Release Day Round-Up #22

This week it has been extremely had to pick just three favourites as there are just so many good books being released today. So I have decided to pick three that I don't yet have copies of.

The Weekends of You and Me by Fiona Walker

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Sphere

Pages: 512

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Can your final fling become your Happy Ever After?

When Jo Coulson finds herself single again in her late thirties, she finally resigns her membership to Last of the Hopeless Romantics, fully intending to tackle midlife and motherhood alone. First, she plans one legendary last fling...

In walks Harry Inchbold, and the connection is electric. Passionate, unpredictable and messily divorced, Harry is the perfect antidote to cosy coupledom. Known as The Sinner, drama follows him around with a clapper board.

Harry's favourite holiday hideaway in the wilds of South Shropshire puts the mud and fun into the perfect dirty weekend. But at the cottage Harry reveals a very different side, melting Jo's resolve. What better combination to face an uncertain future than two cynics who have learned from their mistakes?Together they make a pact; 'same time next year'; they can promise no more than that.

Through life's most stressful decade, Harry and Jo return to the Shropshire hills for one weekend each year to rediscover passion and make peace. As career, family and home crises all threaten to bring them unstuck, the cottage is their glue. Here, different rules apply: the day to day world is not allowed to intrude.With Harry and Jo, however, it's only a matter of time before rules get broken. As real life gets increasingly complicated, can they keep renewing their promise?

As I've mentioned before I love Fiona Walker books and this one looks just as good, as there so huge there ideal to take on holiday, which is probably when I'll read this one.

Song of the Skylark by Erica James

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 400

Available in Hardcover and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Lizzie has always had an unfortunate knack of attracting bad luck, but this time she's hit the jackpot. Losing her heart to her boss leads to her losing her job, and with no money in the bank, Lizzie finds herself forced to move back home with her parents. When she reluctantly takes a voluntary job, she meets Mrs Dallimore, a seemingly ordinary elderly woman with an astoni Lizzie has always had an unfortunate knack of attracting bad luck, but this time she's hit the jackpot. Losing her heart to her boss leads to her losing her job, and with no money in the bank, Lizzie finds herself forced to move back home with her parents. When she reluctantly takes a voluntary job, she meets Mrs Dallimore, a seemingly ordinary elderly woman with an astonishing past . . .

Now in her nineties, Mrs Dallimore is also reluctantly coming to terms with her situation. Old age is finally catching up with her. As she and Lizzie form the bond of unexpected friendship, Mrs Dallimore tells the story of a young girl who left America before the outbreak of World War Two and, in crossing an ocean, found herself embarking on a new life she couldn't have imagined.

As Lizzie listens to Mrs Dallimore, she begins to realise that she's not the only person to attract bad luck, and that sometimes life has a way of surprising you . . .

Can you believe this is Erica's twentieth novel! Although I've only read a few of them I have enjoyed them immensely and got lost in her story telling. This one sounds like another winner and I'm really hoping to read a few more of her books this year.

Trust No One by Claire Donoghue

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Pan

Pages: 368

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Marriage is complicated. It doesn't always work out. Sometimes there are things you discover about yourself and each other which mean the marriage has to end. Sad, particularly when kids are involved - but all pretty normal.
Normal that is, until there's a murder.
DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer are called in to investigate one of South London's most difficult and distressing cases yet - where family and friends come under scrutiny in the hardest of circumstances.

This is the third instalment in the Bennett and Lockyer series and although its not a series I've read yet its one I think looks interesting. I have realised that despite reading almost twenty books this year I've yet to read an actual crime novel.

So that's my top three this week, many more are listed in my releases page above and I have reviews for some more coming up over the next week. Happy reading until next time.

The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell

The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell

Published: 10th March 2016

Publisher: Zaffre

Pages: 432

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Pre-Order now from Amazon

Blurb

Abi's barely left her bed since Joseph, the love of her life, dumped her, saying they were incompatible. When Joseph leaves a box of her possessions on her doorstep, she finds a bucket list of ten things she never knew he wanted to do. What better way to win him back than by completing the list, and proving they're a perfect match? But there's just one problem - or rather, ten. Abi's not exactly the outdoorsy type, and she's absolutely terrified of heights - not ideal for a list that includes climbing a mountain, cycling around the Isle of Wight and, last but not least, abseiling down the tallest building in town ...Completing the list is going to need all Abi's courage - and a lot of help from her friends. But as she heals her broken heart one task at a time, the newly confident Abi might just have a surprise in store ...

Review

Anna Bell has been an author on my must try list for a long time so when her publisher contacted me and asked if I would review her new book  The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart I jumped at the chance, so thank you Zaffre. The book itself is gorgeous, with metallic pink letters and confetti sprinkled all over the cover what is not to love, it’s definitely one which catches your eye.

Anyway onto the story, Abi’s just been dumped by the love of her life Joseph and is completely heartbroken. She’s hoping he’ll come back realising he’s made a terrible mistake but after two weeks when he conveniently leaves a box of her stuff on the doorstep while she’s out Abi realises she’s going to have to do something drastic to get Joseph back. While looking through the box Abi discovers something which might just help her get her man back….a copy of Joseph’s bucket list. Deciding to prove to Joseph their perfect Abi sets out to complete the list despite there only being a couple of things she might enjoy doing. What follows is three months of Abi attempting the list along with support from friends Sian and Giles and new friend Ben. But dos Abi manage to win back the man she loves?

At first I didn’t warm to Abi as she moped about over Joseph for a long time and I really wanted her to pull herself together and find someone new as Joseph didn’t sound the nicest of people anyway. As she begun the list I began to like her as her determination to succeed comes and out and she doesn’t give in, even if the more adventurous things on the list are a struggle for her. This leads to some quite comical moments which I really enjoyed. I was longing for her to see what was right under her nose and make the right decision.

I found the idea of completing someone else’s bucket list an original and very interesting. My favourite part of this novel was reading about how Abi changed as she went from a virtual couch potatoes to climbing up mountains. As someone who is complete couch potato herself I found Abi’s journey quite inspirational and just wonder if I would have as much courage as she did to complete the list

 Anna’s writing style flows easily and is full of humour making this a lovely read to fully immerse yourself in for an afternoon. I loved how real her characters felt each with their individual personalities shining through. My favourite I think was Giles, I loved how he becomes softer and more loved up whenever he was around wife Laura.

I have really enjoyed my first Anna Bell novel and know it won’t be my last. I’d rate The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart 5 out 5 as its chick lit at its best. Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson

You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson

Published: 3rd March 2016

Publisher: Corvus

Pages: 258

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

What if your worst enemy found out your darkest secret?

At 2 a.m. on the morning of her 40th birthday, Sophie wakes to find an intruder in her bedroom. The intruder hands Sophie a letter and issues a threat: open the letter at her party that evening, in front of family and friends, at exactly 8 p.m., or those she loves will be in grave danger.

What can the letter possibly contain?

This will be no ordinary party; Sophie is not the only person keeping a secret about the evening ahead. When the clock strikes eight, the course of several people's lives will be altered forever.

Review

You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson was one of the most addictive books I’ve read in a long time. From the very first page I was hooked and as the story unfolded I just had to carry on reading. It’s a good thing this book is quite short as nothing was going to get done until I’d finished it.

The book starts with Sophie awakening at 2.00 am on her fortieth birthday to find a man she’s never met sat in her bedroom watching her.  The man hands her a letter and tells her not to open it until 8.00pm that night at her party, in front of all her family and friends and more importantly not to tell anyone about him or the letter.  He tells her he’ll know and that he will harm her family if she does tell and then he leaves taking her mobile phone with him.

If this opening doesn’t convince you to keep reading I’m not sure what will, as I was full of questions, who is this man? How did he get in her house? What is in the letter? Who sent it? I just had to keep reading to get some answers.

The majority of this book is set over the course of Sophie’s birthday, which after the frightening start continues to be full of surprises and not all of them good.  As the day progresses Sophie’s anxiety and panic levels increase as she battles with keeping the letter a secret. This draws out the big question…is Sophie hiding something?

Throughout the day various friends and family fall under scrutiny from Sophie as “the letter sender” and this was very cleverly done as no-one particular stood out as the one, keeping me guessing until the very end of the book.  

I loved read this book, it was addictive, chilling and full of twists which caused Sophie so much anxiety it’s a wonder she didn’t fall apart. I rate this book 5 out 5 and will definitely be reading more books from Lucy Dawson.  I think fans of psychological thrillers will love this as it will leave you thinking wow, just wow!

Thank you so much to the publishers for sending an advanced copy to review and also for their great marketing campaign which made me want to read this book so much more.

Never Marry a Policitian by Sarah Waights

Never Marry a Politician by Sarah Waights

Published: 7th March 2016 (Paperback Edition)

Publisher: Choc Lit UK

Pages: 226

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

‘Never, under any circumstances, marry a politician … ‘
In trying to be the model wife to Ralph, a fiercely ambitious politician, Emily has betrayed her heart and her principles. Once she was a promising journalist, but now reluctant domestic goddess is more her scene.

When unexpected events lead to Ralph becoming a candidate for Prime Minster, Emily finds maintaining the façade of picture-perfect family life an increasing struggle –especially when her romantic past comes back to haunt her in the form of tough-talking journalist, Matt Morley.

Matt is highly skilled at ‘digging the dirt’ and, sure enough, Ralph has a sordid secret that is soon uncovered. In the aftermath of the discovery, will Emily finally find the courage to be true to herself, or is she stuck in the world of PR tactics and photo opportunities for good?

Review

In Never Marry a Politician by Sarah Waights we meet Emily Pemily (yes really) a young woman who was on the verge of a successful career in journalism, until she hastily married ambitious and older man Ralph Pemily. Ten years on and Emily’s lost most of her individuality, given up her career and spends her days supporting her husband. But when her husband suddenly becomes a candidate for the next Prime Minister she begins to question exactly how happy she is with her life. Enter journalist and love of Emily’s life Matt Morley, who’s come to write about Ralph. Matt being the excellent journalist that he is uncovers a few secrets Ralph is hoping to keep out of the public eye. With her marriage not being what it seems and unfinished business with Matt, Emily has to decide to keep quiet for the sake of the country or to follow her heart to what really makes her happy.

I found Emily to be a really interesting character. She seemed to be really struggling with being the ‘perfect’ wife for Ralph as she is beginning to realise she’s just not cut out for a life of Politics. She doesn’t want to leave their idyllic home in Suffolk for a life at Number 10.  When Matt comes back into her life she really struggles as he’s the one she’s always loved and the one she should have married. Reading how Emily begins to work out what she wants and how to get it without causing too much of an uproar was fascinating. I loved how she experienced such a wide range of emotions internally but on the outside remained the perfect docile wife.

I even liked Ralph to an extent. Yes he’s arrogant, power hungry and doesn’t seem to take any interest in his family’s well-being but he seems genuinely oblivious to everything but the power he craves and I don’t really think that makes him that bad.  All the other characters added to the very realistic portrayal of political life. All doing what they could to represent a stable united party to the media.

This is a novel which gives us a glimpse into everyday political life and how it effects people on a more personal level, it’s a novel which I found to be full of varying emotions guilt, anger, remorse, embarrassment, sadness and even a little humour. I think Sarah Waights has done a brilliant job with the book as I couldn’t put it down as I was so engrossed in what Emily was going to do next. I am looking forward to see what she writes next as I’m sure it will be as equally compelling.

Thank you to the publishers Choc Lit UK and Netgalley for this review copy. I would like to rate Never Marry a Politician by Sarah Waights 5 out of 5.

Bone by Bone by Sanjida Kay

Bone by Bone by Sanjida Kay

Published: 3rd March 2016

Publisher: Corvus

Pages: 328

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

How far would you go to protect your child? When her daughter is bullied, Laura makes a terrible mistake...
Laura loves her daughter more than anything in the world.
But nine-year-old daughter Autumn is being bullied. Laura feels helpless.
When Autumn fails to return home from school one day, Laura goes looking for her. She finds a crowd of older children taunting her little girl.
In the heat of the moment, Laura makes a terrible choice. A choice that will have devastating consequences for her and her daughter...

Review

Bone by Bone by Sanjida Kay is a very intense and gripping read looks at the effects of bullying which will leave you questioning your every action and just how far you will go to protect your children.

Laura and her daughter Autumn have recently moved to Bristol after Laura’s divorce. Laura is getting on with trying to build a new life for herself and her daughter. Autumn however is struggling with her new school and has become the target of bullying from an older boy. When Laura finds herself face to face with her daughter’s bully she tries to help but in that split second decision something goes very wrong, something which Laura knows is wrong and something which will come back to haunt her and her daughter.

This book is written from both Laura and Autumn’s perspectives and what really struck was how different actions were perceived between mother and daughter. I was struck by how much Laura loves Autumn and how far she will go to make her happy. However, Laura’s somewhat irrational decisions don’t always work out in Autumn’s best interest as we can see from Autumn’s narrative.  I found this dual narrative added to the intensity of the book as you can see Laura becomes lost with how to help her daughter and poor little Autumn begins to dread life outside the family home.

One thing this book highlights is just how disturbing and intrusive cyber bullying can be and how defenceless it can make us feel. I really felt for Laura as the bullying every aspect of her life and how helpless she is left, as she has no clue how to regain control, it really was quite scary to read.

I found Bone to Bone to be a disturbing but addictive read and perhaps one I wouldn’t read if I knew I was alone in the house. All the way through I found the intensity deepened and I couldn’t see how it was going to end and when I did I was shocked. I didn’t expect it to end how it did and am a little disappointed that everything was explained so simply.  This doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book, I did very much, it’s probably one of the most intense books I’ve read and scary because it could all so easily happen to anyone.

For a debut novel I think Sanjida Kay has written a novel which explores the effects of bullying in an intense and disturbing way. It’s a novel which will make you question just how much you can trust someone and just far you’ll go to protect those you love.

Thank you so much to the publishers Corvus for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinions. I’d like to rate Bone by Bone by Sanjida Kay 4 out 5.

Release Day Round Up #21

So its March and what do we get? Snow!! I'm  not a fan of snow as I'm just longing for some sunshine and more spring flowers in my garden. So anyway here are my top three picks for this week:

Bone by Bone by Sanjida Kay

Published: 3rd March 2016

Publisher: Corvus

Pages: 328

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

How far would you go to protect your child? When her daughter is bullied, Laura makes a terrible mistake...

Laura loves her daughter more than anything in the world.

But nine-year-old daughter Autumn is being bullied. Laura feels helpless.

When Autumn fails to return home from school one day, Laura goes looking for her. She finds a crowd of older children taunting her little girl.

In the heat of the moment, Laura makes a terrible choice. A choice that will have devastating consequences for her and her daughter...

I found this such a compelling read and one which had me thinking all the way through what exactly is going to happen next and then gasping at what actually does happen. It's a book you wont be able to put down and one where you will definitely question some of your actions. My review is coming tomorrow.

What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile

Published: 3rd March 2016

Publisher: Quercus

Pages: 336

Available in paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

'I talked to my mother the night she died, losing myself in memories of when we were happiest together. But I held one memory back, and it surfaces now, unbidden. I see a green postbox and a small hand stretching up to its oblong mouth. I am never sure whether that small hand is mine. But if not mine, whose?'

Louise Redmond left Ireland for London before she was twenty. Now, more than two decades later, her heart already breaking from a failing marriage, she is summoned home. Her mother is on her deathbed, and it is Louise's last chance to learn the whereabouts of a father she never knew.

Stubborn to the end, Marjorie refuses to fill in the pieces of her daughter's fragmented past. Then Louise unexpectedly finds a lead. A man called David Prescott . . . but is he really the father she's been trying to find? And who is the mysterious little girl who appears so often in her dreams? As each new piece of the puzzle leads to another question, Louise begins to suspect that the memories she most treasures could be a delicate web of lies.

This sounds really intriguing and as its written in the first person I think it will be very gripping and intense. One I'm definitely looking forward to reading.

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food: Food, Glorious Food

by Cathy Bramley

Published: 3rd March 2016

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Verity Bloom hasn't been interested in cooking anything more complicated than the perfect fish finger sandwich, ever since she lost her best friend and baking companion two years ago.

But an opportunity to help a friend is about to land her right back in the heart of the kitchen! The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is due to open in a few weeks’ time and has rather gone off the boil. It needs the kind of great ideas that only Verity could cook up . . .

But as Verity tries to balance stirring up publicity, keeping their top chef sweet and soothing her aching heart, will her move to Plumberry prove to be a sheer delight . . . or a recipe for disaster?

Cathy Bramley fans will be pleased to know that today the first part of her new series The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is launched. It sounds just as yummy as her previous books. I'm longing to read a book by Cathy Bramley but I'll probably wait until the full book of this is released later in the year as I'm not a huge fan of  serial novels.

So that's my top three this week, which one is your favourite? Are there any other books you've got your eye on this week? I'd love for you to share your thoughts.

Monthly Wrap-Up February 2016

Well its wrap-up time again, so here's my February in books. I felt didn't feel I'd read many books this month as I have quite few on the go at one time ( four at the moment, oops!). So here's what I've read:

       

This month I have being extremely lucky to receive so many books from publishers, I really need to work on reading more I think or I will never catch up!

   
        

I've also been a bit naughty on Netgalley too (surprise, surprise!):

      
     

So what am I currently reading, well quite a mixed bag:
   

I've realised over the past couple of weeks that I really don't enjoy starting of finishing a book when I read at night. I think this is because I like to read until I fall asleep and if I've finished the book and don't want to sleep I lie there for ages. I also like to be fully awake when I start a book so I can fully immerse myself in its new characters and surroundings. So I have had a few books on the go at once and I'm happier, I also seem to be reading more.

So my favourite book this month was:

I loved Christie's previous two books and I feel this one is even better. I loved the characters, the setting and the plot with its mystery. Check out my full review here. So that's my February wrap-up, I think I really need to stay away from Netgalley this month as the review pile is starting to topple over!

The Cosy Tea Shop in the Castle by Caroline Roberts

The Cosy Tea Shop in the Castle by Caroline Roberts

Published: 25th February 2016

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages:  257

Available in paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

When Ellie Hall lands her dream job running the little teashop in the beautiful but crumbling Claverham Castle, it’s the perfect escape from her humdrum job in the city. Life is definitely on the rise as Ellie replaces spreadsheets for scones, and continues her Nanna’s brilliant baking legacy.
When Lord Henry, the stick-in-the-mud owner, threatens to burst her baking bubble with his old-fashioned ways, Ellie wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew. But cupcake by cupcake she wins the locals over, including teashop stalwart, Doris, and Ellie’s show-stopping bakes look set to go down in castle history!
Now all that’s missing in Ellie’s life is a slice of romance – can Joe, the brooding estate manager, be the one to put the cherry on the top of Ellie’s dream?

Review

After reading Caroline’s first novel The Torn Up Marriage last year I was very excited to read her new book The Cosy Teashop in the Castle. While her first book took me on an emotional rollercoaster I could tell just from the very pretty cover that this was going to be a more light-hearted and “cosy” read.

Ellie Hall is desperate for a change, in the last eighteen months she’s lost her beloved Nana and broken off her engagement to her fiancé. So when she spots the advert for someone to run the teashop at Claverham Castle in Northumberland she just has to go for despite having virtually no catering experience. Armed with her determination to succeed and her nana’s “Choffee” cake Ellie heads off for the interview. After landing her dream job Ellie soon realises that getting the job was the easy part and making the Teashop a success will be the hard bit.

I love all the characters in this book and Ellie makes a great main character. She’s determined to do her very best to succeed, she’s someone you can instantly warm to as she seems to be able to put people at ease and get them to open up…such as hunky Joe whose closed heart she manages to finally open. The other characters Deana, Lord Henry, Doris and Nicola and of course the lovely double act of Derek and Malcolm all added to life at the castle.

This is a lovely story to get lost in one cosy afternoon and the only downside I found was the ending. I was a little gutted the author finished the book the way she did as I would happily have read more from Ellie and Joe and how things worked out. This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy the ending, I did I just wasn’t ready to let these characters go!

One of the things I loved most about this book was all the baking talk. I love all things cake so was extremely happy to find a recipe for a certain “Choffee” cake at the end of the book, definitely one I’ll be making soon as every time it was mentioned in the story I wanted some.

I’d like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for this copy to review and would like to rate The Cosy Teashop in the Castle by Caroline Roberts 4 out of 5.