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The Lie She Told by Catherine Yaffe

Kate has had her life blown apart by violence and crime, but can she rebuild her life when the police give her a new identity and a life time of witness protection, or will it all come back to haunt her?

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and you were drawn into the action and intrigue immediately with the use of flashbacks. Kate and Joe were likeable, relatable characters and the character of Ryan was carefully developed and revealed.

This has been a book I’ve flown through in about a day because it was just such an intriguing and gripping read, albeit quite dark in places!

I look forward to reading more by this author.

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A Widow’s Vow by Rachel Brimble

This is a dramatic and eye opening book that is very different to the majority of books that I read. It is a story of love, loss, commitment and all the challenges that come along with those experiences.

It is set in the mid 1800s in England and tells the story of widow Louisa as she tries to forge an independent and self sufficient lifestyle in a patriarchal society.

I was drawn to the characters and found them to be well developed. I enjoyed taking a trip back in time and felt the author balanced the book well by telling both Jacob’s and Louisa’s viewpoints. It put a different slant on the story to see how, in a society where it was well known that women heavily relied on men, that a man could need a woman too!

This has been a thoroughly enjoyable, dramatic historical saga and could be a genre I dip into again in the future!

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A Stranger in Paris by Karen Webb

I was immediately drawn to this book by the blurb. A young lady goes on an adventure to Paris, seeking love, friendship and independence after graduating from Aberystwyth University with a degree in English literature…

I was really excited to hear about someone else’s experience of Aberystwyth and the English course there after graduating myself in 2012. The beginning of the book did not disappoint! It was full of familiar scenes and funny anecdotes…

The tempo and mood of the book changed slightly as Karen got to Paris and you could see her plan wasn’t going to materialise, but I continued to be hooked on her journey and wanted to find out what Paris had to offer her.

This was a light hearted read that was made even more enjoyable, in my opinion, by the fact it was based on a true story.

The epilogue left the book on quite a tremendous cliff hanger and I look forward to reading the next installment!

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Lost Children by Shirley Dickson

This is a beautiful yet heart breaking story of love, loss, hope and war.

The cover image seeks to highlight the despair, confusion and loneliness the two main characters, Molly and Jacob, have to deal with throughout the book. The challenges they face only result in them becoming ever closer and more fiercely determined to not live without the other.

The book is clouded by the devastation of war so there were many times my eyes filled with tears and I felt my heart sink as Jacob and Molly were dealt yet another disappointment. The book does not shy away from the realities and horrors of war.

However, there is also something so beautiful about the relationship between Molly and Jacob, there is joy to be found in their innocence and determination. My favourite aspect of the book was probably the transformation of Mr Bob. The book reminded me of one of my favourite childhood books, Goodnight Mr Tom, and it really did give me all the feels.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to read a highly emotional, historical page turner. This is truly a stunning story and one that will stay with me for some time.

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Finding Love At The Christmas Market by Jo Thomas

Firstly, how gorgeous is this cover?! I was drawn to this book by it, as well as the author which again is a name recommended to me again and again in this genre, but not one I’ve read anything by before.

Connie’s Christmas wish this year is to find a man to love; someone who ticks all her boxes. After a little foray into internet dating, she agrees to meet dashing and dependable Heinrich at the Christmas markets. Will he be what she is looking for?

This is a cosy book, full of romance and heartwarming descriptions of the Christmas markets. To be honest, I had predicted the trajectory of the story and the ending long before I finished the book, but sometimes you need that. A predictable romance like this one is comforting like a hot cup of a tea on a cold day ♥️

It was just perfect and I’m keeping my eyes peeled for more recommended reads by this fabulous author!

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Dead Woman Crossing by J R Adler

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book; the first installment in a crime thriller series that centres around Deputy Kimberley King. In this introductory novel, we see how Kimberley deals with her first murder inquiry at her new post in Dead Woman Crossing.

This is a brutal, dark and thrilling book which slowly gains pace towards an unexpected and shocking ending.

The beginning of the book was quite slow, but it enabled the reader to get to know Kimberley as a character, and I have to say she is one of the best female characters I have read in a long time.

Although her dealings in the crime world are far more challenging than anything I could ever imagine dealing with, she is intelligent, brave and baulchy.

But she is not without her flaws either! She is constantly trying to juggle work with being a mum, while sometimes not getting this balance quite right, and this is something I really identify with.

I have really enjoyed this book but Kimberley’s character development is definitely the best aspect.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

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City of Margins by William Boyle

This book tells the story of a group of Italian Americans and how their lives intersect in Brooklyn in the 1990s.

Grief was a huge topic in this book, and it was handled sensitively as some of the characters seek acceptance by forming, or forging new relationships.

The characters are beautifully created, and though this is a relatively short book I felt like I got to know all of the characters. They felt realistic and raw, with a rough edge to them as they each dealt with their own issues and problems.

This had a very different feel to my usual reads and I struggled with the complexities of it sometimes, but nevertheless I enjoyed reading it, and hearing the voices of a marginalised culture in literature.

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Life After You by Sian O’Gorman

This is a beautifully written and heartfelt novel about Milly’s journey to happiness…

Things in Milly’s life just aren’t quite right. She has a good job, a lovely but disjointed family and a nice boyfriend but she doesn’t feel that it’s enough. She wants to do something meaningful with her qualifications; get her family back together after the death of her father has shattered them and find someone that she truly loves…

These are some bold goals for someone who suffers with anxiety and confidence issues like Milly does. Can she overcome the barriers she has set for herself and find life after her father’s death and her own disappointment?

I really enjoyed reading about Milly’s journey. She is a realistic and raw character that is easy to empathise with. The book also had a lot of important points to make about grief as a journey and the ways we can cope with the death of a relative. I don’t really feel it’s fair to say this is a “trigger” point in the book as it is so delicately and beautifully handled, I honestly think this book could bring comfort and hope to someone who has recently lost a loved one.

This is my first read by this author but it is such a lovely book, I’ll be sure to check out her other books!

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Stuck On You by Portia Macintosh

I have absolutely adored this book and cannot believe it has taken me til now to read a book by this author!

This book tells the story of Sadie, an assistant to one of the UK’s most famous portrait artists. Sometimes she loves her job, other times she finds her boss completely frustrating…

She cannot help but feel like her life is missing something. Flirting with the mysterious colleague “Adam” via post it notes is filling a void, but she needs more. Can she find it on her Christmas adventure or will it all come crashing down?

Sadie is a delightful character. She is unique and well developed, and you really feel you are on her journey with her. Her relationship with her boss Damian, is authentic and organic in the way it progresses. But can their new found attraction survive some weird family dynamics, tricky circumstances and a shocking twist?

I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons. The characters felt real & were likeable. The plot kept me hooked as there was a good mix of romance, drama, and betrayal…

I would certainly recommend this to chick lit fans and will definitely be reading more by Portia Macintosh in the near future as this has established her as one of my new faves!

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The Mistress by Jill Childs

The cover of this book is bright and eye catching. It makes you wonder about the connection to the story. At first, you see a woman (wife) and another woman (mistress) but as you read you can see that this cover image may also be hinting at Laura’s double life.

No-one expects Laura to be a mistress. And they certainly don’t expect Laura to kill a man. But sometimes, circumstances get the better of you and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do…

Domestic thriller and drama is my favourite genre and I have really enjoyed this book, which is my first read by Jill Childs. The plot is gripping and intense throughout, with lots of twists and suspense to keep you guessing.

I will definitely be reading more by this author.

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