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
Jude has recently moved to the small town of Lowbridge with her daughter. She isn’t one of those mums who enjoys being part of the school clique and pJude has recently moved to the small town of Lowbridge with her daughter. She isn’t one of those mums who enjoys being part of the school clique and part of the in ground. If anything, the only person she has bothered with is Will, a fellow single parent, who is not only a widow but whose most recent partner has disappeared.
The story mainly alternates between three women, Jude, Victoria, who is the queen bee that everyone wants to be friends with, and Sorrel, one of the other mums in the group. It soon becomes clear that something more darker is going on in this small town which affects more than a few of the residents and will have you having doubts about everyone.
The mums at the school gate is not a new trope by any means but the author does it so well that makes it fresh and exciting. Whilst you will have some suspicions about some of the women, you will change your mind about certain characters as the story moves along. It’s not just the women of course, but the husbands also that will have you constantly changing your mind. I was constantly swapping from empathy to suspicion and then back to empathy again.
It’s Always The Husband was a fast paced read that never let up on the momentum. It will have you second guessing everyone as you try and work out what really happened to Will’s partner Robin as well as who is behind the other strange things that are happening to some of the residents. It certainly kept me guessing and the revelations when they come, come thick and fast which sent my pulse soaring and holding my breath throughout. Seriously engrossing and addictive, C.L. Taylor goes from strength to strength with each psychological thriller she writes. Another winner!
In the second book in the Single Dad’s Club series, we focus on Damian who runs the local surf shack, and his ex partner and mother of their twins, AmIn the second book in the Single Dad’s Club series, we focus on Damian who runs the local surf shack, and his ex partner and mother of their twins, Amy. Even though Amy lives in Oxford with the boys, she decides to stay in a holiday let in Hope Cove where the boys will be spending the summer holidays with their dad so she can gain experience in the publishing world. Of course, this means we get to catch back up with some of the characters from the Hope Cove series of which I was over joyed about.
I really liked both Damien and Amy. Whilst they have had their ups and downs, it was good to see a couple who put their boys first and work together to make sure their relationship doesn’t affect them. So many relationships end bitterly as well as parents using their children to get back at their partners so was good to see adults, acting like adults for a change and considering other peoples thoughts and feelings. Of course, it helps that the pair still have feeling for each other.
Riding the Waves was a truly uplifting and heart-warming read about parenthood and relationships. Not just in the romantic sense but the dynamics of step parents also. I’ve never been to Hope Cove but could easily pack up and move there as the author really sells the gorgeous setting to the reader. The warmth of the characters adds to this books appeal and they all felt like good friends by the time I had reached the end. These are such bingeable books that once you pick up, you don’t want to put down as they are the ideal escapism. Wonderfully captivating!...more
I have been feeling a bit bereft after finishing the author’s Hope Cove series so imagine my delight when I started the first book in the Singles DadsI have been feeling a bit bereft after finishing the author’s Hope Cove series so imagine my delight when I started the first book in the Singles Dads Club series which also happens to be set there! Even though it is a whole cast of new characters, we do briefly get to see Verity and Scarlet who work in the local cafe which was great.
Leo really steps up to the mark after a brief fling which leaves him unexpectedly becoming a single father which I had to admire. He has no clue when it comes to a baby but he knows that he wants to raise his own child. It certainly isn’t easy and it did make me smile in parts. Caitlin, is the love interest who is torn between her friend and Leo who she starts to fall for.
I really felt for Caitlin who is tearing herself apart in not knowing what to do for the best. I didn’t envy her position but you can clearly see how much she likes Leo as well as baby Alice. She has other problems she is having to deal with and it isn’t the easiest of times for her. The budding relationship between her and Leo was incredibly sweet and it has you mentally pushing them both together for a happy ending.
It Takes a Village was a wonderful story of how people pull together and the realities of being a parent to a new born. Being a mother it was hard for me to contemplate how someone could ever walk away from their child but the author did it in such a sympathetic way that by the end, I felt I could understand the decisions made. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series and can’t wait to devour the rest of them. A totally wholesome and uplifting read!...more
The story alternates between Lauren and Cleo, two women who meet by chance when they are on holiday after the guilt gets the better of Lauren when sheThe story alternates between Lauren and Cleo, two women who meet by chance when they are on holiday after the guilt gets the better of Lauren when she takes a picture of an unknowing Cleo and posts it online. Soon after she posts the picture, Lauren starts to get messages from someone that are quite threatening in tone and she wonders what she has started.
I liked Lauren and Cleo. Lauren has so much going on in her life and the last thing she needs is a troll who also seems to be stalking her. It has the reader on edge, never mind Lauren, and I was dying to know why this stranger was so fascinated with both of them. The two women’s storylines were as compulsive as each other. It made it impossible to put down as the need to know who was behind the messages as well as why they were doing what they were doing was very strong.
One Click will make you think twice about what you post on social media and the back lash you can get from trolls. It will have you suspecting everyone and there was one character in particular who truly gave me the creeps. The web of lies and deceit will have you racing through the pages to discover the truth. It certainly kept me guessing as well as constantly swapping my mind as to who the troll could be. That in itself came as a huge shock! Andrea Mara is an author who loves to mess with her readers minds and the story will resonate with readers where we tend to be governed by social media and spend so much time on it. Guaranteed to take your breath away!...more
It’s been a while since the last book in the Detective Allie Shenton series but it has been well worth the wait. A young woman killed minutes away froIt’s been a while since the last book in the Detective Allie Shenton series but it has been well worth the wait. A young woman killed minutes away from her home which leaves her family understandably devastated, yet her family and friends all seem to be hiding something.
The meaning of family is a strong theme throughout this book. It was interesting to see the different dynamics of the characters and their families. How far would you go to protect the ones you love? Allie and her team are up against it as Katie’s death brings to light more than what they had expected of which has some of the team feeling the pressure as well as in fear for themselves and their own family.
The story twists and turns as the team make certain revelations. There are some truly nasty characters as well as ones that will tug at your heart strings. It had me go through an array of emotions and praying that certain characters get their comeuppance. The team are close knit and work well together and it is very much a team effort where they pull together to try and crack the case.
Family Matters was a much anticipated read in the series that more than lived up to my expectations. Emotional, tense and gripping throughout, it made for an engrossing read that was impossible to put down. The author brings a humanity to the characters that plays with your emotions so you really care about them and what they are going through. I could easily see this series being made into a television drama series. A must read!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book.
Poor Bella is just getting her life back on track and is over the moon to be starting up her new business of owning an ice cream van. I have to say I Poor Bella is just getting her life back on track and is over the moon to be starting up her new business of owning an ice cream van. I have to say I thought Bella was very brave in her career choice as ice cream does seem to be more of a seasonal thing but that is the least of her worries when it soon becomes obvious that someone is out to ruin it just as she is getting started. Of course this is the perfect opportunity for Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue to put their detective skills to use although they may have bitten off more than they can chew with their latest case!
I adore the seaside setting in this series and how the author manages to create cases that are really relevant to the area. You would think somewhere like that would have petty crime at best, yet the death count certainly seems to be getting higher! The title fits the story perfectly and even in one of the coldest months of the year, I still found my mouth watering at the mentions of all the ice cream and wonderful flavours.
The cast are great and I have really grown fond of the three ladies and some of the regulars. It’s nicely paced out and I looked forward to picking my Kindle back up at every opportunity I could to read more as it is the perfect cosy mystery with just the right amount of wit that makes for a highly engaging read.
The Vanilla Killer was a lot of fun of which the three ladies do have me worrying over their safety more than a few times! For their ages, they do make some decisions that had me holding my breath wondering if they were being brave or silly. It kept me guessing throughout and the extra little thread which I hadn’t expected was just brilliant and ended on a real high. Packed with mystery and mayhem, it’s guaranteed to keep the reader entertained up to the very last page!...more
This is the third book in the Graves Glen series and I’m not sure if it’s the last one as it features the third and last Penhallow brother, Bowen. We This is the third book in the Graves Glen series and I’m not sure if it’s the last one as it features the third and last Penhallow brother, Bowen. We know very little of Bowen from the previous books apart from him having a great big beard, so was lovely to get to know the man behind it.
Tamsyn, the love interest, is someone we have met before however and I was unsure after the previous encounter whether she would be suitable for Bowen. It didn’t take long for me to realise she was. This is probably the spiciest for me out of all the three books but there is still a good story line running along side it which had me engrossed.
The Wedding Witch had so much packed into it with time travel, spells and so much more. It was mainly a fun read with some heartfelt moments. I love the settings that the author takes the reader to and they couldn’t be anymore different from each other. It was a relatively quick read as it didn’t take me long to devour it. I do hope there is more to come from Graves Glen. A magically good read!...more
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