When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mum, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, the mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and – of course – delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears, healthy and sun-tanned… and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how – all she can focus on is that somehow, impossibly, she has her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman who came before.

But can we ever truly know our parents? Soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

My Thoughts:

Rebecca is a new author to me and I was not sure what to expect. Why haven’t I read more of her books as this one was an absolutely beautiful story of love, loss and hope. You will need tissues with this book as I used a whole box up even before the end. I found this book moved in ways I have never experienced before and I just fell in love with the story. It swept me off my feet, I felt as though I was a part of Kate’s journey. I loved it so much.

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

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What happens when you lose the love of your life just three months after you meet him?

Lottie Brown has finally found The One. Leo is everything she’s ever wanted – he’s handsome, kind, funny and totally gets her. Three months into their relationship, Lottie is in love and happier than ever before. 

But then Leo tragically dies, and Lottie is left floundering.

As she struggles to stop her life falling apart, Lottie learns more about the man she thought she knew, and starts to question whether Leo really was as perfect as he seemed…

My Thoughts:

Wow you really get all the emotions in this read, it is a beautiful tale but one with a rollercoaster of emotions. It is a story of love, loss and hope but one where you feel really committed to it and care about the characters so much. It is definitely a thought provoking story as I was thinking about how well I truly know the people around me, and the consequences of our actions that we take every day. I think it is a relatable story that people will realise they are not alone, I cried quite a bit through this story, it is one that will stay with me for a long time. I have finished it and I am still thinking about it.

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

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Starting over never tasted so good

Holly Berry has it all; a good corporate career, a steady boyfriend, and enough savings that they will soon be able to buy a nice little house. But when she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her, she decides to retreat to the Cotswolds and a place full of far sweeter memories.

Quite literally.

However when Holly discovers the quaint village sweet shop that she worked in as a teenager is starting to crumble she decides that maybe the sensible life isn’t what she wants after all. Putting all her chocolate eggs in one basket, she says goodbye to the city, and sets her sights on Just One More.

After all, how hard can running a sweet shop be?

With charismatic Giles, ready to rescue her at every turn and the local bureaucrats breathing down her neck, it certainly isn’t the quiet life she expected. Can Holly really save the place from the the wicked developers, or will she be the reason Just One More closes its doors for good?

My Thoughts:

This was such a delight, it is a lovely and easy read to curl up with, but be warned you will be craving some sweets to read with it, my tummy was rumbling with all the delicious sounding sweets, it sounded like my idea of heaven running a sweet shop. There are some lovely characters that we meet along the way especially Giles, I felt as though I had a soft spot for him. The story is all about Holly who as a teenager worked in the sweet shop, fast forward a few years and she is back and now the sweet shop is hers but can she run it by herself or will the locals disapprove? It gave me a warming feeling reading this story. It is great that this is a series as I feel a connection to all the characters. I definitely need to read more by Hannah as he writing is just so easy to get on with.

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

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Home is where the heart is…

Joy has made a family for herself. She’s turned her beautiful old farmhouse into a safe haven for anyone who is looking for a new beginning. She’s always ready with a kind word, a nugget of advice and believes that anyone can change their life for the better, if they really want to.

Libby has exchanged her high-flying job in New York for a break in the quiet Somerset countryside. She’s soon drawn into Joy’s world and into her family of waifs and strays – including Drew, whom Joy once helped get back on his feet.

So when a secret from Joy’s past threatens everything, can the unlikely group come together to give Joy a second chance of her own?

My Thoughts:

I loved this story, it was such a lovely easy read. I cannot understand why I haven’t read any of Helen’s books before as this one was absolutely brilliant. I fell in love with Joy as she sounded such a wonderful person that anyone could easily get on with. I liked Libby too and some of the other characters. I liked how it was set around a farmhouse and what Joy does for everyone is truly inspiring. I felt as though I wanted to be there with everyone and help out. The story really drew me in, it was such a comforting read that I was sad when it ended. But never fear I have now ordered more of Helen’s books so I can get my fix of her other books.

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

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When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.

But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It’s about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw’s death was no accident. She’s staring in the face of a very modern murder. . .

My Thoughts:

I was so excited when I found out that Rosemary had written a book, I love her as a chef so was intrigued to see what her book was going to be like. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. It was such a great story with a fantastic selection of characters, when reading it, I felt as though I could hear Rosemary reading it to me. I found it a light hearted murder mystery that brings all the elements together in a huge cooking pot. I knew Rosemary was a brilliant chef but god she can write brilliantly well too. This is going to be a huge hit when it comes out.

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

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A nightmare jolts Debs awake. She leaves the kids tucked up in their beds and goes downstairs. There’s a man in her kitchen, holding a knife. But it’s not an intruder. This is her husband Marc, the father of her children. A man she no longer recognises.

Once their differences were what drew them together, what turned them on. Him, the ex-army officer from a good family. Her, the fitness instructor who grew up over a pub. But now these differences grate to the point of drawing blood. Marc screams in his sleep. And Debs hardly knows the person she’s become, or why she lets him hurt her.

Neither of them is completely innocent. Neither is totally guilty. Marc is taller, stronger, and more vicious, haunted by a war he can’t forget. But he has no idea what Debs is capable of when her children’s lives are at stake…

My Thoughts:

This is the second book by Tina and it was just as brilliant as her first book which is called Call me Mummy. I found myself feeling engrossed in the book and what the outcome was going to be that I managed to read it in half a day. I found it a interesting and tense thriller, many times through out the story I was holding my breath and on edge. There is a man in Debs kitchen holding a knife but it is not just any man it is her husband, but what has led him to this? Both have their own secrets that unravel through out the story, it was such a rollercoaster of emotions and the way Tina has written it that make it such a compelling and gripping read. I so look forward to Tina’s next book.

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

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You get away with murder.
In a remote sea loch on the west coast of Scotland, a fisherman vanishes without trace. His remains are never found.
 
You make people disappear.
A young man jumps from a bridge in Glasgow and falls to his death in the water below. DS Max Craigie uncovers evidence that links both victims. But if he can’t find out what cost them their lives, it won’t be long before more bodies turn up at the morgue…
 
You come back for revenge.
Soon cracks start to appear in the investigation, and Max’s past hurtles back to haunt him. When his loved ones are threatened, he faces a terrifying choice: let the only man he ever feared walk free, or watch his closest friend die…

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime Thriller series and it is just as good as the first one. It is one of the best police procedurals I have read, it is fast paced and has a great story line, I feel as though you go on the journey with the police and I was trying to work out what had happened. Two victims but are they connected, DS Max Craigie has to find out before it is too late. I love the character of DS Max Craigie, I feel as though he is perfect for the job and handsome too. I didn’t want to put it down what with the twists that come up too. I am really looking forward to book three in the series. If you haven’t read book one, what are you waiting for? These books are going to be super popular.

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

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Ali Doyle, a thirty-two-year-old engineer, discovers her boyfriend – who is also the legal counsel at the suburban Philadelphia software company where she works – has no intention of marrying her. After an uncharacteristically emotional confrontation, Ali ends this two-year relationship. However, the fear of seeing her ex at work and losing all control causes her to feign an illness, self-isolating in her apartment. At first, she’s fine with the solitude, but when Ali tries to leave, she’s incapable of venturing outside.

Yet, while feeling lost and hopeless in this self-quarantined state, Ali discovers solace to her loneliness by watching dog walkers from her front window. In an effort to find human connection, she creates imaginative back stories for these strangers and their pets. Ultimately, it’s her concern for an elderly gentleman and his Golden Retriever, as well as advice from an unexpected voice inside of her head, that give her the strength to leave her apartment building and begin her journey to wellness.

As Ali reemerges from her isolated state, she meets several of the dog walkers, learning their real names and true identities. Through this process, she forms friendships, finds guidance, and eventually falls in love. But most importantly, Ali recovers the missing pieces of herself that she had given away as she confidently learns to release boundaries, surrender control, and establish trust.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book so much, it was a little different but in a good way, I always look at dog walkers and wonder what their story is so this was certainly a book I enjoyed reading. This is Ali’s story, she is not happy in her relationship so decides to end it but when lockdown happens it makes her feel lost and helpless. Whilst being alone she decides to watch the dog walkers come and go and wonders about their lives and what stories they have. In the first steps of getting back on track she decides to go and speak to some of them and she finds happiness in forming friendships and just having someone to talk to can be a real help. It was such a beautiful tale, which I think so many people will be able to relate too and I know that in lockdown it was very hard on so many people so I hope this book shows them that they are not alone but also shows other people how hard people were affected by it.

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

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Little Jamey, 2½ years old, is placed with experienced foster carer, Cathy Glass, as an emergency.

The police and social services had no choice after a neighbour reported Jamey had been left alone all night while his mother went out partying. Scared, hungry and withdrawn, Jamey has spent so much time in his cot that his leg muscles haven’t developed, and he can barely walk. He is craving affection, and Cathy and her family find him very easy to love. However, as Jamey begins to settle in and make progress a new threat emerges. Coronavirus and lockdown changes everything.

My Thoughts:

I have read all of Cathy’s books to date and they never fail to disappoint. This one was just as good as all of her other books. This story focuses on Jamey’s story and also how the pandemic affected Cathy and her family. Little Jamey is such a sweet little boy and I was grateful to Cathy for taking him in and all the things she does for him is wonderful, it was wonderful to see how much he develops just within the time he is with Cathy. I found it interesting to see how Cathy and her family cope during the pandemic and how much it had hit foster carers is eye opening. I look forward to Cathy’s next book now.

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The invites went out weeks ago, and tonight, at a lavish manor house surrounded by friends and family, Kaitlin couldn’t be happier. But as the champagne corks pop, her dream party becomes her worst nightmare…

Staring at the stunning diamond solitaire on her finger, Kaitlin is finally getting the chance to introduce her best friend Zoe to her perfect fiancé. She hasn’t known Greg long, but he looks after her, and he loves playing dad to her young daughter. How could she say no when he’s already planned their elopement?

As guests arrive, why is Greg acting so shifty? And is that a flicker of recognition on Zoe’s face? And why does she look terrified every time her phone rings?

Kaitlin watches as Zoe knocks back her white wine and makes a beeline for Greg. After a heated conversation, Zoe stumbles towards the door and flees the party without looking back.

Days later, the police knock at Kaitlin’s door – Zoe is missing.

Kaitlin wants to believe her loving fiancé is not to blame, but she knows what she saw the night of the party. And when he lies to the police, can she trust the man she’s marrying? Could Kaitlin and her precious daughter’s life now be in danger too?

My Thoughts:

I have not read one of Sheryl’s books for ages and now feel compelled to pick them all up as this was so good. I read it in a couple of hours and didn’t want it to end. It was an addictive read, my hairs on my arms were up the whole time reading it, it is a compulsive and such a rollercoaster of a ride story that it left me breathless when I did finish it. The whole way through I didn’t know what was going to happen and when things did happen it shocked me. I love Sheryl’s writing and the way she can put a spin on a story is incredible. I need more of Sheryl’s books in my life now. A must read.

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

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