Book Review - The Missing Wife by M. A. Comley

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Title: The Missing Wife

Author: M A Comley

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied Copy

Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited

Publication Date: 17th February 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Years have gone by, justice was served. The case closed. Until now.

The body of a woman, missing for twelve years, is discovered during a routine dig on a nature reserve. It’s up to DI Sally Parker and her team to revisit the evidence. Was the right man convicted? Are there more victims?

On-going investigations are piling on the pressure, forcing Sally to reach out to an old friend for help.

The team are driven to provide closure for the family, but can the killer escape conviction yet again?

From the New York Times Bestselling author who brought you the Justice Series, M A Comley now brings you The Missing Wife, the next gripping installment in the nail-biting DI Sally Parker Cold Case series.

I have to say from the few books that I have read of the DI Sally Parker series, that I really do love it.  Since it's dealing in cold cases, it has a slightly different vibe to M. A. Comley's other books,  and I find it fascinating as to how the police can solve things, so many years later. 

But what really elevates this book in my eyes, is that Lorne has come out of retirement once more and has joined Sally's team to attempt to right some wrongs of a bent officer.  

So my all time favourite detective is back and it meant i felt right at home with the characters, especially when we get to see what Tony is up to too.  I just hope this is the start of a whole bunch of books featuring Sally and Lorne. 

And the crimes being investigated are still despicable and we get to meet some really unpleasant criminals.  I really enjoyed seeing how friends and family react when a body if finally uncovered after 12 years.  

I was completely hooked on this, picking it up at every opportunity to see how the story would progress. 

And I just can't wait to see what will happen next in this series. 

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

Book Review - No Ex Before Marriage by Portia MacIntosh

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Title: No Ex Before Marriage

Author: Portia MacIntosh

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 11th January 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

It's not over until someone says 'I do'...

While her friends join the "Wife Club" one by one, Poppy feels like that part of her life is done and dusted. Already married and divorced she's not desperate to go through all that again.

But what if her divorce never actually went through...?

After a shock revelation Poppy not only discovers she is still married, but that Zac is about to have his second wedding!

Coming face to face with her (almost) ex-husband after six years apart is never going to be easy. And when Zac panics and tells his new wife-to-be that Poppy is family, things can't get much worse as she is welcomed with open arms as part of the wedding party!

As the memories flood back, can Poppy really leave the past where it is? And can she watch the first love of her life walk down the aisle to say 'I do' once again?

A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh, guaranteed to brighten up your day.

Calling all Hollywood movie producers, please turn this book into a film, it feels like a film, it was like a movie running through my head the whole time and its completely fabulous, so deserves to be on a big screen. 

I can't put my finger on whether this is loosely based on potentially an amalgamation of existing rom com movies, or whether its completely fresh and just written in a way that had the scenes playing out so so clearly in my head, but its brilliant! 

I've laughed quite a bit at this amusing story, which I whizzed through as it was just so readable and captured my attention so much more than quite a lot of the books that I've read recently.  It's reinvigorated me and reminded me just how much fun, and how much I really do love an excellently written rom-com.  (Not to say other books haven't been great, by my attention span has been iffy recently). 

I loved the race against time for Poppy to locate Zac at his new wedding, to explain that they are still married and that the divorce papers need re-signing.  The circumstances leading to this a great, and  the location of Zac's upcoming nuptials, a massive castle in Scotland is spectacular. 

Add in a new friend who is rather zany, some what are apparently out of character moments for Poppy as she tries to enjoy life, even though all her old friends seem to be freezing her out, and also flashbacks so we can see key moments of Poppy and Zac's relationship from the start to the end of it, and you have plenty to keep you entertained while reading this. 

Utterly fantabulous, I just hope my wish comes true and that we can see this on a big screen in the future as it would definitely be a hit! 

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

Book Review - The Getaway by Isabelle Broom - #HolidayReading Tenerife

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Title: The Getaway

Author: Isabelle Broom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 10th June 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes it takes losing everything to find the person you need . . .

Most people travel to Croatia for its endless sunshine, pebbly beaches and crystal clear sea.

Kate goes there to disappear.

She needs to escape from a life that has fallen apart in spectacular and public fashion, and no one on the beautiful island of Hvar knows who she is or what she's running away from.

Until she meets another lonely soul.

Alex is different to any man Kate has ever known, yet the connection between them is undeniable. She soon begins to open up in ways she never has before - not even to herself. But Kate is not the only person in Hvar hiding secrets. And, as she is about to discover, it is always only a matter of time before the truth catches up with you . . 

How I loved this book, Isabelle Broom has such a marvellous way of describing places, that I couldn't help but want to visit Hvar in Croatia myself, especially if there is a man like Alex about!

Alex is a man of mystery, lives a simple life, and just always seems to be about. 

Kate on the other hand is only in Croatia, to hide from a viral video and hope that her now ex-boyfriend may want to take her back if he misses her!

Kate does though help her brother, Toby with the interior design for his new hostel venture and also discovers a lot about herself in the process. 

There were many moments there I was letting out audible giggles at various things in the book. 

A real taste of Croatian life and truly enjoyable reading experience, I thoroughly enjoyed my time between the pages of The Getaway. 

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

Book Review - The Push by Claire McGowan - #HolidayReading Tenerife

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Title: The Push

Author: Claire McGowan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Publication Date: 12th November 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

The party should have been perfect: six couples from the same baby group, six newborns, a luxurious house. But not everything has gone to plan, and while some are here to celebrate, others have sorrows to drown. When someone falls from the balcony of the house, the secrets and conflicts within the group begin to spill out …

DS Alison Hegarty, herself struggling with infertility, is called in to investigate. She’s convinced the fall was not an accident, and finds the new parents have a lot to hide. Wealthy Ed and Monica show off their newborn while their teenage daughter is kept under virtual house arrest. Hazel and Cathy conceived their longed-for baby via an anonymous sperm donor—or so Hazel thinks. Anita and Jeremy planned to adopt from America, but there’s no sign of the child. Kelly, whose violent boyfriend disrupted previous group sessions, came to the party even though she lost her baby. And then there’s Jax, who’s been experiencing strange incidents for months—almost like someone’s out to get her. Is it just a difficult pregnancy? Or could it be payback for something she did in the past?

It’s a nightmare of a case, and as events get even darker it begins to look impossible. Only one thing is clear: they all have something to hide. And for one of them, it’s murder.

It took me a while to really get into the story, purely due to the number of characters we are introduced to, and trying to get them all straight in my head. 

Once I had that bit sorted, my enjoyment and puzzlement about what all the party goers were hiding was growing, page by page, as I tried to guess everything ideally before the detective. 

Some I was spot on with, others not so much and I certainly didn't guess the ultimate answers of just what happened on that terrace when a person ended up going over and landing on a rockery. 

There were certainly some Wow reveals that had me shocked. 

Told in present time from the detective, in the weeks leading up to the fatal party by Jax, and then the day of the party in various passages of time from all the ladies present, you are treated to what really is a puzzling case. 

I ended up racing through the final quarter to see how it would all resolve itself, and really enjoyed it.

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

Book Review - The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

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Title: The Soulmate Equation

Author: Christina Lauren

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Piatkus

Publication Date: 18th May 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

The New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners returns with a hilariously witty and feel-good romcom about your perfect match being the last person you'd expect . . .

Jess is a numbers genius, but when it comes to love she's had to accept there is no magic formula. Juggling a career with raising her daughter, it's not surprising that her love life is. . . non-existent. When yet another date ends in disaster, she's prepared to give up on love for good.

But then she hears about a buzzy new matchmaking company that claims to find you the One using a DNA equation. Suddenly, love doesn't seem quite so far out of reach . . .

Until her test shows an unheard-of 98% compatibility with the company's founder, Dr River Pena. Jess already knows Dr Pena, and this man is 100% not her soulmate. Yet as the pair are dragged from one event to the next as the ultimate 'Diamond' pairing, Jess begins to realise that there might be more to the scientist - and to the science behind a soulmate - than she thought.

I loved literally every single thing about this book and was hooked pretty much from the second chapter! Whenever I wasn't reading, Jess and River were on my mind and I wanted to get back to the book. 

In fact I'm not sure why it had to end, I was enjoying it so much. 

I loved the rather nerdy natures of River and Jess, and it somehow doesn't surprise me that they had such a great match on River's DNA matching service. 

River is utterly gorgeous, and as you get to know him, he warms up to be a totally fabulous person too, and I would have happily taken him off Jess's hands! 

Jess on the other hand wasn't looking for love, she has her daughter Juno to prioritise, but submitted a sample for analysis affter a bad day and wasn't expecting the result that came up. 

There is fair bit of science, and the thought behind just what is being calculated and it sounded fascinating, what I could follow of it.  In addition Jess is a statistician so there are a fair few stats in the book.  While Juno has a fabulous inquisitive mind, and asks great questions and has great facts! 

I loved Jess's best friend Flick, who is a romance novelist, and is always so supportive and encouraging of Jess. 

And that's before you take into account the rest of Jess' family, some very lovely, one very cute, and one downright nasty! 

Once again Christina Lauren has produced a truly fabulous book. They are so talented especially at writing chemistry that was trying to overheat my poor kindle,. It was so blatant you could feel it from here - I loved it! 

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

Book Review - The Staycation by Cressida McLaughlin - Blog Tour

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Title: The Staycation

Author: Cressida McLaughlin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 3rd February 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Travel agent, Hester Monday, has been keeping a secret …

Thanks to her fear of flying, she hasn’t been on a plane in years. Now Hester wants to make a good impression on her newest client, Jake Oakenfield, who was heroically injured saving an old lady, and is now laid up in a luxury hotel.

For Jake, unable to return to New York, binge watching Netflix just won’t do. He wants Hester to invent the ultimate escape and re-create her most magical holidays abroad from the confines of his hotel room.

As their perfect mini-breaks around the globe take on a life of their own, Hester wonders if her world of make-believe is all starting to feel just a little too real…

Ooh I do love a Cressida McLaughlin novel and this one is utterly fabulous too.  It was such a quick read for me as I devoured every word, every description of a holiday, every description of the fear of flying, and even more.  

I could picture everything so clearly, especially how Hester set up the hotel room for Jake, for the first of the staycations he asks her to organise.  Despite Hester having never really gone anywhere, she gave such a taste for the country and in fact just about any country she books holiday for. 

As in theory, and she does prove it that you can easily sell a holiday even if you haven't experienced it first hand, if you research enough, are passionate about the location, are able to research and have a way with words. 

Which is of course the exact reason I love armchair travel, through fiction, as much as real travel, and is a point that comes up while Jake is trying to persuade Hester that her wants to virtually travel to places, thus setting up this series of staycations. 

Jake is incredibly good looking, slightly heroic in his actions which are what caused him to be stuck in a hotel room on the wrong side of the Atlantic for a few weeks, and clearly is intrigued by Hester. 

I really enjoyed the glimpses of Rosalie who is a remarkable older lady and so instrumental in various parts of the book, and the first time we get to meet her properly, and well she has some great lines! 

Between vivid travel elements, a potential for romance, great characters, some really imaginative ideas, and just the authors ability to tell an entertaining and enjoyable story - this book has it all.  And I couldn't have loved it more if I tried! 

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

Please do follow along with the rest of the blog tour 

Book Review - It's Better This Way by Debbie Macomber - #HolidayReading UK Cruise

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Title: It's Better This Way

Author: Debbie Macomber

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 13th July 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

The joyful and escapist new novel from New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

It's been nearly six years since Julia Jones had her heart broken. After her husband fell in love with another woman, Julia fought to keep her family together, but now, recalling the words of her beloved father, she realises it's time to move on: it's better this way.

Desperate for a fresh start, Julia sells the family home and moves into an apartment complex, and she's delighted to discover that her new abode comes with a gorgeous new neighbour. Heath is a welcome change from the men Julia usually dates, and as a divorcé himself he understands the difficulties of a fractured family all too well.

As a relationship between Julia and Heath blossoms, Julia dares to dream that her life is looking up - until a dramatic revelation threatens their newfound happiness. Will Julia, Heath find a way through - and will it be together?

Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Phillipa Ashley and Jenny Colgan, It's Better This Way is the perfect uplifting love story about fresh starts and finding a second chance for your happy ever after

I'm always happy to be able to read a new Debbie Macomber book and it really didn't take me long at all to feel right at home between the pages of this one. 

Getting to know Julia and Heath was really enjoyable, and seeing how Julia is dealing with life 6 years on from her divorce. They are both adamant they are done with love and dating but yet a fledgling relationship crops up between them and soon it becomes apparent they both have more in common than just being divorcees! 

I also enjoyed the chapters focusing on Carrie, Julia's niece who is determined the new job Julia helped out with will work out and she takes to the role really well and even helps someone come out of their shell. 

And the philosophy of Julia's grandpa that things happen for a reason and that it is often "better this way" in the face of adversity is a message that can be applied to life generally and could make a bad time have an upside if you look for it. 

As with all books from this author I felt quite warm and cosy while reading this, I loved all the various directions the story went in, especially the ones that had me raise eyebrows in surprise. It's a story of family, new beginnings and whether or not past hurts can be resolved or not. It's a story of healing but also of love and it's one that has left me with a great smile on my face. 

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

Book Review - The Impulse Purchase by Veronica Henry - - #BlogTour #HolidayReading Tenerife

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Amazon UK

Title: The Impulse Purchase

Author: Veronica Henry

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Orion

Publication Date: 3rd February 2022 

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes you have to let your heart rule your head . . .

Cherry, Maggie and Rose are mother, daughter and granddaughter, each with their own hopes, dreams and even sorrows. They have always been close, so when, in a moment of impulse, Cherry buys a gorgeous but rundown pub in the village she grew up in, it soon becomes a family affair.

All three women uproot themselves and move to Rushbrook, deep in the heart of Somerset, to take over The Swan and restore it to its former glory. Cherry is at the helm, Maggie is in charge of the kitchen, and Rose tends the picturesque garden that leads down to the river.

Before long, the locals are delighted to find the beating heart of the village is back, bringing all kinds of surprises through the door.

Could Cherry's impulse purchase change all their lives - and bring everyone the happiness they're searching for?

Escape to the glorious Somerset countryside with this joyful and uplifting story of family, love and hope.

I know I'm rather partial to an occasional impulse purchase, but I have to say I've never bought a pub on an impulse.

And while most people could also say that, Cherry can't as it is her impulsiveness to buy a pub in her home village that really kick starts this book. 

And I loved how it was three generation of women taking over the pub, Cherry who is going through a blip with Mike, Maggie, her daughter who is still grieving the loss of her husband, Rose, the granddaughter who is suffering from anxiety and in addition Rose's daughter who is adorable but too young to have a role in the pub. 

I loved the chapters from their points of view, in addition to an occasional other chapter from Chloe and a few others. 

These are strong independent women who are working together to create a real community pub, and I loved seeing how their lives all change as a result of it. 

I felt as though I was there in Rushbrook alongside the women, and at the pub itself. I really enjoyed every moment of this book, and would love to return to this setting in the future. 

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

Book Review - A Spring Surprise For The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett

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Title: A Spring Surprise For The Cornish Midwife

Author: Jo Bartlett

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 4th January 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Midwife Jess knows she’ll never have a baby of her own, but she’s determined to still be a mum. So Jess decides to foster, providing love and support for children who desperately need it – something Jess never had as a child when she was in foster care.

Jess loves caring for the precious babies who come into her life, but letting them go again breaks her heart every time - can she really be a mum after all?

But then Jess finds a surprise on her doorstep – a newborn baby! As the search for the missing mum begins, Jess cares for the precious babe day and night. She desperately wants to reunite mum and baby, but knows that when the day comes, her own heart will shatter.

Without a doubt the best book in this series so far, don't bother reading the rest of this review, just trust me and if anything about the blurb, or your knowledge of this author appeals to you, then just start reading as you won't regret it. 

When I read the previous book I was marginally surprised that it didn't feel as dramatic as the others in the series, well the author has certainly rectified that in this book, and this is absolutely chock a block full of drama. 

From a baby arriving on Jess's doorstep, a cliffside rescue, some tricky births there is not a chance to pause for breath as you read this.  And that's before you take into account how well the emotions are depicted, to the extent that towards the end I had tears pouring down my face, and it's rare a book will make me actually cry!  But that is testament to how well it is written and how much I was caring for those that star in it. 

I loved finally getting to know Jess a lot more, and of course we keep up with the stories of the other midwives too, but even if you haven't read the previous books, this can certainly be read as a standalone novel. 

I absolutely adore spending time in Port Agnes with these midwives, and feel like I'm part of the team whenever I start reading. From the first few pages I felt completely at home again with these characters and unlike some series, I do tend to remember things from book to book which does help. 

I can't get enough of these books, and am amazed how fresh each one feels, even with the heart of them being about community midwives and women giving birth, the individuals that work at the unit and their lives are just so great to learn about that I am hooked. 

Already can't wait to find out who the focus of the next book will be, just please don't make me wait too long. 

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

Book Review - A Wedding at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland

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Title: A Wedding at Hedgehog Hollow

Author: Jessica Redland

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 6th January 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

It's time for the wedding we've all been waiting for...

Life at Hedgehog Hollow is never dull, although Samantha hopes that the new year ahead will be a little less chaotic as she prepares to marry the love of her life, Josh. But disaster strikes when she checks the rescue centre's bank account after the festive season and discovers it has been emptied. Who would do such a thing, and why? With the future of Hedgehog Hollow now in jeopardy, planning a wedding has lost its shine.

Phoebe is desperate to escape the shadow of her family, infamously known for their attacks on Samantha's beloved rescue centre. Could the kindness of the Hedgehog Hollow team be the chance she needs for a fresh start, or will her family's secrets continue to drag her back?

Top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland welcomes you back to glorious Hedgehog Hollow; full of love, family, friendship - and hedgehogs of course!

Was a joyous way to spend a Sunday afternoon, completely absorbed by the latest Hedgehog Hollow book.  I head been eager to read this from the second I put down book three, and one of the few disadvantages of reading an advance copy a day or so after it is made available is it means that I will now have an even, even longer wait for book 5... which I am now impatient for. 

Well I just love this series so much, and once again Jessica Redland has managed to mix some tough serious storylines, with some lovely light hearted moments.  You go from feeling utterly angry at some points to laughing and smiling a few pages later, and it just works. 

This is not just the latest in what happens to Sam at the Hollow and all the latest hogs being rescued, although we do learn a lot about the Autumn juveniles.  We are also treated to Phoebe's story. 

Phoebe is the young work experience accountant that does the Hollow's accounts, but turns out she is hiding things.  We get chapters from her point of view alternating with Sam's (always with a character heading at the start of the chapter so easy to follow), and for all of her 18 years, what a horrible time she has been having. 

And I use the word horrible as a slight understatement, it's truly awful, and the more we learn about her family the more angry I was becoming at how she has been treated.  

Once again Sam shows huge amounts of compassion for someone and is able to see past the obvious negatives and has great bounds for forgiveness and understanding. 

It was lovely to see how Sam's life has been going since the previous book, and for her story to move on too, and I just loved it all. 

I've been completely hooked for the past 3 and a bit hours on every last word of this book, completely enjoying every moment and not wanting it to ever end. I absolutely adore this series so much, and it keeps going from strength to strength. 

Jessica Redland is a phenomenal author and my only complaint is that she doesn't write fast enough for super fans like me, as I always want more the second I've finished, and then have to wait for books to be written! 

Filled with hedgehogs, children, a tough storyline that may be triggering for some, an overall heartwarming and welcoming feeling - my word it was wonderful to be back at Hedgehog Hollow. 

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