Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
In The Dark
My Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
My Review
A powerful and poignant read, with hugely relevant topics at the heart.
I love reading Vikki’s books, they always draw you in straight away and I find them so easy to read. It is an honour to be one of her early readers.
This story is told from multiple perspectives and has an array of sub-plots but at the centre of the story is Izzy, a troubled teenager, who is being bullied. The poor girl thought she could trust someone and went as far as sharing a nude picture of herself with them, but it is not long before the picture is shared on group messages throughout the school and everyone is laughing at her. With this and the bullying, Izzy just can’t see a way out and plunges into dark despair.
Seb is Izzy’s boyfriend who finds himself suspect number one for sharing the photo. With a dad in prison for murder, many could assume he is set to follow in his father’s footsteps. Is it fair to judge him on his family’s past? Or is he just an innocent bystander?
The chapters follow the teens and the events after the photo has been shared and how both their lives spiral in different directions. Izzy’s mum Caitlyn and Seb’s nan Liv also play a big part in the story and have secrets and lies from the past that are unearthed as we read on.
Whilst this is a psychological thriller and at times it definitely has the suspense of one, I feel it could possibly also sit under a different genre, I can’t think which one 🤔. It is also a very emotional read at times and it really pulled at my heartstrings. Vikki has covered some very sensitive topics like bullying, mental health, race & more and she has handled these topics brilliantly and with great care.
Parts of this story bought back memories for me having been bullied myself when I was younger and as hard as that was back then, it made me feel sorrier for the younger generation these days. When I was a teen it was often just cruel words but these days there is so much more pressure to be a certain way and have the latest gadget or pair of trainers and then there is the dreaded social media. Lives just aren’t private anymore, even when you want them to be.
I love that Vikki still featured Plymouth in the book, even though this one wasn’t solely based there. Living in Plymouth I don’t need to imagine the places that are in the book, as I know them very well, so this always adds to my enjoyment.
This is a really well-written story and what I loved the most was that I had no idea where it was going, and I did not guess the ending.
Huge thanks to Vikki Patis and Bloodhound Books for my ARC of this book.
This book will be published on March 3rd. Links to pre-order/purchase – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08WR7RF3P/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_b08wr7rf3p
https://www.waterstones.com/book/in-the-dark/vikki-patis/9781913942281
Book Blurb
Is a situation ever black and white?
Liv knows what kind of boy her grandson is. She knows Seb would never do anything to hurt his girlfriend, Izzy. But could the shadow cast by his father be influencing the boy she loves?
Caitlyn, Izzy’s mother, is desperate to reach her daughter, but she only seems to push her further away. Can she help her daughter or are Caitlyn’s own demons standing in the way?
When an inappropriate photo of Izzy is shared online, no one is prepared for the ripples that threaten to tear their lives apart. Will the truth come out before it’s too late?
Or is the damage already done?
About the Author
Vikki Patis is the bestselling author of psychological thrillers In the Dark (2021), The Wake (2020), Girl, Lost (2020), The Girl Across the Street (2019), and The Diary (2018). Girl, Lost, a top 100 bestseller on Amazon, was later longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize 2020. She is represented by Emily Glenister at DHH Literary Agency and also writes historical fiction. In 2016, she self-published Weltanschauung, a short story collection, and her BSc dissertation, I Ink, Therefore I Am, was published by Lambert Publishing in 2014. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, baking gluten free cakes, or walking in the Hertfordshire countryside. She lives with her partner, cats, and wild golden retrievers. Vikki runs The Bandwagon blog, where she provides author services such as editing and web design as well as writing articles on a wide range of topics, and the Psychological Suspense Authors’ Association. She used to write for various websites, covering topics from living with a chronic illness to body positivity to feminism.
Behind Her Eyes
My Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review
Devilishly dark, utterly compelling and a little bit crazy! I loved it!
I’ve heard so much about this book and I’ve had it on my to-read list for a while, so when I found out it was coming to Netflix, I just had to read it first. Why did I wait so long? This was such a brilliant story and so cleverly written. It was nothing like what I expected and just when I thought I’d worked it all out, in came a shocker of a twist that left me picking my jaw up from the floor!
The story is narrated by Louise (the other woman) and Adele (the wife). What do they have in common? David! Poor Louise, she is a single mum just trying to do her best for herself and her son Adam, she deserves a bit of happiness in her life. So, when she meets David on a night out and shares a kiss with him, she starts to think things might finally be looking up for her.
It’s not long before Louise and David’s paths cross again but it is also not long before she meets his wife! This is where Louise should walk away, nothing good could ever come of befriending the wife of a man you have kissed! Louise is too nice though and can’t find a way to turn down an invite for a coffee date and before you know it, she has got herself a new best friend!
Oh, how much I loved these characters! David and Adele are the most unreliable characters I have ever come across in a book. I didn’t know from one chapter to the next which one I trusted. Louise is such a naïve character, but she was sweet and genuinely didn’t want to hurt anyone. I spent half my time wanting to shake her and tell her to walk away and the other half, egging her on, telling her she was doing the right thing.
What I loved about this book the most was that for the majority of the story, you don’t even really know what is going on. You think you do at points, but you really don’t. David and Adele never reveal too much, so you hang on to the bits of information that you are drip-fed through the chapters and try and work out for yourself what you think happened in the past and what you think is going to happen in the future.
There was a small part of this book that was ever so slightly similar to a book that I have read recently, so I felt a bit smug at one point, thinking I’d sussed it all out. Whilst I had worked out some of it, I absolutely did not guess that incredible ending!
Many are saying this book is a bit like marmite, you either love it or you hate it. Well, I loved it! Anyone who can write a book that holds my interest throughout, keeps me guessing and shocks me at the end, is an incredible author in my eyes. I can’t wait to read more from Sarah.
This is an absolute must-read or for those that aren’t big on books, then check this out on Netflix from the 17th February.
Huge thanks to my dad Ian Smith for helping to provide me with another one of his fabulous photos for my review. The photo above is of me and it is one we took the Christmas before last. There were a few bits that were different in the original picture, so my dad has played around with it to add in the book and the scars on the arm. I think you’ll all agree that my dad is a very talented photographer/artist.
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Her-Eyes-psychological-thriller/dp/0008131961
https://www.waterstones.com/book/behind-her-eyes/sarah-pinborough/9780008131999
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/behind-her-eyes/id1139650167
Book Blurb
Don’t Trust This Book
Don’t Trust These People
Don’t Trust Yourself
Louise
Since her husband walked out, Louise has made her son her world, supporting them both with her part-time job. But all that changes when she meets…
David
Young, successful and charming – Louise cannot believe a man like him would look at her twice let alone be attracted to her. But that all comes to a grinding halt when she meets his wife…
Adele
Beautiful, elegant and sweet – Louise’s new friend seems perfect in every way. As she becomes obsessed by this flawless couple, entangled in the intricate web of their marriage, they each, in turn, reach out to her.
But only when she gets to know them both does she begin to see the cracks… Is David really the man she thought she knew and is Adele as vulnerable as she appears?
Just what terrible secrets are they both hiding and how far will they go to keep them?
About the Author
Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Sarah Pinborough is a critically acclaimed, award-winning, adult and YA author. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC and has several original television projects in development.
Sleep Tight
My Review
A fantastic, unique crime thriller with an epic supernatural twist!
I’m going to be screaming from the rooftops about this brilliant book for some time to come! A crime thriller with a difference and what an original difference it is too!
DC Rose Gifford is determined to help catch the killer of a young woman, Hannah, who has been found suffocated in her bed, but with no sign of a break-in, this case might not be so straight forward. After speaking to the victim’s friend, Rose discovers that Hannah had been suffering terrible nightmares at the same time every night and would often wake up screaming as she thought someone was in the room with her. Someone tall, dark and menacing!
Kirsty is at work one day when she breaks down to a colleague about the fact that she is not sleeping well and that a dark figure who visits her in her dreams feels far too real for her liking. Concerned for her safety after the recent murder, Kirsty informs the police about her nightly visitor, in the hopes they’ll be able to help and not think she’s gone cuckoo! The police, unfortunately, don’t take her too seriously, will Kirsty become the next victim?
Could someone really be able to get to these women through their dreams? Or is it just a coincidence that they both suffer from a condition called sleep paralysis? We follow Rose on her quest to get to the bottom of this mystery with a spooky twist.
This book is so clever and so well thought out. From the minute I picked it up I knew it would be one that I couldn’t put down. It was also one of those books that I kept thinking about even when I wasn’t reading it! The twists were spectacular, and I honestly would never have guessed the outcome.
Rose is a character that I took to straight away, she is far from perfect and has many flaws but she is very likeable and I feel she is going to be my new favourite character from a book. I am thrilled to learn this will be a series and can’t wait to be reunited with Rose in the next instalment.
I love the way this book makes you think more about sleep and dreams and all things supernatural. I actually suffer from sleep paralysis myself, it can be really scary and many times I have seen tall dark figures in my room and even right next to my bed. Do we sufferers just have creative minds? Or do we have some kind of connection with the other side?!
Not many people can pull off a story like this, but Caroline has absolutely nailed it! Having been taught by her myself in a crime and thriller writers course, I can vouch for what an amazing writer she is and I know for a fact that she will have done an extensive amount of research to enable her to create this book and make it seem so realistic.
Fascinating, chilling and extremely addictive to read, do not miss out on this incredible first instalment from the DC Rose Gifford series.
Thank you so much to C S Green, HarperCollins & NetGalley for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book will be published on March 4th. Links to pre-order/ purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleep-Tight-Rose-Gifford-Thriller/dp/0008390762
https://www.waterstones.com/book/sleep-tight/c-s-green/9780008390761
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/sleep-tight/id1527047379
Book Blurb
The nightmare is only just beginning…
When DC Rose Gifford is called to investigate the death of a young woman suffocated in her bed, she can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to the crime than meets the eye.
It looks like a straightforward crime scene – but the police can’t find the killer. Enter DS Moony – an eccentric older detective who runs UCIT, a secret department of the Met set up to solve supernatural crimes. Moony wants Rose to help her out – but Rose doesn’t believe in any of that.
Does she?
As the killer prepares to strike again, Rose must pick a side – before a second woman dies.
About the Author
C. S Green is also well known as Cass Green who is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers. She is also an award-winning writer of fiction for young people under the name Caroline Green. Her first novel for adults, The Woman Next Door, was a No.1 ebook bestseller, while the follow-up, In a Cottage in a Wood, was a USA Today bestseller and a Sunday Times top ten bestseller. She is the writer in residence at East Barnet School and teaches courses in writing crime fiction at City University and children’s writing for the Writers and Artists Yearbook. She lives in London with her family.
Website- https://carolinegreenwriter.co.uk/
Do No Harm
My Review
An outstanding novel that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions and have you captivated from beginning to end!
Wow! What an incredibly well-written book this is. I have read all of Christina’s novels and I am a big fan of her work, but I have to say this one is my favourite so far.
In this story, we follow Emma on her journey as she does whatever it takes to help save her son’s life!
One day she is just a normal mum to Josh and wife to Nate, she works hard as a doctor and is genuinely content with life. Then out of the blue Josh gets sick and is sadly diagnosed with cancer. Emma and Nate are informed that there is a particular treatment that could save their sons life, but it costs! In America they are not as fortunate as we are in the UK to have the NHS, so rely heavily on health insurance covering any hospital costs.
When the insurance company advise that they won’t cover all the costs for Josh’s treatment, Emma decides to keep this from her husband and do whatever it takes to find the money needed. This is when she signs her first few prescriptions for opioids and finds a way to sell them on the black market. Knowing she will need to sell a lot of scripts to get the funds required, Emma finds herself on a dark and dangerous path that can only lead to disaster.
My one question throughout this book was, what would I do? As a mother, you make an unspoken promise when your child is born and that is to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. Any parent would put their life on the line for their kids, but would you do something so dangerous and illegal like Emma?
Christina really is one of the most incredible writers out there, her ability to pull you in from the first page and not let you draw breath until the last is a huge talent. You can tell from the detail in the story how much research she must do to make it as realistic as possible and how much time she must pour into writing and editing to create such a masterpiece.
At times I didn’t know how to feel about Emma and the things she said and did, but overall, I felt for her and knew that everything she was doing was out of sheer desperation so often she would not be thinking too sensibly!
Each chapter had me gripped and the ending shocked me to the core. This is probably one of the most thought-provoking books I have read in a long time.
With twists and turns full of palpable suspense, a fast pace to hold your interest and many emotional and heart-wrenching moments, Do No Harm has everything I look for in a good book.
Thank you so much to the author Christina McDonald for my copy of this book, that I was really lucky to win in one of her recent competitions.
Also a big thank you to my dad Ian Smith for helping to edit my photo of the book 📖
This book will be published on the 16th February 2021. Links to pre-order/purchase: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-No-Harm-Christina-Mcdonald/dp/1982142618
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/do-no-harm/id1521345058
Book Blurb
Emma loves her life. She’s the mother of a precocious kindergartener, married to her soulmate–a loyal and loving police detective–and has a rewarding career as a doctor at the local hospital.
But everything comes crashing down when her son, Josh, is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Determined to save him, Emma makes the risky decision to sell opioids to fund the life-saving treatment he needs. But when somebody ends up dead, a lethal game of cat and mouse ensues, her own husband leading the chase. With her son’s life hanging in the balance, Emma is dragged into the dark world of drugs, lies, and murder. Will the truth catch up to her before she can save Josh?
About the Author
Christina McDonald is the USA Today bestselling author of Behind Every Lie and The Night Olivia Fell (Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books), which has been optioned for television by a major Hollywood studio. Her third book, Do No Harm, is available February 2021. Originally from Seattle, WA, she has an MA in Journalism from the National University of Ireland Galway, and now lives in London, England.
The Paper Boat
I jump up and down excitedly, ready to watch my paper boat set sail for the first time. I made it with mummy on my sixth birthday, but I’d been poorly for a long time, so we hadn’t been able to test it out yet.
The bright sunshine cast its rays upon the lake. The water, so calm and reflective. It’s not often you can see the trees and the sky by looking down as well as up.
I move towards mummy, eager to take the boat from her, but I stop suddenly, noticing that her face is sad and her cheeks are wet with tears. Concerned and confused I go to ask her what’s wrong, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t get the words out. Mummy is clutching my boat and saying something, but I can’t hear her over the birds who’ve become so loud I’ve had to put my hands over my ears. I’m scared now, I don’t want to hear the noisy birds, I want to hear my mummy.
The sky instantly darkens, and the trees start to move, spinning, twisting, becoming a blur of odd shapes right before my eyes. I don’t like it here anymore; I want to go home.
I go to run, but before I have the chance to move, a hand rests gently upon my shoulder. I turn around to see who it could be. Grandma! I can’t believe she’s here, mummy said she lives in heaven now. Grandma smiles and takes my hand in hers and as she does this, the trees instantly stop moving, the sun returns and the birdsong becomes a sweet melodic sound, no longer unbearable to hear.
I watch mummy wipe away a tear as she sets the boat down on to the water. I want to run to her, but grandma is saying that it’s time to go now. I’m not sure where she’s taking me but there’s a very bright light up ahead. It hurts my eyes, so I close them as I move towards it, letting grandma lead the way.
I slowly open my eyes, the light is still blinding, but it looks different now and there is a loud beeping sound coming from somewhere. Voices, I can hear lots of voices. As my eyes adjust, I look around, frantically searching a sea of faces for my grandma, but I don’t see her.
A kind-looking man smiles down at me and as he moves, I catch sight of the most beautiful person in the whole world, my mummy! She is sat by my bed, holding my hand and she looks a lot happier than she did by the lake. She moves my hand to her face and gently plants a kiss upon my fingers. I can hear her voice now and it is the sweetest sound that I’ve ever heard.
‘The operation was a success darling; the doctors made you better. You’ll finally be able to come home.’
The End
Thank you for taking the time to read my flash fiction story. I decided that I hadn’t written anything for a while, so on Friday, I put out a post on Facebook asking friends to comment with photos that they’d like me to use as a prompt for a story.
There were loads of great photos and I spent a while staring at each one until I finally settled on a story idea. A big thank you to my cousin Stacy Stoyles who provided the photo that gave me the idea for The Paper Boat!
Thank you to all that provided photos, I have a few ideas for some others, so hopefully, I’ll get some more time soon to write another story.
I normally write my flash fictions as part of a writers group where there is a limit of 100 words. I decided not to give myself a word limit for this story and just went with it.
I really do appreciate all feedback, whether it is good or constructive. Please note I’m not a professional writer, I only started writing a year ago, so if it’s a load of rubbish, please be kind. 😂
Blog Tour – The Island by C L Taylor
My Review
A gripping, fast-paced, twisty thriller!
Knowing what a fabulous author C L Taylor is, as soon as I heard she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance to read it. I haven’t read a YA book in many years but knowing how much I loved the point horror books as a teenager, I was keen to give it a go. I am so glad I did!
The story is told from the perspectives of Jessie and Danny, who are on holiday in Thailand with four other friends Meg, Milo, Jeffers and Honour. As a gift for Jeffers 17th birthday, his dad has paid for the teens to have a guided survival experience on a tropical island for seven days. Things quickly go wrong though, when their guide dies not long after they arrive and they become stuck on the island!
As if being trapped on a remote island wasn’t bad enough, the group soon realise that someone knows what each of them fears most, as their phobias suddenly start to come to life!
The fast-paced style of writing is perfect for this book and with the many twists and turns, I didn’t once get bored. The chapters end with mini cliff-hangers which helps to hold your interest and makes this an unputdownable read.
Initially, it seemed like there were a lot of characters to remember but I quickly got used to them and luckily didn’t find it confusing. It definitely helped to have just two of the teens as narrators rather than all of them. The story is very cleverly written, with never too much being revealed about each person, I found myself suspecting anyone and everyone and I did not guess the ending!
Whilst this book sits in the Young Adult category, I think it is a thriller that can easily be enjoyed by all ages.
Secrets, suspicion and spine-tingling suspense!
Thank you to C L Taylor & HQ for my copy of this book and my place on the blog tour.
Links to purchase – https://www.amazon.co.uk/C-L-Taylor-Young-Adult-Book/dp/0008240590
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-island/c-l-taylor/9780008240592
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-island/id1522044365
Book Blurb
Welcome to The Island.
Where your worst fears are about to come true…
It was supposed to be the perfect holiday: a week-long trip for six teenage friends on a remote tropical island.
But when their guide dies of a stroke leaving them stranded, the trip of a lifetime turns into a nightmare.
Because someone on the island knows each of the group’s worst fears. And one by one, they’re becoming a reality.
Seven days in paradise. A deadly secret.
Who will make it off the island alive?
About the Author
C.L. Taylor is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her psychological thrillers have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, been translated into over twenty languages, and optioned for television. Her 2019 novel, Sleep, was a Richard and Judy pick. C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol with her partner and son.
Link to authors website – https://cltaylorauthor.com/
What Lies Between Us
My Review
Dark, twisty, suspenseful and compelling! A phenomenal psychological thriller!
What a book this was to start the new year off with! I’m not sure where to begin with telling you how amazing it is! If I could give more than five stars, I absolutely would.
To the outside world, Nina just seems like an ordinary woman. She works in a library, lives alone and doesn’t really have any friends, but nobody would imagine for a second that she kept her mother chained up in the attic!
For two years Maggie has got used to watching the world go by from the attic window. With many failed attempts at escaping she has almost become resigned to the fact that this is where she will spend her final days. She only ever wanted the best for her daughter Nina, she only ever did the things she did, to protect her. Nina doesn’t see it like that though and wants to punish her mother for everything that happened in the past.
The chapters flit between the past and the present, filling us in on the events that happened and what caused Nina to imprison her mother. Expertly written, this book does not disappoint. Even when you think you know where it’s going, something will happen that will blow your mind and leave you gobsmacked!
My opinions of Nina and Maggie changed many times. John has been so clever with how he has portrayed them both throughout this book. They are certainly characters that will stay with me for a very long time!
Captivated from start to finish, this creepy and suspenseful story ticks all the boxes for what makes an incredible psychological thriller! I hear it is going to be made into a film, which I cannot wait to see.
This was my first John Marrs book and I can assure you it will not be my last!
Links to purchase – https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Lies-Between-John-Marrs-ebook/dp/B07XDVHDH4
https://www.waterstones.com/book/what-lies-between-us/john-marrs/9781542017022
Book Blurb
Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave.
They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past.
Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.
But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn’t know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way—even if it kills her.
Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies.
About the Author
John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. What Lies Between Us is his seventh book. Follow him at http://www.johnmarrsauthor.co.uk, on Twitter @johnmarrs1, on Instagram @johnmarrs.author and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/johnmarrsauthor.
💫 Top 12 Reads of 2020 💫
Well here we are, it’s the last day of the year and what a crazy year it’s been for us all! I really did try to choose just 10 books, but it was far too hard, as I’ve read so many amazing books this year. So here are 12 that I have picked to share with you, please note they are in no particular order as they’re all fabulous books. I also just want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me and my blog in its first year, I’ve had a blast! Here’s to more book reviews and flash fiction stories from me in 2021! Happy New Year 🥂 Love Cathryn 🥂
Postscript by Cecelia Ahern
The long-awaited sequel to the international bestseller PS, I Love You.
The PS, I Love You Club.
These are the six words written on a card handed to Holly Kennedy. They’re words that are engraved on her heart – because PS, I Love You is how her husband, Gerry, signed his last letters to her, letters that mark a year she will never forget.
Now, the mysterious club wants something from her. And if Holly can find the courage meet them, she’ll learn what it really means to live life to the full.
Because every love story has one last thing to say…
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/postscript-by-cecilia-ahern/
Link to purchase – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Postscript-sequel-PS-Love-You-ebook/dp/B07PGR87X1
The Life We Almost Had by Amelia Henley
This is not a typical love story, but it’s our love story.
Anna wasn’t looking for love when Adam swept her off her feet but there was no denying their connection, and she believed they would be together forever.
Years later, cracks have appeared in their relationship. Anna is questioning whether their love can really be eternal when a cruel twist of fate delivers a crushing blow, and Anna and Adam are completely lost to one another. Now, Anna needs Adam more than ever, but the way back to him has life-changing consequences.
Is a second chance at first love really worth the sacrifice? Anna needs to decide and time is running out…
Link to my review– https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/the-life-we-almost-had/
Link to purchase– https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-We-Almost-Had/dp/0008375747
Queen Bee by Jane Fallon
Welcome to The Close – a beautiful street of mansions, where gorgeous Stella is the indisputable Queen Bee . . .
It is here that Laura, seeking peace and privacy after her marriage falls apart, rents a tiny studio. Unfortunately, her arrival upsets suspicious Stella – who fears Laura has designs on her fiancé, Al.
When Laura stumbles on the big secret Al is hiding, suddenly Stella’s perfectly controlled world, and Laura’s future, are threatened.
Taking a chance on beating Al at his own twisted game, these two former strangers are fast becoming friends.
But has Laura forgotten that revenge always comes with a sting in the tail?
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/07/03/queen-bee/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Bee-Jane-Fallon/dp/1405943343
The Weekend Away by Sarah Alderson
Two friends go on holiday. Only one comes back.
Orla and Kate have been best friends forever. Together they’ve faced it all – be it Orla’s struggles as a new mother or Kate’s messy divorce. And whatever else happens in their lives, they can always look forward to their annual weekend away.
This year, they’re off to Lisbon: the perfect flat, the perfect view, the perfect itinerary. And what better way to kick things off in style than with the perfect night out?
But when Orla wakes up the next morning, Kate is gone. Brushed off by the police and with only a fuzzy memory of the night’s events, Orla is her friend’s only hope. As she frantically retraces their steps, Orla makes a series of shattering discoveries that threaten everything she holds dear. Because while Lisbon holds the secret of what happened that night, the truth may lie closer to home…
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/the-weekend-away/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weekend-Away-thriller-guaranteed-guessing-ebook/dp/B082PRRDM7
When She Finds You by A J McDine
Sophie Saunders has the perfect life.
Happily married to handsome Matt and expecting her first baby, she is the envy of her childhood friend, Lou.
Lou’s family has splintered. Her husband is dead and her son has left home.
She would give anything to turn back the clock.
But there’s a secret buried deep in their past that the two friends can never forget.
And when Sophie’s world starts spiralling out of control, it’s her new friend Roz to whom she turns.
Trouble is, secrets have a habit of unravelling. And when they do, you can kiss your perfect life goodbye.
Sometimes, it’s better when the truth stays hidden.
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/when-she-finds-you/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-She-Finds-You-McDine-ebook/dp/B07V9NVH74
His Wife’s Sister by A J Wills
He stole her childhood. Now she wants it back.
Mara Sitwell was only eleven when she went missing.
Nineteen years later, she’s been found wandering through remote woodland, alone and confused.
She says she’s been kept in an underground cell for all these years – but refuses to reveal anything about the man who snatched her.
What does she have to hide? And who’s she protecting?
Her brother-in-law, Damian, certainly doubts she’s telling the whole truth and fears she might even be a danger to his young children, especially when his wife insists on moving Mara into their home.
To save his family, Damian will have to prove what really happened to Mara all those years ago.
But the truth is never easy to uncover when it’s been buried so deep. . .
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/his-wifes-sister/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/His-Wifes-Sister-J-Wills-ebook/dp/B088C61T52
Stranded by Stuart James
A family trapped. A psychopath on the loose. Let the game begin…
What could be more lovely than going on holiday?
As a family drive along a quiet country lane on their way to the airport, they meet a stranger standing alone in the middle of the road.
Steering them along another path, he tells the driver, Ben, that a tree has fallen and there’s no way through.
But as they make their way along the diverted route, they come across a coach blocking the road.
Getting out of the car Ben goes to investigate and is horrified to find the passengers tied to their seats.
Then a discarded phone starts to ring…
If Ben calls the police, everyone on board will die.
Let the horrific game begin…
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/10/18/stranded/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranded-gripping-psychological-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B08L456DYP
The Open House by Sam Carrington
Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.
But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
Someone doesn’t want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/the-open-house/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Open-House-Sam-Carrington-ebook/dp/B0876JCWYT
House of Correction by Nicci French
She’s a murderer.
Everyone knows she killed Stuart Rees – why else would his dead body be found in her shed?
So now Tabitha is in prison, awaiting trial.
Coming back to the remote coastal village where she grew up was a mistake. She didn’t fit in then, and she doesn’t fit in now.
That day is such a blur, she can’t remember clearly what happened. There is something she is missing, something important… She only knows one thing. She is not capable of murder.
And the only one she can trust to help her out of this situation is herself.
So she must fight. Against the odds.
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/house-of-correction/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNTITLED-NICCI-FRENCH-2-HA/dp/1471179273
Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce
Alison has it all. A doting husband, adorable daughter, and a career on the rise – she’s just been given her first murder case to defend. But all is never as it seems…
Just one more night. Then I’ll end it.
Alison drinks too much. She’s neglecting her family. And she’s having an affair with a colleague whose taste for pushing boundaries may be more than she can handle.
I did it. I killed him. I should be locked up.
Alison’s client doesn’t deny that she stabbed her husband – she wants to plead guilty. And yet something about her story is deeply amiss. Saving this woman may be the first step to Alison saving herself.
I’m watching you. I know what you’re doing.
But someone knows Alison’s secrets. Someone who wants to make her pay for what she’s done, and who won’t stop until she’s lost everything….
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/blood-orange/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Orange-Harriet-Tyce-ebook/dp/B0791HFBVX
The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland
Tessa Markham returns home to find a child in her kitchen. He thinks she’s his mother. But Tessa doesn’t have any children.
Not anymore.
She doesn’t know who the little boy is or how he got there.
After contacting the police, Tessa is suspected of taking the mystery child. Her whole life is turned upside down. And then her husband reveals a secret of his own…
Tessa isn’t sure what to believe or who to trust. Because someone is lying. To find out who, she must confront her painful past. But is the truth more dangerous than Tessa realises?
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/02/16/the-secret-mother/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Mother-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B0751GJLRN
The Last Thing She Told Me by Linda Green
Even the deepest-buried secrets can find their way to the surface…
Moments before she dies, Nicola’s grandmother Betty whispers to her that there are babies at the bottom of the garden.
Nicola’s mother claims she was talking nonsense. However, when Nicola’s daughter finds a bone while playing in Betty’s garden, it’s clear that something sinister has taken place.
But will unearthing painful family secrets end up tearing Nicola’s family apart?
Link to my review- https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/the-last-thing-she-told-me/
Link to purchase- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Thing-She-Told-Bestselling/dp/1786483734
Happy Reading 📖
SHIVER
My Review
A dark and chilling thriller with as many twists as a corkscrew!
What a great debut this is! An eerie, atmospheric read, that at times will make you shiver from fear rather than cold!
The story is told from the perspective of Milla who had once been a professional snowboarder. That was until something terrible happened that led her to leave her career and her friends behind. Now ten years on she has been invited back to the French Alps for a reunion. It is an invitation she should probably ignore, but curiosity gets the better of her and the thought of seeing a certain someone again is enough for her to accept.
Milla is soon reunited with Curtis, Brent, Dale & Heather and it isn’t long before strange things start to happen. The friends quickly realise that someone has invited them here for a reason and doesn’t want them to leave the dark, deserted mountain.
The chapters flit perfectly between the present day at the reunion and ten years earlier when the friends competed fiercely on and off the snow!
The story is very well-plotted, and the descriptive writing makes it incredibly atmospheric. It is more of a slow burner to begin with, but this helps to set the scene and introduce the characters. Most are unreliable making it hard to know who to trust. I love the short chapters with mini cliff-hangers as this makes the book extremely hard to put down.
Allie clearly knows her stuff about snowboarding as the terminology used is spot on. It is not something I know anything about, but a quick google helped me learn all about cripplers and Mctwists 🤣. I found it a refreshing change to read a thriller with a difference!
A fantastic psychological thriller/ locked room mystery! I look forward to reading more by this author!
Thank you to Headline, Allie Reynolds & NetGalley for my early copy of this book.
Publication Date – January 21st 2021. Link to pre-order/ purchase – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shiver-guilty-innocent-gripping-thriller/dp/147227024X
https://www.waterstones.com/book/shiver/allie-reynolds/9781472285072
Book Blurb
They don’t know what I did. And I intend to keep it that way.
How far would you go to win? Hyper-competitive people, mind games and a dangerous natural environment combine to make the must-read thriller of the year. Fans of Lucy Foley and Lisa Jewell will be gripped by spectacular debut novel Shiver.
When Milla is invited to a reunion in the French Alps resort that saw the peak of her snowboarding career, she drops everything to go. While she would rather forget the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis, the one person she can’t seem to let go.
The five friends haven’t seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don’t know who has really gathered them there and how far they will go to find the truth.
In a deserted lodge high up a mountain, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.
About the Author
British-born Allie Reynolds is a former freestyle snowboarder who spent five winters in the mountains of France, Switzerland, Austria, and Canada. Her short fiction has been published in women’s magazines in the UK, Australia, Sweden, and South Africa. She lives by the beach in Queensland, Australia. Shiver is her debut novel.
Link to Allie’s website:- https://allie-reynolds.com/
A Winters Day
My Review
A wonderful festive short story that will leave you wanting more!
I’m a big fan of Rebecca’s festive tales, so I was very excited to read A Winters Day, which is a heart-warming and uplifting story that you can devour in one sitting.
Lauren is a single mum who is sadly unlucky in love! Stuck at home in a snowstorm with a poorly daughter, she decides to use her time to get things ready for Christmas.
Will Christmas be as magical as Lauren wants it to be? It seems not when things start to go a bit wrong for her. It’s a shame Lauren doesn’t have a man to share the burden of her problems, could things be about to change when hunky Helier the local farmer delivers the Christmas tree?
What a lovely short story this is, it certainly gives you that Christmassy feel and whilst it tugged at my heartstrings at times, it left me smiling come the end. I think after the year we’ve had we all need a Rebecca Boxall story in our lives.
Set on the Channel Islands during a snowy winter, the beautifully descriptive writing brings this book to life, making you feel like you are right there in the cosy cottage with Lauren and her daughter. With likeable characters who you will take to your heart straight away, there is nothing you won’t like about this story. The only downside is that you’ll be left wanting more! I would love to read more about these characters in a future book!
Light the fire, curl up by the tree and lose yourself in this beautiful story this Christmas.
Link to purchase – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winters-Day-heartwarming-Christmas-Vicarage-ebook/dp/B08JD6TTSX
If you’re looking for more than just a short story then I also highly recommend Rebecca’s other books. Here’s a link to my review of her most recent release, Christmas at the Farmhouse – https://lifesabook420574585.wordpress.com/2020/10/21/christmas-at-the-farmhouse/?preview=true
Book Blurb
After nine bad dates in nine years, single mum Lauren has given up on finding love. Anyway, she has plenty on her plate with her job as an author and the anti-bullying campaign she started on behalf of her daughter Silvana, who has dwarfism.
So when local farmer, Helier, brings a dinner invitation as well as a Christmas tree to their cottage one winter’s day, Lauren turns him down. Besides, doesn’t Helier have a wife? And what about Silvana’s wishes?
In this festive short story, Lauren, Silvana and Helier discover that one day can change everything – and that you should never underestimate the power of a Christmas wish.
About the Author
Rebecca Boxall was born in East Sussex in 1977 and grew up in a bustling vicarage always filled with family, friends and parishioners. She now lives by the sea in Jersey with her husband, three children and Rodney the cat. She read English at the University of Warwick before training as a lawyer and also studied Creative Writing with The Writer’s Bureau. She was nominated for the Romantic Novel Awards in 2020. Rebecca’s novels have become bestsellers, two of them reaching the No. 1 spot on the UK Kindle charts, proving popular with readers interested in seasonal novels that are feel-good but touch on some serious issues too. For more information please like Rebecca’s Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/christmasatthevicarage or visit her website – http://www.rebeccaboxall.co.uk.
