BOOK REVIEW THE LOVE OF MY LIFE BY ROSIE WALSH

I have held you every night for ten years and I didn’t even know your name. We have a child together. A dog, a house.

Who are you?

Emma loves her husband Leo and their young daughter Ruby: she’d do anything for them. But almost everything she’s told them about herself is a lie.

And she might just have got away with it, if it weren’t for her husband’s job. Leo is an obituary writer and Emma is a well-known marine biologist, so, when she suffers a serious illness, Leo copes by doing what he knows best – reading and writing about her life. But as he starts to unravel her past, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Even her name is fictitious.

When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past life finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was . . .

But first, she must tell him about the love of her other life.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. I absolutely adored her debut under this name which I read around time of a break up so I remember it well .

This is another fantastic book that I devoured in one day.

Thought provoking and cleverly written. The complexities of life and love are explored .

What do you do when you discover your love has been lying to you ,keeping a past life hidden away.

Unpredictable and compelling.

Beautifully captures the moral dilemmas adults can face . Incredibly emotive dealing with real issues .

I wish Rosie every success with this and can definitely see it flying off the shelves this summer

Published June 23rd

BOOK REVIEW THE SECRET VOICES BY MJ WHITE

They said they’d keep me safe.

They said, ‘It’s okay, Hannah. You know you can trust me.’

They lied.

When eight-year-old Hannah Perry goes missing in the small Suffolk village of St Just, the community is rocked. Heading up the investigation is Acting DS Rob Minshull, but he’s out of his depth in a case that seems to mirror the disappearance of a young boy, seven years ago. That search ended in unimaginable tragedy…and Minshull is praying that history won’t be repeated.

But with an investigation full of dead ends, and a kidnapper taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, the young girl’s life hangs perilously in danger.

Until Dr Cora Lael enters the picture. A psychologist with a unique ability, Cora’s rare gift allows her to sense emotions attached to discarded objects. When she is shown the first of Hannah’s belongings, she hears the child’s piercing scream.

With few leads on the case, could Cora prove Hannah’s only hope? And as time runs out, can they find Hannah before history repeats itself…?

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review. This is Mirandas first deep into the crime scene away from her bestselling romance novels so I was intrigued to see the transition.

A fantastic read ,clever concept with new fresh ideas . Fast paced with twists and turns . Chilling and unpredictable as the truth is revealed.

Every parents nightmare come true when a child goes missing . Evidently those close to home become suspected . The police do not want a repeat of a historic case of child abduction so they are willing to try something new. Will it work?

Really enjoyed it and look forward to book two in this series.

Published 28th April.

BOOK REVIEW TRULY DARKLY DEEPLY BY VICTORIA SELMAN

A mind-blowing, unputdownable serial killer thriller of a very different kind – perfect for all fans of Mindhunter and Girl A

Twelve-year-old Sophie and her mother, Amelia-Rose, move to London from Massachusetts where they meet the charismatic Matty Melgren, who quickly becomes an intrinsic part of their lives. But as the relationship between the two adults fractures, a serial killer begins targeting young women with a striking resemblance to Amelia-Rose.

When Matty is eventually sent down for multiple murder, questions remain as to his guilt — questions which ultimately destroy both women. Nearly twenty years later, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison informing her Matty is dying and wants to meet. It looks like Sophie might finally get the answers she craves. But will the truth set her free — or bury her deeper?

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review.  I have heard so much love for this book so was excited to dig in .

I raced through this and loved it. Its deliciously dark and addictive as the truth is revealed chapter by chapter . Completely unpredictable and gripped me by the first page .

I can see this doing very well in summer 22 !

As someone who loves true crime books and documentaries as well asstudying psychology this ticked a few boxes for me. I felt the reader really got into the bones of this dysfunctional family . You would surely know if someone was a bad man as a kid …..right?? Maybe they have got it all wrong and he’s innocent?

This is a intense examination and insight into the lives of not just the victims but the family left behind to pick up the pieces when someone is sent to jail for heinous crimes. The impact it has on a child was excellently portrayed.

Incredibly clever and I wish her every success with this book .

Published 7th July

BOOK REVIEW WHAT HIS WIFE KNEW BY JO JAKEMAN

SORRY

The only word scribbled on a note from Beth’s husband before he disappeared.

The police believe that Oscar took his own life and this last apology was his way of saying goodbye to his wife. But Beth knows there is more to the story. As disturbing secrets about his life emerge, and the lies of those closest to her begin to unravel, she realises she never really knew her husband at all.

She wants to know what he was sorry for, and she’s going to find out… but someone doesn’t want her to discover the truth.

And they’ll do anything to stop her.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review. I really enjoyed her previous books.

This is a twisty tale finding out your husbands true colours after he dies . What do you do when everything you thought you knew is a lie?

Fast paced ,gripping and a rollercoaster of a read.

Who is telling the truth? Packed with suspense from start to finish .

Published 17th February

BOOK REVIEW WHEN OUR WORLDS COLLIDED BY DANIELLE JAWANDO

When fourteen-year-old Shaq is stabbed outside of a busy shopping centre in Manchester, three teenagers from very different walks of life are unexpectedly brought together. What follows flips their worlds upside down and makes Chantelle, Jackson, and Marc question the deep-rooted prejudice and racism that exists within the police, the media, and the rest of society.

I absolutely loved Danielle’s debut so was excited to read this. What a voice in fiction!

This was read in one afternoon as I had lots of sitting on transport happening. She is a beautiful,emotive storyteller writing about important issues.

Hard hitting ,powerful and insightful.

Its a ya book but I think everyone would enjoy and need to read this .

Made me angry ,frustrated and tearful. Her characters have stayed with me days on so it definitely impacted me.

Highly recommend and I wish her every success with this book.

Published 31st March

BOOK REVIEW THE SAFE HOUSE BY LOUISE MUMFORD

She told you the house would keep you safe. She lied.

Esther is safe in the house. For sixteen years, she and her mother have lived off the grid, protected from the dangers of the outside world. For sixteen years, Esther has never seen another single soul.

Until today.

Today there’s a man outside the house. A man who knows Esther’s name, and who proves that her mother’s claims about the outside world are false. A man who is telling Esther that she’s been living a lie.

Is her mother keeping Esther safe – or keeping her prisoner?

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review. I loved Louise’s debut last year so was looking forward to reading this.

As a parent we want to protect our kids and whatever that costs. But how far Is too far?

What happens when the truth is revealed and you are forced to question everything including your childhood.

Chilling and unnerving .

Full of suspense and secrets. Compelling and unpredictable.

Published 12th May

BOOK REVIEW THE PATIENT BY JANE SHEMILT

When Rachel, a GP in Salisbury, meets Luc, the attraction between them is instant. But Rachel is married with a daughter – and Luc isn’t well.

Despite themselves, a heady love affair begins – one that threatens to risk everything Rachel has worked for. And when someone in the town is found dead, the spotlight turns to Luc. Torn between her career, her marriage and her heart, Rachel finds herself in the middle of something much darker than she could have imagined…

A beautifully written domestic suspense story from the master of the what-if novel.

Firstly thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. I have enjoyed her previous books.

I whizzed through this.

There’s a heavy sense of foreboding as the story unfolds.

Suspense,tension and packed with twists and turns.

Who is telling the truth and who can be trusted?

Published 28th April

BOOK REVIEW PEOPLE PERSON BY CANDICE CARTY- WILLIAMS

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY…

YOU WOULDN’T CHOOSE THE PENNINGTONS.

Dimple Pennington knew of her half siblings, but she didn’t really know them. Five people who don’t have anything in common except for faint memories of being driven through Brixton in their dad’s gold jeep, and some pretty complex abandonment issues.

Dimple has bigger things to think about. She’s thirty, and her life isn’t really going anywhere. An aspiring lifestyle influencer with a terrible and wayward boyfriend, Dimple’s life has shrunk to the size of a phone screen. And despite a small but loyal following, she’s never felt more alone.

That is, until a catastrophic event brings her half siblings Nikisha, Danny, Lizzie and Prynce crashing back into her life. And when they’re all forced to reconnect with Cyril Pennington, the absent father they never really knew, things get even more complicated.

Myself like many others loved Queenie and it was the book that helped me through a break up. Such an amazing book and I even had the pleasure of meeting Candice last year . I was so excited to read this !

I read this in an afternoon which I’ve not done recently .

Thought provoking and moral questioning from the very start. What would you do in Dimples shoes?

Identity ,race mental health ,family ,love and loss are all themes explored within these pages.

Her wit ,humour and warmth shine through in her writing leaving the reader emotionally invested in the story and the characters.

Highly recommend and wish her every success with this release.

Published 28th April

BOOK REVIEW BEACH HOUSE SUMMER BY SARAH MORGAN

A marriage in the spotlight
Joanna Whitman’s high-profile marriage held more secrets than she cares to remember, so when her ex-husband dies, she doesn’t know what to feel. But when she discovers that he’s left behind a pregnant young woman, Joanna is forced to act. She knows exactly how brutal the spotlight on them both will be…unless she can find a way for them to disappear.

A beach house hideaway
Ashley Blake is amazed when Joanna suggests they lie low at her beach house in her sleepy Californian hometown. Joanna should be hating her, not helping her. But alone and pregnant, Ashley needs all the support she can find.

A summer of new beginnings
Joanna’s only goal for the summer is privacy. All Ashley wants is space to plan for her and her baby’s future. But when an old flame reappears, and secrets spill out under the hot summer sun, this unlikely friendship is put to the test

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. I’ve had the joy of reviewing a few of Sarah’s books and they are all great reads

This is a perfect beach read . Friendships old and new family ,secrets ,lies and new beginnings are all themes in this book.

Written in alternate narratives of the 2 women , both very different but with 1 man in common.

Its going to be a summer of the unexpected so where best to escape then to her hometown. But rather than escape the drama it soon follows the ladies.

Published may 26th

BOOK REVIEW ONE ITALIAN SUMMER BY REBECCA SERLE

The heartbreaking new novel from the author of the international bestseller In Five Years

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mum, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, the mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and – of course – delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears, healthy and sun-tanned… and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how – all she can focus on is that somehow, impossibly, she has her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman who came before.

But can we ever truly know our parents? Soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy and apologies in the delay .I’m catching up this week .

I loved her debut so was really intrigued when I received this.

I devoured this magical story. Set in beautiful Italy and let me tell you within this pages you are transporter there and it was a fantastic slice of escapism.

Grief,love,loss family and secrets.

This book makes you question yourself and your own viewpoint in life. What would you so if you could see someone you lost again

Beautifully written and captures the mother and daughter bond expertly.

This is the perfect summer read .

Published 1st March