Book Review - The Dilemma by B. A. Paris - #HolidayReading Mexico

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Amazon UK

Title:  The Dilemma

Author: B. A. Paris

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 9th January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad she won’t be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? But she’s so happy, so excited – and the guests are about to arrive.

The Dilemma – how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness?

And what a dilemma it is.  I honestly don't know what I'd do in either Adam or Livia's position. 

Would you be able to put your own feelings aside,  your own upset aside to allow your partner a few more hours of blissful ignorance?

Livia had been planning her big 40th birthday party for many years.  But in some ways she is dreading it, because of what she knows but hasn't done anything with the info of yet. 

Equally on the day of the party Adam hears some life changing news but has to decide when the right time to reveal it is. 

This is a very tightly plotted,  incredibly compelling story that had me absorbed and oblivious to the world around me.

It is heartbreaking, I'll admit I didn't cry but can imagine many will,  as we see hour by hour the day of the party from both viewpoints.

At first you have no clue what is being hidden other than its big stuff, and as everything is slowly revealed I found myself gasping and almost audibly swearing. 

I've been a fan of this authors's books from her first one, and although this is a change of direction for her, it is still as wonderful as ever.

Thought provoking,  addictive and fabulous.

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

Book Review - Bring Me Back by B A Paris

Amazon UK

Title: Bring Me Back

Author: B A Paris

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: HQ

Publication Date: 8th March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

The Disappearance
Twelve years ago Finn’s girlfriend disappeared.

The Suspicion
He told the police the truth about that night.
Just not quite the whole truth.

The Fear
Now Finn has moved on.
But his past won’t stay buried…

Having loved B A Paris' previous two books, I was eagerly anticipating this one, and wondered if it could compare.  Let's just say it took me around 3 hours to read the whole book in one sitting, and although I didn't particularly think I was gripped, I didn't want to put the book down! 

I didn't really have too many theories as I was reading this, so the ultimate ending took my completely by surprised, definitely not what I would have predicted.   I am starting to feel that the one thing you can count on from a book by this author is you to have no idea what the twist is going to be, as they always take my by surprise. 

The main protagonist is Finn, and from the start we know that he had hid something about the night his girlfriend disappeared 12 years ago. Slowly we get a picture of his life now, and also in flashback short chapters, all the details of Finn's relationship with Layla and just what happened that night. 

We also have at least one other viewpoint which added a great deal to this fabulous book.  It certainly is a story that keeps you in suspense, and its amazing how significant even the smallest thing can be. 

I was racing through the pages as I wanted to find out the truth,  and thoroughly enjoyed the journey the author took me on.  Another fantastic book from her, although I think prefer the previous ones more. 

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

Welcome to my Paris Weekend & Giveaway

You may have seen me on twitter, talking about my Paris Weekend, you may not have. 

Well its now here, and its four days dedicated to the City of Love, Paris. 

Now I wish I had a blog travel budget, and could have headed off to Paris for the weekend, but since its Valentines Day on Sunday, I suspect the prices are a bit out of my price range, so instead, sit back, relax and enjoy a trip to Paris, through the pages of fiction.

I have got a few lovely authors popping by over the next few days to talk about Paris, I have a few giveaways, and some reviews of books, that have some sort of Paris connection, whether its because the book is set there, or because just the prologue is in one case!

I've been to Paris a few times, the most notable of which was the Year 10 (aged 15) school trip. We stayed with a host family, and each day went to see the sights. I loved having my portrait done at Monmatre, going up the Eiffel Tower, and being allowed 1 hour on the Champs Elysee to shop, despite the costs of everything being out of reach of the average school girl. It was a lovely trip and I recall that whenever we were finished with the site, we were allowed free time in the local area until it was time to get back on the coach, so a lot of us generally looked at the tourist attraction, went around it, and then went to the nearest shops. It was a overall a fabulous school trip and has led to a love of Paris. 

Overall I really hope you enjoy your trip to Paris with Rachel's Random Reads, and feel free to share with me your favourite Parisian books and sights. 

And to kick things off, the wonderful B.A. Paris (see what I did there!), has donated a signed copy of the unputdownable Behind Closed Doors to one lucky winner (open internationally). 

Giveaway to win a signed copy of Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris (Open INT)

Thank you to B.A. Paris for this fabulous giveaway prize. If you are unsure whether you would like to read this, then please do look at my review which was posted yesterday, as that may give you a clue just how amazing this book is. 

Giveaway open internationally, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 19/2/2016. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: Behind Closed Doors

Author: B A Paris

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: MIRA

Publication Date: 11th February 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do.
You’d like to get to know Grace better.
But it’s difficult, because you realise Jack and Grace are never apart.
Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.

Sometimes, the perfect marriage is the perfect lie.

Every now and then you will come across a book that is so brilliant, that you can only predict its going to be one of the books of the year. With Behind Closed Doors, I am certain that it will be featuring in everyone's top books of 2016 lists, by December, and definitely toppings lists for psychological thrillers. 

The story alternates between the present and the past, with the gap between them closing continually. The past deals with how Jack and Grace met, and their early relationship, and their marriage. The present deals with Grace's current state of mind, and what she is thinking trying to deal with the reality of her situation. 

To the outside world, Jack and Grace's marriage is perfect. Jack is so besotted by Grace, they are never apart,  he accompanies her everywhere. Grace appears to lead a pleasant life of leisure, with all the time in the world to pursue her hobbies.  However public perceptions are often completely different to the reality. And let's face it, who really knows what goes on in a marriage, behind closed doors. 

From the first few pages, you sense something isn't quite right in the marriage, and its that feeling that keeps you reading, turning page after and page. I read Behind Closed Doors, in under 4 hours, not putting it down once. It has been ages since I was that engrossed in a story, that I wouldn't have known what was going on around me, while I reading it. 

Jack's personality intrigued me, especially after hearing what it was that made him the way he is, but equally he completely disgusted me. I was completely on Grace's side and was really rooting for her. 

Obviously if I was to mention anything else about the plot I may be sharing spoilers, so believe me when I say this is definitely a story worth reading. It is filled with ups and downs, and I truly hope that this was based on BA Paris's imagination, and not based on any real case studies. 

Behind Close Doors is incredibly well written, and B A Paris has written a superb debut, that will stay with you for a long while. Plenty to think about during the story, and I suspect this could be a good selection for book groups too. 

Thank you so much to MIRA and Netgalley for this review copy. This is my honest opinion.

Happy publication day to B A Paris. Behind Closed Doors is out now. 

About B.A. Paris

B A Paris is from a Franco/Irish background. She was brought up in England and moved to France where she spent some years working as a trader in an international bank before re-training as a teacher and setting up a language school with her husband. They still live in France and have five daughters. Behind Closed Doors is her first novel. 

You can follow BA Paris on Twitter

Please do check back over the weekend as B.A. Paris has signed a copy of Behind Closed Doors to win, over my Paris weekend starting tomorrow.