Your estate agent calls.

She’s running late and needs you to show a man around your home.

You let him in and begin the tour.

But something about him feels wrong. . .

You ask him to leave and he refuses.

Then he tells you something about you. Something inconceivable.

And then you realize. . .

He doesn’t want your house. He wants YOU.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this book, I had heard so much about it so I couldn’t wait to read it. When your trying to sell your house but the estate agent says she is going to be late and could you show a potential buyer around. You would never expect how this would pan out. The man wont let you leave and then he says something that shocks you to the core. I liked how short the chapters were so you felt as though you had to keep reading on. It had me on edge who this man was and why he was there, the whole story I felt off and I knew something major was coming, I felt as though the first half of the book was edge of the seat stuff but then it tailed off and It got less interesting for me. I liked it though.

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When Ashley Smith – a bright-eyed but lonely American studying in London – is invited to spend Christmas with her classmate’s family at their Cotswolds manor house, it seems like a perfect country idyll.

And for Ashley – who records it all in her diary – there’s the added romantic potential of her friend’s twin brother, Adam, who she thinks could be her wildest dream come true.

But is there something strange about the old house, both stately and rundown? What could the motives of the mysterious Chapman family be? And what holiday horrors might be lying in wait?

My Thoughts:

This is my second read by Peter Swanson and I was excited to start reading. This is a short story but my god it packs a punch. Ashley gets invited to stay with one of her class mates Emma for Christmas in Emma’s family manor house in the Cotswolds. Whilst Ashley is there she starts writing a diary to document what would of been a lonely Christmas by herself if Emma had not invited her. But things are not all as it seems and people may have some hidden agendas. I couldn’t believe the outcome of this story, it shocked me. There were many gasps and oh my god’s as I couldn’t believe how good a short story read was. I read it in a couple of hours and really felt the chills reading it.

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Johnny Kavanagh has everything going for him. On the rugby pitch, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Primed for stardom, he’s heading straight for the top. Nothing can possibly get in his way, right? Not even the shy new girl at Tommen College. The one with the sad eyes and hidden bruises. The one that distracts him like no one ever has.

Life has never been easy for Shannon Lynch. Bullied and tortured, she arrives at Tommen College mid-way through the school year praying for a fresh start and desperate to shake off the demons that plague her. On her very first day at the prestigious private school, she comes into contact with the notorious Johnny Kavanagh. Thrown through a hoop over her feelings for him, and desperate to keep a low-profile, Shannon finds herself once again the target of bullies as she forms a fragile alliance with rugby’s rising star.

Falling into a complicated friendship and grappling with their undeniable chemistry, Johnny and Shannon could never have foreseen the obstacles that will threaten their blossoming relationship . . .

My Thoughts:

This is book one in the Boys of Tommen Series, and it seemed like my kind of read. There has been a lot of hype around this book and I wanted to experience it for myself. It is all about Shannon and Johnny who come from different backgrounds but can see the potential in each other. It was a slow burning love story that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The ending finishes abruptly as you would have to follow on with book two. I started off reading this book and thinking yes this is a great read but towards the middle it didn’t grab my attention anymore and I just got bored with it. I felt as though there was something missing. It is a chunky book to read too with around 900 pages so watch your wrists when holding this book.

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

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This Christmas, the hunters become the hunted…

When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall – when the temperature plummets.

After hours of searching, the first body is found… Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered and bearing a warning:the real hunt has begun.

As a snowstorm descends, three lives hang in the balance. But can the killer be caught before the trail goes cold?

My Thoughts:

If you have not read any of the books in the DI James Walker Series then you are really missing out, each book can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading them all as they are absolutely brilliant. This is book four in the Series and just as good if not better than the last ones. The setting made it feel even more eerie and grim, I could feel the chill against my skin, the characters all were good in their own right, the pace was slow at the beginning but in a good way as it built the story up to feel even more unpredictable. It was such a great story and I don’t want this series to end.

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

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Carmen is at a loose end. Her gorgeous bookshop is the filming site of a cheesy Christmas movie, she’s been ousted from her sister’s house, and the love of her life has just flown thousands of miles away. It’s threatening to be a very unjolly Christmas indeed!

But when the elderly owner of the shop comes to Carmen with a Christmas wish that threatens to never come true, Carmen knows she must buckle down to get the funds to save not only his trip, but the shop itself. While fending off a shady tatt-selling businessman, Carmen discovers wonders to the shop she could have never imagined, and opens a labyrinth of bookish backrooms for the customers to get lost in.

With her deadline looming, it might take more than a fresh coat of paint to solve Carmen’s problems. But with the help of their neighbours, her nieces and nephew, and a very distractingly cute male nanny, Carmen might just pull her greatest magic trick yet…

My Thoughts:

This was such a lovely and warming Christmas read that really gets you in the mood for Christmas. It is set in a bookshop and you can just feel the magic come alive as Carmen brings the bookshop alive. There are some heart warming moments and some interesting characters to enjoy. Being the sequel to The Christmas Bookshop I was looking forward to reacquainting myself with everyone and meeting new characters too. It certainly didn’t disappoint and I felt swept up in the truly magical story.

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

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Joe loves predictability. But his life is about to become a surprising adventure.

Joe-Nathan likes the two parts of his name separate, just like his dinner and dessert. Mean Charlie at work sometimes calls him Joe-Nuthin. But Joe is far from nothing. Joe is a good friend, he’s good at his job, good at making things and good at following the rules, and he’s learning how to do lots of things by himself.

Joe’s mother knows there are a million things in life he isn’t prepared for. While she helps guide him every day, she’s also writing notebooks full of advice about the things she hasn’t told Joe yet, things he might forget and answers to questions he hasn’t yet asked.

Following her wisdom – applying it in his own unique way – this next part of Joe’s life is more of a surprise than he expects. Because he’s about to learn that remarkable things can happen when you leave your comfort zone, and that you can do even the hardest things with a little help from your friends.

My Thoughts:

This is the story about Joe-Nathan and how his life as a grown up is slightly different to everyone else’s but it doesn’t let it stop him. His mum is doing everything she can to make life easier for him, but you know he has a job he likes apart from someone who is mean to him. He sees things in his own way and has a unique way about him. I thought it was a sweet and endearing story, my heart felt full reading about Joe-Nathan, I just wanted to give him a great big hug. I really enjoyed reading this book.

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

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All Brontë Ellis has ever known is life at St. Mary’s all-boys boarding school, where he lingered first as a student and then as a teaching assistant. So when a chance to forge a new life in Cambridge presents itself, he seizes it with both hands.

Arriving at Greenwood Manor as the new live-in tutor, Bron finds himself welcomed by all – the gregarious Mr Edwards, his precocious pupil Ada . . . except for Darcy, the elusive and tempestuous eldest son. Despite the rumours about him, Bron cannot help feeling drawn to the one person who seems determined to avoid him.

When tragedy strikes the house, Bron begins to sense dark secrets smouldering beneath Greenwood Manor’s surface. Soon he’s not sure what to believe, or whether he even has a future at Greenwood. Only Darcy holds the key, if he can be persuaded to reveal his heart to Bron . . .

My Thoughts:

This is a modern classic, about Bronte Ellis and his life. As the new live in tutor at Greenwood Manor. When something awful happens it is up to Bronte to piece together the why and what happened. There are secrets to discover and intriguing and suspicious characters, you don’t know who to trust. It was a good read, if you are a fan of Jane Austen this is definitely the book for you. It is full of mystery, romance and secrets, but can Bronte work it all out before it is too late? A author I would like to read again.

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

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NO ONE BELIEVED THE GIRLS…

1985. Separated from her little sister at the children’s home where they are taken as orphans, Holly Moore is a troubled teenager in need of love. When she meets a man who promises to take care of her, she hopes her luck has finally changed.

2015. The clock is ticking for Superintendent Jo Hamilton when the discovery of a young woman’s remains takes her back to an unsolved case from the past. As a constable, Jo was often called out to deal with runaways from Morgate House, but when Holly Moore disappeared – after another female resident fell from the cliffs – Jo was convinced the home was hiding something. Now, with only days before her forced retirement, Jo decides to track down Holly’s sister and re-open the case. But will the trail lead her disturbingly close to home?

My Thoughts:

I have never read any of Emily’s books before so was not sure what to expect. The plot sounded good and something I would enjoy. The story flits from the before and the now and I felt every chapter left something so you knew you had to read on. It intrigued me what the outcome would be. I liked Superintendent Jo Hamilton and I think she is good at her job and wants the best for everyone. I liked when the time flits back to the past as you really get a good sense of the story and what happened previously. I read this book in a day as I just felt as though I couldn’t leave it and I wanted to know how the ending would play out. I never guessed who the killer was and it shocked and surprised me. A great read and I cannot wait to read more by Emily.

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

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A family secret worth killing for…

In the dead of night, 72-year-old Miriam Narracott is found wandering on Exmoor, holding a knife and covered in blood. Inside the family farmhouse lies the body of her adult son, Gabe.

CSI Ally Dymond is on compassionate leave, but when approached by the new DI, recently arrived from London and eager to have Ally’s keen eye and local knowledge on the case, she finds herself being drawn back in.

With their only suspect Miriam unwilling – or unable – to talk, the team must dig into the family’s history to uncover a motive. Instead they find evidence that Gabe was involved with a criminal network, suggesting a completely different chain of events. But if Miriam isn’t the killer – then who is?

My Thoughts:

This is book two in the CSI Ally Dymond Series and can be read as a standalone, though I am dying to read the first book as I want to get more of a back story for the characters. I was not sure what to expect from a new author to me, but I would rate this highly as a great series to get stuck into. I cannot wait to read the next book now. I like the fact that the story alternates between the main storyline but also Ally’s life, with a great pace to it that kept me wanting to keep reading on. I guessed a couple of things that may happen but it didn’t put me off reading it. The setting for the murder was perfect, with the descriptions the author uses you can really feel the bleakness and isolation of the farm house. It was such a great read and the ending was unbelievably good. I look forward to finding out what Ally’s next case is going to be.

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

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Peter and Hank are lifelong friends, but when it comes to their jobs they couldn’t be more different. Peter is a small-town pastor and is devoted to helping the community, while Hank runs the local pub and is never too far from a party. But this Christmas, everything is about to change . . .

Having never settled down, Peter and Hank believe their demanding jobs are keeping them from finding love. Convinced that the other has it easier, they hatch a plan to swap places the week before Christmas to put their theories to the test and find time for themselves.

But as Hank quickly becomes overwhelmed by nativity plans, and Peter struggles to control the rowdy festive pub-goers, they each begin to worry they’re in over their heads. Luckily, church assistant Grace is on hand to help Hank navigate a church/life balance, and a young woman seeking shelter at the pub might be exactly what Peter needs to realise there’s more than one way to help his community . . .

This Christmas, will Peter and Hank’s stunt fall flat, or will it open their eyes to the possibility of love at last?

My Thoughts:

This is my first Christmas book of the year and I couldn’t wait to dive in and feel festive. This is a nice short easy read which I read in a couple of hours. I love the way in which the story is set, telling the children a story, also one that is not made up, we hear from the children throughout asking questions which I liked because some of those questions I was asking myself. It is a lovely festive read all about friendship and romance. It was uplifting and just pure joy to read.

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

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