffron, juggling motherhood with business (whilst searching for her lost libido), and Caroline, the scheming local vamp, who tramples over lives as easily as the allotments backing onto Amy’s cottage.

But just when Amy thinks she’s finally leaving the past behind, Ben Martin crashes into her life. Sexy and enigmatic, Ben is haunted by his own secrets. Will love blossom on the allotments? Or will it be once bitten, twice shy?

My Thoughts:

I was given this book by my mum and not having heard of the author before was intrigued to start it as soon as possible. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. My favourite character was Harry, he just put a smile on my face right from the word go. I like the fact it isn’t just based around Amy’s life, you also get other people’s stories too. I found I didn’t have to concentrate too much which is good when you have a busy life. I will be looking out for more of Julia Williams books now.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pastures-New-Julia-Williams/

Wife In The North By Judith O’Reilly

Wife In The North By Judith O’Reilly

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wife 2

How far would you go to be the perfect mother? The hilarious Wife in the North by Judith O’Reilly,based on her enormously popular blog, recounts one woman’s attempt to move her family and her life from cosmopolitan London to rural Northumberland.

Maybe hormones ate her brain. How else did Judith’s husband persuade her to give up her career and move from her beloved London to Northumberland with two toddlers in tow?

Pregnant with number 3 Judith is about to discover that there are one or two things about life in the country that no one told her about: that she’d be making friends with people who believed in the four horsemen of the apocalypse; that running out of petrol could be a near death experience and that the closest thing to an ethnic minority would be a redhead.

Judith tries to do that simple thing that women do, make hers a happy family. A family that might live happily ever after. Possibly even up North …

My Thoughts:

I love the cover for this book it makes you want to get started. It is set out like a diary of all the things Judith and her family get up to which I liked. Some of the diary entries are quite short which made me want to read a few more. I did chuckle at a few things as I remembered my childhood. Whether you have children or not you will still enjoy this story. Poor Judith.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wife-North-Judith-OReilly/

The Canal Boat Cafe By Cressida McLaughlin

The Canal Boat Cafe By Cressida McLaughlin

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the canal boat cafe

Summer Freeman returns to the waterside village of Willowbeck to rescue the Canal Boat Café, her late mother’s picturesque narrowboat, which has run into choppy waters. A family friend, Valerie, has been trying to keep things afloat, but the coffee machine is jammed, the cake offerings are paltry, and not all of the locals want to see the café succeed.

Help comes from the boat next door, in the shape of handsome wildlife photographer, Mason and his naughty Border Terrier, who are showing more than a passing interest in Summer and her adorable Bichon Frise, Latte. But is Mason being honest about himself? Or does he have something to hide?

As her life and the community of Willowbeck begin to entwine, Summer finds herself setting sail on a new adventure. Will the anchor of a steady life on land be too strong, or can Summer learn to cut loose and embrace life afloat?

My Thoughts:

I won this book in a competition and I feel very lucky as it is such a brilliant easy read. Cressida is a new author to me and I am so glad I have discovered her, I will be reading more of her books soon too so keep an eye out on my blog. This story has romance, two really sweet dogs, a hot guy and lots of cakes and a canal boat cafe to top it all off with. I loved it from the very first chapter. A brilliant story and a few chuckles on the way though I did wonder if Summer was going to get her happily ever after or not.

If you would like to purchase your copy of this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canal-Boat-Café-Cressida-McLaughlin

The Taxidermist’s Daughter By Kate Mosse

The Taxidermist’s Daughter By Kate Mosse

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the taxidermsits daughter

The clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wind and the remorseless tolling of the bell, no one can hear the scream . . .

1912. A Sussex churchyard. Villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will not survive the coming year are thought to walk. And in the shadows, a woman lies dead.

As the flood waters rise, Connie Gifford is marooned in a decaying house with her increasingly tormented father. He drinks to escape the past, but an accident has robbed her of her most significant childhood memories. Until the disturbance at the church awakens fragments of those vanished years.

My Thoughts:

Not having read any of Kate’s books before I wasn’t sure what to expect. This one intrigued me the most, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it as I thought I might. I gave up half way through and thought this book is definitely not for me. It is a shame as I did enjoy the first few chapters.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Taxidermists-Daughter-Kate-Mosse

 

Walking on Sunshine By Emily Harvale

Walking on Sunshine By Emily Harvale

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walking on sunshine

Walking on Sunshine. You simply need to take that step. Lucy Draycourt loves her job – or so she keeps telling everyone – but her friend, Beatrix Welsley says Lucy needs to ‘find herself’… so they’re going to Beatrix’s, Aunt Petunia’s wedding. Lucy can’t see how this will help, and besides, she doesn’t need to find herself. Just because she was given away at birth doesn’t mean she’s ‘lost’. Who cares that she was adopted? Her childhood was perfect so it doesn’t bother her. Or does it? Is her search for recognition really a search for something else? And is there any chance she’ll find it at Petunia Welsley’s wedding? Evan Foster needs a break.

He’s done nothing but work for several years and his life is frankly, a mess. The invitation to Uncle Bartram’s wedding has come at the perfect time. Or maybe not. Two years ago, Evan’s fiancée ran off with his business partner and it’s now abundantly clear that they’re not coming back. Evan needs to make plans for the future, but it’s difficult to move forward when you’re still living in the past. But as Petunia Welsley, the bride-to-be would say: ‘You can’t see the sun if you’re staring into clouds.

Sometimes all you need to do is take a step in a different direction and you’ll be walking on sunshine.’

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and I didn’t have to wait long. I have really enjoyed all of the hideaway down stories, you can read them as a standalone but for these I would recommend reading them all. This is book 3 in the series. I have fallen in love with some of the characters and they feel like my family. I love the title of the book as that is one of my favourite all time songs and the cover looks really summery. It is not a big book only 116 pages but it is a nice easy read and one that I had a good laugh too. I loved catching up with old and new friends and I look forward to returning to them hopefully soon.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Sunshine-Hideaway-Emily-Harvale-ebook/

You. I. Us By Annalisa Crawford

You. I. Us By Annalisa Crawford

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annalisa crawford

In ‘You. I. Us.’ Annalisa Crawford captures everyday people during poignant defining moments in their lives: An artist puts his heart into his latest sketch, an elderly couple endures scrutiny by a fellow diner, an ex-student attempts to make amends with a girl she bullied at school, a teenager holds vigil at his friend’s hospital bedside, long distance lovers promise complete devotion, a broken-hearted widow stares into the sea from the edge of a cliff where her husband died, a grieving son contacts the only person he can rely on in a moment of crisis, a group of middle-aged friends inspire each other to live remarkable lives. Day after day, we make the same choices. But after reading ‘You. I. Us.’ you’ll ask yourself, “What if we didn’t?”

My Thoughts:

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. After previously reading Annalisa’s books I was happy to be asked to review this one. I liked the style of writing and the fact that the book is made up of short stories. The cover I would have to say is very enchanting and I wasn’t too sure what I was going to get inside but I loved it. With this book I would definitely recommend savouring the words and it really makes you think about life. I don’t normally read short stories but I really enjoyed this one.

If you would like to purchase this book, please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-I-Us-Annalisa-Crawford/