prdgreads

Today I am on the tour for The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton, 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: 331

Synopsis: A gripping and beautiful tale of love, loss and secrets. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Lorna Cook and Kathryn Hughes.
1963: When Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage, she knows the scandal she’ll cause. A single woman buying property is not the ‘done thing’, especially not in a village like Carybrook. But Clara has been in love with Butterfly Cottage, and its garden, since she used to play there before the War. And when she reconnects with her childhood friend James, her decision feels serendipitous. But the true scandal is yet to come, because within six months, Clara will leave England under mysterious circumstances, and Butterfly Cottage will stand empty for more than 50 years.

2018: No one is more surprised than Meredith when she’s bequeathed a cottage by a great aunt she’d never heard of. She hopes, briefly, that the inheritance could be the answer to her financial problems. But when she arrives in Suffolk, she is shocked to discover a man is already living there. A young gardener, who claims he was also bequeathed half of Butterfly Cottage.

As the pair try to unravel their complicated situation, they unearth a decades old mystery involving Clara, the garden, and a stack of letters left unread for over 50 years…

My Thoughts: when I saw the cover of this one I instantly knew I had to be a part of the tour, it just looks magical and completely drew me in..

Upon reading the synopsis I then learnt that it was a multiple timeline and POV book which we all know is one of my faves so I was definitely sold!

The story is equally as magical as the cover suggests, and no I don’t mean magical in the physical sense, there’s just something about the writing that makes you forget the world around you, you’re thrown into the lives of both Clara and Meredith, living 55 years apart, but you know that somehow their stories will come together in some way.

Both women experience love, loss and uncertainty in their lives and full of self doubt until they find butterfly cottage.

A book full of secrets that you can’t stop turning the pages to unravel.. heartbreaking and unbelievable in places, but also full of positivity and humour too.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be shouting about it to everyone.

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Today I am on the tour for When Skies Are Grey by Fran Clark, 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: 300

Synopsis:

Behind the glitter of fame and fortune is a past that threatens to expose Rayna’s darkest secrets.

In the 1950s, a young West Indian girl arrives in London, eager to start a new life and quickly finds herself entangled with two powerful men. It is when she reveals her talent as a singer that the balance of power shifts and her fresh start can begin. Her success grows but so does the weight of her past.

Haunted by the promises she broke and the consequences of a day she will never forget, Rayna must make a difficult decision: continue hiding the truth or risk losing everything she has gained.

Will her life as a young girl destroy the world of the woman she has become, or will those she loves find it in their hearts to forgive her?

For fans of historical fiction with a touch of drama and mystery, When Skies Are Grey is a captivating tale of a woman’s struggle to make a new beginning.

My Thoughts: Fran has done it again and written a deeply thought provoking, emotional yet uplifting story, with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and root for.

Rayna has escaped her life in Dominica when things went in a direction she didn’t approve of, finds work in a bar in west London, where they discover she can sing, like really sing.

The story that follows is Rayna following her dreams, or at least what other people interpret her dream to be, falls in and out of love and repeatedly gets haunted by her very dark past.

There’s twists throughout to keep you gripped and keeps the narrative fresh.

I can’t say too much as the joy of the story is not knowing where it’s going or what’s coming next.

One thing I will say though is that Fran has made me a fan of Historical fiction & that is an achievement in itself!

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Today I am on the tour for Couples Retreat by Lorraine Brown, 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: 335

Synopsis:

Two writers. One pressing deadline. No time for romance…

Scarlett and Theo have one bestselling novel to their names: the psychological thriller they wrote together years ago. None of the books they’ve written separately have sold anywhere near as well…

Now at risk of being dropped by their respective publishers, their agent tells them that working together is the only way to save their careers and sends them off on a writers’ retreat in the south of France.

It wouldn’t be the worst way to spend a summer–except that they’ve accidentally been booked on a couples retreat instead, and spending so much time together stirs up some very inconvenient feelings!

With their careers on the line and a pressing deadline, romance is the last thing on their minds…

My Thoughts: it was actually the cover that drew me into this book, it’s fun & flirty & makes you wonder what the characters are like..

And fun and flirty also sums up the story itself, both authors collectively are award winning but separately they’re books have been a bit of a flop so their agent has signed them both up to a writers retreat (or so they think!) to encourage them to write another best seller.. the problem being that they haven’t spoken for years!

Turns out they’ve actually been signed up to a couples retreat, no backing out, no refunds and they have to take part in every aspect of the retreat including relationship counselling 🫣

We know very early on that both Theo and Scarlett are hiding something about their past together, it’s hinted at a few times, which for me built up the suspense of the will they won’t they aspect of the story.. it was so angsty and at times I just wanted to shove them together and make them realise what they were missing.

The story was laugh out loud funny at times, full of heart and had me constantly turning the pages to see where the story went.. let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed!

Scarlett as a main character started off unsure and full of self doubt, but with the help of people she met at the retreat and Theo too, she really started to blossom and her confidence started to build.. the character development was spot on 👌🏼

This was my first go at Lorraine’s writing but I can promise you it won’t be the last, I bloody loved it.

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Today I am on the tour for Dylan Dover Into The Vortex by Lynne Howard, 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: 285

Synopsis: Dylan Dover was an ordinary boy… until a fall into another realm transformed his fate – and the fate of this immortal realm – forever. 

Dylan believes he is a typical twelve-year-old until he stumbles into a vortex that miraculously transports him to the immortal dimension, a parallel universe.

Dylan not only learns that he is a warlock, but he also discovers a twin brother, extraordinary powers, and a secret prophecy that seems to have Dylan and his family at its crux. Dylan, along with his brother and their new-found wizard friend Thea, begin to unravel the mystery that surrounds their birth and the danger that threatens immortals and humans alike.

In a stunning debut, Lynne Howard’s Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex casts a potent reader’s charm over all youngsters clamouring for a new supernatural hero.

My Thoughts: I don’t know why, but I went into this expecting a nice easy going children’s book with a sprinkle of fantasy.. what I actually got was a middle grade book choc full of fantasy, with a whole lot of twist and turns!

I was hooked pretty early on, I loved Dylan as a main character, he was instantly likeable, had the strength needed to get through the tough times ahead but wasn’t afraid to show a touch of vulnerability too, which I think is an important representation with boys in books.

He is the thrown into a world of prophecies & magic, learns he has not just one identical twin brother Remy, but that he might actually be a triplet?!

It’s not long before he realises that the life he used to know is over and that he will spend most of his time now evading capture, but with his brother Remy and his new friend Thea by his side he can get through anything can’t he?

I really did adore this one and cannot wait for the next instalment.

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Today I am on the tour for Terrible Humans by Patrick Alley, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank k you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 352

Synopsis: A small number of people, motivated by an insatiable greed for power and wealth, and backed by a pinstripe army of enablers (and sometimes real armies too), have driven the world to the brink of destruction. They are the super-villains of corruption and war, some with a power greater than nation state and the capacity to derail the world order. Propping up their opulent lifestyles is a mess of crime, violence and deception on a monumental scale. But there is a fightback: small but fearless groups of brilliant undercover sleuths closing in on them, one step at a time.

In Terrible Humans, Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness and the author of Very Bad People, introduces us to some of the world’s worst warlords, grifters and kleptocrats who can be found everywhere from presidential palaces to the board rooms of some of the world’s best known companies. Pitted against them, the book also follows the people unravelling the deals, tracking the money and going undercover at great risk. From the oligarch charged with ordering the killing of an investigative journalist to the mercenary army seizing the natural resources of an entire African country, this is a whirlwind tour of the dark underbelly of the world’s super powerful and wickedly wealthy, and the daring investigators dragging them into the light

My Thoughts: I do love a book like this, it’s a deep dive into the real goings on of the corrupt people of the world! – I’m so glad that there are people like Patrick who will devote their lives to investigating the things and the people who most journalists will stay away fr for their own safety!

I was hooked from the start, some of it was so unbelievable that you could almost be convinced it was fiction. It absolutely beggars belief the lengths some people will go to to achieve their desires, but what a lot of people don’t realise is that there are other people that are equally determined to catch the criminals and find justice for the victims.

This gave me my crime fix, whilst leaving me perfectly safe and in my happy place with a book and a cup of tea on the sofa.

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Today I am on the tour for Second Chance Summer by Phillipa Ashley, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 400

Synopsis: From the moment Lily Harper arrives at a remote retreat on the breath-taking Scilly Isles, she is itching to get back to civilisation – and her thriving business.

Slowing down simply isn’t in her vocabulary, and so she quickly clashes with the gorgeous but dour Sam who runs the retreat.

Just as Lily is about to give up and leave, disaster strikes, and she is involved in an incident that changes her perspective on everything.

Lily is no longer sure she wants to return to the life she thought she loved. But will she have the courage to give the retreat, and Sam, a second chance?

My Thoughts: I’ve only read a couple of books by Phillips Ashley before, I find them easy to get lost in and difficult to put down.

Second Chance Summer was exactly the same but on steroids, I loved it straight away, I wanted Richie to be my best friend, he was kind, caring without being overbearing & really quite funny to!

We’re following Lily, she’s a workaholic, doesn’t know the meaning of delegating and absolutely rubbish at having a day off, her family and work colleagues have let her get on with it until Richie finds her on the office floor after she’s fainted.

They send her to the Isle of Scilly to try an up and coming retreat where she meets Sam, Morven & Elspeth.

Things aren’t plain sailing, there’s no phone signal and no wifi where they are and that seems like the end of the world to Lily.. how is she supposed to run her business without her phone?!

The story that follows is both heartwarming and devastating in places, a lot of feelings need to be dealt with by various characters.

The descriptions of the places in this story were absolutely captivating, made it so easy to picture them in my head & made me want to visit them in real life at some time.

If you’re looking for the perfect summer romance that will give you the warm and fuzzies, but give life to the story and the characters too, then look no further.. you’ve found it!

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Today I am on the tour for The British Bloke Decoded by Geoff Norcott, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 288

Synopsis: If you see a man drinking a pint in an airport pub alone, that’s a bloke. 
If you see a man driving to the tip on a Saturday morning with a smile on his face, that’s a bloke. 
And if you see a man heading back from the tip and on the way to the pub, that’s a very happy bloke.

The British Bloke appears simple and straightforward. He loves football, cricket, beer and sheds. But beneath that simple exterior lies a mysterious and complex being…

In The British Bloke Decoded, writer, comedian and regular bloke, Geoff Norcott, peels back the layers of blokedom, revealing the truth behind the behaviour of Britain’s husbands, dads, brothers and friends. He dives into the value of banter, the roots of mansplaining, the near impossibility of getting blokes to send birthday cards, and whether there could be a medal system for vacuuming.

Based on 46 years of intensive field research and semi-scientific insights, this book is a celebration of. the simple British bloke in all his splendour.

My Thoughts: this book is absolutely spot on, I may not be a British bloke but I have brothers coming out of my ears and I was raised my dad.. let me tell you this book had me in fits of laughter multiple times!

At certain points within the book I could picture my brother/dad/boyfriend doing everything he described.

I did find myself switching to the audio book part way through & that really enhanced the experience for me.

I was so immersed in what Geoff was saying & it felt so real, almost like he was sat on the sofa having a cuppa with me.

This book really did hit me right in the feels, I lost my dad in 2022 and the memories this book brought up had me smiling & made me a shed a tear more than once.

It really is one of those books that you’re not sure you’ll enjoy, you doubt if it’s for you, but before you know it you’re 100 pages deep and finding it impossible to put down.

It probably helps that ‘bloke’ is my favourite word (don’t ask, I can’t tell you why, because I don’t know myself 😂)

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Today I have a review of Jack & I by Laury A. Egan. Thank you Laury for my copy of the book!

Pages: 266

Synopsis: A psychological suspense novel about two teenage boys. The twist? They’re both named Jack and both inhabit the same body. “Mostly I was relieved to put some distance between Jack and myself, although this wasn’t possible because I am Jack, too. And sort of not Jack. I am I, or rather, I am me.”

1994. Jack Kennett is 16 and suffers from undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder). Abandoned at age two, Jack has been in the New Jersey care system all his life: foster homes and once placed for adoption with the Kennetts, a family he adored, especially their daughter, Cara. As the divisive war between the two personalities escalates, Jack (the host) is in despair and feeling powerless as he experiences amnesiac events and must deal with his alter’s promiscuity, truancy, and illegal acts. How will the war between the personalities end?

My Thoughts: I’m not really sure how to review this one if I’m honest, I’ve sat on it for days.

It’s hard hitting dealing with a lot of tough subjects in a very real way whilst also being sympathetic to the people who suffer from DID.

The writing is shocking and yet had me totally enthralled!

2 people in one body, I thought it would be hard to keep track of who was who, but Laury was very clever.. one spoke in 1st person whilst the other spoke in 3rd person.

Parts of this book left me in utter shock, wanting to hide away from the book because it made me uncomfortable, but I knew how important it was & that amount of research put into this book was incredible.

I know my review isn’t doing it justice, but that’s because it’s such a powerful book that no matter what I say it just wouldn’t be enough & I am intrigued to see what Laury comes up with next.

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Today I am on the tour for The Guilty Girl by Ruth Harrow, 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: 294

Synopsis: Chloe is serving a life sentence. In her own home.

Ever since the horrific day her mother died, Chloe’s life has been anything but normal – more like a carefully constructed prison. Her father hasn’t let her go to school, have friends or leave the house alone.

As she grows up, Chloe begins to question the motives behind her dad’s obsessive control. What would happen if she broke one of his many rules? And what exactly is he hiding under the overgrown grass in the back garden?

When new neighbors arrive next door, they trigger a chain of events that causes Chloe to suspect her father’s motives are far darker than she knew.

Now she faces the terrifying consequences of defying the man who controls her every waking moment. Will she risk everything to win her freedom or will her father’s dark secrets keep her captive forever?

My Thoughts: Eerie, chilling yet strangely compelling, this is a book that will have you in its grasp and not let you go until you’ve finished it.. I didn’t get up off the sofa until the very page.

Chloe has been living with her dad since she was a little girl when her mum died.. but right from the start you know that something isn’t right.. they go for walks once a month & Chloe isn’t allowed to talk to anyone incase she’s recognised. Then if she behaves herself and follows the rules she gets to watch an episode of Columbus on video with her dad in the evening.

All goes to plan until she hears noise in the back garden and the trees she has seen as friends for the majority of her life are being chopped down and there’s a young lad there, curiosity gets the better of her and despite knowing better and all the doors being locked she is determined to find a way out.

Full of suspense that keeps you turning the pages at a rapid speed, knowing what’s about to happen but hoping against hope that you can will a different outcome, you’re left wanting to cover your eyes but unable to do so as you watch the disasters unfold.

Incase you can’t tell I bloody loved it and suggest you all add it to your TBR.

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Today I am on the tour for You, Me, Her by Sue Watson thank you to Sarah at Bookouture for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 390

Synopsis: Three people. One marriage. One murder.

YOU: My handsome husband Tom. You’ve given me everything – our beautiful son and our perfect new seaside home. I want to trust you, but I know you haven’t been honest about why you really wanted to move here. I haven’t been honest with you either…

ME: I make a secret promise as Tom kisses me and pours a glass of ice-cold wine to toast the first night in our dream house: I’m going to forget about his past. For the sake of our son, I’ll keep this family together, no matter what.

HER: Chloe is the only friend I’ve made since the move. I love our long lunches, even though she asks prying questions about my marriage. Tom hates me spending time with her, but I ignore his warning to stay away. I’ve seen the way he looks at her. It’s better to keep your enemies close…

You may think you know what’s going on in my marriage, but you’ll be wrong. Only three things are true: Someone is a liar. Someone is in danger. Someone is a killer. 

My Thoughts: firstly let me say this is my first time reading one of Sue’s books, I have a lot on my kindle but never actually picked one up. I started with a good one!

The writing almost lulls you into a false sense of security, the idyllic setting and the happy family reunion and the perfect new house… that is until the estate agents lets herself in.. from the off Rachel thinks it’s weird, but her husband Tom brushes it off with excuses.

Rachel isn’t stupid though, she already has doubts about moving to the coast because of her debilitating fear of water thanks to a past trauma but when her dad died and she inherited a large sum of money, Yom convinced her a fresh start was a good idea.

I didn’t like Chloe as a ‘villain’ she was annoying and over the top, almost like the irritating little sister that you can’t get rid of because you’ve promised your parents you’ll spend the day with her.. nothing quite adds up but nothing sets off massive alarm bells either, which I’m assuming was purposely done and very clever.

The way Sue added reasonable doubt on more than one character left us hanging in a way that made the writing addictive and impossible to put down.

An absolutely fantastic read that I will be shouting about from the rooftops.

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