prdgreads

Today I am on the tour for The Girl Who Killed Her Mom by McGarvey Black, 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: 316

Synopsis: I was barely fifteen when I killed my mom. No one knew . . . until now.

I’ve spent my entire life trying to make up for what happened that day. I’ve turned my life around. I have a handsome, wealthy husband; two daughters who are everything to me; a stunning Connecticut beachfront home. I’m grateful for every minute that we have together.

Today I come home to find a silver-and-blue gift-wrapped box on the porch. The note inside says: Who killed Midge Lester?

Midge Lester was my mom.

Someone knows.

My Thoughts: I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one, after all the title gives away what would typically be the twist in a psychological thriller… that being said I knew there had to be more and I was intrigued enough to give it a go.

I’m really glad I did, I was gripped from the start. The writing is really gripping & slightly eery the age difference between Abigail and Travis did make me feel slightly uncomfortable to begin with, but it did eventually become ‘normal’ I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not 🤣

Years later, Abby has tried to move on from that horrible day when she was 15, she’s married now with 2 girls and Travis is dead, he’s the only witness to her crime so she’s high and dry.. or so she thinks.

Before long people from her past start showing up and all of Abby’s tightly woven lies start unravelling, she no longer knows who she can trust.

I absolutely devoured this book, it was all I could concentrate on and it totally consumed it! I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be picking up more from this author in the future.

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for The One That Got Away by Olivia Spring, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 306

Synopsis: What if the one who got away is really the one?

When Stella finds herself back home with a string of disastrous dates under her belt, she’s certain she’s hit rock bottom. Until she discovers her mother has signed her up to The Love Hotel: a luxury matchmaking service where a perfect love match is guaranteed! Stella is adamant she’ll have nothing to do with this nonsense! But then a match is found faster than she can say ‘Not. A. Chance!’ So, how bad can two weeks in the scorching Spanish sunshine be?

Very bad, actually. Because when Stella arrives, she’s mortified to learn her date is no perfect stranger. In fact she knows him a little too well. Because Max is the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart, who her heart remembers and who is more gorgeous than ever.

With no refunds, Stella reluctantly decides to stay and enjoy the holiday – all she has to do is keep Max at an arm’s length…right? Easier said than done when Max is impossible to ignore. And as the Love Hotel begins to work its matchmaking magic, Stella can’t deny that the sparks still sizzle between them. And maybe, the experts were right after all…

My Thoughts: I went into this one completely blind, I was attracted to the cover and assumed by the title that it would be a second chance romance, a bit of lighthearted reading & in a way I was right.. but what I didn’t expect was alll the spice! 🌶️🥵 – it sounds weird to write this but it was a pleasant surprise, and added a totally different dynamic to the story 🤣

We’re following Stella and Max, they have both been bullied into going to the Love Hotel a place that promises to set you up with your soul mate, with the help of your dedicated Love Alchemist.

They both go begrudgingly with half open minds, but what they don’t expect is to run into the person who shattered their respective hearts years ago!

I was so invested in this story that Stella and Max felt like friends, I wasn’t even necessarily rooting for one over the other I loved them both equally & just wanted them to sort their shit out 😅

I laughed out loud more than once and found myself with my head in my hands, absolutely mortified for them because you just couldn’t make it up (daft thing to say about a book I know..)

There were parts of this book that made my heart melt & plenty of swoon worthy moments too!

It had everything you could want from a spicy romcom and more!

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for A Scottish Christmas by Emma Bennet, 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: 247

Synopsis: It’s the most wonderful time of year . . . to fall in love.

Rose Aldridge was not expecting to be working the festive period in a pop-up Christmas shop. She wasn’t expecting to be offered a job by a handsome, brooding Scotsman either!

Alistair Duncan hates Christmas. His wife left him and his daughter on Christmas Eve. Now his family have announced they are coming to stay at his sprawling Scottish estate. He needs help planning the perfect Christmas. When he meets Rose, looking fed-up selling tinsel and baubles, he offers her the job. To his surprise she accepts.

Rose wastes no time Christmas-tree shopping and party planning. Before long the Duncan family estate is a mass of ribbons, presents and twinkling lights — even the family goat, Houdini, gets into the festive spirit!

But the more time Rose spends with the Duncan family, especially Alistair’s 12-year-old daughter, Isla, the more Alistair sees how perfectly she fits in . . . and the ice around his heart begins to thaw.

As Christmas Eve approaches, and Rose is due to return home, it’s time for the Christmas magic to weave its spell . . .

My Thoughts: I got alll the warm and fuzzies from this one!

Roses first Christmas without her mum is fast approaching, she wants to pretend it’s not happening so throws herself into menial jobs just to keep herself busy.. unfortunately the most recent one is in a little pop up Christmas shop, dressed as Queen Elsa.

Customers are thin on the ground and she’s starting to question her life choices when in walks Alistair Duncan, he’s agreed to host his family for Christmas, he’s not a fan of the holiday and normally likes to pretend it’s not happening so it’s fair to say he is totally out of his depth.. could they be what the other needs?

This was just the most adorable story ever, it had me squealing with happiness when something cute happened which happened often, believe me!

I really loved that Alistair didn’t really know what his feelings were and he needed a little bit of a push from his sister, his housekeeper and even his 12 year old daughter.

This book had me feeling all sorts of emotions, I struggle with Christmas after losing my dad in 2022, Christmas was his favourite time of year and Christmas Day was his birthday, so experiencing Roses feelings about it being the first Christmas without her mum was something I could really relate too, made me feel like no longer loving this time was ok, so thank you Emma for that. ❤️

I think it’s fair to admit after saying that, that this book made me cry, but then it also made me laugh & I definitely want a little goat.

Although you always know how a story like this is going to end, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of getting there.

You absolutely need to read this book!

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for Stuck in Paradise With You by Laura Carter, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 330

Synopsis: A totally unputdownable second-chance romance – characters with an unbeatable chemistry and a gorgeous happy ever after!
It’s hard to stay professional when you’re stuck on a tiny island… with your ex

Carrie Briggs is on the cusp of a career breakthrough. About to be made partner at her accountancy firm, she’s been given one more hoop to jump through before it can be made official.

And she could think of worse clients to work with – because world-renowned billionaire Joe Hettich is flying her out to his private island in the Caribbean.

But her hopes of career highs (and relaxing in the gorgeous sun in her spare time, of course!) are dashed when she meets the CFO of Joe’s company: Luke Chalmers, the man who broke her heart seven years ago when he chose his ex over her.

With a storm brewing in paradise – both in her heart and literally, on the island – she’s going to have to put her big girl pants on and get through this, before all those feelings have a chance to resurface…

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this one, really struggled to put it down because everything was just perfect, even though the main characters lack of communication throughout was driving me to distraction! To the point where I just wanted to bang their heads together, but that being said I was totally here for it!

The setting was an absolute dream, and Joe was just the most amazing side character, yes he’s a billionaire and has everything he could ever want but it hasn’t gone to his head, all that really matters to him is the happiness of his family and his best friend Luke. I just wanted to give him a big cuddle and tell him how amazing he was.

Carrie and Luke are just meant to be, you can tell.. they try and hate each other, but they get when they’re angry and frustrated with each other you can feel the love, the angst and the sexual frustration.. the only people that couldn’t see it was themselves 😂

I highly recommend this one!!

This is only the second book by Laura that I’ve read but they’ve both been 5 stars! I can’t wait to dive into her back catalogue and she’s firmly secured herself as an auto buy author for me 😍

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for The Nanny’s Secret by E.V. Seymour, 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: 422

Synopsis: Nannies have a habit of dying in my husband’s family.

His family: The Percivals live in a grand fourteen-acre estate in the Cotswolds, with tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool and several cottages — or ‘lodges’ as they call them. I’m only surprised they don’t have a helipad.

My family: Mum’s a florist, Dad’s a kitchen-fitter. They live in a modest maisonette in Gloucester. I’m a hairdresser. My ambition is to own my own salon.

I recently married the man of my dreams. The difference in our backgrounds was never an issue. Until now.

My husband persuaded me to move into his parents’ home while we save for our own place. It’s the worst mistake I ever made.

I don’t really fit in. My father-in-law has a twinkle in his eye I don’t like. My effortlessly chic mother-in-law intimidates me. My sister-in-law’s husband bullies her. They make no secret of their amazement that my husband chose me.

And now they’ve hired a new nanny for his sister’s kids.

But this family has a bad history with nannies . . .

My Thoughts: now I won’t lie, this one took me a little while to get into.. it’s a long book for a thriller at just over 400 pages, there’s a lot of characters and a lot of elements to get your head around, but once you get there I promise it’s worth it!

The story is told from multiple POV’s, which once you get to grips with it gives us a well rounded story that I felt left no loose ends and no stone unturned.

Rose is from what she considers to be a normal working class family but she has married into a very wealthy family & against her better judgement decides to leave the house her and her husband Raff are renting in order to save money for their forever home & move into a place on his families land!

One thing she’s not prepared for is all the secrets that are being kept in such a big family & when Raffs brother in law Orlando announces that he has hired a nanny to help take the pressure off his wife Melissa you can cut the tension with a knife..

Once the story really gets going it’s so hard to tear yourself away from it, secrets and lies come to the surface that have stayed hidden for decades, and just when you think the story can’t throw anything else at you you’re shocked again!

Full of twists and turns until the very last page and I can promise you this won’t be the last E.V. Seymour book I read, I am already desperate for more.

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman, 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: 284

Synopsis: I thought my husband killed my daughter.
He’s innocent.

I thought my father died of a stroke.
He was murdered.

I thought my sister was alive and living in Florida.
She’s been dead for ten years.

I thought my foster daughter was safe in my home.
She’s not.

Everything I thought I knew is a lie.

But I have to focus on the future, on the young girl I’m fostering. I find her in my back yard in the middle of the night — she’s tiny, lost and terrified.

Someone left her here.

It’s all connected. The lies are piling up. I don’t know where this girl came from. She won’t tell me anything. Not even her name.

I have no idea who I’ve brought into my home . . .

My Thoughts: well this one was definitely one hell of a ride… make sure you’re strapped in and ready because this one really does get bumpy! – full of twists, turns and red herrings so you honestly never know which way is up!

One night Kat hears something in the bushes outside her house, now if that was me I’d be running for the hills, but not Kat, she goes to investigate and finds a little girl in there trying to reach her cat teddy, there’s no one around and the little girl isn’t talking so with no idea what else to do she takes her into the house to keep her safe whilst she phones the police.. what Kat doesn’t realise is that that split second decision will bring her past, present and future all crashing into one.

I honestly devoured this book, a one sitting read for me because it was just impossible to tear myself away from it.. I suspected absolutely everyone, even the nicest of characters.

One I would highly recommend bumping up your tbr if you’re a fan of a psychological thriller that’s filled with suspense.

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for All The Gear, No Idea! Book Two by Allison Lee, 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: 144

Synopsis: Allison’s first venture into life on the smallholding was not without its challenges. After months of battling for planning permission, she decided the location wasn’t right for her after all, and new plans were made.

Packing up her belongings along with a menagerie of animals, three dogs and a husband, she upped sticks and relocated to a 17th-century converted barn situated over twelve hundred feet above sea level.

Like an audition for the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Allison found herself battling the elements, threatened to be blown away like the classic tornado storm in Kansas as she tethered down field shelters and rounded up pygmy goats wearing her pyjamas and waterproofs in the dead of night.

The second book in the series of an amusing and honest account of real life as a smallholding owner.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed both of the books in this series, but book two took it up a notch, it’s very real, very raw and very very funny! 🤣

It had me laughing throughout because some of the things that happen you just couldn’t make it up.

The descriptions that Allison put it make it so easy to envisage the surroundings and all the animals, it really makes me want to climb into the book and give them all a cuddle!

I love reading about people achieving their dreams and the fact that this is a real life story makes it even better!

My only issue is that it just wasn’t long enough. I will be eagerly awaiting/hoping for book number 3

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for The Makeover by Matt McGregor, 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: 275

Synopsis: Virginia loves her new life in Montana. That’s about to change.

James Devery has fallen in love with his boss’s wife, the glamorous Mrs. Eastman. He dreams about her. He writes about her. He wants to be with her forever.

But that won’t be easy. Because James is just a young builder’s apprentice, hired to work on the Eastmans’ enormous mansion.

On the surface, it seems James doesn’t stand a chance. And yet… he suspects Mrs. Eastman isn’t entirely happy with her handsome, successful husband. The cracks in their marriage are starting to show, and James is determined to make the most of them.

Because he has a dark secret. A secret that means he can’t give Mrs. Eastman up, he absolutely must have her. And he’ll do anything – anything at all – to be with her.

What he doesn’t realise is his single-minded obsession will fuel a spiral of lust and treachery, taking all three to a hell beyond their wildest imaginings.

My Thoughts: I’ll be honest this was a total judge a book but its cover moment for me.. the paintbrush won me over, my dad was a painter and decorator before he died so any reminder of him will instantly draw me in 🤣

Ihis was an easy psychological thriller to get lost in, the writing although pacy and gripping in places, wasn’t overwhelming.

Full of a whole host of characters, all of whom were totally unlikeable if I’m honest, although I have a sneaky suspicion that this was done on purpose to throw the suspicion around.

Short snappy chapters & told from multiple povs this has all of my favourite elements of a thriller, I did work out some of the twists, but not all of them, the story left me intrigued enough to keep turning the pages.

This is the first book of Matts that I have read and I will definitely be looking out for more in the future.

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for Looking For Lucie by Amanda Addison, thank you to Write Reads Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy

Pages: 272 

Synopsis: Looking for Lucie is a contemporary YA novel that explores identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship as an 18-year-old girl sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history.

“Where are you really from?”

It’s a question every brown girl in a white-washed town is familiar with, and one that Lucie has never been able to answer. All she knows is that her mother is white, she’s never met her father, and she looks nothing like the rest of her family. She can’t even talk about it because everyone says it shouldn’t matter!

Well, it matters to Lucie and-with her new friend Nav, who knows exactly who he is-she’s determined to find some answers.

What do you do when your entire existence is a question with no answer?

You do a DNA test.

My Thoughts: this was a really heartwarming story of just wanting to feel like you belong and wanting to fill in what you feel are massive gaps in your history.. 

Lucie has grown up thinking her dad was a sperm donor, but as she’s grown up she’s starting to feel different from the rest of her family, so without her mum knowing she orders a DNA test to finally get to the truth.. little does she know that she’s actually closer to the truth than she thinks. 

The story dealt with some really important topics in a really sensitive way, it delves into the world of arranged marriages and interracial relationships and navigating a world that at the time you don’t necessarily understand. 

The writing flows really well which made this a really hard book to put down and I ended up finishing it in one sitting, I found myself totally immersed in the story and rooting for Lucie to get answers that she would be happy with. 

If you’re looking for a nice contemporary story that will really make you think about your family history then this is the one for you, it’s full of characters that you just want to be friends with! 

🐧🩷

Today I am on the tour for Blowback by Cameron Curtis, 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: 250

Synopsis: One man can destroy a city. One man can save it.

Antonovka-15 is a Russian nuclear weapons storage facility 15 miles from the Ukraine border. When an Alt-Right Ukrainian Special Forces unit – the Vampir Brigade – breaks in and steals an H-Bomb, Breed is tasked with finding it before it can be detonated.

Breed and the CIA’s Anya Stein follow the bomb on a journey through war-torn Ukraine and on to Brussels. Are the Vampirs planning to destroy NATO HQ and the European Commission?

Negative on that – their real plan is even more horrifying.

After surviving multiple attacks by the Vampirs, Breed and Stein find the bomb has been shipped to New York. The Vampirs threaten to incinerate the city if the United States does not commit ground troops to fight Russia.

With the help of Ellie, a young homeless girl, Breed and Stein fight the Vampirs through black 19th century tunnels 30 stories below the streets of modern Manhattan. Ellie leads Breed to the bomb – and a terrifying climax with the lives of eight million innocents hanging in the balance.

My Thoughts: now if you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that I love a Breed thriller and I might even go as far to say that this one may just be my favourite one yet!

Its action packed as always, but this one just felt like it had more of an impact, I’m not sure if that’s because I actually knew about the events the book was based on or wether the writing just packed more of a punch in general but I couldn’t put it down.

Stein and Breed are working together with their teams to stop a Ukrainian special forces team from detonating a bomb and killing so many people, they really are against the clock!

They find Ellie underground who ends up being a bigger help than they ever expected.

This is a real edge of your seat, heart palpitation inducing story and I was here for it!

This one will be hard to top.

🐧🩷