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This is an emotional, moving but also informative and insightful book that can be described as part memoir, part motivational guide.

The opening focuses on Ilana’s story. Ilana grew up knewing that she was “different” and that she had an unspecified disability that was holding her back, due to lack of diagnosis and therefore, support. Ilana was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 46, and autism some time later.

The section titled “A Letter to my cerebal palsy” made me well up as she talks about her connection and frustration with her condition. It made my heart go out to anyone suffering with a long term condition like this one. From this point on, I felt a connection to the writer and felt I could identify with her on some level.

The book is very informative, explaining clearly what cerebral palsy and what the most common causes are. I was shocked and saddened to read and discover that the instances of babies born with cerebal palsy is only now starting to fall, despite almost 60 years of medical research and technological advancement.

The sections of the book that can be described as a ‘motivational guide’ focuses on handling mental and physical health issues. It covers many topics, but one that stood out was the discussion of the development and damage to our mental health throughout life, as we are sometimes impacted by our parenting and childhood.

The analysis of parenting seems to link quite closely with the ideology of one of my favourite non-fiction authors, Joanna Fortune. The writer focuses on the importance of meeting the emotional and physical needs of young children, in order to secure good physical and mental health for all the family.

The discussion of dealing with mental health and confidence issues took me back to a time when I reached out for some therapy myself, after a “rough patch”. The therapy course was called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and much of Ilana’s advice is based around this idea of acceptance, with no regrets, whilst committing to our goals to improve our mental health – whether that be learning to accept responsibility for our own choices, to reject responsibility of things that weaken our mental health, or making a commitment to improving the aspects of ourselves we don’t like, or getting more balance in our life (e.g. work/life balance, or self care).

I was a little sceptical about the spirituality section but found myself agreeing with Ilana on many points, and can definitely see why she chose to mention some aspects of Buddhism in her book.

I particularly loved the nspirational and thought provoking quotes scattered throughout the book – allowing you to take time out of the section to pause, think and reflect.

This has been an interesting and insightful read which I have devoured quickly. It is a testament to the writer’s character that she has overcome the challenges she has faced in order to write such an original and well researched book. I would recommend this book to fans of memoirs and motivational reads, as this has the best of both worlds!

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I absolutely adore Portia’s books and I am very excited to be on the blog tour for yet another of her wonderful books.

Blurb:

The perfect house, the perfect husband and the perfect life… or is she just faking it?

Life has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Ella. Growing up as the ‘less successful’ identical twin to her’perfectly successful’ sister, Emma, has left her feeling isolated, inadequate and let’s face it.. a littlebitter.

When Emma unexpectedly reaches out to Ella in a time of need, Ella suddenly finds herself with the opportunity to fill in for her sister and experience how the other half live. But as Ella navigates the world of gossiping mothers, rebellious teens and trying to play the model house wife(not to mention avoiding the temptation of attractive men at the school gates…) will she discover that all is not always as it seems on the other side?

My thoughts:

This book throws you straight into the drama. The engaging opening shows Ella in an extremely vulnerable state – her flat is on fire, and as a result she loses her home and her job. I was immediately engrossed and wishing for some good fortune to come Ella’s way.

The narrative is laced with soft humour throughout. Portia’s lively and humorous description brings the narrative, characters and settings to life. For example, one character is described as: “floating around the room like an over-caffeinated butterfly.” These descriptions are just another of my favourite features of this book.

The far-fetched plot line of Ella acting as her sister for a number of weeks, also develops a humorous, light-hearted stance to this novel. However, Portia delicately touches upon a number of important issues such as: the role of women, society’s expectations of women, the importance of maintaining communication with difficult adolescents and family values.

As is a regular feature of Portia’s books, Ella goes on quite a journey of self-discovery and growth throughout the book. The ending had elements of predictability, and also surprise, but was genuinely completely heart warming.

Another wonderful novel by one of my favourite romantic fiction writers of all time. I highly recommend this book, and others by this author to fans of Mary Jayne Baker, Lindsey Kelk and Jessica Redland.

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I was drawn to this book by the mysterious landscape depicted on the cover. I am a sucker for a landscape cover image!! I love that the title suggests darkness and mystery. The blurb also makes the book sound like a thrilling, original read!

You thought your little girl was safe at summer camp. You were wrong…

The little girl drags her eyes open, realizing she’s starting to fade. She tries calling out—“Daddy?”—using all her remaining strength. But she’s too late and her voice just isn’t loud enough…

When Detective Madison Harper arrives at a remote summer camp in Shadow Falls, northern California, her heart breaks for Jenny, the sweet little girl last seen splashing in the lake with her friends before she vanished. Peering into the silent cabins filled with rows of neatly made beds, Madison knows this idyllic place is hiding a terrible secret.

The girl’s parents are distraught, and the local police have no leads—they desperately need Madison’s help. She’ll do whatever it takes to crack this case, because it’s the only way back to the son she lost to the care system years ago when she was framed for a crime she didn’t commit.

But with the camp staff keeping tight-lipped and her new partner on the edge of a breakdown, Madison can’t find any truth to her instinct that there is more to Jenny’s perfect parents than meets the eye. Until she discovers a disturbing family portrait Jenny drew at the local library. Was this angelic girl more troubled than anybody knew? Was she in danger from those she trusted most?

One thing is certain, if Madison doesn’t find the answers soon, the lives of more innocent children will be at risk…

My thoughts:

Wow! Where do I start?! I have been absolutely blown away by this book. I have been torn between rushing through to discover the outcome or slowing down and savouring every wonderful page.

I have to admit that I generally do enjoy a book where the main plot focuses around a missing child. This plot focus usually ensures that the narrative is highly charged with emotion and fast moving to reflect the danger to the child and the desperation for their safe return. This has definitely been an exciting and fast paced read!

I have also enjoyed meeting the characters in this book. The way the narrative focuses on Madison and Nate’s movements and choices meant that I developed a connection with them and was able to empathise with them at many points. The other, peripheral characters are mysterious and become questionable, some even unlikeable. Wendy Dranfield has definitely proved her ability to create fascinating characters.

The use of the motif of Anna’s personal diary is a great technique that also makes the book highly original. Alongside the main action of the story, we are able to follow Anna’s thoughts and feelings, and in some ways her descent into madness. It adds to the tension of the book and provided some great cliff hangers!

The ending of the book is explosive, shocking and completely unpredictable. I paid close attention to the clues throughout, and felt like an investigator myself at times, but I was not able to predict that ending at all! I was very excited that the ending left the narrative open for a follow up, and I was so glad to see the author confirm this in her note at the end. I am really looking forward to reading it!

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I am honoured to be involved in the blog tour for this fantastic short story collection.

A single decision can save – or ruin – a life.

An opportunistic baby theft by a young woman in pain. Two strangers shipwrecked on a lifeless rock, unable to speak the same language. An isolated cycling holiday descends into terror. One woman seeks the courage to destroy her life. A miracle unites a community, and teenagers take a stand against hypocrisy.

Karl Drinkwater presents characters to root for – and characters to dread – in sixteen tales of humanity, endurance, and spirit.

My thoughts:

I absolutely love the short story form, and I am slowly but surely falling in love with a number of short story collections.

I have found this collection to be entirely addictive and captivating. I have found myself ignoring my children’s demands, announcing that they must wait until I come to the end of the story.

Within this collection, Karl deals with, or touches on, many controversial or interesting themes and topics. Sometimes the topics are dealt with sensitively and delicately, sometimes they are dealt with brutal force and forthright expression. The stories cover topics including: motherhood, suicide, survival, love, loss and family bonds. There is an honesty and a clarity to his writing; yet there is depth and elegance too.

There are also some highly original features to this short story collection. Firstly, it would be impossible to place these stories within a particular genre. Some are light, some are very, very dark. There are elements of cosy mystery, romantic fiction, domestic drama and gripping thrillers throughout the collection.

Secondly, there are original features to the style of the writing presented here. My favourite was probably the effective use of dialect. This helped me to quickly imagine and develop a connection with certain characters. Another extremely original feature was the use of monologue, almost presented as a stream of consciousness. Again, this builds the identity of the characters as well as making for an immersive reading experience.

The tales in this book are very varied. Some are thought-provoking and some are haunting. Either way, I have found this collection extremely enjoyable and know many of the stories will stay with me for some time.

I would highly recommend this collection to fans of contemporary fiction, or those looking for a good place to start when it comes to short story collections. This has been a fascinating and original reading experience.

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I have heard so much about this author, and as I am really becoming a big fan of the cosy mystery genre, I was excited to give this one a go.

The narrative focuses on Isabelle Darby, who is known throughout the book as Issie. When Isabelle Darby moves to the delightfully cosy village of Lower Dimblebrook, she’s searching for peace and quiet as well as a chance to escape from heartbreak. After making friends with Fiona Lambourne, another newcomer to the village, Issie is left reeling when tragedy strikes and Fiona is murdered, the second wife Anthony Lambourne has lost in unfortunate circumstances. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the local gossips insist that Fiona had been embroiled in an affair before her death, something which Issie knows not to be the case. Determined to clear her friend’s reputation and solve the mystery of the rumours, Issie takes on both the gossips and the handsome but stern DI Wainwright, making both friends and enemies along the way!

This has been, as expected, a nice, comfortable and easy read. There are many conventions of the cosy mystery genre here which I have enjoyed. Firstly, there was the engaging opening which sets us up for the mystery we are dealing with – an unexpected murder of an upper class village wife. We are told that a woman has been found dead in a car park. There is very scant details or evidence apart from that to begin, and it is up to the investigators, the villagers, and us to come up with a theory or conclusion as to what happened and why.

I have felt totally immersed in village life and all the highs and lows of it. Throughout the book, the author touches on elements such as community spirit, friendship and loyalty, but also explores in some detail the issues of a village rumour mill and village gossip.

The elements of friendship and hints at romance within the book provide a lighter tone, again fitting in with this wonderful aspect of the cosy mystery genre. I thought it would be a challenge to make the development of the relationship between Issie and DI Wainwright seem authentic and genuine, whilst maintaining the integrity of the investigation and the main plot, but this talented author does so with ease.

In summary, this is a comfortable, easy going read for fans of, or newbies to the cosy mystery genre, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to reading the next in the series, and seeing what’s next for the wonderfully eccentric characters I have met in Dimblebrook!

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I absolutely love Arianne Richmonde’s books and I am very excited to be on the blog tour for this gripping, unputdownable domestic and psychological thriller.

One marriage. One lie. Two sides to the story.

The moment Vivien meets Ashton, she knows she will be his wife and absolutely nothing will stop her.

Powerful, rich and from a good family, Ashton is everything Vivien is not. So, she molds herself into Ashton’s perfect soulmate.

Pouring his favorite vintage wine, whispering ‘I love you’ over dinner in front of friends and biting her tongue when she disagrees with him are simple sacrifices for the perfect marriage she has always craved.

When people begin to notice the bruises on her cheek, she holds their stares. There is no cry for help from Vivien. She simply keeps her mouth shut and lets the gossip continue.

If you saw Vivien nursing a black eye, you might be forgiven for thinking what everyone else does—that she is the victim in her marriage, but you’d be wrong. Vivien and Ashton’s life together is much more complicated than that. You will never guess the true story behind Vivien’s undying devotion to her husband. Nor could you possibly predict what she does next…

My thoughts:

As it is described in the blurb, this book is very much about false pretences, hiding behind perceived perfections and the plot twists are completely unpredictable! I audibly gasped a number of times as the author took the book to unexpected, dark places!

My favourite aspect of Arianne’s books are the way she writes and creates female characters. There is a tendency by some authors and within some genres to portray women in two ways – pretty little victims or pretty little heroines. Despite being asked on a number of occasions to “please be a good girl and keep your pretty little mouth shut”, it is clear that these are not the types of female characters Arianne wants us to encounter! The female characters within this book play a leading role, showing cunning and intelligence. It doesn’t make them very likeable characters, but you can definitely relate to their plights and emotions on some level.

There was a point, just over half way, where there was a huge revelation and I wondered where this book would go, and how it could reach the next level in terms of suspense and thrills.

Of course, this wonderful writer did not disappoint! There are more twists, and we are thrown into a dark abyss of domestic disharmony!

The ending takes us away from the traditional domestic setting, making for an original, dramatic and just jaw-droppingly brilliant ending! I love that it is left on a cliff hanger, and leaves you wondering what is to come!

I absolutely recommend this book and author to fans of domestic thrillers or psychological fiction, especially if you like seeing strong, creepy female characters making an appearance. While you’re there, check out Arianne’s previous book – The Wife’s House – as this is also incredible!

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I was drawn to this one as it seemed to fit into my favourite genre – domestic drama/thriller. I also absolutely loved the cover – the bright colours and the broken plate. The broken plate signifying a  perfect facade that is in fact damaged or broken in some way.

The narrative focuses on Heidi, and the mysteries, lies and secrets that hide within her family.

On the day Heidi’s husband, Johnny, died, he passed on a final token of his love – a precious photograph of his last moments. As Heidi pores over the image, she sees a busy street scene and a pavement full of strangers – but she has no idea what this last message from her beloved husband could mean.

Heidi has spent her days – and her years – in her workshop, giving cherished old furniture a second chance. But there are some parts of Heidi’s own life that are beyond repair. Secrets that Heidi and Johnny kept throughout their long marriage. Things that they were never brave enough to speak about.

All Heidi knows now is that this picture of her husband’s final moments is where she has to start looking for clues. When she visits the busy street from the photograph, she suddenly comes face to face with the person Johnny had been meeting that day – someone she herself has spent a lifetime longing to know. But is she ready for what they’ll tell her and how will the rest of her family react when she brings them home?

I have loved getting to know the characters in this one. They were all flawed in some way, but were also relatable on some level. My favourite character was probably Scarlet – she seemed to be the most brave and although hot headed on times, she understood what she had to do in the best interests of her family.

There were many unexpected twists and turns, typical of some of the best domestic fiction I’ve read. I have loved seeing this family grow & adapt to the new changes.

This has been a heart felt, dramatic read which I have devoured quickly. I would recommend this book to fans of Amanda Prowse, Sam Vickery and Nicole Trope.

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I was drawn to this one as this is one area of history that both intrigues me and breaks my heart into little pieces. I have previously enjoyed books such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Violinist of Auschwitz and this book is up there with these books when it comes to heartbreaking historical fiction

The majority of the book is set in 1945, and takes place in the Dachau Concentration Camp.

As the train rattles through the bright, snowy Bavarian countryside, the still beauty outside the window hides the terrible scenes inside the train, where men and women are packed together, cold and terrified. Jewish watchmaker Isaac Schüller can’t understand how he came to be here, and is certain he won’t be leaving alive.

When the prisoners arrive at Dachau concentration camp, Isaac is unexpectedly pulled from the crowd and installed in the nearby household of Senior Officer Becher and his young, pretty, spoiled wife. With his talent for watchmaking, Isaac can be of use to Becher, but he knows his life is only worth something here as long as Becher needs his skills.

Anna Reznick waits table and washes linens for the Bechers, who dine and socialise and carry on as if they don’t constantly have death all around them. When she meets Isaac she knows she’s found a true friend, and maybe more. But Dachau is a dangerous place where you can never take love for granted, and when Isaac discovers a heartbreaking secret hidden in the depths of Becher’s workshop, it will put Anna and Issac in terrible danger…

The friendship between Anna and Isaac is authentic and touching, and it grows organically through their interaction as the story develops. It is clear they have an impact on each other: Isaac provides Anna with a strong and stable friend; Anna reminds Isaac of the beauty and kindness that can still exist in the world, despite the horrors of war.

It is hard to think about the character of Friederich without drawing comparisons with Bruno from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. He is naive, curious and longs for human connection, probably as any young boy his age should. He provides a different layer to the narrative, as seeing the horrors through his eyes only re-inforces and highlights the evil that was done at these concentration camps.

The use of the letters to tell the story of a previous camp prisoner tells both a unique and parallel story to the one we read about in the main narrative. This subplot again shows the human need for love and connection. This is a useful and effective narrative device that brings out many of the main messages and themes of the book.

Overall, this has been a heartbreaking and tumultuous read that has really made me think, especially about the issue of memory. When it comes to the Holocaust, there is of course the desire to forget, but this is outdone by the need to remember.

I highly recommend this book to fans of emotional historical fiction that is steeped in realism and based on factual research.

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Wow! I have been absolutely blown away by this immensely sophisticated and gripping thriller debut by Allie Reynolds.

Having competed in professional snowboarding herself, it was great to see that so many of the scenes and action was based around snow boarding and what it is like to be a competitive athlete. As a big fan of the Winter Olympics and X Games myself, it was fascinating to see this from an athlete’s point of view, and though obviously fictional, many of the descriptions felt very vivid and realistic.

The setting of the novel is rugged, dangerous and isolating, which adds to the tense and eerie atmosphere of the book.

Milla has been invited to a reunion in the French alps, where she experience the peak of her snowboarding career. She decides to drop everything and go. Though she would rather forget many of the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis – the one person she can’t seem to let go of.

The five friends haven’t seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don’t know who has really gathered them there or how far they will go to find the truth.

In a deserted lodge high up in the mountain, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.

As you can see from the blurb, much of the action revolves around discovering the truth behind an event that happened ten years ago. In order to build up to this, and for the reader to truly understand what happened, the writer uses an original and explosive dual narrative, where she navigates between the past and present day. The clear chapter organisation ensures that these events are completely separate yet they feed off each other and build on each other in order to continue to heighten the tension for the reader.

The characters in this novel are brilliantly created. There is only a small circle of five main characters, and we get to know each of them quite well. Although, it is Milla’s perspective we see the events from, but surprisingly this did not mean I trusted and believed her throughout. I would describe her as an unreliable narrator, but I have loved this aspect as it kept me on the edge of my seat.

There is so much danger, action and drama within the book, I really wondered how, or if, the ending would be able to take this to another level. It certainly did! The ending is action packed, thrilling and completely unpredictable.

This is a truly brilliant novel and it is clear that Allie Reynolds deserves that this novel becomes a best seller. It is perfect for thriller fans and fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley and T M Logan.

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Wow! I was not sure what to expect from this one. I have never read any books by this author and I have been disappointed by quite a few of the new psychological thrillers I’ve read in 2020… However, this spectacular read was definitely not disappointing!

I was drawn to this one by the bright cover and the intriguing tag line, suggesting this book will be about friendship, betrayal, mystery and possibly even murder?

I was totally hooked from the beginning. A woman is missing and no-one knows why she has run away from her seemingly perfect life. Erica and Sabine were close once, but not anymore. Who knows what really happened to Sabine? Was her life really as perfect as it seemed?

There are many clever aspects to this story. Firstly, the structure. The narrative floats between the present, the recent past, and the distant past, almost reaching into the main character’s childhood. Towards the end, there are some original, shocking and completely unexpected twists and the climax of the story is action packed and well delivered.

The structure helps to develop the characters, who become layered and on some level, relatable. We begin to trust everything Erica tells us…but are we rignt to?

This has been a completely gripping and addictive read which I have struggled to put down. I look forward to reading more by this author in the near future!

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