Michelle's bookshelf: arcs-read en-US Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:26:52 -0800 60 Michelle's bookshelf: arcs-read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg The Less Unkind 222545239
As she fights to uncover the truth and witnesses the lengths one will go to protect the secrets of the past, Pico confronts the moral quandaries that emerge when the pursuit of art eclipses the bounds of right and wrong.]]> 279 Rosaria Giorgi 1836287267 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.07 The Less Unkind
author: Rosaria Giorgi
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/14
date added: 2025/01/14
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dohva - The Land Within: A Tale of Elemental Sorcery and Ancient Mysteries]]> 218280544 Embark on a journey to the enigmatic realm of Dohva, where elemental magic reigns supreme and ancient secrets lie buried beneath the mountains.

In the isolated land of Dohva, where souls are trapped in an endless cycle of rebirth by an ancient elemental sphere, a malevolent force wields the forbidden dark magic of the demon prince Agthod. Avala, a rebellious air sorceress haunted by the loss ofher closest friend, is driven to unravel the mysteries that have long plagued her world. She finds unlikely allies with three anti-heroes, a colourful and diverse cast who each struggle with their own demons and desires for redemption.

But as the shadows deepen and the threat grows, Avala and her newfound companions must set aside their differences and forge an uneasy bond. But can they confront this powerful enemy force that threatens to consume their world and change their destiny forever?




"Dohva - The Land Within" is the first book of an epic fantasy meets romantasy trilogy that will captivate readers from beginning to end and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment in this spellbinding saga.]]> 271 Sophie Haeder Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.67 Dohva - The Land Within: A Tale of Elemental Sorcery and Ancient Mysteries
author: Sophie Haeder
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/13
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Catford Dogs: Conspiracy and murder throw PI Miles Askew into the jaws of South London gangland.]]> 215076562 Catford, South-east London, 2003. Miles Askew, charming but feckless, works for a small-time private investigation agency. Born to privilege, at 38 his career and relationships are a car crash.

One August weekend, Miles� easy existence is obliterated when his lover gives him an alarming ultimatum, and a seemingly straightforward investigation into local greyhound racing erupts with the suspicious death of his close friend and colleague, George. The sudden loss jolts Miles from his complacency and thrusts him into a dangerous web of criminal conspiracy.

As Miles desperately grapples for atonement and justice, he is forced to confront both ruthless criminal conspirators and his own conflicted loyalties. Bribery, blackmail, and violent death play out against a shifting social backdrop of Blair’s England and Catford’s criminal past. Miles finds himself ensnared in a perilous game where every move could be his last.

Will Miles uncover the truth and redeem himself, or will he become another casualty of Catford’s dark underbelly? In a world where the stakes are life and death, the odds of escaping unscathed are increasingly stacked against him.]]> 338 Andy Burn 1068647604 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 Catford Dogs: Conspiracy and murder throw PI Miles Askew into the jaws of South London gangland.
author: Andy Burn
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/04
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, #2)]]> 216172531
For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.]]> 448 Lynn Painter 1398536423 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.94 2024 Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, #2)
author: Lynn Painter
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/31
date added: 2024/10/31
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Arden: The astonishing untold story of Shakespeare's first play]]> 219965590 402 G.D. Harper 1739677838 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.75 Arden: The astonishing untold story of Shakespeare's first play
author: G.D. Harper
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/19
date added: 2024/10/19
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Three's A Crowd 62680988 What happens when an estranged father and son unwittingly fall in love with the same woman?

'If ever a book was a mood-lifter, it’s this one. Full of caustic wit, I cried laughing!' MILLY JOHNSON, Sunday Times bestselling author

'Smart, clever and engaging - the perfect ‘what-if� novel' PENNY PARKES

'What a treat this novel is! Compulsively readable, and with surprising twists and turns right to the end. And who knew that such a nightmarish situation could be so funny?' DEBORAH MOGGACH

'Fun, fresh and endlessly entertaining!' HEIDI SWAIN, Sunday Times bestselling author

'A witty twisty romp that leaps from the page. Perfect for lifting the spirits' FANNY BLAKE

'Funny, sad, uplifting and clever - pure escapism!' SUSI HOLLIDAY

’What an incredible read - tender, engrossing and extremely funny. I was laughing from the first page!' LISA CUTTS

‘A beautifully executed, laugh-out-loud ride through the complex fluctuations of a father/son relationship and an unwittingly shared love interest� OLIVIA LICHTENSTEIN

‘I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this funny, clever and surprisingly touching novel. Pitch perfect, it had me howling with laughter from beginning to end� HOLLY MARTIN

'Punchy and pacey, witty and engaging with entertainment by the bucketload. I absolutely LOVED it' KIM NASH

A hilariously laugh out loud, romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Something to Live For (Richard Roper), Love, Unscripted (Owen Nicholls), The Love Square (Laura Jane Williams), and Us (David Nicholls).

Out-of-work actor Harriet is recuperating from a crash-and-burn affair with Damian � aka ‘Cockweasel� � and making ends meet as a barista when she meets two rather lovely men. Tom is a regular at the café, and seems like such a nice guy. Smooth-talking DJ Richard is older, but in great shape � a real silver fox.

Deciding to take a chance on both of them, Harriet doesn’t realise at first that she is actually dating father and son. Tom and Richard aren’t on speaking terms, and don’t share a last name � so how was she to know? By the time everyone finds out, both Tom and Richard are truly madly deeply in love with Harriet, and she’s faced with an impossible choice.

But as the battle for her affections intensifies, ‘Cockweasel� makes an unexpected reappearance and begs her to give him another chance…]]> 416 Simon Booker 1398504777 Michelle 0 arcs-read 2.70 Three's A Crowd
author: Simon Booker
name: Michelle
average rating: 2.70
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2022/10/21
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Institution (Connie Woolwine, #2)]]> 61801039
On a locked ward in the world’s highest-security prison hospital for the criminally insane, a nurse has been murdered and her newborn baby kidnapped. A ransom must be paid, and the clock is ticking.

Forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine is renowned for her ability to get inside the mind of a murderer. Now she must go deep undercover among the most deranged and dangerous men on earth, and use her unique skills to find the baby � before it’s too late.

She has five days to catch the killer.

But with the walls of The Institution closing in on her, will her sanity last that long?]]> 422 Helen Sarah Fields Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.93 2023 The Institution (Connie Woolwine, #2)
author: Helen Sarah Fields
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2022/12/29
date added: 2024/09/29
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics]]> 48671531 320 Bruce Goldfarb 1913068242 Michelle 5 arcs-read
I picked up 18 Tiny Deaths expecting to take a week or so to read with it being non-fiction, but Bruce Goldfarb has written such a compelling and fascinating account of Frances Glessner Lee's life that I couldn't put it down. I think it is the first non-fiction book that I have had glued to my hand until I had read it cover to cover.

As much as it is the story of Frances Glessner Lee's personal life, it is also the story of the birth of modern forensics. We take it for granted that fingerprints can be used to identify a criminal and dental records can be used to identify a victim but I didn't know that Frances Glessner Lee was instrumental in developing these processes. For a woman born in the late 19th Century, that's no mean feat: indeed, Frances Glessner Lee was a woman living in a man's world but her invaluable attention to detail made her voice heard.

I am completely blown away by the Glessner Lee's Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death; a collection of highly detailed miniature murder scenes, much like a doll's house. The time and patience that must have gone into making them is awe-inspiring and to think that Frances Glessner Lee created them herself, at great expense, is absolutely astonishing. Photos are included in the book but you can see these dioramas, which are still used in forensic training, on the Smithsonian American Art Museum by clicking here.

Bruce Goldfarb has written one of the most compelling non-fiction books I have ever read about a fascinating, influential and completely remarkable woman. I loved the inclusion of some real, and often horrific, cases that inspired Glessner Lee to advance forensic science in a way that was well beyond its time. 18 Tiny Deaths is an outstanding book that captivated me from start to finish, like no non-fiction book has ever done before. A very highly recommended read and one that will inevitably result in further research to see the amazing nutshell models in further detail.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.03 2020 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics
author: Bruce Goldfarb
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/03/27
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I've always had a keen interest in forensics, not just from reading lots of crime but I think my natural attention to detail and logical thought processes fit in well with forensic science. Alas, I chose numbers over crime scenes but my love of forensics lives on vicariously through all of the crime books that I read.

I picked up 18 Tiny Deaths expecting to take a week or so to read with it being non-fiction, but Bruce Goldfarb has written such a compelling and fascinating account of Frances Glessner Lee's life that I couldn't put it down. I think it is the first non-fiction book that I have had glued to my hand until I had read it cover to cover.

As much as it is the story of Frances Glessner Lee's personal life, it is also the story of the birth of modern forensics. We take it for granted that fingerprints can be used to identify a criminal and dental records can be used to identify a victim but I didn't know that Frances Glessner Lee was instrumental in developing these processes. For a woman born in the late 19th Century, that's no mean feat: indeed, Frances Glessner Lee was a woman living in a man's world but her invaluable attention to detail made her voice heard.

I am completely blown away by the Glessner Lee's Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death; a collection of highly detailed miniature murder scenes, much like a doll's house. The time and patience that must have gone into making them is awe-inspiring and to think that Frances Glessner Lee created them herself, at great expense, is absolutely astonishing. Photos are included in the book but you can see these dioramas, which are still used in forensic training, on the Smithsonian American Art Museum by clicking here.

Bruce Goldfarb has written one of the most compelling non-fiction books I have ever read about a fascinating, influential and completely remarkable woman. I loved the inclusion of some real, and often horrific, cases that inspired Glessner Lee to advance forensic science in a way that was well beyond its time. 18 Tiny Deaths is an outstanding book that captivated me from start to finish, like no non-fiction book has ever done before. A very highly recommended read and one that will inevitably result in further research to see the amazing nutshell models in further detail.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> Witch Dust 35434541
For Sandra, daughter of illusionists, Adam and Ophelia, life’s never been run of the mill! But when Adam’s wandering eye lights on yet another conquest, it proves a chorus girl too far, and Sandra’s caught in the reverberations of her parents acrimonious parting. Coerced into restoring her depressed Mother to the bosom of a family Sandra never knew existed, she’s sucked into a situation that even for her is unnerving.

From being without a single relative, she suddenly acquires several she’d rather do without, and learns a few home truths she’d prefer not to know. Ophelia, it appears, has not been entirely honest about any number of things. There’s no doubt in Sandra’s mind, the sooner she puts as much distance as possible between herself, her newly discovered nearest and dearest, their peculiar tendencies and their failing hotel business, the happier she’s going to be.

Dire straits call for desperate measures and Sandra reluctantly rises to the occasion. A hanged housemaid, a fly-on-the-wall documentary, The Psychic Society and a quasi co-operative journalist all handled correctly should, she reckons, get the family business up and running, which will allow her to do the same � as fast as she can, and in the opposite direction. Things unfortunately move swiftly from bad to farce and then get a hell of a lot darker. One moment Sandra’s struggling to save the family’s income, the next, she’s battling to save their lives. Turns out, some darknesses, once buried, are best left undisturbed]]> 200 Marilyn Messik 1788030370 Michelle 5 arcs-read
Sandra's parents, Adam and Ophelia, are famous illusionists and for them all the world is a stage. In typical showbiz fashion, Sandra's real name is Serenissima but she is happy to stay behind the curtain and out of the limelight. Over the years, Sandra sees a few strange things going on in the show that appear to be more than an illusion but magic isn't real, is it?

After a fight with Adam, Ophelia turns up in Sandra's living room and asks Sandra to drive her to her family home. There's nothing odd about that except Ophelia has always told Sandra that she was adopted and had no real family. Finding out that she has family she never knew about comes as quite a shock for Sandra but there are many more shocks and surprises in store for her when she meets them. Let's just say that they make The Addams Family look normal.

Much like a disturbance in the force, Sandra and Ophelia arriving at the family home, which the family have turned into a hotel, results in a lot of interest from the local community. It's not a spoiler to say (as the title is Witch Dust after all) that it could be seen as a 'gathering' and with so many strange things happening, I was reading with a growing feeling of unease and a sense of impending danger. The story is so compelling, and Marilyn Messik has a knack of ending her chapters with cliffhangers, that you can't help but read 'one more chapter' that turns into about ten more chapters until suddenly you've read the whole book in no time at all.

Witch Dust is such a magical, spooky and unique book; it's like an episode of Supernatural, Bewitched and Charmed all rolled into one. Prepare to expect the unexpected and you'll still be shocked and surprised; I absolutely loved it. If you're looking to read something different for a change, you won't get more different than Witch Dust.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.33 2017 Witch Dust
author: Marilyn Messik
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2020/02/14
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I've read the first two books in the Strange Series (which I highly recommended) so I know that Marilyn Messik spins a good yarn and standalone novel Witch Dust is a hugely entertaining story. It starts with a bang and rather like a boulder rolling downhill it seems to gather pace with the turn of each page; I was turning pages so fast I'm surprised I didn't end up with a load of paper cuts. I also have to say that the cover is completely awesome; it looks like the Bates Motel and that fits perfectly with the story actually.

Sandra's parents, Adam and Ophelia, are famous illusionists and for them all the world is a stage. In typical showbiz fashion, Sandra's real name is Serenissima but she is happy to stay behind the curtain and out of the limelight. Over the years, Sandra sees a few strange things going on in the show that appear to be more than an illusion but magic isn't real, is it?

After a fight with Adam, Ophelia turns up in Sandra's living room and asks Sandra to drive her to her family home. There's nothing odd about that except Ophelia has always told Sandra that she was adopted and had no real family. Finding out that she has family she never knew about comes as quite a shock for Sandra but there are many more shocks and surprises in store for her when she meets them. Let's just say that they make The Addams Family look normal.

Much like a disturbance in the force, Sandra and Ophelia arriving at the family home, which the family have turned into a hotel, results in a lot of interest from the local community. It's not a spoiler to say (as the title is Witch Dust after all) that it could be seen as a 'gathering' and with so many strange things happening, I was reading with a growing feeling of unease and a sense of impending danger. The story is so compelling, and Marilyn Messik has a knack of ending her chapters with cliffhangers, that you can't help but read 'one more chapter' that turns into about ten more chapters until suddenly you've read the whole book in no time at all.

Witch Dust is such a magical, spooky and unique book; it's like an episode of Supernatural, Bewitched and Charmed all rolled into one. Prepare to expect the unexpected and you'll still be shocked and surprised; I absolutely loved it. If you're looking to read something different for a change, you won't get more different than Witch Dust.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> Home for Christmas 205186040
In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.

Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!

With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?
]]> 398 Heidi Swain 1398519618 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.88 Home for Christmas
author: Heidi Swain
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.88
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/17
date added: 2024/09/17
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bright Midnights (The Limerent Series)]]> 195311608 307 LS Delorme Michelle 4 arcs-read
This is Amelie's story and she has a special gift that definitely feels like more of a curse as people become fixated and dangerously obsessed with her. The story becomes quite dark as the reader is privy to certain thoughts and feelings that people have about Amelie and it often made my skin crawl.

Amelie can escape her real life through her dreams where she meets Clovis. It's obvious from the start that Amelie and Clovis have a special connection but there are very good reasons why they can never be together. The heart rules the head though, and there are some more necessary but slightly uncomfortable moments in store for the reader as inevitable events occur.

LS Delorme's writing is so dreamlike and ethereal, sweeping the reader away to alternative realities. The plot is imaginative and original as it mixes real life with the paranormal and the characters are beautifully drawn and very memorable.

Pure escapism with a dark undercurrent, Bright Midnights is a captivating romantasy that is entertaining and provocative. I am looking forward to reading more books in this magical series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.33 Bright Midnights (The Limerent Series)
author: LS Delorme
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/31
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I discovered The Limerent Series at book 3, Fanning Fireflies, so I'm working backwards by returning to the series with book 2, Bright Midnights. Each book can be read as a standalone as the main characters' stories are the focus of each book, with some cameo appearances from characters you might recognise if you've read any of the other books.

This is Amelie's story and she has a special gift that definitely feels like more of a curse as people become fixated and dangerously obsessed with her. The story becomes quite dark as the reader is privy to certain thoughts and feelings that people have about Amelie and it often made my skin crawl.

Amelie can escape her real life through her dreams where she meets Clovis. It's obvious from the start that Amelie and Clovis have a special connection but there are very good reasons why they can never be together. The heart rules the head though, and there are some more necessary but slightly uncomfortable moments in store for the reader as inevitable events occur.

LS Delorme's writing is so dreamlike and ethereal, sweeping the reader away to alternative realities. The plot is imaginative and original as it mixes real life with the paranormal and the characters are beautifully drawn and very memorable.

Pure escapism with a dark undercurrent, Bright Midnights is a captivating romantasy that is entertaining and provocative. I am looking forward to reading more books in this magical series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> One Woman Crime Wave 213771001 What is your babysitter doing when you’re not there?

Fifteen-year-old Ashleigh is clever and charming, all too ready to rush to the rescue of parents in need of relief, and she soon becomes the neighbourhood’s favourite babysitter. But she has an appetite for secrets.

Fast-paced, witty and scalpel-sharp, One Woman Crime Wave examines the limits of what money can buy, and how easily the fragile web of middle-class privilege can be torn. In the end, is it really Ashleigh who’s the problem, or is it the fractious and divided community she exposes?]]> 240 Bee Rowlatt 1804470767 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 2024 One Woman Crime Wave
author: Bee Rowlatt
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/30
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Private Investigations 217995462 Don't miss the second gripping thriller in the Lara Arden crime series by award-winning British TV and radio screenwriter and novelist, Rob Gittins. Private Investigations is a dark thriller full of twists and turns that will have you unable to put this book down until you get to the end.

‘Rob Gittins is a highly acclaimed dramatist whose work has been enjoyed by millions in TV and radio dramas.� Nicholas Rhea � author of the Constable series, adapted for TV as Heartbeat

A young girl is in a coma after a tragic road accident. Another young girl has washed up on a remote beach, her identity unknown. An old man is murdered and hastily buried in a makeshift grave. A tormented pastor is unable to erase old misdeeds.

Different souls, but with one common link � the past.

Detective Inspector Lara Arden has her own demons to deal with. But as she investigates this raft of seemingly disparate crimes, she begins to suspect there’s a further common link at work here � her own past.

When all roads lead back to a former children’s home called Kenwood � and a macabre half-size windmill sited in its grounds � suspicion hardens into conviction.

Lara always believed that Kenwood had to be destroyed. Its old stories haunted it too strongly, like spirits yet to find their voice.

But do the tendrils of its past cling to everyone associated with it, too?

And do they need to be destroyed as well?]]> 416 Rob Gittins 1915817609 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 Private Investigations
author: Rob Gittins
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/09
date added: 2024/09/09
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Goddess with a Thousand Faces: A one-of-a-kind exploration of goddesses from our ancient past]]> 204897504 Steeped in ancient magic, dark divinity and wild ways, Goddess with a Thousand Faces takes you on a historical journey like no other...

Blending mythological retellings with historical research, Goddess with a Thousand Faces traverses the world and transports through time to bring ten formidable and inspiring ancient goddesses to life. Meet Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, never without her bow and arrow; Sedna, Inuit goddess of the ocean, guarding the icy waters and all its creatures; Isis, Egyptian goddess of healing, who dwells by the River Nile, just to name a few...

Jasmine Elmer explores these goddesses of our past, uncovering their truths, their rebellion and their freedom. For too long, they have been written out of history; lost to the sands of time and stamped into silence. Goddess with a Thousand Faces restores these women to their glory.

Pour over this treasure trove of myths, legends and mighty goddesses. Hear the messages echoing through the ages and see yourself in the faces of these icons. For while their stories might ancient, today they are more important - and more powerful - than ever.

A treasure trove of beautiful storytelling and ancient wisdom, perfect for fans of Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola and Storyland by Amy Jeffs.]]> 223 Jasmine Elmer 1408748223 Michelle 5 arcs-read
The retellings are breathtaking and really bring each goddess to life. Each retelling is followed by the history of the goddess, their country and their culture. I learnt so much whilst reading this fabulous book and although I read it cover to cover, it's a book you can dip in and out of at your own pace.

I was astonished at the differences of the goddesses; they are all unique with their own individual characteristics. I was shocked that I had only heard of three out of the ten goddesses and have to applaud Jasmine Elmer for telling their stories and reminding the world about these powerful goddesses.

Informative, empowering and contemplative, Goddess with a Thousand Faces is a powerful novel that encourages introspection and perhaps you will see glimpses of these mighty goddesses within yourself.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 3.93 2024 Goddess with a Thousand Faces: A one-of-a-kind exploration of goddesses from our ancient past
author: Jasmine Elmer
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/05
date added: 2024/09/09
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I love historical myths and retellings so I was very eager to read Goddess with a Thousand Faces and I was completely blown away by this amazing book. Jasmine Elmer has selected ten ancient goddesses from a vast range of cultures, some you will know and some you won't, and retold their stories.

The retellings are breathtaking and really bring each goddess to life. Each retelling is followed by the history of the goddess, their country and their culture. I learnt so much whilst reading this fabulous book and although I read it cover to cover, it's a book you can dip in and out of at your own pace.

I was astonished at the differences of the goddesses; they are all unique with their own individual characteristics. I was shocked that I had only heard of three out of the ten goddesses and have to applaud Jasmine Elmer for telling their stories and reminding the world about these powerful goddesses.

Informative, empowering and contemplative, Goddess with a Thousand Faces is a powerful novel that encourages introspection and perhaps you will see glimpses of these mighty goddesses within yourself.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[The Black Loch (Lewis Trilogy #4)]]> 204593652 A MURDER
The body of eighteen-year-old TV personality Caitlin is found abandoned on a remote beach at the head of An Loch Dubh - the Black Loch - on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. A swimmer and canoeist, it is inconceivable that she could have drowned.

A SECRET
Fin Macleod left the island ten years earlier to escape its memories. When he learns that his married son Fionnlagh had been having a clandestine affair with the dead girl and is suspected of her murder, he and Marsaili return to try and clear his name.

A TRAP
But nothing is as it seems, and the truth of the murder lies in a past that Fin would rather forget, and a tragedy at the cages of a salmon farm on East Loch Roag, where the tense climax of the story finds its resolution.]]> 400 Peter May 1529436060 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.17 2024 The Black Loch (Lewis Trilogy #4)
author: Peter May
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/09/03
date added: 2024/09/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Art of Belonging 63363647
When unexpected circumstances bring Grace’s estranged daughter, Amelia, and granddaughter, Charlotte, to live in her home, complicated feelings start to emerge, revealing a messy and emotional past which drove this family apart.

It will take a school mystery, an exquisite miniature railway and some brave decisions to help them each find not only themselves, but also each other � and to appreciate what it truly means to belong together.

This uplifting novel will warm your heart and touch your soul, and remind you of all the reasons humans can be downright wonderful.]]> 320 Eleanor Ray Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.92 The Art of Belonging
author: Eleanor Ray
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.92
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/27
date added: 2024/08/27
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Scandalous Women: A Novel of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann]]> 199531788 384 Gill Paul 0063245159 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.18 2024 Scandalous Women: A Novel of Jackie Collins and Jacqueline Susann
author: Gill Paul
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/25
date added: 2024/08/25
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> CHASE: The Complete Trilogy 211025210 312 Thomas Dellenbusch 3982618312 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.50 CHASE: The Complete Trilogy
author: Thomas Dellenbusch
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/08/03
date added: 2024/08/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Costanza 200479589
In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin. Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.

Their secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza's reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.

When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair - and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.

Betrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza's story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise...

Based on a true story, Costanza is a dizzying and sensual historical novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. This utterly addictive tale of desire and betrayal is perfect for fans of The Marriage Portrait and The Miniaturist.]]> 336 Rachel Blackmore 0349131082 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.19 2024 Costanza
author: Rachel Blackmore
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/31
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Seraphim 200488197 Set in New Orleans during the bleak years after Hurricane Katrina, SERAPHIM tracks a murder investigation by a defense attorney who is driven to exonerate his client at any cost.

Two young lawyers, Ben Alder and Boris Pasternak, arrive in the New Orleans public defender’s office determined to represent those most in peril: kids who are to be prosecuted as adults. When 16-year-old Robert Johnson is arrested and charged with murder, the two set about constructing his defense, with Ben taking the lead. But years of heavy cases spark a burning recklessness in Ben. He does what he believes—what he knows—must be done. And in his fervor to absolve Robert, Ben spins a web to bend the narrative in his favor, one in which everyone is expendable—even those his young client loves most.

A riveting story of loyalty and grief that cross-examines an unjust criminal legal system, SERAPHIM combines the grit and realism of Richard Price's Clockers with the empathy and psychological complexity of Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen's Union.]]> 272 Joshua Perry 1685891136 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.61 2024 Seraphim
author: Joshua Perry
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Sun Ascendant: An intense and compelling mix of love, war, and politics during the Wars of the Roses.]]> 213679422 Wheel of Fortune, Sun Ascendant is the gripping and immersive second book in a major new historical fiction series The Tarnished Crown. Set during the fifteenth-century Wars of the Roses, award-winning novelist CF Dunn continues the story of strong-willed and resolute Isobel Fenton who, pitched into a turbulent world of love, loyalty and treachery, finds herself at the heart of power.

In Wheel of Fortune, single-minded and determined Isobel Fenton was resolved that nothing would separate her from her beloved manor of Beaumancote; but as unseen witness to a summary execution, she was propelled into a world of personal feud and national politics as the houses of York and Lancaster threaten to tear the country apart.

In Sun Ascendant , now unwilling mistress of the formidable Earl, Isobel despairs of ever being free to follow her own heart. But events take a sinister turn, and as the Earl of Warwick and King Edward IV vie for power, Isobel must face her own battle for survival as the King, Richard of Gloucester, Robert Langton and the Earl must fight for theirs. Trapped and alone, Isobel is at the mercy of malign forces. What is the bitter Countess prepared to do to be rid of her rival, and - divided by love and loyalty - how will Isobel contend with the decaying relationship of the two brothers who seek her love?


'Reminds me of why I fell in love with historical fiction in the first place. A magnificent family drama set against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses.' - Elizabeth Chadwick

'Dunn delivers again with a vivid, gritty, visceral story, beautifully told and packed with twists and turns. Sun Ascendant takes us into the heart of the Wars of the Roses and deftly explores how it affected women, and how women might affect it.' Matthew Lewis

'Research underpins the narrative and adds a profound sense of credibility to a compelling story of one woman's battle for survival. The author's knowledge brings the background to vibrant life, and her expressive writing makes for a page-turning and engrossing read.' - SL Russell

'An intense and compelling mix of love, war, and politics.' - Andrew Chamberlain]]> 407 C Dunn 1915981018 Michelle 5 arcs-read
I felt so sorry for Isobel Fenton whose life changed the moment her father died as although she is heiress to her father's lands she doesn't inherit them until she is married. Now under the protection of the Earl, marriage looks a long way off as the Earl takes Isobel as his mistress. I was fuming! It's so distressing to see the way that women were treated in the past. Isobel should have been able to secure a good marriage but now she is tainted, although there is one man who loves Isobel but cannot act on his feelings.

Running alongside the love/hate story is the tempestuous Wars of the Roses with friends becoming enemies and brother turning on brother. I know a little bit of the history but it really felt as if C.F. Dunn brought the historical characters to life in front of my eyes. The battles are bloody and treachery is rife...who will be left standing?

Vivid, engaging and so incredibly captivating, Sun Ascendant is a wonderful piece of historical fiction that entertained and delighted me from start to finish. This really is an unmissable novel and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 5.00 Sun Ascendant: An intense and compelling mix of love, war, and politics during the Wars of the Roses.
author: C Dunn
name: Michelle
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/15
date added: 2024/07/19
shelves: arcs-read
review:
Having been completely blown away by Wheel of Fortune, I couldn't wait to continue Isobel's story in Sun Ascendant, the next book in The Tarnished Crown series. C.F. Dunn has created a fusion of romance and historical fiction to bring the story to life in this most unsettled period of English history.

I felt so sorry for Isobel Fenton whose life changed the moment her father died as although she is heiress to her father's lands she doesn't inherit them until she is married. Now under the protection of the Earl, marriage looks a long way off as the Earl takes Isobel as his mistress. I was fuming! It's so distressing to see the way that women were treated in the past. Isobel should have been able to secure a good marriage but now she is tainted, although there is one man who loves Isobel but cannot act on his feelings.

Running alongside the love/hate story is the tempestuous Wars of the Roses with friends becoming enemies and brother turning on brother. I know a little bit of the history but it really felt as if C.F. Dunn brought the historical characters to life in front of my eyes. The battles are bloody and treachery is rife...who will be left standing?

Vivid, engaging and so incredibly captivating, Sun Ascendant is a wonderful piece of historical fiction that entertained and delighted me from start to finish. This really is an unmissable novel and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[Welcome to Dorley Hall (The Sisters of Dorley, #1)]]> 61098513
What is happening to these boys? Who are the handful of women on campus who bear a striking resemblance to some of those who went missing? And what is the connection to the mysterious Dorley Hall?

Stefan works hard to get into the Royal College for one reason and one reason only: to find out exactly what happened to the women who live at Dorley Hall, and to get it to happen to him, too.

A closeted trans girl attempts to infiltrate a secret underground forced feminisation programme.

Content note: this story engages with some reasonably dark topics, including but not limited to torture, manipulation, dysphoria, nonconsensual surgery, and kidnapping. While it isn't intended to be a dark or dystopian story, the perspective characters are carrying a lot of baggage, and the exploration of the premise might be triggering for trans readers.]]> 511 Alyson Greaves Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.39 2022 Welcome to Dorley Hall (The Sisters of Dorley, #1)
author: Alyson Greaves
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/10
date added: 2024/07/10
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> One Summer 195391612 Two people. Two pasts. One summer to fall in love.Caleb is a former professional surfer trying to build his life after a career-ending accident.Lindy has moved to Loor island to start a new life, combing the shores for sea glass to weave into jewelry.When the two meet, sparks fly � but not the good kind. Then they discover they're neighbours, and they're stuck with each other for one, long summer. As they slowly learn to trust each other, and find themselves sharing their stories that brought them to Loor, their dislike begins to unravel into friendship, then maybe something more.But will the weight of their pasts ruin their chance of a future?]]> 355 Taylor Cole 1804549428 Michelle 0 arcs-read 2.96 One Summer
author: Taylor Cole
name: Michelle
average rating: 2.96
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/07/02
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Cat Society 197696609
The country is on the brink of bankruptcy, and backbencher Douglas Schnitty is disappointed with the thousands of homeless cats sleeping by the bins. He gets frustrated with higher powers who only seem to care about their own interests and preserving the country’s finances.

He schmoozes and sabotages his way through the political elite, from assisting the bombastic Hector Perp Pahpousson to disrupting the plans of the Prime Minister. Can his conscience save him, and the slum cats, as events spiral out of control?]]> 304 Ray Sadri 1915853222 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.72 Cat Society
author: Ray Sadri
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.72
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/06/26
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe]]> 215011820
Donning her frilly apron to help her Mum, Joyce, behind the counter at The Cosy Cup Café, Tori starts to believe � with the help of a hunky fireman and a clowder of rescue cats - that perhaps the secret to her future happiness might lie closer to home than she ever thought possible.

If you love your romance with a side order of cake, cats and cosy community dynamics, this is the purrfect uplifting, feel-good read from the winner of the RNA Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year 2023.]]> 417 Julie Haworth 1398527483 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.75 New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe
author: Julie Haworth
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/06/24
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Croaking Raven (The Shakespeare Murders, #1)]]> 211933070
‘Shakespearian tragedy on the streets of Stratford Upon Avon. A dark, sassy, revengers tale, wicked and funny.�
Paul Burke (Crime Time FM)]]> 288 Guy Hale 1738444821 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.39 The Croaking Raven (The Shakespeare Murders, #1)
author: Guy Hale
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/06/13
date added: 2024/06/13
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Redemption 212184513
Aaron Alexander has just been released from jail after serving eleven years for causing the death of Joshua Moore in a hit-and-run. Now a free man, all he wants to do is stay on the straight and narrow and leave his troubled past behind him.

But for Joshua’s mother Evelyn, eleven years in jail isn’t nearly enough. Consumed by grief and rage, she has been waiting for Aaron’s release, counting down the days until she can exact the revenge he deserves. And now that time has come.

However, as Evelyn and her husband Tobias embark on a road trip to track Aaron down, they soon find themselves caught on two different sides of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse. Because Tobias knows what Evelyn is planning, and he will do anything to save her from herself. Even if it means protecting the man who killed their son.

Locked in a collision course set in motion eleven years ago, Aaron, Evelyn and Tobias are about to find out whether the road they have chosen leads to retribution . . . or redemption.]]> 400 Jack Jordan 1398531553 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.13 2024 Redemption
author: Jack Jordan
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/06/01
date added: 2024/06/01
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Little Book Of Extraordinary Cats: Fifteen unique and unforgettable true stories of exceptional cats]]> 212807401 154 Anita Kelsey 1399985485 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 The Little Book Of Extraordinary Cats: Fifteen unique and unforgettable true stories of exceptional cats
author: Anita Kelsey
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/24
date added: 2024/05/24
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Shame 213141315 'The Shame had me hooked from its intriguing start. An addictive, gripping crime novel with real psychological depth.' STACEY MURRAY, AUTHOR OF THE THIEF OF JOY

Glasgow
The cellar of a suburban bungalow has been hiding a dark secret. During building work, a skeleton is uncovered. DI Alex Scrimgeour and DS Mark Nicholson soon discover the remains have been there for sixty years. The owners of the house from that time, Richard and Doris Cavendish, are dead, but their daughter may still be alive.

Edinburgh
Edith Drummond is pleased to be back at work as a teacher after lockdown. She's a difficult woman with no friends but she's good at her job and the children love her. However, her Head Teacher, Olivia Waring, wants her to retire. Edith is determined to stay put, but their feud soon pales into insignificance when Edith receives a visit from the police.

Mark is sure Edith is hiding something, but he doesn't know what. His suspicion deepens when further remains are found at the bungalow in Glasgow, this time of a newborn baby. Despite dealing with his own personal problems, Mark is determined to get to the bottom of this bizarre case. Is there a link between the two crimes? Is the answer staring him In the face or is there more to the mystery than meets the eye?]]> 370 Maureen Myant 191581748X Michelle 0 arcs-read 5.00 The Shame
author: Maureen Myant
name: Michelle
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/23
date added: 2024/05/23
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Bookshop Ladies 203579041 Bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, has created another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out. She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Cathal, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.As Joy gets drawn into the dramas of everyday life in the town, she finds it more and more difficult to confess why she really came, let alone find the truth about the painting she brought with her. When she does finally summon up the courage, it sets the cat amongst the pigeons in the close-knit, friendly community she has come to love.]]> 304 Faith Hogan 1804545368 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.10 2024 The Bookshop Ladies
author: Faith Hogan
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/14
date added: 2024/05/14
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fanning Fireflies: A Romantic Historical Paranormal Mystery]]> 209716729 There is something rotting in Harrisville.

It's 1944 and Veronica works so she can afford to eat. Maybe one day she will save enough to own the home her family is living in, but for now, she doesn't have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn't have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can't stop staring at her. She definitely doesn't have time to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier that she processed at the draft office, but she can't seem to stop herself. As her ability to ignore Lazlo evaporates, so does her self-imposed ignorance about her hometown. There is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn't have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco with the roaches.]]> 237 LS Delorme Michelle 5 arcs-read
Set in 1944, it's shocking to see the prejudices that people experienced in our not so distant past. Love doesn't see the colour of your skin so when Veronica meets Lazio she can't stop thinking about him and vice versa. Lazio is sent to fight in World War II but he writes to Veronica and he meets her every night in his dreams.

Veronica works in a cigarette factory and she has a gift (or a curse) that enables her to see ghosts and there are a surprising number of them in the factory. When women from the town start going missing, the coloured residents are blamed but Veronica's gift holds the key to what is really happening to the missing women.

Mixing fantasy with historical fiction and romance, Fanning Fireflies is a genre-busting novel that completely blew me away. It's so beautifully written and completely mesmerising that I couldn't put it down and I couldn't stop thinking about it long after I turned the final page. The love story is just stunning and it adds an abundance of light to the shocking darkness of the racial prejudice. A highly recommended read and one I will definitely be reading again.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.42 Fanning Fireflies: A Romantic Historical Paranormal Mystery
author: LS Delorme
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/29
date added: 2024/05/12
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I was drawn to Fanning Fireflies by the stunning cover and it as mesmerising inside and out. I didn't realise it was the third book in The Limerent series when I started to read it and it can definitely be read as a standalone but I now want to read the earlier books.

Set in 1944, it's shocking to see the prejudices that people experienced in our not so distant past. Love doesn't see the colour of your skin so when Veronica meets Lazio she can't stop thinking about him and vice versa. Lazio is sent to fight in World War II but he writes to Veronica and he meets her every night in his dreams.

Veronica works in a cigarette factory and she has a gift (or a curse) that enables her to see ghosts and there are a surprising number of them in the factory. When women from the town start going missing, the coloured residents are blamed but Veronica's gift holds the key to what is really happening to the missing women.

Mixing fantasy with historical fiction and romance, Fanning Fireflies is a genre-busting novel that completely blew me away. It's so beautifully written and completely mesmerising that I couldn't put it down and I couldn't stop thinking about it long after I turned the final page. The love story is just stunning and it adds an abundance of light to the shocking darkness of the racial prejudice. A highly recommended read and one I will definitely be reading again.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[Ghosts of the British Museum: A True Story of Colonial Loot and Restless Objects]]> 165054289 'An absorbingly creepy travelogue through the corridors, tunnels and basements of our most famous cultural repository. With Noah Angell as our guide, the British Museum becomes a haunted prison filled with imperial plunder and restless spirits clamouring for attention.' - Malcolm Gaskill, author of The Ruin Of All Witches

'Fascinating and illuminating' - Peter Ackroyd

'Brilliantly delicate, pointed, shivery... You could read it as a guide to which galleries to avoid - or to where the push for repatriation should be most urgent.' - Erin L. Thompson, professor of art crime at the City University of New York

'Achieves a near-impossible marriage between paranormal pop-culture, folklore and hauntology' - Roger Clarke, author of A Natural History of Ghosts

'A heady cocktail of history and folklore that leaves a haunting aftertaste... Spine-tingling' - Lindsey Fitzharris, New York Times bestselling author of The Facemaker

What if the British Museum isn't a carefully ordered cross section of history but is in instead a palatial trophy cabinet of colonial loot - swarming with volatile and errant spirits?

When artist and writer Noah Angell first heard murmurs of ghostly sightings at the British Museum he had to find out more. What started as a trickle soon became a deluge as staff old and new - from overnight security to respected curators - brought him testimonies of their supernatural encounters.

It became clear that the source of the disturbances was related to the Museum's contents - unquiet objects, holy plunder, and restless human remains protesting their enforced stay within the colonial collection's cabinets and deep underground vaults. According to those who have worked there, the institution is heaving with profound spectral disorder.

Ghosts of the British Museum fuses storytelling, folklore and history, digs deep into our imperial past and unmasks the world's oldest national museum as a site of ongoing conflict, where restless objects are held against their will.

It now appears that the objects are fighting back.]]> 233 Noah Angell 1800961324 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.89 Ghosts of the British Museum: A True Story of Colonial Loot and Restless Objects
author: Noah Angell
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/09
date added: 2024/05/09
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Small Museum 205656514 A chilling historical mystery set against the Gothic backdrop of Victorian London

London, 1873. Madeleine Brewster's marriage to Dr Lucius Everley was meant to be the solution to her family's sullied reputation. After all, Lucius is a well-respected collector of natural curiosities, his 'Small Museum' of bones and things in jars is his pride and joy, although kept under lock and key. His sister Grace's philanthropic work with fallen women is also highly laudable. However, Maddie is confused by and excluded from what happens in what is meant to be her new home.

Maddie's skill at drawing promises a role for her though when Lucius agrees to let her help him in making a breakthrough in evolutionary science, a discovery of the first 'fish with feet'. But the more Maddie learns about both Lucius and Grace, the more she suspects that unimaginable horrors lie behind their polished reputations.

Framed for a crime that would take her to the gallows and leave the Everleys unencumbered, Maddie's only hope is her friend Caroline Fairly. But will she be able to put the pieces together before the trial reaches its fatal conclusion?]]> 320 Jody Cooksley 0749031522 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.67 The Small Museum
author: Jody Cooksley
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/06
date added: 2024/05/06
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Mary I: Queen of Sorrows (Tudor Rose, #3)]]> 205046907
Adored only child of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon, young Princess Mary grows up as the sole heiress to the English throne. But her father wants a son, and soon Mary's world begins to fall apart.

With her parents' marriage - and England - in crisis, Mary is banished from the court and kept apart from the mother she adores. The King promises to restore his daughter to favour, but first Mary must do something for which she will never forgive herself.

She seeks solace in her faith. But when her brother Edward VI dies, she finds herself fighting for the crown - and for her life. Emerging triumphant, all seems fair for the reign of Queen Mary. And then, very quickly, things began to go badly wrong...

MARY I. HER STORY.

Alison Weir's new Tudor novel, a tale full of drama and tragedy, tells the story of how a princess with such promise, loved by all who knew her, becomes the infamous Bloody Mary.

---

PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION

'History has the best stories and they should all be told like this' Conn Iggulden

'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' Sarah Gristwood

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian

'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' Elizabeth Fremantle]]> 527 Alison Weir 1035411628 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.90 2024 Mary I: Queen of Sorrows (Tudor Rose, #3)
author: Alison Weir
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/29
date added: 2024/04/29
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Profile K 182358681 384 Helen Sarah Fields 0008533547 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.18 2024 Profile K
author: Helen Sarah Fields
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/23
date added: 2024/04/23
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Coming Storm: 2 (The Coming Darkness)]]> 202966146 The hotly-anticipated sequel to 2022 Sunday Times Thriller of the Year The Coming Darknesssees the return of hero Alexandre Lamarque.

He may have prevented the world from falling into ruin, but Alex knows his work is not done yet.

There’s still a controlling intelligence out there, pulling together the strands of a new and even more destructive conspiracy.

Battling with personal tragedy on one hand, and the intrusion of new-found celebrity on the other, Alex must re-emerge from self-imposed exile to reunite with Mariam � the woman he loves � and Amaury � his truest friend � to face the fight of their lives.

From the streets of Paris, the lithium mines of southern Mali, and the mighty Aswan Dam, they come up against forces whose intentions are as devious as they are malign. Time is against them, and there’s more at stake than ever.]]> 365 Greg Mosse 1916678009 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.65 The Coming Storm: 2 (The Coming Darkness)
author: Greg Mosse
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.65
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/21
date added: 2024/04/21
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Never Closer 202201174 When your life changes in a moment, how do you rewrite your story?


In 1940s Britain, with the Second World War raging, Alice is working in a laboratory developing a potential wonder drug, called penicillin. Made to leave school at sixteen and abandon her aspiration to be a teacher, she learns instead about medicines and miracles and how curing people may be her destiny.


In the present day, Jo, already in a failing marriage, is devastated when she hears her daughter’s life is on a knife edge. At her bedside Jo starts to read Alice’s diary, found the previous day in a vintage handbag.


A door opens onto the past, revealing a young woman’s fierce determination to succeed against all odds. Past and present overlap and merge as life-changing events resonate across the gulf of time.


This is a story of a mother whose life is blown apart. Now she must find a way to put it back together. Can Alice show her the way?


“I devoured this book. The characters are rich and their stories compelling.� � ŷ reviewer


“This is a tale that will wring your heart and feed your soul. Don’t pass it up!� � I’m a Voracious Reader


“Timeless themes, beautifully packaged.� � Something by Jane

]]> 260 Margot Shepherd 1739519809 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.25 Never Closer
author: Margot Shepherd
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/13
date added: 2024/04/13
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Game On: Can you love the player, if you hate the game?]]> 200801067
‘Heart-warming and joyful� LORRAINE KELLY
‘A great big hug of a book� MICHAEL BALL

Toddington FC defender Tom Horrocks is never happier than when he’s on the football pitch, but when it comes to love, he’s hiding a big secret. Worried about his young daughter and sick father � and with his team finally in the Premier League � he avoids all media.

Journalist Cosmo Robertswants to change the world, so is angry when he’s sent to a quiet northern town to cover a sport he sees as anti-gay. Then something about Tom catches his eye.

Cosmo hates football. Tom hates journalists.
Perhaps this time they’ve both met their match.]]> 94 Matt Cain 1035409747 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.71 2024 Game On: Can you love the player, if you hate the game?
author: Matt Cain
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/11
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Edge of the Land: The Merseyside Crime Series Book 3]]> 207585119 Death stalks the docklands of Liverpool...

Edge of the Land is the thrilling third novel in the gripping Merseyside crime series from Malcolm Hollingdrake, author of the best-selling Harrogate crime series.

The waterways of the Liverpool docks contain many ghosts and shadows. It’s a place to disappear� a place to die.
Detective Inspector April Decent and Detective Sergeant Skeeter Warlock are fearful for the welfare of a vulnerable young man injured in an attack ordered by drug dealers, but he refuses to co-operate with the police.

He soon disappears. Clues to his whereabouts are sown, a cry for help maybe, but he remains elusive.

Meanwhile, the team are dealing with a spate of deaths in the city. The one thing the deaths have in the victims are all homeless. Initially, the deaths are not considered to be suspicious as there is no obvious connection. But soon the hallmarks of murder are discovered.

The hunt for a potential serial killer is on.

Edge of the Land is ideal for fans of Rachel McLean, Simon McCleave, J M Dalgliesh and Ian Rankin.

5 Star reviews for the Merseyside Crime Series'A brilliant author, a new detective, a different setting. I loved the story.' Mach 1 ★★★★�
'I love words and this author is a master of them painting a picture you can fall right into.' Lynda Checkley ★★★★�
'A superb, rollercoaster of an opener. Another must buy series.' Ian Cleverdon ★★★★�
'Contemporary crime fiction at it best and a homage to the city of Liverpool. Highly Recommended' A J Aberford ★★★★�
' A gripping, page turner of a read!' Sarah H ★★★★�









]]> 261 Malcolm Hollingdrake 1915817404 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.61 Edge of the Land: The Merseyside Crime Series Book 3
author: Malcolm Hollingdrake
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.61
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/11
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Holiday Escape 195088595 Her dream holiday is his everyday life. His dream holiday is her normal life. What happens when they collide? Ally and her dad, Geoff, run the family business, a creative retreat, from their home Hollyhock Cottage in picturesque Kittiwake Cove. They give their guests their dream break, but Ally hankers after glamourous city living, fancy restaurants and art galleries. Ally’s survival strategy is to escape out of season, take a break abroad and pretend to be the person she always imagined she would be. She meets Logan while she’s away and he turns out to be exactly the kind of distraction she’s looking for. With her spirits restored, Ally returns home, picks up the reins again and sets her sights on another successful season, but when Logan unexpectedly arrives on the scene, she soon realises she’s in for a summer that’s going to be far from straightforward� A story about bringing a holiday home � and what happens when what goes on on holiday comes back to bite you� Your favourite authors love Heidi Swain's 'A summer delight!'SARAH MORGAN 'A delightfully sunny readwith added intrigue and secrets'BELLA OSBORNE 'A ray of reading sunshine!'LAURA KEMP 'A lovely, sweet, summery read'MILLY JOHNSON 'An absolutely gorgeous summer tale of love and secrets'RACHAEL LUCAS ]]> 414 Heidi Swain 1398519588 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.72 The Holiday Escape
author: Heidi Swain
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.72
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/08
date added: 2024/04/08
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Toffee Factory Girls (The Toffee Factory Girls #1)]]> 204593539
In 1915 three women start work at a toffee factory in the market town of Chester-le-Street, Durham.

Anne works for the enigmatic owner Mr Jack. She is highly efficient and whips Mr Jack's disorganised office - and Mr Jack himself - into shape. However, behind her business-like façade, Anne hides a heart-breaking secret.

Elsie is feisty, fun and enjoys a good time. However, her gadabout ways get her into trouble when she falls for the wrong man in the sugar-boiling room.

And there's dependable Hetty, who's set to marry her boyfriend when he returns from the war. But when Hetty is sent on an errand by the toffee factory boss, her life changes in ways she could never imagine and a whole new world opens up.

The toffee factory girls begin as strangers before forging a close bond of friendship and trust. And, as the war rages on, they help each other cope through the difficult times ahead.

The Toffee Factory Girls is a heart-warming novel about love, friendship, secrets, war . . . and toffee! It is the first in a trilogy from hugely popular author Glenda Young.]]> 384 Glenda Young 1035402483 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.23 The Toffee Factory Girls (The Toffee Factory Girls #1)
author: Glenda Young
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/03
date added: 2024/04/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Maybe It's About Time 62990016
Claire Halford’s life hits rock bottom when she is caught stealing food from Tesco Express. Left alone by her husband with two small children and an STI, her suicide music is starting to play louder in her head.

A chance meeting brings them together. As a mystery virus from China starts to run riot across the country, their world’s collide and they find they have more in common than they knew.

Set in the early months of 2020, Maybe It’s About Time is a story about the difficulty of changing lives for the better. Starting as a funny and satirical view of the egocentric world of professional services, it gives way to a heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that rejuvenates Marcus and Claire, giving them both hope for a better future.]]> 552 Neil Boss 1803135034 Michelle 5 arcs-read
Marcus and Claire live completely different lives. Marcus and has family want for nothing as Marcus has a well paid job in the city; a job that Marcus hates. Claire's husband left her with two young children and her benefits don't provide enough money to feed them. The stark contrast between wealth and poverty is disturbing but very sobering to read. I feel incredibly fortunate that I've never had to worry about putting food on the table.

Marcus's work life really resonated with me as I was guilty of living to work rather than working to live in my last job. I think if you've ever worked in an office you will appreciate Marcus's chapters more as I found it very entertaining. I'm glad I wasn't working during the pandemic as I would have never got any work done for all the Zoom calls.

There are some very funny moments in the book that had me laughing out loud and the humour is very well balanced as it doesn't detract from the seriousness of the pandemic situation. Even though I had an idea what was going to happen, it still brought a tear to my eye at the end. There are a few unresolved parts of the story that have left it open for a sequel and I can't wait to read what happens next.

Haunting, emotive and compelling, I laughed and I cried whilst reading this beautifully written book. It's an important and powerful novel that everyone should read and I really can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.43 Maybe It's About Time
author: Neil Boss
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/13
date added: 2024/04/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:
Maybe It's About Time is a poignant and powerful novel set during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. Although I'm sure none of us will ever forget this horrific time, it is brought back to life in a haunting and sensitive way through Neil Boss' carefully crafted writing. Each chapter ends with the date and this simple but powerful sentence felt like a death knell; it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it now.

Marcus and Claire live completely different lives. Marcus and has family want for nothing as Marcus has a well paid job in the city; a job that Marcus hates. Claire's husband left her with two young children and her benefits don't provide enough money to feed them. The stark contrast between wealth and poverty is disturbing but very sobering to read. I feel incredibly fortunate that I've never had to worry about putting food on the table.

Marcus's work life really resonated with me as I was guilty of living to work rather than working to live in my last job. I think if you've ever worked in an office you will appreciate Marcus's chapters more as I found it very entertaining. I'm glad I wasn't working during the pandemic as I would have never got any work done for all the Zoom calls.

There are some very funny moments in the book that had me laughing out loud and the humour is very well balanced as it doesn't detract from the seriousness of the pandemic situation. Even though I had an idea what was going to happen, it still brought a tear to my eye at the end. There are a few unresolved parts of the story that have left it open for a sequel and I can't wait to read what happens next.

Haunting, emotive and compelling, I laughed and I cried whilst reading this beautifully written book. It's an important and powerful novel that everyone should read and I really can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> The Memo 200801085
Do you ever feel like your life doesn’t measure up to everyone else’s—and wonder if you just didn’t get the memo helping you make the right choices?

Jenny Green dreads her upcoming college reunion. Once top of her class, the thirty-five-year-old finds herself stuck in a life that isn’t the one she expected. Her promising career has flamed out (literally) and her deadbeat boyfriend is cheating on her (again). All her friends seem to have it all figured it out, enjoying glittering lives and careers that she can only envy from the sidelines. Did she just not get the memo they all did?

As it turns out, she didn’t!

When she arrives at her alma mater for the festivities, she receives a text from an unlisted number.

“Jenny please collect your memo.�

Somewhere on campus, a discreet female-led organization provides comprehensive memos to select students, a set of instructions that are a blueprint for success.

The first time around, Jenny didn’t receive hers. Now, she’s being given the second chance she wants—an opportunity to relive her life and make all the right decisions this time around. But at what price?

Smart, addictive, bittersweet, and ultimately triumphant, The Memo will enchant readers of In Five Years and Cassandra in Reverse as well as fans of Emma Straub and Maria Semple.]]> 326 Rachel Dodes 0349703817 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.58 2024 The Memo
author: Rachel Dodes
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/24
date added: 2024/03/24
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Thief of Joy 208157904
‘An absorbing, pacy and intriguing suspense novel, with many surprises!� Jennie Ensor, author of The Bad Neighbour

'A whole new level of suspense.' Karen Byrom (formerly Fiction Editor of My Weekly).

Single-mum Roz compares herself to everyone else, from her sister to friends to people on social media, and feels she's missing out. She wants what they've got � a husband, a father for her daughter, and respect.

When she meets Daniel, Roz thinks her dreams are possible, until he dies suddenly and tragically. Devastated by grief and loneliness, she rushes headlong into a relationship with Mark, a widower she meets in an online support group.

Yet as Mark's behaviour becomes more controlling and manipulative, Roz realises he isn’t the man of her dreams. He is hiding a jaw-dropping secret that spells danger for Roz and her daughter...]]> 360 Stacey Murray 1915817307 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 The Thief of Joy
author: Stacey Murray
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/03/10
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Long and Winding Road: the extraordinary life story of Lesley Pearse]]> 202153879
'More extraordinary than any plot twist in Pearse's novels' Mail on Sunday

READ THE SPELLBINDING MEMOIR NOW

One of the world’s bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .

Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.

As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.

But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed � and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories � of women struggling in a difficult world � found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.

As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .]]> 351 Lesley Pearse 0241453216 Michelle 5 arcs-read
If it didn't have 'My Autobiography' printed on the front cover, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a work of fiction. It is a story that is filled with so much warmth and character that it is incredibly easy to read and incredibly difficult to put down.

Lesley Pearse doesn't dwell on life's hurdles and her own heartbreak, she turns them into stories that have captivated readers for decades. I felt like a sponge as I absorbed all of Lesley's life events and I was so saturated at the end that I shed a few tears...but, in true Lesley Pearse style, they were tears of happiness.

The Long and Winding Road is a truly captivating and inspirational memoir and I couldn't give it a sparkle less than 5 stars. Very highly recommended.]]> 4.34 2024 The Long and Winding Road: the extraordinary life story of Lesley Pearse
author: Lesley Pearse
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/21
date added: 2024/02/29
shelves: arcs-read
review:
Oh my goodness, The Long and Winding Road by Lesley Pearse is a memoir filled with more drama than a whole series of Eastenders. No wonder Lesley Pearse has written so many books, she has so much material from her own experiences.

If it didn't have 'My Autobiography' printed on the front cover, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a work of fiction. It is a story that is filled with so much warmth and character that it is incredibly easy to read and incredibly difficult to put down.

Lesley Pearse doesn't dwell on life's hurdles and her own heartbreak, she turns them into stories that have captivated readers for decades. I felt like a sponge as I absorbed all of Lesley's life events and I was so saturated at the end that I shed a few tears...but, in true Lesley Pearse style, they were tears of happiness.

The Long and Winding Road is a truly captivating and inspirational memoir and I couldn't give it a sparkle less than 5 stars. Very highly recommended.
]]> New Gillion Street 199650225
When Mr. Zand, an agent of extra-terrestrial chaos, launches his mayoral campaign, the once peaceful colony faces uncertain and unsettling times.
Striking deaths attributed to mysterious forest creatures, forced arranged marriages, and a looming threat of suppressing secret garden meetings propel
the community toward the edge of turmoil. In the face of this encroaching darkness, Albert and his neighbours must band together to resist oppression and fight for their freedom before their world collapses]]> 252 Elliot J. Harper 1915789079 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.56 New Gillion Street
author: Elliot J. Harper
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/02/18
date added: 2024/02/18
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Fatal Hate 60243771
And the case soon becomes far more complex and dangerous than expected, threatening to overwhelm Mexton's small police force. With terrorists, a paedophile network and a hitman in town, Mel and her colleagues face their greatest challenge yet.

Mel’s own courage will be tested to the limits and no-one is safe. Who is stirring up hatred and violence in the area?

And can Mel prevent herself from becoming too involved and putting her life in severe jeopardy?]]> 404 Brian Price 1913793621 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.35 Fatal Hate
author: Brian Price
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2022/04/16
date added: 2024/02/16
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Memory of Us 195391756 A twist of fate. An unexpected love story...

If she had been found moments later, Amelia's heart would have stopped and never recovered. Instead she was taken from the desolate beach to the nearest hospital just in time to save her life. When her sister Lexi arrives from New York, Amelia's heart is beating, but the accident has implanted a series of false memories. These memories revolve around a man named Sam, and a perfect love story that never existed.

Determined to help her sister, Lexi enlists the help of Nick, a local vet who bears a striking resemblance to Sam. Together, Lexi and Nick recreate and photograph Amelia's dream dates in the hopes of triggering her true memories.

But as love starts to stir between Lexi and Nick, they must navigate a complex web of emotions. How can Lexi fall for Amelia's dream man without hurting her sister?

Filled with breathtaking romance, heart-wrenching emotion, the magic of destiny and the power of sisterhood, The Memory of Us is a must-read for fans of Holly Miller and Colleen Hoover.]]> 464 Dani Atkins 1804540218 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.94 2024 The Memory of Us
author: Dani Atkins
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/02/06
date added: 2024/02/06
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Coffee Mourning 71335403 321 Jennifer Betts 183849720X Michelle 0 arcs-read 0.0 Coffee Mourning
author: Jennifer Betts
name: Michelle
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/02/03
date added: 2024/02/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Token: 'A smart, sexy rom-com that had me chuckling from the first page. I loved it' BRENDA JACKSON]]> 173868331 A sexy, whip-smart, enemies to lovers romcom that’s fresh and topical, tackling racism and tokenism as experienced by a young Black woman in the cutthroat world of Publicity.

'A funny, satisfying read full of sparkling banter and thoughtful social commentary'Shauna Robinson, author of Must Love Books

'The most delicious blend of a *very* heated novel, the dynamics of an age old and rock-solid friendship, the complexities that come with being a Black woman in any workspace and a romance that could melt any heart. Token had me rapt from the very first page with it’s humour and intelligence - I absolutely adored it'Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us

'Brimming with angst, banter, and a fiery chemistry'Taj McCoy, author ofZora Books Her Happy Ever After

Kennedy Mitchell is brilliant, beautiful and tired of being the only Black woman in the room.

Two years ago, she was plucked from reception for a seat at the boardroom table in the name of “representation�. Rather than play along, she and her best friend foundedToken, a boutique PR agency that helps diversity-challenged companies and celebrities. With famous people getting into reputation-damaging controversies,Tokenis in high demand and business is booming, but when her ex shows up needing help repairing his reputation, things get even more complicated and soon Kennedy finds herself drawn into a PR scandal of her own.

'This romance has it all - flirty banter, deep emotion, and a smart, sassy heroine.'JENNIFER PROBST,New York Timesbestselling author
'A smart, sexy rom-com that had me chuckling from the first page. I loved it.'BRENDA JACKSON,New York Timesbestselling author
'Tokenis a smart and sexy romantic comedy...that is quick-witted, funny, and dives into contemporary social issues.'BUZZFEED, These 12 Romance Novels Will Knock Your Socks Off]]> 381 Beverley Kendall 1398530557 Michelle 0 arcs-read 0.0 2023 Token: 'A smart, sexy rom-com that had me chuckling from the first page. I loved it' BRENDA JACKSON
author: Beverley Kendall
name: Michelle
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/30
date added: 2024/01/30
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Blood Ribbons 204563245 Lin Le Versha is a writer not to be missed, the brilliant new talent on the British crime writing scene. Her fabulous new crime series is a dark murder mystery and each story will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.PRAISE FOR BLOOD NOTES, winner of a 2022 Chill With A Book Premier Reader's Award!'A wonderful, witty, colourful, debut ‘Whodunnit�, with a gripping modern twist set in the dark shadows of a Suffolk town.' EMMA FREUDPRAISE FOR BLOOD LINES'This wonderfully fresh take on a crime fighting duo, expertly explores dark, contemporary themes brought to life by a fabulous cast of characters who will stay with you long after the last page.' GRAHAM BARTLETT, AUTHOR OF BAD FOR GOODArnhem 1944 British paratroopers launch one of the most audacious plans of the Second World War � Operation Market Garden. Private Duncan Shaw records his experiences as his unit fights desperately to capture a vital bridge from the Germans.Arnhem, Present DayDuncan’s great granddaughter Zoe retraces his steps as part of a college project to accompany veterans of the battle and record their experiences. What Zoe doesn’t anticipate is uncovering a series of disturbing family secrets, some with deadly consequences.Another dangerous case for Steph and HaleA body is found tangled in the rushes on the banks of the Rhine, close to the river boat where former police officer, Steph Grant, and her partner, Chief Inspector Philip Hale, are chaperoning students from the college where she now works. Working with Dutch police, the pair investigate further, and quickly discover that no one is safe � be they pupils, veterans or staff.]]> 308 Lin Le Versha 1915817323 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.82 Blood Ribbons
author: Lin Le Versha
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.82
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/24
date added: 2024/01/24
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Philosophy of Love 148006450 What is love? Is it something spiritual or wholly physical? Can our feelings be explained and quantified? Or are we all actually two halves of a whole?

Ask Alice and Luke and you’d receive vastly different answers.

Despite her world having been recently dismantled by a messy break-up, Alice would tell you that love is the most important � albeit ineffable � human experiences. But when she once again crosses paths with her old school nemesis, Luke, he challenges this. Luke is a scientist and he’s certain love can be measured and explained � just like everything else.

So the two decide to make a they’ll each venture back into dating and if one of them falls in love, Alice wins, if not, then Luke does.

But can anyone win when you’re playing with emotions?]]> 349 Rebecca Ryan 1398509272 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.50 The Philosophy of Love
author: Rebecca Ryan
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/20
date added: 2024/01/20
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Betrothal and Betrayal 146315755 248 Janet McGiffin 1910895784 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.85 Betrothal and Betrayal
author: Janet McGiffin
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.85
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/01/14
date added: 2024/01/14
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Finery 160920809 " With wry humour and vicious imagination, Grosvenor's debut compels us not to allow her nightmarish fantasy of a totalitarian police state to become reality ." - Joe Bedford, Author of 'A Bad Decade for Good People', Parthian Books
This debut from an experienced writing coach and mentor is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and is sure to be a hit with fans of fantasy and political and feminist fiction.]]> 298 Rachel Grosvenor 1915789036 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.25 The Finery
author: Rachel Grosvenor
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/11/18
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Best Served Cold 200623715 328 Hilly Barmby 1915817269 Michelle 0 arcs-read 5.00 Best Served Cold
author: Hilly Barmby
name: Michelle
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/11/18
date added: 2023/11/18
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Solstice (Newcastle Witch Trials Historical Fiction)]]> 111030489
Rose Driver’s mother, brother and grandmother were all put to death by the fanatical witchfinder, John Sharpe.

Almost quarter of a century after the Newcastle witch trials, Sharpe is no longer a threat and Rose should be safe in her quiet village. But is history about to repeat itself?

Find out in Solstice, the third of three historical novels about real witch trials.

When a new vicar arrives to take over the parish of Mutton Clog, the village finds itself in the grip of Puritan fever, and suspicious eyes are turned on Rose. But this time, the witch hunter is not a man�

Inspired by the curious Riding Mill witch trials of 1673 where a young girl accused thirteen local men and women of witchcraft.

If you like historical novels about real witches, witchfinders and witch trials, you’ll love Solstice, the third book in The Widdershins Trilogy.

Recommended for fans of The Familiars, Tidelands and The Witch of Tin Mountain.]]> 300 Helen Steadman 1915421993 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.47 2023 Solstice (Newcastle Witch Trials Historical Fiction)
author: Helen Steadman
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/11/07
date added: 2023/11/07
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Confession 63111167
When the police break in, there’s a surprise in store for them. They find Julie Campbell’s decaying body at her desk, her laptop open beside her. She’s a well-liked, respectable woman. On the laptop is a confession � to five murders. There’s one major problem though - only one of the victims she names is actually dead.

DI Mark Nicholson is persuaded by his boss DCI Alex Scrimgeour that the confession is a fantasy, and to drop the case, but Mark senses there’s more to it than meets the eye. As he delves further, the darkest of secrets are revealed, and everyone around him is dragged into a vortex of fear, danger and murder. No one is beyond suspicion as The Confession becomes a murderous reality.]]> 357 Maureen Myant 1913793885 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.82 The Confession
author: Maureen Myant
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2022/10/27
date added: 2023/11/04
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fatal Blow (DC Mel Cotton #4) The Forth Gripping Novel in a British Detective Thriller Series]]> 198813160 For DC Mel Cotton - the attack is all too personal DC Tom Ferris is seriously injured in the blast. His fiancée, Mel, maybe physically unharmed but she's dealing with wounds you can't see. She's determined to return to work, but is she ready?
Death on her doorstep Mel's latest case is close to home - investigating a body found in her and Tom's garden, the body of someone last heard of in Australia. Can she catch the murderer? And can anyone stop the Albanian crime gang on their ruthless campaign of revenge?]]> 408 Brian Price 1915817242 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.73 Fatal Blow (DC Mel Cotton #4) The Forth Gripping Novel in a British Detective Thriller Series
author: Brian Price
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.73
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/10/11
date added: 2023/10/11
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Artificial Wisdom 197491143
A whistleblower pulls Tully into a murder investigation at the centre of an election battle for a global dictator, with a mandate to prevent a climate apocalypse. A former US President campaigns against the first AI politician for the position, but someone is trying to sway the outcome.

Tully must convince the world to face the truth and make hard choices about the future of the species. But will humanity ultimately choose salvation over freedom, whatever the cost?

An enthralling murder mystery with a vividly realised future world, forcing readers to grapple with hard hitting questions about the climate crisis, our relationship with Artificial Intelligence and the price we'd be willing to pay, as a species, to be saved. Perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, Harlan Coben, Neal Stephenson, Philip K. Dick, Kim Stanley Robinson and RR Haywood.]]> 433 Thomas R. Weaver 1739434307 Michelle 5 arcs-read
Journalist Marcus Tully is in mourning for his wife and unborn child who were killed in the tabkhir, a devastating climate event in the Middle East that raised humidity to such a level that no one could survive. With an upcoming election to appoint a dictator, a whistleblower sends Tully information about the tabkhir and how it may not have been the accident that everyone thinks.

The thing that takes Artificial Wisdom up to the next level is that one of the candidates in the election isn't human, Solomon is AI. When Tully uncovers disturbing information about the human candidate's decision making, Solomon may be the only one who can save humankind. I just have to share a quote from Solomon that really resonated with me and made me sit up and take notice:

"But if there's one thing I have learned about humankind, it's how bad you are at living in the now. People seem to live in both the past and in the future, two big overlapping circles, but rarely focus on the intersection and enjoy the moments given to them right now."

Vote Solomon!

It was interesting that while I was reading Artificial Wisdom, I heard about an AI version of Tom Hanks being used in an advert without the actor's permission. I was initially thinking that Artificial Wisdom was futuristic but AI is here now and it gives me goose bumps now that I have read this fantastic book.

Intelligent, imaginative and scarily realistic, Artificial Wisdom had me so hooked that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and I was so completely immersed in the story that I even dreamt about it. Completely unmissable and very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 3.96 2023 Artificial Wisdom
author: Thomas R. Weaver
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/28
date added: 2023/10/05
shelves: arcs-read
review:
Mind-officially-blown! Wow, just wow, what an outstanding and completely mind-blowing debut from Thomas R. Weaver! I didn't think I would ever find a book that could hold a candle to Orwell's 1984 but Artificial Wisdom is 1984 for a new generation and it's an instant classic.

Journalist Marcus Tully is in mourning for his wife and unborn child who were killed in the tabkhir, a devastating climate event in the Middle East that raised humidity to such a level that no one could survive. With an upcoming election to appoint a dictator, a whistleblower sends Tully information about the tabkhir and how it may not have been the accident that everyone thinks.

The thing that takes Artificial Wisdom up to the next level is that one of the candidates in the election isn't human, Solomon is AI. When Tully uncovers disturbing information about the human candidate's decision making, Solomon may be the only one who can save humankind. I just have to share a quote from Solomon that really resonated with me and made me sit up and take notice:

"But if there's one thing I have learned about humankind, it's how bad you are at living in the now. People seem to live in both the past and in the future, two big overlapping circles, but rarely focus on the intersection and enjoy the moments given to them right now."

Vote Solomon!

It was interesting that while I was reading Artificial Wisdom, I heard about an AI version of Tom Hanks being used in an advert without the actor's permission. I was initially thinking that Artificial Wisdom was futuristic but AI is here now and it gives me goose bumps now that I have read this fantastic book.

Intelligent, imaginative and scarily realistic, Artificial Wisdom had me so hooked that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and I was so completely immersed in the story that I even dreamt about it. Completely unmissable and very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> Can I Trust You? 198667828 That girl disappears too. With suspicion about his role in the two disappearances now at fever pitch, Axel plunges into the search for this second missing girl, becoming increasingly convinced there's a strong connection between the present-day disappearance and the twenty-year-old mystery.
And he's right, although in ways he can hardly begin to imagine...]]> 428 Rob Gittins 1915817226 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.62 Can I Trust You?
author: Rob Gittins
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/10/02
date added: 2023/10/02
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Chasing the Dragon: BY NEW BLOOD DAGGER AND SCOTTISH CRIME DEBUT SHORTLISTED AUTHOR (Betancourt Mystery Series Book 2)]]> 196390549 The much-awaited follow up to Waking the Tiger, shortlisted for the 2022 Crime Writers� Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, the 2021 Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and the 2022 Ngaio Marsh Best First Novel Prize.‘A superbly written, intriguing and beautifully paced literary thriller that transported me flawlessly to 1940s Singapore. I was hooked from the very first page.� Megan Davis, award-winning author of The Messenger ‘A classy, and future classic, historical crime novel with all the nuance and intelligence of the best of the genre.� Natalie Marlow, author of critically acclaimed Needless Alley‘Wow. One of the best books I have read in a long time.� Antony Dunford, author of Born the Same and CWA New Blood Dagger longlisted novel HuntedSingapore, 1940A local fisherman finds the body of a missing American archaeologistDetective Inspector Betancourt of the Singapore Marine Police is first on the scene. Something doesn't quite add up. He finds out that the archaeologist, Richard Fulbright, was close to deciphering the previously-untranslatable script on a pre-colonial relic known as the Singapore Stone. This was no accidental drowning.Is there more to this case than archaeological rivalries?Betancourt also discovers that Fulbright had been having an affair. He is sure he is onto something bigger than just academic infighting.A government opium factory draws criminal interestIn his investigations into the death, Betancourt finds his own life in danger, and now he has also put himself on the wrong side of British Military Intelligence, and he is unsure which set of opponents he fears the most...]]> 309 Mark Wightman 191581717X Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.27 Chasing the Dragon: BY NEW BLOOD DAGGER AND SCOTTISH CRIME DEBUT SHORTLISTED AUTHOR (Betancourt Mystery Series Book 2)
author: Mark Wightman
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/09/03
date added: 2023/09/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Traitor (Alias Emma, #2) 195997182 British spy Emma Makepeace goes undercover on a Russian oligarch’s superyacht, where she’s one wrong move away from a watery grave, in this electrifying thriller from the author of Alias Emma.

“Emma Makepeace is a worthy heir to the James Bond mantle.”—James Patterson

An MI6 operative is found dead, locked in a suitcase inside his own apartment. Despite an exhaustive search, no fingerprints are found at the scene. Emma Makepeace and her handler, Ripley, know an assassination when they see one, and such an obvious murder can mean only one thing: Someone is sending a message.

As she digs into his past, Emma discovers that the unfortunate spy had been investigating two Russian oligarchs based in London. He’d become obsessed with the idea that the two were spies, aided by a third man—whose identity he had yet to uncover. When he shared his findings within MI6 in the weeks before he died, the response came back fast and clear: Drop the investigation and move on. Had he uncovered a secret that cost him his life?

To pick up where he left off without ending up in a suitcase of her own, Emma goes undercover on one of the oligarch’s million-dollar yachts, scheduled to set sail from the Côte d’Azur to Monaco. Under other circumstances, this would be a dream vacation. But if Emma’s real identity gets discovered, it’s a death sentence.

As Emma’s work reveals secrets she’d be safer not knowing, the danger ratchets up. The killer may be closer to home than any of them imagined, and Emma won’t be safe until he—or she—is caught]]> 406 Ava Glass Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.79 2023 The Traitor (Alias Emma, #2)
author: Ava Glass
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/08/31
date added: 2023/09/01
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> A Beautiful Rival 64230282
Who would have guessed that the business of making women beautiful was so cutthroat?

They could have been allies: two self-made millionaires who invented a global industry, in an era when wife and mother were supposed to be the highest goals for their sex. Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein each founded empires built on grit and determination…and yet they became locked in a feud spanning three continents, two world wars, and the Great Depression.

Brought up in poverty, Canadian-born Elizabeth Arden changed popular opinion, persuading women from all walks of life ­to buy skincare products that promised them youth and beauty. Helena Rubenstein left her native Poland, and launched her company with scientific claims about her miracle creams made with anti-ageing herbs.

And when it came to business, nothing was off-limits: poaching each other’s employees, copying each other’s products, planting spies, hiring ex-husbands, and one-upping each other every chance they had.This was a rivalry from which there was no surrender! And through it all were two women, bold, brazen, and determined to succeed—no matter the personal cost.

In this sweeping novel from the bestselling author of Jackie and Maria and The Manhattan Girls, two larger-than life fashion icons come alive with all their passion, bitterness, and ambition as they each try to live the American dream.]]> 400 Gill Paul 0008532133 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.21 2023 A Beautiful Rival
author: Gill Paul
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/08/27
date added: 2023/08/27
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Q 43247722

Elena Fairchild is a teacher at one of the state's elite schools. When her nine-year-old daughter bombs a monthly test and her Q score drops to a disastrously low level, she is immediately forced to leave her top school for a federal institution hundreds of miles away. As a teacher, Elena thought she understood the tiered educational system, but as a mother whose child is now gone, Elena's perspective is changed forever. She just wants her daughter back.

And she will do the unthinkable to make it happen.]]> 384 Christina Dalcher 0008303347 Michelle 5 arcs-read
I started reading Q and thought it was going to be a story about motherhood and Elena's fight to keep her daughters safe, which it is to a degree but oh my word it is so much more than that. Everyone in this dystopian future is continually tested and given a Q rating; the pressure to perform has never been more intense, especially when under-performance has such drastic consequences.

Elena has two daughters: Anne who seems to glide through school effortlessly and wears her Q number with pride and Freddie who struggles with the pressure of tests and sees her Q number dropping like a stone. Elena loves both her daughters but her husband Malcolm doesn't have any time for Freddie and is only interested in his perfect daughter Anne. Malcolm is an absolutely vile character; it's like he's a robot with no feelings for his family unless they are performing to the perfect standards that he was instrumental in implementing. Elena deserves extra points just for putting up with him!

Q completely floored me; it's shocking, horrifying, disturbing and completely believable, especially as the novel is inspired by real historical events. Events that we don't learn in history class as they are far too horrific and disturbing. Although I'd never heard of the American Eugenics Movement, I was aware of the Nazi eugenics program where Hitler planned to produce a pure Aryan race. Never has a book been more thought-provoking and actively demanding of further research; you simply can't read Q and be unaffected by the subject matter. I just hope I haven't set off an alarm in MI5 with all of my googling of eugenics.

Q is absolutely brilliant; it's a novel that has remained in my thoughts long after I finished reading. It's a shocking, stunning and compelling book that I want to read again and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 3.86 2020 Q
author: Christina Dalcher
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/04/05
date added: 2023/08/03
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I enjoyed Christina Dalcher's debut, Vox, but WOW she has completely outdone herself with her second dystopian thriller, Q. Q is so addictive that I found it impossible to put down and only ended up reading it in two sittings because I had to sleep in between. If I'd timed it right, I definitely would have read it in one sitting.

I started reading Q and thought it was going to be a story about motherhood and Elena's fight to keep her daughters safe, which it is to a degree but oh my word it is so much more than that. Everyone in this dystopian future is continually tested and given a Q rating; the pressure to perform has never been more intense, especially when under-performance has such drastic consequences.

Elena has two daughters: Anne who seems to glide through school effortlessly and wears her Q number with pride and Freddie who struggles with the pressure of tests and sees her Q number dropping like a stone. Elena loves both her daughters but her husband Malcolm doesn't have any time for Freddie and is only interested in his perfect daughter Anne. Malcolm is an absolutely vile character; it's like he's a robot with no feelings for his family unless they are performing to the perfect standards that he was instrumental in implementing. Elena deserves extra points just for putting up with him!

Q completely floored me; it's shocking, horrifying, disturbing and completely believable, especially as the novel is inspired by real historical events. Events that we don't learn in history class as they are far too horrific and disturbing. Although I'd never heard of the American Eugenics Movement, I was aware of the Nazi eugenics program where Hitler planned to produce a pure Aryan race. Never has a book been more thought-provoking and actively demanding of further research; you simply can't read Q and be unaffected by the subject matter. I just hope I haven't set off an alarm in MI5 with all of my googling of eugenics.

Q is absolutely brilliant; it's a novel that has remained in my thoughts long after I finished reading. It's a shocking, stunning and compelling book that I want to read again and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> A Little in Love 63252461 RACHEL HORE

'The perfect romantic read'HEIDI SWAIN

'You’ll fall a lot in love with A Little in Love. Secrets, romance, escapism - yes please!' JULIET ASHTON

'A warm, delightful joy of a book' PATRICIA SCANLAN

'An absolutely charming and joyful read with lots of laugh-out-loud moments along the way. Overflowing with fabulous friendships, dreamy romance and all things weddings, it really did warm my heart and leave me with a big smile on my face'KIM NASH

‘Fun, fresh and full of fizz, I loved it!’�LAURA KEMP

'I fell more than a little in love with this book. Florence is an incredible storyteller and this book is the perfect cute romance read'LUCY KEELING

'A warm, comfort read of a book with the kind of rom-com characters you recognise and root for' ANNA MANSELL

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this heart-warming and ever-so-cute story. What an adorable tale!� LUCY MITCHELL

‘I absolutely loved this charming romance! It was funny, fresh and an utterly fabulous read’�HOLLY MARTIN

'A good old fashioned 'will they, won't they' romance filled with as much fun and sparkle as the bubbles in Rose's prosecco. Perfect escapism, best enjoyed with a glass of fizz!' KATHLEEN WHYMAN

The little village of Weddington is fast becoming THE place to get married. With its stately home, castle and two churches it has something for everyone, and now, famous after appearing in huge romcom movie hit A Little In Love, it’s hosting a monthly wedding fayre�

Rose Pedal is the proud owner of Pedals & Prosecco, a brand new business serving ice-cold fizz from a vintage bicycle, and she’s excited to be attending her first wedding fayre. But, on the way to Weddington Hall she’s involved in a near miss crash involving dashingly handsome James from Blume’s Florist.

Arriving at the beautiful stately home drenched and disheveled, Rose is horrified to find James is not only not sorry for nearly knocking her off her bike, but he’s gatecrashing her allocated spot on the lawn. His arrogance gets her back up and it’s definitely a case of hate at first sight. But as the wedding fayre season continues, James gently wins Rose over, and their relationship starts to bloom.

Can being just 'a little in love' help Rose and James find their own happy-ending�

A Little in Love is the most charming romantic comedy you’ll read this year, from a hugely talented author, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Phillipa Ashley and Cressida McLaughlin.]]> 336 Florence Keeling 1398517828 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.89 A Little in Love
author: Florence Keeling
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/07/24
date added: 2023/07/28
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> I Know It’s You 122758668
THE SECRET�

As the chapters arrive one by one, Marina is convinced they are about her past. There’s only one person who can know everything about the scandal, the trial, and the trauma that nearly broke her.

THE SILENCE�

This is one story that should never be told, and Marina is so desperate she will do anything to stop it getting out.]]> 384 Susan Lewis 0008471916 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.25 2023 I Know It’s You
author: Susan Lewis
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/07/28
date added: 2023/07/28
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Second Best 126128045
This is the English translation of Numéro deux,
published by Gallimard on January 6, 2022]]> 240 David Foenkinos 1913547590 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.81 2022 Second Best
author: David Foenkinos
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2023/07/10
date added: 2023/07/24
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Deception (Glasgow Southside Crime Series)]]> 182101531
'I thoroughly enjoyed this book it was a different sort of crime novel, and so well written. I truly cannot praise it enough. I thought the first one was good, but I think this is even better.' Carole Gourlay

Her past was a lie. Dare she uncover the truth?

When Kate’s mother dies, a man turns up at the funeral claiming to be her uncle. Kate is mystified; her mother was an only child. She agrees to meet him but when she tells him more about herself, he disappears. It’s best to forget him and get on with the business of grieving but when she finds her own death certificate, she realises she can’t let it drop. Besides, there are the threatening phone calls and messages to her mother to consider�

Four hundred miles away in Glasgow, DI Alex Scrimgeour is haunted by memories of past crimes. Is he responsible for a miscarriage of justice? He’s already worried when Kate contacts him with her story. If she is who she thinks she is, it could ruin his entire career. Despite their mutual antipathy, only by working together will they understand the past and finally put old ghosts to rest.]]> 372 Maureen Myant 1915817161 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.08 2023 The Deception (Glasgow Southside Crime Series)
author: Maureen Myant
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/07/22
date added: 2023/07/22
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Eye For An Eye 123852851 Only nine criminals in the UK have been granted lifelong anonymity.
Their crimes so heinous that their identities are permanently changed for their own safety.

CRIMINAL OR VICTIM?
Upon release, they're given a second chance: new identities and new homes with new neighbours who have no idea. Because, by law, they cannot be named as who they are - or were...

REDEMPTION OR REVENGE?
But what if someone started systematically exposing their true identities? Not to the press, or the public, but to the families of their victims.

Who deserves justice? And who gets to decide?]]> 544 M.J. Arlidge 1398708194 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 2023 Eye For An Eye
author: M.J. Arlidge
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/07/15
date added: 2023/07/15
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Prodigal Son 177707505 312 Chris Bishop 1739284437 Michelle 5 arcs-read
I was completely invested in Edward's life and the threats on his life from his evil Uncle Edmund had my heart racing and my blood boiling. Edmund wants what he thinks is rightfully his and only his nephew Edward stands in his way. I loved how Edmund ends up living with a bunch of outlaws in the forest, but there really is no honour among thieves and they all have their eyes on the loot.

The writing is exceptional as Chris Bishop brings Anglo Saxon England to life and I felt fully immersed in this dark and dangerous historical period. The threat from the Vikings once again hangs over Wessex but for Edward, the danger is much closer to home and he can't trust anyone.

Impeccably researched with facts and fiction intertwining to create a highly entertaining story, The Prodigal Son is an outstanding conclusion to a phenomenal series. I really cannot recommend the whole Shadow of the Raven series highly enough and if you just happen to have picked up and enjoyed The Prodigal Son, then you will love the rest of the series. ]]> 4.00 The Prodigal Son
author: Chris Bishop
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/25
date added: 2023/07/11
shelves: arcs-read
review:
The Prodigal Son is book five in the Shadow of the Raven series, which is one of my favourite historical fiction series. Although it can be read as a standalone, it is an absolutely brilliant instalment when read as part of the series.

I was completely invested in Edward's life and the threats on his life from his evil Uncle Edmund had my heart racing and my blood boiling. Edmund wants what he thinks is rightfully his and only his nephew Edward stands in his way. I loved how Edmund ends up living with a bunch of outlaws in the forest, but there really is no honour among thieves and they all have their eyes on the loot.

The writing is exceptional as Chris Bishop brings Anglo Saxon England to life and I felt fully immersed in this dark and dangerous historical period. The threat from the Vikings once again hangs over Wessex but for Edward, the danger is much closer to home and he can't trust anyone.

Impeccably researched with facts and fiction intertwining to create a highly entertaining story, The Prodigal Son is an outstanding conclusion to a phenomenal series. I really cannot recommend the whole Shadow of the Raven series highly enough and if you just happen to have picked up and enjoyed The Prodigal Son, then you will love the rest of the series.
]]> Palace Rogue 122758155 288 William Coles 1915643813 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.71 Palace Rogue
author: William Coles
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.71
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/06/07
date added: 2023/06/07
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Last Lifeboat 61245825
1940, Kent: Alice King is not brave or daring—she’s happiest finding adventure through the safe pages of books. But times of war demand courage, and as the threat of German invasion looms, a plane crash near her home awakens a strength in Alice she’d long forgotten. Determined to do her part, she finds a role perfectly suited to her experience as a schoolteacher—to help evacuate Britain’s children overseas.

1940, London: Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents for more than tabulating the cost of groceries, but life, and love, charted her a different course. With two lively children and a loving husband, Lily’s humble home is her world, until war tears everything asunder. With her husband gone and bombs raining down, Lily is faced with an impossible choice: keep her son and daughter close, knowing she may not be able to protect them, or enroll them in a risky evacuation scheme, where safety awaits so very far away.

When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.]]> 416 Hazel Gaynor 0008518661 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.32 2023 The Last Lifeboat
author: Hazel Gaynor
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/06/06
date added: 2023/06/06
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rendered Incapable: a gripping and humorous private investigators mystery]]> 143172250
'Pig out on a succulent tale of treachery and deceit.' PETER FLEMING

A whodunnit, brilliantly woven into the humorous, easy going relationship of the Quirks. They are a team in every sense, loyal and light hearted...but underestimate their professionalism at your peril!' SARAH LECK

Peddyr and Connie Quirk head for the Isle of Man, hoping for a well-deserved break from their private investigation business. However, in an underhand move by Peddyr’s cousin Superintendent Eddie Cadogan, their hotel booking is changed, and they are redirected to Hodge Fell Farm, with its farm shop, butchery, café and quaint holiday cottages.

When they meet their hosts � including a certain Nick Popadopoulos � a relaxing holiday of bracing walks by the sea is quickly replaced by pigs, adultery, soap-making, drag queens, smoked sausages, scams and skulduggery. In their quest to work out what despicable scheme Nick has underway, Peddyr and Connie soon realise that not everyone is being honest with them. Time is not on their side, and they must rely on their wits to act before someone gets away with murder.]]> 342 A B Morgan 1915817129 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.55 Rendered Incapable: a gripping and humorous private investigators mystery
author: A B Morgan
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.55
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/06/01
date added: 2023/06/01
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Bad Neighbour 131108257 But it isn't long before neighbourliness and community spirit turn sour. Tensions arise when Tara becomes jealous of Elspeth's emerging friendship with Ashley Kahn, a recent arrival in Wilton Close. Suspecting there is more to Tara's hostility toward them than meets the eye, Ashley and Elspeth start to uncover their neighbour's long-buried secrets...]]> 430 Jennie Ensor 1915817102 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.42 2023 The Bad Neighbour
author: Jennie Ensor
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/05/13
date added: 2023/05/13
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Taking Flight: The Evolutionary Story of Life on the Wing]]> 62675573
A bird flits overhead. It’s an everyday occurrence, repeated hundreds, thousands, millions of times daily by creatures across the world. It’s something so normal, so entirely taken for granted, that sometimes we forget how extraordinary it is. But take that in for a moment. This animal flies. It. Flies.

The miracle of flight has evolved in hugely diverse ways, with countless variations of flapping and gliding, hovering and diving, murmurating and migrating.

Conjuring lost worlds, ancient species and ever-shifting ecologies, this exhilarating new book is a mesmerising encounter with fourteen flying species: from the first fluttering insect of 300 million years ago to the crested pterosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, from hummingbirds that co-evolved with rainforest flowers to the wonders of dragonfly, albatross, pipistrelle and monarch butterfly with which we share the planet today.

Taking Flight is a mind-expanding feat of the imagination, a close encounter with flight in its myriad forms, urging us to look up and drink in the spectacle of these gravity-defying marvels that continue to shape life on Earth.

___

Praise for Lev Parikian � author of the Wainwright Prize-longlisted Into the Tangled Bank and Light Rains Sometimes Fall:

‘Funny, accessible and full of wonders� Melissa Harrison

‘Humour, attention to detail and beautifully written prose.� Stephen Moss]]> 282 Lev Parikian 178396703X Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.28 2023 Taking Flight: The Evolutionary Story of Life on the Wing
author: Lev Parikian
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/05/02
date added: 2023/05/02
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Hyphenated Relations 68007045
The last thing Sam wants is to get involved with Harold's new endeavor. But after getting wind that Marcie's four children intend to sabotage the wedding, Sam is reluctantly drawn into a new family drama and all that comes with it, whether it be the development of unexpected alliances or butting heads with ruthless enemies. While navigating these landmines, Sam finds herself struggling to come to terms with the painful past she had been holding away at arm's length for so long.

Through these trials and tribulations, Sam is also forced to confront the one question that she had sought to avoid since her husband's passing-whether she is done with the notion of "family" after all.]]> 270 Daniel Maunz 1685131891 Michelle 5 arcs-read
This is a character driven novel with family at its huge heart. The characters are an eclectic bunch and I loved all of them, even the sneaky, conniving ones. Sam is the main character and she is suffering from the most painful of emotions: grief. It seems as if a large part of Sam died when she lost her husband, although she escapes through her love of books (which made me love her even more).

Sam has distanced herself from her former father-in-law so it's quite a shock to her system when he comes back into her life in the funniest way. Humour is evident throughout the book, even though some serious subjects are touched upon and it very much reflects the ups and downs of real life.

I don't think I fully appreciated the wonderful front cover until I was partway through the book and saw the initials on the leaves of the tree. It makes me emotional just looking at it to write my review as it makes me grateful to think of the people who have touched my life in my own family tree.

This is one of those books that make you want to read it again as soon as you finish it. I'm already missing all of the characters and I want to re-experience their stories again; I'm sure I'll even laugh in the same places and maybe even find some humour I missed when I was rapidly devouring this wonderful book as if I had been starved of words for weeks.

Entertaining, emotional and humorous, Hyphenated Relations is an unforgettable novel that has reminded me that life may be short but it is precious. Don't let this wonderful book fly under your radar - Daniel Maunz is a true literary star and one of the best things about book blogging is being introduced to such amazing authors that I may not have otherwise discovered.

Very highly recommended - DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK (yes, I'm shouting from the rooftop, it's THAT good)!

Many thanks to Daniel Maunz for sending an ARC across the Atlantic; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.61 Hyphenated Relations
author: Daniel Maunz
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.61
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/23
date added: 2023/05/01
shelves: arcs-read
review:
Wowzers! What a book! I didn't just like it, I LOVED IT! I laughed (a lot), I cried (a little) and I enjoyed every single second aboard this hugely entertaining emotional rollercoaster of a novel. Just like Daniel Maunz's outstanding debut novel, Questions of Perspective, Hyphenated Relations is a book that will stay with me long after turning the final page.

This is a character driven novel with family at its huge heart. The characters are an eclectic bunch and I loved all of them, even the sneaky, conniving ones. Sam is the main character and she is suffering from the most painful of emotions: grief. It seems as if a large part of Sam died when she lost her husband, although she escapes through her love of books (which made me love her even more).

Sam has distanced herself from her former father-in-law so it's quite a shock to her system when he comes back into her life in the funniest way. Humour is evident throughout the book, even though some serious subjects are touched upon and it very much reflects the ups and downs of real life.

I don't think I fully appreciated the wonderful front cover until I was partway through the book and saw the initials on the leaves of the tree. It makes me emotional just looking at it to write my review as it makes me grateful to think of the people who have touched my life in my own family tree.

This is one of those books that make you want to read it again as soon as you finish it. I'm already missing all of the characters and I want to re-experience their stories again; I'm sure I'll even laugh in the same places and maybe even find some humour I missed when I was rapidly devouring this wonderful book as if I had been starved of words for weeks.

Entertaining, emotional and humorous, Hyphenated Relations is an unforgettable novel that has reminded me that life may be short but it is precious. Don't let this wonderful book fly under your radar - Daniel Maunz is a true literary star and one of the best things about book blogging is being introduced to such amazing authors that I may not have otherwise discovered.

Very highly recommended - DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK (yes, I'm shouting from the rooftop, it's THAT good)!

Many thanks to Daniel Maunz for sending an ARC across the Atlantic; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[A Truth for a Truth (Detective Kate Young #4)]]> 62021172
DI Kate Young’s team is hunting for a killer. What they don’t know…is that the killer is her.

DI Kate Young has known for years that her boss, Superintendent John Dickson, is a violent and evil man. But when she finally confronts him and accidentally shoots and kills him, she’s forced to cover her tracks before anyone can pin his death on her. With revelations about his corruption soon to become public knowledge, Kate sets up a trail of evidence to make it seem that Dickson has conveniently vanished�

But Kate knows the corruption doesn’t end with Dickson. As she heads up the team investigating his supposed disappearance, she also pursues other loose ends. Stanka, the sex worker who supplied the evidence against Dickson, leads her to crucial information on another corrupt officer, DI Harriet Khatri, and her dubious involvement with sex traffickers.

As the noose starts to tighten on Kate, she finds herself targeted by traffickers, the bent cops on her force and even her own team of detectives. Can she stay one step ahead of them all and bring Harriet to justice? Can she trust anyone around her? And can she possibly get away with murder?]]> 415 Carol Wyer 1662506139 Michelle 5 arcs-read
Although A Truth for a Truth could be read as a standalone, as there are some short recaps of the previous books, you can only really appreciate the magnificence of the series if you read the books in order. I love the Detective Kate Young series and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next one as this book finishes on another jaw-dropping moment.

What a pickle Kate has got herself in after shooting her boss and what a moral dilemma - should she act like a criminal and hide the body or act like a DI and turn herself in? Not knowing who she can trust on the force, makes the decision easier for her and when she's tasked with heading the investigation into Superintendent Dickson's disappearance she can cover her tracks even further.

The main character of Kate Young is so well developed that I feel as if I know her and I was totally rooting for her to literally get away with murder. Throughout the series Kate has been on the verge of cracking up as she hears her dead husband Chris talking to her inside her head. Her mental health gets even worse when Dickson's voice takes over from Chris and members of her team start to notice when the conversations start taking place out loud.

Tense, gripping and enthralling, A Truth for a Truth is outstanding from start to finish. This series is getting better and better (and it was already brilliant to start with). Very highly recommended.]]> 4.19 2023 A Truth for a Truth (Detective Kate Young #4)
author: Carol Wyer
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/05
date added: 2023/04/25
shelves: arcs-read
review:
After the jaw-dropping cliffhanger in the last Detective Kate Young book (A Life for a Life) I couldn't wait to get my hands on A Truth for a Truth and it did not disappoint in the slightest. In fact, Carol Wyer has wowed me again and I absolutely loved every second of this excellent book.

Although A Truth for a Truth could be read as a standalone, as there are some short recaps of the previous books, you can only really appreciate the magnificence of the series if you read the books in order. I love the Detective Kate Young series and I'm already chomping at the bit for the next one as this book finishes on another jaw-dropping moment.

What a pickle Kate has got herself in after shooting her boss and what a moral dilemma - should she act like a criminal and hide the body or act like a DI and turn herself in? Not knowing who she can trust on the force, makes the decision easier for her and when she's tasked with heading the investigation into Superintendent Dickson's disappearance she can cover her tracks even further.

The main character of Kate Young is so well developed that I feel as if I know her and I was totally rooting for her to literally get away with murder. Throughout the series Kate has been on the verge of cracking up as she hears her dead husband Chris talking to her inside her head. Her mental health gets even worse when Dickson's voice takes over from Chris and members of her team start to notice when the conversations start taking place out loud.

Tense, gripping and enthralling, A Truth for a Truth is outstanding from start to finish. This series is getting better and better (and it was already brilliant to start with). Very highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[Queens of the Underworld: A Journey into the Lives of Female Crooks]]> 60091411 ‘What a brilliant piece of research; pieced together with compassion, heart and understanding. Caitlin gives voice to women who have been forgotten or have only been seen through a male prism. She wrestles back their stories� - Maxine Peak

‘A rollicking account of all kinds of crime committed by women . . . who have not only been forgotten or ignored, but who put their male criminal counterparts to shame� Julie Bindel, The Spectator

Robin Hood, Dick Turpin, Ronnie Biggs, the Krays . . . All have become folk heroes, glamorised and romanticised, even when they killed. But where are their female equivalents? Where are the street robbers, gang leaders, diamond thieves, gold smugglers and bank robbers?

Queens of the Underworld reveals the incredible story of female crooks from the seventeenth century to the present. From Moll Cutpurse to the Black Boy Alley Ladies, from jewel thief Emily Lawrence to bandit leader Elsie Carey and burglar Zoe Progl, these were charismatic women at the top of their game. But female criminals have long been dismissed as either not ‘real women� or not ‘real criminals�, and in the process their stories have been lost.

Caitlin Davies unravels the myths, confronts the lies and tracks down modern-day descendants in order to tell the truth about their lives for the first time.
]]> 366 Caitlin Davies Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.00 Queens of the Underworld: A Journey into the Lives of Female Crooks
author: Caitlin Davies
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/04/15
date added: 2023/04/15
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Isaac and the Egg 61267070 Heartbreaking and heart-stealing, this bestselling modern-day fable is an unforgettable novel about sorrow, joy, friendship and love.

When Isaac Addy walks into the woods on the worst day of his life and finds something extraordinary there, he already knows he's going to take it home.

A grieving Isaac and his curious new friend are unlikely companions. They don't even speak the same language. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac's life in ways he cannot yet imagine.

And maybe he will finally be able to tell the truth.]]> 288 Bobby Palmer 1472285514 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.07 2022 Isaac and the Egg
author: Bobby Palmer
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2023/04/06
date added: 2023/04/06
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Book-Lovers' Retreat: the perfect summer getaway]]> 123194892
Spending six weeks away will give them a chance to re-evaluate their life choices. For Emily to decide which way her career will go - the safe route, or the more risky creative option? And for Rachel to decide whether to move in with her partner Jeremy. Then Tori has to drop out at the last moment, and her space is offered to another Hope Falls afficionado, Alex.

But when Alex turns out not to be who they expected, the holiday takes an unforeseen turn. And as the summer develops, so does their friendship. Could this be where they uncover their future selves, find love in all its forms and where their lives will change course forever...?]]> 416 Heidi Swain 1398519510 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.99 2023 The Book-Lovers' Retreat: the perfect summer getaway
author: Heidi Swain
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/03/26
date added: 2023/03/26
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Cornish Hideaway 62675557 400 Jennifer Bibby 139851781X Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.54 The Cornish Hideaway
author: Jennifer Bibby
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.54
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/03/20
date added: 2023/03/23
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Bloodlines (Shadow of the Raven Book 4)]]> 57454783
As the threat of yet another Viking invasion looms over his troubled realm, Alfred, King of Wessex, reviews and strengthens his defences.

Among his many concerns is the fate of Edward, his stable boy, who he believes to be the bastard son of revered warrior Matthew, who died serving the Saxon cause. If his heritage can be proved, Edward is not only heir to vast fortune but, more importantly, he has the blood of a warrior in his veins - something the Saxons are likely to need in spades.

More worryingly, Alfred fears that if Edward's true lineage ever became known, there would be those who might seek to exploit him or, worse still, use him to usurp Alfred's rule. He confides in just two of his closest advisers and they conspire to send Edward to the relative safety of Wareham on the pretext of having him train Governor Osric's magnificent black stallion, a horse thought to be all but unrideable.

Edward is treated with disdain when he reaches Wareham and regarded as being too puny to be a warrior. However when the barely-trained members of the fyrd find themselves outnumbered, isolated and confronting a dreaded Viking warband, it is Edward's quick thinking and extrao]]> 213 Chris Bishop 1913062783 Michelle 5 arcs-read
The first three books in the series cover the life of Matthew, a monk turned warrior, and the bloodlines in the title of this book refer to Matthew's offspring - a son and a daughter born of different mothers. As a further layer of intrigue, Matthew's daughter is a fraternal twin so her brother is not Matthew's son but rather the son of a Viking. With the twins' mother prophesising on her deathbed that they must be kept apart in order to survive, you can see why Chris Bishop just had to continue his story.

I've said it before and I'll say it again (not just because it's on the cover), this is an outstanding piece of historical fiction. Chris Bishop's writing is so vivid and authentic that you can't help but immerse yourself in the period. Although it took me a little while to get into the book (as I was missing Matthew terribly), once I got to know Edward I was completely engrossed. Edward is definitely a mini-Matthew and I loved his affinity with horses that shows his gentle nature but underneath he has the heart of a warrior.

The whole story is woven together beautifully with vivid scene setting and strong, memorable characters. My heart was in my mouth at times with the threat of Viking invasion and danger lurking closer to home that is a thread left tantalisingly dangling with three magical words at the end of the book: To be continued...

Chris Bishop brings Saxon history to life with his stunning writing and Bloodlines is a wonderful addition to an outstanding series. I simply can't wait for Book 5: The Prodigal Son.]]> 4.33 Bloodlines (Shadow of the Raven Book 4)
author: Chris Bishop
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2021/04/14
date added: 2023/03/19
shelves: arcs-read
review:
The Shadow of the Raven is one of my favourite historical fiction series so I was delighted to find that Chris Bishop had extended it from his original trilogy. You don't need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy Bloodlines as it comprises a new cast of characters (and some familiar faces for series fans), however, I think it will definitely make new readers intrigued enough to pick up the earlier books.

The first three books in the series cover the life of Matthew, a monk turned warrior, and the bloodlines in the title of this book refer to Matthew's offspring - a son and a daughter born of different mothers. As a further layer of intrigue, Matthew's daughter is a fraternal twin so her brother is not Matthew's son but rather the son of a Viking. With the twins' mother prophesising on her deathbed that they must be kept apart in order to survive, you can see why Chris Bishop just had to continue his story.

I've said it before and I'll say it again (not just because it's on the cover), this is an outstanding piece of historical fiction. Chris Bishop's writing is so vivid and authentic that you can't help but immerse yourself in the period. Although it took me a little while to get into the book (as I was missing Matthew terribly), once I got to know Edward I was completely engrossed. Edward is definitely a mini-Matthew and I loved his affinity with horses that shows his gentle nature but underneath he has the heart of a warrior.

The whole story is woven together beautifully with vivid scene setting and strong, memorable characters. My heart was in my mouth at times with the threat of Viking invasion and danger lurking closer to home that is a thread left tantalisingly dangling with three magical words at the end of the book: To be continued...

Chris Bishop brings Saxon history to life with his stunning writing and Bloodlines is a wonderful addition to an outstanding series. I simply can't wait for Book 5: The Prodigal Son.
]]> Women Like Us: A Memoir 59891691 396 Amanda Prowse 1542038812 Michelle 5 arcs-read
Firstly, I really must applaud Amanda Prowse for sharing her intimate and personal story with us. Now I know how she can write such heartbreaking and true to life stories as she draws from the wealth of feelings and emotions from her own experiences. I felt incredibly honoured to read this true story and couldn't believe how much resonated with me; it was almost as if Amanda was talking directly to me through her book.

Much like her fictional novels that mirror real life, it's not all heartbreak in this memoir; it's often amusing and there are some tea spurting out of your nose laugh out loud moments - thanks to Amanda's Aunty Kit's advice for that one!

The book is well named as I think everyone will see something of themselves in Amanda's story; I lost count of the amount of times I thought 'me too' when I was reading. I can't believe how many trials and tribulations Amanda has gone through in her life and still remained as bubbly and positive as she is. You just never know what's going on behind a person's smile; I love Amanda's beautiful smile, by the way.

This book also helped me with something I'm going through at the moment: the dreaded 'change'. It was incredibly enlightening to read about her own experience of the menopause. I expected hot flushes but I was really puzzled by the snaps of bone chilling coldness that I experience on occasion. I didn't know the chilly willies was also hormone related, so it's nice to know I'm not going completely bonkers!

Women Like Us really is for all women like us. It's beautifully written with humour and heartfelt emotion that I found incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story, Amanda x

I received a gifted paperback for the LoveBooksTours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> 4.53 Women Like Us: A Memoir
author: Amanda Prowse
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.53
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/02/02
date added: 2023/03/16
shelves: arcs-read
review:
I adore Amanda Prowse novels but they never fail to make me cry and I thought I wouldn't need my tissues for her memoir, Women Like Us, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Yep, you got me again, Amanda!

Firstly, I really must applaud Amanda Prowse for sharing her intimate and personal story with us. Now I know how she can write such heartbreaking and true to life stories as she draws from the wealth of feelings and emotions from her own experiences. I felt incredibly honoured to read this true story and couldn't believe how much resonated with me; it was almost as if Amanda was talking directly to me through her book.

Much like her fictional novels that mirror real life, it's not all heartbreak in this memoir; it's often amusing and there are some tea spurting out of your nose laugh out loud moments - thanks to Amanda's Aunty Kit's advice for that one!

The book is well named as I think everyone will see something of themselves in Amanda's story; I lost count of the amount of times I thought 'me too' when I was reading. I can't believe how many trials and tribulations Amanda has gone through in her life and still remained as bubbly and positive as she is. You just never know what's going on behind a person's smile; I love Amanda's beautiful smile, by the way.

This book also helped me with something I'm going through at the moment: the dreaded 'change'. It was incredibly enlightening to read about her own experience of the menopause. I expected hot flushes but I was really puzzled by the snaps of bone chilling coldness that I experience on occasion. I didn't know the chilly willies was also hormone related, so it's nice to know I'm not going completely bonkers!

Women Like Us really is for all women like us. It's beautifully written with humour and heartfelt emotion that I found incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story, Amanda x

I received a gifted paperback for the LoveBooksTours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

]]> God of Fire 60188230 Was love the greatest punishment of all?

Repulsed by her ugly newborn, Hera throws him into the sea, where he shatters his ankle. As darkness looms, Thetis the sea witch saves the wounded child and raises him in her underwater grotto.

Hephaestus is the only Olympian whose injuries never heal, and Zeus adds to his burden by sentencing him to life with Aphrodite. Unhappily married to the adulterous goddess of love, he is fated to repeat his childhood pattern of rejection.

To subdue his emotional and physical pain, he harnesses fire to make magical inventions. Of course, the other gods take advantage of his good nature and demand all manner of trinkets.A silver mouse for Apollo. A girdle for Aphrodite. Armour for Athena. A bow and arrow for Eros. Winged sandals for Hermes. A throne for Hera. A golden mastiff for Zeus.

But the god of fire is nobody’s fool. His magic has a shadow side, as gods and mortals learn to their cost when Zeus orders him to create Pandora’s jar�

God of Fire is recommended for adults who enjoy modern retellings of the classic Greek myths.]]> 344 Helen Steadman 1739776208 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.55 2022 God of Fire
author: Helen Steadman
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2023/03/14
date added: 2023/03/14
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gin Palace (The Accidental Medium, 2)]]> 122759162
Tanz can talk to ghosts, although she’d prefer it if she couldn’t. Struggling to make ends meet as an actress and wholly unsuited to supply teaching, Tanz is only one bad day away from a meltdown. And the babbling ghosts aren’t helping.

So when Tanz is offered a paid acting gig in her hometown, things start to look up. But Newcastle’s dead won’t stay quiet for long, and soon Tanz becomes haunted with visions of a mysterious Gin Palace guarded by a sinister figure. As Tanz starts to piece together a terrible tragedy, it becomes clear there’s no limit to what the poltergeist will do to keep his secrets his own.

Unfortunately, he’s never met anyone quite like Tanz before . . .]]> 304 Tracy Whitwell 1529087635 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.94 2020 Gin Palace (The Accidental Medium, 2)
author: Tracy Whitwell
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2023/03/12
date added: 2023/03/12
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> Together, Again 60638816 THE NEW MILLY JOHNSON NOVEL, THE HAPPIEST EVER AFTER, IS OUT NOW!

Together again after years apart, can they find a new beginning? The brilliant novel full of laughter, love, tears and hope from the Sunday Times bestselling author Milly Johnson.

'This masterpiece honestly describes the strength and acceptance required to be a family. 5 STARS' Adele Parks, Book of the Month, Platinum magazine

‘Emotional, empowering and heart-wrenching � sisterhood at its finest� CATHY BRAMLEY

Sisters Jolene, Marsha and Annis have convened at their beautiful family home, Fox House, following the death of their mother, the tricky Eleanor Vamplew. Born seven years apart, the women are more strangers than sisters.

Jolene, the eldest, is a successful romantic novelist who writes about beautiful relationships even though her own marriage to the handsome and charming Warren is complicated.
Marsha, the neglected middle child, has put all of her energy into her work, hoping money will plug the gap in her life left by the man who broke her young heart.

Annis is the renegade, who left home aged sixteen and never returned, not even for the death of their beloved father Julian. Until now.

So when the sisters discover that their mother has left everything to Annis in her will, it undermines everything they thought they knew. Can saying their final goodbyes to Eleanor bring them together again?

Together, Again is the story of truths uncovered and lies exposed, of secrets told � and kept. It is a novel about sister helping sister to heal from childhood scars and finding in each other support, forgiveness, courage and love.

Your favourite authors love Milly

‘Reading a Milly Johnson book is like spending time with a best friend � you always end up feeling better about the world. Written with genuine warmth and heart, they’re an absolute treat� Lucy Diamond

‘Milly Johnson always delivers an absolutely cracking read� Katie Fforde

‘One of those novels that draws you in to its world and makes you wish you could be friends with Shay. A tantalising juicy tale full of twists and turns that kept me gripped. Warm, funny and moving. One to curl up with and devour� Ruth Jones on The Woman in the Middle

‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS� Debbie Johnson

‘Milly’s writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath� Jane Fallon

]]> 384 Milly Johnson 1471199037 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.30 Together, Again
author: Milly Johnson
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.30
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/02/26
date added: 2023/02/26
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Daughter-in-Law 59639800
Elodie was hoping that having children with Paul would fulfill her as much as her busy job as a barrister has. But the reality is far from her dream. And with her mother-in-law Hope constantly poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, she finds herself frustrated and alone.

Both women could be each other’s greatest ally, but both have secrets that could ruin their relationship. Secrets neither wants Paul to uncover…]]> 384 Fanny Blake 1471193640 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.05 2023 The Daughter-in-Law
author: Fanny Blake
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/02/09
date added: 2023/02/09
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels]]> 61157639
Now, true crime author Amanda Bailey is looking to revive her career by writing a book on the case. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen; finding them will be the scoop of the year. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and also on the baby’s trail.

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realize that the truth about the Angels is much darker and stranger than they’d ever imagined, and in pursuit of the story they risk becoming part of it.]]> 416 Janice Hallett 1800810407 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.91 2023 The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
author: Janice Hallett
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/02/02
date added: 2023/02/02
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Fatal Dose (DC Mel Cotton #3) The Third Gripping Novel in a British Detective Thriller Series]]> 75708002
‘Superb!� Graham Bartlett

‘Another highly intelligent cop thriller from Price. Written with huge authority and deeply compelling.� Paul Finch

'A true must-read writer.' David Mark

WINNER OF A 2023 CHILL WITH A BOOK PREMIER READERS' AWARD!

WHAT THE READERS THINK
'the multi-layered plot is a huge strength of this book' Monika Armet
'I really cannot praise Brian Price enough' Michell Ryles
'a gripping and whirlwind crime thriller' Jenny McClinton
'had me hooked from the start' Kaz Loves Books
'frantic page turner' Peter Fleming
'bravo Mr Price on another stonkingly good thriller' Two Heads Are Better Than One
'very cleverly plotted' Miriam Smith
'this book is so intoxicating that it will not leave you mind' Surjit Parekh

Death stalks Mexton
When a spate of poisonings hits the town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and her colleagues are left perplexed. All the deaths seem to be ingeniously planned and the police cannot see anything obvious to connect the victims.

Is a vigilante at work?
Jenny Pike, reporter for the Mexton Messenger, seems to think there’s a link and she’s not afraid to publish her controversial theories. All the victims seem to have got away with harming people in some way. Is that the connection?

Fear from the East
Already stretched to the limit, Mel and her colleagues also face another huge challenge. A ruthless Albanian gang has launched a crime wave in the area and someone has murdered a notorious blackmailer.

How will the team cope? With a serial poisoner at large, is anyone safe?

Fatal Dose is the thrilling sequel to the critically-acclaimed Fatal Trade and Fatal Hate by the brilliant Brian Price]]> 407 Brian Price 1913793990 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.59 Fatal Dose (DC Mel Cotton #3) The Third Gripping Novel in a British Detective Thriller Series
author: Brian Price
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.59
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/01/21
date added: 2023/01/21
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Cut And Shut (Louise Miller #3)]]> 61869750
Tensions are high - tempers short
Following a stupid, drunken car theft, the tragic deaths of three local lads uncovers a powder keg of racial intolerance and bigotry.

A vicious attack
When two Muslim brothers are violently attacked, WDC Louise Miller sees her hometown with jaded eyes, shocked that so many of her colleagues are reluctant to get involved or help in any way those they once called neighbours.

A terrible truth
As she investigates, Louise, accompanied by WDC Hines and psychologist Karla Hayes, discovers links between the car theft and the assault but worse; the racial tensions that now threaten to tear the community apart, have masked an even darker crime � one that has gone long undiscovered, but will have devastating consequences]]> 370 Jonathan Peace 1915817021 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.72 Cut And Shut (Louise Miller #3)
author: Jonathan Peace
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.72
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/01/18
date added: 2023/01/18
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> House That Made Us 62195617 384 Alice Cavanagh 1398510564 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.45 House That Made Us
author: Alice Cavanagh
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.45
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/01/14
date added: 2023/01/14
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> A Winter Grave 62058590
By contrast, melting ice sheets have brought the Gulf Stream to a halt and northern latitudes, including Scotland, are being hit by snow and ice storms. It is against this backdrop that Addie, a young meteorologist checking a mountain top weather station, discovers the body of a man entombed in ice.

The dead man is investigative reporter, George Younger, missing for three months after vanishing during what he claimed was a hill-walking holiday. But Younger was no hill walker, and his discovery on a mountain-top near the Highland village of Kinlochleven, is inexplicable.

Cameron Brodie, a veteran Glasgow detective, volunteers to be flown north to investigate Younger's death, but he has more than a murder enquiry on his agenda. He has just been given a devastating medical prognosis by his doctor and knows the time has come to face his estranged daughter who has made her home in the remote Highland village.

Arriving during an ice storm, Brodie and pathologist Dr. Sita Roy, find themselves the sole guests at the inappropriately named International Hotel, where Younger's body has been kept refrigerated in a cake cabinet. But evidence uncovered during his autopsy places the lives of both Brodie and Roy in extreme jeopardy.

As another storm closes off communications and the possibility of escape, Brodie must face up not only to the ghosts of his past, but to a killer determined to bury forever the chilling secret that George Younger's investigations had threatened to expose.]]> 368 Peter May 1529428483 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.89 2023 A Winter Grave
author: Peter May
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2023/01/07
date added: 2023/01/07
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> My (extra)Ordinary Life 62097837
Has brown hair
Is 5�
Eats meat
Doesn’t live in London
Will fall in love before they're 30�
Emily knows how she measures up. How do you?

When watching a documentary on the average human experience, Emily realises she's the epitome of the typical woman. Her name, her height, her occupation� even her blood group. The only thing unusual about her is that she’s a twin. But her twin died when they were only 8 and Emily can't help but think maybe her sister was meant to live instead of her. Secretly she suspects her sister would have done a better job at life... better than average anyway. So Emily writes a list committing her to live a more extraordinary life� she’ll become a vegan, run a marathon and bungee jump.

But the one thing she knows she can’t do though is fall in love� because according to the stats this is the perfect time for her to meet the person she’ll marry. And normal just won’t do.]]> 448 Rebecca Ryan 1398509248 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.02 My (extra)Ordinary Life
author: Rebecca Ryan
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2023/01/04
date added: 2023/01/04
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Last Girl To Die 59574239 De nieuwe stand-alone van bestsellerauteur Helen Fields, bekend van de DI Callanach serie. Privédetective Sadie moet de moord op Adriana oplossen. Maar wat als zij niet de laatste was die stierf?

Het gezin Clark is net verhuisd naar het afgelegen Isle of Mull, een eiland voor de kust van Schotland. Dan raakt de zeventienjarige Adriana vermist. Haar ouders zijn radeloos � de lokale bevolking ziet hen als indringers en de politie is onverschillig � en wenden zich tot privédetective Sadie Levesque om hun dochter te vinden.
Sadie is ontzettend goed in haar werk.
Wanneer ze het lichaam van Adriana in een grot vindt, met een kroon van zeewier, beseft ze dat de zaak veel groter is dan ze in eerste instantie dacht. Ze duikt in de geheimen van de eiland, maar komt daardoor ook zelf dichter bij het gevaar. Want wat als Adriana niet de laatste was die stierf?]]> 384 Helen Sarah Fields 000837936X Michelle 5
When an American teenager goes missing on the Isle of Mull, her parents hire a Canadian private investigator, Sadie Lavesque. This invasion of foreigners on Mull creates a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere for Sadie as she is faced with the suspicion and mistrust of the islanders. Sadie can't count on the local police to help her and things only get worse for her when she finds a body...and then another...

I cannot even begin to tell you how good this book is and no review I write will go anywhere near to doing it justice. It's a book that you just have to read and experience for yourself. Helen Fields intricately weaves mysteries and folklore of ancient Mull into this gripping and atmospheric thriller making it a completely unforgettable novel.

Shocking, disturbing and jawdropping, The Last Girl to Die is an impressive and completely haunting thriller. Helen Fields is my newly crowned Queen of Twists and I felt like my brain had gone 12 rounds in the boxing ring as the twists and shocks pummelled me from all angles. Very highly recommended - don't miss this one!

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 3.94 2022 The Last Girl To Die
author: Helen Sarah Fields
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/08/20
date added: 2022/12/19
shelves: arcs-read, netgalley-to-review
review:
WOW! What a book! The Last Girl to Die is a book I will be recommending for a very long time. It is filled with mystery and intrigue that hooked me from the start but it is the razor-sharp plotting that makes it a memorable read.

When an American teenager goes missing on the Isle of Mull, her parents hire a Canadian private investigator, Sadie Lavesque. This invasion of foreigners on Mull creates a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere for Sadie as she is faced with the suspicion and mistrust of the islanders. Sadie can't count on the local police to help her and things only get worse for her when she finds a body...and then another...

I cannot even begin to tell you how good this book is and no review I write will go anywhere near to doing it justice. It's a book that you just have to read and experience for yourself. Helen Fields intricately weaves mysteries and folklore of ancient Mull into this gripping and atmospheric thriller making it a completely unforgettable novel.

Shocking, disturbing and jawdropping, The Last Girl to Die is an impressive and completely haunting thriller. Helen Fields is my newly crowned Queen of Twists and I felt like my brain had gone 12 rounds in the boxing ring as the twists and shocks pummelled me from all angles. Very highly recommended - don't miss this one!

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> A Mother's Christmas Wish 60806170 'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Jane Garvey, Woman's Hour
'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My Weekly

The brand-new saga from the author of The Miner's Lass, available to preorder now.

If you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you'll LOVE Glenda Young's 'amazing novels!' (ITV's This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall)


................................................................................................
What readers are saying about Glenda's heartwrenching sagas:

'Definitely an author not to be missed when it comes to family sagas'The Book Magnet

'Writes superb historical fiction that bring the era alive. Her books are unbeatable and unputdownable' Ginger Book Geek

'The perfectly imperfect, human nature of Glenda Young's characters are what keeps her readership hooked' Clyde's Corner

'Gritty, compelling and full of heart . . an exceptional saga' Bookish Jottings

'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review

'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review

'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review

Love Glenda's sagas? Don't miss her cosy-crime mystery series staring Helen Dexter and her trusty greyhound, Suki, starting with Murder at the Seaview Hotel and Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel, out now!]]> 336 Glenda Young 1472283236 Michelle 5 arcs-read
It's December 1923 and 17 year old Emma is leaving her home in a small Irish village and setting off on a long journey to North East England. Emma is leaving under a cloud and I love the wonderfully imaginative scandal that Glenda Young has come up with for Emma. Emma makes quite a first impression when she reaches her Aunt Bessie's pub at the end of her journey: the small coal mining village of Ryhope.

I absolutely adored this book; I laughed, I cried (TWICE!!) and I was entertained from start to finish. I really don't think any review I write could do it justice, you just really need to read it for yourself. It's festive in the loveliest way with family and community spirit at its heart and I loved seeing the main characters from all of the previous Ryhope sagas making cameo appearances. I also loved reading about the Irish tradition of Nollaig na mBan (the Women's Little Christmas) and it's so beautifully incorporated into the storyline.

You can save some pounds on your heating bill by reading A Mother's Christmas Wish; it didn't just warm my heart, it warmed me from head to toe. Glenda Young breaks saga stereotypes with her hugely entertaining and incredibly inventive storylines and A Mother's Christmas Wish is not to be missed.

Very highly recommended - I wanted to read it again the moment I turned the final (soggy, tear-stained) page. It's absolutely beautiful, unforgettable and unmissable.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 4.73 A Mother's Christmas Wish
author: Glenda Young
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.73
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/11/11
date added: 2022/12/19
shelves: arcs-read
review:
With her fabulous cosy crimes, entertaining weekly soap and heartwarming Ryhope sagas, Glenda Young has fast become one of my favourite authors. There aren't many authors whose books I read without reading the synopsis but Glenda is one of them. It's not only that the books are guaranteed to be good, it's also that I don't want to spoil a single surprise of the fantastic storyline.

It's December 1923 and 17 year old Emma is leaving her home in a small Irish village and setting off on a long journey to North East England. Emma is leaving under a cloud and I love the wonderfully imaginative scandal that Glenda Young has come up with for Emma. Emma makes quite a first impression when she reaches her Aunt Bessie's pub at the end of her journey: the small coal mining village of Ryhope.

I absolutely adored this book; I laughed, I cried (TWICE!!) and I was entertained from start to finish. I really don't think any review I write could do it justice, you just really need to read it for yourself. It's festive in the loveliest way with family and community spirit at its heart and I loved seeing the main characters from all of the previous Ryhope sagas making cameo appearances. I also loved reading about the Irish tradition of Nollaig na mBan (the Women's Little Christmas) and it's so beautifully incorporated into the storyline.

You can save some pounds on your heating bill by reading A Mother's Christmas Wish; it didn't just warm my heart, it warmed me from head to toe. Glenda Young breaks saga stereotypes with her hugely entertaining and incredibly inventive storylines and A Mother's Christmas Wish is not to be missed.

Very highly recommended - I wanted to read it again the moment I turned the final (soggy, tear-stained) page. It's absolutely beautiful, unforgettable and unmissable.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> <![CDATA[Cooking the Books: A Killer Collection of Recipes to Die For]]> 63889119
If you love a dribble of ketchup or a drizzle of raspberry jus with your fiction, then this is the cookery book for you.
Discover the delights of mouth-watering Maltese rabbit pasta and luscious lamb in coffee. Or dare to sample chicken wings more deadly than a game of chilli roulette.

Then there’s the story of how a midnight cheese, cucumber and salad cream sandwich helped launch Hobeck itself.
This collection guarantees stomach rumbles and belly roils, and all proceeds help others through the Trussell Trust and their network of foodbanks across the UK.]]> The Hobeck Team Michelle 5 arcs-read
Hobeck publish outstanding books so it's no surprise that this anthology is of the highest quality as the authors I have come to know and love have contributed to it. Even Adrian and Rebecca, Hobeck itself, have written stories and it was lovely of Rebecca to share the personal story about the sandwich that helped to launch Hobeck.

I was entertained from start to finish and I loved the format of the book with each part headed up by an imaginative recipe that describes the different genres that Hobeck publish. It's perfectly balanced with stories and recipes; I loved every single story and there are so many recipes I want to try.

Proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to The Trussell Trust and with cost of living rising so rapidly, supporting food banks is even more important now. It really is a fabulous anthology - definitely put this one on your Christmas list. Not to be missed and very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.]]> 5.00 Cooking the Books: A Killer Collection of Recipes to Die For
author: The Hobeck Team
name: Michelle
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/11/15
date added: 2022/12/18
shelves: arcs-read
review:
This is a wonderful charity anthology with an unusual twist: there aren't just fabulous short stories to discover when you open the book, there are also some mouthwatering recipes to try.

Hobeck publish outstanding books so it's no surprise that this anthology is of the highest quality as the authors I have come to know and love have contributed to it. Even Adrian and Rebecca, Hobeck itself, have written stories and it was lovely of Rebecca to share the personal story about the sandwich that helped to launch Hobeck.

I was entertained from start to finish and I loved the format of the book with each part headed up by an imaginative recipe that describes the different genres that Hobeck publish. It's perfectly balanced with stories and recipes; I loved every single story and there are so many recipes I want to try.

Proceeds from the sale of the book are being donated to The Trussell Trust and with cost of living rising so rapidly, supporting food banks is even more important now. It really is a fabulous anthology - definitely put this one on your Christmas list. Not to be missed and very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
]]> Behind Closed Doors 60588379
When Stacey’s ex-husband turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra, the terror is all too familiar. Stacey’s own violent kidnapping thirty years ago was never solved, and while a severe case of amnesia spares her from recalling the specific horrors, she remembers enough�

Stacey knows her father never paid the ransom—she has the missing pinkie finger to prove it. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.

Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not get involved. But Stacey can’t shake the eerie similarities between the two cases, and she’ll use whatever she can, from her journalistic powers to her shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. Desperate to find any link between Lyra’s abduction and her own, Stacey forces herself to revisit her forgotten, traumatic past for clues.

But can she make sense of the terrible secrets she unearths in time to save Lyra? And if she does, is she ready to face her own tormentor?]]> 336 Carol Wyer 1662506112 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.87 2022 Behind Closed Doors
author: Carol Wyer
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2022/12/01
date added: 2022/12/01
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Un-Family 63455163
Wildlife vetHolly's life seems blissful: husband Dylan is the man of her dreams, she has a rewarding career and a lovely home. And yet, a tiny niggle is growing daily. Dylan is becoming increasingly remote - but why? Holly is determined to mend the fissure in their relationship. But a shocking discovery changes everything...

Family ties

Then there's Dylan's family: his wayward twin Seth and their widowed mother Elaine,who is rather fond of a glass or two of sherry. Nothing inElaine'slife is easy, bringing up teenage granddaughter Megan while the family grieves the loss of Megan's mother.

Family lies

A tragic event rocks the foundations of the family, and Holly's life starts to unravel. Dylan drifts ever further away. Megan is left uncertain and alone, while Seth falls deeper into himself.


The bonds that onceboundthe family together are breaking. Can they ever be repaired?]]> 306 Linda Huber 1913793931 Michelle 0 arcs-read 4.56 2022 The Un-Family
author: Linda Huber
name: Michelle
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2022/11/04
date added: 2022/11/27
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Coming Darkness 61175215
Paris, 2037. Alexandre Lamarque of the French external security service is hunting for eco-terrorists. Experience has taught him there is no one he can trust. Experience has taught him there is no one he can trust � not his secretive lover Mariam, not even his old mentor, Professor Fayard, the man at the centre of the web. He is ready to give up. But he can’t.

In search of the truth, Alex must follow the trail through an ominous spiral of events, from a string of brutal child murders to a chaotic coup in North Africa. He rapidly finds himself in a heart-thumping race against chaos and destruction. He could be the world’s only hope of preventing THE COMING DARKNESS . . .]]> 414 Greg Mosse Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.55 2022 The Coming Darkness
author: Greg Mosse
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2022/11/11
date added: 2022/11/11
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]> The Prisoner 63188441
Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a career for herself in the magazine industry, she meets, and agrees to marry, Ned Hawthorne.

NOW

Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?

In true B.A. Paris style, The Prisoner is a gripping survival story, a twisted tale of love and at its dark heart a thriller to keep you up all night.]]> 368 B.A. Paris 1399710214 Michelle 0 arcs-read 3.79 2022 The Prisoner
author: B.A. Paris
name: Michelle
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2022/11/06
date added: 2022/11/06
shelves: arcs-read
review:

]]>