1656, Saint-Domingue. In the dark confines of a cell, a prisoner is waiting. Soon the hangman will call her name. Jacquotte Delahaye. A name which has struck fear into even the mightiest of empires. For Jacquotte is no ordinary prisoner: she is a pirate.

Fierce. Legendary. Deadly.

As the hangman prepares the noose, Jacquotte’s story is told, charting her humble origins from the island of Hispaniola to the deck of a fearsome pirate ship. There, against all odds, she swiftly rises through the ranks, travelling across the Caribbean, facing duels across land and sea, and savouring tender moments stolen in the night.

With the sun rising, can Jacquotte fight her way to freedom and find the woman she loves? Or will she die a legend?

My Thoughts:

The story is set in the 1650’s and features Jacquotte who has been trapped in a cell waiting for the person to call her to lead her to her death but what has she done wrong? She has been condemned a pirate but when her story is read out can she prove to everyone why she should stay alive. It was a bit different to the types of books I would normally read but I am trying to broaden my reading genres this year. I felt as though it was action packed from the get go and had some really great characters that really brought the story together. It was a read I was unsure if I would enjoy but I really did enjoy it. If you like an adventure packed full of pirates and a kick ass Jacquotte then this is the story for you.

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

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Eighty years on, D-Day The Oral History is a fresh and significant new history of arguably the most important day of the 20th Century.

On 6th June 1944, the Allied invasion began. For hours, wave after wave of soldiers, sailors, and airmen crossed the channel and stormed the Normandy coast, fighting to gain a foothold in Nazi-occupied Northwest Europe. It was the largest combined air and seaborne invasion ever, involving over 150,000 Allied troops on the ground, and its eventual success became a critical turning point in the war, spelling the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.

As the events of that day fade from living memory, it’s more important than ever to understand what it felt like to be there and to live through it, on both sides. In this definitive work, Garrett M. Graff, the bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky: The Oral History of 9/11, compiles over 600 US, Canadian, UK, French and German voices to tell the full story of exactly how that historic day unfolded, in visceral detail – as well as the weeks and months leading up to it. From paratroopers to fighter pilots to nurses, generals, French villagers, German Defenders to Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, this is the most intimate re-telling of D-Day published to date.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t know much about D Day which is rather embarrassing, but now I feel as though I have a lot more knowledge and understanding. Garrett has written an impressive novel with people from the different countries voicing their opinions on what actually happened from their point of view. I found it fascinating and much more interesting whilst reading about each side. It is a huge book but the photos in the middle break it up. I always find history books with photos much more intimate and thought provoking. A great novel for a history buff or for someone who wants to learn more.

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

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Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to get the life you want . . .

Abby Hamilton’s world has turned upside down in a matter of months – it seems that change is definitely in the air. But moving into Willow Court might just be the fresh start and happy distraction she needed.

Meeting her intriguing new neighbours helps push Abby out of her comfort zone. Then she finds an overgrown patch of garden in desperate need of love and time – something Abby has in spades! Throwing herself into bringing the garden back to life, Abby discovers that new beginnings can come from the most surprising places…

My Thoughts:

Abby’s life is not great at the moment and she needs to get away from everything and start a new life by herself. So when she moves into Willow Court she thinks this will do nicely, until she meets the neighbours, one in particular takes a disliking to her already but can she change his opinion of her? Abby needs a sense of purpose so when she finds an overgrown patch of garden she sets out to do her upmost of making it nice for the residents, a way of winning them over. To see everyone pull together is wonderful. There are a bunch of characters, some that will melt your heart like Ernie. There is a bit of everything in this story, a mixture of love, loss, ways of overcoming situations and healing. A great read to fall into.

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Perfect for home cooks of all levels, this book will take the stress out of mealtimes, with recipes that are fuss-free and use everyday ingredients that won’t break the bank. Including a chapter for each day of the week, plus four weekly meal plans and shopping lists, it has never been easier to eat well after a long day!

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t wait to get my copy of this book, I have been after a cookbook that has some great healthy dinners that are a bit different to the norm. This cookbook has over 100 recipes so I felt spoilt for choice. I like how the book is set out , and I always like cookbooks that have pictures to inspire you. The recipes look easy enough to follow and there are also some sweet treat recipes at the back too. All the recipes look mouth watering and I cannot wait to try to make some. I liked the sound of the mac and cheese lasagne, sausage and mushroom ragu and pretty much all of the other recipes too. I also liked the fact that there are sauces you can make too. It was a very knowledgeable and inspiring cookbook.

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

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It’s never too late to start over again …

A summer escape

When Cecilia Lapthorne’s 75th birthday celebrations take an unexpected turn, she seeks solace away from the festivities and escapes to Dune Cottage – without telling her family where she’s going.

A new friendship

Lily Thomas, a struggling artist, has secretly been staying in the unoccupied cottage. When Cecilia discovers Lily during a late-night visit, an unexpected bond forms between the two women.

A chance to start over

Then Cecilia’s grandson, Todd – and Lily’s unrequited crush – shows up, sending a shockwave through their unlikely friendship. Will it inspire Lily to find the courage to live the life she wants? Can Cecilia finally let go of the past to find a new future? Because as surely as the tide erases past footprints, this summer is offering both Cecilia and Lily the chance to swap old dreams for new …

My Thoughts:
The story is split into two with two very different women’s stories that intertwine somewhere along the way. Cecilia’s birthday is on the way and she wants nothing to do with the festivities that her daughter is arranging for her. No one understands how she is feeling and how she just wants to get away from her old life. So she takes a leap of faith and stays at Dune Cottage. Lily is struggling with her life and what people do not know about her is that she is staying at Dune Cottage for free, well she does the cleaning for the place and no one is residing there for now so why should she not? when Cecelia and Lily’s paths collide, they would never expect how much empathy and similarity they have. A great summer read, that I could not put down. Full of emotion, reality and hope.

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

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Ditched by her married lover Hugh on the day she was made redundant, Leonie plans to make life difficult for Hugh while she searches for a new job. She inveigles her way into his house as a cleaner, intending to plant fake clues to his new liaison for his wife Amanda to find. But instead she discovers real clues to Amanda’s secrets.

Meanwhile, fellow cleaners Brenda and Tina also have hidden agendas as they work: Brenda is counting on a spot of blackmail and Tina is looking for financial information to sell to her dodgy brother-in-law.

At the centre of this web is Amanda’s gardener Simon: handsome, ruthless and plausible, with a shady past and lofty ambitions.

A death in an apparent accident arouses Leonie’s suspicions. Can she put aside her animosity towards Amanda and use her impressive – if sometimes unorthodox – investigative skills to find the truth before someone else dies?

My Thoughts:

Leonie’s life is not going right now how she wanted it to go, she has no job and her lover who is a married man doesn’t want her anymore, but she is going to get her revenge on the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. Complicated. She sets out on her revenge plot but would never in a million years find out something that his wife is hiding from him. Everyone has secrets but who is ready to admit them? I liked how the story is believable and how the characters are too, the story has been dealt with sensitively and written very well. I really thought the ending was cleverly done and I felt satisfied at the end.

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

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Succession meets And Then There Were None.

Every family has a secret.
The mega-rich Pallanders are used to luxury – a castle in the Scottish Highlands, a villa in Tuscany, a billion-dollar fortune and an island in the Caribbean – but their perfect life is about to be shattered.

Every father has a favourite.
Sebastian Pallander dies, leaving a pitiful amount of money to his wife and children. His family fight over the scraps as old rivalries and bitter jealousies come to the surface. And when Pallander’s son is killed in mysterious circumstances, everyone suspects foul play.

Every killer has a motive.
After a desperate race for survival, the relatives gather at their estate to weather the storm. They all begin to wonder: who will be next? Where has all their money gone? And will any of them get what they truly deserve?

My Thoughts:

When Sebastian Pallander a very wealthy man dies, the family all think they are going to be getting a big pay out but what they don’t realise is everything is not as it seems. They family fight and argue what they think is rightfully theirs. When another tragedy strikes, is there something going on behind the scenes where the reader now questions if everyone is playing fair? It was a great and captivating story. It starts off on a steady pace but soon is tense and on edge as the family gets what’s coming to them. They are all greedy and dishonest with each other. It made me question a few things about what the outcome could be. It was a cleverly written mysterious story that I really enjoyed.

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

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Meet Daisy. She’s just caught her boyfriend shagging someone else at her fortieth birthday party. She’s camped out in her childhood bedroom. And it looks as if her dream to have a baby has gone down the pan.

Time for a F**k It! list?

Don’t miss this triumphant comedy about a woman taking on the world on her own terms.

My Thoughts:

Wow what a read, I could not believe the plot when I read it but unfortunately this happens in real life. It was one of those reads that make you go oh my god I cannot believe what Daisy has gone through. I really felt for her and wanted her to get her happy ever after. She has caught her boyfriend cheating and life is over for her but is it? she makes a plan and it involves the f**k it list and puts matters into her own hands about how her life is going to be. A smart and witty read, it is one of those reads that you just don’t want to put down. It was very funny in parts and uplifting too. Daisy is going to be an inspiration to the many women out their who have had their hearts ripped out of them. A great read.

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

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Frances Mathews doesn’t get out much since her husband died, but that doesn’t stop her from jump-starting a campaign to create a hedgehog highway in Hilltop Place―feeding stations, holes at the bottoms of gates and fences, and wild garden areas for hibernation. To Frances’s delight, her neighbours are on board. Mostly.

There are Jess and Michael, whose marriage is cracking under the unanticipated strain of a recent adoption. And Ryan, a wounded war reporter struggling to connect with his son after a divorce and forced to return to an exasperating parental fold. Plus, a very forthright single mum new to the neighbourhood and an exceedingly proper couple not about to upend their picture-perfect garden for prickly nuisances.

As relationships―from the romantic to the nerve-racking―form and secrets are unearthed, Hilltop Place is threatened in ways that affect them all…unaware hedgehogs included. What Frances and her charitable neighbours soon discover about themselves and each other is hardly what any of them expected.

My Thoughts:

Frances loves hedgehogs and she will do anything and everything to protect them where she lives. Even her neighbours want to help the hedgehogs well almost all of them. Each neighbour has their own life they are living and this story shows how the hedgehogs help each of Frances neighbours in many ways than one. I love the community feel around this sweet and uplifting story. I really liked Frances and what she is about, she is very caring and has made me feel as though I can adjust my garden to help the hedgehogs. Also the hedgehogs are a massive hit. A story you will want to read.

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

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Nell has always known her expiry date.

After a psychic predicted her death date twenty years ago, she has lived life accepting she would never see forty – embracing adventure and travelling the world, choosing fun over commitment and laying down roots.

So, when the fateful day comes, Nell feels ready. She sends five excruciatingly honest confessions to her sister, parents and past loves, knowing she won’t be around to face the consequences. Then, with her heart laid bare, all that’s left to do is check into a glamorous hotel and wait for the inevitable…

But when Nell unexpectedly wakes up the next morning broke, single and very much alive, she must figure out exactly how to seize this second chance at life. And then it also hits her:

What on earth happens now that everyone knows how she really feels?

My Thoughts:

When Nell gets the harsh news twenty years ago that she will never hit forty by a clairvoyant, she has lived her life to the fullest, so near to the time she starts selling all her things and telling loved ones things she would not of said if she was to live. She has no way of knowing how it will happen but just that it will happen on this particular day. But for Nell it doesn’t happen this way or that way or any way really, she wakes up and is still on planet Earth much to her surprise. Then she realises things are not as they seem and it feels her with dread what she has said to her loved ones, will they be able to forgive and forget? It was one of those stories that is life affirming, it is thought provoking too. It was full of wit and funniness and it was a easy read that is the perfect pick me up.

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

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