Spring 1919, and John Sawtelle’s imagination has got him into trouble…again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin’s north woods, where they hope to make a fresh start – and to live a life of meaning, purpose, and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends – human, animal, and otherworldly – to realise their dreams.

My Thoughts:

The story is set in 1919, and follows John and his family. They are going on an adventure to start a new life, but things are not as they seem, was it the right choice for them or should they just turn back around. They meet some unique characters along the way that make the story. Bearing in mind it is a hefty book, I was worried I would get bored but I did not. It is heartfelt and a powerful read that brings together friends and family and the kindness of strangers. A good all rounded read.

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

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Over a hundred husbands dead.
One prisoner. Countless secrets.
The most horrifying case of Kiara Fox’s career . . .

Kiara Fox leads a seemingly ordinary life as a highly respected fraud investigator. With a loving husband and twin daughters, her world seems perfect. But when a life insurance claim involving a wealthy man named Martin Powers lands on her desk, she senses something is off.

Forced by her employer to pay the claim, Kiara discovers that Martin Powers’ folder has vanished. In a shocking twist, she finds the missing folder hidden within another investigator’s files – Michael Hall from the Bristol office. It’s identical to her own case, sparking her determination to uncover the truth.

As innocent people begin to die, she realises there’s more behind this than first meets the eye. Torn between protecting her own family and uncovering whoever is behind the killings, Kiara faces an impossible choice.

My Thoughts:

Kiara has a lovely life with her husband and daughter. She is a fraud investigator and is highly regarded in this type of business. Kiara has to solve a claim from a wealthy man but to Kiara something smells fishy. She knows something is not right and she will do her work to find out what is going on. There is a twist throughout that changes the case completely, Kiara can see there is so much going on with this case that even she questions if she can solve. I felt as though it was a good solid story. I liked the pace and enjoyed reading about the characters. I found the fraud investigating side interesting and learnt a few things I did not know. The twist was a big one and shocked me. The ending was brilliant, definitely one to read.

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

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Eddie Winston is ninety years old. He has lived and he has loved, but he has never been kissed.

A true gentleman and incurable romantic, Eddie spends his days volunteering at a charity shop, where he sorts through the donations of the living and the dead, preserving letters and tokens of love along the way. It is here that he meets Bella, a troubled young woman who, aged twenty-four, has just lost the love of her life.

When Bella learns that Eddie is yet to have his first kiss, she resolves to help him finally find love, sparking an adventure that will take them to unexpected places and, they hope, bring Eddie to the moment he has waited for all his life.

My Thoughts:

I knew as soon as I started reading this book that I would love it. I absolutely adored Eddie, he reminds me of my grandad with his ways, so cute. He is a lovely man who volunteers at his local charity shop and sorts through other people’s belongings. When he meets Bella, she is going through a hard time and Eddie just wants to be there for her and help her but what he does not realise is that Bella can help him too, it is an unlikely friendship but one that works really well together. It is a sweet and caring story, I did shed a few tears for both of them but it is uplifting to know how much they care. A story I will cherish forever.

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

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Your cat rules your home and your heart. You bend over backwards to cater to their quirks. In fact, you would do anything for your pampered puss. So why is it that they sometimes choose to ignore you, push your most prized possessions off shelves, or use your furniture as a scratching post?

Luckily, this no-nonsense survival guide is on hand to help you navigate feline parenthood. Whether you need to learn not to take the cold shoulder personally, how to accept those little “gifts” with due gratitude, or simply to understand that there is never an acceptable excuse for an empty food bowl, these pearls of wisdom are sure to make you an elite cat parent in no time.

My Thoughts:
As a cat parent I always knew I would need a book like this in my life, it is a great survival guide to prepare you for becoming a cat parent. Boy oh boy does it. It is so funny and now relatable after having a cat for many years now. I love the designs on the pages and the illustrations are cute but funny. The little paw prints add a really nice touch too. A great gift for newbie Cat parents.

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

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It’s a truth universally acknowledged that cats are some of the funniest animals on the planet. From contorting themselves into strange shapes, to pulling bizarre expressions, to cramming themselves into tiny cardboard boxes, wherever there’s a cat there’s always something weird and wonderful to be seen.

Funny Cats is here to chronicle these important moments of absurdity. Within its pages, you’ll find:

– A selection of ridiculous cats in high-quality photo form
– Witty captions to make you laugh out loud
– Priceless expressions and relatable memes for all the moments you thought you were the only one (but realized you weren’t)
There is simply no end to the nonsense that cats are capable of – and this book is here to celebrate, honour and cherish that fact.

My Thoughts:
As soon as I saw this book I knew it was for me. The pictures and the captions are just so funny, they are all just so good. It really put a smile on my face. A great gift for a cat lover or just for yourself. I would highly recommend if you have a cat or you just need a good laugh. A great book.

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

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Two women. An office filled with secrets. One terrible crime that can’t be taken back.

Dawn Schiff is strange.

At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.

So when Dawn doesn’t show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell―beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running―is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything…

It turns out Dawn wasn’t just an awkward outsider―she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who’s the real victim?

But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.

My Thoughts:

I have read a few of Freida’s books now and loved them so was excited to pick this one up about a Coworker. Dawn is always in work at a precise time every day but when she does not show Natalie is concerned, when Natalie starts receiving weird phone calls she knows something is not right but what is going on and where is Dawn? this started off good and I thought I knew what had happened but wow the twist that comes up shocked me, there are a few other twists after that I could not believe either. Freida has a way to pull the reader in so that you feel part of the story which has a great pace to it. Some of the chapters are short which makes you want to keep reading. I was left shell shocked at the end and still cannot believe what happened. I cannot wait to read my next book by Freida.

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When Carol’s world suddenly unravels, leaving her single and jobless, she stumbles upon an unexpected opportunity: leading a ragtag team of countryside conservation volunteers. At first glance, the prospect of nurturing Britain’s diverse wildlife in the great outdoors seems like a dream come true. However, reality paints a different picture: her office is a ramshackle porta-cabin overrun with mice and plagued by leaky ceilings, and the volunteers are far from impressed with her lack of practical skills.

Despite this rocky beginning, Carol gradually earns the respect of her eclectic group of volunteers, forging a tight-knit community that will grow to become essential to each member. This diverse group spans generations, from twenty-somethings to septuagenarians, with each of them looking to get something different out of volunteering, whether it’s a sense of purpose, a fresh start in life or a tick on their community service form. They also bring their unique quirks and life experiences to the mix.

Volunteer days soon evolve into the highlight of Carol’s week, as they bond over their love of nature, mental health battles, and the desire for companionship. As they work together outdoors, the team discover a simple yet powerful recipe for self-confidence, improved well-being and a newfound perspective on life’s challenges. This journey not only brings solace and new joys to Carol’s weeks, but eventually it helps her move on with her life, too.

My Thoughts:

This is a true story of how one woman managed to get her life back on track after losing her job. Carol becomes a leader, a leader who is in charge of a group of volunteers that help to conserve nature. But there are some hurdles that she must jump through. The volunteers are all different ages and have come from different backgrounds so to see them volunteer is a great opportunity for Carol and for them to better their lives. It was lovely to see how they all changed for the better. I think volunteering is a great thing to do as it gives you great satisfaction about helping others or nature in this case and it gets people outdoors and talking to other people. I found this a calming and steady paced read. A good read.

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

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Inspired by a nomadic “vagabundo” he met decades ago, Mark eschews the fast pace of modern life and sets off on a solo hike 1,225 km across the Iberian Peninsula – from Gibraltar in the far south to Estaca de Bares, Spain’s most northerly tip – carrying just a backpack and a hammock.

Hiking through sleepy siesta-hour plazas, shady cork forests and heat-shimmering plains, the hours would be long, dusty and hot. But, as Mark passes through the many small villages and communities en route, his trek comes to be characterized most of all by the sharing of stories, the true kindness of strangers, and the unbridled freedom of the open road.

Recounting Mark’s fascinating nomadic journey through Spain, including Extremadura, its least-visited region, Vagabond is a homage to the disappearing lifestyle of the vagabundo, as well as a celebration of rural Spain and its forgotten communities. It reminds us of the value of slowing down and finding connection with others, and the beauty that can be found in taking life one step at a time.

My Thoughts:

This is not my usual kind of read but I always like to try a different genre when I can. I am glad I gave this a go as I have huge respect for Mark for doing this epic journey but also for writing about it too. A true story at it’s best, Mark is on a solo hike with just a backpack and hammock, we see him meeting people and how kind some people are too him. It is a long old hike and I cannot believe what he went through, but he is a true inspiration in my eyes. Whilst this is not my usual read there is something that drew me into reading this book and I am so glad I did. Thank you for sharing your story Mark.

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

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Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. 

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

My Thoughts:

This is my first book by Abby, but I thought this sounded a good Summer read. Justin has this unique curse where every woman he dates, the instant they break up, the woman goes onto to find their soulmate. But when a woman messages him, he would of never in a million years realise she has exactly the same curse. How weird. The two of them wonder what would happen if they were to get together, would the curse counteract the curse? I don’t think either of them would ever realise what would really happen. It was a easy summer read, perfect pick me up. It was a fast paced read and one that I would read again. I have never read any of Abby’s books before but I will definitely be picking up more of her books.

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She’s loved by all who meet her. But someone wants her gone . . .
Then 

When beautiful and vivacious Charlotte Salter fails to turn up to her husband Alec’s 50th birthday party, her kids are worried, but Alec is not. As the days pass and there’s still no word from Charlie, her daughter, Etty, and her sons, Niall, Paul and Ollie, all struggle to come to terms with her disappearance.
How can anyone just vanish without a trace?
Left with no answers and in limbo, the Salter children try and go on with their lives, all the while thinking that their mother’s killer is potentially very close to home.

Now

After years away, Etty returns home to the small East Anglian village where she grew up to help move her father into a care home. Now in his eighties, Alec has dementia and often mistakes his daughter for her mother. 
Etty is a changed woman from the trouble-free girl she was when Charlie was still around – all the Salter children have spent decades running and hiding from their mother’s disappearance.
But when their childhood friends, Greg and Morgen Ackerley, decide to do a podcast about Charlotte’s disappearance, it seems like the town’s buried secrets – and the Salters’ – might finally come to light.

After all this time, will they finally find out what really happened to Charlotte Salter?

My Thoughts:

I read one of Nicci’s books a few years ago but did not think much of it. So I was dubious when a friend said she had read this one and enjoyed it. I am so glad I picked it up, it was brilliant. Charlotte Salter is on everyone’s mind when she is a no show at her husband’s birthday bash. No one knows why she may of just vanished but when the police start looking into it all, some people are more suspicious than others. The first half of the book we hear about what happened at the time and the second part is the here and now. Now all grown up and with a town full of secrets can the Salter family find out what really happened on that day? I found it an easy follow along read. Characters were all suspects to me, there are a few red herrings along the way. I would never of guessed the outcome in a million years. It became an addictive read for me, one I did not want to put down. A great read.

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