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I am so excited to be involved in the blog tour for an absolutely incredible author of emotional, dramatic domestic fiction. I think the cover of this one is absolutely gorgeous, and the title itself is emotive and intriguing.

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Blurb:

was wrong. I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t hear the theme park music, the giggles of my two other children. I’d left my baby in someone else’s care. And I knew I’d made a mistake…

With her two beautiful children and newborn baby Ella, Lily’s life is full of love and laughter. She gave up her job to be a stay-at-home mother, and though she sometimes envies the freedom of best friend Hannah, Lily wouldn’t trade it for anything.

But Lily’s world implodes when Hannah disappears with Ella one day, and Lily fears from the text message she receives that Hannah doesn’t intend to come back:

You don’t deserve her.

It’s true that Lily has been keeping secrets about her marriage from Hannah, ones she thought only she and her husband knew. Suddenly Lily realises that there are things she doesn’t know about Hannah too – and that by keeping her husband’s secrets, she might pay the ultimate sacrifice.

My thoughts:

I was not sure how, or if, Sam could equal or top her previous release, My Only Child, but she absolutely has.

There are so many things I love about her writing. Firstly, I’m not left waiting for something to happen. The action happens almost immediately, after allowing for just a little character development and scene setting to begin.

This puts the reader off kilter. We don’t know enough about anything to know who to trust, who is right etc. It really helps to build an immensely exciting, dramatic and tense atmosphere.

As the story progresses, we hear from both Lily and Hannah and the book is written in such a way that we are able to feel sympathy for both characters. Like Lily, I know I am one to moan about the every day monotony of bringing up young children. I could totally see where she was coming from because yes, I love them with all my heart, but I don’t like picking up after them, or slaving for ages over a hot stove for them to throw the food on the floor. This is the reality of motherhood. It is the most thankless yet precious and rewarding job in the world, and I think Sam’s exploration of this is really important and realistic.

It is clear that for a number of reasons, Lily and Hannah’s relationship is frayed and I thought that was a really important storyline, showing how family life can consume us and we become disconnected as a result, but when the going gets tough, we truly need our friends.

The book continued to surprise and shock me with twists and turns, and then the ending really took it out of me! It was unexpected and heart-breaking, yet at the same time heart-warming and perfect.

Overall, this book has truly given me all the feels and is a stunning piece of domestic drama that explores many important issues, including motherhood and friendship. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Jodi Picoult, Amanda Prowse and Nicole Trope.

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I love Rich Amooi’s books and I’m very excited to be involved in another blog tour, promoting this wonderful latest release. As well as the gorgeously bright and romantic cover, I loved the original title of this one, and I was so excited at the thought of escaping reality and heading to the Napa Valley!

Blurb:

A sweet romantic comedy set in beautiful Napa Valley!

Ivy needs a miracle and a drink—not necessarily in that order. With a struggling winery, the only hope of keeping her dream alive is snagging a gold medal at the annual wine competition. She’s determined to win, but she can do it without the help of Ted Jacobs, aka Mr. Know-it-All.

Ted wants to catch lightning in a bottle and create the world’s greatest wine, but he’s smart enough to know he can’t do it alone. When he heads to Napa to keep his grandma from ending up in jail (don’t ask), he meets Ivy. She’s as complex and intoxicating as his award-winning cabernet, but as stubborn as the mule next door when she stomps on his offer to collaborate.

Ted knows it’s risky to mix business with pleasure, but if Ivy would only listen, they might just be the toast of the town.

My thoughts:

I cannot find fault with this book. Although there are many books and authors I thoroughly enjoy, it is rare for me to feel that is a book is perfect in the way I feel it about this one. It is unashamedly an excellent romantic comedy in every sense of the word. As Rich says in his notes at the end, ‘silliness is underrated’ and I completely agree.

There are many silly moments in the book, and ones I found completely hilarious. I particularly loved the slogan t-shirts and the wine puns. I’d buy one of those t-shirts myself! I loved the ‘aphrodisiac basket’ and the hilarious scenarios that surrounded it.

I loved the development of the characters Izzy and Ted, and really felt for them at certain points as they struggled to take each other at face value. I thought the two interfering grandmothers were great. They were mischievous, cunning, and added an extra dimension to the book that meant it wouldn’t have been the same without them.

The ending was far more explosive and dramatic than I was expecting and this added another wonderful dimension to the book that made for wonderfully compulsive reading.

Overall, this has been an addictive, heart-warming and well-crafted romantic comedy that I would definitely recommend to fans of this genre. If you enjoy romantic comedy fiction, and you’ve not read any books by Rich Amooi, you need to!

I was drawn to this book by the unusual and eye-catching cover. I was also keen to read someone else’s experience, as I have found myself in a situation where I was forced to start again following a relationship breakdown (though I know from reading the blurb that Charley’s story is unfortunately about an untimely and sad death).

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Blurb:

What happens… after The One?

April 16th is always one of Charley’s worst days of the year.

It’s her husband’s birthday, a painful reminder of his death four years ago.

So naturally, her car breaks down.

She nearly gets run over trying to catch the bus.

And then she’s made redundant.

Her friends see the redundancy as a chance for her to start again and live the life she always wanted, but since being widowed Charley has clung to familiarity and avoided change like the plague. Then, out of the blue, her mother-in-law Pam pitches up in need of a place to stay after walking out on her 40-year marriage.

Together, Charley and Pam find themselves at a crossroad. It’s not easy to move on after The One, but they can’t stand still forever.

A gorgeously heartwarming and feel-good story for fans of Libby Page and Nicola Gill.

My thoughts:

I already felt emotional just reading the blurb so it’s unsurprising that I found this quite an emotional read at times.

I found Charley to generally be a likeable and realistic character, who despite still clearly grieving, shows courage and strength. I really liked how the author showed that this was something that came from within, but also something that was created from her friendships and closeness with her mother in law, Pam.

I personally liked hearing from other characters’ perspectives and felt this gave the book a more rounded and authentic feel.

This is a slower paced book than my usual read, but overall I have found it easy, enjoyable and heart-warming. It provides a clear message about the difficulty of striking a balance between grieving for our loss, and moving on with our lives in a way that makes those who mean most to us, proud.

I am very excited to be involved in the blog tour for the 2nd book in the Epiphany Bloom cosy mystery series, after featuring the first book on my blog last year!

Blurb:

Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom, would-be detective and London’s unluckiest woman, finds herself in a real costume drama when she unearths a theft at a fashion museum.

The missing dress is a proper piece of Hollywood history, worth a fortune. And as Pip investigates, she finds the museum staff all had reasons to want the garment gone. From fancy boutiques to sketchy back alleys, Pip discovers the fashion world is not all glitz and glamour as she hunts down her prize.

As if she doesn’t have enough on her plate, Pip also has her growing feelings for her housemate Tim to contend with, a family of cats to feed and her mother keeps phoning about a shipment of llamas arriving any day now from South America.

But there’s no time for distractions because Pip’s not the only one after the dress. And for the most dedicated collectors, a piece like this is worth any price – even murder…

My thoughts:

I have loved being reunited with Pip. She is the same fun loving, determined and intelligent character I remember from the first book. I loved the comparisons drawn with her sister Flis, and some of their interactions really had me laughing out loud.

Thankfully, in keeping with the genre style, this is not a book that focuses whole heartedly on a grizzly murder and in fact the book’s main focus is a missing dress. As the mystery consumes Pip, so too does it consume the reader, and I have loved trying to predict where this one was going.

The romance storyline adds an additional, softer dimension to the book which I also really liked. Pip has a coupe of suitors available to her, but my loyalty definitely lies with helpful, thoughtful Tim.

Of course, the ending was unpredictable despite me closely following the clues and hints throughout! It was also more explosive and dramatic than I was expecting.

I have really enjoyed this second installment and I look forward to reading more about Pip’s adventures in the third installment. Bring it on!

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I am happy to be involved in the blog tour for this wonderfully original and intriguing book. I also think the cover designer is a wonderful human being, as this is definitely an eye-catching and thought provoking cover image!

Blurb:

There’s a wrinkle in time on the 15:15 train from Paddington to Cheltenham Spa

It’s the Summer of 1982, and Beth Sawyer is thrilled to have landed the title role in a play. It may only be in a fringe theatre in Shepherd’s Bush, but it’s the start she’s always dreamed of.

It’s the Summer of 2020, amid the global pandemic, and Tom Brookes is furloughed. Unable to face lockdown in a tiny city flat, he moves back to his mother’s cottage in the sleepy Cotswold village of Stoatsfield-under-Ridge.

Neither of them expects an everyday train journey to throw their normal lives so spectacularly off-course.

This is the story of an extraordinary encounter between two people who should never have met.

My thoughts:

Having read the blurb again, I think it gives off the idea of this being a far more complex story than it actually is. That’s not to say that’s a criticism as such. In fact, as this is a book that can definitely be described as taken from a genre completely outside my comfort zone, I loved the simplicity of it in many ways and it put me at ease.

I liked the way the narrative was character driven. No matter the time they are living in or taken from, a character can be relatable in the hands of a good writer. I liked aspects of both Beth and Tom’s characters.

I think this book provides quite an interesting portrayal of what the Covid pandemic has been like, almost from an outsider’s point of view. It demonstrates the human ability to be resilient, as so many of us (the vast majority) have made so many changes to our lives and have still managed to maintain jobs, relationships, our integrity and so in. It helped me sit back and take stock of the current situation and how we might view it differently.

I loved the simplicity of this book. As I’m not a regular to the genre, I struggle if an author or book get too bogged down in the scientific or logistical aspects of such an incident. I believed this narrative focused more on the depth of human feeling, and the human ability to adapt to situations (such as the current pandemic) in order to maintain positive relationships.

Overall, this has been an easy and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of this type of character-driven, slightly science-fiction style book.

A favourite quote from the book, which got me thinking:

“I don’t really think the sum of human happiness has increased that much as a result of advances in technology.”

I really like this author’s books and am always pleased with my reading experience of her books. However, I have to say that in my opinion, of the one I’ve read, this is her best book yet. Therefore, Nicole for me is a ‘must read’ author, but I also love the title and think the cover is haunting, intriguing and beautiful.

Blurb:

Where is he? Where’s my beloved child with his father’s blue eyes and a halo of golden curls? My little boy is out there on his own. Please keep him safe, I silently beg, please, please just keep him safe.

‘Your son is missing,’ they say, and life as I know it is over. ‘Where would he go?’ the police ask. ‘Where would he be?’ my daughter begs.

My heart races as images flash in my mind. The cabin we rent every autumn, surrounded by fiery red maple trees. Voices raised. Tears falling. A marriage falling apart. And worst of all my husband telling our child, Theo, to run.

The rest is a blank in my memory. If I close my eyes I can almost see it. A betrayal that has left me alone, in tatters, grieving for what we had.

It wasn’t meant to be like that. It should have been precious time as a family, with boardgames, walks in the mountain and pancakes for breakfast.

Instead my little one is has vanished. ‘They are looking for him,’ the nurse told me, ‘but the storm is slowing down the search.’

The police think Theo has the answers, that he knows what tore our family apart. But I have no idea where he is. No clue if he is safe. I won’t survive unless I bring him home. But if I do, and the truth comes out, will I survive that?

A completely gripping, beautifully written and totally heartbreaking page-turner, which examines what happens behind closed doors, and the secrets that can shatter a family. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain and Liane Moriarty will be totally addicted to this breathtaking novel.

My thoughts:

Regular viewers of this blog will probably be aware that I regularly feature book that include the well-known trope of a missing child. There are so many books out there with this as a key event, that it is a wonder that authors that still able to put an inventive and original spin on it. Nicole Trope certainly does this, ensuring that the narrative is gripping and emotionally charged throughout.

As someone who works closely with autistic pupils, I am someone who believes themselves to know a lot about the spectrum and the condition. I am always a little nervous to read books about autistic young people, especially those written from a first person perspective, as I think this is a rather difficult challenge and sometimes people can fall into ‘stereotyping’ rather than appreciating the individuality and merits of an autistic person. However, Nicole Trope’s portrayal of Theo is sympathetic, sensitive and something to be admired as it is so well done. To her merit, she also uses multiple perspectives to allow us to gain empathy for, and connection with, other characters, including Theo’s mum and sister.

The title of this one is shown to have a number of meanings in the book, and highlights a number of important themes and questions. I have loved the exploration of what it means to have a home, to be home and the delicate and flexible nature of our brain as it preserves memories and protects us from harm.

Overall, this is an outstanding and emotionally charged, page turning book that I have thoroughly enjoyed and been immersed in. After reading, I definitely feel this is comparable to House Rules by Jodi Picoult in terms of its excellence, and would recommend this author to fans of Jodi Picoult and Amanda Prowse.

I was drawn to this book by the title, which sounds whacky and weird but made me laugh out loud. I would also like the thank the author and organisers for the wonderful package I received as book mail, which not only included a signed copy of the book but a set of fun and related jokey gifts. This really made me chuckle and was a book mail highlight of the year so far!

Blurb:

Dave suffers from OCF – Obsessive Compulsive Fatalism.
Every day he is compelled to follow his online horoscope, and to actively seek out and participate in their prophesies.
One fated day, the signs are so compelling they embolden him to take a high stakes horse racing gamble.
The consequence of his wager will lead Dave into situations way beyond his control and comfort zone, and his path will be crossed by an intriguing hotchpotch of larger-than-life characters.
This eccentric bunch of strangers include a Benny Hill loving vicar, a transvestite, a hippy, a diamond thief, a sausage roll addicted Bank manager, an underworld female mechanic, an ’ungry man, some piranha fish, a chimpanzee and many others.
Pluto’s in Uranus! is the story of a ‘tryer’ whose lucky omens will come back to taunt him.

My thoughts:

After reading the blurb, I already felt a connection to Dave. I too love horoscopes and reading them, doing horoscope quizzes and figuring out how and why they might be applicable to my life. I remember having my first ever phone (Nokia 3210 haha) and you could pay to receive a text message of your daily horoscope – I signed up straight away! I’m not sure I’d go as far as he does in terms of the high stakes gamble, but I still read my horoscopes regularly and genuinely want to believe them, a lot of the time.

I loved that the main character’s name was Dave. He definitely comes across as a down-to-earth, every day, somewhat down on his luck guy and a ‘tryer’. It also made me laugh as throughout the lockdowns we have been doing family quizzes and if we don’t know the answer, we always put Dave. It’s become quite a running joke!

I have to admit, I’m not one to skip to the end of a book to read the last line, or last pages. I actually get on my high horse about that rather a lot. However, this book made me want to do that from the first PARAGRAPH! How? Why? I hear you ask! I’ll not provide spoilers so you’ll have to find out for yourself 🤣🤣

There is an eclectic mix of characters that add a number of dimensions to the story and help to further develop this humorous narrative. I have enjoyed meeting these characters and following Dave’s journey.

Overall, this is a fun, quick read that I’m sure you will devour quickly and will lift your spirits, no matter how dark your mood.

I am very excited and honoured to be involved in the blog tour for this incredibly chilling and addictive second book by Harriet Tyce. I am ashamed to say that despite having had Blood Orange sat on my shelves for some time, this is the first time I’ve actually read a book by this amazing author!

Blurb:

Sadie loves her daughter and will do anything to keep her safe.

She can’t tell her why they had to leave home so quickly – or why Robin’s father won’t be coming with them to London.

She can’t tell her why she hates being back in her dead mother’s house, with its ivy-covered walls and its poisonous memories.

And she can’t tell her the truth about the school Robin’s set to start at – a school that doesn’t welcome newcomers.

Sadie just wants to get their lives back on track.

But even lies with the best intentions can have deadly consequences…

My thoughts:

Wow! I have read this book at supersonic speed, as I have just found it unbelievably gripping and compelling.

I connected and empathised with the characters of Sadie and Robin. Sadie is keen to rebuild her life, put the past behind her and protect her daughter. Robin comes across as a young girl who wants what everyone her age typically wants (even though sometimes they hide these wants behind a bravado!) She wants to make friends, have fun, fit in, do well at school and take opportunities that are given to her. I really loved the way Harriet created these characters and showed the connection and bond between them.

This is a complex and original narrative, written in a style that is very unique and completely addictive. The narrative throws up so many questions, and as these questions are answered and the dust somewhat settles, Harriet throws up a whole other set of unforseen circumstances and a tangled web of lies, deceit, betrayal and secrecy.

This is one that will have you guessing until the end, and will really get you working hard to find out who are the enemies and who are not!

This is a complex and gripping narrative that explores many different themes including: parenting, childhood memories, relationship breakdown, death and sexual abuse. Harriet somehow manages to sensitively juggle all these themes, without, in my opinion, subjecting the reader to any triggering scenes.

I have struggled to put this book down and have absolutely loved so many things about it. I would definitely describe this author as an emerging Queen of the genre, who in my opinion is comparable to Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, C L Taylor and Shalini Boland.

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I love Olivia’s books so I am very excited to be involved in another blog tour for this fabulous sequel to Only When It’s Love!

Blurb:

She’s found the perfect man. Will she get her perfect proposal?

Dog hotel marketing manager Alex has always dreamed of having a fairy-tale proposal: the glorious sunset, iconic backdrop and rose petals – the whole shebang. She’s found her Mr Right, and life with sexy paediatrician Miles is wonderful, except for one thing. Despite saying that he’s ready for marriage, Miles seems no closer to putting a ring on it.

After a romantic getaway to Paris ends in more disappointment and Alex receives news that sends her world into a spin, she decides that her dream proposal won’t just fall into her lap. So she hatches a plan.

Although she’s convinced her methods will lead to Miles popping the question faster than she can say ‘I do’, Alex’s friends warn her it will end in disaster. But a little bit of hint dropping can’t hurt, right?

Will Alex get her happily-ever-after, or is there a reason why Miles is dragging his feet?

Order this fun romantic comedy now and join Alex on her exciting adventures as she attempts to speed up the proposal process, with hilarious results!

When’s The Wedding? is the sequel to Only When It’s Love. It can also be read as a standalone novel.

My thoughts:

As someone who has on many occasions claimed not to be a series reader, I’m going totally against the grain here by saying that this is a wonderful series and one I have adored. I also would argue that this book is much better enjoyed as part of the series, although it definitely works as a standalone novel.

I love the way Olivia creates well developed and interesting characters. Once again, at first, I wasn’t sure whether I was frustrated with Alex or felt sorry for her. However, she definitely won me over to her way of thinking.

Despite finding happiness with the man of her dreams, all is not plain sailing and this book makes for a dramatic and engaging read. Alex is fed up of waiting for the perfect proposal. Will her impatience and traditional values ruin their relationship?

I found the way friendship is portrayed here really relatable and relevant to me. Despite being im her 30s and having a wonderful job and partner, Alex’s friends are clearly very important to her. I loved the way the dialogue developed the narrative and found myself agreeing with Roxy and Jada on a number of occasions. You could really tell their friendship was strong and they wanted what was best for their friend.

In the end, Alex learns a huge lesson about what’s important in life and who we can really rely on when the going gets tough. The ending provides a sweet and uplifting conclusion to a dramatic plot.

Overall, this has been a sweet, enjoyable and dramatic exploration of issues including: commitment, trust, marriage and friendship. I would definitely recommend these books to fans of Milly Johnson, Holly Martin and Portia Macintosh.

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I am very excited to bring you an audiobook tour today. In terms of the technical quality of the audio and my enjoyment of it, the ease of listening etc, this is by far the best audiobook I’ve featured on this blog so far.

I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover, which looked to feature a landscape from Asia, meaning that I would be transported during my reading to a different time and place. This is definitely needed, especially at the moment!

Blurb:

In the glittering world of Pakistan’s elite, all is not what it seems…

Mona has almost everything: money, friends, social status… everything except for freedom. Languishing in her golden cage, she craves a sense of belonging…

Desperate for emotional release, she turns to a friend who introduces her to a world of glitter, glamour, covert affairs and drugs. There she meets Ali, a physically and emotionally wounded man, years younger than her.

Heady with love, she begins a delicate game of deceit that spirals out of control and threatens to shatter the deceptive facade of conservatism erected by Lahori society, and potentially destroy everything that Mona has ever held dear.

My thoughts:

This book quickly shows the author to be a confident and talented writer of literary fiction. The author paints a wonderfully atmospheric, easy to visual picture of an elite yet dangerous Pakistan, right from the opening chapters…

Khan also provides an interesting portrayal of the upper class. It is clear that Mona has a life that many of us would dream of, in terms of money, family and friends, but she is clearly very unhappy. It also quickly becomes apparent that even the most elite in our society cannot be protected from the threats and horrors of war…

I loved the way we are told two seemingly separate stories, and at first I definitely felt more invested in Ali’s story as it seemed the most dramatic and earth shattering, yet the author cleverly draws the two narratives together, whilst managing to develop and maintain our interest in complex and multi faceted characters.

There is a number of twists, turns and dramatic plot points in the book and I was unable to predict where this one was going. It is one I have contemplated for some time after finishing.

Overall, this has been an immersive, atmospheric and compelling read that provides an insight into, and commentary on, certain elements of Pakistani society.

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