Book Review - The Brighton Mermaid by Dorothy Koomson

Amazon UK

Title:  The Brighton Mermaid

Author: Dorothy Koomson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Cornerstone Digital

Publication Date: 17th May 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Brighton Beach, 1993

Teenagers Nell and Jude find the body of a young woman and when no one comes to claim her, she becomes known as the Brighton Mermaid. Nell is still struggling to move on when, three weeks later, Jude disappears.

Twenty-five years on, Nell is forced to quit her job to find out who the Brighton Mermaid really was – and what happened to her best friend that summer.

But as Nell edges closer to the truth, dangerous things start to happen. Someone seems to be watching her every move, and soon she starts to wonder who in her life she can actually trust…

Fast-paced and thrilling, The Brighton Mermaid explores the deadly secrets of those closest to you.

I've been left reeling from this book that packs a humongous punch. The story builds steadily at first but when I sat down for the last 30% this evening, I didn't expect anything like what I read. 

It had been building to a fast paced, action packed, adrenalin fuelled finale where all those burning questions that you will have from reading the rest of the book get some answers.  I couldn't believe what I was reading and I can't tell you any more than that as it would be a huge spoiler. 

This is a book told from two viewpoints, Nell and her sister Macy.  Both of their lives changed massively in 1993, when Nell and her best friend Jude find a dead body on the beach, who is unidentified but definitely murdered. 

Shortly after that Jude disappeared and was never heard from again, and the sisters have to continue with their life, despite the directions the police investigation was going in. 

The story is told in a mix of past and present as we are brought up to date with Nell's life and why 25 years on she is obsessed with discovering the identity of the Brighton Mermaid. 

The writing is fabulous, I was drawn completely into the story and had my own thoughts as to how it would pan out and  I was wrong. I am utterly convinced that Dorothy Koomson gets better and better with every single book, and this is no exception.  My only regret is that I read it so soon after getting it so that I now probably have another years wait for another book from this superb author. 

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

Book Review - Desperately Seeking Summer by Mandy Baggot

Amazon UK

Title: Desperately Seeking Summer

Author: Mandy Baggot

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Ebury Press

Publication Date: 1st May 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Abby Dolan is having a very bad day...

In twenty-four hours, she's lost her job and her boyfriend. Single and with nothing left to lose, she's headed for a Corfu escape to spend time with her family while she heals her broken heart.

Only her mum and sister's estate agency 'Desperately Seeking' is just that, desperate! Instead of the relaxing, sunshine holiday she'd hoped for, Abby finds herself spending her break helping get the business back on its feet. Determined to attract new clients and give her family a second chance at success, she finds the perfect property to sell in Villa Pappas complete with gorgeous gardener, Theo.

Perhaps working this summer could be a welcome distraction after all. But Theo has his own secrets and Abby isn't the only thing he wants to take off the market...

I'm utterly bereft that I have come to the end of such a fabulous book it had everything you could want from your perfect summery read and more. 

There was Theo who I fell in love with, Abby and her mad family's vision for a pink estate agency in Corfu,  there is greek food, beautiful scenery, high drama, sizzling chemistry, plenty of smiles and laughs,  and so much more.  This is escapism at its best. 

I could wax lyrical all day about this book, but I fear I would bore you, so instead I will try and keep this short, and just tell you, especially if you are already a fan of Mandy Baggot to just go and buy this and read it for yourself.  It won't disappoint. 

If you have never read a book by this author before, well frankly you are missing out, but she has a fabulous back catalogue to catch up on too.  

This is a story of Abby who manages to lose her job, boyfriend and her cat all in the same day decided to spend some time with her family in Corfu, only to arrive and discover their estate agency isn't doing too well. 

So while Abby is trying to help save the family business, she comes into contact with Theo, who is using Corfu as a summer escape for himself too.  Of course there is more to Theo than there first appears, and thanks to the way the book is written we often get sections focusing on him, and thus can see beneath his amazing good looks quite early on. 

There is romance in the air in Corfu this summer and not just for Abby, and the villagers of San Sebastian are all colourful characters and I enjoyed meeting a lot of those too.  There are business rivalries, interesting ways of trying to keep the Dolan family afloat and older relationships revitalised. 

I even think I learnt a bit of Greek in this book, as occasional words are used, most of the time you could guess the meaning  from the context, and if you can't then there was a handy glossary at the back too. 

I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed spending time in Corfu with Abby, Theo and their friends and family.  This is a fantastic book to while away a hot summers day, or a cold winters one when you are wishing you are somewhere warmer!  

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

Book Review - The Wish by Alex Brown

Amazon UK

Title: The Wish

Author: Alex Brown

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: 17th May 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Sam Morgan knows he messed up with his wife Chrissie and daughter Holly – he wasn’t there when they needed him most, but now he’ll do anything to put his family back together again. Until then, he's back living in the picture-postcard village of Tindledale.

Jude Darling is coming home for good this time. She's taking over the antique shop in Tindledale, the place where she grew up and she's going to make sure she's there for her friend, Chrissie, and Goddaughter, Holly. They certainly need her right now.

As for Holly, there's only one thing she wants and it's not the sort of thing you can buy in a shop. She might be thirteen years old, but Holly still believes in wishes, and perhaps if she wishes hard enough, this one might come true…

It is always a moment of pure pleasure as you sit down to open a brand new Alex Brown book, and The Wish was no exception. If anything my anticipation had been heightened waiting two years for a new release from one of my favourite authors. 

Thankfully it soon became apparent that this was a book that was worth the wait, with its heart warming story taking in multiple generations of two families, and a brave 13 year old who just wants her parents back together by her next birthday. 

Holly was easily one my favourite characters, she is young but is coming to terms with her medical condition, which for a teenager must be tough.  Her parents Chrissie and Sam seem to argue whenever they get together, which is more frequent now that Sam has returned from working abroad.  

Sam also wants nothing more than to put his family back together again, and is determined to be a better husband and father if he is given a chance. 

Jude has also returned to Tindledale, and she is Chrissie's best friend, Holly's godmother, and  also wants her friends marriage fixed.  However Jude also ends up working for a larger than life ex-rock star who turned out to me another of my favourite characters. 

Although this is a new book set in Tindledale it can easily be read as a standalone, as all the others can too, there are some familiar faces but the heart of this book is a focus on all new characters, so there is nothing you need to catch up on. 

With moments of hilarity, some of high drama, and others tugging at your heartstrings, The Wish has everything and a is w wonderfully written book that I would have liked to keep reading for even longer. 

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

Book Review - Dreaming of St. Tropez by T.A. Williams

Amazon UK

Title: Dreaming of St. Tropez

Author: T.A. Williams

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: 7th May 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

The perfect summer escape on the French Riviera. Sun, sea and secrets…
After a disagreement with a billionaire, architect Jess Milton is ‘let go’ from her job. However fortune intervenes – an elderly client asks Jess to dog-sit overweight, but loveable dog Brutus in St. Tropez.

Fed up with the mega-rich, Jess is reluctant to visit the playground of billionaires, but an all-expenses-paid trip and the promise of sunshine seals the deal.

Little does Jess know how much time she’ll be spending with the family living in St. Tropez. The sullen, but very good-looking David and his millionaire father are both welcoming but guarded, haunted by their pasts…

Can Jess bring some sunshine back into their lives – and, just maybe, find love in the process?

I'm starting to think I must repeat myself every time I read a T.A. Williams book, between the stunning location, delicious food, great friendship and adorable dog and a gorgeous guy what more could a girl want in a book. 

Let's start with the location, St. Tropez in the French Riviera, which is every bit as glamorous as it sounds, a town filled with the rich and famous but also plenty of regular people too, which was a relief to Jess as she isn't too keen to rich people. 

Almost from the moment the girls arrive in France, you are bombarded with descriptions of the area, their home for the summer, and also all the French food, from the crumbling flaky pastries for breakfast to the arrange of fruit and veg available locally and meals out in restaurants, you certainly get the gourmet's guide to Williams' St. Tropez. 

When Jess loses her job for standing up for herself, she isn't sure what to do but a former client turns into her saviour by offering a few months in the sun, in St. Tropez looking after her dog Brutus, while she goes on a round the world cruise. Jess is allowed to invite her best friend, Hope along, and Hope has been dreaming of visiting St. Tropez for many years.   Thankfully they both like jobs and Jess is also asked to try to improve the lives of the men living in the French residence. 

David is her client's grandson, and he and his father have been having a difficult time over the past few years, and although I kind of liked the look of some of the other men floating about in St. Tropez, Jess's heart felt something towards one in particular even without being sure why. 

Brutus, what a fabulous dog, he as labradors often are one of the stars of the book, starting a an overweight dog that needs to be put on a diet, as the girls look after him more and more, he starts to act more like an active dog with plenty of energy.  Regardless throughout he is capable of getting up to hilarious mischief! 

I was enthralled from start to finish in this immensely enjoyable story of sun, sea, sand, swimming and St. Tropez. 

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

Book Review - A Year of Taking Chances by Jennifer Bohnet - Rachel Reads Randomly Book #97

Amazon UK

Title: A Year of Taking Chances

Author: Jennifer Bohnet

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 6th April 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Life is about to change forever…
When best friends, Tina and Jodie, make a drunken New Year’s Eve vow to change their lives before they hit the big 3 – 0, neither expected to end the year with much more than another hangover…

Twelve months later, Jodie is married and living in Provence – and Tina is exactly where she was a year ago (although now her rent is double). Tina can’t help but feel a little bit left behind, but as Jodie reminds her, she’s not thirty yet, there’s still time to quit her job, start her own literary agency and sign the man of her dreams!

Don’t miss the new gorgeously uplifting holiday romance from bestselling author Jennifer Bohnet.

Best friends Tina and Jodie make a pact that if their lives haven't changed by their 30th birthday's that they would move to Wales and raise alpacas and cats.  They should their agreement into the cosmos and New Years Eve to the background of fireworks. 

Well if you are wanting alpaca farming you have come to the wrong book as their lives do start to change.  The chapters alternate between Jodie now living in France, and Tina who is in London and taken in the most unlikely of lodgers. 

I loved reading about both of these ladies lives and seeing how over the course of the book that they changed.  There are huge secrets to be discovered in both their storylines, one of which made me feel really emotional. 

What I loved the most was that Tina is a literary agent, and the descriptions of the preparations for London Book Fair felt so real to me having attended this year myself. 

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and found myself whizzing through the pages.  I am a huge fan of this author and this was one of her most enjoyable.  I can't finish this review without mentioning the cover - just how gorgeous is it? Complete fits in with the story and so strikingly pretty! 

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

Thank you to everyone that voted for this this week, I can between the cover and lovely story completely understand the choice.  Let's hope I enjoy this weeks winning book as much. 

Rachel Reads Randomly - Vote #98

 

Thank you everyone for your input last time. The results of the last vote were:

4 Votes - The Last Laugh by Tracy Bloom

5 Votes - Where The Light Gets In by Lucy Dillon

12 Votes  -   A Year of Taking Chances by Jennifer Bohnet

Overwhelming winner again this week, and a great choice it was. I do always seem to enjoy Jennifer Bohnet books when I get to them and this one had been taunting me to read it from the moment I downloaded it. 

For the next few weeks we will be randomising from my review stacks, until I break for my upcoming holiday. I am including books in the pool coming out in the next few weeks as I've moved onto reading for my big summer feature that will run through mid June - mid July. 

Below is my initial theory for this feature, and then a bit further, what you are all waiting for... This weeks's vote! Enjoy!

I am also awful at deciding what book to read next, as I often have about 10 titles or authors jumping into my brain at any time, shouting at me to read them, and I tend to worry I have made the wrong decision while reading a perfectly good book. I am hoping this will save me having to make at least 1 choice a week, while possibly providing a review to the site of a book you all either love or are curious about yourselves. 

So what I am proposing, is my lovely loyal readers of Rachel's Random Reads, select one book for me to read a week, and I will post the review the following week. 

This week's random numbers are...

And the books these numbers correspond to are...

So the 3 choices with my gut feeling responses are:

4 - You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac - I loved this author when she wrote as Jane Costello and I've been eagerly looking forward to reading this from the moment I received it

5 - A Girl's Best Friend by Jules Wake -  I love everything this author tends to write and this one has just slipped through my fingers. Really want to read it! 

11 - The Little Cornish Kitchen by Jane Linfoot - I love Jane Linfoot and all of her books set in Cornwall.  And it features a kitchen, hopefully some great food descriptions in here! 

Good luck everyone, three authors that I wouldn't want to pick between as I tend to really enjoy all of their books and I've met them all in person and they are all utterly fabulous.  Can't wait to see which will win! 

And authors, if its your book up on this feature, feel free to take part, vote for yourself, or stir up excitement amongst your fans! 

Pick your favourite or the one you most want me to review, or just the one you are curious about, and leave me a comment below, before midnight on Wednesday. 

I look forward to seeing what I will be reading over the weekend, courtesy of you all. 

The explanation if you haven't seen the feature before. 

How is this going to work?

Every Monday, I am going to have a post like this, which is going to have some choices on it. I am planning on using random.org to select 7 random numbers, to coincide with my spreadsheet of unread books.  

I will from that produce a list of hopefully 5 books, I reserve the right to veto any books, and will give reasons for them, if it occurs.

I will take screenshots and post them, of the chosen books, and also give you my instinctive reactions to the choices (without checking blurbs or any other info about them, which could be interesting as there are probably many forgotten about books on my spreadsheet!). 

Your task is to post a comment on this post, with the book you would like me to read this week. At midnight on Wednesday I will take a tally of the votes and the book with the most, I will read and review for the following Monday, where you will also get a new choice post. 

In the event of a tie, I will chose which one appeals most, for the Monday review, and possibly try and read and review the other to appear when I can. 

I am hoping this will provide some variety to the books appearing, and will let me potentially read or discover some great authors that I have wanted to read but not got around to yet.

Book Review - Natural Born Readers by Victoria Connelly

Amazon UK

Title: Natural Born Readers

Author: Victoria Connelly

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Notting Hill Press

Publication Date: 26th September 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Ben Stratton and Bryony Nightingale. Everybody thought they’d be together forever. But, when Ben leaves the small market town of Castle Clare to travel the world, Bryony is heartbroken, seeing his departure as the ultimate betrayal.

Throwing herself into her work running the much-loved children’s bookshop, Bryony determines to forget Ben and to start dating again. But Ben doesn’t make it easy for her, sending her postcards filled with his love and posting her foreign editions of all the great romantic novels from the countries he’s travelling through.

Then, after six long years, the unexpected happens and Ben returns, determined to win Bryony back. But will she forgive him and does he have the courage to tell her the truth about why he left her?

I can't believe I have taken around 6 months to get around to reading the this third book in The Book Lovers series, given how much I loved the first two and how much of a book lover that I am too.   I felt right back at home in Castle Clare amongst the wonderful Nightingale family. 

If this is your first visit to this series, then not to worry as it can easily be read as as standalone as it focuses on a different member of the family to the other two, but I would recommend you go read them anyway as they are all fabulous. 

Bryony runs the Children's book shop, and has never forgotten her first love Ben, who has just returned after six years of travelling the world.  However although deep down in your hearts you know how you want the book to end, the characters seem rather obstinate, and the journey of reaching that end point is anything but smooth. 

We get to see how the rest of Bryony's family is progressing with their stories, but the storyline that I enjoyed the most was Flo and her great nephew Sonny. I loved everything about Flo and her menagerie of animals. 

If I uttered trumpets, donkeys and doctors in the same sentence while laughing at the memory  of the situation in the book, I bet you couldn't work out what I am referring to, but I can assure you when you get to that you will know just what I mean. 

There is something just so warm and cosy about the writing in this small town romance, featuring this family of book lovers that have the most marvellous multi generational sunday lunches, and all seem to look out for and love each other, and are all  delighted that Ben is back from his travels, while feeling guilty that they want to see him despite knowing that Bryony never got over him.  

I loved every moment of this heartwarming story, and at times I completely lost track of where I was while I was reading it. I was very lucky not to miss my stop and hadn't even noticed when my tube went underground!  Thoroughly enjoyable, Natural Born Readers gives hope for all bookworms that you may meet a book loving soul mate eventually.  

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

Book Review - My Big Greek Summer by Sue Roberts - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: My Big Greek Summer

Author: Sue Roberts

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 3rd May 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

A holiday can solve everything… can’t it? A hilarious, hot new summer escape about kissing your past goodbye and learning to love again…

Carefree, thirty-something Mandy thought she’d be married to first-love Danny forever. 

So when she discovers her heart-throb husband has had a fling, she realises it’s time to make some BIG changes. But what will Mandy do now she’s single for the first time in her adult life?

Determined to find her spark again, Mandy hops on a plane, ready for adventure and a second chance at happiness. Escaping to a sun-drenched Greek island, the glittering blue seas, golden beaches and delicious cocktails are exactly what she needs. 

Over one spontaneous summer, Mandy has the time of her life making new friends in a pretty little Mediterranean village by the sea. And she finds herself unexpectedly falling for a tall, dark, handsome stranger. But Mandy soon realises that even paradise has its problems…

Can a holiday romance really heal her broken heart? Or will someone in Mandy’s old life call her home again? 

I was excited the second I heard that this book existed, I was even more excited when the absolutely gorgeous and summery cover was revealed, and I was incredibly eager to start reading the second this book hit my kindle. 

In fact my level of anticipation seemed possibly too high for a book by a debut author, but I could just tell this would be something I would enjoy....

... and I'm delighted to say I was absolutely right.  From around the 25% mark onwards I found myself reading this with a huge smile on my face and wasn't able to put it down.  And yet you may think you are getting a Shirley Valentine-esque book especially when Mandy meets a Costas for herself,  or a typical beach read about a girl going on holiday, but there is far more story there and the book lasts longer than the initial holiday to Thakos, Rhodes. 

In fact for a romantic comedy the romance element for the main character was barely present, you were sort of aware of of a potential new romance, but it wasn't really in your face for the majority of the book.  There certainly was comedy though, and generally plenty of smiles and laughs to be had. 

From the moment that Mandy arrives at Liverpool airport for the flight to Greece, I found myself regretting not being on holiday myself as this is easily a fabulous poolside read. 

With lashings of sun, greek men, delicious greek food, and an idea of an event that would bring much needed income to the villagers in Thakos, My Big Greek Summer has everything you could want from a summer read and I am already looking forward to seeing what this author writes next. 

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

Please follow along with the rest of the blog tour for this fabulous book

Book Review - A Talent Show In Cornwall by Laura Briggs

Amazon UK

Title: A Talent Show in Cornwall

Author: Laura Briggs

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 7th March 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

When things fall into a rut in Ceffylgwyn, Julianne's friends Rosie and Lorrie find the answer in a talent show inspired by the upcoming auditions for the star-making reality program Fame Factor. When the number of secretly-aspiring stars from the surrounding villages proves bigger than any of them dreamed, the two of them quickly enlist Julianne's help with the project, so she calls upon the one person she can rely on to help them pull it off — her former assistant Kitty, now back in England and willing to use her skills to help organize a three-night event from a chaotic mess to a possible chance at stardom for the winning contestant.

Meanwhile, Gemma's broken heart and semi-abandoned novel manuscript have Julianne worried about her friend ... or make that two of them, when Michael the chef impulsively involves himself in the drama. Kitty's locked in conflict with her family,who have only just now learned about her engagement to Nathan a year ago. And a conviction that she's finally growing older and losing her youthful zeal has Julianne worried about her future as Cliffs House's enthusiastic event planner — and her attempts to recover a little of her old self sparks worries in Matt's mind in return. 

Will Julianne find the energy to fill the demanding role in life she's always loved? Will Kitty escape her mother's wrath — and Gemma escape deleting her life's secret ambition? Book Ten is full of romances, decisions, dreams, and surprises for Julianne, Matt, and all of their friends.

How can it be book 10 in this wonderful series already? I loved the talent show aspect of this book, with one round of auditions plus two main competition evenings, it was like a mini X-Factor although the judging was rather more private and nowhere near as caustic. 

With this book we get a few returning characters from earlier in the series, and it was really nice to catch up with some familiar faces.  However the biggest puzzle of all is what was going on with Julianne, who seemed to have lost her spark in this book. 

I had my suspicions weirdly before I even started reading as I was wondering if a character was going to have that as her next big story line, and lets just say my sneaking suspicion made more and more sense as I read the book which gave me a great sense of satisfaction. 

This book though isn't all about Julianne, it features other hints of romances for a few other characters, but it was the introduction of young Cliffs House worker who is normally very shy, and her story with the talent show that I really enjoyed. 

This is another great addition to this series and I'm already highly curious as to how the last two books will pan out. 

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

Book Review - The Little Wedding Island by Jaimie Admans

Amazon UK

Title: The Little Wedding Island

Author: Jaimie Admans

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 2nd March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

‘Will you… pretend to marry me?’

Bonnie Haskett loves everything about weddings. She loves her job at a national bridal magazine and even has a deposit down on her dream dress. The only problem? She doesn’t have a fiancé!

So when Bonnie is sent to Edelweiss Island, known as ‘The Little Wedding Island’, it’s a dream come true. She’s heard the rumours, every wedding that takes place in the tiny chapel ends in a happy-ever-after.

But there’s a catch! Investigating the story, Bonnie needs to pose as a blushing bride – and the only man up for posing as her groom is her arch rival (and far too handsome for his own good) journalist Rohan Carter…

It's been a while since I had a good book boyfriend, someone that I enjoyed reading about and wishing that they were all mine. But in Rohan I got exactly that, from the first in person meeting between him and Bonnie I could sense he was rather special 

Of course it isn't all smooth sailing as his first time he actually came across Bonnie was on twitter, and the best way I can describe him was an idiot, and after having a huge public row with someone online it is that bit harder to try and get the person to like you afterwards. 

Bonnie is the ultimate believer in true love and she loves weddings. Rohan is a complete skeptic but after their twitter row they are both sent to get a story about a small island often called The Little Wedding Island, although its real name of Edelweiss Island sums up how pretty it really is. 

From the moment they stepped foot on the island you could tell it was a magical sort of place, where everyone believe in fate and marriage. 

You won't believe the lengths our pair of opposites go to to try to get the story about the island that hates reporters.  You may believe though in love at first sight and love being blind, both of which may become key to the story. 

The island is picturesque and has such wonderful locals on it, I would have loved it to be real to visit for myself. Between the pretty descriptions of everything on the island, to the sarcastic asides that Rohan makes on a frequent basis, to the sheer optimism radiating from Bonnie,  you have a fabulous mix of characters and location for this wonderfully charming story. 

This is the second book I have read from this author, and second book I have utterly adored,  I really need to make sure I read her next one as soon as it comes out.  This is story that brings pure escapism and joy to its readers and had me believing in true love and beautiful, secretive wedding locations. 

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