1914: Young Anton Heideck has arrived in Vienna, eager to make his name as a journalist. While working part-time as a private tutor, he encounters Delphine, a woman who mixes startling candour with deep reserve. Entranced by the light of first love, Anton feels himself blessed. Until his country declares war on hers.

1927: For Lena, life with a drunken mother in a small town has been impoverished and cold. She is convinced she can amount to nothing until a young lawyer, Rudolf Plischke, spirits her away to Vienna. But the capital proves unforgiving. Lena leaves her metropolitan dream behind to take a menial job at the snow-bound sanatorium, the Schloss Seeblick.
1933: Still struggling to come terms with the loss of so many friends on the Eastern Front, Anton, now an established writer, is commissioned by a magazine to visit the mysterious Schloss Seeblick. In this place of healing, on the banks of a silvery lake, where the depths of human suffering and the chances of redemption are explored, two people will see each other as if for the first time.

My Thoughts:

I found this book captivating and engaging. It starts back on 1914 and when a young lad called Anton arrives in Vienna, he is desperate to become a journalist, whilst doing this, part time he is a private tutor and comes across Delphine, he hopelessly falls in love with her but at what cost? when her country goes to war with his what must he do? Then we go to 1927 and through to 1933 where we see Anton again and how his life has been since 1914. It was an interesting read and to learn all about what happened in that era blew me away. I felt for Anton when he was falling in love, but can’t be with Delphine as both their countries were going to war with each other. The ending made me cry it was just beautiful. This is my first book by Sebastian Faulks and it certainly will not be my last.

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

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Till death do us part . . .

Lucy has dreamt of her wedding day for as long as she can remember.

And now the day is almost here. Her nearest and dearest are gathered on an idyllic Greek island and she just knows it’s going to be perfect. It has to be.

But even the best-laid plans can go horribly wrong. Why are her parents behaving so strangely? Why won’t the rather odd lady from the airport stop hanging around? Who is the silent stranger her sister brought as a plus-1?

And then they find the body.

It’s going to be a day to remember.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of the plot for this book, what more could you want with a thriller a bride, a groom and a body, but who’s body is it? everyone seems suspicious but who is the killer? It is a well thought out plot and with some well balanced characters. I didn’t have a clue what was going to happen through this story which made me want to keep reading it. Great description of the place they are, perfect for reading on the beach, I have never read any of Tammy’s books before so I didn’t know what to expect but I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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

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Two broken hearts.

Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her heart into the business, striving to keep her mother’s traditions and warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true happiness as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the beating heart of the café…

An unexpected meeting.

Jake lives by two rules: don’t let anyone get close and don’t talk about what happened. Little does he know that a chance meeting at The Starfish Café, facilitated by a fluffy lost dog, is about to turn his world upside down…

The chance to love again.

Can Hollie and Jake break down the barriers that have been holding them back from finding love and happiness, before Christmas comes around? After all, with courage, nothing is impossible…

My Thoughts:

Another warm and uplifting read by Jessica that I found plenty of escapism in. Jessica’s books just seem to get better and better and this one I really enjoyed. Hollie has inherited her mother’s cafe but Hollie is not happy herself and wants to find her happiness can a chance meeting bring someone special in to her life? Jake doesn’t like to talk especially about something that happened in the past, but when he goes in to the starfish cafe, little does he realise the impact that meeting will have on his life. I think people will be able to relate to this story too. It is a story about love and life and finding happiness, I felt a warmth in my heart reading this story and I wanted Jake and Hollie to find their happy ever after, especially after all they have both been through. Such a wonderful read and one I would recommend, If you haven’t read any books by Jessica, I would thoroughly recommend reading them as they are just so uplifting.

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

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Berkeley Cockering wants to live the hedonistic life of a millionaire playboy. But his sister, Marcheline, is only interested in preserving the family name and refuses to sell off any of their large jointly-owned estate. He therefore embarks upon a drastic course of action to force her to sell, which will involve the owner of a cash-strapped geriatric circus, an alcoholic clown, an incontinent elephant and a sex toy with a mind of its own.

My Thoughts:

I decided to choose to read this book as the plot sounded different but also very funny. Berkeley is the brother of Marcheline and all he is interested in doing is being a playboy, whereas Marcheline does not want to sell off the family estate. Berkeley wants the money that is all he is interested in so tries to force her hand. There are some right funny characters that we meet along the way. I found the story a little eccentric for my tastes but it was funny and amusing in parts. It is not a book I will forget in a hurry.

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

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Is Zenna a muse, a sleep-deprived apparition, or something much more sinister?

Suffering long-term amnesia,, artist Jo Mckye is ready to start a fresh, new project after the success of her debut exhibition. But the fictional subject of the collection, Zenna, won’t let go so easily. Infiltrating Jo’s dreams-and increasingly, her waking hours-Zenna is fast becoming a dangerous obsession.

Jo is confident the answers lie at her childhood home, an idyllic Cornish village on the south-east coast; she just doesn’t know why. Only when she walks into the sea and almost drowns does the past start to unravel.

My Thoughts:

I have always enjoyed Annalisa’s books and this one was just as good as her other books. This story is about Jo who is an artist and is starting a new project for her new exhibition. Jo suffers from amnesia and when the subject Zenna won’t let go, she starts getting into Jo’s head and her dreams and won’t let go. How can she get rid of Zenna once and for all? will going back to her childhood home help? or will it make the situation worse? only time will tell but it was a fascinating story and I didn’t know much about long term amnesia but I feel as though I know a little more now. A really interesting concept of a story. I really enjoyed this captivating read.

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

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I have chosen some of my favourite books that I have enjoyed reading recently. I have chosen a mixture of different genres so that there is something for everyone, hope you enjoy and if you do read one of them, let me know what you thought in the comments. Thank you.

1. The Wild Girls By Phoebe Morgan

2. Wolfe Trap( A clay Wolfe/Port Essex Mystery) book one

3. An Ordinary Life By Amanda Prowse

Molly is ninety four years old and currently lying in a hospital bed after having a stroke and falling. She reminisces of her life and what life was like in the 1940’s. A tale of an extraordinary woman that I will never forget.

4. Before I saw You By Emily Houghton

5. The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside

Hope you enjoy the books on the list and have a great bank holiday xx

A young man from Maine fights for social equality in New Orleans after the Civil War while pursuing a serial killer, becoming enmeshed in voodoo, and falling in love. Much like Louisiana’s famous gumbo, Love in A Time Of Hate: New Orleans During Reconstruction is a spicy dish of varied ingredients.

The main theme is the struggle for social equality between Whites, Blacks, and Creoles, but flavor is added with the subplots of politics, voodoo, murder, love, and hate. New Orleans becomes a literal battleground as carpetbaggers, scalawags, Creoles, and recently freed slaves fight against the entrenched southern plantation notion of white superiority.

My Thoughts:

This was a completely different kind of read for me, I found it interesting and thought provoking and I felt as though I learnt a great deal from reading it. I liked it, the story goes into a lot of depth and the subject has been researched well. The story is about Emmett who is trying to fight for social equality in new Orleans. Emmett is a very busy man whilst fighting for social equality, he is also on the hunt for a serial killer, there is a lot going on in this story along with Emmett getting himself caught up and being in love. But the main aspect is the social equality part which I feel as though needs to spoken about more. But I also like the fact that there are other elements in the story that bring the story alive. This is a very well thought out story that shows that everyone should be able to live in a world happily and freely.

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

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Kerry Daynes, leading forensic psychologist, opens up the case files of some of her most perplexing clients to uncover what lies buried behind some of the most extreme and disturbing behaviour.

Whether she is dealing with a young murderer who says he has heard voices telling him to kill, a teacher who daubs children in red paint, or an aspiring serial killer who faints at the sight of blood, Kerry’s quest is to delve beyond the classic question asked of her profession: ‘Are they mad or are they bad?’

In her new book, Kerry provides an unflinching, enlightening and provocative insight into the minds of her clients, shedding light on the root causes of their behaviour and challenging our notions about who, and what, is dangerous.

My Thoughts:

This is a book of true stories told by a leading forensic psychologist and a book that I found interesting. The start of the book lays out what a forensic psychologist’s job entails and then each chapter is a different story that Kerry has to work out if that person is mad, bad or just misunderstood. It was clever how the story is written as you feel as though you are stepping into Kerry’s shoes. It was quite an eye opening experience but I felt as though I learnt things that I never would of known if I had not of read this book. I think it is important to make people aware of these situations with this kind of true stories book, I mean there are plenty of TV shows that show this kind of thing but I feel with a book you are getting the extra detail. I found it an engaging read.

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

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One stormy, snowy night, a pure silver calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm by the light of the moon. This is the legendary Mooncalf, whose arrival has been foretold since the dawn of time.

According to a dream passed down from animal to animal, if the calf dies, a great Terribleness will come – rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire, the end of all things… and Little Hare vows to persuade all the animals to protect Mooncalf, whatever the cost.

But it’s easier said than done, and soon Little Hare realises that he is the only one who can save the world…

My Thoughts:

I loved this book, and now will have to read the other books before this one. It is such a sweet book about a little hare who wants to save the world, it is such a magical story as he sets out on his quest to tell all the animals to protect a magical calf that has been born. I loved the story, I loved all the illustrations and it was just a fun and adventurous book to read. I feel as though I learnt things from this book including climate change and above all else friendship. I hope any child reading this book will feel the same and learn that there is hope out there. Even though this is a children’s books I am an adult and thoroughly enjoyed it, so give it a go.

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

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Teddy Crutcher won Teacher of the Year at the prestigious Belmont Academy. Everyone thinks he’s brilliant.
Only you know the truth.

They all smile when he tells us his wife couldn’t be more proud.
But no-one has seen her in a while.

They’re impressed when he doesn’t let anything distract him – even the tragic death of a school parent.
Even when the whispers start, saying it was murder.

You’re sure Teddy is hiding something about what happened that day.

You’re sure you can prove it.

But you didn’t stop to think that when it comes to catching a killer, there’s no place more dangerous than just one step behind . . .

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this story about a school teacher called Teddy, everyone thinks he is amazing but little do they really know about him, I felt as though I went on a journey with Teddy and everything he gets up to, I liked the way how it was written you kind of get inside Teddy’s head. I found it a fast paced, dark and sly read that I didn’t want to put down. The only thing I didn’t like was how Covid was mentioned, I personally don’t think it added anything to the story and when I want to escape with a book I don’t want to be reminded about what is going on in the world at the moment. I liked how we hear from a pupil and also a teacher, that set it up for a good story line, and how the story has twists I wasn’t expecting. You never really know what Teddy will get up to next but it was interesting to find out.

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

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