Book Review - Clear My Name by Paula Daly

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Amazon UK

Title: Clear My Name

Author: Paula Daly

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Publication Date: 20th February 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Innocent?

When Carrie was accused of brutally murdering her husband’s lover, she denied it. She denied it when they arrested her, when they put her in front of a jury, and when they sent her to prison.

Now she’s three years into a fifteen-year sentence, away from the daughter she loves and the life she had built. And she is still denying that she is to blame.

Guilty?

Tess Gilroy has devoted her life to righting wrongs. Through her job for Innocence UK, a charity which takes on alleged miscarriages of justice, she works tirelessly to uncover the truth.

But when she is asked to take Carrie’s case, Tess realises that if she is to help this woman, she must risk uncovering the secrets she has struggled a lifetime to hide . . .

We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.

That was a different take on a crime novel, Tess Gilroy is devoted to trying to prove convicted criminals are in fact innocent and should be released. 

We follow Tess and her new trainee at Innoncence UK, Avril, as we try to determine whether Carrie really did murder her husband's lover.  

Throughout I couldn't quite make up my mind which side I was leaning on, i just had a sneaking feeling that it may be more complicated than it appeared, but couldn't work out why.   I was hooked as we are taken on a journey seeing just happened four years ago, when Carrie was arrested, as well as following Tess's story now. 

What added an extra dimension to this is just how Tess's incredibly deeply hidden personal life interconnects with this case in a way you couldn't have guessed.  I think I would have liked to see a bit more from that story line as I was really interested in it. 

I really enjoyed seeing how this story played out, there were some mini gasps from me, as the action progressed and it is another great book from a author I really enjoy reading.  

From around the half way point, the book was incredibly addictive and I just had to know what would happen next. 

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

Book Review - Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? by Kristen Bailey - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?

Author: Kristen Bailey

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 14th February 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

It’s normal for your washing machine to get more action than you, right?

I wake up, bleary-eyed. It’s been two years, six months and three hours since I last shaved my legs, and the llama-patterned knickers I’m wearing have seen better days.

We have seven minutes before the kids wake up, and my husband shuffles closer. ‘Ouch,’ he says, a piece of Lego sticking into his back.

Then, a light comes on in the landing. Small footsteps creep down the stairs. A little voice screams, ‘IS SOMEONE COMING TO MAKE BREAKFAST?!’

All hope of having some ‘alone time’ is replaced with wondering if we’ve run out of Cheerios, thinking about the overflowing laundry, and remembering that I forgot to take out the recycling. Again.

Just a typical Monday morning for the Morton family…

Except today, when I go downstairs in my dressing gown, I find something. Something belonging to my husband. Something that definitely wasn’t in the wedding vows. And it’s either going to make us… or break us.

Original, funny and full of incredibly realistic characters.  

Oh and the big secret, which is triggered by well not your regular contents of a parcel when you are a married couple with three children, which catapults Meg into wondering just what her husband is up to. 

Well she jumps to the most logical conclusion and I'm delighted to say she was incredibly wrong and the truth of it, and what is at the heart of a large part of this book is fabulous. 

But because I don't want to reveal just what it is Danny is hiding, even though its revealed quite early in the book,  as I think it is far more fun to come across it naturally in the book - the resulting story is rather unique and quite unlike anything else I've read for a while. 

I would say though that if you are on the prudish side, or not that open minded when it comes to more intimate matters, that this possibly isn't the book for you. 

Thankfully I love all of that sort of thing in books, and thoroughly enjoyed the story. 

So many of the authors observations  were spot on, and the whole arrange of characters were just really realistic.  I loved Meg's children, Danny's brother Stu.  Then there is an incident with the school headmaster that is rather eye opening and hilarious.  Oh and the scene leading up to some police presence was great,  and that moment at Meg's work where various parts of her life may have been about to collide had me gasping and reaching eagerly for the next chapter! 

There is also a lot about the great North / South divide in the UK,  like Meg, I'm a Londoner, and as such a lot of the northern slang being bandied about, well I probably should have googled to check my understanding was right!   While at the same time I was nodding, knowing just how true it all was, and it just added another level of authenticity to the book. 

Kristen Bailey is clearly a shining light in rom com writing and I know I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes next.    A truly enjoyable and memorable reading experience, oh and this is definitely an author that can write a good sex scene. 

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

Please do take a look at all the other wonderful bloggers on this tour. 

Book Review - The Beach by Sarah Linley

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Amazon UK

Title: The Beach

Author: Sarah Linley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: 21st February 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

The gripping debut thriller – you will not want to miss the book everyone will be talking about this year!
It should have been paradise. But it turned into hell…
It was supposed to be the perfect trip. Four friends, fresh out of university, backpacking around Thailand. But among the sun, sea and sand, something went horribly wrong…

In the years since, Holly has tried hard to push memories of that terrible summer from her mind. Now a schoolteacher, she believes her life is finally coming together when she meets Tom and his adorable five-year-old son, Jack.

But then, Holly starts receiving anonymous messages, showing photos which Holly was sure she destroyed years ago. Someone clearly knows the truth about what really happened. The only question is, how far will they go to get revenge?

'A gripping thriller which kept me hoo

From the first few pages I was gripped and needed to know the truth of whatever the situation was that had Holly fearing her life  would be over if the details were ever revealed. 

She is being stalked but doesn't want to report it for fear of the police wanting to know the why, and she is also trying to deepen her new boyfriends commitment so that she doesn't feel like a secret.   In addition she is worried about one of the children in her class at school , which although not a main story-line, did hold my interest especially with regards safeguarding procedures. 

We also in between the present day chapter get the story of Holly's close friendships at uni and eventually that trip to the Far East that lead to one of the friends coming home dead.  

The chapters where we get to see their travels were spot on for, I loved the details, I felt as though I was alongside the friends in Cambodia, Vietnam and then Thailand.  I could picture it all so clearly, and would have loved more of it in the book. 

As readers we know early on who is causing Holly hassle, but the motives are only made clear slowly, and I loved seeing inside their head, while wondering what they will try next, given it's clear they are ramping up their campaign on Holly.

At times rather creepy, others a bit more gentle but still very interesting, and at others I was hitting the end of a chapter and gasping, then ruing the inevitability that he best most addictive bits were at points I had to put the book down to either get on with real life, or to stop myself reading all night!! If life wasn't in the way I'd be saying this was fairly unputdownable! 

A rather impressive debut thriller, that I'm delighted I took the time to read.  Definitely kept me on my toes and when I wasn't reading, I was wishing  that I was continuing with the story. 

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

Book Review - A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe

Author: Rosie Green

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 24th December 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

With Zak and Ellie’s wedding day approaching, there's high excitement in the pretty village of Sunnybrook, especially among the Little Duck Pond Café crew. Ellie is over the moon with her romantic surprise wedding gift from Zak, and Madison is promising to organise a hen party to remember. Everyone has high hopes for a magical Christmas Eve wedding celebration at gorgeous Brambleberry Manor. (Even Maisie-Moo has a sparkling new outfit.)

But sometimes, even the best-laid plans can go wrong. And with the journey to the altar turning out to be rockier than expected, it’s going to take nothing short of a Christmas miracle to ensure a happy ending .

Another wonderful addition to this series. And for the first time that I recall at least, it is written from the three original leading ladies of the series viewpoints. 

So we get to see things from Elle, Jaz and Fen's perspectives, which is great, as I've missed all of their voices, in the more recent novellas. 

Equally doing it this way has allowed for enough backstory to be filtered in so that if you are new to the series it should standalone. 

This one really made me smile a lot, from the various mishaps to the romantic gestures.   There is just a lot to love. 

I don't want to risk spoiling the plot, or the series so far potentially, but I'll say that it is so great to finally see this wedding, which I feel like we have been waiting for, for books!

Not that everything is smooth sailing, I am ridiculously happy with the way all the characters stories, including Madison, Katja, Primrose are progressing within this instalment. 

And of course I can't not mention the adorable Maisie and Maisie Moo, who never fail to make me grin. 

I adored this novella, and I can't wait to return to the Little Duck Pond Cafe in the next one. 

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

Book Review - Coming Home to Merriment Bay by Emily Harvale - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: Coming Home to Merriment Bay

Author: Emily Harvale

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Crescent Gate Publishing

Publication Date: 16th December 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

This novel was originally a four-part, serial. This is all four parts and forms Book 1 in the Merriment Bay series. If you have read the four-part serial, you have read this book.

Cat Devon left Merriment Bay eighteen years ago with her baby daughter, Kyra. Now a letter from Cat’s estranged mum has brought them back.

Cat has tried to forget her heartbreaking past and forgive her mum, Mary and her gran, Viola. But nothing seems to have changed and Mary still insists on keeping secrets.

Sitting beside Viola’s hospital bed, isn’t exactly fun, so when Cat and Kyra stumble on a faded photo of an RAF pilot and a pile of unopened letters in a trunk in Viola’s room, they decide to find out who he is and what he meant to Viola.

Amias Wells, who owns Bay Water Sports but also flies a vintage Spitfire for the Merriment Bay WWII Museum, is the perfect man to ask. Except Cat and Amias haven’t spoken since the accident that killed his friend and left Cat scarred, eighteen years ago. Sparks fly when they meet again.

But Amias traces Bailey Mitchell, who lives thousands of miles away and is almost ninety-eight. Exchanging Christmas cards leads to revelations Cat had not expected. Then a surprise visitor means Cat’s Christmas takes a delightful turn. Now she’s facing choices she never thought she’d have to make.

When distressing events end more than one person’s dream, Cat realises what – and who – she wants. As Merriment Bay prepares to toast in the New Year, can Cat finally put the past where it belongs and find the love she deserves?

This is the complete book of Coming Home to Merriment Bay, which is also sold in four parts: Part One: A Reunion. Part Two: Sparks Fly. Part Three: Christmas. Part Four: Starry Skies. If you have read the four parts then you have read this book.

Dear Emily Harvale, 

I'm honestly not sure you could have packed more drama, emotion, highs and lows into such a fantastic story if you tried. 

I literally can't wait to be back in Merriment Bay and Wyntersleap for your next books. 

Please write faster

Rachel

......

If I was the sort of person to write fangirly emails to authors that is certainly what I would be writing about this book. 

As it is I'm attempting to write a review but all I really want to say is...

If you are an Emily Harvale fan, get this onto your bookshelf now and read it asap!! You won't be disappointed. 

And if you have never read an Emily Harvale book before, but love romance, drama,  stories that literally grip you and keep you reading on, with well thought out characters, and everyone feeling very realistic, then you are missing out on a fabulous author, and I'd highly recommend changing things and starting with this one. 

There were many times where I wanted to bash the characters heads in with a big big rock, as if only they would talk about their real feelings to each other, so much could have been avoided... but then the book would have been dull, so probably a good thing it's written like this, as it is fabulous. 

There are family secrets galore, old loves, new loves, shady characters, and interactions between Amias and his sister Natalia providing amusement, and so so much more besides. 

I'm so happy that I read this combined version, as I would have gone slightly bonkers waiting for each of these original novellas, as they are so good. 

If you are in any doubts as to whether I absolutely adored this or not...  well I did and I suspect you might too.   

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

Book Review - The 24-Hour Cafe by Libby Page

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Amazon UK

Title: The 24-Hour Cafe

Author: Libby Page

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 23rd January 2020 

Rating: 4 Stars

Welcome to the café that never sleeps.
Day and night, Stella's Café opens its doors to the lonely and the lost, the morning people and the night owls. It's a place where everyone is always welcome, where life can wait at the door.

Meet Hannah and Mona: best friends, waitresses, dreamers. They love working at Stella's - the different people they meet, the small kindnesses exchanged. But is it time to step outside and make their own way in life?

Come inside and spend twenty-four hours at Stella's Café, where one day might just be enough to change your life . . .

This was a very calm, relaxed sort of a book for me.  It felt like it ambled along at a relatively sedate pace, and that it was easy to put down at the end of a chapter but also pick straight up again for the next. 

For each chapter focuses on one hour of the day, in Stella's Cafe, a 24 hour Cafe near Liverpool Street station.  The main focus is on the two main waitresses that work there and also are best friend and live together Mona and Hannah, as they each embark on a 12 hour double shift. 

We also though get glimpses of some of the customer's and their stories too, and just what the cafe means to them too.   The overall writing style was quite gentle, I really liked it, and found the way everything was presented just works. 

During the day we really get to know Mona and Hannah well, as they think back to key moments in their friendship, and you can see just how much their friendship deep down does mean to them.  They also both are trying to make their career as performers with varying amounts of motivation and determination. 

It was certainly a different way to present a story, and a rather clever one at that.  I was tending to read this in 1 or 2 hour segments (hours as in how the story is split now how long I was necessarily spending at a time reading)  enjoying seeing who was in the cafe, how lingered for a while, and on occasions the thoughts and more of the story of some of the customers. 

I also enjoyed the small glimpses at the other members of staff that work in the cafe. and the thoughts that small acts of kindness could have life changing affects for the recipient of them. 

Given I was attracted to the book because of the word cafe in the title, and having previously enjoyed The Lido, I hadn't really looked at the blurb, and as a result had no idea what to expect - other than  realising within the first few pages that this wasn't your typical cafe book, and that I was intrigued to see just how the pages would unfold. 

All the characters were really believable, and this was a great change of pace to my normal books.  I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read this really good book. 

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

Book Review - Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman

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Amazon UK

Title: Mr Nobody

Author: Catherine Steadman

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 9th January 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

When a man is found on a Norfolk beach, drifting in and out of consciousness, with no identification and unable to speak, interest in him is sparked immediately. From the hospital staff who find themselves inexplicably drawn to him; to international medical experts who are baffled by him; to the nationalpress who call him Mr Nobody; everyone wants answers.  Who is this man? And what happened to him?

Neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis is asked to assess the patient. This is her field of expertise, this is the chance she’s been waiting for and this case could make her name known across the world. But therein lies the danger. Emma left this same small town in Norfolk fourteen years ago and has taken great pains to cover all traces of her past since then.

But now something – or someone – is calling her back. And the more time she spends with her patient, the more alarmed she becomes.

Has she walked into danger?

My mind is reeling,  I didn't see that coming at all. Just wow, what a book and almost certainly will be a content for one of my top books of the year. 

This was the first book I've read by Catherine Steadman, and I will happily admit that it was the cover that first drew me towards the book and then I read the blurb and thought it sounded quite interesting. 

Well nothing could have prepared me for book.  It's definitely one best read without any prior knowledge.  From the first chapters I could tell there was a rather impressive quality to the writing.  As I continued reading I realised that the book was getting under my skin.  I doubt I'll be forgetting it for a while. And despite needing to urgently get on with some work I read the whole of the second half of the book in one sitting oblivious to real life. 

This is a fascinating look at memory and how the brain works, it is clear that the author has done vast amounts of research into the topic and everything is present in a really accessible way. 

The two main characters well I wanted to know about both of them.  Dr. Emma Lewis is clearly hiding her past and we get glimpses of it from time to time.  Whereas the man, found on a beach and now being treated by Emma, is a mystery.   The first chapter from his point of view where it describes so clearly how it feels to have no memory, no clue of who you are, but yet knowing you need to find someone, and can still do assorted motor skills, is rather disconcerting.   And I found I had a great deal of empathy towards him. 

It's a quick paced story that kept me on my toes, kept me guessing and thinking.  I was completely hooked on this story, Easily the best book I've read so far this decade.  I definitely will be looking out for more from this author. I predict I may just have a book hangover now, I just can't get over how fabulous this was. 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Little Bookshop at Herring Cover by Kellie Hailes

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Amazon UK

Title: The Little Bookshop at Herring Cove

Author: Kellie Hailes

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: 10th July 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

The start of something wonderful…
Sophie Jones loves her little bookshop at Herring Cove. She’ll never give it up to big property developer, Alexander Fletcher – no matter how handsome he might be…

Yet beneath Alex’s sharp suit and persuasive manner, there’s something about him that makes Sophie want to trust him.

So when he offers to help make her little shop a success again, she wonders whether this could be the start of something wonderful for both Sophie and Alex – together?

Perfect for fans of Caroline Roberts, Cathy Bramley and Heidi Swain.

How I enjoyed this book, it was full of a lovely small town vibe, a bookshop that is trying to turn its fortunes around, a romance between two complete opposites who should be sworn enemies, a man having a slight crisis of job and being, a fabulous location and some great friends. 

Sophie is determined that she won't be forced into selling her beloved bookshop, just so that a developer can turn Herring Cove into a big soulless tourist resort. Her whole life is in that shop and location and she has many reasons why she wants to stay put. 

Alex is the man tasked with persuading her to sign and take a large financial settlement, but yet it soon becomes obvious they have have misjudged each other and that Alex may have hidden depths to him. 

It was incredibly sweet to see but to me I loved Alex's character development, turning from corporate drone Alexander into the man he is meant to be.  i couldn't help falling for him myself. 

There is just such a sense of sweet loveliness within this book, I felt completely at home within its pages, I couldnt' read it fast enough, reading well into the early hours of the morning in bed.   

You sort of knew where the story would end up, and I did  think at one point a certain happening was inevitable, but it was also amusing too. And I enjoyed reading this and just seeing how they would reach the ending you were rooting for! 

Another really entertaining and joyful story from an author that I love. 

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

Book Review - How To Be Perfect by Holly Wainwright - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: How To Be Perfect

Author: Holly Wainwright

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Legend Press

Publication Date: 1st November 2019

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Elle is holed up in an exclusive retreat where women pay thousands to mimic her extreme lifestyle, or die trying. But who's bankrolling Elle's new empire?

Abi just wants to marry her true love in the garden on New Year's Eve. But her ex-husband is building a financial cult in the shed and her teenage daughter's YouTube channel is gaining followers for all the wrong reasons.

Frances has a newborn and a WhatsApp mothers' group that's giving her anxiety. But she's certain that if she can just be more like those fitmums on Instagram, things can only get better.

Enter the world of How To Be Perfect… fake gurus, green smoothies and bad influences included.

I loved being back amongst some of my favourite dysfunctional families, for even more chaos, blogging shenanigans and the return of Elle. 

If you haven't read The Mummy Bloggers then some of the backstory in this one may not make as much sense, especially with the feelings towards Elle, but it could potentially be read as a standalone, depending on how much that sort of thing bothers you. 

Set 18 months after the end of the previous book, Elle has re-imagined herself completely, and although she is still someone who is incredibly hard to like, I did start to feel sorry for her in places. 

We also have the return of Abi's family, and she is due to get married very soon, if only her ex-husband, and his kids weren't living in their barn!

And the final main focal character we have this time is Frances, who is a devoted follower of Elle, has signed up to the exclusive site and believes pretty much every blog post and piece of advice Elle produces. 

I must say that I rolled my eyes at most of the stuff Elle was spouting and felt sorry for anyone who was vulnerable enough to believe her.   And the people she is surrounding herself with now aren't much better. 

Filled with humour, more on the theme of not believing everything you read online or on social media, and all manner of great interactions between assorted characters makes this a really amusing and fun book to read. 

I really hope this isn't the last we have seen of these characters, I'm pretty sure they could get up to all manner more misadventures in the future!

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

Book Review - The Mummy Bloggers by Holly Wainwright - #HolidayReading Mexico

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Amazon UK

Title: The Mummy Bloggers

Author: Holly Wainright

Format reviewed: Ebook 

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Legend Press

Publication Date: 3rd June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

I have to say I'm so glad the world of book blogging is no where near as underhanded or cutthroat as that of the mummy bloggers in this book. 

Meet the 3 ladies who will go all put to win a prestigious blogging award.    

Elle, Abi and Leisl are all interlinked in more ways than you could think.  They are all mums with very different approaches to child raising. 

There are many characters in this but once you get used to the structure and who belongs with each lead it does help a lot.   I loved that each chapter was labelled with who it was focusing on. 

There are many parenting issues covered in this book as well as a commentary on social media and how it's used. 

I loved this book so much that I think the only thing I can do is sit down and read the sequel that also happens to be on my kindle. 

Plenty of fun,  relatable elements of characters and down right deviousness. A great book for those of you with kids and like me those that just want to be entertained.

I have to say I'm so glad the world of book blogging is no where near as underhanded or cutthroat as that of the mummy bloggers in this book. 

Meet the 3 ladies who will go all put to win a prestigious blogging award.    

Elle, Abi and Leisl are all interlinked in more ways than you could think.  They are all mums with very different approaches to child raising. 

There are many characters in this but once you get used to the structure and who belongs with each lead it does help a lot.   I loved that each chapter was labelled with who it was focusing on. 

There are many parenting issues covered in this book as well as a commentary on social media and how it's used. 

I loved this book so much that I think the only thing I can do is sit down and read the sequel that also happens to be on my kindle. 

Plenty of fun,  relatable elements of characters and down right deviousness. A great book for those of you with kids and like me those that just want to be entertained.

Thank you to Legend Press on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.