Publication date: 14th January 2016

5/5

I was really excited to receive an invitation, via Netgalley, to read this book. I loved What Milo Saw, it was one of my 5* reads last year. I’m happy to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells also.

Norah is married to Adam and is mum to Ella and Willa. She has a best friend called Fay, who is Ella’s Godmother. One day, when Willa is just a baby, Norah asks Fay to look after her for a while, but she never returns. Six years later she’s back and it seems she thinks she can just pick up where she left off! However, during the six years she’s been gone a lot has changed. Fay and Adam are now together and Willa has always believed that Fay is her mother.

I really felt for Fay and Adam. They had believed that they would never see Norah again (she had left a note asking them not to attempt to find her) so they had had to get on with life the best they could. Ella on the other hand, had never given up hope of her mother returning. She has always believed her mum was kidnapped and has had a twitter campaign going for quite some time. Because of this she has never truly accepted Fay as a mother figure.

I felt really angry and sorry for Fay. She has been the one to pick up the pieces after Norah left. She has sorted Adam out, looked after the girls and turned them in to a family. She felt like she was going to lose everything now Norah was back. The hold she has on Adam is obvious and she is the girls real mother so who is she to stand in her way?

Adam doesn’t know what to do when he’s faced with Norah after all this time. He’s made a new life with Fay. She’s made him in to a better man. Been there through thick and thin. But, he never stopped loving Norah. He had firmly believed she was gone from their lives forever.

Ella is over the moon, until she learns that Norah had chosen to leave. What sort of mother chooses to leave her family?

Soon to be 7 year old Willa is totally confused, bless her. She has no idea who this ‘no one woman’ is, although she looks a lot like Auntie Norah who moved to Australia. Ella has pictures of her. Why is everyone acting strange? Surely they should all be happy she’s come to visit. She can’t be a stranger because Louis, their dog, seems to love her.

As the story progresses, we learn Norah’s reasons for leaving and her reasons for returning. I don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but it’s an emotional roller-coaster of a read.

I love this authors style of writing. I love how each chapter of the book is written from the perspective of a different character. I especially enjoyed Willa’s chapters. I also loved that Louis was as much a main character as any of them.

This book is full of interesting characters, all of who play an important part in the story, regardless of how big or small that part is.

An easy 5 stars for me. I highly recommend! I can’t wait to read whatever Virginia Macgregor writes next.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my kindle copy.

You can pre-order your copy here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010QBV1LY?keywords=the%20astonishing%20return%20of%20norah%20wells&qid=1452678415&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Book description:

One ordinary morning, Norah walked out of her house on Willoughby Street and never looked back. Six years later, she returns to the home she walked away from only to find another woman in her place. Fay held Norah’s family together after she disappeared, she shares a bed with Norah’s husband and Norah’s youngest daughter calls Fay ‘Mummy’.

Now that Norah has returned, everyone has questions. Where has she been? Why did she leave? And why is she back? As each member of the family tries to find the answers they each need, they must also face up to the most pressing question of all – what happens to The Mother Who Stayed when The Mother Who Left comes back?

From the author of What Milo Saw, comes this powerful, emotional and perceptive novel about what it takes to hold a family together and what you’re willing to sacrifice for the ones you love.

I was lucky enough to receive an invitation via Netgalley to read an advance copy of this, so of course I jumped at the chance after reading What Milo Saw last year. I am loving it already!

It will be released in all formats on 14th January 2016.

You can pre-order a copy here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010QBV1LY?keywords=the%20astonishing%20disappearance%20of%20norah%20wells&qid=1452164974&ref_=sr_1_fkmr0_1&sr=8-1-fkmr0

What Milo Saw was one of my 5 star reads from last year and I have a good feeling this will be one of this years. Watch this space.

If you haven’t read this yet, you really should!

My review from 24th July 2015

5*

Wow!  What a beautiful and heart warming story!
I read this in a few days whilst away on a short break and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Milo is 9 years old and doesn’t see things the way most people see things as his eyes don’t work the same. He knows that one day his sight will fail him altogether, but he loves his life with his pet pig, Hamlet, and helping to look after Gran (his Dad’s Gran). He’s not sure what to do with his Mum though, since his Dad left to have a new baby with ‘his tart’. Sandy is sad all the time and only seems to sit around eating hobnobs. She runs her own beauty business from the shed, but ‘Mrs Hairy’ is her only remaining client. She just seems to be falling into a deeper depression.

When Gran decides she is becoming too much of a burden and sets fire to the kitchen, Sandy feels she has no choice but to find a nursing home for her.
Milo is distraught as he loves looking after Gran. He vows to visit everyday and soon discovers that the care provided is nothing like advertised. We follow Milo as he sets about getting the home shut down so that Gran can come home. We learn of the friendships he makes along the way and how the whole situation brings him closer to his Mum again.

Loved it and would happily recommend it to anyone!

I know most people have posted their top 10’s of 2015 etc. already, but I spent most of last week at a friends house, celebrating the new year and getting stuck in to The Good Kind of Bad by Rita Brassington. I finished it this morning (please see the previous post for my review), so I thought now would be a good time to reflect on some of the fabulous books I had the pleasure of reading last year. I can’t choose my favourite 10, so I’ve decided to just list all of those I gave 5 stars to (in the order I read them). Here goes…..

Have you read any of the above? Were they 5* reads for you too?

Published 28th November 2015

5/5

When Rita Brassington contacted me via Twitter and asked if I would like to read her book and review it, I was more than happy to oblige. I was also happy to learn that she is a local girl (originally) and I’m always happy to support our local talent. I’m glad to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

We meet a lady who seems to have everything most people would wish for. She has success, wealth and is about to marry her handsome, hard-working, reliable fiance, Will. However, she doesn’t want reliable. She doesn’t want a boring life with a boring husband. She craves excitement. So, she leaves him at the alter and hops on a plane to Chicago to start a new life.

She decides that from now on she will say yes to everything, so when she meets good looking and mysterious Joe in a bar and he proposes, she says yes. What’s the worst that can happen? She has her secrets, but who doesn’t? However, Joe’s just might be more than she bargained for.

What follows is a fast paced, roller-coaster of a story where you’re not always quite sure what’s really happening. The twists and turns certainly keep you guessing. I thought I had it sussed a few times, but I was wrong!

The characters are fascinating. Although I’m still not sure if I like the main character or not, I still found myself caring about what happened to her. As for the others, it just goes to show that not everyone you meet is as they seem.

Full of action and suspense (also a little bit comical in places).

I would happily recommend it.

Many thanks again to Rita for my review copy.

Buy your copy here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Kind-Bad-Rita-Brassington-ebook/dp/B017HKURAI/ref=la_B017MRE3WO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452080107&sr=1-1

Book description:

Secrets don’t stay secret for long…
She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife.
But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet.
Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money’s not an issue.
So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too.
But his might just get her killed.

About the author:

Rita Brassington grew up in Staffordshire, UK, before studying at UCLan, Durham University and the Maastricht Centre for Transatlantic Studies, The Netherlands. She currently lives in Manchester where she enjoys photography and, of course, writing when her cats, and fiance, let her. She also loves cocktails, and cake. Preferably together.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 260 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

 Publisher: Sphere (1st January 2016)

Book description:

Apologies for the general email, but I desperately need your help.

My goddaughter, Coco Jackson, disappeared from her family’s holiday home in Bournemouth on the night of Sunday/Monday August 29/30th, the bank holiday weekend just gone. Coco is three years old.

When identical twin Coco goes missing during a family celebration, there is a media frenzy. Her parents are rich and influential, as are the friends they were with at their holiday home by the sea.

But what really happened to Coco?

Over two intense weekends – the first when Coco goes missing and the second twelve years later at the funeral of her father – the darkest of secrets will gradually be revealed…

Taut, emotive and utterly compelling, an unputdownable ‘ripped from the headlines’ novel that you will want to talk about with everyone you know.

My rating 5/5

Oh My Word!

I didn’t like most of the characters in this book. They are arrogant, self-centred and not nice people at all, but the story had me gripped. I was up quite late last night as I had to finish it.

We start in 2004 with the news that Coco, a three year old twin of Sean’s and Claire’s (the other twin being Ruby), has gone missing and a ‘Find Coco’ campaign is underway. No parent should have to suffer the loss of a child, but to lose a child and never really know what happened must be, well, there are no words really. How would you move on from that?

Prior to Coco’s disappearance, it’s Sean’s 50^th Birthday. He’s a rich man, with rich friends, and he has arranged a lavish party in Bournemouth for himself, Claire, and their few closest friends. Well, his friends anyway. They are without a nanny, so they have the children to look after also. This is not ideal for Sean, or his group of friends, who just want to have a good time getting drunk and high without the inconvenience of children. These are not likeable people. What makes it worse for Sean is that his first wife has sent his first two daughters, Camilla (Milly) and India, along for the party and he’s not impressed. The teenage sisters are well aware that he doesn’t want them there. How awful to not feel welcome at your own fathers birthday.

The story flits between the events of 2004 and the present day. Milly, who now goes by Mila, and India didn’t have much to do with their father after feeling so unwanted at his 50^th Birthday celebrations. They have always felt a twinge of guilt regarding the twin half-sisters they never bothered to get to know though, especially since Coco disappeared. They’d always resented them, even though it wasn’t their fault their father left their mother for Claire.

When Sean dies suddenly (obviously whilst having yet another affair despite being married to his fourth wife by now) Mila is contacted and asked to identify his body. She also gets a surprise phone call from Claire asking her if she will take Ruby (now 15 years old) to the funeral as she can’t face it herself. Mila reluctantly agrees and makes her way to their home in Sussex. I liked the relationship which develops between the girls over the following few days. These are the only two characters I actually liked!

From this point we start to learn what really went on during Sean’s 50^th Birthday celebrations. Claire finds him at it in the pool, with Linda (who later becomes his third wife) and decides enough in enough. She leaves to clear her head and think about her future alone with her girls, but she leaves the twins behind so she can think straight for a little while. This part I didn’t understand, especially being a mother myself. I know generally you should be safe leaving your children with their father, but in this case Claire was well aware of what the adults were getting up to so why she would leave them there I don’t know. Anyway, as the truth unfolds I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Shocking is an understatement!

I highly recommend!

With thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance kindle copy.

You can pre-order here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B010RALUP6?keywords=the%20darkest%20secret&qid=1451399483&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Just a quick thank you to all who have supported my blog/Facebook page, whether it be by liking, sharing, commenting and/or following. I am still very new to this and your support is much appreciated.

I am very thankful for all of the wonderful books I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year and I’m very grateful to the publishers, authors and Netgalley for the advance copies I’ve been lucky enough to read.

I’m looking forward to what the new year might bring!

Wishing you all a magical Christmas & a fabulous 2016!

Kerry

X

 Publisher: Vintage Digital (25th August 2015)

Book description –

This book of dark secrets opens with a blaze. On the morning of her daughter’s wedding, June Reid’s house goes up in flames, destroying her entire family – her present, her past and her future. Fleeing from the carnage, stricken and alone, June finds herself in a motel room by the ocean, hundreds of miles from her Connecticut home, held captive by memories and the mistakes she has made with her only child, Lolly, and her partner, Luke.

In the turbulence of grief and gossip left in June’s wake we slowly make sense of the unimaginable. The novel is a gathering of voices, and each testimony has a new revelation about what led to the catastrophe – Luke’s alienated mother Lydia, the watchful motel owners, their cleaner Cissy, the teenage pothead who lives nearby – everyone touched by the tragedy finds themselves caught in the undertow, as their secret histories finally come to light.

Lit by the clarity of understanding that true sadness brings, Did You Ever Have a Family is an elegant, unforgettable story that reveals humanity at its worst and best, through loss and love, fracture and forgiveness. At the book’s heart is the idea of family – the ones we are born with and the ones we create – and the desire, in the face of everything, to go on living.

My rating 4/5

Did You Ever Have A Family follows the story of those left behind after a house fire/explosion kills four people, Luke, Lolly, Will and Adam. This happens the night before Will and Lolly are due to get married. How do you begin to move on from such tragedy?

Lydia is Luke’s mother. She had him as a result of an affair and she brought him up as a single parent. Luke had an undeserved reputation thanks to a lover Lydia once had, so they hadn’t always been close, but he was all she had. Most people assume the explosion was Luke’s fault, but she knows deep down he can’t have been responsible. She has no proof either way though.

June is Luke’s older lover. He had asked her to marry him several times, but she’d always said no. When she finally decides she will say yes, it’s too late, she’s lost him forever. Not only has June lost Luke, but also her daughter Lolly and Adam, her ex-husband, Lolly’s father. He was only staying at the house because of the Wedding. Lolly had insisted.

Will is also a great loss to many. A bright young man full of potential. Such a waste of life and no-one really knows what happened. Or do they?

This is a great read which highlights how differently people cope with grief and how keeping secrets will only eat away at you. They say life goes on, but some only just manage to exist. Having the support of others, however, and knowing the truth, as well as finally admitting to the truth, can bring some peace. I liked all of the characters in this book and how they were linked in some way to the four who lost their lives. Quite an emotional read, but not depressing. Beautifully written with some lovely descriptive scenes. I would certainly recommend it to others.

With many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my kindle copy.

You can buy a copy here – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Did-You-Ever-Have-Family-ebook/dp/B00XT9ZJIM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1450646682&sr=8-1

 Publisher: Acorn Publishing; 1 edition (20th  August 2015)

What happens when you take middle-aged, stay-at-home moms, and throw them back into the workforce and dating?
A modern twist between Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives, Kingston Court follows the love, lies, and friendships of two wealthy Southern California women.
Samantha and Natalie are at a crossroads. Gorgeous, over-the-top Samantha, hangs her status and her happiness on her “perfect” husband. That is until she learns his secret.
But she’s not the only mother on the block struggling. Natalie, nurturing and careful, is thrust back into the workforce after her husband barely survives a horrifying car crash. However, it isn’t just her new job co-hosting a national morning news show that keeps her busy. Alik, the hot young production assistant, does everything in his power to seduce the woman he loves.
Death and misfortune in the span of a single year force these two women to rediscover their inner strength and make life-changing choices. Kingston Court is full of scandal, temptation, and all of life’s juicy little secrets.