Christmas at Conwenna Cove

By Darcie Boleyn

@DarcieBoleyn

(review written on 19^th December 2020)

Christmas at Conwenna Cove is an absolutely, gorgeous read!

I imagine I would have enjoyed it at any time of the year, but it has been an especially lovely read on the run up to Christmas.

When we first meet Grace, she is visiting Conwenna Cove helping her parents move into their new dream cottage. The family is from Cardiff, but her parents had always dreamed of living by the Cornish coast. Her father especially. As a family they have suffered a devastating loss which they will never get over but moving is the fresh start her parents need. Grace on the other hand has every intention of returning to her flat in Cardiff to continue her successful writing career. That is until a certain handsome vet called Oli turns her head. Oli also has suffered great loss though and struggles with his emotions.

I loved how Grace and Oli’s relationship develops, despite getting off on the wrong foot initially.  I was completely swept up in their story. The chemistry between them is undeniable but they both have pain in their pasts, and others to consider before giving in to their feelings. These feelings soon can’t be ignored though and those around them have certainly noticed the change in them both.

Could this Christmas lead to a completely new life for Grace? One she never imagined living.

This book is so full of lovable characters. I could totally imagine myself living in Conwenna Cove surrounded by lovely, supportive neighbours. There is something so appealing about a small, close knit community.

We would love to live by the coast too!

Such a gorgeous setting for a Christmas romance.

I love Hope. She sounds adorable. I’ve never had a greyhound, but they just have the sweetest faces, and I can imagine they are loyal and loving companions. She might just be my favourite character 😊

There is nothing I didn’t love about this book. It’s beautifully written and perfect for this time of year.

It’s currently FREE on kindle, so why not download it now and enjoy for yourself!?

A BIG thank you to Darcie for gifting me a gorgeous, signed paperback copy.

happy reading 🙂

Star of the North

D. B. John

(review written on 13^th December 2020)

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started Star of the North, and if I’m honest I wasn’t sure if it was going to be my cup of tea. I’m not really sure why, but something kept putting me off starting it. I am glad I finally did though, and I soon found myself immersed in the story.

Based on true events this story starts with the disappearance of a young American woman from a beach on a Korean Island. She is presumed dead, but this young woman has a twin sister who is convinced she is still alive and refuses to give up hope of finding her. What she goes through, and what she learns, in her pursuit of finding her sister is nothing short of horrifying.

This book is quite difficult to read at times to be quite honest, but the spirit and determination of some of the characters is quite inspirational. It is a compelling read which I would recommend. The way some people have to live, if you can even call it living, in other parts of this world is shocking and heart-wrenching. I have learned a lot by reading this story and it’s one I doubt I will forget any time soon.

The author obviously did extensive research whilst writing this book and he really knows his stuff. This shows throughout this book.

He does provide an overview, at the end, of which parts of the story are actual fact and provides extra reading recommendations for those wishing to know more about some of the events explored throughout this book.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via Netgalley.

‘Extraordinary…smart, sophisticated, suspenseful – and important. If you try one new thing this year, make it Star of the North’ LEE CHILD

North Korea and the USA are on the brink of war.

A young American woman disappears without trace from a South Korean island.

The CIA recruits her twin sister to uncover the truth.

Now, she must go undercover in the world’s most deadly state.

Only by infiltrating the dark heart of the terrifying regime will she be able to save her sister…and herself.

‘Tense and compelling.’ James Swallow, Sunday Times bestselling author of NOMAD

I am delighted to be joining in with Mark Tilbury’s blog blitz for the relaunch of The Key to Death’s Door!

If you haven’t read it yet then you really should add it to your list now!

Follow, like, and share the book love with these awesome book bloggers….

Here is my review, originally published on 21st April 2018….

Well, Mark Tilbury’s books never fail to draw you in from the very first page! They’re not easy reads in regards to some of the subject matters and if you’re easily offended by violence then they probably won’t be for you, but if you like a dark psychological thriller then you will LOVE them. Mark Tilbury has a knack for creating the most evil of characters, who will make your skin crawl, but also very likeable characters who I always warm to and find myself praying for as their stories progress. Having LOVED all of Mark Tilbury’s other books I couldn’t wait to read The Key To Death’s Door and I was hooked, as always, from the start!

We meet Lee Hunter who is just 14 years old, living a normal life, like a normal teenager until he nearly drowns in the river whilst out with his friend, Charlie. In fact, Charlie saves his life, but not before Lee experiences the last few days of a previous life. A short life where he meets a devastating end at the hands of one man. One man he soon realises he still knows now, 30 years later! This man, who is not really worthy of the title, is a totally sick character. The filth that comes out of his mouth and the things he puts this family through are nothing short of horrific! It’s not pleasant reading at all, at times, and being an animal lover too he absolutely turned my stomach. I would have wanted to kill him myself. Lee and Charlie are determined to bring this man to justice, but how will they find proof. Who is going to believe he regressed to a past life when he was drowning?

Lee is a lovely character. He obviously loves his mother, and he respects her rules, but he can’t help being swayed a little by Charlie. Lee and Charlie are like chalk and cheese, with VERY different upbringings, but the banter between them is great and quite amusing at times. They have a strong friendship. It’s absolutely heartbreaking what Charlie has to contend with at home and Lee does his best to support him, but he’s torn between helping out his mate and not wanting to upset his mother. Eventually they hatch a plan to gain the evidence they need to put this monster down for good, but nothing is ever straight forward and they find themselves in a very dangerous situation with seemingly no way out.

I absolutely loved the supernatural aspect of this story and I find the idea of some of us having led previous lives fascinating. When my son was about 3-4 years old he used to talk about when he used to be a runner, when he used to be older and he used to win all of the races!! He talked about this a lot, for a good few months and when I asked him what he meant, he was insistent that he used to be older and he used to win all the races he ran! I’m convinced he was remembering a past life, but he never mentioned anything as he got older.

This is a totally unique story which flows perfectly from page one. The twists and turns are shocking and unpredictable. Although it’s very much plot driven the characterisation is immensely strong. They are very real people and their story is totally believable, which makes it all the more scary!

Mark Tilbury certainly knows how to write a compelling story! He is easily one of my most favourite authors. I get on very well with his writing style and I know I’m in for a treat whenever he has a new book out.

I can’t wait for the next one!

happy reading 🙂

Good Girl (DS Grace Allendale Book 4) 

Mel Sherratt

(review written on 8^th December 2020)

OH, MY GOODNESS!

I LOVED the previous three books in the DS Grace Allendale series, and I have absolutely LOVED this book. Talk about an utterly compelling story. Heart-breaking, but compelling.

To say this story is hard hitting would be an understatement. It starts with the stabbing of a sixteen-year-old girl, Erin, just a stone’s throw from her home. Every parent’s worst nightmare! I can’t even begin to imagine the pain. It doesn’t bare thinking about. Absolutely devastating for all involved and, as if this isn’t traumatic enough, the story proves to be far more harrowing than I could have ever imagined.

Grace, and the team, are obviously determined to get to the bottom of what initially seems to be a random mugging gone terribly wrong. I really feel for police who have to deal with such horrific incidents. They might not be personally attached to the victims and their families, but they are still human and are obviously affected by the cases they are faced with, especially where young lives are devastated at the hands of despicable people. I applaud their determination and dedication. It’s isn’t a job I would be able to do.

I love the police procedural aspect to this story. It always fascinates me.

I love that we have got to know Grace that little bit more with each book also and I especially loved how this book ended!

Her ‘relationship’ with the Steele family is an interesting aspect of Grace’s story too. It makes her a unique character, especially as she is a police officer.

My heart went out to Erin’s best friend, Molly. Even at the end. Another young life devastated by exploitation. My heart broke for the parents of both girls also. Their reactions to finding out just what had been going on during the previous few months is heart wrenching. I could physically feel their pain.

This was such an emotional read which I finished past 1am as there was no way I could sleep until I knew what happened. It is most definitely one I won’t forget in a hurry.

I can’t recommend it highly enough.

All the stars, and then some, for me!

Many thanks to the author and publisher for my ARC via Netgalley.

#teamsherratt

Erin was a good girl. But someone wanted her dead…

‘I love all Mel Sherratt’s books’ IAN RANKIN

‘An absolute masterpiece’ ANGELA MARSONS

‘Twists and turns and delivers a satisfying shot of tension’ RACHEL ABBOTT

When sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis is attacked, she dies in the arms of her best friend Molly, just metres from her home. Molly is the surviving girl but says she easily could have been the victim – it was a random mugging gone wrong.
 
With inconclusive evidence, DS Grace Allendale must dig deep within the tight-knit Stoke community for leads. And she soon finds that someone had a motive to kill Erin.
 
As the investigation unfolds, Grace is reminded of a horrifying case she worked on earlier in her career.
 
Is the past coming back to haunt her? And can she push through her fear to catch Erin’s killer before it’s too late?

** The million-copy bestseller Mel Sherratt is back with her most gripping and gritty novel yet. Pre-order your copy now! **

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature 🙂

On the first Friday of each month I like to have a little look back at the books I was reading during the same month in previous years, since starting my blog.

Do join in, if you have the time. I’d love to see your posts.

Here are my reviews from December 2019 (plus a link to previous FBFs)….

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2019/12/06/flashbackfriday-december-2019-with-claire-douglas-dougieclaire-lynda-renham-lyndarenham-jan-ruth-janruthauthor-mick-williams-keith-bullock-bookreviews/

happy reading 🙂

The Guest List

Lucy Foley

(Review written on 3^rd December 2020)

WOW!

What an excellent read this is!

The tension is palpable pretty much from the very beginning of this story and is maintained throughout. It is one of those books which made me feel on edge (in a good way) whilst I was reading it and played on my mind when I wasn’t.

It is told from the various points of view of the main characters, which I love.

The setting is a glamorous wedding on a private island, which seems idyllic and probably would be if the wedding party and guests were your ‘average’ people. The young, beautiful, and successful (in their own rights) bride and groom seem like the perfect couple who have it all. It should be the happiest weekend of their lives. However, appearances can be deceiving. This book proves that no matter how perfect some people’s lives might seem to the outside world, you never know what secrets there might be lurking in their past. I’m not talking your average skeletons in the closet either, in this case. Secrets like these have deadly consequences.

This book is so cleverly written with amazing characters, likeable or not. They all have their own stories to tell and I was amazed by the connections between some of them, which became apparent as the story progressed. I felt the pain, years of built up grief, and anger almost physically on behalf of certain characters as truths are revealed.

I did NOT see that ending coming!

Just brilliant!

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It will stay with me for a long time to come, I think.

If you love a clever thriller full of suspense and shocking twists, then you will love this book.

I must read The Hunting Party soon!

The No.1 Sunday Times bestseller

*One of The Times and Sunday Times Crime Books of the Year*
*Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Crime Fiction Book of the Year*
*Waterstones Thriller of the Month*
*A Reese’s Book Club pick for 2020*
*Longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award*

A gripping, twisty murder mystery thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Hunting Party.

‘Lucy Foley is really very clever’ Anthony Horowitz
‘Thrilling’ The Times
‘A classic whodunnit’ Kate Mosse
‘Sharp and atmospheric and addictive’ Louise Candlish
‘A furiously twisty thriller’ Clare Mackintosh

On an island off the windswept Irish coast, guests gather for the wedding of the year – the marriage of Jules Keegan and Will Slater.
 
Old friends.
Past grudges.
 
Happy families.
Hidden jealousies.
 
Thirteen guests.
One body.
 
The wedding cake has barely been cut when one of the guests is found dead. And as a storm unleashes its fury on the island, everyone is trapped.

All have a secret. All have a motive.
One guest won’t leave this wedding alive . . .

happy reading 🙂

#sharethebooklove