Tuesday 8 December 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - New to Me Authors in 2015

Today I decided to join in with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and The Bookish, its being a long time since I complied a bookish Top Ten and felt this week's list was the perfect one to jump back in with: Top Ten New to Me Authors in 2015. Now at least half of what I've read this year has been new to me authors but I have found some real favourites who are now on my must-read list.
Silent Scream (D.I. Kim Stone, #1)  Evil Games (D.I. Kim Stone, #2) Lost Girls (D.I. Kim Stone, #3)

1. Angela Marsons: this woman's writing is superb and I've loved all three of her D.I. Stone novels that she has written this year and am looking forward to more in 2016


Three Amazing Things About You
2. Jill Mansell: I'm very sad to admit that I've never picked up a Jill Mansell novel before despite being a huge chick-lit reader. Three Amazing Things About You changed that, it was just amazing in every way and has opened up a whole new love. Luckily for me Jill has written quite a few novels so I've plenty more gems to discover in her back catalogue.

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance
3. Kirsty Greenwood: The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance was just brilliant and the main character Jess Beam just had me laughing all the way through. I have Yours Truly her first novel on my tbr pile so hopefully it won't be sat there too long.

The Tea Planter's Wife
4. Dinah Jefferies: The Tea Planter's Wife was such a beautifully written novel and I loved how the story unfolded. I'm so looking forward to her next read The Merchant's Daughter which is out in February.

The Waiting Game
5. Jessica Thompson: The Waiting Game was beautiful, such a heart-breaking novel. Will pick up another book by her when I want an emotional read.

Christmas Ever After
6. Sarah Morgan: I've just finished reading Christmas Ever After and I adored it, love the characters, the setting, the plot, everything was perfect. I need to read more from this lady very soon.

Secrets of the Tower
7. Debbie Rix : The Secrets of the Tower was a ready good read with a dual narrative full of mystery and romance. I really hope this lady writes more in the future.

A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother Misadventures of a Playground Mother
8. Christie Barlow: I read both of Christie's novels back to back in September and enjoyed the comedy in both of them. Looking forward to her new novel Kitty's Countryside Dream which is out in February

What Would Mary Berry Do?
9. Claire Sandy: Loved What Would Mary Berry Do? and am hoping to read her other two novels before too long.

A Proper Family Holiday
10. Chrissie Manby: I've just finished the first Proper Family book and am eager to start the next one as this family just captured my heart. Will enjoy going back and reading her previous novels next year.

So that's my list, are any of these favourites of yours? Pop over to The Broke and the Bookish and have a look at other people's lists.

Joanne x

Monday 7 December 2015

The Girls from See Saw Lane by Sandy Taylor

The Girls from See Saw Lane: A novel of friendship, love and tragedy in 1960s Brighton (Brighton Girls Trilogy Book #1))

Published: 4th December 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 350
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
Brighton 1963. Mary Pickles and I walked along the street with our arms linked, looking in shop windows. We were best friends and together we were invincible.

Dottie and Mary forged a friendship over a bag of penny sweets when they were eight years old. They’ve shared everything together since then – the highs and lows of school, family dramas, hopes and dreams and now, at seventeen, they’re both shop girls, working at Woolworths.

As they go out in the world in pursuit of love and happiness, the simplicity of their childhood dissolves as life becomes more complicated. The heady excitement of first love will consume them both, but the pain of unintentional betrayal will test their friendship in ways neither of them could ever imagine…

A charming, heart-
breaking and ultimately uplifting novel which brings a bygone era vividly to life.

Review
The Girls of See Saw Lane by Sandy Taylor tells the tale of Dottie and Mary, who’ve been best friends since age seven when Mary moved onto See Saw Lane. This is a tale of friendship, betrayal, romance, growing up and tragedy, it’s a story which seems so ordinary yet it is so well written that it will totally absorb you and capture your heart.
Both main characters Dottie and Mary are very likeable and although very different they have the kind of close friendship many of can be envious of. Mary is a dreamer and artistic and she longs to travel the world and attend art school in Paris. She infatuated with bad boy Elton and longs for him to whisk her away from Brighton. Dottie is the more sensible one, she enjoys her job at “Woolies” and all she really wants in life is to get married and have her own family, but she’s happy to follow along with Mary and her dreams.
When their friendship suffers the ultimate betrayal can they survive? Can one girl get over the betrayal and forgive her friend or can she move on and make a life on her own? What does the future hold for these two girls?
I loved the descriptions of life for the girls in 1960s Brighton, their work in “Woolies” where they encounter the latest make-up, to the record shop where they listened to their latest rock and roll heroes, to the chips the bought on the pier. It really made me feel like I was there with them experiencing everything.
I loved this novel so much, even though it’s probably the most heart-breaking story I’ve read all year. It left me sad but in a good way and I’m eager to read the next book “Counting Chimneys” to see what happens next.
I’d like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy and rate this heart-breaking and beautifully written novel 5/5.

Thursday 3 December 2015

Bella's Christmas Bake Off by Sue Watson

Bella's Christmas Bake Off

Published: 22nd October 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 314
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
Two best friends. One big lie. The best bake off EVER. Bella Bradley is the queen of television baking - a national treasure. Her Christmas specials have been topping the ratings for years and her marriage to Peter 'Silver Fox' Bradley is the stuff of Hello magazine specials. But this year things are going to be different. For Amy Lane, Bella's best friend from school, life hasn't held quite the same sparkle. And when Amy's husband walks out three weeks from Christmas, it seems their lives are further apart than ever. Amy has watched Bella's rise to fame fondly, despite the fact Bella was always a terrible cook. But when she realises that Bella's latest Christmas book is made up entirely of Amy's mother's recipes, the gloves are off... After winning a competition to appear on Bella's TV show, Amy is going to make sure that for Bella and her viewers, this will definitely be a Christmas to remember... A hilarious, heart-breaking and feel good read about best friends, baking and the magic of Christmas.

Review
After devouring Sue’s last Christmas book I was eager to read her next one and Bella’s Christmas Bake Off has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas read for me. It was full of laugh out loud moments, entertaining characters, madcap plotlines all topped off with a sprinkling of glitz and glamour.
Amy Lane has just been left by her husband of twenty years for a younger, more flexible woman just weeks before Christmas. She’s gutted as she loves Christmas with all its trimmings and all the extra baking. In order to sooth her broken heart Amy switches on to watch her former childhood friend Bella Bradley serve up the perfect Christmas on her television show Bella’s Christmas Bake-Off. As she watches Amy notices that Bella is using recipes that Amy is very familiar with…because they were her mum’s.
In her anger Amy decides to enter Bella’s competition to win a Christmas cooked by Bella. When she wins Amy forces Bella to cook for the local homeless shelter St. Swithins or she’ll go public about Bella’s recipe stealing. When these two meet after twenty years the sparks fly but Amy begins to realise to how lucky she has been after the sparkly veneer of Bella’s life is peeled away.
Like her previous novels Sue has created characters that we can easy relate to because they’re not perfect! Amy is a little over-weight, she doesn’t make the best of her appearance and she’s jealous of what she believes Bella has, she does however have a caring side which makes her very likable. Although Bella appears to have the wonderful polished life that we can all lust after, once the cameras have gone away there is a very different and lonely woman left behind whose longing for friendship, this made her a very vulnerable and for me made a more likable.
I loved all the references to celebrity chefs such as Mary Berry and Nigella and the food! Oh my goodness, I don’t think it’s possible to read a Sue Watson book without having something to nibble on as the food descriptions are just delicious!
Bella’s Christmas Bake-Off is a book full of humour and comedy moments but by including the homeless shelter Sue has a given it a more serious element and this perfectly portrays the Christmas message that it’s not how much you have at Christmas that makes it special but who you share it with. The scenes from the homeless shelter felt really Christmassy to me when everyone came together to make the big Christmas dinner and these made the book all the more enjoyable.
This book is full of fun and Christmas spirit and I feel it would be the prefect book to read on Christmas Eve, providing of course you’ve stuffed your turkey and prepped your sprouts!
I’d like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book, I really enjoyed it and would rate it 4 out of 5.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

How to Stuff up Christmas by Rosie Blake

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Published: 5th November 2015
Publisher: Corvus
Pages: 324
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
'Tis the season to be jolly. Unless you've found an intimate picture of another woman on your fiance's phone...

Eve is heartbroken after discovering her fiance is cheating on her. Being surrounded by the joys of Christmas is more than Eve can bear, so she chooses to avoid the festivities by spending Christmas alone on a houseboat in Pangbourne. Eve gets an unexpected seasonal surprise when handsome local vet Greg comes to her rescue one day, and continues to visit Eve's boat on a mission to transform her from Kitchen Disaster Zone to Culinary Queen.

But where does Greg keep disappearing to? What does Eve's best friend Daisy know that she isn't telling? And why is there an angry goose stalking Eve's boat?

A hilarious and heart-warming novel about Christmas, catastrophes and cooking, containing exclusive Christmas recipes, from the talented Rosie Blake.

Review
How to Stuff up Christmas is the first book I’ve read by Rosie Blake. She is an author I’ve been wanting a read for quite a while and this book, which is her second novel, more than lived up to my expectations for being a funny and engaging read.
Heartbroken Eve is not looking forward to Christmas one bit. Last year it was perfect, her boyfriend Liam had proposed on Christmas morning and Eve had been overjoyed. This year she’s single after finding out Liam was cheating on her and she wants to avoid all reminders of last year. So she books herself on a pottery course and goes to stay on a houseboat for a few weeks in December. While staying on the houseboat the village of Pangbourne and its residents….including a very handsome vet start to make their way into Eve’s heart.
The first thing I loved about this was book was the cover, it’s so sparkly and festive and really put me in the Christmas mood, plus I love anything to do with gingerbread men!
I instantly liked Eve, she says and does exactly what she thinks and is very funny. I loved that she did what many of us do after break-ups, wallow in pj’s for days on end, avoid anything that serves as a reminder and clings onto things of the lost partner, even if we don’t really want them…poor Marmite it wasn’t his fault! I also loved that when she made decision to do something she went and did it.  
I loved the way the plot flowed easy and was filled with some brilliant, witty and very honest dialogue. The opening chapter with Eve chatting to her parents was hilarious and one of the best first chapters I’ve read in a long-time.
One thing I wasn’t so keen on was that a couple of scenes were repeated from Eve and Greg’s perspective’s, right down to the same dialogue and I just found this a little too repetitive and distracted from an otherwise hilarious and addictive plot.
I loved the number of mysteries that were in this book. Where does Greg keep running off too? Who is the woman on Liam’s phone? What is Daisy hiding? And what’s with that goose!
I found How to Stuff up Christmas to be a very funny read with lovely likable characters and although it doesn’t scream Christmas it will definitely put you in the mood for some mulled wine and turkey.
I’d like to thank Corvus for sending me a copy to review and would rate this book 4/5.

Monday 23 November 2015

The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

The Little Bookshop on the Seine

The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin
Published: 16th October 2015
Publisher: Carina UK
Available on Kindle

Blurb
Le Vie En Rose

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris? Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Picturing days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping cafĂ© au laits and people-watching on the Champs-Elysees Sarah boards the plane. But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

Review
Once again Rebecca Raisin has manged to charm and enchant us with another brilliant story. The Little Book Shop on the Seine is Rebecca’s first novel which has partly being set away from her lovely town of Ashford. In this book Sarah, owner of The Bookshop on the Corner agrees to a six month book swap with her online friend Sophie who runs Once Upon a Time in Paris.
Sarah heads off believing that Paris will be just as romantic as it is in her books and is hoping to spend some much needed quality time with boyfriend Ridge. However things don’t turn out quite the way she expected and she finds things fairly tough going.
The Little Bookshop on the Seine seems to be a more serious and realistic novel from Rebecca, the characters in this novel aren’t all warm and cosy like the residents of Ashford and I enjoyed this new direction Rebecca has taken. Some of the characters in this book are snappy and rude such as Beatrice and I really enjoyed wondering what exactly her problem was.
Life in Once Upon a Time is busy, disorderly and at times too much for Sarah to deal with after the peace and quiet of her own shop. In this book we see her character develop as she gains more confidence, stands up for herself and takes control of the Parisian shop for Sophie.
As with her previous novels Rebecca has done a fantastic job of creating beautiful scenes from her wonderful descriptions of places in Paris. I loved visiting Anouk in her antique shop and all the quaint hidden little places Oceane introduced Sarah too. One of my favourite scenes was when Oceane took Sarah out for lunch and ordered her steak tartare, I think I would have acted exactly as Sarah did!
I did find that this wasn’t quite as Christmassy as I expected and for that reason I’m glad I’ve read it as one of my first Christmas reads this year. Christmas is only really featured in the last few chapters of the book. However it does do a wonderful have a lovely wintery glow about it, making it perfect to read in front of log fires with hot chocolate and start your Christmas dreams.
As with all previous Rebecca Raisin novels I loved everything about this book. I loved that Rebecca has given us a little bit more depth and mystery to her story but still kept that warm and cosy feeling at the heart of her writing. Although this follows on from previous novels it can be read completely as a stand-alone and make total sense. Definitely a book to add to your winter reading this year, I rate it 5 out 5!
Thank you to Carina UK and Netgalley for my review copy.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

The Winter Wedding by Abby Clements

The Winter Wedding

Published: 5th November 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 305
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
Hazel never set out to be a wedding planner. She was just helping her stressed sister Lila with cakes and décor for her big day. But when Lila and Ollie's summer ceremony is a runaway success, with guests raving about the food and styling at the pretty venue, word about Hazel's expertise soon spreads.

But Hazel's clients expect the very best - she's promised lawyers Gemma and Eliot a snow-covered castle in the Scottish Highlands, and laidback couple Josh and Sarah a bohemian beach wedding in a Caribbean paradise. But as weather, in-laws and wilful brides conspire against her, can Hazel get two very different couples to walk up two very different aisles to say 'I do'? And will she find her own happy ending if she does?

Review
Despite having a number of Abby Clements books on my bookshelf, The Winter Wedding is the first one I’ve read. I’ve been waiting for this to be released for months since I spied it on a trawl through Amazon, for me it has one of my favourite things to read about weddings!
In The Winter Wedding we meet Hazel and her twin sister Lila. For years they have done everything together but as they’ve grown up Lila’s been spending more and more time with boyfriend Ollie until the inevitable happens and they become engaged. Dissatisfied with her work life Hazel steps in to help out as wedding planner and after the wedding turns out to be a huge success Hazel finds herself with a few more clients and a new direction in life.
Hazel was such a lovely character, she’s always looking out for her sister Lila, helping her boss Emma more than she should and seems to have everyone’s best interests at heart. I loved that her creativity was admired through the weddings she had planned as I felt it gave her a confidence boost to go after what she really wanted.
All the characters in this book are lovely but I think my favourite had to be Amber, she just seemed to be the perfect flat-mate for Hazel and I’m glad that events in the book didn’t come between them as they possibly could have. I’d love to be a taster for her cakes!
This was a lovely gentle read which flowed at good pace making for a quick easy read.  Although it’s not the most in depth book but I really enjoyed it. I think it’s the perfect book this winter and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Abby Clements.
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for providing me with a review copy. I’d like to rate The Winter Wedding by Abby Clements 5/5.

Tuesday 17 November 2015

The Love Dectective by Alexandra Potter

The Love Detective

Published: 2nd January 2014
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 359
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
"People always ask me what kind of books I write and I guess you'd call them love stories, but I also think of them as mysteries. After all, what makes two people fall in love? I've written three novels on the topic and I'm still looking for the answers.

In a way, I'm a bit of a love detective. Because what's a greater mystery than love?"

Ruby Miller has lost her faith in love. In an effort to forget her cheating ex and clear her writer's block, she joins her sister for a week's holiday in India... and embarks on an extraordinary adventure.

Swept up on a magical mystery tour, amid silks and spices, palaces and weddings, Ruby investigates different stories of love lost and found.

But will a romance of her own remain always out of reach? Or can she find her happy ever after?

Review
Alexandra Potter is an author whose previous books I have loved, they are full of romance and quirky female characters that you just can’t help but fall for and they all seem to have that added bit of sparkle which makes them special. The Love Detective is the first book in a new series, but it can be read completely as a stand-alone novel.
Ruby Miller a romance writer who puts sparkle and romance into her novels. Until now, she’s just found out her fiancĂ© has been cheating on her and Ruby’s faith in love has been lost. So when little sister Amy invites Ruby to join her out in Goa Ruby packs her bags and heads to India. All is perfect at the blissful beachside yoga resort until Amy goes missing, on the day they are both due home. Ruby being the protective sensible older sister embarks on a journey across India to find Amy and bring her home. What starts as a journey to find Amy turns into a journey for Ruby to find herself again among the magic of India.
I have to confess I did nearly give up on reading this book after a few chapters, I just wasn’t engaging in the story for some reason. It wasn’t until after around page 100 that I became hooked. I think initially the story seemed a little flat as Ruby was predominantly by herself and the dialogue with other characters was very minimal. However when Ruby meets Jack on the train something caught my interest and I couldn’t put his down.
I loved Ruby as a character, she’s full of romance ideals, more than a little clumsy and is fiercely loyal to her sister Amy, who I actually found quite self-absorbed.
I loved the chemistry between Ruby and Jack, initially they don’t hit it off and their conversations are mostly bickering it was easy to see the spark between them, they made for an enjoyable and funny read.
India has never really been a country which I’ve longed to visit, but through the writing I can sense it must be a really special place. Every place visited Ruby’s visit has been brought to life perfectly and I really felt a sense of the colours and aromas of the county, well done Ms Potter for capturing the essence of India so completely.
After a wonderful journey with many twists and turns Ms. Potter’s signature magical element helps to bring this story to the perfect, if not predictable ending. Fans of Alexandra’s previous books will adore this book as it has her same magical, romantic style. If your pick this up and struggle a bit with the beginning, please don’t put this book down as you will miss out on a wonderful story. I give this book 4/5.

Thursday 12 November 2015

The Liar's Chair by Rebecca Whitney

The Liar's Chair

Published: 15th January 2015 (Hardback)
Publisher: Mantle
Pages: 305
Available in Hardback, Paperback and Kindle
Order now from Amazon

Blurb
Rachel Teller and her husband David appear happy, prosperous and fulfilled. The big house, the successful business . . . They have everything.

However, control, not love, fuels their relationship and David has no idea his wife indulges in drunken indiscretions. When Rachel kills a man in a hit and run, the meticulously maintained veneer over their life begins to crack.

Destroying all evidence of the accident, David insists they continue as normal. Rachel though is racked with guilt and as her behaviour becomes increasingly self-destructive she not only inflames David's darker side, but also uncovers her own long-suppressed memories of shame. Can Rachel confront her past and atone for her terrible crime? Not if her husband has anything to do with it . . .

A startling, dark and audacious novel set in and around the Brighton streets, The Liar's Chair will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page has been turned. A stunning psychological portrait of a woman in a toxic marriage, Rebecca Whitney's debut will show that sometimes the darkest shadow holds the truth you have been hiding from.

Review
The Liars Chair by Rebecca Whitney tells the story of Rachel and David Teller. On the outside it appears these two have everything, a big house filled with top of the range furniture, expensive cars and a successful business. However both are hiding things from each other and when Rachel is involved with a hit and run that kills a man the cracks in their marriage begin to appear as they both struggle to keep control.

Rachel and David were both horrible characters. Rachel seems to be void of any emotions towards others. Although she showed a little remorse towards the man she ran over it was purely because it affected her own life. She also shows no real affection towards Will, the man she has been having an affair with for over two years, it just came across that she’s use him whenever she wanted a distraction from her controlling marriage. David was just a vile, some of the things he does to Rachel just because of a little mistake are just horrendous. I almost felt sorry for Rachel being married to David, but not quite.

I found that the writing style of this book was very descriptive but didn’t actually seem to explain what was going on, honestly I was quite bored reading it and almost gave up a couple of times. I kept reading purely waiting for the moment something thrilling and intense would happen, sadly this never came.

I did enjoy the first three chapters, the description of the accident and Rachel’s feelings towards were good and I was expecting this to continue throughout the book, sadly it seemed to go downhill from there. I didn’t like the ending, I felt it was just too easy to write it that way and there didn’t seem to be any conclusion as to why anything had happened and what the chapters relating to Rachel’s childhood were really all about. 

I was really disappointed after reading this as I was expecting a really intense and gripping look at the marriage relationship and the fall-out from the accident, however for me it was just lacking. If you like horrible rich people acting horribly to each other with no real redemption then you may enjoy this.

I’m giving this book 2/5 stars, one star for the beginning and one star for Will who seemed to have some feelings towards others.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me this to review, sadly it’s not for me.

Monday 9 November 2015

Lost Girls by Angela Marsons'

Lost Girls (D.I. Kim Stone, #3)

Published: 6th November 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 359
Available in Paperback and on Kindle


Blurb
Two girls go missing. Only one will return.
The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.

When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.

And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.

Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour…

Untangling a dark web of secrets from the families’ past might hold the key to solving this case. But can Kim stay alive long enough to do so? Or will someone’s child pay the ultimate price?

Review
Lost Girls is Angela Marsons’ third instalment in the D.I. Stone series and I think it might just be my favourite so far. Just like her previous two novels Silent Scream and Evil Games Angela has written a fast-paced and gripping story which will have you on the edge of your seat, your nerves in tatters and physically unable to put that book down!

This time the case involves two young girls who have been kidnapped and a bidding war is instigated between the two families, the incentive being whichever family pays the most will see their little girl again, the other won’t. The case mirrors an earlier case where only one of the girls was returned safely. As Kim is put in charge of this high profile case she promises to deliver both girls home…alive.

As Kim and her team set up home in one of the families’ homes they are joined by two additional members, profiler Alison and negotiator Matt. In true Kim style she doesn’t let them settle in easily and there is a lot of verbal sparring between them as Kim struggles with the pressure to deliver a result as time slowly runs out. Being located in the home of one of the families also gave an insight into the way the two couples reacted to each other as time when on, the emotions and dialogue between them was just fascinating to read and very believable.

Aside from the main case we begin to learn more about D.S. Kevin Dawson as Kim sends him off on his own to tie up an old case. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Dawson and his background as it made Kim’s team feel even more real. I hope in the next novel we can learn more about Stacey and what makes her tick.

As the story unfolded I began to have a feeling for who I thought was the perpetrator and…boom...how wrong I was! The last few chapters of this novel built up into an utterly amazing and nail-biting conclusion, one which I totally didn’t see coming and completely threw me as I thought, aww Angela has done it again! Her plots just get better and better and the realism of it all has me in awe as everything always comes together in such a clever way.

I think 2015 has been a fantastic year for Angela Marsons’ she has delivered three outstanding crime novels and seems to have become a firm favourite with many crime readers. She has definitely become my favourite crime writer and one which I know will produce some must-read novels of 2016. Well done Angela, I am a huge fan of your utterly brilliant addictive writing and please, please don’t stop writing!!
Finally I’d like to say I give Lost Girls 5/5….it really deserves many more! I’d also like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy, it has been a pleasure to read and review

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Evil Games by Angela Marsons

Evil Games (D.I. Kim Stone, #2)

Evil Games ( D.I. Stone #2) by Angela Marsons
Published: 29th May 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 384
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
The greater the Evil, the more deadly the game…
When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work.

With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment.

Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal.

Review
After reading and been totally blown away by Angela Marsons’ first DI Stone novel Silent Scream I was eager to read her second novel Evil Games and it didn’t disappoint, it’s another highly addictive and fast paced read which I thoroughly enjoyed. 
In Evil Games DI Stone and her team are investigating an ongoing child abuse case alongside the recent brutal stabbing of a rapist. As other crimes are committed Kim feels there is a connection between them, her colleagues disagree but as the name Dr Alexandra Thorne keeps cropping up Kim can’t let that niggle in her gut go. As she investigates on her own Kim comes face to face with a dangerous sociopath and as Kim faces her deepest fears…can she outwit her strongest adversary yet?
Wow, just like Angela’s first crime thriller this was addictive from the very first page and had me hooked until the end. There were so many plot twists and turns that kept me totally absorbed, making for a fairly quick read. The short chapters and Angela’s excellent action packed writing style helped this book to flow brilliantly. One thing I really loved was that the last sentence of each chapter seemed to add more clues to the case and was like a mini cliff-hanger urging me to keep reading.
In Alexandra Thorne Angela has created a truly despicable and unsettling character, reading about her was so intriguing. Just like Kim I felt that niggle that she wasn’t quite as charming as she first appeared and as we learnt more about her and her mind games she just made me shudder. Well done to Angela for creating such a brilliant character.
Another thing I loved about Evil Games was that we learnt a lot more about Kim’s background which really made like her more as a character. Although we learn more about why she is so harsh and closed off to emotions it was nice that with the introduction of Barney the dog there is hope for Kim to form relationships in the future, something to look forward too maybe?
Evil Games was a brilliant read, written in the same addictive style as Silent Scream and as a follow it’s just as good as the first one. So looking forward to reading the next book Lost Girls and really hoping Angela will continue to write this wonderful series.
Thank you so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy, I give Evil Games a massive 5 out 5 and urge anyone who hasn’t read this to do so now, you won’t regret it.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic to the Rescue

Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
Published: 22nd October 2015
Publisher: Bantam Press (Transworld)
Pages: 320
Available in Hardback and on Kindle

Blurb
To Las Vegas . . . and beyond!

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is on a major rescue mission! Hollywood was full of surprises, and now she's on a road trip to Las Vegas to help her friends and family.

She's determined to get to the bottom of why her dad has mysteriously disappeared, help her best friend Suze and even bond with long-time enemy Alicia Bitch Long-legs (maybe...).

As Becky discovers just how much her friends and family need help, she comes up with her biggest, boldest, most brilliant plan yet! So can she save the day just when they need her most?

Review
Shopaholic to the Rescue is the much anticipated next book from Sophie Kinsella, a direct follow on from Shopaholic to the Stars ( I believe, I have to confess I have not read this one yet…its somewhere in my book pile) which sees Becky and the gang head off to Vegas in search of Becky’s missing dad, Tarquin and Bryce. Can Becky save the day and find her missing dad as well as patching things up with best friend Suze?

As this book follows on from a cliff-hanger ending from the last book it took me a few chapters to work out exactly what had gone on in the previous book, although it didn’t take long to feel the familiarity of the main characters once again. I loved been back in amongst one of Becky’s madcap plans and this one is probably one of the more extreme, chasing round America looking for her dad’s old friends in order to find her dad and gain justice for Brent (one of the old friends).

As with previous Shopaholic books there are some extremely funny moments, my favourite from this book was Minnie riding round the rodeo ring on a sheep, I loved it!

 I did feel however that this doesn’t have that Becky magic from earlier books. Becky seems to have grown a little in maturity in her thinking and actions, especially towards shopping, which was good for her but took her away from the Becky I know and love.

Shopaholic to the Rescue has tied up all the loose ends from the previous book and for me it feels like a natural place for the Shopaholic series to come to an end. I will treasure the Shopaholic books for a long time but I would love to see Sophie Kinsella write more stand-alone novels as The Un-domestic Goddess and I’ve Got Your Number? are a couple of my all-time favourite books and I’d love more like them.

I don’t think this is the best Shopaholic book and if you’re new to the series I don’t think it’s the easiest one to start with as there are a lot of characters to get your head round, once you do however you will love them. It’s an enjoyable book which made me laugh all the way through and it’s the prefect light hearted read.

I like to give Shopaholic to the Rescue 4 out of 5 stars and would like to thank the team at Transworld for sending me a copy to review.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Summer Fling and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson

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Published: 3rd July 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages:308
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
Dance like nobody’s watching. Love like you’ll never get hurt…
Laura Watkin’s heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it.

After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura’s week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination.

With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez.

A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream… to make him proud.

But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody’s watching… and love like she’ll never get hurt?

A laugh-out-loud, uplifting comedy about finding the courage to be yourself, the importance of dreams, and learning to grab life by the glitter balls.

Review
Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams is the second book by Sue Watson that I have read. After reading and loving Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas cake last Christmas I was eager to read Sue’s next book and was so glad to find I loved it just as much. Sue’s writing style is witty, honest and heart-warming and it brings to life her ordinary characters and makes them feel very real.
Laura is a forty-something single mum who has spent her life trying to give her daughter Sophie everything she never had as a child. As the story starts poor Sophie has been left standing at the alter and is now in tears outside the church, her heart completely crushed by the man she thought would give her the perfect life. Laura, also heart-broken at the prospect at having to pay for the non-wedding after hours of overtime, is crushed even further when Sophie reveals that she doesn’t want to end up like her mother: sad and alone with only the television and a glass of wine for comfort with no ambition in her life. Devastated by the way her daughter views her life Laura vows to add a little bit more spice into her life. After a disastrous Zumba class Laura meets Tony a dance instructor who helps Laura to slowly ignite her passion for dancing and so “Lola” is born.
I found Laura a really easy character to relate to, sometimes we all fall into a rut with the everyday routine of working and bringing up children, so to have all that hard work and effort thrown back in your face is hard to take, especially if it comes from your own daughter.  Some people might sulk and moan about their life but Laura hasn’t she’s just got on with it to help her daughter have the best life possible, so I was pleased when she decided to do something for herself and follow her dancing dreams. As soon as Laura starts to dance the passion she has inside her just oozed off the paged and I just loved Tony for helping her to become the wonderful and outgoing and very brave “Lola” that she deserved to be.
This is a hilarious and uplifting novel full of laughs and comedy moments which had me chuckling all the way through. Although Laura has to endure a little heartache along the way, she ultimately ends up as the stronger more confident women she longs to be and makes her mum and daughter proud of her. It’s a novel which leaves you thinking “I can do that” which I found very inspiring. So if you have hidden dreams let this little gem with its glitter and sequins work its magic and inspire you to follow your dreams just like Laura did.
I’d like to thank Bookouture for sending me an arc copy to review, I loved it and would like to rate it a very sparkly 5/5.

Thursday 15 October 2015

The Bookshop on the Corner by Rebecca Raisim

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Published: 17th June 2014
Publisher: Carina UK
Available on Kindle

Blurb
Who said that only real heroes could be found in fiction?

Sarah Smith had an addiction – she was addicted to romance novels. The meet-cute, the passion, the drama and the gorgeous men! Now this wouldn’t have been such an issue if she hadn’t been the owner of the only bookshop in Ashford, Connecticut.

Ever since her close friend Lil, from The Gingerbread CafĂ©, had become engaged she had been yearning for a little love to turn up in her life. Except Sarah knew a good man was hard to find – especially in a tiny town like Ashford. That was until New York journalist, Ridge Warner stepped into her bookshop…

Love could be just around the corner for Sarah, but will she be able to truly believe that happy-ever-after can happen in real-life too!

Review
The Bookshop on the Corner is another perfect little novella by Rebecca Raisin. In this book we get to find out more about bookshop owner Sarah Smith who has been briefly mentioned in the Gingerbread Café books.
Sarah Smith is probably a character that many of us book bloggers can relate too. She’s slightly introverted and perhaps a little messy, preferring to spend every free minute lost in the pages of her latest book rather than tidy up. I instantly connected with her the way she sheltered herself from conflict and change by burrowing herself in books. Even though she feels she might be missing out of life a little by not having a boyfriend and rushing off to get married, she won’t settle for just anyone. Sarah’s looking for that perfect boyfriend who lives up to the dashing heroes in her romances novels. She wants him to be extremely hot but also kind and caring and someone who will not try and compete with her love of books. Sarah believes she’ll never find him but then one day her dream man walks straight into her bookshop and he seems to be quite keen on her too. Is he too good to be true, Sarah needs to take a risk to find out?
I read this as an introduction to The Little Bookshop on the Seine which is out October 16th as a way of getting to know Sarah more. I adored The Bookshop Shop on the Corner and devoured it in one afternoon. It’s the perfect little romance story with the adorable Sarah and smoking hot Ridge and it was lovely to read about her letting him into her life and taking a risk.
As with previous books by Rebecca, The Bookshop on the Corner is set in Ashford and I find it so comforting to read about somewhere which is becoming very familiar to me. I also loved that previous characters CeeCee, Lil and Missy are mentioned as it just adds to that cosy feeling Rebecca’s writing seems to bring out in me. I have to give this book 5/5 as everything is just perfect and seamlessly written. Thank you Rebecca for bringing us another lovely read.

Tuesday 13 October 2015

The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene

The Beachside Guest House

Published: 10th September 2015
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 336
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Blurb
When Rosa and Bee get together in the run-up to Bee's wedding, they reminisce about the holiday they took together as teenagers to the beautiful Greek island of Paros. They remember the sandy coves, the guest house in the converted windmill where they stayed with their friend Iona, and the gorgeous local men. As memories of that long-forgotten holiday resurface, they are forced to confront the turns their lives have taken - and the guilt they both feel about letting Iona slip away from them. When they learn that the windmill guest house is going bust they form a plan: why not go back to the island and take it over themselves? And so begins a life-changing journey - because it turns out that opening a guest house and reliving their teenage dreams isn't that easy ...Full of romance and friendship, love and life, laughter and tears, The Beachside Guest House is an uplifting novel about the magic of starting over with friends by your side.

Review
Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?

This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.

Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.

I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures and new relationships and find true happiness.

Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book. Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there to help you through the difficult times.

The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had.  It’s a book to curl up with and will make you feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished.  I loved everything about this book as it kept me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).

It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Rosa, Bee and Iona have been friends since they were children, sharing everything together as they grew up, especially a wonderful holiday they had on the Greek isle of Paros as teenagers before they went into the world as adults. More recently Iona has slipped off into her own world with boyfriend Ben and Rosa and Bee feel her loss as they struggle with issues in their own lives. When they learn that the windmill guesthouse where they stayed on the island is for sale Rosa decides its time for a career change and buys the place. Bee feeling unhappy with her impending marriage to boyfriend Stuart ends her relationship and joins Rosa. Can the two of them make a go of running the windmill and can they reach out and bring Iona back into their lives?

This is the first book by Vanessa Greene which I have read and its one which I became hooked on straight away. Vanessa’s writing style is heartfelt and emotional and I connected with the three main characters almost instantly and all the way through I was rooting for them and hoping they were going to make a success of the guesthouse, despite a number of setbacks.

Of all the three main characters I found Iona the most interesting, her struggles with her anxieties made her more complex than Rosa and Bee for me. Vanessa has written her character is such a way that I felt Iona’s pain and wanted her to make the right decision, I know I could so easily have found her annoying and become easily frustrated by her reasoning.

I loved how the Guesthouse became a sanctuary for all three woman while they lived there. As the guest house became ready for visitors the three women found they were able to move on from the past and embrace new adventures and new relationships and find true happiness.

Friendship and its importance is a big theme in this book. Despite years and miles apart Rosa, Bee and Iona have come together and their friendship is just as close as when they were teenagers. Proving that no matter what the problems you face are or the distance apart true friends will always be there to help you through the difficult times.

The Beachside Guest House is the perfect read for this time of year when the nights are growing colder and we’re all hanging to the last threads of summer, it’ll remind you of that perfect holiday you once had.  It’s a book to curl up with and will make you feel warm and cosy when you’ve finished.  I loved everything about this book as it kept me interested all the way through and the characters were ones which I really came to care for. I loved the ending as it tied things up for each character but also left the book with a potential follow on (please!).

It was a joy to discover Vanessa Greene’s writing and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. I give The Beachside Guest House 5/5 it was brilliant.Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Monday 12 October 2015

Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm by Rebecca Raisin

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Published: 17th July 2015
Publisher: Carina UK
Pages: 384
Available on Kindle

Blurb
Secrets...we all have them.

Clay’s inheritance of Maple Syrup Farm came at the perfect time. Leaving city life behind he headed for maple-tree surrounded Ashford, Connecticut. Getting the farm in working order again might be back breaking work – but it seems to be the only way for Clay to finally forget about the girl who once broke his heart…

Lucy’s had enough of rules and the stress of planning her life down to the very last detail. Looking for an adventure she stumbles upon Maple Syrup Farm and its gorgeously gruff owner. This could be the perfect place to hide out…!

But the tranquillity and warmth of Maple Tree Farm is enough to heal even the most battered of hearts. There are very few problems in life that can’t be cheered up by maple syrup!

Review
Secrets at the Maple Syrup Farm is another fabulous read from Rebecca Raisin who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. She has an amazing ability to write magical stories which instantly capture your heart and this one is no exception.

In this book we meet Lucy who has spent the last few years devotedly caring for her ill mother and spending every spare moment working to keep a roof over their heads. Lucy’s mother begs Lucy to go out into the world and experience life for a year, so she can develop her passion of panting and hopefully apply for the prestigious Van Gogh Institute in Paris. Reluctantly Lucy agrees and catches the first bus she finds which takes her to Ashford, that wonderful town Rebecca Raisin fans have all grown to love. Aboard the bus Lucy meets Ashford resident CeeCee who mentions Lucy may be able to earn some money at the local maple syrup farm. At the farm Lucy meets Clay, the mostly silent and brooding handsome owner of the farm. Despite a rough start Lucy begins to fall for the charms of the maple trees, the town of Ashford and a certain gorgeous farmer.

I loved being back in Ashford, it sounds like the perfect little American town with The Gingerbread CafĂ© at the heart of it and everything else you might need located within easy reach. The community spirit which flows through this town is overwhelming as everyone seems to get along and pull together when needed, making this book a joy to read. Not mention another festival is celebrated, which I have adored from previous books, the food descriptions are to die for! This time it’s a maple syrup festival to celebrate the new harvest and my goodness the food they cook up sounds utterly delicious!

The dynamic between the lovely caring Lucy and the gruff but extremely hot Clay was brilliant. I just loved how they bickered with each other like a couple of teenagers, pretending to dislike each other but secretly hoping the other person likes them back and something will happen. It was a joy to read and all the way through I was wanting that magical moment to happen…and when it did it was perfect.

The thing I love most about Rebecca’s writing is the way she includes her previous characters into each new book, so while reading it’s just like going on a holiday to catch up with old friends. It was lovely in this book to catch up with Lil, CeeCee, Missy and Becca and find out how they are all doing and new character Lucy just fitted in so well with them.

Secrets of the Maple Syrup Farm is a lovely tale of friendship, community, romance, opportunities and of course finding out all the secrets hidden within the Maple Syrup Farm. I have loved returning to Ashford and all its inhabitants and eagerly await Rebecca’s next novel, where hopefully the characters will return. This book gets a rating of 5/5 easily, it’s just lovely.

Thank you to Carina UK and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.