Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she’s losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbour Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret.

My Thoughts:

This is book one in the Slammed Series and I have to say not my favourite, I still want to read the other two to see where the story goes. Layken and her family have had to move after a recent tragedy in the family, she doesn’t know what the future may hold for them. Then she meets Will her neighbour and everything changes, things are good but then they go bad and Layken doesn’t know what to do for the best. The story for me felt very strained and long. The pace was slow and I felt as though I didn’t interact with any of the characters. I am going to read the series just to see what happens and if they get any better. I really like reading Colleen’s books but they can be hit or miss for me.

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What happens when love, marriage and children don’t come in the expected order?

Fifteen years after the tragic death of their older brother splintered Josie and Meredith’s already fragile relationship, the two sisters are following very different paths.

Hardworking, reserved Meredith thought she’d done it all the right way round – married the perfect man, had the perfect daughter – but now she’s wondering if she got the love part wrong.

Impulsive and spirited Josie has been single for years. She wants a child so much that she’s preparing to head straight for the baby carriage all on her own.

As the anniversary of their tragedy looms and secrets from the past surface, Josie and Meredith must come to terms with their own choices. Perhaps they’ll find that they need each other more than they know…

My Thoughts:

Josie and Meredith are sisters, they are both completely different people these days. Many years ago there was a family bereavement that changed all of their lives forever. Now the anniversary is coming up can the sister reconcile what they use to have and work our a way to help and heal each other. I haven’t read one of Emily’s books before so was not sure what to expect. I found the story overall a good one, I felt as though I wanted to invest my time finding out how the sisters could or would reconcile. The characters were believable and it was all together a great read.

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An Australian expat in Berlin, Kim is jobless, rootless, and – as she’s slowly discovering – somewhat useless.
That is until a chance encounter with Matthew, a hotshot New York literary agent, gives Kim the direction she’s been craving. This year she will:

* Finally write her novel
* Decide what said novel is actually about
* Romantically pin down the increasingly flighty Matthew
* Be less jealous of best friend Bel’s baby
* Convince her therapist that the amount of artichokes she eats doesn’t classify as an eating disorder
* Stay sane in the process of achieving the above

Because Kim’s story will not become a sad girl novel.
Definitely not.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of the story and couldn’t wait to get straight in. It is a unique and funny story about Kim. She is not exactly living her best life as of yet and is going through a bad patch until she meets Matthew who could be the answer to all her prayers. The story is about friendship, love and mental health, and I really felt as though I was rooting for her, I really wanted the best for Kim. There are parts that made me laugh out loud and are feel good but there is a great message behind it all, if you want something, go out and get it. I loved it. I think it would be great if it was made into a film.

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

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Jane is unhappy. She’s a struggling writer trapped in an underwhelming marriage with husband Ted, scraping by to pay for a mortgage for a house and a life that she’s never really wanted.

There’s only ever been one person she cared about, one person who truly understood her: Thalia. Jane’s best and only friend nearly a decade ago during their time together at Oxford. But then the night of the formal which should have bound them together for good, drove them apart. Until now.

Because after years of searching, Thalia is everywhere as she tops the New York Times bestseller list. And now Jane has found Thalia after all these years, she won’t let her go…

My Thoughts:

Jane’s life is not going how she planned it too, everything seems to be going wrong at the same time. But when she starts searching for her best friend back in the day she is intrigued and envy of Thalia’s life, but what broke down their relationship years ago? Jane is not going to let Thalia forget her. I liked this thriller, it was dark and I liked how the pace was slow to start with and then built up. The story is about friendship and envy and obsession. I didn’t know what to expect and I could never imagined the outcome at the end. The perfect Summer read.

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

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EVEN ON AN ISLAND PARADISE, DANGER STILL LURKS.

Called in to examine what is left of a body struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in a much larger case. Young men – tourists – have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos for years. Seven years ago, the first victim was found with both hands cut off; the other visitors vanished without a trace. But recently, tantalizing leads have emerged and only Tempe can unravel them.

Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common – other than the unusual locations where their bodies are eventually found, and the fact that the young men all seem to be the least likely to be involved in foul play. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. And then she turns up disturbing clues that what’s at stake may actually have global significance.

It isn’t long before the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud, and then Tempe herself becomes a target.

My Thoughts:

Tempe is a forensic anthropologist and in this book has to work out what happened when a body is brought in which has been struck by lightening but it is not all as it seems and when Tempe delves deeper she finds some clues as what may have happened. But Tempe is in danger herself now that she knows. This is my first book by Kathy and I cannot wait to read more, it gripped me from the first chapter and I was hooked. I liked meeting Tempe and cannot wait to get to know her more, I feel as though she is a strong and trusting woman but I could not do the job she does. I literally felt scared for her life and was worried when I had to turn a page incase something happened to her. Such a fascinating and intriguing read. I loved it.

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

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THE STORY…

The first chapter of a manuscript arrives on Publisher Marina’s desk. She assumes it’s just another novel by another aspiring writer…

THE SECRET…

As the chapters arrive one by one, Marina is convinced they are about her past. There’s only one person who can know everything about the scandal, the trial, and the trauma that nearly broke her.

THE SILENCE…

This is one story that should never be told, and Marina is so desperate she will do anything to stop it getting out.

My Thoughts:

Marina is a publisher who has had a manuscript delivered to her, she has read many so why should this one be any different. But it is much different from previous ones she has read because she thinks this one is about her life. The chapters are arriving one after another and Marina is starting to feel uncomfortable about it all especially as it is to do with her past and she doesn’t want all of it dug up again. But how can she keep her past under wraps and for it to stop all coming out. It was another brilliant read from Susan. I love how Susan’s books are like an onion each chapter you are peeling off another layer and you get more drawn into the story. I like how the story was about a story it was very clever and unique. As always Susan’s books are my go to and I love them. I love the intensity and wonder of what the outcome will be.

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

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Langdon is hired to find a man who answered a classified ad and then disappeared into thin air. And then a second person vanishes. What starts as a couple of simple missing-person cases quickly spirals into a diabolical world of witches, wiccans, and wendigos.

“You ever hear of the Church of Satan?” Jewell asked.

There was silence around the fire. The flames danced and flickered, casting shadows in the dark May night. Langdon took the bottle from Richam and poured himself another…

Bart, the dour but poetic cop, is back, even if demoted to a blue uniform. The dapper lawyer, Jimmy 4 by Four, is up to his regular philandering ways. Richam is hiding a secret from Jewell, and Chabal makes a new friend… And then goes missing.

What is going to happen during the Super Flower Blood Moon and who is the Wendigo?

This time, Langdon might be too late to solve these mysteries before the blood flows.

My Thoughts:

This is book 5 in The Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery Series and I have really enjoyed them all. In this story we see Goff Langdon helps to find a man who has disappeared after answering a classified ad. It might seem simple enough but then another person goes missing and it is up to Langdon to find out what is going on before it is too late. As soon as I had read the first page I knew I didn’t want to stop reading, it is fast paced and has some really unique and interesting characters. This one I felt was a little darker than the previous ones as this one contains witches, wendigos and wiccans but it made it more edge of the seat stuff. A brilliant and engaging read.

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

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Ignored.
Seventy-something Janet Pimm is invisible. Spending most of her days alone, she tends her beloved allotment with the care and love she doesn’t receive from people. Plants, Janet thinks, are more important than friends.

Overlooked.
Janet’s neighbour, Bev, has reached the age when a cloak of invisibility threatens to descend. Her friendly advances are rebuffed by Janet, but when the council threatens to close the allotments, Janet must swallow her pride and enlist Bev’s help.

But they’re about to prove everyone wrong.
As the two join forces, Janet realises that she isn’t happy to be a wallflower after all. And that maybe there’s more to Bev than she thought. As the bulldozers roll in and they fight to save Janet’s treasured allotment, both women find their voice again. And no one can silence them now…

My Thoughts:

I loved this book so much, this is definitely in my top five of my favourite books of this year. It is all about Janet, she lives alone and tends to her allotment, she is a big lover of plants but there is something missing from her life and she doesn’t realise it until something happens. Bev is her neighbour and is trying to encourage Janet to get out and about but Janet thinks she is just being nosy, what Janet doesn’t realise is that Bev needs her just as much as Janet needs Bev. I loved how the story unpeeled each of the layers of both women, it was a raw and emotional story about loneliness and finding friendship. I shed a tear or two for Janet and felt as though I wanted to give her a big hug. I think people will be able to relate to this story and I hope it helps them. There are some funny moments in the story too. I just loved it.

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

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When forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is brought in to analyse a shallow grave on Scotland’s west coast, she is disturbed by a bundle of twigs crafted into a stickman and left in the victim’s mouth.

Then, when a young woman is reported missing from a nearby campsite with another sinister figurine left in her van, it seems that someone is targeting wild campers. An idyllic coastline known for providing peace and serenity, now the area is a hunting ground.

As her investigation proceeds, Rhona is forced to reconsider her closest bonds. Rumours of sexual assault offences by serving police officers are circling in Glasgow, which may include her trusted colleague DS Michael McNab. Could it be true, or is someone looking to put him out of action?

All the while a young woman’s life is on the line and the clock is ticking . . .

My Thoughts:

This is book 17 in the Rhona MacLeod thriller Series and my first book I have read by Lin. Rhona is a forensic scientist and we as the reader follow her on her cases. This case is intriguing to Rhona because the victim is left with a stickman made out of twigs in their mouth, when someone goes missing nearby they also have a similar figure left but can Rhona find this person before it is too late? I really enjoyed this story and where it lead to, I studied forensic science and am always fascinated by the subject. I liked Rhona and really want to read the other books in this series.

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

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When Travis Nelson arrived in London, he expected to embark on a new life and a new job. Coming from California, he’d uprooted his wife and his cat, Sigrid, and planned to be here for the long haul. Then Covid-19 struck. Travis’s new job vanished as the company cut staff. For two years, and through successive lockdowns, he was stuck in limbo in an unfamiliar city, trying to find his way.

To keep himself occupied, Travis set out to discover his adoptive home. He bought a bike and began cycling through London’s streets and parks with his unusual travelling companion, Sigrid – his deaf, Norwegian Forest cat – who came along for the ride. But what started as a way of injecting routine and purpose into Travis’s life in stressful times, created an internet sensation. When Travis began posting videos of the pair’s rides on social media, he drew in another community of people looking for moments of joy in an anxious world.

My Thoughts:

This is such a charming and joyful read about a man and cat going on an adventure together. I was intrigued to read about a cat who loves being on board of a bike. I love the bond that they share and it reminded me of my cat and how strong a bond we have. It was a lovely story and I loved following their journey and how Sigrid helped Travis to show him there is light at the end of the tunnel. Riding around London was magical also I love reading a story about a place I know and love.

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

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