Review: Killer Affair by Rebecca Chance

Killer Affair by bestselling author Rebecca Chance explores British reality TV in this gripping thriller. A shocking betrayal deserves a wicked revenge . . . Stunning, charismatic Lexy O’Brien is the reigning queen of British reality TV. Her life in front of the camera is planned and manipulated as successfully as any military assault. But success breeds jealousy. When you’re on top, the only way is down and there’s always someone standing by to give you a shove . . . Dowdy Caroline Evans, a part-time blogger and writer of erotic fiction, is brought in to chronicle Lexy’s life. Being taken under Lexy’s wing is a dream come true for Caroline. But sampling the star’s lifestyle is like tasting the most addictive of drugs, and it’s not long before she is craving what she can’t possibly have – or can she? And as Caroline and Lexy’s lives and loves become increasingly entwined, it’s only a matter of time before the hidden rivalry becomes a powder keg waiting to explode . . .

Review: Oh wow, Rebecca Chance's books are always chock full of drama and this one was no exception. You can tell from the synopsis that this novel is going to be fuelled by the desire of two strong women, two women who may or may not grow to like each other. The word rivalry is mentioned but this rivalry is like none other you've seen before. I loved the fact that this storyline covers fame and family but also the price of fame to yourself and to others. The way the story is told, we get to see things from Lexy's perspective, from Caroline's perspective and a few extracts from the books that Caroline has written/is writing. I loved this structure and it made for a little extra interest. 

These women are both fabulous to read. They both know what they want and are ready to go fro it. They are so different and yet watching them grow and change over the course of the book is really entertaining. Of course we know that Lexy being 'Queen of reality TV' is going to play a certain character but there is definitely more to her than meets the eye. And speaking of more than meets the eye, Caroline really does surprise you as you turn each and every page. I really liked her storyline and the way she dealt with the drama of it all. 

The other thing that I really liked about this book was the insight it gives you into the world of ghostwriting and publicising a book. Just a little of the world of publicity and publishing. I thought that everything rang very true to some of the things I had heard and there was a lot of detail to take in. Some of the detail made it that the book read a little slower than I am used to but it didn't take away from the drama of the storyline at all. There are also some familiar face that pop up in this novel, so if you have read Rebecca's other books, you will be pleased to see a recurring character here!

Overall this was a really good read and definitely up to par with what I have come to expect from this author. The sex scenes were fabulous, as always, and the drama was on point. This is definitely something to read this summer, something to heat up the cold British summer weather!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Chasing The Sun by Katy Colins

Georgia Green is on the conveyor belt to happiness.

Live-in boyfriend, perfect career and great friends, it seems like Georgia is only a Tiffany box away from her happily ever after. But when she arrives in Australia for her best friend’s wedding and is faced with the bridezilla from hell, she starts to realise that she might not want the cookie-cutter ending she thought.

What was meant to be a trip full of sunny days at the beach and wedding planning over cocktails, has turned into another problem for her to fix – just like the ones she’d left behind. With hardly any time for her boyfriend, let alone herself, it feels like there is just too much to juggle. It might be time for Georgia to step off the conveyor belt to find the balance in life and see if she really can have it all…

Review: Oh this was the prefect funny, romantic, summer read. I picked this up because I wanted something that would be a little escapist and would make me laugh and that was exactly what I got. I just loved the storyline of this novel. It had everything you could want. A little travel, a little drama, a little relationship trouble, and a lot of growing up. It was all balanced perfectly. There were interesting sub plots and just a lot of fun times. It was fast-paced and so I read it all in one day. It left me feeling warm inside and happy that not everyone has their lives together the way you think they do. 

Now I haven't read Katy Colins's other novels but I got into this one straight away and so I guess you don't have to have read the others in order to pick this one up. I do know that I have been spoiled for the others so let that be a warning to you! I loved getting to know Georgia. She is a character who i can easily identify with, she could be one of my own friendship group. She is great at looking like she has got it under control when really she's knackered and its all a bit much and I am sure there are plenty of us out there who can totally relate to that when it comes to juggling work, family, friendships and relationships. Her own friendships are also very easy to recognise as the friendships I have and issues I have. 

I loved the other characters in the novel as well. All of them are completely plausible and all of them felt very real. I enjoyed learning about who they are and reading their storylines though Georgia. Some of the other characters made for the funniest moments in the novel and I just loved the way they all fitted into the storyline. There were some seriously hilarious moments in this novel but I think I liked the fact that this all could have happened to me. I enjoyed the travel, I enjoyed the adventure and I enjoyed the friendships and relationships that were explored in this novel. This was a great read and definitely something to add to your suitcase or over sized handbag this summer!

To order your copy, just click here!

Guest Review: New York Actually by Sarah Morgan

Warning: this is a review of book 4 in a series so this review may contain spoilers!

Meet Molly

New York’s most famous agony aunt, she considers herself an expert at relationships…as long as they’re other people’s. The only love of her life is her Dalmatian, Valentine.

Meet Daniel

A cynical divorce lawyer, he’s hardwired to think relationships are a bad idea. If you don’t get involved, no-one can get hurt. But then he finds himself borrowing a dog to meet the gorgeous woman he sees running in Central Park every morning…

Molly and Daniel think they know everything there is to know about relationships…until they meet each other that is…

 

Review: This is book 4 in the From Manhattan With Love Series from Sarah Morgan. I have read and loved the previous three books in this series, and so I was delighted to find out that there was more. I actually purchased this one as an audiobook that was my companion on a car journey.  It certainly kept me entertained and was just as enjoyable as the preceding books. In this story, Sarah Morgan has cleverly introduced new characters who slot in nicely alongside those we have met in previous books in this series. However, everything is made clear as we go along, so the book can be read as a standalone. 

The story centres on Daniel, a divorce lawyer of some standing in Manhattan, and Molly, a relationship advisor originating from the UK. Molly, writing as Aggie, has a popular blog and has written a best-selling book on relationships. However, there is a secret in her past that led to her move to New York. The pair are brought together while walking dogs in Central Park. There is incredible attraction between them, but will their opposing views on relationships cause some friction to develop?

I really liked the new characters in this story, especially Molly. It was interesting finding out what catastrophic event had caused her move across the Atlantic. I found Daniel pretty unlikeable to start with, but warmed to him as the story progressed and felt that I would be glad to have him on my side in times of trouble.  I particularly enjoyed the suspense of waiting to see what would happen if and when Daniel discovered that Molly was the agony aunt he despised. Of course, it was also good to meet up with old friends from Sarah's previous stories. 

I think that this book would appeal to a whole range of readers. It has it all, including romance, humour, a cast of strong and interesting characters and, importantly, gorgeous, cuddly dogs. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and finding out what's going to happen to the characters I've got to know so far. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

A MISSING GIRL

A BURIED SECRET

THEN

She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.

NOW 

It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter.

And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet.

Before too long she’s staying the night at this house and being introduced to his nine year old daughter. 

Poppy is precocious and pretty - and meeting her completely takes Laurel's breath away.

Because Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age. And now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.

What happened to Ellie?

Where did she go?

Who still has secrets to hide?

Review: Wow! This book left me breathless, shaking with adrenaline and just blown away. Lisa Jewell has just written her best novel yet (and I am a massive fan of hers so I am allowed to make that call!). I just loved this book, the twisty plot, the intense characters and the family theme running through it that just reduced me to tears. This is just a must read this summer. 

It is hard to go into too many specifics about what I loved so much about this book without giving away any spoilers but I will do my best. This novel is written in 5 parts and has 4 different narrators. We hear from Mum Laurel's perspective, some from Ellie's perspective, a little from Floyd and there is another narrator in there that I won't giveaway. We also have sections written then and sections written now, as the blurb would suggest. This may sound a little complicated, but believe me, it totally works. I love the fact that it was heavily structured like this and the short sections from each narrator made it even more fast paced for me because I wanted to find out what happened then that let to now or what happened to one person and how that affected another-I love books like this!

In terms of the character, Lisa Jewell always writes these amazing strong family relationships that you don't see from many other writers of psychological thrillers. The family at the core of this novel are your typical family, a Mum, a Dad two girls and a boy and I loved the fact that we get to go through this story meeting all of these characters and they all have their own backstory and subplot. But the main characters here are Mum Laurel and daughter Ellie. This whole story revolves around Ellie's disappearance and Laurel's quest to find out what happened. Laurel is really down to earth. She values her family and she trusts her instincts and I love that about her. She is a typical mum when it comes to her children, but we also see her become a woman in her own right when it comes to Floyd. 

Of course there are villains in this book as well as heros, what would a good psychological thriller be without a villain or two. But these characters are written so that we as readers can sympathise with them to some extent and form a kind of trust with them in many ways. And of course there are twists with each character along the way, I've already said too much! Needless to say the characters in this novel are all full formed people you could meet on the street, work with, go to school with and I feel like I know them inside out now. 

This novel is set in North London and so is very easy to relate to in terms of setting. A lot of it takes place inside which I thought really added to the tension and was an interesting choice, but each home and setting is well-described and easy to put yourself right into. The tension in this book is unbelievable. I had to go and pick my husband up when I had reached 90% and I was physically shaking with the adrenaline of the story unfolding in front of me and as soon as he got in the car I told him to be quiet to I could finish, this book is that good!

The storyline is fabulous, totally believable, incredibly tense but also something you could totally see happening in your neighbourhood to your friends. I loved the family theme and the twists and turns during every section of the story. The structure was perfect and lends itself to binge reading, what more could you want from a book this summer? Go out and get yourself a copy now-you won't regret it!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

24 in 48 Readathon Wrap Up

So the end of the 24 in 48 readathon has come. I am literally writing this as I finish it. 

Yes I managed to read for 24 hours!

Yes I managed to read the books I wanted to read (well four out of five of them!)

My wrap up video may be a little late because I am taking part in the BookTubeAThon this week so videos will be taken up with that...

If you haven't been following my updates on instagram, here's what I read:

I JUST finished The Heir in time.

I read a total of 1337 pages and 4 books altogether.

And now it is onto the next readathon.

Did you take part? Will you be reading during the next readathon?

Happy reading!

Review: Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by TS Easton

Meet Ben Fletcher, an Adrian Mole for a new generation

Ben Fletcher must get to grips with his more 'feminine' side following an unfortunate incident with a lollipop lady and a stolen bottle of Martini Rosso from Waitrose. All a big misunderstanding of course.

To avoid the Young Offenders unit, Ben is ordered to give something back to the community and develop his sense of social alignment. Take up a hobby and keep on the straight and narrow. The hot teacher he likes runs a knitting group so Ben, reluctantly at first, gets 'stuck in'. Not easy when your dad is a sports fan and thinks Jeremy Clarkson is God. To his surprise, Ben finds that he likes knitting and that he has a mean competitive streak. If he can just keep it all a secret from his mates...and notice that the girl of his dreams, girl-next-door Megan Hooper has a bit of a thing for him...

Review: wow I really totally loved this book. I felt like I was watching a TV show about some unlikely lads and how they all got themselves in and out of trouble. I laughed so much reading this and just generally had a jolly good time. 

I think it was interesting that the whole premise behind this book is that Ben is doing things that are all requirements of his probation and yet I found myself forgetting so often that he had done something wrong and was now dealing with the consequences. I really liked Ben as a character and he really does seem like a decent stand up gentleman. There are even knitting magazines hidden under his bed where you might expect other kinds of magazines to be hiding as well. Ben's friends, as I mentioned above, are also interesting characters. They just remind me of the lads that I went to school with and one of them is even attempting to write a sort of Fifty Shades of Grey spin off novel-how hilarious is that?

This book is very very funny but there are also some decent messages for life in here too. Ben really does grow and change because of his court mandated knitting and community service. He really is a decent person to start with but gains a level of maturity throughout the novel. He also finds out what happens when a lie spirals out of control. There is a little romance in this novel, and not just between Ben's parents (who are very much as embarrassing as a teenage boy's parents should be) and I liked that there was just a smattering of that left in there. Despite the fact that there is some slightly offensive language in there and allusions to sex in some scenes, I think this would definitely be something entertaining for the younger end of the YA audience, with those disclosures in mind. 

This is a very British read, despite me having read the US version and translating certain things in my head as I went along and I loved that about it. I really enjoyed getting to know Ben and his friends and also getting to know a little bit more about knitting and football (soccer). I would definitely recommend this read, it was very funny and thoroughly entertaining!

To get your copy now, click here!

BookTubeAThon 2017 TBR

Tomorrow sees the start of the BookTube-A-Thon!

This is a week long readathon which begins at midnight wherever you are on the 24th July and ends at 11:59pm on 30th July. This readathon is the biggest readathon on YouTube and is hosted by the fab Ariel Bisset.

Here is the information for the readthon, you don't have to be a booktuber to take part!

The BookTubeAThon comes with reading challenges to complete throughout the week as well as video chalelnges and Bookstagram challenges so keep an eye out for my videos throughout the week, I'm going all in on this one!

Here are the books I'm going to read to complete these challenges:

1. Read a book with a person on the cover

Or

(depending how I have got on with the 24 in 48 readathon!)

2. Read a hyped book.

3. Finish a book in one day.

(also fulfils challenges 1 and 4)

4. Read about a character that is very different from you.

(Also fulfils challenge 1)

5.  Finish a book completely outdoors.

This one could be covered by any of the books because I already do a lot of reading outside! Keep an eye open for updates as to which one I choose to complete this challenge!

6. Read a book you bought because of the cover.

(Also will fulfil challenge 3)

7. Read seven books.

So in addition to these books I also have a couple of other books I would like to read but I am fairly flexible when it comes to 'making up the numbers' so here are a couple of other books I would like to get to from my July TBR and my current library book borrows:

Are YOU taking part in this readathon? I would love you to leave links to your posts/videos if you are! 

Happy reading!