How did life begin? How does it end? What happens to those qualities that make each of us alive as individuals after the bodies they animated die and disappear?

Taking inspiration from Sir David Attenborough’s maxim ‘Nature wastes nothing’ and drawing on the wisdom of commentators as varied as NASA astronauts, the Dalai Lama, existential philosophers, a couple of prescient teenagers and even an engagingly ‘human’ gorilla – Hope . . . and the Hedgehog distils the thinking behind the principal interpretations of creation, before presenting them to the reader in an easily digestible summary.

This is not a religious book and nor does it extol religion – rather it offers the same kind of assurance Bear Grylls presents to his readers. In the same way, it helps unpick the enduring puzzle that prompted Steve Jobs, creator and co-founder of Apple, to enigmatically describe death as ‘Very likely the single best invention of life.’ Which reinforces the importance of hope addressed here.

My Thoughts:

I really had no clue what to expect from this book, I found it such a thought provoking and inspirational read, one that I will go back to time and time again. I really took my time to savour each page and the quotes I enjoyed reading, I feel they give the reader a guidance through life, personally I have found this book very helpful. After reading a chapter or even just a quote it makes me appreciate my life and what I have. It made me take some time out of my day to sit and think about what I had just read. I really hope it helps other people, it is such a positive book. Also I loved some of the illustrations in the book, it made it more special for me.

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

Get your copy here:

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?

My Thoughts:

So many people had said how good this book was so had to get in on the hype, I am very late to this party but I don’t really see what all the fuss is about. For me the names of people got to me, and I couldn’t see past that. It is a slow burner, not a lot of stuff happens for a bit in the first half of the story. The chapters are short and sweet and the second part was better than the first but still it was not my favourite read.

Get your copy here:

The astonishing new portrait of the master of spy fiction, by the woman he kept secret for almost half his life

John le Carré led a life entirely constructed of secrets. First as a British ‘spook’ during the Cold War, then as a world-renowned writer of espionage fiction, but also in his personal involvements. He guarded his private life with fierce determination, so that even when he finally permitted his life story to be written, there was still one element he insisted be excluded: the women.

Married with children for virtually all his adult life, le Carré – David Cornwell – had a number of secret affairs, usually conducted abroad with women encountered by chance on his travels. These relationships were always intense, dramatic, even tragic, yet each was destined to last no more than a few months. But there was one love affair that withstood the test of time; just one woman in all his life whom he took into the innermost sanctum of his writing and his heart.

My Thoughts:

I had heard of Le Carre but never read any of his books, so I went into this memoir with open eyes not really knowing much. I feel as though he may have written best selling books but he spun the same line to each and every women who so much as looked in his direction. It is an honest account of love and betrayal and one that people might not be able to get their heads around. I still don’t really get it after reading the book, I just don’t feel I learnt much about him. I just feel sorry for his family.

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

Get your copy here:

Returning to her home town of Wishing Tree is definitely temporary for Camryn. She can’t wait to leave and get back to her ‘real life’. Until she meets Jake. Suddenly Camryn starts to see the town, and it’s Christmas traditions, differently. She thought she’d put her future on hold…but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home.

New in town, River is charmed by Wishing Tree’s Christmas traditions and warm-hearted people, especially Dylan Tucker whose snow melting kisses bring her to the brink of love. But Dylan has a secret and River can’t risk falling for him until she uncovers it, even if that means losing him forever.

Both women find themselves faced with difficult decisions. But if they are prepared to risk their hearts, they might find they are about to have a Christmas to remember…

My Thoughts:

If you are after a heart warming festive read then this is the book for you. Camryn is moving back to The Wishing Tree where she used to live. What’s changed since she has been away? She has now become the guardian of her teenage twin sisters. It is such a small town but the people that live there add the charm and friendliness that makes you want to go and visit. I have never read any books by Susan and I can see how much warmth and love she brings to her books. The characters really come alive through out the pages and I wanted to leap in and be part of it all. A good happily ever after read.

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

Get your copy here:

No one sees him coming.
A stock-market trader is pushed from a high-rise balcony and falls to his death on the street below. The only clue the police can find is a box of matches.

No one survives for long.
The decomposing body of a member of the Saudi Royal Family is discovered in a car. Evidence suggests the killer took the man’s life, then stole his identity, wore his clothes and lived in his hotel room – before vanishing into thin air like smoke.

Nothing but matchsticks are left behind.
Dr Bloom realizes the only thing linking these murders is a trail of burnt matches and broken lives. Time is running out – and if she isn’t careful, she might be the next to burn …

My Thoughts:

This is book four in the DR Bloom series, this is the first book I have read in this series and I would recommend reading the other books first to get more of a sense of the characters as I felt as though I was missing out on that part. I liked how the plot sounded and was intrigued to find out about certain things. After two people die and the only clue is a box of matches can Dr Bloom find the killer before it is too late. I was intrigued about the matches and what significance they had, there are many turns that keep you guessing till the very end. It was good but the pace for me was a little slow.

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

Get your copy here;

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil co-parenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

My Thoughts:

This is the sequel to It Ends With Us and I highly recommend reading them in order as the book carries on with Lily, Ryle and Atlas’s story. I really loved this book so much, maybe a little more than the first book. After not seeing each other for so long Lily and Atlas decide to go on a date but it is not as easy as that, nothing ever is especially when you have a ex husband that is on the war path but can Lily and Atlas see a way through all that? There are sensitive topics raised to do with domestic violence, Lily has been through so much and was truly hoping she would get her happy ending finally. She deserves to be happy and with Atlas they are great together. It had a great pace to it all the way through that made me sit on the edge of my seat. I felt emotional after I had finished it, but wow what a corker of a book. Definitely in my top ten books I have loved this year.

Get your copy here:

When Sky Terran returns to the village of Middledip after losing the job she loves, she anticipates a quiet Christmas getting used to her new life. However, the annual street decoration competition is coming up and this year, the residents of Winter Street are determined to win.

As she is pulled into the preparations, Sky quickly grows to love the quirky, tight-knit community she is now part of. Including the extremely handsome Daz, who soon becomes more than just a friendly neighbour.

But when Daz’s ex turns up determined to win him back and it seems he might not be the man Sky thought he was, she remembers how much allowing people into her life – and heart – can hurt. As the snow falls, will she and Daz find a way through – and help win a Christmas victory for Winter Street?

My Thoughts:

I love a good Christmas read and this one was really good. I have not read one of Sue’s books for a while and it was a brilliant and festive read. Sky has returned to Middledip the place where she grew up, now as a woman, she has come back after losing her job but gaining a beautiful old house. But does anyone remember her and it being a close knit community how will the villagers react to an outsider? It is a great packed story with plenty of interesting characters. I loved it and loved returning to Middledip.

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

Get your copy here:

A family gathering
This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal – to avoid their family’s well-meaning questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don’t intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.

An uninvited guest
Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone, and the prospect of losing her job – unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller. She’ll deliver her proposal to his family home in the Scottish Highlands and then leave. After all, she wouldn’t want to intrude on the Miller’s perfect family Christmas.

A Christmas to remember
When Lucy appears on the Miller’s snow-covered doorstep, she is mistaken for Ross’s girlfriend. But by the time the confusion is cleared up, a storm has hit and Lucy is stuck. As everyone settles in for a snowed-in Christmas, tensions bubble to the surface and suddenly Lucy finds herself facing a big family fallout with a family that isn’t hers…

My Thoughts:

This was the perfect wintery read for me to snuggle up with. I loved it so much. The main character is called Lucy and after having to face the biggest time of the year alone and nearly losing her job, can she turn it all around by going to Scotland and trying to sort it all out. But what happens when you get stuck in the middle of nowhere? I loved seeing where the story was going to go, there were many different characters and I think I liked Lucy and I found the grandma quite funny too. Sarah’s books are always like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. Perfect.

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

Get your copy here:

Meet Vikki and Justin, two best friends from Leeds, in chilly Northern England. Justin works at a bakery and Vikki is stuck at an office, and both of them are bored and badly needing a change in life.
One day at work, Vikki gets a surprise phone call that could change their fortunes forever…Do the two best pals have the courage to risk it all and start a fresh new adventure on distant shores? This is their golden opportunity, one that must surely be taken for a chance at the good life! Will they brace themselves and take the plunge together?
Cracking Ibiza is a fun-filled, easy-reading short novel, brimming over with sun, sea, sand, night-life, and plenty of humour- the perfect read to brighten up any day, all year round!

My Thoughts:

I have read a couple of this author’s books before and enjoyed them so was excited to learn that they had another book out. Cracking Ibiza is such an entertaining and amusing read. It is one of those books that you finish and want to re-read just to get that pleasure again. It is a fairly short and quick novel that I read in an evening and it has some great characters in it too. Vikki and Justin are two best friends who are both stuck in a rut and need their life changing asap. When a call comes through that could potentially change their lives they grab the bull by its horns and decide to take a leap of fate. Cue two best friends on a road trip, it was a very amusing and fun read that makes you wonder what if you had that opportunity would you go for it? A great read that will make you smile.

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

Get your copy here:

When event planner Hallie Goodman receives party-inspiration material from the bride of her latest wedding project, the last thing she expects to find in the files are digital videos from Darcy’s ex-boyfriend. Hallie knows it’s wrong to keep watching these personal videos, but this guy is cute, funny, and an astronaut on the International Space Station to boot. She’s only human. And it’s not long until she starts sending e-mails and video diaries to his discontinued NASA address. Since they’re bouncing back, there’s no way anyone will ever be able to see them…right?

Christopher Ortiz is readjusting to life on earth and being constantly in the shadow of his deceased older brother. When a friend from NASA’s IT department forwards him the e-mails and video messages Hallie has sent, he can’t help but notice how much her sense of humor and pink hair make his heart race.

Separated by screens, Hallie and Chris are falling in love with each other, one transmission at a time. But can they make their star-crossed romance work when they each learn the other’s baggage?

My Thoughts:

I love how different and unique the storyline is, Hallie is an events planner and whilst planning a wedding for a couple she discovers the bride’s ex has left some video files on her laptop. Hallie decides to watch them and discovers they are from Chris. But what makes it more interesting is that Chris is an astronaut and was in Space at the time of filming the video. I love how the author Samantha has included space into her story, it was interesting to learn some new things about being in space as an astronaut. Also there is a romance which you could of guessed anyway from the title. I loved this fun and quirky read and even though it was a slow burner, it really was a joy to read.

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

Get your copy here: