BOOK REVIEW THE FRIEND BY DOROTHY KOOMSON

After her husband’s big promotion , Cece solarin arrives in Brighton with their three children, ready to start a fresh.  But their new neighbourhood has a deadly secret.

Three weeks earlier,  Yvonne,  a very popular parent, was almost murdered in the grounds of the local school -the same school where cece has unwittingly enrolled her children. 

Already anxious about making friends when the paren’t  seem so cliquey , Cece is now also worried about her children’s safety.  By chance she meets Maxie, Anaya and Hazel, three very different school mothers who make her feel welcome and reassure her about her new life.

That is until Cece discovers the police believe one of her new friends tried to kill Yvonne.  Reluctant to spy on her friends but determined to discover the truth, Cece must uncover the potential murderer  before they stroke again. ..

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers  for my copy to review. I am the hugest fan of this author and have been for many years .

Usually I am a very speedy reader but I found myself savouring this so I wouldn’t be finished to soon .

This has everything and more you would expect from Dorothys books.

We read from different timelines and different narratives meeting some very unique characters each with their own stories.

On the surface these woman in the playground appear to have it all but there are cracks. ..and secrets someone is threatening to spill.

What do women under pressure do ? 

At what cost do they want their past buried?

One of the women has been in a serious incident and as the book unravels so does the truth .

Complex characters and a addictive storyline .

Unpredictable and layered .

It had a darker feel to it which I loved and the truth took me by  suprise!

Brilliantly written as always from the wonderfully talented Dorothy Koomson. 
Published 1st June 

BOOK REVIEW THE HONEYMOON BY TINA SESKIS

For as long as she can remember , Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. 

A fortnight’s retreat to a five star resort in the Maldives,  complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy. 

It should be paradise.  But it’d turned into a nightmare.

Because the man Jemmy married a week ago has just disappreed  from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes .

After everything they’ve been through together how can this be happening?  I’d there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust?  And above all where has her husband gone?

Firstly a big thank you to Sarah at penguin for my copy.  I’ve been a huge fan of tinas books and had pleasure of Meeting her around  the time her debut book was published.

This is a author that definitely grows with each book .

The honeymoon is everything and more you can expect from this author but also from the best selling in this genre. 

This narrative leaves you not knowing who is telling the truth .

 
Told from different timelines and towards the end different narratives keeping you on your toes.

You feel like you know which direction the story is going but I don’t think there will be many if any that will crack the case.

Jemma is a complex character and I found her difficult to trust at times .

Fast paced with twists and turns making this a very unpredictable read that will have the reader hooked from start to finish !!

Where could her husband vanished to?? 

And are people who they ever seem to be?

A story of love ,betrayl ,guilt and a lot of mystery .

An excellent book and perfect for those summer holidays. .

Published 1st June 

BOOK REVIEW INVISIBLE WOMEN BY SARAH LONG

Three best friends who have been through crushes,careers, marriage and the trials of motherhood.  After twenty years of taking care of everyone else’s every need, they’ve found themselves hitting the big 5-0 and suddenly asking themselves ‘what about me?!’

Sandra has a sordid secret,Harriet is landed with harrier ailing mother in law and Tessa is standing at Heathrow airport waiting  for the one that got away. 

But will the plane from new York bring Tessa the man of her dreams or a whole heap of trouble? 

Firstly thank you to Emily at bonnie books for my proof copy.

I’ve not read anything from this author so was enjoyable to read a new voice in women’s fiction .

Really enjoyed this read full of humour that I think all women could enjoy and relate to.

In life we go through stages and cycles and especially as a mum.

My youngest will be starting secondary school in September so I know I’m already preparing for tears .

End of eras change new beginning. This is what the women in this book are experiencing .

They each have different dilemmas going on but are all long term solid friends who are there for each other in their hour if need.

Funny full of wit and charm this will make you laugh and shake your head at some of their mishaps.

We all at times of our lives question who we are and where we are going in our lives. And these women are no different each at different crossroads.

What happens when they put themselves first for a change?

What does their future hold?

BOOK REVIEW EXQUISITE BY SARAH STOVELL

‘She stopped crying and  looked at me, silent her blue eyes fixed upon me. I shuddered.

I thought, I am in the presence of evil.’

Bo Luxton has it all – a loving family,  a beautiful home in the Lake District,  and a clutch of bestselling books to her name. 

Enter Alice dark , an aspiring writer who is drifting through life with a series of dead end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend. 

When they meet at a writers retreat ,the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops. …

Or does it?  

Firstly a huge thank you to karen at orenda books for my copy. Can I just say this publishing power lady works with the best books!  Every one I’ve received has been a cracker. 

This was intriguing me before I opened the book.

This book has made  me speechless so I hope I do it justice. 

Without a doubt a top book of the year for me .

This is a beauty of a read and one you want to race through but same time don’t want it to finish. 

A woven story of friendship identify grief and desire.

You don’t quite know who to trust and I don’t want to give spoilers away but sometimes in life it’s not who we think !!

A captivating mind blowing read with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. 

The things we do when we think with our hearts and not our heads and the damage that can be caused.

The characters intoxicate not only each other but the reader ! Both are damaged in some ways that are similar and their love of literature brings them together. Meeting each other offers them the chance to connect and belong, which on paper sounds lovely but what happens if in reality the lines get blurred.  People get hurt !

As a avid reader it was fascinating to read about authors .

I cannot wait to read more from this author and I predict this to do incredibly well.

Published 15th June 
 

BLOG TOUR CHILD TAKEN BY DARREN YOUNG

Sitting in his kitchen, the last thing a man expects his wife to bring back when she ‘popped to the shops’ is a young child….

They should have taken her back, faced the consequences. .. done the right thing . But what happens when that innocent child instantly begins to mend a broken wife , and fix all that seemed unfixable? It’s not quite so easy now. 

Twenty years later,  another missing child,  a lucky interview and the curiosity of a story hungry trainee journalist throws up questions about what really happened to Jessica Preston when she disappeared from the beach all those years ago.  When the journalist cones across someone with a secret from their past, it threatens  to reveal what’s been covered up for so long. 

Firstly a big thank you to Anna at red door publishing for sending Me a proof copy .

I absolutely loved the blurb and title and I reckon this is a top Pick in the thriller shelves.

I breathed and this was finished!

I adored it.

Suffocated me with its  chilling drama.

This is a story not just about the event of a horrific act but also the ripple effect this has on each involved. Cleverly styled and you think you know which way this is going and then quickly shocks you.

Unpredictable fast paced and a haunting read.

Identity plays a huge part in this captivating read… 2 women questioning who they are and where their future will lead them.

This is a author to watch.

Wish this book every success. 

Published 18th may

BOOK REVIEW THE LAST PIECE OF MY HEART BY PAIGE TOON

Meet Bridget, a successful travel journalist with ambitions to turn her quirky relationship blog into a novel. But after numerous rejections from publishers,she accepts an alternative proposition. Nicole Dupre died leaving behind a bestselling novel and an incomplete sequel, and the family need someone to finish it. Bridget is just thankful to have her foot in the publishing door. But as she gets to know Nicole’s grieving family,and the woman behind the writing , Bridget’s priorities begin to change

Firstly a huge thank you to books and the city team at simon and schuster for sending me a review copy. 

I did squeal ! I love Paige’s book’s.

wow wow  what a book!

This is now my favourite Paige Toon book. 

Beautiful romantic and swoon worthy 

Loved everything about it.

Its full of comedy and great characters.

You find yourself rooting for some and booing others.

This will capture your heart and take you on an adventure.

I loved Bridget and charlie and the friendship they develop.

They each grow as people in ways they never expected and Bridget finds a piece of her heart being taken in the least expected way.

This melted my heart and will be the summer romance of 2017.

Published 18th may

BLOG TOUR OBSESSION BY AMANDA ROBSON

One evening, a wife asks her husband a  question: who else would you go for, if you could?  It’s a simple question -a little game- that will destroy her life. 

Carly and Rob are a perfect couple.  They share happy lives with their children and their close friends craig and Jenny.  They’re lucky.  But beneath the surface, no relationship is simple : can another woman’s husband and another man’s wife ever be just good friends? 

Little by little, carlys question sends her life spiralling out of control ,as she begins to doubt  everything she thought was true.  Who can she trust? The man she had promised to stick  by forever, or her best friend she has known for years?  And is carly being entirely honest with either of them?  

Firstly a big thank you to Helena at the wonderful avon for sending me a copy to review and having me on the blog tour. 

Even the front cover of this entices you and I only hope I do some justice in my review 

I devoured this in a few hours and it’s still haunting me.

It is bloody brilliant amazing chilling sexy and addictive.

This is easily going in my top 10 if not 5 of 2017.

Within a few pages I was shocked and at times feeling some dislike to one of the characters. … well what I didn’t know then was that was the tip of the iceberg. 

This literally throws your emotions all over the place. .. who can you trust? Who is in the wrong  ?

This suffocated me and obsession is the perfect name !

Incredibly and cleverly written and loved reading all 4 of the narratives. 

Unpredictable nerve wracking and so tense !

It begins with a silly question and ends with lies and destruction.

Cannot wait to read more from this author !

BOOK REVIEW WOMAN OF THE HOUR BY JANE LYTHELL

Meet Liz Lyon: respected TV producer, stressed out executive, guilty single mother. 

StoryWorld is the national favourite morning show,and producer Liz Lyon wants to keep it that way.  Her job is to turn real life  stories into thrilling TV-and keep a lid on the scandals and backbiting that happen off stage.

But then simmering tensions erupt at the station, trapping Liz  in a game of one -upmanship where she doesn’t know the rules….

This is a gripping story of workplace intrigue ,inspired by the authors own experience of working in the glamorous, pressurised world of live TV.

Firstly thank you to Jane for sending me a copy and a written note,however my naughty dog loved the look of it so much he ate it … so I replaced it lol

I had the pleasure of Meeting and listening to Jane a few years ago and loved her thrillers.

This book is a slight change of direction but just as intense and enjoyable 

I  had a long wait for estelle at a appointment today so this kept  me entertained.

On the card Jane said she felt I could identify with liz who is a single mum like myself. Although I’m not holding down a high pressure job I can definitely see similarities.   As a mum you often feel like youre spinning different plates at once and never having enough to go round.

I’n this book we see what happens when liz begins to realise she can’t be there  for everyone at once to her best ability. 

Full of tension and an array of great characters this makes for a compelling read. It certainly gives you a insight into the working world of TV and what goes on off screen when the camera stops rolling .

People start to show their true colours and changes happen both at work and home. Where does Liz stand and what will her next step be?

Fascinating read and I was thrilled to read there’s going to be another installment… out this summer.

Excellently written as all of Janes books are ,however with this one you can see this is focusing on an area Jane knows very well.