Set in London in 1968, A CURTAIN TWITCHER’S BOOK OF MURDER follows the lives of the inhabitants of a suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.

“Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they’ll answer ‘well’. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best…”.

For the best, because Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.

My Thoughts:

I was not sure what to expect from this book, it is indeed very quirky but works so well. It is a collection of short stories but in a interesting way where the characters from each story turn up in the other stories, they are all connected in some way or another. What happens in Atbara Avenue stays in Atbara Avenue. As the reader you really fell as though you are the curtain twitcher which I found utterly fascinating and compelling. The characters are all relatable and dark and you don’t know who is up to no good and who is just good. It makes for such a compelling read that I will never stop recommending.

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

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October 1933

With a population of five hundred souls, isolated Sark has a reputation for being ‘the island where nothing ever happens’. Until, one day, the neatly folded clothes of an unknown man and woman are discovered abandoned at a coastal beauty spot. As the search for the missing couple catches the attention of first the local and then national newspapers, Sark finds itself front-page news.

When young islander Phyllis Carey returns to Sark from England she throws herself into solving the mystery. As Phyll digs through swirls of gossip, ghost stories and dark rumours in search of the truth, she crosses paths with Everard Hyde, a surprise visitor from her past. As press coverage builds to fever pitch, long-suppressed secrets from Phyll’s and Everard’s shared, shadowy history begin to surface.

My Thoughts:

This story is set in 1933 on the Island of Sark. With it being an isolated island no one expects to find clothes belonging to strangers on the beach with no bodies in them. The islanders search for the missing people but to no avail. Who they need is Phyllis who after going back to Sark makes it her mission to find out what really happened to these mysterious strangers and find out why they were really there. It was a great engaging story right from the first chapter, I felt mystified about where the story would lead. Apparently the story is based on a real life crime that remains unsolved to this date. It was cleverly written and I really enjoyed reading it.

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

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Do you ever feel like you have no idea what you’re doing in life – and wonder if you just didn’t get the memo?

Jenny Green is dreading her Class of 2007 reunion. While her friends are killing it, Jenny’s promising career as an artisanal baker went up in flames (literally) and her deadbeat, commitment-phobe boyfriend is cheating on her with their swishy-ponytailed neighbour. She feels like she didn’t get the memo… As it turns out, she didn’t.

Begrudgingly back at university, she receives a text from an unlisted number: Jenny Green – please collect your memo. Hidden on her old campus is a secret female-led organisation providing memos to select students; blueprints for success.

The first time around, Jenny didn’t receive hers. Now she’s being given a second chance – the opportunity to rewrite her past, undo her worst mistakes and fix her mess of a life. But at what price?

My Thoughts:

When Jenny goes to her Class reunion, it was not what she expected. Everyone she knew back then has done really well for themselves, good jobs, marriage and kids but she feels embarrassed that her life is not what it should be. She is real life and what people go through each day. The story centres around The Memo that she never received all those years ago but could it of really changed her life back then to where she is now or would rather not be? It was a different kind of concept to this story and one I think worked well, I really felt for Jenny and all her mishaps she has gone through. It had a good pace to it and was quirky, I really enjoyed this read.

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

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We all have that friend – the one who doesn’t quite belong. Dinah Marshall is that person and knows it. After someone drops out, she’s invited to spend the weekend at a luxury holiday home with women she’s known since university. However, the gulf between them has widened since then, and Dinah is conscious of being the only one with no money, career, partner or children. Feeling like an outsider, she takes to snooping around the house. She’s fascinated by its owners, Sarah and Isaac Rivers – and when she discovers she can secretly stay an extra night, that fascination quickly spirals into obsession.

When Isaac Rivers meets ‘Diana Malone’ at an exclusive members club, he introduces her to his wife and friends, and she’s soon welcomed into the group. She seems to be trying a little too hard, however, and as her somewhat intense behaviour starts to raise both eyebrows and questions, one of her new acquaintances begins to suspect she isn’t who she says she is. For Diana – or is it Dinah? -this is a disaster: she’s worked hard to get where she has, and these suspicions threaten everything. But Diana isn’t the only one with secrets, and if she’s going down, then she might just take everyone else with her . . .

My Thoughts:

Dinah is one of those people that has friends but does not quite fit in with them. So when she is given a rare opportunity to spend a weekend with them, she goes for it. Having nothing like these women have in their life, she realises she is very different to them all. Sarah and Isaac are the couple that have invited Dinah into their home and Dinah becomes quietly obsessed with them both. But this is going to have dire consequences not just for Dinah but everyone around her. How will this story play out in the end? It was a well paced story that grew and grew. The characters were a mixed bunch but altogether very intriguing. I was not sure how the story was going to pan out and was pleasantly surprised by the ending. Full of drama, lies and betrayals. A great read.

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

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It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.

It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything….

That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.

Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go….

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Housemaid’s Series but can be read as a standalone, though if you want more of the back story I would suggest reading The Housemaid first. Millie is a housemaid and finds a job working for the Garricks but all is not as it seems and when Millie hears crying and finds evidence that not all as it seems she decides to investigate further but Millie has a track record and she has to be very careful she does not end up in prison again. Secrets, lies and betrayals weave their way through the exciting and intense thriller. Hold on to your hat as this book is about to take you on a rollercoaster ride. The twists are genius and the story is engaging, I did not want to put this book down. I look forward to reading the next book in the Series called The Housemaid is watching.

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WIFE. HUSBAND. BEST FRIEND. What if your two favourite people hated each other with a passion?

A nice house, a carefree life, a doting husband, a best friend who never leaves your side. You couldn’t ask for more. There’s just one problem: your husband and best friend love you, but they hate each other.

Over a single day, wife, husband and best friend Temi toe the lines of compromise and betrayal. Slowly, their lives begin to unravel, until a startling discovery throws everyone’s integrity into question…

My Thoughts:

What would you do if your best friend hated your husband? would you just ignore it and hope they can get on for the sake of you, or would you have to make a gut wrenching decision? that is the question that is considered in this story. The story is told by all three of them and you get their different perspectives of the situation that they are in. I did not like Temi who is the best friend, some of the things that she did I did not agree with and I felt that the story was a little slow for my liking. It is quite a short read but it was more than enough. I felt as though the book came to an abrupt ending and did not really clear anything up.

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

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Understand and overcome your health anxiety with this practical, supportive and easy-to-read guide

Everyone worries about their health sometimes, but if you find yourself constantly overwhelmed, How to Understand and Deal with Health Anxiety is here to help. This friendly, accessible guide has all the information and advice you need to identify the source of your struggles. By learning the science behind health anxiety and understanding how it affects your mind and body, you’ll start to gain control of it. With helpful tips, practical steps and actionable advice, this book will help you work out the best ways to spend less time worrying about your health, and more time living in the present moment.

By the end of this book, you will:
– Have a better understanding of what health anxiety is, how it manifests, what causes it, and how to identify symptoms and triggers
– Be armed with physical and practical steps you can take to alleviate health anxiety, from breathing exercises and coping mechanisms to healthy lifestyle choices
– Know about the medical treatments and therapies available, and how and when to seek professional help or support

With the right knowledge and guidance, you can learn to understand and manage your health anxiety so that you can get back to feeling like you again.

My Thoughts:

When I first came across this book, I never knew it was what I have been struggling with the past 15 years +. I have been in and out of hospitals, having major surgery and other procedures. Multiple trips to my doctors surgery. I have just been very unwell for many years, thankfully all my medical conditions I have are under control for the time being but I have really found this book useful and helpful. It is a self help book that is a great tool to help the reader learn more about health anxiety. It guides you through different tips and techniques to help you cope with certain situations. What I also really liked is after reading it, I did not feel as though I was alone, it will be nice to refer back to this book if I ever need the help again. A great read, not just for the person struggling but also for the family/friend to understand what that person is going through.

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

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From the moment Lily Harper arrives at a remote retreat on the breath-taking Scilly Isles, she is itching to get back to civilisation – and her thriving business.

Slowing down simply isn’t in her vocabulary, and so she quickly clashes with the gorgeous but dour Sam who runs the retreat.

Just as Lily is about to give up and leave, disaster strikes, and she is involved in an incident that changes her perspective on everything.

Lily is no longer sure she wants to return to the life she thought she loved. But will she have the courage to give the retreat, and Sam, a second chance?

My Thoughts:

Lily has always found it hard to sit back and relax so when something happens at work, she is forced to take a break and try to rest and recuperate. On a remote island retreat with only the hunky Sam who runs the retreat as the only other person on the island, it is pretty quiet, they don’t see eye to eye to start with but then they both realise that both of them have issues. As Lily spends more time there, she wonders if her life at home is all its cracked up to be and wonders if this retreat has given her an idea to better her future. I liked how the story flowed, the island retreat sounds wonderful and so peaceful. I liked Lily as a person and warmed to her, Sam sounded lovely and I liked how we got to see his side of the story too. Overall a great read to get stuck into.

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

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Escape to the beautiful lavender fields of Provence this summer

Del moved to the south of France three years ago and hasn’t looked back. She’s found new friends, new purpose, and new love with gorgeous Fabien.

But just as harvest on her little lavender farm is due to begin, Del gets some shocking news. With no time to dwell as she welcomes a new crew of lavender pickers, she unexpectedly waves goodbye to Fabien for the summer.

Usually cooking – the thing she loves best – would help soothe her troubles, but Del doesn’t remember how . . . And then chef Zacharie comes to town, dropping another bombshell!

Over one summer in Provence that’s full of surprises, friends old and new rally round. Can they complete the harvest and pull the community back together? And if Fabien returns, will Del finally get her happy-ever-after?

My Thoughts:

There is nothing better than curling up with a Jo Thomas book, and this was the perfect read for me. It is set in France and when I tell you the descriptions of where the book are set sounds stunning, Jo does a great job to make you feel as though you are there. Del has been living in France for a few years and has some great friends, everything is going swimmingly until it isn’t. Things keep going wrong for poor Del and I really felt for her with such a weight on her shoulders. I was hoping she would have a happy ever after. It was a great read to escape with, full of warming characters and beautiful scenery. And the food, oh the food sounded delicious. Many times my stomach was rumbling thinking about eating the food. A fantastic read.

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

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How do you learn to live again when you’ve danced with death?

Louise’s road to having a baby was far from easy, suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage during her first pregnancy and being caught in a terrifying house fire in her second. But her troubles were far from over when she gave birth. During an emergency c-section, she had severe complications and fought for her life over a number of days, whilst her son was taken into NICU. This terrifying experience impacted on Louise’s mental health in a way that completely changed her life, as she has battled to come to terms with what happened to her, whilst also becoming a mother.

As Louise has rebuilt herself step by step, she has reflected back on her past – from her childhood and dynamics with her family, to her struggles with alcohol and toxic relationships, as well as the rollercoaster years of her time on Made in Chelsea.

Louise’s experience has changed the way she sees the world and redefined what’s important to her. Although it has been a challenging journey, she is determined to come out more alive than ever. Louise’s powerful story, told with raw honesty, shows the incredible human ability to overcome anything, no matter what life throws at you.

My Thoughts:

I have followed Louise for a number of years and was saddened to hear part of what she had been through. This is her story of how her life evolved from her days when she was in Made in Chelsea. How the NHS failed her multiple times and how she is learning to live again after such a traumatic time. Wow I have to say straight from the get go what an incredible woman to go through what she went through and more and still come out the other side. I knew some parts of her story but not too this extent and I cannot believe what she went through and how she was not taken seriously so many times. I am so glad she is hear to tell her story and she is working on getting better. I hope for her sake there are less bumps in the road to help her continue her recover. She is a brave and inspirational woman, who I have the uttermost respect for.

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