The curfew
Andy and Laura are good parents. They tell their son Connor that he can go out with friends to celebrate completing his exams, but he must be home by midnight.

The lie
When Connor misses his curfew, it sets off a series of events that will change the lives of five families forever.

The truth?
Because five teenagers went into the woods that night, but only four came out. And telling the truth might mean losing everything…

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

My Thoughts:

This is my first book by T.M. Logan and I enjoyed it but it didn’t blow me away unfortunately. I have read a few books now about teenagers or kids going into the woods and not all of them coming back out again and they just get a bit samey. However I liked how the book is broken down into the days and also some of the characters perspective, you can feel the tension of the parents wondering where their kids have gone. It is a believable story and every parent’s worse nightmare. You won’t believe the twist that arrives either.

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

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Emma Webster is a respectable MP.
 
Emma Webster is a devoted mother.
 
Emma Webster is innocent of the murder of a tabloid journalist.
 
Emma Webster is a liar.
 
#Reputation: The story you tell about yourself. And the lies others choose to believe…

My Thoughts:

This was another brilliant book by Sarah, she really does have a way to draw the reader in from the get go and I love it. It is a tense and gripping thriller, one where you wait with great anticipation and then something completely unexpectedly happens that shocks you to the core. You don’t know who to believe especially Emma, her character is brilliant, Sarah has written her well. It is a story that makes you think about what you would do in that situation and it has a great pace to it to keep the reader hooked and involved in the story. I am looking forward to seeing what Netflix do with this story.

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

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Women and Love is a thought-provoking collection of seventeen tightly woven tales about the power of love, all its trials and complications, and the shattered lives it can leave in its wake. The stories explore a huge variety of sorts of love surrounding women in wildly differing settings, and features an unforgettable cast including GPs, burglars, inmates, emigrant cleaners, carers, young professionals, and many more. Navigating heavy themes, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ experiences, including gender dysphoria and searching for a sperm donor, the stories leave the reader burning with indignation, full of empathy and wonder. ‘I couldn’t sleep that night; our conversation was like a trapped bird flying around inside my head. The next morning, I texted to say I wouldn’t be coming back. I lied about having to return to my country to nurse a sick relative. I couldn’t bear to see my story mirrored in his eyes, and to see what we never had. I knew he’d understand.’

My Thoughts:

I love a book that is slightly different to what I would normally read. This is a great pick up of different short stories, which are all about love and what it can lead to some good and some bad. All of the stories involve all women and I feel as though we celebrate being a women when reading this book. We cover a whole range of topics and many different and unique jobs too. I found this such a perfect pick me up, I enjoyed quite a few of the stories some really stood out than others but they were all good in their own equal rights. It made me feel satisfied at the end.

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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John Farnley, reluctant Lord and Peer, agrees to fly Professor Entwistle and Miss Sylvia Armley on their expedition, for the usual fees. It was planned as a straightforward trip to Sudan searching under the Saharan sky for obscure Nubian pyramids where they would hopefully unearth new archaeological remains.

But first they find a desperate woman, a dying man, and the ominous threat of mercenaries left leaderless after the recent colonial wars, mercenaries who are also interested in the treasures that might be hidden within the pyramids. And what could this have to do with the stories of djinn?

Trapped by an aether storm that left their aether flyer powerless, the companions work desperately to find out the secrets of the pyramids as the threat of the mercenaries grows.

Could this have anything to do with the forbidden knowledge of Hammerhand’s creation? Will the courage of John Farnley, the knowledge of Professor Entwistle, and the sharpshooting skills of Sylvia Armley save them? Or will it be the secret locked in the bronze figures?

My Thoughts:

I was so looking forward to reading this book after reading Out of the London Mist which I really enjoyed. This one was even better and I could not fault anything about it. The story carries on from Out of the London Mist so I suggest reading that one before this one as you get more of a back story and get to know all the characters also its just a fantastic read too. In this story we see some of the characters making their way to Sudan where they go on an epic journey. Trust me when I say you won’t want to put it down, I read it in a day and now want more. Lyssa is such a good story teller that you want to become involved in the story, she is a very good writer too. I look forward to her next book.

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

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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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