Book Review - In Italy For Love by Leonie Mack - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: In Italy For Love

Author: Leonie Mack

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 22nd October 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Live your very own Italian dream and let bestseller Leonie Mack whisk you away.

Julia Volpe’s Italian dream has turned into a nightmare.

Still living with her ex, Luca, a year after they’ve broken up, desperate to sell the dilapidated B&B that was meant to be their future, Jules knows she needs to leave. There are just two problems. Her passport has expired and she’s broke.

Not quite ready to ask her parents for help – at the ripe old age of twenty-seven – Jules decides to head as far away from Luca as she can to work on an olive farm until she has enough money to pay for her passport and a ticket back home.

Jules has sworn off love, but she hadn’t bargained on the beauty of Cividale del Friuli, the ancient Italian town on the banks of the gloriously blue Natisone river. As the community of farmers, neighbours and locals generously welcome her into their lives, Jules can feel her defences crumbling. But it’s when she meets Alex, broodingly handsome yet charmingly gallant, that Jules truly knows she’s in trouble. Because Alex has sworn off love too, and his reasons run deep enough for him to keep his word just as Jules is starting to reconsider her resistance to romance.

Romantic, spell-binding, truly touching and perfect for all fans of Jill Mansell, Mandy Baggot and Sarah Morgan.

What a charming and escapist read this was. 

I was enchanted by the small corner of Italy that Jules has run to to lick her wounds and wait for her passport to arrive. 

It is a small town on the border of multiple countries, and has a really close knit community, one that at times Alex really despairs of. 

What is meant to be a one night stand, after circumstances and would be matchmakers took over, turns into something more. But neither are looking for love. 

I really felt for Jules and Alex at times, while also being fascinated with various details about accordions. 

I felt completely transported and could definitely see everything play out,  Another incredibly enjoyable book from Leonie Mack. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Grave Talk by Nick Spalding - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Grave Talk

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 1st November 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

The hardest part of death is learning how to live.

The last thing Alice expects to see at her husband’s graveside on his birthday is a giant, talking frog. On closer inspection, it’s a grown man dressed as Kermit.

Turns out Alice’s husband is buried next to Ben’s older brother Harry, who—as a parting practical joke in his will—insisted that Ben visit his grave each year, on this specific day, dressed in an as-yet-undisclosed pageant of embarrassing fancy dress.

With little but their grief and this one day in common, Alice and Ben form a very special, very strange friendship, meeting just once a year: same day, same time, same place—different silly costume. As the years pass and grief alters, can their unique bond help them cope with the hardest part of death: life?

I think when it comes to approaching a new Nick Spalding novel you need to expect the unexpected, especially if like me you don't tend to read the blurbs of books by authors you know you already enjoy. 

This at its heart is a story about grief, set in a graveyard at yearly intervals between Alice and Ben who's loved ones are buried next to each other. 

In typical Spalding manor though there are many incidents throughout the book that make me laugh out loud, with some hilarious turn of phrase or images. 

Oh and in Harrys (Ben's brother's will) he is asked to visit the graveyard at midday on his birthday each year, and to wear the already organised fancy dress - starting with year one as Kermit the Frog. 

Alice is grieving her husband and her story and emotion really does tug the heartstrings. 

It is though a hopeful book and it did leave me smiling with a fabulous finale. Another winner for me from this talented author. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Hook, Line and Single by Phoebe MacLeod

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Title: Hook, Line and Single

Author: Phoebe MacLeod

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 17th February 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Ruby may be young, free and single… but she’s absolutely not ready to mingle.

Ruby is happily sworn off men. There’s nothing she needs that can’t get from her friends, cat or, frankly, the wonders of modern technology. So when her flatmate tricks her into going on a singles cruise, she’s furious.

Thankfully, Ruby isn’t the only one onboard under false pretences. Cameron also had no idea what he was letting himself in for. So after Ruby and Cameron strike up conversation, they agree to platonically pair off, to protect each other from the flirtatious advances of the other guests – not to mention the matchmaking efforts of Barry, the enthusiastic host.

There’s just one problem. Cameron isn’t just in the same boat as Ruby – he’s also good looking, kind and fun. As they explore the picturesque towns of the Mediterranean, Ruby finds herself enjoying his company much more than she’d intended.

Can Ruby keep her heart safe, or will she be in too deep by the time the boat docks at its final destination?

I've heard good things about Phoebe MacLeod's books but hadn't read any, until I spotted this one a featured a cruise. And I am a sucker for a cruise. 

And having now read this, I may just be a sucker for this author's writing too, as I enjoyed it so much.  That I was ditching things I possibly should have been doing in order to read more. 

Initially I was more interested in Sam's story, but Ruby, as the main character grew on me the whole time, and on discovering the truth why she prefers to be single, my heart went out to her. 

In between that we have Sam trying to prowl for single men at a new church she has heard about, and wow they have some rather interesting rules. After that she decides that a holiday with Ruby would be a good idea. 

To Ruby's dismay they had been booked through a singles group, and were expected to go to organised activities each evening.  Now this is a fabulous dynamic and it was a lot of fun, and Barry the Marco Polo group host is larger than life, but I kind of wanted to see a bit more of the cruise ship. 

But really its a port intensive itinerary so its realistic for most of the action to be in the ports of call, and then evening activities, it's just the cruise fanatic in me wanted to see if I could work out which cruise line this may have been modelled on! 

And there are some really memorable moments at some of the ports too, especially once Ruby starts hanging around Cameron who also isn't keen on the idea of dating, after Sam hits it off with a new man. 

This had many amusing and fun moments, and is a book I totally enjoyed. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Light's Out by Jenni Fletcher - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Light's Out

Author: Jenni Fletcher

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 31st October 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

An addictive new adult Formula One romance, perfect for fans of BookTok faves Hannah Grace and Lauren Asher.

He’s a future F1 champion, but she’s making it hard to stay on track…

F1’s resident bad boy Giovanni Bauer needs to turn his reputation around fast - or risk losing his place on the team.

Maisie Evans is a dedicated university student, who still secretly dreams of the glittering sports career she abandoned.

When Gio and Maisie's worlds collide, the answer to their problems seems obvious: a fake relationship. She gets to travel and brush shoulders with sports royalty, and he gets to fix his public image.

But as sparks fly - on and off the track - will their 'relationship' make it across the finish line, or crash and burn?

A combination of F1 and fake dating was always going to be a winner for me. 

And I'm delighted to have been able to read Jenni Fletcher's first foray into the world of F1 romances, which are a world apart from the historical romances she normally writes. 

I loved Maisie and Gio, and everything to do with them. 

The more time we spent with Gio, the more I fell for him myself, and arguably faster than  Maisie.

Gio is the one that suggests the fake relationship in order to try to help rebuild his image and to keep his seat, And after some persuasion Maisie. agrees to the charade, especially once she realises it will help her current uni paper. 

I was hooked on all the F1 details that were included in the book, and can just about forgive the author for changing where the season ends, 

It was highly enjoyable and I was totally hooked. 

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton

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Title: Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage

Author: Della Galton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 22nd February 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

Can love conquer all?

Jade and Finn are idyllically happy in their little corner of rural Wiltshire. A rescue centre jampacked with animals keeps them super busy. With Finn’s art going from strength to strength, Jade can’t believe they’re living the dream until an arrogant property developer with questionable motives jeopardises their perfect lives and the future plans of the rescue centre.

Jade and Finn both have trust issues and they’ve promised there’ll be no more secrets. But keeping promises is harder than either of them imagined, especially where Finn’s past is concerned.

Living with Mr Spock the potty-mouthed parrot and Mickey the dog who barks at TV baddies there's never a dull moment at Duck Pond Rescue. But will the humans get their ‘happy-ever-after’ too?

Can they lay the ghosts of the past to rest and find a bright new future together?

Can I please adopt Mr Spock? He is a hilarious parrot, he swears, she imitates various sounds, he can sing, and has fabulous comic timing.  I need this parrot in my life, and he is easily one of my favourite animals in this book. 

I am loving all the various animals at Duck Pond Rescue, and the way that Jade is determined to help any animal that is brought to her - including geese despite at that moment in time not having a pond - she enlists the help of the people wanting her to rehome the geese, and before long a pond has been dug!  Just shows there are loads of animal mad people out there. 

One of the biggest laughs in the book has to have been from Aiden's accident prone nature, he relates one tale to Jade and Finn and its brilliant, and I could imagine it so so clearly. 

Finn especially has a lot of development during this book, as he discovers that he can see red, he digs into his past a bit more, and there is a big art show to look forward to too. 

Meanwhile Jade would like to expand the rescue but a developer gazumps her gentleman's' agreement and starts her attempting to work out how she may be able to stop a housing development being built on the border of her land. 

And of course we see lots of Sarah, Callum and Ben, in addition to Ray and Dorrie as well as other local characters that it's good to see more of.  

And there are cameos from characters from both of Della Galton's previous series which will make her super fans really smile. 

I am loving everything about this book, with the possible exception of the last couple of pages, as we have been left on my pet hate of a cliff-hanger - it's not the most epic of cliff-hangers but it will have me rather keen to read the next book as soon as possible, as it promises something potentially epic for one of our characters! 

I've had a ball reading this, and can't wait for more. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Island in the Sun by Katie Fforde - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Island in the Sun

Author: Katie Fforde

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 15th February 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Dominica. A beautiful remote island where the sun shines and the living is easy.

And where Cass goes to photograph a rare stone carving as a favour to her father.

With her is Ranulph, a deeply attractive, much-travelled journalist, who offers to help Cass with her quest.

But Dominica has just been hit be a severe hurricane, and Cass and Ranulph are spending all of their time helping the local community.

Cass knows she must not fall in love with him… He is just looking out for her. He’s being kind.

There is no way he could be even the slightest bit interested in her. Could he?

I absolutely adored this book and read it from cover to cover over the course of an evening. 

I was hooked pretty much instantly and was enchanted initially by the descriptions of the Scottish Island that Cass's dad lives on. 

And then ultimately Dominica really got under my skin. Especially given it was a visit to a unique Caribbean island in the aftermath of a hurricane. 

Seeing Cass and Ranulph get stuck in with the relief efforts, before they even attempted to get on with the other reason they were on the island was lovely to see. 

We even have a real villain of the book in Austin - believe in Cass's initial bad feelings about him, she has great intuition. 

And I loved Cass starting to develop as her own persons and really come into herself as the story progressed. 

This is a really heartwarming and wonderful story, that had me totally absorbed and oblivious to the world around me.   Just brilliant. 

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Christmas Ever After by Jaimie Admans - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Christmas Ever After

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 2nd September 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Franca Andrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, she needs a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open... But there’s one man standing in her way - expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.

Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth Raff continues to exploit. But this Christmas their shops are pitted against each other and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn't know how her handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff's snow globes, especially at the most magical time of the year!

As these two enemies get to know each other, Franca discovers another side to Raff – kind, caring and funny. But unless she can prove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together, she’s going to lose everything…

But maybe it's not too late for them to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?

I think I saved my favourite Christmas book of 2024 until last. Just from the title and knowing how fab the author is at Christmas books, I suspected this might make me feel festive. 

And OMG how brilliant was it. Between being set on Christmas Ever After - the side bit to Ever After Street, where it is Christmas all year around, and featuring a Nutcracker shop and a magical snow globe shop I was in heaven. 

Franca's rivalry with Raff was amusing initially until the viral video where she breaks a few fingers, and Raff feels so guilty he offers to help her make nutcrackers. 

But they are in competitions with each other, and only one shop will survive the festive season. 

It didn't take long to discover that Raff is wonderful. I totally fell for him, and when we get to meet his family I fell even deeper.   His family are wonderful and they celebrate Christmas in a big way. 

They help Franca rediscover the magic of the season while she is trying to work out the magic behind the snow globes. 

This is such a gorgeously festive book that is truly wonderful and another brilliant book in this series. I can't get enough of the series and this author.  Just brilliant. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Final Betrayal by M. A. Comley

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Title: The Final Betrayal

Author: M. A. Comley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited

Publication Date: 20th March 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

When personal business turns deadly…

Lorne Warner thought her days of hunting monsters were behind her. But when personal matters call her back to London, she and her husband, Tony, find themselves caught in a web of secrets and lies they thought had been buried.

As they dig deeper, the trail leads to a dangerous figure with ties to the notorious Unicorn—a criminal whose evil empire Lorne dismantled years ago. With corruption seeping into the highest levels of power and lives hanging in the balance, Lorne must rely on her instincts, her team, and her resolve to bring justice to those who thought they could escape it.

But in the shadows of London’s gritty underworld, the price of justice may be higher than Lorne ever imagined.

OMG!

Wow!

Breathless!

Speechless! 

Literally just this minute finished reading and all I can think is that if you have ever read any of the Justice series, Justice Again series or DI Sally Parker series, or if like me you are fan of all of these series - that you have to drop everything and go and read this book 

Having a case that involves Sally, Katy, Lorne, Tony, Charlie Carol, Pete, Sean and relates back to the biggest supervillain this author has ever created makes this a must read book for all fans of the author. 

I think this book has had me feeling all the emotions.  I've had tears pricking every time Pete was mentioned (it was the way he was mentioned that was setting me off, as I've not had that reaction before), there is fear, exhilaration and a whole lot more besides over the course of this book. 

And I literally had to read this book in one sitting, it was totally impossible to put down, and I couldn't read it fast enough. I was more than hooked.   I don't think you could have got my attention while I was reading it if you had tried. 

I just couldn't get enough of it.  It starts after an immediate panic with a more gentle story than you might initially expect, but the complexity and sinister nature of everything ramps up as we get to know very very key info. And by the end I was buzzing, and could see the action play out so so clearly.   Surely its about time that some of this author's series were turned into TV shows. 

This is tightly plotted, everything mentioned is there for a reason, and I had an inkling as to who might be trouble quite early on, but I couldn't have guessed the escalation, or just how it all connected. 

I have been reading about some of these characters for possibly over 10 years, they are now part of me, and I feel like I know them so well, and thus what they were put through in this was actually painful - but it made for an incredibly gripping read. 

This is definitely a book for the MA Comley super fan, and if you haven't read the author before then you have been missing out on many excellent series that are ridiculously readable. 

And if you thought that was too long to read - in short - this is amazing, buy this book! 

Thank you the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Someone Like You by Sandy Barker - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Someone Like You

Author: Sandy Barker

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 12th November 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

What do you do when you realise you've fallen for your best friend, but he sees you as the sister he never had? And to make things worse, you're stuck in the middle of a matchmaking scheme to find him someone else!

Best friends Gaby and Raff are inseparable and know each other inside out. But with Raff's string of disastrous relationships and his newfound fame as Britain’s Best Baker, it's time to enlist the Ever After Agency to help him find true love.

At first, Gaby is all in – Raff is a catch, after all. But as she secretly helps to find his perfect match, she’s hit with unexpected pangs of jealousy. And before she can act on her feelings, Raff falls for one of his dates.

Can Gaby keep her emotions in check, or will she risk ruining their friendship to find out if Raff feels the same way?

Set in London and Seattle, this romantic and festive romcom is perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Mhairi McFarlane and Lindsey Kelk.

Words can't express how much I am loving this series from Sandy Barker.  And this is yet another fabulous addition to it. 

While still featuring Poppy as our main matchmaker, and being able to catch up with everyone else at the agency, this is the story of Raff's match. 

Raff who has just won a TV Baking competition is best friends with matchmaker Freya, and Gaby, and is unlucky in love. 

He sort of agrees to let himself be matched so long as he doesn't have to go on dates. 

So Freya and Gaby between them with Poppy start putting potential women in his path. 

Just one teeny tiny thing, one of the best friends appears to have caught feelings for Raff, but has to stay quiet. 

I really loved Raff and Gaby, and seeing their dynamics. 

And once the action moved to Seattle for Christmas, this book steps up another gear.  There is romance, entertaining family dramas, festive fun and a whole lot more. It's just what you want in a Christmassy book and more. 

A pure delight to read, I was loving every single word of this. 

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - A Change Of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop by Annie Darling

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Title: A Change of Heart at the Vintage Dress Shop

Author: Annie Darling

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 27th June 2024

Rating: 4 Stars

Cressida Collins is the queen of makeovers. With a well-placed stitch, button or seam, she can transform any frock in The Vintage Dress Shop and give customers their Cinderella moment.

Like her beautifully organised workroom under the eaves, Cress's life away from the shop is just as orderly and mapped out. But when her boyfriend of fifteen years drops a bombshell, it explodes all the carefully laid plans Cress had for her future.

It's going to take more than needle and thread to put Cress's own life back together. Will she ever be brave enough to say goodbye to her old dreams and start over?

But after designing a dress for a customer and transforming her into the woman she always wanted to be, Cress realises that it can be fun not to follow a pattern. Then there's her blossoming friendship with Miles, a very handsome and very sexy film director...

Cress is about to discover that leaving a few loose threads might be the best way to mend her broken heart...

A wonderfully uplifting, funny and heartfelt summer romance that will whisk you away to the haven of The Vintage Dress Shop. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley.

I don't know how I managed to miss out on the first book in this Vintage Dress Shop series, but I'm very glad I have joined the series at book two, as this was so enjoyable.  And it can definitely be read as a standalone novel.

I loved this shop in Primrose Hill, and the group of people who work there, who are all totally mad about vintage clothing, and vintage dresses in particular.  And Cressida is the seamstress, who typically deals with alterations and repairs. 

But when a customer comes into the shop having a body image crisis, Cressida feels for her and offers to make her a bespoke dress.  And that starts to give Cressida some ambition and ideas of other things she can do. 

At the same time she is having doubts over her 15 year relationship with her boyfriend. They were school day sweethearts and both still live with their parents, and seem to spend very little time together by themselves.  I really didn't take to him at all. 

I enjoyed getting to know all the girls in the shop, and their various dynamics. And this was just a really gentle and highly entertaining book.   I'm already looking up to catching up with the The Vintage Dress Shop crew in their next book. 

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Eat Slay Love by Julie Mae Cohen - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Eat Slay Love

Author: Julie Mae Cohen

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication Date: 24th October 2024 

Rating: 5 Stars

The razor-sharp, hilarious new 2024 black comedy thriller from the bestselling author of Bad Men - now available to pre-order in hardback, eBook and audiobook.

Marina is a divorced mother of three preschoolers.

Lilah is a shy and lonely librarian.

Opal is a broke post-menopausal fitness guru.

These three women have absolutely nothing in common - except for the charming, attractive man who's been

lying to all of them. Now that he's tied up in a basement, they may just have something to bond over.

But how far is each willing to go to get revenge? As this shared secret brings them closer together, other, deadlier problems come crashing into their lives. Can they put their differences aside to save themselves - and each other?

Warning: There are scenes in this book that you definitely shouldn't read while eating, especially if you have a sensitive stomach. 

I mean one rather specific scene with very vivid descriptions made me feel slightly ill, and rather relieved that for once I wasn't eating and reading at the same time. 

I was totally invested in this story from the first few chapters as we meet Opal, Lilah and Marina, three rather different women who soon discover they have one rather pesky, conniving conman in common. 

And well you should always fear a trio of scorned women, and I loved how the three of them despite being near strangers, manage to work so well together even in the face of well iffy decisions. 

It's a wonderful thriller featuring empowered women, that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know. 

I found I was so engrossed in this book that the pages where just whizzing by, as I keep needing to know what would happen next. 

I am absolutely loving this author's darker side, and can't wait to see what her next release is. 

Thank you to Zaffre and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Reunited at the Lakeside Cottage by Erin Green - #HolidayReading Gambia

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Title: Reunited at the Lakeside Cottage

Author: Erin Green

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 5th December 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome back to the Lakeside Cottage . . .a place to come together, or be driven further apart?

It's that week between Christmas and New Year, and sisters Kate and Selena, and their friend Paisley, are meeting for an all-girls mini-break - no men allowed. But Affie, Carlos and Joseph have a similar idea, involving a sports channel, plenty of beer, and absolutely no women.

Somehow, there's been a double booking.

Paisley just wants to escape her worries, to recharge and reset for the coming year. The last thing she needs is complications.

Kate, the elder sister, is a people pleaser, used to making things run smoothly for her CEO boss, but even she can't fix this, can she?

Selena, meanwhile, may have a hugely successful career and be about to turn thirty, but she's her own worst enemy, and, as per usual, this mess may well be her fault...

To make matters worse, Paisley and Joseph have history.

Can the six of them find a way to navigate nearly a week together? Can the past be left behind and a new future found?

What a total joy this book was to read. From a double booking at Lakeside cottage meaning that a trio of women and trio of men end up sharing for a week, to the inevitably romantic entanglements that may start to form... this is fabulous. 

Add in the history that Paisley and Joseph have (divorced), and there are fireworks. 

Not only that the chocolate making workshop that both groups just happen to be attending is utterly hilarious. 

And there is tension, and arguments galore between all combinations of characters. 

Not to mention a rescue, group activities, and a thawing in hostilities, plus some good times and you have what was a really enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Here One Minute by Alex Lake

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Title: Here One Minute

Author: Alex Lake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 24th October 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

Now you see her…

Julia Miller puts her teenage daughter on a plane, secure in the knowledge that she will see her again in a few days.

Now you don’t…

But when the plane lands, Anna is nowhere to be seen. She definitely got on the flight, but then she just…vanished.

Is she gone forever?

Julia’s world is about to be rocked. Because when the truth comes about what’s really happened to Anna, nothing will ever be the same again. And time is running out to save her daughter…

Fans of Alex Lake are in for a treat – although Here One Minute is a fully standalone story, devotees might recognise Anna from the author’s smash hit Top 10 Sunday Times bestseller After Anna!

Wow.  As I have come to expect from Alex Lake this was unputdownable.  I literally could barely be parted from my kindle as I was reading this. 

And although I had half a suspicion about one bit of this, the overall picture totally shocked me. 

To say there is a whole lot more to this than the blurb implies is an understatement.  It's layer on layer of deviousness, and shocks. 

And it's only just now as I'm writing this review I've realised that this is a follow on story from the only one of Alex Lake's books that I haven't read (although I do have a copy sitting in my bedroom), but it does mean I can safely say this is definitely a standalone and I didn't even get the feeling while reading that I was missing out on what I'm guessing is another cracking book. 

Back to Here One Minute and that is literally the case with 15 year old Anna - she definitely gets onto a plane, footage sees her getting off, but then she disappears into thin air from Manchester airport.  I mean with all the security at an airport how can someone just disappear. 

The writing style was fabulous. Lots of short chapters with a quick headline of sorts as to whet your appetite of just one more chapter syndrome, and these chapters were often separated into two or three sub parts all related.  It made it incredibly easy to read, and impossibly to put down. 

This was addictive, compelling and shocking and just totally brilliant. I couldn't have enjoyed it more. Just wow! 

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.