Book Review - Tremarnock Summer by Emma Burstall - #HolidayReading Book 18

Book 18 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: Tremarnock Summer

Author: Emma Burstall

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Head of Zeus 

Publication Date: 30th May 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Bramble Challoner has had a very normal upbringing. She lives in a semi in the suburbs of London with her parents and works at the call centre down the road. She still goes out with the boy she met at school. At weekends they stay in and watch films on the telly and sometimes hold hands. Bramble is dying for an adventure.

So when her very grand grandfather, Lord Penrose, dies, leaving his huge, rambling house in Cornwall to her, Bramble packs her bags immediately, dragging along her best friend Katie. The sleepy village of Tremarnock had better be ready for its newest residents...

Really enjoyed this latest installment in the Tremarnock series. With it is the introduction of many new characters including Bramble and Katie who are moving to Cornwall from London. 

I liked seeing how Bramble would react to suddenly having  a whole manor house as her disposal, and the housekeeper was rather a surprise. 

I loved the variety of recurring characters in Tremarnock and always love seeing more from Liz and her family who are still by far my favourites. 

I found parts of Brambles story slightly on the predictable side, although there were elements that had me gasping out loud, and the ending did surprise me a bit too. 

This could easily be read as a standalone book, but since the others in the series are so good Iwould recommend those too!

Already very excited to learn there will be  a book 4 for this series, and can't wait to read it. 

Thank you so much to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Character profile for the novel “When I grow up” by Patricia Asedegbega - Blog Tour

The plot of my novel centers around a law firm and it was really interesting creating both the main and secondary characters and interweaving their very different personalities. I tried to reflect in them the different subjects one can find in a competitive office environment and I hope the roles they play are fundamental to making the book an interesting read.

On the one hand were the lawyers: A group of five ruthless sharks, accustomed to always getting their way and not really caring who gets trampled on the way to success.  An elite team surprisingly led by playboy Alejandro that has taken the firm to the next level. From the cold as ice Alicia to the constantly distracted Alfredo, shaping each of them into three dimensional characters was an essential part of the writing process. Period Dramas have always fascinated me, particularly the class difference and how everyone was expected to assume and maintain a particular role in society, never crossing the imaginary lines established. But I find that this also exists in the 21^st century (even in normal working environments).I tried to reproduce the palpable distance between the bosses and their secretaries in this novel as I found it fundamental to the plot.

The secretaries:

Behind every reputable law firm, there is always a group of long suffering secretaries and other staff members that have over the years figuratively walked over hot coals to prove themselves indispensable to their bosses. In some cases…walking over burning coal is not enough as their efforts are never appreciated. But like every real life office ambience, not every friendship is real and what should be a firm alliance against the tyranny of bosses might not be as airtight as it seems. The secretaries live in a different world from their bosses… in “When I grow up…”, sometimes those secretaries are trying to balance the thin line between tolerance and intense dislike, but each with different personal situations that determine their actions or how indispensable the job post is to them (and the sacrifices they are willing to make).

The secretaries make it a point of duty to meet up daily for tea brakes and a bit of gossip,  those precious stolen moments help them get through what would have otherwise been an extremely tiresome working week. Aside from building a strong communication channel that keeps them abreast of all the affairs of the company, ensuring they are always one step ahead of the needs of their ever demanding bosses, Oscar, Emma, Amparo, Carmen and Alicia mirror the lives of a lot of stressed personal assistants that are not meant to be seen or heard, until one faithful day…

"You need a plan B," said Alicia’s mother when at five years old she told her what she wanted to be when she grew up. Thirty odd years later, Alicia is on plan D: sharing a flat, no tangible savings, and working for hateful Julia, whose sole purpose in life is to make her existence utterly miserable. Good thing she has Oscar and the girls to make the long hours at work bearable. But when a series of events tears the close-knit group apart, putting friendships and motives under suspicion, will Alicia be able to restore balance and set things right? More importantly, will she ever be able to upgrade her life to at least plan C?

Purchase from Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Author of I stand corrected, When I grow up..., Rewind, Balou uncensored, Bienvenidos a gatos anónimos, Pasarse cuatro Pueblos and Sesenta segundos dan para mucho, Patricia Asedegbega Nieto was born to a Spanish mother and a Nigerian father in Madrid. As a child, she relocated with her family to Nigeria and later returned to Spain, where she acquired her BSc and master´s degree. She is currently living near Madrid with her family and her very stubborn cat, Merlin Mojito.

http://www.patriciascorner.co.uk/

Twitter @Patricias_Place

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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.  

Book Review - Our Summer Together by Fanny Blake - #HolidayReading 17

Book 17 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: Our Summer Together

Author: Fanny Blake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 13th July 2017 

Rating: 4 Stars

Caro knows how to be a mother - advising her grown-up daughters on career and relationship worries. She knows how to be a grandmother - enjoying the hectic energy of her three-year-old grandson. She knows how to be a daughter - helping her aging mother retain her independence.

She thought she knew everything about being a wife, but when her husband suddenly leaves her for another woman, everything is thrown in the air. So, when a chance meeting introduces her to Damir - younger, intriguing and attentive - she realises that opening up to a man so different from everyone else in her life, might also mean getting to know who she really is...

Great story about finding love in your later years of your life, whether it will last forever or just one summer. 

Really enjoyed this story, which was well written, and evidently really well researched given the background for Damir. 

I wasn't too keen on the rather selfish grown up daughters, but could understand why they were behaving like they were, 

This is just a really sweet story that I wish I had read when I wasn't feeling very ill, and thus may have enjoyed even more. 

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

Book Review - Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh

Amazon UK

Title: Let Me Lie

Author: Clare Mackintosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 8th March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

The police say it was suicide.
Anna says it was murder.
They're both wrong.

One year ago, Caroline Johnson chose to end her life brutally: a shocking suicide planned to match that of her husband just months before. Their daughter, Anna, has struggled to come to terms with their loss ever since.
Now with a young baby of her own, Anna misses her mother more than ever and starts to ask questions about her parents' deaths. But by digging up the past, is she putting her future in danger? Sometimes it's safer to let things lie . . .

The stunning, twisty new psychological thriller from number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh, author of I LET YOU GO and I SEE YOU.

Actually reeling from how shocked I am by the way this book turned out, during most of the first part I had an inkling, and I was close but so so far wrong as to the truth, that I couldn't quite believe what I ws reading. 

I found the first part of the book interesting but not overly gripping, but by the time we moved into the second and third parts, I was open mouthed and couldn't turn the pages fast enough as I was so hooked on the action. 

There are multiple perspectives in this book, Anna who is starting to question whether her parents really did commit suicide last year, or if they were murdered, the policeman who is humouring Anna's insistence to re look at the case and that has his own problems at home.  Then there is the other voice for small chapters and that is where you get a very interesting perspective on the story. 

There are many big themes that are explored in this book that are written about incredibly well, and I can't really mention them but this just makes Let Me Lie so much better.  

I have no idea how Claire Mackintosh keeps producing such impressive stories, but I am already keen to see what is next.  Once I was fully enthralled and gripped by the story, I completely lost track of the world around me until I was finished.   Absolutely loved it! 

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

Book Review - Reality Blurred by Aven Ellis

Amazon UK

Title: Reality Blurred

Author: Aven Ellis

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 14th February 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

He lied to her. Fed her the same lines as he did all the other girls. Instead of proposing, he dumped her on national TV. 
Would a romance with a hockey superstar prove just as disastrous—or could it be the greatest love story of her life? 

Cast as America’s reality show sweetheart after being jilted on a dating show, Skye Reeve is ready to stop being a brokenhearted woman by proving she’s more than what the camera portrayed her to be. She’s landed her dream job as a TV lifestyle reporter and promises to work hard to be a success. 

Skye also vows never to be swept up in a fairy tale romance ever again, as she obviously has no clue what real love is.

Being in the same city as Denver Mountain Lions hockey star Maxime Laurent, however, might make this last goal impossible. 
Dealing with ghosts from his own past, the Belgian hockey star is known for keeping his life off the ice private. He’s not sure if outgoing Skye could be a match for him, but he can’t deny his attraction to her.

When the two embark on a romance, will they be able to move forward from the past to let love into their hearts? With no reality blurred, will Skye find real-life love to be what she had been looking for all along?

If you have ever read an Aven Ellis book then you will absolutely love this one, it has all the hallmarks of her regular books:

Sweet girl who thinks something is wrong with her
Gorgeous ice hockey player  who probably has some baggage of his own 
Some great friendships 
A whirlwind romance where the reader falls in love with the hero possibly before the heroine 
A smattering of Ice-Hockey 
Fabulous chemistry between the two leads 
Hints at who may be the next male lead in the next book in the series - in this case I have two men in mind, so look forward to both of their stories. 
No need to have read the previous book in the series as its 
Quick and easy to read
Pure escapism

Well Reality Blurred definitely had all of that and its what as always added to the books charms.  

What I really did love was Skye's story and the commentary on how so called reality tv, is more like reality blurred, with scripts, and nothing being quite as it appeared. I loved the insider knowledge as to how the show she starred in was dealt with, and despite feeling she was a bit naive at the level of press attention, did feel sorry for her at the same time. 

Maxime Laurent is a typical Ellis male lead, I was hooked on him very early on and really enjoyed seeing just how non jockish he is in his personal life. I loved the couple's messages on connectivity, and also really loved the animals featured in this story too. 

IF you have never read an Aven Ellis romance then you are missing out,  this one as I have come to expect from her is incredibly enjoyable and I quite happily lost myself in their relationship. 

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

Book Review - Love Among The Treetops by Catherine Ferguson

Amazon UK

Title: Love Among The Treetops

Author: Catherine Ferguson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 8th March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Can love flourish amongst the tree tops?

When pastry chef Twilight Wilson was a young girl, she would hide from school bullies up in the treehouse at the bottom of her garden in her family home in Sussex. It was her special place, and even as an adult she still loves it.

So when her family tell her they can’t afford to live there any more, Twilight is devastated. Not only will they lose their home – but the treehouse too!

She comes up with a plan to save the family home – she’ll start up a cafe in the treehouse! It’s a brilliant idea, and excitement builds as she starts planning the menus, with the help of Theo – a rather attractive man from the gym. But when former school bully Lucy finds out the plan, she starts plotting – and opens her own rival cafe in the village!

Can Twilight save her family home? Will her friendship with Theo ever be anything more? And who will win the cafe wars?

Wonderfully heartwarming story full of cake, treehouses, a hint of romance and a bitter rivalry that was a joy to read. 

Twilight (what a fabulous name) has moved back to her family home to set up the Twilight Cafe in a hope of earning enough money to keep the house from having to be sold. Her parents are in London, while her dad has an experimental medical treatment, so Twilight is determined to help out. 

What she hadn't counted on was her old childhood bully apparently still hating her as an adult, and the series of instances made me absolutely hate Lucy with a passion.  She is a nightmare of a woman,  very petty and seems determined to go all out to ruin Twilight. 

There is cafe rivalry in a small town,  until Twilight hits on the potential unique selling point of her own cafe, from which well I loved hearing all about it. 

There are assorted tough subjects dealt with and some of the main themes are bullying and how it doesn't stop in childhood, and also Paloma's (Twilight's best friend) search for family. 

There are so many cakes and scones baked in this book that I was starting to get really peckish reading this, and i loved all the various characters.  Some fabulous storylines about friendship and just generally a warm and loving feeling from the book.  

I always enjoy this author and this was no exception, another highly enjoyable story that I was hooked on. 

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

Book Review - Out of Practice by Phoebe Fox - #HolidayReading Book 16

Book 16 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: Out of Practice

Author: Phoebe Fox

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied review copy

Publisher: Henery Press

Publication Date: 18th October 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

When your relationship is on life support, the Breakup Doctor is on call.

There’s no shortage of broken hearts in Breakup Doctor Brook Ogden’s successful breakup counseling practice—if love is a battlefield, then Brook is the cavalry. Luckily her own love life is in full recovery: after a long, tortuous road, she and Ben Garrett are finally headed down the aisle.

But when a local TV personality—and former frenemy—invites Brook onto her show, she’s blindsided live on the air when the interview turns into an act of long-delayed revenge meant to publicly humiliate her. Brook’s an expert at getting back on your feet when life knocks you down, but as the blows keep piling on—with a betrayal she never saw coming and a family crisis that threatens to pull the foundation out from under her—her confidence starts slinking away. With her clients dropping her faster than a one-night stand, suddenly the Breakup Doctor’s career is in critical care.

Brimming with both the sublime and ridiculous aspects of love—romantic and otherwise—Out of Practice is a funny and heartwarming tale about loss, grief, and failure that will resonate with all who have loved, lost…and dared to love again.

Related subjects include: book club recommendations, dating advice, women’s friendship and sisterhood, humorous fiction, women’s fiction, chick lit romantic comedy, rom com, funny romance.

Highly enjoyable final book n the Breakup Doctor series.  

Despite it having been absolutely ages since I read book 3, it really didn't take long for me to feel right at home again with all the characters in book 4. 

I loved seeing the recurring characters and patients, and seeing what predicaments Brooke was able to get herself into this time. 

Hilarious in places, and full of great advice for getting over  a broken heart in others, this was a fabulous way to end a series that I have really enjoyed from start to finish,

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

Book Review - Coming Home by Fern Britton - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: Coming Home

Author: Fern Britton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 22nd February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

When the only place you want to be is home…

When Ella’s beloved grandmother dies, she comes back to the beautiful Cornish coast to heal her heart. There she finds her home again and discovers a new life, and new love … But she also opens a treasure trove of secrets.

Sennen left Cornwall a young single mum but unable to cope. She left her children, her family and part of her. She’s spent the years hiding from her past, hiding from herself.

Now it’s time to come back. To Cornwall. To face her mistakes. To pray for forgiveness. To hope for a future with her daughter.

Pendruggan: A Cornish village with secrets at its heart

What a wonderful and moving story, spanning three generations of one family, and I was privileged to learn all of their stories.  I was also delighted to see this book was focused on Ella's story, which I had been wanting to know more about since I finished The Postcard. 

Although this is another book set in Pendruggan, and I did love my return to Trevay, this is definitely a standalone book, and the few recurring characters that were present really were there in a minor way this time around. 

Ella was just a baby, and Henry two years old when their mother, Sennen who was 17 at the time, walked out on her children, leaving them to be brought up by her parents. 

Fast forward to now and Ella and Henry are grown up, and have mixed feelings towards the mum the barely remember or knew. However things are about to come to a head, when she returns to Cornwall. 

Over the course of the book we learn a lot about Adela and William's relationship, and what Sennen was like as a child.  We see what Sennen has been doing from when she ran away, and also what her children are doing in the present. 

The time line floats about between the various elements and after a while I got used to never being quite sure what the next chapter would bring or who the focus would be on.  

I loved hearing about all the various stories involved, although Henry really didn't come off that well, I can understand his anger.  I loved getting to know Ella and Kit a lot better and the situation with Sennen had me gripped at all times. 

This is heart warming, slightly emotional, full of love and family ties, and really is a fabulous book that I adored reading.  Easily one of my favourite Fern Britton books to date. 

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

Please follow along with the rest of the blogs on this blog tour. 

Book Review - Vicky and Lizzie's First Period by Andrew Mackay

Amazon UK

Title: Vicky and Lizzie's First Period

Author: Andrew Mackay 

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Chrome Valley Books

Publication Date: 14th February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Bloody Hell!

All together now...

There were two girls called Vicky & Lizzie
Who kept their high school busy
Causing trouble and mirth
For all they were worth
Sending teachers right into a tizzy

They kicked-off a false, nasty rumour
Saying one of the staff was a groomer
For everyone knows
Gossip grows and explodes
But the school didn't quite see the humour

Would Vicky & Lizzie regret
The damage they caused? Nah, not yet
Scheming, conniving
The girls kept on vying
Their dangerous precedent set

Vicky & Lizzie delivered a blitz
Their school reached the end of its wits
Did they care? Did they f**k
They were common as muck
Those nasty, vindictive young s#!ts

Now, this might cause upset and uproar
It's a musical satire, what's more
For the first time ever
We promise you've never
Read anything like this before

So pick up your copy today
Of a story about which you will say
That I wanted to barf
But so hard I did laugh
Vicky & Lizzie have just made my day!

Before I comment on the book itself, may I just point your attention to the really cool blurb. It is not often you see a blurb written in limerick, but it really does set the tone for this book, as its a satirical musical comedy, and the characters really do keep bursting into song and dance numbers. 

This is easily one of the most bizarre, quirky but fun books I have ever read, and I have a feeling I really do want to read the next book in the Chrome Junction Academy series. This was surprisingly for me a rather quick book to read, and I really enjoyed seeing what would happen next. 

For what started as a regular week in the life of two twelve year old girls who spend their days at school, it very quickly turned into a week I doubt they would ever forget, and not for good reasons.  I can't tell you what happens as you wouldn't believe me if I did. 

This is not a book for the easily offended, if you only want a book that is in good taste, no profanity and all happy and smiley then this won't be for you. If on the other hand you are open minded, like a laugh and take everything at face value and with a pinch of salt, like I did, then you may really enjoy this book. 

The best way I can describe this book is the comedy level of South Park, I don't always find it funny but something keeps me watching, and that same in this book. At points I did feel very ill at some of the scenes, and I'd like to call Vicky and Lizzie all manner of bad words, but yet there was something believable with all the characters in the school, and there was something that kept me reading. 

I also liked that there were references in this book to the authors other books, and the author himself made a cameo of sorts in the book, although if you haven't looked at his back catalogue titles you may not even realise.  Equally I spotted a joke in there about his next book which isn't out yet, which also really made me smile. 

As I said above this is a musical comedy, and I could really picture the students breaking off from what they were doing and having these big song and dance numbers in a rude version of High School Musical. In fact half of me would have loved a soundtrack, the other half would love to see this on the stage, think it would really attract a fabulous audience that way.  Some of the songs you will recognise, others I believe are new to the book but you sort of got a feel for the rhythm of the lyrics if not the tune. 

Please don't look at the title and be put off by the mention of periods,  they are poked fun of, but this isn't a teenage angst book, and there is plenty more in the book too, assorted topics that the mickey is taken from. 

This book is as far from politically correct as you can get, and I think because of that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I may not be 100% about the ins and outs of what good satire is, but this was a book that the way I read it, as an amusing story really worked for me. 

This may be the first book I have read by Andrew Mackay but I have a feeling it won't be the last. 

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