Book Review - Summer Island by Natalie Normann

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Title: Summer Island

Author: Natalie Normann

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 24th June 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

He never meant to stay.
He certainly never meant to fall in love…

Summer Island off the coast of Norway was the place London chef Jack Greene should have been from. He’s an outsider in the community that should have been his family, and now he’s setting foot on the strange land he has inherited for the first time.

Ninni Toft, his nearest neighbour, has come to the island to mend her broken heart. With her wild spirit and irrepressible enthusiasm, she shows city-boy Jack the simple pleasures of island life – and what it means to belong. To a place. To a people. To one person in particular…

Home is where the heart is, but is Jack’s heart with the career he left behind in London, or on the wind-swept shores of Summer Island, with Ninni?

It is really refreshing to read a nice summery book, set not in France, Greece, Spain etc... but in Norway.  It's not a setting I've come across much although it is a place I'd love to visit in real life.  

So was delighted to be able to get to know Summer Island, a Norwegian island, and its inhabitants over the course of this book.  In particular Ninni who's heart lays on Summer Island even if she doesn't live their full time, and Jack, the Englishman who has just discovered he has inherited a farm on the Island and is visiting for the first time. 

Seeing the island through Jack's eyes is wonderful, we get to see various Norwegian traditions, and also the local customs, odd words of Norwegian and it was fascinating to see what Jack, a chef made of all the local food. 

Then there is Ninni who is trying to recover from her latest heartbreak and really doesn't know what to make of her new neighbour, who really knows nothing about life on a Norwegian island.  I enjoyed seeing them both get to know each other better. 

This was an incredibly relaxing read, the pace of life on the island is rather slow, and it was an enjoyable but gentle story that I was able to really enjoy.  

This may be the author's first book, but it certainly won't be the last one I read by her.  Lovely writing style and I'd love to hopefully read more books set in Norway. 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Please follow along with all the rest of this blog tour 

Book Review - Coming Home to Heritage Cove by Helen J Rolfe

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Title: Coming Home to Heritage Cove

Author: Helen J Rolfe

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 6th June 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Welcome to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship, and the perfect place to fall in love this summer…

Melissa rushes back to Heritage Cove when Barney, the man who’s been like a father figure to her since she was a little girl, ends up in hospital. After an absence of five years, her return isn’t going to be easy, especially when she bumps into Harvey, the love of her life and the man she’s never been able to forget.

For reasons he couldn't explain at the time, Harvey changed his mind about going with Melissa to start afresh as they'd planned, and life moved on for the both of them. But with Melissa back in the village and determined to stick around to help Barney, they can't avoid each other forever. Melissa knows she let so many people down by staying away for so long, but she and Harvey blame each other for what happened and neither of them is willing to admit to being in the wrong.

When Barney insists on cancelling the Wedding Dress Ball, the charity fundraiser he holds every year in the stunning barn on his property, Melissa and Harvey realise they’re going to have to pull together. Otherwise the man they once knew might be gone forever. And when they unearth a secret Barney has never shared with anyone, they go in search of answers to not only ensure the ball runs this summer, but to bring back the Barney they know and love.

Back in the cove after all this time, Melissa gets to see the life she left behind and it’s time to deal with what it was that drove her away in the first place.

Beneath the summer sunshine in Heritage Cove, the sea sparkles, the heat rises and new love, reconciliations and the answers to an old love story could bring changes for everyone.

What a delightful story this is. 

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the residents of Heritage Cove, especially Barney, the reason that Melissa has returned to the cover after 5 years away. 

Barney is like a surrogate father figure for her, and to hear he has been in hospital with a fall is enough to make Melissa face her demons and come and see him.  Of course the person who got in touch with her, was Harvey, the person she has been trying to put out of her mind completely for five years. 

Yes, Harvey is the ex, who let her down in a big way, but yet they are the closest people to Barney, and realise they will have to at least get on, in order to help Barney recover and also put on this years Wedding Dress Ball. 

Seeing Melissa reconnect with people, win others over, and seeing just how her feelings develop and change over the course of the book is really enjoyable.  As is Harvey's canine companion Winnie, who is a fabulous dog and really well written. 

This is a really relaxing story to read, one to curl up with after a long hard day, and know you are just going to be treated to a cosy atmosphere, realistic characters that you will come to care for, and just a all around enjoyable story. 

I just hope this isn't the last we will see of Heritage Cove, as it's a setting I'd love to see a lot more from. 

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

Book Review - Sunny Days and Sea Breezes by Carole Matthews

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Title: Sunny Days and Sea Breezes

Author: Carole Matthews

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 25th June 2020 

Rating: 5 Stars

Jodie Jackson is all at sea, in every sense.

On a ferry bound for the Isle of Wight, she's leaving her London life, her career, and her husband behind. She'd like a chance to turn back the clocks, but she'll settle for some peace and quiet on her brother Bill's beautifully renovated houseboat, Sunny Days.

But from the moment Jodie steps aboard her new home, it's clear she'll struggle to keep herself to herself. If it isn't Marilyn, who cleans for Bill and is under strict instructions to look after Jodie, then it's Ned, the noisy sculptor on the next-door houseboat. Ned's wood carving is hard on the ears, but it's made up for by the fact that he's rather easy on the eyes.

Bustled out of the boat by Marilyn and encouraged to explore with Ned, Jodie soon delights in her newfound freedom. But out of mind isn't out of sight, and when her old life comes knocking Jodie is forced to face reality. Will she answer the call or choose a life filled with Sunny Days and Sea Breezes?

It is always a wonderful feeling to be able to sit down with a new Carole Matthews book, and it took less then the first chapter to be intrigued and keen to see just why Jodie is on a ferry across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. 

Strangely with the books I read I don't tend to see the Isle of Wight as a location, so this made a pleasant change, and reminded me of a childhood holiday to the island. 

Again it's not often I get to read a book where houseboats are featured, so this too made this story feel quite refreshingly different, and the people Jodie meets despite her quest for peace and quiet are fabulous. 

We have Marilyn who is larger than life, speaks common phrases wrongly, full of colour and one of life's nurturers who has been asked to come in and check on Jodie and clean each day, by Jodie's brother Bill, whose boat it is.   

Then there is next door neighbour Ned, who is a sculptor of wood with a chainsaw - so clearly what someone wanting peace needs.  Yet Ned is one of my favourite characters and you will see why rather quickly! 

Then there is the living statue George who always managed to raise a smile and Ida the owner of the local cafe.  Between them they somehow get under Jodie's skin and become friends and get her to change in various ways. 

I loved the day trip to Alum Bay and the Needles, it reminded me of long forgotten memories of my trip there all those years ago, even down to the coloured sand being put into moulds and trying to get the lines neat! 

There is just such a warm vibe to this book, it really hit all the right notes with me, in these troubled times. It took me away from real life and I loved my time spent between the pages.  

It is Carole Matthews at her best, with a fabulous story, some nice directions it turns into, and just a great feel to the whole story. 

Thanks to Sphere and Netgalley and this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Title: The Perfect Couple

Author: Jackie Kabler

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 25th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

The perfect couple…or the perfect lie?
A year and a half ago, Gemma met the love of her life, Danny. Since then, their relationship has been like something out of a dream. But one Friday evening, Gemma returns home to find Danny is nowhere to be seen.

After two days with no word from her husband, Gemma turns to the police. She is horrified by what she discovers – a serial killer is on the loose in Bristol. When she sees the photos of the victims she is even more stunned…they all look just like Danny.

But, the police aren’t convinced by Gemma’s story. Why has no one apart from Gemma seen or heard from Danny in weeks? Why is there barely a trace of him in their flat? Is she telling them the truth, or are there more secrets and lies in this marriage than meets the eye?

Jackie Kabler is going from strength to strength with each book she writes. 

This is a story that kept throwing in mini OMG hooks to keep you turning the pages, and has me second guessing everything. 

In fact the book is written from two perspectives, Gemma who is reporting her husband missing, and the police, who are already looking into two murders of men that look quite similar, and have no idea what to think when it turns out Gemma's husband also looks like the two victims. 

As I was reading each point of view in alternating chapters, my thoughts as to what exactly was going on flip flopped continually.  Such was how convinced I was by both viewpoints that I couldn't really work out which may be accurate. 

Much less just how the murderer was or where the missing husband may be or why. 

The Perfect Couple screwed with my head, in a way that had me reading on, unable to put the book down, as I needed to know the truth!

Very addictive and compelling read. 

Thank you to One More Chapter on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily 

Book Review - That Night in Paris by Sandy Barker

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Title: That Night in Paris

Author: Sandy Barker

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 15th April 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Note to self: don’t sleep with your flatmate after a curry and three bottles of wine… especially if he’s secretly in love with you and wants you to meet his mum.

Cat Parsons is on the run. She doesn’t do relationships. After ten years of singlehood even the hint of the ‘L’ word is enough to get Cat packing her bags and booking herself onto a two-week holiday.

A European bus tour feels like a stroke of genius to dodge awkward conversations at home. But little does Cat realise that the first stop will be Paris, the city of love itself. 

Joined by new friends, Cat has got two weeks, eight countries and a hell of a lot of wine ahead of her. As they discover hidden treasures and the camaraderie of life on the road, will Cat find a new way of looking at love? 

Discover the beauty of Europe’s most romantic cities in this uplifting and laugh-out-loud novel for fans of Samantha Parks, Alex Brown and Mandy Baggot

If you want a whistle stop tour around part of Europe then this is certainly the book for you.  For me it has re-affirmed something I have always suspected I would not enjoy doing a coach tour for myself, if I'm going to fit in multiple cities in one trip, give me a cruise ship to travel by, but not a coach! 

However reading about someone else's coach trip starting in Paris, taking in the South of France, Florence, Rome, Switzerland and more over a short space of time is really entertaining. 

Especially given Cat had always sworn she would never take this sort of holiday, but books it last minute while fleeing from a love-struck flatmate.  

It doesn't take too long for Cat to make some wonderful new friends on this trip and with that we have her bus posse, 4 women all on the trip for different reasons and we get to know them all really well, as what else are you going to do on a coach of hours at end, than talk to people! 

The accommodations again would have put me off the trip and Cat didn't seem that impressed with them either, but past that we get wonderful descriptions of each place they visit.  There is the echoes of past loves, a blast from the past that becomes rather key,  

Let's just say there is a gorgeous Frenchman that really affects Cat's "lady bits" (the author's words not mine, and was a phrase used rather a lot), but the chemistry between them is amazing even if Cat is trying to delude herself. 

Some of the cities we get more from than others, but I'd say we get a decent feel for each place, especially the ones where  Cat and her bus bestie Lou decided to fit in as much as humanly possibly in a tiny amount of time. 

I really enjoyed this story, and love Sandy Barker's way of writing about different places.  I'm already keen to see what the author will write next. 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Man Across The Street by Marcie Steele

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Title: The Man Across The Street

Author: Marcie Steele

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Blood Red Books

Publication Date: 1st January 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Maybe I’m scared to be happy…

Meet Hannah – she’s been her mum’s sole carer since she was eighteen. Now alone after Martha’s sudden death, Hannah feels lost in the only place she’s known as home, Hope Street. Coming up to a milestone birthday, she’s wondering what her purpose in life is.

Meet Doug – a workaholic, he’s in the office from dusk ’til dawn, and when he has a heart attack. Now on the mend, he needs to de-stress his life and focus on living it, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Doug moves to Hope Street, number 35. Hannah lives at number 34, directly opposite. From the moment they meet, there’s a spark.

But there are secrets too. Hannah’s mum has been keeping something from her, her sister left over twenty years ago, and there can’t be such a simple reason why Doug has moved to Somerley. Can there?

The Man Across the Street feature a host of characters living on Hope Street in the market town of Somerley, also featured in The Somerley Series.

I really had no idea what to expect from my first book by Marcie Steele, and I'm really glad I gave this one a go. 

I really loved the setting of Hope Street, it seems like such a caring community, where you actually know your neighbours and everyone is happy to look out for each other.  

Hannah is really lost, for 20 years has been her mums sole carer, and now after her mum dies she really isn't sure what to do with her life. She is approaching the big four -oh, and only really knows Hope Street. She has a letter from her mum that she is terrified to open in case  it tears her apart, but equally suspects it must contain some sort of secret. 

Doug is an all around nice bloke who moves in opposite Hannah, he is a bit older, and as the book focuses on both characters you can tell he is hiding something, but what you really aren't sure.  It is clear that they like each other, but whether anything will be done is another matter! 

Once I was used to the writing style, I was able to happily lose myself between the pages for long periods of time, really enjoying what I was reading.   There are certainly revelations to be had, and its just a really lovely story to read.   

There is such a varied cast of characters all living on Hope Street, and Hannah's best friend Poppy is wonderful, and even a scene with the street drunk made me smile while feeling ill at the same time!   There are all manner of plot threads that keeps the book interesting. 

I'm already missing my Hope Street companions and hope to be back there again soon, or once the next book is written at least! 

Thanks to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - A Perfect Cornish Escape by Phillipa Ashley

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Title: A Perfect Cornish Escape

Author: Phillipa Ashley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 11th June 2020 

Rating: 4 Stars

Summer in Cornwall is the perfect time for a fresh start…

Seven years ago, Marina Hudson’s husband was lost at sea. She vowed to love him forever – but when kind-hearted Lachlan arrives in Porthmellow, should she deny herself another chance at happiness?

Tiff Trescott was living life to the full as a journalist in London – until her boyfriend’s betrayal brought it all crashing down. Fleeing to her cousin Marina’s cottage, Tiff feels like a fish out of water. And when brooding local Dirk wins a day with her in a charity auction, she’s thrown headfirst into Cornish life.

This summer promises new beginnings for both Tiff and Marina. But are they too good to be true?

Escape to Cornwall with this emotional, uplifting read. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Trisha Ashley.

How lovely it was to be back in Porthmellow, Cornwall, with a whole new cast of characters with cameos from familiar faces. 

I'll admit that i had an inkling as to a certain direction that book may go from within the first couple of chapters , which means the big OMG moment that there was, didn't have quite the same impact for me, but from that point on regardless I found the book to be really addictive for the last part. 

That didn't though detract from my enjoyment of the rest of the story, and I loved seeing how Marina and Tiff were trying to rebuild their lives and hearts.  And their new male companions are fabulous.  

Dirk and Lachlan both have their own stories which have made them the way they are, and I really loved getting to know them. 

I found I was taken on a real emotional journey with this story, and there really is something for everyone in this, from charity auctions, to daring rescues, and from the stunning Cornish location to a Londoner coming to stay in Cornwall and trying to adjust.  

This was another very enjoyable addition to this series, and another well written book from one of the queens of Cornish fiction! 

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

Book Review - Wedding Bells in Merriment Bay by Emily Harvale

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Title: Wedding Bells in Merriment Bay

Author: Emily Harvale

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Crescent Gate Publishing

Publication Date: 8th June 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Change is in the air as wedding bells ring out in Merriment Bay.

Cat’s determined to propose to Amias. Well, it is a leap year so it’s fine for women to do the asking, and besides, it took him eighteen years to tell her how he felt. She’s not going to wait for him to pop the question. All she needs to do is find the perfect time and place.

Kyra’s fallen for Francis Raine, who seems happy to flirt and exchange banter but hasn’t actually asked her out. Does he reciprocate her feelings, or is he this way with every girl he meets? There’s only one way to find out. She’ll ask him on a date … as soon as he returns to Merriment Bay.

Mary’s leaving Devon Villa after a lifetime spent in the house. She’s never lived alone so it’s both an exciting and a terrifying prospect. But change is good, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s time she tried a few other new things too.

The Devon women want to move on to the next chapters in their lives. And as Viola Devon used to say before she died, “The only one who can write your own life story as you want it, is you.” Although Viola’s didn’t work out too well. Will Cat, Kyra, and Mary have better luck with theirs?

What an absolutely wonderful way to finish this epic series (or whatever the plural for series is).  As not only does it provide a fitting finale for the whole Devon family, but even was some more of the Wynter family that really made me happy too. 

Oh and there is a big romantic gesture in this book that had me thinking that maybe Holly Martin is no longer the queen big romantic gestures, as this one that Emily Harvale wrote is right up there and had me almost in tears of happiness - it was just perfection. 

Throughout this final book we have the will they - won't they as to whether Cat and Amias will actually get engaged.  Just because Wedding Bells is in the title you can't assume anything, for Wyntersleap and Merriment Bay is overwhelmed with couples in love and on the verge of marriage! 

Word's can't express how happy this book made me, it is Emily Harvale at her very best,  well rounded and believable characters, romance, relationships, and just a way of drawing you into the story so that you have to read as much as you can in one sitting.  In fact had it not been for some thunder, making me go indoors, I would have probably read this one sitting in the garden! 

This is a fabulous feel good read, that fans of the author or this series will absolutely adore.  And if you have never read an Emily Harvale book, then I'd suggest this series is a great place to start, but perhaps with the first book,  as you don't want to miss out any of the fabulousness that is packed into these books! 

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

Book Review - A Wedding at Wynter House by Emily Harvale

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Title: A Wedding at Wynter House

Author: Emily Harvale

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Crescent Gate Publishing

Publication Date: 3rd May 2020

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Not everyone at Wynter House is thrilled about this wedding.

Secrets have been revealed and new relationships begun. Now it’s time to look to the future. Neva and Rafe are in love and so are Adam and Hazel. Jo’s love life leaves a lot to be desired, although Gavin could remedy that.

But Rafe’s grandmother, Olivia still hopes that something will tear Rafe and Neva apart. Hazel’s new assignment means nursing someone back to health … and there’s history between them. And Jo’s receiving texts from her ex-fiancé.

Then Rafe’s first wife, Pippa – the woman who broke his heart, unexpectedly arrives. And she’s even more beautiful and irresistible than Rafe remembers.

When everyone is looking to the future, will the past prove to be too strong?

There will be a wedding at Wynter House … but who will be the bride and groom?

Just finished reading this with a massive smile on my face.

I'm a huge fan of both the interconnected series of Wyntersleap and Merriment Bay, and am completely hooked on their stories and determined to see their final outcomes. As a result I can't comment properly on whether this does work as a standalone, but it does give a lot of reminder info in the first half of the book to catch up the Rafe and Neva fans, on the big happenings in the previous Merriment Bay book.  So if like me and you are reading both, there is some repetition from the other viewpoint, possibly more than in previous books.   

This concept of an interlinked series by book 3 is really intriguing as it makes me realise just how much has happened to the characters over such a short time line.  It's very impressive really, just how Emily Harvale can include so much into such a short space of time.  

I found this book really got going and started showing me the real new things, to me, at 50% at which point I was fully immersed back into the Wynter family and loved every moment of it.

There's a blast from the past, a new romance, a massive personality transplant, engagements and not necessarily whose you may think, and hot air balloons amongst the key highlights of this story. And there are even a few surprises along the way too. 

I'm now itching to stop saying how great this book is and to delve straight into the Merriment Bay finale as I am curious as to the ultimate culmination of these interlocking series.

This is another fun packed story that I'm amazed just how much Emily Harvale can pack into it. Fast paced and never a dull moment, I really loved it. 

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

Book Review - The Wedding Favour by Lilly Bartlett

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Title: The Wedding Favour

Author: Lilly Bartlett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 19th June 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Nelly Roberts needs a fiancée – fast!

When she’s left in the lurch with not just a wedding but also a bridal magazine feature on the line, social media star Nelly has no choice but to substitute one groom for another. The fates align when she’s introduced to Rafael Moreno Cortes – a gorgeous Columbian in need of a Visa.

Convincing their friends and families that they’re destined for happy-ever-after is hard enough, and with Nelly’s ex-fiancé and Rafael’s supermodel-gorgeous best friend determined to break the engagement, will it be a case of here come the secrets instead of here comes the bride?

From a club in London to a cottage in Cornwall, The Wedding Favour is an outrageously funny romantic comedy about luck, love, and authenticity, perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald and Mhairi McFarlane.

I always know that I'm in safe hands with a Lilly Bartlett book, and this one really was just what the doctor ordered. 

I love the fake date / fake marriage trope and seeing just how Nelly and Rafael deal with it was great. 

Both have very good reasons for entering into this arrangement and getting to know them both and their various tastes while planning the wedding is a lot of fun. 

I would have happily married Rafael, punched ex boyfriend Matt and potentially throttled best friend of the groom Mabs.

There is plenty of enjoyment to be had from this story and it was a pleasure to read. 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

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Title: The Bromance Book Club

Author: Lyssa Kay Adams

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Eternal

Publication Date: 30th January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

The first rule of book club:

You don't talk about book club.

Gavin Scott's marriage is trouble. The Nashville Legends baseball star has recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. His reaction to the revelation is the final straw for their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes he's let his pride and fear get the better of him.

Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville's top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency called Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it'll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his beloved wife.

What a fabulous concept The Bromance Book Club is,  so unique and clever. 

For its a book club made up solely of Nashville's most top men from all walks of life, who read romance novels, to use them as instructional guides in how to understand and treat women. 

Gavin is a top baseball player, has just had a wonderful season, and discovers his wife Thea has always faked it, and his reaction to that causes big damage to their marriage.   Some of his teammates are in the book club and they initiate him into it, and use a certain regency romance novel to try to get Thea to fall in love with him again. 

As a result we as readers are treated to not only Gavin and Thea's story, but also extracts from this book that he is using, and you can see how fiction parallels life in this! 

I loved that this book was written predominately with the focus on Gavin, the hapless sweet man who is eager to learn the ways of the woman!   Thea is lovely and I enjoyed the character development from her side, and their toddler twins, Amelia and Ava are adorable (most of the time). 

 I'm also very happy to read a book that features a sexy Baseball player, but in the off season, so we didn't have too much actual baseball in the book, as it is one of the few sports that doesn't hold my interest! 

I loved the various dynamics in this book and the whole way it was written. I found its a quick and delightful story to read, and I'm  already looking forward to seeing what the next Bromance book club book in the series will bring us. 

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

Book Review - Strangers by C. L. Taylor

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Title: Strangers

Author: C. L. Taylor

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 2nd April 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before.

Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life.

Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards.

And Alice is being stalked.

None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only one thing for it: they have to stick together. Otherwise, one of them will die.

 

Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

 

The million-copy bestseller returns with a gripping new novel that will keep you guessing until the end.

I have no idea how C. L. Taylor keeps coming up with these amazing storylines and books, but I really hope she never stops.  This is completely gripping and I read it in one sitting on a hot afternoon in lock-down, and was absorbed between the pages. 

I have absolutely no idea how three different people would remotely interlink, as we learn their stories in the the weeks leading up to a big occurrence. 

I didn't have the foggiest who on earth may be stalking Alice.  Ursula comes across as a bit of mixed bag of a character, at times she is clearly a thief, shoplifting and pocketing anything that takes her fancy, but in her role as a courier, there is one house that shows just what a caring person she really is.    

And then there is Gareth, he is the security guard in the shopping centre that Alice works in, he has an ageing mother at home, postcards appearing from a most likely impossible source, and I really was engaged with his story. 

All three of them so different, all with heart racing moments in their chapters and a growing sense throughout the book that things may not be as they seem. 

It is cleverly crafted, keeps the tension up, and also makes you case about the characters, and as the pace picks up, it became actually unputdownable, and I was hooked anyway! 

I have a very weird feeling this book may disturb my sleep for a few nights, as its rather unsettling which is exactly why I loved it so much.  

I already can't wait to see what this incredibly talented author will come up with next. 

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

Book Review - Killing Mind by Angela Marsons

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Title: Killing Mind

Author: Angela Marsons

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 13th May 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

It had seemed so simple. Get in, get the information, get out. But now they were getting inside her mind and she didn’t know how to stop them…

When Detective Kim Stone is called to the home of Samantha Brown, she finds the young woman lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. With no sign of forced entry or struggle, Kim rules her death a tragic suicide.

But a visit to Samantha’s parents rings alarm bells for Kim – there’s something they’re not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she’s made a huge mistake. Samantha didn’t take her own life, she was murdered.

Then a young man’s body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim makes a link between the victim and Samantha. They both spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life.

Beneath the retreat’s cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable.

Sending one of her own undercover into Unity Farm is high risk but it’s Kim’s only hope if she is to catch a killer – someone Kim is convinced the victims knew and trusted.

With Bryant distracted by the emergence of a harrowing case close to his heart, and an undercover officer in way over her head, Kim’s neck is on the line like never before. Can she protect those closest to her before another life is taken?

An unbelievably gripping crime thriller from multi-million copy bestseller Angela Marsons that will have you hooked on the Detective Kim Stone series.

This was an utterly fascinating new book in the always wonderful Detective Kim Stone series.

It is abundantly clear to me that either the author has first hand experience of life in a cult, or more likely has done a significant amount of research into them, as the level of detail is truly impressive. 

This felt like far more than a thriller, more like a human interest book, showing just how vulnerable people can be manipulated.   It was really interesting to learn about Unity Farm and what happens there. 

Especially from the point of view of an undercover officer and how her mindset seems to be affected in a very short amount of time, and limited contact with the farm. 

Yet I still wasn't sure who the actual murderer was, and I was once again very impressed with just how tight Kim Stone's team is,  how they share the work load, all have wonderful hunches to follow. 

And the other case touched on that Bryant is involved with, is one that will linger with him forever. 

I was completely and utterly hooked on this story and read it in two sittings over the course of a day, ignoring all real life things going on, while I had to see what would be uncovered next. 

It is scary that places like Unity Farm must exist in real life, and I feel this book really does raise awareness of a situation that many would never dream of, and that can only be a good thing. 

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this coyp which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.