It only takes one…

A murder

A resident of small-town Visberg is found decapitated

A festival

A grim celebration in a cultish hilltop community after the apple harvest

A race against time

As Visberg closes ranks to keep its deadly secrets, there could not be a worse time for Tuva Moodyson to arrive as deputy editor of the local newspaper. Powerful forces are at play and no one dares speak out. But Tuva senses the story of her career, unaware that perhaps she is the story…

My Thoughts:

This is book four in the Tuva series and even though I have not read many of them in this series, the two I have read have been good. I liked the fact that there are some very highly suspicious characters throughout the story and some that are a bit creepy. Tuva is a journalist in a small town in Sweden and we really get to see Tuva put to work and investigating many different things. Will the author is so good at descriptions and bringing the book to life with his words, it is a bit like a horror story that you will find gripping, the ending was not something I could of foreseen though.

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

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Auschwitz, 1943: As I held the tiny baby in my arms, my fingers traced the black tattoo etched across her little thigh. And I prayed that one day this set of numbers, identical to her mother’s, would have the power to reunite a family torn apart by war…

Inspired by an incredible true story, this poignant novel tells of one woman’s fight for love, life and hope during a time of unimaginable darkness.

Ana Kaminski is pushed through the iron gates of Auschwitz beside her frightened young friend Ester Pasternak. As they reach the front of the line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares herself a midwife – and Ester her assistant. Their arms are tattooed and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. Holding an innocent new-born baby, Ana knows the fate of so many are in her hands, and vows to do everything she can to save them.

When two guards in their chilling SS uniforms march in and snatch a blond-haired baby from its mother it’s almost too much for Ana to bear. Consoling the distraught woman, Ana realises amidst the terrible heartache there is a glimmer of hope. The guards are taking the healthiest babies and placing them with German families, so they will survive. And there are whispers the war is nearly over… Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo little ones with their mother’s numbers, praying one day they might be reunited.

Then, early one morning, Ana notices the small bump under Ester’s thin striped clothing…

My Thoughts:

This is a must read, one of books of this year for sure. It is such a heart breaking story to find out what went on in 1943 in Auschwitz. You will need plenty of tissues to get through this real life story. Anna the author has a way with her words that makes you feel as though you are pulled into the story and don’t want to stop reading. The emotions I went through reading this book were unbelievable, these poor women, I just wish I could do something for them. It was interesting to learn about being a midwife in that era too as I haven’t read anything about their job role and such forth. This is historical fiction done brilliantly well. I loved it.

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

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The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where Black women and girls dare to follow their desires, and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good.

There is fourteen-year-old Jael, who nurses a crush on the preacher’s wife; the mother who bakes a sublime peach cobbler every Monday for her date with the married Pastor; and Eula and Caroletta, single childhood friends who seek solace in each other’s arms every New Year’s Eve.

With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be – and as free as they deserve to be.

My Thoughts:
This is a great read packed full of stories of what life is like to live in the USA as a church goer black woman. We follow a selection of very different women and see how their lives are affected. I found the characters believable and I felt their difficulties and struggles with life, we see many subjects touched upon including finding love, friendship and finding acceptance, with some form of connection to the Church. I found it a captivating read and one I will remember for a long time.

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

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Ex-detective Kamil Rahman is embroiled in a case that might just change his life – for better or for worse . . .

Disgraced detective Kamil Rahman moves from Kolkata to London to start afresh as a waiter in an Indian restaurant. But the peace of his new life is soon shattered. The day Kamil caters an extravagant party, the powerful host, Rakesh, is found dead in his swimming pool.

Suspicion falls on Rakesh’s young and glamorous new wife, and Kamil is called to investigate for the family. Kamil and Anjoli, his boss’s daughter, prove a winning team – yet as the case progresses, and their relationship grows, the events of Kamil’s past threaten to catch up with him . . .

My Thoughts:

This is the first book in the Detective Kamil Rahman series and I cannot wait to read the next book. This one was fast paced and tense and you never really knew what twists and turns were going to surprise you with next. When a body of a well know person is found dead, Kamil is suspicious of everyone as you would be. Can he work out who the killer or will his past catch up with him before it is too late? I look forward to reading the next book in this series as this one I just didn’t want to put down. I liked getting to know Kamil, I felt as though he was very likeable and a friendly guy and I liked seeing where the story is going to go.

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

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Ben is a young painter from the crowded, turbulent city. For six months his fiancée Cara has been living on the remote island of Sanctuary Rock, the property of millionaire philanthropist Sir John Pemberley. Now she has decided to break off their engagement and stay there for good.

Ben resolves to travel to the island to win Cara back. But the journey there is a harsh and challenging one, and when he does arrive, a terrible shock awaits him.

As Ben begins to find his way around Pemberley’s perfect island, he knows he must also discover – what has made Cara so determined to throw her old life away? And is Sanctuary Rock truly a second Eden, as the mysterious Sir John claims – or a prospect of hell?

My Thoughts:

The story is about Ben and his life, his fiancée has been living on a remote island and she has decided to break of their engagement and stay there for good. But Ben doesn’t want that and tries to get to her on a perilous journey to discover a tragedy. Ben decides to try and work out what is going on here on this island and it is not what it seems. I thought I would enjoy this book, but unfortunately I didn’t, I found it very slow and repetitive and I didn’t feel as though I cared for any of the characters. The story for me didn’t really capture my attention either. It could of been a good read but really lacked something.

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

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IF YOU SEE HIS REFLECTION
IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE . . .

Five years ago, Jenny Lind was abducted on her way home from school.

Now her lifeless body is found hanging in a playground. But there is no evidence and only one witness – a man who cannot remember what he saw.

With Detective Joona Linna and the police scrambling to find a lead, another girl goes missing. And as they close in on the killer, they discover that the Mirror Man’s crimes are more shocking than they ever could have imagined . . .

My Thoughts:

This is book eight in the Joona Linna series and even though I have not read any of the others, I feel as though these books can be read as a standalone. I thought the plot sounded interesting and I was looking forward to finding out all about Detective Joona Linna, but for me it did not hold my attention enough, it is quite a sizeable read, which I normally would relish but I just wanted to get through it and finish it. I did like Detective Joona Linna and how he is on the hunt for a elusive serial killer, he definitely takes a lot of risks that come with consequences. Some parts of the story tell some horrific and disturbing scenes that really got to me. Unfortunately not a series I would continue with.

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

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A marriage in the spotlight
Joanna Whitman’s high-profile marriage held more secrets than she cares to remember, so when her ex-husband dies, she doesn’t know what to feel. But when she discovers that he’s left behind a pregnant young woman, Joanna is forced to act. She knows exactly how brutal the spotlight on them both will be…unless she can find a way for them to disappear.

A beach house hideaway
Ashley Blake is amazed when Joanna suggests they lie low at her beach house in her sleepy Californian hometown. Joanna should be hating her, not helping her. But alone and pregnant, Ashley needs all the support she can find.

A summer of new beginnings
Joanna’s only goal for the summer is privacy. All Ashley wants is space to plan for her and her baby’s future. But when an old flame reappears, and secrets spill out under the hot summer sun, this unlikely friendship is put to the test…

My Thoughts:

Sarah Morgan is one of those authors where I don’t even need to read the blurb to know how much I will enjoy the book, they are the perfect escapism. You will always find one character that is relatable and all Sarah’s characters have real life problems and they are believable. Sarah has a way that when she writes about a sensitive topic, she does it with compassion and sensitivity which I like. This story follows three completely different women who all have their own stories but they intertwine in a very clever way, the story will really make you smile which is full of friendship, love and a little drama. A perfect five star read.

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

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Trapped between life and the afterlife, three women meet and share their stories while discovering the truth about the men in their lives—and about themselves.

Suspended in an eerie state of limbo, an entity called the Gatekeeper tells Nikki, Ronnie, and Mrs. Hawthorne they are on the cusp of entering the afterlife—but only if the women can persuade him that in their earthly lives, they knew the meaning of love.

Fragments of their memories return, plunging them back into their pasts, and forcing them to face the desires, disappointments, addictions, lies, and obsessions they battled in life.

But before time runs out, will they find the answer to the ultimate question: what is love?

My Thoughts:

This was such a good read, I found it completely compelling and mysterious. From the first chapter I knew I was going to enjoy this book very much and I really did. I loved all the characters and I felt as though I was there with them cheering them on. The story itself is one that makes you think what you would do in that situation and what the outcome would be. Caron the author has a brilliant way with words and I can see this book becoming very popular. I cannot wait to see what Caron writes about next.

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

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Two men are found dead in London’s Battersea Park. One of the bodies has been laid out like a crucifix – with his eyes removed and placed on his open palms.

Detective Inspector Grace Archer and her caustic DS, Harry Quinn, lead the investigation. But when more bodies turn up in a similar fashion, they find themselves in a race against time to find the sadistic killer.

The hunt leads them to Ladywell Playtower in Southeast London, the home to a religious commune lead by the enigmatic Aaron Cronin. Archer and Quinn suspect Cronin’s involvement but his alibis are watertight, and the truth seemingly buried. If Archer is to find the killer, she must first battle her way through religious fanatics, London gangsters – and her own demons . . .

My Thoughts:

This was a fantastic serial killer thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It has a good pace to it, it keeps you engaged and makes you want to read on to find out what is going to happen. I read this book in the space of an afternoon, I felt compelled to find out who the killer was. I felt that this book was addictive and well written, It had the suspense and tension that I love reading with a thriller but it was also very twisted and creepy in other parts. You will never guess the ending and I was completely blown away. I look forward to reading more of David’s books in the future.

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

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Join Heidi Swain back in Nightingale Square for a sunshine and celebration filled summer…
 
Beth loves her job working in a care home, looking after its elderly residents, but she doesn’t love the cramped and dirty house-share she currently lives in. So, when she gets the opportunity to move to Nightingale Square, sharing a house with the lovely Eli, she jumps at the chance.
 
The community at Nightingale Square welcomes Beth with open arms, and when she needs help to organise a fundraiser for the care home they rally round. Then she discovers The Arches, a local creative arts centre, has closed and the venture to replace it needs their help too – but this opens old wounds and past secrets for Beth.
 
Music was always an important part of her life, but now she has closed the door on all that. Will her friends at the care home and the people of Nightingale Square help her find a way to learn to love it once more…?

My Thoughts:

I loved returning to Nightingale Square in this story, I loved catching up with all the characters and meeting new ones. Heidi has a way of writing that is so comforting, and it is a perfect read to snuggle up with. It made me wish for better weather and to feel the sun on my face. I didn’t want to put this book down and I was sad when it finished so I re-read it again. The story is about Beth who after having a bit of a rough deal she moves to Nightingale Square, I loved how we get to know Beth more and how the community all rally round to make her feel welcome, if I ever moved that is where I would love to live. It sounds wonderful. It is not just what the community do for her but what she also does for them. It is such a heart warming story and I just loved it.

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

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