BOOK REVIEW SEVEN LIES BY ELIZABETH KAY

It all started with one little lie . . .

Jane and Marnie have been inseparable since they were eleven years old. They have a lot in common. In their early twenties they both fell in love and married handsome young men.

But Jane never liked Marnie’s husband. He was always so loud and obnoxious, so much larger than life. Which is rather ironic now, of course.

Because if Jane had been honest – if she hadn’t lied – then perhaps her best friend’s husband might still be alive . . .

This is Jane’s opportunity to tell the truth, the question is:
Do you believe her

This is a debut novel that has been high on my radar of must reads of 2020. It didnt dissapoint.

A story on friendship,love,loss and toxic obsession to add to the mix.

A completely unreliable narrator that you cant help but relate to in some ways.

You can sense the suffocation and claustrophobia of their friendship .

Brilliantly written ,unpredictable and chilling.

Highly recommend for fans of the girl on the train .

BOOK REVIEW THE HEATWAVE BY KATERINA DIAMOND

One summer. One stranger. One killer…

Two bad things happened that summer:
A stranger arrived. And the first girl disappeared.

In the wake of the crime that rocked her community, Felicity fled, knowing more than she let on.

But sixteen years later, her new life is shattered by the news that a second girl has gone missing in her hometown.

Now Felicity must go back, to face the truth about what happened all those years ago.

Only she holds the answers – and they’re more shocking than anyone could imagine.

The heatwave is back. And so is the killer.

Firstly a big thank you to Avon for approving my request to read on netgalley. I am a huge fan of Katerinas books so was excited to read her first standalone thriller!
It didnt dissapoint and this will be a roaring success.

Fast paced and completly unpredictable.

Will have you hooked straight away.

Chilling yet steamy as set in a blistering heatwave. Atmospheric writing that captures these elements and transports you there.

Relatable characters and we all have skeletons in our closets dont we?

Highly recommend whether you are new to her books or a loyal fan.

Published June 25th

BOOK REVIEW ONE IN THREE BY TESS STIMSON

Both of them loved him. One of them killed him . . .

Louise has had to watch her husband, Andrew, start a new family in the four years since he left her. The ‘other woman’ is now his wife – but Louise isn’t ready to let Caz enjoy the life that was once hers, or to let go of the man she still loves.

As Louise starts to dig into Caz’s past, the two women’s pretence of civility starts to slip. But in trying to undermine each other, they discover more about the man they both married.

And when Andrew is murdered at a family party, both women are found standing over the body.

It’s always the wife. But which one?

Firstly a big thank you to Avon for accepting my request to read on netgalley.

This book is amazing! I highly recommend if you like your thrillers twisty and unpredictable.

This had so many twists and turns it was like a rollercoaster ride . Written with layers that keep unravelling right up to the last page.

Toxic characters equal addictive reading !

A dark read that gets darker and captivates you to read on.

Cleverly written and plotted.

Published 6th August

BLOG TOUR HOLD YOUR BREATH BY B.P. WALTER

Kitty Marchland has always known that her family aren’t like others. But when her father uproots them to a remote cottage in the woods, she realises that her parents are keeping secrets from her – secrets that could unravel everything.
Years later, Kitty starts to question what really happened out in the forest. When the police revisit a suspicious death, she must examine her most painful memories – and this time theres nowhere to hide.

Firstly a big thank you to Avon for having me on the tour. I loved this authors debut so was excited to read this.

Disturbing and complex this is a dark tale . What happens when secrets threaten to be exposed?

Kitty has a unusual childhood and she doesnt quite see this till she is older.

A chilling tale of mental illness,family drama and a unconventional upbringing.

Written in alternate timelines,Kitty as a child and one as a adult. This keeps the story fresh and fast paced.

Published 16th April and do check out the other blogs taking part in the tour.

BOOK REVIEW MY DARK VANESSA BY KATE ELIZABETH RUSSELL

An era-defining novel about the relationship between a fifteen-year-old girl and her teacher

ALL HE DID WAS FALL IN LOVE WITH ME AND THE WORLD TURNED HIM INTO A MONSTER

Vanessa Wye was fifteen-years-old when she first had sex with her English teacher.

She is now thirty-two and in the storm of allegations against powerful men in 2017, the teacher, Jacob Strane, has just been accused of sexual abuse by another former student.

Vanessa is horrified by this news, because she is quite certain that the relationship she had with Strane wasn’t abuse. It was love. She’s sure of that.

Forced to rethink her past, to revisit everything that happened, Vanessa has to redefine the great love story of her life – her great sexual awakening – as rape. Now she must deal with the possibility that she might be a victim, and just one of many.

This has been on my radar for a long while and had heard a lot of praise about it. I was delighted to get my waterstones signed copy.

That was my day today to read this, and whilst i devoured it i also had to pause several times. This is not easy read,but its a important one.

Written from the view of vanessa in 2 timelines we get a clear insight into both a victim and a confused young woman.

There are bits that make for challenging reading but while this is fiction there are many real cases out there.

This is a powerful book that will get people talking and thinking. Horrific yet compelling , this is a fantastic debut.

BOOK REVIEW MY ONE TRUE NORTH BY MILLY JOHNSON

Laurie and Pete should never have met.
But fate has pushed them together for a reason.

Six months ago, on the same night, Laurie and Pete both lost their partners.
Struggling to manage the grief, they join the same counselling group – and meet each other.

From their sadness, Pete and Laurie find happiness growing and they sense a fresh new beginning.
Except, the more they talk, the more they begin to spot the strange parallels in their stories.
Then Pete discovers a truth that changes everything.

But, as surely as a compass points north, some people cannot be kept apart.

My One True North is a story of friendship and what love means, of secrets uncovered, teashops on corners and the northern lights.

Millys books are like a hot drink on a cold day and she is a delight in person to.

I inhaled this and absolutely loved it. Romantic,uplifting, albeit the story starts with sadness. Moments of humour and warmth run throughout.

Great charactars that you instantly connect to. Pete the fireman was fun to read so i can only imagine how fun he was to create.

I believe in fate and i loved the direction this story took.

Can they overcome their grief and find a light at the end of the tunnel.

This was the right tonic for a long day. If you are yet to read one of millys books …where have you been and go and read!

BOOK REVIEW THE STORM BY AMANDA JENNINGS

To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it’s a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him? Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she’s told.

But the past is about to catch up with them.

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a Cornish fishing port in the ‘90s, this is a devastating exploration of the power of coercive control in a marriage where nothing is quite as it seems…

Firstly a big thank you to Hq for approving my request to read this on netgalley. Amanda is one of my favourite authors who ive had the pleasure of reviewing for years . Ive also met her and shes lovely… not sure how she writes such darkness!

I had trouble sleeping so inhaled this.. its so good.

Incredibly clever insight into a toxic marriage . Speaking from someone who lived through one its written accurately .You can feel the suffocation shes feeling through the pages.

Addictive reading that will get under your skin.

This is thought provoking,tense and chilling.

Amanda is a fantastic writer and i wish her every success with this book.

Published 23rd July

BOOK REVIEW FIFTY FIFTY BY STEVE CAVANAGH

Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other.
Who do YOU believe?

‘911 what’s your emergency?’

‘My dad’s dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.’

‘My dad’s dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.’

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one?

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

I devoured this tonight, its amazing

Slick,sinister in parts and completely addictive.

Cleverly written and will have you changing your mind who you think is guilty .

Fast paced and you will race through it to find the truth.

Unpredictable and compelling i highly recommend this.

Published 9th July

BOOK REVIEW ONE MOMENT BY LINDA GREEN

Finn and Kaz are about to meet for the first time…
Ten-year-old Finn, a quirky, sensitive boy who talks a lot and only eats at cafes with a 5-star hygiene rating, is having a tough time at school and home.
Outspoken Kaz, 59, who has an acerbic sense of humour and a heart of gold, is working at the café when Finn and his mum come in.
They don’t know it yet, but the second time they meet will be a moment which changes both of their lives forever . . .

Im a big fan of Lindas books so was excited to read this.

This is a excellent book,written with warmth and humanity.

Ive gone through similar situation regarding welfare benefits assesment and Linda has captured it sensitively and accurately. And i thanked her for giving us a voice.

This is told in alternate narratives of a unlikeky friendship and written before and after . We only find out what the event is towards the end. This enables the focus to be on the characters rather than the event .

Heartwarming and uplifting albeit sad in places.

Two charactars both going through difficult times but through their friendship these can he overcome.

I loved this book and as a mum to two autistic children Finn was a joy to connect with.

BOOK REVIEW PRECIOUS YOU BY HELEN MONKS TAKHAR

She’s got your job. She wants your life…

At first Katherine dismisses her early-twenties intern as a millennial ‘snowflake’: entitled, moralistic, soft. Yet as Lily’s youth and beauty increasingly remind Katherine of everything she once had, she begins to develop a dark fascination with her new colleague.

But is Lily as perfect as she seems, or does she have a sinister hidden agenda? As Katherine is drawn into an obsessive power struggle with the intern, a disturbing picture emerges of two women hiding dark secrets – and who are desperate enough to do anything to come out on top…

Well well i have been eyeing this proof up for months! Its hot pink and just was screaming to be read. So i was ecstatic to not only meet the author, listen to her pitch about her book but get a copy!

Today in between doing what needed doing i devoured this and now im lost to how to articulate my thoughts.

It was insanely good and i guarantee this will be huge and everywhere!

It reels you in instantly.

She does not mess about when it comes to toxic femake relationships. This had it all.

I was almost scared at some points but had to carry on.

This blew me away.

Thought provoking,shocking and a head fuck.

We have all been in some tricky situations but this just amplified it and was a amazing intoxicating journey of emotions .

Just wow!

You think you know where its going then boom…

I cant wait to see what she writes mect but take my word this is the debut thriller you didnt know you needed.

Published 11th June