She’s the perfect host. He’s the perfect victim.

Someone is hunting Connor. Alone, freezing, in the wilderness of Bodmin Moor, on an elite Special Forces training exercise, he’d be a fool to scorn the kindness of a local stranger. Wouldn’t he?

At first, Eilidh seems to be an impeccable host. She offers Connor food and a warm bed – he finds it nearly impossible to leave her charming farmhouse.

But the choice isn’t his to make.

There have been others before. None, though, as perfect as him.

Why would she let him leave?

My Thoughts:

This was such a gripping read, one that would be brilliant if it was made into a film. I love how the plot was fresh and original, it chilled me to the bone wondering what plans Eilidh had with Connor, it was tense and dark, and the characters were all unique in their own way, you don’t really know who to trust. Where it was set in the middle of nowhere also gave me the shivers and made the story creepy and kept me on edge. An all round great story with a fantastic built up ending.

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

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Jessica Jackson has hit all the milestones for turning 30 – the career, the loving boyfriend and a cosy London flat they share with their cat. But a shock diagnosis of breast cancer turns Jess’s world upside down, and her contented life implodes with it.

Around her, her friends’ lives continue to follow the script, with the big white weddings and the baby scans. With her own future so uncertain, the only thing Jess is sure of is that she’s being left behind.

In the midst of it all, she meets Annabel, an enigmatic twenty-seven year old with incurable cancer. But while Annabel may not have long left, she understands much more about living than anyone Jess has ever met. And she’s determined to show Jess how to make every day count . . .

My Thoughts:

Wow what a BOOK, I would thoroughly recommend reading this book to everyone, I love reading books that are written from experience. Laura the author shows her experience in this book as she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29 years old. She is such an inspiration and to write a book is incredible. I hope this book helps people that are recently diagnosed but also shows their friends and family what it is like to go through such a tough time. It is a book all about what life can throw at us and how we deal with certain situations, this is when you need friends and family around you the most to support you. It was a story that will stay with me for a long time, I can’t recommend it enough and also it really touched my heart. I know Laura is going to have such a big success with this book when it comes out. It was absolutely brilliant.

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

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Eighteen-year-old Emma has loving parents and a promising future ahead of her.

So why, one morning, does she leave home without a trace?

Her parents, Cath and Jim, are devastated. They have no idea why Emma left, where she is – or even whether she is still alive.

A year later, Cath and Jim are still tormented by the unanswered questions Emma left behind, and clinging desperately to the hope of finding her.

Meanwhile, tantalisingly close to home, Emma is also struggling with her new existence – and with the trauma that shattered her life.

For all of them, reconciliation seems an impossible dream. Does the way forward lie in facing up to the secrets of the past – secrets that have been hidden for years?

Secrets that have the power to heal them, or to destroy their family forever …

My Thoughts:

This was a great read that was captivating and engaging and didn’t disappoint. Parents Cath and Jim have a daughter who one day leaves but no one knows why? we see the story unfold as we hear from each of the parents side of the story. The story is all about love, loss, grief and relationships and the story is well told and I was not sure what each chapter would unfold but was pleasantly surprised. When you find out the secret you will be shocked. I look forward to reading more of Rachel’s books.

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

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In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a house and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they’re in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.

Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.

As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?

My Thoughts:

Bella Osborne is definitely one of my go to authors, I know as soon as she has a book out, I will get it no doubt as I know I will enjoy it and they never disappoint. The story line is so genuine and real and I feel people will be able to relate. It is such a heart warming about two friends who are alot older and decide to live together but what is the unspoken secret between them. It is a story about the true meaning of friendship and how you should tell those people close to you how much you love them. This was such a great and easy read that you will get swept up with.

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

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Unhappy with life in London, and with her love life a complete disaster, Ellie Chapman desperately needs a change. So when she learns she’s inherited a farmhouse perched high up on the cliffs above the English Channel, it feels like the perfect escape.

But ramshackle and dilapidated, and ruled by the world’s naughtiest donkey, Seabreeze Farm is not as picture
perfect as Ellie imagined. And then there’s brooding local vet Ben Hastings, who seems to make it his mission to make life on the farm even harder for Ellie!

With money tight, Ellie slowly rebuilds the tired old farmhouse. And as the farm comes to life under Ellie’s care, Ellie’s spark returns
too. Because as every day passes, Ellie begins to realises that there is something special about Seabreeze Farm, and there’s no other place she’d rather be.

My Thoughts:

After reading this book I have realised I need to read more of Jo’s books as they are a really great read. This was such a comforting story about learning to trust again and what family and friends really mean to you. I wanted to be there and experience where it was set and meet all the wonderful characters that are involved in this book. I felt as though this was a perfect read to snuggle up with and it felt heartwarming and comforting to read. I need to work my way through Jo’s other books as I know how much I would enjoy them.

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

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Some people would kill for a second chance.

Kat is rebuilding her life. After losing her husband in a tragic accident, moving to the countryside is her chance to start again.

Encouraged by her new and only friend Ginny, Kat joins New Horizons, dubbed the Coffin Club by its members. And that’s how she meets Nico. Instantly drawn to each other, Nico seems like Kat’s perfect match. He is kind, caring, handsome and, most importantly, a father to five-year-old Magdalena. This could be Kat’s shot at the one thing she has always wanted: to be a mother.

BUT SOMETIMES BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR…

My Thoughts:

OMG this book was everything I wanted and a whole heap more, it just kept on going and going with shocking and surprising twists and turns that I never saw coming. I felt as though it lead me up the garden path but I should of been going up the other instead. I loved how the drama builds you never know how the story is going to unfold, nothing is as it seems and it seems uncertain but you are not really sure if it is or not. I loved the characters and they are all unique in their own way, there could be women out there that can relate to how Kat was feeling about her situation, I am not saying I agree with what she did but I can understand that wanting feeling. I read this book in two days and was thinking about what I would do in that situation and also how the story would finish, though I didn’t want it to finish, the ending blew me away. I cannot wait to see what Jacqueline is going to write about next. She is definitely an author I will be reading more of in the future. This would make a great film.

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

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A new season…

As winter turns to spring, Hollie – owner of The Starfish Café – is feeling content as she settles into her new life with her loving boyfriend, Jake, and their adorable dog Pickle.

But when an unwelcome visitor threatens the future of her café, Hollie must stay strong to protect her family’s legacy…

A leap of faith…

Emerging from an unhappy relationship, Tori finds herself with nowhere to stay and nobody to talk to. The long-hidden secrets of her past weigh heavily on her until a chance encounter with Finley, struggling to come to terms with his own secrets, provides an opportunity to open up.

Can she find the strength to stop hiding from her past and face up to her family? Especially when that would mean letting her guard down and learning to trust again…

A fresh start…?

Little do Hollie and Tori know that their lives are about to collide at The Starfish Café and they may be able to help each other with a fresh start. After all, with good friends in your life, nothing is impossible…

My Thoughts:

I always think when I am reading one of Jessica’s books that it is my favourite until she brings out a new one and I find it hard to resist as I know I am going to love it. It was lovely to be back at the Starfish cafe with all the wonderful characters, as soon as I started reading it, I knew I would get caught up in the story and this is such a good one, it is emotional but it is also uplifting at the same time. The story is full of great family and friends and feels relatable which always makes a good story in my eyes. I loved seeing the friendship between Hollie and Tori blossom and it reminded me how close me and my best friend are. Such a warming ending too.

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

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Yinka wants to find love. Her mum wants to find it for her.

She also has too many aunties who frequently pray for her delivery from singledom, a preference for chicken and chips over traditional Nigerian food, and a bum she’s sure is far too small as a result. Oh, and the fact that she’s a thirty-one-year-old South-Londoner who doesn’t believe in sex before marriage is a bit of an obstacle too…

When her cousin gets engaged, Yinka commences ‘Operation Find A Date for Rachel’s Wedding’. Armed with a totally flawless, incredibly specific plan, will Yinka find herself a huzband?

What if the thing she really needs to find is herself?

My Thoughts:

If you are after an upbeat and funny read, this is the perfect read for you. I have been reading quite a few thrillers and needed something light hearted and this was the perfect change I needed. It really shows the true meaning of extended families and female friendships. It such a great and easy read, I was laughing most of the time reading this. I loved Yinka, she is such a strong female character, I felt as though I went through every emotion with her. Now when I think of this book it will make me smile. I just want to read it again and again.

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

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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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