You and Me, Always by Jill Mansell

You and Me, Always

Published: 28th January 2016

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 368

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

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Blurb

On the morning of Lily's twenty-fifth birthday, it's time to open the very last letter written to her by her beloved mother, who died when she was eight.

Learning more about the first and only real love of her mum's life is a revelation. On the same day, Lily also meets Eddie Tessler, a man fleeing fame who just might have the ability to change her world in unimaginable ways. But her childhood friend Dan has his own reasons for not wanting Lily to get too carried away by Eddie's attentions.

Before long, secrets begin to emerge and Lily's friends and family become involved. In the beautiful Cotswold village of Stanton Langley, nothing will ever be the same again...

Review

You and Me, Always is only the second book I’ve read by Jill Mansell but already her writing style has added her onto my must-read list. Luckily she has an extensive back catalogue for me to read so I look forward to many hours of enjoyment from this authors books.

At the start of You and Me, Always we meet Lily on her twenty-fifth birthday just as she is about to read the last letter written to her by her mother, who died when Lily was eight. This was a very bittersweet opening for me as you could feel the lost love between mother and daughter and this made me a shed a little tear but as the chapter progresses Lily is given some joy when she finally learns the full name of her mother’s true love Declan Madison and decides she wants to contact him and find out just why he was so special to her mother. Later that day Lily gets another birthday surprise when she meets film star Eddie Tessler sitting in her friend Patsy’s kitchen, after which Lily’s life becomes a little more hectic.

As Jill introduced the other characters into the story I felt like I had become part of their little gang and had a sense of belonging as I watched Patsy go on yet another comical and disastrous date, as Coral struggles with having feelings for a new man for the first time since her husband Nick died and as Lily and Dan playfully avoid their true feelings. Lily is the main character in this book but I loved how the other characters all have things going on in their lives too, making the village of Stanton Langley feel very real and somewhere I loved reading about.

When newcomers Declan and Eddie arrive in the village Lily’s world is turned upside down. Declan helps Lily to remember her mum and she feels a real connection to him, probably wishing he was a real dad. Film star Eddie falls for Lily and introduces her to a life of film premiers and red-carpet treatment, but is this the life she really wants or does she just want a quiet life back in Stanton Langley with that special someone. One thing is for sure she’s not prepared for facing her past and things that have been kept secret for far too long.

You and Me, Always is a novel which is jammed packed with drama from the start, with many likable characters, all set in the scenic village of Stanton Langley and I loved reading every page. It’s a novel about friendship, love, loss and just how to deal with secrets that are maybe best kept hidden. It’s a novel I thoroughly enjoyed  and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a drama filled read which will make you laugh and cry (or that could be just me) and overall leave you with a warm cosy glow when you’ve finished. A well-deserved 5 out of 5 and I cannot wait to read Jill’s next one.

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley who provided me with a copy for review purposes.

Book Review - Crash and Burn by Lisa Gardner

 

Crash and Burn by Lisa Gardner

Published: 16th July 2015

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 343

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

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Blurb

My name is Nicky Frank.
I'm in hospital, afraid. All I can think about is Vero. I have to save her but I can't find her. She's just a little girl.
The man by my bed tells me we're married and there is no Vero. He says that six months ago I suffered a brain injury, that I have dramatic mood swings and large gaps in my memory. I get angry and I drink. All of which explains the car crash that put me here.
Now a Sergeant Wyatt Foster has questions about the accident. He has concerns about my husband. And he's worried about a missing girl.
He would like to know what happened to me. So would I.
This is my life. Watch me crash and burn.

Review
Now I have to start this review by saying until I requested Crash and Burn off bookbridgr I had not heard of Lisa Gardner, shame on me as this woman can write a great crime thriller. What started out as a very simple car accident involving Nicky Franks becomes deeper and more complex and utterly gripping, I couldn’t put this down until I’d finished the very last page.

Sergeant Wyatt Foster is given the case of what initially appears to be a drunk driving charge, however its uncovered that driver Nicole Franks was under the legal limit and also be assumes there was a child (Vero) in the car with her, who now appears to be missing. As Wyatt delves deeper into the case he learns that Nicole is suffering from concussion and has suffered two further “accidents” in the past six months and everything in her home life it not quite as it seems. What starts off as a simple open and shut case soon becomes a very complex and goes deeper than the Sergeant ever expected.

Crash and Burn is a very complex crime thriller with so many twists I wasn’t sure what else could actually happen. The plot flows really well despite the many twists and had me totally hooked all the way through. There are some chapters which are flashbacks in Nicole’s memory which won’t be to every reader’s liking but personally I love this style of narrative and felt this was how the story began to make sense and I was able to work out what had happened, or so I thought!

I really liked all the characters I really felt for Nicole and the vulnerability she showed when she couldn’t remember events happening. He husband Thomas left me feeling a little on edge as I was sure he was hiding something from Nicole and the police and I didn’t want her to trust him completely. My favourite character was Sergeant Wyatt, he seemed a genuinely nice guy as seemed to want to protect Nicole from anymore “accidents”. I also liked the way he was trying really hard to build a relationship with private investigator Tessa and her daughter Sophie. Hopefully some of her other novels will feature him as he’s a character I’d like to read more about.

Crash and Burn is a novel which will keep you gripped from the very first line “I died once” to the very last page. All the way through you will be questioning how is Nicole Franks? Who is Vero? Where is Vero? Were those “accidents” really accidents? It is a novel which focuses of hidden identities, brain injuries, child abduction, drug abuse and many, many secrets. I absolutely loved the way I was totally absorbed by this gripping thriller. I cannot wait to read more by this author it was just brilliant.

Thank you so much to bookbridgr and Headline for sending me a review copy. I give this book a well-deserved five out of five.

 

 

 

 

Book Review - The Last Honeytrap by Louise Lee

The Last Honeytrap: Florence Love 1 by Louise Lee

Published: 4th June 2015

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 345

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

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Blurb

He's the man every woman wants. Private Investigator Florence Love is out to get him.

Florence has ten days to meet, charm and entrap Scott 'Scat' Delaney. Whilst sticking to THE Cardinal Entrapment Rule:

One kiss, with tongues, five seconds - case closed.

Scat, a superstar jazz musician, is stunning. He's also a reclusive hypochondriac with a Junta-like entourage - it's going to take a special woman to make him fall into the trap.

Florence Love will tell you at length why she's that woman. She's beautiful, resourceful and relentless. A master of body language, evolutionary science and Shorinji Kempo. She'll use every tool in her armoury, especially when it comes to discovering the truth about Bambi, her absent mother - a twenty-five-year-old mystery she's determined to solve...

Cardinal Entrapment Rule #2

Never EVER fall for the target (even when they're the hottest man on the planet)

That would be very bad form indeed.

 

Review

 

The Last Honeytrap is the debut novel of Louise Lee and I thought it was great. The book is centred on Florence Love a Private Investigator based in London, specialising in entrapment. In this the book, the first in a new series Florence is asked entrap A-List Scot “Scat” Delaney a world famous jazz singer. Easy…except Scot is a confirmed recluse and possibly the most beautiful man Florence has ever seen and she may just be about to break the most important rule: Never fall for the target.

As the main plot develops as Florence finds herself in deeper than she’s ever been, she also begins to believe she herself is being stalked. Hoping the stalker is her long lost mother who is about to make a return after twenty years causes friction between other members, add to that complications with her ex-husband and previous lesbian lover and you have a book full of plot twists and humorous scenes.

I instantly liked Florence she’s feisty, independent and slightly over-confident believing she can do anything, which considering her success rate is only 78% may be slightly misjudged on her part. She also showed she had a caring side by looking after younger brother Michael, although she does remind him on numerous occasions that he is in her debt and must help her with investigation work whenever she wants.

I found this book a very refreshing read, Florence is so abrupt and honest in her language which I just loved. Surprisingly I also enjoyed the many snippets of scientific explanation in the book, which initially left me a little confused but added to the quirkiness of the book.  

I think this is a great read and would like to congratulate Louise Lee on her debut novel, she’s done a cracking job creating a likable main character and an interesting plot line which continues into the second book. There is a teaser of this at the end and it looks just as good, so please hurry up and publish it so we can find out what happened to Bambi.

I think this book has something for everyone, a little romance, some mystery, some crime and some family drama, so if you’re looking to find a new favourite this summer pick up The Last Honeytrap. I would give this book 5/5 and would like to thank Headline for sending me a copy via bookbridgr.

Book Review - From Liverpool with Love by Lyn Andrews

 

From Liverpool With Love by Lyn Andrew

Published: 12th March 2015

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 368

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

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Blurb

In 1920s Liverpool, Jane, her little brother Alfie and their mother Ellen have faced the horrors of the workhouse together. But when Ellen dies, two very different paths open up for the siblings.

Jane is sent to work in the Empire Laundry and builds a new life for herself with the neighbours who take her in. She finds solace there and the promise of a happy future when she falls for Joe, their eldest son.

But Alfie absconds from the workhouse and embarks on a life of crime. When their paths cross once more, Alfie turns on his sister. His plans will jeopardise every happiness she hoped for...

 

Review

From Liverpool with Love is the latest novel from the hugely successful Lyn Andrews and it is another brilliant family saga. Set in the back streets of Liverpool this novel focuses on the Shaw family and particularly young Jane Shaw.

As the novel begins Ellen Shaw has decided she can no longer cope after the death of her husband Eddie and has to move into the local workhouse Brownlow Hill. After entering the workhouse Ellen is separated from daughter Jane and young delinquent son Alfie.  As the years pass the family face a number of tragedy’s but hardworking Jane is given a chance to start her life again when she is offered a job on the outside in the local Empire Laundry. Here she meets the owner James Davenport and Jane’s life takes a turn for the better, until Alfie shows up once more.

As with all Lyn Andrews novels I was instantly hooked on this story, her writing style is so comforting and just makes you want to keep reading. This novel deals with the hardships of the Shaw family including grief, poverty and separation but I didn’t find it depressing at all.

Jane is an instantly likable character, she is hard working and positive and always tries to see the best in people, even brother Alfie who seems to be a lost cause. I felt a little saddened when every time she seemed to gain a little happiness something would come along and ruin it for her. I’m glad that eventually she was able to find a happy ending, even though this was somewhat predictable.

From Liverpool With Love was another great novel from Lyn Andrews with just enough drama to keep me interested. A perfect read for a rainy afternoon. I give this novel 4/5 and look forward to Lyn’s next offering.

Book Review - A New York Christmas by Anne Perry

 

A New York Christmas by Anne Perry

Released: 23rd October 2014

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 154

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

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Blurb

December, 1904. Jemima Pitt, now twenty-two, agrees to act as a “suitable companion” to her friend Delphinia, who is traveling to New York to be married to Brent Albright, toast of New York high society. Jemima is excited about the prospect of a Christmas adventure in a strange big city, but little does she expect to be enlisted on a top secret mission by Brent’s brother Harley, to track down Delphinia’s estranged mother. After some detective work and a little luck, they manage to locate her lodgings—but to their horror, they find Maria dead. Truly her parents’ daughter, Jemima is determined to unmask the killer, and enlists the aid of handsome young police officer Patrick Flannery to do it. And along the way she comes to learn an important lesson about staying true to oneself, no matter the cost. Once again, as only she can, Perry delivers a darkly suspenseful, ultimately heart-warming novel that truly captures the essence of the holiday spirit.

 

Review

Jemima Pitt, I’m assuming the daughter of Inspector Pitt in one of Perry’s others series’ is heading to New York to accompany her wealthy young friend Delphinia Cardew to New York to marry into the Albright family, who are the cream of New York society. On arrival Jemima finds herself mixed up in the murder of Maria, a women believed to be Delphinia’s estranged mother. Jemima must use all her detective skills picked up from her father to help her out of trouble.

I really wanted to enjoy this story more than the previous Anne Perry novel which I read, but sadly I did not. I found the characters weak and the plotline bordering on ridiculous. The first thing that bothered me was that Jemima at twenty-three is considered past-it and only useful as a chaperone to nineteen year old Phinnie. Jemima herself came across very easily led, all Harley Albright had to do was smile at her and she followed him round New York on a silly quest, later on in the story she meets Patrick Flannery again who again pays her a little attention and she’s smitten, which made her seem a little desperate. I found Phinnie to be an incredibly annoying character; she was so smug about her fancy wedding, if I was Jemima I would have smacked her.

There was no mystery around the murder, it was obvious who has done it and why and I really couldn’t understand why Jemima was unable to see what was right in front of her nose. It lacked any kind a depth which makes a good crime novel. As for this being a Christmas novella, well the only link to Christmas throughout the whole book is the fact that New York is covered in snow, a very weak link to Christmas.

I’m glad that this was a short novella as it only took me an hour to read, any longer and I think I would have given up. I know Anne Perry has a huge following and has written a great number of books but they are not for me. I would like to thank bookbridgr for sending me a copy to review; sadly I can only give this book 1/5.

Book Review - A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry

 

A Christmas Hope (Christmas Novellas #11) by Anne Perry

Published: October 23rd 2014 (Paperback)

Publisher: Headline

Pages: 165

Available in Hardback, Paperback and on Kindle

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Blurb

London, 1868. As the Christmas season begins, Claudine Burroughs feels little joy in its endless social calls and extravagant events. Working at a clinic for desperate women has opened her eyes to a different world.

Then her two worlds collide. A prostitute smuggled into a grandiose Christmas party is found brutally beaten. Poet Dai Tregarron stands accused. But Dai insists he was trying to protect her from the violence of three young men. Claudine believes him, but with society closing ranks against him, how can she prove his innocence without risking everything?

Review

This was my first experience with an Anne Perry Christmas novella and I found it to be a gritty look at Victorian England. The blurb sounded intriguing and I was hoping for a mystery set among the grandeur of a Victorian Christmas, instead I got a slightly depressing look at the morals of the Victorian upper classes, done in a way which I found slightly repetitive.

Claudine Burroughs is an outsider in her social circle and spends much of her time helping less fortunate women in a clinic. I wanted to feel something kind of empathy for her as she’s not happy in her marriage to her husband who clearly doesn’t love her but she just came across as a rather dull character.

There is no real mystery to the story as it’s obvious to the reader what happened to the poor young woman. This is more a story of Claudine trying to find a way to convince people to do the right thing and not let their social standing impact on their actions. It gives a very bleak view of the concept of marriage in Victorian England; love is not a factor often considered it seems, this for me made a quite bleak story. I’m someone who loves a little romance in a book, especially at Christmas.

If you are a fan of stories set in Victorian times you will probably enjoy the bleak realism this book portrays, for me it lacked depth in the mystery and was missing a little Christmas spirit.

Thank you to bookridgr for sending me a copy to review. Rating 2/5