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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Hope Nicely’s Lessons for life, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 464

Synopsis: I don’t have any friends, only dog ones, because they don’t make you do bad things. I don’t want any human friends, actually. It’s for the best.’

Hope Nicely hasn’t had an easy life.

But she’s happy enough living at 23 Station Close with her mum, Jenny Nicely, and she loves her job, walking other people’s dogs. She’s a bit different, but as Jenny always tells her, she’s a rainbow person, a special drop of light.

It’s just . . . there’s something she needs to know. Why did her birth mother abandon her in a cardboard box on a church step twenty-five years ago? And did she know that drinking while pregnant could lead to Hope being born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

In a bid to find her birth mother and the answers to these questions, Hope decides to write her autobiography. Despite having been bullied throughout school, Hope bravely joins an evening class where Hope will not only learn the lessons of writing, but will also begin to discover more about the world around her, about herself and even make some (human) friends.

But when Jenny suddenly falls ill, Hope realises there are many more lessons to come . . .

Hope Nicely’s Lessons for Life is a heartwarming, coming-of-age novel about loneliness, friendship, acceptance and, above all, hope.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: well, this book was an absolute joy to read, it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me cringe and it made me want to hold Hope right and never let her go.

When it comes to the writing style and Hopes voice although I totally understood why it was written the way it was, it did take a lot of getting used to, but once I was there it made the story feel more real and genuine.

The story deals with a lot of hard hitting topics, and there were times when I thought I’d have to put it down, but I kept on going and I am SO GLAD I did,

How do you deal with the worst days of your life when you take things literally and struggle to process your emotions in the way that everyone else is telling you too? – stick with Hope and she will show you how.

This has to be one of my favourite reads of the year and gave me serious Eleanor Oliphant vibes and I will be recommending it to anyone possible.

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Today I’m on the blog tour for Marrying The Heiress by Autumn Miller, thank you to Kelly at Love Books Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 267

Synopsis: Marrying The Heiress is a standalone, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a smoking hot guy, steamy bedroom-scenes, and a happily ever after.

Kate
I didn’t expect to inherit a multi-million pound estate – especially under dubious circumstances – but I’ve only ever wanted to be financially secure.
For years I’ve been cast out from my family, desperately scraping together a living, trying to find some self-worth in the process.
But the rightful heir – Will Dawlish – hates my guts.
He wants his inheritance back.
A-Daw-rable Dawlish, the papers call him. Dee-Lish Dawlish.
But even though he’s distractingly handsome and adored by the country as a cricketing legend, he’s emotionally bankrupt.
The prenup demands that I sleep with him, and I just know that there will be sparks. That born from his hate will be a sizzling chemistry that will be impossible to ignore.

Will
I just want my grandfather’s inheritance back. I’ve got big plans to realise, and Kate Parsons has utterly derailed them.
After pursuing her through my lawyers, I’m left with one brazen plan.
Marrying her is the only option.
It makes good business sense; the divorce will be clean and tidy, my finances restored.
There will be nothing romantic between us because there’s absolutely nothing to like about Kate Parsons.
Not her lies, her mysteries, nor her blatant thievery.
And when she walks down the aisle towards me, I refuse to be moved by her graceful beauty.
I don’t want to notice her dazzling smile.
All I need to focus on is the next twelve months. Except, I also have to meet a stipulation of the prenup: consummating this marriage.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this book, the writing style flowed easily but drew you in straight away, before I knew it I was 100 pages in!

I have to saw William Dawlish Senior was my favourite, as much as I knew he was going to die I was absolutely devastated when I’d happened, I don’t know if it’s because we’ve had a couple of bereavements in our family but it actually made me shed a tear!

Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes within romance so I devoured this and loved every second of it!

I loved Will and Kate as separate characters, Will was cocky, entitled and selfish and as much as I wanted to hate him there was just something about him that made it impossible to hate him, so when he started showing his softer side, I knew I’d need right not to write him off straight away!

Kate was warm-hearted, caring and always put others before herself, so when we found out about her life and living arrangements my heart broke for her and I couldn’t help but feel that she deserved the inheritance 😂

I couldn’t help but feel that although they acted like they hated each other the attraction had been there for both of them from the start! I felt that Will was too embarrassed to admit, more worried about what his friends would think instead of what his words and actions were doing to Kate, whereas Kate felt that she wasn’t beautiful or deserving enough to be loved by someone like Will!

Experiencing them getting closer was frustrating in the best way possible, I just wanted to shake them both & sort them out, you could cut the tension with a knife.

The length of this book was perfect for me too, I prefer my romances to be short and snappy, although that being said I wouldn’t be opposed to a second book from their perspective 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

I would highly recommend this to all fans of a steamy romance.

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I’m on the blog tour today for The Lucky Eight by Shelia Bugler, for those eagle eyed among you, the poster isn’t wrong I’m posting a day late! – thank you to Kelly at Love Books Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 277

Synopsis: When the plane crashed, 160 people perished. Now someone is killing off the survivors.
Five years ago, a horrific airline disaster made headlines around the world. On the anniversary of the fatal crash, a number of those who were spared gather to mark the occasion. By morning, Nick Gilbert, a celebrity chef and one of the party, lies dead. Detective Rachel Lewis leads the investigation and within days another survivor is stabbed to death. It seems certain that a killer is targeting the lucky eight.

Clodagh Kinsella recovered from the injuries she sustained in the crash, but lost her sister that day. The bereavement shared by Clodagh and her sister’s husband led them to a romance of their own. Yet lately, Clodagh knows something isn’t right. As the noose tightens on the group and Rachel comes across more questions than answers, it’s only a matter of time before Clodagh will have to face the consequences of a mistake she made before the plane went down…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts; the synopsis of this book drew me in straight away, it just really intrigued me!

The 8 survivors of a plane crash that killed 160 others meet up once a year on the anniversary of the plane crash to remember the ones who didn’t survive but also celebrate their survival – normally these get togethers go without a hitch, but this time one of them is found dead on the beach, did he fall off the edge, or was he murdered?

The story is told from 2 different perspectives, one from Clodagh who is one of the survivors and the one who found the victim and the other from Rachel who is the lead detective in the investigation, although I appreciated both sides, I did find myself getting lost in the story more within Clodaghs chapters!

I loved that Clodagh was convinced that she held the answer to what had happened that night and why, if only she could remember! She had problems with her memory which were caused by the crash, but she starts getting flashbacks of not only that night but of the day of the crash too, can she piece them all together before someone else gets hurt?

None of the survivors knew who they could trust or where to turn, they’re left constantly doubting eachother and the guests that some of the survivors brought with them – is the killer among them or is it someone else entirely?

At times I did find myself getting a little muddled with all the different characters, but I think that was more my issue than anything the author did wrong.

This was a good solid thriller, with short snappy chapters which are my fave, it’s one that I highly recommend although it may make you think twice about getting on a plane for a while 😂

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Cyprus Kiss by Murray Bailey, The amazing prequel to the Ash Carter series, thank you to Murray for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Synopsis: Help Me!
Those were the words on the back of a woman’s photograph. And she vanished six months ago.
It’s 1948 and military investigator Ash Carter has arrived in Cyprus.
A gang has been operating for two years, leaving a mark known to police as the kiss of death. Is this something to do with them? And why ask him for help?
After a murder, Carter begins to realise this is personal. In a race against time, Carter must work out the connection between the gang, the missing woman and the murder before it’s too late.

Pages: 321

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I adored this, I’ve loved the Ash Carter series so the thought of a series about how he became the Ash Carter we all know and loved was so exciting!

This had all the best bits of the Ash Carter series with added element of his youth and his inexperience which made him seem naive but almost cocky at times!

As always this book gripped me instantly and I was almost turning the pages quicker than I could read the words, I just needed to get to the bottom of the mystery, does the woman in the photo need help or so someone trying to test Ash?

He shows how clever and cunning he is, whilst trying his best to stick to the rules he’s been given, but when it looks like his girlfriend is being framed for the murder all the rules go out of the window!

I cannot wait to see where the story takes us next!

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Today I have a cover reveal for you and it’s adorable! – but before I show you, let me tell you a little about the book and the author!

Synopsis: What would you do if you found the world’s smallest dog?

When Ernie and his family leave the countryside to move to the city. Ernie feels like he’ll never settle into their new home.

Yet on his very first night, a surprising new friend introduces himself – Swop is a very tiny dog. A dog that just happens to be the size of a satsuma.

Ernie vows to keep Swop a secret, but Swop has other ideas and he’s determined to make Ernie’s first day at his new school a memorable one!

About The Author: An ex-primary school teacher and Teacher of the Deaf. I now run a small educational company, specialising in arranging book projects and theatre events for schools and families. I live with my husband, our three children and our three dogs in Ealing, London. Yet the one in charge is our little ex-street dog, even though he has no eyes and three legs. He also happens to be called Swop!

Are you ready to see the cover?!

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Isn’t it cute?! – I don’t have children myself but I do think all the children I have in my life would love this!

If you like the look of the cover and the sound of the book it can be bought here… don’t forget to come back and tell me what you and your little ones thought!

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Today is my stop on the audio blog tour for Mimic by Daniel Cole, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive readers for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy

Before I start, let me just say that after experiencing 2 family bereavements in a very short space of time, one still less than 2 weeks ago I am still struggling to get my thoughts in order, so please forgive me if this review seems ranty or falls flat in any way.

Synopsis:

1989
DS Benjamin Chambers and DC Adam Winter are on the trail of a twisted serial killer with a passion for recreating the world’s greatest works of art through the bodies of his victims. But after Chambers almost loses his life, the case goes cold – their killer lying dormant, his collection unfinished.

1996
Jordan Marshall has excelled within the Metropolitan Police Service, fuelled by a loss that defined her teenage years. Obsessed, she manages to obtain new evidence, convincing both Chambers and Winter to revisit the case. However, their resurrected investigation brings about a fresh reign of terror, the team treading a fine line between police officers and vigilantes in their pursuit of a monster far more dangerous and intelligent than any of them had anticipated…

Pages: 311

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story, it drew me in quite quickly, the writing flowed easily and I really enjoyed the humour of the story with the very serious undertone!

I’ve never read a book with a story line quite like this, murders are being committed and the bodies are being left looking like famous sculptures, so death has become art, it gave me the creeps and fascinated me at the same time.

It seems like DS Chambers and DC Winters just keep hitting brick walls when it comes to trying to solve the case, they’re both getting frustrated and give it one last ditch attempt which ends up with dire consequences for one of them?

The case is ‘forgotten’ for 7 years before being picked up by new blood Jordan who manages to convince both Chambers and Winters to help her solve the case despite them both having new jobs! – they’re reluctant at first out soon the pull of the new evidence and the possibility of finally getting to the bottom of it proves too much!

Unfortunately in reopening the case they seem to have reawakened the murderer, can they get to the bottom of who started this awful new collection of art before it’s too late?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and felt the audiobook added a whole new level too it making it feel more real, or had me laughing in places, whilst cringing and on the edge of my seat in others, this is my first dive into Daniels work and it’s left me eager to discover his previous books!

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Today is my stop on the blogtour for Delivery by Emanuela Barasch-Rubinstein, thank you to Zoé at Zooloo’s book tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy

Pages: 205

Synopsis: When Daphne becomes pregnant, it isn’t only her life that changes… For her husband Amir, for their parents, and for their friends Guy and Abigail, the pregnancy and birth force them all to look at their own lives, at what they want, at their pasts and their futures. Each person has a different perspective of the delivery, and of the complexity of having a child: the difference between men and women, a changing self-perception of parents, conflicts between work and parenthood. Lives are changed, and the equilibrium each of them has achieved is fundamentally disturbed until, after the delivery, they can find a new balance for the future

About the Author:

Emanuela Barasch Rubinstein is a writer and a scholar in the Humanities. This is her second work of fiction, following Five Selves, published in 2015 by Holland House Books. Her non-fiction work includes The Devil, the Saints, and the Church, Nazi Devil, and Mephisto in the Third Reich: Literary representations of Evil in Nazi Germany. Emanuela also translated Evans-Prichards’ Theories of Primitive Religion and Dodd’s The Greek and the Irrational from English into Hebrew.

You can find her social media sites here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Delivery-Emanuela-Barasch-Rubinstein-103759155294808
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emanuelabaraschrubinstein/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmanuelaRubinst

Buy on Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delivery-Emanuela-Barasch-Rubinstein-ebook/dp/B08XQDGBST

Today is my stop on the blogtour for The Beach House by Beverley Jones, thank you to Emma at Damp pebbles Blog tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 181

Synopsis: The perfect place to hide. Or so she thought . . .

When Grace Jensen returns to her home in the ocean-front town of Lookout Beach one day, she finds a body in a pool of blood and a menacing gift left for her: a knife, a coil of rope and handcuffs.

The community of Lookout Beach are shocked by such a brutal intrusion in their safe, close-knit community – particularly to a family as successful and well-liked as the Jensens – and a police investigation begins to find the trespasser.

But Grace knows who’s after her. She might have changed her name and moved across the world, deciding to hide on the Oregon coast, but she’s been waiting seventeen years for what happened in the small Welsh town where she grew up to catch-up with her.

Grace might seem like the model neighbour and mother, but nobody in Lookout Beach – not even her devoted husband Elias – knows the real her. Or how much blood is on her hands. 

My Rating:🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: When I realised that this book was only 181 pages I did worry that it would feel rushed in places, and although it didn’t I also felt that some parts could have been fleshed out a little more, but that is just a preference of mine, I don’t like to feel like I don’t knw the whole story!

the story was fast paced and had lots of different elements that left you constantly on your toes and second guessing who Grace could trust and who she was going to turn to next.

I found myself very mistrusting of ALL the main characters at some point within the book and felt it could’ve been any one of them trying to spook Grace, or maybe even Grace herself trying to get attention, possibly as a way to reveal her past because keeping a secret was now proving just too difficult for her because she has now found a place she belonged..

Even now after reading the book and knowing the conclusion i don’t feel like there were any hints within the writing that would’ve led me in the direction it took… that could just be me but there you are.

This is my first dive into Beverley’s work and after looking on Goodreads I can see that this is definitely not her first book and it makes me want to go through her back catalogue and give them all a read! So if you have ever read anything else by Beverley then please let me know which ones you would recommend i pick up next!

The Beach House was solid psychological thriller that I will be recommending to my friends and urge you all to pick up if that is a genre that you enjoy!

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Keeper of Songs by Fiona Mountain, thank you to Anne at Tandkm Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the Author for my copy!

Pages: 453

Synopsis:

• A missing singer
• A doomed love story
• A family split by secrets & lies

1967: Enigmatic young folk singer Molly Marrison disappears on the cusp of fame.2002: Silva is working as a housemaid at Chatsworth House when her father suddenly dies, leaving her with one instruction – find Molly.

The only clue is a haunting song, centuries old, that Molly recorded before she vanished. Silva needs the help of song collector, Robbie Nightingale. Silva and Robbie were teenage sweethearts, but they’ve not spoken for decades. If they try to find Molly, what else will they discover? For Molly is not the only girl to have disappeared. Silva’s mother, Sukey, vanished when Silva was a child, leaving her with scars that Robbie once tried but failed to heal.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: oh, I loved this, like really loved it!

Imagine being obsessed with a song from a young age, and then on his death bed his dad tells you to find Molly, which coincidentally is the name of the lady who sings the song you were obsessed with, not only that but you also discover that it was her record that your dad was listening to, is it all toed together or just a very strange coincidence?

What follows is Silva trying her best to honour her dads dying wish, but it means that she has to confront some demons from her past along the way.

The story is a very slow burn, which is something that I don’t normally enjoy, but this story just did everything right, because it gave you chance to really devour the story! – I can’t tell you anything about the story because I just don’t want to ruin it for you, if I could go back and read it again for the first time I would! 😍

Just go pick it up, you won’t be disappointed.

^^^ incase you wanted to see the full finished cover, isn’t it beautiful 😍😍

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for a cut for a cut by Carol Wyer, thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 365

Synopsis: DI Kate Young can’t trust anybody. Not even herself.

In the bleak countryside around Blithfield Reservoir, a serial murderer and rapist is leaving a trail of bloodshed. His savage calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.

DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. But Kate is battling her own demons. Obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, she no longer knows who to trust. Kate’s crusade has already cost her dearly. What will she lose next?

When her stepsister spills a long-buried secret, Kate realises she’s found the missing link—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring them down. But time is running out, and Kate’s past has pushed her to the very edge. Can she stop herself from falling?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: firstly this is the second book in the series and although I won’t be putting anything that I consider to be spoilers for this book, I may put spoilers for the first book, so if you haven’t read it stop reading now and go buy a copy of An Eye for an Eye btw it’s only £1 on kindle at the moment and is totally worth the read!

As with the first one I found the writing style flowed nicely and was easy to follow, before I knew it I was a few chapters in and I’d only intended to read a few pages before work!

I did find this story and investigation a little slower paced and not quite as gripping as the first one but I appreciated that and at times felt like it may have been intentional because it meant that I had more time to take in the smaller details which ended up being important!

I enjoyed getting to know Kate and her team a little better & found myself still very much mistrusting or certain characters (I won’t spoil which ones, but let me just say they are the ones you should be able to trust the most!

I really don’t want to give even the smallest detail about the story away, I feel like it’s important that you go into this one knowing as little as possible!

I love how not everything has a conclusion yet which has left the series wide open for a third instalment which I CANNOT WAIT to devour when it’s ready!

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