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I was drawn to this book by the subject matter, as well as the intriguing and mysterious title and man on the cover image. I was also interested in the subject matter: the aftermath and effects of the 7/7 bombings.

Blurb:

Michael Hollinghurst is a successful corporate lawyer living a comfortable, suburban life in leafy North West London. But on 7 July 2005, his life is transformed when he steps on a London underground train targeted by Islamist suicide bombers. While most passengers in his carriage are killed, Michael survives the explosion but is confined to a wheelchair as a result.

Coming to terms with his predicament and controlling his own feelings of guilt as a survivor conspire to push him in a direction that is out of character and a tad reckless. In a quest to seek retribution, he resorts to embracing the internet and posing as a radical Islamist in order to snare potential perpetrators.

Much to his surprise, his shambolic scheme yields results and is brought to the attention of both GCHQ and a terrorist cell. But before long, dark forces begin to gather and close in on him. There is seemingly no way out for Michael Hollinghurst. He has become, quite literally, a sitting target.

My thoughts:

Despite being labelled as a thriller, some of this book carried a much slower pace than I was expecting. That’s not to say it wasn’t a thought-provoking and often compelling read.

The character of Michael is well-developed and interesting. I liked how the writer was able and willing to move away from the the on his injuries and instead bring into focus the life and purpose Michael finds for himself following the harrowing incident. There are multiple perspectives, which do engage and develop the plot, but I did find the sheer number of characters quite overwhelming at certain points.

This is, of course, a thought-provoking read that leaves you wondering what you would do in Michael’s position. It is also a poignant exploration of survivor’s guilt and through extensive dialogue, shows the importance of human communication and connection.

This book does seem to pick up pace more towards the middle and this is definitely an original and complex thriller.

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I was drawn to this book as I am a secondary school teacher and am always looking for light and easier reads to read with, or recommend to my pupils! This seemed to be a teen/tween version of one of my favourite genres- cosy mystery, so I was excited to get started.

Blurb:

Mollie is excited! She has been a private detective for six months, and FINALLY a BIG case has landed on her desk. If she solves it, it will make the papers and make her agency famous. She needs to give it her full attention; but she already has three cases she is working on. And when she gets an unexpected lead for her oldest case she HAS to run with it.

Could her new BIG case be linked to her oldest case?

My thoughts:

This has been a fun, page-turning read. You immediately get drawn into Mollie’s world and the frolicks and mysteries of her local community.

There is definitely a strong community feel to this book, as Mollie is either suspicious of, or relying on the help of, quite a big number of people in her community, through knocking doors etc. This is something that I feel is so lacking in post-Covid Britain I think, and it really gave the book some extra warmth & depth.

Mollie is a great character and you can’t help admire her intelligence, caring nature, determination and at times cunning behaviour too! She makes a great, likeable and “girl next door” sort of heroine for a teen book. I also loved how the ending made you feel like there was more to come from this discerning detective!

Overall, I really enjoyed following the various mysteries explored in the book, especially the goldfish! I would highly recommend this book to younger readers who are mystery/detective fans!

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I am so excited to be involved in the blog tour for T A Williams. I love his books and this is the 4th or 5th I have read by him now. I would describe them as heart-warming and escapist reads.

Blurb:

She needed a getaway. What she found was a home.

When Louise surprises her boyfriend by returning early from a work trip, safe to say she wasn’t expecting to see him in flagrante with another woman. Heart-torn and vowing to stay away from men, when Louise’s next project involves restoring an ageing hotel in Italy, she leaps at the chance to get away.

Managed by a crew of sextagenarians, the Grand Hotel del Monferrato needs all the love and care Louise can give it. But it’s hard to stay focused on the job when her thoughts keep straying to Vito, the reclusive and mysterious neighbour.

With his tragic past and her no-romance policy, Louise knows they can’t have a future. Yet something keeps pulling the two together…

A beautiful romance set in the hills of Turin, perfect for readers of Lucy Coleman and Alex Brown.5

My thoughts:

This is a wonderful follow up to T A Williams’ previous book, A Little Taste of Paradise. Once again we are provided with a beautiful Italian landscape and town in Italy. Williams’ attention to detail and wonderful descriptions ensure that, as a reader, you feel fully transported to, and immersed in this location. There is not just beauty and the multi-sensory experience, but you meet a broad and interesting cast of characters that end up giving this book and location a more community feel.

Once again, at the forefront of the story, Williams provides us with likeable and suitably complex characters. I particularly enjoyed seeing the seemingly mysterious and isolating neighbour Vito’s hidden depths, as well as Louise’s growth and strength.

The romance was organically developed and  believable, of course providing some uplifting and memorable moments within the book, as well as some drama because for some time there is a range of possible suitors.

Overall, this is an escapist and heart-warming read about taking chances and making the most of life. I would recommend this author to fans of Lucy Coleman, Sue Moorcroft and Daisy James.

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I am so happy to share my thoughts on this engaging and wonderful picture book. My girls are big fans of fairytales and princesses, so this was a great choice for them!

Blurb:

Princess No Knots LOVES her long golden hair as much as she LOVES her bath time but she does NOT love having it brushed. When her flowing locks end up in knots, the King tells her they will have to be cut and takes away her crown.

Enter a world of determination, sprinkled with a small dose of magic, to find out if the strong-willed Princess finds a way to get back her crown, keep her name and save the hair she so loves.

A must read for any parent who struggles with the dreaded ‘hair wash’ night!

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this with my girls, especially my younger daughter as she reminds me somewhat of the princess in this story. She’s got beautiful afro hair, but as she gets older it means that her hair is generally thick and dry, so I tend to wash it only weekly. She also gets it braided for special occasions, and when this happens she can go weeks without it having a proper wash.

Whether it’s been washed or not, she really isn’t a fan of having it brushed and the more she resists, the more difficult it gets to keep it looking nice. Therefore, it was nice to share with her an engaging and relevant story about the importance of looking after your hair!

Rhyming books are also my favourite to read with my girls as I find they flow better, are more entertaining and from the girls’ point of view are more memorable. The images are also really wonderful and provide a great example of a character with beautiful, naturally curly hair.

Overall, this is an engaging and relevant read for families with young girls, which I would highly recommend.

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I absolutely love Nicole Trope and have followed her career and writing journey quite closely over the last few years. She has made a fabulous choice to delve into psychological fiction, and her talent continues to shine through.

Blurb:

Three-year-old Millie Everleigh disappears on a crisp winter’s day, and nothing is as it seems…

It’s the phone call every mother dreads.

I’m climbing into the car after a trip to the grocery store. As the engine starts, my phone rings. It’s my stepdaughter, Shelby, who is babysitting my three-year-old little girl Millie.

‘I only went upstairs for a second,’ she says through her sobs. ‘She’s gone.’

I race home to find my blue-eyed baby girl missing, and my heart ripped out of my chest.

When the police turn up, Shelby’s story starts to unravel. What is she hiding?

Then I get a message saying, ‘Your husband is not who you think he is.’ Could he be lying?

Suddenly, my family feel like strangers. Everyone has a secret – even me.

No one knows why I was late coming back from the store, and the guilt I’ve been feeling ever since…

Once the truth comes out, all of our lies exposed, will it be too late to save my precious child?

A pulse-pounding psychological thriller about family secrets, shocking pasts and the lies we tell ourselves in order to survive. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and The Wife Between Us.

My thoughts:

The missing child “trope” in psychological fiction is so common now, that some people might even argue that its been done to death. Though I still enjoy these sorts of books, it is certainly a big ask to provide an original spin on this plot trajectory due to there being so many books of this nature out there. However, Nicole Trope, of course, manages to produce a compelling and gripping narrative that becomes about far more than a missing child.

Nicole Trope writes realistic, believable, and at times heart-warming psychological fiction. For me, there are two ends of the spectrum of this genre. One end of the spectrum invites the reader to distrust and dislike the vast majority of the characters and leaves them reeling with unease and disgust. The other end of the spectrum is more where I feel Nicole’s work sits. This is where you are able to empathise with the majority of the characters to some extent, and in doing so build a bond with their family unit, which is what keeps you hooked.

Nicole Trope, in this book, explores the concept of family dynamics, the make up of friendships, the notion of love and the issue of past histories, all alongside maintaining the focus on the quest for the missing child.

This was definitely a book that had me hooked and I found difficult to put down. Yes I needed to know what had happened to Millie, but I also wondered how this family could possibly recover from something which reveals itself to be far more shocking and damaging than we originally thought!

Overall, a tense and gripping read that is absolutely worthy of its comparison to Lisa Jewell. I would also recommend this book and author to fans of S E Lynes, Jess Kitching and Mel Sherratt.

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I simply cannot get enough of this genre, and am always looking for new authors to try. I was particularly intrigued when I found out this was written by a pair of two friends, as a true “writing partnership” is something I rarely come across. The title and cover of this one definitely stood out to me. The title sounds haunting and threatening, whilst the cover is definitely original and jumps out.

Blurb:

Three sisters…One terrible secret

Ashleigh: A creative, free spirit and loyal. But Ash is tormented by her demons and a past that refuses to be laid to rest.

Jessica: Perfect wife and loving mother. But although Jessica might seem to have it all, she lives a secret life built on lies.

Grace: An outsider, always looking in, Grace has never known the love of her sisters and her resentment can make her do bad things.

When Ashleigh goes missing, Jessica and Grace do all they can to find their eldest sister. But the longer Ashleigh is missing, the more secrets and lies these women are hiding threaten to tear this family apart.

Can they find Ashleigh before it’s too late or is it sometimes safer to stay hidden?

My thoughts:

I was pulled into this one straight away, as you are led to consider the fact that Ashleigh may be missing immediately from the opening pages. Ashleigh appears to be a damaged, impulsive and unreliable person so you are quite unsurprised to find out she is missing.

Each of the three main characters (sistersL are well developed and at certain points, I was able to identify or feel sorry for each one of them. Though, as the narrative develops you begin to question each one because secrets and lies unfold.

There is a wonderful exploration of family ties, history, loyalty as well as some other issues such as alcoholism. This emotional and psychological depth works brilliantly alongside the twists and suspense that propel the narrative forward.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be gripping from the start. I would recommend this book and author to fans of authors such as Jess Kitching, Shalini Boland and Nina Manning.

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I was drawn to this book and I do love historical fiction, and for some reason I do not read enough of it! Whereas in a couple of other genres I have lists of authors I return to again and again, my historical fiction authors’ list is still growing. I tend to mostly read WW2 fiction, and the title of this intrigued me! I also absolutely love the cover – it is beautiful!

Blurb:

February 1941
The world is at war and Joyce Cooper is doing her bit for the war effort. A proud member of the Civil Defence, it is her job to assist the people of Notting Hill when the bombs begin to fall. But as the Blitz takes hold of London, Joyce is called upon to plot the devastation that follows in its wake. Night after night she must stand before her map and mark the trail of loss and suffering inflicted upon the homes, families and businesses she knows so well.

February 1974
Decades later from her basement flat Joyce watches the world go by above her head. This is her haven; the home she has created for herself having had so much taken from her in the war. But now the council is tearing down her block of flats and she’s being forced to move. Could this chance to start over allow Joyce to let go of the past and step back into her life?

An emotional and compelling historical fiction novel perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Mandy Robotham and Catherine Hokin.

My thoughts:

I am always filled with admiration, but also some nervousness when I begin a historical fiction book with a dual timeline. Though an engaging feature, it takes some talent and planning to ensure that the reader feels both timelines are engaging and worthy, without being able to express a clear preference.

I can confirm that I was easily lost in, and intrigued by, both timelines in this book and can see how they give the book more impact when deliverer together. This is a woman who faces homelessness, placelessness and devastation not once, but twice in her life. The themes and strength of character displayed by Joyce in both scenarios mean that the two timelines seamlessly and effortlessly link.

I was pulled into the story straight away and Jan’s emotional and poignant narrative ensured that I was able to feel a sense of place very early on, as well as the trepidation, dread and anxiety that she surely must have felt in both scenarios. There is no holding back when it comes to putting the reader in direct contact with the horrors and devastation of war. I have felt like I have gone on these tumultuous journeys with Joyce.

I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant and emotional read, and I will definitely be looking to read more by this author in future.

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I was drawn to this book as I do enjoy memoirs, as well as travelogues, and I have a special interest in religion and religious motivations and practices. The cover is very engaging and provides a sense of self-exploration as well as engagement with our natural world!

Blurb:

After being threatened by a Bangalore mob boss, retired Indian businessman in Mohan Ranga Rao makes a vow: if he somehow gets out of the situation, he will thank the gods by going on Kailash Mansarova, a holy mountain pilgrimage in Tibet. What starts out as merely a challenging high-altitude trek soon becomes a life-changing adventure. With a blend of humor, honesty and keen insight, Mohan journeys toward a deeper understanding of the world around him.

A memoir of a road less traveled and a true story of self-discovery at 18,000 feet.

“A modern Canterbury Tales, telling of a fascinating real-life adventure.“ Dr. C Naganna, University of Mysore

“A heartwarming read; a spiritual adventure.” Anuradha Goyal, The Mouse Charmers

My thoughts:

Though Mohan’s lifestyle and circumstances are very different and far removed from my own, I found him a likeable narrator and identified with him quickly. He struck me as someone who does things for others, and I enjoyed following his journey after he quickly agreed to the pilgrimage, with some encouragement and pushing from his wife.

The journey itself was beautifully described, of course depicting some challenging moments, as well as moments of triumph. I felt easily able to picture his journey, his family and other aspects of his life and this was helped by the amount of pictures he includes in this immersive and engaging memoir.

I have to admire this writer as in this book he achieves something far greater than I can ever comprehend, simply because I am quite happy with living within my comfort zone. The story of his journey is not told with arrogance, but with a humour, honesty and warmth that I found really endearing.

Overall, a wonderful and thought-provoking memoir that I would recommend to any readers of non-fiction looking for an immersive and original read.

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I am a big fan of  Victoria Walters’ books in general, and though it was the Glendale Hall series which started it all off for me, I was so glad she took the leap into the cozy mystery genre as she has dealt with it brilliantly! I absolutely loved the previous release, Murder at the House on the Hill, so I was very excited to see a follow up being released, with the same setting and main characters! The bright and funky cover would certainly make it stand out on the shelves, and fits in perfectly with the genre.

Blurb;

A fete worse than death…

After finding the killer of Lucy Roth six months ago, life has settled back to normal for bookshop owner, Nancy Hunter, and her grandmother, Jane. The annual Dedley End village fete is just around the corner, and Nancy is delighted when bestselling author, Thomas Green, agrees to launch his first new novel in ten years there.

But then a series of sinister events lead Nancy to realise someone is trying to sabotage their fete, so she, along with Jane and their journalist friend Jonathan, must turn detective to discover who isn’t at all thrilled about the return of Thomas Green.

When a body is discovered at the summer fete, the death scene mirroring that in Thomas’ latest bestseller, they realise that there’s another killer in Dedley End, but can they outsmart someone who appears to have pulled off the perfect crime?

The clues are right under Nancy and Jane’s noses, if only they can find them. Because the answers to life’s questions can always be found in a book…!

A twisty, unputdownable cozy mystery that fans of Richard Osman, S.J. Bennett and The Marlow Murder Club will love.

My thoughts:

I loved the fact that we were reunited with the duo Nancy, Jonathan and Jane in this installment. They make a great team and are very vibrant and engaging characters.

The fact that the book centres around a village fete seems very traditional and light-hearted, but these are also busy places where people often feel relaxed and care-free, so provide a great back drop for am unexpected crime!

The story certainly picked up pace by the time the fete begins and the murder takes place. Victoria’s writing is very good, providing a great balance of light and shade. The light being the warm atmosphere of a village intent on finding the culprit of this crime, and the dark being the shady and suspicious characters!

Overall, another gripping and entertaining edition to the Dedley End series, and I am very much looking forward to reading more by this author in this genre. A perfect choice for fans of Katie Gayle, Richard Osman and Alexander McCall Smith.

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I am a big fan of this author’s work. I have read all of her previous releases, and enjoyed all of them. The covers are very uniform, unique and stand out on the shelf.

Blurb:

Lily is fine. Really, truly, she’s ok. She might have to attend her best friend’s wedding with the ex-boyfriend she never got over, on a gorgeous Greek island that’s so small it’s impossible to avoid him, but she is determined to be friendly.

And Matt, too, is completely and utterly fine. Lily may have broken his heart, but he moved on. And surely they can be amicable, as this week is about his best friend’s wedding too? So he will be civil, stay out of her way as much as he can, and get on with the celebrations.

But then the wedding comes under threat, and Matt and Lily are thrown together in the efforts to save the day and – yet again – sparks fly. What happens when you try to repeat the past though? Can a holiday romance turn into a lasting love, for the second time? Or are Lily and Matt destined to remain just friends, forever?

A totally gorgeous, escapist holiday will-they-won’t-they romantic comedy for fans of One Day in December, This Time Next Year and Paige Toon.

My thoughts:

It took me a little while to get into this one, which surprised me. Although initially intrigued by the separation between Lily and Matt, I just could not get over being annoyed with Tess and her problems popping up everywhere. I understand that this was sort of central of the story, as it is Tess’ wedding that brings the two of them back together, but she definitely did grate on me for a while. In the end, I found her bridezilla character quite entertaining. Also, the friendship group overall and their loyalty and commitment to each other, despite their stark differences, does provide another layer to the plot.

Lily however, in complete contrast to Tess, is a wonderful character. She is selfless, complex and tries to keep her pain of the past hidden away. There is a vulnerability to her that we could see as readers that you could tell she tries to hide from those closest to her, and especially tried to hide from Matt. I enjoyed following her journey and the ups and downs of her sometimes unexpected encounters with Matt.

The setting is absolutely beautiful and I’d quite like myself to jet away to a Greek Isle right now! However, Lily’s story is testament that you can’t run away from your problems, and sometimes need to face them head on.

Overall, a slow burn, escapist, lovely, holiday romance with all the added history to make it complex and somewhat gripping. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Jenny Bayliss, Samantha Tonge and Portia Macintosh.

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