Blog Tour: Review of Make or Break by Catherine Bennetto

Jess, a 29-year-old Londoner with a Kate Beckett fringe and a tendency for dramatics, gets taken on a surprise trip by her long-term boyfriend, Pete, to attend her best friend’s last minute wedding in South Africa. Jess imagines sun, sand, wine and safaris. And returning to London with an ethically mined diamond on her left hand...

But this holiday isn’t set to be quite the fairy tale Jess has planned... and suddenly she finds her world tilting on its axis. And things are only set to get worse when Jess returns home…

Review: Oh this book had me laughing out loud just as much as Catherine Bennetto's last novel, it was so funny and so relatable and just such a great read to cheer me up and entertain! Oh my goodness there were so many twists and turns in this novel I really felt for poor Jess and everything that life was throwing at her, but at the same time, some of those twists turned out to be so entertaining and have such comedy value, it was just hilarious!

Jess was a great character to spend time with and I really felt like the story was being told to me by her as she was recounting it via tweets and texts, even though that's totally not how the book is written, just because I felt like we were friends and I was really hoping that everything would turn out alright for her in the end. Sometimes Jess just can't seem to see what's happening right in front of her and other times I was just so proud of how maturely she handled some of the situations that she was faced with,. I loved the family values that she had and what a loyal friend she was. She was just a lovely character who you definitely want the best for. 

There are definitely a couple of other characters in this novel who you will love to hate, and possibly will even boo when they appear on the page and then, to balance that out, there are a couple more who you will fall in love, or at lest in love with and will possibly eve cheer when they appear on the page, the novel is well cast!

I loved the fact that a lot of this book is set in South Africa because Jess i right out of her comfort zone is a beautiful city but also a city with a lot of potential dangers, so many storyline possibilities therefore. I enjoyed reading about the city and about how Jess handles it all. 

There is definitely a very strong message of family in this novel too and I loved getting to know how Jess's family ticks and the way they all look our for one another. There's a very positive message of love and respect here and I really enjoyed spending time in this family and friendship group. This was just a really well-rounded, standalone novel that you should definitely invest in to keep you entertained whatever you're doing with your summer!

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

Review: Final Draft by Riley Redgate

Laila Piedra doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, and definitely doesn’t sneak into the 21-and-over clubs on the Lower East Side. The only sort of risk Laila enjoys is the peril she writes for the characters in her stories: epic sci-fi worlds full of quests, forbidden love, and robots. Her creative writing teacher has always told her she has a special talent. But three months before graduation, Laila’s number one fan is replaced by Nadiya Nazarenko, a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist who sees nothing at all special about Laila’s writing.

A growing obsession with gaining Nazarenko’s approval—and fixing her first-ever failing grade—leads to a series of unexpected adventures. Soon Laila is discovering the psychedelic highs and perilous lows of nightlife, and the beauty of temporary flings and ambiguity. But with her sanity and happiness on the line, Laila must figure out if enduring the unendurable really is the only way to greatness.

Review: Wow this book had so many more layers to it than I was expecting. I was expecting a sweet story about someone stepping out of their comfort zone to better their writing because that was their passion. What I got was a coming of age story that covered what it's like to have parents from two different countries from the one you live in, grief, depression, sexual awakening, the pressures of teenage friendship, the pressures of graduation and college and of course making your writing better because that is your passion. 

In case you can't tell I loved this book and was just bowled over by the amount of issues that this author manages to cover in just over 250 pages. For quite a short book, it really packs a punch! I really don't feel like the author was ramming any of these themes down my throat though, they were all interwoven in the story. The characters were diverse and all came from very different backgrounds but I didn't feel like any of them were there for the sake of making the book more diverse, it felt like a natural friendship group and all of their actions felt like things that would happen in real life. 

The writing side of this novel was excellent as well, I think this author was probably writing from experience of trying to perfect a manuscript. I love the fact that Laila was encouraged to step outside of her comfort zone in order to progress and that she did that in a way that would be natural for a teenager. 

Laila was a great character because she is not one of those teens that has it all figured out. She goes through the discovery that you can;'t have it all figured out at the age of 17 or 18. That you might think you know what you want in so many aspects of life but really you don't. I really enjoyed reading about her and going through this story with her. 

This would be a really great book to add to your summer reading list. Do check the synopsis and my breakdown of the themes at the top of this post in case you find any of them triggering first but I really enjoyed this book, it surprised me and I think you would love it too. 

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

Review: Little Big Man or Little Big Love (US) by Katy Regan

Meet 10-year-old Zac – a boy on a mission – in Katy Regan’s new novel Little Big Man . . .

You can't see the truth from the outside, that's what I've worked out.

Ten-year-old Zac has never met his dad, who allegedly did a runner before he was born. But when his mum lets slip that he’s the only man she’s ever loved, Zac turns detective and, roping in his best friend, hatches a plan to find his father and give his mum the happy-ever-after she deserves. What he doesn’t realize, though, is that sometimes people have good reasons for disappearing . . .

Little Big Man is a story about family secrets and fierce, familial love. It's about growing up and being accepted; grief and lies, and the damage they can do. Most of all though, it’s about a little boy determined to hunt down the truth; a boy who wants to give the Dad he’s never met a second chance to be a father – and his mum a second chance at love.

Review: I just loved this story so much! I love a dual narrative, but multiple narratives where we get to hear from a ten year old, his mother and another family member? Sign me up! The fact that this was a multiple narrative story meant that the pace of the novel was always brisk and kept me turning the pages. I have a physical copy but I also listened to this one on audio and the narrators did a fantastic job so I can recommend all formats of this book! 

I also loved the setting. The fact that this one is set in Grimsby, a northern seaside town is brilliant and I don't think I've ever read another book set here. This author did a great job of getting across the grim feeling that poor weather and poor mood in a northern seaside town can bring, I loved it!

Zac is a great character, he is determined to find his Dad and find out why he left. He enrolls, his best friend, as 10 year olds do and turn detective. I love the fact that the main narrator here is a ten year old boy. I have worked with many many 10 years olds in my years of teaching and they're very much an underrated group. They're honest, they'll tell you what they think and Zac in particular just has so much heart. 

Juliet is also a great character to be sharing this story with. She wants to do her best for Zac and so tries to keep him from getting hurt by the missing dad in his life. Her family are also in a similar position but don't always do what is best for her and Zac. Juliet is a great mum but it was really real and really relatable hearing about her life struggles and her worries. 

I can't say too much about the storyline at all because I don't want to give away spoilers but this is just a massive recommendation from me to read this book now because I loved it and I think you will too!

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

Review: The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Ashton

The first rule of Sunday Lunch Club is … don't make any afternoon plans.
 
Every few Sundays, Anna and her extended family and friends get together for lunch. They talk, they laugh, they bicker, they eat too much. Sometimes the important stuff is left unsaid, other times it's said in the wrong way. 
 
Sitting between her ex-husband and her new lover, Anna is coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy at the age of forty. Also at the table are her ageing grandmother, her promiscuous sister, her flamboyantly gay brother and a memory too terrible to contemplate.
 
Until, that is, a letter arrives from the person Anna scarred all those years ago. Can Anna reconcile her painful past with her uncertain future?

Review: Even just the synopsis of this book made me laugh and made me very very intrigued as to what was going to down inside the pages of this novel, so you can imagine that that reaction was increased a hundred fold once I began reading. I was drawn into this book and this family right from the word go and I didn't want the adventure to end-ever!

Anna is a fabulous main character to steer this ship and she really is the main sail of her family too. We get to know so much about her family as the book progresses, I feel like I am part of their family too. They seem to welcome everyone into the fold, not always with open arms, and so you as a reader are definitely welcomed in as well. We all have a little bit of Anna in us, she is so fiercely independent, partly through choice and partly through necessity, but that doesn't always mean that she is safe from hurt and safe from generally bad things happening to her. The way she grows and changes over the course of this book was pretty spectacular and was heart warming to the very end. 

Each Sunday lunch club is an event in itself where secrets are unearthed, revelations are made and bonds are broken and mended. Each of these lunches could be a soap opera in their own right. At the heart of these gatherings though, is that family value that runs all the way through this book. No matter who is there, where they are, what is eaten, someone always leaves feeling a little better about themselves and problems are dealt with as a group, despite what each member of the family might reveal to the others over the course of the lunch. 

There were some really funny moments in this book, Anna's 'situation' provides some humour amongst her family and it is impossible not to laugh at other people's reactions when they experience their first Sunday lunch as a friend or a lover as one of the family members in attendance. There are also some lovely moments of family rallying round each other as the book goes on, this was really great to see because four bother's and sisters and a hell of a lot of secrets doesn't always mean that will be the case. And there were of course moments that had me in tears because it would't be a Juliet Ashton Novel without emotions that are poles apart. I cried with sadness and joy though and because I really did feel like part of the family. 

This was a truly wonderful read. I barely felt able to put it down and I ended up finishing it during my own Sunday lunch time, not something I planned to do. The story is gripping, the characters endearing and I am sure that you, too, won't want it to end!

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

Review: Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

After being together for ten years, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, beautiful twin girls, and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it's casually mentioned to them that they could be together for anothersixty-eight years... and panic sets in.

They quickly decide to create little surprises for each other, to keep their relationship fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me - anything from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to photo shoots - mishaps arise with disastrous and comical results.

Gradually, the surprises turn to shocking discoveries. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other after all...

Review: I know I say this every time I start reading a new Sophie Kinsella novel but it is always such a joy and such a comfort to be back in her world and in her writing again. I know when I pick up a Sophie Kinsella book, I am in safe hands. And the feeling of comfort that I felt as soon as i dived into this book was just like that. I loved being back in a world where there is humour and feeling and just great characters and a great story. 

This novel was really not everything I expected it to be though. I thought the premise was great and I loved everything that was going on between Dan and Sylvie, I loved the way they interacted in their marriage and with their friends and neighbours and then about two thirds of the way into the book, the storyline takes a whole different direction and it was me that was very surprised, never mind either of them. Now don't think that this meant that I didn't enjoy the book, the direction the storyline went in was a little darker that the first two thirds, but it was really intriguing and I read that whole last third in one big gulp, but it was really really unexpected!

Sylvie was a great character to lead this novel. She is completely relatable and has insecurities about her personal and professional life just like all of us. She is a mother and a wife but that isn't her only identity and I loved the fact that she asserted this throughout the novel. She provides some real comedy moments throughout the book, but because she is so real we have real sympathy and a real concern for her as well. Dan is one of those characters you love one moment, then hate the next, I think we really get to know him through Sylive's eyes and I really loved the ending that he got in this novel.

Despite the fact that this novel takes a turn in a different direction from the one I was expecting I really did enjoy it. I found myself furiously turning the pages, wanting to know what was going to happen to Sylive next. I laughed out loud in public and cried a little at the ending. It was really everything I look for in a book, but don't be expecting to come away from this one without a few surprises of your own! 

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

Review: Random Acts of Kindness Part 2 by Victoria Walters

Welcome to Littlewood, a small town community with a big heart. Abbie has fled London and the humiliation of not being able to make rent after being made redundant. Louise, seriously unlucky in love, has thrown herself into her career at the local hospital. And Eszter, who has travelled from Hungary with her daughter, Zoe, who hopes to reach out to the mother-in-law she never met while her husband was still alive…

Can a little bit of kindness really change your life? Three very different women are about to find out…

Review: It was so lovely to be back in Littlewood with these three fabulous women once more. This is a great follow up to part 1 because this part starts with checking in on where each of these women are now and a little, very gentle and subtle reminder as to where we left them in the last part of the book. These women really are great to read about and the whole premise behind the random acts of kindness is such a comforting concept. 

This part is no less action packed than the last. Eszter is now more established in the community and we get to find out more about her relationship with her husband's mother. I really do think there is going to be way more to this storyline than meets the eye. Eszter seems to be a feisty individual and so I can't wait to see what she gets up to in future parts. Louise is probably the most underrated of the three women. Always there for everyone and always helping others in her role as nurse, I really feel like we're going to see more action from her in future parts too, we definitely get to see a different side to her in part 2, I'm saying no more than that! And Abbie has an important decision to make in part 2. She too is now more established in the community and I have loved seeing her relationship with her sister grow and grow as this story has gone on. 

This part also deals with the subject of the prejudice that surrounds immigration and shines a light on the fact that not everyone is always accepting to people who are new to the country. Obviously this is a warm and comforting read, but it still does bring that issue to the forefront and I liked the fact that this author wasn't afraid to do that. Make no mistake though, this part left me feeling just as warm and fuzzy as part one, with complete story lines for each of these three women. I can't wait to see what part 3 brings!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: Moonrise by Sarah Crossan

They think I hurt someone. 
But I didn't. You hear?
Cos people are gonna be telling you
all kinds of lies.
I need you to know the truth.

Joe hasn't seen his brother for ten years, and it's for the most brutal of reasons. Ed is on death row.

But now Ed's execution date has been set, and this might be the last summer they have together

Review: I read this book both on eBook and on audio book but I would still really love to read the hardback because I imagine it is beautiful. The reason I imagine this is because Sarah Crossan's writing is beautiful. She can take serious issues, such as those explored in this book and write about them so beautifully, you almost forget the issues that the characters are going through!

This book, like Sarah's last, is written in verse so each chapter and therefore each page is quite short. The audio book that I listened to was just under 4 hours long and yet the book has 400 pages, this gives you an idea of how the layout effects the length and the flow of the book. Some chapters have only a few words and some pages the same. This means that, yes it is quick to read, but also it means that you have time to take everything in and explore the enormity of what Joe is facing. 

Now the subject matter of this book isn't easy and so you really do need to think about whether a book a about a boy who is facing the fact that his brother has been sentenced to death is your cup of tea or not. But if you are in any way on the fence then let me try and help you by stating that never is the issue forced upon you, this doesn't feel like and issues led book, and also the structure of the writing turns something completely terrible into something you can see as beautiful and in fact life affirming. 

There were some points in this book where it felt fairly slow paced and I may have skimmed a few of the chapters but overall I enjoyed getting to know Joe. I wanted to rescue him and his family and somehow change their situation but alas, I can't jump into the book with them! As I say, consider the subject matter before picking this book up but let me reassure you that this is truly a beautiful read. 

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

Review: Sleigh Rides And Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair by Heidi Swain

The new Christmas bestseller from the author of Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market!

When Anna takes on the role of companion to the owner of Wynthorpe Hall, on the outskirts of Wynbridge, she has no idea that her life is set to change beyond all recognition.

A confirmed ‘bah humbug’ when it comes to Christmas, Anna is amazed to find herself quickly immersed in the eccentric household, and when youngest son Jamie unexpectedly arrives home it soon becomes obvious that her personal feelings are going all out to compromise her professional persona.

Jamie, struggling to come to terms with life back in the Fens, makes a pact with Anna – she has to teach him to fall back in love with Wynthorpe Hall, while he helps her fall back in love with Christmas. But will it all prove too much for Anna, or can the family of Wynthorpe Hall warm her heart once and for all...?

Join Anna for a festive journey that is festooned with sleigh rides and silver bells and help her discover her happy ever after.

Review: This was such a heart-warming festive adventure of a book and I just loved every moment of it. It was great to be back in Wynbridge again, but this time up at Wynthorpe Hall, something a little different, a new location to discover. And of course with a new location come new characters. I really did love this setting within a familiar setting and thought it was a very clever way to incorporate readers who are familiar with Wynbridge and new readers who don't yet know the delights of this welcoming market town. I really did love this setting, it felt extra Christmas because it was a big old hall full of rooms which are rarely opened and stables and a great sweeping landscape. I could just picture it with christmas decorations and hosting big family dinners-it was perfect. 

And the new characters were also great, There were plenty of visits from old friends too, don;t worry if you are a fan of this series of books but I really loved having a new man character as the lynch pin of this novel. Anna was a great character to go on this journey wit. She has so much more to her than meets the eye and it was great watching it gradually reveal itself as the novel progressed. We really don't know from one moment to the next how she is going to react to events in the book and that makes for a great page turner too. 

Of course there are the family members who belong to Wynthorpe Hall to get to know too. I really felt like part of the family from the very first pages. Never mind whether Anna was going to stay and work with them or not, I was ready to jump right in there. I loved getting to know Jamie and his brothers and it was just lovely spending time and learning a family secret or two. 

Although this book is set at Christmas and is definitely a festive read, there is so much more to it than just Christmas time and tinsel. There are some really relatable issues that are covered in this book and the characters in the book all have their own things going on that I am sure we all have encountered in our lives in one way or another (no spoilers) and this is a sizable book to get your teeth into as well-although with everything going on between its pages, the time absolutely flew by for me!

All in all this was just a really lovely read. It was my first festive read of the season and I definitely started in the right place because it really got me in the mood for a mince pie or two! Because this book is so substantial it is great for reading at this time of year because it allows you some me time in a time normally filled with family obligations and other things to occupy your head space. I would definitely recommend putting this book on your Christmas list or just downloading it right now and allowing some time for yourself back in the fabulously festive Wynbridge. 

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

Review: Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher

When the love of your life says you're not The One, who are you? Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they're about to get engaged. Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future. Lizzy is heartbroken - but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she's been missing while playing Ian's ideal 'better half'. But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him? Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before - and, in the meantime, have a little fun . . . 

Review: This book instantly felt like a classic rom com as soon as I started reading it. The strong female lead, the rubbish boy friend, the whole premise of the book screams everything that I love from my favourite genre of book and it delivered as well. I loved the fact that we have a strong female lead in this book. All of Giovanna's books have this in common but this one seemed a little different from her others so I was a little worried that the lead might be a little more of a pushover but she is feisty and I loved spending time with Lizzy. The other characters in the novel provide great comedy moments and great moments of tenderness too. I loved that fact that Lizzy is close with both of her parents. She has an amazing best friend who is a serial dater and so has great stories to tell. My favourite supporting character though had to be sister Emily. She was wonderful, I want to be her and I loved every scene with her in. 

This book is also very easy to relate to. Lizzy is in her late twenties and so has a lot of the same teenage memories that I have. She has some really nostalgic moments that I was nodding along with thinking 'me too, me too' so that was wonderful. She is also at a bit of a crossroads in her life and so goes back and relies on the support of her parents, something which I could also identify with, and I;m sure a lot of readers out there will also be able to understand. This book is also set in a very relatable setting Lizzy doesn't have a glamorous London lifestyle, she lives in Essex, so not a million miles away from London but still embraces the village life and is around those she knew growing up, I really liked this aspect of the book. 

Although this isn't a Christmas book, Christmas does take place during the course of the novel and is a cosy family affair so I really enjoyed the fact that I left this book until December to really get into. There are also themes of a new beginning and reflection on the past which people do during the last month of the year before we see in a new one! I listened to this book on audiobook and I really enjoyed the voice that the narrator gave Lizzy, I found I could identify with her more because I got used to that particular voice. For more exciting moments though, the narrator was a little monotone. I couldn't imagine Lizzy not getting more than a little het up at an argument with her boyfriend or exciting moments on New Year's eve. 

If you follow this author on YouTube or Instagram then you will definitely be able to see parts of her personality in this book and I liked that, she also mentions the charity that she works with which I thought was great. one of the other moments that I really liked was that she mentions more of my favourites authors, Lizzy apparently has the same taste in book as me since we are both fans of Lindsey Kelk and Paige Toon. 

This was a really lovely read and if you are after a very classic, Sophie Kinsella feeling, romantic comedy then this one is most definitely for you. Although it isn't a Christmas book it makes for perfect reading at this time of year and so I would definitely recommend popping this one on your Christmas list or downloading it now and enjoying a moment of calm in the run up to the festivities. 

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

Review: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

Review: It's always really hard to review a book that has had a lot of hype around it isn't it?

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a real hon eat take on what it is like to be a teenager in today's society. It is also a good account of what it is like to be a young person struggling with mental health, and anyone struggling with their mental health really. It is very appropriate that it came out on World Mental Health day because I really think that this book tackles the issues surrounding anxiety and OCD really really well. It was encouraging to read, gave m hope and educated me to some extent.

I really loved Aza as a main character. She seems to have much more of a handle on life the  other people do, I have to admit I was a little bit jealous of that. She can recognise when she needs help, she doesn't always make the right decision when it comes too seeking help, but she also has a great relationship with her mother, which I love. There are far too many books out there that have main characters who have awful relationships with one or both parents and so it was really refreshing to read about a young person who has such a good relationship with hers.

Aza also has some great friends and these make for great characters to read about, whether they are new friends or old friends. The friendships are realistic and it is good to see them going through the usual ups and downs of high school life together.

This book gave me an education of not only someone else's mental health issues but also what a tuatara is! I loved the fact that i learned so much from this book as well as having it take me on a journey with a character and entertain me. A lot of people think that John Green's books will only make them cry but I did not cry over the course of this book, I did laugh though. Proper laughing out loud, this was definitely entertaining.

Of course one of the main selling points of this book to me was John Green's writing, i just love the way he writes, his turn off phrases is just lovely, there are so many beautiful metaphors and nothing is ever dumbed down, language that should be used is used. And then of course there is the fact that he is so honest with his audience. We don't need another story about someone with issues over coming them, we don't need a story where nothing realistic happens, this is honest writing about being in high school and all that that entails. It is about having issues in your life but learning to live with them and showing how the can affect your life.

I really did enjoy this read, it is a very different from John Green's last book but different isn't always a bad thing, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone out there.

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

Review: Tell me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that's what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. It's been barely two years since her mother's death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son, and to start at a new school where she knows no one. 

Just when she's thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help? 

In a leap of faith--or an act of complete desperation--Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can't help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Review: this was such a sweet and romantic book, but funny and true at the same time and just left me feeling warm and fuzzy and saying 'aww!' out loud on more than one occasion. I just loved this book and could definitely recognise high school feelings I had had throughout this book, it is definitely very true to life. There is the whole issue of internet safety thrown up in this book so it would be a great book to read with teens and discuss, but overall it was just really entertaining. I read the audiobook and it was really well done I would recommend this format!

Jessie as a character was very relatable, I could have been her and I just hate to imagine what moving schools in the middle of high school would have been like. She is very realistic and down to earth because she has lived a little bit and that's one of the things that I liked about this book, the characters all have a little life experience even though they are teens. The male characters in this novel are great too, they can play confidants and love interests, friends and enemies and make for some interesting reading. 

Some of the moments in this book are just so romantic but not overtly so, just the little things that anyone who has experienced them, or longed to experience them can recognise. Having said that, there is definitely more to this book than just the romance. There are issues about friendship and loyalty, about high school and all the issues it brings and about how you might be feeling when your parents don't behave like typical parents do. There is also a book store in this book, always a winner for me and so I am sure that will bring joy to a great many the readers too!

I just really enjoyed this book and it is a book I have been craving a re-read of, already, I know! I would really recommend this one if you are looking for a read with a good dose of reality but also a good dose of romance. I loved it and I am sure that you will to!

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

Blog Tour: Review of Christmas at Mistletoe Cove Holly Martin

It's my stop on Holly Martin's blog tour today where I bring you my review of Christmas at Mistletoe Cove! This book came out on Friday and is the third in the Hope Island series. The buy links and all the info about Holly and her wonderful writing is below the review-enjoy!

Christmas has arrived at Hope Island, promising snowflakes, surprises and plenty of seasonal joy. So snuggle up and fall in love at Mistletoe Cove …

Growing up on Hope Island, Eden Lancaster always believed that if you wished hard enough for something, dreams really could come true. But Eden’s greatest wish is also her biggest secret: she has been completely in love with her childhood friend, the charming and attractive Dougie Harrison, for as long as she can remember. And he has no idea. 

When Dougie leaves his successful life in New York to return home to Hope Island for good, Eden can’t escape her feelings. Her heart is full of hope that her romantic dreams are finally, at long last, going to come true…

This Christmas could change everything. But can a lifelong friendship really turn into the perfect romance? And will Eden get the happily ever after she’s always wished for?

Review: I LOVED being back on Hope Island with the Lancaster family again, I have so enjoyed getting to know them and getting to revise them across these three books, I really hope this is not the end and we get to hear more from these siblings! I was so pleased to finally get caught up with Eden and Dougie's story because we have got to know a lot about them and about their friendship and so it was great to spend some more time with them to see the 'will they? won't they?' aspect of their relationship play out. 

These are both great characters and because we have met them both before, it doesn't take too long to get to know them in more detail. I love Eden as a person and really wan t the best for her because she is so good to her friends and family and deserves all the happiness in the world. I know what it must be like for Dougie being back in the UK after being in America for so long and trying to fall back into a friendship after that friendship being mostly long distance, and it was great to find out just what sort of a person he was too. These are very likeable characters and so you will definitely find yourself rooting for them the whole way through this book. 

As with the other books in this Hope Island series, there is an element of, perhaps there is something more than friendship here, perhaps there isn't, are they going to get together or not and that definitely makes for a real page turner, you have to keep going to find out what is going to happen and what the consequences of certain actions and events are going to be. Holly Martin is awesome at writing romantic male leads, I don't know what's in the water on Hope Island but Holly really should bottle it so we can all have this kind of romance in our lives! As I have mentioned before, she also knows how to write a seriously hot sex scene, hold onto your hats because this will have you more than a little bit hot under the collar!

Because this is the third book in a series, surrounding three siblings who live in Hope Island, if you start with this book, you will be spoiled for the other tow, so I would definitely recommend reading the books in order. If you are in the mood for some truly lovely characters and the ultimate in romantic reads though, I would recommend spending the week reading all three back to back and swooning over these hunky males and flirty females-you won't be sorry. This will also give you a taste for Island life and the sea air so don't be too surprised if you find yourself planning a trip to Hope Island, or its nearest equivalent as soon as you start reading!

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

Holly has been writing for 8 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014. She is the bestselling author of 18 books

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Review: Keep You Safe by Melissa Hill

A mother always knows best. Doesn’t she?

What if your choice for your child could harm someone else’s?

Every mother faces impossible choices. Vaccination is one of the hardest. For single mum Kate O’Hara, there was no decision to make. Her daughter Rosie is one of a small percentage of Irish children who can’t be vaccinated against measles. All Kate can do is hope that her little girl is safe.

For mummy blogger Madeleine Cooper, it was a leap of faith she wasn't prepared to take when she and her husband declined controversial measles jabs for their daughter Clara. All she can do is pray that it’s the right decision.

But when classmates Clara and Rosie both become sick will Kate pay for Madeleine’s choice?

Review: Wow this was such a good plot! I loved how different the subject matter of this book was, it was one of those that I thought, 'wow I wish I had thought of writing this!'. The subject of vaccination and whether or not the vaccinate children, whether they can come to more harm with or without a vaccination is in and out of the news and so it was great to have a first hand, all be it fictional, account of parents who have struggled with that decision and who must now face the consequences either way. 

The main characters of the book are Madeline and Kate. Both of them are mothers and both are very different mothers. Kate is a nurse and she knows what her child wants and needs based on her medical background and personal experience. She is also a single mother and has had certain hardships she has had to face a such. Madeline is very different. She has a successful blog and makes her decisions based around consulting with her online community and her husband. The women re very different, ut really both come across the same struggles and barriers in this book. I liked the fact that theres women were the vehicle for this storyline. They were both easy to relate to and the fact that their children were both sick, made for an emotional read. 

There are certain medical and legal terms that are explored over the course of this book, but that didn't make for difficult reading at any point and I enjoyed the fact that this author chose to keep them in there, I didn't feel like anything was dumbed down. I also like the fact that these medical and legal issues were explored through these families made for easier reading too. It was a very personal and a very relatable story, and whilst it left me thinking, it wasn't a taxing read in any way. As I mentioned above, this was a great subject for a novel and I really enjoyed something which dealt with a new and unusual topic. I listened to the audiobook, which was excellently done, and the action kept me wanting more at every moment. I would really recommend this read, it is fresh and different and very well-written. 

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