Review: My Sisters and Me by Lisa Dickenson

They're fixing up their childhood home. It's going to get messy.

When Willow Lake asks her daughters for help renovating the family home, each has a reason to hesitate about returning to Maplewood . . .

For quiet and bookish Emmy going back to the town that ridiculed her fills her with dread.

The youngest Noelle is perfectly comfortable in herself now, but once wanted to fit in so badly that she walked away from her first love. A first love who still lives in Maplewood.

And outspoken Rae is painfully aware of how much the townspeople hurt her little sisters growing up. She didn't protect them then, but there's no way she'll let history repeat itself.

The sisters agree to go home and make the best of it. After all if they've changed over the years, it's possible the townspeople have too . . . isn't it?

Review: I was so into this book as soon as I picked it up but I was disciplined and spread out the Joy of reading it over several days rather than eating it up in one sitting! If you love books that have a message of being yourself, embracing your individuality and of course Girl Power, then you're going to like this one. 

The book revolves around three sisters, Rae, Emmy and Noelle. Each of them have things in their past that haunt them, but have made them what they are today and each of them have insecurities about both of those things. Rae is an opera singer, such a cool career and she has an amazing husband (who I may have had a little bit of a crush on) but she still has some ideals about living as a rebellious teenage when she returns to their family home. She also has some hang ups about being the mother hen of the siblings and so it was great to see her working her way through both of those things. 

Emmy is an amazing scientist and a pioneer for women in her field. She was bullied as a child because of her intelligence and the glasses that went with it and she is a little scared to come back out of her comfort zone where people embrace her intelligence rather than bully her for it. I think she is the sister that I identified with the most only I don't think I would be quite as brave as her in certain situations. Then we have Noelle who came out as a teenager and that didn't go down well in the village she lived in. She is now a top environmental lawyer and is also in a world where no one judges her the way her hometown did but she also has some skeletons in her closet back home that she must exorcise. 

Another major part of this book is the fact that the sisters are doing up their childhood home so there are some fabulous home renovation scenes to enjoy, I really liked the feeling of cleaning things out and cleaning them up along with the sisters and regeneration is definitely a key message in this novel. There are some really fun scenes involving some amazing 90s nostalgia scattered throughout the novel which were just the best. The sisters teen nostalgia is just the same as mine and I loved experimentation with hair mascara, babysitters club books and of course fond memories of Dream Phone!

There are some great messages in this book about the way we judge others and certain prejudices that should be avoided at all costs but also message about the way we judge ourselves. I loved reading about the way the sisters stuck together throughout the novel even if they didn't always see eye to eye on some topics. I also loved the theme of girl power running throughout the novel and I would LOVE for there to be a sequel, I want to know what the Lake Girls are doing now!

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

Review: The Fear by C L Taylor

Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

Review: Wow this book was so intense. I love CL Taylor's thrillers, they just transport me into the book and it's like I'm living the whole thing along with the characters. This story is just full of twists and turns, every few pages you think you know what's going to happen but you absolutely don't. Just when you think things are starting to come together, they're really not!

Lou is a great main character to go in this novel journey with because she is just like you and me. But then you find out that there is so much more to her than meets the eye. I never feel like I really got to know Lou, she never fully let her barriers down for me, but I can forgive her that, that's for sure. There are a few other female supporting characters in this novel too and I found those characters, despite being quite different to me, to be easy to get along with as well. Strong characters meant that I didn't feel alone going through everything they were going through!

The setting of this novel is also easy to picture, this author uses actual road names and place names and so you can put yourself into this English rural setting and continue to live this story alongside the characters. This novel definitely deals with some difficult issues, I don;t want to list exactly what because I don't do spoilers but I think that they are incredibly well-written and sensitive to those who might have gone through any of the things that these characters have. There are some quite violent scenes as well, as you might expect from a thriller, but they are also fabulously written and scared me but made me want to read on and find out more. 

I love C L Taylor's novels and this one is no exception, I read it in two sittings because I had to find out what was going to happen and I know you're going to love it!

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

Review: On A Beautiful Day by Lucy Diamond

It’s a beautiful day in Manchester and four friends are meeting for a birthday lunch. But then they witness a shocking accident just metres away which acts as a catalyst for each of them.

For Laura, it’s a wake-up call to heed the ticking of her biological clock.

Sensible Jo finds herself throwing caution to the wind in a new relationship.

Eve, who has been trying to ignore the worrying lump in her breast, feels helpless and out of control.

And happy-go-lucky India is drawn to one of the victims of the accident, causing long-buried secrets to rise to the surface.

This is a novel about the startling and unexpected turns life can take. It’s about luck – good and bad – and about finding bravery and resilience when your world is in turmoil. Above all, it’s about friendship, togetherness, and hope.

Review: I've listened to the last couple of Lucy Diamond releases as audio books and I think they work really well when told to you. Because she writes such uplifting stories about very real character, you really do feel like you're being read to as a real treat. 

This book was excellent, I loved the characters, the structure and the setting. I also love the fact that the characters had their own story lines at the same time as having a joint storyline, I think this is possibly my favourite structure of a book. The fact that this book is multiple narrative does make it slightly less suited to audio because it makes it eve so slightly harder to follow for some people. I really enjoyed the fact that these characters are so different though so I found the structure easy to follow and was always able to work out whose story line we were following. 

Another thing I really liked about these characters is the fact that they have got their happy ending, they have all been or are married  and this book follows them to find out what happens after the happily ever after. It is always refreshing to read a book from this genre that tackles that question. I think the fact that these women are all a little older and have all lived a life means that we get a slightly different perspective on the issues that they are facing than if they were in their twenties. 

I found these characters very easy to like and could easily and quickly sympathise and empathise with them. The things that they face and that Lucy Diamond puts them through are really quite tough and each of them are facing different dilemmas about how to handle what they are facing, This book is definitely not a light and fluffy read, these women go through a lot, together and separately. But on the whole it is still really uplifting and left me with a smile on my face, continuing to think about my four new friends. 

I really loved the structure, the characters and the plot of this book and I really think you would too. Whether you have read Lucy Diamond before or not, I think that you will definitely enjoy her latest offering. 

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

Review: Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

What if the princess didn't marry Prince Charming but instead went on to be an astronaut? What if the jealous step sisters were supportive and kind? And what if the queen was the one really in charge of the kingdom? Illustrated by sixty female artists from every corner of the globe, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls introduces us to one hundred remarkable women and their extraordinary lives, from Ada Lovelace to Malala, Amelia Earhart to Michelle Obama. Empowering, moving and inspirational, these are true fairy tales for heroines who definitely don't need rescuing.

Review: I was expecting good things from this book but actually I was absolutely blown away by it. I have already been using the knowledge that I have gained for it and have ordered several copies as gifts for friends and family, thank goodness there is another one out for me to try and get my hands on now!

This book is a book about strong, empowering women. Women throughout history. Women from all over the world. But it is not in anyway a dry history book, neither is it in any way preachy, or man-hating, as some may have led you to believe. This book is literally goodnight stories and so each page and each new woman begins with something like 'there was once...' or 'a long time ago' and so it condenses down and simplifies all the information about these amazing woman and make them easy to digest, easy to read and great to snuggle down with before bed. 

Then there are the amazing illustrations. I shared a few of the illustrations from this book on my Instagram because they are just beautiful and each illustration is by a different artist. Some artists have more than one illustration in the book but I loved the fact that they were all so unique and so fitting to the woman they are depicting! Some of my favourite were Venus and Serena Williams, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Virginia Woolf. 

I think this book really is suitable for all ages and all genres. I have already used some of the information I have learned in my weekly trivia and it really was the best book to start the year with. I couldn't recommend this book enough. 

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

Review: Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

Sophie’s husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart.

Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes.

Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how easily pleasure could tip into tragedy.

Most people would prefer not to try to understand what passes between a man and a woman when they are alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in an elevator… Or alone in the moonlit courtyard of an Oxford college, where a girl once stood before a boy, heart pounding with excitement, then fear. Sophie never understood why her tutorial partner Holly left Oxford so abruptly. What would she think, if she knew the truth?

Review: Everyone told me I was going to love this book and there's always a danger going into a book with those stakes that you're not going to love it but I really enjoyed this novel. It was intense, it was empowering and it was completely relevant and easy to relate to. This book does have a trigger warning for sexual violence.

The structure of this novel is one of the things I liked about it best. It has multiple narratives. Enough to keep you reading so you can find out what one party had to think about an event or a revelation but not too many that you're confused as to who is who. I am a big fan of multiple narratives and I really do think that the way this book is structured is part of what makes it such a page turner. It also has a couple of different time frames, the heading of each chapter always makes it clear what particular period of time you're in, right down to the date, however so the time shift is handled well and isn't confusing at all. 

Now the characters. The main characters here are two fabulous women named Kate and Sophie. You know I love a book with a strong female lead and this time I got two for the price of one. The best part about these characters is that you get to see them grow in strength over the course of the book. They are both put in difficult situations and we get to see them, not only now they are the women they are today, but also a glimpse of how they were in the past. I loved the character development of these women and I am sure you will be able to relate to these two protagonists from the word go to. 

There is of course a villain in this story, although, as you can see from the blurb, we don't really know whether or not he really is a villain. He is incredibly well written. He made me very uncomfortable and yet I could recognise traits of him in people I have come across and people who have been in the media recently. 

The issue of politics and nepotism is also dealt with in this book. Some might think that this makes the book a little dry and distracts from those two kick-ass female leads, but I found the political side of this novel really interesting. It's great to have a little glimpse into a world I will never be part of and I haven't really read many books dealing with this subject. This writer deals with this side of the story line really well and makes me wonder whether I would enjoy more books dealing with the ins and outs of Westminster!

Overall this was a great read and definitely the epitome of a page turner. There are definitely some moments designed to make the reader feel uncomfortable and it really is effective at drawing you in and getting you to sympathise with both of the main protagonists. I really enjoyed this book and even if you don't normally read books that cover court cases, I really think you will enjoy this one as much as I did. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US (comes out on 23rd January in the 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: If You Could See Me Now By Keris Stainton

Izzy Harris should have it all – but her boyfriend has been ignoring her for months, she’s been overlooked for a promotion, and the owner of her local coffee shop pervs on her every time she has a craving for a salted caramel muffin.

Then her life is unexpectedly turned upside down.

Izzy dumps her oblivious boyfriend, and leaps on the chance to win a big pitch at work. Needing to work closely with gorgeous colleague Alex is an added perk…

But then her best friend has her heart broken, the pitch is way more complicated than expected, and Alex is keeping secrets. Does Izzy have what it takes to help her friend, save her career and get the guy?

Review: Oh this was such a fun read and just the kind of thing I was looking for. This is a classic romantic comedy with a healthy dose of decent sex and just a little twist in the tale. This book made me laugh out loud but also made me think. It;s a book about relationships but also about friendship and female empowerment. 

This was an incredibly quick read because of all those reasons above. It has short chapters, which I love and sped up the pace a bit too. This book surround Izzy and her quest to get her work life, her personal life and her relationship life on track. I loved her as a main character because she is just so much fun. She is optimistic and yet she knows the realities of every day life. I think this is helped by the fact that she has been living in London for a while and she is a lady who knows how to take care of herself. She has also been coasting through life until a couple of events happen to her, including this big work pitch and she realises she is worth more than that. I found her so easy to get along with and could definitely recognise her in a few of my friends!

Her best mate Tash is definitely a good influence on her, even if those from the outside might think quite the opposite. I think these two made a great team. At first they seem to be kind of ying and yang, but as the book progresses, we see just how alike they are and just what bonds their friendship together. Obviously we have possible love interest Alex too, he is an interesting character and it takes a while to work him out but I am really glad he came into the picture! There are a couple of villains too which help to make up a great cast for this novel. 

I really like the fact that this book does definitely touch on female empowerment. It is really all about Izzy taking back that control and along the way she learns some invaluable lessons. She does get a little help from her friends but really she is an independent woman with a lot going for her and once she realises this, she knows that she's got this and i loved this message coming through throughout the novel. There are also some fabulous sex scenes in this book which definitely help to balance it out and just make it an even more fun read. There's nothing too offensive but I would give a little public service warning not to read too much of this book in public; a, because you'll find yourself laughing out loud and b, because you may find yourself blushing just a little. 

This was a great read. If you're a fan of Keris's other books, you'll see her wicked sense of humour coming through in this one, but if you are new to her novels, this is a great place to start. Get this one ordered now, a definite read if you're looking for something to cheer you up this summer!

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

Guest Review: The Forever House by Veronica Henry

Would you know your forever house if you found it?

Hunter's Moon is the ultimate 'forever' house. Nestled by a river in the Peasebrook valley, it has been the Willoughbys' home for over fifty years, and now estate agent Belinda Baxter is determined to find the perfect family to live there. But the sale of the house unlocks decades of family secrets - and brings Belinda face to face with her own troubled past.

Review: I was delighted to see a new book on the way from one of my favourite authors. As soon as I possibly could, I opened it up and was lost in its pages. It is definitely one of those stories that has you hooked very quickly and wishing that you could just keep reading to the end. 

The narrative concerns some very strong female characters, as well as the most adorable sounding house. The story contains parts  from the past and the present, all well and cleverly presented to keep the reader aware of what has gone before and how it relates to the here and now. This kind of format can sometimes be confusing, but Veronica has skilfully made it very clear whether it is today or yesterday. 

The main female characters are Margot, a famous writer of women's fiction in her time, Sally, a lady whose story spans past and present, and Belinda, a present day estate agent. Their stories are all brought together by the stunning Hunter's Moon, a large country house on the outskirts of Peasebrook, a Cotswolds town that will be familiar to readers of Veronica's last book. Of course there is a host of other supporting players, including the dashing Alexander, equally handsome Leo and Alexander's sister Annie. 

I'm sure that this book will appeal to a wide range of readers. There is plenty to interest everyone. Veronica Henry undoubtedly has a great talent for bringing people and places to life, which is evident once more in this novel. 

To get your copy now, click here!

Blog Tour: Review of Spring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin

I'm very excited to be part of the Spring at Blueberry Bay blog tour today. Please don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour and thank you to Holly for the copy of Spring at Blueberry Bay that I have reviewed today!

Welcome to beautiful Hope Island where the sea sparkles, the daffodils are blooming and a blossoming romance is just around the corner… 

Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, her kind heart tells her she must help him. So, she invites Isaac into her cottage and into her life in ways she could never have imagined… 

But Isaac is not what he seems. He’s keeping a huge secret from Bella, yet he never expected to fall for this open, generous and charming woman. 

Bella can’t ignore the chemistry between her and Isaac, but she’s had her trust badly broken in her past. Will she run when she learns the truth about Isaac, or will he be the one man who can help Bella believe in love again? 

A gorgeously romantic and heartwarming story to completely lose yourself in. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jane Costello and Miranda Dickinson. 

Review: I fell in love with this book right from the word go. This is just a hopelessly romantic read and you really do have to suspend any cynicism you have for the duration of this novel, but that is so much fun! I loved meeting these characters and sharing some swoon worthy moments with them. 

Bella has been hurt in the past in more ways than one and that made me warmth o her and empathise with her right away. I liked the fact that she was guarded and had learned from events that had previously happened to her. She is also a strong and proud woman with big dreams and ambitions. Although she is in some financial trouble, she doesn't want to ask for help but is more than happy to help others. It was great to read about someone who is ambitious and career-driven and yet can manage to get herself involved in a romantic relationship too. 

Isaac is also a proud person and so you can see straight away that this may cause problems if he is involved in a romantic entanglement. He too is big on career and has been hurt by his past. I really warmed to him as a character too and so I had a great time seeing the journey that these two people went on over the course of the book. Bella's family also provide for some interesting story lines and I would really love to hear more about Eden and Rome (Bella's siblings) in the future!

In terms of storyline, Holly Martin throws everything at these characters that she possibly can, there is drama and heartache around every corner and that made this read a real page turner and fast paced. I read this book in two sittings and loved every moment of it. Because the characters are so strong, you find yourself really cheering them on and wanting them to make a success of the situations they are facing. 

The setting of this book definitely deserves a mention. I'll be honest that I never really knew where the Scilly Isles were and now I do, I really want to go there. Holly Martin has a knack for describing beautiful coastal settings that make you want to be there smelling that salty air and feeling the spray on your face more than most and this book is no exception. You will fall in love with these characters, you will fall in love with the setting and you will fall hopelessly in love with the romance of it all. This is a must read for summer and if you've not read anything from this author before, this would be an excellent place to start!

To order your copy now, click here!

Review: That Girl From Nowhere by Dorothy Koomson

‘Where are you coming from with that accent of yours?’ he asks.
‘Nowhere,’ I reply. ‘I’m from nowhere.’
‘Everyone’s from somewhere,’ he says. 
‘Not me,’ I reply silently. 

Clemency Smittson was adopted as a baby and the only connection she has to her birth mother is a cardboard box hand-decorated with butterflies. Now an adult, Clem decides to make a drastic life change and move to Brighton, where she was born. Clem has no idea that while there she'll meet someone who knows all about her butterfly box and what happened to her birth parents. 

As the tangled truths about her adoption and childhood start to unravel, a series of shocking events cause Clem to reassess whether the price of having contact with her birth family could be too high to pay...



Review: this was an interesting one for me, I actually started this book quite a while ago but I couldn't get into it so I downloaded the audio book and started it again. I'm glad I stuck with it because the issues that this books deals with are nothing like I have faced in my own life and are so wide-ranging and vast that I feel I learnt things from this novel. It was quite tough-going at points but I am glad that I stuck with it! This books covers the topics of divorce, infidelity, assisted suicide, adoption, racism, sexism and also what to do when you've found the perfect coffee shop but can't go there anymore-that last one I could empathise with!

The manin character of this novel was adopted as a baby and knows nothing of her birth mother. A chance encounter changes that for her and we get to see how it all unravels. I really struggled to relate to Clemency and so I found her very hard to like or bond with. I think this did affect my enjoyment of the books, but the book is so much more than just a bout her.the others characters in the novel we're similarly dispositioned and so I didn't develop an affinity with any of them in particular. The owner of the aforementioned coffee shop was the person I liked the most and I struggled to get along with the others to be honest. 

As I said though this book is about so much more than them. I found it really interesting to hear how Clem was affected by her adoption and by everything else that followed. Her relationship with her mother and her birth mother are really interesting and as that unravelled, that was the real story for me. She is also a small business owner and so the struggles with that and also with living and setting up in a new city were much easier for me to get along with. I thought that Dorothy Koomson dealt with these issues incredibly well and I would be really interested in reading more books by this author in the future!

To get this book now and see for yourself, just click here.

Review: The Trouble with Henry & Zoe by Andy Jones

Henry and Zoe have more in common than they realise. For a start, they both have pasts they'd rather leave behind.

After jilting his childhood sweetheart on the eve of their wedding in the small town where they both grew up, Henry runs away to London, planning to reinvent himself and start afresh.

Zoe has her own healing to do and so she plans to leave London, travel the world, and figure out just what it is she wants out of life. She doesn't know where she's going, but she is determined to go there alone.

If Henry and Zoe had met one year ago, perhaps things could have worked out differently. But that's not the way it works; they meet seven months after their worlds have been turned upside down. And four months before Zoe is due to climb on a plane... 

Review: just like Andy Jones's last novel, this is one of those books that hooks you in right from the start. This books came with me everywhere on holiday so I could read a little bit here and there, whenever I had the chance and thank goodness I read the ending on a plane journey with someone else because I had to talk about it. Just be warned, you will want someone to talk to after you read the ending of this book. The thing that struck me the most about this book was how real it felt to me. Henry and Zoe felt like they could've been my Friends and the things like were happening to them do really happene to people like us in real life! 

To begin with, I wasn't sure how much I was going to warm to these 2 lovely characters, I wasn't sure if I would find them a little self-absorbed but I think they were so well written they just becaus absorbed into my friendship group in my head and I wanted to know what was goin on with them and how things were going to turn out for them! I think I preferred Henry as a character because I liked his laid-back attitude. Zoe is very determined though, which I really liked about her, she knows what she wants and decides to go for it after a big change in her life. 

I definitely became emotionally involved in this book and the structure of the story meant that you got a little glimpse of one character before switching back to the other. I love books that are structured like this and it made it ideal for dipping in and out of on holiday. I mentioned the fact that the beginning is really effective at capturing the audience but that ending.... Wow, I feel like I want to know so much more about these guys and yet it was just so perfect and exactly the ending that I wanted, 

This is a really great read and definitely something you should be adding to your TBR pile. I think that this would suit most audiences becaus you've go both the male and the female protagonists so there really is something for everyone here. The writing is witty and you'll be emotionally involved as well as invested in these strong characters. I really enjoyed this read! 

Review: Our Song by Dani Atkins

The stunning new emotional drama from ebook phenomenon Dani Atkins, author of Fractured - perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Dorothy Koomson.

This is the story of Ally and Charlotte, whose paths have intersected over the years though they've never really been close friends. Charlotte married Ally's ex and first true love, David. Fate is about to bring them together one last, dramatic time and change their lives forever. 

Full of Dani's signature warmth and emotion, this is a gripping and emotional family drama. With breath-taking plot twists, Dani explores themes of serendipity, friendship and love. She fully engages the reader in the dilemmas faced by her characters. What would you do if your husband was the love of somebody else's life? And when faced with an agonising decision, could you put the past behind you and do the right thing?

Review: I put off reading this book for a little while because I was told it was going to make me cry. I haven't been in the mood for a weepy recently but eventually I decided that the best tactic to take was probably going to be to download the audiobook. So i listened to this audiobook as part of a readathon and so I absolutely flew through ti but this allowed me to immerse myself in the story and really get to know these four main characters. Let me tell you-I loved this book so much more that I thought I would!

I think the thing I liked most about the book was the structure. I really like the fact that we meet these two women and have no idea how they are connected to the men we meet at the beginning of the novel or any idea how they are connected to one another. As the story develops, we learn more about each one through her moder day life and also through flashbacks. I love the fact that this is actually a bit of a mystery-figuring out how everything all ties up and how it is going to end up!

I really like the fact that this is centred on two women. I like the fact that they hold the power. Although they are there because of a man or two men, they still hold the power in the book and I really respect thw writer for that. I think that, had this been more male-centric, I wouldn't have warmed to the story line or the characters as much. Speaking or storyline, this is one is seriously dramatic. There are twists and turns left right and centre and of course real moments where tissues will be needed. Because you get so invested in these two women, it is bound to be emotional and so this definitely comes with a tissue warning.

Despite the fact that this book is emotional, this was a really good read. I didn't cry as much as I thought I would. I think this was because the book is also heart warming and also affirms the role of the strong woman in this kind of a novel. I really recommend this book, although set aside plenty of reading time-you're going to want to stick with this one!

Review: Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

Wildflower is a portrait of Drew's life in stories as she looks back on the adventures, challenges, and incredible experiences of her earlier years. It includes tales of living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life), getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood, and many more adventures and lessons that have led her to the successful, happy, and healthy place she is today. It is the first book Drew has written about her life since the age of 14.

Review: I have discovered that my favourite way to read memoirs or autobiographies is to listen to the author reading them themselves on audiobook. I knew the moment I saw this book on the shelves in the states I had to have it so I saw that it was released on audiobook 2 days later in the UK and pre-ordered it immediately. This was another book that I flew through. I found myself trying to listen at all points of the day, not just during my commute to and from school. 

I really like the fact that this book has come out just meow, Drew Barrymore has been fairly quiet of late whilst she has concentrated on her family, I really respect this but it was great to hear something from her that was a little bit different. This book is a mixture of stories, letters, anecdotes, funny things, poems, sad things but full of openness and honesty! 

Obviously Drew has been in the film industry for many, many years and so must have a wealth of stories to shares but I think some of my favourite stories had nothing to do with the film industry but involved road trips and relationships and every day activities and though processes that we all have. Something which really came out of the book for me was the fact that he built herself up from literally nothing. She moved out of home very very young, had a rather public fall from grace and yet has her own film company, a reputation most actors would kill for and still managed to have a healthy marriage and healthy children! Needless to say I am envious of her. 

I don't think you necessarily have to be a Drew Barrymore fan to be able to enjoy this book, or even be particularly interested in her films. Of course I felt like watching some of her films as I was reading this, and I did, but in think it was just really interesting to hear about how she motivates herself, how she celebrates the joy and how she copes with the difficulties that life throws at us all. This was a really compelling read and something I am and have been recommending to everyone!

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Review: The Things We Do For Love by Alice Peterson

Love may hurt, but not loving hurts even more . . .

January Wild loves her daughter, her dog and her childhood home by the sea.

Single parenting is tough, but January has no regrets. She has a job she loves, a happy home and the support of her beloved grandfather. The arrival of a new boss, however, threatens to shake up January's safe world.

Ward Metcalfe loves great sales results and a well-run office.

Everyone at her office agrees: Ward is a soulless, corporate slave driver. Even Spud, the company mascot, dislikes him.

A secret stands between them.

Yet over time January sees there is more to Ward than meets the eye. Rumours circulate. What exactly is he hiding? and is January prepared to risk everything to find out?

Review: this was such a lovely story and everything you would expect from an Alice Peterson novel. The reader is thrown right into the action with January and the novel continues to tell her past tell, how she came to be who she is today and her current situation. There are all sorts of twists for our lovely heroine, life definitely doesn't run smoothly for her but at the same time, you wish that things did. There were some points where the novel had jumped to the past and it to me a while to catch up with where we were and what the situation was, this is not a novel for switching off with,but I feel that because I concentrated that little bit more, I got more out of the novel. 

I really liked January as a character. She is a strong lead and  refreshing from some heroines who don't really know what to do with themselves or fall into tears at the first sign of difficulty. I liked that she was determined to be independent. She knows that she made some bad decisions but she acknowledges them and deals with them. I also really like the fact that, despite being a single mother with a very needy child, she still wants to and does work! Ward on the other hand was not a favourite of mine. I didn't like the fact that he had a real temper on him and was fairly cagey. The temper meant that he was always apologising and having to be forgiven for things and I think I would just eventually loose patience with h in real life. 

This book didn't make me cry, so if you've read Alice Peterson's other novels with a tissue in hand, don't worry you probably won't need it for this one. It was a still an intense read but nothing that had me weeping in public or anything! I read this fairly quickly and actually listened to the Audiobook performance! It was a good performance apart from the voice used for the little girl, this was just a little to infantile and made me cringe. I found myself trying to grab any opportunity to listen to this book though because I desperately wanted to find out what was going to happen. This was a heartwarming tale and definitely completely relevant to life as a single parent or even just a woman today.  

To order your copy now, click here!

Review: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.

Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wildpowerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. 

Review: I've been wanting to read this book for ages and even though it's been sitting on my kindle for quite some time now, I decided to download it on audiobook and make it my commute listen for the week. I think I chose a good book for the commute because this story was really uplifting vna demo owing and left me feeling ready to tackle things head on as I arrived at work at 7am so that's always got to be a good thing. 

I have to say that I knew absolutely nothing about the pacific coast trail before picking up this book but I loved the idea of a women going on a. Life changing hike all on her own. A chance to prove her independence and a chance for some real soul searching. It convinced me that I could never do anything like that. Despite the feeling of empowerment that it gave me. 

I really liked the writing style of this book, it was one of those non fiction bos where you feel like you are simply in conversation with the author, those make great audiobooks too, and so you don't feel liked you're being talked at or force-fed information. This style of writing is still definitely worthy of reading every single word and is still of a good level of formality but it makes the reading process much quicker and much more digestible. The facts and figures of this book are peppered with interesting anecdotes and stories of things that happened in the past which are called to question by moments that happen along the PCT. 

I definitely learnt a lot about the trail itself, about camping and hiking and general and about the effect that taking on a solo mission like this can have on you. It was really interesting. However my favourite thing about this book was listening to how Cheryl felt along the way. How she coped when things didn't go so well and the times she felt fear of what was ahead and sadness of what she had left behind. I think this book would have a good appeal to a wide range of audiences because of the two separate aspects to this story and I think it's definitely a book to read if you are a female feeling in need of a little empowerment! 

Review: Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

Review: gosh this book was high drama, high aww factor and a big dose of food description to make you go rushing to the bakers all mixed in together and then baked in a big Cornish Coastal oven! I loved revisiting the Little Bech Street Bakery, this book was always going to make me smile, and not just because I got to see Neil the Puffin again-his story line in this book by the way-amazing! 

It was great to be back with Polly again. She is a great character because she's so optimistic and so hopeful for herself and the people around her. She needs a lot of determination to cope with everything that is thrown at her in this book and boy does she have it in spades! She never gives up and she is a true friend to those around her. Of course I've already mentioned Neil. He is just ace and is a very close runner up for main character in this novel (and the previous one) as a far as I am concerned. I loved the ending that Neil got, it literally couldn't have been more perfect and that's all you need to go. 

In terms of make characters in this book, there is the hero and the villain and they play their parts just beautifully. Our hero does everything he can to make Polly happy, right up until the last page and some of the things he does for everyone around him will literally have you swooning over this novel! The villain in this book is also truly villainous and totally unexpected for a Jenny Colgan novel. He tries to thwart Polly and her happily ever after at every turn and again, does so right up until the final page (or so)!

Again the setting of this novel is fabulous,in really must get down and visit that part of the world and see this beautiful but dangerous coast line and of course take a trip by the puffin sanctuary to see if I can see Neil's mates! The description of the setting is just gorgeous, as is the description of the food. This book will have you jumping in the car to head down to Cornwall via several bakeries and possibly making your own yeast cultures on the way! I really enjoyed this novel, it is a perfect read for summer and definitely something you should be picking up to help you cope with the miserable British weather! 

Review: Always The Bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk

Everyone loves a bridesmaid - except Maddie, who’s perpetually asked to be one.

Everyone loves a wedding - except Maddie’s best friend, who’s getting divorced.

And everyone loves the way Maddie’s so happy behind the scenes - except Maddie herself.

One best friend is in wedding countdown while the other heads for marriage meltdown. And as Maddie juggles her best chance at promotion in years with bridezilla texts and late-night counselling sessions, she starts to wonder – is it time to stop being the bridesmaid?

Review: a new Lindsey Kelk book is always a delight and this one was no exception. This book is fairly different from her other novels and yet still has that fabulous Lindsey Kelk sense of humour and charm about it-fans will not be disappointed. One of the things I like most about Lindsey Kelk's writing style is that she says what we're all thinking. I particularly like a line in the novel where she references look at someones baby scan by pointing out that you're looking at the inside of someones uterus! This storyline in particular is incredibly relevant to those of us who are at the age when all our friends are getting married. The endless cycle of hen parties and weddings and often, the bridesmaids dresses too (my most recent one was red like the one on the cover!)

Maddie is an interesting character. I loved reading about her over the course of this book because she seems to be fearless. She just goes for what she wants and doesn't care how she looks doing it, she has no shame and I think that's an ace way to be in life! Her friends on the other hand, i didn't have so much love for. Lauren seemed incredibly spoiled to me and like the kind of high maintenance friend we all try and phase out eventually. Sarah seemed a little bit more sensible and I liked her a little more but I did feel that she was trying to put a brave face on her divorce and that if she had've just let herself wallow for a bit then her emotions wouldn't have gotten the better of her at pivotal points during the wedding planning. 

Of course there are some male interests in this book-it couldn't be a Lindsey Kelk novel without a delicious guy or two to lust over and there are males a plenty in this novel. I kind of don't want to mention how many or who because I don't want to give anything away but there is a moment where Maddie is romanced to the hilt, proper old Hollywood style, and this was just a joy to read. This book had me laughing hysterically in points. I read the majority of this at an airport or on a plane which was a little embarrassing but totally worth the laughs because I just relate to Lindsey's humour so much! Even if you haven't read any other Kelk novels, you should pick this one up. Its relatable, romantic, funny and so so true to life. I loved the ending and its just a great read!












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