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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!

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Fake Fling With The Billionaire (Mills & Boon True Love) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52

Fake Fling With The Billionaire (Mills & Boon True Love)

by Rachael Stewart 

Fake Fling with the Billionaire is another gorgeous read by the very lovely Rachael Stewart. I don’t think I’ve disliked any of her main characters yet.

Cassie is extremely likable, and Hugo is just divine. We meet them both in Paris, the perfect place for romance!

Of course, not all is plain sailing. They both have a past they are battling to move on from and they are both in the public eye. They decide pretending to be in love might give the paparazzi something new to report. Take the heat off Cassie for a while….

It’s only temporary, and not real of course! Or B….

I absolutely loved this story!

I loved the setting and the characters (I really liked Hugo’s mother, and his father grew on me eventually). I loved being swept along as Hugo shows Cassie Paris at its finest. He’s exceptionally romantic and thoughtful. No wonder Cassie falls for him!

This book made me smile, a lot!

The epilogue brought a tear to my eye.

Beautiful!

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

Treat yourself

Happy reading!

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Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty #PublicationDay #BookReview #NetGalley

Here One Moment

by Liane Moriarty 

I finished this book late last night and I still don’t really know how I feel about it.

I mean, it’s definitely not the best read for anyone with a serious phobia of dying or someone we love dying (not that I imagine anyone being thrilled with the idea!). I think most of us worry about dying young and hope that we will go in our sleep at a grand old age. Imagine someone literally pointing to you and predicting the cause and age of your death. That would most definitely freak me out!

Imagine being the woman who did this and having no recollection of it. Equally terrifying. There is no doubt she is a fascinating character.

There are lots of fascinating characters throughout this story, many of them affected by this lady’s predications.

It was interesting to see how they are all connected and how their lives pan out despite having differing reactions to this woman’s actions.

I can’t say there is any one wow moment though and I think that’s what I was waiting for.

There are many significant moments throughout the story though, some happy, some sad, some funny. All add up to a good psychological thriller that many people will love. Many people already have judging by the early reviews. I imagine it will be one that I will often think about. There just seemed to be something missing for me, but I can’t put my finger on what.

I guess the point is, do you believe in fate, or do you believe you could challenge fate by changing your life to swerve danger if you knew exactly what the risks were!?

A thought provoking read undoubtedly.

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

We’re all so busy, caught up in life’s moments, big and small . . .

The flight attendant working a shift on her birthday.
The mother struggling alone with two young children.
The newlyweds setting off on their tropical honeymoon .
The overworked father missing his kid’s big show.
The young man returning from his best friend’s funeral.
The ER nurse wondering what retirement will bring.

All strangers. All unsuspecting. Each with a life heading in a particular direction – or so they imagine.
Because an elderly woman is about to step into each of their paths. In just a few words, she will make a prediction, tying herself to all of them. And, in being bound to her, these disparate strangers will all face similar existential dilemmas. . .

Who is this woman? Is she a genuine clairvoyant? A charlatan? The answer to prayers, or a harbinger of nightmares?

What she will prove to be is an agent of chaos, fraying relationships, putting entire futures into doubt and causing the most ordered of lives to unravel in the most unexpected of ways . . .

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Bella’s Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston @ClaraVal

Bella’s Countryside Christmas

by Claire Huston

Firstly, I love that the main character in this book is called Bella 😊

Secondly, I love that Bella is such a likeable character. I warmed to her instantly. She’s a braver woman than me. There is no way I could gate-crash a wedding pretending to be someone else, although I understand her desire to help people and I’m sure Jack being quite easy on the eye helped. I do believe we just click immediately with some people. The whole situation is amusing and heart-warming. I’m surprised she left when she did.

I certainly don’t blame her for wanting to move to a cosy cottage in the countryside. Life is too short to be miserable.

Claire Huston’s description of village life sounds exactly as I would imagine it to be. Everyone knowing everyone and everything about each other. I imagine it would be comforting and somewhat annoying sometimes at the same time. I do love the sense of community though which I think has been lost in most of today’s society, unfortunately.

There are some fabulous characters throughout this book. There’s a fair to be organised, a crime to be solved which adds a bit of suspense to the story, issues with colleagues, family dynamics, festive cheer and the stress that often comes with it, and of course romance. What’s not to love!?

This book made me smile a lot and sometimes laugh out loud. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

** Many thanks to Claire Huston for my review copy **

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …

Treat yourself….

Happy reading!

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Beautiful and Terrible Things: A Novel by S.M. Stevens 

Beautiful and Terrible Things

by S.M. Stevens 

Beautiful and Terrible Things is extremely relevant to the world we live in today. It’s about a diverse group of friends, each with their own struggles, principles, and wishes for a better world for all.

Charley is new to the group. I love that she manages a bookstore and lives above it. How cool is that! Her anxieties are understandable given her difficult past. Xander introduces her to his friendship group and, at first, she starts to relax in their company. They are mostly a good bunch, although I wouldn’t necessarily condone some of Xander’s behaviour. I love that they take her under their wing though. My heart goes out to her when she realises her life might be about to be turned upside down. I was rooting for her the whole time and hoping for a positive outcome.

I do have to mention that this is the first book I’ve read with a gender-neutral character. Sunny is a very easy to like character and I have absolutely no problem with anyone living their life however they wish to, but when I read they/them I automatically imagine more than one person (as per definition). I did have to keep reminding myself that it was just Sunny, and I can’t pretend that it didn’t interrupt the flow of the story for me a little bit at times. I imagine it’s something I will get used to though as I’m sure it will become more commonplace in books.

I think younger readers especially will relate to these characters. They have an important story to tell, not least about the importance and power of friendship.

** Many thanks to S.M. Stevens for my ARC in exchange for my honest review **

Charley Byrne isn’t really living. At age 29, she hunkers down in her apartment above the bookstore she manages, afraid of a 7-year curse. Then quirky activist Xander Wallace lures her out of social exile with the prospect of friendship and romance. Charley joins Xander’s circle of friends diverse in their heritage, race, gender and sexual orientation. She thrives, even leaving her comfort zone to join protests in a city struggling with social justice ills.

But the new friendships bring back-to-back betrayals that threaten the bookstore—Charley’s haven—and propel her into a dangerous depression. Can her friends save the store? And Charley?

Beautiful and Terrible Things offers a compelling portrait of modern American life in a major city with its vibrant culture and rampant social issues. At once enlightening and entertaining, it reminds us that friendship has the power to validate, destroy, transform, and save lives.

I.C.Y.M.I.

The Wallace House of Pain: A Novelette by S.M. Stevens @SMStevens17

Happy reading!

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I Know What You’ve Done by Dorothy Koomson 

I Know What You’ve Done

by Dorothy Koomson 

I Know What You’ve Done is the third book I’ve read by Dorothy Koomson. I’d be lying if I said it was my favourite so far, but it did keep me intrigued enough to really want to find out what was going on.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of. All of whom live in close proximity. It did make me wonder who could potentially be watching your every move. None of us knows what goes on with our neighbours behind closed doors.

Some of the character’s behaviour was difficult to understand, although none of us know how we would deal with a situation until you find yourself in said situation. I enjoyed the realistic variation of characters. I wouldn’t want to live in their street though!

I didn’t guess the twist at the end, but I can’t say I found it shocking either.

Overall, an enjoyable read but maybe a little underwhelming for what I expected. I will certainly be reading other books from Dorothy Koomson as I really enjoyed the first two books I read a while ago.

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/03/09/the-friend-by-dorothy-koomson-bookreview/

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2023/06/09/the-woman-he-loved-before-by-dorothy-koomson-dorothykoomson/

** I read I Know What You’ve Done as part of a buddy read with friends on Instagram. I read the paperback edition **

What if all your neighbours’ secrets landed in a diary on your doorstep?

What if the woman who gave it to you was murdered by one of the people in the diary?

What if the police asked if you knew anything?

Would you hand over the book of secrets?

Or … would you try to find out what everyone had done?

Happy reading!