‘Everyone has secrets. And now, one of mine is yours…’

As the only two teenagers in a small village, Hollie and Niamh tell each other everything. Behind Abingworth’s closed doors, every family has its secrets – and theirs might hide the worst ones of all.

One day Hollie tells Niamh about a devastating discovery, swears her to secrecy … then vanishes. All the villagers claim to know nothing. Until Hollie’s body is found, and the police know one of their number isn’t just a liar, but a killer…

What did Hollie tell Niamh before she died? And who would kill to keep the secret?

My Thoughts:

Set in a small village, Niamh and Hollie are the only youngsters that live there. They are very close friends and tell each other everything until one day Hollie goes missing but she told Niamh something before she went missing but Niamh promised she wouldn’t tell anyone. Then Hollie’s body is found but who killed her? suspicions grow around all the villagers but which one killed her? secrets, lies and betrayals all surface. Will Niamh be able to tell the police everything she knows. I think this is my first book by Debbie and I would read more of hers, this was a good paced thriller that kept me engaged throughout, I did find the middle part a little slow but the ending was a shocker and one I didn’t see coming.

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

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Jasmine Tran has landed herself behind bars—maple bars that is. With no boyfriend or job prospects, Jasmine returns home to work at her parents’ donut shop. Jasmine quickly loses herself in a cyclical routine of donuts, Netflix, and sleep. She wants to break free from her daily grind, but when a hike in rent threatens the survival of their shop, her parents rely on her more than ever.

Help comes in the form of an old college crush, Alex Lai. Not only is he successful and easy on the eyes, to her parents’ delight, he’s also Chinese. He’s everything she should wish for, until a disastrous dinner reveals Alex isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Worse, he doesn’t think she’s perfect either.

With both sets of parents against their relationship, a family legacy about to shut down, and the reappearance of an old high school flame, Jasmine must scheme to find a solution that satisfies her family’s expectations and can get her out of the donut trap once and for all.

My Thoughts:

This is a story not to read when hungry, I was literally drooling over the tasty sounding donuts that Jasmine’s parents make at their donut shop. This was a nice easy story to read, away from all the thrillers I usually read. It was a light hearted read with characters that you want to make friends with, I liked the story, Jasmine’s parents run the donut shop and she feels as though she will be working there all her life, can she find a way out? I think this would be a good read for a teenager as it explores young love, and career ideas, and would help anyone that is struggling to find their place in the world. Also the donuts sounded divine. I cannot wait to read Julie’s next one.

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

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Once Upon A Crime…

Nancy Hunter and her grandmother Jane Hunter run the Dedley Endings Bookshop, selling crime, thriller and mystery books, in a small, quiet Cotswold village where nothing ever happens…

That is, until the wealthy and reclusive Roth family open up their mansion for the first time in thirty years, inviting the people of Dedley End to a lavish engagement party.

While everyone is thrilled to finally look around the mansion on the hill, the festivities are quickly cut short when beautiful Lucy, recently married to young Harry Roth, is found dead after being pushed over the first-floor balustrade.

But who among the guests could have been capable of her murder – and why?

Nancy and Jane decide to investigate – after all, not only do they own a crime themed bookshop, they were also both named after famous literary detectives – but soon wonder if they’ve taken on more than they can handle. Especially when it seems the killer has worked out that they’re hot on their heels…

Can they catch the murderer before the murderer catches up with them? Or will there be a deadly ending to this story?

My Thoughts:

I loved the setting for Nancy and Jane’s cosy bookshop in the Village of Dedley End, it made me want to visit them and spend hours perusing the shelves. I loved the relationship between Nancy and Jane and also with Jonathon too, their relationship was very comforting. The story line was a good one, there is a murder at a lavish party, someone dies, can Nancy, Jonathon and Jane find out who the killer is before it is too late? it was a warm, cosy and comforting read, I love how they are always drinking tea, such an English thing to do, when the going gets tough, drink tea. There is mystery and suspense too, which makes this book an absolute winner. I could see this book as a series on TV. I look forward to the next book.

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In the darkness we all need a little light . . .

After Mike loses Pia, his partner of seventeen years, her best friends Vicky and Zaza try to help pick up the pieces.

But though Pia’s gone, she left a plan. A list of love and instructions to hold Mike and her best friends together.

And they’re each going to need it.

Just-engaged Zaza fears committing any further.

Mum Vicky can’t see a way past her kids and back to her career.

While Mike just feels lost without the love of his life.

But when the list sends them to Peru, where high mountains and sweltering rain forest take them to the brink,
all they have to guide them is their faith in Pia’s instructions and themselves.

Did anyone say Walking On Sunshine was easy?

My Thoughts:

When I saw there was a new book out by Giovanna, I couldn’t wait to read it. This is such a lovely heartwarming real life situation story. I think people will be able to relate to some of the situations in this story, I hope after people read it they will feel as though they are not alone. I like how Giovanna has a way that makes it seem as she is caring not only for her characters but also for her readers. This story blew me away and I had tears in my eyes thinking what they all had gone through. The story is about two best friends Vicky and ZaZa who unfortunately have lost their best friend Pia, even though they are struggling without her, they are putting on a brave face for Pia’s partner Mike. But Pia had other plans for them all once she had gone and I think at the end of the day this has helped them all. One of the lists sends them to Peru, they are all finding it hard without Pia but when they get together and do what Pia has asked them to do, they find a way to get themselves back together again. The author Giovanna has experience of trekking as she did a trek in 2019 for Coopafeel so I feel with this story we are getting first had experience of what trekking is actually like. It is such a lovely story and one that I will stay with me. I hope it has helped people that are in these situations that you are not alone and there is help out there. A beautiful story about friendships and love.

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

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A killer without limits
He comes into your home at night. He watches you as you sleep. He waits. 
 
A city in turmoil
He calls himself ‘The Locksmith’. No door can keep him out. No security system can catch him. And now he’s about to kill. 

 A race against time to stop him
Nobody in New York is safe. Now it’s up to Lincoln Rhyme to untangle the web of evidence and catch him.

 But with Lincoln under investigation himself, and tension in the city at boiling point, time is running out…

My Thoughts:

I was not as keen on this book as I thought I was going to be. I found it slow and very long drawn out. The story sounded really good but for me it just didn’t deliver how I thought it would. I have read one of Jeffrey’s books before and enjoyed it, there was a lot of details that did not need to be added and I felt as though I was not really enjoying the book so felt as though I had to skim through it. Maybe I was not in the right frame of mind to read it and maybe I will come back in time to give it another go but I am sure as of yet whether I will or not. The characters were good though. I would still give his next book a read to see if It is any better.

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

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I have read so many brilliant books this year that I actually found it very hard to choose which books to put on here as my favourites. I have read more of Netgalley’s books this year too, which I have to say is a fantastic site where you can read proof copies of books ahead of their publication day. Even though looking back I have given quite a few books a five star it is a genuine rating as I feel as though the books that have been brought out this year have been to a high standard. I always like to try a new author and I have read a few this year that I will definitely be reading more of. I just want to highlight some of my favourite books this year that include:
Milly Johnson – The Woman in the middle

Jessica Ryn – The Imperfect Art of Caring

I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to my readers for sticking with me and following my blog, I really do appreciate it, Also to the people who comment and like on my posts that really does mean the world to me so Thank you.

I would also like to thank every single publisher and author that has taken the time to email me or message me regarding reading and reviewing a book for them, this is my job and I love what I do but I couldn’t do it if they didn’t send me the books. I appreciate every single one of you.

Here is to more reading in 2022.

Merry Christmas and I hope you get to read lots of wonderful books over the Festive period.

See you in 2022.

THE PERFECT LIFE

Juliana Daniels finally has the life she’s always dreamed of. A loving husband, a career as an attorney, and a cozy apartment in Manhattan to call home.

But when she gets a message from an old college friend, her blood runs cold. Remember me?

ONE DEADLY LIE

Juliana drops her phone as though she’s been scalded. The name Jenny Teller shines out from the screen… but Jenny can’t have sent that message.

Because Jenny is dead.

Juliana’s other college friends have all received the same message. The four of them are the only ones who know the truth about the night Jenny died. It’s a secret they have kept buried for thirteen years.

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

With ‘Jenny’ now blackmailing them and threatening to expose their secret, there’s more than Juliana’s marriage on the line…

Someone knows the truth, and they won’t stop until Juliana’s life comes crashing down.

My Thoughts:

This was a good read that kept me engaged until the end. The characters are all great and the plot was really good. There are lots of secrets that would prefer to stay buried but will we uncover them? The story goes from past to present so the reader can really get a good back story. I found the main character was easy to relate to. There are a couple of twists and I did work out who the offender was before the end but I still enjoyed the story. The ending is dramatic and full of suspense. It was a really good read, one that I would recommend.

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

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When you hear her story, will you believe her?

Rose Marlowe is a hard-working nurse, a loving wife, and a merciless killer. Or so she says. Despite her confession, it is hard to believe that this beautiful, kind woman could have killed her vulnerable patient in cold blood.

Down-on-his luck author and ex-journalist, Theo Hazel, is convinced that there’s more to what happened than Rose is telling, and so decides to visit her behind bars to write her story. His first surprise comes when Rose reveals that the victim was not a stranger to her.

As time goes on, it seems that Rose is letting Theo see behind her perfect mask. With each new visit, he learns terrible new things about her heart-breaking past. With each new visit, he becomes more and more convinced that she can’t be a killer. But is he trying to free an innocent victim, or falling prey to a calculating murderer?

My Thoughts:

Wow what a read! I found I really wanted to concentrate on this book so took my time, the reason I wanted to concentrate is because I wanted to work out if Rose was a killer or if she was innocent. This is a rollercoaster of a ride, that will take you on a fantastically well thought out and researched story. I found it a very moving and engaging read, one that I feel will stay with me as I just found it a little different. I didn’t want to put it down but then when I did I was thinking about it. I found the characters really made the story epic and how calculating they were. I was so suspicious of Rose and also a few other characters, I didn’t know what or who to believe which made it more exciting to me. The ending was not what I was expecting at all.

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

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Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave.

They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past.

Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.

But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn’t know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way―even if it kills her.

Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies.

My Thoughts:

I have really enjoyed John’s books in the past and this one was good, but I did find it quite twisted and raw, I couldn’t work out who was telling the truth and who was lying. It is all about a mother and daughter who both share a house but they both have secrets they are determined to keep to themselves. It was creepy and tense and I found some parts really raw. Some parts left me shocked, I wanted to read on because I genuinely wanted to find out what was going to happen but then I didn’t want to read on as I was shocked at what I was reading. I think I found parts difficult to read because of personal circumstances. But it was a good read.

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This is the story of a murderer. A stolen child. Revenge. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street.

All these things are true. And yet some of them are lies. An unspeakable secret binds the family together, and when a new neighbour moves in next door, the truth may destroy them all. Because there’s something buried in the dark forest at the end of Needless Street. But it’s not what you think…

My Thoughts:

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. The story is told from three points of view, Ted, Olivia ( his cat) and Dee. I switched off when the cat started talking and having an opinion. I understand the unique way of including Olivia the cat, but it just was not for me. It is a creepy story with creepy characters, it was slow and I found some parts a bit boring. I wanted to read to the end to see if it got any better, but for me it didn’t. The author has written an afterword about how she came to write the book which was fairly interesting but I don’t get what the big hype about this book was about when it first came out. Such a shame as the plot sounded so good.

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