A Part Of Me By Anouska Knight

A Part Of Me By Anouska Knight

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After years of trying, Amy Alwood and James Coffrey have finally been accepted into the adoption process. At long last they are going to get their ‘happy ever after’. Then – out of nowhere – a dark secret is revealed, which changes everything.

Amy throws herself into her work to distract herself. Her new client, Rohan Bywater, is certainly keeping her on her toA-PART-OF-ME-by-Anouska-Knight-230x360es. He’s frustrating, lives on the edge… and she can’t stop thinking about him. He’s very clear on one thing through: kids are not part of his future.

Amy is torn – does she follow her heart and let the thing she wants most slip away, or carry on with a lie and live with the consequences?

My Thoughts:

This is Anouska Knight’s second book and i thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great joy to be immersed into a good book. The characters were great  myself quite liked Rohan, I think he is a bit of a dish. I thought Anouska really handled the topic well. This was a very interesting read, as I haven’t read a book quite like it before not that that is a bad thing. I thought the cover looked fab and very pretty. Will definitely be purchasing Anouska’s first book called Since you’ve been Gone.

 

The Ghostly Father By Sue Barnard

The Ghostly Father By Sue Barnard

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Romeo and Juliet – was this what really happened?

When Juliet Roberts is asked to make sense of an ancient Italian manuscript, she little suspects that she will find herself propelled into the midst of one of the greatest love stories of all time. But this is only the beginning. As more hidden secrets come to light, Juliet discovers that the tragic tale of her famous namesake might of had a very different outcome….sue barnard

A favourite classic story with a major new twist. 

My Thoughts:

What an unusual idea to take the Romeo and Juliet story and put a spin on it by telling it from a different side. The characters really came to life and it is amazingly written by Sue. I found the pacing brilliant with urgency and action, you really feel as you in the thick of it. Really enjoyed this book.

One Night In Italy By Lucy Diamond

One Night In Italy By Lucy Diamond

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lucy diamondIs Italian really the language of love? A new class of students hopes to find out.

Anna’s recently been told the father she’s never met is Italian. Now she’s baking focaccia, whipping up tiramisu and swotting up on her vocabulary, determined to make it to Italy so she can find him in person.

Catherine’s husband has walked out on her, and she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life. But she’ll need courage as well as friends when she discovers his deception runs even deeper than infidelity.

Sophie is the teacher of the class, who’d much rather be back in sunny Sorrento. She can’t wait to escape the tensions at home and go travelling again. But sometimes life – and love – can surprise you when you least expect it.

As the evening class gets under way, friendships form and secrets from Italy begin to emerge. With love affairs blossoming in the most unlikely places, and hard decisions to face, it’s going to be a year that Anna, Catherine and Sophie will never forget.

My Thoughts:

I love Lucy Diamonds books so much. They are like a breath of fresh air. This book in particular was fantastic. It tells a story about three very different women who are discovering themselves and how they all connect. There are some serious issues in this book that Lucy addresses well but there is also some very funny one liners that had me chuckling. Even though I’ve never been to Italy before this book made me want to go, I absolutely loved each paragraph having been titled an Italian word and the Italian phrases at the back of the book was great. I also love any book that has a couple of recipes at the back. ciao. 🙂

 

Never Look Away By Linwood Barclay

Never Look Away By Linwood Barclay

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Never-Look-AwayIt starts with a trip to a local amusement park. David Harwood is hoping a carefree day with their young son will help dispel his wife Jan’s recent depression. But Jan disappears. No one can find her – and when the police find no evidence that she was ever at the park, David’s story starts to look suspicious…

To prove his innocence, and keep his son from being taken away from him, David must confront a terrifying possibility: that someone is prepared to destroy him and his family in order to keep a dreadful secret…

My Thoughts:

I’ve only recently come across Linwood Barclay as a friend recommended him to me. where have I been? the twists and turns in this book kept me hooked until the very last page. I found this book start very slowly but once the story had developed there were so many red herrings along the way I simply couldn’t do anything else but continue on this journey. The fact you can’t even guess what is going to happen next is a real winner for me. I will definitely be reading more of Linwood Barclay’s books.

Sophia’s Secret By Julie Ryan

Sophia’s Secret By Julie Ryan

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sophias-secretKat has never understood why she was sent at the age of seven from Greece to live in England with her Aunt Tigi. When she receives an email from her grandmother, the first contact in over twenty years, informing her of her mother’s death, she knows this could be her last chance to find out the truth. Little by little she finds out the shocking facts as her grandmother opens her heart.

It seems everyone has a secret to tell, not only her grandmother, as Manoli, her school friend, also harbours a guilty secret. Then there’s a twenty year old mystery to solve as well as a murder and what happened to the missing Church treasure?

My Thoughts:

The cover of this book drew me to it immediately. You can imagine being there, feeling the warmth on your skin and smelling the beautiful flowers. I now am pretty sure that’s where I would love to go on holiday and explore the breathtaking scenery. I loved the plot of this story and the different array of characters were bought to life by Julie. This book is written in four separate parts going from past to  present which I found very easy to follow. A brilliant must read, though wish I could of been on the Greek Island when I was reading it.  Now am going to read Jenna’s Journey which is Julie’s first novel. Thank you for letting me review your book Julie Ryan. 🙂

 

This Northern Sky By Julia Green

This Northern Sky By Julia Green

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Kate’s relationship with her boyfriend has ended badly – very badly. And now her parents are taking her on holiday with them to a cottage on a remote island in the Hebrides. Kate can’t imagine anything more boring. But Kate is also scared. Her parents have bjulia greeneen fighting and she knows that this holiday is make or break.

Once at the cottage, Kate escapes as soon as she can – outside, anywhere. And there she meets the warmth of the islanders, who are prepared to accept her and to listen to her. And possibly fall in love with her…..

 

My Thoughts:

I was drawn straight away to this book not because of the blurb, but because of the very pretty cover. One thing I will say is that the synopsis is a bit misleading as it says “And there she meets the islanders, who are prepared to accept her and listen to her. And possibly fall in love with her. You find out quite quickly this is never going to happen.  They love her, but nobody falls in love with her, which I was disappointed with. Overall I did find the book enjoyable, it is meant for teenagers so it’s a good short story but I was left wanting more and to tie up loose ends.

 

Step Back In Time By Ali McNamara

Step Back In Time By Ali McNamara

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ali mcnamaraHow far would you travel to find the love of a lifetime?

When single career girl Jo-Jo steps onto a zebra crossing and gets hit by a car, she awakes to find herself in 1963. The fashion, the music, her job, even her romantic life: everything is different. And then it happens three more times, and Jo-Jo finds herself living a completely new life in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s.

The only people she can rely on are Harry and Ellie, two companions from 2013, and George, the owner of a second – hand record store. If she’s ever to return from her travels, Jo-Jo must work out why she’s jumping through time like this. And if she does make it back, will her old life ever be the same again?

My Thoughts:

If your interested in time travel and the Beatles, then this is the book for you. I enjoyed it when Jo-Jo the main character jumped through time from the 1970’s to the 1990’s. I have read quite a few books like this now, this book has quite a few twists so you don’t know what’s going to happen next which adds a certain mystery to the story. Nice easy read.

 

The Teashop On The Corner By Milly Johnson

The Teashop On The Corner By Milly Johnson

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milly johnsonLife is full of second chances….. if only you keep your heart open for them. Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Lenni Merryman’s Teashop on the corner, specialising in cake, bookish stationery and compassion. And for three people, all in need of a little TLC, it is somewhere to find a friend to lean on. Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. And now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward. Molly Jones’s ex- husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it’s too late.Will Linton’s business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again.

Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in the Teashop on the corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs it the most?

A story of love, friendship and second chances that will warm your heart and rekindle your hope.

My Thoughts:

This book was such an enjoyable read. I was hooked just from the first page. If only there was a teashop on everyone’s corner. I know I would be in there everyday, decadent cakes, pretty literary based stationary and also they customers who like nothing more than to have a good discussion about books. There are many characters in this book but need not be afraid as Milly brings them to life particularly well. They all get to know each other very well and form real friendships and they seem to find something that has been missing in their lives. I fell in love with each and every character but I think Molly was my favourite.

This is a book that will stir up all your emotions. Just be warned by the end you will need a box of tissues at the ready as it is a real tear jerker. Best book I’ve read so far of 2014.

When I see your Face By Devika Fernando

When I see your Face By Devika Fernando

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Cathy has had enough. Having run away from her abusive husband, she tries to pick up the broken pieces of her life in a remote village, focusing on her dream to start her own cake business. Finding true love is the last thing on her mind.

When she comes face to face with a man who looks exactly like the one she is struggling to forget, life throws tdevika fernandohe biggest challenge yet at her:

Should she give in to his charm and care or is history going to repeat itself?

My Thoughts:

This is well worth a read. It’s not too long and pleasantly enjoyable. The title of this book fits the story brilliantly, I personally was excited when I saw in the blurb about the cake business. Everyone loves a bit of cake and Devika somehow seems to write with sympathy and has obviously done alot of research into personal issues that some women may be able to relate to. Fascinating read. Well Done Devika Fernando, will keep my eye out for your next novel.

Deceitful Desires – Love, Lies & Limos series 1 By Maggie Caldwell

Deceitful Desires – Love, Lies & Limos series 1 By Maggie Caldwell

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maggie caldwellWhen serious marital problems arise between Kevin and Melanie Jones, Melanie is tempted by ex-flame- handsome, sweet and gentle Andy Smith. Will she manage to resist Andy’s charms and save her troubled marriage or give everything up to be with him?

Meanwhile Victoria Harper is trying to juggle a moody husband, two hyper children and a career while also trying to keep away from sexy, tall and wickedly cheeky Dougie Patterson. Will she keep her family together against the turmoil in her life?

Follow the two best friends on their emotional rollercoaster lives as they struggle with matters of the hear, uncovering shattering secrets and betrays in the search of happiness.

 

My Thoughts:

Maggie Caldwell is a lovely lady who heard recently I had had a operation and kindly enough sent me her book to read. What a gripping read. Even after the first chapter I was hooked. The characters were well written I especially loved the children. Maggie has a way of writing so that you feel like you know the characters and she deals with personal issues sympathetically. There are parts in this book that made me laugh and others that were quite emotional. I managed to read this book in a couple of days as I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to the next book Maggie.