DOUBLE BOOK REVIEW OF ORENDA BOOKS

NOTHING IMPORTANT HAPPENED TODAY BY WILL CARVER

Nine suicides
One Cult
No leader

Nine people arrive one night on Chelsea Bridge. They’ve never met. But at the same time, they run, and leap to their deaths. Each of them received a letter in the post that morning, a pre-written suicide note, and a page containing only four words: Nothing important happened today.

That is how they knew they had been chosen to become a part of the People Of Choice: A mysterious suicide cult whose members have no knowledge of one another.

Thirty-two people on that train witness the event. Two of them will be next. By the morning, People Of Choice are appearing around the globe; it becomes a movement. A social media page that has lain dormant for four years suddenly has thousands of followers. The police are under pressure to find a link between the cult members, to locate a leader that does not seem to exist.

How do you stop a cult when nobody knows they are a member?

I finally got round to reading this which i had heard lots of praise for . And wow what a unique disturbing book!

Cleverly written and thought provoking

I whizzed through and loved it,will definitely be reading more from him.

It was interesting seeing psychological studies referenced especially the ones im studying at the moment .

VIOLET BY SJI HOLLIDAY
Carrie’s best friend has an accident and can no longer make the round-the-world trip they’d planned together, so Carrie decides to go it alone.
Violet is also travelling alone, after splitting up with her boyfriend in Thailand. She is also desperate for a ticket on the Trans-Siberian Express, but there is nothing available.
When the two women meet in a Beijing Hotel, Carrie makes the impulsive decision to invite Violet to take her best friend’s place.
Thrown together in a strange country, and the cramped cabin of the train, the women soon form a bond. But as the journey continues, through Mongolia and into Russia, things start to unravel – because one of these women is not who she claims to be…

This is a book thats been on my radar for a while and a new author to me.

A complex story of the dynamics of female friendships. Claustrophobic and incredibly tense.

Disturbing but definitely relatable.

A addictive page turner .

You can picture yourself right there as the writing captures the atmosphere and location perfectly

BOOK REVIEW ONE DAY IN DECEMBER BY JOSIE SILVER

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist. After all, life isn’t a scene from the movies, is it? But then, through a misted-up bus window one freezing day, she sees a man she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic…and then her bus drives away.

Laurie thinks she’ll never see the boy from the bus again. But at a party later that year, her best friend Sarah introduces her to the new love of her life. Who is, of course, the boy from the bus.

Determined to let him go, Laurie gets on with her life. But what if fate has other plans?

This was the hyped up book last Christmas so im a bit late to the party. But i finally got a copy and loved everything about it!

I feel like my heart has been on a journey today reading this and wow it felt good to be reminded of the magic of love.

You will be full of emotions as you follow this couple over a few years where everything changes apart from that spark they felt .

Life is messy ,complicated and flies by. This story reminded me of that.

I loved the charactars who all have their own story to share.

Fill your heart with festive warmth this Christmas . Im still picking mine up after swooning hard .

I cant wait for Josies next book .She is a beautiful writer who has created a timeless masterpiece with this story.

BOOK REVIEW THE CHRISTMAS WISH LIST BY HEIDI SWAIN

After being let go from her job in a swanky hotel just weeks before Christmas, Hattie is feeling lost. Even more so when her high-flying boyfriend announces he’s landed his dream job in Abu Dhabi and asks her to move with him. Luckily, Hattie’s long-time friend Dolly is on hand to help and invites Hattie to spend one last holiday in the small, festive town of Wynbridge, determined to give her a Christmas to remember . . .
Upon Hattie’s arrival, holiday preparations are in full swing. But for Hattie, whose Christmas cheer has long since run out, it’ll take more than mince pies and mistletoe to open her heart to the season once more. Relishing the task of reigniting Hattie’s Christmas spirit, Dolly suggests they create a wish list of all the things the season can offer, and with the helpful hands of Wynbridge’s resident handyman, Beamish, Hattie finds her frosty exterior is starting to thaw.
As Wynbridge prepares for its most spectacular Christmas yet, will Hattie leave snowy England behind for life in a sunnier clime, or will she in fact realise that her heart’s desire lies much closer to home?

Firstly a big thank you to the lovely sj and team for my copy to review . Apologies in taking a while to get to but it was the perfect festive Sunday read.

I absolutely loved it!

Fantastic strong leading ladies each with a lot going on personally. But they have each other to guide them .

This will leave you feeling festive as we join their adventure to get things ticked off the wish list.

However someone has other ideas and isnt afraid to shout about them. Unfortunately i have been in Hatties shoes so could really relate.

Decisions to be made,wounds to be healed and new friendships to be made.

Perfect escapism this Christmas season.

BLOG TOUR I DARE YOU BY SAM CARRINGTON

AN INNOCENT GAME. A SHOCKING CRIME. A COMMUNITY FULL OF SECRETS.

Mapledon, 1989
Two little girls were out playing a game of dares. Only one returned home.
The ten-year-old told police what she saw: village loner Bill ‘Creepy’ Cawley dragged her friend into his truck and disappeared.
No body was found, but her testimony sent Cawley to prison for murder. An open and shut case, the right man behind bars.
The village could sleep safe once again.

Now…
Anna thought she had left Mapledon and her nightmares behind but a distraught phone call brings her back to face her past.
30 years ago, someone lied. 30 years ago, the man convicted wasn’t the only guilty party.
Now he’s out of prison and looking for revenge. The question is, who will he start with?

Firstly a big thank you to Sabah for my copy to review and having me on the tour. I have loved all of sams other books so was very excited to recieve this which arrived with a doll limb… book blogging is never dull!

The cover and title really set the tone for this book…creepy and menacing .

When history comes to bite you in the present what do you do.?

You face it head on in this case.

Tense and thrilling . Packed with twists and turns.

Absolutly loved it and certainly gave me a chill down my spine.

We know it was definitely him who was guilty..dont we?

Secrets hidden,lies told is it too late to repair the damage.

Published 12th December and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

BOOK CHRISTMAS SHOPAHOLIC BY SOPHIE KINSELLA

The brilliant laugh-out-loud festive novel from the Number One bestselling author.

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) adores Christmas. It’s always the same – Mum and Dad hosting, carols playing, Mum pretending she made the Christmas pudding, and the next-door neighbours coming round for sherry in their terrible festive jumpers.

And now it’s even easier with online bargain-shopping sites – if you spend enough you even get free delivery. Sorted!

But this year looks set to be different. Unable to resist the draw of craft beer and smashed avocado, Becky’s parents are moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch and have asked Becky if she’ll host Christmas this year. What could possibly go wrong?

With sister Jess demanding a vegan turkey, husband Luke determined that he just wants aftershave again, and little Minnie insisting on a very specific picnic hamper – surely Becky can manage all this, as well as the surprise appearance of an old boyfriend and his pushy new girlfriend, whose motives are far from clear . . .

Will chaos ensue, or will Becky manage to bring comfort and joy to Christmas?

Firstly a huge thank you to Becky and the publishers for my gorgeous copy to arrive. Which arrived with festive goodies. And apologies in my delay in reading.

I haven’t read all this series so wasnt sure if this would affect my enjoyment of the book. But i neednt have worried as i loved every page.

I devoured this tonight and was funny, uplifting and full of christmas cheer.

Becky is a excellent charactar who certainly adds her own touch to whatever she does.

This had me laughing and thinking oh my several times!

Families and christmas …not always plain sailing.

Highly recommend for a great fun festive read.

BOOK REVIEW HER HUSBAND’S SECRETS BY LOUISE MANGOS

Art college dropout Lucie arrives in a Swiss ski resort looking for work – but instead finds love in the form of the handsome and charismatic Mathieu.

Matt seems like perfect husband material – especially when Lucie discovers he’s from a wealthy family. But Matt’s dark side soon emerges. Manipulative, controlling and abusive, he is anything but perfect and will tear the life she has built for herself and their six-year-old son JP apart.

Then, one fateful night, things come to a head in the most shocking way . . .

Wrongly accused of her husband’s murder and left fighting for her freedom in a foreign prison, Lucie is starting to lose her grip on reality. Now, she must summon all her strength to uncover the truth about Matt’s death and be reunited with her son – before it’s too late.

The clock is ticking . . . but who can she trust?

Firstly a big thank you to Louise who kindly gave me a copy at capital crime in September. Sorry for delay in reading! This is her first book ive read and will definitely be reading more.

I raced through this . Told in alternate timelines so it builds up the tension to discover what happened .

Fast paced and excellently written.

Unpredictable and captures the location and atmosphere perfectly .

Gripping and thrilling this will have you hooked !

BOOK REVIEW FOUND BY ERIN KINSLEY

When 11 year old Evan vanishes without trace, his parents are plunged into their worst nightmare.
Especially as the police, under massive pressure, have no answers. But months later Evan is unexpectedly found, frightened and refusing to speak. His loving family realise life will never be the same again.

DI Naylor knows that unless those who took Evan are caught, other children are in danger. And with Evan silent, she must race against time to find those responsible…

Firstly a big thank you to headline for my copy to review. This was sent to celebrate its success after being published in July.

This is a debut book and I really enjoyed it.

Tense,unpredictable and explores family dynamics after something tragic happens.

Excellently written and has you hooked instantly. Every parents worse nightmare comes true..

The aftermath and how a family works to repair themselves .

Whizzed through this desperate to know the truth.

I look forward to reading more from this author . If you enjoy thrillers i highly recommend.

BLOG TOUR ILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BY ABBEY CLANCY

Even stars have Christmas dreams…

Popstar Jessika Malone can’t believe her luck! Not only has she signed a major record deal and is topping the charts with her latest single, she’s just been offered the chance of a lifetime: a tour with gorgeous megastar Cooper Black…

It’s everything she’s ever dreamed of – except that it means travelling thousands of miles from her boyfriend, Daniel, just when he’s finally got down on one knee and popped the question!

Far from home and followed by the paparazzi, her relationship is tested more than Jessika ever imagined – will she make it home for Christmas before it’s too late

Firstly a big thank you to hq for my copy to review and having me on the tour.

Ive not read any by this author and know her primarily from the tv .

This was a quick read , although christmas is in the title and on the cover it wasnt all about Christmas .

Looking at the highs and lows of being a celebrity . Giving us a insight into a unknown world .

Enjoyable and fun to read.

Uplifting and perfect escapism.

Published 14th November and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

BLOG TOUR BLACK SUMMER BY M.W.CRAVEN

After The Puppet Show, a new storm is coming . . .

Jared Keaton, chef to the stars. Charming. Charismatic. Psychopath . . . He’s currently serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of his daughter, Elizabeth. Her body was never found and Keaton was convicted largely on the testimony of Detective Sergeant Washington Poe.

So when a young woman staggers into a remote police station with irrefutable evidence that she is Elizabeth Keaton, Poe finds himself on the wrong end of an investigation, one that could cost him much more than his career.

Helped by the only person he trusts, the brilliant but socially awkward Tilly Bradshaw, Poe races to answer the only question that matters: how can someone be both dead and alive at the same time?

And then Elizabeth goes missing again – and all paths of investigation lead back to Poe.

Firstly a huge thanks to Beth at the publishers for my copy and having me on the tour.

I only recently discovered the greatness of this author and had the pleasure of listening to him at capital crime.

He is a amazing author and this series is one of my favourites.

Complettly addictive and unpredictable. Thought provoking and twisty with elements of gore.

You want to read to find out the truth but same time u want to treasure it .

Incredible writing and a natural storyteller.

I adore the characters and with this installment we get to know them a bit more.

You think you know the direction this is going but then it suprises you.

If you havnt read this series then treat yourself this Christmas.
I already can’t wait for the next installment.

Paperback publication is 12th December

BLOG TOUR UNEXPECTED LESSONS IN LOVE BY LUCY DILLON

What happens when ‘I do’ turns into ‘I don’t know’?
Jeannie always wanted to fall in love, and now she’s finally got the whirlwind romance she dreamed of. Dan’s gorgeous, he’s a successful young vet, and he flew her to New York and proposed on Brooklyn Bridge. Jeannie has to remind herself this is actually her life. It seems too perfect, too magical, to be real. Yet it is.
But now she’s on her way to the wedding she can’t shake off the tight sensation crushing her chest. Is it just nerves . . . or is this all happening a bit too fast?
Jeannie has one last chance to shout, ‘Stop!’ But just as she grabs it, a twist of fate throws everything she knows into the air like confetti. What Jeannie learns about Dan, about her own heart, and about the power of love itself, will change her world for ever . . .

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my gorgeous copy to review . Reading a Lucy Dillon book is always a delight so its a honour to recieve a early proof

This will be just the tonic for after christmas and the beginning of the new year.

Sprinkled with all the magic that has become accosmatedd for one of her books. A strong female lead, romance, friendships, family and of course dogs!

This is a tale of finding your own voice especially when it starts to surprise you .

Life has no guarantees and i firmly believe in listening to your gut.

Life affirming and a very enjoyable book.

Published 9th January and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.