prdgreads

May wasn’t the best reading month for me in terms of quantity, but the quality was amazing.

1. The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧 (arc provided by readers first)

2. The Rules of Seeing by Joe Heap – 🐧🐧🐧 (arc provided by readers first)

3. The Girl who Came out of the Woods by Emily Barr – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧 (arc provided by netgalley)

4. Bridesmaids by Zara Stoneley – 🐧🐧🐧🐧 (arc provided by TBC)

5. The Carrero Contract, Selling your Soul by L.T. Marshall – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

6. The Carrero Contract, Amending Agreements by L.T. Marshall – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

I also became a beta reader for LT Marshall and have been caught up in my duties for that, hence why my reading has slacked. 🤷🏻‍♀️. But it’s amazing opportunity for me.

🐧❤️

Pages: 400

Synopsis: Meet Rachel, the beautiful bride with BIG plans for the perfect day! The venue is a castle and the dress is designer.  It’s just a shame her husband is a rat.

Maddie and Sally have only one thing in common – they both love the same man!
 
Beth is a newly single mum with a mystery baby daddy.  Surely the father isn’t someone the girls all know?
 
And then there’s Jane, the glue holding them all together, but being dumped doesn’t make her the happiest bridesmaid…especially with gorgeous flatmate Freddie complicating things.

Will the bride say, ‘I Do!’?  Or will her bridesmaids save the day…and find love along the way?    

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: This book was absolutely hilarious, lots and lots of laugh out loud moments that had people looking at me like I had lost the plot.

5 best friends that have barely seen each other since they left school all get together for the wedding of Rachel.. what could possibly go wrong?

The story is told from the perspective of Jane, who we quickly find out was dumped by text on her hen night, her fiancée just couldn’t commit, it’s been a year or so since that happened and she is trying to get her life back together, she has a job taking photos for someone else’s Instagram & the only good thing in her life is Freddie, her housemate.

Rachel is the bride to be and just wants everything to be perfect, her and Michael have had an on/off relationship, but they’re back together & he’s promised he’s changed.

All of the girls quickly fall back into the roles that they played in the friendship group when they were younger, Rachel being the confident one, Sally the competitive one, Maddie the shy quiet one, Beth is the wind up merchant and Jane is the barrier that stops them all from killing each other.

This was a heartwarming read about how friendships can survive the test of time and that no matter what happens girls stick together, it was such a lovely story that I will recommend to everyone

🐧❤️

I RECEIVED MY COPY FROM NETGALEY.

Pages: 320

Synopsis: When you wake up and realise you’re trending #GirlOutoftheWoods 

Arty has always lived in the Clearing, a commune hidden in the forests of south India. But her happy life, separate from the rest of the world, is shattered after a terrible event. 

For the first time, Arty must leave her home, and head into the intriguing but frightening outside world. On the streets of India, a chance encounter leads to her becoming an unwilling overnight celebrity. 

As she embarks on her journey, she discovers she is being followed by thousands of strangers, who seem to know her every move…

Forced to fight against mysterious hashtags and being constantly photographed, how can she find the help she desperately needs? 

Everything is changing too fast for this girl who came out of the woods… could she be running into a trap? 

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: firstly thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book sounded amazing when I first read the synopsis, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and then I picked it up and I’m going to be honest although it was a quick read when I got to 30% and I still wasn’t invested in the book so I DNF’d posted my thoughts on netgalley and then decided to see if it was just me and checked the ratings and reviews on goodreads, there were a couple that said they found the beginning slow and a little boring, but once they got to about 40% they were hooked.

I decided to pick it back up and give it another go and I’m really glad I did.

The story is about Artemis (Arty) who was born and raised in a clearing in the woods with 10 other people, something tragic happens and Arty leaves the clearing with one of the other children in search of help on the advice of her mother.

The story soon develops into a journey of self discovery for Arty, having to learn the ‘modern ways’ this story does an amazing job of showing the good and bad sides to social media and the internet in general, as well as showing that not everyone who seems like a friend can be trusted.

I adored reading about Arty meeting new people and learning to open up about her past whilst also trying to accept her new future.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions, it had me laughing, crying, cringing and also really relating to Arty in places.

I cannot recommenced this book enough to EVERYONE.

🐧❤️

I RECEIVED MY COPY FROM READERS FIRST.

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Nova is 32 years old and she is about to see the world for the very first time.

Jillian Safinova, Nova to her friends, can do many things. She can speak five languages. She can always find a silver lining. And she can even tell when someone is lying just from the sound of their voice.

But there’s one thing Nova can’t do. She can’t see.

When her brother convinces her to have an operation that will restore her sight, Nova wakes up to a world she no longer understands. Until she meets Kate.

As Kate comes into focus, her past threatens to throw them into a different kind of darkness. Can they each learn to see the world in a different … and open their eyes to the lives they could have been living all along?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: This has been the first book to grip me almost instantly in a long time.

Firstly we meet Nova, who was born blind, but has the opportunity to have an operation to give her the gift of sight!

I fell in love with Nova very quickly and understood her doubts and reservations about the operation, being blind is all she’s ever known and the idea is the unknown and being able to see is something that scares and excites her at the same time, as someone with a disability I totally get that, I honestly don’t think I would get rid of my cerebral palsy if I was ever given the option, I don’t think I’d be the same person without it.

The majority of the book is Nova learning to use her new eyes and adapting to having sight and learning to live in a world that feels completely new to her.

We also meet Kate, who is in a very volitile relationship with Tony.

Kate and Nova meet at the hospital and strike up a friendship, will it amount to more?

I don’t want to say too much incase I spoil the story.

I absolutely adored the first 320 pages of this book, however I felt like the author lost the plot of the story after that and wasn’t sure where it was leading. The last 85 pages dragged and felt unnecessary.

On the whole though, I would recommend this book!

I RECEIVED MY COPY FROM READERS FIRST.

Pages: 400

Synopsis Tiffy and Leon share a flat

Tiffy and Leon share a bed

Tiffy and Leon have never met

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time. 

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: The first few chapters of this book had me intrigued, i really needed to know where the story was going to go.

It didn’t take long at all for me to fall in love with all of the characters, apart from Kay and Justin. I didn’t like them at all.

The story is written from the perspective of both our main characters in alternating chapters, Tiffy was outgoing and confident for the most part and for the most part her chapters read as more ‘fun’ Leon seemed to be very work focussed, but you soon find out that he’s working all the hours under the sun to distract from thinking about his brother who is in prison for something he claims he didn’t do.

I thought this book was going to be just your typical lovey dovey romance and that it ear going to be hearts and flowers all the time, it wasn’t! – but they doesn’t mean to say I was disappointed.

There was so many elements to the story and lots of side stories all going on at the same time.

I thought the story line between Tiffy and Justin was very cleverly done and Beth did a brilliant job of a very difficult topic. (Can’t give any spoilers you’ll have to read it and find out)

I absolutely loved seeing Tiffy and Leon’s relationship blossom as the book went on – the sticky notes part was my favourite though so I’m glad that was carried on even after they met.

I could honestly go on and on about this book but then there be no point you reading it.

Just know it was everything I didn’t know I needed!

Here are all the books that I read in April, there were 7 in total so again another good reading month for me ☺️

1. Just Rose by L.T. Marshall – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

2. The Shadowverse by John-Clement Gallo – no rating for this one as I only got 60% through and didn’t think it would be fair. it wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me.

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater – 🐧🐧

4. Little Darlings by Melanie Golding – 🐧🐧🐧🐧 (ARC provided by Netgalley)

5. The Carrero Effect: The Promotion by L.T. Marshall – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

6. The Carrero Influence: Redefining Rules by L.T. Marshall – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

7. The Carrero Solution: Starting Over by L.T. Marshall – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

Pages: 469

Synopsis: EMMA ANDERSON has everything in her life worked out. 

She has a perfect job in a Manhattan empire, allowing her to live a quiet, organised and safe existence. A necessity after a childhood filled with abuse, bad memories, and a mother who was less than useless. 

She’s worked hard to get where she is – and she has just landed an amazing promotion. 

But it comes with a problem – and one that could derail everything she thought she needed in her life. 

Emma’s new role is as the right-hand man for billionaire playboy JAKE CARRERO. He’s exactly the type of person who could drive her crazy – and not in a good way. 

Chalk and cheese, he is everything she’s not. Compulsive, dominant and confident, with a seriously laid-back attitude to casual sex and dating. 

Jake is the only one with the ability to steamroll over Emma’s manicured, ice maiden exterior. But Emma has no desire to let anyone close enough to hurt her again. 

Jake needs to show Emma that even someone like him can change when that one girl that matters walks into your life. 

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this is a re-read for me, and just like the first time I read it I’m unsure on how to review it because I’m feeling so many emotions and really struggling to put them into words.

I know a lot of people don’t like to re-read books because they think it’s pointless, after all you already know what’s going to happen! – I loved this book even more this time round, because I knew the main plot points and what was going to happen I picked up on things I hadn’t before, noticing the small things and knowing they are the start of Emma letting go of her “ice queen” persona and letting Jake slowly chip away at it.

It also makes the heart wrenching moments worse, I saw the build up sooner and was dreading it earlier than I had been before, it built anticipation and made it more of a page turner.

Reading about Emma’s turbulent relationship with her parents (both for different reasons) really struck a chord with me, especially with her mum, a mother and daughters relationship is supposed to be a special one, and I found myself relating to her, because deep down despite what she said, you could tell that all she really wanted was for her mum to love her and want to be there for her then way a mother should.

I absolutely loved seeing the relationship between Jake and Emma blossom, it was so heartwarming watching him just be there for her and try to prove to her that not everyone will want something from her or walk away from her.

The constant push and pull of their relationship, both working and personal was frustrating but addictive to read about.

And the ending broke me all over again. I can’t wait to get lost in the second book and be back in the world of Jake and Emma.

If you like the sound of this you can buy it here ☺️

Don’t forget to let me know your thoughts if you read it!

PUBLICATION DATE – 2ND MAY 2019 BY HQ STORIES

Synopsis: THE TWINS ARE CRYING.

THE TWINS ARE HUNGRY.

LAUREN IS CRYING.

LAUREN IS EXHAUSTED.

Behind the hospital curtain, someone is waiting . . .

Lauren is alone on the maternity ward with her new-born twins when a terrifying encounter in the middle of the night leaves her convinced someone is trying to steal her children. Lauren, desperate with fear, locks herself and her sons in the bathroom until the police arrive to investigate.

When DS Joanna Harper picks up the list of overnight incidents that have been reported, she expects the usual calls from drunks and wrong numbers. But then a report of an attempted abduction catches her eye. The only thing is that it was flagged as a false alarm just fifteen minutes later.

Harper’s superior officer tells her there’s no case here, but Harper can’t let it go so she visits the hospital anyway. There’s nothing on the CCTV. No one believes this woman was ever there. And yet, Lauren claims that she keeps seeing the woman and that her babies are in danger, and soon Harper is sucked into Lauren’s spiral of fear. But how far will they go to save children who may not even be in danger?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: This is a really hard book to review. – it was brilliant a 4 star read, I want to say I enjoyed it but I’m not sure it’s appropriate.

The beginning was very hard hitting, there’s a woman with 2 babies in her arms walking into a river about to dunk them underneath. The police are stood on the viaduct and all they can do is watch. My heart was in my mouth wondering what was going to happen next, but then obviously the epilogue ends and the story goes back in time a month.

Lauren is on her own in the hospital, she’s just given birth to twins and the nurses have sent her husband home.

She thinks she can hear someone in the bed next to her but when she looks there’s no one there.

Then she thinks someone is trying to abduct her twins, but when reported to the police they can find no evidence of the intruder. But Lauren is utterly convinced there is someone out to get her & her babies

This book was fast paced and absolutely brilliant,

We meet DS Jo Harper who despite being told by her superiors that the case had been dropped can’t seem to let it go, babies are a sore subject for her and she wants to do everything in her power to get the case solved.

There were so many twists and turns to this story that you’re left constantly guessing. Sometimes you’re sympathising with the main character and other times you just want to shout at her and ask her what on earth she is doing.

This book deals with very important topics in a delicate way, trigger warnings for mental health issues

Hi guys, now I know a lot of people don’t actually read a full review (I never used to) because sometimes people don’t want to know what you thought about a book.. they just want to know what you’ve been reading.

I can’t promise anything other than I will try my hardest to post monthly wrap ups. I was planning on posting this yesterday, but I’m poorly and yesterday was a rubbish day. Anyway let’s get into what I read in March.

1. You by Caroline Kepnes – 🐧🐧🐧🐧

2. The Geography of Friendship by Sally Piper – 🐧🐧🐧

3. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy – 🐧🐧🐧🐧

4. A Summer to Remember by Sue Moorcroft – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

5. Sleep by C.L. Taylor – 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson – 🐧🐧

7. The Secret Runners of New York – Matthew Reilly – 🐧🐧🐧🐧

If you want to see my thoughts on any of these check my Goodreads.

All in all March was a good reading month for me, I read less books than I normally would but most of them were a good rating and really enjoyable!

Have you read any of the above? what were your thoughts?