I thoroughly enjoyed being whisked away to Capri with best friends, Jo and Susie. Both women are at a time in their lives when they are looking for moI thoroughly enjoyed being whisked away to Capri with best friends, Jo and Susie. Both women are at a time in their lives when they are looking for more and wanting to get out of the rut they have been living in. When an all expenses trip to celebrate the life of one of their good friends comes around, well of course they can’t say no!
The one thing I love about this author’s books is that there is hope for us all. She shows us that age is just a number and in no way defines us. If anything, with age, retirement age especially, does come with some advantages. The setting of the story was yet another winner and I lapped it all up. Paulo’s family were certainly an interesting bunch that provided some fun and laughter. In fact there were more than a few laugh out loud moments at poor Jo’s expense.
The Dolce Vita Divas had me smiling throughout. It has a wonderful mix of humour as well as heartwarming moments. It’s a reminder that whilst family will always be important, we shouldn’t lose ourselves along the way. Hugely entertaining and wonderfully uplifting, I quickly devoured this utterly gorgeous read!...more
Jessie gets to live out all our dreams. Who hasn’t been madly in love with someone famous and wish to be able to meet them and fall in love? Jessie doJessie gets to live out all our dreams. Who hasn’t been madly in love with someone famous and wish to be able to meet them and fall in love? Jessie does just that and of course I was very envious!
I loved Jessie. She is a single mum to two boys and is very down to earth. Whilst she is still on good terms with her ex, her boys come first above everything else. Michael is also wonderful. He may be a famous singer but it hasn’t gone to his head and if anything he doesn’t enjoy the popularity that comes with being well known. It doesn’t take long before sparks start to fly between him and Jessie and it was so heartwarming to see.
Whilst it is a romance story, it highlights the cons of being in a relationship with someone famous. It’s certainly not for the feint hearted and there are a lot of ups and downs along the way. There is humour though throughout and I enjoyed being transported to different places around the world with Michael on his tour.
Reach for a Star was such a sweet read. I adored every minute of it. It was great to live out your fantasy through Jessie and you are routing for the couple for their relationship to work out. The supporting characters were also good and it just made it and all round great read. A great escape from real life!...more
Jo is in a bit of a rut with her life but things are about to change for the better when she inherits a cottage by the sea that turns her life around Jo is in a bit of a rut with her life but things are about to change for the better when she inherits a cottage by the sea that turns her life around for the better. The cottage sadly isn’t quite as Jo had remembered it but you could easily see the potential of it being the perfect home. I fell in love with it as much as Jo did as well as the fabulous people she meets.
There was so much to love about this story. The beautiful setting, the ram shackled cottage, her new friends as well as Seamus. Jo certainly has her ups and downs and her ex, Michael, absolutely infuriated me. I don’t think I have ever wanted to slap a character as much as I did with him. Even her daughters made me want to give them a good shake. I loved Jo’s mum though who has a big heart. It was a shame to see how selfish some people can be with no thought for others. We get to see the good side of people though through Jo’s new friends and Seamus.
The Cornish Cottage by the Sea was sublime! It whisked me away to a place I would love to call my home and was a reminder of no matter what life throws at you, to keep your chin up, rise above it and concentrate on the good in life. There is a lot of humour with some great one-liners that left me with a smile on my face. It had everything I wanted from this genre with plenty of heart warming moments that was good for the soul. A joyous and uplifting story!...more
A case that runs a bit close to home for Sara and her team in this newest edition in the series. It adds to the tension of what is already a gripping A case that runs a bit close to home for Sara and her team in this newest edition in the series. It adds to the tension of what is already a gripping storyline as the body count rises. We have no idea who the killer is yet they seem to be seeking revenge against their victims. Of course it is left to the team to work out the who and why which leads to some shocking revelations.
Along with the case, Sara and her colleagues are still coming to terms with what happened in the previous book. Not only that, but there is a new boss to contend with of which there are understandably some trust issues to iron out. I like the background characters of Jeff and Mary who I would love to see a bit more of as even though their parts in the story are small, they manage to stand out in their own right.
Shadows of Deception tackles a few different topics which all make for an enthralling read. Emotions are high within the team and I think readers would be best to have read the previous book in the series to fully understand and enjoy this one. It had me go through an array of emotions of which some parts were very chilling indeed. The pacing was great with never a lull with so much going on that as usual, I flew through it and am yet again eager for the next one. A highly addictive crime series!...more
There is definitely a fascination when it comes to peoples minds, more so when it comes to those of criminals. Kerry has had a varied career and she tThere is definitely a fascination when it comes to peoples minds, more so when it comes to those of criminals. Kerry has had a varied career and she talks candidly about her different roles as well as the convicted men and women she meets along the way.
Not only does she open our eyes on how people’s minds work but also highlights the issues that some women have to face in their line of work. I found her time working in the prisons to be quite harrowing where it’s not only the criminals you have to watch out for but some of the staff also.
Kerry also talks about her personal life of which she was subject to stalking. Again she highlights how little help there was from the police and how she is now an advocate in getting more help and support for victims. No one should have to deal with this and reading of the effects it can have on some one was deeply saddening.
The Dark Side of the Mind was an interesting read. Where as I found my emotions quite hardened to some of the criminals that Kerry comes across, there were also some who literally broke my heart. These aren’t the high profile prisoners that we have heard so much about in the news and that are covered in numerous books, yet their stories are none the less, disturbing. A thought provoking read!...more
Poor Mallory has a lot on her plate. Her daughter Jilly isn’t doing as well at school as she should be, which of course as a mother is a worry, but noPoor Mallory has a lot on her plate. Her daughter Jilly isn’t doing as well at school as she should be, which of course as a mother is a worry, but not only that, she has had life changing news which has her even more concerned for the future. Mallory needs her family around her more than ever. The only issue is her mother and aunt have not spoken for years. Along with her cousin and best friend Penny, they are determined to get them talking again.
I enjoyed how the story goes between past and present with the past focusing on Gigi and Rose and the reason why they fell out, along with present day with their daughters putting a plan in place to get them talking again. It all seems to centre around a wedding dress which was another fascinating story in itself.
The Best Days of our Lives covers topics such as racism, grief, romance, amongst other things. It was such an engrossing read. Whilst the story was sombre in places, there are some humorous and plenty of uplifting parts to it also. I was worried the ending might be a bit of a tear jerker due to the nature of the story but it left me on a high. It makes you think about what is truly important in life and how some things we have placed so much importance on, can be trivial in the bigger scale of life. A gorgeous, endearing and heartwarming read!
My thanks to Rachel’s random Resources for inviting me to be part of the blog tour....more
I bought this book a while back and only just got round to reading it. My daughter having watched the series had already told me what happens but it dI bought this book a while back and only just got round to reading it. My daughter having watched the series had already told me what happens but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment in anyway.
Emma and Dexter meet at university and over the years their lives are still in some way entwined. I felt sorry for Emma as she is obviously in love with Dex. She has dreams of being a writer and is passionate about so many things in life. Dex on the other hand is a total player. He is handsome, self-centred and thinks life is just one big party. Even then, I could still see the attraction. He is like a little lost boy and I just wanted to mother him.
Over the years the pair struggle with real life and their careers. They are almost like passing ships in the night, meeting up every so often or talking over the phone. There is a definite bond there and it was heartwarming to see. I did get frustrated with Dex at times as his life spirals downwards and wanted to give him a good shake. It does have you thinking will they ever get together but in life, sometimes you have to wait for that one person to grow up before you can think of a relationship.
One Day was a story that embraced me. It’s a reminder of being young and holding a torch for someone. It covers different topics such as addiction, affairs, un-requited love amongst others. It will certainly pull on the heart strings. It’s very much a bitter sweet read that has a sense of nostalgia to it. This is actually my first book by the author and certainly won’t be my last. Highly compelling!...more
How have I come to the final book in the series already! I am so not ready to part ways with these characters.
In the final book we get to catch up witHow have I come to the final book in the series already! I am so not ready to part ways with these characters.
In the final book we get to catch up with all three men and their partners. We see the highs and lows of being a parent and finding love again. It is certainly relatable and I felt empathy for all the characters but more so for Leo and Caitlin and Hugh and Allie. Each man decides it’s time to settle down and get married and who doesn’t love a wedding? Especially when there are three of them!
The last part of the book was just magical, you can’t help but get swept up in all the romance and happy endings. I felt fit to burst with happiness as it is definitely contagious! I feel like I have been through so much with these characters and they all feel like old friends. Whilst the tension does get high at times it was still a wonderful read.
Rules of Engagement was the perfect finale for the Single Dads Club series. I have adored every minute of being back in Hope Cove with cameo appearances from characters in the the author’s original Hope Cove series as well as meeting new ones. It highlights being a single parent and the ups and downs. More than anything though it’s about strong friendships and finding love. It’s hard not to get swept up in it all and will leave you feeling happy and uplifted. The perfect escapism!...more
We are back in Hope Cove where it’s the turn for Hugh to take centre stage. He is a single dad who has been haThis series just gets better and better!
We are back in Hope Cove where it’s the turn for Hugh to take centre stage. He is a single dad who has been happy being single and concentrating on raising his daughter Emmy. His friends and his daughter all push him into trying dating which is where Allie comes in. Their friendship to start with was a lot of fun to read and it doesn’t take long for a spark to ignite between them.
The storyline around the golf course was really good. It enhanced the reading experience even more and it was hard not to get swept up in Allie’s plans for the place. We still get to catch up with the characters from the previous two books which is always nice and whilst all three books so far can be read as standalones, I think it’s still best to read in order, especially as by the looks, book four, the last in the series focuses on them all.
Playing For Keeps was just wonderful! The background stories of the characters added to the appeal as well as the thread to do with Emmy, Hughes daughter. Ultimately they are romance stories but it was good that it also highlights the dynamics of a family where the parents have split up. There are just as many great dads as their are mums and this is reinforced in these books. A fabulous read that I absolutely adored!
Having read The Woman on the Ledge by the author and loving it, I was very much looking forward to reading her latest novel. As soon as I started it, Having read The Woman on the Ledge by the author and loving it, I was very much looking forward to reading her latest novel. As soon as I started it, I was hooked.
The story was frustrating but in a good way. It’s not clear who the mother of Sam is throughout and it had me racing through the pages to find out. It does jump around a lot, with chapters alternating between Lauren and Hope in present day but mainly in the past in the lead up to the present. You do have to stay alert as to the time frame of certain chapters but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment in anyway.
Readers will be torn as I liked both women. They have been, and are going through so much which explains their actions. I wasn’t sure how believable the outcome was as it did feel a little far fetched but as the author is herself an expert in law, if anything it made it a total eye opener in how the system works with a shocking outcome.
There is no denying that The Day I Lost You was a highly addictive story that I couldn’t consume quickly enough. It’s tense, emotive and packed full of suspense. I’m just a little undecided on the ending but it’s hard to know how you would react if you were in the same position as the characters. I think it’s more down to the reader to decide whether justice has been served with all that the characters have gone through. Regardless of this, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book as the author weaves a compelling story that readers won’t be able to put down!
This story went off in a totally different direction than I had expected. It starts off being told from the point of view of Sylvia who has just returThis story went off in a totally different direction than I had expected. It starts off being told from the point of view of Sylvia who has just returned to work from maternity leave. Not only is she struggling with a big issue at work but she is also enduring sleepless nights, not just from the baby but from strange things happening in the house. It then moves to Kate who, with her husband, has bought the house next door to Sylvia. We also have different chapters from the past as well as an unknown character.
It may sound complicated but it is actually far from that. It adds to the whole mystery of what is happening in Sylvia’s house. The setting of the small neighbourhood was perfect of which there are also some dubious characters that had me second guessing as to whether they had anything to do with what was going on. The further into the story I got, the more suspenseful things seemed to be.
The Other Side of the Wall has you wondering what really goes on inside your neighbours houses. It’s also about how the past can shape the person we become. There are a few different threads which will have you wondering how they all tie in but when all is resolved, wow, I hadn’t seen any of it coming! If anything I felt guilty for suspecting certain characters when I couldn’t be further from the truth. Andrea Mara really knows how to pull the wool over her readers eyes with some awesome red herrings. One of my go to authors in the psychological thriller genre. If you haven’t read her books yet, you are seriously missing out!...more
Jess is a journalist for a local paper of which she is shocked when she hears the news of a woman killing two people. More so as it’s a name that she Jess is a journalist for a local paper of which she is shocked when she hears the news of a woman killing two people. More so as it’s a name that she recognises from her childhood, her best friend. She was very close to Heather and her family when she was growing up but something happened that changed that. I felt for Jess as she is torn with wanting to do her job and get in with any news first but also these are people she cared about and doesn’t know what reception she will get turning up on their doorstep after all these years.
The story is mainly set in present day with some chapters which are set in the past. It was hard to conceive why someone would kill two random people and there is also the mystery of Flora that has never been solved. Jess, along with her colleague Jack, work hard in trying to uncover the truth, probably more so than the police! Everyone seems to be hiding something and it makes for a riveting read waiting for the lies and secrets to unfold.
Then She Vanishes had me on tenterhooks throughout. It had me go through so many emotions as the truth comes to light. There were plenty of twists that had me swapping my mind about certain characters and the secrets they were hiding. It had a melancholy feel to it as some of the subjects covered are hard hitting which will have the reader conflicted with whether justice was served. Dark, tense and chilling, this is guaranteed to raise the hair on your arms!...more
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