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What Happens At The Beach… (Mills & Boon True Love) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52

What Happens At The Beach…

by Rachael Stewart 

What Happens At The Beach…. is the most adorable read! I absolutely loved Fae and Rick’s story.

I also wouldn’t mind a week or two (or three, or four….) in one of their houses on the beach 😉

Fae took a little while to grow on me, if I’m honest, but I think she is probably meant to. She seems to have a bit of a chip on her shoulder, and it takes a while for us to understand why. She is quite rude to Rick at first which I thought was unfair considering she had only just met him.

The hostility doesn’t last long though, understandably. Rick does sound like he could sweep any single lady off their feet! Fae soon softens but is conflicted, which is easier to understand as you get to know her better.

Their dogs help though, which I love!

This is a book full of sunshine, beach walks, long talks, and romance, with a few bumps in the road but ultimately the happiest of endings.

Another gorgeous story by the very lovely Rachael Stewart!

If you need a little shot of sunshine and smiles in your life, you should read this.

**Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for my review copy**

Temptation under the summer sun…

After her home and livelihood are demolished by developers, Fae agrees to house and dog-sit for her wealthy stepsister in Bondi Beach. She’s a fish out of water in this glamorous setting, and her guard is up when she encounters gorgeous neighbour Rick and his adorable Great Dane. But the philanthropic billionaire quickly challenges her perceptions, and their intense chemistry explodes into a passionate—but strictly temporary—flirtation. Because it’s clear Rick doesn’t trust easily…and Fae can never truly belong in his affluent world—can she? Yet it’s increasingly hard to imagine their trysts ever ending!

Happy reading!

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The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe (Author), Lilit Zekulin Thwaites (Translator) @Antonioiturbe9

The Librarian of Auschwitz

by Antonio Iturbe (Author), Lilit Zekulin Thwaites (Translator) 

The Librarian of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Dita Kraus.

Dita is now 95 years old, but was only 14/15 years old as her story is told in this book. Honestly, I don’t really know how to properly review books like this one, when based on such horrific circumstances that really happened, not that long ago. I think it’s essential that these books are read by anyone and everyone though. It’s quite scary to think how many people think these atrocities never happened.

Dita is quite a feisty girl, considering what she endures on a day-to-day basis whilst at Auschwitz. She is tasked with the responsibility of looking after Block 31’s library. It might have only consisted of eight books, but she vows to guard them with her life, quite literally. If they were to be found, the consequences wouldn’t even bare thinking about. How terrifying that must have been! How courageous she was to take on this responsibility.

I found her story inspiring whilst also being reminded of the horrific conditions these people endured and the terrifying things they witnessed during these times. It isn’t an easy read by any means, but beautifully written. Dita sounds like an amazing lady who has gone on, thankfully, to live a long life.

I agree with a friend of mine who said that it’s almost as if God has granted some of these survivors a long life for the purposes of making sure they can tell as many people as possible, for as long as they possibly can, what happened at Auschwitz.

We should never forget.

If you get the chance to read this, please do, then pass it on to someone else who should read it too.

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Deliver Her by Patricia Perry Donovan @PatPDonovan

Deliver Her

by Patricia Perry Donovan 

Deliver Her had waited patiently on my Kindle TBR list for quite some time so I was glad to finally read it. I can’t remember buying it, or who recommended it, but I really enjoyed it. I pretty much went in blind, so I didn’t have any expectations which I quite like sometimes.

This is a thriller/mystery, and it is full of suspense, but I would describe it more as a family saga.

Alex is a teenage girl, struggling with grief after losing her best friend in a car accident. She blames herself. She is starting to go off the rails and her mother, Meg, is understandably concerned and battling with how best to help her. A last straw sees Meg enrolling Alex into a boarding school and hiring a transporter company to take her there. This was all quite extreme to me. I can’t imagine sending my daughter off with strangers but then I can understand how some children push their parents to their absolute limits. I could feel Meg’s desperation although I didn’t agree with her not involving her husband in the decision.

Alex reacts as you would imagine and when the journey doesn’t go as planned the story takes a whole different direction. One I was not expecting!

There are some interesting characters in this book and much more going on than you think at the beginning. There are a lot of different relationships. The main character’s mother/daughter dynamic, husband/wife, sister/brother, sister/sister, as well as friendships old and new, secrets, lies, and new beginnings. I thought it was a great read!

** I purchased the Kindle edition of Deliver Her on 2nd April 2016. It is still available to buy. **

On the night of Alex Carmody’s sixteenth birthday, she and her best friend, Cass, are victims of a terrible car accident. Alex survives; Cass doesn’t. Consumed by grief, Alex starts cutting school and partying, growing increasingly detached. The future she’d planned with her friend is now meaningless to her.

Meg Carmody is heartbroken for her daughter, even as she’s desperate to get Alex’s life back on track. The Birches, a boarding school in New Hampshire, promises to do just that, yet Alex refuses to go. But when Meg finds a bag of pills hidden in the house, she makes a fateful call to a transporter whose company specializes in shuttling troubled teens to places like The Birches, under strict supervision. Meg knows Alex will feel betrayed—as will her estranged husband, who knows nothing of Meg’s plans for their daughter.

When the transport goes wrong—and Alex goes missing—Meg must face the consequences of her decision and her deception. But the hunt for Alex reveals that Meg is not the only one keeping secrets.

Happy reading!

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Snowed In with You by Heidi Stephens 

Snowed In with You

by Heidi Stephens 

I absolutely LOVED Snowed In with You!

Lucy is a fascinating character. I liked her immediately. She’s a professional, single (but not short of male attention), grieving following a devastating loss eleven years ago, has a difficult relationship with her mother…

When the chance of an all-expenses paid skiing trip with work becomes available, she really wants to go despite it being the weekend she usually spends with her parents. She feels guilty but she needs this. Little does she know…

I laughed out loud so many times throughout this story. Reading it in public was interesting!

I loved Lucy’s relationship with Jonno.

I loved the initial awkwardness between Lucy and Nate and how forced proximity leads to that awkwardness slowly dissipating.

I loved the characters they are forced to spend time with, in an Alpine bar, after an avalanche leaves them all snowed in together. Honestly, some of the funniest scenes.

I loved how Lucy eventually confronts her mother.

And I love how Lucy finally comes to her senses.

Nate is just the cutest!

Such a beautiful ending to a brilliantly written story. Heart-warming and SO funny! I can’t recommend it highly enough.

** Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a paperback review copy **

Lucy hasn’t left the country in years. In fact, she’s barely left Bristol’s city limits. So, when the opportunity presents itself to join a work trip to the Swiss Alps, she’s wary, especially when she learns that it will coincide with that weekend – the one that, eleven years ago, tore her world in two.

But how can she turn down an all-expense-paid trip to the snow-capped Alps? Lucy knows what Leo would say if he were still with her, and besides, she’ll have her work husband, Jonno, there for emotional support.

What – or who – she didn’t bank on, however, was moody (read: rude) Nate stepping in at the last minute. And what’s worse, they’re the only two in the group who don’t ski, so they’re stuck with each other . . . up the side of a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm.

With the weather closing in, an avalanche leaves them snowbound in an alpine bar with an eclectic cast of fellow refugees. But with roaring log fires and steaming mugs of glühwein (and maybe a shot or two of Jägermeister), it’s a chance for Lucy and Nate to discover there might be more to one another than meets the eye.

Where will their mountainside adventure leave them when the snow finally melts?

Happy reading!

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Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran 

Christmas Every Day

by Beth Moran 

Christmas Every Day is a fabulous festive read!

I immediately took to Jenny who I think is very brave to take on her late grandmother’s ramshackle (to put it mildly) cottage. I understand her need for a fresh start though and her determination to see it through.

I immediately took to Mack too, Jenny’s next-door neighbour, although he’s a grumpy so and so to begin with. We soon learn why.

These two have a lot going on, emotionally and otherwise, and I enjoyed how their relationship develops from neighbours barely tolerating each other to friends….

There is so much more going on throughout this story though….

Jenny’s job and the relationships she builds with the family she finds herself working for.

A local estate agent trying to bully her into selling the cottage.

The Book Club members are an interesting bunch. Lol!

The hunt for a famous local author who doesn’t seem to want to be found.

Jenny’s relationship with her mother.

Mack’s relationship struggles.

Some surprises along the way!

It all adds up to a brilliantly written story which had me hooked! I LOVED it!

** I borrowed Christmas Every Day from the Prime Reading Library **

When Jenny inherits her estranged grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest, she has nothing to lose – no money, no job, no friends, no family to speak of, and zero self-respect. Things can only get better…

Her grumpy, but decidedly handsome new neighbour, Mack, has a habit of bestowing unsolicited good deeds on her. And when Jenny is welcomed into a rather unusual book club, life seems to finally be getting more interesting.

Instead of reading, the members pledge to complete individual challenges before Christmas: from finding new love, learning to bake, to completing a daredevil bucket list. Jenny can’t resist joining in, and soon a year of friendship and laughter, tears and regrets unfolds in the most unexpected ways.

Happy reading!

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The Christmas Book Hunt: A Short Story by Jenny Colgan 

The Christmas Book Hunt: A Short Story

by Jenny Colgan 

The Christmas Book Hunt is a lovely festive short story. One I’m sure you could enjoy at any time of the year though.

There’s a seriously poorly elderly relative with one last wish. A niece who is determined to fulfil that wish and a bloke sent to throw a spanner in the works.

I love that this story is centred around finding a book. A unique book which isn’t going to be easy to track down, if it even exists at all!

I thoroughly enjoyed joining Mirren on her quest to make her great-aunt happy in her final days. I also enjoyed the romance she found along the way.

Lovely!

** I bought the kindle edition of this book on 17th November 2024 **

A Christmas mission…

Mirren’s beloved great-aunt Violet is seriously ill. Her one Christmas wish is to be reunited with a long-lost hand-illustrated book from her childhood, a challenge Mirren gladly accepts to give Violet some much-needed festive cheer.

An enchanting journey…

With no sign of the cherished volume online, Mirren falls into the fascinating world of rare books. From London to snowy Hay-on-Wye and Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, she chases leads from bookshop to bookshop—and bumps into mysterious, charming Theo, who, unbeknownst to her, is searching for the same book for reasons of his own…

The start of a new chapter?

As the two join forces to track the book down before time runs out for Violet, will Mirren find her Christmas miracle—and maybe even a kiss under the mistletoe… ?

Happy reading!

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Destiny Revealed: Wizard Twins (The Destiny Trilogy Series Book 1) by Cris Pasqueralle 

Destiny Revealed: Wizard Twins (The Destiny Trilogy Series Book 1) 

by Cris Pasqueralle 

Destiny Revealed begins with the thirteenth birthdays of Jack and Maddie. They aren’t your average teenagers though. They have no idea just how special they are. Their lives are turned upside down when their parents are kidnapped and taken to a different realm, and they discover it is their responsibility to rescue them as well as save all the realms!

I don’t read a lot of Fantasy or a lot of YA fiction, but I enjoyed this story. It was like a breath of fresh air with it being so different to what I generally read. A great start to a series. One I think will appeal to many readers, young or old!

** I purchased the kindle edition of this book on 19th April 2020 **

THE MAGIC BEGINS…
On the day of their thirteenth birthdays, twins Jack and Maddie Austin receive a special gift from their wizard relative Uncle Benny: two necklaces, along with a note shrouded in secrecy. The celebration is interrupted by three intruders, led by the evil being Tardon, who kidnaps the twin’s parents. Uncle Benny manages to escape with the twins and later, reveals the truth behind both their gifts and identities: that Jack and Maddie are powerful wizards from the magical realm. Now, faced with the decision of a lifetime, they must return to that realm, rescue their parents and save all the realms from imminent doom. Praise for Destiny Revealed: “Great fantasy fiction for young adults!” “A High Fantasy Quest not to be missed!”

Happy reading!

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Fight Back (Kerry Casey, Book 2) by Anna Smith

Fight Back (Kerry Casey, Book 2)

by Anna Smith

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, book one of this series, Blood Feud, I was very much looking forward to catching up with Kerry Casey and the gang again in Fight Back. They’re an interesting bunch and live lives so far removed from my own it makes it the perfect book to lose yourself in. I don’t think I’d ever sleep if I was involved in the sort of things these characters get up to, but I know very well these sorts of things go on in this world. Scary stuff! Kerry Casey is one tough lady though and she won’t be intimidated by anyone. However powerful they are, or think they are. Kerry is still determined to turn the “family business” into a legitimate one, but other people are determined to make this as difficult as possible for her. Of course, this makes for a more interesting story. One I very much enjoyed. I’m looking forward to reading book 3, hopefully soon.

** I purchased the paperback edition of Fight Back on the 14th of August 2024 **

Gangster Kerry Casey has fought her way to the top of the Glasgow crime scene. But can she stay there?

Kerry Casey is now a fully-fledged gangland boss. With her business partner Sharon and her wily lawyer Marty at her side, she is busy ridding her organisation of the drug-dealing, people-trafficking scum her dead brother Mickey got them involved with. But her great dream is still to take the Caseys straight.

Her plan to turn her organisation around hinges on building a property empire in Spain. But Kerry has some deadly rivals – in Glasgow, on the Costa del Sol, and even further afield. They will never believe she has what it takes to defend her turf, and they won’t rest until the Caseys are destroyed.

Treat yourself

Happy reading!

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The Berlin Agent (John Cook, Book 2) by Stephen Ronson @Stephen_Ronson #NetGalley

The Berlin Agent (John Cook, Book 2)

by Stephen Ronson 

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Last Line I was excited to receive an invite to read and review The Berlin Agent. (Apologies to the author and publisher for the delay.)

John Cook is a brilliant character. I think I said in my previous review that he is a bloke I would want on my side in any kind of crisis. I imagine he’s quite easy on the eye too!

During this book, Cook and Lady Margaret are tasked with fighting the Nazi’s as they land on British soil. Risking their own lives in the hope of protecting the country, and the people, they love.  A risky mission, but one which Cook accepts without question for his own safety.

This book is full of action and suspense. It even has a bit of romance, which I love!

A brilliantly written historical fiction novel. An excellent series so far. I look forward to book three!

** Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley **

A country at war. Bombers fill the skies. A parachute drops in the dead of night…

‘A gripping World War Two thriller that masterfully blends historical accuracy with intense action… Every shadow hides a potential threat, and the tension never lets up. A must read’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

England 1940: Paris has fallen to the Third Reich. Farmer John Cook and society heiress Lady Margaret are waiting for the day when German tanks roll across the green fields of their homes. Both are ready for the moment they will disappear into the woods and the fields to carry out their top-secret orders – to do whatever it takes to fight the Nazis once they arrive on British soil.

Their worst fears are realised when a parachutist drops from a German bomber during an air raid. Arriving at the scene, Cook finds the white silk hanging from a branch, and a mysterious crate containing a complex piece of machinery. The spy is nowhere to be found.

But at night, Cook and Margaret hear German voices in the darkness. Reports come in of others hearing similar things, and there are whispers of an agent from Berlin…

With enemies already hiding among them, how far will Cook and Margaret go to protect the country and the people they love?

An absolutely gripping WWII historical thriller that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of Robert Harris, Kate Quinn and Rory Clements.

Everyone is gripped by the John Cook novels:

‘Thrilling WWII set thriller that has heart-pounding action, but more importantly, a lot of heart… Completely gripping… A narrative that is as taut as piano wire!.. .Not to be missed if you enjoy action-packed historical thrillers’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘My God, this was great. It left me with a book hangover. I felt like I was there in 1940s England… I learned so much from this book… The writing is really 3D. You really feel like you’re there. It’s very immersive, and I love the witty humour. John Cook is a wonderful character’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘John Cook is the Jack Reacher of 1940’s Britain‘ Damien Lewis

‘A compelling read and felt as if I was actually back in 1939. A delicious group of main characters… Great read’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A brilliant noir thriller set in the darkest days of the Second World War‘ Stephen Leather

Treat yourself

I.C.Y.M.I

The Last Line by Stephen Ronson @Stephen_Ronson

Happy reading!

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Blood Feud (Kerry Casey Book 1) by Anna Smith 

Blood Feud (Kerry Casey Book 1) 

by Anna Smith 

This book is right up my street and an excellent start to a series. I soon found myself immersed in the criminal world that Kerry Casey soon finds herself the head of.

So much goes on in this first instalment I could barely keep up! There are lots of interesting characters, some not as likeable as others which is to be expected given the lives they lead and the ‘work’ they partake in.

Kerry is a feisty but likeable character. She didn’t like the way her brother ran things and is keen to get the family business back to operating within the law, as per her father’s wishes, but this can’t happen overnight and there are some dangerous people in her way….

A story of family, friendship, crime, and revenge. I loved it and I’ve already started book two in the series, Fight Back.

They came for her family. Now she’s coming for them. This nail-biting thriller introduces Glasgow’s newest gangland mistress, Kerry Casey.

Kerry Casey thought she’d made a life away from the dirty dealings of her gangster family. Her father wanted to make them legit – her brother Mickey had other ideas, and now it’s got him killed. When Mickey’s funeral turns into a bloodbath at the hands of a group of anonymous shooters and Kerry’s mother is killed in the crossfire, Kerry finds herself at the head of the Casey family, and desperate for revenge.

Running a crime empire is not a job she ever asked for, and not one she wants, but Kerry is determined to fulfil her father’s wishes and make the Caseys go straight. First, though, she will find the men who murdered her mother, and she will take them down, no matter what it costs.

Happy reading!