BOOK REVIEW THE LOST CHILD BY EMILY GUNNIS

Some novels hold you in their spell and never let you go…

Unravel the mystery of The Lost Child. Read the heartwrenching new novel from the author of the international bestseller The Girl in the Letter, Emily Gunnis.

A tragic death. A missing baby. A long-kept secret…

1960. Thirteen-year-old Rebecca and her mother live in fear of Rebecca’s father’s violent temper. As a storm batters Seaview Cottage one night, Rebecca hears a visitor at the door and an argument ensues. By the time the police arrive, the visitor has fled and both Rebecca’s parents are dead. No one believes Rebecca’s story that she heard a stranger downstairs…

2014. Iris, a journalist, is sent to cover the story of a new mother on the run with her desperately ill baby, as the police race against time to find them. When the trail leads back to Seaview Cottage, the childhood home of Iris’s own mother, Rebecca, Iris must unravel the events of the night Rebecca is desperate to forget for Seaview Cottage to give up its secrets.

Firstly i loved her debut so was delighted to recieve this in my goody bag at the rooftop book event.

Packed with history and stories of women of all generations from a family . Heartache, loss, love and largely mental health… which i love having such a big focus. Its so important to talk about and how better than a theme of a book.

I whizzed through this trying to work out the pieces.

Emotive writing that will get you thinking

Beautiful and heartfelt . Really enjoyed especially on a personal level with my own experiences.

BOOK REVIEW THE GIRL BEFORE YOU BY NICOLA RAYNER

She was his.
She was perfect.
And then, she was gone.

An addictive and twisting psychological suspense, perfect for summer. If you liked My Lovely Wife, you’ll love this.

Alice has always been haunted by the women from her husband’s past. As a politician and now a TV personality, George Bell’s reputation as a ladies’ man precedes him. But when Alice falls pregnant, her unease becomes an obsession.

And there’s one ex in particular she can’t get out of her head, a beautiful student who went missing before they finished university: Ruth.

When Alice thinks she see Ruth on a train, she can’t shake the feeling there’s more to the disappearance than George has told her. But does she really want to know what her husband has been up to behind her back all these years?

Firstly a big thank you to Lisa Hall ..it was in my box of goodies that i discovered this.

I haven’t heard much of this one so was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Now ive seen the covee which is striking i predict this selling very well.

Twisty and addictive. This will leave you hooked wanting to know the truth!

Fascinating insight into another world . Narrated in different timelines and characters .

Everyone has secrets and past lives they want to remain hidden.

This really captivated me and i wasnt sure where it was going. Unpredictable and fast paced.

Excellent writing and i look forward to reading more from this author.

Published 22nd August

BLOG TOUR WHAT HAPPENS NOW BY SOPHIA MONEY-COUTTS

‘No question about it, there are two little purple lines. I’m pregnant.’

After eight years together, Lil Bailey thought she’d already found ‘the one’ – that is, until he dumped her for a blonde twenty-something colleague. So she does what any self-respecting singleton would do: swipes right, puts on her best bra and finds herself on a first date with a handsome mountaineer called Max. What’s the worst that can happen?

Well it’s pretty bad actually. First Max ghosts her and then, after weeing on a stick (but mostly her hands), a few weeks later Lil discovers she’s pregnant. She’s single, thirty-one and living in a thimble-sized flat in London, it’s hardly the happily-ever-after she was looking for.

Lil’s ready to do the baby-thing on her own – it can’t be that hard, right? But she should probably tell Max, if she can track him down. Surely he’s not that Max, the highly eligible, headline-grabbing son of Lord and Lady Rushbrooke, currently trekking up a mountain in South Asia? Oh, maybe he wasn’t ignoring Lil after all…

Firstly a big thanks to publishers for my copy to review. I loved her debut so was thrilled to recieve this.

This was my 5th read on holiday and it was perfect. So funny, fresh witty ,Naughty humour.

Written expertly and real lol moments.

Real characters you can relate to esp lil. Heartwarming escapism.Would love a sequel to know what happened next?

Published 22nd August and do check out the other blogs taking part.

BOOK REVIEW NIGHT BY NIGHT BY JACK JORDAN

If you’re reading this, I’m dead.’

Rejected by her family and plagued by insomnia, Rose Shaw is on the brink . But one dark evening she collides with a man running through the streets, who quickly vanishes. The only sign he ever existed – a journal dropped at Rose’s feet.

She begins to obsessively dedicate her sleepless nights to discovering what happened to Finn Matthews, the mysterious author of the journal. Why was he convinced someone wanted to kill him? And why, in the midst of a string of murders, won’t the police investigate his disappearance?

Rose is determined to uncover the truth. But she has no idea what the truth will cost her…

Firstly ive been meaning to read this author for a long time after seeing lots of praise. So seeing his latest in waterstones with its electric blue spredges i had to have it.

Wow where to start…this book is amazing and has blown my mind .what a writer and i now need all his other books.

This is a thriller like no other dealing with quite hard hitting issues which makes the charactsrs even more relatable

We start the book with roses own tragedy and end eith her involved in others. She goes on quite the journey …what a brave strong woman.

I was addicted reading non stop… compelling dark and haunting.

A captivating intense read which will draw you in.

Sometimes the hype is wrong but not this time!!

BLOG TOUR TAKE IT BACK BY KIA ABDULLAH

The Victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, neglected by an alcoholic mother. Who accuses the boys of something unthinkable.

The Defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hardworking immigrant families. All with corroborating stories.

Whose side would you take?

Zara Kaleel, one of London’s brightest young legal minds, shattered the expectations placed on her by her family and forged a glittering career at the Bar. All before hanging up her barrister’s wig to help the victims who needed her most. Victims like Jodie Wolfe.

Jodie’s own best friend doesn’t even believe her claims that their classmates carried out such a crime. But Zara does. And Zara is determined to fight for her.

Jodie and Zara become the centre of the most explosive criminal trial of the year, in which ugly divisions within British society are exposed. As everything around Zara begins to unravel she becomes even more determined to get Jodie the justice she’s looking for. But at what price?

Firstly a big thank you to HQ for my copy to review and having me on the tour. Ive seen a lot of hype about this one and pleased to say it exceeded my expectations!

What a book,i read this a few weeks ago now and has stayed with me.

Compelling intriguing and thought provoking .

Who would you believe?

Fascinating characters with such depth, flaws and all.

Cleverly written especially as a debut.

Can definitely see this on tv and this being very successful flying off the shelves.

A original and fresh voice in courtroom drama and i look forward to reading more from Kia.

Do check out the other blogs taking part and is published 8th August.

BLOG TOUR THE MOMENTS BY NATALIE WINTER

Life is made up of countless moments. Moments that make us who we are. But what if they don’t unfold the way they’re supposed to…?

What if you get on the wrong bus, or don’t speak to the right person at a party, or stay in a job that isn’t for you? Will you miss your one chance at happiness? Or will happiness find you eventually, when the moment is right?

Meet Matthew and Myrtle. They have never really felt like they fitted – in life or with anyone else. But they are meant to be together – if only they can find each other.

A powerful and emotional story about missed chances, interwoven lives and the moments that define us.

Firstly a huge thankyou to Alannia for my copy to arrive. I was a bit worried if id get to read it in time from returning ftom hols. But there was no need to worry because this got read in one go.

This book..wow what a work of art! You need to read this.

A powerhouse of emotions and written so expertely it taps into your soul.

This wraps up all those what if moments we have with all the moments we get to have . All of these define who we are as a person and as a human.

Love,loss, life and death .

Packed with great unique charactars who shape both matthews and myrtles life .

Heartwarming and life affirming this is a must read of summer 2019.

Published 8th August and do check out the other blogs taking part .

BOOK REVIEW THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS BY LISA JEWELL

In a large house in London’s fashionable Chelsea, a baby is awake in her cot. Well-fed and cared for, she is happily waiting for someone to pick her up.In the kitchen lie three decomposing corpses. Close to them is a hastily scrawled note.They’ve been dead for several days.Who has been looking after the baby?And where did they go?Two entangled families.
A house with the darkest of secrets.
A compulsive new thriller from Lisa Jewell.
In a large house in London’s fashionable Chelsea, a baby is awake in her cot. Well-fed and cared for, she is happily waiting for someone to pick her up.
In the kitchen lie three decomposing corpses. Close to them is a hastily scrawled note.They’ve been dead for several days.Who has been looking after the baby?
And where did they go?Two entangled families.
A house with the darkest of secrets.
A compulsive new thriller from Lisa Jewell.

Lisa has become one of my favourite authors and a instant preorder for me. This arrived while i was on holiday so was a welcome home gift.

Well its everything and more you would expect from her books. Dark and chilling as we examine a quite extraordinary family dymamic . Told over 2 timelines and alternate narratives this is fast paced but delivers the twists and secrets expertly.

Its always fascinating reading about other families and you can think thank goodness ours isnt like that. But it genuinly makes for addictive and compelling reading.A tragedy happens and we explore the before and after to all involved.

Bloody brilliant and once you start you wont put down!I am looking forward to seeing/meeting Lisa at capital crime next month!

BLOG TOUR AT YOUR DOOR BY JP CARTER

What happens when the past comes back to kill you?

When DCI Anna Tate is called to the gruesome discovery of a dead woman found on Barnes Common, she is plunged into a high‐profile investigation involving a prominent MP. London is baying for blood – but is there more to Holly’s death than at first meets the eye?

Meanwhile, the hunt is on for Anna’s missing daughter Chloe, who vanished ten years ago when her father kidnapped her. The case has been cold for what feels like forever – but a phone call brings a brand new lead…

Can Anna solve the murder case whilst dealing with her own personal demons? Or is someone from the past planning to get in her way?

Firstly a big thanks to Sabah for my copy and having me on the tour. I absolutely loved the first in this series so i couldnt wait to get stuck into this.

This time the tension is raised as the search continues for her daughter.

Alternate narratives.

Fresh,addictive and chilling. This is a excellent thriller that taps into your fears especially as a parent.

Published 8 th August and so check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

Do read on for a extract too..

The investigation had ended dramatically two weeks ago, but the paperwork was still piled up on the desk in front of her. She’d been wading through it all afternoon and her eyes were tired from reading the case notes, interview transcripts, forensics reports and briefing documents that were being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service.
Still, in another forty-five minutes it’d be five o’clock and that was when she’d decided to call it a day. It was only a short drive from the Wandsworth HQ to her home in Vauxhall so she’d have plenty of time to shower and get dressed before Tom arrived.
He was getting ready at his own flat, which was only a mile away, and coming over by taxi. He’d booked a table at their favourite Italian restaurant for seven-thirty and she was hoping he hadn’t done something daft like ordered a cake or arranged for someone to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.
The more she thought about tonight the less she felt like going. But if she cried off without having a really good excuse it would upset Tom and give him another reason to believe that she was no longer committed to their relationship. The issue had taken root in his mind and she’d been struggling to convince him that it wasn’t true.
But she knew it would take more than just words to banish his insecurities. The main thing he wanted was for them to live together and she simply wasn’t ready for that.
A burst of activity out in the main office seized her attention suddenly. She watched through the open door as several detectives gathered around the desk of DI Max Walker, who was holding a phone to his ear with one hand while scribbling frantically on a notepad with the other.