A girl covered in blood. A missing man. A coded fairy tale.

Detective Laura Shaw seems to have it all: a supportive husband, a happy two-year-old and a great career. She is her team’s top victim interviewer, a genius at getting vulnerable people to open up.

That’s until she meets Jenny – a 14-year-old assault victim who talks only in fairy tales. Jenny’s stepfather is missing and the blood on her clothes isn’t her own, so Laura’s colleagues need answers fast.

But Laura’s strange behaviour makes the girl shut down even more, leaving her bewildered partner, Niamh, desperately trying to rescue the situation.

It seems that this case has triggered something deep within Laura, and Jenny is not the only one with secrets. As the clock ticks down, Laura teeters on the brink of disaster, grappling with the biggest question of all:

Is every life worth saving?

My Thoughts:

This was a unique story line centred around an interview, Detective Laura Shaw has the perfect life being the top interviewer getting people to open up about traumatic experiences. Laura’s colleagues are working on a case involving young Jenny who has been through trauma involving her step father. She is completely traumatised and shut down, but when her step father goes missing and Jenny is found to have blood on her clothes, can Detective Laura Shaw get Jenny to open up to her? time is of the essence and Laura needs answers. She also wants to help this young girl deal with what has happened in her past. This is quite a sensitive subject, but I feel as though the author has done her research well, it is sensitively written, I felt upset reading about what that young girl had gone through and how she was after, I don’t know how anyone could recover after that. I had to take a step back from this book, but then continued to read it. I liked Detective Laura Shaw and I hope to see her in other books, I thought she was brilliant at her job and someone you could totally trust. I liked the plot line even though parts were a bit heavy going.

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

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Three generations, two secrets, one extended family . . .

Amy is thirty-four and has just given up her glittering career in the big (Welsh) city to move back in with her grandfather, returning to work in the small-town Chinese takeaway where she spent her bookish and boring childhood. Why? That’s a secret she won’t tell.

Just like the secret of why her grandfather, Ah Goong, and her father, TC Li, haven’t spoken to each other in thirty years. Weirder still, they’ve lived in the same small flat about the takeaway for the majority of those years, with Amy’s mother Joan acting as their unfortunate go-between and buffer.

Now Amy’s parents have moved, leaving her in charge of looking after the old man. But then Ah Goong collapses in the street and Amy realises time is running out if she wants to play happy families again . . .

My Thoughts:

I wanted to read something a little quirky and different and I thought this book would be the perfect read, I did enjoy the first several chapters but then I felt as though it dragged and became not as enjoyable. I found it very slow and the timelines going back and forth did not help either, it is a shame as it could of been a really good read, it had promise but for me it didn’t live up to expectations.

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They never found Leah Parata. Not a boot, not a backpack, not a turquoise beanie. After she left me that day, she vanished off the face of the earth.

A close-knit community is ripped apart by disturbing revelations that cast new light on a young woman’s disappearance twenty-five years ago.

After years of living overseas, Emily returns to New Zealand to care for her father who has dementia. As his memory fades and his guard slips, she begins to understand him for the first time – and to glimpse shattering truths about his past.

Are some secrets best left buried?

My Thoughts:

I found this such a great read, it had everything I wanted and more. I was engaged from the first chapter and couldn’t wait to see what the outcome was going to be. I think the sensitive topics that are discussed in this book are relatable and I think people will be able to relate and connect with the characters. It is an emotional story and I did have to reach for a tissue a couple of times but it is also very raw and honest and that’s why I enjoyed it so much. Charity is definitely an author who I want to keep on my radar and I look forward to her next book.

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

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After twelve years of marriage to English explorer James Cook, Elizabeth has yet to spend an entire year with her husband. In their house by the Thames, she moves to the rhythms of her life as a society wife, but there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She has the fortitude to manage the house and garden, raise their children, and face unbearable sorrow by herself―in fact, she is sometimes in thrall to her own independence.

As she prepares for another homecoming, Elizabeth looks forward to James’s triumphant return and the work she will undertake reading and editing his voluminous journals. But will the private life she’s been leading in his absence distract her from her role in aid of her husband’s grand ambitions? Can James find the compassion to support her as their family faces unimaginable loss, or must she endure life alone as he sails off toward another adventure?

My Thoughts:

I found it hard to write down what I felt about this story, it took me a few days to find the words. This story surprised me by being so much more than a story, Elizabeth is a woman that is understandable and relatable, she is so much more than a seaman’s wife, all the things she has had to put up with and deal with by herself makes her character so honest. It is a story that makes you think how you would cope in her situation and I really warmed to her. I look forward to more books by Anna.

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

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Set in the valleys of South Wales at the tail end of Thatcher’s Britain, The Green Indian Problem is the story of Green, a seven year old with intelligence beyond his years – an ordinary boy with an extra-ordinary problem: everyone thinks he’s a girl.

Green sets out to try and solve the mystery of his identity, but other issues keep cropping up – God, Father Christmas, cancer – and one day his best friend goes missing, leaving a rift in the community and even more unanswered questions. Dealing with deep themes of friendship, identity, child abuse and grief, The Green Indian Problem is, at heart, an all-too-real story of a young boy trying to find out why he’s not like the other boys in his class.

My Thoughts:

If you want a story that pulls at your heart strings this is the book for you, I felt as though I wanted to protect Green, with everything that is going on with him and how he is feeling at such a young age. The story explores quite deep subjects that include identity and child abuse which made me really emotional. I just felt as though I wanted to jump into the book and save Green, I have never had a book made me feel like that before. I think Jade has written this book very well, and I look forward to more of Jade’s books in the future. This book will stay with me for a very long time.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Will at Renard Press for sending me a copy.

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Liv has a lot of secrets. Late one night, in the aftermath of a party in the apartment she shares with two friends in Ålesund, she sees a python on a TV nature show and becomes obsessed with the idea of buying a snake as a pet. Soon Nero, a baby Burmese python, becomes the apartment’s fourth roommate. As Liv bonds with Nero, she is struck by a desire that surprises her with its intensity. Finally she is safe.

Thirteen years later, in the nearby town of Kristiansund, Mariam Lind goes on a shopping trip with her eleven-year-old daughter, Iben. Following an argument Mariam storms off, expecting her young daughter to make her own way home . . . but she never does. Detective Roe Olsvik, new to the Kristiansund police department, is assigned to the case of Iben’s disappearance. As he interrogates Mariam, he instantly suspects her – but there is much more to this case and these characters than their outer appearances would suggest.

My Thoughts:

This book gave me the heebie Jeebies, I could not read it at bedtime as I am not a fan of snakes but thought they would not feature too heavily in the story. It is a different and unusual kind of read that I am still unsure whether I liked it or not. Even how the author has described the snakes, makes me feel on edge, but I liked how the story flowed and it was easy to pick up and put down. It was creepy and un nerving too. I may have to revisit this book at another time to see if I feel any differently about it. But I am not a big fan of snakes so maybe that has put me off.

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

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The longer the marriage, the harder truth becomes . . .

Meet the Hanrahan family, gathering for a momentous weekend as famous artist and notorious egoist Ray Hanrahan prepares for a new exhibition of his art – the first in many decades – and one he is sure will burnish his reputation for good.

His three children will be there: beautiful Leah, always her father’s biggest champion; sensitive Patrick, who has finally decided to strike out on his own; and insecure Jess, the youngest, who has her own momentous decision to make . . .

And what of Lucia, Ray’s steadfast and selfless wife? She is an artist, too, but has always had to put her roles as wife and mother first. What will happen if she decides to change? For Lucia is hiding secrets of her own, and as the weekend unfolds and the exhibition approaches, she must finally make a choice.

My Thoughts:

The cover for this book is simply stunning, the illustrator has captured the image beautifully. In this story Charlotte the author does a really great job of being a fly on the wall inside a families home so we as the reader can experience everything that the family are going through. It is such a great idea for a story and one that works really well. It is eye opening and draws the reader in. There are parts I found funny but also parts that made me stop and thinking. Such a thought provoking novel. I loved it.

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

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Poppy got married young. Too young in fact, and she put her dreams aside for love. Fast-forward eight years(ish) and now it’s time to reclaim her life and first love – photography.
 
What better way to celebrate her new-found freedom than a blissful week alone on an island with just her camera for company. Until her best friend has a catastrophe with the high-profile wedding she’s planning and begs Poppy to help. After all, she owes her.
 
Poppy doesn’t expect to recognise the groom as an old friend, nor for the bride to get cold feet but what’s a wedding without a little drama. And as the wedding week – yes, week – gets underway, Poppy might find happiness again, just not in the way she expected.

My Thoughts:

This was such a great and funny read, that I will be raving about to my friends. It is a tender story that will have you laughing one minute and I did shed a few tears at the end. I think the character Poppy is a relatable character, she got married young and put all her dreams on hold for the love of her life. Now we see her in a few years time regaining her dreams. Poppy heads to an island all by herself to have some alone time and compose what she wants to do with her life, until her friend has a major set to with her wedding and needs Poppy’s help as a photographer. She finds she knows a certain someone and is trying to forget all the drama, but will the wedding ever go ahead and if it does will things run smoothly. I have loved all of Abigail’s books so far but this one was the best. I would highly recommend this heart warming read.

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

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First, the clouds…
Tara Hunter is a therapist on a mission to restore Longhampton’s community spirit after catastrophic flooding. But with her boyfriend AWOL, her family fragmented, and only a cat for company, Tara’s own life is crumbling.

Then the storm…
On top of everything, Tara’s father – last seen as he walked out on her when she was ten years old – is suddenly back, with a surprising offer that could change everything.

And after the rain…
Dr David Dalloway is Longhampton Wellness Centre’s new star counsellor. He’s charming, caring and has a knack for reading people’s minds – which is the last thing Tara needs right now. Will having David and her dad around make for a bigger storm on the horizon? Or is this Tara’s chance for a fresh start?

My Thoughts:

This was a nice easy read when you need a break from reading thrillers, the story was ok, it is set in Longhampton where they have been hit by a terrible flood, therapist Tara has to come in and help the villagers restore some calm into their lives, Tara’s life is not perfect either so she has to try and balance the two together. And when her long lost father decides to make an appearance at the completely wrong time could anything be any worse for Tara. I thought it was a ok read, a little slow in parts, I was hoping that it would get going a little more but I felt it a little samey to other books I have read.

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

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It was meant to be paradise…

Winterfall Farm, spectacular and remote, stands over Bodmin Moor. Wanting an escape from the constraints of conventional life, Kit and Tara move to the isolated smallholding with their daughter, Skye, and a group of friends. Living off-grid and working the land, they soon begin to enjoy the fruits of their labour amid the breathtaking beauty and freedom of the moor.

At first this new way of life seems too good to be true, but when their charismatic leader, Jeremy, returns from a mysterious trip to the city with Dani, a young runaway, fractures begin to appear. As winter approaches, and with it cold weather and dark nights, Jeremy’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. Rules are imposed, the outside world is shunned, and when he brings a second girl back to the farm, tensions quickly reach breaking point with devastating consequences…

My Thoughts:

This book was my perfect pick me up, I felt as though I fell in love with the whole scenario but is something more sinister happening beneath the layers. I thought there were some intriguing characters in this story, ones I felt as though I could trust and ones that I didn’t. Kit and Tara move away from the city to a small holding with their daughter and some of their friends, they will live of the land and enjoy the fruits of their labour, but when Jeremy starts bring young girls back, Tara is concerned about Jeremey’s intentions, I felt as though the story got dark and tense and I was not sure where the rest of the story would lead, but was surprised where it did lead, it captured my attention and I didn’t want to put the book down. Such a fantastic story that will keep you on tenterhooks the whole way through.

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

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