It is May in the tiny hamlet of Glenville, Vermont, bringing with it currents of rejuvenation and rebirth. For 3 families, though, the year ahead will prove to be a roller coaster of life-changing events, promises, and tragedies. Liquid, Fragile, Perishable unspools via a chorus of unforgettable voices: an old-school Christian beekeeping family and newly transplanted New Yorkers; a trio of teenage girls and a deeply rooted family of ne’er-do-wells; and one woman who just wants to live alone in the woods.

The shifting set of relations among the citizens of this community encompasses teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, poverty – and a cavalcade of thwarted dreams, young love in bloom, and poignant missed connections.

My Thoughts:

The story is set in Vermont and we see three completely different families going about their day to day lives, this is what happens to each family within a year. There is a lot going on and lots of emotions as you progress through this book. There are relatable issues which the author Carolyn has done well to write with sensitivity and it was intriguing to read about what happens with each family over the course of a year. I felt as though I needed to concentrate whilst reading this book otherwise I would get confused with the different characters and who was who but on a whole this was a very powerful and emotional read. I look forward to seeing what the author Carolyn writes about next.

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

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In 1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gave birth to an illegitimate child. The infant, a girl, was swiftly bundled up and handed to a local peasant family to be brought up in one of the hamlets surrounding the Castle. Many years later, 15-year-old Boróka reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Trusted members of the countess’s household have been sent out to gather new serving girls, and the kindly old man who has taken care of Boróka for almost all her life knows that it is dangerous to turn them away.

Boróka struggles to find her place at Cachtice Castle: she is frightened of the countess’s reputation as an alleged murderer of young girls, and the women who run the castle are terrifyingly cruel. When plague comes into the heart of the castle, a tentative bond begins to form between Boróka and the Countess Báthory. But powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king: can the countess really trust the women who are so close to her? And when the show trial begins against the infamous ‘Blood Countess’ where will Boróka’s loyalties lie?

My Thoughts:
This is not my usual type of read but I wanted to give it a go as I want to open my eyes up to different genres I wouldn’t necessarily read. This is the story about Erzebet and how she fought for her survival in 1573 and how she tried to be heard. The things she was accused of were truly horrific and she tried to get her side of the story across and prove to people that she was a legitimate person. Sonia the author must have done tons of research in to this book which makes it more special. I found the story quite fascinating at times but creepy at other times. I didn’t know how the story would end and it is one of those stories I will never forget. I feel as though I learnt a great deal from reading this book.

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

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In a small seaside town, autumn is edging into winter, gulls ride winds over the waves, and two women pass each other on the promenade, as yet unaware of each other’s existence.

In the nineties Lydia was a teen pop star, posed half naked on billboards everywhere with a lollipop between her lips and no idea how to live, letting the world happen to her. Now, three decades later, Lydia is less and less sure that what happened to her was in the least bit okay. The news cycle runs hot with #MeToo stories, and a famous former lover has emerged with a self-serving apology, asking her to forgive him. Suddenly, the past is full of trapdoors she is desperately trying not to fall through.

Joyce, in middle age, has never left home. She still lives with her mother Betty. With their matching dresses, identical hairdos and makeup, they are the local oddballs. Theirs is a life of unerring routine: the shops, biscuits served on bone china plates, dressing up for a gin and tonic on Saturday. Nice things. One misstep from Joyce can ruin Betty’s day; so Joyce treads carefully. She has never let herself think about a different kind of life. But recently, along with the hot flushes, something like anger is asserting itself, like a caged thing realising it should probably try and escape.

Amid the grey skies, amusement parks and beauty parlours of a gentrifying run-down seaside resort, these two women might never meet. But as they both try to untangle the damaging details of their past in the hope of a better future, their lives are set on an unlikely collision course.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, the cover does not really reveal anything about the story, but when I read the plot I liked the sound of it. The story is all about two women with very different lives that pass each other most days without knowing how their lives could intertwine. It is a thought provoking and emotional read that had me in tears quite a few times. It shows how if you want to put your mind to something then you can, it may be hard but in the long run it will reap the rewards for you. I had to take a moment after reading this book to remind myself what I have and how I am going to live my life.

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

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HOW FAR WILL WE GO TO BELONG?

On the precipice of Y2K, unpaid intern Lily Chen is attempting to live the American dream in New York City. But her scientist parents imagined so much more for her when they fled Mao’s cultural revolution, hoping for a better life. Despite the glamour of her media job, Lily can barely make rent – until she falls into the arms of Matthew. This young financier can give her a fairy tale life of luxury, and for the first time her dreams appear within reach.

High school student Nick Chen and his best friend Timothy are plotting to break free. College promises escape from an isolated and close-knit island in Washington State, space from his strict and secretive mum Lily, and the chance to finally fit in. But when Nick sets out to find his long-lost father, a world of questions opens, and it is one unexpected member of the Chen family who holds the key to it all.

My Thoughts:

This is a bit of a different read for me, Lily is living in New York as a unpaid intern, it is not really what she expected, the job is good but she doesn’t get paid and when your trying to live in a place that is expensive Lily is finding it tough. Her family thought she could be so much more but this is what Lily wanted. But when she meets Matthew she wonders if her life is about to change for the better. It is a story all about real life consequences and what happens when you let your family down. Finding ways to pick yourself up and ways to move forward. It is a thought provoking read that will stay with you and keeps you wondering. A great read.

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

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Marlow has always lived in unusual places. But when she accepts a position as a live-in property guardian, she finds herself moving somewhere she swore she’d never return to.

Right from the start, she knows it’s a terrible mistake. The elegant Victorian school is due to be turned into luxury apartments, but its eerie, empty corridors are full of Marlow’s worst memories.

And now something sinister is happening on the site. One of the other tenants has disappeared without warning, and Marlow suspects that the nine other guardians know far more than they’re letting on. She’s determined to find out what happened to the missing woman – but which of these strangers can she trust?

And can she uncover the truth before her own past catches up with her?

My Thoughts:

When Marlow moves to live in a property as a live in guardian, she cannot believe it is her childhood school. But is this a good idea as bad things happened when she was at school and the past has never left her mind. When sinister things start happening, Marlow questions who is at stake here and who really are the other guardians and what do they want from her? I was gripped from the start, it had a good pace to it a good thriller. I found it tense, chilling and gripping and read it in a day. I just had to know what was going on. The ending blew me away. I need to read more of Lesley’s books now as this one was brilliant. I would definitely recommend if you like a good thriller.

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

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He wants your life ….

Matt Langley used to be somebody. Back in the late 90’s his star shone bright. Thanks to his debut novel, the shocking The Devil’s Debt, he was at the forefront of the Bright Young Things. He was on chat shows and culture shows. He was the man of the moment. And then it all stopped, because there was no second book.

Now, with his marriage to Naz on the rocks, they’re trying to start over. They’ve sold the house that The Devil’s Debt built and moved to a farmhouse deep in the wilds of Northumbria, where no one knows them, and for a while their new life is fragile but good. Furthermore, Matt’s leading a writing group at the library and is even thinking about writing again.

Marlin is part of that writing group. He’s a quiet young man who has survived things no kid should ever have to. On meeting Matt he shows him his battered copy of The Devil’s Debt. The book is filled with underlining’s and notes and, he soon discovers, messages from the young man’s dead mother.

That book serves as the basis for a bond between the two. Matt feels like they have a kinship and wants to help the young writer. So, when he and Naz find him sleeping rough they invite him into their house for a week or so, until Marlin is back on his feet. But Marlin is a malevolent cuckoo they’ve brought into their home. And that was their first big mistake…

My Thoughts:

This is a story about a writer who back in the 90’s debuted his first book and did really well but since then kind of fell of the bandwagon and he stopped writing. Now he has moved on with his life, he has sold his house and has moved to Northumbria with his wife and they are starting over again , he is even started to contemplate whether he should write again. But he joins a writing group and one person in particular sparks his interest, Marlin a young guy who holds everything on his shoulders, little does Matt know what he is in for letting this kid into his life, he had better watch out.. It was a slow burner of a read but when it did start getting better, it was intriguing and I wondered where the story was going to go. I found it quite disturbing in parts and feel like I have never read a book like this before.

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

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After 30 years of marriage, and a wonderful family Christmas, Louisa is stunned when husband Kip asks for a divorce on Boxing Day. He’d never seemed unhappy – and they’ve raised three children together.

For months, Kip has been secretly seeing a younger woman – and if that wasn’t bad enough – it’s the woman who broke their youngest son’s heart.

Now Kip is moving out and embarking on a new life with Zoe, and Louisa is left to pick up the pieces. Their beloved family home, Charity Cottage, is up for sale, and tensions are running high.

Yet, despite the betrayal and anger, when Louisa lays eyes on what might be a unique and welcoming new home, she feels a first glimmer of hope that life might be taking a turn for the better.

And while Louisa is making exciting plans, Kip finds himself facing challenges of his own and begins to learn that living the dream may not be as simple as he thought…

My Thoughts:

Louisa leads a good life with her three beautiful children and her husband, she is not expecting her husband to tell her he wants a divorce. Louisa is shocked, she had never seen this coming. But when he tells her he loves someone else she never expected who it is in a million years, neither does the rest of the family. Heartbroken and undecided what to do with her life, she does everything to give herself a life she wants. But as her husband has made his bed and is lying in it, he realises it is not all as it seems. An interesting take on this kind of situation that happens every day in real life, I felt sorry for Louisa and the kids but I felt anger towards her husband and also later on when he makes a sudden realisation. A great summer read.

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

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You dote on your fluffy feline, but it may feel like the relationship is a little one-sided at times. Whether it’s the judgemental stares or the cold shoulders, sometimes your cat doesn’t seem to have the same enthusiasm for you as you do for them. If you’re wondering why they treat you this way, allow this book to explain; your cat thinks you’re a fool!

Filled with witty original illustrations, this book offers many reasons why your pampered puss thinks you’re ridiculous and why they’re in charge. From following you into the bathroom to knocking things off shelves, gain insight into the mind of your moggy and allow them to explain why they act the way they do.

Perfect for any cat lovers, or long-suffering owners, this book reveals the truth: your cat just thinks you are an idiot.

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Firstly I have a cat, secondly he looks very much like the cat on the front and thirdly I am pretty sure he thinks I am an idiot. Ha Ha. This was such a funny book and everything was true and relatable, I loved the illustrations they seemed to bring the words to life. It is one of those hilarious books that you need in your life, cat owners will totally understand and get everything. Also if you are looking into getting a cat, this is the book to warn you what you are in for.

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

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Meet the inspirational animals who went from being rescued to becoming rescuer in these incredible true stories

You’ll read all about…
– Constantine and Crystal, the guinea pigs who gave a bullied girl with autism a reason to smile
– Alex, the tiger who inspired a homeless drug addict to get her life back on track
– Angel, the horse who helped her owner to lose weight and regain her confidence
– Daniel, the duck who was rescued from a food market and succeeded in soothing his owner’s PTSD

as well as many other animal heroes who came to their owner’s aid – whether it was helping them to recover from mental illness, relationship breakdown or bereavement.

These remarkable creatures all repaid the love and appreciation that their human companions displayed in caring for them. Let these uplifting stories warm your heart, and show you that adopted animals can heal our pain and transform our lives.

My Thoughts:

This was a lovely book to curl up with. I went through a range of emotions reading this book, but it was worth it. These are a collection of short stories about how pets have helped their owners in many ways than one. From helping a girl that was being bullied, to helping a drug addict sort out her life. It is absolutely amazing what these animals can do just to sit with you to calm you down, they are all incredible. It is one of those books that I read quickly but I am going to go back to again and again. I would highly recommend anyone that loves animals or is in need of a little help to show you what these incredible animals can do for you. A beautiful and heart warming read.

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

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Dive into these pages to meet some of the most incredible dogs and puppies who have touched the lives of their owners in unforgettable ways. From loyal service dogs who have helped their owners through some of life’s toughest challenges, to playful puppies who bring joy to every moment, the furry friends featured in this heart-warming collection of stories will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

Whether you’re a dog lover or simply need a dose of positivity, the stories inside are sure to raise your spirits. Filled with tales of courage, love and loyalty, this book is here to remind you of the unbreakable bond between dogs and humans. So settle in with your furry friend and get ready to be inspired by the stories of these amazing pups!

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t wait to start reading this book. I am a big animal lover so when I get an opportunity to read any books about animals I am there. This is a collection of short stories all about different dogs and what they have done in their lives, like for example they are a service dog. I cannot pick a story I loved the most as they are all so heart warming and uplifting to my soul. Full of cute dogs and puppies, it is incredible what man’s best friend can really do. I loved it. A great read for any dog or animal lover.

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

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