Book Review - One Winter Morning by Isabelle Broom

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Amazon UK

Title: One Winter Morning

Author: Isabelle Broom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 17th October 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Genie isn't feeling very festive this December.

The frosty mornings and twinkling fairy lights only remind her it's been a whole year since she lost her adoptive mother, who took her in as a baby and raised her as her own.

She's never felt more alone - until she discovers her birth mother's identity.

And where to find her: New Zealand, half the world away.

Travelling there could be her one chance to meet the woman who gave her up.

But will she find the answers she has been looking for? Or something she could never have expected?

One Winter Morning is a heart-warming, moving and life-affirming story for fans of Hannah Beckerman, Lucy Diamond and Paige Toon.

Simply beautiful story, beautiful location and beautiful people featuring in it. 

I loved every single moment of this book, words can't really do it justice, it is that good. 

It's the story of Genie who, a year after her mother dies, is encouraged to find and meet her birth mother, and it;s also the story of Bonnie, and just what lead to her giving up her baby. 

We get chapters from both perspectives, and seeing Bonnie tell her story was rather moving and completely gripping, But at the same time, Genie from the moment she lands in New Zealand, starts to feel free-er and more like her old self from years before. 

However the character that I loved the most was Tui.  She is a young lady, who has assorted conditions, and just the most amazing personality and zest for life.  She really is an inspirational character.  

I loved discovering Queenstown and some of the surrounding area in New Zealand.  Reading about penguins and seals is just magical, and for the animal lover there is a good amount of horses and time spent in stables, plus an adorable young dog. 

Isabelle Broom has outdone herself with this book, the writing draws you in, I could see everything so clearly and although I did have some suspicions about elements of the book, I was enjoying the journey and seeing exactly what would happen.   

It's a journey of self discovery for Genie, set to a fabulous backdrop, some brilliant characters that I loved reading about, and although it tackles adoption, and the sense of family, it does so in such a compelling manner.  

An incredibly good book, that you really should curl up and read one winter's morning!! 

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

Book Review - A Cornish Summer by Catherine Alliott

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link

Amazon UK

Title: A Cornish Summer

Author: Catherine Alliott

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 13th June 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Flora's been in love with her husband for twenty years. The trouble is, he's been married to someone else for the past fifteen . . .

Now she's been invited to spend the summer in the shady lanes and sandy coves of Cornwall. It should be blissful.

There's just one small snag: she'll be staying with her former mother-in-law, Belinda.

And Flora discovers she's not the only one invited when her ex-husband shows up out of the blue, complete with his new wife. So now there are two small snags.

Can Flora spend the summer playing happy families with the woman who stole her husband's heart, and the mother-in-law who might have had a hand in it?

Or will stumbling on the family secret change her mind about them all?

If you like Fern Britton, Katie Fforde and Sophie Kinsella, you'll love this heartwarming read. . .

What an epic cast of characters, and some of the ending that I definitely didn't see coming. 

It felt like there really were a lot of words and characters to get to grips with, although once you had an idea of the family dynamics, most of the book slotted into place nicely in my mind, it just felt at times a tad too long. 

That being said there were sections where I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page, the main action scenes, one involving a hunt, and one a far more serious happening a lot later on in the book.    There are old friendships, new interests, all within this huge novel, set over a summer in Cornwall. 

This is the summer where Flora finally learns to be not quite as hooked on her ex-husband and starts thinking of herself again.  I wasn't really that keen on Flora, or indeed many of the characters which may explain why I took a while reading this.  I think I just didn't really connect to her at all, and given the whole book was from her point of view, it wasn't the quickest of books for me. 

I did enjoy the story, and I loved hating Belinda, while Roger was really lovely and Babs rather cheeky.  And Edward although we didn't see much of him, there is one stand out scene he is involved in that had me giggling a lot. 

I can't really talk much about what happens in the book, purely as it felt like most of the first half was providing much needed background and leg work to make the much stronger second half fly.  I loved the last quarter or so of the book, and really felt  pleased for various of the characters with their resolutions. 

Although not my favourite book by Catherine Alliott, it is still a good story and there is some lovely writing and great characterisation to enjoy. 

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

Book Review - Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher - #HolidayReading Book 3

Book 3 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: Some Kind of Wonderful

Author: Giovanna Fletcher

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 16th November 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

When the love of your life says you're not The One, who are you?

Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they're about to get engaged.

Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future.

Lizzy is heartbroken - but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she's been missing while playing Ian's ideal 'better half'.

But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him?

Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before - and, in the meantime, have a little fun . . .

Journey of self discovery for the main character, as she tries to work out what version of herself she really is,

Whether its the person she was at 18 before she met Ian, at 28 after 10 years of being with Ian before being broken up with in a memorble way, or some other version of hersef,

Within the book we learn a lot about her family and best friend, and I loved seeing all the various characters.

I am a huge fan of Giovanna Fletcher and although not my favourite book by her, I still thought it was up to a top standard, which was well written, easy to follow, quick to read and highly enjoyable.  I loved this story a lot. 

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

Book Review - The Place We Met by Isabelle Broom

Amazon UK

Title: The Place We Met

Author: Isabelle Broom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 30th November 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Taggie is only a few months into her job as a tour guide in Lake Como. She's rushed off her feet, but distraction is what she needs to forget why she left England.

Lucy arrives at Lake Como with her perfect new boyfriend, Pete. Falling fast in love, she's sure that life is about to start for her, it feels so right with him.

But as New Year's Eve approaches and the women meet by chance, it becomes clear this isn't the perfect place of new beginnings. While Lucy is willing to do anything to keep hold of Pete, the past Taggie so desperately wanted to escape is catching up with her . 

Lake Como at around Christmas and the New Year is the setting for this book. The story alternates between two rather different women, and my feelings towards both of them changed regularly as the story progressed.  

I did though find the book felt a bit slow to start, and it took for the two stories to merge to really hold my attention at which point I really did want to know what was going to happen next.  

Taggie is working as a tour guide in her beloved Lake Como having escaped misery back in England. It is not clear for a long while exactly why she is in Italy, but I found myself drawn into her life there anyway  I loved the various towns that are visited and all the various Christmassy activities that are happening in the area. 

Lucy decides to take her new boyfriend Pete on holiday to Lake Como, a place she loved as a child. I loved their initial sight seeing, especially the Christmas market.  Yet Lucy is a very insecure woman and is convinced that Pete is hiding things in his past, little does she know yet what it is. 

I found though that I struggled to really like or connect with any of the main characters, in fact Elsie, Taggie's friend was probably one of my favourite characters and she wasn't even in the book that much.  

As much as I tend to love Isabelle Bloom's books, this one just left me slightly flat, and to me although is still a very good book, is missing the brilliance of her other work. 

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

Guest Post - Why I Write Psychological Thrillers by Gillian McAllister - Blog Tour

I started out my literary career writing women's fiction. I was signed by my agent for a women's fiction novel and I wrote another before that, which had a few near misses with agents. One was about a woman who leaves her boyfriend for another man and the second was about a woman who is childless by choice.

It took my novel getting rejected by publishers for me to take a step back and consider what it was I really wanted to write. Because, actually, since starting that novel, my reading habits had changed, and that's what got me thinking. I - along with lots of other readers! - had read Gone Girl, and The Girl on the Train, and had had my appetite whetted. The rise of the female psychological thriller has been a really interesting trend to observe, and it doesn't show any signs of dying down yet, both in books and on television. There's something eerily compelling about the 'it could happen to you' element of them, together with the grounded domesticity of the setting and the chilling but often understated crimes at their centre. I still can't get enough of them.

For some reason, I had never really thought about writing psychological thrillers even though they were what I had exclusively started reading. I thought they involved plotting that was beyond me (and they are difficult to plot) and I also still wanted to write primarily about relationships. 

So that's what got me thinking about what I could write that might combine my interests. What if I could write a book with the structure and pace of a thriller, but one that is still ultimately about people's relationships? I could think of a few authors who did such things - Liane Moriarty, Louise Doughty - but not many. But - sometimes - that's an indication that you should, not that you shouldn't. 

So I set about plotting my debut, Everything But The Truth, about a woman who catches sight of evidence on her boyfriend's iPad that he has committed a crime. And then, after that, I had the idea for my second: what if you were followed home by a man who wouldn't leave you alone in a bar? What if you pushed him, without thinking, and seriously injured him? And what - then - if the narrative split, showing both the path where you call 999 and confess, and the one where you walk away, and go on the run? 

It was with that book that I really found my groove. Sure, they're psychological thrillers, but they're also examinations of dubious legal/moral situations, explorations of relationships under stress, and character studies. My third is no different - about a woman accusing of harming her sister's baby - and my fourth won't be, either. I guess the lesson is: write what you really do want to read, even if it doesn't yet exist on the shelf. Especially if it doesn't yet exist on the shelf. 

Thank you so much for this great post Gillian. I am looking forward to reading Anything You Do Say. 

Gone Girl meets Sliding Doors in this edge-of-your-seat thriller

Joanna is an avoider. So far she has spent her adult life hiding bank statements and changing career aspirations weekly.

But then one night Joanna hears footsteps on the way home. Is she being followed? She is sure it's him; the man from the bar who wouldn't leave her alone. Hearing the steps speed up Joanna turns and pushes with all of her might, sending her pursuer tumbling down the steps and lying motionless on the floor.

Now Joanna has to do the thing she hates most - make a decision. Fight or flight? Truth or lie? Right or wrong?

Purchase from Amazon UK

Cover Reveal - Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister

I am delighted to be able to reveal today, the details for Gillian McAllister's brand new cover and book... Anything You Do Say

Gone Girl meets Sliding Doors in this edge-of-your-seat thriller

Joanna is an avoider. So far she has spent her adult life hiding bank statements and changing career aspirations weekly.

But then one night Joanna hears footsteps on the way home. Is she being followed? She is sure it's him; the man from the bar who wouldn't leave her alone. Hearing the steps speed up Joanna turns and pushes with all of her might, sending her pursuer tumbling down the steps and lying motionless on the floor.

Now Joanna has to do the thing she hates most - make a decision. Fight or flight? Truth or lie? Right or wrong?

Available for Pre-order now from Amazon UK

Published - Ebook - 30th November 2017 & Paperback - 25th January 2018

I don't know about you but I love the eerie nature of this cover, and the blurb sounds great. Its got my adrenalin pumping just from reading it! 

Hope you are all looking forward to this book as much as I am. Let me know your thoughts. 

Book Review - The Honeymoon by Tina Seskis

Amazon UK

Title: The Honeymoon

Author: Tina Seskis

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 1st June 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

There's trouble in paradise . . .

For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. A fortnight's retreat to a five-star resort in the Maldives, complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy.

It should be paradise. But it's turned into a nightmare.

Because the man Jemma married a week ago has just disappeared from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes.

After everything they've been through together, how can this be happening? Is there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust? And above all - where has her husband gone?

An incredibly cleverly crafted story, where elements are revealed slowly and on a need to know basis, until you are left reeling at the overall outcome. I had absolutely not clue as to what had happened to her husband, other than that he had clearly disappeared. 

The book is split into multiple parts, and within the first part you get two timelines, the here and now in the Maldives, and Jemma's instant reactions to the situation, and interlinked we get the murky history of her relationship with husband, and Jemma's true feelings for him. 

It it incredibly hard to talk about the story in this book, as everything was written in a way that if I say the wrong thing I could be giving away spoilers.  What will I will say is its a story that has got me thinking about tropical honeymoon destinations..such as The Maldives, the setting for this book. 

The island that Jemma is staying on is clearly beautiful, and everything you could want for in a tropical paradise, its remote, tries to be romantic, stunning scenery, gorgeous watery wildlife and your every whim catered to. But when things go wrong in such a place, you will soon start to feel threatened by the same island. The remoteness and quiet of the place can be overwhelming, that all the staff know you can be intimidating if your husband has mysteriously disappeared.  That its so hard to know what may have been witnessed by who, and just how much do you really trust the people you are making friends with on your honeymoon, when it comes down to a critical situation. 

That is the main thing that I will take from The Honeymoon, especially as a person who loves visiting such beauty spots herself, and definitely feels like it is one element of the book. 

The other is of course Jemma's emotional reaction to the events and even quite early on I found her a tricky character to have any real empathy with. I felt sorry for her of course, but just didn't quite make the connection I would have hoped. 

Despite that I found The Honeymoon to be compelling reading, I wanted to know what was going to happen next, and just what happened to the missing husband, I had to keep on reading, and read the majority of the book in just one sitting, 

The Honeymoon is the sort of book you will be drawn into, and taken on a wonderful journey all from the comfort of your living room. Although in some respects I would say this would be a great summer holiday read, I would perhaps suggest not taking it to incredibly remote holiday locations, as it may feel a bit too close for comfort! 

Thank you so much to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy which I have I reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Then. Now. Always by Isabelle Broom

Amazon UK

Title: Then. Now. Always

Author: Isabelle Broom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 20th April 

Rating: 4 Stars

Hannah can't believe it when she's offered a trip to sunny Spain with her best friend and dreamy boss . . . what's the catch?

Twenty-eight year old Hannah is ready for an adventure. She and her colleagues are in Spain for a month to film a documentary, and it's a dream come true. Not least because Hannah will get to spend long summer days with Theo, her boss (and crush). If only Tom (Hannah's best friend and cameramen) and Claudette (the presenter) would stop getting in the way...

Then things become even more complicated when Nancy, Hannah's half-sister arrives. What on earth is she doing here?

For once in her life, can't Hannah just have one perfect summer, free of any drama?

Set in the beautiful town of Mojacar in Spain, this is an enchanting story, focusing on Hannah, and her half sister Nancy and her crush Theo, which by the time the book had finished left me with goosebumps, as the ending was rather unexpected. 

Having read Then. Now. Always I feel as though I was transported to Mojacar and could probably find my way around the town reasonably well. It is one of those hidden gems of Spain, that isn't overrun with tourists and has a mystical history, which is what Hannah and her colleagues are most interested in. 

Hannah went on holiday to Mojacar for three summers when she was a teenager and has never forgotten the place, so when the company she is working for wants to do a documentary about a place with an interesting history, she puts the town forward and is delighted when she is allowed to accompany the others on the month long production trip. 

Theo is Hannah's boss, and she has had a long term crush on him for years, and is hoping this Spanish trip will be the opportunity to make an impression on him. Tom, the cameraman is also on the trip, and he is Hannah's best friend, although people seem to think there could more to their relationship than meets the eye. Claudette is the French presenter of this documentary, who will be sharing an apartment with Hannah and they really are quite different, so Claudette adds quite a bit of background colour to the book. 

However Hannah isn't too pleased when her half sister Nancy shows up in Mojacar, without any notice or explanation, especially since she has a complicated relationship with her. All of the dynamics of the group change once Nancy arrives and I found it really interesting to see how things unfolded, especially trying to work out the reason she is in Spain. 

Then. Now. Always is a story of relationships and friendship, with a stunning setting, beautiful descriptions and it was a book that kept me engaged from start to finish. I wanted to keep checking in with the characters to see how they were getting on, and to catch more sun! I have a feeling this book could do wonders for tourism in Almeria and it definitely has made me want to catch a fligh!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - My Husband the Stranger by Rebecca Done -#AroundTheUKIn144Books #Norfolk

Amazon UK

Title: My Husband the Stranger

Author: Rebecca Done

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 6th April 2017

Rating: 3.5 Stars

What you would do if your husband became another person overnight?

'It's a funny thing, when the future you dreamed of can never be anywhere but the past'

When Molly married Alex Frazer, she knew it was for ever. Theirs would be the perfect future.

In sickness and in health.

However, after a night out with his twin brother, Graeme, a terrible injury leaves Alex with permanent brain damage. In a single moment the man she married is transformed into someone new. Someone who has forgotten how to love her. And someone Molly isn't sure she can ever love again.

Till death do us part.

The Alex she married no longer exists. Even with Graeme willing to help, Molly isn't sure that she can go on. How can she stay married to a man she doesn't know? Should she let the future she dreamed of slip through her fingers? And what really happened on the night that turned her husband into a stranger?

It was the fascinating concept that drew me to My Husband the Stranger, and it was due to my interest in the idea of the book, that kept me reading to the end. However having finished the book, I just can't help but feeling flat. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting from the story, but I feel as though it could have been more. 

There were certain storyline elements that I could see coming a mile off, and although I was interested in the story, and it definitely was written in an engaging way, and I enjoyed the writing style, there was just something missing for me. 

Graeme saw Molly first. Later that same evening Alex, his twin brother, leaves the bar with Molly, and its the start of their relationship.  Fastforward to now, and three years after a dreadful accident, Molly is still hoping that Alex will turn back into the man she fell in love with. 

For three years ago there was a dreadful accident that caused Alex brain damage, and it has drastically changed his personality. He is now like a child in an adults body, with some of a childish mindset, but at other times incredibly angry, and other times can just about show the old Alex is still deep inside him. 

And it is for that reason that Molly is determined to stand by her man, no matter what cost to herself and her own dreams potentially. 

We get the story from two different perspective, Molly in the hear and now, stuck in a job she hates, caring for her husband, and trying to make the best of the situation, and then, we have chapters from Alex's point of view, which are the memories of how he and Molly got together and key moments in their relationship history. 

The story at all times kept me wondering what would happen next, and ultimately what Molly would decide. Graeme wants to offer them as much support as he can, and it must be so weird for Molly to spend time with the twins, when one of them has changed to dramatically. 

My Husband the Stranger certainly makes you think, how would you cope in Molly's situation. I'm not sure I'd be compassionate enough (to my non existent) husband to cope with a major change in personality although I'd like to think that love would overpower everything. 

Thought provoking and throws up intriguing questions, in a book that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for this copy of the book which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly. 

Book Review - About Last Night by Catherine Alliott...- #AroundTheUKIn144Books #Herefordshire

Amazon UK

Title:  About Last Night

Author: Catherine Alliott

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 9th March 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

The funny, enthralling and heartwarming story of a woman who gets a second chance in life - but will she have the courage to take it?

Molly has moved from London to rural Herefordshire chasing the Good Life. Swapping the tube for the saddle, she is living the country dream.

Apart from it isn't really her dream. It's her husband David's. And David is, well, rather dead now.

Then a distant relative of her late husband kicks the bucket, leaving a London townhouse in her possession, and Molly dares to consider chucking it all in. Quitting the Good Life and going back to her good life.

But there's a problem. A rather tall, handsome problem. In the shape of a man already living in Molly's new house. And when a face appears from her past, Molly is more confused than ever.

Will Molly's London dream replace her muddy reality? Do any of the men in her life really have honourable intentions? And has she said goodbye to country life too soon?

It has been a while since I last read a Catherine Alliott, which is something I do need to rectify, as I do tend to enjoy her books. This latest release About Last Night was no exception. 

There really are a lot of contrasts in this story, with it predominately being set in very rural Herefordshire, and the rest in London. Molly is unsure if she wants her life in Herefordshire anymore, she is sick of never having any money, being so remote, but she feels it was her fault that her husband died 5 years ago, and this was his rural dream. 

Molly has three grown up children, Lucy, Minna and Nico, all of which have various thoughts on Molly's life and what she should do, especially when she happens into a very surprise inheritance. 

It was the whole story around the inheritance that is what interested me most about this book. It is not straightforward, its a distant relative that Molly wasn't aware of, and there are people living in the house already. She wants to do the right thing but even that isn't as simple as it seems, any everyone and their dog appears to have an opinion on it. 

There are many things to like about this book, its rural setting and some of the mentions of the animals were amusing. Some of what the children came out with was outright rude towards their mother, but funny at the same time. There is some deceit as well as at least 3 potential men that Molly could become involved with. 

We learn about why David, her husband insisted on moving to Herefordshire, which gave a lot of vital background information, and I enjoyed reading that bit. I also loved the whole of the last 30% or so, as everything starts ramping up to conclusions. 

About Last Night was just an enjoyable story, that kept me entertained and reminded me that I really enjoy the authors work. 

Thank you so much to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - My Sweet Revenge by Jane Fallon - #AroundTheUKIn144Books #GreaterLondon

Amazon UK

Title: My Sweet Revenge

Author: Jane Fallon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 12th January 2017

Rating: 3 Stars

I want to make my husband fall back in love with me.

Let me explain. This isn't an exercise in 1950s wifeydom. I haven't been reading articles in old women's magazines. 'Twenty ways to keep your man'. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I want him to fall back in love with me so that when I tell him to get the hell out of my life he'll care. He won't just think, 'Oh good'.

I want it to hurt.

Paula has had Robert's back since they got together as drama students.
She gave up her dreams so he could make it.
Now he's one of the nation's most popular actors.
And Paula's just discovered he's having an affair.

She's going to remind Robert just what he's sacrificing.
And then she's going to break his heart like he broke hers.
It will be her greatest acting role ever.

Revenge is sweet. 
Isn't it?

I started off really enjoying My Sweet Revenge, but the longer everything was drawn out for the more my interest started to wain. I am not sure that I could do what Paula does in this book, which is find out my husband has been cheating on me, and not let on to him at all, for months until she is ready to try and enact her revenge.

There was a lot of porky pies being told by Paula, but also by Robert, Saskia and Joshua, the focal characters of this book.  In some ways I do admire Paula, as her initial plan for revenge seemed solid, by making her husband fall back in love with her, before admitting she knows the truth and kicking him off. 

However as the story progresses she realises that won't be enough, and that she really needs to try make sure he and his piece on the side have broken up, so that he can't have either of them. It is from those thoughts that she attempts to befriend Saskia, the other woman. 

What I have neglected to mention is that Robert and Saskia work together on a drama series, as does Saskia's husband, and they are both trained actors. So when Saskia and Paula start meeting up, it is hard to know what information to trust. 

My personal thoughts about the characters personalities aside, this is a likeable book, with a story that will certainly appeal to others. I enjoyed Jane Fallon's writing style, and  there were moments where I was loving the book. I really enjoyed the few times Alice was mentioned, she is Robert's sister, and is self obsessed and reckons she is an actress too. I also really felt for Georgia, their daughter, at some points, especially since this was all happening during exam time. 

Towards the end I think I was more confused and befuddled than anything else, as I couldn't work out who was supposed to know what, and I had lost track of what the truth for any character really was, which is unfortunate as I don't like feeling confused in the run up to the end of a book. 

If you like books with complex revenge plots against a spouse, and involve manipulation of people's emotions then My Sweet Revenge will be your sort of story. 

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy of the book that I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - A Year and a Day by Isabelle Broom

Amazon UK

Title: A Year and a Day

Author: Isabelle Broom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication Date: 17th November 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Welcome to a city where wishes are everywhere

For Megan, a winter escape to Prague with her friend Ollie is a chance to find some inspiration for her upcoming photography exhibition. But she's determined to keep their friendship from becoming anything more. Because if Megan lets Ollie find out about her past, she risks losing everything - and she won't let that happen again . . .

For Hope, the trip is a surprise treat from Charlie, her new partner. But she's struggling to enjoy the beauty of the city when she knows how angry her daughter is back home. And that it's all her fault . . .

For Sophie, the city has always been a magical place. This time she can't stop counting down the moments until her boyfriend Robin joins her. But in historic Prague you can never escape the past . . .

Three different women.

Three intertwining love stories.

One unforgettable, timeless city.

Simply one of the most captivating stories I have read this year. Isabelle Broom is definitely a master author in the making and is fast becoming a must read instantly authors, especially after having read A Year and a Day. 

The story follows three couples as they spent a week in Prague, a few weeks before Christmas. Let's start with Prague itself, a charismatic and historic backdrop to this unputdownable story. I have been to the city a couple of times at winter, and definitely agree with the mentions of the cold. I also have been to a few of the places mentioned in the story and could recognise them. My overwhelming feeling from the story is that the descriptions and history told of the city, were fabulously accurate, and I had a real sense that I was in the city along side all the characters. 

Prague really is a beautiful city and its true that everything is withing walking distance. There is a story told about someone on the Charles Bridge, which I have a weird feeling I heard while I was in the city myself, so there was a lot that rings true about the book, plus of course the cheap food and drink! 

Megan is looking on her trip to Prague as a way to regain some inspiration as a photographer, as she has an upcoming exhibition to fill. She is in Prague with her best friend Ollie. It is clear they are close and that Ollie wants more, but whether Megan will unlock her heart to him, is another matter .

Hope has recently come out of a marriage and is being treated to the trip to Prague by boyfriend Charlie. She is struggling with how unhappy her daughter is with this situation, and the days in the city, really do open her eyes to life a bit more. 

Sophie is there alone, waiting for her soul mate of a boyfriend to join her in a few days time. She has unlike the others been to the city many times, and knows all the off the beaten track things to do. However there is a lot more to her than is first apparent.

As the narrative switches focus between the three leading ladies, we see the truth in each of their partnerships, and receive great insight as to the various dynamics as work, in addition to seeing Prague through a series of different viewpoints. 

Some of the characters were harder to gel with than others, but overall I really liked all of them. The book had me hooked from around half way, and the writing felt quite mature, and was a joy to read. 

I'm not really sure how to express coherently how much I loved reading A Year and  a Day but can assure anyone who is a bit undecided that its a fantastic story, and it does plenty to hold your attention and even give you a couple of jaw dropping moments. 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for my copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.