BOOK REVIEW LIES WE TELL MOTHERS BY SUZY K QUINN

Bestselling author of the Bad Mother books Suzy K Quinn reveals the truth behind the lies we tell mothers, one sleepless night at a time.

Suzy and Demi were carefree twenty-somethings. They had fun! They didn’t have responsibilities! And then they decided to have a baby. Goodbye lazy weekends, hello sleepless nights, arguments and an addiction to industrial-strength hot chocolate.

In the midst of this major life change, Suzy discovered that most parenting advice should be taken with a pinch of salt—or ten.

For example:

#1 Lie—Just go with your mother’s instinct. But what if your instinct is telling you to hide under the stairs?

#10 Lie—Your new baby will tell you what it needs. Not if it can’t talk it won’t.

#23 Lie—You should never bribe your children. You will ALWAYS bribe your children.

Follow Suzy on the ultimate make-over—from nervous-wreck new mother to happy families. In this hilarious and refreshingly honest account for parents who prefer the realistic to the utopian, Suzy debunks the myths and takes us all along for the (bumpy) ride.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review . I shared my review for Suzys psychological thriller recently…its amazing, so i was intrigued to read something quite different from her

I devoured this and some parts i could have written myself. This is how parenting really is.

Funny, real,honest and raw this is a excellent book about the rollercoaster that is being a mum .

Truth is none of us know what we are doing , just some adapt a lot quicker

I resonated so much with these words , i always think if i could go back to that 18 year old me feeling numb i would hug her and reassure her.

Its so refreshing to read even now as mum to 17 and 13 year old that others struggle and no one is perfect.

Highly recommend for new mums for reassurance or for ones who have been there for the comedy element.

My favourite lie would be they grow up so fast .. theres a quote which says about days dragging but the years fly. Its so true..i remembed wishing time away with my first then with second it was all slow down. Parenting…the guilt that keeps on guilting!!

Parenting is hard as it is without the added pressure and guilt . So sit back and enjoy this read!

Published 1st August .

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BOOK REVIEW STRINGS ATTACHED BY ERIN REINELT

For fans of Dolly Alderton, Holly Bourne and Fleabag, this is a fun, fresh romcom that will have you laughing in recognition and yelling in solidarity.

Straight-laced Jean has always done what’s expected of her.

Her traditional parents want Jean to be in a relationship which will distract them from the shamble of their own marriage. She is at the beck and call of her demonic boss who is constantly yelling at her to sort out the clusterf**ks left by grown men. And her overgrown baby of a boyfriend, Charlie has just heckled her friend’s wedding and set fire to the marquee. Jean keeps cleaning up other people’s messes.

Until now.

Taking her life into her own hands, she decides to do stand up to her boss, her parents and do something that takes her out of her comfort zone. She will be a woman heels-over-head, and not head-over-heels, in love. After Jean dumps Charlie, she meets married-but-open pianist Gabriel and decides to explores all that modern romance has to offer… but can relationships last without entangled hearts being broken?

Jean is about to find out.

Featuring an unforgettable cast of characters, this novel is an homage to female-friendship, empowerment and love, which will have you laughing-out-loud and rooting for Jean all the way.

Firstly a big thanks to trapeze for my copy to review. This sounded a real tonic to read.

Its modern,fun and fresh . Sexy,naughty and hilarious!

This had me literally lol on the train, i could relate to Jean so much.

Shes fed up and wakes up to realisation shes not happy. Rather than carry on moaning she does something about it. Steps out of her comfort zone and embraces the new her.

There are funny moments but also endearing ones..but more importantly there are lot of wtf moments.

She starts to realise her worth and wont accept anything less than she deserves. .. and i think we all need to embrace that attitude.

Highly recommend especially if you need a pick me up book that will have you cackling !

A unique love story that feels so culturaly relevant in 2019.

Published 11th July

BOOK REVIEW COME BACK FOR ME BY HEIDI PERKS

A SHOCKING DISCOVERY.
A COMMUNITY WRAPPED IN SECRETS. A tiny island community is stunned by the discovery of a long-buried body. For Stella Harvey the news is doubly shocking. The body has been found in the garden of her childhood home – the home her family fled without explanation twenty-five years ago. Now, questioning her past and desperate to unearth the truth, Stella returns to the isolated island. But she quickly finds that the community she left isn’t as welcoming as she remembers – and that people in it will go to any length to protect their secrets. One thing rings true…
You can’t bury the truth forever.
I was due to be on the tour for this book, but my copy got lost. So i brought a copy and devoured it ! I am definitely team Heidi , she is a phenomenal writer.

Her debut is easily one of the best reads of 2019 for me .Its always a worry if the author can do it again after such success with a debut… and she can and has.

Come back for me is intriguing packed with mystery,secrets and lies.We all remember our childhoods in different ways and how would we feel if challenged to those memories and feelings. We know whos right or wrobg…dont we?

Layered with suspense this is a compelling and captivating read.With twists and turns you cant predict whete this is going or who has secrets to hide.

I highly recommend Heidi’s books and cant wait to read more!

BOOK REVIEW HER FIRST MISTAKE BY SANDIE JONES

For Alice, life has never been better.

After the death of her first husband, she has remarried, with a successful business, two children and a beautiful house.

In Beth, she also has the best friend she has always wanted. A friend without judgement, she is the most trustworthy and loyal person Alice knows.

So when Alice begins to suspect her husband Nathan is having an affair, she turns to Beth to help her find the truth. She can trust Beth, can’t she . . . ?

I loved Sandies debut so was excited to read this . My goodness this is a lady who knows how to write!!

What a twisty, addictive and completely unpredictable book.This had me hooked instantly and just took my breath away at how amazing it was.

Packed with tension and anticipation as we think we know where its heading… then boom the direction changes and your left gobsmacked.Thought provoking in regards to certain charactars attributes and flaws. Once you start you wont want to stop reading.

Highly recommend and i cant wait to read more from Sandie …write faster lol.

BOOK REVIEW CLEAR MY NAME BY PAULA DALY

Innocent?

When Carrie was accused of brutally murdering her husband’s lover, she denied it. She denied it when they arrested her, when they put her in front of a jury, and when they sent her to prison.

Now she’s three years into a fifteen-year sentence, away from the daughter she loves and the life she had built. And she is still denying that she is to blame.

Guilty?

Tess Gilroy has devoted her life to righting wrongs. Through her job for Innocence UK, a charity which takes on alleged miscarriages of justice, she works tirelessly to uncover the truth.

But when she is asked to take Carrie’s case, Tess realises that if she is to help this woman, she must risk uncovering the secrets she has struggled a lifetime to hide . . .

We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.

**********

Firstly a huge thank you to the publishers for my copy to review.

Im a huge fan of Paula’s so was so thrilled to recieve…as a book blogger it never gets old that feeling of bookpost!

A great read as always. I always know im going to enjoy her books.

Great charactars all with their own demons and past.

What is the truth?

What compels them to choose their cases? What makes carrie’s stand out..and is she innocent?

Alternate timelines and narratives so we get a sense of before and after the event.

Unpredictable and an addictive read.

Packed with secrets, twists and turns this is a exciting book .

Published 8th August so perfect to pick up for a indulgent summer read.

BOOK REVIEW DONT TELL TEACHER BY SUZY K QUINN

School should have been the safest place…

For Lizzie Riley, switching her eight-year-old son Tom to the local academy school marks a fresh start, post-divorce. With its excellent reputation and outstanding results, Lizzie knows it’ll be a safe space away from home.

But there’s something strange happening at school. Parents are forbidden from entering the grounds and inside, there are bars across the classroom windows.

Why is Tom coming home exhausted, unable to remember anything about his day? What are the strange marks on his arm? And when Lizzie tries to question the other children, why do they seem afraid to talk?

Tom’s new school might seem picture-perfect. But sometimes appearances can be deceiving…

Firstly a big thank you to hq for my copy to review, but also apologies in my delay . I thought i had already shared my review ! When in actual fact i had scribbled manic noted on phone immensely after finishing. Let me begin…

Wow wow wow what a book..This had a reveal i didnt see coming. Incredibly thought provoking and clevery styled. Completely unpredictable and definitely one of 2019 top reads.Sinister and chilling made this uncomfortable reading at times!

Addictive and i couldn’t put it down , i demand more psychological thrillers from this author.

Highly recommend and be prepared to not be prepared for the truth.

Published 11th July and i wish her every success with this story.

BOOK REVIEW WORST CASE SCENARIO BY HELEN FITZGERALD

Mary Shields is a moody, acerbic probation offer, dealing with some of Glasgow’s worst cases, and her job is on the line. Liam Macdowall was imprisoned for murdering his wife, and he’s published a series of letters to the dead woman, in a book that makes him an unlikely hero – and a poster boy for Men’s Rights activists.

Liam is released on licence into Mary’s care, but things are far from simple. Mary develops a poisonous obsession with Liam and his world, and when her son and Liam’s daughter form a relationship, Mary will stop at nothing to impose her own brand of justice … with devastating consequences.

Firstly a big thank you to Karen at Orenda books for my copy to review.

Ive had my eye on this for a while. Ive not read any of her books. However i watched and was hooked on bbcs adaption of the cry. So was really excited to read.

What a intriguing and unique charactar Mary was. Quirky troubled and not quite playing the best employee. Shes clearly not at her best but as a woman i couldnt help but relate to her attitude so much.

Funny read despite its dark nature. Gives a real insight into the job which funny enough come up as a career choice from a quiz… and then read 2 books in a row wirh that role.

Intriguing and chilling this is a fascinating story . Will definitely be reading more from Helen! If you like your women well behaved and following the rule book…this is NOT for you…

With laugh out loud and wtf moments this is quite the cocktail of emotions.

BLOG TOUR THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND BY PHAEDRA PATRICK

Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people―though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.

All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend―her grandmother Zelda―who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Firstly a big thank you to the team at HQ for my copy to review and having me on the tour. This is a new author to me ,but the title and cover intrigued me a lot!

I loved this book, its quirky,fresh and original. Its perfect for bookworms who take so much pleasure from reading.

Mysterious and full of charming characters.

What happens when family secrets are revealed ? What happpens when you start to say no to people?

Martha grows individually in each chapter and its refreshing to read

She starts living her life for her and learns to love herself.

Published 27th June and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

BLOG TOUR FIXED ODDS BY WILLIAM MCINTYRE

George ‘Genghis’ McCann has stolen – and lost – a priceless masterpiece. Snooker champion Oscar ‘The Showman’ Bowman is charged with betting fraud. With a second baby on the way, and promises of great rewards if he wins Bowman’s case and recovers the painting, defence lawyer Robbie Munro has never been so tempted to fix the odds in his favour.

Firstly a big thank you to Ceris for my copy to review and having me on the tour. This is a new author to me so wasnt sure what to expect.

I loved it, would definitely like to read more. Quick paced, funny and fresh . This is a book you can easily escape with .

The characters are relatable especially Robbie. Hes a lawyer who takes no nonsense.. a family man,hard worker but tells it as it is .

Really enjoyed and recommend.

Published 4th july and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

BOOK REVIEW THE CLOSER I GET BY PAUL BURSTON

Tom is a successful author, but he’s struggling to finish his novel. His main distraction is an online admirer, Evie, who simply won’t leave him alone. Evie is smart, well read and unstable; she lives with her father and her social-media friendships are not only her escape, but everything she has. When she’s hit with a restraining order, her world is turned upside down, and Tom is free to live his life again, to concentrate on writing. But things aren’t really adding up. For Tom is distracted but also addicted to his online relationships, and when they take a darker, more menacing turn, he feels powerless to change things. Because maybe he needs Evie more than he’s letting on.

Firstly a huge thank you to Karen for my copy to review. I have heard a lot of hype about this book..and boy it lives up to it.I could not put it down this evening until it was finished.

In a world so addicted and controlled by internet but especially social media,this story is so relevant. We all want followers, but what happens when the following overflows into real life…

Written in alternate narratives and varying timelines this is a fresh fast paced compelling thriller.Who do you believe? Can you have compassion for a stalker ? Can you really believe everything a victim says?

This will take you on a fast rollercoaster of emotions and conflicting views as we race towards the truth .Excellently written from start to finish. I cant reccomend enough and im going to order his other books now.Chilling and haunting this will leave you feeling shocked and thinking wow!

Published 11th July and i predict it being very successful