Author: Patricegotting

Today I am on the tour for Christmas In Port Berry by K.T. Dady, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 265

Synopsis: ❤️ Christmas romance
❤️ Small town
❤️ Second-chance romance
❤️ Friends-to-lovers
❤️ Found family

Welcome to Port Berry, where love and Christmas miracles are just around the corner.

Alice Dipple is determined to make her first Christmas running Port Berry’s Seaview B&B a success.

But when her childhood best friend, Jamie Stark, returns after years away, the Christmas season suddenly feels a little brighter — and a lot more complicated.

Jamie was once the love of Alice’s life, until a dreadful mistake tore them apart. He’s returned to Port Berry for a fresh start, and hoping to win back the woman he’s never stopped loving.

Alice is focused on her business. But as she and Jamie are drawn back together by the cosy charm of the B&B, the warmth of the community, and their shared history, she begins to wonder if there’s a second chance for them after all.

But just when it seems like Christmas could bring them their new beginning, Jamie’s troubled past resurfaces, threatening everything they have built.

Will the magic of the season be enough to bring them together — and this time forever?

My Thoughts: this book will have a special place in my heart forever I think, it’s about Christmas & about someone getting a second chance after being in prison, made my heart happy & gave me all the warm and fuzzies.

We’re following Alice who is trying to get the Seaview B&B through its Christmas with her in charge, it’s a big ask as it’s so well known and such an iconic part of the town, she wants to get it all perfect whilst also adding her own twist! – whilst doing all this she is also raising her 15 year old nephew.

Then one day she gets a surprise visitor, she just hears him call her angel and she knows exactly who it is.. but she wasn’t expecting him for another year!

Jamie is nervous returning to Port Berry, knowing that most of the residents won’t be happy, after all he left there under a cloud, causing lots of issues and getting into trouble, he’s done his time and he’s now free but everyone knows a reputation like that can be almost impossible to shake.

He no longer has his gran to fall back on & doesn’t want to impact Alice’s life too much, but for now he doesn’t have a choice, he literally has nowhere else to go!

Seeing the two of them getting to know each other again after so long was something quite magical, he was really quite swoon worthy and she wasn’t afraid to tell him how it is.

It was an absolute delight to be back in Port Berry & I think might just be my favourite instalment yet.

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Today I am on the tour for The Therapy Room by OMJ Ryan, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 291

Synopsis: She shared her darkest secrets. Now someone is using them to destroy her.

New mother Shelly should be enjoying the happiest time of her life. She’s just given birth to a beautiful baby boy, Alfie.

But Alfie’s arrival has triggered something deep inside Shelly and now she finds herself at the mercy of crippling OCD and violent intrusive thoughts that terrify her. Desperate for help, she joins a therapy group led by renowned psychologist Dr Andrea Galanis.

It doesn’t work. Instead of helping, somehow therapy seems to be bringing her very worst fears to life.

What Shelly doesn’t realise is that someone from her dark past has infiltrated the group. And now she is sharing her most private secrets with a person who is determined to rip her life apart, one painful piece at a time.

With everything and everyone she cares about under threat, Shelly has a simple choice – confront the horrifying truth she’s kept hidden for almost twenty years, or face every mother’s worse nightmare – losing the child she loves.

My Thoughts: this book shows how one small moment can change the trajectory of your life forever, Olivia realises that when she loses her brother Daniel, leading her mum to end her life, her dad to become an alcoholic and Olivia to end up on her own when her gran ends up in a care home.

Then experiences it again when after 12 years she sees Shelly, the lady she believes killed her brother Daniel, she finds herself in a spiral of revenge no matter the cost & once she starts there’s just no stopping her.

Shelly finds herself in the grips of OCD and awful thoughts that she just can’t explain, she loves her son but constantly imagines hurting him, she’s doing all the right things she’s attending therapy, she’s being open and honest, she’s getting the help she needs, little does she know that this therapy could be the worst thing she could do…

The story was eerily realistic & cements my decision to never be able to attend group therapy 😂

Just when you think it can’t get worse it absolutely does.

A fast paced thriller that I found impossible to put down & read in one sitting within 3 hours – I inhaled it!

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Pages: 289

Synopsis: Every room has a secret. Every secret has a price.

Rachel thought marrying Lucas Price would be the beginning of her happily ever after. Instead, moving into Crestwood, his sprawling seaside estate, feels more like stepping into a nightmare.

The shadow of his first wife, Eliza—who died in a tragic fall from the cliffs—haunts every corner of their new home. When ghostly apparitions begin appearing and mysterious messages warn Rachel to leave, she questions her own sanity.

Lucas dismisses her fears and refuses to discuss what happened to Eliza, leaving Rachel isolated and paranoid. Desperate to get to the truth, she starts to investigate Eliza’s death.

In a house where nothing is as it seems and everyone has something to hide, Rachel must confront not only the ghosts of the past but the buried trauma of her own dark memories.

And when she finally gets closer to Crestwood’s horrifying secret, she realizes she’s in danger of losing everything she cares about. Including her life.

My Thoughts: it’s been a while since I read a book by Theo & I forgot just how gripping they are and how quickly you get swept up by the plot.. but the almost like the book becomes your whole personality until you finish it!

In this one we’re following Rachel and Lucas, they’re newly weds and have just moved into Crestwood which is the house that Lucas built with his ex wife Eliza and instantly Rachel gets the feeling there’s more to the whole thing than she’s been told, but Lucas completely shuts down whenever Rachel brings it up and when she tries to talk to the housekeeper Mrs Potts she just gets told “Mr Price doesn’t like us to talk about it”

She tries to let it go, but the house feels haunted, it makes noises on a night, there’s locked rooms in the house and a wardrobe full of dresses that she knows aren’t hers.

This story did not go the way I expected, not fully, when I tell you I was hooked I promise I’m not being dramatic, this book gave me actual chills and I absolutely loved it!

I might even go as far as to say this is my favourite book by Theo so far.

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Today I am on the tour for Baby’s Got Blue Eyes by L M Krier, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 279

Synopsis: A compelling début crime thriller with a very different sort of detective.

Someone is dumping bodies on DI Ted Darling’s patch and he’s not happy. Ted’s a good solid copper, in an old-fashioned way, with an excellent clear-up rate.

He’s not at all like your average cop and has his own unique way of dealing with any prejudice his differences bring him. No heavy drinking, no failed marriage, just a steady, long-term relationship. He and his partner have cats, not kids.

But this serial killer seems to be running effortless rings round Ted and his team. Every promising lead just takes them up another frustrating blind alley. Then it starts to get personal.

Baby’s Got Blue Eyes was the first book written in the popular Ted Darling Crime Series. There is now a retrospectively-written prequel, The First Time Ever, which can be read first, or at any point in the series.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this and sometimes I feel weird saying that when it’s a crime thriller book full of murder, dead bodies and an unknown person leaving messages for Ted, but honestly I was hooked.

I loved the characters, I loved the story line, the twists and the red herrings that had me tied up in knots and constantly second guessing myself!

I have to be honest though the best part was the cats, you spent the whole book wondering if Teds husband was going to smuggle another one in 😂😂

The twist in this book had me welling up, I didn’t expect it at all, it totally threw me which I guess is a testament to the authors skill as a writer.

I can’t wait to dive back into the series, this is a book I would highly recommend to fans of a police procedural.

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Today I am on tour for The Best Wild Idea by Lily Parker, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 341

Synopsis:

❤️ Forced proximity
❤️ Enemies-to-lovers
❤️ Second-chance
❤️ Opposites attract
❤️ He falls first
❤️ Dual POV

She can’t forgive him. She can’t forget him.

Jules, Silas and Grant were once inseparable — until Jules and Grant got engaged, Silas inherited a billion-dollar empire, and everything fell apart.

Then the unthinkable happens. Grant is gone. And Jules is left reeling, her heart in pieces.

The last person she wants to see is Silas — the one man she swore to hate. The best friend she pushed away.

Silas has loved Jules since he first set eyes on her. But he lost her to his best friend. And now he’s lost his best friend to something his money couldn’t fix.

Then a letter arrives. Grant’s final request: Show Jules how to live again.

Silas must be the one to take Jules on the adventure she’s always dreamed of.

But it’s with the man she hates most in the world.

From golden Spanish sunsets to the sparkling coast of Amalfi and the magic of Parisian nights, Jules wants nothing to do with Silas. But there’s a thin line between love and hate . . .

And somewhere along the way, the man she left behind begins to look a lot like the one she can’t live without.

My Thoughts: oh my heart, this book. This might just be my favourite read of the year, the emotions this book made me feel it couldn’t possibly be anything less than 5 stars.. I’m not even joking when I tell you this book had me in tears by page 24, the depiction of grief in here was so spot on that took me right back to losing my dad 3 years ago.

I loved all of the main characters, Jules, Grant and Silas were all stand out in their own right, even after his death Grant was selfless and wanted nothing but the best for his wife and his best friend, he planned the trip right down to the tiniest detail, even knowing how each of them would react.. I know it’s fiction, but it genuinely felt like it was real, like I was a fly on a wall watching it all unfold in real time.

And don’t get me started on the letters.. honestly even just thinking about this book & putting my thoughts into words I’m fighting back the tears.

Jules and Silas were exactly what each other needed, that was obvious to us as readers even if they couldn’t work it out for themselves, they had me shaking my head, putting my head in my hands & wanting to just push them together myself.

I am broken into a million pieces in the best way possible, Lily you are a genius and have now official cemented yourself as an author whose books I will read no matter what.

If you trust any of my book recommendations make it this one!

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Today I am on the blogathon for Anything For Her by Jack Jordan, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Blog Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 380

Synopsis: The unputdownable debut from bestselling author Jack Jordan.

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you.

Louise Leighton’s life has fallen apart, all because of one fateful night. Her husband is an adulterer, her sister is his mistress, and soon, Louise will lose everything she owns. But she never imagined she would lose her daughter.

Eighteen-year-old Brooke Leighton is missing. It’s up to Louise and the Metropolitan Police to find her. Has Brooke run away? Or has she been taken against her will? And can Louise aid the investigation without mentioning the night where all of her troubles began?

If she mentions that night, she will incriminate her daughter for heinous crimes. But if she doesn’t, she may never find Brooke; and if she has been abducted, the person who took her may come for Louise, too.

Sometimes the past comes back to kill you.

My Thoughts: if I hadn’t read it in the synopsis I would never have knows this was Jacks debut novel.. I have been a massive fan of Jacks for years and have read a few of his books for previous tours.

He just has this incredible ability to write thrillers that are fast paced, full of action yet eerily realistic & full of characters that you either love or hate.

Anything for her was by far my favourite book of Jacks so far, the plot is just seamless & I found myself turning the pages so fast I almost could t keep up with myself.

This thriller was what the saying “just one more chapter” was made for.

I adored Brooke as a main character so the direction this book went in broke my heart but made me more determined to get to the bottom of it like it was solely my responsibility to do so.

A story full of twist, turns and a whole host of red herrings. I adored it and cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Today I am on the tour for The Stranger Inside by Ruth Harrow, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 341

Synopsis: She asked her to stay. Now she won’t leave.

Finally free of her abusive ex, Zoe is rebuilding her life.

Then, on a parenting forum, she meets Lisa who is going through the same thing Zoe escaped- psychological torture at the hands of a cold, controlling partner.

Zoe rescues Lisa from her evil husband, Greg, and offers her a place to stay. It’s supposed to be temporary, just until Lisa gets back on her feet.

But Lisa has no plans to leave.

Meanwhile, Greg is furious Zoe interfered in his marriage and is determined to destroy her life. He charms her coworkers, twists the truth, and turns everyone against her.

When the home she worked so hard to buy goes up in flames, Zoe knows she needs to fight back. She’s handled abusive men before and Greg has no idea who he’s dealing with…

But Lisa has a secret too. And when it’s finally revealed, Zoe realizes she may be trapped in her own private hell.

My Thoughts: I love Ruth’s writing and this one was no exception, it had me hooked from the beginning.

I loved Zoe, she just wanted to help in whatever way she could which left her finding her inner strength when she realises whilst part of an online forum that there is a local woman who is going through exactly what she has just escaped… can she convince her to leave and save another life?

Just getting Lisa to leave had my heart beating so fast that I was slightly worried about what the rest of the book would do to me. 😅

Not being around Greg doesn’t keep Lisa safe though, messages start coming in, for both her and Zoe there’s a car parked outside the house that just keeps disappearing and Lisa thinks she’s being watched.

This book almost felt too real at times, I’ve had friends that have been in abusive relationships, but it left me unable to stop turning the pages so fast because I needed to know that everyone would be ok!

Just when you think everything is being tied up that’s when the twists come and they literally had my jaw on the floor.

Thoroughly enjoyed & can’t wait to read more from Ruth.

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Today I am on the tour for Behind Closed doors by Rowen Chambers, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 293

Synopsis: I thought he was the man of my dreams. He may just be my worst nightmare.

After years of struggling, I never expected someone like Evan Sinclair to walk into my life.

Confident, charming, and well-dressed, I couldn’t believe it when he asked me — a waitress at a diner — to go out with him.

He swept me off my feet, offering me a life I never imagined — a luxurious apartment, new clothes, a world beyond my wildest dreams. For the first time in years, I thought I was finally happy.

But as our relationship deepens, things start to change. Evan’s love comes with strings attached: unspoken rules, decisions made for me, and a creeping sense of control. The more I try to hold on to this perfect life, the more I feel like I’m losing myself.

Evan won’t talk about his past. His temper flares if I even ask about it. And when I find out the reason why, I wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake.

I thought this new life was everything I wanted. Now, I’m scared I won’t be able to get out before it’s too late.

My Thoughts: oh my god this book made me angry, like shaking my head, shouting at the book and almost throwing my kindle across the room angry.

But that means it was really well written, for a fictional character to make me that irate is a testament to the authors skill.

Evan was a horrible man & I just wanted to shake Grace & make her see sense!

I found myself nodding along and agreeing with everything Jenna was saying & willing both her and Martin to just dig a little deeper..

I thought things were maybe a little repetitive at times, but turns out that just added to the eeriness of the story.

Lots of secrets, lots of lies, characters with hidden agendas and a story line that will stick in your head.

I love a good psychological thriller and this one didn’t disappoint.

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Today I am on the tour for The Break-Up Before Christmas by Charlotte Barnes, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 297

Synopsis: This holiday season, love is going off-script.

Celebrated advice columnist ‘Dear Dotty’ Ellison has made a name for herself by solving everyone else’s problems.

But she derails her seemingly perfect life when she unknowingly advises her girlfriend of ten years to break up with her. Through her own advice column.

Suddenly single, Dotty realises her life behind the picture-perfect brand isn’t as flawless as she thought. Determined to rediscover who she really is, she decides it’s time to learn how to take her own advice. She begins writing letters to herself through her column.

But when Dotty meets a gorgeous stranger at a cooking class, everything she thought she’d learned through her journey of self-discovery is thrown into question.

Now, with Christmas approaching, will Dotty discover that love and life aren’t something you can write, edit or schedule?

My Thoughts: this one made me feel all warm and happy by the end, it made me smile so much.

This book isn’t about the romance, it’s about finding yourself again after all your plans for the future have fallen apart.

It’s about realising the value of true friendship and the beauty of it too, knowing that you have people in your life that will drop everything to help, that are a positive force but are also not afraid to tell you when they think you’re wrong.

& that is exactly what Dotty has, her girls and her mum are fiercely protective yet brutally honest & that was actually quite refreshing.

When Dotty started writing letters to herself and came to all the realisations that she did it made me emotional but also made me want to pump my fist because I was so proud of her.

I don’t want to give anything away.. I went into this one completely blind & I think that’s the best way to do it. It’ll make you laugh, possibly make you cry but it will also make you proud to be a female (if you are)

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Today I am on the tour for The Motel by Nancy Savage, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 287

Synopsis: Pearl just checked in. To her own personal nightmare.

Things aren’t going well for Pearl Fuller. Reeling from a breakup and struggling to make ends meet, she’s sleeping on her ex’s couch and working nights at The Driftwood Motel.

The same motel that years ago was the scene of the legendary Berkman murder. They say that room 52 has been empty ever since that night. But if that’s true why can Pearl see someone moving around in there? And why is she the only one who can hear that eerie voice?

No one else seems concerned, but they don’t have to spend every night sitting alone at the front desk, certain that someone is hiding out there in the darkness, watching.

The only bright spot in Pearl’s life is Noah, a guy she recently met who has drawn her in with his charm and good looks. But it’s beginning to feel as though Noah isn’t who he says he is, and soon Pearl suspects he knows a lot more about room 52 than he’s letting on.

Will Pearl discover the truth before it’s too late? Or is she about to open the door to a nightmare so twisted that her worst fears will pale in comparison?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one, it almost didn’t read like a thriller to begin with but as the story goes on you do find yourself being slowly pulled in until your left reeling, but knowing which way is up and who you can trust.

Pearl is a rather unlikeable character to begin with, I found her really whiny, yeah she found herself in situations that weren’t ideal, but she didn’t seem to want to do anything to make it better.

Until her colleague encouraged her to put her details on a job website..

What seems like the perfect job comes up for her, it’s only for a week, puts a roof over her head gives her a bed to sleep in and it involves animals.. what could possibly go wrong?!

I didn’t know wether Pearl was safer at the motel or at the house she was looking after because once things started doing wrong she just couldn’t catch a break.

The book has a whole cast of characters & all of them could have been guilty.. I even started wondering if Edsel was involved.. he just always seemed to be there when things kicked off at work.

I found myself unable to put the book down once the action kicked in, I needed to know how it ended.

I would really recommend this one if you enjoy a slow burn thriller.

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