North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder – Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed. His daughter Eve is a glassblower, and the murder weapon is a shard of one of her broken vases.

Dr Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He’s a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found – killed in a similar way. Matthew finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home . . .

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Two Rivers crime series which I didn’t realise but you can read these books as a standalone. Though after reading this book, I will be purchasing the first book as it was a really good read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked how the story built up, it is a bit graphic when they talk about the murders but I was ok with that as I expected it. It was an engaging read and fast paced, I didn’t want to put it down. The story follows Detective Matthew Venn as he is put on the case of finding out who murdered Dr Nigel Yeo, the murder weapon is a piece of glass that is made by none other than his own daughter but who did it? then another body is found and they have been killed in a similar way, can Matthew piece it all together and catch the killer before they strike again. I couldn’t work out who the killer was, I like the way there are some red herrings thrown into the mix. The ending was superb and wraps up nicely.

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

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Beth Belmont runs every day, hard and fast on the trail near home. She knows every turn, every bump in the road. So when she spots something out of place – a slip of white paper at the base of a tree – she’s drawn to it.

On the paper are five names. The third is her own.

Beth can’t shake off the unease the list brings. Why is she on it? And what ties her to the other four strangers?

Then she discovers that the first two are dead.

Is she next?

My Thoughts:

I liked the sound of this book but for me it was not as good as I hoped. The first part was good but the middle was very slow going and nothing much happened, the ending didn’t seem to wrap anything up either. Beth has a nice life with her boyfriend but at night the nightmares come about what happened in her past. Whilst on her run Beth finds a list but one that has her name on it. Who is behind it? and do they know about her past? The story is broken down into each chapter being either Beth, the person who write the list and a young Beth, so we get a real sense that something bad happened in her past. It had everything to be a good thriller but it was a bit of a let down.

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Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate.

But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and MI5 comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative.

When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is…

My Thoughts:

If you are after a funny read, then this is the book for you, you don’t even have to be a parent to read it. I enjoyed this book so much and I can see why Faye has won Comedy Women in Print Prize, as this book is just hilarious. It is all about Vicky who is a wife and mother but what they don’t know is that she use to work for MI5, and now they want her back but can she factor the job into her life now that she is a mum and especially when her husband has no clue what she is up too. From the first couple of pages I knew this book was going to be good, when a story gets up laughing right away, that is good. I really enjoyed this book and want to read more from this author. It was a great pick me up.

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

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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